This morning, I hate a date with the devil in the form of a certain sports bra and spandex wearing brunette.
I’ll be honest: I actually can’t stand Jillian Michaels. Any trainer that advocates the use of diet pills clearly does not have their clients’ best interest in mind. However, I was looking for an exercise video that was cheap, tough and easy on the knees, and after reading Caitlin’s review of No More Trouble Zones, I decided to buy into the Jillian franchise and give it a shot.
My review? It was difficult! I mentioned before that my brother and I ordered the Insanity DVDs, and while they’re an awesome workout, some of the circuits just put too much strain on my old knee injury. There was only one move in NMTZ that I had trouble with, which was great! Of course, it’s not an extensive strength training plan in the way that Insanity is, but for a great full-body strength workout in 45 minutes, it’s the best I’ve heard of. I might not like some of Jillian’s endorsements, but she definitely kicked my butt!
Rewinding to this morning, I had a bowl of Fiber One, fresh raspberries and almond milk when I woke up.
After my tough workout, I was in the mood for cold, sweet carbs. First, I had some Archer Farms vanilla cranberry peanut butter on frozen millet bread. I usually thaw the bread, but with the hot weather, the coolness was perfect!
The second part of lunch was a SIAB containing almond milk, blueberries, a scoop of Sun Warrior and a peach. Winning combo:
I spent the afternoon getting things ready for my dad’s party tomorrow. First, I hit up the grocery store for all the necessary ingredients, and when I got home I made spiced nuts and a batch of Super Charge Me cookies with cranberries and almonds. I’ll post pictures and recipes tomorrow when it all comes together!
I snacked on a cranberry Heart Thrive with cherries to keep me satiated and away from licking the mixing spoons:
Next up, I got to work on the piece de resistance: a dark chocolate peanut butter cup birthday cake. I’d just gotten it in the oven when the weather started to go nuts- pouring rain, incredible gusts of wind and huge booms of thunder. By some miracle though, the power didn’t go out, and the cake finished baking perfectly. I ate a TON of chopped Reese’s cups while I was baking the cake. Bite-sized chunks are impossible to resist J
For dinner a bit later, I made a big pasta bowl with a package of tofu shiritaki noodles, a tomato, chopped carrots, marinara, humnut sauce and Veggie Patch falafel balls. This combination was surprisingly delicious- marinara and humnut are a great combination.
Afterwards, I had the usual big bowl of strawberries and a package of milk chocolate Qbels I received from Ashlei awhile ago- thanks girl!
Gotta run- I need to get cracking on the hummus, artichoke dip and several other things for tomorrow! Happy almost Friday!
Do you use workout DVDs? Why or why not? If so, which are your favorites? I’m just starting to get into DVDs, so I’m open to suggestions.
What’s your favorite candy? I’m not talking dark chocolate here- I’m talking the saccharine, saturated-fat loaded stuff like Snickers and Skittles. I’ve always been a Reese’s and M&M’s girl J
42 comments:
I was soooo disappointed when Jillian came out with the diet pills :( Her DVDs really do kick your ass though lol
A dark chocolate peanut butter cup birthday cake...omgggg hopefully there will be left-overs!
I've never eaten the millet bread frozen - was it hard to chew?! I'm so intrigued now.
I am a Snickers girl!
Vanilla Cranberry PB...It's calling my name <3
I want to eat the screen!
Lol Jilian seems scary x)
xoxo
I read Caitlin's review too and was a little intrigued about that DVD too. I don't like Jillian much either but have the shred...which is good for a speedy workout.
I loved reeses and peanut M & M's most growing up! Now I make a vegan version of peanut butter cups from Alicia Silverstone's book...too good!
You have intrigued me with the frozen bread. Is it like a bread popsicle? hehe
I have only liked the Self dvds and a Shape pilates- I have no coordination, so it's hard for me to follow!
i cant stand her either!!!
wow u can make even those nasty tofu noodles look good, not an easy feat! lol
my fav candy/candies would be twizzler nibs, snickers, and sour gummy cherries!
o when i was able to work out i did billy blanks tae bo and let me tell u, that KICKED MY BUTT! it was really good and targets eveything!
xoxoxo
ps major storms here on Long island too! like tonado warnings and the LIRR was a mess!!
Ok im the only one who has never done a jillian, p90x, insanity or any of the other workouts. I dont really think I need them b/c i am my own drill sargeant! no seriously i would love to do them but what to do w/ a kid for 45-60 mins. ? That's why i need to plop her in daycare at the gym so i can focus!
have a super nite, Miss G!
Even though I'm not a huge Jillian fan either, I hear so many good things about her workouts! I'm impressed you resisted licking the mixing spoons, I am so terrible about that! And the Reese's eating is totally understandable. :)
Those Qbel things look delicious! My favorite candy is honestly Dove dark chocolate, but other than that I loove Almond Joy or Mounds. Or those Take5 bars with the pretzels in them!
I can't wait to see how your dad's birthday food turns out!
Ah, NMTZ killed me the first time I tried it! It's a great workout for a DVD!
Lol wow that Qbel is from so long ago!! :)
How does that DVD compare to the Shred video? I totally agree that she doesn't have her clients' interests in mind since she advocated diet pills....not a fan of that.
I agree about Jillian and her views on pills, but she is great for workouts!! Right now we are taking a little break from Insanity, our bodies need it.
Have a good night girl!
Yeah - I agree about Jillian - but you're right here DVDs are cheeeap and they kick your butt.
my fav workout dvd for cardio is Tae Bo advanced and any of the Jari Love videos for strength training. loveeeeeee em!!
i trired insanity too- i agree its kinda hard on the joints, but it is a really good workout!
Frozen millet bread.. interesting. And Archer Farms pb? Is that from Target?! Sounds intriguing...
That cake sounds so so good! I'm all over anything with PB!
NMTZ is SO HARD!! I used to do it twice a week and it'll kick your butt! But it's a good kind of hard :) As is usual with Jillian.
Love you!
I'm not a big fan of Jillian either. Her methods may get fast results, but I find them a little bit too extreme and unhealthy. Gotta give her props for getting the job done, though... I guess.
I've never actually tried any workout DVD's. I'm just getting back into exercise now, and I'm thinking about a gym membership rather than DVD's. I'm no expert in the matter, but it seems like trying to keep my eyes glued to a screen and getting the moves right would be a little bit hard? I'd really love to take some classes though, which is why I'm considering the gym :)
Candy was always my biggest weakness, and I was the. biggest. junkfood eater back in the day. My favorites were sour watermelon slices, Mars bars, and Skittles. Oooo takes me back.
am I the last person in the world who honestly doesnt know who Jillian Michaels is?! the only place I've heard of her is on the blog world by people who find her less-than-inspiring but from what I gather she's supposed to be some big inspiration? I guess this is because I dont have a TV haha
Workout DVDs? not so much my thing ... I can't work out in my own home. I need to go elsewhere, get out of my "zone"
I like to mix marinara+tahina...it tastes just like penne a la vodka sauce. seriously.
fave candy ... snickers and reeses. since reeses are easy to veganize i set my sights on snickers and I came up with something I'm really happy with...its totally dangerous though. tooooo good.
That dinner looks awesome!
If I could eat candy other than dark chocolate (I'm corn intolerant... everything is made with corn syrup) I would live off of Reese's Miniatures. Not the big ones, the little ones... that I could eat a whole bag of in one sitting and enjoy feeling sick to my stomach because of the joy I would feel from eating all that candy!
I actually quit my gym bc I was doing so many workout/yoga videos on ExerciseTV at home! And I must say that I'm in the best shape of my life due to the variety of workouts you can do with videos/on demand ExTv!
Yea I was NOT happy when she came out with diet pills either, ugh. I haven't tried any of her workouts yet but I can only imagine how intense they are after seeing her on TV lol!
Whaaat!? Frozen millet bread? I can't even stand room temperature millet bread. It must be toasted or microwaved otherwise it is far too dry and crumbly for me. I think warming it up brings out it's dense doughy character.
...maybe I'm just crazy :)
I LOVE m&m's and skittles...always have! I actually tried the new pretzel m&m's the other night, very tasty.
I'm not a huge exercise video fan, but they do come handy when the weather doesn't permit an outdoor workout. I usually just use the exercise TV we have OnDemand, that way I don't have to buy any tapes.
REESES ALL THE WAY. So good! I plan on ordering NMTZ and maybe core fusion, too. Thanks for the review!
I really like Jillian's kickboxing video, and I have had my MTV pilates DVD for like 6 years now and still break it out occasionally. I try to do them when I'm home alone, though, because I tend to make a pretty big ruckus with all of the jumping, etc, that the exercise videos require.
I'm a sucker for Sour Patch Kids. I could eat a whole bag of them in one sitting, no problem.
Peanut butter on frozen bread sounds really good- its been soo hot here this week, over 100 easy!
Favorite candy... I really like Reeses Pieces or Peanut M&Ms- but you can't beat the thick goodness of a snickers!
iohh i am addicting to insanity and looking for a new one to do! i have the p90x dvds so I am thining of alternating btwn that and insanity for a bit to get the cardio and weight training!
i never tried jillians workouts, and although I cant standher either, I am sure she kicks butt!!!
I've never tried a workout dvd. I just can't see myself being motivated to exercise when there's a tv in front of me and a couch calling my name! ;)
All your dad's birthday treats sound delicious. I'm sure they'll be a big hit!
My favourite candy back in the day were Caramilk bars.
I've come to realize that workout DVDs are a great SUPPLEMENT to a workout, but shouldn't be all I do. I love Insanity (obviously :)) but I really needed to get back to incorporating weights into my routine. Now I have the best of both worlds...and really sore muscles!
That cake sounds unbelievable. Everytime I make anything with chopped Reeses...I eat a ton of them! I like to think it helps with my creativity! I like Jillian's workouts, but like you I have a hard time getting over how she pushes everything natural and pushes diet pills in the next breath.
I'm not really a workout DVD person. For strength training, I go to the free instructor-led classes at my gym. I like to have somebody there to correct my form and make sure I don't injure myself somehow. Plus, I work a lot harder!
I don't do workout DVD's. I need to get out of the house in order to work out otherwise I wouldn't do it.
also, I like to lift heavy weights-- which I don't have at home.
The title of this post is too perfect, haha :)
I'm not so much a DVD girl - I like to do ma thang in the gym or outside. I get so distracted when I do at-home DVD or tv workouts :( Although I do love the short ones on exercisetv.com
Heart Thrives are amazing - I love to heat them up and spread them with almond butter!
ah good luck with that! lol. I have a pilates dvd, but for the most part Im not a huge fan of DVDs. its something about the repetition.
i own the 30 day shred, but have a hard time working out in my home. i much prefer a gym!
your party sounds like it's going to rule - you're such a good daughter!
I have Jillian's Shred but only use it once in a while. It's a good short workout to use in addition to my daily cardio when I don't feel like making up my own weight workout. I didn't know she endorsed weight loss pills. Boo :(
Favorite Candy: reese's pieces or rolos that have been in the freezer
I agree..I don't like that she endorses diet pills but the Shred kicks my butt! I really want to try No More Trouble Zones too!
gah i'm a total jelly beans kind of girl!!! so addicted to them it's quite ridiculous haha but besides that i'd have to go with a frozen york peppermint patty :)
have fun at dad's party!!!!
omg I just remembered a candy obsession of mine and had to come back here and tell you ... I am OBSESSED with juicy pear jelly bellies. i absolutely cannot resist them. only the juicy pear flavor
haha I know I'm so weird. Can't wait to see you next week!
On rainy days and in the winter I use some workout DVDs, but I'm not too into them. I'd much rather try to make my own workout.
Peanut M&Ms are my favorite, definitely.
I am currently doing the 30 day shred, so I will be excited to see your review of this DVD! It annoys me as well that she has diet pills--come on Jillian!
I never got into the whole workout DVD thing, but that's changing with my new yoga addiction. I just can't spring for $20/class!
I love butterfingers and sour gummy worms...but I havent had either in forever! I guess that's a good thing...
I have a friend who calls Jillian her "babycakes" and idolizes her, so I had a pretty good impression of her...until I realized that she is just a commercialized money-maker who is obsessed with her weight. So not a fan of Jillian, either.
I love Kit Kat! Japan has all sorts of Kit Kat flavors! And I also love all sorts of gummies.
God I love millet bread too - I'll have to try it cold!
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Kit Kats were my childhood addiction!
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