I had this soup at a luncheon one time and fell in love. It's a little more complicated, but worth the trouble! Of course to make it Vegan, omit the chicken and use Veggie broth instead. I am famous for doing that with recipes.
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 TB olive oil
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1-2(14 oz) cans chicken broth/veggie broth
1 c. corn
1 small can green chiles
1 can white hominy
1 can black beans
1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped
2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
Toppings: avocado, tortilla chips (leave those out to minimize calories), cheese (if you wish. this will add a significant amount of calories), green onion
In medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, and broth. Bring to boil and simmer 5-10 minutes.
Stir in corn, hominy, chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken. Simmer 10 minutes.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Veggie Chili
My sister gave me this recipe and I loved it. My kids aren't huge Chili fans, but they still eat it. :) If your family likes Chili, you'll love this Vegan version.
1 c. onion
1 green pepper
2 tsp. garlic
2 cans black beans
1 can white beans
1 can kidney beans
1 28 oz. can petite diced tomatoes
2 TB chili powder
2 TB oregano
1 tsp. coriander
2 tsp. cumin
4 c. veggie broth
Cook on low in a crock pot for 4-8 hours. At end, stir in 1/3 c. couscous to thicken.
Note: You can always use whatever beans you have on hand. It doesn't matter what kind. :)
1 c. onion
1 green pepper
2 tsp. garlic
2 cans black beans
1 can white beans
1 can kidney beans
1 28 oz. can petite diced tomatoes
2 TB chili powder
2 TB oregano
1 tsp. coriander
2 tsp. cumin
4 c. veggie broth
Cook on low in a crock pot for 4-8 hours. At end, stir in 1/3 c. couscous to thicken.
Note: You can always use whatever beans you have on hand. It doesn't matter what kind. :)
Chicken (or non-chicken) Chowder
This is one of my kids favorite soups. I do sometimes do it with chicken or sometimes I will just leave it out. I modified the original recipe for a healthier, non-dairy version. :)
2-3 pieces chicken
1 qt. chicken or veggie broth
1 c. celery (diced)
1/2 c. onion (diced)
1 c. grated carrots
4 c. potatoes (diced small)
2 TB butter (I use Earth Balance brand)
cornstarch and water mixture for thickening (1/3 c. cornstarch with warm water mixed in to make it runny)
1 c. almond or plan rice milk
Boil chicken 15-20 minutes. In separate pan, cook all veggies in a broth. Bring to boil and then simmer 20 minutes. Add in cooked chicken once veggies are cooked through.
Add butter and almond milk. Stir in cornstarch mixture with wire whisk to thicken. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 10 minutes.
Note: If you don't use the chicken, you can ALWAYS add some more of the veggies. :)
2-3 pieces chicken
1 qt. chicken or veggie broth
1 c. celery (diced)
1/2 c. onion (diced)
1 c. grated carrots
4 c. potatoes (diced small)
2 TB butter (I use Earth Balance brand)
cornstarch and water mixture for thickening (1/3 c. cornstarch with warm water mixed in to make it runny)
1 c. almond or plan rice milk
Boil chicken 15-20 minutes. In separate pan, cook all veggies in a broth. Bring to boil and then simmer 20 minutes. Add in cooked chicken once veggies are cooked through.
Add butter and almond milk. Stir in cornstarch mixture with wire whisk to thicken. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 10 minutes.
Note: If you don't use the chicken, you can ALWAYS add some more of the veggies. :)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
New Favorite Hummus
I combined two of my favorite hummus recipes and came up with this beauty. My kids devoured it and I had to stop myself from doing the same. Here goes.
This made A LOT of hummus! It filled up my 11 cup food processor. So if you don't want as much, just cut it in half.
Black Bean Hummus
2 cans black beans
2 cans garbanzo beans
1 clove garlic
1/4 c. tahini
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cumin
1/4 c. olive oil
juice from 1 lemon
1/3 c. water
Blend in food processor and enjoy!
This made A LOT of hummus! It filled up my 11 cup food processor. So if you don't want as much, just cut it in half.
Black Bean Hummus
2 cans black beans
2 cans garbanzo beans
1 clove garlic
1/4 c. tahini
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cumin
1/4 c. olive oil
juice from 1 lemon
1/3 c. water
Blend in food processor and enjoy!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Workout Group Challenge Update
Wanted to update you guys on my Workout Challenge Group plan:
I have a few awesome and committed ladies that are ready to change it up and dramatically change their bodies with an awesome exercise program and good nutrition (some will be using Shakeology, some are not).
One group is an exclusive, BeachBody Challenge group. www.beachbodycoach.com/tiffanydansie (See the Beach Body Challenge button on the right hand side of my BeachBody Page). They have committed to do P90x, drink Shakeology as a meal replacement for the 3 month duration of the program, and to become a BeachBody Club Member. An invsement? Yes! But those willing to actually invest in their health have a better change of actually changing their health and following through.
Our second group is also going to be a P90x group but without Shakeology or the BeachBody Club Membership. The people of that group will simply be doing P90x together. This group is just a flat fee of $35 per month, for the 3 month challenge. An investment? Yes! But more likely to see results, especially with me coaching everyone, every step of the way.
This is my plan. I will be creating private Facebook groups for these challenges. No one can see you are in it and what we talk about except for the few members in each group. We will each report daily, about our workout, about our nutrition, give and get advice, etc. I will be there to answer ANY questions via text, email, phone. I WANT these ladies to be highly successful! I am committed to being there, every step of the way to hold people accountable, give nutrition tips and advice, and give advice for the workouts so the people of the group are getting what they pay for in the program, meal replacements, and my personal help. These groups will have my name on them, and I want them to be successful. I cannot wait!
We start December 1st. If anyone is interested in joining one of these groups, please let me know, as you have to have time to get prepared to start up the program.
And for those interested at a later date, I plan to start up a few more groups on January 1st. It will be time for New Years Resolutions and instead of paying for a gym membership, going for 2 months, and then never going back, you'll have be right at your side (and the other people in the group) to help motivate and push you, like you've never pushed yourself before. Results do not come for free. I can promise you that! No one that is toned and in great shape doesn't have to work hard to get there.
If you are ever interested in joining a group, please let me know. I am willing to start up a group whenever anyone is ready and committed to changing their life. Just shoot me an email or leave a comment here, or message me on Facebook. tiffanydansie@gmail.com
Happy Holidays!
I have a few awesome and committed ladies that are ready to change it up and dramatically change their bodies with an awesome exercise program and good nutrition (some will be using Shakeology, some are not).
One group is an exclusive, BeachBody Challenge group. www.beachbodycoach.com/tiffanydansie (See the Beach Body Challenge button on the right hand side of my BeachBody Page). They have committed to do P90x, drink Shakeology as a meal replacement for the 3 month duration of the program, and to become a BeachBody Club Member. An invsement? Yes! But those willing to actually invest in their health have a better change of actually changing their health and following through.
Our second group is also going to be a P90x group but without Shakeology or the BeachBody Club Membership. The people of that group will simply be doing P90x together. This group is just a flat fee of $35 per month, for the 3 month challenge. An investment? Yes! But more likely to see results, especially with me coaching everyone, every step of the way.
This is my plan. I will be creating private Facebook groups for these challenges. No one can see you are in it and what we talk about except for the few members in each group. We will each report daily, about our workout, about our nutrition, give and get advice, etc. I will be there to answer ANY questions via text, email, phone. I WANT these ladies to be highly successful! I am committed to being there, every step of the way to hold people accountable, give nutrition tips and advice, and give advice for the workouts so the people of the group are getting what they pay for in the program, meal replacements, and my personal help. These groups will have my name on them, and I want them to be successful. I cannot wait!
We start December 1st. If anyone is interested in joining one of these groups, please let me know, as you have to have time to get prepared to start up the program.
And for those interested at a later date, I plan to start up a few more groups on January 1st. It will be time for New Years Resolutions and instead of paying for a gym membership, going for 2 months, and then never going back, you'll have be right at your side (and the other people in the group) to help motivate and push you, like you've never pushed yourself before. Results do not come for free. I can promise you that! No one that is toned and in great shape doesn't have to work hard to get there.
If you are ever interested in joining a group, please let me know. I am willing to start up a group whenever anyone is ready and committed to changing their life. Just shoot me an email or leave a comment here, or message me on Facebook. tiffanydansie@gmail.com
Happy Holidays!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Workout Challenge Groups
Hello everyone!
As many of you know, I have a passion for helping people on their fitness and wellness journey. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Health Science and am currently studying to become a Personal Trainer... something I have wanted to do for about 10 years now. I have been helping friends and family lose weight, get in shape, giving advice, feedback, tips, etc., for years. I have had some people succeed. But most people just aren't that committed. They can't do everything needed in order to be successful. Getting into shape is a long journey. Your body doesn't build muscle and lose weight over night. It is something that takes time and serious effort.
So, I have decided to run a new kind of challenge... This challenge group would only have 5 MEMBERS. There will be money invested into this. At first, I struggled with this thought. But the more I thought about it, when someone invests money into something, they are way more likely to stick to it, and truly want to change and be motivated. If I just let anyone into a group for free, I could get hundreds of people wanting help, but only a small percentage of them would truly be committed to succeed and work hard. That is the problem I have had when working with people over the past several years... commitment to do what it takes to really become fit and healthy. There are two ways you can invest. I'll talk about each way individually when I explain what each group consists of.
I am going to start with 2 groups (or possibly more). The rules for each group are as follows:
Group #1- Starts December 1st- P90X
This group will consist of up to 5 people who would all be doing P90X, starting on the same day. Everyone would be required to be replacing one meal a day with Shakeology (a meal replacement, protein shake, supplement). This would mean, you will have to invest in Shakeology. If I am going to invest my time working one on one with you, I need tho know you are willing to invest into your own health first, and that you are truly committed.
WHAT IS REQUIRED??
1. Purchase your Shakeology HD in a 30 serving Bulk Bag OR To-Go packets for the duration of the 90 days.
2. Purchase P90X through my site. www.beachbodycoach.com/tiffanydansie
3. Join Beachbody Club so that you have access to the meal plan during the challenge to help with your nutrition. ($2.99 a week! And includes a 10% discount on all of your purchases!)
Something to think about too... Beach Body just launched "Challenge Packs" where you get these three things at a discounted price, all in one bundle, for the purpose of these group challenges.
Something to think about too... Beach Body just launched "Challenge Packs" where you get these three things at a discounted price, all in one bundle, for the purpose of these group challenges.
-WHAT IS P90X??
www.beachbodycoach.com/tiffanydansie (you can look up any program under the shop button and then fitness programs link.
P90X is amazing for people that are exercise veterans. If you have been exercising, need a change in your routine, and have 5-20 lbs to lose, that's how I feel it fits the best. If you have large amounts of weight to lose, I may recommend a different workout program.
WHAT IS SHAKEOLOGY?
It's a nutritional protein shake that provides a wide spectrum of healthy nutrients in a low-calorie formula. Shakeology is an effective way to help you lose weight (if used appropriately as a meal replacement), increase your energy and feel better all around. Many people have had great success with Shakeology while also incorporating a healthy diet and a Beach Body program. Most people are missing the nutrition part when it comes to getting fit and healthy. Almost anyone can exercise and get that done. But nutrition is huge... for me, it's 90% of the battle. So with Shakeology, you are taking care of one meal and have tons of fruits and vegetables from it, you are on the right track for your nutrition. And it's only 150 calories, so when used as a meal replacement, you are well on your way to cutting out calories needed to lose weight. But it MUST be used appropriately. You cannot use it as an additive to your diet, or just like any other food or drink, you will not lose. Yes, it is an investment and a pretty big one. But cut the treats and other crap out of your diet and spend the money on something good for you! It comes down to about $4 per day. That's as much as getting your morning coffee or eating one fast food meal out. (Or getting your daily latte, or drinking your glass of wine). So cut that stuff out and replace it with something healthy! Here is a little more information about Shakeology... www.shakeology.com/tiffanydansie
-WHAT'S THE CHALLENGE?
It's simple...for 90 days you will be replacing ONE MEAL A DAY with Shakeology and using the P90X Fitness program to reach your goals!
If you order your Shakeology on Home Direct- you get FREE SHIPPING, 2 Workout DVDs and a Shakeology cup! And if you don't love it you can cancel your Home Direct after the first shipment and send back the empty bag for a full refund! What do you have to lose?? Remember that if you don't LOVE your new program or Shakeology then you can return it within 30 days!
At the end of the event their will be a drawing from the contestants for a free gift! ONE PERSON WILL WIN A GIFT THAT CONSISTS OF A PERSONAL BLENDER FOR YOUR SHAKE AND A SET OF BEACHBODY PUSHUP STANDS!!! You must COMPLETE the challenge to qualify for the giveaway! LETS GO!!
Let me know if you have any questions!! And be sure to let me know if you want to be in this group. I only have 4 slots left, as I have already filled one. :)
Group #2- Starting December 1st-
This workout program is to be decided (based on your input). I'm thinking Insanity, Lindsay Brin's 60-day slimdown (for those from the Operation: Get your body back group on facebook), or any other Beach Body program.
This group will be up to 5 people with the same idea as the group above. But the investment you will be putting in is $35 per month to be part of the group. That will be the only requirement (other than your serious commitment to use your money wisely and work hard). This group will also have a drawing at the end of the program. The prize will depend on what workout program the group does. It may just be a cash prize.
Both of these groups will have unlimited access to me and my fitness and nutrition coaching via email, facebook, and you will also have my cell phone number. I will hold you accountable, motivate, encourage, give nutrition and workout advice, and be there for any problems of questions you may have along the workout program. I want to help people on a smaller scale to truly succeed. Giving random advice is great, but doesn't target the person specifically and get to know them on a one on one level so that together, we can help you succeed.
For those not interested in a group at this time, or if they fill up and you aren't able to participate, I plan on starting more groups in the very near future. If you are interested, please let me know. Also know that I am offering personal coaching (without the group support of others doing your same workout) exclusively from me for the same price as above. $35 per month for unlimited access to me via email, text, and phone. Let me know if you are interested in anything above or have questions. I would love to answer them and help in any way that I can.
Also, if you already have a program and don't need to buy one, that is fine for either group. Again, let me know if youvare interested as soon as possible and I can give you more information on how to register for both groups. Participants will be chosen on a first come, first serve basis. So commit to getting healthy and get started!! You can do it!
Also, if you do want to participate, I will need to know some more information about you to be sure the program we will be doing will suit your needs. I may recommend another program for you, based on your individual goals. But we can always start a group for that program also. :) Let me know as soon as possible!
Tiffany Dansie
To check out my Beach Body's website, go to www.beachbodycoach.com/tiffanydansie
You can order anything from there that you need. Keep in mind, Beach Body has a lifetime guarantee, where you can replace a DVD for a lifetime if it gets scratched or ruined, you can send it back 10 years from now and they will mail you a new DVD. A great reason to purchase from Beach Body.
Friday, October 28, 2011
my weight loss journey
so... this is going to be long winded. but i've actually wanted to put this on my blog for a while, and just haven't. as you can see, this blog (and my two others) have been completely neglected over the past few months. my sister has done way more posts than me. i'm vowing to change that.
some people don't know (unless you knew me in middle school) that i struggled with my weight all growing up. i wasn't way overweight necessarily. but i was more than chubby, not skinny, and was made fun of A LOT when i was little.
in high school, i started with tae bo. when i was about 14, my older sister (the other author of this blog) and i started doing tae bo after school sometimes. i don't remember when, but i started running a little bit on my parents treadmill not too long after that. i don't know where my motivation came from. but it was there and i sometimes used the treadmill. when i was around 16, i did the body for life program, and for the first time in my life, had some muscle tone. i lost some weight and looked better than i ever had. (still far from great shape). i also started eating healthier. i was raised on the standard american diet of meat, potatoes, cheese, chips, cookies, juice, creamy casseroles, etc. there wasn't a huge concern for health back then and eating well.
when i got to college, i pretty much had cut out all refined sugars and flours. i started running more and made it a daily habit. i would usually just run for 30 minutes or so every day. i was thin, but not toned or in great shape. i loved exercise and eating healthy and decided to get my bachelor's degree in health science, with an emphasis in health promotion and lifetime wellness. my goal was to become a personal trainer eventually. but getting married and having a family took priority and i never did it... until now.
when i got married at the ripe age of 19, i weighed about 115-120 lbs. (i'm 5' 1 1/2"). i got pregnant with our first baby 3 months after we got married (yes, i know. crazy :) ). i immediately (like, the day i found out i was pregnant), stopped running, too paranoid that i would hurt the baby. i started just walking. i walked every day for 30 minutes during my pregnancy. good, right? well, my eating went out the window. i had been so good to have no sugars, refined flours for the past few years. i used pregnancy as an excuse to eat ice cream when i wanted, snacked CONSTANTLY (afraid that i needed to eat more because i was pregnant... which i did, but i had no idea how much 300 calories actually was), and didn't stick to my healthy eating. 30-35 lbs later, (i am pretty sure my ending weight was 148 lbs), i had my first baby. i was swollen, chubby, broad shouldered, etc.
i went on a quest to lose that baby weight. i had vowed i was NEVER going to be "one of those moms" that never lost her baby weight in between babies and ended up 40 lbs heavier after 4 kids. no way. not me. boy, did i EAT MY WORDS. i spent 1 1/2-2 hours per day in the gym, 6 days per week. treadmill, elliptical. i even started using the weight machines in the gym. i did drop a few pounds (maybe 5). i tried doing the "sometimes" rule with treats. but i swear, there was always some occasion, church party, holiday, birthday party, something. ALWAYS! so i was stuck around 130 for a long time. i tried cutting out sugars (and failed miserably). i tried eating salads twice per day. i became highly frustrated and when my baby was 18 months, i got pregnant with baby #2, 10-15 lbs heavier than i was when i got pregnant with baby #1.
i decided during this pregnancy, i was NOT going to use it as an excuse to eat what i wanted. i was going to listen to my body, eat when i was hungry, stop when i was satisfied, and try to eat really healthy. i accomplished that goal, gaining only 16 lbs during my pregnancy (also ran until i was about 17 weeks pregnant) and even did some weight training (some bicep curls, squats, lunges, etc). my doctor was fine with the small weight gain since i already was overweight at the beginning of my pregnancy. i did cut out treats, sugars, and white flours for the most part during this pregnancy.
i had baby #2 and was on my same quest to lose this baby weight. this is when i met lindsay brin with moms into fitness. i won't bore you with the story, but i got a hold of lindsay's post natal bootcamp dvd. popped that baby in 3 days per week (dying, trying to do her 12 week program), and also ran 5 days per week for about 30 minutes with some friends. yes, i was exercising twice per day and EXHAUSTED! i did this all while breastfeeding. in fact, i breastfed my son until he was 13 months old. it took me 7 months, and i surpassed my wedding day weight, and got down to 106 lbs. i was beyond thrilled! i had muscles i had never had before. when i finished the 12 week program, i started mixing and matching the workouts on her dvd, still doing 3 intervals of cardio/toning and 2-3 core workouts on the dvd. i used heavier weights when i didn't feel as challenged. (i started with 5's and 8's, moved up to 5's and 10's, moved up again to 8's and 12's). when my son was just about a year old, i got pregnant with baby #3.
during my third pregnancy, i was determined to stay as fit as possible. lindsay was kind enough to send me her pregnancy dvd's. i did them throughout my 3rd pregnancy, ran until i was about 24 weeks along, and tried to eat really healthy. (although whole wheat bread with cinnamon sugar was about the only thing i could tolerate for the first 16 weeks). i did the best i could to listen to my body, eat when i was hungry and stop when i was satisfied, and eat the best food for the amount of calories. i gained about 25-27 lbs.
baby #3 was born and i was determined to do the same thing i did with baby #2, but FASTER this time! haha. did not happen. in fact, it was a month or two slower. why? i think i was too paranoid about losing weight, not eating enough to keep up my milk supply (which started drying up when my daughter was about 5 months old), and just plain being over-paranoid about losing weight while breastfeeding. my body hung onto it until i stopped breastfeeding because i wasn't eating enough for it to let go of the excess fat. it needed it to survive and help my body keep my milk supply up. so after baby #3, i ate very healthy (lots of fruits, vegetables, green smoothies (which are made from fruits and vegetables), whole grains, sprouted grains, very little meat (and when i did do meat, it was chicken or turkey), and very little dairy. it took about 7 or 8 months and i was back to 106 lbs. i did lindsay's bootcamps again, and her new dvd's that had come out. shed 5 fast, core metabolic jumpstart, her cfs method (which helped tremendously to heal my diastasis recti that i had for the 3rd time), both bootcamps, etc. she even wrote an outside workout for me when i plateau'd.
even though i had hit my pre-pregnancy weight, i still felt like i had a small layer of fat that i wanted to get rid of. i wasn't toned like i wanted to be. i consulted with lindsay about it and she suggested that i just might be too used to her dvd's and workouts. i had increased my weights up to 12's and 15's and still had stopped losing and seeing results after a few weeks. she suggested i change it up (which is when she wrote the outside workout for me). i saw some results for the first few weeks and quickly plateau'd again.
i had seen some p90x infomercials. it looked interesting and HARD! i decided to get it for my husband for a graduation present (he was just graduating from physical therapy school). i got it for him, but REALLY was planning on doing it also. :) i emailed lindsay and asked her what she thought of it. she said she had seen the infomercials and thought it looked GREAT and that she thought i would love it, since i like to push myself.
i did the 90 days of p90x. i didn't follow their diet guide, as i don't really do a lot of animal products and after one day of doing it, felt so sick and yucky. again, i emailed lindsay about it and she suggested i not do the diet guide. i even tried drinking some protein shake, but noticed i was gaining weight. lindsay suggested not doing that either. i just decided to eat how i normally do (pretty clean to begin with), and just do the workouts. i was AMAZED with my results. the layer of fat was gone, i was at 102 lbs, my abs looked like lindsay's, i felt amazing, had muscles showing that i didn't even know i had, etc. i was in shock because most of the program is weight training. it didn't get my heart rate up nearly as much as lindsay's videos or other cardio exercises, like running. not at all. but i was more than sore every day and in phenomenal shape when i finished the 90 days. i was stunned. i had always been a cardio girl. cardio, cardio, cardio was my middle name. and i had gotten into the best shape of my life, and the lowest weight i could ever remember being, by simply doing push ups, pulls ups, and weight training. (there is a little bit of cardio involved, but nothing like i was used to doing).
i started a second round of p90x just in time to find out i was pregnant with #4! holy smokes! i tried continuing the program but felt it wasn't a good idea while i was pregnant. it was working me way too hard and i was exhausted, trying to finish the workouts. so i went back to lindsay's bootcamps, other dvd's and running. when i felt like those became too strenuous, i decreased my weights. when that became too strenuous, i started doing her pregnancy dvd's (probably about 20-25 weeks). i ran until i was 30 weeks, and my varicose veins were just bugging me way too much. so i stopped and went just to her pregnancy dvd's. i also kept my eating as clean as possible. i gained about 27 lbs with pregnancy #4 also.
baby #4 arrived and again, i was determined to lose the weight faster. again, it did not happen. :) it took longer. some because i was too paranoid about eating while breastfeeding, when i should have just focused on eating healthy, but not focused on how much i was eating. i was basically eating perfectly and dieting... when i shouldn't have been dieting at all. my milk dried up again when my baby was 5 months. :( i had been doing lindsay's bootcamps again, her other dvd's, and her downloads had come out soon after i had the baby. so i started doing those also. i also started using the Insanity program from beach body for cardio. i basically did her dvd's and downloads and when my baby was around 6 months, started doing p90x again. it took me 9 months to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight of around 106 lbs but not to my "best weight" of 102. my baby just turned 11 months and i am sitting at around 103-104 lbs. i am on my second round of p90x. it has taken longer this time around because my "no treats" rule sort of went out the window. even though i still don't eat refined sugars, i still use natural sugars and was eating treats with natural sugars. my body just doesn't do sugar. when i'm eating it, i don't lose weight and can't be in my best shape. so recently, i've made the pledge again to cut it out for a few months.
so that's how i have done it. i've been sharing about lindsay's dvd's for years. when i finally found something that truly WORKED for me, i was elated to help other mom's around me that i knew were struggling with the very same thing!! i hated being overweight and not feeling good about myself. shopping was a nightmare and completely depressing. i avoided it. i avoided the camera (which is also why i don't have many "before" pics). i avoided being in a bathing suit. ever! getting my body into the best shape i've been in has been amazing and a huge accomplishment for me. i am all about sharing with others what works for me.
i have been helping friends and family members (most recently my mother, who has lost more than 20 lbs with my help) for YEARS with advice, tips, help about losing weight. i finally decided to order my personal training books (i've been wanting to do this since college) a few months ago and am currently studying to take my certification test. i have also been approached by friends and family members who have mentioned to me i should do some consulting of sorts on the side to make some extra money. so i am looking into doing something like that. it is something i am passionate about... helping others to achieve their goals, that took me years to achieve. i also recently signed up to be a beach body coach. so if you need or want any of their programs or want to know more about them, or order anything from beach body, i would love to help. as your coach, i can help give you advice, tips, and keep you motivated to reach your goals. i have always been doing these things with friends and family. now i'm ready to try to make a business out of it. email me at tiffanydansie@gmail.com or you can message me on facebook as well. when i get my beach body website up and running, i'll also let you know.
this takes guts for me. but i'm posting my before and after pictures. :) the first picture is when my oldest was about 8 months old. the after pictures are from my first round of p90x, after baby #3 (2 1/2 years ago), and also just a few days ago, 11 months after baby #4. :)
some people don't know (unless you knew me in middle school) that i struggled with my weight all growing up. i wasn't way overweight necessarily. but i was more than chubby, not skinny, and was made fun of A LOT when i was little.
in high school, i started with tae bo. when i was about 14, my older sister (the other author of this blog) and i started doing tae bo after school sometimes. i don't remember when, but i started running a little bit on my parents treadmill not too long after that. i don't know where my motivation came from. but it was there and i sometimes used the treadmill. when i was around 16, i did the body for life program, and for the first time in my life, had some muscle tone. i lost some weight and looked better than i ever had. (still far from great shape). i also started eating healthier. i was raised on the standard american diet of meat, potatoes, cheese, chips, cookies, juice, creamy casseroles, etc. there wasn't a huge concern for health back then and eating well.
when i got to college, i pretty much had cut out all refined sugars and flours. i started running more and made it a daily habit. i would usually just run for 30 minutes or so every day. i was thin, but not toned or in great shape. i loved exercise and eating healthy and decided to get my bachelor's degree in health science, with an emphasis in health promotion and lifetime wellness. my goal was to become a personal trainer eventually. but getting married and having a family took priority and i never did it... until now.
when i got married at the ripe age of 19, i weighed about 115-120 lbs. (i'm 5' 1 1/2"). i got pregnant with our first baby 3 months after we got married (yes, i know. crazy :) ). i immediately (like, the day i found out i was pregnant), stopped running, too paranoid that i would hurt the baby. i started just walking. i walked every day for 30 minutes during my pregnancy. good, right? well, my eating went out the window. i had been so good to have no sugars, refined flours for the past few years. i used pregnancy as an excuse to eat ice cream when i wanted, snacked CONSTANTLY (afraid that i needed to eat more because i was pregnant... which i did, but i had no idea how much 300 calories actually was), and didn't stick to my healthy eating. 30-35 lbs later, (i am pretty sure my ending weight was 148 lbs), i had my first baby. i was swollen, chubby, broad shouldered, etc.
i went on a quest to lose that baby weight. i had vowed i was NEVER going to be "one of those moms" that never lost her baby weight in between babies and ended up 40 lbs heavier after 4 kids. no way. not me. boy, did i EAT MY WORDS. i spent 1 1/2-2 hours per day in the gym, 6 days per week. treadmill, elliptical. i even started using the weight machines in the gym. i did drop a few pounds (maybe 5). i tried doing the "sometimes" rule with treats. but i swear, there was always some occasion, church party, holiday, birthday party, something. ALWAYS! so i was stuck around 130 for a long time. i tried cutting out sugars (and failed miserably). i tried eating salads twice per day. i became highly frustrated and when my baby was 18 months, i got pregnant with baby #2, 10-15 lbs heavier than i was when i got pregnant with baby #1.
i decided during this pregnancy, i was NOT going to use it as an excuse to eat what i wanted. i was going to listen to my body, eat when i was hungry, stop when i was satisfied, and try to eat really healthy. i accomplished that goal, gaining only 16 lbs during my pregnancy (also ran until i was about 17 weeks pregnant) and even did some weight training (some bicep curls, squats, lunges, etc). my doctor was fine with the small weight gain since i already was overweight at the beginning of my pregnancy. i did cut out treats, sugars, and white flours for the most part during this pregnancy.
i had baby #2 and was on my same quest to lose this baby weight. this is when i met lindsay brin with moms into fitness. i won't bore you with the story, but i got a hold of lindsay's post natal bootcamp dvd. popped that baby in 3 days per week (dying, trying to do her 12 week program), and also ran 5 days per week for about 30 minutes with some friends. yes, i was exercising twice per day and EXHAUSTED! i did this all while breastfeeding. in fact, i breastfed my son until he was 13 months old. it took me 7 months, and i surpassed my wedding day weight, and got down to 106 lbs. i was beyond thrilled! i had muscles i had never had before. when i finished the 12 week program, i started mixing and matching the workouts on her dvd, still doing 3 intervals of cardio/toning and 2-3 core workouts on the dvd. i used heavier weights when i didn't feel as challenged. (i started with 5's and 8's, moved up to 5's and 10's, moved up again to 8's and 12's). when my son was just about a year old, i got pregnant with baby #3.
during my third pregnancy, i was determined to stay as fit as possible. lindsay was kind enough to send me her pregnancy dvd's. i did them throughout my 3rd pregnancy, ran until i was about 24 weeks along, and tried to eat really healthy. (although whole wheat bread with cinnamon sugar was about the only thing i could tolerate for the first 16 weeks). i did the best i could to listen to my body, eat when i was hungry and stop when i was satisfied, and eat the best food for the amount of calories. i gained about 25-27 lbs.
baby #3 was born and i was determined to do the same thing i did with baby #2, but FASTER this time! haha. did not happen. in fact, it was a month or two slower. why? i think i was too paranoid about losing weight, not eating enough to keep up my milk supply (which started drying up when my daughter was about 5 months old), and just plain being over-paranoid about losing weight while breastfeeding. my body hung onto it until i stopped breastfeeding because i wasn't eating enough for it to let go of the excess fat. it needed it to survive and help my body keep my milk supply up. so after baby #3, i ate very healthy (lots of fruits, vegetables, green smoothies (which are made from fruits and vegetables), whole grains, sprouted grains, very little meat (and when i did do meat, it was chicken or turkey), and very little dairy. it took about 7 or 8 months and i was back to 106 lbs. i did lindsay's bootcamps again, and her new dvd's that had come out. shed 5 fast, core metabolic jumpstart, her cfs method (which helped tremendously to heal my diastasis recti that i had for the 3rd time), both bootcamps, etc. she even wrote an outside workout for me when i plateau'd.
even though i had hit my pre-pregnancy weight, i still felt like i had a small layer of fat that i wanted to get rid of. i wasn't toned like i wanted to be. i consulted with lindsay about it and she suggested that i just might be too used to her dvd's and workouts. i had increased my weights up to 12's and 15's and still had stopped losing and seeing results after a few weeks. she suggested i change it up (which is when she wrote the outside workout for me). i saw some results for the first few weeks and quickly plateau'd again.
i had seen some p90x infomercials. it looked interesting and HARD! i decided to get it for my husband for a graduation present (he was just graduating from physical therapy school). i got it for him, but REALLY was planning on doing it also. :) i emailed lindsay and asked her what she thought of it. she said she had seen the infomercials and thought it looked GREAT and that she thought i would love it, since i like to push myself.
i did the 90 days of p90x. i didn't follow their diet guide, as i don't really do a lot of animal products and after one day of doing it, felt so sick and yucky. again, i emailed lindsay about it and she suggested i not do the diet guide. i even tried drinking some protein shake, but noticed i was gaining weight. lindsay suggested not doing that either. i just decided to eat how i normally do (pretty clean to begin with), and just do the workouts. i was AMAZED with my results. the layer of fat was gone, i was at 102 lbs, my abs looked like lindsay's, i felt amazing, had muscles showing that i didn't even know i had, etc. i was in shock because most of the program is weight training. it didn't get my heart rate up nearly as much as lindsay's videos or other cardio exercises, like running. not at all. but i was more than sore every day and in phenomenal shape when i finished the 90 days. i was stunned. i had always been a cardio girl. cardio, cardio, cardio was my middle name. and i had gotten into the best shape of my life, and the lowest weight i could ever remember being, by simply doing push ups, pulls ups, and weight training. (there is a little bit of cardio involved, but nothing like i was used to doing).
i started a second round of p90x just in time to find out i was pregnant with #4! holy smokes! i tried continuing the program but felt it wasn't a good idea while i was pregnant. it was working me way too hard and i was exhausted, trying to finish the workouts. so i went back to lindsay's bootcamps, other dvd's and running. when i felt like those became too strenuous, i decreased my weights. when that became too strenuous, i started doing her pregnancy dvd's (probably about 20-25 weeks). i ran until i was 30 weeks, and my varicose veins were just bugging me way too much. so i stopped and went just to her pregnancy dvd's. i also kept my eating as clean as possible. i gained about 27 lbs with pregnancy #4 also.
baby #4 arrived and again, i was determined to lose the weight faster. again, it did not happen. :) it took longer. some because i was too paranoid about eating while breastfeeding, when i should have just focused on eating healthy, but not focused on how much i was eating. i was basically eating perfectly and dieting... when i shouldn't have been dieting at all. my milk dried up again when my baby was 5 months. :( i had been doing lindsay's bootcamps again, her other dvd's, and her downloads had come out soon after i had the baby. so i started doing those also. i also started using the Insanity program from beach body for cardio. i basically did her dvd's and downloads and when my baby was around 6 months, started doing p90x again. it took me 9 months to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight of around 106 lbs but not to my "best weight" of 102. my baby just turned 11 months and i am sitting at around 103-104 lbs. i am on my second round of p90x. it has taken longer this time around because my "no treats" rule sort of went out the window. even though i still don't eat refined sugars, i still use natural sugars and was eating treats with natural sugars. my body just doesn't do sugar. when i'm eating it, i don't lose weight and can't be in my best shape. so recently, i've made the pledge again to cut it out for a few months.
so that's how i have done it. i've been sharing about lindsay's dvd's for years. when i finally found something that truly WORKED for me, i was elated to help other mom's around me that i knew were struggling with the very same thing!! i hated being overweight and not feeling good about myself. shopping was a nightmare and completely depressing. i avoided it. i avoided the camera (which is also why i don't have many "before" pics). i avoided being in a bathing suit. ever! getting my body into the best shape i've been in has been amazing and a huge accomplishment for me. i am all about sharing with others what works for me.
i have been helping friends and family members (most recently my mother, who has lost more than 20 lbs with my help) for YEARS with advice, tips, help about losing weight. i finally decided to order my personal training books (i've been wanting to do this since college) a few months ago and am currently studying to take my certification test. i have also been approached by friends and family members who have mentioned to me i should do some consulting of sorts on the side to make some extra money. so i am looking into doing something like that. it is something i am passionate about... helping others to achieve their goals, that took me years to achieve. i also recently signed up to be a beach body coach. so if you need or want any of their programs or want to know more about them, or order anything from beach body, i would love to help. as your coach, i can help give you advice, tips, and keep you motivated to reach your goals. i have always been doing these things with friends and family. now i'm ready to try to make a business out of it. email me at tiffanydansie@gmail.com or you can message me on facebook as well. when i get my beach body website up and running, i'll also let you know.
this takes guts for me. but i'm posting my before and after pictures. :) the first picture is when my oldest was about 8 months old. the after pictures are from my first round of p90x, after baby #3 (2 1/2 years ago), and also just a few days ago, 11 months after baby #4. :)
so embarrassing. very few people have seen these. lindsay, my sister, and my husband
this is after my first round of p90x, about 18 months ago (after baby #3)
i actually weighed about 105 right here. this was a few weeks after i finished the program and hadn't been working quite as hard.
a few photos taken just a few days ago, after a morning workout
weighing in at 103 lbs at 5' 1 1'2"
starting weight was about 130 (where i was stuck after baby #1 for 18 months)
so there you have it.
my plans for the future?
eating well.
finishing this round of p90x
p90x plus
p90x 2 (coming in december)
and lindsay's downloads in between
:)
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