Tools For Success!

Would you work on your car without the proper tools?  So why work on your body without important tools that you NEED to have?  Losing weight can be such a yo-yo.  You do well, you don't do well, you do well, you don't do well.  However, I feel that if you have the proper tools in hand, you can truly succeed.
I want to tell you about the tools that work for me!  Here are MY top ten tools for my success!
1.  I LOVE this webpage/app.  I have tried others and they didn't work as well for me.  Sparkspeople, while didn't work for me, is another great tool if you find you do not like myfitnesspal.  This little secret weapon logs your exercise and your food.  The food database is massive and I rarely find that it doesn't have what I need.  And the best part for me is that there is a barcode scanner in the food adding section.  It's a quick easy to way to add the food to your log, you simply click the barcode icon, hold your phone over the food labels barcode, and VIOLA!  99% of the time it adds it!  the other 1% is that rare occasion it doesn't have your phone in the database.  Again, very rare for me!
2.  My ROKU!  This little bad boy is my favorite thing in my entertainment center.  I actually got rid of my Dish because I found I NEVER watched it anymore.  This has Netflix, Hulu+, and a TON of free channels.  One of those channels is All Fitness TV.  It has SO MANY free workouts on it that I never get bored.  The only downside to this channel is the 3-4 30 second commercials before EVERY show you watch.  So if you are just clicking on things to see if they work for you (which I do a lot) that can be time consuming.  Otherwise, this is a great channel on a great tool.  It also has Pandora which we use a lot in this house too.  When I am cleaning or want to dance around the house with the kids, we just turn this little bad boy on.  Also, this is a super kid friendly device, my 5 year old was using it no problems in the mornings.  If you do not mind paying a monthly fee for a workout assistant, I would go with Daily Burn.  I have browsed that site many times and I think it's a fantastic tool that would help many people with losing weight. It has customized nutrition, workouts, etc.  And it's only about $7.50 a month from what I read on the website.  Now if you don't like any of those channels, that is ok, because the Roku 2 XS model has a USB port for your flash drive.  Put what you want to watch on that bad boy and slap it in the Roku.  Occasionally I have to reformat whatever it is I want to watch, but there are a TON of free converters out there.  You can also play games on it, like Angry Birds.  I paid about $90 for it at Costco and I rarely have to burn DVDs anymore from the movies and show I buy and download.  Great for the environment, great for the wallet!
Great stuff!  Give it a go if good music is an issue for you for working out!
4.  Rip 60 baby!  About a year ago I got some personal training at my local gym and something that he used on me was something similar to this.  The version he used was called TRX, but Rip 60 is a bit cheaper, and I got a ton of DVDs with it.

The Rip 60 Training System features suspended rotation. The Rip 60 Training System forces your body to stabilize and balance throughout your workout for maximum muscle activation. You'll not only lose weight and strengthen muscles, but you'll increase flexibility, power and endurance. With this ultimate at-home workout system, you'll completely transform your body in just 60 days! The Rip 60 Training System includes: Rip 60 straps 8 Workout DVDs Rip 60 for Runners DVD Rip 60 Nylon Carrying Bag Jillian Michael Fat Shredding DVD Georges St. Pierre Lean Muscle DVD Rip 60 Power Yoga Workout DVD 60 Day Nutrition Guide Dimensions: 10.3"L x 3"W x 17.7"H

That is what is advertised with it online.  It really works!  You HAVE to use it though, it can't just hang on your door all day everyday staring at you.  Trust me, I tried that.  But it is so easy to use, and if you do not like weights, like the space they take up, or just need something a little different, this is it.  And you can make it as hard or easy as you want my simply adjusting your body a little bit.  Great for legs, core, arms....everything!
5.  Weight Watchers.  Hands down one of the best tools I have ever used.  I do not actually use it anymore, BUT when I was just starting out and not sure what to do, this was my saving grace.  The points system made it easy and stress free for me to lose the weight.  I lost 20 pounds on it.  When I quit the program I gained it all back because I didn't continue eating healthy and eating smaller portions.  I went back to my old ways, and that was a personal struggle, not a Weight Watchers failure.  My in-laws also used Jenny Craig and they lost A TON of weight on that!  So it doesn't hurt to at least call and talk to someone if you feel this is an area you are stuck in!
6.  Yoga and Pilates are two amazing workouts that can literally transform your body and your way of working out.  I can sometimes get more/better results with yoga or Pilates than I do with hardcore cardio.  I highly recommend this for 1-2 times a week!  It is relaxing, it is very beginner friendly if you find the right DVD and it's great for sore muscles and getting a nice lean body.  Bob Harper's Weight Loss Yoga is one of my personal favorites in this category.  Don't have a mat?  That is ok because if you are doing a gym class, they more often than not provide ones to borrow for the class.  Try it, and keep trying it until you find one you like.  Pilates actually got rid of my saddlebags on my thighs from having children.  I did about 5 Pilates workouts and noticed a HUGE difference.  I am not saying this will work for everyone, but I am saying give it a shot because it is worth it!
6.  Pinterest really has brought me many things, one of them being health and fitness.  Between normal people like you and me posting workout, recipes, and inspirational pictures/quotes, I have found this to be a great tool.  You would be surprised at the things you can find on this site!  LOVE IT!  You can follow your friends too and see what their using and what works for them on their boards.  Pin now, read later :)
7.  Inspiration.  I can't tell you how many times I would have quit had I found something to inspire me.  So I have quotes that inspire me all over.  In my fitness notebook, on the background of my computer and phone, etc.  And yes, Facebook.  This blog is one of those tools.  I know that maybe one person a month reads this thing, but if I can inspire that one person, I will keep writing.  And because I need to write I need to commit.  This is something that drives me and everyone needs that in their life.  Your frame of mind really does dictate success!  Don't say things to yourself that you would never let anyone else say to you!  As Ghandi says "Be the change you want to see in the world".  You can't just want something, you have to really work at it, and sometimes that is hard, so get some extra umph!