30 Day Shred: Day 6, 7, and 8

Today is my Day 8 of the 30DS.

The workout is still pushing me but I can tell my endurance is getting better and better each day.

I know a lot of people who do the 30DS complain that they have to listen to Jillian's introduction  every time they go to work out- but I know a trick that has worked for me where you can bypass all that and get straight to the workout. Right after you finish your cool down and she begins to say "You have just finished Level 1-" turn the DVD off. If you can stop it before the DVD gets to the workout menu, when you turn it on the next day it should be right where you left off. My old DVD player would actually remember your spot on DVDs after you took them out for a certain amount of time, but my BlueRay player only remembers your spot if you leave the disk in. When I do have to go through the intro, I just put the DVD on and get ready- so by the time I am set the DVD is ready to move on.

Days 6 and 7:

My weekend was a good one. The weather wasn't the best so not much fun outside, but I was able to stay under 1200 calories.. even on Sunday, when I rested and did not work out.

I've had a very good first week and am so happy I already have lost a few pounds. I have decided at Day 15 I will take photos and measurements to see if there is a difference.. and log an official 'half way' weight.

For my meals, I made a very simple, low calorie Taco Casserole that I was able to eat on through the whole weekend. I also found Fiber One's low calorie brownie/cookie snacks that are soooo good and I munch on in between meals once a day.

For other snacks I just made sure they were low calories, like an apple slice and caramel snack pack and 0 Calorie sparkling FruitWater drink by Glaceau.

I also made one of my favorite and easy peasy slowcooker Southwestern Pot Roast recipes. Simply season a roast with salt, pepper and garlic powder, place it in a slowcooker, cover it with salsa and cook it on low for about 8 hours. I can't wait to eat it tonight! I already have it cooked and waiting for me in the fridge!

Thank you, again, for reading. 'See' you soon!

30 Day Shred: Day 5

Moooorning ;) *wink* (50 points to anyone who can guess the movie I am referencing. Seen my food blog? Well, it should be easy then)

Finished my Day 5 30DS workout this morning before 10:00. Laaaate start this morning after staying up passed my 2nd bedtime, not sleeping well, and my husband hitting the panic button on the house alarm on accident when he left for work this morning. At least it's Friday!

Today I was still sore in my legs during the workout. The way the workout is set up you don't do each move for a long period of time though, so once I move on it is fine. 

I really like the way Jillian has the 3-2-1 intervals for the 30DS. There are three different circuits with 3 minutes of Strength Training, 2 minutes of Cardio, and 1 minute of Abs- so you change often and work many different parts of your body. 

I do wish there were more moves specifically for your abs, as my stomach is one of my biggest problem areas. I have realized you need to make sure you tighten your abs during all the moves you can. Jillian will explain how to perform each move as you work through them, so be sure to pay attention and do exactly as you say. If you aren't in the proper form or doing the movements the right way it will effect how well the workout will provide results.

I also find myself breathing opposite the way she tells you. I am always inhaling when she says to be exhaling, so I have to work on getting that right, as it is also suppose to effect the workout as well.

As for Yesterday- I stayed over 100 calories under my goal. 4 Days down! 26 more days of 1200 calories to go. I had Honey Nut Cheerios and a banana for breakfast, leftover turkey sausage, veggies and rice for lunch, snacked on party mix, split a frozen PF Chang's Garlic Chicken entree with my husband for dinner and had a small bowl of cereal again at night.

I do have to say, this morning I weighed myself and the scale said I was 146.. but I think my weight just happened to fluctuate in my favor. It was first thing in the morning with no food in my belly. Still- it is nice to see the needle under 150.

Today is Friday, so that means tomorrow starts the weekend. During the weekend we sometimes eat out and it may be harder to keep my calorie intake so low, plus I may have to struggle to squeeze in my workouts. If I don't post over the next two days I will definitely update on Monday. 

I leave you with one of my miniature horses, Ricochet, being his curious and cute self.

Have a Happy Weekend and Cinco De Mayo! See you soon :)

30 Day Shred: Day 4

Finished my 30DS workout this morning before 9:30! I'm already winning! *happy dance*

I am far from a morning person, but I feel like the earlier I keep doing my workout, the better I feel the rest of the day. I'm not sure if I could ever wake up early and do the workout before I take my son to school, but I am loving getting it done earlier.

My 3lb weights are seeming a bit easy on me today, weight-wise. I may have to run to the store to get a set of 5lb-ers soon. I am definitely feeling my arms and shoulders more this time around with real weights. No more candlestick stand-ins for me.

Today I feel a bit more sore while working out- which I am thinking is from stepping it up yesterday and doing more of the advance versions of some of the moves. Particularly the section between my shins and calf muscles is sore. Shin splints? I am not very sure, but I feel it much more when doing moves that require you to push off of the ground (jumping jacks, jump rope, butt kicks). I need to look more into it. Yes... yes, I do. As Jillian says, "No Injuries, Please."

Yesterday, I did well and stayed 65 calories under my 1200 goal. I thought I was going to go over after being more hungry then the prior days, but I am happy to say it was my third day of calorie counting success! I should pat myself on the back like we were told to do in elementary school when we did a good job. Too early? Ok, then.. I'll save that for later.

I wanted to share a very quick and easy dinner we had last night that is under 400 calories. If you have read any of my food blog, you know I love to cook. Fresh is something I strive for, but if it can't happen then this meal is something that is so easy and healthy I don't feel bad about. I simply make some Jasmin Rice (BEST rice I have ever had, by far!), Smoked Turkey Sausage and Birds Eye Steamfresh Chef's Favorites Asian Medley veggies. I cook the sausage and veggies in a skillet together and add a little soy sauce to my plate when serving and it is done. Just make sure you are eating the proper serving amounts! For this meal it is 1 cup of rice, 1 cup of veggies and 2 oz of sausage. Without the soy sauce it is about 355 calories!

YUM!

The veggies themselves are only 50 calories per cup so, eat up!

I did not finish my Green Smoothie yesterday, though, I did finally remember to thaw a frozen serving overnight in my fridge for today- which I will get out to enjoy soon. I am looking for more smoothie recipes and will share them when I find a winner.

Here is a photo from Day 1 with me weighing in at 150 lbs.. (yes, I decided to share one)

I really, really, REALLY hope that within the next weeks I will be able to share with you some photos of changes. That is what we really want here. To see some changes.

I have my faith in the 30DS as I know it has worked before- but I think the real place to hold faith should be in myself. It's me that has to push and push and keep my focus. Me that has to do the work. Me that has to stick to it and not back down.

I can't wait to see what the next month brings :)

30 Day Shred: Day 3

Whew! Just finished my 30DS workout for Day 3. 

I can tell a slight difference in my endurance from Day 1 and have started trying a few of the advance versions of a few of the moves. I had been following all the beginners moves up until today.. no shame in that people.. no shame.

I am using 3 lb weights for the workouts, which is a vast improvement of the candlesticks of an unknown weight I used last year. There is a definite difference just a little weight can add in some of the moves, so I am hoping that means my results will be better this time around too. I will stick with the 3lb-ers for now and may step it up to 5lb-ers if I can.

Yesterday's calorie intake had me 95 calories under my goal. Two days down, two days of success! 

I am really loving the MyFitnessPal app as you can keep up with everything so easily and see different graphs and stats of how you are doing. Such an Awesome app/site, and it is FREE!

I had a turkey sandwich with only cheese, meat and dressing on honey wheat bread for dinner last night. For lunch I had a Blackened Chicken Alfredo frozen meal and I snacked on sweet potato chips with salsa, homemade cinnamon bread and (get ready for it....) the last set of Little Debbie Zebra Cakes in the house. I know, I know... but they had to go.. and I had to be the one to get rid of them. I was still able to stay under my goal and now that the cakes are gone I don't have to think about them being in the pantry anymore, calling my name... being a distraction... glad they are gone!

I did drink some of my Green Monster Smoothie in the afternoon yesterday. My 3 year old daughter loves it so I give her a bit of her own each time I drink it. I forgot (again *blushes*) last night to take another serving out of the freezer to thaw in the fridge overnight, so I have it out now on the counter and it should be ready to drink in a few hours. 

I thought I would share that on Day 1 I weighed in at 150 lbs exactly. I took my measurements and will post maybe the end of Week 1 or 2 if I have seen any changes. Haven't decided yet if I will be posting photos now or a before/after a little later. Decisions, decisions. I'll just keep you guessing for now :)

Thank you for reading and 'see' you again, soon!

Let's do this!

Here we are; it's the butt end of April.

Grass is finally filling in the dry patches throughout the yard, the rosebushes are blooming, I already have a flip flop tan lines and by actually looking at the reflection in my dresser mirror I am clearly unprepared for bathing suit season. (Where DO these extra curves come from?)

I am finally coming to my senses and deciding it is time to get something happening here. Time to add some more fruit into the grocery cart and walk passed the Little Debbie selection without grabbing a box or two. Time to start making my body actually work hard for a while. Time to want to wear colors that don't hide flaws as loyally as black does. Time to make a game plan.

I know that working out and eating better is mandatory for the next months. I'm not expecting a total transformation (even though it would be soooo nice) but I do want to be able to see a difference in myself- so I will do a few different things.

First thing is to take a good look at where I am. Weigh and MEASURE myself. Around this time last year I lost 4-5 lbs within 4 weeks. I knew my body had changed a bit, but because I didn't measure I didn't really know how much. I want to change that this time. I want to make myself aware of the results from the work I've done. Maybe it will make me work harder.

I am revisiting Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred for the third time because I know it worked for me before. It is at least a starting point. I may choose to add some more things to my workout routine but I am going to begin with Level 1 of her DVD and work my way up from there.

Counting calories is a must for me. I have gone back to MyFitnessPal.com, this time via an app on my phone so it makes it even easier to track how many calories I've eaten each day and how many more I'm allowed to consume to stay within my goal. I am setting it to around 1200 calories per day, but not going too crazy to stick under it to starve myself. I don't believe in taking it that far. This girl has GOT to eat!

A new thing I am trying is having a smoothie in place of my breakfast. This is something I am working into- I won't cut out breakfast cold turkey because I don't want my body to hate me. The first smoothie I have made for this week is The Green Monster. It has banana, strawberries, orange, spinach, yogurt and ice. I will admit I am not a fan of spinach or plain yogurt at the moment but by adding about 1-2 Tablespoons of honey to the mix it comes together nicely. I made a big batch and froze servings to be able to eat through the week. I'll let you know how that goes and if the freezing ordeal works for me as I go along.

And last but not least- I want to keep up with it online. Blog.. vlog... just have some sort of daily check in.

So- where am I in all this?

My second day.

I started yesterday with a nice day one 30 Day Shred workout and kept my calorie intake down around 200 below my goal. By doing the workout it adds 200 calories to my allowance so I can technically eat 1400 calories per day and this helps a lot. 1200 is not much but I can add another snack or small meal because the calories I burned working out.

Today (Day 2) I have already worked out, finished my lunch and have over 800 calories left to eat so I am doing well. I did not get my smoothie in yet because I forgot to thaw it out last night (whoops!) so I may skip it until tomorrow morning. We will see. I feel like it is eyeing me from across the kitchen for the last hour. The green is a bit intimidating but it actually did taste good and I am as picky with my food as they come.

My video diary entry attempt yesterday failed. I was able to record some but kept getting interrupted and I didn't want to have to edit it much so I didn't finish it. I feel like by keeping something up online with how my days are going will make me stay consistent and help me see my progress so I really do hope I can keep it up. It may also help someone planning to do the same thing. Sharing whether or not this plan worked for me and how I liked it may be worth reading to someone else.

I'll get some info to share as well with how/where I am measuring, when I am weighing in, recipes for both smoothies and food I enjoy and anything else I feel would be beneficial to others.

Thank you for reading and I'm hoping to share more of this journey with you again soon :)