Taylor's Resolution Resolve Progress - Sweet!

So far the Resolve Your Resolution program has been fantastic for me. I was paired with Drew Hill, and it has been great training with him. We really seem to get where each other are coming from.

My main goal in the program was to finally cross the line with bicycle racing. I had raced in the past, but was never able to push through and really compete. When I started the program, I was probably in some of the worst shape I had been in for four years.

Drew got me back on my bike. I started with several weeks of base mileage. Consistently getting out on the bike was great. I really remembered why I had been so excited about cycling in the first place. Now I have started into doing more intervals during the week to start building leg strength and power. All the cycling has strength workouts in the gym mixed in to increase overall and core strength. And of course, the racing has started.

We decided that the weekly Driveway race series would be my benchmark. Every Thursday I get to see how I'm doing in a real race environment. So far... well, not so great. But, I really feel great on the bike, so I know I am making progress. I feel stronger, I feel faster. And considering how out of shape I was when we started, I'm pretty happy with how things have progressed.

But I haven't used this opportunity just to put more bike hours in my week. I have finally made a consistent effort (with the help of my wonderful wife) to get my diet in order. We cook a lot, we are eating quality food, trying to limit meat, we have eliminated dairy, and eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables. Eating delicious, healthy food really makes a difference in how you feel.

The RyR program is a great opportunity, and I feel so lucky to be a part of it. I have made a lot of progress, but there is still a long road to go. Oh, and by the way... I finally feel like a cyclist again, so my legs are now definitely shaved. ;)

Take it easy,
Taylor

Mallory checks in with her Resolution Resolve clients' update

Both of my girls are doing great. They hit the ground running when the competition started. It was difficult during the second month to keep the motivated. So, we have decided to clean out their diet. We are focusing on raw and unprocessed foods for the most part. Alcohol and caffeine is extremely limited. Breakfast is consisting of oatmeal, berries, and nuts. Lunch is mostly made up of veggies and fruit. Dinner is focused on lean protein. This seems to be helping out the girls! Their first month, they both dropped approx 5 lbs. The second month, they each lost only around 1 pound. With their weight starting to plateau off, we need to start getting down to the details of what they are eating. They are on a roll now!!

Ricci checks in with Kim's 11 lbs weight loss since starting Resolve your Resolution!

Participation was a huge deal for Kim. Starting this endeavor as overweight, she felt like she couldn't and didn't want to get involved in social events or even family events.

Since the start of this competition with a few nudges and motivational emails, I am pleased to say that Kim has kicked some ass in the physical and mental side of things. She has lost 11 pounds and has completely gotten involved in all aspects of her life including family and social events.

Everyday has been a challenge, but with the right attitude and determination she has stayed consistent and has done this all on her own with the support of her loving family.

Kim knows that this is just the beginning but I have complete faith in her that her goals will be met. She is blessed with the fortitude and patience to keep making this happen. Kim, keep up the great work!!

Emily checks in with great news on her Resolution Resolving..

I am excited to say that I conquered one of my goals this past Saturday! One of my goals for the resolve your resolution challenge was to complete a 10K in the four month time frame. Well, for once I went above and beyond. I’m happy to report that I finished the Zooma Austin Half-Marathon this past Saturday and let me tell you I loved it! No doubt I’ll be doing more of those! Attached is a picture of me right after the race - hydrating of course!

Good nutrition is hard for me. That’s the next big thing for me to work on over the next two months. I love big meals so adjusting my diet to small meals many times a day has been difficult. I’m still working on it but I’m getting better. I’ve also lost 7 lbs which is encouraging!

This challenge is definitely causing me some positive lifestyle changes and I consider myself privileged to get to do it! Thank you Pure Austin! And thank you Shirley for all your help, you’ve still got two more months of me. Get excited!

Yay!!!!! Congratulatons Ryon and Christi!!!

From Ryon:

My finest day today... I'm engaged to my best friend. I've spent my whole life waiting for my chance to be with someone who accepts me for all my faults and loves me for just simply being Ryon...
The morning started with me trying to negotiate with James Bales and Jamie Cleveland to "sandbag" todays 5 mi run/18 mi bike/2 mi run race up to the top of Enchanted Rock State Park so I could look even more like a "hero". They weren't buying me or my story....
It was a hard fight for 5th place overall as I transitioned from the bike to that second run. The hardest part of the race was to get up to the finish line way on top of Enchanted Rock after making a quick change into a "replacement jersey", running shoes, and death-gripping the precious ring box in one hand...
I wasn't the overall winner of the race like I negotiated or hoped for but I feel like a winner regardless once I got to the finish line! Christi, you make this my finest day by loving me and of course saying "yes". This is a day I'll always remember...

Resolve Resolution-er Val heads toward her goals and gives tips how you can, too...

Val is focused on her goals. And, she has not allowed the "unforeseen circumstances" to derail her progress. That is what RESOLVE your resolution is all about!!!

Val says:


All my life I've been an athlete, gifted in that I can get by at most things but exceptional at nothing. You know the type -- coaches describe me, then and now, with terms like "hard-working," "dedicated," and having "a good attitude" as opposed to words like "fast," "unstoppable," or "possessing freakish strength." But that's okay: I have a liberal arts body, whose jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none status makes me open to new activities. During the past 5 years, I've been working to manage a mostly benign but persistent condition of my central nervous system that makes me prone to low blood pressure and fainting, and whose treatment sometimes makes me feel worse than the condition. After getting things under control during 2006-7 (a year in which I was largely unable to drive, exercise, or do a lot of things), I turned back to group sports and training in a move to focus again on what my body COULD do, while also gaining the security of having people around while I trained. During those 4 years of half marathon and triathlon training, I made great friends and marveled at crossing off many events from my lifetime achievement wish list. I also got more comfortable knowing when I was pushing myself too far, and coming to accept that my body just won't let me push itself on some days.

While racking up participation medals and race shirts felt great, I was frustrated with the results I was NOT getting, namely my body fat ratio and frequent lack of energy. I decided to take a break from triathlon training and try to figure this out. Enter the Pure Austin Resolve Your Resolution Challenge!



I feel extremely fortunate to be in this program. Working with Laura, I established several items to cross off my lifetime achievement wish list (just in time for my 40th birthday!):

1) Comfortably complete 10 pull-ups and 20 "real" pushups
2) Reduce body fat by at least 5% (ideally with corresponding weight loss)
3) Consistent schedule of at least 5 quality workouts a week, with a focus on developing a solid strength program
4) Significantly increase 5K speed

Six weeks in, I'm definitely feeling the challenge of my goals but am also having a lot of fun. Laura helps keep me motivated and has challenged me with some killer treadmill interval workouts. I ran a 5K earlier this month and secured a PR (I'm basing this on the years I've been on chronic medication) by some 2 minutes, which felt great. While I'm only down 4 pounds, I'm eager to get my body fat percentage retested. It's pretty easy for me to choose healthy, whole foods -- I run an organic cotton textile company, Mod Green Pod, so I'm quite educated about the effects of pesticides and other chemical nasty --- but it's still a challenge to maximize my energy and metabolism for my workouts by what I eat, when. This is an unexpected challenge within this program that I'm really appreciating. I'm also paying extra attention to portions and to slow down when I eat. (I'm a notorious fast eater, which I still blame on my Catholic school experience where we had 18 minutes for lunch -- NO JOKE). I'm also slowly starting to be able to kick out a few push-ups, and I'm up to level 16 on the assisted pull-up machine. (I had to start at the very easiest 18 level, but at least I've progressed to 16).

Along the way, I've already learned several things from which I think all Pure Austin members could benefit:

1) Try new classes! I've had a blast doing everything from Ballet Booty, Hatha Yoga Flow, Spin, PUMP, Dymamic Strength, etc. Next up, I can't wait to try some Kayaking
2) Let the instructors help you modify I pinched a nerve in my shoulder during my first week of this program, and it was completely my fault! I decided to forget that I'm pushing 40, have a chronic medical condition, and haven't really done structured weightlifting. I jumped into a PUMP class and wanted to keep up with everybody else in the class. Big mistake, for me. I'm better now, but it taught me to push myself within MY limits, and to introduce myself before starting a new class -- the instructors are great at providing modifications. And just yesterday, Ryon helped me adjust the Keiser bike to make sure I'm getting the most out of spin class.
3) Learn from other members One of the things I love about our gym is that so many members are educated and fit. I've picked up lots of good exercises by watching other members, and even getting up the guts to ask them what they are doing. I'm now getting a lot more great stuff out of the cable cross machine and medicine balls.
4) Conversely, be inspired by, don't compare yourself to, other members I can't do pull-ups right now, but I'm working on it. Last weekend, I was taking turns on the assisted pull-up machine with a young woman almost half my age and size. She was whipping through her reps the way I hope to. Before I was part of this program, I probably would have just skipped that machine. Instead, we alternated happily between my level 16 and her level 4, exchanging a smile while setting up the machine for each other's next set. I changed my mantra from "You'll never do that" to "Keep working at it."

Resolution Resolver Jeanel has lost 13 lbs already!!

Resolution Resolver Jeanel gives us an update -- her progress is thrilling!!!

My name is Jeanel and the fact that I call myself Nella Wafer tells you that cookies are my biggest challenge. I loves my cookies. Grandma's oatmeal raisin cookies from the vending machine make such a lovely break from work. A little treat from the bakery is such a good reward at the end of a stressful day. And the girl scouts with their Thin Mints. You get the picture.


Eventually, one day I looked in the mirror and saw some 40-year-old woman with a rather matronly figure looking back. When did I go from being a fan of Grandma's cookies to looking a little like Grandma herself?

And could I please reverse this trend at least somewhat in time for my trip to Peru in May? I don't want my vacation pictures to show me hiding in a muu-muu. I want to have pictures that show me happily hiking me up Macchu Pichu with fit muscular legs, and a strong core helping me learn to surf.

So I jumped at the chance to participate in the Resolve Your Resolution contest, and set a bunch of goals for myself, both weight-related and sport-related. Chelsea was the voice of reason telling me to keep my goals modest, and that's certainly a good thing, because it's been a challenge, especially the first couple of weeks.

I'm definitely making progress, and I'm really pleased with how it's going. I'm spinning, swimming, strength training and Pilates-ifying my way to my goals. I've lost 13 pounds so far and my body fat has gone from 33.9% to 32.1%. And the lost inches! A couple inches here, a couple inches there, and pretty soon, there's a lot less of me all around! My swim times are getting better too. I've always wanted to swim 100 yards in 1 minute 30 seconds, and now I've gone from 1 minute 50 to 1 minute 35. So close! I can't wait to see how my Splash and Dash and 1.2 mile open water swim times this year compare to my old times!

It's tough sticking with a plan consistently for such a long time. As I work through this, these are some of the things I've learned:

* My problem is not really willpower, but time management. Cookies won't tempt me if I've had a full breakfast and lunch. But those meals don't make themselves, I have to get it all organized the night before.

* Also in the realm of time management, 6 AM workouts are a real pain, but they get done. 6 PM workouts, not always.

* Co-workers who don't even know that I'm watching my diet or in a contest are just naturally supportive! Without me saying a word, a weird little pattern has evolved that goes like this: "We got kolaches, but didn't think you'd want any so we thought you might like these strawberries." Or, "I brought breakfast tacos, but I know you're too healthy for that so I brought you a grapefruit." What the heck? Did I win the sensitive co-worker lottery or what?

* Every single day will bring a challenge or three, so I just try to observe them when they come along, and remind myself that I knew it would happen. Then when I am faced with a challenge, like an open bowl of M&Ms at work, I can just observe it and say to myself, "Oh look, there it is, today's challenge: M&Ms. That's not so bad, I can resist that. Check it out! I'm overcoming today's challenge!"

* Masters swimming with Alex has only been going on a few weeks, but it's really helping me stay on track and swim better. Alex offers just the right kind of gentle push to challenge myself without actually making me feel stressed.

* Ramsey will talk about "playing" in Pilates, but don't be fooled, it's work. Sweaty, sweaty work that will leave your abs aching the next day.

* A spinning class with Ryon Talbot is guaranteed to make you laugh or smile. If for no other reason, because he will smack his own behind at least a dozen times in one 45-minute class.