A serious before and after - PICS

Tuesday!!! 

Thanks for the comments left on my PIC. I am pretty damn proud of what I have accomplished, and I am looking forward to accomplishing much more as I move forward.

When I got the corset in the mail last night, I was so excited. I opened it up, looked at how small it was and felt a little deflated. Hubby convinced me to "just try it"... "Then you can see your progress even more when it fits in the fall" he said.

Ok, sounds like a plan.

I got in it, and he keeps pulling in the laces, saying "I don't want to hurt you!" I assured him he wasn't, and it felt very comfortable. When he was done, he said "woh"... I asked how much space was gaping in the back and he told me there was NO gap, that I was totally laced and covered. When I saw myself in the mirror, I teared up. I could NOT believe that was ME.

So, of course we had to take a picture!

When I look back at my progress, it has certainly been filled with bumps, bruises and total wipe-outs. But here I am, still working. I will always work toward my better self, no matter what that involves. I will never NOT be a food and sugar addict, so this "battle" is just everyday life. Sometimes I will find it exhausting, sometimes I will find it empowering. I will fall off the horse, but I will always, ALWAYS get back on.

That is how you go from this:

TO THIS: 


I can't really call this most recent picture my "after" because I'm not done. It's not about the scale, it's about health and strength. Someone recently asked me what I was "training for now". I laughed and said "My kids!" and it's true! But I'm also training for life. I want my body to be a strong machine that can do anything. I want my mind to understand that I can accomplish anything I truly commit to. Anyone can.

Briefly, fuel for today:
Meal 1: Queche
Meal 2: spaghetti squash bake, 4 oz chicken, banana
Meal 3: Clean muffins, 2 tbs PB
Meal 4: Large salad with Mexican black beans and pineapple, good seasons dressing.

It's my super late night tonight. I won't be home till 9:30. Tomorrow is work, and then finally going back to Group Power. I'm excited to get back to classes at the gym! WOOT!

Love and Peace to you all.

"Little" successes

This happened last night. Yep. That's me in my new 28" "goal" corset I got on super low clearance that I thought I would work for wearing to the renaissance faires. it was my goal for fall. And this bitch fits me NOW.
Insert happy dance here.
Be back later...

Improvements!!

Happy Monday!

Had a great day with the family on Friday - I gave you a little pic sneak peak in my last post. 
The weekend was pretty "unremarkable" - except that I got in 2 kick ass workouts - one of which I dragged my hubby through. I created a tabata to do at the gym on Saturday. I knew it was good when, by round 3, I REALLY wanted to stop. My hubby did too. But we pushed through 5 rounds.
The second was our "fit test #2" at Bodyology, mid-challenge. Here is the 2 week difference, separated by the slash / mark

Burpees in 20: 8(4 were walked out instead of jumped)/8(all jumped) *
Burpees in 40: 13/14 *
Jam balls in 20: 11/11
Jam balls in 40: 21/21
Seated band rows in 1:00: 25/36 **
Air squats in 1:00 : 37/38 *
Pushups in 1:00: on box 15/16 *
Max push press:
20 x 5/20 x 5
25 x 3/25 x 5 *
(None)/30 x 5 **

Yes, I ** all the improvements. That's in 2 weeks, folks. I am pretty damn proud - especially 6 weeks out from surgery.

After this we did some tabata and ended with some partner kickboxing. It was awesome.

My eating was great - we packed food for our outing on Friday, and by-passed all the crap up at the aquarium and village. I was very proud of us.  

I am counting down until the semester is over - I have 3 week of class left INCLUDING this week. *Whew* Home stretch, baby.

I cooked up a STORM yesterday!! Fuel for today: 

Meal 1 (8:00) : large slice of clean quiche

Meal 2 (12:30) : spicy shrimp, veggies and 1/2 cup quinoa, banana

Meal 3 3:30/4:00) : Clean/Paleo "muffins" with 2 TBS natural PB - these are great "on the go". It was adapted for our challenge from a paleo recipe (I don't eat paleo, but they do have some good sounding recipes!) I didn't do the adapting, either. I just follow the recipe ideas in my workbook! Ha!

 Meal 4 (7:30/8:00) : Veggie Salad with 4 oz chicken breast and  1/2 cup black bean/onion/corn/rotel/pineapple deliciousness my hubby created last night. I told him I was in the mood for Mexican, and he whipped this up. NO cheese. NO frying anything. Just nutrition. Just fuel. 

Lots of water, a little sparkly, mostly plain.

I'm going to take more pics to compare to the beginning of challenge. I'd like to see if there is any difference at all. I'll share with you when I get to those this week. I am itching to weigh myself, but I've been holding off. I still have swelling in my abdomen and I don't want that to through off anything - you know what happens when I see a number I don't like on the scale, and I've been working hard. I can tell it's still swelling, because it's firm to the touch (unlike in other places, where there is still just fat. Yes, I know the difference)

Brief recap on other things: Thing 2 is doing super well, no more fevers. HOORAY! My mom is back from her vaca in Seattle. I miss her so much when she is away. 

Meh, that's all I really have for you today. I hope you are all well, and doing what you can to be healthy and happy.

Peace. 

 

 

My day in pics, and tabata on tap

Here are some pics from our family adventure today. We have to cherish every moment we have. These are the boys waiting for the sea lion show to start, and pics of some beautiful things my hubby picked out for me. The cross is from my Mima, who is passed. But the rings on it each have one of the boys names. I love them.

Avoided all food temptation all day, and I've written out a tabata work out to do at the gym tomorrow. Hubby will join me... If he dares! ( insert evil laugh)

Go out into the world. Live. Be kind. Help a stranger. Tell everyone you love how you feel. And pray for peace.

That fire, and trust

Thursday, but in MY work world today, it’s my “Friday”, since hubby and I are taking off with the kids and bringing them to an aquarium for a day trip. We are keeping it hush-hush so they will be surprised. I can’t wait to see their little faces! It’s likely going to be a zoo, but we are going to be there right when it opens and hope to avoid the huge rush. Especially with Thing 2, who loves to walk “by myself”. The less we can constrict him, the better our day will be.

I am going home this evening to cook up some bite-sized chicken, and get some veggies and fruit together to bring with us. We will make breakfast and eat in the car on the way. We should be there through lunch, so we need to be prepared. I’m not at all tempted by the food up there, because frankly, it’s gross. It’s like bad carnival food (think greasy hot dogs and cold, greasy fries) so as long as we bring options with us, it’ll be a no-brainer.

Sweated my ass off last night at Annihilator Tabata. My chest was on fire (in a good way) after round 1, and there were 6 rounds. Round 5 is the hardest to push through, mentally, I find. You can get through the first ½ ok, then round 4, you remind yourself you are more than ½ way done, and you are strong, and you can do it. But round 5, you are SO ready to be done, and you know you still have another round ahead of you. That’s when I break out the big guns.

“You have pushed out 2 babies. YOU CAN DO 20 SECONDS OF BURPEES. Yes. Again”

“You have endured so much to get here. You have to keep pushing to go further!”

“YOU DIDN’T COME HERE TO QUIT!”

Things like that… I also pick a person in front of me who is going faster at whatever we are doing and attempt to keep their pace, even just for a few seconds.

Last night hubby surprised me with grilled bison burgers. We almost never eat any kind of red meat, but he bought the organic burgers at a butcher shop near us. I topped mine with hummus and lettuce, and ate it with ½ an Ezekiel roll. That with a big salad and I was really, really full. Awesome little surprise. And, it saves the chicken for tonight. Win-win.

Todays fuel:

2 slices Ezekiel bread, 2 tbs PB, ½ cup blueberries – (LOVE this combo. Who doesn’t love PB&J? And it’s clean!)

34 oz water

1 bison burger (leftover. What can I say, they are tasty) ½ sweet potato, hummus, banana

34 oz water

½ Ezekiel roll with 1 tbs pb, VERY small piece of clean quiche – only if I get hungry…

34 oz water (LIKE A BOSS)

Large veggie salad, 4 oz chicken breast marinated in good seasons dressing.

One thing about eating clean is once you get used to it, you are really quite full on what you eat. Veggies and proteins are very filling. And if you only eat when you are hungry, not necessarily on a schedule, you are trusting your body to tell you when it needs something.

Like right now. My body is telling me I need my lunch. Trusting my body is hard. I really have to STOP and ask myself – am I actually hungry, or do I just want something. Once I can honestly answer the question, I either eat, or I drink some water and busy myself with something else.

Tonight I have church choir, so no formal workout, but I may try to get in some running sprints - If my ass will cooperate after all the squats I did yesterday.

I’m out for now, blogger peeps. Peace, please… let’s all just pray for peace…

Norway, anyone?

Wednesday – and our nation is under attack.

I’m thinking of moving to Norway. Anyone with me?

I’m not going to spend this blog on the tears and fear that occurred in Boston and resonated around the world. Or talking about how our countries law-makers, including out President, are being attacked via poison in the mail. All a mere 4 months after 26 innocent lives, 20 of which were under the age of 7, we viciously murdered in their classrooms. How can I comment on these things? I am at a loss for all words. It makes no sense to me… I have to just try to work it out in my brain.

I haven’t updated since the little-too-late post on Monday (Which I really wrote on Friday) because blogging simply wasn’t on my agenda when the flood of the news came in. People killed. Adults and children had legs blown off. And the stories that began to emerge of the horror, and the heroism…

*sigh*

When people disappear from blog land the instant thought is that they are “off the wagon”. Well, it couldn’t be any further from the truth for me. I am on Day 9 of my 30 day challenge, and I feel awesome. I’m getting back into my exercise routine and just clinging to my sanity until the end of the semester which is a mere 4 weeks away… The summer, even though I decided to take an online summer course, will have SO much more breathing room. I cannot wait to have more time home with my tribe.

Just for kicks, here is my fuel journal for today:

Day 9

20 oz water

8:00 2 slices Ezekiel, 2tbs pb, blueberries

34 oz water

12:00 spaghetti squash bake, 1.5 black bean burgers

34 oz water

3:00 slice Clean quiche, carrots with hummus

4:30 banana (pre-workout)

20 oz water

TRAIN: Annihilator Tabata

7:00 6 oz grilled chicken, ½ sweet potato, large veggie salad with good seasons

20 oz water

Why yes, yes it IS awesome. Thanks. And if you think otherwise, no offense, but I don’t really care.

I did some running HIIT and did a short strength workout on Saturday, felt good. I stopped when I felt my abdomen start to ache in the stitches area.

I worked out on Sunday at Tuff Girl and I felt pretty good. I wasn’t super sore after, and I didn’t feel like I overdid anything, but I still got a good workout in. I took it a little lighter on the weights, and I have gone down significantly on my one arm push press. I was working with 30# before surgery, and I am down to 20#... That made me sad. BUT – there is plenty of time to get back to where I want to be. And I WILL get there.

So, fitness wise – what’s on the further horizon? Well, there is the 2^nd Rugged Maniac I will be taking on in September: http://www.ruggedmaniac.com/

And although it’s a long time away, I want to compete in next year’s “Fit Athalon” Challenge: http://www.fitathlonchallenge.com/

So, eating is on track. Exercise is getting back to normal. Now, getting out and making every moment count is a priority. What about you? Have all of the incidences lately changed your outlook on your life?

Peace, bloggers.

6th birthday, and spicy shrimp - Day 5

Yes - this blog was supposed to be posted on Friday. But then I couldn't get the pics in that I wanted, and promptly forgot to hit "publish"... update to come later

Friday afternoon, so no one will likely read this post! Oh the trouble I could get into… MWAHAHAHA!

Nope, I’ll be good.

I didn’t blog yesterday because I was home with Thing 2 again. Another fever, unknown origin. I brought him to the doctor and very pointedly told him I was extremely concerned. He was great. Examined him head to toe, cultured him for strep (again – neg) and then was direct with me: Yes, a fever that is ongoing in a child this age with seemingly no reason can be alarming. It’s the #1 symptom for leukemia. HOWEVER, he stressed, his color is great, he’s behaving normally, and he is having no unusual bruising. He checked from his glands to the bottom of his feet and really did not want to do blood work quite yet. We need to keep very close tabs on his temps, and if this doesn’t stop by Monday, we will start more invasive testing.

Very scary at that point, but the Doc made me comfortable by telling me a few other things: This fever sprung up after 5 straight days with NO fever, meaning it’s not technically continuous. It could truly be that he has had 3 viruses in the last month that have little symptoms other than fever… I suppose that’s true. I am still watching him like a hawk.

I brought him into daycare today. He was “fever free” (only reached 100.5 yesterday) for 24 hours so in he went. I’ve called 3 times (You can say whatever you like, this is my baby and I’m checking on him as much as I want) and the reports have all been wonderful. “back to his old self”, “having a wonderful day” “eating like normal” – this was a big one. He hasn’t eaten for days.

This weekend will be telling. I will take him temp till the cows come home.

Tomorrow is my Thing 1’s 6^th birthday! I can’t believe how time has flown, and what a different person I am now, compared to when he was born. He is a little man… *sigh* I can’t believe it. He’s having his first “friend” party and THANK GOD it will only be 1.5 hours. Then we will celebrate the rest of the day away! My little munchkin…

ANYWAY – The challenge is going super well. I was nervous about yesterday, being home and stressed, but I reminded myself to “fuel” and not “eat my stress”. I ate for fuel, I ate when I was hungry. I was very proud.

You guys may be getting tired of the menus but, you’ll get over it. This is today:

April 12, Day 5 30 Day Challenge

Meal 1: small scoop scrambled eggs, 1 slice bacon, ½ cup fruit (employee breakfast)

Meal 2: ½ cups oats, 1/3 cup egg whites, 1 cup mixed berries, 2 tbs pb

34 oz seltzer

Meal 3: 1.5 red peppers with quinoa filling (leftovers), banana

34 oz water

Meal 4: Ezekiel with PB

34 oz water

Meal 5: spicy shrimp, steamed veggies

Tonight I am faced with making cupcakes for the little minions, I mean, children at the party. I WILL NOT eat a cupcake. I WILL NOT lick a spoon. NONE of it will be consumed by yours truly. Not. A. Drop.

Exercise this week has been WEAK. I’ll get back into the swing. I was so scared after last Sunday, I almost canceled my upcoming workout at Bodyology. It’s Sunday afternoon. I still have time to think on it, but I still have it scheduled…

Alright, that’s all I can do for today, kids.

Peace!!