Wednesday, January 7, 2009

09 NYTC Starting stats











Name: Elisa Sterling-Cowan Age: 33
Weight: 145 lbs
Height: 5'5" to 5'6"
Arms: 11"
Chest (above breast): 33"
Chest (under breast): 31"
Waist: 29"
Abdomen: 30.5"
Hips: 36"
Thighs: 21 1/2"
Calves: 15"

My Goal: To hit it with intensity and focus. I want to set the foundation of success and accomplishment to jump off in other areas of my life. I want to increase my strength using pullups and my 3 year old as a guide (how long/far I can carry him) . I want get back to my nutritional convictions. Over the last few months I have made best scenario choices and I would prefer to just eat as I would like to nourish my body best (if that makes sense). As much as I want to plan my meals, I will have to gauge that with other priorities in my life, but I will try new recipes and set a schedule for the times that we will be eating through the day and will aim to cook dinner by lunch time and maximize when I am most energetic in the day. I want to tackle what I have been putting off and be a woman of action and get back to perseverance and discipline.
I recently had a conversation with my DH and I realized it is VERY important to be interested in the people you surround yourself with. To know the details of what makes them tick, to understand what makes them tick, and to know about their dreams, passions, likes, dislikes and what makes them smile.

My children seek to know me. I am humbled and brought to tears about how much my children have CHOSEN to know about me. They are 3 and 5!! They know what I eat and do not eat, they know that I love to dance and play sports, they know my favorite color and the foods I love. They know my values.....that I believe in being kind and loving, protective and nurturing, wiping tears from their faces when they cry. They wipe my tears, they dance with me, they offer to cook me dinner (HAHA), and they strive to make me happy. Their example of love in my life has set a new standard for me and for those around me.

So I wrote a blog on my blog page about who I am as a person describing the things I do, feel, and love. I wrote it as though I was standing beside myself and sharing about me to someone else who I would want to know me.

Of recent, I have been reading and realizing that to really know someone is to love someone. So, I just wanted to share that I know and love many of you here. I am interested in your lives, your likes and dislikes. I have compassion for the struggles you experience and I wanted to thank you for allowing me to grow as a person from the inside out.

Thank you=D.


Elisa

Friday, January 2, 2009

Fit for Function....reflections on my trip to Jamaica


I have returned from my 3-week trip to Jamaica and I really enjoyed the experience. In the first week, I came to realize that even though I wanted to return to Jamaica a lot sooner (last time was 2001), now was the best time to have gone. I was not struggling with my thyroid as I was before which posed a lot of issues and with all the improvements, discoveries and changes to my health and lifestyle, I didn't struggle as I could have.
My belief, faith, and commitment to God was strengthened and enriched as I turned to God and the bible to help me cope with dealing with family, the barrage of advances, the threat of violence and danger, and a lot of sexual focus. It can be overwhelming for some (as it was for a close friend of mine a few years ago), so it is good to have a strong foundation to come from if you venture outside of the resort experience. Also since it was Christmas time, my family and I grew in our knowledge base that surrounds the traditional time of year and were able to make our own choices regarding the celebration (including my children).

Positivity and gratitude helped with dreams, vision, and hope makes every moment more enjoyable. From the flowers, bugs, stray dogs, hens and roosters all over, many trees and plants that are good for food and healing, the breezes, and the views....there was a lot to enjoy if you look at it in the right way.

Both sides of my family live towards the top of the hill (one on the edge of the mountain range and the just beyond the view of the ocean) and being that the roads were not in the best condition after the hurricane season, there was quite the hike involved in going anywhere. 45 degree steep roads were challenging, especially when carrying a bucket of water or a 3 year old toddler. Having been prepared for such tasks through my interval and resistance training made me excited as I was not only able to handle the task,but the hills were my favorite part.....my interval high point.

If you are a FIT yummy mummy and are in love with your workout and challenging intervals, than life on the rougher side of things, although not convenient, would still be manageable for a time. Everyday offered some form of physical challenge and I am glad that I prepared for it this year in comparison to the last few years where I was still recovery physically. It was only just over a year ago I regained my level of mobility to walk for a length of time without pain and being that we walked for hours up and down hills and roads, I was again grateful for all the events and training this year have prepared me for.

Although the physical challenge was fun, the diet was a bit wanting for improvement and all based on the fact that I was not able to get to where I needed to get what I wanted (hard to pick fruit of the top of a tree that you can't climb). But being on kitchen duty had me making the most of what was available (how many ways can you cook chicken and rice?).

(looking not so yummy in this pic HAHA).
Lots seen, a lot experienced, and I know, that my lifestyle is to stay fit so that I can function and make the most of my environment no matter where I go.


Saturday, December 20, 2008

Here's to a holiday celebrated!

Even though I did not finish the Holiday challenge in the way that I had liked (impromptu trip to Jamaica came up .....HA!), I just wanted to share my thoughts and experience of having been a Holiday Hottie!

Now if there was any reason for doing the challenge it was to stay afloat amongst all the sickness and stress that swims at this time of year. It was a struggle for me to be in top form and with the stress of packing up most of our things (including weights, workout bench, and my computer), rearranging and staging my home and listing it for sale. Also, with my son starting school and a new phase of development with no security at school and coming "home" to instability and uncertainty, he has also shown how many changes all at once can be hard on mind, body and spirit.

Nutrition was a strong point as eating supportively has become the easiest option. Keeping it raw and simple (and seasonal) helped to keep us out of being sick for too long (can we say I just LOVE all the germs that can come home from school hehe) and to provide us with the energy we needed without being drained from eating less than supportive foods. The holiday gatherings provided me with a new option to cheat meal, the second serving of supportive foods. As most things are baked (with wheat) or sugared, I was "forced" to enjoy the bounty of the fruit and veggie plate and maybe an extra slice of turkey breast when others would be sampling all the chocolately and sweet smelling goodies from the desert table.

Physically, I went into travel mode. I even broke down my workouts to spread them out throughout the day when I was lacking in energy and mental motivation to do it all at once. As much as I wanted to, my head wasn't in the game this time around. Focused on finding a window of stability for my family and a little hole in our lives where we could all cuddle into was my priority. Gladly I can say though, that window did involve my children motivating ME to join them in doing a workout in the day. So I would drop and do a set of pushups if I thought about how I was "missing" my workout and before long I had done a workout to log. It was encouraging for me and helped me to remain in FYM mode as best I could.

Now that I am in Jamaica with family (and nutrition is more in survival mode atm), I have found I am still able to get some physical activity in. My family is perched on the edge of a mountain range and all the extra rain has turned the roads to barely drivable and the hike up is quite a workout. Also the gate on the veranda has proven to be an excellent pull up/chin up spot and that has also improved my back as we (all 4 of us) are sleeping on a HARD mattress and the boys flip like fish.

What I am most grateful for is that I have been prepped through my FYM lifestyle to go anywhere and make the most of taking care of me. It's a great feeling to know that even though I have been out of my routine and many changes have come and continue to present themselves, I am able to adapt in the moment and when I get the chance to get back to the workouts and nutrition, I will not have lost ground, but given my body the best I could and the change it needed to be stronger and fitter.....and yummy too.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Good day everyone!

Just wanted to say hello from sunny Jamaica. The boys are loving it and at my mom's cousin's house they have cable internet....WOOHOO!

Now from an FYM standpoint, things are ok. I have pulled out of the Holiday challenge,but nutrition and fitness is always a part of what I am doing.Did my push ups and pull ups yesterday and of course hiking the day before. Very easy to stay active and it is nice and cool where I have been staying (up in the hills and countryside). Nutrition wise, I packed almonds, dried cranberries, raisins, brown rice, quinoa, corn and flax chips, corn puffs, coconut oil, and rice milk (LOL Almost a whole suitcase for food, and pullups). The best part is that we have allergies and my children help to confirm the rule of no wheat (gluten). They have had it from relatives,and not even 5 minutes later they are going poo.....WOOHOO! Not to prove me right, but to help my family better understand and respect the result of eating what is not good for you. Everyone is unique and Jamaica is the perfect place to show that. I must say though, after going into the grocery stores here it saddens me to see all the JUNK on the shelves. Baked this and sugar that and syrup for "juice" .....'tings too irie for me 'ere'. Laid back and not fully concerned.....which is perfect for a vacation and high-strung individuals. At least the love of education here would be great for a health campaign. And once my supplies run out I will have to search High and Low (LOL a grocery food chain out here is called Hi-Lo Foods) for replacements. Although coconut oil and almonds are exported, I have yet to see it in a shop or grocery yet. There are not a lot of varieties of veggies here and I am really missing them. So much fruit and I am starting to feel like a sugar bomb,....ick! I feel like a mosquito magnet with all this sugar LOL.

Anyways, back to the sun and getting some laundry done. Have a great day ladies.


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Giving our presence not just presents during this Holiday season

As many have been reflecting on all the "to-do's" on their lists this holiday season some are experiencing a level of stress, perhaps based on perceived expectations of having to produce a gift that was specifically requested for or preparing a meal and ambiance for a feast and Christmas card experience. Either way you are expected to be present in that moment. How about making your presence the present you give?

Try sharing cost effective (or free) ways to love up on those around you. Encouraging letters or notes, Hand-written cards, an updated photo of you or your family, if you are spiritual, share quotes or scriptures of encouragement, put together an arrangement of songs and music. It takes as much time to go shopping for that gift as it does to put the thought and effort into something more personal.

So think of ways that you can give your personal touch to those around you in a way that they will remember for years to come and will help to make a difference in their lives. This is not only applicable for this holiday season, but throughout the year.

Victoria's Secret sweaters......



As promised these are photos of me in the sweaters I received from Victoria's Secret. My hubby took the photos (he always seems to be in a rush HAHA....no glamorous photo shoot here).The sweaters are thicker than I imagined which is good since the cold weather just started here this week. The one lace top didn't work out as it has a "nude" lining and looks a little off with my darker skin tone (like wearing the wrong shade of foundation haha).....it was also a little snug on my muscular (insert Arnold accent) arms hehe. It was my first time ordering clothes online so not bad for a first time =D. I have ordered online before, but only after trying it on in the store.

Tips that were shared with me on ordering from VS......sign up for the emails as there are a lot of additional promotions that way. Also, get the catalog (for the same reason). They have a lot of nice clothes and I may consider ordering from them in the future. Thanks Holly and ClubFYM for the gift =D!


Elisa