Tag Archive | toneitup

BeachBody Day52 & Day53

Apr15

Combined Day52 and Day53 because they were pretty much the same. Monday was my first day back to my Turbo Fire workouts. Gosh! I really missed doing these.  I picked up where I left off so this was the beginning of week 8 for me. Luckily, this is the recovery week from the month of cardio and perfect to help ease me back into my workouts before starting the last month of HIITs.

Day52 – It was really really hard to get up for my bootycall, but I did it! Having Ben home recovering and the boys home for Spring break had me kind of on vacation mode. lol. I enjoyed sleeping more :-) Even though it isn’t March anymore, I still wanted to finish the Mad Abs Challenge. I had 6 days left to do and I had started back up last week.  I did Day30 with 43 pushups, 55 second side plank, and 58 crunches. I am able to do regular pushups but I take mini breaks in plank. After I reached 40 it really started to get super hard for me. I would be really sore so I decided to do the last few days of the challenge every other day. Does that make sense?? lol. Basically, I take a day off then do the next day :-)

Turbo Fire Day 50 – It’s been a long time since I did Fire45EZ. I almost did the New to Class option but decided that I could figure it out.  I really didn’t remember the routines but I was able to catch on really quickly. This one doesn’t have any Fire drills but it’s still an amazing workout :-) It was so much fun and definitely a favorite now.  I did get a little lost at one point and little out of breath.  I had forgotten how intense these were when you really push yourself.

First run after a week.

I also got back to the Drop10 Challenge from SelfMagazine. I was trying to catch up on the workouts, but the only thing that changes are the cardio workouts. I decided to just do the current workout for me and that was 5K run.  Ben’s schedule is different for this week so I had to do my run later in the day.  I went at an easy pace.  My legs have been really tight because I was out of my Zico and bananas so my potassium intake has been a lot lower.  I swear by Zico.  Ever since I started drinking it – especially after my runs, my calves have not cramped up even after my long runs. And I could feel them quite a bit during and after my run. I’ve been doing PlankADays for the last week.  I ended with a 2 min plank.

Started back up with my PlankADays. 2min on hands.

Meals –

M1 – Chobani Champions Vanilla Chocolate Chunk with chia seeds and almond butter.

M2 – Apple and 5 dark chocolate almonds.

M3 – Egg Salad and Tuna Salad on top of Whole Wheat Bagel Thins w/ spinach. Used plain Chobani greek yogurt to make the salads.  The boys love these salads and I’m so glad that I can make it with greek yogurt instead of mayo.

Lunch for the boys - I had the same thing but on whole wheat bagel thins and minus the cheese sticks. Added tomato slices and spinach on top.

M4 – skipped :-(

M5 – Turkey Meatballs and Grilled Veggies (egg plant and zucchini)

I love these Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini from Trader Joes :-) Very yummy with Turkey Meatballs.

60 oz. of water.

Day 53 – Had to get up a little bit earlier today because Seppe is back in preschool.  Gio is still on break until next week so I knew it was going to be tough getting him up.  I did the Drop10 Toning workout for my bootycall.  I did an extra set and boy does that make a difference.  It gets tougher the third time around :-)

Turbo Fire Day 51 – It was Fire45EZ again today and I had no complaints.  The routines were fresh in my head so I was able to keep up the whole time. I also cranked up the intensity and had a blast the whole time :-) I was suppose to do Stretch10 too but I was running a little late on picking Seppe up so I skipped it.

I was worn out from the Turbo Fire workouts and didn’t feel much like doing an afternoon workout. I kept putting it off. It was rainy and that always makes me just want to stay in bed. I fought the urge to just sit on my butt and headed to the gym for a HIIT workout. I did Drop10 Fat Fryer HIIT on the stationary bike. The intervals were short and it’s easier for me to do it on the bike than on the treadmill.  So thankful to my TIU sister @JulesTones for letting us know about the Seconds Pro app. I now have an interval timer and it worked perfect for my HIIT workout. It was a very short workout only 10 minutes but I was drenched with sweat and could barely feel my butt and legs at the end.  Best of all, I felt great that I did my workout when I didn’t want to :-) Ended with another 2 min plank for PlankADay – this time it was on my elbows.  I will be trying to get back to my 5 minute planks again soon.

Meals – Finally went shopping so I was able to really stay on track today :-)

M1 – Almost forgot to eat breakfast! I was in a rush to get the boys out the door so I grabbed a Luna bar and ate it on the road.

M2 – Shakeology Shake with spinach and frozen pineapple.

M3 – Left over EggSalad on the last of the whole wheat bagel thins w/ spinach and tomatoes and an apple.

M4 – 1/4 c. of raw almonds and yogurt raisins.

M5 – Whole Wheat pasta with a turkey spinach red sauce with peas, squash and zucchini.

Whole Wheat pasta with Turkey and Spinach Red Sauce. Also added squash, zucchini and peas.

60 oz. of water, 1 Zico and 1c of Chamomile Tea.

BeachBody Day56 – Hydrated!

Apr14

It’s been really hard for me to get back on track with drinking enough water.  I’ve fallen back into my bad habit :-( So I made it a point to stay hydrated today.  I was doing pretty well, up until we made a quick trip out to the city.  I think I hesitate to drink while in the car because I know that I will have to go to the bathroom. lol. But I got back on track once we got home :-)

Plateau Buster on the Treadmill

Started Friday the 13th of with Tone It Up’s Self Magazine Drop10 Plateau Buster HIIT workout.  This was a long one.  Decided to do it on the treadmill since the intervals were longer.  I set the incline to 2. My work speed was 7.5mph and my rest speed was 6- 6.5mph. It worked up a good sweat :-)

All Sweaty!

Turbo Fire Day 54 – After Seppe’s speech therapy class, it was time for Fire30 and Stretch10. I think I have this one almost memorized. It was nice to have a couple fire drills again. I got Gio to join me for the Stretch10 part.  It was funny to watch him copy the moves. Some of them he did really well and others he needs some more practice on :-)

I was actually pretty wiped out after those two workouts. Even though I didn’t want to, I did my PlankADay.  I decided to do a 2min PlankADay.

Meals-

M1: Soy Protein Banana/Chocolate Chunk muffin from TraderJoe’s. I really like having these for a quick on the go breakfast.  I had it before I went down to the gym so I’d have a little fuel for the HIIT workout.

M2: Luna bar and chocolate Zico. There is just something about Luna bars and Zico that just works perfectly together :-)

M3: Shakeology shake w/ unsweetened vanilla almond milk, spinach, and half a banana.

M4: Almond coconut Kind bar.

M5: Teriyaki Salmon and Broccoli.

80 oz. of water, 1 Zico, and 1c. of decaf green tea.

Beach Body Challenge Day4

Feb7

Day 4 of BeachBody Challenge

I started my day doing Tone It Up’s Valentine’s Day Workout x2. I added light weights to the first 6 exercises :-) It was a great way to wake up.

Breakfast was something that I’ve been thinking about for days.  You know when you have an idea on your mind and you’re just waiting to get it out? Yep, that was me making my breakfast. Took a couple egg whites, put it on top of Spinach and topped with sliced tomatoes and tempeh bacon. I sprinkled a little sea salt on top.

Egg White Tempeh Sandwich

I was very happy to have my Chobani Champions for my snack this morning.  Resisting the Chobani Champions every time I opened my fridge was a hard part of the cleanse. lol. The Champions are perfect for me because they are smaller portions and less sugar. I added Trader Joe’s Raw Almond Butter and Bear Naked Fit Granola.

Raw Almond Butter

Bear Naked Fit - Found it at WalMart :-)

Had a Shakeology Shake for Lunch. I couldn’t decide which recipe to try. So many choices!! I went with the Choco Raspberry because it was simple and I wanted to use up the last of my frozen raspberries. I put in a little more than a half of cup because there wasn’t much left.

Choco Raspberry Shakeology

It was sooooo good. I added ice cubes but I probably didn’t need to since the raspberries were frozen. Came out super thick – the way I like it :-)

Meal 4 was a Lemon Zest Luna bar. Wanted to have some energy for the gym.

Dinner – Tilapia w/ 1 cup of brown rice mixed with spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, and broccoli slaw.

100 oz. of water today!

——————————— Turbo Fire Day 2 —————————————

Today’s class was HIIT15/Stretch 10. I figured that this was going to be really intense – and it was! 3 Different HIIT workouts doing each 3 times in 15minutes. Insane!! lol. Thought my heart was going to come out of my chest after the first HIIT workout.  I followed the modifications because it was all a little fast for me. Not quite ready to do all those jumps but I will definitely be working on it. I was drenched in sweat even though I didn’t jump. Loved it! The Stretch 10 was the same as yesterday’s and I could feel all my sore muscles from yesterday and today. I see why tomorrow is a Rest Day.

I debated on Not doing anything else. I was worn out from the HIIT15. Ben decided to change his mind – again – and booked a last minute trip to Vegas early tomorrow morning. Tomorrow is a Rest Day for TurboFire but I was planning on having an Active Rest day. I usually do a bike ride and some booty toning exercises.  This last minute trip is going to make that difficult. I decided to hit the gym and do a 30 minute Hill program on the bike. My legs were dead from the HIIT earlier but I made it over 6 miles with the resistance up at 20 at the hardest part :-)

Gotta go Pack!

SlimDown Round 2 Results!!

Nov1

Yay!! I finished the Slim Down :-) And this time I didn’t cheat once.  I was kinda nervous stepping on the scale this morning. I was shocked with the results: 105.4 lbs! My goal weight! Ok, technically I’m .4 lbs away, but hey close enough, right? lol.

Here’s my After measurements – it was another pleasant surprise for me :-)

Weight: 105.4 lbs.

Waist: 25 in.

Hips: 33.5 in.

Chest: 31.5 in.

Thighs: 19 in.

Total Weight Lost – 6 lbs.

Total Inches Lost – 3 inches

Yes! I am very excited and motivated.  I was not expecting to be at my goal weight until the end of the year. Now I can move on to my next goal of putting on muscle :-)

I have come a long way since I started to follow Tone It Up.  I found them May of 2011, joined the team at the end of July and started with the Nutrition Plan in August. All together I have lost a total of 12 lbs since August.  15 lbs since May :-)  There are really no words to explain how happy I am right now.  I feel so confident, strong, and toned.  My journey with Tone It Up has proven to me that I Can Do Anything I put my mind to. I Can set Goals And Reach Them :-) It’s great to believe in myself.

Here’s my Before and After Pics from Both Slim Down journeys:

Before and After

So what now? New Goals!! I have a 5K that I will be running on Thanksgiving for Feed the Hungry in Sacramento.  A 10K hopefully in January and I just signed up for the 9 mile course in the Big Sur International Marathon :-) My Big goal: Run the Nike Women’s Half Marathon next October.  The Big Sur and Nike Women’s race are still a little intimidating to me right now but I know that if I keep working hard and train, I’ll be able to do it :-)

I am off to Vegas for a week tomorrow night to celebrate my 30th Birthday :-) But I will be working out and eating healthy.  I may be on vacation but there is No way in hell I’m throwing away all this hard work.  Just looking at the pictures has really reminded me of how far I’ve come and I don’t ever want to go back.  I want to keep moving forward and continue living a healthy lifestyle.

I forgot to mention it in my twitvid today, but Thank You! Thank You ! Thank You to Karena, Katrina, and my whole Tone It Up family. I honestly would not have been able to get here without all your support, advice, inspiration, and motivation. Sometimes I feel alone because I don’t have anyone near me who is on a similar journey.  I am so grateful to all my Tone It Up sisters on twitter who keep me going every day :-) It’s so nice to know that I am not Alone. Love You All <3

Slim Down Day 7

Oct31

I made it!!! And this time I didn’t cheat once.  Not even one bite :-) I even survived Halloween and all the sugary craziness around me.  That is such a big difference for me.  Last year, I would have thought it impossible for me to walk away from sugary sweets at a party and on Halloween. I have had a sweet tooth ALL my life and it has been the hardest challenge for me with my new lifestyle.  But now, I know that I can stay away from all that candy.  Not saying that I’ll never have  another piece ever, but I am happy that I am overcoming my bad habit.  That is probably what I am most proud of from the Slim Down.

Today was great.  I felt great the whole day.  Since I was not able to go out for my morning cardio, I popped in P90X CardioX.  I really like it because it has so many different moves from yoga to plyometrics.  I didn’t feel tired at all.  I took the boys to the mall for some last minute Halloween shopping and walked the length of the mall twice.  For my second cardio session I went for 3 mile run since Ben was home from work.  I had a good run.  It was very windy on the way out so it felt like I was in slow motion but I didn’t mind because it kept me cool.  Since it was Halloween, we went trick or treating with the boys.  We got through 3 courts and then walked back home.  I tripped and pulled something in my right knee so it looks like I’ll be taking a break from running :-( I was going to give my knees a break anyways after the slim down.

Meals: Did not feel hungry at all and stuck to the slim down. Subbed steamed snap peas for the asparagus at dinner.  Of course I would forget to pick some up when I went to the store this morning, right? lol.

M1: Grapefruit with stevia.

M2: Slim Down Smoothie.

M3: Lean and Green Salad with Spinach, tilapia, carrots, and cucumbers.

M4; 1/2 cup of berries: blueberries, raspberries, and 2 small strawberries.

M5: Left over lemon pepper chicken with steamed snap peas.

70 oz. water,  30 oz. of green tea, and a Zico.

I will take measurements and weigh myself tomorrow. I am really looking forward to the results.  I can tell that I have toned up a bit.  I don’t think I have a pair of jeans that fit me anymore.  I feel stronger and healthier.

There is definitely a difference between the first time I did the Slim Down in August  and this time around.  I physically could not run every day back then.  My legs were not strong enough and I would have had shin splints like crazy.  I remember taking it easy and not pushing myself because I was worried that I would get hurt. Drinking the required amount of water was such a challenge and I would do little cheats by taking bites of food from my boys.  Planning and being organized with my meals and workouts really really helped me stay on track.  That is the one advice I would give to anyone who is thinking of doing the Slim Down.  This time around, it felt like it went by faster. Most likely because it wasn’t such a chore :-) I am glad that it’s over though. I want to get back to my smoothies and try out some new protein pancakes.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween.  Here’s me in my Halloween Costume:

Panda costume: Shorts and shirt were mine (along with boots). Bought, Vest, ears, paws, tights and fur boot covers.

Mamma Panda, Power Ranger Samurai Red Ranger, and Werewolf

Hulk and Mamma Panda

Slim Down Day 6

Oct30

I’d have to say that Day 6 has been the toughest so far.  I was very tired all day today. My bootycall was a 3 mile run.  Not a fast run but I felt good during the run.  For my second cardio session I did a Nike Training Club Interval Cardio workout. Some of those moves are tough to do for a minute at a time. Even though there wasn’t a workout for today, I did Pop  Pilates Fit 4 Fall workout X 4 sets. I just like to do something light at the end of the day to help relax. Working out does relax me :-)

I wasn’t hungry, but I did have craving for bread today.  It’s really tough when everyone around you is eating food that you can’t have.  The boys were snacking on air popped popcorn and it was so hard to Not take some.  I really have no idea how I stayed away from the bowl, but I did.

Meals: Followed pretty close to the meal plan, except for the asparagus at dinner.  Didn’t  have any so I had green beans instead.

Meal 1: Slim Down Scramble. No Salt and No tomatoes. I don’t like this very much. I like the flavor the tomatoes add.  I forgot to take a pic before I ate it. lol.

Meal 2: 1/2 grapefruit with stevia

Meal 3: Salad with spinach, chicken, celery, and carrots. Balsamic vinegar dressing.

Meal 4: 1/2 cup of berries – used the last of the blueberries I had and 3 small strawberries.

Meal 5: Lemon Pepper Chicken seasoned with Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper and lemon juice with green beans.

After Meal 1, Meal 3, and Meal 5 I had a cup of Decaf Green Tea with stevia. I am not a big tea drinker so getting the 30 oz. of green tea in is a challenge.  I figure if I have it in between my meals, I can get pretty close. I had 70 oz. water and a Zico too.

Decaf Green Tea with Stevia

I could have stopped today… the thought crossed my mind, but I Want to get through this slim down.  I know that I would feel badly if I just quit and that I’d feel great if I finished.  So I’m finishing strong! One Day left :-)

Slim Down Day 5

Oct30

Day 5 was a little tough for me.  I felt tired pretty much all day long.  After doing my 1 hour bike ride in the morning, I didn’t really want to go and do another workout.  I kept hoping to get a chance to take a quick nap but got busy cleaning up the house before my brother and his wife came to visit.  I seriously considered using them as an excuse to Not do my afternoon workout. But I didn’t.  Instead, I took advantage of having Uncle Ed and Lynee around to watch the boys so I could workout.  They took them to the park and I went for a 3 mile run.  Since it’s one of my goals to run 3 miles every day, I was really glad they were there because I wouldn’t have been able to do it otherwise.

My run actually gave me a boost of energy. I didn’t go fast, but I felt good during my run.  The surge of energy helped me get through my total body workout.  I did the One Day Fat Blast workout 1. I need to do that one more often because I’m still not strong enough to keep with those girls :-) I was really tired after working out, but I managed to do  a few ab workouts to end my day.  15 leg lifts, 15 side plank crunches (each sides), 15 tummy tucks, 15 bicycles, and 15 vsit crunches X 3 Sets.

Meals:

Meal 1: Slim Down Scramble without salt.

Meal 1: 1/2 grapefruit with stevia.

Meal 3: Salad with Spinach, carrots, avocado, and tuna. I ran out of cucumbers and snap peas :-( Need to pick some more up.  The tuna was from Trader Joes and had no salt added.

Meal 4: Mango.

Meal 5: Oven baked tilapia seasoned with Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper. Side of quinoa, spinach, peas, and mushroom mix. Seasoned with Mrs. Dash Garlic Herb.

Drank 100 oz. water and 1 Zico.

Besides being tired, I felt great.

SlimDown Day 2

Oct26

Today was pretty good. I did have a few cravings here and there but I’d just go and drink some water. I’m really glad that I planned out my meals this time around.  Being organized has really made it easier for me to stick to the slim down. And I think that since I follow the Nutritional Plan, it’s not such a drastic change from how I do things normally.  It definitely feels easier this time… at least for now :-)

My Meals:

M1: SlimDown Protein Pancake – I got some Brown Rice protein powder and although I don’t like it, I am sticking with it for the slim down.  It might just be I’m not getting a good brand but so far it’s just been too chalky for me.  The pancake did taste pretty good though :-)

SlimDown Protein Pancake Topped with Blueberries and sprinkled w/ Stevia

M2: 1/2 grapefruit with stevia – gave the other half to my son who loves it :-)

M3: Salad with Salmon, spinach, cucumbers, snap peas, and carrots. Balsamic Vinegar for dressing and half of a mango on the side (shared the other half with my son again).

Meal 3: Salmon Spinach Salad

M4: Luna Lemon Zest Bar. I decided to stay away from anything with chocolate while on the slim down.  I planned on having the protein shake but I wound up on the go for Meal 4 and I was glad to have a Luna bar in my purse :-)

M5: Tofu, green beans, and snap peas seasoned with sea salt. I am loving Snap peas right now so I’ve been adding it to everything :-)

Meal 5: Tofu and Green Veggies seasoned with Sea Salt

Workouts:

3 Mile run – Didn’t go as fast as I usually go. I think I was tired from yesterday’s workouts.  I still felt pretty good during the run though. 30 min HIIT workout on the bike at the gym for my second cardio session.  Hump Day is when I like to work on my booty and along with TIU’s 200 bootylifter challenge for today, my booty got worked! I did TIU’s One Day Fat Blast workout 2 – focusing on abs and booty.  I ended with Pop Pilates Hot Abs and Cinch That Waist X 3 sets. I switched off between the two – I did one workout then the next and that was a set.

Drank 110 oz. of water today  :-) I’m really happy that I’m keeping up with my goals that I’ve set for myself for the slim down. Having these goals helps keep me focused.

*Drink 100 oz. of water every day.

*Run at least 3 miles every day.

*Do 2 Ab workouts every day.

Ready for Day 3!

Round 2 of 7DSD

Oct25

Today was Day 1 of the 7 Day Slim Down for me :-) This is my second time doing it. I am hopeful that I will get great results again. I’m not sure if I will lose 6lbs again though. I was heavier the last time I did it so I had more to lose. But I plan on kicking up my workouts this time around so we’ll see how it goes.

Today went pretty well. Stayed on track with my meals and was able to get my 100 oz of water in :-)

My workouts for today:
3.4 mile run
Shredmill – increased my sprint speed to 8.5mph :-)
One Day Fat Blast Workout 1
Lean Abs x2
Itty Bitty x 3

Meals:
M1: Slim Down Scramble
M2: Grapefruit and stevia
M3: Salad with chicken, spinach, cucumbers, snap peas, and carrots. With a Mango
M4: Protein Shake – I used brown rice protein powder that I don’t like very much but I will do it for the slim down
M5: Salmon seasoned with Lemon juice and mrs. Dash lemon pepper. Steamed Snap peas and a small side of quinoa. I’m not sure if quinoa is ok to have during the slim down but I only had a little. Quinoa is my substitute for rice so I like to have it with fish :-)

Here are my Before measurements and weight:

Weight: 111 lbs
Chest: 32in
Waist: 26in
Hips: 34in
Thighs: 20in

It’s going to be a crazy week for me. I have lots to do to prepare for my trip to Vegas. I hope I’ll be able to juggle everything.

Before Pics:

20111025-195611.jpg

20111025-195738.jpg

You can follow me on twitter: @Mia_Butterfly to see my check in videos for the slim down :-)

7DaySlimDown Tips

Oct23

I’ve decided to do the Slim Down again to tone up for my Birthday Vegas trip.  There are also so many of my fellow Tone It Up team members who are doing it at the same time :-) I know it will definitely help me stay focused and motivated.

This will be my second time doing the slim down so I’m a little more prepared this time around. Here are some tips that will help anyone who is doing it for the first time or for those who may have tried it but didn’t make it through.

1. Get the Tone It Up! Nutritional Plan.  That’s the only way you’ll get the 7 Day Slim Down :-)  It is truly the best investment you can make for your health. Get it Here!

2. Once you look over the Nutrition Plan, try to follow the eating tips and exercise recommendations in the Maintenance part for a week or two.  You don’t have to follow the meals on the Slim Down but just get started by eating 5 meals a day and working out.  This way it’s not such a drastic change when you start the Slim Down.  It’s also a good way to figure out a schedule for workouts.

3. Look over the Slim Down.  Yes the meals are pretty much the same for the week But you do have options.  Make a Meal Plan for the week. That way you can mix things up a little bit so it doesn’t get too tedious.

My Meal Plan for the 7DaySlimDown - Day 5-7 is on the Back

4. Make a Shopping List and get what you Need the day before you start. Make sure you have enough to last the week.

Grocery Haul - Most is for the SlimDown but some are for After :-)

5. Prep what you can.  I like to cook my chicken and fish ahead of time. If you work or go to school, it’s a good idea to also prep some of your lunches.

6. Make a workout schedule. Look over the slim down and see what the workouts are for each day.  Write down what you’re going to do for that day.  This helps me a lot. I might change what I plan depending on how I’m feeling.

My Workout Calendar for October - The last week is when I'm doing the Slim Down

7. Write/Tweet/Journal what you eat and your workouts. Keep yourself accountable. I also like to reflect on how I felt I did that day. I will be doing videos again.  You can just write it down if you like.  It helps! With the tone it up community, there is always someone out there to support and motivate you :-)

Weigh and take measurements the night before.  Take pictures if you like.

My most important advice: Listen to your body – especially with your workouts.

The first time I did the slim down I toned up 6lbs and got myself back to what I weighed before I had kids :-)  And I’ve followed the Nutrition Plan ever since to keep toning and maintaing my healthy lifestyle. I have lost a total of 9lbs since I started following the Nutrition Plan(2 months). It REALLY WORKS!!! But you have to WANT to make the change. Only YOU can make that decision.

The Slim Down is a challenge both physically and mentally. I felt amazing once I finished and You will too. YOU CAN DO IT! I hope this helps some of you.  Feel free to ask me questions.  You can also check out Toneitup.com for more information. I’ll have my before weight and measurements up tomorrow :-)