INSPIRED by Angie!
(her pic is to the right)

For a few years I've been an avid reader of workout magazines such as "Oxygen" and "Muscle & Fitness HERS" and I've also been a gym goer--doing cardio AND weights. BUT, I never really addressed the issue of EATING--which is about 80-90% of HOW we look. Yep, it's true--you ARE what you EAT!

Thankfully, a friend in Tennessee, Angie, inspired me to take that extra step and get my EATING under control (her blog, by the way, is: www.sewmuchtosew.blogspot.com).

Angie got on the working out/clean eating kick and posted her routine, etc. So, because I'm a little bit lazy I just decided to follow her plan. Yes, it includes things like PROTEIN shakes and supplements.

Of course, since starting I have had a couple of days where I slipped, but I just got right back on track. I've started taking CLA and something called Cordygen5. Here's what I've notice: I HAVE MORE ENERGY and MORE STAMINA at the gym. I feel good! And I also feel good that I'm improving myself--cause no one else will do it for me! lol!

This is important because rather than going to the gym and working on the elliptical for 40-45 minutes at a steady, modest pace I'm NOW getting on the machine and doing INTERVALS.

This means I warm up for about 5 minutes, then I hit my moderate pace for 2 minutes, THEN for one LONG minute I go as fast as I can! I alternate this fast/slow for about 30 minutes with a 5 minute cool down. It's rough--but I make myself do it. And ya know what? I can already tell a difference. Research has recently back up the assertion that cardio interval training burns more calories. (See, for one example, "Oxygen", June 2010 issue, page 86).

Also, I'm really hitting the weights more regularly and with greater intensity. This is important, especially for women, because as we age we lose not only muscle mass but also bone mass. And weight training has been shown to help with both. Plus, working out with weights means that your metabolism kicks up a notch and burns more calories while you are resting. A nice benefit!

I'm keeping track of my measurements and weight so I'll keep you all posted on my progress.

I have two gym memberships: one at Omni and one at Planet Fitness. If you ever want to work out let me know!