Book Review: Reshaping it All

I got two books for Christmas this year, and the first one I decided to read was Reshaping it All by Candace Cameron Bure.  I honestly just didn't feel like typing a review about it.  So I made a vlog for you all!

I may actually try to do book reviews like this in the New Year.  I felt like I was able to share more, and it was easy to do pretty much right after I finished reading the book.  This way, I don't seem to forget all of the brilliant things that I want to say about the book because I don't have time to write a post.  This was quick and easy!

I've decided to share this book with one of you!  I loved it, but to me, it's not one of those re-readable books.  Please remember, as I said in the video, my mom had a hard time finding this for me for Christmas.  So the book is large print, and it used to belong to a library somewhere.  But whatever, a book is a book, right?!   So anyway, please enter to win! :)

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AM or PM?

I thought I'd take a break from bombarding you with post about my vacation to ask a question that's been on my mind.

On Monday, Scott and I finally gave up on the excuses and joined a gym.  We have a Planet Fitness in the next town over, and you really can't beat the prices.

Scott came home from work that morning at 7 AM, and asked me if I wanted to go then....uh...no.  I am not at all a morning person, and I am definitely not a morning person during summer!  Instead, he had me wake him up at 2, and we headed out then.  By 2, I was ready to go, and actually looking forward to going.

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In Scott's defense, time of day means nothing to him because he works swing shift.  So, technically, when he came home at 7 AM, it was morning to sleeping me, but it was after work for him!  On the flip side, when he works the day shift, he wants to get up at 4 AM to go.

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This is why we had to get two memberships instead of one of us going with the other as a guest.

Not only am I not a morning person, but if I work out after work, to me, it's just extending my work day.  I'm already up.  I'm already moving.  It's easier to keep the momentum going than to GET it going.

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All of this got me thinking about how other people feel about their work out schedules?  Are you the type of person who gets up early and works out before work?  Or do you prefer an after work work out like me?

So here I go...

If you've been around here for awhile, you know that Scott and I started Insanity in March.  We did really well, and we almost made it to the end of the 2nd month.  We only had 4 workouts left during my last week of school, and Scott spoke these famous last words, "Let's take a break."

That break turned into ALL summer.  The time of year where I actually have all the time in the world to exercise.  We turned into big wastes of space.

BUT we've started back up again. 

I think the hardest thing about the Insanity workout is that it's supposed to be 6 days a week with a day off.  Sometimes that's just a) exhausting or b) not possible.  For example, if I have to go do a party for Celebrating Home after work, I don't have time to work out before I go.  And it's usually too late to work out when I get home.  And I'm sorry, friends, I am NOT a morning person.  So getting up before work is out of the question. 

The plan this time is to make sure we're working out 2, 3, or maybe 4 times a week.  I am going to my workout class on Wednesdays after work (we call it "Get Moving" since the person in charge isn't certified in Zumba).  It's so much fun, and I don't feel like I'm working out.  So if Scott works out that day, I'll pick up with him on the next video on Thursday.  You see?  We just ordered Hip Hop Abs, too!  That will be fun! :)

I don't like feeling bad because I'm super tired, or I don't have time for the workout.  I think, though, that as we work out more, we'll miss less.

I also started using My Fitness Pal.  My username is rebeckann2.  (IF you know how to find people that way...I don't.) 

This is from Sunday 10/13.

I like that I have a goal for calorie intake.  I have NO clue how many calories I consume each day.  I look forward to seeing some progress. 

What are your fitness goals?

Menu Planning Monday: Week 4

If you stopped by on Saturday, you read that Scott and I started the Insanity program.  This program includes workouts and a meal plan.  We will be eating small portioned meals five times a day.  I thought that it would be a great idea to link up with Elizabeth and Jane for Menu Planning Monday to share what we're eating for our first week.

I will not bore you with portion sizes for each one, but trust me, there's not much to each one.  We're talking a 1/2 cup of fruit, 1/2 a bagel, 1 slice of bread for a sandwich.  All of our grain products are whole wheat.

Monday
Meal 1: Bagel with cream cheese
Meal 2: Mexican Style Eggs (in a whole grain tortilla)
Meal 3: Chicken Ranch Wrap
Meal 4: Protein Pizza Muffin (This is on a whole grain English muffin with grilled chicken breast)
Meal 5: Steak with broccoli (We ended up cutting a piece of steak in half.  The program said 3-4 oz.  We will each have a 3.7 oz piece.)

Tuesday
Meal 1: Cereal bowl w/ banana
Meal 2: Turkey BLT
Meal 3: Grilled Chicken Salad
Meal 4: Peanut Butter Sandwich with banana
Meal 5: Pasta with seafood marinara (seafood = shrimp)

Wednesday
Meal 1: Berry Protein Smoothie
Meal 2: Egg Sandwich
Meal 3: Black Bean Soup & 1/2 sandwich (deli turkey)
Meal 4: Turkey Chili
Meal 5: Chicken Meatballs (Served with whole wheat pasta)

Thursday
Meal 1: Egg white & fruit plate (with a slice of Swiss cheese)
Meal 2: Protein Pancake
Meal 3: Whole wheat pasta with Vegetables & Feta cheese
Meal 4: Cold Cut Platter (The book literally says that this is like grown up Lunchables because you put deli turkey & ham on whole wheat crackers.)
Meal 5: Turkey Burger

Friday
Meal 1: Egg white breakfast wrap
Meal 2: Deli Sandwich (turkey on a 1/2 bagel)
Meal 3: Teriyai Grilled Tuna
Meal 4: Shrimp Cocktail Platter
Meal 5: Chicken Stir Fry

 Saturday
Meal 1: Veggie Omlet
Meal 2: Vanilla-Berry Protein Shake
Meal 3: Roast Beef Sandwich
Meal 4: Rotisserie Chicken & Salad
Meal 5: Dinner Omlet

Sunday
Meal 1: Peanut Butter Toast
Meal 2: Yogurt Bowl (plain Greek yogurt with apple pieces and walnuts)
Meal 3: Lean Burger
Meal 4: Roast Beef Wrap
Meal 5: Citrus Baked Chicken with Glazed Carrots

Sounds like a lot of food, but seriously.  I'll snap some pictures throughout the week to show you what the portions look like.  I don't think we'll starve thanks to all of the protein, but this is going to be a HUGE change.  I'll be sure to post with pictures, but in the meantime, follow me on Twitter and/or Instagram to keep up!  Also, if you're linking up for Dinner Time Tuesday, don't be decieved.  I have some dinners lined up for you before I start sharing these.  :)

And please pray for me because we're starting this diet portion on this very special week in a woman's monthly life.  Yeah, thanks.

Insanity

...and by insanity, I do mean Insanity...the fitness program.

Scott and I were lucky enough to score the DVDs and all the "Insanity" on eBay.  It arrived in the mail on Thursday, and we have now embarked on this insane journey.

I will be keeping you up-to-date here. 

We started out by taking the fitness test.  It's the first step to beginning the program.  I can tell you that our results are that we're out of shape.

Like whoa.

The fitness test takes a half-hour.  (And it's AWFUL.)  There are brief rest periods in which the next test is demonstrated.  There are 8 exercises, and you are given one minute to do as many of each as you can.  After two weeks, you take the fitness test again to see if you improve.  So here are my beginning results:

Standing Kicks: 35
Power Jacks: 36
Power Knees: 54
Power Squat: 22
Globe Jumps: 2
Suicide Jumps: 4
Push-Up Jacks: 5
Planking Abs*: 8

*Can't remember what this one is actually called.  You get into a plank position, and bring each leg up.  You have to do both legs to count as 1 set.

I'll explain a few more of the exercises.  Power Jacks are a jumping jack into a squat.  Power Knees kinda made me mad.  You bend the right leg slightly, and then bring your left knee up & hit your hand.  I would have liked to have done these the other direction, too, but we didn't get to.  (Clearly, I was the best at these. lol)  The globe jumps involve you looking a bit like a frog.  You have to squat with your hands touching the floor.  Then you hop up and forward, up and over, up and back, up and over (back to where you started).  It takes 4 to count as one set.  So, I actually did 8 jumps.  :-p  Suicide Jumps are aptly named because I thought I would break my face.  You get on the floor, jump back into push-up position.  Jump back forward, and then jump up totally and reach for the sky.  Then repeat.  For push-up jacks, you get into push-up postion (I can't even do real push-ups anyway).  On the way down, you jump a little and spread your legs.  On the way up, you jump them back to the original position. 

As I said, awful.  And I didn't even describe these well.

There's also a meal plan involved.  Meal plans always scare me because I have this problem where I don't like food that's good for me.  haha

BUT when I looked through it, I was pleased to see that there are a lot of options that involve foods that I do actually like in healthier forms.  That made a HUGE difference.  You are supposed to calculate how many calories you need for your height, weight, and things like that.  Then you eat smaller portions 5 times a day: Breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner.

Having both of us take this journey together is going to be a HUGE benefit.  This way, we're both on the same page in terms of food, and even if we can't work out together (our schedules often don't mesh), we can encourage one another and check in to see if we've each done our workouts.  You are supposed to work out 6 days a week.  Until summer comes, I will skip Insanity on my Zumba days after work.  I LOVE the dancing aspect of Zumba, and I don't want to miss doing something I love when I know that this is going to kick my butt.  :)

I reluctantly leave you with my before shots:

 

P.S. I was sucking it in a little....

Also, the winner of my giveaway with The Young Retiree will be announced soon!  Stay tuned!