Badass Fitness

Can you do the Badass Mexi-CAN chop!?

The Badass Army is not just Badass at the gym, on the trail or while running up and down the stairs of a football stadium. The Badass Army knows how to kick butt in the kitchen, too.

 

As we kick off what I hope will be an awesome week, I wanted to share a few healthy recipes and tips from a Badass I like to call "Mexi-CAN." She is Mexican. And she CAN do anything she puts her mind to. Hence, the name.

 

Mexi-CAN's job gets particulary busy in the spring, so much so that she is often too exhausted to exercise the way she wants. But here's what is Badass about her: She is fully aware of her exercise deficit, and is working to keep the balance by being vigilant about healthy eating. She has found a way to fit food prep and cooking into her chaotic 14-hour-days work schedule.

 

One secret weapon: Shears. Yep, big ol' powerful scissors. Why spend all that time pulling out the cutting board and chopping and dicing when you can chop it all by scissors into a big salad bowl?

 

As she put it: "Chopping veggies like a chef is crap when you are getting three kids ready for school before work." Word.

 

Using her handy shears, this past week Mexi-CAN perfected the healthy "chop salad," using all kinds of powerhouse ingredients that are filling -- but low in calories and high in protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

 

The method to the Mexi-CAN Chop:

 

1. Bake tofu (chicken is an alternative if you don't like tofu): Squeeze all the excess water out of extra-fir, tofu, and slice into one-inch-thick slices. Rub each slice with a meat dry-rub seasoning or any seasonings of your choice. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. It keeps up to 5 days in the fridge.

 

2. Play with scissors: Use the shears to chop up cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, even tomatoes. Add in pre-cut matchstick carrots, beans (like garbanzo), mandarin oranges (canned, drained), Craisins, raisins, sunflower seeds and/or flax seeds. Add in the tofu, diced.

 

3. Mexi-CAN it!: Do like her and sprinkle on some cayenne pepper, chili powder, chopped onions (buy the pre-diced ones in the produce section for convenience) and Walden Farms Balsamic Vinaigrette (she and I love this dressing -- all natural ingredients, no added sugars, low in calorie and great in taste).

 

Mexi-CAN makes a big batch at the start of the week, or even on Sunday, and the chop mix doesn't wilt or get soggy if you just add the dressing on right before you eat it. Another variation she loves is a mix of baby spinach & arugula, spring mix, cauliflower and broccoli, red onions, flax or sunflower seeds, and tofu, all topped with a ton of roasted garlic and herbs, the spicy seasonings, and Walden Farms Caesar Salad dressing. When she ate it in front of co-workers this past week, it looked so good they asked where she ordered it from. Nice!

 

I don't know about you Badasses, but I cannot wait to make my Badass Mexi-CAN Chop on Sunday!

Mexi-CAN also shared with me an awesome almond butter recipe using those delicious cocoa-roasted almonds that I love in the 100-calorie packs. I'm pretty sure nothing beats peanut butter and chocolate together, but almond butter and cocoa comes pretty damn close. And her suggestion for serving it on wheat toast with sliced bananas? Holy Elvis Presley Munchies Snack!!!

 

  The Cocoa Butter Mexi-CAN Method: Blend 1 and 1/2 cups of cocoa roasted almonds in a food processor for 15 minutes, add equal and more unsweetened cocoa, depending on how chocolate-y you want it. Mix for another 5 minutes. Throw in a few more whole almonds for a chunky texture. Keeps in the fridge for about a month.

I plan to survive the week ahead on chopped salads and cocoa almond butter by the spoonful. Hey, it's all about balance, right?!

Have a great week, and come back tomorrow for: The transformative power of P90X + a big dose of determination.

Finding your 'personal (Badass) best' - on the race course and beyond

We never know what we are capable of until we give it a shot. And even when fatigue or self-doubt slows us down, we have to push through to the finish.

I kept thinking about that Saturday, after the Palace Saloon 5k I ran here in Tallahassee with several fellow Badasses. Somehow, through a combination of strong will and good genes (mom and Grandpa both ran track), I set a personal best at 20:46 and finished second in my age group. My last 5k, close to a year ago, took me about 21:30.

I went into the race determined to at least match that last time -- and to support my fellow "Badass Babes" team members plus a couple of Badass Dudes as they tried to run their fastest. So I crossed the finish line Saturday, took a couple of minutes to self-celebrate, and headed right to the sideline to cheer them on.

We all kicked some serious Badass on that route, which featured a downhill finish -- but only after a hill in mile 2 that seemed harmless enough until we were actually running up it. That hill was a total beyotch, quite frankly. And my quads hate me this morning.

But not one of us gave up. And even if our times were only a few seconds better than our last 5K, the fact is we are getting stronger, second by second. Badass Bertsch (below, far left, with me and the Badass Foodie) is admittedly not a runner, but all those stadiums and boot camps and multiple-riser box jumps at the gym are making her legs tough enough to go the extra mile.

She probably doesn't usually run as fast on the treadmill or even when we run to Doak Campbell from the FSU law school, but the thing I love about any race -- short or long -- is how it pushes us to our personal best. That adrenaline kicks in, and suddenly we're running like Forrest Gump. That just goes to show you how far we can push our Badasses when we really put all of ourselves into it.

This blog, I am happy and proud to say, continues to push readers toward their best -- even through occasional setbacks. Just ask Badass Fitness reader Andy from Tampa Bay. He wrote me with an update on his fitness journey, and I love it for its utter honesty and its gumption. Andy is, in every way, a Badass who simply refuses to give up. He is going to lose weight, one slow pound at a time if that's what it takes. And along his journey, he is learning a new way of living that keeps him from getting set back too far. Read on:

"Got caught up in a project story, and injuries stacked up from trying to run too soon (limping around), and slacked off nearly a month. Such horror and despair. The shocker was that at the end of it, I had only gained about three pounds.  In a week I think I've lost most of that back. I think it was that while I also cheated with food, the earlier habits were kicking in enough that the slips were things like one KFC chicken sandwich every two weeks, not 32-oz. blizzards from Dairy Queen whenever I felt like it.  But it's terrifying, losing your momentum.  I just thank God I coaxed myself back into the gym, which leads to eating better.  Just fyi, because I have appreciated your support and just wanted to let you know I am hanging in. ...The story as of now is, I fell off the log I was rolling, but got back on and think I'm shrinking further.  I don't want to look at the scale for another week or so.  But I can sort of tell it's going in the right direction now."

Andy, keep pushing that log. Just you wait -- that scale will move toward a better Badass. And no matter what, I'm here with the Badass Army cheering you on!

Now have a great week, Badasses! Get out there and show the world what's up.

Coming tomorrow: Badass Bookshelf -- 10 power foods you might be missing...

The Birth of a Badass Runner

This is the story of how a woman who long hated running grew to embrace it, with all its challenges and sore muscles and runner's highs.

Tallahassee Badass Jennifer Wittstock wrote me last week after I asked to hear from Badass Fitness readers about their latest fitness triumphs, race plans and personal challenges. Her e-mail made my day because it was a reminder that no matter where we start on our fitness journeys, we can go far.

Jennifer avoided running for years, but when a friend (a fellow Badass and Boot Camper) urged her this past fall to sign up for a local 5K, Jennifer's outlook changed. She is proof that we can all get stronger and tougher, even at the exercises we spend years avoiding! Her story makes me want, even more, to give swimming another try.

I'll let Jennifer tell you all about it. With permission, she gave me the green light to pass this along to the Badass Army:

Although I'm not a super-fit athlete or a hard-core gym rat, I have been fairly active throughout my life; I was an athlete in high school, worked at and worked out at Premier for years in college, and currently am a member at Gold's Gym (the more cost-friendly choice in these challenging economic times). But one thing that I never did in all those years was run. I have never been a runner and in fact, I hated running with a passion.

I could not run for a minute on the treadmill, even at a slow pace. I could not breathe, my knees hurt, my sports bra did not fit right; you name it, I used it as an excuse to slow to a walk or jump on the elliptical. But that all changed last September.

My friend (I think you know Lauren McCarthy) asked if I wanted to do the Red Cross Hurricane 5K at Southwood. I told her she was crazy. Long story short, she guilted me into participating. I did not train or practice or change my exercise routine in any way, shape, or form. Race day came and, surprise, surprise, I hated every minute of it. I ran the first mile without stopping to walk and when I realized there was 2.1 miles left to go, I thought I might die right there in the road. I alternated between running and walking for the rest of the race and finished with a time close to 39 minutes.

Oddly enough, even though I hated the race, I had a very strange high after finishing. I looked online and found a race about a month away and convinced Lauren to run with me. This time I ran on the treadmill at the gym and tried to increase my distance and stamina. When the next race came, I managed to run the entire 3.1 miles without any walking. Even though I run at a very slow pace, it was a huge personal goal that I was so excited to meet.

I did 6 5K's between September 09 and December 09, crazily enough. The last 5K I did was in Jacksonville on NYE day. I decided to set a bigger goal: I wanted to run in the Gate River Run, the largest 15K in the country, on March 13 in Jacksonville. That gave me 10 weeks in which to prepare and train for race day. I couldn't find anyone who wanted to do it with me, so I was on my own!
I used Hal Higdon's trainging guide for 15K Beginners. I followed the schedule (almost) exactly, even when traveling. I pulled a muscle in my back during week 6 of training that put me out of commission for several days, but I managed to get back on track.

Race day was awesome, and intense. I was absolutely terrified and there were over 20,000 people there to run, including 9 Olympians, which was pretty cool. I had done my training but the longest run I had completed at that point was a little over 7 miles, and that included some walking breaks so I was very nervous about the 9.44 mile course that (just in case you have not run in the Gate River Run) includes what the runners call "The Green Monster", otherwise known as the Hart Bridge, at mile 8 or so which is a steep uphill portion of the race just when you're starting to run out of juice.

My goals for the 15K were to finish in less than 2 hours, and to run the entire time without any walking. I met both goals.

I think I will take a little break off from running (not too long though!), but I would love to run in a half-marathon, maybe towards the end of the year. After 6 miles or so, I go numb anyway! :)

Wow. Huge Hoo-ah and fist bump to Jennifer! Think about it: She went from barely being able to jog on a treadmill to finishing multiple 5Ks, a 15K, and already she is thinking about a new challenge with a half-marathon. It doesn't get much more Badass than that!

Coming tomorrow: An insider look at the new revolution in indoor cycling -- I talk to the creator of RealRyder indoor bikes, in anticipation of the new studio opening Thursday in Midtown,Tallahassee.

Monday Mailbag: From over 300 to the '270s,' and still losing!

Happy Monday, Badasses! It's been awhile since we checked the mail, and there is much good news to report.

 

The first good news: The Badass Army keeps growing, yet it's shrinking (one pound and one pants size at a time)! More and more are reading Badass Fitness, and our Facebook group is 400-plus members strong. Awesome. And whattaya know? We're feeling more motivated, more confident and more determined to get to our goals of a leaner, stronger, healthier Badass.

 

Take Andy in Tampa Bay. Late last year, he was more than 300 pounds, about 100 pounds heavier than where he was several years ago at his fittest. He started reading Badass Fitness and eating right and exercising. He never tried extreme diets. He knows the best route is steady and measured, one to two pounds a week. He is eating rice and beans, oatmeal, Shredded Wheat, protein powder, vegetables, etc.

 

He wrote: Also I'm doing better about leaving work relatively on time ...going to bed much earlier, going to the gym before work and doing cardio right after work. I am steadily pushing more weight, and the loss makes it easier to walk, even run a bit. I take coffee black and don't miss the cream.

 

The result: He has gotten himself down to "the 270s," as he calls it. And he's not done. His ultimate goal is to get down to about 205. He said his toughest challenge is managing his cravings. So Andy, check back in later this week for tips on that dilemma!

 

Badasses, the thing I love about Andy's journey is that it is sensible and REAL. It involves hard work and self control. It doesn't involve a magic pill or some bizarre diet that has him eating nothing but cabbage or grapefruit. And as hard as it is sometimes, imagine how much sweeter his victory is going to be when he reaches his goal weight.

 

And yes, I said WHEN he reaches his goal weight. Not IF. He is a Badass, and he WILL get there.

 

I vented a bit this week about some of those bizarre and extreme diets that people seek as a quick fix to their weight loss. Judging by the spike in blog hits and some of the comments, that post hit a nerve.

 

Kris wrote: I discovered your blog a few weeks ago and am so impressed. You wrote this: The Badass Journey is about balance. Strength. Moderation. Fun. Determination. Endurance. And patience. It is about falling and getting right back up. It is about losing 1 to 2 pounds a week through regular exercise and a sensible, clean, healthy diet. Is about being real. Nearly knocked my socks off because THAT IS EXACTLY IT. I couldn't have said it better!! I'm totally printing that out, highlighting that paragraph and taping it to my bathroom mirror. Thanks for putting together such a great, inspirational place for me to visit every day or two. I joined the Y on Feb. 1 and have lost 8 lbs so far. Doesn't sound like much but I feel so much stronger and am not denying myself the little treats now and then that make life fun. I'm totally enjoying working out, adding more weights on the machines each week. Strength and moderation--my new mantra!!

 

And Susan C wrote: I have a friend whose going down the diet shake route. The crazy thing is that she and her hubby regularly go and pig out at "all you can eat buffets" on the weekend. She regularly comments on the fact that I lost just over 40kg (88lbs)and gee she wishes she could do the same. Hello... I did it by the sensible diet and regular intense exercise routine. It's not so hard.

 

Well, it takes some people longer to figure out "sensible," but I hope this blog can help get readers on the right path -- and staying on the right path.

 

I want to give a shout-out to many of you who are totally rocking your fitness, running 5Ks and 10Ks and training for new challenges. Rachel recently ran the 5K in Seaside, Florida, and got her best time. Matt, who wrote recently to ask for a home routine using pullup bar and resistance bands, just entered his office's weight loss challenge and says Badass Fitness is helping guide him to victory. That's Badass! Several of you are showing up each week for my Badass Boot Camps (or making your own bootcamp workout from afar), and I can see how much stronger you're getting. Hoo-ah!

 

This week I am taking on a couple of new challenges myself: Training to teach classes on RealRyder bikes (more on that soon) and to run the Springtime Tallahassee 10K on Saturday. I haven't run a 10K in some time, and this one's hilly, so I need all you Badasses to send me good strength and endurance vibes! Or maybe I should just bust out the 5K?......

 

Have a great week - go show the world what you're made of.

 

Coming tomorrow: The Badass Foodiw whips bananas into (fat-free!) ice cream!

Monday Mailbag: Badasses oogle oatmeal; others need a boost!

Ugh, Monday? It's hard enough to get back into the office after a regular weekend, but after a weekend that followed a week in London? Boo hoo!

Ok, Ok, I know. Badasses don't whine. So let me just toughen up here and get back in the saddle -- at work for my day job and in the Spinning bike and gym for my fitness job(s). I actually missed teaching my Spin classes, as much as I loved exploring London. And I missed all of you Badasses! But many of you kept in touch via comments on daily Badass Fitness posts or with e-mails asking about my Badass Boot Camps or just with general fitness questions.

I heard from Amanda in Central Florida, with an e-mail that really got to me with one simple line: "Help me not to fail this year." She read the blog story about Badass Jenn Bertsch's successful weight loss, and she is determined to find her own success but is frustrated at the cost of gyms and trainers. She also wishes she had friends with similar fitness goals:

"I am like Jennifer. My weight is 179 and I told myself this is all about me this year, so I joined a boot camp this January and February and lost 4 inches in the waist and so far 6 lbs, but this can get expensive.  I enjoy being around people for support and making sure that I am doing the exercises correctly.  Also, saw your boot camp photos and excercises that you can do, which I will use. I have a treadmill, recumbent  stationary bike, Bowflex, and hand weights of 5 & 8 lbs, with a high school not far from me. None of my friends are into fitness, little support, and not having someone with you while doing your workout is
difficult for me because I like the interaction. I do not want to fail, but need some guidance. My question is do you really need to join a gym or a boot camp to get really a great body?  Help me not to fail this year.  All suggestions are welcome."

Wow. "Help me not to fail this year." I replied right away to Amanda, telling her that she can absolutely do her own boot camp and her own workouts, hopefully using this blog as a guide and daily inspiration. This Badass Army is about working toward our individual goals, but also about helping each other on the Badass Journey. Amanda is already on her way, having lost 6 pounds and having found the inner mojo to say to herself "this is all about me this year." But she's right - it is not easy to do that on a limited income, or without a buddy right there to meet her every day to work out. So I am asking all of you to reply in the comments below with props and encouragement and advice for Amanda. Let's be her Badass buddies from afar, pushing her toward her success. I know she will get there, and then I hope I can officially introduce her to you all with her before-and-after "Real Badass" story here on Badass Fitness. Keep at it, Amanda! We're cheering you on!

I also heard from Jesse in Asheville, N.C.  He wrote in a belated Confessional after having resisted the call these past few weeks. He was happy he did. Check it out:

Hi Shannon,
I've been following your badass fitness blog for a few months now ... When you first made the confessional call I disregarded it, thinking that I have plenty of self control, am in decent shape, am within 5lbs of my ideal weight and a motivated person in general. This week I signed up for a free account with DailyBurn.com and set up my goal of losing those 5lbs of fat before heading into spring and a handful of races. Suddenly having a documented goal out there changed things. I became immediately emotionally attached to the outcome of achieving that goal but found it hard to make choices that would ultimately lead to its completion.

Case in point... We have 40 employees at my company and celebrate each and every birthday with some type of cake, ice cream or confection. On Tuesday, there was a chocolate cupcake birthday and I am a sucker for anything with icing on top. I went in with a light heart and a plan to sing happy birthday and leave sans the cupcake. 15 minutes later I am sitting at my desk licking the last crumbs and icing off my fingers. I wasn’t worried about the calories as much because I had my real ass kicker track workout scheduled for that evening and tried to convince myself that it was not big deal and I didn’t care but I just felt sooo guilty for having caved on my plan to not eat birthday goodies this week.

To make matters worse, the cupcakes survived the initial battery and found their way into the kitchen where I found them two days later while heading to fill up my water bottle. So, this was my confession. I ate two (bigass) chocolate cupcakes this week and enjoyed every bite except for the last when guilt began to set in.

It’s amazing how much better I feel having gotten that off my chest. Time to let it go get busy with my goal!

 

That's right, Jesse, fess it up and move on! We've ALL been in that office cake/cupcake situation, and probably 8 times outta 10 we give in and dig in. And like you, We think, ugh, I did not need to eat that! But you're still a Badass, and those cupcakes aren't going to destroy your path toward getting leaner and meaner in time for spring races. So keep at it!

There was much love for Badass Foodie's post about the glories of oatmeal and awesome ways to add flavor and nutrition to a hot creamy bowl. Badass Fitness reader Jennifer sent me this recipe for overnight oats using a slow cooker -- one more reason why the slow cooker might just be the best kitchen gadget ever invented!

http://www.food52.com/recipes/3062_overnight_steelcut_oats_with_almond_butter_honey

A few thoughts on this recipe: I would boost it with a tablespoon each of cinnamon and ground flax seed added when you put the ingredients into the slow cooker, and serve it with berries or sliced bananas on top. This is a delicious, easy way to get yourself started on these chilly mornings. And I'm gonna go ahead and guess this recipe is Badass Foodie approved!

OK, now get out there and have a great week, Badasses! I've got lots of good stuff planned, including: A killer indoor cycling routine with music, dissecting those Girl Scout Cookies, and another awesome delivery from the Badass Foodie! 

Monday Mailbag: 'Another one for the Greek yogurt files'

Badass Fitness is not really my blog. It belongs to all of us in the Badass Army, and it gets a little bit better and more Badass every time you send in ideas, suggestions, questions, and feedback.

So when my friend Badass Stacey sent an e-mail over the weekend with the subject line "Another one for the Greek yogurt files," I did a little Hoo-ah happy dance!

See, Stacey has been a devoted reader and Badass Army member ever since Badass Fitness launched in the fall. She sends me updates on the yoga classes she has resumed and the healthy cooking she is doing with more frequency -- and enthusiasm -- thanks to the inspiration she gets from reading this.

A few weeks ago, I told you how she and her son Walker spent a weekend afternoon making my Grandma Colavecchio's Italian Vegetable Stew. She even booked in advance a yoga class for her planned work trip all the way out on the West Coast! THAT is some awesome Badass dedication!

This time, she e-mailed to share and rave about her mom's make-ahead Potato Broccoli Soup. Cook a batch on the weekend, and keep it around for the rest of the week as a perfect lunch or dinner to warm the body on these cold winter days. But guess what Stacey did? She tweaked it Badass style, using Greek yogurt in place of sour cream to make it even more healthy. Couple that with the potatoes and broccoli, and you've got a whole lotta lean, 'real food' nutrition packed into your soup bowl.

But enough from me. Here's what Stacey has to say (she even sent in these yummy pics):

I've been trying to cook a bit on the weekends to have the fridge stocked with healthy items for the week (when I have NO time to cook). Today I made my mom's broccoli and potato soup - it is simple and so delicious - and we usually top it with sour cream which turns it into wonderful creamy soup. But you could do greek yogurt instead! YUM!!!

 

Here's the simple recipe:

• Saute one onion in a little bit of olive oil with a pinch of kosher salt and some fresh ground black pepper.
• Add a splash of sherry and let it simmer off - this really makes the dish!
• Chop up 3-4 peeled Yukon gold potatoes and the stem of a head of broccoli. Add to the onions.
• Cover the veggies with about 4 cups of water or better yet, chicken stock, and simmer for about 20 minutes till they are good and soft.
• Remove from heat and puree (I use a stick/hand blender that goes right in the soup pot.)
• Serve warm with a big dollop of GREEK YOGURT.

Stacey's ideas for variations - top the soup with homemade croutons or bread, shredded cheese, bacon crumbles, shredded roasted or rotisserie chicken. **Note - this soup doesn't freeze well.

My ideas on variations to make it extra Badass: Use low-sodium chicken stock, or vegetable stock for vegetarians. Use low-fat cheese and whole wheat croutons or whole wheat pita chip pieces. Turkey would work as well as chicken, and you could even saute some spicy turkey or chicken sausage and toss it in for a hearty, healthy bowl.

So we know what Badass Stacey is doing in the kitchen and on the yoga mat. What are the rest of you Badasses doing in your kitchens? How are you stepping up your exercise routine to find -- and overcome -- new challenges?

The things that make you feel better and stronger will no doubt help us feel better and stronger, so share your Badass tips and strategies!

Comment below or shoot me an e-mail at [email protected].

Now have a kickass, Badass week! And yes, start sending in those Friday Confessionals -- because I don't know about y'all but my food fouls started before the first quarter of last night's Super Bowl!

Coming tomorrow: Healthy, fit Valentine's ideas for your beloved Badass!

 

Monday Mailbag: A fellow Badass inspires

Nothing inspires like seeing results. And nothing helps us keep working toward a goal like knowing we are not alone, knowing we have an army of supporters cheering us on. So when I shared the successful weight loss and strength gains of my friend Jenn, it resounded in a major way.

Comments, e-mails and feedback poured in.

One reader wrote: "Shannon, you've inspired to me at least START doing something. I'm a size 16 now and pushing the seams. Doctor says (for first time ever) cholesterol is high and he wants to put me on Lipitor unless I start dropping weight and levels soon. It's embarrassing to see how I've gone from a size 8 to size 16 in 10 years. And it is overwhelming to think it will take that long to get it off. I bought the Wii Fit and have done 30 minutes on it 4 times since Christmas. That may not seem like much, but like your 'real-life Dara,' it's a start, just like laying down the last cigarette was a start. So I'm following your blog occasionally and starting. Keep writing!

In Jenn, particularly in her "before" picture, so many more of you saw yourselves. And in her "after," you saw your future possibilities. You saw your Badass selves. You wrote to laud Jenn for her success. You wrote with follow-up questions about her strategies for losing the 63 pounds that had dogged her for so many years.

Slowly but surely over three or four days, the blog post got passed around and more of you signed on to reading this blog. The Badass Army grew. Hoo-ah!

I can barely express how happy that makes me. Because here's the deal, Badasses: We are here to help each other. We are here to help our friends and loved ones who need to get healthier and stronger. And That's the aim of this blog -- to help us all get there. So below I am sharing some of the "mailbag."

If you haven't already, pass this blog around to your friends and family and co-workers. Post it on your Facebook and Twitter pages. Join the Badass Fitness group I created on Facebook.

And if you have a Badass story to share, don't hesitate. Send me an e-mail ([email protected]). Let's help each other. Let's build the Badass Army!

From Dierdre in Utah: "Man, that post was exactly what I needed to...have some hope!" A mother who is about 20 pounds heavier than Jenn was when she started, Deirdre told Jenn that the photos and details of Jenn's Badass success "motivated me more than anything else! Thank you SO much for sharing your story!!!"

Theresa wrote: "I stumbled upon this blog and I am so grateful I did. Jenn's story is so inspiring. Two and a half years ago I fell in love and let my regular workouts go to relaxing together on the couch and my careful dieting go to eating whatever wonderful creations he cooked up for me. Fifty pounds later, I am still happily in love but devastated that I have let my fitness slip so far. We are engaged to be married this June and with the date and the dress looming, I decided to do something about it. I joined a boot camp and have been kicking it into high gear for two months. My new years resolution was to start calorie counting. I have been really struggling with that change this week, but Jenn's story and amazing results are just what I needed to hear to know that I too can do it."

Stephanie wrote: "I just found your blog - and right now I'm more of a fatass than a badass. But I recently turned 40 and I'm ready to make the transition. I spent my 30's fat because I never took the time to take care of myself. My 4 kids and husband need a healthy mom/wife and it's now or never. Tonight I have read every post on the blog and I'm totally psyched and inspired. And although I don't understand what the heck you're talking about on some of your posts (pylometric lunge?) I look forward to baby stepping (lunging?) my way to them. Thank you!! "

Coming up: From the Badass Bookshelf -- The wisdom of simple eating from Michael Pollan