Game Day: Start of Football Commercial Workouts!

Hey NeverEver's!

Welcome to Football season! I understand if you aren't a football person, I wasn't until about 3 years ago, so I understand. However, I am a New Orleans Saints Fan all the way, they brought me into the game. Also this is the first game of the season for my guys! So of course I am watching it!!!

Don't you just LOVE the Black and Gold colors? 

However, I am just not used to sitting down and not doing anything. It also doesn't help that on some Game Days, both the Hubby's and my team is playing. So that means we have 2 games to watch, if they aren't on the same time. So I decided to create a 'New Orleans Saints Commercial Workout' - Man that is a mouth full.

It is doable...I did it. Although the Russian Twists is not my favorite things in the world...okay I hate them. But they must be done!

Let me know what you guys think about this okay? First time I ever did anything like this!

Okay so I promise to have my Daily Stats tonight! Friday, Saturday and Today shall be yours!!

BodyPump Tuesday: Day 29 + Over Eating

Hey NeverEver's!

So I have gone to the BodyPump Les Mils 4 times, do you think its a habit yet? All I know is that it still takes me through the wringer. And of course I love it! I do have to say that I pushed myself a little harder in this class, I think to make up for the fact that I missed last week. I put on more weights then I have done before and I am feeling it!

Here is an after print of my shirt!

Front of Tank

Me with the tank on

Back of Tank

So I have to say I don't think it looks as much as from my Spin Workout from yesterday but I really felt like I did.

I do have to say I am disappointed myself with my food choices today. I was great with my pancakes, not using butter to cook it! Even better with my favorite dish for lunch, PASTA. I had a small portion and a large portion of carrots. It was only 459 calories. However, I messed up with dinner. First I didn't really have dinner I had dessert. Second, I wasn't hungry when I ate the dessert and I still couldn't stop from eating it.

So I added up the dessert calorie intake and it was 590 calories. If I had stuck with in my calorie intake from what I had left from Lunch I should have only had 373, which was fine. I already had my chicken ready for my protein after my workout.

Thinking about why I went out of my way to eat some dessert, and hiding it from the hubby, was boredom. Also, I was craving it for a while. Not that it is any excuse and I am very ashamed of myself because all while I was eating it I was telling myself 'You Shouldn't Eat This' and 'Why Are You Putting Yourself Through This?'.

Here is my Stats:

Even with me Over eating...I still Kicked @ss on my Workout!

I know that we all fall down and it is more important to make sure you get back on track! So I am not quitting this journey. It is a marathon not a sprint!

So NeverEver's how have you been able to pick yourself back up again after you fall down?

I am going to leave this here for me and for anyone else going through the same thing!

Tuesday Gym Day!

Hey NeverEver's!

When I first started working out in the gym there was all these machines that I really had no idea what to do with them. So I watched people while doing my cardio and looked up things online.

So today is my Gym Day! All about the numerous equipment and everything else that is in the gym! I am focusing on the arm and chest machines today!

Here was what I am able to find:

Incline Chest Press

As the name sounds like this machine works the chest. You keep your hand on the bars at least 6 to 12 inches wider then your shoulders to work that chest! Make sure that you keep your elbows in line with your hands not pointing them down to the ground.

Lateral Raise Machine

 This machine works your shoulders...and trust me you DO feel it! Raise your arms to your shoulder length and make them parallel to the floor. As you are lowering them don't quite touch your body!

Cable Machine Overhead Triceps Extension 

  So you start with your arms behind your head feet staggered, start with your elbows bent 90 degrees by your ears, holding the bar behind your head and then extend the bar to over your head.

Cable Machine Biceps Curl

As you can see this is the same machine as above! You adjust the pulley on the machine as close to the floor as possible and then curl your bar the up towards your chest.  A full extension is when you go from up as you can see from the picture then to all the way down to your thighs. Make sure your keep your elbow is bent so you don't over extend yourself.


Okay NeverEver's these are the machines that I wanted to post today! I hope you have enjoyed and learned something with me!

You can find more about the machines Here and Here

Self Magazine Monthly Stand Outs

Hey NeverEver's!

I am really liking the feeling of these Magazine Stand Outs! So this is my Self September Magazine Stand Outs!

I really do love my Self magazines!

Here is what I thought Stood Out!

• Exercises with access to an Online community were more apt to stick to their routine! You feel motivated even if you are just reading other peoples exercise posts! 
• Jump Rope is an under used but great calorie burner! You do 14 minutes and you burn up to 13 calories a minute! 
• Nearly half of ALL eating takes place between main meals! So for the first week of a new Healthy Living Plan record what you are eating and when. Once you see that information it is easier to make changes!
• Almonds are actually good for your skin! Almonds have vitamin E which brightens drab skin!
• Want to build muscles? Then you need to lift heavy, like 10+ pounds. How do you know when its the right pounds? When the last 2 reps make you want to grunt you know you have it right!
• You should aim for at least 25 grams of fiber a day! Because fiber moves slowly through your stomach it keeps you full longer!
• Don't forget to brag about what you have accomplished! Even if its just a post saying 'Just got out of the gym!'
• We have all been told that we should set up little rewards when we accomplish something...but we should also have 'consequences' as well. Make a bet with a friend or a loved one and if you don't make it then pay up!

Self had a great article about Money Nightmares on page 150. It really does touch upon all different things that make us worry about money. 

However, I cannot wait to personally try some of the meals on 'Self Diet Club' page 96! I mean who would have thought to put pumpkin seeds on a waffle?? 

What to Eat after Working Out

Hey NeverEver's!

You know when I finish a workout there is usually 1 of 2 things that happen.
1. I am starving
2. I don't want to eat

So I decided to review what to eat after working out. Because sooner or later after a workout I get hungry. Here are some of the ideas that I found;

• First make sure you are re-filling your body with water. Most 'Moderate' exercises will lose around 4 cups of water while working out. So you need to replace that water. Try drinking at least 16-20 ounces of water. What makes this easy is you can just re-fill that water bottle while heading out of the gym and drink it while you are heading home!
• I loved this one! While you are working out you are burning fat (we know this one ^_^) but when you eat right after working out the body is still burning the fat so it will not use THOSE calories to replace the ones you just burned!
• If you have been strength training for more then 60 minutes (You GO!) then you should try to have at least 10-15 grams of protein. 
• Ideally when you do eat after a workout...try to aim of half of the calories you burned. So if you burned 400 calories aim to eat something that is 200 calories. 
• Protein Protein Protein. However, it isn't best to have a 'solid' protein. Try getting a liquid one. Either in a shake form or even putting in some 'Whey Protein Powder' in that water you are taking on your way home. 2 Birds with 1 stone!

Not some bad tips. Good thing that I am 'almost' perfect on eating after my workout. However, I will keep working on this. I also found this! Some ideas on what to eat if you don't want to go the 'liquid' way

• Dried Fruit & Nutes
• Cottage Cheese with Fruit
• Yogurt with Fruit --- Extra Points for Greek Yogurt
• Vegetable Stir-fry with meet or tofu
• Bagel or English Muffin with Peanut Butter

I see some yummy food / snacks on this list. 

Well NeverEver's, are you more of a 'liquid' protein type or you gonna try to eat something a little more solid? Don't forget to check the references below for more information! 

Till next time NeverEver's!

Reference 1  Reference 2   Reference 3

Daily Stats: Less Breaks and Eating Opp's!

Hey NeverEver's!!

So how do you measure success? I used to say that success was losing weight, not that I worked at it before this. Then when I started working out I thought that success could be measured in how long I worked out in the gym. However, now I think success is not stopping in a class. Especially in a Weight or Cardio class.

And that is what I did today! This was my 3rd Tuesday with Les Mills Body Pump at the 24 Hour Fitness Compton Gym. Found out that 3rd time is a charm in not only making sure that I continue to come back but that I also don't take as many breaks during the workout. Except those abs...I shudder to think about the 'abs' workout. Breaks are still done with that one...but there was less I do have to say!

Doesn't this look fun?!?

I think the reason why I worked so hard today on my class is because I didn't pick a 'Healthy Choice' meal. Going to Corner Bakery, and they do have healthier choices, I choose to have pasta...and not even the small one I choose the large one! I total whopping 1140 calories in 1 serving.

This means that I have to work all the harder tomorrow and learn that though I made a stumble here...it doesn't throw my whole journey out of whack. I will make healthier choices even when working out!

Here is today's stats;

Oy...Don't want to repeat today

This isn't a day that I care to repeat.

So NeverEver's how do you pick yourself back up once a mistake was made? Did it take you a long time to get back on track?

Till Next Time NeverEver's!

Daily Stats: Day 14

Hey NeverEver's!

I hope your Monday was less stressful then mine! Had the first meeting with my new boss today. To talk over what was done in the past week, especially since she was gone for a lot of last week. So needless to say it was a kind of stressful day.

I was able to make it to the gym...if only to find that I didn't have any socks for my gym shoes. So today was a weight only type of day. I couldn't necessarily do my cardio in heels. Although, I have heard there is a marathon for woman in heels. Not sure if that is something we should be running in but hey more power to them who run in those things...I can barely walk.

Anyways, here is my Daily Stats;

I again need to work on more sleep!

  I did forget to weigh myself today, which was silly because its Monday and its my weigh day. But I will weigh myself tomorrow promise NeverEver's!

So NeverEver's...I found that it was very important to have socks for my shoes. What have you found necessary to have at the gym?

Workout of the Day: Cardio before or after Weights

Hey NeverEver's,

This one is a big debate. Even bigger then my previous debate Walking VS Jogging. If I keep doing these things maybe I should put them as 'Debate of the Day'. Let me know what you think NeverEver's!

Okay so here is what I learned about when to do your cardio.

You should do a warm up session before doing your weights. Nothing more then 10-15 minutes on a cardio machine of your choice. This is to warm up your muscles, get your blood moving and oxygen in your muscles as well.

After your warm up hit those weights! Don't be afraid of heading over to the 'Guys Area' of the Gym. NeverEver Ladies you know what I mean, that area! Pick of a pair of 5-10, or more, pounder's! You can even try a move or two on a barbel! Here are some slides and short video's on how to get those weights on!

6 Head-to-Toe Toning Moves
Barbell Toning Moves
Workout Routine's for Weights!




 After you are feeling the burn on either your chosen area, arms / legs / core, it is time to head back to the machines for the last time on this workout. Here is why;

1. Your muscles are actually more energized after pumping iron that you can go longer on your after cardio routine.
2. Because you burned your bodies 'glycogen stores' as fuel in your weight training, when you start your cardio you are now burning the stored fat on your body!  

Here is a few great articles if you want to read more up on this.
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3

So we learned here NeverEver's to save your cardio till after your pumped some iron! Of course if you are just going into the gym for cardio alone there is nothing wrong with that!

So which exercise did you find the most challenging? I always find lunges hard.

Okay well that is it for now NeverEver's!

Daily Stats: Day 10

Good Evening NeverEver's!

I have recently become addicted to pinterest! So if you see me twittering about some recipe or some motivational saying / background...well I hope you like it. Cause I ain't stopping ^_^. Also if you are part of pinterest let me know and I will follow you!

Okay so today was a good day...except that I forgot to make my lunch and went to jack in the box instead. I got the 4 chicken wings. I only went over my calorie limit by '2' points but it COULD have been avoided if I actually brought my healthy lunch.

So gotta do better tomorrow. In fact after I finish writing this I am going to go make my lunch for tomorrow.

Anyways, on to my workout portion of the day. I FINALLY got to the Huntington Beach 24 Hour Fitness. For those of you who like knowing things, I just started working in Huntington Beach right off the 405. So that gym is really close to me. I actually have to pass it to get on the freeway.

The gym is pretty awesome. Everything is up on the 2nd floor and there are multiple cardio machines but what I LOVE even more is that there are several, of the same type, of weight machines! So if 1 is taken you don't have to wait you can just move to the same machine in a different area! Genius!!

So basically my workout was 10 mins on the Elliptical, 45 mins doing weight's, and 10 mins on the Stair -Master! Which I am very proud of. Now I know 10 minutes isn't something that is awe-inspiring and all but before today I was never, that is right NEVER, able to do more then 5 minutes of the Stair Master! And, with today I was able to make it an even 10.

Next week I am going to hit for 15 minutes!

Here is my Daily Stats from BodyMedia!

I got more sleep this time!

So NeverEver's! I hope you didn't forget your lunch...or if you did you made healthier decisions then I did. But, what is a moment that you are most proud of? Was it finally going the next speed on the Treadmill? Or was it doing that perfect crunch? Let me know I really want to hear about it!

Good Night NeverEver's!

Workout of the Day: Favorite Machine

Hey NeverEver's,

So today's workout was still cardio but on a higher level then other days.
It was ALL gym today and I wanted to introduce my favorite cardio machine to you all here.

The under used, under loved, Rowing Machine

Did you know that this machine can burn up to 800 calories an hour! And...this is the best part...its a FULL body workout. Not like the treadmill which works the legs. This baby burns EVERYTHING!


I also may have forgotten to mention but this darling also focuses on your AB's. That is because you are engaging them from start to finish! Not many cardio workouts do that now do they?


Here is a few more sites that you can check into if you want more information on the Amazing Rowing Machine!


Elliptical vs Rowing Machine  
Rowing Machine Benefits

Day 8: Les Mills #2

Hey NeverEver's!

I know I am doing back to back posts. Sorry! But I really wanted to get that Snack of the Day post out since I haven't done it in so long...and of course I HAVE to do my Daily Stats.

Daily Stats for me are extremely important. It is my way of showing the world that I either succeeded, failed, or did so-so. There is no way I can actually lie on these posts (I do not have photoshop...every one of these pics is done in Paint...Yes I am a ballin Paint user) and I do what to show my progress from NeverEverBeenSkinny to NeverEverUnHealthyAgain!

So as some of you read before I started a new job today. Now while that is an interesting experience in itself, there is nothing like the first day of anything, I had to get back to the Les Mills Body Pump class at my 24 Hour Fitness Compton Sport!

As the survivor of 2, yes 2, classes I can happily report that this class was easier then the first one. I still had to take my breaks, and I still hate those push-ups, but it didn't hurt my arm as much when we had to lift the barbell to the 'meaty' part of our backs. I was also able to remember the moves so I didn't have to take the whole class with my neck in a weird position watching the instructor! However, I did feel that position in my wrists...which means I need to keep them straight. I will keep working on that!

So without further talking here is my Daily Stats for Day 8:

I would have never believed days like this could have existed!

This is the type of day that I want to remember for when I don't want to workout! This feeling of accomplishment!

So NeverEver's this is my day stats. How did you do today? Are you happy as well?

Day 7: A Zumba Workout and Weigh In Day

Hey NeverEver's!

I hope you all had an awesome weekend and an even better Manic Monday! So as it is Monday I want to do 2 things especially today.

First, I want to thank everyone who is reading this blog. So far it has been 1 week of writing and working out! It has been amazing see the stats go up and figuring out how and what to write. Thank each and everyone of you!

Second, today is my Weigh In Day! So as you all know I started off at 213 and with my weigh in today I am at...I wish I could add drum rolls to this as a sound track, but anyways...211.5! I am so happy that I went over my expected 1 pound a week and went to 1.5!

Okay so my workout today was Zumba Fitness at 24 HourFitness Compton Sport. Let me say...they just don't dance in there. They MOVE! I do plan to do a post ALL about Zumba and how it took the fitness world by storm not to long ago. But for now...I will say that I will be feeling this cardio workout for a while! I also can't wait to do it again.
Also, before my Zumba class started, I had to get there an hour early just to reserve a spot, I went to do some Weights. Just working my arms with the machines and dumbbells. So today was an awesome day with a perfect cardio burn and some weights.

So here is my stats for today;

Zumba really kicked my Calorie Burn WAYYY Up!

I am sure you can see why I am happy with today's workout and stats!

Just as an update on my personal life. I am starting a new job tomorrow, Tuesday, but I see no reason for it to effect this blog. In fact I see myself working out more because less then a mile from where I work, Huntington Beach, is a 24 Hour Fitness!

Okay NeverEver's...when was your best day ever on a workout? or Healthy Eating? Did it make you want to do the same thing the next day? Or did you push yourself to hard that day that you just couldn't get up the next? I really want to hear from you!

Night all NeverEver's!