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.

Killing Time on Pinterest

If you're the type of person who doesn't want to waste hours and hours browsing through photos, finding outfits you'd kill to put together and amazing ideas for your home DO NOT join Pinterest. However, if you're like me and are always looking for creative ideas and inspirations on the web then I recommend you request an invitation to join this community. It's incredible.

According to Pinterest, their mission is to "connect everyone in the world through the 'things' they find interesting. We think that a favorite book, toy, or recipe can reveal a common link between two people. With millions of new pins added every week, Pinterest is connecting people all over the world based on their shared tastes and interests."


This site isn't exactly "new," but it's certainly new to me. So how does it work? Pretty simply! It's a virtual pinboard, so when you see something online that you want to remember for later you "pin it." The "pin it" option is added to your web browser after you sign up and is easily done in just a few steps. Pinners create different pin boards to help categorize. For example, I have "For the Home" to pin ideas regarding decorating my house, "For the Foodie" for recipes and food ideas, "Tone it Up" for workout inspirations and more. AND on top of "pinning" items you find online yourself, you can follow other pinners and see what they've added recently. You can like items, comment, or choose to re-pin.

Check out my Pin Boards Here

After being an avid pinner for the last 2 or 3 weeks I'm totally in love. I just wish I knew about this when I was planning my wedding. Pinterest would have been a great way to organize all my ideas! Because I wish someone would have shared this with me sooner, I've decided to share it with you. Find it, join it and pin away! For those already pinning, what do you like most about the site?

The Impossible is Often the Untried

I remember the day I decided I wanted to be a runner. I was 18 and in my freshman year in college. I desperately did not want to be one of the women to succumb to the "freshman 15." Because all of my previous ways of staying in shape were through sports (mostly cheerleading and dance), I didn't really know how to workout efficiently. I tried a few classes at the gym on campus, but mostly I just ran. What started out as a 2-mile morning run on the indoor track quickly turned into 3 miles, then, 4 and eventually five. I'd run at school, I'd run after work with my mom....I just loved to run. The problem was I never pushed myself. I was comfortable doing 5 miles and it seemed to impress others. I'd follow up every run with 30 minutes of abs and stretching.

Now, almost 10 years later, I realize that although I may have been doing a great job caring for my heart with all the cardio, by leaving out strengthening exercises I hadn't been caring for the rest of my body. Additionally, I've learned that doing workouts at the right time of day is critical to building lean muscle and burning fat. I am finally learning and am fitter than ever.

Notice that I say FITTER and not THINNER. I certainly was thinner when all I did was run run run. But now I have shape. I have muscle. I am strong. I have a body that I am proud. That pride and strength translates into confidence which helps me physically, emotionally, professionally and personally.



For example, I'll start the day with a 3 mile run on the golf course in my neigborhood. It's a beautiful and safe route and I love starting my day this way. At the end of my run I may do 20 lunges, 20 burpees, 15 pushes, 50 bicycle crunches and a few minutes of stretching. This early morning workout is what we Tone It Up members call our Booty Call :) We get moving first thing to jump start our metabolism.

After work (I work a full 8 to 10 hours daily) I'll head to the gym to complete one of the Tone it Up workouts. Yesterday I did the below routine:



I followed it up by an intense 30 minutes of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) to burn as much fat as possible. By the time I was done I was exhausted. 15-20 minutes of stretching and I was on my way home, with nothing but refueling on my mind (aka dinner).



I've also learned how to set goals for myself to keep me going. Last weekend I ran a 10K. It was my goal to place. I wanted a medal. Sure enough I came in 2nd place overall for women!! I could have pushed it harder and therefore have set my goals higher. Today I began training for my first half marathon.

I found out about a group of people in the area also training and ran with them for the first time this morning. I'm used to running alone and was surprised at how easy it is to run further and push harder when you're running with others. Before I knew it we soared past my comfort-zone (6 miles) and completed 9.12 miles! I was amazed and proud. I'm eager to see how far I can go next saturday and so thankful for finding my new running buddies to motivate me :)

I've found most of my inspiration through the Tone it Up community. Katrina and Karena, our trainers, motivate hundreds, if not thousands, of women everyday. They keep us involved, excited and make getting toned a group activity. Their meal plan is incredible and has taught me a lot about healthy eating. Finding these two online has positively affected my life more than I can describe. I don't think I'd have the confidence to try a half marathon if I hadn't already been training with these two, building my strength and endurance.

I will keep you posted on my progress. Until then, remember that it's only impossible if you don't try it. Lace up those running shoes and hit the pavement. You may surprise yourself ;)

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 :)

My Tone it Up Experience

I've recently discovered a team of incredible trainers who feature a blog and website ToneItUp.com. Karena and Katrina, out of Hermosa Beach, CA, are quickly becoming internet sensations as well as well-known trainers. They are super interactive with social media, which is not only keeping me engaged but guilting me into completing my workouts for the day. They regularly post new workouts to try with clever names like Itty Bitty Bikini Workout and Backless Dress Workout.

What sets the ToneItUp workouts apart from others is that the moves engage several muscle groups at once, resulting in more calories burned and an overall greater result. Pair a workout routine with a 6am Booty Call (an extra workout squeezed into your morning routine to jumpstart your metabolism) and you're well on your way to getting toned!

In addition to giving workout tips and motivating you constantly through email, twitter and facebook, they've also created an online community to help members enage with one another and keep each other motivated. We share tips, recipes, and more. The best part is it's free! You can submit your stories online, interact to win goodies, and meet like minded people. It's a win-win!

Karena and Katrina also feature a diet plan with proven results. Though I have not tried it myself (I plan to in th next month or so) I've seen before and after pictures of several women who have and the results are incredible! I have, however, tried some of the recipes they post on Food Friday and am enjoying the tasty yet healthier recipes. I also LOVE how they constantly remind you of the importance of drinking water throughout the day. Although I'm running to the restroom more often, my body is definitely happier and my cravings have been curbed.

And if all of this isn't enough inspiration they're both amazingly gorgeous and fit. If nothing else, seeing them daily pushes me to work harder.

I've been plowing through their workouts for about a month and have noticed a difference in my body. I'm stronger and more toned. I also completed my first duathlon (5k run, 20k bike, 5k run) and came in first for my age group!

Land Rover Hilton Head sponsored the event, so my good friend Jonathon and I were happy to bring cars to display and compete. Jonathan also won first place for his age group!

Go us!

I'm enjoying my more active lifestyle and definitely recommend it to others. To learn more about the ToneItUp girls, visit them at the below links.

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