Alphabet Home Workout

This is just a quick little blog about a workout I did today. I usually would go to my mma gyms Bootcamp class but we have out of town (country) guests coming over for a BBQ tonight. I really want to stay on track with my fitness and usually when I say "I'll just workout home" means go home sit on the couch until my husband gets home haha. Today I actually did workout, the alphabet workout. 

It's so simple, there is no time constraint, it'll only take 30 minutes and if it's too easy just up the reps and time. 

A- 50 jumping jacks

B- 20 crunches

C- 30 squats

D- 15 push ups

E- 1 min wall sit

F- 10 burpees

G- 20 arm circles (both directions)

H- 20 squats

I- 30 jumping jacks

J- 15 crunches 

K- 15 push ups

L- 2 min walk sit

M- 20 burpees

N- 25 burpees

O- 40 jumping jacks

P- 20 arm circles (both directions)

Q- 30 crunches

R- 20 push ups

S- 30 burpees

T- 20 squats

U- 30 arm circles (both directions)

V- 3 min wall sit

W- 30 up downs

X- 60 jumping jacks

Y- 15 cruches

Z- 20 push ups

A friend of mine posted this workout on Facebook and then I adapted it by adding a few more reps. I loved it! I got a good sweaty 30 minutes with a little bit of everything for a full body workout. Now if I had more time I would have gone for a run then done this alphabet workout too. 

Whole30

My husband and I just ended our first whole30 adventure and succeeded!

If you have never heard of whole30 and you have any kind of dietary issues this is perfect for you. Check out there website www.whole30.com! Basically you take out grains, sugar, dairy, and alcohol for the entirety of the 30 days as well as restrictions on the oils you use. It sounds very intense but they supply you with a grocery list of everything you can eat.  Once your body has detoxing for 30 days your slowly add back in eat food group in hope that you narrow down what it is your allergic too (you hope and pray it is t ice cream). 

We decide to try this out because I have been having a slight reaction to something we eat regularly. Friends of ours had just completed it and successfully found that it was gluten they were allergic to, so I thought why not try it. 

Before we started we ate loosely to a paleo style of eating so I feel like the transition wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I read a few blogs on how other people did and they weren't all that encourging to be honest. A lot said they gave up or cheated or basically ate the same meals over and over. I was determined for that not be our experience!! 

Here are a few tips that saved us:

1. Plan at least two weeks of meals in adavance. Each day plan your breakfast, lunch and dinner, it makes it so much easier and less chance of your giving up. 

2. Danielle Walker - she is an amazing author of Against all grains & Meals made simple she has some amazing recipes. Whole30 does have it's own recipe book which I hear is incredible. 

3. Lara bars - there are only three you can eat; blueberry muffin, Apple pie and key lime. They help curve your sugar craving and if you ever out they make a good dessert. 

4. Avocados - carry them everywhere and put them on everything. Fats are key because they keep you full and they are good for you. 

5. Frittata - I would make a large one every Monday so we didn't have to rush in the mornings. Quick & easy! 

6. Nuts - just like the avocados, they are a great supply of fats to keep you full and make a great post work out snack. 

7. Do it with someone - my husband has been incredible support in this. Helping make meals and having someone to hold strong with when your craving chocolate. 

8. Save - obviously eating healthier means spending a little bit more on groceries. There is a website called thrive market that's basically Costco but full of low cost products. 

There are so many benefits to it not only finding out what your allergic to but we both lost weight and inches, our skin cleared up, had more energy (after week two), ate smaller healthy portions and so much more. 

You can do it! 

Essential Oils

I have known and dabbled in the world of essential oils for about a year or so now. I am not one to preach that they heal you but I do believe that they can really help aid fast recovery and ease symptoms. Essential oils have a ridiculous amount of uses spanning from being used as a cleaning product to being used in cooking or to the most commonly known use of medicinal use.  

I decided to give a little review of three of the most basic oils; Lemon, Peppermint and Lavendar oils. They can be used in several different ways;

First I used Lemon in my water only adding one or two drops in a glass, which helps get rid of toxins in your body and for a quick energizing boost. It is also an antiseptic which helps fight off any potential bugs that maybe going around in your community. If you don't like Lemon in your water (which I am not a huge fan of myself) you can also apply it to your feet or palms of your hands.

Secondly, I tried using the Peppermint oil in cooking. I found this delicious recipe on Pinterest for Mint energy balls which called for peppermint extract but instead of using a teaspoon of that I simply used two drops of Peppermint oil. Just using those two drop made them very very minty tasting. If you want to try making them here is the link. I also used Peppermint when I had a headache, applying it to my temples to relieve my headache and the back of the neck to help relieve stress and tension. I did some research on other uses and discovered that its aroma is uplifting and invigorating and when used topically can be soothing to tired, sore muscles which I often have after a hard work out.

  

Lastly, I tried Lavender which is the one I am least familiar with. After looking into its uses I was surprised by some of it's uses. I burned my arm on the oven and tried out a suggested use of topically applying Lavender to the burn and it healed up faster than any other previous burns. It can also be used on  minor cuts and bruises. At the same time the aroma is very soothing and has a marvelous calming effect. I am going to try adding a few drops to my next bath to really relax and de-stress.

I am hoping to getting into the diffusing side of essential oils so that my husband and home also benefits. Now the fun part of researching different cute designs and how they function.

I found everythingessential.me website super helpful, it has a substantial amount of information about all the essential oils and blends but more helpful than anything it lists symptoms or ailments that you may have and gives you suggested oils and blends to try to heal them.

If you are interested in trying some different essential oil I recommend the doterra brand.