Body Revolution Day 21 of 90

Day 21 = Rest Day

Today started off with breakfast: Steel Cut Oats with Apples & Nuts

I enjoyed this, and then...Rest day turned into going to the gym with my friend, as her guest. I walked on the treadmill for 60 minutes, followed by sitting in the sauna for about 30 minutes. Nothing too strenuous. I wasn't going to go at all, but I needed a break from my kids for a few hours.

Lunch: I made the Chicken Salad with Red Grapes & Toasted Pecans
I had some wraps in the fridge that I needed to start using, so I turned the sandwich into a wrap.

Snack: Trail Mix...chocolate...mmm

This snack doesn't look that satifying, but it is.  It helps fill you up with the almonds and the sunflower seeds, and the chocolate takes care of that sweet tooth.

We enjoyed the afternoon celebrating my Aunt's 85th Birthday.  So you know what that means...cake, goodies and other yummy treats.  I held strong.  While my kids spotted the cake, we didn't even make it past the table.  "Mummy, I want some cake".  It looked delicious, as did all the other treats on the table.  I had no desire to grab a piece for myself.  Instead, I opted for some fresh fruit.  I was set for the afternoon.  Thanks for a wonderful celebration.

Once I got home, we still needed to go grocery shopping...ughhhh.  By this time I was starting to feel sluggish and cold.  I just wanted to get home and snuggle up and relax.  I didn't feel like cooking much, but I didn't want to get fast food either.  So I purchased a roasted chicken from the store.

Dinner: Roasted Chicken Salad with Egg & an Orange
I woke up with a bit of a sore throat again, so I thought some Vitiman C would help out.

That was today's food. 

SO...yesterday I told you I was going to talk about REWARDS.

The other day I was thinking of Madonna. For those of you following my blog through MFP, and who are friends with me on there, you can see my ticker on my wall. Madonna's legs are my ticker. I want legs like her. That's right...I want to get rid of my jiggly thighs, and replace them with, AWESOME ROCK SOLID thighs. All the jiggly, wiggly parts must go.

I know I am not a world famous singer/dancer/actress/fashion guru/mum and all the other things that Madonna is. However...my kids love it when I do my Opera rendition of 'Animal Fair'...I can 'Vogue' with the best of them, I love to dance...acting...hmmm...I can do a really good impression of the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz, with full make up and costume too...

"I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!"

Fashion...I do design funky clothes and accessories for babies and toddlers...

A mum...hmmm...that I am. I have 2 lovely children that make me smile everyday. Now, I don't mean ALL day, everyday...they do drive me ABSOLUTELY C-R-A-Z-Y too sometimes.

But that's the spice of life when you are a parent. We take the good with the bad. And unfortunately for me, right now, my two little hooligans are just that...hooligans. I think I was telling you a couple weeks ago, on the Saturday I was trying to get them to clean up, well they did a bit, but then made more of a mess. Enough of that though, I could write a whole other blog just about them.

Let's get back to the Material Girl, that I am too...a Material girl, but not in the monetary way, but rather the fabric textile way. LoL Remember, I am a maker of children's wear. Oh yeah, where was i going with this???...getting rid of the jiggly wiggly parts and REWARDS...right. I can do it!

I WILL do it!

Anyway...Madonna...I am going to see her in September this year. I finally felt it was time that I see her live in concert. I deserve it. I have worked my butt off(well some of it anyway) to be able to justify this reward to myself. Yay me!!!

Don't reward yourself with food.  Reward yourself with things that are going to make you feel good about yourself.  Stuffing your face with a piece of cheesecake may be delicious and oh so yummy for a few minutes.  However, after it's gone, and the plate is clean, you will think to yourself, "ughhhh I'm stuffed".  Just think how much better you would feel if you bought yourself a new piece of clothing in a SMALLER size.  You will put it on and think, "DAMN, I look good!" And it return you are going to feel good as well.  NOT STUFFED!

As I mentioned the other day, if you are doing Jillian's 30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, or any other workout, but you REALLY want to get Body Revolution, use it as your reward.  Get stronger, and treat yourself to this next program once you hit one of your goals.

Remember, the food you eat is your FUEL, not your REWARD.  Go to the spa, instead of the ice cream store. 

I will update my weight tomorrow and let you in on my progress.  I think I will wait to measure until the end of Phase 1, which is next weekend.  Yay!!!

I must rest now...

talk to you tomorrow.

Good night.

Body Revolution Day 20 of 90

Day 20 = Cardio 1

26 minutes goes by SO quick...I'm done my workout for today. I was a bit sluggish again this morning. It was crazy windy outside(and still is), I didn't get a very good sleep. I just kept thinking the roof was going to get ripped off the house or something. Plus my daughter decided she needed to come into our bed last night. I love snuggling with her, but I just doesn't make for a very good sleep...

I know that all the parents out there with young children can relate to this...unless...you lock them in their bedroom at night, or you go to a hotel every night...but the reality of it all, is why we love them so much.  We will let our heads be their pillow for their head or feet.  One day that time will come where they stay in their room all night long and everyone gets a good night's sleep.  Until then, I can live with being a foot or head rest.
So I got up...the house was still all in one piece, so I went downstairs to kill Cardio 1 for another day.  Halfway through, I realized I only have 2 more days of Cardio 1, next Wednesday and Saturday.  Then I move into Phase 2...eeekkk! 
When I was doing the first set of "Fast Feet" today, I felt a little odd.  I told you I was a bit sluggish, but I felt like my legs didn't want to be doing them.  I couldn't seem to get my feet off the ground as much.  By round 2, I was shaking it.  Once you get there, you know that you only have to do them one more time...yay!!!  Those get my heart rate up more than the "Suicides" now. 
Speaking of "Suicides"...I noticed a post on MFP messages boards about the them.  This person didn't have enough room to do them properly, and was looking for an alternative move.  I would say you need about a good 10 feet to do these.  So move some furniture out of the way before you start.  If you don't have the room...I think you could do any cardio move that is going to keep your heart rate up there.  This one really turns up heat, so make sure you are doing more than just running on the spot.(unless you are running like crazy, then maybe that will work)  You COULD always do some more "Fast Feet"...I'm glad I have the space. LOL  And the tip that helps me get through the "Suicides", I mentioned it before...count down, instead of up.  I started at 23 and go down to 1...it helps me out a lot.
In Cardio 1, Jillian mentions, "There is no magic pill, no secret diet"...so true!  I will admit that I have tried weight loss products before.  Whether it be a pill, a shake, or a crazy diet...none of them worked.  It all comes down to YOU doing the work.  Exercising and making good food choices for yourself.  I know that there is a meal plan with this program, but it is not a "diet", but rather a healthy meal plan with great food.  You don't need to waste your money on pills and shakes to get results.  If you look at any of those products, they will ALL state that they work best with "combined with exercise and healthy eating".  I am no expert on these products, but if you eat right and exercise, why bother???  Spend that money on a reward for yourself for hitting some of your smaller goals.  I was in a store not long ago, and I saw this couple looking at these products(pills)...I felt like saying, "Don't waste your money, and chance it that you may bring harm to your body"...but I didn't.  I kept my mouth shut(I know that's hard to believe, but I did)  Everyone is entitled to make their own choices, and they did...they walked away with some product off the self.  But like I said, I was once in their shoes, but I have learned from my mistakes.  That money is now going to go to things for ME!!!! hehehe(I will talk about rewards tomorrow)

Let's talk food now...
I got a message from a friend of mine through Facebook this morning.  She's awesome!  She used to be a participant in my spinning classes years ago.  She was the singer in the class, it was great!  Anyway, after reading yesterday's blog about food choices and exercise.  She shared this information from her Boot Camp instructor, "Your result are based 80% on the food choices, and only 20% on the exercise.  The exercise tones and trims, but the food is what makes a difference".(I knew that...LOL) Thanks for sharing Alicia.
So see everyone, it's not just me saying, "EAT GOOD FOOD!!!"  Jillian actually mentions this in her Extreme Shed & Shred DVD, and I think I may have touched on it a bit in the beginning of the 90 days.  Reminders are always good to help keep us on track.

Breakfast:  I couldn't stay away from them...I made MORE Multi-grain Pancakes with Berry Maple Syrup.  They are so damn good.  I did change it up however.  Since I LOVE raspberries, and used them all up already, I had to use the blueberries I had in the fridge.  Well, I must say, "they were so DAMN good this morning!"

 I made a full recipe and packed them away for Days 29, 39, 49, 59 and 69.  All bagged and labelled, and now in the freezer.  Having breakfast meals ready like this will help with the, "I don't have enough time in the morning to make food".  Take the serving out of the freezer the night before so it can thaw out before morning, and there you go...breakfast in minutes.  With the heated syrup and berries...you don't need to heat it on the stove.  Throw some maple syrup and the berries in a microwave dish, and quickly heat it up that way.  Pour it over your heated pancakes, and enjoy!!!  That goes for the muffins too.  If you find that you are always pressed for time in the mornings.  Make up more muffins or these DAMN GOOD pancakes.  REMEMBER, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  If you need a reminder of this, I will let my son call you, and tell you that same thing.  If a 6 year old know this, than why don't you???

Lunch: Grilled Halibut with Fresh Berry & Ginger Salsa served with Couscous with Carrots, Parsnips and Orange

Okay...so I lied...I DID have more raspberries in the house, I had some frozen ones.  This meal was full of flavour and delightful surprises.  Like the sweetness of those oh so good raspberries.  The red onion however, was quite hot.  My kids had leftovers from last night, and my husband felt like eating pizza(McCains Ultra Thin Roasted Mushroom and Garlic Pizza).  Side note: This particular pizza is one of my favorites, 1/4 of the pizza is only 160 calories.  That's pretty good for a pizza, I think!
So since they were all eating pretty good, I decided to make the above dish.  I made two servings of the Halibut and the Couscous with Carrots, Parsnips and Orange.  My lunch is ready for Monday.

Snack: I ate the last Chocolate Cinnamon Frozen Banana Pop.  It was eaten due to the stress that my children caused me today.  They were supposed to be cleaning and all they did was play and make more of a mess.   Argghhhhh...I lost it, and needed to get out of the room.  It was around snack time and I knew I had one more of those Chocolate Gems in the freezer.  I sat down and started to prepare my grocery list and enjoyed the Banana Pop in peace.

Dinner: Leftover Beef Stir-fry with Broccoli and Shiitake Mushrooms.  We had a little get together with my family, and I knew my sister was going to make pizzas, so I took my leftovers with us.  I also took some Baked Garlic Pita Chips and Hummus as an extra snack so I wouldn't eat other munchies, that I knew would be there.  I had a few baby carrots with a Roasted Red Pepper dip.  I still stayed within my calorie count.

It's late now and I should get to bed or not.  Tomorrow is Rest Day.  Yay!!!!

Until then...

Good night.

Trina

Body Revolution Day 19 of 90

Day 19 = Workout 4

The UP button was stuck in the ON position, the entire 34 minutes. 

When I opened my eyes this morning I didn't think the UP button would exist today.  Last night my husband had put on the movie JFK, while I was writing my blog. I had never seen that movie before(or at least I don't remember watching it).  Anyway, he was watching, I was blogging/watching(nice eyebrows on Joe Pesci, eh?), then he was sleeping, I was still blogging/watching.  He then went to bed, I finished my blog post and I continued to watch.  I knew that I would be tired in the morning, so I turned it off and went to bed.  So with that being said, this morning it was tough to roll out of bed...but I did it!  And I worked it!  I used only 8 pound weights for ALL the weighted moves, including the lunges.  I have mastered the Terry Pulls in this one...well, I think I have.  Not much more to say on this one today.  Next week I may TRY("just try"<<<in Jillian's voice), to use 10 pound weights for some of the moves.

Today's Food...

Who says leftovers can't be good???  For this mornings breakfast, I was going to make the Multi-Grain Pancakes with Berry Maple Syrup.  I was starting to get my ingredients out, when I remembered that I still had a serving in the freezer from when I made them on Day 10.  I grabbed them out of the freezer and defrosted them.  I heated up some maple syrup and berries, raspberries of course.  Placed the thawed, then heated pancakes on the plate, poured the syrup/berries mixture over them and mmmmmmm.  They are SO good.  Out of all the breakfasts I have made over the last 18 days, these Pancakes have to be my favorite.  Yes, this morning's pancakes even beat out Day 10's, because I didn't have to make them up.  Quick and easy.  I may even make up another batch up tomorrow and freeze them all, so that I can have them just as quick again.  They did not taste like they had been frozen at all.  They tasted...simply....

...Delicious

Lunch: I enjoyed another one those Tomato Sandwiches on Garlic-rubbed Toast with 2 Hard Boiled Eggs

Snack: Baked Garlic Pita Chips with Hummus

Dinner: We went out for dinner tonight.  I chose Atlantic Salmon with Double Veggies(instead of potato I order the double veg) with a small House Salad to start, no croutons, oil/balsamic dressing.

This was my dinner tonight at the restaurant.  I did enjoyed it, however, the salmon I made the other day was much tastier.  It was nice to get out and go for dinner, BUT I do love creating my own meals now.  I know exactly what I use to create them.  So my dinner choice tonight was something I love, and I made it very simple with not adding any sauces or anything else.
With going out for dinner, my husband, my children and myself, all enjoyed different meals tonight.  I had the above, my husband had a steak dinner, my son had pizza(he's a pizza monster) and my daughter had pasta(she's a little pasta monster).  Going out for dinner is a great treat, and in the past we had done it too much. End result = weight gain, from making bad food choices.  Not anymore.

If you prepare the same meals for your family, you will set a great example for them.  During the week, it's usually only the dinner where we all eat the same thing, but at least my children can see Mummy and Daddy eating well.  For weekday lunches, my husband usually takes something like a Chef's Salad to work with some fruit and homemade protein bars.  I make my son a sandwich for his lunch, packed along with some fruits, veggies, black olives and a treat.  My daughter eats what I prepare for her and the daycare children.  My son, when asked if he likes school, he replied, "I like it because of the lunches you make for me"...(insert the Awwwwww here).LOL  Last Friday when he had a snow day, I had already made his lunch.  He was so excited that he got to eat that at home.  On Wednesday of this week, he had another snow day, I hadn't made his lunch yet.  When I told him his school bus was cancelled and he didn't have to go to school, he said, "but I still need to eat breakfast.  I need to eat breakfast everyday".  FINALLY, something I have said, is finally sinking in.  Setting a good example for your children by making good food choices and exercising, will help them make great choices as they get older.  We have to keep our youth Healthy and Strong.   
My children have both seen me doing my workouts in the past, and now my little girl puts the daycare kids through a workout some days(She's like a little Jillian).  They both like doing yoga.  Here's my little girl showing you some of her yoga poses.

By the smile on her face, she must be taping one of Jillian's DVDs.  LOL  The people in her DVDs must get paid more for having a smile on their face the whole time.  The more they smile, they more they get paid. 

So to sum up today's blog...

TRY pushing the UP button as you go along and get stronger. 

Prepare and then freeze, enjoy at a later date. 

Make good food choices for yourself, and in return it will help your family too. 

Let your children see you working out sometimes, it will help keep them active.

And SMILE...we are all going to look and feel great everyday for the rest of our lives.

Have a great night.

Body Revolution Day 18 of 90

Day 18 = Workout 3

I pushed the UP button today in Workout 3.  I used heavier weights for all of the weighted exercises, except for Tree Pose/Lateral Raise.  <<<I like this one a lot.  When you do this move in the workout, be sure to focus on a spot to help you with your balance.  Jillian doesn't mention this until the second time through.  So it helps if you don't look at the TV while doing this move.  Stare at the floor, ceiling or wall, just concentrate on something that is not moving.  I think next week I may TRY, pushing the UP button on this one and use the 8 lb weights.   After my workout, I checked my HRM, it read 300 calories burned...WICKED!  It's kind of wild that this workout burns more calories than Cardio 1...maybe I'm just not working hard enough in Cardio 1.  Nahhhh...this workout is almost 10 minutes longer than Cardio 1...yeah, that's right.  LOL 

Once I showered and got dressed, I made my way to the kitchen to make breakfast.  Freshly baked Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins...mmm

Breakfast- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffin

Fresh out of the oven



Packed, labelled and threw the rest in the freezer for a later date.

These muffins were really good.  So far, I think, the Blueberry Banana muffins are my favorite, then these ones above...yes that's right, the Blueberry beat the Chocolate ones.  Pumpkin Cranberry come in third place.  I found them just a bit on the dry side...just a bit.

Lunch: Shrimp and Watermelon Salad with Roasted Garlic Beets
 This was delicious.  I was looking forward to making this as soon as I saw the picture of it.  I used baby spinach as my base.  I didn't have the jicama that it called for, but that's okay.  It's okay to change up the recipes a bit as long as you stay within the calories allotted for the meals.  My salad recipe came to 309 calories, Jillian's were 310.4...very close.  Okay here are a few pictures...

Lunch Prep...

Lunch is served.

Even if you are not following the Fat Burning Meal Plan for the 90 days, try this recipe.  It's a nice, light and fresh salad.  Now if you don't like shrimp, try it with some poached chicken.  When you poach the chicken, following the recipe the same(same spices and such), when cooking the chicken, just add on cooking time in the pan, until the chicken is fully cooked.  I haven't tried that yet, but I bet you it would be just as good.

Snack: Chocolate Cinnamon Frozen Banana Pops...enough said...mmm...mmm

Do you think you need to see them again?  There is only one left in the freezer, so you might see this snack come up again real soon. LOL  So, you DO need to see them again!  Okay, alright...

Like I said, "there is only one left".

Dinner: Beef Stir-fry with Broccoli and Shiitake Mushrooms

Remember this was the same dish I made up back on Day 8.  I had a note in my calendar, on my iPhone, to take the beef out of the freezer yesterday, so it could thaw out, in preparation for tonight's dinner.  It made it so much easier to prepare the meal.  Cooking it up...

All of today's meals were from the Fat Burning Meal Plan.

I am showing you my meals and preparation, to help you realize that it's not enough just to do the workouts alone.  You have to fuel your body with good food, no, GREAT food.   Like I said yesterday, I don't want to have to workout for hours. 

I had a friend message me to ask

"Question? I'm not doing the kick start, but can I do cardio on most days, except rest day, or do I follow her schedule to the letter? Looking at the schedule, she only has you doing cardio 2 times a week?"

My answer kind of went like this...and some...

It's totally up to the individual on how often you do Cardio workouts.  It's a personal choice.  There are cardio moves mixed into the Workouts, so you are doing cardio more than twice a week.  You don't want to burn yourself out, so take it easy. 

I started with the Kickstart program, so I did Cardio everyday for the first week(6 days) 1 Rest Day.  I then started with week 2(Day 8 of 90).  I am following the workout schedule as written in the book.  I am trying to show people how this program will work as it is written.  There are so many people that try something, and don't get the results they thought the program(s) would give them.  Is it possible they don't get the results, because they don't follow the plan the way it is supposed to be followed?  I can't say for sure.  But that is why I am sticking to the program as best I can.  I will do the workouts as written, but as you know, that I have changed some of the meals, but still sticking within the correct calorie count.
I have had better results doing this program as written, than I had when I was working out with those crazy 1000 calorie burn days back in November.  I didn't really lose anything in November.  That SUCKED! 

I'm LOVING the way the weight is coming off with me doing less...that doesn't suck at all.  I snuck a weigh in this morning(i didn't log it though)I am down another pound from the last official weigh-in. But don't tell anyone...yet!

We all paid the same amount of money for this program(well maybe (we)Canadians had to pay more, as I got dinged with the duty), so get the most out of it.  But remember less in more.  Just because I paid more for the program, does not mean I need to use it more.  I will use what I paid for.  I don't need Jillian yelling at me to do "Suicides" every single day for 90 days.  If you do the program as written, I believe you won't get bored and give up.  It's always changing.  Like, today's Workout 3 was different from Monday's Workout 3, because I pushed the UP button.  Next week, the UP button will move up the wall a couple inches.  I will reach up a push it...PUSH IT REAL GOOD.  After that, I will move onto Workouts 5 & 6.  So you see, it's always changing.  Again, don't burn yourself out by doing something YOU DON'T NEED TO DO.

Well I think I have said enough for today.  And to think, when I first sat down at my computer, I didn't know what I was going to talk about.

Tomorrow is workout 4 again...until then...

Good night...zzz