Got a Rumbly in Your Tumbly?

It is almost that time of the day again...LUNCH TIME!  And to be quite honest I have been starving for the last 35 mins.  I do my best to eat a good breakfast but usually I end up with cereal and milk which depending on the cereal isn't necessarily that bad of a choice but mine lacks one of the key components to feeling satisfied....FIBER.  My poor cereal only has 2 grams of fiber per serving which is not nearly enough and thus I end up with the stomach growls until 12pm when I can devour my lunch.
Here are some tips so that you don't end up with the rumbly in your tumbly :)

• Eat lean protein every morning - people who do this lose more weight over time than those who chose a high carb breakfast such as with a bagel and more importantly stay fuller longer. 
• Choose the right carbs - Meaning choose whole wheat or whole grain breads over refined carbs such as white bread and pasta.  Doing so will help keep insulin levels in check and since complex carbs have more fiber you will stay fuller longer.
• Snack wisely - It may seems counter productive to eat snacks since we are trying to limit our calories/intake of food but eating 1 to 2 snacks a day is beneficial to regulate your metabolism and help you to not binge during the day.  Try having some almonds, a yogurt, a handful of pretzels, all these are low in calories and will help keep hunger at bay.

How do you deal with hunger pangs?  What are some of your favorite foods that keep you going all day long?

Sparkpeople - Tons of info at your fingertips!

Sparkpeople is a great site that offers members a place to track their food intake, fitness minutes & measurements.   It also houses quite a few experts in the health and fitness fields that help members by answering questions on the message boards as well as by providing custom content in the forms of recipes, workout videos and blog posts about the latest news, research and gadgets in the industry.
What I have found really beneficial (aside from the trackers which are awesome) is the community.  Sparkpeople has a wonderful message board where you can ask questions and meet new people who are also trying to lose weight or that have already lost the weight and are trying to help others out.  I have met quite a few new friends through Sparkpeople, it's great to have that outlet when you are struggling to stay motivated.  The creme de la creme is that Sparkpeople is 100% free :)  No "premium features" that cost additional, you get full access once you sign up.  If you want to be able to track your progress, have access to tons of information and meet new friends then I highly recommend you check Sparkpeople out.  If you need a buddy, look me up gab6784.

Circuit Training - If you aren't doing it already, you should be!

Circuit training is a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises done in quick succession.  You choose the number of exercises you want to preform and go through each exercise with little (30 secs) to no rest until you completed the set.

Circuit training is really great because it allows you to get creative.  You can do full body, lower body, upper body or core circuits.  What is also great is that by doing the the exercises one after the other you are elevating your heart rate and keeping it in the calorie burning (aerobic) zone.  Circuit training is very effective and doesn't really require much time.  Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred DVD is a great example of circuit training that is quick (30 mins) and effective - I have completed it and it's killer but you definitely see results in a month, I promise you!

If you haven't give circuit training a try, I urge you to give it a shot.  It's a great way to break the monotony of the same boring workout and cut your exercise time in half!
Here is a great article from Sparkpeople describing the numerous benefits of circuit training: The Benefits of Circuit Training

She lost 125lbs and kept it off! - AMAZING!

Slim Katie over at runs for cookies was once over 250lbs but with dedication, hard work and exercise she lost 125lbs. I originally found her on Sparkpeople and she is truly inspiring! I have been reading her blog for a few months now and aside from being motivating and inspiring she is funny! Her posts are down to earth and it's fun following her race training. She posts recipes, her workouts and other non fitness related stuff. Her story is motivating for me and many, if she can do it - SO CAN YOU! Check her out :)

Can you Batuka? - Great Review :)

As I mentioned in a previous post, Batuka is a really great and fun workout and it is FINALLY coming to the US (Fall 2011). Here is a great review I found, if you are interested in Batuka read the review!

Miss South Carolina 2011 - A True Inspiration!

Bree Boyce is the reigning Miss South Carolina and her story is very motivation and inspirational to any one struggling with weight loss. Bree used to be an obese teen but turned her life around and lost over 110 lbs! Aside from that amazing feat she also went on to win her title of Miss South Carolina and will be competing in the up coming Miss America pageant. After seeing a few interviews and now reading her blog (click the link above), I honestly feel that Bree is not just another pretty face but very dedicated and knowledgeable about her cause. Check out her blog and/or like her on FB :)

Batuka - Fun, Fast & Effective

Here is a video clip of one of my most favorite workouts (and favorite songs of the series) to date - Batuka. Batuka is a latin dance/music inspired cardio and conditioning workout. In many ways Batuka is very similar to the ever popular Zumba (which we know everyone LOVES).

When I first decided to lose weight last year in October, I decided to give Zumba a try, being latina myself I was intrigued by the fact that I could potentially lose weight while enjoying the music I grew up listening to. I'll admit that my first workout was a doosy, I was definitely sweating and huffing; it was fun if not a little clichéd. While I really liked the music the moves left a lot to be desired, enter Batuka.

After searching reviews for Zumba I stumbled upon a few mentions of Batuka. With the help of google I was able to find some videos on youtube and I have been hooked since. Instead of the the more slow paced feel of Zumba with the constant stop and start of single movements, Batuka was choreographed. Each song has a step by step breakdown of the song (which you can bypass if you own the DVD) but thankfully the main workout is continuous which is great because your heart rate stays elevated for maximum calorie torching. Another difference I found between Batuka and Zumba was that while Batuka incorporates dancing into the workout there were plenty of real conditioning moves like lunges, squats, ab twists and kicks. Aside from the great music (so good I actually listen to songs on my iPod), the cool choreography and the great instructors (the Exposito siblings Jessica & Jose), Batuka is a kickbutt workout! In the first 3 months I did only Batuka (about 3-4 days a week) and I lost 15lbs..and that was without a diet.

If you are looking for a fun and fast paced workout that incorporates elements of kickboxing, capoeira, dance and more then I recommend you check this out. Batuka is on the verge of coming to America (Fall 2011) so keep your eyes peeled and if you can't wait don't let the language barrier deter you, look at the youtube videos and follow along; you won't regret it :)