MORE Answers to Common Questions

About a month ago, I did a blog about my most common product questions.  It was a pretty big hit, and I've since had some more searches on my blog with questions, and also some that have personally emailed me or PM'd me on FB with questions......so......without further ado.......more questions from my readers (yes, I truly have them.....).

1) Can I drink beer on the 21 Day Fix?:  I think people inquire about this, because you can have wine.  Wine is allowed, 3 times a week and it would be counted as a yellow container.  Beer can be higher in calories, so if you are drinking a light beer, I don't see why not, but you won't get much ;-)  My suggestion is, if you are out and having some fun, and want a glass of wine or beer, plan ahead and save your yellows for the day.   

2) Can you do PiYo alone?:  I'm thinking the question is asking if they need to do any other workout with PiYo....and NOT whether they need a workout partner ;-)  But just in case, no you don't need a workout partner for PiYo, and YES you can do PiYo without doing extra cardio or lifting.  If you've done a few strenuous workout programs before PiYo, use PiYo for a recovery........your body will thank you.  BUT PiYo is also versatile enough where adding extra running (this program is amazing for runners!!!) or weight lifting would be fine.  Just don't push it.  If you're worried you'll lose muscle mass or stamina, trust me, you use your body as weight and although it feels like you're not getting any cardio benefits, you really are.  Trust in the process!!

3) How many calories do you burn doing PiYo?:  That's a tough one, because everyone is built different.  No two people, even if they weight the same, will burn the same amount of calories.  We all workout at different intensities.  The smaller you are, the less calories are burned.  I have a heart rate monitor that I will start using to see and report back for my height and weight....although, like I said, it'll be different for everyone.

4) How long are the PiYo workouts?:  First, let me say....yes, in the first round of printed material for PiYo, they did mess up the length of Define: Upper Body and stated it was 35 minutes, when in fact it's a little over 18 minutes.  The mistake has since been fixed.  I've looked through all the DVD's and have the EXACT times of all the workouts.  If you'd like to know more about the particular workouts, check out my recent blog: What is PiYo.

Align: The Fundamentals- 42:04

Define: Lower Body-20:59

Define: Upper Body- 18:48

Sweat- 36:50

Core-30:18

Buns-28:20

Strength Intervals-21:52

Drench-48:08

Sculpt-26:40

Hard Core on the Floor-33:30

5) Do you still drink Shakeology:?  YES!!!!  I do almost everyday, I say "almost" because sometimes I run out, and other times I forget to bring it with me on vacations.  I don't post about it everyday, because honestly, it's part of my life, like brushing my teeth......I just forget that I do it everyday.  I usually post about it when I try a new recipe out that I think you'd all enjoy.  BUT it's very rare when I do more than just 8-10oz of water, a few ice cubes and blend away.  I absolutely LOVE my Shakeo and can't imagine going too long without it if I have to.  

6) I'm already fit, can I still do PiYo?:  I was already fit too.....PiYo is seriously so different than any other workout if you're not use to using your body as a weight.  I can tell you all this, my running times have really improved while doing PiYo and so has my stride length.  Anyone, and I really mean ANYONE can do PiYo!!

7) Sweaty ass: HAHAHAHAAAA  YES this was seriously a questions someone searched on my blog, and if it was you....thanks for the laugh ;-P  Yes, my bum does get sweaty more so than the rest of me, my back and my bum.  I know TMI, but hey, someone asked....or might have wanted to ask.  I'm not quite sure.  BUT it really did make me smile!!  But just to let you all know......I will NOT be taking a picture of my sweaty bum, I hate taking sweaty selfies to begin with!

8) What is PiYo Drench?:  PiYo Drench is the longest PiYo workout ever...and in my opinion the one I could do without ;-P  You know, every program has that ONE workout that you dread.  Well, Drench is the one I dread every time I have to pop it in.  That's what PiYo Drench is to me.....hey, you PiYo peeps might love it, but for me, it's on my black list!

9) Does PiYo make you urinate?:  No, not that I'm aware of.....but I drink a lot of water every day, half my body weight in ounces or more, so I do urinate a lot.  BUT if you do notice the urge to urinate while doing PiYo, I'm wondering if it's due to the contractions of abs more so than most workouts.  It makes sense, especially during planks.

Well, there you have it!!  Keep asking away :-)  

Check out my Facebook page From Skinny Fat to Fit for August Beachbody specials :-)

 

BEAST UP.......Body Beast Sale!

This happens through HARD work, Dedication,
and the correct supplements, and a strict eating plan
not just lifting and watching your diet

Body Beast is on WICKED sale right now!!  Holy cow!!  I've done the program, and I LOVE IT!!  It taught me that the scale isn't great at measuring progress, I actually "gained" 5 pounds while doing the Bulk phase, BUT lost inches and toned up.      

Lifting isn't just a MALE thing!! I think a lot of ladies are afraid of lifting....I think they're afraid to look "manly" and "too muscular" or "bulky" but to be honest, you need a TON of testosterone through supplements to pull off this look, not to mention, A TON OF DISCIPLINE and HARD work 

Remember, muscle burns fat, especially off the hard to tone areas.....the belly and thighs for most of us.........also, muscle is your metabolism.  When you start to lose muscle, your metabolism starts to lose momentum, you start to gain fat and weight.  Sure you can do cardio all day, I use to run 5-6 times a day 3-5 miles but NEVER touched weights.  I still had a budda belly and couldn't figure out why or how to get rid of it!  I also couldn't figure out why I was losing weight but getting bigger and couldn't fit into my clothing.......

Here's a comparison of my journey from when I first started Beachbody, my before pictures, when I just ran, and the last two during the Bulk phase of Body Beast.  When I started Body Beast I actually weighed 109.  I just wanted to show you the comparison of just cardio on me, and weights and cardio combined.  :-)

Check out the sale:

Body Beast Kit

Body Beast Challenge Pack with Shakeology

Body Beast Challenge Pack with Supplements

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me on my Skinnyfat to Fit Facebook page, or Email me :-)

My Most Common Questions on Products

I wanted to do a quick blog about the most common questions I get :-)  This will be a short and sweet blog, and be sure to check out my Facebook page From Skinnyfat to Fit for my July special!!

Is the 3-Day Refresh good for those that are already skinny?  My answer is YES!!  The 3-Day Refresh is NOT about losing weight only, your body will let go of what it needs to let go naturally, and most of it will be waste.  What the 3-Day Refresh does, is get rid of toxins in our bodies and also helps with cravings, and to cut the bad habits we may have picked up on vacation.  The 3-Day Refresh is also a good starting point for people that are ready to jump start their new workout regiment, or those that find themselves hitting a plateau.  I had some bloating from too much Vegas, and I've been bloat free since doing the cleanse.  I lost 4 pounds, but have since gained one back.

I just started drinking Shakeology, why am I bloated?  Shakeology is made of a ton of fruits and veggies, and sometimes our bodies are not use to having all that goodness in us.  Fruits and veggies can cause bloating, but after a week or so, it usually goes away.  If it doesn't try switching to the Vegan based Shakeology, as your system may be sensitive to the Whey based protein.  85% of the time, it's just our bodies getting use to the idea of being healthier, and the pro and pre-biotics are basically doing their jobs......yes, like I said, some bloating may occur in the first week or so.

Is Focus T25 okay for skinny people?  Yes, Focus T25 is perfect for skinny people, all the programs are :-)  IF you're scared to lose weight, up your caloric intake.....UP IT!!!  Don't be afraid!  You'll gain lean, mean muscle and become healthier.  Keep in mind, just because people are skinny, doesn't mean they are healthy ;-)  And if your skinny fat like I was, all of these programs will tone you up :-)  Especially the mid section!

I'm a fussy eater, is 21 Day Fix right for me?  Well, this question is hard to answer, because it really depends on how fussy you are.  If there are some meats, fruits and veggies that you like, then yes, it can be made to suit your needs.  If you don't like anything but fried food....then there might be a problem!!  If anyone has any questions regarding this, feel free to PM me on my Facebook page From Skinnyfat to Fit or email me!!  I would be happy to go over the 21 Day Fix and figure out if it would work for you!

Is P90X3 for skinny people?  See the answer that I gave for T25 :-)  But if you don't fee like re-reading it, yes.....P90X3 is okay for skinny people to do!!  Just make sure you up your caloric intake, and make sure it's with healthy foods and not empty calories!

Can Shakeology still be used if you don't need to lose weight?  Of course it can!!  Not everyone needs to lose weight, BUT everyone needs to be healthy, right?  I rarely use Shakeology as a meal supplement, I use it mostly after a workout or a snack.  It's my "fast food" for the days I need something to shake and go.  You can also pack it with calories if you choose to by adding yogurt or peanut butter or some health fats.

I'm already at my goal weight, should I continue the 21 Day Fix?  Absolutely!!  If you like the plan, stick with it, but make sure you calculate your maintenance intake.  21 Day Fix is not only something that can be used to lose weight, BUT it can be used to GAIN weight or even maintain it.  What I love about the 21 Day Fix, is it teaches us how to EAT HEALTHY, how to make our meals proportioned and balanced.  It teaches us to not cheat ourselves of healthy fats, carbs and things we may decided to skip out on because we deemed them as not good to have.  If you feel you want to move on from the workouts and do something else, you can still follow the system.

SOOOO there you have it, some of the most asked about questions this month so far.  

And a small thought for the day......I find it funny how most people don't give it a SECOND thought about buying hydroxy cut or that stuff you shake on your meals, HCG or all the 1000000 other unhealthy and unnatural, quick fix band aid products that are on the market, but they fuss and think that Shakeology and workout programs are scams????  HAHAHHAA  Gotta love our backwards thinking!!  There is NOTHING like 100% on target nutrition and working out to feel healthy and BE HEALTHY FOR REAL........

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What is PiYo

Before I give my own personal review on PiYo next week, I figured I'd touch base on WHAT PiYo is and touch base on what types of workouts PiYo has to offer.

I CANNNNOT WAIT to talk about my 30 day journey, and also give you all the doubts I had with the program, and how they ALL vanished.  This program is a game changer! 

 What is PiYo?

It’s low-impact, high-intensity movements inspired by Pilates and yoga, using only your own body weight. The result? Long, lean muscles, a high, firm booty, and tight, flat, sexy abs. With PiYo, you’ll work every single muscle to stabilize, stretch, and strengthen every inch of your body. And since Chalene Johnson cranked up the speed and the fun, you’ll burn crazy calories while you’re at it.

 

What Is Included In PiYo?

PiYo comes with 8 different workouts that you can do from home. They are 25 to 45 minutes long, and vary in the target areas they hit. Check out a description of the workouts below!

There is also a PiYo deluxe option, and you can get the Strength Slides separate if you'd like!

Already have PiYo and now wish you would have purchased the deluxe option?  No fear......here's the upgrade :-)

PiYo Align- The Fundamentals

The basics! Here you will learn how to perform each move and all the principles behind PiYo, Yoga, and Pilates, so you understand why each move is so important, and what you need to focus on as you go through the workouts. You will learn all the PiYo terminology, as well as the modifications you may need to do. The best part? Align is also a great workout!

PiYo Drench

PiYo Drench is a 45 minute workout that leaves you completely drenched and kicks your metabolism into high gear. It is divided into multiple sections so you truly get the most out of your workout.

PiYo Define: Lower Body

PiYo Define Lower Body will tone and shape your hamstrings, quads, gluts and calves gently, to help you get lean and sleek legs. If you want sleek and lean legs, this is the workout for you!

 

PiYo Define: Upper Body

Who said you have to use weights to get a ripped physic? Use this incredibly effective workout to start chiseling away at your upper body to help shape your arms, carve out your triceps, and define sexy shoulders.

PiYo Sweat

PiYo Sweat will have you completely soaked from head to toe in sweat. In this 35 minutes workout, Chalene Johnson combines dynamic conditioning, body weight resistance training, yoga flows, powerful athletic movements, and core work all into one power packed 35 minutes workout. You will never again think Yoga is for the weak after completing PiYo Sweat.

PiYo Core

Your core is the most important part of your body. PiYo Core focus on your bodies powerhouse from every angle. You don’t need to hurt your back to build strong, long, sexy abs. PiYo Core will not only make your abs look incredible, but will also help you gain incredible back strength.

PiYo Strength Intervals

Twenty-five minutes is all you need of this nonstop body-carving, calorie-incinerating workout that uses no weights, no equipment, and gives you no bulk!

PiYo Sculpt

Want to gain muscular endurance? This 30 minute workout uses various tempos to keep your muscles under tension for long periods of time in order to use your body weight effectively to totally transform your body. Sculpt will make you a true athlete.

PiYo Buns

PiYo Buns is a bonus workout that is only included when you buy the workout from a Beachbody Coach like me! It is a high calorie burning 25 minute workout that focuses specifically on burning fat and toning your booty. This PiYo workout will certainly get your buns in the best looking shape of it’s life. PiYo Buns will lift and redefine your entire backside.

How Can I Get The PiYo Challenge Pack?

The PiYo Challenge Pack is on sale for a limited time for $140 ( a $70 savings!) It includes: 8 Workout programs plus one exclusive Team Beachbody Workout, Quick Start Guide, Workout Calendar, Get Lean Eating Plan, Tape Measure, and of course a one month supply of Shakeology. You’re basically paying $10 for PiYo with this package! Sign up for your FREE customer account here by clicking join. Then click shop to see PiYo!

Who is PiYo For?

PiYo is really designed for anyone that wants to improve their flexibility, breathing, posture, and strength. Superstar trainer Chalene Johnson will help you get an ultra-lean and intensely defined physique—without bulking up or straining your joints. Using your own body weight, you’ll carve every muscle. It’s low impact, yet high intensity. No weights. No jumps. Just hardcore results.  Stay tuned for my PiYo review!  If you'd like more info, feel free to private message me over at my Facebook page, From Skinnyfat to Fit or email me!

My T25 Results

My Focus T25 journey is over.....actually, it's been over for some time now, I just haven't blogged about it yet!  It took me a little longer than the 10 weeks to get through it, more like 12 weeks due to a few unforeseeable events, but hey, the good news is, I didn't give up!  

Truthfully, I wanted to give up, bad...my workout style is more about weights because I feel it benefits my body more, and the first 5 weeks of Focus T25 (Alpha) is solely cardio.  Once I finished the first 5 weeks, the Beta portion had some weights in it, so I liked that a bit better.

I ended up throwing in some Body Beast Legs on one of my off days, and instead of doing double T25 on Fridays, I would do T25, and then something that involved lifting.  

The program is excellent for those that love cardio, and love to mix it up....and especially awesome for those that need something short and sweet.  Twenty five minutes?  I'm pretty sure we can all fit 25 minutes somewhere in our day.

On to my results!  NOW I'm really sad to say, my original after pictures were deleted while I was monkeying around with my camera and trying to upload them, I actually had to take new pictures, and they where AFTER Vegas!!  The measurements I took are from after the program, not after Vegas, although I can assure you, not much changed :-)

I lost 2 pounds, and 3.25 inches....NOW before you all gasp and say, all that work and that's all???  Remember, I've been on this journey for a while, and I'm at the point in my journey that I will have little changes from here on out.  AND that's okay!!  I'm not looking to lose anymore weight....I'm looking to tone up and get stronger AND FEEL HEALTHY!!  The closer you are to your goal, the slower progress is.  Does that mean I'll stop, NO because nothing feels good as HEALTHY does!!  Not everyone needs to lose weight, BUT everyone needs to be healthy!

I lost .25 in my chest, .5 in my waist, .5 in my belly, .50 in my upper right and left thigh, and .50 in my lower left and right thigh.  My bum stayed the same, although I do see some lifting going on.  

Just to give you all a visual on how far I've come the last two years.  The first picture is when I started my journey, until now.  The second picture is actually my before and after for ChaLEAN Extreme, and how I look now.  

Right now I'm doing Beachbody's new program called PiYo!  It's very different than what I'm use to, no jumping around like a crazy women!  I finished week one, and then started over again to stay with my challenge group.  I'm really excited with the way I feel, and I will blog about this next week!!  Stay tuned!

3-Day Refresh

Once again, I have a lot of catching up to do on my blog!!  But first things first, I promised a 3-Day Refresh blog!  This is going to be a long one, so bare with me!

If you don't know what a 3-Day Refresh is, it's a cleanse that Beachbody just released, and I wanted to give it a go when I got back from Summit.  I grabbed TWO of them, and made my husband do it with me.......to both experience this cleanse together, plus I wanted him to be miserable with me (kidding....sort of)  He's such a trooper!!

So WHY should YOU do the 3-Day Refresh?  Well, the website says it's designed to help you lose weight, break the cycle of bad eating and improve the way you feel and of course helps with getting past the dreaded plateaus that many of us get!  I noticed that it's different than other cleanses, and I've done a few of them in my time.  Most cleanses are high in sugar and low in protein, but the 3-Day Refresh is the opposite and that means it helps support your metabolism and nourish you while you are going through it.

Will the 3-Day Refresh be right for you??

Answer these questions and find out!  As you can see, I added my own answer ;-)

Do you need to retrain your body to eat healthy again after a period of unhealthy eating (my answer yes....hello, I just got back from Vegas!!)

Do you eat pretty well but have recently fallen off of the wagon and need some help getting back on? (ummm, yes, see above answer)

Do you want to jump-start healthy eating habits for a new workout program? (for me, yes!!  PiYo just came out)

Do you want to quickly and safely lose a few pounds for an upcoming event? (I wish they had this BEFORE I went to Vegas)

Do you want to become a healthier eater, but don't know how to kick start it? (I already am, but this would be perfect for those that would like to kick start into a healthier lifestyle)

Do you want your clothes to feel better? (I love not having to suck it in while I button my jeans!!)

Do you want more energy (not going to lie....the energy comes AFTER the cleanse)

What should you expect when cleansing?

You'll consume about 900 calories a day, but they are high in protein and fiber rich, so you'll be satisfied and nutritionally taken care of through-out your cleanse.  I posted pictures of lunch and dinner BUT forgot to take a picture of ALL 3 of my snacks :-(  But for a snack you are allowed veggies and a healthy fat.  And I also forgot to take a picture of my breakfast, which was Shakeology and a fruit.  You can add the fruit to your Shakeology or you can eat it.  I chose to eat it :-)  And you also get a fiber drink.....I recommend 10oz of water instead of 8 ;-)

If you get a little gassy or bloated, that's okay, it's a very normal part of the 3-Day Refresh process. It also could be a sign that you need to up your fiber levels in general, so once you stop your 3-Day Refresh, try keeping a high fiber diet.

Everyone is different, I will outline the things that Devin and I went through during our cleanse below :-) But first, let me give you a before and after ;-) And my results!

I lost 4 pounds of junk and a few inches all over, but the main parts that I'm sure you all want to know are .25 in my belly, and .25 in my waist...and since the end of my cleanse Friday night, I've only gained 1 pound of it back, and I had a pretty bad "cheat meal" the day after, although really, I didn't eat it all, because 1) My body knew when to stop, and 2) I didn't have any craving for the carbs!!! WHAT??  I still don't!  I haven't had any carb cravings or sugar craving since finishing the cleanse on Friday night.  NOW will this be the same for everyone?  I don't know......but wouldn't that be worth doing it, just to find out?

What I love about this cleanse, it's not a band-aid fix, but something you can do to maintain your health, without stripping away healthy things that your body needs.

Cheat meal......ate all the lamb, had 1/4 of the mushroom risotto, and half my roll....the wine on the other hand ;-P

Now on to the differences between Devin and I....to be honest, my husband had a real hard time with the way he felt on the cleanses.   He had headaches (very minor) and he NEVER gets headaches, he had muscle and body aches and the chills like he was coming down with the flu, and his joints ached.  Upon research (because he researches everything) he came to the conclusion that it was his body detoxing, of course, most of us know this.....BUT what he was surprised to find out, is that he probably had the flu virus in his body, and those were the biggest toxins that his body was getting rid of!!!   WOW!!  If you don't feel a little bit crappy while doing the cleanse, then it's not the right cleanse for you!  You will lack a bit of energy, your body is busy!!  You will probably get a headache, but nothing too bad.  You will feel tired, you may want more food, because we are use to consuming a lot of food, although I was fine hunger wise throughout the cleanse.

For me, I experience a very slight headache at night on the second day, and it was right before bed.  I also had achy joints, but nothing a little hot bath didn't take care of.  

I'm sure you're all wondering about the bathroom.....it wasn't a RUN to the bathroom feeling at all for either of us.  Just the normal I had to go, but when you go....there's a lot of junk, but no loose stool (I know TMI ahahahahahaa)  I had to urinate more than normal, but of course, that's to be expected.  

And we both felt a little foggy through the day.....BUT after we were done and had our first breakfast 21 Day Fix style, we felt amazing!!  The fog lifted, I had no cravings, and didn't even want the bread, and I had more energy than when I started the cleanse.  I will definitely be doing this every 4-6 months to maintain my body, cleanse it from impurities, and keep the cravings at bay, although Shakeology covers it for the most part, and my Vegas bloat is GONE! 

If you'd like more information, please either Email me or PM me on my Facebook like page :-)

I will be opening up a 3-Day Refresh Challenge group, and that group will officially start on July 21st!!  You'll need all the support you can get, so I'll be there to walk, or drag you through!

Back to Blogging, Zucchini and Cashew Soup recipe!

I've been gone from the blogging world, truthfully, it's because I felt I had nothing to blog about :-(  I started to feel like my blogging page sounded more like an advertisement, and that's the LAST thing I wanted to be!  So from here on out, this blog will of course feature my monthly Beachbody promotions, but it will also feature recipes, beauty ideas, and of course my life in general.

First things first!  I'm going to post my favorite and easy homemade soup recipe!

It follows the 21 Day Fix portion controlled meals being 1 Green container and 1 Blue, but I doubled it to feed me and my husband :-)

Soak cashews (blue) for about an hour, drain
Cut zucchini (green) in chunks
Steam for about 15-20 minutes until more than fork tender, I put salt and pepper on them before steaming
Throw in blender (I do half portions, so my blender doesn't clog)
Add water if needed, but not too much! I put 1/4 cup per portion
Heat up in sauce pan, but do not simmer or boil
Salt and pepper to taste
You can also add fresh basil or any other fresh herb into the blender

Now on to me :-)  It's been an amazing few months, and I'm so sorry I haven't been blogging to share my success and how I've been reaching my goals, BUT I will be blogging more!  I've bit the bullet and decided to go to Beachbody's Summit coming up in 2 weeks!!  GASP!!!  I'm so excited to be taking my PiYo certification, and also attending business building meetings, getting my picture taken with the trainers and also being able to hang out with my Beachbody family.  I'm seriously so excited I pushed myself into going!  YOU KNOW I'll be blogging about Summit!

Keep your eye out for more info on PiYo, which is Chalene Johnsons new workout coming in July........BUT I get it mid June!! 

I decided to tackle Focus T25 and I'll be done this week, progress pictures will be posted soon :-)

On to fitness news and the June Challenge pack specials

Have you been thinking about upping the ante this summer with your workout routine, or even starting for the first time? One of these two challenge packs are for you.

Seriously? Insanity plus Shakeology for $160 (normally $205)??? Rockin Body AND Hip Hop Abs plus Shakeology for $140??? Check out the links below to find out more!! PM me on my From Skinnyfat to Fit page on Facebook if you have questions, or would like more info on other Challenge Packs 

INSANITY Challenge Pack

Shaun T Dance Challenge Pack