Mike Chang's Insane Home Fat Loss Workout Review and 4-Week Results

The summer is around the corner and so is my impending trip to Vegas. As thoughts of donning a two-piece haunt me like a nightmare, I quickly think to myself that maybe it's time to stop fat-kidding all over town and to get serious about toning my trouble spots. Right when I was thinking that maybe I'll head back to the gym, I received a lovely delivery in my inbox of personal trainer Mike Chang's (pictured below) Insane Home Fat Loss Workout. I'll admit, I tend to think that all of these Youtube or "As Seen On TV" workouts are gimmicks, but man was I wrong about this one.

Here's the real deal. As an entrepreneur, I work -- a lot. I rarely have time to do the normal things on a day to day basis, and on top of that try to stay fit and active. My meals are delivered via Home Chef now because my grocery shopping and cooking time is limited, and the thought of actually packing up a bag, getting in my car, going to the gym, etc. just seems like more trouble than it is worth. BUT -- seeing as how I'm in the oh-so-glamorous fashion industry, working out and watching what I eat is an unfortunate must.

So I pop in Mike Chang's Insane Home Fat Loss Workout which can be viewed from your smart phone, iPad or other smart device. (I'm usually watching from my iPad.) Seemed pretty simple enough. It's 9 days of varied workouts targeting your core, legs, back, arms, and more. The workouts average at 20 minutes a piece and the routine varies in a circuit-training type system to alleviate boredom. Even after all of this, I still wasn't a believer. Hasn't it been drilled into our heads during our lifetime that we have to put in HOURS at the gym to truly see drastic results? Well Mike Chang will prove it all wrong. (Apologizing in advance for photos in the bathroom but you get the idea.)

Two Weeks

Above are my two weeks results. A few key things to note. I did not change my diet much. As I said before, I have a hectic schedule so eating out is on the menu for the majority of the time. I do however, drink a lot of water constantly throughout the day. As you can see -- a slimmer mid section and definitely a slimmer butt. The muffin top around the waist was definitely disappearing.

4 Weeks

I decided to restart the workouts again after the 9-days were up and here are my 4-week results above. The stomach became more toned and instead of my butt actually slimming down more, I noticed that it was definitely more rounded and raised. I'm still getting used to this because my pants fit differently but I've had a TON of compliments on how flat my stomach looks from people who see me on a day-to-day basis.

And...here's the money shot above. Me really proving that there are some abs under all of that Whataburger and Sugary Sweets I feast on. And the booty is definitely raised!

So here's the takeaway on the positives of this workout plan. This is the perfect workout for someone who wants to:

1. Work Out At Home - I do all of these exercises in my living room comfortably in a sports bra and shorts.
2. No Weights - It's low maintenance because no weights are required and all you need is a towel for some of the toning exercises.
3. Time Efficient - All you have to do is commit an average of 20 minutes per workout. For the girl-on-the-go like myself, I definitely had 20 minutes to give.

I'm going to continue this journey and see how sculpted my abs can get, and I'm going to gradually work in eating healthier for even more drastic results. Here are some other people who have seen great results. Teresa Tullos (second pic below) achieved maximum results just after 10 weeks.

For more on Mike Chang's Insane Home Fat Loss Workout, click here. If you choose to accept the challenge (as some of my friends already have after seeing my results), please contact me and keep me updated. We're in this together!

xoxo - Leah

Come Fly With Me: FlyWheel Plano Introduces Community Appreciation Weekend and New Pricing

As many of you know, I love to eat but I completely despise working out. I only work out because I have pool parties to bask at and fellas to see. Recently, I tried out FlyWheel at the Plano location and was completely impressed. I was able to choose my instructor and my seat all online! And...the most important part for me, was seeing ahead of time what type of music I would be riding to because nothing is worse than working out and not feeling energized.

Photo Credit: Leah Frazier

I really enjoyed the indoor cycling studio at FlyWheel because they provide the shoes (all clip-ins) and they incorporate lifting weights for arms during the last 10 or so minutes of the ride (the weights are actually attached to the bike.)

Photo Credit: Leah Frazier / Sign-In via Laptop Computers and if you reserve early, your shoes will be available in a cubby once you arrive.

FlyWheel Plano is now rolling out a community appreciation weekend from June 7-8th to roll out a new pricing schedule, fun partnerships and special classes like the JayZ vs. Beyonce FlyBarre Class to bring in the summer months with a bang.

Individual classes which were originally $25 per class will now be $20 per class if purchased individually and as low as $15 per class if purchased in a package. The first class is always free--and new members can try their first month as an unlimited FlyWheel and FlyBarre member for $99 if purchased from June 7-13th.

So here's what I'm excited about: there's going to be a black light GLOW ride on June 7th at 9:30AM and need I mention again, the JayZ vs. Beyonce FlyBarre class on June 7th at 3:00PM where pulsers can bring their guy for free by emailing an RSVP to plano@flywheelsports.com.

There's more in store at FlyWheel Plano and I'm super pumped. With giveaways and promotions from community partners such as Eatzi's, Vita Coco, Legends Popcorn, DryBar and Blue Mesa Grill--this weekend and this summer is sure to be a blast.

To sign up for your free introductory FlyWheel or FlyBarre class, go online to texas.flywheelsports.com or email plano@flywheelsports.com. FlyWheel Plano is located at W. Parker and the Tollway 5964 W. Parker Road.

*COME FLY WITH ME!  I EAT, THEREFORE I FLY!*

The Eat Clean (with a little bit of dirty) 21+ day Challenge

*WARNING---YOU WILL SLIM DOWN AND POSSIBLY LOSE WHATEVER BOOTY, BOOBS AND OTHER CURVINESS YOU ONCE HAD* (Disclaimer: I lost some of these because I did not exercise while on this eating plan...now back to your regularly scheduled blog-reading...)

So there's this whole "Eat Clean - Train Dirty" movement going on.  You see it everywhere.. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram...everywhere! I'm not really into working out or training per se.....so I just decided to "eat clean" before I went on my vacation to Hawaii. I left off the "train dirty" part...if I'm going to do a so-called lifestyle change...I have to take it one step at a time.  Eating right AND working out together would have been a little too much for me.  So...I started on my eat clean journey about 25 days out from the day that I was leaving for Hawaii.  I wanted to give myself plenty of time to cheat and then start over again. haha

So I adapted this grocery list from a woman I follow on Instagram by the name of @Mankofit.  She is absolutely so amazing and an inspiration. I was also inspired by a friend of mine, Keya @kmg_fitness on Instagram.  She set her mind to transforming her body and in 6 months she is so lean, with abs and doing body-building competitions. AMAZING! For her "eat clean" rituals, she used the same ingredients as Mankofit and helped me to come up with different ways to prepare my food...but to be super healthy.

So here's the grocery list I followed taken from Mankofit's "Eat Clean Train Dirty" 30-day Challenge (if you can't read the list, please contact me and I will email it to you):

      

So I went to the store and picked up the ingredients...not really knowing what was in store for me or just how difficult this may or may not be.

(Kinda blurry but you get the idea...)

I did a prayer to the good Lord above that I make it through this challenge and not let my inner fatkid take over.  Here are week one pics.  So I am very critical of myself.  In doing this challenge, all I wanted to do was flatten my lower tummy and feel great in my bathing suit.

WEEK 1:

Team "No-Camel Toe" haha / You can tell I'm a fashion blogger too...look at all the shoes on the back of my doors...the makeup brushes on my counter so that my face stays BEAT...but not in this pic obviously! Oh and the gold Michael Kors phone case...love!

The side view...the lower pooch has got to go!  And I'm not delirious...it's really there. I wanted more definition and to burn the fat/jelly.

Ok, so the first thing to this challenge is prepping your meals.  The last thing you want to do is bust out pots and pans all week.  I'm a full-time attorney and part-time blogging and attending Dallas social events...so Leah does not have time for that! I choose to prep my meals on Sunday while I'm watching crap reality TV and sipping on a glass of wine.  And if you're not on Pinterest...sign up now!!!  The majority of my crockpot chicken recipes came off of Pinterest and kept me from getting bored with what I was eating everyday.  If you don't have Pinterest and want some of my favorite recipes, contact me and I will email them to you.

I would suggest buying tons of tupperware.  This was only me stacking my lunches in the fridge after I prepped them.

BREAKFAST:

So I am in LOVE with the way the Mankofit outlined what to eat for breakfast...especially where the fruits are concerned.  She's very specific in that you can only consume the blueberries, grapefruit and strawberries in the morning.  DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THIS!  I noticed that after a week of following this...that my metabolism was through the roof!!!  I was eating constantly throughout the day.  I definitely credit this to the way that Mankofit tells you specifically what and when to eat certain items on the grocery list. (Grocery List is pictured above) 

One of my faves...oatmeal with sliced strawberries, sweetened with splenda.

For work throughout the week, it was easier for me to bring strawberries and blueberries for breakfast.  After a week my palette was cleansed of artificial sugars and these berries were VERY sweet to my taste-buds.  If you're a heavy sugar eater, it may take a week or so to entirely taste the true and natural sugars.

CHEATING DURING WEEK 1:

SO....during week 1, I cheated twice...I couldn't help it.  My friends called up and were like, "Hey girl, let's catch up"...and that was that.  But even still...all this to prove that even if you fall off track, you can STILL REACH YOUR GOAL!

WEEK 2:

 LUNCH AND DINNER MEALS:

 Ok people...so you have to get REAL creative with the grocery list..but it is totally doable.  I love fish...so most of my meals were pan-seared fish with seasonings and as far as my sides...I just had to create dishes to avoid getting bored.  This one is an egg-white scramble that I created with diced tomatoes, sliced avocados...all on a bed of sauteed spinach. #nomnomnom

 More pan-seared tilapia with brown rice.  For the brown rice, I boil the rice in a mixture of water and chicken broth to create more flavor..top with your favorite seasoning.  Sides of sliced tomatoes, avocado and more sauteed spinach.  Just call me pop-eye...I can eat spinach EVERYDAY!

 Baked lemon-peppered tilapia on a bed of lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, peppers and onions.

So this is one of my absolute FAVORITE dishes to make.  You can use either canned tuna or salmon for this.  It's so healthy and tasty.  Be sure to add some seasoning into it to create flavor.  A big thanks to my girl Keya @kmg_fitness for this recipe.  Hands down my favorite! (Here's my advice to lightly salt your dishes and don't go crazy.  The point is to slim down and not bloat due to excess salt consumption...ok???)

Sigh....and then I cheated again....it's hard to contain the inner fatkid.

CHEATING DURING WEEK 2:

I ate the whole thing and it was EVERYTHING!  Garlic, shrimp and chorizo pizza from Del Frisco's Grille.  BOOM!

WEEK 3:

So once week 3 arrived, I was actually liking the new eating habits I had acquired.  I wasn't really craving the carbs, fast foods, etc. that I was eating before.  I was making healthier choices if I had to go out to eat (except for the few cheat meals) but even still for something that started out as a "challenge" or "diet" was becoming a lifestyle change.  It takes 21 days to form a habit right?

For me...I noticed a thinner stomach, flattened lower stomach and a more defined waistline.  The muffin top was burning itself away. haha  But...due to no exercise...my booty was disappearing. Oh well!  Deal with it!

CHEATING DURING WEEK 3:

One last cheat before Hawaii....please!!!!! Come to mama. #nomnomnom

Bo-Bo China...only some of the best Chinese food in Dallas and on this side of the Mississippi! haha

HAWAII BIKINI BOD....GET IT GIRRRRLLLLL!  THANKS MANKOFIT AND KEYA!!!!! TEAM NO FILTER!

Hello Kauai tan lines!!!!!

POST 21-DAY CHALLENGE:

Even after the challenge, I still continue to eat off of the grocery list.  It was easy, doable and I didn't feel like I was depriving myself...clearly.  I've had several people ask me how I lost weight and I've heard comments "You're tiny!"  Not that that's a good thing...I'm 5'11...don't want to be tiny but I do want to be healthy.  Even after this challenge, my metabolism is still high and I continue to slim down.

Sigh...the booty is gone but it was well worth it!  GO GIRL!  I totally forgot to tell you guys that I DID NOT stop drinking coffee this entire challenge.  For those that know me...that WAS NOT an option. (See my Starbucks post paying homage to the Pumpkin Spice Latte.)

OK....so one last thing before I bounce.  This IS a Christian blog...so in trying to tie in all of life's lessons to how God wants us to live....I really feel like this experience taught me about how often we can fall short or backslide...but you just have to get up, NOT GET DOWN OR HARD ON YOURSELF, and keep moving forward.  Sometimes that means starting all over again, re-gaining focus...but you WILL reach your goal if you are persistent and focus on progression.  

Learn to forgive yourself and God will be there through the rest.  In life, we do things we're not proud of...or there's something that we need help with.  Instead of focusing on the negative or how often you keep giving into that "thing" (whatever it is), look ahead and try, try again! I cheated more times than this blog post actually shows...but I didn't beat myself up about it.  I just told myself, "Hey Leah...tomorrow's a new day and you can start over again."  That's what got me through this challenge...and that's what will get me through with life.  I feel like this is the type of life that God wants us to lead...forgiveness of ourselves, grace, redemption and restoration--principles to live by.