Try This...You may be surprised.

GREEN SMOOTHIES

2 large handfuls of organic spinach leaves
2-3 large organic kale leaves
1 banana
1 apple (organic Fuji are my favorite)
1 handful of organic frozen berries
2 cups purified water

Day 27-30: Way to end on a really bad note

So, I should make my excuse right up front...Traveling makes working out and eating right nigh unto impossible.

Now that is out of the way. I ate bad, didn't exercise and got a migraine to finish off my program. Which means, thanks to the probably 5 pounds I gained back...

I'm continuing the program in April!

But, I will not torture you with the details. Suffice it to say, I HIGHLY recommend this program. I loved the food, loved the workouts and definitely felt sufficiently challenged.

So, see you next month with new variations on workouts.

Days 24-26: Almost Done!!

So, these last three days have been awesome. I wanted to really power up before we started traveling (since you know how workouts can be on the road) and let's just say that I can feel it in every part of my body.

The last five workouts for the month are amazing...

Days 20-23: Back on the Wagon

My foot is better. I'm pleased. It's made working out a whole lot easier.

So, two things about exercise:

1. I found out that the reason I couldn't do side planks with inner thigh raises is NOT because they're impossible. It's because I'm a wimp. They came up again, and now that I'm stronger, I can actually do them. Ha. Take that, inner thigh raises.

2. I'm really losing weight on this program. I was worried for a few days there, but I've lost about 7 lbs. So, take heart, my friends. It will work for you.

And on to my favorite topic: FOOD.

This is Spicy Korean Pork Barbecue and Sesame Broccoli, Red Peppers and Spinach. If you don't mind actual FLAMES spewing from your mouth, this is your meal. Justin decided this is his favorite thing I've made so far. Recipe will follow if anyone is interested. Leave a comment if you want me to post it.

Days 16-19: Losing Focus?

We've been in the middle of a huge battle at our house called POTTY TRAINING. I will admit, my mind has been in the toilet more than on my workouts.

That being said, the workouts this week have been pretty good. I hurt my shoulder on Monday, and then hurt my foot on Tuesday (don't know how either thing happened), but I'm still fighting through it.

Today (Friday), I'm doing a modified workout to see if I can stay off my foot as much as possible while still doing cardio. Don't be surprised if I have a bulging left calf after this week. :)

The food has been great. I modified most of the recipes this week to fit with the produce we got in our food co-op, but the food has still been great. We had good hummus and veggies/pitas for lunch today, breakfast burritos sin queso this morning (our cheese was YUCKY), and some other salads and chicken dishes earlier in the week.

I've made a discovery with this program: I really do enjoy exercising and eating well. If I didn't, I think this program would be much more of a stretch for me. So, my suggestion? You have to be COMPLETELY dedicated mentally for this program to work for you. Because if you spend the whole 30 days thinking about not really being able to eat out, eat treats, or have a lazy day, I think you'd go crazy. It is working really well for me, but I don't know that I'd suggest it to a casual exerciser who is just interested in maintaining. I'd suggest something more along the lines of Core Performance or maybe Body for Life.

Day 15: At Home Workout...Finally!

I have another sick kid (again...) so I couldn't get the the gym (again...). Luckily, thanks to my propensity to hoard workout equipment, I was able to do the entire workout at home. All I used was a chair, a step, a Swiss ball (exercise ball), 12 lb, 10 lb and 5 lb weights, and a resistance band.

I mixed it up and started plugging in some of my own recipes (still healthy) but was disappointed in the steak pitas we had for dinner. I was expecting much more flavor. C'est la vie.

So, here is the workout...Compliments of Jillian.

Swiss Ball Pushups - 10 reps
Pushups - till muscle failure (this was like 20 for me)
Cable Leg extensions - (I modified by tying a resistance band around my living room chair foot and using the handle on my foot) 10 reps on each leg
Step Plyos - perform for 1 minute

Dumbbell Press on Swiss Ball - 10 reps alternating arms (do heaviest weights you can)
Half Crow Pushups (FAVORITE) - 5 reps on each leg
Harpies - 20 reps
Jump Squats - 10 Reps
Warrior Pose with Tricep Press - Peform for 30 seconds on each leg

Dips - till muscle failure
Hanging Abs - 15 reps on each side (modified this and did hanging abs with a twist on our pullup bar)
Static Lunges with lateral shoulder raise - 10 reps on each leg (20 total)
Side step plyos - 1 minutes

Pike Pushups (HOLY SMOKES, SO HARD) - 10 reps
Squat and Military Press - 10 reps
Dropsies - 8 reps on each leg (did this on a kitchen chair)
Jumprope - 1 minute

Bench dips with feet on body ball - 20 reps
Bicycle crunches - 30 on each side
Plank Twists - 20 reps on each side
Boat Pose - hold for 30 seconds

After finishing the workout, I was sweating so much that I had to go outside for a quick walk. I looked up at the stars and remembered how much I like looking at the stars...Something I'll have to pick up again. I don't usually go outside past Andrew's bedtime. Or when it's cold. So, it's been a while. Yay, nature.

Day 9 - 14: I'm feeling it

Best invention EVER: Do you always just waste a whole can of tomato paste because you need like a tablespoon for a recipe? Problem solved. Thanks, Cass.

Lavash wrap. I had no idea what this was before this diet. They're good.

This is what we put inside them: broccoli, roasted red peppers, lite cream cheese, and Italian seasoning. Delicious!!
Is that bacon? I could NOT believe I was so lucky to get a recipe that called for prosciutto. I thought that would definitely be off limits, but it TOTALLY made the meal for Justin, who is getting a little burned out on salmon, seafood, and cottage cheese. And he decided he doesn't like fennel in large doses.
Caribbean Seafood Salad...Mango, avocado, shrimp, scallops...Goodness.

So, the workouts have been great and manageable. I replaced one workout with an "Insanity" workout because I couldn't make it to the gym. It was one of the HARDEST workouts I've ever done. I've never felt so good in all my life. Except my wedding day. :)

Day 8 - The Best Laid Plans

It's true, the plans went awry today. Little Buddy got a sudden cough in the middle of the night. No one slept much at our house, and because I don't ascribe to taking sickies to the daycare, I didn't get my workout in. I am taking today as my day off and will just do all 4 workouts in a row this week. Hopefully my muscles won't fail me.

Food-wise, I discovered an All-Bran cereal I can handle! The kind with dried strawberries in it is good. Not good-good, but "I can swallow this fiber" good.

We had a yummy chicken, mango and avocado salad for lunch.

Dinner, also plans awry. My awesome in-laws came over and took us to dinner. I think I did pretty well staying in my calorie range (half a bowl of broth-based soup and a half of a sandwich), and it was nice to have the first meal in 8 days that I didn't have to personally prepare.

Day 7 - Day of Rest

So glad it was Sunday today. It was nice to not think too much about diet, workout, etc. Just needed a break, for sure.

The shrimp and asparagus salad was VERY good, probably one of my favorites so far. We also had a repeat of the Moroccan chicken and wild rice, and we're big fans.

Back to the grind tomorrow. I can feel a difference, but haven't noticed a big one on the outside. Of course taking into account the fluctuating hormones most women face occasionally (read: once a month), it is inevitable that this week will be the hardest.

Day 6 - Staring the devil in the face

So, today was crappy. I didn't have a workout today (day off in the program) and the food would have been good except I've been baking cupcakes for a baby shower all morning, and got a migraine to go along with it. Seriously, what I wouldn't give for a delectable mascarpone chocolate cupcake with chocolate ganache and a Dr. Pepper for the headache. But, no, devil, I'm not giving in!!

The Caribbean Seafood Salad was DELICIOUS, black bean and BBQ chicken tacos I liked but Justin didn't.

So, I haven't given in yet, but my resolve has officially been tested.