My apologies.....

I need to apologize for a lack of posts these past months. Here are my excuses......errr, umm, I mean reasons; I have been studying and training for a new job (when all is said and done I will post about it, as I am very excited to have the opportunity), I have been ridding my house from top to bottom of excess stuff for a garage sale, I was getting my kids ready for school. OK so there ya go!
TO YOUR HEALTH!

My new favorite fitness tool (being bugged)!

I don't like to play guessing games, or spinning my wheels when it comes to losing weight, but that's what most of us do. We get a ballpark number of calories we need to maintain our current weight, and then create a calorie deficit based on our goal which is achieved by exercising and watching our calorie intake. That's all fine and well, but I don't want to wait a week or so to see if I have created enough of a deficit to reach my goal. And then typically when the goal is not met, you have to decide if you want to eat less or exercise more, and then use a ballpark number again to increase exercise by, or reduce calories by, to wait and see once again if you'll meet your goal. How many calories am I actually burning on a daily basis, and how many calories are being burned during any given workout? I didn't know. I could only use ballpark numbers which seemed to be way off given no weight loss was occurring. You've probably done the same, watched and maybe even kept a food journal of what you ate, did your cardio and resistance training like a good little soldier, with little or no results, week, after week, after week! HHHMMM! I'm missing something here, in the overall picture there is crucial data that seems to be left out. This is something that has 'bugged' me for quite some time now, and I have been very frustrated with not knowing how many calories I was burning, especially when I exercised. But then one time while watching the Biggest Loser, I saw something on the contestants arms, and then later it was explained what they were, and what they did. The contestants were wearing the 'Bodybugg'. It is a personal calorie management system that uses specialized sensors to monitor calories burned with an accuracy of over 90%. It also has a built in pedometer and has a web based program where you enter calories consumed and download the data from your 'Bodybugg'. I started looking into buying one in late 2008 and found out the next version, version 3 was going to be released towards the end 2008. So I kept waiting and eagerly anticipating the release date. So finally it rolls around, and wouldn't ya know it, I couldn't afford it at that time. I wanted one sssooo bad I was ready chew off my own arm just to get one! Ugh! So I kept watching the prices and they were not going on any good sales. Ugh again! Then finally about 6 months later, 24 Hour Fitness put it on a good sale and I was finally able to afford it! I also got the Digital Display which is like a watch, but it gives you instant feedback on all of the data the 'Bodybugg' records. That means I don't have to wait till I can download the data to my computer to see how many calories I have burned or see how many steps I have taken etc. YAY! I finally got my mitts on one and couldn't be anymore enthused! Initially I was more interested in knowing the number of calories I was burning than the break down of the food data that I was entering. Don't get me wrong, I am still very interested in the number of calories I am burning, but after seeing the breakdown of a couple days worth of food I was in shock. I eat pretty healthy and try to watch my sodium consumption but I had no idea till now, exactly how much sodium I was taking in on a daily basis! Wow, what an eye opener. Then another shock would follow, I was burning nowhere near the number of calories I thought or felt like I had burned during various workouts! So now I feel I finally have the missing data that I need to be able to stop spinning my wheels and finally take off on the weight loss highway! I think overall the 'Bodybugg' is an invaluable tool not only for weight loss and weight maintenance but the web based program gives a great breakdown of how healthy or unhealthy you are eating. I know there are websites out there where you can just log your food intake, but without the data you get from the 'Bodybugg' you don't get an overall picture that includes your calories burned and steps taken and activity levels for 24hrs a day! I don't know about you, but this is one case where being 'bugged' is not a bad thing. If you would like to learn more about the 'Bodybugg' go to www.bodybugg.com . For now I am thoroughly enjoying being 'bugged', and will update you on how well it actually helps me to achieve my weight loss goals. So until next time........
TO YOUR HEALTH!

Not all grams of caloric nutrients are created equal!

First off, nutrients are life-sustaining substances found in food. They work together to supply the body with energy and structural materials, and to regulate growth, maintenance, and repair of the body's tissues. Proteins, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals and water are the six major classes of nutrients. But proteins, carbohydrates and fat are the three nutrients that provide calories. These calories are used by the body to sustain life by helping to maintain body temperature and facilitating the growth and repair of all organs and tissues. Many people believe carbohydrate calories are 'good' calories and fat calories are 'bad' calories. But they both serve a vital purpose in our diet. One reason fat calories are considered bad is that Americans eat too many of them, which can result in excess body fat and weight. Fat is a very concentrated source of energy and contains more than twice the calories of protein and carbohydrates. Alcohol also provides calories, but is not considered a nutrient since it does not contribute to the growth, maintenance, or repair of body tissue. I know that sadden a lot of you, sorry! Furthermore, alcohol can be converted to fat when total caloric intake exceeds caloric output. So here is the breakdown of calories per gram for the three 'nutrients', but I also included alcohol just as an F.Y.I.

• 1 gram of protein = 4 calories
• 1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories
• 1 gram of fat = 9 calories
• 1 gram of alcohol = 7 calories

So there you have it, now you know why all those things we Americans love to eat (and drink) contain sssssooooo many calories!

TO YOUR HEALTH!

Day 23 of SHAKEOLOGY and Viola!

So from day 10-22 I have been drinking the Chocolate/Banana shakeology concoction, or just having it with milk. But today on day 23, a new day has dawned, as well as the BEST concoction I have come up with thus far! Viola!! This one skyrockets straight to the top of my 'imaginary list'. Oh YEAH this one rocks! I used 8oz. of Blue Diamond Almond Breeze in the Original flavor, 1 scoop of Chocolate shakeology, about 1 cup of ice, and the secret, awesome, rockin' ingredient is........1tsp. of pure Peppermint extract! Oh pure joy for my taste buds! Heaven....I'm in heaven! OK enough of that, I will be posting later on my new favorite high tech fitness tool! Check back later to see what it is!
TO YOUR HEALTH!

YUMMY FOR MY TUMMY!

So I started P90X again and this time I am making changes to see if they will make a big difference in my energy level so I am able to finish the program this time. The differences this time are that I got the P90X Health Formula Multivitamin supplement, and the Results and Recovery Formula drink to use, and I am increasing my calorie intake. The last time I did P90X for 5 weeks and was sssooo exhausted I stopped and changed to Power 90, which I really liked. But there is just something about P90X, it keeps calling you 'come back, come back and Bring It!' OK so maybe that's just the voices in my head, but nevertheless there is just something about this program that leaves you wanting more, even if it is very challenging. So today was the day of the big return to P90X, and afterwards (within 1 hour after) I had the Results and Recovery Formula drink. Smooth Orange is it's name and SO YUMMY FOR MY TUMMY is it's game! It is sssooo good it reminds me of an Orange Julius. Talk about motivation to workout, I think I'll find excuses to make sure I workout now, just so I can have the drink after. I kid you not, it is that good! Till next time!
TO YOUR HEALTH!