7-Day Slim Down

Today I've started what we in the Tone it Up Community call the 7-Day Slim Down. When you purchase the Tone it Up meal plan you also have access to a lot of Karena and Katrina's tips and tricks, including the slim down plan. This slim down is in NO WAY a lifestyle plan. It's an intense 7 days of dieting, adding and removing certain elements at certain times, to ensure you look your best after the 7 days. I view it as a type of cleanse, flushing out extra sugars and salts and really tightening and toning up all over. It's a great way to kick off or end a diet or challenge.

**Please note that these women are certified nutritionists and trainers. 

Before starting it's recommended that you weight and measure yourself in the morning on an empty stomach. Well, I already screwed this part up because I didn't do that today. I'll try to do it tomorrow. By taking measurements in the beginning and end you'll see how your body shape has changed and where you lost inches. Again, weight isn't always the best way to determine your progress. Measurements tell much more! (I've touched on this subject with a little more detail in a past post. Click here.)

Because the 7-Day Slim Down is challenging, I recommend doing it with someone, whether it's a bunch of people on the Tone it Up Community or with just your sister-in-law (my SIL Jane and I are doing this together). You can talk about what you're eating, how you're feeling, any trouble your having, etc. The key is to keep eachother on track and motivated!

During the next 7 days our diets will consist of mostly raw foods and protein and LOTS of water. Fruits are also included (which is a real treat!) as well as steamed vegetables and an occasional dairy item. We have 5 meals a day, so you're in no way starving yourself. We're also allowed to have coffee and green tea with Stevia :) Stevia, by the way, is a leaf extract from the stevia plant. A natural, chemical free and calorie free sweetener is made from the leaves. I've been using it as a sugar replacement for almost a year and absolutely love it! I also find coupons for Truvia (a brand of stevia) often and will stock up when I do.

In addition to diet restriction, the 7-Day Slim Down also includes workouts. Cardio and full-body training is worked in once or twice a day, depending on what day you're on, to ensure you're burning the maximum amount of calories. These chicks have it all down to a science and it works!

I'm both excited and dreading the days to come. I'll keep you updated on my progress. By this time next week I'll be looking HOT HOT HOT! Just like my favorite trainers.

To learn more about the Tone it Up Nutrition Plan click here. You can also access Karena and Katrina's work out videos on their YouTube channel. I've added a video below to explain a little more about Karena, Katrina and their plan.

One Week Down- Not Feelin' the Love

I have to say, the first week of my "wellness challenge" has been difficult. I've replaced my evening glass of wine with evening chocolate, which I'm already seeing the effects from. This week I'm going to focus on making healthy substitutions. A hot cup of tea or a walk with my dogs is a much better alternative. I figure if I force myself to do this each night it will become my new routine to replace my old bad habits. This week is dedicated to habit breaking.

I went out on Saturday night and stayed strong while friends had drinks. We talked and laughed and I found it surprisingly easy to keep sipping on water all night long. I almost caved and ordered a glass of wine after dinner while my friends all enjoyed an after dinner drink, but I reminded myself that I wasn't ready to face the challenge of drinking without smoking. The fear of smoking kept me with a full glass of water. We were home and in bed my midnight which was awesome. Doug and I are not strangers to late nights. I hate staying up super late because we inevitably waste the next morning sleeping in. Instead we were up by 8:30, making coffee and taking the dogs for a nice long golf course walk. The day started off wonderfully!

After walking I putzed around the house and then headed into work for a few hours. I actually enjoy working on Sundays because I am able to get a lot done with very few interruptions. I left by 3pm and made it to my friends by 4 to watch football with  the gang. We ate some delicious crab legs, salad, bean dip and wings. I think I noshed for 3 hours straight.

Kyle, Evie and Rhys during the game

As the night went on it became increasingly difficult to be the sober one. A few of my friends got drunk and felt the need to tell me that I've been acting "different." With little more explanation than that I tried to suck back my hurt feelings and exit gracefully. Yes, I've been busy. I haven't been coming around as much b/c we've had out-of-town plans on the weekends or I've had other commitments. I also spent a weekend on the sofa/in bed with a rotten cold. I've refused 2 or 3 nights out with friends because I needed to get up early the next morning for marathon training. Dragging Doug away after only 2 beers is a difficult task, and he usually ends up upset with me and telling me I'm no fun. So rather than dealing with disappointing him and being dubbed the "party pooper" I've opted not to go. I still made it out for Mexican with friends 2 weeks ago and hung out both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. So I'm not sure why all the criticism. I'm still me, It's just been a little busy for me lately.

I felt hurt last night and came home and cried. Instead of feeling like I had the support of my friends for doing something healthy I felt the opposite: I'm no fun. I'd like to make it clear that up until the last 20 minutes of the night, when these conversations happened, I was having fun. I was laughing with friends, playing with the kids, yelling at the TV... What I really find odd is that my friend Emily hasn't been drinking either (she's 8 months pregnant) and neither does her mother-in-law who was also hanging out with us. Why is it so interesting that I'm not drinking? Why does it even matter? And it's not like I was broadcasting this fact. I had a beverage in hand all night long to prevent from having to turn an alcoholic one down.

Needless to say I'm feeling discouraged with this challenge. On the ride home my mother-in-law gave me a few words of encouragement. it helped but I still feel like I need the support of my husband and friends. I'm going to keep going because I want to kick my social smoking habit, despite the hurt feeling. Truth is I may be a bit overly emotional right now because in addition to not smoking I'm also PMS-ing. Is that do much info??

 Any advice on how to get my friends and family on my team?

12 Week Wellness Challenge

We've all had those weekends when we've partied a little too hard and swear off drinking and smoking for a while. Well, I did not have one of those weekends, as a matter of fact I've been sick all weekend and haven't done too much of anything (which explains my frequent blogging). This challenge, on the other hand, was suggested my some of my friends/running buddies. We spend a lot of time together doing the right things for our bodies, so why not commit to a 12-week challenge together?

The next 12 weeks will be alcohol and cigarette free, with a focus on working out and eating healthy. I'm in the mindset of clean, clean, clean! Not only will I flush out all the chemicals and toxins I've built up during the holiday season, I'll also be avoiding empty calories, dehydration, and missed morning workouts. There's no doubt it will be amazing for my body, but another driving force behind this challenge is that it will be healthy for my mind and my relationship.

My workouts will be more productive, my runs will be better, my mind will be clearer, and I'll be prepared for my upcoming races! Challenges motivate me and I'm already feeling pumped!

I'm sure I'll blog/journal a bit more over the next 12 weeks. I've found that documenting my progress works well for me and keeps me on track. Tomorrow is day #1. Wish me luck!

Eat, Work, Live, Love, Run...repeat

It's been over a month since my last post. It may seem like I'm slacking but in actuality I've been in overdrive! August was an insane month. On top of the birthdays (yours truly included), out-of towners visiting and a record-breaking month at work, I've been focusing heavily on taking care of my body. Thanks to Karena and Katrina from Tone it Up I've been eating healthier than ever, trying challenging workouts each day, and developed the discipline to follow a fool proof and successful routine. For my Tone it Up Booty Call each morning I run 3 miles on an empty stomach. My meals are all fresh and nutrient dense. I do strength training and more cardio in the evening, and finish of the day with a healthy homemade meal. I have to admit, however, I still indulge in my regular glass of red wine and the occasional mixed drink or beer. A girls gotta live a little, right?!?

I also completed the Tone it Up 7-Day Slimdown. My sister-in-law and I did it together, which held us both accountable and kept us on track. At the end of the detox we both saw significant results and felt like a million bucks. The cleanse is a great way to flush out heavy toxins and balance both your hormones and PH levels. K&K recommend doing it bi-monthly. I can't wait until October! After I completed the slimdown I had a photo shoot with a friend on the beach to document how great I felt.

I've also recruited another TUI member, a co-worker of mine with a drive to shed some pounds. Having friends and family be passionate about healthy living makes it a lot easier to stay focused. I'm looking forward to doing the 7-day slimdown with her :)

I've learned more about cooking in the last 2 months than I have in 10 years! My diet now consists of seasonal fruits and vegetables, beans, healthy grains and seeds and hardly anything processed. Though it requires more work I am having fun and my energy level has skyrocketed. My husband is enjoying the variety of foods as well and is eating things he never thought he'd try. Knowing I am making us both healthier is an incredible feeling. We also enjoy the quality time we're spending making and eating our exciting new meals.

My life has been go,go,go and I suprisingly do not feel exhausted. I am happy, healthy, and loving life. More updates to come :)