The Stages of BodyRock
Hey guys! Happy Monday 🙂 Hope your day is going well.
Catching up on the blog world:
THE PILOT CAME HOME! (<— Video post)
We spent the weekend sunning and enjoying each other’s company at One Ocean
Fun guest posts (Hopefully you found some fun new reads to add to your Google reader)
So, we’ve been having a lovely time in Valdizzy before we leave tomorrow.
Since I slept through yoga yesterday, I decided to get in a BodyRock workout (Set Fire) at the hotel.
The stages of BodyRock:
Ignorant smile (because I don’t know of the pain to come)
The warm-up:
Scraping the “popcorn” off the 70s style hotel ceilings with the jump rope:
(oops)
Working my booty off:
16 minutes has NEVER been this schweaty before:
Pain and profanities:
“Nice work, babe”:
Recovery:
Insane. It always blows my mind that these workouts can make me sweat like a MONKEY- sometimes more than I do after teaching for an hour.
Afterwards, I went to the hotel gym with the Pilot to shake my legs out on the elliptical:
and gawk at his hawtness as he ran on the treadmill in lululemon 😉
I can’t believe he’s really back here <3
Recent eats:
So while the Pilot and I were at the gym, in between yelling at the basketball game on TV and dancing around –Arizona ROCKED it last night!- I listened to a Jillian Michael’s podcast on the iPhone.
It was my first time listening to her podcast, even though it’s one of the #1s. As you guys know, I’m not a Jillian fan at all –yes, she has done some amazing things, but she also sold out majorly by pimping out phony diet pills and “supplements”- but the podcast was pretty interesting. She discussed veganism and the fact that you can’t become vegan overnight, which I totally agree with. It takes a lot of research and planning, and I also agree that you should stay as far away from faux meats as possible (processed soy is not a friend). She also said that she stopped eating meat from land animals –only consumes fish, eggs, and organic yogurt- after watching the movie Earthlings, which I haven’t seen.
The podcast got me thinking about what was the initial change and shift in my eating habits. I really think the most significant thing to shape how I eat today was reading the South Beach Diet in college. Before I read that book, I had no idea what a healthy fat or smart carb was, or how to balance macronutrients in my diet. Through time, I’ve bid adieu to a lot of the food-like-substances that SB advocates with a shift towards more whole foods, but I think that it totally changed my eating style for the better.
Another book that had a huge impact on my eating style was Skinny Bitch. SB and I kind of have a weird relationship- I adore the book and loathe it at the same time. I don’t think it’s necessary to use fear tactics or be demeaning towards other women, but at the same time, the style in which it’s written totally works. It’s a brand thing with the tough love and foul language, which has made it successful. I also don’t like the fact that it guilt-trips nonvegans and encourages a ton of VERY unhealthy foods just because they don’t use animal products. Anyway, reading SB gave me a GIANT wake-up call to evaluate where exactly my food was coming from. SB was a kick in the face to buy organic and determine where exactly my food dollar is going. Of course, I’m not a vegan by any means, but I ate vegan-ish for a very long time until semi-recently, when I decided that I wanted to include chicken in my diet again. I enjoy chicken maybe once a week (if that) and it’s working for me right now.
So I’m wondering, what shaped or changed your current eating habits? Was it a book or movie, or have you eaten this way for your entire life?
Of course, we’re all different and I’m a firm believer that as far as eats go, different strokes for different folks. We all have unique activity levels and needs. What works beautifully for one person could be totally wrong for someone else. Please play nice in the comments and remember to be respectful to other peeps.
I’m off to lunch with a very good friend 🙂
See ya later today!
xoxo
Gina
Today’s tip: Add more BOOTY to your squat! 😀
Next time you add squats into your workout rotation, add a balance ball or medicine ball in between your knees, like so:
Perform the squat per usual (minus the iPhone, heh heh) and notice how this little variation targets your inner thighs (from having to hold the balance ball in place) and directs the focus to your glutes:
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i’ve been thinkin about doing some bodyrock workouts, but i might hold off until ive gone to the gym a little more, definitely looks challenging!
I went off red meats, almost entirely, because i cant digest them. most other meats i eat on a very occasional basis, they just dont appeal to me anymore. So those are my reasons for my diet changes. I dont know if would or could ever go vegan, i like cheese too much. Im not a fan of faux meats either or tofu. i think what i am doing works for ME.
What shaped or changed my current eating habits? You.
So not kidding. I thought that I knew what healthy eating was and then I found your blog. I don’t have the same diet that you do (I still eat meat and I’m sure plenty of other things that you probably don’t) but my awareness and the decisions that I make when it comes to food has definitely changed from where I use to be. You introduced me to a world of overnight oats, Larabars and green smoothies. So thanks Fitnessista 🙂
I lovee that you have your workout buddy back!!!
Loving the action shots!
I was pretty put off by SB when I read it my freshman year of college- it did help me think more critically about some ingredients (especially gelatin/random additives) but for the most part I found the approach/insistence on veganism to be too much. I think realizing what my body needs to function best has shaped my eating- I have given vegetarianism a go and for my body I just end up feeling rather lethargic. I do eat meat/fish on a daily basis however I am choosy about where my animal products come from (I always go for local/free-range/antibiotic free)
I listened to that exact same podcast and then made my husband listen to it as well :). He decided to become Vegan at the beginning of the year and has since been buying a lot of faux meat products. I try to find items that aren’t soy based, but it is hard, and it’s still processed food. I’m definitely a hybrid. I eat meat a few times a week but try to make sure it’s been ethically raised. Reading “In defense of food” definitely opened my eyes and made me think twice about the crap I was putting into my body.
It’s hard but you have to find your own balance and what works for you!
Ooof- Skinny Bitch made me SO angry I tossed it out in the trash. Although I will agree that it made me question the source of my food, I found the scaretactic promotion of a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle so demeaning and unsettling I couldn’t take the author’s seriously. Michael Pollan’s books make me think in a good way though- love them!
A major factor in the way I eat has been a diet plan from the UK called Slimming World. A lot of the things they teach have stuck with me since I first did it about five years ago. I try to eat more “real” foods and less processed and artificial things.
Reading blogs and taking bits and pieces from Bethenny Frankel’s books have really helped me figure out my eating habits. Trial and error! Reading up on South Beach definitely helped me understand the right protein ratios for me, too.
I did that EXACT 16-minute Bodyrock workout yesterday and I’m sore today!! They’re hard core!
I will def be adding the medicine ball to my squats. My thighs could use a little extra work!
Ohhh. I get so mad when I see the Skinny Bitch books. It’s views like theirs that give calm, non-judgey vegans and veggies a bad name. I honestly don’t care how informative they are, there are better ways to go about then guilting people and making them feel inferior.
The book “Eating Animals” really help refine my eating habits. I found it to be totally informative and really eye opening! I was already veggie but I would say I have vegan leanings after reading it. I also think it was great in terms of what I would feed my kids one day and figuring out where that comes from.
I’ve never heard of bodyrock before, but the pictures look intense!
I’m the same way with skinnybitch, I detest it and like it at the same time. I’ve always had the same eating patterns – big breakfast and then small frequent meals through out the day. I have a fasst metabolism so it helps me from crashing. But what I eat has changed soo much since I’ve been in college – in high school I ate a loott of processed foods and a ton of meat. Now I’m a vegetarian and focus more on whole foods. I’ve taken a lot of nutrition classes as a part of my major, I love food blogs and fitness magazines and cooking so I’ve kind of been using all of these as inspiration to find what works for me.
Well, the comment I was going too write is very similar to Allison’s so I won’t repeat. I love cheese so vegan is not for me, but I try as much as I can. Since I eliminated meat (red, pork and chicken) I feel lighter, healthier, my skin looks better.
“Bear down Arizona, bear down red and blue, go- go- wildcats go, Arizona bear down!”
I love the BodyRock workouts too – totally agree, they TOTALLY get ya schweaty!!! I haven’t read SB yet, but I did read the South Beach Diet a long time ago. When I began losing weight at the age of 16, I did it by focusing on fruits and veggies – LOTS of them, and fewer not-so-good for you foods. At the time, I interpreted that as anything that contained fat, but now I’m no longer a fat-o-phobe. Becoming a fitness instructor was a huge game changer for me because it made me realize that I need to eat well to 1) fuel myself properly, 2) be a role model for those I teach, and 3) maintain overall good health. I don’t consider myself a real hardcore athlete, but I like to think that what I put into my body resembles what an athlete would. Another big change came when I discovered Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Diet, which isn’t really a diet at all. It sort of reiterated what I’d learned back in my weight loss days, but was a nice refresher because it emphasized WHY fats are important. Since Tosca is well-versed in fitness and fueling for it, I really enjoyed learning about what she had to say in terms of building muscle tone. Clearly, eating clean works – just look at her! 🙂
Like you, I’m not vegan or vegetarian. However, I don’t eat red meat (mainly because it doesn’t make me feel very good – it’s sort of a heavy, rock-like feeling in my stomach) and I don’t eat quite as much chicken as I used to. I’ll still eat dairy, but not a lot of cheese – again, just not a fan. Having been introduced (both online and face-to-face) to a number of bloggers with different eating styles, I’m always up for vegetarian/vegan meals. Some of my meatless meals have been far superior to meat-based ones, and one of my favourite local restaurants serves only vegetarian/vegan fare.
Loved hearing your perspective on all of this Gina. And sorry for the essay-like comment!
Honestly, your blog (as well as some others) have had a huge impact on how I eat now. I used to be queen of all things diet food. But now I’ve discovered so many healthy recipes and foods thru your blog and I actually get excited about going to the gym, thanks to all the different workouts and shape-ups you have. If I need something new or fun to switch up my routine, I usually check out your blog or Toneitup.com (they have a ton of awesome youtube workout and recipe videos). 🙂
I also read South Beach in HS and it caused me to really examine the foods I ate (for better or for worse) much earlier than most 16 year olds. After a time, books about mindful eating and yoga practice really complimented the nutrition lessons I had already learned. I’ve upped my vegetable and grain intake, and limited my meat intake to organic and local varieties. I’m happy with where I am; I eat what I crave, and don’t put anything off limits.I’m always striving for that ‘balance’ but I feel good about my holistic approach.
I can’t pinpoint one thing that shaped my habits….probably getting a degree in exercise science started my interest in the food side of things—learning about physiology sparked an interest, and I’ve read a billion books about it and done certifications in nutrition since then. I tend to take things from every source I read that enhance or complement what I’m already doing. Blogs help inspire and inform me too!
I love that you always emphasize “do what is right for your body”. I agree that there is a lot to learn from all the diets out there. Its refreshing that you never act preachy. I do love many things from the SB, but I don’t like them shaming meat eaters. I had a friend for a long time that was constantly taking things out of her diet and then shaming me for eating them. I simply feel best when I eat certain things, but she made me feel like I was ruining my body because I ate dairy, meat, etc. I’ve also just tried to learn more about veggie based dishes and what spices work a meal. Up until recently I had no idea how certain spices (turmeric and cinnamon for example) can amp up nutrition and taste. At that point, its very easy to add in animal proteins or dairy, or leave them out for friends who eat differently.
Your blog, as well as others are a daily inspiration to me. Kimberly Snyder,of kimberlysnyder.net, is one of my favorite raw foodists/yogi enthusiasts. Have you ever checked her out? LOVE HER
I think my eating disorder had a big impact on how I eat today. In a lot of ways, that’s a bad thing- fear of food, tendency to skip meals to feel more “in control” of my body, etc.- but in some ways it’s great because in my obsession over food and exercise, I ended up doing a lot of research and learned SO MUCH about nutrition. The only thing I’m still working on is figuring out how healthy fats work. I KNOW they’re good for you in moderation, but I can’t shake the fear that eating fat will make ME fat…not exactly what I want when I’m trying to lose 30 lbs!
You make me want to try the BodyRock workouts! How long are they, on average?
I <3 that the pilot is back! Your partner in crime ; )
My eating habits went from 'oblivious' (didn't know, didn't care) to over mindful (read: TOO restrictive) and not fun at all. I was also eating a lot of things that were low calorie but not high in nutrients and packed with preservatives and fake sugar. I had a mind set overhaul my last year of college. I was sick of being hungry all the time and wouldn't believe that dannon light and fit yogurt was better for me than greek. Because its NOT. I kicked my fake foods to the curb starting with yogurt….. then it was everything fat-free…. and so on.
I like that she said that in her pod-cast. People go vegan for the wrong reasons and many place too much emphasis on soy-meat. Soy-meat is awful! Anybody that has read angela's blog can see that vegan can be a lot of fun and not have one bit of soy-meat.
Honestly what helped me was reading blogs — I never cared where my food came from, as long as it was cheap and tasted good I was all over it 🙂
I’ve only done a few Bodyrock workouts — mostly because I can see myself hurting myself doing all that jumping, etc. They are super intense!
haven’t read SB, but ive researched and read so many others over the years that are similar. everyone is different, and i think books like that are great for those who need to come face to face with what they’re eating and what our food is really made of. its a process, like you said, huge changes cant happen overnight. everyone is different, and veganism works for some and not for others, so i think whatever makes you happy and what your body wants is key- not a label that you put on yourself just because others do or you think its the right thing. the first eye opening book i ever read years ago was by kevin trudeau!
I hate, hate, hate, hate Skinny Bitch books. First of all, the shaming tactics are unnecessary. No, you are not superior to ANYONE because of the way you choose to eat. Speaking strictly from a health point of view, the authors assume that a vegan diet is the right choice for everyone, which is simply not the case. Secondly, the sheer amount of vegan junk food that is featured in Skinny Bitch in the Kitch is ridiculous. How can you tell me to eat processed soy and fake meats under the guise of… health? Frying a processed meat in coconut oil does not change the fact that is’s a made in a lab.
I can’t really pin-point what shaped my current eating habits. They are still constantly changing. I was at my thinnest when I was eating a lot of diet/low calorie foods. Now, I try to stick to a whole-foods diet, with daily indulgences. I feel much, much better.I’m not a vegan or a vegetarian, because that lifestyle does not work for me, physically or otherwise. However, the bulk of my food comes in vegetable form, because that is what I enjoy eating.
I have pretty similar feelings about Skinny Bitch. It definitely wasn’t what I thought and I disagree with a lot of it (“If you eat $h!t, you are $h!t.” Um….totally disagree. I think that everyone deserves to indulge *a little bit* *sometimes.*) Food, Inc was also really influential to me as was healthy living blogs like yours and Healthy Tipping Point.
Loved the South Beach Diet book, and the success I have had previously with it! But what shaped my eating was my cancer diagnosis! And then how I “FELT” eating the things I was supposed to be eating! I added things back in that make me feel better! Sometimes I just need a coke! It is the only thing that makes me feel better when nothing else does! And I hate feeling full! I eat small meals only! And snack a lot more!
I had to learn all kinds of tricks to add things to put weight ON! I had lost too much through the chemo! So I started eating more ice cream and adding honey to my tea and coffee! I know I don’t eat nearly as healthy as I should. I eat what makes me feel better! Sometimes it is fatty and greasy, and sometimes it is full of fruit and vitamins! My body tells me what it needs!
For me it was a long struggle with health problems that diminished hugely with the reduction of a lot of the crap I was eating. I still eat processed foods now and again, enjoy a burger once and a while and love me some dessert but on the whole I try to eat more “real” food than fake food. Since then I’ve had to change my diet again when my husband was diagnosed with ulcertive colitis and havign to make foods that he can eat. I eat some things I know are bad (white pasta/bread/rice) but becuase those are the only ones her can eat, that’s what I make. I don’t eat much of those startches anyway – maybe 5 servings/week so I don’t think it’s a huge issue but I’m sure some judge me because of that alone.
I love the variety of meals and eating habits you can find on the blogosphere, and as long everybody plays nice I think it’s all good! 😀
Can I ask how you did the reverse push ups? I am assuming you didnt have the correct piece of equipment in the hotel room but maybe you did… Thanks!
Food Inc. was definitely what inspired me to change the way I ate. I had NO idea at the time how much I would change, and how much I would love nutrition.
I have always loved food! My boyfriend jokes that I eat (and sometimes drink) more than him. I’m pretty active, which also helps. I just go by how a food makes me feel later. I want food to energize me, not make me want to curl up in a food coma while I’m stuck at work.
Yoga has taught me to appreciate myself (mind and body) and learn to love and appreciate all things. I certainly love and appreciate all foods. 🙂 Especially when that food is in my belly. 😉
Do you watch the body rock videos on your laptop? How do you decide where to start with them? Which video? I’m really intrigued by the 20 minute workout.
I also read the south beach diet book and it definitely changed the way I think about my carb intake (smart carbs vs bad carbs). The book that changed the way I eat out and grocery shop: Crazy, Sexy Diet. This was probably one of my favorite “diet” books that I’ve read. I also read, Skinny Bitch and I agree with you on the book review. They make you feel bad for not eating vegan and they use crass language. It was a very “in your face” book, but it also made you question where your food was coming from.
My eating style now has been an evolution process. Of course I tried diets and eating better through my adult life, but it wasn’t until Jan of last year that I decided I needed a change. I started with WW, which I liked, just not the price, then I switched to Sparkpeople, which I love and gave me so much motivation, inspiration, and information. I started off trying to eat less, 100-calorie snack packs, less slices of pizza etc. After I read a bit more on adding strength to my workouts and how I needed to put more protein in my diet to help build muscle, I started to take out all the snack packs and focus more of eating better foods. I’ve just read around a bit, here and there. You have given me lots of things to think about and information regarding food, and I appreciate that. I have read Tosca’s books and love the eating clean style. I try the best I can to do so, but I don’t stress about it too much. I don’t even go down the snack aisle in the grocery store and get local, organic fruits and veggies delivered to me every other week! There always seems to be new information on eating out there, but after you read so much of it, it always boils down to the same thing…eat whole foods. Why am I feeding my kids mac and cheese with preservatives and artificial ingredients?? They’re little growing bodies do not need all that. I still cook mac and cheese, I buy Annie’s. Little switches like that have helped me get my family healthy.
The biggest thing that changed my eating habits was after I had my baby. She was (in my eyes) pure. And I didn’t want to put anything ‘yucky’ in her body. I have always loved learning about food and nutrition, but over time and lots of reading and studying, I’ve pretty much adopted a vegan, sometimes vegetarian (for my daughter) diet.
My interest in nutrition started back in high school. The doc told my sister she needed to lose weight to be healthier and I knew the normal pasta, pizza,meatloaf thing in our house wasn’t helping so I decided to start cooking for the family. I definitely wasn’t super informed at the time, but that really sparked my love of veggies and fresh eating. Since then, my degree in nutrition, Food Inc, and The ChinaStudy are really shaping my eaing habits. I want to eat for a happy, healthy body so I can live a happy and fulfilling life with my family. Great blogs too 😉
The China Study influenced the way I ate, but it was more temporary. I would say Michael Pollan’s stuff has really influenced the way I eat, too, plus a ton of blogs. I’m a vegetarian, and overall I try to eat whole foods, and that’s my main focus.
WHOA. How strange. I literally just finished wiping my eyes from watching Earthlings and threw out literally every piece of meat I have in my fridge…I will never be able to eat land animals again. Ever. Earthlings is a must watch…but please have tissues and make sure no children are around!
PS — it can be watched online for free via Google Video, here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6361872964130308142#
LOVE the action shots!! I did that workout and it was definitely killer 😀
and thanks for the squat tip, I’m down for anything that works the booty!
A lot of things shaped my current eating style; everything from my old habits and favorites to my desire to be healthy and live long and well. Basically, I have taken a bit of everything that I found useful and applied it to my personal way of eating.
I had a really REALLY negative reaction to Skinny Bitch. I feel like I’ve spent years trying to be positive and feel positive about myself, and that was the opposite message of the book – I liked the information, but I hated how I felt when I was reading the book. However, I love Alicia Silverstone’s “Kind Diet.” Even though I am not vegan (but close), I loved how positive she made me feel – which was how I felt when I started my vegetarian diet (and when I have vegan days or weekends). I still pick it up and re-read it sometimes!
So glad your husband is home – sounds like y’all are having a wonderful time! Glad you are enjoying every minutes of it!
Wow Gina, thank you for the insightful and great post! After the weekend of guesties, it’s nice to come back and read your thoughts and book reviews and musings.
I have never read either SBD or S.B. I have heard good and bad things about both of them. I guess I am fairly set in my eating ways b/c of food allergies and intolerances and finally figuring out what works for my body in my mid 20s. However, I still tweak things, I am not afraid to try new things, and I also feel quite boxed in by labels as it pertains to the blog world. In my real world, I dont label myself but when I write my blog, I feel that people really, really want to box blogs in as “healthy”, vegan, vegetarian, etc. and it’s very limiting to me to think of food in those terms.
I eat mostly plants but I also dont always buy organic, I do eat sugar, I love desserts, but I also believe in moderation and tough love, too. I am such a mishmash.
I love this post, Gina!
And the shots of you working out…awesome! 🙂
I revamped my diet a little over a year ago after a break-up…I had always wanted to cook more nutritious, whole foods, but since the bf wasn’t into it, I didn’t really bother. I just fattened up on the delicious, rich, meals he liked…plus I always matched his portions. Big mistake. After that, I started exploring the wholefoods website and started making a ton of their recipes and the weight started to come off. Then I finally started to up my cardio etc, and work exercise and good, yummy, healthy foods into my everyday life. I actually got a lot of inspiration from your blog when I started reading it last summer…I think being able to see what a healthy lifestyle “looks like” was what really encouraged me and helped me create my own healthy lifestyle. so….thanks!! 🙂
I feel the same way about Skinny Bitch. It’s extreme, which is good because it raises awareness and forces people to think about what they’re reading, but it’s also not that well-written or researched. My eating habits don’t fall into any label, and I’m okay with that: I eat mostly vegan, but I still love seafood and eat dairy/eggs occasionally. I feel the best when I eat a lot of veggies, fruits and whole grains, but I also want food to be a source of enjoyment, so I’d never completely cut out the foods I truly love. For me, it’s a balance between health, taste and ethics!
The book that changed my whole outlook on food and health was definitely “The Raw Food Detox Diet.” After reading it, my meals became much more vegetable-centric– even though I had been a vegetarian for years! Skinny Bitch also had a big impact on me, but I didn’t love all the soy and processed recommendations in there either.
I’ve only recently tried the BodyRock workouts, but boy, are they killer!
I MUST try the Body Rock workouts! Everyone is raving about them!! I love the pics of you in action, too cute!!!! Im so happy you and the Pilot are back together again! Your workout buddy is back! Well he is your everything!
Have a great day love!! xoxo <3
The picture where you’re bending forward touching the ground made me think of Patrick Swayze’s back muscles in Dirty Dancing… Holy cow! I’m impressed and a bit jealous! 😉
Love the “Nice work, babe” picture! That would totally be my bf too! LOL! So glad you have your other half back!!!
I think my big push towards living a healthier life actually came when I just got sick of depriving myself of certain foods, having a love/hate relationship with my body, weighing myself obsessively every day, and forcing workouts that I wasn’t feeling. I always wanted to be “skinny,” but after realizing the harm I was doing to my body (and my mind and soul), I decided to switch my approach and focus on “treating my body like a temple.” Reading blogs like yours also helped me realize that overexercising and cutting out entire food groups was not the way to go. So, thanks!
Oh man, are you trying to give Zuzana a run for her money or what? Now you just need lower-cut workout tops. J/K!
What shaped the way I eat? It was reading a lot things (blogs, websites, books, articles) but there were also a few monumental shifts along the way:
1) Giving up Diet Coke proved to me that artifical things *do* affect your body. I never expected to feel so differently after giving it up, but I did, and it inspired me to make even more changes.
2) Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. I’m not a vegan now, but I do believe in eating organic & humanely killed meats only, or else I stay vegetarian. If it wasn’t for greek yogurt & cheese, my loves, I think I could go vegan no problem…
3) Being budget-consious. Meal-planning always takes creativity when you’re trying to figure out how to incorporate all of your produce, not waste food, use what you’ve got, etc. And you start to see food in terms of it’s nutritional and dollar value and realize how much more of a bang for your buck you’re getting with wholesome, natural food.