Chez FitMercy

It could be funny that I normally get inspirations through some routines on a daily basis like when I am taking my bathe, during my morning meditations and when I am doing strength training. Today, the word accountabilibuddy  dropped [I have heard the word before, though].  Accountabilibuddy simply means an accountability buddy . To be accountable in the first place is the ability to be answerable or responsible for an action, it is the will to justify an action or a decision taken. It is that state of not excusing a flaw either it was caused by the culprit or an external force.  To be successful on this weight loss and healthy living lifestyle [even in life], one needs to be accountable for whatever happens. Don't be quick to put blame on others, when you accept the blame, you are being accountable and it is easier to make the right choices the next time such scenario occurs because you don't want to feel guilty anymore. I have heard a dozen blame trading on why some

This is a big challenge for most of us to come to terms with during any weight loss journey.  Everybody reacts to nutritional change and fitness differently. My pushups may make different muscle changes on me than your pushups do on you. But it’s really hard to remember that when someone lost twice as much weight as you did in the same amount of time.  We have all had those moments when the comparisons become a negative thought:  Why can she lose weight so fast and I can’t?  Keep it sane. Don’t compare yourself with others weight loss paths. Keep positive. Support yourself and congratulate others.  Your journey is your own!

One of the tasks for this weekend on the Biggest Loser Challenge is to blog about what I have been doing right for the past one month. I started this challenge in the first week of last month and I will like to reflect on my weigh-ins for the past 5 weeks and then we can conclude if what I am doing is working and either right or wrong First Week: 166.2lbs Second Week: 166.2lbs Third Week: 165.6lbs Fourth Week: 167lbs Fifth Week: 167.8lbs (sighs) Well, the above is never a lie because whatever choices I make on this weight loss journey will most definitely reflect on the scale. Except you want to start deceiving yourself on this, when you don't do it right it will definitely be evident and the best is to be accountable for it, make changes and move on.

The week 1 of the Biggest Loser Challenge ended yesterday and Wednesday Weigh-in is today. I will like to give a recap of how that past week went. During the weekend challenge we were required to do the following: Develop Nutritional Habits Develop Fitness Habits Develop Healthy Habits

Plyometrics also called "Jump Training" is a type of exercise that involves a quick and explosive movement. I personally love strength training than cardio workouts, I just dislike that chest thumping that happens after the cardio exercises. But I am at ease with plyometrics and I love the fact that more energy is burned because it high impact exercise at a short time frame. This week has seen me with a lot of this jumping around and I feel the endorphin rush after each session. I am posting this so that you can give this a try sometimes, below are my favorites:

It had been great completing this week with daily exercising and cautious eating. My feelings was mixed on what the result would be because I am just days past TOM,  the weight is always maintained at this time but I did try my best to take healthy steps towards a weight loss this week. Low numbers on the scale doesn't come by accident, it comes through a conscious and consistent effort. I weighed in at 169.6lbs this morning (0.8lbs loss) I was determined to do something positive this week and I am grateful that lines were falling to me in pleasant places. One of the most important things that happened was my journal, it became a bestie this week and I wrote in it everyday. I planned and tracked my workout, planned and tracked my food, I wrote down my feelings including reasons for my failures and ways out.

Good day good people, I almost forgot to write about my weigh in this week.  I felt a little better this week because there is a reward for my consistency. I had a pound loss over the scale and it makes me feel nice and ready to continue with my present workout/food schedule. The weather (my last week's excuse) is getting better with some showers in between but much more, I think I felt more determined to do THIS. I had been running indoors ( how possible could that be ) and it had worked, as evident on the scale and also my heart rate monitor.  pop sugar After some more researches, I will talk about exercising indoors and all the benefits attached to it in another post soon. I love a mantra that reads "if plan A is not working, there are 25 more alphabets between A and Z" meaning that I just had to stop making unnecessary excuses and move on. After some pep talk, I told myself I am on a weight loss journey and it is no good news that I keep merry-

When I first started my journey to weight-loss in 2010, one of the easiest exercises for me was running. I loved the environment way back when the morning breeze will blow on my face as I was doing the 5k training. No gadgets to measure my pace, heart rate or speed, I just ran. I did high speed, easy pace and some walking till I am done for 30 minutes every other morning. I was also not alone because I met guys who love to run too. Fast forward to 2012 and we moved to another place where running was almost impossible (not safe enough). I had to register in a gym very close to the office and my passion for running continued and I even became the leader of a running group on sparkpeople, yay. 2014 I was posted to another department that made going to the gym practically impossible, I tried to adjust my schedules but it looks like every adjustment tightens the space harder. Since last month I have been following a blog Katie Froster's  runsforcookies which sparked running

Hey awesome readers, I just stumbled on an article on a Leslie Sansone's 30-day walking challenge and I fell deeply in love with it. Since I am recuperating, I have been looking for an exercise that would be mild with me and enough to work me and I think this is just the bomb. The program has 3 versions i.e. ranging from beginners' steps, intermediate and advanced. I am starting today and will love to have an "accountabilibuddy" (new diction for an accountability buddy) - partner in workout - I wouldn't mind a virtual buddy either. Leslie Sansone can be a boring instructor to me but I need her on days as this when I can't cope with a Shaun T or a Billy Blanks high impact exercise. A new discovery is Jenny Ford, I love her steps aerobics and I will get the videos to help me out in a recovery process. Oh! How I had missed the videos and all the plans to lose weight in a healthy way, the body has it's way of declining (today makes 28 days s

Yess!!!! 12 Weeks Chatter + Challenges = Weight loss. I joined the Biggest Losers Challenge [Online version of the popular Biggest Loser Challenge on TV] sometimes last year and since then I never looked back. Some of my personal benefits: 1. New friends who encourage you to lose weight in a healthy way. 2. It is a closed group, so your privacy is secured. 3. Friends that are closer than your family 4. Positive team mates with so much energy 5. Awesome group leaders who are always present to help out with just about anything 6. Sharing differences and knowing about different cultures and ways of life. 7. Listening ears and a place to rant and scream and still be calmed down 8. Challenging Workouts for 12 whole weeks 9. For my own team [Navy Ninjas] we have a different tracker for the workouts and nutrition. Yay 10. I always lose weight and I maintained till the next round. 11. Other areas of my life are improved. 12. I am addicted to the team [is that a b

I am done with a 30 Days Fitness Challenge , I always love the challenges I see on about.com. The previous ones I had done over the years always left me with loss of weight and a stronger, fitter body. As I cleaned the house this morning I thought hard and I think I am treading the right path to get me to my desired and healthy weight this year. Here are some fact findings: - They say eat 6 meals a day i.e. try to eat small throughout the day so that your metabolism is raised through the day. It never worked for me, in fact I packed on so much pounds on when I tried it I really surprised myself. It cannot work for me because I typically take large portions (I think it is an African thing), they are not just large portions but large portions of carbs.  - The typical meal is like: 3 cups (peak milk tin) of cooked rice (carbs);  2 tablespoons stew (veggies);  4 slices of fried plantain (more carbs);  2 pieces of meat (protein).  That is the go to meal around here.

A lot has been happening and one of it is that BLC round 26 is here for good. I have joined the team and I hope to put in the best to achieve the best. Lately, I have been a little clumsy with almost everything. I seem to just be surviving everything right now. I promise to be fine anyways. My hair had been a mess since yesterday, I think I am doing too much at the time. I will have to slow down a bit though. Over the next couple of weeks, I hope to meet new friends in my team and I hope we can help ourselves achieve our goals. I will try to also be consistent with this blog too with at least a weekly highlight. Ciao

Monday:  Shoulders and Arms Tuesday:  Plyometric Circuit and Legs Wednesday:  Rest or Cardio Thursday:  Back Friday:  Chest and Shoulders Saturday:  High-Intensity Interval Cardio Sunday:  Rest WARM-UP This program is demanding and will challenge you in new ways. It's imperative to warm up before every workout to prepare your body for the unconventional exercises and techniques. Instead of performing an uninspired series of static stretches, which can actually leave cold muscles more prone to injury, warm up on the bike, elliptical, or treadmill. Move and stretch at the same time to get your blood flowing, prime your muscles, lubricate your joints, and prepare your body for a full range of motion under load. REST DAYS When you take a rest day, it's important to actually rest. When you're in the gym lifting, you're breaking down your muscle fibers, not growing them. Growth and recovery occur when your body is at rest, so give your muscles a break! "BE

1.  SASSY SHAMROCK SHERIFFS If you become a Sheriff you will be expected to tow the line. While we realize this is a 12 week challenge, the Sheriffs take it one step further.  We have two mottos in ShamROCK County:  24/7/365!  and  SHUT UP AND SWEAT!  So if you're expecting to kick back between rounds, the Sheriff's Office is not for you! We continue our journey between rounds as well. 

So sad, I am still not bringing myself up to the challenge. This week had been so challenging for me in all areas but I know that I am a winner. I had registered for the next round of Biggest Loser Challenge, I look forward to it and believing that I will achieve my goals with a different team this time around (hopefully). I had a splendid day yesterday with recipes to try out and that include a fried egg with fried rice and making a lemonade. It was awesome. I know I will get there. Good news, kid sister will soon come and I cannot wait to see my nieces.

Exercise I did 2 sets, 6 reps of each squat types today and feeling sore on my glutes already. Good sore. I am really getting prepared for the Week 11 challenge and it will be a little challenging, 40 minutes of ST and Cardio (combo) will be a lot of work. I think the right tool for that will be something from Jillian Michaels, maybe a Shred or a BFBM will be awesome. I am facing it straight. We shall get there I bet.

Exercise I slept in a bit today and after preparing my yummy breakfast and cleaning the house, I did my squats, I went back to bed. I woke up later to an awesome time with Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30. With some strength I added Walk Away The Pounds with Leslie Sansone. Hussy came back from his outings and I had to stop and serve him. My coming week is going to be awesome, I always know on Saturdays like this when I am totally indoors and well rested.

Exercise Today is day 3 of my squat challenge: 6 reps by 2 sets of the exercise. Advantage of squat is a better butt and firmer thighs too, I hope I can get it slimmer by the end of the challenge. I was feeling a little sore this morning so I had to do just a basic workout from the Sparkpeople workout generator. Not really a challenging workout but it was ok for the day. I thought I can still add a few minutes tonight but all I feel like doing is resting this pretty head from the hard work of the day.