“Working out” in Holly’s Shoes: A Weightloss Contestant’s Journey towards Health and Fitness
Posted by: dreambodyvideoseries on: November 9, 2009
Most times when looking for a weightloss/fitness program, you often have to choose your program based on the testimonials provided from clients who have finished and have achieved optimum results. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great way to find out if a program is for you but how about hearing from an average person, just like you, who is going through the program at the present time?
Allow me to introduce you to Miss Holly Smith. Holly is one of City TV’s “Biggest Loser” weightloss challenge contestants and has been partnered up with DreamBody creator Paul Anthony to lose the highest % of body weight over a 12 week period. What better way to help others achieve their weightloss/fitness goals than for Holly to share her journey by providing “real-life” tips to “real-life” situations. First off, here is a bit of information about Holly followed by her first entry! We hope you enjoy our Blog series – “Working out” in Holly’s Shoes!
About Holly:
Starting Weight:
224.6 lbs starting the “Biggest Loser” challenge and 226 lbs starting with Paul about two weeks before “Biggest Loser” challenge started.
Holly’s Goals:
1. First & main goal – THIS IS IT! (as the genius Michael Jackson said) After trying almost everything out there, this is my last stop. I will reach my goal weight, I will go further with my weight loss and fitness than I have ever thought possible, and I will NEVER go back!
2. To achieve “my ultimate balance” in my life. Having all these elements working together – family, friends & loved ones, career, fitness, nutrition, sleep, and “me things” and feeling successful in each area of these elements.
3. Teaching & raising my daughter to create her own “ultimate balance”. I want her to grow up with the knowledge, strength, courage, skill & tools to be the best that she can be in her education, nutrition, fitness, rest, and most importantly, her “me things”.
4. Above are my long term goals, however, I think my short term goals are the most important. I believe, it is only through making and pushing through my short term goals will I make it to what I mentioned above. So weather it’s breaking my treadmill goal of 20 minutes running (I did this for the first time ever last week) to now running this week, for 30 minutes…YEAH!, or making myself do 40 squats instead on 30, or preparing my food for the next day when I really just want to sit on my burned out butt and watch “Grays”, it’s by making & breaking my small every day, every minute, goals I set for myself.
Holly’s Quote for the Week
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle
Dream Body Jam (DBJ) for the Week: Britney Spears “3”
Holly’s First Blog Entry: Surviving Halloween
How not to eat sweet treats! This was easy; I didn’t buy candy or hand out candy. Call me Mrs. Scrooge of Halloween, but I just couldn’t do it this year and yes, I kept the lights off so it seemed like we weren’t home, I know, I know….terrible! However, I figured that in the long run the kids wouldn’t remember, but the scale and all my hard work during the week would!
Nutrition: Save yourself from the Sweet-tooth Torture brought on by Halloween
Posted by: dreambodyvideoseries on: November 6, 2009
Halloween is a tough time of year for the sweet-tooth fanatics. It tests our will-power, strength and ability to steer clear of the sugary sweets that can take away all of your hard work in an instant. How can you survive the sweet-tooth torture brought on by Halloween? The following article provide 4-tips that might help you get past your cravings this season!
“Halloween and its homage to sugar is lurking just around every corner. As the temptation mounts each time we go to the grocery store to purchase enormous bags of candy bars and suckers, remember these surefire ways to treat yourself during this spooky time without tricking your diet plans before the holidays. You can survive Halloween on a diet.
- Plan Ahead. Before going to the store, determine how many bags of candy you will need, not how many you want. That way you know the stockpile of candy is for the little goblins and gremlins at your door.
- Don’t Play Favorites. Avoid buying candy that you love, and select only the candy that you are not tempted by. If you know you’ll lose all self-control around a certain candy-covered chocolate, do yourself a favor and opt for something you’re not likely to crave.
- Skip the Candy. It might feel like you’re violating some code, but more and more people are opting to hand-out healthy snacks or non-edibles as Halloween treats. Colored pencils, boxes of raisins, organic lollipops, granola bars, or party favor toys are all great alternatives to traditional candy.
- Give it Away. Between the leftover candy you were distributing and the haul your kids brought back with them, your kitchen counter might look like a little candy store. A very tempting candy store. Let everyone choose a few pieces of their favorites, and then get rid of it by donating to a local food bank, foster care center, senior center, homeless shelter, or even send it to the troops.
The idea with Halloween is to relish in this sugar-coated holiday, but not go totally nuts with sugar. Let everyone celebrate and enjoy the fun with costumes, decorations, or even a special Halloween dinner with warm apple cider, instead of embarking on a sugar high. And remember, one peanut butter cup tastes just the same as the ten additional ones you were considering eating.”
Source: DietsinReview
Personal Training: Not all Personal Trainers are Created Equal: How to find the right personal trainer for you!
Posted by: dreambodyvideoseries on: November 5, 2009
If you are tired at going at it alone and are on the market for a Personal Trainer there are some criteria that your “chosen one” should meet before you put your body in their hands. Please read the following article to learn what you should look for when choosing your own Personal Trainer!
Article by: Phano Paul Som – Bodybuilding.com
“Exercise is a science that requires extensive knowledge and skill, a process that takes many years to develop. By seeking the assistance of qualified fitness professional, you can benefit from the knowledge and experience that he/she has acquired, ultimately expediting your ability to achieve more results. More and more people are beginning to regard a personal trainer not as a luxury but as a necessity. They are realizing that, without proper guidance and support it is very difficult to initiate an exercise program. Unfortunately, virtually anyone can hang a sign on their door and call themselves a fitness professional. There now are more trainers than ever, substantially increasing your chances of making a bad choice.
There are five important things to look for when choosing your Personal Trainer:
1) Does your Personal Trainer have Credentials?:
One must realize that simply because a person is certified does not mean he/she is an expert in the field of fitness. Certified implies that a trainer displays a basic knowledge of exercise, stretching and nutrition, but does not take into account many factors that ultimately determine a trainer’s competence. There are many trainers who possess book smarts and can pass a certification exam, but often are not able to communicate their knowledge to others in a clear, concise fashion. Certification is valuable as an initial screening tool but it has limited usage.
2) A Personal Trainers Physique is Important:
A personal trainer should serve as a fitness role model. If you are inspired by the physique of your trainer, it can serve to motivate you to stay on a proper course. The ability to work with someone who has achieved an enviable physique through fitness can be a terrific source of inspiration and can keep you focused on your fitness goals.
3) Find a Trainer that has a Personality you Enjoy!:
A good trainer must possess more than just knowledge. He/she has to relate to the needs of each individual trainee. People have a myriad of personalities and a trainer must be able to deliver positive reinforcement as well as constructive criticism. He must be able to sense when to be forceful and when to be compassionate, when to push for that extra rep and when to pull back.
4) Check your Trainers References:
Any established trainer should be able to provide the names of several clients who can attest to his/her competence as a fitness professional. You should ask for the names of people who are about the same age and sex, and have similar fitness goals as yourself. This will ensure that you can accurately assess whether he/she is skilled in dealing with your particular needs.
5) Evaluate the Fee Structure of the Trainer:
Fees can vary greatly when it comes to personal training, ranging from as little as about $35 per session and going as high as $150 per session or more. Don’t think that a low-priced trainer is a bargain or that a high-priced trainer has some magical formula for success. There are many things that will dictate fee structure including competition, location, reputation, etc. The best trainers are the ones who can deliver results in the least amount of time as possible.”
Article Source: Bodybuilding.com
Relationships: First comes Love, then comes Marriage, then comes Saddlebags, Hula Hoops and Underboobs???
Posted by: dreambodyvideoseries on: November 3, 2009
The following article explains why so many of us gain weight after we say “I do”! This has most likely happened to yourself or someone you know and the sad part is it that the weight gain is totally preventable! I hope you enjoy the following article “Why Women Gain Weight After Marriage?” written by Monalisa Hyden.
“The journey from a proud Miss Perfect 10 clad in her wedding dress to a careless Mrs. Fat Aunt is not really long. It takes only twelve months for the whole makeover. It is a proven fact that women gain weight after marriage, and the process is so fast that it becomes obvious to people around you. But trust me! you are not as bothered as you were before marriage. In fact you are really contented with the idea that you don’t have to leave your bed early in the morning for an exercise or sacrifice your favourite dessert to cut down calorie intake. Although your size has increased from 10 to 14 then 18, after marriage you just want yourself let go. Nevertheless, you do not really like the idea that someone would call you Mrs. Fat Aunt, do you?
Common! Marriage does not mean that you do not have to look attractive anymore. In fact, to keep the electric attraction ongoing and keep your hubby glued to you, your looks matter a lot. Now, do I have to give reasons for the statement?
Miss Perfect 10 to Mrs. Fat Aunt
So let us find out the factors that change your waist line from 10 to 18 within 6 to 12 months from marriage.
• You think you have found a partner for life, no need to attract him anymore.
• You need to let your hubby know that you are a good cook.
• You cook for the family, giving preference to their choice.
• You eat as much as your partner, talking and munching!
• You eat the left-over, trying not to waste food.
• Your partner encourages you to eat more showing that your extra fat is not going to turn him off.
• You want to be loved unconditionally, not happy with the marriage, feeling disrespected, rejected and unloved.
• Pregnancy occurs
Think about it…
The secured feeling you get out of marriage is playing devil….the reason why you are putting on weight. As you do not have to attract a partner any longer, you stop taking care of yourself. When the marriage ends (God forbid!) and you are out of your dream castle, you see the mirror and scream, “Oh-my-God!! What I have done to myself!! Look at me…I don’t know the woman in the mirror”. So, you decide to shed your extra pounds, its time for another partner hunt! But why should your broken marriage be the only enthusiasm for being in shape? Be practical and don’t spoil what can be your life long asset, your desire for a good figure will give you a good healthy life style as well.
Cook food to make your husband happy, that’s really good! But you should not repeat richest meals and the creamiest desserts every day if you do not want to see your waist line increasing. And please let me tell you…you need to eat according to your body requirement. Not as much as your husband is eating, he has a bigger body than yours, so he needs more than you. You, as woman tend to please others and your motherly instinct resulting in putting the needs of others before your own. Do not do it. You can set an example for them, giving a good diet and healthy life style. They will understand and be supportive. Again, you do not like uneaten food left on plates because you were taught to finish your meals. So do not serve food when not needed or you know it can go waste.
The next reason for your increasing waistline may be your hubby is encouraging you to eat more, so that you do not look attractive any more and so he will compete less. Do not give into his insecurity, take him along with your weight loss program, and let him understand that you also want to see him in shape and in good health.
Another reason is unhappy married life, studies show that couples who are happy, stay in shape than those who are not. The reason behind this, you tend to put your concentration more on food and find solace in eating and cooking whatever you feel like, to suppress your depression and frustration. Hey, for heaven’s sake, change the idea of eating more!! This will cause you more depression in the long term.
And finally when pregnancy is knocking the door, you overeat during pregnancy and become too inactive, believing that you need to eat a lot more than you actually do and also you slow down and relax more than should. And the sudden hankering for special foods during this time only multiples the problem. Once you deliver the child, you stay at home putting the needs of your child and family before your own. Keep a close look on your weight gain during this period of time. If you gain more fat, you can have complexities during your child birth. Do light exercises as recommended by the doctor and eat healthy but do not overeat.
Stay fit for a successful married life ahead…
Life changes after marriage, you are more loved, more cared and more secured than ever. The first 12 months are the formative months for your marriage. Do not let it go. Staying fit will give you confidence to lay the foundation of your marriage, and at the same time you will remain attractive to your husband. If you put on weight, you only store trouble for the future.”
Article Source: Why Women Gain Weight by Monalisa Hyden
Affirmation of the Week: Respect
Posted by: dreambodyvideoseries on: November 2, 2009
What is Respect?
Respect is speaking and acting with courtesy. We treat others with dignity and honour the rules of our family, school and nation. Respect yourself, and others will respect you.
Affirmation
I am respectful.
I respect myself and my body.
I honour the wisdom of elders.
I treat others and myself as we deserve to be treated.
Source: Virtues Project International Inc.
