Quite possibly one of my favorite eating tips of all time is self-taught: trick yourself. Why do I love it so much? Because it works!
Here's an example. I babysit every Thursday, and every Thursday, like clockwork, the parents end up ordering pizza to the house (thinking it's a great idea, despite my best efforts). I love the entire family, but they love pizza wayyyy too much. Now, this could very easily completely derail any diet. As much as I love pizza, I could totally turn it down if I had the opportunity. However, cooking my own meals while babysitting is probably not the best idea in the world.
Therefore, I've learned some good "coping strategies." First of all, I set my brain and I tell myself before the pizza arrives that I WILL be good about this. I won't eat the entire pie (lets be real--the opportunity's there, the kids eat a maximum of 1 slice each!), and I will eat slowly. Then, when the pizza actually shows up at the house, I serve the kids first--and I do exactly with them as I will end up doing with myself: cutting their slices in half, and giving them half a slice at a time (keeping the second half out of sight until they're finished with their first). Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Not so much. Tons of people end up giving small children full slices of pizza and expect them to finish the whole thing, and so many of them do end up finishing it! I learned the hard way--each week, the 4 year old would only eat half her piece of pizza, even though she would cry about wanting "the big piece" every week. (Knowing that she wouldn't even come close to finishing half of it was my solace, so I didn't feel guilty giving in to her every now and then.)
Like I said, what started with them then trickled down to me. I now always cut my pizza slice in half. Why do I do this? I used to always be a firm and definite two-slicer. Never more, never less. If I ever had less, people thought I was sick. With this thought in mind, 1/2 slice + 1/2 slice = "2" slices! And what do you know--after I'm done with those two half slices, my brain thinks I've had two full slices! In fact, most times it doesn't even WANT that extra half! It really is a miracle technique.
I always tell my friends, "if it's there, I'll eat it; if it's not there, I won't eat it." Again, seems like a no-brainer. However, when something is "only 50-cents more than the half order!," it's harder to resist ordering that full-size order of potato skins. If I don't buy it, I won't want it. I apply this to dessert as well. Luckily for me, at my school, we have the ice cream freezer. It's stocked with tons and tons of really bad things, including HFCS-laden "healthy" ice pops. (HFCS stands for High Fructose Corn Syrup, AKA public enemy #1 of the food world.) While I understand that Haagen-Dazs ice cream is not necessarily the healthiest choice in the world, sometimes my devilish, fruit-won't-cure-me sweet tooth strikes and I don't have a choice but to succumb to it once every three months or so. Therefore, I go for the teeeeny-tiny container. It's about the size of a half-dollar in diameter, and shorter than the length of my thumb. I know that if this is all that's in front of me, I won't want more, and I'll stop myself after I'm done.
Speaking of sweet tooth, my absolute FAVORITE way to combat a sweet tooth while somewhat "giving in" - bite sized candies. Andes Candies are my faaaaaavorite thing in the world. They're individually wrapped, 25 calories each, miniscule amount of saturated fat. Have two, and your craving for sweets is gone!
*climbs off soap box*
And that's Wednesday ;)
<3 Jillian
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
003. Boredom Eating
Poking around the many blogs on this worldwide web has me thinking. I'm sitting here reading, not really doing much of anything (though, admittedly, I totally should be doing homework), and I feel hungry. Hungry? I know what you're thinking: Really Jill, it's 2:50 AM and you're hungry? Well, to be honest, I'm really not. I'm bored. And there are SO many of us that eat when we're bored. Why do we do this?
Here's my little theory. It's not exactly scientific, and it hasn't been cited in the great medical journals of our time, but it's mine and noone else's [to my knowledge]. People like to talk (*ahem*), therefore their mouths are always moving. When they talk, they don't think about eating, because their mouths are moving as if they are eating, even though they're not. When the mouth isn't moving, it feels like it should be moving, and sends signals to the brain that it's hungry.
...I told you it wasn't expert, what were you expecting?!
But here's how I combat this whole boredom eating debacle in my life. There are a few solid alternatives to not eating when my mouth just wants to munch.
My favorite is this one: drink water. 90% of the time your body feels like it's hungry, it's dehydrated. And by dehydrated I mean 2/3 dehydrated--so we're talkin' BIG TIME here. Drinking ice cold water not only re-hydrates you, but it also fills you up and helps you burn some calories! (When the body has to heat up the cold water, it helps speed up your metabolism. See, you learn something new every day!) As an added perk, it helps your skin look great, and you almost automatically gain more energy from that faster metabolism.
Another favorite: "What I Want More." This one simple phrase helps me through many a tough time at 1 AM when I'm writing a paper and just want to snack. It truly puts things into perspective: "What do I want more, a body I'm proud of and a healthy life, or a few cookies?" Admittedly, I sometimes pick the cookies. BUT, it's not necessarily a setback, it's just a bump. Life's all about the bumps in the road, taking the good with the bad, etc--and cookies are my bumps ;)
This is definitely going to be one of those "To Be Continued..." entries, but for now I think I've exhausted my brain cells for the day so I'm going to sleep. Goodnight, everybody!
<3 Jillian
"To the world, you may be one person; to one person, you may be the world." ~Unknown
Here's my little theory. It's not exactly scientific, and it hasn't been cited in the great medical journals of our time, but it's mine and noone else's [to my knowledge]. People like to talk (*ahem*), therefore their mouths are always moving. When they talk, they don't think about eating, because their mouths are moving as if they are eating, even though they're not. When the mouth isn't moving, it feels like it should be moving, and sends signals to the brain that it's hungry.
...I told you it wasn't expert, what were you expecting?!
But here's how I combat this whole boredom eating debacle in my life. There are a few solid alternatives to not eating when my mouth just wants to munch.
My favorite is this one: drink water. 90% of the time your body feels like it's hungry, it's dehydrated. And by dehydrated I mean 2/3 dehydrated--so we're talkin' BIG TIME here. Drinking ice cold water not only re-hydrates you, but it also fills you up and helps you burn some calories! (When the body has to heat up the cold water, it helps speed up your metabolism. See, you learn something new every day!) As an added perk, it helps your skin look great, and you almost automatically gain more energy from that faster metabolism.
Another favorite: "What I Want More." This one simple phrase helps me through many a tough time at 1 AM when I'm writing a paper and just want to snack. It truly puts things into perspective: "What do I want more, a body I'm proud of and a healthy life, or a few cookies?" Admittedly, I sometimes pick the cookies. BUT, it's not necessarily a setback, it's just a bump. Life's all about the bumps in the road, taking the good with the bad, etc--and cookies are my bumps ;)
This is definitely going to be one of those "To Be Continued..." entries, but for now I think I've exhausted my brain cells for the day so I'm going to sleep. Goodnight, everybody!
<3 Jillian
"To the world, you may be one person; to one person, you may be the world." ~Unknown
002. Life as a Beachbody "User"
So. What exactly does it mean to be a Beachbody customer?
Some equate fitness companies to advertising ploys. Lets be real--that's what most "fitness" companies are; they advertise how to get those coveted six-pack abs--in just 5 minutes a day!--without having to change your diet or do serious exercise. They show pictures of airbrushed, photoshopped people, and use celebrity "clients" as their spokespeople. Many, if not most, of these companies are untrusted by their own consumers! I see commercials daily for "fitness" equipment that, just looking at it, I know can cause serious harm to the body. (My favorite is a gem that promises you abs of steel while lying in a chair on the floor, which can cause disc problems upon sitting up! I know that's what I'VE always dreamed of, how 'bout you!?)
Successful Beachbody customers see fitness as a lifestyle change. It's not just working out. It's not about "dieting." It's not about cutting out carbs and consuming ridiculous amounts of protein. It's about changing your entire mindset to one of a healthy person.
And how, exactly, does one accomplish this?
It's definitely an uphill battle for most of us--it is for me, anyway, which is part of the reason I decided to become a coach. It gives me a level of accountability I could never have by doing this on my own. For Beachbody people, it's a simple as Play, Shake, and Share.
Play - pick a program, and push "play" every day. Beachbody has tons of really fun programs that are all-inclusive, most of which are fewer than 45 minutes long!
Shake - pick your meal replacement shake. A good meal replacement shake is the best way to keep your calorie count down so that you can get even more nutrients through whole foods throughout the rest of the day. My personal favorite is the brand new Shakeology. I love blending it with tons of ice and peanut butter--it's like a chocolate peanut butter milkshake!
Share! - Tell people what you're doing!! Join WOWY and find a group for people doing the program you're doing. Get on the [free!] message boards and make some friends! It's such a supportive community and there's no better way to get involved than to join the threads on the message boards. You can find workout tips, nutrition tips, recipes, and people in your area of the globe that you can talk to about anything. I've found my home on the threads, and it was the best thing I could've done for myself.
It's that simple! Everything else falls into place from there. Through the people I've met on the boards, I've learned TONS of tips and tricks that I never would've heard anywhere else, and I truly believe that the "share" part of that equation has been the biggest factor in my success with Beachbody products. (Ask my family--I'm notorious for giving things exactly 3 days and then quitting. I've yet to do that to ANY Beachbody products!)
...For those of you readers that are big on semantics, you might've noticed my utilization of the word "user" in the title of this entry. Why? Because getting in shape and getting healthy is ADDICTIVE!! ..Seriously. It's contagious, too! Once people see you doing something great for yourself and they hear it takes you virtually no time to do it, they get on board too! You can start a chain reaction by getting yourself in shape! How exciting is that?! It's been so rewarding for me, knowing I'm helping people get healthier while having fun at the same time.
That's my shpiel for today, enjoy!
<3 Jillian
Some equate fitness companies to advertising ploys. Lets be real--that's what most "fitness" companies are; they advertise how to get those coveted six-pack abs--in just 5 minutes a day!--without having to change your diet or do serious exercise. They show pictures of airbrushed, photoshopped people, and use celebrity "clients" as their spokespeople. Many, if not most, of these companies are untrusted by their own consumers! I see commercials daily for "fitness" equipment that, just looking at it, I know can cause serious harm to the body. (My favorite is a gem that promises you abs of steel while lying in a chair on the floor, which can cause disc problems upon sitting up! I know that's what I'VE always dreamed of, how 'bout you!?)
Successful Beachbody customers see fitness as a lifestyle change. It's not just working out. It's not about "dieting." It's not about cutting out carbs and consuming ridiculous amounts of protein. It's about changing your entire mindset to one of a healthy person.
And how, exactly, does one accomplish this?
It's definitely an uphill battle for most of us--it is for me, anyway, which is part of the reason I decided to become a coach. It gives me a level of accountability I could never have by doing this on my own. For Beachbody people, it's a simple as Play, Shake, and Share.
Play - pick a program, and push "play" every day. Beachbody has tons of really fun programs that are all-inclusive, most of which are fewer than 45 minutes long!
Shake - pick your meal replacement shake. A good meal replacement shake is the best way to keep your calorie count down so that you can get even more nutrients through whole foods throughout the rest of the day. My personal favorite is the brand new Shakeology. I love blending it with tons of ice and peanut butter--it's like a chocolate peanut butter milkshake!
Share! - Tell people what you're doing!! Join WOWY and find a group for people doing the program you're doing. Get on the [free!] message boards and make some friends! It's such a supportive community and there's no better way to get involved than to join the threads on the message boards. You can find workout tips, nutrition tips, recipes, and people in your area of the globe that you can talk to about anything. I've found my home on the threads, and it was the best thing I could've done for myself.
It's that simple! Everything else falls into place from there. Through the people I've met on the boards, I've learned TONS of tips and tricks that I never would've heard anywhere else, and I truly believe that the "share" part of that equation has been the biggest factor in my success with Beachbody products. (Ask my family--I'm notorious for giving things exactly 3 days and then quitting. I've yet to do that to ANY Beachbody products!)
...For those of you readers that are big on semantics, you might've noticed my utilization of the word "user" in the title of this entry. Why? Because getting in shape and getting healthy is ADDICTIVE!! ..Seriously. It's contagious, too! Once people see you doing something great for yourself and they hear it takes you virtually no time to do it, they get on board too! You can start a chain reaction by getting yourself in shape! How exciting is that?! It's been so rewarding for me, knowing I'm helping people get healthier while having fun at the same time.
That's my shpiel for today, enjoy!
<3 Jillian
Sunday, April 5, 2009
001. Welcome! :)
So obviously, I've decided to start blogging. Why? Because I've just become a Beachbody coach and I'm feelin' the need to share that with the world.
...okay, first things first. Who, exactly, is "I"?
"I" is Jillian. I'm 20 years old and I'm a junior in college. I attend Adelphi University in Garden City, NY, and I'm majoring in psychology. I hope to eventually have a PhD in clinical psychology, and I want to open my own practice one day. I babysit two really cute kids, James (7) and Elizabeth (almost 5), and I also work in their mother's office. I love my family, even though they drive me crazy. My 16-year-old brother is my sanity, which is ironic because I'm pretty sure he's certifiably insane. My cousins are some of my favorite people in my life. I have the best friends in the world, and I dare you to challenge me on that one. I'm a sister of the best sorority EVER--huuuge shoutout to all you Tri Delts reading this! DL, BBPB--and I love my sisters way too much to put into words. My pledge class and family are better than yours. Again, I dare you to challenge those statements. I love my life, and I wouldn't change anything about it.
Part two: what exactly is Beachbody? And what's a coach?
...funny you should ask!
Beachbody is, in my humble opinion, the best company in the fitness industry. It started out as a tiny company in 1998, with only one workout video to its name. Today, the company has hundreds of thousands of customers all looking for the healthiest way to get fit in the quickest amount of time possible. Its motto, "Decide, Commit, Succeed," cannot be more true: these are the real three steps to getting fit. Decide to get fit. Commit to a program. Succeed, and get real results. The best part about Beachbody is that it doesn't lie to people; it never tells you that there's no effort involved in fitness. If that's what you've been believing, you've been lied to. Effort is required, but Beachbody's workouts are highly efficient, combining strength training, cardio, and flexibility all in compact workouts. Most of its programs involve workouts that are no more than 40 minutes long--in fact, it even has a 10 minute workout program! Who doesn't have 10 minutes per day to reduce their risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and myriad other health problems? I know I do! And you do too, you know it. Another great part is that it doesn't leave you to your own resources. The message boards are the most unique part of Beachbody; average Joe customers are constantly floating around the hundreds of message board threads, always supporting, advising, and helping their fellow man. The message boards have been credited with tons of people's success because they have felt like they wouldn't have the motivation to do it by themselves; the friends they made on the message boards kept them on track and made sure they didn't give up, and they can help you too!
Where does the coaching come in? When you sign up for a FREE account at TeamBeachbody.com, you are assigned a coach. This person is your go-to for anything Beachbody related--workout program, nutritional assistance, supplements, etc. This person is neither a fitness guru nor a nutritionist, but a regular person, just like you! They have been through Beachbody programs and are extremely knowledegable about the company and are willing to help you in any way possible. If you are already a member of TeamBeachbody and you have not gotten in contact with your coach--E-MAIL HIM/HER!!!! They are not allowed to contact you until you contact them, so do yourself a favor and talk to them ASAP! You won't regret it, promise! Another part of TeamBeachbody is WOWY (Working Out With You), the online virtual gym. When you log your workouts into WOWY in realtime, you have the chance to win up to $1,000 per day!! Where else can you win money simply for working out? I can't think of anywhere.
Join the Beachbody community today and see how it can change your life! Also, visit my own personal website at http://beachbodycoach.com/butterflyx17 . Keep checking back here for updates on my progress!, and thanks for reading!
<3 Jillian
...okay, first things first. Who, exactly, is "I"?
"I" is Jillian. I'm 20 years old and I'm a junior in college. I attend Adelphi University in Garden City, NY, and I'm majoring in psychology. I hope to eventually have a PhD in clinical psychology, and I want to open my own practice one day. I babysit two really cute kids, James (7) and Elizabeth (almost 5), and I also work in their mother's office. I love my family, even though they drive me crazy. My 16-year-old brother is my sanity, which is ironic because I'm pretty sure he's certifiably insane. My cousins are some of my favorite people in my life. I have the best friends in the world, and I dare you to challenge me on that one. I'm a sister of the best sorority EVER--huuuge shoutout to all you Tri Delts reading this! DL, BBPB--and I love my sisters way too much to put into words. My pledge class and family are better than yours. Again, I dare you to challenge those statements. I love my life, and I wouldn't change anything about it.
Part two: what exactly is Beachbody? And what's a coach?
...funny you should ask!
Beachbody is, in my humble opinion, the best company in the fitness industry. It started out as a tiny company in 1998, with only one workout video to its name. Today, the company has hundreds of thousands of customers all looking for the healthiest way to get fit in the quickest amount of time possible. Its motto, "Decide, Commit, Succeed," cannot be more true: these are the real three steps to getting fit. Decide to get fit. Commit to a program. Succeed, and get real results. The best part about Beachbody is that it doesn't lie to people; it never tells you that there's no effort involved in fitness. If that's what you've been believing, you've been lied to. Effort is required, but Beachbody's workouts are highly efficient, combining strength training, cardio, and flexibility all in compact workouts. Most of its programs involve workouts that are no more than 40 minutes long--in fact, it even has a 10 minute workout program! Who doesn't have 10 minutes per day to reduce their risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and myriad other health problems? I know I do! And you do too, you know it. Another great part is that it doesn't leave you to your own resources. The message boards are the most unique part of Beachbody; average Joe customers are constantly floating around the hundreds of message board threads, always supporting, advising, and helping their fellow man. The message boards have been credited with tons of people's success because they have felt like they wouldn't have the motivation to do it by themselves; the friends they made on the message boards kept them on track and made sure they didn't give up, and they can help you too!
Where does the coaching come in? When you sign up for a FREE account at TeamBeachbody.com, you are assigned a coach. This person is your go-to for anything Beachbody related--workout program, nutritional assistance, supplements, etc. This person is neither a fitness guru nor a nutritionist, but a regular person, just like you! They have been through Beachbody programs and are extremely knowledegable about the company and are willing to help you in any way possible. If you are already a member of TeamBeachbody and you have not gotten in contact with your coach--E-MAIL HIM/HER!!!! They are not allowed to contact you until you contact them, so do yourself a favor and talk to them ASAP! You won't regret it, promise! Another part of TeamBeachbody is WOWY (Working Out With You), the online virtual gym. When you log your workouts into WOWY in realtime, you have the chance to win up to $1,000 per day!! Where else can you win money simply for working out? I can't think of anywhere.
Join the Beachbody community today and see how it can change your life! Also, visit my own personal website at http://beachbodycoach.com/butterflyx17 . Keep checking back here for updates on my progress!, and thanks for reading!
<3 Jillian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
