When I started this blog, I was in the middle of my third week of a new (for me) fitness and nutrition program called Kinetix. I found out that my work offers this program for free to its employees, and I have since witnessed several colleagues who have achieved noticeable results from participating in Kinetix. I was definitely skeptical at first, since that's how I always approach "dieting" when I'm trying to get in shape and be healthy. But, I'll be the first to admit that I've really let myself go over the years, ever since graduating college...wait, back that up...I'd actually say I checked out on fitness when I started college. It's easy to do your freshman year, and I definitely got my freshman 15 like many people do. From there, I didn't really monitor what was going on with my bod, and as my figure got fuller ever so slowly, and a lot of my clothes stretched with me, I didn't even realize the changes much.
Now I'll also say that I'm a huge advocate for gorgeous, curvy, full-figured ladies and I believe women should feel empowered and comfortable in their bodies, no matter their size or shape. For me, however, there was no reason that I should have gotten to this point. I was raised eating a lot of healthy, organic, whole foods and the majority of what I ate did fall into those categories. But, there were all those other times when I'd seriously mow on a block of Maytag blue and water crackers, chomp through an entire bag of Terra chips (seriously, those bags are so small!), and down latte after sugary latte (what Starbucks employee doesn't?) without giving it a second thought. Oh, and don't even get me started on my weekend brunch ritual of pan-fried garlic potatoes doused in ketchup and Sriracha sauce. Now that I've finally started to do something about it, I'm realizing for the first time in a long time, that I can't just eat whatever I want, and not work out regularly, and expect to look and feel comfortable in my own skin. I had started to feel so disconnected from my body, that it didn't even feel like my body anymore. I wasn't really living in and through myself, and I was denying myself experiences and happiness because I was basically living outside of my body--avoiding it, ignoring it, pretending not to hate it.
That all sounds uber-depressing, but I assure you I've done a complete 180 after four weeks in this Kinetix program. I'm not usually one for fad diets, although sometimes I think it would be lovely to pop a magical fat-burning pill and melt away the pounds while barely lifting a finger. I think someone might actually manufacture that product, but I'm pretty sure the major side effects include death, so I'm taking a more practical approach. I wanted to get myself on a plan that really worked for my lifestyle and my personality type. This program combines a specific nutritional plan (with a wide range of yummy food choices) with a fitness component that you do six days a week. It sounds extreme at first, but then you find out that you work out for just 30 minutes a day, Monday through Saturday (resting on Sunday), and alternate weight training and cardio every other day. The program is totally doable for me, since I can just hop over to the Kinetix gym after work, do my workout with my coach, and then get on with my evening. I'm just so impressed with how organized the program is, and since we're keeping track of our workouts and our nutrition, they provide us with a journal to document everything. I'm one of those people who is freakishly addicted to making organizational lists, so this method works brilliantly for me. Plus, at the end of the day and week I can actually see my progress and feel good about hitting all my targets.
Now that I've completed the first four weeks of the initial eight week program and I'm feeling really motivated and energized, I have exciting news to report. We just took my BCAs today, and my printout showed that I've lost 7.3 pounds of body fat and gained 6.6 pounds of lean muscle! Even though my weight has virtually stayed the same, those changes with body fat and lean mass speak volumes to me about how my body is responding to this new regimen. I'm definitely excited to continue on with this and see where it takes me. I've been telling myself for years how I want to eat healthier and get back into shape, and I've listed off all of the amazing things I want to do "once I get in shape." Well, now thanks to Kinetix, it looks like I'm actually going to get to do those things on my list sometime in the (hopefully near) future. As long as I keep my dedication and concentration, you'll be seeing me lounging poolside in a sexy bikini in no time.
For anyone who's interested in learning more about the program, visit Kinetix online.
And now for a cheesy music moment that I feel really speaks to what I'm experiencing right now:
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