My Race Bucket List

I have talked about my race bucket list before to people who have run a race with me, but I've never written it down. So here it is -- my race bucket list!

A color run
A mud run
A zombie run
A relay marathon race
A multi-leg relay race
Las Vegas Rock n Roll Half Marathon
Disney Princess Half Marathon
Duathalon with running and cycling
The Spartan Race
The Warrior Dash
Tough Mudder

I crossed off number 1 a few months back and just got to cross off number 2 this weekend! What races are on your bucket list? Have any suggestions for more races I should put on mine?

Color Me Rad 5k - May 2012

The Military Challenge 5k Mud Run - July 2012 

10 Minute Mile Goal

Whoo hoo! I officially ran my mile in under 10 minutes -- 9:30 to be exact! This run was actually 2 miles, and the second mile was done in 10 minutes. My 30 minute 5k goal might not be that far away!

Endomondo Running Workout

Brazil Butt Lift Results & Review

My Results

After I completed 6 weeks of Slim in 6, I continued doing the last cd and mixed in a few days of Brazil Butt Lift (BBL) for the next 2 weeks. Then I decided I was going to go all in and commit to 4 weeks of BBL.

So here are my results for the last 6 weeks

	Day 1	Day 42 (6 weeks)
Weight	162.6	152
Chest	37.75	37
Waist (at belly button)	37.5	36
Hips (at widest part)	42	40
R Upper Thigh/Abductor	25	24
L Upper Thigh/Abductor	24	23.5
R Arm (7in from shoulder)	11	11
L Arm (7in from shoulder)	11	11

Results: 10.6 lbs and 5.75 inches (with 2 of those being from just my hip measurement)

My Review

Let me start off by saying that the first time I did the BBL Bum Bum workout, I felt ridiculous! It made it very apparent to me that I have no rhythm for latin dance moves. It was really hard for me to get comfortable with it which is why I kept going back to the Slim in 6 workout. However, I really wanted to see it through from the beginning to end so I could really give an honest review. So I put away the Slim in 6, and added the BBL Classic schedule on my WOWY SuperGym calendar - no more excuses!

Now, to explain the program just a bit - there are 3 DVDs with 5 main workouts including Bum Bum, Cardio Axe, Sculpt, Tummy Tuck, and High & Tight. There are 2 more workouts, Bum Bum Rapido and Bum Bum Live, that I never did and I kinda felt were extras. So to really give a detailed review of the program, I'm going to explain what I loved/liked/hated about each workout.

Bum Bum
I loved this workout. More exercise movements than dancing and I could really feel it working my bum bum (had to through that in there!)

Cardio Axe
This was my nemesis. It was a cardio workout with all dance movements. I had a hard time making myself do it and I dreaded it. I also had a problem with doing the workout on carpet with tennis shoes. I ended up wearing just socks and it made it easier for me to stay in rhythm that way.

Sculpt
I liked this one. It's the longest of the workouts at 50 minutes, but I really felt like I was doing a strength training workout. There were a few moves in this one though that I didn't like, either because they were just too hard (the mermaid )or I didn't feel like the really worked the muscles they were suppose to be (laying down triceps press).

Tummy Tuck
Best ab workout yet. With the first move, I started feeling my ab muscles being worked.

High & Tight
This workout was by far my favorite. I would always be sore in my butt and hips the next day, without the booty band or ankle weights. The moves in were always challenging but doable. Love the clam move!


With all the workouts I had a few complaints too. There weren't any water breaks built-in so I had to pause when I needed one. And I know this one is minor, but the models bothered me. They were constantly smiling and never appeared to be sweating. Just not normal and it made it feel fake. Who smiles when they are doing biceps curls??

Who would I recommend this for? Definitely someone who loves to dance and wants their workouts to feel like they aren't really working out. In my opinion, I'd rather just do a squat and lunge without all the coordinating of dance movements.

Would I recommend it to someone looking to slim down or enhance their booty? Yes and no. Yes, the program targets all the muscles in the booty a lot more throughly than some of the other programs. However, no if it's not a program you'd stick to. There are other programs through Beachbody that can slim down the booty too.

Who would I not recommend this to? Someone with hip or lower back problems. I have an old lower back/hip injury from skiing and when I got pregnant (that's a whole other story!) and I felt like the workouts aggravated it because of all the hip movements that comes with latin dancing.

What's next?

ChaLEAN Extreme! I can't wait to start this workout. I had planned to start it after Slim in 6 but BBL was given to me and I knew I wanted to try it before ChaLEAN because I may not have done it after. This program is 90 days so I'll be posting my 30 and 60 day progress.

Organic, Natural...What does it mean?

I've been so curious lately what the heck it means for a product to be labeled "natural" or "organic". Natural seems like it's on everything these days from peanut butter to Cheetos! (I even fell for that one a few years ago, convincing myself that they were healthy).

How does the dictionary define the word natural? Existing in or formed by nature.
And organic? Characteristic of, pertaining to, or derived from living organisms.

I can't believe what I found when I started poking around the FDA's site about the organic and natural labels. I found this document, entitled "Natural and Organic Foods". This is an excerpt from it explaining the term "natural":

The term "natural" applies broadly to foods that are minimally processed and free of synthetic preservatives ;  artificial sweeteners, colors,  flavors and other artificial additives ;  grow  hormones;  antibiotics ;  hydrogenated oils ;  stabilizers ;  and emulsifiers .  Most foods labeled natural are not subject to government controls beyond the regulations and heath codes that apply to all foods.  Exceptions  include meat and poultry.  The Food Safety and -Inspection  Service (FSTS) of the U.S .  Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires these to be free of artificial colors,  flavors,  sweeteners, preservatives and ingredients that do not occur naturally in the food.  Natural meat and poultry must be minimally processed in a method that does not fundamentally alter the raw product .  In addition, the label  should explain the use of the term natural, e.g .,  no artificial ingredients.

Well, I don't think I can even trust the word natural on any product again! It's not regulated (with the exception of meat and poultry), so basically it can be put on anything. Way to go FDA.


And now organic, what does that mean?

"Organic' refers  not only to  the food itself, but also to  how it  was produced.  Foods labeled organic must be certified tinder die National Organic Program (NOP), which took effect October 21, 2002.  They must be grown and processed using organic farming methods that recycle resources and promote biodiversity --- two key elements of environmentally sustainable agriculture .  Crops must be grown without using synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes, petroleum-based fertilizers and sewage sludge-based fertilizers .  Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors and be given no antibiotics or growth hormones.  Organic foods may not be irradiated.  Question 8 of this backgrounder details the certification process.

Now that's what I expected from organic -- but re-read the last part sentenence. Lets look at Question 8 - How does the certification process work?

Products  labeled "100 percent organic" must contain only organically produced materials. 

Products labeled "organic" must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients.  Products in this or the first category may (but art not required to) display the USDA Organic seal shown an page 2.  

Products that contain between 70 arid 95 percent organic ingredients may use the phrase "made with organic ingredients" on the label and may list up to  three of the organic ingredients (e .g .,  carrots) or food groups (e .g .,  vegetables) on the principal display area. 

Products with less  than 70 percent organic ingredients may not use the term organic other than to identify specific organic ingredients.

That part is what got to me. I don't think I've ever seen "100% organic" on any label, but I assumed it would be. Well, I guess it's my fault for assuming!

I also recently found out about carrrageenan. It is an ingredient allowed in organic food that has been linked to cancer and other health problems.

I guess the bottom line is this --- know what you are eating and putting into your body. Read all the ingredients and do your research if something looks sketchy or you don't know what it is. Don't count on the FDA to do it for you.

Source: fuckyeahfitspo.tumblr.com via Siobhan on Pinterest

Pinterest Friday 7/13/12

I know I haven't posted in a while and I think it's because I have all of these ideas for new articles and I just can't decide which one to write! In the meantime, I'm instituting Pinterest Friday! I love Pinterest and you can find so many motivational sayings, nutrition advice and recipes, workouts and even other blogs to follow! So I don't feel like a huge failure about writing new posts, here are a 5 pins I found this week that I love :)

Source: eat-clean-train-mean.tumblr.com via Siobhan on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Siobhan on Pinterest

Source: muffintop-less.tumblr.com via Siobhan on Pinterest

Source: pinkinmylife72.tumblr.com via Siobhan on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Siobhan on Pinterest

Baby Weight GONE!

Baby weight is GONE!! Whoo hoo!!

Way back at the beginning of February, I started paying attention to my weight again and focusing on losing the rest of my baby weight. I lost 18lbs of it by pretty much doing nothing, except giving birth, feeding the baby, and doing normal new mom stuff. I was at 178 and my pre-pregnancy weight was 160 so I needed to lose the second half -- 18lbs.

At the time, I was training for a half marathon. I also started to really watch what I was eating again; really paying attention to nutrition and portion sizes. 8lbs came off pretty easily.

However, by the beginning of April, I seemed to be at a plateau. Stuck at 170. Running wasn't enough anymore. That is when I started looking into Beachbody and decided to start Slim in 6, Shakeology and focusing even more about what I was eating.

If you are reading this, you probably know my Slim in 6 results so I won't go into all that here (Slim in 6 Results and Review). With this new combo of weight training, running and a good diet, the rest of the weight just seemed to come off even easier.

I found this nifty way of tracking weight loss from Pinterest when I started. It's a great visual and I put the containers right in my pantry so it's always staring me in the face to make good decisions! Every Monday, I would weigh myself and if I was down a pound, a marble got moved.

Now, for my next weight loss goal -- 10lbs, 150. I added 10 more marbles to the Pounds to go jar. If your wondering why I left the 18 still in the "Pounds Lost" it's because I earned those! I want a reminder of how far I've come when I finally reach my ultimate goal weight.

Do you use any kind of system like the jars when you are trying to lose weight?