A.R.E. Y.O.U. R.E.A.D.Y.??? I think you are!

Are you really, truly, finally ready to make a change? 

I think you are finally ready to live up to your own expectations.  To follow through on that New Year's Resolution you made.  To finally take control and get your body where you want it to be. 

 

You CAN do this.

 

 

I am opening up a new group where I will help you finally get on that road to achieving your weight loss goals.  In this new group, you will be working as a team with just a few other people, who like you, want to get healthy and fit.  You will get your body moving and learn to nourish your body with healthy foods.

 

 

Want in?  Good!  This will start on Feb. 11th and go for 6 weeks.

Here are the rules (and there's so few of them!):

1.  You must sign up as a member or be a member of Team Beachbody with me as your coach.  This is free!  (not a member?  Click here!)
2.  You must have a Beachbody workout program to use for this challenge.  Any Beachbody program is fine.  (don't have one yet?  Go here to get one: Shop now!)
3.  You must have a Facebook account.  You must be willing to check in every day.  And you must be capable of uploading pictures to the group.  (Don't worry, all of this will be in a private group that no one can see except the members in it.)

If you are finally READY to make this change send an email with the subject MAKE A CHANGE to: Toughmommy2012@gmail.com

Don't wait too long...like I said, this will be a small group and you don't want to miss your spot in it!  See you soon!

Fast FAIL....and smoothies!

So yesterday I posted about trying this 2-day fast thing.  EPIC FAIL on that.  Well, not really epic, but I just couldn't get through the whole day.  Even with the extra smoothies I was having, I realized that by 2:00pm, when I had to pick up my kids from school, I was STARVING!

So I picked up my kids and we went to Mariano's (an amazing local grocery store) and of course the first place I went was straight to the bakery section.  Because, HELLO?, I was starving and my brain was being stupid.  Luckily I had my kids with me, so I was able to buy a few treats...but only for them.  However, I decided to look in the frozen food section to see if I could find some different fruits for my smoothies that I've been making to help me get in all my fruits an veggies for the day.  I found a lot!

 



After spending the time shopping (and wishing I could eat something not good for me) we came home and I made the decision that it is ok if I don't follow through on this 2-Day Fast that I put myself on.  I didn't really fail.  I just realized that my body was telling me I can't do this to myself.  Aside from the fact that I was really, really hungry, not eating much all day was bringing back a lot of old, bad feelings. (see My Story)  And now that I know what is actually healthy for my body, and for my mind, I am ok with deciding that a fast is just not for me.  I don't need to fast, I just need to keep eating healthy foods.  (And seriously, I was really missing my favorite shake...you know the one!)

Today was much more normal.  I started my day with a shake, did some work, worked out, and then went through my new foods to make an afternoon smoothie.  Here's what I tried today:  4 oz of unsweetened almond milk, 3/4 cup of frozen strawberries, 3/4 cup of frozen mango, 3/4 cup of baby spinach, 1 medium banana,  and 2 oz of water (because it was too thick).

  

<-----Look at all that healthy goodness in there!

 

 

 

 

 

What it looked like all mixed together
 ----->

 

 

 

 

 

 

 So I never tried this recipe before, and seriously, I didn't find it anywhere either...just made it up from what I had.  And it ended up being really super YUM!  I think tomorrow I'm going to be even more daring.  I swear, there has to be a way to make a smoothie that tastes like carrot cake.  And you can bet I'll figure one out.  I'll let you know when I do!  ;)

 

If you have a favorite smoothie recipe, please feel free to share in the comments below.  I can't wait to see your recipes!

The 2-Day Fast

So as you already know, I LOVE Shakeology.  But I wanted to try some new products that we carry at Beachbody, so I ordered the 2-Day Fast.

I started it today because I have been still retaining water and I think salt and sugar are to blame.  I just needed something to kick this crap out of my body.  And while I think that doing a clease with Shakeology is one of the best things you can do for your body, I guess I felt that I needed something a little more extreme this time.  The last few times I tried to do a cleanse, I ended up slipping either at the end of the first day, or during the second.  So in my head I figured if I went EXTREME maybe I would actually stick to it.

Basically it's a protein/meal replacement drink that you have 3 times a day for 2 days.  That's it.  On top of that, you are urged not to work out too much.  Hmmm...I'm a little afraid that this might lead down that slope of no working out again.  But I'm not going to let it.  However, I'll be honest.  I am not following the guidelines exactly as they are written.  I personally don't think it's that healthy to eat so few calories per day even if you don't work out.  So I'm supplementing with some fruit and veggie smoothies to make sure I get plenty of healthy fiber and other nutrients in as well.  Plus my own coach has me in a group that is eating all 9 recommended servings of fruit and veggies this week.


This smoothie is just water, baby spinach, frozen strawberries, and a banana.

Anyway, I'm half-way through day 1 and so far so good.  I'll let you know how it went once I finish it.  So far I'm not really loving it, and I wish I had just stuck to my Shakeology shakes!  Oh well, live and learn.  :)

Weekend workouts are hard...

So it's the weekend...YAY!!!  Time to rest and goof off, and play, and do nothing all day!!!!!!

Unless you have to get in your workouts. 

Which I do. 

So how do I squeeze these in when the whole family is home all day, or running around to different activites?  Well, sometimes I schedule it.

 

Other times I try to get up before everyone else does...although this is harder than you'd think.  Sometimes the kids actually get up earlier than we do, and even if I manage to get up before everyone else, the dogs make so much noise running downstairs and being excited about breakfast that someone else usually ends up waking up.  And seriously, I really like to try to sleep in on the weekends.  Even if I'm not that good at it...

Sometimes, I simply take advantage of when my husband has to run errands, and I have him take the kids with him.  Other times, when we are home, I just try to find a time when everyone else is otherwise occupied.  Then I squeeze it in. 

When all else fails, I try to involve everyone in a workout together.  We play hide and seek.  We play a sport outside.  We use the Wii and play "Wii Fit" together or one of the "Just Dance" games.  You'd be surprised how many calories you can burn during a serious session of Just Dance!  Otherwise I throw in a workout program that I know my kids can do with me.

 

Click for more info about Shaun T's Fit Kids Club

 

 

It can be challenging to get it in, especially when you'd rather play and take a break.  But just like all things that are good for us, we need to learn how to make this a habit, and not a chore.

 

So how do you get your workout in?

 

 



Dog pee and other things that mess up your schedule :(

So I woke up this morning and as usual I went to my kids' rooms to wake them up for school.  As I walked into my son's room, I was SHOCKED!  There in the middle of the carpet was a huge wet stain of dog pee!  Oh, and it gets even better...about 2 feet away was also a nice pile of POOP!  I mean are you kidding me with this?!?! WTH?

So I cleaned it up and then I thought about why the heck this is the third time in 3 weeks that this dog has had an accident in the house.  Time to call the vet. 

Long story short, one trip to the vet and we have a reason.  Doggie UTI!  I swear, when you have pets, sometimes it never ends...  But I still love them!


My Doggie Babies

My Kittie Babies

So now I've spent an hour going to the vet during what would have been my workout time.  CRAP!  I have other stuff to do, but I HAVE to get my workout in.  I will not start going down that slipperly slope of missing workouts!  (I already missed yesterday b/c the kids were home from school and I didn't plan well...what else is new?)

Ok, so I DID have to do my other stuff (you know, crap like laundry, cleaning the house, checking in with clients, blah, blah, blah...).  I decided that I was going to get this stuff in while my kids were still at school and then work out when they got home.

But then there was homework...so I didn't work out right away.  Then it was time to make dinner...so I didn't work out then.  Next it was bedtime...so, you got it, I didn't work out then either.  You see, this is how easy it is to let it get away from you.  BUT as soon as my kids were in bed, I threw on my workout clothes and did my workout!  Woo HOO!!!  No letting a mess up in my schedule throw me off anymore.  Even though I had to squeeze my workout in at night (which I really hate doing), I did it!  It sucked doing it so late, but it was totally worth it.

Now for tomorrow's workout...that's a whole other story....  ;)

The longest class EVER!!!!!

So Saturday I had plans with my sister-in-law to go to my dad's Pilates class.  That's right, I said my dad.  He's 72 and still teaching Spin and Pilates.  I'm sorry, that should say "Johnny G. Spinning" and "Xtreme Fusion Pilates" and "Fitness Arts Mat Pilates."  He'll probably get annoyed if I don't give him his proper due...


Me and my Dad

Anyway, as I was saying, I had plans to go to my dad's class.  Now it's important to say that I have been to this class a few times in the last few years.  But it usually takes me a looooong time to go back.  (I think I need time to forget how hard this class is before I go again.)  But my sister-in-law goes to a pilates class every week and she was intrigued by my dad's class and wanted to try it.  So I said I would go with her.

I think I should mention here that this class is way more than a normal pilates class.  There is a LOT of floor work, but there is also a lot of strength training involved too.  Oh, and did I mention that this class is 2 & 1/2 hours long?!?!  Oh boy!



Anyway, since I've been back to working out, this should be no problem...WRONG!  This was one of the hardest classes I have done in a long time.  Now don't get me wrong, I was able to do a lot of the work, but it was hard and repetative and loooooong!  My dad likes to do a crazy amount of reps.  Especially on abs.

Unfortunately there was a section of the class that was a little tougher for me.  Not because I don't have the strength, but simply because I am short and a little too wide right now to be able to do the moves.  This was really hard because I hate to feel like a failure.  And there were all these other people in there who could see that I couldn't do it (not that they were even watching me...but I'm sure you know what I mean.)  Well, it was bad enough that I left the room for a little bit.  I went to the washroom, and then I calmed myself down. 

By the time I went back, they were finshing with the stuff I couldn't do and I was kind of relieved.  But it did remind me why I am working out and why I am cleaning up my diet...I don't EVER want to feel like that again.  EVER!

I was able to finish the class (remember....2 & 1/2 hours!)  And I was even glad I went.  Although I have to say that I was really glad that I brought my P90X Results and Recovery drink with me.  No. I'm not trying to be a commercial here, but usually after a class with my dad I can barely move the next day from all the sore muscles.  Instead I was only a little sore, but I could still feel all the areas that were worked...pretty much every muscle in my body!

So overall, I'm really glad I went.  Although I don't think I'll be back for a little while, but I will go back.  I want his friends from class to see that I've changed too.  And the next time I go I will be stronger, healthier, and thinner enough to do it all!

The HOLE!...and broccoli slaw in my shake.

So I'm getting dressed to go read a story to my son's class and when I put on my jeans, I realize there is a HOLE in the inner thigh.  Ummm...when the hell did that get there?!?!? 

So I have to get dressed and leave in like 10 minutes.  But these are my only pair of jeans in this size.  Otherwise all I have are sweats and workout pants!  So guess what I did...
Yep, wore them anyway. 
I figured no one would see it since I would be sitting in a chair reading a story and my legs would be pressed together (i'd make sure of it!) 
So I get that out of the way, but WTH am I going to do now.  These are my only jeans!  I refuse to buy another pair since I am going to shrink out of them (really soon I hope!)  I guess I'll just have to get out the needle and thread and do the best I can.  And then get these thunder thighs into the next smaller size FAST!

On to more adventurous things....
Today I needed to make my Shakeology shake for lunch.  I usually add baby spinach and baby kale to it to get in extra veggies.  But I was out of kale and I really wanted to get an extra vegetable in there.  So I looked around my fridge and my eyes landed on the Broccoli slaw...

Yep, you guessed it.  I added that stuff to my shake.  I watched it get pulverized by my new blender (see My Blender Hates Me...)  and by the time it was done...I was still not sure how it would taste.
It looked ok, but broccoli?  In my chocolate shake?

With trepidation, I took the first sip...and it was totally fine!  No different than normal.  Ok, ok, after the first few sips I did notice that there was some more very small chunkiness in it, but I really couldn't taste it.  So I was happy I tried it.  I guess you just never know!

So what do you like to put in your shake?

My blender hates me...and my abs are on fire!

So I was so excited to get a new blender!  I mean, I use mine everyday to make smoothies and shakes.  But the one we had is so old that it started throwing off sparks when I put it on high.  (which I need to do if I don't want iceburgs in my drinks!)

I seriously thought something was eventually going to catch on fire.  Or that I would get burned.  Ummm....NO THANK YOU!

So as I said, I was really excited to get my new blender.  I got a NINJA!  Woo Hoo!  This baby can do anything.  It chops down ice in like 2 seconds...no joke.  Unfortunatley, it can do that because the blades are so BIG and SHARP.  I found this out the hard way when I was cleaning it for the first time.  It took a bite out of my hand...

Seriously OUCH.  These pictures are from 2 days and endless bandaids later.  Needless to say, I learned my lesson.  They may recommend that you clean it with a "soft cloth," but I recommend using a soft bristle brush on the end of a very looooong stick!

Now that I'm using it, I'm still having trouble figuring out the order in which to add my ingredients so that they don't end up splashed all over the side instead of in the drink.  Huhhh.  I guess I'll have to keep working on it. 

If you have any suggestions....PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, let me know.  :)

Anyway, on to the workout.  So today was my Ab Burner and Recharge day.  Um, I so didn't know that it was going to be like that!  I saw the video was like 12 minutes and was all "Awesome, this will be easy!"  NOT!  Ab Burner is like 12 highly intense, hard-core, gut-wrenching minutes of extreme ab exercises.  And it goes straight from one to another.  Try tightening your ab muscles, now hold that position for like 12 minutes straight.  Yeah, this is harder than that. 

By the time my 12 minutes were up I didn't even know if I could get up off the floor.  You know you need to use your abs to get up....and mine were on FIRE!

So now I know my abs will be waaaay sore tomorrow, but it's totally worth it to get this body back in shape.

Do you have a favorite ab workout?  Feel free to share it and I'll let you know if I try it.  :)

The Holidaze are over...Back on the Horse!

So I call December the Holidaze because that is what it feels like for me.  I go through the whole month in a daze.  There are the normal holidays...Channukah, Christmas, and New Year's, but I also celebrate my 2 kids' birthdays and my own!  It's a never ending celebration-party of getting together with family, planning party times, opening gifts, writing thank you's, etc.  It's a lot and it's all stressful when you are the major coordinator. 

 

Don't even get me started on all the little presents and crap I have to wrap!

Yeah, that's all MY stuff!

 

By the time my own birthday comes around I don't even feel like celebrating anymore.

 

So on to the after part.  I am back on the horse.  Back to working out consistently.  Back to eating healthier.  Back to posting on my FB page.  And finally, back to blogging!
I spent some time getting my crap together, and now I am on FIYAAA!  I'm doing a ChaLEAN Extreme and Turbo Fire hybrid that I created!  It's moslty weight training with some serious cardio worked in.  Oh, and did I mention the seriously monster Ab workouts!  Ouch!

So feel free to cheer me on as I get this thing going again.  I have recommitted to being healthy and happy with myself.  And I made a bunch of my friends join me too!  Shout out to my peeps!  Team Tough and Team Amazing and Team Athena!  Love you guys and can't wait to see how far we go!