Holiday workouts

Hello and Happy Holidays everyone!! Just wanted to check in real quick with you all! I'm taking a couple days off workouts to help my family prepare to host Christmas (normally I would workout anyway but taking that time to workout causes stress for others around me over the next few days...). I know my trusty accountability partner is working out though!! I'll get back on track as of Thursday evening, do 5 days of T25 and then a few scheduled rest days before starting a full round of Body Beast!! Woohoo!! What are your holiday workout plans? 

Easy and delicious salmon!

I looooove salmon so I always love new salmon recipes! Thank you www.sparkrecipes.com for this great one! Soooo good!!

Ingredients
1/4 cup pure maple syrup (NOT pancake syrup!) or honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2-3 cloves minced garlic
12 ounces fresh or thawed salmon

Directions
Combine the first 3 ingredients in a gallon-size ziploc bag, shake it up, and then add the salmon. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for an hour, turning after half an hour. Pour the salmon and the marinade into a baking dish and bake in a 350 degree oven, covered with foil, for 15 minutes. The salmon is done when it flakes easily at the thickest part. Enjoy! Makes (4) 3 ounce servings. 

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 4
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 183.1

• Total Fat: 5.5 g
• Cholesterol: 47.0 mg
• Sodium: 937.4 mg
• Total Carbs: 14.9 g
• Dietary Fiber: 0.2 g
• Protein: 18.0 g

http://mobile.sparkrecipes.com/mobile/recipe-detail.asp?id=322103

Start 2014 with me!

Hi everyone!! How's the holiday prep going? Stressed yet? Yeah... Me too. Let's take a second, shall we? 

Deep breath iiiiiiin

And out. 

Repeat. 

Awesome. Moving on ;-)

I don't know how you are about getting through the stress of the holidays. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE my family and the time I get to spend with them. But we all know there's a lot that goes into planning that special time together and good or bad, stress is stress. Not to mention, it's tough to fit in all those workouts and healthy eating. Which is a GREAT start to the most popular of resolutions - lose weight. 

So how do I recommend getting thru it? Have a plan. I know that I'll stress a lot less if I plan and make lists now and plan my reward - a quiet, movies and take out weekend as soon as the new year hits followed by a new workout cycle. I've got a weekend of movies planned for the beginning of the year and then I start a fresh new cycle of Body Beast on January 6! Simple enough, right? And that'll make it more likely that I'll stick to it... That and the accountability! 

Sound like a plan that could work for you? I've got a few spots left in my first accountability group of 2014! Want a spot or to know more? Let me know at gabriella@addictedwithgabriella.com!!

Recipe Thursday: your Thanksgiving plate

"The average American will consume more than 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day alone, according to the Caloric Control Council. Surprisingly, most of these calories come from the all-day snacking in front of the TV while watching parades and sporting events." - http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=324

How scary is that? Depending on your calorie goals right now, that could be three times your daily intake of food. Woah. So how can you survive Thanskgiving without sacrificing the holiday or the progress you've made? I'll keep this short and sweet... Wouldn't want you to miss the parade! ;-)

- Workout first thing this morning. Not only will you give yourself a little extra room in your calorie budget, you'll be actively reminding yourself of your health goals and that will stay with you all day. 

- Eat real. When cooking or bringing a dish to pass, do what you can to pick REAL ingredients. I know that sweetener blends and fake butter are lower in calories but they are higher in over processed chemicals that are worse for your body (weight retention, aging effects, even links to cancer) than the extra calories. We could talk about this forever but we don't have time today!

- Think veggies and protein during the appetizer round. They'll fill you up in a healthy way so that second helping of super buttery mashed potatoes seems like too much once you get to the dinner table. 

- One plate. And make it smart. Then put your silverware down and chat with your friends and family for a bit before taking seconds! What's a smart plate? Something like this....

- Lastly, let yourself enjoy it. Yes, have a full slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream! Enjoy and savor it! Balance the good foods with quality time with your loved ones. Know that this is all "part of the plan" and tomorrow, we'll be back on track and NOT taking drastic measures to "make up" for eating a little more today. Knowing this will make it easier to make a couple small, smart choices throughout the meal. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I am so blessed and honored to share with all of you and I am thankful that you have shared with me! Here's to safe travels, good company, delicious food, and healthy family and friends!

Cheers!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

As I relax on this Thanksgiving Eve, I'm reflecting on this incredible sense of gratitude that is completely and totally overwhelming me as it has been the past couple of months. I can't believe that to much has changed over the past year but I can honestly say that I've grown more in the past several months than ever before. I can also honestly say that my sense of growth and gratitude had so much to do with you. Yup - you. Whether you lurk or comment here, text or email me on a regular basis, or send delightfully random messages, YOU push me every day, challenge me to be better, help me keep things in perspective, humble me, bless me with kind thoughts... YOU have been a huge part of my year and I cannot thank you for that enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

May you and yours have a wonderful and special holiday, safe travels and a year of health and happiness!! 

Are you staying flexible? I'm not talking about doing the splits...

Alright ladies and gentlemen.... Yes, yes I know you've been waiting anxiously for this. Week 6 of the first 10 week plan. More than halfway there!! The lesson of this week is to be flexible! 

We've got a pretty solid schedule together but life always happens, right? We can't allow ourselves to skip the workout for just anything and a little bit of planning goes a long way in making sure we keep on track but even then... Life happens. How do you adjust? Do you do workouts in the morning to be sure you've finished that before anything else can happen? Do you shut off your phone to keep from being interrupted mid-sweat? Do you post your workout of the day on Facebook so you feel accountable to all 937,483,016 of your friends? 

Last week was our T25 week and I've gotta tell you... 25 minute workouts with ShaunT are NO JOKE!!! The night I teach PiYo Strength and normally have to do a late workout is always tough for me. By the time I get home from class, I have no desire to do my planned workout having just finished some great strength and flexibility work. Last week, I was able to do the 25 minute workout BEFORE class and when I got home I was DONE!!! Granted, I was a sweaty mess and had to change shirts before class because I killed the T25 session but I was so glad to get it done short and sweet! 

This week isn't easy either... Between access to weights (kinda essential to a bulk / muscle build week) and holiday plans, it would be really easy to say "not this week... I'll do week 6 NEXT week"... Especially after a dentist appointment last night that kept me from doing my usual workout. The key to being flexible on weeks like this? Focus on getting it done - not the perfect, most ideal schedule. This week, I'm taking our planned 5 day schedule and tailoring it down to 3 (was supposed to be 4 but the appointment changed that so it's time to be flexible again!). I'm pairing muscle groups that make sense, blocking out a little more time, and setting alarms. Tonight is chest and back, tomorrow is PiYo (which will include a lil extra ab work) and arms, Thursday morning is shoulders and legs. Perfect? Nope. Workouts gonna be a little longer? Yup. Do-able? Totally. 

So what do you need to do to establish a good workout plan in the coming weeks with holiday parties, busy work hours, and other obligations?

- Be realistic about the time and resources you have. You have cookies to bake, a dish for that office potluck, and a kid's costume to finish for the school play. Do you really have time for all of that AND a 5 mile run? Get help getting those things done OR find a shorter, high intensity workout that will only steal 15-30 minutes and leave you drenched instead of an hour long adventure. (I can help with that, btw... Gabriella@addictedwithgabriella.com)

- Plan. It. If it's on your calendar, you're less likely to skip it. You know that time is "workout time" and you'll save it as such! Don't forget to include the time you need to get changed, drive to the gym (unless you workout at home... I can help with that too), etc. 

- Communicate it. Your spouse, partner, kids, accountability partner, Facebook friends, etc should know when you're working out. Trust me. I've posted "Getting ready to workout! Let's do this!" And then got lost in browsing Facebook, only to be called out by someone who read my status and wanted to know how many calories I was burning by liking their pictures. Oops. This is where challenge groups come in handy... Let me know if you'd like to know more about those!

- Don't focus on perfect. I know this is hard but trust me. You may not be able to stick to your perfect routine in the perfect weather at the perfect time of day once every chore possible is done and you still feel wide awake. As the Marine Corps says, "adapt and overcome". As Nike says, "Just Do It". Do I need to find more tag lines? You get the idea. Do the workout you can do that day in the conditions you've got. Then move on. 

- Be honest with yourself. We're all busy. You know when you're making excuses. Own up to it. I think that's all I have to say here. 

- Forgive yourself. Missing yesterday's workout is no reason to beat yourself up. However, it's also no reason to miss today's. 

This next one is most important so listen up...

- REMEMBER WHY. Why did you start working out to begin with? To set an example for your kids? To be healthy again? To wow them at that reunion? To find a confidence you know is hiding in there somewhere? Write it down. Big colorful letters. Stick it on the wall. Repeat. Put it on your phone. Whatever. It. Takes. Then ask yourself "Is skipping today's workout worth not achieving this goal?"  If it is, you need a new "why". Don't let a tough day keep you from achieving your dream and showing the world who you and I know you can be!

What challenges does this week or the rest of the holiday season bring for you?  How will you "adapt and overcome"?

#100GoneOrCubsOn turkey week update!

Can we get a big ole "WOOHOO" for Scott who is still making progress towards his goal? So so awesome!! Here's his update for this week!

"Update time!!!! WOOHOO!!!!  Weighed in this morning 297.5.  Down six pounds from the last update.  

So let's talk.......  this is not EASY!  Not by any means!  When it comes to being a person that went to Hardee's everyday for lunch and ate what I wanted and got into that routine.  You bet your sweet ....... well I won't add that word...... IT IS NOT EASY!!!!  To make those changes, to see what all of this "fast" food has done to our bodies over the years..... it's rough.  

It's time to start thinking different about your body's needs!!  I have chosen to look long and hard at the Paleo way of things!  Meat!  Our bodies were made for that!  At least that is my opinion!!  

So look at what you are doing.  Find what it is that you like to eat!  Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, know that you do not need to get rid of the things you like, just control how much you have.  For those that are members of the Team Beachbody website.  The meal planner is great to use.  I have purchased several Paleo cookbooks to see what I can conjure up for me.

Good luck, and we, all of us, are here to help with those needs!!!

Scott"

Putting the T25 in BeasT25

Ok so yes, I'm a Beachbody coach because I believe in their products, the brand, the trainers, and the results. But yes, I was a little skeptical that a 25 minute workout could knock my legs out of under me and make me sweat this much... Even a workout created by Insanity's ShaunT himself. I should have known better. 

 

I was too tired after the workout to take a selfie so you get a very accurate bitstrip instead. 

I'm so excited about the progress I'm seeing in my weightlifting so far and I loved the T25 workout last night (more on that another day) but my biggest struggle now brings me to a reminder for all you Beasts and Beastesses out there - PUT. AWAY. THE. SCALE. Weight training will, without a doubt, change your body in ways you've never imagined. You'll wear different pants, you'll have more energy, you'll have issues finding clothes that fit right because they're suddenly loose in some places and tight in places that you suddenly have *gasp* MUSCLES!!! Aren't they beautiful?? 

But here's the "catch"... The number on the scale may not change... Especially in the first month or so and maybe never. In fact, that number may even go up. Do not panic, my friends... This is normal. When the scale comes out, you need to keep a couple things in mind. 

1.  Muscle is more dense than fat. How is this good news? You can fit a lot more muscle in a far smaller space than that 5 lb blob of fat that you're trying to make disappear. 

2. Muscle = energy. When you have more muscle, your metabolism goes up and when your metabolism goes up, you burn more calories alllllll daaaaayyyy looooong. Pretty sweet, huh? (Side note: this - along with the "use it or lose it" property of our muscles is why people claim that old = slow metabolism. That's not true. As we get older, most of us tend to use and work those muscles less, which means we lose the muscles we once had, and in doing so, the metabolism suffers. I know I'm oversimplifying it but you get it, right?)

3. DOMS = weight retention. For those unfamiliar, DOMS is delayed onset muscle soreness - that "I can't move my arms / legs / abs / body" you feel when you wake up after a new or especially tough workout. It's a great feeling, isn't it? Your body is undergoing a renovation but as anyone can tell you, you can't renovate a room without tearing apart the old stuff first to make room for the new. Renovating your muscles and body is no different. You need to tear up the old muscles and the strength is built in the repair phase! That repair requires a "construction crew" of extra water and nutrients which means you'll retain some weight when you're sore. TL;DR? Don't check your weight when you're sore. 

4. Most importantly, how you FEEL is more important than ANY number - whether that number is on the scale, the tag in your pants, or the measuring tape around your waist. Focus on how you feel about yourself for pushing through tough workouts. Focus on the extra confidence and "can do" attitude you develop as you push through things you've never done before. Focus on the energy you've found in your renovated body. This is why you get healthy - to feel better about YOU and to be a better YOU. That is the feeling to which I've become addicted and I know many of you have experienced the same. I won't deny that losing weight is exciting and that I didn't squeal a bit when I fit in that dress I had shoved in the back of my closet for "someday, maybe, when I'm skinny enough" but I promise that those feelings are worth far more than a size 8 tag. 

Have you struggled with the scale? How did you triumph over that pesky bathroom appliance??

#100GoneOrCubsOn lesson: don't give up!!

From Scott himself again!! Enjoy! :-)

And it's update time.....So how is everyone doing?  Are you meeting your goals?  Are you reaching for your dreams?  It has been a week, my reaching for that goal has become a weak link for me.  But I am pressing on and learning how this all works.  I have become P90X qualified to assist those in need.  

But with that qualification, I have also learned a few things.  I started with Focus T25.  This worked for me for a few weeks and with anything I start, I don't always complete.  And as like clockwork, I did not continue on.  Why?  I can't explain it.  Then I got back into it, this time with T25 and P90X.  Wow, I was loving it!!  There was even one night that I did them within 30 minutes of each other!  Wow did I feel good.  But how crazy was all of this!  

My weight this go around has been something to struggle with.  I was at 303.5 lbs.  I actually gained some!  No one ever said this was going to be easy.  Am I looking for sympathy?  Nope, not at all.  I do want everyone that reads this to realize that this will be something that you are going to have to deal with!  Alone you ask?  BY ALL MEANS NO!!!!!!  You are not alone in this fight!  Weight loss, eating healthy, getting fit are things that we all have gone thru, are going thru or are attempting again!    With that, I am resetting my thoughts to all of this!  I am going to start simple.  T25 here we come again!  As we get done with that, the next stage is going to be P90X and maybe, just maybe, another program.  I am still deciding on that one!  Any suggestions?

Eating right is hard to do when you have, for years, not eaten right.  Working construction and being on the go everyday did not give one many healthy choices, or should I say we as people make poor choices when it comes to eating.  And that is something for the next update.......

So, please, please, please DO NOT GIVE UP!!!! On yourself, your health, or your body!  

Body Beast Week 3 underway!!

Ok - I have to admit... I can't believe that I haven't missed a workout yet and we're on week 3!!! Wanna know my secret?

I've got an accountability partner!!! Not just anyone makes a good accountability partner - you've gotta look for a few things.

1. Honesty. You want your AP to be honest and up front with you AND you have to be honest with them. Like any relationship, you have to have an honest foundation for it to work. 

2. Experience. No, I'm not saying that you need a certified personal trainer / nutritionist / ex Navy Seal to keep you on track but you will want someone who knows the struggle. In fitness, that means you want an AP who knows that it means to workout regularly, how it feels to reap the rewards of consistent workouts, and when you're likely to struggle. They don't have to be an expert but they should be familiar at least with the journey you're about to take. This has been especially helpful and key for me on this program because while I'm familiar with the Body Beast program, I knew id have questions but I knew that since my AP has done this program and saw some serious results, he'd be able to help me through when if I started to feel like I was spinning my wheels. 

3. Respect. Your AP should respect you and you should respect them. Why is this so important? They need to respect you enough to be able to push you in a way that isn't going to make you push away but more importantly, you need to respect them to the point that you don't want to let them down. Even on the days you don't want to do the workout for you (like I didn't want to on leg day last week), you need to want to do the workout for them so you don't have to send them that text that reads "missed today's workout... Sorry..."

People who did NOT want to do leg day last week? Me. People who did it anyway because of my AP? Me. Final score: leg Day: 0, Me: 1

Find ways to keep your conversations with your AP fresh so you want to keep in touch and stay on track. Send accountability photos (even if they're silly...)

... Like this one of my cat "helping" with my chest workout yesterday.

Or of your workout sheets (you ARE tracking your workouts, right??) to show when you make improvement or growth...

... Like this one I sent last night showing that I increased ALL of my weights this week!! Woohoo!!!

I don't care what workout program you're doing, what healthy recipes you're trying, or how many calendar appointments, reminders, and schedules you set - I promise you that you'll hit those struggles. You'll have those days - we all do - that you just do not wanna. You MUST have a plan before that day on how you are going to get through that day and still be able to say "it may not have been pretty, but I did it". What's your plan?

Challenge and accountability groups are a great way to get started, get the accountability, and meet others who might become your APs in the future. Ask me about my next accountability group and we'll get you set up!! 

We've got a #100GoneOrCubsOn update!!

Straight from the man himself - Mr. Scott Montgomery!!

"So let's do an update!  It has been two weeks since this "deal" was posted.  Those two weeks have been a grueling and uneasy time to think about getting into the swing of things!  I weighed in this morning and am currently at 298.5 lbs.  This is definitely where I do not want to be!  But if you want to achieve those goals you actually have to suck it up and do something about it!  The excuse of not feeling like it or I do not have time does not wash well.  Yes, I have used those same excuses in that short amount of time!  Remember this..... only you can change you!  If you want something bad enough, it is not going to show it's self and say here I am!!! You have to work for it!!!  I figure the ups and downs will be there not matter what but I am the one that has to deal with them! #100goneorcubson  LET'S DO THIS!!!!"

Recipe Thursday: Chicken Parm Pita

Another easy to pack and take lunch / snack under 300 calories!!! Again, I mix the chicken, sauce, and Parm in the morning so all the flavors are mixed by the time I load up my pita pocket and heat it up (about a minute in the microwave) and enjoy! What do you think?

29 by 29

We all have dreams, right? Goals we want to achieve to ensure better futures for ourselves and those we love? Even if you haven't written them out (yet!! Do it!!!), most all of us have a vision of the days to come. It's probably no surprise to you that I have a picture in my head of how my future is going to play out... The kind of house I think would be comfortable for my family, the kind of life we would live, how we'd feel financially... But I also have a vision for the people who I can help enable make incredible changes in their life because I know that we all need a push and that gaining self confidence can be the biggest catalyst ever to achieving bigger dreams. 

Why am I sharing all this with you? Because I learn everyday about people in my life - people I love dearly - who are holding themselves back, denying themselves their dreams, letting their goals be lost in dust, because they don't feel like they can or should get to shoot for the stars. 

Lemme tell you a little story... Some of you have heard this before, this will be new to some, but we can all use a little reminder sometimes. I'm not perfectly self confident but I used to be even more unsure of me. I wasn't standing up for myself, I wasn't expecting the right things out of relationships, and I definitely wasn't dreaming. A health incentive program started at work and I figured an extra $200 savings on my health insurance would be cool so I signed up. I was tracking food, started lifting a little and running again... But I was so so nervous. I had never tried to lose weight before. I had never been close to someone who openly talked about changing their health habits to get a particular result. This was uncharted territory. 

Imagine my surprise when it started working!!

A couple weeks in, I stepped on the scale and I had lost weight. WOW!!! It wasn't a huge amount of weight but it was an acknowledgement of the fact that I had decided to do something for myself, committed to doing it, and succeeded in getting some kind of result. 

Because I didn't really have someone by my side and this was a line wolf effort for me, it took me about 3 years to really get where I wanted to be, but there were some pretty amazing changes that I was able to make in my life thanks to this feeling of empowerment. Not all of the changes were easy - nothing worth it ever is - but they've made my life so much better. My only frustration was having to seemingly go it alone. 

Then I met Jenelle Summers when I got on twitter to learn more about this new workout I wanted to try... A little sweat session called TurboJam. Thanks to Jenelle, I learned about what it means to be a coach and that it meant never again having to go it alone. Where do I sign? 

It's been a few years since I made that leap of faith into Jenelle's organization and I can honestly say that being a coach has changed my life in a thousand ways. The coaches I have met are my best friends. The future I'm building allows me to be sure that I am in control of the days ahead. This is how life is supposed to feel.  

However, the best part of coaching, being a fitness instructor, or just putting my story out there is the fact that I get to help people write their own story! What do you want your "after" story to be? 

I have a GOAL to help 29 people through the Beachbody challenge by my 29th birthday (January 31, 2014) - are you one of those 29? If you didn't already know, the Beachbody challenge is just submitting your before and after pictures from completing a program for a chance to win some serious cash prizes. Imagine what you could do with a renewed sense of confidence and empowerment that comes with a side of cash!!! I'll be hosting a number of challenge groups between now and then so let me know (gabriella@addictedwithgabriella.com) if you want to make your dreams come true. 

I want YOU to be one of my 29... Will you claim your spot?

There's nothing in your way and having had to start on my own, I will do everything I can to be sure YOU don't have to do the same. I'm right here... We can do this!! 

Beast up! - week 1 down!!

I can honestly say that I wouldn't have done what I needed to do last week without my accountability partner. I'm so glad I agreed to this program with him.... Or at least, I was until Wednesday when legs day showed up on my calendar. Ugh. For those who follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you know my knee was bothering me leading up to the Chicago  marathon. After a full week of recovery, I was sure I was ready to go... (You ready for this?) I was wrong. 

But as with anything else, the most you can ask from yourself is to push and truly and honestly reveal your best. As you can see from the accountability photo below, I didn't finish legs day. Yes, that was very very frustrating for me. So what? I'll do more of the workout tomorrow... Then the week after.... Then the week after that. Might it take me a little while to really see results? Yeah, maybe. But did I give it everything I had? Oh yeah. Did I ensure that I had proper form and was doing the moves in a safe way with balance? Absolutely. Done. Put it behind me. Do better next time. 

How well do you listen to your body? Do you stop, pause, or modify when you need to? Are you truly honest with yourself when it comes to translating your body's message into action? 

Another modification I've had to make this week is my nutrition. I stuck to a meal plan last week that felt alright the first few days but after a few days, I was "off". I contributed it to the new workout program, stress at work, etc. Luckily for me, my accountability partner is a little bit of a myfitnesspal stalker and realized that - while I was following the plan - I wasn't eating very much! My net calorie goal at the end of every day (calories eaten - calories burned) was just 1500. That's not a lot!! Now, logically, I knew that but I was so blinded by my goal to lose weight that, like so many, I pushed through and committed to recalculating my goal at the end of the week. Recalculate we did and my new goal is 2200. No wonder I didn't feel so good!!

I share this because not eating enough is - in my experience - the most common mistake made when trying to lose weight.  Calories are burned by your metabolism all day long and your metabolism works a lot like a fire. It can be hard to get going and a pile of logs generally won't burn themselves. Working out is one of the best ways to light that fire... Think of your sweat session as a way to light the match. You can help the fire burn hotter faster with good kindling (things like my 5 day challenge starting on Monday ... Anyone? Anyone?) but to really sustain this fat burning, disease fighting, sickness preventing, energy providing, health building, confidence boosting fire, you need to continue fueling that fire with good logs (healthy, clean food for those still following the analogy). Moral of the story? Work hard and eat smarter!! 

What change could you make this week to improve the logs you're putting on your fire?

Pita Pizza

In the spirit of keeping fitness and health simple, I'm going to provide weekly recipes here that are 5 ingredients or less and take less than 30 minutes to make (not counting baking / inactive cooking time). These will always be recipes that I myself have made so that you can know that they have been vetted out!! 

Up first...

Pita Pizza

This was awesome at knocking out my pizza cravings PLUS it was easy to pack and take to work. I just spooned the mix into the pita, heated it up, and enjoyed!

Estimated time: 10 minutes - most of which was chopping veggies!

Mix the spaghetti sauce (I used organic Bertolli's Organic Tomato and Basil but feel free to try your favorite suave and season it if you'd like) with the cheese and chopped pepper and onions. If you're planning to prep in the morning and eat this for lunch, I recommend putting this mix in a container and packing your pita separately. 

 When you're ready, spoon the mix into your pita pocket. I used ones that are Italian herb for more flavor but use your favorite. All that's left now is to heat and eat! Microwave for 30-60 seconds until the cheese melts and it's warm enough to meet your liking. Aaaaand done! Enjoy! Want to make this a more full meal? Add some spring greens, veggies, and balsamic vinegar dressing on the side! 

Beasting up to become a stage-worthy beauty

Now, before anyone starts worrying about my self-confidence because of how I phrased that title... Don't worry. It's taken a long time and I still have my shakey moments but on the whole, I'm pretty confident in my physical appearance and even my physique. That being said, my next challenge and goal for myself is going to require a level of confidence I haven't had to gather before. What started as a joke now has a workout schedule, meal plan, and timeline... That's right - I'm preparing for my first ever Physique Competition (assuming they hold it again next year - for now, I'm assuming they will!). Sparkly bikini has yet to be acquired.

Those who have known me for a long time can tell you that I'm not one for bikinis and when I do wear them (that's even only been the past few years!), I'm super conscious of how I move and I'm constantly adjusting my suit. Parading around on a stage in a show suit is going to be a whole new level outside of my comfort zone but hey, that's where amazing things happen!

As of yesterday, my accountability partner and I started a hybrid that he (I can't take credit here!) cleverly named "Bulk BeasT25". Anyone familiar with the Beachbody program line-up will quickly - and accurately - deduce that this will be a blend of the bulk cycle of Body Beast and workouts from ShaunT's (yes, of Insanity!) awesome program Focus T25. I'm also going to be cleaning up my eating habits and continuing one super healthy, nutrient rich, Shakeology per day (at least) ... and I should work on sleeping more regularly too because my body is going to need the recovery.

I'll log my progress, adjustments, and thoughts as we go through this and share it with you here. Feel free to ask questions and I'll be sure to cover them! Oh, and before you ask, yes - this will be all natural - no insulin, steroids, or other artificial performance enhancing drugs. No judgement but that's just not for me!

In order to show progress, I suppose we need to know my starting point, huh?

As of Sunday, October 20.
Weight: 176 lbs
Body Fat %: 27.6%
Waist:  34.75 inches
Chest: 40.75 inches
L Arm: 12 inches
R Arm: 12.25 inches
Hips: 42.25 inches
L Thigh: 24.5 inches
R Thigh: 24.5 inches

Starting pictures

#100GoneOrCubsOn - Let's get this started!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to one of my awesome #TeamAddictedBB coaches - Scott Montgomery! I met Scott through Twitter thanks to some friendly sports banter between our beloved baseball teams, the Cubs and the (can't believe I'm going to type this) Cardinals. For those who don't know, Cardinals and Cubs is one of those classic rivalries, like Michigan and Ohio or Green Bay and the Bears. Through our conversations, we got to know each other and found out that we could have more in common than our devotion to our baseball teams - we both want to be in better health so that we can be our best for those we love.

Scott got started on Shakelogy and T25 along with the P90X he already had which got him going on healthy habits and good progress! As a diabetic, Scott has been well aware of how food and exercise could improve his quality of life and by making the right changes and consistently eating smart and working out, he has already been able to cut his insulin needs in HALF on a regular basis! How cool is that?!?

Like so many of us, making these lifestyle changes isn't always easy for Scott. The father of two (adorable!!) active children, he's often on the go, traveling for kid activities on the weekends, and it's tough for him to always stick to his plans! Oh, and have I mentioned he has a full-time job too? Yeah. Because of these challenges, he felt he needed a challenge - some accountability. That's where I and these blog posts come in.

Since our friendship started over some good-natured sports banter, we've made a baseball related deal! If (when!) he loses 100 lbs from his starting weight of 300 by September 2nd, 2014, I will wear a St. Louis Cardinals jersey to a Cubs vs. Cards game. Should he come up short (which I doubt will happen!), he will wear a Cubs jersey to the game. (These are my favorite kinds of bets - the ones that inspire you to become better!)

We'll track and share his progress, keep him accountable, cheer him on, and I have no doubt that he is destined to be an inspiration to many! Look for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and blog post updates with the hashtag that is sure to remind him of the bet - #100GoneOrCubsOn - and feel free to use that when you share notes of encouragement!

I'll be sharing his weekly updates here (think we can convince him to write a few notes for you guys?) and every month, we'll work on having updated photos as well!

Here's the starting point and first update!

August 15
Weight: 300 lbs
Waist: 48 inches
Hips: 49.5 inches
Chest: 50.5 inches
Right and left arms: 15 inches
Right Thigh: 24.5 inches
Left Thigh: 23 inches

October 2 (when the bet began!)
Weight: 298 lbs
Waist: 45 inches
Hips: 48 inches
Chest: 49.5 inches
Right and left arms: 15.5 inches
Right thigh: 27.5 inches
Left thigh: 25 inches

Help me raise $1000!

Like so many of us, cancer has touched my life repeatedly and when I have a chance to support cancer research or facilities, I like to do all I can! To me that means not only raising money for these facilities but also ensuring that as many of us as possible are living our lives in a way that ensures we each keep our cancer (and other nasty diseases!) risk as low as possible!

To that end, I'd like to ask for your help! This summer, I'll be attending the Women's Football Academy at the University of Michigan but before I go, I get to raise money for the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center! (www.mcancer.org)

The U-M CCC provides treatments, screenings (sometimes free!), research, clinical trials, and support services to cancer patients. Can you imagine having all of that in one place? You have to check out their site! It's awesome!!

You can donate through me at http://tiny.cc/WFADonate and please remember that no amount is too small!

As I mentioned, I like helping to ensure that we are all living in a way that we make sure we are keeping our health risks low... So what does that have to do with providing more resources to the U-M CCC? You know I'm a Beachbody Coach and that proper diet and exercise can lower cancer risk so.... I will donate $30 in your name to this fund when you purchase a challenge pack through me! Just email me at gabriella@addictedwithgabriella.com and I'll help you pick the pack that will help you be the healthiest you can be!

As an added bonus, I will raffle off one 30 day supply of Shakeology for every $500 donated! All you have to do to be entered is make a donation or buy a challenge pack!

If you have any questions just email me at gabriella@addictedwithgabriella.com and please check out http://tiny.cc/WFADonate to help support the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center!

From the bottom of my heart - Thank you!!!

Jo and Sue: Dreamy "Mac & Cheese" Spaghetti Squash (Single Se...

I promised I'd share this recipe as of a couple weeks ago ... here it is! Enjoy! (and yes...I realize this is late a day...call it recipe Friday...!)

Jo and Sue: Dreamy "Mac & Cheese" Spaghetti Squash (Single Se...:   Okay. Let me start off by saying I know this is kind-of similar to the Cheesy Tomato and Spaghetti Squash Bake  I just posted about a...

Ready... Set... Monday!

What habit or activity makes you feel ready to take on your week? For me it's all about having meals and snacks packed, a yummy, healthy mocha shake to start my day, my planner filled out, and making sure my tablet and phone all charged up!

Here are a few tips to help lower stress and make sure you own your week instead of letting it own you!

- spend Sunday afternoon / evening relaxing. The downtime will help relieve some stress before the week brings on whatever it may have in store.
- lay out clothes (including workout clothes) and pack food for the next day before you go to bed! It's such a simple idea and we've all heard it before but sometimes the reminder helps.
- allow yourself a little extra time Monday morning to look over your week, organize your to-do list, etc.
- schedule appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays when possible. We tend to forget "out of routine" appointments on Monday and that can add stress.
- switch some tea for that morning coffee.. Less caffeine (usually), health benefits, and it's soothing.. What more reason do you need?
- Write. It. Down. If something comes up that needs to be done, put it on a calendar or in a list. Write it down. Let your mind release it. Move on. Just make sure you write it down somewhere it check often!
- pick a night to leave empty. At worst, this gives you some time for the unexpected. At best, it means you have a night "off". The key here is to put it on your calendar as early as possible.
- don't be afraid to ask for help. Using a laundry or grocery service, picking up precut veggies instead of doing so yourself, delegating projects at work, etc. can make a huge difference in your stress level!