Thursday, March 31, 2011

My P90X Chicken Scramble with Spinach

I love using the P90X Nutrition Guide and the Insanity Elite Nutrition guide for recipes.  Since I love to cook, I often make my own versions of the recipes.

Last night we had breakfast for dinner.  The night before I had made a salad with cubed chicken and I had some left over.  The kids really look forward to my homemade, whole wheat pancakes and scrambled eggs.  My husband and I wanted to something a little more grown up.  Enter the Chicken Scramble with Spinach!

I used whole eggs instead of egg whites.  I was short on eggs and it would have been a pretty skimpy dinner if I didn't use the whole egg.  I also omitted the Parmesan cheese and basil that the original P90X version calls for.

I served it up with a side of fresh strawberries.

My P90X Chicken Scramble with Spinach


This recipe is for 2 people

6 whole eggs (or 12 egg whites)
2 cups of baby spinach
2 TBS finely chopped onion
6 oz of cooked, cubed chicken

Cook spinach and onions in large non-stick skillet in 1 tsp of olive oil over medium heat. Toss in chicken.  Once spinach is soft and wilted, remove from pan and place on plate.

Cook eggs over medium heat until halfway set.  Add the spinach, chicken and onion to eggs and cook through. Garnish with fresh, crushed black pepper or Mrs. Dash and enjoy.

I'd love to hear from you.  Let me know if you try this recipe and enjoy it.  Feel free to leave a comment below.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Healthy Banana Ice Cream

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!!! Ice cream is so yummy, but a big no-no for lots of people.  It could be because they have blood sugar issues, or gluten, lactose and digestive issues or maybe trying to avoid the fat and calories associated with it.  I'm not saying you need to totally never have ice cream again, but if you want to save calories and eat clean, this  might be for you.  I'm going to try it this weekend.

I saw this yesterday on the Today Show, while waiting at the dentist with my kids. The segment was on healthy snacks for kids.  And then today, while getting a pedicure (thanks to my hubby xo) I was thumbing through Health magazine and saw the recipe again! So I figured I was meant to try it and share it as well.

So here it goes:

Banana Ice Cream

1 ripe banana per person, sliced and frozen. (You can place slices on a cookie sheet to prevent them form sticking together while freezing)

A few TBS of low fat milk (dairy, soy, almond, rice)

Place the frozen banana slices in the blender or food processor, and pulse at first , then blend to get a creamy texture.  You can add a TBS of milk a little at a time to get a smoother consistency.

Once at the desired consistency, you can spoon into serving bowls and top with chopped walnuts, shaved dark chocolate, or cinnamon.  You may even want to try a drizzle of honey or pure maple syrup if your bananas weren't that ripe.

Another idea is to add a little PB2 (low fat natural powdered peanut butter) to your blender and make it extra yummy, or even add a little chocolate Shakeology to it (yummo)

Friday, March 25, 2011

Eating Clean

On Monday, March 28th, I'm hosting a Get Set for Memorial Day Clean Eating and Exercise Challenge on Facebook.  I figure if we start on the 28th and run right through the Friday before Memorial Day, we should be rocking for summer.  I'm not making up meal plans or exercise routines, but as a group we will hold each other accountable to eating clean and exercising daily.

Basically you want to eat the foods in the top 2 tiers of Michi's Ladder.  If you mainly eat form those 2 tiers, you will be eating near perfect.

I wanted to give you an example of how I ate yesterday, so you can see Michi's Ladder in action.

Breakfast: a berry, banana whey protein smoothie made with 1% milk and hot green tea on side

Snack: 3/4 cup of plain oatmeal, made with water, topped with 2 Tbs raisins and 2 Tbs walnuts, with 1 Tbs whey sprinkled on top with water to drink

Lunch: 1-1/2 scoop of chocolate Shakeology, blended with soy milk and ice and green tea on side

Snack: 1 slice of 100% whole wheat bread, with 1 Tbs peanut butter (here's where I dipped into tier 3), and 1/4 sliced banana, 1-6 oz glass of milk and water to drink

Dinner: Egg white omelet with spinach and mushroom and 1 high fiber, 100% whole wheat, 100 cal English muffin. and hot green tea and water to drink.

Remember to drink lot of water (at least 64 oz).  If you need to dip into tier 3 or more, that's fine as long as you keep that minimal.

I'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment below or email me at fitwithjessica@live.com.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Oven Fried Fish

Its that time of year when people are eating fish on Friday! Here is an easy recipe that would go great with some oven roasted asparagus (make while baking fish) and a side salad. Or if you're not watching carbs, some wild rice pilaf or baked sweet potato.


Oven-Fried Fish

From Team Beachbody - Eat Smart



Recommended by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

2 lbs. fish fillets

1 Tbsp. lemon juice, fresh

1/4 cup skim milk or 1% buttermilk

2 drops hot pepper sauce

1 tsp. fresh garlic, minced

1/4 tsp. white pepper, ground

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. onion powder

1/2 cup cornflakes, crumbled, or regular bread crumbs

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 fresh lemon, cut in wedges

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Wipe fillets with lemon juice and pat dry. Combine milk, hot pepper sauce, and garlic. Combine pepper, salt, and onion powder with cornflake crumbs and place on a plate. Let fillets sit briefly in milk. Remove and coat fillets on both sides with seasoned crumbs. Let stand briefly until coating sticks to each side of fish. Arrange on lightly oiled shallow baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes on middle rack without turning. Cut into 6 pieces. Serve with fresh lemon. Makes 6 servings.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Nutritional Information: (per serving)

Calories: 183  Protein: 30 g  Fiber: 1 g  Carbs: 10 g  Fat Total: 2 g  Saturated Fat: < 1 g

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Keep that Kitchen Clean (Naturally)

I love to use natural ingredients to clean my kitchen such as lemon, orange, white vinegar... Its so much better than using harsh chemical, especially on surfaces where you prepare foods.  Below is an article that can help you get started on cleaning up the inside of your fridge to the countertops.

6 Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Kitchen


By Joe Wilkes

It's almost springtime, which for a lot of us means it's time to do a deep-clean of our homes—throwing out the old, organizing the new, storing the winter clothes, and getting ready for warmer weather and a fresh start. For others, it's the beginning of another season of denial about how squalid our living conditions have become. Even more than New Year's, spring is a good time to make some new resolutions and create an environment that'll make us want to keep them. Here are some ideas for getting your kitchen into shape.


1.Out with the old. I like to think of my refrigerator as a cabinet of hope. Most times, it's full of fruits and vegetables, purchased in a fit of confidence that I would steam and stir-fry my way to a slimmer me. Then I end up going out to restaurants with friends, and my Sunday produce ends up looking pretty bad by week's end. Yet, unbelievably, I leave it all in my refrigerator with the hope that it'll somehow return to a state of edibility. Similarly, expired dairy products and aging condiment bottles litter my shelves, the result of my misguided optimism that they too will come back in fashion—like my '80s wardrobe will, if I just wait long enough. I'm here to tell you, however, that there's been no grocery miracle in my refrigerator these many years. And now, it's time to give the expired residents of this frosty food hinterland a proper burial.

First thing to do: Get rid of everything that even looks old. Be merciless. If it's past the expiration date, throw it out. If it doesn't have an expiration date, throw it out. Another scourge in my fridge is the many plastic containers filled with leftovers. I don't remember exactly what meal they are left over from, but I can't recall anything that included frizzy mold as an ingredient. Much of the reason the containers languish in the back of the fridge is because I'm avoiding the horror of having to wash out the science experiment they've become. This year, I'm going to throw money at the problem, and throw out the leftovers in their containers without ever lifting the lid. Then, I will treat myself to shiny, new plastic containers as a reward for my new hygienic lifestyle. Additionally, if my plastic cutting boards are beyond bleaching, it's a good annual tradition to replace them.

2.Out with the bad. While I'm gripped in the mania of throwing away all the food that has literally turned to garbage, I'm also going to throw away the food that's metaphorically garbage. All the unhealthy snack foods that lure me away from my healthy eating plan are going to have to go. I'm evicting the half-full bags of tortilla and potato chips from my cupboards. Ben and Jerry's® are moving from the freezer to the dumpster. Any empty-calorie snacks I can steal a spoonful or handful of and pretend they don't count have to hit the road. Once I clear the cupboards and refrigerator, I can go to the store and load up on healthy staples, whose temptations I won't have to resist.

3.In with the new. Now that the refrigerator's clean and the cupboards are bare, it's time to shop. Stock up the larder with delicious, healthy foods from the first two tiers of Michi's Ladder. And make sure to get lots of easy-to-prepare snacks to keep within easy reach when hunger pangs hit. Great snacks include cottage cheese, nonfat yogurt, hummus, salsa, and raisins. Instant oatmeal, whole-grain cereals, and egg whites are good to have on hand for breakfast. And foods like brown rice, dried beans, canned broths, water-packed tuna, and frozen fruits and vegetables are good staples to always keep in supply for mealtime. Of course, you should also try eating plenty of fresh produce, seafood, and lean meats. Just don't be like me and go crazy at the Sunday farmers' market only to have to throw food away at the end of the week. Buy enough perishable items to last a couple of days, then make short trips to the supermarket or farmers' market during the week. Your food will taste better and fresher, and you won't have a CSI episode in the crisper drawer at the end of the week.

4.When life gives you lemons . . . I know I've talked a lot about throwing all your produce away. But some of it can do a little cleaning work for you before it hits the compost bin. Lemons are very acidic, and their juice is naturally antibacterial and antiseptic. You can use lemon juice to bleach countertopost bin. Lemons are very acidic, and their juice is naturally antibacterial and antiseptic. You can use lemon juice to bleach countertop stains and shine up metal. And it makes your kitchen smell lemony fresh to boot! Instead of throwing those lemons in the trash, throw one or two in the garbage disposal and grind away. It'll help get rid of food dried onto the blades while filling your kitchen with the smell of lemons. (If the lemons are really old and the rinds have turned hard and leathery, don't try this. The disposal blades might not be able to chop them, and they'll just rattle around in your disposal forever. Trust me, I know.) Another great tip a friend gave me is to cut a bunch of lemons in half and put them in a big microwave-safe bowl filled with water. Then microwave the bowl of lemons on high for a few minutes, until the water steams. Keep the microwave closed. The lemon-juice-infused steam will permeate all the stuff cooked onto the microwave walls from various exploding culinary attempts. The crud will wipe off easily and your microwave will smell great. Best of all, no toxic cleaners will accidentally find their way into your meals!

5.Vinegar—not just for salad. While you're cleaning and staying nontoxic, try using the Michi's Ladder top-tier favorite vinegar to spruce up your kitchen. Diluted with water, white vinegar can be used to clean windows, wash floors, and wipe countertops. It cuts grease and removes stains from cookware, and if you run a pot full of the vinegar and water solution through your coffeemaker, you'll be amazed at the kind of hard-water deposits it removes. It's also good for removing hard-water stains on your glassware. It even cuts soap scum and kills mildew, so you might give good, old-fashioned, cheap white vinegar a try before investing in expensive cleaners that can introduce toxins into your kitchen.

6.Baking soda—not just for baking. Here's a fun fact. Did you know that baking soda mixed with grease makes soap? It's true. It's a great, cheap, nontoxic way to wipe off your stovetop and the surrounding areas that have been spattered by a season's worth of stir-fries. An open box can absorb odors in the refrigerator, and a little sprinkled in your garbage can will do likewise. If you have a grease fire, you can put it out with baking soda. If you have pots with burned-on food, let them soak in baking soda and water overnight. Also, if you have plastic storage containers that are a bit stinky from their previous occupants, try soaking them overnight in baking soda and water. You can make a baking soda paste with water and polish your silver. It's a miracle product—nontoxic and cheap!

I'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment below and share any other ideas you have about keeping your kitchen safe, healthy and clean.


Sunday, March 20, 2011

Happy anniversary day means happy family day

I know some of you might think its lame to spend your anniversary at home with your kids, but our kids are such a big part of our marriage, why not include them in the day.  Oh, don't get me wrong, my fantasy is to leave the kids with a responsible adult and jet away with my husband for a few days to an exotic, warm island, but that's not happening, at least for now.

Yes, I have friends who have the luxury of parents near by who are able to stay with their kids and they can go on a romantic trip, but although we are blessed to have both sets of parents still alive and healthy, they aren't available to do what other's parents can.  My in-laws are older, in their mid-80s and my parents both live in FL and neither of them can just drop what they're doing to come up and babysit.

So we make due, and we still have fun. This anniversary will be spent just like the many other ones since having kids. We'll spend the day as a family, the kids playing with their new toy and have a nice dinner with the kids:)

Happy anniversary to the love and loves of my life!

Friday, March 18, 2011

How to cut the time on your P90X workouts

The first thing most people say when they think about starting P90X or they just purchased it is "the workouts seem so long!" Well, yes, they do seem long, but compared to getting yourself dressed, in the car and off to the gym, then start your routine, towel off and get back in the car to go home, they're really a lot shorter on time than trudging to the gym everyday.  And let's face it, most of us with gym memberships get tired of that routine so we slip up and stop going.

But there are ways you can make your P90X workouts a little shorter and shave off 20-30 minutes of your workout time.

1) One way to shave off time is by splitting your workout.  You can do your main workout (like chest & back) and then save Ab Ripper X for later in the day. This is good if you feel way to spent after your main workout.  Or you can split your workout by doing all the chest exercises in the morning (hit the next button on your remote to skip the back exercises) and then in the afternoon or evening do all the back exercises (again the remote comes in handy). Add Ab Ripper X in at the end of either workout.  But make sure you do the warm up and cool down with each split session.

2) You can do the first round of exercises only. I still highly recommendd doing the warm-up and cool down.  But be warned, if you get in the habit of doing 1/2 the DVD only everyday and every workout, you may have to decrease you calories.

3) As you get better at the workouts, you will find yourself able to start an exercise while Tony is still explaining the exercise.  You may finish by the time they start going.  Use the remote and skip ahead to the next exercise.  I do this a lot and it shaves off about 20 minutes.  I really don't do this with the cardio DVDs. But on occasion I will skip next during a few very challenging Plyometrics exercises (only if I'm really feeling wiped out).

4) Yoga X is long.  90 minutes is a long time.  Most of the poses in Yoga X are very advanced and if you;re not doing yoga more often can still seem too advanced for you by week 13.  On days I'm rushed, I will do the first 30 minutes and the last 30 minutes of Yoga X.  I used to teach yoga classes, so I know that some of the poses like crane, are poses that can take years to master.  You can still get an energizing yoga workout by eliminating some of the very difficult and advanced yoga poses.

So there you have it.  I know there will be some P90X purists who think what I said is blasphemy, but we all have busy lives and sometimes you need to make some adjustments.  I'd rather you do this than skip your workout entirely.

I'd love to help you reach your fitness goals.  As a Team Beachbody Coach, I'm here to support you and be your guide on your journey to a new, healthier you.  Please email me at fitwithjessica@live.com or visit my website http://fitwithjessica.com/ to get started. And please feel free to comment below.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Fire up that Metabolism

Having a higher metabolism will help your body burn more fat and calories.  Did you know that eating 6 small meals per day will help fire it up?  You burn an extra 237 calories per day doing this!  Read the article below to find out more ways to fire it up!

Ways to Fire Up Your Metabolism



By Monica Ciociola

It can be discouraging when your results don't seem to match the efforts you're putting into getting in shape. But instead of giving up on your fitness program, or worse, diving into the Twinkies® (trust me, you'll regret it!), try making just a few easy changes to your diet and your lifestyle. Sometimes the smallest things—like getting more protein in the morning or enough rest at night—can lead to the biggest weight loss surprises.




1.Don't skip breakfast. Eating lean protein in the morning will help get your metabolism revved up for the day ahead. Protein from egg whites, for instance, will help stabilize your blood sugar, make you feel fuller, and keep you from overeating later in the day.

2.Resistance training. Working out with some form of resistance—resistance bands, weights, or a stability ball—helps build your muscles. And because one pound of muscle burns way more calories than a pound of fat does, the more muscle you have on your body, the higher your metabolic rate will be.

3.Interval training. Short 10-minute explosive cardio sessions followed by less intense cardio for the same amount of time will rev up your metabolism. For some of the best interval training workouts, check out INSANITY® or TurboFire®.

4.Get your beauty rest. Human growth hormone works directly on cells to increase your metabolic rate by 15 to 20 percent and can only be produced during the hours of deep sleep. So make sure you get a good night's sleep!

5.The magic mix. At mealtime, try consuming lean proteins from chicken and white fish along with complex carbohydrates from fruits and veggies. This magical combination will speed up your metabolic rate as food is transformed into usable nutrients, and you'll build muscle and burn fat during the digestive process.

6.¡Ay, caliente! Studies show that hot peppers, spices, green teas, and caffeine can give your metabolism a sudden surge by stimulating the release of stress hormones. If jalapeño and cayenne make you wince, turn to our all-natural Slimming Formula supplement, which contains green tea, for the same metabolism-boosting effect.

I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment below.  If you need help with your fitness and nutrition, email me at fitwithjessica@live.com or visit http://fitwithjessica.com/

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Loren - really bringing it in Day 13 of P90X

Meet Loren! Loren is someone new that I'm coaching and just because she's not too far into her 90 day journey of P90X doesn't mean she's not seeing amazing results already! Loren is a stay at home mom of two very cute girls and she also runs her own intimate apparel business.  So Loren, just like the rest of us has a very busy schedule.  She could very easily fall into the trap of putting everything else first, but she's really determined to make her health her priority.  She knows that this will help her be a better mom, wife and business woman.  Here is what Loren had to say in her own words:

"It's day 13 and I'm really mad at myself! I can't believe how much money I have wasted on Spanx when all I needed was some self control and muscle confusion! My biggest fear is that my new perky energetic disposition might be annoying the people around me- "Oh well" I say! Day 13 down 5 lbs and one dress size- BRING IT!!"

Way to go Loren!  Keep up the good work and keep inspiring us to bring it! Not only is Loren exercising, but she is following a healthy nutrition plan that comes with P90X and she just started drinking Shakeology. 

If you would like more information on P90X, the program that Loren is doing, or any other Beachbody workout, send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com or visit http://fitwithjessica.com/

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I don't feel my age

Today is my birthday! I woke up at 5:00 a.m, did my P90X workout, had my oatmeal and a whey protein smoothie. Then I had my Shakeology for lunch (after a healthy snack of course). Woo hoo! Way to party like a rock star on your birthday, right? Trust me, I wouldn;t have had it any other way!

Even though I'm another year older, I really don't feel it. Mentally, I know I'm slightly immature (lol), but I'm talking physically.  My body feels as though I'm in my 20s. I actually feel better than when I was in my 20s.  In my 20s I was super skinny. I weighed in at 102-105 pounds, which at 5'4.5" is very thin.  I'm 20 lbs more than that now, but with exercise and eating right, its all in the right places.

I'm also more flexible than what I was in my 20s. I do a lot more flexibility exercies than what I did back then. I'm stronger and feel more balanced.

I used to smoke, drink more (alcohol) and would stay up until 3:00 a.m. most nights, and wake up around 9:00 a.m..  I ate what I wanted, but only ate about 2 meals per day and maybe a snack. So while I was super skinny, I wasn't super healthy.  I remember always having headaches and not sleeping great.  It was a "fun" life, but not a very healthy one.

Flash forward to present day - while I don't fit in a size 0 jeans anymore, or I'm not partying like a rock star, I feel so much healthier than I ever did.  I feel like I should be in my 20s again!

My drinks of choice are now water, green tea and Shakeology.  I eat 5-6 small meals per day, I exercise everyday with programs like P90X, Insanity and Brazil Butt Lift.  I make sure I get 7-8 hours of sleep everynight (although sometimes interrupted by a small child). So I instead of leading the rock star life style I once led, I'm leading the healthy lifestyle. And I'm much happier for it!

If you're ready to lead a healthier life, now's the time to do it. Its never too late or too early.  As a Team Beachbody Coach, I can help you set up healthy goals.  Now is the right time.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or email me at fitwithjessica@live.com

Sunday, March 6, 2011

We all have cellulite...

I was standing in line at BJs Wholesale Club today and saw the latest In Touch magazine cover with Kim Kardashian and I think it may have been Holly Madison (from The Girls Next Door) on the cover.  The title blared "We Have Cellulite, so What!" And inside there were untouched photos of both women in bikinis with cellulite (not much, but visible).

I wanted to see if I could find the article online, but found this article instead from the NY Post, click here to view . As I looked at the pictures, I thought to myself, I wish more women could come to grips with their cellulite, stretch marks and other issues.  And I wish more magazines would feature women standing up and saying "so what!"  Perhaps so many of the women I coach would have better body images of themselves.

We all have cellulite lurking around, even men do.  I remember going to a KISS concert in 1996, having front row seats and noticed that even Gene Simmons had cellulite peeking through the side cut-outs on his spandex.  Oh well...

Exercise and nutrition are extremely important in maintaining a healthy weight, healthy heart, healthy everything, but exercise and nutrition aren't necessarily going to get rid of your cellulite.  Sure it could minimize the appearance or in some cases make it look worse.  But I wish society would just let us relax a little about our slightly lumpy thighs and tummies.

I know I often fall victim into wanting that perfect looking body, but unfortunately its not going to happen.  I have my own issues with not being entirely happy with my abs and the skin that got stretched due to having 4 large babies.  And no matter what I do, its not going away.  But I try to change my thinking into "well, I'm healthy and that's really what matters."

I know its a lot easier said than done, but just try to be happy in the skin you're in.

I'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment below.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Ed Z. - What a difference a year makes...

Back in December, I featured Ed Z. in my blog. He amazed his doctor, himself and me on how he took the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and turned it all around.  Today is his one year anniversary of being diagnosed.  Ed was gracious enough to send me this email.  He's so sweet that he thanked me, but Ed has done all of this on his own. As Ed's Team Beachbody Coach, I offered him support and answered a few questions for him every now and then.  But Ed did all the work, no doubt about it. Read Ed's email below:

"Just thought I would share with you that today is my 1 year anniversary of being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I was originally put on 3 different medications, and things did not look good for me at the time.


I mourned my situation, and gave it it's due. Then, I set about getting my mind right, setting a goal, and formulating my plan. Today, I stand before you a new man. I went from a 4X to medium, size 50 pants to size 33s, 140 pounds lighter, and no medication whatsoever!!! What a difference a year makes!!!

With faith, hard work, and dedication, we can achieve anything we set our minds to!!!

I'm a week away from finishing my second round of P90X. Now, I'm a two time graduate of the program!!!

I'm going take it up a notch and I'm ordering INSANITY!!! According to the reviews they say it makes P90X look easy!!!

I'm so fired up for the challenge, you just don't know!!!!

I know I've said it, before, but thank you again for all your help and advice.

Words will never be able to express how much I appreciate all you have done for me. : )

Ed"

What an awesome email to get! This totally made my day! Again, Ed did all the hard work.  He's an amazing example of how we can take charge of our health and change our life.

Please feel free to leave a comment below, or if you have a private question, email me at fitwithjessica@live.com  If you'd like to have me as your free Team Beachbody Coach, click here.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Exercise for your mental health

I know most of us who do exercise regularly do it for the physical benefits. A healthy heart, lowered blood pressure and cholesterol, slimmer waistline, these are some of the reasons we get our bodies moving and grooving.  However exercise is also an awesome way to improve your mental health too.

Exercise can be viewed as a preventative activity that may actually help prevent physical and emotional conditions. Even short bursts of activity help individuals feel better, which means that you don't have to spend hours at the gym to gain real mental health benefits.


One reason for the feelings of well-being that are generated during and after exercise: the body's natural release of endorphins. These chemicals released by the brain are the body's natural painkillers and can lead to an increase in feelings of happiness. Exercise leads to an increase in energy and to better sleeping patterns, which may also explain why it is so helpful to people with depression. Low energy and poor sleep are common symptoms of depression.

The side effects of exercise happen to be much better than some of the negative side effects of prescription medications as well.  When you exercise you will also start feeling more confident in yourself.  You will start to look better and feel better.  You may lose the excess weight you've been carrying around instead of putting on pounds associated with certain medications. And most people who exercise regularly report that their libido picks up too (drop in libido has long been associated with certain medications).

Now, there will still be people who do need medication.  This post isn't meant to say that everyone can stop taking their medicine.  It just mean to point out some positives to staying active.

You;re never too old to start exercise either.  As long as your doctor gives you the okay, you can start exercising at any age.  I've seen people start in their 70s and they feel wonderful.  You just need to start slow if you've never exercised before.

Okay, I know some of you may get intimidated when I talk about a program like P90X or Insanity.  You don't need to start off at that level.  Just make a decision to do something like walking for 10 minutes, or taking the stairs whenever possible.  Gradually increase the amount of time you exercise and the intensity as you get better at it.

Here are a few suggestion I have for people just starting out and want to try a Beachbody program, but not ready for the intesity of P90X:

Rockin Body by Shaun T.
Slim in 6 by Debbie Siebers
Turbo Jam by Chalene Johnson
10-Minute Trainer by Tony Horton
Power 90 by Tony Horton
Yoga Booty Ballet Ab & Butt Makeover by Gillian and Teigh 

The workouts I listed above are just suggestions for getting started.  And they still provide a challenge too.  They're not too easy, you need to do some work.  And walking, running, bike riding and swimming are all excellent activities as well.  Mix them up and have fun!  Don't worry about getting it perfect, just do it!

I'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to comment below.