New and Improved!

Well HI there my lovelies!  It has been quite a while since I've posted.

Let's see:

1. got married
2. got to have my dad there (he was touch and go for a while but he's great now!)
3. been auditioning
4. been working out like crazy
5. started a new business.

Say what?

Yes.  I am now an Independent Beach Body coach.  A decision I did NOT come to lightly.

I was working at small, boutique gym in the back office.  It was a great part-time job dealing with reports and retention and all that.  But my boss was a bit of an OCD psycho and I just couldn't deal with him anymore.  He, essentially, forced me to quit.  Long story, but it's true!

So, to say the least I was frustrated.  I talked to a friend of mine and she had just signed on to be a coach.  I've been approached by people before.  Never did I want to take the plunge because, well, I just wasn't committed.  Now, with no job and sick of staring at the Craigs List wall, I decided today was the day to just jump in and try it.  If it works, GREAT.  If not.  Oh well, at least I tried.

My friend told me that until the end of the year, to sign up as a coach is, essentially, free.  Well, this clinched it for me.

I'm definitely interested in trying something for free, right?  :)

Also, Beach Body is the company that has P90X!  And those of you who know me, know I did all 3 months of that crazy workout.  THEN I did Insanity.  And now I'm doing ChaLEAN Extreme!

Oh yes, people.  OH. YES.

So I figured I'm working for a company I 100% believe in!  Why not get discounts and freebies and share my experience with other people looking for the same life change I got!  So yeah.  Yay me!

How are you?  Did the Thanksgiving world kick your butt?  It sort of did for me, but I did workout yesterday and today (and plan to tomorrow too!).

xoxoxo
Ali

www.beachbodycoach.com/aligoodman

Day 64 - Pants in the closet and The Defiled screening

Monday, January 25, 2010

So today is the sneak peek screening for the film The Defiled!!!  I played a very small role in this feature/horror/awesome film!

I'm very excited to see the full film on-screen!  We are seeing it in a real screening room at Columbia College in Chicago.  My parents, Jon and I will be having dinner at my folks house and then heading over to the college.

I wasn't sure what I was going to wear.  I had some ideas (I wanted to dress up a bit), but nothing was set in stone.  I was a TOTAL GIRL.  I tried everything on in my closet.  Nothing was working.

The one wonderful thing about losing weight and changing how your body looks is everything gets big on you and you feel great in smaller sizes.  The one frustrating thing about losing weight is that everything is big on you that you have IN YOUR CLOSET and then you have to go out and get more clothes.

Deep in the back of my closet I have a pair of pants.

I bought these pants and the sweater at H&M circa 2002.

I never wore the pants.  By the time I had a reason to wear them I'd gained about 5 pounds and they didn't fit well anymore.

So they went into the back of the closet with the tags on.

I've gotten rid of a LOT of clothes ranging in sizes for the last few years.  For some reason, there were a few things I just wouldn't part with.

These pants were one of those items.  I was just SURE I would get in them again and be able to really wear them to something.

I'm proud to say...TODAY WAS THAT DAY!

I should have gotten a picture of me in them.  But regardless, I really enjoyed that amazing feeling of zipping them up and having them FIT!

Mom made dinner and we ran off to watch me get mutilated!

The screening was a BLAST!  I had such an amazing time!  There's nothing cooler than seeing your face on a movie screen.  Seriously.  It was awesome!

Onwards and upwards!  I'm hoping we'll have as awesome a screening of Fall Away when it's finally complete!

Check out the poster for The Defiled! My name's on it!!!!!

Today's Goal: Be careful at Mom's for dinner = SUCCESS

Tomorrow's Goal: workout during The Biggest Loser 9

Calories Consumed: 1100

Workout:
       Cardio:
             3 minutes warm up
             30 minutes jog/run
            (1 - 5 minute sprint)
             8 minutes cool down/stretch

      Strength Training:
             30 push ups
             1 Pilates 100
            50 bicycle
            50 reverse crunches
            50 regular crunches

Day 61 - Filming and Futurama references

Friday, January 22, 2010

So today I had to get myself ready for filming.  I am so excited to get back on set!  I absolutely love that this is the work I am getting to do now.  I love the film I love the crew I love the director I love the cast!

I. Love. It. All.

So, I wanted to make sure I was worked out before our 12 hour filming.

So there I was.  Ready to workout.  And I just didn't want to do it.

Now, of course, I really don't like working out, anyway.  (Who does, usually?)

So I took a moment to analyze and figure out what it was about this workout that was bothering me.

Was it that I didn't want to work out because I was too tired?  No.

Was it that I felt sore?  No.

Was I just "not feeling it"?  No.

I actually wanted to workout, but I just didn't want to do my regular routine.

As Jon and I often like to quote (and misquote) Futurama I realized what the problem was.

This workout was "boring me, Zoidberg"

Ok!  This is fixable.  I have a plethora of other workout videos and things to do to alleviate the boredom.

So today I opted to do a total body workout which included cardio, resistance bands, abs, yoga, etc in less than 48 minutes!  Yay me.

Why don't I do these all the time?  Aha!  Well, I get bored with them too, Zoidberg.

But it was a nice change from the regular routine.

Also, I'd like to add that in the past I've done this workout and never felt as strong as I do now doing it.  I often had to bow out of a rep or two or even an exercise when it would get too difficult.  It was incredibly cool to be able to do the entire work out and feel good!

I'm sure I'll be revisiting that one again!  :)

Filming?  Oh filming was amazing!  A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

I got wrapped at 3:30AM.  Gotta get up at 8:00AM to head to Wisconsin (3.5 hours one way) to visit my dear friend from high school, Debbie, for her baby shower!!!  Cannot wait to see her!  Then, I get to hang with one of my best friends, Lisa, who moved back home to Kenosha, Wisconsin after that!  So excited to see them!  It's been too long in both cases.  I'm missing my ladies!

Today's Goal: Do a total body workout (weights and/or abs with cardio) = SUCCESS!

Tomorrow's Goal: be careful with my choices at the shower!  And if we get drinks with Lisa

Calories Consumed: 1054

Workout:
      Slim in 6 - Ramp it up - less than 48 minutes

Day 60 - Sloth and Kicking My Own Ass

Thursday, January 21, 2010

So today I had a realization.

I need alone time.  And I need time where I don't feel "under the gun", so to speak.

When I schedule a recovery day I really need to remember that it can include doing nothing.

I suck at doing nothing.

I suck hard at it.

I grew up believing the only way to succeed was always be working towards the goal.  I never stopped to enjoy or even reflect on the journey.

I still struggle with this.

I've often over-scheduled myself and believed I could make up time later.  Yeah, well, sometimes I need those "lazier" days in order to recharge and move on tomorrow with even more commitment and determination.  Sometimes I just want to lie in bed and not have to strategize/think/plan/decide anything. Sometimes I just want to be alone and read a book or watch Law & Order and not feel bad about it.

Sometimes I do this.

Usually I feel guilty.

Often I protest that I have every right to enjoy myself, yet I never do.

Today is no exception.

All day I tried to just talk myself into letting this be a "sloth" day.  I'd use it as a recovery day even though I knew full-well that Saturday made more sense as a recovery day since I'd probably be traveling and in my car most of the day after coming off of a long filming.

But my body just wanted it and, reluctantly, I gave in.

I laid in bed most of the day and just tried to enjoy the fact that I was taking "me" time.

It worked...sort of.  But since I felt like I'd been slacking off on some of my more intense workouts this week, it never really stuck with me, fully.

Jon and I had waited until we both had some time to watch Tuesday's episode of The Biggest Loser.

Jon returned from a meeting and I was all set to watch it with him, at 10:30PM when I realized I felt like a huge hypocrite!

Here I had spent the entire day laying around and I was about to spend ANOTHER 2 hours watching a TV show?  With no exercise?
So, I busted out the exercise clothes and hopped to it watching The Biggest Loser.  It's really motivating and fun to workout while THEY workout.

I got a GREAT cardio workout in and still got to enjoy one of my favorite inspirational shows. :)  Win/Win!

Today's Goal: 60 oz of water = SUCCESS!

Tomorrow's Goal: Do a total body workout (weights and/or abs with cardio)

Calories Consumed: 1042

Workout:
       Cardio:
           3 minutes warm up
           42 minutes jog/run
           (1 - 15 minute sprint!)
           8 minutes cool down/stretch

Day 47 - Weigh-in Week #7 and A Few Shout Outs

Friday, January 8, 2010

So today was my weigh-in day.  For the final week for my 1st goal:  THE FILM!

My original goal was that I wanted to lose 10 pounds in 7 weeks.  Actually, originally, it was 8 weeks because the film was starting NEXT weekend.  They then changed all that and began shooting a week early. This weekend.

So!  How did I do?

At this week's weigh-in I lost 1.8 lbs.  YES!

 I am THRILLED to report I have lost, altogether,  ALMOST 7 POUNDS! (6.8 lbs to be exact!)

I was really starting to get down on myself.  I had 2 really bad weeks and felt like even though I was losing, it was at such a low rate, something I was doing was really wrong!  Or, maybe, (because I'm a hypochondriac),  there was really something wrong with me.

Turns out my friend, (and awesomely avid reader of this blog), Adam, was correct.

He had private messaged me with some tips on sleeping better and maybe acquiring a more accurate scale.  In that message he mentioned that maybe I wasn't eating enough calories.

I really thought he must be out of his mind.

As a girl with an unhealthy relationship to calories, I honestly believed that not eating enough when you're over-weight was a myth.  I guess all those PSA's and Lifetime movies of Calista Flockhart binge eating and purging or not eating enough were my idea of "under-eating".

I was wrong.

Actually, Jon Wolter reminded me about last season on The Biggest Loser, Ron and Mikey were having trouble losing weight because they were not eating enough calories.  They finally listened to Bob and had a great week of weight loss.

Hmmmm.  Maybe there really was something to Adam's suggestions.

So I decided to try it.  I threw an extra 150 or so (sometimes less sometimes more) into the mix to see how it would fare.

Lo and behold I dropped almost 2 pounds this week!

So, THANK YOU ADAM!!!!  :)  Your awesome attention to me and this blog put me back on track and helped ease some depression.  *HUGS!*

I'd also like to point out that I START FILMING ON SUNDAY NIGHT!  Can I be more excited?  I think not!  Tomorrow is my checklist day.  Sunday is my double check list day!  I cannot wait!

I may not have actually hit my 1st goal of 10 lbs, but I am shocked at how defined my arms are getting.  I can "see" ab muscle and, seriously, don't mess with my legs.  They are CUT! :)

I'm pretty proud of my work these past 7 weeks.

One of my other friends, Becky, has been working her butt off to change her life.  I'm so proud of her and her accomplishments.  She's battled many of life's toughest challenges and does it with grace, honesty, and humor.  Check out her honesty and hard work at her blog. Hugs, Becky!  And thank you for your warmth, and kindness.

So NOW what am I going to do with this blog?  WELL!  I have decided I LOVE this idea of being accountable everyday to all of you.  So, I've decided to continue this journey until I reach my ultimate goal.

I Want To Wear A Bikini On My Honeymoon.

Yup.

I haven't worn a bikini since 2002 when I lost a bunch of weight using a pill product no longer sold in the USA because it contained Norepinephrine.  I was thin, but I was NOT in shape.  I looked drawn and sickly and not well.

This time I am doing it right.  Workouts, healthy eating and no pills.  All natural.  All me.

Before that?  I wore a bikini when I was four years old.  No joke.  That's it!  So, this time, as a healthy adult, I want to wear a bikini and feel GREAT about it.

My wedding is June 19th 2010.  I believe I have about 12 - 15 pounds (or about 3-4 sizes) before I will feel comfortable parading around in the barely nude.

Ready for this next ride in the process?  Me too!  Let's rock and roll!

Weight-loss to date: 6.8 lbs!

Today's Goal:  Take my multi-vitamin = SUCCESS!

Tomorrow's Goal: Work out and get part one of the checklist done for the film!

Calories Consumed: 1067

Workout:

        Cardio:

             3 minutes warm up

             42 minutes jog/run

            (2 - 5 minute sprints; 5 - 1 minutes sprints --skaters--)

              8 minute cool down/stretch

         Strength Training:

              50 back rows (15 lbs each hand)

              50 biceps curls (12 lbs each hand)

              50 shoulder press  (12 lbs each hand)

              50 chest flies  (12 lbs each hand)

Day 44 - Inspiration and Perspiration

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

So today was awesome!  Work was "meh" but after work was awesome!

First, I got 60 oz of water in before 5pm today!  AND I had filled up the water bottle again to have for my work out!  I knew I'd hit that 80 oz today and I totally did! I smashed it! I filled the water up AGAIN for dinner!  So all in all I probably got 90 oz in today.  GO ME.

Second, my workout was awesome!  Yes, I watched another episode of the West Wing!  And I did my cardio.  I did a different grouping of sprints and I really enjoyed it.  Man, the West Wing totally helps get me through my cardio. :)  I'll have to find another show to take its place when I finish the series!

Third, I finished the cardio well enough before 7pm which was my ultimate goal.  Today was the first episode of Season 9 of The Biggest Loser.  If you wanna talk about inspiration. Wow. These people and the challenges and the entire process blows me away.  Jon and I don't have TiVo or a working VCR so Tuesdays are really my day to be certain I can unwind and watch my ONE important reality show.  I cried at least 7 times last night.  There's so much pain, but there is so much accomplishment too!  LOVE THAT.

I finished my strength training during the first hour of the show.  Jon made dinner and we watched the weigh-ins. 

After that we caught up on the news via MSNBC and Keith Olbermann/Rachel Maddow and then bed!  Really great day.  I felt fantastic. :)

Today's Goal:  Drink 80 oz of water = SUCCESS!!!!

Tomorrow's Goal: Do my full workout

Calories Consumed: 1080

Workout:
        Cardio:
              3 mintues warm up
              45 minutes jog/run/invis. jump rope/skaters
             (5 - 1 minute sprints - skaters)
             (2 - 5 minute sprints - invis. jump rope/fast-runs)
              8 minute cool down

         Strength Training:
              50 back rows (15 lbs each hand)
              50 biceps curls (12 lbs each hand)
              50 triceps curls (12 lbs each hand)
              50 shoulder press (12 lbs each hand)
              50 chest flies (12 lbs each hand)

Day 29 - Me first and addiction

Monday, December 21, 2009

So today I had to work for this temp job I'm doing for 3 weeks. It's not a bad gig, actually. The residents are pleasant and the staff is really awesome and helpful.

I love that I am working by myself in this office. It's wonderful and "freeing" to not be watched all the time. I do have a supervisor I will check-in with when necessary but he works out of the corporate office.

I find that I'm identifying, in myself, certain behaviors and reactions that I'm not sure I was aware of. For example: I've noticed how much less anxiety I've felt recently. I don't know if it's from a clearer focus on what I actually want to do with my life or because of my more stable lifestyle.

I have surrounded myself with very addictive people while I stayed "unaddicted" or "the one you can count on". I was always surprising people when they realized I didn't have a true eating disorder, or alcoholism, or drug problem. Considering my abusive past and more recent relationships it did seem "not normal".

I believe I made myself anxious and crazy and found solace in helping others to the detriment of myself. I would take on charity cases and focus on them without ever having to focus on me. It's exhausting having to really take myself into account. I guess I never thought I was all that great to be around. I truly didn't like myself and couldn't understand why anyone else would like me.

When I looked at myself with a hard critics eye, I realized that I was really right about everything I thought. And I was jealous that others didn't have these "problems". It pissed me off. I finally realized I was my own self-fulling prophecy. I kept waiting for someone to tell me, "No, Ali, you're fine! You're great!". Funny thing was, people WERE telling me that. ALL THE TIME. I just didn't believe them. I believed this crazy idea in my head. I don't want that crazy idea to be right anymore. So the only thing I can change is how I approach things and my behavior, right? So, yeah.

This is part of the reason I started this blog. Yes, it was to be accountable to myself about how much I'm consuming and how much I'm working out. But, also, I know what I've done for 33 years hasn't worked. So it was time to try it a different way.

My ex pushed me to walk away from our life and our wedding two months before the date. He manipulated me and kept my dog, claiming he'd take me to court and win since his father is a lawyer. He tugged at every heartstring I had and then would push me away and ignore me, claiming "he needed space". I was miserable, but I thought it was love.

It wasn't love. It was addiction.

Ugh, there is SO much more I could go on about with this one. Suffice it to say, going "cold turkey" on an addiction is really really hard. It doesn't help that I suffer every day and miss my dog. However, I know it's the best compromise given the circumstances.

I see what a stable life and real love really means with Jon. We have a true partnership. It's special and real and he doesn't try to manipulate my feelings by threatening to leave me or push me away to see how hard I'll try to fight back. We trust each other. There is no walking on eggshells or anxiety about how we deal with each other.

That is love. Sustainable and real love.

I'm trying not to regret anything. That's hard. Putting things in the past is not an easy thing for me. It's definitely still a process I'm working on.

That said, my day ended on a good note. We got all our errands done that we set out to do today. Dishes are done, animals are fed and I had a good workout. All in all a reflective but good day!

Today's Goal: Do my workout = SUCCESS!

Tomorrow's Goal: Try and get the cardio done in the morning before work

Calories Consumed: 1012

Workout:

Cardio:

3 minutes warm-up

50 minutes (jog/run - with five 1 min. sprints)

8 minutes cool-down and stretch

Strength Training:

50 push-ups

50 back rows (15 lbs each side)

50 biceps curls (10 lbs each side)

50 triceps curls (10 lbs each side)

50 shoulder press (10 lbs each side)

50 chest flies (10 lbs each side)

Day 20 - Changes and Chanukkah shopping

Saturday, December 12, 2009

So today Jon and I had a TON of shopping to do for the family Chanukkah party scheduled for tomorrow morning. We ran around like crazy trying to fulfill the required list and had a pretty good time, considering the frustration factor!

Most wonderful, other than spending the day together, was getting to eat at Orange. I adore Orange. It is whimsical and fun and has amazing "frushi". (Fruit-sushi! A MUST try when visiting our fair windy city). I took home the bulk of my lunch expecting to eat it for dinner or breakfast/lunch on Monday.

Something was nagging at me most of the day. I'd had a dream the night before that wouldn't stop flashing in my mind:

I was invited to a very sparse OLD apartment by a friend. We were on a "break" from a seminar and were just looking for a place to rest before we had to be back in the main room. It was only too late that I realized my ex owned/lived in this place. While trying to make it as NOT awkward as possible when I saw him standing at an entrance that I didn't even

KNOW existed (you know how dreams are), holding a guitar (no clue why), I quickly got up and grabbed the bizarre project I was working on (with safety pins), and quickly fumbled my way out the door. On my strange jump down the steps I accidently jammed the pin into my thumb causing it to rip through the flesh. I was bleeding. A LOT. My friends, whom I'd been invited up to hang out, with had already gone back inside the seminar and I told them I'd catch them on the next break, but I needed to take care of this bleeding thumb. I searched for a sink, but the only one I KNEW of was the one in the weird apartment I'd been in for 2 hours. So back up the stairs I went hoping my ex would be gone. The door was cracked, I looked in and he was standing there naked (I only saw the side of him, but it was obvious he was not wearing clothes). So I walked quietly down the hall to a bench to wait until he left to go wash my thumb. He heard the floor boards creak and came busting out of the apartment with a towel on (thank goodness) and demanded: "WHAT THE F*** ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

I tried to respond and he cuts me off: "NO! GET THE F*** OUT OF HERE!" I show him my thumb and say, "I'm just looking for a sink to wash my thumb! As you can see it's bleeding!"

He says, "I DON'T F***ING CARE!" And then I woke up before I could retort.

It was weird.

When I have dreams about him, he's almost ALWAYS the sweetest, nicest guy. Proving he's changed and a better person. Or something. In this dream, I pretty much believe that's what would happen if he saw me today.

While I'm not sure why I had this dream or what it actually represents, I'm hoping my brain is taking the side of, "You made the right choice walking away", or something. Maybe the changes I'm making in my body are also, finally, working their way into my brain.

Or maybe I'm just afraid to awkwardly run into my ex.

Today's Goal: Make a healthy choice at lunch = SUCCESS!

Take my multi-vitamin = FAIL! I can't believe I forgot to take it!

Tomorrow's Goal: Try to get some cardio in (long long day tomorrow)

Take the multi-vitamin!!!

Calories Consumed: 881

Workout:

Cardio:

3 minute warm-up

45 minute (jog/run)

4 minute sprints (invisible jump rope)

3 minute cool-down

3 minute stretch

Strength Training:

100 regular crunches

100 reverse crunches

100 oblique crunches

4 rounds of Pilates 100

100 regular squats (10 lbs)

100 regular pulsed squats (10 lbs)

100 plie squats (10 lbs)

100 plie pulsed squats (10 lbs)

Day 17 - Decorations and Fear of Success

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

So today was a good day! I got most of my entire list of "to-do's" out of the way. One of those things included decorating!

I have not been in the holiday spirit for the past few years. After a horribly sad and gut-wrenching break-up with my ex, I've just not had it in me. Each Christmas and Chanukkah comes along with a "meh" from me and while I'm not Bah Humbugging my way through them, I'm certainly not infused with a happy spirit.

This year, something in me has changed. I'm delighted by Christmas! Jon and I had to do laundry so I found a Santa Hat in my small box of decorations and reindeer antlers (with jingle bells!) He put on the Santa hat and I put on the antlers and down to the laundry room we went. Merrily! It was really fun!

Here's a picture of my decorations for this year's Christmakkah!

I also spent a lot of time learning about promoting my voice over demos. I could feel the fear rising in me each time I read more about it and tried to envision how I was going to afford all the postage and all the time and effort it would take! I finally had to force myself to take a big breath and realize that I CAN DO THIS. I just have to remind myself there will be a learning curve. There always is. I'm human.

I don't want to be afraid of success. I am very proud of the work I did on this demo. I just need to do that little bit extra work to get it out there and in the right hands.

Next step: SUCCESS. At least, that's what I'm envisioning now. :)

Today's Goal: take multi-vitamin and cardio 45 minutes = SUCCESS!

Tomorrow's Goal: Submit to agents.

(Technically it should be a recovery day but I may get a workout in)

Calories Consumed - 991

Workout:

Cardio:

45 minutes (run/jog, invisible jump rope)

Strength Training:

100 regular crunches

100 reverse crunches

100 oblique crunches (each side)

4 rounds of Pilates 100's

100 regular squats (10 lbs)

100 regular pulsed squats (10 lbs)

100 plie squats (10 lbs)

100 pulsed plie squats (10 lbs)

* I think in a week or two I am going to have to step up to 12 lbs!

Day 15 - Vitamins and Vegetables

Monday, December 7, 2009

So, today I realized I had been neglecting taking my multi-vitamin everyday. I am fairly convinced it's why I've been so exhausted lately. Well, I could easily have been fighting something off, also. But I'm going to try and make that a daily goal, as well.

I've found certain vegetables and how they are prepared can be incredibly filling! Jon Wolter made us a veggie casserole with ricotta cheese and all-natural marinara to "hold it together". He made so much of it, I've been eating it for days. And we still have some left! He also made a fantastic zucchini soup (using vegetable broth, low-sodium - and onions). It's fantastic. A 1/2 of a teaspoon of reduced fat sour cream added to the bowl and it needs no other flavoring. Amazing!

This evening we went to see the florist for the wedding. It was AWESOME! I'm so excited for the flowers. Our florist is going to do an AMAZING job and the room will be gorgeous. :)

I'm furiously trying to make a few presents for my family for Christmas/Chanukkah. They are things I've had that I've neglected to make for years. So, why not make them now? :)

I ended up not doing my cardio today. I'm not sure what happened. The day got away from me a little, I think. But, I'm not going to beat myself up. I'll just pick up where I left off tomorrow.

Today's Goal: Add something to my abs routine = SUCCESS!

Tomorrow's Goal: Take multi-vitamin; add push-ups to strength routine

Calories Consumed: 859

Workout:

Cardio: None

Strength Training:

100 regular crunches

100 reverse crunches

100 oblique crunches (each side)

4 rounds of Pilates 100's

100 regular squats (10 lbs)

100 regular pulsed squats (10 lbs)

100 plie squats (1o lbs)

100 plie pulsed squats (10 lbs)