Living Beyond the Scale

If you keep up with my blog regularly, you know that I am all about structure.

I schedule when I’m going to eat. I schedule when I’m going to shower. I schedule when I’m going to finish that lesson plan and still get enough sleep for my 4am wake up call the next day. I schedule my client session for Job #2…3? (Who’s counting?) I schedule when I’m going to have that last banana. I have to! For myself, that’s how I get things done. It’s how I finish reports, it’s how I memorize my lines, it’s how I was able to shed 40 pounds. It’s also what fits in with my insane lifestyle.

But I’ll be the first to say that it feels as if “life” gets in the way sometimes.

Recently, I opened my show “Damn Yankees,” without taking any pauses from my “regular life.” Master Kid Wrangler (“The bell does not excuse you, I do!”, Gym Bunny (“Would you like me to show you our Group X room?”), and Private Coach (“5, 6, 7, 8!”) by day…Devilish Temptress by night. (Don’t worry, it’s just pretend.)

Wait, when am I supposed to work out?

Well, I, like many others, fell victim to my own pity party to myself. I was exhausted, running on 3 hours of sleep a night, and barely eating because I didn’t have the energy to make anything and didn’t want to eat fast food. Wake up, work all day, try to stay sane for the sake of the children, eat something small, drive the hour to the venue, makeup on, body warm, dance dance dance, sing sing sing, act act act, come home, peel the false lashes off, wash my face, brush my teeth, sleep. Repeat.

It’s no wonder my body didn’t have the energy to work out like I usually do. How can it when I’m not taking care of it? “Life got in the way.” Um, I’m sorry, what? Ixchel, this IS your life. Prolong it.

The few times in the last couple of weeks that I did run was…let’s just say, I was not in it to win it. Have you ever been running and you’re thinking, “Geez Louis, how long have I been running?” Then you look at your iPod and say, “Oh…I’m still on the first song? Well…alright then.” Then I ran on the beach. I’m pretty sure I looked like a 6 year old trying to run in a jolly jumper. Nope. Not in it to win it.

Today I woke up and realized that it had been THREE WEEKS since I even lifted a single weight. Three weeks! (Sorry to the guys who have to lift me in the show!)

What could I have done to prevent this? Well, I have to stop thinking I’m Super Woman. (I know, I know!) I think allowing myself some rest [maybe lowering my intensity during Tech Week (Hell Week is to Football what Tech Week is to Dancers)] could have done me some good. Taking more time for myself to relax even just for ten minutes? Give myself an extra five minutes of sleep in the morning? Pack my lunches the night before? All of these things, had I planned accordingly, could have helped. My body can’t do all the fascinating things it’s designed to do if I don’t take care of it and give it the proper fuel- sleep and nutrition. The same goes for you! It takes planning!

Today was the perfect day to get back on the wagon. Not because it’s Monday. Not because it’s a new month. Because it’s NOW. Now is the best time. Shi* happens. Don’t beat yourself up. Get back on track. I woke up today still tired from the last couple of weeks. Was it really exhaustion? Or was I just COMFORTABLE now with the lethargy my mind convinced my body I had? The second I got in the gym, headphones blaring with “Titanium,” I knew I was back and I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be.

Decide that wanting it is worth it. YOU are worth it. Just get up! Take a walk! Make a delicious healthy meal! Do some strength training! Something! You don’t have to jump right back into the deep end of the pool- just as long as you get in (metaphorically or literally). Aren’t you tired of starting over? So, don’t stop! I skipped a week and then all of a sudden, it was three weeks. Whoa! That happened quickly! Luckily, I’m dancing so much that I didn’t gain any weight, but what’s more important than the number is that I don’t FEEL as great as I usually do.

So, up, up, up! You can do it. Really. I know you care about your body. Isn’t that why you’re still reading? ;)

Happy Round 2 (or 3, or 4!), Happy Working, Happy Living. :)

Dear Rowing Machine,

Where have you been all my life?

Sincerely,

Your New Friend

I have to constantly say this to myself, mostly because other people say it to me often. That must mean I need to hear it.

“It’s okay to ask for help.”

I myself say this to so many others, yet it’s always been hands down the #1 most difficult concept to grasp in terms of my own life. And I’m talking EVERY aspect of my life. Silly things like trying to fix a computer myself just out of principle, to bigger things like calling a friend when I’m just sobbing about something and I need to let it all out. There’s work things like not understanding a new policy, or trivial things like carrying all the weight by myself (literally and metaphorically).

Or with weight loss.

I’m down almost 40 pounds from my highest weight, but I’ve now hit a plateau that I can’t get out of myself. I’m so close, I can taste it! But I need that extra help to get where I want to be. I’m so lucky to work at a place where they really value employee health and quality of life, so I have many resources available to me. I also had to sit down and sacrifice some time and money to begin training tomorrow with a new trainer (and I’m so excited to start!) so that I can get the extra help I need. Yes, it can feel awkward, but I found someone who I trust that will help me.

I’m not saying PT is the only answer. While I highly recommend it, I know it’s not always an option! There are so many other ways to ask for help. Ask a friend you admire if you can come along on their next workout! Ask someone to teach you how to cook your favorite healthy dish! Ask your doctor what you can do to get a healthy BMI and/or help your heart! My new trainer started out as a friend and I asked her a question about sprints one day…and now here we are. I trust her with everything and now I don’t feel so uncomfortable.

I get mail all the time from subscribers who are bullied or ridiculed for their weight. Doesn’t it make absolutely NO sense to get made fun of for being an overweight person exercising? Ugh. I wish I could fly to every one of those cities and give those people a piece of my mind.

But for every person out there who is going to knock you down and hurt you (because they themselves are insecure a-holes), there are TWO more people who are willing to help you and truly want to see you succeed.

I have been in your position! Where you just feel stupid and you don’t know what answers you’re looking for because you don’t even know the questions you’re asking. Remember that life begins outside of your comfort zone. You got this. Did I ever tell you that I cried during a session one time? HA! Well, I did. And you know what, it’s all good!

So ask for help if you need it. Research your resources. They may be right under your nose! No one is in this alone— and if you’re reading this, then know you have at least one person on your side who is rooting for you.

Happy Helping, Happy Living

Ixchel

motiveweight:

Both belly bulge and love handles are about excess body fat, not lack of muscle. Crunches and ab exercises are therefore not the solution. The best way to reduce these problem areas is to reduce your overall body fat percentage, and we all know that that requires diet and exercise. -Jillian Michaels

(via fat-t0-fit)

muffintop-less:

My Tips on Fitting Exercise Into Your Busy Schedule:

• Schedule it - Mark it on your calendar or planner and treat it as an important meeting, not to be missed!
• Wake up earlier - For a lot of people, waking up earlier than normal is a horrible inconvenience.. but it’s also a great way to get a workout in before your day has even officially begun! (Trust me, it’s such an awesome feeling walking out of the gym as all your fellow bleary-eyed gym-goers are just walking in!)
• Keep your workout gear close-by - By keeping a set of workout clothes in your car at all times, you give yourself NO excuse not to hit the gym after school or work. Just swing by the gym on your way home 
• No gym? No problem! - Bodyrocktv on Youtube has AWESOME, intense, at-home workouts that you can do for $0 and minimal time! There are also a massive amount of workout DVDs available online.
• Avoid the elevator - You can burn extra calories by skipping modern conveniences. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park far away, not in front of the store, skip the car and take your bike..
• Take breaks - Get up from your desk, stretch and go for a quick walk to the coffee machine or the water fountain. Sitting for long periods of time is unhealthy, so give yourself a break.
• Use time wisely - While you’re waiting for the shower to heat up or your ride to arrive, do jumping jacks, push ups, squats, burpees.. anything you feel like to get your body moving. At least it’s SOMETHING.
• Squeeze it in - Even if you don’t have one giant block of time, you can squeeze in 10 minutes here and there of something like Yoga, Pilates or Tabata style workouts.
• On the phone? Walk! - Don’t sit if you spend a lot of time on the phone. When given the opportunity, walk and talk.

If exercise and health is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse. You’ve only got one body, take care of it! =)

(via body-is-a-temple)

BOOM with the back of the Muscle Milk Light.

Basically the gist of why I chose Living Beyond the Scale as my Blog name!

(via e-upepsia)

lexyvictorias:

happyandsweaty:

eatclean-getfit:

IS THE NUMBER ON THE SCALES GETTING YOU DOWN?

Girls, girls, girls. I know we all have our own stories and we’re all here for different reasons. But I see A LOT of girls desperately trying to see lower numbers on their scales. It looks to me like the main reason they’re doing it (working out/eating healthy) is to see a low number on scales. The only thing thing keeping them going is the hope that one morning they’ll stand on the scale and their “ultimate goal weight” will be staring them in the face.

I believe, and yes this is my personal opinion, that what should be staring you in the face, is yourself in the mirror. Why not forget about the numbers for a while? Check your progress in the mirror, how your clothes fit, compare old photos with new photos, happiness, how well you sleep at night, how much energy you have, how strong you are mentally and physically, there are probably a million other reasons but these are the ones just came to mind now.

Different weights look different on every single body. Just because your favourite celeb has a bangin’ bod at a weight, doesn’t mean it’s going to look fantastic on you too.

I hope my progress will inspire some of you and make you realise that you don’t need to see incredibly low numbers. I rarely weigh myself. I only weigh myself when I see a big difference in my body in muscle definition. It turns out the better I look, the more weight I’ve gained.

Don’t let numbers define you. Please. I am genuinely concerned for some people that I see on here. 

ugh these photos make me feel good <3

Love this

This girl is a perfect example of living BEYOND the scale. Great job!

(via bethebestbeattherest)

Cosmopolitan In-Home Exercises!

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know of my obsession with Cosmo! Well, here are some equipment-less exercises you can do that are simple but really work your muscles out. And if you’re anywhere near my neck of the woods, it’s DEATHLY hot outside! These exercises can easily be done inside where the AC is going and you’re not at risk for a heat stroke! Let me know how these go! And if you’re part of the Sexy Autumn Bootcamp…here are your required 20 minutes. ;)