Remember when I shared my post on the best alternatives to pop/juices? If you missed it you can view it here Best sparkling waters to drink
If you remember I was basing my recommendations on products I didn't actually drink but I was just reading about and from viewing the product labels.
This summer, I had an opportunity to actually taste a lot of different flavors of Bai5 (note I am not receiving any compensation to endorse the product) and I LOVED it! It was light, low in calories and I can imagine really enjoying it over in a solo cup of crushed ice (if you are an alcohol drinker they have have mixed drink recipes). A perfect summer (or really anytime of the year) drink!
You can pick it up at almost any grocery store so give it a try when your in the mood for a healthy drink!
DAY 5 of T25 Doubles...Not the typical Friday doubles like the program calls for but a Alpha and Beta workout on the SAME day! I have done 5 days of daily workouts...twice a day. I am trying to see if I can accelerate the results of tightening and toning my core before I have to get bikini ready. AND if it doesn't happen well nothing lost.
Today I committed to myself that I was going to wake up super early, complete Alpha Lower Focus and shower before my kids Halloween parties! And I did it! Small accomplishment in the day of my life:) On the menu tonight was pizza and pop for dinner (and a trip to Oberweis for dessert). While I was waiting for the pizza to be delivered why not crank out a fast 25 minute Beta upper focus workout? Done, done and time to spare to the get the pjs on before the pizza arrived!
When I was doing this move my eldest said, "Mommy, I see an ab starting to come." I think she might have been seeing a reflection or what was already there but I will take that compliment.
Still waiting on painters to come (there super busy) but I will SAY YES to 5 days of doing T25.
Now the big question is T25 is a Monday-Friday program. Saturday is a rest day (or Staturday...meaning take your measurements and weight) and Sunday is stretch. I need to get a long run in tomorrow (6 mils) so I will be taking a day off from T25. Probably will pick back up on Sunday where I left off so stay tuned!!!
Here I am on my honeymoon. This was probably the thinnest I have EVER been. It is stressful planning and putting on a wedding. Notice I didn't have a tight core...thin, yes...tight nope. I didn't know that my core was something I needed to work. This is one of those messages I wish I could tell my 25 year old self. Work it before you need to!
What I really like is this is turning into a HABIT. I am really enjoying my morning 7:30 am workouts. Today I was up at 5:30 am and ready to rock and roll. This didn't mean that I jumped right up and worked out Nope, I got to spend time snuggling with my kiddies and reading books to them. Since it was such an early start I was able to start my workout before they even left for the bus and they were my BIGGEST cheerleaders today.
Ab Intervals was another fun workout that I was able to consistently workout on tightening my core. I am kinda kicking myself because I didn't start this sooner. I think this is the missing link.
If you follow my life, you know I am game for trying almost anything. I run like crazy, have tried to maintain a healthy eating plan (gulp) and will try every single new Beachbody workout that comes out.
My biggest fear in starting T25 (actually two fears) was that it would be too hard (and I hate admitting that something is too difficult for me) and that it was too much impact. I am here today to tell YOU that it CAN be done. You don't have to be all INSANE like Shaun T. I am modifying probably about 70% of these workouts so I don't have too much impact to my body (remember 1/2 marathon in 1 week...gulp again). I feel my core (yes, I don't really know how to tighten my core but I am trying) getting slightly tighter.
Towards the end of the day I was getting really lazy! I decided it was time to just DO IT. So while the kids opened a brand new lego set (thanks Mom!!) I hit PLAY on my second workout of the day, Beta Dynamic Core. I didn't know what to expect (come up after 2 years I cannot remember a thing about these workouts) and thought it would be brutal. Another pleasant surprise when I found I could do these moves (remember I am modifying).
AS you can see from this video I cannot get my legs straight and my form is probably wrong but I am TRYING every day and that is all that COUNTS!
Stay tune for tomorrow, DAY 5! xoxo Coach Kristina
As a BUSY mom of 4, I really struggle to have it ALL together. There's a house that always needs organizing and cleaning, tons of homework (and I can't understand 2nd grade math), reading to do and so much MORE!
I may look like I have it all under control but the biggest challenge these days is choosing between working out in the morning OR getting myself primped. I don't have a job to go. I don't need to impress anyone (except my hubby who loves me with no make up) yet I STILL feel like I wish I had a magic wand to put me in a cute outfit, do my hair and make up.
Let's just say I'm shooting for when Tyler is in first grade. Until then...you will be seeing me as a hot mess! But at least I worked out right?
Day 3 of T25 and I am not here to tell you it is all sunshine and flowers today. Today it was my worst workout. I started the day with the Wednesday Week 1, Day 3 workout Total Body Circuit from Alpha. This workout is the only one so far that I found completely absurd, undoable and I literally just sat on my booty watching Shaun T and thought, "what the h*** are they doing?" I do remember from 2 years ago that I just gave up and didn't even do this one. Trying to do better this time around so I attempted it but it really was so hard. Blah! Not a great way to start the day. I considered not doing a second workout because my left knee was bothering me alittle and I remembered I didn't put my orthopedic made (and super duper like $600 expensive). But they really do the trick and I am sure that is why I am having some pain.
After the kids and I had a fun day at the movies, homework was done, the house picked up, lunches made for tomorrow and the kids playing happily I decided I was going to at least attempt the second workout even if it was as bad as this morning. I found a very sweet love note from my 3rd daughter and I took this as a sign she was watching me and I needed to keep it up (yea, I know my house is filled with her notes but today I needed a positive sign). So in goes Beta Rip' Circuit (and I was figuring it was going to be a million times worse than this morning so I was not looking forward to it). Imagine my surprise when I found out that the program tonight used dumbbells or a resistance band! Yes!!! That is more my speed. My goal was going to be to just modify and tighten my core but I found I could pretty much do everything in the video (except V sits which I don't think I can ever do in my lifetime and I accepted that).
Oh how happy I was to use weights tonight. That definitely put a smile on my fac
My videographer aka my 2nd daughter was having fun video taping me so I let her roll with it. Hey, at least you got a few sneak peeks of the workout.
This workout had tons of ab exercises that I never would have thought of to do and seriously when I looked up there was only 3 minutes left. This is seriously my absolute favorite workout and I could do this one again and again and again. If you have Beachbody On Demand (streaming service) please try this one and let me know what you think! Nothing was too hard or crazy but it was a really effective workout. I cannot wait for this one again.
Day 3 of doubles is crushed! I did it! More tomorrow. xoxo Coach Kristina
I'm pumped because it's Day 2 of my T25 experiment! If you followed from yesterday you will know that I am doing T25 doubles (Alpha and Beta) for the next 25 days (1 day in). I know that if I don't schedule my workouts they don't happen so I made sure that I scheduled time for ME on my calendar. How many of you actually do that? It really helps! First workout of the day is at 7:30 am when the kids get on the bus (bye kiddies! Mommy is off working on her fitness goals again:). I make my kids my reason NOT my excuse. If I can do it, so can you!!!
Be prepared there are burpees in Speed! I promise they get easier.
Today's first workout is Alpha Speed 1.0. What I like about this workout is that you do an intense move for probably about 30-60 seconds and then there is a stretch move. I was sweating and feeling great because I stretched better than I normally would have. The only bad thing about stretching is I am always reminded of my problem area...the home my 4 children grew and lived in for 10 months each. I hate that it fold over when I sit. The soreness from Sunday's run is creeping in. I like that I am taking the time to stretch more. I'm tired but I know that moving around will make me feel better. And the weather here in Illinois is not great so I can't get in my daily walk or run outside. I always recommend taking some video of yourself when working out. I discovered I was actually doing this move wrong:) I was making it harder than I had to.
I haven't taken my before pictures for this experiment so I quickly did some bad photos in the mirror. I am going to have my daughter take some better ones tonight. In the meantime this at least shows what my core looks like at the starting point.
For the second workout of the day, Beta Speed 2.0, I did it when the kids were home from school and they loved it and joined in. I love making it a family affair!
They really should have named T25, Core 25 as Shaun T, the trainer is constantly saying, "tighten your core." I had to modify a bit as the arches in my feet were tingling during this workout (nothing new...I have this anytime I don't do a workout that is not running). All good!!!
I know I won't be able to do double workouts everyday as I have the Naperville 1/2 marathon coming up in two weeks and some other plans but I might as well try to do it as many days as I can before my crazy life kicks. Catch ya tomorrow!!! xoxo Coach Kristina
4 kids do a number on a woman's body! I tried my best to workout out with each child and eat as healthy as I knew how but if I could turn back time things would be so different.
After #4 was born I felt miserable, I looked horrible and my Type A personality was at an all time high. I couldn't leave the house for fear of all control (and a stubborn 2 year old who was potty training and liked to run off) and just felt depressed.
I turned to Beachbody for help! I bought T25 and a bag of Shakeology from my coach, my sister who had been trying to get me interested for years. I was finally on board when I couldn't stand myself. I couldn't even smile in my before picture (and this picture is very real. #4 was about a year and my stomach really did stick out like that). I was able to hide it in my clothes but I didn't like the rolls that I felt when my clothes were buttoned. Sweat pants were my friend (as well as diaper changes and lots of spit up).
The whole family got interested in T25. The kids had fun doing it with me especially the cute little #4. I was amazed how quickly Shakeology (which led to a much healthier lifestyle of eating...) and working out for 25 minutes a day changed my life.
My results were something I was so proud of. One day I took a picture with #4 and my stomach was gone. It felt like it happened overnight but I know that it was little by little. Look at his happy smile that Mommy is happy!!
It's Day 1 of T25 and yes, I am only slightly crazy for embarking on this. First up is getting quality time with the kids (we are up early...6 am...book reading with the children up the earliest, get ready for school, feed them breakfast and get them on the bus). Once those yellow bus doors shut I am left with two kids in the house (one who is still sleeping).
I am already in my workout clothes so all I have to do is push PLAY. Done and done before I know it. I did T25 about two years ago when my son was young. My stomach was still pregnant looking and I really wanted to trim out. Click here for my results from 2 years ago. Fast forward to 2 years later and time to kick up my core workouts. I am willing to do a morning and evening workout for the next 26 days before a trip. So here we go! When my kids were happily playing in the basement I probably would have normally feasted on some donuts (seriously it was grocery shopping day and you know I'm not giving those up) but instead I had my workout clothes ready so I did my second 25 minute workout of the day. This time it was Beta Core Cardio. This one had me sweating but felt great. I burped, lunged, pivoted and planked and was done before I know it! Success for day 1!
Now off to stretch these muscles, shower and eat dinner (yummy mexican tortilla soup from the Fixate cookbook). Catch you tomorrow for more!
I have to be in a bikini in 26 days. You all know I stink at meal plans and eliminating treats so I need to try to work my core in a serious way! I had a brilliant (ask me in 26 days if I still think I'm brilliant) idea of doing double workouts every day. So here is my thinking, I am going to workout in the morning to Alpha and do Beta in the late afternoon or early evening. Let's see how this goes... Disclaimer...I am in tip top shape! I am not injured, not crazy and not willing to give up my donuts. I just want to work my core after 4 children:)
My handsome husband and I dressed up for a Disney themed Halloween party. I was so excited about my Tinkerbell outfit. It looked so cute! The only problem was when I saw my picture. I should have ran home and put some spanx on. I look pregnant (thanks my lovely 4 children for distending my stomach muscles so if I eat alittle extra food, pose an awkward way or am in the midst of a certain time of the month I look extra bloated).
I am going to need to be bikini ready in 26 days so I decided to embark on a crazy adventure! Stay tuned!
If it were up to me my family & I would only consume fruits and vegetables and maybe an occasional protein. But, like me, we eat other food and when we do I like to try to minimize our exposure to preservatives, dyes and artificial flavors. My solution for when they are begging for cereal and treats is to buy them organic, minimally processed cereals. The beauty is most stores are carrying them now so you can find them at your local grocery store (it used to be only speciality stores that carried them). Enjoy!
If I was expecting baby #5 (and let's be clear I am NOT) I would probably pop immediately due to a weak core that three years later I am STILL working on after Tyler. If Beachbody would have been part of my life sooner I could have worked my core more whole pregnant! I had to preview Autumn's brand new maternity series today and there was some great moves!!
(disclaimer...I am not pregnant with baby #5 and will NEVER be!!!).
I tried Autumn's 1st trimester work out today on Beachbody On Demand and it was great! I learned some new moves to work my core (and heaven knows I can still work on these).
Today was the BIG DAY! It was the morning after the 3-Day Refresh and I was so excited to hop on the scale. I was very disappointed when it said 113.4 (what the heck, I weighted myself yesterday afternoon and it was about 112). Bathroom trips play into this and pardon my tmi but I hadn't used the washroom yet this morning. Okay, the scale is just a number and I wasn't really trying to lose weight so on to the measurements...
Day 1 measurements: inner thigh 19.5 lower thigh 17 arm 10 belly button 29 biggest part of belly 33 weight 114.5 Day 3 measurements: inner thigh 19.5 lower thigh 17 arm 10 belly button 29 biggest part of belly 32 weight 113.4 I would never lie about my results so they are listed above. For my 3 extremely hard days of eating clean, working so hard at the program and following it to a T I lose 1 inch on the biggest part of my belly. I swear this is the only spot I need to lose weight and after 4 kids I know I may never be able to get rid of it (seriously if running a 1/2 marathon doesn't do it what will???). What were my expectations of the program? I thought I would be down to about 110 pounds. I really thought after 3 days of eating so well I would break another plateau. See, skinny girls have problems too!!! I am truly not discouraged BECAUSE my daughter taking my pictures said, "Mommy, look at your stomach definition. I have never seen it look that flat." I have to agree with her. It looks the best it probably has. (I am not raising kids who love looking at their abs, really!).
So while my results were not the fantastic drop in numbers you hear many people talk of I still tried some new foods for me and the kids (success!!!), had 3 days of clean, healthy eating, cleansed my body of toxins and feel great!
Would you like to give this a try? I would love to support you and help you. Contact me today!
Would I do this again? Absolutely...but forgive me while I go eat a donut:)
Whoo-hoo Day 3 of the Beachbody 3-Day Refresh. Compared to when I first did this last year I killed it! I was successful because I followed the program completely to a T. I did not deviate even one bit not one morsel, sniff or taste. Nothing!
I slept so good last night that I truly do feel refreshed. Today I have energy and feel great! I am not starving and am ready to tackle day 3. Breakfast is surprise, surprise...my favorite Greenberry shakeology. I was so busy today I didn't get a chance to have my morning tea. That was okay as I just kept myself hydrated with water. Lunch was a spinach salad as my veggie option, strawberries as my fruit option and I tried dipping some of the spinach in the hummus as my healthy fat option (couldn't finish it all). Another Vanilla Fresh shake completed this meal:)
I wasn't digging the juice I picked up and I think it is because of the ginger. I ate my celery and carrots as my snack as I was supposed to.
Again no time for afternoon tea...darn!!! I was enjoying that but the day was just so crazy. I was tired at dinner time so it was just time to get something on the table and be done with food for the night. I had the 6 oz of green beans with lemon and vegetable broth with seasonings. It was delicious and I could see myself having this for lunch post Refresh.
Here is what I realized while on the Refresh. I eat pretty darn good most of the time. My only downfalls are not eating enough veggies (that's easy to work on) and not eating so many sweets (alittle tougher but I'm figuring it out). Do I still want donuts? Hell yes! Will I go buy some! Yup (tomorrow morning, ok, yes, for real I am going to let myself have a treat) ! But I am going to make sure I eat super duper healthy the rest of the day (post re-set).
It is what you do on a daily basis that leads up to the way your body will look and feel. I workout everyday, eat 80% great and lead an extremely healthy lifestyle. In the grand scheme of things I am doing great! Can I do better? Yes, absolutely! I just have to use what I learned on the Refresh to help me. Here are my tips:
I liked starting the day off drinking water. I learned this on the Ultimate Reset but it is easy to fall into habits and get out of this routine.
I really liked the Vanilla Fresh shake. You can add the "guilt free" additives. My favorite was adding cinnamon and some pure vanilla. It was amazing! I really really enjoyed it. I would love to try it with peppermint which is another "guilt free" additive. I have an extra packet leftover from the first time I did failed the reset a year ago. I'll let you know how it is.
Save your Vanilla Fresh shake for after your lunch and dinner. At first I made it at the same time. I realized in day 2 that I can make it right after my lunch and dinner. This made it feel like a treat.
Drink tons and tons of water!!
Fiber sweep...make sure you drink it right after you mix it. If you let it sit it gets clumpy and doesn't taste good. I also like to use a straw.
I made my favorite Fixate (Mexican) Chicken Tortilla Soup for tomorrow. I'm excited to have my lunch prepped and ready. d
Stay tuned for tomorrow to see what my final weigh in and measurements are!
