I can’t believe more than a week has already flown by since I have been using the Total Gym! When I started the Total Gym Total Mom Challenge I knew it would be difficult, but I wasn’t prepared for the emotional impact that goes along with the physical aspect of trying to lose weight. Putting my “before” chunky picture and body stats out there for the whole world to see has had a huge affect on my self-esteem. It’s not easy displaying your flaws in front of everyone to observe. However, I feel the end benefits out weigh the negative and if I can help or inspire one other person to make a life altering change to get fit and healthy, its all worth it!
The Meal Plan
I have completely overhauled my diet. The cookies, chips, soda, whole dairy products, and other garbage snack foods are no longer a part of my food intake. Getting over wanting something sweet after a meal was one of the hardest changes so far I have had to make. Instead of grabbing the fattening cup cake after dinner, I replace it with a handful of raisins. The raisins satisfy my sweet tooth and the sugar craving goes away for me. I think my body has finally adjusted to not getting the usual sugar high and now I hardly desire anything sweet.
Another alteration I made was to change white carbs in my diet with brown, such as switching from white rice to brown rice. The reason being is researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health have found that eating five or more servings of white rice per week was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The study further showed eating two or more servings of brown rice per week was associated with a lower risk of the disease. The scientists estimated that replacing 50 grams of white rice with the same amount of brown rice would lower risk of type 2 diabetes by 16%. To me the statistical facts were a good enough incentive to make the switch.
My dinners consist of lots of fresh vegetables, spring mix greens, salmon, tuna, and chicken. I prepare a fresh salad and top it with the chicken or fish and low fat salad dressing. Trust me…there are days I can’t fathom eating another piece of Romaine and vegetables look like the enemy. But I pull through the veggie green overload, because I’m serious about losing the weight.
My Total Gym Workout
A reader (Rhonda) asked what workout plan I intended on using. The answer to her question is I’m using a mixture of Rosalie Brown’s “Women’s 6 Day Program and the Total Gym Training Deck cards. I workout for 6 days a week doing 30 minutes of exercise in the morning and roughly 30 minutes in the evening to get a balanced workout on all my major muscles. Sometimes in the evening I can only manage to complete about 15 minutes, because I’m sore. I don’t want to push myself and risk injury.
The Total Gym is an awesome piece of machinery! I love it. I also own a treadmill and stationary bike, but the problem I found with them is I get bored and don’t stick to a consistent workout. The same movement of pedaling or fast walking for 4o minutes becomes tedious and I struggle to stay motivated. The Total Gym allows you to alternate between so many different exercises and you can get a better workout in less time. Varying the routine seems to make the time go by much faster too!
The only downfall I can see thus far with working out on the Total Gym is if your not careful you could over-work your muscles, because its VERY addicting! I know people that own a Total Gym and use it regularly know exactly what I’m talking about.
This Weeks Progress
I have some progress to report! Its not an enormous change, but its a positive step in the right direction!
Want to take the Total Gym Challenge too? Use this special link to receive an additional 15% off your purchase! If anyone has any weight loss success stories I would LOVE to hear them! I really want to win this competition and be able to have a giveaway here to give one of you a Total gym!
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Awesome results and that salad looks scrumptious! Glad to hear your enjoying it as much as I am.