Beet Salad With Oranges

Day 5 of Tracy Anderson's Bootcamp

Beet Salad with Oranges.

Beet Salad with Oranges?

BEET SALAD with Oranges!?!!

Beet Salad with Oranges

I'm about to make an excuse.  So, get ready.... 

Folks, just the name of this recipe had me absolutely dreading Day 5!  As if an itty bitty orange could make a beet salad sound/taste any better. I mean, did you see the picture??  Did you actually SEE the finished product?  It looks like a bloody beet-y mess! 

I'm still working up to the excuse...

I still haven't gotten my energy back from yesterday.  So, I woke up this morning extremely exhausted.  I really did not FEEL like (this is me pouting) eating what someone else told me to eat and certainly not BEETS of all things. 

Here it comes...

Beets smell like dirt.  Not regular dirt either.  The dirt that's at the bottom of all the dirt... THAT is what a beet smells like.  Not to mention they have hairy rat tails at the ends of them.  GROSS.  I shudder at the thought...

Here it is! The EXCUSE

I should mention that I was putting today's food off (the beet, really) for so long that I did not even end up eating Breakfast until 3:00p.  Big mistake!

Excuse for what, you ask?  I'll tell you...

Soooo, when I finally did eat it wasn't the halved grapefruit drizzled with honey as the meal plan calls for.  Nope!  I went into the pantry and what did I find, but an unopened pack of  Fun-Sized 100 Grand candy bars.   Serving size is 2.  So, how many did I eat? SIX!!!!!!!!!!!  Ohh, the shame of it all! :-(

Of course I felt like crap afterwards for cheating.  I've never been a cheater in anything, until the darn BEETS entered my life. (More excuses).

After my episode with the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Bars (that's what my mom calls them), I logged into Facebook and I had a message from a fellow TAMer, Marcia.  She's done bootcamp before and she wanted to know how it was going and also wanted to give me a playlist to listen to during the workouts.  Awesome, right?  Then, I go onto the Metamorphosis community on Tracy Anderson's website and I have a message from Wendy, another TAMer.  Wendy started the bootcamp around the same time as me and was also checking in with me and telling me how good it was I was sticking with the diet... Oops.

Why didn't I read those messages BEFORE I ate the candy bars!  Darn it!!!  The encouraging words from Marcia and Wendy really gave me what I needed  and somehow I found the motivation to get up and get moving.   I got right back on the TAM wagon after my temporary lapse and completed Day 5. 


Today's Menu:
Breakfast - Halved Grapefruit
Lunch - Grilled Chicken with Broccoli and Endive (FABULOUS!)
Snack - Beet Salad with Oranges (After all of that torture I put myself through, I found out that I LIKE BEET and the combination with the oranges and basil was actually pleasant.  I guess I really do like veggies.)
Dinner - Shrimp Salad with Sugar Snap Peas (I made this, but I did not eat it.  I wasn't hungry.  It must have been the candy.)

Remember that Cucumber Mint Relish from Day 2?  Give me Beet Salad over that any day!

Grilled Chicken with Broccoli and Endive

As for the exercise, I increased my reps to 40 on legs.  Abs and arms are the same. 

Day 5 (a tough day) is now complete.

I have been thinking of powdered donuts and glazed Krispy Kremes lately...  So, wish me luck tomorrow.  I'm not sure why I am having such a craving for sugar.  Shouldn't it be FRENCH FRIES!? 

Got Fairy Dust?

Day 4 of Tracy Anderson's Bootcamp

Sorry for the lateness of this post, but I did complete Day 4 as scheduled on Thursday and I didn't cheat at all.  So, let me tell you all about it.

Yesterday I mentioned that with a larger space heater, I was able to work up a good sweat.  I should also mention that Tracy Anderson calls sweat, fairy dust.  I think the idea behind that term is that there are no quick fixes and no fairy god-mothers to wave a wand and get you back into shape.  The only real fairy dust is sweat.

Today, even though I increased my reps yesterday, I was not nearly as sore as I have been!  I definitely think the heaters are helping out with that.  I increased my reps by 5 again and am up to 35 reps on legs, 60 abs and 40 arms.  Go fairy dust!

By the way, at this morning's weigh-in (I told you I'm obsessed with my scale), I was down 4.4 lbs from Day One!!! Awesome!  I feel like I've just been rewarded and need to give an acceptance speech...

"First, I would like to thank God.  Without Him, none of this would be possible.  It is because of Him, I am able to persevere through it all.  (SEE I told you my prayer from Day 2 would work).  I would also like to thank all of my family and friends who are supporting me on this journey and last, but certainly not least, I must thank the entire TAM (Tracy Anderson Method) community who have proven to be an excellent source of motivation. Everyone I've named has shown me that they want to see me succeed and it's a big, big help.  Thank you for this -4.4 lb reward! Thank you!!"

Okay, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. 

On to the food...


Here's Today's Menu:
Breakfast - Berry Compote (Pomegranate seeds are a nice touch to this bowl of mixed berries)
Lunch - Chicken Protein Soup (Not much protein with 2oz of chicken, but still pretty good)
Snack - Kiwi Dessert (I like.)
Grilled Chicken with Mango and Scallion (DING, DING, DING! We have a winner, folks! Excellent)

All of today's food was pretty good.  Two days in a row!  I'm so happy with Tracy at this point. 

If you put in the work, you will see the results. 

Berry Compote

Chicken Protein Soup

Kiwi Dessert

Grilled Chicken with Mango and Scallion

Tracy's Way or the Highway

Day 3 of Tracy Anderson's Bootcamp

I have to retract something I said in yesterday's blog.  Remember how I said, "So Sad" about the Smoked Turkey Breast with Wilted Kale and Raisins dinner?  It was actually not that bad.  The turkey by itself was nothing to cheer about and I already enjoy kale from juicing, but when you add the turkey and kale to the golden raisins and baby carrots (along with the truckload of cracked black pepper I used), magic happens!  I'm not saying they are going to be serving this dish at the Four Season anytime soon, but I am saying that on Day 2 (for those of you who will give BC [Bootcamp] a try), dinner will likely be the only meal you find enjoyable.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

In the book, Tracy Anderson's 30-Day Method,  Tracy says that if you do everything she says you can expect to lose 3 to 5lbs per week the first 3 weeks and then 5 to 9lbs the last week when you do the cleanse.  I do not believe everything I read, so I didn't really take this to heart.  However, when I weighed myself this morning (after only 2 days, people!), I am down 2.2lbs!!  So, I am right on target to meet that 3 to 5 pound a week goal.   WOW! I guess I will do everything she says (except for the soy and the lamb...).  It's amazing how subtracting 2.2 itty bitty pounds can make your day seem brighter.  Oh, JOY!


Here's Today's Menu:
Breakfast - Veggie Omelet Roll-Up (If you can get past the appearance of this one, you'll be okay. It's pretty bland. It's basically quinoa and pureed zucchini, spinach, green onion and mushroom "inside" of an egg white patty. Just close your eyes as you eat.)
Lunch - Grilled Salmon Salad with Endive and Red Onion (Have mints or toothpaste on hand for after, but this salad was delicious!! Even the raspberry cucumber dijon dressing was excellent. Yum-tastic!)
Snack - Blueberry Applesauce (It tastes exactly how it sounds... I'm undecided on how I feel about it.)
Dinner - Orange Glazed Salmon and Roasted Mushrooms (O-M-Goodness!! This salmon was delicious. I love, Love, LOVED it.  This little dish will be regularly rotated in my culinary life and thank goodness no one was around because I had to SMACK on this one. Mm mm mmm! Want the recipe now?)

Veggie Omelet Roll-Up

Grilled Salmon Salad with Endive and Red Onion (I don't know why Blogger keeps turning my photos sideways. Annoying!!)

Blueberry Applesauce

Orange Glazed Salmon...!

 

Orange Glazed Salmon and Roasted Mushrooms - I figured you should have two photos of this dish!

I wonder though...since the food was so good today, does that mean tomorrow it will be bad?


The exercise was the usual (lengthy and tough), but I'm proud to say that I added on 5 additional reps (I'm up to 30) and I worked up a good sweat!  Goodbye toxins!!  I just needed a bigger space heater... :-)

Tomorrow awaits me and I have no food made in advance.  Wish me luck!

Ohhhh, The Trickery!!

Tracy Anderson's Bootcamp Day 2

Remember how yesterday's food was pretty good?  Well, that was yesterday.  Today, everything was either one or all of these things:  bland, disgusting, awful, disappointing, watery.  I can't add salt to this crapola, but I certainly peppered the crap out of today's meals.

I think I figured out what Tracy was doing with this eating plan.  She knew that if she started off Day One's meals with something completely awful, she would lose too many people.  So, she tricks you and makes you think the meals are going to be bearable and maybe even enjoyable on the first day, but the plot thickens, people!  Enter Day Two.  This is the day of the reality check and boy oh boy did I get checked.

You know how as a kid if you were eating something gross, you would pinch your nose closed, so that you couldn't taste it? THAT DOES NOT WORK!!!! I tried it. I was desperate.

I think now is as good a time as any for prayer. Don't you?

Dear Lord -  Thank you for the desire you have placed in my heart to want to have a healthier body.  I am calling on you with a plea for the strength and discipline to finish this journey I have started.  The road may not be easy (or short), but it is attainable and I ask that I remember that each time I come across a road block that makes me want to give up.  As I eat these foods that are extremely unappealing to my taste buds, I ask that my body be nourished and my mind stay focused on the tasks ahead of me.  Thank you for allowing me to come to you with any issue and for the supportive people that you have placed in my life.  Amen!

Okay, I feel better now.  Phew!

The good news is I was so focused on how nasty the food tastes, I nearly forgot about how bad my quads were/are burning from yesterday's workout.  Almost...

Here's today's menu:
Breakfast - Turkey Avocado Roll-Up with Wilted Spinach (I forgot to make the wilted spinach. Sucks because it probably would have tasted better)
Lunch - Spinach Salad with Chestnuts (Who knew the texture of a chestnut could make or break a salad...)
Snack - Cucumber Mint Relish (PICTURED BELOW: I left out the edamame beans because I don't do soy, but really Tracy!? Relish for a snack? Who does that? Me, apparently.)
Dinner - Steamed Turkey Breast with Wilted Kale and Raisins (So sad)

Cucumber Mint Relish (BARF!)

When You're Starving, Every Cracker Tastes Like A Ritz

Day One of Tracy Anderson's Bootcamp

I woke up this morning with fond memories of the loaded baked potato I ate last night for my "last meal" and I had the desire to quit before I started, but I didn't.

And so, it starts...

For those who like a good, succinct read, here's a quick summary of Day One:  The food was surprisingly tasty and I had leftovers for next time the menu calls for that same item.  The exercise was LONG (2hrs), but I enjoyed the dance cardio.  What's not to like about looking at yourself dance in a mirror? Also, I'm proud to say I followed the plan today to a T.  Also, I took my BEFORE pictures and measurements (No, I'm not going to share them! Yet.).  29 days to go. Woohoo!  

If you want the nitty, gritty details, read on.

You know, I really commend those women who put up their before pictures and measurements before they have completed the program.  I admire their courage and ability to throw caution to the wind and just "let it all hang out"...  I'm not one of those women.  I did take my "Before" pictures today (Thank God for the genius who created the self-timer. No one else needs to see that!).  I weighed myself (as I do everyday anyway) and took all of my measurements.  However, I just cannot post "Before" pictures until I have the "After" shots.  Is that vain?  If so, I accept that title and maintain my decision. :-) Thank you!

I absolutely cannot wait until Day 11 because I will measure myself again and see just how far I've come.  I will share my measurement changes (how's that for optimism?) on this day with all of you!  Wait.  Is anyone even reading this?  Anyone???

*crickets*

In the meantime, I have at least included a recent shot of myself.  It displays my current form without having to reveal the horror show that was my "Before" bikini shots.
<----- OVER THERE <----
That will have to do for now.


I fully expect to have awesome results at the end of this program, but I don't imagine the cardio or muscular structure work will be easy and I certainly don't expect the food to taste good. With that mental preparation in mind, I made all of my meals (except dinner) last night, so that I would be prepared today.  I talk ALL about today's meals down below.



Today's Menu:

•     Breakfast - Strawberry Mint Salad:  It was pretty good, but I wished I could have added a bit of powdered sugar.  The mint was an interesting touch, but I'm not quite a fan.
•     Lunch - Tomato Minestrone Soup:  This soup has lots of fresh ingredients that sound and also smell lovely, but the finished product is no pretty picture!  I already knew that this awful vegetable mush would be disgusting.  So, I braced myself during lunch and was prepared to drown my hunger pains in sugarless green tea (Grrr, no coffee for 30 days!!).  However, there was no need.  The soup is delicious!! I'm a fan and it's a winner! Yummm!  It's surprisingly filling too as I didn't even finish my 8oz serving...at first. :-)
•     Snack - Choco Chestnut Pudding:  I'm thinking to myself, "As long as it took me to find cooked & peeled chestnuts, this pudding had better be good" and it was!! Although, dare I say, it was a bit too sweet.  I may use less chocolate chips next time.  I'm not a chocolate lover, after all.
•     Dinner - Poached Cod and Roasted Asparagus:  I don't care for fish and have never even tasted cod... At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this dish was pretty darn good too.  The lemon really kicked the flavor up a notch.

Exercise:  The exercise took me forever to complete (like 2 to 2.5 hours)!  I am hoping this is only because it was my first day and I had to get used to the moves and keep pausing the DVD.  I did muscular structure first and then ended with 40 minutes of cardio.  The cardio was actually fun! I did freestyle a bit because I couldn't keep up with Tracy, but hey, I moved the entire time.  I can't say that the muscular structure work was as exhilarating, but I found myself proud when I was able to complete all of the reps.  I did 20 reps for legs, 40 for abs, 30 for arms.  Tomorrow and each day after, I will up the legs by 5 reps until I get to 60.

You have no idea how many times I wanted to quit today, so....Go me!!

Disclaimer:  I did say the food was good and I meant it, but consider your source (ME).  I was reminded of an Eddie Murphy quote today that rings true, "When you're starving, every cracker tastes like Ritz!!"  Ha!  

I really did enjoy the food though. Promise! I even took pictures of the food for you but I'm too tired to upload them.  I'll try to remember and update this post tomorrow and it is now down below. Check it out!

I'm off to sleep.  Here's hoping I can finish earlier on Day Two... 

Strawberry Mint Salad

Poached Cod & Roasted Asparagus (Although neither the cod or asparagus are in the pic. It was prettier without!)

Choco Chestnut Pudding

Tomato Minestrone Soup - Soo yummy!

Mashed Potatoes

I guess since this is my first blog and my first ever post, I should introduce myself...


<Insert Writer's Block Here>


Or not.  I think I would actually rather just jump right in. Soooo...


One thing about me if you couldn't tell is that I LOVE french fries!!  I always have.  Love, love, love them!! I was (yes, past tense) a vegetarian for 9 years and my diet mainly consisted of salads and...french fries. It's safe to say, I wasn't the healthiest vegetarian.  My mom would always tell me, "You better quit eating all of those french fries before you turn into one!"  


Of course, I ignored her.  After all, I was going to defy aging and genetics and eat whatever I wanted and still have the same exact body type, RIGHT!?  Ha!  

NO!!!!!  

She was right.  

I totally turned into a french fry which in hindsight wasn't so bad because guess what comes after that folks....the WHOLE POTATO...and if you don't do anything to rid yourself of the potato booty then, guess what happens....MASHED potatoes!!!  At least you were a solid potato before, but now your once toned and shapely form (I was a shapely potato, okay!!) is all mushy and to make matters worse, all of the french fries...are gone. :-(


Time to find a workout program that WORKS.


For the past several months, I have been STALKING the Tracy Anderson Method (TAM).  I first heard about Tracy as being Gwyneth Paltrow's trainer which sorry to say didn't convince me to buy.  Then, I looked up some of her workout routines on YouTube and they look fun, but hey, I can't dance.  Then, once I saw the QVC infomercial for the Metamorphosis program, I took that as a sign for me to look more seriously into the program.  So, I began browsing her website (TracyAndersonMethod.com) for information and trolling her Facebook fan page asking everyone there lots of questions and viewing all of the photos.  I still wasn't completely convinced that this was the workout program for me though.  After all, I've halfheartedly (It's okay for me to be honest, right?) tried lots of other programs and quick fixes and none of them exactly worked and certainly not long-term. Go figure!

To the naked and untrained eye, I am not a fatty pooh, but it really comes down to my health and how I feel about myself and I am not comfortable with this new unhealthy version of myself.  Okay, so it's not that new.  I've been this size for a couple of years (okay, three or four), but STILL!!!  To make a long story short, I am tired of not being able to fit into my own clothes and I just want to be healthy and to feel good.  Is that too much to ask!?  Besides, once my health is in order, I can worry about other pressing matters like world peace and charity.  First thing's first though, I have to take care of me.  

It's great that celebrities have had success on these programs.  Whoop-tee-doo!!  I was especially excited to know that J.Lo and Tracee Ellis Ross are TAM advocates (I'm not really interested in a Gwyneth Paltrow or Madonna body afterall. Sorry!), but that is NOT what sold me.  It was after reading all of the success stories of real women of all ages and backgrounds, I decided to try the Tracy Anderson Method.  

This blog will share with you my own personal journey and I am hoping that it will help hold me accountable to the program.  I am also hoping that it will help someone else who is on the fence, like I was for so long, about giving TAM a try.


First, I am going to do "Tracy Anderson's 30-Day Method " book which is a 30-day bootcamp complete with cardio, muscular structure work AND a diet plan.  Then, after I have successfully completed that, I will continue on to the Metamorphosis program.  Note: I chose Glutecentric Metamorphosis, but there are 3 other body-types.  You can learn more about those on Tracy's website which I linked earlier.


Wish me luck!!

Tomorrow is Day 1 of Boot Camp.

:)