Update

Man, it sure is tough to keep any of my blogs updated! However, I had a brief moment so I thought I'd write a quick update. =)

Chris and I did pretty good at the Power 90 Boot Camp for the first 3-4 weeks. Then we went on vacation and haven't been able to get back into the habit of exercising again. Ugh. We are both ready to recommit to an exercise program, but I'm not sure we'll go right back to the Power 90 Boot Camp. I don't know if it's because this program is so repetitive or if I just don't like it - but my motivation to restart this program is VERY low. So, we have talked about doing a different workout program for now and then possibly revisiting the Power 90 Boot Camp at a later date.

Something I noticed in the first few weeks though is that I have to work hard to balance exercise with calorie intake while breast feeding.  If I don't take in enough calories I don't lose any weight at all (I guess my body is holding on to it because it knows it has to produce milk on a regular basis) - so I have to make sure I'm taking in enough calories and protein so I can still breastfeed AND lose weight at the same time.

My weight has been up and down since beginning this, but when I weighed in today I've lost a total of 6 pounds. This is so exciting!! I still have about 20 more to lose, but this is definitely a start! Now if I could just lose another 6-10 pounds over the next few months I might actually fit into my bigger summer clothes. There is nothing more defeating then standing in your closet and looking at all the clothes you can't wear.

Hopefully when I update again I'll be a little closer to my goal! 

I'm baaaaack!!

The day before I found out I was pregnant with Owen, I was typing out a new workout/eating plan to restart my healthy lifestyle goals to post to this blog. Needless to say, with pregnancy comes extreme morning (i.e. all day and night) sickness. So, the blog post was never finished or posted. But now, almost 10 weeks after giving birth and hitting a plateau on postpartum weight loss, I am ready to get back in the saddle.

Chris and I have had many discussions about getting on a workout program, but talking about it and finding time to do it are two different things. Finally, though we ordered Power 90 Boot Camp and start tonight.

I know it's not going to be easy to find time to exercise on a daily basis...but we are both committed to making this workout program work. We have taken our "before" measurements and weights...and in 90 days will retake them and celebrate our success. Of course the goal has always been (and will always be) to have and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

We don't plan to go on a diet. We are just going to eat the foods that are good for you, with an occasional treat. I am in the process of planting a garden and look forward to reaping the benefits of healthy veggies right outside our back door!

I am hoping to blog about our progress...especially over the next 90 days! Wish us luck!!=)

10 week Goal Update

Well, last week was the end of my 10 week goal. If I had been writing this two weeks ago, I could very excitedly tell you I had indeed reached my 10 week goal...unfortunately I have managed to gain 2 pounds over the last week....What's with that?!?! *HUGE SIGH*

So...I will admit to feeling pretty disappointed...but I refuse to be defeated. Though I have tried to remain faithful to doing my elliptical 5 times a week, I feel that my activity level has decreased over the last few weeks. This is mostly due to our new location. When we first moved here, the kids and I would regularly walk our dog down to the river and around the apartment grounds. We tried to be neighborly with the people we came across...unfortunately one of those people ended up being a real creep. So now I don't feel comfortable AT ALL taking the kids out as much (nor do I feel comfortable going out by myself either.) This was really disappointing, because it's so vital to get the kids out of the house so they can play. We still walk to the little playground across the field (which is thankfully away from the creepy guy,) but we don't do as much walking as we did when we first moved here.

So I need to figure out how to up the activity level during the days.

I have also noticed our food intake hasn't been the best. I need to tweak our meals to include more veggies.

So I want to work on those two things this week.

Goals seem to keep me motivated, so I am setting a new goal. I don't know if this will be a very realistic goal, but it's worth trying...I mean the worst that can happen in the end is not meeting the goal and then setting a new one after not meeting it...LOL!

This will be a more short-term "jump-start" goal:

End of Summer Goal: The Details

1. A six week "jump start" phase

Week 1: August 31-Sept 5

Week 2: Sept 6 - 12

Week 3: Sept 13-19

Week 4: Sept 20-26

Week 5: Sept 27-Oct 3

Week 6: Oct 4- 10

2. Attempt to lose 5 pounds by healthy meals/snacks and exercise

3. Find creative ways to stay active during the day with the kiddos

4. More veggies, more veggies, more veggies

6. Add strength training to my cardio routine

So....here I go again!! =)

Week 5

Time for another update (past time really...but better late than never!)

I am still attempting to progress through the 10 week Challenge. I have lost a few pound and have tried hard to stick to my exercise routine and healthy food intake. However, I'm feeling a bit challenged as I head into this week because of being really sick the last few weeks (thus not getting as much exercise) and because I was sick, I didn't feel like cooking...so now I'm trying to get back on track with healthy meals again. I will also admit to a few splurges here and there. My birthday meal AND our anniversary meal were totally worth the splurge!! =)

So this week it's all about sticking to it. This is the whole thing about exercise and eating being a lifestyle - just because you've had a few rough weeks doesn't mean you've failed...it simply means you've had a few rough weeks. Making it a lifestyle choice, just means you pick back up and get to it instead of giving up. So this is where I am this week.

Short of being sick the last few weeks, I have really felt MUCH better. More energetic, more comfortable in my own body and clothes and all around healthier. I still have a long way to go, but finally seeing some results and progress will do wonders to your motivation to just keep going!

Week 1 completed!

Week 1 of my 10 week challenge went better than expected. I was pretty anxious that regardless of the changes I was making, I would still be frustrated with the progress. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the scales did indeed budge...in a small weight loss...small...but better than the weight gain I had been experiencing! So I'll definitely take it!

Here are the changes I made last week:

1. I started doing a more challenging elliptical routine - longer duration and more resistance.

2. Eating a handful of almonds daily for a quick filling snack

3. Changed my lunch granola cereal to a whole wheat shredded wheat

4. Started drinking more water!

5. Ate more veggies

6. More conscious of sodium and sugars

Other things I've decided: Weigh-ins will be Sunday morning instead of Monday morning. I like to enjoy my Sunday lunch with the family instead of wondering how much it's going to affect the scales in the morning. Eating in moderation is still important, but I don't want to have to think of calories and sodium intake for this one meal.

I am a little concerned about my energy level this week. Today I was dragging...when I finally dragged myself to the kitchen to make supper, I decided to have a quick snack of cheese and low fat Triscuits. I just had a few and it helped my energy level immensely! It made me wonder if I need to line up some healthy snacks in-between meals in order to keep my energy level up. I may play with that a bit this week. Regardless of how much I exercise, I have really really struggled with my energy level.

Anyway, just wanted to update!

System Failure

Blah. So, long story short - I've been working out since the end of March on a consistent basis (short of 2 weeks when we were on vacation) and not only have I NOT lost any weight...I've actually gained weight! WHAT??? Though some of the weight gain may be muscle, I know not all of it is. The reason I know that is because I'm hard pressed to find the new muscle tone. I still feel as soft and pudgy as I did when I started...even more so actually! Ugh. To top it all off, my motivation level has dramatically dropped...especially since I feel like I'm working hard with no visible or felt success (instead I see visible weight gain!) And not only do I have no motivation, I also have NO energy. I feel sluggish and tired all.the.time.

So, though I'm tempted to just throw up my hands and quit...I'm also challenged to find a way to make it work. Last summer I felt like I was at my best and healthiest weight. I felt great, had energy and best of all - I could keep up with the boys. That is where I want to be again. Sure I want to lose weight, but I really want to feel fit and healthy. I want to feel good in my clothes. I want to feel energetic. I want to feel strong.

So now what? Obviously, what I've been doing is NOT EVEN CLOSE to working (even though it's pretty much the same plan that worked when I lost weight last spring.) So I need to regroup and try something different. I do not want to starve myself, nor do I want to do a fad diet. I have been trying hard to watch what I eat, but I guess I need to adjust even the healthy food I've been eating lately.

So, what I want to do is come up with a healthy eating plan. I also need to figure out how to tweak my exercise routine to make it work. This is a work in progress.

I also want to set up a challenge for myself (I'm hoping this is realistic.) I would like to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks...1 lb a week. This is a little intimidating since I've gained weight over the last 12 weeks of trying to lose weight...but I'm hoping the changes I'll be making will help jump start the weight loss and road to feeling fit.

Here is the timeline I'm thinking...

10 Week Challenge Dates:

Week 1: June 21-27

Week 2: June 28-July 4

Week 3: July 5-11

Week 4: July 12-18

Week 5: July 19-25

Week 6: July 26-August 1

Week 7: August 2-8

Week 8: August 9-15

Week 9: August 16-22

Week 10: August 23-29

I am really hoping to be more consistent at blogging about this challenge. Hopefully on a weekly basis?

More to come!

Super Quick Update

Had a quick seconds between lunch and getting the kids down for their nap, so I thought I’d post a quick blog.

Week 1 went pretty good! I didn’t get to exercise as much as I wanted, but it has been an unusually busy month already…I can already tell that finding time to exercise is going to be a challenge over the next few weeks.

We have been eating much healthier – and though the cravings still hit really hard, I am trying to fight them off. So far I’ve lost about 4lbs. Yeehaww!!!

Hopefully I’ll have more time to post later, but for now I just wanted to get a quick update on!

A new year and a new start!

The last few months have been somewhat challenging in terms of maintaining an exercise schedule and eating healthy. I have lacked motivation...and time hasn't been easy to come by either. But I'm ready to start anew!

Here's the damage of my lack of motivation the last few months:

I have put some weight back on. I'll know the extent of it tomorrow
when I do my official weigh-in.

I can't fit into any of my clothes. I dread going to my closet everyday because it's no fun bypassing 99% of the clothes I can't wear because they're a bit too tight.

My energy level is at an all time LOW.

My motivation level is at an all time LOW.

My body (internally and externally) just feels ICK.

The thing is, I DO want to be healthy, I really really do. I feel SO much better when I eat right and exercise. I just wish it wasn't so challenging to maintain a healthier lifestyle (don't we all!)

Setting goals has helped quite a bit in the past, so I'd like to continue implementing goals - long-term and short-term. Here is an overview of what I'm looking at for the next few months:

Healthy Eating:

I do plan on dieting for the next few months. However, I hope to change my eating habits in such a way that I don't have to diet once I get to my goal weight, just maintain. I hope to do this by retraining my body to eat and crave healthy foods and eat in MODERATION (this is a big stumbling block for me.) I am all for having treats here and there...I just need to learn to portion it out correctly.

Some of my food goals are:

Eating more fresh foods

Less snacking

Less sweets

Find more natural foods and eat less processed foods

DRINK MORE WATER (another hard one for me)

The first few weeks I'll be back to my altered South Beach diet plan. I will follow the South Beach rules for snacks, sweets and suppers. Breakfast will probably be a slice or two of toast and Lunch will be granola or something that has a good source of fiber in it.

Exercise:

Time has been one of the biggest enemies to my exercise regimen. I've had quite a few videos to edit the last few months and I do most of my editing during the boys nap time and after they go to bed. This is also when I would do my exercise routine. I struggle to accomplish both. So what I would like to try is getting up earlier...this may be the biggest challenge of all!

For the first month, I want to build back up on the elliptical.

20 minutes 4/5 times a week.

I would also like to do strength training - abs, arms and legs.

So that's the overview! I'll be posting more tomorrow!

Monday!

It all begins again on Monday!

Much much much more to come!

Week 1 Goals

Week 1 Goals:

- Portion control

- Healthy snacks

- More water

- 20 min. elliptical workout 4-5 times this week

- crunches 4-5 times this week

Square One...again

Ugh.

I don’t even know where to begin…but I feel like I’m pretty much back at square one again. Why is it so hard to stay faithful but so easy to fall away? I suppose that’s an age old question not only asked of healthy living, but asked of many other life experiences. So, I acknowledge I let myself fall back to square one…and as much as I’m disappointed with myself, I’m going to try to move past the disappointment as quickly as possible and just get on with trying again.

I feel like my best results have come from preparation, organization and planning. So, I’m taking the remainder of this week and mapping out a workable plan and goals. I will post more details as I figure them out!

More soon!

The ups and downs of summer

This summer has been a bit bittersweet in terms of this healthy living journey. The first part of the summer went really well. I felt like I was doing well with portions and cutting back on snacks. I set the goal of 150 miles on the elliptical in 5 weeks which I was uber excited to complete!

After Chris's visit home and our blink-of-an-eye vacation - and then Chris's departure - I had a hard time getting back on track. It was a combination of a lot of things - but regardless - I had a hard time getting back into the routine I had.

I have most definitely gained weight - and most definitely lost energy. Though I don't like my clothes being tight - I really don't like how sluggish I feel. Blah.

So this week I have started exercising again and next week I will really focus on my food choices. I'm hoping since I've only been off my routine for a month - my body will snap back. Hehehe...nothing is ever that easy is it! =)

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! =)

MIA

Sorry I've been MIA for the last few weeks! Chris was home on R&R, so we were super busy trying to cram 10 months of missed time into 2 weeks. =) We had a wonderful time - and he sadly had to go back - but thankfully we're on the last half of this separation. I'm SO ready for it to just be OVER!

Anyway - I didn't adhere to any diet nor did I exercise while Chris was home. This means I gotta get back in the groove of some healthy eating and reattempt to find an exercise schedule! I'm dreading my weigh in tomorrow - and am just hoping that somehow...someway I didn't gain an uber amount of weight. We shall see!! =)

Anyway, I don't have too much to say tonight - I'm all tuckered out and am heading for bed. Just wanted to apologize for my disappearance the last 3 weeks and to say I'm back!

More later!