Many women think just doing cardio or aerobic exercises are enough to lose weight, but in reality it is NOT. It might more your areas smaller, but it can still leave them jiggly. Have that problem? I know I have jiggle areas that need work! :)

Aerobic and cardio exercises are only half the solution. The other half is weight training. For optimal fitness, longevity, and a lean body, weight training is essential.

You should NOT ever just rely on the number on the scale for your progress. Measure inches, test body fat, or see how our clothes fit are some other ways to measure your weight loss progress.

This article is really good about 10 reasons why we, women, should weight train too:

1) Burn more fat
2) Change your body shape
3) Boost your metabolism.
4) Become stronger and more confident
5) Build strong bones
6) Beat depression
7) Improve sports fitness
8) Reduce injuries and arthritis
9) Get heart healthy
10) Defend against diabetes

https://www.teambeachbody.com/teambeachbodyblog/fitness/10-reasons-women-need-lift-weights

THE ULTIMATE THANKSGIVING GUIDE

Are you ready for the big, festive day, THANKSGIVING, tomorrow? I think you are and there are some great tips provided so far to help you enjoy the celebration and not go overboard!!

I have provided a Thanksgiving guide to assist you in your planning & make it go smoothly, ESPECIALLY how to cook a turkey (scroll down towards the bottom of the page)!! I will be using some of these guidelines as I cook my FIRST turkey breast tomorrow. :)

There are also some DELICIOUS and AWESOME recipes in planning your meal as well with some recipes. ENJOY!!

https://www.teambeachbody.com/teambeachbodyblog/thanksgiving-guide?ICID=CT_BLOG_THKSGVNG_GUIDE

Some thoughts ~~~

**Did you know in the year 1971, Tom Turkey made his first debut in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and he has been leading it ever since?

**Did you know we have Franklin D. Roosevelt to thank for setting Thanksgiving as a national holiday, which is the 4th Thursday of November every year?

**Did you know that the average number of calories Americans consume on Thanksgiving is 4500?

**Did you know that there are 6 subspecies of wild turkeys? The Pilgrims ate the Eastern wild turkey while we eat a descendant of the South Mexican wild turkey.

SURVIVING THANKSGIVING MEALS

Thanksgiving is a FAVORITE holiday by most and it's where one eats lots of yummy foods BUT-----

It doesn't have to be where you feel like a food-sleep coma after you eat!! Autumn has a wonderful video of how to fill your Thanksgiving plate where you don't go overboard with calories.

A lot of times we start filling our plates with the carbs and sugary stuff because it just (let's admit it) taste so good!! But a GOOD RULE OF THUMB start with your veggies and protein and then there is only a small space for the carbs.

Your plate looks pretty and way less calories and you can still go back for seconds (because we all know at Thanksgiving it is so delicious)!!

Watch Autumn's short five minute video of filling your plate & then I posted a link in the comments of the two plates she talks about with bigger pictures and comparisons!!

https://www.teambeachbody.com/teambeachbodyblog/nutrition/survive-thanksgiving-dinner-autumn-calabrese

GET FIT AND STAY TRIMMED AROUND THE HOLIDAYS!!

WATER.......DRINK IT!!!

WATER ~~~ I wanted to make sure while you are staying or getting fit, you drink LOTS of water! You should be drinking half of your body weight daily in ounces. For example, if you weight 150 lbs you should be drinking 75 oz of water daily.

Sometimes plain water needs to be jazzed up because the taste gets boring (it happens to me ALL the time), so this picture will share some ways to jazz up your water intake.

I love to either add a lemon or fruit in my water for extra taste.

THANKSGIVING EATING TIPS

I know around the holidays we all love to munch on that certain favorite food item(s) we don't get the rest of the year, but then "groan" oh no it was a lot of calories, fat, or sugar.

Yep that is me too! And since I am kind of short it goes straight to my waist and hip areas the excess! I then have to work my bottom off to shed those extra calories. I know....it happens! It does to me but I have a possible solution ~~~

This link provides a good insight of Thanksgiving recipe swap that Beachbody has prepared for us! You can still have your yummy and delicious holiday food item but with less calories, fat, and sugar. 

https://www.teambeachbody.com/teambeachbodyblog/nutrition/8-healthier-thanksgiving-recipes-to-save-calories

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER MASH

Who LOVES mashed potatoes? Who LOVES cauliflower?

Well, I have a recipe swap for you! I love to swap out potatoes, spaghetti, or pizza crust for CAULIFLOWER!! And I love that Aldi has cauliflower snow as it is already prepared (cut into little pieces) for the busy moms, dads, etc. I use cauliflower snow for many things like rice as well as the above items.

Here is a recipe for swapping mashed potatoes for cauliflower mash!! YUM YUM YUM

https://www.teambeachbody.com/teambeachbodyblog/nutrition/roasted-cauliflower-mash

Treadmill BOOST.....

http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/45-Minute-Treadmill-Pyramid-Intervals-26682480

STRETCHING.....IS IMPORTANT!!

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/stretching_benefits.asp