Igniting a New Transformation Journey

I haven’t shared all that much about my transformation since I posted about having lost 50 pounds. The first reason for that was that I was struggling to lose more weight and reach my goal. But then that reason changed since I gained back 30 pounds. Sigh. I can tell myself that it was the COVID pandemic. The Y shut down and I lost my trainer and ability to use the elliptical and assorted weights. I retired and found that I could no longer do the 20K plus steps that I did when was in an office. Or maybe it was that my husband discovered how to make the most amazing bread!

For months I’ve been in the doldrums about it, but I’ve dragged myself out of them by forgiving myself and looking at the positives. I didn’t gain all the weight back. I’m still relatively healthy. According to Fitbit, I’ve earned the Pole Badge which means I’ve walked 12,340 miles – the equivalent of walking from the North to South Poles. More importantly, I’ve refocused and have already lost three pounds this week. I’m eating better and eating more. I’m making sure to get in steps, even if it’s not 20K each day. So if you’re like me and have had your ups and downs, forgive yourself and ignite your transformation journey again. You can do it!
Caridad weight loss

#TransformationTuesday & Happy St. Patrick’s Day

It’s a weird kind of St. Patrick’s day with parades and other events canceled on account of the coronavirus situation. Truly scary times and challenging in so many ways. I hope you are all staying safe and sound.

As for me, I’m staying away from the gym this week and have set up a little workout area at home where I can lift some weights and do some yoga and other exercises. No sense taking risks at this point.

Speaking of working out, I figured I’d share this transformation photo with you today!
Transformation Tuesday

The NEVER A BRIDE blog tour continues and for a chance to win a $25 Gift Card, leave the comment “Caridad sent me!” at any of the blogs on the tour. You can find the tour stops at http://bit.ly/NeverABrideBlogTour and for now, here are today’s blog stops:

Books, Dreams, Life
Dog Eared Pages

#TransformationTuesday – Hitting an early weight loss plateau

After an amazing three weeks in which I lost almost ten pounds, I’ve been stuck at the same weight now for a week. Sigh. It’s time to consider what’s changed in the last week that might have impacted on my earlier success. For starters, I did have some more carbs in the mix and it just confirms that I have to stay away from things like bread and exchange healthier carbs for those like the carbs in fruits and vegetables. The other thing is my exercise routine. I’ve gone back to adding an extra twenty minutes of cardio after my twice weekly strength training. Last but not least, I have to look and see if I’m actually eating enough calories versus the calories burned due to activity. It’s never good to go into a mode that my body will consider a starvation mode. If you’ve hit similar plateaus with your weight loss, here are links to some articles that might be helpful:

Mayo Clinic: Getting Past a Weight Loss Plateau – https://mayocl.in/2DSwXsQ
My Fitness Pal: 10 Tips to Overcome a Weight-Loss Plateau – https://undrarmr.co/2DX4nqy
WebMD: 10 Ways to Move Beyond a Weight Loss Plateau – https://wb.md/2DTxTgW
Jillian Michaels: Break Through Any Weight-Loss Plateau – http://bit.ly/2DSeWeo

The content on the above websites is owned by the respective authors. Before starting any physical regimen you should consult with a physician. My linking to the above sites does not constitute an endorsement of any of the suggestions therein. (Sorry but you know those darn lawyers!)

Original Scale Image by TeroVesalainen from Pixabay

Original Hammer Image by bluebudgie from Pixabay

#TransformationTuesday – Goals Met and Some Kettlebell Workouts for You!

The transformation is happily moving along well. My goal was to lose 5 pounds in April and as of this morning I’ve lost 8.4 pounds. Very excited about that. Clothes are feeling looser. I can see a difference in my belly area since I’ve cut back on carbs. My goal last week was to take stairs more often and I’ve been doing that. There is a noticeable difference already in how I feel after climbing which is a good thing since the “forever” townhouse we just bought is three stories. LOL! One of the exercises I do for strength training is to work out with a kettlebell like the one in the picture below (but not a pink one). Kettlebells let you do a diverse number of exercises and you work your entire body since you have to engage your core while using them. Here’s a link to what looks like a reasonable beginner workout using a kettlebell: http://bit.ly/2WcVrnS
transformation tuesday

Original Image by Joanna Dubaj from Pixabay

#FitnessFriday #FoodieFriday – Cashew & Date Caramels

Is there something perverse about working out while watching the Food Network? Seriously? Yep, I do it. Ironic much, but I get lots of ideas for new recipes and ways to make what I’m eating tastier and healthier. I’ve lost 25 pounds so far and it’s been with a balance of sound nutrition and exercise. The thing is, if you feel deprived all the time, you won’t maintain your new lifestyle. I’ve been at it for 6 months with this new regimen and I can honestly say I don’t feel deprived. Anyway, one of the things I came across was vegan caramels. VEGAN! you say. Well, I have tried vegan food recently and found it quite tasty, not that I’m giving up the meat. But variety is nice. Plus, caramels are so fattening but these recipes use mostly three ingredients: dates, cashews, and chocolate. Three tasty things. So take a moment to check out these recipes!

Fitness Friday Foodie Friday

#TuesdayTip Health Benefits of Green Tea & Matcha

I have to confess to not being a big fan of green tea, but during a visit to a coffee shop with my daughter, I ended up trying matcha made with almond milk. Yummy!

What is matcha? Matcha is a Japanese green tea powder. It has more health benefits than regular green tea because you are eating the whole leaf and it hasn’t been processed so it contains more catechins and polyphenols than regular green tea. Also lots and lots of anti-oxidants according to a Wall Street Journal article.

You’d have to drink a lot more green tea to compensate for all the benefits in matcha. But matcha can be pricey. I found that a trip to my local Asian market yielded a very large bag for a fraction of the cost than in other stores.

So what benefits can you get from green tea and/or matcha? How about improved blood flow, lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol? Not enough benefits yet? How about cancer fighting properties, some help with weight loss, reduced risk of stroke, memory improvement, tooth decay, and anti-aging?

Sounds too good to be true, right? But if one little cup of day can help, I’m all for it. Just a word of caution: Check with your doctor about drinking green tea, especially if you have glaucoma like I do. Lots of mixed news about whether green tea and/or matcha are good for you or whether they increase intraocular pressure.

For more info, check out these articles:

WebMD: Green Tea Benefits
Medical News Today: Green Tea: Health Benefits
Match Source: Matcha Health Benefits
green tea

#TransformationTuesday Losing & Gaining & Working At It

It’s been a year since I started my lifestyle change. I’ve had a little setback the past two months, but am working on getting back on my change. Carbs being my downfall, so I have to scale back to not having any for a little while to get my equilibrium back.

Despite the setback, I am still working out and feeling better. I thought that today I would share a before and after. The first photo on the right is of me taken on one of the off-site sets for CNN ESPAÑOL right here in NYC in the Time Warner building. I was a guest on the morning show and talking about romances. The photo on the right is one I snapped at a recent conference. I’m 40 pounds lighter and happy with my cute little black dress (courtesy of OG Surf & Skate) and my new haircut, which I managed to make look almost like what it did after I left the hairdresser.

If you have your own transformation story, please take a moment to share it!
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