Ellie Lightspeed Collection

Looking good helps you work out more efficiently, right? I am excited to see all of Ellie's new Lightspeed collection, which was inspired by streaks of light against the dark city skies.

This video makes me want to sweat. In a good way.

You can buy as a non-subscriber or join Ellie's Fit Fashionista Club to pick two pieces from each collection for $49.95 per month.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am an Ellie Ambassador. No compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own. 

Proskin 28 Day Challenge - Week 1

For best results, you're supposed to wear your Proskins Slim leggings every day, for at least 8 hours per day. That sounded pretty absurdly undoable to me until someone suggested wearing them as PJs. I'm not usually a big pajama girl, preferring gowns, but I have been very impressed with how comfortable Proskins are to sleep in. 

First off, they are incredibly lightweight and smooth. So smooth that you will feel an almost uncontrollable urge to fondle your thighs. Seriously. They're slippery like spandex but they don't feel like sausage casings to wear. They're very comfortable, like a second skin. The active ingredients that permeate the compression fabric are cooling, so you don't wake up sweaty. I kind of wish I had a matching Proskins top to wear to bed.

As far as the effects of wearing the leggings every night go, I have noticed that my skin is softer and smoother. I haven't noticed a dramatic slimming effect yet but I'm hoping! I did have to hand wash them after an unexpected monthly visitor came early. Ahem. They took a long time to dry since we've had high humidity this summer.

I'd love to get a pair of the Slim Galaxy and Slim Floral leggings to wear with dresses this fall. Particularly if they shave a couple of inches off my thighs. I'll keep you posted.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a product sample to facilitate my participation in this program. No compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Proskin 28 Day Challenge

 Have you heard about Proskin Slim? It's a line of activewear imbued with special proprietary ingredients designed to promote slimming and cellulite reduction. I was dying of curiosity, of course, since Proskin works from the outside in and is reputed to be effective, even without an exercise regimen. Sold! I figure, if you wear them while working out, you'll be doubling down, right?

Anyway, I signed up to take part in their 28 day blogger challenge and check out how this technology works. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a product sample to facilitate my participation in this program. No compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

hare on faceboo

Walkabout 2013 - Join the 28-day Quest for Good Health

This time last year, I was starting the Walkabout Quest for Good Health, a 28 day journey to jumpstart well-being through walking. Walkabout 2013 starts on Wednesday, April 3rd and I would encourage anyone who wants to improve their physical and mental condition to join in.

What exactly IS Walkabout? A Walkabout is an Australian journey for well-being, during which one seeks to clarify his/her life purpose. It is a time of reflection and to reconnect with family and community.  Our version of Walkabout is inspired by the Aussies and aims to improve physical and mental well-being, while creating healthy habits over the course of 28 days.

Are You Walking the Right Way? 

Tips from Dr. Andrew Weil

Walking is an ideal way to get daily exercise - it strengthens almost every major organ in the body, promotes optimal bone density, and boosts the immune system. But have you considered how to best put one foot in front of the other? Your walking habits can have an impact on how much benefit you get from each outing. 

Maximize the benefit from your daily walks:

• Walk with your head erect. Look ahead and train your sight 10 to 20 feet ahead of you. If you need to check the ground to avoid obstacles, lower your eyes, not your head, and try not to thrust your trunk forward or let your arms dangle listlessly at your sides
• Keep your back straight. Stretch your spine so your shoulders are level and square, and tuck your buttocks in
• Bend your arms. Flex your elbows at close to 90-degree angles and let your arms swing at waist level
• Take shorter, measured steps, with your feet striking the ground with the heel and pushing off with the toes. Too long a stride can throw you off balance

For more information, read the Healthy Footnotes blog and follow the #Walkabout2013 hashtag on your social media channels.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that no compensation was provided and all opinions are, as usual, my own. I was a brand ambassador for last year's 28 Day #Walkabout campaign and have received products in the past.

FitBit: Healthy Accountability for Gadget Lovers

You can download different apps for your iPhone or Android phone that can keep track of what you've been eating and count calories for you or maybe work as a virtual pedometer but one of the best things about getting healthy in this day and age is the number of tech tchotkes that exist solely to keep you accountable for your exercise and nutrition goals. 

I'd been hearing about the awesomeness of FitBit devices for a while but was skeptical. I mean, the things are basically LED pedometers that you have to wear all day– how great could they be? And then I found out that the FitBit One actually uses WiFi and the cloud to keep track of not only your activity but your estimated calorie burn AND your sleep patterns. Being a notoriously light sleeper, I was super curious about that latter bit. How could this teensy gadget the size of a flash drive figure out how I was sleeping? And, more importantly, how that affected my metabolism? Sold.

My friend at AT&T hooked me up with a FitBit One to try out. (Did you know that AT&T carries all of the latest health and fitness tech accessories? This was news to me. Good news!) First observation: it's tiny. Seriously tiny. About the length of my thumb, when it's in its little silicon clip case. 

It's very inobtrusive. You're supposed to fasten it to your waistband during the day and use the included wriststrap for sleeping. The latter didn't work so well for me because the velcro strap caught onto my plushie microfleece blanket and came off while I was sleeping. I clip it to my nightie strap instead and it still does its job. I haven't had much of an issue with it except for the fact that it's so small, you sometimes forget it's there. I freaked out one day and assumed I'd flushed it down the toilet or something when, in reality, I had merely forgotten to reclip it to my clean clothes after my shower.

What I like about the FitBit One is it really underscores how much you SHOULD be moving versus how much you're REALLY moving. It makes me occasionally jump up from my desk to climb the stairs or do a couple of quick squats. No joke! Without trying to guilt you into it. It kind of gives you all the info to guilt yourself.

I'll admit that I haven't gotten into the habit of entering in other exercise and food journaling on the FitBit iPhone app but I think that's the next step. I'm also contemplating buying the FitBit Aria WiFi Scale, which wirelessly transmits your weight, BMI and body fat percentages to your stats. Talk about total accountability…

Written as part of the Mamavation Monday blog carnival for the Mamavation Sistahood.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am an AT&T customer and I received a complimentary FitBit to facilitate this review. No compensation was provided for this post. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Mamavation Monday - Week Four

This has been a very long week, even though technically it is just beginning. Holidays always throw me off balance but even moreso when we've spent the past few days in and out of a cold medicine-induced haze. Yes, the nasty flu bug that's had my husband down for almost two weeks now finally got one kid, both kids, and then me. Argh.

Coincidentally, I developed my plague symptoms on the same day that the very expensive BluePrint juice cleanse was supposed to arrive. (I'll be writing about my thoughts about the plan for Diets in Review soon and will share the link when it posts.) I did make it through the three day juice fast with no issues and it was probably a good thing, since I couldn't motivate myself to do much exercise at all, aside from the awesome core workout you get from deep-body hacking coughs.

I'm still sick, although I think I'm on the upswing, finally. I lost almost seven pounds over the three days of the juice cleanse. Yes, I know that it's probably mostly water weight but I do think that swooshing antioxidant fruits and veggies through my body is something I'm going to have to look into for the future. I could definitely see juicing for a healthy snack option throughout the day. I was surprised at how satisfied I was with the six bottles of juice per day and my skin looks pretty darned glowy for feeling as rotten as I do. My stomach feels less bloated and I feel like the clean nutrients probably helped me kick the cold faster than my typical comfort foods would. I can't imagine how great it would feel if I was able to work out while doing a juice cleanse! I'll definitely try it again in the future but with homemade juices. I'm not sure how normal people could justify the $80/day price tag of having them delivered to your door. Note to self: gotta get a juicer, like pronto.

Do you have a juicer to recommend?

Belly Fat Diet for Dummies

The Belly Fat Diet For Dummies is not just another fad weight loss manual. Author Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE is a nutrition and fitness expert who is more concerned with finding the right tools for each individual's healthiest lifestyle, rather than just making sure you look hot.

Don't get me wrong, the ultimate goal is still to slim down but her focus is making sure the dangerous visceral belly fat is targeted and that the weight loss and health consciousness is maintained in the long run. To that end, Belly Fat Diet for Dummies includes plenty of information on the difference between subcutaneous and visceral fat, along with how they affect your overall health. Palinski-Wade offers diagrams and formulas for determining your body type and BMI index. She also acknowledges that human beings are prone to slipping up and that you need to recognize your personal cravings and find healthier substitutions to nip them in the bud.

Realizing that stress hormones can cause your body to store more abdominal fat gives a lot of credence to the idea that your diet and exercise plans are only part of a holistic lifestyle. Sleep patterns, even. I know that's a hard one for most people but getting enough sleep is important for mood, metabolism and just about everything. Everything is connected! There are breathing exercises for stress reduction along with lists of belly fat-fighting foods and appropriate serving sizes.

One of the things that I thought was really different about the Flat Belly Diet approach is that the meal plans are flexible. You can go whole hog with the Turbo-Charged plan, take the middle ground with the Moderate plan, or choose to change your eating over time with the Gradual-Change plan. Since I'm a mom and cook for my husband and two kids, following strict diets is pretty problematic for me. It's easier for me to try to integrate little changes that might fly under the radar, so I don't ruffle too many feathers with a sudden influx of healthier food! We already try to eat more whole foods but I've been dialing down our carbs and it seems to help a lot. The recipes are very simply laid out and easy to execute, using ingredients you probably already buy.

The exercise component of the Flat Belly Diet gives you guidance from choosing the right shoes to keeping motivated. All of the exercises can be done at home, using your own body weight, although you will eventually want to get some hand or ankle weights for more resistance as you gain strength.  My very least favorite is the Spider Walk, although I have to admit it's effective.

Overall, the Flat Belly Diet for Dummies is a great read, with tons of practical advice.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a copy of the book to facilitate this review . As usual, all opinions are my own. 

Mamavation Monday - Week Two

Last week, I took the pledge and became an official member of the Mamavation Sistahood. If you're not familiar with it, Mamavation is an online community dedicated to obesity prevention and weight loss for women. If you need motivation and camaraderie to help you on your journey, I highly suggest you check them out– I'm really impressed with how many different social networks I am now receiving encouragement and advice across!

That being said, it has been a lackluster week in my quest for healthier living. As I mentioned before, my personal training sessions lapsed and it was also the kids' last week of vacation. We did some serious room cleaning/organization and I didn't exercise as much as I should have. I'm looking forward to getting back on track this week, now that they're back in school. 

On a brighter note, I signed up for a paleo diet meal planning service and also helped my friends at Diets in Review taste test three different delivery diet freezer meals. (I'll just say that if you can cook at all, you are way better off making your own food from fresh ingredients. Trust me.) I made green smoothies with Greek yogurt and both kids loved them. I made a cheat sheet of weight lifting reps to take to the gym with me.

I think I'm headed in the right direction.

This post is sponsored by Schick Intuition and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway

Mamavation Monday

It's the last day of 2012 and also the last paid session I had with my awesome personal trainer, Joe. My stepfather bought me weekly sessions as a Mother's Day present last year and it's been probably the best gift I've ever received. I've never enjoyed exercise, even as a kid, and Joe manages to make me laugh and work hard even while I'm silently cursing him. See, I absolutely abhor sweating and working out in public– two major obstacles that I've allowed to let me get increasingly more sedentary since childhood. I've always been content to sit in a corner with a book and now I have an iPad to keep me occupied… but I also have two kids whom I'd like to set a better example for, so I have really made an effort to be consistent with working out. The accountability of a personal trainer is remarkable and Joe knows how to press my buttons to ensure productivity. Threatening to make me run laps or do all my cardio on the stairmaster, for example. Ouch.

Anyway, I can't afford to pay for sessions anymore so I need to make sure I'm putting in the hours. Joe is still there for moral support but I don't want to bug him too much. I also don't want to let him down- we've made a lot of progress in my strength and endurance over the past few months. I haven't lost much weight; I think that's the next step. My body is tighter and less jiggly but now I need to make smarter food choices and up the cardio. I need a team and so I'm reaching out to my blogger buddies in the Mamavation Sistahood for support as I try to put my best foot forward in 2013. Yeah, stepping through the heel as I lunge, Joe…

What are your fitness and health goals for the new year?

Live A Little - Get Moving

I loathe sweating. This is one of the reasons I have always clutched to when I try to weasel my way out of exercise. I hate rivulets of sweat dripping down my face, into my eyes. I hate it leaving damp marks across my bra line and butt crack. I hate feeling red-faced and out of breath.

Okay. That said, I have to admit that the aftermath of sweating is good. Post-shower, glowing skin, pumping heart rate, building muscle, losing weight. So for this week's Live A Little, I encourage you to find your own way to be active: take a walk, do an exercise video, try that yoga class. You might dread it but I swear you will feel better afterwards. And you'll be showing your kids how to live a little more healthfully, too!

I took my gym shoes and a resistance band out of town with me last week so I could work out in my hotel room.

Shocking.

Share your Live a Little suggestions with the Skimbaco every Monday by adding the link to your Live a Little blog post in the InLinkz widget below. Rules: Link either to Skimbacolifestyle.com OR grab the InLinkz code for your blog post – or do both! If you post the widget in your blog post, please add the rules as well.

31 Days: Bonus Lean Cuisine Coupon

I spent last month participating in the 31 Day Challenge, trying to re-establish what healthy New Year's resolutions meant for me. Obviously, losing weight is always a plus but I think it's more important to contemplate how everything is interconnected– diet, exercise, sleep, attitude. These things all affect each other and you can't really expect long-term change without balancing all of them.

Bearing that in mind, I don't see my lifestyle changing much now that the 31 Day Challenge has come to a close. I've been pretty happy with my progress. (She says as her husband walks into the room bearing donuts…) I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. I exercise daily, drink water, try to be a better example for my kids. I have actually really enjoyed using Lean Cuisine as my go-to lunch menu and occasional dinner bail-out. They taste good, are quick and easy to prepare and great to stockpile in the freezer for your moments of weakness. I suggest stowing some Skinny Cow treats in the freezer, too, to stave off your sweet tooth!

If you're a Lean Cuisine lover, or just want to see what the fuss is all about, I have a great deal for you. As a member of the Lean 11, I was given a special "buy four, get one free" coupon to distribute:

Supplies are limited, so get yours now! (FYI, I do get brownie points for getting folks to download it. Healthy brownie points, that is, and a chance to win a prize.) It's also posted on my sidebar, so feel free to tell your frugal friends.



Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am being compensated for my participation in the 31 Day Challenge but all opinions are my own.

31 Days: Recap

Today is the first day of February, which means my 31 Day Challenge has come to an end. Officially, anyway. I think that the impetus to eat better and exercise more is going to stick around for quite a bit longer. My weight loss wasn't huge- only about six pounds- but I know that being more mindful of what I consume is a permanent change.

To check up on the progress of the rest of the Lean 11, visit the 31 Days website. Here's a Whrrl about my month.

More check-ins at home

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before:

after:

Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am being compensated for my participation in the 31 Day Challenge but all opinions are my own.

31 Days: Exercising Options

Here's way more information than you probably want to know about my workout regime…you will see how unnaturally obsessed I am with Jillian Michaels. It's true.

More check-ins at home

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Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am being compensated for my participation in the 31 Day Challenge but all opinions are my own.

31 Days: Reading Healthier

One of the biggest challenges in adopting a healthy lifestyle is changing the way you think about everything. Food, sure, that's a given but have you ever thought about how your outlook on other things impacts your eating habits and your physical activity? It may not be a really big surprise to you but I've only just realized how much everything in life is interconnected.

Soon after signing on to the 31 Day Challenge (check out the new site!), I read a provocatively-titled post by Julien Smith: How to Lose 20+ lbs in January 2011. It's not as much of a how-to as a call to action, less about losing weight and more about taking ownership of your body. I dig it. He points out some simple things to consider and provides a good reading list to get started with. I borrowed Tim Ferris' much-ballyhooed The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman from the library but was kind of put off by its macho swagger. (It had some good info but overall read like a phone book-sized Men's Health article.) I'm not interested in getting ripped as much as being moderately fit. Yep, I'm a middle-of-the-road girl sometimes.

I received a copy of Oxygen's Pick It Kick It to review. It's not necessarily something I would pick up on my own (its bright colors and lascivious design makes it look like a tabloid tell-all mag about junk food) but it's really pretty smart. Little nutritional factoids and tips can help you a make smarter grocery shopping and dining out choices. For example, if you abhor healthier whole grain breads and will only eat white breads, it suggests you consider choosing sourdough. Why? Because the lactic acid in sourdough aids digestion. Smart, right? It's all about thinking about what you're eating.

Pick It Kick It author Diane Hart is the Executive Editor for Oxygen Magazine and Editor In Chief of Oxygen’s Special Issue Publications. She says that “Eating right doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive – it is a simple matter of making the right choices and that comes from knowing what foods are better than others.” Amen, sister! Here are her tips for eating healthier when dining out:

1. Stick to restaurants known for their healthy food options
2. To cut down on fat intake, order low-fat salad dressing on the side, and then dip your fork between bites to get the flavor without the extra fat
3. To cut calories while keeping taste and nutrition, mix your OJ and other fruit juices with equal amount of mineral water, plain water or seltzer and give the other half to your dining partner
4. Avoid bagels and muffins: Portion sizes have doubled in size and calories over the years, while muffins contain the bad stuff
5. Swap artificial sweeteners for honey, a half-teaspoon worth is just the right sweetness
6. Takes up to 20 minutes for food to digest: chew food thoroughly and slow down
7. Don’t “save your calories” by skipping meals: Not only will you slow down your metabolism, but you will be famished by the meal and most likely overeat
8. Anything “creamed,” “scalloped,” “au gratin,” “sautéed” or “breaded” is most likely loaded with fat: Go for “smoked,” “barbecued,” “roasted,” “grilled” or “broiled”
9. Buffet-Style Dining: Avoid it but tips if you must-Do an initial walk around and find vegetables and other clean etc., next get the small plate and load up on the proteins and other clean foods. Watch out for sauces and fried foods, skip breads and pastas
10. Portion control: Most people underestimate the calories in a meal by 150 to 400 calories; box off half of your meal for leftovers, less calories and two meals out of one saves money

Bob has been reading a lot of spiritual books by world-renowned Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh and has told me a lot about his theories about mindful living. I'm anxious to check out Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life written by Thich Nhat Hanh with nutritionist Lilian Cheung, which combines diet and meditation for a holistic approach. I'm interested in learning how to approach weight loss without the vanity commonly associated with it. Losing not to achieve attractiveness but a sense of balance, if that makes any sense.

What do you think?


Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am being compensated for my participation in the 31 Day Challenge but all opinions are my own.

31 Days: Eating Healthier

I wrote a little last week about the  31 Day Challenge I'm participating in. It's been pretty easy to eat lighter and healthier after the overload of heavy Holiday food. We've kept a lot of fresh vegetables in the house and have been eating a lot of salads. I've stocked up on Lean Cuisine frozen meals and Skinny Cow frozen novelties, which I am using primarily for lunches and snack attacks. Here's a recap of my shopping trip to stock up on them:

More check-ins at Walmart Supercenter #1507

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I have been very surprised with how tasty the Lean Cuisine meals are, overall, although I think the real secret behind them is portion control. I could probably eat two meals in one sitting, although that would defeat the purpose! I try to supplement them with a salad or fruit and have gotten used to finishing meals without an overly full feeling. Bob suggested we use the kids' plates for our own meals and see how much weight we'd lose. I suspect he's onto something there!

Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am being compensated for my participation in the 31 Day Challenge but all opinions are my own. 

31 Days

I've never had what I would really call a healthy body image. I spent most of my childhood and teenage years thinking I was fat, although in retrospect I was being silly. When I see old pictures, it makes me sad because I spent so much time hating my body instead of enjoying what it was capable of. I thought I was fat and clumsy and never wanted to join in any kind of physical activity, at school or at play. I consoled myself with thinking it was okay to be a bookworm, smart was enough. It wasn't until I was pregnant with Roo that I started thinking about my body in terms of health versus attractiveness. Looking good became less important than being fit and healthy. Food became a fuel source more than an activity. I actually wanted to exercise, to make labor and delivery easier and safer for myself and for my future baby.

Over the past seven years, with two natural childbirths under my belt, I lost my sense of personal well-being. Moms notoriously put others' needs before their own, but it's no excuse for my laziness. I never really worked to lose the weight after Jasper was born and our lives got busier and somehow, here I am almost four years later with an extra fifty pounds weighing me down both physically and mentally. Obviously, I am in need of some changes, so I was glad to be asked to participate in a 31 Day Challenge to start 2011 off in a healthier way. Lean Cuisine and The Skinny Cow have asked eleven bloggers to document the changes they're making this first month of the new year… allow me to introduce the Lean 11.

Mel/Mama Buzz
Zippy/Champagne Living
Nicole/SAHM Reviews
Wendy/The Local Cook
Tara/This Military Mama
Shelby & Steve/Glitterful Felt Stories
Eliza/The Life of a Home Mom
Brandi/Mama Knows It All
Ellen/Confessions of an Overworked Mom
Lisa/East Texas Saver
and, of course, me- Naomi/Superdumb Supervillain

Our goals vary, from weight loss and strength training to energy gain, but we're all committed to taking steps toward a healthier 2011. I've started doing the 30 Day Shred DVD again and already feel a change in my energy level and muscle strength, although I've actually gained a couple of pounds. I'll be reviewing other fitness games and books this month, letting you know how they work for me, and counting my calorie intaking using Lean Cuisine meals for lunches and The Skinny Cow treats. I picked up a couple of these to stock my freezer and was surprised at how much better Lean Cuisine meals look than I remember. Lots and lots of choices to suit most palates.

As a bonus, if you collect twenty codes from boxed Lean Cuisine meals before March 31st (excluding Market Creations), you can redeem them for a cute lunch bag. I am partial to the graffiti style, personally.

Okay, on to the accountability. Here I am, post-Shred, at the beginning of January.

I know, it's not pretty. One of my big resolutions for 2011 is to stop running away from cameras, like I've been doing since I was 9 or 10, so I am keeping it real with an ultra-rare snapshot of me in workout clothes. Shudder.

What are your goals for the new year? Share them with me!

Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am being compensated for my participation in the 31 Day Challenge but all opinions are my own.

Exercise, Tuscan Style

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to have a daily fitness routine that included working out with a celebrity fitness guru on the palazzio veranda of a self-sustaining organic estate in Tuscany, here's your chance! Trudie Styler's Warrior Yoga DVD is not only an intense yoga-based cardio/strength workout, but also a sneak peek into the lifestyle of the rich, famous and eco-friendly actress, environmentalist and activist who also happens to be… Mrs. Sting. She's also amazingly in tune with her body and, like her husband, is enviably fit and healthy in her mid-50s. I was surprised at how intense the workouts are while being very calming, perhaps because it features music from Sting's album Songs from the Labyrinth.



Warrior Yoga is the one of three new Gaiam Trudie Styler Fitness DVDs, sales of which support UNICEF Ecuador Water Project. The other DVDs are Core Strength Pilates and Cardio Dance Flow. I am curious about those, has anyone tried them?



Disclosure: I received a copy of the DVD to review.

Jillian Michaels Wii Fit Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 12/10 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #86 Angela!!!***

her comment...
We were able to use my sister-in-laws Wii when she was here with her family over Thanksgiving. My oldest (4 years old) really loved the hula hoop exercise game on the Wii Fit. My husband and I decided to get the kiddos (and us) a Wii for Christmas so that we can stay active during the cold months. But besides playing tag and hid and seek in the house (wow, can that ever get exhausting!), my husband and I will be walking/running on the treadmill until the spring when it warms up again.




I'll admit it. I have a total girl crush on Jillian Michaels, the badass 5'2" personal trainer from The Biggest Loser. I suppose it's only natural since her 30 Day Shred DVD has been the only workout I have ever managed to stay on for more than a couple of weeks. I've been using it every day for about a month now and while the pounds aren't quite flying off (about 8 lbs thus far), I do feel stronger and my endurance has really improved. As in I am actually completing the circuits instead of laying on the ground panting while staring at the TV…



Anyway, I was excited to hear that Jillian Michaels is the featured celebrity at a special event showcasing Sports Authority's new fitness gaming collaboration with Nintendo tomorrow Thursday, Nov. 19 at Sports Authority in Torrance, Calif. (located at 3610 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA) starting at 9:30 a.m and running through mid-day. (Jillian will be there from 9:30-10, so I'd show up early if you wanted to see her.) There will be a ton of giveaways, including copies of her new Wii game Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 and Wii Fit Plus boards, as well as other prizes from Sports Authority, Nintendo and Nike.




If you're not in southern California, either, you'll still be able to check out the "We know fit. We know fun." experience at 102 Sports Authority stores across the country. Each will feature a dedicated area with a demo console and knowledgeable trainers so customers can try the Wii and Wii Fit Plus before they buy. Sports Authority hopes that this program will encourage workouts that engage and entertain the whole family.

To enter and win a copy of Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 and a Wii Fit Plus board, courtesy of Sports Authority, please comment on this post with your family fitness goal.


Entries will be accepted through December 9th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Disclosure: I did not receive anything from Sports Authority for this post but I thought it was an awesome giveaway for my readers – I know I would like to win this prize!

Enlighten Up!

I've always been fairly skeptical about yoga, primarily because of my inherent aversion to sweating but also because the trendy new age vibe kind of creeped me out– there is something decidedly un-punk rock about carrying a mat into a room full of lycra-clad meditating folks. Well, my pal Hannah (who happens to be the mom of three girls under 4 and a hot-to-trot personal trainer) finally coerced me into taking some yoga classes a couple of months ago and I was surprised at how much I loved it, both from a physical and mental perspective.

Enlighten Up! is a film showing another skeptic's serious immersion into the world of yoga. Journalist Nick Rosen was chosen to be documentary filmmaker Kate Churchill's "guinea pig"- a novice yogi who could partake in various practices around the globe while trying to define the elusive "it" that yoga provides to its proponents: spiritual enlightenment, physical fitness or something else entirely. Kate wants to see Nick transformed by yoga the way she has been and the pair visit celebrity yogis and exalted gurus, busy urban practices and laid back devotees.



I won't tell you what Nick and Kate conclude in Enlighten Up! but suffice it to say that yoga is different for everyone who practices it. This is certainly the case among the very different teachers they visit, each of whom has a very different outlook on yoga and what to expect from the practice. Interviewees include B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, Norman Allen, Sharon Gannon, David Life, Gurmukh, Dharma Mitra, Cyndi Lee, Alan Finger, Rodney Yee, Beryl Bender Birch, Shyamdas, and many more! One of the more light-hearted yogis profiled is Diamond Dallas Page, an ex-pro wrestler who discovered yoga after suffering multiple injuries in the ring and created his own method: Yoga for Regular Guys. Hilarious, if not entirely politically correct…



Enlighten Up! is available everywhere on DVD starting November 10, 2009.

Disclosure: I received a copy of Enlighten Up! on DVD so I could let you know what I think about it. Go take a yoga class and let me know what you think. If you're near Wichita, these yoga classes are only $5 with no contract to sign. Heated floors, dude. Nice.

Shredding

I'm on Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred, working my way through the Shredheads October Challenge. I'd like to say the pounds are melting off but so far it's more like everything is tightening up which is pretty gratifying in its own way. (Think disappearing back flab!) I do, however, have a serious impediment to my workout schedule- other than my own lack of willpower and intrinsic loathing of sweat. It's about three feet high and super noisy:




Jasper will try to sit on top of me during crunches, under me during plank poses… whining the whole time "mommy, stooooop! no, mommy!" It gives new meaning to the term resistance training. Sometimes the cats join in the howling.

Good times.