FITNESS | Bikini Series 2015 Kick Off

It's here!! It's my all time favourite time of year - the Tone It Up Bikini Series! If you've been following the blog for a while, you know I love Tone It Up and everything they do - the Bikini Series is no exception! For 8 weeks of workouts, health and lifestyle tips - sign up for the series today! 

For more information, tips and tricks and for my own personal goals, see the video below! 

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Instagram Fit List

It's Motivation Monday and what better way to get motivated than update your Instagram list with these INCREDIBLE motivators!

I've rounded up my latest (and all time) favourite fitness bloggers/social media moguls and put them all in one post ;) Click the links throughout the post to be directed to the respective Instagram profile!

Do you follow these guys? Have I missed any of your favourites? Comment below!

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Finding Your Motivation

It's no secret that motivation is so important. It's what gets you up in the morning and what gets you through that gruelling workout. Without motivation, as I'm sure you've experienced(!), it can be easy for your drive to ground to a halt.

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Recommitting to my Goals

I think it's really important to be honest with yourself. Whether in your personal life, work life or when you're on a journey to better yourself.

For me that reminder came on Sunday where, on the Tone It Up blog, the girls told us to write down three goals for the remainder of the Bikini Series. This got me thinking; "What have I done so far?" "What could I do better?" "What are my strengths?" and most importantly; "What are my weaknesses?"

This is what I came up with;

In order of importance, I would probably rank them 3,1,2. 

Goal Number 3: Since the beginning of the series I have been really focused on losing weight and coming in close to my ultimate goal weight before I jet off to Greece in July. Whilst this is an attainable goal I've found that focusing so much on that number that flashes back at me on a Tuesday morning, I've been less focused on other aspects of the journey!

For example, I haven't really sat down and thought about what I've achieved in that week, or how confident I feel or how shocked I am at the things that I'm learning I can do!

That defines me, those 'wow' moments define me! Not the number on the scale! At the end of the Bikini Series, if I am happy and proud and confident then that is enough for me!

To achieve this goal, I'm going to journal more! Each day I'm going to write down something that I'm proud of that day, or something I've enjoyed! Something to remind me that I'm worthy and that I'm beautiful :)

Goal Number 1: I have been really aware this past week at how my body responds to junk food! I had a few 'crappy' meals and I really felt it later on that evening or in the morning! I've realised that now, I don't enjoy eating takeouts or the kinds of junk food I used to love! Don't get me wrong, I'm still a chocolate lover and a Fro-Yo addict but when it comes to big, oily meals like that, I'm just not interested any more! 

To achieve this goal, I'm going to listen more to my body when my mind is telling me that I'm craving junk food or something that cheats the system! Because whilst I craved that Chinese last Saturday, I didn't enjoy it! I didn't need it, and I just as easily could have whipped up something nutritious and delicious! 

Sort of coinciding with this is another mini-goal of mine! I want to substitute a lot of my afternoon (and let's face it mid-morning) coffee out with water! My water consumption has really slipped as of late and I want to get it back up there!

To achieve this goal, I'm going to carry a water glass with me ALL THE TIME at home, and fill it up every time it's empty! This also goes for when I'm out and about except I will carry a bottle not a glass hehe!

Goal Number 2: I love how strong I feel after I finish one of the Tone It Up routines, week after week I'm realising change in myself. For instance, last week I was able to do a 'Bikini Walk Out' from beginning to end, like K&K, for the first time ever! That felt great! 

Since joining my gym I have definitely turned into a gym rat. In doing so, a lot of the toning I was doing has been left behind! I'm going to work to try and find the balance again. 

To achieve this goal, I'm going to follow the workouts on the TIU Schedule and tick them off on my calendar! (I'm also anxiously awaiting the release of the Beach Babe DVD because I KNOW that will get me to tone hehe!)

What about you? Do you have any sort term goals that you're working towards?

xoxo Georgie

Fitspiration Friday! Interview with Elle HairTwoHeels!

I. Am. So. Excited!!!!!!

As you may know, Elle HairTwoHeels is my partner for this year's Tone It Up Bikini Series. I'm super lucky and SUPER blessed because Elle was one of the incredible, awe-inspiring winners from last year's challenge!

I jumped at the chance to interview her for you guys!

I am the blue text and Elle is in grey!

How gorgeous is my partner?

Hey Elle! Thanks so much for doing this! Tell us, how was it that you first found Tone It Up and when?

I found Tone it Up totally randomly. I was watching YouTube videos to get ideas of what to film for my channel and someone I was watching mentioned that she had done one of their online workouts. I clicked on the link to check it out and fell in love. I had already been looking for a fitness/nutrition program, and ended up losing HOURS watching all of their videos. Their fitness videos, their vlog videos. I felt like K&K were the type of people I would get  along with on a friendship level. The way they acted with each other was the same way my best friends and I act, and I just completely fell in love with the whole lifestyle. This happened to be the same week that the Drop10 challenge had started last year so I joined that challenge then became a member and entered the bikini challenge. I had yo-yo dieted/weighed for YEARS and was thrilled to find a lifestyle that was manageable, fun & yielding lasting results. 

Had you been working on your fitness before? Did Tone It Up first inspire you to get going or give you that extra kick you needed?

I grew up as a dancer, so living an active lifestyle was something I grew up with. Along with high school pressure/ dance pressure, became a pressure internally for me to look a certain way, act a certain way and be a certain persnon that was not authentically me. In university my best friend and I joined a gym and I regularly worked out, but since I didn't know how to manage my nutrition, the results were successful at times, and unsuccessful at other times. I also discovered in 2010 that I had a wheat, sugar, dairy & soy intolerance and  so I was looking for a nutrition plan that would help me reach my goal weight, be easy to maintain longterm, and catered to my food intolerances as well.   

What's your favourite Tone It Up workout and why?

I LOVED the abs routine of the Love Your Body series. I love working my abdominals and so it's hard for me to find an ab workout that will make me sore the next day, but this one did the trick. I also love the Malibooty workout because it's one I can do without worrying about my ankle injury. I also have a love/hate relationship with Tummy Tucks.

Do you have a favourite group fitness class?

I love Zumba classes because of my dance background. I also loved Body Pump when they had it at my own gym. I enjoyed any of the weightlifting classes at my gym but with my ankle needing surgery, I can't do any of the classes right now (restricted from doing lunges, or any ankle impact activities.)

Elle regularly checks in on Instagram - follow her at HairTwoHeels

=0 WE HAVE TO DO ZUMBA TOGETHER ONE DAY! You’re currently suffering with an ankle injury, what are your favourite cardio workouts to work around it?

At first I felt VERY limited cardio-wise with my ankle injury. I also felt very limited in any lower body strengthening exercises because I wasn't allowed to weight-bare on the ankle nor do any impact activities. Even the elliptical was off limits. There is a machine at my fiancé's gym where you basically sit down and use these arm pedals to make a circle motion with your arms. Picture a bike motion but the peddles being in your hands.....I felt like a TWIT using it and I found it disrupted my breathing more than gave me a workout. I pretty much exclusively do the stationary bike for cardio. I'm pricing out used street bikes now that the weather is nicer in Canada. Sometimes I will use the arc trainer but I find I can only do 20 mins of that before it agitates my ankle. I've found the best calorie burn on the bike is when I alter any HIIT workout. I will either stand for the "high intensity" parts, or I will just peddle as fast as I can for them. I can usually burn over 500 calories in 40 mins on the bike if I push myself.

That's so inspiring! What's on Your Workout Playlist right now?

When it comes to working out, I listen to very different music than my normal taste. Normally I'm an old school folk, motown or soul lover, but when working out I like upbeat stuff. Right now my playlist consists of Light's newest album Siberia, the Inner Ninja song, and a lot of Girl Talk. Girl Talk is a band that takes popular top40 type stuff with old school rap/hip-hop and mixes it into dance music. the pace is PERFECT for when I used to run, but now just keeps me pumped up while I'm working out. I highly suggest Girl Talk and Lights!!! I also like a lot of Maroon 5 stuff for working out.

Living the Tone It Up Lifestyle, like we do, is about more than just working out and eating right. Tell us one of your beauty secrets! (Seeing as you're my personal Beauty Guru!)

This is one of my favouite things about the Tone It Up community. I said it while I was in California and I find myself saying it a lot: Tone it Up is MORE than just a workout....it'll change more than just your waistline. I have made some amazing lifelong friends like you and so many others. I have found a community of friends who I feel REALLY close and connected to. Practically none of my real-life friends are into fitness/nutrition so I LOVE having this communities support! My favourite beauty secret right now is for bad under eye circles. I recently found a GREAT combo: use Benefit's Erase Paste then set it with Bare Minerals powder concealer. The powder concealer gives it some extra coverage while setting the cream concealer leaving a flawless look that still looks VERY natural! I have TONS of beauty secrets, so if you'd like more, go subscribe to my channel! 

If you can narrow it down (hehe!), what is your beauty must have?

Yes. haha I like ANYTHING beauty/fashion related and for me it changes often because I like trying new products as well as finding "Holy Grail" products that work the best. I think I always am seeking a beauty regime which will consist of ONLY Holy Grail products eventually, so while I'm finding them all, I'm reviewing and sharing all my knowledge on my channel. In terms of broad beauty must have's I'd say the basics are a great hair conditioning treatment, a great mascara and a great skin product. The rest are all pretty much interchangeable for me. 

Elle has a YouTube channel full of tutorials, fitness related fun and vlogs! 

Are there any blogs or websites you look at (besides Tone It Up of course!) to find inspiration / new workouts to get you that little bit more motivated?

To be honest, not really. I watch Blogilates sometimes, but found her not too long ago and so I can't do a lot of her workouts with my ankle yet. I like Sarah from DietSarah and had the amazing opportunity to meet her in person as well. I like watching her videos to learn diet/nutrition tips. When it comes to what I work out to though, it's pretty much exclusively Tone It Up. WAIT! ok....I also have this KILLER abs workout which is a Denise Austin VHS from the 80's that I had converted into DVD. The outfit is AWFUL, so is the music and she's of the old school "super hyper" instructor type, but it's a great workout so I do it often anyway. I also have the Brazilian Butt DVD workouts. I find him SUPER annoying to listen to, and there is WAY too much ads on the DVD, but his floor work is VERY challenging and something I can do with my ankle injury so I do that about 3-4 times a week too. 

I'm so jealous that you met Sarah Dussault! I LOVE her! Nutrition is obviously super impoerant too! What are some of your favourite healthy recipes?

Other than protein pancakes (which are obviously the best) I love making any fruit smoothie with almond milk. In terms of actual cooked meals I am a brussel sprout FANATIC as well as a shrimp lover.

Do you have a favourite activity to keep you active outdoors?

I was an avid outdoor runner before my injury. My fiance Dan and I are also big outdoorsy people. When weather permits, we go for 1-2 hour hikes with our dog Rosco every weekend. I like canoeing and camping a lot as well and do it most weekends of the summer. I was never a cyclist, but have started because of my injury so that's a new outdoor love of mine. My fiance plays ultimate frisbee and although I've never played a full game, I REALLy enjoy the sport too.

Elle and Rosco! 

You went to Cali as a bikini series winner last year!!! What did you do when you found out that you’d won?

I literally couldn't form a sentence for 24 hours. I immediately went to my friend's house and we checked the site together because I had been stalking my computer for hours waiting for results but then had to run an errand which took me away from my computer. As I finished my errand, I saw that my twitter had blown up with congrats and so I knew I had won something, but I wasn't sure which prize (and I didn't want to get my hopes up). So I called my best friend and we looked it up together. I literally was in SOOO much shock I was shaking. I filmed a video about 30 seconds after finding out (with NOOO makeup on and making little sense) but it captures my shock for sure: 

AS A SIDE: this is a video I shot BEFORE I found out that I won last year, and I think it's important for people to watch considering the 2013 Bikini Series is underway. It helps put our goals in perspective and may help some people stay focussed on the REAL prize:  (I completely agree btw!)

Was it the absolute best girls trip ever?

I literally cannot put into words a) how much winning meant to me b) how amazing the trip was and c) how incredible meeting K&K as well as Holli, Sophie & Laura was. Becoming a Tone it Up girl has changed my whole life, but the trip was so profoundly amazing that whenever I try to describe it or give thanks I always fall short of appropriate words. 

What’s your favourite memory from the trip?

My absolute favourite memory was when the girls and I went out for dinner one night. It was no cameras, no schedule just a bunch of amazing and inspirational women talking about life and self-growth and it's then that I felt the most connected to everyone (including K&K). It was some great conversation and a really memorable time for me. 

The Bikini Series 2012 Winners at the JustFab.com shoot!

It’s the Bikini Series! The most exciting time of year for the Tone It Up team! What’s your plan of attack this time around?

This time around I have the motivation of my upcoming wedding! I've teamed up with you of course, but my goal is to be the healthiest and most fit I can be despite my injury for my wedding. It's a tall order, but an attainable goal that I'm willing to work hard to achieve and committed to fully. 

You're also getting married this year, you busy bee!  (To find out about Elle's fiancé Dan, watch this video - you will fall in love too. Trust me!) How's the planning going! 

The planning is going well!  I can't believe it, but I'm less than 3 months out! I plan on having a TON of videos on my wedding channel up and running soon to share all my wedding knowledge and plans! 

Do you have any goals for the next few months or for 2013?

YES! Sophie @sophiehowl27 showed me how to set small attainable goals to reach my full potential. My short term goals are to have my ankle surgery so that I can reach my long term goal of being able to run again! 

To someone deciding whether to join our Tone It Up Team, what would you tell them?

I would tell them that jumping full in and committing to the Tone It Up lifestyle is a FULL LIFESTYLE OVERHAUL. It will change your waistline, outlook on life, priorities, self-esteem, friendships and SO MUCH MORE for the better. If you're ready and committed to do the hard work, committing to the lifestyle is the best life decision you'll ever make!

Randoms; Just For Fun!

Favourite Fitness Related Quote? There are a few that I live by and repeat often to myself:  "life is a journey, not a destination" "change is uncomfortable" "You never regret a workout" & "the difference between a dream and a goal is determination and action"

Favourite Colour? Aqua or Pink (even before finding Tone It Up)

Favourite Pair of Shoes you own? =P my Birkenstock Sandals or my Asics GT2100

Best Place You've Ever Visited? Honestly it's a toss-up between California and this tiny island on a lake in Ontario  I used to canoe to with Rosco all the time in University. We'd camp all weekend him and I on this island of solitude in the middle of nowhere and I LOVED it.

Happiest Memory? Dancing in the living room with my Mom

Tell us a joke! The 7 dwarfs were in a tub feeling happy......so happy got out :P

Anything Else You'd Like to Say?

GEORGIE IS AMAZING AND I LOVE HER! I LOVE ALL MY TIU SISTERS!

HAHA I love you too!

Thank you so much Elle!! I loved reading this and I hope you did too! 

Do you have anyone you'd love for me to interview? Tweet me your suggestions! 

Happy Friday everybody! 

Treat Yourself!

Happy February guys! 

February is one of my favourite months because not only is it short, but in my head it means that Spring is almost here which means the sun is almost here too!

This year, February is going to be fABulous (get it hehe) for me because I know that once February is done there will be 19 days until the first day of Spring! Now I'm not saying that I'm going to be breaking out the Daisy Duke's from storage in early March but I'd like to know I'll be ready to (should the opportunity present itself hehe)

Anyway the moral of the story is to make February count!

One way in which I want you to get yourself even more motivated is to buy something for yourself to remind yourself that Summer is on the way!

I bought a bikini top today in Hollister and I'm using that as my motivation in the gym this month! I want you to do the same! Buy that bikini or that dress thats in a slightly smaller size and work really hard to make sure you look super cute in it hehe!

Send me pics of what you buy ;)

Georgie x

Fitspiration Friday: I interview the TIU Bride; Liz Trewhitt Schultz

It's here! I'm officially renaming Friday; Fitspiration Friday. It's going to be epic! You may remember two weeks ago I posted an interview I conducted with the Tone It Up Bikini Challenge winner, Kate Bear. 

I've been assaulting my Tone It Up friends again and this week I had the honour of interviewing Liz Trewhitt Schultz. Liz was actually one of the first people I followed on Twitter when I began following Tone It Up.  I consider her a dear friend and she's been a huge inspiration to me throughout my whole Tone It Up journey.

You may know Liz as the TIU Bride as she very recently got married; she talks more about that below!

Enjoy!

Liz on her Wedding Day

Hey Liz! Thanks so much and welcome to Camp Beach Babe!!! We'll start with the basics. How was it that you first found Tone It Up and when?

           I honestly can't quite remember exactly how I came across Tone It Up, but I am about 98% positive it was while looking for workout videos on YouTube and they popped up in a sidebar suggestion.  I watched a few videos and got to browsing their website.  After that I was hooked!

Had you been working on your fitness before? Did Tone It Up first inspire you to get going or give you that extra kick you needed?

          I used to dance in high school so fitness was always something I was aware of.  After graduation and no more dancing, I got slack.  I'd workout for a few weeks, then slack off.  I had joined a Bootcamp Class (high intensity circuit training) in November of 2010 that I still take 4-5 nights a week.  I was pretty determined at that point because I was planning a wedding and wanted to look my best, but once I bought the Tone It Up nutrition plan was when I REALLY got determined to make a change in my life!  It was absolutely the extra kick I needed, especially nutrition-wise.

Liz during a recent race Look at those legs!

What's your favourite Tone It Up workout and why?

          I am so partial to all of the workouts from the 2011 Bikini Series!  Probably my most favs are the Beach Ball, Bikini Strap, and Itty Bitty Bikini.  Can you tell I really want a nice sleek core?  lol  Those are great for working my core, thighs, and even my arms!

Those who may not know you as well as I do won't know that you don't have a gym membership. You've shown that you can look kick-ass without going to the gym! What are your tips for people in the same boat?

          Some days I really go back and forth with myself on getting a full gym membership, but they can be so expensive!  I'm fortunate to have gotten into the bootcamp classes I take when that gym first started so I got a REALLY good deal on those. Like a whole lot of other people these days, I am on one super tight budget.  So no matter how I've tried to work it, joining a gym is just not within my budget right now.  That is one reason I love Karena & Katrina so much.  They're always posting great, free workouts online that I can easily do at home or at my local park. Some even require no equipment!  What equipment some workouts require, you can get for a great price either online or at Target.  That works out great for me!  Since then I have also found some other great trainers via YouTube with free workouts.  My biggest tip is invest in a few key pieces of equipment such as some free weights and a stability ball.  You can get a great, sweat busting workout just with those and using your own bodyweight!  The internet is a great tool and with just a little searching you can find so much out there for free to help get you on track to where you want to be!

Liz as a child. Sorry girl! I had to haha!

 Do you have a favourite group fitness class?

          Boot Class is definitely my favorite!  I usually never stuck with classes too long because I just couldn't motivate myself to go.  This class is so much fun!  I really did find the perfect group of trainers and people locally to workout it.  It's always fun, encouraging, and we're all rooting for each other no matter what the age or fitness level of each individual.  It's awesome! :) 

Congratulations on becoming Mrs Schultz! You got married this past September, did you do anything special to get in even better shape for it?

Thank you! :D  Getting engaged should have made me automatically want to get in better shape and it did, but it was months before I put my foot down and said, "I am doing this!"  I got engaged in spring 2010 and that November was when started bootcamp.  In January I found Tone It Up and soon after bought the plan.  I knew my eating habits had to change and I needed some major help in that area!  So yes I began working out, but changing my eating habits was the most special change I made to make sure I was a happy, healthy, and glowing bride!  Plus I had a Hawaiian honeymoon to look forward to!  I wanted to make sure I looked good in that bikini!

Liz and her husband Wasley on their wedding day

Have you got any advice for other brides-to-be? Fitness related or otherwise :)          

Number 1. Don't freak out!  haha  I now know why planning a wedding can be so stressful.  There were days I would be in tears over something that really wasn't that big of a deal.  Number 2. Don't let emotional eating from the stress ruin your bridal fitness regime.  I can't tell you how often I wanted to just down a bag of cookies and say "screw it".  I kept reminding myself of the bigger picture.  Number 3. If you really want to get in better shaper for your wedding, start immediately!  Working out actually helped me feel a whole lot better when I was stressing over color choices, flowers, and who to invite.  Just remember, at the end of it all, you are marrying your best friend.  That is all that matters! :)

You've got the most incredible back!! What is your favourite move to get it looking as good as it does?

Thank you! Thank you!  I think the back is one of the sexiest parts of a woman so I worked hard to show it off in my wedding dress.  Rows and reverse fly!  Those are my favorite moves to work those back muscles!  If you are doing them right, you can really feel it working those muscles.  I don't have one at home, but we do some exercises on a TRX at bootcamp and anything I have ever done on that has been great for my back.  I hope to invest in one soon!

Liz's back. I'm officially dedicating 3 hours a day to reverse fly's.

Like me, you're a fur-mom! What's the best part about having dogs? They keep you fit right?!

Oh gosh there is so much to love!  I mean, who else makes you feel like Elvis every single time you walk through the door?  I have an entourage wherever I go in my house!  haha  Sadly, since we've always had a fenced in back yard I have never really been a dog walker with my guys.  That really has changed now, especially since my oldest one has gained some weight!  We just started taking a daily walk to help him shed some pounds.  :)  I'm big on hiking so once the weather really starts staying warm, we'll be hiking lots of trails around the mountain I live on.

What's on Your Workout Playlist right now?

I always try to make new mixes to change it up.  My favs right now are:

               -Love On Top - Beyonce

               - Party Rock - LMFAO

               -Good Feeling - Flo Rida

               -Guts - All Time Low

               -Stronger - Kanye West (ALWAYS a fav running/workout song!)

               -High Life - Kelley James (I've loved this one ever since K&K used it in their fall challenge videos)

Two of Liz's Fur Babies :)

Living the Tone It Up Lifestyle, like we do, is about more than just working out and eating right. Tell us one of your beauty secrets!

Absolutely!  I'm slowly in the transition of trying to switch as many of my products as I can over to all natural.  One I have been using for awhile now is Burt's Bees Royal Jelly Eye Cream.  I have extremely sensitive skin around my eyes.  This is the only stuff that doesn't burn at all!  I swear it has helped a lot with my dark circles too.  Being a night owl, I need all the help I can get in that area!  lol  I've also recently started using coconut oil at night as a facial moisturizer.  Sounds kind of crazy right?  It is amazing!  I use it all over my body as well.  It smells amazing and moisturizes my skin b;etter than any regular moisturizer I've ever bought!

What is your beauty must have?

Mascara!  I'm one of those won't leave the house without makeup on kind of girls, but my biggest must have is mascara.  It can make anyone look awake! 

Liz getting her hair and makeup done :)

Are there any blogs or websites you look at (besides Tone It Up of course!) to find inspiration / new workouts to get you that little bit more motivated?

I've always been a fan of Fit Sugar.  They always have really good articles concerning everything from food and workouts to the latest workout clothing or fitness fad.  I also love Amanda Russell on YouTube.  Like K&K, there is just something so adorable about her and she posts great workout vids.  Pinterest has been GREAT for being able to "pin" workouts and recipes I come across. I also have a tumblr.  You wouldn't believe all of the amazing blogs with inspiring posts on there!

What are some of your favourite healthy recipes?

I'm absolutely obsessed with this peanut butter, banana and chocolate protein shake!  If I could, I would have it for every single meal of the day! It seems like most all Tone It Up girls will say this but seriously the TIU Protein Pancake is just amazing! Thre are so many variations of it on the nutrition plan. It's hard to believe you're eating something that is good for you!

Liz on Honeymoon!

Anyone who's seen your TwitPics will know that you live in the most beautiful area! (Chattanooga Tennessee) What are your favourite activities to keep you active outdoors?

I'll be the first to admit that I cannot stand cold weather in the slightest way.  So late fall and winter can be really hard for me to motivate myself to get outside.  When the weather is nice though there is so much to do here!  Disc Golf is huge in this area, though I've never played it.  I love hiking and there are so many trails in this area!  I plan to step it up a notch this summer and try trail running. I'm very fortunate that my parents have a pool so I love to swim almost daily in the summer.  When the weather is nice, I try to get a good run in on our Riverwalk downtown.  It goes across our Walking Bridge and follow the river for something crazy like 10 miles.  It's beautiful and makes me really appreciate where I live. 

Do you have any goals for the next few months or for 2012 in general?

My biggest goal this year is to have abs!  I still have weight I want to lose, but my main focus as i work through that is to have a nice set of abs.  I don't need a crazy six-pack.  I'll be happy with a little 3-pack! 

One of Liz's TwitPics. Beautiful right?

To someone deciding whether to join our Tone It Up Team, what would you tell them?

I'd tell them to follow a few of us on twitter.  Talk to us and ask questions!  Everyone I have ever come across on the team is more than happy to give advice and opinions.  Try the workouts on Karena & Katrina's YouTube channel. It was a few months after I found them that I bought the plan, but I am so glad I did!  If you're someone like me who has a really hard time understand how you should be eating and why, then this plan will absolutely solve that problem for you!  Even though they have so many people on the plan and following them, they really are there for you whenever you need help! It's like having a personal trainer and nutritionist at your fingertips 24/7!  Best part, you pay that one time and you have it and all updates for life!  I'm not a of gimmicky fads that you know won't work.  K&K are all about simple, clean, eating and hard work.  You can't get more honest than that and it works.

Randoms; Just For Fun!

Favourite Fitness Related Quote?

"Fall down seven times. Stand up eight."

It always keeps me in check with the fact that I will fail at some things sometimes, but with practice, patience, and persistence I can conquer whatever it is. 

Favourite Colour?

Turquoise!  It reminds of the beach, which I love.  :) 

Favourite Pair of Shoes you own? =P

My wedding shoes!  I wanted a pair that I could wear again and I just loved these!

Best Place You've Ever Visited?

Oahu, Hawaii!  We stayed on the North Shore at Turtle Bay for our honeymoon.  It was amazing!  I'm already convinced I want to move there.  Maybe one day! :) Happiest Memory?

Walking down the aisle to my husby.  :)  You can't replicate that genuine emotion when you first see each other.  My Dad had to tell me to slow down.  I was hustling down that aisle! 

Anything Else You'd Like to Say?

Thanks so much for featuring me!  I'm so honored to be on your blog.  You are a huge inspiration to me and such a special Tone It Up sister! 

Awwe Liz, thank you! I love you! Thank you so much for doing this ♥

You're truly beautiful and I wish you a long, happy and healthy life with your Prince Charming, Waz. 

You can contact Liz via her Twitter, or on her blog :)

Let's Get Physical

This post is prompted by two things; the first - my boyfriend's band practice I was at on Thursday and secondly Tone It Up's hourly challenge which is frequently posted on Thursday. I'll apologise now for some of the pictures used in this post - they just made me laugh!

Multi-tasking at it's finest at the office!

During the rehearsal (which lasted 3 hours!! =O I know!) I really would've been sitting there doing nothing except for refreshing twitter every 5 seconds until I decided to get up and be active. I literally got a full body workout in; squats, tricep dips, lunges -- everything really apart from a plank! I consequently tweeted what I was doing and I was asked for some tips on essentially working out in public. I'll agree with you - it is totally out of the norm to start planking in an office set up. At the rehearsal I was with my boyfriend who I have no inhabitions around and others I hardly knew (and honestly I don't  care what they think of me) so I had no worries about doing my thing!

This may be slightly innapropriate; board room yoga

Although I know in a classroom environment there is absolutely NO way I would start lunging down the walkways so here are my cheat tips to getting a discreet workout in on-the-go.

1) Toilet cubicles; your secret ally to on-the-go fitness. You'll be amazed at what you can do in a cubicle. For example; sets of squats, lunges if it's a slightly bigger cubicle. You can do standing ab work if you turn to the side - trust me I've tried it! Click here for a great standing ab routine (warning! the kicks may not work in the toilet!)

2) Under a desk: I stole this move from Karena and Katrina's TPS Report Workout and I feel it every single time! Knee Raises! Lifting one leg up, squeezing the muscle just enough to engage it, holding in your abs and alternating legs. I once did this for a whole lesson straight and could barely walk when I stood up! (So don't do that but proof it works!) You also don't even have to add in the twists as it shows on the workout. No one will ever know you're doing it. You can also pretty much do this any time you have to sit; in a meeting, on public transport, at the cinema/movie theatre.

3) Stairs; research has proven that running stairs is the best full body workout. Every school I've ever been to has had at least one flight of stairs in. So run up and down them! You don't need to make any special provisions but every time you encounter a staircase on your journey between classes pick up the pace! Or if you're in an office take the stairs instead of the elevator. It's the little things that make the difference.

4)In the car; PLEASE do not do this whilst driving - just at lights or parking lots! Whilst parked you can recline your seat right back and do sit ups/crunches, at lights you can do knee raises, you can do oblique twists, neck stretches and one of my favourite tricks - unloading your trunk (boot for us Brits!); unload onto the pavement (sidewalk) and squat to pick it up before taking it to your house/into the school/office

5)Walking down empty corridoors: LUNGE! Skip, Run, Plyo Lunge, the possibilities are endless. Security Cameras? So what? If anything you'll give the people watching them something to smile about. 

There you have it - my top 5 tips. Let me know if you try them out and if they work for you! I shall leave you with this picture; one day!