Insanity Max30, more than a home workout

I can't believe it's taken me this long to talk about one of the most important parts of Insanity Max30!!

Who has gone to the local store and bought one of those workout DVDs from the fitness aisle with full intentions of killing it and losing all of our weight? I know I have many times.  The problem with most of the DVDs in that aisle is they are missing a VERY important component that is needed for weight loss.  Nutrition.

Insanity Max30 (and every BeachBody program) comes with a meal plan.  The Max30 meal plan is based on my favorite meal plan that BB has. Who recognizes these containers?  These little containers make portion control and knowing what food to eat fool proof!  No scales, no calorie counting, no restrictions.  You can have wine, you can have chocolate, you can have bread (GASP).  It's all about moderation.

Container breakdown is as follows:
Purple-Fruits
Green-Veggies
Red-Protien
Yellow-Starchy carbs
Blue-Healthy fats
Orange-Dressings/oils
Tsp-nut butters, oils

There's a list of what foods go in each container and how many containers you get each day.  You pick what foods from the list you eat.  EASY!

The best part is it teaches you how to eat long term.  I have been using these containers off and on for the past 6 months.  Even when I am not following the eating plan exactly, I still think of what I am eating in terms of containers. When I am packing my food for the day I think "3 greens. That's a purple. Oh I already have a blue."  It is second nature now.  I credit this eating plan with helping me maintain and continue to lose.

Are you ready you ready to Maxout?  You don't even have to maxout to join my next online weight loss group!  There are so many options to choose from.  Let's work together to find the one that is right for you!  Click here to apply!

Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats

This recipe is being used in one of my current meal plan groups.  I had never tried overnight oats and assumed it would taste like paste since that is typically what all the oatmeal I try and make myself tastes like.  I was wrong!!! This oatmeal is SO tasty.  It makes a great quick breakfast and even a good snack.  Enjoy :)

Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats
4 servings

INGREDIENTS:
1 large ripe banana, mashed (about ½ cup)
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup almond milk
1 TBS chia seeds
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 tsp honey

PREPARATION:
Mix all ingredients, seal in an airtight container or mason jar, and put in the fridge overnight. Serve cold or hot, whichever you prefer!

I am excited to play with adding other ingredients to the oats to change up the flavor.

Not gonna lie...

I'm all about being honest with you all.  I love exercise I really do and usually no matter how I feel before I start I am able to push hard once I get going.  Today's workout from Insanity Max30, Friday Fight: Round 1, was TOUGH!  Shaun T says it's a fight between your mind and your body.  This morning that was very true.  My body was still tired from my Tabata Strength workout I did yesterday. My arms were sore, which is a good thing but it made all the moves today that much harder.And I'm sure my wine drinking 2 nights ago paired with not eating enough yesterday did not help.

I maxed out earlier than I did last Friday by 15 seconds and I modified a lot more than I have ever have.  It was NOT pretty but I got it done.  There were so many times I thought about just stopping and calling it a day, but I didn't.  I kept pushing myself as hard as I could.

My point for writing this post is to let you know that not every day is going to be awesome.  There are going to be days where you are dragging and the workout just doesn't go as well as you hoped it would.  This happens to all of us!  Whether you are in tip top physical shape or just starting to exercise. That doesn't mean you should stop and give up!  You keep going!  Be proud that did it anyway and didn't give up!

I get 2 days off now and I will for sure be taking my rest day tomorrow because I can tell my body needs it. I'll see how I feel on Sunday and maybe do some PiYo.  But I will for sure be back at it on Monday!

Are you ready to max out?  Apply to be in my next online group here!

 

Too funny not to share!  Mine have shrunk but that' OK I had too much to begin with!

HIIT WORKOUT: Week 1

For January I will posting some HIIT workouts to get you all all moving!  Here is Week 1 workout!  join the event here.  

Do it even when you don't feel like it

When my alarm went off at 5:45 I really did not want to get out of bed.  In my head I was thinking "I have to teach 2 classes tonight.  One hour of HIIT and one hour of PiYo so I don't need to do my workout this morning." I was right I didn't need to do it because I am going to burn enough calories and get a good workout tonight BUT....I set a goal for myself to complete Insanity Max30.  So I got up drank my E&E and got to work. And like always I am so glad I did!

Today's workout was Cardio Challenge.  This is the third time I have done this workout and I felt physically and mentally stronger.  There were 3 times I wanted to stop before I actually did.  I finally maxed out at 8:29 when I was beginning to feel like I might throw up. LOL...that's a good workout!

Don't let that scare you though! One of the many reasons I love this program is that you push yourself as hard as you can. So you can stop and take a break at any time! You don't have to push to the point of feeling a little sick but today I did push myself that hard because I am just a little crazy!

As if Cardio Challenge wasn't enough I also did Ab Attack and this is where I am really getting stronger.  Last time I did it I maxed out at 1:28 or something like that.  Today my max out time was 4:11.  Woot, woot those abs are getting stronger!!!

Another reason I am loving Insanity Max30.  I can see and feel the results already and I've only been doing it for two weeks!  It make all the hard work worth it to see results happening so quickly! I can't wait to see what I can do in 60 days!

So what are you waiting for??? Max out with me!  Click here to apply :)

Maple Glazed Chicken with Brussels sprout slaw

Ingredients

8 chicken tenders

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons maple syrup

15-20 Brussels sprouts 

1 medium apple, cut into small pieces and peeled

1 pear, cut and peeled

Preparation

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add chicken to pan; cook on each side until done. Remove from pan. Add 3 tablespoons vinegar and syrup to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until reduced to 3 tablespoons. Return chicken to pan; turn to coat with glaze.
2. Cut Brussels sprouts in half lengthwise; thinly slice crosswise. Place remaining 1 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl; stir well with a whisk. Add Brussels sprouts, pear and apple; toss to combine. Serve slaw with chicken.

I actually used Blackberry Ginger vinegar and Toasted sesame oil for my slaw.  I get mine at Red Wing Olive Oils and Vinegars but not sure where else they may be available. It hit the spot and brought me down from my carb high I had from Christmas :)  ENJOY!

Adapted from: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/maple-glazed-chicken