No Soreness After Leg Day

First of all, I apologize for being MIA! I was super busy with a weight-loss challenge I took on (I will update all of you later) and just finished my first year of my MBA program (Yay!). I promise I will keep up with blog posts, I know so many of you look forward to it.

While going through this fitness and well-being journey I have picked up some things along the way that I wish I would have known sooner. I promise I will share as much knowledge with all of you along the way. Here is one big thing I wish I would have learned about years ago!

So we all wish there was some sort of miracle pill that’s we can take in order to keep the soreness away after a tough workout. Well I have found just the thing! It’s a lovely thing called BCAAs, known as branched-chain amino acid. There are two forms, the pill or powder. I personally like the fruit flavored powders to drink during or after a weight lifting day. It’s nice to know there’s two forms for those who hate the power taste.

What are Branch-Chain Amino Acids?
The name comes from the fact that the amino acid "side chain" is structurally forked or branched, which is part of the reason for their unique function among amino acids. There are three amino acids that comprise the BCAAs: leucine, isoleucine, and valine and all 3 are considered ‘essential’ since the body cannot synthesize them on its own, and therefore they need to be obtained from the diet which can be food or supplementation. 20% of our bodies are made up of protein. Protein plays a very crucial in almost all biological process and amino acids are the building blocks of it. In turn proteins are necessary for many structures and functions in our bodies.

What do BCAAs actually do?
The primary reason people turn to amino acid supplements has to do with muscle growth. Leucine has been shown to regulate and improve muscle protein synthesis after a workout. Stimulated by the stress of your workout and encouraged by the jolt of leucine, your muscles will have everything they need to grow and be better prepared for your next workout.

Reasons why you should take Amino Acids
Improved Muscle Growth
Increased Endurance
Greater Fat Burn
Increased Mental Focus
Repair Muscles
Improved Recovery
Reduced Muscle Soreness
Improved Performance in Sports

Why do I love it?
I take it for muscle recovery. I usually lift heavy so you can imagine how my muscles feel afterwards. The next 2 days were always the worst. Taking BCAA Amino Acids helps that sore feeling tremendously!

I hope this helps with anyone who is looking for help after a tough weight lifting day, trust me BCAAs make the next few days much more bearable! Have you tried anything new that helps with sore muscle relief?

Con Amor,

Adriana 💕

My First Time Using DietBet

I always like to trying new things regarding my health. While scrolling through Instagram I came across many fitness accounts posting about DietBet. I looked into it through their website and it seemed very simple, along with a possibility of winning money to pay off student loans, thought I would give it a try.

How it works is that you go on their website or down load their app. All you need is a scale (perferably a digital scale), a smartphone or a digital camera, and a full length mirror or someone to take your picture for you. There are a number of games going on at once, you have a choice of the following kind:

• Kickstarter: You bet the amount the game says, it can be as little as $30, the money gets put in a pot, and you have 4 weeks to loose 4% of your starting weight. 
• Transformer: You bet the amount for the pot and have 6 months to loose 10% of your starting weight. 
• Maintainer: You bet the certain amount for the winning pot, the difference about this one is that you have to maintain your weight over a course of 1 year. They do give you room for fluctuation for this one which is 2% weight gain or a 4% weight loss. 

When you first join you have to sign up with them, they as for your basic information like name and email address. You can also upload your picture if you would like to make it a little more personal. You end up choosing your game and put your bet in by credit card. You will have to do a weigh in when you start, they will send you a "weigh in word" mine was "chives". You will put that word on a piece of paper and place it next to the numbers on the scale, along with a photo of yourself on the scale. The DietBet website will review it and let you know when it has been accepted. At the end of the game you have up to 48 hours to weigh in with the same idea of the weigh in from when you started. If you are interested in looking into more of their rules they are listed on their website in every game.

Along your month long weight loss journey you will be a part of a tribe who is on the same journey as you. I found this to be comforting and motivating, like they say you are more successful with support or being involved in a team. There will be people posting their struggles, workout ideas, asking for help or advice, their meal ideas, or posting some motivation. You have the choice to do un-official weigh ins along the way, I did and it helped to show how many more pounds I had to go by pounds and percentage. 

The picture above is the view of your game page showing progress and the standings of all of the people that are involved. I started with Fatgirlfedup's Fall Fight for Fit HallowLEAN. As you can see there were 4,499 players with a $135,000 pot! This was a screenshot of the end of the game, so unfortunately I did not make my goal. I was only 1.4 pounds away from my goal but I am proud of the changes I have made and the weight, so in reality I lost the challenge but I won so much more. I don't eat out as much unless its date night or a lunch meeting for work. My meal prepping has gotten better and my bank account has a little bit more money due to the positive changes. 

I recommend this to anyone who is trying to loose weight, it is not impossible but it is hard work. This will not be my last DietBet, I cannot wait to start my next one and I will try my hardest to win my part of the pot. I hope that this can be a possible tool for those of you who would like a healthier lifestyle. Plus who doesn't like to win a little money along with loosing weight? 

Con Amor,

Adriana