Fit Mommy Friday

It's Friday and you know what that means....it's time for the Fit Mommies to check in! :o) So how was everyone's week? Are you able to keep your momentum going? Or have you cut back just a bit now that the Challenge is over?

Before I delve into my week, I wanted to mention a new little "perk" that some of you many not be aware of just yet.

As you may recall, Rachel Hamrick wrote an awesome guest post for us last week detailing 10 steps to making your fitness goals a reality. Well, as a new member of the Fit Mommy community, Rachel has graciously offered to answer any questions we may have about fitness--all through the Fit Mommy Yahoo Group. (If you're not yet a member of the group, send me an email at denise opper (all one word) at gmail dot com and I'll send you an invite.)

Okay! Onto my check in!

Now, as one of you so sweetly pointed out, I managed to sort {cough} escape writing my own check in last week. Was that deliberate? No. I just got all caught up in our awesome guest posts that I didn't stop to think about yours truly. {Hee hee} But there's no excuse this week, now is there??? :)

So! Monday started out really well. I completed a 45 minute Firm tape {Maximum Body Sculpting} and then rode my recumbent bike for another 45 minutes. Feeling at odds with "only" having exercised for 90 minutes {yes, I'm insane and I know it}, I did 30 mins worth of reps later that evening {squats, leg lifts, lunges, crunches in various directions, and jogging in place}. I did this again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday, I didn't do a single thing less walking all over town, catching buses to/from appointments and what-not. Today--once I'm done with this post--I'll do it again; one workout video plus 45 mins on the bike.

I'm just one of those people that easily loses momentum, so in order to combat that I literally push myself harder to fight through those "I don't wanna" feelings. So far, it's working well. :o)

Nutritionally speaking...eh. Not so good. I definitely need to get more produce into the house. I've been eating a lot of egg/turkey sandwiches on a bagel or wheat bread. {Funny how longer workouts make you feel ravenous!} Like 3 a day! And my water intake is waaaaay up. I've cut back on the chai to where I only had my first cup in *weeks* two days ago, and been drinking a lot of herbal tea. {So yummy!}

My plans for this week are to:

1. Eat more veggies!
2. Keep the 90-120 minute workouts going
3. Drink more water
4. Maybe...just maybe...get more sleep. :)

Okay, now it's your turn! {Oh, and don't forget to send me your requests to join the Fit Mommy Yahoo Group if you're not yet a member.}

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.*


I'm pleased to report that this week was nearly just as good as last week. :)  There was one minor nutritional indiscretion (Snicker's bar) but in my defense, I actually found it in my bathroom cupboard. I did not intentionally buy it. I'll explain...

Earlier in the week, my mother had made a quick run to the store for me. I don't remember what was going on that day, just that for some reason I didn't have time to go myself. So when she brought the bags inside, I put the pantry items away and put the bathroom items--still in their bag--in the cupboard underneath the sink, sight unseen. For now.

Then on Thursday, I remembered there was still a sack inside the cupboard. When I took everything out, the Snicker's bar was at the very bottom. Apparently mom felt I'd needed a little treat that day or something. :)  Feeling as though I'd won the lottery of sorts, I decided I should express my appreciation and gratitude by eating it. (*Ahem*)

Thankfully I've been keeping up with my workouts this week, so the candy bar didn't do too much damage. :) Moving on!

I've been switching back 'n forth between veggie sandwiches and tuna sandwiches, which have both proven to be quite scrumptious. (Yum!) Water intake is better than before, which I'm proud of. And chai consumption is still low. I've been eating less carbs too, and that's helped me feel less "puffy" overall.

Each morning I've completed at least one--if not two--Firm videos, with the exception of today. Instead I performed my own mini-routine due to time constraints. (Push-ups, crunches in a number of directions, arm/shoulder work, squats/lunges for legs. Four sets of 12 reps each exercise.) And as always, lots of walking.

Well there you have it--my week, in a nutshell! Like I said, I'm under a time crunch this morning (going w/ Dean to his doctor appt in about an hour), so I'd better get going. I hope you all take a few moments this weekend to celebrate all you've accomplished so far during your participation in Fit Mommy Friday. You deserve it!!! :)

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? :)

A Little Inspiration (Fit Mommy Style)

I realize the Fit Mommy meme doesn't post 'til Friday but I thought I'd share what I did today in hopes that it inspires someone. ;-)

I decided to use 2 "FIRM" videos back-to-back, which made for a great 90 minute routine with extra emphasis on the lower body.

First up was "Sculpted Buns, Hips & Thighs w/ Tracie Long" (and although it doesn't mention it within the title, it also focuses heavily on the abs). This is a 45 minute gut-busting, hip-burning routine that I love to hate! (Hee hee) The video is a compilation of exercises found in two other Firm videos, "The Tortoise" and "The Hare" (cute, huh?). I don't own either of those tapes but I have borrowed them from my library once or twice in the past. (Excellent stuff!)

What I enjoy about this workout is the strong focus on the hips and thighs through a heavy concentration of old-school floor work. If you've never strapped on a pair of ankle weights and did a bunch of leg lifts (in various ways), then you don't know what you're missing! LOL It's my absolute favorite way to work the back of my legs, which is often a source of contention between me and the mirror. ;-)

Now before you watch the clip, you have to promise to remain open minded. Because the video is rather dated (early 90's), cheesy workout gear abounds. (Ahem) But trust me, the workout itself is a true gem!Okay, here's a little taste...





Moving on to workout #2...

Once I completed that, I popped in my other Tracie Long favorite, "Maximum Body Sculpting". This 45 minute routine incorporates heavier weights with several standing-leg exercises. Because of this, you'll need the Firm's signature 14 inch step (the "fanny lifter"), and several sets of dumbbells (3-15 lbs). Unlike the first workout, this routine does not require ankle weights and the "cheese factor" is eliminated. ;-)





There you have it! My Monday morning routine (at least for this week). What was yours???

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.*


 

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

Guess what, Ladies! I managed to stay away from the Snickers cake all week!! Woohoo! Now that it's almost gone, I feel quite accomplished and proud of myself. :) Toot toot! Hear that? That's me, tooting my own horn.

Yeah, that was corny. Moving on!

It's Friday and we've made it through another week. Aren't you pleased?

I did pretty well with my exercise goals. I got in 2 extra sessions on the bike, which was desperately needed. I'm sure I'll log more time this weekend since my husband's leaving for CA this evening, but I digress. I met my Firm Instructor every...single...morning this week, which almost killed me felt great.

Nutritionally I didn't do so great. For some odd reason, I decided it would be nice to make french toast for dinner earlier in the week. I told myself it was just for Dean and the kids.

Ahem. I ate 4 slices. With plenty of syrup. 8-/

I then justified this caloric bombshell by thinking that somehow the fat/calories wouldn't stick because syrup, as well know, is liquid. And liquids are easy to burn off or otherwise get rid of! :)  So the following morning, I remembered I had picked up a box of apple cinnamon waffles. So I had 4 of those, too.

Yes, I'm truly that dumb.

But in my defense, those were the only times I splurged. Granted, that was 2 times too many but....sigh. There's always next week! :)

Did anyone else succumb to temptation this week? Please don't say I'm the only one...! (Not that I want you to fall short of your goals but..well..it'd be nice to know I'm not the only one! Hee hee)

Oh yes. One last thing. This week, I thought it might be nice if (for those of you who are interested) we shared a healthy recipe that helps us stay on track. It can be anything from a simple salad or protein shake, to a more elaborate meal. Your choice. This can be separate from today's check in if you so choose. ;)

Mine is really simple. It's my staple food: The Veggie Sandwich. Simple but oh so yummy and filling.

I use the following:

2 slices of Ezekiel Bread (or another really healthy, nutty, grainy bread)
Best Foods Canola mayonnaise
1 handful of mixed baby greens (the bagged variety)
3-4 tomato slices (depends on the size of the tomato)
2 Claussen's Kosher Dill Pickle slices (or organic equivalent from PCC or Trader Joe's)
2 tsps. of ground flax seeds sprinkled on top :)

Doesn't that sound yummy???? I eat anywhere from 2-5 of these per day.

1. Michelle Smith @ A Life Better Than I Deserve 2. Mrs. White The Legacy of Home (Level 2) 3. Tracy 3Guys & A Doll

4. Heidi @ Chatter & Clatter 5. Homeschool101 6. Tea Time with Annie Kate

7. Debra @ Footprints in the Butter 8. Lisa C. @ the Wyldhouse Homestead (Spiritual Fitness) 9. (The Very Bad) Crazy Mom

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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

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Just Another Day in the Life

Some people think I have it all together. Gee, if only you could hear my daughter's hysterical laughter at that statement.

But to be honest, I get a good chuckle out of it, too. :) Because I clearly *don't* have it all together, nor will I ever on this side of humanity. So I decided to give you all a glimpse into my day. This will serve as proof that I do not have it all together, nor should you ever-- in a bizillion years--think that I do.

Now, just to forewarn you, my life's pretty boring. You may want to secure a jumbo size cup of coffee before you begin reading. :)

Oh yes. One last thing. Dean's hours have changed so I now get up at....

6:45 AM: After forcing my legs to stand, which are still quite sore from the previous day's workout, I make my way out of the bedroom. I grab 2 fresh towels from the linen closet (these are for Dean), turn off the security alarm, start Dean's coffee, then head into the bathroom to wash up.

6:58 AM: Now it's time to wake Dean up, who by no means "gets up" when I first tell him to. He prefers to roll around and groan until 7:10am. By then I'm rolling him--literally--out of bed, and making the bed as I go. It's quite comical, actually. :)

7:12 AM: Dean's in the shower. The bed is made. Time to feed and let out the dogs! From now until Dean gets out of the shower, I scan my To Do List which is usually written out the night before. If I think of something to add to it, which in this case I do (we're out of dish soap, dog food and almond milk), I take care of that now. Then I fire up my email and check to see if anything majorly important came in overnight.

7:30 AM: Dean leaves for work. After changing into my workout clothes, it's time for me to hit the "gym" (aka: the living room). On this day, I did an oldie but goody--The Firm Volume 1 w/ Susan Harris. She..is...vicious!

8:35 AM: Workout is officially over. Time to hobble my way to the shower. Ugh...

9:00 AM: It's time to print out the day's homeschool lessons. It's also time to get my work day started! I throw a load of laundry in, check the email, edit then post this week's Featured Member column on the TOS Crew's Facebook fan page (Try saying that ten times fast!), and finally--eat breakfast.

9:30 AM: Ok, kids. Time to get up. Like it or not. I whip up the last of the eggs for their breakfast and hustle them along. We have to go to the store and I've got a lot of writing to accomplish. Chop chop!

10 AM: The kids are either eating, brushing their teeth, or cleaning their room. I'm still trying to light a fire under them as they're still kinda d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g themselves along. Very frustrating.


Meanwhile, I throw another load of laundry in, and try to call my sister. Today is my nephew's 11th birthday. She doesn't answer. Figures. Oh well. I'll wash up the breakfast dishes instead.

10:20 AM: My mother emails me and asks if I'd forward her some recent job postings. For some reason, her work's network is blocking access. Imagine that! ;) I pull those together and send them along. "Hey, are you guys ready to head to the store yet?"

10:30 AM: I finish writing up a little press release for Dance Retailer News. I then shoot this over to Rebecca, my amazingly fabulous boss, via email.

10:45 AM: After threatening my oldest with "If you're not ready by the time I am, you're staying home and babysitting your siblings", we're finally heading out. :) First stop--Albertsons, then Trader Joe's. (They're in the same strip mall.) Then finally, the pet store to pick up a bag of dog food. It's a nice, brisk 4 block walk. Invigorating really, given the chill in the air.

11:30 AM: Finally, home at last! Whew! Ok, back to work, everyone! Ethan and Abby begin their Latin, math, and typing assignments; Sierra works on her One Year Adventure Novel, Traditional Logic, typing and math. We also begin reviewing a new graphics program, courtesy of the TOS Crew. It looks pretty cool! I'm impressed as are the kids.

12:28 PM: Lunch break. I eat mine at my desk. Because I can. That and I'm hammering out what I hope will be the final draft of my article on Edward Gorey. I'm too picky for my own good sometimes. (Sigh) Then I have to work on the Summer Intensives series. I'll upload both the Gorey article (gee, that sounds odd) and the summer piece as drafts to the Vala blog later today.

12:42 PM: Second attempt at calling sister. I figure by now, my nephew should be home from school. They're on the east coast. Unfortunately, there's still no answer. Fine. Be that way. I also check over Ethan and Abby's assignments. So far, so good! :) I then assign everyone their respected chores to complete once their lessons are done. Back to work...

1:12 PM: Chores! Woohoo! Everyone's busy cleaning something: bathroom, bedrooms, dishes, sweeping, garbage, dusting, putting away the laundry...

1:35 PM: "Yes, Ethan and Abby, you can now play the Wii..." Sierra occupies herself with Sorority Life on Facebook or something like that. I'm still writing the summer intensive piece. Didn't like the previous draft. It sounded funny. I'm also simultaneously checking and replying to the 23 emails that are waiting for me. Gee, I'm popular today! :)


I then place a call and leave subsequent message with the Jillana School and New Mexico Dancewear. I'm hoping to pick their brains regarding the summer intensive series. I also make a note to work on my blog disclosure policy, per helpful reminder from a dear friend of mine. ;)


2 PM: Finally made my last revision to the summer intensive piece and tucked it away as a draft on the blog. Ditto Edward Gorey. Whew! Now it's time to get a few TOS Crew reviews drafted up!

3:20 PM: Dean will be home from work soon, so it's time for me to freshen up! :) I also time to pull the kids off their computers and games. They've dinked around long enough.

3:28 PM: Daddy's home! A quick hello, how are you, how was your day? Then he's off to the pharmacy to drop off his Rx (that he forgot to do on the way home). I stay behind to wait for his computer repair client--who is due to show up by 4pm. Yikes! Good thing Walgreens is close by!

3:50 PM: Dean's back home. It's time for Abby to eat a little something before getting ready for ballet class. She's going to try the Level IV class this evening and is very excited! :)

4 PM: Dean's client has arrived. Time for me to feed the dogs. Oops. I should've done that at 3pm! Now they're starving and looking at me like, "Gee, thanks a lot MOM!" Once I'm done with that, I go back over my To Do List to see what else I'm forgetting.

Sierra comes up to me and asks if I have a plain white T-shirt she can have for tonight's Youth Group. Apparently they're going to be painting said shirts in preparation for cheering on the local high school basketball team on Friday. I don't have any plain white shirts. :( Nor is there time to get one. Youth Group is tonight from 7-9pm. Sorry, sweets!

4:15 PM: Time to do Abby's hair. Nothing like winding 3 feet of hair into a bun! (Ok, maybe 3 feet's a bit of an exaggeration. But not by much!)

5-6 PM: I sit and watch Abby take class. I love watching her dance! It brings back so many fond memories for me. :)

6:20 PM: Back home and it's time to start supper. Tonight's feature here at Cafe` Opper--chicken stir fry, courtesy of Trader Joe's. Sierra picked it out, so she'd better eat it.

6:37 PM: Arguing with Sierra over her supper. I want her to eat before she goes to Youth Group. She insists she's full from her little fruit cup which she ate at 4pm. Whatever...eat or don't go. Your choice. (She finishes 13 minutes later.)

7-9 PM: Youth Group. Now it's time for me to kick back, relax, and read some of the library books I have waiting for me. :)

9:10 PM: Sierra's home. Her leader picked up white T-shirts for everyone from the thrift store. Hooray! Problem solved. Wait...wasn't I forgetting something...???

*Gasp* I never did get a hold of my nephew to wish him a happy birthday! UGH! Too late to call now. (Huge sigh) I also never got around to that disclosure policy. (Ahem) Oh well! Add it to the list for tomorrow.

Right now, I'm going to watch an episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter with Dean before crashing. You know, I've never noticed how Dog's hair reminds me of one of those fancy folded napkins. You know what I'm talking about, right?  One of these..... 

10:45 PM: Time for bed. G'night world. See you tomorrow....

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. :) *

Discoveries--The Good and the Disturbing

My little corner of the world is still very dark and quiet. The children are still snoozing away (Oh, the joys of being homeschooled!), Dean's off at work, my workout is finished, and now it's time to get some computer work done before the troops emerge.

Today's workout only consisted of a 30 minute ab routine. (Big whoop, right?) Yesterday I did a 55 min. tape plus an additional 20 mins on my bike. That doesn't sound too bad--in theory. However, I was going for a full 30 mins on the bike but wimped out. :) Oh well. So today I decided to focus on my jelly-belly and maybe do a cardio routine later on. We'll see. A friend of mine and I are keeping each other accountable in this area. Granted, our consistency isn't as it should be, but we're trying--we're making the most out of every day--and that's all that matters.

Guess what? Ethan's discovered a new hobby. Thanks to a homeschool class at Games Workshop, he's fallen in love with the whole Lord of the Rings model/game-making/role-playing thing.

When I first told Dean about it he was shocked and said, "What? He can't do that!" "Why not?" "Because we used to make fun of those nerds back when I was in school!" (Oh brother!)

My son is certainly not a nerd. At least not in his Mommy's opinion. I love how he's found a new passion (outside of video games) and am more than willing to encourage his endeavors. Thanks to my friend Rachel, Ethan is taking their "Academy Class" once a month w/ his buddy, Nathan. This was their birthday gift to Ethan. Wasn't that sweet?! Ethan totally loves it! He's made 4 characters so far and can hardly wait for the next class.

Oh and for the record--once Dean saw everything that came in Ethan's starter kit and all the detail that goes into painting these little things--he now thinks the activity is pretty cool. :) One more thing; Rachel and I've noticed how this can quickly become a rather expensive hobby. (Ahem) But we've both decided that we'd help our sons get started but after that---they're on their own!

Moving on!

I've discovered two new things about myself.

1. My chai habit's getting cheaper. Sort of. I can no longer drink The Good Stuff without it irritating my stomach. I switched from The Good Stuff to the Close Second Stuff, but even that's bothering me now too. So I've moved onto the Not So Bad Once You Get Used to It. (*Sigh*) So unfair...

   2.   I find myself "forgetting" things quite often. Much more than before. Perhaps I'm just taking after my mother and sister. (No offense you two.) But I've always been a disciplined, structured, list-making person. Still am, really. But even if I write a task down, I'll still forget. Even if I just read it! Or worse, I'll forget to write it down in the first place.

Last week, I forgot to do something crucial for Dean and while it isn't earth-shattering (or ending), the ramifications are going to be a pain to deal with. I also forgot when Ethan's Academy class was to take place and had to email Rachel (repeatedly).

I also forgot to take the trash cans out to the curb for pick up, do all the laundry (figure that one out!), and forgot to do school among other things. ("Gee, you kids sure have a lot of time on your hands today...hmm...")

This is so hard for me because *I'm not supposed to forget*. I'm the one who "never" forgets even small details like birthdays. But I forgot to phone my brother in law on his birthday. I knew it was his birthday earlier in the day, but then I decided to call in the evening, then later forgot. By the time I remembered, it was too late to call with the 3 hr time difference.

Then I forgot my son's birthday was coming up until the moment he walked up to me and said, "Mom guess what? My birthday's a week away!" (Blink) In my defense, his birthday plans did coincide with my Uncle Bret's passing, so I'm using that as an excuse. In fact when Ethan reminded me, I was in the middle of making the DVD presentation for Uncle's service.

I then forgot to invite people until 3 days before the party. Then realized I forgot to invite everyone I was supposed to. (Not good.)

Then to make matters worse, I kept forgetting Sierra's birthday. Or rather, kept forgetting to make plans for it until the last minute.

I forget what I've written down, what I've done, and what I still need to do. It's downright scary sometimes, especially when I consider that my Grandmother--who was like my mother and sister--now has Alzheimer's. (Gulp) My mother says she has "Half-Heimer's". Hmm. Maybe I've got Quarter Heimer's?

Is this just an age thing or a family thing? Guess we'll have to wait 'n see! (But by then, I'll forget what I'm waiting for...) 

'Firm Believers' lose a friend - Life & Style - TheState.com

'Firm Believers' lose a friend - Life & Style - TheState.com


Way back in the year 1992, my sister and I learned of a brand-new exercise video series called, The FIRM. They were repeatedly advertised in Shape Magazine which Desi had a subscription to at the time. (This was back when it was actually worth reading!)

These babies were sold for an astounding $49.95 each (for VHS! Hello?!) but were touted as being worth every single penny. Unable to afford more than one (which I had to save some serious babysitting cash to buy), Desi and I would often rent them Blockbuster. We were hooked! Sometimes we'd even perform the workouts twice in a row! (Yeah, we were stupid. And sore.) But we didn't care. We loved them!

I remember pouring over their catalog (that used to come with the videos), wishing I could afford every single one. We didn't have the money to buy their 14 inch step, so we improvised and used an ottoman (which was about 14 inches high) and a step-stool that was closer to 17 inches high. (Where there's a will to workout, the Dooley girls found a way!) I eventually wore a serious "groove" into that ottoman. (Oops. Sorry, Daddy!)

A few years later, the FIRM workouts helped us regain our figures--and our sanity--following the births of our children. I now own over 20 FIRM tapes/dvd's and have used several more courtesy of the library (not sure how many Desi's got). While we no longer use them exclusively (Seriously, what would the world be like without Jillian Michaels?), they continue to inspire and kick our butts.

Which brings me to my main point: I learned today that Anna Benson, the co-creator of The FIRM, passed away just a few weeks ago from cancer. (Cancer sucks.) Although I never met the woman personally, I appreciate what she's done for the fitness industry and I'm even more thankful for what her workouts have done for me personally. I realize this is probably one of the cornier posts I've done but it's my blog--I have a headache--I'm tired--and I'm nauseated--so I'll do whatever I want.

Thank you and farewell, Ms. Benson. May you rest in peace....