To Tell the Truth: Good-bye Maternity Pants!

So I have to fess up about something. It's a little embarrassing, but I have vowed to tell you the truth. So here it is.

Up until last week, I was still wearing maternity pants. That means that I was wearing them for almost 7 months after the birth of my baby.

Pathetic, I know!

A large part of the reason this was the case is that I absolutely REFUSED to go out and buy new pants. I was too big to wear my pre-pregnancy pants and I didn't want to spend money on a larger size when I was completely determined to lose weight. So I continued wearing my maternity pants figuring I'd be more motivated to lose weight and get into my old jeans again. I thought that by buying new jeans that I was "settling" and showing myself that I accepted my current weight.

I've been able to wear my pre-pregnancy jeans for over a month now. But they were still a little tight at first so I'd pull my maternity pants out when I was at home and feeling lazy. But I have finally reached that point where the regular jeans are fitting well and I haven't put my maternity pants on for almost 10 days. Today I finally packed them into a space bag and bid them farewell.

Good riddance! Yay for this non-scale victory!

Spotlight: Rockin' Body

After I finished the 30 day program of Hip Hop Abs, I moved on to a new workout program. It's called Rockin' Body. Also developed by Shaun T., this workout is a fun dance program that gets you moving and grooving to famous hits like "Eye of the Tiger," "Play That Funky Music," and "I Love Rock 'N Roll."

Rockin' Body comes with 7 workout videos: Mark, Move and Groove; Disco Groove; Party Express; Shaun T's Dance Party; Rock It Out; Hard-Core Abs; and Booty Time. Ranging anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes in length, you can get your workout in whether you are short on time or have all the time in the world.

Rockin' Body is filmed on stage in front of a live studio audience. The fun atmosphere and upbeat music get you in the mood to shake your entire body. Shaun T. does a good job of showing each new dance step slowly before speeding it up to tempo and adding it to previous moves. In the end all the dance steps learned are strung together back to back into a fun combination.

My Opinion of Rockin' Body:

I really enjoy the dancing aspect of Rockin' Body. Because there is so much dancing around, it doesn't seem as much like a workout. More like an intense party! The set doesn't appeal to me as much as the regular studio/gym setting of other workout videos, but it doesn't bother me either. Catching on to the different moves and combinations was a little hard at first and I found myself laughing as I tripped over my own feet trying to keep up.

When I ordered the video, I thought that Rockin' Body might be easier than Hip Hop Abs and I was surprised to find that it wasn't. Calling it a "dance video" is accurate, but deceiving. There is a lot of cardio involved as you move back and forth at a fast pace. Many of the videos require you to run in place for minutes at a time. By the end of one video in particular, I always drop to the floor, dead tired. There is also a lot of jumping around, which tires you out quickly. I have to make sure to modify the jumping steps because doing all of it is too hard on my knees. But modification is always an option as Shaun has a designated assistant you can watch and follow for the modified movements.

I'm glad that I'm doing Rockin' Body. The increased cardio is good for me and I find the workouts go quickly because they are fun.

So if you are looking for a workout where you dance those pounds away, Rockin' Body is definitely a program I recommend!

Click here to watch a short preview on Rockin' Body.

Weigh Day

Today is Monday! The start of another week. We had a break from working out yesterday and it's time to recommit to another week of workouts!

Progress Report:
I have to say that Monday is probably my least favorite day of the week. Not only because I have 6 workouts ahead of me to look forward to, but also because I get to weigh and measure myself.
I told my husband Jason last night that I didn't think I'd made any progress this week. My pants seemed to be fitting the same and my reflection in the mirror hadn't noticeably changed. So imagine my surprise when I stepped on the scale and discovered that I'd lost 2.5 lbs since last week! Wow!
I was right that my measurements were about the same. Only my arms had changed, shedding 1/2 inch off each arm.
With all that fuel to propel me into the rest of the week, I am now ready to face those 6 workouts.
So come on everyone, let's BRING IT!
_________________________________________________________________
How are YOU doing on your fitness journey? E-mail me at angiepete@gmail.com and let me know how you are measuring up! Send in your weight and body measurements from this week and from your start date. Let me know how you are feeling about your progress. Remember, you can do this too!

Substitute It! Sugar

Sugar, sugar, sugar! So sweet, so tasty, so...TEMPTING. When I break down and give in to sugar, I always feel guilty. "Bad, Angie! Bad!" I say. Because the only part of me that seems to LIKE the sugar I eat are my taste buds. So as my taste buds are doing a Happy Dance amid the brownie crumbs being chewed in my mouth, the REST of my body is in denial. "WHAT?" says my digestive system. "Not more of THIS garbage! What am I supposed to do with this? I know! We'll send it to her hips for later!"

No wonder we're all walking around with muffin tops and spare tires!

Traditional sugar is classified as a carbohydrate, sucrose to be exact. And it's safe to say that this sugar is pretty much devoid of nutritional value. Eating sugar causes a sharp spike in our blood sugar, followed by an extreme drop a few hours later. That's where the term "sugar high" comes from. When our blood sugar suddenly drops, we find ourselves lacking energy and FAMISHED.

And craving MORE sugar.

But never fear! Because I just learned about a new product hitting the shelves called Coconut Palm Sugar.

Made from the sap or nectar from the coconut palm tree flower similar to the way maple sugar is produced, coconut sugar or palm sugar, has a unique creamy, caramel sweetness. The rich taste closely resembles that of brown sugar. One of the lowest glycemic index sweeteners on the market, Coconut palm sugar is highly nutritious and ecologically beneficial with a great taste. Coconut sugar is rated low glycemic at 35 compared to honey at 55.

Here is a table that compares the many different sugars on the market and their nutritional value:

So look at that! Finally a HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS alternative to sugar!

One nice thing about Coconut Palm Sugar is that when it comes to substituting it in recipes, you don't have to do complicated math. The ratio is one to one. So you use it just as you would regular sugar.

I found out about this terrific sugar alternative from Dr. Oz. Click here to watch the short video on Coconut Palm Sugar yourself.

Food for Thought: The Evils of Soda

We've all heard it: Soda is B-A-D! I for one am a water drinker. But every once in a blue moon, temptation will sit in and I'll reach for some soda. Usually ginger ale, my soda of choice.

But HOW bad is soda?

Here are Eight Reasons to Give Up Soft Drinks for Good:

1. Soda makes you fat: Both regular and diet soft drinks are tied to obesity. In one study, people who drank diet sodas had a 70% greater increase in waist circumference over a few years compared to those who skipped soft drinks.

2. Soda depletes your body's oxygen supply: For every can of carbonated soda ingested, the amount of oxygen in the blood is decreased by 25% for up to three hours. If you are drinking several sodas per day, you are depriving yourself for a significant amount of oxygen.
3. Soda boosts your risk of serious disease: The extra belly fat that often comes with a soft drink habit is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. A recent study in the Journal of Internal Medicine also tied a daily diet soda habit to a higher stroke risk.

4. Soda lowers your immunity: Sugar decreases immune function by reducing the ability of white blood cells to ingest and destroy bacteria. This lowered immune function can last for five hours or more after the ingestion of sugar.
5. Soda may cause cancer: New research from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health finds drinking two or more regular drinks per week may almost double your risk of pancreatic cancer. Researchers speculate that the sugar overload from regular soda triggers insulin production that fuels cancer cell growth.
6. Soda is bad for your teeth: The big culprit isn't sugar but soda's high acid content: phosphoric, malic, citric, and tartaric acid strip tooth enamel. Citrus-flavored soft drinks are the worst. They dissolve enamel up to five times more than colas.
7. Soda is bad for your bones: The same acids that are bad for your teeth also coax calcium from your bones.

8. Soda is especially bad for women: New research from the American Heart Association finds that women are more vulnerable than men to the harmful effects of drinking two or more sugar-sweetened drinks (including soda) per day. Soda-sipping women are likely to have a larger waist size, higher "bad" LDL cholesterol, higher levels of triglycerides (harmful fatty acids that can cause heart disease), higher blood sugar, and lower "good" HDL cholesterol. Even if they don't put on a pound.

Diet soda isn't that much better than the regular version.

Two recent studies found that being a diet soda junkie could actually put you at a greater risk of weight gain. Normal weight people who drank 3 servings or more of diet soda a day were at almost double the risk for becoming overweight or obese after seven to eight years compared to people who skipped diet drinks, according to researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. And people who consumed at least one daily serving of diet soda (versus none) were more likely to develop a high waist circumference, a condition linked with diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, according to a recent study.
The American Dietetic Association says there's no conclusive evidence that diet sodas directly cause weight gain, but at many experts believe an artificial sweetener habit may overstimulate our taste receptors for sweetness. People crave more high-calorie sweet foods and fewer healthful, less sweet foods.

So hopefully next time you are ordering food at a restaurant you'll skip the soda and opt for water instead. Your entire body will thank you!

Tips and Tricks: Losing Weight Through Sniffing

A few weeks ago I came across an interesting article all about how the olfactory sense can suppress appetite and aid in weight-loss. That's right folks! This article claimed that by using your sense of SMELL, you could trick your body into shedding those unwanted pounds.

Sound far-fetched?

Maybe.

But my curiosity was piqued and I wanted to find out more.

Several studies point to aromatherapy as an effective tool in weight-loss, particularly as an appetite suppressor. In addition, scent was shown to increase energy for your workout and to even help you sleep better.

Alan Hirsch, M.D., head of The Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago said, "The aroma triggers signals in the brain's satiety center. This fools your brain into sending the message that you're full, without the extra calories."

The scents found to be most effective are grapefruit, green apples, lemon, bananas, peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus. Here is a little bit more about a few of them:

Peppermint
Peppermint is probably the best known scent to decrease appetite. It promotes a feeling of fullness, which lessens the chance that individuals will overeat, and also helps cut back on cravings for sweets. Sniffing peppermint oil 10 to 15 minutes before eating should help curb your appetite during a meal. You can also add a few drops of the oil to your water so you continue to smell it throughout the meal, increasing the chance that you eat fewer calories.

Grapefruit
Grapefruit has long been associated with weight loss, and there is a fad diet based on eating a piece of the fruit before every meal to promote more efficient fat-burning. While those claims are dubious, grapefruit is commonly used in weight control aromatherapy because its crisp, bright fragrance helps lessen cravings for sweets. Pink grapefruit essential oil is particularly helpful in lessening appetite. Grapefruit essential oil may be rubbed between your hands, so when you cup them together you can slowly inhale the scent. It is also easy to adjust the intensity of the aroma by moving your hands closer or further away from your face. For best results, sniff grapefruit oil at least five minutes before eating. It is also helps to drink a glass of water after inhaling the oil because the water increases the feeling of fullness.

Lemon
Many aromatherapists believe that the scent of lemon speeds up the metabolism and provides fuel to fat-burning cells in the body. It is also believed to affect the appetite. A study was conducted on the effect of lemon aroma on the brain and evidence was gathered that it stimulates the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls rational, left brain thought. This helps prevent emotional eating and binges by allowing individuals to realize when their appetite has been satisfied.

So if you walk through your kitchen and a craving strikes, grab a banana and sniff (not eat) it to your hearts content. After reading this, I have a strong desire to invent some kind of contraption that holds a banana under my nose all day, similar to dangling a carrot in front of a donkey. Although it would probably be just as effective to rub some peppermint oil on my upper lip!

Better than holding a banana under your nose all day, try this recipe:

Super-Slimming Potpourri:
Soak 1/4 inch slices of 1 banana in lemon juice for 6 minutes. Place on a paper towel on a microwave- safe plate. In microwave, heat 5 mintues; cool. Place in a bowl with dried petals of 6 roses, 5 cinnamon sticks and 1/2 cup walnuts. Display wherever snack attacks strike.

To Tell the Truth: Exercising HURTS!

In all honesty, exercising is PAINFUL. I'm willing to bet this is one reason so many couch potatoes out there are turned off by it. Not only does it take WORK, it also HURTS.

But there is a big difference between the muscle pain that is your body's natural recovery response to exercising and severe joint pain or muscle tears/sprains that come as the result of overdoing it.

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is the sore, painful, stiff feeling you experience in your muscles after working out. DOMS is most often felt when you are starting a new workout program or dramatically increasing the intensity or duration of your workout. This is completely normal and given time, your body will adapt and DOMS will eventually go away.

When you are a beginner, it is very important to be SMART about your workouts. You have to ease yourself into exercising, being careful not to do too much too soon.

At first you might not be able to make it through the entire workout video. You may have to press pause for a quick breather (but if you do, don't stretch out on the coach or floor! Walk around to keep your heart beat up!). I admit that I do this often. Sometimes you just have to get your breathing under control.

As someone with arthritis, I have to be especially careful. Sometimes the most simple movements can cause me to be in severe joint pain for days. And the trouble is that I never feel the pain DURING it, only after the fact several hours later. That's when I kick myself. You have to learn your limits and I'm still learning mine!

One trick I've found that really helps me is to take a warm shower BEFORE I work out. Now this sounds a little backwards and I admit that it's strange. But it REALLY works. If you want to reduce the post-workout muscle and joint pain you feel, try taking a shower beforehand. Not only does it help wake me up in the morning before I push play, it greatly reduces the stiffness and joint pain I wake up with every day. After a few minutes of letting the warm water run over my body, I emerge from the shower alert with my body warm and ready to tackle my workout.

You should try it!

So I admit that working out is painful. Working out is a balancing out for arthritis sufferers and for anyone new to exercising. You have to take it slow, no matter how anxious you are to start seeing results. A severe injury will just set you back all the more!

Make sure to take things slowly at first. And LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. Over time the pain will lessen, I promise!

Spotlight: Shakeology

For today's Spotlight, I am be reviewing Shakeology, Beachbody's daily nutritional shake. I have been taking Shakeology daily for a week now and have already come to love it.
For years I've been making green smoothies. This might sounds gross, but I actually think they taste really good! I would put rice milk, spinach, frozen fruit (bananas, strawberries and sometimes blueberries), vitamin C powder and a green food powder called Perfect Food by the company Garden of Life. Blending my green smoothies was quite a process, taking me almost ten minutes to add all the ingredients.
Then I found out about Shakeology. I did my research, learning what ingredients Beachbody uses to create the shake. I watched several testimonials and doctor reviews. In the end, I decided to give it a try.
After all, the company offers a "Bottom of the Bag" guarantee. I could try the product for an entire month and if I didn't love it, I could send the empty bag back in for a full refund.
After trying a sample of both the chocolate and greenberry flavors, I ordered the greenberry. To me the greenberry tastes like a smoothie base. I like to add it to vanilla coconut milk, a little ice and half a frozen banana.
Yum!
Now mixing up Shakeology every day takes me 2-3 minutes. I no longer have to keep mountains of spinach and frozen fruit on hand. And I LOVE how smooth the shake turns out. It has a way of fluffing up when you blend it that reminds me of a milkshake. Some people have commented that the green color of the greenberry is a turn off, but it appeals to me.
The green makes me feel like I'm drinking vegetables and being supremely healthy.
I liked the chocolate flavor, too. But I have a hard time wanting to drink something chocolaty first thing in the morning after my workout.
A new flavor was launched on Valentine's Day that I have yet to try. I plan to order it next month because it sounds like the best one of them all: Tropical Strawberry. It comes in a pretty pink color that is oh so appetizing!
You are probably wondering what the shake DOES. Shakeology works in two ways: it helps your body gently eliminate toxins more efficiently while allowing for better absorption of the essential nutrients that you need. Shakeology is formulated to help you 1) lose weight, 2) feel energized, 3) improve digestion and regularity and 4) lower cholesterol.
Even though it has only been a week, I've ALREADY noticed it helping me have more energy and reducing my cravings. I usually have a really hard time in the late afternoon. My body crashes and I find myself struggling to stay awake as I finish school with my children. But not anymore!
With no added sugar, preservatives and color, the quality is outstanding. It is also gluten free! The new Tropical Strawberry flavor is completely vegan. This means it is dairy free, too!
There are TONS of recipes for each flavor you can use to change the flavor of your shake each day. It's possible to use a different recipe every day of the month if you wanted to! It's nice to be able to change it up like that so you don't get bored.
I'm excited to try this product out for myself in order to see the long-term benefits. I'm hoping that it will help lessen the degree of inflammation in my body due to Arthritis. I'll definately let you know!
If you would like more information about Shakeology (such as a full ingredient list), please visit my Shakeology website.
And you can watch a basic informational video on what Shakeology is.
If you have been thinking about trying Shakeology, I highly recommend it. With the "Bottom of the Bag" guarentee, what do you have to lose? Besides pounds and inches, that is!
_______________________________________________________________
Interested in ordering? Order here.

Weigh Day: 30 Day Results

Well today is Weigh Day again. Time for us to weigh ourselves and take our measurements!

Progress Report:

This week I had a little bit of a set back. I was feeling so good about doing one workout a day that I thought I'd try and add one Rockin' Body workout to my schedule as well. I had just gotten the videos in the mail and I was excited to give them a try. So for two days, I worked out twice a day.

Not a good idea.

It was too much too quickly. I knew I was in trouble the second night when my joint pain was so severe I couldn't fall asleep. It has taken me four days to feel normal again. All I can say is, "Oooops!"

I STILL haven't learned my limits!

But even though I was in pain, I still managed to get through one Hip Hop Abs workout each day. I had to keep going and keep my commitment to not miss a day.

And it paid off! Because even though I only lost a total of 1/2 inch off my entire body measurements, I also managed to lose one pound.

30 Day Results

Yesterday I completed the 30 Day schedule of Hip Hop Abs. I can't believe Round 1 is already over! So now is the time to post my 30 Day Results.

Since I started the program on January 23, 2012, I have lost...

9 lbs. and 14" total off my body measurements!

I'm most excited about losing 3" off my waist. Already I'm wearing comfortably jeans that just 30 days ago I couldn't even pull up over my hips.

Hooray!

I hope I don't sound like I'm gushing because that is not my intention. I share my results with you to show that what is possible if you completely commit to getting fit, whole heart, body and soul. You have to want this more than anything. That's the ONLY way you'll be able to stick to it.

Because in all honesty, it is NOT easy.

_______________________________________________________________

How are YOU doing on your fitness journey? E-mail me at angiepete@gmail.com and let me know how you are measuring up! Send in your weight and body measurements from this week and from your start date. Let me know how you are feeling about your progress. Remember, you can do this too!

Substitute It! Bacon

For many people, the smell of bacon cooking is pure heaven. But bacon isn't exactly a healthy food item. It's packed with high levels of fat and sodium.

Not exactly a good item to eat regularly if you are trying to lose weight and be healthy.

But is turkey bacon better for you? Well, yes and no. When you compare the calories and fat and sodium content, turkey bacon is considerably better then traditional pork bacon. But don't be deceived! Just because it's BETTER, doesn't mean that it is HEALTHY for you. Turkey bacon still isn't good for you. But as an occasional treat, it is a MUCH better option.

Here are the nutritional information so you can compare them yourself:

For a serving of 3 slices

Pork Bacon

Calories: 126

Protein: 3 g

Total Fat: 9 g

Saturated Fat: 3 g

Salt: 576 mg

Turkey Bacon

Calories: 75

Protein: 2 g

Total Fat: 4.5 g

Saturated Fat: 1.5 g

Salt: 405 mg

So if you are going to eat bacon (which I stress should NOT be an every day occurrence), make sure you substitute traditional bacon with turkey bacon. With fewer calories and less fat and sodium, it's a much better option.

And it tastes great, too! Just ask my kids. Here's a picture of my 3 year old daughter Keali eating some turkey bacon at breakfast this morning. "Yum!" she said.

Food for Thought: When's the Best Time of Day to Exercise?

This week the question bouncing around in my head was, "When's the BEST time of day to exercise?" I wondered if it is better to exercise first thing in the morning before eating breakfast. Or maybe it's better later in the day when my body is more awake. My husband is always telling me to do it as soon as I wake up. Before eating, showering and doing ANYTHING else. In his eyes, I should ideally be literally rolling out of bed and pushing play.

But as a busy mom of five, this isn't always practical. I tend to exercise as soon as I can in the morning after I feed all the children and attend to their needs.

So to find the answer to my question, I did a little research. Actually that's a big fat lie. Because I did A LOT of research. I've been reading several articles a day trying to sift through the wealth of information on the topic. The problem is there is a ton of conflicting evidence and opinions about what time is best.

After all my reading, this is what I have determined...

According to the latest research being conducted on this topic, unfortunately the answer to the question, "What is the best time for exercise?" varies upon your training goals and your exercise adherence. The answer is best determined on a personal, case-by-case level.

Generally and Biologically, Late Afternoon is Best for Exercise

Research shows that the optimal time to exercise is when our body temperature is at its highest, which, for most people is 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (body temperature is at its lowest right before waking).

STRENGTH is greater in the afternoon. Strength output is 5% higher at around mid-day; anaerobic performance, such as sprinting, improves by 5% in the late afternoon.

ENDURANCE is greater in the afternoon. Aerobic capacity (endurance) is approximately 4% higher in the afternoon.

INJURIES are less likely in the afternoon. Afternoon exercise is the best if you want to avoid injuries for many reasons. We are most alert, our body temperature is the highest so our muscles are warm and flexible, and our muscle strength is at its greatest. These three factors make it less likely that we will get injured.

Morning Exercisers are More Consistent

Even though afternoon exercise might be best from a physiological standpoint, research also shows that morning exercisers are more likely to stick to it than later-day athletes. As the day goes on, more distractions present themselves and things we intend to do often get delayed. So if you want to establish a habit, it is best to do it first thing.

There are several cons to this, however, the primary ones being that the body is not awake enough to optimally burn fat yet and that injuries are more likely if the body is not warm enough. If you are a morning exerciser, make sure you WARM UP and STRETCH FIRST.

Evening Exercise and Sleep

Most research supports the idea that exercise can improve sleep quality. But does exercising too late in the evening keep you up? Studies have shown improvements in sleep no matter the time of the work out. It is not clear yet if exercising at night keeps you up. One study even showed that vigorous exercise 30 minutes before bedtime does not keep you awake.

The Bottom Line

The good news is that you get to decide the best time for you to exercise based upon your personal goals, schedule and lifestyle. Ideally, you should pick a time that you are able to stick with consistently and make part of your daily or weekly schedule.

If you are training for a competition, it's wise to modify your training to accommodate the event start time. And don't forget that it's always wise to warm up before you workout.

So as far as the question goes, when is the best time of day to exercise, I have decided that for me there is no perfect time of day. As long as I get it done! For me the best time varies each day, depending upon such variables as when my baby happens to nap, my kids' home school schedule and how much sleep I got the night before.

What do you think? When is YOUR optimal workout time? Food for thought!

Tips and Tricks: How to Workout Your FACE

Yesterday as I stood at the mirror applying makeup I found myself wishing I knew of a way to workout my face.

Sounds odd, I know.

This double chin and chubby cheeks have GOT to go! I thought.

I don't know about you but I hold a lot of weight in my face. Part of it is water retention due to the steroid prednisone that I'm on. "Moon face" is the term doctors use. Add to that the fact that I naturally have chubby cheeks anyway and the fact that I genetically have a very round Asian face and you are looking at a VERY big moon.

The picture to the left is from about three years ago when my face was at its "roundest." I've lowered my steroid dose a lot since then and the puffiness has gone down somewhat. Not enough, though.

So when a friend of mine posted instructions on how to work out your face, I was ecstatic (thanks Amanda!). And I figured I'd pass these tips on to you...

"Many individuals exercise every day but forget one important body area -- the face and neck. Exercising your chin tones the muscles of your lower face, your jawline and your neck for a more youthful appearance. Exercise the muscles of your lower face and chin on a daily basis and you may benefit from the natural facelift results that you could begin to see in a matter of weeks.

Chin Lifts

The chin lift exercises multiple small muscles that make up the lower portion of the face, including the hyoglossus, the mylohyoid and the platysma, the large muscle flap that extends from your chin down along the front of your throat. Toning these muscles purportedly slims the front part of the neck and chin where they join. Start with your head and neck in a relaxed position. Tilt your head backward until the chin points upward to the ceiling. Push your chin forward. You'll feel a strong pull all along the jawline and front of the neck. Hold the position for 10 seconds. Lower your chin and repeat the exercise sequence 20 times.

Double Chin
Get rid of your double chin by performing focused exercises in the front of the neck area. One example of an effective exercise is to do what is called kissing the ceiling. Tilt your head back and purse your lips in an exaggerated kissing position. Extend the lips toward the ceiling and hold a second, then release. Continue repeating the kissing motion 10 to 20 times. You can do this exercise several times a day.

Yoga Lion Pose
The lion pose helps tone and exercise all the muscles of the face, but also targets the lower jaw, chin and neckline. Kneel on the floor, hands on your thighs. Open your eyes and mouth as wide as you can and stick your tongue out, trying to touch your tongue to your chin. Hold this position while saying "ah" for five to 10 seconds to start. Release the pose. Relax a moment and then repeat. You can do this exercise as often as you wish through the day.

Hanging Head Lift
Lie on a sofa or bed with your head hanging over the edge. Lift your chin toward your chest. Place a hand behind your head to help if needed until your neck and jaw muscles grow stronger. Hold the contraction for a few seconds and then slowly lower your head back to its starting position. Repeat five more times and then relax.

I don't know about you buy I'm going to add these to my daily workout routine. Can't wait to start saying good-bye to my Moon face!

To Tell the Truth: I Don't Enjoy Exercising

"I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

On today's episode of "To Tell the Truth," I'm going to fess up: I don't particularly enjoy exercising.

There, I said it!

In fact, I don't like it much at all. To me, it's just another chore. Something I need to get done, to check off my "to do" list. I liken it to doing dishes, laundry and cleaning toilets.

Necessary, but not particularly enjoyable.

Now, don't get me wrong. I THOROUGHLY enjoy the sense of accomplishment I experience AFTER the fact. And I REALLY enjoy the benefits I am experiencing from all my hard work. Just like I enjoy having a clean house and clean clothes to wear.

I'm just not one of those people that would ever aspire to run a marathon. I don't get my kicks from working up a sweat just because and I would never try to climb Mt Everest or criss-cross the country on a bike.

It could be that in the future when I have a body full of muscles I may come to really LIKE working out. Maybe I'll spend hour after hour at the gym, running circles around the city and going through workout DVD after workout DVD in my home just because I can't get enough.

(*Collapsing in a fit of giggles*)

I don't think that would ever happen. It's just not me.

But even though I don't enjoy workingout, I'm doing it anyway. Because if I am serious about getting fit and healthy, exercising is a necessary part of the process!

Spotlight: Hip Hop Abs

Once a week I will Spotlight a Beachbody workout program or product for you in order to give you a better idea of what the Beachbody company has to offer. Since I'm so familiar with the Hip Hop Abs program, I wanted to start with that one first.
Hip Hop Abs was created by Shaun T, the same trainer who made the famous Insanity workout videos.
The DVDs include an instructional video (Secret to Flat Abs) that break down how to do the basic moves. It also includes 5 workouts: Fat Burning Cardio, Total Body Burn, Hip/Buns/Thighs, Last Minute Abs and Abs Sculpt. The workouts are generally 30 minutes long with the Last Minute Abs being just 5 minutes in length. I use the Last Minute Abs on days when I feel crunched for time or if I want to do a little extra after completing one of the other workouts. But just because it is only 5 minutes doesn't mean it isn't a kick in the tush. It's INTENSE!
What I love about Hip Hop Abs is that it is comprised primarily of dance moves that target your stomach. But don't be fooled! Even as you focus on your core, you are always working the rest of your body out, too! You hardly ever get down on the floor, spending the majority of your time in different combinations of moves while tightening your stomach muscles. Not once does Shaun T. have you do a sit-up or crunch!
It's fun, it's engaging, and it gets your heart pumping all while you move and groove to fun dance music. It's never boring as Shaun changes it up constantly with different arm movements and combinations.
If you are looking for a fun workout without high impact, think about trying Hip Hop Abs.
You'll love it as much as I do!



For a short video to see what Hip Hop Abs is like, click here.

Weigh Day

Monday is Weigh Day! It's the day when we all weigh and measure ourselves in order to track our progress. It's a day I both look forward to and dread all at the same time.

I get excited when I see my numbers going down. And disappointed when they go back up. But it's all just part of the fitness journey I'm on. As long as I'm still making progress to reach my long-term goals, I'm doing well.

Right? Right!

I'm going to share my progress with you. You might remember that last week I was ecstatic with my progress. This week I'm still happy. Because even though I GAINED half a pound in the last week, I still lost 3 inches off my total body.

Not too shabby!

I really care more about inches any way. I can tell that I'm slimming down and I must be adding more muscle to my frame, which weighs something, too. The workouts are getting easier and I don't have to modify quite as many of the movements any more.

So I definitely feel and see a difference.

What I REALLY love is getting dressed for church on Sundays now. Because I only wear my church clothes once a week, I'll sometimes go a few weeks between wearings of a particular item. Yesterday I wore a dress that I hadn't worn since before I started working out. I slipped it on, turned around and looked in the mirror.

It was a lot looser. Hooray for little triumphs!

It's moments like that when I think how every drop of sweat, every minute spent exercising, every instance when I turned down a tasty treat were all worth it.

I know I'll reach my weight-loss goal of 50 pounds if I keep plugging away at it.

8 pounds down, 42 to go. I can DO this!

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How are YOU doing? I want to hear about your progress! E-mail me at angiepete@gmail.com. Tell me your weight and measurements on the day you started your program and what they were today. And I want to know how your workouts are going. Are you frustrated or happy with your progress? Let me know!

Substitute It! Strawberry Icecream

Have you ever read the best-selling book Eat This, Not That? I LOVE that book! It's all about choosing the healthier option when presented with two choices. Like which chicken sandwich to eat at Burger King and which one not to eat. I think it's fascinating the difference in calories and fat conent of two seemingly similiar items.
So in the spirit of this popular book, I have decided to do a segment on Saturdays called "Substitute It!" I want to show you that it's still possible to eat most of your favorite foods through substitution. Because I don't know about you, but the weekends are hard for me to make good food choices.
Last night I had a strong desire to eat icecream. And right there in my freezer sat a container of Breyer's Strawberry Icecream. All the way from the living room, I could hear that icecream calling my name.
"Angie!" it chanted. "Eat me, Angie! I'm your FAVORITE!"
Almost overwhelmed with temptation, I got out my computer, determined to find a healthier alternative to one of my favorite treats. And I came across this recipe.

Clean Eating Strawberry Ice Cream

(Makes 8 servings)

Ingredients

2 bananas, sliced and frozen

1/2 C low-fat cottage cheese

1 C frozen strawberries (or 1/2 C fresh fruit)

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. You may have to stop it, remove the lid and poke it around a few times to convince the processor to blend it all. And if the mixture seems too dry to process properly, add a small splash or two of non-fat milk to get things loosened up enough to blend. Then start it again.

2. Remove and serve.

Nutritional Content

1 serving = 1/2 C

Calories: 52

Total Fat: 0 g

Saturated Fat: 0 g

Trans Fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 1 mg

Sodium: 49 mg

Carbohydrates: 10 mg

Dietary fiber: 1 gm

Sugars: 6 mg

Protein: 2 g

Compare this to the Breyer's Natural Strawberry Icecream:

1 serving = 1/2 C

Calories: 110 (45 Calories from Fat)

Total Fat: 5 g

Saturated Fat: 3 g

Trans Fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 15 mg

Sodium: 35 mg

Carbohydrates: 14 g

Sugars: 13 g

Protein: 2 g

I'd say this is a good substitution!

I've tried making "icecream" with frozen bananas and strawberries before and loved it. And supposedly the cottage cheese ups the creaminess factor. My plan is to make this for dessert tonight!

Yum!

Food for Thought: Exercising Barefoot

When I first started exercising at home, I wanted to know:

Is exercising barefoot BAD?

I found myself wanting to exercise without shoes for two main reasons. We live in a second floor apartment and I was worried that by wearing shoes, I was making too much noise.

But the main motivation behind doing this was that as silly as it sounds, putting on tennis shoes and tying the laces are just too much for my sore arthritic hands to do most days. Exercising was that much more unappealing when it came with facing this daunting task.

So I went shoeless while exercising in my home. But when I saw all the people on the exercise videos sporting shoes of their own, I started wondering whether or not exercising barefoot could be bad for you.

So I did a little research. And this is what I found (click on the links to read the full articles yourself).

By exercising barefoot, you can actually promote your sense of balance, improve muscle alignment, reduce orthopedic pains and lessen the chance of injury.

By wearing expensive tennis shoes, we are over supporting our feet to the point that our foot doesn't have to do what its designed to. When you support your foot muscles they don't have to work as hard. And when they don't work as hard, they get weak.

Our feet are designed to run and jump without two inches of foam rubber under their sole. People are scared it might damage the foot but it can have a dramatically positive impact on foot health.

Apparently exercising barefoot has become the latest craze. Gyms are starting to allow their patrons to exercise without shoes and some even design entire exercise classes around the idea. In addition, RUNNING barefoot is becoming a popular idea.

So after reading all that, I felt very much encouraged. Instead of just feeling LAZY that I wasn't tying on tennis shoes each time I exercise, I now feel SMART.

You should give it a try, too!

Embarking on My Weight-Loss Journey

I think everyone has to reach their breaking point. That point when you just can't stand the way that the scale reads, the way you look in pictures and the way you feel about yourself. For me, it's been coming for several years.
I had five children in 9 years. And with each pregnancy, I added a few more pounds. A few pounds times five really starts adding up! Especially considering I never lost the weight from the previous pregnancy before getting pregnant again.
In addition, I've been on steroids for 6 years. No, not the kind that helps you build muscle. I'm talking about a corticosteroid prescribed to help me keep joint pain from Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis at bay. The good news is that my medication takes away a lot of the pain. The bad news is that the side effects are HORRIBLE! We're talking rashes, hair loss, increased appetite, fluid retention, mood swings, vision damage and my all-time favorite: WEIGHT GAIN.
Considering the high levels of the steroid I've been on for so long, my doctors tell me I'm "lucky" that I don't weigh 300 lbs. But I don't FEEL lucky. I look in the mirror and feel FAT. And I'm sick of it.
I think I hit rock bottom during Pregnancy #5. I was on bed-rest as a result of premature labor and could only get up for quick jaunts to the restroom. I developed gestational diabetes and for the first time, I REALLY understood what being obese and having diabetes could be like. And I made myself a promise. As soon as possible after the delivery, I was going to get serious about losing weight.
Three months later, I started walking 4-5 times a week. It was hard because my joints were so sore, especially my hands. This made pushing the baby in a stroller very difficult. And because it was Fall I had to bundle all 5 children up to go outside to exercise.
Not fun!
Once a week or so I'd get my husband Jason's P90X program out. But it was too intense, even with modifying the movements. I liked the program but was frustrated there was so much of the video I couldn't do. And what I did do left me in horrible joint pain for days.
It just wasn't the program for me.
Then I had a good friend tell me about Beachbody's other products. I chose Hip Hop Abs, a program of primarily dance moves designed to target my problem area: my stomach (is it any surprise this is my problem area after having so many children? :)
For the last two weeks I have been faithfully exercising 6 days a week using Hip Hop Abs. On top of that, I'm being really careful what I eat, trying to stick to mostly fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. And after only 14 days, I'm already seeing results. Drum roll, please...
I have lost an astounding 8.5 pounds and a total of 10.5 inches off my body! I can't believe it! Because this is my blog, I have bragging rights and for just a minute here, I'm bragging my guts out!
I am mostly astounded because after all the other things I've tried, with the physical challenges I face and after trying to eat healthy all along, I'm FINALLY seeing the results I've desired.
I'm sure you have had your own challenges to face in losing weight. And I can honestly tell you that it truly hasn't been as hard as I thought. It took choosing the right program and STICKING to it. It took pressing play every day and doing the workouts. It took choosing healthy meal options and saying "no" to the sweets, like chocolate chip cookies my kids make.
And it will CONTINUE to take a lot of work.
That's why I started this blog. And that's why I wanted to become a Beachbody coach for myself. I wanted to share my story and my success with others. I wanted to help other women out there who are like me: frustrated and desperately wanting to make a change to get fit and healthy, and to FINALLY lose weight.
Because if I can do it, YOU CAN TOO!
(Here is a picture of my five children. There are my reason for living. And the real reason why I NEED to lose the weight :)

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by Angie's Fit List: The Blog! I started this blog to document my journey towards getting fit (because, let's get real, it's a J-O-U-R-N-E-Y!). I will post about the highs, my success and about the good days; but I will also post about my lows, my struggles and the bad days. Because in all honesty, this process is not an easy one. And in between all that, I will post fitness tips, healthy recipes and any other interesting and/or inspirational tid bits.
If you haven't already, you are invited to join my Facebook Community, Angie's Fit List (e-mail me at angiepete@gmail.com to join). As part of my Fit List, you will be joining a group of friends with one common goal: To Get Fit! So stop sitting still and take charge! I promise, you'll be glad you did!

(Visit my Facebook page! Just click on the Facebook button on my sidebar.)