Support Really Does Work and Finally Back on the Courts!

On Labor Day I wrote about a New Season of Shay Shay. I said I wouldn't go into too many details about how I would get myself back in gear, but that I would just do it.

Well, I AM DOING IT! I am getting back to the basics, and I feel awesome! I am still not where I want to be with my routine, but I am getting there! This journey is a marathon; not a 50 yard dash!

One key detail that has proven to be wonderful is the support of my friends! With one group of friends, we email each other for motivation and give updates on Mondays (to start off the week right) and Thursdays (and to take us through the weekend to end it right). Then with another friend we email each other almost daily with our food, exercise, and sleep journal. Then I have informal support networks--friends and associates who know I'm on the journey and tell me I am looking good or want to get on the fitness train and want just want to shoot the breeze about it.

The accountability has been AWESOME!

Getting myself back in gear is helping me to move better on the courts too! Yesterday, I just went for balls that were seemingly too far gone to get--BUT I GOT THEM! I stayed mentally focused and calm too. And WE WON! It was soooo good to get some competitive play in yesterday. The rain has finally ceased. All the tennis addicts in Atlanta couldn't wait to get on the courts. It was a great day of tennis!

Have a great Monday!

A New Week; Another Opportunity

Happy Monday!

As I reflect on this past week. I am really proud of myself. I stuck to my guns, stayed focused on my goals, and lost 4 lbs! I didn't feel deprived of tasty food; the exercise wasn't a drag--it was awesome! A great week for Shay Shay!

Now on to a new week. I travel for work this week, so I have another opportunity to challenge myself to stay focused. This week will not be as easy. My routine will be broken; I will be dining out a few days for all meals. But, honestly I know I can make good, clean choices while dining in restaurants. I just have chosen not to do so in the past.

This week WILL BE DIFFERENT!

Finally, A Break From the Rain and Investing in Me!

Since Monday evening, the rain, rain wouldn't go away. Well, yesterday afternoon, finally the rain took a break. I hit the courts! It felt great! I felt great! What a difference clean eating and consistent exercise makes! I hit singles with a very experienced player and she had me all over the courts. But, I was moving! I moved well. And, I returned some pretty nice shots. I didn't feel sluggish. My legs didn't feel like lead. I felt awesome!

I need to remember this feeling. Every time I want to compromise on clean eating and exercise, I need to remember this feeling. I know it has only been five days, but I have to capitalize on this feeling. I have to invest in what I know works. Effective investments yield effective results. I have to invest in me! I WILL invest in me--working to be the best Shay Shay I can be!

Keep the Momentum Going!

Keep Tracking and Keeping Focused

Happy Friday!

As I move into the weekend, I must keep focused and keep track. With just four full days of eating clean, working out diligently, and keeping track of what I eat, I already feel better and am seeing results!

Now, it's the start of the weekend. And, bad habits Friday-Sunday will lead to bad results Monday! So, Shay Shay must continue to keep track and keep focused!

In addition to keeping my food diary, I am also keeping track of the fattening foods I avoid and assessing a dollar value to them. I will put aside the money equivalent of what I avoided and use it to buy something when I reach my goal. I'm keeping a running list on this blog under my Goals section.

In just a few days of keeping track of what I have avoided, I have learned quite a bit:

1. I DO have WILL POWER!

2. It's so easy to eat something bad everyday. In isolation it seems like "oh it's just one "treat" and one day. But, then tomorrow comes and another treat tempts you. And BOOM! I've Gained 5 lbs--in one week!

3. Just because others indulge, I can be social and not indulge. Get some gum; drink some tea. Even if in shape friends indulge, you don't know what they are doing when they are not with you, so you can't compare your habits to what you see in that one moment. Stick to your guns and goals Shay Shay!

Have a great weekend!

Happy Hump Shay!

Happy Hump Day! I can't remember the last time I was home on a Wednesday as I have been traveling quite a bit for work the last month. This morning I woke up and went to spin class before going into the office. And this evening I actually made dinner at dinner time (chicken, spinach, and parmesan egg white omelet with roasted sweet potatoes) and have been putting away suitcases, washing and folding clothes, and just picking up around the house. AND I AM LOVING IT! This may seem strange; I just had a day of the gym, work, and housework, right? Just routine stuff, right? WRONG!

Lately my routine hasn't been routine at all.--never really unpacking suitcases, spending the night in hotels all the time, eating out and late all the time, missing meals, in and out of airports all the time. Just madness. Without my routine, I lost focus.

This week marks the return of the focused, determined to meet my goals Shay Shay. Now, I know that life can get busy and hectic and that daily routines get interrupted--sometimes for weeks! But, I have to make sure that when things get busy, I take a step back--take time to re-focus. I will have to take a step back to remember my goals, to remember how good it feels to look and be fit, to remember how hard it is to get back on track after a long hiatus from being focused on health and fitness.

I know I will do it! I have no choice.

So, today is more than just a regular ol' Wednesday, a normal Hump Day--it's Hump Shay!

Watch out now!

A Good Day; Taking Days One at a Time

Although I looked in my closet yesterday morning in complete frustration because I don't feel comfortable in any of my clothes, yesterday was a good day (Note: giving away your bigger sized clothes is a great motivator because you can never really get too content with weight gain unless you don't mind re-buying the same type of clothes to fit your current size as it balloons upward. I MIND!).

It was a good day because all day I ate the cleanest that I have eaten in almost four months! I was reminded that good ol' fashioned preparation and focus is not as hard as I think. I feel better and lighter already!

So, I am looking forward to today. I'm already off to a good start: morning kettlebell workout; packed my meals for today, had a hearty breakfast of old fashioned oatmeal with flaxseed, bee pollen, cinnamon, and 1/2 banana, 3 boiled egg whites, 1 slice Ezekiel toast, and green tea.

Today will be another good day. I will reach my goals one day at a time!

Have a great day!

To All My Friends on the Journey . . .

Let's Do This! By this, I mean--let's make the lifestyle changes we desire to get the RESULTS WE DESIRE!

All this week, I have been having conversations with beautiful, strong, and dynamic women about the desire to get fit/drop some pounds. All of us are at varying stages of fitness, but we all have one thing in common: we are not content with our current state of fitness.

So, I am dedicating this post to all the ladies I know (and those I don't know) who are taking control of their fitness and who are smart enough to know that having a support network and accountability is key to fitness success!

We WILL reach our goals!

Keep in touch!

On the Road Again . . .

. . . traveling to places where I've always been! Yep, it's time to board the plane for another business trip. The challenge: make sensible, dessert free choices all week! Hit the hotel gym, despite the 7 AM meeting start tomorrow (hmm, this means I can't stay up all night watching the US Open!).

I know I am up for the challenge. I know I have no choice but to meet the challenge! I've worked to hard to get to this point. I like looking and feeling fit. I know I will like looking and feeling even more fit! I don't like looking and feeling squishy.

Shay Shay: YOU CANNOT FORGET THESE FEELINGS! YOU CANNOT STOP BLOGGING ABOUT THESE FEELINGS!

Happy Labor Day! A New Season of Shay Shay!

Happy Labor Day!



I look back at my most recent post claiming that I would "Free Myself for Independence Day" and my first reaction is: "Here I go again! Another holiday, another declaration. Another post where I have to 'fess up that I haven't reached my goals." But, I am going to focus on the positive. Quite a bit has happened in the last couple months (not necessarily listed by level of importance):

1. My USTA team (I'm captain) made it to the City Finals! We came up short of full victory, but boy did we have an awesome run! I LOVE my team! My skills and confidence on the court are dramatically better than last year on the court. I am determined to Keep the Momentum Going!

2. By God's grace, I walked away from an attempted carjacking with just a scratch and as a bonus--they assailants only got away with my crackberry! A BLESSING INDEED! Psst-please don't tell my grandparents!

3. I was selected to join the Corporate Leadership Council of the Fernbank Natural History Museum--what an awesome place! This will be a great opportunity to network and get more involved in my community.

4. I have been traveling for work A LOT--a blessing to have a job and one that I really like! But, I am tired! I have been able to spend time with my family in between trips (Boston with Grandpa; my hometown of Surry at my parents new beautiful home), which has been priceless.

5. My Sweetie got a wonderful job opportunity, but in Florida. I miss him, but I am so VERY PROUD OF HIM! He's doing some awesome work!

6. I ate grasshoppers. Yep, first twigs and bark and now grasshopper tacos. I am a true foodie, so I'll try almost anything (in a restaurant-LOL!) once. The restaurant didn't try to disguise them in a bunch of sauce or anything. I could see exactly what I was eating. They weren't bad, but I don't have to order them again. I am just thankful for the experience.

So, as you can see, life has been great!

What hasn't been great, though, is what I mentioned when I started this post: I have not met my goals. The good thing is that I know exactly why. I have gotten soft when it comes to intensity of working out; I have gotten very lax with eating clean; so, my body is just responding accordingly!

So, as I embark on a new season-Fall (Don't you just love the Fall) and a new season of tennis-Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA)(super competitive-I'm so excited to start Sunday!), I am also embarking on a new season of Shay Shay. I won't go into a lot of details about how I am going to step it up in the gym and get my eating habits in check (traveling is NOT an excuse). I've said it all before. I am just going to let the results speak for themselves.

Stay tuned!