 Have you heard of Piloxing? I had never heard of it until Rebecca at Bexa Body Fitness opened up her Fitness studio in Westerville. Piloxing is defined as a "mix of boxing, pilates, and dancing." Rebecca said that we should come and try a class but the class times were not fitting in with my schedule. After discussing the dilemma with Rebecca, she then arranged a Piloxing class for us to take with Jill. (Jill is also a trainer at Bexa Body Fitness) So Valerie, Amber and myself went to try the piloxing class one Thursday morning.
The first thing we had to do was take off our shoes and socks! (I never did a workout in bare feet other than pilates or yoga!) Then, we proceeded to the studio area with a mirror. Jill then gave each of us a pair of Piloxing gloves (see above picture!) These gloves have 2 lbs. hand weights on them and are quite comfortable. Valerie was more impressed with Rebecca's personal pair of Piloxing gloves (Jill was using them for our class) as they were "bedazzled" with jewels on them!
Jill did a good job instructing us as we had to "shake our thing" during the dance portion, felt the weights as we were boxing and held poses on the floor while doing pilates! Suggestions for improvement would be the music. Jill said the music was timed to the routine and said that better music is offered as the classes progess. Also, the floor should have a little more "cushion." Val felt that her feet were sore as a result. Finally, I am not a fan of taking a class in my bare feet but Jill said you can also take the class with your shoes on too. (My arms did feel a little sore the next day too!)
So if you are looking to drop into a class, get a personal trainer or looking to try a private gym, stop into Bexa Body Fitness!
SMAC Approved!
http://bexabodyfitness.com/
 Processed Foods Challenge Contest. There was a mid-point weigh-in at the beginning of March which included a contest eating the least amount of processed foods. Processed foods included soda (my daily downfall!) microwave meals, cereal (see chart!) The goal was to eat less than 5 servings of processed food a day. I have to say that this was quite a difficult challenge--as we all know, it is far EASIER to throw something in the microwave than make the effort to cut up some veggies! There was also a healthy cooking seminar at the weigh-in, that discussed using spices vs. salt for seasoning and making veggies the largest portion on your plate!
For the balance of the month, I did find it challenging to eat well; a mom's weekend with friends and traveling to DC to visit family made it a bit difficult to stay on track to eating well. It's so hard to travel and eat well when you are going to thru the drive-thru, right??
The final weigh in was at the end of March and I maintained my weight. I was happy that I didn't gain anything but know that we all slip "off the wagon." BUT it is how quickly you get back on track to your healthy eating habits that prevent you from gaining the weight BACK!
For the final contest, we had to track our exercise hours. Again, I struggled with this due to my exercise class stopping for 2 weeks due to Spring break and having vein surgery. (that's another post!) See the chart below for the hours that I logged in for the month. I did see a difference by adding more weights to my exercise routine (thanks Yolanda-personal trainer at Infinity Fitness!)
Finally, there was a healthy potluck at the Final Weigh-In in which people brought in 30 servings of a healthy dish to share with others-recipes were listed with the dishes as well. So the big question- did I achieve my goal of losing 10 lbs? NO! But I did lose the 5 lbs. (almost 2% of body weight) and have managed to keep it off for 3 months. Did my husband win the weight loss contest? NO! He did lose 12% of his body weight and he is on his path to losing a lot more weight..
What about you? How is your weight loss journey going-are you succeeding?
For more information about personal training, group classes and challenges:
http://infinity-fit.com/
 Exercise Hours Contest.
 Daily recording of veggies eaten! For the first weight loss challenge, we had to challenge ourselves to eat 5 servings of vegetables a day! The best way to eat veggies is RAW! (and preferably organic-although I did not!) I averaged about 3-4 servings a day-1 cup raw. I ate mostly, red peppers, carrots, bagged salads and red onions to help me achieve the daily goal. I have to say it's not that hard BUT you do really have to make sure that you go to the grocery store often to buy the veggies and then EAT them! Also, if I cooked them, I would use olive oil and salt/pepper to taste (and sometimes crushed red pepper!). Finally, we learned that we cook on low heat or use the steaming method-cooking on high heat kills a lot of the nutrients. Veggies that did not count in the contest: white and sweet potatoes, corn, peas, jicima, winter squashes (acorn, spaghetti squash, etc.), Bean varieties, Lentils and other legumes. This is because these vegetables are starchy and sugary and are not recommended to be eaten in large amounts. As a result of eating more veggies, I noticed that I was fuller longer and was less tempted to eat junk (the kids granola bars, goldfish, etc.) Also, many of you complained about me drinking 2 Diet Cokes a day; I did reduce my intake to ONE can a day! I believe I also had a reduction of cravings because I drank more water instead! When I weighed in on Feb. 4th, I lost another 2 lbs.! Now, that may not seem like a lot because as I have stated in the last year, I have been up and down in my 10 lb. range! So thus far I have lost about 5 lbs.! Only another 5 lbs. to go! My husband on the other hand, (who is doing the weight loss challenge with me) did not keep a record of his veggie intake BUT he has started to reduce in his portions and at more VEGGIES! Since he has about 50 lbs. to lose, he lost 14 lbs! (He also is exercising as well!) Stay tuned for the next weight in at Infinity Fitness! http://infinity-fit.com/
Food, Food, Food. Today I have food on the brain. It's been one of those days and this salad in front of me is looking less and less appealing. As I sit here and eat all the good toppings off the bowl of lettuce, my mind is elsewhere. I am gazing out the window dreaming of other things I would rather be eating. Right about now a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs and garlic bread sounds good. Or even better, a big plate of chili cheese fries with chopped red onions, mustard and ketchup with an ice cold beer. I am looking down at my salad now thinking that it needs bacon and bleu cheese and more dressing, but then the salad would cease to be healthy right? It is extremely frustrating to sit here at a restaurant and look at all the people eating there foot long sandwiches with out a care in the world! Man, I really could go for a sweet tea and fried chicken from Canes. Stop it I tell myself! I know it has been a bad day and it is pathetic that I still gravitate towards food when I am emotional. When will it stop? Never I think. Then I recall watching a a show the other night on TLC called my 600 lb life. You may think I'm nuts watching a show like that, but I can relate. NO, I was never past 225 lbs, but I was well on my way to packing on more and more weight. I've finished picking all the good toppings off my salad now and I have left almost all the greens. I have lost my appetite. What is it that makes me go to food for comfort? Be strong I tell myself. To be continued........
 How much do we really spend on fitness? Some may say nothing, others may not consciously know how much money they spend. Do we really need to spend a ton to be fit? Let's take a look at 3 fitness establishments and compare them just for fun! URBAN ACTIVE I always get a flyer for this place in the mail. Same old deal every time. 7 DAY PASS! This particular flyer has advertised $20.12 processing fee. (Notice the play on the year 2012?) Make sure and read the fine print too; something about Last Month's dues paid in advance. To my knowledge this Urban Active lets you pay month to month but this flyer reads like it may be a year commitment. Honestly I have never set foot in this place, but I have friends that use this establishment. According to the flyer there are MANY AMENITIES. I will only point out the Amenities that are important to me: Kids Playroom, Sauna, Indoor Track. I checked out their website to see if I could get more info on membership and cost and found out that no pricing was available and that is how they get you to come in and listen to their sales pitch! There was a whole list of group classes listed on their site. One complaint that I have heard is that getting a spot in a Group Fitness Class is first come first serve and that sometimes the equipment is need of repair. Maybe Urban Active is right for you; who knows how much it really costs. http://www.urbanactive.com/locations/polaris-ohio/
 WESTERVILLE COMMUNITY CENTERThe Community Center always has a nice brochure that describes all the pricing, classes and events in Westerville. There is absolutely no wondering what is available to you for the price you pay. Memberships ($345-180) for the fitness equipment, pool and track are annual or a 3 month trial. Classes are listed separate and are an additional cost to your membership, BUT you do not need to be a member to sign up for classes. There is even online registration offered for classes, no waiting in line! There is however the distinction made between RESIDENTS and NON-RESIDENTS of Westerville. Non-Residents will pay slightly higher costs. At the Community Center, when you sign up for a class you are officially in the class. Amenities that I like here are: Indoor Track, Indoor Playground(free), Swim Lessons for the kids and the large selection of classes. Classes vary in costs, but are usually in the $25 -$35 range for a 10 week session. This is definitely my price range with no strings attached. http://www.westerville.org/
 LIFETIME
Another popular place to workout is Lifetime Fitness. I have friends that love Lifetime. I just got a brochure in the mail, with the NEW YEAR special. Join for $0 plus receive $400 weight loss package. Sounds great until you read ALL the fine print. There is a little asterisk by the $0. It says Enrollment fee and one time Admin fee. Admin fee? Really? The Admin fee is $129. I could not tell if this was waived or you had to pay and another fee was $0. The $400 Weight Loss had an asterisk too. The Weight Loss $400 would be given in myLT bucks (fake lifetime money) and in 3 installments. The installments are spaced out in month increments and are dependent on your commitment to a membership. I could not figure out how much money the membership was. Lifetime does offer, nutrition coaching, weight loss specialists, spa services (massage), group fitness, tennis, and family activities like camps, swimming and child care center.
What's the right place for you? Do you spend money on fitness? Memberships, classes, nutrition, camps and and swim lessons? If you have memberships do you use them to your full advantage to get your money's worth? The cost of fitness is often dependent on cash flow and getting your butt out of bed. I like to balance the cost by taking advantage of nice weather and walking outside or riding my bike. But as we know Ohio has those darn winters and for me classes at the Westerville Community Center are just right for me. If you have any input on the 3 places that I wrote about leave a comment!
Just like everyone else, I wanted to lose the last 10 lbs that I have been working on losing for over a year! I decided to enter the "New Year, New You Weight Loss Challenge" with Infintiy Fitness. I weighed in and got the paperwork on the servings of food that I should be eating on a daily basis. Basically, MORE veggies, LEAN meats, WHOLE GRAINS and LESS processed foods ( I have lost 5 lbs). When I weighed in, I was finishing up my second week of my South Beach Diet, phase 1 (no dairy, no carbs, no fruit, no alcohol, no sugar!) Yolanda, (a personal fitness trainer at Infinity Fitness) asked me to start keeping a food log starting on 1/7/11. Here is my daily food log and Yolanda's comments on what I can do to improve my eating habits!!! 1/7/11 (South Beach Diet)
Breakfast-12 oz. diet coke, sliced cheese, hard boiled egg
Snack-1/4 cup nuts (almonds)
Lunch-2 cups mixed veggie salad (Dole bag salad), 3 teaspoons of balsamic dressing, 12 oz. diet coke, 1 cup tomato basil soup-
Campbell's Select Harvest
Snack-1/4 cup almonds
Dinner-1 cup kidney beans, 1 Jeanie O turkey hot italian sausage, 1 cup Green Giant cheddar cheese, broccoli, and carrots
16 oz. glass of water
Dessert-1 Fudgsicle-no sugar added
1/8/11 (South Beach Diet)
Breakfast-12 oz. diet coke, 16 oz. of water, Omelet (2 eggs, 1/4 cup onions and 1/4 cup cheddar cheese)
Snack-sliced cheese 1/4 cup carrots, nuts-1/4 cup, tablespoon of peanut butter, 12 oz. diet coke
Dinner-12 oz. diet sprite, morningstar chicken patty, 1/2 cup salsa, 2 cups salad, 3 teaspoons of balsamic dressing
Dessert-1 Fudgsicle-no sugar added
1/9/11 (South Beach Diet)
Breakfast-1 Hard boiled egg and sliced cheese , 1/4 cup nuts
Lunch-6 oz. can of tuna, onions, and 3 teaspoons of mayo, 2 cups of salad, 1/2 cup of soup (tomato basil soup-
Campbell's Select Harvest)
Dinner-2 cups of chili, cheese stick
Dessert-1 Fudgsicle-no sugar added
(Exercise-1 hour cardio/weights)
1/10 (South Beach Diet)
Breakfast-1 Hard boiled egg and sliced cheese , 1/4 cup nuts, 12 oz. of diet coke
Lunch-1/2 cup chili, Morningstar chicken patty, 1/4 cup salsa, 12 oz. of diet coke
Snack-1/4 cup carrots
Dinner-6 oz. salmon burger, 2 cups salad with 3 teaspoons of balsamic dressing
Dessert-1 Fudgsicle-no sugar added
(Exercise-1 hour cardio/weights)
1/11 (South Beach Diet)
Breakfast-2 scrambled eggs with 1/4 cup onions, 12 oz. diet coke
Lunch-(Panera Bread)-1 cup creamy tomato, bbq chicken salad (2 cups) w side of dressing, 12 oz. of diet coke
Dinner??? (Can't remember!!)
(Exercise-1 hour weights)
1/12
Breakfast-(First Watch) 2 eggs over medium, 1/2 turkey sausage link, 2 multigrain pieces of toast, 2 slices of tomato,
12 of diet coke
Snack-1/4 cup of nuts, sliced cheese, 12 oz. of diet coke
Dinner-1 link of mild sausage, green peppers, mushrooms in spaghetti sauce, diet sprite
Dessert-1 Fudgsicle-no sugar added
1/13
Breakfast-1 Hard boiled egg, sliced cheese, 1/4 cup of pineapple, diet coke
Snack-1/4 cup nuts, 16 oz. of water
Lunch-Morningstar grillin' patty, 2 cups salad with 3 teaspoons of basalmic dressing, Ezekiel bread (organic bread)
with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, 12 oz. diet coke
Snack-16 oz. of water, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 cup yogurt with 1/2 cup raspberries
Dinner-12oz. diet sprite, 4 oz. of salisbury steak, 1/2 cup of sauteed mushrooms, onion and red peppers with olive oil
Dessert-1 Fudgsicle-no sugar added
1/14
Breakfast-1 kiwi, 1 egg with 1/4 cup cheese, 1/4 cup onion and 1/4 cup red pepper and 12 oz. of diet coke
Snack-1 Banana, 16 oz. of water
Lunch-1/2 cup greek yogurt, 1/2 cup raspberries, 1 cheese stick, 1/2 kolrabi w/ salt, 12 oz. of diet coke
Dinner-16 oz. of water, 6 oz. of flank steak with seasonings, 1 cup fresh cooked green beans with 1/4 cup of salsa
Snack-1/4 cup nuts
Dessert-1 and 1/2 molten chocolate lava cakes (400 calories) Yes--I indulged!! And I loved it!!
1/15
Breakfast-1 egg with1/4 cup onions, 1/4 cup red peppers, 12 oz. of diet coke
Snack-cheese stick, 16 oz. of water
Lunch-12 oz. of diet coke, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, 1/2 cup raspberries, 1 egg with 1/4 cup onions, 1/4 cup red peppers, 4 oz. of flank steak, and 1/2 kolrabi with salt and pepper,
Dinner-thai chili salmon burger (6 oz.), 1/2 cup raw onions and 6 slices of cucumber, 32 oz. of water, Ezekiel bread(organic bread)
with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
Snack-banana and 1/4 cup nuts
YOLANDA'S COMMENTS:
You are doing a great job with your food log. For the most part, you've made some great choices. I hope that you are feeling good about this plan. My biggest hope is that you can start substituting the diet sodas with water or unsweetened tea. I know that the diet sodas don't have calories, but the chemicals have a negative impact on your health and the artificial sweeteners cause belly bloat. Ideally, if you don't like the taste of plain water, I suggest that you add about an ounce of unsweentend cranberry juice (they have a great one at Trader Joe's) to 8-12 ounces of water. This will taste tart at first, but as your taste buds adapt to it, you will likely learn to love it. This drink combination is great for the kidneys and helps reduce inflamation. To make it more palatable at first, you can start by adding a small amount of Stevia to the drink.
As far as the food goes, keep adding vegetable to your diet whenever possible. Your breakfasts are looking great! I understand that an indulgence is necessary from time to time ;) but I'd love to see those cleaned up to something that will taste like a treat, but will also offer some nutritional benefits. Having a few squares of a good quality dark chocolate melted over some berries would be perfect. I have a great almond butter cookie recipe that I can share with you that has just five ingredients. It's from clean eating
magazine: http://cleaneatingmag.com/Recipes/Recipe/Almond-Butter-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies.aspx Just keep in mind, that while this is a great, nutrient dense dessert, it is also calorie dense, so make sure to keep your portions small.
I hope this helps, and I look forward to seeing your success!
http://infinity-fit.com/
Full Disclosure: Social Moms was compensated for participating in the Infinity Fitness Challenge.
 This summer, the rec center classes were very limited so I had to try something new! I have always wanted to try pilates so this was my chance to do it! The class I took for the summer is called Restorative Pilates-it is combination of standing and mat Pilates which strengthen your core and restore your balance.
I am very used to a fast paced aerobics class so this was very different for me. You have to concentrate on your breathing and the exercise at the same time. The instructor Amanda also has a very soothing voice when she guides you through the exercises. Also, when you move at a slower pace and really concentrate on the exercise you really feel the exercise throughout your entire body. Some of the poses we used were planks (on toes and elbows and flat like a board), downward dog (hand and feet on floor shaped like a V), balancing on one foot and circling your toe forwards and backwards, etc.
I do think that many of the exercises are helping my core (my stomach) to get stronger. Now, I am hoping that Pilates also makes stomach a bit flatter as well! I plan on continuing to take Pilates in this fall so I will have to let you know if it really makes a big difference for my stomach!
SMAC Approved!
http://www.westerville.org/eServices/tabid/60/Default.aspx
No, I haven't fallen down and hit my head nor have I hit the lucky numbers with the lotto. We recently had a Plastic Surgeon "like" our Facebook page and it got me thinking. My circle of friends often joke, "If I had the money I would get a... tummy tuck, boobs, lipo.. etc" But I often wonder if I really had the money would I go "under the knife"? What a question. I have worked hard over the last 9 years to shed the pounds going from a size 24 to size 12. I have never invested in diet plans that come with meals, tried fad diets like cabbage soup or had any surgeries. I had to do it all on my own. I had to realize I had an eating problem and what that eating problem was linked to. Much of it was linked to an unhealthy home environment as a child. I eat when I am emotional and bored. Now back to the plastic surgeon thing. I am still pondering my earlier question. I have gone "under the knife" one time for breast reduction. In my opinion it was medically necessary. Yes it was that frightening. I recently saw an old college friend who had not seen me in 10 years. She looked at me and said, "You've lost a whole person". I never thought of it that way. That comment has kind of stuck with me as I look down at all my sagging skin around my abdomen. Would I go under the knife for a tummy tuck? I'm not sure because I did have a c-section with one kid and it hurt like HELL. What does a tummy tuck really do for you? Well, physically you look fantastic, but what about mentally? Do we really learn how to keep our eating and weight in check? Or do we just choose quick fixes like tummy tucks and bariatric procedures? These are the questions I ponder today. Let me know your thoughts. ~Valerie
 During class! Usually when summer rolls around, many moms I know don't exercise in the summer because of the kids being home from school. This also includes some of the instructors at the Westerville Rec Center and thus the variety of classes are limited. This summer, I decided to try "Latin Funk Fusion". It is described in the brochure as "A high intensity dance class that fuses Latin and hip hop dance moves with fantasic rhythums and beats for a workout so fun, you'll forget you're working out."
So when my friend Valerie read this she said "No, way!"
I went yesterday and walked in a few mintues late. I could hear the loud, pulsing Latin music as I entered. I noticed that the instructor was wearing a wrap "shimmy scarf" around her hips! I noticed another woman in class wearing the same thing as well! At that point, I was wondering "what did I get myself into??"
I quickly snapped this picture to the left and then took my spot in the room! (the back of the room, of course!) I quickly realized that you needed to comfortable with shaking your hips , your "ta-tas" and be comfortable dancing! Also, I didn't know that my old tap moves from when I was 8 years old would come in handy! Plus, I have to admit, you do will feel a bit silly shimming in class but since everyone is doing it, you have to go with the flow!
Bottom line: It is a good workout and I found myself sweating throughout the class and polished off a bottle of water in the process! The jury is still out, but I think that I like this class!
SMAC Approved!
http://www.westerville.org/Default.aspx?tabid=498
Today I had my weekly Circuit Training Class and I had some nice "chit chat" with the other women in the class. Our trainer, Brad, is always laid back and changes up the circuit stations to hit all the target areas women are concerned about! Today was a great workout and Brad took us outside to take advantage of the nice weather! Just like people crave a change of scenary, our bodies need to mix up the type of workouts to maximize the results! Our "chit chat" today was a comparison of notes on what works for one women vs. another women. VERY INTERESTING! I myself, eat low carbs, high protein, tons of veggies, fruits and very RARELY eat desserts! So why am I still overweight? As Brad put it, its all about intake and output or calories consumed and calories burned. We all agreed that these fad diets are the pits and making healthy food choices and understanding what an actual portion size is and exercising will bring on the desired results! I mean, I admit that I could eat a ENTIRE BOX of crackers in one sitting at one point in my life. Hello! It never occurred to me to read the box and look at the serving size! So today as I sit and eat my cucumber and tomato salad dressed with olive oil and red wine vinegar I read the box of Triscuit crackers. 6 CRACKERS is a serving size! That's it sista! So what's wrong with my diet? Nothing, it the output. I simply need to move this big rearend around some more to get the pounds off. Now that the weather is improving, I'm going to mix it up and do some bike riding and also hit the steps at Alum Creek Damn! What about you? Try reading labels and keeping a food diary and tracking how many minutes you are exercising! Thanks Brad for taking us outside today!
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