Personal goal

I don't know if I have too many people that read my blog, I really don't update it that much, so I wouldn't be surprised if no one reads it. If you do, please help me.

I am attempting a lofty workout goal. My plan is to run 30 minutes a day for 30 days. After that, I plan to do the 30 day shred for 30 days. This will take me just past Easter to the end of April.

Right now, I am 9 days into my running, varying between 2.5-3 miles a day. I have 12 pounds that I would like to lose before my birthday, which is 68 days away (9.5 weeks). I have a special event 2 months after my birthday that I would like to look my best for, so I will need to maintain my weight loss for the summer and hopefully forever.

I will try my best to post my weekly weight loss on here, so please comment if you'll keep me in line and cheer me on if I succeed!!

New Me progress report

Well, the new me is off to a good start. I can workout. I am good at exercising. If I got time away from the kids, I can run, walk, hike with the best of them. I have been alternating doing the eliptical for 30 minutes, running a mile and going Jillian Micheals 30 day shred - which I am now enduring level 2.

Food continutes to be my weakness. Isn't it everyone's?! Really, we are not animals that kill another for dinner. We do not graze on the grass for nutrition. Food is not merely energy to us, it is an art form to create in the kitchen. My food downfall is probably sweets the most. I can do without the salty chips but give me a treat and I am all over it!

Another issue that I have with food is limiting my portions. I will never be a small woman. I am 5'9" and need adiquate caloric intake to fulfill my body's function. I am also a nursing Mom, so that is what another 500 calories a day? I have never really been a salad person. Really, a salad for lunch or dinner? Guess what I have been eating for lunch? Yep, a salad. Rich, dark leafy greens, sunflower seeds, avacado slices, tomatoes, green onions, bacos, mushrooms minced, feta cheese and smoke salmon. When it is arranged like this - it sounds more like a feast than punishment. I still probably use entirely too much dressing....

Well, today is what day 12 of the new year? I have now worked out for all 12 days of the year. Opps, I just looked and it is the 13th! :o) I have worked out 13 days of the New Year! I need to keep it up and keep drinking lots of water and before you know it those 12 & 14's will be jumping out of my closet and the 10's will be floating in.....

New Year, New Me.

Well, it is now 2011. For the New Year, I am not going to say it is a resolution. My goal is to lose at least 20 pounds, if not 25 by May. That is about 16 weeks away.

I got a gift card for Christmas to buy a new pair of jeans (because really, how can anyone pick that out for you?), however I said that I have to wait until at least February to buy them so I will be skinnier.

I will wake at least on Wade's work days, to work out before the kids wake. We'll see how this goes because a lot of the time Dylan wakes at 5-6 am and only goes back to sleep snuggled up next to me.

So, I will eat smaller amounts, healthier food choices and work out daily.

~13 out of 15 days!~

I think this is my record for working out. Being less than 6 weeks away from my due date, my version of working out is less than it was last summer and what most people clasify as working out.... I have walked 1-1.5 miles (one day 3!) each day with the exception of the one day last week I was recovering from the stomach flu and a few days ago that we didn't have any power - and it was snowing out. I do walk at only 2.7-2.9 mph, sometimes at 1-2% incline, but sometimes none. I have been able to complete 1.5 miles in 32-33:30 minutes. Of course, I prefer walking outside to inside.... but with Easter today, I woke and couldn't sleep (Alex woke to pee, then my stomach was growling) so I decided to come walk on the treadmill before showering and getting dressed. I know I will eat entirely too much, but this is one thing I can do to try to keep my weight gain under 50 pounds! :o)

Exercise in pregnancy

So, with each of my pregnancies, I have exercised before I got pregnant and then stopped while I was pregnant. A big part of it has been the fatigue you feel during those first 3 months. With Taylor, I did walk about 3 miles a day until I was in the 3rd trimester, but that was when we moved from KS to ND and it just was not warm enough to walk outside anymore. This time, I didn't do anything until about 20 weeks and was good about walking on the treadmill for a week or two. Now, I have walked at least a mile, if not 3 everyday this week. I am planning to continue for the duration of my pregnancy.... until the naps outweigh the workouts. :o)

I guess I am feeling better!

I woke up at 5 am this morning, needing to pee. Unfortunately, at this hour the chances of me going back to sleep are slim. So, I laid there for an hour before getting up and grabbing my workout stuff. I completed 20 minutes on the eliptical. I know I will be hurting this afternoon, but it felt good to burn 200 calories! If I am to stay under 25 lbs weight gain in the next 29 weeks - okay realistically probably 26 or 27 weeks, I know that I will need to workout. That and potty training are on my list for when increased energy strikes me.

This Month's Goals

So, I woke at 6 am to workout. I did 20 minutes on the eliptical, that was all I had in me. I have a cold and feel like crap. So, working out and working out before the girlies wake is one of my goals - at least 5 days per week. Drink lots of water - this has been lacking, so I need to make it a priority. Also, to eat healthy and take my prenatal vitamins daily. I have been slacking on this the past few months.

Yesterday we went to Wade's company picnic. That was fun, the girls had a good time. I was shocked that Taylor did not fall asleep on the way home. They had bounce houses and Taylor LOVED them - but it was hard to find one (even the "baby" one) that bigger kids were not in. It seemed hotter in there than outside, so we pushed lots of water and snow cones.

We also drove around to look for a camping site on Beulah Bay - so I could set up camp before Wade gets off Sunday.... but no luck. We will look closer to home tonight. Baby is up!

Workout- DONE!

I did it. I got my lazy ass up this morning to work out. I actually woke up before my alarm. I did Jillian and it actually felt strangly good. I have not done Jill in many days. Taylor was crying at midnight and Wade got up and was rocking her. I am pretty sure that was when I rolled over to go get her and my 3 yo was glued to me. "How the hell did she sneak in my bed w/o me knowing?" That's right I was exhausted sleeping since her sister woke me at 4 am yesterday. So, then baby red head woke at 1 am and I got her back down. I was a fraid because she wouldn't let go of her milk cup. But, I laid her in her crib, she took 2 last sips and handed it to me, nothing said. I guess never having her cup in bed makes it routine. Today, off to the park with one of the girls BFF's! (Can you have a BFF at 1 1/2 & 3 1/2? If so, he is theirs!)

Workouts?!

Monday I felt like a toad and only made it 20 min on the eliptical. Last night (Tuesday), I did my full 45 min like a good girl. I am thankful to my husband for watching the girls while I worked out. Today, I set my alarm to get up like a good girl. Too bad Baby Red Head woke at 4 am! I tried to put her back in her crib at 5:15 and she howled. Well, I had forgotten to take my cell phone into the bedroom (after setting the alarm). So, nice to know the alarm goes off every 5 min of AN HOUR! I did not get up to turn it off. The song plays 3 times each time that it goes off. Right now, my alarm has been "I cross my heart" - by George Strait, my sister's ringtone. I need to change it or I will hate my sister just from hearing "her" song at 5:30 am. Well, Alex came into my room at 7 am and woke up Taylor. I was ready to kill her. I was not ready to get up. I think that I am 100% insane and we are going to walk to the library for storytime today. I need to get AP's or my ass will be 400 lbs. Oh, and to my joy I also got my visitor this morning. I celebrated like any level headed woman would. I pigged out. Yep, I ate 2 chocolate chip pancakes with peanut butter and a glass of chocolate milk for breakfast. I thought maybe my increased hunger was pregnancy.... maybe next month. I have realized though that it appears that all the summer maternity clothes I have will need to be sold or given away. Sorry all of my native ND friends, but even in April or May here in ND there is still a need for sweaters. We still have our heat on too and it is June 10th. The husband tells me that the last 2 years are odd with no spring. I am just ready for HEAT.

A new bag to show!

Yesterday I didn't feel like working out. I turned Jillian off before it really started and did 20 min on the eliptical instead. I paid for it today. I did Jillian plus 30 min on the eliptical to make up for yesterday.

I have a new/old Zag Bag the debut:

This is the Zonia Bag. It was made with rivets near the circles, you can kind of see them in this picture. This bag, if you designed it goes for $100 plus shipping and tax - of course! They now changed the style, because having the rivets limited the fabrics that would endure the weight on the rivets. So.... this one is FOR SALE! I will sell if for $70 OBO.

Give me a call at 701-425-3440 to book a party or for this bag (or the others pictured way below!).

My favorite part of a day

My favorite part of a day is when I rock my baby Taylor Grace. Still, at now 17 months (yesterday), I rock her to sleep for her nap and bedtime. I know she is getting old for this and she doesn't always fall asleep while rocking anymore... but I still enjoy my snuggle time with her. I used to rock her while nursing her to sleep in her quiet bedroom, so now I continue the routine with a sippy cup. I know that it has been almost 2 months since my miscarriage, but this routine helped me through those hard moments. To hold and cherish my baby. I know if I did not miscarry before (Dec 06), I would not have Taylor to cuddle. There were many nights in March and April that I cried and prayed as I rocked her. Just thanking God for giving me my girls to love and trying to find some understanding of why he would take another pregnancy away from us. Also, to pray for another baby. I know that this is also why I have thrown myself so hard into working out, to keep my mind off of what isn't. It may be selfish thoughts, but we have 2 neighbors who are very pregnant, there is a gal at MOPS who the day I told my table I miscarried was telling hers that she was pregnant, plus a few other gals that I know that are very pregant. We got a call the other day to tell us that friends of ours in Kansas are expecting, a surprise. She has 3 boys by a previous marriage and they have 2 boys together and she is pregnant and due in October. I think we are going to see them this summer and it makes me sad since I would have been due the month after her.

I do have a cute/happy thing to share on this topic. The other night Alex really wanted to pray. Wade told her that we pray at bedtime, she was in her room, waiting to pray... I finally told her that she doesn't have to pray at bedtime, or in her room, or in the dark. She can pray where and whenever she wants. So in the living room, she folded her hands and said,
"Dear God, please give us another baby to make Mommy happy. Amen!"

I have been up this morning since about 3:45 am. I love to rock my baby, but not so much at quater to four in the morning! She did not sleep soundly until about 5:30 when I came downstairs to allow Jillian to kick my butt- then did the eliptical. It is going to be a long day!

Work out 2

Yesterday I decided not to get up early to work out. I went to the Moms Club business meeting, had lunch at home, then took Alex with me to take the recycling and go to the grocery store. Alex then fell asleep (Taylor was home with Daddy, napping) and I got my workout in. I decided to step up the 30 day shred and try level 2. OMG! I think Jillian was trying to kill me. I then did 60-70 steps per minute on the eliptical for 20 minutes. I was dripping with sweat.

This morning after Taylor woke up crying at 5 am, I decided I was not staying up to work out today. She woke up again about 6 and I pulled her into bed with us where she snuggled for another hour. Then my wonderful husband got up with her and let me sleep. I sat with the girls for almost an hour before I decided to go downstairs to work out. I did 45 min on the eliptical at only about 50 steps per minute because every muscle in my body hurts today. The husband then mowed the lawn and left to go golfing. I get to go to Moms Night Out tonight, so I guess it is fair.

I don't think I said in my weigh in post, but this is the lowest I have weighed since I got pregnant with Taylor in April 2007.

CHEAT DAY!

Well, today I got up to workout and Taylor started fussing. Take my shoes off, run up the stairs, rock her, put her back down. Work our 20 minutes, she is screaming again. So, I cut my workout short to go take care of her. I don't care how much I want to or like to workout - that cannot compare with the joy of cuddling and comforting your baby as they drift back to sleep.

I made chocolate chocolate chip muffins to take to the Moms Club brunch this morning. Yeah, I put too much baking soda in and I tried to scoop it out... yeah, my muffins are chocolate blobs. They still taste good, but this proves that I am not perfect (sorry!).

Taylor did sleep on the couch while I makde my chocolate blobs and showered. Alex is thrilled that I am wearing the shirt that I painted with them on Mother's Day. They put thier hands and feet prints on it and then I let Alex paint on it a little.

Today I am allowing myself to eat all the goodies that the ladies are making and bringing, but I need to leave the house to stop at Starbucks on the way! :o) My sis got me a $25 GC for there for my b-day! Gotta LOVE her!

Results!

Well, yesterday was our last MOPS session. What had me pumped is that two gals asked me if I had lost weight! That really fuels my excitement to keep this up!

This morning I did 45 min on the eliptical. I woke up before my alarm because my oldest was calling me. Her comforter fell off her bed and she couldn't find her baby. She has this swim doll that she has clung to since she was about 22 mo (when we found out we were moving). It is hard, it has been sewn 3-4 times and looks ratty. She loves her "Baby Al-dra" though! I did not feel like working out at all. My stomach was growling, I am getting a cold. I didn't want to go back to bed, just not exert any energy. Taylor started crying at 10 pm and again at 1 am. The H was able to calm her - I hope it is only teething.

I did step on the scale this morning, because I tend to be a cumpulsive weigher. I was shocked to see it read - UP 0.8 or a lb! I have earned 37 Activity points so far this week and only eaten 3-4 weekly points... I may have to adjust this to see results. My body probably is in starvation mode with 45 min of exercise and 23 points a day.

When I had one toddler, I was told that every family has a "spirited" child. It was also implied that Alex was that. Well, if she is spirited, which I am not arguing with, than her sister is much more spirited. Taylor throws huge tantrums if she doesn't get her way, plus is usually only a step away following after her sister.