These Are a Few of My Favorite Things :-)

First off I want to remind you that I am not a doctor, nutritionist, personal trainer, etc. Everything in my blog is based of my personal research, experiences and preferences. I encourage you to speak to your health professionals before changing your diet or exercise routine. Now, on to the topic at hand!  Here are some of my favorite health and beauty things in no specific order :-)

Favorite Thing #1: If you are anything like me, you have tried several of the 'fad' diets out there. Some of them may have worked for you and some not. The problem with those diets is that they usually leave you hungry or force you to completely cut out the really yummy things. Those types of diets do nothing but set you up for failure!  I did the diet roller-coaster for too long and had enough.  I have talked about the ABs Diet before and how much I love it.  It is easy to follow, leaves me feeling fuller for longer periods of time, and best of all....IT WORKS!

Favorite Thing (or person lol) #2: I recently read this amazing book by an amazing author.  Some of you may have heard of The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper (click link to purchase).  Great tips on how to eat healthy and maintain that lifestyle. I LOVE Bob Harper and his website has workout DVD's for only $3.99 (incredible) and lots of other beneficial information. Check him out at www.MyTrainerBob.com.

Favorite Thing #3: Cucumber water! I was introduced to this amazing drink back in 2008 when I worked for a skin care company from Paris. They always had iced cucumber water at our tables for training events because they said it was good for the skin. Not only does it taste great and refreshing, but it has benefits too! Here is an article discussing the benefits of cucumber water: http://olliejean.hubpages.com/hub/Benefits-of-Cucumber-Water.

Favorite Thing #4: Protein shakes. There are a LOT of protein powders out there but they are not to be created equal. When I first decided to start a protein shake meal replacement, I thought they were all the same. My husband, however, did not. He did a TON of research and found me a great one; Lean ProMatrix. What's great about this one is that it tastes great, blends well (no gritty texture), 34g of protein per serving, and has great nutritional values (much better than the others we researched). If you are thinking of starting a protein shake plan, please do your research. Read and compare labels. Check the cost per shake too so you get the best value for your money.

 


Favorite Thing #5: Water!!! I promise you that if you make an effort to drink more water each day, you WILL feel better. In addition, cut out all soda. Don't drink your calories. Save them for some yummy treat now and then. I shouldn't have to tell you how bad soda is for you. You already know it is. So make a promise to yourself that you are going to drink more water. Try it consistently for a week and I promise you will feel so great that you won't go back :-).  Here are some great articles about the benefits of drinking more water and tips on how to do just that: http://www.dwlz.com/WWinfo/water.html and http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1014  One more tip though. Be careful with things to flavor your water. They can contain just as much sugar and other unhealthy items as sugary drinks. If you honestly cannot drink plain water, try my Favorite Thing #3: Cucumber water!!

Favorite Thing #6: Insanity. You all already know this ;-) I just love it so much that OF COURSE it is one of my favorite things. In case you missed my blog post about this amazing workout program I am doing, you can check it out here. I am currently in my recovery week. It's a week long (6 days) of core and balance work. It isn't as intense as the regular Insanity workouts, but you will break a sweat. What's so great about it is that I am seeing improvement with my core and balance already after 3 days of the recovery workouts! After this week is over, I start Max Insanity (I am super scared to be honest lol) that will be the last 4 weeks of the 60 day program. I will re-take the Fit Test on Wednesday and will make sure to share my progress with you. I am really nervous about these last 4 weeks but really excited too! I have seen such improvement in my strength, flexibility, energy, and physical appearance. I cannot wait to start the 60 days all over again :-)

Favorite Thing #7: The Biggest Loser. Yes, it's a reality show. So?! It is an amazing and inspirational show. You cannot help but be motivated and inspired by the contestants and the personal trainers. If you have ever struggled with your weight, you will understand this show in a personal level like I do. This show makes me want to eat better and get off my butt and workout! Plus, you learn a lot about nutrition and exercise. Double win! Check it out Mondays at 7:00 pm central.

Favorite Thing #8: Zumba!!! If you have never tried a Zumba class, you are really missing out. It is so much fun! What's great is that you don't even realize you are working out. You can burn up to 700 calories in a one hour class just by dancing to some awesome music. What's better than that?!

Favorite Thing #9:  Sleep. Yes, sleep. It is important! If you are not getting enough sleep at night, it can be bad for your health. Plus, when you get a good nights sleep, you feel more energized to workout right?! Check out these articles on how sleep (or lack thereof) can effect your weight: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/lack-of-sleep-weight-gain, http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/lose-weight-while-sleeping, and http://www.shape.com/latest-news-trends/sleep-and-weight-loss-why-getting-your-zzzs-important.

Favorite Thing #10:  My family :-) My family is my support system and my cheering section. They build me up by noticing the positive changes I have made in my appearance and health, they encourage me to keep going, and they never make me feel guilty when I have a slip now and then. Everyone on a journey to a healthier self needs a good support group. Whether its friends, family, or co-workers, find your support and thank them for being with you through your amazing transformation. Who knows, you may inspire them to make the change too!

What is Insanity?

So several of you have asked me recently 'What is Insanity?'. Well, besides INSANE and AMAZING, it is high intensity MAX interval training. This description is straight from the website:   "The Insanity workout might just be the hardest fitness program ever put on DVD. Your personal trainer Shaun T. will push you past your limits with 10 Insanity workout discs packed with plyometric drills on top of nonstop intervals of strength, power, resistance, and ab and core training moves. No equipment or weights needed. Just the will to get the hardest body you've ever had.....you perform long bursts of maximum-intensity exercises with short periods of rest. Each Insanity workout keeps you constantly challenged as you alternate between aerobic and anaerobic intervals performed at your MAX. The result: burn up to 1,000 calories in an hour and get the most insane body in 60 days."

And Insane it is! Each workout is between 30 and 55 minutes long. They each start with a dynamic warm-up that you do 3 times through, each time increasing your intensity and speed. I promise it will have you sweating and your heart racing before you even start the workout! The warm-up is followed by a 30 second water break, then on to some very important stretching. Trust me, by this point, you are already tired and sweating. Next, you start the workout. Shaun will take you through a workout circuit 3 times through, each time increasing your intensity and speed. You get a 30 second water break in between each circuit, but you are encouraged to take a many breaks as you need. Don't overdo it and watch your heart rate. After you complete your workout, you end with more stretching. It is very important not to skip the before and after stretching. EVER.

This workout is for dedicated people. It is not easy and you will be sore, very sore, the first week. There will be times that you feel like you cannot continue. For me, when I get to that point, it is at the same time that Shaun tells me not to quit or to 'Dig deeper!'. I just try to get better each time I do the workout, and I do. You will hate it and Shaun (lol) the first week, but if you stick with it, you will see results. After that, you are hooked and can't imagine not doing it. Honestly, I love it so much I can see myself doing it the rest of my active life. Seriously. 

As much as I love this workout, I don't feel it is going to be for everyone. Please remember to talk to your doctor before starting any workout routine. Some other things that I like to do are yoga, running and Zumba. All of these are great for you and burn calories. 

My advice is don't set yourself up for failure. Find something that you enjoy. If you enjoy it, you will do it! Easy as that :-) I must be insane because I cannot imagine my life without Insanity. Find that workout that you love and get movin'! 

I cannot wait to share with you all my before and after pictures once I complete the 60 day challenge!! 

This week was the end of Week 2 of Insanity so that means I had to take another Fit Test. With Insanity, you will take a Fit Test on day 1 to use to measure your fitness progress. Shaun takes you through a quick warm-up and then 8 different exercises at 1 minute each. You count how many you can do in that time and write it down. You repeat the Fit Test every 2 weeks to see how much you have improved. This is another great tool to see your progress. Especially since week 2 of a strict diet and workout routine is usually the hardest. You see great results after the first week, but the second is usually stalled or much less. Don't worry! Keep going and you will see further results. My week 2 was no different. But I am going to keep at it! I know that despite no additional loss this week, I have continued to improve based on my Fit Test results. 

Here are my Fit Test numbers from Day 1:

1. Switch Kicks - 61
2. Power Jacks - 27
3. Power Knees - 52
4. Power Jumps - 15
5. Globe Jumps - 6
6. Suicide Jumps - Couldn't even do 1! I was already so worn out.
7. Push-up Jacks - 20
8. Low Plank Oblique - 33

Now, here are my Fit Test numbers after the end of Week 2. As you can see, I have improved in all areas! I felt better and more able to do them this time. Gosh, I couldn't even do a single Suicide Jump last time and look at me now!!

1. Switch Kicks - 67
2. Power Jacks - 34
3. Power Knees - 75
4. Power Jumps - 19
5. Globe Jumps - 7 (only 1 extra but these are hard!)
6. Suicide Jumps - 10 (woo hoo!)
7. Push-up Jacks - 27
8. Low Plank Oblique - 40

Just seeing my improvement on the Fit Test shows me that this program is working. I feel better, I look better, my clothes fit better, and I can get through the workouts now with fewer breaks and I can do them with more intensity. I love it and I know you will too :-)

Starting Over (again) and Succeeding!

So as some of you know, I started this blog a little under a year ago with the hopes of faithfully updating it daily so you all could see my amazing progress. Well, that didn't happen. Not that I didn't have great progress, but I didn't have the progress I wanted (my own fault) and I lost motivation. 

When I was faithfully exercising daily and watching my diet, I did really well! I lost weight, firmed up, and increased my energy. Then, we went on vacation lol. I took a week off from everything and found it very hard to start back up when I returned from paradise. The desire was there but I allowed life to interfere. Thankfully, I didn't gain all that weight back, but I did gain some. So the time came to get serious and get moving!

Just a few months ago, August actually, I made a commitment to adopt my healthy lifestyle again. Not wanting to set myself up for failure or make unreasonable goals (we all do it), I decided to start with my diet and then, once I had adopted a solid diet change, I would add exercise to it. Baby steps. So that's what I did!

I got back on my AB's diet (mentioned in previous posts) and added in daily protein shakes as a meal replacement. I replaced lunch or dinner each day with a shake and followed the AB's diet to a T the rest of the day. I completely cut out soda, sweets and fast food. Cold turkey. It was actually a lot easier than I thought! Surprisingly enough, I after about a week I stopped craving those things. Even more surprising was that if I did decide to indulge and treat myself with something sweet, it actually tasted gross and my body physically rejected it! I would get sick almost immediately after eating it. That was enough for me to not want to eat them again. 

I started at 155 lbs in August and by the end of October I was down to 139 lbs. By changing the way I ate, nothing more. I felt great! I could have something sweet now and then, without over-indulging and that is a great feeling!

By the beginning of December, I had gained 6 lbs back. Not bad, but noticeable. Not to mention all the loose skin! Ugh! It was the perfect time to start adding in the daily workout routine. That's where things get insane....

I have fallen in love with Insanity! And that is just what it is. You have all seen the infomercials on TV. It looks crazy. All these people with perfect bodies telling you how awesome the workout is and how great it was for them. That's what infomercials are supposed to do right? Sell the product. Well everything they say is true. I am a believer!! It truly is an amazing program and I, after just a week, have seen results. 

On day one I took measurements and weighed myself so I could track my progress. Chances are you won't physically see too much of a change in your appearance so seeing on paper that you have lost is HUGE motivation! I promise you though, you will feel the change. 

Here are my day one, week one measurements (in inches):

Date: 12/26/2012

Chest: 34.5
Biceps: 10.25 each
Waist: 32
Hips: 37.75
Thighs: 23 each
Calves: 14 each

Weight: 143.5 lbs

After one week of Insanity and continuing ABs Diet, my measurements are:

Date: 1/3/2013

Chest: 34.25
Biceps: 11 each

Waist: 29
Hips: 37
Thighs: 22 each
Calves: 13.5 each


Weight: 139.3 lbs

I lost a total of 4.2 lbs and 7 inches total, and gained .75 in on each bicep! I am proof that what I am doing works. When I see results like this, I can't help but be motivated. I hope it helps to motivate you too! I will be posting my progress weekly and would love to hear about your fitness/weight loss success too! It is so much easier to be successful when you have people to encourage you and work with you toward a common goal. 

Any fitness or weight loss goal is going to take hard work. If you need extra motivation or just an accountability partner, I am here for you. Remember though, I am NOT a doctor. I am doing what I do under the supervision of a licensed doctor, and I recommend that you consult yours prior to starting any diet or exercise routine. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog :-)