August 9

breakfast: avocado, banana

snack: apple with almond butter

lunch: vegetable quesadilla

dinner: green beans, zucchini, raw cheese

workout: Ballet Conditioning

It's so nice to look at what I ate today and feel good about it. To look at it and see how healthy it is - so many fruits and vegetables. It all tasted so good and was truly what I wanted. Okay, I'm proud of myself. I'll admit it.

Day 26 - No Sweets

breakfast: protein shake

lunch: brown rice and tofu

snack: plum, nuts

dinner: brown rice pasta, green beans

workout: ballet conditioning

Day 19 - No Sweets

breakfast: oatmeal with apricots

lunch: masala and paneer dosa, plain lassi

dinner: greens, tofu, pickled vegetables

workout: Callanetics 10/10

Okay, both Ballet Conditioning and Callanetics really work my body. I can feel the muscles screaming at me. But, Callanetics is so relaxing it's additive. The time goes by so quickly it's like I'm done moments after I started. Granted, I do think the pain in Ballet Condition is also addictive, but it's anything but relaxing. It's painful, a good pain, but pain nonetheless. The two workouts are so similar, but so different. I'm definitely not getting tired of either of them.

I never thought I'd say that about a workout - not getting tired of it. I used to always start working out and then get bored, no matter how often I rotated workouts. Everything just seemed so similar. Of course, I didn't get the results I'm getting now. I do think being able to see changes so quickly is helping with the motivation, but I still enjoy doing both of these workouts. It's the first time in my life I've ever looked forward to working out. I just know I'm going to feel so good afterwards.

Day 18 - No Sweets

breakfast: strawberry smoothie

lunch: summer minestrone, pain au levain

snack: brazil nuts

dinner: raw crackers with hummus, popcorn

workout: ballet conditioning

I had such a strong craving for popcorn tonight. I had the crackers with hummus to try to insert something healthy into my body in place of the popcorn. The flavors are kind of similar. But, no, it had to be the popocorn. It turns out I only wanted a few bites and was set for the evening. I wonder what it is in popcorn, or corn in general, that my body was craving.

Day 10 - No Sweets

breakfast: 1/8 baguette with avocado and raw cheese

snack: raw milk

lunch: pasta, tofu and vegetables in a peanut sauce

snack: strawberry-yogurt smoothie

dinner: egg salad on rye bread; tomato and cucumber salad

workout: Ballet Conditioning, 1 hour walk

Since cutting out sweets, it's becoming so much easier to eat healthy. I'm naturally gravitating towards more fruit and vegetables. My body really know what it wants and needs, I just don't think I've been able to hear it because the cookie jar was a little louder.

I'm also noticing that when I eat sandwiches lately, I don't want two pieces of bread - just one. It's like there's just too much bread and it takes away from the filling. And, yet I'm someone who loves bread. I could never do a low carb diet because I would never want to give up bread. For me, it really is the ultimate comfort food. The smell if it right out of the oven. The sound of the knife cutting through it. The taste... It's all so heavenly to me. I wish I had some baking now.

Day 7 - No Sweets

breakfast: oatmeal with dried apricots and ginger

snack: raw milk

lunch: caprese sandwich

dinner: tofu sandwich, steamed zucchini and green beans

Every muscle in my thighs is sore today. I don't think there's a single section that doesn't feel like it was worked thoroughly yesterday. Unfortunately, I had to do a lot of walking today and my legs screamed in protest with every step. I'm so glad I know this is worth it - no pain, no gain, right? It might already be bikini season, but at least I'm on my way to being in great shape for the holiday season. Is there a season between bikini season and holiday season? I can't think of one, but if there is, at this rate, I'll probably be ready for it too.

Day 6 - No Sweets

breakfast: strawberry-yogurt smoothie

lunch: tomato-tortilla soup, edamame

snack: tomato-tortilla soup

dinner: strawberry-pecan-parmesan salad with balsamic vinaigrette, steamed green beans, rye bread with almond butter

workout: ballet conditioning, 45-minute walk

Okay, Ballet Conditioning is a killer. There's no other way to put it. It has to be one of the toughest lower body workouts out there. About 8 minutes in, I was wondering if I would be able to finish. Thankfully, it did get a bit easier as my muscles warmed up more...but still - it hurts! I think what makes it harder is that you're working your entire body with every move. If you just look at the moves, it seems like all you're doing is working your legs, but it's also getting your back, stomach and arms. I think the only thing that got me through it today is the phenomenal shape the instructor is in. I kept thinking that maybe if I kept at it I could look that good. She's clearly in great shape from head-to-toe, but without the bulkiness that people who lift a lot of weights can get.

One positive: I can walk better today after this workout than I could the last time. My legs don't feel like they're quivering and about to collapse.

Day 4 - No Sweets

breakfast: 2 banana-oat bundle, raw milk

snack: spelt cracker with almond butter

day-old-bread baked with a tomato sauce, cucumber

dinner: tofu salad

workout: quick callanetics stomach

Very tired and sore today from yesterday's ballet conditioning workout. So glad I don't have to climb a lot of stairs.

Ballet Conditioning

A friend has been trying to get me to try Ballet Conditioning for a while now. I have to admit she’s been looking great since starting to use it. But I’ve had such great results with Callanetics, I haven’t wanted to try anything else. I did do a Yoga DVD a while ago. Even though I enjoyed it, I’ve only done Callanetics since. I mean, come on, a workout where all you’re told is to relax. There’s no running, jumping, or anything. Yeah, I have to modify the moves since I don’t have a ballet bar, but people keep commenting on how it looks like I’ve lost weight even though my weight has stayed the same. I’m just trying to eat healthy, but failing a lot of the time.

But, my friend has been getting on my nerves a bit over how I “have to try” Ballet Conditioning.

You know what that’s like.

So, I decided to try it today just to get her to leave me alone.

All I can say is wow! About 10 minutes in, I started wondering if I was going to be able to walk tomorrow. Halfway through my arms started calling me bad names. By the end, I just wanted to lay on the floor in a puddle.

Whenever I do any kind of a workout, I almost never sweat. This time I was dripping. I really don’t get it. You spend most of your time holding onto the back of a chair while lifting your leg slowly. What’s sweat inducing about that? Granted, I could feel it in every muscle of my body by the end – back, stomach, arms, etc. But sweat? I must have been doing a lot more than I realized.

Right now, I’m not sure how I’m going to make it into my bed. My legs think I’m absolutely evil for doing that to them…in a good way of course.

I’ve never done ballet before so I guess I never really knew what the big deal about it was. But, I really think I need to do this workout often. I still plan on doing Callanetics because it’s been doing amazing things for me. I have wished it had more for the back and arms. The Ballet Conditioning should add that...as well as more for the legs and the stomach and everything in between.

My teeth aren’t sore and tired. I guess that’s a good thing. I think maybe they, along with my ears and hair, are the only part of my body that aren’t sore right now.

I think the one scary/motivating thing is that this workout is clearly one that will get harder the more I do it. It really is only as hard as you make it. I guess that makes it good for all levels of exercisers. I don’t know. The way I feel right now, I’m definitely a beginner beginner. One day, I might make it to beginner, but I’m not there yet.

Day 2 - No Sweets

breakfast: small banana, pint strawberries

snack: raw milk

lunch: roma beans, potato salad

snack: cracker with peanut butter

dinner: day-old-bread baked with a tomato sauce, cucumber, steamed zucchini

workout: Ballet Conditioning