Finally!

So I have been eying these babies for months now, and when the husband pulled out the laptop and credit card last week and said let's get 'em, well I have been waiting for the mail everyday since. And here they are... Vibram Five Fingers

So what are they, some of you may be asking... They are the answer to something called barefoot running.

There are lots of tests that are turning up to show that running shoes actually aren't so great for our health. And that running barefoot is the best way to run. GO figure, that God would create our bodies to be efficient. Hhhhmmm? If you are anything like me, you know what shin splints feel like every time you try to start a running regimen. The normal running shoe, that is padded everywhere, especially in the back on our heels, causes us to change our natural running gait. SO it forces our bodies to absorb shock in a fashion it wasn't intended to do. In the long run we get more than just shin splints, we get a whole host of ailments affecting our whole body, especially if we are tryng to vigorously workout or play sports in them. Don't believe me? Then read from some other sources...

Barefoot Running Laced With Health Benefits

TIME

Marathon & Beyond

And there are countless other resources on the web. Not much of a reader, then check these videos out...

The Barefoot Professor

The New York Times

The Heel Strike

Now these shoes are meant to aid the whole barefoot thing. You can go to vibrams website and they will show you how they are made aand meant to protect your feet while enabling you to run in a barefoot style.

Vibram Technology

I must say, putting these contraptions on is a bit of an Avatar experience. There not as easy as slip on and go, like most sneakers. I definitely have to help my toes find their right spot, much like putting gloves on my kids hands. Once they are on, it takes a little bit of getting used to, but as soon as you adjust, they are quite fun.

There are many different styles, and all of them depend on what you'll be doing while you wear them. There are a couple of pairs that are pretty good for almost anything. I encourage you to look more into them if you are quite an active person. They even come with socks! Check this out...

I didn't care for the socks today as it was quite warm. And the material that is used in them are perfect for running without socks. I know, just like with almost anything else, you have to give your feet and body tinme to adjust and can't just go barefoot running crazy. There are injuries surfacing because of that too. So I am giving my body and especially muscles time to adjust to the new change. I did an hour of cardio in them today, and also walked for about 40 minutes in them. All in all, they felt good. I can't wait to really start running in them.

Weight Loss Math

My women's weight loss group just loves me for all the math I make them do (insert sarcasm). Two weeks ago they could have killed me for every new problem we did, and the fact that we didn't have calculators. But, I think what they learned about themselves and how it is helping them to be able to win the battle of the bulge was worth the Geometry lesson.

In weight loss calories count! Repeat after me, "calories & content matter"... one more time, "calories & content matter"! SO just counting calories isn't enough. You can't be eating fewer calories and ingesting rubbish at the same time. It's all about watching your caloric intake & eating well. Now before you quickly close this blog and run away because you think I am about to tell you that you have to live on like 900 calories and will be constantly hungry, it's not true! Actually, the more I follow this path the less I want to eat. I don't find myself lingering in the kitchen trying to fill my time with mindless eating. I actually kind of get annoyed when I am hungry wishing I didn't have to eat so often. Plus, you probably need more calories then you are getting to be able to lose weight anyway. "WHAT!?" More calories? Yes Ma'am! If you aren't getting enough calories, your body isn't gonna let go of what you have stored. Your body is definitely fearfully and wonderfully made, and it is leaps and bounds more intelligent than any computer ever invented. Your body takes inventory of your daily routines. If you are exerting yourself, then it will catch that rhythm and compensate. If it finds that you aren't eating enough, it will go into starvation mode and hold onto what is stored to make sure you have what you need to live. If you want it to let go of stored fat you have to be hitting a certain number of calories, so that the body can say "OK. I am getting what I need and have no problem letting go of what I've been holding onto". Now the opposite is also true though. If you consume more calories than you burn then it is going into storage. So what we need to do is figure out what number your body is burning at and then adjust both your calories and fitness regimen to get your body to let go.

Now that we can understand a bit better about calorie, let' s touch content quickly. So back to the intelligent machine that your body is. Every food that you consume your body breaks it down and decides what to do with it. If you are eating un-natural things, for example, yogurt with artificial sweeteners, diet coke, 100 calorie little bags of crap, your body isn't going to function properly and even if it doesn't fully hinder your weight loss it WILL cause health issues somewhere. It's like putting diesel in a car that runs on gasoline. That car wasn't made to use diesel for fuel. That car is going to have some serious problems. Same with your body. If you are eating things it was not meant to use for fuel it's going to screw you up. Eat all natural! READ LABELS!!!

So back to our calories. And here is your Math Lesson that has been promised. First we must figure out how many calories, on average, that your body needs to live each day, which is your Basal Metabolic Rate, BMR. It is a pretty intense equation that is based on your gender, weight, and height. Instead of making you do the full equation (like I did to my weight loss ladies) here is a website that will tally it up for you... http://health.discovery.com/centers/heart/basal/basal.html

Got your BMR? Mine is 1722. I saw the winner of last season's Biggest Loser on a talk show, and he stated that when he went on Biggest Loser, they calculated their BMR's. His was a whopping 4,000 calories. The phenomenon in this was that he was eating enough calories to still be gaining weight. Crazy!!! Now that you know your BMR, it may be opening your eyes, and making you realize that you are eating more than you thought. Even if you have been trying to lose weight, and have been eating healthy, but have been flabbergasted as to why the weight isn't coming off! It's because you need to calorie count.

So now here is an example of where to go from here. My BMR is 1722 calories. So therefore my calorie intake goal is to eat between 1500-1600 calories. Without even exercising that can give me a caloric deficit of 122 - 222 calories everyday, without even exercising. So now, let us continue the math lesson. That's right, it's not over yet. Even though creating a deficit of a couple hundred calories a day sounds great. How does this calculate into how much weight I will be losing time wise. Glad you asked. :)

There are approx. 3500 calories in one pound of fat. So if I lose an ideal 200 calories by keeping close watch on my cals, then that means I would lose 1 pound every 17 days. That's where exercise kicks in on top of caloric intake to speed up our weight loss results. So if I add 500 calorie burning workouts on top of that, we're talking 700 calories in one day. At that rate I now lose a pound every 5 days.

A wonderful website that a friend showed me is www.caloriecount.com It can keep track of your caloric intake and output. You simply input your food journal daily and also log in what physical activity you have done. It also takes into account your BMR, and then gives you a fairly accurate estimate of what is happening for you that day. It also is able to give you the nutritional content for your recipes, so that you can keep accurate account of your calories even when cooking.

What pushed me over the edge this week to start calorie counting was three things. First, was when I watched Biggest Loser on Tuesday night, a contestant, named Koli, who is one of the hardest working people on the show admitted to not counting calories. For me it answered a lot of questions I had. Even though he was an outstanding contestant, each week his low weight loss numbers were baffling, because though the trainers would say "This doesn't make sense, he worked his butt off' it was because he wasn't calorie counting. He probably felt he didn't need to because he was eating so healthy. But calories add up. Especially if you aren't watching them. The chances are we underestimate what we are consuming, especially when everything we eat is healthy. The next thing was one of the girls in our weight loss group, who is seeing the most results, is calorie counting. And then when I lost only 2 pounds in two weeks, and I busted my rear end, I thought, something has got to give! So I counted my calories and physical activity on www.caloriecount.com, and low and behold, I consumed 2,000 calories. Even with consuming that many calories, my estimate burn was high enough to have burned up calories. Knowing I could have burned even more had I watched the calories has kicked me into action. Least to say my calorie counting is on!

Is it a lot of work? Yes! Is it as hard as it sounds? Not quite. Is it worth it? MOST DEFINITELY!!!

Note: Women should be getting at least 1200 calories when losing weight and men at least 1500. Again, it also depends on your weight and height, but those are the bare minimums, don't eat fewer calories than that.

Vitamin C, Super Workout Supplement?

So it's been a while and have been pondering what to blog next that would be useful information to those who are trying to lose weight. And my pick is the amazing Vitamin C. You definitely need to make sure you are getting an accurate amount if you are working out and trying to lose weight. If you don't have enough in your system you will have 25% less effectiveness in your workouts, no joke! Some articles suggest you are flushing your money down the drain by buying workout supplements, and that Vitamin C would be extremely cheaper and more beneficial.

Here is what I found at www.realage.com...

"Research shows that your body needs sufficient vitamin C to burn fat. And in one study, people who had low blood concentrations of vitamin C and walked on a treadmill for an hour burned 25% less fat than people with adequate C. But a dose of vitamin C brought fat-burning levels back up to par. Why? Seems C is essential for creating carnitine, a substance that turns fat into fuel."

So how much do you need in your system? The recommendation is 1,200 milligrams of C per day. This amazing vitamin is not only great for helping see better weight loss results, but is amazing for your skin. It helps fight the signs of aging, helps reverse aging in the skin and helps your elasticity in your skin which helps you stay younger looking. Also, if you are looking to lose a larger amount of weight, like myself, this boost in elasticity will help with the tightening of your skin so you aren't left with left over sagging reminders of where you stored your abundance.

Other bonuses of Vitamin C outside of weight loss and just your over all health are...

-Boosts your immune system (especially for those who are stressed)

-Lowers your chances of stroke significantly

-Attributes to healthy teeth and blood vessels

-Some studies have suggested that Vit. C also reduces inflammation and the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease

To make sure you get the positive affects of Vit. C for your workouts, eat foods that contain high amounts or take a supplement right before.

Foods that contain Vitamin C...

-Strawberries, 1 cup, nearly 100 milligrams

-Orange, 70 milligrams

-Red Bell Pepper, 152 milligrams

-Broccoli, 100 milligrams per a cup

-Brussel Sprouts, 52 milligrams in just 4 sprouts

-Kiwi, 70 milligrams

-Mango, 57 milligrams

Why You Should Be Drinking Chocolate Milk... Seriously!

Here is something new I learned this week, and wanted to pass along. I have been reading this so much in the health emails I have been getting that I thought I needed to share. Actually it is a change I made this week. I had been thinking about my Jillian Michaels' whey protein I have and wondering just how natural it is. Now I know Jillian is a stickler when it comes to natural and wouldn't put her name or face on something that didn't live by her standards, but, for me, seriously, how natural does protein powder look or taste to whole foods we find. With trying to examine everything under my new all natural glasses, I was starting to really reconsider my post workout drink. So with all the info I was now reading on chocolate milk being a better alternative to protein shakes, I thought, 'This sounds good'! So when I went to the grocery store I checked out all the info on the organic milks, and found that they all (Skim to Whole) had the same amounts of protein, just fewer calories as you lost the fat content. So I grabbed myself a carton of skim and a tin of Organic Dark Chocolate dry cocoa mix. It's all-natural, and not only does it add antioxidants to this lovely beverage, but also a little bit more protein. The only thing you need to watch is your sugar in take that day. It does give a bit of a sugar boost, but if you are drinking this after a good workout, your body is going to absorb that insulin for recovery, so you are set. I must say it is an excellent motivator to workout when you know you get to drink a great glass of chocolate milk after.

Here are a few articles to see for yourself what people are starting to say... Now keep in mind, many of them tell ya just to get chocolate syrup. Please don't. Don't ever ingest corn syrup or food coloring or any other fake junk. I will harp on these horrible ingredients another day. But anyway, since your muscles are going to be absorbing these nutrients ASAP after a workout, let's make them quality. Please go for organic milk, especially if you are in the US. Canada has higher standards on their milk, but the US still allows certain injections into the cows that Canada has out-lawed. And find a chocolate mix (liquid or dry) that is all-natural too.

So now for the websites...

http://www.tryingfitness.com/chocolate-milk-the-new-protein-shake/

http://ca.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding_200/247_fitness_tip.html

http://eatthis.menshealth.com/content/8-perfect-fitness-foods?article=5&page=1

http://www.fitsugar.com/Chocolate-Milk-Post-Workout-1684610

So now go work out and reward yourself with an amazing glass of chocolate milk!

Eat Out, Eat Smart

So when you are trying to eat healthy or lose weight it may seem more stressful than enjoyable when even contemplating eating out let alone going to a restaurant. But it doesn't need to be. Just like every other aspect of being healthy, you just need to inform yourself. Knowledge is what will keep you in control of what goes into your body and let you have a good time without feeling like you have to ALWAYS get the salad. Which by the way, as I find out more and more about restaurant food, a lot of times the salads have way more calories than the meals. So here are a couple of ways to stay in control of what you are eating and still enjoy eating out.

The first is some wisdom that a friend of mine blogged a while back. She's a fitness trainer, and her words of advice was to choose what you were going to eat BEFORE arriving at the restaurant, and then never opening the menu. It's usually all the choices that get us in trouble. 9 times out of 10, eating right is a mental thing. So win the war before it ever begins. I have done this, and must say it really helps. If I haven't chosen exactly what I am going to eat I narrow them done. Like I know I am going to order grilled chicken, fish or steak, and that fried foods are NOT an option. And then I will look at sides only to narrow down which veggies I want. French fries are NOT an option for me. And just decide before you get there that water is what you are drinking. Now I must say, I do enjoy a good tall glass of iced green tea from Cheesecake Factory on occasion. Real brewed tea is great for you with the antioxidants, and all natural ingredients, but don't get refills, as you will intake too much sugar and too much caffeine. Give yourself room to enjoy but don't over do it. Stay in control. If you know that once you get that tea you won't be able to go back to water after one glass, then don't order it.

Now my next tool to help you in eating out is one of my new favorites. I am learning a ton from their email infos I get. It's the "Eat This, Not That". You wouldn't believe sometimes how many calories, fat and sodium can be in food. Well these guys will tell you. The Eat This, Not That Restaurant Guide is amazing! If you know where you are going before hand, I strongly suggest checking what they do and do not recommend. They will tell you all the nutritional info, which at times will probably shock you. Example, a BBQ grilled chicken wrap from TGIFridays contains over 1500 calories!!! Save yourself the added stress and the added calories and use their website info to make a choice before eating out.

Finally... FOOD!

What many of you have been waiting and asking for... RECIPES! And I am excited to finally post some up. So here are a couple. With plenty more soon to follow.

Grilled Shrimp Pasta

20 min (or less)

1 lb shrimp, peeled & deveined

4 Tbs. grapeseed oil

(can also use olive, canola, your preference really)

1/2 pint grape seed tomatoes, washed & halved

2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. chives

(can also use scallions/ green onions)

Sea salt, to taste

8-10 large basil leaves, torn into pieces

whole wheat pasta

In a medium bowl combine shrimp, 3 Tbs of oil, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic, chives & salt. Toss until everything is coated with oil and seasoning.

Boil water and cook pasta.

While pasta is boiling, Heat up a non-stick pan at medium heat. Once heated cook your shrimp mixture until they turn pink. About 5-7 min.

Once you shrimp are cooked add basil and last Tbs. of oil if there isn't enough 'sauce'. Stir. Allow basil to wilt while you drain pasta.

Place pasta and shrimp in a large enough bowl and stir until pasta is coated in oil and everything is evenly mixed.

Now for dessert...

Brown Rice Pudding

(easy peasy)

3/4 uncooked brown rice

(I use organic brown rice, but you can use any rice)

2 cups milk, divided

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 salt

1 egg, beaten

1 Tbs. powdered coconut

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1 Tbs. butter

1/2 tsp real vanilla extract

2 Tbs. shredded coconut (optional)

Cook your rice according to package directions.

In a medium sauce pan. combine cooked rice, 1 1/2 cups of milk, sugar, coconut powder, cinnamon & salt. Cook over medium heat until creamy. About 15 minutes.

Stir in 1/2 cup milk, egg & 2Tbs. of shredded coconut, stirring constantly. Cook about 2 min. more.

Remove from heat and add butter & vanilla. Serve warm.

If you like custard, you will really enjoy this dish. It was extremely yummy! I won't lie. The brown rice isn't mushy, but retains it's infamous brown rice firmness. I kept thinking "Man, this would be a stellar dessert if I had used sticky rice". BUT... it did hit the sweet spot for me and so I didn't want the crap later on and helped keep me fuller longer after supper too.

Brown Rice Lessons

So why the complex carbs? What makes them so much better for us other than the extra nutrients? Great question!!! I learned this recently and thought it great info. Definitely helps me with the brown rice switch. I never had a problem with whole wheat bread, but the brown rice was always a hard switch for me. But now that I understand the difference when I am eating it, it's not so hard after all.

When we eat the refined, processed white stuff, it digests way too quickly and your body absorbs those calories way too fast. With whole wheat and brown rice the digestion slows down, so you feel fuller longer, but not only that, your body takes it's time absorbing, first of all the nutrients. You know what happens when you take vitamins right? You get that bright, highlighter, neon yellow pee, because you got way more than your body needed at that time, so it took what it needed and expelled the rest. With our whole grains we are absorbing the nutrients slower so we are able to use them when we need them. Also we are getting them. The processed white stuff isn't good for much other than filling your tummy. The other thing is the calories. Not so much that you eat more calories one way or the other, but with the white choices because it digest so fast, less calories are burned by your digestive system. And also because you absorb those calories quickly, and if your body isn't burning them up then, yeah, it's gonna store it. What happens as well is the unused carbs turn into sugar. Married into the East Indian culture, I know it seems like may of the older generation is prone to getting diabetes. My assumption is it's not because of genes, but because of the large amounts of rice they eat with almost every meal, and especially at night. SO what has happened is all this rice has been eaten towards the end of the day and they aren't going to be used for fuel as one winds down at the end of a day and soon goes to bed, so these carbs are turned into sugar. Then on a deeper process the pancreas releases insulin to compensate for this high level of sugar it now has in the system, and eventually after a while of this the body becomes insulin resistant which is a precursor to, you got it, diabetes. Now this is my assumption, but it's logical.

Anyway. Always watch your intake. Eat in moderation and make healthy choices. Not only that but enjoy what you are eating, just don't do it at the sake of your health and life. Food shouldn't kill you, it should bring you life. It's how God intended it.

Let me know if you try the recipes, and how they turned out or any substitution/changes you make. Bon appetite!

Tea Time

So I want to start this blog off by first excitedly announcing that I went jean shopping today as I have gone down from a size 18 to 16! What, what! I felt foolish as I went to the chiropractor and grocery store with saggy bottom jeans. Plus I was tired of constantly pulling them up. Thank God that Superstore sells stylish, trendy jeans for only $19. Because I don't want to pay alot for pants I will only wear for a month. Holla!!!

So now, after revelling in my new pants size I shall move on to what I came here to talk about, and that is tea. Now, to all my Americans, tea is really big here in Canada. Not as big as the UK, but Canada has definitely been influenced by them when it comes to this hot beverage. I am learning lots lately about tea and I think you will find it very interesting, well, cause I did, and this coffee drinker (once coffee addict) is actually drinking tea way more these days. Not because of it's health benefits but because I actually enjoy it. Now on a side note, I still drink coffee. Maybe every other day, to every few days, simply cause I have grown more disinterested in it and tea really satisfies me more. When I do drink coffee, it is only one cup that day, and it is organic, and swiss water decaf. I use sugar cane granules and organic half and half or organic cream to whiten it. NEVER drink instant coffee or use coffee whitener. They are both chemical city! Commercial cream and half and half contain un-natural ingredients as well. If you pay attention next time you drink it, just watch, you will feel bloated. Also, always check what process was used to decaffeinate your coffee. If it doesn't tell you, then don't buy it! And organic as well please. Coffee can be very toxic. Just study up on it so we can get back to our tea time as scheduled.

I used to not be able to stand tea. Seriously. I wanted nothing to do with it unless it was Southern brewed, half way to diabetes, sweet tea. Other than that, it was no tea for me. So what has changed my taste buds, you may ask? Well, I tried and tried again, I could answer. I found out that there are sooo many flavors and kinds of tea, and that all teas are not the same, at all! I have been missing a world of fun. Now when I enter a Teavana or Teopia, I feel the same as walking into a Sephora. So many wonderful kinds, I want to try them all out and find out what they can do for me.

My tea breakthrough came sometime in January from an email health newsletter I get every few days, which by the way, if you don't get Real Age email health facts go to realage.com right now and sign up for them! It's by the authors of the ever famous "YOU:On A Diet". You know, another one of the Oprahfied stars, Dr. Oz who now has his own talk show. Anyway, I learn alot of great facts from these simple emails that come every few days (the website also has a walking tracker, weight loss tracker, and waiste line tracker that I use on their website too. Very motivational. Plus web videos that are also extremely health educational) So back to my tea revelation... One of these email facts was about White Tea and how it is the best for helping lose weight and breaking down fats. Hey, I was trying to lose weight and anything was worth the help. So I went to the store and bought some Twinings simple white tea. I LOVED it! It didn't have the strong tea taste that I had labeled all teas of tasting like. This tea was so gentle, and really nice. I was hooked. I have bought two or three boxes since January.

Then my hubs is into Lady Earl Grey, so he asked me to go to the specialty tea store (Teavana if you are in the US, and Teaopia if you are in Canada) and pick him up some, knowing it would have the best taste being higher grade loose leaf tea. Well while I was there I asked the ladies working there what would be great for helping me in weight loss that wasn't green tea or massively expensive (cause I have been to some places where their diet tea's minimal purchase was $21!, no thanks) So they start telling me about this Yerba Mate stuff. And all I can say is "Hello"!

Yerba Mate is actually not tea, because it isn't from tea leaves, it's from the bark of a tree. It's health benefits are amazing! So here's a rundown of what you get from a cup of Yerba Mate.

*Contains numerous active compounds, vitamins, antioxidants and polyphenols. It also contains saponins, which have been found to stimulate the immune system and help protect the body from disease.

*All natural stimulant, which allows you to feel energized without the side effects and toxicity of coffee.

*52 more active compounds than Green Tea.

*15 amino acids

*Higher in antioxidants than White, Green, Oolong, and Black Tea

*Contains vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, and B complex

*Boosts the immune system

*Detoxifies the body

*Weight Loss: helps breakdown fat, increases the body's metabolic rate and supresses appetite

*Protects the body from disease.

This drink is a huge part of South American society. You can study up on it and find out more, but all together it is a great health drink and wonderful substitute for coffee. I love the one I got from Teaopia. They have different flavored ones, and I got the Vanilla Mint. Sometimes I have more than one cup a day. It's been giving me something to sip on so I don't get hungry and want to snack, and I am satisfied with it's soothing flavors. I really encourage you to check it out.

Even if you never sip a cup of Yerba Mate your entire life, just check out tea, period. You are bound to find a flavor you like and the health benefits of tea are amazing. And while you are at it learn about your tea. Not only the health benefits but how it is made, where it comes from, and most importantly, how to properly brew it. I definitely encourage you to go for a higher grade of tea when possible. And if you have a China Town near you, they are the best. I picked up some awesome finds at a Canal Street little treasure of a shop in Manhattan when we were there in Nov. and I am so glad I got some of their tea stuff. The prices are way better than the crazy mark up you will pay for tea pots and what not at the specialty stores in the mall. You can also get a diffuser at Wal-Mart for half the price too. So shop around for accessories.

On a last little side note... If you read my blogs and find them encouraging or they have changed your life, even in the smallest way, please leave a comment. I know not only will they encourage me into knowing what you guys are looking for (which they so have) but they will also encourage other readers on their road to complete health. I love the encouraging words you have all been sharing with me on facebook and even face to face. You don't know how they have blessed my heart to know that my few words have touched you in some way. You have also been my own little cheering crowd in this path I am on. With every comment, every word you share, I feel my feet pushing harder, my drive to win at this growing stronger. Thank you.

Product Review: JM's 30 Day Shred & Whey Protein

On Saturday I was excited to become the proud new owner of my first Jillian Michael workout DVD, "30 Day Shred". I also picked up her online raved about natural whey protein that you can pick up at Wal-Mart (in the US, not sure about Canada) for $10.

So here is the DVD's claim....

"Jillian will guide you through her exclusive 3-2-1 Interval System that combines strength, cardio and abs to blast through calories for a dramatic 30 DAY SHRED. The DVD includes three complete 20-minute workouts which progress by level of intensity."

So basically as you master one level you then progress to the next. The DVD does deliver 3 different levels of intensity that does increase with each level. After my month of doing plyometrics 5 -6 times a week I was able to easily do level one, and I would say level two is the right challenge for me. It gives me a good workout without having to stop. The third level ate my lunch, and I was doing the low impact version. It was intense.

For those who have almost no time to give for working out the 20 minute workouts are perfect. If you are wanting to be pushed and get en intense workout then try working your way through all three of them. I did all three on Saturday and am still soar two days later.

If you have the time to devote to working out and are serious about losing weight a bit quicker then you could even use this DVD for a sort of BL regimen by spreading the three workouts through the day, but I would start with the level 3 in the morning since it is so much more intense and then do the level one in the late afternoon/early evening. Just a suggestion.

This DVD includes alot of classic Jillian lines. I would have to say my favorite was "I want you to feel like you are dying." This was her way of explaining the level of intensity you should be at while performing a certain move during the level 2 workout.

The hardest move (to me): Plie' / Sumo jumps and scissor legs. This workout DVD definitely exposed my weakest area

The DVD makes the claim that you could lose up to 20 pounds in a month if you do one of the 20 minute workouts a day and following her online eating regimen. I guess we will have to see.

I have been asked several times what my workout routine is. My main source of resutls has been a workout DVD from The Firm. I have been doing Firm workout videos for 15 years now. Their claim is that you will see results within 10 workouts. The Firm has always delivered that promise. The exact DVD I have been using is "Bootcamp Maximum Calorie Burn". It's around one hour. With every workout I start a heavy sweat half way through and finish with my children asking me if I had a shower because my hair is soaking wet when done. I have never been so soar from this DVD that I cannot workout the next day.

Last product review: Jillian Michaels' Natural Whey Protein. I got the vanilla and enjoy the taste. It's 100 calories per a scoop, and can be added to almost anything from milk, smoothies or even pancakes. Jillian is the source that opened my eyes to the whole "all-natural" way of eating. So I knew it would be a trust worthy product when it came to quality. I think the biggest thing with this product is to watch your calorie intake as the front of the container puts this notice: "Use this product as a food supplement only. Do not use for weight reduction".

Helpful Tips: Cleaning Products

Now some of you may be asking, "What in God's green earth does cleaning products have to do with losing weight"? Lots actually. A big part of our health problems has not to do just with what we are eating but what our bodies are absorbing from not only our food but our environment. The toxins in cleaning products can cause some scary health affect.

Let me give you some examples.

Ammonia
Irritation to eyes and mucous membranes. Breathing difficulty, wheezing, chest pains, pulmonary edema, skin burns. High exposure can lead to blindness, lung damage, heart attack or death.

Methylene chloride
Methylene chloride is listed as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and is commonly found in paint strippers. In 1987, regulators in the U.S. compelled manufacturers to put warning labels on products containing methylene chloride.

Silica
Made from finely ground quartz, silica is carcinogenic as a fine respirable dust. Silica is found in that form in some abrasive cleansers, which are often used on a regular basis around the home.

2-butoxyethanol/ Ethylene glycol butyl ether
One of many glycol ethers used as a solvent in carpet cleaners and specialty cleaners. Can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and may cause blood disorders, as well as liver and kidney damage. May also cause reproductive damage with long-term exposure.
1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB)

Has been linked to a reduction in pulmonary function. Found in space deodorizing products, such as room fresheners, urinal cakes, toilet bowl fresheners and cleaning products it is also used as an insecticide for moth control.

OK, so those are just a few, but everything from window cleaner to bleach abrasive powders, have chemicals and are very harmful to not only your health, put your children and even pets. I have begun using Baking Soda in place of bleach powder to clean my tub, and it actually works better than the bleach. Seriously. It got some rusty looking stain out of my tub that the bleach powder NEVER did. And it's not because I was scrubbing hard, I simply washed my tub like I normally do with a simple wash cloth, not even a scouring pad. Now I can put my kids in for a bath and not worry about their skin absorbing chemicals into their little bodies. Oh, did you know that your skin is an organ, and that everything it touches get's absorbed straight into your blood stream? Wow. Again, another topic for another day, but think about the things we put on our skin... and then the fact that it goes into your blood stream. Scary. So think about starting to use baking soda in place of where you would have used bleach abrasives (i.e. toilets, sinks, tubs...)

So now that I have told you what you should think about seriously getting rid of in your home, here are some more things that you can now replace them with, cause Lord knows, we still gotta clean.

I know I push the book a lot, but I have just learned so much from "Master Your Metabolism". It's just a home run book for health. It contains some simple natural home cleaning solutions. Like if you spray your kitchen counters with vinegar and then spray peroxide over that, it will disinfect your counters better than bleach. And then you have no strong harsh chemical smell either. Martha Stewart has always been a huge natural cleaning lady, and her website offers some great solutions. Check out her natural cleaning products solutions here http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/cleaning-products-101 Simply click on each new picture in the article and it will give you another cleaning solution.

Martha also has a new chemical free cleaning product line out that I believe is sold at Home Depot. This website will tell you more... http://shop.marthastewart.com/category/36545942041/1/Clean.htm

Also you don't have to use bleach to keep a pool sanitary and clean. You can have a salt water pool and use baking soda for the ph and alkalinity levels.

The world wide web is bursting with information on this. I have simply provided you with a droplet. Search and find out more on what your chemical cleaning products are doing (besides cleaning), and then find a natural alternative solution to replace it that works for your needs.

P.S. I get huge gallons of vinegar, and large bags of baking soda at Sam's club for pennies compared to what you would pay for conventional cleaning products. My baking soda is in a large zip lock with a little plastic cup I use to sprinkle it over the bath tub or area I want to clean. And I have my spray water bottle I put my vinegar in.

Weight / Size Update

OK, so I will now proceed to "spill the beans" if you will. I think almost every woman struggles with their self-esteem when having to "expose" their measurements or weight or dress size. There was a time, yes, a time before having children, when I too had issues with telling people a number. But, childbearing has done for me what nothing else ever could. It brought me to my most vulnerable state ever. It exposed every intimate area of my body and emotions to where nothing else could ever again phase my self-esteem and even woman hood. I have found I am who I am no matter what the number is or what someone thinks or says about it. And most of the time, people don't really even care. It's almost like women think they can't technically weigh that if they don't say it. Like once you tell someone you weigh in the 200's you suddenly become that number. The truth is, you aren't hiding anything! If you are overweight, people can see it. You are what you are, period. And you are who you are, no matter what you weigh. There is NOTHING that changes with the confession of your weight, other than perception and mainly only your own at that.

I remember going in to the Midwifes office for my appointments when I was pregnant with my last child. The routine was, when you got to the office you went and weighed yourself, and when you got into your check-up with the midwife you told her your weight. Well, she let me know at my first appointment that because most women are so self-conscience about their weight, I could just tell her either how many pounds I lost or gained at subsequent appointments. What? Like by saying my actual weight changed something? I didn't care, I was still that weight no matter what, and the midwife is going to do the math, so what's point? And I still tell you the same thing now. By telling the world how much you weigh changes NOTHING. You are still that weight, and people can see you, you aren't invisible. By speaking truth you awaken yourself to reality, so it can set in, so you can be moved to change it. I think women don't want to say a number cause they don't want to face facts. They don't want to accept that they have fallen that low beyond their own expectations for their lives. They want to keep their heads buried in the sand like an ostrich while the rest of the world can still see their asses! Man up. Accept reality, and then make reality fit into your expectations for your life. Take action, you can do it!

So, here's mine. My starting weight (last month when I began my road of no excuses) was 218. My waist was 47 inches. And my dress size was a whopping 20.

Today, with a month of results I now weigh 209 lbs, waist is 43 in., and I am in a size 18.

Your turn. If you are ready to make a change here is your chance to join in with me. Take your head out of the sand. Use this as motivation. What's your numbers?

My Regimen aka Excuse Breakers

SO, lots of people have been asking me, "What are you doing"? First let me say... Read Jillian Michaels' "Master Your Metabolism"! It's a must. Seriously. It's what finally changed everything around for me. It made everything click, and made me refuse to eat anything that, as Jillian says "Didn't come from the ground or a mother." Or as I say "Nothing God didn't intend for me to eat"! When I give the short list of what I am doing, without explanation, people assume what I am doing is hard or not even fun or likeable, and mentally they quickly give up on my actions being worth while or what they are looking for. So first I will list what I am doing, and 2nd I will explain. Please read through to grasp everything. Cause I am honestly loving losing weight for the first time in my life. I am not wondering how long I can take it before I can have that cookie, which by the way, you can have sweets still. I feel satisfied, and happy. AND I am loving the results. SO here it is...

#1) I only eat all natural.

#2)I workout 5-6 days a week (this is only until I loose all my weight)

#3) I take a multi-vitamin that supports my hormones aka metabolism

OK, so I am sure when you read all natural your reaction was much the same as my friend Tiff (love ya girl!) "Oh OK, so like carrots and cabbage and water, gotcha) NO! It is actually delicious, satisfying food. I eaT 1200-1400 calories a day. But it is just natural foods. No preservatives, and added coloring, and chemicals, and lab altered food. I eat pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and amazing tasting food. It just has to be all natural and not crazy processed. So that's whole wheat and brown rice, complex carbs instead of white processed junk. I even still have sugar. :) I try to substitute honey, maple syrup and sugar cane when possible. Anything that is in it's natural state is always better than something processed. Pleas, no, no, no artificial sweeteners. You actually gain weight because of them and they are linked to tons of horrible stuff like Alzheimer's. It's chemicals! You wouldn't eat ray poison. So don't ingest chemicals of any form. That includes artificial sweeteners. Who in their right mind wants Alzheimer's? Use sugar in moderation instead. Something that has been an amazing life line is snacks and cereals made by KASHI. They are amazing and tasty and can give you that sugar/carb craving fix in the afternoon so you don't go eat that bag of oreos. I LOVE too cook, and I LOVE to eat. I don't go hungry and I enjoy what I eat. Trust me, I wouldn't still be going strong if I didn't. I find lots of recipes and cook books to keep things creative and tasty. I will get into this more later. But if you have any questions, I would LOVE to help. Like I said I LOVE cooking and I think this part is the hardest for people when it comes to weight loss. If you can be satisfied in this area I think positive results are almost guaranteed. You gotta learn to read labels, for sure, which again, I learned from the book. It's priceless knowledge. Go get it from your library.

Now for exercise. I have the time as I am a stay at home mom. But you don't have to have as much time invested at all to see great results. I work out for at least 60 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week. And most of the time I work out for a second hour in the afternoon/early evening. And then even last night, I worked out for a third hour. I know. But I was watching Biggest Loser and well, if you read my first blog, you will know how much that show motivates me. Plus I had an extra hand of Kettle Corn which also motivated me. LOL.

My workout in greater detail.

Hour #1 Plyometrics

In Jillian's book, she says you need to at least do circuit training to get results.

To understand circuit traing better... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_training

A great example is Curves circuit. 30 seconds of cardio, 30 seconds of muscle concetrated workouts, 30 seconds of cardio... for half an hour. I do a DVD that has plyometrics, and am seeing great results.

Hour #2 Cardio

On Jillian's website, some asked her about cardio and what not, and there she told them #1 get your circuit training in for sure, and if can fit some extra cardio in like shadow boxing with light weights, that's a bonus. So I made a mixed CD, with songs that get me motivated and moving. The CD is an hour long, so i don't have to watch the clock, I just grab a set of 2 or 3 pund weights and I move around my living room, working up a sweat, until I know my last song is on. It's fun and it does the trick. You can easily do this with making a custom list off your itunes, and buying a couple of songs if you can't find enough upbeat tunes in your own library.

Whatever it is, make it fun. I usually use this time to have fun with my girls. they love the songs and they enjoy dancing around the living room with their mom. LOL.

You can also use TV time at night to keep motivated. Turn on your favorite show and just don't sit still while you are watching it. March in place, step side to side, sprint back and forth during commercials to keep your heart rate up, whatever you can do, just get active. www.realage.com has also been a great resource and motivational tool for me. On here you can get lots of great ideas for how to get active easily and lose weight/inches. They also have a waist and weight tracker and a walking tracker to keep track of your results and what you do to keep you motivated. The website is by the infamous Dr. Oz, from Oprah, and the authors of the YOU: On A Diet, serious of books. They say on the website all you really need is 30 minutes of good brisk walking a day to lose weight. So please don't feel like you will never lose weight cause you can't keep up with Crazy Kari's bootcamp of workouts. I am just really motivated as I have close to 100 pounds to lose. It's alot and I want it GONE for good!

#3) After reading Jillian's book, I all of a sudden understood all of my weight loss attempts and why most of them I would plateau after loosing about 8-10 pounds, and why when I went to my naturopath for my hormones, and after being on natural supplements for them, was losing weight while still eating crappy. The book can make things ALOT more understandable than I ever could, and in probably a lot less words than mine. But bottom line is when your hormones/metabolism is working properly the weight is gonna come off. I take the multi vitamin plus weight loss support by the greens+ line. I got mine at Superstore. The weight loss support that is added to it, is basically the natural vitamins and minerals your body needs to have balanced hormones, which we have screwed up from the way we have eaten and lived. So therefore by correcting our eating habits and lifestyle and giving our bodies the vitamins and minerals they deserve, our hormones line up and our body lets go of the weight. It's how God intended you to live! In God there is fullness of life. Abide in His plans for you and you will have the best life possible.

I am considering starting a weight loss/ health group for people who want support and information to help them live better lives. Please let me know if you are in the area and interested.

Where My Excuses Ran Out

So this year was no different, than all the years before when it came to New Year's Resolutions. LOSE WEIGHT!!! Since I have been over weight since childhood, it has seemed to be a never ending battle with fat. A new diet, and I would last for about a month and see a maximum of 8 - 10 pounds gone and a dress size if I was lucky. Then after what seemed like holding my breath until I could eat normal again, I would slowly fall back into junk food, high sugar eating again because of my lack of motivation from my weight and size plateauing no matter how hard I worked at it.

So what makes this time different? The fact that it's different. LOL. There is a huge spiritual side to it, which I will get into at a later date. And the book "Master Your Metabolism" by Jillian Michaels. I have been a huge fan of Jillian Michaels ever since I came across her. She tells fact, not gimmicks. You can really learn alot from her. And so I have. Her book has changed my life, and given me what she calls in her book the "AHA moment". The point where everything makes sense and locks in place. And this moment has caused me to not feel like "I can do this til I loose all my weight", but a, I want to live this way the rest of my life. All I can say is READ THE BOOK! You will learn so much about your body. It connected all the puzzle pieces for me in a big way.

Now I am writing this blog to share with others the things that I am learning as I go that are changing my life in a good way, in hopes it will encourage others to live life the way God intended them to. And with God there is perfect love, perfect peace and perfect joy. If one of these things (if not all of them) are off a bit, even if you do love God with all your heart... chances are you aren't living life to the fullest He destined you to.

I finally got to the place where I don't want excuses. I have had so many. And the truth is, I want to be healthy, and I want to be at my God ordained normal size before I hit 30. That number will be rolling into my life in 2 years and some change. I want to spend the last two years of my twenties feeling like I am in my 20's. So when I hit an excuse , I find a way to get past it. Like, healthy food is gross, and boring. So I find a way to make healthy food delicious and fun. If I can't afford a gym, then I go walking and running outside. If the elements do not permit then I do a workout DVD. If I don't have time to, then I pace back and forth in my living room for as long as I can until I work up some kind of sweat, because I am tired of excuses. They have failed me. I am moving on from them. And I have to admit, with the first month down, I am loving it. I am loving the working out, I am loving the food, and I am loving knowing God in this new and even intimate way.

So if you are tired of excuses, join me in this new path. I am hoping to share recipes, reviews of DVD's, products, and books that help, or maybe waste time on this path of full life. I will also share my weight and size journey in hopes that it may encourage others too. Feel free to recommend books, or cookbooks, websites, whatever you have that you've found enjoyable or helpful on your path.

Next recommendation after "Master Your Metabolism" would be to watch "Biggest Loser" on Tues. nights on NBC. Seriously. It is another thing I find encouraging, not only from the weight loss stories, but also the facts and info I glean from it. In fact another thing that encouraged me to re-open the book of weight loss was a friend and I who followed Biggest Loser together last season saw a contestant after she had finished running a half-maraton, and we were like "Let train for a race of some sort cause we want to look like her"! Sometimes I even workout while watching Biggest Loser, if I haven't already done my two workout sets that day (which I will share my eating, activity, and weight loss info very soon)

If you want to join me, then I suggest you write down all your weight loss excuses and then write your solutions on the side of them and start now! The other thing I would do is have a date or occasion to set weight loss milestones. I have two currently, one is in 6 weeks when I see my family, I want to lose as much as possible. I am hoping to be in the 100's at this point. The next is this summer for my wedding anniversary. I want to be the same size I was when I got married, 170 lbs, and a size 12/14. I am sure you can think of some for yourself... a birthday, a reunion, fitting into a bathing suit for the summer, wanting to run a 3 0r 5k, something to get you going. Try making excuses in the opposite direction. I have to do this because...(insert your amazing reason here) You can do it, the only thing stopping you... is you!