*Deal Alert!*

Just wanted to alert you to a great bargain. Misty Tripoli's Body Groove dance sets are available on Amazon for a low price. If you like freestyle, barefoot dance you should look into these. They have an African Dance vibe, low impact, done barefoot, and they feel good to do!

This morning I did Spirit Groove off of the 4 DVD original Body Groove set, now $7.99 (I believe both of these were originally $60)! I have yet to do the Latin Groove, Yoga Groove, Pilates Groove, or the bonus ab workout. Spirit Groove is a 36 minute dance workout. She tells you to do whatever you want, but guides you through isolating body parts and moving to the live drums. You will strike poses, march in place & around the room, do side leg lifts, shimmy, hip circles, squats, etc.
Her new set Body Groove Delicious Dance is available for $9.99 and contains dances/songs you can mix or match or stick with her pre-mixes. This one contains all types of music and styles of movements from African to kickboxing.

Checking in

Yesterday we went bowling. I hadn't been bowling for four years and of course I pulled something in my elbow. It started hurting right after the first game - in which I scored higher than my last 4 scores (totally sucked the 2nd game though)! By evening my wrist and shoulder started hurting and still upon waking this morning. At first I was going to take a rest day today, but then I feared I was making excuses so I decided to do Strong Knees

since my lower body wasn't hurting me. Then I decided to do my daily JV workout

and pay attention to how I felt and adjust accordingly. I did omit two exercises - rear lateral raises and overhead tricep extensions since both hurt to attempt.

I was feeling so good afterward I decided to do the aerobic cardio premix from Start Here.

So lesson learned - do what you can! I did what I could and feel great.

Week in Review

I had a wonderful week! I am feeling so much stronger and firmer. I have been avoiding the scale and tape measure. I know it can be quite motivational to see that you lost something, but last time I lost weight (more than 10 pounds) it took 4 months to see any difference on the scale and that was so discouraging, so I am just focusing on making long-term lifestyle changes.

This past week I did not count calories, but completed all 6 of my daily JV Total Body Workouts and...

Strong Knees (5 times!)

Zumba Exhilarate

Classical Stretch (Season 4, episode 1 - Deep Muscular Stretch)

Classical Stretch (Season 5, episode 501 - Full Body Slenderizing)

Classical Stretch (Season 6, episode 609 - Shoulder & Stress Relief)

Yoga Dance Earth

Regarding Yoga Dance Earth, upon preview I did not like it and thought I would be selling it, but after doing it, I really enjoyed it and have ordered the other two in the series, Fire and Water! It felt great, combined yoga, African dance, & tai chi movements and was fun. The disc contains three 20 minute workouts that are done barefoot (love that!) and are low impact.

This next week I will be counting calories, staying in my range, and eating more fruits & veggies daily. I may take my measurements, but am not planning on stepping on the scale anytime soon. I can see & feel a difference in my body and that makes me happy!

I will be doing more Classical Stretch workouts in the upcoming weeks since I am contemplating getting the other 2 seasons that I do not already own - 7 & 8. Since they are so pricey I want to make sure that I still enjoy Classical Stretch and they will be worth it to me. I still find that Season 5 is by far my favorite and feels the best. I feel fortunate to have bought one of the last remaining new copies - it is out of print and sells for hundreds of dollars on Ebay, Amazon, and other venues. I had two additional copies and sold one full set, but still have one Tone & Stretch DVD in case anyone is interested in purchasing it.

Meatless Monday Recipe

This recipe has been adapted from Whole Foods Market.

Minestrone Stir Fry

1 cup yellow onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup carrot, chopped
1 can dark red kidney beans, rinsed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp red chili flakes
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
2 tsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
elbow pasta, cooked

Saute first 9 ingredients in EVOO for 5 minutes over high heat, adding broth as needed to prevent sticking. Add tomatoes & remaining broth, saute for 3 minutes more. Add remaining ingredients and saute 1 minute longer. Serve over elbow pasta.

Week in Review

This past week I did my daily JV workouts for 6 days and did Strong Knees for 3. I know I need to get cardio in, but I am so happy that I've been able to keep up with what I have been doing - I am noticing alot of firming going on!
Yesterday was my birthday and we ate out both Saturday & Sunday without counting calories.
One fitness related gift I received was Yoga Dance Earth and I am looking forward to trying it out this week.

I am looking forward to warmer weather so we can walk the 2.3 mile loop in our local park.
Last Sunday we did get out and walk a little at another park.

Meatless Monday Recipe

This recipe has been adapted from Veg Web.

Black Bean Tortilla Casserole

2 cups onion, chopped
2 green peppers, chopped
1 14 1/2oz can tomatoes, chopped
3/4 cup green salsa
2 tsp ground cumin
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 15oz cans black beans, rinsed & drained
12 6" corn tortillas
8oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 cups shredded lettuce
sliced green onions
sliced black olives
1/2 cup sour cream

In skillet, combine onion, pepper, undrained tomatoes, salsa, cumin, and garlic. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add beans and stir. Spread 1/3 of the mixture over bottom of 9x13 baking dish. Top with 6 tortillas, overlap as needed and 1 cup of cheese. Add another 1/3 of mixture, top with remaining tortillas and remaining mixture. Bake covered at 350F for 30-35 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Let stand 10 minutes. Top with chopped tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and olives and serve with sour cream.

Week in Review

We've received some very sad news this week and my mind, focus, and emotions have been all over the place as we prepare to say goodbye to yet another loved one.
I followed my daily workout only 4 days, have done Strong Knees only twice, and have been doing Raviana's Meditation DVD to try to find some peace of mind.

Honestly I haven't been working, sleeping, or doing much of anything really. I'm attempting to catch up on sleep this weekend and will be back on track with calories & exercise.

Meatless Monday Recipe

This recipe has been adapted from Great American Home Cooking 1998. Originally called Mom's Best Meatloaf, my husband and I like to call it Unmeatloaf, since I tweaked it to be meatless. Can also be made into Unmeatballs.

Unmeatloaf

2 tsp vegetable oil
2 onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 boxes of Fantastic World Foods Taco Filling prepared (you could also use Fantastic World Foods Vegetarian Sloppy Joe w/o any sauce or a combo of the two)
1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
Egg Beaters, equivalent of 2 eggs
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1 tbs Dijon mustard
1 tbs apple cider vinegar
1 tsp eash salt & black pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme

Glaze

1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup vegetable broth
2 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs apple cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 350F. Whisk together glaze ingredients in small bowl and set aside. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 7 minutes stirring often. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Put mixture into large bowl and let cool. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Grease a 9x5 loaf pan. Press mixture in pan evenly. Brush with 1/2 cup of glaze and bake 50 minutes. Brush with another 1/2 cup glaze and bake 10 more minutes. Slice and serve with remaining glaze.

Week in Review

Another successful week of working out 6 days! I am getting much stronger, firmer, and my husband said he can see I lost weight in my face & arms.
This past week I did daily JV workouts and...

Strong Knees (3 times)

Delicious Dance

Firm & Burn (first time doing; very easy/low impact, for seniors)

Cardio Praise (not my cup of tea, will be getting rid of)

and Zumba Exhilarate Mix (LOVE that this has no instruction/voice option so you can blast the music and dance your ass off, it is so much fun!)