21 Day Fix Results-Round 1!

On September 1st I started my first round of 21 Day Fix. By now, y'all know I love my Beachbody programmes....I'm not a beachbody coach or anything so this is a totally 100% honest opinion.

As a note...please ignore my messy room. I take these photos first thing in the morning before I even leave the bedroom so they aren't typically the neatest background ;) hehe

This is September 1. I felt fine, and didn't mind where I was at...but, I didn't like how tight my jeans were in my thighs and how my stomach looked over my jeans, it was pooching. Also, I didn't like that my sugar intake had increased while I was struggling to make myself eat vegetables. So, I bought the 21 Day fix extreme for the following reasons:

1) I knew the workouts would be tougher than 21 Day Fix original

2) I liked the portion control and emphasis on getting in veggies

3) I just felt like it was a programme I could be super successful using

Before

After-September 21. I wound up losing inches all over and I could really see that my lower abs pulled up. I have also seen a huge increase in balance. I'm not tripping and falling as much as I had been before this program. Also, my triceps are incredibly tighter. I started noticing a bit of a bat wing but it is completely tight in that area again. My jeans are also quite loose in my thighs, I don't need new jeans yet, but they do finally fit comfortably in that area. Also, my husband has said my thighs are noticeably more shapely and my calves have grown a bit.

This round went so well, I did a refeed week last week, and have restarted the 21 Day Fix today for round two. It was really easy to stay on track last week and there were only 3 times I really went off the meal plan and treated myself and I noticed it was easy to control how much of that bad stuff I ate. Today I jumped right back in and my teenager joined me. She's really looking to increase her veggie intake and cut down on the amount of sweets she's been eating...which as her mother I am happy about that as I'm sure her dentist will be too! ha! So, stay tuned for the end of round two on October 18th. I will post an update but won't be taking a break, I am going to see how many back-to-back round I can fit in before my birthday in November!

Have you done the 21 day fix? How did it go for you?

What I Ate Wednesday +Asylum Diary

This week has been productive to say the least...lots of blogging, lots of projects, housekeeping duties attended to, and looking forward to more fun at the end of the week. Lately I have been watching Mad Men on Netflix...I didn't watch it when it first came out but I am really enjoying it. I find it so scandalous how they treated people back then!

But, today we are talking food and workouts. I am showcasing my eats from Monday.  I have been doing a decent job following my meal plan for this week though, which that seems to be a problem for me as I lose motivation about Tuesday night usually ;) haha

As soon as I get up, I eat. I have to. Eight hours is just too long for me to go without food. So I have a glass of water and a banana straight away (great for your digestive system if you get my drift...)

Then coffee 'cause duh!

Then breakfast/preworkout:

Oats. So yum. I do 6 tablespoons of oats to 9 tablespoons of water add in some fruit or sweet potato puree or pumpkin puree (I was boring and left those out), coconut oil, peanut butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Post workout snack. A nice heaping glob of Peanut butter with apple slices and raisins.

Lunch: Leftover triple lentil soup with leftover sweet potato and mushrooms.

Since this was Monday and the kiddo had a particularly rough day (and we all know mental health is very important and chocolate is the best RX there is!) so,  I ran up to the bakery and grabbed these for us: 

These brownies were amazing. Seriously, the best, I have to keep myself away from this place as it is only 2 blocks away and very accessible. Thank goodness they close at like 5pm.

Dinner was fab. The whole concoction sounds weird I know, but the kiddo had two servings of the cauliflower and mushrooms...and she even said the leeks were "ok". She ate the inside which was harder, she isn't one much for wilted greens.

Dinner: BBQ mushrooms and cauliflower with some onion thrown in at the end for crunch served with garlic toast, braised leeks, and homemade applesauce.

Asylum Diary

This is my 3rd week of Insanity Asylum. I have not been perfect, but I am making up for it. I am seeing results though. I can do 1.5 pull ups now, I am seeing more ab definition, and I just feel so much more amazing. 

The end of last week I don't have much to talk about after Thursday every day was a rest day...ha!

Monday: Game day. 

I did not want to do this one. I hate sports, especially organized sports, and I hate them even more so if they involve a ball of some sort. So, needless to say, doing sports training is not really my "thing". However, this one was a blast! It covered all sorts of sports starting with running/track, then to football, soccer, tennis, skating, swimming/surfing, rock climbing, and baseball. There may have been more but I was busy trying to keep up ;) The hardest thing for me were the mountain climber agility jacks...those things were bonkers! The exercise I just can't do yet were the two types of pull ups. You had to pull up and hold then move your hands to different grips and I can pull up and hold but the minute I take a hand off to switch my grip I lose control and come down. I will get there eventually though!

Tuesday: Vertical Plyo. I think this is my favorite workout.. It goes by fast, is under 45 minutes and is just fun. I was really sore today, but I worked as hard as I could and I feel like I got an amazing sweat on. 

Workouts on schedule:

Today: Back to core and relief. 

Thursday: Strength and relief

Friday: Speed and agility

Saturday: Strength

Sunday: Overtime

Monday: Vertical Plyo

Tuesday: Back to core

Wednesday: Vertical Plyo and relief

Next week is my last week with Insanity Asylum Vol. 1, I can't wait to see my results and move on to Vol. 2 next month!

How are you taking care of yourself this week?

Also, check out the rest of the party with Jenn over at Peas and Crayons.

Flex Friday! P90X3 Results!

So I am doing something a little different today. As I said in Monday's post I finished P90X3 last Sunday. That was my final rest day. I wanted to work up a nice post for y'all so I could give you an honest opinion. I will be forward...I am a Beachbody Coach. I am not very good at it as I don't want to pressure people and I don't want people to think I am out to "love" every programme because I'm not. All programmes are for different people and one I may really dislike you may love. I could get into that but I want to focus on X3 for now.

Here are my results:

Yes, I completely forgot to take the 60 day ones! Oops. But you get a good idea. The ones in the pink shorts were actually my final results from T25. I actually felt like I didn't gain a lot of muscle, but I do feel like I lost a lot of fat. In fact I think my results of that were a 2% body fat decrease. Day 30 you can see where I gained a bit of weight and muscle. But, by day 90 it was all trimming out and you can really see the muscle come out.

My biggest areas of improvement were fat loss on my upper thighs and my booty area. I can see where my stretch marks are closer together and aren't as "stretched" as they were prior. Also, my shins are much more muscular, even when not flexed. My calves gained at least an inch of muscle. My jeans are tight there, but loose in my thighs and butt! Ha! 

I noticed a huge increase in my back muscles, as you can see in the final picture.

Also, I will note I didn't really watch too much what I ate. I kept it reasonable but definitely not strict. Also, the last two weeks I was in Hawaii on vacation with my best friend and we spared no calories! So, my results probably could have been even better.

I don't actually take measurements as I begin to get a little obsessed, but I will give you a better look at my photos:

These are my T25 After Pictures/P90X3 Before pictures, I did them back to back.

Now I am skipping straight to the after's because my 30 day pictures are a bit embarrassing. My daughter didn't warn me that I looked like I just escaped from the insane asylum lol So...here are the 90 day P90X3 pictures.

So, all in all, I feel like X3 was a great program. They have the classic, lean, mass, and doubles route for you go. I started with classic but had to switch to lean due to an injury. I will say I don't feel like my results were as awesome because 1) I didn't eat as well as I should have-oops and 2) there wasn't any straight core work that came with the base programme. There are three "elite" dvd's available for separate purchase-I feel this is where Beachbody is getting greedy and it makes me angry. I think these DVD's should have been included especially since one of them is an ab ripper. I feel with as much as we are paying they could have at least thrown in the ab ripper. I feel like that is the only place X3 lacks is in just one straight ab dvd, but you do get decent ab work in some of the other DVD's such as pilates.

Now, just to promote myself lol I will be starting a 30 day group May 1st. It is completely free. Contact me if you would like more info!

What I Ate Wednesday: Treat Edition

Hey, hey, hey!



Who remembers that?! Fat Albert was my favorite as a kid! I also thought it quite appropriate since he eats a lollipop during that song and I am basically bringing you a treat edition of 

This past week was not a great week for me nutrition wise, but I am still posting because guess what...I am human and those weeks happen. I don't punish myself for it because that is counterproductive. I won't be gaining anything from it and I can't change it. Instead, I shall embrace it!

Mmmmm...Calzone....

Nutella pizza...this was amazing. To read more about this dish click here. 

Great end of dinner treat...Americano!

Hot cocoa with lots of marshmallows on a snowy winter's day...we barely moved from the bed that day.

This is an award winning Kiwi Martini. Made with a delicious kiwi puree...Had a be careful though because it was just so good!

I suppose it wasn't all bad...these were our breakfast on Tuesday. Fruit parfaits (& a little X3).

As you can see I am still on track with X3. I just entered the second transition week. I love this week because it is all total body work. Nothing super high cardio, just deep down muscle work, then lots of stretching. I think these weeks are where I see the most improvement in my body.

So, here's what I've looked like this last week:

Wednesday: X3 Yoga (my fave!)

Thursday: MMX

Friday: CVX

Saturday: Incinerator

Post workout Saturday. This was an accomplishment because it was the workout I almost didn't do. I was so busy Saturday morning I didn't workout first thing. Usually if it doesn't get done early, I don't do it. But, it was snowing and there was nothing to distract me so I focused and pressed play!

Sunday: Rest day...and rest we did! It was snowing all day, the teenagers cheer was cancelled so we literally laid in bed, watched TV (Guy's grocery games is my new favorite show), and napped.

Monday: Isometrix

Held crow for 10 seconds, but was able to hold
the position almost the whole time!

Some sort of dancer something. This stretches the hips
nicely!

Tuesday: Dynamix

Breathing hard through left banana. My core is
becoming so strong!

Me pre-workout, I was doing a bit of photography,
so decided to snap a pic of myself...don't let that smile
fool you, my feet were really numb!!! Our balcony
was super icy.

Tell me, what did you do for yourself this week?

What I Ate Wednesday +weekly workout update!

Happy Wednesday y'all! I can't believe we are at the end of January already...this year is going to fly by, I just know it!

We have a very busy month coming up in February so get ready for some awesome food posts as at one point we are going out of the country and at another point we are spending some time in Seattle!

This week though was fairly busy and honestly I forgot to take pictures of my food. :-/ I have been running a couple of fitness challenge groups and trying to guide people to better health and nutrition so while I am eating well, it's sort of on the back burner for me to take pictures. But, I do have a couple of things to show y'all...

This is bone broth! Basically, for my cauliflower soup in my meal plan for this week I needed some broth. In the 21 Day Sugar Detox book they tell you how to make bone broth. It's super easy. First, I roasted a chicken so I would have some leftover for making lunches & some dinners this week. Next, I took the carcass & put it in the crockpot with 2 quarts of water (8 cups) and half a bulb of garlic. I let it cook for 8 hours on high & then just before I went to bed I reset it for 10 hours and then turned it off when I got up, it smells so delicious and tastes even better! It made 5 nice size jars of broth!

This is the cauliflower I bought for the week I am going to make with these:

Cauli-rice

&

Mashed Cauliflower.

The cuali-rice I will serve one meal with just coconut oil and salt & pepper like regular rice and the other one I will make like a fried rice with coconut aminos, peas, carrots, and a little egg scrambled in. For the mashed cauliflower I will be using this recipe. Yummy!

This was my snack yesterday...double chocolate shakeoloyg (4 oz unsweetened chocolate almond milk, 6-8 oz water mixed with a scoop of chocolate shakeology). It is so, so, so yummy! Love it!

Now my workouts have looked like this:

Wed: X3Yoga

Thurs: CVX

Friday: The Warrior

Saturday: Learned to snowboard with the fam

Sunday: Rest...was so sore from snowboarding I could hardly move lol

Monday: Isometrix

Tuesday: Dynamix

Today: Accelerator

This week since Monday has been my transition week into block 2 of P90X3. It has been absolutely fantastic! I am really loving it and really feeling the deep down effects! Here are some pictures...

From dynamix. The big picture is my post workout...I totally rocked it! The rest are just clips taken throughout. It's a super fun one! You work up a great sweat!

This is from Isometrix. This is the first time I'd ever done this one. It was basically all plank work & balance work. I can't wait to do it again!

For more on my P90X3 journey check out my youtube channel I post a video diary each day immediately after my workout!

How have your workouts been going? If you are interested in joining a challenge group I mentioned I have going on send me an email at katen21@gmail.com or visit me on Facebook! I would love to help you reach your goals!

What I Ate Wednesday +WOD's

Hi! Welcome back to What I Ate Wednesday! Last Wednesday I was incredibly ill. I became super ill on Christmas and it lasted a week! I woke up this morning with a really sore throat and swollen glands but put some coconut oil in my coffee and did a shot of lemon, ginger, cayenne and we will see where that gets me. My glands are no longer swollen but if I'm still not good when I wake up the doctor it will have to be I suppose. Who else doesn't like wasting the time to see the doc? 

Anyway, here is what I've eaten over the last week. Don't miss my New Restaurant Friday recap on Monday's post over here.

These snap pea crisps & hummus are amazing! Love them!

Homemade hamburger helper with whole wheat pasta, zucchini, and avocado. ...and a little corn, I couldn't resist! ;)

This is what hubby is having this week...eggs for breakfast, shakeology for snack, and peanuts and raisins for his other snack. 

Paleo pancake with a little maple syrup...I was out of Peanut Butter & Banana! hahaha and come coffee ;)

Spaghetti squash with ricotta...yum!

Whole wheat spaghetti with zucchini...so delish!

On Monday I am starting the 21 Day Sugar Detox. If anyone is interested in joining me come on over to Facebook and send me a message or post on my page's wall...I am really excited to do it and would love to make a support group!

Now for my workouts this past week! I finished T25 back the week before Christmas...so I took some time off to enjoy with the husband and kiddo and enjoy the weather. I was busy walking with the kiddo and then being sick. I was so sick I couldn't move without extreme dizzyness and vomiting. It was awful! I ran a fever...and I never run a fever. So I know I was sick. But, I am finally feeling better...I think and was able to start P90X3 this week with my amazing husband. Here are some photos from each day & my video reviews so far! 

This is my Bring it face! 

This was during Agility X on Tuesday. Super fun, but super challenging workout. I was never an athlete so I didn't understand how to do some of the drills so I looked like a total tool trying to run in figure eight's and tripping over my own two feet. Here is my video review:

Today was yoga. Probably my favorite so far even if I couldn't go full out because of my ridiculously sore chest muscles that I have no idea how I hurt them on Sunday. This one is great because there are so many different variations you can do! It's amazing. I can't wait until I am strong enough to do some of the more challenging exercises. Here is my review of the yoga:

So, that is what I have been up to since the last What I Ate Wednesday!

Remember if any one is interested in joining me for a 21 day sugar detox I'd be so happy to set up a group, or if you are trying to reach some goals and want an accountability buddy I'd be happy to team up with some and work on those either through a FB group or email, just let me know through the contact form on the right side bar or by messaging me on Facebook! 

New Year, New You: Goal Setting

Hello, friends! Welcome to 2014!!! What a year I hope this will be for the blog! I started the year off with my S'mores Pops being featured over at The Wednesday Round Up. Pretty darn exciting, that is my first feature ever! Yay!

Img Credit

So, since we are talking about the new year, what is it that everyone does in the new year? Make resolutions, right??? Well, don't do that. Resolutions suck. They are usually broken by January 2nd, if not then then by January 14th. Resolutions are those dreaded things that everyone thinks they have to make because everyone talks about them and you would feel totally lame if you didn't make any resolutions. Well, I'm here to give you permission to be lame and not make a resolution. Congrats. Awesome. If you really want to make a change in your life though, an honest to goodness change, then continue reading.

Goals. Goal setting is what we all need to do. I don't care if you are reading this post on the day it is published or if you are reading it in April or August. It is time to set some goals-right now. Seriously, you'll thank me. There is never a "perfect" time to accomplish a goal-the only time is now!

Here is how I goal set.

Step one.

Write it all down. Just get a sheet of paper and write down every single solitary thing you want to accomplish this year. I don't care how big or how small it is. If you want to work toward it, write it down. 

Step two.

Get another sheet of paper. Looking at the first sheet make categories and classify each item in a category. This is purely for organization sake, but trust me you will thank me later for this. As you can see in my above picture I knew already my goal categories as I'd been thinking about this for months so I was able to do this right off the bat. During this step get a little more specific with your goals, if possible. Some will be so basic there isn't getting more specific, it just is what it is.

Step three.

Get yet another sheet of paper. Looking at your first category, the first item. Write it down. List what you are going to do to accomplish that item. 
For me fitness was my first category. So I titled my page Fitness: Steps to Goal. 
Complete P90X3 was my first item in that category. I wrote January 6th-April 13th: Follow classic schedule. -Record each workout. I wrote this because it is the dates the program lasts through. I will start it January 6th. Each day I workout I will record my workout on this paper. I chose this fitness tracker because it has squares big enough for me to write in, plus it has a space each week for me to weigh in and record measurements (which I feel are more important than weight). I went ahead and printed off enough for my 13 weeks of P90X3.
I then wrote out a 10 week schedule for my half marathon training. This makes it not optional. I also wrote down a date of 1/15/14 to register for the half marathon. This way come hell or high water I have a date I have to register for this by.
Next is Complete P90X2. Order on: June 16, 2014: Follow classic schedule. Start June 23rd-Sept 28th. This gives me a set date so if I need to budget for purchasing the program I can do that. It also gives me a set start date so after my half marathon training is over I can jump write in, not him and haw about what I should do next.
P90X. Start: Sept 29th-Dec 29th: Follow classic schedule. Again, gives me a solid start date and finish date. Can you tell this is my year of P90X? If anyone wants to join me please don't hesitate to contact me at katen21@gmail.com, I am happy to help you get the programs and join me on this fitness adventure!
Flexibility. Schedule in 15 min each day to increase flexibility. -Splits/standing splits, -Hip flexibility, -Backbend

You'll also notice I have "Why?" written all over my page. This is because one of my goals is to target my Why. As in why do I work out? Why do I eat well? What is my motivation? It is the reason that will keep me going and keep me motivated. 

Here are my other goals for 2014:
Fitness
Run the Rock n Roll half in Seattle
Complete: P90X, P90X2, P90X3
Get off sugar
Pinpoint my why
Increase flexibility

Blog
Get on a schedule
Promote affiliates to make $
Gather list of weekly/monthly link ups and link up!
Increase page views every month
FB Goals: July 500 followers; December 1000 followers (come follow me!)
Instagram: July 500; December 1000 followers (come follow me!)
Twitter: July 300; December 600 (come follow me!)
Use google plus more
Find a blogger network
Go to the local blog conference

Business
Get Etsy Business off the ground
Each month help 2-3 people begin reaching their fitness goals
By Dec 2014 make a specific amount of money from my Beachbody Business.

Personal
Call my brother every two weeks
Organize and complete Happiness Project
Tune into Mark's love language(s)
Floss
Plan a nice vacation with Mark while kiddo is at camp
Go to HI with Cammi & see BFF & family
Finish TEFL

So I am using this method to work for all of my goals. I feel it really takes the guess work out of know what my next step will be. Now,  for the more "simple" goals where you are just trying to make a new habit such as "Floss" or "Call my brother {on an actual phone lol} every two weeks" I am going to be using a great printable I found over at My Love for Words.

Monthly Goal Tracker at My Love for Words

This sheet is perfect because you can write the habit you are trying to form and then check off each day you complete the item! I am excited about this because I am totally a "gold star" kind of person. Meaning: I need to see I did good and give myself a pat on the back. This is the perfect way to do that! At the end I have physical proof I did something successfully, not just hung out and convinced myself I did it, without actually doing it. 

What goals do you have for this upcoming year? If you'd like an accountability buddy (even if it's not fitness related) come on over to Facebook  and send me a message. I would love to help! :D