Ericka: Twerking Tuesday (7.30.13)

This morning I got back to my juicing! I had been on a juicing hiatus, because I accidentally went on a making groceries strike. This morning's concoction was mixed baby greens, mango, banana, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt, honey and a little bit of cayenne pepper.

As you know, every day I have to do a different hourly challenge at work. When I got to work, my cohorts and I decided that triceps dips were a little too much to face after yesterday's push-ups so we decided to switch Tuesday and Thursday. Therefore we had to do 25 squats every hour. Jacqueline, who is ever the one upper, wanted to incorporate twerking somehow because she liked the sound of Twerking Tuesday. I don't know when it happened, but twerking a.k.a. popping a.k.a booty shaking has become somewhat of a phenomenon. I blame Miley for mainstreaming it. There are twerking classes in New York! Twerking has been a dance popular in the NO since the beginning of time. Okay maybe not that long ago but you get my drift. Artists like Big Freedia and Sissy Nobbie are bringing our style of music and dancing to the forefront, and it's kind of cool, but a part me wants to keep our thing, but I digress.

So to oblige her I decided that we will alternate regular squats with twerking squats every other hour. How do you do a twerking squat you ask? Well I tried different variations, but the one that created the most exertion of energy was the squat that involved what I like to call twerk knees (See Free Workouts:Keaira Lashae's r hip hop booty shaking workout). Basically you get into the squat position, alternate bringing each knee in while simultaneously turning your foot with your heel going out and make sure to pop your but OUT at the same time. Another variation is to squat and bring your knees in and out at the same time while popping. Now do that for 10 knees in and out, or 5 knees in and out on each side if you are alternating legs, then come up. That's 1 set. Do 4 sets like that and you have the twerk squat. It should work your thighs. 

The plan was to also take a Tabata class at lunch. I booked it over there only to learn upon arrival at 12:20 that class started at noon, not 12:30. I proceeded to turn around and go back to work. Yes I could have stayed and worked out, but the thought of getting on the elliptical or the treadmill without any music was depressing. I just can't. I'm already stationary. I need something to distract me from what I'm doing. Chris and I are going to workout together this evening to make up for my missed gym class.

And for your viewing pleasure here are the golden sisters' take on twerking:

Happy Twerking!

E

Chris: Puttin' In Work (7.29.13)

Mondays are by far the worst day of the week, I'm convinced. They start slow, the work day goes by slow, and the only thing you have to look forward to on Monday...............Is frickin Tuesday, are you kidding me. Anyways, Ericka and I slept by my parents' house last night since we dropped Deuce off, so we had to get up at the crack of dawn just to get back to NOLA at a decent time.

Now, as y'all know, I had to grind this past weekend to get to my 300 minutes of exercise, so since Deuce is by his grandparents, Ericka and I decided to put in some good work at the gym after work. We did an hour and a half worth of gym classes, including an ab workout and Tabata class. Afterwards, we put in a half hour of racquetball, so we finished with 2 hours of exercise on Monday, leaving us with only 3 hours left for the week. Now, I would like to get more than the 3 hours remaining, but with my bowling league on Wednesday and a work function on Thursday, it was important to grind today in order to put us in good position for the rest of the week. Our plan is to hit the gym hard tomorrow with at least an hour, but I am shooting for an hour and 30 minutes so we can leave no doubt about reaching our 300 goal. 

Last but certainly not least, I talked to my lil man, and he had a very eventful day. As normally the case, my parents bought him another toy (I think he gets at least 1 every time he's with them, lol), this time being a build-a-bear named Papa. What is it about your parents becoming grandparents???? I mean there is nothing my parents won't buy for Deuce or my two nieces, Madison & Sydney. It's crazy!!!! I had to get damn near straight A's in school to get a Nintendo game. And the grades were only part of it, let's not forget cutting the grass, vacuuming the carpet and the occasional baseboard cleaning while listening to my mom's favorite songs she liked to listen to while cleaning. All Deuce or my nieces have to say is that they like something, and my dad will get it, lmao. I'm ranting but it's cool seeing my parents' loving to put a smile on their faces. Well, that's about it for me. A very productive Monday.  

Ericka: Only 9 More Days (7.29.13)

It's the final countdown! Chris wants to add a day to the challenge so that our cheat days fall on the days we are in Houston visiting family. The jury is still out on that.

I started Monday with a bang. Every hour on the half hour I did 25 push ups for a total of 225 pushups. After for work I met up with Chris at the gym. We did a 45 minute Tabata Class and a 30 minute abs class. After that we played racquetball for 45 minutes. We didn't play an actual game; we just practiced, but it was still a good work. It's only Monday, and we already got in 120 minutes of exercise. Only 180 more minutes to go for the week. It was easier for us to put in a long day at the gym, because Chris' parents have Deuce for a couple days, because my mom had to go back to work and Deuce doesn't start school for another 2 weeks. Since they live in Prairieville, about an hour out without traffic, it would be a bit difficult to travel back and forth every day to exchange him.

I really miss my baby. It was weird not having him wake up and say "Good Morning Mommy" with the biggest grin on his face. It just melts my cold little heart. Since we won't see him for a couple of days, we decided to test out Google Hangout with him. I got to see my little face before going to bed.

No my baby doesn't wear glasses, but it would be too cute if he did. He's wearing his teddy bear's glasses; now he can stop putting mine on. Deuce got a kick out of the funny faces we were able to make using the hangouts animation.

Good night all,
E

Chris: 300!!! (7.28.13)

Well, I am excited to announce that I got 300 minutes of exercise in this week. I was at 200 minutes coming into today. After taking Deuce to church, in which Deuce repeatedly said "I wanna go bye bye" for the last 30 minutes of mass, I got home and went to work. I ran and walked for 55 minutes in the HEAT. That left me with 45 minutes remaining. So Ericka and I spent some time with Deuce and went visit Ericka's grandmother. We then headed to Baton Rouge to drop Deuce off by my parents. My dad and I decided to hit the driving range, and we hit balls for an hour, so that put me at approximately 315 minutes. Goal Accomplished.

Now is it me or is it hard as hell to enjoy Sundays? I remember during an internship one summer, I described Sunday to my roommates as a "24 hour countdown to Monday" lol. I think that is a pretty good description of how I approach Sundays, which is not good. I have tried to get out of that mindset for years, but it always creeps into my mind as soon as I wake up on Sunday.

In other news, the Saints started training camp this past weekend. FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!! Man, it's been the dog days of summer but football is right around the corner. I'm a huge Saints and LSU fan, and I feel like both teams are being overlooked going into this season. I think both teams are going to surprise the pundits. I've been told I'm an optimist when it comes to my sports teams, but I feel good about LSU this year.

Ericka: On the Run (7.28.13)

After yesterday's successful jog, I decided to incorporate jogging into today's workout. Well jogging outside is a lot harder than jogging on the track. I don't know if it was the heat, the street or what, but I was moving much slower and working a lot harder. I used the Run Double Couch 2 5K app and started on day 1. Excluding the warm-up and cool down, I had alternate jogging for 60 seconds and walking for 90 seconds for a total of 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, I decided to go for another 30 minutes of alternating jogging a block and walking a block. 50 minutes down. The last 15 minutes I really started to feel it, but then Jay-Z's "On the Run" came on. How apropos. Actually it came on like 5 times, because I accidentally put on repeat.

Then I came home, took a 10 minute break and did a dance warm up. 4 minutes. Followed by two 15 minute NTC workouts; one for arms and one for abs. 30 minutes. Total time 84 minutes which made 301 minutes for the week. Wooh chile, I'm tired, and I still took Deuce to a splash park.

Random thought/observation: Have you ever noticed how children literally squeal from excitement? When was the last time you go so excited about something that not only did you laugh, and maybe even scream, but to squeal too! I was mesmerized watching Deuce laugh and squeal with glee. Gotta love the kids! They really know how to enjoy life!

Deuce & Big Cousin Blake Jude

Happy Sunday and don't forget to enjoy life.

Ericka: Who Run the World...Girls (7.27.13)

Yes girls run the world! That's the title of my post not only because that song gave me the energy boost to push myself on the track, but also because Chris learned that very lesson the hard way. I'll get to the latter later.

This morning we went to the gym. Thankfully, we belong to a gym that has a daycare. We dropped Deuce off, and he didn't even look back. We met up with my friend Essie, because I wanted to get in some more racquetball lessons. Since Chris had been talking smack all week about how he could whoop Es, I let them play first so that there would be no excuses like "I was tired from my workout." So while they got it in, I decided to skip my usual elliptical workout and get on the indoor track. As you know, jogging is the bane of my existence, but it is such a great cardiovascular workout.  In the past, whenever I wanted to lose weight quickly, jogging produced the most efficient results. Nonetheless, I still hate it. It's not just a physical challenge, but a mental one as well. I remember way back in high school we had to do the mile every Friday, and we were supposed to do it in 10 minutes. I used to jog to a bush and wait it out then jump back in as if I did something. SMDH. I think one of my goals for the future is to do a half marathon.I think the longest I've ever jogged was an hour. After an hour I would wonder why I am doing this and just stop. 13 miles will definitely be a test of will.

Back to the track; 11 times around equaled a mile. I decided that I was going alternate jogging and walking for 20 minutes. When I jogged around the 1st time, I noticed a clock so I decided to time my laps. The first lap was a minute and 8 seconds and my walking laps were like a minute and a half. Then I jogged around again. About the 3rd jogging lap, I started to feel it and wanted to slow down, but then Beyonce came on & I said to myself "I run this track, the track does not run me." When I pushed it, I noticed I shaved some time off my lap. I kept pushing and pushing until I did a lap in 59 seconds. Every time I saw the clock, which was located at the home stretch, I pushed myself. Thank you clock, and thank you Beyonce.

Now back to Chris' thrashing. Like I said, he had been talking smack all week. He truly underestimated Es. She's short (Essie you are short just like me) and unassuming, if you don't know her. I was looking forward to the match, because beating Chris in a competitive sport has eluded me. Does air hockey count? Before I started my jog, I watched those 2 play for a little while. Chris was swinging and missing, running into walls and working while Es was cool as a cucumber. After a few minutes I saw where this was going, and I'm not going to lie, I got excited. I mean I was as giddy as a school girl. Jumping up and down and smiling from ear to ear. What does that say about me as a wife? Lol. I don't usually relish in Chris' failures, which are few and far between, but to watch him get his butt handed to him by a girl made my day. I felt like I was the one schooling him! I only watched for like 3 minutes and came back after my jog. When I got back, Chris was drenched in sweat while Essie was simply glowing. He only scored 1 point in 3 games. When Es wasn't in earshot he still talked a little smack until she admitted she actually took it easy on him.

Es then watched us play against each other a little while. Then I practiced rallying, my backhand and hitting off the back wall. Then Chris and I played again when he got back from his jog. Essie watched us again so she could give us pointers. While I lost 15-3, it was 3 points more than I have ever scored against him, and it was 2 more points than he scored against Es! I made him work for his points, especially game point. I am going to continue to practice until I am the one schooling him. Just kidding, not really. I do foresee this as a sport we can enjoy together though.

After that, we scooped Deuce up, which was about 2 hours after we dropped him off. He wanted to go swimming so we took him to the wade pool which only had 6 inches of water and a waterfall. He wanted to go to the big pool, but we forgot our swimsuits. We then enjoyed a nice lunch at Chipotle's, and then went home where Deuce and I proceeded to take a 3.5 hr nap on this glorious rainy overcast Saturday.

So all in all I say I got about 100 more minutes of exercise in, leaving me with 83 minutes for tomorrow.

I hope you all enjoyed your day as much as I did.

E

Chris: Finish Strong (7.27.13)

My post title says it all! I haven't had an eventful week, so I didn't want to bore y'all with mundane posts. So, just to recap, going into Friday, I had only had about 50 minutes of exercise. With bowling and other things popping up in the middle of the week, it's really hard to fit it in. But, I woke up Friday morning and did a 30 minute Nike Training workout routine. Also, I watched Deuce by myself since Ericka had a get together with her friends and I feel like I should get credit for at least an additional 30 minutes, lol. But I doubt Ericka will give me that.

So with only about 80 minutes worth of exercise in for the week, it was vital to put in work this morning at the gym. Ericka and I met up with her friend and former co-worker for some racquetball. Ericka told me she was really good so I talked a little trash just to make it interesting. We played 3 games and it's best to 15. Well...............I only scored 1 point in 3 games. In my defense, I play some tennis and I thought the two were very similar. But, they're not!! Needless to say, Ericka LOVED that I lost bad. She gets some weird sort of pleasure from watching me lose in sports, I don't know why though. Maybe she can explain it in her post later today. I am surely interested to find out. But outside of getting my @$$ handed to me, I must admit it was one helluva workout. I played for at least an hour and a half. Then I went run a mile and walked a half mile as a cool down. Deuce went to the gym's daycare center while we worked out, so we took him to the gym pool after picking him up. For those counting, that's a 120 minutes of exercise today for a grand total this week of 200 minutes. Damn, as I'm typing this, I realized that's still an hour and 40 minutes left.

But I feel like I'm getting results. I was told by someone at work yesterday that I looked like a lost some weight. That's always encouraging because it's normally very hard to see the weight loss yourself until it's very noticeable. So, that really made me feel good and served as a motivation to keep pushing. Well, until next time.

Ericka: Flashback Friday & THE MOVEMENT (7.26.13)

 I didn't post yesterday, because I didn't have anything to add because I didn't do anything. I know Whomp Whom Whomp. The plan was to workout and post for throwback Thursday, but now it's a Flashback Friday Post.

Let's state the obvious. Clearly I was smaller. I believe this photo was taken circa the summer after freshman year of college. Not only was I smaller, and that was after the freshman 15, well maybe 20lbs, had kicked in, but I was also tanner. I miss that tan. But let's further dissect this photo of me and my bestie Dr. B. Notice the awkward poses, the fauxberry purse, our gauche appearance, the look of naivete on our faces, and the matchy-matchy clothing. le sigh. I remember that summer well, and will forever look back on it fondly. While I miss being smaller, I am a tad bit more sophisticated, just a tad, and I have stepped up my street wear.

On to today. This morning I woke up, did a 4 minute dance warm-up and then did a 30 minute NTC workout. Deuce joined in on the fun and did his usual Rocky Workout Routine. Just 183 minutes to go!

I decided to give myself an extra challenge today. I told myself "Self, you are going to do 20 jumping jacks for every hour you are at work." So far I've done 3 sets of 20. The next set is coming up at 11:30 a. I then started recruiting my co-workers/work family/friends for life to join in on the MOVEMENT. At first I called it Fit Friday, but then Margaret K decided to call it Fit Forever, and we have to do it every day of the work week instead of just on Fridays. Jack kicked it up a notch and added a twist. Instead of just doing 20 jumping jacks we are going to do 25, and we are going to do a different exercise every day of the week.

Get Fit Crew

• Monday- 25 Push ups 
• Tuesday- 25 Tricep dips
• Wednesday- 1 minute Wall sits
• Thursday- 25 Squats
• Friday- Jumping Jacks

Join in on the movement!

   Happy Friday!

E

Chris: Time is at a premium (7.24.13)

There isn't enough time in the day. I didn't get in a workout yesterday, because we got home late after picking up Deuce and then getting a bite to eat. Then I woke up later than I wanted to, and I had to hustle to get to work at a decent time. It's Wednesday, so as you know, it's bowling league night!!!! While I enjoy it, it is not really feasible to work out afterwards, because I get home fairly late. As it stands, I only have 50 minutes of exercise this week, so I got to get on my grind the next few days and definitely have to get in about 2 hours on Saturday to hit 300 minutes for the week. I think I can do it..................rather, I KNOW I WILL do it!! I gotta get positive. I'm not gonna lie, I'm a getting a little frustrated. I haven't lost a pound in a week, HOWEVER I haven't gained a pound either. Guess I'll have to look at the glass half full, eh!?!?

Bowling Update: We entered this week in 3rd place. We have 4 weeks to go after today, and I must say after a strong performance by myself and my team, we have moved into 2nd place. My average has been steadily going up from an initial 124 to a 130 after about 12 weeks. Today, I rolled a 130, 164 and 159, surpassing my average twice in 3 games. I have really enjoyed joining the bowling league more than I thought. The team consists of me, my dad, my uncle, my cousin and my boy Mike. It's just cool to get together with the fellas and kick it for a couple of hours while bowling. Stay tuned for our bowling status next week.

Side Note: I think I'm going to hit up happy hour on Friday with a couple of friends. Nothing like unwinding after a long week of work with a couple of drinks. Anybody have any new, cool spots for happy hour in NOLA? Let me know. I've been hitting up Handsome Willy's last couple of times, but I may try to change it up. Alright, time to hit the sack. Later

Ericka: I want french fries & potato salad, and rice and mac & cheese (7.24.13)

The list of carbs I'd like to devour can go on and on. Only 2 more weeks, and I am starting to lose focus. At least I was until I got on the scale this morning and saw another pound lost. That motivated me to get up this morning and put in work. But seriously can we talk about how good cheese fries are, and sauteed veggies Mediterranean style covered with feta and mozzarella cheese on a bed of basmati rice. Okay. That's enough. I'm over it. Well I gotta jet, because my son is off squatting in a corner instead of his potty and my nose is offended.

Here is today's workout:

Morning Workout: 22 minutes
4 minutes dance warm up
3 minutes walking lunges
15 minutes NTC Cardio Blast


Evening Workout: 26 minutes
4 minutes dance warm up
22 minutes neighborhood stroll w/Deuce ; alternated walking and jogging every block

Total Time: 48 minutes
Time Remaining: 217 minutes


Good night all

Ericka: 2 weeks down 2 weeks to go (7.23.13)

I've been on blogging hiatus due to sick baby and sick mommy and procrastination. Sunday I did meet my 300 minutes goal for week 2. Early that morning Deuce woke up and got in his stroller and said "go outside." I really didn't feel like working out, but that was a sign to get it in early so that there could be no excuses later. Deuce and I went on a 40 minute walk around the neighborhood. I had to jog home the last 2 blocks, because it started to rain. Deuce provided the music since he chanted "rain, rain go away come back another day". Then I did 15 minutes of abs and I called it a day.

Monday evening after work I went to a 45 minute tabata class with Chris, but we got there a little late so I'd say we got in a good 35-40 minutes. To be on the safe side, I'm going to say 35 minutes. So yesterday we go pick up Deuce from my folks' house. My mom is trying to coax Deuce into eating dinner by telling him she is going to give his food to someone else. Deuce does not like sharing so he quickly gobbles the food down every single time. Yesterday I was her guinea pig. She was supposed to pretend to give me a spoonful of gravy and rice, but she instead jammed it into my mouth! SABOTAGE! I'm pretty sure I told my mom that I am not eating simple carbs right now.

I haven't figured out the plan for today. I brought my gym bag in case I can steal away for a lunch time workout.

As far as eating, I've been doing pretty good except I'm not getting 3 squares a day. I have to do better on that front. Yesterday I only had a salad for lunch and for dinner I tried a piece of brisket that my dad brought home. Now don't get me wrong, my salad was fully loaded with all of the fixings. I'm talking steak, salsa, cabbage, cilantro, pico de gallo etc. I was still full by the time I worked out yesterday evening. Nonetheless, i have to start eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. Chris+ has to do better too. He rarely eats breakfast, unless I fix it for him. Last night he skipped dinner, because his stomach was bothering him. I also have to get to the grocery store so I can get back to juicing.

2 weeks down 2 more 2 go. My goal at the end of this 30 day period is that my carb addiction is broken so that I can eat them in moderation, to incorporate 300 minutes of exercise a week into my lifestyle and to better my communication skills with the hubby. I have to work on that last one.

-E

Chris: We Fall Down, BUT We Get Up (7.22.13)

Hey y'all, I know I been out a few days but I had a busy weekend. Friday, we hit up Happy Hour after work and I passed out. Saturday, I went pick up Deuce from my parents' house, and I played a round of golf with my dad. It was good getting back on the course and hitting the golf ball, but I was pretty rusty. I didn't hit the ball well, but I plan on getting out there a lot more in the next couple of weeks. But, I do have to admit that I didn't meet my 300 minutes of exercise goal :(  If I tell y'all about my successes, I have to acknowledge my failures. I exercised for 240 minutes throughout the week and needed an hour on Sunday, but due to inclement weather and hanging out with Deuce, I didn't do it. But I have to nobody to blame but myself. It is up to me to make time, and I just didn't do it.

In other news, I started this week out with a bang. I went to a Tabata class at Elmwood Fitness today for a good 40 minute workout. So, definitely feeling good about that. Also, this week is the start of New Orleans Saints training camp, football season is baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!! And I can't wait. I really don't know how I make it through the summer, between no football and no more summer breaks, it is definitely my least favorite season of the year.

Ericka: She's Racquet (7.20.13)

Happy Saturday all

Sorry about the posting delay, but I partook in a little bit of imbibing yesterday evening after my long day. So let's start with yesterday's workout. I did 2 of my go to dance warm ups which accounted for 10 minutes, then I did a 45 minute NTC workout. That left me with 170 minutes for today.

This morning I got up, met up with parking enforcement to get the boot taken off of my car. Yes boot, I didn't realize I was in a lot that was monitored 24 hours; that set me back $105. Then I met up with my friend Esmeralda at the gym. I told her I wanted to workout for 2 hours so I don't have too much to do on Sunday. First thing up was Zumba. That was a bust. The instructor didn't show up, and some girls, who must go to every class b/c they were wearing official Zumba attire, decided to run the class, but they didn't remember all of the steps. So we then decided to get on the elliptical for 30 minutes, but it wasn't just any old elliptical. This elliptical told you what to do e.g. pedal backwards, pick up your toes, lift your heels, stand on sides and push arms. Next stop was weightlifting for 30 minutes. Today's focus was arms. Then we did ab work for 15 minutes using NTC. And for the pièce de résistance we played racquetball for 45 minutes.

Now Essie is a pro. She plays several times a week (singles and doubles), and she plays against men. Needless to say I was nervous. I mean I must be the clumsiest and most uncoordinated person. The last time I tried to play racquetball was several years ago with Chris. All I can remember from that experience is my running around like a chicken with her head cut off in order to get away from the ball that seemed to be coming 100 mph at me in all directions. Essie was a great teacher. She didn't smack the hell out of the ball, and I never was in fear for my life; well almost never. There were a few deer in headlights moments, and I did step on my own foot once, and missed hitting the ball a few times, but overall it was really fun, and a great workout. I think I'm going to try to play every Saturday. Maybe I'll even join the Monday night novice league. Chris has his Wednesday night bowling league so this could be my thing. 

210 minutes down. Only 50 more minutes to go!

E

Chris: One of those days (7.18.13)

You ever just have one of those days where nothing seems to go right??? Well, that's kind of how my day went today. I won't go into too many details, but first off, we lost 3 out of 4 games in my bowling league last night. So, I woke up this morning and thought today would be a great day. In the words of ESPN College Football Analyst, Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend!!!". I was super busy at work and what I thought would be some good news at the end of the day turned out to be the total opposite. But, that's okay, there were some positives to my day.

And I'll focus on that in this paragraph. I found that I'm actually a big fan of Pho, which is Vietnamese soup basically. It's beef broth with the option of a couple of different meats. I got the Pho with brisket. Now, I've tried it before because Ericka loves it, but I always thought it was just ok. So when my coworkers (all females) suggested it for lunch, I really didn't want it but didn't want to come off as the picky person in the group who only likes meat and potatoes (which is probably a true assessment of my taste buds). My brother always jokes that I only order 3 things at restaurants.....1.) Chicken, 2) Fish or 3) Fried Shrimp, lol. Anyways, I tried to come off as a fan of Pho and said "great, let's do it". And what do you know, I actually liked it. I am now a fan!!! Also, as Ericka mentioned in her entry tonight, we got a good workout in tonight, consisting of about 25-30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of a Nike Workout Training video. So, 60 minutes in, only 240 minutes to go. I am planning on getting my 300 minutes at all costs. I'll keep y'all posted. Until tomorrow..........................

Ericka: Rants & Raves (7.18.13)

Rants:
Why do people think it's okay to comment on weight? That really grinds my gears. Today someone told me "you look like you gained a couple of pounds since the last time I saw you." My response: Gee, thanks. What my response should have been: that mole on your face seems to have gotten larger. Stop and think before you speak. You wouldn't want someone to comment on let's say your acne, crooked teeth, limp hair, big nose etc. I guess people assume weight is something that can easily be controlled. If you are overweight or fat, people think all you have to do is put down the fork and exercise. Clearly if it was that easy then we wouldn't have an obesity problem in the U.S. so the next time you want to comment on someone's weight, well mine in particularly, just be prepared for me to comment on your physical flaw(s).

You know it's time to lose weight when your kid plays with your belly as if it's play doh.

Raves:
My pants today were a bit big, and I have officially hit the 10 pounds lost mark!

I put in 55 minutes of exercise today. I don't know what got into me,because I am definitely no where near 100%. Perhaps it was the steroids pumping through me from my frequent inhalation of Afrin.  I did 20 minutes on the elliptical in the Bikram garage, 30 minutes of cross training using NTC, and I finished it off with a 5 minute light, very light, more like a trot, jog. I am a horrible jogger. In fact my jog may be most people's power walk and quite a few people's normal walking pace. I'm an even worse power walker. I start off on a good foot and then forget what I'm doing and before I know it I'm sauntering in a  lackadaisical fashion.

Total time for this week is 75 minutes. I know I was supposed to workout yesterday evening, but I passed out immediately after taking my cold medicine. Nonetheless, that leaves me with 225 minutes to complete by Sunday which is 75 minutes a day. That's definitely going to be an uphill climb. Why oh why did Chris and I agree that we can't tack any extra workout time from the previous week onto the next? I got in well over 300 minutes last week.

Chris and I didn't eat at the dinner table together, because we decided to get froyo for dinner and eat it in the car, but we did turn off the radio and phones so we could talk about our day.

Alright guys. Goodnight and happy it's almost the weekend! I'm about to enjoy the sounds of this glorious summer rain.

E

Ericka: Back on My Griz-ni-yee (7.17.13)

My apologies to those of you who don't watch the ratchetness that is Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, but griz-ni-yee is my best Lil Scrappy impression, and it means grind.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, I got back on my grind by starting off with a 20 minute morning workout. No I don't feel 100%, but I am not going to let a cold stop me from accomplishing my goal.

So this morning I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m and then I went right back to bed. Around 6:20 I woke up in anticipation of the 6:30 a.m. alarm. My first thought was "I am going to turn it off and sleep a little more,", but then I got the feeling that if I didn't get up and exercise today, then I would fall off the wagon. I didn't want to throw away all of the hard work I had put in over the past 4 weeks so I dragged myself out of bed and got it in. I started off with the Move Your Body warm-up, followed by Keaira LaShae's Hip Hop Booty Popping Workout. While I was doing my yoga stretches, KL's next workout came on, and it seemed promising, because I could hear Sir Mix A-lot in the background. So in lieu of doing Tara Stiles Beginner's Yoga for Weight loss, I decided to do the video.

While the routine did make me sweat, it wasn't my favorite. I wasn't a fan of the choreography, I almost turned it off, because the tutorial portion was a bit long due to all of the steps, the music was barely audible, and it was some remix of Baby Got Back, not the version I was looking forward to. Nonetheless, I still got a good workout in. Give it a try. You may like it.

After finishing those 2 dance routines, I only racked up 15 minutes of workout time so I decided to tag another 5 minutes of exercise. I did 2 sets of the following routine:

1. 25 Jumping Jacks
2. 30 Russian Twists
3. 10 Squats
4. 10 Standing Calf Raises
5. 10 Push ups

I then finished it off with 30 seconds of high knees. Total time for this week: 20 minutes; only 280 minutes to go. My plan is to go to the gym this evening. I'll let you know if I do it.

Happy Hump Day,

E

Chris: Under the Weather (7.16.13)

What's up y'all, sorry I been out a couple of days but have been a little under the weather. After a busy week in Chicago and a packed weekend, Ericka came down with a cold Sunday afternoon. So, Monday I woke up feeling not so great and stayed home from work to get some rest. Ericka and I watched this movie "Ted" with Mark Whalberg and his talking Teddy Bear, and I must admit it definitely exceeded my expectations. It was actually pretty funny, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good laugh. Anyways, I kept to my no carbs meal with 2 scrambled eggs for lunch and non-fat yogurt for dinner. Today I made it back to work and felt a little better. Lunch consisted of chicken and a salad with cheese, which was pretty good. For dinner, I had another cup of yogurt from Tutti Fruiti.

Now, let me go on a rant. My son is starting pre-k 1 at a Catholic School, and we went to buy his uniform (yes, they have uniforms for 1 year olds!!!) and spent $160. I couldn't believe it. I mean this is just getting ridiculous on top of the tuition, I can't wait to put him in public school. Okay I'll stop before I go to far.

Lastly, my bowling league match is tomorrow and we are ranked in the top 2 with 3 weeks remaining. I'll give you a play by play tomorrow and let you know how we make out, but we in it to win it!!!! We going for the SHIP!!!

I'm out!!

Ericka: Feed a cold, starve a fever, sweat out the germs? (7.16.13)

So I am still sick. I packed my gym bag today just in case I felt a little bit better, but nope, I still can't breathe! I know you are supposed to feed a cold, which is hard when you have lost your appetite, but what about working out when you are under the weather? One theory that I got from my friend M is working out increases blood flow and just makes the germs flush around in your system and only makes you feel worse. Okay that was the gist of it, and that wasn't verbatim and maybe not entirely accurate, but that was my take away. My theory is that working out may actually helps your body to RELEASE THE TOXINS (think of the tone used when saying "release the cracken"). Nonetheless, I don't think working out today is the best thing for me to do. Why? Because I got lightheaded and almost passed out  from blowing my nose just now. I know TMI, but hey what's a little nasal congestion between friends? Tomorrow is Wednesday which leaves me with only 5 days to get in 300 minutes of exercise for the week.

As for my other challenges. Well like I said, I haven't had the best appetite so I've been living off of miso soup and seaweed salad. Today I had a real salad with real ingredients, but I skipped breakfast.  So yeah, I haven't had any carbs. Yay! However, since I lost my appetite, I haven't sat down at the dinner table to enjoy dinner with Chris. Boo! I have to make a more concerted effort with that meal together once a day challenge.  Since returning from Chicago, it has proven to be the most difficult challenge. Saturday we were so busy we didn't even have breakfast or dinner, plus we were full from grazing at the baby shower. Sunday I started getting sick, and I didn't eat a real meal. Yesterday we both stayed home from work, Chris is under the weather too, and we basically just slept and snacked.

I'm just about done with this whole sick thing. Mind over matter right? I'm just going to repeatedly tell myself "you are not sick anymore," until my body believes it.

Here's hoping tomorrow will be better,

E

Chris: Me & My Boy (7.14.13)

Well, vacation was fun, but upon getting home after midnight, we woke up Saturday morning and Deuce arrived with my parents bright and early at about 9:30 am. Needless to say, Deuce was excited to see us but more importantly, he was ready to run around and play. Unfortunately kids aren't aware that chilling is just as fun as playing, lol. I was really excited to see him as it had been a whole week since I saw him last. I'll tell you, there is no better feeling than to see your child smile and call your name after not seeing them for a few days. It puts everything in perspective and really makes you appreciate being a parent.

As usual, we had a jam packed weekend with our high school friend's (Christina) baby shower. We were there for a few hours, and it was great catching up, but by time we left, it was only 6:30 pm and the Deuce man still had 3 or so more hours left in the tank. We ran a few errands to wear him out and he went off somewhere around 10 pm.

So, this morning we woke up and Ericka wasn't feeling too well, so I decided it was perfect for a guy's outing. Deuce loves the water right now, so I put on his trunks and we headed to the water park. The first park was extremely packed, so I drove further out the city to Gonzales, near my parents to Jambalaya Park, where there is an Olympic size swimming pool as well as a water area for kids with a variety of fountains. Deuce ran around for an hour or so, talked to the lifeguards and got wet before running to me and said "chicken nuggets" and "happy meal". Normally we don't like to give him fast food, but it was just the fellas and how could I say "NO"? Well, I couldn't and didn't, so off to McDonalds. My dad met up with us as well, so it was grandfather, father and son!!! On the way home, Deuce and I stopped at Dick's Sporting Goods store and bought Deuce a plastic golf club set. Fortunately, that was the only thing I paid for because Deuce was causing havoc in the store with baseball bats, golf clubs and any other equipment he could get his hands on. We finally got home around 6ish, and mom was ready to see her little man. It was a fun filled day and just great spending time with my son after being away so long.

Sorry I didn't take any photos, as I never seem to think of it at the moment. As I'm typing this, I am thinking it would be great to have some photos to go along with this story, but I'll get them next time. Anyways, off to sleep, see y'all tomorrow.

P.S. Just a FYI, I went for a 30 minute jog late last night to get to my 300 minutes of exercise for the week. So, goal for week 1 ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!

Ericka: Sunday Blues (7.14.13)

I swear I've been going non-stop ever since Deuce was born. I've gone to 7 weddings in the last 4 months, countless birthday parties, bridal showers and more. This weekend was no different even though I just got back in town. Yesterday I got up bright and early to run errands. On the top of my list was getting a baby shower gift for my dear friend Christina and her husband Gray. First stop Michael's. I picked out a pretty box, a wooden frame and some glue then headed to Target to get a few packs of diapers. I then rushed home to see Deuce, he got home from his grandparents' while I was out and about. He greeted me with the biggest smile and hug then went right back to playing. Sheesh! I expected a little more considering he hadn't seen me in a week. Kids!

I then spray painted the wooden frame royal blue and glued it on the box with a note inside the frame that read "Late Night Diapers". While that was drying, I, with the help of my MIL, began writing notes on each diaper for Gray and Christina to read later on. Some of the notes were "you could at least warm your hands first," "that's not right," "why are you crying" etc. I wish I took a picture of the box.

Deuce, Christina & YTBB Ralph

The shower was really nice, but I was exhausted by the time I got home. In fact my left ankle began to swell. I haven't pinned pointed the cause, but I'm thinking I may of had a little too much sodium from the food at the shower (did not partake in the carbs), and I drank a soda. Of course My bum ankle didn't stop Deuce from running around like a maniac until he finally passed out around 10:30.

This morning when I woke I was not feeling too hot. In fact I'm still a little under the weather. I think I'm coming down with a cold or some hysterical ailment because I have to go to work after being out 7 days. Vacation, much like the weekend, is never long enough. Whatever the case may be, I have to snap out of it, because tomorrow I plan on hitting the gym.

Well I hope you are enjoying your Sunday. I'm going to continue to relax until the boys get home from the park.

E

P.S. My kid is a weirdo. Last night  I caught him spanking his teddy bear while saying "Don't hit Deuce". I don't know which part is weirder; him spanking his teddy even though we don't spank him or him 1st pretending to be hit by his teddy before dispensing the corporal punishment.

Chris: Home Sweet Home (7.13.13)

I know I didn't post yesterday, but you know how it is on the last day out of town. Ericka and I decided to go sightseeing by foot, bike and boat. For a play by play of our adventure, see Ericka's post (Taste of Chicago). We definitely went out with a bang. We ate brunch, toured Soldier Field, walked Navy Pier and caught a water taxi to Michigan Avenue. It was by far the best day I spent in Chicago over the course of the week. I didn't get to do everything that I wanted, but I did alot and have a reason to go back. As for the no carbs for the day, I got an omelet during brunch and ate at the airport before we departed. Dinner in the airport consisted of a beef dish and a chicken dish from the Chinese restaurant in the airport. It wasn't the best I've ever had by far, but at least I didn't eat carbs, lol. The flight home was smooth but one of the emptiest flights I've ever been on, literally, it was only about 35 passengers on a Southwest plane. It was so few people that we didn't even have to line up according to our numbers on our ticket. I had a great week in Chicago with training for work, sightseeing with coworkers and getting some much needed relaxation with Ericka. It was filled with great food, loooooooong walks and pretty good weather. I am attaching some pics from the week long trip and hope you enjoy and get to see the trip through our adventures. If you are headed to Chicago in the near future, holla at me as I know all the hot spots now. I am Chi-town expert!!!!!

Ericka: A Taste of Chicago (7.13.13)

Hi guys, sorry about the posting delay, but we had a busy day yesterday. Between packing, bicycling, walking, catching taxis, getting to the airport and spotty Wi-Fi service, I just didn't have time to post. But even though we didn't get in until a little past midnight, I woke up bright and early to spill the tea!

So yesterday was our last day in Chicago. Well let's start with Thursday night. We walked to a place called Tavern at the Park for dinner and it was really good. Chris had a cup of chili and some of the best wings ever. They were smoked, not fried. I had a scallops, shrimp, avocado and cod ceviche for my appetizer and a manchego caprese napoleon salad for dinner with a glass of rose. I guess I was a little tired from all the walking and late nights that when I got to the hotel I laid down for a nap at 7 p.m. (yes a nap) that ended up being 4 hours long. Of course by the time I woke up Chris was sleepy, and I was ready to go out. He was not getting out of the bed so I aggravated him until we both fell asleep around 1 a.m.

Back to yesterday. We slept in a little, because we had a long day ahead of us. Our flight wasn't until 9:05 p.m. Once we got out of bed, I made Chris do some yoga poses with me to loosen us up for our bike ride. Wow that boy is not flexible at all. He is like a rock, unbending and unyielding. We then set out for our first destination, the bike shop. The plan was to rent a tandem bike for the day. So neither Chris nor I have gotten on a bike in years. I don't know why we thought we could ride a tandem bike which requires synchronized movements. We tried, but it was a comedy of errors so we returned it for 2 bikes. Then we set out on our adventure, and boy was it. We are not used to riding in the street, especially streets as busy as Chicago's. I'm glad we lived to tell the tale. So here was our route based on Google Maps:

1.       Hotel to Bike Shop 19 minutes- Walked

2.       Biked to Yolk 12 minutes

3.       Yolk to Grant Park & Soldier Field 10 minutes + 25 minutes riding around

4.       Soldier Field to Navy Pier 14 minutes

5.       Walked 15 minutes around Navy Pier

6.       Water Taxi to Michigan Ave- 5 minutes

7.       Walked Up and Down Michigan Ave= 1 hour 45 minutes

8.       Water Taxi to Navy Pier- 5 minutes

9.       Navy Pier to Bike Shop 14 minutes

10.   Bike Shop to get Froyo at Starfruit Café- 10 minutes

11.   Then back to the W- 11 minutes

Now again this is based on Google Maps. It doesn't account for A. Neither of us has ridden a bike in years much less on busy Chicago Streets so that took a little adjusting to B. we did not know where we were going and took quite a few wrong turns, and C. by the time we started walking back from Michigan to water taxi stand my feet and legs were tired; I’m already a slow walker so you can imagine the snail pace we were moving at. We had the bikes from 12:30- 6:15 and other than the time we spent eating brunch (45 minutes) and taking the water taxi (30 minutes including wait time) we were either walking or biking. 

 I got on the scale this morning, and much to my surprise I was 1 pound lighter. I know I did a lot of walking and biking, but it was still vacation so I did a lot of carb free eating too. Speaking of carb free eating here is a taste of some of the food we ate:

Chicago Cuts Ribeye 

Hey Ricky Omelet

Cloudgate $212!

Chicago Cuts- Dungeness Crab & Avocado Louie

Tavern at the Park- Caprese Salad

For more photos check out Chris' blog!

Ericka: A 3 Hour Tour...On Foot

When I left you last, I was on my way out to explore the city by foot. I did not expect to, nor did I plan on walking around for 3 hours! My plan was to do a little window shopping. I started on State street and checked out H & M and a few boutiques. After that I doubled back and headed to Zara on Michigan. I did not realize it was 1.5 miles away. On the way there I started to get a little hungry, and what I wanted more than anything was a lettuce wraps. There were so many restaurant options that I didn't know where to start, and I ended up skipping breakfast and lunch which was not good. When I finally made it to Zara my feet were already starting to feel the burn. I was not wearing the most appropriate shoes for the trek. After I finished browsing I decided to go back to the hotel and face the 40 minute walk (31 minutes for most, but I'm a slow walker. Hey! I'm a southern girl from N.O. Where it's too hot, humid, and muggy for power walking)

10 minutes into the walk I saw a pedicab. I was so tempted to stop and hop on, but I decided to just press on. By the time I made it to the hotel, my feet were done. All I could do was take a nice nap (I love napping). When I woke up, my feet were still hurting. I think I was dreaming about walking  while napping.

When Chris got back we walked (ugh) to a great restaurant called Chicago Cuts. We enjoyed a nice dinner; just the 2 of us without any distractions. We shared an avocado w/lump crab meat appetizer, a 26 oz prime ribeye (I love steak), creamed spinach and creme brûlée. Indeserved a real meal after all that walking, plus the skipped meals (don't do that). We then went to the Hancock Center's Signature Lounge. The view of the city was breathtaking. I enjoyed a nice glass of merlot and a chocolate martini and caught a cab back to the hotel.

Today I did 50 minutes of cardio (15 min elliptical, 10 min on some machine that I thought was a stepper but it was worse, 10 min spin bike, 15 min NTC Butt Blaster). I then walked to a little breakfast spot and grabbed a low fat yogurt parfait and a boiled egg.

While my walk yesterday was definitely a calorie burner, I've decided to count only 120 min of it because my pace was about 2 mph and i stopped to browse. So that brings my total up to 334 minutes for the week! Although I have met and surpassed this week's fitness challenge, I am still going to strive to workout at least 1-2more times this week.

Did you workout today?

-E

Chris: Back on Track (7.11.13)

Okay y'all, I got my mind right yesterday after my brownie setback. I woke up a little late and had to rush to training, so I wasn't able to grab breakfast. Lunch was a success!!!! We have been provided lunch all week so yesterday was salad with the fixins' and sandwich station. I wanted a sandwich soooooooo bad, but I didn't give in. I fixed a big salad with chicken breast and NO salad dressing. While it wasn't the best lunch I've ever had, I felt really good about sticking to the diet, and I was satisfied.

I got out of training and went back to the hotel, where Ericka was relaxing. While I wanted to go to the gym, the bed looked so enticing, so I hopped in and took a quick nap. Ericka and I planned to go out to dinner, walk around Chicago and take in the sites. We settled on Chicago Cuts restaurant, which sits on the Chicago River. We wanted to sit outside but with no reservations and lots of people in town for The Taste of Chicago, we had to settle for eating inside. I've decided to get like the wife and post a pic for you guys (since she has definitely got more page views than me). Take a look at our meal.

As you can see, we had a bone-in ribeye with creamed spinach. It was very delicious and one of the mos enjoyable no carb meals I've had!!!

We ended the night meeting my co-workers at the Signature Room Lounge on the 96th floor of the Hancock Center on Michigan Avenue. The view was amazing, definitely the best view of the city. There are windows surrounding the lounge, so you can walk around the whole floor for various views of the city. I would definitely recommend as a must see if ever in Chicago.

Ericka: Party Pooper (7.10.13)

Yesterday I had a rather relaxing afternoon. I took a nice long nap before we went to Wrigleyville.

We went to a cool rooftop bar. Chris and i were joined by his 3 female co-workers who are all tiny & petite and can eat whatever they want. in fact they did eat whatever they wanted, because as they proclaimed "it's vacation!". I had hummus with veggies for my appetizer, 1 of Chris' steak skewers, and 1/2 a baja burger (avocado, pepper jack, jalapeños, red onion& tomato). I had 2 drinks, 1st a sparkling cranberry made with champagne and of course cranberry juice. I asked for sugar free juice and the waitress looked at me like I was crazy. Then I discovered they had skinny girl margarita so I had one of those too. I was so stuffed that I was thankful for the little extra I got in from walking from place to place.

The only thing is that it kinda sucked to repeatedly have say "no I don't want to try you nachos, I'm not eating carbs right now" and "I'm sure that fried corn dog tastes as good as it looks, but it's off limits for me". After a while I just say "doesn't suck to have to go to dinner with someone who is on a diet?" We laughed and that was the end of the food offerings.

This morning I put in a good hour of working out. I did 2 NTC workouts, because they are so convenient. First up was the 30 min shedder, then 15 min on a spin bike and then NTC  15 minute lean leg workout. I'm up to 164 minutes; only 136 more minutes to go for the week.

Now I am off to explore this wonderful city by foot!

E

Chris: Setback (7.10.13)

Just let me say, I hate to admit this but my loyalty to the blog and blog viewers will not allow me to be dishnest. I had a brownie, but not even a whole one, which really pisses me off. In the words of Craig (i.e. Ice Cube) in Friday said, "I had a half of lil piece of joint" (In my case joint = brownie, lol). Was it worth it....................HELL NO!!!! But let me break it down for you and how it happened. So I'm at a work training and we go to lunch. What are they serving, you ask. There is salad with ceasar dressing, penne pasta with side of marinara and/or meat sauce and beadsticks that looked as if they were possibly the best bradsticks ever made (maybe that was because I knew I couldn't eat it). So, what do I do.........................Here's what I ate. I had the salad with no dressing, meat sauce with no pasta, roasted bell peppers and NO breadstick. Boo-yah baby, no carbs!!!! And I was cool, but then 2 hours later, training is getting long, and I'm getting super tired, I mean like my head bobbing in class I'm so tired. So at 3pm, we get a break, so I get up and to my dismay, there is a tray of brownies of all sorts. BUT, I say "no", and I go to the restroom but when I get back they are staring me in the face. AND I CAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!! After the 2nd bite, I'm just thinking, "it wasn't worth it"!!!!

But, I couldn't let it define Day 2. For dinner, I ate steak skewers and chicken and I'm right back on track. I really wanted to say "Eff it for the day", but Ericka got my mind right, and I didn't want to make it a total waste of Day 2, so I stood strong.

As for exercising, I did a good bit of walking today, so I would count that as about 20 minutes of exercise, but didn't hit my goal of 50 minutes. That's okay though, just ran out of time so I'll make it up this week.

Honestly guys, not sure y'all know how hrd it was to tell on myself but thought it would be unfair to y'all to not be honest. The point of this blog is for me and Ericka to share our experiences, successes, failures, etc., so I'm glad I tol on myself. It also serves as motivation for me to right the ship. Back on track tomorrow

Ericka: Dieting & Vacationing (7.9.13)

Dieting and vacationing are 2 things that don't mix well unless you are on a vacation for recovering eataholics. I'm sure they have those. I envision lots of nature walks, swimming, bike tours and other physical activities  plus healthy food options. I mean they gotta have it. There is something for everyone out there. I just saw a commercial for a dating site for people who like men/women in uniforms or who just like to wear uniforms, but I digress.

So how do you diet while on vacation? When on vacation you tend to eat more and drink more. Hello it's a vacation! But don't let that vacation ruin all of your hard work. You have to create a plan of attack. You know you are going to eat out, so look up the menu before you go and choose a delicious but diet friendly meal. Choose your alcohol wisely. Try a nice glass of merlot or a diet coke and rum. Go light on drinks that have sugar or are premixed. Bring work out clothes. If you are staying in a hotel , hit the gym at least twice for every 5 days of vacation. If you don't have a gym take advantage of the place your are in and take a nice jog, a scenic bike tour or a walk. Just make sure you know where you are going, and you stay safe. I can't wait to walk up and down the magnificent mile a.k.a Michigan avenue and look at all of the clothes, shoes, and purses i wish i could buy. With all of that said, it is still your vacation so have fun, live a little, and indulge a little more just be ready to work extra hard when you get back.

In preparation for my vacation, I drank 3 smoothies yesterday (breakfast, lunch and dinner) as a mini cleanse from my cheat days and in preparation for the food I will be eating at the taste of Chicago. I did have a very little bit of my day's famous white beans yesterday, sans the rice, b/c my 3rd smoothie wasn't as hardy as the others and it was smaller. Then this morning I got in 50 minutes of exercise (20 min on the elliptical in the bikram garage and a 30 min NTC workout), I had one more large smoothie for breakfast and then I was off.

So how am i doing on day 2 of the challenge? Well I've put in 104 minutes of exercise (only 196 to go for this week) I ate dinner with my son, parents, and joe at the dinner table  without any distractions (Deuce is getting so good at feeding himself, and he is so independent, he's not my little baby anymore, le tear, le sigh) and I have yet to eat a bad carb yet. 2 days down, 28 more to go. Chris left for Chi-town a few days earlier so of course I couldn't eat dinner with him, but he is with his work family, and I hear he had lovely dinner with them.

Ciao,
E

Chris: Starting off with a bang (7.8.13)

So, day 1 was definitely a success!!!! I hate to skip meals as it is not healthy, but due to a lack of healthy options on my way to work, I decided to pass on breakfast. However, that is not the plan going forward. But at least I accomplished the goal of no carbs, lol. Anyways, my lunch consisted of a salad with all the fixins' but no salad dressing. And even though I went out to dinner, I had fish (can't remember the name) topped with crabmeat and a side of Kale (Superfoood!!! Google it, I'm serious). So, my eating choices were definitely on point today, so I was pretty pumped about that.

Now, the 2nd challenge was to get 300 minutes of exercise a week. Glad to announce that I worked out for 55 minutes (25 minutes - Elliptical), 15 minutes - Treadmill, 15 minutes - Weights). I know you may be thinking only 15 minute on weights???????  Well, last I checked, I'm not getting signed by the Saints in the near future so I'm focusing more on cardio rigt now and lifting light weights to lose weight. Once I get down closer to my desired weight, I will focus on a 50/50 balance.

As for the 3rd challenge, I have to admit that we didn't accomplish that goal :(. But there is a good reason that I will explain later this week in detail.

P.S. Could anyone reading this give me some good stations on Pandora? I've been listening to "Hip Hop BBQ" station for the last month while working out, and it's a good playlist, check it out if you don't have it. However, jusst looking to switch it up a little bit. Thanks.

Out,
Chris

Ericka: Girls Love Beyonce (7.8.13)

Last night I saw King Bey at Essence Music Festival 2013. I've seen her several times, with and without the girls of Destiny's Child, and like every other time I've seen her perform SHE SHUT IT DOWN. So you best believe after that performance I got up at 6:00 a.m. and worked out.  I once fooled myself into thinking I could drop it like it's hot like Beyonce. I told myself "all it is is momentum". So shortly after watching her perform at the Superbowl I tried to drop it like it was hot. Mind you I was in an elevator, by myself of course, on my way up to work when I decided to try this feat. I almost blew my knee out! I was crying laughing, because I could not believe I just attempted that and almost injured myself.  Yes, I may never achieve Beyonce status, and yes I know she has chefs, personal trainers and more at her disposal, but if you don't aspire for greatness then what are you striving for? Mediocrity? So choose your fitness idol and get on it. I chose, Beyonce as 1 of my many fitness idols because she is a mom, a wife, a successful business woman and b/c that girl can work it!

So today started our challenge. For 30 days we cannot eat starchy carbs, we have to do 300 minutes of exercise a week, and we have to eat a meal together at the table without any distractions. Leading up to the start of the challenge we had 3 cheat days. I didn't go overboard really, but yesterday I ate chips with home made pico de gallo and queso, a very small portion of my sister's healthy stir fry, a mini ice cream sandwich, a mini meatball and a small serving of spinach and artichoke dip. This morning I woke up with a stomach ache. My friend, the good doctor Brooke, suggested that I may be lactose intolerant like many other African-Americans. I do recall in the past that I used to get this icky feeling in my stomach and throat in the past, but I could never pinpoint the reason. It's funny how when you remove things from your diet and try to put them back you discover what your body can and cannot tolerate.

Now on to today's workout. 

1. Move Your Body (how apropos)- 4 min
2. Elliptical- 20 min
3. Nike Training Club Wipeout Workout- 30 min
1. SN: I did the workout while listening to Jay Z's MCHG and the album seems to be pretty good
4. Yoga Stretches- 6 min

Total time (not including yoga)= 54 minutes. I have 246 minutes to go in order to complete this challenge.

Have a wonderful Monday

Chris: Let's get this party started!! (7.7.13)

Ok, so the 30 day challenge is on. Our no salt detox is off and on to our challenges. We let Deuce pick them this morning, and I believe Ericka linked the footage in her blog, so check out my lil man. He was made for the camera!!! Our challenges will be tough this month, but I think if we can accomplish these goals, the future goals will definitely be attainable. Our eaitng challnge is no carbs, ftness challenge is 300 minutes of exercise a week and our family goal is eating one meal a day as a family. And while I know the family goal sounds simple, it is harder than you think. It is quite easy for Ericka and I to split up tasks when we get home in order to get our daily duties done, such as I bathe Deuce while Ericka eats or I'll eat while Ericka reads a book to Deuce, etc. I am most excited about the family goal as it will force us to all take at least 30 minutes in the evening together and enjoy each other's company. This is definitely a challenge that we plan to incorporate into our daily routine even after the 30 days are completed. Some of my bes memories and conversations growing up were when I was eating dinner with my parents and brother, or watching the news while at dinner with my grandparents and the event on the news sparking a conversation about something that happend to my grandfather when he was a kid. Also, growing up in a very sports dominated household, my family (mom, dad and brother) would watch the French Open and Wimbledon (Tennis Major Tournaments) over breakfast every year.

Now, I want to give a shout out to our friend, Catherine and Andrea who put us on these Nike Training workouts via a Nike Training app. It's a variety of 45 minute workouts, and the workout was OFFICIAL!!! I mean I was sweating like I just went through a 2 hour football practice in full pads, lol. It was a great workout and one I want to continue, especially considering the 50 minutes of daily exercise I need 6 days a week in order to achieve the 300 minutes of exercise in a week goal. I have now come across this Nike + Fuel band that goes on your wrist and tracks your calories. I'll let y'all know when I get it but it may be a few weeks because I have another very important purchase this week...............NCAA Football '14 for the PS3. Me and my 2 friends have consistently played this game for over 15 years but I digress.

Tomorrrow is Day 1 of our challenges. It's time to GO HARD or GO HOME. And I don't plan on going home anytime soon baby ( I know that was lame but give me a break, lol) Alright y'all, I'll check back tomorrow and discuss day 1.

Ericka: Questions Answered 7.7.13

A few have asked the purpose of some of the challenges, particularly the diet challenges. Some of the challenges are meant to break bad habits. For instance the no carbs challenge. We do not plan on adopting a no carbs forever diet, and we are only giving up starchy carbs, however this challenge will help break our addiction to bad carbs. Our hope is to break the addiction and going forward limit our starchy carbs intake. Other challenges, we hope to adopt as a part of our healthy lifestyle like the drink 64oz of water a day.  Same with the fitness challenges. Some we hope to adopt into our everyday lives, e.g. jog 3 times a week challenge, and some are meant to change up our workout routine and add a little fun to our regimen like our learn the choreography of our favorite music video challenge.

We decided to make things changes to our health and fitness in 30 day increments, because if we tried to adopt all of the changes at once, we would probably burn out quickly and quit. I've done that so many times before. I would go hard in the paint and then get tired and quit in the 3rd quarter. We are trying to build a healthy lifestyle brick by brick. For some, bad carbs may not be the addiction. Perhaps it's cheese or desserts, etc. Whatever it is challenge yourself to give it up for 30 days, and at the end of that 30 dy period perhaps you will realize you don't need it.

 If you want to maintain your current weight eat well balanced meals, indulge in the food you love from time to time, but in moderation of course, and exercise. If you want to lose weight you have to create a calorie deficit through diet and exercise. 1 pound equals 3500 calories so if you want to lose weight you have burn more calories then you eat. A great personal trainer, Sonia Badon, told me to eat for fuel not in order to eat whatever you want. Otherwise you may, and i mean may, lose weight but you may also have high cholesterol or some other ailment.

I'm not a dietician, but we all know what we have to do in order to lose weight. It is just a matter of doing it. Remember at the end of the day it's all about moderation. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. You don't want to be the person who never eats ice cream or a potato, because that would not be fun and you would probably be miserable. You also don't want to be the person who doesn't know when to put down the cookie and pick up an apple.

Alright guys, if you have anymore questions ask them in the comment section or Email them to us at windons504@gmail.com.

Deuces,

E

Ericka: Challenges Picked & Accepted (7.7.13)

Today is the day. We picked the challenges and on Monday we start. I was so nervous when we picked. I was just hoping the "no alcohol" challenge was not picked. No alcohol on vacation would be a major buzz kill. Chris was hoping that the "no carbs" challenge did not get picked. Well one of us lucked out.

Before picking the challenges we weighed in, calculated our body fat percentages, BMI and took our measurements. We will do the same thing 30 days later.

The Rules:

1. Create 1-3 challenge categories and then put at least 5 challenges in each category. Pick a challenge out of each category. We chose 3 categories, and we placed 12 challenges in each category. You can come up with your own or use ours
1. Diet
2. Exercise
3. Random: Love, Relationships, Charity, Finance & Misc
2. For 30 days you have to do that challenge without cheating
1. Q. My cousin Blake asked why 30 days? Why not 44 since it goes with your 4 yrs, 4 love pounds etc. preamble? 
2. A. Because it takes 30 days to make a habit. Our goal is to not only do the challenge for 30 days, but to also, hopefully, make the challenge a habit
3. Whatever the challenge is do it in a healthy way. For instance, one of our challenges is to be a pescatarian for 30 days. That does not mean we can eat all of the fried seafood that we want.
3. After 30 days you get 3 cheat days.
1. Warning: Do not go overboard, because you will pay for it. Especially if you drastically alter your diet from one extreme to another. The end result will probably be an upset stomach. 
4. CAVEAT: We are not doctors. These challenges are based on our health and lifestyle goals. Please consult a physician before doing the diet and exercise challenges. Most importantly listen to your body!

Are you ready?!? We allowed Deuce to pick the challenges. We need to work on the concept of only picking 1 from each bowl. Chris also needs to work on speaking a little louder and articulating, but I must say it was a bit early for both of them.

If you couldn't hear what Chris said the challenges are:

1. No Carbs
2. 300 minutes of exercise a week
3. Eat a meal together at the table

So the no carbs thing is going to suck, especially since we just came off a 2 week no whites detox a couple of days ago and Chicago is known for it's deep dish pizza, but at least I can eat one of Chi town's finest steaks. Almost everything contains a little bit of carbs so it would be impossible to eliminate all of them, but cut out the starchy kinds like bread, potatoes, rice etc.

The 300 minutes of exercise is going to be tough, but it's doable. On the days where it is hard to get a good stretch of uninterrupted exercising in, I will just have to spread my workout over the course of the day.

As for the eat a meal together at the table challenge, we came up with that one because we found ourselves taking turns eating. One of us would be cleaning or doing something with Deuce while the other one eats in front of the TV. So for 30 days we have to eat a meal at the table together with no distractions. That will be our time to discuss our day and connect as a family. Deuce is really doing well with feeding himself so that helps. If you're single, perhaps your challenge could be sit down and eat a meal at the table without any distractions. It will give you time to actually see what you are putting in your mouth instead of mindlessly shoveling in your mouth. You will probably also enjoy your food more. So treat yourself to a date with yourself and fix a nice healthy and delicious meal.

The challenge starts Monday July 8th and ends Tuesday August 6th. So enjoy your Sunday of freedom. I know I will! Good luck and don't forget to let us know how you are doing with your challenges by leaving a comment.

E

Ericka: I'm Spent! (7.6.13)

Woo chile! I just finished a Nike + Training Club workout, and it was official. I am dripping with sweat. My friends Cat and Andrea told me about the app, which is free, and I'm so glad they did. If you don't have the app get it now.

I did a 45 minute intermediate interval training workout called "Fire Drill." I made Chris wake up and do it with me, after my usual dance warm up. We had to do froggers, lateral jumps, push ups, sit ups, planks, tuck jumps, lunges and more. There were built in 1 minute rest periods, and believe me you need them.

What I like about the app is that it gives you various options such as get lean, get toned, get strong and get focused (specific target area workouts). Then within those options you have to choose between beginner, intermediate and advanced, and within those options you have several workouts that range in time from  15-45 minutes. I can't wait to do another one.

Also you would be so proud of your girl. I went to the Melting Pot last night for a friend's birthday, and all I had was 2 lettuce wraps stuffed with veggies and a glass of Merlot. The scale thanked me for it.

Happy Saturday,

E

Chris: Holidays are HARD!!! (7.5.13)

I know it's been a couple of days y'all, but I had my weekly bowling league Wednesday night and yesterday was the 4th of July. Anyways, we won 3 out of 4 games in our bowling league, and we are now #2 in the league. Fighting for that #1 spot, ya heard me.We in it to win it just like this 30 Days at a Time challenge.

Independence Day wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. First off, I woke and ran/walk 2 miles with Deuce in the stroller. Then, we went by Ericka's grandmother for festivities, so I swam for close to 3 hours!!!! I also ate pretty well, considering the circumstances. I had 2 pieces of bbq chick, 2 ribs and half a plate of white beans with no rice. And I didn't eat this all at once but over the course of 6 hours. So, all in all, I felt like it was a pretty successful day. The scale agreed with me as well as I was a pound lighter than yesterday.

I feel like I'm starting to hit my groove and am getting comfortable with the changes. However, I will be in Chicago for training in the near future and my fear is that it will be hard to eat as healthy while being in a hotel and not familiar with the city. Well, in the meantime, I'm just going to stay focused and cross that bridge when I get to it.

Ericka: Struggle Fest (7.5.13)

So I did my usual yoga stretches followed by 2 dance warm ups, then I spotted a "Sexy Chair Dance Workout" by Keaira LaShae. OMG, talk about struggle fest. I got a work out from the tutorial portion alone. If you know me, then you know I am uncoordinated and super clumsy. This girl had me jump up and down on a chair several times in rapid succession. Then there was the awkward moment when I thought the routine was over and then she made me do the same thing on the other side! LAWDEE! And that was just the tutorial. When she put the routine to music, I was a hot mess. Nothing sexy. Just struggle fest. But all I have to say to that workout routine is "Challenge Accepted!" I am going to try that routine over and over again until I get it down pat, and then I'm going to do it over and over again until I actually look good doing it. I was supposed to do pop pilates afterwards, but I'm done. I'm spent.

I'm so clumsy that my children will be clumsy. In fact, my son is already clumsy. Sorry Chris, but I don't see super athlete in the future.  I found this YouTube clip, and all I could think was "my daughter's future". Sorry little future baby girl.

By the way, I actually didn't do too bad yesterday with the eating. My family stepped up and added some healthy options (veggie shish kabob, naked ribs & chicken) so that made it a lot easier to say no to the potato salad, and one of my favorite desserts, punch bowl cake.  I made Kale chips, which wasn't enough to go around so I ate it as a pregame snack, and I also made an avocado salsa. I had a little bit of all the above, and sipped on some Skinny Girl Margarita. I hope your 4th of July game plan went just as well.

Just as good as chips

Avocado Salsa w/ Fat Free Feta

Veggie Shish Kabobs

Make Mine Skinny

Be Blessed,

E