Gettin' Lean In 2013 Update:Week 17

Mother's Day flowers from my husband and kids;-)

Last week was pretty awesome.  I had great workouts and I ate clean most of the week except for Mother's Day.  I had a slice of cake.  I averaged about 15,000 steps a day last week.  Made up for the previous week big time;-)  The weather was beautiful so I actually went for a jog a couple of days last week.

This week I start the Go Fit Gals Short and Sweet Challenge.  They emailed us the guidebook Sunday night. It's different from any other challenge I've been involved in.  Every day we are challenged to complete the healthy habit for that day.  Like today's challenge is to drink half your body weight in  ounces of water. Every Wednesday the Go Fit Gals will post a new workout. So I guess I will still continue with the Fitness Blender 8 Week Fat Loss Program.  Also I have been asked by Gaiam TV to review their website. The website contains hundreds of workouts from Yoga to Cardio. So far I have enjoyed a few of the workouts.  I will try to do a few a week for the next month while I have free access to Gaiam TV's website. So this is how week 18 will look:

Go Fit Gals Short and Sweet Challenge

 Monday:   Short and Sweet healthy habit
                  Fitness Blender workout
                  Gaiam TV workout

Tuesday:     Short and Sweet healthy habit
                    Fitness Blender workout
                   30 minute jog

Wednesday: Short and Sweet healthy habit
                     Fitness Blender workout
                     Go Fit Gals Workout 

Thursday:    Short and Sweet healthy habit
                     Fitness Blender workout
                     30 minute jog

Friday:         Fitness Blender workout
                    Short and Sweet healthy habit

Saturday:      Gaiam TV workout
                     Short and Sweet healthy habit

Sunday:        Gaiam TV Yoga workout
                     Short and Sweet healthy habit

Please follow my progress on this blog and on Twitter #gettinleanin2013. And don't forget that I'm giving away a 12 pack sampler of Quest Bars to 2 lucky readers on my other blog The Elements of Review!

Gettin' Lean In 2013 Update: Week 16

 


Last week there wasn't a lot of working out because of my foot. I tried (I do mean TRIED)  to walk 30 minutes a day,  It's almost back to normal.  Today I did my first tough workout in a week.  The weather is so beautiful now, I'm really tempted to start running again.  I may do a short run tomorrow.  I've done a lot better with my diet.  The clean eating has become easy again.  My dessert every night has been a Quest Bar.  I'm giving away two 12 pack samplers on my other blog The Elements of Review.  The Quest Bars are a wonderful snack or dessert. They are delicious especially after 15 seconds in the microwave.

This week I will continue to work out every day with Fitness Blender and maybe go for a run a couple of days. Next week I will be taking a break from Fitness Blender's 8 Week Fat Loss Program and starting the Go Fit Gals Short and Sweet Challenge for 3 weeks.  Really looking forward to this challenge.  These gals always have fun and interesting challenges.  They are such great motivators and you get results from their programs.  This is the last week to sign up for it.  Check it out here.  Let me know if you are going to join in.  I'm always looking for workout buddies!;-)

Please follow my progress on this blog and on Twitter #gettinleanin2013.

Gettin' Lean In 2013 Update: Week 15

 

Last week I fell off the wagon a couple of times.  Thursday I ate too much delicious Indian food at an event.  Then on Sunday we celebrated my husband's birthday.  I made a delicious cake.  Ahhhhh cake!  You're sweetness is my weakness!  Anyway, this week I started the new Fitness Blender 8 Week Fat Loss Program.  I completed day one and then I injured my foot.  As I'm writing this blog post my left foot is swollen to twice it's size.  How did it happen?!  Opened the refrigerator and one of the shelves on the door fell off.  That shelf had two water pitchers on it.  Water went everywhere!  I don't know if it was the shelf or the water pitchers that fell on my foot because it happens so fast.

So I'm hoping this is a temporary setback.  Really hurts when it's touched or I walk on it.  The plan is to do upper body training until I can put pressure on my foot.  Eating clean will be easy.  Luckily I went grocery shopping before the accident.  Also, last week I received a 12 bar sample pack of Quest Bars.  These protein bars are sugar and gluten free.  Quest Bars satisfy my sweet tooth and keep me full for hours.  I will be giving away 2 sample packs on my blog The Elements of Review later this week.  Please follow me on that blog to be notified when it starts.  Also please follow my progress on this blog and on Twitter #gettinleanin2013.

Gettin' Lean In 2013 Update: Week 14

 


Wow, last week was sad and stressful.  I was so happy when the week ended.  I tried to stay on track, but I did have a few slip-ups. Went for many walks.  The cherry blossoms are in bloom here in Vancouver. So beautiful!  I have to remember my goals. It's more than just looking good for BlogHer13 and my class reunion.  I want to be healthy for my children.  I want to be here for them and to be a good role model.

So today begins a new week.  This week is an active rest week. No scheduled workouts.  I will try to take a walk every day and do Yoga a couple of times a week. This week because I will not be burning the amount of calories I usually do, I will have to keep my diet under control.  I have found clean eating easier the more I do it.  It's not just a change for a couple of weeks.  It's a lifestyle change.

Last week was challenging for me.  When I'm stressed I crave chocolate.  The Go Fit Gals released a  clean eating chocolate recipe last week.  Check it out here.  If you try it let me know what you think.  I will be making it this week.

Looking for buddies to work out with.  I will be doing Fitness Blender's 8 Week Fat Loss Program starting April 29th and the Go Fit Gals Short and Sweet Challenge starting May 13th.  So, if you sign up for them too let me know!

Please follow my progress on this blog and on Twitter #gettinleanin2013.

Gettin' Lean In 2013 Update: Week 13

 



I did a lot better with the clean eating this week.  I decided to return to the Go Fit Gals clean eating program.  It is less restrictive than the Dr. Oz Clean Eating Detox.  I think his detox is fine for a few days for me, but any longer than that I start to feel deprived.  I managed to go a couple of days without the Coke Zero.  The strange thing is that I haven't had any coffee in over two weeks.  I usually start my day with two cups.  I don't crave it like I used to.

I have had a bit of success conquering the dreaded muffin top.  I measured my waist and I'm down an inch and I'm down two inches off my lower abs.  So happy about this!  I will continue the Go Fit Gals clean eating program from the 6 -Week Shape Up Plan I did last year. Week 14 will be the last week of the Fitness Blender 8 Week Fat Loss Program. The following week will be a rest week and then the following week I will begin the new Fitness Blender plan.  You can find out more information about it here.  I've also signed up for the Go Fit Gals Short and Sweet Challenge that begins May 13, 2013.  If you sign up for the Fitness Blender plan or the Go Fit Gals program/challenge let me know!

Please follow my progress on this blog and on Twitter #gettinleanin2013.

Gettin' Lean In 2013 Update: Week 12

Last week I continued clean eating and working out.  I have say that giving up Coke Zero has been extremely difficult for me.  Still struggling with that. Dyed some Easter eggs with the kids and then of course I ate a couple of the eggs.  The Dr. Oz Clean Detox doesn't include eggs.  I decided that I would include eggs in the diet.  Eggs are so good for you and most of the clean eating diets I know about include them. I won't eat them everyday.

Besides the Coke Zero and eggs I think I'm doing ok.  I have been drinking water all day.  I keep my Go Fit Gals water bottle full of water at all times.  As soon as I empty it I fill it back up with water. It's weird drinking water without Crystal Light in it.  Sometimes I put lemon or apple cider vinegar in it. Since moving to Vancouver it has been easier for me to stay away from the Crystal Light.  I can't seem to find a flavor I really like here.  My favorite flavor is the Green Tea Peach Mango.  Soooo good.  Occasionally my mom would send me some, but I have not requested it recently.

My favorite ladies the Go Fit Gals are starting a new workout challenge on May 13, 2013.  It's called the Short and Sweet Challenge.  It's a 21 day challenge.  In May I will be starting the new Fitness Blender 8 Week Fat Loss Program that's being released April 29, 2013.  I haven't decided if I will stop the Fitness Blender program during the Short and Sweet Challenge or not. It's a free challenge and if you want to sign up go here.

My body looks leaner.  The dreaded muffin top is still there, but he is stubbornly going away.  I did the Detox Yoga twice this week.  That's a major accomplishment for me because like I have said before I'm not a yoga person.  When I did it Saturday morning I really felt it in my thighs.  Another problem area for me.  I feel like I'm on the right track.  I just need to get the Coke Zero out of my diet and then I will really feel like my diet is truly clean.

I watched a very interesting documentary this week called "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead."  It's about two men who go on a weight loss journey.  They both were overweight and on many medications.  Joe Cross the director and writer of the movie started his journey first.  He went on a juice fast.  He didn't buy the juice from the local grocery store, but he juiced the fruits and vegetables himself.  He stayed on the plan for 60 days and inspired Phil Staples to do the same.  They both lost a lot of weight, got off the medications and are now inspiring people around the world....including me.  You can find the trailer here.

I did try something similar with the Dr. Oz 3 Day Detox a couple of months ago, but couldn't really do it the complete 3 days.  I look at the people in the film and marvel at them being able to drink nothing but fruit and vegetable juice for 60 days,  Considering trying it again in a few weeks. I will have an active rest week between the ending of  the first Fitness Blender 8 Week Fat Loss Program and the beginning of the new one.

 Please follow my progress on this blog and on Twitter #gettinleanin2013.

Gettin' Lean In 2013 Update:Week 11

 


Last week was great!  I got on the scale this morning and cannot believe I'm down a couple of pounds. Last week was 'me week.' My husband took the kids to the States to visit relatives.  I stayed behind for some much needed rest.  Even though I missed them I still was able to enjoy the 'me time.'

A few days last week I followed the Dr. Oz Clean Eating Detox.  It was easy to follow.  The first day I was ok until the evening and then I became tired and had a really bad headache.  The second and third days were fantastic.  I had a ton of energy and felt really relaxed.  Those two days I also did a detox yoga routine.  Loved it and I'm not a yoga person.  I decided that I would try to do it two times a week.  The weather in Vancouver has been fantastic too!  I don't think I have ever seen this many rainless, sunny days here.  I went for long walks on those days.  Which helped with getting to 10,000 steps a day.  Because the kids haven't been in school for two weeks, getting to 10,000 steps a day has been a challenge.  I usually get a lot of my steps walking them to and from school.

I went off the detox on Easter Sunday, but I'm back on track today. I plan to stay on the detox until Mother's Day.  Tried on the skinny jeans today and there's still a muffin top, but a little less of it.  I will continue the Fitness Blender 8 Week Fat Loss Plan.  Really tough workouts every day!  I love it!  Can't wait to sign up for the next one in late April.

Please follow my progress on this blog and on Twitter #gettinleanin2013.