Don't Call It A Comeback

Hey, Gorgeous Dreamers! Wow, it has been a long time since my last post. Many kind people have asked what I've been up to, so I thought I would give you a quick update on what has been going on in my life.

#1: I became a Stella & Dot Stylist! I ABSOLUTELY adore anything that relates to fashion and accessories, so when I found out about the opportunity to become a Stylist, I jumped on the opportunity! I will do an in-depth post on my journey as a Stylist, why I joined, what's exactly a Stylist, etc. If you can't wait for that post, then I suggest you take a look at my boutique by clicking here.

 

#2: My Hubby and I have been married almost 2 years! It seems like only yesterday I was writing a post on how we planned a debt free wedding in 6 months (click here to take a look). We are both enjoying the married life and I plan on keeping you updated on our fun dates, trips, and also, how we're growing closer to God.

#3: I did not finish Hip Hop Abs :( For those that followed my Hip Hop Abs fitness journey, I apologize for not keeping you updated! Life got in the way and I didn't get to finish the full 30 day fitness plan. #thestruggleisreal However, I do plan on either tying the Hip Hop Abs again or trying a completely different approach to getting fit. Are there any fitness programs that you enjoy? Let me know in the comments!

#4: I am now working with a few awesome clothing and home-ware brands! Stay tuned for some giveaways ;)

#5: I have begun to cook A LOT of shrimp! My hubby and I's primary meat we ate for dinner used to be chicken, but now shrimp is number one! I am the type of person that can eat seafood all day, every day, so this change has been really enjoyable for me. I plan on posting many of the dishes that I have learned for you guys.

#6: I had my wisdom teeth removed! I was super nervous because I never had to get any tooth work done and the thought of a needle going into my gums just got me lightheaded. But, I am proud to say that I had 3 wisdom teeth taken out (I was born with only 3) and was awake during the procedure. My dentist was extremely gentle and I didn't even feel when he gave me the multiple numbing shots in my mouth. The worst part was the crunching sound during the extraction! You know like when you have a jolly rancher or a lollipop and then you bite it? That biting sound in your head is the same sound as removing a tooth. 

#7: I found a way to alleviate my painful migraines that come during a specific time of the month! Stay tuned for an in-depth post about my findings!

Thank you so much for taking the time to catch up with me today! I have to give a shout out to Theresa for making my layout as well as my cover photo on my Facebook page. You can take a look at her Etsy page by clicking here. 

Hip Hop Abs: Week 2 Burn

Day 14: Shaun T just took it to a whole nother level yall! Today I did the workout "Total Body Burn" and I was like whaaaat!!! First of all the session is 41min long. So far a normal session is like 25-29 minutes, so that threw me off. This man had me on all fours at one  point throwing my legs back, doing push-ups (still working on that), along with this move called the three tiered squat. My body is STILL shaking even after the workout is completed. I hope I'm not sore tomorrow.

Day 15-18: So I could not workout during this period because of how sore I am. The squats that I had to do in "Total Body Burn" now will not even allow me to walk fast! To everyone else it may seem like I'm just taking my time walking around, but to me I'm trying to speed walk. I can't sit down without moving in slow motion. Using the bathroom is another hassle because you actually have to squat to sit on the toilet! 

Day 19-20: Whew! It seems that my body is finally able to move at normal speed now. I thought I was going to be feeling stiff forever. I hope that my muscles don't feel extra sore after I start working out again. 

Either way, giving up is simply not an option

.

Hip Hop Abs: Day 9 Devotion

Working out in the morning is tough! Well, the actual workout (Ab Sculpt) that I completed today wasn't tough, but now I'm extra tired. I wanted to try working out before 11:00 AM  because I knew that I would have a busy day today. Luckily, I'm not feeling sore at all just a little bit stiff in my back. 

The whole "absolute engagement" that Shaun talks about is really strengthening my core so I understand that I may be a bit stiff for a while (nothing painful thank goodness). I think what I'm going to do is start updating you guys on a weekly basis instead of a daily basis but take notes on the different days that way you can get a quicker idea of my changes.

See you soon!

Weight Aint Nothing But A Number

I often hear people say "you don't look like you weigh that much," "you weigh the same as her?" or "no, you can't weigh that". I just want to remind everyone that how much someone exactly weighs can't be seen with the naked eye. Everyone has different body shapes/ sizes and various muscle vs fat. 

Remember one pound of muscle takes up less space than one pound of fat. Don't workout to lose weight and be sad if it doesn't happen quickly. Instead, workout to gain muscle and get rid of unnecessary/unhealthy fat. You can do it!

Hip Hop Abs: Day 5 Motivation

Today is the 5th day of my journey (woohoo). Technically it should be my 6th day, but I had a reallyyy busy day yesterday so I decided not to workout. I also thought that I would workout on Sunday instead of "resting" to make up for the time I didn't work out. 

Today's sessions included "Fat Burning Cardio" and "Ab Sculpt."  I didn't realize this before, but "Ab Sculpt" also incorporates a lot of arm movement! I hope I get some guns! Hah! My body is kind of sore after the workout, but not like day 1 and 2. I find that after I take a hot shower I feel a little better.

Hip Hop Abs: Day 4

So I decided to follow the workout schedule (shown here) and not  work out yesterday in order to rest my body. Although, a part of me did want to work out because I am really enjoying the Hip Hop Abs DVD.  

In today's workout I endured another high tempo session of "Fat Burning Cardio" for 30 minutes. On the bright side I did not have as much discomfort as the first time I completed the workout. I'm hoping that the more I do this specific session, the less challenging it will be for me. I wonder how challenging the other workouts will be. 

Either way I WILL get my abs!

Hip Hop Abs: Day 3 is fun!

I am excited to say that I have finally come across a part of the DVD that does not have my back sore and stiff! Woohoo! According to my workout schedule today is "Ab Sculpt" day and I really like it. I have been wondering when I would get to the part of the DVD that actually has my abs feeling sore and this was definitely the part I was thinking about. As I am writing this blog post my abs are feeling..okay. I know that I did a workout but it doesn't feel like when I was actually in the moment of the workout. 

One of the things I love about the "Ab Sculpt" portion of the workout is that Shaun mixes things up and has a couple of moves that are done almost laying completely on the ground. I honestly felt excited to whip out my yoga mat for this portion. The main goal is to have "absolute engagement" with your abs. This is when you are engaging your core, and essentially the (hiding) abs that you have. Tomorrow is supposed to be a "rest" day, but I may work out again. 

We shall see ;)

Hip Hop Abs: Day 2 Soreness

Oh. My. Gosh.

I can't even begin to explain the stiffness in my back right now. For a brief moment when I woke up everything was fine. Then BAM! Tightness, soreness, and a hint of pain was all I could think of. The hubby says that the workouts that I am doing at the moment are targeting my core, and back, and that is something I have never done before. Here is my basic workout schedule for the moment:

Even though I was feeling extremely sore this morning (I still am), I knew I had to continue with the program. Today I wanted to switch things up a bit and do "Cardio Grove". It was SUPER fun and a bit challenging for a person with a stiff back. There were some funky moves like "Afro Slide," Kriss Kross," and the Smooth Walk. I hope that the more I work out the less sore my body will be. If not, I'm just going to have to work out every other day.

Wish me luck!

Hip Hop Abs: First Impression

I can't believe it, today is the first day that I have tried Shaun T's Hip Hop Abs! Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to have defined abs, so when I first saw the commercial for the Hip Hop Abs DVD I knew I had to purchase it. Luckily for me, my sister-in-law let me borrow her copy.

Before I get into my first impressions of the DVD, let me give you a little background about myself. I currently weigh 118.6 pounds, about 5'6'', I don't like running, hiking, or doing any strenuous activity. I absolutely love doing things like eating, yoga, and lots of reading. Since I have gotten married I have started to notice some extra weight around my stomach which is weird for me. Even though I don't have a gallbladder and it is hard for me to gain weight, it is still possible for me to be unhealthy and that's why I want to live a healthy lifestyle. I am also a cancer survivor! 

So with that in mind lets get into my first day.

The way Hip Hop Abs work is your first month you start out with the basic Fat Burning Cardio and then at your second month you work into more challenging workouts. The workout I did was only 30 minutes long but it was so fun! Shaun really takes the time to break down every single move he is doing to make sure you get great results. I'm not going to lie, the whole "tilt, tuck, tighten" was a bit hard for me at first while I was dancing, but I think I will get used to it as I continue the workouts. 

Let's pray I'm not sore in the morning!