8-12 Weeks for the Best Shape of Your Life

I say a lot of crazy stuff on occasion, but I think most of you realize the health of your life is only 8-12 weeks of commitment away.  I am daily amazed at the results we see out of people willing to make lifestyle changes for our recommended 12 weeks and this 12 weeks then turns into a lifestyle change where not just 20-30lbs are lost, but an entire household is changed for the better.

Here are a few helpful tips to get you on your way!

COMMITMENT

Commit that you will stay dedicated for a period of time.  Start with a small goal of 4 weeks then extend that to 8 weeks and go even beyond that.  Be extremely consistent during that time.  The results you see will make you want to push harder!  So set a goal and commit to it for an allotted period of time!

PREPARATION

"Failing to plan is planning to fail".  This is one of the greatest hurdles I see.  I precook all of my meals and I recommend that you do the same or have a game plan for when you run out of food or are traveling.  Also look ahead at your week and see what days you may have trouble in your schedule for gym time.  Make the time for the gym or your workout.  NO ONE has time for the gym, you have to make that time for yourself!

 SOMETHING GREATER

Your goal must be greater than just wanting to loose weight.  Maybe it's as simple as wanting to loose weight to attract the opposite sex.  Maybe it's something deeper, like the recent birth of a child or grandchild.  Nothing is better than having the energy to daily be able to have quality time with your child.  We find a lot of people come see us after a doctor has given an ultimatum.  Whatever your reason, make it greater than yourself!

Go out today and do what you need to do to be in the best shape of your life in the next 8-12 weeks.  No one is going to do it for you and it will not be an easy road, but at the end you will look back and say "It was well worth it!"

Okay, so most of you know I pretty much have been sticking to the 6 foods that work (chicken, fish, eggs, oatmeal, brown rice, sweet potatoes) for at least the last 9 months and at times only the three proteins.
This obviously gets very boring eating the same foods over and over......plus I don't have a lot of time to add a lot fancy ingredients to it. I do cook most of meals all at once, which helps a lot, but here are few things I've fallen in love with.

Chicken on the Grill--really easy....lightly season with Tony Cachere's (sp?) and grill. Freezes easy and cooks easy. I recommend mesquite type charcoal or wood for the best flavor without adding any salt.

Tuna Patties (one of my favorites as of late) -
2 Cans of Tuna
1-2 cups of oatmeal
2-3 eggs
2 tbs of lemon pepper
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix well. Heat up grill to Medium-high heat. Pour in Macadamia Nut Oil or Walnut Oil (a little easier to find than Mac Oil). Make the combined ingredients into patties and fry them. The Walnut/Mac Oils are loaded with Omega 3's and makes everything taste better.

Hotty Eggs
I call them hot, because they are hot and make you a hottie!
2 tbs of Rotel
6 Eggs
Shredded Mozzarella

Mix Eggs and Rotel together. Scramble in Omega-3 Oil (Mac Oil/Walnut Oil/Olive Oil in a dark bottle). As eggs begin to finish sprinkle the Mozzarella on top. Serves 1....and yes I'm serious. I do it twice a day!


Protein Pancakes (another one of my favorites and kids too)

These pancakes can be used for anytime you are on the go, as they freeze well for up to 45 days. I will say I do prefer them fresh, but I will take the frozen over fast food any day!

8 whole eggs

1/2 cup water or milk1-1 1/2 cups of Ground Slow Cooked Oats/Oatmeal (Do not pre-cook. I use my coffee grinder to grind the Oats)

1 whole banana

6-8 packets of Splenda, Stevia, or Equal

1-2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon

1/4 to 1/2 cup of Almonds

Mix all ingredients in a blender (I personally recommend the Oster brand of blenders - great price and they last for forever and have extremely powerful motors). I usually set the blender to puree or mix and let it blend for 1-2 minutes.

Heat your pan using medium heat. For oil I recommend Macadamia Nut Oil (it is hard to find and yes you can get it at our store), or Extra Virgin Olive Oil (only use brands in a dark bottle). The only problem with the Olive Oil is that it burns real easily and I prefer the taste of Macadamia Nut Oil.

Pour out your "pancake batter" into the pan as you would any normal pancake batter and cook to desired color.

Another option is to pour into muffin cups and cook in the oven at 300 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Taste like banana nut muffins.

I have also used blueberries, strawberries, dried cranberries (as muffins), raisins. I have even mixed in Protein Ultimate (vanilla and strawberry) to get a fast acting protein in the pancakes (egg protein is a medium to slow release protein).

So Will is getting ready for an upcoming show and we have been going to several body building shows.  I look at the women and think how much work they had to put into themselves and think of my schedule with 2 kids and think impossible.  Will alone is doing 3 hours of Cardio in the morning and an hour at night.  He is eating protein, protein and protein and very little else.  I just don't think I could do that kind of diet, I want to enjoy my food. I am really proud of him. He is doing great.  So what is he doing the men want to know.  Well first he bulked up meaning Prohormones , which of course we have some great ones.  He did some massive weights pushing his limits each day and being sore every night, lots of recovery drinks and enzymes.  Now he is in the slim down faze and he looks great but those stubborn fat storage called love handles is getting him so he is taking Ultralean 2-3 times a day with a Ultimate Detox at night and then Heat our number one weight loss pill.  Like I said hitting the gym but doing nothing but cardio, cardio and more cardio.  To see for yourself, he is going to kill me, I am putting up a before and after picture of Will and ok I am in there so you can see me on the day of my contest. Also, if you haven't heard we are putting up a new Smoothie Bar ok this is a healthy smoothie Bar and we will have a 99cent smoothie!!! Yea  its coming Next month

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Alicia Burgin

 Getting Ready for a show is not an easy task.  As most of you know by now I was in my own show, not a full out Body Building Show but a "Hot Mom" Contest at the Europa Super Show.  Now remember I have a 7 month old so it was a huge task to get ready.  Brookelyn came by C-Section which is even harder to try to get those stomach muscles in.  In the end the stomach was flat but not ripped like I wanted, many say I was brave others say I was crazy.  I wanted to prove to moms that it can be done and you know it helped me get out of the mommy mode and into myself so much easier.  I had to be concerned about my appearance no more just run out with no makeup a t-shirt and hair all messed up.  I had to get a spray tan-2 coats, my nails, hair and makeup all up to par for the competition.  I felt good about myself and realized I was much happier because my self confidence was back as me and I didn't see me as MOM but as Alicia.  

So you ask what did I do to get ready?  Mainly I upped my protein and of course worked out everyday.  I went to Woodcreak here in Tyler, they will play with your kids while you work out.  Will trained me doing different muscle groups each day.  I was only able to add in abbs the last couple of week because of the surgery.  After Workouts I drank 2 scoops of the Protein Ultimate-YUM it's the only weight loss protein I really like.  Since I was breastfeeding that is pretty much all I could do.  In January I am going to start up again for next year but this time adding in more supplements like Arnge Crush a preworkout and After Glow the after workout drinks and don't forget Buff Water.  Buff water is this new water that tastes like water but it has KreAlkyln Creatine in it.  

Next week I will talk about what Will is doing to get ready for his show, and about bodybuilding shows we have been to.