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.