Insanity vs P90X - My review

The other day, a member of mine asked my opinion on Insanity vs. P90X. Last year P90X won hands down, but this year my mind may have changed a little. Click here to get all the details.

Insanity Week 2 Done! Getting a little closer to the Asylum!

My husband and I just finished week 2 of Insanity! Yay! We start our next Fit Test on Monday and I can't wait to see if there are improvements. I can already see improvements with my husband's form, flexibility and coordination.

We're making our way to the Asylum!! Its recommended that you complete Insanity before moving into the Asylum, so we will be there in the late spring or early summer.

This is what we have to look forward to:



My area of concern is push ups. I was always pretty good at them with P90X, but the fast pace of Insanity's push ups has me feeling weak with these.  I know this will improve, but right now its a little annoying. So I just modify where I have to and go a little slower.

I'm really excited that my husband is doing this with me. He was always a gym guy who wasn't really into change. I spent an entire year gently hinting at the benefits of a home workout routine. But now he's hooked and I guess an Insanic with me.

I will post my Fit Test Results on Monday. Have a great Saturday!!

Feel free to leave a comment below and let me know how you're doing on your fitness journey.

Whole wheat pancakes for the fitness minded

Pancakes have always been a big hit with my kids since they were old enough to eat them.  But the traditional type can be a no-no for the fitness minded. So on my quest for a healthier pancake, I found a recipe for whole wheat ones.  I make a big batch, freeze them and then microwave for 30 seconds per pancake for quick weekday breakfasts.

So here is my current recipe for whole wheat pancakes:

Jessica's Whole Wheat Pancakes for the Fitness Minded

2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 tbs of baking powder
1 tsp of salt
2 tbs brown sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup of oil
1-3/4 cup of milk

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Next add your eggs, oil and milk. Stir until blended, but make sure you leave some lumps.

Coat a pan with cooking spray and heat pan on medium heat.  Add 1/4-1/3 cup of pancake batter for medium sized pancakes.  I can usually fit 3 pancakes in my pan.

Wait until, pancakes get little bubbles and carefully turn.  I place the cooked pancakes on a cookie sheet and then freeze.  Once frozen I place in a freezer bag.

Hot pancakes taste great with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup or topped with berries.

These pancakes can be used when following the P90X Nutrition Guide or the Insanity Elite Nutrition Guide.

My recipe makes about 15-18 pancakes.

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.

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.

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/

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

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.

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.

What to do when your lover doesn't want you getting fit

Sometimes the people we love the most and think will support our weight loss goals are the ones who derail us the most.  It may be intentional, but there are a lot of people who are unaware that they do this. 

And its not just spouses or significant others that can do this,but our friends and other family members can be our worst enemy when it comes to fitness.  Most people don't like change.  And when you decide to change for the better, it sends up a warning signal to your spouse, friend, parent, that you may not be happy. 

Then you have the people who show love with food. The food pushers get insulted when you turn down a second helping or dessert.  They feel that you're not accepting their love.

Here is a great article by Stephanie Saunders on how to go about getting your healthy on even when your mate might not be supportive.

Unsupportive Partners: Ways to Placate Your Mate When They Don't Feel Great about You Losing Weight


By Stephanie Saunders

To have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in weight loss and muscle building; till death do us part. It is unlikely that these were your actual vows on your wedding day, but often the most difficult struggle a couple can face is when one member is considering a change, while the other prefers the status quo. That includes having kids, changing careers or homes, and, yes, getting into shape. You'd assume that the more attractive your partner becomes, the happier you would be, but this isn't always the case. Increased attractiveness can foster insecurity, jealousy, resentment, and in extreme cases, emotional withdrawal and sabotage.


When a significant other becomes more attractive, and as a result, receives more and more attention, it can make the other person insecure. And if everyone starts turning their heads, look out! That person may start to wonder, "Why is my partner seeking so much attention? Is something already going on? If I find them attractive as they are, why isn't that enough?" The answer is, of course, that we want to change to feel better about ourselves. Not that having heads turn as you enter the Christmas party is not a bonus, but it really is about meeting your own goals. And when the love of your life suddenly forgoes snuggling on the couch with Chinese takeout for a P90X workout, resentment can enter the picture.

So how do you continue toward your fitness goals without letting it affect the relationship you have with your partner?

Begin with communication. In the same way you should consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program, talk to your partner about what you are looking to accomplish. Explain that this is not motivated by a desire to attract other people, or anyone already in your life, but simply because you want to be healthier and feel better about yourself. Going into detail about your exercise plan and nutritional goals can take the unknown out of the equation, and possibly spark a desire in your mate. If you are still met with resentment, explain that you do not expect your partner to change just because you want to, and that you love him or her exactly as he or she is.

Ask for support. The road to health can be a tough battle, and we can use all of the support we can get. Asking your partner to be supportive along this road can make a huge difference. Ask your mate to use positive comments regarding your progress, and to only ask if you are making a wise choice, if you actually slip up. This will allow your partner to feel like he or she is part of the process without giving him or her the power to control it. Encouraging your partner to join you along this path will elicit the greatest amount of support of all.

Get a training partner. If your mate is unwilling to join you, find someone who is. Having a training partner creates greater motivation and retention than doing it alone. Obviously, find someone of the same sex, or at least someone who won't threaten your mate. If you're meeting resistance from your mate, working out with Lorenzo Lamas won't increase the love at home. In addition to pushing one another to work out and eat healthy, talk with the training partner about your frustrations and ask about his or her own. If you are unable to find a Workout Buddy, remember your Beachbody® Coach is always available to give you added motivation.

Don't fall into eating pitfalls. Grocery shopping, meal preparation, and snacking can be challenging in a household on the same eating path. But when you are trying to eat lean protein and vegetables, and your partner would prefer macaroni and cheese with a side of fries, the challenge can become World War III. If you are the primary shopper and food preparer, you have a lot of power over what your family consumes. Healthy food can taste great, and your mate might have no idea that you have altered his or her diet. With that said, you might need to make concessions for what your mate desires and make alterations to meal plans that can satisfy both people's needs. Something as easy as adding an extra side for your mate can keep the peace. If you are not the primary meal provider, be prepared to take control over what you consume.

Also, make sure tempting treats are out of immediate reach. If you have a countertop full of potato chips and Oreos®, eating carrot sticks might lose its appeal. Put all of your partner's junk food in a specific drawer, and avoid it.

Try to work out around family time. There are only so many hours in a day, and you should spend at least eight of those hours asleep. Finding time to exercise can be challenging as it is. And if that exercise time cuts into time that can be spent with a loved one, resentment can build. I have several friends who began workout programs that took them immediately from work to the gym daily, which got them home at 9 PM. Basically, they didn't see their mate until Saturday, which did not go over well. Here is where P90X and INSANITY® workouts are so helpful. If you can manage to crawl out of bed a bit earlier in the morning, you can begin your day with an amazing workout, and still be home in time to have dinner with your partner. If you're a night owl, try working out after your love has retired for the evening. Being considerate of your time together can make all the difference in the world.

Keep the peace, but honor thyself. Sometimes all of the communication and consideration in the world will not help a partner to understand your desire to change. If this is the case, short of seeking therapy, you must continue toward your goals and try to make it as undisruptive as possible to your partner. We realize that this is one of the most important relationships in your life, but no relationship is more important than the one you have with yourself. Walking away from health and fitness to please someone else will just lead you down the path of resentment. Keep moving forward, creating positive change, and try to still give energy to the relationship. Maybe your partner will not understand, but perhaps over time, he or she can learn to accept.

Relationships can be incredible adventures that offer great opportunities for growth, happiness, and security. Learning to navigate that adventure can be challenging, but ultimately well worth it. Always remember that your greatest tools are communication and compassion. Sometimes, trying to understand why our partner is resistant can help you figure out a way to explain your needs to them. And know that change will come in life, whether we create it or not. Figuring out how to foster support over something like lifestyle change can make the harder struggles in life easier to deal with later on. Having six-pack abs should not destroy "till death do us part." And with communication, consideration, and some effective planning, perhaps your mate might learn to love your new look.

If you have questions or are having a hard time sticking to your workouts and healthy eating because of a loved one, send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com

I would love to hear from you!! Please leave a comment below:)

Got the winter blahs?

So far my mood has been far better this winter than last.  Why? EXERCISE!! I'm exercising 6 days per week as opposed to last year, only 2 days per week.  Last year, I was only exercising on the days I was teaching a class. It was hard for me to teach more than 2 days per week, so that's all I got in.  Better than nothing, but my body and mind needed more. 

Enter P90X and becoming a Team Beachbody Coach.  P90X was a "god-send" for me.  I didn't have to think about a routine to do at home, it was all right there in front of me.  And it came with an extensive nutrition/recipe guide which made figuring out how much to eat easy for me.  I'm a busy mom of 4, with slight attention deficit (so I think), so for me to sit down and try to figure something out for myself was the last thing I wanted to do.

Becoming a Team Beachbody Coach put the icing on the cake.  Now I am accountable not only to myself, but to everyone I coach and reach out to.  This has really put a fire under me to get up and get moving.

Well, enough about me, please read the article below by Amy Ludwig on beating the winter blahs.

Beat the Winter "Blahs" with Exercise


By Amy Ludwig

Feeling a post-holiday letdown? Tired of shorter days and early nights? Wondering how you can get through the dark months as you pine for summer sunshine? Fear not. You can walk—or jog, run, or lift—your way to a brighter mood with exercise.

When you're feeling low, moving may be the last thing you feel like doing. As Sir Isaac Newton pointed out, an object at rest tends to stay at rest. But increasingly, science is proving that if you can peel yourself off the couch and put one foot in front of the other, you'll feel better, both about yourself and the world.

So how do you make this happen?

Working out "cheers up" your body chemistry.

When you're physically active, your body releases natural chemicals that actually make you feel good. Neurotransmitters like endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine help you feel relaxed and happy.

Exercise also reduces your body's production of hormones like cortisol, which are released at high levels during chronic stress and depress the immune system.

Working out has a calming effect on the body. When all else is equal, the harder to exercise the calmer you'll be.

You can help support these positive results with the right supplements, like ActiVit® Multivitamins, Core-Omega 3 or Shakeology®.

Move your body, change your mind.

Exercise has been proven to:

•Boost confidence: Achieving a fitness goal, no matter how small, will give you a sense of accomplishment.

•Burn calories: How else does the weight melt away? Plus getting thinner and feeling more fit is likely to cheer you up.

•Redirect your focus: You'll be too busy trying to do one more rep of that crunch, curl, or kick to think about anything negative.

Show you can do something positive: By choosing to get up and move, you're taking care of yourself, and coping in a healthy way. And when you observe that, you'll believe you can take other steps forward.

How much exercise makes a difference?

As little as 10 to 15 minutes of activity can improve your mood, especially if you're doing something dynamic, like running or cycling. Harvard psychiatrist John J. Ratey, M.D., writes that a single workout can jump-start the feel-good chemical changes. So the most important thing is getting started. To get the greatest benefits, work your way up to at least 30 minutes a day, 3 to 5 days a week.

What kind of workout is best?

One you enjoy. Seriously. If it's not something you like, you're less likely to make the effort. For instance, I don't happen to be a fan of plyometrics, despite its many benefits. When I work out, I opt for cycling, yoga, or low-impact programs instead. They still get me sweating my way into a great mood. Identify the activities you enjoy, and get going.

How do you get started?

Choose something accessible. The power of exercise doesn't come from fancy equipment, but from the effort you put in. If you pick something you can get to and that fits your timetable, you've lowered the barriers to beginning. For example, you can:

•Turn everyday errands into workouts when you do them on foot or by bike. (Extra points for adding a hill, or taking the long way home.)

•Check out the activities offered at your local park, like swimming, basketball games, or fitness classes.

•Commit to an in-home Beachbody® workout program that's sure to fit your schedule.

So start today. Boost your activity level and help put a smile on your face. Because you don't have to wait for the sunshine to feel good.

I'd love to help you you get started with a new fitness goal.  Let's make 2011 your healthiest year ever.  Send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com

And feel free to leave a comment below!

Muscles are a girl's best friend (A Girl's Guide to P90X)

As most of you know I'm a 2 time P90X grad and I just started a 3rd round this month.  I love almost everything about P90X. I love the fact that I feel like I got an awesome workout every time. I love the fact that I see myself getting stronger every time. I love the fact that I can eat!! One of my favorite parts of P90X is the meal plan and the fact that I can eat around 2000 calories and not worry about it.

The thing is a lot of women (and some men), just can't wrap their mind around what's going on with their body during P90X or how much they really need to eat.  Just the other day a friend of mine texted me asking if she should take 500 calories off of the meal plan (which was 1800 and that was low for her). I pleaded with her not to.  She would most likely "peter out" during her workouts and she might actually not lose weight doing that.  So I really hope she listened.

I found this article a few months ago in the Beachbody Newsletter and had to share it.  Please read below:

A Girl's Guide to P90X
By Whitney Provost

Muscles are a girl's best friend. Not only do they raise your metabolism and help you burn more calories, they also keep you living strong. And they look beautiful. Well-sculpted shoulders and lean, tight legs carry clothes better and allow you to power through everyday activities with strength and stamina. How do you get a body like that? A program like P90X will do the trick.

I know this because I'm a P90X graduate. I can vouch for its muscle-sculpting, fat-blasting, and body-shrinking powers. Before I ever started working for Beachbody®, I finished two rounds of P90X and incorporated P90X Plus into my fitness routine. I still do P90X regularly, and Plyometrics is consistently in my cardio rotations.

I'm not a world-class athlete. I'm just a regular at-home fitness junkie. P90X has been helping me get the body I want—lean, tight, and strong but not bulky—and it makes me feel good.

Not sure if you're ready to tackle the X? Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Do your best and forget the rest. You'll hear Tony say this a lot throughout P90X, and it's important advice. All you have to do is lift as much weight as you can, and that's it. You're not in competition with anyone else. Don't worry if you can only lift 5 pounds while the women in the workouts are hoisting 15. Every time you Push Play, you'll get stronger, and before you know it, you'll be able to lift heavier than you ever have before. And don't be surprised if you find that you can do a few pull-ups at the end of 90 days.

Eat enough. A common mistake many active women make is undereating. With a program as intense as P90X, it's important to fill your body with enough healthy fuel to power through your workouts and help your muscles recover afterward. If you don't eat enough, your metabolism will slow down and your body will burn muscle for energy. Follow the P90X nutrition plan and take your supplements. They're designed to help you get the best results. (note by Jessica: please follow the nutrition guide! Don't skimp on the meals, it will backfire on you.)

Don't be a slave to the scale. During a program like P90X, your body will go through a lot of metabolic changes. At first, your muscles may retain water as they react to the shock of the workouts and the recovery afterward. You may notice your weight going up for a short time before your muscles shed the excess water. As you continue with the program, you'll be building muscle and shedding fat, but the scale might not move downward as much as you want it to. Don't let that deter you. A pound of muscle is denser than a pound of fat, so your body may shrink even if your weight doesn't change that much. Keep in mind that muscle is a metabolism booster, so the more you have the more calories and fat you'll burn all day long. (note from Jessica: use a tape measure and go by that. And only check measurements after each phase. The scale will give you too many different numbers each day and drive you nuts.)

You're not going to get bulky. Look at the women in the P90X workouts. They're all lean, strong, and feminine. Because women don't have enough testosterone to build massive amounts of muscle, it's nearly impossible for them to bulk up by lifting heavy weights. When women complain about feeling bulky, it's usually because they're new to a fitness program and their muscles are retaining water. If this happens to you, don't give up. Stick with your meal plan and workouts, and soon the extra bulk will go away.

You're going to love the way you feel. OK, maybe not when you're sore from working out, but as you get stronger and leaner, you're going to love how easy everyday tasks become, like lifting heavy objects, walking up and down stairs, or picking up children. And I can pretty much guarantee that you'll find yourself admiring your shoulders in the mirror or poking yourself in the belly to feel your tight abs. I do it all the time. (note from Jessica: even though you might not lose a lot of weight, you will look so much better with a toned, lean, sexy body)

I'm here doing this program with you if you just started.  I'm going through some of the same frustrations you might be going through.  But just stick with it and realize that you need to throw out some of the old opinions and info you had on weight loss and getting a sexy, lean body.  If you need help with P90X or any other program, you can sign up for free online fitness coaching with my by clicking here.

I'd love to hear from you!! Please, please, please leave a comment below:) xo

A day in the life of my eating plan

Everyday someone wants me to make up a meal plan for them.  I used to do this for my personal clients for free. But honestly I stopped because it was time consuming and I wasn't getting paid for it. 

Don't get me wrong, I do love to offer free help and advice, but sometimes you have to put limits on what you do for free and what is a service that should be paid for.  Since I'm not a registered nutritionist, I feel funny charging people for meal plans that I do create. So that's why I stopped.  When I became a Team Beachbody Coach I found a great alternative and problem solver is the Team Beachbody Custom Meal Plan Wizard that comes with the upgraded Club membership.

What I've also found to be a great tool for planning my meals is the nutrition guide books that come with almost every Beachbody workout program.  P90X, Insanity and Brazil Butt Lift are the 3 programs in my library. Each one of those came with a nutrition plan that's easy to follow and if you like to cook, you can totally modify the recipes to suit your taste buds.

So here is a sample day for me from yesterday.  I'm in Phase 1 of the P90X Nutrition Plan.  Phase 1 is a lower carb phase, meaning 50% protein, 30% carbs and 30% fat.  I'm taking in about 1800-2000 calories per day, eating 5-6 small meals.  These meals are inspired by or taken from the P90X Nutrition Guide.

Post workout snack

small recovery drink and a cup of non-fat yogurt

Breakfast

Spinach & mushroom omelet with 8 oz milk, 1/2 a grapefruit and a cup of green tea

Snack

P90X Peak Performance Bar (wildberry yogurt)

Lunch

Grilled chicken over baby spinach with tomatoes, celery, baby carrots, avocado and balsamic/rice vinegar. And 1 TBS of vanilla whey protein powder mixed with water.

Snack

Chocolate Shakeolgy mixed with 4 oz chilled coffee, 4 oz milk and 4 oz water, and a dash of cinnamon

Dinner

Roasted chicken breast with oven roasted veggies, spinach salad and one slice of whole wheat bread.

If you're really serious about changing your ways in order to lose weight, burn fat and gain muscle, or just feel better, you need to get serious about your eating habits too.  But getting serious doesn't mean it doesn't taste good or your starving yourself.  As you can see I had a lot of food yesterday.  My big treat was my Shakeology:)

For those of you who think its too expensive to buy a workout system like P90X or do the Custom Meal Plan Wizard, I say divide the cost by number of days in a month.  For instance the Meal Plan Wizard comes out to about 50 cents per day.  Considering what kind of junk we buy through out the day that costs more than that, I think the Custom Meal Plan Wizard is a bargain.

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

A girl can change her mind, right?

Okay, I know my original plan was to do 4 more weeks of Brazil Butt Lift, trust me I loved the results (click here to read about them and see pictures).  But I had this overwhelming desire to do another round of P90X (this is round 3 for me).  It was like this nagging voice in my head kept saying "go back to Tony..."

I guess we sometimes return to our first love.  And I do love P90X! I loved Brazil Butt Lift too, and I liked (not loved) Insanity, but there's just something that really draws me to P90X. 

Maybe its the fact that I can eat around 1800-2000 calories while doing P90X.  I do love to eat!!!  And that's one of the reasons I exercise as much as I do.  I'm not a kid anymore where I can eat all I want and not gain weight like I used to.  Now it has consequences.

So this morning I popped in my Chest & Back dvd and did my push ups and pull ups (I'm going to be sore as heck tomorrow) and then I did my Ab Ripper X. And it was like being with old friends :-)

Well, I'll keep you posted on this journey too. I hope it inspires you to get up and get moving. 

I'd love to hear from you, feel free to leave a comment below.  Or you can send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com

As a Team Beachbody Coach, I can help you achieve your health and fitness goals.  Why not sign up for a free account by clicking here.

Things that made my life better in 2010

I wanted to share some of the things that made 2010 a little better than 2009.  I plan on using all of them in 2011 too.  Some of them are fitness, others are nutrition, some beauty/health, and others are just stuff to help you get things done or get better organized.  So here is my list in no particular order:

• P90X - this really changed my life in 2010.  I was starting to pack on some pounds, the long winter also made me feel really down. P90X helped me get back into exercising in an organized way.  Before that I would just teach my classes here and there, or just do what I felt like.  But having an organized approach really makes all the difference.  Plus there is also an great nutrition guide to help you get that part organized too.  Its like getting a personal trainer and nutritionist for $119.
• Fly lady - Okay, this is like having a coach to help you get your home clean and organized.  You get emails everyday (I warn you a lot), and you are given assignments/missions to complete. The whole concept is to not spend a lot of time being a perfectionist.  Just set your timer for 15 min and FLY!! Its really helped me get the clutter under control and have a house that's ready for visitors anytime.
• Team Beachbody - whether you decide to join for free, as a club member or a coach, you get online tools to track your workouts, you get an online coach to help you reach your fitness goals, and you also make a lot of new like-minded friends who want to see you succeed.  I've made a lot of new, cool friends, have helped a lot of cool people, and have also built a nice online business doing something that I'm really passionate about.  And I don't have to hire a sitter to watch my kids.  What's better than that?
• Burt's Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm - I love this stuff.  I don't wear a lot of makeup, but this is a must for me.  Smells nice, gives a slight hint of color and helps keep my lips soft.
• Avon's Moisture Effective Eye Makeup Remover - You really need to email my friend Cheryl Ann and order this.  Its awesome stuff.  Super gentle, takes off all mascara, even water-proof.  It won't cause eyelash breakage either.  Good stuff.  Her email is cagavon@hotmail.com.
• Shark Steam Mop - I totally love my Shark.  It makes mopping floors super fast and super easy.  Nuff said.
• Brazil Butt Lift - I started this almost 4 weeks ago, and I just love the results I'm getting from it.  Its a fun workout that will tone and strengthen your whole body, with emphasis on your bum bum (pronounced boom boom).  Plus the nutrition guide that comes with it has some yummy, easy recipes:)
• Using a meal plan - If you don't use a meal plan, you really need to start.  I scoffed at the idea in 2009, but now I love it.  I use the Beachbody Custom Meal Planner as well as the nutrition guides that come with P90X, Insanity and Brazil Butt Lift.  You can make your own meal planner, but if you need healthy ideas, I suggest check out the Beachbody one. Meal planning helps you save money, have less food waste, and takes the stress out of what you will have for dinner.  My kids love knowing in advance what I'm making.  And I have them help me pick the meals for the week.
• Shakeology - This stuff is great! Its all natural and so yummy.  I was very skeptical about trying it, but I'm hooked (so is my husband).  I use this mostly as lunch.  I don't have time to prepare lunch some days, and I don't want to grab a frozen dinner, or fast food lunch.  Shakeology is less expensive than a Starbuck's coffee and has all the nutrition you need.  Its rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and flavor.  I even brought it with me on vacation.  You really need to try the chocolate.
• Online grocery shopping - I actually started using this in 2007, but continue to use it.  If your grocer offers online shopping, you really need to take advantage of it.  You save time, money and aggravation.  I love it. I place my order online and pick it up later.  Very simple.

Well, there you have my list of things that made my life a little better in 2010.  As I find new things that help me out, I will share them with you.

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

Ed Reverses his Type 2 Diabetes

Ed Z. absolutely inspired me recently with his story.  I have the privilege of coaching him, but one thing I want to make clear is that he did all of this hard work by himself.  I'm just there for support and answering questions from time to time.  But all of his hard work and determination are his alone.  Ed recently sent me a message with really awesome news and I wanted to share some of it with you.  What I love the most about what he wrote is that when he was first diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, all of his research could have left him feeling defeated, but he refused to give up and I'm so happy and proud of him that he didn't.

Ed works full time as a teacher, is a dad to a really cute kid and brings it with  P90X and running to reach his goals.

"In 9 months I have lost 93 pounds. My A1C, was originally 11.8, IN MARCH OF this year, and now it is 5.6. NORMAL!!!!!!!!!!!! The doctor took me off my medication and my Diabetes is in remission. Can you believe it!!!!!! As long as I continue to eat healthy, maintain my weight, and exercise regularly. I should be fine. I told him that I had no plans to stop, and I am even more motivated to get down to my goal weight of 160. I had a goal, to get off meds when this all began, and I did it Jess!!!!!"

"I've been working out daily, and I plan to begin my second round of P90X, soon. Damn, the doctor was so taken with my results he said he wished I could go in and speak to some of his patients to light a fire under them. Amazing, huh?!?!?!"


"You know, when I was first diagnosed I did a ton of research to see if I could get off the meds, eventually, and at the time there were no posts that I could find about it. In fact, most info I found was just the opposite and so bleak. I suppose that's why so many people assume that once you are diagnosed, it's a death sentence. I had faith that I could reach this point despite the nay sayers, and I can't believe I did it. Having faith and willingness to put forth the effort can bring about miracles. It's not a fallacy. You can get off meds, you can manage your diabetes, and live a long and healthy life. Now I'm under the gun to keep it up and work even harder to stay off the meds. Diabetes is a progressive disease, and there is no guarantee that I'll never need to be on meds again, but I'm going to do my best to ride this wave as long as I can. I'm up for the challenge, and it's going to keep me on the straight and narrow."

If hope you found Ed's story as inspiring as I did.  When and if you're faced with something that seems to big to handle, remember to have faith, surround yourself with a good support system and try to be positive.

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

And my new work out will be...

I'm super excited!! I'm ordering Brazil Butt Lift today! After completing two rounds of P90X, trying Insanity on two different occasions, I decided to go a different route and try something different.

P90X and Insanity are very intense training programs.  I'm not saying BBL will not be effective, but I want to try something fun that will keep my whole body toned, but also work a little more on the lower body. 

Here's my secret. I've always been pretty happy with my legs and booty. But I want to make sure it all stays the way I like it.  As we age, and if we don't work at it, gravity will take its toll on the booty, and muscle will decrease.  This results in a flat, droopy appearance.  I don't want that! Neither does my husband!!!

So in about a week's time, I'll be able to share my excitement about another cool Beachbody workout!

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

The joy of yoga

Anyone who knows me knows that I love yoga.  Even though I'm a Pilates instructor, I think I like yoga just a tiny bit better.  I used to practice yoga almost 7 days per week, but once I started doing P90X my yoga practice dwindled to once a week.  I didn't mind though it was a nice change and challenge.  I did two rounds of P90X, and 4 weeks of Insanity in between. 

Fellow Team Beachbody Coach, Mike French posted a 30-day/3 times per week Yoga Challenge on Facebook. This sparked my interest because I know he and his wife Tami, train really hard. Way harder than me.  Since I was done with P90X for the time being, I wanted to take it down a notch and refresh my body.  This seemed like the perfect answer. 

Let me tell you that yoga is by no means a walk in the park.  I've been doing power yoga with P90X's Yoga X as well as other power yoga programs designed to burn calories, torch fat, sculpt you abs, arms and legs.

My body responded right away to the change.  The next day after my first time back with yoga, I was sore all over.  My abs hadn't felt this sore in a very long time.  This soreness then carried over into the next day too.  When it was time for my second day, I worked through the soreness but had to do a lot of grunting and deep breathing to get through the positions.

When I was finished, I was sweating, breathing heavy and feeling like I had an awesome workout completed and under my belt.

I know most people cringe when they hear the words yoga, stretching or flexibility exercises. Trust me, if you stick with it, you will really look forward to these workouts and gain a brand new body.  You may also gain a whole new perspective on life too.  Yoga teaches patience, practice, not taking things too seriously, and being able to laugh at ourselves when you tumble out of a pose.  It teaches you to relax into a pose instead of fighting to get there.  You learn to breathe deeply, feeding your muscles the oxygen they need.  And you get an awesome sense of accomplishment when you can finally get into a pose near perfectly.

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

My vacation and staying fit

Vacations, we all love them,cherish them and eagerly await them. We even diet and exercise right before our vacation in order to look good, maybe even hot, and to perhaps feel great while on our retreat.  But most of the time we will throw all of that hard work out the window when we go away, only to feel bloated, guilty and maybe 5 pounds heavier when we return.

I don't know about you, but I can still have a great time on my vacation if I take the time out to squeeze in exercise and plan some healthy meals and snacks.  I know this isn't a very popular idea, but trust me, if you give it a try you won't be disappointed.

Recently, my family and I had the opportunity to take some time off and travel to Florida to visit with my mom and also my dad. We stayed at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village.  First off, we were blessed to stay at this amazing resort.  It made it very easy to keep up with eating right and sticking to my P90X routine (at the time of my vacation I was in week 11 now in week 12).  We stayed in a room with a fully equipped kitchen. I know there are a lot of people who don't find cooking on their vacation fun, but with 4 kids it really saves us from a lot of headaches and spending too much money on food.  Knowing we would have the kitchen, I packed my vanilla whey protein and Shakeology, along with things like plain oatmeal, whole grain bread, beans, brown rice and other healthy goodies.  Once we got down there I hit up Wal-Mart for the rest of our pantry. 

You can save a ton of money, time and calories by just eating breakfast in your room. With a dishwasher right there all we had to do was prepare, eat and stack dishes. Then we were ready to hit the pool.

We did indulge a few times and ordered private poolside dining, but we tried to stay healthy with that too.  The resort made it easy to pick healthy choices such as Tandoori chicken with chickpeas.  But for most of the days, I just ran up to the room to blend up (well my husband did that) a chocolate and peanut butter Shakeology.

Exercise wasn't a problem and I really looked forward to that part of the day. I woke up around 6:30 am (I know, I'm crazy), every morning to stretch and then take a walk to the fitness center.  I know this doesn't sound like something to look forward to, but the walk to the fitness center was so beautiful, relaxing and peaceful. The sun would just be coming up, there were flowers everywhere and cool little lamps to guide your way.  I really enjoyed this sacred time to myself every morning and felt this was truly one of the best parts of my vacation.

I stuck to my P90X schedule as closely as possible. Since I was on vacation, I didn't want to spend too much time in the gym, so I adjusted my routine to include 25 minutes on the treadmill or stepper and then 25 minutes of a strength routine.  Then on my scheduled cardio days I did 35-40 minutes on the treadmill or stepper and then 10 minutes of abs.  I feel like even though it was a quick routine, I worked really hard.

Again, I know most of you might find this not fun at all, or maybe even slightly crazy, but I didn't gain any weight while away and no feelings of "why did I eat that much?" type guilt.

I've got lots more to blog about, but will wait until later on.

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

Healthy snacks for watching TV

I don't know what it is about watching sports on TV that makes us want to snack? You would think it would it would do the opposite and make us want to get moving, uh, no.  So how do you take what seems to be a centuries old tradition and  make it healthier? Read the article below:

10 Healthy Snacks for Couch Time


By Joe Wilkes

Fall is upon us, which means that the new TV season has begun, baseball is heading into the postseason, and football is starting up. The weather's getting cooler, and the couch will soon call for you to lie down on it with a warm blanket. Now, keep in mind we're not encouraging any couch potato behavior. We'd prefer you pop in a P90X video and use the couch as a towel rack. But we're all human, and it's almost impossible to resist the siren song of a playoff game or the return of Glee or Dancing with the Stars. Just because you're taking a couple of hours off to flatten both your gluteal muscles and your sofa cushions doesn't mean you have to stuff yourself with chips, cookies, or other bagged diet-killers. Here are 10 tasty and healthy snacks that are great for TV downtime.

1.Popcorn. It's not just for the movie theater anymore. In fact, you're better off skipping it at the movie theater, because a bucket of oil-popped movie theater popcorn can contain as much fat as three to five double cheeseburgers. But air-popped popcorn is a pretty benign treat. Three cups of popcorn have just 93 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. Air-popped popcorn doesn't have much nutritive value outside of the energy you may get from the calories and some dietary fiber, but it can satisfy your munchies without getting you too far off the diet path. The best popcorn comes from your own hot-air popper—and with no additional fat or salt, unless you add it later. If you're going for microwave convenience, make sure you read the label carefully. Even some of the "healthy" brands contain a fair amount of fat and salt. And many microwave brands contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which has been linked to cancer. You might be better off making your own microwave popcorn. Just put 1/4 cup of popcorn into a brown lunch bag, fold the top over tightly, and microwave at your usual popcorn setting. Try to avoid salt and butter. Instead, enjoy your favorite herbs or a squeeze of lemon juice with some garlic powder or cayenne pepper.

2.Bean dip. Beans are a great source of protein and fiber, and they don't have tons of calories. One cup of canned pintos only has 206 calories; it also has 12 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber—almost half of your recommended daily allowance. And beans are incredibly filling. Even prepackaged bean dips are pretty decent (of course, always check the label for the fat and sodium contents). You can make your own dips, hot or cold, by food-processing canned black or pinto beans (my favorites are the ones canned with jalapeños) and adding water to create your desired consistency. You can also use fat-free refried beans. You could add some chopped bell or jalapeño peppers, green onions, or canned corn to add a crunchy texture, or some chopped tomatoes for a little extra flavor and vitamins. Instead of fatty fried tortilla chips, use baked chips or, better yet some crunchy raw veggies like carrots, celery, sliced bell peppers, broccoli, or cauliflower.

3.Salsa. This is the perfect mix of tomatoes, onions, and peppers—all members of the top tier of Michi's Ladder. And the great thing is that salsa is so low in calories and so high in fiber, you can basically eat it by the cupful and not gain weight. If you buy it at the store though, watch out for the salt content—that's the secret ingredient in most canned and jarred salsas. You're much better off making your own pico de gallo: Just dice tomatoes and onions and mix with as much minced jalapeño and/or garlic as you can stand. Add fresh cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste and toss the veggies in the juice of two limes. Let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. You can eat it with baked chips or the crunchy veggies that also go great with the bean dip. The salsa and the bean dip also complement each other well, for the double dippers among us.

4.Crispbread crackers. These crunchy treats (including Wasa® and Rykrisp® brands) have around 30 calories a cracker (depending on the brand, flavor, and style) and a couple of grams of fiber in each one. For the Top Chef in you, they make great bases for some healthy ingredients from your refrigerator. Try a dollop of fat-free cottage cheese with a dash of hot sauce; a slice of turkey breast and roasted red pepper; a "schmear" of hummus and a couple of pitted olives; or a slice of tomato and a fresh basil leaf with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Even the pico de gallo recipe above with some shredded nonfat cheddar will make a tasty cracker-topping treat. By being creative with some wholesome ingredients, you'll forget all about the halcyon days of eating Ritz® crackers washed down with aerosol cheese right from the can (sigh).

5.Pistachios. Pistachios are a great heart-healthy snack full of antioxidants, fiber, and unsaturated fats (the good kind). A 1/2-cup serving (with the shells, assuming you don't eat them) only has 170 calories, with 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber; however, that serving also has 14 grams of fat, so don't go nuts chowing down on a whole bag. Walnuts, peanuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, and other nuts all have their nutritional upsides, too, but the reason I think pistachios make great snacks is the shells. The shells are difficult to open, so rather than shoveling handfuls of pre-shelled nuts down your throat, eat in-the-shell pistachios so you're forced to slow down. Keep an eye on the sodium content when you buy the nuts. Either buy unsalted or low-salt versions. And forget those disgusting pink ones that taste like lipstick. Who needs to leave hot-pink fingerprints all over the couch? A lot of stores also sell flavored versions that aren't too salty—chili-lime is one of my favorites.

6.Edamame. The Japanese have one of the healthiest diets in the world, and soybeans are a great staple of that diet. Edamame—steamed or boiled soybean pods—contain all the essential amino acids, many essential fatty acids, and soy isoflavones. And a half-cup of beans only has 100 calories, 3 grams of fat, and 9 grams of carbs, with 8 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. Truly one of nature's perfect foods. And like pistachios, you can serve them in their shells, which slows down your face-stuffing process, giving you time to feel full before you've overeaten.

7.Mini-pizzas. Forget the frozen food section. Anyone with a toaster oven or a broiler pan can be his or her own Mama Celeste or Chef Boyardee®. Just take half of a whole wheat English muffin (67 calories; 2 grams of fiber), add a little low-sodium tomato-based spaghetti or pizza sauce and a sprinkle of shredded low-fat or nonfat mozzarella cheese, and voilà—tasty and healthy pizza! As with the crispbread crackers, your imagination's the only limit for toppings. Fresh herbs like basil and oregano are delicious. Peppers, mushrooms, and low-sodium anchovies are popular and fairly healthy. Just stay away from processed meats like pepperoni, which are often loaded with saturated fat, carcinogenic nitrates, and sodium.

8.Pita chips and hummus. Now you can open a Greek taverna in your living room. While some stores sell premade pita chips, you can easily make your own with very little fuss and muss (and usually with much less fat and salt). A large whole wheat pita has 170 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and less than 2 grams of fat. To make chips, cut around the edge of the pita with a small paring knife, so you have two discs. Then with a knife or pizza cutter, cut the discs into eighths or smaller chip-size pieces. Arrange the pieces on an aluminum-foil-covered cookie sheet, lightly spray with some olive oil cooking spray, and sprinkle with a little salt, low-fat Parmesan cheese, or your favorite dried herbs. Cook in oven or toaster oven until lightly browned and crispy, then serve with your favorite hummus or dip recipe.

9.Relish tray. Some of my favorite snacks are pickled or brined anything—cucumbers, cauliflower, peppers, artichoke hearts, carrots, okra, baby corn, cornichons, cocktail onions, olives, sauerkraut, kimchi . . . even herring and hard-boiled eggs! Extremely low in calories, a plate full of pickled veggies on the coffee table is great for snacking. But watch out for the sodium! Certain store brands have more than others. The more ambitious might try marinating their fresh veggies in vinegar and a little heart-healthy olive oil to control the amount of salt involved. If you use salty brands, you might consider rinsing them to get rid of some of the salt, or mixing them on a plate with some fresh, unpickled vegetables to mitigate your salt intake.

10.Deviled eggs. Eggs, once considered a scourge of the heart-healthy diet, are now getting a better rap. What's indisputable is the health value of the whites. If you take the yolks out of the equation, the egg whites prove to be small, healthy, high-protein delivery systems suitable for all kinds of nutritious creamy fillings. Cut a bunch of hard-boiled eggs in half, lengthwise, and scoop out and discard the yolks. (See the Yolkless Deviled Eggs recipe elsewhere in this newsletter!) Try mixing some nonfat cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, or nonfat cream cheese with your favorite flavorings and spices, then blending or food-processing until creamy. Spoon or pipe the mixture into the egg whites where the yolks used to be, and you'll have a high-protein snack without all the fat and cholesterol. You can also use the empty egg whites as scoops for your favorite healthy dip or salsa.

Of course, you can enjoy even more snack food if you can work some exercise into your TV watching. During playoff season, don't just save the stretching for the seventh inning. Try some exercises like P90X X Stretch throughout the game. Or if you're settling in for a night in front of the tube, make a deal with yourself—you can veg out and watch The Office and 30 Rock if you turn off Jay Leno. If you watch a show like Hawaii Five-O that motivates you to kick some butt, schedule some INSANITY time immediately after the show while your adrenaline's still pumping. Or if, like me, you've become enslaved to your DVR or TiVo®, use it to your advantage and do a cooldown stretch to your favorite show as a reward for a well-done workout.