Need a few more hours in the day...

I haven’t updated in awhile…life is always so busy! Anyway, I have two minutes to type this out, so bear with me.

The Goal: The goal started on May 18th and I hope to end it on June 18th with 150 miles travled on my elliptical. It’s probably a good thing I set the goal when I did because more nights than not – I haven’t wanted to exercise. But since I set the goal - I made myself do it anyway...so hard!

This week I’ve been upping the resistance…which is making it a bit more challenging to get the mileage in – but so far I’m still on track for reaching the goal…so far! I’m just waiting for something to jump out of the corner and sidetrack me from reaching the goal.

As far as feeling more energetic and healthier…well, I kinda feel blah. I think my food patterns have something to do with that. I have to somehow figure out how to cook healthier…which is such a challenge. I have always struggled with fitting it ALL in. I can either cook healthy OR exercise…it's such a challenge to do both…since it seems to be able to do both would mean somehow adding a few extra hours in the day. This is definitely a work in progress….the cooking healthy thing…if I could add hours in the day, I would do that in a heartbeat too! =)

There is much more I could blog about, but I’ve already gone over my two minutes and if I don’t jump in the shower now, there won’t be another time today – so I’ll try to blog more later…!

It has begun! =)

Today is Day 1 of the 150 miles in 5 weeks goal! I've started using the tracker on the sidebar to keep track. In order to reach this goal I need to do 30 miles a week. I'm excited to see if this is an attainable goal! Whoooohoooo! =)

150 miles in 5 weeks

Just a quick post to check in! =)

I feel like I'm in a fairly decent routine of eating and exercising right now. Though, I think I'm ready for a challenge. I've been charting my elliptical mileage the last few weeks and thought it might be fun to challenge myself to a certain mileage within a set amount of time. I'm thinking about starting this goal on May 18 and ending it on June 18. In that amount of time I would like to put in 150 miles. I'll set up a way to track my progress on this blog.

Hope you're all having a fabulous day!

Catching up

I must apologize for not being a better blogger lately. The last two months have not been kind to the boys and I in terms of health. Tummy bugs and yucky sinus colds - blah. However, I have tried my hardest to remain faithful to my new exercise regiment with the elliptical and sit-ups. I attempt to do anywhere between 20-45mins on the elliptical a night. Then I do some crunches and stretches. I give myself 1 or 2 nights off a week - but the rest of the nights I make myself do it...even if I don't want too. =)

As far as my diet is concerned, I've really cut down on the snacks. I have tried to up my protein and fiber as well. My weight seems to fluctuate A LOT - even within a week - but right now I'm sticking between 120-122 lbs.

I'm excited to see the warmer weather! Hopefully the boys and I can get out and be super active this summer. This is one of the main reasons I want to be in shape and have more energy. I want to be able to keep up with my two super energetic munchkins!

I ran across a picture of me that was taken last May - so about a year ago. It was reassuring to see that there has been progress made in this whole journey! I am so excited to be toning up and feeling more energetic!

THEN: Here is a picture from May of 2008


NOW: This was from Easter this year - April 2009


Alrighty, I'll try to be better at blogging...I'll try...=)

You guys are doing awesome!

Super super quick...

This will have to be super uber quick - Will is awake from his way-to-short-nap and screaming-screaming-screaming!

Things are going pretty well. I'm back to 123 - only 1 pound from the weight I want to maintain...which is 122.

I think the vitamins and Olive Leaf supplement are really helping.

I LOVE my elliptical!

I'll write more about it all later! I can't take Will's screaming a second longer...



Here is my new elliptical...did I mention that I LOVE this thing?! It's the best!

Good news or bad news first?

This is a good news/bad news blog update. =) The bad news...I'm UP three pounds. It's amazing how quick and easy it is to gain...and how long and tedious it is to lose...then keep those pounds off! I'm not surprised I've gained though. Since Chris has left, my motivation has plummeted...probably because I'm just too tired to care. Being sick while he was home in addition to getting used to having his extra hands to help with the boys made me all the more exhausted trying to readjust after he left. Not sure that made any sense... Anyway, the other factor is that Will is nursing less during the day. And last but not least, I haven't eaten well and I still haven't figured out how in the world to start an exercise routine.

This is where the good news comes in. Back in my days on Marlatt St in Manhattan, I used an elliptical. After moving to Fort Riley, we didn't have a good set-up for it...and it made this persistent clicking noise that just about drove me up the walls. I digress though. When I had it in my little blue house on Marlatt, I used it all the time - it was perfect! I'd turn on the nightly news and exercise away.

It finally occurred to me that this might help me get my cardio. I still want to try Pilates for isometrics and toning - but I was searching for the balance of cardio and strength training. So I started researching what would be the best fit for me. I finally found one that wouldn't break the bank, had a smaller stride (I feel like I'm going to do the splits on some of the ellipticals out there!) and was very compact. The reviews were great - so I took the plunge and ordered it a few days ago. It won't be in for a few weeks, but I'm super excited! I'll post pictures once I get it set up.

The other change I've made is that I'm finally taking my vitamins again. I've also added an herbal supplement called Olive Leaf to my daily routine.

I'm beginning to feel much more motivated to take off these added pounds...probably because my jeans are tight...=) and with this warm weather tease we just got - it makes me want to exercise again. So hopefully I can take this new boost and go with it! =)

I'm such a yo-yo

Hey ya’ll!

This has been a tough week for most of us I think! I’m right there with you. With Chris leaving – getting back into some sort of routine – and dealing with the overwhelming exhaustion of the last few weeks – then there’s the massive amounts of work that is piled high – and though I am continually plugging away at it all…it just keeps growing! Not to mention – the boys are going through some major Daddy withdraw – which means they need loads of extra attention….sigh! I’m so pooped I haven’t been able to even begin to motivate myself to find an exercise plan. I haven’t been eating very well either. Sometimes I wonder if attempting to live healthy will always be such a roller coaster ride. Will I always yo-yo back and forth? If past performance has anything to do with it…I’m in trouble! =)

I wish I could say that things are going to settle down soon and then I’ll have more time to commit – but this is actually the calm before the storm I think! I need another cookie and cup of coffee just thinking about it all! =)

Anyway, I am going to keep trying. Thankfully at this point, I am only up 1 pound. If I can get back on track now, it’ll definitely be to my body’s benefit…and my jeans benefit too! =)

Anyway, I know this blog was far from uplifting. However, I continue to encourage you to just keep on trying as well! I think there will always be times where we struggle to push through. Don’t beat yourself up for little indulgences – allow yourself to be human – smile – breathe – and laugh. The last three are key! =)