30 Day Shred!

Fitness and I have been playing a catch-me-if-you-can game for a few years now and I've decided enough is enough.  I wanna be fit and fabulous (toned & healthy too) for life. Anyhow, I've been a fan of Jillian Michaels for some time now.  As a result I have tried her 30 Day Shred programme before and only made it to Day 7. Well no more. I'm doing all 30 days (wondering what I'm signing up for).  I already possess all three levels on video so I figured I was halfway there.

Well I'm a research nerd (ha!) and I needed more info on exactly what I'm signing up for.  I “Googled” Jillian Michaels some more regarding her 30 Day Shred workout programme.  First off I don’t have the DVD which I gather would  inform me of all the “details” I need.  The internet, however, provided enough info for me to get my “shredding” going.  The Ehow Website, How to Do Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, provides incredible information on starting this programme. The article starts off by giving a description of the programme, benefits reaped, tips and ends with a fair review/critique of the programme.  The items needed for “shredding” are easy enough as all you need are the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred videos (levels 1, 2 & 3) and  a pair 3 or 5 lb dumbbells.  I would also recommend adding a mat as well cause you do abs and pushups (on the ground).  I already possess the videos, a pair of 3 & 5 lb dumbbells each & a mat.  These items I procured from Giscombes Sports Warehouse (located in Half Way Tree, Kingston) at very competitive prices.  I will be honest and say that I did not try anywhere else as I don’t know anywhere else that sell this kind of stuff (lol). Anyway the weights are priced per pound (I got the plastic covered ones as I do not want calluses on these pretty hands of mine).  The mat I bought is a yoga mat (part of the yoga kit).  Buying the yoga kit seemed more practical for me as I am a yoga fanatic in the making hence my decision re the yoga kit (another topic at another time). Times are rough and getting the required items is not so easy especially when operating on a tight budget.  An alternative to the dumbbells is 2 empty bottles (either Wata or Catherine’s Peak brand or any brand I guess - no more than a 600ml bottle) filled with water or sand.  An alternative to the mat is a nice, thick beach towel (I used this initially) cause sometimes you need some cushioning when doing pushups and/or crunches or any other abs related routine. 

I found the shredding videos on YouTube  ( please keep in mind that these videos can be removed at any time).  They are also available on sale on Amazon.com (Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred).  I downloaded the videos from YouTube as my internet connection is extremely slow at times.  There’s a cool programme available called Free YouTube Downloader that allows you to download videos from YouTube.  It is easy to use and allows you to download the videos and play them without having to worry about an internet connection.  My net slow baaaaaadddd so this helped me a lot. 

My next step was to take my measurements.  They are as follows:


Weight - keeping that to myself until the end! Lol

Hips - 44 inches

Waist - 33 inches

Thighs - Right - 27 inches
           Left - 26 2/12 inches

Arms - Right - 12 9/12 inches
          Left - 13 inches

You can note your measurements in excel or write it down (I’m a writer so I wrote it down).

I suggest taking pictures (before pics) as well.  I did!  Even though the scale or tape measure won't lie - a picture paints a thousand words.  Seeing your progress will definitely make it all worth it!  After the 30 days I am definitely taking some more (after pics).

  My ideal time to work out is late evenings.  I am not a morning person (my friends can attest to this) and I  will not even try doing it in the mornings.  I just don’t have that energy.  If you are a morning person, great! Do it! It is only 20 plus minutes long.  If you are not, find the time and do it any way. The routine is short and can be done at anytime - morning, noon or night :).  Be like Nike - Just Do It!

The big idea behind shredding is that you have to work out every day to see results. I do not share this sentiment and I will not be doing this EVERY DAY as recommended.  Instead I will be committing 3 - 4 days a week of “shredding” mixed in with 2 days of Zumba/Cardio (Yay! Love me some Zumba - another topic at another time).  I also need REST!

The 30 Day Shred is almost 30 minutes long and includes warm up and cool down.  There are three levels which should be completed over a period of 30 days. Each level (beginning at Level 1 - well duh) should be done for 10 days.  At the end of the 30 days you should take your measurements again to track your progress. 

I “Googled” (some more) 30 Day Shred workout schedules and found one to my liking.

You are free to search the internet for a schedule of your own liking.

I officially started my 30 Day Shred on Saturday, July 13, 2013 - Level 1.  It was rough but I was able to complete most of the workout.  Because it was not my first time doing Level 1 I was familiar with some of the exercises.  About midway it got really bad so I muted Jillian (my apologies Ms. Michaels) and started playing some upbeat music (like LMFAO’s I’m Sexy & I know it; Kesha’s Die Young - music like that) to keep me going.  The music definitely helped and I made it through.  I have been working out before so the soreness I expected to feel the following day did not materialise (Thank you Jesus!).

Looking forward to Day 2 - Level 1.  Keep y’all posted………………..

My Fruitsicles!

I've been toying with idea of me making popsicles with fruits for the longest time.  So after buying fruit I decided to do just that on Sunday (July 7, 2013).

As usual something had to go wrong with my plan right.  I had previously bought fudge sticks as this was not my first foray in creating healthy frozen products (cause mi love ice cream bad bad lol). Anyhoo I own a big bag of fudge sticks but then I thought about what would I use to create the shape of my fruitsicles?I tried finding the popsicle plastic moulds but found none to my liking.

Here comes Sunday (July 7) and its my turn to cook (yeah yeah I know!). Any how still disappointed about not finding the mould I focused on making my smoothie none the less. In the midst of blending my fruits I started thinking about items I could use to make the popsicle. I thought about the small plastic containers in my household and wondered how the fudge sticks would work if I use them. Finally it dawned on me that I could use the small plastic disposable cups to create the popsicle-like shape. I searched my cupboards high and low for cups and I found some, operation fruitsicle ready to go!!!!

I poured my smoothie mixture into the cups and I had enough to make four cups and I put them into the freezer.

Now like some clown I kept opening the freezer checking every half and hour to see if any progress was made with my fruitsicles but alas they remained drinkable, I decided to give it some time and I figured I would check on them later in the night. Upon my night time check some progress was made but not enough to call them fruitsicles. My fruitsicles were not ready until the following day, when I got home from work. Finally, they were ready, fully frozen and ready for sampling, Yaaay! Yummy! Brain Freeze! Still Yummy!

I was pleased with my end product (as seen below). One thing I know for sure my quest will continue for the popsicle mould of my liking as I foresee more fruitsicles in my quest to accomplish a fit and healthy lifestyle!

 

 

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July 21, 2013

So I finally got my popsicle plastic moulds! Yay!!



 

Got more fruits and blended away! I've got the real thing.

 If I would stop checking them every half hour like before :).

 

The infamous "cauliflower rice" (insert dramatic music here)

I've made posts before about finding substitutes for rice and cutting down my rice intake.  Like I stated in my last post I finally bought the cauliflower and planned to make "cauliflower rice" on the weekend. Well I did!

First I must advise that I do not possess a food processor so I "Googled" making cauliflower rice with a blender. I found some useful tips (especially on YouTube) and followed the instructions accordingly.  The instructions were easy enough to follow. No problems there.

It's now Sunday (June 30).  So picture me now in my kitchen excited out of mind as I am finally gonna make my  cauliflower "rice"! Drum roll please....  I reread my many cauliflower "rice" recipes and watched the videos on YouTube once again. I felt ready for what was I was prepared to do. I picked do off the green stems off and cut the florets into manageable pieces (for my blender).  

So there I am  blending away. Feeling quite healthy and I hadn't even taken a taste of the darn "rice" yet.  So I blend for a few minutes and then I I stop the blender and opened it up. Ah, the pungent stench which greeted me I won't soon forget. Eww! That's all I can say (thank God I was home alone). Sinting taste bad. Lawd ah massi! Despite the smell I boosted myself to take a taste. Still eewwww! No sah it was bad. Did not like it at all.

(Clearing my throat)

I calmed myself down and decided to try to flavour it - make it palatable cause in its current state it just wasn't happening. So I added a little butter, salt and black pepper.  Not sure what if I made it worse or not but the taste did not improve at all. Lol.  The initial taste wasn't bad but the aftertaste - ugh! - horrible!

I like steamed cauliflower; just not sure bout the cauliflower rice. I am willing to try it again but with lots of pointers. Any tips anyone?