The Final Day of TIU BEACH WEEK!

Why is it that when I'm going on a trip, I completely procrastinate packing!? I mean, I'm the type of person that needs to check the weather the day of, look around at what I have in my closet, and decide on what to wear based on all those factors, including my mood! So as I sit here typing this blog post, I am staring at my unpacked bag... wishing it would pack itself.

I just completed Day 5 of Tone It Up Beach Week (you can still join at any point - doing the same exercises and eating lean, clean and green, of course)!

I had to work two jobs today, so I was determined to get in both workouts and eat extremely healthy!

What I had planned:

Friday - [AM w/o] sunset workout x3

[PM w/o] kickboxing (60 min)

I set my alarm nice and early, and completed my booty call - the sunset workout x3, or should I say the sunrise workout, before I went to watch the children I nanny. I took them to the park, and while they rode around on their bicycles, I walked and followed them.

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

When I finished that job, I was off to watch children at CKO Kickboxing, while their parents are kickboxing. I was able to squeeze in a 60 min kickboxing session right after! I am telling you, if you haven't tried kickboxing, then you should ASAP! I am going to blog about it in a later post, but seriously, go try it if you want a full-body workout - the first session is free (aside from $20 gloves, if you don't have any)!

My meals:

M1- Kashi Blueberry Clusters with fat free milk + 1 banana

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

M2- peanut butter cookie larabarM3- steak & avocado salad (threw in peppers, tomatoes, onions, and a sprinkle of cheese)

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

M4- SILK Strawberry banana with 1/2 packet perfect fit
M5- chicken with tomatoes, brown rice, and green beans/brussels sprouts with some Mrs. Dash! 

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

+ 70 oz of H2o

I am feeling amazing, and super confident - probably more confident than I've ever been! Tomorrow, I plan on taking my measurements and posting a progress picture. So be on the lookout! 

Now off to pack! 

Day 4 of Tone It Up Beach Week

That means tomorrow is the last day! If you believe in yourself you can do anything! I made it through lean, clean and green eating every day, as well as two-a-day workouts, cardio AND toning. I couldn't be prouder, and I feel so accomplished so far!

It's Thirsty Thursday, and our trainers, Karena and Katrina, made sure we worked out hard and drank a lot of H2o!

Since I had the day off, I was able to wake up early for my Booty Call workout! Since I am not a member of a gym or have a tread climber, I wasn't able to do the Plateau buster, but I did do the HITT the beach workout, as well as a 20 min jog on the tread climber (1.21 miles).

What I had Planned:

Thursday - [AM w/o] HITT the beach + 20 minutes on the tread climber (40 min)

[PM w/o] surfer girl + sunkissed abs x3 + 50 tummy tucks

Since I was off of work, there was no reason for me not to complete all the workouts I had planned. For my PM workout, I did the surfer girl workout on the Beach Babe DVD, sunkissed abs x3, and 50 tummy tucks, as well as a 1 min plank!

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

I also ate extremely well, which I'm proud of! I swear I continue to surprise myself, but I know that I have the control, and as long as I know that, I know I'll do great! 

Here's What I ate:

M1 - perfect fit pancake with 1/2 banana and 3 strawberries, and Chobani blueberry greek yogurt

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

M2 - Jamaican jerk chicken with tomatoes, and a side of broccoli and chickpeas with spinach

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

M3 - Frozen Chocolate Covered Strawberry !*

M4 - Turkey burger with lettuce and tomato, and a side of chick peas with spinach**, and green beans

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

M5 - maybe some hummus and multigrain gluten free sea salt crackers

How do you make a chocolate covered strawberry you ask? Well, in my opinion, it tastes exactly like a Frozen Hot Chocolate, but afterwards you're not left with a full tummy, you're feeling refreshed! 

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

*Chocolate Covered Strawberry

Ingredients: 

1 Chocolate Zico Coconut Water

Splash of Unsweetened Almond Milk

1/2 packet of Perfect Fit Protein

apx. 7 Strawberry Ice Cubes

Directions:

Put all of the ingredients into a blender (I used the magic bullet) and blend! It's that simple!

To make the strawberry ice cubes - cut strawberries in half or quarters and place cut strawberries in an ice cube tray. Fill with water, freeze overnight, and enjoy in water to give it an extra kick or the Chocolate Covered Strawberry!

 ** Chick Pea and Spinach Salad 

Ingredients: 

1 cup of Spinach (I used cooked spinach, but you can also use it right out of the fridge)

1 can of chick peas

Juice of half a lemon

1 teaspoon of olive oil

black pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix all of the ingredients together. I heated mine for about 5 minutes on the stovetop, but this can be eaten cold like a regular salad, just let it "marinate."

Source: AnnieSmallz

Tone It Up Beach Week Day 3 - Happy Hump Day!

Reminder to myself: You felt amazing this morning after your Booty Call, I repeat AMAZING! Try to always work out in the AM, as well as the PM, whenever possible!

So I've reached the mid-point of Beach Week, and I'm sad it's almost over. I wish it lasted forever, but I'm kind of excited for Fall. This is a great way to end summer, and I'm so glad I'm participating in it!

What I had planned:

Wednesday - [AM w/o] Booty Blasting Stair Workout

[PM w/o] kickboxing class (60 min)

What I really did:

I switched up my Booty Call, because I wanted to get my toning workouts in, knowing that I was going to be doing a ton of cardio for my PM workout. I did the 8 Toning moves from the SELF Magazine (12 reps x3), beach bum workout x2, and malibooty x1

I love CKO Kickboxing & Perfect Fit Protein

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

After I got home from watching the kids, I headed to kickboxing! This is the second week in a row where I've been going three times a week, and I'm glad I've been pushing myself! It's such an intense full-body workout; I literally drip sweat by the end of the 60 minutes. 

When I got home from kickboxing, I scheduled my Child Life Exam! November needs to take its time getting here, because I've got studying to do! 

Main Meals of Day 3

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

My meals for the day were extremely lean, clean, and green! 

M1 - Perfect Fit Protein Pancake, with 1/2 a banana, 5 strawberries, and Chobani Strawberry and Banana Greek Yogurt

M2 - garden salad with tomatoes, peppers, onions, cheese, and buffalo chicken slices

M3 - dark chocolate oven roasted almonds and three strawberries
M4 - Silk Perfect Fit Protein Shake
M5 - tilapia over brown rice, with baby spinach - made enough for my dad and I - trying to get him to eat healthier without him knowing ;)

+ 60 oz of H2o

My First Perfect Pancake - Recipe here

[Via instagram: kristynnicole1]

I'm always looking for healthier meals to make, if you have any recipes send them my way!

Push yourself through the remainder of the week! You got this ladies! I'm definitely ready for Thirsty Thursday, and all the surprises that come our way!

TIU Beach Week - Day 2

Today didn't start out the way I had planned last night. I wanted to wake up for my Booty Call before I went to nanny at 8:00 AM, but I slept horribly so I tried to sleep until I needed to go to work. I was off all morning, but being with kids I was able to laugh and eating healthier, I changed my attitude for the day to a more positive one.

I was jumping for joy once I got an email that told me I was approved to take the Child Life Exam in November! The kids were laughing at me, but I was way too excited to care!

That just made me more determined and motivated to workout when I got home.

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

These were my plans:

Tuesday - [AM BC w/o] HITT the beach + 20 minutes on the tread climber (40 min)

[PM w/o] under the sea x3 + cowabunga girl x3

I combined both of my workouts this evening. The only major change was that I only did Cowabunga x1, but I hope to do the other two circuits tomorrow morning along with my Booty Call. My workout was so intense that I tore through my yoga mat! I guess I'm in the market for a workout mat now! Any suggestions?

My meals were extremely healthy! It's amazing how much happier I am when I eat well! Confidence is beautiful, ladies!

Here they are:

M1 - honey bunches of oats with whole milk + a banana 

M2 - coconut cream pie larabar 

M3 - garden salad with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cheese/three slices of salami

M4 - grapes and strawberries 
M5 - turkey burger with tomatoes and spinach, along with brussels sprouts 

+ 60 oz of H2o

I also participated in the #beachweekchat - where Katrina and Karena answered Tone It Up questions on Twitter! My question was answered!

kristynnicole1: how do you ladies train for a 5K? @ToneItUp #beachweekchat
ToneItUp: We love the coach to 5K program! #beachweekchat

Since I am considering running in a 5K I wanted to know what they did to train! I hope it helped others who were wondering the same thing!

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Tone It Up Beach Week - Day 1

I'm participating in Beach Week this week... what's that you ask? Well, it's a week devoted to live in the now and enjoy the summer while it's still here! Tone It Up trainers, Karena and Katrina have come up with a workout schedule for the week and are including live chats, nutrition Q&As, giveaways, and A LOT of motivation!

from the Tone It Up website:

"What will this week include?

• Motivation- workout tunes, exercise routines, greatest HIITs from this summer, tips on making that summer glow last & inspiration!
• 5 Day Slim Down Support ♡ Karena and I are doing it!
• Instagram contests
• Challenges and tons of giveaways!! We're giving away the farm... and then some bikinis and beach bags ;)
• Live Chats with myself and Karena about anything- fitness, nutrition~ girl talk
• And of course, you know us... surprises along the way!
• The official schedule launches this Friday"

Not only are the trainers accountable for keeping us motivated, but we're accountable to do the following: check in with our trainers on the community, twitter, and facebook; drink half our body weight in ounces of water; eat lean, clean, and green; set our alarm for a booty call every morning; and follow the 5-day slim down (if you have the nutrition plan)! It's fine if you haven't purchased the plan though because they made sure to include tons of healthy tips!

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

Yesterday I made sure I organized my binder filled with Tone It Up workouts and recipes, and I scheduled my workouts and meals for the week ahead! Knowing that Sal and I are going on a short weekend trip, I want to make sure I'm looking my best! 

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

I took my measurements this morning, and I was off to kickboxing! I altered the cardio half of the schedule on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday because I plan on taking kickboxing classes. 

Beach Week Workouts:

Monday - [AM w/o] kickboxing class (60 min) 

[PM w/o] sandcastle x3 + itty bitty bikini x3

Tuesday - [AM BC w/o] HITT the beach + 20 minutes on the tread climber (40 min)

[PM w/o] under the sea x3 + cowabunga girl x3

Wednesday - [AM w/o] Booty Blasting Stair Workout

[PM w/o] kickboxing class (60 min)

Thursday - [AM w/o] HITT the beach + 20 minutes on the tread climber (40 min)

[PM w/o] surfer girl + sunkissed abs x3 + 50 tummy tucks

Friday - [AM w/o] sunset workout x3

[PM w/o] kickboxing (60 min)

I also want to try and finish the 30 day ab challenge; at day 27 I'm ready to finish STRONG.

Thank you to @GeorgieToningUp, a fellow TIU member, who made a playlist on YouTube of most of the Tone It Up workouts for Beach Week, as well as sending me a copy of the Self Magazine workouts!

I was able to complete both of the workouts scheduled for today, in between eating extremely healthy! You can do it, as long as you put your mind to it - you can do anything you want! You have the power. You have the control! Why wouldn't you want to be anything but healthy?! Don't compare yourself to others, compare yourself to yesterday. Every day you wake up, is a day you get to start again. Didn't eat well yesterday? Don't let that affect you negatively, learn from it, and move forward!

Here's my meals for the day:

M1 - honey bunches of oats with whole milk 

M2 - Silk Fruit and Protein Strawberry Banana Shake with Perfect Fit Protein

M3 - apple chicken salad with tomatoes, onions, carrots, and balsamic dressing

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

M4 - dark chocolate oven roasted almonds

M5 - jerk chicken, brown rice, and broccoli 

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

60 oz of H2o* [ STAY HYDRATED! ]

I plan on posting each day this week. These posts will include updates about my workouts and meals! On Friday, I'll check my weight and measurements, and see how I've progressed.

Remember, any questions, don't hesitate to ask! I want to share all that I know!

The Girls from Ames: Book Review

I found The Girls from Ames, by Jeffrey Zaslow, at a goodwill store, like most of the books I've been reading recently. After reading the inside flap, I thought the book sounded interesting. Boy was I wrong. I had such trouble getting through the book, and I wanted to stop reading several times, but I'm not the type to not finish a book. I thought it might get better, it didn't.

Synopsis According to Barnes & Noble:

The instant New York Times bestseller, now in paperback: a moving tribute to female friendships, with the inspiring story of eleven girls and the ten women they became, from the coauthor of the million-copy bestseller The Last Lecture

As children, they formed a special bond, growing up in the small town of Ames, Iowa. As young women, they moved to eighth different states, yet they managed to maintain an extraordinary friendship that would carry them through college and careers, marriage and motherhood, dating and divorce, the death of a child, and the mysterious death of the eleventh member of their group. Capturing their remarkable story, The Girls from Ames is a testament to the enduring, deep bonds of women as they experience life's challenges, and the power of friendship to overcome even the most daunting odds.

The girls, now in their forties, have a lifetime of memories in common, some evocative of their generation and some that will resonate with any woman who has ever had a friend. The Girls from Ames demonstrates how close female relationships can shape every aspect of women's lives-their sense of themselves, their choice of men, their need for validation, their relationships with their mothers, their dreams for their daughters-and reveals how such friendships thrive, rewarding those who have committed to them. With both universal events and deeply personal moments, it's a book that every woman will relate to and be inspired by.

My Review:

The book seemed extremely long, even in the first few pages, I felt as if it was dragging, and even though I started it, I didn't want to keep reading. It brought back memories of when I was in a larger group of friends, and I felt like an outsider... watching all of the smaller cliques within the group. However, I did feel that the book was very educational, not only in teaching about friendships, but also history, psychology, and geography lessons, as well as moral ones. I connected with Sheila when I read that she was going to school to be a Child Life Specialist, like myself, and became upset when I found out how her story ended. Christie, a daughter of one of the Ames girls, also had a heart-wrenching story that I found inspiring and really quite amazing. 

It amazed me to see how several moments in their lives were connected, and it really showed me that you really don't know where your life will take you or what you will go through. 

While the writing was spectacular, and why should it not be when Zaslow wrote a Wall Street Journal column, as well as other bestselling books. I just had a hard time getting through the book reading about the lives of other women, that I could rarely relate to. Quite frankly, it wasn't as riveting as I thought it would be. 

"Women's friendships are face to face, while men's friendships are side by side" (page 99).

My Rating: 2 Stars

TIU Workout Schedule

Finding Tone It Up has been life-changing, I swear. I've been stressing out this entire summer, applying  to jobs as a Child Life Specialist, and thinking about whether or not it's a good idea to go back to school if I don't get hired. I won't be certified until November when I take the exam, so that's also another stressor.

Each month Karena and Katrina post the schedule they have created for all of the members, whether they have purchased the nutrition plan or not. I print out a copy, and try to take their suggestions. After a few weeks I have finally come up with a schedule that works for me. I'm always looking for new and exciting workouts though, to add or switch into my schedule.

You can find the schedule - here. 

I work out twice a day, six days a week, doing about 45-60 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of toning exercises. If I don't have time to workout twice a day, I combine the exercises and workout for about an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half. I find that this way I am hitting all of the right muscles and really working up a sweat. 

Sundays are usually my rest days; however, if I have somewhere to be on Saturdays, like a BBQ or family get together, I take Saturdays off and workout on Sunday instead. I start Monday off with kickboxing and bikini booty + summer arms, from the Beach Babe DVD, and repeat the same workouts on Wednesday and Friday as well. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are my running days + ab workouts, I'm almost done with Strong like Susan's 30 Day Ab Challenge that I found on YouTube, so once I finish that I'll be working out my abs using Tone It Up workouts. 

So here it is:

Monday - CKO Kickboxing (60 min class) + Bikini Booty/Summer Arms

Tuesday - 45 minutes on the tread climber (5K) + Ab Workout

Wednesday - CKO Kickboxing (60 min class) + Bikini Booty/ Summer Arms

Thursday - 45 minutes on the tread climber (5K) + Ab Workout

Friday - CKO Kickboxing (60 min class) + Bikini Booty/Summer Arms

Saturday - 5K jog/run + Ab Workout

Sunday - Rest

This schedule works for me because I'm trying to tone up certain parts of my body, and gain muscle in those areas. I don't want to lose an insane amount of weight, and I just want to be healthier. I find that kickboxing relieves stress and keeps you moving the entire hour, so you're dripping sweat by the end of the session and you're feeling good! The other booty, arm, and ab workouts, I find, are great for someone who wants to sweat, but doesn't have a lot of time on their hands! I love this schedule for now, but I'm sure I'll find new workouts to switch it up! The September calendar should be coming out fairly soon! I can't wait!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! I'm more than willing to answer!

LÄRABAR Review

Since I've joined the Tone It Up community and I've begun to take notes on how different members eat. Most of them have the Nutrition Plan, something that I haven't purchased yet. I understand that one needs to not only workout, but also eat lean, clean, and green in order to get great results. I have been eating healthier - I don't eat junk food, fast food, or soda. I honestly can't remember the last time I drank soda or ate fast food, and I've never felt better.

Instead I try and eat three healthy meals a day, along with two protein filled snacks - either a smoothie or a LÄRABAR after a workout. I recently tried the Lunabars, but I found that they made my stomach feel really weird. If you want to see more of the meals that I eat, check me out on instagram - kristynnicole1. I can't promise that you won't find a cheat meal every now and then (I date an Italian ... with a mother who makes delicious Sunday dinners!) I'll also be posting some healthy recipes soon as well.

So I've tried 5 different LÄRABARs (they were on sale at Shoprite) - recommended by the Tone It Up girls. I usually ate them after a workout, and they seemed like the perfect amount of food. They're the original fruit and nut bar. According to the website,  "LÄRABAR® is a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices. Made from whole food, each flavor contains no more than nine ingredients. Pure and simple, just as nature intended." They're gluten free, dairy free, soy free, non-GMO, vegan, AND Kosher. What could be better than that?!

I have to admit that the first LÄRABAR I had was quite disgusting. I tried the banana cake one and absolutely hated it. I didn't want to finish it, but I was starving, so after each bite I drank water and forced it down. Having an unpleasant first experience made me hesitant to eat the rest of them, but I'm sure glad I did, because I found two I loved and two I liked!

I absolutely loved the Blueberry Muffin one, and even purchased some more of them today! I also loved the carrot cake bar. The two I liked were the chocolate coconut and the cookie dough, because come on nothing is better than real cookie dough! I would know, I'm a cookie dough addict (hey, at least I admit it!)

"We at LÄRABAR believe that a sound mind, body and spirit are derived from food in its simplest, most natural state. Made from 100% real food, LÄRABAR is a magical harmony of fruits, nuts, and spices that will lift your vitality and provide energy with every bite. Simple. Pure. Delicious." 

- Lara, Creator of LÄRABAR

What flavors have you tried and which ones should I try next?

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• [Via - LÄRABAR]