Fitness Transformation Tuesday with Mary Maxwell

So many amazing stories land in my inbox on a weekly basis. This one brought tears to my eyes. After such a tragic childhood Mary has found her happiness and a reason to smile. Here's a totally inspirational story to end Transformation Tuesday in 2013.

Let me introduce you to beautiful Mary Maxwell.

Mary loses over 68kgs - 148lbs

How old are you and please can you share your health and fitness journey to dates?

My name is Mary and I am 22 years old. My life has been filled with many memorable dates but none as memorable as September 10, 2012. Let me start from the beginning. After struggling with my weight my whole life I decided a year ago it was time to change my ways. After both of my parents dying when I was an infant; my father from terminal cancer and my mother from a heart attack, I was adopted. At age 12 my adopted father died and I fell into a huge depression. Food was my best friend and also my worst enemy. At the age of 19 I weighed in at 315lbs - 140kgs! I decided after being on diets my whole life and trying to lose weight naturally, I knew I needed to get some help. On September 10, 2012 I underwent Gastric Bypass surgery. It was a very tough decision but after realising that I was not able to do it with diet and exercise alone, I needed a tool to help. The first year of my journey was very tough. I was in and out of the hospital 3 times in 9 months due to serious health complications from the surgery. In 9 months I had 3 major surgeries to fix my stomach from complications. It was a hard road but I would do it all over again in a heart beat. I knew at the beginning that I could lose my life from the surgery but I knew I could lose my life from obesity also. I knew I would much rather risk my life trying to save it that to do nothing at all. Today, 15 months after I stated my journey, I now weigh 160lbs - 72kgs. I went from a size 26 pants to an 8. 4x shirts to a medium! I have now been able to live my life to the fullest and have no regrets whatsoever!

What types of foods did you used to eat as a kid and young adult? What's changed since then? 

As a child I was very depressed due to my father passing away. Food became my only friend. I would always be sneaking food and eating the worst way possible. I was never a sweets eater, but if you put a medium pizza in front of me, I could finish it in a half hour! Now, I have come to realize that food is not a replacement for other stress-relieving activities such as reading, exercising, or journaling.

Do you play any sports or what sports do you like watching? 


I played sports all through middle school and high school. I was on the swim team for 3 years and played softball for 8 years, including varsity. 

What are your interests, passion and what makes you smile?

My interests are spending time with friends and family. I also enjoy listening to music and dancing. My passion in life is children. I am in school to be a teacher and am planning to move to Thailand within the next year to teach over there. Many things make me smile, but the thing that makes me smile most of all is life! I am so happy to be alive and to be able to experience new adventures I could never do before, when my weight was holding me back!

What was the catalyst that sparked your lifestyle change? 


I was getting older and realising how much passion I had for living. I knew that my mother had died young from a heart attack and my aunt who was 26 died from a heart attack due to her obesity. I did not want to end up like my family.

What are some of your dreams/goals you hope to achieve over the next 12 months? 


I hope to hit my fitness goal which is to run a 10k. I also would like to reach the proper BMI for my height.

What tips would you like to share with my readers about your transformation? 


No matter what life throws at you, keep pushing. Do not fall into the traps of society. It is not about your weight, it is about your health. Do it for YOU and no one else. Stick to it because your future self will thank you!!

***

Thank you so much Mary for sharing your journey with us. Keep up the amazing work and keep inspiring others! 

You can follow Mary's amazing journey on her social media sites;

Instagram instagram.com/maxwel1ma 

Twitter twitter.com/maxwel1ma

Website maxwel1ma.com

Wishing you all an amazing 2013 and look forward to sharing many more transformations in 2014!

Much love & friendship,

XxDani 

Motivation Monday with Follow The Lita

I love it when other people motivate and inspire me, it just pushes my own intrinsic motivation. We all need some external motivation from time to time and this babe does it for me.

Here is my beautiful Samoan princess Lita who is all about fitness, enjoying good health and "maintaining a physique decent enough to show off in the mirror!" Quoted by the woman herself.

FollowTheLita

I read this motivational quote when perusing her social media page today;

EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE

IS A REFLECTION OF A 

CHOICE YOU HAVE MADE.

IF YOU WANT A DIFFERENT

RESULT.

MAKE A DIFFERENT

CHOICE.

So go check out my girl Lita out as she posts all sorts of health, fitness, dietary advice plus other topics of love and everything else that makes our lives full of abundance.

Blog followthelita.wordpress.com
Instagram instagram.com/followthelita
Facebook facebook.com/Followthelita
YouTube youtube.com/FollowTheLitaTV
Twitter twitter.com/FollowTheLita
Tumbler followthelitafitness.tumblr.com

I can't wait to share my interview with this beauty in the New Year. WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!

Who motivates you?

Much love & friendship,
xxDani 

Freeletics on a Friday with our Mystery Free Athlete

WOW! What a week, how did you survive Christmas? I know personally my belly is bloated and I really didn't make too many healthy choices but hey! today is a brand new day right?

Having said that lets not delay with our Freeletics Athlete, let's see how week 2 went for her including all the Christmas temptations....

Week 1 vs Week 2

How long are the workouts taking you? Are they difficult or are you getting stronger? 

I am loving the workouts this week and I am getting quicker. It's awesome to see the time of all your workouts and to see if you are beating it, it's good motivation and I get a kick out of beating my time. It may not be the fastest... but it's my time and my journey! 

I think I am getting stronger with the burpees because I can get lower to the ground when I jump my feet out. I am sure it will get harder but this week has helped me build my confidence that my body can actually do this!

What workouts did you do this week?

I did a lot of aphrodite workouts and burpee max ones. Check out the website for the details as you can sign up for that one for free.

What are you eating and how did you cope with all the Christmas festivity foods and drinks?

I love the freeletics nutrition guide as it gives you direction on how to eat well. I am incorporating protein into my meals based on the advice they give you. I have had a lot of salads because it is so hot! Christmas was hard but I gave myself 2 days to have drinks and treats. You have gotta live, but now I am back on track! 

Here's how simple my breakfast is, scrambled eggs with spinach and cherry tomatoes. Done in 5 minutes! Super tasty.

What's motivated you this week to exercise regularly and where have you been working out?

The motivation for me this week has been SUMMER!! It is hot and I am bearing more skin so I need to tone up. The benefit of it being so hot is that I have been doing my workouts outside! It is so nice, I have even done sone barefoot to feel the grass on my feet. So refreshing!

What was the hardest thing you found this week with exercise and nutrition?

The hardest thing this week has been temptation. So much yummy food, chocolates, wine. It has been soooo hard! That is why I gave myself 2 days off. I didn't want to feel guilty for eating the food but I also didn't want to ruin my excercise! So 2 days was my compromise and I feel better for it!

***

Thank you to our beautiful Freeletics athlete for sharing her journey with us this week. It takes a lot of guts and determination  to share this kind of transformation with the world every week. No pressure!!! ;-) Keep up the terrific work!

Week 1 vs Week 2 with Freeletics workout

Come join us at Freeletics and buy your program here.

Much love and friendship,
xxDani 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas! I hope you are all enjoying this amazing day and spending it with your loved ones.

Here's a super easy Christmas salad to make today. 

Chopped watermelon with feta cheese and red currants. Garnish with mint leaves and squeeze some lemon juice. Really refreshing and amazing with BBQ garlic prawns. 

Or this one is a favorite if you have red currants. Simply add whatever green salad and vegetables you have, feta cheese and watermelon. For the dressing mix some lime juice with macadamia oil Mmmmmm....

We also made some Christmas porridge with strawberries and blueberries decorated with my favourite flowers Frangipani.

It's so hard to eat in moderation this time of year. I'm typically on a "seefood" diet around Christmas time. Get it. I see food and I just eat it!!! ;-) ha ha 

However rest assured a bad meal will not sabotage all the healthy eating you have been doing throughout the year. So knock yourself out and live a little. Enjoy this amazing time with your friends and family. 

Ahhhhh.... our #xmas25squats challenge comes to an end today and what better way to finish it off with the man himself and his little elf helper!!! ;-) 

Merry Christmas everyone! Wishing you and your families all the love, health and happiness in the New Year. I can't wait to share another amazing year with you all. Thank you so much for supporting me. I have so many things COMING SOON in 2014. 

How do you spend Christmas Day?

Much love and friendship,

XxDani 

Freeletics Friday - Mystery Transformation

Hello everyone.

I am very excited to share with you our very first Freeletics Mystery Transformation athlete. One of my readers has just commenced her first week of Freeletics. We will take you on a journey over the next 15 weeks (and yes I too will appear with my own Freeletics results) however this is all about you and how you too can change your lifestyle around and lead a healthier and fit life.

Let me introduce you to this amazing Mother of 2, ages 6 and 4. She has totally embraced the Freeletics program and would like to share that even ordinary people can make a change if they really set their mind to it. Remember that motto MIND over MATTER. If you truly want it, you are the only person that can make that change.

Here are some questions I asked our Mystery Freeletics athlete about how Week 1 went;

What's your overall thoughts on the Freeletics program and did you survive Week 1?

I can't tell you how many burpees I have done during week one of Freeletics...the hardest excercise ever... but at the same time the best excercise ever! Who said that getting results was meant to be easy?

The eating has been good, although it is hard seeming it is the silly season! The nutrition does not seem to be restrictive, just a few ideas and tips on what to incorporate at all meals.

All in all a good week! Next week may be harder... but I am looking forward to more burpees ;)

What is the biggest challenge you faced this week? How did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge this week was to actually do the max tests. It was very daunting the thought of performing 300 secs worth of burpees. I think that is what can stop people, how daunting some tasks may seem. I just thought to myself, just do it and in 300 secs you will know if it was that bad.... so I just did it.  It was hard but I felt great at the end of it, I didn't think I could do 300 secs of Burpees.

What made you decide it was time to make a change?

I recently went away on a holiday and didn't feel as comfortable in my skin as I should. I am a fit person but I am not toned and I don't eat as healthy as I could. I needed to do something about that. I want to look as good as I feel, in a sense that I feel fit but when I look in the mirror I get disgruntled that I don't look as fit as I feel. I want to feel good and see my strength.

Why did you choose Freeletics over the hundreds of other options?

I saw Dani talking about Freeletics on her website and I just loved the idea of being able to log into a website off my Ipad or phone and do my exercise. With working and 2 kids, I sometimes don't have time for me until 8:30 at night, with freeletics, I can just log on and do it anywhere in the house or on the road if I am away for work. I love the freedom it presents to me.

How long do the workouts take you and are they difficult?

It's hard work! The Freeletics session takes between 15-20mins and I try to beat my time each session. As I mentioned above, nothing good ever comes easy and I haven't been exercising for a while so I guess my body just needs to condition itself.

What are you eating?

Eggs for breakfast, meat and carbs for lunch, meat and vegetables for dinner! The nutrition guide is brilliant so many beautiful meals to choose from.

What motivates you to exercise regularly and where do you workout?

My motivation comes from the ease of just picking up my ipad and doing it wherever and whenever I can... at home before the kids get up, before kids go to bed or even with the kids outside.  It's so versatile there is no excuse. 

What equipment do you use for training and what do you love most about it?

I use my workout mat, take a drink bottle, iPad and a towel. The other equipment I use is just my body weight so there is no unnecessary fitness gadgets used to do this program. I love it! Especially connoting with other Freeletics athletes all across the world. Even my husband is thinking of doing the program, which will be great motivation for us both.

* * * 

Thank you so so much for your first weeks insight into Freeletics. I can't wait to see how you go next week!

So lets do this! For those that wish to join us at Freeletics please click here or see my Fitness tab here for my transformations thus far. You can also purchase your nutritional guide for those that need help with what foods to eat, I highly recommend it. Both myself and our mystery Freeletics athlete are doing the 15 week cardio based program. There are 3 programs to choose from. My brother and husband are doing both the strength and cardio based program and they too are keen to share their transformations over the coming weeks.

Are you in?

Please list any questions you may have below and I look forward to seeing you all in Freeletics land!!!

Much love and friendship,

XxDani

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I wanted to take the time to wish all of YOU a very Merry Christmas and an upcoming safe and Happy New Year.  WOW…can you believe how the time has gone by in a blink?  Life truly is like that you know and it is so important to cherish every moment, and really take in the meaning of things.  We get so caught up in busy, busy, busy, that even relaxing has become a stressful event…WHAT???

Believe me, I used to be one of those busy people who felt that time was utilized for work and if I was not doing something productive every minute then I was wasting valuable time.  This can really create a self- inflicted guilt trip that dares a person to even place their backside on the sofa for a minute…back then, it caused too much anxiety.  So, I buzzed around like a bee all the time and I did not realize how much of life I was missing.  I was too busy trying to make a living and not make a life. I truly thank God for my older, wiser, better self who has slowed the pace of my life down to a healthy balance and I can now see the world and everything all around me with much more clarity for many years now.  It is absolutely awesome to take deep full breathes and not feel on edge about this and that, and let go of thing that really do not matter in the big scheme of life.

Lately, my husband and I have been surrounded by people in crisis through illness, death, and job loss.  Our hearts have been touched, pained, and our knees bent in prayer for those that we care about.  It is times like these that life does not make sense, and even can provide a fear and a desperate cry for protection of our lives, relationship, finances, and all things meaningful in this life.  There is no amount of money that replaces a person, and that is when it is realized that all that busyness is for nothing.  It is so important to have a heart of gratitude, and thankfulness because there are people out there who are praying for the very things that I/you/we have that are taken for granted.  I know this sounds like heavy stuff, but it really is just a share of how important it is to realize how important life is…it is truly a GIFT and there are no guarantees of how long the gift of being here will last.  I do know that taking care of this gift of life is what I am supposed to do, and taking care of my physical, nutritional, emotional and spiritual health are all a part of that plan.  That is what I share with you here on the Blog…ME to MOTIVATE you, and if I have touched one person, inspired, encouraged, or helped in some way to better the quality of life for someone…then I have accomplished my goal. 

As I sit here typing my thoughts to you, I wonder what you are thinking, feeling, and how your life is going?  Are you caught up in “too busy” and not making time to take care of you, missing out on family and friend opportunities, not making a call to that person that has been on your mind, and other meaningful things that you think about  but are pushed aside each day because that busy voice keeps taking over? We never want to be in a position of regret and saying, I wish I would have done this or that, because at that moment it is too late.  Life is about taking those important things and doing them now.  Tossing the “too busy card” is a necessity to have a healthy life and that is really what this post is about. 

I understand the importance of work, but we all have the ability to create a healthy balance of life through choices, changes of priority, and our overall mindset of what we think and feel about life.  My wish and gift to all of you this Christmas, is that you all step back and really allow yourself to relax and get into the moment, develop a heart of gratitude, see with the eyes of a child and play with such freedom of non-care that it is contagious, laugh until your belly hurts, and be REAL in your sharing with your spouse, family and friends.  Adapt such a balanced, healthy lifestyle that everyone will be asking YOU what you are doing to get healthy, because it all starts between the ears and shines through with your actions.  Take good care and Merry Christmas!

ME and My Girls

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list.  If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding!

Stay Healthy



Darla

Advanced Test O Boost Reviews: A Niwali Health Product

Advanced Test O Boost Overview

Niwali Advanced Test O Boost is a testosterone booster product that claims to be all-natural manufactured by Niwali Advanced Test O Boost (the company has the same name as its flagship brand). If you wish to feel superhuman when having your little sexual escapade with the ladies, then this is the product for you. This unique and propriety formula is a pill that can start working after weeks of use.

Advanced Test O Boost Ingredients

Here are the ingredients of Test O Boost.

• Tongkat Ali: It naturally elevates your testosterone levels. It's another name for the plant derivative known as EurycomaLongifolia.
• Tribulus Terrestris: This is the substance that can improve semen quality, ejaculations, and your overall libido. It's particularly handy when it comes to enhancing your libido.
• Ginseng: This agent improves your blood flow and stamina.
• L-Arginine: This amino acid assists growth hormone and nitric oxide production.

Does Advanced Test O Boost Really Work?

Yes. It works by using its four primary ingredients—ginseng, tribulus terrestris, l-arginine, and eurycomalongifolia (tongkat ali)—as a four-way method of increasing your sexual stamina and regular physical stamina incrementally yet substantially. It's incremental because the pills themselves don't contain any sort of testosterone. Instead, this therapy encourages your body to develop testosterone for you.

Is Advanced Test O Boost Effective in boosting testosterone?

As discussed above, yes, Test O Boost is effective in testosterone boosting. For one thing, it contains the staple male enhancement agent known as tribulus terrestris, which is a mainstay in products such as this because of studies proving its efficacy in improving your sexual capabilities. As for the tongkatali, there have been anecdotal studies that it helps increase sexual control, vigor, and sperm count.

Pros of Advanced Test O Boost

The pros of Test O Boost include:

• 30-day money back guarantee
• Numerous positive customer reviews
• Convenient purchasing online, some ingredients (particularly tribulus terrestris)
• Proved at increasing testosterone levels through clinical studies
• The use of all natural ingredients
• Getting a more pumped look
• Weight reduction
• More stamina and energy when going to the gym
• Invigorated feeling
• Better sexual performance.

Cons of Advanced Test O Boost

• Direct testosterone doping is still more effective at immediately raising your levels than relying on Test O Boost, which requires you a few weeks before you notice any significant effects.
• It's not available in stores and the side effect profile for this supplement is not fully understood as well.

Is Advanced Test O Boost Clinically Tested?

The ingredients of Test O Boost have undergone quite a lot of independent studies by laboratories. There are clinically proven results connected to some ingredients (like the aforementioned tribulus terrestris) that prove the male enhancement and bodybuilding efficacy. There's a 73% testosterone increase by people who use this supplement because the sex hormone binding globulin that blocks production is decreased after three weeks.

Does Advanced Test O Boost Have Any Side Effects?

It doesn't have any conclusive studies that showcase what side effects it has (although it's claimed to be all-natural), so it's still unclear if this testosterone supplement can cause you any common adverse effects found in most other products or not. Injections, transdermal patches, and oral supplements aren't devoid of these unintended results, which include abnormal muscle tissue growth, kidney damage, premature baldness, and dermal reactions.

Dosage & Cost of Advanced Test O Boost

This male enhancement, testosterone-boosting, and all-natural product is available to you for about $70, give or take a few cents, and $60 for the auto-shipping program. As for dosage, you can take the Test O Boost for 2 pills every day: One in the morning and one in the evening. If you're an athlete or an older gentleman, feel free to double the dosage.

Customer Testimonials

"I had my reservations when I first tried out this product, and in order to make it as effective as possible, I used a stimulant-free pre-workout supplement along with it in order to get better results. I also doubled my dosage of it when I ran out of the pre-workout stimulant. It all worked out in the end." Mike, Palm Springs, FL

"I was actually using it along with Phen375 for the sake of losing weight and suppressing my cravings. It supposedly works after three weeks or something, but in the end, I personally didn't get any noticeable changes. Perhaps its primary usage is male enhancement instead of getting more muscular." Phil, Chicago, IL

Is there Any Money Back Guarantee?

Yes. There's a 30-day no-questions-asked money back guarantee. Test O Boost is also available for 10 days trial form. However, be warned that you're automatically enrolled in the auto-shipping program by ordering this trial. Product cancellation should be done promptly, or else they'll continue to receive the product at $60.

Advanced Test O Boost Conclusion

The effectiveness of Advanced Test O Boost depends on your patience and your intentions. Keep in mind that first and foremost, this is a testosterone boosting supplement for improved sexual stamina and increased libido. In terms of body building or weight loss, your standard exercise regimen and diet scheme will suffice, although that extra testosterone boost can help.

The market is flooded with male enhancement supplements because the demand is high. and customer satisfaction is never ending. Currently, Nugenix, Virectin, Vigrx are very much in demand. I would suggest you to first read the product lable, its assurity and then customer testimonials before trying any male enhancement product.

Fitness Transformation Tuesday with The Raw Boy

It never ceases to amaze me all these phenomenal transformations I receive all across the globe. It totally blows me away and I absolutely love sharing each and every story with you on Transformation Tuesday. 

The raw boy is no different. His transformation came about from a car accident that changed his life about a year ago. He took the opportunity to change his life around and started doing something new with it. Today he is a raw vegan. (like my amazing friend from Fully Raw, check out the interview I did with Kristina here and our Stand Up And Be Rawesome challenge in April 2013). Super cool.

Without further adeui here is Neto's story. 

The Raw Boy shares his transformation with Fitness Food And Style

How old are you and please can you share your health and fitness journey to date?

I am 22 years old and I am raw vegan. I have lost 55kg (in 3 months), clear my cystic acne more than 90% and have cured my constipation. I am also now able to run 6-9 mi everyday. It will be a year this january as vegan/raw vegan.

What types of foods did you used to eat as a kid and young adult? What's changed since then?

Growing up I always ate tons of fruits and vegetables but as a young adult I was a heavy eater of junk food. Eating about more than 3 fast food meals everyday. I now eat only veggies and fruits in their raw state, no processed foods, salts, oils or anything that comes from an animal.

Do you play any sports or what sports do you like watching?

I don't play any sports but I do run every day on my own and I enjoy watching soccer.

What are your interests, passion and what makes you smile?

I love to read and travel and I am very passionate about learning from another cultures. Seeing a smile on the face of a stranger or someone I just got the privilege to help puts the best smile on my face. There's no better satisfaction than helping someone else.

What was the catalyst that sparked your lifestyle change?

I had a car accident a year ago that changed my life for good. After the accident I decided to change my life around and decided that by loosing weight I could help my self feel a little more better about myself, but I never intended on going raw vegan or even caring about my health I just wanted to lose weight. Now my health is on my top priorities.

What are some of your dreams/goals you hope to achieve over the next 12 months?

I wish to cure my Rosacea for good, Rosacea is a chronic skin diseases that affects your skin with redness. Start growing my own produce (fruits and veggies) and start working on my master degree program.

Rosacea before and after becoming a raw vegan

What tips would you like to share with my readers about your transformation?

There's always one question I always ask myself: 

1). Are you really happy with what you are doing, is it really worth it? If not make a change, because finding oneself is the task of a life time. 3 tips/elements I considered essential to a healthier lifestyle are: Hydration, Exercise, and sleeping are key to living a healthier life.

Thank you so much Neto for sharing your amazing story with us, you look amazing and I am so happy to see you have healed most of your ailments. You can follow Neto's heathy journey on his Instagram @therawboy, Twitter and Facebook page.  

For those wishing to share their story please fill out our questions here and I can't wait to feature you!!

Much love and friendship,

XxDani