body beautiful challenge: Healthy, Sexy & Beautiful in 2010

hello beauties! while i'm sure you're all planning for the upcoming holidays, i'm sure you've thought, even if only for a few seconds, about your goals for 2010. if you have any resolutions about getting healthy, i have a challenge for you that you can start right now.

my beauty blogging gal-pal (who also happens to be a hairstylists, esthetician, and all-around beauty guru), Kitiya, began this on her own and of course, shared her plan with her readers. when she invited me to do it along with her via Twitter, i couldn't say no (setting new goals is always a good thing!).

so here's the plan: we're going to get healthier in 2010. not to lose weight (but if that is a goal of yours, then let that be part of your goal), but to correct any bad dietary habits and begin to, or continue to, challenge ourselves physically on a daily basis. weight loss may occur, but this challenge is to get us heathy and fit-- moving more, drinking more water and eating more veggies!



so, to get started, here are some of Kitiya's "rules":

1. join my nikeplus.com challenge entitled "A Healthy, Sexy & Beautiful 2010". it's open to everyone- and you don't have to run to join the challenge. you can walk, too!

2. invest in a pedometer and track your steps. it's recommended that you do 6,000 - 10,000 steps a day for overall good health.

3. take a multivitamin daily, and drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily.

for the rest, read her entire post here!

i just signed up as a part the challenge on nikeplus.com (i can't track my progress since i don't have the equipment, but it's good to have it for accountability), and i have my pedometer. my goal is to get beyond 10,000 steps a day and eat at least one serving of veggies with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

in addition to my daily workouts (and weather permitting), i'll take walks around my neighborhood (i can't run anymore, tear). if i can't get outside, adding more workout time indoors, running errands and housework should keep me on track.

be sure to follow me (@thebeautygirl) and Kitiya (@MischoBeauty) on Twitter for updates and if you join in, update your progress with the hashtag #healthysexybeautiful2010. :)

so, who's with me? let's go! :)

xo

body beautiful: Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred

was one of your new year's resolutions was to get in shape? how are you doing? hopefully you're still sticking with it, and feeling fabulous. if you've fallen off the wagon, or are struggling to keep up your enthusiasm, i have an amazing program to introduce you to:

Jilliam Michaels' 30 Day Shred.

yep, that Jillian has created an amazing program of routines that will kick you in the butt and not take up a huge chunk of time (love that!). in about 20 minutes, you'll get all of the cardio, strength and ab work you'll want for the day because Jillian doesn't make it easy.

using a system of 3,2,1 (3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs, repeated three times), there is no rest from start to finish. Jillian does a great job of keeping you motivated, and also reminds you that "if you want a 20 minute workout that produces results, you have to work the whole time".

there are three twenty minute workouts, each progressively harder than the one before it (i tried level 2 after doing level 1 for three days, and it was, for lack of a better phrase, a lot harder than i expected! so i went back to level one for another week before moving on, lol), and i am finding myself toning up faster than when i was (crazy) going to the gym for 1-2 hours a day (i haven't done that for over a year, btw).




so if you need some fresh new routines to fit into your busy schedule, check out Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred.

xo

New Year's Resolutions: Getting in Shape

do you have a resolution to lose weight and get in shape? is this more than the first time you've made this resolution?

don't beat yourself up if last year's resolution has rolled over to this year. this year is a fresh start, so forget about what didn't happen last year, and concentrate on this year's goal. here are some of the best tips i have ever received:

*instead of jumping in full speed ahead, why not take these next couple of weeks to just get moving more? this will actually help from hitting the wall, so to speak, after the first month. take the stairs when available, walk anywhere and everywhere you can, park your car the furthest place away from the doors of the store your going into, walk around your house when your on the phone, take the dog for an extra walk each day, play with your kids at the park, etc.

*start drinking more water. you'll be surprised to find how good you'll feel, and you'll get rid of excess weight so your body can lose real weight.

*let your friends and family know what you're doing. enlist some of them to do it with you! if you have people holding you accountable, you're more likely to stick to your goals. do be sure that those you tell will truly be supportive-- there's nothing worse than someone who will sabotage your efforts.

*set small goals, such as, this week i want to spin/walk/yoga/kickbox/swim/bike three times this week, or this week i want to drink one less bottle of soda a day and replace it with the equivalent in ounces of water, or this week i want to eat a heaping serving of veggies at each meal...you get the idea, right?



*keep a journal. writing things down, such as food eating, your mood, your thought, whatever, can help keep you on track. if you have a get-in-shape partner, meet up each week to discuss what you've written...it's good having moral support!

*expect days that you don't want to do your workout or eat that something healthy. instead of skipping entirely, tell yourself you'll do at least twenty minutes or you'll have a small salad before indulging-- trust me...you'll end up doing a longer workout and you may only end up taking a small taste of the food you were craving.

*mix up your workouts! don't do the same thing every day. after a couple of months try something new, using a heavier weight or move at a faster pace. bodies adapt easily, so if you're not challenging yourself and your muscles, you'll stop seeing results.


just a few suggestions that i hope you'll consider or share with others! it's a great thing to get in shape, and realizing that everything takes time is so important! make sure to stay positive! you can do it. :)

xo