So if you follow me on instagram you will know that I have been working out as much as I can from home; in my leopard pajamas. So happy with my change in not only my body, but my energy and allover happiness level {yes people, this is a thing}. I started using the Slim in 6 videos on July 26th and already can see a huge difference. It feels good to not only know I’m making a difference in my health, but see it in my reflection.
DEBBIE SIEBERS
Website // Facebook // Twitter // Buy Slim in 6
I was lucky enough to get a chance to pick Debbie’s brain, and get a look into why she created the Slim in 6 video set, where her inspiration comes from, and of course her most favorite exercise.
Q // What does a typical day in my life look like?
I try my best to incorporate as many positive daily disciplines as possible. So, that means I start my day with a 20 minute meditation, my morning smoothie, and at least a 1 ½ hr workout followed by a very thorough stretch, restore and repair routine. After my exercise, I usually have a delicious, healthy salad, and then I hit my computer to answer e-mails, post on twitter and my Slim in 6 facebook pages, as well as work on new blogs, creating webisodes and video ideas for my website and continually exploring new projects here in Denver. I wind down with another meditation and that helps me get a great night’s sleep, which is usually about 8 hours.
Q // Reasoning behind Slim in 6?
Carl Daikeler, CEO of Beachbody, came up with the concept for Slim in 6 and then presented it to me. The reasoning was to have beginning, intermediate, and advanced routines within a six week structure that combined low impact cardio, high repeittions and light resistance exercises, incorporating only the resistance bands and putting extra emphasis on the core, hips and thighs. The primary focus of Slim in 6 was to make sure that anyone could do it, and the goal was to SHRINK, get long lean muscles instead of getting big and bulky. When he pitched it to me, he also wanted me to add in a few yoga poses and stated that I needed to make sure that someone could do this program in a very limited space. So, I got busy developing it in my small living area at that time. I incorporated what I found to be the best and most effective body sculpting moves over the years that were challenging but not tricky or too annoying to do. I know that when I use to exercise to other workout programs before Beachbody ever existed, I didn’t like all the dance type moves, or the constant changing of moves and crazy choreography. So, I stayed tried and true to the no-nonsense approach that would be doable for mainstream America.
Q // Was fitness always your passion?
Yes, I would say I was always passionate about being active. As a teenager, I was a cheerleader, a gymnast and ran track and field. As I approached my twenties, I did slip and have a big compulsive overeating habit, which I have talked about in my blogs as well as in my infomercials. It took several years for me to conquer that problem. When I finally did, I definitely dove right back into exercising at the gym eventually becoming a personal trainer.
Q // How can one be truly happy with their imperfections?
This is something I talk about often, because I believe it’s about embracing ourselves today knowing that by being consistent with our exercise and healthy eating, we are getting healthier, stronger and more fit. It is a mindset and a reprogramming that we need to work on because society puts so much pressure on women to be perfect. There is no such thing! It is time to celebrate our own uniqueness and focus on the positive things about ourselves. Also, I do believe it helps to dress appropriately for our body type to enhance our assets, which will build self-confidence and self-esteem.
Q // What is your favorite exercise and why?
Hmmmmm…..this is a tough one, because there are so many exercises I like. For my lower body, I would have to say it’s the Squat. They don’t call me the Squat Nazi for nothing!J The squat targets the entire lower body and really firms up the booty. For the upper body, I really love the One Arm Extension with the Resistance Band. I find this to be very effective to tone and tighten up the triceps. For my core, it is definitely the plank. This move targets the entire midsection and gets the job done.
Q // What are the best things to eat before and after a workout?
I like to eat about 30 to 60 minutes before I exercise. I usually will have my smoothie with almond milk and frozen fruit. A few other options that would be great are steel cut oatmeal, some Greek yogurt with berries, a whole grain cereal with Almond milk or some scrambled eggs with a slice of whole grain toast.
After exercise, you want to wait at least 30 minutes before eating. If you don’t have your smoothie before, this is a great time to have it. A few other great options would be some lean protein and veggies or a healthy salad with protein. The key component here is to keep it clean and to watch your portions. If you feel like you’re bonking during exercise and truly running out of steam, you might want to have ½ of a banana. That usually will do the trick!
Q // Stress; what’s one thing we can do for this at the end of the day?
What I do every single day is 5-10 deep cleansing breaths, followed by a 15-20 minute meditation. This always helps to calm my mind and harmonize my nervous system. Put on some soft meditation music, close your eyes and just focus on your breath. By practicing this regularly, you will definitely reduce the amount of stress in your life and be able to cope much better with problems and conflicts that come up.
Q // How often do you work out?
I normally exercise a minimum of 4 days per week. However, if I am preparing for something special, like a shoot or something, I up that to 6 days per week and kick up the intensity. My workouts are usually about 1 to 2 hours long, and I always do a thorough stretch after I’m done.
Q // What is the best way someone can get motivated and fit?
I feel it is essential to set and write down your daily, weekly and monthly goals to help you stay positive and focused. Also, Beachbody has an amazing community online that can help motivate and encourage you on a daily basis. So, I would highly recommend taking advantage of that, as well as getting active in already existing Slim in 6 groups on Facebook. Or, start your own and post your before pics and keep a journal to track your progress. Having a buddy to go through the journey with you is extremely helpful, as well as having the support of your friends and family.
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