Pain Relief & much more with Blue Spring

Watching the Canadians take the Gold last night in pairs skating made me think of how much stronger I am after 4 weeks of P90x. I love it that Wayne and I are doing it together. I've worked out for years, but this is the first time he has joined me.

Not only do we share out fitness journey, we also share aches and pains we never knew before. Note to reader: A 40+ year-old body does not respond to torture the same as a 20+ body. But don't despair. Relief of most any kind can be found at Blue Spring Wellness. Whether you are feeling the rigors of P90x or are just a little tight in the shoulders from sitting at a desk all day, Blue Spring Wellness has your relief.

You will also find wellness products for Allergies, Energy, Digestion, and Weight Loss. Visit Blue Spring and see why I have such faith in their products that I became an affiliate.

10 Simple Tricks to Kickstart your Weight Loss

We’ve all been there. A new year and a new determination to turn our lives around and shed the pounds once and for all. But let’s face it. Diets are boring, restrictive, and frustrating. Without realizing it, we sabotage our efforts before we have a chance to see success. Below is a list of ten simple, tried and true tricks that will kick start your weight loss and help you reach your goals fast.

1. Write it down. It’s been proven over and over again that people who keep food journals lose more weight than those who don’t. Record every crumb that crosses your lips, what you were doing at the time, and how you felt about it. This will help reveal your temptations, the emotional states that encourage you to snack and force you to face just how much you are putting in your mouth. Ouch!


2. Brush your teeth. Instead of eating that forbidden piece of candy or late night snack, grab your toothbrush instead. If you're about to cheat, allow yourself a treat, then eat only half a bite and throw the other half away.


3. Wait ten minutes. When hunger strikes, wait 10 minutes before eating and see if it passes. Often by waiting 10 minutes you realize you weren’t really hungry after all. Or that treat you didn’t think you could resist isn’t worth the calories.


4. Drink 8-10 glasses of water. Most adults do not get enough water. Water itself helps cut down on water retention because it acts as a diuretic. Taken before meals, it dulls the appetite by giving you that "full feeling." It is suggested that you should drink 1 ounce of water for every two pounds of weight. If you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces of water a day. Totally doable, especially if you have incorporated cardio activity into your weight loss regimen.


5. Substitute activity for eating. When the cravings hit, go to the "Y" or health club if possible. Run the vacuum, walk the dog or get up from your desk and do some jumping jacks. Who cares what your coworkers think? Physical activity is especially helpful if you are an emotional eater. And who isn’t at least some of the time?


6. Freeze it. If the pie on the counter is too great a temptation and you can’t bring yourself to throw it away, freeze it. If you're a late-night eater, have a carbohydrate, such as a slice of bread or a cracker before bedtime to cut down on cravings. Keep an orange slice or a glass of water by your bed to quiet the hunger pangs that wake you up.


7. Weigh yourself at the same time of the day, whether daily or weekly. Your weight fluctuates as much as five pounds a day and you can weigh more at night than you did in the morning. Depressing if you stuck to your diet all day. Don’t rely completely on the scale. Paying attention to how your clothes fit is often a better indicator of progress.


8. Don’t shop when you’re hungry. You'll only buy more fattening food. Avoid finger foods that are easy to eat in large amounts. Avoid consuming large quantities of fattening liquids, which are difficult to measure and easy to overdo. This is especially true with alcoholic beverages.


9. Keep plenty of crunchy foods like raw vegetables and air-popped fat-free popcorn on hand. They're high in fiber, satisfying and filling. Eat from a smaller plate. Arrange your foods in an appealing manner and do not go back for seconds. One serving is enough. There is always tomorrow.


10. Lose weight for yourself, not to please your husband, your parents, your friends, or the image of a half starved actress you admire. Make the kitchen off-limits at any time other than mealtime. Always eat at the table, never in front of the TV or with the radio on. And don’t read a book or the back of the cereal box. Concentrate on eating every mouthful slowly and savoring each morsel. Chew everything from 10 to 20 times and count! Never skip meals.

By following these ten simple, proven techniques you will find the weight comes off quicker and easier, and best of all, stays off for good.

Moving forward with P90x

Wayne gave me a dirty look the other day and declared, "I weigh the same as when we started working out."

I can't stress enough that my husband was a little resistant when I first approached him about starting P90x. He's worked out with me before, but has never stuck with it, and never done anything close to the intensity of these workouts. So 21 days in and having not lost a pound was enough to make him wonder if I hadn't hoodwinked him.

Even though we don't officially weigh and measure progress until Day 30 we took our measurements on Monday. Wayne may not have lost an ounce, but he lost 2 inches around his belly and 1 1/2 around his chest. That progress is more exciting than the number on the scale.

I am so excited that he has stuck with me and even looks forward to the workout. If you dream of getting your man in shape or want to include him in your fitness regimen, give P90x a try. This may just be the one to fire up his enthusiasm.

Spring is coming. I promise. Get started on your Beach Body today.

13 days of P90x

Wayne and I just finished our 13th P90x workout. Today was Shoulders & Arms. I think it might be my favorite. The cardio routines are kicking Wayne's butt. But he's sticking with me, the big lug. Yesterday he couldn't believe how I hopped out of bed, bursting with energy and popped a DVD into the machine.

I do have a huge advantage over him. I've been working out for years. Remember Kathy Smith and Denise Austin? (I'm probably dating myself here.) Over the years I worked up to Taebo and then Turbo Jam with Chalene Johnson.

Don't think those workouts are a piece of cake. Far from it. In fact if you're not ready to say yes to the P90x or if you prefer something that gets you kicking and grooving and sweating, you might want to give Turbo Jam a try. Click the icon to the right to check it out. Buy now and get a free pair of weighted hand gloves, just what you need to take your workout to the next level. Wayne bought me a pair for Christmas and I love them. With or without the gloves, Chalene makes the workouts fun. There's a lot of dancing and grooving and sweating while you sculpt and tone your body. And did I mention how many calories you'll burn. If you already have a heart rate meter with the calorie burner you'll be amazed at how effective it is.

All these years of cardio training and kickboxing have prepared my body for P90x. So I'm loving these workouts much more than Wayne. Don't get me wrong, it's a killer workout. I'm just more prepared because of the training I've done to this point.

Hey, whatever works for you. Like Chalene says; Even the mistakes burn calories. Another Chalene quote: If you don't love it, you won't do it. So find something you enjoy. Push play and have fun with it.

Bring it!

Goodbye to back pain

Studies show exercise can slash lower back pain by 36%. Working out a mere three times a week for at least 20 minutes might be enough to do the trick.

For most women back pain is worse in the morning than at night. Extra fluid seeps between your disks while you sleep. If you twist or bend suddenly upon awakening, the fluid puts pressure on the spine’s delicate nerves, almost ensuring that you’ll flinch with pain.

So you're not turning into your grandma the way you feared.

Instead of leaping for the alarm clock, rise slowly and gently, taking some cues from Granny. First, move to the edge of the bed, roll onto your side and hang your feet off the mattress. Gently push yourself upright with your arms, keeping your back as straight as possible. Start tomorrow morning and your could instantly reduce back pain.

Getting out of bed isn't the only issue that might lead to back pain though. Stand up often throughout the day to ease pressure. Even while you're watching TV. Not only will your back thank you, you might not waste as much time vegging out in front of the idiot box.

Do coworkers accuse you of fidgeting? Do you frequently get up to grab a file folder, pour a fresh cup of coffee or open a window? Good for you. Standing up often, even if it’s just for a moment, reduces your risk of back pain by as much as 67%. By contrast, sitting for long periods of time at your desk or even in your favorite chair puts 40% more pressure on your spine, which can eventually compress nerves and result in severe pain.

Forgot to get up and move? There's an app for that. Set your cell phone alarm to remind you to get up and groove. You'll feel better in no time

One Week with P90x

Wayne and I have finished our first full week with P90x. We started the program on Thursday so we made a few alterations to make Sunday our rest day. Instead of resting yesterday (Wednesday) we did Shoulders and Arms followed by Ab Ripper X.

Wow!

If you have not done these workouts yet, you are missing out on a powerful, intense series of moves. Some of you reading this might be women who would rather focus on sculpting your butt, reducing your thighs, and burning butter. I feel you, sista. That's what I look for in a workout. But P90x works on the theory that you must work your entire body from head to toe in order to achieve maximum results.

I know it's all in my head, but after only 7 workouts, I already feel thinner, leaner, more sculpted. Like I'm taking up less space. Wayne is sore as a boil. During our workouts, he grunts and groans and tells me I'm trying to kill him. But he's a sport. We're bonding, building muscle and having a blast. I've worked out for years, always alone. I have to tell you, doing it with my wonderful husband makes it so much more fun. The time flies by.

Don't despair if you don't have a workout buddy. Just get off the couch and keep pushing play.

Bring it!