My husband bought me the P90X Workouts last year. They are my absolute favorite workout if I can't get to the gym. I love that they challenge my cardiovascular and muscular systems and I get a great workout in my basement.

The makers of P90X have some amazing new products and opportunities available.

Ultimate Reset - Looks like a really great cleanse.
Tai Cheng - Looks intense!
Body Beast - Can't lie, this one scared me a bit! Seriously it looks tough. I'd love to try it.


Become certified to teach P90X

New P90x2 Workouts
P90X app for iPhone

Have any of you tried P90X? What's your favorite part?

Slim Kicker

Have you heard about Slim Kicker? It's this amazing new website where you record your diet and exercise and then you can complete challenges and win prizes. I love it. Check it out here.

Turn your weight loss and fitness goals into a level-up game

Gamification of weight loss

SlimKicker was formed to solve a huge problem when it comes to losing weight, or living healthier: sustaining motivation. Many people makes resolutions to stop eating junk, or start going to the gym every New Year. But once March or April hits, we forget about our goals, and return back to our old ways.
That's why we created SlimKicker, a level-up game and point-based program. You start by tracking your diet, where whole foods are worth more points than processed foods. It's similar to Weight Watchers, but in reverse.
But diet, and fitness are half of the battle. Most people regain weight because they never learn long-term habits. We solve this by taking habits as quitting soda, and turning them into 7-30 day challenges. Like a regular game, the challenges start out easy, and gradually become harder, with more points. We encourage you to check-in daily with others doing the same challenge for accountability and social support.

Does SlimKicker replace a diet program?

SlimKicker can be used alongside any existing diet program, or can replace other diets such as Weight Watchers. We think short-term diets are not effective because people return back to bad habits after they're over. SlimKicker, on the other hand is all about learning proper nutrition, portion control, and acquring important habits. In addition to challenges, SlimKicker also offer tools such as a calorie counter, a fitness tracker, and resources.

Fun and Games are not Enough

Making things fun and motivating is cool, but it's useless without actionable, personalized advice. That's why we're working on using all your data to give you advice on how to reach your diet and fitness goals. So for instance, if we find you're eating a lot of junk food, we'll tell you ways to cut back, and healthier alternatives.

Our Team

SlimKicker, the idea was born in April 2012, and was officially launched out of beta in March 2012. We're a bootstrapped team based in NYC. If you wish to contact us, we're on Twitter, Facebook, or you can email us at team (at) slimkicker.com.

Metabolism - Kick it in Gear

Rev up your metabolism to lose weight – the idea is on the cover of most magazines and the talk of the fitness industry. But what is metabolism and is it possible to increase it? Metabolism is basically how your body burns calories. Those blessed with a fast metabolism burn calories quickly and are able to keep weight off more easily. Metabolism is based on many factors – age, gender, genetics, weight, and muscle mass, to name a few. Of course we can’t do much about our family history, age, or gender, but there are tricks to increase your metabolism that will make you a more efficient calorie burner and help you stay thin and fit without as much effort.

1. Lift weights - Every pound of muscle burns 35 calories a day, while each pound of fat burns just 2 calories per day. Increase the size of your weights to burn more - When lifting identical volumes (such as 10 pounds 10 times or 20 pounds 5 times), those using heavier dumbbells burn about 25 percent more calories. Many women are afraid of lifting heavy weights, but it is impossible to bulk up without testosterone. Use a weight that is challenging to you, but won’t cause injury. You’ll lose weight and increase muscle tone much faster.

2. Drink plenty of water - if you're dehydrated you will burn fewer calories throughout the day. To burn an extra ten calories a day make sure your water is icy cold. Ten calories may not seem like much, but it adds up to a pound lost a year.

3. Eat more often. It may sound crazy to those trying to lose weight by restricting their daily caloric intake, but the problem with this old school of thought, explains Michigan dietician Julie Beyer, is that it actually slows metabolism. Recent studies show that eating smaller meals every three to four hours aids metabolism and weight loss. "When you put too many hours between meals, your metabolism actually slows down to compensate. If you then eat a huge meal - at the same time your metabolism is functioning as if you're starving - your body wants to hold on to every calorie.” Molly Kimball, RD.

4. Move more all day. You can burn up to 350 extra calories daily - enough to shed more than 35 pounds this year - simply by pacing while you talk on the phone, getting up to talk to someone rather than e-mailing, and walking rather than driving for short errands.” James Levine, MD, PhD.

5. Dieting will drop your metabolism - as you lose weight there is less of you to maintain so your resting metabolic rate drops. The solution – eat consistent small meals and lift weights. Increase your muscle density and your metabolism will keep on kicking so you can keep on losing. 

6. At least once a week have a long cardio day. Exercising for sixty minutes could burn five times as many calories post-workout than thirty minutes.

7. Eat breakfast. People who eat breakfast weigh less than those who don’t. Also, add more protein - it's harder for your body to process, you can burn twice as many calories digesting protein as carbs.

8. Avoid stress. (Easier said than done!) “Stress can actually cause weight gain, particularly around the tummy,” says Shari Lieberman author of Dare to Lose. Stress increases cortisol which slows metabolism.

9. Include interval training two to three days a week. High intensity exercise burns more calories during and after exercise. Some studies have shown women who did a twenty-minute interval workout lost five times as much weight as those who did a forty-minute steady-paced workout. Sorry friends. I know the interval workouts are tough, but they are worth the pain.

10. Sleep. Oh, I like this one. “Research shows that people who don’t sleep for seven to eight hours a night are more prone to weight gain. Additionally, we now know that lean muscle is regenerated in the final couple of hours of sleep each night.” Julie Beyer, RD

What do you like to do to increase your metabolism and calorie burn throughout the day?

Sources:

“The Ultimate Over-40 Fat Fighter!” by Selene Yeager - Prevention Magazine 

“Boosting Metabolism: 10 Tips That Work” by Susan Woodward for MSN Health & Fitness

“Make the Most of Your Metabolism” by Colette Bouchez

WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature - http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/make-most-your-metabolism

Fasting

I just read in Prevention Magazine that "Mormons' superior heart health may stem from their traditional practice of fasting one day each month." Dr. Donald Lloyd Jones said, "If you have fasted for at least 12 hours, your liver handles a fatty meal much more efficiently-with less insulin and less elevation of blood pressure."
It's amazing to me how something that I've just thought of as a spiritual blessing (fasting and growing closer to the Lord) also gives us temporal blessings as well. Very cool.

Vacation

Home from vacation and so excited to tackle life again! I love how vacation just reenergizes me. I'm all excited about running, writing, being a more fun Mom, and cleaning those toilets until they shine. Okay, I'm just kidding about the toilets. The boys halfway job of bathroom cleaning is just fine with me! But I am excited about spring and having a fresh, happy attitude.
Hope you all have a wonderful Easter and enjoy Cadbury to the fullest. Those people are saints, I tell you.

Chocolate Update

I had to share with all of you that I am doing pretty good breaking my chocolate addiction. I posted several weeks ago that I was going to go chocoalte free on the weekdays. I've done it (three whole weeks, wow!). I've actually felt pretty good and haven't been too irritable (don't ask my boys, they might disagree). The thing that I've been really excited about is on the weekends I haven't gone nuts eating chocolate. I have definitely eaten some chocolate but it's been reasonable portion sizes and rarely more than once a day. I've really prayed hard for help to break this addiction and I know I'm not 100% cured but I feel much more in control and I like that.

How do you curb your desire for chocolate or sugar?

Yeah spring!

Ran outside this morning. Amazing! Goodbye treadmill hello beautiful black pavement. Hope you all have a glorious first day of spring!