VP Health & Fitness

So…if you haven’t already noticed, I’ve been gone a while. 

Work is still busy as heck but it’s getting easier and more manageable.  I really miss blogging.  It’s what has kept me on track & connected to my fitness routine , fitness world & virtual support and friends.  In these past 3 months I have “started” my fitness routine more than 10 times but have never finished or even gotten through the 1st week! 

The only person that I have to blame is myself… I’ve let my full time schedule become an excuse for not working out & choosing healthy foods.  And now… here I am half way into the year & I have not accomplished one single GOOD thing for my body!  In turn, I am the heaviest that I have EVER been & very unhappy with myself. 

So, I will start once again. 

That’s the beauty of this fitness journey; you can start right now…. TODAY. 

All the success stories that I have ever read had some kind of starting point. So why don’t we make our start today?!

So, inlight of starting over I will be entering the 2nd Turbulence Training transformation contest that started yesterday, May 1st.  I’m planning to make my ”official” start day this coming monday May 5th, but it all really depends if I can get my pictures & starting stats in on time.  If you want to join me, here are some FAQ’s that you can use:

There is no “official” sign up sheet.  All you really have to do to enter is email or post (at the TT members website) your before and after photos anytime before August 23rd, 2008 (your 12 week transformation must start between May 1st-May 31st, 2008).

You also need to own the Turbulence Training System.

You can find out more information including the offical rules & regulations HERE.

 That’s all I have time for right now… I hope all of you are doing well!

Looking foward to a better, fitter & healthier 2nd part of 2008!

Blessings,

~ Vilma

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I just received an email from John Berardi and it has to do with Green Tea, which is by far one of my FAVORITE drinks - cold or hot!  I thought I would share it with my readers because it has some very useful and insightful tips that i’m sure you all can use! 

Enjoy!!!

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From the desk of Dr. Berardi:

Nowadays, pretty much everyone has accepted that tea (especially the green kind) offers some tremendous health benefits including:

• Anti-cancer properties
• Improved cardiovascular health
• Metabolism boosting properties
• And more…

However, not everyone knows the other important stuff - such as:

1. Green vs. Black vs. White
   What’s the difference between black, white, green, and herbal.  And how these differences can impact your body.
2. EGCG and Antioxidants
   How tea does its magic in your body, including how this EGCG stuff you hear so much about really works.
3. Milk and Tea
   How adding milk to tea might actually ruin its health benefits!
4. Loose vs. bags
   How to choose between loose leaf tea and tea bags. Green tea is not green tea.
5. Tea vs. Supplements
   Which is better and what to be careful with.
6. Tea and Taste
   How to use tea as a recipe ingredient vs. just drinking it hot.

In the end, unless you’re already a tea connoisseur, I guarantee you’ll learn something new in this week’s update.

So…. go check it out!!!!

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/cmd.php?pageid=612727&t=11407

Enjoy!

~ Vilma

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I gotta start this post off by asking a question for those of you that have full time jobs & still manage to juggle home life, workout life, church life, etc…

“HOW DO YOU DO IT???!!!”   

Things have been CRAZY for me these last 2 weeks.  I’m still trying to get use to handling a full time job & the other things that I had time to do before (church, home life, exercise, keeping up with blogs & updating my own, etc…)

I must admit that last week I DID NOT workout.  I would get home & just feel soo drained that I would opt to sit my butt down on my comfy sofa & watch TV.  I’m surprised that I didn’t gain weight when I measured myself this past Saturday.  To top things off, TOTM arrived and is in full swing along with cravings, bloating & all other symptoms that come with it.  Besides that, I’ve been good.  I like my new job a lot, although I do miss the laid back atmosphere of my old job.  I’m debating whether or not to buy a new wardrobe because I am planning to be skinnier as the days go by.  My old job didn’t really have a dress code  so for 8 years I wore jeans & tennis shoes and only once in a while did I dress up.  Now it’s dressing up (slacks, nice shoes, dressy shirts) every day.  I seriously need a makeover — can someone call ‘how do I look’ or‘what not to wear’ - PLEASE???!!!!!  

On a good note, I walked for 40 minutes during my lunch hour yesterday.  According to map my run, it was a good 2.27 miles. I know it’s not enough but it’s something. I am planning to go to the gym in about 30 mins to get some strength training done so I better end it here for now…

BTW, have you all heard what FINALLY made the news… SUGAR SUBSTITUTES MAY CONTRIBUTE TO WEIGHT GAIN. This is one of main goals for this year - elimination of all if not most of these.  What do you all think?

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Here are my measurements & stats for the month of January:

• 19.5 inches lost
• 4.3% body fat lost
• 8.5 lbs lost
• Muscle Gained: 2.3335 lbs
• Fat Loss: 10.8335 lbs
• Scale Weight Loss: 8.5 lbs

The 14’s are starting to feel more confortable now - even a bit loose.  12’s are in sight as well as “ONEderland” !!!

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VP Health and Fitness has been nominated for a 2008 Bloggers Choice Award in the category of Best Health Blog. 

I NEED YOUR VOTES!!!!!! 

This means you will need to click on the badge below and vote.  Voting requires you to sign up — this is super easy and DOES NOT MEAN they will send you anything.  You have to do it to vote.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE??  (Am I begging?!  Yes, I believe I am.) 

For reference, last year’s winners for Best Health Blog were: 1st place with 212 votes was Scienceroll.com, a journey inside genetics and medicine, 2nd place with 178 votes was Fitsugar.com, about fitness and celeb fitness, and 3rd place with 125 votes was Fightingfatigue, a blog that provides support and information for those who suffer with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

So, again… I would appreciate your support! 

Thanks!

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Well, there was a move in the scale this past week - but not in the direction I would of liked it to go…

Here are are the weekly updates for my Friendly Fitness Wager:

Week #2 - Weight Loss this week: + 2lbs

Week #2 - Body Fat Loss this week: 1.45 %

And listed below are additional weekly stats & measurements… makes me feel SOOOOO much better about the weight gain!

*Note: This online BF% Calculator is about 3-5% lower than my callipers test & BIA body fat test done at the gym. I personally add about 4 points to this number.

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Inches lost this past week: 2.5 inches
TOTAL inches lost since Jan 1, 2008: 15.25 inches

Weekly TOTAL Fat Lost: 2.301 lbs
Weekly TOTAL Lean Mass Gained: 4.301 lbs
Weekly TOTAL Scale Weight loss: -2 lb (gained) 

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GRAND TOTAL 2008 Fat Loss: 9.976 pounds
GRAND TOTAL 2008 Lean Mass Gained: 3.976 pounds
GRAND TOTAL 2008 Scale Weight Loss: 6 pounds

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And… I hope John doesn’t mind, but i’m gonna borrow this ideas from him because I think it’s GREAT!

Things I did GREAT this week:

• I lifted weights 3 times
• I tracked my food on sparkpeople
• I ate pretty clean all week

Things I did not so GREAT this week:

• I didn’t do scheduled cardio
• I ate pretty bad on the “weak”end

These past two days i’ve been struggling with FTG (fat girl thinking) a lot.  I think the scale weight had  alot to do with it - and I let it get to me.  I have to constantly be reminding myself that it’s just a number on the scale and that I still lost fat and inches…  My goal was to be under 200 lbs by Feb - but it looks like that won’t happen for another 2 weeks or so I hope… we’ll see & i’ll keep ya’ll updated. 

~ Vilma

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