Day 1 Final Update

Hello everyone!


Today was a doozie. I am actually dozing off as I write this.  Here's how my day went:


Work was a living nightmare in terms of busy. I was already in an irate, exhausted mood after getting out of there.


I then walked to and from class after cooking dinner.


THEN I did my Meta- Level 1 Day 1 only 10 reps per leg. I was already exhausted after arms and abs but pushed through anyway.  I could  BARELY do 10 reps of each leg exercise, they began to burn pretty bad after 5 reps.


Last, but definitely NOT least, I did 30 minutes of dance cardio. Clumsy, tired, sweaty, yet persevering dance cardio.


Pretty hardcore day (at least for me).  Now on to my food (what it ended up being)




Breakfast:


1 sausage patty from McDonalds
1/2 cup Fage 0% Greek yogurt
1 can of Starbucks doubleshot coffee


Lunch:


3 hard boiled eggs
1 large Fuji apple


Dinner: 


1 can of green beans
1 chicken breast filet 
2 hot dogs (no bun or anything, also boiled)




According to myfitnesspal, I ate 1,377 calories and burned 685.  




Now I am going to sleep, have a good night!

It begins

Hello everyone!

Today begins my beginning of Abcentric Metamorphosis.

I don't have measurements/weight yet because I ran late this morning and didn't have time.   I am at work right now and I just heard my workout buddy did her first day already, I will do mine tonight.

Today I am also eating healthy- but there are some improvements I should make.

Breakfast:

1/2 cup of fat free Greek yogurt

1 large Fuji apple

Starbucks doubleshot coffee

Lunch (From work cafeteria)

3 hardboiled eggs

Celery sticks and carrot sticks (everything else is a fried/grainy/wheaty mess)

Dinner:

Hopefully consisting of broccoli, king trumpet mushrooms and tofu.

I will update tonight with the end results and my measurements. 

Have a great Monday!

Eating well and exercising, one day at a time.

Hello everyone!~


Not the most exciting post, but I feel a sense of accomplishment so I will blog anyway! :)


Today I actually kept 100% grain free. No mistakes. No accidents. No slip ups. 


Breakfast:


A large Fuji Apple and a cup of coffee with nondairy cream/stevia


Lunch:


A big salad with half a can of canned chicken breast


Snack:


Handful of oven toasted almonds


Dinner:


I skipped. I didn't feel hungry enough to eat. This usually happens when I eat well. Breakfast and lunch usually (not always) are enough when I eat this way.  When I eat crap, I need all three squares and snacks. 


I also did some exercises!


I did the Tracy Anderson arms webisode





100 Plies





And played some Dance Central 2







Tomorrow I am not sure what will happen, I am trying to take it a day at a time. One thing for sure is I will be starting Meta the day after tomorrow, so tomorrow might just be a stretch day. 




Have a great Saturday night!!!

Nutella not healthy after all? You don't say!

Hello everyone!




I can across an article that made me laugh.  Apparently Nutella (yes, the chocolate/hazelnut spread that is like crack to a lot of people) has been advertising itself as "healthy". (That's the funny part)

Well, now they are getting sued.




A woman from California has sued  Nutella for falsely advertising itself as a healthy dietary choice for her 4 year old daughter.  The ad does seem to claim that Nutella is a good part of a nutritious breakfast.


For an example, here is the ad-





The truth is, Nutella is as healthy as melting a candy bar and spreading it on your toast (or eating it by the spoonful out of the jar).  The end result?  The total amount sued for is 3.5 million dollars, one million going to the mom in California and the rest of it divided among people who have purchased up to 5 jars of Nutella between Jan 1, 2008, and Feb 3, 2012 .  


If you bought Nutella during these times, click here for how to file your claim. https://nutellaclassactionsettlement.com/


For more information, the article can be found here: http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/the-exchange/today-food-finance-nutella-not-broccoli-162956191.html

Hello everyone-


I came across an interesting article.  A lot of women these days had Barbie dolls growing up, but did we really want to BE Barbie?


There is this Russian woman who is 21 and claims that she is a real life Barbie. 

There is a lot of speculation as to if she naturally looks like this or had some kind of surgery done.  I can't tell if she had surgery or was just born with a freaky looking body.  Of course, I would rather look like her than the way I do now bodywise but I really think her body looks cartoonish. 

What are your thoughts? Natural Barbie? An obsession gone too far? Post in the comments!

More moves from Tracy Anderson

Hello everyone!


I was browsing around and I saw another video on FitSugar posted today- More moves from Tracy and this time they are not just for pregnant women.





In this video Tracy's trainer Stacey is the one demonstrating the moves as well as demonstrating a pregnancy/modified version to show us at home how to get Gwyneth's butt. 


These look more advanced than anything I've done so far, but don't be put off because there ARE modified versions.




Have a great day!

Ugh

Hello everyone.


I don't think I will be working out today (MAYBE not even going to class either) because I think I have the stomach flu or something. I was up all night last night feeling miserable and making very good friends with the bathroom.


Yesterday I ended up skipping dinner because I started feeling tired and my stomach was starting to feel a bit strange. 


I'll keep updated, here's hoping I feel better soon!

Back to Working Out

Hello Everyone!




Today I am planning to get a real workout in today, after I take care of some other stuff.


In the meantime, I do have a little menu plan for today.


Here is what I have had so far!




Breakfast


1 large Fuji apple and a handful of raw walnuts


Lunch


A big salad made of spring mix lettuce, steak strips and balsamic vinegar


Dinner


TBA but I am thinking grilled oyster mushrooms and tofu with some salad on the side.  




It doesn't sound like much food but I am not feeling blah or anything. Also no stomach trouble (no grains!) which is also a good sign.


I have also been drinking water with meals and trying to give up soda. Might have to wean myself off gradually because I do get headaches without it. 




Have a great day everyone and I will check back later when I get my workout done.

PopPhysique

Hello everyone!

No updates on me today, but a friend of mine showed me a link to a new DVD she ordered by PopPhysique.

What is PopPhysique?

PopPhysique is a workout studio (studioS actually) based in California and they are similar to a cardio barre type class. 

To me it looks similar to the Tracy Anderson Method and I admit that I am curious to give it a try.

If you want to take classes or get more info, check them out at www.popphysique.com

Getting Ready for Summer with Tracy Anderson

Hello everyone!




As we all know, summer is coming, and I got an email from Tracy Anderson about it.  Here's what was inside!


Since the following  copied as a picture, the link to the cleanse menu can be found here:


Cleanse Menu

Yes, it is getting warm outside, and for anyone who has not been able to meet their fitness goals over the winter, that's no excuse to stay stuck inside with the winter blahs. We have plenty of time to get you feeling polished, proportioned, and prepped to take on the bikini of your dreams. I take a lot of pride in giving you all of the tools that you need to transform your body while still looking and feeling like years are coming off your body. This is your guide to getting beach-ready, and includes everything from tips on how to use my products, a new detoxifying cleanse specific to skin tone, and all of my favorite skin tone products.

01: METAMORPHOSIS The release of this in home product was a dream come true for me. I care first and foremost about your results, and I know without a doubt that I know I can transform you. It is vital that I understand where you are weak and out of balance and from there, I can design your body to be a body you had no idea you actually have! The fact that I can give you a program custom for you and the ability to deliver you new content every 10 days is revolutionary and Metamorphosis is the only at-home way to really win the battle against problem areas and aging!

02: CONTINUITY Continuity is the continuation of Metamorphosis, in which you enroll to make sure that you stick to the method and constantly own each step of your transformation. Once I get in there and design your muscles that design is what will eventually pull your skin to it. That takes time and consistency but it does happen! Metamorphosis never really ends, and Continuity has been the progression of Metamorphosis. For example, my partner Gwyneth Paltrow has been given a new program from me every 10 days for the last 6 years like all of my wonderful clients and you can too. If she had just repeated the same 90 days of workouts, she wouldn't have seen the results she continues to see today. She has stayed focused as a wonderful student progressing in the levels and constantly becoming stronger and better. So please continue after your first 90 days and let me take you through the advancing levels, because you will continue to see amazing results. If you stay the course, I promise you that over the years you will never get bored and neither will your muscles.

03: TRACY TRAMPOLINE AND NEW TRAMPOLINE DVD Let your skin glow this spring and summer by adding the new trampoline DVD as a boost to your Metamorphosis workout and to burn extra calories and detoxify. In addition to being a cardio alternative, the trampoline workout will also help with skin tone and detoxifying your body. Here's to healthy cells for summer!

MY FAVORITE SKIN TONE PRODUCTS Mama Mio - Its rare that I will find a beauty product that delivers visible results so when I do I am impressed! Here’s a few of my favorite Mama Mio products.

04: MAMA MIO'S SKIN TIGHT TONING SERUM Exfoliation is so important for perfecting skin tone, and this effective cream is packed with papaya enzymes, the powerful moisturizer hyaluronic acid, and ingredients used to fight crows feet.

05: MAMA MIO'S LUCKY LEGS You can apply this in the morning before your workout. This leg treatment sends a cooling feeling to your legs and helps circulation, which is an incredible help in improving our skin tone!

06: MAMA MIO'S OMEGA SUPER RICH BODY CREAM Dry skin can cause a real problem with skin tone after exfoliating and I put this cream everywhere first before layering on all of the specific treatments.

07: ACURE'S BRIGHTENING FACIAL SCRUB My sister-in-law knows everything about skin care and she turned me on to this amazing scrub. Let me tell you all scrubs are not created equal and not only do I use this on my face, but I use it on my whole body because it actually scrubs enough to create a difference!

08: BOBBI BROWN BEACH BODY OIL For years, my scent of choice has been Bobbi Brown Beach and I continue to be devoted! When you are getting your body ready for spring and summer, slather this moisturizing oil all over your layers to give you that extra sensory motivation to be healthy, fit, and sexy!

09: AMALOU SKIN DETOXIFYING TONIC I have become obsessed with this wonderfully focused line of skincare during my pregnancy, and my face has never been more clear and alive. Amalou is skincare designed for pregnancy and is not only totally safe for pregnant women to use, but it is also incredibly kind to your skin. I recommend the detoxifying tonic to everyone, pregnant or not. It is set apart from all other sprays because its antibacterial and you feel it working right away which is great to mist on as you sweat in the summer on the go. Keeping pores tight is important to skin tone!

10: VITAMEDICA CLEAR SKIN SUPPLEMENTS I have used these supplements for a few years now and they really help with skin tone from the inside out, providing your body with essential nutrients in daily vitamin packets that help fortify and building your skin cells.

11: ALKA-PI WATER Next to regular and focused exercise water is the obvious single most import element in keeping your skin glowing and healthy that many people don't take seriously. Unfortunately not all water is created equal these days. This water is a leader in the world of water. Alka-pi water is an antioxidant.

12: CLEANSE MENU Diet also directly effects your skin tone and I have formulated this menu specifically to go along with your workouts to improve your skin tone. Try this exclusive menu in conjunction with my favorite skin tone products to see the best results. This menu isn't a lifestyle but a detox week for weight loss and skin tone improvement designed to go with the Tracy Anderson workouts.

WORK ON YOUR SKIN TONE NOW! Looking forward to a glowing spring and summer in 2012!

Celebrities Without Makeup

Hello everyone!


As pretty much everyone knows, most pics of celebrities are airbrushed and photoshopped like crazy.


Lately, it seems like some celebs even request for the non retouched versions of some of their pictures to be released.




I found an article showing a variety of celebrity pictures without any retouching done to the pictures, or some just without makeup on as well. Here are some of the examples it shows.




Example- Kim Kardashian, with and without retouching

Taylor Swift with no makeup

Kate Middleton with too much airbrushing of her waist on a magazine cover

Britney Spears (Retouched on the left, natural on the right)

The moral of the story- Anyone can "look like a celebrity" when their pictures get retouched, including the celebrities themselves.

The article can be read here: Stars Without Retouching

An apple a day...

Hello everyone!




As you can guess by the title, I am going to make a positive step in my diet- eat one apple a day for breakfast.

I went to the Korean grocery store with the intention on buying a few apples, and happened to come across boxes of about 14 big, juicy looking, organic Fuji apples (my favorite).  And they were on sale. Always a plus.


I am not a big eater in the morning, so while it sounds paltry, it fills me up for a while.  I actually find that when I eat right, I find myself eating very little without being hungry. It concerns people but I honestly feel great when I eat healthy even if it's not very large portions. You do not need to be stuffed like a turkey to get enough food. You will know when you've had enough. If you are not genuinely hungry for dinner because you had a clean, wholesome lunch and breakfast, that is OKAY. You are not starving. You would feel it if you were. Now on the other hand if you feel lightheaded, dizzy, by all means- EAT!




It's time for bed now, looking forward to that breakfast apple!

More prenatal workouts with Tracy!

Hello everyone!




Tracy Anderson is back again with more pregnancy workouts on fitsugar!







The moves look very easy on the body (and the baby) but as always, if you are pregnant, talk to your doctor first before doing anything.


Still no word on a release date for the pregnancy workout DVDs but I have heard they should be coming out this fall.

A little pep talk, sappy post enclosed.

Hello everyone!




As someone who has a weight problem and as I guess most people with weight problems have, I have often thought that me being overweight instantly equated to me being ugly.


Only recently am I learning to accept that this is not really the case.




In fact, some of the best looking celebrities now at one point in their lives were also obese!


One of my favorite celebrities (I have more respect for him now and you'll see why)- TOP from the Korean boy band Big Bang used to be VERY big himself- not in the good way either.


In fact, he looked like this:

He lost about 50-60 pounds before getting famous and now he looks like this:

He's the first guy you see when the video starts. Hardly looks like the same person in my opinion. 

So if you are overweight and think you look uglier than sin, you are NOT!  Losing weight and getting healthy (I didn't say skinny, I said  HEALTHY- whatever that may be for you) changes a person's appearance drastically for the better.

Every day I have to still fight the mentality myself. I have to keep reminding myself that I am in fact a pretty girl who just needs to get to a healthy weight for it to shine through. It's tough. It really is.

Don't give up.  Keep working on yourself and you'll be okay. 

Have a wonderful day and remember that you need to love yourself or nobody will.

Breaking old habits one day at a time

Hello everyone!




I am going to be starting Metamorphosis this coming Monday, my workout buddy and I have agreed to this, she is currently ill with the flu and my work schedule this week is super hectic and tiresome.




However, I did do well giving up grains today. Got offered cookies (again) but politely turned it down.  With my monthly friend on the way this week (yes, I have been having cravings like crazy) I turned them down and drank some water.  It sucked, but the need for cookies did eventually go away.

Pictured: Those little evil temptresses known as Golden Oreos~!

It's still not easy for me, mentally most of all!  Maybe if I was a bit younger this would be easier to change my habits. 


Have any of you had to make a HUGE change? A little change? How was the process for you? Post below!

Getting 'Olympic Fit' With Tracy Anderson

Hello everyone!




Not much to say this morning, but I came across another article featuring Tracy Anderson.


http://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/201204167633/olympic-fit-with-tracy-anderson/


It's a nice little article about how to start getting active, with some tips from Tracy as well as some moves you can do to start up, especially if you have a family and obligations.


I thankfully got some sleep last night, woke up feeling much better by the way!



Have a great day everyone!

Another busy day (short vent)

Hello everyone!


Today was another horrible, sweaty, painfully busy day, hence no blog posting earlier today. 


I am also running on 3 hours of sleep.


Why?


I was up all night dealing with symptoms of celiac disease that came about from me eating ONE COOKIE. 


One cookie means hours of itchy skin before bed.  I went to bed at 11 pm, but never actually got to sleep until 3 am approximately.  


Celiac sucks. If you don't have it, be THANKFUL. If you do, I can totally relate. 


I'm going to bed now, will post more in the morning.

Happy!

Hello everyone!


At first it was really hard but I think I got this grain/gluten free thing down.  I've been at it for a few days and I want to make a little announcement-




I have lost about 10 pounds this week! I went from around 280-281 to 271.2 this morning.


I didn't believe it either. I had to step on the scale at least 5 times. I even saw the number dip into the 260s while it was calculating my weight.


I also woke up feeling really good today despite being worked to the bone yesterday.  I slept about 5-6 hours and woke up feeling as if I had slept 10. More refreshed and energetic!


The friend of mine I met up with last night is also gluten free (not grain free like me) and she lost so far a total of 40 pounds!  


So, if you ever thought of low carbing/gluten free/grain free, try it! You might be surprised at how good you feel and look as a result!

Buffalo Meat- Yes or NO?

Hello everyone! 




Last night, I was out with a friend of mine and we ended up stopping at Whole Foods Market during our escapades. 


We walked around, and we passed by the meat counter and I stopped to check out what they had- a variety of grass fed beef and then they had bison meat too.  I had always been meaning to try bison, so I got a pound (about 1/2 Kg) of the ground up variety and I got some grass fed sirloin that was half the price.




When I got home, I weighed out 3 ounce portions of everything and put it in the freezer. I ended up with 10 little servings of meat for $15.00. Not bad.


What does bison taste like? I will try it soon and let you know.  It LOOKS just like ground beef. It smells like ground beef (but a little lighter pink). But does it taste like it? I will find out!




Have you guys ever tried any kind of exotic meat? (Bison, Venison, Rabbit, other?) What was it like? Would you eat it again?

Lady Gaga Posts About Dieting, Twitter Reacts

Hello everyone!




I came across an article today showing that Lady Gaga had posted the following to Twitter-

"Just killed back to back spin classes. Eating a salad dreaming of a cheeseburger #PopSingersDontEat #IWasBornThisWay" 


What people didn't like was her hashtag "Pop Singers Don't Eat".  In the past, Lady Gaga has always been one to tell people not to diet, saying at a conference "The dieting wars have got to stop. Everyone just knock it off.", and that she herself has had bulimia in the past.




I personally do not really care what celebrities say about things like that, but I can see how it can get a negative response, especially since many of Gaga's fans are young impressionable girls. 




What do you think about what she said? 

Lemons into Lemonade

Hello everyone!

I will admit- this morning, I was in a pretty perturbed mood.  I had been asked by my boss to come in early, which is fine, but I really wish I had been told WHY.

I came to work dressed business casual- nice shirt/pants, dress shoes, etc only to find that I was asked to come in to be packing and moving a ton of boxes because our office is moving to another space.

If I would have know this I would have at least worn more appropriate clothing/shoes. Blehhh!

Then I decided to think positively about this.

At least I am getting some exercise in.  Also, (after a bunch of little slip ups this week) I have been good with eating today.  No grains and only a tiny bit of starch, and dinner will be something good for me (going to a steakhouse- planning on some steak and veggies) so today might result in some actual fat loss. J

I will be doing the same thing at work on Monday (followed by class at night) and I will still attempt to do Meta that day. I might even try getting the MS done at least in the morning.

Have a lucky Friday the 13^th!