Towards the end of last year I was full of motivation in regards to exercising, eating well and making my way towards a healthier version of myself. Then I went on vacation for six weeks, it snowed and my mojo got stuck in frozen winterland. Well, I have been slowly, painstakingly slowly trying to start the search for my mojo. Once the weather turned nice, I went out for a run, but I wasn't really into it, so I haven't been out for a run since. Then Mommy and Me Fitness class ended and I haven't looked into starting up another one. I just have been a couch slug. My laziness is contagious and it is bad, bad news.
Well, 2-3 weeks ago my husband found a parcours obstacle course by one of the running trails near us. He got all amped up about it (I was not amped. Thinking about doing the obstacle course made me tired.) and told a friend of mine about it. Since she's a super fitness freak she immediately got all amped up about it too. Do you see where this is going? Well, she has the ability to convince (con) people into doing all kinds of things that she wants them to do. We've now done the obstacle course these last two Sundays in a row. The first week I called a trial week. I wanted to see what it was all about. I didn't even know if I could do the obstacles! I successfully managed to finish all 20 stations both weeks now. After the first Sunday, I was sore for the entire week. This last Sunday was great! I actually had a good time doing it and I'm looking forward to doing it again next Sunday.
Since I like to dive right into things, I've even signed up (been conned by said friend into signing up) for the Hypo Eisenmann Linz in July, which is like a Tough Mudder Junior. It's a 6k with an obstacle course. It looks pretty cool. I'm not hardcore or anything, I'm just doing it for fun. I'm hoping that training for the Eisenmann will help me find my motivation and help get me back on track with getting back into shape and being healthier.
I've got to start somewhere...might as well be here.
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Monday, August 26, 2013
50th Day of a Healthier Me
Today marks the 50th day of becoming a healthier me. Fifty days,
that's a long time! I am really proud of myself for sticking with all of
this exercise and healthier living. I would like to share some of the
motivation behind my Mommy Makeover.
The day before I gave birth, I was weighed in at 103kg, that is 226.6lbs! DISGUSTING. I was very pregnant, I had been on bed rest for nearly three months and at that point I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. I basically put on over five pounds of water weight in three days. Well, hello Michelin Woman! It was crazy. I gained 63 pounds during my pregnancy. That is the equivalent of what, an eight year old? After Alexa's birth I dropped an easy ten pounds. In the first two weeks that followed, the weight seemed to just fall off.
Around weeks 2-3 post birth is when I found chocolate. I ate my weight back up five kilos in just under a week. That is over ten pounds of chocolate weight! I started getting depressed because the weight wasn't dropping anymore. I was also really exhausted. Months of walking, eating alright, eating chocolate and (shockingly!) not seeing any more weight loss led me farther and farther away from any kind of motivation to do anything.
One day, my cousin, insane girl that she is, said that I was motivating her to start walking and try to lose some weight. I was motivating her?? How is that even possible? It was about three hours after she said that that I decided to start my own Mommy Makeover. I could not sit around, eating chocolate and doing nothing and become someone else's motivation to get healthy. So I got off the couch. At first I was so unmotivated, but after losing 1kg (2.2lb) that first week my mojo returned! The better I eat, the more energy I have, the more energy I have the further I can run, the more I run the happier I am. IT IS AN AWESOME CIRCLE!
At the start of Mommy Makeover I was at 92kg (202.4lb), still substantially heavier than I had ever been pre-pregnancy. I am happy to say that as of today I am at 86.6kg (190.5lb). In 8 weeks, 50 days, I have lost 5.4kg (11.88lb). I am working my way, slowly, but surely back to a healthy weight. I am 11.6kg, or 25.52lb from my pre-pregnancy weight. Losing weight is painfully slow. Very painfully slow at times, but I feel like I am doing it the right way. No crash diets, fad diets, pills or anything else crazy. I am just working out every day, I am making healthier food choices every day and I am moving around every day. It's the choice that I make every single day.
Happy 50th Day of a Healthier Me!
The day before I gave birth, I was weighed in at 103kg, that is 226.6lbs! DISGUSTING. I was very pregnant, I had been on bed rest for nearly three months and at that point I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. I basically put on over five pounds of water weight in three days. Well, hello Michelin Woman! It was crazy. I gained 63 pounds during my pregnancy. That is the equivalent of what, an eight year old? After Alexa's birth I dropped an easy ten pounds. In the first two weeks that followed, the weight seemed to just fall off.
Around weeks 2-3 post birth is when I found chocolate. I ate my weight back up five kilos in just under a week. That is over ten pounds of chocolate weight! I started getting depressed because the weight wasn't dropping anymore. I was also really exhausted. Months of walking, eating alright, eating chocolate and (shockingly!) not seeing any more weight loss led me farther and farther away from any kind of motivation to do anything.
One day, my cousin, insane girl that she is, said that I was motivating her to start walking and try to lose some weight. I was motivating her?? How is that even possible? It was about three hours after she said that that I decided to start my own Mommy Makeover. I could not sit around, eating chocolate and doing nothing and become someone else's motivation to get healthy. So I got off the couch. At first I was so unmotivated, but after losing 1kg (2.2lb) that first week my mojo returned! The better I eat, the more energy I have, the more energy I have the further I can run, the more I run the happier I am. IT IS AN AWESOME CIRCLE!
At the start of Mommy Makeover I was at 92kg (202.4lb), still substantially heavier than I had ever been pre-pregnancy. I am happy to say that as of today I am at 86.6kg (190.5lb). In 8 weeks, 50 days, I have lost 5.4kg (11.88lb). I am working my way, slowly, but surely back to a healthy weight. I am 11.6kg, or 25.52lb from my pre-pregnancy weight. Losing weight is painfully slow. Very painfully slow at times, but I feel like I am doing it the right way. No crash diets, fad diets, pills or anything else crazy. I am just working out every day, I am making healthier food choices every day and I am moving around every day. It's the choice that I make every single day.
Happy 50th Day of a Healthier Me!
Mommy Makeover - Week 8
This past week has been exceptionally awesome! Michael was working in Linz all week, so I was able to run nearly every night. The running, plus my husband being home meant super chill Mommy all week long! It was so nice having help with Alexa. Michael often stays up later than I do, so he was on baby duty until he went to bed. He would also get her up and bring her in to me in the morning. This week has seriously been GREAT. I'm dreading the day he goes back to working away from home all week. I am feeling super spoiled right now.
Walking/Running. I ran every day this past week except for Friday. I kind of over did it on Thursday and so I needed a running rest day. Instead, I walked nearly 6k. As most of my friends and family can tell you, I am L-A-Z-Y! I would rather sit on the couch and do nothing over exercising. I hate the gym with a passion and I have always mocked all of my runner friends because their crazy butts are running all over town while I am leisurely and comfortably watching my favorite show on TV. Well, my attitude has done a full 180. I honestly never thought I would like running. Now, I look forward to running time. I was so disappointed when Michael came home late on Thursday night because I had gotten into my running clothes and was ready to roll at 5pm. Can you believe it, me liking running? There must have been a full moon!
Strength Training/Ab work out. I've been doing the strength training exercises just about every other day. However, I have been busting out those horrendous, ab killing Jackknife Crunches every day. I have even added the Pilates Leg Pulls.
Food diary. I'm starting to slack on the food diary. I haven't written in it since Monday. Yikes. Since I have seriously been making great food choices, I might try and phase the food diary out. If I start slipping (which I hope I will not do), then I'll get back into it. (I was working on this blog post on Friday, it's Monday morning and I'm here to tell you...the food diary will be 100% back in effect this week. Apparently, without the food diary I am like a small child sneaking into the cookie jar. Shame.)
Weigh in. I have been looking forward to weighing in since last Monday. Last week's weigh in was such a shock that I have been oozing with anticipation about how this week will go. Since I have been running so often this past week, I have really high hopes for an awesome number this week. Annnnnnnnd the scale says that I lost .20kg (.44lb). Not nearly as dramatic or exciting as I was hoping for, but I still lost something, even if it was just a little bit!
Healthy snacks. I didn't even try to make almond butter like I said last week. HOWEVER, I made two really awesome things instead: Whole-Wheat Pumpkin Bread and Buckwheat Stuffed Squash.
Goals for Week 9:
Keep on running!!!
Walking/Running. I ran every day this past week except for Friday. I kind of over did it on Thursday and so I needed a running rest day. Instead, I walked nearly 6k. As most of my friends and family can tell you, I am L-A-Z-Y! I would rather sit on the couch and do nothing over exercising. I hate the gym with a passion and I have always mocked all of my runner friends because their crazy butts are running all over town while I am leisurely and comfortably watching my favorite show on TV. Well, my attitude has done a full 180. I honestly never thought I would like running. Now, I look forward to running time. I was so disappointed when Michael came home late on Thursday night because I had gotten into my running clothes and was ready to roll at 5pm. Can you believe it, me liking running? There must have been a full moon!
Strength Training/Ab work out. I've been doing the strength training exercises just about every other day. However, I have been busting out those horrendous, ab killing Jackknife Crunches every day. I have even added the Pilates Leg Pulls.
Food diary. I'm starting to slack on the food diary. I haven't written in it since Monday. Yikes. Since I have seriously been making great food choices, I might try and phase the food diary out. If I start slipping (which I hope I will not do), then I'll get back into it. (I was working on this blog post on Friday, it's Monday morning and I'm here to tell you...the food diary will be 100% back in effect this week. Apparently, without the food diary I am like a small child sneaking into the cookie jar. Shame.)
Weigh in. I have been looking forward to weighing in since last Monday. Last week's weigh in was such a shock that I have been oozing with anticipation about how this week will go. Since I have been running so often this past week, I have really high hopes for an awesome number this week. Annnnnnnnd the scale says that I lost .20kg (.44lb). Not nearly as dramatic or exciting as I was hoping for, but I still lost something, even if it was just a little bit!
Healthy snacks. I didn't even try to make almond butter like I said last week. HOWEVER, I made two really awesome things instead: Whole-Wheat Pumpkin Bread and Buckwheat Stuffed Squash.
Goals for Week 9:
Keep on running!!!
Monday, August 19, 2013
Mommy Makeover - Week 7
If you asked me before leaving for vacation what the scale would say when I came back I most definitely would have said, "It might break after I eat all of the pierogi in Poland!" I most certainly did not expect to lose weight, but I did!!
Walking/Running. I walked and/or ran every single day while we were in Poland. Running daily was new for me and I ended up a bit sore by the third day. Walking around the city and by the lake was very nice. I especially appreciated the long walk we took after such a long drive up! I walked and ran a combination of 20 kilometers this week, not including the five hours we spent walking around the Wroclaw Zoo! Holy Moly, I have even impressed myself!
Strength Training/Ab work out. I only did the Strength Training once this week, but I think I did enough additional walking and running that it is okay. This next week I would really like to work on some training exercises that will either help alleviate shin splints, or something that will make it less likely for me to get shin splints in the first place.
Food diary. As I predicted, my food diary was pierogi filled! I also snacked a lot more this past week. It was vacation though, so I think an ice cream or two and a little bit of chocolate is acceptable.
Weigh in. I was so afraid of what the scale would say when I got back from Road Trip to Wroclaw 2013, that I immediately weighed myself when we walked in the door (what a freak!). I was beyond happy to see that not only did I not gain weight over vacation, but that I had lost a full kilo! Woot woot! As of this morning's weigh in, I have lost 1.7 kg (3.74 lb) this last week! For a grand total of 5.2 kg (11.44 lb). Slowly, but surely the baby weight is coming off and I am starting to feel so much better about myself, my body, and my eating habits.
Healthy snacks. This week I would really like to try and make almond butter. I haven't even looked up a recipe yet, but I think I might just try throwing a bunch of almonds into the food processor. Maybe it will be that simple?!
Walking/Running. I walked and/or ran every single day while we were in Poland. Running daily was new for me and I ended up a bit sore by the third day. Walking around the city and by the lake was very nice. I especially appreciated the long walk we took after such a long drive up! I walked and ran a combination of 20 kilometers this week, not including the five hours we spent walking around the Wroclaw Zoo! Holy Moly, I have even impressed myself!
Strength Training/Ab work out. I only did the Strength Training once this week, but I think I did enough additional walking and running that it is okay. This next week I would really like to work on some training exercises that will either help alleviate shin splints, or something that will make it less likely for me to get shin splints in the first place.
Food diary. As I predicted, my food diary was pierogi filled! I also snacked a lot more this past week. It was vacation though, so I think an ice cream or two and a little bit of chocolate is acceptable.
Weigh in. I was so afraid of what the scale would say when I got back from Road Trip to Wroclaw 2013, that I immediately weighed myself when we walked in the door (what a freak!). I was beyond happy to see that not only did I not gain weight over vacation, but that I had lost a full kilo! Woot woot! As of this morning's weigh in, I have lost 1.7 kg (3.74 lb) this last week! For a grand total of 5.2 kg (11.44 lb). Slowly, but surely the baby weight is coming off and I am starting to feel so much better about myself, my body, and my eating habits.
Healthy snacks. This week I would really like to try and make almond butter. I haven't even looked up a recipe yet, but I think I might just try throwing a bunch of almonds into the food processor. Maybe it will be that simple?!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Mommy Makeover - Week 6
This past week was pretty decent. I started doing one of the Scary, Hardcore Fat Busting Exercises, the jackknife crunch (um....OUCH!). I also really ran for the first time this week. I have been working my way up to running...or rather, I've been doing the run-walk: Run for 2 seconds, walk for 10 minutes...you know, baby steps. On Thursday night I went for a mybrainisoverflowingicanthandleanythinganymoreifirunfastenoughmaybeiwillfly kind of run. It felt amazing.
Walking/Running. This week (Mon-Fri) I've walked and ran a total of 8.07km. I usually do an average of two kilometers, three times a week, so unless we go hiking, this week was an exception to the rule!
Strength Training/Ab work out. Still busting out the strength training and ab exercises just about every other day. My legs and butt feel great, but I still haven't seen much improvement in my stomach. This whole getting in shape nonsense is hard work!
Food diary. This is my second chocolate free week which is amazing because I've been pmsing all week. No chocolate and no dead bodies?! I deserve a medal. :) I'm bringing my food diary on vacation with me to Poland. S-C-A-R-Y. I'm pretty sure every day will read: breakfast - Pierogies, lunch - Pierogies, dinner - Pierogies. Please don't let me gain too much weight!
Weigh in. Last week's weight loss was like my holy grail. I only hope that this week I have done well too. I had to weigh in on Friday because of our Road Trip to Wroclaw 2013. As of Friday afternoon (I know, what dope weighs themselves in the middle of the day?!?! Me.), I have LOST another 0.6 kg (1.32 lbs). I am so excited!! That brings my grand total weight loss to 3.5 kg or 7.7 lbs in 6 weeks. I could not be happier!
Healthy snacks. This week I went old school with the snacks and nibbled on granola bars and cheese and crackers. I even indulged on an UNhealthy snack: an ice cream cone with two scoops of deliciousness!
Do you have any weight loss tips or exercises that I can try? I have a touch of self-diagnosed exercise ADD so I get bored pretty quickly. What has worked for you in the past?
Walking/Running. This week (Mon-Fri) I've walked and ran a total of 8.07km. I usually do an average of two kilometers, three times a week, so unless we go hiking, this week was an exception to the rule!
Strength Training/Ab work out. Still busting out the strength training and ab exercises just about every other day. My legs and butt feel great, but I still haven't seen much improvement in my stomach. This whole getting in shape nonsense is hard work!
Food diary. This is my second chocolate free week which is amazing because I've been pmsing all week. No chocolate and no dead bodies?! I deserve a medal. :) I'm bringing my food diary on vacation with me to Poland. S-C-A-R-Y. I'm pretty sure every day will read: breakfast - Pierogies, lunch - Pierogies, dinner - Pierogies. Please don't let me gain too much weight!
Weigh in. Last week's weight loss was like my holy grail. I only hope that this week I have done well too. I had to weigh in on Friday because of our Road Trip to Wroclaw 2013. As of Friday afternoon (I know, what dope weighs themselves in the middle of the day?!?! Me.), I have LOST another 0.6 kg (1.32 lbs). I am so excited!! That brings my grand total weight loss to 3.5 kg or 7.7 lbs in 6 weeks. I could not be happier!
Healthy snacks. This week I went old school with the snacks and nibbled on granola bars and cheese and crackers. I even indulged on an UNhealthy snack: an ice cream cone with two scoops of deliciousness!
Do you have any weight loss tips or exercises that I can try? I have a touch of self-diagnosed exercise ADD so I get bored pretty quickly. What has worked for you in the past?
Monday, July 29, 2013
Mommy Makeover - Week 4
Wow, I can't believe three full weeks have gone by since I started this challenge...and yes, for me this is a challenge. I looked in the mirror the other day and I actually felt thinner. I haven't "thought thin" in quite a while. I'm looking forward to actually continuing on in this quest for healthiness, because that is what this is. I'm not just trying a new fad diet, or to drop a whole bunch of weight instantaneously (but that would be nice!). I am consciously trying to eat healthier, pay attention to what I am eating and putting into my body, and trying to live a more active lifestyle. On top of all of those huge goals, the most important one for me is to develop a good body image. Woah, what a horrible admission. I have a terrible self body image. This is something that I do not want my daughter to have when she grows up and if I can help her develop a great sense of self and an appreciation for her body then I am going to have to start with myself.
Week 3 went pretty well. I think I am slowly, but surely starting to fall into a routine of when I can exercise and get out and be active. I will admit that the heaviest exercising I do is usually on the weekend when Michael and I take the Bean out for a hike, a stroll around town, or to the pool. It's a lot easier to be motivated when you've got someone else along for the ride!
Walking. I've definitely been able to incorporate walking into my daily activities and errands a little better now. I would like to be able to go for at least one hardcore power walk by myself each week without the stroller and the little jellybean inside it!
Tae Bo. I took a break from Tae Bo last week and I think I'm going to take a break next week too. I'm going to look for another work out dvd because I am starting to get bored with this routine.
Strength Training/Ab work out. Banged it out this week! I did both my ab work out and strength training routine 4 days last week! My legs are starting to feel like awesome, powerful rocks again. With the strength training routine, I am definitely starting to feel a difference in my butt and thighs, but I haven't yet noticed a difference in my abs. I am assuming it is because after pregnancy your abs have basically pulled completely apart and it takes quite a while to repair those now spaghetti like muscles.
Food diary. I'm still keeping up with the food diary and I think I am starting to see some good changes. I have been eating more fruit during the day as a snack instead of cookies, chocolate, etc. However, I would like to see that roll over into the evenings when the chocolate part of my brain takes over.
Chocolate. I ate at least a small (if not large) piece of chocolate every day this week. Shame.
Weigh in. I was really excited to get on the scale this morning because I really felt thin, was thinking thin and if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck! Alas, after this weigh in...I've gained 0,6 kg (1.32lbs). I'm not giving up though! I'm going to keep thinking thin and do better this week.
Healthy snacks. I slacked off on the quest for healthy snacks. On Friday, I did make berry popsicles using frozen wild berries and water. I can't wait to taste them!
Week 3 went pretty well. I think I am slowly, but surely starting to fall into a routine of when I can exercise and get out and be active. I will admit that the heaviest exercising I do is usually on the weekend when Michael and I take the Bean out for a hike, a stroll around town, or to the pool. It's a lot easier to be motivated when you've got someone else along for the ride!
Walking. I've definitely been able to incorporate walking into my daily activities and errands a little better now. I would like to be able to go for at least one hardcore power walk by myself each week without the stroller and the little jellybean inside it!
Tae Bo. I took a break from Tae Bo last week and I think I'm going to take a break next week too. I'm going to look for another work out dvd because I am starting to get bored with this routine.
Strength Training/Ab work out. Banged it out this week! I did both my ab work out and strength training routine 4 days last week! My legs are starting to feel like awesome, powerful rocks again. With the strength training routine, I am definitely starting to feel a difference in my butt and thighs, but I haven't yet noticed a difference in my abs. I am assuming it is because after pregnancy your abs have basically pulled completely apart and it takes quite a while to repair those now spaghetti like muscles.
Food diary. I'm still keeping up with the food diary and I think I am starting to see some good changes. I have been eating more fruit during the day as a snack instead of cookies, chocolate, etc. However, I would like to see that roll over into the evenings when the chocolate part of my brain takes over.
Chocolate. I ate at least a small (if not large) piece of chocolate every day this week. Shame.
Weigh in. I was really excited to get on the scale this morning because I really felt thin, was thinking thin and if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck! Alas, after this weigh in...I've gained 0,6 kg (1.32lbs). I'm not giving up though! I'm going to keep thinking thin and do better this week.
Healthy snacks. I slacked off on the quest for healthy snacks. On Friday, I did make berry popsicles using frozen wild berries and water. I can't wait to taste them!
Monday, July 15, 2013
Mommy Makeover - Week 2
Week 1 was pretty difficult. Here is what I learned:
Taking a 30 minute power walk every day is unrealistic with a 4 1/2 month old. I don't always have an extra person to sit with Alexa while I do my walk. Also, sometimes her schedule just doesn't allow for me to have that extra time. In my mind, my original goal was to do 30 minutes of just walking. I wasn't planning on incorporating shopping or anything else into the walk. Unfortunately, it looks like it will have to be incorporated into the other things I need to get done every day. I did manage to walk 6 out of 7 days (sometimes just as a power walk, sometimes incorporated into my day and one day without baby!) last week, which I think it awesome!
Tae Bo. I did not manage to do Tae Bo every other day. However, I did do it three times last week. On Wednesday, I was just too lazy and miserable to do anything. Plus, it was outrageously hot. Yes, I am full of excuses.
Ab work out. My original ab work out came from Pinterest. It was something that I pinned for after baby and let me tell you...it burns! It's a 15-minute belly busting workout. It is PERFECT for a new mom or someone with limited exercise time. I cannot do all of the exercises yet, but I am working up to it. This ab routine is comprised of six different exercises. You do need an exercise ball and some weights to complete the routine. Instead of a medicine ball, I use a 5-pound weight. One day, I'll be able to do the Sprinter and the Mountain Climber, but first I need to build up my non-existent abdominal muscles. I actually have not done this workout at all in the last week. I decided to focus on the following strength training routine for two weeks and then I'll switch it up between these two OR just add in the ab workout.
Here's the new, really awesome and totally painful strength training work out (also found on Pinterest! Can you tell that I'm obsessed with Pinterest?). It's a series of six exercises that you do using only a wall! Sweet! It took me about 10-15 minutes to complete the circuit and let me tell you...I am seriously out of shape! Have a look: Wall Exercises. As much as these hurt, it was a good "Yes, I am finally going to get in shape" kind of pain. I managed to do the Wall Exercises three times last week.
Keeping a food diary is horrible! I started avoiding the computer area every time I had a snack or wanted a snack because that was where I had my food diary. Seeing all the crap I eat in writing made me feel soooo GUILTY! I know in my head that what I am eating is horrible, but that has never actually stopped me from eating it. However, with the food diary, to actually have to admit that yes, I ate "an entire chocolate bar, plus a brownie and an ice cream"...all within the same hour, that is just AWFUL! It made me feel shameful. I think that might be the point of the food diary. The stupid, horrible, very mean, food diary. Let's see if it continues to help me change my chocolatey ways! I do have to say, that even after two days I started to see a very clear pattern to my eating. I eat pretty normal, healthy portion sizes during the day, but once evening hits...the chocolate part of my brain takes over! Seriously, I'll be eating dinner and I am already thinking about what I am going to have for snack. This cannot be normal!
I have to admit that as much as I hate the food diary, I also secretly like it (only a little bit!) because it is making me very aware of all the junk I eat. I am even, sub-consciously, a little bit less hungry...maybe. I am not dieting though. That is not my goal. My goal is to eat healthier and get back in shape in a healthy and safe way. I am not going to not be allowed to eat certain foods. If I want it, I'm going to eat it, however, I am hoping to eat those not so good for you treats less often and most importantly in lesser quantities. Instead of a 300g chocolate bar lasting oh say one evening, I would like it to last me a week or two. And I really want to reduce my stress eating! Ugh, that's a whole new goal right there!
Weigh in. Ok, so after this morning's weigh in, I have lost 1kg (2.2lbs). I am disappointed. Yes, it is the amount that I want to lose each week, but honestly, I expected to drop at least 2-3kgs last week with all of the additional exercise that I was doing (Shut up, I know I ate a lot of chocolate last week too!). Chocolate, why oh why are you my best friend and worst enemy???
Healthy Snacks. Here are my 3 healthy snacks for the week...
1. Banana Peanut Butter ice cream
2. Strawberry Fruit Popsicles
3. Full grain rice cakes dipped in chocolate
I ate all of these snacks last week, however, I also ate chocolate too. :/ I guess I should add to this goal that not only do I have to find new, healthy snacks, but that I should actually eat them instead of my chocolate cookies, bars, and candies...
New/Updated Goals for Week 2:
30-minute walk 4-5x per week
Tae Bo every other day!! (at least 3x per week)
Ab work out/Strength Training opposite Tae Bo days (at least 3x per week)
Keep up the food diary
Attempt to limit to one chocolatey snack per day (yes, this really has to be a goal!)
Lose 1kg (2.2lbs)
Come up with at least 2 more healthy snacking options (and eat them INSTEAD, not in addition to chocolatey snacks!)
Learn to hate chocolate (any ideas on how I can do this??)
Taking a 30 minute power walk every day is unrealistic with a 4 1/2 month old. I don't always have an extra person to sit with Alexa while I do my walk. Also, sometimes her schedule just doesn't allow for me to have that extra time. In my mind, my original goal was to do 30 minutes of just walking. I wasn't planning on incorporating shopping or anything else into the walk. Unfortunately, it looks like it will have to be incorporated into the other things I need to get done every day. I did manage to walk 6 out of 7 days (sometimes just as a power walk, sometimes incorporated into my day and one day without baby!) last week, which I think it awesome!
Tae Bo. I did not manage to do Tae Bo every other day. However, I did do it three times last week. On Wednesday, I was just too lazy and miserable to do anything. Plus, it was outrageously hot. Yes, I am full of excuses.
Ab work out. My original ab work out came from Pinterest. It was something that I pinned for after baby and let me tell you...it burns! It's a 15-minute belly busting workout. It is PERFECT for a new mom or someone with limited exercise time. I cannot do all of the exercises yet, but I am working up to it. This ab routine is comprised of six different exercises. You do need an exercise ball and some weights to complete the routine. Instead of a medicine ball, I use a 5-pound weight. One day, I'll be able to do the Sprinter and the Mountain Climber, but first I need to build up my non-existent abdominal muscles. I actually have not done this workout at all in the last week. I decided to focus on the following strength training routine for two weeks and then I'll switch it up between these two OR just add in the ab workout.
Here's the new, really awesome and totally painful strength training work out (also found on Pinterest! Can you tell that I'm obsessed with Pinterest?). It's a series of six exercises that you do using only a wall! Sweet! It took me about 10-15 minutes to complete the circuit and let me tell you...I am seriously out of shape! Have a look: Wall Exercises. As much as these hurt, it was a good "Yes, I am finally going to get in shape" kind of pain. I managed to do the Wall Exercises three times last week.
Keeping a food diary is horrible! I started avoiding the computer area every time I had a snack or wanted a snack because that was where I had my food diary. Seeing all the crap I eat in writing made me feel soooo GUILTY! I know in my head that what I am eating is horrible, but that has never actually stopped me from eating it. However, with the food diary, to actually have to admit that yes, I ate "an entire chocolate bar, plus a brownie and an ice cream"...all within the same hour, that is just AWFUL! It made me feel shameful. I think that might be the point of the food diary. The stupid, horrible, very mean, food diary. Let's see if it continues to help me change my chocolatey ways! I do have to say, that even after two days I started to see a very clear pattern to my eating. I eat pretty normal, healthy portion sizes during the day, but once evening hits...the chocolate part of my brain takes over! Seriously, I'll be eating dinner and I am already thinking about what I am going to have for snack. This cannot be normal!
I have to admit that as much as I hate the food diary, I also secretly like it (only a little bit!) because it is making me very aware of all the junk I eat. I am even, sub-consciously, a little bit less hungry...maybe. I am not dieting though. That is not my goal. My goal is to eat healthier and get back in shape in a healthy and safe way. I am not going to not be allowed to eat certain foods. If I want it, I'm going to eat it, however, I am hoping to eat those not so good for you treats less often and most importantly in lesser quantities. Instead of a 300g chocolate bar lasting oh say one evening, I would like it to last me a week or two. And I really want to reduce my stress eating! Ugh, that's a whole new goal right there!
Weigh in. Ok, so after this morning's weigh in, I have lost 1kg (2.2lbs). I am disappointed. Yes, it is the amount that I want to lose each week, but honestly, I expected to drop at least 2-3kgs last week with all of the additional exercise that I was doing (Shut up, I know I ate a lot of chocolate last week too!). Chocolate, why oh why are you my best friend and worst enemy???
Healthy Snacks. Here are my 3 healthy snacks for the week...
1. Banana Peanut Butter ice cream
2. Strawberry Fruit Popsicles
3. Full grain rice cakes dipped in chocolate
I ate all of these snacks last week, however, I also ate chocolate too. :/ I guess I should add to this goal that not only do I have to find new, healthy snacks, but that I should actually eat them instead of my chocolate cookies, bars, and candies...
New/Updated Goals for Week 2:
30-minute walk 4-5x per week
Tae Bo every other day!! (at least 3x per week)
Ab work out/Strength Training opposite Tae Bo days (at least 3x per week)
Keep up the food diary
Attempt to limit to one chocolatey snack per day (yes, this really has to be a goal!)
Lose 1kg (2.2lbs)
Come up with at least 2 more healthy snacking options (and eat them INSTEAD, not in addition to chocolatey snacks!)
Learn to hate chocolate (any ideas on how I can do this??)
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Mommy Makeover - Week 1
I am really struggling to lose the baby weight. It is so depressing. When I'm depressed, I eat. I don't eat just any junk food that is lying around...I eat chocolate. Delicious, rich, 9 zillion calorie chocolate. And I LOVE IT! UGHHHHH! This is the worst never ending circle of don't lose weight, eat, continue to not lose weight/start to gain weight, be sad, eat more chocolate. I am so sick of it.
Prior to my trip to the US, I was walking EVERY day, doing Tae Bo every other day AND doing an abdominal exercise regimen every other day. These days, I sit around, eat non-stop and complain about being fat. Yes, I know...9 months on, 9 months off. The weight is not going anywhere. I have literally been the same weight for almost 2 months now...every few weeks I weigh 2-5 pounds more or less. I am stuck and I am miserable.
My cousin actually said that I have motivated her to start walking and exercising regularly. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? I can't even motivate myself to get off the couch! I'm really glad she's started exercising though! Go Beth, go!! Well, she got me off my butt. After seeing that she was walking and starting at Day 1, I decided I needed a Day 1 too. And so it has begun...(again).
Today I did Tae Bo and then went for a 30-minute walk. I am also planning on keeping a food journal, so that maybe if I see all the junk that I am eating then maybe, just maybe I'll stop eating so much of it!
Here are my goals for Week 1:
30-minute walk every day,
Tae Bo every other day,
Ab work out every other day opposite Tae Bo
Keep a food journal
Lose 1kg (2.2lbs)
Find 3 alternate, healthy snacks
I would also like to try and find some healthy snacks that can replace my chocolate bar(s) (addiction). I have even made it one of my goals for the week.
I have set a big goal for myself as well...I would like to lose 12kg (26.4lbs) and then start doing Power Plates to tone up and lose the rest of the baby weight. Throughout my pregnancy, I gained 29kg (63.8lbs)...yup, that's disgusting. In all fairness to myself, I was on bed rest for nearly three months. It's hard to stay toned or be active when you're only allowed to get up to pee. Since giving birth I have dropped a total of 11kg (24.2lbs). I know it will take quite some time for me to lose all the baby weight, so I have set a realistic goal of 1kg (2.2lbs) per week for the next 12 weeks to get me ready to start Power Plates. Think good, motivating thoughts for me! I really need them.
I'll update once a week on my progress.
Prior to my trip to the US, I was walking EVERY day, doing Tae Bo every other day AND doing an abdominal exercise regimen every other day. These days, I sit around, eat non-stop and complain about being fat. Yes, I know...9 months on, 9 months off. The weight is not going anywhere. I have literally been the same weight for almost 2 months now...every few weeks I weigh 2-5 pounds more or less. I am stuck and I am miserable.
My cousin actually said that I have motivated her to start walking and exercising regularly. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? I can't even motivate myself to get off the couch! I'm really glad she's started exercising though! Go Beth, go!! Well, she got me off my butt. After seeing that she was walking and starting at Day 1, I decided I needed a Day 1 too. And so it has begun...(again).
Today I did Tae Bo and then went for a 30-minute walk. I am also planning on keeping a food journal, so that maybe if I see all the junk that I am eating then maybe, just maybe I'll stop eating so much of it!
Here are my goals for Week 1:
30-minute walk every day,
Tae Bo every other day,
Ab work out every other day opposite Tae Bo
Keep a food journal
Lose 1kg (2.2lbs)
Find 3 alternate, healthy snacks
I would also like to try and find some healthy snacks that can replace my chocolate bar(s) (addiction). I have even made it one of my goals for the week.
I have set a big goal for myself as well...I would like to lose 12kg (26.4lbs) and then start doing Power Plates to tone up and lose the rest of the baby weight. Throughout my pregnancy, I gained 29kg (63.8lbs)...yup, that's disgusting. In all fairness to myself, I was on bed rest for nearly three months. It's hard to stay toned or be active when you're only allowed to get up to pee. Since giving birth I have dropped a total of 11kg (24.2lbs). I know it will take quite some time for me to lose all the baby weight, so I have set a realistic goal of 1kg (2.2lbs) per week for the next 12 weeks to get me ready to start Power Plates. Think good, motivating thoughts for me! I really need them.
I'll update once a week on my progress.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
My Postpartum Belly
I went clothes shopping today for like the tenth time since having Alexa. Each and every time I go shopping for myself I start off really excited to find some new things to wear, within ten minutes of actually walking around the store I become totally discouraged and upset. This inevitably leads to me hating shopping and leaving with nothing. I am a stress eater so then I go home and eat some chocolate, candy, cake, frosting....basic crap food that is even worse for my super out of shape, working to get back to my before baby body.
Anyhow, today I found a few things that fit AND look good!! Double score! However, some things that I bought and expected to fit I can't even get anywhere near buttoning. I am specifically struggling with pants. I need some jeans man! I cannot wear my maternity jeans forever! My brother said that I should take advantage of this time in my life and wear sweatpants everywhere. I just might have to do that.
I came home from shopping and this article, Postpartum Baby Bellies, was in my email inbox from Baby Center. The timing could not have been better!
It made me realize that every belly is different and every woman takes however much time they need to lose the baby weight and that i need to accept my belly how it is right now. I think that eventually I will come to love my post baby belly, I just need a little more time.
9 months up, 9 months down, right?
3 1/2 months postpartum
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