Friday Challenge - something old, something new

I have been so tired lately and now I know why.  I'm coming down with a cold or it could be allergies.  I think I've just been fighting it off and now it is here.  Too bad!  We were going to go out of town this weekend, but Brian is getting a sore throat too, so we decided to just hang around the house. 

I like to play it by ear when I am not feeling 100%.  I will usually do some yoga or stretching, but try not to push it, especially if it is respiratory.  If it is something else, some light cardio is usually the best thing for me. 

FRIDAY CHALLENGE!!

Today's challenge is a little different from in the past, but not much, don't worry!!  I am going to challenge you to do a workout you haven't tried before.  Yoga, kickboxing, swimming, use a new machine at the gym.  Whatever you have been wanting to try.  If you do yoga, but haven't done Bikram (hot yoga) then try it!  Change things up.  Our bodies get used to doing the same thing.  If you don't workout, then do one today.  If you only walk, kick it up a notch and try alternating walking and jogging.  You will use your muscles differently and you will be glad you did.  Please leave me a comment on what you do, I love to see what you are doing!

Yesterday's food:

If you see something that I am posting and would like the recipe, please let me know.  I'm happy to share!!

We all get stuck in a food rut occasionally and I love to try new things too!  Let me know and I'll get it posted!

Breakfast was my usual- Shakeology - Mighty Maple - YUM!

lunch was at the japanese steakhouse.  salad and miso soup

edamame - shared!!

veggie and tuna roll

snack was banana with coconut milk yogurt and topped with some granola

dinner was salad with sesame oil and veggie chili stuffed potato with a dollop of vegannaise and sprinkld with daiya cheddar

wanted something sweet so I had a small bowl of Soy Dream with chocolate sauce and cinnamon

Water was all I had to drink - 64 oz.
Workout was nothing formal - danced and stretched.  Also cleaned like a mad woman at a rental house.  Had sweat dripping everywhere!!

The sweet little waitress at the japanese steakhouse was so funny.  She told me - you eat like a bird.  I thought I had a lot of food, didn't finish the salad - way too much dressing, so picked around at it and I left 2 pcs of the rolls.  It was pretty funny!

Discussion:  do you get stuck in a food and workout rut?  Do you workout when you aren't feeling your best?  Push through or take it easy?

Friday Challenge - Play Date!

Blogging from San Diego today!  It is beautiful here and we are going to the beach this morning and I am thinking I'll learn how to surf!!

Have a great day!

Friday the 13th

Does that date scare you?  I don't have any problem with it and I think attitude has a LOT to do with it!  Have a good outlook and good things will happen!  So don't be skeered today!

Friday Challenge

It's another Friday Challenge!!  I'm beginning to think it's a challenge to come up with these challenges :)

Do you like these to be really challenging?  I'd love to have some feedback on these to let me know if you like them and what you want to see.

Today's challenge is about the negative self talk that I think we all have at some point.  Today I want you all to talk to yourself in only a positive manner

Source

I am beautiful
I am an athlete
I am doing a good job
I am a good mom, wife, sister, daughter, whatever the case may be

Write it on your mirror and look at it several times per day!  What you think is what you become!  You can do it!

Source

check out this book from a fellow blogger: 

Discussion:  Do you talk negatively to yourself?  What do you think is the best way to change that habit?

Friday Challenge - pick your poison!

It's Finally Friday!!!  YAY!!  This week has gone by fast for us.  We've been so stinkin' busy, but I like it that way. 

In order to shake things up in your life, you have to change things up!  So for today's challenge, we are going to really change, are you ready?

Source

If you are trying to lose weight, then we are going to focus on our workouts.

If you are trying to get healthier, then we are going to focus on our meals.

If you are trying to be organized, then we are going to focus on cleaning.

So, choose your poison and let's get started.

Losing weight:  we are going to workout as much as we possibly can this weekend.  I want at least 2 workouts on Sat and Sun - yes, both days!  I prefer that you space them out and if you want to go hardcore - then add in even more workouts. 

Over on the Beachbody message boards, we used to have weekend blowouts and do a workout every hour!  It was a lot of fun, we would log our workouts in WOWY and then post about it on the message boards. Great fun, great way to have a lot of sore muscles :) and  a great way to meet new people  So, go for it and really give it all you've got.

Getting Healthy  - let's shake up our diets!  We are going to eat as healthy as possible.  This means that you will not be eating any processed foods, only whole grains, fruits, vegetable and lean proteins.  You will also be drinking TONS of water. 

Getting organized - get your list and get started.  Do the thing you think is the worst thing on your list FIRST!  Then it won't seem so bad after that.  I'm going to tackle my office.  It is out of control, I've had it on my to-do list for a while now, so it is time to get serious about it.  I need to get caught up on my filing (I HATE to do it!) and then get it organized.

So, this is a big challenge for everyone.  There is something there for all of us to focus on!

Discussion:  What is your challenge going to be?  Also, would you be interested in a message board here?  I'm always looking to improve the blog and looking for ideas.  Any questions you'd like me to answer, please let me know!!

Friday Challenge - Walking edition

Happy Friday y'all!!  We have a BIG weekend planned and have been getting things ready.  The house is looking good, the yard is looking even better!  Brian has been working so hard on it and I'm in lurve!  with the deck and Brian :)

Since it is Friday, that means another challenge.  It's all about the walk!  so today, we are going to move and when you go out today, park in the farthest spot and walk, go for a walk today - either a leisurely walk with a friend or a brisk walk and get a good calorie burn.

Walking is one of the best exercises you can do.  It is easy on your joints and a great way to build up to a more strenuous exercise, if you want to.

When I wear my bodybugg, I love seeing the step counter.  10,000 steps is the goal for every day.  Do you think you get that many?  More?  Less?  It was surprising to me when I actually saw how many steps I was taking - it was not 10,000.  The bodybugg is a good thing for me to make sure that I am on track and if I'm not, I know I need to move.  You can also use a pedometer.  Whatever works for you, just be sure to walk and move.

The Project You! Type 2 workout has a great walking cd.  I love it.  The music is good, and Kathy Smith is a great trainer.  She talks through the walk ( just enough, but not so much that it becomes annoying) and keeps a good pace.  There are two 30 min workouts, one is just walking and the other one is a walk/jog. Of course, the workout comes with several other exercise dvd's as well.

So, take a walk today.  Just move!

Friday Challenge - 30-20-10-5

I am happy to report that I am blogging from outside.  Here's a look at my office today:

It is beautiful weather today after the rainy day yesterday.  Brian and I have taken full advantage of it.  We hopped in the Jeep bright and early this morning and took off for the Royal Gorge.  I have to admit, I wasn't that excited about this stop, but Brian was so I put on my happy face just for him.

He was so right!  It was one of the best stops of our trip.

We took the tram above the gorge

The railroad incline below the bridge

And walked across the bridge

Perfect!

Then we headed off to Cripple Creek.  Toured a haunted jail and walked through the casinos and the quaint little town.

We are back at the camper now for our last night of vacation.  I'm sad to see it end, we've had so much fun, but I am also ready to get home and get back to my regular schedule!

Friday Challenge:

30-20-10-5

Thirty pushups, 20 tricep dips and 10 squats repeat 5 times!  I'm pulling out the big guns on this one!  Of course, if you can't do that many, modify, modify and modify! It is okay.  You can work up to it.  If you want great looking arms, then definitely make this part of your daily workout routine.  These will certainly get you definition in your arms!

I'm pimping out my facebook biz page!  I'd love for you to "like" me!  When I get to 500 followers or likers, what do you call it anyway?  Then I am going to giveaway a Beachbody workout of your choice.  Anything you'd like, so please suggest it to your friends and family!  Purty Please! The giveaway will not be for current Beachbody coaches to participate in, you can still like me, just not eligible to win!

Feeling Fit With Dana on facebook!

Discussion:  What celebrity or person do you think has the best arms?  I have to say that I really want my arms to be well defined.  I think Hillary Swank had amazing arms (whole body really) in Million Dollar Baby, I also think Jessica Biel has nice arms!

Good Friends, new foods

Last night I had my girlfriends over.  Some of us have been friends since grade school, others since junior high.  I love that we have stayed connected over the years and still love hanging out together.  Good food was had, some swimming and lots of talking and laughing!  Doesn't get much better than that!

We had a lot of fun as we usually do!

Friday Challenge:

With the warmer weather, I love to go to the farmer's market to see what is available.  So I am going to challenge you to get out to your local farmer's market and pick up some local produce.  Support your local farmers and try a new fruit or vegetable.  It might be bok choy, asparagus, okra.   Something you haven't eaten before, ask them how to prepare it, they will give you some ideas.  Be adventurous!  An even better idea is to get together with your friends and try some new foods! Be sure to leave me a comment with what you tried and if you liked it!  If you need some recipe suggestions, let me know.  I'll post a photo of what I choose and fix!

Friday Challenge - take care of your tootsies!

This week's challenge will be a little easier than last week's (month long) challenge!!  We are going to take care of our feet.  Sandal season is here and let me tell you, my tootsies have been neglected through the winter and colder months.  So, over the weekend, your challenge is to do a little mini-pedi!

This procedure should take no more than 30 mins,  but you will be so happy with the results!  Our feet take a beating, so be nice to them!

Start by filling a small tub with warm water - and add a tsp of essential oil to make the water smell nice (if you don't have any a little lemon juice will be just as nice!)

Use a scrubby and scrub those feet and especially any areas of rough skin.

Dry your feet really well afer soaking and scrubbing, making sure to get between the toes.

Take off any nail polish you have on, cut and trim your nails as you like.  I have found that it is best to cut the toe nails straight across,take a cuticle stick and push the cuticles back.  You shouldn't cut them,   then get a good moisturizing lotion and massage into feet (if you can get someone to do this for you, go for it!)

Apply some nail polish that you like and looks good with your skin coloring!  Put on a clear base coat and then 2 coats of polish, as this will help to prevent the nail from discoloring!

Look for a reivew of these adorable shoes on Tues!!!!!

Your feet will be happy, you will have a little downtime and pampering which is so important!  Enjoy yourself, put on some good music and relax!!

Update on last week's month long challenge!

It has almost been a full week on the Kind Diet vegan eating challenge.  I am feeling lighter and have more energy.  I've had some really good meals and then yesterday was such a busy day it was eating on the run, but I've done pretty good!

Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal, great and filling!

Tostada, Kinda - I didn't have any tortilla's so I put it on a bed of lettuce.  YUMMY!

Tofu Scramble using veggies on hand and adding turmeric.  Brian thought it looked like a science project gone wrong, but one of my favorites!

Fried Rice using veggies I had on hand!  Loved it!

Discussion:  Have you been following the challenges?  Which one has been your favorite so far and what would you like to see in future challenges?

Friday Challenge - it's a doozy!

 It is Friday!  Whoo-Hoo!  We are heading to the lake for Father's Day and will have so much fun on the water and celebrating!  Can not wait!!

Friday Challenge:

This is a good one!  If you have wondered about a vegan diet, then this is the challenge for you!  I am going to host a one month vegan/exercise challenge!  We can post here and on my Feeling Fit With Dana facebook page.

I will be following the Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone's meal plan.  We will do some form of exercise, can be whatever you like to do - walking, running, biking, DVD's or going to the gym.  Whatever you will do on a daily basis. 

We are going to start on Monday June 21, so you have time to pick up a copy of the book and get your groceries.

Now, you can participate for a few days or the whole time.  There is no pressure, it is just to see how great you can feel when you eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables!!  You really will look better, feel better and even sleep better!

Keep a food and exercise journal, try some new recipes and see if it works for you!

So, who is in?

Discussion:  Do you have special plans for Father's Day weekend?  Any traditions you participate in?  We usually go to the lake and have a big cookout.  I really wish I could see my dad more often!   Love you Daddy!!!

Friday Challenge - Fiberlicious!

I am really having a day today!  Ca- rahhhzzzyyyy! 

It is Friday and that means it is a challenge day.  I was racking my brain (it's a little fried today) trying to come up with something when I noticed on my facebook page that Bob Harper has a GREAT challenge today!  So, I am going to go with Bob!  He's just adorable isn't he?

It's all about FIBER!  Fiber is so important in our diets, not only to keep things, ahem, moving, but also to keep us feeling fuller longer.

So, check out Bob's website for the Fiber Challenge!  What are great food sources of fiber - fruits with skins, beans, peas, oatmeal, nuts and veggies and of course, Shakeology  Boost - The Fiber!

So, since today is half over for me, I will be doing this challenge tomorrow.  I highly encourage you to try it and see how it goes for you!  Be sure to let me know how you do!  Some people find it really hard to get fiber in their diet.  How do you do on a daily basis?

Motivation Challenge & Friday Follow - me

Good Morning!  Tuesday Julie and I went to Tulsa and had a great time!  We shopped until we dropped and then we found a cute little coffee shop and stopped in for a cool drink.  It has been so hot.  Of course, I love summer and the hot weather, but whew, we needed a cold drink.  I had the best frozen chai!

Friday Challenge:

A lot of you have told me that you are lacking motivation.  I feel that when we feel unmotivated, we are unhappy with something in our lives.  So, to get that part of our lives back in order I recommend reading and listening to personal development books.  My favorite is The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen. I think you should immerse yourself in positive thinking, so reading for just 10 minutes per day and then listening to 10 mins of audio every day will help you to stay on track!  You can choose any book/audio that you love.  I really like Dani Johnson, Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, I have many books and audio that I keep on hand just so I can always have something to grab.

Right now I am reading Women, Food and God.  I just started it, but it is going to have me look at my relationships on all levels.

I am listening to Dani Johnson's Unlimited Success Personal Achievement Program. This will help me personally and in my business.

So the challenge is to read your own personal developement books and listen to your audio daily.  20 mins per day is all you need.  I love to listen to my audio while I am driving.  Talk about using your time wisely!

You can accept this challenge for one book/audio or as an ongoing challenge.  Whatever works best for you!

Please let me know if you decide to take on this challenge.  I can suggest several books and audio!!!  I want to know if you find it helpful or not!

Friday Follow!

I missed out on the last few Friday Follows.  It's been crazy busy around here and I just haven't been able to spend as much time on the computer.  I still don't have my computer fixed yet.  I found out it is under warranty, that is a good thing, but it means that I have to send it in and wait on them to fix it and send it back.  Another 10-15 days. UGH!  Sharing a computer is pretty much cramping my style!

But, I am making it a point to do Friday Follow today.  I have missed it and love finding new friends and blogs.  So, if I haven't followed you back, I am on it today!

Organize much?

It's Friday!  We are planning a great weekend at the lake!  It is supposed to be sunny and 90 tomorrow, perfect lake weather.  Boating, swimming and good food on the horizon!  CAN NOT WAIT!!!

I am so solar powered!  I need my sunshine, we haven't seen it in a while around here.  It has rained for 7 days straight.  I am ready for the sun!

I'm also going to read this weekend.  Reading is one of my favorite things to do.  I love to read.  Any kind of books will do thank you!  Do you have a favorite book to recommend?   This weekend will be all kinds of books.  I got a Chelsea Handler book for fun, Yoga for Dummies to review and a new cookbook - Vegan Yum Yum!  I'll let you know what I think about them all!

Friday Challenge:

Today is about organization! The dreaded sock and underwear drawer.  Mine are so unorganized and crazy.  I can't find my favorite socks, or the best underwear in the drawers.   So, we are going to clean it up, throw away the old, bad and ugly and make it easy to find what we need.  Go through the drawers and get rid of anything that has holes, tears or just doesn't fit anymore.  Then when the bad is out - you can see if you need to make a purchase this weekend of new undies or socks. 

Here is a photo of my before organizing: 

I'll post the afters tomorrow!

do you journal?

Whoo-Hoo!!  It's Friday!  Do you get excited for the weekends or is Friday just another day for you?  I love the weekends because it usually means that I get to spend more time with my family!  We had planned to go to the lake, but it is going to rain all weekend, so we are going to hang out at home instead.

Friday Challenge:

I think it is so important to keep a journal.  Today's Challenge is to keep a journal of your food and water intake, your exercise, your gratitude statement and to-do list and a goals list

My journal entries look something like this:

b-
l -
s -
d-

Water - 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8

Workout -

Gratitude Statement -

to do list -

Goals -

I have a cute notebook (this is important!!) and just write it all down everyday.  I refer back to it often to update it and to mark off the things I have accomplished on my to-do list.  My goals are right in front of my face, so I know what I need to stay focused on.  I also think that when you write it down and really put them out there, you are more apt to reach those goals!  I love writing down what I am grateful for as well.  It puts things in perspective for me.  Be sure to write down everything you eat and drink.  If you eat 2 M & M's, then write it down.  It is so good to know how much you are eating and what you are eating. If you are struggling with losing, you will see a pattern and will be able to make some changes so that you will get results! 

So, the challenge is to keep your journal - for a day, a week, a month  or every day!

Friday Follow

You know the drill by now on Friday Follow, but if you are new, this is a great way to find other interesting blogs.  It can be overwhelming, just follow as many as you can!  There's no pressure and you will make some great new friends!

Be sure to visit the sponsors of Friday Follow:  Midday Escapades, One 2 Try, and Hearts Make Families!

Speed Clean Challenge

It's Friday again. This week has just flown by.  I got home from the summit on Monday evening and I've been playing catch up all week. But, I am just about caught up! 

Friday Challenge:

Today's challenge is going to be fun!  I am all about getting things done as quickly as possible and getting to the good stuff - FUN!  So, when I clean my house, I try to make a game out of it.  Speed cleaning is the best way to get a lot accomplished in a short period of time. Set the timer for 30 mins.  Then start cleaning and get as much done as you can in the 30 mins.  If you do this every day, your house looks good, you have time for whatever else you need to get done in your day or you can just play!

So today's challenge, set the timer for 30 mins and clean to your heart's content and then be done!  If you don't get it all done in 30 mins, don't sweat it, just get it done tomorrow.  Of course, this may not work if you have a big party at your house or company coming over, but on a daily basis, it will work.  Everything gets done.

Be sure to leave me a note and let me know what you think and how it goes for you!

Friday Follow

Be sure to check out One 2 Try, Midday Escapades and Hearts Make Families.  They created all the Friday Follow Fun! 

This is a great way to find new blogs to read and to help get new readers to your blog!  Hope you will come out to play with us!

Friday Fun!

In LA at the Beachbody Summit.  Having a great time.  Here's a few photos from yesterday.  It was a down day and no activities planned.  Just had fun meeting friends and making new friends!

Friday Challenge!  Let's burn those calves.  Calf Raises - 100.  You can do them with weights if you are a die-hard. You can use the stairs to really get the calves burning, or you can just stand there and lift on your toes. To do the calf-raises properly, stand with your feet shoulder width apart and raise up on your toes as high as you can.  Repeat.  You can do them all at once or spread it out throughout the day!

We have the group workout tonight.  I'll have a ton of photos for tomorrow if I get time to be online!

Meatless?

Good Morning!  Yay for Friday!

Today's Friday Challenge is a good one!  Go meatless!  You can choose how long you go meatless for:  1 meal, 2 meals, or all day!

I eat a mostly vegetarian diet with no dairy (except for the whey protein isolate that is in my Shakeology) on a daily basis.  As soon as they come out with the vegan version of Shakeology, I'll be switching over to it and will not have ANY dairy!  (Note to Beachbody:  ANYTIME would be fine!)  When I changed my diet, I lost weight, I had a dramatic change in my health, no more headaches, no more stomach aches, and my skin cleared up.  WOW!

So, choose which option you will do - I really do encourage you to challenge yourself and not eat any meat at all today ( or if it is too late - tomorrow!)

So, what do you eat?  There are LOTS of options - fruit smoothie or shakeology for breakfast, veggie pasta salad with a nice crusty bread for lunch, beans and rice for dinner?  Soup, a big ol' salad,  I could go on and on.

There are many vegetarian cookbooks out there.  A few of my favorites:

Alicia Silverstone's Kind Diet













Dreena Burton - Eat Drink and be Vegan













Isa Chandra Moskowitz - Vegan with a Vengenance

Here is my favorite beans and rice recipe!  You can even use canned beans, just make sure to drain and rinse.

beans of your choice ( black, pinto, adzuki, or a combo of all are some of my faves)

brown rice ( or quinoa, millet, or a combo of all)

Put these in your bowl and on top:

add chopped mango, salsa, avocado,red onion, cilantro and hot pepper sauce.  I also like vegannaise on top.  YUM!  I may have to have this for lunch now.  Sounds so good!  Let me know if you try it!  I'll get a photo of it today and add it.  It's a pretty dish!

Friday Follow:

Friday Follow is a great way to meet new people, read new blogs and have a fun day!

Join in the fun and get to browsing!!!

get gulping!!

We are camping this weekend. I love it! Such a good time and no matter where we go, we find interesting places to visit and things to do. Not sure what today will bring, but I'll be sure to capture some fine moments. Here is one from yesterday. We saw these apple chairs on the side of the road and decided to take our picture in them. We got out of the car, ran over and I was ready to plop down in one and thankfully I looked before I sat, full of mud and water. That would have brought our fun to a screeching halt. ( At least mine, they would've been laughing so hard).

We found a really cool restaurant to eat last night. It was a Roadhouse and imagine my surprise when black bean hummus and pita bread was on the menu! So happy and so delicious! Watch for a photo of me and Yogi Bear tomorrow! I know you can't wait!

Friday Challenge:
How did you do on the crunch challenge. I guess most of you thought 200 was too many. I got mine in, but had to get the last of them right before I went to bed. So, today's challenge is a little different.

It is so hard for most of us to drink enough water. So today I am going to challenge you to get drinking! You should be drinking 1/2 of your body weight in ounces of water per day. Minimum of 64 oz and maximum of 100 oz. So, this is your challenge today.

Ways to get more water in:

1) Keep a large bottle with you at all times. I have a great looking Insanity orange bottle and it always has water in it!

2) Don't like to drink anything without flavor? put in some fruit slices (orange, limes, lemons, strawberries) or I really like cucumber. Very refreshing. I also love my Herbasway drops. (no calories or sugar, plenty of good flavor and anti-oxidants)

3) Brian's advice, hold your nose and just drink it!

Grab a glass of water when you get up. Drink it before you eat or drink anything else. Then have a glass mid-morning, a glass with your lunch, another glass mid-afternoon, another one after your workout, grab a glass to sip on before dinner, refill and drink with your meal and then a glass before bed in the evening.
So, get out your water jugs, pretty water bottles or glasses and get gulping!

Today is also Friday Follow! If you are not participating, you should be. It's a lot of fun finding new blogs to read and meeting great people!