A+J Kicking Sunday's BOOTAY & Finishing the Fight

First and foremost, Amber and I had PLANNED on doing legs but as most of you know my foot is kind of gimpy still and I wanted to take it easy so we ended up doing bi's and tri's and cardio. As you will see, we still ROCKED it!

• Warm up on step mill - level 9/10 for 10 minutes
• Barbell curl w/2.5lbs on each side (bar weighs 45lbs) - 4 sets of 10-12 supersetted with:
• Tricep pushdowns w/60-65lb - 4 sets of 15 w/added drop sets at 30 lbs for 8-10 reps
• Preacher curl w/10lbs on each side - bar weighs 25lbs so 45lbs total - 4 sets of 15 supersetted with:
• Skull crushers w/curly bar (25lbs) plus 2 10lb plates - 4 sets of 15 w/chest press burnouts at end
• Standing cable bicep curls behind the head w/60lbs for 10 reps & 40lbs for 10 reps - 4 sets of 20 total reps supersetted with:
• Bench tricep dips with feet up - 4 sets of 25reps
  

Then moved to cardio and did:

• Step mill for 20 minutes at level 9-10 - alternating single steps, double steps, side steps
• Arc trainer for 20 minutes starting at level 21 (?) and 3 incline and increasing resistance by 2 each minute and incline 2 every 5 minutes

Abs:

• 10 full sit ups w/25 mini crunches (shoulders never touch floor)
• 10 full sit ups w/35 mini crunches
• 10 full sit ups w/45 mini crunches
• 10 full sit ups w/45 mini crunches

Final cardio finish was 20 minutes on the nordic track treadmill.

• 5 minutes at 12% incline and 4.2 MPH forward walking
• 5 minutes at 15% incline and 2.0 MPH backwards walking with hands on bars close the the front electronics panel of treadmill in low squad duck walk
• 5 minutes at 15% incline and 4.2 MPH forward walking
• 5 minutes at 15% incline and 4.2 MPH backwards walking (like described above)

I burned 1385 calories total and Amber burned like 1290 or 1300 or something...point being for the FIRST time I actually burned more calories than her. WOO HOO! I guess that is what happens when you take off a couple weeks. I told her I was going to start getting sick every other week just so I could burn more calories than her! :)

As for Finishing the Fight....Debbie added a post the other day about the phrase "Finish the Fight". Her main message is to simply finish what you start. Probably something we should ALL remember as we start to reach one month in on our new year's resolutions. I LOVE this idea - we all should remember this because it not only pertains to our workouts but ALSO how we treat others, how we honor our commitments to people and how we see things through to the end and honor OURSELVES.

Jessica -signing out after Finishing the Fight! :)

Part 2 - Workout

Hit a hard shoulder workout tonight....if you haven't figured it out shoulders are my default if I have been off. :)

Here is what my workout looked like:

• Warmed up with smith machine shoulder press - just 10lbs on each side for 15
• Then did regular weight of 17.5 each side (total of 35 plus bar - does the bar weigh anything on smith machine?) - 5 sets of 12, 12, 10, 10 and 8
• 25lb front plate raise - 4 sets, 12 reps supersetted with reverse push ups (feet up on bench in a V while doing a push up)
• 12lb side lateral raises - 4 sets, 15 reps supersetted with reverse flye - same weight, same reps
  

Great workout! Feel awesome! Tried to ride bike but foot is still hurting and want to try to do legs tomorrow. Amber and I are hooking up tomorrow for one of our workouts. Can't wait!

Have a great night all!
Jess

Back from KC - Part 1 - Pre Workout

I ended up having to go to Kansas City for work (WM year beginning meeting) on Monday afternoon. Thank goodness I had such an awesome workout with Debbie on Monday morning. She rocks! Anyhoozle, I ended up working almost 100 hours between Saturday and yesterday (Friday). So, you can imagine how my workouts turned out - much less my sleep (averaged about 4 hours a night). And to add to all of that, after walking the show floor (about 2 miles from one side to the other) and standing on concrete for a total of 24 hours in the WRONG unsupportive shoes because I didn't think I would have to work the floor itself, I have done something to my left foot. It kills every time I step on the ball of my left foot. Not so much fun but it is starting to feel better.

Overall, I am very frustrated I haven't been able to get back to it but it also means I am MORE motivated than ever to get back at it. And even though being gone to the show the whole time put me way behind with my regular work stuff, I feel like if I work a few hours this weekend I can get way ahead of the game and will finally have the time I need next week to get back to my workouts.

So....part one of today's blog is telling you why I have been MIA and share a little behind the scenes. :) Part two will be my workout from today. I will tell you that it won't be as intense as normal because of my gimpy foot but it will be good! :)
I'll be back.
Jess

Debbie Reunion....Sitting Down YEEEEEEOUCH!!!!

As most of you know Debbie was on vacation over Christmas and the first week of January and then I was sick so it had been almost a full month since I had worked out with Debbie and a couple weeks since I had an good intense workout because of bronchitis and various sickness. Anyhoozle, I hit it on Monday morning with Debbie and let me tell you it was BRUTAL.

Because Amber and I had done SOME leg stuff on Saturday my legs were still pretty stiff. Well, let me tell you, the pain I felt from Saturday was NOTHING like what I feel today. I am going to attempt to remember the workout but it is kind of like having a traumatic experience - you put it out of your head as quick as you can. :)

• 5 minute run warm up
• Started with a set of abs on the decline ab bench - 15 twists to one side, 15 in the middle and 15 twits to the other side.
• Hack squats w/50lbs - 5 sets of 20 w/30 second rests in between
• Jump rope for 1 minute
• Walk a lap (Debbie DID go easy on me here with allowing me to walk)
• Hack squats w/70lbs - 5 sets of 15 w/30 second rests in between
• Jump rope for 1 minute
• Walk a lap
• Hack squats w/90lbs - 4 sets of 8-10
• Jump rope for 1 minute
• Walk a lap
• Medicine ball squat and shoulder raises (one with right arm, one to the center both arms, one with left arm, one to the center with both arms) 4=1 to 10 (SUPER HIGH HEART RATE!)
• Sled press - 4 plates each side, 20 reps; 3 plates each side, 20 reps; 2 plates each side, 20 reps; 1 plate each side, 20 reps
• Medicine ball squat and shoulder raises (two w/right arm, two to the center, two w/left arm, two to the center) 8=1 to 10
• Tight lunges half lap w/15 lb dumbbells
• Quad extensions w/50lbs - 3 sets of 20
• Box jumps - 20 inches - 4 sets of 10 - deep squats on the jump off
• Walk a lap
• 10 sets of stairs
• Backward tight lunges half lap w/15 lb dumbbells
• Box jumps - 23 inches - 3 sets of 10 - deep squats on the jump off

Holy crap. 1085 calories in an hour and 45 mins. Crazy pain.

Today I am struggling walking...sitting....sleeping....moving. But I know it is where I need to go to reach my goals so I am happy with the pain. Well....maybe not happy but I know it is what I need to do to achieve my goals.

I am out of town for work so I won't be able to workout with Debbie again until Friday. And I am going to try to workout in the morning but it will be EARLY. Like 4am. :(

Feeling the love come back for taking care of me! So you take care of you.
Jess

Sunday Workout: Cardio Cleaning - OH YEAH!

Today I had some stuff blow up for work so I didn't has a much time to get done all of the house stuff I had wanted AND workout. So I decided....why not combine my house cleaning with my cardio???? Hello! Perfect solution.

Here is how to make cardio house cleaning work for you :)...

I got a couple of loads of laundry going and...
Hopped on the bike for a 20 minute warm up - at around 140 BPM.
Jumped rope for 2 minutes, did 10 burpees and 30 second of mountain climbers and repeated.
Did the following conditioning drill:

• Burpees x 30 seconds
• Mountain Climbers x 30 seconds
• Split Squat Jumps x 30 seconds
• Mountain Climbers x 30 seconds
• Split Squat Jumps x 30 seconds
• Burpees x 30 seconds

Wiped down all the kitchen counters and picked up the rugs (preparation for floor cleaning).
Repeated the above conditioning drill.
Cleaned the hardwoods (I use a mop and can usually keep heart rate up around 125 the whole time :)).
Jump rope for 5 minutes (w/15 seconds breaks every minute).
Repeated above conditioning drill.
Rode bike for another 20 minutes.

Total calories burned: 1000
Total time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

So next time you don't think you have time to do both, I beg to differ! :)
Jess

Back At It.....Long Way to Go!

Met Amber at the gym today for my first official workout after my brief hiatus. :) I could definitely tell I've been off...for awhile. It is amazing what two weeks off can do to your cardio...more on that in a little bit but let me just tell you I was FRUS-TRA-TED. Big time.

Here was our workout:

Set 1:
5 minute run to warm up
20 barbell squats (Jessica 50lbs/Amber 40lbs)
15 reverse lunges (ea. leg) using same weight as above
15 Overhead dumbbell shoulder presses (Jessica - 20lbs) while Amber did bicep curls w/15's
10 close grip push ups
4x through

Set 2:
20 Sumo Squats (Jessica 50lb dumbbell, Amber 60)
15 Deadlifts (Jessica 80lbs, Amber 60lbs) (my heart rate after these two: 160!!!!!)
15 Skull crushers w/30 lbs curly bar followed by 10 chest presses
15 Lateral Raises (Jessica w/12lbs) while Amber did 40lb dumbbell curls
4x through

Abs:
10 3 count bob and weave sit ups
15 hip thrusts
1 crunch + 1 sit up....2 crunches + 2 sit ups...3...through 10
1 minute Core Plank
In and Outs (15)
1 minute Core Plank
In and Outs (15)

Ok, a couple of comments....I really struggled with my heart rate. I was consistently 10 BPM over Amber after each exercise. Normally I am 10 BPM LOWER than Amber (she is a little hummingbird) and I had to sit down a couple times because of light headed-ness. Very frustrating.

The GOOD news is that I got in there and had a great first day back workout. While I am frustrated, I didn't lose a lot of strength. Most of what I lost was just cardio and stamina - my strength was still pretty good. Thank goodness Amber had already done a workout in the morning and so she was pretty tired as well. We actually referred to our workout today as a "guy workout". Sorry boys...but its true! :)

I am going to try to ride the bike for a bit tonight and get in some long cardio tomorrow....I am a little nervous about working out with Debbie on Monday but I saw her today and she could tell I was definitely not "feeling it". :) She looks fantastic, as always! And such a ball of white light. Her energy is so pure and she is so motivating!

Have a great weekend everyone! Keep on keeping on and remember, every day you do something for your health is a day you choose to make your life better! :)
Jess

Re-Motivational Techniques

At this point I am not even sure what the point of posting is....all I am going to say is...I don't feel well, again. Do you sense my sarcasm?? Have been on the mend from bronchitis...feeling lots better and then Jody started to get stuffy head, sore throat, headache thing on Tuesday...and it got worse. Tonight I started to feel the same symptoms. Now, I will tell you I am fighting this with everything I have...even more so than before. Took lots of vitamin c, my wellness caps, probiotics...etc...and took a bath....As you can see, boxing gloves are on. I will wake up tomorrow and will feel 100% back to normal - I am healthy and strong! :)

On the training front, I have to get back to the level of intensity I was at before I got sick (again). I am enlisting Amber's help....it has been almost two weeks since one of our kick ass A&J workouts....just for me, Amber has been continuing to rock the house (of course).

I have lifted three days so far (feels good!) and have done three days of mild cardio...will hit cardio again tomorrow and will do two super intense workouts on Sat and Sunday. Because I am officially about 9 months from my next show, I need to start mapping out the plan of attack both training and nutritionally.

Today I was feeling completely unmotivated and it occurred to me that a huge reason for my lack of motivation was that I haven't revisited my goals lately. I haven't sat down and gone through my goals, visualized where I will be and reviewed why I am here and why this is important to me. Anytime I lose sight of those things I feel my motivation fading. I have to re-motivate by reconnecting with myself.

Will post workouts soon!
Jess

Da' Gym

Back at the gym over lunch today and AHHHHHHHHHH it felt good. Did shoulders again (still had 72 hours between workouts) but that is what the DH wanted to do. Did Smith Machine presses (5 sets), upright rows (5 sets) and cable cross over lat raises (3 sets). Felt great. Just nice to be back in there with the boys hanging out and doing the gym thing. Good times.

Didn't hit cardio this morning as planned but will tomorrow - for sure! Want to test out the lungs and make sure I am back in action before I do anything real crazy (like workout with Debbie :)).

Just a quick post to let you know I am officially on the mend! Still taking my super foods, still taking my vitamin c and good to go on sleep!

Remember - your body is the only thing that will be with you your entire life - take care of it!
Jess

Starting Point Pic

You have been asking for them and since I am taking Prednisone to kick my bronchitis' butt, I thought I would take a picture while fluffy (that way I have a little excuse :). Truth be told, I can't blame it on the Prednisone since I have only been on it for 3 days (or can I????.....).

Anyhoo...here it is...I will try to post every month. I gotta tell ya, this is HARD to do. Posting not a very complimentary pic..not so much fun. Or as Em would say: Awesome: posting pics from the day of your contest.....Not Awesome: Posting pics 9 months out. :)

I am not even sure what to say other than I have some work to do! But also feel good about some of the gains I have made (not in the shelf like rump) in my shoulders and even quads.

More to come all! And no baring of the belly just yet. At least until I break up with Prednisone. Drumroll.....
Oh, and I worked out today! Just did shoulders which consisted of the following:

• Overhead press on smith rack (30lbs warm up)
• Arnold Press supersetted with Standing Lat Raises (20lbs and 12lbs respectively)
• Barbell Row supersetting with Front Dumbbell Raises (Barbell w/10lbs and 12 lbs dumbbells)
• GVT final set - 10 sets of 10 of Smith Shoulder Press using 25lbs

And rode the bike for 30 minutes super light - just enough to get heart rate to around 130-140 - purely to test out the lungs. But it was a start and yet, I am feeling better! I am going to try to do a super high rep leg workout tomorrow along with some more cardio to see if I can get through a workout with just a bit more intensity.

Have a great weekend all!

Jess

I Got Two Words for Ya: BRON CHITIS!

It's true. First time in my life I have ever had bronchitis and soooooooo not fun for someone with asthma. Here is the quick rundown (for those of you that stop by to actually see fitness posts and not sick posts :)):
Sick on Monday in the head/nose region. Woke up Tuesday and it have moved to my chest. Wednesday was really in my chest and Wednesday night I had to use my inhaler about once an hour throughout the night and slept about 2 hours. :( Went to the doc on Thursday morning and he was super freaked out at how bad my breathing sounded - immediately put me on a nebulizer (I have never had to do one in the past). Apparently, having asthma and bronchitis is not good and can be very dangerous. I had gone to work on Thursday morning but knew I was in trouble when I got out of breath just walking between conference rooms. Couldn't catch my breath. :(
He put me on an antibiotic and prednisone (a non-muscle building steroid AHHHHH) and gave me a nebulizer to use at home and although I am sick to my stomach being on so many meds, I gotta tell ya, I feel so much better! The breathing treatments are amazing and last night I finally slept. I can feel a good sleep and possible sleep in for tomorrow too!
On the frustrating side: I had just gotten my workouts in gear and had taken the intensity to a whole different level. Amber and I were working out consistently together and coming up with some awesome workouts. When I get sick after making so much progress I get so mad and upset and really sad to have to take two steps back. But, I know everything happens for a reason...keep reading...

What have I learned from this:
1. Take my Vitamin C religiously - daily.
2. Incorporate Green Super Foods every day.
3. Get my sleep!

I know me getting sick is my body screaming: "TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! STOP WORKING SO MUCH! GET SLEEP!". I didn't listen so it made me listen.I am also going to add in greens and veggies with every meal. This will not happen again - a sinus infection and bronchitis all within the two months that happened to be the craziest two months of work for me in a long, long time....partner that with not enough sleep and not the bets eating and here I am.

The plan:
1. Get better!!
2. Figure out a schedule that allows me to workout, work and still get 7+ hours of sleep a night!
3. Get into the best shape of my life through a balanced program of weights, cardio, conditioning and a great nutrition program.

I am giving myself 2 weeks to kick it! But I bet I can do it sooner! :)

When you read this post, think about how you are taking care of YOU. If you aren't healthy you can't take care of others. True dat!

Jessica

Grrrrrrr....Too Mad to Come Up With a Title :)

Well....I clearly need to find a better work/life/workout balance because....(wait for it, wait for it) I am FRIGGIN SICK AGAIN!!!! Not happy. At all.

Started on Sunday night and has just gotten progressively worse...the worst part about it? It is the same exact thing I had at the end of November - sinus infection. Today (last night actually) it moved from my head/nose to my chest which is GOOD because it means it is moving out of my body but bad b/c my asthma is terrible....inhaler doesn't even work and I get out of breath walking the dog around our neighborhood.

So, you know the drill...I am pissed that I can't workout...pissed that I can't lift (really, I tried and got immediately out of breath).

Reasons I am continuing to get sick:

• Sensitivity/decrease in immune system as a result of cats. An update on that in case I haven't said it yet - I was able to give the kitties to one of my BF's from North Carolina. They are doing great. Need to get carpet deep cleaned and furniture too.
• Not getting enough sleep over New Year's (about 3 days worth of 6 hour nights).
  
• Eating terribly over New Year's (same 3 days).
  
• Drinking over New Year's (yes, you got it - same 3 days).
• Going back to work and it being complete and utter madness!

After this round is over I vow to:

• Get 7 hours a night - no matter what!
• Take my vitamin c daily.
  
• Use my nettie pot for the sinuses.
  
• Start supplementing with a super food.
• Make sure my health comes above everything else.
  

I can't wait to get back to my workouts...I am going to attempt a workout tomorrow night...attempt being the key word - I don't want to push my body so hard that it can't continue to recover.

I will update you guys tomorrow and hopefully have a successful workout to report!

Remember...the body comes 1st!

Does anyone have a good super food they recommend?

Jess

1300 + Calorie Workout and Burning the Quads!!

Happy Sunday all!

Amber and I had another fantastic workout today. It is absolutely beautiful (70 degrees and sunny) so we met at the lake and ran 5.5 miles at a decent fat burning pace...because we both ran on an empty stomach we knew we needed to replenish protein and get some simple carbs in our system to fuel us through the weight workout were were about to embark on...after refueling we did the following ab challenge - let me just tell you...CRAZY OW!

• Medicine Ball Sit-ups (Unassisted)- 25 times/Explosive on the UP- 10 second count on the DOWN/Keep M.B. on your chest AT ALL TIMES
• Hanging Bent Leg Raises- 3x15/Rest 10 seconds between sets/DO NOT SWING
• Plate Standups/25 times/DO NOT MOVE YOUR FEET/Tempo- Moderate Pace/The lighter the plate the harder the exercise...CHALLENGE/PUSH!
• Side Core Plank- Hold 30 seconds/25 Ups and Downs/Do one side at a time
• Hanging Straight Leg Raises- 3x15/Rest 10 seconds between sets/DO NOT SWING
• Plate Stand-ups + Sit-ups/(2=1) 35 times/DO NOT MOVE YOUR FEET/Tempo- Moderate Pace/The lighter the plate the harder the exercise...CHALLENGE YOURSELF
• Side Core Plank- Hold 1 minute/35 Ups and Downs/Do one side at a time

After cramping from the ab workout, we did the Chest/Bicep/Shoulder challenge that I posted on Day 5 - Staycation (see December blog list for more details)...the only thing we modified was the we added quad extension peek-a-boo's after our last upper body move before the cardio blast....which by the way, after running almost 6 miles we were OUT on the sprinting a lap in under 28 seconds - sorry Debbie but we had to just jog two laps on all four sets but the first and we just did one.

So, you ask, after yesterday's GRUELLING leg workout would we do MORE quads...well, Amber and I were really feeling our glutes were smoked but our quads...not so much. We were cramping in the butt-al region but quads felt pretty good so we added in that set of peek-a-boos. LET ME TELL YOU the reason we didn't feel out quads was because our a$$ was so smoked but our quads were also toast - our glute pain just covered it up! :) I would say there was a degree of regret about doing quad extensions today but overall great workout.

Yours truly - 1300 calories...Amber (a.k.a The Hummingbird) 1500.

I also decided to stop focusing on weight and start focusing on inches. Losing inches in certain places and adding in others. Why focus on anything else???

Jessica

Cleanse Failure & Kick A$$ Workout!!!

For those of you who thought the cleanse sounded crazy, you were right! But what was most crazy was that we went from holiday eating and partying and then went to immediate cleansing with our cleansing days on Friday and Saturday. Not smart. I got home last night and my husband had the most pitiful look on his face and said he just couldn't do it with all the food we had in the house. And in our defense, we typically don't have a lot of food in our house that is snacky...we never have snacks and today we have TONS of snacks and left over food which makes the temptation overwhelming. So, we are eating and cleaning out all of our food and will start again very soon (like possibly next week). Anyhoo, moving on to todays workout...

Amber and I met at the gym for a leg workout with a goal of burning 1200 calories (btw, NO PROBLEM).

B/c my husband hasn't renewed the tags on my car I was getting pulled over (but thankfully not cited) while she was happily running a mile warm up (check an additional 300 calories for Amber). :)

When I got there we did one of my leg challenges which was the following:

3 sets of the following:

Glute Cardio: 1st set - Step Mill - 5 mins level 10, 2nd set - ran to each corner and did 5 burpees at each corner for two full laps, 3nd set - Step Mill 2.5 mins and Seated Lunge Cardio machine 2.5 mins.
Seated Hamstrings - peak-a-boos w/three toe positions, 3 = 1 to 10. (On my second set, both hamstring curl machines were taken so I did 30 hamstring blasts with the ball).
Walking lunges - 1st set we went completely around the track (approx 140 lunges) w/15 lb dumbbells, 2nd set we did 5 pulses each leg, 10 pulses each leg, 15 pulses each leg, then did 25 pulses each leg, 20, 15..10....5 w/15lb dumbbells, 3rd set we did 3 pulse lunges each leg ALL the way around the track w/no weight but trust me, we felt it!
Treadmill - 5 mins at 15% grade at 4.3 mph
Barbell squats - 15 reps (Amber 40lbs, Jessica 50 lbs)
Squat Jumps - 20 reps
Standing hip extensions - 15 each leg - 40 lbs
Standing quad extensions - 15 each leg - 40lbs

Then we finished up with the following ab workout:

Sit ups w/feet on 3rd bar, 1 min
Bicycles - slow and controlled, 1 min
Straight leg sit ups - 15x
Core Plank - 1 minute alternating leg lift every 5 seconds
1 Crunch + 1 Sit up, 2 Crunches + 2 Sit Ups...3 Crunches + 3 Sit Ups...to 10 (I did this a wee bit differently b/c I misunderstood but made up for it at the end. :) Right AMBER???
Shoelace drill (tie your shoelaces together - put feet in air and crunch up until they are untied)
Crunches - feed to ceiling, 1 min
Corkscrew, 1 min
Shoelace drill
Boxer's weave (1 sit up followed by side to side), 1 min
Core Plank, 1 min
Seal Stretch (I had a little tear of joy with this one)
Reverse Core Plank w/leg lift 10 each leg
Seal stretch
V-up sit ups w/feet resting on 2nd bar, 10x

Total calories: Jess 1200; Amber 1400 (maybe even more eh?)!!! Sa-weet!

GREAT job on the ab workout Amber and we did awesome on our leg workout! I have to just post, for the record, that Amber is an awesome workout partner. I think I have said it before, but she is truly awesome!

We are hitting it tomorrow again so come back to check out our next workout! :)

Jess

Staycation Over....11 Day Cleanse

Greetings all! Now, you didn't think you were gonna hear from me every day AFTER staycation did you?? :) It has been nuts!

A couple quick updates from final days of staycation:

My best friend Leanne and her daughter Victoria came to visit for a few days (4 to be exact) and it was wonderful to spend time with her and Victoria - who has turned into a beautiful, wonderful girl. Leanne has been wanting a pet to replace her dog who passed away a while back and after meeting my two wonderful cats, Dallas & Westies, she decided to take them home with her! Which is so absolutely positively wonderful! They are truly in a great home and outside of not having Pablo around, they are going to be better cared for and loved more! I am so happy they went to Leanne and although I cried when they left, I am so happy that my asthma will hopefully return to a level of non-existence for I have truly struggled.

I accomplished about 75% of the stuff I had on my Christmas list and I am happy to say that I am going to attack the rest of them over the next few weekends! It was just nice to get down the stuff I need to do on paper.

Ok, so for the much awaited and anticipated goals for 2008 (not resolutions, but goals):
1. Body fat at 16% for the year after end of March (3 months to drop 3%).
2. Get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep at night.
3. Get my pro card.

More on how that will happen later but for now, I want to fill you in on the Isagenix 11 day cleanse me and the hubby are doing right now....I was perusing Monica Brant's website and found an 11 day fasting/cleansing program she does after a bad bout of eating or when she is getting ready to kick off a new diet. It is by Isagenix and here is how it works - it feeds your body cleansing nutrients like aloe, herbal teas, vitamins, and ionic trace minerals and then helps kick-start your metabolism to burn fat naturally. The 11 days go like this:

Pre-Cleanse Days (2 Days)
IsaLean Shake or Soup—Two servings a day as meal replacements (preferably in place of your morning and evening meals). Mix two scoops with 8 oz. of purified water and blend.
One sensible meal (400-600 calories)
Water—As a general guideline, drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of purified water daily. For a truer approach, drink at least half your body weight in ounces daily.
Exercise—At least 20 minutes daily.
Days 1-2 (Cleanse Days)
Cleanse for Life—Take 4 oz. (=8 tablespoons, or 1/2 cup) combined with 8 oz. of cold purified water four times daily.
Isagenix Snacks—As needed, up to six per day. Take up to two every few hours between your Cleanse for Life servings. If you must eat a little with each Snack, try low-calorie whole foods.
Days 3-7 (Shake and/or Soup Days)
IsaLean Shake or Soup—two servings a day as meal replacements (preferably in place of your morning and evening meals). Mix two scoops with 8 oz. of purified water and blend.
One sensible meal (400-600 calories)—Choose low-fat, high-fiber meals.
Isagenix Snacks—As needed, up to six per day.
Days 8-9 (Cleanse Days)
Repeat Days 1-2

We also had a friend who did this cleanse and loved it. Lost his pooch he had been holding onto for years.

I am on day 2 of the pre-cleanse and I gotta tell you, it is NOT fun. I am starving and very tired and spacey. It reminds me of when you water deplete for a show....I am very fuzzy in the head. Tomorrow and Saturday are no food days - only the Cleanse for Life product which is basically a high vitamin and mineral supplement to help flush your body of impurities.

I weighed myself this morning (128) and took measurements. I will post all measurements and information on the cleanse as we go. Went to the gym today and did chest and tris and had no energy. Only made it about 7-8 reps through each exercise which is pretty unusual for me.

I hope the new year is treating all of you well! I am so fortunate to have all of you in my life - even those people who happen to stumble across my blog and stay awake after reading it! You guys are my support system and such an important part of my life!

Remember you can accomplish whatever you set out to achieve but WRITE IT DOWN! :)
Jessica

Day 10 & 11 Staycation - Depression, Hangover and Happy New Year! :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I didn't post my workout from yesterday....but I did do one....45 minute intervals on the bike and then the following ab workout.

Crunches on swiss ball with 10lb weight behind my head -30 reps.
Reverse crunches - 30 reps.
Ball exchange - 30 reps.

I burned about 500 calories....and I had wanted to do another workout in the afternoon - shoulders and legs but had so much to do to get ready for the party that I didn't get to it....grrr. But I guarantee with all the cleaning, lifting and moving stuff around, I burned more calories than I normally would have...

I am a bit depressed today thinking about going back to work. But the good news is it is a short (3 day week). We are going to Russellville to help his mom set up her tv next weekend but other than that it will be very laid back...so I can continue my staycation - sort of. :) It has been so wonderful to take this time off to relax and rejuvenate. I definitely needed it!

Ate pretty bad last night with all of the snacks and appetizers and drank about three cocktails so felt pretty crappy this morning. I was very envious of Amber who was not drinking at all...although I could have made the same choice. :) Heck, I am not sure if I have even shared with you guys...we had a big party at our house last night - about 50 people. We had Texas Hold Em, Karaoke and Nintendo Wii. It was a BLAST!!! Big thanks to Amber for all the baked goods and for my girls Susan and Leanne for all their help with the prep. Bette and Leroy - you guys rock for bringing the karaoke machine and to Doon you rule for the Wii and all the shots! :)

Hoping to get a workout in later today once I feel a little better....next week its all about lunch time lifts and early am cardio + plyos and conditioning drills at night. Can't wait to get back to a schedule and get work under control. :)

Happy New Year all! Be your best no matter what....remember new year's resolutions are great but set realistic goals and make sure you plan for success!

Until next time...
Jessica