Striiv-ing To Be the Best Me Possible

Well I am getting back on track.  I have been to Curves everyday this week so far.  Pretty good!  I have
also walked across the Golden Gate  bridge.  Oh and climbed 100 steps.  And walked 4 miles while exploring the beaches of Cannes.  I even helped to conserve a parking size spot of the rain forest for a whole year.  All of this from right here in my own lil home town at that!  Amazed?  Well I was!

I used a new lil tool called Striiv to help me accomplish all of this.  Now I could do a lil of this by charting steps and all with a pedometer.  But that takes a bit of time.  Instead I used my Striiv and it did it all for me!  Think of it as a super charged up pedometer.  This lil beauty helps you stay on track while giving back too.  My favorite thing is just that....my steps can help conserve the rain forest, provide clean drinking water and much more.  By downloading my steps onto the Striiv.com website, those steps are matched with company donations to fit in the charity you choose to support.

 

There is also daily challenges you can take.  Like walking across the Golden Gate bridge or climbing the Eiffel tower or strolling across the beaches of Cannes.  I can also grow my own lil rain forest with the games that are included.  All by just taking the daily steps and charting them with a push of a button.  Even cooler?  This lil baby will recognize when you are climbing stairs, jogging or taking a stroll with the TruMotion technology .  And mark your achievements accordingly. “Fitness and health are top-of-mind today. But for many people, especially moms juggling careers and family, finding time for exercise is hard to fit in to a busy day,” says David Wang, CEO and co-founder of Striiv. “We’ve combined charities, gaming, and personal challenges with cutting-edge technology to create a seamless way to motivate physical activity. We’re building a playful and inspiring ‘movement around movement’ so that fitness now fits throughout your day.”

Related articles

• Striiv raises $6M to make fitness fun (venturebeat.com)
• Striiv Fitness Device Demo'd At Medicine 2.0 Summit (medgadget.com)
• Striiv Gamifies The Pedometer Craze (techcrunch.com)

Time to Work It, Work It, Work It!

Hup 2, 3, 4. And again. Bend, stretch, reach...go! Go! GO! Yes, that is the way I thought an exercise boot camp would be like.  But I was wrong.  At least when it comes to Valerie Orsoni. Entrepreneur. Cancer survivor. World-renowned trainer. Best-selling author. Celebrity coach. Nutritionist. Mom. Valerie is a major inspiration to the over 850,000 members on her site LeBootCamp. She overcame cancer and a brain tumor to turn her life into a career helping and inspiring others.  You can join her site if you wish.  And at $15 a month for a 6 month plan that is really low.   I was excited to see her book, Le Personal Coach arrive here.  Now again, I did think it would be telling me to get out there and hump it all the time non stop.  But instead it was showing me so many missed opportunities.

For example, I did not think of all the times I sit down.  If you go to sit down in a chair, when  your 3/4 of the way down....raise back up....and then sit down all the way.  That was a squat you just did.  The average office worker gets up and down 50 times a day.  Now you could accomplish 50 squats a day instead and gosh I know my bum would love that!  Another?  Okay.  Brushing your teeth.  Easy but lazy time.  Instead brush those pearly whites while doing butt tightening clinches.  You can get 100 or more in during that time and  you have not lost a bit of time from your day.  Pretty cool.  I can roll with that.

Valerie knows it is hard to "do the right thing" when you have Starbucks and cupcakes nearby. She has dealt with the most difficult cases and helped them. Now it's your turn. Here are just a few tips she can offer for specific cases:

For the person who loves carbs (this is me!) - ditch the wheat and go for buckwheat. Same fiber but zero gluten and a ton of antioxidants. You can even make your own buckwheat pancake in 2 min for breakfast.

For the person who is a night owl - eat at 5 pm and then again at 11 pm (don't listen to those telling you to not eat at night!). By deciding when you eat you will considerably limit the hunger pangs at 3 am. Since you will skip breakfast and start your day at lunch time don't eat breakfast and go for water with a freshly squeezed lemon when you wake up to cleanse your system and erase a little bit of the short night.

For the person who is a couch potato - go for 5 min MetaBoosts at least 4 times a day. Add a muppet move each time you are sitting down:
1. Stand straight with your legs shoulder-width apart.
2. Lift up your arms in front of you, and bend your elbows to create a perfect 90° angle with your upper arms and forearms.
3. Beginning with your palms facing each other, rotate your hands inwards so that they are now facing your body. If you look at your upper arms, you should see your tricep muscles in action :).
4. Hold this position for 50 seconds. You can relax your arms momentarily at 10-second intervals, if necessary.

For the person who gets constantly invited to parties - eat an egg before going to reduce your appetite in front of the yummy buffet by 25% + wear a ribbon under your clothes, at waist level to stay tuned to your body and "feel" it when you are starting to go overboard food-wise

For the person who is allergic to dairy, avoid soy-based products and go for coconut-milk equivalents. New studies have shown that coconut fat, though high in saturated fat has been linked to a higher weight loss than with its red-meat equivalent. More studies are necessary to explain this...until then indulge with coconuts!

For the smoker and the reformed smoker - to regain your glow have raw breakfast exclusively (sprouted almonds + 1 banana + seasonal berries as much as you want) + stay away from eggplants (they contain a component that's close to nicotine and can wreck havoc on your quitting efforts)

For the double-chin fighter:  (OH MY....SO ME!)
How can I reduce the fat under my chin? Of course, the key to burning stored fat (including the fat under your chin) is cardio, cardio, and more cardio! However, believe it or not, I do have a little secret exercise for toning the "double chin" :)
1. Sit (or stand) straight, with your back upright.
2. Straighten your spine and imagine there is a string attached to the top of your head, keeping you centered.
3. Keeping your mouth closed, press your tongue about an inch below the inner gums of your bottom teeth, then release.
4. Do about 15 reps.
5. If you place your hand under your chin, you can actually feel the movement ;)

For the hot-blooded. If you are like me and can get angry at life once in a while, channel your aggressiveness and do the Vendetta Hammer move.  This exercise enables you to:
* Eliminate all stress; all you have to do is visualize whatever it is that is causing you stress or ruining your life and pound it out. It really works!
* Tone your abs, and what we call your "core", namely the abdominal strap and lower back.
* Strengthen the muscles of your upper body: arms (anterior deltoids)... and I'll leave you with that and let you discover where you feel the after-effects of the workout most on the following day :o)
1. Do this exercise outside so as not to hit anything, or in a room where you have enough space around yourself.
2. Take a heavy weight; personally, a 20-pound weight (about 10 kg) is enough for me for this exercise.
3. Standing with your legs shoulder-width apart, feet and toes pointing forward, knees slightly bent, back straight and abs contracted (yes, you can do it!), you will "launch" the weight above your head, maintaining control throughout. Don't throw the weight, rather send it up in a controlled movement.
4. Hold on to the weight tightly so that it doesn't slip out of your hands. It is also very important that your back and abs are nice and tight when you do this exercise, because if not, you can actually cause damage to your back.
5. Repeat the movement 25 times (you should feel the burn).
6. Relax for 15 seconds and then do another 25.
7. Do this exercise 3 times a week.

I want to thank Valerie for sending me this gem of a book.  It will be great to implement a new activity every day.  One a day will not be too much for anyone to do would it.  And in a month that would be 30 new activities.  Pretty amazing!  Also as a review I did not receive anything other than the book. 

Getting Fit for the Season

I was so happy that Dear Hubby and College Girl granted my year long wish for a Wii.  It was my all year long combo birthday, anniversary, Christmas gift.  I wanted it especially for the exercise games with it.  I love working out at Curves but am a winter woosie.  I hate cold weather of any kind and hide most of the winter in my home.  And that is when I put on the most weight. 

So now I can be at home and still work out.  I love the jogging the most.  I feel like it is something that can help me build up my cardio while helping me stay in a routine of working out.  College Girl loves the yoga the best.  She has been taking classes this fall in school.  Dear Hubby just loves that I am happy! 

Well now I have a new fitness game to try and learn.  It is Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2011.  I am sure it is going kick my butt to start out.  I am a beginner on any level.  But having 'someone' to workout with helps, even if it is on my Wii.  I love that there are over 100 fitness tips there and even recipes!  Yeah!  Food.  It is even cooler that by working out I am working on an adventure too.  There is a mission mode that features a work out to save the city.  Pretty cool?  I also have myWii Balance Board and Wii Motion Plus here already too.  I thought I would share 10 of Jillian Michaels Fitness Tips with you.  Which ones do you like?

Jillian Michaels: Fitness Ultimatum 2011 - 10 Fitness Tips

1. Exercise does more than just tone your body, it boosts self esteem, improves mood and revs up metabolism. So suck it up and get moving!

2. If you are looking to shed those last stubborn pounds, you need to increase the intensity of your workouts. Try working at 85% of your Maximum Heart Rate for optimal results.

3. Getting bored with that same old exercise routine? Chances are you body is too. It’s probably time to switch things up if you want to continue seeing results.

4. Using proper form when working out is the key to getting the results you want and preventing injuries. Think quality over quantity. Take the time to perfect your form in order to get the results you want and keep your body healthy and strong.

5. Do not exercise on an empty stomach. This way you’ll have energy during your workouts and you will burn fat instead of muscle.

6. Don’t over do it. When starting out consult your physician. Work to beginner / intermediate levels. Stay at around 70% of your MHR. IN a couple of weeks or so as you become stronger and more fit begin to up your intensity for best results.

7. For results fast try circuit training. This is an exercise technique that utilizes a series of moves in swift succession with no rest in between. For example: Push ups into squats followed by jumping jacks. This method allows your workouts to strengthen while burning fat at the same time.

8. To ramp up your fitness regimen try incorporating a technique called HIIT or High Intensity Interval Training. This simply means working short bouts (30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, 2 minutes) of cardio into your strength training routine.

9. Six pack abs are not about crunches. You simply CAN NOT spot reduce fat. The best way to get the washboard tummy is by burning the fat off on top of the muscle with a combination of diet, cardio, and over all resistance training.

10. When you are on the treadmill don’t hold on. If you hold on while walking or jogging it decreases the intensity thus decreasing your calorie burn by up to 24%!

I want to thank Nintendo Wii and Jilliam Michaels for sharing this game with me.  I did not receive any monetary payment. 

The Method that Works

I have been working on losing weight for 9 months now. And it is hard....very hard. Now I can handle the exercise I am doing. Actually ready to add more of it on. Diets are something I can do but not loving. Not too hard to cut out somethings but miss others. Most of all I suck at control. It is so hard to feel that I have to always be in control of everything I do. And my weight loss is showing that I am wearing down. Getting really tired and want to revive myself so I do not lose momentum. So I was happy to read The Anderson Method. This is not a diet book. This is not a book of exercise. This is a book that works as a companion to your weight loss. William Anderson a Licensed Mental Health Counselor shares with us how to reprogram addictive habits. And eating is a necessary habit yet quite addictive at that. William Anderson lost 140 pounds (wow!) and has kept it off for over two decades now. He shares from experience and from what he has learned in years of counseling others.

In reading this book I have found ways to gain control over habits and compulsions. What sets up craving. And how to change what we crave. Also ways to adopt new habits and to stop using food for pleasure and comfort which is something I have always done.
Now I am better at conscious eating and planning ahead. Stop using DIETS and work at having a lifestyle change and stop buying those goodies that are not good for me.
I am learning to use tools for a better self image. It is has been hard for me to see the changes in my body even though everyone else sees them. With the Anderson Method I am working on written goals and self talk. I am also learning aversive conditioning which I think will help me focus on what I am doing better. Many overweight people have tried all other diets, fads and programs only to fail. But using this method of reprogramming their thought process they have won and learned the secret to permanent weight loss.

From Fat to Fit Give Away!

I reviewed the book From Fat to Fit recently and loved it. It has a great story of how we can all take off a few or a lot of pounds when we put our mind to it. You might also enjoy Carole's story. She has documented her weight loss and how she achieved it in a weekly diary form. Carole shares how she lost 41 lbs and 66 " in just 4 months all at the age of 59. Yes, as a senior citizen (we all are getting there) Carole made some life changes and came out all the better for it. She then shared this with others in her community, then wider in the state and finally nationwide. She even host an AARP site of Fat2Fit. I know that there is a host of stories of how others have also made the wonderful changes by accepting their own personal challenges. And I also joined the AARP web site to be part of the Fat2Fit group there too. Luckily I won an extra copy of the book From Fat to Fit by Carole Carson. And I would like to share the book with you. So I am going to give it away.

Easy to win!
Just comment that you too want to get a jump on losing weight or getting fit. Make sure I have your email somehow to contact you and your in.
Now if you want extra turns to win then do a few more lil tricks.
You can twitter about this give away and book and put the links on my comments.
Or you can put it on your facebook page with a link on my comments.
I will go along with notices you are a follower, have my button or even sharing my giveaway with others on your blog.

You know what? I will even give you an extra chance to win if you just tell me too on my comments. How easy is that.

So if you wish to jump right in, find some helpful advice in losing weight and win a free book----then comment!

Making Up a Routine

Well today Curves is closed for the owner to observe one of her religious holidays. So I will not be there to work out, sad to say. Instead I have to do an at home fitness routine.

So I started out with the good old fashion stretching exercises of taking the clothes off of the line. Good bending, twisting and stretching exercise right there. Then I continued on by sweeping the floors and mopping them with bleach. Not only did my floors get sanitized I also used those abs to sweep with (keeping tummy tight while doing it) and worked my upper arms.

Next I plan on donning my running shoes and my pedometer to see how many steps I can get while chasing Emma around the house. It is hard to go for a walk with a 3 year old. She just can not go to fast at all. But she loves to swing so I am sure I can do that too! Pushing is resistance exercise right?

Now I do not have a heart rate monitor to check and see if any of this will do any good at all. But maybe while Emma is napping I can get in some walking. Meanwhile I do have an exercise bike that moves both my arms and legs to use. And I can also get a lil more with my 'rude' machine. Don't remember the name of it but basically it looks like I am riding a bucking horse. Sorta feels like it too. I have figure out how to do sit up with that one too!

So do you think I can do my own workout today?

From Fat to Fit

Well today was weigh in day for me at Curves. I am still on the down side which is good. But I want to make a bigger change. Feel I am not doing enough. And I am not. It shows a 6.5 lbs lost and 3" lost in the last month. And I know a pound a week is good for a slow steady weight loss. How do I get past the feeling I should be really working so much harder? I am sure this is something that happens to all of us. What do you do to get past the blah....I am not doing....or the "I should try more/harder/longer/something" times?

I then shook myself and said time to buck up girl. Remember what all you have done and the things you have learned? I grabbed the book I have been reading. "From Fat to Fit" by Carole Carson. She has helped me with the positive message that we all can change by doing the right things one day at a time. And beating ourselves up is not going to help us.
So I popped back over to Part 4 of her book Proliferating Weapons of Mass Reduction. I love this saying! Here I was able to revive some tips and positive ideas. I also like the 56 discoveries about eating and cooking she added.

You might also enjoy Carole's story. She has documented her weight loss and how she achieved it in a weekly diary form. Carole shares how she lost 41 lbs and 66 " in just 4 months all at the age of 59. Yes, as a senior citizen (we all are getting there) Carole made some life changes and came out all the better for it. She then shared this with others in her community, then wider in the state and finally nationwide. She even host an AARP site of Fat2Fit. I know that there is a host of stories of how others have also made the wonderful changes by accepting their own personal challenges.

Well, if she can do it then I know I can too. Along with the many other stories I have been sharing online. I need to pull up my boot straps. Drop the whip and just go for a walk. Bet I will feel better for it in the end.