maintenance

This is the time after you have reached your fitness goals. Although goals change and are adjusted continuously in a lifestyle change, most or all of the weight you set out to lose is complete. It is officially maintenance. This is a tricky time. For first timers, this is another step into the unknown, just like the initial goal to lose weight. For veterans, athletes, or those returning to the game, there is an existing schematic for what the time after the the time looks like. When you know better you do better. Essentially the expectation should be to stay in game with or without the motivation to lose, but to maintain a healthy weight and nutrition program.

If in fact you felt like a dieter throughout your weight loss plan, you are without a doubt in 'maintenance' if you choose to keep the weight off and not rebound. The maintenance program is nothing like the weight loss program. This program is adjusted whenever necessary, but for the most part it still includes regular exercise and an optimum nutrition. It does not mean you can totally slack off and throw away everything you did and all of the hard work it took to reach your success.

Remember what the first time felt like. Although you may take days, even weeks off, you will learn through trial and error what you can and cannot do to maintain a healthy weight and fitness.

I am in maintenance. I expect my maintenance program to evolve. Currently I am focusing on increasing my raw food supply, increasing: strength, flexibility, and endurance. In short, that doesn't look much different than my initial goals...right?

Right!

Weight loss was never a goal for me. My focus was always increasing: strength, flexibility, and endurance along with whole food/clean eating. Weight loss is a gift or result of exercise and optimum nutrition.

My body is continuously changing-getting leaner and stronger. My workouts have and will always adjust over time. So what is maintenance for a 'lifer'? Maintenance is simply homeostasis: the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.

In essence, my body will know when it needs to lose or gain. I will continually work towards optimum health and nutrition. My body will self-adjust accordingly.

postcard from a traveling vegetarian

As a vegetarian, the journey for me has been easy. In the beginning it was not so much for those around me to get used to. Sometimes people are not sure that you are for real. But the longer you do something the more people realize and recognize that you are serious. They may not become you, but they respect what you do.

The only thing that potentially can make a vacation go absolutely wrong is not having enough food to eat or simply enjoy...at least for a foodie like me. It is a stress button. Of course I learned to think ahead, tow some fruit/veggies, some ample whole grains, water, and other nutritious pre-packed snacks. The latter is the last thing I will plug into my luggage, but it is a snack better than the alternatives...which are purely junk!

It is a blessing to be understood for who you are and not feel closeted because you are different.

the wedding diet...bootcamp

From June to August registers the most weddings of the calendar year. All of my friends and family were married during the summer. You would think with all of the planning it takes to knock down a date/venue for this time of the year, that the diets would start coming out of winter.

Not!

I will be spending July/Aug teaming and tightening up the bridesmaids and bride for an August nuptial. Now this is not to throw shade, but a little goes a long way when done over a long period of time. The event date fast approaching is enough to stress gain. For those new to exercise, it will feel like torture.

Expect to ache!

Yes I said it. Not only will I be pushed for time to whip some bodies into the best they can be, but will likely be squeezing my workouts within this group training session. With that said, there are some tips to use to get things right, get them tight...

*hydration
*clean eating
*trim and eliminate waste
*cardio...lots of it

My motto is a lifestyle change. However, when you're 'dieting' for an event, you have to go all the way clean. Time is short and that means your body will demand 200% from you to get decent results.

Get ready, get set...let's go!