NY Times Gym Class Video Series

I just happened to stumble upon this video series: NY Times Health:Well Gym Class that are roughly about 2-3 mins in length each and show case different fitness classes around New York.  I would so love to be the girl they send to try out these classes!  How fun :)  The above link is to their trial of Forza the samurai sword workout.  My husband has this video at home (which I only barely tried out) and he loves it.  I think I'd like to take a class.  Check it out and if you have time look at the others in the series as well.

So Sore!

Finally getting back into the groove of things with working out again after my almost 3 week no exercise/eat crappy food stint. I still haven't completely gone back to the all healthy all the time diet I was doing but my portions are still in check and I am working on limiting the snacks since that is really where I have been letting loose.

So far I have only done 2 workouts, Sunday night Sean actually worked out with me which was nice. We did Bob Harper's Pure Burn DVD, one that U have done only once before and that left me sore for most of the week...yeah doing nothing for 3 weeks really didn't make the video any easier :-/ It's Wednesday and I am still in pain , and people think Jillian Michael's is tough....yeah ok. Mondays and Wednesdays lately have been spent at my mother's place since I am working in a project for her so I had Monday as a rest day. Last night Sean was supposed to do the Bob Harper video with me again but the baby didn't want to sleep so instead I did a quick cardio - Brazil Butt Lift Cardio Axe, which is fun but can get a nice little sweat going on. Tonight I am back at my mom's so depending on what time I actually make it back in will determine if I do anything today. Still 2 workouts logged in and I still have the weekend :). I am confident that I will get back to my old routine in no time. In a side note next Wednesday I have an Intro to Bollywood Dance fitness class, I can't wait!!

Indulging....a little too much

So it seems for some reason that whenever I finish up a particularly grueling fitness regimen I allow myself to slip with the healthy eating.

I allow myself indulgences here and there normally but it is very rare and definitely limited, however, when it comes to the indulgent eating after finishing a goal or program I get a little loosey goosey.

For the past 2 weeks I have been allowing myself treats and just shrugging it off like "well I worked really hard" or "this won't add up to anything, it's just one treat". This week in particular has been very bad with bigger servings, eating extra carbs and even tons of sweets (I actually don't even eat sweets/candy/pastries normally). Today was weigh in day and let's just say it was not pretty, 4.6lbs to be exact smh. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised though I'll be honest that I didn't expect it to be so much. I have not only been eating worse but I have been lazy and my normal 5-6 days a week working out has been reduced to about 2, maybe 3 times a week.

There has been a lot going on with me lately and I could blame this all on emotional eating or mindless eating but in reality it was me. I knew I didn't need the bigger servings or the sweets, I wasn't even really hungry 75% of the time! I am very disgusted with myself, I usually don't let my little celebratory meals turn into full on bingeing. I am getting back on track today, I have my meals planned and since dinner is at my mom's tonight I will just have to monitor the portions there. The exercise regimen is still up in the air since I will be late a few nights this week (evenings are when I work out) so I'll just play it by ear but I am getting in at least 4 days minimum.

I guess the lesson learned here is that it only takes a little time, a few bad habits or not moving to gain weight - it all adds up and a lot or times more than you realize. If I only ate this way for 14 days and gained almost 5lbs you could easily multiply and see the effects for a month and beyond! Yikes! In the end moderation is key, 1 indulgence doesn't have to derail your fitness goals but allowing more than that occasionally will lead you to a very slippery slope. Be conscience of what you put in your mouth and know that IT DOES ADD UP!

The Biggest Loser

How great is this show?!?!  I can't believe I just started watching this the other day (I know where have I been right?).  Sunday on a whim I decided to watch it and I am definitely hooked.  I don't think I have cried so much in such a short period of time, that show makes me so emotional. 

In my family there are a lot of overweight people so it was very easy for me to replace some of these contestants with some of my own loved ones, even myself.  Having decided to lose weight and make this lifestyle change is something that wasn't easy and there were times where I wanted to quit or wondered "what's the point?"  but I kept with it and pushed through and finally arrived at a place where I am content. 

This show is amazing because you really can see that these people want to change their lives and also see that a lot of times it's not so cut and dry as "oh they just need to stop eating cookies" or "they are just lazy".  People are so mean and so judgmental of others with weight problems, I think this show (for those that do watch) is great at showing that overweight and obese people a lot of times really do struggle to lose the weight, have other issues that are stopping them from losing weight or just gave up due to other life experiences. 

The show is on it's 12th season, I am definitely rooting for Ramon because he reminds me so much of my brother and he has such a great personality.  Anyhow, if you haven't seen it definitely give it a try! Click here.

Snow Day

Ugh.  I can't believe that it's not even November yet and it's snowing out here on the east coast.  Really mother nature?!?  Anyhow, that just means an at home workout for tonight :)  I am finishing up with my 8 week bikini body boot camp with Fitness Magazine so I will be doing my 2nd strength workout of the week.  I must say, I am so happy that I was able to participate in this program.  I never get chosen for anything but to be chosen and for something that I love to do and am enthusiastic about?  Well that is just the icing on the cake. 

The way the program is set up is there are 6 workouts per week (you can do more than one workout a day, some of the girls have been doing that) so depending on how you decide to go forward it can be done in as little as 3 days or as many as 6.  You need 3 strength and 3 cardio workouts per week all of which were given prior to the start of the program (created by top trainer Holly Rilinger).  Other perks of the program where a spot in Holly's September Training Camp (her signature boot camp) and weekly classes at Flywheel (one of the best indoor cycling studios in NYC) a pretty sweet deal if I do say so myself.

There is only 1 more week left until the end of the program which is a bummer but I can definitely say the program works.  I started at 150 and am down to 142 and have lost a few inches all over.  I would say that is pretty successful :)  What I really loved about the whole experience though was meeting Holly and being exposed to group classes which I had never had the luxury of trying before (all my weight loss prior had been done at home with DVDs).  I can definitely say I am addicted to fitness classes which poses a problem since I can't really afford them but thanks to Groupon and other discount sites I have been able to secure a few random passes. 

If you have not tried a group class I definitely recommend it - it is so much FUN!  Watching other people give you that extra oomph to try harder, keeps you motivated and makes you feel a part of a team which is always nice.  If thinking you will look ridiculous has stopped you from trying out a class in the past you'll soon realize that 1) no one is paying attention to you and 2) there are definitely worse if you look around lol.  So take a chance or try a different class, get out there and get sweaty :)

This is only the beginning...

October 1, 2010 was the day that I decided to get off my behind and do something about the way I was feeling about myself.  October 1st happens to have a very special significance to me for other reasons and being depressed about it and wallowing in grief was what actually spurred me into action in the first place.  I remember being so depressed and so disgusted with myself (as a whole not just physically) and something just clicked.  *Click*

I remember getting off of the sofa and putting on a Zumba DVD that I happened to have at home thanks to my husband.  I did the 20 min express workout and I think I almost died doing it...I kid you not.  Who knew that bouncing around for 20 mins could leave you dripping with sweat and gasping for breath?  Not me that's for sure.  After taking oh 15 mins to recover I text my husband and said, " I just did zumba and I liked it" to which he replied "really? cool."  (that's my husband for you, to the point).  I remember that while I did Zumba I felt really idiotic because these were essentially moves that I had been doing all my life (being a latina) and I kept thinking what do these chicks have to show me but I got over myself and had fun. In the end I decided that I was going to do it again the next day.  That was how it all began for me.

At first I didn't really have a plan, I just wanted to workout as much as possible.  I didn't diet or change my eating whatsoever.  About 3 weeks in, I pulled a tendon in my foot.  That folks is what happens when you over exert yourselves and happen to be dim witted and continue to exercise and walk on the bad foot despite the pain.  Needless to say I ended up not being able to walk with an ankle that looked like a coconut.  The Rx was an air cast and 1 week on crutches. FML.  I was worried about being derailed from my new found fitness mentality but thankfully I stuck with it.

One year later and almost 60lbs lost (58.5lbs to be exact as of Oct 1) my life has changed so much.  I changed the way I ate all the while not dieting, I became aware of what I put in my mouth.  I read A LOT!  In fact, I read fitness articles each and every day because I am fascinated with it.  I drink water now - I NEVER drank water before, a whole year would pass and I'd probably drink the equivalent to 8oz of pure water, I kid you not.  I have become active, I am constantly working out even when I have slow periods (doing 3 days a week instead of 5/6).  I am happier with myself, though I still need work in the self esteem/self image department I am much more comfortable in my own skin and that is saying a lot for me.  I am very proud of what I have been able to accomplish and 95% of it was at home with DVDs and just my own determination and promise to myself - so if I can do it, so can you!!  The other 5% was with the help of message boards, sites like Sparkpeople and Fitness Magazine's Bikini Body Boot Camp Program which I was fortunate enough to be chosen to join last month and that introduced me to Holly Rilinger and Flywheel both of which I <3.

Like the title suggests, this is just the beginning for me.  Last Saturday on my anniversary I made a new set of goals, the biggest and most important to me of which are to run (not walk) a 5K and 10K before this time next year.  I have delusions of grandeur and hope to be able to do an even longer race than that but for now I'll start small.  I also plan to try more classes, up until this past September (thanks to the Fitness Magazine Program) I had never tried one and was honestly too intimidated.  Not anymore.  If this program has shown me anything is that working out in a team atmosphere is fun (like in Holly's Boot Camp) and when it isn't a team effort a little competition will definitely spur you on to do better (like with Flywheel's TorqBoard).  Either way I plan on staying active, staying healthy and living life to the fullest!

Eat This Not That!

The first time I encountered Eat This Not That was in a Woman's Health special issue back in January and it was definitely an eye opener.  Eat This Not That basically compiles information on all your favorite foods from fast food and chain restaurants and gives you the best options on the menu so you can still enjoy and indulge without all the guilt (and extra weight gain!).  They have quite a few books now including their supermarket guide, which I found EXTREMELY helpful when I first started watching what I ate.

For anyone looking to diet without the diet I highly recommend Eat This Not That!  You will still enjoy everything you love (not just salads and vegetarian dishes!) and won't have to worry about whether or not it was the healthy choice better still once you see the nutritional value on some of these things you won't want to go back - that's a promise :)