Get Off the Pixie Stick and Back on Track

by Kris Pitcher

OK, let's regroup from what might have been a wicked weekend. You might have woken in a cobweb of slushy memories of overindulgence in the Halloween festivities. And the kicker...you're not done. Today would be a really good day to have a plan.

There's likely to be a never ending potluck at work today. There will be costumes, way too much candy, and very little work will get done. You will post your status on face book updating us on the various giant cakes and ghostly bowls of punch at the office. People will cruise the counter of food ALL DAY LONG. We won't even talk about the bacterial hazard here, let's just get straight to your plan.

Get your cardio done this morning. Start your day off with some activity. Not a morning exerciser? Fine, but you need to work it in and I don't care if it isn't costume compatible. Do it.

Pack your meals. Be prepared to eat what you are supposed to eat. Don't just plan to eat, eat on schedule. Eating the nutrients you need and are supposed to eat, when you are supposed to eat them will keep you satiated and less likely to dive head first into the bowl of junk. It's not for you, not today.

Brush your teeth after you eat. You are less likely to eat candy if you've brushed your teeth. Chew sugarless gum. This is a great tool. It's hard to chew a mini Three Musketeer's bar AND your gum at the same time. And it's just not very "grown up" looking to stick your gum on your finger while you eat the candy. You weren't going to do that, were you?

Drink your water! Staying hydrated is really important to keeping our munchies at bay. Plus it helps us feel full. Water, not diet sodas and whatever is in that mystery punch.

You can make it through this holiday by following your plan. You may have gotten on the pixie stick this weekend, but it's time to dry out and get back on track. All that sugar is a really bad cycle. You don't need to go crazy and detox or give yourself a yogurt-coffee enema...just eat clean and drink your water. You know the drill, now you've got a plan.

Check Please!

by Kris Pitcher

I am grateful for the community of people who keep me in check. We all know how important it is to have support around us, and to support one another. We know the difference that makes in our progress. Or in our ability to just make it through one more hour or day.

All I have to do is voice the slightest bit of weakness...a waver of momentary lapse and I'm rescued. I'm rescued from myself. Strange. What that tells me is I don't have to be strong all by myself. I can voice my weakness and people will help remind me of my strength.

We can be fallible. I've told you before you aren't perfect, I'm not either. None of us are. So in our moments of question, it's nice to have people to keep us in check. For me this has been one of the most rewarding parts of writing Bliss, I have grown my circle of support.

And to my joyful surprise...in my moment of recent near chocolate emergency my friend (thank you Ivan) pulled Bliss on me! He literally posted blogs back to me. Check mate!

Who is your circle of support? And do you let them know you are fallible? Have you forgotten you are not perfect? It's a relief to share the burden of responsibility. Don't get me wrong, they are going to put it right back on you where it belongs. But that's the beauty of having friends you can ask, "Check please!"

Bliss Break Up

by Kris Pitcher

I've been on both sides of the "break up". Mostly, I've been the breaker, and have occasionally been the broken. That hurts. There's a point in the conversation where you realize what's happening. "Wow," you think, "this is really happening!" "You're breaking up with me?!"

And you can imagine my surprise because frankly, I have a lot to offer. Passion, knowledge, commitment...a sense of humor. So when the news came that my gym no longer welcomed my blog post on their face book page I was, in the words of my grandmother, flabbergasted.

The gym broke up with me. With Bliss. No longer welcome. Hmm? Had I said something offensive? No. Badmouthed, hm-mm. No. I am considered a threat to their business. Flab. Ber. Gasted.

As the manager told me, in a sit down meeting. I was a little confused. I think of Bliss as a benefit to their members. I am providing (free) content to their fb community. I'm not pushing, or selling anything. I'm not weird about anything in particular...I don't really have an "agenda".

I suggested that if they did not want people participating in their fb community they could utilize the settings on their page so that members could not post. Confusion. Then it was clear that they want participation...just not from me.

The sheer irony is that following the break up, a member came up to me while we were working out and said how much she loves reading my blog everyday! She said it helps her...and there you go. (thanks Shelly)

While I have ZERO revenue stream, trickle, or drip from writing (nada, zilch, zippo) I am a threat to the gym I work out at because it's possible someone might read my blog, connect me to my husband's business and decide to enact their consumer rights to buy what they want from whom they want. We weren't in yoga class, but for me that was a stretch.

So, while you won't find me on my gym's fb page, you know where to find me *smile*. My heart does ache a little though.

Carving It Up!

by Kris Pitcher

It's almost Halloween and time to get the pumpkins ready! I've been cooking with and eating pumpkins for a few weeks, but have yet to do the fun part of actually carving one! There is something about reaching in to all that slimy gooey mess as you clean out the inside! What fun.

Selecting your pattern has taken on a whole new sophistication with templates and tools. So there is no excuse not to have the best on the block! Seriously, put some elbow grease into this.

Clean those seeds up and roast them in the oven while you carve your pumpkin. You'll have a tasty treat when you're done. I like to put soy sauce on them before I roast them so they are salty delicious.

Now, you have a few days left to plan out your pumpkin carving and really there's nothing wrong with the standard jack-o-lantern face either. But have some fun this holiday and get into the spirit of the season. Whether you trick or treat, you are bound to have a great time carving it up!

Smash and Grab!

by Kris Pitcher

No deodorant, no lotion. No deodorant? No sweat! Well, maybe a little. But I had gone days before so a morning without would be no problem for me. I am good at following certain rules.

I had been putting this off because I didn't want to pay the $350 deductible for the test. That's a pretty good preventative care method in my book. Then I was feeling guilty for not taking care of myself. Then I was thinking that it would be lame not to get one...if it found something...I'm worth $350...maybe even $400!

As I looked into it I found that new legislation passed making the mammogram exempt from the annual deductible. So, while my doctor will not see me this year if I can help it (I've made it practically to November!) I called to schedule my mammogram appointment.

The American Cancer Society recommends annual screenings for women beginning at age 40 who are at average risk for cancer. I know right, "She can't be 40!" Tell it to my mom!

While having your mammogram doesn't reduce your risk of getting cancer, it means you are more likely to find cancer earlier.

The American Cancer Society says that we can reduce our risk of cancer by limiting alcohol, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. They also suggest several months of breast-feeding reduces risk, as does avoiding post-menopausal hormone therapy.

There you have it. Time to smash and grab! If you aren't having your annual mammograms you need to. And for you guys out there, ask your ladies, your lady, if she's having her regular mammogram. Early detection is the best preventative measure we can take.

Motivation, Falling to be Better

by Kris Pitcher

So I fell off the treadmill yesterday morning and as I caught myself I thought, "What am I doing up at 5:00 AM?!" I don't know what happened, my foot just went off the right side, and then my left foot followed and before I knew it I was catching myself.

I scurried back on and found my pace. It was pitch dark outside, my husband was snoring away in the bedroom and my contest was four weeks BEHIND me. Why was I falling off the treadmill at this ungodly hour?

It took me back to a conversation at the gym the night before. A guy asked us how we stay motivated after the show. Good question. GREAT question actually. And because it's a good question it's equal opportunity for blogging fodder.

The first frost had fallen over night and frankly I found myself wishing I was in some long PJ's instead of shorts as I padded my way to lace up my shoes. I was freezing. The cat wouldn't even get out of bed. What makes me get up at the crack way before dawn to do cardio with no contest in sight?

I want to be better. Off-season is all about eating clean, working to stay lean, growing, making improvements, and getting better. The motivation to get my bare legs out of bed is that is what is required in order for me to meet my goals. By doing what is required I make progress, and by making progress...I get better.

It's a big ol' self fulfilling prophecy circle of awesomeness (my technical jargon). The motivation isn't "out there", it's in me. I make it happen for myself. And each of us has to find that motivation internally in order to make this work.

To answer his question, the show isn't the end of the process. It's just one component of being a competitor. Before competition day I'm already thinking about what I want to work on, do differently, bring up in the next off-season. I don't see it as a linear process but as a circular process. There is no end, therefore you continue to be motivated to progress forward.

My 30 minutes went by without further incident. The sun never came up, it was still too early. The cat never woke up either. But I did answer my own question about why I was up at 5:00 AM falling off the treadmill...falling to be better!

   

I Know I'm Different

by Kris Pitcher

I spent a few days traveling for work last week and it dawned on me...I'm different. I don't mean that I'm unique or witty, or that I'm the life of the party. I'm barley one of those.

I mean that the way I choose to live my life is not average. I read one of those pre-printed signs popping up all over face book that read, "This isn't off-season, it's a lifestyle." And thank you by the way for all those signs, now we don't have to come up with something clever to say for our status updates.

But it's true, the way I eat and train is my lifestyle. It's not a diet. It's not one phase of contest prep or another. It's my lifestyle. My lifestyle used to be eating bowls of cereal on the couch. I prefer what I have chosen now.

I don't think it's extreme to eat clean and fuel with healthy macro nutrients in the appropriate proportions. It's not extreme to show up with my cooler to ensure I have what I need when I need it. It's not unrealistic to be working toward a goal. It's not rude to say, "No thank you." to foods or alcohol which will be toxins to my efforts.

Explaining my choices falls deaf on some ears and is understood by others. Some people get glazed over right away with even the most overarching answer to their questions. Outside of my regular environment, I tend to stick out. I stuck out at the hotel gym. I stuck out in a meeting as I pulled a baggie of chicken from my purse to put on a salad.

Being different helps me not be conflicted with my values. It helps me make choices in alignment with the outcomes I want. I'm not different from everyone...just most everyone. I was the only one running through the airport with my small carry on backpack, and my soft-sided cooler (which does fit under the seat back in front of me) to make it to the gate for departure.

And as I made my way through the security gate to see my husband waiting for me upon my arrival, I was really glad to be home. At least here my 'different' is the same as his. I know I'm different and I don't mind it one bit.