All Moved In

We are finally all moved in and getting back to some resemblence of normal in our lives. I am finding I love having a smaller place. I can get up and clean house before the kids even start! We have always lived in smaller places until the last hosue and it was huge...we thought we needed the space, but over the last year had come to realize that much of it was just that space...no one used the upstairs, there was an extra room downstairs that became a toy/junk room and the laundry room and big walkin pantry became other junk areas...the smaller place fits us and reminds me that sometimes we get caught up in keeping up with the Jones and forget who we are...we like simple...this works for us...

I have been run walking this week...I have a cold and it is making running hard, but I have found an amazing area to run just behind the new house...quiet roads with lots of hills...yes hills excite me now! It is like conquering a foe to make it to the top of these long hills around here...it empowers me and makes me feel strong!

I have also been doing crossfit workouts at home. I have really come to love this style of working out! Some are long, some are short, but all are intense! I love intense...again it is about feeling strong, like a warrior! I can push through them knowing that when I am done, I have fought hard..

Now that the internet is back I plan to do some workout dvd's for kickboxing and cardio dance..we will see what else I find I like....

For the time being, my workouts are at home or in the neighborhood...we still have no car, that means no gym...trying to decide what to do with the gym membership...I am going to see if I can freeze it until I get a car, I don't want to cancel it because I am a charter member and can go to any of our gyms...if I cancel it, I will be limited to the one I would join near here...

Getting ready to get focused back on school. It is almost time for the kids to start so I am going to have to be dillegent with my time for working out, school for them, family fun, God, household stuff and my own study time...working on a plan today to make it happen...

Now I hear a WOD calling me....I was informed this is my game...got to bring it today!!

Moving in Two Days

The boxes are packed, the furniture cleaned and ready to go, several loads have already been delivered to the new house, unpacked and put away. Curtains are hung, pictures on the walls, toys unpacked and ready for the princess to come and play. We have been working on this for two weeks. It has been pack and take a load and unpack...come back and repeat...tomorrow we will be taking the last load of boxes and small things...then Saturday the big move will happen.

My husband was suppose to be here to help with the big stuff...upstairs we had two heavy long dressers with mirrors, a tall dresser, two queen size beds with matresses and box springs, 4 night stands and then the smaller stuff...found out he is not making it home in time to help with any of this, we will be luck if he is at home before we move...so what to do...

I will be honest, I didn't know if my 14 year old and I could carry this stuff down our stairs...they are deep and steep with no rails...I didn't think I would be able to handle it, but when you have to you have to...we tested the water with the lighter set, then brought down the more solid set...I was shocked and so was my daughter at how easy it was for me to move some of this stuff!! All those push ups from the cross fit workouts are paying off...those arms and back are strong!

I was really amazed to realize that there is some defined muscle there...not much..but hey they are there...my arms don't resemble jello now...whoooo hooooo! That makes the push ups and weights worth it!!!

I will be off line for a week or so with the move...hoping it will not be too long...the plan is to get settled and get back into a workout routine that allows me to rock it through the end of the summer and into fall...

Cross fit...3 days a week
Boot camp or kick boxing, 3 days a week
Yoga ... 3 days a week
run...3 days
cycle ...3 days...

Rest and spend time with family Sundays~

Clean eating and lots of water...this summer is not over and I am not going to limp out at the end...I will go out like a warrior!

Looking at the Positives

It is so easy for me to look at my body and tell you what I don't like. One of my goals in vision board is to learn to love and accept my body where it is in this journey. I need my body to work with me to get to where I want to go, so I need to accept it where it is at. Today I am going to take the time to share what I do like about my body and focus on that...I know this can come across as bragging, so if that bothers you please feel free to stop reading now!

Here goes....

My legs...I would have to be honest and say that is my favorite part of my body these days. I have been running for several years now. I started to weight training a while back and discovered that I have strong legs! They are the one part of my body that really shows muscle and definition. I love that I can do squats and lunges. I can dance and jump and run and my legs seem to love it! I also love that at 43 years old, I can put on a short skirt and hills and show off these legs that serve me so faithfully!

My booty...strange I know, but before I started running, it was going flat and starting to sag! Now it is rounded back out and tight...there is actually something there to fill out those jeans!

My arms are a work in progress, but they are showing definition and are way stronger than I thought...150 pushups!! Can I say WOW! There is even some definition coming in those tricepts that tend to sag as we get older! My arms carry my little girl around and lift those boxes without complaining!

My back...this is a big one for me...there was a time that my back had no definition, now I can see little muscles and I enjoy showing it off..I find I sit and stand taller now than I used to. MY back supports all the crazy exercise I do...

My shoulders...they are wide and I used to see this as a negative, but it is a positive...at times my shoulders feel like they carry the weight of the world on them, but they are strong. The wide shoulders make it easy to build the muscle without haveing to really focus on them...instead of hiding them, I will show them off!

Little things...my feet...they are tiny, but cute...I can wear all the cute little shoes and make them look good! My feet carry me through my day, my long runs and dance workouts.

I love the fact that my nails grow long and strong. People always think they are fake...but no my body grows beautiful nails. I am part Indian, so I tan easily in the summer and I love this about my skin. I also love the fact that my skin is soft!

I know I skipped my tummy...this is the battle zone on my body! But for today I will love my tummy where it is...it is not defined, but there is no muffin top or love handles around it anymore. I have a strong core and I will celebrate that today...

There are scars on my body...these remind me of the different events in my life...I have scars on my legs from rock climbing when I was younger and slipping on a sharp rock...I have scars on my arms from on my battle with demons year ago that remind me where I have been. In remembering what was, I can celebrate what is and move forward..I have tons of stretch marks on that tummy from giving birth to my beautiful children...I have a birth mark that is brown and goes across the left side of my forehead and lightly down the left side of my face...it is what makes me me...amazingly, this has never bothered me as much as other people.

So there it is...for today I will love my body for all it does for me, for what it is.

Vision Board!

During this time of stress, I was given a challenge through my Fabulous Fitness team to create a vision board. This was a big help for my focus, to remember why I do what I do and where I want to go with this..

My vision Board is about dream casting...looking at what I want to do in the area of fitness...

I am going to break down the pictures so you can see and understand what the dream/visions are.

When I saw this picture, what I saw was confidence and strength. It is not about wanting to look like her, but wanting that sense of confidence in myself that I see in her..

I am going to have to fight through the tough days, the times I just want to quit...this is my reminder to fight for what I want...up above it is Phil. 4:13...I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!...this is not a journey that I am own by mistake or by myself...I believe that God has placed this passion in me for a reason and He will give me the strength to fight when I want to quit!

I don't want doubt to be my partner in this journey. I want to come to a place where I trust the process and doubt can't invade what I know to be the truth.

These three represent goals for the upcoming year...I want to run the Charity Chase Half Marathon again in 2012...this time for a personal record...that would be anything under 2:20! I want to train for and run the Thunder Road Marathon in 2012 (I may do the half for the Tunder Road this year!) and I would like to compete in the Rambling Rose and/or the YMCA Women only Triathlon.. These are my three big fitness dreams for the upcoming year and the timing on them will give me something to focus on and train for all year!

Clean eating is my goal! I have been up and down on this...this picture represents the recipes inside my clean eating books that I want to try. I know I feel better and my family is healthier when I follow this to the max...not when it is convient!So this will become a way of life for us.

The center of the board says..."Dream Casting...This will be my reality...Accepting myself and loving my body in the journey!I am strong and growing in so many directions! I will learn to listen to my body and treat it with respect!"

This picture didn't fit on the board...it is attached at the bottom, but didn't fit in my picture. I have been working on my Certificaton as a Personal Trainer...I will finish this and be a certified personal trainer. As I said early, I believe this is where God is leading me and there is a purpose in the passion and in my journey to where I want to be. One day the knowledge and experience of my journey will combine to help others in their journey...

They don't show up in the picture, but there are some random words on the board...
Worth it
Consistency
support
faith
Prayer
Be real!

So there you have it, my vision board for the the upcoming year!

Strong and Courageous!

Today started very early for me. I was up at 4am to take a friend to the airport...it was a trade off...I took him to the airport and I get to keep his van...this could help with the moving process starting this week...I got back home and decided to get that run in this morning...it was already hot and sticky...

I put on running shorts, a sports bra (crop top) and a t-shirt...I grabbed my I-pod and started out the door...did I mention it was hot? I started to turn around and go back inside, then I thought I could lose the t-shirt...it would help...nay run with the t-shirt...nope too hot...the issue...I don't like to show my tummy. In part it is about how I was raised, in part it is the part of my body I like the least and I pefer to keep it hid...I tend to wear loose fitting tops and it is covered... I do realize this may seem silly to many of you to struggle with this...

I finally decided that I would lose the t-shirt and run. Do I think I am all that? NO! I was very uncomfortable at first. My body is changing, but it is not as lean as I want it, my belly is not flat...my arms still jiggle some...my body is not where I want it to be, but it is not where it used to be either. I am running half marathons, doing 120 pushups in 12 minutes with other exercises...I am strong...I am a work in progress, but part of that work is accepting myself and my body in the journey...it is not over because I am okay with where I am...I still have goals of where I want to go, but for today, I chose to accept my body, wear a crop top and shorts for a run and by the time I headed home, a friend stop to chat and I didn't even think about what I was wearing or what she was thinking...I felt strong...I had ran 3.5 miles in 32 minutes...I was proud of what my body can do! I am proud of what my body can do and I am going to figure out how to love my body in the process of this journey, to make peace with what is.

I have made good choices with food today, ate clean and drank my water. I am letting myself acknowledge and feel what I feel and sharing those things with a trusted friend..

I am strong and couragous!

Trying To Move Forward

As most of you know things have been very stressful for me lately...that doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon, so I need to change how I cope with it. I need to look at what the situation is and figure out what I can control and what I can't.

Right now, money is so very tight with the move that getting a car is going to have to wait. This means that what I do needs to happen at home or close to home...

The move is set to be August 13, may be able to start moving some stuff in later today! Basicly everything is packed that can be packed and we are ready to go...so not too much left to do around here to get ready...

I do still very overwhelmed by all of this, but I am trying to find the positive in things...the new place is small, but I love the location...great areas to run and ride in, woods behind me and a pond in the center of the community...it will be awesome...

With money as tight as it is, the Tri is going on hold...so I need to find a goal to be working toward in the mean time....it is how I focus...

I have been thinking..marathon? training for a later Tri? I don't know maybe both, but for now my goal is going to be to make peace with where I am and what I can do right now...

Time to get real...I haven't been working out much for a couple of weeks now...this all hit and I got sidetracked...I was emotionally drained and tired physically...so I got slack...this fed into feeling really not good about myself...along with not working out, nutrition went out the window...either not eating enough or eating junk...it is time to put a stop to this!

The plan is to get the nutrition back in line...back to basicly clean eating, 5 times a day, drinking my water and listening to my body.

Workout wise, I am giving myself some break until after the move. I was challenged to a crossfit workout challenge that is 12 minute cicuit that involves 10 push ups, 15 situps and 12 walking lunges...repeated for 12 minutes...for me today that ended up being 120 pushups, 180 situps and 144 walking lunges...who would have thought you could get such a complete workout in 12 minutes!! This works for me at the moment...Three days a week I will do a 3-5 mile run...anything else will be bonus as time allows and energy levels allow...once the move is complete, I will look at what my options are for working out at home until I can get a car....

I have a plan, I have someone to hold me to the plan and I am going to do this...I will not let this crisis and frustration completely derail me!

Struggles

Many of you know that we are facing many changes and some crisis are the reason for them..The good news is we have found a place to move. It is much smaller than where we are, but someone else will be doing the yard work...I like that part at least...It is leaving the town we now live in, but not too far out and closer to the mountains...that is a plus...I am trying to be positive about this change, but for those that know me, you know I don't like change that much...

The other thing that has really thrown me for a loop, my car blew the motor this past week. It is an old car and it would cost more to fix than the car is worth...the problem it is my only car. This means I am sitting at home. I don't know how I am going to move, or how I am going to get where I need to go in the meantime...Financially we are putting everything into the move right now...trying to maintain the home we are in and secure another one is expensive and is not leaving room for buying another car.

On an emotional level, I am struggling...I love the house we are in. I love the town I live in. I am tired of the drama with the house and the owners and I know the move will allow for peace in that sense, but it is a big adjustment to move to a new community and not have transportation at the same time...as for the car, it was my mom's car. She went home to our Father last September and letting go of the car, is like letting go of another part of her...that is why I kept the car to start with...it was like having her with me. She was so proud of that old car and driving it, I felt like she was there with me...it was when I could talk things over with her...it seems like I am having to let go of many of her things right now and that is really hard for me...I am missing her so much right now and honestly feel very alone to deal with it all....

This is my fitness blog, but I really don't have much to say in that area tonight...I did swim some today, but that is about it right now...I have no motivation to get out and run in the heat and the gym is not even possible until we get a car...I am spending most of my time working on packing and trying to sort out the emotions behind this. I know I need to come up with a plan that will work for me until I can get back to the gym...

Nutrition is all over the map. I will admit that I have enjoyed being a little more relaxed about it, but I know I need to get the meals back on track...at least I can control that right now...nothing else seems to be within my control....

I am having major issues with sleep...I have a hard time going to sleep and staying asleep...I wake up tired and grumpy and just wanting to go back to bed, but if I lay down I am wide awake....

Hopefully I will figure out how to make the move happen, and settle in to the new place in a couple of weeks and be able to get back on track....

Sharing this, so people don't think I just vanished, just not in the best place right now.

Living Life Unsettled

I am really struggling right now with everything going on. Trying to find a place to move with no vehicle to go look makes it hard. Trying to find a place in the area I am in and want to stay in, seems impossible! I know with God all things are possible and He may be leading us away from here for a reason, but I have no peace in my spirit about anything right now. I have found one place I know we could do, but just not sure it is the right place for us. If we don't make a decision soon, it will be gone and the search continues. Found a house in the area, but the owner's never pick up the phone or return a call. Can we say frustration. I am feeling a ton of stress and presure to get this taking care of, but little support to make it happen. With my husband gone all the time, I feel very much alone to deal with all of it and that is a hard place to be right now.

I am feeling very stuck at the moment and since we still don't know what the problem is with my car, that may not change for sometime. Being at home all the time is nerve racking for all of us.

Fitness wise...a good bit of walking and some of that carrying a 50 pound child! Working out at home is not working because kids interrupt to much...this is why I joined a gym. Nutrtion .... don't even want to talk about it! Some how in the middle of all of this, I need to find my focus. It seems to be gone right now and my mood reflects it.

What Next????

Life is not being very cooperative today! I got up this morning thinking this is a good day! Most of the major packing done and life can get back to normal...had a hard time motivating, but made it to the gym for a kick boxing class with my favorite warrior instructor! It was a hard workout, but felt so good! I did a 3 mile run and headed home. Got home and got a call from the realtor about the home we just put under contract...the wife decided to pull it off the market and use it as a vacation home!! So we are back to looking for a place and I am stressed...I am okay with moving, but the not knowing where is what bothers me.

Decided to take some stuff back to the library to get some alone time to pray through all the emotions I was feeling....came out of the library and the car didn't want to start, but it did. As I started home, I noticed it was making a funny pinging noise....then it started losing power. By the grace of God it made it to where I could safely get it off the road and leave it before it died...I had to walk home with the library books and movies...More stress!

Got home to a sick child...fever and tummy ache!! It is probably nothing but a tummy bug, but a sick, needy child is tough today...trying to focus on her and not everything else going on.

I evidently hit my burnt hand on something somewhere in this mess and popped a blister...now that hurts!

So what is next???

We don't know what is wrong with the car for sure or how long it will take to fix, so I am stuck at home...no way to look for a place to move but the computer...finding some places, but really nothing in the area I live in and want to stay in...I don't want to move away from here. I do have a couple of friends that I can count on here...I don't want to have to start over somewhere else!
I am stuck at home, no way to hit the gym, my daughter is gone to a friend's so no sitter to be able to leave to run/ride....

To say the least, nutrition has sucked today! I don't even want to think about it...

I did get motivated and brought my treadmill, step, hand weights and kettle bell in from the building, thinking I can maybe workout tomorrow. I set it up in what used to be our dinning room (before we started packing). I moved the big table to the side and set everything up...thinking I can run intervals on the mill and then do a powewr hour style workout or a boot camp training while I am stuck at home....It is a matter of will my now feeling better 5 year old cooperate with that tomorrow...we will see...at least I have a plan and I am going to try.

Mind, Body and Spirit!

There is so much that I love about my gym. I workout/train at our YMCA. The YMCA is a Christ centered gym with the goal being to promote a healthy mind, body and spirit! I love this aspect of my gym. Most places focus on the body alone, but to truly be healthy we have to have balance in all three.

When you walk into my gym, it is like walking into a friend's house...everybody is friendly and supportive from the front desk staff or the trainers and instructors. People know you by name and want to know what you are doing and how you are doing...goals and dreams are encouraged and assitance if availiable. The classes are challenging, but fun..you will laugh and cry in the same class, but come out knowing you have worked your body, relieved some stress and had a moment to reflect on the awesomeness of our God! I love this! I look forward to the thought and verse that is read at the end of classes!

Starting Monday, my gym is starting a new challenge...Mind, Body and Spirit Challenge. You have to track weekly on a board at the gym what you have done for the Mind, the Body and the SPirit. You have to workout for 2.5 hours a week and then complete challenges in the other areas...if you read my blog and follow my workouts, you know that most days I work out close to 2.5 hours so that is not the challenge for me. I am taking on this challenge to focus more on my mind and spirit...

True health is a balance and I don't believe I can say I am a healthy, fit person when the focus is just the body...so for this challenge I will be making time to deal with feelings and emotions, challenge my mind in new learning adventures and spending time daily with my God in worship, prayer and/or Bible study.

I am not dropping my other challenges to do this, I am incorperating them all together...

My personal summer challenge was to try new things and push my body to a new place. I have and am doing this...I have added zumba, cardio dance, kick boxing, power hour, swimming and cycling to my workouts this summer. I will continue to find new ways to challenge myself through out the summer.

FabFit Challenge is for me about getting my nutrition where it needs to be for me. I am working on this by finding what I enjoy eating that works to fuel my body effectively and allows me to eat enough to support what I am doing in workouts...To continure my Tri Training.

The the Mind, Body, Spirit challenge will be more about challenging my mind and spirit...

All three challenges work together and are running the rest of the summer.

I am in the middle of packing and preparing for a move within the next couple of months, so I am not going to say I will post daily, but I will blog as often as I can about where I am at and what I am doing...maybe daily at times...just depends on the time I have to work on it...

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass… it’s learning to dance in the rain.”

Summer Challenge Day 30

Today has been crazy busy. I managed a ride of 15 miles today and cardio dance for 1 hour...I spent about four hours packing, moving boxes to the room we are packing the stuff in until we move and hauling off junk! I am so tired tonight...eating was clean today, but a little lower than usual for me...partly just because I was so busy I didn't even think about snacks..

One fun thing today...made my day, my 5 year old passed her level one swim test and got her yellow band. It means that she can be on the kiddie side of the pool without me! She had to swim about 12.5 yards, float on her back and her stomach to do this...Her swim instructor, Brittany was determined that she was going to do this. She worked really hard to make sure that Autumn could do it and Autumn and I practiced a ton. Four weeks ago Autumn would not even put her face in the water, now she jumps in the deep in and swims!! It is awesome to see this progress and the confidence she has in her self!

Autumn and Brittany after she got her band.

Autumn after her victory swim!

This is a small thing to us, but like a medal to my baby! She is so excited and can't wait to hit the pool tomorrow!

While we are in the process of preparing for the move, I am going to be focusing on my tri training and doing whatever I can beyond that. I don't want to not do anything and i still have the goal of the tri. I don't want to give that up...whatever else I can fit in or need to fit in to help with the stress I will...

Summer Challenge Days 28-29

Yesterday as an awesome day! I didn't do my plan work out, but got to do some Marine PT! It was fun and challenging. I loved it!! My son and his fiance announced their wedding date! August 11, 2012....so excited and blessed to have my son so in love and loved by such an awesome young woman!

Today...great workout...ran 5 miles including 3 on the trail...I love trail running...then did a zumba class with the new instructor...it was fun and I really enjoyed it!

Then it went down hill...found out we are going to have to move in the next couple of months and it is not our choice or anything that we did.

Stress levels are high right now!!

Eating was clean yesterday and up until tonight it was today...grabbed a couple of cookies, then had a friend pop up and chat me down a little...fed one to the dog...so not horrible and I will survive!

Summer Challenge Day 28

Okay today has been awesome....let's start with nutrition...
Breakfast: Kashi cereal with milk and blueberries, 1/2 apple

sorry this one is blurred...

Snack after morning workout was a chocolate whey protien shake made with soy milk...

Lunch: Tuna Salad (Tuna, onion, 1 boiled egg, tomato, mushrooms, carrots and olive oil), 1/2 apple

Afternoon Snack: Strawberries and nuts

Snack between Power Hour workout and Zumba: 1 banana

Dinner:Chicken, sweet potato and asparagus

Drank around 100 oz of water...

Workouts today:
Run: 3 miles in 28 minutes (It was HOT!)
Swim: .25+ miles (great way to cool it off!)
Power hour: Let me explain this crazy hour workout!
after warming up by jumping rope
3 circuits doing a 10-1 count...4 exercises each
Circuit 1: push ups 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4,3, 2, 1, wood chops 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, shoulder press 10, 9, 8,7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, jump squats 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
The other 2 circuits followed this pattern.
Circuit 2: diamond hand push ups, t-arm extensions (You are in almost a side plank using your legs side to side for support, taking the weight from the opposite side under you to straight up above your side---reps performed on each side!), back flyes, high knee jumps.
Circuit 3: knee up push ups, kickbacks, bent over rows, jumping lunges.
following this was an ab workout and cool down..

Then I turned around and did a 50 min. Zumba class!
I am now tired!!!!

My discovery today: I am stronger than I thought and I can push my body way further than I ever thought! I have stayed away from this power hour class. I know this instructor from kickboxing. I knew she was tough and pushes hard..I had thought I couldn't do it...let alone follow it with a Zumba class! When she invited me check out this class, I decided to and I loved it!

I also discovered that I can listen to my husband vent about his drama without letting it become my drama! It doesn't have to effect me!!

This challenge is off with a bang and I am excited!

Summer Challenge Days 26 and 27

Okay...this sporadic blogging needs to stop! I really need to use this to stay focused on goals!! My challenge this summer was to try some new stuff! In the first month of this challenge I have added Tri training, kickboxing, zumba and cardio dance. I have gone to three days of full body workouts and added cycling and swimming 3 days a week to my running 3-4 days! I am loving the mix up!! My body loves the mix up of activites and has responded with weight and inches loss!

I have focused a lot on my workouts, now it is time to focus on the nutrition...I am going to go back to posting my pics of meals...hey...you can scroll through them if you need to! I need the accountability of eating the right foods at least 90% of the time...I am realistic and know with summer there will be cookouts and stuff where I will eat what is served, but as long as I am in control of the choices, it will be clean, healthy foods...

We are starting a new challenge on my Fab Fit team on FB and my goals for that are
1. Get my nutrition where it needs to be with clean, healthy foods...I need to fuel my body with good fuel for the workouts I do...

2. Add more definition to my muscles...I want toned muscles, not big muscles...hey I am an endurance athelete...this should result in lower body fat and inches loss..

3. To discover just what my body is capable of and be comfortable in my own skin...

I will continue to blog and plan to on a daily basis about workouts, nutrition and share any discoveries I make along the way...

Let the challenge begin!

Summer Challenge Days 23-25

I know it has been a few days...things have been a little crazy for me and I have been trying to deal with some mental obstacles in my journey...I needed the time to journal and process through some stuff...but I am still on this journey...Many times we make it all about working out and our diets, but the mental stuff can be the biggest hurdle...glad I found a friend that I could open up to some and let some stuff come out...is it over...probably not, but I am in a better place...

Workouts this week have been intense...my usual routines of kick boxing and zumba, full body weight workouts and tri training. The tri training is fun! I really enjoy mixing up the three events and even trained in all three one day this week...Right now I am keeping runs on the shorter side and working on speed, cycling is up to 15 miles in about 40 minutes and I actually amazed myself swimming and completed pool lengths in about 30 sec! Maybe not fast for some, but for me that was amazing! Swimming is my weak link in this, so I am spending more time in the pool than anywhere right now...

Aparently my body likes the mix up in activity as much as my mind...I remeasured this week as I gear up for a challenge with my Fabulous Fitness team and had lost 3.5 pounds and 3.5 inches since June 12! I was really pleased with this...my goal isn't weight loss, but can't help but smile at the loss!

This is really amazing because nutrition has been all over the map recently, from not eating enough to eating the wrong foods...I am working on this and I think that is going to be a focus of the next part of this challenge...

The goal will be to get back to clean eating and to eat enough to support the level of exercise I am doing...

I can tell on days like last night when I was doing cardio dance, that I am not fueling my body as it needs...this has got to change...

My goal is health and that has to include proper nutrition...nutrition is 80% of the equation according to Tosca Reno...so if I can get the nutrition back on track...I can only imagine what this body can do!

Summer Challenge Day 22

Today has been a good day workout wise...a kick butt kickboxing class from my favorite kickboxing instructor! She told me before class she didn't feel well...trust me, you wouldn't have known it in class!! The only down thing is on Tuesdays I have to cut out a little early to get my youngest to swim lessons, but it is still a very intense workout and I love every minute of it! It feels good to feel strong and tough!

Little one had swim lesson and is working on breathing as she swims...this one is hard to teach, because I don't do it well...so we are learning together! FUN!

This evening I headed back to the gym for full body st workout...really focusing more on upper body since most of my classes, cycling and running attack my legs...did some push ups and dips as a part of this workout...taking some suggestions from a friend to help build up my upper body for the swim portion of my upcoming Tri....also did chest press, bi curls, tri ext, lat pulls, back rows, upright rows, Tri press, leg press and leg curls....it was a much needed workout...used semi light weights and moved from set to set...so it was some cardio as well...

Came home and went for an easy 10 mile ride. I had thought about riding to the gym and back for my st workout, but with storms coming and the time of day being high traffic decided against it...I enjoyed most of my ride until my dh started calling and wouldn't stop until I answered the phone! I cannot ride a bike and talk on a cell!! Had to stop at about 8 miles to talk to him for a few, but it was a good ride and I needed the time to think today...

Nutrition wise...not a good day...started out okay with all natural peanut butter whole wheat toast....turkey breast on whole wheat bun for lunch with veggie straws luna mini bar for post workout morning snack...other wise it went down hill and I made some bad choices....really struggling with the nutrition side of things right now...got to figure out why and get back on track!

Tomorrow is a zumba, run and swim day! Hope to throw in some ab work and yoga in the evening!

Summer Challenge Day 21

Getting back on track! Got up this morning and had 2 slices of whole wheat toast with all natural peanut butter and headed to the gym! Morning workout for today was suppose to be 2 miles running, ran 2.5 miles in 22 min! I was running on the treadmill using intervals but not going all the way to a walk...this was fun and a really good workout. After my run, I headed to the pool for a nice swim...trying to find a base on swimming...250 meters...really not sure of the time...had several interruptions...that is the only thing about swimming at the gym...we have only one lap lane and the pool is always open for rec swim and lap swim at the same time...someone was in the lap lane so I was dodging kids as I swam....still a good workout and it did give me some time to focus on breathing...my weakness...after the swim, I enjoyed a lemon zest luna bar...this was new for me and very good! I had one of the mini bars, could have eaten a couple, but only had the one with me...

Picked Autumn up from child watch and went back to the pool for play time and swim practice for her. She is getting brave and figuring our how to come up for water when she can't touch! I love seeing her start to swim!

Lunch was a banana and veggie straws...I had a greek yogurt with me, but it had gone bad! Got to boil some eggs for tomorrow for lunch!

Headed home to get some stuff done around here and then decided to take my new bike out for it's first ride. Normally, I ride my run route, today I decided to go a different route...tons of hills! going down felt great, the air cooled me off...going up...what a workout! ended up with about 10 miles...felt great and I found the perfect route for brick training with my run in a few weeks...a good ride that will circle around and end up at home, then i can run! YAY


When I got back I had a class of chocolate milk and a banana for recovery.

Dinner was turkey breast, sweet potato fries baked, squash (first ones from my garden!) and green beans...yummy!!

Tomorrow is strength training, kickboxing and maybe another ride...sure there will be some pool time in there as well!

Summer Challenge Days 18-20

Well, this has been a crazy few days! My car had the starter go out on it Thursday and it was waiting to be fixed on Friday, so I was pretty much stuck at home until Friday evening. Managed to accomplish some stuff at home, but not any dedicated workout time....I did play with the kids and stuff...so I was active, but not my normal...

I got to see my oldest as well....My son is almost 23 years old and a Marine...but he is still my baby boy....

Friday evening, I went to look at a bike I had found on craigs list. My daughter, Celeste, and I had been sharing her bike and it was time for mommy to get her own. I really wanted a road bike, but couldn't find one in my price range. I came across this mountain bike on craigs list that really seemed to good to be true for the price, but when I went to look at it, it was what had been represented, so I bought it....I am suppose to have pics, but for some reason it will not upload....I will try to get some tomorrow on my phone and get them up...for the tri I want to do this bike will be fine and then I can decide if it is something I want to invest money in for next season, plus this gives me one for trail riding with my daughter...something she loves to do!

Saturday, we did make it to the pool to play and swim for a couple of hours, then it was a fireworks festival in the evening...the kids had a blast and the fireworks were amazing!

It was really a late night for us and today I was so tired that I really didn't feel like doing much of anything outside of going to church. Church was awesome! Spent most of the day just chilling out....

So several days here of not working out and unfortunately not eating very good and I am feeling like crap...headaches, tired and not the I have been busy tired, but drained tired...I also didn't realize how much my mood is affected by what I eat...I am feeling more emotionally blah today....you know normally I am the odd ball through holidays of any kind...I can stick to my plan and eat the right stuff...I am the one that loses weight through Christmas! I don't know if it was because I was not working out or just so busy I didn't plan, or maybe some emotional eating...but it was really not a good few days...I have got to get back on track! I truly hate how I feel right now physically and it is not helping the mental state! This has got to change...

The plan is to get up in the morning, have something resembling clean and healthy for breakfast and then go for a long (for me) bike ride on my new bike! Hopefully I will be able to get some lap swimming tomorrow as well....

I have got to find the motivation back....I know what I want and I know what it will take to get there....now just kicking my own booty in gear is the next step!

Rambling Rose Triforlife Tri Training Program

One of my readers asked for a link to the free tri plan I spoke of a couple of days ago. This is a plan geared for the Rambling Rose Women's Only Triathlon...I took this plan and used it to build my own to prepare for my tri....but for you here is the link....

Let me know if you need any other plans...I have found several on Tri Fuel and beginnertriathete.com as well...there are a ton out there...I like the simplicity of the rambling rose one to build mine from...

Summer Challenge Day 17

Today has been a bit challenging for me to get motivated. I got up at my normal time and had planned to cycling, but Celeste had company last night and evidently they stayed up too late because my earlier riser wasn't moving and I need her to keep an eye on Autumn while I ride...so I messed around the house, had some breakfast...cheerios with almond milk and a banana...then once she got up we were off to look for a bathing suit top for her...so no ride this morning...

Got back and dropped the gang off and headed to they gym for a full body weight workout, then a zumba class. This was a good class. I really enjoyed it and I am excited that this instructor is going to start teaching a regular zumba class as of this Friday...the class today was a beginners class and it is starting to seem pretty easy...glad there will now be more intense zumba classes at my gym on multiple days....the only thing with the Friday class is it will be right after my kickboxing class! There should be another full body st session in there as well, but I think it will get moved to Saturday when I have no classes! The only thing about my gym is the class schedule changes monthly and so I have to adjust to work around the classes I am doing, but it is all good...love more class options!

I spent a couple of hours playing with Autumn in the pool and while it is not really lap swimming, she is getting to the point that we do swim a good bit together. Today it was holding hands and swimming under water...we have some play time as well. She loves to be thrown in the pool now...or lifted up to the sky and then kinda dropped in the pool. I get on my knees and lift her up in the air, then bring her to about chest level and drop her...it is kinda like a military press with her! Loving this time with my girls this summer!

Lunch was a grab and go. Celeste made me a sandwich on whole wheat, turkey, avacado and tomato...snackage was veggie straws and a green tea...

Dinner tonight was turkey burgers with all the veggie toppings on a whole wheat bun...

I met another lady at the gym today that is doing the Tri I plan to do. She told me there was a training plan available for free download...I thought cool! having never done a tri, it is challenging to know how to balance all the sports and strength training and classes. I came home and checked out the plan...I think I will use it as a model for what I am doing, but this plan is assuming you have no base in the sports...I can ride 15 miles and easily run the 5k, where I am weak is swimming so that really needs to become a focal point for me...working on the details of a plan now and trying to keep it doable...but at the same time, not wanting to drop my distance for long runs...always that possible full later to look at...lol...

Over all it has been a good day. Now I am off to relax and get some sleep...

Summer Challenge Day 16

Today has been an awesome day for me workout wise! I got up this morning and went running...3 miles 27 minutes....best time to date I think! Then a kick butt kick boxing workout with a new instructor for me. Our regular instructor for this class was out today with a back injury and I pray she is back soon. The class was fun and challenging! He seemed to focus more on like boxing drills which was different pace and intense. I love the kick boxing side of this so I missed Nicole today. She is tough, but fun! However I came out drenched in sweat...between the run and the class! Then I hit the pool for some swim time and if I am honest, I must say, it is feeling amazing to swim and see that I am stronger and my endurance is so much higher! I love feeling healthy and strong!

Yesterday I was focused on changing goals, so I didn't share this, but I was lifting yesterday...lat pull downs with a twist...you do them on the cable station and stand and pull them down like a swim motion...anyhow one of the trainers came by and was like "Wow...girl...I see some muscles popping out in that back!"...That made me look in the mirror and from the angle I could see some muscle in my upper back...YAY!!! That made me feel amazing! Near the end of my workout I was doing shoulder press and during a rest, I caught a glimpse of my upper leg...it look like a bump on the outside of my leg....I looked down to see what it was...you know thinking this could be bad...a knot in my leg...not good...it was a muscle! So loving my body these days!

I got on the scale tonight...I know...that is not something I need to do and especially not at night...no real change in these last 15 days...but you know I am okay with that! I didn't do measurements, I am waiting for one month to do that, but it really didn't bother me that the scale hasn't changed...one it is night and eating has been off today and was off over the weekend, two it is the time of month my weight is the highest anyway...and I know I am building muscle and burning fat...so who cares what a dumb old scale says! I love how I look and feel and that is the best place to be....for the first time in my life I am comfortable with my body! I am comfortable walking around in a two piece at the pool, or taking off a soaked t-shirt and going to a sports bra in a class...For the first time in my life I am at peace with what my body looks like and I truly love it...no it is not perfect and it is not where I want it to be, but it is strong and healthy...tanned and toned...my endurance is better than ever...

I asked the question, the other day on Fabulous Fitness...what is your weakest link in your fitness journey...mine is nutrition...I love working out, I love getting sweaty and feeling the high that comes from a good hard workout...but I also love food! (some people have dreamed of hearing me say that...lol) the problem is some of the foods I love are not good for me and I know in moderation they say everything is ok...but processed, chemically loaded foods are poison to my body regardless of the doseage I take! I have got to get back to a place of eating clean, healthy nutritious foods and eating them in abundance! I discovered today that I burn around 1200 cals a day in exercise...to give my body what it needs I need to eat a ton of food and this is where I struggle with eating clean...it takes a ton of food to have enough to fuel my body...suggestions from my clean eating friends?????

Moving forward with the Tri training plans and looking at a tri for Sept 25, 2011! This is why the nutrition needs to come into line...i am pushing hard, training hard and my body deserves the best fuel!

Summer Challenge Day 14 and 15

I know slack on the posting lately...it was late when I got settled last night after church and really yesterday was a good day...only workout time was push mowing grass, eating was soso...had some blueberry pie after church! It was yummy...and then it was back to watching it today!

I am struggling a little bit right now, dealing with some family stuff and it is making it a little hard to focus, however I did workout hard and strong today...The day started with a kick butt zumba class...I think someone went and got some inspiration last week and unloaded a ton of it on us this morning...but hey it was a zumba party and it was fun and a great workout...after zumba I hit the gym for a full body weight workout...this is new for me. Normally I break weights into three day splits...but since I am seriously looking a triathlon in September, I am shifting to tri training and recommendations are for a full body workout 3x a week...so we will give this a try...if nothing else it keeps my body guessing...instead of weight training on the other days, it will be stretching days and core work.....

I posted a statement today that said, "It is a dream until you write it down, then it is goal." It is time to stop dreaming about what I could do and do it! I know I can complete a tri and currently that has become my dream...today it becomes a goal!

I am working on a training shedule that gives, 3 days running, 3 biking and 3 swim workouts...obviously there will be more than one workout a day...I plan to lift or stretch on alternating days and for now I will continue with a class a day (Hey these are just pure fun to me,a s well as a good workout, but I love the classes!)...later that may have to adjust...time will tell...

Today I finished the day with a 15 mile bike ride! Oh yeah! I am really doing this and I feel amazing!...I think I am ready for this training because I have gotten the point that I can listen to my body and I will rest if I need to, I will eat more if I need to, I will slow down if I need to!

I enjoyed trying a Lara bar today...pretty good stuff..it was a chocolate brownie...pretty good! Something I would eat again for sure!

I also had a blast swimming underwater with my 5 year old today...she is getting really good! My 14 year old is still running intervals!

Okay off I go...need to get a hot bath and settle down...part of the equation has got to be rest!

Night night everyone!

Summer Challenge Day 12 and 13

Sorry no blog yesterday! It was a good day...I got up early and made it to kickboxing and zumba classes...I had planned to do a tri, bi and shoulder workout, but didn't have time...it was ok because we used bands in kickboxing, pretty much took care of the muscles I was going to target anyway. I spent the afternoon hanging with my two favorite girls and then we chilled at home for the evening...Food was clean for the day except my daughter treated me to an ice cream coffee shake...that was my treat for the week...

To my amazement Celeste decided to go out for a walk yesterday that turned into a walk run in intervals! She said it was fun and as I right that, she is out there running/walking for a bit...When I first started running, I tried to get her to go with me, but she was not interested...I have brought it up a few times over the last couple of years, always to be shot down...it excites me that she is finding it on her own...of course she is like mommy and she wants to run alone at her own pace, for her own benefit! But it excites me to see the kids finding their own fitness path! I so love it! They are on their own journeys and that is going to be awesome to watch as they grow up!

Today, I got up not feeling good...kinda sick to my tummy. Got a bowl of cream of wheat with vanilla whey protien. Autumn, my 5 year old wanted to try it...she is nortorious for not liking smushy foods, so I was shocked when she like it and wanted her own. I made hers with out the whey protien. I added some vanilla to her to make it taste the same. She loved it! Yes! I love it as they try new things.

For workout today, it was mowing grass with a push mower for 2 hours! That was it for working out today...

Foods have been clean and healthy...

Summer Challenge Day 11

Well today turned into an unexpected rest day! Unplanned rest days are not good for me mentally, maybe physically, but when plans get changed I don't deal well with it...

I got up this morning knowing it was going to be a tough day to get a good workout in...My 14 year old, Celeste, had several plans going on today, translates to added traveling for mommy. She was baby sitting her one of her favorite baby boys today for a few hours and then off to a friends for the night.. Autumn, the 5 year old munchkin, had swim lessons this morning... and it was raining so no outside run for mommy...

Got up and had a bowl of rice cereal with almonds and almond milk for breakfast, took care of some errands and then headed to the pool, outside in the rain for a swim lesson...Autumn did great in the pool! She was swimming on top of water and going under to swim...awesome job, but she got too cold...her lips turned purple and the swim instructor got her out of the water to warm up..at the end she wanted to get back in and try the back stroke so we let her, she started shivering again, but hey she is a determined kid and she did float on her back! This led to a little girl that hasn't felt great all day...she has been cold and so the decision was made to stay close to home and keep her in out of the rain and where she could cover up if need be. She is like mommy and has always had issues regulating her body temp...we can both get cold and stay that way for a very long time before our body temp will return to normal, which is on the very low side on average.

Lunch was a turkey sandwich on all natural 12 grain bread with all natural veggie straws and green tea..

Snack this afternoon was stawberries and cashews (Thanks Amy S....my new addiction!)

Dinner...we decided to get take out...not the best choice, but mommy got grilled chicken and slaw, added mashed sweet potatoes at home...it was good and I enjoyed getting to sit down and eat something I didn't cook...lol...

I did take some of the down time today to work on a training plan for the Triathlon I am hoping to do early fall and looked at some marathons for the end of the year, first of 2012...so no I haven't completely ruled it out...still thinking about it!

Now I am going to go cuddle with my little popcicle and read...If all goes well (she seems fine now) training will resume normally tomorrow...

Oh I did get a new pair of NIKE running shoes today! A running friend called me and told me she had gotten these shoes last month, but just couldn't adjust to them. The arch was high in them and since she knew I had the high arch she wanted to know if I wanted to try them! Awesome! I needed to get a new pair anyway...so it worked out good for both of us!

Summer Challenge Day 10

Today has been a good and productive day! I got to sleep a little later this morning....that is always good! I had leftover whey protien pancakes with all natural peanut butter and banana for breakfast. I headed to the store to get gogggles for my 14 year old, Celeste. Decided to get a new bathing suit while I was there...They had one on sale that I liked...it is a two piece for the up coming 4th celebreations...I, like most of us, have always hated shopping for a bathing suit...I actually enjoyed this today! It was fun especially when I had to down size from the size I first tried on! I love it!! :)

Then I headed to the gym to get my lower body workout and running in before my zumba class...I did squats, lunges, leg press, calve press, leg curls, hip abductors and hip adduction, plus some ab work...I ran intervals for 35 minutes and then went to zumba. My BFF joined me for this class again! It was fun! It is getting easier as I learn the routine and kinda know what is coming! I was also trying out some new cross trainer shoes for this class..

After the workout, I came home to get the girls to go to the pool. Celeste had my strawberries and cashews ready for me with a big bottle of water. She had packed a lunch for me in the cooler consisting of a turkey breast, sweet potato and some Greek yogurt for my afternoon snack! She is good. She really pays attention to what I eat and when I eat it! Autumn, the 5 year old, actually helped eat the cashews and strawberries...she loves both.

We enjoyed and afternoon of playing in the pool and then came home to clean house and let mommy study! If all goes well, in another 6-8 weeks I will be a certified personal trainer! Celeste is my biggest advocate for this. She thinks it is cool that mom is so into fitness and stuff!

for dinner we decided to have egg white omlettes with spinach, mushrooms, onions, tomatos and feta...with a slice of all natural 12 grain bread.

I received an e-mail from Jeff galloway about a new free download he has for 1:1 run/walk intervals, so I downloaded that and put it on my ipod...not sure if a marathon is in the picture or not, but if it is I think I will use Galloway's method and do intervals...currently I am focusing on a tri...we will see what comes next, but for now I am planning to continue to build my run miles every other week so if I decide to do the full I can...

Now I am off to do yoga and then a warm bath and some reading before bed...

Hope it has been an awesome day for everyone...

My thought today....If you don't dream, you will never reach beyond your comfort zone to try something new...you will never know what might have been...so dream BIG!

Summer Challenge Day 9

This is going to be short and sweet tonight. I am having major internet issues today so while I have signal and before I lose it again I am going to try to post this.

I got up early this morning and had oatmeal with blueberries and flax seed, with 2 scrambled egg whites for breakfast. We packed lunch and snacks and headed to the YMCA so I could workout before Autumn's swim lesson...I did an upper body workout...chest and back and some abs....then I went outside for a run...only ran about a mile then had to walk...it was too hot to run! Next came kickboxing! I love this class...still not sure what I am doing, but it is fun and I feel it...so all is good! The instructor is great about explaining what is going on and encouraging you where you are...today she was using bands in the punches, but told the newbies not to...then she brought me one to try...it was good! Made it more intense! I like intense!

While Autumn had her swim lesson, I sipped on a protien shake made with almond milk and chocolate whey protien...then it was swim time...this was the most amazing thing today. My 5 year old, who has been afraid to put her face in the water, decided she could do it...not only did she get her whole head under water, she took off swimming under water!! NO JOKE!! It was all I could do to get her to stay above the surface to tell her I was proud of her...the head life guard said to lose the life vest, she was ready and that was all it took!

We munched on our usual pool snacks...greek yogurt, grapes, I think I had part of liff bar too...

Came home made half a sandwhich with turkey, tomoto, spinach and avacado..

Dinner was oatmeal pancakes made with vanilla whey protien and topped with strawberries...yummy!!

Went for a short bike ride this evening...had hoped for 10 mile, got about 8...storms moving in forced me back home!...now off to do some yoga and then a warm bath and reading...

Night everyone!

ps...sorry not that short! You know me...I like to talk (write)!

Summer Challenge Day 8

Today started off cloudy and overcast...that is the 2nd day of this yucky weather...I don't like gray skies...but I got up early, had some rice cereal with almonds and almond milk, topped with flax seed, then headed to the gym for what was suppose to be a zumba class, but turned out to be cardio dance! It was an awesomely fun class! I so love the instructor for this class..she is full of energy and craziness! It helps you relax and enjoy it. This was a high energy class with lots of high impact...loved it!! Then I headed up to the gynm to lift weights...I worked bicepts, tricepts and shoulders today! Felt good to be lifting after a couple of days break...

I came home and got a cliff bar with almond milk, ran to the libriary and then hung out at home and tried to clean a bit...that seems to be never ending. We chose not to try the pool today with the gray skies and I planned to run tonight...For lunch, I had a roast beef sandwhich on all natural 12 grain bread with a spinach dip for the topping on it. The spinach dip was homemade...so yummy! I tried to study for a while, but fell asleep for 3 hours!! My kids actually let me nap for that long...my 14 year old even told daddy I was tired and needed to rest! She woke me up and told me dinner was ready. She had boiled shrimp, made couscous and mushrooms! Way to go Celeste! We enjoyed dinner and then I did some yoga and took a bath. I didn't run today. It was sunny and hot this afternoon and after my nap I just felt stiff and not much up to running...trying to listen to my body, but still do what I need. Since I am not a napper, my body is telling me it is tired...could be from late nights this weekend, just needing to catch up on sleep....could be needing to balance my nutrition for the increased workouts...I think I am going to start tracking cals in and out for a couple of weeks to make sure I am eating enough for what I am doing...

All in all it was a good day and I appreciate the extra rest time!

Summer Challenge Days 5, 6, and 7

Okay so I didn't post yesterday! I was tired last night and decided sleep was the need of the day! So Day 5...I got up early, had the last of my already made all natural blueberry crepes...someone ask for a recipe...it is

Make whole wheat or oatmeal pancakes
Cook some blueberries in water and add agave nectar, vanilla flavoring...to thicken the liquid add corn starch.
Take some yogurt cheese and add a orange zest to it, mix it up.

Scoop some yogurt cheese onto a pancake and then some blueberries, roll up and there is your crepe...wish I had took pictures, but wasnt awake enough for that...

Then it was off to the gym for a Kickboxing class. My best friend showed up at the gym and when I pointed out zumba was later, she decided to go ahead and try the kickboxing class...it was a blast...The instructor in this class is awesome at giving you the heads up as to what you are going to do next and that helps so much for us newbies!

After kickboxing, I headed upstairs to lift weights. I did a little chest and back and abs....not my normal routine because I was tired and realized I had not brought a snack with me...
Bench Press...3 x 12 x 45
Incline Press...3 X 12 x 30
Flyes....3 x 12 x 40
Rows...3 x 12 x 74
Lat pulls...3 x 12 x 50
Crunches 4 x 25
Rv. Crunch...4 X 20

Then I headed to the store for a snack...grabbed a banana and peanutbutter at Walmart...with a water...then back to the gym for the zumba class...

This was a beginners zumba class that I took for the first time last week...It was fun, we had a zumba war and the instructor did a great job of making it fun...it was a good workout, but after having done kickboxing earlier, it was not as intense...still fun and a good workout...

After class I headed home to pick up my kids and then yet again back to the gym to hit the pool with the kids...this was purely playtime, that always involves lots of running around the pool and jumping around with my five year old...while at the pool I some roast beef, greek yogurt and grapes...

Took the kids home and then went to buy some produce for the week...

Somewhere in the day I did manage to get a pot of pinto's cooking and when I got home I made some brown rice and that was dinner!

I was really tired last night!

Today, I got up early to take my oldest to meet up with some of her youth group and go to Carowinds for the day...then my 5 year old and I started our day of fun...we headed back by the farmers market to get some fresh eggs and of course she had to have strawberries...then off to yard sales, she found a train set and a porcelin doll! Makes for a happy kiddo,,,I found a bar stool that I needed for my bar and it was only 2 bucks!! love a good find! We also found each of us a bathing suit...the sweet thing was mine was brand new!! It is a Nike suit and the woman had bought it last year and then found out she was pregnant and had to take it easy for the first 3 months...then it wouldn't fit and she can't wear it now! Love it...this will be a good suit for tri training!
This was all before 10am...around ten, we headed home, grabbed a snack...Greek yogurt...changed clothes and headed to the gym. I put Autumn in child watch, planning to go to a zumba class, but decided to go to the pool instead. My back and shoulders felt tight and honestly I was just tired...I ended up swimming laps for about 30 minutes, but it was good...felt good and I got some coaching from one of the life guards that really helped my form...after I got done swimming I just laid on my towel for a bit, then got my daughter and played with her for about an hour...we had a ton of fun. We did eat some healthy snacks by the pool. I had all natural veggie chips with my green tea...then grapes on the way home...

We came home and I mowed grass...that is a workout in itself! I got to relax and watch The Blindside today finally!

For dinner tonight I had a sirloin and mushrooms with a salad!

Tomorrow, yes I am posting ahead. I will eat clean for most of the day...probably have pizza after church tomorrow night...and unless I go cycling, it will be a rest day...Sunday is my planning day for the week...meals and workouts go smoother if I have a plan...

Oh yeah, I found a really good cooler for packing our foods for the gym in and it will free up my smaller one for my long workout!

I can't believe I am going to post this, but I took this picture at the Y today before I went swimming....I am hoping it will help me see the changes in my body this summer....

Summer Challenge Day 4

Today was an easy day for me. I enjoyed an all natural blueberry crepe for breakfast, went hill running for a couple of miles. I ran a mile to the hill and did repeats on the hill and then ran back home. I took the kids to the Y and put my youngest in child watch so I could have some mommy time at the pool. I swam for about 25 minutes and then just layed out and read some magazines and relaxed for a a half hour.

I picked up my 5 year old and returned to the pool. Grabbed a greek yogurt and some green tea then off to play and swim with the little one! We had fun and played games...love this bonding time with her. During swim breaks I had some raw fruits and veggies and hard boiled eggs.

Tonight I returned to the Y for my first cardio dance class. This was an hour class that had you sweating in the first 5 minutes! Tons of lower body work and just pure fun! Loved it, but need to rethink my strength training schedule so a leg workout is not scheduled on the same day. I was suppose to go upstairs and do a leg workout, but decided enough was enough for my legs today and came home.

Currently I am enjoying a reeses smoothie made with frozen bananas,Chocolate almond milk, peanutbutter, and jsut a bit of dark chocolate mixed in...oh yeah added some flax seed as well...yummmy....not sure if this will be dinner or if I will grab some turkey and salad later...

When I am done here I am going to to do 30 minutes of yoga and sit in a warm episom salt bath....then wath The Blind Side before bed....

The question today has been to train for a triathalon or not? I had originally thought I would do one this year, then thought not, now I think I might want to. I love running, but I also love cycling, swimming and lifting and all these classes....I don't know that I want to give up the other things I enjoy to focus on just running to prepare for a marathon or even that I feel the need for a marathon any more...a tri would prove to myself that I am not just a runner, but an athlete...that is what I want...so I think I made up my own mind...my focus will become training for a tri!!!

Stole this from a FB buddy but it fits how I feel right now...instead of doubting what I can do, I am embarcing what my body is capable of!

Summner Challenge Day 3

Day 3 was a fun day! I started the day off with a bowl of rice cereal in alomnd milk, topped with almonds and bananas. Then I headed out the door for an easy run. I ran five miles in an hour. It felt good to be running...instead of feeling like I had too, my body wanted too. It is kinda nice not to be focused on training for a race right now...

I got home and had a Greek yogurt with strawberries, packed the cooler for pool time and done some stuff around the house...then it was time for lunch and off to Zumba...lunch was a roast beef sandwhich on all natural wheatberry bread...the roast was deer meat that a friend of mine fixed and sliced up real thin for me! This was topped with avacado, roamine lettuce and tomato. On the side I had some carrot sticks, fresh spinach and raw squash....Then I headed to the gym.

I did a strength training workout for Bicepts, Tricepts and shoulders...

Bicepts...Dumbell Curls, cable curles, preacher curls, incline curls...
Tricepts...Tricept extension, lying extension, cable press and dips
Shoulders...military press, lat raises, upright rows and shoulder press..

I also did 4 sets of weighted crunches and 4 sets of incline crunches...

After my ST workout, my best friend joined me for her first zumba class! We had so much fun! The class is getting easier for me as I learn the steps and get used to hor the instructors lead...really loving this class! It is fun and girlie...something I seem to be missing at times...lol..

After Zumba, I went home and picked up my girls and then we headed back to the pool. I spent about an hour and a half swimming with and playing with my girls...my youngest one would 'swim' after me and catch me and then I would squat hop, or lunge walk back tot he other end of the pool with her on my waist or back...then we would repeat....after about an hour od this my oldest daughter got involved and it became an all out water wrestling match! Problem for her...mommy has gotten strong!! I had fun putting my 14 year old under the water!!!

Highlight today...I made some observations about my body today...I am not a tiny person! I am not one of those women you look at and think...oh she is so petite! I am a muscular woman...I would give the impression of someone that took care of themselves and could take care of themselves...My legs are solid muscle and there is now definition and visible muscle in my back and arms!!!! I decided instead of waiting for my body to be what I want it to be, I was going to begin to love my body right where I am, to trust my body's signals for what it wants and needs. I have been training my body to eat right, to train hard and that will continue, but to honor my body along the way is important. I don't want to be some stick thin girl that looks like she will break if you touch her...I want muscles and curves. I want to look like an athlete and that is where I am headed.

Accomplishment today...I decided to stop hiding and wore a two piece swim suit to the pool!

Summer Challenge Day 2

Today has been a good day, but a bit more chaotic! I got up this morning and enjoyed a bowl of rice cereal with almonds in almond milk. Packed the cooler for the YMCA...it seems like we have to pack half of the house now to go to the gym, between my workouts and pool time we are there for 4-6 hours! It takes a lot to get ready to go!

We made it out the door by 9am and I did my first kick boxing class! I enjoyed this class. I used to kick box so this was more in my comfort zone. It was challenging, but fun. Definitely a good workout that I can feel tonight.

After class, I grabbed a greek yogurt with pomegranite and headed to the weight room. Today was a lower body workout.
Squats
Set 1: 40lbs 12 reps
Set 2: 50lbs 12 reps
Set 3: 60lbs 12 reps
Leg Press
Set 1: 190lbs 12 reps
Set 2: 190lbs 12 reps
Set 3: 190lbs 12 reps
Walking Lunges
Set 1: 20lbs 24 reps
Set 2: 20lbs 24 reps
Set 3: 20lbs 24 reps
Calve Press
Set 1: 190lbs 20 reps
Set 2: 190lbs 20 reps
Set 3: 190lbs 20 reps
Leg Curls
Set 1: 30lbs 12 reps
Set 2: 35lbs 12 reps
Set 3: 40lbs 12 reps
Leg Extensions
Set 1: 35lbs 12 reps
Set 2: 35lbs 12 reps
Set 3: 35lbs 12 reps

After weights, I picked up my 5 year old and headed to the pool. I got about 30 minutes of swimming and 2 hours of playing in the pool. I would get her to swimm after me, then she would sit on my lap as I hopped in the water all the way back to the other side or end...it was like weighted squates in the water.

Food at the pool included lunch...a roast beef sandwich with swiss on all natural wheat berry bread, oh topped with tomatoe and avacado. On the side was freeze dried veggies, grapes, and green tea.

We headed home in time for mommy to go cycling this evening. I rode 8 miles in 35 minutes...I really enjoyed this, a good workout, but it was relaxing to me...the breeze in my face and the sun on my back...

I came back home and made angus hotdogs for the kids, served on whole wheat buns. I took a turkey breast I grilled yesterday and cut it in half and ate it like a hotdog on a whole wheat bun and we had all natural veggie straws with this....hey it is summer and hotdogs are an American fav...trying to keep my kiddos on board without totally throwin clean eating out the window..

After dinner, my 5 year old, my 14 year old and tow of the youth from my youth group and I did 30 minutes of yoga! Now I amr eady for a warm bath, a good book...make that a school book and my bed!

Tomorrow my best friend is going to join me for her first Zumba class!

What I am learning, there are many ways to enjoy fitness. While I love running, my body enjoys moving in many ways and I feel like it needed this change up in activity and I needed it mentally to feel refreshed in what I am doing. I look forward to my next class, my next workout and that includes my next run...but instead of running be my all in fitness, it is just a part of my fitness routine!

Summer Challenge Day 1

Awesome day!! I have really kicked it up today! I got up at 7am this morning and enjoyed a healthy bowl of cream of wheat with flaxseed, blueberries and vanilla whey protein...blueberries and cream, cream of wheat....yummy way to start the day...then I grabbed a water bottle and headed to the gym for an 8:15 Zumba class

I am really enjoying Zumba! I really don't think my body is meant to move like that, but it is fun trying and it is an intense workout!

After Zumba I headed upstairs for a weight workout.
Bench Press
Set 1: 30lbs 12 reps
Set 2: 35lbs 12 reps
Set 3: 40lbs 12 reps
Incline Press
Set 1: 22lbs 12 reps
Set 2: 22lbs 12 reps
Set 3: 22lbs 12 reps
Flyes
Set 1: 35lbs 12 reps
Set 2: 35lbs 12 reps
Set 3: 35lbs 12 reps
rows 74lbs 12 reps
rowa
Set 1: 74lbs 12 reps
Set 2: 74lbs 12 reps
Lat pulls
Set 1: 50lbs 12 reps
Set 2: 50lbs 12 reps
Set 3: 50lbs 12 reps
Hyperextensions
Set 1: 15 reps
Set 2: 15 reps
Set 3: 15 reps
Weighted Crunch
Set 1: 20lbs 15 reps
Set 2: 20lbs 15 reps
Set 3: 20lbs 15 reps
Side Crunches
Set 1: 20 reps
Set 2: 20 reps

Then I headed home to pick up the kiddos to go back to the pool. WHile I was at home I enjoyed some greek yogurt and blueberries.

When we got back to the YMCA, the pool was closed because of storms and I had time to kill...so I took a 30 minute walk outside to fill the time...I am guessing that was around 2 miles...just an easy walk. Then back to the pool. I got about 20 minutes of swimming laps in before I had to pick my youngest up from her class, then it was play time in the pool. My 5 year old actually swam a couple of laps with me! That was fun!

While we were hanging out at the pool, I munched on a ham sandwhich made on on all natural whole wheat bread, with avocado mayo and tomatoe, freeze dried veggie chips and grapes....this was lunch and snackage for the afternoon...

Then we headed home. I finally got to try bison. I grilled bison burgers and we had mushrooms on the side. This was awesome! The Bison burger was topped with avacodo mayo, tomato, romaine lettuce, onion and pickles, served on a whole wheat bun....I really enjoyed this. It is awesome to have a clean burger that I can enjoy! the kids loved it too!

After dinner we headed to the park for the kiddos to play and mommy to do some run intervals...3 miles of run intervals...run .25 mile, all out run, walk .25 miles...working on speed. Not sure right now what I want to do with running, but for now I am training like I will race this fall...only time will tell...

Came back from the park and did 20 minutes of a yoga dvd and then some stretching...my five year old joined me for this...that was really fun! She was trying so hard!

Fluids today has been water, coffee and green tea...no soda!!!!