Why are you exercising?

Recently someone asked me, "How long are you going to do that Turbo thing?" I of course immediately replied, "Forever!"

Then I thought about it...I don't ever see a point in my life where I wouldn't be working out. Why would I stop? It's something that I LOVE to do and I'll continue it until I possibly can not move my arms and legs, I hope to be sporting a leotard & rocking out with my walker in the old folks home! There are so many health benefits to working out, but on top of all that, it's a passion, habit and way of life.

Caterina's Reasons to Exercise (I feel like this will be a currently updated blog with more & more reasons)
-I love the why it makes me feel during & after a GREAT workout.
-I love working up a sweat and then jumping in the shower because I know that I earned it.
-I love to eat, trust me I'm Italian! So what better way to get to enjoy delicious foods then to workout to avoid putting extra calories into your body?
-Superficial alert: I love cute workout clothes & new shoes (and they aren't just for looks you have to USE them).
-I would not know what to do with myself/my time. Everyday I plan what my day will consist of, if I go a couple days without a good workout, I feel like my life is upside down. No not because I beat myself up over the guilt (even though I do feel guilty) but it's more of disrupting my pattern. I have made exercise a part of my life. I can't go back now, not even if I wanted to.
-I think it's fun! :)
-I like to feel good about my body.
-I want to live a long life.
-I know that in my family there is a big history of every kind of illness you can think of- I don't want ANY of that!!
-This one is a no brainer and I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner- I enjoy losing weight/inches! It makes me happy to see my hard work pay off.
-I like working out and hearing that other people are interested in doing the same workouts as me.
-It brings me closer to my friends! I love working out with my close friends and meeting new friends along the way on my fitness journey! :)
-I get paid to do it! ;) That's always a nice bonus.









So what about YOU? What are YOUR reasons?! Let's make a BIG list!

Coaching 101

I think the video speaks for itself! :) Here's what it's like to be a Beachbody coach- what do you "do"? How do you help people? Do you REALLY make money?

Interested in joining, click here and read some more info about it!

Down my Beachbody Memory Lane

Since I started my Beachbody Fitness Journey I have not actually taken the time to sit down and track what I have done over the years...wow, years. I feel like it was just yesterday when I stumbled upon TURBO JAM at my house, but actually it was at the end of my senior year in high school, which was in 2006. I honestly fell in LOVE with that program from the minute I tried it, I can not praise it enough or even find the right words to describe how I feel about it or Chalene. For many years, I would try and get as many people to give the workout a go with me. And thank you to everyone who has!

Now I know that people like to SEE for themselves before they'll agree the program des work. So here's some pictures and numbers:

Right before I started TURBO JAM:
April 2006
My highest:
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 144 lbs


^I guess I never really noticed that I had that pooch & my face seems much chubbier. At that time, I would not have said, "oh yeah I could lose 10 lbs" BUT I did!

Within my first 3 months of Turbo Jam, I lost 10 lbs. I was so excited!! I even made the nurse at the doctors office check to prove that I had lost weight. ;)

Over the years, I have done PLENTY of Turbo Jam's. I started off doing the Maximum Results package and then for my birthday in June I got the Fat Burning Elite package, then when the Chalene Johnson Get On The Ball! set was released after that, I bought that one too! :) I couldn't wait to try ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!

Then last Christmas in 2008, I heard they were going to release Chalean Extreme. Which was unlike anything I have ever done before. Lift weights? Me? uh...no thank you. The most I had lifted was probably 5 lbs doing Turbo Sculpt but I got my first weight plate set and was ready to get extreme! I have completed 2 90 day rounds of Chalean Extreme and can not rave enough. Who knew that I would have MUSCLES? That I would feel STRONG? Even other people have commented on how firm my body has become. YES! During CE, I did not see a big jump in weight loss but the inches were coming off! That was a pleasant surprise. I know many people judge their weight loss success entirely by the number on the scale, well if you are going to go by that then you aren't going to notice the AMAZING changes your body is making! Losing inches and body fat is MORE rewarding and beneficial then dropping pounds.

This summer, 2009:
Weight: 129/130 lbs





Currently I am doing Insanity, which is a 60 day program, I am in week 2. I also love Turbo so much that I have become a TURBO KICK instructor as well as a HIP HOP HUSTLE instructor.

If there is something you are skeptical about or you think that it's not for you, just try it!! What have you got to lose? Maybe a few pounds. ;)

Let's Talk Numbers

Lots of people message me daily asking about the Beachbody programs. I love getting those kinds of messages (so keep them coming)! But immediately when people start talking numbers, they get freaked out. I completely understand, when I use my hard earned money towards anything, I want to be sure of what I’m purchasing.
You want to pay for something that is really going to benefit you. When it comes to Beachbody these programs are no joke, if you are willing to COMMIT and put in your time, YOU WILL SUCCEED. Hands down, guarantee.
DECIDE. COMMIT. SUCCEED.


I wanted to show you a break down of the numbers here:

I have a membership at Bally Total Fitness, I’m in a three year contract and I pay $44 a month. I know, ridiculous. Roll your eyes at me, it’s okay!

TURBO JAM MAXIUM RESULTS package which includes:
6 Workouts
•Learn & Burn
Chalene shows you the "Elite 11" moves you'll use to blast pounds and inches!
•Turbo Sculpt
A 40-minute tighten-and-tone session to reshape, trim, and flatten those problem areas.
•20 Minute Workout
For when you're short on time.
•Ab Jam
A 20-minute ab routine that attacks your core for lean, sexy abs.
•Cardio Party
A turbocharged, 45-minute dance fest!

Plus 3 FREE gifts worth $70!
•Turbo Sculpting Gloves
Scientifically proven to increase muscle activity by up to 96%, so you get ripped even faster.
•Punch, Kick & Jam
Advanced workout specially designed to tap into the power of the Turbo Sculpting Gloves! (50 minutes)
•Turbo Slim® diet plan
An easy-to-follow meal plan to help you lose up to 10 inches in just 10 workouts! Includes a measurement card for tracking your progress.
•Tape measure
Eliminates guesswork and shows the inches melting away.

Tools
•"Elite 11" flash cards
To teach you the signature moves!
•24/7 Online Support
Access live chats with Chalene and an amazing online community.
•Turbo Results fitness and nutrition guide
All the information you need, plus Chalene's favorite meals!

All for $59.85, ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
For $60 you will have enough workouts to last you months, even years!! I still continue to do the workouts in this set and it’s been almost 4 years later. It’s up to you if you want to buy more Turbo workouts after this, but you could continue to rotate these ones if you want.


So for $44 a month I get to drive to Bally’s (which is more money spent on gas) and then I have to pick my own workouts and motivate myself by running on the treadmill, which after about 30 minutes is BORING. And for a one time buy of $60 I get to have a Cardio Party in my basement of bedroom, get to fall in love with an awesome workout program and become a complete Turbo addict. Turbo Jam all the way baby!!


Now if Turbo isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry, Beachbody has A LOT more to offer!!














PS- I WILL BE STARTING INSANITY IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, JOIN ME!!



Let me know if you have ANY questions about ANY of the programs Beachbody has to offer, remember I'm here to help you!! :) If you are interested in purchasing a program, go to my website!

Follow up- Lift Lift Lift!

I found this great article in the Beachbody Newsletters about women and lifting weights and wanted to share it with!

10 Reasons Why Women Need to Lift Weights
By Whitney Provost

Many women believe that the only way to lose weight is to do cardiovascular (aerobic exercise). So they jog or take aerobics classes five times a week. Eventually, though, they notice that while their bodies are a little smaller, there are still a lot of flabby and jiggly bits. Sound familiar? Aerobic exercise is important for good health, but it's only half of the equation. Keep reading for the other half.

For optimal fitness, longevity, and a lean body, weight training is essential. If you avoid pumping iron because you're afraid of getting "bulky," then you're missing out on one of the best fat-burning methods around.



When you're weight training, you shouldn't rely exclusively on the scale to gauge your progress. You can use a body fat tester or a tape measure to track how many inches you're losing. The size of your body will shrink as you shed fat and build muscle, but your weight may not change as dramatically as you expect. Besides, what's more important, the number on the scale or how you look in your skinny jeans?

If you're still not convinced that you need to lift weights, here are 10 reasons why you should reconsider.

1. Burn more fat. Researchers at Tufts University found that when overweight women lifted heavy weights twice a week, they lost an average of 14.6 pounds of fat and gained 1.4 pounds of muscle. The control group, women who dieted but didn't lift weights, lost only 9.2 pounds of fat and gained no muscle. When you do an intense weight-training program such as ChaLEAN Extreme®, your metabolism stays elevated and you continue to burn fat for several hours afterward. During regular cardio exercise, you stop burning fat shortly after the workout.


2. Change your body shape. You may think your genes determine how you look. That's not necessarily true. Weight training can slim you down, create new curves, and help avoid the "middle-age spread." Just look at the amazing body transformations of the women who've completed P90X®. Dropping only 3 percent of your body fat could translate into a total loss of 3 inches off your hips and thighs. And no, you won't bulk up—women don't have enough muscle-building hormones to gain a lot of mass like men do. If you keep your diet clean and create a calorie deficit, you'll burn fat.

3. Boost your metabolism. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism will be. As women age, they lose muscle at increasing rates, especially after the age of 40. When you diet without doing resistance training, up to 25 percent of the weight loss may be muscle loss. Weight training while dieting can help you preserve and even rebuild muscle fibers. The more lean mass you have, the higher your metabolism will be and the more calories you'll burn all day long.



4. Get stronger and more confident. Lifting weights increases functional fitness, which makes everyday tasks such as carrying children, lifting grocery bags, and picking up heavy suitcases much easier. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular weight training can make you 50 percent stronger in 6 months. Being strong is also empowering. Not only does it improve your physical activities, it builds emotional strength by boosting self-esteem and confidence.

5. Build strong bones. It's been well documented that women need to do weight-bearing exercise to build and maintain bone mass, and prevent osteoporosis. Just as muscles get stronger and bigger with use, so do bones when they're made to bear weight. Stronger bones and increased muscle mass also lead to better flexibility and balance, which is especially important for women as they age.

6. Fight depression. You've probably heard that cardio and low-impact exercises such as yoga help alleviate depression, and weight lifting has the same effect. The endorphins that are released during aerobic activities are also present during resistance training. Many women find that regular strength training, in conjunction with psychological treatment, helps lessen their depression symptoms substantially.

7. Improve sports fitness. You don't have to be an athlete to get the sports benefit of weight training. Improved muscle mass and strength will help you in all physical activities, whether it's bicycling with the family, swimming, golfing, or skiing . . . whatever sport you enjoy.

8. Reduce injuries and arthritis. Weight lifting improves joint stability and builds stronger ligaments and tendons. Training safely and with proper form can help decrease the likelihood of injuries in your daily life. It can also improve physical function in people with arthritis. A study conducted at the University of Wales in Bangor, United Kingdom, found that mildly disabled participants who lifted weights for 12 weeks increased the frequency and intensity at which they could work, with less pain and increased range of movement.

9. Heart health. More than 480,000 women die from cardiovascular disease each year, making it the number-one killer of women over the age of 25. Most people don't realize that pumping iron can also keep your heart pumping. Lifting weights increases your "good" (HDL) cholesterol and decreases your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. It also lowers your blood pressure. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that people who do 30 minutes of weight lifting each week have a 23 percent reduced risk of developing heart disease compared to those who don't lift weights.

10. Defend against diabetes. In addition to keeping your ticker strong, weight training can improve glucose utilization (the way your body processes sugar) by as much as 23 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 weeks of strength training can improve glucose metabolism in a way that is comparable to taking diabetes medication. The more lean mass you have, the more efficient your body is at removing glucose from the blood, which can reduce complications from diabetes or even help prevent type 2 diabetes in the first place.

To see the article and many other great ones you can click HERE.



In my personal opinion, I feel that since I've begun ChaLEAN Extreme I have muscles and definition I never knew about! :) I am typically a cardio junkie, I love me some cardio!! When I do cardio workouts, such as Turbo Jam/Turbo Kick or running, I feel thinner and I notice my clothes fit better. When I do weight training workouts, like ChaLEAN Extreme or with my personal trainer, I feel strong and lean and I can visibly see the change my body. That's why I personally think it's great to get a mix of both workouts in. I love doing Turbo and I love doing Chalean Extreme, so during my week I'll find time to fit them both in! :)

The KEY to burning FAT...

Do you ever notice when at the gym that women tend to stick to the cardio machines, like the treadmill and the elliptical, and that the men are just about always in the weight room? That’s because somewhere along the line women got the idea that lifting weights would “bulk them up.” I am here to break that myth. Ladies, have no fear, that’s not true, you CAN lift weights! In fact, you should be lifting weights because the key to burning fat is by gaining muscle.
By lifting heavy weights you can improve your resting metabolism, which means you will be burning more calories when you are just hanging out than you normally would. According to Chalene Johnson, the creator of Turbo Jam and ChaLEAN Extreme, “Muscle is the fountain of youth. It’s what makes you look younger, it’s what makes you feel younger and it’s what makes you leaner.” When women reach their 30s it’s natural for their muscle strength and their metabolism to decline. To stop this decline you just need to add muscle to your body.
Fitness Magazine said, “Since muscle burns an estimated three times more calories than fat, adding two to four pounds of muscle can translate into an extra 100 calories burned each day. A high-intensity strength routine has been shown to bump metabolism by 20 percent for several hours post-workout.”
There are many other great benefits to adding strength training to your cardio routine. Fitness Magazine said, “Some of the benefits, like improving muscle tone, bone density, athletic performance, and strength (about 30 to 50 percent more after three to six months of training), are obvious. But there are a few surprises: Resistance training helps women fight the aging process by maintaining lean muscle tissue. Women who regularly lift weights have better self-esteem and get sick less often. Others have found weight training improves the way the body processes sugar, reducing the risk of diabetes.”
So why won’t women get bulky muscles like men? Here is the shocker, men and women are different! Women do not have the same kind of testosterone to get big muscles like the men do. Men will get bigger and stronger muscles while women get stronger and leaner. Chalene repeats this throughout the ChaLEAN Extreme DVDs as she points to one of the fabulous looking ladies on set to show that they lift heavy weights and they are not bulking at all.
Next time you are at the gym pick up a weight or two and try adding strength training to your routine. And don’t be shy about using the machines either, ask someone for help on how to use them, that’s what they are there for. Remember the key to burning fat is by gaining muscle.


If you would like to try strength training I would recommend P90X or ChaLEAN Extreme. Let me know if you have any questions. :) You can order both programs HERE.

I Eat 33,000 Calories a Day!

So week 2 of ChaLEAN Extreme is coming to an end and I must say I ROCKED the workouts!! Okay I’m never (almost never) a whimp when it comes to the workouts so the big question is... how was my eating?? I had great meals through the day from breakfast to dinner but then….later in the evening after dinner I’ll crave something sweet! So one night it was a Blueberry lemon square the other night it was Hershey pie from BK and another it was an iced capp from Tim Horton’s. WHAT THE HECK!!! I’ve never really had a week like this before, almost each night there was some kind of sweet snack.

I think I’m going to go back to the “Challenge” rules when I was allowed one cheat meal a week. Maybe with my thinking along those lines, instead of the normal “you can’t have that stuff at all”, I’ll do better. Putting restrictions on the sweets makes me want it more than just knowing that I can have it once a week.

My trainer is going to kick my butt tomorrow when she sees my “Weekly Diet Tracking” sheet. Right now she has me on a no bread or processed food plan, so far I’ve had no bread!

Tonight I came home from work and TLC’s “I Eat 33,000 Calories a Day” program was on. It definitely made me a bit grossed out watching that much food consumed in a day by a single person. But while watching it, it made me realize- wow my calorie worries are NOTHING compared to what some people have to go through. Putting stress on myself over drinking an Iced Capp is the least of the worries to the man in the show who said food was “better than sex” and that he’d rather have a carry out than a relationship! Food is meaningless when it compares with relationships, family & friends are much more important.

This man pays $28-$38 A DAY on chocolate bars! He ate a total of 36,902 calories a day which is what an average man eats in 2 weeks. This show also made me realize that I appreciate the way I look and that I am glad that I am healthy! I’m also glad that I have the ability to work out. I know what food is healthy and what is not. My body works the way it should- let’s me know when I am hungry and when I am full. To the super morbidly obese people on the show, their bodies got to a certain point that being “full” was not really an option.

One of the things that was said on the show was that these people did not realize or even think they were eating that many calories. This brings me to Chalene Johnson’s tweet from a couple days ago, "Can't lose weight but doing everything right? 80% of the time it's becuz ppl overestimate what they burn & underestimate what they eat." I think that is VERY TRUE. Most of the people were guessing they ate about 3,000-4,000 calories a day when it was actually 20,000, that’s pushing it people.


Okay so I'll be back next week to tell you how things went with me.

Here is my goal and yes I've written it down and I'm sharing it with you--






OKAY OKAY! I thought I was done with this post... but I'm not!

I found this article on Yahoo! Shine's Healthy Living section & figured I needed to share it-


User Post: Today's Meditation - Stop Criticizing Yourself
By Jane Powell - www.MeditationsForWomen.com

“Be your own unconditional friend.”

Are you your own best friend?

Sadly, most women are their own worst enemy. Who needs enemies when you can consult your harshest critic anytime you glance in a mirror? Logically, we should all be our own best friend, but it often isn’t the case. We reserve our harshest criticism for ourselves.

Learn now to be gentle with yourself. You deserve special treatment simply because you are special. Who best to comfort you, but you? Who best to compliment you, but you? Learning to love yourself is the greatest gift that you can give yourself. No expensive cosmetics, no retail therapy can deliver the inner warmth of knowing that you are happy being you.

When we love ourselves, it is no longer important that our hair is not perfect or that our thighs are a little dimpled. We don’t beat ourselves up for imagined imperfections anymore. In fact, we embrace our imperfections.

Today, look in the mirror and smile. The person there will smile right back. She loves you. Love her, too.

IT'S TIME TO GET EXTREME!

Hey everyone!! So yesterday was July 1st and I started my ChaLEAN Extreme Challenge with Lisa. I made my lovely sister take my “before” pictures and then did the fit test, which I am proud to say I did better than when I took it the first time in December, and I also retook my measurements and I was surprised to see I LOST 2” IN MY WAIST! :) Who knew??!

Here is a BEFORE pic (give me 30 days & I'll post a new pic):





I made a little calendar of all my planned workouts and I printed out the handy CE worksheets that are on teambeachbody.com. I did not know about those worksheets the first time around so I was PUMPED when I saw they were pre-made for me. Then what next? I worked out! I did Burn Circuit 1 and was shaking like a scared Chihuahua! It was so much fun though and I definitely was lifting heavier weights then when I did it the first time too. I tried to match whatever Chalene was lifting but for a couple workouts I had to take it down a couple notches.

Now here is the fun part, food! Ah!! Right now I have these “Weekly Diet Tracking” worksheets from Bally’s that I’m recording what I eat all day and then next week I’m going to go over that with the trainer. For the most part it’s looking good, 1 meal a day is Shakeology, plus chicken breast, protein plus special K cereal, egg white omelets, fruits & vegetables but then Tuesday and last night I sadly gave into my sweet tooth cravings. :( AH! What is my deal?! I had 2 pieces of fudge (my sister brought it home from Mackinaw Island) and then the next day I had a brownie (I always find treats at Mat’s). So I am making a PROMISE to myself and to you, no more late night snacks for this week. I really wish I could detox my house of that crap (you are lucky if you live alone or are in control of the food where you live!) so then I would have no problems. But what I’m going to do is if I know I’m going to be hungry after working when I’m hanging out with Mat I’m going to eat a sugar free 60 calorie jell-o pudding cup (that’s chocolate!) or I bought Kettle Korn from Trader Joe’s the other day with Pamela that is only 110 calories for 2 ¾ cup serving.

I can’t wait to tell you guys how I’m progressing! Today is a scheduled REST DAY which normally I throw in some kind of crazy workout and defeat the purpose but I’m actually extremely sore from the last couple days and I think I’m going to use that rest day. Okay never mind that, I just got an idea, I’m going to practice Turbo Rd 36. I’ve been trying to practice more often so I’ll feel really comfortable doing the class and then I’m going to practice teaching it to Kathy & Niki, my first students! Yay! :) They are going to like getting done to BABY GOT BACK! ha.

PS- This is a little Shakeology note- I am a nail biter and from having acrylic nails for so long they are kind of weak. Since I’ve been drinking Shakeology my nails are SO STRONG and they are actually growing! I am excited!!

No such thing as MAGIC PILLS!

So I wrote another blog for OU's Health & Wellness and figured I needed to share it with you lovely followers too! :)


Magic pills no replacement for workout or healthy diet

By Caterina Passarelli
Guest blogger

I’m sorry to say but there is no magic pill, quick fixor crash diet out there in the health and fitness world that is going to solve all your problems. Just look at the words magic, quick and crash– do they sound like something you really want to put in your body?

In today’s society, we want everything fast and simple; there is no time to wait around for results to happen. Losing weight and becoming fit won’t happen in a quick week or with the pop of one pill, it’s going to take time and hard work.
Diet pills, weight-loss pills and appetite control pills are all designed to help someone lose weight. The problem with these pills, other than their numerous amounts of dangerous side effects, is that you can not take them forever. Diet pills are meant to be taken only for a short time span. At some point you are going to have to stop taking the pills and the weight that you just took off is all going to come back. I know people who have gained back all their weight plus more. Rather than promoting quick fixes to consumers, there needs to be a push to promote healthy living.

Have you ever heard that saying, “Hard work never killed anybody?” That’s exactly it. To lose weight and get healthy it’s going to take hard work on your part. But that hard work is going to pay off in the long run and you are going to feel proud with what you have accomplished and the body you have. Instead of taking the easy yet unhealthy road, you will create healthy habits that will stick with you for life.
And we all know the necessary steps to achieve this healthy lifestyle — exercise and nutrition. These two go hand-in-hand. Working out and eating healthy foods have many great benefits, not only for your body but for your mind as well.

Askmen.com put an article together of the “Top 10 Benefits of Working Out.” Working out: helps you sleep better; slows the aging process and reduces the risk of premature death; builds and maintains healthy bones, muscles and joints; strengthens and boosts your immune system; improves mental acuity; improves confidence; increases energy and endurance; improves sexual performance and restores libido; reduces stress, depression and anxiety; and reduces the risk of many diseases.

So let’s promise ourselves not to opt for those “easy” options. Those quick fixes do not come with such an impressive list of benefits; actually they come with no benefits at all. Just remember to work out and eat healthy and then you will reap the rewards.



:)

We all know it's true, if you put in the WORK then you will get what you want!




Tomorrow (July 1st) starts my ChaLEAN Extreme Challenge. I'm getting everything ready. I went grocery shopping with my mom yesterday and got a lot of stuff to make some of the recipes in Chalene's Fat Burning Guidebook. I'll also be taking my pictures tomorrow before I work out and redoing my fit test.

Today I went to workout with a personal trainer at Bally's. I signed up to workout with her for the next 2 months so she is also going to try and help me reach my GOALS. GOALS, people, they are one of the most important things you can do for yourself! And a bigger tip than just having goals, WRITE THEM DOWN! You are more likely to accomplish your goals when you have them on paper and you continue to see them. Anyway the trainer said since I don't have really any body fat (yes! lol) that if we workout intensely for that hour, 2x a week I'll be seeing results because my body can take it. :) I'm excited. I get nervous when I have to spend a great deal of money at one time, but it's for my body and my body is what keeps me going so why not give it the time and respect it deserves?

If you aren't a gym member, don't forget there are plenty of other options for working out. MY FAVORITE WORKOUTS ARE TURBO JAM AND CHALEAN EXTREME! And you know what? I do them in my own room (or at Pamela's or Kathy's). If you are interested in checking out Turbo Jam or ChaLEAN Extreme, click here or let me know if you have any questions. :)

Post workout glory!

I took this picture the other day when I finished Fat Burn Challenge. It was a little more than 30 minutes (maybe 32? I can't remember)!! I was drenched man, but it was awesome. If you can get this sweaty and work this hard in only 30 minutes, then why not do it! ChaLEAN Extreme rocks! :)

Update on the Turbo Challenge- Today was Day 7 and I've been going strong! My sister & Lisa also joined me in this exciting challenge. Tonight after work I did Cardio Party 3 and had so much fun. I tried to concentrate a lot on my form, keeping that hand up by my face at all times. Tomorrow at 7 am I'll be hitting the gym with Ilda and Jamie, can you believe I agreed to a 7 AM workout?! holy cow. But it'll be fun to workout with them because I never have before. After that I'll going home to Turbo. ;)

I'm also (patiently) waiting on my Shakeology to get here! HURRY UP!! I actually just ordered it the order day, so I should calm down, but I'm really excited. I ordered the chocolate kind and plan on drinking a shake everyday for a month to replace a meal. I need to look up all those recipes I've been seeing on Chalene's blog and in the beachbody message boards.

TRAINING IS THE OPPOSITE OF HOPING!

Pam & Cat Do Turbo Episode: 2 million

Mt. Everest Turbo Climb



Yesterday Pamela & I had a fun workout together and I’d thought I’d share our journey! We haven’t Turboed together in quite awhile, well actually we did Kickin’ Core the night before around 11pm but before that it was a longgg time. I got to Pamela’s house and she wrote out our workout on the dry erase board and then our adventure started…

The Game Plan:

20 minute Turbo Workout
20 minute Run
5 minute cool down walk
10 minute lifting with the bands
Extreme Abs
Recharge




The 20 minute video was fun start, we rode that party train and then ran outside right when we finished. It was 85 degrees out and I was burning up! But Pamela kept talking to me through it so I lasted. She even said, “If Chalene told you to push harder, would you?” Of course, so I pushed harder. Lol





When we got back to her house we did endurance with the toning bands, I tried to remember the routines from PK & J and 3T. We looked like Turbo Puppets :)





Next it was time for Extreme Abs which is a killer, I love that AB routine!! Then we cool downed and stretched to Recharge, which I admit I don’t do often enough. It was a lot of fun, a good mix of both Turbo & ChaLEAN Extreme and of course it's great to workout with a friend! :)

Here comes the boom!!!

Famous workout words: If you look CUTE after your workout, then you WEREN'T working out hard enough. - Chalene Johnson


The challenge has begun! Kathy has joined me in a 4 week workout/eat clean challenge, I found the challenge while browsing on the beachbody message board but modified it a little bit to apply to us.

We started on Saturday April 25 and it will last until Saturday May 23. Our rules are that we have to work out 6 days a week, eat clean 6 days a week, and keep each other updated daily on what we are doing. We are allowed one cheat day/meal a week.

For my first day I did ChaLEAN Extreme (I just ended week 2 of the Lean Phase). My workout was the Fat Burn Challenge and then Recharge. I loved the Fat Burn Challenge! Coach Johnson kicked my butt!! The video was a little over 30 minutes and I didn’t realize until I was stretching that I was soaking wet with sweat, it was literally rolling off my face. I took a picture after because I am always proud when I’m drenched. :) That was definitely a good way to kick off this 8 days of straight workouts, Sunday is my first rest day.



Today is day 5. I did Lean 2 and then went over to Kathy’s house and did Cardio Party 3 with her and Jola. It was an intense day!! I’m proud I’ve stuck to all the workouts I wrote on my calendar, and let’s just say I did not go easy on myself whatsoever. But working out isn’t my problem, it’s the eating.

I did already eat my “cheat meal” for this week on Monday because Mat asked me to go to Applebee’s. I told him for the next 3 weeks he can’t ask me to dinner anymore. Other than my one allowed cheat meal I have been doing really well and sending Kathy my updates.
I’ll let you know how we do along this journey.

Go HEAVY or go HOME!

        Since my first blog was about Turbo Jam I figured I should tell you about the new program I am currently doing, called ChaLEAN Extreme. This is another program by the fabulous Chalene Johnson but the concepts are a lot different from Turbo. ChaLEAN Extreme has to do with lifting HEAVY weights. The whole theory behind this workout is MUSCLE BURNS FAT.
Currently I’m in the 2nd month (Push Phase) 2nd week. I’m not going to lie think I need to go get some heavier weight plates, I could probably be lifting a little more in certain exercises for this month. It’s just hard to keep going out and buying more weights especially because weights aren’t cheap!

I’m lucky that my loving boyfriend bought me ChaLEAN for Christmas. J I got the Deluxe package which included:

-7 DVDs- 17 workouts! And Burn Basics/Band Basics and Healthy Eats & Kitchen Makeover
-Extreme Motivation CD- which was lovely to listen to and I keep it in my car. And yes it did make me cry!
-3 sets of bands each with different resistance
-Body fat tester
-Fat Burning Food Guide book
-Muscle Burns Fat Guide book
-Thigh Toning Band
-Weighted hand gloves

When I started the first day I took my FIT test and forced my sister to take my before photos, which I really wanted to post. But of course my laptop crashed, again!, and I don’t have them anymore. L I think I’ll take some more now even though I’m already into the program because I still have a month & two weeks to go.

       When Chalene says you will be surprised at how heavy you can lift she is right. My arms/legs will be shaking but I know that I can physically lift heavier than I imagined I would be. To start off I went out a bought 10 lb free weights and a set of weights with the adjustable plates, which total 40 lbs. I also had 5 lb free weights at home already. Chalene recommends the Blowflex Select Tech weights however I just don’t have that kind of money to spend. They do look fancy though! And being able to dial up the weights you want to use looks like it would come in handy during this Push month. I hate pausing it as I adjust my plates, but I make do and can do it quickly now.
       So let me say more about the actual program. When most people think about lifting weights they think of the big guys at the gyms swinging around those heavy weights, grunting and causing a scene. Not with this program, well maybe the grunting, but with ChaLEAN each rep we go extremely slow! Slower reps = quicker results. This program consists of three phases- Burn, Push and Lean. During the Burn Phase you want to hit “failure” between 10-12 reps. For the Push phase you bump up the amount of weights you are lifting and you should “fail” between 6-8 reps, this phase is intense muscle development. For the Lean Phase you are going to work your upper body, lower body and core all at the same time with challenging moves. (Most of this is found in the Muscle Burns Fat Guidebook, which is very helpful!)
       I haven’t lost much weight, not really any. But I have gotten comments that my arms are noticeably bigger. I can tell that my arm muscles are much more defined than they’ve ever been. Watch out! But my weight loss issue is my own fault because I have not completely changed my eating habits around. In the Guide book it does say that the Lean Phase, which I will start in 2 weeks, is when the weight loss should happen. So don’t let anything discourage you.
        I have a great time doing ChaLEAN Extreme, I have pushed myself to lift heavier than I thought I would be able to and I can see results in muscles that I didn’t know would get defined. All of this I am excited for. :)

ChaLEAN Extreme & Turbo Jam are both beachbody products:
http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/best_sellers/turbo_jam_maximum_results.do?code=BBHOME_PARSEA_TJ


http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/chalean_extreme.do?code=BBHOME_PARSEA_CE