The Nikki Fu Experiment: Daily / Weekly Update

Hello everyone!

I hope every has had a good week.

It's time for another update!

Let's start with the daily goals:

1) King, Queen, Pauper Approach to meals.  The idea was to eat like a King for breakfast ... like a Queen for lunch ... and a Pauper for dinner.
I tried this approach.
And it didn't stick beyond a few days.

Rather than eat a big meal for breakfast, I sought out balance (making sure I had fruit and some protein) and carbs (energy) for my morning meal.  Lunch tended to be bigger than dinner.  Dinner was balanced/moderate. 

The idea isn't a bad one ... just wasn't for me.  What it did teach me though, is not to go super heavy on dinner.  The nights I did, I felt sluggish and "blah".  I liked having a bigger lunch, too, because it really got me through my afternoon (with a snack pick-me-up).

2) Drink Green Tea every day.  The idea is that green tea is supposed to help your metabolism and therefore burn calories.
I bet if I had invested more into this, and drank more than a cup a day (when I remembered) - it would work.  However, I didn't drink it as often as I should.  I really enjoyed it when I did, though.  So this idea I'll keep as apart of my daily routine (when I remember - ha, ha!)

Daily goals for this upcoming week:

1) Limit my time on the computer.
Let's face it - our asses are getting flatter as we become more technologically advanced.  I am a major advocate of social media and the good it does.  However, social media is also bad (ha, ha).  It can be abused for over-sharing (guilty), over-analyzing (guilty) and well ... distracting from more important duties at task (VERY guilty).  Just I do with the kids, I need to limit a screen in front of my face.
With that being said, I am limiting myself to 30 minutes of social media in the morning, and 30 minutes at night.  The exception to this is: Email, School, Work, Blog.  Obviously.  This is going to be especially hard for me with Relay and the Biggest Loser 5K coming up Sunday.  HOWEVER, I need to disconnect a little bit.  I feel my body and ass getting squishier as each minute passes me sitting in a chair doing homework, work, etc.

2) NO caffeine after 4 PM (except on Friday/Saturday)
I am not quite ready to give up soda.  I know, I know ... it's bad.  Especially the diet stuff (my favorite).  I have read how it can help with your sleep pattern to cut out caffeine after a certain point.  I do need to make it past 8:30 p.m. most nights ... but I do notice that having a diet coke (or coke zero) with my dinner does impact how easily I fall asleep.  I hope to do some evening workouts, and gain energy there to get me to 10-11 p.m.


Now let's review my weekly goals (since we're in week 2):

1) Do 30 minutes of cardio, 5 times a week PLUS 2 days of weight lifting/resistance training.
Annnnnnnnnnnd I bombed (lol).
I did work out.  I did not do any weight lifting/resistance training.  I will be keeping this goal, as it's something I strive for!

2) Have a meatless dinner once a week.
Josh was thrilled that I did not hit this goal.  However, I did go meatless during a couple breakfasts (small victories, right?)
I still want to try this ... but I think it's getting shelved for the time being.

3) Read from a non-school related book 3x a week.
This one, I actually did.  And I loved.  Shamelessly, I have finished two of the three books in the "50 Shades" series.  I also read a magazine!  I loved every minute of this, and plan on keeping this one (even more now with limiting my computer time).


The next two week's weekly goals will be:

1) Do 30 minutes of cardio, 5 times a week PLUS 2 days of weight lifting/resistance training.
Since I didn't hit this goal like I wanted to, I wanted to try at it again.

2) Have a dessert every day.
This seems like a weird one, I know.  We need to remember that treating ourselves is a good thing.  Desserts is highly encouraged in a lot of diet plans I read ... and even the whole "glass of wine, once a day" is mentioned a bit.  Originally I was going to make my goal "drink a glass of wine, a day", but with my weight watcher plan I knew that could be more points than I could afford each night.  So instead, I wanted to pick and choose my dessert.  I am sure there will be wine when possible.

It was a really weird week.
I haven't been able to put words yet to how I felt through it all - but it no doubt influenced how I approached my goals.

Another mini-goal of mine, is not to be so influenced by stress and others when it comes to my well being.  I am so easily impacted, as deep down I am emotional.  I just gotta repeat the mantra and push past it.
Not only is there $200 on the line (biggest loser competition) but my health is on the line.  A better body and outlook is on the line.

What do you struggle with, or have found to derail you, when it comes to your health goals?
I'd love to hear yours.
And remember - it's a new week.
Let's own this.

Thanks for reading.

Nichole
~Be The Thermostat, Not The Thermometer~

The Nikki Fu Experiment - A Preview!

I left before vacation talking about a preview of September.  Part of it was going into a little more detail about my first blog series!

Well, I'd like to give you a preview regarding a series of blogs over the next few weeks.

I call it ...

The Nikki Fu Experiment!

Yes, that is me.  Halloween 2008.  One of the best (and worst) pictures of me.  Ever.

Let me be honest for a moment.

I am over weight.  I'm not "a little chubby" or "needing to lost a few pounds".  No, I could qualify to be on the biggest loser.  I am a classic case of a yo-yo dieter.  I would do something, lose a bunch of weight, gain weight back.  The cycle is vicious.  I have been within 30 pounds of my "ultimate goal weight" and well above my heaviest (where I'm teetering at now).  I give myself a little more grace now, because of having two babies within two years.

JJ, however, turns 1 next week.  Rachel is now 2 and 1/2.  The execuses and grace period is coming to an end.  Now is the time to act, before my metabolism gets any worse (and science shows, the older I get ... the worse it's only going to get).

My experiment, is to explore healthy living, diet and exercise tips.   Set goals to incorporate these ideas into my routine (daily / weekly / monthly) and see how I succeed.  The ones that work, stay.  The ones that flop, go.

It sounds sad - but this is not my first rodeo going on this adventure.  I just hate being unhealthy like this.  Sure I'm active and running, but even then that has taken the back seat over the last month.   I have a 5K this Saturday that I am not fully prepared for (thankfully it's a fun run, and it's not meant to be taken too seriously).

I'm ready for a full on, life style overhaul.  I tried to challenge myself this summer.  I joined Weight Watchers again.  I did an Insanity Challenge.  It helped, and I lost weight.  Over these last few weeks though, it's like I'm letting myself slip.

Tonight I say: No More.

Tomorrow I say: Bring It.

While my experiment won't kick off until next week, I wanted to share with you what you'll be expecting in the next few months!  I will share with you my progress ... my slip ups ... and all my victories.  I'll be tracking my numbers, and will share them with you as my journey moves forward.

Before Monday you'll see a post regarding what my first goals will be (Daily / Weekly / Monthly goals), plus my plan.  I do plan on reconnecting with My Fitness Pal account (find me here).  I also plan on going back to WW (it's a great system/plan.  I want to follow through on it).  Plus an array of other things, that I will detail out better later on.

Many of my family and friends either have, or currently are, struggling with their weight.  Some are struggling with being fit and active.  And others are just struggling to be healthy.  My hope is that this series will show what tips are realistic and can work ... and what silly ideas should be just left alone.  I'm also hoping I can inspire others in taking steps to be healthier for themselves.  Stay tuned in the next few days for more!

Thanks for reading.

September Preview

I thought I was going to bed ... but a clear mind comes with many ideas running rampant!

So to hopefully help shut off my brain for the night - I wanted to give you (my amazing readers) a preview of what to expect in the month of September:

Vegas

Not going to try to hide it.

But I am FLIPPING excited for this trip.

My first "adult" trip to Vegas was 2011, when my husband turned 30.  We had SUCH an amazing time, that I knew I wanted to go back for mine.  I had dreams almost nightly of Vegas when I was pregnant with my son ... I knew it had to happen.  However, my 30th was in January.  I didn't find it too appealing to go to Vegas in January.  So we opted to wait until the same time we went in 2011.  The weather was near perfection (for me anyway, ha ha).  The pools were still open.  It was awesome.  I cannot wait to go back, and create new memories in Las Vegas.

 College

This quarter should prove to be interesting.  Not because of what I'm taking ... but just how much I'm taking.

I was awarded a grant, and I wanted to make sure I took full advantage of what was given to me.  Therefore, I choose to up my credits from 10 to 15.  The good news is, if I can maintain 15 fall & winter quarter, I can scale back to 10 if needed in the Spring ... and hopefully graduate Summer (or possibly Fall quarter of next school year).  It's hard to say though - as I need to revisit my career path with my counselor after fall quarter.  Until then, I'm sure I'll be blogging a time or two in September about getting ready for this upcoming quarter.

Relay For Life

My husband shook his head at me earlier today, as I sat in the car on the way home (it was a long drive, considering traffic and the pit stops) talking about all the things for Relay I wanted to get started in the next week.  He laughed, smiled and just kindly said "Summer break went by way too quick."  It's true, though.  I promised him no major Relay commitments (i.e. meetings, etc) until "summer was over".  This was early June when I made this promise.
Where.  Did.  Our.  Summer.  GO!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

My passion for Relay is quite large.  I am almost positive there will be many posts about it in my blog as I become more involved again.

 

 

My youngest, J.J.

My handsome little man is turning 1.  I actually am tearing up as I type it ... because it seems like only yesterday we were snuggling together in the hospital room.  He has always been a snuggler.  That will always be the memory I go back to.  It's the same one I do for Rachel as well.  That first day, husband leaves to talk with friends and family who are visiting ... I nurse my baby ... and we fall asleep.  Skin to skin, cuddling as mother and child.  Now here I am, 11 1/2 months later, about to throw him his first birthday party.  He's growing up every day in front of my eyes ... I just got to remember not to blink so fast.

 

 

Bubble Run 5K

The first race in my mini-series kicks off September 21st!  I am excited, as it'll be a "fun run" more than competitive.  I am allowed to push strollers, and am debating getting Rachel to "run" with me ... we'll see!  Nevertheless, I am thrilled about this kick off to what I hope is a positive lifestyle change.

 

 

The Nikki Fu Experiment 

I don't want to give anything away - but I think over the weekend I had a light bulb go off on what my first blog series should be.

Considering I have never tackled a series before, I was pretty excited when the idea came to me.  I need to do some research and planning before I can share it with you.  I'm hopeful that by the end of the month, my series will be underway!  (Spoiler alert: It's a little predictable in concept, but I feel my approach will separate me from others).

There is a few other little things to that I'm sure will be popping up this month ... but this covers the big subjects.  I am calling it now - I'm going to blink my eyes, and it's going to be Thanksgiving.

 

 XO -

Nikki
"Be The Thermostat - Not The Thermometer"