....Bad Blogger....

So I have yet to live up to my promise to post on a consistent basis...but I have good reason. I am currently training very hard to get back into shape; not only for myself (and my clients) but so I can join the Army Reserve. It took 5 months but I have managed to lose 45 pounds...and I still have 10 to go. I am currently 175 pounds...and just need to lose 10 more to realize my goal of joining the military. My over all weight loss goal is to get back down to 145...which is a good weight for my body type and height.


I train at least 1 1/2 hours a day and most days I train twice. Of course I am a professional so I know the risks of over training and do my best to listen to my body, so as to not over do it. Still, this is no excuse for neglecting my Blogger duties and will post my BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) blog (as promised) some time tomorrow.


Follow me on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/TrudyDacosta


Also, if you have any fitness or nutrition questions feel free to contact me and I will be happy to answer them.

Mobile updates!

I am testing out sending bloggs from my phone via sms text messages. If all goes well you can look forward to moblie fitness updates and interviews!!

OMG!!

I seriously can't remember the last time that I actually posted to my blog!! It's sad really. I a planning on getting back on the proverbial horse and begin my fitness blogging once again. I took a break to work on my own fitness, which had taken a back seat for awhile. But I am getting back into shape and have lost 40 pounds so far...(I won't mention how big I got....but I am aiming to get back to my previous size of 145-150).


I have also hired my own trainer....Yes, many trainers have trainers! Haven't you ever heard the saying "A trainer that has themselves as a clients has a fool for a trainer!"
My passion at the moment is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu other wise known Gracie Jiu Jitsu. ( I will be blogging about jui jitsu as well as MMA in other blog posts.)


Well....that's it for right now. But I will be posting a lot more so look forward to it.

And the Winner Is....

Congratulations Laurel of Plantation, FL!! She has won 4 FREE 1/2 hour training sessions to jump start her New Year Resolutions.

Look for more chances to win free training sessions in the coming months!

Soda Tax?!

One out of every 4 New Yorkers under the age of 18 is considered obese and Gov. David Paterson is out to change that. When the New York state budget was presented Gov. Paterson proposed a tax on sugary beverages. This 18% sales tax would apply to beveragesthat are less than 70% juice, like soda, that are not diet.
The reason for this tax is the growing childhood obesity epidemic. At least 12, 000 deaths every year in the U.S. is associated with obesity, estimates the surgeon general. Research shows that soft-drink consumption is one of the main contributors to childhood obesity. A Harvard study found that each additional soft drink per day increases the risk of a child becoming obese by 60%. Of course, obese children often become obese or morbid obese adults, increasing health problems and the amount one has to pay in health care each year.
Similar taxes have been introduced and enforced in New York, such as the cigarettetax that has just been increased to an additional $1.25 per pack. Fast food restaurants in the state are banned form using trans fat. The governor acknowledges the fact that these taxes and laws may be unpopular, but their proven benefits are undeniable.
The money raised from the soda tax will go towards funding public health programs that will include specific obesity prevention programs!
As this epidemic spreads it's good to see people trying to take a stand to prevent, control and reduce this problem.

Relationship w/ Food pt. I

Most people don’t even realize that the way you perceive food and the way and amount that it should be consumed can greatly impact your weight loss or even weight gain.

Food should be used as a fuel source to get us through our day and our workouts. Meals should include the proper portions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates in order for us to maintain a balanced diet. Foods can be tasty and nutritious, carbs. are not evil (just make sure that you’re not eating too much of it, and that you are only eating whole wheat), and chocolate in moderation is alright. Eating can be balanced with daily activities and exercise. Remember, you have to burn 3,500 calories in order to lose 1 pound.

So, how do you know if you have an unhealthy relationship with food? Answer the following questions honestly.

-Do you secretly binge?

-Do you skip meals on purpose?

-Do you have rigid rules about food?

-Do you ever feel guilty about eating?

-Do you avoid social outings because of temptations?

-Do you eat when you are feeling upset, sad, angry or depressed?

-Can you eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full?

-Do you have to eat in a certain pattern—always three meals a day or always at a certain time of the day?

-Can you leave some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow?

-Do you trust that if you eat when you are hungry and stop when you are satisfied, you will not get fat?

It’s important that you answer these questions openly and honestly with yourself. In part II of this post I will discuss these questions and how your answers could mean that you have issues with food. I will also discuss how having a bad relationship with food can lead to eating disorders.

Dirty 4 Letter Word: Diet!

Whether you realize it or not, the word “diet” could be hindering your weight loss progress. “Why?” you ask. Because diets simply don’t work! You may see results in the short term but they won’t last long. The studies and statistics are there! If you want long lasting weight loss success then you need to change your vocabulary. No longer will you say “I’m dieting” or “I’m on a diet”, but “I’ve changed my lifestyle.” Because that’s exactly what you need to do.

Change your lifestyle.

How do you change your lifestyle? Well, it’s not going to be easy, it is a life time commitment to yourself. A commitment to change your lifestyle for the better, so you will look, feel, and be healthy for the rest of your life time.

You are going to have to change your relationships with food, your body image, and exercise. Most people don’t realize that we all think about, see, and feel differently about food consumption. Some of us realize that food is fuel and if we fuel our bodies properly, then we will be able to function (performing daily tasks, exercise, and even sleep) easily. It’s important to know how to read food labels, and understand that if you don’t know what’s in your food then you shouldn’t eat it. Knowing how to prepare food in a way that is tasty, filling, and healthy is also important, along with knowing how much protein, fat, (and yes) carbs. you should consume during each meal. I will be blogging more on this in the future because nutrition is not a simple subject. I will also be continuing with changing relationships with food because some people do tend to go too far with their “dieting”.

Your body image. Everyone hates something about their body, and some of us even hate our bodies period (trust me; I know….I have been there). And if you don’t come to terms with yourself and your body then nothing is going to work for you. You have to accept yourself for the beautiful person you were bore to be. Once you fully love and accept yourself, others will follow suit, and you will be able to drop pounds, be confident and stay at a healthy weight for the rest of your life. (This will also be discussed further in future posts, so stay tuned!)

Exercise. It’s hard. It hurts. And you are going to either want to or you actually will give up at least once. It’s necessary though. Exercise won’t only strengthen your body but also your mind. You will build endurance, muscle strength, and learn that you can do anything you really want to do!!! (Obviously, this is a fitness blog so there will definitely be a lot more on this!)

One good way to get things going is to create a mantra to help get you going when you feel like you don’t want to or you simply can’t. It can be anything you want….mine is:

I am strong
I am fit
I am focused
I will succeed!!

Good luck on your weight loss journey, and keep checking back for more tips, tricks, information and advice.