daniellecaryn

Thanks for the advice! I'm planning to just do the "counting calories" thing this week to get a good idea of a baseline. Since things like almond butter can be hard to come by here, option are limited or can be outrageously expensive. However, like I said, it's time to let go of excuses and try new things. Perhaps I'll find almond butter at the Organica store I know is somewhere in z10. I used to live in Portland, OR, health food mecca of the US, and it was so EASY there! It's a bit harder here, and I've let it get the best of me. Next step, almond butter. Thanks again for the tip.

You have an amazing story! I admire your courage and wish you the best in your journey. Although, I'm only 5'7", I live in Guatemala where the average height seems to be about 5 feet tall, so I feel like a giant always. Not to mention that the memories of "developing" early and trying to play soccer with boobs among skinny pre-adolescents also left some lingering trauma. Tall females unite! I'm just beginning too, so if you ever needs some support from a beginner or a cheering section, just let me know.

Sounds like you're really motivated and up to a great start! I don't have any injuries and was only able to do the basic warm up and beginner body weight circuit X 2 on my first two tries. It's a lot harder than it looks if you haven't done any training in a while. After my first time, I was so sore, lifting my friend's 5 lb. purse was painful. Be careful with knees, though! Perhaps you should consult with a physical therapist before going any further?

I'm an elementary teacher at an American school in Guatemala City! Guatemala is a lovely country, but it does pose its challenges to a healthy lifestyle, at least for me. Challenges: To stay in shape, I used to walk, run, cylce, hike and generally do things with others that were outside. Guatemala City doesn't really have much public green space for outdoor activity.Crime is a problem and walking/running/biking/hiking around is a problem for a blonde gringa.The main activity among my friends is meeting up at the pub.My boyfriend is a great cook, but his idea of "light" is a steak and potatoes.The local cuisine is quite limited, not a whole lot of variety! I've become really good at making excuses, however. I did the gym thing for a while and got bored after 3 months. I was in really good shape, but then lost it all and gained weight as I just went back to my old habits. Guatemala, for all it's faults, does have a lot of opportunity for healthy living and fitness with a little planning and initiative. I can't jump on my bike and bike to work (like I've done in other cities) but...there's other things I can try if I'm a little adventurous. My long term goals are as follows: Lose 10 lbs.Stick to the Paleo diet 80/20Cut out alcohol during the weekDo 10 pull-ups in a rowDead lift 150 lbs.Beat someone with the same skill level in a game of tennis. I just started, and I'm only 3 days in (eek) but I think I have a really solid plan: Monday: Beginner Body weight Training on my porch - increase reps/weight/circuits over time Tuesday: Interval training in the gym - increase # intervals over time Wednesday: More body weight training Thursday: Yoga class with other teachers/parents at my school Friday: Intervals Saturday: Tennis lessons - add in practice days over time M-F: Paelo Diet: count calories and stick to my goal (1300 calories) according to BMR and activity using Livestrong. S/S: Bit looser, but no binging, eat only if hungry and watch portions All Days: Say "yes" to every opportunity that provides something new and active i.e. golf, hiking a volcano, swimming, etc. One thing I'm wary of is the "eager beaver" profile because that's been my MO in the past. I think this fitness schedule includes enough variety to help me stay on track, but I also have to stick with it as best I can and not get derailed. The Paleo diet is proving to be the hardest for me even after only 3 days. I'm not an enthusiastic cook, and as I said, variety and my boyfriend's cooking style are not supportive in this area. And I'm HUNGRY all the time. However, I've always eaten really healthy during the week because I prepare my own lunches, the biggest thing I can do to cut calories is cut alcohol out during the week. This is the main thing I have to stick with. Wish me luck!