Monica's Quest Day 15

One of my favorite quotes that I have referred to lately is one by Eleanor Roosevelt: "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." I find that I am always worrying about how others percieve me. I get so wrapped up in that it totally dictates my life. I am working hard on controling my inner thoughts. You know what they say, if you think it then you will probably act on it. So, if I keep my thoughts positive and remember that I am a daughter of our Heavenly Father, he will bless me with successes for all my hardwork. I recently added an intense power circuits to my fitness club. I might have mentioned this, but it is such a great change of pace for my workout routine. Two favorite stations that I have are the ham/glute raise on the body ball and the mountain climbers. Sweaty fun for me! Love ya, Monica

Monica's Quest- Day 14

Well it has been two weeks since I started my quest to lose weight. Nothing spectacular has happened, I haven't dropped 20 pounds, and I am still struggling with what I shove in my mouth. I guess I have to look at the big picture and revisit my goals that I set for myself at the beginning of this quest. My 1st, and most important goal was to achieve lifetime fitness. The journey hasn't been easy and I don't think that it will be any easier for the next year. I guess I truly understand what enduring to the end means! I just have to accept that it will take longer (for me) and that I am becoming a better person through this experience. I didn't gain all this weight overnight, so I probably won't lose it that fast either! Thanks for all the support. Just reading my journals give me the boost of energy to keep on trekking! Monica

Monica's Quest- Day 11 &12

Friday was such a test of wills for me. I tried to make my fitness club activity (cardio step) more hardcore, but I was feeling a little under the weather. I got through it, but I felt bad for the 4 ladies that were there because I was all over the place. All I could think about was getting home and crawling into bed. That is what I did until Saturday night. I didn't get much done on saturday because I was feeling extremely lazy. I guess I was already feeling burned out with the things that I have been doing. I have some new kickboxing steps that I am going to try out for Mondays class. Happy Father's Day! My nutrition in truly suffering. I need to find a program that works with my lifestyle. I am going to research some options today. Monica

Monica's Quest- Day 11

This morning I did power circuits for Fitness Club. I really gave the ladies something to kick start their morning. We did bicep curls, plyometrics, sprints, bench press, abs with the medicine ball, triceps, squats with the body ball on the wall, push ups, continuous lunges on the step, inner and outer thighs with a resistant band, mountain climbers, ski jumps, glute/ham raise on the body ball, flys/upright rowing, and fire hydrants. Each station was for 1 minute and 30 seconds. It was a great change of pace from step and kickboxing. A couple of nights ago, I went into the high school weight room and put 135lbs on the bench press. Yea, Monica still gots it! Now for the challenge of losing all the insualtion around all the muscles that no one can see. Still busting my butt everyday! Monica! :D (exhaustion is setting in)

Monica's Quest- Day 10

Thank you Denise for that inspirational poem that she posted yesterday! Today was really interesting for me. I don't have fit club on Wednesdays because I reserve the day to go up to Tahoe for some R & R! The weather is still really cold and the water colder, so I haven't made it up there yet, so I decided to take the kiddos in the stroller and go on a mid-morning walk. I took them off-road in the double stroller and got the best workout. My hamstrings and glutes were burning when I got home. I was out walking for about an hour. It amazes me that something so simple as taking your children out for a walk can be spiced up for a good workout! Monica

Here's to a New End

I found this quote today and thought that it was just perfect for a little inspiration to help us meet our fitness and weight loss goals. I hope you agree.

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, my friend, anyone can start from now and make a brand new end." -Anonymous

Whatever has happened up to this point is done, so let's not fret about where we are. Start now and make a new end for ourselves by getting involved, making changes and focuses on what kind of end you would like.

Here's to a New End for all of us! Best wishes!

Monica's Quest- Day 9

This morning was so much fun! I went to my fitness club that I have at the high school and taught a sweat-pouring kickboxing class. Sweat was pouring down my face. I love aerobics! I know that I have mentioned it before, but I REALLY LOVE any type of aerobics. Great music and cool friends that want to come and workout with me. No matter how depressed that I might get about my weight, I know that getting active and really exercising always makes me feel better and I forget about why I was sad in the first place. I also realized that I might not see real results for a couple of weeks to maybe months. This is truly been a humbling experience for me. I often wish I was back in high school when I dropped so much weight in the summer between my freshman and sophomore year. I know that I am in totally different place in my life, but I know that I can have the same determination as I did that summer! Running with my dad and lifting weights at the high school and watching what I eat paid off then, but being consistent with exercise and eating right will help me to reach my goal of acheiving lifelong fitness. It will be hard at times, but I do believe that I am determined enough to make it work for ME! Later, Monica

Monica's Quest- Day 8

Sunday, what a great day of rest (day 7), but today (Monday 6-15) has started off a little rough! I went to my fitness club and had a great step routine and toning routine for all those involved. Then I came home to face the dreaded scale. I am very narotic when it comes to weighing myself. I don't understand why I put myself through this torture, but I do. I didn't lose as much weight as I wanted too, but I guess it is better than gaining it. The most important point is that I lost weight. One way that I have taking the stress off of the weekly weigh-in is by measuring different parts of my body each week. I am losing inches, too (Yea!) I have re-examined my goals for this week and realized that I really need to focus on my nutrition. I have many ideas, but I am weak, weak, weak when it comes to food. I don't eat terrible, but I could do so much better. This is my focus this week! Wish me luck. :D

Monica's Quest- Day 6

Today I woke up with lots of sore muscles! My kickboxing class kicked my butt. I love it! :D. Today I got up to run and it was pouring rain outside. I will have to improvise and find something to do. I did get a couple of Wii Fit games- Jillian Michaels and a competitve sports game that I can probably try. I have added one more fitness component to this quest- swimming. On my day off from Fit Club, I will go with a couple of ladies from the church to an early morning free swim at the pool in Carson City. For now, I will only be doing 1 day a week of swimming, but want to get it up to 3 days. I don't know if it will be possible because of the Fit Club. I also have 3 nights of open gym for volleyball. I am one very busy lady! I wouldn't change it for the world. Monica

Monica's Quest- Day 5

This morning I had the best fit club class. I had about 7 people in attendance and we did kickboxing. At first I was a little timid about what to teach them, but as soon as the music started, I was in the zone and I made the class move. Man, did I make them sweat. It felt so good. When I got home I was exhausted. I LOVE THAT FEELING!! After doing step aerobics for 3 days, it was a good change of pace for the class. If you were wondering, I teach the class myself. I don't do any videos. I have been teaching aerobics for 4 years now (mostly to my upperclass students at the high school I teach at). Hopefully soon, when I lose some major weight, I will go and get my aerobics certification. Then I can teach in the health clubs and pass on my love of aerobics to others. I have to thank Cherilyn, my sister, for taking me to my very first aerobics class at BYU with Barbara!!! It created a monster! Love Ya, Monica

Monica's Quest- Day 4

I love being active!!! I often sit and wonder how it is I can accomplish so many great things. If it wasn't for my extra pounds, I would be doing really good. Losing weight for me has always been a struggle and I just have to realize that I have to train harder and longer than most people on the planet to see or get the results that I want. It sucks, but I just have to put into perspective what I would be and look like if I wasn't as active as I am. It is a very scary thought and I never want to find out. One day at a time is all it takes! The work that I do each day is important in helping me achieve sef-actualization! (Abraham Maslow)! Monica :D

Monica's Quest- Day 3

Mind over matter, mind over matter, mind over matter. The mind is such a powerful machine in our bodies. Today was really hard for me. I was thinking negatively and that didn't help with my self-esteem. I know you are all thinking that this is only the 3rd day, but every day there is some sort of struggle for me. It all starts with my inner thoughts. I will be working really hard on keeping those inner thoughts positive so I don't act in a negative way. I have my fit club tomorrow and friday, (I was off today) so that will help a lot. A thought to leave you..." a journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step". So true, so I will keep on stepping! Monica

Monica's Quest- Day 2

Last night I went to an open gym for volleyball at the high school. I was so self-conscience about what I was wearing ( a t-shirt with no layers) This is a big deal for me. I find comfort in layers. I am really trying to except what I have become. It was only a big deal for about 5 minutes and then realized that the players would think more of me if I was active and participating. It worked like a charm. It is really hard for me to sit out of anything, so I had a very fun night. I did however, realize how important it is for me to lose weight. I would be able to do so much more with the girls. I would be able to actually play and not worry about my shirt flying up exposing my "giggles". I had my second fit club this morning and it rocked. I think that participating in any type of aerobics, whether it is step, toning, pilates, or kickboxing, it takes me to my happy place and it makes me want to accomplish all that I can. A big thank you to those endorphins that visit me after each and every workout. It will happen for me, but I must be patient. All in all a very good and sweaty day!! :D Monica

Monica's Quest to Lose the Weight!!

I have to admit that writing on a blog was never really something that I wanted to do, but I find real reasons to believe that it will help me in my efforts to lose weight. It has been a struggle since my teen years to find a healthy balance between nutrition, exercise, and my overall mental well-being. You would think that being a physical education/ health/ and aerobics teacher that I would have all the right tools to assist me in this lifelong quest. Wrong! I do know a lot about overall wellness and fitness, but making it work for me has been the ultimate challange. I have challenged myself to lose weight before the start of the next school year so I can be more of an example for my students. I think they will listen and take what I say more seriously. With this being my motivation, I know I will be successful because I will look better and feel better about myself. I will try and write a daily journal to let everyone be a part of my quest in becoming physically fit. There is some components of this quest that I would like to share with you. If I lay it all out, then I will be more accountable in this quest. The most important component, (and the hardest for me) is my nutrition. I have found a very successful program called the "Six Week Makeover", that I have lost 30 pounds in the past years. I haven't gained those 30 lbs back, but I have so much more to lose. IT is awesome because I eat a lot of compex carbohydrates, lots of lean proteins, loads of veggies and just enough of the "right" fruits to get that sweet fix. With the program I am eating 6 times a day and watching my serving sizes. Next I have a kick butt exercise program that should help me with burning calories and fat. I am doing a fitness club at the high school that I work at. I have invited lots of my students and church ladies to come so I can help them to become physically fit. I will do a 1 hour session on monday, tuesday, thursday, and friday. We will be doing step aerobics, kickboxing, circuit training, hi/lo, pilates, and lots of toning. This is my favorite part. On wednesdays, I will be going swimming. I am also coaching volleyball next year, so we have open gym three times a week. I will be running, jump training, and playing a lot of volleyball thorughout the summer! I am then going to fit cross country running in as well. ( I am thinking wed, friday, and saturdays) I think I have the fitness component under control. Well this first entry is getting really long, but I know that good things will happen for me this summer. I will give you an update on my daily endeavors. Wish me luck! GO MONICA!!