The Busy Mom's Guide to Healthy Living

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things :-)

2013-02-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

First off I want to remind you that I am not a doctor, nutritionist, personal trainer, etc. Everything in my blog is based of my personal research, experiences and preferences. I encourage you to speak to your health professionals before changing your diet or exercise routine. Now, on to the topic at hand! Here are some of my favorite health and beauty things in no specific order :-)

Favorite Thing #1: If you are anything like me, you have tried several of the 'fad' diets out there. Some of them may have worked for you and some not. The problem with those diets is that they usually leave you hungry or force you to completely cut out the really yummy things. Those types of diets do nothing but set you up for failure! I did the diet roller-coaster for too long and had enough. I have talked about the ABs Diet before and how much I love it. It is easy to follow, leaves me feeling fuller for longer periods of time, and best of all....IT WORKS!

Favorite Thing (or person lol) #2: I recently read this amazing book by an amazing author. Some of you may have heard of The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper (click link to purchase). Great tips on how to eat healthy and maintain that lifestyle. I LOVE Bob Harper and his website has workout DVD's for only $3.99 (incredible) and lots of other beneficial information. Check him out at www.MyTrainerBob.com.

Favorite Thing #3: Cucumber water! I was introduced to this amazing drink back in 2008 when I worked for a skin care company from Paris. They always had iced cucumber water at our tables for training events because they said it was good for the skin. Not only does it taste great and refreshing, but it has benefits too! Here is an article discussing the benefits of cucumber water: http://olliejean.hubpages.com/hub/Benefits-of-Cucumber-Water.

Favorite Thing #4: Protein shakes. There are a LOT of protein powders out there but they are not to be created equal. When I first decided to start a protein shake meal replacement, I thought they were all the same. My husband, however, did not. He did a TON of research and found me a great one; Lean ProMatrix. What's great about this one is that it tastes great, blends well (no gritty texture), 34g of protein per serving, and has great nutritional values (much better than the others we researched). If you are thinking of starting a protein shake plan, please do your research. Read and compare labels. Check the cost per shake too so you get the best value for your money.

Favorite Thing #5: Water!!! I promise you that if you make an effort to drink more water each day, you WILL feel better. In addition, cut out all soda. Don't drink your calories. Save them for some yummy treat now and then. I shouldn't have to tell you how bad soda is for you. You already know it is. So make a promise to yourself that you are going to drink more water. Try it consistently for a week and I promise you will feel so great that you won't go back :-). Here are some great articles about the benefits of drinking more water and tips on how to do just that: http://www.dwlz.com/WWinfo/water.html and http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1014 One more tip though. Be careful with things to flavor your water. They can contain just as much sugar and other unhealthy items as sugary drinks. If you honestly cannot drink plain water, try my Favorite Thing #3: Cucumber water!!

Favorite Thing #6: Insanity. You all already know this ;-) I just love it so much that OF COURSE it is one of my favorite things. In case you missed my blog post about this amazing workout program I am doing, you can check it out here. I am currently in my recovery week. It's a week long (6 days) of core and balance work. It isn't as intense as the regular Insanity workouts, but you will break a sweat. What's so great about it is that I am seeing improvement with my core and balance already after 3 days of the recovery workouts! After this week is over, I start Max Insanity (I am super scared to be honest lol) that will be the last 4 weeks of the 60 day program. I will re-take the Fit Test on Wednesday and will make sure to share my progress with you. I am really nervous about these last 4 weeks but really excited too! I have seen such improvement in my strength, flexibility, energy, and physical appearance. I cannot wait to start the 60 days all over again :-)

Favorite Thing #7: The Biggest Loser. Yes, it's a reality show. So?! It is an amazing and inspirational show. You cannot help but be motivated and inspired by the contestants and the personal trainers. If you have ever struggled with your weight, you will understand this show in a personal level like I do. This show makes me want to eat better and get off my butt and workout! Plus, you learn a lot about nutrition and exercise. Double win! Check it out Mondays at 7:00 pm central.

Favorite Thing #8: Zumba!!! If you have never tried a Zumba class, you are really missing out. It is so much fun! What's great is that you don't even realize you are working out. You can burn up to 700 calories in a one hour class just by dancing to some awesome music. What's better than that?!

Favorite Thing #9: Sleep. Yes, sleep. It is important! If you are not getting enough sleep at night, it can be bad for your health. Plus, when you get a good nights sleep, you feel more energized to workout right?! Check out these articles on how sleep (or lack thereof) can effect your weight: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/lack-of-sleep-weight-gain, http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/lose-weight-while-sleeping, and http://www.shape.com/latest-news-trends/sleep-and-weight-loss-why-getting-your-zzzs-important.

Favorite Thing #10: My family :-) My family is my support system and my cheering section. They build me up by noticing the positive changes I have made in my appearance and health, they encourage me to keep going, and they never make me feel guilty when I have a slip now and then. Everyone on a journey to a healthier self needs a good support group. Whether its friends, family, or co-workers, find your support and thank them for being with you through your amazing transformation. Who knows, you may inspire them to make the change too!

What is Insanity?

2013-01-17T15:07:00.000-08:00

So several of you have asked me recently 'What is Insanity?'. Well, besides INSANE and AMAZING, it is high intensity MAX interval training. This description is straight from the website: "The Insanity workout might just be the hardest fitness program ever put on DVD. Your personal trainer Shaun T. will push you past your limits with 10 Insanity workout discs packed with plyometric drills on top of nonstop intervals of strength, power, resistance, and ab and core training moves. No equipment or weights needed. Just the will to get the hardest body you've ever had.....you perform long bursts of maximum-intensity exercises with short periods of rest. Each Insanity workout keeps you constantly challenged as you alternate between aerobic and anaerobic intervals performed at your MAX. The result: burn up to 1,000 calories in an hour and get the most insane body in 60 days."

And Insane it is! Each workout is between 30 and 55 minutes long. They each start with a dynamic warm-up that you do 3 times through, each time increasing your intensity and speed. I promise it will have you sweating and your heart racing before you even start the workout! The warm-up is followed by a 30 second water break, then on to some very important stretching. Trust me, by this point, you are already tired and sweating. Next, you start the workout. Shaun will take you through a workout circuit 3 times through, each time increasing your intensity and speed. You get a 30 second water break in between each circuit, but you are encouraged to take a many breaks as you need. Don't overdo it and watch your heart rate. After you complete your workout, you end with more stretching. It is very important not to skip the before and after stretching. EVER.

This workout is for dedicated people. It is not easy and you will be sore, very sore, the first week. There will be times that you feel like you cannot continue. For me, when I get to that point, it is at the same time that Shaun tells me not to quit or to 'Dig deeper!'. I just try to get better each time I do the workout, and I do. You will hate it and Shaun (lol) the first week, but if you stick with it, you will see results. After that, you are hooked and can't imagine not doing it. Honestly, I love it so much I can see myself doing it the rest of my active life. Seriously.

As much as I love this workout, I don't feel it is going to be for everyone. Please remember to talk to your doctor before starting any workout routine. Some other things that I like to do are yoga, running and Zumba. All of these are great for you and burn calories.

My advice is don't set yourself up for failure. Find something that you enjoy. If you enjoy it, you will do it! Easy as that :-) I must be insane because I cannot imagine my life without Insanity. Find that workout that you love and get movin'!

I cannot wait to share with you all my before and after pictures once I complete the 60 day challenge!!

This week was the end of Week 2 of Insanity so that means I had to take another Fit Test. With Insanity, you will take a Fit Test on day 1 to use to measure your fitness progress. Shaun takes you through a quick warm-up and then 8 different exercises at 1 minute each. You count how many you can do in that time and write it down. You repeat the Fit Test every 2 weeks to see how much you have improved. This is another great tool to see your progress. Especially since week 2 of a strict diet and workout routine is usually the hardest. You see great results after the first week, but the second is usually stalled or much less. Don't worry! Keep going and you will see further results. My week 2 was no different. But I am going to keep at it! I know that despite no additional loss this week, I have continued to improve based on my Fit Test results.

Here are my Fit Test numbers from Day 1:

1. Switch Kicks - 61
2. Power Jacks - 27
3. Power Knees - 52
4. Power Jumps - 15
5. Globe Jumps - 6
6. Suicide Jumps - Couldn't even do 1! I was already so worn out.
7. Push-up Jacks - 20
8. Low Plank Oblique - 33

Now, here are my Fit Test numbers after the end of Week 2. As you can see, I have improved in all areas! I felt better and more able to do them this time. Gosh, I couldn't even do a single Suicide Jump last time and look at me now!!

1. Switch Kicks - 67
2. Power Jacks - 34
3. Power Knees - 75
4. Power Jumps - 19
5. Globe Jumps - 7 (only 1 extra but these are hard!)
6. Suicide Jumps - 10 (woo hoo!)
7. Push-up Jacks - 27
8. Low Plank Oblique - 40

Just seeing my improvement on the Fit Test shows me that this program is working. I feel better, I look better, my clothes fit better, and I can get through the workouts now with fewer breaks and I can do them with more intensity. I love it and I know you will too :-)

Starting Over (again) and Succeeding!

2013-01-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

So as some of you know, I started this blog a little under a year ago with the hopes of faithfully updating it daily so you all could see my amazing progress. Well, that didn't happen. Not that I didn't have great progress, but I didn't have the progress I wanted (my own fault) and I lost motivation.

When I was faithfully exercising daily and watching my diet, I did really well! I lost weight, firmed up, and increased my energy. Then, we went on vacation lol. I took a week off from everything and found it very hard to start back up when I returned from paradise. The desire was there but I allowed life to interfere. Thankfully, I didn't gain all that weight back, but I did gain some. So the time came to get serious and get moving!

Just a few months ago, August actually, I made a commitment to adopt my healthy lifestyle again. Not wanting to set myself up for failure or make unreasonable goals (we all do it), I decided to start with my diet and then, once I had adopted a solid diet change, I would add exercise to it. Baby steps. So that's what I did!

I got back on my AB's diet (mentioned in previous posts) and added in daily protein shakes as a meal replacement. I replaced lunch or dinner each day with a shake and followed the AB's diet to a T the rest of the day. I completely cut out soda, sweets and fast food. Cold turkey. It was actually a lot easier than I thought! Surprisingly enough, I after about a week I stopped craving those things. Even more surprising was that if I did decide to indulge and treat myself with something sweet, it actually tasted gross and my body physically rejected it! I would get sick almost immediately after eating it. That was enough for me to not want to eat them again.

I started at 155 lbs in August and by the end of October I was down to 139 lbs. By changing the way I ate, nothing more. I felt great! I could have something sweet now and then, without over-indulging and that is a great feeling!

By the beginning of December, I had gained 6 lbs back. Not bad, but noticeable. Not to mention all the loose skin! Ugh! It was the perfect time to start adding in the daily workout routine. That's where things get insane....

I have fallen in love with Insanity! And that is just what it is. You have all seen the infomercials on TV. It looks crazy. All these people with perfect bodies telling you how awesome the workout is and how great it was for them. That's what infomercials are supposed to do right? Sell the product. Well everything they say is true. I am a believer!! It truly is an amazing program and I, after just a week, have seen results.

On day one I took measurements and weighed myself so I could track my progress. Chances are you won't physically see too much of a change in your appearance so seeing on paper that you have lost is HUGE motivation! I promise you though, you will feel the change.

Here are my day one, week one measurements (in inches):

Date: 12/26/2012

Chest: 34.5
Biceps: 10.25 each
Waist: 32
Hips: 37.75
Thighs: 23 each
Calves: 14 each

Weight: 143.5 lbs

After one week of Insanity and continuing ABs Diet, my measurements are:

Date: 1/3/2013

Chest: 34.25
Biceps: 11 each

Waist: 29
Hips: 37
Thighs: 22 each
Calves: 13.5 each

Weight: 139.3 lbs

I lost a total of 4.2 lbs and 7 inches total, and gained .75 in on each bicep! I am proof that what I am doing works. When I see results like this, I can't help but be motivated. I hope it helps to motivate you too! I will be posting my progress weekly and would love to hear about your fitness/weight loss success too! It is so much easier to be successful when you have people to encourage you and work with you toward a common goal.

Any fitness or weight loss goal is going to take hard work. If you need extra motivation or just an accountability partner, I am here for you. Remember though, I am NOT a doctor. I am doing what I do under the supervision of a licensed doctor, and I recommend that you consult yours prior to starting any diet or exercise routine.

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog :-)

Week 1

2012-05-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

I have been exercising regularly for over a month or so now, but this is the first week that I have done that while on the ABs diet. I will admit, the diet itself has been very easy but there were a few splurges and bad days on my part. I succumbed to the temptation of the Varsity Donut (For those of you who don't live in Manhattan, Varsity Donuts are AMAZING! You should come here just to try them lol) and had some eating out disasters. Overall though I am very pleased with my diet this last week. Trust me, it was WAY better than it had been the weeks before even with my bad days! The ABs diet is perfect for me because it allows me to eat foods I love! (With the exception of donuts. Those are definitely NOT on the ABs diet approved food list.)

Starting Measurements

Weight: 145lbs
Chest: 31in
Waist: 32.5in
Hips: 37in

Week 1 Diet/Menu

Monday: Breakfast: Low carb yogurt, AM Snack: Slice of rye toast with reduced fat peanut butter, Lunch: pre-packaged grilled chicken Caesar salad, PM Snack: one serving of roasted almonds and a banana, Dinner: grilled chicken, spinach and cheese on a whole grain wrap
Tuesday: Breakfast: Low carb yogurt, AM Snack: Banana, Lunch: 2 Scrambled eggs with rye bread toast with reduced fat peanut butter, PM Snack: one serving of roasted almonds, Dinner: 3 small slices of pizza (mother in law took us out to dinner)*
Wednesday: Breakfast: Low carb yogurt, AM Snack: Slice of rye toast with reduced fat peanut butter, Lunch: pre-packaged grilled chicken Caesar salad, PM Snack: one serving of roasted almonds and a banana, Dinner: grilled chicken, spinach and cheese on a whole grain wrap
Thursday: Breakfast: Low carb yogurt, AM Snack: Banana, Lunch: 2 Scrambled eggs with rye bread toast with reduced fat peanut butter, PM Snack: one serving of roasted almonds, Dinner: cheeseburger and tater tots (ate dinner in town before a meeting)* Dessert: a donut (they are irresistible!)*
Friday: Breakfast: Low carb yogurt, AM Snack: Slice of rye toast with reduced fat peanut butter, Lunch: pre-packaged grilled chicken Caesar salad, PM Snack: one serving of roasted almonds and a banana, Dinner: grilled chicken, spinach and cheese on a whole grain wrap
Saturday: Today was an AWFUL diet day. It started out great but ended terribly :-( I'm calling this day a wash.
Sunday: Today was an AWFUL diet day. It started out great but ended terribly :-( I'm calling this day a wash.

*These items are NOT ABs diet approved. They were splurges on my part and should be limited in your daily/weekly diet. These will NOT be norms for me.

The drinks I had were primarily water (very important) but some coffee (with low fat milk and all natural/organic sweetener. Only 2 times this week.) and some 100% orange juice. I drink water ALL DAY LONG. I bring it with me in the car and carry it with me from room to room. It's good and good for you so DRINK MORE OF IT! :-)

Note: Towards the end of this week I found myself running out of energy (more than likely because of my awful eating habits those last two days. Proof that a healthy diet makes you feel better and gives you more energy.) and had to do something to keep me going. My husband bought me an energy drink. Normally, I hate them and we all know they aren't good for you. But this one he got me tasted really good and is actually pretty healthy as far as energy drinks go. Plus, it comes in a pretty hot pink can :-) Its called Rockstar PerfectBerry. It has Zero Sugar and Zero Carbs plus 100% of vitamin B3, 5, 6, 9 and 12! It uses no artificial sweeteners either. So if you need that extra boost, I recommend this drink!

Week 1 Exercise

Monday: Zumba! for 1 hour burning 525 calories
Tuesday: Treadmill for 45 minutes (forgot to write down miles and calories)
Wednesday: Treadmill for 60 minutes, 4.47 miles, burning 664 calories
Thursday: Treadmill for 60 minutes, 4.52 miles, burning 674 calories
Friday: Day off!
Saturday: 6 minutes on the PowerPlate doing front and side planks. Great workout in only 6 min!
Sunday: 6 minutes on the PowerPlate doing front and side planks. Great workout in only 6 min!

I recommend at least 10-15 minutes of stretching before AND after any workout. I know I always feel much better after I stretch! Also, remember to have water handy during your workouts.

I know running on a treadmill is boring. So I like to DVR some of my favorite hour long shows and watch them while on the treadmill! Some of my faves are Vampire Diaries, Glee, Big Brother, Americas Next Top Model and The Voice. But the most motivating show to watch while you work out is Biggest Loser. I LOVE the show and trainer Bob :-)

Ending Measurements After Week 1

Weight: 145lbs (no change)
Chest: 30.5in (lost .5in)
Waist: 31in (lost 1.5in)
Hips: 36.5in (lost .5in)

Total Inches Lost in Week 1: 2.5

Conclusion of Week 1

Even after my diet slip ups, I managed not to gain any weight (only because I did great with my exercise) and I lost inches!! If I would have stuck to my diet better, I bet I would have lost weight. That's just more motivation for me to do better this week! I don't expect to lose weight or inches every week and you shouldn't either. So don't be discouraged if you don't! Stay tuned :-)

My Favorite ABs Diet Approved Products

2012-05-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

Power Foods?!

As I mentioned before, the ABs Diet focuses on 12 power foods. They are almonds and other nuts, beans and legumes, spinach and leafy greens, dairy products, instant oatmeal, eggs, turkey and lean meat, peanut butter, olive oil, whole grain breads and cereals, extra protein whey powder and raspberries and blueberries.

These are all great tasting and good for you! You can do so much with these foods too as far as recipes go. I have had people tell me what types of food to eat before but I'll admit, I would rather someone tell me exactly what to buy instead of me searching for it. Luckily, I am married to a man who has done this particular diet in the past so he already knew exactly what I needed! I am going to share my shopping list with you all so it will be easier for you to shop and harder to use the excuse of 'I don't know what to buy' or 'I don't know how to shop healthy'.

My Grocery List

So almonds and other nuts are the first on the list of power foods. Almonds are so yummy and filling which make them a great diet food! I don't like raw almonds however, so I prefer to buy Emerald Dry Roasted Almonds.

Beans and legumes are next! From what I hear, black beans are the best for you and they are yummy too. You can use them in so many recipes which is awesome. I love fresh whole green beans too. Cook them on the stove in a skillet with a little olive oil and black pepper and you have a great side dish!

Spinach and leafy greens. I used to think of nasty green mush when I thought of spinach but now I think of fresh, crisp greens that I enjoy as a salad or on my wraps. I don't eat it cooked though but I am sure you could if you wanted to. I love salads too, but you have to be careful not to add too many calories to your salad with dressing. A salad can be filling and healthy by adding some grilled chicken, maybe some dried cranberries, a boiled egg and a light amount of low fat dressing. Yum!

Dairy products. I am not a milk drinker so I have to try harder to get my dairy in daily. I do however love yogurt! I found a low carb option with lots of great flavors. Right now I am eating Kroger brand Carbmaster yogurts and they are good and filling. I will also use a small amount of part skim mozzarella cheese on my grilled chicken wraps.

Instant oatmeal. I am not a fan but I know it is very filling and good for you so if you like it then eat up!

Eggs! I love eggs. I eat 2 almost everyday. We like organic ones with omega 3. Here are the ones we buy.

Turkey and lean meats. I love turkey and chicken! This one is easy for me too. I love grilled chicken on salads or in wraps. I love to bake chicken for my family too. These are great sources of protein and can be cooked in many healthy ways. Obviously if the chicken or turkey is fried it loses its healthy factor lol. I like to buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Peanut butter! My favorite thing on this diet. I LOVE peanut butter. I eat it every day, no joke. My favorite is Jiff Reduced Fat Creamy. It is better for you and tastes amazing on rye bread toast.

Olive Oil. I use it to cook instead of butter or other oils. Chicken, green beans, anything!

Whole grain breads. I love bread, but they are not all body friendly. My husband recently suggested I switch to rye bread and I love it! It tastes great and has a low glycemic index so you feel fuller. I like Peppridge Farm Seedless Rye :-)

Berries! Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries! They all taste great and are pretty self explanatory :-)

I hope this makes it easier for you to shop healthy! Shopping healthy makes it easier to eat healthy! Enjoy!

Introduction and Getting Started!

2012-04-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

“Is it easy? No! ... It has to be a conscious decision.”

~Bob Harper

This Blog's Purpose

I am not a nutritionist, fitness trainer or a doctor. I am a wife, a mother of 3 and an entrapraneur. I decided to start this blog after several friends of mine kept inquiring about my daily diet and fitness routines. This blog serves many purposes. It will consist of my daily diet and workouts, tips for working out at home, how to overcome popluar excuses for not eating right or working out and updates on my weight loss progress. It will serve as my accountability 'partner' in my weight loss journey. With this blog you, a real person, will get to see how a healthy lifestyle change works for me, a real person. I hope you enjoy taking this journey with me!

About Me

I have struggled with my weight most of my life. I was at my heaviest during high school, weighing in at 175 pounds. I didn't have a normal exercise routine (outside of my cheerleading schedule) nor did I really watch what I ate (which was a lot of fast food). I look back at pictures of me in high school and I am honestly disgusted with the way I looked. Since then I have been on a weightloss rollercoaster. It's a difficult ride.

I know all the excuses for not eating right or working out; I have used them all myself. That's all they are though! It really is possible for everyone to find the time to work out and eat healthy. You have to decide if your health is more important than the excuses you are making. Do you really want to look healthier? Feel healthier? I can't imagine that too many of you would answer no to to either of those questions. If you did, then this blog isn't for you. If you didn't, then WELCOME!

Hard Work and Motivation

Getting fit and eating right requires hard work and dedication. You have to have the desire and be willing to work hard or you will not succeed. You will not get results overnight. You have to be patient and keep at it! If you discipline yourself enough, you will see results. I promise! There are no miracle pills that can make you skinny. You have to change your lifestyle. You have to eat right and exercise. There is no way around that. I know this doesn't sound appealing but once you start on this path it will be come routine; your new way of life. And as weird as it sounds, I bet you will actually ENJOY exercise! Yes I said enjoy :-). If you are willing to work hard everyday, it will pay off.

Everyone needs motivation! I have to remotivate myself almost daily. Find something, someone, someplace that motivates you to adopt this healthy lifestyle. I have several motivators! For me it's looking good in a bikini for our trip to Florida this June, feeling more energized each day, looking sexy for my husband, teaching my kids how to be healthy, etc. I think about all of these things each day; especially when I am feeling to tired to workout. Once I remind myself of my goals it rekindles my motivation and I am ready to workout!

My Weekly Work Out Routine

I am going to do my best to spell out my weekly workout routine. On this blog I will list the things I like to do weekly for exercise but I plan to post daily updates on my diet and exercise as well. Some of the things I like to do and do do weekly are: Zumba, run/jog/walk on treadmill, PowerPlate (full body vibration) exercises, yoga and strength exercises. I will get more in depth on each of these workouts in future blogs.

Right now, I workout for at least an hour a day (some days more) at least once a day on average 5 days a week. There are some days where I will do an hour on the treadmill and then an hour of Zumba. Other days I may do an hour on the treadmill and then 15-20 minutes of a PowerPlate or strength workout. I don't always workout twice a day but I do at least twice a week. Eventually, I would like to go from workingout 5 days a week to 7!

You may say you don't have time to workout every day but YOU DO! You know what your daily schedule is and for most people, your probably on a pretty scheduled routine. So FIND TIME to do it! Get up and hour earlier, workout on your lunch break, after dinner, etc. Anyone can make time to exercise, you just have to WANT to make time. I know you are busy, we all are. For me, not only am I a wife and mother of 3 but I have my own cleaning business, photography business, property rental website business, I work full time from home for a management company and I am a part time cheerleading coach. I am the defination of busy but I make time each day to workout. If I can do it you can too!

So stop making excuses and MAKE TIME!

My Diet

Again, my diet will be spelled out in more detail in a later blog but I will tell you a little about it now. For a few years now I have tried everything. Diet pills, counting calories, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, etc. and nothing has made me feel full along with giving me the results I wanted. My husband has been trying to get me to do the ABs diet for a long time and I kept blowing him off. Well, I will admit it, he was right :-) He was on the diet before and had great results. The best part is that it's not hard to follow! You don't have to eat weird foods. They are good, healthy foods that taste great! What's cool is that you can eat stuff that those fad diets say you can't like nuts, peanut butter and dairy!

Basically, the ABs diet is really just eating healthy and focusing on protein. I have been doing it for a week now and I love it. I feel full. I get to eat things I like. I feel healthy!

The diet is centered around 12 foods called powerfoods, identified by the acronym A.B.S.D.I.E.T.P.O.W.E.R. Each letter is the first letter of one of the food groups featured in the diet: almonds and other nuts, beans and legumes, spinach and leafy greens, dairy products, instant oatmeal, eggs, turkey and lean meat, peanut butter, olive oil, whole grain breads and cereals, extra protein whey powder and raspberries and blueberries.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/206404-the-abs-diet-food-list/#ixzz1tG5Igd7u

The Abs Diet claims to help you lose weight, build lean muscle mass and improve different aspects of your health, including lowering blood pressure and fighting both cancer and heart disease.

I love this diet and I know you will too! Here is another great article for the ABs diet http://diet.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Abs_Diet

If you try this diet too, let me know what you think! I hope you love it as much as we do.

What's Next?

So I have given you the basics of my routine and what this blog will be about. My next post will be my detailed workouts and diet for this first week. I will give you my measurments and weight (yes you will know my weight) so you can see how I am transforming with this plan I have started. I will weigh myself each week and take new measurments every 2 weeks.

Please do not take this blog and it's contents as medical advice. Everyone is different and what may work for me may not for you. If you have any health concerns, please talk to a doctor.

I look forward to your feedback too! If you start a new, healthy lifestyle I would love to know! We can take the journey together :-) Feel free to post any questions or comments you may have. Hope you enjoy!