SkinnyMe Tea 14 Day Detox Challenge

As many of us know, within the fitness industry there is always the next fitness trend when it comes to products, diets, exercise, etc.  One fitness fad I kept coming across as of recent was “teatox.”

Teatox is a type of detox where it utilizes natural tea along with other ingredients to promote detoxification, weight loss, and increased energy.

Personally, I’ve never really done any type of cleanse. I did try the popular “Master Cleanse” but I lasted about a day (my Mom is actually on day 12 of the 14 day Master cleanse so power to her).  Reason being why I couldn’t last more than a day is because I’m not big on the whole eliminating all foods and sticking to just liquids for a particular amount of time.  To each their own, but that simply does not work or appeal to me.

After looking up multiple teatox companies, I have decided to go for SkinnyMe Tea.

SkinnyMe Tea is 100% natural and was one of the firsts on the market.  What appeals to me about this type of detox is that it is in conjunction with a healthy diet & exercise so you’re not solely dependent on this product.

I don’t believe in quick fixes, so my goal for this particular challenge isn’t weight loss.  I am more focused on the detox aspect.  If weight loss happens to be a result from it, then that is just an extra perk for me.

I received my package today which includes the SkinnyMe 14 day Teatox, Acai Tea, HealthyMe Tea, Flower Bomb, and a cute strawberry tea strainer which I am very excited to try.

Just in time for my upcoming mini vacation in 2 weeks 🙂

I will be reviewing and sharing my personal experience with SkinnyMe Tea with you in upcoming posts.

What cleanses have you tried?  What were your results?

 

The Fit Guinea Pig xo

Intro To Acroyoga

I want to share with you guys something I came across while having a fun day at the beach with my friend.

My friend is a gymnastics instructor and for us, going to the beach is an opportunity to be silly and practice poses such as handstands, bridges, tumbles etc. (even though I am not very good at it lol).  Growing up, I always wanted to do gymnastics but unfortunately I never got the opportunity.

I suggested for us to go to Santa Monica beach because there is this area there called Original Muscle Beach right next to the Santa Monica Pier.  

Original Muscle Beach is an area filled with bars, metal rings, and ropes where people go practice acrobatics, bodybuilding, or just to goof around and have a good time.

We noticed a group of people doing handstands by this grass area so we decided to walk over and see what it was all about.  A group of people were having what they call an Acroyoga Jam.  A jam is when a lot of people gather and start practicing among each other, and yes it is free.  This group in particular meets every Sunday around noon and they stay until sunset practicing for hours and just having an all around good time.

I had never seen or heard of Acroyoga.  These people started explaining to us how it is yoga combined with acrobatic moves.  For an onlooker who has never tried this, it looked extremely difficult.  Surprisingly, it was actually pretty easy.  These people were so welcoming that they started teaching my friend and I some moves.

What I loved about Acroyoga was that it is mind over body.

You have to focus on your body in order to control, balance, and hold the poses.  Not only is it fun to see yourself balancing into poses you couldn’t imagine yourself doing, but it is also a great workout that requires strength.  Who would’ve imagined working out would feel like playing around?

Maybe I am biased about Acroyoga because it reminds me of gymnastics, but it honestly was such a unique way to not only workout, but be in tune with your mind and body.  You feel a sense of peace come over you.

Below are some poses my friend and I were able to accomplish… Not bad for first timers right??

If you’re not familiar with Acroyoga, I recommend looking up Youtube videos.  You will be amazed at the beauty of it.

So to sum it all up, if you want to try something unique and fun while still getting a great workout, I highly recommend Acroyoga. You will get addicted as I am.

 

The Fit Guinea Pig xo

Post Workout Meal For Weight Loss

Aside from a consistent workout routine, a key factor that I always stress is proper nutrition.

Solely sticking to a workout plan without proper nutrition will most likely not get you the results you desire.  Trust me, I for one have been guilty of this for years!

Aside from breakfast being one of the most important meals of your day (I will be covering this in a later post),  another meal that should not be neglected is your post workout meal.

Post workout meals help prevent muscle breakdown, which is why it is important to eat the proper foods for your body to recover quickly.

So, what is a proper post workout meal?  I would say you always want to stick to mainly protein and good carbs. (If you’re not sure of what falls under these categories, check out my Healthy Grocery List post)

These are some examples of post workout meals I’ve had:

• protein shake
• chocolate milk
• greek yogurt with granola
• chicken with veggies
• fish with brown rice or quinoa
• peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole wheat bread
• dried fruit and nuts

Remember to always have your post workout meal within an hour after completing your workout for maximum benefits and stay within appropriate portion sizes.

We can all enjoy a good post workout meal!

The Fit Guinea Pig xo

 

 

 

Fitness Motivation Monday

It’s a new day and a new opportunity to start the week off right.

I am proud to say that I did complete my 30 day INSANITY challenge that I set myself up to do.

Was it easy? Not necessarily.

Just like anything else, nothing worth having comes easy or is handed to us.  With that being said, after pushing myself to reach this mini goal, I did have a fitness hiatus.  Recapping my first post, I mentioned that I would share my struggles with you along the way.  For some odd reason,  I felt very unmotivated for a week or so.  I dreaded working out more so than ever before.  How did I get myself out of that funk?  Simply forcing myself.

It wasn’t fun or easy, but I did feel a lot better and more motivated afterwards.  I realized “it’s not as bad as I thought it’d be.”

We’re all going to face times when we don’t necessarily want to workout or stick to our healthier eating habits.  We will give in and break our diet/workout routine.  When this does happen though, I urge you not to be hard on yourselves.  

Get back on the game and carry on.  The more we dwell on our struggle, the more disappointed we’ll get.

You are your own team and you should be rooting for yourself.  Remind yourself as to why you began in the first place and think of the finishing line.  We can all do this!

With this being said, I will extend my 30 day challenge to the full 60 days of the INSANITY program… hey, why not??

Happy Monday and stay in the game!

The Fit Guinea Pig xo

Healthy Recipe: Tuna Steak With Cilantro Lime Dressing

To follow up with my previous post on healthy grocery list, I decided to share a quick and easy recipe.  Not only is this  recipe super tasty but it is also healthy.  The reason I wanted to share this is to show how eating healthy doesn’t have to be bland.  Who doesn’t want a delicious meal while not feeling guilty about consuming it?!  

So on to this yummy recipe…

You will need the following ingredients:

• 1 tuna steak
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• juice of 2 limes
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 handful chopped cilantro
• 1/2 avocado  (cubed)
• salt & pepper

Directions:

• Prep your dressing.  Add soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, and lime juice to a bowl and mix together.  Drizzle in the oil and mix until.  Add the chopped cilantro and mix.
• Season tuna steak on one side with salt & ground black pepper.  Meanwhile, set non-stick pan over medium-high heat until hot.
• Place the tune with the seasoned side down into the pan.  While the tuna steak cooks for just a minute, season the side facing up and then flip it over.
• Add a large spoonful of the dressing over the cooked side of tuna.
• Remove from the pan and serve. Top the tuna steak with avocado and remaining dressing.

Bon Appetit!

The Fit Guinea Pig xo

Healthy Grocery List: Low Fat Proteins, Good Carbs & Healthy Fats

I always stress how eating healthy doesn’t mean starving yourself.  I’ve seen people in GREAT shape eat 6 meals a day!  There are multiple reasons behind this, some of which include boosting your metabolism, help control hunger, or build muscle.

Whatever the reason is, two key factors are 1.) portion control and 2.) having the appropriate foods.

By appropriate foods, I mean you should be incorporating lean/low fat proteins, good carbs, and healthy fats into all 6 smaller meals.  Below, I’ve compiled a list of items for each category that should definitely be part of your diet.  If you’re just starting off your new healthy lifestyle and are simply wanting to eat better, this is a good go-to source to make healthier choices.  This is basically what I try to stick to when grocery shopping, so I refer to it very often.

Protein

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Salmon
• Eggs
• Greek yogurt
• Tuna
• White Fish
• Lean red meats
• Cottage cheese

Good Carbs

• Sweet potato
• Brown rice
• Oats
• Beans
• Quinoa
• Apples
• Berries
• Whole wheat tortilla
• Whole grain breads

Healthy Fats

• Almonds
• Coconut oil
• Avocado
• Flax seed
• Chia seed
• Pecans
• Olive Oil
• Almond Butter
• Peanut Butter

After cutting out all the garbage I used to eat and choosing to stick to these items, I saw my body change prior to starting a workout routine.

For an example of a good daily meal list, check out my previous post on how to eat healthy everyday.

Experiment with these foods and you will see your body change.

The Fit Guinea Pig xo

Bikini Abs Workout

With summer right around the corner, it’s time to put in work to get bikini ready.  They say summer bodies are made in the winter, but it doesn’t mean you can’t start today if you haven’t already.

This is a quick ab workout that you can do pretty much anywhere and will target those abdominal muscles.  Add it into your current routine to show your abs some love.

• Toe touches
• Crunches
• Jackknives
• Scissor kicks
• Russian twists
• Mountain climbers
• Plank
• Side Plank (30 seconds each side)

Perform each exercise for one minute NONSTOP.  This is really going to challenge your muscles while targeting your entire core (upper and lower abs).

Start by doing one round and if you’re up for the challenge, complete a second round (maybe even a third!).

We can all do this!

The Fit Guinea Pig xo

Review: INSANITY Day 15 Fit Test

I am currently on my 3rd week of the INSANITY program.  If you recall in my Day 1 Fit Test post, I talked about this Fit Test included in the INSANITY program.  It consists of 8 different exercises and you must perform as many reps possible within one minute each.  The purpose of this Fit Test is to keep track of how much progress you’ve made along the way.

Well 2 weeks later,  the INSANITY Calendar called for the Fit Test again.  I am proud to say that I have made some progress.

This program has been challenging but I am enjoying it and I am A LOT STRONGER!

I continue to have more and more definition in my arms, my legs are much more toned, and I am beginning to see my abs peek in.  All this after only 2 full weeks along with proper nutrition! 

Below are my performance stats for the Day 15 Fit Test:

• 126 switch kicks
• 118 power jacks
• 108 power knees
• 45 power jumps
• 10 globe jumps
• 17 suicide jumps
• 30 push up jacks
• 64 side planks

Below are my performance stats for the Day 1 Fit Test:

• 100 switch kicks
• 90 power jacks
• 130 power knees
• 31 power jumps
• 6 globe jumps
• 14 suicide jumps
• 25 push up jacks
• 58 side plank

If you compare the two, you will see I have made progress.  I can’t wait to see my results upon completion of the program!

Again, I am not affiliated, nor an affiliate for the INSANITY program.  My review is based on my own personal experience and is not biased.

The Fit Guinea Pig xo

How To Turn Your Home Into A Gym

I’ve heard multiple people around me such as friends/family complain about not being able to work out for multiple reasons. Some of which include no time to drive to a gym, cutting back on expenses, intimidated by people in shape at the gym, etc.

I have also been there myself, so I researched ways to workout without using a gym.

With so many products in the market nowadays, it’s easy to turn your home into a mini personal gym to get back into the groove of things and not break the piggy bank. Below I will share a list of some equipment I personally love that definitely came in hand when I didn’t have a gym membership.

• Stability ball: This is an essential in my book! There are many exercises you can perform simply by using this that target your abs, thighs, glutes, chest, triceps, shoulders, and back.

• Resistance band: This is an absolute must! You can do just about any kind of strength training exercise with these. These are great for any fitness level since they come in light, medium, or heavy resistance. What’s even better is that they’re cost effective and they don’t take up much storage.

• Dumbbells: Dumbbells are essential in many exercises so if you want to add variety to your routine, you definitely want to have these bad boys at home. You can use these while doing lunges, bicep/tricep curls, chest press, reverse flys, etc.

Other great products you can add to your collection include an ab wheel, medicine ball, or kettle bell. These are great add ons, but I don’t think they are an absolute necessity as long as you have the 3 items listed above.

What’s also great is that you can pack this equipment into your gym bag and take your workout outdoors to a park or the beach to make it more fun.

What are your fitness must have items at home?

The Fit Guinea Pig xo

Quick At Home Glute Workout

Today I decided to share a quick glute workout that can be done anywhere.  You can complete this workout at home, a gym, or your local park if you want to take your workout outdoors.  I don’t know about you guys, but I really enjoy workouts that can be done outdoors.

Before I began my INSANITY challenge, I used to perform this routine twice a week.  It’s a quick routine, so you can add this to your current routine without making it drastically longer.  Give it a try!

• 20 sumo squats
• 30 second wall sits
• 20 squat pulses
• 20 bridges (make sure to squeeze your glutes to really target them)

Complete 3-4 rounds with 30 second rest breaks in between each round.

Have a great workout!

The Fit Guinea Pig xo