Hello Kitty Happy Meal Toys and Christmas Cupcakes

Hello Kitty Toys: Check out the cool toys in my windowsill! The ones on the left are from McDonalds happy meals- Thank you to all who sacrificed your health and ate happy meals on my behalf...lol They are cute though arent they? There were 7 and I only got 4 but my friend promised she'd "borrow" one from her daughter that I dont have -woot! Nothing like taking toys from a child to decorate my home gym...

Today's Tip: Find a Lasting Weight Loss Strategy
In order to keep weight off, you have to continue doing whatever allowed you to lose those pounds. , An approach that works but isn’t sustainable is bound to re-bound. So if the scale is moving, but you can’t possibly imagine keeping up what you’re doing, odds are high that 6 months from now, you'll be back where you started. Make two lists, one that includes the reasons why you abandoned past approaches (i.e, they were too limiting or too complicated), and must-haves they know you need in order for a new approach to work (i.e. being able to go out to eat or knowing how to splurge without falling off track). When people invest in houses and cars they typically have a distinct list of must-haves and must-not-haves. The same should be true of a weight loss approach. Read more on Shape. 

CUPcakes: Very literal cupcakes ;) I put a cupcake in the bottom, then some cookies & cream mousse filling, another cupcake on that and then topped w/ chocolate buttercream, mini marshmellows & a piroline cookie. Kind of looks like hot cocoa- white buttercream on top would have looked like whipped cream but I thought the choco would taste better. The cupcakes are vanilla, cookies & cream, or chocolate (whatever I had on hand). They were my coworker gifts this year. Quick & Easy. Got the mugs at the dollar store.

Today's LOLz:

Ageless with Kathy Smith: Total Body Turnaround Review (& Hello Kitty Surprise....)

Today's Review: Ageless with Kathy Smith: Total Body Turnaround 
Kathy Smith, 2011 **** (4 of 5 stars)

This dvd offers three 20 minute workouts: circuit, balance, and energy. Kathy works out alone but offers lots of modification options. The set is a really nice open living room type set. You will need dumbbells for the circuit workout and the dvd offers some bonus features such as other Acacia w/o clips & a Kathy Q&A.

Total Circuit: This segment alternates cardio and strength exercises. Kathy suggests 3-8 pound weights. I went heavier, but the pace doesnt allow for heavy weights. It is more of a moderate pace high rep. Exercises include: cardio lunge variations, bi curl variations, overhead press, squat hops, 1 leg floor touch squats, single leg deadlift, tri kickbacks, pushup variations, etc.

Total Balance: This segment focuses on balance but adds in some nice body weight exercises and is plenty active. She includes movement - stopping- and balancing -very functional. Exercises include: side step-balance leg up, 1st position pliet & hip circles, pliets add heel ups & big arms, balance knee up, balance leg extensions, oblique knee pulls, side squat knee ups, etc.

Total Energy: this is a unique segment that includes athletic stretching with dynamic movement. Exercises include: chair pose, table position hip circles & oblique crunches, loosening stretches, lower body floor stretches, posture exercises, rib & hip shifts & circles, ankle & wrist circles, superman & swimmer.

I would rate this workout a solid intermediate- I was expecting it be lighter, but was pleasantly surprised. Kathy looks FANTASTIC and is pretty mellow in this one in a good way. I enjoyed the workout and found it pretty unique. Like the 20 minute options and appreciate the balance segment as balance is not my strong suit. I received this dvd to review.

Last Weekend: Went to a step class with a friend- it was super complex choreo so I didnt too as well as Id hope choreo wise but did very good intensity wise. I actually ended up (only step left) with 2 sets of risers and no-one else did (so there!) yes Im a bit bitter about the choreo so Im taking what I can get LOL. And I added hops to my steps, and did my own thing when I couldnt follow the choreo so all in all guess Im happy :) got my hair done- more red this time. Will post pics eventually. I also got this Hello Kitty tattoo. I am done w tattoos, I swear, no more......for real....

Today's Tip: Fight Cancer & Eat at least 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables every single day. Include fruit in every breakfast and snack meal and veggies at each lunch and dinner meal. The World HealthOrganization (WHO) estimates that a low intake of fruits and vegetable contributes to five to 12 percent of all cancers and up to 30 percent of upper gastrointestinal cancers that are otherwise preventable. That's pretty powerful. Read more on Shape.


Today's LOLz:

Samba Party: Brazilian Carnival Grooves Review

Today: I got this awesome Halloween Hello Kitty in the mail from my Japanese family! SOOO cute! I made a space for her on a shelf in the HK gym :) She is filled with pumpkin flavored hard candies that I have not yet tried. LOVE pumpkin but not a huge fan of hard candies so maybe Ill save myself some calories & give them away. Havent yet decided what Ill be wearing. Depends if DH wants to wear the costume he had to get for work (Michael Jackson LOLOLOL) or if he wants to do the couples themed costume we bought last year on clearance after Halloween. I could go either way cuz I have a few other costumes I would rather wear. But I like the couples theme idea too, and we did buy them so we will have to use them next year if we dont this year. (haha wrote this all before Halloween, intended to post earlier LOL)

Today's Review: Samba Party: Brazilian Carnival Grooves
Vanessa Isaac, 2005

This is a 35 minute Brazilian dance workout. Vanessa works out in a super cute outdoor city set with 4 backgrounders. You won't need any equipment for this workout. From the main menu you can choose the chapter menu,  cast interview, and Vanessa's workout guidelines.

Many of the exercises in this workout are pretty basic floor aerobic steps with a dancy Brazilian flair added to them. You will learn each move, repeat a few times, learn a new move, and then string them all together for a fun Samba Party! Exercises include: samba, box step, grape vine add a twirl, pony, samba, and she adds in fun upper body movements.

I would rate this workout a low intermediate in terms of choreography and aerobic intensity. This workout was easy to catch onto so I dont see most exercises havinga  hard time following along. Vanessa does a great job of breaking down the moves but keeping the workout moving along. I like Vanessa as a lead and would recommend this w/o to those that like dance and for a lighter day. I received this dvd to review.

Today's Tip: Nopal Cactus for Health
If you’re not already familiar, the nopal cactus looks like a ping pong paddle with thorns. But Dorlandt recommends eating the food because it can lower your bloodsugar. Hmmm, they sell these in the stores here, maybe Ill try them. I like adventure in my food lol...Read more on Shape.

Today's LOLz:

PeakFit Challenge Review: Pure Cardio Review & Hello Kitty Shrine...

The Other Day: Check out what my mom sent me LOL! Hilarious. I am so intrigued by this...she found it at a yard sale. Im guessing the box is homemade. She thinks the Hello Kitties are some kind of monthly subscription type of deal. Regardless- it rocks. I hung it up in my gym....

Today's Tip: Refined Sugars
Refined sugars include sweet substances that have been processed and milled to the point that the sugar particles are extremely fine. When refined sugars are eaten, the sugars are able to quickly enter the blood stream. This can spike the blood sugar, causing the body to feel instantly energized. Unfortunately, the energy received from refined sugars is short-lived, and will cause a sudden energy drop shortly afterward. When the energy level drops so suddenly, it causes the body to crave more sugars in order to compensate for the energy loss. This cycle leads to the consumption of excess calories, which can lead to weight gain and obesity. Refined sugars include white sugar, corn syrup, refined honey and refined maple syrup. Instead of using refined sugars, chose whole-food sweeteners, such as raw honey or black strap molasses. Read more on LiveStrong.com

Today's Review: PeakFit Challenge: Pure Cardio
Michelle Dozois, 2011 ***** (4.5 of 5 stars)


Michelle leads this 54  minute workout in a spacious white & hardwood room with a group of background exercisers. You will not need any equipment for this workout.  A few modifications are shown.


This is a solid non-stop cardio workout that includes the base move, ascent, and climb but doesnt hit the peak- which was fine by me as it was still a great sweat inducing w/o that burned a lot of calories. The w/o is broken into four 10 min intervals consisting of two 5 minute rounds. The first round is done on one side (i.e. left) and then the second is repeated on the other (i.e. right) side. 


Exercises include kickboxing and old school aerobic exercises such as: kick and punch combos, double jog, moguls, plenty of big arm movements, front to back job, shuffle to floor touch, side twists, plyo lunges, hammer throw-knee pull, heel jacks, knee up/knee strikes, hi knee jog, ski, hopping, and skaters. Includes lots of directional changes.


Michelle does a great job of including a nice mix of high & low impact exercises but combines the moves to keep it pretty high intensity. I rate this a high intermediate workout. The sequencing of the exercises makes this challenging workout doable but with no dread. Michelle is a great lead, love her energy.  There are few reps of many different types of moves & some of the changes are fast, but I still fine on my first attempt.  Fun, unique patterns. Love the addition of low impact/ high intensity moves! There is one song in this one w/ a very loud whistle that I could have lived without but otherwise I enjoyed the music quite a bit.

Today's LOLz:

Saturday Snippets For What Ails You!

Quickfix RX: KneeHab
Jill Miller, 2011

Improve knee health and prevent injury with Jill Millers latest addition to her Yoga Tune Up series. Kneehab focuses on helping you get out of unhealthy knee habits and focus on proper form and alignment while performing your exercises. Perfect for all fitness levels.

Jill leads this very well chaptered 60 minute dvd that includes plenty of exercises and sequences focused on knee health. Also includes a bonus knee anatomy chapter!

Jill has studied yoga, movement, and the human body for over twenty years, and created Yoga Tune Up® as a simple way to restore body and mind, to keep us balanced and free of pain. Using a specific and unique set of poses, movements and self massage tools, you too can LIVE BETTER IN YOUR BODY WITH YOGA TUNE UP series of dvds! To learn more about Jill and her Yoga Tune Up series visit her Yoga Tune Up website.

Spine Balance Training 
Marianna Szoke, 2011



This is a 45 minute spine health dvd led by Marianna who works out in front of a screen that changes from a beach to green, etc. The first 20 minutes is done standing and the remaining 15 on the floor. Marianna shows you an exercise and repeats it for a minute. 


Marianna Szoke is a Pilates Master Trainer, Certified Yoga Trainer, Certified Personal Trainer and she is a Nutritionist and Wellness Consultant. She was a "Cover Girl" on some Hungarian magazines. Marianna has trained many times in the US, and has traveled the country extensively. She has been a leader in the fitness industry for eighteen years. She is an internationally recognized Fitness Presenter. Her certifications all earned in the US, include: Personal Trainer, Nutritionist and Wellness Consultant, Pilates Master Trainer, Yoga Instructor, Children Fitness’ Specialist, Senior Fitness Trainer, and Aerobics Instructor. For more information about Marianna Szoke visit the Body & Soul website.

Do or Die FitnessPeople love Do or Die Fitness products because they make exercise easy. Their American made products are new, innovative and can reduce discomfort in your wrists, neck and knees. Read what the creators have to say about their innovative products: 

Wrist Wedges were designed to take pressure off the wrists by creating an angle that lessens the amount of wrist extension.  For people who have limited extension the Wrist Wedges gives them the support they need to give them relief. Additional benefits are that it takes pressure off of the carpal nerve potentially helping people with carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Knee Donuts were designed  to cushion the knees while keeping the kneecaps(patellas) from having any contact from the floor. This is different from existing products in that many offer a soft surface but the kneecap still has weight on it.  By creating a “donut” anyone who feels knee discomfort can experience relief.  The knee donuts are extremely versatile.  They can be used in fitness, Pilates, and yoga. They can also be used in gardening and can benefit people in physical therapy and are safe for people who have had knee replacement.

The Neck Circle was designed for people who experience neck pain while exercising or who just have “cranky” necks. Most people have their head thrust forward where the neck is in a less than ideal place. This is because we sit at computers for hours during our day. Driving and cell  phones also add to our less than ideal posture. Consequently, when we lie down our head naturally arches back, which can compress the cervical spine. Most of us aren’t aware we are even doing this but by putting the Neck Circle under the head it places the head in a biomechanically correct position. This provides relief to many people. The Neck Circle can be used during any exercise on your back including stretching and Shivasana. We also recommend lying on the floor with a Neck Disc for five minutes for every 90 minutes of computer time to keep your neck muscles relaxed. Read more about Do or Die Fitness Products on their website or on the Two Belles interview with the creators. 

This Week: Check out some of the awesome gifts I got for my birthday!!! Top: Hello Kitty plush & lunch box WITH a cake LOL!. And patriotic Hello Kitty Tee. All from an awesome co-worker . Bottom: my pimpette goblet and stache magnet (for the stache party of course from a girlfriend) and a cute set of cups- its DH & me :) and above that is a cute sunflower windchime that you cant see very well -from my Japanese family....(thats my cookie jar there on the right lol)...I got some other super cool stuff too but I didnt get pics..

Today's Tip: Power Breakfast- Whole Wheat Pancakes
Whole wheat flour and omega-3 enriched eggs turn pancakes from a forbidden decadence to a healthy diet staple. Cinnamon and flaxseed provide a sweet, comforting flavor and texture. Get the recipe on Prevention. 

Today's Bargains: 

~Win, Lose or Blog giveaway for a super awesome Fertile Earth Simple Garden Junior Herb Garden.
~Two Belles Fitness: Holly Perkins Fitness 360 DVD & New Balance socks
~Two Belles Fitness: Healthy Beverages- Ayala's Herbal Water, Blender Bottle, & Truvia.

Today's LOLz: