Showing posts with label resistance bands. Show all posts

Weight Loss Update + Your Weigh Protein Powder

**I received the product below free for my review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be a good fit for my readers. All opinions are 100% my own.

This week was super busy with events, my nephew's graduation and my daughter's rehearsal and recital. Since I was out and about I ate out a lot but I was very mindful about what I ate. If I really wanted to eat something I ate in moderation and stuck to salads for the rest of my meals. I also chugged on protein shakes in the morning to get my day started right. 


I am loving the Slender Rich whey protein powder. Not only does it taste really good but it only has two carbs and no artificial sweeteners. I got to sample the French Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate and Strawberry Creme. My favorite by far was the Dutch Chocolate because it was super rich and creamy. The sample packets also came with a cool shaker bottle that had compartments below it for small snacks or your supplements and vitamins. I prepared my shaker bottle with the protein powder, some fruit in one compartment and my vitamins in the other compartment and stuck it in the fridge the night before I was going out early. When I woke up in morning I would pour in my water, shake it up and have my fruit and vitamins right there for me to take too. 




I didn't get a chance to exercise as much as I would have wanted to, but going out almost everyday I sure did walk a lot in the heat. I have been using my new Omron Alvita Wireless Tracker and it really does keep me motivated to walk more. Next week my sister is in town so I am happy to have my exercise partner back. Time to put some more time in the gym! 


Nutrition
  • Make some freezer meals for the week.
  • Prepare and eat Mason Jar Salads.
  • Organize snacks for the week. 
Exercise
  • Monday: Walk + Park
  • Tuesday: Gym
  • Wednesday: Walk + Park
  • Thursday: Gym
  • Friday: Rest
  • Saturday - Walk around the track
  • Sunday - Yoga
  • Continue 30 Day Plank Challenge

 How do you prepare to stay healthy and active when you have a busy week? 

Posted by 3 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Weight Loss Journey Part 2 - Update + SnapFit Challenge

**I received a sample of SnapFit free for my review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be a good fit for my readers. All opinions are 100% my own.


This week I did a lot of cooking at home and prepared my meals beforehand. I notice that when I don't prep my food in advance I tend to go out to eat or ask my husband to bring something when he comes home from work. This week I cleaned a couple of bags of lettuce and vacuumed sealed them into mason jars. I hate having to take out my salad spinner every time I make a salad so this easy setup helped me have my lettuce ready.


I am also doing the SnapFit 21 day challenge. SnapFit allows you to eat less naturally with yummy fiber crystals that you just mix into water. I love that the little packets are in liquid form so it is super easy to mix it. It also gives the water a nice light taste of peach, lemon or strawberry. I love drinking flavored water so I didn't even feel like I was drinking a fiber drink. All of that natural fiber kept me full until my next meal. I usually start getting hungry right in between lunch and dinner so this is when I drank my SnapFit.


Each little packet of SnapFit has:
  • 15 Fibers & Extracts
  • 10 Grams of Fiber
  • 20 calories
  • 0g fat
  • 0g added sugar
If you are ready to eat less naturally and take the T15 challenge check out SnapFit.


Now that the weather is warmer I have been chasing my toddler around the playground and park. She will be starting soccer in June so we took out a ball in an open field to start getting her familiar with a soccer ball. I was pretty surprised at how active my husband got too when he was showing her how to kick and direct the ball.


Nutrition
  • Dr. Oz one day, Low Carb next day
  • Take probiotics and vitamins
  • Prep ahead kale chips and roasted chickpeas
Exercise

 What are your favorite prep ahead tips to keep you eating healthy? 
Posted by 8 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,

Weight Loss Journey Part 2 - Week 3


I had a really busy week so I started my week eating out for the first two days. I wish I would have made healthier choices but I did eat some salads and veggies. I did eat breakfast at home for those two days so it did help out with my calorie count. Since I knew that I didn't follow my menu plan the first two days I was very strict with the remaining five days and stuck to the plan. We are trying to do a lot of saving this year and one of the things we agreed to do was to eat out only when extremely necessary.


I also saved money by looking through my freezer and pantry and getting creative with what I had and not buying any new groceries. I followed my plan of eating the Dr. Oz Rapid Weight Loss Plan one day and a low carb diet the next day. I ate lots of veggies on my Dr. Oz days and didn't miss the bacon or cheese on those days. I also drank the Jillian Michaels detox water.


Since I was out and about a lot the first two days of the week I did tons of walking and burned tons of calories without exercising. On the remaining 5 days I stuck to my plan and did the exercise videos I had listed. It was fun doing new videos and I really enjoyed stretching and relaxing with the yoga. I didn't get frustrated when I couldn't do certain moves and am just looking forward to getting better and better as I keep trying.


To keep up with my motivation and organization I created a Weight Loss command center! Here is where I can write and see what I have planned for the month and week, my water tally, exercise to-do moves and motivational posters.



Next Week's Plan:

Nutrition
  • Dr. Oz one day, Low Carb next day
  • Take probiotics and vitamins
  • Make low carb freezer meals

Exercise
What is your favorite Exercise DVD or Exercise YouTube Video? 

Posted by 15 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,

Weight Loss Journey Part 2 - Week 2


I have to say that even though the stomach bug I got last week was a horrible experience it did make my second week on the weight loss journey a lot easier. I didn't have a huge appetite and didn't crave bad carbs like white bread and pasta. I felt like I was fuller longer and didn't have the urge to snack at night.

I went into the kitchen this week and tried to make over a lot of the dishes that I like. I attempted to make creamed spinach, mac and cheese with cauliflower and a blue cheese burger. All of them were pretty much failed attempts but I will keep tweaking them to get the best recipe before I share them. I made these almond buns that were pretty good but need to be tweaked a little more.


I decided to shock my body a bit by doing low carb one day and alternating it with the Dr. Oz Rapid Weight loss program the next day. I followed the Dr. Oz diet even doing the detox baths at night.

Since I have planned out my exercise for the week and I picked beginner workouts I stuck to it and did them. I even did them early in the morning the two days that I had events to go to and lots of errands to run. Since the nasty snow piles all around my neighborhood have been melting I decided to start walking around the block on the days that my husband was off. It was nice to get some fresh air and give my body an extra workout by walking on the pavement after so long of not taking walks.


I am definitely finally on my way and am starting to feel like the healthier eating and exercise is a habit. I found some amazing printables and planners to help me keep track so I am totally looking forward to next week.

Next Week's Plan:

Nutrition
  • Take probiotics and vitamins
  • Start detox water
  • Try new Pinterest recipe
Exercise

What is your favorite Pinterest recipe that you have successfully made?

Posted by 4 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,

Weight Loss Journey Part 2 - Week 1


This week was the first full week that I went back into my weight loss journey full swing. It has been a while since I posted about my week and it feels good that I actually have some great things to report. I originally started this blog to hold me accountable and I have not used it to its potential. I started blogging about other things and let my weight loss journey go to the back burner. I am back though! I want to continue on this Journey and name it Part 2!

I decided to continue eating low carb since it has worked well for me and it didn't feel like I was dieting. Instead of eating as much cheese and fats as I wanted I kept it to the recommended servings and added fruits and vegetables into my carb count.


I finally started using the specialty low carb ingredients I purchased like psyllium husks to make bread and erythritol to make desserts. I made this delicious english muffin in the microwave! For my dessert of the week I made these yummy and decadent chocolate truffles.


Since the weather has been horrible with snow, ice and slush I decided to continue exercising at home. I used my DynaPro exercise ball and resistance band for strength training. Then I used my Exercise Pinterest Board for some inspiration and did a lot of "Quiet" exercise for cardio.


I also took out my Wii and did some of the exercise games I had with my daughter. She loved it and it was fun to do something together.

Next Week's Plan:

Exercise
Posted by 10 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,

The Best Beginner Exercise YouTube Videos


So I am finally getting back into my workout flow. I haven't been to the gym in a while and with this weather I don't plan on going anytime soon. It's cold, icy and full of slush right now in the city so I tend to hibernate. I still want to be active and get some workouts in so I turn to my favorite free way with YouTube.

If you do a search on YouTube for exercise for beginners you get over 3 million hits! There are even big names like Jillian Michaels and Denise Austin to videos of Zumba gym classes to videos of small trainers trying to get their name out. Here are my favorites:

Disco Sweat My favorite of Richard Simmons. I LOVE him because it is so entertaining and inspiring. He knows just the right thing to say to keep you going even if you want to quit.
http://youtu.be/rwAwuhvhLPU (Embedding was disabled for this video)


Quiet Cardio Workout
One of my favorites ways of breaking a sweat without disturbing my downstairs neighbors.


START! Walking at Home 3 Mile Walk
I love doing Leslie Sansone's walk videos because it's super easy to do and you still break a sweat!
Easy Zumba Class. Of course I had to add Zumba which I can't even call exercise because I have so much fun doing it.


Full Body Resistance Band Workout. My favorite way to get my strength training in because resistance bands are so portable.


Total Body Workout with Stability Ball for Beginners. I love doing exercises on my stability ball because it works out places that a regular dumb bell can't get to. Plus it's fun!


BONUS: Zumba Wii Game: Even if you don't have a Wii you can still workout just like you did. Who cares if you don't get the points!

It also makes it extremely easy to view it on my big TV in the living room so I use a chromecast and the YouTube app.

Do you use YouTube to workout? Which ones are your favorite videos? 


Posted by 13 comments
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Getting My Exercise Back on Track at Home + Giveaway!

**I received a free DynaPro Direct Resistance Band and Door Anchor for my review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be a good fit for my readers. All opinions are 100% my own.


So I have to confess that I have not been to the gym in ages! With my husband having to work extra hours and with so many early morning meetings I have been finding it difficult to go to the gym. When he is off we tend to take our daughter to many different events planned around the holidays. She is in an amazing play group that plans so many different things that I want to do them all! Not to mention now my little ballerina goes to dance class once a week.

I feel myself back tracking again and not eating what I am supposed to at times. Sometimes my mentality is since I didn't go to the gym I already messed up so I can have a couple of chocolate kisses. I am definitely not where I want to be in my weight loss journey either. Though the Atkins diet is keeping me kind of on track with the eating I still have to get myself exercising so that I can lose the weight I want. I have a month in a half before I hit a year on this weight loss journey so I need to go hard!

Since I can't go to the gym without a babysitter I decided to try to get my exercise in at home. Like I said before I can't be too loud because I don't want to disturb my downstairs neighbors so I found a way around that. With my thick exercise mat and some pretty cool "quiet" exercise routines I am on my way to getting back on track.


I also kept in contact with the amazing DynaPro company and they were kind enough to send me a heavier resistance band and door anchor. I will be attempting Sean Berry's Workout Routine here: http://dynaprodirect.com/workouts/

I have tried so many other resistance bands and the ones from DynaPro are by far the best. They are much stronger and more durable than any of the ones I have ever used. I love the D handle with the comfort grip. It makes it so easy to hold and won't slip or hurt your hand like the standard fabric handles. The bands are made of anti-snap material that is 100% dipped in latex.


Click on DynaProDirect to see all of the other products they have to offer. If you are working out at home or need something to travel with the DynaPro Bands are a must!

a Rafflecopter giveaway No purchase is necessary to enter. One US entrant per household, per address. The Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor will be responsible for product shipment to the winner of this giveaway. 

Posted by 20 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)