Month 1 of PIYO!

I'm officially HALFWAY through PIYO and I feel FANTASTIC! When I started PIYO, I made a promise to myself that I would FINISH this program, for ME and for my FOLLOWERS! I've started so many programs and quit so many programs!

BUT...PIYO is different for me! I'm throwing my excuses out the window and FINISHING THIS PROGRAM! And besides the fact that I'm OBSESSED with Chalene Johnson's newest workout, I look forward to doing it everyday! 

People are constantly asking me:

• What kind of workout is it?
• How long are the workouts? 
• Are they actually hard?
• Do you actually get a good workout? 
• I can't imagine Pilates and Yoga being enough? 
• Can you get good results??

So here are my HONEST answers:

• PIYO is an UPBEAT blend of pilates and yoga! Personally, I haven't ever been a fan of pilates because I have a super weak core. I have enjoyed YOGA, but HATE that it's so slow! I have a dancer/cheerleader background...I need something to get me pumped! LOVE LOVE LOVE this "hip hop" piyo move that's incorporated a lot of the workouts!

• Each workout is roughly 30-45 minutes with a warm-up and cool-down.
• Trying PLANKING (like you are about to do a push-up) for 1 minute and then while STAYING IN A PLANK, bring your right knee to your right elbow and then switch to your left side and alternate for 1 minute. Looks like that below...THEN TELL ME IF YOU THINK IT'S A HARD WORK (and that's only 2 minutes)

• I will be honest...if you are already actively working out, the first week or two will seem easy to you! It's designed to focus on your alignment and form FIRST! But the workouts get harder and harder! I don't think I've sweat as much as I have with any other workout! And I've done P90X and T25! 

• PIYO is definitely enough for the beginner! However, if you are more active, you might feel the need to add more cardio! On days that I feel I need more, I add a little T25 in there or walk my dog, Dumpster a little further!

 

DUMPSTER love DOWNWARD DOG! HAHAHA!

• As you already know, I'm HALFWAY through the 60 day program! There were days that I skipped workouts, but made up for them by doubling up on the workouts. I can honestly say that I have done every workout! I started PIYO the same day I started the 3 DAY REFRESH and have been eating clean 75% of the time. I still had those cheat meals, but overall, I've been doing pretty good with my diet. I lost almost 5 pounds from the refresh and have kept those off the whole month while doing PIYO. While I haven't lost any extra weight from doing PIYO, I have totally noticed the difference in my HALFWAY PHOTOS...

 

The VEGETABLE NOODLE Maker Thing-a-ma-bob!

Ok, it's official! I'm obsessed with whatever you want to call this little device!

I call it vegetable noodle THING-A-MA-BOB!!! But it's actual name is...

Gefu Spirelli® Spiral Slicer

I got it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $29.95! Use your 20% coupon or $5 off and WAH-LAH, you have a vegetable noodle THING-A-MA-BOB for your healthy kitchen!

So far, I've only "Spiralized" zucchini, squash, and carrots! And I have a recipe I'm trying tomorrow using cucumbers! It has worked great since the veggies I've tried have been cone/circular shaped! It has two sides...one side makes your veggies more like spaghetti noodles! The other side makes your veggies like linguine noodles (think flat noodles)!

The first night I made ZUCGHETTI!! My version of zucchini and squash spaghetti! Super easy to make....and a LOT FASTER than regular spaghetti! 

ZUCGHETTI RECIPE: Serves 1

• 1 Zucchini
• 1 Squash
• Onions and Mushrooms - chopped*OPTIONAL]
• 1 Clove of Garlic - minced
• Olive Oil
• Spaghetti Sauce (whatever flavor you always get)
• Ground Chicken (Ground Beef or Turkey would work too)*OPTIONAL

1. Brown the ground chicken...drain any excess grease. 
2. While meat is cooking, chop mushrooms, onions, and garlic.
3. Use the THING-A-MA-BOB to make your zucchini and squash noodles!!
4. Add spaghetti sauce to your meat and heat through.
5. In a saute pan, add your olive oil, mushrooms, onions, garlic, and "noodles" and cook long enough to soften veggies, but where they still have a little crunch. (Anywhere between 5-8 minutes).
6. PLOP your "noodles" on a plate and top it off with the sauce! 

PAD THAI RECIPE: Serves 1

• 1 Zucchini
• 1 Squash
• Veggies of your choice (I added mushrooms and onions, because I add them to EVERYTHING)
• 1 Clove of Garlic - minced
• Olive Oil
• Cooked Chicken Breast - chopped (I grilled up some chicken yesterday to last me throughout the week....makes for a SUPER EASY dinner)
• Annie's Pad Thai Sauce (I didn't measure but probably around 2 Tbsp.)
• Crushed Peanuts
• Chopped Cilantro

1. Make your "noodles" and chop up the veggies and garlic! 
2. Add olive oil to the pan and saute garlic first - about 1-2 minutes.
3. Add mushrooms, onions, and noodles to the pan - cook about 5-7 minutes.
4. While veggies are cooking, crushed peanuts and chop cilantro.
5. Add pad thai sauce and chopped chicken to pan - cook until heated through.
6. Find a FANCY BOWL and toss that awesome PAD THAI you just made in it!
7. Top it with the crushed peanuts and chopped cilantro!
8. TRY NOT TO DEVOUR IT IN 3 BITES! 

Seriously...I can't get enough of this little contraption! And if you're wondering...does it actually taste like noodles?!?! In my honest opinion...IT TASTES BETTER!!! I bet your kids or husband wouldn't even know!!! ;)

I'm trying a cucumber salad recipe tomorrow! I will keep you updated how that goes! Until then...get your vegetable noodle THING-A-MA-BOB, spiralize your veggies, and have fun in the kitchen! 

**DISCLAIMER** I am just starting my journey with God and by no means are where I want to be with Him, but felt that I needed to write this post today. I ask that you please be mindful of where am I at in my struggle and do not post negative comments!

I've recently made a decision to become closer to God and build my relationship with Him. I've been reading "The Purpose Driven Life" and watching the LIVE service every Sunday at Bridgepoint Church (still building my courage to actually go to the REAL service). I'm making baby steps, but they are STEPS towards my relationship with Him. 

It's funny how God works in our lives and he knew exactly what kind of message I have been needing to hear. About 4 weeks ago, I started attending the live service online with the "CHANGE" series. Bridgepoint Church usually does 4-6 week series where they discuss certain topics/issues that we face today. I usually make excuses and say I will start watching when the new series starts so I can start at the beginning. But I came in late with the CHANGE series and it was like God knew that THIS SERMON was exactly the one I needed to start with! The whole CHANGE series made me come face to face with SEVERAL things I've been struggling with and there are a few things I'm still fearful to change. When the pastor asked to write the things we needed to change, I STRUGGLED with coming face to face with my faults. BUT, I realized that God is with me and is meeting me on my level and going to change one thing at a time! 

I sat up all night tossing and turning with the message He delivered to me yesterday and whether or not I should share this! Because I'm so new in my journey with Him, I felt like I couldn't really write about my relationship with Him so far and how he is working within me to CHANGE. I am looking forward to the changes, but at the same time those changes are scaring the living daylights out of me!

Like me, some of you are also struggling to change! I previously wrote, I'm without my husband and I've used that as an excuse to slip back into my unhealthy eating habits and drinking wine everyday. I kept telling myself that it's okay for me to do that because I'm alone, feeling sad, and feeling an empty void! But I was trying fill a void that couldn't be filled with fast food and alcohol. I'm trying to make those small changes and put my TRUST in God, but the struggle is a real struggle daily! We all struggle and we all slip back into our old ways...and I've done it too! But we have to take a step and make the decision to change our old habits and put trust in Him!

So whether you are trying to break that cigarette addiction, your wino mindset, your unhealthy eating binges, or if you are trying to start a new healthy habit...you have to start somewhere and make a CHANGE! 

Whether you are the spiritual/religious type or not, there are going to be days where you will want to slip back and you will struggle to say NO to those bad habits, but remember there was something missing from your life and made you want to change...ALWAYS remember why you wanted to change and keep that mindset in the FOREFRONT of your head!!! Heck...write it on a bunch of POST-ITS and stick them up on your bathroom mirror or on your coffee maker! 

We are all human! We all struggle to change and having people who are in the same boat as you, helps with the struggle! If you are wanting to change something, but don't know where to start, please reach out to me or someone! It just takes the first step of admitting you need to change...the change will happen if you let it!  

Here is the first CHANGE sermon I watched that helped me with my struggle! I think it could help you too!

My Struggles...and how I REFRESHED!

WARNING: Long post ahead....but my 3 DAY REFRESH RESULTS are in the post!!! ***PLEASE NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS****
 
Most of you know that I'm a MILITARY wife and have gone several days, weeks, months, and even a year without my husband!!! There are days that are perfectly normal and then there are days where I am a HOT mess...BUT, most days, I'm a completely INDEPENDENT, FUNCTIONING woman!!

However, my husband is my ROCK, my MOTIVATOR, and my WORKOUT PARTNER. And when my husband first leaves, there is one thing that always slips and becomes MALFUNCTIONAL (is that even a word?)...

And that is MY WEIGHT!!!

The 1st year we were married, we only saw each other 52 days...and guess what....my weight SKYROCKETED to over 150 pounds (I think 156 to be exact)!!! I took action, started P90X, and got to a weight where I was confident again (but still not confident enough to post my results on here).

FAST FORWARD to 5 years later....I am now without my husband for another year while he serves our country overseas! And guess what happened...I got back to 150.1 POUNDS! After seeing that number for the SECOND time in my life, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't EVER see that number again!!

So now that I've ranted about my back story...I decided to take action again and jump start my journey back to a healthier and happier HALEY!!!
Soooo.... I STARTED the 3 DAY REFRESH from Beachbody.

I lost 4.8 POUNDS in 3 DAYS!!! Not much on the scale, but my BEFORE and AFTER pictures are proof that the scale is not the only indicator of change!! This program was short and simple, and it gave me the MOTIVATION and CONFIDENCE (and confidence to finally post on here) to get back on track with my health!!

AND FINALLY (now that I made you read that whole story)...here are my results!!! 

***NOTE: I still have a ways to go on my journey before I get back to my HAPPY WEIGHT, but you HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE!!!