30 Day Crunch Challenge...30 Days to Clean & Lean

Big things are happening this month!!!  We started out this month with doing a 30 Day Crunch Challenge.  It's very simple.  Just do 100 Crunches a day.  You can do them all at once, split them up, do a combo of ab exercises, whatever!  Just get your crunch on every day!!!  If you would like to join, please head over to my facebook group and ask to join in:

Crunch Challenge by Coach Kristen

Next big thing coming up is Monday, July 15th, I'm going to be doing a little professional development and reading up on Clean Eating.  "You can't out-train a bad diet".   and that is where I am at.  I have gotten this fitness thing down to a T!  I'm addicted, I crave it, but even though I'm not eating "bad" all the time, I'm not seeing the progress I could, if I focused on my nutrition.  Sot it's time to get back to the basics!  So join me my 30 days to Clean & Lean Group page by shooting me a message at anewyouforgood@gmail.com

In the mean time, try this Flat Belly Diet out.  

It's combining our July goals (crunches and clean eating) into one!  

30 Days into Insanity

Kristen's Journey

In January, I decided I needed to do something different with my life.  I was tired, moody, and the heaviest I have ever been.  Of course it affected everyone around me too especially my husband and daughter.  Being a stay at home mom and my husband working night shift for the air force, I found it very easy to just stay at home.   Luckily, I woke up one day and realized that something needed to change and that I was cheating myself and my daughter out of this beautiful life here in hawaii!

So I joined a Beachbody Challenge group.  I started clean eating, drinking shakeology, and I did Insanity for the second attempt, but this time I DID IT!!!  I lost 10 lbs in the first month, and then my weight kind of plateaued.  I noticed the rest of my weight slowly fall over the followings months, but what kept me going was the support of my groups and also feeling a difference in my energy levels, my happiness, and my clothes!!!

Currently I am doing another round of Insanity.  I just finished month 1 and am doing recovery week mixed in with some Island adventures including hiking up to a beautiful ocean view of a lighthouse!!  I can feel my body changing again, and all though the numbers on the scale are not really budging again, it's okay.  I know I'm being healthy, and the weight will come off if I just keep with it!!!

When I first started this journey, I kept focusing on becoming one of those "Before & After" photos.  I never thought it would take me this long, and that has caused me a lot of frustration at times and temptation to give up, but again these accountability groups have kept me going!  So as I continue on my journey I'm reaching out to others and trying to help them make this lifestyle change too!

Being a teacher myself, I know how hard the summer months can be.  So many plans, and so little time.  You would think we would have all the time in the wold to workout, but knocking of a to-do list, time just seems to slip by.  So instead, let's focus on Clean Eating and Shakeology.  Mark your calendars for July 15, and join me as we do a 30 day Challenge - Schools out for the Summer.

If you are interested please contact me @ anewyouforgood@gmail.com

Week 1 Review

Well, I finished that last of the Insanity workouts for the week!  I think Plyo Cardio Circuit is the most trying workout for me because you do your exercises and then repeat them 3 times through!  This is where the mental struggle comes in for me!!!  I know what I still have to do and if I don't like...(for example suicide jumps...AKA BURPEES!!!), then I dread doing them 2 more times!  However, I have come a long way since the first round of Insanity.  Mentally I am stronger and push myself to do the exercises I don't enjoy doing or am not that comfortable with!  The only way I am going to see different results is to start doing things differently!  So "old Kristen" would have given up and just not done the exercise she didn't like or maybe conveniently take a water break during that time, but not the "new Kristen".  No breaks.  No cheats.  and that is why this time is going to be different for me!

Still staying off the scale until the second fitness test next Monday!  This is the first time I have ever followed that fitness rule of don't weigh yourself every day, so I am excited to see if it really works!

Now time to enjoy a little family time and maybe a cookie!!

Portion Control

a guest post from a good friend who has lost 35 lbs. in the past 4 months from adding PORTION CONTROL to her daily workouts!!!  She is a mommy of two, works, and still finds time to make it happen. Way to go Erin M.  and thanks for sharing :)  

Portion control can be one of the biggest challenges when trying to live a healthier lifestyle. Most of us eat very unbalanced diets focusing on the wrong types and amounts of food. Here are some tips to make portion control a little easier:

1.) Pay attention to serving sizes, and then measure out exactly what you are going to eat. Measuring cups and measuring spoons will become your best friend. A food scale is also a great thing to have, it really helps in weighing out those meat portions. You can also have the butcher at a grocery store weigh your meat out in the portions you would like and then they are all ready for you at meal time.

2.) Before putting your food on the plate, divide the plate in half. Fruits and veggies on one half, and the other half should be equally divided between your protein and grains.

(Note: whole grains and complex carbs take longer for the body to break down, are typically healthier, and make you feel fuller longer)

3.) Try eating on a smaller plate. From a visual standpoint, it will seem like you are getting to eat more or at least just as much.

4.) Drink a glass of water before every meal. 

5.) Fill up on veggies and fruit first when you are eating. They make you feel full and really get your digestive system working. 

(Tip: try adding a small salad to your dinner each evening and eat it first....you will be surprised how you start to feel full in the middle of you meal.)

6.) Snack size Ziploc bags and small food storage containers are great for keeping your snacks in....again they are visually appealing.

The key to healthy eating is truly portion control and good food choices. Hope you find these tips helpful.

Countdown to Summer...6 Week Challenge

So excited!!!! Starting my first 6 week challenge tomorrow!!! Normally these groups are only if your purchase a beachbody product but I'm so excited to share my experience and make a difference that I'm opening it up to anyone who wants to be healthy!!!

Workouts have been amazing!!!  Including my 100 crunches a day challenge with my girls back home! I've also been tacking on 10 push ups after each workout :)  

Feeling great!  

Feeling motivated!!! Loving life this week :)