Crossfit Workout & Easy Breakfast

Has anyone checked out the new issue of Self magazine?  It happens to be pretty awesome.

There is a meal plan to help prevent cancers!  I love that people can use food as medicine.  It should be nourishment and wholesome.  I really like this plan too!  It is full of veggies and fruits.  There isn’t too much dairy or meat (which I would avoid anyway).  The best part about this plan is there is very few processed foods!  That is something to celebrate!

This issue also contains a pretty cool interview with Lauren Graham.  Come on, who doesn’t love Lorili Gilmore!!!!

My favorite part about this issue is the Crossfit Workout.  I have heard of this work out, but there aren’t any Crossfit gyms in Southeastern Mass. =(  I am really excited that Self is giving me a sample workout!  Holy cow, this is tough.  It took me about a half an hour.  The best part about this is you can do it at your house.  Check it out!

Self”s Crossfit Workout

After my workout this morning I needed a fast easy breakfast.  I chose some bran flakes with unsweetened coconut milk, half a banana and some almonds.  I totally forgot that I bought chia seeds yesterday for my cereal.  Have you tried them yet?  They are nature’s new super food!

Lose 8 Challenge Loses Luster

My September Pig Model!

Happy September!!!  I got to change my calendar today and we are approaching my favorite time of year.  I love the tastes and the smells of fall.  The trees are beautiful in New England.  And my favorite holiday is right around the corner, Halloween! =)

Anyway, back to business.

Day 12 of the Lose 8 and I have made an important decision.  I will no longer be falling the Lose 8 diet plan.  It doesn’t exactly fit me or my lifestyle. This blog is all about finding the healthy things that are right for me.

This plan did have good points and bad points.

Pros
• The breakfasts are really tasty.  I love having Mexican style food for breakfast.  I love waffles and fresh fruit.

• All the meals were super fast and convenient.  You can make everything in 5 to 10 minutes which is great for people who are really short on time.

• I really loved the snacks.  The popcorn, pistachio, chocolate chip mix is awesome.  I will probably use that again.  The sandwich thin with the cream cheese & tomato is also delicious.  The vanilla greek yogurt, pepetitas & prunes mixture is also quite tasty.  All these snacks keep you satiated for a few hours, which is really important when eating healthy.

• I love love love the strength training workout!  I would recommend this to anyone who wants to tone up.  You can really feel your obliques getting stronger with this side plank move.  I really notice a difference after completing this workout only 6 times!

• I love that you don’t need a gym to do all but 1 of the cardio sessions.  This is a no excuse workout.  It can be for any fitness level and it can be done anywhere and it burns around 250 calories.

• You get a treat every night!  How awesome is that?  You get to eat ice cream, chips or almond joys every single night if you desire! This can really help you stick to a diet.  It makes you feel like you aren’t depriving yourself of anything.

• It can be affordable if you pick 1 or 2 breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks & desserts.

Cons
• This diet has way too much dairy for my tastes.  There are meal combinations that could allow you up to 1 cup of cheese a day!  No thank you!  Not good for my acne or for my cholesterol, which tends to run a little high in my family.

• I am a foodie.  I love to create food things, whether it is dinner, dessert or a nice Sunday breakfast.  Cooking and baking bring me joy.  I know some people are strapped for time, but I am not one of those people, sadly!  Give me a challenge of cooking a meal.  I’m down!

• The processed food hurts my feelings.  I know that they were trying to be nice and produce a diet that people will really stick to, but come on Self!  Check out the ingredients to the Chips Ahoy Cookies!

Ingredients: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, COCOA BUTTER, DEXTROSE, SOY LECITHIN), SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL AND/OR PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, WHEY (FROM MILK), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CARAMEL COLOR. CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY, MILK.

Yes, that says partially hydrogenated oils!  Do they even care about their readers at all?!?

• If you tell me that I can eat ice cream everyday, I will.  Some people might enjoy this concept, but I don’t.  I would rather have a dessert made from fruits like apple crisp.

• The cardio workouts are not my favorite.  Don’t get me wrong there are things that I do like, but they are not for me.  I actually like going to the gym.  I enjoy listening to music or watching television while kicking but on the treadmill.

• I miss my favorite foods! I cannot live my life without nutbutters, bananas, sweet potato chips, Indian food, fresh spring rolls, sweet potato chili, lentils and flat bread. =)

• Boredom!  You can’t keep me locked into something.  I like to experience and make all kinds of fun foods!

Bottom line – I would recommend the Lose 8 to someone short on time who likes eating treats everyday.  I can see it being easy to stick to.  There are enough calories to keep you full for the day.  The food is tasty and it works!  I lost 3 pounds in 12 days.

Up next – The Rachel free-style plan.  Hope you join me.  I will be posting more recipes and cooking more exciting meals using upcoming Fall ingredients!!!!