What’s In Store For You In 2009?

It’s amazing what has happened in 2008. I have many friends and myself included that have been affected by the economic downturn, upheaval, recession, depression. Hey call it what you want but 2009 will be a new year with new expectations and a renewed spirit.

My house alone took a $200,000 hit in value! OUCH! How’s that for California, eh? I have a love/hate relationship with this state of California right about now…

I gained 20 lbs this year and in the past 3 months I got real serious and have lost 17 lbs of it! I’m on my way to lose even more weight. I’ve studied and researched more on fitness and nutrition as it has been a while since my athletic days (although my athletic body is still very visible under all this baby fat! LOL)

I’ve also met some great contacts for my business and have a few joint ventures on the horizon to take my business to the next level. I’m very excited about that and look forward to the ways things are already starting to explode. Now all I need is for the value in my house to jump up $200,000 this coming year and I’ll be set!

I hope you had a great Christmas and have some great plans and ideas for the new year. I’ll be waiting to hear some exciting news from you. Make 2009 your best year ever!

Jamming Exercises Helping Me in My Weight Loss

Acai Berry, Another Fad Diet?

You will find many sites on the internet claiming significant weight loss in just a few days with the Acai Berry diet. There are many anti-oxidant related benefits with the acai berry and it’s being stretched a bit to include rapid weight loss. Many of the before and after pictures are taken from sites where the loss was generated from months of a well balanced nutritional food plan and exercise.

Here is a great teleseminar that gives the truth about the acai berry fad that is dominating the internet at this moment

The Real Truth about the Acai Berry Fad

The Myths of Fad Diets

1. Diets that promise quick and easy weight loss are usually based on eating more of one food type and none of another. These do not give the benefits that you would get from a balanced diet. They may suggest you take supplements but many supplements are not absorbed by the body unless they are taken along with the foods that the diet has banned. After a few weeks, if you stick to it that long, you may begin to develop nutritional deficiencies.

2. Fad diets are often boring and over restrictive. After the novelty of the first day or two, you will not enjoy your meals. You will then start to crave food constantly and will break the diet. You may even feel guilty, thinking it is your fault that you did not lose weight.

3. Most fad diets do not follow recommendations of the American Heart Association and similar bodies for fat levels in the diet. Often the diet will recommend high fat foods and low carbs which if taken long term, could result in heart disease. The promoters may tell you that the diet is only intended to be followed for a short time. But you probably will not reach your goal weight in that time, and then what? You either continue with a plan that is not good for your health, or stop and probably gain back what you lost.

4. Many fad diets do not help you to incorporate enough servings of fruits and vegetables in your weight loss program, or give you the variety of foods that your body needs.

5. Quick weight loss diets are just a temporary solution and do not help you to make permanent changes to your eating habits. Permanent changes are the only way to remain at your target weight once you reach it. Fad diets encourage yo-yo diet-binge cycles of fast weight loss and equally fast weight gain. This is worse for your health and your self esteem than if you had stayed overweight all the time.

Whatever the publicity materials may say, these diets will not help you in the long term. The best way to sustain weight loss is to eat a varied and healthy diet, do not overeat, exercise regularly and avoid fad diets.

My Health Zone Store

PMS has a positive effect on your metabolism

I didn’t expect to find this in my quest on boosting my metabolism for weight loss. There is actually something GOOD about this time of the month?

Now here’s a strange one that is for the ladies, only. Studies have demonstrated that the 2 week period prior to the onset of PMS is one in which fat burning capacity is at a premium.

This is ironic indeed; because that’s usually the period in which women don’t want to workout; because their body and its emotional computer are preparing for PMS.

However, studies in Australia have shown that women are able to burn off as much as 30% more fat in the 2 weeks preceding PMS. The reason for this, researchers argue, is because this is when the female body’s production of estrogen and progesterone are at their highest.

Since these hormones tell the body to use fat as a source of energy, exercising during this time can really pay off. Wow, I better make sure I don’t skip a workout for any reason these next 2 weeks because I’m currently in this time window..I’m off to work off my fat! Bye for now!

My source for this article

I just finished this holiday 10 min workout!!

Super set A
1. Dumbbell Swings – 10-20
2. T-Ups – 6-10

Super set B

1. Reverse Lunge – 6-10
2. V-Ups – 8-15

Intervals with Burpees

Perform sequence of burpees for 30 seconds, rest 30 seconds, repeat for a total of 4 to 6 minutes. Yes, it is intense and yes that is all you need to do for “cardio” for your holiday workout.

OMG! This workout is awesome! I’m sweating bullets in only 10 mins. You gotta love Holly Rigsby’s workouts for busy moms! I have 3 holiday parties this weekend and these workouts are the best for my busy lifestyle.

I’m a Fit Yummy Mummy

Easy Chicken Piccatta

Easy Chicken Piccatta

(4-6 servings)

Protein: 12 oz chicken breasts
Produce: 1 can artichoke hearts (packed in water, not oil)

1 package sliced mushrooms
Extras: 1/3 cup capers
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 t minced garlic
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 T olive oil

How To:

1. Lightly coat chicken with whole wheat flour.
2. In a large skillet, cook garlic and oil over moderate heat, stirring constantly, untilgarlic is pale gold.
3. Add chicken and brown 2-3 minutes on each side.
4. Add lemon juice, artichokes, capers and mushrooms.
5. Simmer, covered, for about 30-35 minutes. Turn and baste the chicken occasionally. Cook until chicken juices run clear.

ENJOY!

I’ve finally kick started my metabolism…Vvrrooom and I’m off!

It’s been busy the past few days. I’ve been Christmas shopping and having a great time finding things that will excite my children. I didn’t get a chance to report on my weight loss.  I had a great victory this week. I’ve been focusing on increasing my metabolism and it’s great to see some awesome results. I’ve been focusing on eating every 3-4 hours every day and pre-planning my meals.

Pre-planning has been the key to my success because I can eat every 3-4 hours but to make sure they are the right meals is very important as well. I lost 4 lbs in a 1 week and have been following a great exercise plan that focuses on the mommy hot spots such as muffin tops, back flab, belly pooch and thinder thighs. I am a Fit Yummy Mummy and loving it!

Are You a Fit Yummy Mummy?

Exercise: An Excuse to Clean Your House

Everyday chores burn plenty of calories. Moms, the things you do each day-washing clothes, dishes, mopping, and vacuuming (to name a few) provide resistance training and cardiovascular benefits. Performed in moderation, these activities add up to a ton of exercise opportunity.

How about mopping and sweeping the floor? Sweeping works the oblique abdominal muscles and the hips. Sweep the floor the first time using either the left or the right side of your body.

As you sweep, keep your hips stationery and move from the waist. Sweep the floor a second time using the opposite side of your body. I bet you didn’t think you could sweep your way to a slimmer waistline.

Vacuuming works the upper body and the legs. Increase the length of your stride as you sachet across the floor. Bend at the knees to pick up objects on the floor. Actively vacuuming for fifteen minutes can burn forty or more calories.

Washing windows and tubs provides a power-packed workout. The circular motions work the chest area, shoulders, and the triceps. To keep from getting fatigued, use the circuit training method of cleaning. Wash the surfaces of the bathroom and then clean all the windows in a room. Clean the next bathroom and then clean another room of windows.

If you need to mow the lawn, think of it as an exercise activity and make it fun. To work the lower body, take longer strides when pushing the lawn mower. Pushing the lawn mower works the chest and triceps muscles.

Mowing a lawn can burn several hundred calories per hour. If you have any hills in your yard, the extra exertion means more calories burned. After a few weekends of this, you’ll be ready to buy that little black dress you’ve been wanting.

Yard work in itself is a total body workout. You dig holes, pull up weeds, plant flowers, and spread mulch. Be sure to drink plenty of water and not to overexert yourself. Take a rest and re-hydrate before continuing.

When doing yard work and chores remember to protect your back. Lift objects from a squatting position. Instead of bending over to pull weeds, kneel on a soft pad. Use proper posture whenever possible to avoid injury.

I hate cleaning the house. This is a time where I love the concept of outsourcing! My housekeepers are my favorite people. My house is 4,000 square feet so that is a lot of house to clean with my various job titles, a hubbie and 3 kids. So I will stick to my normal exercise regimen.

Who knew housework could put curves in all the right places? Have fun with it. Turn on some tunes and boogie to the music as you clean the house.

Are You a Fit Yummy Mummy?

Winter Workout Blues Got You Down?

I can’t believe that today is Dec. 1st! My kids are already counting down to Christmas. This is also a time where it gets really hard to keep the weight off with Christmas parties, potlucks and extra office goodies. It’s no wonder this is the considered the most wonderful time of the year.

It also one of the busiest and can be very challenging to find time to workout. If you can’t find a gym facility that fits your needs or your busy schedule, consider creating your own exercise space at home. It could be the answer to fitting workouts into your daily life. At home, the gym is always open.

First, decide on a budget. Outfitting a home gym doesn’t have to involve a great expense. You don’t want to spend more than you would on membership at a health club just to buy the equipment.

Being practical is the key.  Salespeople will try to sell you everything they offer, but you must know what you can afford and what you want. Don’t get talked into buying machines that you will never use. If you buy used equipment, get a warrantee.

What kinds of exercises do you like to do? If you don’t enjoy walking, don’t purchase a treadmill no matter how much of a deal it is. Bicycling may be more your speed. Look into prices for recumbent or air type stationary bicycles.

What will your goals be? If you want to burn fat and slim down, purchase aerobic equipment as opposed to resistance machines. There is no need to purchase a Bowflex® machine if you don’t plan on using weights.

Check out the sale papers and the classified ads. People sell exercise equipment all the time. Before purchasing anything, make sure that the equipment is in good working condition. Take your time. Impulse buying is not good. No one wants “buyer’s remorse” later on.

I don’t even have a desire to buy major equipment. I just use resistance bands, jump rope, bar bells, weighted balls and the super huge ball. I bought all of these at TJ Maxx at really reduced prices so I probably spent about $50 total for everything. Now that is exercise on a budget.

I have a loft area that is my office and I push my chair to the side and depending on my day, I will work out before I pick up the kids from school or later on at night while they are settled down watching their favorite program. The key is consistency and making it happen by making it a priority every day.

Before you commit to a home gym, consider three things: space, budget, and preferences.  An on-site gym offers the convenience of a workout whenever the mood strikes which can be different every day for the busy mom.

How I Lost 12 lbs in 2 weeks!