Author: nitrice

I am sharing my Fitness journey with others. I have experienced weight gains and weight loss both unhealthy and healthy. My journey now is one of a healthy lifestlye with fitness and nutrition. I want others to be EMPOWERED with my shared journey and know they too, can overcome the challenges and join me on my journey and make it an "Our Journey"

The Pause

I had another pause. My fitness journey was once again paused although I deviated off and yes I had to grasp myself.
The weather in this southern state was insane. No lights for almost 60 hours, snow (which we rarely get). The fireplace and those logs really burned quick, generator I’m not a fan of continuous use and most of all it was cold. The cell reception kept going out limited text, limited calls and no internet. Just once again insane.
I panicked for a few hours, yet keeping family and fur babies warm, and safe. We experienced life on another level so what happened. Well lots of board games, story telling and jokes. We do this occasionally but somehow the real enjoyment had escaped us. Connecting to my older daughters when the cell tower allowed was like a sugar overload. We baked and cooked because of gas stove and I consumed way too much limited things to do or was it?

Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Nope it wasn’t. For certain I wasn’t able to stream workouts so during the day light we all danced, boxed, lift weights and used bands. So by night we were ready to wrap up for warmth . Games and workouts and a lot of love to appreciate the strength we had to push through the temporary pause.

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LIFE will happen, there are and will be pauses on any journey, how we handle it determines if we stay “paused”, or push through. The time of the pause sometimes can or cannot be predicted but the resumption is there, if we (me and you) make it a choice because the pause is to strengthen us.

So today join me in an extra lift, squat, few steps on a walk or run or just a deep breathe for pushing through the pause.

The Struggle

There are days my nutrition is on point like really 💯, but the those days like today I was so off, not just one meal but every dang meal. Really my carb intake was a bit high the list is long today. I struggle with my carbs.
Will I starve myself or workout harder in my next workout? Truth is NO. I will not starve myself or decrease my caloric intake my large amount, nor will I do 3 to 4 workouts.

Now I will get back on track of course I will evaluate why I felt the need to eat as I did. Since I give my all in every workout I will increase the number of workouts only if I have that increased energy to another one. What and why? It’s called moderation and enjoying life without overindulgence in anything continuous that will yield negative outcome. Now this does apply to workouts, nutrition but just as much to life.

Working on decreasing my carbs, share with me do you have a struggle?

Are You Socialized

Are you? This question may make you raise your eyebrow or both because you’re probably thinking 🤔 what the heck. Yes, and if you’re like me have a few social media accounts, RIGHT.

Well you have it right and wrong. The socializing I’m speaking of is allowing the greater population decide your norm so you will not feel like the odd ball. Odd ball being what you’re doing is so out of characteristic for let’s say your age, your financial status, your professional, your gender, your family, your friends this list is long but you get the picture.

You’re SOCIALIZED when you allow the limits, history standards set your limits. You’re socialized when you do them because you feel you maybe cast out of a group, lose friends, or as I do sometimes carry those labels “odd, so different”, there are many. I once was so socialized listening to a few on my fitness journey. I also am so glad I became aware, surrounded myself with like minded individuals, and detached myself from limiting socialized standards. Remember if you’re not harming you or others your journey be it fitness as mine or whatever is on the rise.

Figuring It Out For Me

I’m currently just bouncing all over with my workouts. Now if you know me this is not always a good thing. I need structure with my workouts to prevent complacency and not to just do the same workouts in other words, a schedule. Yep this is why I love streaming my workouts, one program directing me each day what to do. This is why beachbodyondemand is my channel. Of course I do a few you tube workouts but 95% it’s that beach body workout with those awesome trainers. I shared the current bounce with someone and their recommendation left me speechless, my response was “really”. I bounce when I’m not sure which new workout I want to begin. The Recommendation- maybe working out is no longer for you, perhaps you should stop and find another hobby.

I’m lost, first it’s not a hobby, it’s my fitness journey but it’s a life style. STOP, that was alarming. Now I know I will never be able to share my fitness journey with her . Sometimes we just have to figure things out for ourselves and cast out those negative inputs regardless of how we value a person. Everyone we classify as a friend will not understand us. Yes it’s okay to value certain aspects of our life differently. But for certain if you don’t understand at most be supportive. Or just figure it out for you after all whatever journey you’re on it is about you, pleasing yourself to be proud of you. So you like me sometimes we just have to figure it out for our goals. I’m going to do a few squats to that.

Permission Without Guilt

Just a quick reminder, life happens. Life can throw a curve ball and knock you completely off, which by the way should be temporary. So, this past weekend one of my fur babies begin screaming loud for 3-5 seconds then stop. If he bumped into something, another fur love touched him and he’d stand for minutes in one place. Now Lucky is with limited vision and several eye meds to prevent further decrease in vision so I felt he was adjusting but no.

Lucky was having difficult getting comfortable to nap and adjusting for comfy he’d scream then find a way for comfort. I really thought it would pass but nope and then the vet was closed. Well I couldn’t allow him to keep screaming and I was doing everything for comfort trying to make to Monday but that wasn’t going to happen. To the animal ER we went. We were triaged quick so that meant a quick visit right? I was so wrong and was happy Lucky was able to doze off. Three hours in the vehicle and my feet were cold. In we went, examined and then injection with two meds. The cost oh my. Home and two hours later very little relief for Lucky and no sleep for me.
My Sunday was dragging, but every time he napped so did I and he screamed. He wouldn’t eat so no medication could be given and I was almost to tears. Really I just knew this is far worse and he was sick but Monday came. I called the vet no ER here and took the first appointment, this time Lucky was taken in and I sat in a cold vehicle again. I am not good for just sitting in an idling vehicle to warm or cool it for comfort. Yeah that’s just me. I get a call from the vet, more pain injection a higher dose and an inflammatory med injection with a treatment, a laser treatment one for now but he’ll need 6 more. Huh 🤔 laser well an hour later out comes the tech with Lucky and I assisted in getting him comfort for the ride home. By the way Lucky is a Shih Tzu and terrier mixed.
Minutes after getting home and comfort still tired I wanted to workout. The other fur babies looking odd I turned and there is Lucky walking toward the food bowl no screaming. What?
My little nugget had a horrible arthritis flare. I was so happy to see a speedy response to injections and laser treatment but I still wanted to workout. I was fatigued as yeah that fatigued and felt so guilty. I have a team we workout together, I’d delayed our workout which meant 2 workouts the same because everyone has a schedule so yeah. Long story short I couldn’t do either, I was super tired and energy was gone. I felt so guilty, I was letting myself and the team down.

Then a friend called and reminded me, it’s a workout, it’s okay give yourself permission for recovery and drown the guilt. WOW, I did and I was able to resume our workouts early Tuesday. We support one another in our team as well as grow together but more so understand. I ask of you what regular routine you perform and feel guilty when you have to bow out for a day or longer. Today I will say to you erase the guilt and give yourself permission to recover to a stronger you.

The Carbs We Consume

Carbs have some benefits especially the ones that provide energy in workouts. There are so many carbs although healthy and fiber filled it is easy to overindulge without being truly aware. What happens we, or rather ME sometimes have eaten too many carbs. It did take me awhile to become knowledgeable of this. I begin tracking my carbs, I wasn’t eating excessive on the truly recognizable carbs. I’m share a few.

VEGGIES – acorn squash, butternut squash, green peas

BEANS – bean pasta, hummus, peas

FRUITS – apples, bananas, cantaloupe, grapes, mango, oranges, raspberries, watermelon.

GRAINS – bran cereal, oats, quinoa

I’m sharing only a few for there is more and I’m aware that modification is so important, however sometimes it is easy to lose control on what we know is good for us. Depending on your active level is a good start to know your limit. Just remember as I have to too much of any food can have a backlash in my fitness journey. Still learning and growing my fitness knowledge, what’s new on your journey and it doesn’t have to be on fitness.

Are You Guilty Too?

How many times during a workout have you underestimated your strength just because you’ve become complacent. Well this was me last eve. I under estimated my capability in my workout. First to acknowledge I workout at home. This is the only way I’d be able to workout at least 4-6 days a week otherwise I would be at one. How do I know because I’ve been there. One thing I had to learn was how to eliminate excuses in my fitness journey and still I’m adjusting. So glad I was introduced to beachbody, the benefits, the nutritional meal plans (there is more than the delicious nutritional shakes).
I usually what I call pre stage my workouts. In other words set the stage for the workout. I decided in “Back & Biceps” workout I would use 10,15,20 & 30 lb dumbbells. I knew I can always do a drop set. Not familiar with the term, well that’s when you start heavy for so many reps and if you lose form (without the correct form you just going through the motion), you decrease the weights and continue. Occasionally I have increased instead of decreasing.

This is my pre workout stage. Oh yeah I used the 10 lbs only once and in my rows I replaced the 30 lbs with……..

Yes 40 lbs. So stop second guessing your strength, you’re stronger in strength lifting than you think. You Got This

Life Makes Changes

There are changes in life we must adapt to regardless and sometimes well I’m just a bit slow at it especially when there is a lost. This past week end I lost one of my felines and she was responding so well to her new medication. I’m uncertain if it was just too strong or if was her antibiotic injection or a combination of both. Tarby was my alarm clock most days she’d wake me up just a few minutes before the alarm would sound. She found a way to communicate with me when someone or another feline or canine was doing something unusual. She was hyper, loving and always purring.
Well in the mist of me cleaning her eyes she took her last breath. I was heartbroken. I know many of you will think it’s an animal or just a cat and that’s okay. To me Tar Tar which I called her a lot was a part of the family. I’ve had her for 17 years. Her condition was hyperthyroidism, 3 times the normal level of feline. I am 3 days post her death and just getting to return to myself but I miss her a lot.

In my mourning I really had no appetite I just wanted to curl up. My family attempted the fed but I really had no appetite. I missed my little black feline. BUT I knew I probably needed nutrition. So I made myself a nutritional shake because it has so many ingredients and I knew my body wouldn’t be starving. Of course a shake should never be the entire nutrition for the day but I couldn’t eat anything. One package mixed with cashew milk, ice and 1/4 of a banana (just to make it smoother), I was satisfied. What’s your go to substitution when food is not just for you?

My choice is Shakeology, not because it taste good but because of the ingredients and the benefits I knew I was in good hands.
RIP Tarby.

Changing The Self Talk

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I know we’re told talking to yourself is somewhat of an insane practice and forbid if you answer with a resolution. Okay honestly have you ever talked to yourself? I’ll answer for me with both hands 🙌 raised. GUILTY. For me it’s a check and balance system. Okay another raise for the honesty when I self talk first I am not always aware it’s verbal. Really it’s a thought or thoughts I’m processing and it just comes out. So what. Now about that self talk.

I once was unable to do two workout routines and kept modifying. What were they pushups and knee tuck jumps. I’d hear push-up and down on my knees I went. Knee push ups were good and easy especially my range of motion was so similar to a high plank. Knee tuck jumps I’d just step it out with high knee raise. Okay, I’m not knocking modification because the benefits are there and for many it’s a safety approach to prevent injury. I knew when I wanted to attempt each and it was a change in my mindset. How well instead of saying I couldn’t do either (that self talk) I changed my words. Haha yep I begin telling my self after each attempt l just hadn’t mastered the move yet. Yes it worked for me, however I still need to get a little lower on those push up and I have mastered knee tuck jumps. Next it’s those tricep push-ups off the knees.

How about you, what talk should you have with yourself? Go ahead I will never label you because I know you’re resolving and evolving. Self talk to your hidden greatness.

That Darn Comfort Food

I am guilty, I admit it I really over indulged and that was a few days ago. It has taken me a few days to get that me feeling back. I’m usually for tossing out, leaving behind food or just don’t eat the foods I know will drain my energy. Knowing my body I am so aware what foods and how much of it will put a strain on my energy and that’s not just for workouts. My thoughts are a bit sluggish and I’m just, well, “lazy”. Lazy isn’t all I feel bloated and I will have a lot of flatulence.


What I’ve learned is not to punish myself too much. I increase my water intake more than normal. I’m good for 64 to 80 ounces on most days so yes I increase that. I resume my normal nutrition. What I don’t do which works but that balance in life is still off, is starve myself for several days. Without any nutrition I’m still in that zombie mode, lazy, slow at responding, tired, sleepy and that list can be extended but I’ll stop here. Punishing yourself for over indulgence can and will be hard on the body and mind. Just resume your normal.

With that said if you’re indulging every day then there is a problem. Easy way to resolve it is find out your why, then tackle it like a touchdown, home run, 3 point basket goal.

No punishment, because sometimes we just have to enjoy a bit of comfort food. Let’s agree no extended indulgence (unless it’s vacation should you take one) and that should be moderate indulgence.