Fit Mommy Friday

*If you're new to my blog and would like to join the merry band of mommies working hard to get--or stay--fit, please click here for all the details.*


This week was waaaaaay better than last week for me! :o) I felt extremely motivated (for the most part) and determined to get--and stay--on track.

On Monday, I completed 2 workout videos, "Maximum Body Sculpting" and "Sculpted Buns, Hips & Thighs". These workouts left me feeling amazingly refreshed instead of my usual (wiped out and ready to die!).  But alas, on Tuesday I woke up feeling wiped out and entirely unmotivated (ahem!), so I only completed the first 25 mins of MBS. {So disappointing!} Then Wednesday arrived with me feeling even worse than I did the day before. So I did nothing. {Sigh}

Then Thursday dawned bright and glorious. Suddenly I felt my strength return so I completed SBH&T, and did a few more sets of those exercises on my own later that evening before bed (less the ankle weights). I also did my usual walking around town/running errands, so that was good. I may have covered a mile, counting all the trips. Not too terrible.

This morning I've already completed MBS, and plan to complete SBH&T after this post is finished. :-) Hooray!

My nutritional intake has also vastly improved this week. I purchased a bunch of rabbit food all the necessary ingredients to make a ton of veggie sandwiches (Roma tomatoes, bags of mixed baby greens, Claussen pickle slices, Ezekiel bread), as well as bananas for post-workout snacks. My chai has been limited to 1-2 cups per day, which as you all know is HUGE! ;-) Water intake is also up, and although the scale hasn't budged one iota (darn it!), I feel pretty pleased with myself overall.

Remember last week when I mentioned possibly going and getting a new fitness magazine? Well, I didn't. I started to--even opened a couple of them up and read through them a bit. But I realized they didn't have any new nuggets of wisdom that I didn't already know (or couldn't access online for free), so I put them back.

And I have to seriously thank my sister for talking me out of buying wasting my money on a new set of workout DVD's. Perhaps you've seen them, too? They're called the Brazil Butt Lift (very stupid name) but I'd heard from other moms how "awesome" they were, so I--being the total follower and workout video junkie that I am--suddenly had this overwhelming urge to BUY NOW!

Only trouble was at the "amazing low price" of only 3 payments of $20/each plus $13 shipping, I couldn't afford them.

So I did the next best thing. I pouted and bemoaned my existence for about 10 minutes.

And that's when my phone suddenly rang; it was my sister. {Superwoman! Dum, dah, dah dahhhhhhh!} She "swooped" in just in time to save my sorry self from making a huge financial mistake (like cutting out grocery money to buy them!), and telling me that everything "Brazil" covers is already featured in all the other videos I own. {Hmm! Imagine that!} You see, she was smart and actually watched the commercial, whereas I was blinded by the idea that this amazingly awesome series was the answer to my sagging backside, sight unseen.

Now I must ask...Have any of you found yourselves getting swept up in the latest and greatest exercise "toy" hoopla? Did you succumb to the temptation or were you able to resist? Frankly, my reaction surprised me a little bit as I'm usually one of the first to scoff at anything outside of The FIRM. (With the exception of Jillian Michaels. Ahem.) I honestly don't know what came over me! However, I can definitely say that I now understand how people can be so easily misled, by what they see on TV or otherwise, as being the answer to their weight and body shape woes!

A humbling experience? You bet!

Alright, enough of my rambling. How did the rest of you fabulous ladies do? :)

Fit Mommy Friday

*If you're new to my blog and would like to join the merry band of mommies working hard to get--or stay--fit, please click here for all the details.*


Here's the short version of my week:

Monday ~ Workout 25 mins with weights. {I was feeling lazy...}

Tuesday ~ Short walks around the neighborhood running errands. {Woke up early that day and didn't have the energy to do what I should've done. *Sigh*}

Wednesday ~ Ahem. Nothing. Except walking here 'n there. Nothing major.

Thursday ~ Cardio 30 mins on exercise bike at top speed (14.0 mph). Actually broke a sweat this time! Woohoo! Also went for a (very short) jog around the neighborhood. Was more like jog for 20 seconds, walk for 40 seconds, jog for 15 seconds (Ouch! Cramp!) followed by walking for another 75 seconds...repeat for 12 minutes. {Pathetic...}

Friday ~ At this moment I'm preparing to ride my bike for 30 mins, followed by a workout video for 60 mins.

Based on the above totals, I'm really not happy with my performance this week. I'm hoping today's workouts will blast things back up a bit, then I plan to sneak in a little extra time with the bike tomorrow morning before church. My thighs--they need help! :o/

Nutrition was going okay until I had a major craving for a Whatchamacallit candy bar last night. {It was unbelievably good! *Hee hee*} We went out to Red Robin one night for supper and I was really good! (You'd be so proud of me! *wink*) I ordered chicken pesto pasta (sans chicken) and ate only a small amount. I then had the rest boxed up and have been slowly eating it for lunch throughout the week. {I LOVE pesto! Sooo yummy!}

My water intake's been good and my chai consumption is down. I've been drinking maybe 2 cups per day instead of my usual 6-8... {LOL} :o]

The scale hasn't budged since last week, which is fine. Granted I'd be the happiest woman alive if I could report otherwise, but based on my lack of movement this week, it all makes sense.

By the way, did anyone catch the season finale` of Jillian Michaels' show? I totally missed it so I'm going to have to download it. (Sigh)

You know, I think I need to venture over to the store and pick up a new fitness magazine. Maybe that'll help pull me out of my laziness. What do you think? :o] Do magazines inspire you or do they make you feel worse? I admit things can go either way for me in this department. Just depends on my mood. ;-] Right now, I'm in "Gimme some inspiration!" mode so it should be good.

How was your week, fellow Fit Mommy?

Fit Mommy Friday

*If you're new to my blog and would like to join the merry band of mommies working hard to get--or stay--fit, please click here for all the details.*


 
Summer has officially arrived across the US, finally reaching us Washingtonians this past week. Record-breaking temps streak across the nation and for many ladies, thoughts of "getting in shape for summer" fill our heads. We start to worry about what our arms look like in short sleeves or in a tank top, *if* we're going to wear a swimsuit (and if we'll look good doing so!), are our legs "shorts" worthy, etc. Indeed, summer has a tendency to bring out the vanity in the majority of us ladies, wouldn't you agree? :o)

In fact, I recently chatted with some friends of mine from church about this very topic. One lady was saying how she used to love using workout videos years ago, so naturally I piped up about my favorites: The FIRM and Jillian Michaels. (Hee hee) Turns out, she really enjoyed The FIRM "back in the day" and missed them. She even mentioned wanting to try out their newer DVD workouts but wasn't sure if she'd like them as well as the older ones. (Well, why didn't you say so?...*wink*) So me--being the total workout pusher that I am-- offered to loan her a stack of my Firm DVD's along with Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. Hee hee! I hope she likes them! ;-] She might not be my friend after next week (hee hee) but here's hoping things remain Kosher between us! Ha! Okay, onto this week's check in!

Nutritionally, I haven't been eating as well as I should be. More fruits and veggies? Nope. Less carbs? Definitely! Less food in general? Oh yeah! In fact, I haven't been consuming much of anything except water because it's so blazin' hot! Oh and cold cereal. And I did snitch some bites of Dean's Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream last night. {Ahem} Man, that was good! :o)

Workouts have been a lot better. I've been keeping up with my walking, although I haven't been going as fast as I normally do, due to the heat. (Yes, I'm whiner.) My regular workouts are getting back to normal. I performed 3 this week (60 mins each): Cardio Sculpt, Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism, No More Trouble Zones. They about killed me after having a streak of less-than-stellar weeks under my belt. {Ahem} But it felt good to blow the dust off a bit. ;-)

Wanna know what's really bugging me? The darn scale! It ain't budging, whatsoever! Ugh...stupid thing.

Oh hey...have any of you been watching Jillian Michaels' new show, "Losing It"? What do you think of it? I of course, love it!!! :o) If you haven't seen it yet, click on the link to check it out. You can watch full episodes online. (Most convenient, I'd say! *Wink-wink*)

Well that's it for me this week. Now it's your turn! The floor is officially yours...  :o)

Fit Mommy Friday

*If you're new to my blog and would like to join the merry band of mommies working hard to get--or stay--fit, please click here for all the details.*


Oh..my...goodness, what a week!! For those of you who are not one of my current Facebook friends, let me repeat my current status message: After all that's happened this week, I deserve a serious super-hero cape! I don't know if I'm coming, going, or already been there! LOL Seriously, it's been that kind of week.

We've had recital rehearsals on Monday/Wednesday, and with it, I worked the front desk at Abby's ballet studio. (The current receptionist is also one of the students--so she obviously couldn't both dance and answer phones, sell tickets, etc.) Monday was easy, but Wednesday got a little nuts. ;o] Crazy, ballet Mommas anyway!

Then on top of that--remember how I said we were "done" with the recital music? Ahem. I take it back. Turns out, some things were still in need of tweaking, which is what we did. On Wednesday night. Until 10pm. (Yawn) But now--NOW we're done. Hooray!!! Everything should be absolutely splendid, and Dean will receive all the glory and honor fit for a king when he reads his name in the recital program. (Hee hee)

I promise there's a point to all this rambling, so bear with me for just a moment longer. :-}

Additionally, I started another side job--one that will last through the end of the month. Things were going pretty well, when suddenly my computer decided it hated me in the worst way possible. Everything I had worked on through (again) Wednesday night---GONE! Totally, 100% gone. I cried, people. I couldn't help it. I was so frustrated, I literally felt sick. I had to re-do everything. Not fun, not fun at all.

Soooo! All that whining to say: my workouts totally STINK this week! I haven't lifted a single weight even ONCE! (I know...alert the media, right? LOL) I've been getting my walks in as well as some bike time, which is "okay". But I feel like such a slug because of this. I mean, yes I've been busy--and trust me, there's plenty more to this story that I'll cover in a separate post--but that's just an excuse. What I should've done was manage my time better. I tend to get SO focused on one thing, that I have a hard time switching gears. Does anyone else struggle with one-track-mindedness? Please say yes. :o{

On a happier note, I have been eating pretty well. Lots of veggie sandwiches, juice, water...and chai. {Ahem} At least at the beginning of the week. I'm trying really hard to fight off a cold bug so by Wednesday (there's that dreaded day again! LOL), I kinda stopped eating. I have no appetite or energy to speak of. I'm not "sick-sick" but my body feels like it's fighting hard to avoid succumbing to the virus. {Yuck} Then again, maybe I am sick but I'm too busy to stop and pay attention! {Hee hee}

I'm whining.

In closing: I've decided that this coming week, I'm going to pay close attention to my schedule and really, really work on managing my time better. I want to fit everything in, without feeling like I'm on a time-crunch to do so. Wish me luck! Oh, and with that, I'll also get back to my regularly scheduled workouts. (Oh, Jillian...!)

How did your week pan out? Were you able to meet your goals?

Fit Mommy Friday

*If you're new to my blog and would like to join the merry band of mommies working hard to get--or stay--fit, please click here for all the details.*


It's another gloriously sunny day here in Washington state! {Aren't you glad when I open with a joke? *Grins*} Okay so perhaps the weather isn't all that glorious but I'm determined to be cheerful. This is in an effort to combat the sheer laziness settling in this morning. I woke up and--I'm not kidding--my first thought was, "Ugh...I don't wanna work out!" Then I smooshed my face back into my pillow. It's days like this that are so tempting to think, "I've done enough this week" or "I'll just work out tomorrow". But we all know that's not true. Or at least, I know! :o) 

Yet as tempting as the idea sounds, I cannot afford to continually slack off. I've done too much of that lately and believe me, it shows. I've also discovered that the older I get (I hate the way those words taste..ick!), the harder it is to keep my weight and figure under control. I suppose this supports the research that states that after the age of 25, we lose 3-5% of our muscle mass every decade. Of course, exercise reduces or eliminates this issue, but only if you actually do it. :-]

Want to know what I do on days like this, when motivation is scarce? I go to my favorite fitness websites for inspiration! Websites like Oxygen Fitness Magazine , Muscle & Fitness Trainer (similar to SparkPeople in that there's a free option, but it's for the "gym rat" types--of which I'm not, but I want to look like one) and other favorite magazines like Muscle & Fitness Hers  and Fitness Magazine. After spending a few minutes on any of these sites (or a combination thereof), I'm fired up 'n rarin' to go! :-]

How do you stay motivated? What inspires you to get up 'n get moving on days when you'd rather stay in bed?

Before I open the floor for comments, I should probably share about my week, huh? (Minor detail...) Okay, so I did my usual walking on Monday and Tuesday (approx 2 miles each day--very mild workouts, obviously). Then on Wednesday I did the Firm-Cardio Sculpt, Thursday was Jillian Michaels' "Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism" cardio workout (which I hate doing, but love the sweaty results), then today's workout was Jillian's "No More Trouble Zones". I hate this one, too. But I appreciate the results!

I've also eaten several veggie sandwiches (yum!) and consumed a lot more water. Hooray! I've even cut back on my chai consumption! (Gasp, shock, horrors) Crazy, huh? ;-]  I'm hoping that the decrease in sugar will work wonders for my figure. We'll see! If not, I can always go back to my normal 4-5 cups/day. (*Hee hee*)

Okay ladies, it's that time! Fit Mommies, report for duty! :o]

Fit Mommy Friday

*If you're new to my blog and would like to join the merry band of mommies working hard to get--or stay--fit, please click here for all the details.*


 

Wow, is it really Friday already?! I think Memorial Day through my schedule off a bit--or at least, my sense of a schedule off. That's more like it.

So, were you able to keep active and eat relatively healthy over the holiday weekend? (sly grin) I realize that might've been tough with all the yummy BBQ's and other such culinary adventures taking place. I personally dined on pizza and breadsticks, which was definitely not the best thing for my hips! {Carbs are not my friends.}

But I did manage to (drum roll, please...) pick up the necessary produce (lettuce tomatoes, pickles) and hearty bread (12 grain) to make plenty of my veggie sandwiches! Hooray!! I've officially eaten veggies this week, ladies! Oh my gosh! Alert the media, folks! Aren't you proud of me?

Yes, I'm aware I need to get out more. Moving on!

These are my workouts for the week:

• Monday: 2 mile walk (blah...)
• Tuesday: Firm-Cardio Sculpt
• Wednesday: Jillian Michaels-No More Trouble Zones (a literal pain in the rear!)
• Thursday: 1.5 mile walk (double blah) / personal hip and thigh routine: donkey kicks at various angles, leg lifts, squats: 4 sets of 12-15 reps.
• Friday: 4 mile walk (an improvement, however slight) / will perform personal hip/thigh routine later this afternoon/evening adding 5 sets of deadlifts, lunges, leg presses.

On a slightly different note, how many of you watched the season premiere of Jillian Michaels new show, "Losing It with Jillian" this week? I watched it the first night, then the children (who go to bed at 10pm and were sorely disappointed they had to miss it) caught the encore showing the day after. They love her almost as much as I do! (Hee hee)  Anyway, if you missed it (or have no idea what I'm talking about) you can check it out here.

Alright, ladies! It's your turn! How did you do this week?

Fit Mommy Friday

*If you're new to my blog and would like to join the merry band of mommies working hard to get--or stay--fit, please click here for all the details.*


Well, ladies! I'm pleased to report that this was by far a MUCH better week for me! Yippeeeeee!!! :o)  I got my workout in every single day this week (M-F) and I feel great. Thank you all for the encouraging words and advice last week. It made such a huge difference! (You gals are the greatest! But then, you probably already knew that. *Wink*)

Here is how my week went:

• Monday: Power-walked for just over 2 miles (felt fantastic!!)
• Tuesday: Did a Firm video (Cardio Sculpt-60 mins)
• Wednesday: Jillian Michaels video (No More Trouble Zones-40 mins)
• Thursday: recumbent bike (6.24 miles/30 minutes) Would've gone longer but my legs were still really sore from Jillian's tape...ugh!
• Friday: Jillian Michaels video (Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism-60 mins)

While all that's a success, I totally bombed in the area of nutrition. I made pancakes for supper one night this week and ate 3. (Ahem) They were apple-cinnamon and smelled so scrumptious, I simply couldn't resist. (Sigh) I haven't consumed any veggies or fruit, whatsoever. (I know what you're thinking..."How does that happen?") But it's the truth and I'm just "keeping it real" as the expression goes. :-)

How did you all do this week? I know some of you are re-joining after a few weeks off. I'm curious to see how you did your first week back! :) And I'm sure there are some of you gearing up for the holiday weekend. What steps do you plan to take to ensure a successful week amongst plenty of yummy temptations? (Bar B-Q's, get togethers, etc.)

The floor is officially open for comment! :-)

Fit Mommy Friday

*If you're brand new to my blog or to the Fit Mommy Meme please click here to learn how you can participate. Join the band of merry wives and mothers as we move one step at a time in the direction of health and fitness. :) It's a lot of fun, I promise no one bites, and the encouragement is incredible.*


Whew!!!! I just completed my first P90X workout (Core Synergistics) and I feel amazing! Granted, I felt (and no doubt looked) pretty darn foolish during a few of the moves, but overall--yeah, baby! ;o] I like!

Now before you think I just invested in something as expensive as P90X, I must tell you that I'm borrowing this from Dean's co-worker. The one I was telling you about in a previous post who lost over 20+ pounds doing this program. Anyway, both Dean and I are going to give this thing a shot. I'm not sure yet how well Dean will be able to do the exercises due to his neck/shoulder (and fusion surgery) but we'll see. At least he's willing to try it, right? :o]

Throughout this week I've been consistent with my workouts. Up until today, I'd complete a Firm tape/dvd (sometimes 2 depending on length) in the morning and would--as always--get in a bit of walking in during the day. I haven't done any of the jogging like I was doing in previous weeks, though. I seem to like this better--the whole workout dvd/walking combo. (I'm a creature of habit, what can I say?)

Nutritionally speaking, I'm pleased to report that I've increased my consumption of veggies (fruit?--not so much) and water. I've also gone back to the Ezekiel bread which tastes amazing after not having it for awhile. But I must confess to eating 4 Creme Eggs throughout the week. (Ahem) Yeah, that whole "no junk food" streak? Broken! Shattered! Demolished! {Sigh}

But they sure were good! Hee hee!

I'm feeling incredibly motivated this week for some reason. Perhaps it stems from the Jillian Michaels book I'm reading, Master Your Metabolism? Or perhaps it's due to the new P90X dvds? Knowing me as only I do, the answer is probably *both*.  :o] I'm also really enjoying the increased definition I'm developing at the front of my shoulders as well as my thighs. Wooohooo! (Now if I could just get the back of my thighs to wake up, as well as my jiggly lower abs, that would be great.)

What about you? Were you feeling all gung-ho this week? Sign the Mr. Linky below and tell us about it!

Dear Metabolism: Who's Yo' Mama Now?!

As most of you are already well aware, I'm a huge fan of Jillian Michaels. I've read her first two books and use (in rotation) her three workout dvds. The missing piece of my Ode to Jillian puzzle was the lack of having read her latest book, Master Your Metabolism.

Like a good little frugal-diva, I requested the book through my library.

That put me at #65 on the ol' Hold's List. {Insert deep sigh of resignation here}

But at long last, the clouds parted and the birds began to sing. I received an email stating that my turn had come up! The book was waiting for me--at long last! Woohoo!!

Talk about an exercise in patience! (No pun intended) But that's yesterday's news. What matters now, is that I have a copy in my hot little hands. (Okay, they're actually rather cold at the moment but that's normal for me.)

Master Your Metabolism delves into the world of hormones and explains how they help or restrict weight loss, depending upon their balance (or lack thereof). Jillian starts out by sharing her own weight loss struggles (which I gleaned more than a little twisted pleasure from!), and how she found "the keys to the kingdom" when it came to restoring her body's natural balance. Now that she's operating out of hormonal homeostasis, Jillian says she no longer works as hard to maintain her physique and she feels far healthier than she ever did before.

To make this happen for you, Jillian talks a lot about going organic and removing toxins from in and around your home. While I'm not against organic and buy such things as often as I can, I'm not too keen on the whole "remove toxins from your house" just yet. However, I am open to changing my mind.

I'm also quite fascinated by the science behind hormones, and love how the book breaks things down in layman's terms. In fact, that aspect alone makes this book golden in my opinion. Honestly, when you understand how your body responds to various additives and chemicals in your food, which make it harder or practically impossible to lose weight, how can that not make a huge difference? 

The book also covers the damaging effects of stress, lack of sleep, and running on caffeine {insert nervous whistling here}. Jillian also stresses the importance of getting 5-6 hrs of exercise in per week. (However, she doesn't go into exercise beyond that in this book.)

If you haven't read this book yet, I highly recommend you do! It's packed full of information, meal plans, recipes, etc. I'll be buying a copy of it shortly after this just to keep on hand for reference. And get this--later this month, the Master Your Metabolism Cookbook will be out as well as a MYM Calorie Counter! (Not sure if I'll be buying the cookbook just yet, however I am curious about the Calorie Counter!)

If you have read this book, please leave a comment and share your thoughts. :)

Fit Mommy Friday

*If you're brand new to my blog or Fit Mommy and have no clue what I'm talking about, please click here to learn how you can participate in the weekly Fit Mommy meme. Join the band of merry wives and mothers as we move one step at a time in the direction of health and fitness. :) It's a lot of fun, I promise no one here bites, and the encouragement is incredible.*



Yessss!!!!! It feels so good to be back in the saddle, back on the wagon, back in action---however you want to put it--this week! :o)  I think I've finally blown all the "bug dust" off me and feel super-charged, ready to whip myself into shape and get back to work!

Most of the week's workouts consisted of a lot of cardio. I decided to really focus on this after

1. Reading Tracy's posts and
2. The fact that I can only run past 8 houses on my street before I begin to violently gulp huge amounts of air, my lungs and throat burning with angry, icy fire. Oh, and I get a cramp in my side. {Ahem}

Clearly, I'm not in as good of shape as I'd like to think I am! :o/

So I've been hitting that nasty old recumbent bike nestled in the corner (her name is Broomhelga by the way, as it suits her brutish, lumbering style) and jogging around the block. And lots of jumping jacks, jogging in place and (shudder) Jillian's cardio DVD.

I told you she was vicious, right? I'm pretty sure I did.

Nutritionally speaking, I'm doing "okay". Still no junk food (which by this time next week will probably not be the case. A-HEM!!!!), but I'm not eating nearly enough produce. I should change that this week.

So! What have the rest of you gorgeous Fit Mommies been up to?

This Week's Fit Mommy Goals

Hooray! It's Monday! I actually do mean that, too. :) Today finds me feeling quite zesty. Not sure why. Perhaps it's because I've got a bunch of things to accomplish, which is always better than being bored. I'll be interviewing 2 dancers later this afternoon which is a huge highlight, and this morning's workout left me feeling refreshed and invigorated, as opposed to wiped out and begging for death. :) See? It's a good day all around!

Now, onto this Fit Mommy's goals for the week!

I'm no longer on a chai fast! Hooray! I've switched to the Oregon Chai concentrate which is helping me feel more like myself again. Therefore, I now have to go back to increasing my daily water intake (always a struggle) and keeping to my no junk food goal. This will not be easy, considering how my mother--Lord bless her--deposited a very tasty, very fattening cake on my kitchen counter last night. It's a Snickers cake from the grocery store bakery. Yes, you read that correctly. A "Snickers" cake as in a fiendishly wicked, chocolatey-caramel temptation, just begging to be eaten in one fell swoop! :o/  Hopefully I have at least some will power in me. I'll let you know on Friday.

My workout goals are changing a bit this week. I'm back to The Firm tapes as I was hungry for my weights again. I plan on using one Firm tape per day, plus Jillian's cardio DVD 3 x this week, plus 2 sessions on the bike. Cardio, cardio, cardio! Oh, how I hate cardio! :-p

If you'd like to join the rest of us insane Fit Mommies, you're more than welcome to! Simply post your weekly goals on your blog. Then on Friday, write another post telling us all how you did and sign the Mr. Linky. This will be found under my Friday post. :) That's all there is to it!

See you Friday!

Fit Mommy Friday

We've made it through another week, ladies! Woohoo! :)

I don't know about you, but I feel a lot better about sharing this week than I did last time. For one thing, I've been able to keep to my chai-fast and have avoided junk food 90% of the week, with the exception of last night.

Yes, I know. "Lucy? You've got some 'splainin' to dooo!"

Well, everything was going great until right before we had to leave for ballet. I made the kids a cheese pizza and some mini tacos to snack on. Now, I didn't eat the pizza. That part was fine. However, I did eat about 5 mini tacos. Five baked-but-still-greasy, frozen food, mini chicken tacos. Yeeaah. Not one of my finer moments. But man, were they ever good! ;o) (Did I say that?)

Then after ballet, I made supper consisting of breaded baked chicken and pesto bread with mozzerella and tomatoes, all from Trader Joe's. Again, not the healthiest fare but still quite yummy. Apparently, I had a hankering for cheese after avoiding dairy (in the form of chai) all week, because I ate 3 slices of pesto bread. Ahem. I also sneaked 2 more mini tacos that were left over. (Shhh...!)

However, I did a lot better with my week's workout goals. Everyday found me doing something--a Jillian or Firm workout, or else peddling like a madwoman on the bike. :) Hooray! My thighs seem to be in a state of perpetual mutany, but that's ok. It's good for them.

On Monday, The Troll began spouting vicious rumors. It registered a slight weight gain. (Gasp!) I threatened The Troll with a slow, torturous death should it ever talk back to me like that again. (What? Doesn't everyone name their bathroom scale?) It regained its senses and redeemed itself on Thursday morning. However, I haven't visited The Troll since then (remember all those tacos!). I figure it's best we avoid each other for the time being. I'm hoping the adage, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" will hold true in this case.

Last but not least, I'm sharing a few links I've used over the years to help me track my progress. Now, with the body fat calculator--please don't take this as being 100% accurate. It's only an estimate. To get a really accurate reading, I recommend visiting either a local gym or your doctor's office. However, for home users to get a rough idea of where they are, it's good. :)

Calories Per Hour

Am I Fat? (Yeah, I know. The name doesn't thrill me either.)

Calorie Restriction Calculator (scroll down, enter your info, and get ready for several results)

Weights.Net (Also calculates your one-rep maximum)

Ideal Weight Calculators

So there you have 'em. Now, onto the part you've all been waiting for! It's time to share your week with the rest of us. :) Sign the Mr. Linky below and let's this party started! (Yes, I've had lots of green tea already. Sorry.)

1. Mrs. White The Legacy of Home (Level Two) 2. Katrina @ Mama Manuscripts (fit pregnancy) 3. Heidi (Reviews & Reflections) 4. homeschool101

5. Lisa @ The Wyldhouse Homestead 6. The Crazy Mom 7. Tracy 8. kathy @Stewards steno

9. Heidi @ Chatter & Clatter 10. Heather@ Faith, Family and Fun 11. Debra @ Footprints in the Butter 12. Danielle

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Fit Mommy Goals for the Week

Well, here it is--another glorious Monday (yes, I'm gagging on those words) which means it's time for me to post my Fit Mommy goals for the week.

As I mentioned in Friday's Fit Mommy Post, I plan to incorporate 1 Firm workout in with my Jillian workouts. The goal here is to increase my cardio and thus reduce some bulges I'm not too keen on seeing in the mirror. (Ahem) I'm not sure which Firm video I plan to use just yet, but I'm thinking about alternating between Volume 1 (Body Sculpting Basics) and Cardio Sculpt (which is very similar in function/style to the former).

Nutritionally, I'm going to go out on a limb here and continue with my chai fast.

Yes, you read that correctly. I said "chai fast". As in no chai. At all. Period.

I know...I know. It's a tough thing to even speak outloud, much less type! But until I find the right chai--one that won't upset my stomach (which means dairy-free, which is impossible to find amongst the powdered variety)--I'm doing the green tea thing. :(

It hasnt' been too bad, really. I'm on day 3 (or is it 4?) of no chai, and I already feel a lot better. My skin's also looking nice again, as opposed to oily and breaking out. Kinda pathetic how dairy and I just don't get along, but--as the saying goes--it is what it is. I may have to suck it up and try that chai concentrate again from Tazo or Oregon Chai, with soymilk. (*Huge sigh of defeat*)

I'm also eating more veggie sandwiches (because I can't stand salad without bread) and avoiding junk food, too. After last week's Frito fest and subsequent water retention, I'm determined to get back on track.

What about you? What are your goals this time around?

Fit Mommy Friday

Iiiiiiiit's FRIDAY! Fellow Fit Mommies, you know what that means!

This week was actually a bit difficult for me. Nutritionally, I totally blew Wednesday's "health streak" with several handfuls of Fritos (which I'm sure I'll pay for that in the form of swelling up like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon).

Now, I'm  not usually a chip eater with the exception of eating out at Mexican restaurants. But in my defense, I haven't had Fritos in *years*. (I used to eat them almost religiously when I was a teenager!) But then Dean bought 2 bags at the store (buy 1, get 1 free), so we ate chips and sandwiches for dinner.

I told myself I'd only have ONE chip...but then...

Oh.my.goodness! That one Frito was sooooo good!

I soon found myself grabbing handful after handful of crispy, salty love. (I am truly pathetic.)

However, that was the only culinary indulgence I engaged in this week, so I guess that's not too bad in the grand scheme of things. (I'll give you my official answer once the bloating sets in.)

Anyway, in workout news I did pretty well. So well in fact, that I'm still sore today following Wednesday's and Thursday's vicious plank circuits. (Thank you, Jillian Michaels...) Anyone else torture themselves with those? Not necessarily Jillian Michaels' routines but planks in general? Because seriously, my obliques and hips are killing me just sitting here! I also had the privilage of "feeling it" in my abs when I sneezed earlier. Yeah...good times! LOL

But it's a "good" kind of pain. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Not so sure I'll perform the same circuit back to back next week (or ever!) but I enjoyed it at the time. :)

Next week, I plan to use a Firm tape at least once during the week, in addition to the Jillian workouts. Perhaps then I won't be in so much agony. I also vow to step away from the Fritos. This should be easy, considering what's left in the bag probably won't last through the weekend, and they're no longer on sale.

Wait! I almost forgot! I read this great Q & A and thought I'd share it with all of you. It's about effectively resetting your metabolism after years of yoyo or crash dieting. Click here to read more.

So, how about you? What challenges and successes has your week delivered? Sign the Mr. Linky below to share your thoughts! :)

1. Katrina @ Mama Manuscripts (fit pregnancy) 2. Michelle Smith @ A Life Better Than I Deserve (Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris) 3. Danielle @ Rocks at my feet 4. Heidi @ Chatter & Clatter 5. Mrs. White The Legacy of Home (Level Two)

6. Heidi (Reviews & Reflections) 7. Lisa C. @ the Wyldhouse Homestead (Eating Healthy on the Road) 8. homeschool101 9. Heather @ Faith, Family and Fun 10. Tea Time With Annie Kate

11. kathy @Stewards steno 12. Lori@Not-So-Superwoman 13. Debra @ Footprints in the Butter 14. Tracy 3Guys & A Doll

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Fit Mommy Goals for the Week

My goals for this week aren't very different from last week's. I'd like to add more cardio (this time going for 2 additional rounds on the bike instead of 1) for 30 mins each session and continue with the zero junk food which is oh-so-hard for me. I'm truly a girl who loves her carbs!

But I figure if I can avoid junk food over the next 30 days, I'll have reached a serious milestone! LOL :)

Then once I succeed, I'll be rewarding myself with a huge slab of chocolate cake that's oozing with caloric decadence.

Kidding.

This week may prove especially tough as I feel as though I'm coming down with my husband's cold bug. (Charming) However, I'm determined to do all I can to make it to Friday's official "success" post. Sometimes sheer will power is just what the doctor ordered!

For a bit of additional encouragement and motivation, I'm sharing a link to an interesting article that explains the connection between stress and weight gain. (Emotional eating, anyone? Yeah. Me, too.) I found the info especially timely and thought perhaps others would as well.

*Fit Mommy participants, be sure to post your goals for the week if you haven't already done so. :) *

Fit Mommy Goals for the Week

Well, now that the Fit Mommy Meme's up 'n running, I'd better hop to it and post my goals for the week! :)


Fitness: Complete 1 of my new Jillian Michaels dvd's (O-U-C-H) per day and incorporate 1 additional cardio session this week. (Did I mention how much I hate cardio?)

Nutritionally Speaking: I plan to avoid all junk food (including--ok, most especially--the fresh slab of fudge sitting on my kitchen counter) and take my supplements each day. (Which is something I often forget to do.) I'm also going to up my water intake because I usually only drink it mixed with chai or post-workout. But then it's only like 1/2 a cup.

Ok! There you have it! I'll post an update on Friday. :)

If you'd like to join me and my fellow Fit Mommies, please click here.

Annihilation Attempts Proven Unsuccessful...For Now

The "annihilator" in question is Ms. Jillian Michaels, the personal trainer of Biggest Loser fame.

I received all 3 of her DVD's for the holidays (Thanks, Mom!), and was very eager to crack them open as soon as Dean went to work on Monday morning. I began with "No More Trouble Zones" which features a 5 min warm-up, a 45 minute circuit comprised of low weights (Jillian uses 3 lbs) and high reps, then finally a 5 minute cool down. Both the cueing and choreography are terrific--nothing fancy or frilly whatsoever! And even though I'm used to lifting weights heavier than 3-5 lbs, this workout manages to provide a significant challenge. Each of the 7 circuits (yeah, I said 7) alternates between standing and floor moves that target your chest, back, shoulders, arms, abs, thighs, fanny and hips. You can check out a clip of it by clicking here.

Now, I did this workout on both Monday and Tuesday mornings, and loved every single minute of it. In fact, the only reason I did it on Tuesday was because I wasn't sore after Monday. (Wait for it...)

HOWEVER, all that changed as Tuesday wore on. (Pride goeth before a fall, right?) By 7pm it was all I could do to not yelp "Ow, my tush!" every 10 minutes.

Not to say that I wasn't grateful! Believe me, if a workout can be completed without a mild "ow" factor during or afterwards, I'm sorely disappointed. (Yeah, that was a bad pun.)

So because I didn't think my tush could handle further abuse, I decided to crack open the cardio routine, "Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism". This is another 40-ish minute circuit nestled snuggly between a 5 minute warm up and cool down. The workout utilizes your own body weight--no dumbbells required--and moves swiftly through a series of heart-pounding, sweat inducing, gasping for air like a hooked fish moves like kickboxing, old school plyometrics, jogging, jumping rope (less the rope), and serious plank work done on the floor. I highly recommend keeping a hand towel close by, if you catch my drift.

The moves themselves aren't difficult, but when you do them with real intensity--trust me, sweetums. You're gonna feel it! And really, how can you not feel it after you've jumped up 'n down repeatedly, in various shape and form, a bizillion times over? I mean...HELLO?! You can check it out for yourself here.

Now, the last DVD is by no means least. I haven't used it yet this week but I have used it heavily in the past, courtesy of OnDemand. I'm talking about The 30 Day Shred.

This baby consists of three 20-minute workouts (beginner, intermediate, advanced) that utilize a pair of light dumbbells (3-5 lbs). You start out with 3 minutes of strength training moves, followed by 2 minutes of cardio, then 1 minute of ab work---then repeat. No chance for rest. There's a lot of variety in this workout which keeps you moving, motivated and challenged.

But please! Whatever you do, don't go into it thinking that because it's only 20 minutes, it's going to be (horror of horrors) easy! View a clip here.

I plan to alternate these videos exclusively for the next 30 days. If you don't hear from me after that, it'll mean that Jillian finally succeeded in annihilating my arrogant, cocky self. However, you can rest assured that I will have gone out with a smile on my face. ;o) ....Oh, yeah! Bring it on!