The Alt/Sliding Scale Diet

Binge Eating Disorder: What is it? How I’m healing it.

Tabata plus resistance with Catherine

A Remedy For Vanity

A Remedy for Vanity

 A few years ago, my son asked me what job I would want if I could do anything in the world.

 He said that I had to be absolutely honest.

I had to dream without judgement.

 If I could do anything, I would sing, and dance, and wear beautiful clothes, professionally.

 After the interview, Colin told me that he thought I really wanted to be a fashion model.

 "Right," I thought. I'm over 40 and under 5'2," so that's ridiculous.

 You see, what I taught myself over the years is that the key to happiness is to find a way to stop wanting what you can't have. In truth, that's just a way to stop getting hurt. Still, I have learned a few more helpful things over the past 54 years of seeking love, fulfillment, and happiness.

 Starting today, I am embarking on an experimental journey that requires me to create what I desire and do what I love in whatever way, and at whatever level I can. I resolve to be an amateur, as the word amateur comes from the Latin: amare. To love. So I will sing, dance, act, and model as an amateur: for love. I will see how living in love will affect my actual "Living."

 I work as a personal trainer, group exercise leader, and fitness author. This is how I earn the money that helps me afford to sing, dance, act, and dress. I see that my physical practice and my work combine to give me the freedom to do what I love. Sugar Freedom and Cardio Freedom, my nutrition and and fitness programs, combine to give me the material and physical ability to create what I love, and I love Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.

 So how is this a remedy for vanity? I have come to understand that vanity in my case is the longing to be beautiful and admired. The remedy is the determination to create what is beautiful, and do what is admirable for the sake of goodness.

 Now, I see that, The cure for vanity is the decision to create beauty instead of merely possessing it.

Soon, we leave for New York where I get to sing with the alumni of my college women's choir. This weekend, I can participate in Sonora Sings Classical, which is a group that gets together for an impromptu practice of classical choral music. The opportunities to be an amateur and do what I love are just waiting for me to have the courage to step into them.

 So how about you? What do you love to create and do, and where can you find your chances to be an amateur for the sake of your own happiness and goodness?

  

How to get off of sugar now.

Sugar Free One, Two, Three: Three levels of carbohydrate restriction 11/30 by The Sugar Freedom Show | Weight Loss Podcasts

Sugar Free One, Two, Three: Three levels of carbohydrate restriction 11/30 by The Sugar Freedom Show | Weight Loss Podcasts: When I first quit sugar back in 2008, I was able to overcome overweight and obesity by cutting out added sugars and nearly all grains. At that time, I could have small amounts of oat bran and Ezekiel bread without triggering bouts of overeating. After turning 50 in 2014, I found that I was happier, healthier, and leaner when I pulled all of the grains out of my eating plan. Recently, I have even done carb-free days which have had a positive effect on my appetite and waistline. In this podcast, I describe the three levels of carbohydrate restriction that have allowed me to stay at a healthy weight and size for ten years. (Note: in order to be completely open about what I am eating to manage my sugar addiction, please be aware that my statements are not meant to be recommendations. They are a demonstration of what worked for me.) http://www.sugarfreedom.com

Quick weight loss workout

Quick Weight Loss Workout: Because Sometimes Shorter is Better!

Back when I was struggling with obesity, I was suffering through as much as 12 hours of cardio a week without getting any lighter or leaner.

I was combining swimming, spinning, aerobics, and trying to run on the treadmill.  It was awful, as these are all activities that either I'm not very good at, or that I don't enjoy.

They made me tired and sad, but I kept grinding away until I learned about the benefits of weight lifting, interval training, and yoga.  It turns out that endurance exercises like running, aerobics, and swimming don't suit my muscle fiber type, or my attention span.

The combination of physical discomfort and boredom lowered my enthusiasm and increased my appetite.  My program was a lose/lose to say the least.

When I finally got fed up enough to take a chance on exercising less with more intensity and better form, everything changed, including my appetite.

Now I specialize in working with people like me who don't respond well to traditional calories in/ calories out weight loss programs.  This particular Kettle Bell Tabata session is easy on the knees too.  Years of doing endurance cardio while I was overweight did a number on my knees, so now with osteoarthritis in my left knee I have the challenge of keeping it functional while not increasing the damage.

The combination of an anti-inflammatory diet that eliminates, sugar, grains, and vegetable oils with interval training has truly turned back the clock.

Here are the exercises if you'd like to give it a try.

Kettle Bell Swings, Diagonal Press, and KB Rows.  Do circuits of the 3 exercises: 20 seconds of work with 10 seconds of rest in between.  For the rows, do 8 on each side.  Complete 8 rounds, and you're done!

Here is a link to the Kettle Bell I'm using in this video:

Click here====>https://amzn.to/2GkfOex

(Note: that is my Amazon Associates link, and although there is no cost to you, I do get a small commission from each sale.)

Here is the link to the Gymboss interval timer: Click here: ===>https://amzn.to/2WVWXM4

This session is short enough that you can do it anytime.  I like to do this if I get sluggish in the afternoon, or as a morning wake up call on days when I'm not doing a traditional weight lifting workout.

No matter what kind of training you choose, remember that you can enjoy fitness and get wonderful results.

All the best,

Catherine Best Gordon CPT