Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Tone It Up Bikini Series



It is finally here!  This time last year was when I got really involved with the Tone It Up Community and it has been one of the best decisions I have made and I hope you join in too!  I had purchased the Nutrition Plan in January 2012 but dove head first into the community, twitter, and Instagram check-ins with the Bikini Series.  This season it seems that the theme is going to be learning how to be FEARLESS and BRAVE - while being the BEAUTIFUL YOU that you already are!  Oh yeah, and you are going to get your body ready to rock that bikini, one piece, tankini, wetsuit  WHATEVER you will be wearing- with confidence like you wouldn't believe.  Trust me when I say that the amount of confidence you have now will increase 10 fold by the time these 8 weeks are over.  Your friends and family will notice a difference - and it will be because you made the best decision ever - you got involved with Tone It Up.

Being a part of this community has helped me be a better person all around.  Sometimes I wonder where I would be if I hadn't found Tone It Up.  I used to be super shy...I mean super shy.  I would go to parties and not feel comfortable in room with people I didn't know.  I would keep to myself and just try to get through the night.  But this community has changed all of that.  I have made new friends, I have gotten so much support, I swear it has helped me focus more in school, and my ability to be myself and comfortable with myself around strangers has been the best gift.  The other women in this community are so empowering - and they help you unleash the confidence thats deep down inside of you.  The only thing I don't like - is that I can't meet everyone in person!  I feel SO incredibly connected with every single one of the girls I have "friended" over the past year and I am hoping some how - some way there is a huge TIU convention one day where we can all meet face to face!

In this community, it is really amazing to see so many women who share the same goals, who are uplifting to one another...motivating, and positive.  There are no harsh words welcome in this community - we are here to support one another.  Today, women are each others worst enemies everywhere you go.  There is competition at work, on the streets, at the beach, with men, etc.  Not here.  With the Tone It Up Community - we are 100% supportive of every single girl who shares her story with all of us.  It is truly the most safe place to share your fitness/nutrition/weight loss journey.

If you have heard of the Tone It Up girls before or if you have and just weren't sure if you should join in on the fun - now is the time to try it out!  They are top notch trainers who make working out fun and eating healthy something that everyone can accomplish.  Karena and Katrina post a lot on their website, have chats on Twitter, Facebook, and the Community, and have a YouTube Channel where they post workouts for us all to try!

The Bikini Series is 8 weeks long and aims at getting you closer to your best you by the first day of summer.  There are fun challenges throughout the 8 weeks, new workouts, special recipes, and giveaways.  It's a time to really challenge yourself in all aspects of your life.  I don't know about you, but I am a busy mom.  I work full time, go to school full time, and have a 10 year old daughter who has a social life that rivals any celebrity.  Ok - maybe she's not that busy - but I feel like we are constantly having to take her somewhere to meet up with someone for some playdate!  With all that being said, staying in shape can be challenging.  It takes time, effort, and willpower - and when we as moms have so much on our plate, it can be difficult to find time to make it work.  K&K offer you quick workouts that you can do at home while your kids are playing - or that they can even join in with you!  I know my daughter loves doing some of their routines with me - and what a great opportunity to teach your kids about fitness!  You can wake up and do a quick workout to their DVD (below) 20 minutes before the kids wake up - or even after they go to bed.  K&K make exercising 10x easier than I ever thought it could be.



Last year in conjunction with the Bikini Series, K&K released their first DVD in the Bikini Series.  The Beach Babe DVD.  This DVD is absolutely amazing and was very helpful in getting my workouts in throughout this past year.  There are 7 workouts on a 2 part DVD and they range from about 15 min to 45 minutes in length.  There are quick and effective workouts (the HIIT) and then a longer full body workout (Bikini Sculpt).  This is a DVD that if you like to workout at home - you MUST add to your collection!  I will be doing a full review of this DVD soon - so stay tuned for that.  Also, I have heard that they will be releasing the 2nd DVD of the Beach Babe Series for this Bikini Challenge - so I am really excited to see the new workouts this year!

I really hope that you take the time to just check out the Bikini Series on Tone It Up and give it a chance.  It's FREE so you really have nothing to lose.  K&K work really hard to make this a fun community full of positivity and kindness.  They of course want to get you in the best shape of your life...but they are also concerned about the inner you.  They love learning about all of us and making sure our souls are just as healthy as our muscles!

I will be posting about my Bikini Series journey this year now that I am blogging - and I am also going to be blogging about my training for my 3rd half marathon that I will be running in July (I'm running my 2nd one this weekend!!!).  I really hope you join along on the TIU Bikini Series challenge with me!  If you do - please let me know!  If you have a TIU or fitness Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook account - let me know what your username is so I can follow you!

Until next time...



Monday, April 1, 2013

It's the start of a new month!




Hooray!  It's April which means we are one step closer to it being SUMMER TIME!  Ahhh, I am so excited for warm weather, shorts, flip flops, and sunny days.  Just the thought of being able to drive to work with the windows down with music blasting makes me smile!

So for the start of the month, I thought I would post some of my goals for the month as well as my weekly schedule for workouts this week.  As you will soon come to know, I love following the Tone It Up girls and absolutely adore how they put up a schedule to follow each week.  It makes my planning so much easier!  There are days when I may do my own thing as I am training for a half marathon, but it does help a lot!

As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers.  Well I'd like to envision that as being all of the sweat I will be shedding turning into amazing results.  Who's with me on that?  We have a couple more months until its bikini weather (or even time to rock a killer one piece!) so its time to get moving if you haven't already.  I want to push myself physically with daily bootycalls and evening training runs now that daylight sticks around just a bit longer.  The workouts I have posted above are my morning workouts and then will do 3, 4, or 5 mile runs throughout the week in the afternoons.  Although it may seem like a lot, I want to make sure I am not only fit to run this race with good endurance but also physical strength which means strength training too.  Also, as you will see my Sunday will be an active rest day.  This means taking it a bit easier but getting out and doing something - a walk with the dog, a bike ride with my daughter, jumping on a trampoline, etc.  Just to keep moving but not at a high intensity.

I will be following along with the Self Drop 10 workout and Tone It Up plan but I also wanted to incorporate yoga back into my life.  To do that I will be starting the YogaADay Challenge on Instagram with GrowSoulBeautiful.  Join in with me for something new and challenging!

What are your goals for this month?  Write them out and post them to see every day!  Keep yourself accountable by starting a journal.  A new month is a great time to set new intentions, start new healthy habits, and try something new.  Lets rock April and get set for an amazing summer!