New Year, New You

Happy New Year!

Well, it's that time again. The time when thousands, maybe even millions, make a resolution to lose weight and/or get fit. It may be daunting to some if they have never made an effort to get fit or have taken a hiatus for some time, while others may not even know where to begin. I made a commitment to change my lifestyle and get fit(ter) back in the summer (you don't need a new year to make a change!), but I understand how challenging it is to get back into the swing of things. Keep reading to find out what fitness fads to love and which to leave.

​1.) The Teatox- LOVE IT
This has been one of the most blogged about fitness fads over the past year. There is a huge variety of teatoxes, which made it really difficult to choose, but I narrowed it down to two: WonderTea Australia and Detox Skinny Herb Teatox. WonderTea was the first I tried. It was a two week program which required drinking two cups of the tea each day for two weeks. The tea came in loose leaf form and each cup required "one heaping teaspoon." They recommend drinking the tea before your morning and afternoon meals and I immediately noticed a difference in my appetite, which seriously impacted the amount of calories consumed. The tea tasted great and I looked forward to my daily cups. I chose this teatox over most because the tea mixture does not contain a laxative. Most of the teatoxes on the market include a laxative, which helps with weight loss and and deeper cleaning of your "plumbing," but can also interfere with some medications. In terms of weight loss, over the two weeks I saw a 4 pound loss, but I must note a teatox is not the way to go for weight loss. However, it jump starts the process and leaves you feeling healthy and "clean"- which is perfect for starting a new fitness program. I have yet to try the Detox Skinny Herb teatox, but stay tuned for that post during the new year.

2.) The Juice Cleanse- LOVE IT
I have been a juicer for a few years now, and I cannot say enough good things about it. If you are looking for a way to jump start a new weight loss or fitness program, a juice cleanse is a great place to start. I have tried three different cleanses of various lengths (3 day, 5 day, and 10 day), but my favorite by far is the JusbyJulie cleanse. It definitely takes some getting used to and I recommend a one day cleanse for beginners who may be nervous, but the benefits are incredible. I purchased a 3 day cleanse during Black Friday and it was just delivered today, so look for my juice cleanse post coming over the next week! I'm hoping to detail it enough for those first time cleansers. If you're looking to cleanse right now, JusbyJulie is having a great special right now- a 3 day cleanse with 12 booster shots and FREE shipping for only $129!

3.) Isagenix- LEAVE IT
So I have to be honest- I have a weakness for trying diet fads. I already exercise and eat well, but there's something about trying those crazy programs that always makes me curious. I tried this program over the summer. I purchased the 9-Day Deep Cleansing and Fat Burning System through one of my acquaintances, and had been excited to use it. Overall, I saw more measurement changes than pounds lost, but for the price- it wasn't worth it. During the 9 days you have a very strict dietary plan with little room for adjustment, and the "deep clean" days were tortuous (the required cleanse drink tasted terrible). The only thing I enjoyed from this diet bundle was the green tea milk chocolate treats you were required to eat each day. I actually looked into buying them separately off Amazon because they were so delish (you can look into them here), but the price stopped me. In all, I would leave the Isagenix program. It may work for some, but I didn't find it useful or beneficial for me.

4.) Exercise! - LOVE IT
Any successful "get fit" program is incomplete without EXERCISE! Whether it's walking, yoga, or HIIT- you NEED exercise. You should try and get in 30 minutes a day, but as a law student I understand the meaning of "limited time." Here are some great tips to find the time!

1. Figure out when you're able to work out at your best. For me, I prefer the evening and I find that I'm not at my best during the morning.
2. Choose your busiest day and use that as your rest day. This way you won't feel guilty for skipping because it was already planned into your week.
3. Always have your gym bag packed and ready to go. 5 of the 6 days I work out I am coming right from class, so I make sure my bag is packed and stays in my car! I have no excuses if I always have my gear with me!
4. Do something that you love, but leave room for things you need. I always make sure to take my weekly Zumba classes because I love to dance, but I knew I needed strength and weight training too. On Mondays and Wednesdays I have a 2 hour session that starts with Zumba and ends with a HIIT class, which focuses on weights and building muscle. If you are looking to lose weight, you NEED strength training because muscle dictates metabolism.

And finally- no fitness program is complete without cute and witty workout tops!

Let me know what you're doing to stay or get fit this new year!
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