Abs are Coming...Just Wait on It!

I have been a horrible blogger lately! I haven't posted in forever! Believe me its not because I fell off from my journey. If anything I have been going twice as hard since my last post! I think my extra dedication in the gym as well as being hazed by my job has literally taken up all of my time. People don't seem to believe me when they ask what I do during the week and my reply is "go to work and workout!".  For most people this probably sounds completely boring and uneventful but for me its the complete opposite! I look forward to going to the gym because I have built a great network of friends and workout buddies. Going to the gym is like going to function while burning calories at the same time lol...There's always someone to talk to or workout with. This is especially crucial on days that I am at a loss at what exercises to do. I can always count on one of my gym friends to show me some cool workout I have never tried before. If you dont have gym friends I suggest you find some lol..

So I feel REALLY good about the progress I'm making! I usually don't like posting photos like the one above because I'm not where I want to be physically. BUT I'm on my way and I think it is important to show my progress because before long I WILL have abs! lol...I took the pic on the left at the beginning of January and the pic on the right at the beginning of April. Mind you, in November-December I gained back 10lbs due to the holidays and not working out. But I have been beasting since January and got the extra 10lbs off plus another 10lbs. I have now lost a total of 38lbs. One of the biggest change in my workouts since January is that I have been incorporating running into my daily workouts! Like I have discussed in previous posts I have never been much of a runner. However, after consistently attempting to run a mile I have begun to notice changes in my body and in my time! I have really bad shin splints but thankfully purchased some new shoes that have helped TREMENDOUSLY! I got a pair of Nike Lunar Glides 5 with extra support from insoles. Best thing ever!!! The most I have run/walk/jogged has been 4 miles. I hope to get my mile time under 10 minutes and be able to run/jog 5 miles. 

This fit life is NO JOKE! It takes serious dedication and effort to get the results you want. I have a huge respect for the people in the gym I see on a daily basis putting in work. Since I started my own journey I know how hard it is so if you are grinding in the gym I salute you!!

Last week I finished up the #40daysofbeast challenge I joined with a group of my friends. The challenge was successful and really helped keep me accountable! We are dangerously close to summer so I plan on coming up with another 40 days challenge to grind it out before bikini season! If you are interested in participating in the challenge hit me up! I will be posting workouts, nutrition info and fitness stuff via my IG to keep people on track and accountable. Time to get fit before the summer is officially here! Below is a pic I took for #transformationtuesday last week. It's crazy to see how large I got to where I am currently. I love seeing pictures like this because it reminds me of where I came from and keeps me motivated to stay on this journey!

Since I have been in the gym alot lately I have developed a list of the ish that really BUGS ME and I need to vent!!

1. People that stay on machines to long when they aren't really doing anything (Like come on! Move so someone can REALLY get a workout in!)

2. People that SMELL (Ok so if you smell like an old In-n-out burger you are NOT allowed to work out next to me and you need to shower before you get on any machines at the gym)

3. Girls that come to the gym in full face makeup/jewelry (This is a gym! You are here to WORKOUT not find a man. Take of the make up and get to sweatin hoe!)

4. Guys that grunt and make loud noises while they workout (No one needs to hear your bedroom noises so please keep them to yourself lol..We all know you are lifting heavy. Clap clap bravo.)

5.  People that stay on one machine for 2 hours. (So working out involves diversity. You cant sit on the elliptical for 2 hours and then expect to see progress. You gotta try different stuff to get real results!)

What bugs you about working out at the gym? Speak on it!!!

RECIPE ALERT:

So this week for my meal prep I tried a recipe I had seen on pinterest for lasagna rolls! I'm not one for following recipes so I read over it and then decided to do my own thing and use the ingredients I wanted. The ending result was a mouthful of amazingness! I figured I would post the recipe I created but feel free to change/add/increase/decrease whatever ingredients you want!

Ingredients:

Whole wheat lasagna (1 piece per roll)

Low fat low moisture mozzarella cheese

Low fat ricotta cheese

Fresh spinach

Red Bell pepper

Chopped red onion

Grilled chicken strips

Spaghetti Sauce

Directions:

I first boiled 5 lasagna pieces until they were al dente. After they were done I layed them out on a plate to cool. I then mixed one packet of chopped fresh spinach, one chopped red bell pepper, red onion, and 1/4 cup ricotta cheese. (You can always add more or less of any of these ingredients to your own taste) After my ricotta mixture was done I spread it on the cooked lasagna strips, added pieces of grilled chicken and rolled them up! I placed each roll in a glass baking dish I had placed spaghetti sauce at the bottom of previously. I added more sauce on top as well as mozzarella cheese. Popped them in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes and then it was good to go! These rolls turned out awesome. If I made them again I would probably add more ingredients such as mushrooms. I also might add some mozzarella cheese to the ricotta mixture to make it cheesier inside. I cooked a side of fresh garlic sauteed spinach to go with each roll for my lunch this week. Super yummy and easy to prepare! 

Hope everyone has an awesome week! Get up and go sweat! Oh ya, don't forget to hashtag #CARBSDONTKILLMYVIBE when you workout! 

<3Bri

I'm a Runner I'm a Runner I'm a Runner!

Well not yet, BUT I'm going to be!!! Recently one of my sorority sisters invited me to participate in Mudderla, a 5-7 mile muddy obstacle course! I have NEVER done anything like this and am excited and nervous at the same time.

I hate running. No really, I hate it. Throughout this fitness journey I have avoided running like the plague. And honestly it's worked until now. I lost 35lbs doing other forms of cardio (hiking, biking, stair master, elliptical, etc) and have made major progress! Since I have lost the bulk of my weight I am having a much harder time getting off these last pesky 10-15lbs. They say that when your body stops responding you have to switch things up and try things you don't usually do. The only thing I really don't do is RUN. You rarely ever find me on a treadmill or running on a track. But now that is EXACTLY where you are going to find me.

My upcoming participation in Mudderella as well as a desire to get rid of these last few lbs has motivated me to start running. A few days ago I hopped on the treadmill and ran as fast as I could. I was able to complete a mile in 11 minutes 14 seconds. For most people this is an extremely slow time but for me this was a HUGE success. I remember last year when I ran a mile on the treadmill my fastest time was 14 minutes. This definitely proves to me that I am becoming faster and stronger! My goal is to get my time under 10 minutes within the next 4 months. I still hate running, but I am willing to push myself outside of my comfort zone to try something new and to get the results I desire. 

I've been all about the challenges recently! This week I completed MankoFits 5 mile challenge and loved it! It was a quick workout and I was able to burn 673 calories. It was a great overall workout and I would definitely do it again. 

Another personal goal I have is to tone my stomach. I want to be wearing crop tops this summer! I cant seem to get rid of this "pudge" in my belly and it is driving me crazy! I'm hoping running will start to help with this, BUT I have also started specifically working out my abs. (Another area I have neglected) I did research on good ab exercises and consulted with friends that are trainers. I came up with a solid 15 minute ab routine that I am doing every morning when I first get out of bed. #AbsBySummer

Last weekend I got to participate in the most amazing fitness day ever sponsored by Nike. It was called the Nike Training Club Tour and it was the first ever held in Los Angeles. Everything about it was awesome! For $75 we got to walk into a fitness mecca at Santa Monica beach. Me and my friends took awesome classes by Nike trainers all day (10:00am-6:00pm) and got fed tons of healthy food all day from Whole Foods and other sponsors. There was a huge abundance of snacks such as fruits, fresh squeezed juices, granola, and snack bars to give us fuel in between our workouts.

There were also celebs in the house! Above is the quick pic I snapped of Gabby Douglas. She spent the whole day participating in exercises, workshops, and Q&A's. Skylar Diggens was also present at the event. The exercises and classes offered were no joke! I burned tons of calories and pretty much got my ass kicked. I took a High Intensity Training Class, Cycling Class, and Barre Fitness class. It was super inspiring to see so many people focused on being fit and living a healthy lifestyle. There was also a hair braiding bar and free manicures and massages!

In true NIKE fashion we all got hooked up with tons of swag!!! Each participant got a rose gold Nike Fuel Band. And after taking the barre class we were notified that we would be allowed to take home the special yoga shoes we had used! Needless to say I was SUPER hyped because these shoes are $120! I loved everything about the event and will for sure be going next year. If you hear about an NTC Tour in your area SIGN UP! You wont regret it!!

#40daysofbeast continues! I have been hitting the gym daily, got in two group hikes and a few partner workouts with friends! Oh and I did yoga! Yoga is the ish BTW. It takes alot of core strength and the whole relaxation part is helping with my stress level. This upcoming week I plan to continue hitting the gym, yoga class, lifting, and my daily ab routine. Summer is right around the corner. Lets get these results!


<3 BRI

Because I'm Happy

I workout because I'm happy and I'm happy because I workout. It really is an awesome continuous circle. Like I said before I am an emotional eater. These past two weeks I have been stressed, sad, happy, mad, pretty much every emotion you can imagine. But the difference between this time and others is that I did NOT use food as my vice to make myself feel better. Instead I channeled my energy and pushed myself to workout.

The craziest part is that it worked! There's definitely something to be said about endorphins. When you exercise your body releases endorphins. Endorphins are like a euphoric high that your body gets when you engage in physical activity or things that enduce pleasure. Endorphins basically make you feel happy, energized and ready to conquer the world!

Usually food would give me that feeling of euphoria or comfort but instead I have been able to tap into that same feeling using exercise. It's awesome. I'm sure you may be reading this like "ya sure, working out makes you feel good, blah blah blah" BUT I'm serious! After a long day my body craves the release of a good workout. When I don't go to the gym I feel like I am missing out on a function lol.. This may be small for some people but for me it's huge. Working out has become a habit and a regular part of my lifestyle. I have now been consistent on this journey for 3 months and it's not stopping anytime soon!

This week I continued to incorporate lower body and upper body workouts! I am beginning to notice myself gaining muscles. Recently I had a friend ask "Aren't you worried about getting big?" To which I respond "Hell no!" Muscle burns fat! I'd much rather gain muscle which will in turn burn more fat and help me get slimmer and more toned. I am NOT trying to be a body builder, BUT I am trying to gain lean muscle. There is a huge difference. Below is a video of me doing weighted squats in the gym. I am trying to focus more on my form and keeping my back straight. If you don't squat right they don't count!!!!!!

Oh AND I squatted the most I ever have (picture above) 205lbs!!! Don't mind the face, that's just me handling business hahaha.. I look forward to my upper body and lower body days at the gym. If you are just doing cardio I strongly suggest that you incorporate weights into your weekly routine! I guarantee you will start to see a significant difference in your body. 

Thanks to an idea from my friend Matthew I am participating in a 40 day Challenge to give up being fat for lent!! During the 40 days up until Easter I am focusing on eating clean, and taking my workouts to the next level! We are going to do weekly group workouts and generally support one another through this journey. It's all about beasting the next 40 days and working out harder then you have before! It's not to late to join! Post your daily workout pics and use the tag #40daysofbeast. We are in charge of making our bodies what they are. Don't you want to make yours the best you have ever had??

Good luck to everyone this week! Work your ass off and get them gains! 

<3 Bri

This Scale Ain't Loyal!

The scale sucks. I'm pretty sure it hates me as much as I hate it lol...This week the scale wasn't my friend but its ok because I am REALLY noticing a difference in my body!! I'm seeing changes every week and it is boosting my confidence and really pushing me to work harder. 

This week I set the goal to workout 6x and I am proud to say that I attained it! And believe me it was a STRUGGLE. I worked long hours this week and didn't feel like going hard in the gym BUT I forced myself to go and I'm glad I did. The hardest part of this lifestyle isn't the workout, its actually getting yourself to go! I understand when people say that they have difficulty sticking to a weekly workout regimen. It's not easy but it is worth it when you start to see progress and results. 

I'm an addict. I am addicted to results! Recently I have noticed that my arms are firmer (there's no jiggly loose skin) and my face is slimmer. I think the only place I don't feel like I am losing weight are my thighs! This actually doesn't bug me because I like being thicky thick in that area lol...BUT I want them to be TONED and thick, not jiggly and thick lol...My focus for this upcoming week is to concentrate on my legs. I need to whip them into shape before the summer comes!

I spent most of the week working out in the gym due to time constraints. My workouts were early morning or late night because my schedule SUCKED. For the upcoming week I hope to incorporate some more outdoor workouts. I miss being outside! And there's something about a workout in the elements that can be twice as challenging as being in the gym. 

My Friday night and Saturday night were spent in the gym (which were completely empty by the way). As I kicked ass on the stair master I wondered, "Am I a loser for being here when other people are partying?" I low key began to feel kind of bad that while other's were "functioning" I was sweating it out in the gym. However, after my workout I was super glad that I went, weekend or no weekend. This journey requires a TON of commitment. Which means there are times that I am going to be in the gym while others are partying and I can't feel bad about that. I have to do what others wont so that I can have what others don't. I have goals to attain and I won't stop till I meet them. And technically even once I meet them I'm not stopping because its a journey not a destination!

SPOTLIGHT: Fitmiss Ignite Women's Pre-Workout

Last week I noticed that some of my night time workouts were lack luster in comparison to my day time workouts. Since I knew my upcoming week was going to be crazy I decided to purchase a "Pre workout". Pre-workouts are like a jolt of caffeine. They are supposed to help give you energy, increase calorie burn during exercise, and improve your focus. I had been using samples of several different pre workouts I got at the LA Fitness Expo but ran out! (This was fine because I didn't really like the ones I tried anyways) I did a TON of research online to find a good pre workout. Alot of the ones sold at GNC are made for men and not for women. They are often way to strong for our size and weight, and can cause water retention and weight gain. (Which is the complete opposite of why I'm using it!" For this reason I looked into several pre workouts made "just for women". Honestly, alot of those are just as crappy as the men's pre workouts. You really have to read the labels. Some of them were literally identical to the men's formula! (Meaning they just slapped a pretty label on it to market to women) They obviously think women are dumb and not going to read the ingredients. Well not this girl! After scouring the internet for several days I decided to try out Fitmiss Ignite. I read really great reviews on it and thought it was worth my money. Though you can purchase online at GNC and Vitamin World its kinda pricey at $37.99 for 28 servings. Instead I decided to purchase mine from amazon! I was able to get it for $22.00 with free shipping! (Always check amazon and eBay before your shell out cash for something) My box arrived on Friday and I was super stoked to try it out! Each of the servings comes in an easy to transport single serving package that you can dump into your water bottle. (I love the convenience of this) Compared to the other pre workouts I tried this one starts off really subtle. You don't feel this huge jolt of energy which at first concerned me because I didn't think it was working! lol..However, after 20 minutes on the stair master I noticed that I wasn't tired and had a ton of energy! I was able to push really hard during my workout and burned way more calories then I usually would. The best part is that it didn't make me feel nauseous, jittery, or itchy. (Crazy but most pre workouts do have these side effects). I got the orange flavor which is ok, honestly I'm not a huge fan of the taste but it doesn't matter because I drink it hella fast anyways just to get it down. At only 5 calories per serving it's worth drinking. Especially since you end up burning more calories! Long story short I really like this pre workout and will continue to use it! 

Disclaimer: What works for me may not work for you. I definitely suggest doing your own research and finding a product that fits you.

Have a great week everyone! 

<3 Bri

Workouts Be Goin up Like a Crescendo!

Not to pat myself on the back buuuuuut I was a beast this week! I am even more proud considering last week was kind of lack luster. This week I did a variety of different workouts at different intensities. Each one targeted different areas of my body and left me feeling sore! I decided to break down my workouts for the week to give you guys an idea of what I'm doing!

Day 1: Lifting/Weight Training/Leg Day
I haven't lifted in like 6 months so I shouldn't have expected to walk into the gym and be able to squat the same amount of weight I did before (185lbs) but being optimistic I thought I would. I was sadly mistaken lol...I feel so weak compared to what I was lifting before but I know its all about progression and rebuilding my strength. I'll be back to where I was in no time. 

Day 2: GYM
Now that my gym membership is back I love going! The best part is that I can go to the gym anytime! (Hallelujah for 24 Hour Fitness) I DETEST the treadmill but for this workout I decided to put that aside and run a mile as my warm up. My time was extremely slow but I intend to keep working to be able to run faster. After my mild warm up I did 20 minutes on the stair master and 20 minutes on the elliptical. 

Day 3: Bike Riding (Fixed Gear)
The weather continues to be amazing so I took my bike out on the beach and did a 27 mile ride! I love my bike and riding fixed gear enables me to get an even better workout. For those of you that are unfamiliar with bikes, a "fixed gear" or "fixie" is a bike where the wheel is set on continuous pedal. So whether you are going up hill or down hill you cannot take your feet off the pedals because they continue to move. (There is no coasting!) Alot of people find it difficult to ride their bikes on "fixed" and instead change it to "free wheel" which enables them to be able to stop pedaling and to coast when they get tired. I like a challenge so I ONLY ride fixed! 

Day 4: More Gym
I am becoming a gym rat! I love trying out all of the different machines and working on different areas of my body. During this workout I did 45 minutes of cardio and then 20 minutes of arms/weight training. I got so into my workout I didn't realize that by the time I was done it was 11:00pm! Time flies when your working out lol...

Day 5: Gym, Gym, and more Gym!

I was tired of the treadmill during this workout (plus the shin splints in my right leg were bugging me) so I decided to do work on the elliptical and stair master. I used to HATE the stair master and would literally only stay on it for like 5 minutes because I got tired so easily. This time was quite the opposite! I beasted out 20 minutes non stop at varying intervals from 4-7. It's the small victories that remind me why I am on this journey! It feels great to see changes in my endurance level.

Day 6: Bollywood!!

My favorite and last workout of the week was the Bollywood class I took on Saturday! Honestly I did not think it would be as much of a workout as it was! It totally kicked my ass! For those that don't know, "Bollywood" is based off of the dances in Indian films (with lots of choreography and drama). The class was super fun and even though I am extremely uncoordinated I think I held my own pretty well! I definitely plan on taking the class again and loved how many calories I burned!

This week was good and next week is going to be even better! I'm really enjoying my workouts and having fun being active! Which makes it much easier to get myself to go. Make sure that you find something you love to do in order to reach your fitness goals. Working out doesn't have to be boring! Try one new workout/activity this week to challenge yourself! Have a great week!

<3 Bri

Don't Eat the Cake Anna Mae, Don't Eat the Cake!

Even though cake is AWESOME I can't enjoy it like I'd like to lol...Cravings can be a beast, ESPECIALLY when you are a woman and its near a certain time of the month lol...I have a serious sweet tooth but am now very selective about what I consume. Peanut butter is my best friend, it just seems to taste good on everything! Sadly, it's also packed with calories so you should eat it in moderation. Recently I found an awesome peanut butter option which I will be highlighting below in my SPOTLIGHT section. So keep reading!

Last week wasn't my best but it also wasn't my worst. I set a goal to work out 5x and only ended up working out 3x. Though in my defense those three workouts were hardcore and left me feeling extremely sore! Being fit and healthy is all well and good but let's be realistic, people have to work! If you're like me then you have to find a way to squeeze in your workouts in between work and other personal obligations. And it's not that working out isn't a priority because it definitely is BUT when certain things come up you have to deal with them. That being said work obligations put a huge damper on my fitness last week. Reports, client crisis's, and everything else you can imagine seemed to come my way. I'm definitely not the best at keeping up with all of my obligations and often something gets pushed aside, which lately that has been my workouts. BUT I am trying to do better, I've noticed that when I schedule my workouts in my calendar like an appointment I am more likely to keep it.  I have to carve out a time or there's a chance it won't happen!

I have amazing co workers who are very supportive of my journey! This past week after a long staff meeting they joined me at a local park to get in a workout on our lunch break. It was actually a really great workout and motivated me to keep pushing! Lunch time workouts may be the way to go during busy times of the week. 

I've been lucky because most of the people who know about my fitness journey are supportive and help motivate me. So much so that I forget that not everyone is #TeamBrianna....lol...This past week while having a conversation with one of my friends I was reminded of this fact! I happened to mention that I was working towards having abs by the summer. My friend chimes in " Come on Bri, be realistic, you're not going to have abs by the summer. You are a stress eater so you might as well just go back to doing what you were before". Though I don't think this person meant to be negative I was totally taken aback. I felt "some type of way" about it and ended up changing the conversation fairly quickly. It served as a reminder that this is MY journey and not anyone elses. Just because someone doesn't support you doesn't mean you should be discouraged or defeated. I will have my abs by the summer because I am going to work my ass off to prove the doubters wrong. What adversities have you faced in your fitness journey? And how have you tackled them?

SPOTLIGHT: JIF Whips

Like I said earlier I have a HUGE sweet tooth and an obsession with peanut butter! Unfortunately peanut butter is packed with calories and not good to eat in large quantities. I have been on a hunt to find a healthy way for me to be able to consume my favorite snack. I have tried powdered peanut butter (which tastes chalky and gross to me) as well as other nut butters such as almond butter (yummy but still high in calories) and cashew butter. Even low fat and organic peanut butter options usually don't rate well on the calorie counting meter. One day as I was perusing the grocery store aisle I noticed JIF Whips and was intrigued by the container. I noticed that the calories were significantly lower then that of the low fat peanut butter options and decided to try it out. I have been hooked ever since!!

JIF Whips are awesome because it doesn't compromise any of the peanut buttery goodness that you love however its lower in calories because its whipped (which basically means air is added so its fluffy and soft). Jif Whips are 140 calories for 2 TBSP. Not bad! Jif Whips has 25% less calories and fat then the regular JIF peanut butter but tastes the same! I am addicted to this stuff. If you are a peanut butter lover I suggest you check it out! You won't be sorry you did! 

February is a new month! If you fell off in January don't feel bad, just get back on it! Challenge yourself, work hard, eat clean, and workout!!!!! 

<3 Bri