New Workouts - Trying Out The BodyRock Challenge

A few months ago I stumbled across a fitness blog after finding a recipe for Portobello Mushroom Pizzas. I had added the recipe to my Pinterest board, but couldn't for the life of me remember that I had done this. The website/blog was really amazing. I was kind of overwhelmed the first time I looked at it. There is just so much information. Then last week I stumbled across the website and found that starting early January they began a 30 day fitness challenge. They have HIIT workouts everyday. The longest workout being about 12 minutes. If you don't know what HIIT is and what it can do for your workouts read this article. So, yesterday I decided to give the 30 day fitness challenge a go. It starts off with a FIT test. Think Presidential Challenge in elementary school. You are timed and you do as many reps of an exercise that you can in that time. Then you track your marks and at the end of the challenge do the FIT test again to see how far you've come.

Week 5 Weigh-In and Measurements, Only 1 Week Left!

It doesn't seem like it has been 5 weeks already. But, it indeed has. This challenge has been great for reinstating some values of fitness and nutrition in myself. Even after this challenge, I'm hoping to continue this and will solicit new challengers with new goals in the new year! If you feel like joining me, send me an email at kerilong13@gmail.com, or leave a comment on this post.

The benefit to a challenge is that you are not alone in working toward your goal and you have something holding you accountable other than yourself. It kept me from cheating, when otherwise I would want to. It kept me motivated in the gym to hit my goals and it kept me interested in learning more about fitness and nutrition.

Now for the results:

Keri's Stats

Start Stats	End Week 5
Weight: 174.6 Neck: 13" Chest: 38.5" Waist 1: 36" Waist 2: 31" Hips: 44.5" Bicep: 12.5" Thigh: 26.5" Calf: 14"	Weight: 168.2 Neck: 12.5" Chest: 37.75" Waist 1: 34.25" Waist 2: 30.25" Hips: 43.85" Bicep: 12.25" Thigh: 25.75" Calf: 14"

For a total so far of 7lbs and 6.4 inches! A lot of that coming from my waist. I feel good about that, and am going to work VERY hard over Christmas Eve and Christmas to limit my eating, especially since we celebrate with my extended family on Christmas Eve, my immediate family on Christmas and John's family on the following Monday. Plus we have my mom's 65th birthday and my mother-in-law's birthday! Lots and Lots of sweets to avoid. My strategy to avoid eating sweets is to stay out of the kitchen, always have a water nearby and to be the one bringing the healthy options to the party.

Catching Up On Workouts and Nutrition

I got a little busy last week and did not update my numbers and measurements, but I did in fact lose. I lost another pound and about 1.5" total. I weigh in and measure again tomorrow and will update then. There is only one more week left after that! This challenge has been helpful and I wish I would have found this as a motivator prior to help get the last few pounds off. I'm looking forward to my final 9 days of this program and hopefully will be well on my way to kick-starting the new year.

So, I haven't posted my workouts lately, but thought I would do that with my nutrition today. One of my favorite things to do at the gym is the arc trainer. I feel like the elliptical does nothing for me, and I don't love to run. I love the stair climber but it is usually always taken. The arc trainer is the next best thing. Here is the workout I did today:

Nutrition and Taking The First Step Toward A New Career

For the last month and a half I have had six interviews for a new job. I felt like they all went well. Except the first interview I had. But, nothing has come of any of these positions yet. So I figured, since I have the time I am going to start pursuing other interests - one of which is to become a personal trainer. I finally purchased my CPR/AED class and my training material for NASM Certified Personal Trainer.

I am excited about this for several reasons. One being that I hope to increase my knowledge of how to create the best workouts for my body. Two being that I will learn more about nutrition. And three that I will be motivated to stay on track with my own goals.

I've worked with several personal trainers and group ex instructors over the years and hope to take the best things from each of them. I hope my challenges with weight loss and exercise motivate anyone I train in the future and I hope it gives me a better understanding of the motivation they will need.

Now to catch up on Nutrition:

Protein Pancakes - Take 1

I've seen several recipes for Protein Pancakes, and I love pancakes. So, I thought I would give them a try. Being that last night was our 4th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Bar Hop. I figured it was the best post-party breakfast. I was sober last night, but we were out until 4:30 in the morning. Then I got about 3 hours of sleep and just happened to wake up in time to get to boxing. So, I went. It was rough but not as bad as I thought it would be. When I got home, I decided to have a go at making my first batch of protein pancakes. And they were not nearly as bad as I thought they might be. These were also REALLY filling. I cut the serving down and still didn't finish it.

Week 2: Weigh-in and Measurements

Well, we are two weeks into the six week challenge. I measured with Matt yesterday, and today I weighed in. I started off weight at 11am originally, so I've tried to keep the time the same even though I'm about a pound lighter in the morning.

Taking a look back at where I started:

I SERIOUSLY Need To Buy Eggs

We ran out of eggs over Thanksgiving, and I've been waiting to make my weekly trip to the grocery store for Shop 'N Save Thursday. Yea, I'm one of those maniacs who takes advantage of $10 off my grocery bill.

Looking at my nutrition from the last couple days I really wish I had some eggs. I eat so much better when I start with eggs in the morning.

I've done something that I thought I would never do this week though. I gave up my beloved Rockstar Roasted Light. For any of you have seen me before 10am, you probably saw a Rockstar Roasted in my hand. At one point in my life, gas stations stopped stocking my beloved, and I went so far as to buy two cases online. It's my crack. Matt D. always made fun of me for not being able to give it up. He's one of those Coffee Black drinkers! But I always argued with him on this because it IS the healthiest, tastiest coffee drink you could possibly have. Plus its Rockstar so it had extra energy boosters. Only 100 calories for 16 ounces of coffee goodness. BUT, I am giving it up and have exchanged it for plain-ol-coffee plus a little bit of mocha creamer. So, in exchange for 100 calories I am now going for 35. My diet is getting pretty picky.

Food, Food and More Food

Everyone in my family loves, and by loves I mean OBSESSES over Thanksgiving food. For years, my mom has made enough deserts that each person could have their own pie. More stuffing than anyone has seen. AND, I hardly eat on Thanksgiving.

This is probably a blessing in disguise since I am doing this challenge. I don't eat stuffing. I don't like gravy. I really just eat Turkey, Salad and a roll. So this year I volunteered to make the salad, since I will eat most of it.

I'm trying to not bog this blog down with posts of nutrition. So here are my meals for the past few days. I'm going to go ahead and posts today's journal even though I'm not done eating for the day. John and I made lean ground beef tacos for a very late lunch today since I got moving so much later.

Nutrition for Monday, November 21:I bought these voila frozen meals for something easy and healthy to make for dinner. It is noodles with chicken and LOTS of veggies (carrots, broccoli, corn). I took most of the chicken and broccoli since John hates broccoli. We used to love these meals. However, today's SUCKED! Will not be eating that again.

Nutrition for Tuesday, November 22:
I feel like I did better on this day, even though I had a few hundred more calories I could eat. My Carb to Protein level was much more where I wanted it. Plus if you haven't tried Trader Joe's Flax Chips you should. They taste amazing and have fiber unlike most tortilla chips. Today's workout was rough for me, but I'll post about that separately.

Nutrition for Wednesday, November 23:

What Is The 6 Week Health Challenge

It's simple really. Starting Friday, November 18, 2011, there will be 6 weeks until New Year's Eve.

That gives you 6 weeks to set a reasonable body composition goal and achieve it during a time when most Americans gain weight.

This challenge was first posed to me by my personal trainer, Matt D. at Gold's Gym. I was recently let go from my full-time job and personal training has been an interest of mine. So, I am taking this time to challenge my friends and family to better their health and join me in my weight loss goals.

Over the course of the 6-weeks, I will document my workouts, food journal and feelings as I go through the process. If any of my friendly competitors want to share their stories, I will also post those here. Also, I will be documenting the process with photos and videos.

So what do you say? Take control of your health over the holidays, jump start your New Year's Resolution and set a goal for the next 6 weeks!

Personally, my goals are as follows:
- Workout a minimum of 5 times a week
- Burn a minimum of 1000 calories during each workout
- Journal my food daily

I haven't established my body composition goal yet, but I'm thinking a 10 pound weight loss goal.

Chicken, It's What's For Dinner - Chicken Taco Salad

This has got to be one of John and I's favorite recipes. Extremely easy to make, and the chicken can be swapped out for lean ground turkey or lean ground beef.

Now for our preparation, we use a Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker - mainly because this makes cooking chicken in the microwave so easy! It won't taste like rubber, no worries.

If you do not have a Deep Baker - just substitute by using a skillet.

Ingredients (serves 3)
3 chicken breasts
Low Sodium McCormick Taco Seasoning
Lettuce
Diced Tomato
Shredded Low Fat Cheddar Cheese
Salsa (Your Favorite)
Taco Salad Shells (For The Men In Your Life)
or For Low Fat Option use Tortillas or Baked Tortilla Chips

Directions
If you have a Deep Covered Baker, Slice the chicken in long thin strips. Season with 2 tbsp Taco Seasoning, and put inside the baker. Microwave for 8 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

If you have a Skillet, Slice the chicken in long thin strips and cook on Medium heat until cooked through.
Once chicken is cooked, drain any oil from the skillet. Add 2 tbsp Taco Seasoning to the skillet with 2 tbsp water. Cook on low heat to let seasoning soak in.

Once the Chicken is prepared you can prep the taco salad shells following packaging instructions, or use tortillas or tortilla chips as the base. Add your favorite toppings, and you are ready to eat!