- 8 Pounds

Proud to say that I lost 8 pounds in the month of October. I ate 5 to 6 times a day, work out at least 4 times a week, I have been taking CLA and watching the amount of calories I take in. Wanted to share my success in losing weight. Mostly everything I have done to change my lifestyle to help with my weight loss goals is in my blog. I will continue to give more info I use and am researching to make my body and yours a fat burning machine!

Stgreat

CLA

This is definitely a supplement I recommend people who are trying to loose weight should look into. CLA is a supplement that help accelerate body fat loss, support lean mass gain, provides anti-oxidant protection and minimize body fat storage. I have been taking them for 2 months now and I feel that it helps from gaining weight. Just type CLA in your search engine and you will have more than enough sites and reviews to help with your decision!

Stgreat

Running Outside Or On Treadmill Poll

I hear a lot of arguments about this topic. Some say outside is better and some say treadmill is better. I personally have had great results from both. My opinion is either way you can get great results with either option that best fit your lifestyle. Running outside on uneven surfaces is just as good as running on a treadmill with a incline. Stop by the poll and vote then visit http://www.runningplanet.com/training/treadmill-versus-outside-running.html which gives great info on this topic!



Stgreat

Sluggish Free your Diet

Eating better can definitely effect your mood! The right breakfast will give you energy in the morning. Thee right lunch will get you through the mid day break down. Dinner will help you finish out your day! I am sure you know this but I know and am sure you know people who miss these important meals and the ones in between! For a few tips on eating the right foods to help with eliminating that sluggish feeling through out the day visit http://food.yahoo.com/blog/yahoofreshpicks/1829/top-10-eating-tips-to-stay-energized-all-day!

Stgreat

No Pain No Gain

No Pain No Gain is one of the truest statements there is when it comes to working out. I have a love hate relationship when it comes to running. I love it for about the first mile then hate it shortly after because that is when the pain starts to kick in for me. When you first start to run for example it will start to hurt a lot sooner but it will get easier, just keep pushing as long as you can without injuring yourself! When you start a cardio or weight training routine you will have some discomfort for about a week but don't stop! If you stop working out until the pain is gone then when you start back guess what pain again! Just remember educate yourself on the proper ways to work out, see your doctor, start off slow and get the results your looking for! Also remember No Pain No Gain!!

Stgreat

Suppressing that Hunger

Hunger seems to hit me the most after dinner. I don't know if it is because its easy access to food by being so close to a kitchen or what. A couple of things that can be done is eat more foods that are high in protein. Your chicken and beefs etc. are a good source of protein. What I do is buy some protein powder. I drink some shortly after my meal and it will stop me from going back for seconds or wanting sweets. It gives me another 20 + grams of protein with my meal. To help with meals during the day try eating smaller meals 6 times daily. Sounds like a lot but it helps and keeps your metabolism up to burn that fat!



Stgreat

Streching

I am a big fan of stretching. It is something you should do all the time, before and after workouts most importantly. It will give you a greater range of motion which will help prevent injuries. If you don't work out much it will help with over all stability. It may be uncomfortable if you don't stretch at first but stay at it and it will get easier the more and more you stretch. Visit http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercise_demos.asp for some great stretching examples.



Stgreat

Chew It and Burn It

You may feel this is worth it or you may not be worth it to you! You can actually burn up to 25 calories per day just for chewing gum (sugarless)! You have so many muscles in your face that you use when you chew that you burn a few calories. I chewed gum on a daily basis not for the calories. I found out about that after the fact but if you want to help with your chubby cheeks it is good for that also. You may be able to lose a extra 500 calories a month just from chewing GUM! Chew away!


Stgreat

Is Any Tan Safe

Tanning is becoming very popular but is it safe. There has been research done saying that the chances of getting skin cancer are greater with tanning. Skin cancer comes from mutating cells in our DNA with is more likely to happen from UV rays from tanning in a tanning bed or outside in the sun. Before tanning go over risking and follow instructions to a T. There is only a certain amount of time you should be in a tanning bed per year and in the sun. So be sure that perfect golden brown tan is worth the risk and if it is safe tanning too you!

Stgreat

Food Diary

If you have been doing any type of reading then you most likely have heard that one of the best ways to help lose those pounds is to start a Food Diary. I have heard about this for a while but never took the leap for some reason up to about two weeks ago. All I can say is WOW! It helps tremendously! The most important part of losing weight is your diet and if your are planning to splurge on that cake or snickers bar ( we all do it from time to time) this makes me turn away most the time from my unscheduled splurge days. When you have to many of those splurges on your Diary it may make you work that much harder in gym or stay away from them more often. I am definitely a fan of a Food Diary now and would recommend that you try it as well.

Stgreat

Lunch Recipe: Turkey Pita

I enjoy this meal and it can be ready in less than 3 min. You will need a whole wheat pita, slice of turkey breast, baby spinach and honey mustard. Place your pita in microwave with slice of turkey on top for 30 seconds. Then place your baby spinach and honey mustard on pita, then enjoy! You have a health meal in just minutes. That helps me from snacking on something that is not good for my diet because you can make this meal so quickly. This meal is health, good and give you body so key nutrients that will go well with your diet and workout plan.

Stgreat

Reduce Stress Less Belly

Reducing stress can help with the build up fat forming around the mid section. It can be easier said than done, with all the curve balls that life throws your way! Regular exercise can help reduce stress. Try to exercise at least 30 min a day 5 days a week. Get away from what ever is stressing you out for at least 30 min a day. The 30 min you can be exercising or just relaxing for a while. I say finally you need to find something fun to get involved in. ''Laugh is good all the time and all the time laugh is good''. One of my favorite sites on reducing stress here. Take a look for more information on reducing stress.

Stgreat

Gym In A Ball

I would tell anyone starting a work out that if you cant get a gym membership or afford weights etc. Get a exercise ball! It takes up practically no space, you can work every body part and it is only about $15.00 or less. I use it mostly for my abs. The exercise ball is one of the best ways to work you abs from what recent studies have shown. I have worked my whole body with one before and I got a great workout with it. Time, money or space is not an issue with a exercise ball. Since you are lifting or working out on a big ball, you will burn calories, build muscle and it will help with stability.This is something I think should be incorporated in your workout plans

Stgreat

Stay Away From The Scale

From talking and knowing people working out this quick fix problem that may help with your motivation. Your weight will fluctuate up and down a little. So by getting on that scale everyday and being a pound down then the next day 2 pounds up will drive you nuts. Just stick to your diet and work out regularly and you will drop the pounds. I recommend getting on the scale every two weeks. Seeing your weight drop a few pounds every couple weeks will make you feel better than watching it bounce up and down daily. Let your clothes do the talking. Weigh yourself and take your measurements. Stick to your work out plan and in two weeks before you step on that scale you will have noticed those jeans fitting a little loser and loser as the weeks go on.



Stgreat

Over All Health

When losing weight you want to achieve overall health. Not just getting thin. When it comes to achieving overall health, we need to look at the big picture. Optimal health is a closed system of the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the way we live our lives, they way we consume. We need to incorporate health habits in our life as well. Lets not only look great but have great health as well. Put the best foods in our body, staying well hydrated and exercise as well. I want the body I,m looking for but also want to have a body that fights off sickness, keep me moving well in to the years etc. Also to live in a place were the the air is pure and the foods are healthy by taking care of our planet. Find out more about living well on this great website www.success.com/well-being .

Breakfast Recipe: Waffle Sandwich

24 hours a day just doesn't seem to be enough times now of days to do everything we want to accomplish. So here is a quick breakfast recipe that I was given that's fast, taste great and is good for dieting. All you need are 2 waffles, peanut butter, a banana and blueberries and/or raspberries (optional). Toast your Waffles leaving them more soft than hard. Add peanut butter but not to much to much peanut butter is not good for you. Slice your banana down the middle long ways. Add Berries and banana. Put your other half on top and in 3 minutes you have a fast diet friendly breakfast.

Stgreat

Inspiration

This is one of my favorite quotes that refers to every part of any ones life.
"Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must move faster than the lion or it will not survive. Every morning a lion wakes up and it knows it must move faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn't matter if you are the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up, you better be moving."
Maurice Greene

The 80/20 Rule of Weight Loss

I had to share this info with that I heard. That is the hardest but most important when losing weight. There is a lot of people I come across that feel they can eat almost anything, work out a few times a week and lose weight. When you think about it, you eat multiple times a day and workout maybe 3 times a week for 30 min to an hour on average from what I have come across. Your diet is the most important part when losing weight. It is the hardest also with all these tempting but unhealthy fast food and bigger chain restaurants out there. Check out http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/fastfood.htm to see the Truth about Fast Food and give so better alternatives if you are making the choice to stop for Fast Food. Home cooked meal is always better in my opinion.

Stgreat

Setting Goals

Lets set them goals today. Set your ultimate fitness goal. After that set a smaller goal weekly, bi-weekly or monthly to move closer to your ultimate goal. My small goal is to lose a good 15 by Thanks Giving. I actually set a one day goal on Thanks Giving. To eat only one Plate(LOL)! Setting goals helps. When you make it to your goal you get this great feeling of accomplishment! I do this for every thing I want to accomplish. By me constantly reading my goal it gives self motivation especially when you start knocking out your goals one by one!





Stgreat

Stopping Hunger

Something I do is eat, eat, and eat. I actually eat 5 to 6 times a day. Its pretty easy to do. You don't eat big meals. I eat a nice breakfast, then 3 hrs later I eat fruit, then a nice lunch, then peanuts and berries or something small like that, dinner and finally a small healthy snack a few hours before bed. Its not hard actually. That's what all the health experts recommend anyway. You will boost your metabolism as well which will help with fat burning. I eat but don't really get hungry which makes it easier for me not to over eat. I am from New Orleans and love to eat. When you miss one of those snacks, you get very hungry because your body is wanting that fuel to stay energized. So if this is something you will try be sure to keep something with you that you can eat with out needing a kitchen (peanuts and a protein bar for example)!

Where did the day go?

Sometimes I feel there are a lot of things on my plate and sometimes it can be challenging to get a one hour workout in. What I have to do is set a time frame. I have to begin working out between this time and that time and still be able to accomplish what I need for the rest of the day. That way if life takes one of those great turns it takes and you cant start working out exactly when planned I don't feel like there is no time to workout to day!

The Best Workouts

The best workouts are doing the things you love to do!!! It will be a who lot easier to do something you enjoy rather than running on a treadmill for a while. Go walk in the park, play basketball, tennis, swim and dance to name a few things. It will be easier to stick with your workout plan if you mix something you enjoy doing. I love running. So I prefer to run outside and watch the scenery than look at a wall while on a treadmill. Something I really like to is listening to music while working out. I tell you when you have that music that makes you want to jump out the car while sitting at a red light, playing while your working out helps a lot. I would definitely recommend that. What do you do for exercise that you enjoy or something you do to rev up your workout (like me with music)? Thanks for the ideas I always look for other ways to keep my workouts interesting!

Quick Tips

One of the things I think is key to losing weight is to drink the recommended amount of water per day. I found that when I drink the right amount of water per day I have more energy. I don't crave drinks that are not good for dieting (soda's). When I work out I get a better workout without cramps and burning out quickly. This can be challenging you may feel like your drinking all day for the people who don't drink a lot of water but try it with your diet and exercise and you will feel a difference. Benefits from drinking water are your body will be hydrated which will cause your organs to work less as hard then when dehydrated. You will keep flushing out your body. One of my favorites is it will boost your metabolism which will help with burning that fat!

Sincerely,
Stgreat