Catching up....

Time for a check-in.  We got home from Disneyland on Tuesday evening.  We weren't scheduled to come home until Wednesday sometime, but we were ready to pack it in.  The kids were tired, we were tired and didn't have any desire to fight the crowds in the park or LA traffic Wednesday morning.  Good choice on our part I believe.  While we had a great time, I won't do the "on vacation during Christmas" thing again.  I really missed our normal Christmas routine and the family get-togethers. Lesson learned.
Since coming home I've struggled to get back on track. One part of it is having the hubs home.  I have a very difficult time when he's underfoot.  Throws me all off.  I am definitely ready for him to go back to work on Monday :)
Truthfully though, I am struggling with sugar again.  Broken record, right??  I know better.  I do. Blah. Yesterday was a terrible binge day.  I haven't had an out-of-control, free-for-all, shove-everything-in-your-face, make-cookies-so-you-can-eat-them type of day in a long time. I've had some less intense binge days, but this one was bad. Double Blah.
Since I can't change my behavior from yesterday, I just have to pick myself up and move forward.  Today is day one of sugar detox.  I need to make a trip to the grocery store and load up the fridge with a variety of leafy greens and other veggies. 
I am working on a list of new fitness goals and will share that in another post soon. Last time I weighed in (Thursday), the scale said 151.6 lbs.  Maintenance.  After yesterday's debacle I know the scale is WAY up.  I will not be weighing for a few days since I know a temporary up-tic in the scale will not help my mental state. 
Anyway...
Hope you all had a great Christmas! 

Are you setting any new goals for yourself? I'd love to hear what you're thinking. Please share!       

Lucky Girl

Sorry I've been absent.  There's been a lot going on. 'Tis the season and all that. Plus, I was feeling very upset and didn't feel like spewing on all of you.  Having a school age child, the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary hit me hard, as I'm sure it did most of you. 
Eating has been a bit scattered recently. Hubby is home on vacation, 3 kids running around (6 right now actually since cousins are over visiting), trying to get things ready for our trip to Disneyland... yeah, things are hectic. Through it all though I'm cognizant of the fact that I am a lucky girl.  I am truly blessed and I am thankful for everything I have!  
Being the emotional eater I am, having holiday treats around has been difficult.  I have definitely indulged in a few things lately but I have also eaten mostly good the rest of the time.  This morning's weight was 151.4. To be honest I really don't care what the scale says right now.  I'm working out to Ripped in 30 and living life.
Hubby was super awesome and surprised me with something that has helped keep me a little more on track lately....

Vitamix blenders are expensive!!  I freely admit to being a total cheapo most of the time.  My husband is the "spender" lol.  I totally love him right now for being a spender :) I love smoothies because they are  quick and easy. Having a Vitamix blender makes them 100x better!!! Being able to add things like celery, carrots and kale to my smoothies has been awesome.  I have added kale to my smoothies before but the texture of the smoothies wasn't that great.  Now I can have a nutrient/veggie packed smoothie WITH a great consistency and texture. Woo-hoo!! Thank you dear.
By the way, it's okay if some of you think I'm crazy for being so excited about a blender.

Hope you all are doing well!  Merry Christmas friends!  I'll be back next week sometime :)
Hug your babies if you got 'em.  Stay safe.

Exercise, excuses and kids...

These days figuring out the "when" to exercise is tricky.  I switch it up often as my list of things to do varies from day to day.  If I'm running, I generally wait till hubby gets home from work mid afternoon (so I can go by myself).  If I'm doing a DVD I try to squeeze it in during nap time.  Lately though, that's been interesting.  My 2 yr old stinker  angel is trying to give up her nap, which she still NEEDS.  In the past, my 4 yr old "rests" and watches a movie in my room while the 2 yr old naps, which allows mommy some sanity time to workout.  Not so much lately.  So I had to come up with a solution.  Depending on how the angel is behaving any given day, I've been attempting to let them both rest and watch a movie together.  Preparing ahead of time is key.  Feed them lunch, change the little one's diaper, get a small snack set up on the table and juice in the cups, potty break for the oldest and then give the speech "Please don't argue, keep your hands to yourself, watch the movie till mommy's done". Some days it works, some days it doesn't lol. Some days I walk in and find this....

My point is, I could easily use the kids as a reason NOT to workout. It's easy to find reasons why you can't.  It's harder to lose the excuses and DO IT some days. 
I will say though, I am a better mommy for making the time to exercise. I feel better and have more energy.  Yay :) 
Something else I like to do is incorporate the kids into workouts where possible (in the form of play).  Some of my best ab workouts are in the evenings when I'm playing with the kids.  Reverse crunches with them on my legs, hip thrusts with a kid sitting on me, downward dog into up dog (bridge is open, bridge is closed...hurry kids, crawl under before the bridge closes).... you get the idea.  Fun times all around. Sometimes even a good old fashioned dance party is just the ticket.

For you mommy's out there, how do swing it? Do you get up early, use childcare at the gym, exercise with the kids?  What's your plan of attack?
For those of you without kids... do you make excuses not to exercise? What are the reasons you use? (Kids are an easy one, but I know the list is endless).

Weigh-in 12/6

Previous Weight: 151.8
Current Weight: 149.6
Change: -2.2 lbs

So apparently all I have to do is say "Screw you" to the scale and it moves dramatically downward.  Good to know.
In all seriousness though, while I'm thrilled with the loss this week, I am determined not to let the number on the scale be the only yard stick by which I measure my success.  Big picture Tiff. The big picture is that I am treating my body with respect and living in a way that I feel is sustainable... and as a bonus, it makes me look pretty good lol.
I really like the idea of setting some concrete fitness goals for myself (as someone suggested in my last post) so that will be next on the agenda.  More on that later.
I'm headed to a football game this evening with the hubby. Early Christmas gift from my in-laws.  This will be my first NFL game and I'm looking forward to it.  Food may be a bit sketchy today. We'll see.
Hope you're having a great week!  

Screw you scale!

I mentioned on Thursday that I was a bit upset with the scale.  It's not moving.  I'm doing the right things and it's sticking at 151.  As much as I want it to drop into the 140's, it seems to be perfectly content at 151.  I did some serious thinking yesterday and decided I need a little break from the number based obsession.  My sanity depends on it.  Funny enough, two of the standards by which I am judging myself, BMI and weight, are somewhat flawed. Technically until I get under 150 lbs I am still in the overweight category for BMI.  That bothers me... even though I know it shouldn't.  
As a solution to the problem I did two things.  First, I decided not to actively pursue weight loss for the rest of the month.  As in I am not stressing about LOSING. If it happens, fine, but if not that's okay too.  I upped my calorie goal slightly on MyFitnessPal. While it's still set to a deficet, it's not as low as before. I will continue eating healthy, logging my food and exercising.  Ripped in 30 is working great.  I'll also continue to take my measurements every two weeks and we'll see what happens.
The second thing I did was take some new pictures.  My 155 lb picture in the side bar is from over a year ago.  Time for an update.  I also wanted to show off the fact that I am wearing a size 4 jean now!! It's hard to be pissed off at a stupid number on the scale when I'm fitting into a size 4.

I ordered these jeans from Old Navy and they came in the mail yesterday.  To say the least, I was a happy camper when they fit!

I have come a long way.  I am PROUD of my progress. 

Hope you are having a great week!!

Weigh-in 11/29

Previous Weight: 151.4
Current Weight: 151.8
Change: +.4

Grrrrr.  I'm really not liking the scale right now :/  I know in my head that I need to let go of what the scale says, but it's a really difficult thing for me. 
I should be grateful that I've basically maintained. Things have been a bit "off" since Thanksgiving.  I overdid it on the dessert table (shocking right??) and have been struggling with carbs since.  I thought maybe if I upped my carb intake I wouldn't crave them so bad... you know, like if I allow myself a little leeway it would be better?? Buzzzzz, wrong answer.  Leeway (in terms of carbs) is a slippery slope for me.  Throw in a few bad nights with sleeping & dreary weather and I feel like a mess! Cravings and bad choices galore.  I'm not talking massive amounts of anything (as in binging) but picking at little bits of this and that adds up too. Wine and a half a bagel is not dinner either (that was last night).
I did some thinking today.  I need to be better prepared in terms of dinner. That's been a hot mess this week. I need to make sure I have good stuff in the house... I must go to the grocery store TODAY. 
I also need to commit to an exercise plan for the next 4 weeks.  I finished up my 6 week weight training plan last week and felt a bit at loose ends in that department. I don't want to start the second 6 week program when I know I'll be going out of town at the 4 week point. Did I mention we're going to Disneyland for Christmas??

After some thought, a little Jillian seems to be the answer to that dilemma.  Ripped in 30 is 4 weeks long. I have 4 weeks before Disneyland. Plus, there's no excuses even if the weather's bad.  I've done week 1 of the DVD 2x this week.  Tomorrow and Saturday will make it 4 days.  I'll also be squeezing in some runs along the way.
It definitely feels better to have a plan.  And as always it helps to write it down here :)
No more wine, no more bagels, no more crap or excuses.

Weigh-in 11/22

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!  Really quickly I'm going to check-in.

Previous Weight: 152.0
Current Weight: 151.4
Change: -0.6

I *know* every little bit counts. I *know* I ate a high sodium dinner last night.  To say I'm not slightly disappointed would be a lie though.  I was really tempted to hop on the scale after I got home from my run this morning, just to "see" a lower number, but that's just silly and unhealthy thinking.

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! Check back later... 

Catch-up and Thanksgiving Plans...

So apparently I've lost my blogging mojo.  I keep thinking "I need to blog" and then draw a blank.  Sorry folks.  It is what it is.
I'm looking forward to some family time Thursday.  I have every intention of enjoying my day but with that being said, I won't be going nutso.  The plan is to run 5 miles and lift Thanksgiving morning and then eat/drink in moderation.  My 2 pitfalls are usually my grandma's (from scratch) rolls and dessert.  I'll be enjoying one of each and savoring.  I also know that I cannot let it become a multi-day extravaganza (this is an important point for me). 
It feels good to have a plan to execute. 
I made it through the potential pitfall of birthday cake last week without any issues.  Made the cake, had a few licks of frosting, ate a couple bites off kiddos plate and moved on. Yay me :)
Sunday was "measurements" day.  I'm happy to report that I've lost another 1" on my waist, 1/2" on the bust and  1/4" on my hips.  I don't know if I'm going to hit my 149 lb goal by Thanksgiving but if I don't, I'm okay.  The scale is a fickle creature.  I'm losing inches, getting faster and stronger every day.  Those three things are more important to me than a number.  I almost broke an 8 min/mile pace last night on my 5 mile run (without paying attention)...that's HUGE to me. Woo-hoo for non-scale victories!!
Finally, I'll leave you with this little gem-

    Have a great day folks!

Weigh-in 11/15

Previous Weight: 153.8
Current Weight: 152.0
Change: -1.8

Even with my indulgences over the weekend I managed a nice loss.  Yay :)
Don't have time for more than a quick check-in today as it's my youngest kiddo's 2nd birthday and I have a Minnie Mouse cake to make and a house to clean and a workout to squeeze in somewhere.
Have a great day folks!

Cleanin' it up...

It's time to catch you up on my weekend.  I'll tell you up front that I made some sub-optimal choices.  I had a few drinks, I missed a couple workouts, I ate some junk.  I'm not beating myself up because it's life, and I'm back on track (mostly).  I don't feel great about some of the choices I made because they just made me feel *ick*, but I can't change it now. 
So, onward I go.  The house is stocked with all my healthy staples,  I ran 5 miles yesterday instead of just 3, I plan on doing a double workout today (weight training and a 3 mi run) and I'll be pushing the water hard the next few days.  Mitigating the "damage" as best as possible. 

On a side note, I want to thank all of you who took the time to give me your opinions on what to wear.  In the end, while the favorite pick was outfit #2, I wore the black dress. The grey top is one of my favorites, and I have worn it on date night before, but I felt I would be under-dressing my husband since he wore his full suit and tie ensemble.  The black dress was more in line with his outfit (and he requested I wear it).

So there you have it, you're all caught up.  Here's to a great finish to the rest of the week!

Pick your favorite...

As promised in my earlier post, here are the pictures of my possible outfits for this weekend's night out.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

The black dress didn't photograph well, but is very pretty with a ruched bodice and broach. The details just didn't show up. This is actually hubby's pick. 
I'd love to hear what you think! Which outfit is your favorite?

Weigh-in 11/8

Previous Weight: 155.8
Current Weight: 153.8
Change: -2.0

Two pound loss this week! Yay :) Nine weeks in and 18.4 lbs total lost (from my "restart point"). Yay :)

I don't think I've mentioned this, but Friday & Saturday last week I suffered from a big case of "Not Good Enoughs" and "The Blahs". I felt fat and gross and just generally "ugh"with a side of bad mom and wife thrown in.  Even though I was feeling that way, I argued with myself that it wasn't true and I was being crazy.  Inside my head was an interesting place to be...not.  Since I was feeling that way, I decided that a perfect cure would be a slight increase in calories and a bit of pampering.  Part of Sunday was spent expirementing with at-home beauty treatments...a moisturizing hair mask, mini facial etc.  While it didn't cure me entirely, it did make me feel a little better. Plus, it made my kids laugh. It's not every day you see mom with plastic wrap on her head.
Looking at it and analyzing, I think part of it may have been cycle related (ovulation).  I know that I'm sensitive to hormonal fluxuations and being aware of where I'm at in my cycle is helpful info.
By Monday I was feeling better and I dropped my calories back down and moved on.
I know sometimes I come across very "happy, happy, joy, joy" but let me assure you, that isn't always the case. While I try to be positive, sometimes I'm just not there. 

So anyway, moving on.  Today is going to be a double post day, as I have narrowed down my choices for outfits to wear this weekend.  I'll be cleaning the mirror lol  and doing one more fashion show.  Seeing pictures helps me and I like the input from all of you because I tend to be a mite fashionably challenged.  Check back later and vote for your favorite outfit.

Help Me!

Alright folks, I need your opinions.  This coming weekend the hubs and I are going out of town.  We're going to a comedy show and I want your opinion as to what I should wear.  The follow pictures are the the 3 outfits I'm trying to choose from.  I may have a few more options later in the week as I'm going to raid my mother-in-laws' closet tomorrow, but for now, this is it. Please excuse the lack of makeup and the dirty mirror lol

Outfit #1

Outfit #2

Outfit #3

Thoughts?? Please leave me a comment!!!

Weigh-in 11/1

Previous Weight: 155.6
Current Weight: 155.8
Change: +0.2

I refuse to be bummed by the fact that I essentially maintained this week. Part of the process. The overall picture is good and my measurements are showing positive changes.  I also recognize that I am retaining fluid today (my ring is tight this morning, #1 clue).  Last night's dinner didn't help anything.  We stopped and picked up a family size nugget meal from Chicken Barn and ate dinner with my in-laws.  You can't always have a perfect meal or a healthy one either.  I ate chicken and a small amount of coleslaw and skipped the biscuits and spuds.  I feel pretty good about my choices. 
Obviously, today we have two big bowls of junk sitting around after trick or treating last night.  I'll probably stick it up in the cupboard later.  While I'm not craving candy or even desiring to eat it, staring at it every time I walk through the kitchen is not the best idea either.  Out of sight, out of mind usually works better for me.
Hope everyone had a great Halloween!  I'll leave you with a pic of my little monkeys....

Minnie, Jewel Sparkle (Lalaloopsy), & Batman

  What's your plan for dealing with the Halloween candy??

Quick check-in

Morning folks! Hope you had a great weekend.  I was good and made a menu plan for the week.  I also went and did the shopping so I have everything.  Did a 4.5 mi run yesterday & weights Saturday.  This week is the start of Body Sculpting Bible Week 3&4.  I'm noticing some nice improvements in muscle tone and strength gains.  As mentioned in a previous post, Sunday was my measurement day.   I'm kicking myself for not taking measurements when I started back up (at 172 lbs).  I did take measurements starting on Sept 29 (at 162 lbs).  Since then, in one month, I have lost 3.5" overall... 1.25" off the bust, 1" off the waist, 1.25" off the hips.  Yay :) Using the military body fat calculator here I am now at 28% body fat (down from 31% a month ago).  Hoping to get down to the low 20's upper teens eventually :)
Gotta run...lots to get taken care of around the house.  Here's to a great week!   

Be safe my friends...

I got a serious phone call from my sister-in-law last night.  You see, her sister and a long time friend were out running yesterday morning when tragedy hit.  Even though they were wearing headlamps and running smart, a car struck the friend.  Unfortunately, she did not survive the incident. A 27 year old woman, taken too soon.   

I want to remind all of you to be safe.  This is my "phone call" to you.  Life can be tragically short.  I found this statistic on the RoadID website- "Year after year, over 122,000 runners, walkers, and cyclists are hit by cars".

A few safety tips and reminders-

• NEVER assume a driver sees you. 
• If you wear headphones while running, make sure they aren't turned up so loud that you can't hear what's going on
• Wear bright colors
• Most of all, BE AWARE

No matter how careful you are though, accidents can happen.  It's easy to forget simple safety precautions, but please, don't.  In this particular situation they were doing everything right and still...

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.
 

  

Weigh-in 10/25

Previous Weight: 156.4
Current Weight: 155.6
Change: -0.8

Almost one pound down this week. Since I had a significant, 2+ lb loss last week I was only expecting about a half pound loss this week *smiles*.  Sunday is my bi-monthly measurement day, so I'm curious to see how that goes. 
Some of you may have noticed that I didn't post my weekly goals on Monday.  It's not that I forgot, it's just been a busy week.  I did them "in my head" which I'm finding isn't as effective as posting them here lol.  So here it is-

1. Quit nibbling! (This is a repeat from last week, but the nibbling this week has been over the top).

Yep, just one focused goal for the week.  I could list all the goals from my previous weeks, earlier bedtime, new healthy recipe, cook at home, evening walk w/family etc. but I really need to focus on the nibbling thing.  Part of the problem is my meal timing has been wonky which means I've let myself get too hungry with no plan for the upcoming meal so I grab a bit of this or that...never a good idea.  The other piece is that I'm relatively comfortable at 155 lbs and my clothes fit so some of the urgency is lost.  It's not that I don't want to lose more, because I do, but hey, I can throw my jeans in the dryer on accident and still wear them lol.
Being aware of this "comfort zone" is a big step. Can't change what I don't acknowledge :) So, the focus is now on getting into the 140's.  I'm going to conservatively set a timeline for Thanksgiving.  4 weeks to lose 5.8 lbs(which would put me at 149.8).  That's a 1.5 lb loss per week...healthy and attainable and on point with how I've been losing lately.
I do have one other little bit of info to share.  I had a fantastic NSV this week. For the first time in several years (since I got pregnant with #3), I was able to break an 8 min/mi pace on a 3 mi run.  7:54/mi actually.  Woo-hoo!

  

Pin your workout...

Are you a Pinterest user???  I am.  My latest obsession?  Cruising and repinning from the "Health & Fitness" boards.
It helps me add variety to my basic workouts.  I love seeing new variations of basic moves, like squats or ab moves.  It's fantastic!  With winter coming, I like having a bank of workouts to pick and choose from.  This way I won't get bored :)
Happy Pinning...

  

Weigh-in 10/18

Previous weight: 159.0
Current Weight: 156.4
Change: -2.6
  

Feels  good to have such a nice loss this week.  After 6 weeks back on track I have lost a total of 15.8 lbs.  Woo!  Even better, my measurements are getting smaller and I can wear clothes that I couldn't wear 6 weeks ago without serious discomfort & waistband spill over.  Double WOO!
Today is weight training day.  I'm still a bit sore from Tuesday's session but that's not a bad thing :)

Hope your week is going well! Talk to y'all soon....

Power up with green tea...

This one's for you Aimee, since you asked about green tea in the last post.

So green tea.  We've all heard the hype surrounding it.  It burns fat & makes you invincible. Okay, no, not really.  It is incredibly good for you though for a variety of reasons. There's a great article here on WebMD. 
While much of the data on green tea is anecdotal, one thing that's apparent is that it's chock full of antioxidants and has zero calories.

  
"Taken altogether, the evidence certainly suggests that incorporating at least a few cups of green tea every day will positively affect your health," says Diane McKay, PhD, a Tufts University scientist who studies antioxidants. "It's not going to cure anything and it shouldn't be consumed as a drug, but it can complement the rest of the diet."
McCullough bears the same reminder: eat your fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, and nuts -- and go ahead, drink as much green tea as you want.
 *Excerpt from WedMD article

I hope that it's helping to speed up my metabolism and burn body fat, but if not, that's okay.  I'm still getting some excellent anti-inflamatory benefits with the addition of the antioxidants.
My absolute favorite brand of green tea...

Yummmy, hot or cold.  This is what Starbucks serves, but if you order it, ask for it unsweetened. Another thing to watch for is prepared green teas. They are often pre-sweetened.

Anybody else drink green tea?    

Monday Mashup

First off, HAPPY MONDAY!  Hope you had a great weekend!  Mine was quite nice.  Friday was my girly's 8th birthday. Running around cleaning house, making her cake and all the rest meant I was on the go most of the day.  I had a couple bites of her birthday cake, and of course licked a little bit of frosting while creating the "masterpiece".  The licks and bites were enough to satisfy me though and I had no desire to eat more...yay.
Saturday was Halloween Party time.  Saturday wasn't my day, unfortunately.  I had problems with everything.  While trying to finish my costume I managed to use the wrong product, had to call in my sister-in-law to save the day.  Thank you Melissa for bringing me your hot glue gun :) Next I managed to screw up the pumpkin roll we were planning on bringing to the party (don't ask me how, I still haven't figured out what I did wrong).  Hubby had to go to the store and pick up something else for us to take.  Then somehow I got the time for the party wrong and we showed up WAY early.  Thankfully the hosts were gracious and let us hang out and we helped them finish getting things ready lol.  It all worked out in the end though and we had a great time!  I know you're all dying to see me in my costume....no? Too bad.

Please excuse the smile...my husband is the worst photographer.  He gives no warning, takes one picture and then walks away.

Sunday was a pretty kick back day.  No hangover for me (since I didn't drink).  I went for a nice walk, did some housework and hung out with the fam.
This morning I got up at 5:30 am, did my pilates, took the oldest to school and went for a 3.25 mi run.  Remember what I said about coming back stronger after a recovery week?  Yeah, turns out it was true.  My pace this morning with the double stroller...8:34/mi.  That's the fastest I've run with the kids, ever.
So what's next? Well, I finished reading this book-

I'll be starting the recommended strength training regime this week and plan on following it through the next 6 weeks. I enjoyed this book because it is very thorough in explaining the individual exercises with proper form.  As with most books, there are a few things that I don't 100% agree with (mostly nutrition related, because I know what works for me personally) but overall, I like the book as a strength training guide.  They also touch a bit on visualization techniques, which I liked too.
If you're looking for other strength training sources, The New Rules of Lifting for Women is another highly recommended book (though I haven't read it yet).
Finally, since it's Monday, that means it's goal setting day.  Here goes:

1. Cut down on the nibbling- I nibble on things a lot.  I'll grab an animal cracker from the kid's plate, or a bit of cheese while making lunches.  While it's not out of control now, it has the potential to become worse.
2. Eat 8-10 serving of vegetables daily
3. Drink 2-3 cups of green tea daily 

So there you have it.  Here's to a great week!

  

 

PB Fix...

As some of you know, peanut butter has a special place in my heart.  Since I have a difficult time with portion control, I stopped buying it.  Two of my kids are allergic to peanuts anyway and hubby only eats it occasionally so it's presence in the house isn't really missed (except by me).

Enter PB2. 

 I heard about this a long time ago and finally decided to give it a try.  Essentially it's a dried peanut butter powder.  The drying process removes a large percentage of the fat (I'm not afraid of the fat, but having lower fat helps this fit easier into my daily intake).  I also found it has a built in portion control factor since you have to mix the powder before eating.  This is much better for me since I can't just dip into the jar any ol' time (yes, I used to eat pb by the spoonful when the mood struck).
So now I just throw some into plain greek yogurt or a smoothie and get my pb fix.  It's also good on celery for a mid afternoon snack.

Anybody else tried this??  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the product!

P.S. Have a great weekend! :)

Weigh-in 10/11

Weigh-in day!
Previous Weight: 160.6
Current Weight: 159.0
Change: -1.6

Again, this week is pretty consistent with the past few weeks' losses.  I like this average.  It means that it's healthy and (hopefully) FAT LOSS, not muscle loss.  Since I've been eating lots of protein and doing my strength training I feel confident that my losses are primarily fat...woo.  The last thing I want is muscle loss. Especially since lean, mean machine is the ultimate goal :)
Quick update on my weekly goals and workouts...  Things are going well.  The next few days are going to be hectic so I'm not sure if I'll be able to hit all my planned workout components.  My daughter is turning 8 tomorrow so I have cake to make and lots of other little things to handle.  I've already done my pilates this morning and plan on hitting the trail for a walk with the kids after dropping birthday girl off at school. We'll have to see how tomorrow shapes up, but pilates and a walk should fit into the day somewhere.
Saturday evening hubby and I  have a Halloween party to attend.  I've got to finish my costume and figure out what side I'm bringing (Hubby wants me to make a pumpkin roll, but that seems dangerous because I LOVE PUMPKIN ROLL lol).  I'm still thinking on that one.  Suggestions are welcome.  The other thing I have to figure out is whether or not to drink at the party.  When I got back on track last month I made a decision not to drink for the rest of the year.  No particular reason, other than I know how negatively alcohol affects metabolism.  It seems silly to drink when I'm working this hard.  I know from past experience that I shouldn't drink while trying to lose weight because it is counter productive to my personal weight loss.  Other people can drink and lose weight.  Me? Not so much. It seems like a no-brainer, but... I guess we'll see.  When I told my husband I wasn't planning on drinking his response was "Well I was planning on you drinking." Oi.

Alright folks, that's all for now.  Hope your week is going well!  Please give me suggestions on healthy sides I can take to the party...I'm desperate :)

Roasted Vegetables

I love that the weather is cooling down!  Finally, I can cook dinner in the oven and not heat up a house that I'm trying to keep cool with the AC.  Truth be told, my VERY FAVORITE way to cook vegetables is to roast them but I don't do it during the warmer months because running the oven at 400* for 30+ minutes just seems crazy.  I like steamed veggies just fine, but roasting makes 'em amazing. Last night I made roasted cauliflower. Sooooooo, so, so YUM!
This is the recipe I used

Broccoli, asparagus, brussel sprouts & beets all turn out fantastic when roasted.  My family eats it up too, no complaints (even the beets). 
Hope you are having a great week!

Goals and Recovery

I made the decision yesterday that this week should be an active recovery week.  My body is feeling tired, so instead of pushing harder, I'm backing off a bit.  I'm still going to exercise, but not as intensely.  The plan for the week looks something like this:

Monday- Pilates,  Saddle Bag Workout, wall sit (3 minutes), walk
Tuesday- Pilates, Sculpt a Lean Body Workout, walk
Wednesday-Pilates,  Saddle Bag Workout, wall sit (3 minutes), walk
Thursday- Pilates, Sculpt a Lean Body Workout, walk
Friday- Pilates,  Saddle Bag Workout, wall sit (3 minutes), walk
Saturday- Pilates, Sculpt a Lean Body Workout, walk
Sunday- Pilates, walk

The exercise all focuses more on walking and isometric type exercise which is great for muscle tone.  Something I've learned along the way is that rest is very important. I get stronger and faster following a week of rest.  (This is not a week of sitting on my butt,  just less intensity). 

Goals for this week-

• Get to bed by 10 pm (This is a repeat from last week because I struggled with it)
• Get up with the alarm @ 5:35 so I can have a bit of alone time
• Have more patience with my children (Not a fitness goal, but something I need to concentrate on right now).

Here's to a great week!
  

Get to bed crazy lady...

Previous weight: 162.4
Current weight:160.6
Loss: -1.8

Hooray for consistency!  There's a part of me that still wants the instant gratification of huge losses on the scale, but the bigger part of me just tells her to "SHUSH!".  In the past 4 weeks I've lost 11.8 lbs.  The big picture tells the story.  My clothes are feeling more comfortable again and I feel good.  I am running again and experiencing nice strength gains.  My husband told me this week I might give the old men a heart attack at the Halloween party we're going to next weekend (giggle).  All in all things are good.  I manged to shake off the cold my kids tried to give me.  I will confess though that I've been struggling with getting to bed by 10 pm.  I know it's important to get my sleep, so I am committing to an "early" bedtime from now till Monday.
Tonight is the perfect night for trying a new healthy recipe so I can check that off the list of goals for the week.  If it's any good I'll share tomorrow.
Hope your week is on track.  Later gators... 

Ramblings about my day....so far

Last week I relied heavily on smoothies for breakfast because it's fast and easy.  Usually mid morning is when I have the time to cook and sit down for a full meal.  This morning however, my 4 year old woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 4:15 am and woke up the youngest too while he was at it. Normally I would just send them back to bed, but Riley (the 4 yr old) has asthma and needed a breathing treatment as we've had a cold running through our household. Cue noisy machine and TV time while he does his treatment. Meaning we didn't go back to bed.  Sooooo, I got to do yoga and make a full breakfast for myself before taking the oldest to school this morning. Not necessarily a BAD thing, but yeah, 4:15 am is really early :)
The two kids ended up falling asleep in the car after dropping sister at school...wouldn't that be nice for Mom (a nap I mean, not sleeping in the car)?  Riley actually ended up dozing for most of my 30 minute run too.  Having a cold & asthma really takes it out of the little guy.  Thankfully he's doing much better today than yesterday.
I'm trying to fight this bug off myself.  I really don't want to get sick!  I kept my run short, slow & easy today so as not to overly tax my body, but still get something in.

This was breakfast and pretty typical of what I make most days at some point.... eggs (slightly overcooked from trying to take care of something with the kids while cooking lol), sauteed bell pepper & baby kale, and a slice of turkey breast. These eggs came from my parents' chickens and they are delicious! I was lucky to get some from them when they passed through town this past weekend.   Normally I do a combo of egg whites and whole eggs to get more protein, but I ran out of whites today.  For a while I was separating eggs and tossing the yolks, but it just felt too wasteful so I started buying the 100% egg whites to use with the regular eggs.  Adding the turkey breast to breakfast is also a great way to bump up the protein without the fat.

What is your favorite breakfast??  Do you eat vegetables for breakfast? I love new ideas! Please share.  

Goalie Goals...

I've gotta tell you, I found setting short term goals last week to be incredibly helpful.  Just having a specific idea of what I wanted to concentrate on was great, so I figured I'd make it a weekly thing. Monday morning is as good a time as any (cause you know it's always easier to start on Monday lol).  So without further ado, here they are:

1. Go to bed before 10 p.m.
2. Practice yoga or pilates every day
3. Spend a minimum of 30 minutes daily reading something fitness/health related
4. Try a new, healthy recipe
5. Take an evening walk (hopefully with the family) at least twice

There you have it folks.  While they're not earth shattering, the goals I've set will help me stay on track when combined with other habits I've formed. Here's to a great week!

On a positive note...

Previous weight: 163.6
Current weight:   162.4
Loss: -1.2 lbs

Steady loss is good progress.  I saw as low as 161.2 on the scale this week, but the "official" weigh-in this morning was not that low (I'm really not bothered though by water weight fluctuations).  I did a lot of thinking this week and while it's easy to get sucked into the "MUST LOSE QUICKLY" mindset, in the long term that's not what I'm after.  I'm eating quality food, exercising consistently and letting my body find it's healthy weight.  That's not going to happen overnight. AND THAT'S OKAY!
I also had an epiphany this week concerning exercise.  Everyone has their own limit as to how much time & effort they are willing to put into exercise and fitness.  I feel like my exercise regime is sustainable long term and won't burn me out.  I have zero desire to kill myself working out everyday for hours on end.  I also don't want to set aside the time right now to train for a half marathon (a thought I was batting around).  AND THAT'S OKAY!  Running 4 days a week, strength training 3 days and doing yoga a couple times is a comfortable amount of effort to me and still provides opportunity for improved body composition.
Someone commented on Facebook this week that "Yoga is for sissies!" after I shared one of my workouts.  To be honest it took me by surprise and pissed me off for a minute.  But it also made me think.  I like yoga to be part of my weekly routine because it increases my flexibility and makes me feel good.  End of story.  I can't worry what people think about how I'm choosing to round out my fitness program.  It's a little pointless to compare yourself to others because in the long run we're all different.  What's right for you may not be right for me and vice versa.  *End of rant*
Just for the record though, this balancing pose ain't for sissies (and yes, I can do this)....

 I'm going to throw it out there too that the same thing goes for your weight.  There is no "perfect" weight.  I stood back from the mirror and analyzed how I actually felt about my body.  Yes, I can stand to tighten up and slim down some, but I look okay right now.  Running in the mud run last weekend also showed me that I have good functional strength.  It actually feels good to have positive thoughts about myself.  It's all to easy to focus on the negative. 

I hope your week is going well.  SMILE and have a great day :)

Week 3 Goals

Hey folks!  Hope your weekend was great!
I decided to sit down this morning and set a couple goals for the week.  While looking through my food diary I noticed that last week my calorie intake was a little low.  While it's nothing crazy, I want to make sure that I'm fueling my body properly, especially since I'm running again AND lifting weights.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not starving, but because of the volume of non-starchy veggies  and lean protein, I'm not finding myself very hungry. I am a firm believer in "Eat to Lose" so the main focus this week will be upping the quantity of food without sacrificing the quality.  I think I can rectify my "issue" by doing #4 on the goal list... 

So, on to the goals:

1. Eat a minimum of 1300 calories, 1500 on run days
2. Make dinner at home M-F ( I'm not a good menu planner)
3. Eat breakfast before taking eldest child to school 
4. Exercise according the plan without skipping anything

• Sunday- Run 4 mi
• Monday- Eccentric Weightlifting, Yoga  (Bonus:Walk)
• Tuesday- Run 3 mi (Bonus: Yoga)
• Wednesday- Yoga
• Thursday- Run 4 mi, Weightlifting high rep/low weight
• Friday- Run 3 mi (Bonus: Yoga)
• Saturday-Weightlifting: low rep/heavy weight, Yoga

Do you have any specific goals for the week?  I'm always looking to expand on mine....
Here's to a fantastic week!

Down 'n Dirty

Here's a few shots from yesterday's mud run....

Before

 

Coming up to the final mud pit...

Over the hill into one of the pits...

Slogging through...

After....

 

 

 

 

I gotta say, I had a blast! This is definitely something I'll do again.  My sister-in-law and nieces joined in the fun too and it was great to share the experience with them!
I got up this morning and ran a little over 4.5 miles. I'm a bit sore from yesterday's obstacles, but nothing terrible.  It was a boost to my ego to be able to handle the course fairly easily.  Handling the walls was probably the hardest thing, since it was a series of progressively higher walls you had to maneuver, but I made it :)  The strength training is definitely paying off.
Hope you're having a great weekend!

Week 2 weigh-in

Week 2 weigh-in was this morning. As expected, I didn't drop a huge amount, but I am able to share a decent solid move downward.  Last week's weight- 165.0.  Today's weight- 163.6.  I'll take the 1.4 lbs with a smile, and keep chipping away at it.  I'm really pleased to be honest. I feel really good, I'm eating with control and intent, I'm listening to my body and my hunger cues and I'm making exercise consistent again.  This past Sunday I ran 5 miles EASILY which was an amazing feeling!
This weekend I'm running a Mud Run with my nieces and sister-in-law.  Should be tons of fun!  Stay tuned for pictures :)
Check ya later! Have a great day!

Eat your greens....

My newest "go-to food" these days is a green smoothie.  I love that I can get a big whack of protein and veggies quickly.  It's also a perfect way to start the day if I'm in a hurry or a good way to refuel after my strength training.
Generally I do 1-2 scoops of protein powder (MRM brand is my current choice), plain nonfat greek yogurt, 2 Tbsp of ground flax seed and 1/2 c frozen berries plus as much spinach as I can shove in my blender (usually about 6 cups).  Of course there are variations to the above recipe, but this is the basic rundown.
Anyway, somewhere along the way, while researching green smoothie recipes, I read that it's important to rotate your greens.  Meaning, you shouldn't use the same veggies for extended periods of time in your smoothies as it can lead to a buildup of the natural toxins plants use as a defense mechanism.  There's a good explanation  HERE.
Since I can go through a 2.5 lb bag of spinach in a week, I figured that it was time to vary things a bit.  I was definitely getting in a rut with my veggies.  Carrots and sugar snap peas are easy, as is the spinach, because I can buy them in bulk at Costco.  So that was what I was eating every day.  But variety, as stated in the article, is important.

This week at Costco I changed it up and got baby kale for my smoothies. And, when I went off to the grocery store I bought a few additions to my norm, like celery and cucumber. I also decided it was time to try a new green leafy veg, since there are plenty to choose from.

I stood there for a while, trying to decide what to buy.  In the end I bought..... dandelion greens.

While they don't make a great addition to smoothies, they are a bit too bitter, they are tasty in salads or in my sauteed veggie medley at breakfast.  Next week I'm thinking perhaps I'll try rainbow chard or beet greens.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that it's good to try new fruits and veggies (you'd think I would've learned that by now lol).  I've discovered quite a few "new" things I love just by stretching outside my normal comfort zone, brussel sprouts, beets and sweet potatoes to name a few.

What's your favorite green leafy vegetable?  Have you tried green smoothies? Do tell :)

 


    

Kombu....whaaa???

Week 1's "back on track" review-
The past week was FANTASTIC,  despite one minor run-in with some dried cherries. I ate really clean and as a result, I'm feeling "clean" (if that makes sense).  Exercise is on point again too.  I had to postpone my morning run today due to an appointment, but I've already set things up with hubby to go later this evening. 
The scale this morning read 165.0 which gives me a loss of 7.2 lbs this week.  While it feels good to show huge losses (while not starving myself), I don't expect to show that next week. To be frank, it would not surprise me to show negligible loss next week.  I'm okay with that though, as the number is only part of the equation.  Most importantly is how I'm feeling and how well I'm doing with consistency in eating clean.

Now, if you've been reading me for any length of time you know that anytime I find a product I like, I like to share.  Today I've got two things .
The first, is called kombucha.  To read more about kombucha, click here

I'm generally not a fan of drinking calories, but in this situation the calories and sugar are small. I drink TONS of water, but sometimes I just want something different. I like carbonation, but try not to drink too much diet soda.  This is a perfect solution for me.  At 35 cal/serving and 2 g of sugar I feel comfortable drinking this. As a bonus, it's loaded with probiotics and other good stuff. (Just a warning, as it's fermenting gives it natural effervescence, so don't shake it or I've heard it can "explode" upon opening).  There are several brands and flavors available. The one pictured above is a flavor I just tried last night.  Hubby and the kids refused to try it since it was green lol, but I liked it. 
 
My second "find" is probably something you've seen.

 The one in the middle is pink grapefruit flavored Perrier (my fave).  These ARE NOT sweet!  If you don't like mineral water, you most likely won't like this.  I like to put mine in a big ol' wine glass with lots of ice and feel fancy :) Zero calories, zero guilt.

So there you have it.  Mama's back on track, and you have a few new things to check out, if so desired. Anyone tried these things already? 
Hope you're having a great week! Happy Thursday...

Back on the Wagon....

Well, time for confessions.  Things have been a bit up and down for me.  It's been almost 2 months since I've blogged. In that time my weight has done a sharp upward jump. I'd do well for a few days then go off the rails and inhale everything in sight.  Thursday morning (9/6) I got on the scale to find I had hit 172.2.  ARGGGGG!  Basically I've regained almost half of the weight I'd lost (this is totally embarrassing to admit). 
Reality check.  I came to the realization that if I continued on my current path, by the time I get through the holiday season I'll be  back up to my highest weight of 202.  All of my clothes are tight and uncomfortable and I don't have anything in bigger sizes anymore.  Enough is enough.
I know I can't eat sugar, so that's out (again).  I have also been doing a fair amount of drinking, which is out for now too. 
Getting back on track has been easier than I expected.  I know what to do, it's just a matter of doing it, without excuses or rationalization of bad behavior .  The expected headaches hit the first day, but otherwise I'm feeling so much better.  I'm eating lots of whole foods, massive spinach smoothies, and plenty of lean protein.  I refuse to walk around hungry, so I make sure to eat regularly (high quality foods of course).  Hubby is being supportive, but struggles with his own sugar addiction.  He brought home cookies yesterday and asked if I wanted the last one.  He's now starting to understand that I very easily snowball out of control, so "No Thanks" isn't met with the same resistance of the past. Yay!
I set up a new workout schedule & got the food portion cleaned up.  Now it's time to let my body do it's thing :)  I'm trying not to be obsessive about the number on the scale.  I just want to be comfortable in my skin and active and healthy.
Thursdays are my new weigh-in days...just to track the trend.  I've set a mini goal to be back down to 155 by November 10th (baby girl's 2nd birthday). I think that's aggressive but do-able.
Ultimately I'd like to get down to 135-140 range, but for now I'm concentrating on eating clean & exercising consistently (again lol).
I'll be checking in soon....

Hi-Hi

Blogging obviously fell by the wayside for me.  Sorry I just dropped off the radar without notice. I'm doing fine, just busy with the kids and life in general.  I don't have any brilliant insights to share, no gems of wisdom.  I've been bouncing up and down the scale in a 10 lb range.  I'm at the upper end of things right now and need to get things turned around (read my SUGAR addiction has taken over again). I went for a run this morning and have plans to do a Mud Run in Sept.  I've got to get my workout area cleaned up in the garage as it's been sitting neglected for a while. School starts in 2.5 weeks so that should help me get my routine tightened up, but I'm not going to wait till then.  As my daddy would say "You're burnin' daylight".  There's no time like the present to start getting things moving in the right direction. 
Check ya later folks!  

Healthy Pregnancy

Did you know May is Pregnancy Awareness month?  Katie from Moore From Katie was kind enough to write a guest post with a few simple tips for staying healthy during pregnancy... Enjoy!

Tips for Staying Healthy During Pregnancy 

Not surprisingly, pregnant women should pay special attention to their bodies and health during pregnancy in order to provide an optimal environment for the baby to develop in.  By taking advantage of these tips, a mom-to-be can ensure she’s starting her pregnancy off on the right, and healthy, foot.  

Keep Doctor Appointments

When a woman realizes she is pregnant, the first thing she needs to do is make an appointment with her ob-gyn, to check how far along she is and to monitor her health and the baby’s health. Throughout pregnancy mom’s doctor will be essential in helping plan for her delivery; there are many choices that should be discussed and made in advance, such as what type of birthing process she would like, what pain medicines to use and other optional procedures like umbilical cord blood banking and circumcision. 

Eat a Healthy Diet

Many women think that it’s okay to eat whatever they want when they are pregnant. While it’s okay to occasionally indulge in sweets, pregnant women should eat a mostly nutritious diet. They should consume 300 extra calories a day to give their babies the nutrition they need. A pregnant woman should eat a diet filled with lean meats, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. They should stay away from raw foods, processed meats, certain fish and soft cheeses. A pregnant woman should also drink plenty of water. Water can help keep a pregnant woman hydrated and prevent constipation. 

Get Plenty of Rest

Pregnant women feel more tired than usual, so it is important for them to get plenty of rest. As a woman’s stomach grows bigger, it will be difficult for her to sleep in certain positions. A pregnant woman should sleep on her side with her knees bent to ensure comfort. Lying on her side can also prevent hemorrhoids, veins and swelling. 

Exercise Regularly

Even though it is more difficult to exercise while pregnant, women should make the effort to work out regularly. They should get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. They could do yoga, go for walks outside and swim. Exercising during pregnancy can increase energy, improve sleep, prevent extra weight gain and reduce pain and swelling. 

Avoid Alcohol and Nicotine

Women need to stay away from alcohol and nicotine while they are pregnant. Alcohol and nicotine can cause birth defects, low birth weight, stillbirth and asthma. 

Take Prenatal Vitamins

Even if a woman eats a very health diet during pregnancy, she can still not consume enough vital nutrients. That is why she needs to take prenatal vitamins during her pregnancy. Taking prenatal vitamins every day can help prevent neural tube defects, reduce the risk of low birth weight and promote strong bones and teeth. 

With all of the above health tips taken into consideration, as well as any special recommendations for her a doctor, a woman will be doing her best to stay healthy throughout, and even after her pregnancy. 

This article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche.  If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26.

I AM HEALTH

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I headed to the beach for Mother's Day and enjoyed a relaxing few hours on the coast. I'm sporting an impressive sunburn as evidence....silly really since I know how quickly I burn. One of these days I'll quit acting like I don't need sunscreen. Usually I'm pretty good about it, since I hate sunburns, but not this time. My legs got the worst of it, which means life's a bit painful for me right now. Anyway, on to the good stuff....
The nice people over at RE-BODY Blog requested an interview for a segment they call "Health Heroes". I was completely flattered and touched to be profiled. The post went up today. Hopefully you'll pop over there and give it a read... HERE.
Happy Monday bloggy world! Hope your week is off to a bang!

Check in...

I know blogging on the weekend is pretty much a sure way NOT to get this read, since most of you have other things you're doing, but I feel like I need to check in anyway. This week was one of those weeks that no matter how hard I tried to get things done, it just wasn't flowing very well. Grrr. For the past two weeks I've been concentrating on balancing out my food intake(ala Smarter Science of Slim). What that means is that I'm trying to get my percentages of calories coming from fat, carbs and protein to balance out (33-34% each). Think of looking at a pie graph split into 3 equal portions. It's been a learning process, but I'm doing pretty well. I am eating massive amounts of non starchy veggies (average 10-12 servings a day) which keeps me feeling satisfied when combined with the good fats from flax seeds and nuts and of course lean protein. I've also been eating a couple servings of berries a day (yummy). I'm feeling like this way of eating is sustainable, healthy and balanced. I had no difficulty last weekend while out to dinner for my birthday, I just doubled up on the vegetable side instead of having the rice that would've normally come with my meal. I had to plan ahead last night and eat before the Family Fun Festival at my daughter's school, but that wasn't a big deal. The fam ate pizza but I was full from the ginormous salad I had before going. Small victories. This really isn't that different from how I had been eating, but I did add back a few of the things I used to eat (like the berries and plain nonfat Greek yogurt)and cut back slightly on the fat to a more moderate amount. Exercise lately has been good. I'm trying a different technique with the strength training, which I will share in another post. I've been walking and running in moderate amounts and active in general(I don't think you can avoid that with 3 kids). I took measurements this morning because I'm trying to gauge my progress in ways besides the scale. I really wish I could throw the stupid thing away, but I'm still too attached. Anyway, that's the update. Nothing too exciting. For you Moms out there, Happy Mother's Day! Hope you all have a great weekend. Next week I have a guest post for you, in honor of May's Pregnancy Awareness Month.

Scientific Fact: Eating Less Does Not Effectively Enable Lasting Fat Loss

Scientific Fact: Eating Less Does Not Effectively Enable Lasting Fat Loss | Jonathan Bailor | The Smarter Science of Slim | Get Fit - Lose Weight - Feel Great | Eat More, Exercise Less - Smarter | JonathanBailor.com | Diet and Exercise | Harvard Medical School | UCLA Medical School | Johns Hopkins | Dr. Anthony Accurso | Dr. Theodoros Kelesidis | Dr. Larry Dossey | Dr. Anthony Accurso | Dr. John J. Ratey
Thought I'd share this blog post from Jonathan Bailor... Author of The Smarter Science of Slim.
I'll be back later with my own post..stay tuned.

The Smarter Science of Slim...

Just wanted to pop in quickly and give a book recommendation.  I am reading this one after hearing the author's interview on a podcast.  It has a lot of great info breaking down the how and why of fat loss/gain with tons of supporting scientific data.  It's written in such a way that the information is easy to understand and the complex is made simple.   It also focuses on the importance of eating high quality foods...something I've been working on for myself, so it's right up my alley.
Hope you are having a great week....

Body Image...

Hey guys! Hope your week was great and the weekend ahead is filled with fun.  This is a bit of a follow-up post to last one.  It's something that's been pin-balling around my brain since I saw this magazine cover while standing in line at the grocery store...

Have you seen it?  I'm sure most of you have at least glanced at it in line at the store.  I have to admit that looking at these women just makes me incredibly sad.  We have become a society that is so obsessed with "being thin" that we don't even know what normal is.
As difficult as it was for me to post pictures of myself in a bikini, it was a huge step toward accepting my body as it is...imperfections and all.  I have cellulite, stretch marks and loose skin, most of us do.  Some of my problem areas I can work on and improve, some not so much.  I'm okay with that.
I wrote out a mission statement for myself a few weeks ago.  I put it in my workout binder along with a couple motivational pictures of healthy strong women.  My mission statement goes something like this...

My mission is to sculpt and tone my body so I can rock my size 4 "goal jeans".  I want to feel confident and svelte in a swimsuit this summer.  With consistency, discipline and determination I will transform the good body I have into a smaller, tighter version and take it to the next level of fitness. 

Notice everything in there is positive... nothing negative.  Goals to work toward that are concrete and realistic, for me.
My point in all of this is that I think we need to stop obsessing about being thin (I'm talking unhealthy here people).  Many times we have these unrealistic ideas of what we "should" look like.  Every magazine that's out there shows us women that are airbrushed and photoshopped.  They've done crazy things to get ready for their photo shoots.  There are some women that are gifted with great genes, but for the majority of us this is not true.  It takes an inordinate amount of time, money, energy and deprivation for many of these women to look "perfect". Have you ever read what VS models do for weeks before a runway???  It's disturbing.
I'm willing to deal with imperfections as a tradeoff to having a life.  I am not defined by the number on the scale.  I'm willing to work hard, but not to the point that I cannot enjoy living.
So, work hard to give yourself the best body you can have.  Confidence doesn't come from having the  "perfect" body.  Confidence comes from knowing you're beautiful in whatever shape or size you are.  I'm not saying to settle, I'm saying to love yourself through the process and do your best to have a healthy body image that is accepting of flaws.
I also want to stop and say thank you to the ladies who commented on the last post.  Your words helped me to get over the anxiety I was feeling over posting the photos.

Okay folks, time for you to weigh in...I'd love to here your thoughts on the subject of body image, perfection/imperfection and confidence. Ready, set, GO! 

Moving Past the Discomfort...

Okay, oh boy.  I'm freaking out a bit even as I write this.  Today I'm posting pictures. Of me. In a bikini.  I took them this morning because I really want to have a comparison shot.  I know my body is changing due to the weight lifting but unless I have a visual aide, I have a difficult time actually seeing the changes.  I have major confidence issues and my husbands' comment  "You don't look horrible" isn't helping lol.  Sometimes they just don't get it!
I'm not fishing for compliments here folks either.  I think that confronting my discomfort of people seeing me in a bathing suit is an important step for me.  I probably won't wear this suit in public without a tank over it since I am VERY self conscious of my stretch marks and loose skin on my tummy, but  for the purpose of these photos (my "before" 30 days of intense strength training), I'm baring the tummy.
For the next month I'm going to hit the weights hard...probably 4 days a week.  Working out after dinner really isn't ideal for me so I'm going back to working out during the "baby's" nap.  I tried the post dinner workout slot and more often than not I ended up feeling rushed because I had to finish before getting the kids ready for bed.  Since bed time is 7:45-8:00ish, that didn't leave me much wiggle room and while I made it work, I prefer squeezing it in during the day. 
So, without further ado...

Sorry about the tan lines ☺
May 25th I'll take another set of photos and we'll see how they compare....
Hope you're having a great week!

Still tinkering...

Hey guys!  Just thought I'd check in.  The water weight that was causing me to play some head games took a hike, and for that I am incredibly thankful!  I just had to remind myself to stay the course.  These are not short term changes I'm making. 
Yesterday I was feeling a little overwhelmed and like my brain has become a dumping ground for too much "diet" information.  There is so much out there, so many different theories, methods and guidelines and I have been a voracious pursuer of information.  The result is that I have too much buzzing around in my head and telling me "But so-in-so says/thinks this is right."  The truth of the matter, only I  can determine what works for me. DUH! 
While I know I've been on the right track, I got a bit too focused on increasing fat and lowering carbs.   I had been shooting for less than 25g of carbs a day and it hit me yesterday that maybe I need to soften my stance a bit since I wasn't making progress.  Shooting for approx 50-60g a day is still "low carb" and I think more in line with my personal sweet spot. It also allows me more room to eat healthy vegetables and fruits. We'll see, only time will tell.  I'm still confining my carbs to things like non-starchy vegetables and the occasional piece of fruit because it seems the minute I eat more processed or starchy carbohydrates, the cravings come roaring back.  That is a cycle I want to avoid at all costs!
So that's where I am today.  It might change tomorrow (okay not really, since I like to test things out for at least a week or two), but the tinkering continues. 
On another note, the weight training has been going well and I've made some considerable strength gains.  I am now capable of 3(sometimes 4) consecutive pullups and 6 full military pushups (chest touching the ground before coming up).  Some nice muscle tone is forming too.  I tried on my  size 4 "goal jeans" this morning and I'm happy to report that I'm really close to rocking them.  I could probably get away with them now, but I would feel more comfortable if there was a bit more room.  I have a feeling though that if I wore them for an hour and they stretched out a bit, like jeans tend to do, they would be just fine (which is kinda crazy).  It's hard to be too excited about the size though since clothing sizes vary soo hugely from brand to brand, but I still think I'll do a victory dance the day they slide on with ease.☺
Well, that's all for now. Have a  great weekend!!