Hot Mama’s IGNITE Program – Torch Level: Day 3

Today’s workout was sweaty. It was beyond sweaty. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m fighting illness or if I’m just burning some serious calories, but I was DRIPPING after the OHM’s Fav workout and my weight workout. DRIP-PING.

The OHM’s Fav is, well, my favorite workout. I designed it after I had my daughter and I needed a way to get back doing cardio in a very short amount of time. At the time I started, my daughter was 7 weeks old and I also had a almost 3 year old at home with me, as well. I knew I needed to design a workout that I could push myself at but be done in 20 minutes.

The OHM’s Fav has been my favorite for almost 6 years now. And every time…EVERY SINGLE TIME…I fall in love with the workout once I’m finished. After I injured my knee last year I wasn’t sure I could do the OHM’s Fav to the level and exertion I wanted by walking. Let me now tell you one thing…intervals on a treadmill while you WALK at a high incline are ridiculously effective. Not only did I rehab my knee, I took off the depression-induced weight gain I experienced after my knee surgery.

Walking and hills, baby…it worked. I’m now able to run but I’ve found sprint work still hurts my knee so I now stick to running slower at higher inclines.

The weights workout today…let’s just say shampooing will be difficult tomorrow. And isn’t that just the best feeling? Right? Anyone?

<taps mic, “Is this thing on?”>

As far as nutrition goes, I curse sugar. I curse your addictive nature, your delicious taste and the fact that you are in ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY everything. If you haven’t been reading labels…do it. Read them. You’re going too be surprised at how often sugar lands in the ingredients list of your favorite foods.

Look for these words: sugar (d’uh), glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, dextrose, agave syrup, brown rice syrup, corn syrup, high fructose syrup, maple syrup, cane juice/evaporated cane juice, honey, molasses, barley malt, maltodextrins.

I’ve also chosen to eliminate all artificial sweeteners, so I’m looking for:

• Aspartame (Equal^®, Nutrasweet^®)
• Sucralose (Splena)
• Acesulfame-Potassium (Ace-K^®)
• Cyclamate (Sugar Twin^®, Sweet ‘N Low^®)
• Saccharin (Hermesetas^®)
• Sugar Alcohols (Lactitol, Maltitol, Mannitol, Polyols, Sorbitol, Xylitol)
• Stevia

IGNITE recommends eliminating sugar to break the sweet-tooth habit, but I chose to eliminate both sugar and artificial sweeteners. Dates have become my new best friend.

The sugar withdrawal headache is similar to someone jackhammering at the back on my eyeballs to the beat of my heart. It pulses. It throbs. As an added bonus, there’s always a low-grade, constant hum of pain in my temples. I know this will last another day or two. Le sigh.

Sugar is such an addictive asshole. Yeah, I swore about it, it’s that bad.. Sorry Mom. But seriously…it’s such poison, but I always go back to it…WHY DO I ALWAYS GO BACK TO YOU? Silly peanut butter cups!

So far though…Day 3 is going well. I’ve had my breakfast, did my workouts and have my meals planned. I hit up Costco last night and am ready to kick it into high gear. I’m feeling motivated and supported…so all is fab in Lindsayland.

Now you…YOU go workout, okay?!