Ready? Set...GO!

Okay.

Today began the first day of my transformation. There are no more excuses, no more barriers, no more sitting around waiting for something to happen. This is my life and I want to be part of it again.

I weighed in today at 217 pounds...that's not healthy. I'm sure the measurements weren't pretty either--I have a long way to go.

This blog is designed to help me remember everything I've learned during this process of changing my mind, my body, and my life, but it's also designed to help give some of my close friends some of the knowledge I've learned.

It's crazy how everything seems to be starting so quickly and so slow all at once.

I had my first workout with Ryan today--he is amazing. For some reason, when he was around, I never wanted to stop and I never thought I needed to quit. I can do this. Attitude is the first thing that needs to change when someone really wants to lose weight and make it permanent. If the pain it will cause you to reach your goal doesn't outweigh the pain you'll be caused if you don't reach that goal, you're not ready.

So here's some information about working out that I've learned and will be very useful.

1. You should never work out in your target heart rate for more than one hour. If you do, your body will begin burning muscle. One hour. That's how long your body is willing (but very hesitant) to burn fat.

2. You should never go into your workout at your target heart rate. You need to warm up first.

The ideal workout (for someone trying to lose fat):
a. 12 minutes of light cardio; I did this on an elliptical machine
b. 8 minutes of light weights to start to raise your heart rate
c. 25-30 minutes of weight training at your target heart rate. (if you go above, you won't burn fat; if you stay below, you won't burn fat)
d. 15 minutes of cardio at your target heart rate
e. Within one hour, eat 20-30 grams of protein to replace the protein you've depleted from your muscles. If you don't, you'll be burning away protein from your other muscle--you need to reward your muscles for helping you by giving them protein.

I also know that I need to eat six times a day to keep my metabolism going; obviously you don't eat as large of meals, but more information about this will be following in other lessons. This week I need to keep a dairy of food and eat six times a day--it's going to be hard for me considering I usually have trouble remembering to eat twice:)