Well, I've stumbled through the first ten days of FLO Living, and it included some food experiments and learning to step back and pull out of the go, go, go ideas of my life.

The first food experiments where breakfast oriented, feeling out which foods make you feel good and which ones don't. Basically, what I  discovered was I can't handle carbs early in the morning in heavy doses. And oatmeal isn't my friend any more. Still love my eggs, which I knew and recognized from the get go. Can handle a few sweet potato fries with them and some Ezekial bread, although I've noticed bread texture makes me crave more.

I started looking back at other foods and possible triggers, foods which trigger cravings and/or binge eating. What I discovered was nuts and nut butters really trigger me into a binge, I can't seem to stay out of the suckers. I can have a full blown cheat night and not have an issue leaving a pack of oreos on the shelf until next time. However, when it comes to nuts or nut butter I can't seem to stay out of them without a serious struggle, thus, they have to come off the diet...completely.

I've also discovered three days of carbs makes my skin breakout, so, they have to go back once every three days.

My other little bit of research is when a woman creates a massive calorie deficit then he can lose her cycle, thus, I've added in pushing up my calories to try and let the body level out. My weight training has been reduced to 4 days a week, my running to 3 days, boxing at 5, and gymnastics 2 days.

I was going to run for another show, but am seriously thinking about an off season right now, getting 6 months to balance things out, learn my triggers, and learn how to manipulate and balance my body. If I can do it once I can do it again, keeping my body safe while we push my body fat down.

I'm also looking at a massive lifestyle change, but that's okay. I made some great big changes when I went to bodybuilding, I can make these ones also. Discipline is learned and, just like patience, is a practice.

In school we're taught the definitions of words in order to communicate with others, but as I moved through my own experiences and challenges these last few years I've come to the decision...at some point you need to clarify your own definition of whatever you may be looking for or currently experiencing in your life.

Let me explain. You've learned how to communicate on some level with those around you, but, as Tony Robbins stated in one of his audio programs, "The quality of your life is a direct result of the quality of your communication....with yourself." And it's in the communication with our self where our own suffering, anxiety, or even delight and joy is created. How you can know if you've become a success if you don't know what the definition of success to you is? How about love and a relationship? How can you know if your in the relationship you're looking for if you have defined the boundaries of what you want to share, who you are, and what you're bringing to the table.

It's the same with fitness. If you come to me and want to improve your y health and fitness, but don't know exactly what that means to you, it's pretty vague, and though gives us parameters to work in, it doesn't necessarily give us the exact direction we need to move you toward. Set a definition, know what it is, and realise it can change and adjust as you grow.

For me, fitness, means being able to ask of my body, and having the confidence and ability for my body to follow through. Whether it's doing a powerful routine on stage, going kayaking, or deciding to spontaneously run the San Diego Convention Center stairs for kicks and giggles as fast as I can...my body can do what I ask of it. That's fitness, in my world. Knowing that, it helps keep my training on track so I have measurable results and directions, even small goals, to work toward.

If you've been work toward something, or continually struggling with an idea or though, or even if those goals just seem to keep slipping out of your fingers, then perhaps you need to sit down and look at exactly how you define what's happening, if it serves you to define it in such away, and what the resulting self-talk is concerning your definitions. The self-talk will help create direct results, so pay attention to your definitions and how your self talk responds.

Ready to change your life? Then prepare for some self inquiry. Whatever the issue maybe, bring it forward in your mind and body, let it sit there. Feel it. Then ask:

What does this idea/event/goal mean to me?
What have I done to move toward it at this point? Were the results what I wanted?
Am I clear on exactly what accomplishing this means and the next step? (If not, sit with this questions awhile?)
The definition I have, is it mine or someone else's? Does it serve me?

Definitions are integral, but not set in stone. Just the the tides they will ebb and flow, just pay attention, do your best to become to attached to them, but know how changing and being aware of them will keep you moving in the right direction.


And as always:
     TRAIN: Lead with the heart; the body will follow.

Jenna