30 Day shred - should you try it?

Image by Elizabeth Soon-Jung via FlickrOK, I got few people asking me how I feel about the shred since I am just about to complete the 30 day course.

You have to understand, when I jump, my 3 yo says, "Mama, stop jumping" and I think it would be so much easier to do, if I wasn't 200 pounds.

I might be lazy and don't want to get off the couch half the time, but as long as I talk myself into turning Jillian Michaels ON, there is not turning back. My daughter (who is "sleeping" in the next room) sticks her head out "Mama, Press the button" "Mama, take minimote (remote)" And she won't stop until I am up and and start moving.

So, here we are on the Day 28. How did my body change?

According to my husband, my boobs got smaller and my butt got firmer. Hey, he can see that better than I can.

My stomach area though started showing some interesting details I haven't seen in a while. Very recently I discovered a waistline (I honestly forgot, where it was). I also started to see some muscle lines on the sides. Don't take me wrong, I still have a mommy pouch, but my stomach now is not all pouch. YAY!!!

The pants are definitely loose.

Also, I think twice about eating something late at night, since a big part of the belly pouch came from night snacking. I didn't loose 20 pounds - I lost about 5, but I wasn't religiously good with my food (Holidays and all)

UPDATE from Tuesday!
I got some mama guns I noticed this morning. They definetely were not there before. Since sometimes I have to carry two of my kids at the same time - 3 yo (33 lb) and 18 mo (26 lb), it recently got a little bit easier to do so. I think I spent an extra minute in front of the mirror this morning showing off.

Do I recommend 30 Day Shred? Yes, I do and I will be here to support every single person who decides to #shred.

Shred ON!

How to get started:

You need weights and a DVD

Recommended weights are 3 to 5 pounds, but if you already spent all your money on gifts, use juice bottles or anything else for that matter that is easy to hold

DVD
"Jillian Michael 30 day shred"
Here are the options:

Buy the DVD $8.99 (Amazon)
Buy Amazon on Demand $4.99 or $1.99 per episode (there are 3)
Rent it from Netflix. Plans start at $7 or so
Rent it from the Library
Watch it for free here http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/UgpuDex8Iuo/

This is it - Mamavation week 12

I figured I need to stop at some point and look back. I had my 2nd child in July of 09 and made my first afford to get my body back just about a year ago (December 09) when I bought WII.

My husband works long hours and I have no options of getting to the health club with two kids, I can only rely on what my home workouts. What are the ways you can work out without having to leave the house? DVDs and games mostly. My Netflix lets me rent and instant play so many workout DVDs (and all for flat fee). When it comes to the WII games, I take it very seriously with plenty of research and Gamestop gives me that with reviews and detailed information. By the way, check this deals out - Buy Two Get One Free. It is ON right now and can save you some serious money!!!

Well, back to the goals tracking -
I lost 12 lbs since last January.
I lost 2 inches in hips
I lost 1 inch in breast and waste

It looks like I did loose one dress size

Yes, I could of done better. Well, I will do this year. WITH YOU!!!
I am a very outgoing person, but since English is not my native language, I've been very shy about speaking up. Any kind of popularity contest? Let me cross my name out. Here at Mamavation, I had to speak, because I wanted to be heard. And I Thank You for making go out of my comfort zone

I need to loose around 70 pounds to get to my ideal weight. I know the pounds are not as important as inches are, but I haven't been less than size 10 for so long, I don't know what is the good size to have. Anybody?

And I have to tell you about the 30 day shred! It really got me serious. I only have few times left, but I have been workinf it 6-7 days a week. I didn't loose too many pounds, but these jeans were just right on me in November.

I know we are getting very close to make a decision who is the best suited to become the next Mamavation Mom and I would like to say few words about that. You can look at my application here and read more about me here. However, whoever does make it into the boot camp is in for a hard work and great payoff. All of the applicants are so deserving to make it and that is why there is "Move It and Loose It" Challenge. At the end of the day, girls, we made a commitment to ourselves, our families, and our friends to get fit and nothing should stop us.

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Keep track of goals
1. want to shed 10 lbs by the end of January start 200 lb (11/8).
-2.6 lb I am 197.4 (initial start 04/01/10 - 209 lb). Have 7.6 lb to go

2. 2-3 gallons of water a day. I did relatively good. My biggest achievement is drinking my super-size bottle (2.2 L) on New Year eve between two New Eve dinners

3. Stop night snacking.
I had few down days

For this week
I am planning to start my 7 days detox on 01/05. More about it here. Let me know if you'd like to join me or just have questions.

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Mamavation
You might know, that I applied for Mamavation Mom Campaign. See my application here and don't forget to recommend me for Mamavation Mom to Leah here

Also tweet this
Hey @bookieboo! I want @elenka29 to be the next #Mamavation Mom! She has my support! http://bit.ly/zqUxa

If You are on Facebook, go here http://www.facebook.com/mamavation and post the following

Bookieboo, Lena (@elenka29) has my support in becoming the next the Mamavation Mom. She is committed. (Feel free to add something nice)

Oh, and tell you friends to help out too.
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Mamavation TV

Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV with Mamavation Mom Applicants as special guests. This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by @GameStop.

Consider Applying for Campaign 7 Mamavation Mom (15 December to 5 January)

if you want to transform you life and ready to commit

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Challenge yourself

P90x in the New Year Discussion

Biggest Looser challenge with Shelley's group Join FB page and don't forget to chart your progress there

WII Active 2 challenge

WII challenge

Join us for a special twitter party on 1/5 from 8-10pm EST, http://bit.ly/gICF5o #gamestop with GameStop and discover all the ways your personal fitness goals can be personalized in 2011. We will also be discussing ways to get back into health in the New Year and tips on how to start without having to leave your home.

Join us on Wednesday, January 12th from 8-10pm EST for the Less Pain More Gain Twitter Party with SALONPAS

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Get fit without going broke

(created for http://www.mnmspecial.com/ and published on January 7, 2011)

Everything costs money and that includes loosing weight - health club, workout clothes, every day clothes, DVDs, etc... I remember complaining to a store associate that I have to buy new clothes, because I lost weight. It might be a good problem to have, but it is still a problem that requires financial support. But I hate to spend money. I really do! I don't spend much, but at the end of the month it all adds up, so I try to be creative in any way I can to save a buck or two.

If you really want to loose weight and don't want to spend too much money doing it, here it comes - KEEP YOUR CREDIT CARD OFF THE TABLE!

There are so many cute things you can wear while working out, but all of these things are optional. However, you probably already know that and hopefully only buying sportswear on sale.

Can GYM be replaced?
I canceled my Gym membership after not attending it for a year (I meant to do it, but it became distanation impossible for me). $30 a month come out to $360 a year, so my ultimate decision was to purchase WII + Fit + games. Here is a math: Console and board will cost you just around $300 (unless you can find them on sale). I also bought over the course of year WII Active, WII Active More workouts and few games I wished I didn't buy. I did get a good deal on all games, so even counting in the games I didn't like, I spent just around $100. So my total spending was around $400 and I have my WII for just over a year. Did it pay for itself? I think so.

DVD I get bored with DVD workouts relatively fast and I don't want to piling discs that will contribute to the ultimate dust collection, so I found few ways to save money and shelf space.

Library My library doesn't charge for DVD rent and workout DVDs can be checked out for 21 days.

Amazon on demand The cost of videos on demand is significantly less than the actual DVDs.
Where great Amazon's deal on DVD is $9, video on demand will be $2

Netflix Here is another use of WII console - there are a lot of workout videos available on Netflix. So many are on instant play and ready to be played. Others can be rented. I upgraded my plan and now I can borrow a DVD and hold it until I am done with it.

Free preview Search for free preview - there might be something available on the World Wide... And if it is, try it before you buy it.

Weights. Creativity just might save you from converting your living room into weight room of the health club (if living space is tight). You might want to look for adjustable weights - they can help you go from 1 to 20 lbs. I also made my own dumbbells from two existing ones I had around the house - I wrapped 2 lb wrist weights over 2 lb dumbbells. You can also use water bottles and fill them to get the right weight (look for the ones that will give you a good grip

Clothes
Second hand stores and friends closets might be good options. Since you are actively trying to loose weight, do you really care to spend hundreds of dollars every couples months? There are upscale resale shops that will give you really good deals on designer labels. I also never say "no" to friends that offer to share the clothes they don't need (especially if they have a good taste)

Food Cut down on trips to the restaurants and buying prepared food. There are lots of ways to make fast and healthy food for the family. I've done $10 meals that would provide 4 lunches for the family of 4 (2 adults and 2 small kids). My best kitchen friends are my slowcooker and a ricecooker. Have few backup meals in the freezer - that will stop you from going to the food chain, because you have nothing to eat in the house

There are so many more ways to save a buck while loosing weight. I don't know all of them, but really would like to learn more. Do you have any ideas?

Last week of the year - Mamavation Week 11

Image via WikipediOh, well - the time is running out and I still have so much to do...

And don't we all?

Holidays are crazy and we have to step away from Twitter-Facebook life into the shop-a-lot land. My holiday is still ahead of me. For us, Russians, gift giving and feast consuming doesn't happen till New Year. Some take the Christmas Tree down by the 31st - we sometime don't put ours on til the 30st. And we call it a New Year Tree. The biggest meal of the year happens between 11 pm and 1-2 am (Talking about late dinner) and I doubt I will be able to workout after that.

So what's the girl to do? I probably will enjoy the table (Hey, I am just telling you these things honestly) and with any kind of luck I will have just a little bit of everything.

But what is coming next? A very special week called "Detox" I think, I will give myself and my hubby few days to regroup and after that "Veggie monster, I am coming for you!"

7 days all you can eat veggie buffet. The idea is not to loose weight, but to cleanse body from crap.
If you want to know more about 7 day detox I do, I wrote about it few days ago here


Keep track of goals
1. shed 10 lbs by the end of January. 7.4 (197.4 on 12/25/10) to go from 200 lb on 11/8/10 (start 04/01/10 - 209 lb). It looks like I lost 2.4 lb since last check at the end of November.

2. 2-3 gallons of water a day. Trying, but it's hard now. Restroom is too far away. I think I do about 1 litter a day.

3. Stop night snacking. I am doing ok.

The holiday is taking its toll though - some cookies organize, attack me in various places and make me eat them

For this week
I am kicking butt with Jillian Michael's DVD and hope to be finished with it very soon (on Januaty 2nd or so)

Sista of the week
Lots of hugs to ???? on becoming a sista of the week. ???, keep it real!
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Mamavation
You might know, that I applied for Mamavation Mom Campaign. See my application here and don't forget to tweet Leah

Hey @bookieboo! I want @elenka29 to be the next #Mamavation Mom! She has my support! http://bit.ly/zqUxa

If You are on Facebook, go here http://www.facebook.com/mamavation and post the following

Bookieboo, Lena (@elenka29) has my support in becoming the next the Mamavation Mom. She is committed. (Feel free to add something nice)

Oh, and tell you friends to help out too.
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Challenge yourself

P90x in the New Year Discussion

Biggest Looser challenge with Shelley's group

WII Active Challenge

Consider Applying for Campaign 7 Mamavation Mom (15 December to 5 January) if you want to transform you life and ready to commit

Body cleansing

Image via Wikipedia

Detox. It is something that I don't like doing, but do understand that it has to be done. From my prospective any kind of diet where you restricting your body from getting nutrients puts stress on your body. That is why I don't do diets. However, I started detoxing just about 5 years ago.

Before I go any further, I am not a doctor and not pretending to be one. I do, however, share my experiences based on the information I received from different sources.

I do it twice a year (it shouldn't be done more than 4 times a year) for seven days and the first happens right after New Years to cleanse from all the crap I ate. During detox consider taking it easy on workouts. It is not an excuse, but because your body doesn't get all needed nutrients, you shouldn't be training excessively

It is a vegetables feast and if you don't like the vegetables, than you should not be doing this detox. You will eat any vegetables (except potato) and as many as you want. Because vegetables digest fast you will be hungry much sooner than usual. Drink a lot of water - it will keep your stomach full

Yes to these things all kinds of vegetables
2-3 servings of fruit
some lean protein (if you need to)
lemon juice freshly squeezed
lots of liquids including herbal teas

NO to these things caffeine
fat
carbs

Additional supplementation is totally optional

You can use something similar to this

NutriClean® 7-Day Cleansing System, which has

• HepatoCleanse — capsules cleanse the liver
• Release tablets — cleanse the gastrointestinal tract and enhance peristalsis
• Fiber Powder — provides much needed fiber and beneficial bacteria to the colon

I have done it both ways. And yes, you can have a quality cleansing without it.

I plan to eat just about 7 times a day and run to the bathroom a lot.
My day begins with a half a lemon squeezed into hot water. That helps your body to have a bowel movement.
I eat at 7 am, 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 5 pm , 7 pm, 9 pm and trust me, if you are not in bed by 9, you will be hungry.

Don't make it more difficult than it is. Don't make crazy dishes - it is just 7 days and Girls, I can help you get through it if you need my help.

I buy a big bag of salad,
make a big pot of vegetable soup,
buy a good variety of fruits that will make me somewhat happy
whatever veggies look good and can be used as good enjoyable snacks
If you like fruit teas - knock yourself out - you can drink them all day long (or just get plain decaf tea)
I also get veggie burgers by Morning Star or can of Tuna in water.

It does require planning to make sure you have enough green stuff to carry you through the week. And here is my week plan, just to give you an idea of how to make it through the week of detox

I don't detox to lose weight, but to cleanse. However, you will lose pounds over this week (for me it is 3-5)

Let me know if you want to do it with me or to spot you whenever you are ready to do it.

XOXO

And just when I thought I tried everything in my house

And just when I thought I tried everything in my house, home from work came tiramisu my husband LOL