This is me, today - day 1 of Weight Watchers. 300.2 lbs. Size 22 pants. Size 18/20 shirt. **************************
Are you on Facebook? Be my friend!
http://www.facebook.com/tnhollie
I also have a SkinnyHollie fan page, where I post weight-loss and health related stuff:
http://www.facebook.com/skinnyhollie
I also Twitter (but not a lot). My twitter name is also SkinnyHollie.
One of the BEST movies I've ever seen! I cried like an infant at the end! This is a must see! Just got back from a night away with my two youngest kids. Big sister has been at camp for a week, so I decided we would have a night away near the campsite. It was awesome. Movie, then dinner, then swimming and relaxing.
My life has been so hectic, but I have been trying to stay focused.
I feel renewed and ready to move on with the summer. Summer school that I am teaching is over on Wednesday, and not a day too soon! With my own summer school classes being so demanding, I need the extra time to focus on ME again.
I am SO behind on blog reading. Google Reader says I have 500+ unread. I am determined to catch up, though! But just know I am here, and I'm not quitting!
Weight: 303
Resting Heart Rate: 65
Blood Pressure: 118/72
Body Fat: 45.6% (This was described as �off the chart� for the computer program she was using. She had to take additional measurements with the calipers and calculate another way. EMBARRASING.)
3-Minute Step Test: 132 BPM (Up and down on a step for 3 minutes.)
Sit and Reach: 14 (This measures my flexibility.)
Bench Press Test: 30 Reps (Lifting 35 lbs. She said this was great.)
Measurements:
Chest � 46
R. Upper Arm � 18.5
Waist � 54
Hips � 57
R. Thigh � 34
R. Calf � 20
I have to admit, the numbers are depressing. The bright side? I now have a plan. The trainer was very encouraging and though it was great that I was taking control of my health. But I felt grossly out of shape and fat as hell.
I will return to the trainer for a re-assessment on August 1. My goal is to lose 20 lbs, and to also increase my strength and lower my active heart rate. I am so glad I did this assessment. Now I will be able to measure my success in other ways BESIDES THE SCALE.
I hopped on the elliptical for some cardio after the assessment, and had to stop after 23 minutes because my left foot was HURTING. The arch of my foot was rubbing my shoe the wrong way and it was painful. I tried to keep going but pain started shooting up my leg so I stopped. I figured with the step test and the bench pressing I did, that I got in my 30 minutes.
I really need to find some new shoes. I�ve bought three new pair so far and they all hurt my feet after I wear them for a while. They are comfortable when I buy them, but don�t pass the workout test. Ugh. Very frustrating.
Sugar-free June is still going well! Almost too easy so far� no cravings, no headaches. Maybe the fruit I�m eating is keeping this process painless. My eating has been clean and healthy. No sodas today, either! I am feeling great!
Did I mention I lost 3 lbs since yesterday? Yes, I know I am supposed to ditch the scale. But I wanted to weigh in for the fitness test today so I would have an accurate number.
The rest of the day was spent by the pool. Lovin� this vacation!
I am so nervous about my interview tomorrow. This is BIG. I really want a job in this district.
I have been nauseous all day. Panicked. Stressed. I hate this feeling.
************
Yesterday was day one of Weight Watchers, and I had a great day. My daily points is 36, I ended up eating 37 points (which I estimated was about 1550 calories). I made good, healthy choices, and drank 80 oz. of water.
My activity was GREAT yesterday. I started out by mowing the grass (25 min, burned 400 calories). Then, before dinner, I took the kids to the park and walked two miles around the track there (38 minutes, burned 500+ calories). If I remember correctly, that amounts to about 9 activity points. I felt "snacky" before bed last night, but just made myself go to bed so I wouldn't be tempted.
Many of you asked in the comments yesterday WHY I felt embarrassed about going back to meetings.
I think it's because I feel like I am going backward. I have tried WW before and it didn't get me to goal - why should I think it's gonna get me there now? Is this just another waste of time and money?
I also think going back to a structured diet plan is like admitting failure on my part. I have tried to do it on my own, and I just can't do it. I need the structure of a plan right now. But I also need a plan that will not restrict certain food groups; one that is adaptable and "real life". WW has always been that plan for me.
I was thinking about it today as I was eating fresh pineapple (that was soooooo good!). I could never have pineapple on Medifast, or if I was doing a no/low carb diet. Weight Watchers takes away the guilt by letting me pretty much have whatever I want. It's just up to ME to make the right choices when it comes to nutritious food for my body. So far, so good.
*************
Speaking of Medifast...
Yesterday before mowing the grass, I was looking for a quick "snack" to tide me over until dinner. I ended up drinking one of my leftover Medifast shakes and it was so refreshing! The numbers are also good - 90 calories, 0 fat, 4 grams of fiber, and 11 grams of protein - all for 1 ww point! I drank it at about 4 p.m. and was satisfied until dinner at 7 p.m. I will definitely be drinking these shakes while on WW. The Medifast shakes were always one of my favorite meals while on the plan - I am just glad I don't have to drink them all the time now!
Also, last week when I spoke about Medifast and exercise, I was IN NO WAY trying to knock their plan or anyone who does it. My motto is WHATEVER WORKS, DO IT! I was just frustrated by hearing so many people over the course of ONE DAY say they couldn't/wouldn't exercise while doing Medifast. But I know of SO many people who continue to have success on that plan, and I am so happy for them. It was just not for me.
I got to sleep in (until 7 a.m., lol) and had my lawn mowed by noon! I am thinking about grilling for dinner tonight, so I wanted to get it done. It's been a while since I mowed the yard myself and it kicked my butt! In a little over an hour, I burned over 1000 calories! My body is so SORE right now!
Here is a pic from Friday night. I went to a birthday party for a friend, and one of my old friends from college came to surprise ME for my birthday! We had so much fun - it was so good to see her. She just moved back to this area, so we MUST keep in touch! I am getting excited about the upcoming sugar detox. In the past, I would be binging on anything sweet because "I can't have it anymore." But over the past several days, I have found myself not even wanting sugar! I am CHOOSING to limit my sugar now, and I think it will help the detox. I am also drinking more water.
I also don't have any major food plans for Memorial Day. I will grill, but nothing more/less than I would do for a regular dinner. No dessert planned. And I feel good about it.
Tomorrow, I join the gym! It's time to get my butt in motion and use this time off to concentrate on ME.
I went to a cookout for Memorial Day. I did not overeat. I had a hot dog (beef, no nitrates) and was about to eat a burger, but only ate about 1/3 before I put it down. I was full. Now, let me tell ya - my bff makes burgers that are out of this world. And I still put it down. I didn't have sides either. There was potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, etc. I didn't have any. I think the change in my mentality is significant.
I am do excited about the sugar detox that starts tomorrow. I have been just waiting for Memorial Day to pass by so I could eat what I wanted. Who knew that I wouldn't even want to eat like a mad woman? As a matter of fact, I have been eating well for at least four days. I feel good. I feel energized. I feel like I am in a good place.
And there is even stress still! My life is still crazy - but I am now making the CHOICE to take control. It really is a choice, you know. I can choose to be in control of my actions, or I can let the stress be an excuse.
HELLO... The stress will always creep up. It can not be an excuse to be bad to my body and to destroy my health.
My JUNE top TEN:
1. No refined sugar.
2. No packaged food with over 5 grams of sugar. (I got this idea from Yum Yucky.)
3. Fruit is allowed.
4. No alcohol.
5. No more than one 12-oz diet soda daily.
6. Limit artificial sweeteners.
7. No fast food.
8. 150 oz. of water per day (approx. 1/2 my body weight in oz.).
9. Back to the gym! I am shooting for 5 days/week of SOME TYPE OF EXERCISE.
10. Limit processed food.
This list is DO-ABLE! I will also be tracking and counting points/calories along the way to make sure I am within guidelines to lose weight. I will weigh in in the morning, and the scale is going on vacation until July 1. The last thing I need is for the scale to play with my mind during this time.
My #1 goal for June is to get back into good habits that will be good for my body. I know that sugar is toxic for me, and it leads to cravings and binges. It's a habit I've kicked before, so I know I can do this again. It's necessary. I have to do this for me.
I am so ready for change!
The interview went really well yesterday! The position is awesome - really my ideal teaching job if I had to pick! I actually know the principal of the school from church, and it turns out that his wife reads this blog! (hi, Tiffany!) That's about all I want to mention, since I don't want them to think I am begging for this position via blog, lol! Just keep praying - if it's for me it will be mine!
Went out last night and had a great time - with NO alcohol! I had lunch out yesterday and knew I'd dipped into some of my weekly points. It just wasn't worth making it worse calories from wine. Lately, though, it has been easy to abstain. I just don't *like it anymore. I have too much going on. But I still had an AWESOME TIME!
Today was soccer and I steered clear from the concession stand, another NSV.
I am on my way to a backyard bbq that will most likely get rained out...:(
I have been "good" all day so I can eat this afternoon with no guilt.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
"We are challenging you to take control of the Sugar Beast and go sugarless AND artificial sweetener-free for one day. All pledged proceeds will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Association in support of a cure for Type 1 Diabetes."��
Read Yum Yucky's original post HERE. There is also a give-a-way!
I'll definitely be joining in! Will you?
I have made several decsions about this summer that will hopefully help me get on track for the summer:
1. I am re-joining the gym. This will serve two purposes: to get back into a fitness routine and for my family to have pool access for the summer. It is getting HOT in Tennessee, so a gym membership will allow me to exercise no matter how hot it gets. Last summer, it worked out really well. I would exercise for an hour or so while the kids were in childcare, then we would all change into swim clothes and we would go swimming.
2. I am going to get back into clean eating for myself and the kids. We have been slacking off for the past two weeks. I've been letting fast food creep back in, which has to stop now. We are still not bringing the bad stuff in the house in grocery form, so we have not completely reverted back to our old ways. But I want to get a grip before my kids get too used to eating bad stuff again.
3. Starting June 1 I am going to detox from sugar again. I have been weaning myself off sodas since Friday. I drank my last one with dinner last night. So now, it's time to get rid of sugar. I have done it once, I know I can do it again. My body doesn't like sugar, so I need to kick the habit.
I am waiting until June 1 because I know I will be at home, in a controlled environment. There will be no excuses, like running late for work or being in a hurry. We were planning a trip to Florida for the week, but I cancelled it last night. I need a week for ME. I need a week to relax and just have some peace and quiet at home before summer school begins. I know my kids were disappointed, but they will get over it.
My stress level is HIGH right now.
I didn't sleep last night.
Things are hectic.
But I did NOT eat my way through it. I made it through this weekend with only a few slip-ups. Minor ones.
I went out last night, and my group of friends did their "usual" trip to IHOP after our shenanigans. I ordered an omelet, but they brought out pancakes with it. I ate some, but not all... maybe 1/2 of the three small pancakes. I love IHOP's pancakes, and it was worth it. The rest of my eating had been on point for the day, so I just vowed to do well today. I ate 1/4 of the omelet and gave it away.... It didn't have sugar but it looked way too fattening to eat. The last think I need is a stomach-ache from too much grease!
Today, my ex and I took our kids to Chuck-e-Cheese. I got the salad bar, and started out with a big salad w/lots of veggies and low-fat ranch dressing. I was only going to eat one, but I ate two slices of pizza while we were there. My day was so crazy, it was 5 p.m. and that was really my first "meal" of the day and I was hungry. I started to get that "guilty" feeling, but I nipped it in the bud. I was not going to beat myself up over it and start a binge.
I just ended my day with a bowl of fruit, and I am very proud of how I held it together this weekend. Between being away from home, dealing with stress, and eating out, I held it together in a way I believe NORMAL people do.
This is real-life. I have to be able to live in a way that will allow for the occasional slip-up. It doesn't mean I have failed.
Next week I am going to devote a lot of time to my workout regime since I missed it this weekend. I found myself doing squats and leg-lifts in the pool yesterday because I "missed" exercising and wanted to do "something". Kinda made me giggle, lol.
Tomorrow is the first day of summer school and I am so nervous. I don't think that teaching summer school this year is going to be as FUN as it was last year. I feel like I'm under a microscope and it's stressing me out. I pray that tomorrow goes smooth so I can start sleeping again! I had candy. I ate the barbeque, chips and baked beans for lunch. Damn! I controlled portions and didn't go back for seconds like everyone else. I also drank a lot of water. But candy - that's a no-no.
This is what I will do DIFFERENT.
I am already back on plan. This will NOT be a free-day-I-will-start-over-tomorrow-because-I-messed-up-today type of day. No.
I am NOT throwing in the towel.
I am on my way to the gym, and I will eat light for the rest of the day. I stocked up on lots of fruit and veggies last night, so I have good food to choose from. I am also posting this NOW so I will be accountable.
I am REALLY trying to change my mentality. It can't be ALL or NOTHING. Grey areas do exist, even if it shouldn't be a color you choose often on this journey.
I will not give up easily. I will be consistent.
I struggle with consistency.
Several people mentioned in the comments that I should have taken a picture of my ensemble on Saturday night... I forgot to! I didn't remember taking any pictures this weekend, but my friend posted this on Facebook yesterday.� It is me and my cousin, Marissa, on Friday night at her birthday party. I was feelin' pretty good here, too!
Today has been busy, busy, busy... and I've been eating, eating, eating... I know... more on that tomorrow!
On Saturday night I went out with a friend. The whole thing made me a little nervous, because going out seems to be "one of those things I don't do anymore." For a while, I felt like the good times were out of control. I reeled myself in, and have just stayed there for a while. But this weekend, I was just in the mood to get out and have fun, and that's just what I did.
I had a new outfit that I'd bought for a Mother's Day gift to myself, so I got all dressed up - hair, makeup, etc. I felt so pretty. I really loved my shirt and the way my makeup looked.... (my friend only uses MAC cosmetics, and has a collection that a makeup artist would envy! Whenever we go out, I always use her makeup...). I wore really cute heels and felt like a million bucks.
We hopped around to several different parties and had a blast! I didn't eat the usual crap, kept the alcohol to a bare minimum, and still had SUCH a good time.
One thing kept coming up, though. Everywhere we went, women kept telling me that I was beautiful. When men approach me, I usually don't pay attention because they usually just want to get in your pant, lol. But these were random women that I didn't even know that were complimenting me - and seemed sincere! Even my best friend looked at me at times and would say, "you look exceptionally beautiful tonight."
Ordinarily, I don't know how to accept a compliment, but on that night, when I said "thank you" I really meant it. It made me feel awesome.
At one party we went to, this really pretty woman came over to me and said, "you are so pretty! I love how confident you are - you really are an example for us big girls that we look just as good as those skinny girls!"
Confident? Me?
So I asked my friend yesterday (as we were re-capping the great night we had) if she thought I seemed confident.
"Yes - whenever you're dressed up and go out, you are confident as hell. Only people who really know you know that you struggle with it..."
She is so right. But at least I can fake it til I make it, right?
*************
I have been toying with the idea of doing a sugar detox again. Yum Yucky did one last week, and she has inspired me to JUST DO IT.
So last night I went to the grocery, and there was a table with cake right by the cash register. Small containers with two slices of cake - coconut cake. I decided I wanted it and thought - one last piece... (story of my life, right?)
I got home, ate dinner and after the kiddos went to bed, I went to the kitchen for my cake.
But I didn't want it.
The behavior was just too familiar. Sneak in the kitchen for my binge after the kids go to bed... then feel like crap after I eat it.
But the cake is there... just waiting for me! What will happen if I don't eat it? Just go to bed without it?
It will just stay on the counter, that's what!
I was full... I was satisfied (mentally and physically). I didn't want the cake anymore, and didn't feel obligated to eat it just because it was there. It is still on my counter. If I want it later, I will eat it and feel no guilt. But the fact that I left it there last night was such a NSV.
****************
I didn't track this weekend, but felt like I did well. The scale was up .2 this morning from Friday morning's weight, so that's good.� It means that I didn't over-do it this weekend. I was able to have fun and stay binge-free. I made good choices, and feel great.
Did I mention that I've been binge-free since May 6? Yeah... that is an awesome feeling!
But time away from my blog has NOT meant time away from my weight loss journey. I have really stayed focused. I am still exercising at least 3 - 4 times per week for an hour + each time. I am still doing about 45 minutes cardio and about 20-30 minutes of strength training. I can def tell a difference in the way my clothes fit, and in the way I feel. I feel stronger, and going to the gym is finally feeling like part of my routine. Even on days I don't (can't) go, I think about it and feel compelled to go.
Eating is also still good. I have been on the move so much, it really isn't hard to cut down the AMOUNT of food I eat... My goal is still to improve the QUALITY of food I eat. Now that I am going back to work tomorrow, I will be close to home again and I can see me returning to healthier meals and snacks at home. I've been eating a lot of Subway lately, because I have been on the move... �A LOT. But you know what? It has been so long since I've binged that I can't remember when. That is a victory!
I have been socializing a lot in the last three weeks. That �means my alcohol consumption has gone up. Not terribly, but even one cocktail three times per week can spell disaster when it comes to weight loss for me. But again, that's about to end once school starts back. No late nights and parties for me for quite a while! *sigh*
I am VERY excited about the upcoming school year. I know the first year of teaching can be tough, but I am ready for the challenge. I feel that I work for an awesome school district, and work with awesome teachers, and get awesome support. I will be successful, and I will have an awesome year!
I am so behind on blogs, but I am trying to catch up! I miss you guys, and can't wait to see what you've been doing for the past few weeks!
******************
Happy Birthday MizFit!!!!!!
Without having to even think about it, I knew the answer... my neck/chest/shoulder region. When I crop pictures, this is always how I do it so I "look" my best. For whatever reason, when I get to about 280 lbs or so my double chin disappears and my collar bone emerges. I think it looks sexy! I am between 270 - 280 lbs on all these pictures above....
What about you? What is YOUR favorite feature? No matter what size you are, you should have SOME part of your body that you look at and say, "not so bad!". Lemme know what it is in the comments, and link your blog if you write about it!
***********
While typing out this post, I got some incredibly wonderful news... I got the job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to scream/cry/vomit all at the same time!
I will write more later!
But last night, I tried Zumba... and I loved it! I always wondered what the big deal was, and now I see. There was no pressure to be perfect, and I love to dance. In 52 minutes, I burned 772 calories... so I will definitely be back!
So strength training yesterday... after Zumba I was wiped out. I have a busy day today, so I am actually going to the gym NOW so it will be DONE.� Can you tell I'm still motivated?
Still no sugar, but yesterday there WAS temptation. A couple of weeks ago, I left a bag of my groceries at WalMart. Apparently, the write the items in a book, so that when you come back you get a refund. Well, I came back yesterday and forgot my receipt - which is fine, but you have to get the items instead of the refund. One of the items? Double-stuffed Oreos.
Seriously... I almost left them on the counter. But my kids haven't had a "treat" in a while so I brought them home. I told my oldest to hide them where I couldn't find them. But truthfully... I really don't even want them now. The fruit is really helping with the cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
It's the weekend, so I feel like I need to have a plan (especially since we'll be spending the night away). I am babysitting Jess's (four) boys this weekend, and I have decided to do it at her house instead of mine. She has more room, a swing set, and a pool. I can handle all seven kids at my house, but there is just more to do over there. So here is my plan:
1. Bring plenty of fruit & veggies.
2. Have yogurt and other healthy snacks for the kids.
3. Bring my own bottled water.
4. Offer to make dinner (so I know it will be healthy).
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Diane (The Incredible Shrinking Family) left a comment on my Facebook page yesterday, where she said, �This is your year.�
So many people think of the beginning of one�s year being January 1. But Diane�s right � our �year� should begin with the day we are born! I appreciate her saying that, because it really made me think.
This is my year.
I have been struggling for a long time.
Struggling in my childhood.
Struggling as a single mom.
Struggling in my marriage.
Struggling with abuse.
Struggling with weight loss.
Struggling with finances.
Struggling with school.
Struggling with my job.
Struggling as a single parent (again).
Struggling with self-esteem.
Struggling with friendships.
Struggling.
Finally, finally� I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. After 15+ years of school (on and off) I am now certified to teach. I now have a teaching job doing what I�ve been wanting to do for such a long time, Special Education.
I was talking to the ex the other night, and he was telling me how proud he was of my getting my new job. He knows (and acknowledged) how hard I�ve worked to get here. But he said something that really made me think.
�You have now proven you can do anything you set your mind to. You have your dream job. The only other thing I know you�ve worked this hard on is your weight loss. Just imagine, Hollie, if you got down to your weight goal, too. You can do it, you know. That would be so great for you.�
But he knows me. He knows how much I really want to lose this weight.
Now is my time. This is going to by MY year. I feel it.
�I can�t believe how many things you haven�t tried.�
That�s the comment Laura left me on my food blog regarding my first time eating a plum. Yes, I ate a plum for the first time a few days ago. It was one of the many fruits and vegetables that for the longest time was on my �ew, I�m not eating that� list.
I�ve probably mentioned it a few times here, but it bares repeating: I used to be a really picky eater. A really, really, unbelievably picky eater. My path to obesity was paved with bland processed food and few vegetables and fruits. The vegetables my mother served with dinner rarely made it to my stomach and only went down after much protesting.
As a child I somehow decided certain foods were gross while others were acceptable. I honestly can�t recall exactly how those decisions were made but it went something like this: anything with sugar or that�s been deep fried is good and anything that�s a fruit or vegetable or weird meat is bad.� Those decisions I made at a early age in a no doubt sugar induced frenzy of excitement were ideas that stuck with me for a long time. In high school they had the most strength when I had both the freedom to choose my food and the ability to make the wrong choices that led to severe obesity. That continued until my first year of college where I finally decided to lose weight and literally forced myself to eat salads.
I struggled with compulsive eating and binge eating during college but at the same time I lost weight by eating more vegetables and salads. Even when I finally started eating these things by �choice� I stuck to a very boring and limited selection. Most vegetables were still classified as �yucky� and never made it to my plate. New vegetables and fruits that I didn�t recognize didn�t even stand a chance. I stuck to a very small selection of things like iceberg lettuce, carrots, and peas.
In the past year, especially since starting my food blog, I�ve tried a lot of things I never even knew existed and many things that once seemed to me like the most disgusting things ever. For example, last night I ate brussel sprouts for the first time. My mom made them once when we were kids because she loves to eat them, but I refused to even try one. Now as a much wiser, open and educated adult I�ve discovered that I actually like them.
I�m so glad I�m not a picky eater any more.
I�ve come a long way since I first started forcing myself to eat vegetables. I will now try everything at least once and I like most fruits and vegetables. There are some things I still don�t like. Raw tomatoes, mushrooms, and pickles being the main offenders. But I no longer write off foods before trying them like I did as a child. I�m a much more adventurous eater these days.
Despite my new(ish) healthy eating habits, I still haven�t tried a lot of things. Like plums and brussel sprouts, there are many other foods I�ve never had the opportunity to try because of my picky eating past. I now want to try everything and have decided to make the one of the missions of my food blog.
The mission is simple � try as many different fruits and vegetables as possible. I figure this is as far removed a goal from the formerly picky eater that I can get. The longest list of vegetables I could find was on wikipedia: list of culinary vegetables. Most other lists online only include the most commonly eaten ones. Similar is the list of culinary fruits. These two lists will be my guide and I will slowly cross off vegetables and fruits for as long as I can. They say you need to eat more fruits and vegetables, so I might as well be adventurous in my choices. ;)
Do you try to eat fruits and vegetables you�ve never tried before or do you stick to what you know? Are there any that you haven�t tried but want to?
If you liked this post, please subscribe for future updates! Thanks for visiting!
Tagged as: diet, eating habits, food, fruit, picky eating, vegetablesIt feels like so much has changed since my weigh in last week where I was writing about the end of the road trip. Since then I�ve gotten engaged, partied with my friends, celebrated with everyone I know (at least online), and had an awesome week. It feels like it�s been one big party. That�s how it should be.
But how does day after day of celebrating affect my ongoing weight loss? Well, see for yourself how I did:
If you like my videos you can subscribe to my youtube page and see them first. ;)
Weight In:
Current Weight: 209.0 lbs
Previous Weight: 210.6 lbs
Weight loss: -1.6 lbs
Weight loss Total: � 42 lbs
Starting Weight: 251
Last week�s goals:
1. Workout three times.� � Done. Only once where it was a formal workout (30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels), but they were done. Hurray exercise!
2. Drink enough water each day. � Competed on most days, but a few I could have drank more. This is always something that I need to work on. I need massive amounts of water (more than average) so it�s easy to not drink enough.
3. Avoid the massive amount of bread we have in this house. � Done! Easily! Somehow I didn�t eat that much bread. I think mostly because Kepa and my brothers ate it all before I could and I refused to eat white bread unless it�s French Toast.
4. Eat more veggies and fruits. (easy since non were consumed lately) � Done!� Not that it was hard since last week I ate zero veggies. I ate a lot of good things this week � sweet potatoes, lots of broccoli, lots of fruit. YUM.
This week�s goals:
1. Workout 3 times.
2. Drink enough water each day! Important!
3. Enjoy the last week with Kepa in the USA! :)
Thoughts:
This week went really well considering! I�ve seriously been out to eat so much and not cooked at home nearly as much as I was hoping for. It�s all been really fun, but once again I�m ready to cut out the eating out and cook things ourselves. This is Kepa�s last week in the USA so I�m hoping we can make him a few yummy home cooked meals instead of eating out every night.
I haven�t been food blogging the last few days because I haven�t had time and that�s been bothering me. I have still been taking photos and looking at them for my own benefit, but I realize now I get more out of it when I blog because I spend the time really thinking about and analyzing the thoughts behind why I was eating about how I was enjoying it (or not). Cutting out that process because I don�t have time for it has made me pretty sad!
This week is going to be awesome. Since Kepa and I won�t be in the states again until next year for our wedding we are going to go register! That will be really fun and I can�t wait to do that because it�s fun to imagine what our life will be like in a year when we get married and move out on our own. We will be starting with basically nothing except what our loving friends and family get us. It�s a strange concept since I�d happily go with nothing as long as I have Kepa. ;) I mean, I�m moving to New Zealand in a few weeks with basically just my clothes, computer, and camera. It�s strange to imagine having all the stuff you need to live. I�m particularly excited about all the kitchen stuff. I�ve never had my own kitchen or kitchen supplies but I love cooking now so I�m excited about that. I�ll try not to just register for those things though. ;)
Other than that the next week is wide open! We are going to a few more of my favorite places in Memphis and the time will fly by! Then Kepa will leave and I�ll follow a week later. It�s going to be a crazy (and fast) two weeks. But I know it will be fun!
If you liked this post, please subscribe for future updates! Thanks for visiting!
I�m feeling so much better after just one day of healthy eating. Seriously. Just one day without eating sugar, drinking lots of water, and lowering the amount of sodium in my food. It�s been good.
Today I wanted to address a comment left on yesterday�s post about getting back on track with healthy living:
Hi Mary. I hope you�re having a great road trip. First time commenting, I just had one question. You wrote:
�My normal way of eating involves not eating sugar on most days, not eating fried foods, not eating fast foods, and eating more veggies and fruits. This is not how I�ve been eating on the road trip, so I find a need to get back to it now even though we have a week of roadtripping left.�
I�m confused. Just a week ago, you wrote:
�There are a lot of things I normally wouldn�t eat that I�m going to eat while I�m traveling across the US with my boyfriend. And I�m going to enjoy them all. I won�t feel guilty and I won�t stop myself from eating them.�
It seems maybe you�re feeling a little conflicted. Originally you said you weren�t going to feel guilty about indulging, but it seems you ended up feeling guilty anyway. Maybe you can share what you�ve learned, and why you appear to have reversed your original commitment to �enjoy them all,� guilt-free? Is it not as simple as merely �deciding� not to feel guilty, but rather trying (and failing) to suppress guilt that we know we SHOULD be feeling, even though we don�t want to?
I hope it doesn�t end up being too much of a distraction from your trip, and I look forward to reading about how you resolve this inner conflict and seemingly inconsistent attitute toward food and your road trip.
Thanks for the comment that sparked a blog post Kevin! I found it interesting that my decision to start eating healthy again (for me that means less sugar, less sodium, less fast food, more water) was interpreted as feeling guilty about what I was eating the week before. I found it funny because that�s completely not what I feel. (And since the comment asked nicely for my thoughts I figured I would share a few!)
For me, even though our road trip is continuing for a week, I�m done with everything new and exciting. I�ve been all throughout Tennessee and North Carolina, so nothing here is something I haven�t had a chance to have before. It�s new and exciting to Kepa, but for me it�s just the normal stuff.� So for me there is no point in continuing to eat the way I have been up until this point.
This doesn�t mean that I didn�t enjoy everything previously. I did. I don�t feel bad about anything I ate, nor do I regret any decisions I made. I�m in no way conflicted, as it may have seemed in my posts. I most definitely do not believe that I should be feeling guilt over eating food, as that comment suggests. I�ve spent many years of my life feeling guilt over food � guilt over compulsive eating, guilt of secret eating, guilt over eating foods that tasted bad but were eaten just to eat something to soothe an emotion.� I no longer believe that I should feel guilt over food, even if my choices aren�t necessarily �healthy� ones. My overall attitude towards food has changed so greatly in the last few years that guilt is something that I feel no longer belongs.
I suppose gathering a thought here and there from hastily written personal musings on a blog is not the best way to determine someone�s philosophy and inner feelings toward food. But for me there is not inner conflict or inconsistency. I ate delicious things that I probably won�t ever get a chance to eat again and I�m grateful for the wonderful opportunity I had to do so, not guilty or upset that I chose to indulge myself and enjoy the experience. I�ve had the things that I normally wouldn�t eat. I will always remember those meals and probably still mention the memories of some like the shrimp po-boy in New Orleans or BBQ in Texas, amazing meals I shared joyfully with Kepa. There is no guilt associated with any of those meals. For me it really is as simple as deciding not to feel guilty, which in this case is extremely� easy to do because it was all worth it.
Things have happened exactly like I thought they would on the first part of our trip and they are happening like I figured they would on the second half of the trip. If we were headed to New York like we had planned at one point, then I would still be planning on eating local treasures with abandon. Because our trip is now going through parts of the country I already know well, I�ve decided it�s not worth it for me to continue that course (except for White Castle here in Nashville and BBQ in North Carolina that I still plan to dominate). This inconsistency has more to do with the change in plans for the road trip rather than inconsistency in my food philosophy.
Additionally, deciding to go back to my healthy eating for the most part has a lot to do with how eating all these fried and sugar/salt/fat/grease filled foods made me feel. I�m not someone who counts calories or follows a diet plan, so I generally base my food decisions on how it makes my body feel. I try things, I see how they work for my body, then I adjust depending on the results. While eating all these things is fun and initially gives you a boost, after a couple weeks I�ve found myself completely out of whack physically. I�ve wanted to snack more, I�ve been so tired I�ve crashed mid afternoon and had to nap, I�ve felt slow and gross. Those feelings are something I don�t enjoy and want to eliminate to fully enjoy the rest of my road trip and the remaining time I have in the States. Going back to my normal way of eating is an obvious decision, and an easy one now that we aren�t going to the Northeast (I wish we were though!).
Hopefully that clarifies? No guilt here at all. All things were enjoyed guilt-free and very happily. Now I�m transitioning back to my normal way of eating as much of possible with a few great things thrown in.
Guilt and food is such an interesting topic, I think. I�m curious to hear what more of you think�
Do more of you think you should feel guilty over foods you eat? Do you feel guilty when you eat high-calorie/not-on-your-plan foods? Or do you allow yourself opportunities to indulge and enjoy without any negative emotions attached (please, please some of you say you do)?
If you liked this post, please subscribe for future updates! Thanks for visiting!
Tagged as: Eating, food, guilt, travelThese past weeks, several people have written and started food blogs because of me. (Woah.) I figured I should share some thoughts on one of my best tools for healthy living.
Part of the reason why I love my food blog so much is because I�m not only tracking my food with it, but I�m also tracking my life. Every day I write a bit about what I did and how it related to what I ate. It�s my life through food. This blog is where I tend to write the meaty stuff, the stuff I think about, the big ideas that come along with this process of getting healthy. It�s where I sort through my mental junk in order to live a healthier life. It�s awesome and has changed me so much in the last three years, but sometimes it�s just heavy. Food blogging? It�s light and it�s fun, and what�s more is that it�s a version of food tracking that works for me.
If you are trying to lose weight you�ve undoubtedly heard the advice urging you to track what you eat. �You have to know what you eat to change it!� �You have to keep track of your food for success!� I heard these things for years but never could track my food. I did Weight Watchers for a couple weeks before but my food tracking lasted all of three days. I tried various methods � the WW pamphlet, post-it notes, notebooks, apps on my iphone � and all of them failed. I would do it for a few days then the habit would fade away. I knew that tracking was probably an important part of weight loss and becoming healthy, but I sucked at it.
Then I had an idea. I had been following healthy food blogs for a while after someone left a comment on my blog and sucked me into the healthy food blog vortex. Most of the bloggers I found were people that didn�t have a weight loss problem � most of them seemed to be trying to be registered dietitians or other health related professions. None were using their food blogging as a means of weight loss food tracking, but it sparked an idea in my head that I could use it for that purpose. I mean, if thousands of people were posting everything they ate online just to post it, why couldn�t I try posting mine to help me out and get a little accountability for my actions at the same time?
What Food Blogging Has Done For Me
After six months of food blogging I�ve determined it�s the best way of tracking for me. The fact that I�ve done it for six months almost every day is huge for me. For six months I�ve taken the time before each meal and snack to think about what I�m eating long enough to take a photo. For six months I�ve sat down at the end of the day and looked back over what I ate as I blogged, determining how certain foods made me felt and how they affected my body.
In the time that I�ve been food blogging learned that I actually enjoy cooking and more than that I ENJOY trying new foods. As a formerly extremely picky eater who only ate bland foods, I�ve drastically changed the way I eat and live. I love trying to make new healthy things that I can enjoy and share on the blog. I love trying new recipes that I find online and friends send to me. Cooking is something I once thought I could never enjoy but now absolutely adore.
I also learned that I don�t really like snacking. Food blogging gave me the methods to effectively try different things with my eating habits like trying to eat six small meals a day. I absolutely hated that way of eating because it never gave me a chance to feel hungry. Eating according to a schedule isn�t my idea of being happy and free from eating issues (which is one of my main goals) and my food blog helped me realize that. Tracking my food each day helped me realize I like eating my three meals a day with one (or no) snacks.
The best thing about this form of tracking is that you are forced to think BEFORE you eat. Most methods require you write down the food after you�ve consumed it. When you have to take photos you are forced to look at the food first. It gives you a chance to ask questions about what you are going to eat. Is it balanced? Is it colorful (good both for the photo and for your body)? Are the portion sizes in check? Generally I think about these things and consider my food much more carefully than I ever did before. From someone who once struggled with secret binges and compulsive eating this has been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me in regards to health and eating. Sometimes the answers to those questions will be no � you are eating �junk� and that�s okay. I haven�t found that food blogging and the accountability that goes with that completely stops me from enjoying things that aren�t necessarily healthy. It does however make me be more selective about my indulgences and what I choose to eat in those situations.
The Down Sides To Food Blogging
Food blogging isn�t for everyone. It�s entirely time consuming between taking the photos, uploading them and blogging.� I admit that some days I just don�t do it. I wait until the next morning and a few times on this trip I haven�t even bothered (it�s a vacation after all!).
It�s also pure accountability.� I might only have 80 followers for my food blog, just a small fraction of you read it, but I know that each day some of you are checking out my eats. That means I have an accountability that previously was lacking. For some people that accountability can be overwhelming and feel like pressure (I find it encouraging!).
Additionally, food blogging is a very vulnerable task. You are showing everything you eat and in a way inviting judgement on it. Some people may consider it political or even religious because what you say says a lot about you as a whole. That judgement might not be something you want to take on
Who I�ve Inspired
Lately my adventures in food blogging have inspired quite a few people to try creating their own food blogs. I honestly never expect anything I do to have an impact that inspires people, but sometimes it does by accident. Food blogging is something that I started and will continue to be just for me. It�s my way of tracking and sorting through my food issues on both a nutritional and emotional level. I�m grateful for all it�s helped me learn about myself and glad that these other awesome ladies have decided to follow suit with their own food blogs:
http://foodiesfood.wordpress.com
http://pubsgaleats.blogspot.com
http://kclanderson.com/foodlog/
Maybe it will inspire you. Or maybe it�s not your thing. I just know that it�s something I tried that worked for me. Make sure you check out my food blog too!
If you liked this post, please subscribe for future updates! Thanks for visiting!
Tagged as: Blogging, food, food blogKepa already posted the engagement video and the story of how he did it on his blog. Since he put so much time and effort into it I thought that was only fair. I got to announce I�m engaged first, he gets to explain how he did it. But since I LOOOOVED it and some of you still don�t know the story, here�s what happened. ;)
I knew it was coming eventually because it�s hard to be completely smitten with someone and not discuss the future together. I am moving to New Zealand in August and that has been the plan for quite a while. My only uncertainty was when exactly Kepa would ask the question and how. He had taken my mom to coffee without me, so I figured he had asked her permission then, because we are all traditional like that here, but I didn�t know for sure. He likes to keep things secret and surprise me so I really had no idea. I guessed one of his plans, but since our road trip plans changed it completely threw me off the scent. I had no clue.
Yesterday before we went to lunch while I was getting ready, Kepa asked me to stay in the bathroom. He had tried to get someone else to get me out of the house but everyone was at work or busy. So he just asked me to stay in there� or go outside. Since it�s hot I chose the bathroom/bedroom option. I saw him putting post it notes all over the house but didn�t think much of it because he has done that before for me. (We like using post its.) I figured it was just something fun to do to make up for the house being so boring.
When he finally said he was ready for lunch we walked outside. I asked if it was okay to leave the notes around and if I should just ignore them being there. And then after a few steps toward my car, he said I could go back inside. HA! Okay!
So I went inside and started at the beginning, walking around the house collected the post it notes that all said sweet things (they are in the video below if you want to see what they say). My youngest brother actually interrupted in the middle, which was funny. At the end of the notes they told me that Kepa made something for me and I needed to go watch it.
He made me a flipbook video! It was the cutest thing ever and he worked for so long on it. I absolutely freaking loved it. It�s got my favorite song, our story condensed, and lots of pictures from when we were together in New Zealand. He made it a while ago and it�s been on YouTube secretly, because he showed it to some of my best friends to ask if it was okay.
If you want to watch the flipbook video:
Obviously the end of the flipbook video is the proposal. I saw that then looked at Kepa and he was on one knee. AHHHH! Then he said the most awesome, perfect for me, amazing speech ever.
From the day I first saw you, I was smitten.
Every day since then, my feelings have only grown deeper.
I love you, Mary.
I love you for everything you are.
You are everything flowers and hearts and sunshine and butterflies and rainbows.
All the magic and wonder in my world.
You know why I hold on to you so tight?
Because life is a maze full of twists and turns and I want to get lost inside with you.
Because when I�m with you the world stops turning and gravity disappears and it�s all I can do to stop floating away.
I want to be the one you take great leaps with and face lightning storms with,
the one who holds you up above the waves and laughs with you all the while being drowned,
the one you split your desserts with,
the one who�ll sit in the seat facing the wall so you can have your back to it,
the one who will push you around in shopping carts,
and the one who knows just how important it is to never put pickles in anything.
You would make me the luckiest man in the world if you would say yes to this next questions�.
Will you marry me?
Yes he really talks like that. And it�s amazing. And I cried.
And I obviously said YES!
It really was amazingly sweet, romantic, perfect-for-me proposal. Kepa knows me so well and it�s obvious from how much thought and work he put into this to make it special. I am in fact the luckiest girl ever.
We had the best day afterwards as well, telling everyone we loved and also going to all my favorite eats in Memphis. It was the best day ever.
I�m so happy with my new fiance! Fiance!
If you would like to watch the entire engagement video, it�s below. Kepa recorded everything (I had no idea) so you can see the whole event from the post it notes to me saying yes and all.
It�s pretty special to me and I�m so glad I get to share it with all of you. Thank you so much for all the lovely messages, emails, comments. You guys made yesterday extra special and I�m grateful. I�m bursting with love right now for everyone. <3 <3
If you liked this post, please subscribe for future updates! Thanks for visiting!
Tagged as: engagement, Kepa, proposalLooks like quite a few of us have at one point had picky eating habits (or still do). It�s one of those things that you have to work around or grow out of when you are trying to become healthier. I really believe that you can change the majority of what you like to eat. It�s a mental process that you have to force yourself to change, and it�s hard work, but it�s possible. It is doubtful that anyone just wakes up one morning after deciding to become healthy and suddenly loves all the vegetables they previously hated.� No, even your eating habits require work.
The fact that even the way you eat involves work made me start thinking about all the work required for weight loss.
Losing weight involves a lot of work.
Losing weight involves a lot of work for the long term.
You have to work to change your food. You have to learn what is healthy and good for you all� the time (fruits, veggies, lean proteins, etc.) and what needs to be reserved for eating �once in a while.� You have to then make sure you stay on top of things and read food labels to count calories if that�s your method or to pay attention to things like sodium (me!) or fat. You have to come up with recipes to use that you like and make the plain foods something you delight in (because few people last with boring food). You have to buy, prepare, and cook your healthy food and have it ready so that you won�t have to rely on vending machines or fast food restaurants. If you have a full time job and a family to care for, or even if you don�t, it�s a lot of work.
And in addition to the food you have to do real work: exercise. Exercise is crucial to changing your body. If you want to lose weight efficiently exercise must be part of the equation. So you must find something you enjoy or at the very least can tolerate doing a few times each week. Or it involves things you don�t totally love (in the beginning) that grow on you. Or it involves things you hate, think are hard, but you still do anyway (hello, 30 Day Shred). Additionally you must educate yourself on exercise and how it affects your body and how to do it the right way. Or you can hire someone to teach you this as your personal trainer. Either way, you have to know what to do and then DO IT. Exercise is often something you don�t want to do, feel like you don�t have time to do, make excuses not to do, but you still have to do it anyway because it�s necessary. Weight loss requires work in the form of exercise.
So you work to change your food and you work to fit in and complete enough exercise. But the most exhaustive work is not on the outside. It�s on the inside.� You have to constantly work on your mental processes when you are losing weight. If you were/are over 100 pounds overweight like I was, you most definitely have some mental things to work through. And along the weigh losing weight you will have to mentally work through plateaus, setbacks, injuries, failures, struggles when your body doesn�t do what you think it should, changing body image, and more. Most of us will admit that weight loss is mostly mental. And we would also admit that the mental games behind weight loss involve a lot of work. It�s hard work to change who you are mental. Involves a lot of mental strength and power to change yourself from being the person who didn�t care and stuffed themselves to being the person who eats healthily and exercises no matter what. Many people underestimate the mental work that change takes, but it is work and it can be exhausting.
I know it never really ends, but I feel like most of my exhausting mental work is behind me. I feel like I�m not at the point where I�ve just got the physical I-have-to-do-it kind of work left. And that�s really exciting. It�s taken me a lot of work to get to this point. It�s taken all of us a lot of work to get to whatever point we are at in our journey.
It�s all a lot of work. But it�s worth it.
Anything that�s worth having is worth the work required.
If you liked this post, please subscribe for future updates! Thanks for visiting!
Tagged as: Weight Loss, workStress is an issue for most people living in the fast and furious 21st century but there are techniques to manage and effectively reduce stress. One of stress reduction method that has gained tremendous momentum is meditation. Meditation techniques still the mind and focus it on calm and steady thoughts. As deliberation turns inward, the introversion frees the flow of thoughts, visions and memories aligning the mind and the body in awareness and relaxation.
Meditation and mindfulness are routes to reduce stress and regain the equanimity needed for a productive life. Many types of meditation address the importance of breathing while focusing the mind on thinking positive thoughts or visualizing constructive images. Guided meditation is a growing practice for many who desire to relieve stress and enhance the peace, health and composure of their life. With various guidance topics and recordings available, meditation, sometimes termed �centering,� calls the individual to tune into the body and breathe with the energy force of the world.
According to Andrew Weil, M.D., �Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders.� This reduction in stress levels often results in creating a positive energy flow through the body that can prove effective in alleviating anxiety and even chronic pain. With relaxation of the muscles and nerves, blood and energy flow more freely to all parts of the body generating an enhanced feeling of well-being.
Proponents of mindfulness and breathing additionally laud �Improvement of body luster and general health� and �improvement in concentration� as benefits of meditation.
Though meditation is essentially a spiritual practice reaching across cultures throughout recorded history, its purpose elaborates as it is embraced. Individuals involved in guided breath meditation often evolve their practice to explore the very nature of themselves as they find success in dealing with problems and issues.
Interviews with people involved in meditation reveal that it can be an antidote for depression, stress and even fear. Offering increased joy, confidence and health, advocates find that meditation and breathing exercises assist them in gaining strength, when combined with yoga, and general health as they make meditation a way of life. Mindful breathing when combined with meditation helps practitioners to expand their horizons of life consciousness.
Process and methods of meditation span a wide range. A simple Zen practice of counting breath exhalations up to five and then repeating is a good place to begin. This simplified technique means that while never counting above the number 5, the breathing meditation can continue for hours.
With guided meditation processes your imagination is exercised as you are piloted through a journey. Often a word of intention is selected as a focus for breathing and meditation that helps with discovery of healing and healthful realizations. Frequently, practitioners of breathing, mindfulness and meditation utilize recordings. This accompaniment of appropriate music or sounds of nature can add depth and texture to the experience. Recordings are readily available in stores and online. Also, you may decide to compose a recording of your own from music, poetry or quotations that you find inspirational.
Many times meditations will begin with concentration on one aspect of the body such as the breath. As you begin a meditation it is necessary to find a comfortable sitting position. Once sitting comfortably with eyes closed, you will be guided to hold your stillness and breathe deeply. Initially you will turn your mind to focus on your breathing, shifting your attention to inhaling and exhaling. As you breathe deeply you will notice your body becoming relaxed. Then there will be guidance to concentrate on other areas of the body moving from the right side to the left side. For instance, focusing on the right shoulder as you breathe noticing the muscles there and imagining those muscles becoming a stream of liquid as you breathe. This will be repeated with the left shoulder and so on moving your focus around the body as lead by the recording or leader of the meditation.
As the meditation progresses, you will transition into listening to words that you have selected. Slowly, you will begin visualizing these words or ideas with your mind�s eye. It is these words that guide you through the meditation giving your subconscious time to flow along with the meditative message or visualizations.
Meditation is such an enjoyable and healthful experience that is sometimes necessary to tear yourself out of the elixir that it manifests. Closing the meditation is like saying goodbye to a pleasant journey though the next journey into mindfulness and peace already beckons.
Finding a comfortable sitting position is vital to effective meditation and stress reduction.Achieving relaxation and breathing requires a comfortable position for reflection. Sitting with head slightly tilted forward and hands folded or placed palm up on the knees is recommended for guided breathing mediation.It is frequently the case with daily stress that the tongue is glued to the top of the mouth. If so, relax the tongue to rest at the bottom of the mouth inside the teeth.As you progress in your mediation you will often experience distraction, return gently to focus on your selected message and your breathing.Finding a regular spot to meditate daily supports guided meditation by giving place to it in your life.How much does obesity cost the United States? See the following infographic for details.
It highlights work and health care costs by state, as well as comparing the states to one another.
Arizona, where it is hot, has the lowest percent of obese people in the country. Either the heat forces them to move away, or they sweat it off. The old grade school joke about the desert being so hot that only one S can grow there perhaps some foundation in reality. 
Alaska is a leader in obesity � perhaps its to cold to go out and do anything, or people need the extra layers for warmth. 
What other area is right up there with Alaska on the leader board? Washington D. C. � no doubt some politicians and greasy lobbyists are living high on the hog.
Click on the mini-snapshot image below to open up the full extended infographic in your web browser.
Andrea Ambandos may not be a household name, but if you have any fitness videos laying around, she�s probably on the credits of at least one of them. Staying behind the scenes, Ambandos has directed and produced many popular workout video series, including �Crunch�, �Yoga Zone�, and the ever popular 10 Minute Solution�. These videos have been on shelves for over 10 years, and they�re still selling strong in retail stores across the nation. Andrea�s staying power in the fitness industry has to say something about how effective her methods are.
Fitness videos are growing more and more popular these days as people have less time to hit the gym and would rather stay in the comfort of their own homes to work out. Instead of driving to the gym, grab a bottle of water and a few free weights and get moving in front of the TV! And the only thing better than a home fitness video is an effective home fitness video. And those are the kinds of videos that Ambandos lends her fitness expertise to. She focuses on making workouts fun for the viewers by creating great, enthusiastic methods for toning muscles and losing fat, easy for viewers by going slowly and clearly teaching moves and methods, and cheap for consumers because this one time fee of less than 20 dollars is cheaper than a monthly gym membership!
Here are just a few titles that Andrea is involved in: 
One of the most popular series that Andrea directs and produces is called �10 Minute Solution�. The �10 Minute Solution� series is a great, affordable way to shape up during a busy schedule. If you don�t have the time to drop everything and work out, doing a few 10 minute sessions throughout the day can boost your health and your confidence. You can even do a few sets in a row for a full-blown workout session! These videos focus on losing fat with simple (but fun) cardio moves and sculpting with a number of different exercises.
The diversity in this set of videos is amazing. If you prefer cardio, pick up the �Fat Blasting Dance Mix� and enjoy learning fun dance moves to trim those pounds of fat. If you prefer a tougher approach, �Kickbox Bootcamp� gives you cardio while strengthening and leaning out your muscles. Kickboxing is a great full-body workout, and Ambandos helps beginners learn how to use this great exercise to their advantage.�
Another popular �10 Minute Solution� video is �Pilates Perfect Body�. Tons of celebrities have sworn that Pilates is what gives them their great figure, which is why this video is so excellent. Under the direction of Ambandos, you can easily learn several different Pilates exercises and begin your journey to a great, lean body with a strong core. Don�t have money for expensive, first-rate Pilates classes? Don�t worry! This video costs $15 and you have your own personal trainer in your living room for as long as you want.
Along with the �10 Minute Solution� videos, Andrea Ambandos is behind some great collaboration with Jillian Michaels on workout DVDs. These include the �30 Day Shred� and �Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism�. These are both high energy workouts, but the steps are easy to learn and follow under Ambandos� direction. Learning how to be healthy and get more effective exercise is easier than ever with these videos.
If you�re more of a dancing type, Ambandos has also done a few dance workout DVDs, including ones featuring Julianne Hough and the Pussycat Dolls. These are completely unique workout videos. The Julianne Hough video features ballroom cardio. Who knew you could get a cardio workout by learning how to ballroom dance? Not only are you getting great exercise, you�re also having fun learning a new skill that isn�t the cookie-cutter workout. Are you getting bored doing all those jumping jacks yet? Give the ballroom cardio video a try.
The Pussycat Dolls video features exactly what you�d expect � hip hop choreography and dance techniques. The choreographer of the Dolls, Robin Antin, hosts the video under the direction of Ambandos, and leads viewers through a exercise program designed to tone and burn fat fast. You�ll also be working out to some of your favorite Pussycat Dolls hits! Instead of grumbling after 10 minutes of work, you won�t want to stop.
Ambandos is also the director of the short series �Hula Workout�. If you don�t know anything about hula dancing, go pick up the beginner video to learn how while getting a decent workout! If you want to focus on losing weight, there�s a specific video for that, too. It combines the art of hula dancing with a great aerobic exercise routine. After practicing with these videos, you�ll be able to show your skills to your friends and family, and you�ll have a great appreciation for the skill that this beautiful dance takes to master! Not only is it fun, but its effective and totally worth the money.
If yoga is more your thing, or even if you�re just a beginner wanting to learn, Ambandos� yoga workouts are fine ways to get in shape. She directs several different series, including �Yoga Zone� and �20 Minute Yoga Makeover�. Yoga is a great way to release stress, build posture, flexibility, and even strength. Even though it may seem like the �trendy� workout with its wide celebrity acceptance, yoga has been in practice for more than 5,000 years. If people have been enjoying its benefits that long, it can hardly be called a trend.
Ambandos works with Sara Ivanhoe on the a few �20 Minute Yoga Makeover� videos. The �20 Minute Yoga Makeover: Weight Loss� DVD is designed to improve flexibility and strength while getting you to break a sweat and burn calories and lose that stubborn weight. This video is safe for beginners and all the poses are excellently presented so they�re easy to learn. If you�re worried about yoga not doing much for your physical appearance, try this video. It has helped many a figure.
Another 20 Minute Yoga Makeover includes �Power Beauty Sweat�, which is along the same lines and also features Sara Ivanhoe. Be prepared to sweat a bit in this workout! Sweat is the body�s way of eliminating old toxins and chemicals it doesn�t want in the body, so it is great for you to sweat. The workout routine in the video offers great yoga benefits, and will help you to boost your energy level, make you glow, burn calories, and even improve digestion.
The 20 Minute Yoga Makeover series has many more videos to offer, such as �Flat Abs� and �Sculpted Buns & Thighs�. If you�re looking for specific areas to work on rather than a general workout, grabbing these videos would be of benefit to you. They are also easy to follow along with and fun to do, just like every Andrea Ambandos fitness video.
If you�re more of an intermediate or advanced yoga practitioner, the �Quick Fix: Power Yoga Workout� is a great video you can follow along with in just 10 minutes a day. However, you can still try it if you�re a beginner since it has variations on each pose. The video is broken up into 3 segments of 10 minutes each, so you can do each separately or all together depending on your time limitations and workout goals! Another great video directed by behind-the-scenes fitness superstar Andrea Ambandos.
Andrea has also directed great videos like the �Quick Fix� series that cover everything from Hip Hop dancing to exercises focusing on toning and strengthening your abs, the �Prevention� series that cover fighting cellulite and getting a flat stomach, and the �Crunch� series that goes from kickboxing to crunches and everything in between. Her videos have a lot of variety to them, so you�re surely to find something just right for you and your schedule.
There are many fitness videos out there to choose from. If you�re confused or skeptical about which direction to take, you can trust the directing expertise of Ambandos. Whether you like yoga, dancing, pilates, or just plain aerobics, there is an Ambandos video out there for it. Her videos are easy to follow (perfect for beginners) and fun to learn. Instead of dreading workout sessions, you won�t be able to wait until the next one! The videos don�t make it seem like you�re doing a workout but just as if you�re having fun advancing your health and body.
All in all, Ambandos videos focus on having fun while working out, and keeping the workout short and simple when you�re pressed for time. If you only have 15 minutes at a time to exercise, it is easy to pop in one of these fitness DVDs and fly right through a fun and exciting workout. You may even want to stay for longer!
As you can see, Andrea Ambandos has had a huge impact on the industry of video fitness. Since you can learn basic to complex workouts with never having to leave your home, it is a popular choice for many of the busiest people. The videos directed by Ambandos are fun and helpful, and you�ll never be without your own personal trainer again. Even though Ambandos works behind the scenes, her effect on modern fitness has been great.
Jillian Michaels was born on February 24, 1974 in Los Angeles, California to Jo Ann McKarus. Her mother, who works as a psychotherapist, was blessed with being naturally thin and was always devoted to the well being of her daughter Jillian and her two siblings: George and Lauren. Her father, who was a personal injury lawyer, struggled with weight issues his entire life. Despite the fact that her parents were in the midst of a divorce, Jillian�s father made it a point to visit with his daughter. Unfortunately, his visits with her were not in her best interest physically. In an interview with Ladies� Home Journal, Jillian recalls numerous visits with her dad when they would have nothing to say to each other so they would turn to food. She has been quoted as saying that she bonded with her father over food and that they only way her father knew how to relate to her was via food�mostly junk food! This unhealthy father � daughter bonding began to catch up with Jillian and at 14 years of age, she tipped the scales at an alarming 175 pounds! It was evident that she would follow in her father�s footsteps and struggle with obesity.
However, her mother began to notice her daughter�s unhealthy weight gain and immediately enrolled her in a martial arts class. It was this class that changed her life and made her into the fitness guru that she is today. Under the instruction of Robert David Margolin, Jillian turned her life around. She reached and maintained a healthy weight and thus began her love affair with fitness. After 17 years of martial arts training, she holds a black belt in both Muay Thai and Akarui-Do. She is a true success story � transforming herself from the fat girl to the fit girl.
Upon graduating from high school at the tender age of 17, Jillian put her passion for fitness to work and became a personal trainer. Unfortunately, the income was not steady and she was forced to put her love of personal training on hold and find a job that could pay the bills. She took a job as a bartender while attending the California State University, Northridge (at 17, she worked illegally with a fake ID) and after graduation she took a job as a talent agent at ICM � which was the biggest talent agency in Hollywood. This was a job that she absolutely hated!! During this time, Jillian was able to obtain two personal training certificates. One from the National Exercise and Sports Training Association (NESTA) and the other from The American Fitness Association of America (AFAA). She obtained both of these in 1993. It was only a few years later that Jillian was able to put her passion to work for her as she began to work as a personal trainer and eventually opened her very own gym, Sky Sport and Spa, with Jackie Warner. It seemed as though her once rocky childhood was over and things were looking bright for Jillian. Then in 2004, her life changed for forever.
In 2004, Jillian Michaels exploded into the lives of millions of people as the tough as nails fitness trainer for the black team on NBC�s hit reality show, The Biggest Loser. However, after only 2 seasons, Jillian made the choice to leave The Biggest Loser. Millions of shocked Americans could only ask why? NBC released a statement that Jillian chose to leave to pursue other opportunities. Jillian, on the other hand, is adamant that she left because she didn�t like how the show portrayed her. She claims that the show made her seem like a crazy lady who did nothing but scream. Admittedly, she does push the contestants to the edge, but she is not heartless and she felt as though the show didn�t portray this side of her personality. Furthermore, she didn�t agree with the editing and the dramatization of the show.
During her one year hiatus from The Biggest Loser, Jillian joined the cast of the Australian version of The Biggest Loser and began to branch out into DVD�s and books. Season Four of The Biggest Loser saw the return of Jillian Michaels. Currently, Jillian is preparing for Season 9 of The Biggest Loser and is casting for her new reality show, �Losing It With Jillian.�
2004 � 2006 �The Biggest Loser� Black Team Trainer 2007 �The Biggest Loser� Australia 2007 Released her first book 2008 � Present �The Biggest Loser� Black Team Trainer 2010 �Losing it with Jillian� A brand new reality show featuring Jillian Michaels. Currently in the casting stage, this show features Jillian moving in with families who need help to get back on track. With the help of celebrity chef, Curtis Stone, Jillian will move in and help the entire family learn to eat healthier, exercise properly and be healthy in every other aspect of their lives. It is set to air in the Fall of 2010.KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles is the home to the weekly two hour long Jillian Michaels fitness talk show in which she discusses health, diet, and other health related topics. In addition, she will take calls from listeners, answer questions and help them in their journey to weight loss.
Jillian Michaels has had an extremely successful career in both physical fitness and in the public eye. Starting as an unknown trainer on a reality TV show whose future was uncertain at best, she has become a household name and an inspiration to millions. As a reality TV star, a New York Times best selling author, a radio talk show host, and entrepreneur Jillian is truly on top of the world. However, with the start of a new year, it seems as though she still has many surprises up her sleeve for her loyal fans. Let�s take a look at the variety of products and services that the Jillian Michaels brand has to offer�
Having written and collaborated on several books, Jillian herself is an author of 6 books in total and a NY Times best selling author of two books.
Making the Cut: The 30-Day Diet and Fitness Plan for the Strongest, Sexiest You. This was the first book written by Jillian and the hardcover edition went on sale on April 10, 2007. Making the Cut: The 30-Day Diet and Fitness Plan for the Strongest, Sexiest You. This book was so popular that it was re-released on January 22, 2008 as an ebook and in paperback format. Master Your Metabolism: The 3 Diet Secrets to Naturally Balancing Your Hormones for a Hot and Healthy Body. Released on April 7, 2009 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is set to be re-released on March 23, 2010 as an Abridged Audiobook Download and a Abridged CD. Jillian Michaels Hot Bod in a Box: Kick Butt with 50 Exercises from TV�s Toughest Trainer. Also released on April 7, 2009, this is a non-traditional book. Rather, it is a deck of cards filled with energetic and challenging exercises. The Master your Metabolism Cookbook. Will go on sale April 27, 2010. The Master your Metablism Calorie Counter. Will also go on sale April 27, 2010.In addition to writing these particular books, she has had a hand in writing many �Biggest Loser� weight loss, exercise, and cookbooks.
In 2009 Jillian Michaels teamed up with Majesco Entertainment Company to star in Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009 for the Nintendo Wii. This game allows players to choose from four different types of workouts: (1) weight loss, (2) intervals, (3) hill climb, and (4) strength training. In addition, players will be able to choose the intensity and the duration of the workout. Of course this was widely popular and the follow-up, Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010, will be released in 2010.
With so many DVD�s to discuss, Jillian has definitely taken the home workout video to a new level. Here are some of her most popular DVD�s:
�30 Day Shred� � This was one of her first DVD�s and has gotten a lot of positive reviews from men and women alike �No More Trouble Zones� �Banish Fat Boost Metabolism� �Yoga Meltdown� � This is her newest DVD that is set to be released on February 26, 2010. It can be pre-ordered from the official Jillian Michaels store or Amazon.com.In addition to the success of her books and DVD�s, Jillian has a full line of weight loss products such as the Triple Process Total Body Detox & Cleanse Plus Probiotic Replenishment and the QuickStart Rapid Weight Loss System. Also, in June of 2008, she launched her very own home delivery meal plan.
As previously mentioned, Jillian is co-owner of the famous and successful Sky Sport and Spa, with Jackie Warner. Both Jackie and Jillian share a similar philosophy of helping people physically and psychologically by stressing the importance of fitness, nutrition, and behavioral changes.
In addition to being uber-successful, Jillian has also received recognition from many organizations for the work that she does both on and off the television. Jillian has received the following:
The United States Sports Academy�s Dwight David Eisenhower Fitness Award winner for 2010. America�s Healthiest Body 2009 Number 84 on the AskMen.com Top 99 WomenIt is no wonder that Jillian is the new, hottest thing in the fitness world but what is she really like? This is a very difficult question to answer as she is a very private woman and likes to keep her personal life, well, personal. It has been reported that she is currently dating Henry Cavill and that she is also dating long time BFF, Vanessa Marcil. Rumors have been spreading like wildfire that Jillian is either a lesbian or bisexual. However, none of these statements have been confirmed�or denied. Jillian did, however, in an interview with Ladies� Home Journal make this statement: �Let�s just say I believe in healthy love. If I fall in love with a woman, that�s awesome. If I fall in love with a man, that�s awesome.�
First comes love, and then comes children. According to reports, Jillian doesn�t have any children yet but she does have a plan. In fact, she has even chosen her baby�s daddy � her very own co-trainer on The Biggest Loser: Bob Harper!
Even though everyone may not be a fan of Jillian Michaels she does have these words of advice for everyone:
Get educated. She urges everyone to learn a new lifestyle, not just a new diet. Like she told Ladies� Home Journal: �You can lose weight a hundred different ways, but if you want to keep it off you have to do something you can maintain for the rest of your life.� Treat the real problem. Jillian is well known for saying that �Weight gain is a manifestation of other issues, not the problem itself.� Therefore, every single person should get to the root of their problems and not be afraid to ask for help. Put Yourself first. This is especially true for women who tend to put their own needs behind everyone else�s.Cal Pozo is a fitness instructor, choreographer, director and producer of best selling exercise videos. He was born in 1946 in Cuba and moved to the US in 1960. Though he has been dancing since his early teens Cal made sure education was a priority, attending both Bowling Green University in Ohio and New York University in New York City. After college, while living in New York City, Cal became a dancer in Broadway musicals, including a revival of the original musical West Side Story, which also starred Patrick Swayze. It was during this show, in the late 1970s, when Cal suffered a serious hip injury. This ironic twist of fate was to be Cal�s springboard for launching into the fitness and exercise video industry.
Before suffering his debilitating hip injury, Pozo had been a serious dancer with no interest in the exercise and fitness instructional video industry. After suffering through the injury and subsequent rehabilitation, his doctors advised his dancing career was very likely finished. Refusing to accept such a diagnosis, Cal decided to take over on his own rehabilitation program and mixed various dancing and exercise disciplines into a system all his own. Successful completion of his own style of rehabilitation program, which included an approximately forty pound weight gain and loss, started Cal on his path to fitness stardom.
Cal Pozo started his career in the fitness industry with a book which was completed shortly after his hip injury rehabilitation and was called �Bunnetics � How to Reshape Your Buns� (Doubleday � 1982). This book began a tour of daytime talk shows including Oprah Winfrey�s first talk show and the Phil Donahue show. Such appearances on the daytime talk show circuit launched a number of contracts to write instructional fitness books. Along with the book contracts, Cal was also offered a contract to host instructional dance videos. �Cal Pozo�s Learn to Dance in Minutes� was published by Parade Video in 1989 and was wildly popular. His exercise videos and DVDs have been purchased by approximately 50 million people over the years.
Cal, as a certified fitness instructor, uses his dance and exercise training to teach others how to effectively get in shape and stay in shape. When Pozo made his first entrance into the fitness and dance video world, exercise instructional videos on VHS cost upwards of $80 dollars and were difficult to find. Today�s modern digital world has provided a method, through DVDs, to make exercise and fitness more affordable for everyone. The average exercise or dance instruction DVD costs $15 to $20 dollars and can be ordered from the comfort of your own home.
Cal Pozo has been producing and hosting dance instruction and exercise videos for the past 25 years, even beginning his own production company. Cal�s directing and production credits include more than 300 videos which often feature fitness celebrities such as Denise Austin and model Heidi Klum. Pozo�s fitness videos have also garnered awards such as the HBO Spirit Award and the Parent�s Choice Award.
In addition to videos featuring exercise and television stars, Cal also produces videos featuring the instructors from the hit television series �Dancing with the Stars� and �The Biggest Loser�. The �Dancing with the Stars� videos features the instructors from the show along with a cast of dancers performing workout sets based on a variety of dance styles, including the Samba, the Merengue and the Mambo. �The Biggest Loser� videos feature Bob Harper, the shows trainer, and are completely unrehearsed, being filmed at the same time the class is learning the workout routines.
Cal Pozo, along with being a video choreographer and producer, is an accomplished author. His instructional books include, �Bunnetics�, �The Back Book�, �Twenty Days to a Trimmer Torso� along with major contributions to the books �Dancing with the Stars � The Book� and �Let�s Dance � A Beginner�s Guide to Ballroom Dancing�.
Cal�s video offerings, through his production company, FitVid Productions, includes programs such as �Partner Dancing 101�, a three DVD series of basic dance steps for those with little to no knowledge of classical social dancing, and the DanceFit DVD series. The DanceFit DVD series feature two separate cardio workouts and one sculpting workout DVD for those who want to get in shape and stay in shape. This video series focuses Latin and Retro dances and Salsa dancing.
Additional instructional materials include the book, �Let�s Dance�, which features 260 pages of instructional directions and photos that include all of the traditional ballroom dances. To make learning the social dance steps easier, the book set includes an accompanying DVD with a tutorial for each chapter in the book.
Obesity is one of the most often cited causes for heart disease, diabetes and early death in adults. Today there is also an ever growing problem with childhood and teenage obesity. While ballroom dancing may not be the coolest or most interesting form of exercise available for a teenager, more modern, club style, dances can attract younger generations to get their bodies moving. Sedentary and a stressed out lifestyle can often be cited for the cause of many cases of obesity. Working any type of motion into a daily routine can greatly improve health and provide weight loss and fitness benefits to all ages.
With the prevalence of video games in today�s society, it is easy for children and teenagers, even adults, to sit in front of the television and ignore the need to exercise. While some products, such as the Wii Fit, can get people up and moving, traditional and modern dancing can provide even more benefits. Most forms of dancing use the whole body in motion, toning the muscles and providing excellent cardio exercise to improve heart and lung function.
There is a very good reason dancing works as part of a complete fitness routine. Many people have a hard time maintaining an exercise program simply because they become disinterested with the gym cardio routines. Boredom is often the most cited reason for dropping or relaxing an exercise routine. Keeping the interest of the person trying to lose weight or get in shape is difficult for any aerobics program. Many gym programs add music to their routines, but few are dedicated specifically to teaching dance.
Cardio fitness has long been known as essential to any workout routine. Cardio based exercise raises the heart rate, increases oxygen consumption and greatly increases caloric burning energy. Increased lung function provides better muscle tone, allows deeper oxygen saturation of the blood stream and can improve sleep habits, eating habits and even existing medical conditions. Most people looking to lose weight may not think of dancing as a first option for keeping interest in their exercise program.
There have been studies conducted that found that Salsa dancing could greatly improve someone�s cardiovascular fitness levels. One study found even less energetic ballroom dances increase the number of active steps a person takes during a day. Modern medical recommendations advise 10,000 steps per day is the minimum required to maintain healthy fitness levels in an average adult. To be realistic, there are just not that many adults, especially senior citizens, who are going to be in motion enough during any given day to total 10,000 steps per day.
Although 10,000 steps per day may seem like an impossible number to obtain, a minimum of 2,000 steps can greatly improve one�s aerobic exercise and cardiovascular health. Even senior citizens can benefit from ballroom dancing, which is less strenuous than some of the more modern dances such as the Tango or Merengue. Salsa dancing, the focus of many of the studies was found, one specifically included 11 pairs of dancing partners, found the maximum heart rate increased between 58 and 75 percent. The same study found oxygen consumption, both measured during typical Salsa dancing lessons, was increased between 41 and 56 percent. The author of this particular study, Gian Pietro Emerenziani of the University of Studies in Rome, Italy, stated, �With this form of dance, you are clearly getting a workout. All three types of Salsa in our study, practiced frequently, will have a positive impact on health and fitness.�
One other benefit to using dance instructional videos as part of a more comprehensive exercise program, is they can be used in the privacy of the home. No trips to the gym with many others in the same club, which can often be embarrassing for someone who is overweight or struggling with their diet. Even the partners dancing programs can be used by an individual to gain that extra measure of fitness to assist in losing weight.
Cal Pozo is not one to rest of his past accomplishments. He keeps up with current dance and fitness trends, recently choreographing and producing the video, �Dirty Dancing � The Official Dance Workout�. The video featured dance moves inspired by the original movie which are performed to the original sound track. Within the past year, Cal has hosted a new series of instructional videos to teach ballroom dancing called, �Partner Dancing 101�.
Cal Pozo still lives in New York City, where he heads his production company, FitVid Productions. He is still hands on with his company, choreographing, directing and producing exercise videos. Not only does he spend his time in New York, he can also be found at sound stages in Los Angeles and in South Miami Beach, where he can frequently be found practicing Yoga with his 92 year old mother. If there is any need for proof that exercise and dancing are a good part of a healthy lifestyle, Cal Pozo, and his mother, are good examples.
