Why schedule workouts?

I just got done scheduling my workouts for the week. The Beachbody website had a sidebar with Frequently asked Questions and this was one of the questions. I copied and pasted the answer because I need to see this often!! Here's what the experts at Beachbody had to say:

Because it helps you get fit. Studies have shown that people who schedule exercise sessions like any other important appointment are far more successful at sticking to a consistent, effective fitness program. When you stop treating your workout as just something you'll try to get around to, you're much less likely to skip it.
What's more, it just makes things easier. When you add the information in advance, you'll know exactly what workout routine you'll be doing and how long it will take, and you'll have a continuing record of your workouts that lets you know where you are and helps keep you motivated.
Last but not least: When you schedule and complete daily workouts in SuperGym, you're automatically entered to win cash and prizes in the Daily Sweepstakes! How's that for motivation?

So....if I schedule my workouts I'm more like to do it....and I can win a prize. I like it!

Camera Phone Diet

I got this little trick off RealAge.com. I would never have thought of it, but think it's an excellent idea to keep track of what you are eating without having to carry and write it all down immediately, or try and remember it till later!

Try the Camera-Phone Diet

Could your camera phone help you lose weight? One study seems to suggest so. When people in a small study snapped a picture of everything they ate for 1 week, something interesting happened. They took better stock of their meals -- and ate less or ate more healthfully because of it.

Snap Your Way to Slimmer Hips -- Just think of it as a digital version of a food diary -- but better -- because it forces you to think about what you’re eating before you put it in your mouth, instead of after. With written food diaries, it’s too late -- people log their choices after the fact. Watch this 60-second video on how to dish up just-right portions.

Worth 1000 Words (and Calories) -- In the study, the simple act of taking a picture caused people to pay closer attention to how much they were eating, how diverse their food choices were, or how healthful the food was. And that extra thought and attention actually helped them eat better. Here are some more slim-down tricks to try:

§ Pace yourself. Find out how eating slowly can help you eat less.
§ Be regular. Here’s why you don’t want to skip meals.
§ Learn to decode labels. Yep, reading is good for weight loss.
Chart your weight loss with this nifty weight loss tracker that lets you see your daily progress.

RealAge Benefit: Maintaining your weight and body mass index at a desirable level can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger.

Coming Soon!

One of the keys to workout success is to keep changing the workouts. If I get bored with a workout or if it becomes "routine" I am more likely to drop off. It's one of the things about the Beachbody family of workouts I really enjoy. There is a lot of variety! I am pretty excited because we just got word of two new workouts coming soon!! This is straight from my Coach Newsletter:

Insanity™ AVAILABLE JULY!
Shaun T's extreme new program takes intense cardio training and cranks it to the max! Note: program is not for beginners. This energetic, vigorous, advanced program includes ten DVDs, nutrition guide, fitness guide and diary, wall calendar, plus a motivational CD. Get in on the hottest action happening this summer!

Brazil Butt Lift™
Currently scheduled to launch in October. This 90-day program contains workouts to enhance your rear assets. Trainer Leandro Carvalho, a.k.a. the "Butt Master," is with you through every derriere-enhancing step in the program, which includes the Dynamic Dozen signature move cards and lots more. Bottoms up!

As someone who struggles with the bottom half I am ALL OVER the BBL (Yeah, that one!!) I'll keep everyone up to date on the updates to new products!!

Decide. Commit. Succeed.

Well it's been awhile since I posted. Actually, in the last 6 weeks my commitment slipped a bit. WELL NO MORE! I decided that I cannot afford to lose my commitment to my health! I'm back!

I decided to begin my re-commitment with the Slim in Six workout program. This is a six week program through Beachbody. (www.beachbodycoach.com/getfit40s click on the Products tab and watch the video promo of the product!!) The program is broken into three sections. I am in the Start it Up phase!

This is a short 25 minute workout designed to get you used to the moves in the Slim in Six workouts...and it is a workout! For the first three days, I could hardly go up and down the stairs. The toilet presented the unique challenge of wincing and groaning!!! All is well on Day 5 and I'm starting to really feel like I can do the moves well. I'll move to the Ramp it Up phase next week.

So, the breakdown of Start it Up:
After a short warm up, it moves into what Debbie Siebers calls "The Plyie Phase". Imagine the ballet stance with feet wide apart and bending knees into a squat while bringing your arms up. This moves from slow to fast. I found my heart rate starting to come up in this phase. From there we moved into the moves that challenge me the most....lunges! With both a reverse lunge and a forward lunge I found my heart rate moving rapidly into the aerobic zone and the sweat starting to form!! From there we did another round of plyie moves and then into squats. I actually like to do squats as I feel a little bit more coordinated doing them. In between each of the moves, Debbie keeps you moving with either leg lifts, leg kicks or toe touches. It allows you time to get your breath back!! There is a push up section and then into an ab workout portion.

This is all done in a short 30 minute workout!! (The Ramp it Up and Burn it Up are longer)

If you can stick with this for the full 6 weeks, I've heard from lots of other people that this can give you the dramatic results you're looking for! I'm not going to lie: it requires commitment and work!

All in all it's a perfect workout to pull out to re-commit to working out!!

Fitness Facts

Shakeology!

My shakeology arrived yesterday!!! I've been reading about Shakeology through Beachbody for awhile and finally ordered it! I have been using the Beachbody Meal Replacement shake so was anxious to see if the vitamin and nutrient packed drink could hold up to my morning meal! My plan is to use Shakeology in place of the meal replacement shake. I ordered the Greenberry. I have a love of the McDonalds Shamrock shake so the picture of the Greenberry Shakeology is a favorable one!

When I opened the bag, my first thought was....ugh...it is, quite literally, the color of peas or spinach. It doesn't look anything like a McDonalds Shamrock shake! And that's probably a good thing! I noticed immediately the fruit smell but also a scent of vitamins...not overpowering but you know you're drinking a healthy mix! I used water and ice in a shaker for this first try. It is not as think as the meal replacement shake. When mixed it is thicker than a glass of milk but not as thick as a milk shake. When mixed, it has the same dark green color...darker than what I see in the ads. My guess is that if mxed in a blender or use of milk would acheive that beautiful green color!!

And, of course, the most importnat thing, the taste: yummy!! I was afraid with the color that it was going to taste strange. It is a berry taste but I wouldn't say I could name the berry!! It's the combination of sweetness of berries like the strawberry and grape with a hint of the tart (like cranberry). I really, really like it! I was trying to figure out if I could have it twice in one day!!

I'll keep reporting on how I feel taking the Shakeology! I'm expecting the first result will be in **regularity**. Yeah, yeah, no one wants to talk about it but it's one of the things they mention in the materials. I'll try to let you know in a way that doesn't feel like TMI!! More to come on Shakeology!!

Shakeology!