As I’ve said before I get a lot of emails from my readers asking what they can do to stay toned and what I do. I came up with a cool idea for all of us to motivate each other and come here once a week to share new workouts or anything you want. This will be like a place to report to so we can make sure we all stay on track. If you’d like to join, leave your name (if you leave a fake name be sure to use that every time so we know your progress) and just say I’m in. Everyone can talk to each other through the comment section. We can begin today to change our lifestyle and be aware of what we put in our mouths, not just to feel great about ourselves, but for our health. I’ll put up two exercises a week so we won’t get bored. If you can, take two classes a week and work out 45 min at home the 3rd day.

Me personally, I workout 2-3 times a week. I try (everyday it’s a struggle not to eat that cookie) to watch what I eat everyday. Here are some options on what I eat everyday. You can follow it or you can come up with your own and share it with us.

•  Breakfast: Raw oatmeal with a little honey and cinnamon with berries on the side, or a bowl of Special K. If you need something more solid you can eat egg whites, turkey bacon, and a slice of wheat toast. Tea would be best to drink if you can’t do water with your food like me.
• Lunch: Since I’ve been working out, I’ve found these salads that are between 230-280 calories and they get me pretty full. If not I’ll make my own salad with spinach, raisins, avocado, feta cheese and a chicken breast.
• Dinner: This is the hardest part of my day. My family doesn’t want to eat like me. They want real food. I try to eat what I want but just a small portion. I cook a lot so I don’t want to deprive myself of shrimp fried rice if everyone else is eating it, but I try to practice control and I try not to eat after 7pm. If I get hungry I’ll drink green tea, or I’ll have 4 dark chocolate covered almonds.

Snacks: You can have one snack between each meal. I sometimes eat a 100 calorie pack because it’s more convenient. A granola bar or  trail mix or  almonds are a great snack as well. Good luck with everything. Let’s get started!

I’m doing a plank. You have to suck your core in and hold while breathing in an out for 30 sec. This works your abs hard. Do 3 sets for me please.

Get yourself a ball. They are $9.99 at Marshalls. You have to do 4 sets of 25 crunches on the ball. Make sure to keep your core tight always. And again don’t forget to breath in and out. When holding your core in we sometimes hold out breathe.

Tip of the day: Mind over matter. Don’t give up when you feel like it’s getting tough!