Wednesday, October 26, 2016

#Rocktober

I won't bore you with every step, like I did in the Health Bet Challenge.  #Rocktober is more about the continuation of my journey.  I wasn't winning any money, just striving for good health.

I continued with my mostly daily shakes, and mostly daily exercising.  Though, it did start out rough due to illness.  I quickly got over it and got back on track, with some missteps.  We all have them, and I plan to continue to have them!  As long as I also continue to get back to my goals, I'll be just fine!


#Rocktober consisted of  various themes to your days:
#moveyourassmonday
#trysomethingnewtuesday
#wackywednesday
#throwoutthursday
#feelingfitfriday
#shakeosaturday
#keepitsimplesunday

What are YOU doing to get yourself moving this week?  On Tuesday, maybe a new healthy recipe?  Thursday, throw out junk food that's not in your new plan.  Things like this we'd use to get through the month.  One Wacky Wednedsay, I'd done a PiYo Working and nearly fell over.  Maybe not wacky, but I did laugh at myself.  

Maybe try this shakeo recipe:
FRUITY COLADA
1 Scoop (or packet) Tropical Strawberry Shakeology (Vegan)
1 Cup Coconut Water
1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple chunks
1/2 tsp coconut extract
I like to use ice and a blender.  The more ice, the thicker your shake!
Calories:  248

Throughout this challenge, I am continuing to walk, do Yoga and PiYo.  I also like to occasionally throw in the CDJ (Challenge Du Jour) offered on Beachbody on Demand.  And, to that, I'm so excited for the new Core De Force workouts to come out November 1st!  
Let's start with my starting weight/measurements:
October 3rd (In September, I'd lost a total of 8 pounds, and 7 inches in the Health Bet Challenge).
Weight 125
Waist 31
Hips 37
Chest 36
 
October 31st
Weight - 122 - so, 3 pounds this month, totaling 11 pounds in 2 months
Waist - 30
Hips - 36
Chest -34 (not where I wanted to lose from, but I know you can't "spot" lose). 

My biggest struggle, I'm finding, is lunch.  I've been doing a lot of hard boiled eggs, turkey bacon, sauteed veggies.  It takes planning ahead, as I'm eating this at my office.  Something I did find to help me with that are the Portion Control Fix containers.  I'm also checking out some recipes in Fixate.  If you'd like more info, Click Here
Please be sure to check back in to when I complete this challenge, and see what challenge I'll be up to next.  Maybe you'd like to join me for the November challenge?!?  Email Me!

Disclosure:  I am an Independent Beachbody Coach. I do receive a commission or discount on all products, but I spend my own money on these products because they work. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Health Bet Challenge - Final Week!

Thanks for following me this far in my Health Bet Challenge!  I've had my ups and downs.  I really enjoy these shakes, and you can see you can mix up your workouts - in fact, it's good to mix up your workouts.

Let's recap my stats:
Weight - 127 (down 2, 4 total)
Chest - still 37
Waist - 32 (down 1, 3 total)
Hips - 37 (down 2).


Now, Final week and we'll take a look at how I made out in this challenge at the end.

Monday, September 26th - Cafe Latte for Lunch.  I'm mostly doing these for breakfast now, with a piece of fruit, but sometimes it ends up being lunch.  Whatever, just get it in.  That night, I did PiYo Sweat, and yea, I did.  Not a long workout, but intense.  Push through it, you'll be glad you did.

Day 23 - Chocolate Shakeo (breakfast again), not much in the way of exercise, but I was feeling very stressed, so I did a short, sweet bedtime yoga routine.  It was perfect.


Day 24 - Strawberry Daquiri.  Yoga at the studio.

Day 25 - We're almost there.  Salty Caramel Latte.  Did PiYo Define, BOTH Upper & Lower Body today.  I'm getting the hang of this!

Day 26 - Coconut Delight.  No Exercise - feeling a cold coming on. 

Day 27, Saturday, October 1st - Salty Caramel Latte.  Could it be a favorite?  Again, no exercise, yes, that's a cold coming on.  Better rest than sorry.  And, tonight, I have to sit out in the cold rain watching a band competition.


Day 28 - Final Day.  I do wish I wasn't wrapping up this challenge sick, but it happens.  I am feeling slightly better and my opinion is that I'm getting through it more quickly because I have changed my lifestyle.  I did do shake, but still no exercise.  Last night's stint in the cold rain wasn't the best idea, but I will not miss my kids' competitions, even for a bad cold.

Final Stats - I'm so excited at the results!!!  Remember, of course that results may very depending on what you've put it as well as how much you have to lose.
10/2/16
Weight 125 (2 MORE pounds, total of 8)
Chest - 36 (now, down 1 inch)
Waist - 31 (down 1 more, total 4)
Hips - 37 (down total 2 inches)

Right now, I'm going to continue with my "regimen" of Yoga, Walking & PiYo, along with continuing with Shakeology.  #Rocktober Starts official on October 10th, with October 3rd as a prep week.  Basically, I'm just going to continue and see where this leads me.

Want to try PiYo?   Click Here!


Oh, and my share of the over $1,000,000?  A little over $16.  So, not a lot, but since I was expecting 5, it's like triple!  Look for a new Health Bet Challenge coming in January with over $2,000,000!!!

Disclosure:  As of the end of this Health Bet Challenge, now...  I am an Independent Beachbody Coach. I do receive a commission or discount on all products, but I spend my own money on these products because they work. All opinions are my own.

Health Bet Challenge Week 3 - Let's get back on track, PLEASE!!!

OK, we made it through last week.  It wasn't pretty, but we got through it!

Let's review stats where we left off...

Weight 129
Chest 37
Waist 33
Hips 38


Now, Day 15, Monday, September 19th - Started my week with a Pina Colada.  Came home and did Week 3, Balance Day of the 3 week Yoga Retreat.  You can get this and many other workouts on Beachbody on Demand.  See below for BBOD link.  First, here's the Pina Colada Recipe, you know you want it!
Pina Colada Shakeology
1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology
½ cup water
½ cup 100% pineapple juice
½ tsp. pure coconut extract
½ cup ice (add more to taste)


Day 16 - Chocolate Shake w/ Coconut milk and caramel extract.  Made it sooooo thick (think like a Wendy's shake).  Soooo delicious.  Oh, and this weekend, the hubs made me homemade roasted garlic hummus.  He's the best.  So, a great lunch idea that I had that day was a couple of hard boiled eggs, and some veggies with hummus.  Long walk with hubs that night too.  We did a little over 3 miles, while the boys were at scouts.

Day 17 - A new blend...  Vanilla, cocoa powder, chilled coffee and coconut extract.  Email Me for full recipe.  That evening, such a tough yoga workout.  Every pose we did, we held for a minute.  I actually wasn't feel well before class, but came out feeling like freakin' Wonder Woman.  This eating right and exercise stuff really works.

Day 18, Thursday, September 22nd - Cafe Latte w/ coconut milk.  Finally realizing I should start taking the stairs at work.  I'm only on the third floor.  Back to school night at the high school, so is that my exercise for the day?  Hellz yea!  It's hot in there.

Day 19 - Vanilla Latte.  Yum.  No exercise today.  :-(

Saturday, Day 20. PiYo Define Lower Body in the a.m.  Then, a Salty Caramel Latte for lunch at the football game.  So, a little more about me...  my boys are not in football, but they are in marching band.  Actually, it's a much longer day than the football players have!  They start with rehearsals in the morning, then perform at the football game, both at half time as well as 'pep'.  Then, they're off to competition in the evening.  I need all the energy I can get.  And, I promise you, at this point, I'm feeling the energy.  I'm really enjoying this program.

Day 21 - One week to go!!!  Working at the Farmer's Market, drinking my Chocolate Shakeo!  And, just as importantly, picking up fresh veggies!!  Got home, did PiYo Define, Upper Body.


End of Week 3 Stats - Yes, back on track:
9/25
Weight - 127 (down 2, now 4 total)
Chest - still 37
Waist - 32 (down 1, 3 total)
Hips - 37 (down 2, up 1, back down 1).

Interested in trying Various Beachbody Workouts, including the 3 Week Yoga Challenge I mentioned above?  Click Here



Disclosure:  After completing, this Health Bet Challenge... I am an Independent Beachbody Coach. I do receive a commission or discount on all products, but I spend my own money on these products because they work. All opinions are my own.


Healthbet Challenge Week 2 - Business Trip!!!

This week, I knew, would be my struggle.  Anything I lost last week, I figure, it's coming back (plus).  That won't stop me from trying though.  In the HBC (Health Bet Challenge), you were required to drink 5 shakeos a week, and exercise 3 days.  I did it, but it was a struggle.  My other big issue this week will be eating.  All either hotel food (whatever is served to us at lunch), or going out to restaurants.  This week as a tale of the good, the bad and the ugly...

Here's my stats from the end of last week...
Weight 129
Chest 37
Waist 33
Hips 37


Monday - September 12th - Day 8 Did my Shakeo for breakfast because I'm leaving this afternoon for Denver.  Salted Caramel Latte (uh, yes, please!!).  No exercise, unless you include walking around the airport.  
Salty Caramel Latte Shakeology
1 scoop or packet of Cafe Latte Shakeology
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (I use coconut milk)
1 tsp pure caramel extract
6 ice cubes
a pinch of sea salt
 

Day 9 - Cafe Latte overlooking the Blue Bear.  Had this shakeo for lunch, and grabbed some veggies to go with it.  2nd day, no exercise.  Out to a steak dinner, and pretty much just ate the steak.  Tried to avoid the carbs, and the asparagus (which I normally love) was breaded and fried, so I skipped it.
 (OK, next goal, try to figure out how to make this right side up - it's correct until it gets here).


Day 10 - The group we're with organized a 5K for us in the morning.  No, I'm not a runner, but I'm a fast walker.  Apparently, the fastest walker in the group.  Yay, me!  Back to my room to get some work done, late breakfast Cafe Latte Shakeo.  You'll see this week, I'm not gonna be much with recipes because I'm in a hotel.  Dinner was with a high school friend who lives out there, and wine, delicious red wine.
After my 5K in the morning.  That's what we walked around.  Beautiful!


Thursday, Day 11... I am NOT a morning workout person.  Yes, yesterday, was walking.  Today, I tried to get up and do PiYo Strength Intervals.  This was not the easiest workout I couldv'e chosen.  I did it, not easily, but I did it. I skipped my shake today. Dinner tonight was probably the worst (health wise, not taste, it was quite delicious, oh, and frozen drinks...not shakeology)...  Hard Rock Cafe.  I can't imagine how much I gained. 

Day 12 - Home sweet home!!  What's the first thing I do?  Make my shake!!  Chocolate w/ coconut water.  I did have this as a snack today.  Lots of walking today.  These airport walks were much more than Mondays, so I am totally counting it as exercise. 

Day 13, September 17th - Long Walk, beautiful Day.  Caramel Cocoa shakeo after my walk.  

Final day of week 2, started Sunday morning with a Chocolate Salted Caramel.  No exercise. 


Stats for end of week 2...
9/19 Stats (please keep in mind this was a big time struggle week)
Weight 129 (same)
Chest 37 (same)
Waist 33 (same)
Hips 38 (up 1 inch)

Wait, you mean to tell me I didn't gain anything?  (OK, 1 inch on the hips, that's IT!  Really, probably just didn't measure correctly last week, LOL).

Maybe this stuff works after all???

Like HIIT Workouts?  Try Chalene's Turbo Fire.  I've done these in the past, and they're great workouts!!

Disclosure: As of the end of the Health Bet Challenge...  Now... I am an Independent Beachbody Coach. I do receive a commission or discount on all products, but I spend my own money on these products because they work. All opinions are my own.

Healthbet Challenge - Week 1

So, you've read my intro and why I'm here.  The next few posts will be my journey on the Healthbet Challenge, where I struggled and maybe some recipes, lunch ideas, and other recipes.

First, thanks for coming back!  While the Healthbet Challenge started September 5th, I did join the challenge group on the 2nd, so I did get a little time to gather motivation, do some food research.  Changing my eating habits was not going to be easy (still isn't).

September 2nd - awesome yoga class, I belong to a studio so I try to get this in as often as I can.

September 3rd - Do people use Shakeology as a meal replacement or a snack?  I had to know, I was afraid it wouldn't be filling enough for a meal, but am I adding too many calories as a snack?  Turns out, there's no right answer.  Just follow your calories for the day (I use My Fitness Plan app to do that).  I wasn't starting my shakes until the 5th so I had some time to check it out.

September 4th - Got in a walk with my cuz that day, yay!

Let's put the starting stats in right about here...
As of September 2nd, I share with you my secret...  Again, you may weight more (you may also be taller, shorter, thinner, fatter - it doesn't matter, this is about your health...  no judgments).
Weight - 133
Measurements:
Chest - 37
Waist - 35
Hips - 39
Arms were at 11, and thighs at 19 - there was no change in these throughout the challenge, so I won't mention them again. 

Monday - September 5th - Official Start of the Challenge!!!  Also, Labor Day, making it a tough day to start w/ BBQ's and all.  Did I have a glass of wine?  Yes, but I also offset it with more water than wine.  Exercise for the day was a TOUGH Labor Day Class at the yoga studio.  My first day of shakes, I made Strawberry Lemonade.  Good start!

Day 2 - Shakeo - Fruity Colada, and a 3.24 mile with my husband.  Want to also mention with my walks, I use the Walk for a Dog App (Wooftrax).  We volunteer for the NJ Boxer Rescue, and just for walking, they donate money to my chosen charity.  If you have a rescue or shelter nearby, consider it.  If you don't, choose New Jersey Boxer Rescue.



Day 3 - Shakeo - Cafe Latte & a Yoga Class.  I haven't even started PiYo yet.  I gotta get on that!!!

Thursday, Day 4, Cafe Latte w/ milk (use something low fat, coconut or almond milk...  I use coconut a lot).  Yay, my challenge pack arrived!!  On my rest day, I read a bit about PiYo and the eating plan.

Day 5 - Mocha Chiller, then I watched the Intro video that came with PiYo, but did the Define Lower Body.  PiYo is low impact, but not low sweat!
Mocha Chiller Recipe:
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1 c. cold-brewed coffee
(add 1 tsp. pure almond extract to make an Almond Mocha Chiller)

Day 6, September 10th - Hot day out, went for a walk.  No shake today.

Final day of week 1, started Sunday morning with a Pina Colada.  Don't judge me.  Also, did PiYo Define Upper Body.    


Stats for end of week 1... (yes, I'm happy with the results, it's not a lot, but remember, I'm a skinny fat person).
Weight - 129 (down 2 lbs)
Chest - 37
Waist - 33 (down 2 inches, what?)
Hips - 37 (down 2 inches, yea man)


Not Sure about Shakeology, but Want to try some?



Disclosure: I am an Independent Beachbody Coach. I do receive a commission or discount on all products, but I spend my own money on these products because they work. All opinions are my own.

Zinful Jill's Beachbody Journey - Welcome!

Welcome to my latest blog, Zinful Jill's BeachBody Journey!  Why am I doing this blog?  Really, just so I can track my own success, and maybe give you some motivation to start your own journey.

A little bit about me - I've been happily married for about 21 years (it'll be 21 years in about 2 weeks).  We have 2 teen boys, who I can no longer blame for my increased weight.  Seriously, it's no excuse!  I work full time as an assistant manager in a billing department for a large radiology group, so sitting at my desk all is partially to blame to for some of this.  My poor eating habits, probably more so.

So, there I am, "pushing maximum density" (as John Bender would say, if you're around my age, you should know where this came from) and feeling tired all the time, feeling unattractive, and feeling sad.  At that point, I'm about 5 pounds away from my full pregnancy weight.  I know what a lot of people are thinking...  'what weight'... 'you're so skinny'...  'I wish I was as skinny as you'...   Ok, they weren't just thinking it, they're saying it.  Here's the fact - I am a long time skinny person who's clothes don't fit anymore, who can see all my rolls (that you don't see because I'm really good at keeping them covered), who can't just suck it in any longer.  And, I simply don't want to gain MORE weight than I already have.  So, stop judging. 

Enter Beachbody's Health Bet Challenge.  I needed this push.  I saw on Facebook that someone else was doing it, so I decided to check it out.  The deal was Beachbody was giving away over $1,000,000,000.00 to everyone who participating (following certain rules where you had to log a certain number of Shakeology shakes and workouts each week - the workouts did NOT have to be Beachbody workouts).

I found myself a BB Coach and ordered my supplies.  I ordered a PiYo Challenge Pack with the Barista Pack Shakeology (Chocolate, Vanilla & Cafe Latte).  The challenge ran September 5th through October 2nd.  In that time, I didn't follow the PiYo Workouts as laid out.  My addiction to regular yoga classes always takes priority, and some days I would just walk.  I did my best to following a clean eating plan as came in the PiYo eating guide.

If you are interested in the PiYo Challenge Pack, please Click Here.  You can choose what flavor Shakeology you'd like, and you get me as your coach, YAY!



Finally, for today...  my disclaimer...  after completing the healthbet challenge, I did decide to become a Beachbody coach.  I do receive a commission or discount on all products, but I spend my own money on these products because they work. All opinions are my own.