No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #7

Fat Burning Cardio Workout – 37 Minute Fitness Blender Cardio Workout at Home

If you need music to help you get motivated to workout, you’ll need to add your own playlist to this video.

I especially like the slow burpees.  (I absolutely hate burpees!!!)

Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts?  If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

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No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #6

I recently started doing something that I have been interested in doing for a while now…  I have been teaching a weekly exercise class at my church.  I was both nervous and excited about getting started.

no gym no problem | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

The classes have gone really well and it has been a lot of fun!  I have enjoyed planning the workouts as well as figuring out how to make it work for a group of people with different levels of fitness.

Since we are all at different levels of health and fitness, I included a lower intensity option as well as a higher intensity one.

Here is the workout that we did together the first week:

5 min warm up of a slower smaller versions of the exercises to be done during the circuit workout.

2 sets of 9 Circuits:
45 sec on with 15 sec “active rest”

1. March
2. Hot feet/wide march
3. Kick backs
4. High knees/Knee lifts
5. Punches/reaches with side steps
6. Jogging 4 in place 4 forward 4 back
7. Mummy kicks/heel digs
8. Skater/back cross kick
9. Boxer shuffle with squat and reach

2 min cool down with 5 min stretches.

30 min total

Take 15-30 minutes and improve your day! Your heath and wellness is worth it!

Let me know if you try out the workout and what you think!

Remember to keep good proper form! Chest up, shoulders down, knees behind the toes, above the ankles. Warm up before, and stretch after you exercise! Soreness equals success!

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I would love for you to follow me on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.  I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #5

I am always looking for a good inner thigh workout!  This is a great one!  Best of all, you can achieve this in just a few minutes each day, with no equipment needed, No Gym? No Problem!

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Take a few minutes minutes and improve your day! Your heath and wellness is worth it!  Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!  No excuses, Just do it!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts?  If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

 

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.  I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #4

Here is another workout you can do whenever and where ever you want! All you need is a sturdy chair and a small amount of space!

Do 10 reps of each and repeat 2-3 times depending on how much time you have.  No excuses, just do it!

No Gym No Problem! | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Take 20-30 minutes to get strong and exercise, your health and wellness are worth it! Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts?  If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

 

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.  I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #3

Three weeks into the new year and I hope that you’re still going strong!  Twenty minutes and a pair of 5-pound dumbbells is all you need for this quick full body workout!

Do you have 20 minutes to improve your heath and wellness? Yes, you do!  Just do it, no excuses!  Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts?  If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.  I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your username in the comment section below!

Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits · Health/ Fitness

Top Ways to Ditch Dieting For Good

ditch the diet | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

It’s Not About Dieting It’s About A Healthy Lifestyle

1) Find healthy foods you love:  

Since I have changed my eating habits I have found so many foods that I thought I hated but I actually now love.  Eggplant, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Roasted cauliflower, Baked Kale chips, Sweet potatoes, Mushrooms just to name a few. These are all things that I never would have eaten 18 months ago, yet they are now part of my every day diet…I still hate cooked peppers, I don’t think that will ever change.

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2) Get a routine:

Make it easier on yourself to make better choices.  Have your fridge stocked with fresh fruits and veggies.  Set regular meal times and don’t let yourself graze or snack. Keep yourself accountable with a food and fitness journal.  Make a plan and stick to it!  It is not about perfection it is about consistency.

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail! | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

3) Do exercises you enjoy:

I don’t like to run.  So you know what, I don’t do it!  There are sooooo many other way to get in a great cardio workout without having to pound the pavement.   The more time I have spent doing different types of physical actives, the more I have discovered the things that I love and things that I don’t enjoy.

I hate lunges, but I love squats.  I hate pushups but I love doing plank.  I love jumping jacks and cardio kick boxing.  I really enjoy lifting weights and strengthen training. Find what you enjoy and do it!

3-Week-Plan No Gym? No Problem! | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

 

4) Always have a goal:

The scale is not the only place to have goals.  There are so many other ways to stay motived and push yourself. Recently I have been pushing myself to increase my reps as well as up the weights.  It is so satisfying to reach a goal and set a new one!

Flab to FAB Progress | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

5) Indulge:

You know I love sweets!  If you are going to a special event, like a birthday party or a friends BBQ, let yourself indulge within reason.  Denying yourself can lead to unwanted binges.  Instead try to be strict with your diet leading up to the event. Do not, I repeat DO NOT make yourself feel guilty about it later on. Occasionally enjoying a sweet treat or special meal is an absolutely necessary part of a feasible healthy lifestyle.  This is a lifestyle we are ditching the “diet.”

M&M's chocolate chip cookies | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

6) Don’t focus on denial:

How true is it that all you want is what you can’t have!  If you want a french fry, have a fry or two.  You don’t need to eat an entire large fry, but a fry or two might be just the thing to keep you from derailing your entire healthy plan.

Remember, It’s Not About Dieting It’s About Lifestyle!

After a few weeks you won’t even have to think about these changes.  Making a lifestyle change is worth the time and hard work it takes. Long lasting results are so much more satisfying than short ended quick results from a fad diet.

You and your health and wellness are worth it!

Focus on health | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

If you want to read more about the benefits of lifestyle vs dieting check out my flab to fab post about Balance.

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I would love for you to follow me on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.  I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!

 

Love and Life

A Little Bit About Me

Hello everyone! I thought that since several of you have recently followed I would introduce myself a bit more.

Here is a list of  questions to get to know a little more about me…

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
My hair is perfectly straight, and I even though I absolutely love how easy it is, I can’t really wear it too many different ways because of how straight it is.
2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?
I have never dyed my hair.  It is still the same exact color that God gave me.  If I do need to start dying it, I will definitely let a pro do it.
3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?
I am a pretty routine kinda gal, so pretty much stick with the same general style, but usually when I mix it up I am not even that far from my usual.
5. How often do you change your nail polish?
If you have been around Looking Joli Good for any amount of time at all, you already know the answer to this question.  Never, I don’t polish them.  It drives me nuts if my polish chips at all!  So instead of having to redo them as soon as that happens, I just don’t polish them. (Ain’t nobody got time for that!) I get my feet done at the salon (not as often as I would like to).  I don’t get my fingers done because I don’t like to have my cuticles pushed back, so gross!  Just writing about it now makes my fingers hurt!
6. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just the summer?
My toes are ALWAYS polished,  so yes, I definitely polish my toes in the winter! I prefer the way my feet look better with polished toes.
7. How long does it take for you to put on makeup?
Depends on what look I am going for. If it is just a more natural face then 10ish minutes, but if I want to take my time and be more detailed then probably around a half hour.  (Don’t ask my husband or kids though, they’d say I spend 3 hours every day putting makeup on. Don’t I wish I had that amount of time!)
8. What do you do first? Face or eyes?
Usually face because I take the most time on the eyes, so I don’t want to spend too much time in the beginning and then end up running out of time to do the rest of my face.
9. Do you collect makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?
I love makeup, but I also get overwhelmed by too much stuff.  I would say I am a makeup wearer, but not a makeup collector.
10. How often do you wear false eyelashes?
Never, and I don’t ever plan to start.  I think that they look good in certain situations, but as a mom to two youngish kids, totally not necessary in my life at this time.
11. Do you wear makeup when you’re home alone or with family?
Well, I definitely love to wear makeup and look nice for my husband, but if it is just my husband and kids hanging around at home all day, I usually will not put makeup on.  My husband always tells me “You don’t need to wear that stuff.”  I guess I probably don’t really NEED to, but I really do enjoy it.
12. Will you leave the house without makeup?
Um, well…yes of course, I don’t really like to, but I will if I have to.
Hello! I'm Laura Joli from Looking Joli Good! | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com
Are you still with me? Haha!
13. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you’re getting dressed?
Yes, for church, special days, and work. I plan ahead and get it ready at night, but usually otherwise it just depends on how I feel that day.
14. How often do you change your handbag?
Quite often.  Generally when I find a great purse I will use it for a while, but if I am wearing something nice and it doesn’t match my outfit I will switch to another one.
15. How often or when do you workout?
Five to six days a week, in the morning. (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I am pretty obsessed!)
16. Left handed or right handed?
Right handed
17. How tall are you?
5″4′ …ok, ok, ok…5″3 1/2′
18. Do you speak any foreign languages?
Nope, but I have been trying to learn French…Il va assez lentement cependant.
19. How many pets do you have?
You that have been following for any amount of time know all about my sweet 10 year old Boston Terrier, Tessie.  She is my best friend and the sweetest, kindest, most loyal dog.
My cute dog Tessie | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com
20. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?
Yes, I do.  If more than one person I trust recommends a product I will add it to my list.
21. What are some things that you like to do with your free time?
I love to exercise and take long walks with Tessie.  Obviously I enjoy blogging in my free time.  I love to read!  (I have read a book a week for the last 5 years)
22. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs?
I have a Nikon D3300 but a lot of the time I just my phone a Nexus 7.
23. How often do you clean your house?
Every. Single. Day. Feels as if that is what I spend the majority of my time doing…I actually like to clean and do house work.  (although if you ask my family they will say I spend all my time putting on makeup and talking…lol)
24. What’s your favorite color?
I am a girly girl all the way and as unoriginal as it probably is, my favorite color is pink.
25. Do you swear?
Nope, never.

Did you stick with me for the whole post? Did you notice that I skipped #4?  I hope that you enjoyed learning a little more about me.  Hope you have a great day!

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I would love for you to follow me on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.  I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #52

A  full year of No Gym? No Problem! workouts completed!

You’ll do 5 moves in 5 minutes with minimal rest between moves. You can complete this set once for a super quick workout, or replay the video 3-5 times for a total of 15 to 25 minutes of exercise. All you need is a single dumbbell.

  1. Sumo Squat
  2. Offset Lunge
  3. Offset Lunge with Over Head Press
  4. Woodchop Squat
  5. Dumbbell Pull Through

Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts?  If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.  I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #50

Can you believe that the year is almost over? I have been posting these no gym no problem posts since the very first week of January and we are now on week 50!

I love workouts that use compound movements along with weights. Two birds with one stone!  This is a great quick workout that uses both body weight and weights.  Take some time today to improve you health and well being. You are totally worth it!  As always, no excuses, just do it!

no gym no problem | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

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Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts?  If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

 

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.  I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!

Flab to FAB

Give Yourself Permission To Enjoy Food

When I decided to make a drastic dietary change in my life, I knew I didn’t want to be on a “diet”.  I wanted to make a lifestyle change that would last forever.  I LOVE to eat.  I go to bed thinking about breakfast and wake up looking forward to all the wonderful things that I am going to eat during the day.

I have given myself permission to enjoy food.  

Being able enjoy a special meal with friends and family or have a piece of birthday cake at a party is all part of enjoying life.  I allow myself to go on vacation and fully enjoy foods at restaurants that I will not be visiting again for a long time (or possibly ever). It makes the whole balanced healthy diet attainable for a lifetime, not just to reach a specific goal.  I don’t want what I don’t allow myself to eat to hold me back from living my life.

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Once again it is all about BALANCE.

My diet is balanced and not overly restrictive.  It doesn’t just consist of  spinach, kale, and celery. (although, I do enjoy eating those things.)  Every once in a while I will let myself have a bowl of ice cream or M&M Chocolate Chip cookies.  I enjoy every spoonful and every bite, and I do not make myself feel bad about it.  The key is to not eat the entire pint of ice cream or the whole plate of cookies.

M&M's chocolate chip cookies | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Eating healthy is not a chore, it takes thought and preparation, but it isn’t a chore.

Since reaching my final goal weight I follow the 80/20% rule. Eighty percent of what I eat is healthy, and I let myself splurge the other 20% of the time.

Consistency is more important than perfection! | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I love to eat and I love to exercise, but all diet and no exercise is not right, just as all exercise and not eating a healthy diet is also not best.

Trust me I have tried to only exercise and not eat healthy! For 5 years I diligently worked out so hard, 5 days a week, 1- 1.5 hours each day.  During those 5 years I sweat a lot, I got a lot stronger, and I always ate whatever I wanted to. It wasn’t until I improved my diet that I finally started to feel amazing and see all the awesome results I had been trying to achieve with exercise only.

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Giving myself permission to enjoy the food I eat and not make myself feel bad about indulging once in a while has helped me to be successful in the long run…being truly healthy is a marathon, not a 500 meter race.

What about you?  Have you been on a journey from flab to FAB?  Have you made any major lifestyle and diet changes? What do you do to keep yourself on track and accountable?

If you would like to read more about my journey from flab to FAB, you can do so by clicking HERE.

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.  I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!