Starting back at 1

Funny how time flies. I haven't posted anything since January. To be honest, I didn't even remember that I had mustered up enough motivation to post back in January. So delinquent. *tsk, tsk*

So, quick recap of Jan. - May: Exercised fairly regularly through March, because I was going to Cancun. Then vacation indulgence set in. Then post-vacation laziness. In my defense, I exercised in April and May - just not regularly. Between work hours, and frequently getting sick, I wasn't keeping a regular routine.

But during that time, I did manage to join my office gym. I gave up my NYSC membership because it was kind of expensive and I just wasn't using it. My work gym offers great rates and the equipment is like the equipment you'll find in any other gym. They even offer classes. So I figured, why not? It's very convenient. I usually get to work early anyway, so there's no longer an excuse for not being able to make it there.

Fast-forward to this week. I've made it a point to bring in healthy lunches and have been increasing my water intake. Yesterday morning I started Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred again. It's a good workout and, since it's been so long since the last time I used it, there's not really any muscle memory to water it down. I woke up early (4:30 am, to be exact) again today and did it again. When I got in to work, I went to the gym and outdid myself on the elliptical. I ran 4 miles! It's amazing how much of a boost dancehall music gives me. Thank you, Pandora, for the free tunes! :)

And now, I'm drinking a fruit smoothie that I made before I left the house (8oz. coconut water, 1 banana, 4 strawberries, 5 pineapple chunks, and a handful of blueberries). I really feel like I could keep running. But, I have to refocus and shift my attention to work.

Until next time!

xo

Happy new year!

Hope you all thoroughly enjoyed the holiday season. Mine was quite busy. A little hectic, really. But I enjoyed spending time with my fam.

And now, I'm back on my grind...

I've been exercising here and there, but haven't held a consistent routine since June (yikes!). So my bro and I have made a health pact to eat better and become more active. He signed up for boxing lessons, and I plan to take a samba class once a week (in addition to my morning workout).

This morning I got up and popped in Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. The dvd worked for me last time, so I figured I'd try it again. There are 3 levels, each only 20 minutes so I can ease my way back into the routine; but it's a great workout so I'll see results. There was a time when I thought I needed more aerobics, but it is actually a nice mix of strength, cardio, and abs. Perfect for getting me started.

The tricky part will be Level 3. It's really intense, and I never made it through the full 10 days last time. But I'm gonna do my best this time around. I'll definitely keep you all posted. :)

All the best for 2013! I hope you all find the determination and resources to make your dreams and goals reality.

XO

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So what's the new game plan?

WEIGHT & MEASUREMENTS

Take on Day 1, Day 10, Day 20 and Day 30

EXERCISE

Morning Exercise: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred – 20 mins

Midday Movement: Walking & Stretching – 10 mins

Evening Exercise: Yoga or Core Toning – 15 mins

FOOD

*Drink cup of hot lemon water before consuming anything else (flushes out the liver – can use ½ real lemon or a couple splashes of lemon juice, to taste -- doesn't have to be every morning)

*Breakfast w/in one hour of waking up

*Small, healthy meals approx. every 3 hours (drink 20 mins before eating)

*Drink as much water as body can tolerate per day (as tolerance increases, add another glass…continue increasing in this way – goal is to build up to drinking half your weight in water per day, in ounces – e.g. @ 130lbs, you’d drink 65oz. per day)

*Can flavor water w/splash of lemon or other 100% fruit juice for excitement (no Crystal Light or other processed goods)

*Lean meat – no skin

*Love brown (sugar, flour, rice)

*Healthy carbs – brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, steel cut oatmeal

*Aim for 2-3 servings fruits each day

*Aim for 2-3 servings veggies each day

*Only 1 handful of unflavored, whole roasted nuts per day (too much can raise cholesterol)

*Increase fiber gradually to avoid bloating/constipation (start out every other day)

*Aim for 8hrs of sleep each night

*No alcohol

*No fried food

*No unhealthy snacks

*No juice or soda (except for occasional 100% cranberry juice)

*Cut back on/Gradually eliminate adding sugar to tea or coffee

*Limit/Eliminate processed foods (i.e., prepare fresh as much as you can)
*Follow 7 days a week (no "cheat" days)

Sample Schedule w/Meal Ideas

4:40am   - wake up/exercise -20 mins 30 Day Shred

5:40am   - breakfast -cup hot lemon water (no sugar) options: -steel cut oatmeal, ½ grapefruit -scrambled eggs w/turkey bacon -spinach omelette

9:00am   - mid-morning snack -water options: -apple and yogurt -hard boiled egg -mixed fruit

12:00pm  - lunch -10 mins walk/stretch -water w/splash of lemon  (or other flavor) options: -grilled chicken, brown rice w/ grilled broccoli and cauliflower -sushi -turkey sandwich on whole wheat w/lettuce, tomato, avocado and honey mustard

3:00pm   - late afternoon snack -water options: -nuts w/craisins -pita chips w/hummus -orange and grapes

7:00pm   - dinner -water w/splash of cranberry juice options: -salmon and asparagus -grilled chicken salad w/mesclun lettuce, walnuts, granny smith apple, feta cheese, raisins and fat free raspberry vinaigrette -stir fry veggies and whole wheat pasta

9:30pm   - yoga/abs/bed -15 mins abs/stretch

Days 7 through 1 & beyond - Ultimate Cliff Hanger

Sooooo...Um, yeah. It's been a minute. A very hot minute!

I'm so sorry for leaving you hanging with my progress, but life just got completely hectic. So hectic that I haven't even exercised consistently for the past 2+ months. Now that's not to say that I haven't exercised at all. I have - just not as much as I would've liked. Not being lazy or anything, but I really have been that busy and that drained from being so busy.

But I'm trying to manage things better. Because, if I don't take care of myself...well...you know the drill.

So what have I been doing since I last wrote? Well, I've been walking to and fro the office (instead of taking the bus from the train) to maintain some kind of physical activity. And, when I've been able, I turn to Cardio Core Express for a quick cardio boost. I've also been doing a pretty good job of maintaining a healthy diet. So all has not been completely lost!

Oh, and I did finally try 6 Week 6 Pack. I was majorly disappointed! Not because it was a wack workout, but because it was a strength training workout. I thought it was a cardio workout that focused on the abs (similar to Cardio Core Express), but I was wrong. It's a core strengthening workout that incorporates some cardio - but not enough to get my heart pumping in the way that I wanted.

The verdict: 6 Week 6 Pack is a great core workout (trust - I felt it the next day!), and I will go back to it once I get closer to my target weight. But, for now, I'm shelving it to continue focusing on shedding lbs/burning fat.

And now, the news you've been waiting for: Since I began this self-challenge, I have lost a total of 13lbs.

I'm actually amazed that, after not working out consistently for so long, I've managed to maintain the weight loss. But that's the power of healthy eating for ya! I feel so much better when I put good food into my system. And so sluggish when I eat unhealthy things. I've fallen off a bit on eating as much veggies as I was before, and drinking enough water has always been a challenge, but I'm a work in progress. :)

I haven't re-taken my measurements recently, so I can't update you on those numbers, but I can give you two funny, if not slightly embarrassing stories (well one is anyway).

So I was going to a sound clash with E one night, but was running late. The weather had suddenly become blazing hot so jeans were not an option. As I was getting ready, I decided to put on a trusty outfit because I knew it fit well and looked good - no preening in the mirror or multiple outfit changes necessary. E had already gone outside so I put it on, hopped in the passenger seat and did my makeup as we drove along. We got to the venue and I had to go to the bathroom. When I got in there I was horrified! I saw myself in the mirror and my clothes looked super baggy, like they were about to fall right off of me. In my rush to get out the door I never paused long enough to notice that I looked like a motherless child - lmao!

In one sense, I was pleasantly stunned to see that I had made so much progress and hadn't even realized it. It actually felt good to know that what had once been a curve-hugging outfit was now completely loose. But then I still had to make it through the night, and I felt really sloppy. So I found a spot (E was the emcee for the night so he was up on stage while I was in the crowd) and kept miself steady fi di night! LOL!! I enjoyed myself just the same (who cares - it was dark!), but made a serious mental note to never run out the house without giving myself a once-over in the mirror again - lol.

The other story is not embarrassing really, but it does show that it hasn't completely sunk in that I've lost this weight...I went to this clothing store (you know the one ladies, where everything is super cute, runs super small, and the sizes don't go past a certain number) to browse around. To my surprise/delight I found several items in my size. I went to the dressing room to try them on, not expecting much (remem, most everything there runs small), but to my surprise everything was actually a bit too big on me. I needed a smaller size. Well that made my day! So now I just have to make sure I keep it up.

As a matter of fact, I'm starting 30 Day Shred all over again. And I'm doing it with my bestie. She had started a while back, but fell off so now we're doing it together. Starting tomorrow Monday.

I never did finish Level 3 so I'm hoping to get through all 30 days this time. And, although I complained about wanting a higher level of cardio, I can't front - I had great results using Shred. I felt healthy and toned.

So I'm gonna start going to bed early again to get enough rest and have enough energy to wake up pre-dawn. :) Either way, I'm enjoying the season!

Days 39 & 38 - Working it with Slim in 6

I am happy to report that I've gone down a pant size. And, to date, I've lost 10lbs.

I incorporated Level 3 of 30 Day Shred into my weekend workout, but have been doing Cardio Core Express from Slim in 6 every other day during the week. I really like this workout from Debbie Siebers. There's enough cardio for me to work up a sweat and feel like I'm burning fat. This workout also incorporates a lot of standing ab work, so I also feel like I'm focusing on my problem area.

Debbie suggests using 3lb hand weights, but says you can also do the workout without them. I've done both - with and without - depending on how I'm feeling on a given day. It's a 30 minute workout so it's also easy to fit into the day.

I've also been doing her Slim & 6-Pack, which is intense. It's 15 minutes of mat work, utilizing some traditional moves as well as some more advanced moves. The time goes by quickly enough, but you definitely get a good core workout in by doing it.

I was hoping to do some more running now that spring has arrived, but it's been so nasty outside that I've been sticking to my trusty dvd's. How about you all? What's been your workout of choice to keep you fit, healthy and strong?

Days 47, 46, 45, 44 & 43 - Spring is in the air!

I'm pretty happy with my progress this week. I'm back on track.

I think part of my problem a couple weeks ago was that, in addition to feeling tired and drained, I was trying to implement too many things all at once. It was way too much and I started getting frustrated. Add that to lack of energy, and I felt like my efforts were getting me nowhere.

So, for me, simpler is better. I'm back to focusing on exercising and eating in a way that will make the most sense for me...a healthy lifestyle that I can sustain.

I've been keeping up with Cardio Core Express in the mornings, but I plan to get back to Level 3 this weekend. Call me crazy, but I'm kind of excited to feel the burn again. ;)

My bestie decided to try 30 Day Shred and I'm so excited for her! She doesn't have much to lose at all, so I know she'll see results quickly if she sticks to it. My suggestion to her was this: Do the first two levels daily (i.e., Level 1 for ten days straight and then Level 2 for ten days straight), because they're manageable enough to work through without needing a break.* Level 3 is intense so you'll need days of rest in between. So the momentum you build in the first twenty days should balance out with the breaks you'll need in the last level. Just my opinion.

It's fun to have someone doing the same program as me, even though we started at different times. My cousin in Florida is on her workout grind too, but she's doing a different program...Spring is in the air, folks, and I for one do not plan on hiding behind cardigans, scarves and loose tops for yet another season! I'm taking a stand and I'm glad to have people standing with me!

Meanwhile...Have you seen Vanessa Hudgens on the cover of Shape Magazine?? That is all the motivation one needs! LOL

Before I run off and grab some lunch, I'd like to give a big welcome to my newest Cut the Cheese subscriber, Tamara! You're the first non-family member to follow my blog - lol - so I'm very excited - haha! I hope you find the info that I share useful. Feel free to chime in or suggest topics anytime. ;)

That's it for now, friends...I hope the rest of the day finds you happy and motivated. Bon weekend!

XOXO


*Disclaimer: This was my suggestion to my friend because I know her. Only my suggestion - not medical advice. You know your body best. If you try this (or any other) workout series and you feel like you need a day or two of rest in between, give your body the time it needs. You want to make sure you're careful about your weight loss methods. And, as they say, consult your doctor before you try any new routine.

Days 51, 50 & 49 - Combining Routines

I've been feeling like a slacker lately...Well, that is to say, I've been slacking lately. Like, for a week-and-a-half lately.

In my defense, I have been exercising (not every day) and eating pretty well (mostly), but not being as strict as I should be. I'm kinda disappointed in myself. This is not easy, but it's too early to start slacking off. I'm not anywhere near my goals yet.

Still, rather than sulk away my sorrows with cookies and chips I'm picking my pace back up. Most of my set back is due to the fact that I've been feeling really drained and tired, so I've been taking multivitamins to both boost my energy and replenish the nutrients my body is lacking.

This morning I really upped the ante: I started out with Level 3, moved on to Debbie Siebers' Slim In 6 Cardio Core Express, and finished it off with Debbie's Slim & 6-Pack. Talk about a workout! But I felt great. I plan on getting up tomorrow to do the same. Trying to get back in the habit before the work week starts.

Hope you all are enjoying the weekend! :-D

Days 64, 63, 62 & 61 - Walking Weekend

I got a really good, hardcore workout in on Friday.

I started with Level 3 of 30 Day Shred, and then headed to the park to do a 4 mile run/walk. It was my first time running on an outside trail in a long while so I didn't know how I was going to manage (I tend to get shin splints - prob because of my flat feet), but I did pretty well. Ran a very good portion of the way; and, even when I slowed down to walk, I didn't slow down too much.

Later that day, I unintentionally got even more aerobics in...I ended up walking 3 more miles around Manhattan. And on Saturday morning, I walked for 2 miles in the Bronx. All this at a good pace with a hefty bag on my shoulder. Needless to say, I was DONE by Saturday afternoon. I used Sunday as a day of rest (exercise-wise anyway).

The burn felt really good at the time, but oh-so-wrong afterwards. Talk about shin splints! My legs didn't want to move! Between all the running/walking and the Level 3 exercises (I didn't realize Jillian was getting me to work those inner thighs so much), it was an effort just to move my feet.

But I started feeling better yesterday evening. I was up and at it again, bright and early this morning - well, actually, it wasn't bright yet - it was still pre-dawn. :-/

In a way, the burn still feels good because I know my body's changing; but I'm very aware that I shouldn't be overdoing it. Level 3 is so intense that I think I will have to do it every other day to give my muscles time to repair (unlike in Levels 1 & 2 when I was able to do it every day).

I will be putting those "off" days to good use however...Since 30 Day Shred is mostly focused on anaerobic, strength-building exercises, I'll do some yoga or cardio in between. I'll probably do yoga tomorrow, because my body feels like it could use a really good stretch right about now. I'm sure I'll be doing cardio most of the other days though. I'll keep you posted...

Oh...E made another scrumptious dinner last night. On the menu: steamed fish (red snapper and porgy) with shredded carrots and pumpkin, and sides of asparagus and callaloo. As always, we made a lot so that it will last us for the week. No "food" this time; but I did put two American sweet potatoes in the oven to bake. We didn't eat them yesterday, but at least they're baked and can be warmed quickly during the week.

Here's a picture of the fish. Am thinking about the left-overs right about now. Lunchtime is calling me! :)

E's Steamed Fish

Days 67, 66 & 65 - Steady Breathing

Level 3 of 30 Day Shred is intense!!

Jillian gets down and dirty right away, starting out with a more intense warm up, then heading straight into plank moves for strength. In fact, a lot of the strength training in this level involve planks. And, this time around, some of the cardio involves weights. It's a challenge, but feels good. And yes, I broke a sweat early on and kept on sweating the whole way through. But it was manageable. Partly because I built up stamina in Levels 1 & 2, and partly because I was keeping a steady, focused pace - particularly during the cardio intervals.

The other day I learned that, when you are doing a cardio workout, you do not want to get to the point of panting. You should be able to hold a conversation while you're working out. Sounds crazy right? We tend to think in terms of "no pain, no gain" but truth is, if you're working beyond a certain capacity, you stop burning fat and start burning sugar - not what you need for weight loss.

Here's the basic breakdown of how it works:

AEROBIC
Aerobic exercise requires oxygen. While you're breathing steadily, your lungs fill with air, filters out the oxygen, deposits the oxygen in the blood and then sends it straight to your heart. Your heart then pumps the oxygen back out, sending it to the rest of your body - including your muscles.

Your muscles use fat and carbohydrates as fuel to function. But too much of anything is a bad thing. So when you have excess fat built up (i.e., are overweight) and need to burn it off, you can turn to aerobic exercise because, as the heart pumps oxygen into your muscles, the oxygen will actually aid in burning off fat and carbohydrates - so you're burning off fuel and losing weight.

Thing is, fat is dense and requires lots of oxygen to burn it off. But, the more you do aerobic exercises (e.g., cardio), the better your body becomes at using oxygen to burn fat...So that's why they say you should be able to hold a conversation...It's not so much that you should be blabbing during a workout, but that you should be keeping a steady pace and breathing evenly so that your muscles get as much oxygen as possible to generate fat-burning energy. And you should be able to sustain aerobic activity for more than a few minutes.

ANAEROBIC
On the flip side, anaerobic exercise requires no oxygen. It is more intense so you will start to pant and get out of breath - which is why anaerobic exercises are pretty short and/or are done in sets. With this type of exercise, your muscles do not need loads of oxygen to complete the task.

Because anaerobic exercises are so intense, your system basically cannot produce the large amounts of oxygen your body is begging for. So, instead of using oxygen, your muscles turn to sugar (i.e., glucose, fructose, sucrose) and start burning that to function. That is why you don't burn fat through anaerobic exercise (e.g., strength training) - not enough oxygen.

And, in case you were wondering, the reason anaerobic exercises don't last very long is because burning sugar causes a byproduct, lactic acid, to build up in your system. The more lactic acid in your system, the more fatigued your muscles will be, so they won't be able to perform as long.

Ok, so that was a WHOLE lot of information - lol. But here's the thing -- you need both aerobic (cardio) and anaerobic (strength) exercise to be truly fit.

Doing aerobics will:
1. burn excess fat (key to weight loss)
2. tone up body all over
3. strengthen cardiovascular system (good for overall health)
4. boost your mood

Doing anaerobics will:
1. strengthen muscles (good for revving your metabolism which is also key for weight loss)
2. strengthen bones
3. lower blood sugar levels
4. increase overall strength and stamina

All this being said, I've completely reinforced my theory on why I haven't lost as much weight as I thought I would have by now...Jillian primarily uses anaerobic exercises in 30 Day Shred - strength training. I need to add aerobic cardio to burn fat. So I'm gonna start running tomorrow.

Oh, and by the way, I've lost 5lbs so far. Not bad for 5 weeks. Haven't measured myself in a bit, but my clothes are much looser on me than before. And a few people have even noticed that I've lost weight. That's always a nice feeling...It's one thing when you can feel a difference in your own body, but another when other people start to see it too. :)

Days 70, 69 & 68 - Healthy Groceries

Hi friends! Hope you all had a nice weekend. We had some pretty nice weather here in New York.

Did some healthy grocery shopping and a lot of cooking on Saturday. E made steamed fish (grunt porgies). He usually makes it with butter, but since we're detoxing, using butter is a no-no. So he tried making it with just a tip of olive oil, and it came out really well. He steamed it down with callaloo and made another pot with corn-on-the-cob and "food" (food is a Jamaican term that can include any combination of boiled dumpling, Jamaican sweet potato, cassava, yam, green banana and Irish potato --only the last 3 items were in our pot-- other islands use the term "ground provisions") for our side dish. As my cousin would say, it was slammin'!! :)

Although I can eat food during my detox, I'm still mindful of losing weight, so I definitely did not take a large portion of the starchy stuff - just a small piece of yam and a small piece of green banana.

Aside from walking 20/30 minutes each day, I didn't really get much exercise in last week. But I still managed to lose another pound - thanks to my new, healthier diet. :) And, while I'm only detoxing for a month, this new lifestyle of cutting back on processed foods is permanent. It'll be difficult (especially when I go out to eat), but my body will thank me for it.

I was determined to complete all 10 sessions of Level 2, and this morning I pushed myself to get up early and do just that. I thought the workout would be brutal after having slacked off for so many days; but I got through it just fine. It felt good. I'll start Level 3 tomorrow. That post should be interesting! :D

Days 78, 77 & 76 - Can we say, frustrated??

The past week was very frustrating for me. You can probably tell by the scarcity of posts. Aside from not feeling that great and not being able to work out as hard/much as I wanted because I wasn't feeling that great, I've been frustrated by my progress.

I've dropped 3lbs (prob just water weight) and an inch here and there; but I certainly haven't lost as much as I expected to after almost a month. I know you're probably thinking I'm being hasty but, in the past, I've done cardio and started slimming down in as little as 3 days. And that is what I think my problem is - not enough cardio!

Jillian pushes you hard in the workouts, but they're largely strength building-focused. I need cardio to burn fat. Three, two-minute intervals of cardio is just not enough.

Don't get me wrong, strength training is very important! So, while I'm not giving up on 30 Day Shred, I plan to start hitting the gym again and get 30-40 mins of cardio in. I think that's the only way I'll see the results I'm looking for.

Day 86 - You betta SWEAT! *snaps* ;)

Level 2 makes me SWEAT - and I am not usually a big sweater, no matter how hard I work out. I don't know why, that's just how my body is wired. I'll get hot, bothered and perspire a bit, but not too much. But with this workout - even when I'm doing the strength work - my body starts working up a sweat. I'm telling you, it's a serious workout!

There are a lot of plank-based exercises including "plank jacks" - as if regular jumping jacks weren't enough to torture me! I gotta say though, doing the jumping jacks has gotten pretty easy. And this morning I was able to push through the plank jacks (and also the plank thrusts and plank twists) without having to do modifications the entire time.

I am definitely feeling it in my pecs and upper back. I find that the squats (which I hate) are no longer as difficult for me to manage. I feel pretty strong doing the ab work as well. I'm still working with 2lb weights though. I think I have 3lb-ers (what is recommended for the routines) at my mother's house, so I'll have to check when I go over there this weekend.

My biggest problem area is my stomach (or should I say gut??). I don't mind my thick thighs and booty so much, but mi cyaan tek di stomach pooch ting. It's gotta go!! I've been doing some research on how to eat to lose belly fat, because, if after all this my tummy still doesn't shrink then I'm getting lipo. Well, ok...not really - I don't like needles - so that means this will have to work! ;p

There are lots of good tips out there to be referenced, including some very practical and easy habits you can incorporate into your daily routine. What it all boils down to is exercise and healthy eating habits, which is what I'm focused on now. As I go along I'll incorporate more and more fat-burning superfoods into my diet.

Days 88 & 87 - Food Schedule

Level 2 of 30 Day Shred is no joke!

The first time I did it yesterday, I felt like the twenty minutes flew by - but I WORKED for those twenty minutes!! This morning, I was PRAYING for the twenty minutes to be over!! I definitely have had to do a lot more of the modified exercises at Level 2 than I had to do at Level 1. There has been a LOT of panting, huffing and puffing.

But I'm kind of excited by it. This really is a whole new level for me. Whenever I want to stop and pop a squat on the couch I keep telling myself, "It's almost over." Like my cousin said to me yesterday, "You've lived your life for ahem-hem years, enjoying all sorts of pleasures and indulgences. What's a few months out of ahem-hem years? It won't be forever."

I like the idea of pushing myself through the discomfort to see an extreme change. And I'm curious to see how long it'll take me to get used to these new exercises so I can ditch the modifications and keep up with the advanced version.

Level 2 features a whole new set of exercises. All the strength, cardio and ab moves are different. The jump rope move is included again, but at a higher intensity. The only move that has insisted on re-rearing its ugly head, as is, is the jumping jack, which is used to get the heart pumping during the warm-up.

Most of the warm-up and cool down moves were introduced in Level 1, with the exception of a new leg kick thing that seems to have aggravated some sort of pinched nerve in my leg. I plan on doing some yoga stretches when I get home in the evenings. This should help to loosen me out...It should also help to improve my performance when I exercise in the mornings...Higher intensity aside, my leg was giving me juice!

I've also gotten serious about my diet. I mentioned before that I would make some changes to my daily habits. Here's my new schedule:

4:40am   - wake up/exercise
6:00am   - breakfast
9:00am   - mid-morning snack
12:00pm  - lunch
3:00pm   - late afternoon snack
7:00pm   - dinner
9:30pm   - yoga/bed

Breakfast: steel cut oatmeal (flavored with vanilla, nutmeg and ginger)
Mid-morning snack: apple and/or yogurt
Lunch: lean protein, veggies, small portion of a healthy carb
Late afternoon snack: banana and almonds
Dinner: protein and veggies

I'll mix it up as I go along, but I'm gonna stick to this schedule for the remaining eight days of Level 2. My body is already starting to change. I need to eat in a way that will help it do just that.

Lunch and dinner will probably be interchangeable; but the goal is to eat a larger meal at lunch. Here's why:

1. When I wait too long to eat a decent meal I am more likely to forget my good senses and pig out as soon as I walk through the door.

2. I don't always get home by 7. If I'm starving, I don't want to eat a huge meal at such a late hour and then go to bed shortly after. Ce n'est pas bon.

3. Gas. Lawd! Mi cyaan tek when gas ah tear out mi tripe. Gotta eat regularly to avoid that.

I'm really excited about this phase. :) Have I inspired any of you out there to get moving or change the way you eat? Spring is upon us and, before you know it, summer will be here. How are you getting the body beautiful?

Days 98 & 97 - Weekend Warrior

I was pretty busy running errands this weekend (so sorry about not posting yesterday), but I was determined to fit exercise in - no matter what. And I did!

I started off with Level 1 of 30 Day Shred, just like I said I would, and I've gotta say I enjoyed it. The 20 minute workout consists of three circuits that follow Jillian's "3-2-1 Interval System." That's 3 minutes of strength training ("compound exercises" included), 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of ab work. To do the routines, you need a mat and 3lb dumbbells (I used 2lb weights, but they're doing the trick - for now).

Because the workout is so short, it's really intense. Jillian wastes no time getting right to it. The compound strength training involves a lot of leg and arm work. I've never been big on doing arms, so it was a wee challenge for me, but just when I want to stop, it's over - on to the next move.

I'm very big on cardio - I think that's what I need most, so I was skeptical about only doing 2 minutes each circuit. But the moves she uses (jumping jacks, jump rope, boxing jabs, butt-kick jogging) really does get the heart pumping. My body felt like it was working.

The ab routines consist of classic, tried-and-true moves meant to target the upper, lower and side muscle areas. They actually felt good.

Overall, it felt like a decent, quick workout. If I had it my way, I would've thrown in 10 more minutes and up the ante on cardio. Still, as is, I think Level 1 will have an impact on my body. After doing it for only two days, I already feel a little more sucked in, tighter. I'm going to stick with it for the remaining eight days at this level, just to see what results I get.

I took some "before" pictures earlier today so you guys can watch my progress. It's getting late now and I'm determined to go to bed soon, so I'll post them up for you to see tomorrow.

Oh, and I should mention that I ate very well this weekend, particularly this evening. My boyfriend made some slammin' steamed fish for me and my friend, who brought over her adorable newborn son for a visit. I made sure to get in fruits and veggies too. And not a bite of cheese! :)