Beatles Forever!

Found this at Walmart for 3 bucks!  I bought two since they are my fav band of all time.  Even though they were way before my time - true artists and amazing music never is forgotten!  They were, are, and always will be The Fab Four.  No other band can compete.  

Anyways, I'm officially hooked on these kettlebells!  I wish it didn't take me this long to try them.  They just looked so intimidating.  Until that fateful day at the gym... I picked one up and tried a few moves I remember seeing on YouTube, and getting so sore the next day, I couldn't stop thinking about them and quickly purchased my own.  I love Bob Harper's Contoured Kettlebells!   They at so much more comfortable and I love waking up and getting some swings in.  Sure the purists are gonna have there opinions on the new design.  But you know what?  I'm not looking to go pro or enter kettlebell competitions.  I'm just an average girl trying to stay motivated.  And if the equipment I have isn't comfortable, I'm not going to use it.  For the fusion kettlebell cardio workouts by Gofit and Michelle Khai's Kettlenetics, these are perfect.  I can't go over 10 lbs for these types or workouts since the movements are so fast and the reps are so high - all nonstop!  I'm even thinking of getting a 7 lb.   However, for the traditional workouts where it's more low rep and higher weights, 15 pounds is perfect!  I want to go higher, to a 20 or 25, but my hands are so small that I can't seem to get a good grip on the larger kettlebells since the handle's diameters get larger as well. They feel like they will slip from my hands.    

Anyways, it was a post about a new favorite t-shirt and then I somehow made it about kettlebells!  Of course I'm obsessed.  

Minus 4.6

... pounds down in 7 days!  I feel victorious!  A ton of hard work!  And I finished my first week of the Kettlebody!  Effective?  No doubt.  But what really sped the progress up was my diet.  Reducing carbs was key!  A ton of green tea as well.  I sipped it whenever I wanted something naughty.  Did I have my cheat day?  Of course!  I had my cake and enjoyed all that frosting goodness and didn't feel guilty!  

Today was toning.  I'm soooooo glad I switched to the 10 pounds.  So many reps and this weight was all I could handle.  My arms and legs became so fatigued with some of the exercises!  

Gonna be living at a hotel for 3 weeks, so this will totally come in handy.  I'm gonna use the treadmill while I'm there for some extra cardio, but my little kettle bell and DVD is gonna be tucked nicely in my suitcase!  I love the shape so much!  If you are interested in kettlebells, try these!     They are so much easier to handle!

Let's see how well I do eating out for 3 weeks.   At least I don't have to cook!  I'm gonna test myself and see how same my food choices are gonna be!  

Xo

Fitness Funday

And officially obsessed with the amazeballs kettlebells!  Got my greedy hands on the contoured version by Gofit. It was love at first Turkish get-up.  Don't let all the cheery yellow cuteness fool you either. Compact as she is, she packs quite the punch and quite comfortably too. My new best friend!  This 10 pound beauty came with a Brook Benton DVD as well.  I really like it - a 25 minute cardio workout and a 10 minute ab sesh.  I got it on Amazon for about 30 bucks.    

I have been struggling with the conventional convex round one made by CAP.  The 15 pounder in all its sexy and sleek hi-gloss glory, left me looking like the victim of domestic violence - my arms were left bruised from after just one use.  They kept slamming into my arms (bad form and starting out with a kettlebell that is too heavy!). Also, the circumference of the handle was somewhat too large for my small hands.  I was nervous about accidentally remodelling  the house with a new window in an awkward location should that baby slip from my fingertips.  Don't get me wrong, it is extremely well made.  It just didn't feel comfortable and I was confident one day our television would have to be upgraded prematurely as well if I decided to use that kettlebell while watching the latest episode of The Mindy Project. 

Both are super effective, but Gofit Contoured Kettlebell is more comfortable.  Translation:  I'll use it more often:)

At any rate, I'm so glad I decided to invest in the Gofit Contour Kettlebell, I mean kettlebells.  I loved it so much I immediately ordered a 15 pounder and it will arrive on Tuesday!  Even famed personal trainer, Bob Harper, puts his stamp of approval on these workhorses.  The shape combined with the vinyl coating and the smaller circumference of the handle makes it awesome sauce.  The design makes for easy packing as well - I can just toss this in my duffle or suitcase, and I have a mini gym available all the time!  These are a bit pricier than the traditional ones, but if it is going to help me get through my workouts comfortable and reduce the chance of injury, it's worth the few extra bucks for sure.  

Hands down this is the most amazing fitness toy, I mean tool, to help me beat my workout blues and bust that plateau.  It's actually super fun swinging it around, but it gives a legit full-body workout.  The 10 pounder is perfect for the kettlebell fusion cardio DVDs I have purchased.  It's also light enough so that I can practice good form... or make my bad form more comfortable.  For more traditional kettlebell workouts,  I'll definitely stick to my 15 pound kettlebell. I still can't get over the fact that I have gotten such quick results in such a short amount of time!  I also am starting to be a huge fan of Gofit products - quality products and not too spendy either considering you won't need a gym membership anymore.  Their products go on sale a lot at the big box retailers and if you shop around, you can find discounts online as well (I've had the most luck on Amazon - best prices and selection!)  

I love kettlebell workouts.  I sometimes do two a day!  One in the am and another in the pm. 30 minutes goes by super quick and the results keep me coming back for more.  You gotta give it a try!

Xo

Sometimes I Wish I Was Skinny Fat...

Don't let the colorful cuteness of the DVD fool you, it's tough!  Like my crazy socks?

These girls are always hated on, never seem to workout, and always look, well, skinny.  Even though they are fat?  Because being chubby fat like moi is so much better?  But as a delightful girl in college once said to me with her Russian accent as she looked me up and down, "You workout a lot but I cannot tell."  I wasn't sure if my polite smile was based on not knowing what to say or just trying to understand what she was saying through her thick accent... with disbelief that what I thought I heard her say was being said to my face.  

Anyways that was years ago.  Although the wound has healed, the scar will always remain (cue the violins...I know, right?) I hope to get over my insecurities by diligently working out AND eating right!  I got the workout part right, now I just have to make sure I think twice before I head out to my favorite bakery (today).  I notice the most difference when I watch what I eat, and evidently so do some other people.  I'll take it as some tough love... and I'm sure she meant well, my little Russian doll... 

At any rate, I completed my kettlebell cardio this a.m.!  Yay!  I was sweating like a lunatic.  It always grosses me out how much I sweat, I'm convinced I have hyperhydrosis.  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but it's the truth.  I'll admit I do get jealous when my girlfriends look so pristine after their workouts and I look like I just to a shower.

Anyways let's move beyond the TMI.  I'm  hoping to get my 10 pounder sometime today (FedEx Saturday please hurry up!).  I hope I get it before I leave for out of town for the evening.  Otherwise I'll be thinking about it all night until I get back the next day!!!!  I do need it before I jump back into the toning DVD, because one of the moves injured my shoulder ligaments!  And it's so hard for me to do some of the moves as quickly as the girls do on the cardio DVD with my 15.4 bowling ball...woodchucks combined with lunges nearly killed me!  I'm super excited about the contoured shape too.  The round one keeps banging into my arm...ouch.  Just in case anyone is wondering, that's the reason for my bruises... and not that I am a victim of domestic violence.  

Well, I'm holding steady at about 4 pounds of weight loss as of today and the week is not over yet.  Final weigh in is this Monday.  Let's see if I can get it to 5 pounds!  I haven't been starving myself either.  I drink a ton of liquids and am eating more protein.  I'm so proud of myself that I want to go reward myself with a cupcake... which can potentially undo all my hardwork if I can't stop at just one.  I shouldn't but my gawd I want frosting so bad!!!!  Well I have my full weekly allowance points left plus another 10 activity points left.  One cheat day... and keep it at just one.  I'm counting the minutes I can sink my teeth into it, the first perfect bite, followed by another... 

Xox

Burn Baby Burn...

And I thought I was in shape going to the gym 4-5 days a week.  I thought I was working all my muscle groups.  I thought I was one tough cookie in my pink Nike's. 

And then I decided to incorporate this DVD routine into my rotation.  So far so good.  And I'm sore like I haven't been for some time.  I was drenched in sweat and it wasn't even hot yoga!  Power yoga, yes... but I didn't have my heat cranked up.  I had to pause numerous times.  I'll give myself a pass as it was the first time doing this yoga DVD.  It was a killer just using my own body strength!!!!  This 3 workout DVD set is turning out to be a value since I'm starting to see my body tone up and it's only the first week. 

I did the toning DVD today and for some reason I thought it would be easy.  Wrong!  It kicked my butt!  Once again I had to stop and pause the DVD.  Again, to be fair, I am using 15.4 pounds - which is great for swings or exercises requiring two hands.  However, for one hand exercises it's too heavy for me.  I can't wait for my 10 pound kettlebell to arrive!  

So far I'm loving this Kettlebody workout!  Although I'm new to kettlebells, I'm thinking this is a fusion workout since it moves fairly quickly and light(er) weights are used (the girls use a 10 pounder). I also ordered the Kettlenetics Fluid Motion Dance (pre-owned in like new condition for $4.49!). For that I'm thinking I will need a 7 pounder since it's more dance-y!  

I'm really glad I switched things up.  I've been doing kickboxing, Zumba, Pound, treadmill - but my muscles just got use to all those workouts.  I'm glad I decided to change things up.  I always thought kettlebells were a fad.  Yeah, a fad that has been going strong since the 1700s...

This series really provides an amazing total-body workout!  I've lost about 4 pounds and it isn't even the end of the first week!   When they say you burn a gazillions calories, and the scale is moving in the right direction, I guess there's no gimmick there.  

I've got a long way to go, but I'm feeling healthy and strong and MOTIVATED.  Usually this late in the week I've tapped into all of my weekly allowance points on WWP+.  Not this week.  A first in a long time!  I have all 49 of those points untouched plus an additional 5 more from AP.  No wonder the scale is moving!  Whenever I get hungry now, I drink green tea and eat fruit:). I still indulge... chocolate and a handful of potato chips... but moderation!  It's key!  More turkey and chicken and less carbs.  Monday is my start over day so I'm excited to see what my final weigh in numbers will be with this program!

I know my diet is pretty lousy, but a day at a time, I'm relearning healthy eating habits.  All of my life my weight has fluctuated - anywhere from 5 to 50 pounds over my ideal weight!  I gain it all over and definitely in my face!  I can't do that trick in photos where I stand behind someone to hide my problem body parts... unless my cheeks, chin - oh heck just cover half my face in order to disguise my weight gain!  It's so evident!  I believe the way I gain weight is the worst amongst all body types because I'm more inclined to suffer from heart disease.  More reason to try as hard as I can to shed the weight, keep it off, and try to be as healthy as possible going forward!  Kettlebells are definitely a ticket to my destination, no doubt:)

Kettlebell My Booty!

A 15 pounder - and it makes me feel like a weaking!  I don't know how parents with babies have all that strength to carry more weight than that!  I have realy weak upper body strength though...

This DVD nearly killed me!  

...and abs, legs, arms as well!  Late to the party, but did a few of the basics with a kettlebell at my gym and totally got hooked.  I felt sore after just a day!  It was like hello gluts!  Since there are no actual kettlebell classes at my gym, I decided to invest in my own kettlebell and workout DVD for days when I'm too lazy to drive to the gym.  I tried and liked the Jillian Michaels Shred It with Weights (free on my Amazon Prime!) but wanted a variation. 

After reading reviews on several kettlebell workout DVDs I decided on Brook Benten's Kettlebell Body because it includes 3 different 30 minute workouts and I liked her style based on the sample clips.  It was about 22 buckaroos plus tax, so it didn't break the bank:). I've never tried any of her workouts before, but the online feedback seemed really positive so I was really excited to incorporate her program into my workout routine to blast my flab!  If you can't afford the gym, at home DVDs are a good way to stay in shape on the cheap:)

I'll post results as the weeks go on:) I definitely need to mix things up as I've been stuck at plateau forever.  I notice adding a 15 pound kettlebell for a shorter 30 minute workout really ups the ante.  Now I just gotta watch my diet and I'll be at goal in no time!  I own a slew of Jillian Michaels and Chalene Johnson DVDs, but I get bored doing the same ones over and over.  I'm so excited about Kettlebody by Brook!

Okay, so I tried the cardio DVD this am.  OMG.  OMG.  OMG.  I had to keep pausing this DVD to catch my breath.  I was able to get through the JM Shred It With Weights (workout 1) without pausing!  So yes, a great workout!  I was burning.  I wish I owned a lighter kettlbell, but oh well.  I don't want to purchase one now and then outgrow it in a few weeks.  I'll just suffer with the 15 pound one I have :)  I really had to push myself with this DVD!  Tomorrow is yoga burn (it looks like a power yoga sesh), and the day after is toning.  I repeat the sequence again and then rest on day 7.  It's an 8 week program and the 30 minutes really make it doable:)  I love this DVD and recommend it to anyone who is on the fence!  

Xo

Cherry Almond Multi-Purpose Cream - Yes Please!

This smells so gooooooood!

Hello Darlings,

Ahhhh I'm super happy!  Thanks to the wonderful World Wide Web, I was able to find a cruelty-free multi-purpose cleansing cream that is made in the USA as well!  Delight!  I like Pond's and Noxzema, but they are both tested on animals.  I was a student assistant in an animal research lab in college... I barely lasted 3 days! I'm trying to switch to cruelty products as much as possible. 

I purchased this at Sally Beauty for $5.49.  What a barg-barg.  It's quite the value as well - 15 oz of product!  Omgeeee I love the sweet almond scent!  It's really light and you don't even notice it after awhile (doesn't really linger for those with sensitive noses like moi!)  Although it's labelled as massage cream, under the usage tips on the Sally Beauty website it states this can be used as an all-purpose cleansing cream.  Queen Helene also makes the Triple Whipped Cleansing Cream, but I'm on the fence about the jasmine scent.

This is really thick and emollient.  The texture is lovely but heavy.  You must use a tissue or warm wash cloth to remove it.  That's the drawback.  I have always used rinse-off cold creams.  I will get use to it because the scent is heavenly and just makes you smile and go "ahhhhhh" each time you take a whiff:)

So I'm not gonna lie.  I got tempted by a cold cream at the Dollar Tree.  This time trying to save a few dollars was NOT worth it.  I applied said cold cream.  The texture seemed really nice.  I then wiped it off with a cotton pad.  Rinsed.  It rinsed super clean!  I was amazed.  It seemed promising.  I did feel a bit of an tingle but I thought it would go away.  Within half an hour my face was turning very warm, itchy, and red!  No bueno.  I get a bit of a reaction even with Pond's too when I first apply it but it goes away after the final rinse.  So I thought it was the same thing.  Nope.  It proceeded to get so bad I felt like it was a chemical burn.  I'm not knocking this product at all.  Many online reviews have been positive but it just didn't work for me, sadly.  

I ran out and bought this today after reading reviews online. I went home and applied a thick layer of this amazeballs product, removed with cotton pads, then applied a warm wash cloth as the final step to remove the residue.  Within a few hours, that uncomfortable burning sensation and warmth subsided.  My skin right now feels so soft and calm.  My skin feels back to normal.  This is the perfect cold cream that no one raves about and everyone should. 

So if you love cold cream cleansing but have been unsatisified with the one you are using, run to Sally Beauty and buy a jar of this glorious cream!  

Xo

Hi Gisele! Hi Tom!

Wow - me rocking some really poor posture!  

OMGEEEE - yumminess galore!

Just kidding!  B had the day off today and took me down to Trader Joe's and got me some of my favorite things at Patriot Place in Foxboro. That place is humongous and has so many shops now!  Good work Bob!   Omg I'm embarrassing myself pretending like I'm on a first-name basis with these famous people.

Anyways... trying to switch back to cruelty-free beauty products whenever possible, and TJ's has the goods at an affordable price!  It will be hard giving up my Pond's/Noxzema cold creams, but I'm hoping I can find one that is animal friendly soon.  I tried to make an all-natural cold cream, but I didn't like the texture:(  While I was there, I couldn't help but pick up some yummy snacks for the ride home... all of which was less than 15 minutes.   I couldn't help myself!  

Xo

P.S. Definitely the best sea salt and vinegar chips around!  I can't get enough of these but counting only 8 a day since I don't want to out eat my workouts!  Gah!

Strike a Pose

Potato even gets in on the fun!  Only he just wants to jump right into savasana from the get go though instead of a power yoga sesh;). Some days I just can't get myself  to the gym.  So on those lazy days, I have my mat and blocks ready to go.  I pop in a Shiva Rea DVD and get our ohm on!  Did a Walmart run and got some basics there that didn't break the bank.  If I keep this up until Christmas, maybe Santa will get me some fancier yoga stuff!  Until then... Namaste:)

XoX

Less-Guilt Brownies!

Yay!  I've been meaning to try this for some time now.  Since I'm the only one who likes sweets in our home, the instructions for single serve came in handy.  Instead of yogurt, I just added sugar-free apple sauce, microwaved for a minute, and got my chocolate fix lickity split!  It's so yummy you gotsta try:)

XoX, 

Marikym