30-Day Callanetics Challenge - Day 2

I did SuperCallanetics for the first time today. It's a tough one! There are so many exercises for the hips and behind. I can see why it's supposed to work the fastest of all, but it's definitely an advanced tape.

30-day Callanetics Challenge - Day 1

I've only done Callanetics twice in the past 10 days. I'm challenging myself to do it every day for the next 30 days. I know I'll lose inches, but I really need to make Callanetics a habit. I'm also going do the 100 pushups challenge.

Today, I completed Callanetics Evolution and Day 1 of the 100 pushups challenge.

Quick Callanetics Stomach

Completed Quick Callanetics Stomach. It's amazing to me how the pictures of people's progress by hour 19 that are on 10/10 are so accurate. It's amazing to think that such progress can be made in such a short period of time, but I'm definitely experiencing it for myself. It's so nice!

Callanetics - Hour 14

Hour 14 of Evolution done.

I'm getting bored with Evolution. I find it more challenging than Callanetics 10/10, so I think I'm going to have to switch to Supercallanetics for a while. I don't want to stop my progress or reverse my results simply because I'm bored.

Callanetics - Hour 13

I just finished Evolution. I really want to start doing an hour of Callanetics every day like I started out doing. I feel better when I do it daily and the results come faster.

This weekend, I got a dress for my event at the end of September. I got it a size smaller. With the changes I had already had with 11 hours of Callanetics, I imagine I'll need a smaller size in another 6 weeks. I'd love to need it to be 2 sizes smaller, but we'll see...

Callanetics - Hour 12

I keep forgetting to post. Last night was the first time I've been able to get in a full workout. I was doing 20 minutes here and there every day for the week prior. Even just that little bit of time has been producing results. People are noticing a difference. My clothes are fitting much more loosely. It's really nice to see visible results so quickly. It makes it easier to stay motivated and keep working out when you can see results daily versus having to wait 6 weeks to notice a change.

Callanetics - Hour 11

Another hour of Evolution done. I had to break it up into two parts because my muscles were so tired I couldn't stand after the leg exercises. It really worked deeply today!

I'm thinking of getting Super Callanetics for something a little more advanced.

Callanetics - Hour 10

I did it really late and couldn't finish again because I was falling asleep. This time I made myself go all the way through the stomach exercises since that's my main problem.

Callanetics - Hour 9

Hour 9 of Evolution completed.

I've missed the past couple of days. I forgot how good my back feels when I do the Callanetics. During one of the stretches, I felt all of the tension just ease away. It was a wonderful feeling.

Callanetics - Hour 8

Hour 8 of Evolution completed. I had to stop when I reached the stomach exercises - I simply couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

Callanetics - Hour 7

7 hours of Evolution done!

My flexibility is really starting to improve. I'm also notice my face, neck and shoulders are a lot slimmer. My shoulder pronation is almost gone. My stomach is pulling in a little more and my thighs are starting to slim down.


breakfast: yogurt, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries
lunch: broccoli soup with walnuts and goat cheese, brie and black pepper panini
snack: almonds
dinner: molten chocolate cake, milk (nice and healthy :) )

Callanetics - Hour 6

Today, I put on a pair of pants that were tight on me last week. Today, they're loose. I wasn't expecting that!

The saddlebag on one of my legs is completely gone. My waist is getting smaller. My abs in general are flatter. My obliques are starting to show - you know that line you can get down along the side of them? - it's there. My triceps are tightening up. My back is stronger and feels so much better. My shoulder pronation is disappering.

And I haven't changed what I eat. Yesterday, I had raspberry creme brulee!

When I first did Callanetics Evolution, I didn't like it all. I still have some issues with it - no counter so you don't know how fast you need to do the pulses, the moves don't flow together as easily as they do in 10/10, and such. But now, I love it! I'm seeing faster results with it than I ever saw with 10/10. It is more challenging and should only be done by someone after they've done 10/10 for a while because the instructions are better on 10/10. But the results I'm getting are truly amazing.

You always here about how you can't spot reduce. Or you have to lose 10 pounds to lose a clothing size. Or you have to work out for a minimum of 1 hour 5-6 days a week and do a ton of cardio. Or you can only eat 1500 calories a day, or so many carbs, or low fat, or whatever.

It's all so wrong!

I've spot reduced with Callanetics. I'm easily fitting into pants I couldn't fit in before and I haven't lost a pound. I'm not doing Cardio - gosh, I'm just starting to be able to walk again - no bouncing around or running for me! I haven't counted a single calorie, fat gram, or carb. If I see it and want it, I eat it.

Okay, I'm happy. I'm sure you can tell.

Callanetics 10/10 has so many dramatic photos on it of how people have transformed their bodies in 19 hours. I can't wait to see what 19 hours brings to me!

Still working

I keep forgetting to post.

I did Evolution 4 days in a row and took yesterday off. My posture is really improving nicely. I can tell the left side of my body is tightening up faster than my right side - it must be stronger.

My foot doesn't feel as good today. I think it's because I didn't do Callanetics yesterday. I really think it's been helping it.

Off to do Evolution now.

Callanetics amazes me!

I actually think Callanetics is healing my foot. Call me crazy, but I really think it is.

I was really hesitant to do Callanetics yesterday, but I'm so tired of not being able to do anything that I did it regardless of what it might do to my foot. I can't believe I just said that. Me? Who has always hated to work out all my life? I actually wanted to work out.

Well, I avoided any exercises yesterday that involved standing/sitting on my toes. But I did everything else. At the end, my foot felt more, well, relaxed. I can't think of any other way to describe it. I haven't had an ace bandage on it since. For the first time, there's been no pain or irritation.

I just did CardioCallanetics again today. My foot feels like it's at about 90%. Yesterday, before working out I would have said it was only 60%. There's no pain. It's more flexible. I can almost walk on it. The bruise from where I hurt it has refused to go away, but now it's smaller.

Does this mean that if I had just did Callanetics over a month ago I wouldn't have needed a cast? Okay, maybe not. I couldn't even begin to put weight on my foot then. But there's no way my foot should be this good so fast. I'm supposed to need another 8 weeks for it to heal all the way. I'm dumbfounded.

If that isn't enough, I just found out what I love the most about Callanetics. I get visible results right after doing a workout. I love looking at my stomach in the mirror and being able to tell it's smaller.

I didn't measure before I started yesterday because I wasn't even sure I'd be able to get through the warm-up. Now, I really wish I had. Between my posture being tremendously better and the tightening that's now occurred, both in maybe 24 hours, I can really tell a difference. It looks like I've lost inches. I don't know if it is that many. But I'm happy. :)

Now, I'm tempted to do Callanetics every day for the next 8 weeks for an event I have coming up to see how much smaller I can get it. I'm tempted to do it every day just because my foot feels so good.

Happy Happy Happy


Breakfast: whole milk plain yogurt, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries

Lunch: provolone-avocado-tomato-artichoke heart panini, cucumber, canteloupe

Dinner: lentil and barley soup

Workout: CardioCallanetics

I'm back

I sprained my foot really badly (it's amazing what can happen when you drop a book on your foot) and have had to take time off from pretty much all physical activity. My foot isn't completely healed, but I can now put some weight on it. I have gained a few inches over the weeks. I'm starting back with Callanetics. I still can't do a lot of the exercises, especially anything that bends the toes. Callanetics Evolution has more exercises that I can do, so I'm starting back with it. I did it for the first time in ages yesterday. My back, arms, hips, and butt are soooo sore today! I'm so glad it's already working.

I love surprises!

I had the most amazing surprise on my doorstep - chocolate covered caramels from Devil in an Apron - made just for me.

When Rob at Devil in an Apron heard that I found a bacon caramel in a non-bacon bag many months ago (packaging has been changed to correct this so you don't have to worry about the same thing happening to you), he graciously offered to make me my favorite candy - chocolate covered caramels.

And let me tell you, they are so good! Truly, the best I've had.

I think my favorites are the chocolate covered rose caramels and lavender caramels. It's amazing how the flowers bring out the flavors of the chocolate and the chocolate the flavors of the flowers. Everything is intensified into the most amazing taste experience!

Rob also included some delicious jellies/gummies. I'm not sure what flavor they were (maybe citrus?).

And to make things even better - Devil in an Apron is now available at foodzie - so I no longer have to drive around to multiple Whole Foods stores, all of which carry different items, and none of which can keep Devil in an Apron in stock.

Oh, happy day!

March 19

breakfast: toast with almond butter

lunch: masala dosa, salad

dinner: pecans, 2 tangerines

March 18

breakfast: toast with smoked mozzarella

lunch: steamed cauliflower, hummus, sauteed mustard greens

dinner: veggie burger, fries

workout: Callanetics 10/10

My stomach is getting smaller! I think the time off was just what my body needed to start losing inches again.

March 17

breakfast: granola

lunch: kohlrabi and carrot slaw, hummus

snack: strawberries

dinner: kohlrabi and carrot slaw, cabbage salad, baked potato

March 16

breakfast: apple, raw milk

lunch: tom kha vegetable, thai iced tea

dinner: broccoli soup with creme fraiche and toasted walnuts

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I feel so much better since I've started eating healthier again. It's amazing what a difference fruits and vegetables can make.

March 15

breakfast: protein drink - strawberries, hemp seed, flax seed, almonds, raw milk

lunch: dried apricots, garlic sauteed kale, steamed tofu

dinner: broccoli soup, baked sweet potato

Errands galore

breakfast: vegetarian quesadilla loaded with zucchini, swiss chard, and tomatoes

lunch: black bean tamale

snack: strawberries

dinner: toast with stewed apricots

Organic strawberries appeared at the farmer's market today. Even though they're the first of the season, they still taste amazing. Whole Foods has been trying to sell some pretty pathetic mostly yellow organic strawberries for weeks (Haven't they ever heard of quality? Guess making a buck is more important than anything.). It's nice to finally see great produce and signs that spring is starting.

Spent the day running errands. About 8 hours of them. Crazy! Glad that today was a rest day for Callanetics. It was nice to just sit and doing nothing for a few minutes tonight.

Day 3 Complete

breakfast: granola with raisins

lunch: salad, hummus

dinner: fried egg, steamed broccoli

workout: Callanetics 10/10

3 days done! I've now done the minimum number of days in a row you're supposed to do when you take a week or more off from Callanetics. It's nice to be taking some time for myself again. Granted, there has been a moment when working out wasn't my first choice, but I'm glad I did it because the results are worth it.

Day 2 Complete

breakfast: buckwheat granola with raisins

lunch: roasted vegetables, Tuscan chard soup

dinner: broccoli soup with goat cheese and walnuts, sauteed apples

workout: Callanetics 10/10

2 days down! It feels great to be working out again. Callanetics is so nice and relaxing. I like that I can even do it at the end of the day and have no problems going to sleep.

Day 1 Complete

breakfast: protein drink - banana, raw milk, hemp seed, almonds, flax seed, carob

lunch: tuscan swiss chard soup

dinner: roasted vegetables with riccotta salata, scrambled egg

workout: Callanetics 10/10

One day of Callanetics and healthy eating done. It's kind of nice to think of it as being a third of the way to the finish line.

Let's Get Back on Track...

I have a confession to make. I've been really busy lately and I haven't been making my health a priority. I haven't been eating well. I haven't been working out. I've been lazy. I've been doing the "easy thing." That's not fair to me. I should place myself higher on my list of priorities - at the very top and no lower. After all, I'm stuck with me forever. The work going on in my life right now is only temporary. I'll always be around. If I keep putting myself last, I'll have to deal with the consequences. No one put me in this position but myself. No one can make the changes for me but me. No one is responsible for my health or body but me.

So I'm taking charge.

Starting today, I'm doing Callanetics for a minimum of 3 days in a row. Want to join me?

Starting today, I'm committing to eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Want to join me?

Today is a new day with no mistakes on it. Let's keep it that way.

February 25

breakfast: english muffin, raw milk

lunch: artichoke heart and fresh mozzarella panini

dinner: gnocchi neopolitana, salad, tiramisu

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I've been so busy lately I feel like I'm about to crack. Between running my own business, starting another, helping my mother with hers, and doing a friend with his, I literally feel like a chicken running around with it's head cut off. Okay, so mine is still attached, but I'm not sure it would be if it wasn't screwed in so well when I was born.

Been having an interesting experience with a neighborhood cat. It's figured out how to get under my house through an access panel. It likes to bring back it's dinner and/or breakfast - still alive. It seems to prefer food that smells like skunk.

I've tried so many things to keep it out from under the house. It's a great digger - imagine a 3-foot long entrance tunnel being dug in an hour). It can move boulders with feats of strength a cat shouldn't possess. It doesn't mind cayenne. Chicken wire staked into the ground with 5-inch long stakes isn't a problem.

I find it quite ironic that at a time I've gotten so busy, a neighborhood cat has decided to deprive me of sleep. It really isn't fun to be awoken by death screams and skunk stench.

So, if you have an outdoor cat, for the sanity of your neighbors, I beg of you to make sure it's inside at night.

February 24

breakfast: granola

lunch: broccoli soup with goat cheese and walnuts, crostini with swiss chard

dinner: toast, raw milk

What a Weird Day or Grocery Stores Giving Everything Away for Free

breakfast: raw buckwheat granola, raw milk

lunch: salad, gf margarita pizza

dinner: salad, english muffin with smoked mozzarella and fried egg

I went to the grocery store today. The teller was someone who's been there for ages. A friend of hers was in front of me. I noticed she was only ringing up about half of her friend's items. Kind of odd! I wasn't sure what was going on.

When it was my turn, she again missed a few things. Then she said the total was "$45.71. Wait, I forgot the two bottles of olive oil." They wouldn't scan so she keyed them in manually and said, "$45.71." The exact same amount. I told her the olive oil didn't go in. She said, "No, I got them." Okay, then. I just got over $30 off at the grocery store.

Now, the store didn't have one key item I needed so I went to another store to get it. I saw a couple of other things while I was there - shopping while hungry produces interesting purchases. When I went to check out, the same thing happened. This time I got about $5 off.

I guess money can come to you in some pretty unexpected ways.

February 20

breakfast: apple, sao jorge cheese

lunch: gf panini with provolone, avocado, tomato, japanese eggplant, and cucumber; salad with sesame vinaigrette

dinner: quesadilla de maize y queso

workout: Callanetics 10/10

February 18

breakfast: raw milk

lunch: masala dosa

dinner: carrots, apple, green beans, tofu

workout: Callanetics 10/10

It's so nice to go on a weeklong holiday - just to get away from everything. A change of venue, new people to see, new things to do, new foods to eat - it's just great to experience something different every now and then.

February 10

breakfast: granola

lunch: portabello and chickpea tart, salad

dinner: peas, cabbage, macaroni and cheese

My results with Callanetics are slowing down. I know it's because I'm so close to my goal. How much is half a size really? However, I can see more toning going on so at least changes are still happening. Too bad clothing size isn't affected by whether your triceps are tightening up.

February 9

breakfast: raw cheese, apple

lunch: giant salad

dinner: raw milk

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I wasn't hungry for dinner. I've never had a salad fill me up so well before. Usually I'm hungry shortly after eating just a salad. Interesting change.

Danish

breakfast: pear, raw milk

lunch: mushroom and chickpea tart

dinner: broccoli, roasted turnips, kale with garlic, half cheese danish

I made danish for the first time today. I changed the recipe a lot - replacing the wheat flour, using maple syrup instead of sugar, cream cheese instead of ricotta - and they came out perfectly. They are so light, fluffy, and delicious. No one could tell they weren't made with wheat and sugar.

I'm so surprised how easy danish are to make. You'd think it's be this intense laborious process, but you just throw some ingredients together, chill them, roll out, chill, turn into danish, let rise, and bake. Most of your time is spent doing nothing. I think the total amount of labor involved is about 40 minutes and that's spread out over hours.

February 7

breakfast: quesadilla de maize queso frioles

lunch: falafel, hummus, baba ganoush

dinner: yogurt with dried apricots

My legs are feeling better today. It's so nice to be able to sit/stand/walk like a normal person again.

February 5

breakfast: granola, pear

lunch: kale and cannelini soup

dinner: egg burrito

It's so nice to have some rain. I think this is the first real rainstorm we've had. All of the other couple of days have been soft drizzles, but this is the nice pounding kind where you can actually hear the rain coming down as it hits the roof of the house. Does this mean that winter finally decided to start after groundhog day this year?

Squeeze by Tracy Effinger

On Wednesday, I did Tracy Effinger's Squeeze for the first time. It's a combination of Callanetics, yoga and isometrics.

The Callanetics related movements use far less than 100 movements, but I believe are just as effective as those found on Callanetics 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours, if not more so. The arm, inner thigh and outer thigh movements are definitely better than those in Callanetics.

There is one movement on Squeeze called "the L" which works the thighs and buns. My legs were shaking so badly during the move that it was like watching the ground during an earthquake. I've never had my legs shake so much. I could barely do any of the thigh movements 20 minutes later in the bun & thigh section. It's been 2 days and I can still barely move my legs.

For the arm section, she recommends 2 pound weights, but says that even if you don't have weights you'll get an effective workout. I agree! If you really focus on isometrics (stretching yours arms as far as possible and resisting the movement - what Tracy calls squeezing), you'll probably never need weights.

My only complaint about the workout is that Tracy is more flexible than the average person and it would have been nice if she had shown how to do some of the stretches at different levels. Modifications are pretty easy to figure out, but I think most people would like to see someone demonstrating modifications just to make sure that they're picking the best way to do it.

The first time you do this workout, you might want to take it a little bit easier. For me, my muscles are sorer today even though it's been two days since I did the workout. If I had known this would happen, I would have worked out a little less intensely so that I could pace myself better, workout again today, and slowly build up my strength.

February 4

breakfast: apple, sao jorge

lunch: ravioli di spinaci

dinner: kale and cannelini bean soup

workout: Tracy Effinger's Squeeze -- The Compete Workout

February 3

breakfast: quinoa flakes, raw milk

lunch: tempeh and vegetables in lemon-coconut sauce

dinner: bread with raw butter, apple, yogurt with dried apricots

Okay, that's a pretty strange dinner. But it's what I really, really wanted. And it tasted soooo good.

February 2

breakfast: apple, manchego

lunch: really bad Indian

dinner: tempeh and vegetables in a lemon-coconut sauce, chocolate bread and rice cake

workout: Callanetics 10/10

January 28

breakfast: split pea soup, bread

lunch: vegetable pad thai

dinner: remainder vegetable pad thai, raw milk

workout: Callanetics 10/10

January 27

breakfast: oatmeal

lunch: yogurt with apricots, baby bok choy with garlic, rice

dinner: split pea soup, bread with raw butter

Winter Lament

breakfast: gluten-free french toast

lunch: pasta primavera

dinner: sweet potato, cabbage, raw milk

Today feels like the first day of winter since winter actually started. It's cold and windy. There have been a few raindrops. Winter is always my favorite season, so it's kind of sad to not have it this year.

Whenever I drive by the reservoir near my house, I can see the bottom. I don't know what this bodes for this spring/summer. It would be nice if it would start to rain more, if winter would truly appear.

January 24

breakfast: gluten-free english muffin, raw cheese, raw milk

lunch: salad, rice with cabbage and yogurt

snack: peanuts

dinner: baked chickpeas, fried potato, cauliflower with tomato sauce

January 20

breakfast: granola

lunch: aloo gobi

snack: popcorn

dinner: eggplant with ginger-garlic sauce, tempeh with stir-fried vegetables

Today's supposed to be the last day of the heat wave. It's so strange to look outside and see Spring. All the plants are sprouting new growth. Blooms are open. It's absolutely gorgeous. But thankfully, the warmth is going to end and be replaced by some much needed rain.

I've always loved the rain. I love the sound of it. I love how it cleans everything off. It just relaxes me. :)

Heavenly Caramels

Devil in an Apron's caramels are so good. They're traditional caramels made with sugar and cream - NO corn syrup! Yeah! That alone makes them taste better than virtually every other caramel on the market. But when you add in the flavors - real vanilla bean, cocoa nibs, dried lavender, and many more - they're simply amazing. They're definitely the best I've had.

My only complaint with the caramels is that one of the flavors isn't vegetarian - bacon. It's very easy to tell from the other flavors (the bacon is almost black while the others are a light brown), but it would be nice if the company would sell bacon-free packages of their caramels for vegetarians.

I secretly hope that one day Devil in an Apron decides to do to their caramels what they do with practically everything else they make - cover them in dark chocolate. Dark chocolate covered caramels have always been my favorite candy and so few people do it well. These caramels with the quality of chocolate that Devil in an Apron uses would be a guaranteed success.

January 7

breakfast: gluten-free muffin, raw milk

lunch: stomach didn't feel well, so I didn't eat

dinner: lentil and farro soup

I skipped working out today. My stomach just isn't feeling right. Hopefully, it'll be back to normal soon.

I haven't really know what to write in these posts lately. Maybe something will come to me... If you have any ideas, let me know.

Perfecting Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free Muffins

breakfast: granola

lunch: salad, roasted cauliflower and potatoes

snack: muffin with raw butter

dinner: baked unstuffed shells, swiss chard, carrots

I think I've finally perfected a gluten-free/wheat-free muffin recipe. The key seems to be soaking the grains in either buttermilk or yogurt to soften them and bring out the flavor. It also has the added benefit of reducing phytic acid and increasing mineral absorption. This time I soaked them for 24 hours and they came so soft, tender and fluffy - just like the real thing.

January 26

breakfast: oatmeal

lunch: vegetable soup

snack: yogurt with dried apricots

dinner: cabbage, baked sweet potato

workout: Callanetics 10/10

January 5

breakfast: raw milk, apple

lunch: quinoa, cannelini beans, salad

dinner: lemon-herb tofu, roasted cauliflower and potatoes, garlic spinach

workout: Callanetics 10/10

This new year is flying. It's amazing how fast everything is going by. Do you remember how when you were growing up things just took forever? The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed to last for months. Now, it's just over before you know it.

January 3

breakfast: raw milk

lunch: falafel salad

snack: gluten-free chocolate chip cookie

dinner: mu shu tofu (no wrap), tofu and broccoli

January 2

breakfast: granola

snack: manchega, peanuts

lunch: lemon kale, fried potato, buffalo mozzarella, sauerkraut, tangerine

snack: gluten-free foccoccia, avocado

dinner: cornbread, collard greens, pinto beans, sauerkraut, avocado

workout: Callanetics 10/10

Constantly hungry today.

January 1

breakfast: granola

lunch: pasta primavera, salad

dinner: sauerkraut, olives, lemon kale, cannelini beans, baked potato