seinna023
02-11-2007, 05:48 PM
For clarification purposes, I have the need to clarify what this Challenge really meant to me. I got all kinds of remarks like, “Oh, you’re gonna be iron woman,” “Why do you spend all this time doing this? Are you really going to continue this after the competition?” “You don’t need to lose anymore weight, you’re already skinny,” “I don’t have enough money to do that,” “I don’t have time,” “You are too young to worry about your health,” “I should do this too b/c I want to also lose weight.” These are comments and questions that I received from family, friends, co-workers and other encounters. To me, this challenge was never about getting beefy, to become “iron woman” or to lose weight (god knows I didn’t have to lose weight!). The purpose was when I started and is, as I CHOOSE to continue to be healthy, to have a healthy and bearable life so that I can focus my energy to what is important to me- family and my community.
For those who asked why I spend so much time doing this, understand that one, it does not take more than one 20-30 minutes to really get a good workout, and two, because for once in my life, I care about myself and my body to take at least 20 min per day to have time for myself. Will I continue this after? Of course! Not only I’ve discovered how to have proper technique while training, but it is affordable to be healthy. I spent the same amount of money buying healthy food, if not less money, than buying unhealthy food. Granted, I don’t have money to go all the way organic, but I am smarter when going to the market. For example, being conscious of what is good / bad carbs. I’ve also found that weight loss should not be the main reason for working out. It should be health first ALL THE TIME! What happens if the “all about the weight loss” attitude comes into play, people will end up gaining that weight back. If one cares about their health, weight loss comes naturally.
Cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol runs in my family. I have family members who have life long health problems that started off when they were in their 20’s. So, it is a myth when we hear that we can eat what we want b/c we’re still young. At least in my family it is a myth.
The diet for this competition worked out because we took small baby steps to get to where we are. It started off with writing down what we eat, then eating within an hour of waking up, drinking half a liter of h20/day, increasing on our protein, etc. My first half of the competition had a couple of obstacles- h20 intake & my busy schedule. I dealt w/ it, moved on and adjusted. The second half was much different, I had no problems with my h20 intake at all nor did I allow my busy schedule to get in the way, but I struggled with my motivation or lack of. I had to remind myself that I spend so much time trying to change external issues outside of myself, which many are out of my control, but my health I have control over, which would be contradicting if I try to change things in my community, which many I have no control over, but not try to better myself, which I have control over.
The exercises and movements improved. I still do all my exercises assisted, but it has slowly evolved to being less assisted than when I first started. What my discomfort level of a 3 now would be a 6 when I first started. Emotionally, I felt very agitated in the beginning because I took away the sugary foods and unhealthy carbs sooner in the game than expected. I notice that I MUST eat within 6 hours or else I begin to not think, become very subjective and grouchy! I am learning how to make tasty good food. At first, I thought that enjoyable eating was over when I committed in being healthy. On 1/31/07, we started our Circuit C. I felt like I felt on the first day, however, that was the last day I felt sore. It literally was downhill after that.
On February 8, 2007, I told myself that I was going to quit smoking. Usuallly, when I attempt to quit, I tell myself that I’ll just try and see what happens. Then, I have bad withdrawals. Today is my 3rd day without smoking, and I don’t even want it at all! The cells of my body have changed and I am mentally and physically prepared to stop w/out feeling the withdrawal effects. I feel like I have more control over how I react to things and people. My road rage has completely calmed down, my moods are not so extereme, until I pass up my 6-hour limit of not eating.
I found myself question many times before why is it that mostly middle/upper class people participate in healthy living? My perspective on working out is that it is not only for the elite class and it shouldn’t be, but when it comes to good organic food, it is not for the lower part of the class spectrum. Hard working people who work long hours doing hard labor may not have the energy to workout. My question is how can working class people have the option to be able to participate in a healthy lifestyle? Also, incorporating other cultures that eat a certain way? Maybe it is not important because working class people are just trying to survive? In my mind, it is a lifestyle change that should be open to everyone. It can be done. I’ve encountered people who work long hard working hours, have families and still make it out for a walk, a jog, or run around w/ their kids at the park. Like I said, there just has to be that desire to participate and options for people outside of the middle/elite class to participate. These are just my thoughts while I’ve been training and long before.
Like I said in our last Challenge report, I feel like I won already. I QUIT SMOKING! That was truly the one thing I was scared to do. I know it’s only 3 days, but it’s 72 hours more without smoking. I won this Challenge. I completed it, I stuck it out all the way despite my schedule and people who questioned why I was doing what I was doing, no more cigarettes, I drink h20 regularly & my urine is finally healthy after 3 years of having high amounts of nitrite, I am a smarter shopper when it comes to what to buy at the market, I know how to perform the exercises much better and I already decided that I will continue CST & incorporate it with my running. All that mentioned, I’m a winner in my eyes. Do I want to win this Challenge in the eyes of the public? Yes, why not be recognized by something I love doing?
Thank you to my wifey who stuck it out w/ me. She made me go out there to the park and even went out there w/ me the day I was about to walk out of this competition. She also ate what I ate! Now, she’s even cut down on smoking b/c she sees that I’m not smoking anymore. Also, my personal trainer, my coach Jeff Samson who really got me this far. He got me into this, came out w/ me to the park almost weekly to make sure I was performing the technique the best way I could, gave me the suggestions, answered all my questions I had, and gave options on what assisted workouts I can do to improve sophisticated movements. A couple family members who kept up w/ my working out and asking, a couple friends who did the same THANK YOU! It didn’t seem a lot to ask how it was going, but it meant a lot to me that all of you remembered that I was actually doing this. That made me much more motivated and excited to get to the finish line. Then, to my RMAX Challenge II challengers: I appreciate so much the input, suggestions, comments and all of your drive to finish. We made it together to the finish line! I will miss you all. It’s weird b/c we’ve never met, but one thing that nobody that I know in my circle of friends/family will understand is that it feels so good to be in daily contact w/ people who care about our health as much as I do. I hope the best for all of you that each and everyone of you continue the path you are in. I hope to meet all of you in person. This truly was a collective victory!
ANNIE SAYO
For those who asked why I spend so much time doing this, understand that one, it does not take more than one 20-30 minutes to really get a good workout, and two, because for once in my life, I care about myself and my body to take at least 20 min per day to have time for myself. Will I continue this after? Of course! Not only I’ve discovered how to have proper technique while training, but it is affordable to be healthy. I spent the same amount of money buying healthy food, if not less money, than buying unhealthy food. Granted, I don’t have money to go all the way organic, but I am smarter when going to the market. For example, being conscious of what is good / bad carbs. I’ve also found that weight loss should not be the main reason for working out. It should be health first ALL THE TIME! What happens if the “all about the weight loss” attitude comes into play, people will end up gaining that weight back. If one cares about their health, weight loss comes naturally.
Cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol runs in my family. I have family members who have life long health problems that started off when they were in their 20’s. So, it is a myth when we hear that we can eat what we want b/c we’re still young. At least in my family it is a myth.
The diet for this competition worked out because we took small baby steps to get to where we are. It started off with writing down what we eat, then eating within an hour of waking up, drinking half a liter of h20/day, increasing on our protein, etc. My first half of the competition had a couple of obstacles- h20 intake & my busy schedule. I dealt w/ it, moved on and adjusted. The second half was much different, I had no problems with my h20 intake at all nor did I allow my busy schedule to get in the way, but I struggled with my motivation or lack of. I had to remind myself that I spend so much time trying to change external issues outside of myself, which many are out of my control, but my health I have control over, which would be contradicting if I try to change things in my community, which many I have no control over, but not try to better myself, which I have control over.
The exercises and movements improved. I still do all my exercises assisted, but it has slowly evolved to being less assisted than when I first started. What my discomfort level of a 3 now would be a 6 when I first started. Emotionally, I felt very agitated in the beginning because I took away the sugary foods and unhealthy carbs sooner in the game than expected. I notice that I MUST eat within 6 hours or else I begin to not think, become very subjective and grouchy! I am learning how to make tasty good food. At first, I thought that enjoyable eating was over when I committed in being healthy. On 1/31/07, we started our Circuit C. I felt like I felt on the first day, however, that was the last day I felt sore. It literally was downhill after that.
On February 8, 2007, I told myself that I was going to quit smoking. Usuallly, when I attempt to quit, I tell myself that I’ll just try and see what happens. Then, I have bad withdrawals. Today is my 3rd day without smoking, and I don’t even want it at all! The cells of my body have changed and I am mentally and physically prepared to stop w/out feeling the withdrawal effects. I feel like I have more control over how I react to things and people. My road rage has completely calmed down, my moods are not so extereme, until I pass up my 6-hour limit of not eating.
I found myself question many times before why is it that mostly middle/upper class people participate in healthy living? My perspective on working out is that it is not only for the elite class and it shouldn’t be, but when it comes to good organic food, it is not for the lower part of the class spectrum. Hard working people who work long hours doing hard labor may not have the energy to workout. My question is how can working class people have the option to be able to participate in a healthy lifestyle? Also, incorporating other cultures that eat a certain way? Maybe it is not important because working class people are just trying to survive? In my mind, it is a lifestyle change that should be open to everyone. It can be done. I’ve encountered people who work long hard working hours, have families and still make it out for a walk, a jog, or run around w/ their kids at the park. Like I said, there just has to be that desire to participate and options for people outside of the middle/elite class to participate. These are just my thoughts while I’ve been training and long before.
Like I said in our last Challenge report, I feel like I won already. I QUIT SMOKING! That was truly the one thing I was scared to do. I know it’s only 3 days, but it’s 72 hours more without smoking. I won this Challenge. I completed it, I stuck it out all the way despite my schedule and people who questioned why I was doing what I was doing, no more cigarettes, I drink h20 regularly & my urine is finally healthy after 3 years of having high amounts of nitrite, I am a smarter shopper when it comes to what to buy at the market, I know how to perform the exercises much better and I already decided that I will continue CST & incorporate it with my running. All that mentioned, I’m a winner in my eyes. Do I want to win this Challenge in the eyes of the public? Yes, why not be recognized by something I love doing?
Thank you to my wifey who stuck it out w/ me. She made me go out there to the park and even went out there w/ me the day I was about to walk out of this competition. She also ate what I ate! Now, she’s even cut down on smoking b/c she sees that I’m not smoking anymore. Also, my personal trainer, my coach Jeff Samson who really got me this far. He got me into this, came out w/ me to the park almost weekly to make sure I was performing the technique the best way I could, gave me the suggestions, answered all my questions I had, and gave options on what assisted workouts I can do to improve sophisticated movements. A couple family members who kept up w/ my working out and asking, a couple friends who did the same THANK YOU! It didn’t seem a lot to ask how it was going, but it meant a lot to me that all of you remembered that I was actually doing this. That made me much more motivated and excited to get to the finish line. Then, to my RMAX Challenge II challengers: I appreciate so much the input, suggestions, comments and all of your drive to finish. We made it together to the finish line! I will miss you all. It’s weird b/c we’ve never met, but one thing that nobody that I know in my circle of friends/family will understand is that it feels so good to be in daily contact w/ people who care about our health as much as I do. I hope the best for all of you that each and everyone of you continue the path you are in. I hope to meet all of you in person. This truly was a collective victory!
ANNIE SAYO