The results are in!

I said I would be COMPLETELY honest with my Tone It Up journey. First of all, I feel amazing! Tons of energy, my digestive system is working well, I do feel less stressed. I am going to continue doing what I've been doing. I did end up gaining a pound in the last five days, but I lost inches overall (I did gain half in one arm and another half in one calf -- seems like things are evening out?). Here are the stats:

Weight: 133.2 lbs

Measurements

Left Arm: 11 in
Right Arm: 11 in
Neck: 12 in
Chest: 34 in
Waist: 28 in
Hips: 35 in
Left Thigh: 19 in
Right Thigh: 20 in
Left Calf: 14.5 in
Right Calf: 14.5 in
Weight Gain: + 1 lb
Inches Lost: - 2 inches

I am going out of town today, but plan to continue eating well and working out on my trip. I'll be posting when I return, but my next check-in won't be until a week from this upcoming Monday. I'll keep doing these each week to help stay on track.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!! :)

Meet my new friend... KALE!

How come I have never heard about this miraculous super food before?!? There really is nothing better on Earth than this! Here are some quick facts about this leafy bunch of goodness:

One cup contains...

* 33 Calories
* 5 g Fiber
* 2 g Protein
* TONS of Vitamins A, C, & K.. All way over the daily recommended value
* Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fatty Acids

And so much more!!

This wonderful food helps with your digestion, fights against cancer, and is an anti-inflammatory.

So far, I've really only eaten it in soup. Today, I am going to venture out. I am going make kale chips (second attempt, first time didn't work so well) AND a special side dish.

I wouldn't suggest trying kale for the first time in a salad as the base. It has a stronger taste when it is raw than when it is cooked. Instead, try adding it in slowly.

After my next grocery trip, I am also going to try a kale smoothie.

Go out and get your KALE on!

To supplement, or not to supplement...

If you are anything like me, I am very confused about which supplements I should be taking. If I followed everyone's advice, I'd be popping pills all day long! I've decided to stick with just one and to eat a very balanced diet.

I only take a multi-vitamin, and I have finally found one that I LOVE. I've tried a few before, and I HATED taking them. Some smelled horrible, others made me want to throw-up if I didn't eat a ginormous meal beforehand, and many were filled with chemicals.

I honestly don't remember how I heard about these vitamins, but I am so happy that I did. Raw One for Women by Vitamin Code is awesome! The vitamins come from FOOD -- whole, uncooked, and untreated food. Because of this, your body is able to absorb the nutrients much more effectively. There is absolutely no gluten, no dairy, no binders, and no fillers. You only have to take one a day, too.

This company offers many different types of vitamins, including special formulas for men, kids, prenatal, over 50, and more. I definitely recommend this brand! You can buy it online. I've also seen it at Vitamin Shoppe and other health stores.

Slim Down Stats

Maybe this will motivate me.. maybe this will inspire you. But as I mentioned before, I love the Tone It Up program. I am jump starting my health journey with their Five Day Slim Down. Here are my beginning stats:

Weight: 132.2 lbs

Measurements

Left Arm: 11 in
Right Arm: 10.5 in
Neck: 12 in
Chest: 34 in
Waist: 29 in
Hips: 35.5 in
Left Thigh: 20.5 in
Right Thigh:20 in
Left Calf: 14.5 in
Right Calf: 14 in

Again, I am not so concerned about the weight. Losing a few inches would be nice so that I can fit in my old clothes. I really want to feel good again. I want to be FIT. I will be honest about the improvements (or lack thereof) I make. However, I think this will be good. :)

Off to start my day with a Booty-Call (early morning workout), my breakfast, and a Bombshell Spell!

I'm Thirsty!

Staying hydrated is SO important to staying healthy. Our bodies are mostly made of water and our cells NEED water in order to function properly. You should drink half your body weight in ounces of water each and every day. I am not so good at this. One major goal I have for myself this week is to follow this advice.

Until recently, I "hydrated" myself with diet pop. WAY TOO MUCH. It was hard, but I finally quit this bad habit about a month ago. Regular pop is bad because it is loaded with sugar and chemicals. Diet pop is even worse because although it doesn't have real sugar, it has extra evil chemicals!

If you are like me, you probably love the fizziness of pop. I do drink regular water and iced tea, but I am able to get my fizz fix with sparkling water. IT IS AMAZING! Zero calories, zero chemicals, zero sugar. You can buy the plain stuff and jazz it up with fruit, or you can purchase some that already have natural flavors.

La Croix Sparkling Water

I personally enjoy the plain and grapefruit flavors the most, but they also have varieties that come in raspberry, lemon, coconut, and more. La Croix (my favorite) is a little pricey, but you can find cheaper brands at pretty much any grocery store.

Make it a goal to drink LOTS of water this week. You should always have something on hand. Not only will it help your body work better, but you will probably feel less hungry and more energized!

Who wants to SLIM DOWN in FIVE DAYS with me?

I LOVE the Tone It Up program. I started following it in June. It is not a diet. It is a lifestyle change. I have honestly NEVER felt healthier than I did when I completely adhered to the guidelines. However, when I had surgery in July, I basically had to stop exercising for over a month. The program requires at least two 30 minute sweat sessions every day. It does cost money to join, and I don't want to give out the details for free and cheat the girls out of their hard-earned cash.

Visit www.toneitup.com for more information!

Although it is a permanent way of living, there are special things you can do to help manage your weight before special events or even to kick start your journey, including a five day and a seven day slim down. On Sunday, I am going to be shopping for the foods that will help me succeed! The last time I did the slim down I lost over five pounds in five days. I also shed about eight inches. Afterwards, I had the most energy EVER and actually felt HAPPIER. Pretty crazy, huh? The girls in charge of the program encourage those in the program to give updates on Facebook, Twitter, and their community online as much as possible.

Bombshell Spell.. Start off every morning with this metabolizing drink.

I also have the Beach Babe DVD, which I am in love with. There are seven fantastic workouts. The girls also post workouts on YouTube which is great. Here is a link to one of their workouts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFfHhRi4dpI.

These ladies are so sweet and helpful. They even respond to my questions and posts! If you follow this program, let me know how it works for you.

Alternatives to Pasta

Unless I am guest at someone's house and it is the only food being served, I don't eat pasta. Yes, it tastes yummy. It is also full of calories, makes me feel sluggish, and really has no nutritional value. Instead, I have found three great alternatives...

1. Shirataki Noodles

 

These noodles come in a variety of shapes. I've seen fettucine, angel hair, spaghetti, and macaroni. Most of them are about 20 calories per serving, or 40 calories for an entire bag! There is one variety that actually has 0 calories for a whole bag. They only come in spaghetti.

Now, these are great to replace pasta in any meal. They do come packaged in water that has a bit of a fishy smell. Once you rinse them and pat them down, the smell is gone. My husband is somewhat of a picky eater and chooses this over regular pasta all the time. The texture is very similar to pasta and takes on the taste of whatever you are pairing it with. My own personal miracle!

2. Spaghetti Squash

 

 

 

This alternative is also very low in calories and has many great vitamins and minerals to support your health.  After the squash is cooked, a fork can be run through the inside to create strings of squash that are quite comparable to spaghetti! Although this does not have the same texture or taste of pasta, it is fantastic when used in place of it. I like to eat it with herbs and olive oil or with a red sauce.

 

 

3. Quinoa

 

 

 

Quinoa is actually quite different from pasta and more similar to rice. However, it is a much healthier and nutritious option to both of them. It is closely related to beets and spinach, believe it or not! It is packed with vitamins, protein, and fiber. It is also full of omega-3 fatty acids. I have only recently begun to experiment with this super food but I love it! It is filling, tasty, and good for you.



 

 







Best Sunless Tanner.. EVER!!

So.. I love being tan. However, I don't want to die of skin cancer! My dermatologist sells this amazing concotion at his office. People can also purchase this product online. I have used other self-tanners in the past, and nothing compares to this. Not even the spray-tan machines at the tanning salon. The package above is sold at www.sunlabsonline.com for 43.95. I use the Ultra Dark (and I am naturally pasty white). I only bought the tanner and use my own exfoliator and moisterizer at home. The website also offers free samples!

Pros:
- Goes on dark. Hard to streak if you can see exactly where everything is going!
- Smells HEAVENLY going on. Like sweet cherries.
- Looks like you have been in the sun. Not orange!
- Like I said, no streaks!
- Healthy alternative to tanning beds and sitting in the sun.

Cons:
-Takes time. I shower and exfoliate, put the lotion on, then wait before putting my clothes back on before going to bed. Then, I shower again in the morning.
- Not a big deal, but has a slight not-so-yummy scent after it dries. Once you shower the next day and put on some lotion, you are good to go, though.
- Can stain sheets and/or clothes if wet/sweaty. But, it does all come clean in the wash easily.

The tan usually lasts about three days. You can layer and re-apply as much as you'd like!

Introducing.. Me!

A little about my (healthy and not-so-healthy) self...

I am not going to lie. Growing up, I was NOT the most fit child. I didn't play organized sports. I ate McDonald's and drank pop. I was overweight and made fun of by other kids. NOT COOL. As I went through high school, I became more aware of what it would take to be healthy and in shape. Although I made some progress, my weight was always a problem. When I started college, I promised myself that I would make some changes... and I did!

However, with keeping a "normal" weight as my main goal, I always fluctuated and struggled with maintenance. I wasn't always healthy, either. There were times when I wouldn't eat enough or binge because I was restricting myself too much. I've tried countless diets. I also picked up one of the worst habits -- I became a regular tanning salon customer. Twelve years of weekly visits... What was I thinking?!

This past summer, I was diagnosed with a stage 0 melanoma. Although it was caught EXTREMELY early (thank GOD), it is still causing me anxiety. However, it is also pushing me to make some of the most positive changes in my life. This blog is marking the beginning of my journey to becoming as fit as possible. I don't care about losing weight as much as I do about being healthy and living a VERY LONG TIME! However, I figure the weight will come off as I go.

Hopefully, you can use this as inspiration for meeting your own goals, too.