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, I don't know about ya'll but I am wiped OUT! Between waking up at 4am (hubby's working OT) and not going to bed until 10:30-11pm, to working out with P90X on top of that---whew! I need a break from myself this weekend! :)

As tough as the P90X program is, you don't really "feel" all that worked while you're in the middle of it. Okay, that sounded weird. Yes, you feel worked but it's really in a good way. I feel energized, motivated and challenged during the workouts (even if I am often rolling my eyes at Tony Horton's ill-attempts at humor). But then I'm the type of person who clearly thrives on challenge (at least in this area) and this new workout series is giving it to me, no holds barred.

I will say though that my muscles SCREAM at me the next day. Thankfully, with this program you only work 1-2 muscle groups a day so the soreness gets nice 'n evened out. Sore arms/shoulders? No problem. Today we'll work your legs. {Ahem}

Workouts have been very fun and consistent this week. My favorites so far are the Arms & Shoulders and Core Synergistics. I'm also partial to a few aspects of the Ab Ripper X. (And yes, it's just as brutal as it sounds.) However, the vast majority of the moves consist of lying down flat on your back then curling up from there to a full sit-up. Something I cannot do whilst lying down. Forget it. Nope. No way. No can-do. Several other moves consist of leaning back on your tailbone, which really does not feel good.

But (and here's that "thrive on challenge" part of my personality kicking in) my new goal is to work hard to complete the Ab Ripper X like it's nobody's business! (Hee hee)

This week my nutritional intake has been so-so. Haven't had any chocolate or cake (boo hoo) but I've been eating far too many carbs than I should be. {I like bread. A lot.} It likes me, too. That's why we "stick" together. It sticks to my hips, and I keep sticking it in my mouth. We're pals.

What has your week looked like?

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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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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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

It's that time once again, Ladies! If you haven't already done so, it's time to post your weekly Fit Mommy goals. :)

This week I plan to just maintain in the exercise department. As far as nutritional goals are concerned...(gulp) I plan on eliminating ONE cup of chai from my daily total. I'm not going to post how many cups I consume in an average day (between 4-7), but I will try to cut out ONE single cup each day and replace it with herbal tea. Oh yeah. And water. Definitely drink more water. (Ahem...)

I'm also going to go out on a limb and incorporate more produce into my diet.

Stop laughing.

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 Friday

Okee dokee, ladies! Here we go! It's time to report our first weekly success story! (Insert falling confetti here) For those of you who may have just arrived and are scratching your pretty little heads in confusion, please click here. This will take you to the original Fit Mommy post which describes the program or meme in detail. :)

Checking In:
This week actually didn't go as well as I'd hoped. It started out great but on Wednesday I kinda flung my way through my workout. I woke up feeling incredibly tired and just didn't have the energy to really give it my all. (Sigh) I kinda made up for it in the form of the extra cardio like I'd planned (hooray!), but still felt like a wimp. (Oops! No shame. Forgot about that. Ahem) :)

I did pretty good with my nutritional goals, though. Hooray! I was able to stay away from junk food, remember to take my supplements, and really upped my water intake. In fact, I upped it so much that I kinda got sick of it by Thursday night. (LOL) However, I realize that it's good for me so I'll keep it up. Ditto with the supplements. Junk food's debatable. Kidding.

So were you able to meet all your goals? Sign the Mr. Linky below and share your success stories!

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.

Fit Mommy Meme

*** Fit Mommy Friday has been moved to Vintage Healthy Home. ***

'Tis the New Year and with it come all sorts of resolutions to get fit, lose weight and get healthy!

To help keep us all encouraged and accountable, I've devised (with help from a dear friend) a fun weekly meme that I hope you'll enjoy. It's called Fit Mommy Friday and here's how it works:

• First, choose your level of participation and plan your weekly goals. This is entirely up to you, but should be based on your personal fitness goals and overall condition. (Example: If you've never walked the length of your block, your goal should NOT be a 2 mile run by Friday.)

Level One: The Beginner level. This is for those of you who are brand new to exercise or for those who are not already participating in a consistent fitness program. Your goal should include at least 1 mild form of exercise per day (walking, low impact cardio) as well as one nutritional goal; drinking 8 glasses of water per day, keeping a food journal, eating a small salad with dinner, no chocolate for the week (did I say that?), etc.

Level Two: The Intermediate level. This level is for those who are already exercising at least 3 times per week on a regular basis. Goals here might include one additional 20-30 min workout each day/week, or incorporating a new exercise or tool (kettle bells, stability ball, bands, dumbbells) into your fitness routine, etc. It should also include some sort of nutritional goal.

Level Three: Advanced Level. This level is for those of you who consistently workout 5-6 days + per week for 45-60 mins each time. (The crazy ones. *Grins*) Goals at this level might include extending your cardio sessions by a few minutes, adding heavier weights, training for a marathon, etc. As with the other two levels, you should also shoot for a nutritional goal as well.

• Next, post your goals to your blog. Be as specific as you care to be, but put it out there. It will help make your goals feel more concrete. This can be done during your Friday "Fit Mommy" post (see below).
• Invite your friends to participate! After all, misery loves company we could all use the encouragement! Having the support of your friends and family is a great way to keep yourself motivated and accountable. :)
• Work on reaching your goals each day. And remember, there's no shame if you mess up here 'n there! It's all a learning process, especially in the beginning. Don't beat yourself up!
• On Friday, write your success stories along with your personal goals for next week, then sign the Fit Mommy Mr. Linky (which will be posted on Friday). That way everyone can bunny-hop over to your blog, leave a nice note of encouragement, etc. Remember, even if you weren't 100% perfect all week, there's no shame allowed, whatsoever. Simply dust yourself off and keep going!
• The process begins all over again the following week! :)

To help get your inspirational juices flowing, I've provided a list of links that'll help kick start your Fit Mommy Goals!

Spark People.com Free website offering diet and fitness information, calorie counters, food journals, workout buddies and more! Great accountability tool! (And did I mention it's all free?)

Exercise TV Features free workout videos, free downloadable workout plans and more.

The Biggest Loser The official home of one of TV's most popular reality series.

My Trainer Bob.com Biggest Loser trainer, Bob Harper. Free registration/membership; offers fun Fitness Challenge of the Day, helpful information and tons of encouragement.

Jillian Michaels.com Fiercest Biggest Loser trainer, Jillian Michaels. Offer free e-newsletter which is always informative and inspiring and paid weight loss plan.

Collage Video Hundreds of workout videos, complete with clips and user reviews.

Fitness Magazine Offers free workout videos, articles, advice and more.

The FIRM These babies started my obsession back in high school. (Yes, they're that old.) See if you can locate these tapes/dvd's through your local library. They are by far one of the best workout series ever created!

For those with Verizon FIOS or Comcast Cable: There are free workouts available for you to access any time, courtesy of the OnDemand feature. These are presented by Exercise TV and contain several popular titles including Jillian Michaels, Biggest Loser, The FIRM and more.


On a Personal Note:
I'm a former ballet dancer in training, yet fell off the proverbial fitness wagon after back-to-back babies # 2-3. After a heavy dose of reality (full length mirror), I was determined to get back into semi-decent shape. Although I'm nowhere near as small as I was during my "ballerina" years, I feel proud of what I've accomplished. Most days anyway. Should God miraculously give me 32 inch hips, I totally wouldn't complain. Just sayin'.




Official Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or any sort of medical professional (although I happen to play one on TV. Just kidding). My suggestions should in no way be construed as medical advice.

I am not liable or otherwise responsible for any injury, pain, discomfort, profuse sweating, frustration, etc. that may result from your partipation in the Fit Mommy Meme or the exercise/nutritional suggestions therein.

Prior to beginning this or any other exercise routine, you should consult with your doctor. Likewise, do not make changes to your diet without the advice of a qualified nutritional expert.