ALMOST Wordless Wednesday

Be Blessed & Healthy!!!

Hot Sweaty MESS!

Yup, me after a nighttime run.  I have been really enjoying my night time runs lately.  I realized they are VERY challenging for me.  I am NOT energetic enough to run at night.  I don't go far (actually I'm on a treadmill) only about 2 miles each time.  It's a nice way to round out my day.  I listen to some good music & lots of times I pray for people through my run. I still get my regular workout done in the morning though. 

I honestly believe that ANY time of day is a good time to work out.  If it's a matter of not working out & working out then I pick working out.  Don't let the lazys take over your brain!  Don't let the excuses take over.  Get up & get moving.  I'm serious.  You really won't regret it! 

What was YOUR workout for the day??

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

A Quiet Weekend

Just thought I would leave you with this for the weekend :)

Hope yours is a great one.  Don't skip a workout just because it's the weekend OR get out there with your family & do something fun.  Just MOVE!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Sleep = Weight Loss

Sleep.  It's a hard thing to catch some times.  I am a night-owl.  I KNOW I would enjoy getting up & getting things going early but it just never happens.  I also know my husband would like me to be up early when he goes to work.  That should be enough incentive huh?

There is alot out there now that talks about getting enough sleep for weight loss.  Our bodies go through a healing process as we sleep.  Our muscles & brain REALLY need this.  Some are saying 7-9 hours of sleep is what we need.  I think what time we go to sleep is big too.  I'm still working on that one :/

Dr Oz is a big proponent of sleep.  I found a couple links you could check out: 

http://www.doctoroz.com/quiz/dr-oz-s-sleep-quiz

http://healthybodydaily.com/dr-oz-in-case-you-missed-it/dr-oz-5-step-sleep-plan/

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/lose-weight-while-sleeping

http://www.livestrong.com/sleep-and-weight-loss/

As always, don't take my word for it.  Go out there & research this for yourself.  If you are working out on a regular basis then getting on with your normal day by the end of it your body is probably WIPED out.  It needs some serious downtime to rejuvinate.  That is what sleep is for.

I struggled for a LONG time getting a good night's sleep.  My sister always says "my bed is comfortable and my pillow is soft".  It sounds silly but I was never able to say that.  My bed was always hard & uncomfortable.  My pillow?  I never used one.  My neck was always hurting & I had heard a pillow wasn't the way to go.  My whole back would just ache.  I could never find the right thing.  I can't tell you how many mattresses my husband & I went through during the course of the first 15 years of our marriage.  Then we got a Sleep Number.  I know many people that don't care for them but this was the answer for us!  My back is SO much better.  My chiropracter has seen a change as well.  NOW I can tell you that my bed is comfortable & my pillow is very soft (only use on when sleeping on my side). 

Sleep.  It's very important for so many things.  See what YOU can to do start getting more.  You won't be sorry!!

How many hours of sleep do you get a night?  Do you wake up feeling refreshed & ready to go?

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Being an Inspiration to Others

We all go through times when we just feel down about things.  The question there is who is around us to help us out if we need it.  I believe surrounding ourselves with positive influences is key.  I have some very strong, prayerful women that help me out during those times.  All I have to do is send a text or email or just look at them sometimes & they know. 

I recently had a friend tell me I was her inspiration.  That just stopped me in my tracks.  I haven't had anyone ever tell me that before.  That I remember.  I think I would remember that.  I look at this friend & see a strong, God follower.  Someone who strives to do the right thing for herself in the midst of a very chaotic life. 

I had a girlfriend have her 1st baby a few months ago.  I had offered before she had the baby that I would love to work with her a bit after she was able to start working out again. Just to help her get a good start on working out.  She used to work out a while back and just kind of fell away from it with a busy life, etc.  (Sound familiar?)  When she got the go ahead I went over & sat with her.  Just giving her some tips that I have learned & I was able to loan her some good beginner workouts.  She told me yesterday that she worked out 6 days last week!  I am so proud of her & she truly inspired me! 

It's so important to have positive people around you.  Preferably ones that you can workout with too.  Not all my friends and family workout.  That's ok.  I have enough of people I'm in touch with that do so I can continue my path & continue to support those that do & those that want to start.

I'm so excited to share my fitness information with others.  Maybe some day I will be certified & more people can benefit from it. 

Who is your biggest positive influence in your life right now? 

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Time for a little Tweek

As you know I have been working on the ChaLEAN Extreme program but I had found a hybrid schedule to use.  After 2 weeks of it I decided it just doesn't have enough of the ChaLEAN workout for me.  That's the whole idea of it was to do that workout.  So, I'm going to sit down & figure out something that will work for me.  That's what I love about being so involved in my workouts.  I can decide what I like & what I need & combine the 2.  The answer to both of those is Chalene for sure but I will use the CE schedule as it came to me & then add in TurboFire to pump it up some. 

I'll let you know!

Have you ever started a program that just didn't seem to work for you?  How did you handle it?  Did you just quit or change things up?

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

ChaLEAN Extreme/TurboFire Hybrid

(Really frustrated blogger won't let me post pictures right now) 



Oh I am a happy girl!!  When I received ChaLEAN Extreme as a gift I was so thrilled to start it & I can tell you that it is for sure an AWESOME workout.  Ok, I'm only 5 days in to the 90 but I'm telling you it is!!

I did some thinking & looking over.  Asking questions, etc & decided to use a hybrid schedule I found online that combines CE with Chalene's Turbo Fire.  Which is another fave of mine.  It has also allowed some extra time to be able to run more.  I love to run :)  I was blessed with a "hand-me-down" treadmill & I have been using that as much as I can. 

So, I will do as I did for P90X giving you inches/lbs lost if any (going to try to think positively) and maybe this time I will be brave enough to post pictures. 

Have you done anything new this year for working out? 

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

The Core of the Problem

Or should I say the core IS the problem?

My main workout yesterday was Bob Harper's Ripped Core Workout.  (Tried posting a picture but for some reason blogger isn't working with me)  I LOVE to HATE that one for sure.  Almost everything is done standing or in plank position until you get to the last 10 minutes then we are doing crunches.  The first 20 minutes, I have to admit, is my favorite.  Using weights & doing great moves for my core.  The next 15 minutes or so, NOT my favorite.  Can anyone say - SIDE BURPEES???  and ROLL BACKS???......  Sheesh, I KNOW these are good for my core because I can FEEL they are good for my core.  They are my challenges though for this particular workout.  The way I look at challenges though are those exercises right there may be exactly what this girl needs for defined abs.  With that in mind, I can tackle all the exercises that I may not be lovin'. 

Something else I was thinking about while trying not to curse the side burpees is maybe I have such a hard time with these things because my core needs to be stronger.  Amen to that! 

Working out your arms & legs, doing cardio, those are easy but are you focusing on your core?  That is where we all need to be stronger.  Do you have back problems?  Most likely your core is very weak.  I'm not just talking about abs though.  Glutes, abs -- it's all part of it.

Don't neglect this part of your body! 

Have you gotten your eating back on track from the holidays?  What about your workout?  Keeping up with that??

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Happy New Year!!!

Oh I am looking forward to this new year!!  I hope you had a wonderful New Years.  Are you ready to make some changes?  I hope so.

I'm about to start my next & NEWEST program.  ChaLEAN Extreme.  Honestly I have already done a couple of the workouts just to get an idea.  I'm am SO ready for them!  I can totally see me incorporating some HIIT workouts in there too.

So, next step is taking measurements & getting started.  As my typical OCD self is ...... I will be starting Monday January 7th. 

What about you????  What are some changes YOU are making for this new year?

Be Blessed & HEALTHY!!  (I'm very glad to say my family is finally on the mend to the healthy part!)