Cardio Cuts Review, and first YouTube supplement review!!!

Hello my dears!


Here is my first YouTube Supplement review featuring Cardio Cuts by NDS Nutrition Products, Inc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DMA5-Yku0U


I was so excited to try this product.
I called GNC to see if they had any samples of pre-workout supplements, and the lady told me this particular one was amazing. She said women absolutely love it.

I got it home, mixed the powder with a bottle of water, and was absolutely surprised that it tasted fantastic. I got the green apple flavor. Not too sweet, but still good. It had a slightly chalky feel to it toward the end, but I just continued to shake it up as I drank. It wasn't all that bothersome. I've heard that most supplements tend to get gritty at the end of the bottle, but this wasn't true with Cardio Cuts.
To be honest, I wanted more than just the one bottle.

Immediately, I felt energized.
I had to wait 30 minutes before my workout.

I popped in Focus T25 Alpha Cardio and got to work. It was still a workout. I was still out of breath and drenched in sweat. It seemed easier though. I found myself using the modifier less, and even had a good energy level during the final 5 minutes. Generally I'm ready to give up by then. I felt strong. I felt like a beast!

After the cool down, I felt like I could do a little strength training, which is weird, because I never have any leftover energy after cardio.

The package says don't consume any caffeine products or take within six hours of bedtime. I took my drink at 6, finished my workout a little after 7.... It's 9pm and I'm still stimulated.
I'll probably end up watching some TV and doing a stretching routine to calm down.

I just love that I'm amped and ready for more.
I had to make myself stop because I tend to overdo it and hurt myself.
What's the point in working in overdrive if I can't move for 2 days afterward?

I love Cardio Cuts.
I don't even know how much it costs, since she gave me a free sample.
I'm not paid for the review, but goodness knows I wouldn't mind some free product in the future ;)

I'm completely happy.

Let's go again tomorrow!

Kayla

Focus T25 - Week 1 STATurday results

I was actually really upset about my week 1 results.

I only lost 0.2 lbs, but an inch off my waist.

So I weighed in at 161.2
38.5 - 32.5 - 41.25

I feel like I should have had better results than that.
I worked out so hard, drenched in sweat, and completely changed my diet.
Fruit, salads, and homemade dinners...
I drank 100 oz of water plus my teas and coffees.
Maybe that's most of it. I'm holding onto the water I don't normally drink, like a desert camel, before my body thinks it's normal and flushes it out.
I don't know.
I was just completely bummed.

Anyhow, because of the seventy thousand squats I did on Friday, I couldn't really bend my legs on Saturday. Even today, it hurts when I pee.
...
I mean, not when I Pee pee.... just... sitting on the toilet.
...
I can't recover from that, huh?

So I didn't do the workout yesterday.

I didn't know that I was so out of shape... I'm going to keep going with this program, finish out Alpha phase and probably maybe do another round of it before I start on Beta. It depends on how fast my body adjusts to the intensity of the workouts. If by the end of Alpha I'm keeping up and able to work out every day, then I'll just continue on as normal.
I'm not quitting though. I'll only get stronger by continuing.

Kayla

Focus T25 - Alpha - Lower Focus

After two rest days from T25, I'm not feeling like such a pansy. I wore my high heels all day to stretch out my baby cows and I felt great after work.

I picked up my girls, took them to the store, and they helped me prepare dinner.
They peeled the potatoes, I mashed and added soy milk, salt, and light butter. Not too bad.
Then they picked carrots as the nightly veg. Mac and cheese... and sausages.
As long as they eat their veggies, I figure I can let them pick their meat.
Except for tomorrow. We're doing crock pot chicken tacos. mmmmmmmmmmmm....

After I put them to bed, I popped in my Lower Focus disc.
The first five minutes were a breeze. I do better with strength training and reps than I do with cardio.
But after 10 minutes... I was really getting fatigued. I couldn't squat as low as the people in the show.
My muscles were starting to shake and give out, but by that time or very soon after, they'd switch to a different muscle group to work and make cry...
By 20 minutes, my muscles were completely shaking. I tried, but I could not do another squat. I kept falling over. My legs just wouldn't support me. I did the modifier, and sometimes much slower.
I kept going though.
I love the last minute. Everything gets slowed down and it becomes a stretch. It's pure relief.
Still working the legs, but happily.
There is a 3-minute cool down at the end, but I couldn't do the hamstring stretches. My legs were jelly.

All in all, I'm happy with the workout. I'm just lounging on the couch now, but I still feel like my legs are burning... in a good way.

We'll see how I feel tomorrow. It's STATurday..so I'll be weighing in and doing my measurements.
I only got in 3 workouts so far, but in general, I've eaten so much healthier this week.
Fruit for breakfasts and snacks, salads for lunch, then whatever for dinner... but it's still a big step from where I was last week.

See you tomorrow!

Kayla

I Feel HAPPY!!!!!

I feel like everything is going the way it's supposed to go.

Let me tell you how much energy I have - just by changing my diet.
I generally have fruit for breakfast and a bowl of fruit at my desk to nibble on throughout the day.
Once I get home, I do some sort of exercise and I don't want to eat a nasty, fatty, dense meal afterward.
I'm craving the peaches I left at work. They're now perfectly ripe, and the juiciest peaches I've ever eaten.
I've lost my taste for meat and cheese. It just doesn't satisfy me...
Except a Wyandotte BBQ beef sandwich... mmmmmmmm....

Today I had a boiled egg and grapes for breakfast with coffee,
lunch was a small salad, a boiled egg, and a peach,
snacking on grapes all day,
dinner was a chicken sandwich... just didn't do it for me.

*****

Since I'm still cramping in the legs from overdoing my first couple of workouts, I decided to do a lighter workout. I took my daughter to the park. We ran the track, played in the grass, I pushed her on the swing focusing on crunching my abs. We climbed playthings. We were running around for 2 hours.

We left to get cat food, and ended up picking out a parakeet as well.
She's just a baby, and will need handling, but she seems calm enough.
My kids need to learn more responsibility. They already feed the cat, but I'm hoping a bird will teach them to be gentle and more patient.
Fingers crossed.

I'm so happy to be spending more quality time with the kids, more active with the kids. I'm able to keep up with them. I think the cleaner eating is just making my energy skyrocket, and the workouts are giving me extra stamina on top.

I'm alive.
I'm happy.
I'm the best mom in the world.

Taking a rest day

Today was supposed to be day 3 of my T25 workout plan, but I've overdone it and hurt myself.

I like a little muscle soreness. It makes me feel like I actually put effort into my sessions.
This is different though. All day, my calves were so tight it was very painful to walk. I was limping/waddling all day at work. Forget about stairs! It took me a full minute to walk down the 5 we have. The worst part was waking up in the morning and standing for the first time. I wanted to cry.

The boyfriend even made fun of me, thinking I was joking around.

Believe me, I'm no puss to pain.

I went shopping after work to find shorts that fit, and it was difficult to step into them.
I must admit though, that having tight muscles made my legs look amazing.

I went on a spree at the thrift store and got a few dresses and summer outfits for the girls, along with 4 sports bras, 4 running shorts, and 4 workout tops for me.... and a stuffed minion from Despicable Me. I'll say that's for the girls, but we all know otherwise :)  I love the minions..
I only spent $60, and this giant bag is overflowing with summer goodies.
I love a great bargain.

I'm in too much pain to do a workout today.
I've been taking the maximum dose of Advil and Aspirin all day, but the tightness is killing me.
Tomorrow I'll probably skip a session too, but I'm taking the girls to the park instead. I'll be running (hopefully) and playing dinosaurs or pretending to be a horse.
That in itself is a workout.



I didn't really put together a food log for today.
Just more green tea and water,
Leftover sandwich for breakfast,
Grilled chicken breast and sides from KFC for lunch,
and spaghetti with garlic bread for dinner. Parents made it for me. Love them.

Sweet dreams,
Kayla

T25 Day 2 - Speed 1.0 and Grocery Haul

Today's workout was a blast! Speed 1.0!
It was high intensity, but it was broken off by bits of stretching.
Every time I thought I couldn't go another rep, it switched up to work a different muscle group.
It seemed a lot easier than the cardio disc... At least there were chances to catch my breath.
I only used the modifier at the very end. My body gave out on the last burpee, and I was drenched in sweat. It seems to take a long time when you're working out, but as soon as you're done, you think "Wow, I did all that in only 25 minutes!"
Speed 1.0 is a proper title for the disc. It is fast paced. I found myself slowing down to focus on my form. I want that done properly. The speed will come with continued workouts.

My calves are so sore from yesterday's workout, so I was scared to start the workout today.
Once I pushed the play button and actually started, the pain wasn't there. I couldn't notice it.
Maybe I needed to work them more to ease the soreness.
Maybe the 4 advil I popped right before helped.
Now though... I'm having trouble walking down the stairs in my home. I worked out hard.


**************


Groceries!!!

I went to Hen House to get the Buy One Get One Free items.
Once I got there, I got the manufacturer coupons, and the Hen House card and went on my spree!
28 salad dressings.
10 blocks of cheese.
10 pounds of frozen veg for $10
Lunch meats half off.
Box dinners, mac and cheese half off.
Half off first aid sprays.
Then my regular purchases, bread, soy milk, ice cream, laundry detergent, deodorant...

The total was $250.
After card savings and coupons, I paid $104.


Then we went over to Walmart to price match on produce with the Aldi ad.
I got 30 avocados,
8 pounds of grapes,
8 mangoes
for $20!!
Saved $45


I paid $125 for everything,
Saved $190.

Unbelievable.
I took so much over to my parents and grandparents... I practically got $200 of extra food for nothing.
I'll be doing this in the future.
I feel so accomplished today.

I'm exhausted.


*******************************

Meal Plan today:

8am - large cup of coffee with a packet of Stevia
9am - 20 oz water
10am - Grapes
11:30 - Leftover salad with mozzarella cheese and 2 boiled eggs, 20 oz water
2:30pm - 20 oz water and 4 Hershey's drops
7pm - 20 oz water
8pm - 2 sandwiches - chicken, roast beef, lettuce, mustard on French bread.
10pm - 20 oz water

I'm stuffed. But still thirsty. Like a camel.


I'm off to bed!

Focus T25 Day 1 Cardio

When I bought BeachBody's Focus T25 Set, I was surprised that it came in such a Tiny Box.

The sets are Alpha (5 week course), Beta (5 week course), and Gamma (sold as an add-on, 4 weeks Pure Gamma and 4 weeks Pure Strength Hybrid). Total of 14 Discs.

It tells you which workouts to do on each day,
one workout each day Monday-Thursday
two workouts on Friday and rest day Saturday (recommended)
or
one workout Friday, one workout Saturday
Stretch workout on Sunday

You're supposed to take your measurements on Saturday (STATurday)

It also Includes a nutrition guide that seems pretty basic. Lean proteins, complex carbs, fruits and veg. Some of the recipes look downright delicious...

There's a 5-day Fast Track that tells you exactly which foods to eat during the first 5 days. Everything looks delicious, but honestly... the grocery list is ridiculous. There's an incredible variety, but it's not practical for a single person with limited food budget.
It also promotes Shakeology. I haven't tried the shakes, but they're about $4 per serving. It's too rich for my purse.

Lastly, you're given a resistance band, which I failed to picture. I won't use it until the Beta phase, so it still sits in my tiny BeachBody box in the closet.

The Discs!

Alpha
Cardio
Speed 1.0 & Total Body Circuit
AB Intervals
Lower Focus
Stretch

Beta
Core Cardio
Speed 2.0 and Rip't Circuit
Dynamic Core
Upper Focus
Core Speed *

* I hear, unless you get it directly from BeachBody, you have to order this disc separately

Gamma
The Pyramid
Rip't Up
Speed 3.0
Extreme Circuit




**********************************


I think we all hit that wall at some point.
This is it? This is too far... How did I let myself go like this?
I need change. I need a miracle.

This past couple of months have been full of stress and eating everything.
I mean EVERYTHING.

I wanted to do this review for some time, but I never allowed myself the time to do so.
This too will change.

It's time for another make-me-over.

I guess it really didn't sink in until I took my Day 1 pictures.
Where did my tummy come from?
Have my arms always been that big?
I used to have the gap between my thighs...
I'm a completely different person.

I don't spend a lot of time in front of the mirror, and I don't consider myself vain in any way.
How can I not see myself for what I am? I still picture myself as the 120lb cheerleader in high school.

Reality check.

I'm 161.4lbs.
38.5 - 33.5 - 41.25
5'3 on a tall day.



********************************

Day 1 - Alpha

CARDIO


This was more difficult than I thought it would be.
It starts out doing..... guess...... pure cardio.
After 3-4 minutes my lungs were burning and I was gasping for breath.
Just when I thought I couldn't go anymore, there came a portion of lunges that allowed me to catch my breath, but were still repetitive enough to fatigue my muscles.
More cardio!
I started off strong, but had to use the modifier halfway through.
Still soooo very hot and tired and sweating everywhere.
I love that feeling though.
Then another brief lunge-twist thing.
More cardio.
By this time, I'm using the modifier consistently. Still trying, but for someone who doesn't regularly work out like I used to, it's going to take time to work back into it.
By the last 5 minutes I'm completely winded. My leg muscles have all been worked to the max, and it was all I could do to keep going.
Finally he called TIME!
and the disc skipped to a 3-minute cool down stretch.

My legs were part jelly - part solid rock. I haven't worked them like that in years, I bet.

What I love about T25 is that there are no rests. It's difficult, but it will get easier with time. There's always a modifier to follow, and you should always listen to your body. I'd much rather take a 20 second rest than injure myself.

I have a feeling I'll be popping a bunch of Advil in the morning and getting at it again tomorrow night.


*********************

Going along with my fruit shopping spree yesterday and my new goal to exercise daily, I made some changes to my diet.

8am - Large mug of hot green tea and grapes (snacking on grapes all during work hours)
10am - 20 oz bottle of water
11am - 20 oz bottle of water
1pm - Bowl of leftover stew
2pm - My daily dose of 4 Hershey's chocolate drops
3pm - Large mug of green tea
4pm - 20 oz water
6pm - Salad with 2 boiled eggs, shredded mozzarella, Green Goddess and mustard dressing.
6:45-7:15 - Focus T25 Alpha Cardio
7:30pm - 20 oz water

I'll probably have another bottle of water before bed.
I must have eaten 3lbs of grapes today. It was almost the entire bag.
I believe that if it's pure food, you can eat as much as you want.
No regrets.

I had a good day.


<3 kayla="" p="">
 

Price Matching for Best Produce Deals July 9-15

Grocery shopping is one of my favorite hobbies, because I love finding the best deals and getting 2-3 times the food for my money.

Here are the ads I'm using this week, what I'm getting... I hope you find it useful.

My boyfriend and coworkers save the ads for me. I don't always get all the ads in the mail, and I love the variety I get from different cities. It allows me to get things for bottom dollar, and I love it!

I just take the ads to Walmart, and save save save!
The people in line behind me aren't happy, but I can't afford not to pinch where I can.
Besides, I only get a few different items each week, but enough quantity to stock up for weeks to come. It works out amazingly.


By far, my favorite ad is Aldi.

This week at Aldi,
33 cent avocados. I'm getting 9. There's 3 dollars. (Generally they're $1.50 each) Saving $10.50.
79 cents/lb grapes. I'm getting 3lbs for $2.40. (Generally $2/lb) Saving $3.60
39 cent mangoes. I'm getting 7 for $2.80 (Generally $1.50 each) Saving $7.70
***EDIT***
Walmart was out of Avocado?!?
I got ten mangoes instead.
***

peaches at aldi are 25 cents each
peaches at RedX are 89 cents/lb.
I don't regularly weigh peaches, so I don't know the better deal, but I'm getting $2 worth.
***EDIT***
Walmart sells by peaches by the pound, so they can't honor the 25 cents each.
I would have gotten 8 peaches at 3 and a half pounds. 25 cents each is a much better deal
***

At Save a Lot,
56 oz Sunny D Chillers are 99 cents each.
I'm getting Lemonade and Grape.
It's not healthy in the least, but it tastes delicious with cherry rum!
***EDIT***
Did not get chillers. We can drink water. Health nut is kicking in.
***

Price Chopper
has Buy One Get One Free
Kraft Cheeses and Oscar Meyer Deli Lunchmeats.
Again, not the healthiest of meals, but for a quick lunch on the run, it helps.
Saving 6-7 dollars here.
***EDIT***
Walmart doesn't honor BOGOs unless a price is listed.
Didn't get lunch meat or cheese.
***

HyVee
has a dozen large eggs for 99 cents.
Limit of 1
I'm getting 2-3 dozen.
I boil them for salads or take an egg or two for breadfast.
Eggs are my main source of protein.
Saving a dollar here.

Hen House
has buy one get one free Kraft dressings for $1.99
Some bottles have a 50 cent off coupon attached.
They will double coupons up to a dollar.
I'm getting whatever the limit is.
2 for a dollar!
They're usually over $2 each!
I'm actually going to Hen House to get this deal in person.
The coupon on the bottles make this deal worthwhile.



I plan on spending about $25, but saving about $33.
***EDIT***
I actually spent $16 because I couldn't get all that I intended to buy.
I did get a couple of heads of lettuce though.
10 mangoes
8 peaches
3.5 lbs of grapes.
2 dozen eggs.
A good haul though.
I saved $16.
I'll take half off groceries anyday!
***

It's not my complete grocery list. I still need bread and soymilk, salad things and veggies, but those I'll pick up as I need. At least I'm good on fruit and eggs, bulk of my diet.

Hope you can use these tips too!
Happy Shopping!

Getting antsy for a Workout!

It's Summer!!

Let me tell you a secret...
I've been holding on to my favorite bikini for ten years.
It's this beautiful deep green with swirly light blue girly designs all over. It's just amazing on my olive skin.
Anyhoo... I bought it when I was sixteen, got pregnant a couple years later, and it has been in my top dresser drawer ever since.
I finally got the nerve to throw it away.

I need a transformation. New routine, new body, new bikini.
I'm excited to shop around again.

I still have a while to go before I'm ready to do that though.

I've been shopping around for supplements. EHPlabs never returned my e-mail requesting sponsorship. I guess my tiny blog isn't well enough known, even with my 9500 page views. It does bum me out a bit, to be honest. It won't stop me from trying to find other sponsors. I can't wait to do detailed reviews and take pictures! Hello YouTube videos!

I've dug out my BeachBody Focus T25 dvds.
I'm going to start new and do the entire program, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and the modified Gamma once I've completed the set. There should be tons of results from that alone.
I plan on pain. Lots of pain. Soreness. Initial hatred. Ending Satisfaction.

I really just want to find a nice supplement to help give me that boost while I'm working out. I want to train hard and be beautifully toned again.


I also plan on helping you guys out with your grocery shopping.
My goal is to find inexpensive, healthy foods. I want to build my pantry on a budget. I'll post which weekly ads to watch for. For the past couple of weeks I've been taking the best ads to WalMart to price match. I've gotten produce for over half off just by doing this. I get to buy in bulk for the same price as I used to get on a few items... now my entire family eats cheap, and nutritious!
It's amazing!


Here's to good changes!
If you're interested in sponsoring me for reviews, please contact me!

Kayla

What is death?

I am very fortunate to have lived 25 years and never seen death.

I have a large family, a few good friends, and people I love, but no one I've ever been close to has ever died.

We've had plenty of close calls in surgery. We're cancer survivors. We're blessed.


I was asked not to post specifics because it's very sensitive... but one of my relatives has been in the ICU for a week. All that I can say is that he's very ill. Machines keep him alive, and that's a terrifying thought. At one point, I considered him a father figure. We used to be close, but have drifted apart this past decade because of petty misunderstandings.

I was scared to see him today.
Me, scared of so little, standing next to his bed, silent, terrified.
All past crap aside, I still love him.
I stood next to my grandmother as she talked to him. Whether he can hear us or not... nobody knows.
After she finished, I stayed by her side and just walked out. I didn't know what to say.

She's so strong, my grandmother. Afraid, but she's not showing it. She had lost a daughter the year before I was born, and had always told me how I'm the image of her.. We've always been close, partly for that reason, I think.

Anyway...

My family, large as it is, has always been close.

They're Christians. They follow the Bible and attend church weekly and pray for everything.
I've never been religious. I don't care one way or the other, as long as people are good people, that's what matters to me. I will always be a good person, and I don't think my religious views would condemn me to burn for eternity if there even is a Hell.

But I watch them and listen to them all get together and pray. It's never anything petty. It's just for faith and good judgment and health. We always take care of each other. Feed each other. Listen. We were taught to give everything we have, if another person truly needs it.

I feel conflicted, because I'm not in that circle of religiousness.
Yet everyone else in my family is so sure about God taking care of us when we need it.
I wonder if there truly is power in prayer, because the few deaths in our family have been of old age, peacefully.
We've been so lucky.

Now, seeing him supported by tubes and wires...
this is new.
Yet I have every faith he'll get better, and I don't understand why.

Is it possible that faith is keeping us alive and together?
Is it God and prayer?
or are we just really resilient?