I'm baaaack!!!

Holy moley!  I haven't blogged in FOREVER!!!  YIKERS!!

But I'm back, and ready to kick this blog up a notch.  I've been racking my brain what to blog about, and I finally figured it out!  I'm going to do tips, and recipes, and a Q&A. 

For those that don't follow me on Facebook, and only read my blog, I'll first update you all on my weight loss journey.  I have lost 42.2 pounds total.  I had my first gain this past week; it was an unbelievably stressful, emotional week.  My husband's car 100% died, so that was a nightmare in it's own.  Then we unexpectedly had to put our dog down.  It was a horribly sad day, as I've never had to put an animal down.  I wasn't eating enough and I was so stressed and emotional.  So in turn, I had a gain.  It was a small gain, and I expected it.  I'm still working out like a mad woman.  I love it.  It's "me time", and I feel so much better afterwards.  So there you have it. 

Today I'm going to talk about something that will help you burn more fat and help with your workouts.  I've had people time and time again ask what helps me, and honestly it was my heart rate monitor.  Right now, I don't have one because mine broke, and I can't afford the one I want right now. This is the one I want.  http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Womens-Heart-Monitor-Watch/dp/B001F0PVN0/ref=sr_1_8?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1341687209&sr=1-8&keywords=polar+heart+rate+monitor+with+calorie+counter

Anywho, the HRM is amazaballs.  The heart rate monitor tracks exercise intensity and can motivate you to work harder. You can calculate your maximum heart rate (MHR) by subtracting your age from 220.  You want to vary your intensity throughout the week.  Most days should be fairly easy (endurance) days where you hit 50 to 60 percent (zones) of your MHR. But, make sure you add in a few hard days where you bring your heart rate up to 75 to 80 percent of your MHR.

 This is a very general way to figure it out. The best way to get the zones you should be working out in, is to have a Metabolic Assessment.  Again, I need to have this done, because my zones have changed. As you become more fit, they change.  My gym, Lifetime Fitness, offers this test, and it really does make a difference in how you workout.  Most people don't work out as hard as they think they do.  Or they are working out too hard.  And yes, that can happen. You can be working out too hard, and not seeing a difference.  Seems crazy!  I know!

So there you have it.  That's my tip for today.  Hope it helps! 


"Determine your priorities and focus on them."  E. McDargh