I am very pleased to announce that I have lost a full inch in my butt! Wow, I was quite shocked. Hard work pays off I guess! My thighs measured the same, but they are definitely much more tighter!

I have been following his 20 minute advanced home workouts. I have been working out 3 days/week. I also follow his leg/butt workout with The Fit Chic 10 minute Express Workouts. I has been intense at times, but well worth it!

If you are looking for a QUICK and EFFECTIVE workout you do not need to look any further!! The Fit Chic book is filled with both 20 minute and 10 minute workouts for an entire year…lots of variety to keep you pumping away. I love it, because I can workout in my home despite my kids running around me. It’s great. I’ve been following The Fit Chic for at least a year now and I feel just AWESOME.

Combining Nick’s program with The Fit Chic has been a welcome change and I love focusing on just my butt/thighs for 20 minute periods. It feels really good.

So I just wanted to give you a quick update on my results so far. I am so excited to continue on and see how my body will change in the last 3 weeks of the program. Please share your progress and successes…I’d love to hear from all of you!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA-C.P.T.

Do I have cellulite? Yes, I do! I do notice that it does diminish when I am seriously getting fit. I know that it used to appear more on the back of my thighs and now that I am following Nick Nilsson’s, “Gluteus to the Maximus” program, I am targeting my butt/thighs, which are the areas that I tend to carry my fat. I am gaining muscle here. I just know it because I am seeing lines that I’ve not seen before! My legs and butt just feel hard. It’s awesome because I have not tried to really put emphasis on these areas for awhile and now that I am, it’s great to see that it’s working in my favor!

So what is this dimply stuff? Well, cellulite is basically lumpy fat deposits. This fat behaves no differently from other fat; it is just straining against irregular bands of connective tissue.

As women, we genetically carry more fat in our thighs and hips to prepare for pregnancy and lactation. The dimpling is due to the deposit of fat and fibrous tissue.

The skin consists of two main layers, the outer epidermis and the inner dermis. Below the dermis lies the subcutaneous layer, which attaches the skin to the underlying tissues. This layer consists of loose connective tissue and a lot of adipose (fat) tissue. The dermis consists of dense connective tissue composed mainly of collagen fibers. Collagen is responsible for the mechanical strength of skin.

Unfortunately, we all vary in terms of the elasticity of our skin. Individuals who have cellulite have a dermis layer that has areas of less density, which results in the appearance of dimpling.

So…can you get rid of cellulite?? Well, you definitely CAN decrease the fat in your thighs and hips through a comprehensive, rational, and personalized nutritional and exercise program.

Further, deep massaging every night to break up the deposits of fat and fibrous tissue can help to temporarily decrease the appearance of cellulite.

Have a great workout!

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA-C.P.T.

However, I didn’t want to feel crappy from eating too much junk so I really thought about how I could minimize the junk, yet still feel that ‘comfort’ I wanted. So I bought some frozen yogurt, frozen blueberries (feels great on a sore throat), popsicles, and freezies.

I have taken the last 5 days off of the Firm Butt Challenge and today is my first day back on it! Boy, does it feel great to get that pump again! For those of you who do not know about the challenge, this is Nick Nilsson’s Gluteus to the Maximus workout. I am following the 20 minute advanced home workouts. I have already gone through the 14 workouts and have started back at the beginning again.

I did ‘up’ the number of sets I’m doing because his workouts get progressively more tough (more insane!) as you move from #1 – #14. I want to keep progressing and in order to do that, you need to challenge your body to respond to the workload. So instead of the 3 sets of bench lunges, I did 5. For the side lunges I did 4 sets instead of the two. You can also increase your weights and decrease your rest time as you progress. I followed my workout today with the Fit Chic 10 minute Express workouts.

I am feeling so great to be back at it! I have even gotten onto the stationary bike today! It is really humid outside today and there is a smog advisory. Better to do the cardio indoors, where I don’t need to gasp for CLEAN AIR!

Have a good one!

Cheers to health,

Angie
I.S.S.A.-C.P.T.

Today I did the 2 Bench Lunges for 12 sets…yes, that’s right, 12. It was awesome because for the first 3 sets I did heavier weights and 8 reps, for the next 3 sets I did a lighter weight and 12 reps…I was pretty sweaty. Then I followed this pattern until I hit the 12.

Now that I have gone through all of his workouts I will start at the beginning again and just adjust the weights and number of reps so that I am still challenged and moving forward. If you are following what I am doing, be sure to challenge yourself too!

I followed his workout with The Fit Chic 10 minute Express Workout. Today was chest and triceps. I did 8 sets of 8…wow. Needless to say, it was an awesome workout and I feel totally on track again after a weekend of crappy eating! There were a couple of bbq’s and parties going on and I was a bit side-tracked, however I am back on track! I am only human too. I am not going to get down on myself for eating the extra junk, I know that kind of thinking gets me NOWHERE! So I am staying focused on eating really well this week and treating myself on the weekend.

Hope you are all doing well and SEEING those FIRM BUTTS and THIGHS!

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA – C.P.T.

We are also getting a full body workout in each week by following The Fit Chic 10 minute Express Workouts. Right now, we are on ‘dropsets’ and we plan to do a different routine next week.

My cardio has been kinda all over the place because the kids are out of school now! I am already feeling scatterbrained! I need a routine! Anyway, I am up early today to write and I did go for an awesome walk/jog last night while the kids watched a video with dad. I ran almost all out for a couple of minutes (I was really winded) and then I walked enough to catch my breath again. I did this for about 25 minutes. My cheeks were on fire afterwards…no, I don’t mean my butt cheeks- my facial cheeks! I get really red in the face when I do cardio.

I am also trying my best to listen to the Unstoppable Fat Loss Audio series whenever I can. Yesterday I had my MP3 player on while I was cleaning up the house. I find that I just need to get creative to fit the time in to listen to it. I find that I truly need to do this when I want results to happen because it keeps me so MENTALLY focused.I really enjoyed listening to Jon Benson’s interview yesterday. He is so right on. Do you have a favourite interview? Why does this particular person inspire you? I love Jon’s analogies and his mind driven attitude!

Well I must go and EAT some breakfast! I am having some oatmeal, protein powder, and berries today…then I will do my killer workout! I’ll let you know how I do! Let me know how you do too…

Have a great day and weekend!

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA-C.P.T.

How are you doing with Nick Nilsson’s program? I am on Week #4 of his program, “Gluteus to the Maximus.” I am following the advanced 20 minute home workouts. Wow, what a killer! My butt is feeling really SOLID. I completed workout # 11 this morning. It took about 15 minutes and then I stretched right afterwards. Nick puts a lot of emphasis on stretching the glutes right after your workout in order to get the most benefit from the workout.

Stretching will allow the muscles to expand. Following ‘the insane’ workout I then completed The Fit Chic 10 minute Express workout. I worked on my chest and abs today. A great pump in 10 minutes! I did heavy weight, little rest, and totally fatigued my chest and abs! It felt great!

Oh, and if you need any extra motivation…some UNSTOPPABLE motivation, you really should check out the ‘Unstoppable Fat Loss” audio series. I make a point of listening to it on a daily basis because it really gives me that ‘mindset’ that I need to stay focused on my goals. Sometimes I listen to it in the kitchen, or when I’m walking or even in the car! I seem to always learn something new each time I have it playing.

Let me know how you are doing on his program…

Have an awesome workout!

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA-C.P.T.

I followed this INSANE workout with The Fit Chic 10 minute Express workouts. I worked on my upper and lower back doing ‘dropsets.’ Dropsets are just an excellent way to workout your muscles because you start out with a weight that is higher than you are used to resisting and push yourself through 10 reps. Then you drop the weight for your next 10 reps and keep dropping them lower. It’s amazing when you get to the last weight of maybe 2.5 – 5 lbs that you STILL FEEL THE BURN!

The first thing that I did this morning was down some water and got right into my leg exercises. I am also following Nick’s ‘Glute Specialization‘ Program. I recommend that you do too. It’s easy and quick. Only a few minutes first thing in the morning and then just before you go to bed. Come on…you can do this! I know his program seems a bit crazy to say the least, but aren’t you just loving the results!? I know I am. I love seeing the definition in my thighs…and my butt is wwwaaaayyyy firmer!

Today is my ‘higher carb‘ day and we promised to take the kids to the show so I’m treating myself to some ‘movie theatre’ popcorn! I don’t know about you…but this is such a treat to me! I have been eating very clean today so I do not feel guilty whatsoever! When you begin to eat clean, healthy, wholesome foods…you DESERVE to reward yourself. That is how I feel anyway.

Have an awesome day and workout!!

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA – C.P.T.

Today is my day off of the weighs…whoo hooo!! I still get up and the first thing that I do in the morning is the two butt/thigh exercises from the Glute Specialization Program. I do these exercises every morning and before I go to bed. They are in addition to the 20 min. workouts. However, they only take a few minutes. I want to get the most out of Nick’s program so I figure what’s an extra couple of minutes!

I will get a walk in later or do some HIIT training. I still feel lousy from a cold but I plan on eating super clean today and taking it easy.

Okay, I just had some ‘organic natural’ peanut butter on whole wheat toast for breakfast. I had two slices…this will be all of my carbs for today. This would be considered a “low carb day.” I am following a carb rotation diet, which means that I cycle my carb intake from a high carb day to a low carb day. I follow two days of a low carb intake and my third day is a higher carb intake. The third day is my cheat meal, so naturally this is usually a more complex carb such as: pizza or pasta. What are you doing for your nutrition intake?

Have a great workout today!

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA-C.P.T.

But, back to today…so we are supersetting various kinds of lunges and squat exercises! We are doing 5 sets of this…I hope I can get up the stairs afterwards!

Looking on ahead to todays workout makes me happy to know that I’ve already gone for my walk today. I feel a bit of a head cold coming on and did not want to push myself too hard with the cardio this morning. I have also already completed the ‘Gluteus Specialization‘ program. I did this immediately after my walk.

For those of you who are following this, I find it can be mentally limiting to push yourself because Nick does not say how many of these exercises to do. I find myself counting and when I ‘think’ its high enough, I just stop. You are supposed to work to exhaustion. So now I’ve been reaching a certain number and then going at least 5 more beyond that. Each day I will try to increase my number.

Have an excellent workout today!

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA-C.P.T.

I also plan to fit in a 20 minute HIIT training session. It is my day off of the weights. I have incorportated Nick’s program into The Fit Chic 10 minute Express Workouts. This combo is fitting so perfectly into my busy schedule. As most of you know I have two young children and work from my home. I am super busy, yet always find the time to get my workouts in! Many times, the kids are swarming around me but they know now that this is my time and it does not take long to complete.

Soon they will be out of school for the summer….aaaggghhh!!! What will I do?! Maybe I can go away to a ‘camp’ for a week? Lol….Sounds kinda appealing though! Anyway, my ‘plan’ is to wake up early about 5:30 each day so that I can clear my head, go for my walk, have my coffee, and journal. I want to do this before they wake up. I find that I am much more focused once I have this time to myself in the morning. I’m sure many of you can relate!

Well I’m off to making lunches and training clients! Let me know how your workouts are going? Is anyone doing the ‘Glute Specialization‘ Program as well as following Nick’s butt workout? I’m been following it. It’s been easy to squeeze into the day. It only take a couple of minutes of your time.

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA-C.P.T.