Starting anything new in life can present issues. It is never easy to take the first steps into a territory that is unknown or foreign.
But, sometimes you just have to do it and take the chance if you are going to move forward on the walk of life.
During the Fall Fitness Challenge with Fitness Trainer Christian Castano we want to loose weight and shape up, but we also want to change our health with eating habits. I come from a family where diabetes runs on both sides. Millions of Americans are facing this battle. I don’t want to become a statistic and realize that as I age, a workout alone is not going to keep the disease away.
Week Two of the challenge has not been easy. Like many people in the industry I am exhausted and mentally drained from our over-packed September in New York City. I have been combining schedules of Fashion Week with visits of the Pope in town along with film premieres and shooting a pilot for work. You want to keep going and pushing along with no sleep. Temptations of fattening food and booze at events are in your face constantly. In this lifestyle we find the bad stuff to be a soothing comfort in our moments of weakness.
But, Christian has been a mental coach as much as a workout motivator. I don’t know too many trainers who care so much about your personal well being in the gym as much as they do in the outside world. On a daily basis this expert has stood out as unique with his passion to always check-up on me and see how progress is going daily.
The goal on the plan to take off the weight for good has been to try to burn 1000 calories six days a week for the exercise portion. The eating part we try accomplish a win by eating between 1200 to 1600 calories a day of primarily lean protein and vegetables. I will be first to admit this is not always easy.
In essence, breakfast starts with a lean protein such as eggs, chicken, fish and turkey combined with a green vegetables and a healthy fat like flaxseed oil. On days that I have an intense workout with Christian I also am allowed to eat a low-glycemic carb such as oatmeal, sweet potatoes or brown rice. For lunch and dinner the goal is to only eat a lean protein and vegetables. Snacks can include almonds and some fruit such as an apple or grapefruit, but in general it is best to avoid the additional sugars. And, of course there must be lots and lots of water involved to flush out the system.
It’s not an easy diet, but I am adjusting to it. I think at first for someone who craves sugar you go through withdraw and near heartache for something that is a quick fix for exhaustion and what appears as happiness inside a candy wrapper. But, I am working on it. I am striving to better myself and along with Christian I will make it happen.
As we Snapchat away all of my meals he congratulates me for staying on track. And, best of all he doe not disparage me for falling off the straight path, but rather educates me as to how I need to be better.
Isn’t that what this challenge is ultimately about – to be a better person day by day? The coaching continues as strength and willpower are proven this week. I cannot wait for more.
For more information on Christian please visit www.castano.fitness or follow him at @christiancastano. Gym information for our workouts can be found at @TRIBECAHF.
