sunsetlove

Found this article on How To…

Stretch marks are often apparent on those who have lost significant amounts of weight. The stretch marks actually occur when weight is gained. They are usually more visible after the weight is lost since the skin is no longer stretched. If you anticipate you’ll be losing weight, there are things you can do to minimize stretch marks. Since some individuals are more likely to get stretch marks than others, you may not be able to completely avoid stretch marks. In fact, if your skin is prone to them, you cannot avoid them. You can, however, employ various methods to decrease the likelihood of getting them.

1. Keep skin moisturized. Stretch marks are more likely to occur on dry skin. Apply a deeply hydrating moisturizer to the area daily. It will keep your skin supple and less susceptible to stretch marks.
2. Apply cocoa butter to your skin. Cocoa butter is a long-used home remedy to prevent or reduce the appearance of stretch marks. The rich cream makes skin supple and pliable, thereby helping it to resist stretch marks. Use it on your skin twice daily.
3. Massage your skin. Massage increases circulation, helping blood and nutrients to reach the skin more easily. As a result, skin stays healthy and active, making it less likely that stretch marks will form. Use steady pressure and circular motions to massage your skin for two to three minutes daily.
4. Exercise. Cardiovascular exercise increases circulation and helps to restore skin elasticity. Get at least 30 minutes of cardio three to four times per week.
5. Eat a healthy diet. Proper nutrition is essential to solid skin health. If you maintain a nutritious diet, your skin will be healthier. Poorly nourished skin is more prone to stretch marks so properly care for your skin with solid nutrition. Avoid caffeine completely as it increases your chances of getting stretch marks.
6. Rub vitamin E on your skin. Puncture a vitamin E capsule and distribute the contents onto your skin. Vitamin E is highly nourishing to skin. With regular use, it can fortify skin against scarring. Taking vitamin B-complexes, and Zinc also help.
7. Use scar treatment cream at the first sign of stretch marks. Such creams are available over the counter at pharmacies and drugstores. They work best on new scars, so use immediately. Rub the cream onto the stretch marks three times per day. You’ll generally see improvement in the stretch marks after approximately two months of use.

SOOO the plan is to continue doing Turbo until the end of March and starting the 90-day ChaLEAN Extreme program starting April 1st…. anyone wanna join me??

If you don’t know about ChaLEAN Extreme…google it!!! jk But seriously, it’s a program broken up into three parts, Push Phase, Burn Phase and Lean Phase, that uses heavy weights to build muscle and burn FAT!! The idea is not to bulk up, it’s to build strong lean muscle that will have you burning calories even after your workout!

I am not a BeachBody employee (I wish!)…I am just a regular person who, like you, is tired of all this fat and is trying to get healthy and in shape!!

I got my C.E. package about a week ago and couldn’t contain myself. It was too exciting. Since I had only been working out for about a week when I got the package in the mail, I didn’t feel ready to start the program. I am currently doing Turbo (cardio party, ab jam, fat blaster, strength training, lower body workout, etc) and using my elliptical, to jump-start my weight loss journey. I have lost 5lbs so far.

I plan to document my C.E. journey and share with you all.

I will be one of my best friend’s bridesmaids in September and there is no other bigger motivator than that!! I want my health back!! I want my life back! Are you ready to see my transformation? LOL I will surely share it with you all.

HAVE A GREAT DAYYYY and remember: Take it one day at a time!!

I received major news this weekend…which is why I now have to push myself and work harder than ever to get in shape…

One of my college best friends is getting married on September and has asked me to be one of her bridesmaids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have not talked to her in detail about her wedding, but she is from Hawaii and if they decide to do a beach wedding…OMG…I need to be in serious shape for a light colored dress, LOL.

I am so happy and excited for her and so happy to be one of her bridesmaids that I am making her wedding my biggest weight loss motivator this year. Another good thing is that her wedding is 3 days after my 26th Bday this year, so my original motivator (my b-day) is still a motivator… now there’s two reasons to get in shape by September…. probably even sooner since we gotta do dress fittings in advance!

I promise to work the hardest I’ve ever had and will commit myself to this lifestyle change. But I need everyone’s support and inspiration. Can’t do this without all you!!!

<33

So I FINALLY weighed myself after 7 months of inactivity and bad foods…. the results were NOT good. Not only did I gain back the 20lbs I lost last year, I gained an extra bag of chips….maybe 7 bags of chips. I gained 27lbs. My digital scale recorded my last weigh-in that I took in July: 200.8 lbs. Today, it’s at 227lbs!!! I cannot believe it. It’s so sad to think I have to lose 27lbs to be back at 200lbs… what’s worse is that if I had maintained my weight at 200lbs, losing 27lbs would put me at 173lbs…. Now I have to lose 54lbs to even get to 173lbs… sucks!! Anyways, this taught me a big lesson… just because you lose some weight, does not mean you can stop exercising and eating well, you have to keep going to maintain the weight loss, otherwise…YOU GAIN IT BACK!!!

OK, so I am continuing my weight loss journey….I am not giving up simply because all this weight piled back on me. I still have stress, but not as much as when I was living with my parents. I now have my own place and no excuse to get back on my weight loss challenge. I want to be fit and healthy by the end of this year! Losing weight is not impossible, it takes commitment, but it’s more about changing your lifestyle… I’m ready for this… I have been waiting 7 months to get back on the wagon and I am finally starting! Woohoo…. I know these 27lbs will roll off of me soon…so stay tuned…

I would never do it again… but for those of you who want to give it a try… here it is…
Day One

Breakfast
1 multigrain waffle
1 cup lf cottage cheese
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 slice lf turkey bacon

Snack
Smoothie
3/4 cup fresh raspberries
1 scoop whey protein powder
1 cup skim or nonfat milk
Mix ingredients in blender.

Lunch-Tuna Salad
3 oz water packed tuna, drained
1 tbsp capers
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
1 cup raw spinach, chopped
1/3 cup onion, chopped
1 cooked egg white, chopped
2 tsp mustard
1 tbsp olive oil
Combine ingredients and serve

Snack
3 stalks celery
1 tbsp peanut butter

Dinner-Stir Fry
4 oz skinless chicken breast, sliced
1/4 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup snow peas
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 tbsp soy sauce
Stir fry chicken, then add vegetables, cook until tender. Add soy sauce. Serve over brown rice.

Workout-Cardio Party

Day Two
Breakfast-Omlet
3 egg whites and 1 whole egg, beaten together
1 cup broccoli

Snack
smoothie from day One (add 1tbsp flaxseed if desired)

Lunch-Sandwich
1 slice whole wheat bread
3 slices turkey
4 leaves romaine lettuce
1 tsp mustard
2 slices tomato
1 cup alfalfa sprouts

Snack
1 cup cottage cheese with 1 tsp paprika

Dinner
5 oz broiled or baked salmon filet
2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1 cup steamed aspargus
1 cup sliced cucumbers
1 1/2 tbsp Italian Dressing

Workout-Cardio Party

Day Three
Breakfast- Omlet
4 egg whites and 1 whole egg beaten together
1/2 tomato, chopped

Snack
10 raw almonds
2 tbsp dried cranberries

Lunch
4 oz lean roast beef
1/4 cup sauerkraut
1 tbsp mustard
1 slice rye bread
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
1 tbsp light Italian dressing
1 dill pickle
Spread mustard on bread, layer roast beef and sauerkraut onto bread. Serve with salad and pickle

Snack
Smoothie (same as before or replace with strawberries)

Dinner
Chicken burrito with rice and beans
4 oz broiled, skinless chicken breast
2 tbsp salsa
1 low-fat whole wheat tortilla
1/4 cup canned pinto or black beans
1/4 cup brown rice
Arrange chicken and salsa on tortilla, then heat in oven or microwave. Toss rice and beans together.

Workout-Turbo Sculpt

Day Four
Breakfast
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup fresh raspberries

Snack
1 pear
4 1oz slices lf cheddar or colby cheese

Lunch-Turkey sandwhich or wrap
3 1oz slices turkey
1 slice whole wheat bread or whole wheat tortilla
4 leaves romaine lettuce
1 tsp mustard
2 slices tomato
1 oz raw avocado

Snack
Smoothie

Dinner
3 oz baked or broiled halibut
1 cup steamed broccoli
2 cups shredded lettuce
1/2 oz vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil

Workout - Cardio Party

Day 5
Breakfast
5 egg whites and 1 whole egg scrambled
3 slin slices of deli turkey breast meat

Snack
Blueberry Smoothie

Lunch-Chicken Pita
3 oz broiled skinless chicken breast, sliced
2 slices tomato
1 cup alfalfa sprouts
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 1/2 tbsp ff ranch dressing
1 lf whole wheat pita

Snack
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 piece whole wheat or multi-grain bread, toasted

Dinner
3oz lean beefsteak or flank steak, broiled
1 cup brussel sprouts, steamed
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 tbsp light italian dressing

Workout - Cardio Party

Day Six
Breakfast-Omlet
5 egg whites and 1 whole egg, beaten together
1/2 cup black olives, chopped
1/2 oz feta cheese
1/4 medium tomato, chopped

Snack
1/2 apple or 1 cup red grapes
2 slices lf cheddar cheese

Lunch
3 slices lean turkey
1 small lf whole wheat pita
1 tbsp hummus
4 lettuce leaves
2 slices tomato
1 tsp mustard

Snack-Smoothie
1 Tbsp peanut butter
1/2 banana
1 scoop whey protein powder
1 cup skim milk
Mix together in blender

Dinner-Grilled Tuna Salad
4oz raw, fresh tuna steak
1/4 cup water chestnuts, chopped
1/2 oz sesame seeds
2 tbsp lime soy vinagrette*
1 oz soybeans
1/4 cup papaya
2 cups arugula

Grill tuna for two to four minutes on each side, then slice thinly. Arrange arugula on plate. Sprinkle soybeans and water chestnuts on top. Add papaya and tuna last. Garnish with sesame seeds and drizzle with lime soy vinaigrette.

*Combine 1/2 cup rice vinegar, 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce, 1/2 cup fresh lime juice, 2 tsp dark sesame oil, 2 tsp lemon zest, 2 tsp fresh ginger, 4 cloves minced garlic

Workout - Turbo Sculpt

Day Seven
Breakfast-Burrito
3 egg whites and 1 whole egg, scrambled together
1 small lf whole wheat or low carb tortilla, warmed
1/4 cup canned pinto or black beans
2 tbsp salsa

Snack
Strawberry protein smoothie

Lunch-Chicken Salad
4 oz broiled skinless chicken breast, chopped
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup cucumber
1/2 cup arugula
1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
1 tbsp Italian dressing

Snack
1/2 cup lf cottage cheese
1 sliced tomato

Dinner
4 oz lean boneless, broiled pork chop
1/2 apple

Workout-Cardio Party

Day Eight
Breakfast-Omlet
6 egg whites, beaten together
1/2 oz ff parmesan cheese
1 medium tomato

Snack
20 almonds

Lunch- Salmon Salad
4 oz salmon
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup arugula
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
1 tbsp italian dressing

Snack - Strawberry Protein Smoothi

Dinner
4 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, baked or broiled
1 cup frozen peas and carrots

Workout - Cardio Party

Day Nine
Breakfast
1 cup lf cottage cheese
1/2 cup fresh raspberries

Snack-Smoothie
1/2 cup mango
1 scoop whey protein powder
1/2 cup plain lf yogurt
1/2 cup water or ice as needed
1 tbsp flaxseeds (optional)
Mix ingredients in blender.

Lunch-Chicken Curry
2oz broiled skinless chicken breast, chopped
1/4 cup cooked long-grain brown rice
1/2 cup raw cauliflower
1/4 cup chickpeas
1/4 clove garlic
1 oz tomato paste
3/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
1/2 tbsp curry powder

Simmer broth, then add curry powder, tomato paste, and vegetables. Cover with lid, and cook until tender. Add chicken and heat through, serve over brown rice.

Snack
2 stalks celery
1 tbsp peanut butter

Dinner-Kebabs
3 oz chicken breast, baked or broiled
1/2 cup onion
3 strips yellow pepper
1/4 cup pineapple
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1/2 oz vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
Thread chicken, pineapples, and vegetables onto skewers, drizzle with vinegar and oil and cook on grill.

Workout- Turbo Sculpt

Day Ten
Breakfast-Omlet
5 egg whites and 1 whole egg, beaten together
1 cup raw broccoli, chopped
1/2 oz feta cheese, crumbled

Snack
3 stalks celery
1 tbsp peanut butter

Lunch-Turkey burger
3 oz cooked ground turkey
2 slices tomato
1 slice onion
1 tsp mustard
1 tbsp ketchup
3 leaves romaine lettuce
1 cup alfalfa sprouts

Snack
1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
1 tbsp flaxseeds (optional)

Dinner-Chicken Pita
2 oz broiled chicken breast, sliced
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup shredded lf swiss cheese
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 small lf whole wheat pita
Heat tomato sauce, add onion, cover pan and cook until tender. Place chicken in pita, pour sauce over, and top with cheese.

Workout- Cardio Party

I’m so depressed. I have fallen off the wagon and it is so challenging to get back on!

I have regained every ounce I lost earlier this year. In July, when I moved back to my parent’s house, I still weighed 200lbs. It’s been 4 months now, and I have gained 13lbs due to a poor diet and inactivity.

Life is so hard living back at my parent’s. For starters, I don’t have a room or a closet! And it’s so hard having all of my stuff stored in the garage. I am sleeping on a couch in my little brother’s room and feel so tired and stiff when I get up in the morning!! My brother spends a lot of time playing video games with his friends and I cannot go to sleep early like I did back at my apartment. I have to literally wait around until they all leave. Since my brother’s illness got a little worse, it’s harder for me to come around telling him not to play with his friends. I want him to distract himself with his friends.

OH GOSH, don’t get my started on my diet, cause it’s out the door! My mom cooks the best Mexican food and it’s so hard to eat healthy. Too much temptation at home!! I do buy healthy foods and snacks but they get eaten by other family members or sometimes go to waste because I eat my mom’s food.

As for my exercise, that’s been thrown out the door as well. Initially, when I had just moved into my parent’s house, my bf and I would go run at the park, but then it started getting harder for me to find the energy to go run. We stopped going to the park after I got a really bad cold and felt so weak.I did manage to buy an elliptical machine but since I have no room…it’s now stored in my parent’s carport, all covered up to avoid it getting wet.

I can’t explain it, but I have been so depressed ever since I moved back into my parent’s. I have told this to my sister and boyfriend repeatedly…I feel trapped. The reason I moved back to my parent’s was because my sister and I decided to enter the real estate market and try to buy a house. We moved out in July thinking it wouldn’t take long to get a house. However, around that same time, the govt offered the 1st time home buyer’s credit and the market got flooded with buyers. The housing prices are still relatively cheap, however, since there are so many competitors, it’s been so difficult to get a house. We have fallen out of Escrow TWICE because the properties are not appraising and the sellers are not willing to lower the price.

My sister is actually going house shopping with our realtor today. And while we keep on searching, I have nearly given up on this buying-a-house business. I really don’t care if we buy a house at this point, all I really want is to MOVE OUT of my parent’s. —Which brings up yet another issue. My parent’s own a second property which they rent out. They are having problems with the current tenants (always late with the rent and have brought-in additional tenants!!), so they are  considering asking for the house back and allowing my sister and I to move-in and rent it out meanwhile we find our first house. Well, this has been the topic of dinner talks, but no action has been taken.

As you can see, my life has been a whirlwind. I  feel that I have no control over my life and it’s so stressful. And yes, I wish my family was more considerate, but that’s not the case. I have hope that either 1. My parent’s kick out the tenants and my sister and I move-in or 2. We buy a house soon. I am certain that once I am on my own again, it will be so much easier to get back on the wagon.

I need support….

Every Friday is Health Tip Day at Zen Habits.

You don’t want to spend long hours at the gym, but you want to get stronger, fitter, leaner, and just plain look good. It’s possible that you’re not getting the most out of your workout time.

It’s possible to get a super-effective workout in 30 minutes, and only do a few workouts a week, if you maximize your workouts.

Disclaimer: First, I’m not a certified trainer. These are tips I’ve read elsewhere that work well for me. Second, you should always get a doctor’s approval of any new workout plan. This plan is especially intense, so if you have a heart condition or other condition that might be affected by heavy exercise, you should definitely refrain from trying it until you’ve gotten checked out by a doctor.

And even if you have gotten checked out, or even if you don’t bother doing so, it’s still important to start out an exercise program slowly, until your body has the chance to adjust, or you will face burnout or injury.

Don’t dive right into this program — it’s designed for people who have already been working out but want to see better results, quicker, and spend less time doing it. Here’s how to do it.

1. Limit your workouts to 30-40 minutes. Though the tendency of some people who really want to get a lot out of their workouts is to spend a lot of time at the gym, the truth is that after 30 or 40 minutes, the benefit isn’t as great. To go that long, you’d have to lower the intensity of the workout, and that means that you’re spending too much time working out. It’s better to work out at a higher intensity for a shorter amount of time.
2. High-intensity workouts. If you’re just starting out with exercise, it’s best to take it slow. If you’re running or cycling, for example, build up your endurance for at least a month before you get into anything more intense. That means going at a rate where you can easily talk without being out of breath. However, once you have that base of endurance, step up the intensity to step up the effectiveness of the workout.
3. Protein. Many people don’t pay enough attention to getting the protein their muscles need to rebuild. If you don’t, you are going to get very little out of your workout, as both cardio and strength workouts require protein for building muscles. I recommend either whey or soy protein shakes.
4. Water. Be sure to hydrate throughout the day. It takes a couple of hours for your body to absorb the water, so you can’t just drink right before exercise. Make it a habit to drink water regularly throughout the day.
5. Carbs. Although the low-carb craze might say otherwise, carbs are our body’s main source of fuel. If you do intense workouts, you will need carbs, or you won’t have enough energy. If you do a shake, be sure to include carbs — or a banana is a great source of low fiber/high glycemic carbohydrates that you need for exercise.
6. Shake before and after workout. It’s best to take a protein/carb shake just before your workout and then just after. Taking it before your workout increases the flow of amino acids to your muscles during training, giving them the building blocks they need. After the workout, the shake stimulates muscle growth. Also take a small protein/carb meal 60-90 minutes after a workout — a meal replacement bar would work fine.
7. Slow lifting. Many people contract their muscles slowly and then release more quickly. But if you lift slowly in both directions, you are maximizing each move. Lift and lower to a 5-second count in each direction.
8. Heavier weight. When you’re starting out, it’s best to start with lower weights so you can focus on good form. But once you’ve gotten your form down, it’s best to lift the heaviest weights you can lift while still keeping good form. Don’t sacrifice form for heavy weights — that is ineffective. But heavy weights, with good form, can give you better results in a shorter amount of time. Heavy weights are not just for those who want to bulk up — that’s a common misconception.
9. One set, to failure. Instead of doing 2-3 sets, as many people do, maximize your effectiveness by doing just one, with heavy weights, until you can no longer keep the proper form. Lifting to “failure” doesn’t mean that you should lift the last few times with a wobbly or inefficient form.
10. Compound exercises. Instead of isolating your muscles with exercises such as the bicep curl, you can maximize the time you spend in a workout by doing exercises that work out multiple muscle groups at once. With just a few exercises, you could get a full-body workout. Another benefit is that your muscles are working together as they do in the real world, rather than alone. Some great compound exercises include squats, deadlifts, good mornings, lunges, pushups, bench presses, military presses, rows, pullups, dips, and more.
11. Balance lifting. Instead of having exercises where you’re sitting down or holding on to something or otherwise stabilized, it’s more effective to do them standing up, or on one leg, or on a Swiss exercise ball. These types of exercises force you to balance yourself while lifting, which brings your core muscles into play. This gives you a stronger overall body and allows you to lift more over time.
12. Pick a cardio exercise you enjoy. It’s no fun to exercise if you hate it. And you won’t keep it up for very long. Pick something that’s fun — running, walking, swimming, biking, hiking, rowing, stairmaster, etc. After the initial phase when you’re getting used to exercise, you’ll start to have a blast and look forward to it.
13. Mix it up. Don’t stick to the same workout routine for too long, or your body will adjust to the stress level and you won’t be getting an effective workout. For strength training, change your routine every few weeks. For cardio, it’s best to cross train rather than, say, to run every time.
14. Good form. For strength training especially, and swimming, form is very important, but it’s also important for other types of exercise. If you’re strength training, start with lighter weights so you can work on your form. It’s good to have an experienced spotter or trainer who knows good form to help you for the first month or so. Never sacrifice form for heavier weight. For swimming, you’ll need to get a coach to teach you form.
15. Hills. If you run or bike or walk for cardio, you’ll want to incorporate hills (after the first month or two of doing it at an easy pace on flat ground). These will make you stronger and make your limited workout time even more effective. Take them easy at first, but once you’re used to hills, you can get a good pace going. Either use a hilly route or do repeats on one hill.
16. Circuits. One mistake that people make is to do multiple sets of the same exercise without rest between the sets. This doesn’t allow your muscles to recover and it’s a waste of your workout. But instead of doing a set, resting, and then doing your second set, it’s more effective to move on to multiple exercises in a circuit, so that you don’t rest between exercises but do rest each muscle group. This will give you a good cardio workout while you do your strength training.
    

The ideal workout plan
If you take all of these tips into account, the ideal plan would be to alternate 2-3 days of high-intensity strength training with 2-3 days of high-intensity cardio. You could get by with 4 days of exercise if you do them at high intensity.

The high-intensity strength training would be 30-40 minutes of circuit training, with no rest or little rest between exercises within a circuit, and a short rest between circuits if you do more than one. The circuit should work out your entire body, using compound exercises such as the squat, deadlift, pullups, good mornings, etc., and either standing or using a Swiss ball so that you are working out your core. You should use heavier weights, one set for each exercise, doing them slowly (5 second up, 5 seconds down), and to exhaustion, making sure to have good form on each exercise.

You would have a protein/carb shake before and after the workout, and a small meal of protein/carbs within 60-90 minutes of the workout. Water is also important for both types of workouts.

The high-intensity cardio would be something you enjoy doing. You would do interval training, at a rate where you couldn’t talk, with short rests in between intervals. On some workouts, you would incorporate hills.

Remember, these high-intensity workouts are not for people just starting out. You should build up an endurance base before doing the high-intensity cardio, and start the weights with lighter weights, stressing good form.

Source: http://zenhabits.net/2007/06/16-tips-to-triple-your-workout-effectiveness/

Hey Buddies,

Sorry I have gone missing for a few weeks now!! I have not been doing that well. For these past three weeks, I have not been doing much exercise and have not been sticking to my diet. I know for a fact I gained 2lbs a 1 week ago, but have not weighed myself since… too scared!! I have been overly emotional about this and super depressed about “falling off the wagon”. I was doing really well before falling off the wagon…it was actually a new intense workout that I tried that got me really sore, to the point that I had to stop working out for three days, then after that, it went downhill…I had to travel to another state for a few days (for work) and I was eating irregular and working late hours. When I got back, I felt out of shape…I hadn’t eaten healthy and hadn’t worked out in two weeks. I am starting off my my third non-healthy week (this week) and I feel horrible. I don’t know how to get back on the wagon. I don’t feel motivated and feel a little stressed that I cannot get it together. I am the kind that freaks out without a game plan. I am OK now, but last week I was worse…I cried for two days straight…I looked like a frog at work with my eyes really puffy from the crying. My bf tried to console me and tried to keep me positive, but it’s just really hard to see the light when you think that losing weight is impossible. I don’t think it’s impossible now, but I think it’s really hard. I feel like I am doing this on my own, and it’s so hard. I FEEL SO ALONE! I really need some motivation…or a shove!! Thanks for hearing me out!

OH NOOOO!!! My body took a huge toll on this new diet and completely broke down!!! I have a full-blown cold! This really sucks!! I know it’s really because of the lack of nutrients in my diet that come from good carbs. Well, I’m now taking a multi-vitamin and Vitamin C with my diet, to support my immune system. I can’t lose weight with a low immune system!!

After work, I went to Walgreens and I bought Ketostixs (~$10) to measure the amount of ketons in my urine—ultimately, to tell me if my body is already in Ketosis and if it’s now burning fat for energy. The strip came out 80mg of Ketones, it was a dark rose color. Zero mg of Ketones in your urine is normal (which means your body is not burning fat for fuel, instead it’s breaking down all the carbs you eat and turning them into the glucose your body needs for fuel) and 160 is heavy (which means your body is really breaking down a lot of fat for fuel; your kidney converts your stored body fat and ketones are produced during this process—eventually all the excess ketones end up in your urine, so this is how you can tell if you are in Ketosis: by doing a Ketostix test). Anyways, it’s good to know that this hard work is actually getting me somewhere. Aside from my cold, I feel great. Really light and I do not have stomach aches like in the past (when I was not taking care of myself!!)

The great news is that I weighed myself and I am NOW under 200lbs!!! I am at 198!!! I cannot believe it! I see no difference in my body…between now and when I was 220 or 214. But I do feel so much better (!!!), which is what really matters, right?!!

Okay, so I survived Day #3, just 7 days to go…

Okay, so I survived a second day on Turbo Slim!! I am so excited I’m hanging on in there!! I am definitely motivated to continue on and finish my 10-days!!

OMG, I am definitely starting to feel the Ketosis state, guys. I am serious!! I felt so lightheaded, cold/clammy, metallic breath, and I feel like I’m catching a cold but it doesn’t come!! These are all symptoms of Ketosis. I also don’t feel hungry as I thought I would!

Okay, so yesterday I ate: Breakfast-3 egg whites and one whole egg with 1 cup of broccoli. For snack I drank a raspberry-whey protein & flaxseed smoothie. For Lunch I ate a turkey-alfalfa-sprouts half whole wheat sandwich. For snack, I had 1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese and 1 tblspn of paprika (not a good combination!!). For dinner I had salmon with asparagus, cucumber and romaine lettuce. I also did 40 mins of cardio and the 20 min ab workout.

You know what? After doing my workout, I felt sooo energized. I actually felt really light and great!! I told my bf I’d weigh myself 5 days into the program, but couldn’t help it, so I went to weigh myself!!!! I weighed 201!!! I could not believe it, so I had to weigh myself a few times over to make sure the scale was “working”—hahaha!! This was definitely a motivating factor to continue on the 10-day and not give up!!

The only sadddd part is that I feel like I’m first losing weight from my chest!!! I don’t have much to begin with and that is just wrong!! lol I wish we could pick and choose what places we should lose weight from!!

OK, Just 7 days to go!!…

Wooo-hooo!!