Bonus arms

Level: C1.1.1

Day: 2

I know, I know... Three posts in one day is kinda crazy, but hey - its Sunday! :) And I forgot to mention something yesterday... 

Bonus arms. Yes, Continuity comes with a bonus - an extra 5 minutes of arms exercises without weights (but with wrist weights as an option). They also change every ten workouts, but actually they repeat in levels 1, 3, and 9 of Continuity I think. Nevertheless, the extra little bits for arms are great! They are designed to get that wonderful lean look in your arms. Mmmmm.

It is also done against the clean white background, and in a position on your knees on the mat. Tracy is sexy as usual, and the pace is relaxed, but the moves are quite fast. Delightful! 

I tried it yesterday without wrist weights, and today - with them on. And I feel quite the difference! I have also tried several different wrist weights, and I found these ones the most convenient: they have a loop for the big finger, so they don't move on your wrist. This is particularly handy for someone like me: I have very small wrists, and narrow hands. So it was really difficult to secure other weights in place. But these ones work great. And I am using only 0.5 kilo weights - I don't want any bulk in my arms, and they seem to get sort of bulky easily. :)

I can't wait for some awesome results!!!

My Fitness Pal

I really don't want to make an advertisement. Really. But I simply have to mention this app and web-site. Previously I have been using My Calorie Counter (MCC)  from Everyday Health, and I still use the website, it has a lot of interesting info and offers a lot of options. But yesterday I ran into My Fitness Pal (MFP). I do not know how I didn't know about it earlier. Jeez! It is great! Moreover, you can install the app on your iPhone (iPod, iPad, Android, etc.) and it works offline, and whenever you have Internet it synchronises everything. Basically, it stores all your info on line. MFP offers much more than MCC especially in terms of individualisation. For example, calculating calories for your favourite menus, individualising recipes, and creating your own list of most often used foods. It also has personalisation with exercise in a similar way, so I hope to create the TA Meta workouts there at some point... It offers gadgets (I added a tracker to my blog now), and a community as well. All of you- especially those who are not using one of TAM menus, can definitely keep track of your weight and exercise there - it is very useful!!!

This is how it all looks on iPhone:   

 

Good luck!

Day 19 of Metamorphosis or how to rock the floor!!!

I found a secret to having fun during the workout. 

Till today I would wake up and a workout was always a challenge. I mean it is not easy, but the hardest thing for me was to motivate myself. Sometimes I would start the DC with gritted teeth, trying to smile through them, and mostly would get into a better mood by about 10th minute or so. But it was never that I actually enjoyed myself through and through and was looking forward to DC. In no way. MS went easier, as that was already part 2. And all this not because DC is boring. No. I love to dance, I enjoy the dance movements, I generally like music and when I hear music I feel like moving. You know, there are people who are more musical, and those who are more dance-type. Those who are more musical, when they hear a song they like they want to play and sing it; those who are more into dance, they want to express the music with their body. And I have always been the latter. So what was wrong with me in this thing? 

Well, I discovered, that music matters!!! I do NOT like techno music at all. For me it's boring and I don't feel like moving when I hear it, more like falling asleep... So hey, no wonder I didn't much enjoy the DC - I am first and foremost not into that type of music. I would for instance never dance to that if I had a choice. So today I just didn't want to turn off the music I already had on. And I thought "Hey, why should I turn it off??!!" So I muted Tracy (sorry :D) and turned up my playlist of hot and spicy hits by Katy Perry. Common, it is so much more fun - now that I more or less know the moves - to rock to "I kissed a girl" and "Teenage dream" and "California girls"!!! I was shocked. Half hour was up in no time, I haven't even noticed it!!! I was rocking it, doing all those sexy hip-moves (well, I don't see myself, so they are sexy for me only, otherwise they are probably pretty ridiculous :D), singing along... And then Tracy stopped dancing, but I had a rocking song on, so I continued dancing and jumping around for 5 more minutes or so. It was the first time EVER I did more than the 30 minutes of cardio, and actually felt like it, and was enjoying myself (opposite from "Thank god, I am done!") And I have to say, I stopped only because I didn't have so much time for training, and really wanted to fit MS right after before I go to the office. I did MS after 2 minute breather, and boy was I sweating throughout that wonderful hour of workout!!

So, hey, Katy Perry is the answer! :D 

Well, I'm kidding (somewhat), but in each joke there is always some truth. I am a kinda hip-hop, pop dancing type, so this worked for me. The main thing I learnt - put up your own music - almost from the start. As soon as you already know the movements and don't need Tracy's advice, just mute it all - and enjoy to the music you love to dance to, that makes your body move without any effort and hit the floor like you are clubbing or on stage. Think about the craziest night you had dancing out and enjoyed yourself enormously, and get that type of music. Cos that is what Tracy wants from you - ROCK IT! Find what works for you, and enjoy it!

Oh and I only today realised that I am nearly done with level 2. I haven't even noticed it. To be very honest, I can't see as much difference as I have seen in level 1, but I will still get the updates for the level. One more workout of level 2 and I am moving to level 3!!! WOW!

Week 1 diet

There are only two words describing week 1 diet: LIQUID and HARD! I know this is kinda funny, but very true. It is mostly puree-based (so if you like something crunchy and going to do this diet, you might as well forget about crunchy every other week...) - hence liquid; and I can't say it is so little food, but it is hard to fit in 7 servings of food a day, which are not such a nice 'consistency' (to be very honest, I am not very fond of purees ever since I had to recover from wisdom teeth surgery) - hence hard. 

So below all the meals (the menu) - not in order I ate or they are present, but in random order more or less, with pics. Then some tips on cooking them. Then the reflections of each day.