One Step at a Time

I remember being assigned a huge project in school and feeling myself shutdown in my desk. However, after dissecting it, I was able to accomplish it in manageable chunks.  This mentality has not been limited to only my life as a student; it follows me today in all facets of my life.

I have a fitness goal.  I want to feel confident in my pre-baby (babies) clothes.  I don't really care about the number on the scale anymore; muscle weighs more than fat!  I crave to feel strong again; I want my athletic body back.  Here's my inspirational pic...I can't believe I'm sharing this with you!  This picture was taken when the hubby and I were consistently working out together and making healthy choices (minus the beer!).

I know what it takes; I've lived in my body for 31 years.  I know down to a T what I need to do to get there, but when I think about all of this at once, it's overwhelming.  Therefore, I'm using my dissecting technique.  If I can add one thing to my daily routine that will get me there, that's manageable.  If I can lengthen my route, if I can sprint a little longer in my interval training, if I can add weights after my cardio, if I can stretch before bed, if I can add Pilates, if I can drink more water, if I can start my day with a protein-packed meal, if I can consume a shake at lunch instead of a sandwich, then that's a step in the right direction.  These little changes over time will impact my lifestyle in a huge way.  Before I know it, I will be doing longer, more intense workouts, and my body will be craving healthy foods instead of high-sugar indulgences.  After all, I put on my baby weight over time, so taking it off will require time as well!

Here's a picture I snapped on my walk yesterday as I was preparing my plan of attack.

P.S.  Danica, if you're reading this, I haven't forgotten about you!  :)

Falling off the workout wagon...

Up until last week, I fell off the workout wagon.  It wasn't until I stepped on the scale that I got a huge heaping dose of reality.  If you aren't expending calories through activity, you can't eat like you are.  The scale doesn't lie.  I was up three pounds, and trust me, it wasn't muscle weight!

We try to eat early in the evening (some might say late afternoon); it works better with our kids.  It also works better for us.  I truly believe you sleep better when your food has had time to properly digest.  Last week, we got in the routine of eating at 5-5:30 and going for a walk after dinner.  This wasn't a leisurely paced walk, we were getting it.  Then, after walking, we let Hamilton play before heading in for baths and bedtime.

This week is a little more hectic.  Jared has meetings at the church two nights, and I'm meeting a college friend for dinner one night; therefore, we won't be on our family exercise schedule.  I'm fitting in my exercise during nap time, and I counted playing in the pool with the chaps as exercise on Tuesday.  Although I haven't weighed myself this week, I am happy to say that more of my pre-pregnancy jeans are fitting.  My goal is to get in those "skinny" jeans in the back of the closet soon!

Arm Flab

Parker is constantly on my hip while I do things around the house or run errands.  He has a new habit that I don't appreciate very much.  He loves to squeeze and pinch on my loose tricep skin.  It drives me nuts to have this perpetual reminder that it should be tighter.  It's time to show him who's boss and remove his play area.

Strength training is much more enjoyable than cardio to me.  I'm going to incorporate these exercises into my workouts three times a week.  I'll let you know when Parker has to move on to another pinching spot!

Best Arm Exercises with Weights

Workout Wednesday?

I know that you have to work for what you want; it doesn't just happen and fall into your lap.  With that being said, I have only worked out twice in the last two weeks.  Good news:  my clothes still fit.  Bad news:  the scale hasn't budged.  It's time to reevaluate and get my booty back in gear.  How do I do that?  I go buy cute workout clothes of course!  As an added bonus they're on sale right now!

Burnout Tee

This will be perfect for fall with capris.  Cute enough to run errands in!

Opulent Iris Sports Bra

Built-In Bra Tank

Racerback Tank

Time to get back on the horse and get to work,

7 Minute Workout

This workout nips two of my biggest excuses in the bud:  1) I don't have the equipment to do that; and, 2) I don't have the time. Seven minutes. That's it. Anyone can forfeit that amount of time!

Get up and get moving,



P.S. I'm taking the week off from the scale. After all, it is my vacay week!

Go green!

Don't worry, y'all, I haven't gone crazy recycling!  I'm just talking about green smoothies. In conjunction with working out, I have been drinking my lunch a few days a week. I once was very skeptical of how something of THAT color could be good, but I'm here to testify that they can be very tasty!

This is my favorite combo lately.  It's so refreshing on a hot summer day!

• 2 packed cups of spinach
• 1/2 a banana
• 1/2 an orange
• 5 strawberries
• 1 cup of ice

P.S.  Since my last post about my baby weight loss two weeks ago, I'm down another 4 pounds!  8 to go!

Up and at 'em

Before kids, I loved working out in the morning. My days were smoother after feeling like one thing was ticked off my to do list by 6:45. It's amazing what a sense of accomplishment will do for the spirit!

Yesterday I heard my husband tiptoeing (thanks, Hun!) back into the house after his morning bike ride, so I gave myself a little pep talk that went a little something like this, "Get your lazy butt out of bed and get moving!"

I'm so thankful that I did.  The birds were chirping me a song as I pedaled my heart out for 25 minutes. I knew the baby would be up soon, so I had to make the most of the time allotted. Our neighborhood has many hills; therefore, my plan was to be out of the saddle on all the hills and go as hard as I can for the duration of the ride.

Now, my jiggly legs and I can enjoy my little dumplings without feeling my workout looming over me.

I love my bike!  You can find it here.  Isn't the color just darling?

P.S.  Here's a little weight loss progress.

Total weight gain with Parker:  45 pounds (I hate writing that number every time)
Amount left to lose:  14 pounds  (Yep, I've lost 4 pounds this week!)

I'm so excited to see the scale starting to budge.  I honestly think the trick is being a little kinder to myself, making healthy choices, and chasing after my two wild ones.  Yes, I try to exercise every day, but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.  I'm not going to beat myself up over it.  After all, I'm still burning up to 500 calories a day feeding my Park man.

Workout Wednesdays

After griping and complaining about my post baby body for 6 months, I've decided to do something about it. Don't get me wrong. I respect my body and the miracle it has performed; however, you know it's time when your spanx leave indentions hours after they've been removed. Bye bye love handles, bye bye saddlebags, bye bye jiggly arms. This is my journey to a lean, strong silhouette.

During my first workout, my body gently (ok, not so gently) reminded me that it is not 18 any more. After the warm up, I taste my salad from lunch. How pitiful is that?!? That might be TMI, but it makes me appreciate that I'm not a cow that has to eat regurgitated grass.  From this early moment, I know how badly out of shape I am.  With my first pregnancy, the weight melted off.  I really didn't do a thing to lose it.  I fed my handsome boy and ate whatever I wanted.  This time it is definitely not as easy.  I don't know if it's the two extra years to my age, but, whatever the cause may be, I certainly do not like it!

The circuit training workout uses body weight and is a mixture of kickboxing (my favorite), calisthenics, and core training. One of the circuits includes jumping jacks. As soon as I begin the movement, I feel the urge to empty my bladder (hello, two babies sat on it for months). The jumping motion certainly is not friendly to mommas!  Then, to make matters worse, I think of my Icelandic friends who struggled with the motion of this exercise during preseason boot camp at Converse.  I can hear them now, "Stupid Americans..."  This workout is going downhill in a hurry.

After barely completing the workout, I  lie in the floor to recover for a few minutes. During this time, I curse Jillian Michaels repeatedly for her cruelty.  Needless to say, this first workout is a big heaping dose of reality.  It's time to get it together.  I hear a little Bubba Sparxxx mantra coming on, "...Get it right, get it tight."

Total weight gain: 45 pounds!!!!!
Total amount left to lose:  18 pounds (good thing I have 72 inches to stretch it all out!)