Archive for category Weight Loss

Hormones control everything!

I had just given birth to twins by C-section… My body was stretched out, fat, and disgusting! The following program is designed specifically for women who are fighting the hormone battle while trying to get fit! Take control now, right here!

By: BuffMother

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Are Your HORMONES Keeping You FAT?
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Over the past 5 years I’ve experimented with a training strategy designed for women only. My goal was to create the fastest possible method for women to achieve radical physical transformation. I believed the key was to capitalize on the positive effects of our hormonal fluctuations while also diminishing the negative effects.

I used myself as my first test patient. I had just given birth to twins by C-section which were my 3rd and 4th babies in less than 4 years. My body was stretched out, fat, depleted in every way and just plain disgusting.

At the time, I just wanted to see radical transformation in my body. I had no idea that I was on the verge of discovering something that would change the lives of thousands of women. To make a long story short, my body transformed radically by using what I now call Hormonal Timing .

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Michelle Berger’s Transformation.

I began designing custom Hormonal Timing programs for women online. I charged $1200.00 for an 8 week program. It wasn’t long before I was sold out! I simply didn’t have time to take on any more clients. The results my clients were experiencing were amazing and I soon realized that I had to develop a way to share this amazing program with every woman in the world, so I wrote a book!

Here is an excerpt from “Hormonal Timing: Female Fitness Evolved” by BuffMother!

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Hormonal Timing:
Female Fitness Evolved By BuffMother!
Author Michelle Berger

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Foundation #1:
Realize That You Are in a Battle!

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I’m sure you’ve felt it: that sudden lack of ambition that just seems to overcome you. You might say, “This time I’m going to stick to my plan!” And you do for a while, but then you suddenly realize that you’ve been slacking for the last 5 days! What happened? You then blame yourself thinking, “I don’t have any self-discipline, self-control, motivation, etc…” You feel guilty about your lack of willpower.

Maybe you feel like you’re close to reaching your goals but just can’t quite get there. You work so hard but when you look in the mirror you are always disappointed! You constantly ask yourself, “What am I doing wrong”? What am I missing?!?

The fact is the vast majority of us have a personal battle going on inside. It may be about your diet, exercise habits, smoking, drinking, scale/weight, dress size, etc.

Every woman’s battle is unique but while we fight against all these “visible enemies,” an invisible enemy comes along and defeats us. It’s our HORMONES! Our hormones are the invisible enemy, and it’s time that we learn how to fight back.

“Millions of women fail to reach their diet and fitness goals simply due to their hormones.” This affliction is called Hormone-Induced Failure (HIF) and it will sabotage your success unless you’re prepared. I believe that HIF is a huge problem in America!

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arrow Are You A Victim Of HIF: Hormone-Induced Failure?

    1. Are you a habitual yo-yo dieter?
    2. Do you periodically suffer from uncontrollable cravings that sabotage your efforts to lose weight?
    3. Do you start exercise programs and then quit for no apparent reason?
    4. Do you ever suffer sudden weight gain that makes you want to quit trying?
    5. Do you catch yourself saying things like, “I have no willpower” or “I’m just not motivated…”?
  • Answer these 4 questions to find out if you have Hormone-Induced Failure:

    In my experience, most women answer yes to many of the above questions. Most women blame themselves but YOU must understand, IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT!!

    Hormone-Induced Failure (HIF) is to blame!!

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Hormones Control Your Diet & Fitness Success!
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FACT: Your appetite, cravings, motivation level, mood, energy level, water weight, belly bloat and metabolism are controlled by your hormones!

Hormones control:

  • Appetite/ junk food cravings
  • Motivation level/mood
  • Energy level
  • Water weight gain/belly bloat
  • Metabolism
  • ETC…

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arrow Hormones Control Your Appetite (Junk Food Cravings):
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    Do you have those days when you just wanna eat? I mean really “pig out,” on things like doughnuts, cookies, chips, chocolate, etc? It is a sad-but-true fact that our hormones cause us to DESIRE these items.

Our Hormones Cause These Desires.

    Specifically during the time of the month when your concentrations of hormones are at their highest, you will desire quick easy sources of carbohydrates (carbs), the easiest source being junk food. These carbs spike the secretion of serotonin, your “feel good” hormone so-too-often you find your cravings seem out of control.

    What can you do to avoid this? Simply, having a plan to eat enough healthy carbs really helps keep your cravings under control, and supplementing your diet with the proper vitamins and nutrients can help your cravings diminish.

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arrow Hormones Control Your Motivation Level & Mood (Mentality)!
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    The psychological affects of hormones are well documented. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many symptoms of hormone imbalances including anger, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, irritability, tension and more. An imbalance in hormone levels may cause you to feel sad, lonely, apathetic, self-critical, and unsure of yourself. Just a little bit of being “down” can wreak havoc on your diet and fitness efforts.

    My motivation to accomplish anything, especially anything hard, often disappears during the second half of my cycle. When I hit day 22 of my cycle, my reason behind working out or dieting gets lost. I say to myself, “Why am I doing this? I don’t want to!” I also find myself taking less time out for my other needs.

    Even simple things like doing my hair, nails, shaving, and putting on make up, become difficult and a pain. Personally, I was never a consistent exerciser until I was aware of my own hormonal lack of motivation, or HIF, and took action against it.

    On the positive side of things, the instant your hormones drop, signaling your body to menstruate, your motivation will begin to rise again… and after a couple days you will feel powerful and ready to conquer mountains. This powerful feeling typically continues until a few days after ovulation and when you will feel the “lazy bug” hit again.

    This is when you may fall off your fitness/diet program. Time and time again I have had clients, friends and family who literally “fall off the face of the earth” at this high hormone time of the month. This is classic Hormone Induced Failure (HIF).

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arrow Hormones Control Your Energy Level & Sleep Patterns:
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    Do you have days where you are just dragging, limp and lifeless? Yet you can’t figure out why? Hormones control your energy levels. Based upon the balance of your hormones in your body your energy levels may be high or low.

    Each month, energy levels rise and fall according to the balance of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in your system. If a you are unaware of this cycle when you hit a low energy phase you may think you are just being wimpy, not eating enough, getting sick, etc. BUT, if you know that your low energy is caused by your hormones you will be able to utilize my program to prevent these low-energy days, or at least get through them without beating yourself up about it and losing all momentum. You will be able to honestly tell yourself, I am tired just because of my hormones and tomorrow I will be fine.

    As your hormone levels rise toward the end of each month, your sleep may be disturbed, causing energy during the day to be scarce. Often times simply allowing yourself more rest or a nap during this time of the month is all you need to be happier, healthier, and consistent in your fitness efforts.

Conversely, after your period is over and through the remainder of the first part of each monthly cycle, your energy levels are high, you sleep deep, and have energy to accomplish your objectives.

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arrow Hormones Control Water Weight Gain And Belly Bloat:
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    Oh man! This can be bad!! As a woman, the scale is not your friend for several days of the month. No matter how perfect you may be in your diet and exercise, the scale has a mind of its own when hormones run high.

    Your rising hormone levels will cause you to retain water toward the end of each monthly cycle. This is part of why you appear “soft” in comparison to a man. Your natural sex hormones help keep your skin full and plump, which is all fine and dandy, until it holds onto 3 pounds more than just the day earlier and fluffs you up so much that your pants don’t button!

BuffMother
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Author, Michelle “BuffMother” Berger.
    Water retention doesn’t just happen in one localized part of your body – it affects your face, hands, feet, belly, butt, etc. Another nasty result of water retention is that our cellulite looks even more dramatic at this time of the month. I point out to my clients that I can actually “see” the hormones in them – it is visible as ripples due to hormone metabolites (toxins), especially in the hips, legs and abdomen.

    As you become leaner, you will experience greater water weight fluctuations because muscle cells hold a lot more water than fat cells. Don’t lose heart when this happens!! It is actually a good sign that you are headed in the right direction with your body composition.

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arrow Hormones Control Your Metabolism:

    As you go through the month, your hormones effect your metabolism (the rate at which your body burns calories). Documented studies show you can actually burn up to an extra 500 calories per day during the week prior to your period. NO WONDER you feel like you want to eat everything in sight!

    Related Calorie Articles:

    Your body is telling you that you need the extra energy. Why then do you feel horribly guilty if you eat a bit more? Probably because you are already bloated and feel frustrated, so eating extra food seems like the worst thing to do.

    Don’t let guilt turn your fitness quest upside down. Accept that fact that you may need a few more calories right now, plan for that, and enjoy your indulgence. This will enable you to end the cycle of guilty binges and emotional eating before they start. As a result you will build your fitness momentum instead of quitting due to Hormone Induced Failure!

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arrow Hormones Control Many Other Aspects That Affect Your Body & Life:
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    The list of other ways hormones affect you is long but here are a few: digestive issues, allergies, etc. I’ve personally been concerned about these symptoms from time to time. However after, I connected these symptoms to my hormones, I was free from worry because I knew, “It’s just my hormones.”
Michelle BuffMother Berger
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Author, Michelle “BuffMother” Berger.
  • Every woman is a bit different in regards to her biggest hormonal struggle. But no matter what, there are effects from your hormones–good ones and bad ones–and they must be considered in your diet and fitness program.

    The key point to know is that there are nutrients, mental strategies, and physical fitness/diet applications that will help prevent or minimize the bad effects and allow you to capitalize on the good effects.

    As you apply the diet, exercise and supplementation principles of my program you will establish consistency which will lead to progressively gaining momentum month after month. This massive momentum will allow you to realize your full potential and live a fuller, less stressful life.

    Related Stress Articles:

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Dr. Lisa Staudt’s Hormonal Timing Testimony
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This woman knows how to hit it hard and be a success in whatever she does. From the moment I met Lisa through www.BuffMother.com, I have been captivated by her determination to LIVE life to its fullest. She successfully juggled her career as a chiropractor, and job as a mother of 3 young children while training hard for her first figure contest last fall. She won that contest and is looking forward to more wins in 2008!

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Dr. Lisa Staudt.

I know Lisa will accomplish her goals because she stays positive and always gets it done! Lisa has an amazing view of how my program will change the world of women’s fitness:

    “I think [this program] (HT) could be a major breakthrough for women’s fitness. I love it!! When I first read about it, I thought “this is so cool, it really makes sense.” As a chiropractor, I’ve taken seminars and studied a lot on the female hormones, cycles and nutrition.

    I think the key point to this program is that your workouts change as you are going through hormonal fluctuations in your cycle. The second half of the month can be a time of stress, increased emotions, depressed feelings, bloating, pain, etc. So having a workout that is less intense and being able to eat more calories just makes sense! Personally [this program] has helped me establish consistency. The coolest part is that HT is a long term plan, something I will do for life!!”

Brenda is a SuperHERO!!

Brenda is a SUPER HERO for sure!! and a BUNDLE 441082188_ZwGmb-Lof Energy!!  Brenda is a mother, a Nurse Practitioner and a DIE HARD BuffMother!!  She is stepping on stage this weekend at Bluff’s Classic in  for her very first Figure contest!! WOW~ she’s been on quite the journey since joining our TEAM in May of 2008!  From the moment Brenda joined I KNEW she was special and so Special in fact that she won our SuperStar Success Contest last year!  The prize was to be a SUPER STAR in my hormonal timing infomercial so in Dec of 2008 she was flown to LA for the shoot!! It was a blast seeing her in her new SUPER STAR body!  She’s keep strong and kept pushing hard and has inspired thousands of women in her journey.  Brenda is a TRUE SuperHero!  I am so proud of her and I know she’s going to rock the stage on Saturday!!

Here’s part of her SSS contest entry from last year:

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“My weight problem was tied to my menstrual cycle – I mean, WOW, what an eye-opener!”

- Brenda Herrod: LOST 25 LBS!


***SUPER STAR SUCCESS CONTEST – Before and After Stats:***
Date: August 31, 2008
Height – 5’4″
Age- “39″ and holding!!! :)
*Beginning weight – for Buffmother – 15 weeks ago – 141 lbs
*Beginning weight for SSS Contest – 10 weeks ago – 136 lbs
*Ending weight for SSS Contest – 118.5!!!!! (today 118!)

*Total loss = 23 lbs

*TOTAL inches lost = 36.25 inches!!!!!!! (gained ONE on calves)
*Body Fat % – 28.9% – 20% and NOW 16.3% at the END of SSS Contest!!!!!!!!

*Total Body Fat loss in 10 weeks = 12.6%

*Was wearing size 8-10 in clothing (pants, jeans…now can fit into size 4′s, 3′s and 2′s!!!!!) I love this change!!!!!

*Where are you in your journey?

I am very pleased with where I am at now. I want to MAINTAIN where I am at and continue to build muscle too. I plan to work on sculpting my abs, quads, glutes and hamstrings more now since I’ve lost the weight. I am just so happy to have lost so much body fat SO QUICKLY and become more lean. It is only 41 days until I turn 40 and I want to be in the best shape ever – fit and 40!!!

*Did you reach your goals and aspirations?

Yes I did! At first my goal was 125 pounds, and then 120 – which I reached in the last few days of the contest! It is very empowering to be in control and to know you reached your goals. Buffmother and hormonal timing has made such a difference in my life! I will continue to set new goals and always be focused! This will help me so much through my last year of graduate school.

*Where do you see this challenge brought you?

I had PERFECT timing for this challenge….I had just joined Buffmother five weeks before the contest started, so I had enough time to begin to understand the program and had lost five pounds before the contest began. It helped me learn how to have a clean diet and effective workouts. I kept my focus because I am motivated by turning 40 soon and the contest was big motivation too!

*Do you have any lingering concerns?

My main concerns right now are maintaining the level where I’m at, continuing to improve and staying healthy. I feel very fortunate not to have any ailments or body parts that cause pain or bother me! I know I’m in for a busy year with my final year of graduate school, teaching full-time and being a mom! But with the confidence I have gained with the Buffmother program, I know I can do it!

*Do you feel you made an impact on your legacy during this contest?

Definitely! I have showed my family, and especially my daughter – that you can do whatever you set your mind to and you CAN transform your body through making healthy food choices and working out. I’ve always tried to help my kids eat healthier and now since I am leading the example, it is working better. I’ve actually gotten more interested in cooking now too! I want to show them how great it feels to be fit and healthy for life!

*What is your REASON for doing this, your WHY?

I wanted to make the commitment to myself for better health and longevity. I am a happier and more complete person when I look better and feel better! I want to instill these values in my children and be an inspiration to my nursing students that I teach and patients that I care for. My parents both died from cancer and my brother had two types of cancer, so I hope that by chosing a healthy lifestyle I can decrease my chances and be around for my children a lot longer!!!! The 40th birthday coming up was HUGE motivation too!

*Did you feel the support group helped you stay on track?

YES! I loved our group, the Buff and the Beautiful! I am SO PROUD of how everyone did in this contest and really enjoyed getting to know them better! I was a co-leader with Dayle and tried to keep everyone motivated by checking their blogs and posting replies. We had a conference call that was good – even though we all were not able to get on! Dayle was awesome as a co-leader – I learned a ton from her experience in the Rally Room and she is SO motivating!

*What tactics did you use to stay focused and engaged for the entire 70 days?

I just jumped in and tried to get really involved in the Rally Room and looked at everyone’s before and after pics from previous contests, and learned as much as I could about HT, eating clean, and a variety of workouts. I loved reading everyone’s blogs and become super motivated by reading them. I felt like I had a whole team of awesome women behind me cheering me on – you know those BUFFMOTHERS!!! :) Lisa was the best resource ever too! I read Michelle’s incredible HT Book and After Baby Abs, and RE-read them – they was like my “Bible” that I lived by this summer! I spent a ton of time reading magazines like Oxygen and M&F Hers as well as Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Diet Book and the Butt Book. I loved those too! Reading about fitness and nutrition inspires me A LOT and keeps me very focused.

*Did you reward yourself when you hit certain goals along the way?

I did recently by buying myself some new, smaller clothes that actually fit better! My absolute favorites are my Lucky jeans and capris – size 4!!!!! (also splurged on some new PINK Asics running shoes since I’ve been running so much!)

*What other thoughts are in your head at the moment?

I just am SO thrilled with my results and couldn’t be happier right now!!! I haven’t been in this good of shape since I was maybe 20 – okay – that’s almost 20 years ago now! WOW – I’m going to be 40 in about 40 days and feel in the best shape I have been since I was a teen! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

*Did you GET to know your body? Did you learn about your good c-days, your bad c-days, your weight fluctuations, etc…

Oh yes and I loved figuring it out! It is truly amazing how HT works. It totally makes sense. I was surprised to see my cycles get so much shorter, menses last a shorter amount of time, and less cramping! Learned to not worry about the bloating weight gain, and know that if I want to take off a couple pounds, I can do it! I’m a nurse and studying to be a nurse practitioner in women’s health more specifically, so this really intrigued me and is something I hope to help patients with someday. SO many women come in and want to lose weight! It is a common problem I will likely be dealing with a lot.

*Did anything surprise you?

Yes – that I actually could do it! And love it! I did it the RIGHT way too! NO starving myself or just eating salads all the time. I ate a ton this summer – every 3 hours – just more nutrient dense and clean eating foods that my body needs. It was not really that hard to stay away from the bad foods because I had a goal and was feeling SO good! I quit drinking Diet Dr. Pepper and drink a ton of water now – which I love! I used to drink several pops a day and even first thing in the am! I am also surprised at how much I absolutely love the Rally Room and what a great support that has been. The friendships made there are just very special and we all have something in common – the quest for fitness and healthy living. It’s enriched my life a ton by knowing all these incredible women, their trials and tribulations!

*Did anyone else’s impact you along the way?

Definitely!
Michelle – aka Buffmother – Need I say more? She is ONE superstar and is always so upbeat and full of fire! She is so smart to have figured this HT all out too! :)

Lisa – She is amazing! I so respect her for all she has done transforming her body and competing in figure! She introduced me to this, afterall. And she is just the fun, awesome same Lisa that was in my wedding and my college buddy!

Annie – She joined shortly after me and we figured out things together. We texted each other and talked a lot too! I learned a lot about clean eating and changing my diet as well as getting a lot of motivation from my friend of 14 years! Love all the NEBRASKA TEAM BUFFMOTHER girls!!! Looking forward to meeting more of them soon!

Dayle – She was the best co-leader I could have EVER have had on the Buff and Beautiful team. She was so energetic and positive all the time even having such a devastating loss in her family. She just amazes me!

Kermane, Linda, Leslie – Always blogging everyday and so good about sharing great information as well as cute and motivating comments!

Carrie Peck, Trish & Julie in CA – AWESOME! These girls are the BOMB to me! SO fun and positive all the time. They are inspire me! I love reading the competition stuff too.

Deanna, both Kims, Monica, Colleen (fitnblond5), Jessie, Karen in NJ – and other members of the Buff and Beautiful team – we ROCKED!!!! SO MANY others that I hope to get to know better soon as we continue on our fitness journey!!!! GOOD JOB BUFFMOTHERS! WE ARE ALL SUPERSTARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HERE IS MY BEFORE – 136lbs…Many more pics in my gallery and I did a photoshoot in a studio and will get those pics hopefully soon!!!!

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40 days to FIT!! Day 5~Rally Room “rest intervals”

Hey all!!

I am right in the midst of my workout and using my “rest intervals” for
Rally Room time!! I love it!!

My workout is going like this:

run 20 mins

3 rounds of sprints/drills:

Sprint 100m (fire hydrant to fire hydrant)
Walk 25m driveway to driveway
Walking High knees- 25m
Skipping High knees*- 25m
walk 25 m
REPEAT

pull ups
10, 6

3 sets of the following-
5 pull upsx10 bent over lateral raises with 15#db’s+ 5 upright rows

One arm DB lat rows- alternating arms no rest between sets
30#DBx10x3sets

Now I am done and off to enjoy the family and some summer sunshine!!
Have a FAB Weekend!!!

your friend,
Michelle
FYI~ during buffing I am eating really low carb- shooting for 3 servings per day- about only 75grams…it’s hard while I am on creatine, but doable.
and *here is a video of the “Skipping High Knee” drill I did today:

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Sprints & FCH Photo prep

Now I am getting ready to go on a date with my littlest lady, LAYLA~ we’ll go to the store and maybe Cold Stone Creamery (I’ve never been there before!)

After I get back I’ll do my upperbody workout…

Here’s the photo shoot prep for the last 4 days of the FCH contest!!!

 

FCH

Photoshoot – 4 day prep

 

Sat Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
PREP

 

-Cut your carbs to only 2.

-Eat very salty foods. And if you find this to be a problem, drink a couple of cups of chicken bouillon. It is very important that you have a salt overload on this day

 

-No carbs, protein veggies and fat only

-NO SALT

Put a coat of tanner on b4 bed- Banana Boat tanner with bronzer in it is the best!

 

-No Carbs

-NO Salt

-No gas causing foods

-Take a water pill(diruex) B4 bed and -no water after 8(time so you have 12-16 hours without water b4 shoot)

-Put another coat of Tanner on

 

Photoshoot day

-NO Workout

-Do your measurments and stats in the am

-you can have a cup of coffee

-No water or carbs until after the shoot

-Put another coat of tanner on

-Do your hair

-Over do your make up make sure you have some that will make your face a little tanner looking. What I use is a face bronzer, and 1 shade darker makeup for photoshoots. You may want to practice with this before hand.

Have fun!!

Bring music

(have a glass of wine)

Afterward

Eat and drink a lot!!!

 

Eat, drink, and if

You want begin

the

4ht of July

PARTY!

J

With your

FIRE

Crackin’

HOT

Body!

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Hormones ~ Start Tracking Today!


I believe in the power of your hormones! I am actually obsessed with HORMONES, lol! HORMONES control EVERYTHING!! I track mine daily, I analyze other’s daily, I research them constantly and I believe hormones can make you fat and have the power to make you thin. This belief is what has led me to build the body that won 5 figure titles the year after having my 3 and 4 children after a c-section and what has keep me buff ever since! This belief is how my client gain GREAT results so very quickly, and this belief is what the HORMONAL TIMING program is all about.
Many of you here in the RR know some about what I am talking about, but for those of you who do not, I encourage you to start by simply tracking your hormonal cycle. Day 1 is the first day of your period. Things you should note daily include your mood, appetite, energy level, motivation level, focus, stress level, strength, soreness, water retention (weight), pain, libido, etc… Even tracking for as little as one month WILL open your eyes to the affects your hormones have on EVERY aspect of your life.
As you track for 2 to 3 months patterns will emerge…you will see when you are just “off” or when you are “ON”, when you feel confident and days when you just want to hide in a cave, you will notice what days are GREAT for sex and what days you typically say NO WAY! KNOWING all of these things about yourself will open up a whole new understanding of how to plan your life, allow you to set realistic expectations for yourself on a day by day basis. WE as women are NOT the same on monthly cycle day 5 and cycle day 25! You must realize that!! And account for it in your life, your fitness, your diet and your supplementation.
So I implore you to start to chart NOW!!
And ladies that don’t have monthly periods~ if you have ovaries you still have a cycle~ chart your symptoms and you will “see” when your hormones are being nice and when they are being naughty :evil:
On to today~ Woohoo only 17 days left of our contest!!
And I am totally impressed with so many of YOUR Workouts!! YOU ROCK!!!
Today is another LEG WORKOUT~ LET’s work it hard!! It’s the last Leg workotu in PHASE 1…On Thursday the workout will change. So give this one your all!!
and don’t forget to start tracking your HORMONES!!
Your soon to be FireCrackin’ HOT friend,
xoxo~
Michelle

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