Thursday, October 10, 2013

TurboJam


This week's workout review is TurboJam. It is a fun high energy workout that a lot of people think is just for girls. I'll admit most of the people in the video are women, but I think that is because the trainer is a woman. Her name is Chalene Johnson. She is high energy and fun. I love the way she motivates you and keeps you excited to work out, while giving you advice to stay healthy. 

TurboJam is her first workout program. It is dance kickboxing and it comes with a meal plan and schedule like all Beachbody programs. It is only 30-60 days but you can mix it in all the time. It also comes with these awesome weighted gloves that you wear while you are working out. 

It is a great cardio workout that gives you abs of steel and Michelle Obama arms! I never got bored of the workouts and I loved Chalene's energy. It is easy to follow along with even if you are not good at dancing. She breaks everything down for you so it is easy to follow. 

I recommend this program for anyone looking for a fun and easy beginning workout program. If you heard about Turbo before, do this one first. It gets you familiar with all of the moves before you move on to something more complicated like TurboFire. 

Really, my mom did it and my sister has it, and they both loved it too. It is easy to start and great to get you used to working out every day because they have just a 20 min workout or you can punch your anger out for 45 min. Whatever you prefer! 

I loved TuboJam and I had fun doing it.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Food Friday: Spicy Mexican Skillet Chicken

This meal is one of mine and Dee Man's favorite meals. It is quick and easy to make. We got it from Betty Crocker's Healthy New Choices Cookbook p152. It also makes great leftovers for a healthy lunch later in the week. 



What you need:
4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
1-2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Tblsp vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz) black beans rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
1/3 cup picante
Chopped fresh cilantro if desired
Red chilie slices if desired


Directions:
Remove fat from chicken and sprinkle chili powder, salt, and pepper on both sides of the chicken. Heat oil in cast iron skillet. Cook the chicken for 10 min turning once until no longer pink in the middle. Stir in beans corn and picante. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat cover and simmer 3-5 min until veggies heated. Sprinkle with cilantro and chilie slices. 


I don't use cilantro because it makes me sick and I usually don't add the chilie slices either just because it is more money. But when I grew them in my back yard it was delicious.

So there you go! Have fun and enjoy this healthy meal high in fiber, low in calories, and full of taste. 

And yes those are Halloween decorations. 

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Tip of the Week: Schedule Your Workouts

Sorry about not posting this on Monday and also not posting the rest of the week. I very rarely have internet, so the blog gets postponed. I'm going to start writing them in advance and scheduling their release so that doesn't happen again... 

This week's tip is Schedule Your Workouts!!

I know it seems silly. But if something is important to you, you need to make time for it. Also it is much easier to make something a habit if you do it the same time every day. 

What I do is I make a calendar, either on Word, or on a dry erase board. I write down which workout I'm going to do and what time I plan on doing it. I know for me it is easier for me to wake up and get my workout done first thing in the morning. The only thing I ever make time for later in the day is my runs. Number one because when I wake up it is dark outside and therefore not safe to do anything other than an indoor workout, and number two because I can sometimes get my husband to join me if I wait until we get home from work. Really just schedule it for a time that you KNOW you will do it. Then make it happen. When you're done with the workout, you cross it off! 

Here is an example of my dry erase calendar:


You can see I scheduled my rest days, when I was going to run, and when I was going to do my TF. For the TF workouts I followed the program schedule that came with the program. 

Remember you can also use your phone calendar. This is helpful because then it will beep at you.



Or you can make your own on Word. 


Just remember to schedule your workouts and stick to that schedule. Soon you'll be in the habit of working out and 6 days a week will feel like nothing!

Good luck and let me know if you need any help making your workout calendar.