How much exercise do you really need?

This week's newsletter is up!  You can check it out here.  Have a fantastic Sunday!

Gym Bag Monday - Lip Bon Bons

One thing I notice is my lips get very dry and chapped while working out. I have tried several products but they don't seem to work out for me. Most of them leave a gummy, sticky film and feeling on my lips.  I have finally found one product that works great during work out - younique lip bon bons.  They are vey lightly colored and scented but work great!  There are five amazing colors to choose from.  You can check the out here:

What's In My Gym Bag - CLA

Happy & Healthy Monday!  What's in my gym bag this week is CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid).  CLA, when combined with clean eating and exercise can help with weight loss and fat burning.    It helps support lean muscle development which helps kick in fat burning.

CLA is not like a thermogenic fat burner in that it is stimulant free, so if you like many people I know cannot tolerate a thermogenic fat burner, this may be just what you are looking for!  I have used several brands and prefer Nutrex CLA that I purchase off amazon.

I do also use a thermogenic fat burner and this is a great addition to it.  Thermogenic fat burners have to be cycled and CLA does not.  So when I am on my month off the thermogenic, I still take this and feel like it definitely helps keep my fat burning going.

Like always, if you have any special health conditions, always check with your physician first before starting any new supplement.

Cheers to an amazing Monday!

Gym Bag Monday - That's It Bars

It's Gym Bag Monday! Today I'm featuring my favorite snack bar. "That's it" bars. They contain nothing but fruit- that's it. Super yummy and much easier to transport than fruit. I find the best deals on them at Amazon. Give them a try!

Gym Bag Monday - Post Workout Recovery

In my gym bag this week I am featuring one of my post work out favorites. If any of you have ever followed a Stoppani program you know one of the post work out tricks is 30 gummy bears or pixie sticks.  If you haven't followed one of his programs you may wonder what this is all about. 

In short, during workout you deplete muscle glycogen so one of the first things you want to do post work out is replenish that glycogen with a fast digesting carbohydrate. I used gummy bears for this for quite a while but realized eating candy seemed to mess with my mindset and I felt the need to eat off plan more than usual. This may not happen to everyone but was a problem for me. 

Enter Post Jym fast absorbing carbs. I can achieve the same result by throwing this in my post work out shake but I don't affect my mindset in doing it. Perfect for someone like me. You can check out Stoppani supplements on bodybuilding.com. I love all of them that I have tried. They are clean and actually have all the ingredients listed on the label which is rare! 

Cheers to a fit week! 

Two For Tuesday - Headphones - Wired or Wireless?

Happy Tuesday!  Two for Tuesday today features headphones - wired or wireless?  I have used both and at times still do depending on my mood or type of work out.  I wear Beats wireless headphones the majority of the time.  For one reason, I find people are a lot less likely to interrupt my workout when I have them on.  For some reason people don't seem to mind, at all, asking you to pull that one headphone out of your ear to chat but that is not true with the much larger wireless Beats. Since I keep myself on very short rest periods between sets, that is a HUGE plus for me!  Another plus of wireless headphones is I never catch them on a weight rack or weight stand and rip them from my ear!  Oh if I had a dollar every time I had done that with wired headphones.  Another big plus!

The upside of wired headphones is they are a lot smaller, your hair does not get totally trashed and they are not hot like the wireless set I use.  So if I am only doing cardio or something that does not involve weights I will wear wired headphones at times.

As far as my Beats - I highly recommend them.  They are awesome as far as the sound produced and the noise they cancel out and they stay put on my head during the work out.  Love love them. If you are in the market for headphones, check them out.

Cheers to a fantastic day!

Friday Faves - 21 Day Fix

Today my Friday Fave is my favorite "kick it in gear" workout program.  If you have fallen off the wagon, just starting your fitness program or need to kick it up a notch, I highly recommend 21 day fix, or 21 day fix extreme depending on your goals and fitness level.  I love 21 day fix for several reasons:  it comes complete with an easy to use, effective meal plan, the exercises are 30 minutes or less and they are well worth the time! If you stick to the plan, you can also see some amazing results in only 3 weeks.

Since I am a long time fitness enthusiast, I started with the extreme version.  It does not allow for cheat meals during the 3 week period.  Longest 30 minutes of my life!  I absolutely felt the intensity of the workouts and it was an awesome addition to my lifting routine.  I love how the exercises focus on building your glutes and creating beautiful legs.  There is also plenty of variety as far as the exercises go.  You are not stuck doing the same routine every day.

If you are looking to shake things up, be sure and check out 21 day fix!  I love it.  If you have any questions I can answer, just shoot me a message!

www.beachbodycoach.com/nicolelarcenaire1

What's In My Gym Bag Monday - Fit Book Exercise Log

Happy Monday!  Today from my gym bag I am featuring my exercise log, Fitbook!  I used the notes section in my phone to electronically keep up with my workouts for a long time.  I found it difficult to keep track of them long term which lead me to search for a better way.  I came across the Fitbook and absolutely love it.  I can plan out my workouts daily, set weekly goals, record food, nutrients, cardio, you name it.  It is definitely all inclusive!

I got mine from amazon.  You can check out the link below:

Happy & Healthy Monday everyone!

What's In My Gym Bag -Lululemon Socks

Happy Monday Fitness Peeps!  Today from my gym bag are my favorite socks.  Socks seem like such a small thing but when you have a pair that slips or bunches up at the toe it is very distracting.  Especially for me and I need all of my attention focused on my workouts!

The best socks I have found are Lululemon Speed Sock.  I love them because they are made out of an awesome mesh that breathes and keeps my feet feeling dry; they have seamless toes (so no fidgeting trying to get the seam in the right place); the profile is low, (it sits on the edge of my shoe) and they have arch support and cushioning in the heal and the toe.  Added bonus is they are very long lasting.  I wear these every day and highly recommend them to my fellow fitness lovers.  You can check them out here:

www.lululemon.com

Cheers to a fantastic Monday!

What's In My Gym Bag - Her Aminos

Happy Monday everyone! Featured today from my gym bag is NLA for Her "Her Aminos." I drink these during workout and also other times throughout the day of if I feel I need a little boost!

Her Aminos contain a comprehensive amino acid blend which helps increase endurance and helps with muscle fatigue and recovery time. 

My favorite flavor is pink lemonade. It is very refreshing while working out. It's gluten free & sugar free. If you feel you need an extra boost during workout, I highly recommend Her Aminos. 

Have a great day everyone!

Two for Tuesday- Peanut Butter & PB2

One of my favorite go to snacks is peanut butter (natural no sugar added.) I switch back and forth between my 2 favorite brands, Adams crunchy peanut butter (and boy is it crunchy!) and PB2 powdered peanut butter.

Each has its advantages. I love Adams on a piece of toast because it is so crunchy and reminds me of a pb&j as a kid. I do not however love the calories and fat. 

For a shake or an on the go snack, I love PB2. It's easy to carry and mixes perfectly in my shakes.  Here is a quick comparison: 

2Tbsp. Adams: 

200 calories (140 from fat)

Fat 16 g

Sat Fat 2.5 g

Protein 8 g

2 Tbsp. PB2:

45 calories (13 from fat)

Fat 1.5 g

Sat Fat  0 g

Protein 5 g

As you can see PB2 is the healthier option for sure, but I still eat Adams in moderation because I love that crunchiness!

Cheers everyone!

Friday Faves - Shakeology

Happy Friday!  This week my Friday Fave is my favorite meal replacement - Shakeology!   One of my favorite tools in my “master tool kit.”  I have tried countless protein shakes and meal replacements through the years, all with side effects I did not like.  I stumbled upon Shakeology and it was a game changer for me. It is very satisfying and helps with my cravings so much.  It also simplifies my nutrition. 

Shakeology contains over 70 ultra high-quality, globally sourced ingredients that deliver nearly all the nutrients you need to maintain a healthy diet.  It's good for everyone, because everyone's diet is deficient in some of the key nutrient groups packed into just one Shakeology shake.

It is an effective way to help you lose weight, increase your energy and be the healthiest version of yourself.  Shakeology can help you reduce cravings and promote healthy digestion and regularity.  You can read more about it or order a sample on my site:  www.platinumsass.com

I love the taste and all the amazing combinations you can make.  Here is my favorite recipe:  Enjoy!

What's In My Gym Bag - Perricone Supplement

This week in my gym bag I am featuring my favorite multi vitamin - Perricone Skin & Total Body Supplements.  I have used these for years.  I take them twice a day when I am feeling drained or once a day the majority of the time.  (The directions call for twice a day.)

 The biggest change I see is that  I have a noticeable difference in my energy level.  I also find my hair and skin look and feel more healthy.  I have let myself run out of these on occasion only to find I am tired and my skin greatly suffers.  They are pricey but definitely worth the money!


You can check them out here:                                  

Friday Faves - Finesseur Scale

I have purchased a couple of different scales, looking for the perfect one and have finally found that in the Finesseur.  It is sleek, small, light-weight and blends right in on my kitchen counter.  Whether I am baking a new dish that needs precise measurement or weighing and measuring my food for the day, the Finesseur never fails me.

You can place your container directly on the platform and then hit "tare" to zero out the container weight before weighing with your food in the container which is so convenient.  The platform is made of tempered glass and wipes clean easily.

If you are trying to accurately track your caloric intake and want to do it the traditional way with a scale, I highly recommend this one.  Do not fool yourself that you can accurately guess or estimate food weight by eye balling it.  Especially if you are just starting out on your healthy eating journey, an accurate scale is a must!

I got mine off Amazon for about $25.  Well worth the money.

Happy Friday everyone!

What's In My Gym Bag Monday - G-love gloves!

I know gloves are not for everyone, but for some of us, we prefer to minimize the calluses as much as possible.  I myself being one of those people, have tried many different glove brands.  I have found most brands are huge, they come up too high on the wrist, the fabric holds an odor quickly and cannot be laundered and they are not very feminine looking, just to name a few issues!  Plus I found they did little to nothing to prevent the calluses from happening.

I found the perfect solution to all these issues.  G-loves.  They come in extra small (which I need), they are machine washable, and they have tons of awesome designs!  An added benefit I found was that the palms are perfectly padded to help minimize calluses.  I have 4 pair I alternate and will never wear anything else!

Check them out here:  www.g-loves.com  They are definite game changers!

What's In My Gym Bag

I get asked a lot of questions about products I use, so I thought I would start sharing what's in my gym bag with you every Monday!  Since today is the first post I wanted to share my actual bag with you.

I am a HUGE advocate and lover of 6 pack bags and have been for several years.  They are awesome meal management bags.  I have had several and this is one of two I use now.  Well, I don't actually use the other one, I just stare at it since I won it from 6 Pack and it is autographed by Dana Linn Bailey herself!

Anywho, one of my philosophies is  "you fail to plan, you plan to fail" so I LOVE being able to carry a few meals on the go with me when I will be out and about for several hours.  The "Camille" bag that I carry allows me to take 4 snacks/meals with me on the go!  It comes with 4 snap lid containers and a sports nutrition compact.  It is kept cool by 2 gel packs that last about 8 hours or so when frozen.  (Fantastic on a plane trip.)

On top of the container section, is one large section which holds TONS of stuff.  There is also a slot for your laptop which is a really cool idea.  There are several smaller pockets inside to store your gear!

If you are looking for a meal management bag (they have purses, briefcases, you name it)  I highly recommend 6 Pack Bags.  (Not an affiliate, just a fan!)

Next week will will start exploring the contents!  Have a fantastic week everyone!