Aerosmith ROCKS Dallas, Texas!

Last night was AMAZING! I got to see AEROSMITH in person in Dallas, Texas! The best part was sharing the whole experience with my dearest and closest friend, Loralee, and my kids - Ray & Shanda! I had the time of my life. Definitely an experience I will NEVER forget. Aerosmith is a concert like no other!!! The place ROCKED! I was living a dream.

When you want something bad enough, you will find a way to get it! I've been an Aerosmith fan for decades. This was my first real rock concert and I am 46!!! OMG! If I had only known what I was missing out on. I'm so glad to have gotten the chance to see Steven Tyler LIVE!!! It makes that tattoo on my backside absolutely priceless. Life is definitely GOOD!

I'm Feeling the "FIYA"

Day 9 of the Cinderella Pact Challenge and Day 16 of the TurboFire ® for me. The results are showing and there is a definite buzz on the thread amongst the girls. The buzz is because IT IS WORKING! They are moving pounds and inches. We are getting through the detox with minimal complaints. We are moving forward and reaching a whole new place, maybe some of us are experiencing for the first time. We are seeing for ourselves the MAGIC can happen with whatever program you are following once you get the nutrition right. Life as we've known it is about to CHANGE!!! And this change is "good" change. No let me repeat, this CHANGE is DOWNRIGHT AMAZING! HOOYEAH! This is where we learn what we are really capable of. This is where the "I Can'ts" die and the "I Wills" are born. This is the dawn of something special - and we are just now hitting Week #2!!!

This morning I showed up for class, I didn't hesitate as I made my way to the front of the room. And when Chalene told me she needed 110% I said, "I'll give you 130%!" I got my mind right. It wasn't about how perfect or how high I could jump - it was about giving the most INTENSITY I could find once those sirens went off. If you've never done this program, let me tell you there is something psychological about those sirens. It is like this subliminal message that Chalene has planted somewhere in your subconcious from the very first day when you listen to the "Get Fired Up" motivational dvd. Once the seed is planted...it grows each and every time you "PUSH PLAY"- YOU BELIEVE IN YOU because SHE BELIEVES IN YOU! Let me tell you, I have dug deeper, pushed harded than I ever thought possible - and my fitness has totally taken off!

Remember me? I'm the girl that couldn't even jog a few short months ago. I'm the girl that twisted and reinjured her knee just weeks ago. I'm also the girl that did the TurboFire ® HIIT 25 Class this morning and went on to RUN 1.77 miles with my puppy!!! HOOYEAH!!! I BELIEVE IN ME!!!

Seriously, this has pushed me to a whole new level. What I once saw as impossible - now looks possible. I am now starring down the tunnel to the light at the end and it looks AMAZING!!! I am very close to my goal weight and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, I WILL GET THERE! All it took was learning how to fuel my body properly and then reving up the engine and watching it BURN, BABY, BURN! Life is good - but it is about to get so much BETTER!

Keep PUSHING PLAY and BRING IT! Impossible does happen, when you BELIEVE!

I normal don't post unflattering pictures of myself, but this is picture is worth more than anything I could ever describe for you. So get past the fact that I wear absolutely NO makeup when I run - and you will see underneath all that SWEAT is a face of accomplishment - this may not be pretty, but it sure felt GOOD!!!

Challenge Yourself to Become Better

“To succeed…you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you. Tony Dorsett.”

I am now on Day 4 of the Cinderella Pact Clean Eating Challenge. For the girls on the thread, it is a coming together of community. They are working hard to encourage and support one another through this challenge. Four weeks of restricted clean eating is going to be tough, but we are mapping out the road so others can follow. We are overcoming the obstacles and supporting one another to reach the finish line. We know the taste of success is far greater than that of the things we have been asked to give up. If I didn’t believe 100% in my heart and soul that this definitely is one of the most beneficial challenges, I would not promote it so strongly. This truly is an experience like no other and the victory is there for all those that choose to participate. You will feel better. You will sleep better. You will see the light at the end of the tunnel. But most importantly…YOU WILL SEE WHAT YOU ARE MADE OF!

NO ALCOHOL
NO CAFFEINE
NO REFINED SUGAR or WHITE FLOUR
NO DAIRY PRODUCTS
NO GLUTEN
NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS

Just you and nutrition like you’ve never seen done before. The benefit from all of this is getting closer to the HEALTHIER, HAPPIER PERSON you’ve always wanted to be. I know at first glance it is a lot to conceive. But trust me, it is doable. If you will just allow yourself to come out of your comfort zone, you will find it is possible to adapt to a healthier lifestyle that has benefits beyond getting through the challenge.

“You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do except the imitations of your own mind. Darwin P Kingsley.”

We all find excuses why we think we are not capable of reaching success. The truth is the only reason we often don’t make our goals is because WE stand in the way of reaching them. This is time to dig deep and not allow yourself to succumb to those excuses. This is your moment to rise above and PUSH YOURSELF. You need to believe in yourself. You need to quiet that inner voice that answers to fear. You need to let the person that you have always wanted to be come forward and shine through. It can happen. It can be you. All it takes is a little determination and a whole lot of heart.

“Impossibilities are merely things which we have not learned yet. Charles W. Chesnutt.”

When I did my first TurboFire ® HIIT Class 15, I was all over the place. Seriously, I looked like that one relative at the wedding dance that thinks they have rhythm, but whole family knows otherwise. Talk about marching to the beat of a different drummer. But I gave it 110% intensity, just like Chalene Johnson asked. I made my way to the front of the class and I gave all I had to give for that given moment. Was it perfection out of the box? Hardly, not even close. But it was my best for that moment of that day. That is all you have to do. No one is looking for a “hero” here. Just plain and simple, show up – push play – eat clean and the results will happen. You will improve each and every time.

It doesn’t have to TurboFire ®…maybe it’s Slim in 6 ® , Power 90 ®, P90X ®, 10-Minute Trainer ®, ChaLean Extreme ® or even a walking, jogging or some other type of fitness regimen…whatever your program of choice. All that really matters is that you get up, workout and make better choices with your nutrition. I promise the changes will take place. You will find more energy. You will see the weight come off. Before you know it, you will be the person you’ve always wanted to be. All things are possible…you just have to believe.

“A challenge is an opportunity to prove your ability to yourself and others. Joe Brown.”

When you take on a challenge you are really telling yourself that you know you can become better. That’s what challenges do. They test you. They push your boundaries. They make you want to be better. They are hard—but they are supposed to be! So for me, it’s not about win or lose. It is about giving my very best to help me improve who I am. Because no matter the outcome, if you are giving your very best – you are becoming your very best!

NOWHERE BUT FORWARD!!! Let’s BRING IT!

This is where I begin. I will be posting updates as I progress. 

BIKINI FINE on the way!!!

1 Week Until Challenge - Preparation Begins

We are only 1 week away from Challenge time! I am so excited. All this week I am going to be getting prepared to make this challenge ROCK! In fact I am so anxious that I have already taken my new TurboFire ® Deluxe out of the package! I am ready to feel the "FIYA" starting tomorrow morning at 5 AM CST I will be ROCKING IT OUT TURBOFIRE ® STYLE!!!
I just finished watching the "Get Fired Up" motivational DVD. I'm PUMPED!!! Chalene Johnson is one of the most AMAZING trainers out there. This girl puts heart and soul into her passion for TURBO and helping people get fit and healthy. WOW! If anyone can get your butt out of bed for those 5 AM wake-up calls, it's this girl!!!

I'm so excited about starting a new program, especially with the onset of our 4-Week Clean Eating Challenge. But I have a hidden agenda, too. My son and future daughter-in-law are taking me to see AEROSMITH live in concert on August 3, 2010 in DALLAS, TEXAS!!!!

For those of you that don't know...I am a HUGE AEROSMITH FAN!!! STEVEN TYLER, BABY!!! Love it! So I am determined to wear my brand new Aerosmith belt buckle and some of those cute low-rise tight fitting jeans so I can show off my Aerosmith tattoo! I know this is going to be my ticket to making that a reality. Hey, everyone has to have a little motivation...LOL.

Anyway, today was clean out the pantry day. I made a shopping list of some challenge worthy foods and happy to report I am "READY SET GO!" Here is copy of my shopping list. Not saying you need to go and buy everything on the list, just giving you an example of the kinds of foods I will be incorporating in this challenge. I am also going to do the 5-Day Inferno Plan that came with the TurboFire ® - hey, I have an Aerosmith Concert to go to! So I am going to take the metabolism booster to the max and bring it VEGAN STYLE! I plan to post my progress daily to the Cinderella Pact thread. So if you are interested in popping over and just having a "looksee" before you commit, drop in anytime and track my progress!


Vegan Shopping List

Essentials
Ener-G Egg Replacer

Proteins
Dried or canned beans—pintos, kidney, chickpeas, lentils, etc.
Tofu
All Natural Peanut Butter
Almond Butter
Nuts & Seeds

Dairy
Non-dairy milks—soy, almond, hemp, rice, oat, etc.
Unsweetened Coconut milk
Toffuti Sour Supreme (sour cream substitute)
Toffuti Soy Cheese slices
Smart Balance Light Vegan spread (butter substitute)
 
Whole Grains
Pasta—quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat soba, etc.
Oatmeal
Quinoa
Millet
Barley
Flours—brown rice, soy, cornmeal, buckwheat, potato
 
Fruits
Apples
Bananas
Berries –raspberries, blueberries, strawberries
Oranges
Seedless Grapes
Cantalope
Watermelon
 

Vegetables

Cabbage
Canned tomatoes
Canned vegetables—artichoke hearts, black olives, hearts of palm, roasted red peppers
Frozen/Fresh vegetables—corn, peas, broccoli, carrots, onions, peppers, celery, cauliflower
Sweet Potatoes
Leafy Greens—romaine lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale
Baby Carrots
Celery Hearts
Mushrooms
Sour Kraut
Cucumbers
Bean Sprouts
 

Oils & Fats

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
Canola Oil
Ground FlaxseedAvocados 

Spices
Garlic
Ginger
Chili  Powder
Cumin
Cilantro
Parsley
Black Pepper
Sea Salt
Curry
Creole Seasoning
Cayenne
Cinnamon
Oregano
Red Pepper Flakes
 
Sweeteners
Raw Agave
Stevia
 
Miscellaneous
Unsweetened All Natural Applesauce
Green Tea
Capers
Pickles
Vinegar
Hot Sauce
All Natural Salsas
Wasabi
Hummus

READY TO BRING IT!!!

Recipe of the Day

Gluten Free Banana Muffins

3/4 cup Brown Rice Flour
3/4 cup Soy Flour
1/2 cup Quick Cooking Oats
3 tbsp Ground Flax Seed
3 tsp ENERG Egg Replacer
3 tsp Baking Powder
1 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 1/2 cups Mashed Bananas (3 medium over ripe)
1/2 cup All Natural Applesauce
1/2 cup Tofutti Sour Supreme
1/4 cup Canola Oil
1 tsp Vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Either line muffin tin with waxed muffin cups or lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.

In large mixing bowl combine all dry ingredients and sift to mix thoroughly. Blend in remaining ingredients and stir. Batter will be thick. Let set for about 5 minutes and batter becomes fluffy. Spoon into prepared muffin tin and bake for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Remove from oven and place muffin tin on cooling rack for 10 minutes before removing. Serve with fresh fruit. Simply DELICIOUS!

Serving size: 1 muffin
Approximately: 10 Servings

Calories:  200  Total Fat:  9 g   Cholesterol:  0 mg
Sodium:  355 mg   Potassium:  356 mg   Carbs:  25 g
Dietary Fiber: 4 g   Sugar: 6 g   Protein: 6 g