As Time Goes By

As more days pass and the starting point of 60 days gets further and further away, the ending day seems to be approaching even faster. At first I was pleasantly surprised with the results showing on my scale. After a few initial lost numbers, though, it seems I’ve hit a plateau. That can’t be right, can it? I thought that only happened when you’re tying to lose the last five pounds, not after the first five.
I think it’s fair enough to say right now that I’m a little frustrated. I’ve been doing a decent job with exercising on a regular, if not daily, basis and I’ve been trying to eat much healthier. But there is still not as much of a change as I’ve been hoping for. Even so, it is still weight lost and not gained – which is always an accomplishment in my book.
I am not discouraged. Not yet, at least. I will continue with my exercise and healthy diet, but I might have to up my intensity a little sooner than I was predicting. With six weeks to go, I really have to buckle down and I know pretty soon I will be glad I did.

Dana

Blush and the City Party!

Get excited—I mean REALLY excited! Blush is throwing a Blush and the City Party to celebrate loving life, your girlfriends, good food, shopping, makeup and of course, Blush!

Bring your friends out to this swank party you won't want to miss!

Sorry I've Been Out!

I am sorry to all of you for not writing over the past few days, but I came down with pneumonia. Pneumonia!!! I know, I can hardly believe it myself. It's awful. I am back at work now, though I am not really feeling quite up to par yet, but I promise I will be back with attitude and sass in no time :)

With Love,

Tova

Not so hump day

Since I have started on this health plan, I have noticed some changes:

1. In just one week, it's already gotten easier. During the first few days, I felt as if I went into withdrawal from sugar, which left me feeling tired, cranky and annoyed that I couldn't eat my nightly bar of chocolate or steal some chips from the pantry. But I pushed through, and it seems the overwhelming desire for bad foods has subsided a bit—finally. It's awesome. 

2. I am more in-tune with my body. This brings up both good feelings and a bad feelings. On one hand, I notice every ache and pain, and every muscle that tightens. Laughing is a challenge after a day of crunches. Stairs are like an obstacle course after a night of lunges. But on the other hand, while I was in my hot yoga class this morning, I could feel my lungs expand to their fullest capacity, and I had a moment of total body consciousness that magnified the  strength I posses. It was a fantastic feeling.

3. Energy is flowing. I feel more awake, more creative and more, well, just more. I have energy to take on activities I would roll my eyes about a mere seven days ago, and I can now wake up at 5 a.m. without excessive whining. In just a week of eating healthy, it's a very noticeable change.

4. I am smiling more. I am quite a happy person anyways, but I had noticed a drop in my joy and excitement for my day-to-day activities over the past month (I blame the wedding stress).  Health and fitness has given me the extra oomph and boost I needed. I feel more positive, which in turn is making others act more positively to me. What a spectacular power that gives me to take on all of life's challenges!

5. My body is beginning to change. No, I have not stepped on the scale yet. I'll do that this Sunday and see if there has been any movement on my number—but even if there isn't, I hope I'll be happy. Why? Because my body is already tighter and leaner looking. Not by a ton—there are no overnight miracles to report about, but my clothes are fitting a little better. Hey, every little bit counts and I am excited to see any change at all!

I hope that all of you who are beginning a health journey or taking your health commitment to the next level are feeling these changes as well. When you notice them, take a "yay me" break and relish each mini-achievement! What have you noticed today? 

The beginning of my journey

The beginning of my journey:

As Tova stated in yesterday’s blog, I have decided it’s time to get serious about my weight-loss goals. So, last night, I reluctantly got out one of my favorite bathing suits (a blue bikini I had bought six years ago) and tried it on. Needless to say, the results were less than great.

I’m not a fan of taking pictures of myself in any kind of revealing way and it was extremely difficult to press the 10- sec. self timer on my camera and stand vulnerably in front of the lens to snap a few shots. I didn’t even suck in my gut like I normally would, or stand in any kind of flattering position. It was just me—all of me. I knew my weight had gotten out of hand, but viewing the pictures enforced that like a hard slap in the face.

I could come up with all the excuses I wanted: It’s the end of the day so my body is heavier; I just ate a lot of soup, so my stomach is bloated; the lighting in this room is really awful; etc. But the truth is simple—I’m not where I want to be. I’m not as active as I once was and I’ve loosened my strict eating habits to include all of those yummy carbs and fats I often crave. And even though I really did not want to take these pictures of myself, I knew it was a vital step in accepting where I am now and what actions need to be taken for me to slim down and get comfortable in my own skin as well as that little blue bikini.

So here we are: Day 1 and I couldn’t be more excited. With perfect weather and warmer temperatures coming, I am motivated and ready to take actions into my own hands. Let the 60 days begin!

Dana

60 days to a better body

As many of you know, my wedding is right around the corner. In fact, tomorrow marks the 60-day countdown. That's a mere two months until "I do." For the past few months, I have been tweaking my diet and adding exercise into my weekly routine to get me where I want (or need) to be, and I am just beginning to notice a change. 

Like any of you out there who have a major deadline approaching such as a family or high-school reunion or just the fact that bikini season lurking around the corner, you know that teeny tiny changes won't cut it. This is precisely why tomorrow, with 60 days left until my wedding, I will embark on a fitness and health journey to banish this extra flab on my body, and reveal the bikini-struttin', shorts-wearing, sleeveless-top-donning slender Tova that I want to be. 

I work better as a team, so I have enlisted Blush Editorial Assistant, Dana to do the program with me. Since she, too, dreams of parading on the beach this summer in an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, yellow polka-dot number, she is willing to go through a torturous two months free o ice cream with me. 

The best part about this Blush challenge, is that we are going to share it with you—Blush readers—every step of the way. I keep hearing from fitness enthusiasts that accountability is key. So, I am now accountable to Dana, and every single one of you. If you need the accountability too, then buddy up and log on to the blog—and you can choose to do the program with us, or laugh at our fun-loving attempts to try anything.

So...to task No. 1

I told Dana today that we MUST take "before" pictures. She wasn't too happy about this, but I feel it's necessary for everyone to look at themselves and love their bodies the way it is today, before any of us can expect more out of it. So, that's right, tomorrow we are both grabbing a camera and snapping a few shots. 

Now, I must say, I am a wee bit terrified to put on a swimsuit of any kind right now, but that's the point. I need to know and come to terms with where I am right now. So that means weighing in and snapping the evidence. It's quick and relatively painless—and anyone can do this step. But this doesn't mean I am showing you guys...yet. 

I received food guidelines via Dolvett Quince, celebrity fitness trainer at Body Sculptor Inc.—a highly respected gym facility in Atlanta, Ga (www.bodysculptorinc.com). I am sharing these tid bits with you, if you choose to get on the plan as well.

Now on to the program guidelines:

Include a protein source at each meal. 

Include a healthy fat source at each meal. Healthy fats include extra virgin olive oil, ev coconut oil, raw butter, avocados, and nuts (but not peanuts and cashews). Fats from whole organic eggs and meats are OK. Trans fats, on the other hand, are not healthy fats. 

Include a fibrous carbohydrate at each meal. Good fibrous cabs include vegetables and fresh fruit. 

Only include a serving of Complex Carbohydrates after a workout. Complex (good) carbs include brown rice, natural grains, oatmeal, millet, quinoa, beans and sweet potatoes. 

Eat every 2-3 hours. This means you will be eating 5-7 small meals each day. Here's a sample schedule for eating: 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Drink 1/2 of your body weight in clean water each day. This means, if you are 200 lbs, you should be drinking 100 ounces of H20 daily. And, add an additional 8 ounces of water for every cup of coffee you have.

Avoid all processed non-foods. This even includes "health bars" 

No more processed sugar and artificial sweeteners. Now, I know you ladies might like your pink, blue and yellow packets, but these chemicals can lead to some serious weight gain by making your body crave sugar. If you would like something to add sweetness, try Stevia—a plant-based alternative. They have this at Greenlife Grocery, and other health food stores, and now can even be found at typical grocery stores as well. Check out www.sweetleaf.com for more information.

Eliminate all wheat from your meal plan. I know this sounds extreme, but this is what Dana and I will do. I actually can't have wheat due to an intolerance to it, but most people are highly intolerant to products containing wheat and are unaware. Even if you don't have any problems with wheat, it can still cause that lower-ab area to pooch with gastrointestinal distress.

Add a high-quality Omega 3 supplement in your meal plan.

Take one "reward" meal per week. This is so you can have that cake you've been eyeing all week in the fridge, or enjoy a birthday party or special occasion. One splurge meal won't get you off track, don't worry. 

OK, that's it! Tomorrow we begin, stay tuned! E-mail me with updates and questions: editor1@blushmag.net.

We can do this together!  

With hope,

Tova 

I Confess! I Need Concealer!

Some days I wish that I was one of those gals who didn't need to cover up blemishes, dark circles or even out skin tone. I have some friends who wake up looking like those fresh-faced models and actresses in the Neutrogena commercials. And I know you've seen the Proactiv ads—I, for one, have never looked that good with just face wash. 

Last night, I enjoyed an evening out on the town—going from one party to the next—and because I am a complete psycho right now when it comes to fitness (I simply must fit into my 

wedding dress in a mere 65 days), I decided to go to the gym after work. Thirty minutes of cardio later, I was sweaty and my makeup had run all over my face and down my Lululemon Athletica workout top (http://www.lululemon.com/). After a quick rinse, my skin was completely bare and exposed—with all it's yellowish tints, purple bags and red splotches. Party ready? I think not.  I instantly began scrambling for any cosmetic I could find stashed at the bottom of my purse. 

...Hmm, an old mint I've had since 2009, that won't work...an old lip gloss pot, I can use that...oh look, there's mascara, thank goodness...and then I struck gold. Benefit Cosmetics Confessions of a Concealaholic (http://www.benefitcosmetics.com)—I had forgotten I had thrown it in my Mary Poppins bag just a few days earlier. 

A miracle set, this kit consists of a little tube of "That Gal" face primer, Erase Paste (which is simply the best concealing product I have ever found, Boi-ing concealer in two shades, and Lemon Air and Eye Bright color correctors.

After a few dabs here and there, I looked put-together enough to jet to my first party of the evening, where I ran into Celebrity Makeup Artist Alyson Hoag (http://www.myimagejourney.com/cms/)—which reminded me just how naked and uncomfortable I would've felt if I didn't have a miracle in my purse. $36 well spent!