I have kicked up my kettlebell training.  I have been working out at lunch three times per week then will do more swings at the end of the day.  Today I did swings and snatches for 45 minutes.

I had to change my diet.  I was eating all raw for three weeks, which was just what my body needed at that time, but my energy started to lag.  I have been doing the Jay Robb Fat Burning Diet which alternates high protein one day and high carb the next day(still lots of raw vegies).  For this moment in time my body is responding well.  I never know what I will be doing three weeks from now as I just pay attention to what my body is asking for. My main goal with my diet is to keep my energy high.  I have a busy chiropractic practice and I need to keep my ketttlebell training up.

I found out that Top Foods has Rice Dream “Ice Cream” in many flavors. Very dangerous.  I bought chocolate mint this weekend and ate the whole pint.  I didn’t fel very good on Monday so I was back to raw.  I ate every meal raw and felt much better.  Lots of green vegies.  I just finished Victoria Boutenko’s book 12 Steps to Raw Foods.  I am going to start making green smoothies as she makes a good case for them.  Making the smoothie instead of juicing is much easier plus the fiber isn’t taken out.  I haven’t been eating any fruit for the past 1 1/2 years but will start slowly adding some to the smoothies.  My favorite raw dish right now is shredded beets and shredded carrots with sunflower seeds.

My kettlebell workout hasn’t been very regular lately.  I have been so busy that I haven’t been able to work out at lunch.  I have tried to get a 15-20 minute workout prior to class.  I have been doing lots of swings with the 24kg and snatches with the 20kg.  If I have only a short period of time to workout I need to get the most out of it and heavy snatches and swings do it for me. 

I wasn’t able to work out Monday night so I did the same routine my students did tonight.  I started warming up with two handed swings, 80 with the 20kg and 80 with the 24kg.  I then did four sets of the following:  5 each side of swing-clean-snatch, 5 each side clean-squat-press, 20 alternating swings, and 10 swing-catch-squats.  I then finished with 200 swings varying between two handed, one handed and alternating. 

I didn’t do very well with my eating today.  I went way to long without eating anything.  I had a bowl of vegies (cucumber, red bell pepper and avocado) for breakfast then nothing until after my workout, which was 7:15 pm.  I had a protein drink mixed with a green drink about 15 minutes after my workout.  When I got home I had a bowl of cabbage, shredded carrots, shredded beets and sunflower seeds.  I also had two small raw “ravioli”  I need to be more proactive on the days where I don’t take a lunch.  Luckily I didn’t have any nuts at work or I would have eaten them all.  Nuts are just too fattening.

I also lost four pounds this week.  I love eating raw.  I need to control the amount of nuts I eat, which I know will weight on me.  I need to lose 6 more pounds then I can take kettlebell pictures.  I have written a book and the last part I need to do is get the pictures in.  There was no way I was going to take pictures with me being 15+ pounds heavier.

Mark came to the kettlebell gym Sunday morning before we took him to the airport.  We did a great workout.  We had two bells at one end of the parking lot and one at the other end.  We did alternating presses then farmer walked to the single bell.  We then did 40 two handed swings.  Then walked back and did high pulls. For the entire routine we walked back and forth alternating swings at one end with cleans, snatches, bent over rows, and single presses.  He was impressed at how he could feel his entire body working.  That is the power of kettlebells. 

I walked five miles yet there people who cannot walk from the parking lot to the grocery store.  I am not talking about those with a neurologic/orthopedic condition or the very elderly.  I am talking about your every day American.  How is it that we as a society became so out of shape?  I believe computers have made us fat and lazy. Not lazy in work but lazy in taking care of our bodies.  Are you aware that if you do not exercise you will lose 14% of your muscle mass between the ages of 40 and 50? 14%!!!  That is huge.  It is time to make a change.  Park one stall over from your normal parking spot.  Do squats at your desk.  Make sure you get your butt way back like you are trying to sit on an outhouse toilet.  Great analogy isn’t it?  Do something, anything.

I made raw cookies today.  Coconut, dates and almonds.  Put them in a food processor and blend then put in a dehydrator for two hours.  Yummy.  Raw food is tasting so much better than cooked.  Alissa Cohen’s raw food cookbook has made being raw so easy. 

“Dr. Wendy’s 7 Steps approach is exactly what we all need to help take charge of our lives.”