Really Quick UPDATE

If you follow my blog, you know I was supposed to finish up the Hammer and Chisel program over the weekend.  Well, as you all know, sometimes life just happens, and things get postponed.  Jeff and I have been doing the program together.  After travelling and trying to sleep on an airplane, last week, Jeff had a stiff neck/shoulders for a few days.  We decided it would be best to hold off and avoid the risk of stiffness leading to injury.  In addition,  I have been trying to tackle some more health issues that have risen up over the past few months (this autoimmune stuff sucks).  I think I may have stumbled upon the root of many of my more recent issues and took a step to correct the issue.  It will be awhile before I know if I will see some relief from my symptoms, but I promise to post about it, when I know more.  Stay tuned...  

We are ALMOST finished, and will be posting some before/after pics next week.

Hammer and Chisel - Last week

I haven't updated in awhile.  It seems as though my days seem to run together.  I am fairly certain the winter blues are getting to me, and I am just lacking motivation.  Despite that, I am still committed to my Hammer and Chisel workout calendar.  Today is Day 52 of the program.  Tomorrow is rest day, then 3 more days and DONE!

So what are my results gonna look like?  I am sure the scale has not changed (or changed much).  I have been avoiding the scale because with a strength training program, the scale does not like to move.  I am building muscle.  Muscle is much more dense than fat.  A pound of muscle with take up far less space than a pound of fat. Although I clearly know that fact, because of the weight gain I have experienced over the past year due to health related issues, I get easily frustrated by the numbers on the scale.  Turns out that if I don't step on it, I don't get frustrated...problem solved!  I will step on the scale next week for my final weigh in, but I don't expect it to be a good indicator of my progress.

What I CAN tell you is that I have REALLY toned up!!  Even though I still have the annoying belly fat lurking around, I can see where the beginnings of a six pack abs are.  There is definition along my obliques!  It is probably not very visible, my the strength in my back and shoulders has increased tremendously!!  In the past 8 weeks, I have gone from being able to do only a few push ups on my toes before dropping to my knees in order to still STRUGGLE through a minute of push ups,  Now I can hold out for about 7-10 push ups on my toes before dropping to my knees....AND I can complete that minute of push-ups.  My legs are SOLID.  With previous programs, I often ended up bulking up my thigh muscle with the leg exercises.  With Hammer and Chisel, my leg muscles are solid, but not bulky.  They are not quite long and lean, but I am loving my leg strength!!  I was really able to challenge myself with my weights for this program.  For most upper body exercises, I use a 12-18 pound weight.  With any type of reverse fly or tricep kick back moves, I can only manage 8 pounds for a full minute of exercises...but that is up from struggling with only a few reps holding my 5 pound weights.  With most leg exercises, I find myself using between 20 and 35 pounds.

 Over all, I just FEEL stronger.  My clothes are fitting more comfortably (most days).  I was following the Hammer and Chisel meal plan for month 1, and then kind of followed my own plan for month 2.  Why?  While the Hammer and Chisel meal plan is generally a great way to help someone find a good, well rounded approach to healthy eating, I have found that the approach does not work well for me.  When I HAVE to get in a certain amount of containers (Hammer and Chisel uses the portion control system) each day, I end up overeating at the end of the day to fit in all of my containers.  In addition, I find myself making food choices that do not mesh well with my food intolerances (too much dairy and gluten), which make me feel bloated.   I know there are ways to adjust my eating to make the containers work, but I just find the calorie counting a little easier.  That being said, I STILL follow the idea of more fruits and veggies, lean proteins, and a few healthy carbs.  I am mindful of where my calories are coming from, and I strive to stick with better choices.  The portion control system DID help me get back on track with my eating.  I NEEDED that.  Being clearly back on track with my eating got me to a place where I can modify to meet my specific needs.  
I have also continued to use the Beachbody Performance line - especially the Energize, Hydrate, and Recovery.  I truly believe that the Recovery drink has helped me to avoid muscle soreness after workouts, so I can still put in 100% to my next workout.  On really tough workout days, I also use the  nighttime Recharge.

I am really excited to take my progress pics and measurements next week, so that I can really see what kind of progress I have made with Hammer and Chisel.  Stay tuned for a post next week!!

4 weeks in

I am officially on week 5 of my Hammer and Chisel program.  I really like this program and the challenge of the workouts.  It really is a great lifting and strength training program with a little cardio mixed in.  I truly feel challenged during these workouts, and I feel like I am able to grow with the program and challenge myself even more each time I do a workout.  I also love that there are so many different workouts in the program that I went a solid 3 weeks without repeating a workout!!  For month 1, I followed the Hammer and Chisel eating plan (which uses those nice color coded, portion control containers - Portion Fix) and I felt great.  I found a great routine with my containers and it was easy to stay on track.  I also supplemented my workouts with the Beachbody Performance Line or products.  I used the pre workout Energize drink, during workout Hydrate drink, post workout Recover drink, and nighttime Recharge drink.  I have never really been one for supplements like this, but these REALLY have improved my performance.  The Energize gives me a  boost of energy to push harder during my workout.  The Hydrate helps keep my electrolytes in balance during my workout (imagine a healthy version of Gatorade).  The post workout Recover helps to repair muscles post workout, and REALLY cuts down on the soreness.  Recover is my FAVORITE of all the products....if you deal with a lot of "next day soreness" with your workouts, this will REALLY help!!  The Recharge is also a gem!  It does the same thing as the recover, but you drink it right before bed, and it works all night using slow release proteins in casein to help repair your muscles.  Because of these products, I truly have not been very sore during the past 4 weeks. It makes me feel like I really got 100% out of my first few weeks of this program.  And of course, I haven't missed a day of my Shakeology this year.

OK, so what results am I seeing?  This is a tough one for me.  I was really hoping to see the scale drop with this program, but as I am learning it is not common to lose much weight (or lose weight quickly) during a weight training program.  I am OK with that.  I can tell you that I am losing all the flab in my legs and arms....and slowly in my belly.  As of this morning, I have lost 7 inches off my body with Hammer and Chisel....4.5 of those inches in my waist and hips.  I knew my clothes were fitting better, but I didn't really realize that I had made that much progress until I took some progress pics.

I am excited to see what month 2 will bring.....

**I'm NOT a product of my scale**

I'm in week 3 of my Hammer and Chisel program, and I've been feeling a little bummed.  After a really rough 2015 with my health and my weight, I was ready to take control of everything again.   I had some awesome progress on the scale during week 1 of the program, and I was psyched to see the progress continue.  I've been faithfully following the meal plan (I may be tweaking it a wee bit, but I also believe in the 80/20 rule), doing the workouts daily (giving them my all because I WANT results), and using the Beachbody Performance line (I've heard that it really enhances results...plus I love the lack of muscle soreness I have because if it).  BUT, this week the scale hasn't really moved AND I have been feeling "fluffy".  

Sound familiar?   I'll bet that at least 50% of the folks reading this have felt the same way after just a few week into a new diet/fitness routine.  You probably even thought about giving up.  I know that thought has certainly crossed my mind.  

It is such a mental game to keep at it and TRUST the process.  

The truth is that a healthy diet/fitness regimen is designed to CHANGE YOUR BODY.  Your body's progress is not reflected by the number on the scale!!!!  Did you read that?  YOUR BODY'S PROGRESS IS NOT REFLECTED BY THE NUMBER ON THE SCALE!   It's true!!!  So what if the scale says a certain number?  Maybe the earth had a small surge in its gravitational pull and the scale went up because of that 😉.  The reality is that if you are losing inches, if your clothes fit better, if you have more energy, OR if you JUST FEEL BETTER, then you HAVE MADE PROGRESS.  

So dispute my lack of progress on the scale, I am still losing inches in my waist and hips.  I may have gained some inches in my arms 💪🏼💪🏼, but that's ok 😉.  I am really enjoying the workouts AND doing the program with my husband.  I am embracing the meal plan because I REALLY need the focus to fight my EBV and keep in in control. I am NOT hungry with this meal plan.  I definitely have MORE energy.  The truth is that I just FEEL GOOD.

I'm determined to make 2016 my healthiest year ever.  I will continue exercising, eating right and drinking my Shakeology (29/366 days for 2016...#healthiestmealoftheday), and I WILL see progress.  Who really cares about the scale anyway? Deep down, we all just want to feel good about ourselves, and have the confidence to just be us!

Happy New Year!

It is January 2016, and the time for the annual "New Year, New Me" mantra.  I am not doing that this year.  My slogan for 2016 is "Consistency Counts".  My goals for 2016 all revolve around my ability to remain consistent in my workouts, eating plan, and journey to better health.  I do not want to battle with lots of health issues in the same way I did in 2015.  I do not want to stop exercising because my poor eating choice let my autoimmune disease rear it's ugly head and cause me to have low levels of energy.  I am NOT making resolutions this year.  I am just setting goals.  Goals that I KNOW I WILL ACHIEVE.

Goal #1 - drink my Shakeology EVERY DAY in 2016...all 366 days.  I truly believe in the health benefits of this amazing product (I'd be happy to share, if you want to learn more...Message me).  I am committing to being proof that Shakeology really is the healthiest meal of the day, by drinking my shake every day and enjoying the added benefit of all those antioxidants, adaptagens, and natural energy boosting, immunity building, super foods..  I deserve to be healthy in 2016! 

 

Goal #2 - Be consistent with my workout programs. This is something I have been pretty good about in the past.  However, 2015 dealt me a rough hand when it came to energy.  Because of my big flare up of EBV (Epstein Barr-Virus), I allowed myself to slow WAY down and NOT workout regularly...sometimes not at all....for weeks at a time.  I made excuses, or chose workouts that were not challenging me at all.  That was not always the case, but enough that it impacted my fitness goals pretty significantly.  This year will be different!  I am committing to completing my Beachbody fitness programs from start to finish ALL YEAR LONG.  On January 4th, my hubby, Jeff, and I began Beachbody's newest workout program, The Master's of Hammer and Chisel.  This is a 60 day program that is dedicated to REALLY sculpting and toning the body.  It is the first program to feature 2 top celebrity trainers, Autumn Calabrese from the 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Extreme workout programs, and Sagi Kalev from the Body Beast program (which I did part of last year).  After 3 days, I have to tell you, this is ONE TOUGH PROGRAM....and I LOVE it!  I am also sticking with the meal plan for the entire program.

 Goal #3 - I am committing to really putting my foot down with my eating habits! I TRULY want make a lifestyle change toward an eating plan that will impact my health in a way that I don't have to worry about EBV flare ups, and other autoimmune issues that can stem from the long term effects of having EBV.  I am going to nip this in the bud, and figure out what MY body needs to be healthy. That is one of my biggest reasons for Goal #1!  I am also going a step further and making an effort to turn my kitchen into an organic one.  In the past, I have always done the best I could to eat right and stick with healthy foods that were not overly expensive.  It can be pretty tough when you live paycheck to paycheck.  Now that things have become more financially stable in our house, I am ready to step up my game and make a difference.  Not only in my health, but that of my family as well.  I don't want my kids to have to deal with the health issues that I have had to endure.  Going organic will be a great way to remove (or at leas lessen)  all those unhealthy chemicals from the foods we eat.  Don't worry, I won't make my family go cold turkey, or even deprive them from occasional treats like Oreo cookies.  I just want to make a huge impact on their perception of what healthy eating should be.

On a side note, I am LOVING the Master's of Hammer and Chisel eating plan.  Because it is a muscle building and sculpting program, I get a little more food in my meal plan than I would with other programs.  IT IS AWESOME!!!  Here was my dinner from tonight: 
RED - chicken
FREE - Spicy mustard dipping sauce (link to recipe in comments)
GREEN & TSP - Boy Choy sauteed in coconut oil
GREEN - Brussels sprouts
2 YELLOW - baked sweet potato fries

As a bonus, I get to use the products from the Beachbody Performance Line...and  as long as I use them as the directions say, I DON'T have to account for those calories in my eating plan!


Goal #4 - continue to help as many people as I can on their own journey to better health.  Believe it or not, I am a fitness coach because I believe, from the bottom of my heart, that EVERYONE deserves to be healthy and happy.  If any part of what I do as a coach can help just one individual to find their own path to health and happiness, then I have done my job well.  And, no amount of money could replace the joy I get from seeing someone smile again because they FEEL GOOD about themselves!!

If YOU want to start on YOUR fitness journey, and would like my help, please drop me a message HERE.  We will talk about your goals, and get you started on your path to success!




My journey has been one of MANY ups and downs.  The one thing that has remained consistent is my goal to be a better ME. 

21 Day Fix Extreme December Update

It has been busy, busy, busy around my house.  I wish I had the time to sit down and write a proper blog update right now, but I am really strapped for time today.  I also didn't want to leave you hanging for another few weeks, while we all manage to get through the holidays.

OK.  Quick update on my 21 Day Fix Extreme.  I am really embracing the workouts this time around. When I first tried 21 Day Fix Extreme back in February, I REALLY struggled with the workouts.  They were almost too challenging for me.  This time around, I know what to expect.  although the workouts are still quite a challenge, I am finding that I am able to go longer, and I am a lot stronger (Thank you Insanity Max:30).  I still can't complete some of the exercise sets in full, but I am definitely getting better.  My shoulders and arms are really showing progress - lots of slimming muscular definition.  I have NOT been following the meal plan...didn't even attempt, since it is the holiday season.  I HAVE been very diligent about my food choices though.  I am sticking with lots of healthy options, and steering clear of my allergen food triggers.  I have also been drinking staying away from the sweets.  I don't know if it is the daily Shakeology that is helping with that , or the Beachbody Performance line...specifically the post workout Recover drink...which is chocolate...and delicious....tastes like a Wendy's frosty.  I also really enjoy the vanilla Recharge drink, right before bed.  PLUS, with both of these products, when consumed with proper timing post workout, or before bed, the calories cancel themselves out because of the muscle repair that results from it (it is all fancy scientific stuff, you can learn more about it HERE).

That is my quick update.  I will leave you with a fun, and not really healthy Eggnog Bread recipe that I enjoy this time of year.

CLICK HERE for the recipe.  

Happy Holidays!  

Back from vacation and Refreshed

I had a wonderful vacation, and really enjoyed myself.  I definitely took the time to indulge and have some treats.  We arrived home on Monday, after a long 15 hour drive.  I don't know about you, but when I travel, I am more prone to digestive upset - cramping, bloating, and constipation.  It is a common occurrence for many.  When you travel, you are taking yourself out of a normal routine.  That causes stress on your body, which makes digestion more sluggish. 

Before I left on vacation, I had already planned to come home and jump right into a 3 Day Refresh.  So, Tuesday morning (even without having been to the store yet), I jumped right in.  If you have not read my posts about the Refresh before, let me give you the scoop.  The 3 Day Refresh is a 3 day quick detox, that is designed to cut your craving for sugar, cleanse the digestive system, and help you drop the bloat.  It takes a cold turkey sort of approach...after all, it is ONLY 3 days.  The eating plan is Vegan, so you will be focusing on the fruits and veggies.  You get to enjoy REAL food, along with Shakeology and a high protein Vanilla Fresh shake (dairy free and soy free), lots of water, herbal tea, and relaxing exercise (optional).  Every time I do the 3 Day Refresh, I lose 3-8 pounds (mostly water), I drop the bloat, and I just FEEL better.  I am also much more inclined to make healthier eating choices because I get a reminder or how great my body feels when I eat right. 

A typical day on the refresh starts with Shakeology and a serving of fruit, in the morning.  Mid way through the morning you will have a Fiber Sweep drink.  Don't worry, it is a gentle fiber drink, and won't send you running to the bathroom.  Lunch consists of a serving of fruit, a serving of veggies, a healthy fat, and a Vanilla Fresh Shake.  You also get an afternoon snack of veggies and a healthy fat.  The 3 Day Refresh comes with a bunch of dinner recipes that you can choose from.   Asparagus with almonds, and Cucumber Tomato Salad are 2 of my favorites.  You also get to enjoy a Vanilla Fresh Shake with dinner.  FYI - the Vanilla Fresh Shake contains 20g of protein, and runs about 200 calories.  It really does help to keep you full.  there is also an option to have some vegetable broth along with your meal.  In addition, you will aim to drink plenty of water, to help flush out your system.  Herbal tea between meals and in the evening is allowed.  All in all, while on the refresh, you will consume about 1100 calories a day varies based on your food choices).  It is encouraged that you stick to very light exercise (yoga, PiYo, or walking), or just take the time to rest your body.

Get the Recipe HERE

I have done this 3 Day Refresh MANY times over the past few years, and I have to say it is great for getting back on track with your eating.  This round helped me drop 3 pounds.  I definitely dropped the bloat!!  I feel better, and I am ready to stay focused on my eating choices for December...you, I have the WILL POWER to skip the holiday cookies. 

I am jumping back into my regular exercise routine today!  I have decided that I am going to do 21 Day Fix Extreme for the 3 weeks leading up to Christmas. Why start on a Friday?  Because I do not want to wait until Monday.  Besides, starting today will have me finish my round of the Fix on December 24...Christmas Eve.  That means no pressure to get my workout in on Christmas ;).  I selected to do Extreme over the regular 21 Day Fix because I just finished up Insanity Max:30, and I wanted to stick with the more challenging workout through the end of the year.  I will be jumping into the brand new Master's of Hammer and Chisel program (including the meal plan), right after Christmas.  I am ready to commit to this program, and REALLY get some results in 2016.  Want to join me with ANY of these programs?  Message me and let me help you get started, support you through the process, and help you reach YOUR goals.