I did something impulsive.

I emptied my sock drawer.  Not of socks but of the last of my birthday money.  I was planning on buying a pair of designer jeans.

Instead I got this.

See the tacky black thing on my arm.
That’s my new Bodybugg V3 with the digital display.

(Mr. Bones is hanging out in the corner.  I’m not creepy. He is for our homeschool.)

I get to be obsessive YIPPPPEEE!!!!!!

I’m only sort of being sarcastic.  I’m a very unstable creative type so making charts and counting helps me to feel like I have it together grounded.
It’s even good for me. Ask my husband. Unlike a lot of people, I don’t mind counting.  It works well….

…when I do it.

Since August I’ve put on 12 pounds.  I’m NOT unhappy with the way I look BUT I have my RKC certification coming up in August.  One of the requirement is I have to be able to pass the snatch test (100 snatches in 5 minutes or less) with the 12K (26lb) kettlebell.  If I don’t meet the weight requirement I will have to test with the 16K (35lb) kettlebell.  If you have done kettlebells you know what a HUGE difference there is between the 12K and the 16K.  Fact of the matter is I won’t be able to pass if I have to use the 16K.  No amount of positive thinking will give me strength that is just not there.  I mentioned all of this a few months ago but instead of losing I’ve been gaining.  I know why.  I knew before I got the Bodybugg.  Calories in calories out.  Where did my motivation go?  I dunno.

I needed some motivation.

I’ve only been wearing it for two days this is what I’ve learned so far.

I sit way too much.

I have the metabolism of a slug.

Not really. I have an average metabolism.  Problem is I am now spending much of my day sitting in front of the computer or on the couch.    I first noticed a gain in weight last year when I started homeschooling.  Why?  Because I was no longer running back and forth to school and rushing to get things done before they get home.  Instead I spend a good chunk of my day cuddled up with my kiddos on the couch reading.  Good for the soul and brain.

Not so much for the body.

The Bodybugg serves as a fun little reminder to clean my house take the stairs.  Amazing how much daily activity “adds up”.

Truth be told, I’ve been wanting a Bodybugg V3 for a long time because I secretly hoped I wasn’t eating enough despite eating my body weight in nut butter more  and gaining.

Crazy, I know.

I have read 5 million reviews and there were a few people who discovered they weren’t eating enough so they started eating more and lost weight.  I prayed that would be me even though all evidence told me otherwise.

One can hope.

What I’m really excited for are my plans to conduct “rogue experiments” and to write reviews for the world my readers about this fun little digital device oddly named the Bodybugg.

I also started a new food journal.  Accountability is key for me.  I’m going to be posting my meals everyday until I reach my goal.  I’m calling it “Operation Six Pack” although I should have called it “Dear God.  Please help.  I don’t want to fail the RKC.”

To be honest, I wouldn’t mind rebirthing The Abbeys though.

(That was so gratuitous.)

To all of you long time subscribers don’t worry, you will not be getting pictures of apples and almonds in your inbox.  I created a whole new exciting blog just for that because we all know the internet needs more pictures of food.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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Yes, I received my bands and ball for free.  That doesn’t keep me from being honest.

Using my Oxygenfit toner in my fancy garage gym to aid my pull-ups.

While I don’t use exercise bands regularly (except for the above exercise which is my favorite way to work up to pull ups) they are perfect for those with a limited budget, space, or for traveling. Bands are affordable, light, portable, small, versatile, and convenient.  You can easily throw them in a carry-on suitcase and eliminate one of the excuse factors when traveling.

After a bad experience with cheap bands (One broke and the handle hit me in the face bloodying my nose…yes it hurt like heck!) I was delighted when I saw  and experienced the the quality of the Oxygenfit Toners (bands).  What sets the Oxygen Toners apart from other bands?  Attention to detail and quality construction.  The plastic tubing is attached inside a nylon sleeve and the sleeve is securely attached to the handle.  There is also an optional attachment called the Fit Stik that allows you to add more variety and use the Toners more like a barbell.

The square part is heavily stitched for safety.  I can’t imagine this breaking!

The Oxygenfit Toners feel safer and more comfortable (no pinching) than an average exercise band.  As long as you aren’t using the band as a swing or for acrobatics then the possibility of the band breaking is virtually eliminated.

The ball?

I’ve always bought cheap balls from discount stores and inevitably it felt like I was doing planks on a balloon rather than a stability ball as the plastic felt thin. However, the Oxygenfit Body Ball is akin to the higher quality balls I’ve used at the gym.  Although, mine could have used a few more pumps of air.  Speaking of the the air pump it was really easy to use.  It took me 2 minutes and 37 seconds to fill up with air.  Yes, I actually time it with a stop watch and, yes, I’m easily entertained.

While I don’t use a stability ball every day (I don’t use any one piece of equipment every day), I do use them to add variety to my workouts and prevent boredom.   I consider it one of the better pieces of exercise equipment when it comes to price, effectiveness, and versatility.

The friendly people of Oxygenfit have offered to giveaway a Body Plan Kit (worth $94.95) to one lucky Girl Heroes reader.  The kit will contain 1 Body Ball, 1 Light Toner, 1 Fit Stick, 1 door anchor, 1 Air Stik Pump, Motivational DVD, Fit Stik DVD, and Gym Technik Mobile Application.

4 Ways to Gain Entries!

(Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry as I will pick a winner at random from the comments.  1 comment = 1 entry)

1. Leave a comment telling me what your favorite exercise is using the ball or bands?  If you’ve yet to use them what would you like to try?

2. Check out the Oxygenfit website and leave a comment telling me you have done so.  (There’s a short little video that gives you an idea of all the different ways you can use the Body Ball, Toners, and Fit Stick.

3. Mention this post on your blog.  Leave a comment telling me you have done so.  If you don’t have a blog you can email this post to a friend and leave a comment telling me you have done so.  You may mention this giveaway in multiple posts (or emails) up to once per day but remember to leave a comment for each entry.

4. If you have a twitter account please help me spread the word and Tweet about this giveway. “@girlhero is having her first giveaway: An Oxygenfit Body Plan Kit. Enter to win here http://bit.ly/dhskF9!”  You may tweet up to once a day but don’t forget to come back and leave a comment for each entry.

Contest will close next Monday March 29th at 9 pm PST and is open to US and Canadian residents!

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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I used to be a functional “psycho chick”.  I could hide it well until I got close to someone and I felt like I might be abandoned.  Once, I kept a boy who wanted to break up with me in my car all night long.  Every time he tried to get out of the car I would hurt myself.  After a long and painful night for both of us, I put my foot through the windshield.  Told ya I was crazy… and that was only the beginning of the crazy girl stuff.

This weekend marks 11 years since I met my husband and this is the story of how I went from psycho to princess.

Me.

I used to gel those swirls to my cheeks. Nice.

A funky girl with “issues”.  When I met Brent I was a junior in college studying english lit and theatre.  I was lonely, insecure, and mentally ill but I was also creative, adventurous, and sincere.  I had moved out to California from Indiana at 18 because I wanted to be an actress and was trying to finish college in 3.5 years so I could move to LA or NYC. I should add that although I was crazy, you might doubt it from the outside. I believed in God (the Jesus-y God) and had since I was in 7th grade.

Brent.

A quiet pensive guy who was also a bit lonely.  He had been a drummer in a band and was lucky enough to have toured the country and parts of the world.  When the band broke up he worked in the bookstore at my college, where he had graduated from 4 years earlier.   Although the college was small I had never met him.  A few months prior to our meeting he had gotten a job at a skate park where he was going to make skateboarding videos but ended up designing websites instead.  He too believed in God.

We were neighbors, literally living right next door to each other but didn’t know it.  Yet.

A week before we met.

I was in Scottsdale, AZ, visiting my grandparents.  I had lived in Scottsdale the summer before maxing out credits at the community college and ASU because, like I said, I wanted to graduate early so I could move to the city.   Every time I go to Scottsdale, I visit the church I went to that summer.  On this visit, a boy who I was friends with asked me if I wanted to hang out that night.  I remember sitting in his living room, his perfect living room in his perfect middle class home, imagining what it would be like to be married to him.  It freaked me out.  Not a little.  A lot.  The thought made me feel like someone was locking me away in a dungeon filled with spitting cobras.  I’ve never been the princess-looking-for-the-knight-type of girl.  Too many issues I guess. Late that night after returning to my grandparents house I found myself kneeling on my bed, praying.  This was my prayer, “God if you want me to get married You better make it crystal clear because there is no way I am going to lock myself in a dungeon on my own.  Amen.”

The following weekend.

Have no idea how we got this photo but it's from the night we met. (No I'm not wearing a jean jumper.)

My girlfriend and I were having a party at my house.  We had the best parties.  We would line our long hallway with butcher paper and tack boxes of crayons to the walls so people could draw.  We had muscians playing, belly dancing, poetry readings.  It was great fun.  That night, I was in the kitchen preparing for one of our parties. I was chopping away at the kitchen counter wearing red hair extensions that fell to my waist and homemade beaded  false eyelashes when my friend, Ed, poked his head through my front door.  With him was Brent.  Brent. Brent. Time froze.  Standing on my doorstep was the most beautiful human being I had ever seen.  I loved him that moment.  Maybe not deeply but I loved him and nobody will tell me otherwise.  Ed introduced us and just struck by Cupid’s arrow I mumbled the most clever of clever questions “What do you do?”.  His response, “I’m a filmmaker.”  Gaining my composure, I responded, “Reeeally, well I’m an actress” holding out my hand flirtatiously to be kissed.  True.  We were ridiculous.  That evening we had a magical time dancing and hanging out. I didn’t want the the night to end and I don’t think he did either. Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, he walked back over to his house…next door.  I stayed at mine.

The next evening.

Again showed up on my doorstep.  He was trying to be chivalrous.  I opened my door wearing a black turtle neck and thick black glasses.  ”Jenn?” he said?  Yes, it’s me.  We sat on my couch and talked for hours.  I had to ask what he thought about God.  Although I was crazy and had 5,698,000,000 issues to work through, I knew one thing that a relationship without God wasn’t going to work for me.  So I said, “What do you think about God?”  His answer, “What else is there?”  His simple answer rang deep within me in a place I can’t adequately describe.

A week later.

We were slow dancing and listening to music in his room.  In my head, like a dream, I saw us dancing in front of what felt like the feet of God.  Brent was kissing my head and drops of oil were forming.  The drops of oil were stacking up on top of one another, a glistening tower reaching up to God.  It may sound weird and I suppose it was but it was also beautiful.  So beautiful that I hugged him tightly.  In that moment, I heard these words, “You are holding your husband.”  It wasn’t an audible loud-speaker-booming-bluelight-special voice but I could hear it as certain as I am alive.  ”You are holding your husband.”   It had been two weeks since I was on my knees in Arizona.

The next two months.

No I didn’t tell him about the dream or the voice.  I knew better.  I simply started praying and fasting every Monday and asking for “a sign”.  Over the next few months, the crazy girl began to come out. I found out there was a name for my mental condition, Borderline Personality Disorder. (That’s another post entirely.) I read a book on the disorder and while most people find labels restricting I found freedom.  Finally, I knew there were others who felt like me and while statistically the prognosis looked bleak I was determined to not lose what I had found in Brent.  How did Brent repond?  He continued to love me.  Somethings I’ll never understand.  He loved me through every up and down and honestly during that period of our lives there were more downs than ups.

I "surprised" him by handing 30 Promax bars from his ceiling with dental floss.

We had met at the tail end of February and it was now April.  In a few weeks, I was to leave for a month’s study in Israel.  After Israel, I was planning on spending 10 days in London by myself.  I had been there a few years earlier and fell in love with the city.  I teasingly said he should meet me in London.  The next day he surprised me by saying he had bought a plane ticket.  He also joked about getting married.  That’s it.  That was “my sign”.  I’m easy to please.

Israel

In the Dead Sea.

Israel was one of the most amazing places I have ever been.  I wandered the stones paths of old Jerusalem and swam at dawn in the Sea of Galilee pondering my faith and future. Still the ancient marvels of Petra (in Jordan) and the weighlessness of the Dead Sea could not compare with my thoughts of Brent. I counted the days, the hours, the minutes, until I would be able to feel his embrace again.  While in Israel, a friend and I discussed our thoughts of marriage.  I had not told a soul about the dream or the voice the night we danced in his room.  However I said, if I ever get married I want a single small solitaire to symbolize simplicity.

London (3 months after we met)

I had arrived in London a day before Brent was to arrive. One of the longest nights of my life was that night I spent alone in a bed and breakfast London (in King’s Cross nonetheless) waiting for the sun to rise.  London was what you’d expect from two young adventurous people in love.  We risked our lives by renting a car venturing out into the Cotswolds.  We put waaaaay too many amazing meals on the credit card.  We stayed up late dancing the night away.

We visited museums, famous sights, and cuddled on park benches.  We also got engaged.  One night he slipped away to call my parents to ask for permission. Late that night in a conversation he simply asked sweetly, “Will you marry me?”  I simply said, “Yes.”  It is the best thing I’ve ever said.  We were excited and couldn’t sleep.  Finally, in the early hours of the morning, we hopped on the tube and went down to the Thames river to walk and talk about the wedding we were now planning for December.  The sun was barely up.  Brent bought a muffin from a corner convenience store and we strolled happily along the Thames.  Just as Brent was about to bite into his muffin bird poop fell from the sky landed on it.  He looked at me and exclaimed in disgust, “A bird just shit on my muffin!”  Laughing, he threw it into the Thames.  I learned that day no matter how wonderful things are shit still happens.  It just does.  To everyone.  We can’t control the shit but we can choose our response.

Wrap Up.

Brent ended up buying me a ring in London.  The first one we saw in an little unassuming jewelry store on a random street.  It is a small simple solitaire that I love to this day and have no plans of ever replacing for something bigger.  We said our first vows to each other alone in a small church in the Cotswolds. Because of some choices we made we ended up moving our legal wedding from December to October. I’ll let you fill in the blanks on that one.  We had a small simple lovely wedding.

We used a Lego theme because from the first weeks of our meeting he always said, “We fit together like Legos”.  ”Like Legos” is inscribed inside our wedding bands.

I never made it to LA or NYC like I had dreamed since childhood.  Thinking back on my mental state it was probably for the best and I married my soulmate.  I wouldn’t trade him for all the world.  The bliss of marriage didn’t take away the cloud of mental illness in our life, in fact, in some ways it complicated it.  It would take 5 years of therapy, tears, hard work, perseverance, prayer, and unconditional love until I could confidently call myself healthy.  Even then depression would still creep back into my life from time to time. Once I combined all I had learned from therapy with healthy food, exercise, and faith that God loved me because I am me, I was able to step outside myself.  I was able to begin to see my potential and the potential of others.

The Playlist

Camping alone in the Sequoias last summer.

If you’ve made it this far thank you for taking the time to read the most important story of my life and my most vulnerable post to date.  At this point, you may be wondering what the hell any of this has to do with a playlist.  It does.  When Brent and I met 11 years ago this weekend, music was one of the first things we found we had in common.  Both of us had hundreds of cd’s many of the same ones: Radiohead, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Bjork, New Order, The Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack, The Smiths, Smashing Pumpkins, Led Zepplin, Nirvana, Portishead, Yo La Tango, Air, to name a few.

I love music.  All sorts of music from the more obscure to Britney Spears to Kiss.  (I’m sorry my love.)  I have playlists specifically for lifting, cardio, and stretching.  And others for certain moods or events.  In honor of meeting my soulmate, who has loved me for 11 years on my journey from psycho to princess (He makes me feel like one), I made a playlist based on our common cd collection.

Love Song – The Cure (Possibly the best love song ever.)

The Whole Shebang – Grant Lee Buffalo, Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack

We Carry On – Portis Head (I like this for lifting)

There is a Light That Never Goes Out – The Smiths

Violently Happy – Bjork (Best song title ever!)

It’s No Good  - Depeche Mode (Another good lifting song) 

Street Spirit – Radiohead (Good song for stretching. Thom York’s voice makes me cry…in a good way…seriously.)

True Faith – New Order (Cardio or road tripping.)

Autumn Sweater – Yo La Tengo (All around cool song – good 4 stretching)

Bullet with Butterfly Wings – Smashing Pumpkins -(Not a love song but killer for lifting or hard cardio.)

Sexy Boy – Air (That he is easy cardio song)

You can listen to snippets of the entire playlist here.

Enjoy and thanks for reading.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs & High Fives,
Jenn

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Over Christmas break, I finally got around to watching Food Inc. and last night I read this article about Monsanto’s GMO corn being linked to organ failure.  If you haven’t seen Food Inc. I’d like to suggest you do.  It’s powerful, thought provoking, and it might even change your perspective on food or make you think twice before cruising up to the drive-thru.  In the very least you can feel validated and self-righteous if you are already making the suggested choices.  ;)

I try really hard to be a reasonable person and not jump to conclusions despite a little conspiracy theorist who likes to whisper in my ear.   I try not to constantly attack large corporations although I prefer to buy local as much as possible.  I try to remember there are two sides to every story.  Still, I agree with Food Inc. our food system is sick.  Not as in “gross”, although I’m sure I would feel that way if they visited a large slaughter house, but unwholesome.  Animals, workers, and consumers are routinely being taken advantage of for the sake of profit.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m all for making a profit (My husband runs his own business.) and I believe hardworking ethical businesses should enjoy the fruits of their labors but not at the expense of their laborers.  Or their consumers.  Or their products, i.e., crops and animals.

While, I’m hardly an animal activist of PETA proportions or a tree-hugger, I believe all living creatures and the earth deserve respect.  The earth and her laws of nature have been around for quite sometime and I’m not sure sure it’s the laws of nature that need a redesign?  Especially when it’s so a select few can enjoy the profits at the expense of others.  Herbivores eat plants not meat.   Tight crowded spaces are breeding grounds for sickness.   Antibiotics are not the answer.  Steroids are banned from most official athletic events so why are they being given to our food? The types of fish we eat were meant to swim in the sea (or lakes) not antibacterial tanks.  The suffix “icide” as in pesticide or herbicide is from the Latin word “caedere” which means to kill. I admit to being a simpleton but as far as I know, mankind has managed to survive for quite some time even with bugs and weeds in the fields so please leave the genes in our food alone.  I’m not saying forget science.  Not at all.  I’m constantly amazed at the modern day miracles being preformed every day and as a woman who got an epidural after 6 hours of excruciating back labor, I am glad I live in modern times.  But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit in my lazy chair sucking down milkshakes, made from milk produced from cows pumped full of hormones and antibiotics, that been sweetened with subsidized sugar and pretend like everything is alright.  I think that was a run on.

The morning after watching Food Inc. I was filled with mixed emotions. Empowered and powerless. Angry and sympathetic. But finally, I decided to choose hopefulness and determination.  Determined to make more choices in my life hoping that will contribute to change because I believe my dollar counts.  One of my favorite parts of Food Inc. was the two Wal-mart executives explaining the changes Wal-mart had made due to customer demand. Consumers are partially to blame.  So many people want food “fast” and “cheap”.  Cheap meat.  Cheap vegetables. Cheap dairy.  We may want the cheapest food but remember everything has a price.  Animals.  Workers.  Consumers. Personal health.  It really may be worth giving up cable or  switching cell phone plans for quality food.  The more people demand healthy food the more accessible it will be for everybody.

Yes, there are two sides to every story and this article simply explains arguments against organic food…if you read it make sure to read the comments too.  Monsanto responds openly to the criticisms they receive.  However, I certainly don’t think those are reasons to not have concerns or ask questions. Why is corn, one of the least nutritious crops, one of the most heavily subsidized?  Why is it less expensive to buy a double cheeseburger on the “value menu” than to buy a head of broccoli?  What really comes at the bottom line…numbers or people?   The answers, if any, are far beyond me but I know there are healthy choices I can make for myself, for my family, and for others. Tomorrow, I’m going to post a list of possibilities we can do to contribute to change and invest in our health.

I realize I only touched on the tip of an iceberg.  I’d love to hear your thoughts and insights on the state of our food industry or Food Inc.

xoxo
jenn

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I bought The Sugar Addict’s Total Recovery Program  by Kathleen DesMaisons a few years ago when I was feeling really desperate. While I don’t agree with everything in the book it is a fanatastic resource for those who feel like their dependency on sugar may be related to their depression or getting in the way of reaching goals.  What I enjoyed most about the book was it made me feel like a little less of a freak. It reassured me that there were other people out there who felt they might have a mental breakdown if they didn’t get candy in the check out line at the grocery. 

Ms. DesMaisons goes very in depth into her research regarding the chemistry of sugar addictions. In her experience she says most mild to moderate forms of depression are usually related to diet. This has been my own personal experience. Like I’ve said before, I have been able to greatly reduce my depression symptoms with dietary changes and exercise. She also talks about sugar addiction being caused by faulty brain chemistry regarding serotonin and beta endorphins.  I won’t go into details but it’s fascinating and hopeful if you struggle with an constant need to down sugar or carbs. Here are her 7 steps to a sugar free life.

1. Eat breakfast with protein every day. 
2. Journal what you eat and how you feel.   
3. Eat Three Meals a day with Protein
4. Eat a Potato Before Bed
5. Shift from White Food to Brown Foods
6. Taking the Sugars Out.
7. Staying with the Program Over Time. 

Her recommedation about eating protein with every meal and having breakfast everyday is spot on. I’ve found that these two suggestions are essential in being able to resist sugar and to lose weight. I disasgree with the only 3 meals a day suggestion.  Her reason is that sugar sensitive people have a hard time saying no and snacks encourage grazing throughout the day.  Personally I have found that if I skip meal 2 (mid-morning “snack”) and meal 4 (mid-afternoon “snack”) then I am much more likely to binge and eat waaaaaay more than I need.  Not only that but I’m more likely to choose the wrong foods, i.e. a package of white tortillas.  She says if you are engaging in “major athletic activity” then snacks are okay.  I guess my workouts could be considered “major athletic activity”! 

The potato before bed seems a little wacky to me.  I tried it and didn’t notice much or any difference. But her science behind it is intriguing and convincing when you read it.  And, despite being skeptical, I definitely think it’s worth a try.  Even if it only works because of a placebo effect.  Who cares as long as it works.  My advice would be just make sure it is a small potato and don’t load it with fat.

Yes please do shift to brown foods if you are currently eating white foods.  This is a really basic concept and I forget that not everyone knows wheat bread is better than white, brown rice is better than white and so on.

I think the suggestions in her book combined with 5-6 whole food meals a day consisting of lots of veggies and protein could do wonders in helping many sugar addicts gain control.  The book is worth reading for the motivation alone but remember her way of overcoming the addiction is not the only way. If you need to tweak it to suit you then you should. For instance, I went cold turkey and she says that doesn’t work. But she certainly offers a ton of suggestions that are really helpful.  I’m all for trying to treat depression with lifestyle choices before prescriptions. Most of all, I admire her commitment to fight a serious problem that is contributing to the health crisis we have in our country. Here is a a list of her books on Amazon if you want to see what other people have to say.

The Sugar Addict’s Total Recovery Program

Potatoes Not Prozac, A Natural Seven-Step Dietary Plan to Stabilize the Level of Sugar in Your Blood, Control Your Cravings and Lose Weight, and Recognize How Foods Affect the Way You Feel

Your Last Diet!: The Sugar Addict’s Weight-Loss Plan

Little Sugar Addicts: End the Mood Swings, Meltdowns, Tantrums, and Low Self-Esteem in Your Child Today

I have the Little Sugar Addicts book too but I haven’t read it all.  I need to because I have a little sugar addict living in my house.  My children are one of the reasons that I tend to think there may be link between individual body chemistries and dependency on sugar.  One of my boys is a complete carb/sugar addict.  He will eat it until he is sick.  The other boy will take a few licks of a sucker and then leave it on the counter and forget about it.  They are only two years apart and have the same parents but react completely different to sugar.  If anyone has and good links or info on this.

xoxo
j

I want to start doing the occasional review and I only felt it fitting to start with what I think is the one of the best books on fitness out there, Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength by Bill Phillips.

I had my first exposure to weight training about 5 years ago. Granted it only lasted for 4 months but in that first 4 months I learned a lot. The reason was I had a personal trainer who was a competitive bodybuilder. Her name was Jen Gutierrez and she was an amazing trainer. Here is a link to a picture of her. I had belonged to a gym off and on since I was 16 but spent most of my time putzing around on the cardio machines. The few times I lifted weights, I’d sit in a hip adduction machine and put the pin in for 10lbs then quit after 12 reps. One day feeling bad about myself I saw a picture of Jen in the paper and thought it looked like she knew a thing or two about lifting weights! I had never been so sore in in my life as I was those first few weeks that I worked out under Jen’s guidance. And I never knew I had hamstring muscles. I learned a lot from her and I’m thankful for the strong foundation. Unfortunately, I lost my little part-time job teaching acting and had to quit working out with Jen. Old habits die hard and it wasn’t long before I was putzing around on the cardio machines again.

A few years later my friend told me she was doing a Body for Life challenge. Curious as to what it was all about I go out and bought the book myself, Body for Life by Bill Phillips. I read it cover to cover that first day and all the I learned years ago from Jen comes flooding back. I decide to try to complete a challenge. I failed. I tried again. I fail. I tried again. I failed. It wasn’t the book. Body for Life is GREAT. It was me. I wasn’t willing to make the commitment to change. Then as I’ve mentioned before I slipped into a deep depression and was stuck in the muddy swamp of my mind for almost 8 months. But when I finally decided to climb out I returned to the Body for Life principles. The same one’s I learned from Jen years before.

Although now I don’t follow a strictly Body for Life program I will always use the foundational principles for well…life. The beauty of Body for Life is in it’s simplicity. He takes principles that professional bodybuilders and athletes use and creates a simple and very effective program. It’s 12 week long and has you working out 6 days a week. Three days of strength training and three days of HIIT cardio. I’m not sure if Bill Phillips came up with the term HIIT cardio. There are a lot of other programs that use high intesity interval training because HIIT cardio is a great way to help shed fat.   All the exercises are basic and easy to perform. There are pictures with explanations. The weight workouts take about an hour or less and the cardio 20 minutes. The eating plan is basic as well but very effective. He has you eating 6 small meals a day with one free day a week. On your free day you can eat whatever you want. All your other 36 meals are to consist of a palm sized protein and a palm sized complex carb. You’re supposed to add veggies to at least two of your meals. If I have a problem with the book it’s I don’t think there is enough emphasis on the benefits of veggies or the quality of the food you eat. I like high quality veggies to be the foundation of my meals. Other than that detail I think it is a WONDERFUL place to start. The book Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength has changed many many people’s lives for the better because it works.  And of course the book has lots of America’s favorite, Before and After photos for proof and inspiration!

xoxo
jenn

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The other day while shopping at Costco I saw a really great deal for a gym membership to 24 Hour Fitness that I thought I’d let you know about in case you are thinking about joining a gym.  It’s a 2 year adult membership for $289.88, which works out to about $12 dollars a month.  So if you are thinking about joining a gym and have a 24 Hour Fitness in your area this could be a really great deal…providing you use it!

xoxo
j

I’m in the zone completing a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) on the treadmill.  My legs are burning from lactic acid build up.  I have 30 seconds left of a sprint before I can walk.  I’m into the groove because I’m listening to Madonna.  Then all of the sudden I’m taken out of the groove because my earphone is sweaty and slips out of my ear breaking my momentum and focus…and irritating the crap out of me.

Not anymore.  Because I use Etymotic Earphones.   Yes, they are expensive but so well worth the cash if you love music and push yourself at the gym.   If you just walk and don’t break a sweat then the little earbuds that came with you mp3 will be just fine.  But if your like me and after a workout you look like you’ve been fighting forest fires then you’ll probably love these.

Here is why I like them.
1. They don’t slip out when you get sweaty.

2. They block out other sound so you don’t have to listen to the lame music at the gym or the lamer cell phone conversation next to you.

3. They sound really great.

4. Fantastic customer service. (I had a problem with one of my the other day and etymotic fixed them free of charge. Mind you they were a couple years old too.)

5. They don’t hurt my ears unlike the typical “ear buds” which should be called “ear boulders”.

I love to listen to music. And when I’m trying to get through a grueling HIIT session I love it even more. Here are some songs from my current playlist. I consider my taste kind of eclectic. I like everything from popular pop stars (much to my hubby’s chagrin) to musical theatre tunes to some more obscure indie stuff. So “hear” ya go!!

Rhythm Is a Dancer – Snap
Beautiful Day – Sanctus Real (I like this version better than U2′s. I know that a cardinal sin for some of you)
The Final Countdown – Europe
Bulls on Parade – Rage Against the Machine
Starts with One – Shiny Toy Guns
Galvanize – Chemical Brothers
The Jessica Numbers – The New Pornographers
Come Into My World Kylie Minogue (remix) – Fischerspooner
Float On – Modest Mouse
Munich – Editors
Electric Feel – MGMT
True Faith – New Order

I’m a very loyal person. It’s great for my friends and for the companies I love because I rave about their products to anyone who will listen. So I thought I’d devote a portion of my site to stuff that help my life run a little smoother and healthier.  

One of my favorite products is my Laken water bottle. I used to use a plastic pvc bottles, until, like so many other people, read about the toxins leaching into my water. Since I take my water bottle EVERYWHERE I immediately starting searching for the perfect H2O companion. I looked at the Klean Kanteen, Sigg bottles but finally decided on the Laken. Why? Because in my opinion it has the best design. For sure, the Sigg bottles have some pretty designs but the bottles I’ve seen are too fat to fit in a lot of cup holders. My Laken holds a lot of water, 1 liter, but still fits in my car’s cup holder and the cardio machine cup holders at the gym. I also really liked that it came with two tops: a sports top and a plain old screw top. The Siggs at the store only came with one top. And the Laken was a few bucks less. I’ve been toting this thing around for a few months and it hasn’t leaked once. For my birthday my hubby bought me a sling for it so I can carry it around like an infant. If you are thinking about purchasing a reusable water bottle I highly recommend it. Not only will you save money, drink pure water, but you can pat yourself of the back for helping to keep plastic out of the landfills! Whoop whoop!! The bottle below is the style I bought except mine is bright pink.  Here is Laken’s site.