Are You Ready to Make a Change?

The first 30 day challenge ENDS Wednesday, June 5, but the NEXT 30 days starts  Thursday, June 6th! 

Are you ready? Do you need a change? Do you need a boost of encouragement to keep on your fitness journey? 

We have a facebook page and a special spread sheet to track your points. Check out the Point system HERE.

It´s free, and you can also win a 10$ online gift card for highest overall points. 

We all need the encouragement to keep on our fitness journey! Come join us as we get toned, fit, and healthy!

You can sign up here in the comments or by sending me an e-mail.  

Dani Joy

Very easy diuretic soup

Hi, some of you who are trying to lose more weight may be interested in this recipe. It is easy and helps naturally with water retention. You will need:
1 sweet onion
3 or 4 stalks of celery
1/2 handful fresh parsley
lemons
2 1/2 liters of water (1/2 gallon and 2-3 cups)
Peel and cut the onion in big chunks, boil onion, celery, and parsley for 20-25 minutes. Pour in a strainer and put the veggies away. Your soup is ready. 30 minutes before lunch and supper, get a cup of the soup (lukewarm) and add the juice of half lemon. Drink! You can do this for 3 or 4 days and after a couple of weeks do it again. The soup can be kept in the fridge, you just warm it up a bit before drinking it. It is actually pretty good =)

Winners, Running, and Look out Summer Here we Come!

The Spring-in 2 Shape Challenge ended April 1, with two winners of the Amazon gift card!

Sharon Livingston - She did both 30 day challenges with a total 189 overall points and 9 pounds lost! 
She is an active mommy of three very young boys!   Way to go Sharon! 

Hannah Hill - won the second 30 day challenge with a total of 148 points- She is 29 pounds down... 14 inches @ the waist & 10 inches @ the hips... she has been working @ this for 14 weeks now... 

A big shout out to these two very brave ladies! God will bless your discipline and hard work! Keep on for His glory.

In our fitness journey for life, sometimes we get a little sidetracked and waylaid. This has happened to me recently. Even though, I never stopped exercising totally, I let a lot slide. I started eating a little more and before I knew it I had gained back 10lbs!

 It has been almost 3 years since I got the 40 pounds off . I have worked too hard to have it come back on! I refuse to let it! God help me to stay disciplined and strong. 

Running is not my thing, but it has become my thing. It is the only way to really truly lose the belly fat and inches in the lower end. 

Today, I hit a personal record. Thanks to a friend who runs very well,  we ran an 1 hour and 10 minutes! I just had to share our trek! I kept saying, 

"My help comes from the Lord," every uphill climb. 

The blue graph is the hills we climbed! 

Of course, this is not my first run. Please, be sure to work your way up to such a run. I have heard that the Couch to 5K is a great program to get running. Also, I use www.Dailymile.com to track all my miles. A friend of ours uses Nike +.  

Most importantly, don´t forget to stretch and drink lots of water.

It is still really cold here, but look out summer here we come! Stay posted for our up-coming Sweatin´ Off the  Fat  summer fitness challenge.  I hope to start it  the second week of May! 

Do all for the glory of God! 

Staying fit for life, 

Dani Joy

Spring-in 2 Shape End

It's a wrap!

We finish our Spring-in 2 Shape challenge today at 12 am your time. Measure, weigh in and Count all your points! The last post must be done by Tuesday in order to qualify for the prize and the overall prize. 

It has been so great springing with you! We have worked hard to keep good habits and get healthier. 

Dani Joy

Mix it up and Just have fun with IT!

Weights and jump training! Weights and jumping rope! Weights and abs! It´s so much fun to mix up your workouts. Here is a good way to do it. Jillian Michael´s 3,2,1 circuits work great! 3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs, then repeat this cycle 3 times. You have done a 30-40 minute workout without even getting bored! Don´t forget the 5 minute warm up and cool-down. 

Here is an article from Livestrong.com. - 

Aerobic exercises mixed in with weight exercises are a type of workout commonly known as aerobic circuit training. The benefits of aerobic circuit training are numerous. These types of workouts can add variety to your routine, sculpt muscles, burn calories, are time-efficient and can be done at home or in the gym with a pair of dumbbells. According to fitnessmagazine.com, aerobic circuits can burn up to 10 calories per minute.

Combining Weights with Aerobic Exercise

Combining weights with aerobic exercise in a circuit-type fashion helps you burn more calories and increases your cardio benefits. An aerobic circuit workout consists of several strength and cardio exercises repeated one after another, two or three times with little or no rest between sets. To complete an aerobic workout, you will need a pair of dumbbells, a stopwatch and any aerobic equipment you will need.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/365917-aerobic-workouts-with-weights/#ixzz2NYqkpQpG

On the Road Again!

It has been a long time since I have run 5 km. It has been a long time since I haven´t been in pain while running. It has been so long since it hasn´t RAINED!

But, I am on the road again! I am running!  I feel like a little girl getting out in the fresh air, looking down the road, and just wanting to go far!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I ran with Toro, our bull dog mix. He is so fun to run with now, even though he stops dead in his tracks to smell something foul.

There is a 5k woman´s race every year in June to promote breast cancer awareness which I have ran 3 years in a row. My goal is to run it better than the first year. This will be a stretch because, it was my top time ever at 29 minutes.

My back didn´t hurt last night as I ran the longest I have ran this year yet (1 1/2 miles). I was so surprised to be able to be to keep going.

What are your fitness journey goals? It is important to set them and work toward them little by little. It gives us motivation and discipline.

Dani Joy

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Kandie Sutton our Spring-in 2 Shape IV first place winner!

(pictured here with her two sons)

She came in first place in the first 30 days with 121 points and she probably had more. I say that because she found herself craving more and more exercise. She is an inspiration to me. When we saw each other in December 2010 she was exercising, but hadn´t lost volume nor pounds yet. To see her in this picture, I barely recognized her. She has made incredible changes.

Exercise is key! It increases the metabolism, and gives energy. God created us to work, but today's society we don't do any physical labor really. Now we must run,walk, bike, slide on the elliptical or whatever it takes! This is what Kandie is doing. She is moving and winning!

Congratulations, Kandie. We will all follow your example this challenge.

Dani Joy

Back to the Books!

Doesn´t this picture say it all? 

This is our dog, Toro and my second son Andrew. Andrew was teaching Toro in school. 

Yes, I gotta get back to the books. I gotta get back to what works for me. More exercise, less carbs! This Thursday, I got a stomach virus that derailed me a little. Doing only 20 minutes each day of fast walking, stairs, sit ups and stretching. This sounds like a good workout, but truly not enough for my body to tone and drop some extra pounds. 

Ladies, I have read this in the books, I have experimented it, I have lived it! You must burn what you consume or you don´t lose weight. You must tone muscle or your metabolism does not rise. You must cut back on excess sugars and carbohydrates or they stay on as fat! These are the facts I have learned but, have got to stick to. 

We have 6 days left in the first part of our Springing-in 2 Shape challenge. We will end on Friday the 1st of March with one winner for the first 30 days. Then those who want to continue on or any new members start right back at it on the 2nd. 

To be in the running for the first place prize, Please post a total of points, weight loss, volume loss and exercise, with a Picture,  by 12:00 am Friday night. I will post the winner Saturday the 2nd while we all keep on springing for  the second half. This post will count for your 10 point start up as well, if you will be continuing on. 

We will reset all our points to 0 on the 2nd of March. This will allow more ladies to join us if they would like. 

Please, announce it to your friends. 

Please pray for each other and keep springing. Consistency is key!

Dani Joy

Carrie Walker - Weeks 2 and 3

I have been hit and miss the last couple of weeks due to my daughter being sick and me being sick. But I've managed to get a little exercise in, but not a whole lot. Most week days, I've managed to at least get 20 minutes of brisk walking in on my breaks, but other than that I've only made it to the gym twice. I must be doing something right though because I have been losing inches (though I'm not sure about weight because I don't have a scale at home, only one at the gym - which I can't seem to get to!)

February 13, 2013 Results...

Bust: Down 1/2 inch
Chest: Same
Waist: Down 1/2 inch
Hips: Same
Left Thigh: Same
Right Thigh: Same
Left Arm: Same
Right Arm: Down 1/2 inch

Total for that week: Down 1 and 1/2 inches

February 20, 2013 Results...

Bust: Down 1/2 inch
Chest: Down 1/2 inch
Waist: Down 1 inch
Hips: Down 1 inch
Left Thigh: Down 1 inch
Right Thigh: Down 1 inch
Left Arm: Down 1/2 inch
Right Arm: Down 1/2 inch

Total for this week: Down 6 inches!!! (hopefully it stays off because this week I've been sick.)

I'll be getting my ticker caught up to reflect where I'm at on everything.

Here's a funny for this week.  So glad to have this group to support one another in our quest to meet our goals of fitness and weight loss.

Weight Loss Buddies
My friend Kimberly announced that she had started a diet to lose some pounds she had put on recently.
"Good!" I exclaimed. "I'm ready to start a diet too. We can be dieting buddies and help each other out. When I feel the urge to drive out and get a burger and fries, I'll call you first."
"Great!" she replied. "I'll ride with you."

New Healthy Web link!

I am proud to introduce you to our new healthy web link which Maribel posted over on our FB group. 

Click on the picture to check out her awesome meal plans, recipes, and great encouragement to eat healthy.

Also here you may get your one week Real Food plan.  

https://www.facebook.com/100daysofrealfood/app_190322544333196

We will also add 100 Days of Real Food to our links on the side bar! 

Keep Springing, 

Dani Joy

Week 3 - Hows it going?

   Hey, ya'll!  

NOooooooo! 

I don't believe in diets....

Just in consistent healthy eating plans! HEP!

Let's keep at this. I had a lovely dinner with my hubby last night, but didn't make my HEP due to the white pasta. Today, was my free day, made lemon bars for our English workshop and then went out for a cheep date with hubby. I have been craving patatas cabrales (fried potatoes and blue cheese. )

My points for yesterday and today,  7pts daY/ 81total

Keep on springing,

Dani 

Getting Exercise Inspite of It All

Ok... so we can´t go outside, it´s raining, snowing, hailing, whatever  you can imagine, but you don´t have to miss your exercise points! You can march in place watching your favorite show. You can even do some sit-ups. Don´t forget to stretch the last 5 minutes and bingo--- you have 1 point! 

Even if you are under the weather yourself, you can Walk this Way with Leslie Sansone or just move for 20 minutes doing something. It truly is amazing how little you can do in 20 minutes. 

Then, challenge yourself! Once you have the 20 minutes down pat, go for 40! You can do it! It doesn´t have to be a sweating, hurting workout to burn some extra calories, but the more you eat the more you need to burn. Remember balance is key. 

Ladies, so often I can´t even get changed into my workout clothes, I feel so cold and tired, but I think of you all, and go for it. My boys watched some of the Rocky movie the other night and I had the IPAD playing Jillian´s 30 day shred on mute. It worked as quite a motivational workout. 

Inspite of it all, we can take a few minutes to move and burn some fat. I remember this fact, so often, when I get up late in the morning, thinking I don´t have time to read my devotions or pray. My day is always worse when I don´t make time in the morning to read and pray! These are all disciplines that we make sure we incorporate, inspite of it all. 

Springing and Praying with you all,

Dani Joy

Week #1: Update, Carrie W.

My First Week:

Since I hadn't really come up with a HEP and I'm not really sure this constitutes one, but I really hate to limit my eating when I first start to try to lose weight. This may seem counterproductive, but if I tell myself I can't eat something I want it. Typically I start out by working out quite a bit (though this is the first time I've really tried since having a child, so I don't have as much time) and then gradually start not eating certain foods. The main thing for my HEP at this point is that I'm avoiding soda/carbonated beverages/pop (whatever you call it - I prefer calling it "soda"). We are also staying at home for our meals and making our own food, so even though it isn't low fat we are trying to eat foods that are better for us because we are making them at home and not eating fast food.

January 30, 2013...

I got in 28 minutes on the elliptical and 2 minutes on the rowing machine as well as a 20 minute brisk walk.

2 points.

January 31, 2013...

35 minutes - elliptical/5 minutes - rowing machine/20 minutes - brisk walk = 3
Introductory post = 10
HEP = 1

13 points

February 1, 2013...

25 minutes - elliptical (the full body kind where you also work out your arms)
15 minutes - weight machines (worked out various arm muscles and leg muscles - sorry I don't know my muscle names very well).
HEP = 1

3 points

February 2, 2013...

HEP = 1

February 3, 2013...

HEP = 1

February 4, 2013...

HEP = 1

February 5, 2013...

HEP = 1

February 6, 2013...

Measurements:
Bust: 1/2 inch smaller
Chest: 1/2 inch smaller
Waist: same
Hips: 1 inch smaller
R Thigh: 1/2 inch smaller
L Thigh: same
R Arm: 1/2 inch smaller
L Arm: 1/2 inch smaller

Total Inches Lost: 3.5 inches lost for 7 points
HEP = 1
This Post = 1

9 Points

Total Points for this week: 32

Week Two Start - Dani Joy´s 3rd Journal

 

How are you all doing??? Did you see some changes this week? 

Keep Springing Ladies, and you will see change! I promise!

My points to date - 41

I didn´t get my exercise in on Sunday nor Monday, but followed my Belly Fat Cure to the T!!! So excited to see it working!!! 

I lost a pound this past week and 1 inch! 

Starting Week 2 our goals should be to increase our exercise intensity. Burn more, increase muscle, increase metabolism! 

Let´s keep making a difference,

Dani Joy

SPINACH!!!!!

This is my new favorite food - SPINACH!!!! 

Low in calories, low carb, low sugar! 

I use spinach instead of pasta, or any other kind of filler. It is filling and full of fiber. Add some low carb dressing, mushrooms and any kind of meat. It is a perfect meal! 

Go ahead, I dare you, eat your fill in Spinach!!! 

Dani Joy

Hi Ladies. This is my introduction post - a little late. I am happy to join you again on this adventure of healthy living. I just turned 58 and celebrated my birthday in Jerusalem with Alice Dysert. We had a blast on our trip, but when I got home, I started eating a lot again and gained back several pounds. I work at our church where I have been on staff for 35 years. I do just about everything except drive a bus. We also have a small Christian School and I teach music with three choirs and two handbell choirs. It is fun being in the ministry, but the unusual is almost always apt to happen. We've had some interesting things take place the past few days which has kept me from getting a good start on this challenge. Hopefully I will be able to catch up and keep up. I am starting my weight at 182 and want to lose 10% or more by July 10th which is my next European trip. I did it years ago using Weight Watchers, and want to see if I can do it again. My HEP will follow their guidelines which includes three balanced meals a day with portion control, and cutting out snacks full of refined sugar and flour. This may adjust as the challenge continues, but that is where I can start. Thank you, Dani, for encouraging us on this challenge! Happy springing to everyone!

Get that water intake up!

Here's my first tip post for this week:

Create a plan and follow through!  I know it is always difficult for me to drink enough water because frankly, I don't think about drinking anything for hours at a time.  But when I am doing one of these challenges I am more aware of my water consumption and that helps me remember to drink water.  often, however, I don't think about it until later in the day and then I am pushing to get it all in before bed.  The times that I have been successful in getting the whole 2 liters in is when I have some kind of concrete way to remind myself to drink and a way to track if I have had enough yet.  One challenge I put 4 magnets on the fridge and moved them from one side to the other every time I drank a 1/2 liter glass of water.  This time I was out shopping at the grocery store and needed to buy my daughter some bottled water to bring to school.  I saw a large bottle of water (1.5 liter) which was designed to be easy to hold even though it was a super large capacity.  I picked it up and carry it around with me taking sips throughout the day.  That  combined with the couple of glasses of water that I drink with meals easily gets me to the 2 liter goal each day.  What is your plan to help you get that water intake where it needs to be?

My Healthy Breakfast Casserole

I'd like to share the recipe to a breakfast casserole I made this past Saturday. I had people over for breakfast and wanted to make something I could eat too. I looked for recipes, but did not like them entirely. So I made my own. I had some left over baked potatoes, so I sliced them and put them at the bottom (instead of the bread most of them asked for. Then I used a yoghurt dip I had made out of plain yoghurt and onion spices (that was in place of the milk or cream). I used a packaged of boiled bacon I buy at Lidl (Canadian bacon).  I added 8 beaten eggs (with salt and pepper) and mixed it all up. I topped it with grated cheese (four cheese and mozzarella), and then I remembered I had some mushrooms, so I sliced them thinly over top. It looked really good.

It was very good. It did taste "healthy". I guess regular bacon would have given it a more "fatty" taste, or maybe adding butter. But I enjoyed it very much. It would be good to eat for lunch or dinner as well.

Belly Fat Cure - And overall points

This is the HEP I am following. It is much easier for me than counting calories. It is also much better than the Atkins. It has an awesome app for the IPAD or IPHONE. I use this all week long and then on the week ends or if we go out only eat proteins and veggies. Also, there is a recipe book and a fast diet book to help out. I just bought the Belly Fat Cure book. 

I would like to ask you all to please put your overall point total when you post about your points so I can update the blog. If you want to see how we are all doing, this is where you look. If you would also like a ticker on the blog, please let me know. 

Keep Springing, ladies,

Dani Joy