Doesn't get easier

Each week when I leave my trainor Ivana I say to myself it can't get any harder then today. But to my surprise the next session is just as hard or harder. I surprise myself on how far I have come in such a short period of time. I always thought I could never do that. But I can. So can we all in our own individual ways. Have a great week everyone and see you all at cooking class Wednesday night 

It pays to read food labels

In my effort to cut down on the amount of meat I eat, I decided to try some recipes with tofu.  This weekend's recipe was tofu with a coconut/curry sauce, tomatoes and scallions.  I read the calories and ingredients on the coconut milk can while in the store but didn't notice the saturated fat until after the meal was cooking and I was entering the food into LoseIt.  I was horrified to learn each serving would have more than 20g of saturated fat!  So much for a healthier meal.  Lesson learned.  I will find another curry and tofu option next time.

Pleasing ourselves

Should be our first priority in our life. But somehow at times this is not so. I was told once that a women's confidence is the most attractive thing she could have. I agree. Everyone is different, ever go to a amusement park and people watch, when u look around there are no two people alike. We come in all shapes and sizes. That is what is so wonderful about our world everyone is an individual. We are unique, all amazing, all wonderful in our own way. So embrace YOU, there's no one else like you and it should be like that. We will all come out of this journey differently, some thinner, some the same weight but stronger, some confident, some still a little unsure, but that's ok, see, that's why we are all individuals and we all are wonderful people. Embrace you all of you!

Pants are feeling a little loose

Which is encouraging since that definitely was not the case a month ago.  It feels like all the good nutritional advice from Gavin and all the workouts with Lisa are beginning to show some results.  We were happy to welcome Julie to our workout group today and look forward to spending more time with her.

A few people have told me my face is looking thinner - a good sign but my face was the only body part already able to fit into a bikini - am hoping other parts catch up. :)  I'm going to follow Michele's suggestion to make the scale a less important part of my life and focus on how I feel, how clothes fit, how many flights of stairs I can climb comfortably, etc.

Thank you American Heart Association and Stamford Hospital for this wonderful opportunity.

Learning is the key

Met again with Gavin today and went over my nutrition portion of this journey. What I came out learning is that the weight I want to lose May take a lot longer to lose then I have planned. I started out wanting to lose 30 pounds but since I have only lost about 1.5 so far I was disappointed with that. I figured that I would be well onto losing 6-7 pounds by now. Gavin told me it's a life style change with no ending date. It's not a diet with a beginning and end. It's a start with no end because it's a life long living plan. So I hid my scale and will just move forward with my new lifestyle. 

Women's Heart Health Lecture with Dr. Evelyn Cusack

Dr. Evelyn Cusack, cardiologist with Stamford Hospital discussed women & heart disease with the BetterU participants recently. She discussed how the nutrition and fitness changes participants have made during the first two weeks will improve their cardiovascular health. She said adopting these lifestyle changesinto their lives after the program will have a significant impact on their hearts.

Participants asked about the Mediterranean diet and about sodium intake. So many foods we love are packed with sodium! She also touched of the benefits of organic foods (especially produce) and how some things labeled organic might not even good for you.  

Dr. Cusak also told the group about the prevalence of heart disease in women and about how the Go Red campaign emphasized the various risk factors and unique symptoms for women. 

Thank you Dr. Cusack for sharing your expertise with the group!

Excellent heart program tonight

Dr. Cusack just sat at the table and talked to us for an hour, answering questions and giving lots of helpful advice.  What a generous and funny woman (who can be influenced with Reeses's peanut butter cups...).  My takeaway was the huge impact diet and lifestyle can have on lowering your risk of heart events.  One comment I wrote down and need to remember is "use food as fuel, not entertainment."  Looking forward to learning more from the rest of the heart docs.  Every day, I feel lucky to be in this challenge.