Tiff Before/ June 2014 – After/ Today, October 2, 2014

Ok, this is tough to share, but- HEY, I’ve been working hard over the past 3-4 months and people scoff at me when I say I’ve gotten “fluffy”. It’s all relative and 5-8 lbs on me definitely shows and makes it a challenge to fit into half my wardrobe. I got SICK of hearing myself whine about it and was TIRED of being tired… and did something about it!  With fluctuating hormones, we need to change diet/ supplements/ workouts/ lifestyle to keep our energy levels up and our waistline down. Basically, we have to put in the work! I’m not afraid of a lil hard work and won’t just throw in the towel and give in to my hormones. Plus, I have a closet full of great clothes I would like to wear and I’m fitting back in to most of them. Yay!

WE CAN CONTROL THIS LADIES!

SOS Sista Suanne Rieker of www.riekerfit.com  gave me that advise a few years ago. She said women can control their hormones instead of their hormones controlling them and their life. She is over 55, but looks and acts like she’s 35. She was overweight and exhausted at one point and did something about it! Such an inspiration! Just check out the video on her website homepage and you’ll be inspired too. 

Want to know what I did to go from fluffy to fit again? 

Before I do, I want to give a DISCLAIMER and reminder that everyone’s health & fitness needs are different. Please take in to consideration any blood sugar/diabetic and thyroid issues which alter your metabolism. I am simply giving the tips that worked for me. Here ya go…. 

AMP UP THE WORKOUTS

Working out is a part of my lifestyle, but it’s easy to plateau and get stuck in a rut with your workouts. I’ve been a powerwalker since I was about 14 years old, but as I age I’ve had to amp it up and add light weights to see results. I admit, I tried the appropriately named workout DVD’s called Insanity, but geez, those workouts are just too jarring on my neck & back. 

• Cardio 4-5’s a week. Combo of power walking, a light jog & sprints. 
• Hot yoga once or twice a week at Sunstone.
• Strength training for Legs, abs & arm 2-3 x’s a week by the Tone It Up girls on YouTube.
• Or various YouTube barre workouts to keep from getting bored. Check out my workout playlist on my YouTube Channel. 

FAT BURNING FOODS & SUPPLEMENTS

If you watched my videos on healthy snacks & meals, you know I try to stick to a lean protein and low carb/sugar/dairy diet. So, to amp up my metabolism I added a few fat burning supplements.

• Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA, brand name Tonalin) – Increases metabolic rate, decreases abdominal fat, enhances muscle growth, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, lowers insulin resistance (insulin resistance is a risk for some hypothyroid patients, and lowering it can also help prevent adult-onset diabetes and make it easier to control weight), reduces food-induced allergic reactions, enhances immune system. via About Health
• Rodiola Rosea–  Amps up your energy, reduces belly fat (calming effect on our body and mental state because of an ability to reduce cortisol- which creates belly fat), helps with mood & depression (many women experience these symptoms with hormone fluctuation).
• Cayenne– Added it to my protein shakes. Hot peppers cause the body temperature to rise. When the body temperature rises it needs to be cooled and you burn more calories when the body is forced to go through a cooling process. They also act as an appetite suppressant. By simply adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to a meal, studies show you will consume 600-100 less calories at your next meal. 
• Chia Seeds– Also added to my protein shakes. I introduced you to chia seeds a few years ago with my friends drink called Drink Chia.  Chia seeds expand in the stomach giving you a satisfied and full feeling. They are also packed with nutrients like protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium and more! 

A few other small tweaks I made were trying not to eat after 6pm and limiting wine to once a week- which I admit is a challenge because I enjoy my Pinot Grigio! I kept up with pizza “cheat night” once a week with my hubby, but cut out my weekly popcorn. (sad face) I actually pop my own popcorn with olive oil or coconut oil and light sea salt, but my problem is that I can eat an entire massive big bowl by myself. A few cups is a great low fat snack, but honestly- I can’t eat just a few cups so I’ve only been eating (gorging on) it about once a month during this 3 month weight loss challenge. Corn is a carb, remember. Also, before I got started on all of this- I actually did a light detox/cleanse with no wine for 3 weeks to shift my body & shake up my metabolism a bit.  

I am always asked how I stay in shape so I share my experiences & weight fluctuations (that’s what is great about having your own blog)  to show that I battle health/weight issues, too! 

It’s all about feeling strong, energetic & WALKING TALL….not just the jean size, but it sure is nice to be able to wear the clothes I already own. 

What are your thoughts?

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Love, Tiff