Showing posts with label Fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitness. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Smoothie Time


“When I'm good, I'm very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better". 

― Mae West



This quote kind of defines my relationship with food. Hahahahaha. Anyway, I thought I would do a post about smoothies. I'm sure you know how to make a smoothie. But this is about how I make a smoothie. My goal is to avoid having them be a calorie and sugar bomb (yes EVEN fruit! I know it's natural but it's still sugar). With these variations you will be getting a meal supplement that provides plenty of protein (to fill you up) and not a lot of sugar/carbs that cause the bottom to drop out later.

The Big Boss which Eric says would be better if it was named The Big Hoss Hehehehehe

I have had a regular blender and two different 'smoothie blenders'. I much prefer the second option. A regular blender is just too big to make a single serving and honestly I could never pour it neatly into a go-cup.  I find more and more I am wanting to blend and go so when it was time to purchase another smoothie maker I took it up a notch. It has two cups, two of those lids for a straw and several other lid options seen here. (I got mine from a Groupon type deal, not Amazon.com)



So what do I put in them? I'm glad you asked. I put in protein powder. When shopping for protein powder there is a ton of factors to consider. I am considering MY top priority to be Sugar & Carbs. This Jay Robb stuff is low in both. And, BONUS, look at him! He is SO HOT! He is like almost as hot as Jacob Eric! Just kidding, the bonus is that it tastes good and comes in several flavors. I get it at Kroger (choc and vanilla only) but HEB carries all the fancy flavors like Pina Colada, Tropical Dreamsicle, etc. 


On a plain jane day I just put in almond milk, ice and protein powder (unsweetened vanilla, not the sweetened chocolate! That is Everett's. This pic just had both). Simple. Out the door. If it's first thing in the morning I have subbed in coffee for the almond milk.


If I am feeling awake like putting some actual effort into it I might do some 'add-ins'. These would be chia seed or flaxseed meal (which I keep in the fridge). I have also experimented with a handful of baby spinach and a handful of kale (NOTE: you are gonna need an actual VitaMix to do kale. NO GO. Spinach did fine).

Let me warn you to proceed with caution here. Eric is NOT a fan of the add-ins and if I put that stuff in I have to tell him it is a TRACIE smoothie. He finds this changes the taste/texture thing a bit too far for him. The add-ins are quite a nutrition/fiber boost but just know you may not like it either.

I encourage you to do your own research and find your own combination. Just know that for weight loss you  want to avoid yogurt or fruit or juice in the smoothie. Those taste great but you would then have to treat them as something from the dessert category, rather than a meal.

How do you make YOUR smoothie? What is your blender of choice?

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Body Freak Out (Disneyland Project Update)

Things are crazy, mixed up, and strange around here.

Here is what is happening:

Beginning just before the wisdom teeth surgery and continuing up until today my weight has been fluctuating like crazy. I can't seem to stabalize it. I have been up to 137 and down to 130 and I keep going back and forth. Sometimes I hang out for a week or so at 134. Then I start ping pong-ing again. It's upsetting my stomach and affecting my mood greatly. I'm not sure how much longer I can deal with this.

I have LOST my Tracy Anderson Metamorphasis DVD's. Can't find them. I have looked everywhere. I last saw them in the drug filled days after my wisdom teeth were pulled. I'm pretty sure I 'put them somewhere safe' (famous last words). At first, I figured I would come upon them but they have yet to turn up. As a result, I have been doing my other 4 DVD's and the YouTube webisodes. But, it's just weird and it makes me feel like I'm losing my mind.

All this and the chaos of summer with the kiddos is not setting me up for a successful final 2 month push toward Disneyland.

I think I need a pep talk! :(

Monday, May 21, 2012

Liquid Diets Work (Disneyland Update)


Photo above: My kids give me love even when I have a headache-eye-cover wrapped around my chin!

I had my wisdom teeth out on Friday. It was much less painful than I anticipated but the soreness is taking a while to go away. I can get away without pain medicine through the night now but, then, I'm even MORE sore when I wake up. I also look like a chipmunk. These are the negatives. 

On the positive side I am down another pound thanks to my liquid/semi-liquid diet. Hahahahaha. So, it got me thinking that this is essentially what Tracy Anderson wants you to do every other week of her metamorphasis. MAN! I don't think there is any way I could do this without the motivation of not actually being able to chew. Granted, the liquids on her diet are actually highly nutritional. Just everything is either baby food consistency, a soup, or juiced. 

Since my inadvertent foray into liquid diets I might actually get out some of her recipes and incorporate them into my diet. I can assure you though, that as soon as I can chew I'm gonna want to CRUNCH on something. For now, however, I'm pretty happy with my applesauce! 

Did you have your wisdom teeth out at a NORMAL age (say 20 years ago) like everyone else or are you a holdout like me? Have you ever done a liquid/semi-liquid diet for more than say an hour hahahahahaha and liked it? 

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

A Day Late and A Dollar Short (Disneyland Project Update)

So, the bronchitis kinda took awhile to clear up (just like the doc said!). I JUST finished the antibiotics and quit coughing this past weekend. This means I missed a LOT of workouts. But, I started back up again at 6am yesterday. Hello pain! It is SUCH a weird pain. I can't even describe it (but that won't stop me from trying hahahahaha). It's like a little ache deep deep deep in the muscles. Not intense enough that I want to take something for it. Just weird. NOTHING like pain from squats and lunges, NOTHING like that. Is it weird to say if feels good and bad?

That's obviously not me in the pic. That's my dear guru Tracy Anderson on the pink mat. But that IS the kind of work I'm doing-- LOTS LOTS LOTS of leg lifts. She really knows what she is doing. I am glad to be back doing the workouts and I am enjoying getting the work in before the day starts. I chug my soda (I'm just not a coffee girl) and eat 1/4 of my protein bar (Think Thin) before I start, another 1/4 halfway through, and the rest at the end. It has been working great to keep the dizzy/nausea away. THANKS girls for the tips and encouragement on that. I think I am going to love the first thing workout!

I am up a pound due to the break and the comfort foods I craved while I was sick. But, I already feel a bit slimmer after just two days back.

Have you had any setbacks lately? Why is it SO hard to get the momentum back? Do you find that, like me, you tend to get sick after you try to 'kick things up a notch'? It seems to happen to me every time.

Photo from here

Monday, April 16, 2012

No Way To Take a Break (Disneyland Project Week 3)

This is NOT how I would recommend getting a day off from your workout! I just spent two 12 hour days at a Fitness Conference here in Houston. I hold a Group Exercise Certification (in order to teach yoga at the gym) that requires CEU's and this was a good way to get a bunch in one shot. So, even though I had to skip my Tracy Anderson workouts, I did about 5 hours of Yoga, 3 hours of Pilates, and 2 hours of cardio in those two days. WHEW!

I did NOT mean to do 2 hours of cardio the first day. I figured at least one of the yoga classes would be intense enough to consider cardio and I was right but the 'fusion' class I chose turned out to be a bunch of regular cardio and a little yoga. Nah, that is not what i like. I have never been a cardio junkie. I don't want to go to the gym and "kill it". I'm more of a get a good sweat going, then let's be done girl Hahahahaa. But, the yoga classes were great and I learned alot. I even really liked the Pilates and that is CRAZY cause I have never enjoyed it before...the teacher was AMAZING.
I had NO idea what my results were gonna look like. I did know that I FELL into bed the first night and was careful to take as much therapeutic yoga the second day as possible (that would be a soothing slow yoga class with lots of adjustments to postures and lots of partner work - read: EASY on my sore body!)

I am happy to report these measurement results: Weight is down another 0.2 lbs. (What is with this TINY weight loss?) AND 1/2 inch loss in each arm AND 1 inch loss at the waist! I think I would have showed a loss in the thighs up until the conference. There was a ridiculous amount of quad work going on this weekend and I think the muscles are inflamed and possibly bulked up from that work (Tracy Anderson would NOT be happy with me!). At least there was no gain!
I have to do a huge thank-you to my Mother-in-law (yes, folks, I actually get along well with my mother-in-law. From what I understand this is a truly wonderful and rare thing! But, we love her!) for taking care of my little guy for over half the time! And a grateful heart always to Eric, who supports and encourages all my yoga and is my biggest fan! He took on the kiddos (including a birthday party, that's right, he is THAT awesome!) all so I could do yummy yoga all weekend! If my life gets any more perfect I might just explode from joy. :D


Photos from here and here

Monday, April 2, 2012

Going Down! (Disneyland Project Week 2)





RESULTS: I lost 1/2 inch off each arm and each thigh. I can feel the thighs! I LOVE it! Down 1.2 pounds! Whoo HOO!!





WORKOUT: You know how your mother always said not to wear yourself out or you would get sick? (see mom, I was listening!) Well, that's what happened this week. Through trying to help out and owing a favor I stupidly scheduled myself to teach 5 hours of yoga in 2 days. WHAT? Yes, and since I was stuck at the YMCA between classes I went to a Balletone class as well (Nice class, btw, I might try to get that teaching certification). So, that makes 6 hours of working out in 2 days. Not smart! By Wednesday night when it hit me it felt like I had the flu from the neck down and a migraine from the neck up. I spent 24 hours in bed sleeping and woke up Friday feeling better but still not ready to hit the mat. A bit scared of the mat if I'm being honest.

Saturday morning though, I was CRAVING my workout and did MS and dance cardio (on the trampoline). It felt GREAT! Sunday evening brought another opportunity to work out and I completed my 10th and final workout for level 1. I will not lie, I was rocking it! I was doing all the reps, I was powering thru, I was ALMOST not feeling any of my familiar Tracy MS pain. It told me this-- I'm ready for the next level. :)

DIET: Not a stellar week. Everett had his birthday  = cake & cookies in the house all week. Then when I had all that out of the house, they called and said I had to bring the snack again for Sunday School. WHAT? Apparently, I was not supposed to bring it last week (cookie binge) and had to do it all again this week (another cookie binge). I guess if I wasn't so cheap I would have just bought snacks and avoided the temptation but, yeah, I'm cheap. And I make super yummy cookies :D

Photo from here


Monday, March 26, 2012

Nothing to Report (Disneyland Project Week 1)




So, no weight loss this week.
And.....I think I know why! I was doing REALLY well Monday thru Friday. Stayed under my WW points. Temptations abounded but I stayed strong. I took Chick Fil A to my dear friend and her new baby and didn't eat any myself! At the movies on Friday I was so good and ate my protein bar and mixed nut snack with NO cravings at all for movie snacks.

Then something happened. I woke up Saturday morning crabby. I couldn't seem to shake it. I was unhappy but I couldn't find any reason to be unhappy. Then I had some sugar and carbs. In fact, I went on about a 12 hour carb and sugar spree!  This may have involved 2 cupcakes, several cookies out of a batch I made for sunday school, an entire bag of microwave popcorn (with FULL butter and salt) and half a chocolate bar. I tell you what- I felt quite happy after that.

I think I had some carb withdrawl (ya THINK, Tracie?) and I'm not at all surprised it happened since I have made a huge decrease in the sugar & carb catagory. But, fortunately, by Sunday afternoon the cravings had passed and I was back on track finishing out the week strong. It cost me, though. I weighed in this morning at EXACTLY where I started (to the tenth of a pound, really....I couldn't have lost 0.1?? sheesh) 

OH WELL! I am not deterred because I feel great.

Muscular Stucture Work: I feel slimmer (will take measurements after I complete 10 workouts and pictures at the 30 workout mark per Tracy's instructions). I feel the muscular structure video working every day. I have yet to even complete all the reps. I just do the moves (usually slower than her) for as long as she does it then switch when she switches.

Cardio: I actually really like the Tracy Anderson Dance Cardio that came with Metamorphasis. I was SO shocked by this. I had read alot of negative comments regarding injuries (knee, ankle, calf pain, shin splints) and I can now see EXACTLY how that happens to people. It's essentially 30 straight minutes of jumping jacks and just jumping rope without a rope. So I will not be doing it every day as she recommends. I will work up to 4 times per week at most probably.

Diet: No reason to change anything at this point. I am doing a Think Thin bar for breakfast, a 1/4 cup mixed nuts for am snack, a frozen meal for lunch (whatever brand is on sale, just checking for as close to 5 sugars and 40 carbs as I can), a slice of cheese with 3 slices ham/turkey rolled up for pm snack. Dinner is with the family watching my portions or default is a protein smoothie.

Please feel free to post any questions. I will be happy to answer them!

Photo credit here



Monday, March 19, 2012

Shield Your Eyes! (Disneyland Project Begins)

Well I have had my fun. I have stuffed my face with every imaginable delicacy that Boston had to offer (Holy cannolis, batman!). Now it's time to get serious.

I have taken my before pictures (Shasta wanted to be included) and my starting weight and measurements. So begins week 1.

I actually tried out the 30 minute muscular structure (MS) work yesterday and I was sweating like a DOG. This was not even the cardio (eek!!) just the arms, abs, and legs portion. DANG! Honestly, it felt good to be doing the moves again. She is amazing that Tracy Anderson girl. How can a little leg lift hurt so bad??

This morning I tried to do the ol' Proverbs 31 thing and get up early to do the workout but that did NOT happen. I mean, I DID get up. But, I felt kind of nauseous and faint so I turned it off. Took the pup for a walk instead. No problem there. Will have to leave the MS work for afternoon/evening, I guess. I had not ever tried it in the am before and I guess that doesn't work for me.

So, just for reference (and because it annoys me when other bloggers don't give this info): I am 5"4' tall and my weight is 136.8 in this photo. I am wearing a Land's End size 6 swimsuit. (They size generously so that would probably be about an 8 in the real world).

I have my foods and my workouts mapped out. There should be no reason for failure. Disneyland- Here I come!!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The Disneyland Project 2012


I am about to go on vacation. I get to go visit my sister in Boston. I can't WAIT. I love my sister SO much and I also love being in Boston. This will be the first time one of my visits may involve snow. So, I may have to amend that to 'I love Boston in the Summer' afterwards!

When I get back I will have just 19 weeks until our Disneyland trip! I have decided to make a committment to Tracy Anderson's Metamorphasis during that time. The program I ordered is 18 weeks so I think that works out perfect.

DISNEYLAND PROJECT 2012

Time: I will commit to 1 hour 5 days a week. I will do the workouts Monday thru Friday. I was recently inspired by this quote by Brooke Burke in Fitness Magazine: "I don't think you need more than an hour to do cardio and full-body toning. I don't have three hours a day to devote to my body, but I do have an hour five days a week".

Muscular Structure: I already have several of her DVD's and I love the way they make my muscles feel when I do the workouts. The Metamorphasis DVD's are only 30 minutes. I chose the Glutecentric option (just in case you were curious I got it thru QVC and went through ebates for 2.5% cash back). I had already ruled out Abcentric and Omnicentric for myself. But, I admit I was quite confused about the two remaining choices. I finally happened upon a crazy little 'test' to help you determine: Stand facing a mirror and reach around behind you and 'lift' your butt with your hands. If your saddlebags disappear- you are glutecentric; if not- you are hipcentric. Clever eh? (Are you running to the bathroom to try it like I did??)

Cardio: For the other 30 minutes I plan to do alternating cardio routines. Some days (like a Zumba class) might take an hour. But, I'm allowing myself to quit after 30 minutes if I want to. I don't actually plan to use Tracy's dance cardio at all. I will do 'dancing like a crazy woman in my house to my ipod', some Zumba classes, some 'treadmill skipping' routines that are a variation on Tracy's (you can see me doing this at the YMCA), and walking outdoors with my pup.

Diet: I will be going back to what worked for me and that is Jorge Cruise and the Belly Fat Cure (this is a low sugar/low carb plan where you try not to exceed 15g sugar and 120g carbs per day). I will be logging everything I eat and tracking my weight and measurements in my Weight Watchers online account (possibly ignoring the WW points since Jorge and WW don't seem to get along!).

See you After Spring Break!!!