Yes, I’m giving you my Two Cents for whatever you think its worth.

P90X a huge hit among infomercials watchers.  It’s seems everyone you know has purchased or borrowed it from someone.  In its time it was all the rage and rightfully so.  I was hearing how difficult the workouts were so I just had to do it, I couldn’t let a good fitness challenge pass me by.  

 I did 13 weeks  skipping only a few workouts but adding in a few of my own such as Kickboxing,  fight class  (aka contact kickboxing) and running.  Three workouts I couldn’t live without.

The Positive:  It’s a tough workout at first and yes it confused my muscles & challenged my endurance. I did the exercise plan only; I did not follow the Beachbody.com nutrition plan.  That I did all on my own. Regardless,   I pulled through by losing weight, gaining muscle and dropping in inches without leaving the house.  It’s a one time investment and it works!

The Negative:  By week Eight I was over doing the same DVD’s.  I like change, I like to mix it up, and I like a group atmosphere.   I was bored and I almost dreaded working out towards the end.  I continued because I like to finish what I start.  The motivation was the same over and over again, no group effort and nobody watching if you felt like quitting or not finishing.

It’s a great program for the right person.   13 weeks in front of a big screen TV was more than this girl can handle.

                                                                      -vs-

Crossfit was something that really caught my attention but I never really acted on until Team3D Fitness pulled our winning ticket for a FREE Month at a funding raising event.  My daughter and I shared in the Hurtin’ of the Day for two weeks.  The first workout was a warm up and a mere 4 minutes 27 seconds long.  The Hardest 4 minutes I’ve ever worked out. My thoughts… “Seriously?  Can this be?”  It was all that and more.

The Positive:  The vibes from the other members and staff just oozed with motivation and commitment to ones success.  No two workouts were ever the same, 30 minutes and you’re done.  No need for one hour long workouts.  It’s like P90x on steroids. It’s an incredible workout, total muscle confusion & mass calorie burner. I lifted more weight than I ever thought imaginable, I climbed walls; I did things I never thought possible.  I even won the squat contest by doing 325 Squats in 25 minutes and YES I loved every second!  I believe I have found my niche.

The Negative:   I have nothing negative to say other than it seems expensive until you do the math.   You get what you pay for.  Crossfit is like having a gym membership but with a personal trainer guiding you all the way.  It’s something that one must account for in a monthly budget, but so worth it.

Final Thoughts:  I see people all the time at the gym doing the same routine, the same treadmill, the same machines, yet nothing changes.  If it’s not working, change it up.  Confuse those muscles.  Both programs work and work well.

“In order to gain strength, muscle, size or endurance from any training, you must exercise against a resistance greater than that NORMALLY encountered.  If you use the same amount of resistance for the same number of reps every workout, there will be no continued improvement” 

~ International Sports Science Association

Wow, it seems like forever since I did a blog post.   It could be because it has!  

Why?

 

 I’ve been working harder than ever to lead by example..  

 Dropping 14 lbs, gaining lean muscle and yes fitting into my FAVORITE pants again 5 years later.  

 

My new motto:   If the Pants fit, wear em.

 I am feeling fantastic and looking better than I have in years.   It brings on a whole new look to life.

 

This is my follow up to my previous blog post on Jan 1st!! 

 

As I mentioned after 30 years (I’m showing my age) Facebook has giving me the opportunity to re- conncect with Tina, a dear friend from high school.   We arranged to meet in Disney World Orlando at the Princess 1/2 Marathon last weekend. 

 

Tina was up to the challenge of running 13.1 miles along side my 15 year old who is on her second Princess run.

 

It’s been an incredible year for Tina … What  started with a simple 2011  New Years Resolution turned into a way of  life she never imagined.

 

 Making up her MIND that she finally needed to make a change, was all she needed.

 

Tina has since  taken her health & fitness  to a whole new level.  No longer feeling tired & unhappy she dropped  75+/- pounds and yes now sporting a new 1/2 marathon medal as a reward for all her hard work.  To top it off she and my daughter not only RAN the entire race, they both finished together with  incredible times and  huge smiles on their beautiful faces.

 

 

 

 Once  a person makes up their MIND to do something,  there is no stopping them.  That’s where the DEDICATION, INSPIRATION & PERSPIRATION takes over. 

 

We are both PROOF of that.

 

Tina and I now refer to ourselves as “Fitness Sistas”  We fuel each other.   Everyone has their way of doing things from working out to healthy eating plans.   We learn from each other, that’s where the Inspiration comes in.  

 

One in the MINDSET, there is no stopping you.  You become one of those crazy people…  the one who hated to work  is now is suddenly miserable when they don’t.  Or the person who loved sweets, who now craves raw veggies and fruits instead.  

 

It happens, I promise you.  When it does, it’s life changing.  

 

Find a person that INSPIRES you and RUN with them…    Buddy Up.  Join a group, find a local friend  or a friend on Facebook, You don’t need to join a gym to make the change, just a little teamwork.

 

Message me if you need a pal, I’ll be happy to support and help you along the way.

 

Do What Ever it Takes (WIT) .  Summer is just around the corner, why not be the BEST YOU EVER. 

 

 Until next time…  Be Blessed.  Stay Happy -n- Healthy.

~ Lisa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy 2012…

 

I’m a few days late but I just had to start out the year on a POSITIVE Healthy note by sharing a New Year’s post written by a friend.

Tina and I are old High School pals who, thru Facebook, reconnected after many years.  Although she lives  in Georgia and I’m in Florida and we haven’t seen each other in over 2.5 decades, we  refer to each other as Fitness Sistas because of our common love for fitness.   The crazy & fun part is we now support and drive each other through chats, text messages FB Posts and occasional phone calls. 

It’s as if our friendship picked up exactly where it left off + husbands and a few grown children.

  Well next month we FINALLY get to see each other again at the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. Talk about EXCITING!!    I am looking so forward to capturing that moment when she crosses the finish line with my daughter and the  Medals are placed around their necks.  There is nothing like 13.1 miles of Priceless Princess Power!

I hope Tina is as much of an inspiration to you as she is to me and so many others.   

All it takes is…

Determination, Perspiration &  Dedication!

CHECK this PRINCESS  OUT!!!

 

Here goes: This takes guts and a lot of humility but it was one of my goals. This is my BEFORE picture (taken in January 2011). Fat, depressed, miserable, unhealthy. WOW, who IS this person? As embarrassing as this is, I wanted to show the OLD me … and I’m NEVER going back.

 

 

 

 

 

In less than a year, I changed my life! This is me today … 75+ lbs lighter with the help of many wonderful people. It is the best thing I have ever done! I invested in ME ~ to live longer, to be happy, to be healthy!! No one gets to say it can’t be done, or I’m too old, or give ANY excuses. I ran my first 5K this spring … I did a 30 mile cancer walk in September!! And I have a ½ marathon planned for February. If you want them bad enough, be dedicated to your goals and make them happen … I DID!!

2011 Washed Away with the Tide…

It’s 2012 – INVEST IN YOU!

If Tina or I can help in anyway (motivation, advice or a swift kick in the booty)  give me a shout.

Peace & Blessings for a HAPPY & HEALTHY New Year.

 

Lisa  

(LisaSucato@gmail.com)

 

Lory’s Story….  Finally a Solution

---

I used to think that I was fat in middle school and high school, but I really put the cherry on top in college—when I gained close to 100 pounds. Like every addiction there is a root to the cause…obviously food was the drug in this situation. I got so sick from being stressed (because of an underlying case of sleep apnea) and had to quit my college swim team. I didn’t even know what was wrong with me until long after I quit. You could say I went through a depressed period and really didn’t care what I did. I just went to the dining halls and took out my frustration on the food. It sounds kind of pathetic written down, but it’s the sad truth. Since I have started with Qivana though, I have taken a turn for the better.

I have done every sort of diet possible, but have never reached my ideal weight. My mom signed me up for weight watchers 5 times in high school. I would lose 5 or 10 pounds and give up every time. I wasn’t in it for me, I just wanted to make everyone happy. I wanted to be thin so bad just like my teammates and friends. I didn’t have any hope for losing the weight and I was just on a downward spiral and getting sicker every day. I swam over 20 hours a week in high school and the stress from school just made my condition worse.  I was panicked because I could have a range of diseases, so it was trial and error for 4 years taking pills that didn’t work.  I was gaining about 20 pounds a year due to all of these things and my poor eating choices didn’t help. Unfortunately eating made me forget about how exhausting it all was.

This made college a nightmare for me. I was only swimming for a month until I had to go to the emergency room because I couldn’t breathe. I had tonsillitis and my airway was smaller than a blueberry.  The doctor said if I hadn’t of come in early, I probably would have had a stroke…at the age of 18 that’s the last thing I wanted to hear. My blood pressure was 170 over 140. My dream in high school was to be a college swimmer. That day I knew my dream was crushed, but I didn’t want to admit it, so every day I went to the sports clinic and got my blood pressure taken to see if I could swim that day. I did this for 4 months before I gave up and made myself tell my coach it was over for me. I was heartbroken. The endorphins, which flowed through my body from swimming went away and led me to be very unmotivated. In a nutshell, it took me a long time to understand that this was the beginning of a new phase of my life—one that could be dedicated to other goals. I ate my feelings away that year and saw myself blow up like a balloon. I needed to love myself because I knew I could do better. When I hit my sophomore year I started to understand this concept.  Qivana came at a very good time for me. This time I was ready to give myself a chance at a better life. I was sick of disappointing myself.

Now I have a METABOLIQ Shake in the morning with blueberries or strawberries, which really get me going for the day. I eat less and want more healthy food. I quit drinking soda, snacking and high sugar foods. I go to the gym 4 times a week and get to bed by 11pm—which is very good since I used to go to sleep around 3am. Every time I have a craving I can fight it with my Resist tablets, which have been useful by giving me the strength to stop thinking about food. I have noticed that I don’t think about food as much and that it’s become less of a priority. I feel like it doesn’t control me anymore and I can handle my cravings. Every time I have a Boost in the morning I feel a little closer to my goal.  This program has changed the way I look at my lifestyle and the way I portray food. Food is a need now and not a want. I still enjoy everything I eat, but now I know how to not overindulge.

Obviously it has not been easy changing all of my habits, but every day I try and make a new improvement. I really didn’t believe I could do this, but now I have lost over 50 pounds (I still have a ways to go), but now I know I’m ready. I have lost so much weight and am ready for the next goal. I am building confidence and the METABOLIQ System gives me that chance. My goal is to be healthy. I know I deserve to be happy and I am already on that path. I can’t wait to reach my goal weight and I believe I can accomplish anything. I see myself influencing other people to do the same and that’s a great feeling. I like being a role model, and by losing weight I can be, for all the people who never knew they had the strength to do it.

For more detailed  information on  the Qivana MetaboliQ  System  and a special Holiday Promotion just for my readers, email me at LisaSucato@Gmail.com or give me a call 772-924-0611.

For those of you that wonder what I really do..  It’s my business to help others feel great, look great and live the life they envisioned.

visit:  www.Qlifeisgood.com

Make 2012 Count!!  What are YOU waiting for?

Toward the end of the school year this past May, I was sitting in my Life Group from church when one of the women had a prayer request about her health. It revolved around the extra weight she was carrying, and she was frustrated about not being able to lose the excess pounds. I was thinking about the same thing in regards to my health. The funny thing was, I just had a a complete blood work done up. And even though I’ve been obese for many, many years, ALL my blood work came back perfectly normal… Blood sugar, cholesterol, thyroid stuff… So even though I was fat, I was “healthy.” My doctor was frustrated. I was, too. I figured if he gave me a “Your ________ is so elevated you’re going to die soon.” speech, I would be motivated to change. I had nothing…

Except, I did have high blood pressure. I always chalked that up to teaching middle school! But I new deep down it was because of my weight. I hate taking the blood pressure pills. So when my friend talked about making a commitment to become healthy, I emailed her and said let’s try to do this together.

Every since, we fondly refer to ourselves as “athletic machines.” Please read that with total sarcasm! We started a Bible study together that worked on some of our deep-seeded issues of using food for emotional stability. We realized we were putting food in front of God. It had become our idol; what we ran to in times of trouble and joy. By trusting in God, and holding each other accountable, we have made good changes.

We started walking about 15 minutes every morning at the beginning of the summer. Now we meet each other at 6am every morning for a three-mile walk. We encourage each other to make healthy food choices. We’ve learned to take those times of “failure” both seriously and with laughter. Serious in that we try to figure out why we made a bad choice. We also laugh because if we take ourselves too seriously, we’ll just give up because we aren’t and can’t be perfect. But we can do our best and celebrate our success!

My friend has lost 8 pounds and her doctor is thrilled with her blood pressure and resting heart beat. Her knees and back hurt much, much less than they did just a few months ago.

We both have a ton more energy and sleep better at night.

For me personally, I don’t’ struggle with being depressed nearly as much as I used to. I’m down 33 pounds and my doctor thinks I’m awesome My resting heartbeat is fantastic, and when I visit him in January, he’s going to pull me off one of the two blood pressure pills I take. I just feel GOOD.

I know I still have a long way to go, and I know it’s going to take a while. I get discouraged at times, but overall with God and my sidekick (the other athletic machine), I know I will hit my goal. My goal isn’t a number… Part of my goal is to lose weight until I feel healthy, am proud of the way I look, and I’m off all medication. My main goal is to not to run to food when I’m happy or when I’m sad. It is to be thankful to God for the grace and strength He has and will continue to give me, and to be around a long time to be a good friend, enjoy my parents and siblings, be an amazing aunt, and be a strong and courageous mom to my daughter I’m adopting. I can’t take care of people I love if I don’t care care of myself.

November 10, 2011

I have always gone on diets lost weight here and there, but never have I changed my life style!  Last April I finally decided to go to a (real) Doctor. You see I work with children as a teacher and every year I would get sick several times throughout the school year and I who was afraid of going to a doctor’s office would go to the walk in. Which by now I thought of them as MY own Doctor.

Well I was just getting sick week after week and I finally thought I really need to go to a doctor. That was the best choice I have made. When the day of the appointment came I was not feeling as sick as I have been and even thought about canceling. But I went. WOW good thing I did. As the doctor and I talked she told me she was going to test my blood.  A nurse came in with a diabetic blood reader and my sugar level was over 300!!!!  It should have been only 80 to about 120. That is the day that saved MY LIFE.
Don’t get me wrong, I cried and was really upset. My Father was diagnosed at my age with diabetes and died within 1 year. I was scared, sometimes I still am.

When the tears cleared is when I did it , I just had to make the HEALTHY change to keep my body alive.

I changed my diet and started walking, walking now has turned in to running I am doing well with my diet of No sugar and No carbs (which is hard for someone who use to cook pasta 3 times a week) not to mention the baking I did every week.

I am proud to say I am 52 .LBS lighter and I’m excited to make new goals for myself.

It is NOT easy but I am doing it.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Kim for sharing her personal story.  We met 15 years ago, both as pregnant as can be,  sitting in the waiting room of our OB office.  I remember it as if it were yesterday.   She is an amazing, strong and positive woman who brings sunshine into the lives of the people she touches.  I have no doubt any goal she sets for herself will be accomplished!!!

Oct. 30, 2011   

Happy Halloween…  Snow in the Northeast and Heat & Rain in the South.  What Gives? 

I’ve decided that today was a great day to get back to my blog.  It’s a subject that weighs heavy on my heart & my passion.

Lately, through my Facebook posts, many of you have figured out that I am somewhat of a fitness & health junkie.   It hasn’t always been that way, it’s my now Attitude!

I struggled much of my life being what I thought was the chubby girl growing up among skinny chicks.   Now that I look back 113 lbs as a 5’ teen wasn’t really that chubby, however, It wasn’t what the norm was back in the late 70′s, early 80′s. 

I remember back to the last day of 2^nd grade, preparing to fly to Florida. My dad was the pilot of a little rented plane.  I still can hear the words & numbers, “Cherokee 6518 Juliet”, being voiced over the cockpit radio. It is something I will never forget.   My dad was taking our family of four and our Grammy on a vacation south and on the plane ride of our lives.    Florida,  Beaches, Swimsuit?   It was then that I had my very first thought of keeping my hands out the potato chip bag, my first thoughts about dieting.

 What does an almost 3^rd grader know about that diet stuff anyway? 

Later in my early teens, I have vivid memories of my closest friends, one being a big size ZERO (0) and that was soaking wet.  She had what I viewed as the perfect body.   She was the gorgeous girl with all the guys wanting to date her, the girl who could eat anything and never gain a pound.  The girl you would love to hate.  I’ve always loved her but envied her at the same time.

Then there was my other friend.  She was the gorgeous girl with the great body &  big boobs.  Need I say more?

Talk about self confidence killers…  I was feeling like just plain old “chubby” me.

Did you ever have any of those moments in your life? 

I share my early life with you because I believe many of us know a similar story of someone who is fighting a battle with one’s self esteem and confidence because of weight, perhaps yourself.

Today it goes way beyond that….

In a world of fast food and busy schedules, the weight gain in children and adults is staggering.  It especially hurts my heart to see so many children & young adults on the brink of obesity.

 They are not  only ending up with  low self esteem and lack of confidence but with  life threatening conditions  like cancer, heart disease  & diabetes being high on the list.

 I believe there comes a point in adults, when something just CLICKS and you have to say….

“Enough is enough”

“I need to be healthy for myself & my family.“ 

“I want to be able to run and play with my kids”

 ”I want to live long enough to see my kids grow up”

“I want my kids to grow up healthy.”

Since kids can’t make those choices on their own,  we must LEAD by EXAMPLE.   Out goes the old saying “Do as I say, not as I do”.  That just doesn’t cut it in my book.

I personally was fed up with the weight I started to gain. Instead of settling with 2 pounds turning into 4, 4 turning into 8, I’m doing something to fix it. I refuse to become another unhealthy statistic.

 It’s not about vanity or outer looks like I thought in my younger years; it’s not about being the SKINNY person.  It’s about what’s inside, keeping our bodies healthy & free of disease. 

The outer appearance and new wardrobe are just a huge bonus.

I simply wasn’t going to set a bad example for my family.  Instead, I started biking with them, running & boxing with them, and shopping more healthfully FOR them and myself.

 In the next weeks I will be sharing with you a series of stories from some incredible friends who had that very moment where they said “ENOUGH Is ENOUGH”. 

 People who turned their lives around due to healthier eating habits and exercise.    Some extreme, some not so extreme.

Not everyone has the same desires or motivation but what they all have in common is the DETERMINATION to make the change to a healthier way of life and a better body.

STAY TUNED!!!!

 

Summer 2011 just flew by… 

 I took full advantage of the break from the school routine to take a break from my blogs..  

 Although I love sharing info,  I loved spending time with my kids too.  I’m just being honest.

Honesty is one of the values I instill in my children, physical activity is another. 

This summer we spent a bunch of time at the beach (no BIG surprise to my readers) 

Surfing, Running, Biking, Swimming and the kids played a ton of  basketball. 

Now we’ve just added another to form of fitness to the line up.  

You Guessed it!!

 

Boxing &  Contact Kickboxing.

After just a few classes, by an incredible trainer at a local fitness club,  my daughter and I were hooked & hungry for more..   

We visited a local PAL (Police Athletic League) and in speaking to  a few of the trainers , we found that boxing is one of the BEST forms of fitness imaginable. It also can be one of the most difficult.

Boxing, Kickboxing and Contact Kickboxing are full body workouts  which increases staminia, endurance,  strength, speed, balance and coordination.  It’s the whole package. 

Not to mention a huge S T R E S S  reliever.  

So we grabbed some wraps -n- gloves (fashionalble ones at that)  and plan on punching  &  kicking our way to a new level of fitness. 

 

   

Good Morning fellow workout Junkies…   

Since I just walked in from gym and was deciding what I should have for my post workout snack, I thought I would pass on a couple of  refueling tips that does a body good.

• Always remember to refuel your body afer 45-60 minutes of exercise
•  Don’t over do the calories (they do count and add up).
•  Choose a SMART snack containing both carbs & protein.

 Great choices being fresh fruits/raw veggies paired with a protein such as plain Greek Yogurt (Chiobanni’s is my favorite), low fat cottage cheese, low sodium turkey/chicken breast or a 2% cheese stick.  The Carbs restore muscle glycogen (energy) and the protein speeds up the recovery process.

Happy Snacking !!

A couple of weeks ago my family, friends and I took a  quickie beach weekend on the west coast of Florida.

Baby powder like sand, floats and yes, lots of sand dollars (catch and release of course).

One of the the best catches  was a new found Hair Miracle.

After a  full day at the beach, my hair felt  brittle, dry and unable to comb.  The salt and sun can wreck havoc even when wearing a hat.

My friend, Miranda Diaz , hair stylist extraordinaire,  just happens to whip out of her bag something called …

“It’s a 10  Miracle Leave in Product”
 

What does it do you ask?    It does 10 Things Instantly.

Repairs Damaged Hair
Adds Shine
De-tangles
Controls Frizz
Seals and Protects Hair Color
Stops Hair Breakage
Creates Silkiness
Enhances Natural Body
Flat Iron Spray & Thermal Protector
 

I personally saw  and felt results instantly.  After using this for a week and a half, I’m HOOKED.  The comb slides through my hair with ease.  I’m  left with shine, protection and extremely silky hair.

Grab yourself a bottle and check it out..   

Well that’s my hot beachy tip of the day.  It’s going to be another steamy one here in South Florida.  Enjoy.

Make it you BEST day ever.

Toodles

Lisa
772-924-0611