Tis the season for a better booty - fa la la la la...

Yep, you heard me! Tis the season for a better booty. And while we're at it, better legs, abs and arms too.  I started Brazil Butt Lift this week,and let me tell you I was quite surprised!  I thought this was going to be an easy workout, but its TOUGH!

Yes, its really fun and the titles of the workouts are pretty funny (Bum Bum, High and Tight, Bum Bum Rapido...), but don't let that fool you. 

What I like about Brazil Butt Lift is that it combines dance, Pilates, and sculpting (resistance training).  The dance moves remind me of my dancing days.  Lots of hip action which totally works your abs without you knowing it. I also like the fact that modifications are included for those who need them.  And instead of labeling it beginner, advanced, etc.., its labeled level 1, level 2 and level 3.  I remember when I was getting my Pilates certification, the instructor stressed the importance of not saying "beginner." Nobody wants to admit they are a "beginner" and most people will skip to the advanced exercises before they're ready so they're not labelled a "beginner."

When you order the workout, you get everything you need to start.  You get a nutrition guide, plus a 6-Day Supermodel Slim Down (warning very low cal, but only for 6 days and optional), tape measure, workouts, booty band and the pencil for the pencil test.  Yes, the pencil test is something you need to experience yourself.

I'm hoping by January 8th I will see some changes in the measurements I took this week.  I will post those later.

So here's to a better booty and total body for the New Year. 

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

When sickness strikes.

Well, its that time of year when all sorts of sickness strikes.  Cold, flu, stomach bug, you name it.

Right now, I'm starting to recover from my least favorite, the stomach bug. Its no fun for anyone when mom gets sick, so I have my own way of shortening the duration of it.  Acidophilus really helped me last year and so far with this year's bug.  I take it acidophilus capsules everyday, but when my kids start getting sick, I take it 3 times per day. Ialso drink plenty of fluids and eat very light until a full recovery.  This little trick has helped me tame the bug to last only 24 hours for me instead of 48 or more like in the past.

But what should someone do with their workout routine when sickness strikes?  Well my advice is to take it easy, especially if you're running a fever, have a stomach virus, or just feel like you can't move.  Get rest! You can always get back into your routine when you feel better.

If you are starting to feel better, you can do some easy exercise like gentle yoga, walking or even light weight training.  But if you start feeling dizzy or tired, stop.

After you're recovered, ease back in to your routine.  If you went without eating for a few days you will feel very weak.  Don't force yourself into a really tough workout right away.  Get back to eating right and then you can get back to normal.

So, don't forget to keep washing those hands of yours, take your vitamins and eat right. Hopefully you can keep the germs away.

I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com

The biggest excuse for not working out...TIME

One of the biggest excuses I hear for people not exercising is time, or lack of.  Look, I know we all have busy lives, with work, school, holidays, kids, spouses, friends, church, you name it. But taking care of your body is not a luxury, its a necessity.  If you don't take the little steps now, you will regret it later on in life.  The good news is that you can just pick up now, don't feel like you need to make up for lost time.

Here is an article by Beachbody's Monica Ciociola on how to find more time to squeeze in that work out during the holidays.

No Time to Work Out? 7 Ways to Find the Time


Monica Ciociola

The perceived lack of time is one of the main reasons people on the Message Boards give for not exercising regularly. Even those of you who have discovered the wonders of in-home fitness still find it difficult to juggle work, family, and fitness—especially during the holiday season. We hear you asking for help, and here are 7 smart ways to find more time for your workouts.

Shop online. Now that you can basically order anything and everything over the Internet and have it delivered, consider doing your holiday shopping this way. Most major retailers have online stores, and provide gift-wrapping services along with shipping options. So there's no need to go to the mall or the post office.

Farm out some chores. Try dropping off your laundry—especially if you're already going to the laundromat. You'll find that it doesn't cost that much more.

Wake up 30 minutes earlier. Work out before heading to the office. A little trick for waking up faster is to touch your toes as soon as you open your eyes, bringing blood to you head so you feel alert more quickly. After your workout, you'll be more energized for the day ahead and hardly notice the lost sleep. Working out in the morning as opposed to midday or at night also saves you the double cost of showering, getting dressed, and making yourself beautiful.

Make it a family affair. Mike Y. and his wife Christine and daughter Samantha made shedding pounds with the Power 90® program a family activity. By working out together at 5:30 AM each day, before getting ready for work and school, they managed to get in both some family time and exercise. They became Success Stories and were invited to Hawaii to star in the Power 90 TV show. It may be a little more difficult for you right now, with everyone's schedule crammed with holiday events, but working out together as a family ensures a built-in support system, and that support is crucial when you're trying to keep your fitness goals on track.

Prepare meals in advance. Try to get most of your meal preparation for the week done over the weekend. That means washing all your lettuce, veggies, herbs, fish, and poultry up front, and stocking complete salads-in-a-bag to take to work. You can also prepare individual slices of poultry and fish and a variety of veggies for dinner. Also make vats of soup, pasta, and brown rice that you'll be able to microwave throughout the week. Filling up on healthy meals and having low-fat, good-for-you snacks readily available at work will reduce the temptation to sample the goodies at the office—the gingerbread cookies, chocolates, and inevitable fruitcakes.

Take your DVDs with you. If you're traveling over the holidays, make sure you pack your favorite fitness DVDs along with your laptop so you can work out wherever you are, whether it's at your in-laws', your friend's house, or in a hotel room.

Pop in a 20-minute workout. Beachbody® makes some superfast and effective workouts for when you're seriously short on time. Try the Turbo Jam® 20-Minute Workout for an excellent calorie-blasting session and the Great Body Guaranteed!™ collection to focus on specific trouble areas in even less than 10 minutes. Look out for Tony Horton's all-new 10-Minute Trainer program launching in January—just give Tony 10 minutes and he'll give you incredible results! No more excuses—now you can always find the time to squeeze in a 10-minute workout . . . And the rewards stretch far beyond that to stronger bones and muscles, a sharper mind, and a lower risk of cancer and diabetes. And remember, working out reduces stress. You'll enjoy the holidays much more if you're healthy and energized.
 
If you're having a hard time getting started, that's what I'm here for.  As a Team Beachbody Coach, I can help keep you motivated and reach your goals.  Its hard to try and figure it all out on your own, but you have me here to help you.  You can sign up for free or get a club membership with custom meal plans and recipes.  Click here to sign up.
 
I'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment here, or send an email to fitwithjessica@live.com.

Generation X and Xercise

Typically Generation X are those who were born between 1965 and 1979.  That would make the oldest GenXer's 45 years old now and the youngest ones 31.

Its hard to believe that some of my fellow GenXer's are even grandparents!  Shocking!  I guess I find that one hard to grasp because I am still in the middle of changing diapers on my own 2 year old while humming Alice in Chains or Metallica tunes.  But as hard as it is to admit, Gen X is getting older. 

This "sad but true fact" (cool Metallica song), brings to mind how its so important for Gen Xer's to continue being physcially active or start now. Physical activity is one of the best ways you can help your body and mind stay healthy. 

Did you know as a rule, muscle mass declines with age, starting in the 40s and picking up speed after about age 50? Then the typical rate of muscle loss really begins to outpace the rate of muscle gain, so that there's an increasing net deficit, says Robert Wolfe, a professor of geriatrics and director of the Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. How dangerous that is depends how much muscle you start out with. The kind of decline that makes a lifelong runner go from a very fast 10k time to a slightly slower one in his 60s is not a big concern (except for the frustrated runner). The kind of decline in muscle mass that weakens an already frail elderly person so much that he or she is more prone to falls and can't lift a small bag of groceries onto the counter is something to worry about.

The tool that everyone agrees works to shore up muscles: exercise, at every age. Ideally, that would include both a basic, progressive strength-training program as well as an aerobic fitness routine (like a brisk 30-minute walk every day). "Healthy muscle is not only about being stronger and bigger," says Miriam Nelson, director of the John Hancock Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Tufts University.

Even my younger Gen X  or older Gen Y friends need ot be concerned with exercise and proper nutrition.  The younger you are when you start taking care of your body with proper nutrition and physical activity, the better your chances are for not losing so much muscle by the time you reach 40.

Insufficient protein intake as well as an unbalanced diet can also lead to a rapid loss of muscle at any age.  So again, it very important for our generation (and those before and behind us) to star looking at what we're eating and make some positive changes.

Its not too late. Even if you spent most of your life sitting on the couch playing Sega and then XBox 360, you can start making positive changes now and reverse some of the "damage" done.

So why not start now improving your chances on not having to take high blood pressure meds, insulin, heart meds, more pain relievers, erectile dysfuntion meds, cholesterol meds and all the others you see advertised on TV that are not just aimed at the Baby Boomers, but the older Gen Xer's? All you have to do is make the decision tocommit to be fit. 

You don't need to have the goal of entering a fitness pagent or bodybuilding show.  You don't need to enter a marathon or even a 5K for that matter.  All you have to do is exercise and eat right to keep you healthy and moving and grooving without the need of prescription help.

So let's make Gen X the generation who took back its health, and let's show those Baby Boomers that they're not the only ones who are aging differntly than their parents.  Let's set a good example for Gen Y and the other generations, that you don't need to take a bunch of medications to age gracefully, all you need is some good heart pumping exercise and a good diet.

Listen, I know its very hard to make a change.  You don't have to do it all cold-turkey or hit the gorund running.  You can take baby steps and gradually make better choices day by day.  And if you need help, you have this lover of all things grunge and metal to help you along the way.

If you need or want help, send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com.

Have a great day:-)

40% of surveyed men prefer the booty

So while I'm at the dentist last night, I picked up the June 2010 issue of Shape magazine.  Inside there was a short article on what men have to say about women's bodies and what they love.  Men's Health magazine had polled 5000 men. 

What jumped out at me was that 40% of all men thought a woman's booty was the sexiest part of her body.  This beat out all the other body parts.  And although legs didn't come close, most men prefer a woman wearing a mini-skirt.

So that immediately got me thinking about Brazil Butt Lift.  This is one of the newer Beachbody workouts that has been really gaining popularity.  Now I see why!  Not only does Brazil Butt Lift focus on the booty or the "bum bum" as its called during the workout, but you get a workout system that works your whole body, upper, lower and abdominals.  Plus you get the nutrition guide with it that will really help speed results and get you looking bootylicious in "Bum Bum Rapido" time.

Well, not only will Brazil Butt Lift help, but other workouts that target your legs and glute area will too.  All of the Beachbody workouts can help reshape that area, but Brazil Butt Lift is the one to turn to for fast results.

And doing other things like walking on a steep incline will help.  Yoga, walking lunges, squats will also get your booty looking uplifted.

If you need help with your bum bum, or just want to look great all over, email me at wattersjes@msn.com

Oh yeah, and guys, don't forget that as you age, men lose muscle tone in their rear area too.  Giving the pancake butt look. So, you may also want to try lunges, squats, and walking up hill too.