Just in case you missed the notice...
The Iron Girl Clearwater, Lake Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Syracuse Events opened registration on Tuesday (yesterday) at 8 am EST!!! Hope to see some friendly faces at Iron Girl Clearwater and Atlanta!
Iron Girl registration
Due to a busy month of October (although Nov and Dec are looking to be jammed-packed with lots of fun events, job/career obligations and activities), I wrote my latest Iron Girl article before I left for Kona. I completely forgot about the topic, which is something near and dear to my heart. With the New Year quickly approaching, it is only a matter of time before we get bombarded with "diets" and "weight loss tips" to help people achieve unrealistic goals. Of course I am exaggerating...a little, but we all know that the holidays, alongside the New Year can be stressful, overwhelming and time-consuming with no shortage of thoughts about body image and eating.
I hope you enjoy my latest article from the FREE Iron Girl newsletter.
Have you set your goals yet for the upcoming year?
Getting a jump start on the New Year
Marni Sumbal, MS, RD, LD/N
Perhaps you have a collection of nutrition books and have wanted to eat healthy or get into better shape for quite some time. You've tried certain diets, which have left you bored and without long-lasting results, and are ready to embark on a journey of developing a healthy relationship with food. With only two months remaining until we welcome in 2012, why wait to get started on your New Year's resolutions?
While it is likely that you desire a body that allows you to perform optimally in your respected sport of choice, it is time to finish off 2011 and to eat in a way that increases your quality of life. Rather than eating (or not eating) foods based on calories, fats and carbs, it is time to clean-up the diet and to appreciate food for fuel.
As you set goals to lose weight, increase fitness or improve health, recognize that you are constantly seeking foods to emphasize and prioritize, in order to help you meet your personal weight and performance goals. One day of feeling "off' in a workout or with the diet is not a "bad" day. Lucky for you, there are 365 days in the year, there will always be a tomorrow and you never have to be perfect. Rather than looking at numbers on the scale, appreciate food for the vitamins and minerals that it gives to your body and be patient with the process of losing weight or changing body composition. Instead of spending time at the grocery store, deciphering on the best granola bar, bread or cereal, head to the fruit and veggie section, grab some color and get outside for a breath of fresh air.
Above all, your new "guilt-free" diet will involve food that requires little attention, allowing you more time to enjoy life. When eating a wholesome diet, you will avoid having to read a long list of ingredients and there will be no nutrition labels to confuse you. You will not be bothered by clever marketing and you will be saving money by providing your body with quality foods. Although you will need to make a little time for preparation, chopping and cooking, as well as finding the best foods to meet your individual lifestyle requirements, understand that it takes a bit of time to appreciate long-term eating and exercise habits which encourage longevity and a quality-filled life. For if you want to make the most out of your life, you have to make a little time, every day, to take care of your active body.
It may be hard to consider where you will be in 30, 40 or 50 years from now, but it shouldn't require a lot of thought as to how you want to feel as you get older and how you want to live your life.
As an Iron Girl athlete, filled with drive, determination and motivation, it is likely that you are not without a long list of short and long term goals. Hopefully you will welcome the New Year with realistic, practical and enjoyable ways of reaching those goals. Seeing that it is only November, keep in mind that your body is the only place you have to live for the rest of your life. It is never too early (or too late) to start a NEW you!
Goals for 2012:
My fitness goal is to:
1) _________ (in 3 months)
2) _________ (in 6 months)
3) _________ (in 12 months)
My nutrition goal is to:
1) _________ (in 3 months)
2) _________ (in 6 months)
3) _________ (in 12 months)
My life goal is to:
1) _________ (in 3 months)
2) _________ (in 6 months)
3) _________ (in 12 months)
The Iron Girl Clearwater, Lake Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Syracuse Events opened registration on Tuesday (yesterday) at 8 am EST!!! Hope to see some friendly faces at Iron Girl Clearwater and Atlanta!
Iron Girl registration
Due to a busy month of October (although Nov and Dec are looking to be jammed-packed with lots of fun events, job/career obligations and activities), I wrote my latest Iron Girl article before I left for Kona. I completely forgot about the topic, which is something near and dear to my heart. With the New Year quickly approaching, it is only a matter of time before we get bombarded with "diets" and "weight loss tips" to help people achieve unrealistic goals. Of course I am exaggerating...a little, but we all know that the holidays, alongside the New Year can be stressful, overwhelming and time-consuming with no shortage of thoughts about body image and eating.
I hope you enjoy my latest article from the FREE Iron Girl newsletter.
Have you set your goals yet for the upcoming year?
Getting a jump start on the New Year
Marni Sumbal, MS, RD, LD/N
Perhaps you have a collection of nutrition books and have wanted to eat healthy or get into better shape for quite some time. You've tried certain diets, which have left you bored and without long-lasting results, and are ready to embark on a journey of developing a healthy relationship with food. With only two months remaining until we welcome in 2012, why wait to get started on your New Year's resolutions?
While it is likely that you desire a body that allows you to perform optimally in your respected sport of choice, it is time to finish off 2011 and to eat in a way that increases your quality of life. Rather than eating (or not eating) foods based on calories, fats and carbs, it is time to clean-up the diet and to appreciate food for fuel.
As you set goals to lose weight, increase fitness or improve health, recognize that you are constantly seeking foods to emphasize and prioritize, in order to help you meet your personal weight and performance goals. One day of feeling "off' in a workout or with the diet is not a "bad" day. Lucky for you, there are 365 days in the year, there will always be a tomorrow and you never have to be perfect. Rather than looking at numbers on the scale, appreciate food for the vitamins and minerals that it gives to your body and be patient with the process of losing weight or changing body composition. Instead of spending time at the grocery store, deciphering on the best granola bar, bread or cereal, head to the fruit and veggie section, grab some color and get outside for a breath of fresh air.
Above all, your new "guilt-free" diet will involve food that requires little attention, allowing you more time to enjoy life. When eating a wholesome diet, you will avoid having to read a long list of ingredients and there will be no nutrition labels to confuse you. You will not be bothered by clever marketing and you will be saving money by providing your body with quality foods. Although you will need to make a little time for preparation, chopping and cooking, as well as finding the best foods to meet your individual lifestyle requirements, understand that it takes a bit of time to appreciate long-term eating and exercise habits which encourage longevity and a quality-filled life. For if you want to make the most out of your life, you have to make a little time, every day, to take care of your active body.
It may be hard to consider where you will be in 30, 40 or 50 years from now, but it shouldn't require a lot of thought as to how you want to feel as you get older and how you want to live your life.
As an Iron Girl athlete, filled with drive, determination and motivation, it is likely that you are not without a long list of short and long term goals. Hopefully you will welcome the New Year with realistic, practical and enjoyable ways of reaching those goals. Seeing that it is only November, keep in mind that your body is the only place you have to live for the rest of your life. It is never too early (or too late) to start a NEW you!
Goals for 2012:
My fitness goal is to:
1) _________ (in 3 months)
2) _________ (in 6 months)
3) _________ (in 12 months)
My nutrition goal is to:
1) _________ (in 3 months)
2) _________ (in 6 months)
3) _________ (in 12 months)
My life goal is to:
1) _________ (in 3 months)
2) _________ (in 6 months)
3) _________ (in 12 months)