Building Strength

First of all...where have I been?  I have been studying like crazy, training harder than normal, watching my little guy learn to walk, and putting together a "virtual training package" for long distance clients!  Whoot Whoot!  All of this hard work is paying off.  I'm down 5 lbs since I started this! This is probably the hardest most grueling thing I have done.  There are some days I think to myself, "I'm fine with where I'm at" and then the reality of a camera pointed at me hits and I focus my efforts in clean eating and busting my booty at the gym. It's come down to what I eat and when.   There are days I'm exhausted and so some tweaking is needed but I think I have got it down.  With that...I have a recipe to share.  These are Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat muffins! Awesome for BREAKFAST! Perfect combo of protein, carb and healthy fat!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Muffins

1 cup oatmeal

6 egg whites

1 scoop of choc. protein powder

2 tsp pure cocoa powder

1 Tbsp Stevia

1/4 tsp of baking powder

2 Tbsp of NATURAL peanut butter

1/3 cup water

(Makes 6 muffins)

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Then add the egg whites, peanut butter and water.  Stir until mixed well.  Scoop into a muffin pan coated with cooking spray (they are pretty sticky) Bake at 350 for 25 mins.

Info per serving:

Calories 177

Protein 22g

Carbs 11g

Fat 5 g

Source: GO HERE

These look really runny in the bowl but they bake up very nicely! Great for the Kids too ENJOY!

As for my Training...I have added several different interupts to help keep my body in that fat burning zone.  For example: I wanted to see more muscle definiton in my legs so I added 30 jump lunges and 10 body squats in between each super set. When my work out was complete, I ended up doing 360 jump lunges and 120 body squats every day for 5 training day.  I lost 1.5 pounds that week and 1/2 inch in each of my thighs.  I was happy! 

I also added some more cardio.  When I say cardio some people automatically think of the treadmill or the elliptical.  I hate the ellipitcal.  I think it's a joke.  The only time you will see me on one of those is for some recovery time and for some rage of motion with my knees.  However, I can accomplish that on a BIKE! Sorry about my little rant...I decided to add a BODYSTEP class to my workout.  I worked it in for Saturday mornings.  This class works my "problem" areas (legs and booty)  while keeping my heart rate up.  I love it!  One more way I added cardio in was by adding 1-2  quick 15 min HIIT session. I LOVE IT as well.  I'm on a steady 1 pound per week pace.  That puts me right on target. 

If you are looking for a boost in your work out, try adding in the jump lunges and body squats. Or simply add in 2-3 HIIT sessions after your work outs. GO HERE for a great example. It WORKS!

Now for chest excersies:

I suggested negative only push ups the other day on Facebook...

The best way to build strength in an area is to do Negative only reps.  For example, I'm working on my chin ups.  In order to build extra strength, I start in the "up" postition and slowly lower myself down in a 4 sec.  count.  I do 3 sets of 8-10.  You can use this for push ups as well.  Start in push up postion and drop down quickly but controlled and raise yourself slowly to a 4 second count. 3 sets of 10 will get you off of your knees while doing push ups in NO TIME!  The flat bench chest press:  start with weights directily above you, lower as fast as you can controled and push up slowly.  To make this a little more advanced, do alternating arms.  Keep the opposite arm locked while pressing the other. You see where I'm going with this...I will have example videos up soon.  Until then....

Thanks ladies!

CONTEST:  It's almost over!  Try the Neg. only Push ups and tell me what you think. 5 POINTS