Healthy Helpers....

HELP ME, HELP YOU.....

I'm on week 8 of my healthy living, exercising and eating and I'm down 15 lbs...whoot whoot!  Slow & steady and I'm feeling so much stronger.  I've increased the time of my workouts and the pace...but still doing cardio/weights 6 times a week and yoga 7 days a week.  I can see muscles in my arms and I'm soooo LOVING that...these arms can hold a plank and do push-ups for a long time now.  Remember meal plans for each week are linked under the HEALTHY LIVING tab at top of my blog (I have to add in last week & this week's...I promise to have it done this week lol).

I thought I'd share a couple of my "helpers" that I've found enable me to put in the best workout I can and some videos/workouts I'm loving right now.

WAG Gloves 

I got these gloves after several recommendations from yoga instructors and I must admit they weren't cheap but they were worth every dang penny.  I have funky joints especially in my hands and wrists and sometimes I simply couldn't hold a pose because my wrists were in so much pain.  Well these babies have a gel insert in them that keep your wrists from overextending themselves and makes holding the poses a bit easier...they don't decrease the amount of strength you can get..they simply help your wrists FEEL better.  So if you have any issue like me, they are worth the investment.  And they can be used for any workout...I don't just use them for yoga but for pilates and any floor/core work.  (they also help with grip issues if you are sweaty or on a slippery surface)

ToeSox

There are ALL kinds of yoga socks and wraps out there...just research what works best for you.  I alternated between the wraps and socks but figured I'd START with the socks and see how they do.  I got them for grip reasons, not to hold in my ankles or anything.  I slide even on my Gaiam yoga mat so thought these would help a bit.  They are only $16 and come in all different colors and styles (and full-toe versions too).  The Nike studio wraps are here if you want to compare.

Lifefactory Glass Bottle

I have a weird quirk...I have a few actually but we'll only talk about one today LOL!  I hate drining out of anything plastic..HATE IT!  If its the only choice then I will deal with it but I prefer glass.  (hate that crinkling noise & I know those bottles are made with all kinds of chemicals..yucky)  My family knows that I will only drink out of our glass glasses and my older water bottles were stainless steel which isn't terrible but I don't like it much either.  So a few months ago I saw these in one of my exercise magazines and knew I had to order it.  I drink A LOT of water these days and I love that this is a glass bottle and you can use a straw, I just pour it in my mouth lol..I keep it filled up all day with ice-cold water.  They come in different colors and what not...but I really do love it.

Empower Fingertip Grip Medicine Ball with DVD 
 I also am really liking adding a medicine ball routine to my workout 1-2 times a week along with the kettle bell.  The medicine ball really works your core out and is great lo-impact exercise to get you in shape fast. This ball comes with a DVD and I went with the 6lbs (they have 4 & 8 lbs as well).  You can find lots of other medicine ball workouts on Youtube and Amazon to mix it up.  I like to use different videos regularly so I don't get bored and my body doesn't get complacent...its a win/win!

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YouTube has some amazing workout videos...and they're FREE..nothing better than that.  Make sure you read the reviews on the videos and make sure that they are getting fairly good feed back.  You don't want to watch a video where the wrong form is used or they do something that isn't safe for your body.  

Right now I'm loving the short 15-30 minute yoga videos put out by Meera Hoffman and Erica on youtube...both are certified yoga instructors. They have great, lean bodies..nice voices..and good explanations of all the moves and range from beginner to intermediate.  I do 30 minutes of stretch & energizing yoga in the morning and another 30-45 minutes of calorie burning yoga in the afternoons. Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown is on youtube too and its a workout.  But just enter yoga, beginner yoga, 30 minute yoga and go through the videos.  Everyone likes different versions, voices and techniques so you have to find one you really like.

Like I said before I was never a yoga lover...but at this moment in my life its exactly what I needed. I cannot express how much better I feel after I do yoga...my body feels stretched, relaxed and out of pain and my mind is lighter and freer.  The hubs asked me the other day if I was going to turn into a yogi because everytime he's around I say "I gotta go do some more yoga" hahaha!  I'm committed to it now and if I miss a workout I feel slightly out of sorts. So no matter what I get in at least 30 mins of yoga and 30 mins of cardio/weights six times a week whenever I can.


Do you have any exercising helpers to share??

Bust a Move!

 Week 4 of Workouts

So I'm on week 4 of my workouts...its been tough..I won't lie.  I'm not gonna lie about how easy it was to get back into the routine, how much I love working out and blah blah blah cuz its just all not, period.  I am sore most days STILL...I push myself on each workout a little more than I did the day before...I want to make sure I'm getting all the BANG for my BUCK if ya KWIM LOL!  **NOTE:  On my water drinking...I'm actually doing amazingly well I say...I am drinking 5-6 glasses of water a day, one juice and then a Cherry Coke every other day.  I'd like to cut back to just 1-2 sodas a week period but in time.  And for those that miss the caffeine...well you can buy caffeine pills...yes you can and they work.  So if I feel like I'm dragging I will pop a caffeine pill although I've only taken 2 in 4 weeks so far, but its a good alternative without turning to soda or coffee.

But I will tell you that I am feeling stronger and healthier.  My muscles always do better and feel less tense when I lift weights and get stronger...I also sit up straighter and feel my abs pulling in a bit.  I will say I do enjoy lifting weights...my body responds to it pretty quickly and its nice to feel strong again.  My stamina is slowly picking up and I'm able to do more each workout and even though I'm sweating buckets AND cussing out the TV and huffing and puffing, I know its all worth it.

So how do I do my workouts?  Well I will tell you I'm not a big gym junkie...I have nothing against them but I feel I can do just as much at my house....making it easier to fit in workouts when I can and not have to always plan a trip to the gym.  I'm also TERRIBLE at classes...I'm the girl in the back that isn't too coordinated, that's probably talking to herself and huffing LOL.  So I prefer to do DVDs down in my rec room where no one can see me...then if I am off a count I'm not messing up the whole room of exercisers...you feel me?  Plus I can go longer if I feel like or take a 5 sec breather if need be without everyone lookin at me thinkin' I'm a wimpy-woo LOL.  So you don't have to be a member of a gym to get a good workout.  My "gym" has bands, hand weights (2 lbs, 5 lbs & 10 lbs), a Bosu, a Step, a Bar and then I also have a treadmill and elliptical machines.  So I always do Jillian Michaels DVDs...they work great for me, I get in shape quickly and then I'm able to add on as I want.  Then I might start adding on more treadmill or elliptical time after I do a workout.  And here's a note for you....my TV downstairs is 80"...so yeah Jillian is life-size...she's SCARY hee hee!

These 2 videos are my standby's...the ones that I know work and are tough enough to get me in shape but enough variety that I don't get bored.  I don't like to do 40 or 60 mins of just ONE thing...ugh.  So these are 25 min sessions each, 3 sessions total.  So I do Level 1 for a week, then Level 2, then Level 3...then I switch it up and do Levels 1 & 2 together or 2 & 3 together.  And I alternate between these two videos...its a great mix of weight lifting, abs & cardio and it WORKS if you  are consistent with it.  And come on...everyone can fit in at least 25 mins a few times a week.  I do my workouts later in the day...I'm not a morning gal...so I usually work out between 3 and 4:30. That way I'm finished up before the teens get home and I can get a quick shower before dinner.  But some days I wait for Alexa to get home at 4:30 and we work out together, it just depends.

Then once I start feeling stronger I start adding in some kick-boxing routines to amp up the stamina and calorie burn.  This is 3 sessions on one DVD...each session is HARD...but once you get thru one session it gets easier to add on each time until you do the whole DVD.  And yes you will lay on the floor in a puddle of sweat, face bright red and cussin' Jillian out....errrr well at least I am LOL!

And then when you want to add some more moves to your routine, you can add this DVD in.  My problem child is my abs....after 2 kids and multiple stomach surgeries its extremely hard to get it toned and I don't want any muffin top over my jeans.  I may never have a stomach that looks like Jillian's but I do want a stomach that is strong, no layer of fat and that will carry me through each day well.  A strong core helps a multitude of body problems including keeping my lower back pain at bay. 

And I'm no seller of Jillian's stuff...I don't get any commissions LOL...I'm just a gal who has done them and had success and they work for me.  Its all about what works for YOU to make it work period.  But dammit...I plan on being around this earth a darn long time...to raise as much ruckus as I can LOL...so I gotta be healthy as I can be! :)

I have a cardio dance and Zumba DVD coming to me courtesy of Amazon.com...we shall see how I do with those.  NO hidden video cameras puh-leeze ;)

So what kind of workout works best for you?