INGREDIENTS
Salt, for rimming the glasses
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, rinds reserved
Ice
1 1/2 cups light Mexican beer, such as Corona
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons hot sauce, such as Tabasco
1 teaspoon Maggi or soy sauce
Freshly ground black pepper, for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
Place enough salt in a wide, shallow dish to cover the bottom. Rub the rims of two glasses with the reserved lime rinds and dip the glasses into the salt. Fill the glasses with ice and set aside.
Place the lime juice, beer, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and Maggi or soy sauce in a pitcher and mix to combine. Pour into the prepared glasses, top with a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper, and serve.

Yes, lisa is at it again. She has convinced me to join her in a 7 day detox. Being that the Emmy’s are a week away and I’m oh so close to getting into that dress, I put on my gloves and growled, “Let’s do this!” My incredible and amazing husband is joining me. Here is how it works, if you care to play along at home!

You want to win the SMACKDOWN or just lose weight? Follow my tips …they are a sure bet!

I am a very goal oriented gal, and if I am going to compete in ANYTHING, I need to envision what the finish line will look like. So, being that I have been trying to lose the butt on top of my butt (aka the plumbers crack that goes halfway up my back) for some time now, I needed inspiration.

Enter the tooshies of two of my close friends (and fiercest competitors).

Jen- I met her when I was at WPIX years and years ago – during sweeps I came up with a crazy idea to a do week of live proposals on the 10pm news. I had people write in for consideration. Jen’s then boyfriend was fighting in the war in Iraq and she wanted to send him a video to propose. While this wasn’t “live” it was a great story. I called her up, we shot a makeover and a dinner at a romantic spot where she peered in the camera and asked for his hand in marriage. We sent him the tape and his answer was YES! Now 9 years and 2 kids later, Jen has lost her baby weight and has one of the best booty’s known to man (or woman)! She’s got that Apple Bottom thang going on – where Beyonce meets Britney. Pictured right.

Then there are the buns that belong to our Warrior Princess –pictured left. It wasn’t too long ago that I overheard a guy at the gym mention to his buddy (with marked enthusiasm) when describing Lisa  - that you could “rest a water bottle on her butt”. Strong, protruding, firm and high are the words that come to mind. It’s the kind of butt that could kick your butt. It’s the kind of butt that assists in leg pressing over 300lbs. This butt is a labor of love, dedication and will.

I still rest undecided. But I will have one of those butts before the PLO is done!

And may I please note, that I may be the only woman in America who encourages their husband to take pictures of other women’s assets! Another hard day at the office for my hubby!

So, which butt do you want?? I’ll be auto-starting the Traverse @ 4:30am to get my (two) butt(s) to Lisa’s early morning Attitude!

Ok, just when you thought Bootcamp was over…here we go again…with yet another fit challenge. It all started with that Lisa. She challenged me to a little competition. Who could lose the most body fat during Lent while giving up one vice. She was claiming candy while I was claiming…NOOOOOOO!

Jumpcut 24 hours later and I realized this was the challenge I needed. I still have those last 10 pounds of my jiggly-bits  flab-suit on, and being that the show will be back up and running mid-April, this was just what I needed to get back in my skinny jeans (plus, it would be nice to have the camera BACK THE HECK UP a bit. Being that I ain’t getting botox, HD is rather unforgiving!).

So, that became the bet. Loser buys winner new 7s. Flab suit pictured below. I am sparing you the visual of the “butt on top of my butt” aka the plummer’s crack that goes halfway up my back!

Now, anyone who knows me knows I have a big mouth (insert your own joke here). Being the chatty Cathy that I am, I mentioned it to some of the gals at the gym, and everyone wanted in on the competition. Couple that with my ability to get totally and completely carried away (Yeah, that was ME dancing in SPIN class on SUNDAY, suckahs!) I thought I’d raise the stakes and at the same time include my Jewish peeps in the process.

And hence, the 1st Annual Passover-Lent-Off was born!

I had two calls to make. 1st I rang the GM of the Montauk Yacht Club - my buddy Lloyd – he is kicking in 2 nights stay at the unbelievably fab resort (it’s totally kid friendly too!) because whomever takes the big prize is going to be totally bikini ready by this summer! (valid weekdays only) Slideshow below.

AND winner also gets a free 1/2 day fishing charter from my buddy Captain Ron. Check him out!

Now, as if this wasn’t enough, grand prize winner will also get 600 bucks worth of FREE SPA TREATMENTS from the Tribeca Spa of Tranquility. THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Check them out on our show….

Now, there will also be runner up prizes. Like gift certificates to the hottest restaurants in NYC. For example, if you have never had LOBSTER MEATBALLS you are in luck because that’s my chef buddy Ed McFarland’s specialty at his restaurant Ed’s Lobster Bar. He is kicking in 100 bucks to gorge yourself to death at his restaurant after you lose the weight!

2nd call: to my friends at New York Sports Club. I wanted to invite viewers to participate and so we posted it on facebook and everyone who registered got a FREE 3 month pass! THANK YOU NYSC!

I have also hit up various restaurants in town to cough up gift cert’s so there will be MANY winners!

Now over 50 strong we are ready to DO THIS! Here are the rules:

1. We start the challenge on Ash Wednesday (Feb 22nd) and it concludes on the first day of Passover (April 6th).

2. Everyone must bow down to Jesus and give up one vice. And no, Jessica, peas are NOT A VICE.

3. In honor of the Jews escape from Egyptian slavery, leavened bread is off limits to ALL as well. (please note: PIZZA DOUGH HAS YEAST! Buh-bye pie)

4. Everyone must complete a weigh in/body fat analysis conducted by either a NYSC official by FAT TUESDAY and deliver info to me. When you join (viewers) tell them you need your weight and body fat to be measured asap. Then have the official email me your stats to toni@tonionnewyork.com. Personal submission will not qualify – I mean I trust you, but not really.

My local peeps have 2 weigh in options:

Option A: weigh in next Sunday @ 8am at NYSC Croton…or if you can not make it…

Option B: Our friends at the local gym Adrenalin (Peekskill) will weigh you in and send me the info. Give them a holler, just ask for John or Carlos to schedule a time to come in.

Now, you can thank me later – I also encouraged Lisa to put together a few Bootcamp options as I needed the competitive edge. Baby needs some new duds (and I don’t like to lose!!!). If you want in, click here for Lisa’s Bootcamp INFO.

There will be one 5:30am option. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Plus Sunday @ 10am

There is also a “Weekend Warrior” option – Saturday @ 10am, and Sunday two-hour session 8-10am. Baby sitting available. Did you know she usually works out for 2 hours. except for Saturdays. – then she works out for THREE HOURS! And now with this additional class…make that FOUR HOURS! SOme guy at the gym today confessed that when she is doing “back” he covers up and puts on a sweatshirt because he feels like a wimp by comparison. And he is in great shape! I also overheard him telling his buddy that you could rest a water bottle on her butt. She does have a great derriere.

If you want to sign up let her know asap because classes are limited to 8. Sundays sessions will have more than one trainer so all drop-ins welcomed.

Again, here is link for info.

5. On April 6th, another weigh in is required – and info must be delivered to me by an “official” by SUNDAY April, 8th. Winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

To level the playing ground –  Grand prize goes to the one who LOSES THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF THEIR TOTAL BODYFAT AT 1st WEIGH IN – otherwise Lisa would be hosed. Her losing 1 percent is like me losing 7!

SO WHO HAS THE GUTS TO GET IT DONE???

I’m taking you all down…one at a time! See you at the finish line…in my SUPER skinny jeans..and then I’ll be packing up the hot Mom-mobile (my tricked out Traverse!) and heading to Montauk.

xo t

I hope you are taking us up on this challnge…it’s gonna be fun a times, be hard at times, but by the end we will all be winners …or losers, depending on how you look at it. And that’s just the point!

The ONLY thing that can hold you back is your ATTITUDE. I have whipped together a bootcamp option for those who want to change their attitude and take this to the next level.

In 6 short weeks you can easily lose at least 5% body fat and I have the tools to help. Having dabbled in body building I know all the tricks and if you follow my advice, you will see the fat drip right off.

We are holding bootcamp at the gym Adrenalin in Peekskill for a few reasons.

1. They are close to the water and parks so we can get outdoors whenever possible.

2. Being that they are an indie gym – there was no red tape involved in getting this going – and being that Toni put this whole idea together like 10 minutes ago and we are staring next week - we had to get moving FAST!

So, here is the deal.

Starting 2/21….Six weeks/3 classes a week

Option 1: Tuesdays/Thursdays at 5:30am with me. Weekend session Sundays at 9am.

Option 2: Weekend Warrior Sat @ 11am (upper-body), Sunday 8am (lower Body) and Sunday 9am Bootcamp.

I’m trying to coordinate a 9:30am and 5:30pm option as well. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TIMES WORK FOR YOU! We are pulling this together quickly and I want to accommodate everyone that wants to join!!!

Drop-ins are welcomed only on Sunday Bootcamp @9am. The fee is $15. Babysitting will be available.

Cost $199. That boils down to just over 8 bucks a class.

If you want to sign up or have any questions either email me at lcecere@hotmail.com or call (or stop by) Adrenalin at 914-930-1238.

We are looking to forward to melting the fat right off of you!  I promise you will have a brand new Attitude towards fitness by the time we are done!

Let the 1st Annual Passover-Lent-Off begin and may the biggest loser win!

-Lisa

YES, that is me doing a pull up – the results of 12 grueling weeks working out with the best personal trainer I know. I met Ray 10 years ago as I was embarking on shooting a wedding special. Getting married seemed so confusing the only way my husband and I knew how to navigate it was by producing a show about it! Ray trained me for 7 weeks, I lost 4% body fat and was in the best shape of my life. Watch the video here (scroll forward to 1:55). AND CHECK OUT HIS HAIR!!!!

And a decade later he has his very own boutique gym. Ray, I am proud and privileged to have you in my life. And the gift you gave me and my Mamas makes you the most generous man I know! I love you, Ray Ray!!!  Only you could push me this far:

It’s hard to believe that Bootcamp is over. Did the 12 weeks fly by or did they take forever? I can only liken it to watching your kids grow. The days can be long, but time still flies. So what did I get out of this except for the 12 pounds & 5% body fat lost?

I now know that I’m a Warrior. Let’s define the word, shall we?

war·ri·or

[wawr-ee-er, wawr-yer, wor-ee-er, wor-yer]

a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness.

Yep, that’s me!

Bootcamp got all of the Mamas into an insanely focused zone, where making our well-being was not a choice but the task at hand. And what I have realized is that I can do this while still living the rest of my life. Still loving my husband, while still loving my kids, while still taking care of the kazillion things a Mom has to do on a daily basis. And like Lisa pointed out at the onset, if the laundry does’t get done once in a while WHO CARES!!! I don’t, that’s who! Below, me attacking the “speed skate”- proves you need zero fitness equipment to get into fierce shape. Just the will.

I’ve also learned that having a support group makes all the difference. I cherished every moment of grunting through the torture with the toughest team of moms, heck, of women, I know. Their dedication to this experience was unparalleled and early morning existential chats about life and motherhood with Marina in the fly Mommy-mobile, my Traverse was just one more perk of the process. I reunited with some old buddies of mine from the club days and most of all have new friends that I will surely have forever. Alicia, Natasha, Crystal, Tiffanie, Marina and Jen: I love you all and thanks for embarking on this crazy plan I put together.

As of today, Sunday January 29, we have created a thread of 2,786 messages on facebook between Ray, Lisa, The Mamas and myself. You see, I group messaged them at the onset, and the conversation has been ongoing ever since full of waaaaaaay too much TMI!!! Too TMI to share and sill remain a family show, sorry! The generous Folks @ NYSC pitched in with free 3 month memberships for the gals and we each got a personal training session once a week. Here is me boxing mine. Thanks John!!

The good news is that The Bootcmap Mamas will live on. I have decided when my show re-debuts on a new network in April (more info to come) – I will feature a fabulous NYC fitness story and the Mamas will tag along!  First up is Brooklyn Boulders this coming Saturday where Lisa will embark on a battle of the sexes and attempt to beat this guy up the toughest climb. Hey, even Lisa needs a challenge every once in a while! LISA, MEET ALONZO, ALONZO, MEET LISA. (CAN U SAY HAAAAWT!)

Now last but certainly not least, I have to bow down to our Princess Warrior. When I came up with the plan, I was just getting to know Lisa. After her spin class one day she told me about a cool place her daughter Nicole worked at, and thought it might be a good story for the show. Beecher’s Handmade Cheese had opened up on Broadway. I covered it in this episode (scroll to 20:33).

Then I asked her to tag along with me and Marina to an outdoor art installation up in Garrison later that day. Afterwards, at my house she said she wanted to do bootcamp with us. I told her if I put her in the group and on tv as a mom who needed to get back in shape, people would hate me and they would hate her because she has NOTHING to lose. We agreed she could be our guide and assist us with nutrition.

But she has done way more than that which brings me to an interesting conclusion: Ray, Dr. Bob and Lisa all have an incredible characteristic in common. They are truly great motivators, yet they don’t judge. If you falter they are there to pick you back up, no questions asked. They are our trifecta of unconditional love. Even typing this is making me teary eyed.

Lisa, you are an incredible inspiration and have made an ever-lasting impression on my life. And…YOU ARE TOTALLY INSANE!!!! Which I love of course. Today at Renegade Insanity, my eldest son played correspondent.

Another perk of the process is that I have gotten to know so many more Mamas! Mamas who kick ass and take names! They all work out at my local gym and are as crazy as I am. Just when you thought the suburban mom next to you was a boring drone, think again. She could be just as hilariously insane as you are! These gals certainly are. My Post-Spin Renegade Botocamp Mamas!

I still have a ways to go to get back in true fighting form, but now I hold the keys in hand, the tools to make it happen. This summer I’ll be strutting my stuff in a bikini – looking just as good as I did on my wedding day and by 2013 Alicia will be wearing my wedding dress….which brings me to…..some final words from the girls.

Alicia has shooed the haters away, lost 33 pounds and at 5′3″ that makes a HUGE difference. PLUS SHE ASKED ME TO BE IN HER WEDDING PARTY!!! WOOOO!!! Can you say My-Big-I-Used-To-Be-Fat-Latino-Wedding???

Crystal has lost 36 pounds and 9 INCHES OFF HER WAIST ALONE!!!!!!

Tiffanie still feels defeated even though she has shed 11 pounds off of her tiny frame! YOU LOOK GREAT!

Marina’s empowered, realizing that working out and making good food choices isn’t such a big deal. In fact, it is easy compared to what life can throw at you.

And Natasha, well, all I can say is she is going to look FIERCE in her teensy weensie feathery costume at Carnival. During these 12 weeks she has gone from a size 14 to a SIZE 8!!!!! Plus she will be working out with Ray vis skype! LOVE IT!

C’mon join the crusade! Fight the good fight! Fight to get fit! WE DID IT AND SO CAN YOU!! xos t

And now a final note from Dr. Bob

As you conclude this phase of the pre baby bootcamp, look back over the past 12 weeks and allow yourself to feel a deep sense of pride both for making the commitment  and for all you’ve accomplished.Whether your goals were modest or ambitious the fact that you embraced challenges, worked hard, and accomplished something worthwhile is what is most important.Realize that you’ve given yourself a gift-that despite the demands of ministering to a newborn-you’ve found a way to take care of yourself as well. Taking good care of yourself -being self nurturing-allows you to take good care of others. My hope is that you will continue on this path and to continue to reap the benefits of your hard work.

Bob! WE ARE SOOOO ON IT! xo t

I’m going to continue to take classes at Pedal NYC, train with Ray, and weekends will find me heading north to Insanity with Lisa the Warrior Princess.  I’m also going to continue to pick Lisa’s brain for diet and nutrition information…who needs Google when Lisa is so much better!  In a couple weeks I’ll be doing Skype workouts with Ray from Trinidad –vacation or not, no slacking!

My body has seen some drastic changes in 12 weeks.  I’ve gone from 171 lbs to 152.5 lbs.  My clothing size has dropped from a size 14 to a size 8. I’m way stronger, I can do 20 pushups in perfect form, I can run 6 miles without stopping -the list of my physical accomplishments goes on and on.  The most important change has not been my body though.  I’ve gained confidence and resolve and been reunited with my own inner strength.

Pre Baby Body Bootcamp is over but it’s not farewell Mamas. I’m looking forward to seeing Alicia fit into that special dress. Hopefully one day Tiffany and I will run the same marathon.  I can’t wait to see Crystal hit the weight she was when I first met her eons ago.  I’ll be keeping up with and staying in touch with all my mama friends and they better do the same!

They say great change never occurs overnight or with a huge bang…r ather, we evolve and transform, almost imperceptibly, over time. And so it has been for me on this journey with the mamas. We started off and had our asses whooped pretty fiercely by Mr. Ray and Lisa. We got to know each other quickly as sisters in sweat and pain. We shed our weight, our inhibitions and our filters with one another in our quest for higher power, of the will and body.

As the final weeks of this experience have wound down I have confronted so many of my demons that it’s almost as if they knew this amazing network of mama-support was soon to be pulled away from me. As I write this last blog, I am confronting yet another challenge that is definitely on the ‘awful’ life experience list. My own mama, the original mama as it were, was the victim of a crime last night. She was mugged right outside her own home and suffered a pretty nasty head trauma. Typical of my mom, she was cracking jokes and being feisty as quickly as she regained consciousness. My mom is my hero. She has been through a lot in her life, more than any single person ever should, and she has never lost her sense of humor and fun. She is a handful and a half, stubborn, wisecracking, oh-so-inappropriate, and endlessly loving and kind.

I have seen a little bit of her in each of my bootcamp mamas, especially our fearless leader, Ms. Toni! And as if in a perfect circle, this experience ends with my own mama needing me to help her through something rough. Something I did not anticipate, plan for or particularly want. But something, quite honestly, that proved essential to my own growth and development as a mama and a person.

We are tested, each and every day. Sometimes its small, little things and other times its BIG stuff. Becoming a mama to my amazing kids, marrying my incredible husband, those go in the BIG category. Getting up and into the gym, while a few months ago I would have said it was BIG, I now realize, actually it’s one of the small, everyday things. It’s the small, everyday tests–getting the workout in, choosing the right food, staying positive–that make the difference. The BIG stuff, it’s always there around the corner, sometimes planned for, sometimes not…

So, while I may never learn to love running, I will keep myself moving and focus on choosing healthy, delicious food at every opportunity. I will share my frustrations and not get bogged down in the negative self-talk that often occurs in my head. I will keep in touch with my bootcamp mamas and celebrate their victories as if they were mine. So, whether its Carnival, a wedding, our children’s milestones or our professional successes, I’ve got your backs mamas! Love you all!!!

Well, there’s a special event happening next summer (2013) that is my long term goal. A white dress, a few gals in dresses they will probably only wear once, a few guys in tuxes and one guy standing at the front of my world waiting for me to take that mile long walk. Yes, he proposed and I accepted. Now he’s very camera shy and has asked that I not post any pictures or put his name out. So I won’t but I will say, I adore him and he adores me so my next goal is to fit into this amazing dress offered to me by none other than Toni Senecal!! She wore a beautiful haute couture dress when she married the funniest (& nicest) guy on the planet; she offered it to me for my big day. I would be honored to wear it! Now, I just have to lose a million more pounds to fit in it! Seriously, I know I can get into that dress with the help of the mamas, Lisa, and Ray.

Now to deal with my still injured foot & knee, I’ll be in a knee brace (again!!) as of next week which means modifying my workouts further. The doctor said absolutely no running or spinning and that my friends SUCKS! I can do TRX and CoreRxn, so it’s not too bad. Ray and his team at Pedal Nyc are all awesome, with their help I will be back on track in no time. I cannot wear a knee brace under a couture wedding dress!! It’s just NOT happening! I have the perfect pair of blue (yes blue) pumps to go with it! If you’re a SATC fan then you know which pretty bejeweled pumps I mean! I found them online and had to have them. I’m determined to wear them and THE dress. On to the next week of Ray’s torture and the close of Mama Boot camp….Ready, Sweat, Go!!