Your metabolism slows down over the course of the day. It is highest in the morning and lowest in the evening. But if you work out late at night, your activity level is MUCH higher at that time then the average person. Its imperative that you replenish your muscles after training, no matter what time of day, so you should have a protein shake and a piece of fruit immediately after your training. When you get home, have a high protein meal along with fresh vegetables or salad.

Lisa, Go Figure
Sept 10

Apparently spring is almost here, and after that ofcourse its summer!  And in anticipation of some decent fine weather it'll be time for us to reveal more of our bodies in summer outfits.

Or at least, you want to fit into those summer outfits but by the way you're looking at the moment... there's no way you're going to be seen in anything other than your t shirts and jeans!

We'd probably all like to secretly have the 'calendar body'. The rippling abs, tight curved body, toned shoulders and nice hard butt. The thing about the calendar body is that it takes at least a calendar year to get one... go figure!

Depending on where your body's at, it would take you 12 months of hard work, good eating and dedication to achieve your vision of a great body. This would also apply to those who are competing in a bodybuilding or figure show to get into contest shape.

While it might take 12 months to get the body you want, half of all people who start an exercise programme would give up within 6 months ... so most people would not be able to get the
Calendar Body they want.  However, there's still the other half of people who have the dedication to get there. So to help the determined half, I've outlined some points which would help them along the way:

Keep a Diary
Before you start, evaluate your condition. For each workout, record your training weights and
times on cardio. This will help give you direction on what's working (or not working) for you.

Start Slow and Easy
Depending on what your current fitness level is you should start with a moderate level of intensity,
rather than trying too much too soon. Gradually lengthen workouts and increase your pace.
You can't get fit in a week. It might take a month so keep working at it.

Seek Convenience
Make time slots and locations for exercising convenient, not excuses for discontinuing
your fitness program.

Find Support and seek advice
A workout partner can help keep you motivated. You can spur each other on if one's not feeling too keen. Maybe you need to enlist the services of an instructor or Personal Trainer to help you on track.

Put up pictures
Its easier to know where you're goin if you can see it. Put up pictures of the body you admire as motivation for your own body. Put pictures on your fridge, cupboard or even in your car to help you stay focused.

Mix it Up
Doing the same activities day in, day out, gets boring.
Find different programs to stay motivated and maintain or enhance fitness benefits.

Take a rest
Sometimes when we try hard to achieve our perfect body, we get too obsessed with ourselves. Listen to your body when it's aching or you just haven't got the energy to push yourself that day. It won't hurt to take a day off for your body to recover. You might actually come back stronger the next workout!

I know the foods that are doing it to me but I still eat them just because of sheer convenience.  These include soy sauce and anything that contains soy, low fat dressings, dairy, some pre workout and protein powders, food additives and colourings.  Having all this stuff in my body makes me inefficient and if I ever had plans to shape up I'm going to have to sort this out so I can actually lose weight.

So now is the time to stop as I've finally had a gutful of looking and feeling all bloated. The crucendo of this decision came at the foodshow about 2 weekends ago when I was sampling various foods and the next day I just felt horrible, and I thought right, time to stop. 

Even more timely was that the next day I was going to Hamilton for the Waikato show (31 July) and it was a good time to catch up with me old mate Stacey Hancock (aka Stacey's Nutrition Space) to talk over my food situation to pick her nutrition brain.  Plus I needed some accountability. I know I can probably do an overhaul by myself but just nice to know there's someone I can sound things out to and sorry Stacey... you're the one!

So there we were at a cafe in between shows discussing my situation and there are so many things I have to take out of my diet, including:

-  replacing chocolate WPI protein powder (found out it contains soy lethicin and change that to Balance unflavoured WPI (not the easiest to mix I might add!)

- cut out pre workout drink

- cut out protein bars (I've only just started eating these since Donelle gave me her Vital Strength to try - bad Donelle! - but the chocolate was oh so yummy)

- have fruit with post workout shake rather than a formula drink. 

- chinese/thai takeaways are out - cut out dressings, sauces. Pretty much anything that has soy or lactose in it. - chewing gum and even those breath freshner mints are out - found out wasabi in tube contains lactose and other bad stuff so have to replace with the wasabi powder I can mix up myself.

I have this for dinner alot. sashimi salmon or tuna with veges mmm delish

- cut out dairy. But I'm still having occasional flat whites.  I know norty Stacey but I'm already giving up alot!

- found that Watties 'Vitality Mix' was giving me a gutache and wondered why. So read the label and there it was "soy beans". Thought it was broadbeans in the pic so pays to read the label!

- speaking of labels, Stacey's recommended I stay away from these additives starting with 95 (eg 950, 951) or starting with 6 (631, 621...) anything nitrate. Most things with a 2 (211, 220), and certain colours.



Taking out all the above really doesn't leave me much and what I'm eating is pretty close to a contest diet!  The main difference in my diet has alot more food preparation and having more natural food to snack on. So now its more boiled eggs, carrots and nuts around rather than going for the chemical option.  I generally eat a higher fat/protein diet anyway so I haven't got any carb/sugar craving issue.

A week down and its been so far so good. It has been hard not to add sauces to various meals so at the moment just using good old salt and pepper to spice food up, I know I should do some marinating but don't want to get too carried away with too fancy food ha ha.

Generally I'm feeling less bloated through my mid section, my eyes feel and look a little clearer. I'm still waiting for the more energy part to kick in. Hope that will do so after my ear infection has gone which I've had for the past week.  Stacey said the ear infection probably was caused from all my sinuses being blocked up from the reaction of the food allergies.

In addition to doing my food overhaul, Stacey's also suggested I take Vitamin C, Olive Leaf and a few other bits and bobs so that my body can build immunity and start to get back to good health again.

BTW I'm not the only one doing an overhaul.  While at the cafe I suggested to Stacey that we make a pact she does her cardio (Stacey's archilles heel) while I cut out additives and keep a food diary. I get on her case about cardio and she checks in on me for the food side. So really its a WIN/WIN. I lose weight from cutting the additives out of my diet and she shapes up with cardio.	Lisa and Stacey
If anyone else is on an additive free diet, please email me how you're doing and what foods you're creating. I'm not the most creative cook in the world so would love to know what you do to keep things interesting! Will let you know how I go. Lisa, Go Figure 8 August 10