Be the best version of you

I spent this weekend out of town at a soccer tournament (unfortunately, as a spectator, not a player) so I didn't get much time to work out. I did get to go swimming twice, so I tried to focus more than normal on making it workout-esque. Today, I spent 2 hours in the pool playing with my 5 and 7 year old niece and nephew... definitely a workout. I also did Level 4 of Jillian Ripped in 30, so I feel pretty good about what track I'm on. Being in a bathing suit, I've realized that while I haven't lost any weight, I've definitely put on some muscle.

While I like having muscles, I've always wanted the slim, toned kind of muscles, not the female-body-builder kind of muscles (Not that I'm anywhere near either of those options...). Josh and I will be getting our engagement pictures taken when we're in Minnesota in about 10 days, so we've decided we need to really get our butts in gear to be looking good for our photo shoot. Meaning, I'll finally be getting back to healthy, mindful eating.

The only "diet" I've ever tried is the 17 Day Diet. My parents, Josh, and I did this at the beginning of the year- we lasted about 2 or 3 weeks without much cheating, but then kind of slipped. Within the first week, I lost something like 4 pounds. I'm thinking I could stand to lose 5 pounds before the pictures, and then hopefully maintain a steadier weight loss after a few weeks. The first 17 days on this plan is called the "Accelerate" Cycle. Here are the basics (i.e. what I'll willingly eat):

Lean Proteins:

Salmon

Canned Light Tuna

Other Fish

Chicken Breast

Turkey Breast

Ground Turkey

Eggs

Cleansing Veggies:

Broccoli

Carrot

Bell Pepper

Cauliflower

Lettuce

Spinach

Celery

Cucumber

Mushrooms

Onion

Etc.

Low Sugar Fruit:

Apples

Berries

  Oranges

Peaches

Pears

Plums

Red Grapes

Probiotics:

Yogurt

Cottage Cheese

As you can see, this is a fairly restrictive diet plan. It's a definite challenge, and I won't lie and say I never felt hungry. I will say, however, that if you're looking for a way to change your mindset about eating (healthy snacking, portion control, natural foods, etc.) this could be a good spark. I'm already brainstorming different recipes I can try that will fit in with this diet plan. We shall see how this experiment goes!

Workout Move of the Week: Sun Salutation

The Sun Salutation Sequence

That's right, I picked a yoga pose! Jillian includes this sequence in the Shed and Shred DVD and I like it a lot. I read an article by a woman who was specifically working to increase her flexibility and she said she started each day with a few sun salutations. Sounds like a plan.

Until next time...