Debbie in Shape's New Home

After almost 2 years of Debbie in Shape, this blog is moving to another home.

From now on, please find my articles on http://debbieinshape.com .

I am looking forward seeing you there. Visit it, enjoy it and share!

Fancy Friday : Making Time for Yourself

When was the last time you did something for yourself?

You see me posting a lot about my training, sharing my meals and giving tips for organization; but do you remember when it was my last Fancy Friday blog? Yeah, it has been a while...

We are always so busy with things that we easily forget about ourselves. It is work, family, errands, workouts etc; filling up our days that at the end, there is nothing left for us.

It is time to change things a little bit and make time for yourself!

Fancy Friday : Making Time for Yourself

Wellness Wednesday : Rolling Like a Boss!

I got a new toy!
And it is PINK...

Since my running comeback I have been discovering some new accessories that make the life of athletes much easier and help recovery. Some weeks ago, I bought running compression socks and I cannot live without them anymore. Last Thursday, I got another toy that works wonders: a Foam Roller.

Wellness Wednesday : Rolling Like a Boss!

40 things before 40

Right after my 39th birthday, I found out some great blog entries about things that the authors wanted to do before reaching a certain age. I loved the idea, but let's face, the older you get, the longer the list gets. Putting it together gets more and more challenging. And to make things worse, the longer it takes to write it down, the last time one has to do everything. Ouch!

Anyways, I did not lose heart. It took me a while, but here you have my list of 40 things I want to do/accomplish before turning 40 (in no specific order):

40 things before 40 by Debbie In Shape

Fancy Friday - Cleaning make-up brushes

The definition of the adjective 'fancy' according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary is:

• Not plain or ordinary
• Very expensive and fashionable
• Done with great skill and grace

That is what "Fancy Friday" is all about. I will looking forward sharing beauty tips, review of products and anything related to beauty and fashion. Because no matter how much we all love our trainers and leggings, at least every once in a while every woman has girly days.

Fancy Friday - Cleaning make-up brushes

Wellness Wednesday : Runner Socks

As I started to run again recently and to get connected to other runners around the globe, I have been discovering a lot of new techniques and products that support performance and recovery.

One of the products I have been reading very positive reviews about are runner and compression socks. No matter how clean my diet is or how much water I drink, I experience frequent swelling. Since it has been proven that compression socks limit, it is already worth trying.

Wellness Wednesday

Better than ever

Last Monday, I turned 39 years old. It feels so weird though. It does not look like so much time has passed. It still feels like yesterday that I was in high school dreaming about attending college abroad.

I turned 39yo on May 12th, 2014.

But the fact is, I am 39 now. Nothing changed in me from May 11th to 12th, however, major changes have been happening throughout the past years. And the truth is that I have never felt so good about myself before.

After taking a break from Fitness competitions, I have been enjoying different alternatives to keep my body in shape and improve my overall conditioning. I still lift weight on a regular basis, but I restarted running and have plans for expanding my 'curriculum' soon.

Breaking the rules

Whenever people ask me about my job, mainly when they know I am a fitness freak, many get surprised when I say that I work in IT. It is common sense that IT workers are geeks who do come out in the sun and have no life. I am not here to say that it is a lie, but one has to be careful with stereotypes.

In spite of all the changes in our society, there are still those who think you are doomed to do or become something because of your profession or hobbies (in some extremes, because of your origin). I could not disagree more with that.

The second you limit yourself is the second you fail.

Now tell me: why do you "have to"? Who said that you must do this or that to be right? Who has set these rules? And why can't you be more?

Look around you. You are unique! Act like it. What do you like most in life? What dreams do you want to achieve? What are you doing at this point to reach your goals? What do you need to do to achieve them? Think carefully about it. Visualize accomplishing that dream you have inside of you that many times, you do not even dare sharing because you are afraid of what people may say or of being laughed at.

We live in a world without frontiers. With the internet, you can "be" anywhere at any time. You post something, it goes viral, BOOM!! You are the next big thing. And if you are smart, you can make it last much more than Andy Warhol's fifteen minutes. So even if your burning desire has nothing to do with becoming a celebrity, why not giving it a shot?

There are many stories out there about those who pursued careers, but never really took off. I am in no place to question their efforts however, there is no success without failure. Look back at the story of those who started from scratch and became standards for generations.

Famous Failures

Luck is a word frequently used to describe the events that lead to success. It is true that, a lot of times, we hear about something "impossible" happening and changing the course of things. However, do not let yourself be fooled by that. Unless you have done the work and you are prepared, a chance can still be lost, no matter how good it was.

So let's go back to your dreams... What was it again? And what are doing to accomplish it? If the answer is nothing, it is time to get off the chair and kick-off. 

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Start by putting things on paper. It can be a text or a scrapbook. If you have room for a visual board, it is even better! At this point, let's not filter any thought. Set free all those incredible ideas you have been hiding from the sun. Forget about limitations of time, money and abilities. Let it be a constant work in progress for you. Whenever you discover something new or learn more about a certain topic, add it to your sheet.

Invest time of rising this dream. Break up with the misconceptions you have been attaching yourself to. Believe with all your heart that it can be done and do not accept excuses, mainly from yourself. It will be tiring; it will suck up energy out of you like you never thought possible; you will hate yourself for the investments you will have to do (I am not talking only about money here); you will feel like giving up... But don't! In spite the hardship, you will only know how close your are to victory once you cross the line. 

Never! Never! Never Quit!

With this said, let me share a little about my dream. Yes, it has to do with fitness. My life has changed so much, for better, since I put health in the spotlight that I became addicted to it. It is so much more than just looking good and fitting in small sized clothes. It is having more energy, almost never experiencing migraines (and when they come, they are nothing compared to the ones I used to have) and doing something that makes me happy. It is about self-esteem and appreciation.

There is still a lot I still want to accomplish for myself and you can follow my progress here and on social media*. And I also want to be able to help others who like me, have doubts, fears, are lost and who do not know how or where to start.

I hope I could inspire you get started. If there is a specific topic you would like me to write about, please let me know it. I would love to be of help!

Thanks for stopping by.

#DebbieInShape


* You can also find me on:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebbieInShape
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/debbieinshape
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebbieInShape
• Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/debbieinshape/
• Google+: https://plus.google.com/104966489810408220684/

Take your time

It is funny to realize that while I still have a long path ahead of me, a lot has changed in my body throughout the years.

Me at the age of 10yo during my thinnest years

I am perfectionist to the extreme. My OCD takes me from picking falling leaves on the floor at work, to putting away the weights at the gym. And I make faces when people lift weight but do not put them back. I take it very seriously. So having to accept that it takes time to build my body in a healthy way is not an easy task.

How many of you have caught yourselves envying those fantastic transformation stories? I did! Many times...

It is true that all we see are the results. We were not physically close to those athletes to know about their struggles and hard moments entirely. What we have are pictures of incredible bodies, while us... Well, the mirror talks to us.

My turning point: August, 2010. I cried after seeing it

But let's face the truth: is everyone the same? Are there two of the same human beings walking on earth? Two with the same characteristics, background and experience? The answer is no! So even though we give thumbs to those who achieve their top at a fast pace, there is no reason to beat yourself for not being the same.

My journey is far from being a fairy tale. I did improve a lot, but I still cannot tell when I will get "there". Last year, for instance, I reached a great shape. Unfortunately, I was not able to sustain it for long. I had some health setbacks and after a period of recovery, I noticed that I had taken some steps backwards. It all may have slowed me down, but the amount of experience and knowledge that I acquired in the process was not waste.

Whenever someone asks me how to get started, I always suggest taking one step a time. I myself did not like drinking water at all. My life was coffee (=caffein), Coke (caffein+caffein) and Mate (caffein+caffein+caffein). The only food for me was fast-food. For a while, I used to eat McDos three times a day on a daily basis. I love French fries (with lots of mayonnaise in the best Flemish style) and pizza. I could surely eat them every single day. At a certain point however, I realized the damage my bad eating habits were causing my body and, consequently, my health.

In 2012,  right before my very first contest preparation

I still drink one cup of coffee in the morning, but that is it! Throughout the day, no sodas either. I did drink one last week and it felt weird. Industrialized juices or smoothies are in my things-to-avoid list as well. However, despite the amount of sugar contained in them, they are still a better choice than a soft drink. Ideally, make them yourself with organic fruit and greens.

If sugar is your weakness, try observing why you "need" it. Is it because you are feeling anxious or stressed? Are you dehydrated? Are you having an energy crush? Watch your meals during the day. Are you eating enough? Are your dishes varied? Carbohydrates and healthy fats are not evil monsters and they must be part of any diet.

Personally, I am not the most creative person in the kitchen. I only learned how to cook after my first Bikini competition and I am not a cooking princess. On a weekly basis, I browse the internet looking for new recipes to bring some new colors and flavors to my intake.

At the first Arnold Classic Brazil, April 2013

Some of the tricks I also use to keep myself on track are:

• Have a strong shopping list: I crossed the items when I buy them, but I do not erase them from my list. This way I keep track of the food I still have in the freezer as well;
• Try new things: look for new recipes, make substitutions in your traditional plan. There is way much more than chicken and broccoli out there. And it does not have to taste bad to be healthy;
• Remove ONE bad habit a time: in the beginning you may want to change things drastically, but if you want to make your changes last, it is better to give your body and your mind time to get accustomed to everything;
• Watch your emotional level: we live under pressure every day, the whole day. It is traffic, work, family affairs, financials, etc. These things cannot control us though. Find a way to work it off without eating it out;
• Keep yourself busy: find a hobby. Ideally, get involved with some physical activity. I love running and lifting weights. Is there any sport you like? Or dance style? A walk around the block is much better than sitting around;
• Enjoy your new lifestyle: remember that you want to improve your life. It has to be fun even before you start enjoying the new you. Do not take it too seriously. 

Above all, have in mind that no matter how long it takes, it will be worth it. It is more than fitting in smaller clothes or hearing compliments. It is about improving your well-being. Do not punish yourself if you slip up. It happens to everyone. Be your best friend, motivation and inspiration. No one can be 24h a day by your side so become your best companion. Whether you lose one inch or improve your performance, be proud. You did not get in the shape you are now in just one day. You can and you will achieve it as long as you keep on doing what has to be done!

Pre-workout picture from April 22, 2014.

Now let me know about yourself? How is your progress going so far? What victories have you already booked? What are your plans for short and long terms? I would love to learn about your path too.

Wishing you all a great day!

#DebbieInShape

Where I have been

Almost one fourth of 2014 has already passed, but it seems like yesterday that I was writing my commitments. These have been very busy months for me in all fields.

The top moment of this first quarter was, without a doubt, attending the seminar of Nathalia Melo in Ireland. I have been trying to join one for such a long time, however there was always something blocking me. I had to book flights and made hotel reservations at the last moment, but I made it.

Nathalia Melo and me at RockPit Fitness in Ireland

No matter what field of expertise is or hobby, take advantage of as many learning opportunities as possible. No matter where in your journey you are, there is always knowledge that can help you and facilitate your progress. And it is not every day that one has the chance to learn from an Olympian. Mainly in Europe...

I had a great time there and only wished I had stayed longer. I met so many amazing people. It felt like home. 

Right after getting back to Belgium, I jumped into a transformation challenge from BodyBuilding.com. I picked Kris Gethin's 12 week hardcore as my plan. I am major fan of Kris and his work, so it was an easy choice. 

By week 9 out of 12 (yeah, that close to the end), my body started to act weird again. Or better saying, it stopped reacting at all. Since the idea was testing myself after last year's struggle, it felt right to drop the challenge. In addition, there is 3D life that required some extra attention. I had to take a break and "listen to my body".

In my terms, taking a break does not mean going nuts and eating all the crap that I can. What I did was I kept my usual diet this week and used the extra free time in the evening to do some reading and to catch up.

And while I was updating myself with the latest news on Facebook, I found out that Flex Holland was offering a 'shape-up' program of 8 weeks for only 20 people. I did not know if it was only for people living in the Netherlands or if girls were allowed, but I signed up for it.

Flex Holland Flex Summer Shape-up Program

Needless to say how excited I was to receive the confirmation that I had been chosen. Now it is a matter of counting down the days to get started. April 19th will be day 1.

After being in this fit journey for the past 3 years, I know that there is only that much that you can change in 2 months. Still, I am looking forward giving my best to reach great results.

Well, this is what I have been doing and I am looking forward sharing more with you all. I hope you all have been enjoying 2014 and wish you lots of success!

Have a great weekend.

My 2014 Commitments

It is the time of year again...

2014 - Happy New Year

A new year starts and I want to share my commitments for the next 12 months (I don't like using the word resolutions and here is why).

My list will be much shorter for 2014. I want to focus on less things and bring the most out of them instead of spreading my attention everywhere. And here it is:

• Progressing in my switch to Figure : because of the setbacks, I was forced to slow down my transition to Figure. One has to listen to their body and respect its limitations. Combining all activities and responsibilities in a healthy way is very important. I want to build muscle mass and it takes time, longer than burning fat. It is going to be an exercise of patience, dedication and hard work.

Last progress picture as Bikini. First, as Figure.

• Investing in my professional career : even though I have made the decision to maintain balance between my career and my personal life, I am still a workaholic. I am looking forward becoming a better professional in 2014 too.

• Living a healthy life : one of the things I have learned in 2013 is that being healthy is more than no being sick. Being in balance physically and emotionally has become key in my life. I have incorporated yoga, meditation and mindfulness in my routines and it is bringing rest. The idea is to continue with the practices I started and improve them.

Yoga

This is going to be it. To achieve these goals, there are some steps I have been taking, however, I chose to keep my mind open. The result is what matter, the path will be the best one I discover for myself. It does not have to be anything. It will be what fits me better and brings me closer to my objectives.

My passion is a sport which requires first a lot of dedication before one can consider oneself 'in shape'. Even those who manage to do wild transformations know deep in their hearts that their results, no matter how amazing, are just the start. This journey of mine has not been the fastest one, neither without ups and downs. At turtle speed or not, I have progressed and I am looking forward progressing more and more. 

2014 goals

Wishing everyone an amazing 2014!

Fueling the body

For the first time in months, I can finally say that I am leaning again. There were days that I sincerely believed I would never get there, but I made it! It is a very humble victory, but most important, it is a definitive step back on track.

One of the things I have been investing special attention these days is my intake. I am not a big eater. In fact, I spent most of my life as skinny fat. Getting to "know" what kinds of food suit better and how to combine them to get the best results has been a challenging task, but I am loving it. Some weeks ago, I was home for a couple of days and I took advantage of it to work on my skills.

It is not like I have been cooking amazing stuff, it is just that I am truly putting effort in varying my diet to get all my macros, vitamins and minerals and also keeping it balanced. I might me going through a long off-season period, but it does not mean that I am planning on going over the board just-because.

Having protein in all my meals is very important at this point. Due to the months of limited or no activity, I lost muscle mass. Besides getting smaller, it is much harder to burn fat when one has no muscles (you know what I mean by "no muscles", don't you?). Most of my protein comes from hormone free meat and poultry, but I also add superfoods and shakes to my diet.

Hormone free chicken and rice with organic carrots and leek

Another must-have are carbohydrates. My goal is keep on working out 5-6 days a week. My training mostly takes place in the evenings after a whole day at the office (except for Sundays when I go to the gym in the morning and Thursdays when I do Power Yoga during lunch break), which means that I am already tired before I even started. To make sure I have enough energy to kick ass with the weights, I need to carb myself up. Caffeine is not a option since I have been sparing my adrenals the extra stress. My carbs come mainly from vegetables, lots of them; and I cannot miss oats in the morning either. At this point, I also have a fruit a day, but then again, I am not in contest prep.

Balance is the key for getting in shape and staying healthy. One must also include fats, minerals and vitamins to provide enough fuel for the body to perform all tasks properly. We all have a life beyond the gym that demands a huge amount of our energy as well.

Not choosing my vegetables is quite fun. I enrolled for a weekly subscription from the local organic farm and I only know what I am getting one day in advance. It is so challenging, but I am discovering a lot of veggies that we do not have in Brazil or that I simply had never had the chance to try.

Asperges, hormone free pork, organic celeriac oven chips and corn salad

Even though cooked greens lose part of their vitamins, they fit me better than raw. I am still working on detoxing my gut and I do not want to overload my digestive system (a portion of fruit a day is already more than enough). The easiest solution in this case is steaming.

There are a lot of interesting and informative articles on the internet. Be careful on not just looking for "diet" and "weight loss" tips. Learn about metabolism, allergies and food in general. I am not going to play specialist here because I still have a hard time myself putting the right combinations together in optimized portions avoiding as repeating the same ingredients over and over again (the latter being my major weakness). Do not rush. It is your body we are talking about and you must know it better than anyone else (including your MD).

Salmon with organic beta and corn salad

Modern life brought us a lot of facilities, but also an enormous amount of challenges and demands. Our body has the incredible capacity to adapt itself to the obstacles of society, but we cannot neglect feeding it properly. To keep any machine running smooth, we put oil and do regular checks, why not applying the same principle to ourselves.

Healthy days everyone!

Looking back - 2013 edition

It is again that time of the year when I like to sit down and reflect on the past 12 months.

As I wrote on my blog My 2013 Commitments, I do not feel comfortable with the word resolutions. On that entry, I shared the list of things I wanted to achieve throughout the year. And here it is how it went...

Open Limburg, April 2013, in the Netherlands

• Get competition ready by the beginning of April
• I made it! Yes!! My performance during the Open of Limburg was my best so far and I'm incredibly happy of what I accomplished then despite all the odds.
• Keep on improving as an athlete
• The road was bumpy in 2013 and I did have some unexpected set backs who forced me out of driver's seat of my training. However, during my hiatus, I took time to learn, improve and become a more conscious player of the game. Mission accomplished!
• Give the first steps towards a pro-card
• This is a tricky one. Acquiring a pro-card in my age sounds almost like a mission impossible in Europe. It is not like I have given up, but it is not in the spotlight for me at the moment. First, I want to improve my physique, then compete and who knows, achieve the pro-card once experience meets the 'perfect' shape.
• Finish the Personal Trainer course
• This was the only total no-show of the year... I did not make it to finish the course within the expected timeframe, and as I noticed that the near future was not looking any better, I did not even requested an extension. It is something I still would like to finalize, but I will only jump in a training again when I feel I will be able to conclude it.
• Progress professionally
• I consider myself a lucky person for working on something I really like. I found 'home' in IT and I am looking forward improving every day.

Hormone free liver and organic broccoli and beta

• Become a more patient, organized and relaxed person (=zen)
• I would love to say that I got it 100%, but it would not be the truth. I am a little more organized and I am moving forward. Maybe not as fast as I wanted to, however, I am not putting pressure on myself. After all, being patient and relaxed are also part of the plan.
• Sleep more
• Sleeping enough still means a battle to me. I come from periods of total rest, to various sleepless nights (like in the past 3 weeks, for instance). I have not been able to figure out what works better for me and what not. Since I stopped doing cardio in the morning though, I gained an extra hour per day which is being quite helpful.
• Embrace a natural life style
• It is fun to see that my last topic was exactly the one in which I booked the most improvement. I changed my sources of protein to hormone free meat and poultry; went organic when it comes to fruit and vegetables; and cut gluten from my diet. The results were immediate and I still cannot believe it myself. I simply don't want to go back!

2013 was the year when I had the chance to attend the Arnold Classic Brazil as well as BodyPower in UK. Thanks to these events, I had the chance to meet some of my idols in person which is an experience I will never forget!

Nathalia Melo and me at BodyPower 2013

Around June, I made the decision to switch from Bikini to Figure, and more recently, to take a break from competitions so that I first build the body of my dreams without jeopardizing my health or my other responsibilities.

I am not waiting for 2014 to arrive to put my following commitments into practice. However, I will not write about them today.

And you? How did it go with your New Year's resolutions/commitments for 2013? Have you taken time to review and evaluate them? It can be a more rewarding experience that you can imagine. And even if you think that things could have gone better, this exercise will help you assess your goals for the year to come. Remember to make them SMART : Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound.

Let's do it!

My road back

For some blogs, I have been mentioning that I am going through a healing process. But what exactly do I mean by that? What am I healing from? And what makes me believe that I am getting better when from the start all my medical tests have been flawless?

Road To Recovery

As per dictionary definition genetics means "the genetic constitution of an individual, group, or class". It is what we are made of, our structural shape. In addition to whatever our qualities are, as we grow, environment, relationships and how we deal with situations also mold us. All this together with the addition of the experiences we go through 'now', form who are: physically, mentally and psychologically. 

When I decided to train more consistently and take my physique to the next level, I made certain choices ignoring my being as 'a whole'. After one year and half of intensive workout and dieting, certain predispositions rose up and started to get in my way.

Healing cannot occur in the absence of self-love and compassion.

One important step I took in my lowest point was taking control of my health. Not that I have some sort of healing power, but I just decided to become a serious student of the game. Instead of just sitting around and waiting for someone to tell me what to do and how; I started researching and learning. I am not alone in this though. The insights I have been receiving from Nicole Moneer are priceless. She is being a great guide who is showing me a path I feel incredibly comfortable with.

I also started looking within my body and doing some tests with my food choices. Controlling gluten ingestion has brought immediate results that I could have never dreamed of. Organics greens and fruit and hormone-free meat are not only good for the body, but they taste so much better! And sincerely, if you search well, you may discover that they are not always necessarily more expensive.

For your health - Get Enough Sleep

Sleeping enough hours is the simplest medication I could give yourself. If you have a full-time demanding job like me and has to stay focused for at least 8 hours a day, you will see the results of a good night sleep in no time. And that is not to mention that you will probably need less stimulants throughout the day, which your adrenals will thank you for.

Eating 'right' goes beyond eating healthy. One common mistaken done when one wants to get a lean figure is eating too little or simply unbalanced meals. If you have constant cravings, your body might be sending you signs that something is lacking. It is not only a matter of giving in or not, but of getting it right.

Food cravings

These small changes together have brought my energy levels up considerably. Around August, I had reached the point in which I had to sit on the floor and take deep breaths before being able to clean my gym bag. For two months, I was not able to train at all. In November, even though I have not been able to do any consistent cardio yet, I was able to train consistently for three weeks in a row. My weight fluctuation during the day is around two pounds and I do not retain water and get bloated on a daily basis. I drink healthy amounts of water sparring my kidneys and am taking more care of my liver, my personal achilles' heel.

It is just the start for me and I am glad with the direction I have taken. Step by step, I am getting there though.

Taking a deep breath

Choosing a topic for this week's blog was not an easy task. In the past months, I entered this "thoughts-full" mode and it is sometimes hard to be selective.

Here, I essentially write about my fitness experience, but there is more than training and dieting in the life of Debbie Rodrigues. There are the things I can control, and those that I cannot. There is happiness and there are the lessons. Who I am now is a reflection of my experiences and how I have been reacting to them throughout my 38 years of existence.

In general, I have this all-or-nothing attitude. Instead of first putting my feet in the water and slowly getting accustomed to its temperature, I jump in! Sincerely, it is a very rewarding way of life when it comes to things that are not influenced by others or the environment. Unfortunately when we "depend" on external agents, things frequently get messy.

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.

In my case, I had this pretty 'boring' plan for 2013. I did everything I could to go with the flow without thinking anything over. However, life had other plans to me.

Amongst some of the decisions I had to make in order to readapt, was changing my "Body Transformation" path. The idea was to be stage as fast as I could, doing anything necessary to achieve it the physique I dream of. My body did not like the idea though and after awhile, it started to play tricks on me. Since I'm not a Cylon and cannot jump into a more suitable body (Oops! Geek joke), I had to look for alternatives.

Therefore, the once "asap-plan" became a 2-year one. This more realistic approach itself already took a major weight off my back. I can breath again and enjoy my workouts like I haven't in a long, long time. And the results are already showing! Last week, I trained 6 days straight and even (finally!!!) included a session of Power Yoga to my routine.

Yoga Benefits

It does not have to be perfect to be enjoyable and to bring progress. In a world surrounded by negativity, we have to take charge of ourselves if we want to remain sane. There is suffering all around the globe, tragedies and cruelty; there is laziness, hate and arrogance. But there is also sunshine, the stars, nature and there is hope, kindness and love.

We cannot let the craziness and all the rush imposed by modern life take the best of us. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, take a deep and connect back with people and things that really matter. The rest... Well, let go of the rest.

Have a strong week!

Inside Out

In 2010, after years of thinking about nothing but work, I realized that my physique did not "match" the person I had become. I was doing a job that I really liked and had found balance work x home. However, after years without training and not caring at all about my intake, I had become heavy and unhealthy. In September that year, after annual leave, I got enrolled in a gym and I restarted to workout.

At that time, I did not really care about the quality of the food I was eating yet. I still thought I could outwork a bad diet by training intensively for enough time. It was not before 2012 that I realized once and for all that it was not really the best approach to achieve the results I hoped for.

Now, around one year and a half later, I am facing another phase of my own 'evolution'. I am not living in pink clouds anymore, but I have been rediscovering the joy of taking control of my life.

"Happiness is not the absence of problems; it's the ability to deal with them."

My journey back to my roots includes looking within. We are so much more than what meets the eyes... Concepts like 'being in shape', 'looking good' etc not always determine our health inside. Our organism also suffers from the stress of modern life; our own expectations and of our environment; and from all the substances that we consume on a daily basis. Of course that their impact on us differ depending on how we and our body deals with those external agents.

Me, an assumed workaholic, perfectionist and control freak, do not spontaneous balance things around me. There is no gray in my color scale, just black & white. So for me, and those out there in the same situation, it is necessary to first acknowledge that 'there is more out there' followed by a conscious work of self-forgiving/cleansing/healing.

Detox Your Body

To avoid exerting myself in the processing, I am taking one step a time in this personal journey to becoming a better version of me. At first, I pulled the handbrake (see blog 'Changes are good'). Then, I started to observe my interactions (with people, food and environment) and their outcomes (see 'Trying new things'). Even though these two cycles will always be a work-in-progress, it is time for some action.

One month has passed since I started to approach my intake in a different way. The results are already beyond my expectations for such a short period of time: no more joint pain (I thought I had developed carpal tunnel the past few years), my heart rate is slowly raising again, I haven't been short of breath in weeks, no more tachycardia and despite cardio still being a 'no-no', I managed to do weight training 4 days in a row this week.

"The best is yet to come."

In this detox period, I will start focusing on my liver. Back in Brazil, I was raised drinking Boldo tea, but since it is not that easy to find it here, I need to adapt. This means that for the next weeks (to say the least), my water boiler will be my best friend, together with various tea sorts I have stored in the cupboard, but rarely drink.

This is another small step towards bringing my body back to balance before being to advance in my fitness goals. At first, I took it all as a major set-back. I was overwhelmed by all the tiredness, soreness and pain I was going through. Words are not enough to describe how sad I felt by not being able to train and diet with the same intensity I had been doing since March last year. Looking back though, this has become a very rewarding experience to me. I have been given the opportunity to learn so much. It all forced me to take control of my life and not let external facts dictate how my day will be. In spite of them being my baby-steps, I am moving forward and that is all that matters.

Trying new things

Since my body decided to play tricks on me, I have been trying new things in order to both spot what is good (or not so good) for me and get my health back on track.

One aspect we tend to ignore is that there every person is different. What works for one, might not produce the same result for another. Genetics, predispositions, environment, work condition, family affairs, everything plays a role in who we are and how we feel.

"What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful."

We all have role models and we all wish that our efforts were enough to transform our body like Xs and Ys within a certain time frame. Sometimes, however, our unique characteristics play tricks on us and things don't go exactly as planned.

When hitting a plateau, or even moving backwards, you have to revaluate your efforts and look for the root cause. This can be a tricky because we tend to be whether too hard or too lenient with ourselves. The key is being sincere! 'Am I really doing everything I'm supposed to?' 'Do I give it all while training?' 'How have I been dealing with the situations I come across?'

The struggle you're in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.

Maybe you are missing some small detail here and there like an extra spoon of peanut butter or taking long breaks between sets. Or maybe your body is getting accustomed to the routine you have imposed it. In this case, a change of habits make put you back on track.

Remember that no matter how experience or knowledgeable your coach, nutritionist or physician might be; unless you be straight forward with your feelings, impressions and perceptions, there is little they can do for you. They are not in your head. 

Keep track of yourself. Logging your workouts and diet is easy, but try keeping of your reactions as well. What is the impact of your relationships in your mood? Think of every single person you come across throughout your day! How do these interactions influence your day? What gives you energy and what drains it away? Can you pinpoint a day of the week, time of day, meal, food or activity that is frequently related to a certain emotion?

Everyday is a new beginning. Take a deep breath, and start again.

Don't be afraid of getting to know yourself better. Many times, the answer is within us, just waiting for our eyes to see it. Becoming your best friend is a lesson you can use not only in sport or other hobby, but in life as well.