{Beauty Tuesday} Spring Cleaning

Alright, I admit it. I've got the winter blues. Sweater weather and holiday indulgences have taken their respective tolls on my body this season, and it's killing me. Plus, I have had enough with all the people telling me horror stories about gaining a ridiculous amount of weight as a missionary! To me, having a healthy lifestyle is vital to leading a successful life. No one can serve or perform at his or her best when the physical body isn't being taken care of properly.

Even though half the reason I'm posting this for the world to see is embarrassing myself into sticking with a routine, I wouldn't be completely honest if I told you I've flat-out let myself go. For the most part I eat normal portions and kinds of food. I'm a bit more sedentary than I would like to claim, but I enjoy exercising when I actually do it. So if you're reading this, please don't set my personal story at the insane (though inspiring) standard you see on television. I don't weigh over 300 pounds, nor do I plan to lose half my weight. If that's what you expect of me, then by all means I will not be offended if you choose to exit this tab and go back to watching The Biggest Loser.

My whole point in Beauty Tuesday-ifying my usually rather private diet and exercise routine is to express the almighty importance of physical health as it pertains to beauty. If you put good in, you get good out! I could rattle off makeup and hair ideas like there's no tomorrow, but there really is no substitute for maintaining your health. And if you think about it, wouldn't you rather have naturally glowing skin, silky hair, and toned muscles instead of glossing over it with makeup, shine spray, and shapewear? I just feel like getting ready in the morning would be so much easier and less...excessive...

That said, here's the plan. I'm a 39-30-40. 165.4 lbs, as of this evening. I'm going for 155 by the end of March, and I'll take it from there. I don't want to be skinny, folks. I want to be healthy - to have more energy, to get better sleep, to feel at the top of my game more often. Sure, this sounds like business, but I'm excited! Being active is a lot more fun than being lazy. Time to do work.

If you'd like to join me, here's a sample Day in Food Terms and a lovely little exercise plan.

Breakfast: 1 slice whole wheat toast spread with 2 T peanut butter and a sweet baby clementine

Midmorning Snack: A granola bar! Those Chewy Oatmeal Raisin ones...they're beautiful.

Lunch: 2.5 c romaine lettuce (I like the Marketside Premium Romaine mix...it has carrots n stuff in it, too) topped with 2 T lowfat dressing and some freshly grilled chicken strips - about half a chicken breast is an appropriate portion.

Afternoon Snack: Reduced fat Cheddar cheese and Town House Sea Salt & Olive Oil crackers. Add sliced cucumbers (and maybe even a dash of ranch) if feeling frisky.

Dinner: 2 c whole wheat pasta, homemade marinara sauce with ground turkey instead of beef, and as many veggies (raw or steamed) as you feel inclined to dish out.

Dessert: I've got a serious sweet tooth. It's so bad. But try mixing your chocolate cake mix with a can of Diet Coke (omit the other stuff) and see what happens. Or use applesauce in the place of any oil required in recipes. This I wouldn't recommend with coffee cake, just because it turns out SUPER bland...but other stuff, go for it.

Exercise: Do an hour of cardio, at whatever pace you're equipped to handle, four days a week. Alternate with strength training the other days. My plan is to target specific muscle groups for a little while at a time. I'm going to start with my arms. Decent? Cool.

Aaaaaaaand, action!

P.S. It takes a lot of courage and confidence to do things like this. So, pat yourself on the back for bringing out my bravery, judge respectfully and try not to laugh too much behind my back. I'm doing my best with what I have!