Too Much Exercise Can Lower Fertility

Finding the right exercise balance is key to reproductive health. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and adamr.

Finding the right exercise balance is key to reproductive health. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and adamr.

I’m starting to completely reconsider my exercise routine. Everything is on the table, including my walks. As we begin our baby quest, I’m learning that too much exercise can hinder fertility.

It turns out that excessive aerobic exercise interferes with ovulation. For women like me, pursuing in vitro fertilization, 4 or more hours of aerobic exercise a week lowers chances of success.

Yep. For people like me 4+ hours a week maybe excessive. Sigh… Read More


Weekly Weigh-In: Down 1 lbs.

I've lost 1 of the 3 pounds I gained from my Texas trip. With all my upcoming travel, I'm shooting for holding steady.

I’ve lost 1 of the 3 pounds I gained from my Texas trip. With all my upcoming travel, I’m shooting for holding steady.

After gaining a few pounds from my Texas trip, I’m slowly getting back into my normal routine. I’m down 1 lbs. this week. We’ll see if my weight loss picks up, but with a road trip with mom starting Wednesday and a weekend trip with the hubby the following week, I’m not so sure.

My routine officially gets back to normal mid-October. So I’m going to shoot for no gains.


September Fitness Challenge: Half Marathon Walk

Need to keep my fitbit charged for this month's challenge!

Need to keep my fitbit charged for this month’s challenge!

Due to a lot of travel and general running around this month, I decided on something completely different for my monthly fitness challenge – walking a half marathon.

That’s 13.1 miles baby! I’m using September’s 4+ weeks to extend my bipedal travels.

Given all that’s going on this month, walking was the perfect choice. Walking relaxes me. I simply download some awesome podcasts or a great audio book on my iPhone, strap on my walking shoes and head out. For some reason, when I walk the spoken word, rather than music, keeps me going for hours. Who ends a walk mid-chapter? Read More


Weekly Weigh-In: Feeling Zen About Weight Gain

aug 29 weigh inAs expected I’m up a few pounds. Four to be exact. And as predicted, I’m not freaked out by it. I’m back on track eating wise. Next week I’m taking a couple of parkour classes, starting my daily 6+ mile walks, and begin my 10K training.

Yes, all is right with the world.

On Area For Improvement
Before my trip to Texas I shifted my eating to a ketogenic diet – low carb, high fat, moderate protein. Despite a few bumps in the road, mainly Tex-Mex dining, I’m enjoying the shift. Read More


What’s Really Important When Eating Out

Food use to be the most important thing when I went out with family and friends. Since I stopped dieting and focused on improving me, I've gained a new perspective on my relationship with food. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.

Food use to be the most important thing when I went out with family and friends. Since I stopped dieting and focused on improving me, I’ve gained a new perspective on my relationship with food. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.

I’m finally back home after 3 weeks in Texas helping Dr. Mom pack up her home and move to Virginia. During my time in Texas I didn’t track my food, exercise, or weigh myself. I pretty much ate when hungry and not to excess.

Except for the 3 meals where I ate Tex-Mex (hey, I was in Texas), I pretty much stuck to my regular meals and snacks.

If I find fault in my choices, it was probably in the wine department. After a hard day of wrapping artwork, lifting heavy objects, going though reams of old papers, and skimming through family albums I haven’t seen in years, Mom and I treated ourselves to a glass (or 2) of vino.

For 3 weeks, the wine did flow! Read More


10 Reasons I’ve Lost 140 Pounds And Kept It Off

Conventional dieting wisdom - eat less, exercise more - is wrong. For me, cutting sugar, carbs and starches resulted in more than 140 lbs. gone.

Conventional dieting wisdom – eat less, exercise more – is wrong. For me, cutting sugar, carbs and starches resulted in more than 140 lbs. gone. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.

Today’s dieting advice – eat less, exercise more – doesn’t work. A new study shows that few overweight people lose 5% of their body weight. And those who are successful put the weight back on within 5 years. Money quote from the study:

“Current strategies that focus on cutting calories and boosting physical activity aren’t working for most patients to achieve weight loss and maintain that.”

I’d tried for more than 25 years to lose weight. I tried all the different programs, most of which are the same: some form of calorie reduction and exercise. While I initially lost weight, I always felt hungry. I just couldn’t sustain those diets, and eventually I gained even more weight back.

So what’s so different this time?

1. My health became THE priority (I had to become a priority in my own life).
2. I read Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes (life-changing).
3. I said good-bye to processed, high carb foods (and sugar) and embraced low carb, high fat real foods.
4. Took the time to build good habits, like:

5. Eat only when I’m hungry and stop when I’m full (not stuffed).
6. Gave up perfection for patience.
7. Get 8 hours of sleep.
8. Avoid fruit, except for berries (and only as a treat).
9. A sense of urgency (my health was at serious risk!).
10. I’m not depriving myself. I’m making smarter, tastier choices!


Getting Down & Dirty At Mudderella

My reaction after conquering my final obstacle Mudderella threw at me!

My reaction after conquering the final obstacle Mudderella threw at me!

I spent Saturday morning running a 5-mile obstacle course in the mud. Mudderella came to town and it was time to do my first mud run. My Healthy Bucket List includes a mud race like a Spartan or Tough Mudder. Although Mudderella doesn’t let me cross it off my list, it was a great way to gauge if it really is doable. It is!

Mudderella isn’t a race. You are not timed. No trophies are handed out. Created by women for women, this 5-miler is more about proving we’re physically and mentally tougher than we realize. Read More


MCT Oil & Tummy Issues

MCT oil is a very healthy saturated fat, but you need to ease your body into it. Otherwise tummy troubles commence.

MCT oil is a very healthy saturated fat, but you need to ease your body into it. Otherwise tummy troubles commence.

Two weeks ago I picked up some MCT oil as a way to add more healthy fat into my diet. I upped my daily intake of fat from 65% to 75% as a way to get into ketosis. I had issues getting to 75% but the MCT oil helps. However, I’ve learned that I made a mistake with MCT and my tummy is rumbling loud about it this morning.

What Is MCT Oil?
MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides. MCT, found in coconut oil, is a healthy saturated fat. It’s a more concentrated form of saturated fat that is quickly absorbed. It can be used in cooking or you can consume it (MCT oil is used for bulletproof coffee) as it doesn’t have any flavor. Research shows has a lot of benefits for those with metabolic syndrome and can improve blood sugar and appetite regulation. If you are on a ketogenic diet, this puppy can enhances ketone production and is a big energy booster. Read More


My Food Scale “Is No More. It Has Ceased To Be.”

My little food scale finally died on me today after nearly 4 years together.

My little food scale – one of the most important tools in my weight loss efforts — finally died on me today after nearly 4 years together.

Sad news this afternoon. My trusty food scale weighed its last grams of kale. After trying three 3 different batteries, I’ve finally accepted that my food scale is no more.

Out of all my kitchen tools, gadgets and appliances, the only two I’ve used more than my food scale these last 3-1/2 years are the refrigerator and stove.

That’s just how I roll.

I picked up that little Weight Watcher’s scale at the start of my journey in 2012. Too bad it couldn’t make these last 20 or so pounds.

Tossing it in the trash seems like a dishonor. After all we’ve been through a lot these last few years. Perhaps a viking funeral is in order. That’s certainly better than this (NSFW).  Actually, the Pythons have the best send off:


Weekly Weigh-In: Holding Steady With A Touch of Parkour

Holding steady after last week's dramatic 5 lbs. loss.

Holding steady after last week’s dramatic 5 lbs. loss.

After last week’s big 5 lbs. loss, my weight held steady. And that’s just fine with me. Why? I focused on something much more exciting than a number on a scale — PARKOUR!

Yep, after weighing in, I headed to my first parkour class…and it was a doozy.

My hubby took some action shots of me learning how to jump, land, roll and vault. I’ll post those later.

I won’t go into too much detail here but I will say it was the most fun and greatest challenge I’ve experienced in a gym. Truth is it didn’t feel like exercise. It was pure fun with a touch of fear. I felt like I was learning how to be a kid again. Awesome! Read More