30 days to Shred?

I have done really well at not gaining weight back after I did the WeightNot diet however, I have done a horrible job at keeping my muscles toned so... I LOOK FAT!  I hate that word and even though many would argue, I highly disagree and there is no nicer way to put it!  I am tired of feeling all the jiggles when I walk, run, jump (bah! like I actually do a lot of that!) and pretty much everything else during the day. So, I read up on Jillian Micheals', one of my all time favorite trainers (along with Chalene Johnson), 30 day shred. A couple of my friends have started it and there has been some decent reviews about it, so I decided to give it a try. Last night I began my 30 day journey and let me tell yah, for someone who has been doing the stationary bike for the past month at least 3-4 days per week (30 minutes a day --hey not bad! Last week I did it 6 days!) she still kicked my ass!

Photo courtesy of http://www.jillianmichaels.com

So it says you can loose up to 20 lbs in 30 days. I don't believe that and I don't really care about lbs. I just want to loose inches b/c that means I am toning up and getting lean muscle instead of this wobbly mess I like to pretend has muscle attached somewhere.  Also, my ass is HUGE! While many people love large derrières mine is outta control. Don't get me wrong I love being a "bubble butt" as my mother use to put it ever so gently to my low self-esteem self, it needs to get toned and slim down ever so slightly.

I took a couple of pictures (clothes on...how do these people gain the confidence to do it in the bra & underwear) I haven't gained the strength to post them just yet. Maybe in my next post?

There are three levels of the program. After each level I will update you followers on my progress.  If it works I may move on to one of her other DVDs!

Feel free to join me and don't forget to follow me on Twitter & FB and we can do it together!

Here's to Kickin' Ass & Slimin' Up!

Nicole

Motivational Monday

Good morning blog family! I have been thinking, there are times in our lives when we need some real motivation to keep us going and carrying on.  Sometimes I find it difficult to keep myself motivated to start or even complete things that really make me happy.  That's when I take to the web and look for things that make me remember my goals and motivate me to be a better person all around.

With Monday being the beginning of the work week for most (me included) wouldn't it be a great day to post something motivating for the rest of the week.  Even if everything seems to go to hell in a hand basket on Tuesday we can all look back to Monday's post each week and remember that we are motivated in all that we do. Whether it is to loose weight, tone up, be a better cook, or just be a better person in general, we will all be motivated by the strength we have together.

So, consider each Monday as your motivational start to the week no matter what your plans are!

And, if you find motivation sayings, lyrics, pictures, etc. Share them with me! I might even feature them!

So today's motivational quote is from Williams James to keep me motivated to running this blog amongst everything else going on in my life. =)

"It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect it's successful outcome."

Here is to a week filled w/motivation!

Nicole

A new year, A new me!

So, I basically when MIA for the past year. There has been quite a bit that has gone on that I really haven't been able to keep up with everything.  For starters, as many of you were aware, I am in graduate school and I am happy to report that I have officially started my 12 week count down.  In 12 weeks I can officially say I am done with school and I will hold a Master's of Management.  Yay me!! It has been so hard to keep up with a family, work, grad school, and everything else in between let alone a blog and YT channel!

My daughter has been asked to join a dance team! Yay her! Which has also taken up some of our time. Pictures soon to come! And I have a ongoing bout with pneumonia that has continued to kick my ass!  I am convinced my constant illness has something to do with the new building my company has recently moved us into!  They used to dissect and study dead bodies in here! Gross right?!?!

Oh yeah! I am back to my natural hair color...Dark Brown...and I am growing it out! Hooray for it being to my shoulders.  Ok, Ok, I couldn't just do the completely dark brown look right off the bat. I put some "peek-a-boo" highlights underneath to soften to look considering I have been practically blonde for years!  Next appointment though, I am ditchin' the blonde and opting for red (I think)!

Anyway, I wanted to post because I am ready to get moving on this blog again. I really did enjoy this and my YT channel.  It was my gateway from reality and escaping my life for an hour or two a day!

So here is the plan, I will continue to revolutionize the way I run my life just as I did for the past two years (P.S. I am out of debt...with the exception of school, so yes I did what I needed to do for last years revolution...can I get another YAY ME!).  This blog will still focus on health, weight loss, fashion, beauty, and all the other girly stuff.  But it will also include my new revolution for the year!  That post is to be coming soon!  I am truly excited about it.

YouTube will still remain on hiatus. I really dislike all the haters out there and I hate having to monitor all the stinkin' comments they make.  So, blog readers encourage your friends to come here. If you are here from my YT channel, stick around, there will be more tutorials and fun videos on here than on YT.

I have lots of ideas...I just need to put them into action! Let me know what else you want to read about too!

Missing blogging & to future blogdeavers!

Nicole