Diet I haven't heard of- Acid Alkaline Diet

Hello everyone!


Like the GL and Mediterranean Diet I have talked about before, here is another diet I have not heard of- The Acid-Alkaline Diet.

I have heard the terms Acidic/Alkaline foods being thrown around before but I did not know it was a real diet.

This diet is under the premise that the foods you eat contribute to blood pH which in turn results in better/worse health.

They say that for optimum health, blood must always be slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7.5 (7 is neutral). 

The theory is that the foods you eat dictate blood pH, but the body does this on its own through homeostasis.


This diet is primarily vegetarian, with alkaline foods (some of them) in the picture above.  Acidic foods are things like meat/dairy/cheese and other animal products and are usually avoided on this diet.

Also, processed foods are also excluded as these are also considered "acidic".

So, while the food correlating with blood pH is somewhat bunk, will it let you lose weight?

Well, it should- If you are eating fresh food and most of those foods are veggies, of course you will.  Especially if you throw in some exercise. 

My opinion: this diet is a very good idea, regardless on the science. Fact is fact: fresh foods will help not only with weight loss but also other aspects of your health. 

Another Diet I Never Heard of: The GL Diet

Hello everyone!

Before, I talked about the Mediterranean Diet and how I hadn't heard of it, what it entails, etc.

This time I saw another diet I didn't know much about: The GL Diet

Upon reading about what it is, I found out that the GL (Glycemic Load) Diet also goes by another name: The GI (Glycemic Index) diet, which I HAVE heard of but do not know much about.

So what is the GI/GL Diet?

It's a diet where you do not have to count calories in food, but take in mind the glycemic load- which is the measurement of the effect the food will have on your blood sugar.

Most foods have been assigned a GI- Usually grains and high carb foods have a higher index and things like meats and cheeses have a lower GI.

Here's some examples- the GI is based on pure glucose (sugar) having a GI of 100.

An example list can be found at this link: http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Glycemic_index_and_glycemic_load_for_100_foods.htm

To  me, the way I see it is that GL/GI is just a fancy way of saying low carb dieting.  If you look at the foods with the lower GI, those are the lower carb foods.

Have you ever done the GI diet?  Do you know anyone who has?

A new angle on core workouts

Hello everyone!

Everyone knows that one of the most important things to work on is the core.  The core muscles keep you stable, upright, and help make a lot of other movements easier.

Lookit all dem core muscles! The core is more than just abs!

So, how can we strengthen it? Many ways, including pilates, but there is another way to work them that I just saw a little video about.  Running at an angle.

The video clip for this can be seen here.  http://bcove.me/nbcd0azd

The workouts involve leaning against a wall and doing short bursts of running. Best of all, it requires no equipment.

According to the article:

"If you want to increase your gains, consider training from a different angle -- literally. "Running with your body on a slant forces your core muscles and your lateral line -- the tough connective tissue called fascia that runs along your sides -- to work harder than if you were straight up and down," says David Jack, owner of ActivPrayer in Phoenix, Arizona, and creator of 30 Days to Ripped. A rock-solid midsection helps you react faster and stronger, and lets your body absorb shock effectively. The result: better balance, coordination, and flexibility. Plus, a strong core and lateral line protects your spine against unwanted twists and jerks during sports that can cause injury. For an added bonus, push your hand into the wall to get a grueling burn in your arms and shoulders. Ready to try it? Watch the video below to see how to do the Lateral Wall Run with perfect form."

For more, click the link to visit the article: http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/training-day/201307/secret-peak-performance

Have any of you tried workouts like this? Did you see results?

Not seeing results? Check yourself first. (Warning: Tough love!)

Hello everyone!


A common thing I am seeing online is people complaining about how their workouts they do "aren't working" and then proceed to blame the instructor/whoever made the DVD.

Seriously?

If you are not seeing results, take a moment and really look back and check on the following:

1. Did I do the workout as instructed?
2. Am I eating properly?

Before you answer yes, also consider the following. 

Doing a workout means doing the workout- ALL OF IT to the best of your ability.  It is not watching the DVD, flopping through 5 minutes of it and getting off to check your cell phone, facebook, and so on.

Also, keep in consideration the time given to you by the instructor.  For example, workouts like the Tracy Anderson Method and Tonique require 1-2 hours of your time, 5-6 days a week, while other workouts require less of your time. 

Eating: The saying "You cannot outtrain a bad diet" is true. I've tried. I've many times had the notion that I can eat McDonalds and get what I want. Nope.  Obviously not happening.

So, before you go blaming the instructor, and thinking what you're doing is fine, REALLY look at your habits. 

As for me- Yes, I do slack on my workouts. I have eaten really badly.  However, I do not complain and blame Tracy Anderson for why I am not slim.  I readily admit that it's my own damn fault. I wasn't doing the work.

So really, when you start seeing a lack of results, or something like that, before flipping out and blaming everyone and what not, look at what you're doing, see what you're slipping up on, and make the changes.

Mediterranean Diet- What is it?

Hello everyone!


As much as I read up on diets and what there is out there, there are always new ones (or perhaps not so new) that I have not heard of or know much about.

In this case, I mean the Mediterranean Diet.  Yeah, I've heard the term thrown around but I did not know what it was.

So, like any intelligent person would that had the curiosity, I did my research!


Apparently the Mediterranean Diet is a heart healthy diet plan.  It's based loosely on how people in Mediterranean countries eat. 

When I first heard this, I thought okay, pasta and butter and such (which is often served up at Mediterranean restaurants).  Nope. So much nope.

There is actually a food pyramid for the Mediterranean Diet.

The diet is primarily vegetarian. Most of your meals are fruit and vegetable based with fish.  Your land animal eating is limited a lot- I have read they suggest you eat meat only a couple times a month. Not a week, a month.

Does this work? For a lot of people, yes it does.  Of course, everyone has different needs, but if these kind of guidelines fit your life, why not try it for a week or so?

Tracy Anderson's Food Program Review

Hello everyone!


As you may know, Tracy Anderson now has a food program out.  I recently came across a blog post through FitSugar from someone who actually reviewed and ate the food.

According to the entry- Here is what you will need if you partake in her program:

1. A refrigerator with a lot of space
2. A microwave

That's it. No cooking aside from a quick nuke. 

The shipments come biweekly and typical program enrollment can be anywhere from 2 weeks to one year.

As for nutrition, there is no nutritional value listed on this food but the Tracy Anderson team says each day gives you  between 1150-1400 calories a day. 

What you get each day- 5 meals. Breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, dessert.  Sounds pretty good.

Here is what the blogger had to say:

Breakfast: The Right Start

My first meal from the plan was a tasty bowl of yogurt topped off with a heaping portion of raw pepita pumpkin seeds. It was a combination I typically wouldn't put together, but I was impressed with its taste. This was the perfect way to kick off the program. 

Breakfast or Snack: Powder Problems

The only major misstep I see with the whole program is the fact that you drink Tracy's chocolate or vanilla wellness shake mixed with water every day. Typically, I enjoy protein shakes or smoothies, but I mix in some frozen fruit or a little milk to make the texture more pleasant. Drinking two heaping scoops of this protein powder with just eight to 10 ounces of water was a little trying. Blending in with a little ice was helpful, but I would not suggest drinking one of these without a blender nearby. 

Snack: Surprisingly Satisfying

When I first saw the sweet potato pudding in its recyclable container, I wasn't sure it was going to make it to my bowl. But once I sprinkled a mysterious crunchy topping on top (unfortunately, this item wasn't explained on the menu) and took a bite, my preconceived judgments were laid to rest. The creamy pudding with the right amount of cinnamon, plus those crunchies on top, made for one of my favorite snacks from the program.
Pictured here: sweet potato pudding

Lunch: Fresh and Filling

The first day of the program I received a Thai-inspired soup for lunch, but every day after, I couldn't wait to dig into a huge salad with tasty ingredients drizzled with an inventive dressing. I couldn't get enough of the tangy mustard flavor of this green salad's dressing.
Pictured here: baby corn and cherry tomato salad with market greens and Dijon mustard dressing

Dinner: Day One Delight

Huge portions of vegetables complemented a small serving of chicken, beef, or meat every night for supper. Day one was a little rough with a ton of goodies in the office, but once I heated up my ginger chicken with rainbow chard, my worries were alleviated. It was delicious, elegant, and filling. I could not believe this plate of food had come from a prepackaged container.

Dessert: Snap Crackle Sweet

I was excited to see an almond butter crispy waiting for me one night after dinner. It wasn't too sweet but still offered the flavors and textures I look for in one of my favorite desserts. 

The Verdict

I recommend the Tracy Anderson Food Program for anyone who can afford the investment (around $50 per day depending on program length) and who, due to a busy schedule, is just spread too thin to spend time in the kitchen. If that price tag doesn't seem too steep for your budget, between the quality of food and all the time the program saves, it's worth it.
At first I was a little worried about the small portions and spacing of meals, but I found that I was more than satisfied after I finished all of the meals on the program — other than the wellness shakes. There were specific instructions to eat breakfast within one hour of rising, have your snack two to three hours after breakfast, then lunch two to three hours after your snack, and to enjoy dinner two to three hours before going to sleep. The only specific time restraint was to consume your dessert before 7:30 p.m. I had no problem sticking to these timelines.
The program suggests to pair it with the Tracy Anderson Method, but I do not live in a city with one of Tracy's studios and I received no specific literature or resources on how to work out during the week. Besides that, there was no information on how long or what kind of workout to perform. I did feel energized enough to stick with my normal workout routine, so that was a plus.
Overall, If I had an event a month out I wanted to feel my best for, I'd absolutely order this program again.

 That is quoted from the article here- http://www.fitsugar.com/Tracy-Anderson-Food-Program-Review-30740944?image_nid=30813954&slide=1

My opinion: This REALLY makes me wish I could afford to do this program.  I am however, baffled by the writer not knowing how to work out because she has no TA studio near her.  Does she not know that Tracy has Metamorphosis out and a slew of other DVDs and YouTube videos???? 

I can't put pictures here because of how the fitsugar site was set up but I assure you that the food looks really fancy and pretty.


Have any of you tried the food program yet? What is YOUR experience?

The Method for Beginners... So close yet so far!

Hello everyone!


I know, ANOTHER post about the Beginner DVD Tracy is coming out with. And no, this one is not that informational.

I just want to say how excited I am to be getting it- It comes out on August 6th and I already have my preorder in. That is.... 13 days away.  Not a lot but it seems soooooo far away (as it always does when you want something NOW, haha)


There is also another thing I may finally need to buy if the video clips are any indication- Ankle Weights.


I'm ASSUMING they are 3 pounds, and in the clip they looked like these:

http://tracyandersonmethod.com/interspire/products.php?product=Ankle-Weights-Black-with-pink-logo

I did my best to grab a clip from the short video they have online and as you can see she is weighted on both her wrists and ankles. Interesting.


Well in short I am still really excited about this but I obviously can't plan anything with how I will use it until I see what it entails. 

Happy Birthday to Me!

Hello everyone!


Today is my birthday, I became the ripe old age of 28.  I know that's not old but I certainly feel it.

So, I am another year older and yes, I do have some goals for this year of my life.

1. Exercise more regularly.  Not necessarily 6 times a week but more than what I have been doing.

2. Eat better.  I have been eating crap again and that's not okay. 

3. Take multivitamins every day

4. Take better care of my skin. I got some new skincare that I am loving and I am working on making that a habit too.

As for weight number goals, I am not going to put too much stress on myself to hit a certain number because that often leads to unattainable goals and disappointment. 

Part of the goal having to do with my workouts will come when I get the new workout DVD I ordered, Tracy Anderson's Method for Beginners.

Update from me!

Hello everyone!


It's been a few days since I've blogged last (sorry about that) but I am seeing some changes going on.


As of today, since I first posted about being vegetarian and such, I have lost 11.5 pounds!

 This is about right... How I reacted when I saw I lost that  much weight in such a short time.

Also I have decided not to be 100% vegetarian.  I have occasionally eaten some meat and eggs and still continued to lose weight.  Also, my skin is clearing up, I think it was actually just the heat we've been having here.  

As for working out, I haven't done a whole lot of it, mostly just walking around.  I have been getting better at it, when I first started walking, I couldn't go for more than 5 minutes without needing a break.  Now I am up to 30 minutes without stopping.  Eventually my goal is an hour or more of walking.

Tomorrow is my birthday, today I will be going out to have fun with my friends who I haven't seen in a while, hopefully getting Japanese food for lunch (haven't had that in a while either). 

How have all of you guys been?  Still keeping up with your workouts/diet?  Starting something new?

I hope you have a great day, and I hope I do too. 

More information and a video about the Method for Beginners

Hello everyone!

A while back I posted about Tracy's upcoming video, The Method for Beginners.  At the time of that posting, there wasn't a lot of information about the video or anything, just the fact that it was going to be coming out soon.

Now, there is some information out and even a little video clip of what to expect!


According to collagevideo.com-

Certified instructor description: Tracy's first-ever "beginner" workouts — fast-paced toning moves that emphasize precise form and controlled body placement. Unlike some of Tracy's other programs, these are fully cued with rep counts and technique tips (the perfect "introduction" to her unique exercise method). The first workout begins with a chair-based warm-up that incorporates pliés, stretches and side-bends. That's followed by toning sequences that range from classic chest presses to muscle-focused grapevines. The second workout also features an intense warm-up and dancer-style body-sculpting. The moves include balance exercises, standing abwork and lower-body routines (often with a subtle Tracy-specific tweak). Requires 3 to 5 lb. dumbbells; ankle weights are wrist weights are optional. ©2013.

If you want to watch the clip, please go to this link and click "Play clip"
http://www.collagevideo.com/workout-video/tracy-andersons-the-method-for-beginners-6443

I ordered mine on Amazon, where it will be released August 6th.

Have you ordered yours yet? Will you order it?

Vegan... And acne??

Hello everyone!


I have been vegan for about a week now, and while I am feeling better in terms of digestion, one thing I AM NOT loving is that my skin is reacting to this.

I am not getting the clear pretty skin people claim veganism  will bring.

More of these = More acne??

Nope, I am getting acne- painful under-the skin acne that I can't seem to stave off. 

It's also hot outside, but that is not my main concern.  Previous summers, I have not broken out this badly.  

I am wondering and HOPING if this is just temporary, that this is all the yuckiness from the animal products leaving my body through my skin.

I am trying to keep my skin nice and clean, and that doesn't seem to be helping much, which is making me wonder even more if this is a food related thing.

To my vegan and vegetarian ladies: have any of you had this happen to you or someone you know?  Comment below, and any fixes are very welcome!!!

Eating Vegan While Traveling/Eating Out

Hello everyone!


Something I am already experiencing that is causing me a little trouble being a vegan is what to do when going out to eat, or traveling on the road and needing a quick bite. 

Do you think being vegan means no more fast food? Not quite.

There are quite a few resources online for this, including PETA's website.  

After doing my research, McDonald's is NOT a great place to go if you are vegan.  Even the fries are NOT vegan.  Here's what's in them!

FRENCH FRIES:
Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor [Wheat and Milk Derivatives]*, Citric Acid
[Preservative]), Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (Maintain Color), Salt. Prepared in Vegetable Oil (Canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean
Oil with TBHQ and Citric Acid added to preserve freshness), Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.
*
CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK.
*Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients.

So, not vegan OR gluten free. Big no for me. Hash Browns served during breakfast are pretty much the same deal.


If you want fast food fries, go to Wendy's.  Their fries ARE vegan and only seasoned with sea salt. (They're good, I've had them before).  They also have baked potatoes and there is an option (allegedly even in their cash register according to the PETA tips) to have a veggie sandwich which is everything except the meat and cheese.

Subway: Another okay place to go if you are vegan but your options are limited to the veggie delight sandwich/salad. 

Taco Bell: A really GOOD place to go if you are a vegan and hungry for something that's NOT a salad. 

"Taco Bell has many great options for vegans! The fast-food chain has a variety of sides that are vegan—including the cinnamon twists, chips and guacamole (or pico de gallo), cilantro rice, black beans, and Mexican rice—and all its salsas are vegan. You can also order the fresco bean burrito, the veggie Cantina bowl without sauce, or the regular bean burrito without cheese. Several of Taco Bell's other dishes can be veganized simply by omitting a few ingredients. The 7-Layer Burrito can be vegan with five layers—just forgo the cheese and sour cream. The tacos, nachos, and Mexican pizzas are vegan when you ask the cashier to hold the meat, cheese, and sour cream."

I actually really like their bean burritos, and I do order them cheeseless. I just put more hot sauce on them. I have never tried a 7 layer burrito before but perhaps I shall in the future.

Of course I prefer NOT to eat at fast food, but sometimes with my lifestyle there isn't much option.

As for breakfast, if you still want your hash browns, go to Dunkin Donuts.  They have hash browns that are (in my opinion) tastier than McD's anyway (they have herbs and such in them too) and are both vegan AND gluten free.

CONTAINS ALLERGENS: None

INGREDIENTS: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Contains one or more of the following: Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Cottonseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Corn Oil), Dehydrated Potato Flakes (Potatoes, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate and Citric Acid added to preserve natural color), Salt, Granulated Onion, Modified Potato Starch, Modified Cellulose, Spices, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Corn Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate), Sodium Alginate, Garlic Powder, Calcium Lactate, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Malic Acid, Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate added to preserve natural color.

From what I have read, the vegan options at sit-down restaurants are much more abundant than at fast food. Figures.


Any other suggestions from my fellow vegetarians/vegans in terms of eating out (aside from the VERY obvious "Just don't!") comment below!

Still truckin on the veggie train!

Hello everyone!

I am surprising myself.  Today is my 4th day as a vegetarian and I am still doing good on it in terms of not giving in to temptation.

My roommate has been pouring on the temptations like nothing else.  She KNOWS I am a vegetarian now. So, being a troll...

"Hey want some beef jerky?"

"Hey, want some pepperoni pizza?"

I regrettably (sort of) said no thank you.


My past two days have instead been consisting of eating bananas in the morning, and sometimes some fries, or hummus, salads, and my newfound love- Kabocha squash.

Looks funny, tastes good!

I also have a new recipe I tried and love- Kabocha Salad 

It's like potato salad but with kabocha instead.  It's also a Japanese recipe.

I will post the recipe tomorrow- I am going to make it again to make sure it's good, haha.  

Vegetarian Day 1

Hello everyone!


Today was my first (well TECHNICALLY second) full day of being a vegetarian and I hate to say it, I almost didn't make it through.

I also made some food choices I probably shouldn't have.

I'm using this week to get used to the whole veggie thingamajig.


Breakfast:

2 bananas
1 order of hash browns from Dunkin Donuts. Bad. However, an  improvement from my usual sausagey cheesy breakfast sandwich that probably has 4x the calories of a small order of hash browns.

Lunch:

Hummus and pretzels
1 small bag of potato chips (plain)

Dinner:

Stir fried vegetables (cooked in a slight drizzle of coconut oil and soy sauce)
Pistachios. A lot of pistachios.


Why a lot of pistachios?  Because I found the holy grail of pistachio godliness.

Wonderful Pistachios Salt and Pepper flavor

I didn't have a big bag, I had a bag that has... about 3 1/2 cup servings in it.  Yes, I ate the whole thing.  They are too delicious to eat a single serving of and put away.

Well said.

So, I ended up eating about 2,000 calories today and I feel mixed up about it. I feel horrid that I overconsumed and yet I feel good that I made it through my first meatless Monday.

Not feeling too good. Veggies to the rescue?

Hello everyone!

In America, we celebrated our Independence Day on Thrusday, and as per tradition, I also had a little barbecue going at home.  

Sadly for me, when there's barbecue, there's leftovers. When there's leftovers, there's overeating all weekend to get rid of it all.

Not MY barbecue, but this sure looks good, right? (Sorry, vegans!)

Of course, like most people, I had the most processed, junky kinds of meat to grill- sausages, hot dogs, and so on. And this is what I've been eating this whole weekend.  Not so bad, right?

Well, maybe for other people.  As for me... 

I feel miserable.  I feel bloated, horrible, and like I gained 20 pounds (I am terrified of the scale right now).  Also, my skin is in its worst shape ever.  This has been happening for a little bit recently but after the animal product overload... I feel like I'm covered in blackheads... Because I am.  

I've tried keto diets, and eating lots of meat and for the most part while I can say I got a little energy boost, my skin was still shot, and I ended up eating a lot of vegetables with these fatty (I also found the excess fat hurt my stomach and made me sick just like grains do) meats.

So, I am wanting to try to make a transition to a more vegetarian, perhaps one day fully vegan lifestyle.  I'll try it for a week or so and see if there's any change in how I feel.  I will also be a mostly grain free vegan/vegetarian (and not eating a lot of meat substitutes) because sadly gluten is in a lot of these things. 

Let's hope foods like these can help.

For now, I will still be eating eggs. Dairy is out, it makes me sick to my stomach and meat, obviously out.  (There are times when I would eat something Japanese with dashi in it, which SOMETIMES has a little fish extract in it.  I usually make my own dashi out of seaweed but some store bought stuff has katsuoboshi (dried tuna) in it)

I am hoping my skin clears up, my weight comes off, and that I feel better in general.  Also, any vegan/veggie  recipes and suggestions (Grain/Gluten free please!) are welcome!!!!

Have any of you made the change from carnivore to vegetarian? Any tips on how to deal with it (when living with meat eaters also helps) would be  very welcome too. 

*EDIT*  Also, there IS an ethical reason behind this too.  Every time I see videos and pictures of animals being slaughtered and how horrid they are being treated, it hits my heart. However, my dog will NOT be vegan/veggie.  I am not going to force my dietary needs on him.  I do buy natural, whole,  healthy dog food for him, and he is healthy and happy.

More Tracy Anderson DVDs?

Hello everyone!


I posted recently about the re-issuing (for a cheaper price) of Tracy Anderson's older videos.

Looks like she is coming out with more, but her main facebook page and the community on her website are keeping quiet about it.


1. The Method for Beginners

From what I have been gathering, this is supposed to be for those whom Metamorphosis is too hard for, or for those entirely new to the method.  The DVD is not listed on her site but it is on amazon.  I  preordered it, right now it is about $9.  http://www.amazon.com/Method-Beginners-Tracy-Anderson/dp/B00D2UMHC4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372800426&sr=8-1&keywords=the+method+for+beginners

"Tracy Anderson has created her fitness method based on empowering the small muscle groups and engaging those muscles to support the large muscle groups. These 30-minute programs will work your entire body as you begin to build connectivity between your muscles and throughout your body. These programs are an enhanced introduction to the Tracy Anderson Method and are designed for all abilities. All of the exercises and moves are for beginners and they engage your body as you increase your strength. This is a fun way to tone your body as you build on the basics of the Tracy Anderson Method."



2. Post Pregnancy 2


I have very little info about this one, but it DOES exist.  In a video I saw with an interview with Tracy, they show clips of this new workout (and her new baby girl is in it too!) 

3. Reissues of -wait for it- The Perfect Design series!

This is one I am very excited for, as I wanted the originals but they were spendy for me.  Now, also for pre-order are the Perfect Design Series!

http://www.amazon.com/Tracy-Anderson-Perfect-Design-Sequence/dp/B00D2UMHMO/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1372800606&sr=1-1&keywords=perfect+design

http://www.amazon.com/Tracy-Anderson-Perfect-Design-Sequence/dp/B00D2UMHOC/ref=pd_bxgy_mov_img_y

The third one does not have a picture yet, but there IS a link to pre-order.

http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Design-Sequence-Tracy-Anderson/dp/B00DLX76AU/ref=sr_1_4?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1372800606&sr=1-4&keywords=perfect+design

There is one thing I have NOT seen for preorder or reissue yet and that is the Beginner Dance Cardio.  I own the re-issue of her original 2008 Dance Cardio and her advanced Dance Cardio II.

Are you guys going to order any of these?  Are you excited about the method for beginners or the second post pregnancy video?