Wellness

Calorie Burning with TNT Pro Series Waist Trimmer and Slimmer Kit

Aug 1, 2019

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Calorie Burned with Waist Trimmer Belt

CalorieHow to burn a calorie? It is very effective with a combination of different activities during a workout. I am a firm believer in a consistent fitness regimen and eating properly as the key to staying fit and strong. There was an opportunity to test the TNT Pro Series products so I decided to order the waist trimmer belt as well as the arm and leg slimmer kit.

My workout consists of using my TRX and Real Fit with Amy’s circuit training workout via YouTube. The belt can be worn directly on skin or over your workout top. I ordered a size small and it is more than enough room to wrap with the velcro comfortably. My belt is worn under my workout top during either workout. After each workout, I remove it and can feel the sweat rolling off of my skin. Some of the things I like about this brand vs. another brand I tried is the secure fit, it does not slip while I am in motion, the size small is enough to cover my entire stomach area, it is comfortable to use while doing household chores. I would suggest wiping down after each use.

Calorie Burning with Upper Arm and Leg Slimmer Kit

My arms are starting to take on more form and tone due to consistent biceps and triceps exercises. Circuit training and my TRX workout are excellent for building strong arms. The arm slimmer is too loose for my arms which are small and muscular. My arms are one of my areas I want to increase muscle mass so I think the arm slimmer would defeat that purpose. For someone who is starting to focus on arms, this compression wrap is ideal to get burn calories on arms. I like the muscular tone of my thighs and will definitely try the thigh compression wraps especially if they are great for anti-cellulite. The size small is a perfect fit for my thighs.

You can purchase any of the products at TNT Pro Series.

*All three items were received free from TNT Pro Series for review purposes only. All opinions shared are my own.

Positive HealthWellness

Check out the website below for information related to diet & nutrition, recipes, fitness, beauty & aging, pain relief, and infographics.

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My First 5k at the Fit Foodie Run and It was the Best Family-Friendly Event

Jul 3, 2019

My First 5k

My first 5k was this year in Fairfax, VA on June 22nd. I read about the run in my Health magazine and I missed the date last year. For me running a 5k was a little intimidating at first because I never run for fitness. When I read it was a run or walk I felt more confident. Shortly after I registered myself and the kids I realized they have ambassadors as well. I signed up to be an ambassador for the run and was selected. Ambassadors are required to promote the run on Instagram for pre-events posts, stories, and on-site post and stories.

Fit Foodie Run

We arrived on Friday afternoon in time to pick up our bibs that evening. My first stop in Fairfax was to find the local Target. It is in an area called the Mosaic district. A nice shopping area filled with restaurants, retailers, and residential properties. We stayed at the host hotel in Fairfax and decided to take a Lyft to the run.

No Kid Hungry

One of the sponsors for the run, No Kid Hungry. If you are not familiar see how you can make a difference this summer.

The one lesson learned by participating in the run never counts yourself out when it comes to what you can accomplish. I am not a fan of hearing the two words “too old”. My question is who said age defines what you can and cannot do? I think limitations only stunt growth and any goal of staying fit is worth the work it takes to accomplish. Three miles are nothing for avid runners but what counts for me is that I finished. I did a combination of running and walking until I reached the finish line.

After the run, there was a post-run festival with food trucks, photo booth, healthy food/drink product tables, fitness vendors, a beer and wine bar, fitness activities, and a food demonstration.

We’re looking forward to returning next year for an annual event.

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New Fitness Workout at Club Pilates for Summer Workout Regimen

Jun 17, 2019

Pilates

My new fitness workout for my love of the summer season. My first workout was trying a thirty-minute intro class at Club Pilates. I took Pilates back in 2012 at a local yoga studio. All the exercises at the yoga studio were from the mat.

Club Pilates

My class at Club Pilates uses a reformer which I loved. The reformer supports the back and allows for fluid movement of arms and legs. I did not feel any strain on my neck from any of the exercises. By using the reformer I am able to adjust the setting for positioning my head depending on the exercise. The exercises from the floor and mat were easy for me to maneuver. I like the diversity of exercises to work the entire body. There were exercises from the floor and using resistance bands.

Diversify Workout

One of my favorite options of working out at home is the ability to diversify workouts. Pilates is excellent for improving posture, flexibility, and overall movement. I like the movements that allow me to stretch, use my core with proper breathing. Club Pilates offers a number of classes, times, and days. I am going to try the Suspend class next because it incorporates Pilates with the TRX.

One of the best goals I have worked on is using different types of equipment for strength training. It has increased my muscle mass, flexibility, and endurance. The best way to stay motivated is to include different forms of exercise you enjoy. There are a number of classes whether it is yoga, pilates, boxing, TRX, or kickboxing trying something new adds more fitness motivation. Club Pilates offers a number of packages to choose from for various schedules. I am planning to do a package that will allow me to do a class per week in addition to my strength training.

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Aging and How we Feel is Key to our Mental and Physical Health

May 17, 2019

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What does turning 50 mean in 2019? I really feel like 50 is a new age and not the same as my mother’s generation. When I started reading an article in my Shape magazine, titled Youth Science it was just what I believe about aging. I feel our overall perspective on how and what we do affects my physical and mental health. The article states that how long you live is attributed to how you feel, how happy you are and overall health. I learned a new term called subjective age, which is our individual perspective on how we are aging. Sometimes I wonder why I workout and then after I feel a sense of accomplishment. When I see the results of building a stronger, leaner and more flexible body I feel good both physically and mentally. A positive mindset does wonders for how we feel.

Minimize Stress

Some of the key takeaways from the article are four ways to take hold of getting older. As the saying goes, don’t sweat the small stuff, find ways to redirect stress through simple actions. For example, I love eating solo and while some may find this uncomfortable it gives me a chance to enjoy a meal without mutual conversation. This gives me a chance to relax and enjoy the moment. In those instances when I need company, a nice group meal fits for that specific time.

Positive Thinking

Another step is to spin a setback into a positive for a healthier and happier outlook. My number one on the list is exercise. The bottom line is to refrain from being a “Debbie Downer”.

Physical Exercise

Exercise gives me endurance, strength, and positive benefits for my health. Again, my subjective age. I try to diversify my physical activity by trying a new piece of equipment or a new class. This year I signed up for yoga classes. The confidence in trying something new is such a mood booster. Exercise motivates me to make better choices in terms of how and what I eat each week.

Travel

Lastly, traveling to new places. I just had this conversation with someone. Why wait for others to see the world around you? Sometimes it may mean traveling solo and enjoying on your terms. I believe a change of scenery can boost the spirit. I am looking forward to more travel. The idea of visiting new places is intriguing and a mental boost to learning more about the world. Monotony feels boring and being open to new experiences is more exciting.

All of these tips are the best summary of how to live as we age. Aging is much more than an AARP subscription. Make it a priority to live a happier and healthier life!

Food is a Big Part of a Healthy Lifestyle and What to Eat?

Apr 17, 2019

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Food is a daily necessity. The challenge is when it comes to what to eat and how many calories to consume. It took me almost a year to learn what to eat and how many calories. I was definitely not eating enough to maintain my desired weight. My fitness regimen goal is to gain more muscle mass and with this, I needed to eat more calories each day. For 6 weeks I worked with a trainer and followed a meal plan. The meal plan required me to eat every 3 hours with protein in every meal, carb, fruit or vegetable. This was easy for me at the end of the summer because schedules were not hectic.

Meal Plan

Now after the 6 weeks training plan, I am trying to incorporate the same plan with three meals, 2 snacks, and a one cheat MEAL a week. I think a misconception is to take a CHEAT DAY and this is a way to sabotage progress. The trick for me is to pick a cheat meal that is closer to the weekend or on the weekend.

Grocery List

I will say that grocery shopping means more trips to the grocery store each week. It is mainly for me to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Perishable items spoil quickly. I found myself throwing out lots of spinach so now I use spinach in a large salad, add to eggs, and saute for weekly meals. Strawberries and blueberries are my staple fruits. Adding fruit to oatmeal or including with breakfast meals, and as an afternoon snack. My grocery bill is a bit higher due to purchasing more quality products. One thing I have saved on is buying frozen fruit for smoothies.

New Favorite Foods

The best way to stick to eating the right foods is to diversify what you eat. Some of the foods I have added are lots of avocados, chia seeds, flax seeds, spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, brown rice, basmati rice, sweet potatoes. I find that my body is less bloated if I eliminate the wrong carbs and dairy. For a small treat, a small piece of dark chocolate is good for a craving.

Carribean Chicken Recipe and Using a Cooking Thermometer

Apr 15, 2019

The recipe is courtesy of KaTom Food Services and the cooking thermometer was received free of charge, all opinions shared are my own.

New recipes are fun to try especially when I use new ingredients. This recipe uses an herb, spices, jalapeno pepper, green onions. I decided to marinate the chicken thighs overnight. When I simmered the thighs the flavors smelled delicious.

Yield: 4 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes (plus 2-hour marination)

Cook time: 15 minutes

This marinade – which has a little bit of heat blended with just the right amount of sweet, savory, and aromatic spices – is absolutely fabulous for summer meals. Just the thought of this Carribean dish evokes images of tropical beaches, cool ocean breezes, and icy rum-infused cocktails (we’ll save those for another recipe!). Since it isn’t weighed down by heavy ingredients, this island indulgence is guilt-free and easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

4 (4 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

For the Marinade:

4 medium green onions, sliced
1-2 jalapeno chilis, seeded and chopped (for additional heat, leave seeds in)
¹⁄₃ cup lemon juice
¹⁄₄ cup honey, warmed slightly to soften
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons olive oil
¹⁄₄ teaspoon ground allspice
¹⁄₄ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste

The rest of the recipe can be found Carribean Chicken Recipe

thyme, green onions, allspice, nutmeg, jalepeno (seeded and chopped)

lemon juice, honey slightly warmed, and EVOO

Medium Heat, Cast Iron Skillet with EVOO

I served the chicken with rice and spinach. The chicken was very moist and full of flavor from the spices. Next, time I will leave in seeds for jalapeno pepper to give it a little heat.

Workout at Home for Strength Training and Cardio Using a TRX System

Mar 27, 2019

I use workouts for strength training and cardio. Some common equipment is dumbbells and kettlebells. I purchased a TRX system four years ago and it was a great investment.

TRX System

TRX system is easy to use indoors and outdoors. The system is perfect for travel because it folds easily to pack in luggage. Depending on the exercise the straps can easily adjust. The best thing about the system is I use my body weight as the resistance. It is easy to do upper and lower body exercises using the system at all fitness levels. The key to effective results is to keep abs engaged on each exercise.

YouTube and Fitness

There are thousands of free videos on YouTube for every fitness level. My go to trainer on YouTube is @bodyfitbyAmy. My video below is snippet of a 25 minute workout using TRX.

Home Workouts Work

There are no magic remedies to working out, only the results achieved within weeks. In 2017 I started working out at home and I started to see results within two weeks. The first step is to start moving and incorporating strength training. I love compound exercises as multiple body parts are engaged for the exercise. A home gym is feasible with limited equipment. Amazon is a great source for inexpensive equipment. If you have a smartv, phone, tablet, laptop YouTube is filled with thousands of FREE workouts. Next week, I will share what and how I eat.

Product Review of AthleisureWear for My Fitness Workout Regimen

Mar 13, 2019

*I received this outfit free of charge for review purposes only. All opinions shared are my own.
*This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase I will receive a commission.

Athleisurewear

Product Review of Athleisure Wear for My Fitness Workout Regimen

Athleisurewear is my favorite for working out as well as running errands on the weekend. My fitness routine starts with wearing the right athleisure wear to get me through all of my favorite full body workouts. One of my top brands is Fabletics, so when BrandCycle gave me an opportunity to review a Fabletics outfit, I was super excited. I started wearing Fabletics over a year ago after signing up for their VIP membership. Every month, I have $49.95 debited and added to my Fabletics account. Next, I can select an outfit. The outfits offered are at great price points with different styles offered every month. If you are not interested in shopping or don’t want to be charged that month, there is the option to “skip the month” as long as you do so between the 1st and 5th of the month.

Leggings and Sports Bra

I ordered the High-Waisted Mesh Powerhold Legging and the Maeve Reversible Sports Bra. As I am getting further along on my fitness journey, I prefer high waisted leggings. I determine a perfect fit by how much the fabric stretches, compresses and fits in all the right places. These leggings offer a moisture-wicking compression fabric, are chafe-free and SPF 50+, have a waistband pocket for keys, and a high waist that helps to me look slim in all the right places. The reversible sports bra offers the same moisture-wicking fabric, the racerback style offers medium support, and I love the reversible styling if I want to change up my outfit.

Workout in Outfit

The best way to test out the fit of athleisure wear is a workout. Today is a workout day with my resistance band. YouTube is my go-to place for all of my home workouts and today is a Resistance Band Workout.

The outfit is a great color combination that coordinates with any footwear. The fabric stretches perfectly and is lightweight enough to wear throughout every season. It is also flattering in all the right places. My abs are still a work in progress which makes the high waist perfect for this area. The compression fabric of the leggings is very comfortable and creates a perfect fit. I ordered the size S, regular length for my 5’4.5″ frame. A perfect sports bra is one that fits completely snug in the front and back. The size small is a good fit for me with a 32 band and a larger cup size. I would suggest the sports bra for a low to medium impact workout. After my planks with toe taps and bicycle exercises, I found the front band rolled under, otherwise, it stayed in place. The outfit is nice enough to wear for workouts as well as running errands on the weekends.

Get 2 of the best leggings for only $24 when you become a VIP member today!

The Winter Season Slows Down My Fitness Motivation

Feb 20, 2019

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Winter and Workouts

The Winter is draining mentally and physically with the cold unpredictable weather and time change. I swear living on the east coast slows down my fitness motivation. When the weather gets cold, I want to come in and curl up on the sofa with a cup of hot tea. It is so easy to get sidetracked when the time goes back and daylight is shortened. Last week I was unmotivated and broke my workout streak. I think every now and again there is mental burnout so when I get in I just want to sit on the sofa until bedtime. This was exactly what I did last week.

Meal Planning Failed

My meal planning was off as well. Each week I try to plan meals for the weeks and that felt like a job. This usually means I spend more money out on food instead of preparing meals at home. It was a week full of chocolate due to Valentine’s Day. Chocolate is my favorite cheat snack in moderation. This week I went a little overboard.

How to Get Back on Track?

Plan my workout schedule for three times a week
Grocery shop for meal planning this week
Do more protein this week including my whey protein
Increase strength training for this week
Schedule my yoga class

ABC Series, A Million Little Things is a True Testament to Friendship

Feb 12, 2019

spoiler alert

A Million Little Things

I binged watched the ABC series, A Million Little Things last year and I am hooked. It is the epitome of friendship and the story of 4 male best friends, (John, Gary, Eddie, and Gary) living in Boston. Three of the friends are married and one is single. They share their love of hockey, family, and friendship. The storyline is so emotionally charged and after the first episode it drew me in for more.

Friend Circle

John is the rock of the entire group. He is the one who everyone can count on for everything. I realized everyone came to him with their problems but no one asked John if he was fine. John and Delilah are married with two kids. Their relationship appeared strained due to John’s long work hours and being there for everyone else. I think he checked out of his relationship in the first season, we are not certain why. Delilah was a stay at home. Her previous life before John is not covered in season one. Delilah clearly checked out when she decided to have an affair with Eddie. Eddie and Katherine are married with one child. Katherine is the female version of John. She is a hard-working and ambitious lawyer who works hard at maintaining a solid foundation at work and building their future. Eddie is a stay at home dad and occasional band member. It is obvious that Eddie has checked out of his marriage as well with the affair with Delilah. Rome and Regina are married with no kids but a strong bond. Rome struggles with depression and came very close to committing suicide. He finally realized he was suffering from depression and decided to take medication. I love how Regina supported his truth and his decision to seek help. Gary is single with a dog and non-committal. He starts a relationship with someone from his support group.

John

The turning point is when John ends his life. There were so many unanswered questions, mainly WHY? They all believed John had it all, his wife, kids, a successful business, but there was something missing in his life. Ashley, his executive assistant was the closest person to his business and she had no clue on the signs. The first half of season one introduces us to all of the characters and unravels all of their stories. Also, Maggie’s character is introduced as Gary’s new interest and also the women he met in his breast cancer support group.

When the next half of the season resumed, it traces all of John’s steps the day before he committed suicide. It answered a few more questions that left me on a cliffhanger. John’s largest real estate deal went in a different direction and he was in significant debt. It was not clear if this is why he ended his life or if there was more. John also knew about the affair between Delilah and Eddie. The day before his suicide he mapped out his plan. John made sure he took care of everyone in the friend circle. He purchased a building for Regina to have her own restaurant, he made the guys executors of his estate, Ashley was given tickets to Barcelona, he purchased an entire city block to protect the sale of his college apartment, left a video for Barbara Morgan, hand-written notes to Delilah and Barbara Morgan, and secretly gave keys to the college apartment to Ashley. John also knew about Eddie and Delilah. His last voicemail call to Eddie was to say “love one another”.

Aftermath

John’s death left a lot behind for everyone to process. Katherine and Eddie separated. Delilah finds out she’s pregnant with “John’s” baby. Katherine starts dating a partner in her law firm. Delilah has to go to Katherine for her real estate mess John left behind that included $18 million dollars in debt. John focused so much on the business deals that he forgot about his family. Maggie, Gary’s girlfriend is now a part of the friend circle. John’s death has left so many questions. Delilah’s letter from John provided some closure for her and their kids, however, it showed he was in a lot of pain. The big question that is not answered, who is Barbara Morgan? My theory is she is someone from John’s past that he carried a lot of guilt throughout his life.

My Thoughts on AMLT Friend Circle

The friend circle was carried out by John. He was the friend who encouraged, loved, counseled, and cared for everyone else’s needs. The one thing that sticks out is no one in the circle asked John how he was doing. There were no signs of his pain because he was so good at masking his feelings. He was the strong one of the circle and it was assumed everything was great. The conclusion I reached after watching season one is to check on strong friends.