Fit Mommy Returns!

Check it out, peeps! For those of you who’ve been ever so kind enough to read my blog since “back in the day”, Fit Mommy is back! Hooray! {Insert showers of confetti here}

My sweetie pie friend, Heidi asked if I’d like to be a contributing writer over at her new site, Homeschool Mosaics and well…let me tell you, I was touched. Touched I say!

So with that, I signed up and I’ve been back in the writing saddle ever since. My monthly column is designed to help, motivate and inspire other busy moms to get back in shape, once and for all!

This month’s column focuses specifically on weight training and why it’s so important for ladies to engage in. Check it out and let me know what you think!

**JOIN THE FIT MOMMY DISCUSSION GROUP**

If you’re looking for additional motivation, encouragement and support, feel free to join the Fit Mommy Discussion Group on Facebook. It’s fun, free and – most of all – private! No matter what your fitness level is, you’re more than welcome to join us! Request to join the group here. 

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.*


What a week! I feel as though I'm drowning in all that we have going on around here at times. It's enough to make one go insane--insane I tell you! :o)

Squeezing in a decent workout is proving harder and harder with my schedule. Today I'm sitting down with a pen and notebook and jotting down a real, set "schedule"--complete with time slots!--for myself to follow from here on out. Dean's often says I need to work on managing my time better and he's right. It's just so hard at times. (Sigh) Can I get an "Amen!" from all the homeschooling mommies out there? (Hee hee)

My workout times weren't entirely disasterous, though. While Dean was in the shower each morning, I'd do a quick set of push-ups (15), followed by a short arm routine with light (5 lb) weights: upright rows, overhead presses, lateral and anterior deltoid raises, and tricep kickbacks. I performed 2 sets of 10 reps each exercise.

Once he left for the day, I'd work through a Pilates tape or a Jillian video. (Both of which seriously kicked my fanny! Ha ha!) But unfortuantely, I was only able to do them twice this week. (Sigh. I feel so ashamed...See? I have to plan my days better. That's all there is to it.)  And as always...lots of walking back 'n forth around town and through downtown Seattle. That's just a given. I probably shouldn't even put it down as part of my total! It kind of feels like cheating. :o)

On a positive note, my water intake is way up. (Hooray!) As is my chai consumption. (Boo!) I've avoided junk food and sweets, with the exception of one minor "french toast" incident. I made a batch for supper one night because it was just too quick 'n simple not to. (Ahem)

I ate 4 slices, by the way. Drenched in syrup. :o/

So that's it for my weekly check in. Now it's your turn! Share your highlights--and low lights--for the week. And while you're at it, would you mind sharing when you fit your workouts into your schedule? I have to get mine in before the children get up. I'm a real "private" exerciser and don't like an audience. I also consider it my "me time" experience that I don't want to be disturbed. (Wink, wink)

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.*


*Yawwwwwnnnn!* It is soooo dreadfully early, ladies. At least in my neck of the woods (those of you on the east coast, kindly disregard). Dean had to be up at 4am this morning in order to make it to work by 5am. Therefore, today will be a "heavy-on-the-chai" kind of day! :o{  (Good thing I bought another can last night, eh?)

Because I'm still not quite fully functioning, I haven't completed this morning's workout, nor am I too sure how long I'll last when I finally get started. ;o)  Okay, okay...that sounds bad, I know. What I meant to say was, I plan on getting my workout in as soon as I'm done writing this post! :) There. Now I'm starting to feel better about myself. *Hee hee*

This past week, I've been doing more exercises using my own body weight, such as Pilates and various ballet exercises which, by the way, really work your thighs when you do them right! It's been a lot of fun, as I tend to get bored with the same routine week after week. That and feeling the deep, lesser-used muscles engage and respond is always a treat! ;o)

Oh! And I'm pleased to report that my diet has been MUCH better! Woohoo! I've been eating lots of veggie sandwiches and bananas for snacks, and with the exception of a slice of apple pie in honor of Rosh Hashana, I haven't had any "sweets"! (High fives)

My goals for next week are:

• to include at least 3 days of Pilates/ballet into my regular weight routine
• ramp up the produce and water intake. (You know...as a sort of "detox" from all the chai I'm about to consume today...Ahem.)

How was your week? Did you try a new--or "forgotten"--form of exercise? A new recipe? Sign the Linky below and tell us about it! :)

WAIT! One last thing: check out this awesome website called "ShapeUpMom.com". The author is Kathryn Sansone, a woman I first heard about a few years back whilst watching Oprah. (Yes, I know it's cheesy to say that, but it's 100% true.) She's the mother of 10 and she looks absolutely fabulous! Check it out. :)

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 has been pretty uneventful. While I've walked 15 miles this week, I haven't picked up a single weight, nor performed any other exercise beyond that. {Scary, no?}

I've been running non-stop, to and fro--lots of errands, children's activities, shopping--you name it. Thankfully I walk everywhere, so I'm able to get a little exercise in. But my workouts have definitely suffered this week. Big time! I'd really like to get back into the swing of things next week. I miss my weights. :o(

My diet--ahem. Yeah. That's been pretty much "grab 'n go"; granola bars (relatively healthy), sandwiches (egg, pb & j--not so healthy, less the egg), and quick suppers like chicken fried rice from Trader Joe's and (ahem) frozen chicken alfredo pizza. (Which was really good in spite of the dire health consequences of processed foods...*small smile*)

I really, really bombed this week, Ladies! (Sigh) I simply must do better next time, especially with fall approaching which means cold & flu season. If I'm not at my best, I'm a sitting duck for illness! (Something I do not have time for.)

And speaking of time; I was setting up next month's calendar and realized (to my utter shock and disbelief) that we have exactly 3 days in which we have nothing going on! Can you believe it?! How did we get so busy?? Do any of you have schedules like that? Just boom, boom, boom--one thing after another? On the positive side, I certainly won't be bored! (Hee hee) But the drawback is that I'll have to work extra hard throughout September to keep my workouts going. It'll be waaaay too easy to slack otherwise!

Oh! Here's a tiny update about those new L.A. Gear Walk 'n Tone shoes: they're not all they're cracked up to be after the first few miles. When I walked 3 miles in them the first week, I felt a teeny amount of soreness in the backs of my thighs and gluteal area. (Ahem) But now--? Nope. I don't know if other "toning" shoes work better (ie: make you sore on a consistent basis), but I felt that these babies quickly lost their spunk. Oh well. At least they're cute! :)

So that's it for my week. {I told you it was uneventful. ;-) } How 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.*


A big "Good morning!" to all my favorite ladies! How's everyone doing today? Did you all have a good week? I admit that I didn't do as well as I would've liked, but I wasn't absolutely horrible, either (okay, maybe I was..). Here's the daily breakdown:

Monday: Completed a short 30 minute workout. Didn't even break a sweat over it, which means it probably wasn't enough. (Oops) Went to the mall and got a pair of new LA Gear Walk 'n Tone sneakers.

Tuesday: Short walks around town running errands. That's it. (Ahem...)

Wednesday: Put the shoes to the test by going for a short, 3 mile walk with the family. The initial plan was just to walk Sierra to Youth Group and back which is 2 miles (exactly), round trip. But then we decided to walk to Albertsons, too. After that, Dean was feeling pretty wiped out (snicker, snicker) so we walked the "long" way around the block so as to avoid the slight "hill" (mild slope) of our street. This brought our trek to a total of 3 miles instead of 2.

PS: I can't decide if the shoes "work" or if they're just poorly constructed. Either way, the backs of my legs and rear-end were slightly sore in different areas the next day. Plus the fact that I was even sore from a walk is just weird. Hmm...?

Thursday: Short walks running errands; 2 sets of push-ups (20 reps each), 3 sets of squats (20 reps each). That's it. Apparently I was feeling lazy...

Friday: Bike for 45 mins. I had to get some serious cardio in! Ugh...(And you all know how I hate cardio. LOL)

My eating has been a disaster this week!! :o[  Not sure if I'm getting in touch with my "inner bear going into hibernation" or am otherwise hormonal. But alas, here are all the gory details...

I ate a king size PB Twix on Sunday, which tasted phenomenally good but was sooooo bad at the same time! (Sigh) I'll blame Dean for this one because he let me buy it. :o) (Of course, if he'd said "No, you heifer! You cannot possibly have a candy bar!" that would've been worse. Hee hee!)

Then there was a "meeting" I had with a Reese's "Big Cup". (Not nearly as good as the PB Twix, by the way.)

Followed by a brief excursion to the land of Ben & Jerry's. (There was only 8 bites left in the carton, which happened to be Dean's. Gee, I hope he wasn't planning on finishing it...?)

See?! Isn't that awful?! But once again...and yes, this is quite strange and weird...I actually lost 4 ounces. (Hey, every bit counts, right?) How on earth does that happen? Eat right = body weight stays the same. Eat junk food = weight loss. HUH???? I'm still scratching my head over that one.

What about you? Have you noticed any odd, don't-fit-the-traditional-parameters-of-fitness quirks about yourself this week? Or am I the lone oddball? :o)

In any event, it's time to check in! Post your links below and let's get this party started! :)

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.*


Happy Friday to all you sweet, hard-working ladies! :)

How was your week? Were you able to push past any hurdles? Drop a few pounds? (Or even ounces?--Hee hee)

My week went fairly well, despite the fact that I didn't push myself nearly as hard as I have been, workout-wise. However, I was careful to get in a mild workout (like a few miles on the bike or walking, short weight routines along with the bike/walking) on a daily basis. This was a rather (ahem!) "hormonal" week around here, shall we say? (*Wink-wink*) Therefore I wasn't up to my new normal consisting of 2 workouts back to back.

Nutritionally I'm the same. Although I didn't find any more surprise Snickers bars, I did scarf down the last 3 bites of my husband's Ben & Jerry's ice cream the other day. (Like I said, "hormonal".) Thankfully the monthly swing-shift is now behind me and I can get back on track. ;-)

Oh, and surprise! I dropped a pound even WITH the B&J's. Woohooo! A whole freakin' pound! Granted it's not a lot but it's enough to give me one deliriously happy day! :o]

And here's something else I re-discovered. If I think I'm hungry, when I know I shouldn't be, chances are a big glass of water (or a cup of tea) will cure the hunger pangs. You see, I love to snack on a little something, especially when I'm reading or sitting at the computer for an extended period of time. I don't know why this is, but it is. :) So I found that by drinking something like water or hot tea, I realize those hunger pangs are either a case of boredom or even thirst. Neat, huh? I thought so, too. :)

Unfortunately, I have to cut this short. I have a number of pressing errands to get to this morning. (Sigh) But hey--that counts as more walking, right? Hmm. In that case, I guess I shouldn't complain.

Okay, now it's your turn to share. :) What were your successes this week? Do you have a tip to share?

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's topic: Stress Managment (LOL)

Right off the bat, allow me to admit to my nutritional failures (x's a kajillion!) this week. As I've mentioned a time or two in the past, I'm one of those "emotional eaters" that binges on junk whenever the going gets tough. I realize this is a totally stupid thing to do, but never-the-less, I find it soothing. Until I step on the scale the next day that is. {Yikes} Then I find myself feeling less-than-soothed.

I had been doing so well up until about Tuesday when my plumbing decided to stage a hostile takeover. As my washing machine hit its spin cycle, dirty water would suddenly flow back up into the tub and our single (yes, single!) toilet would overflow. {Nice...} Our landlady--who really is a sweetheart and I totally felt bad for her--came over, along with her friend, Rob who acts as our maintenance guy. He's pretty cool, too. Anyway, they set out to snake the plumbing but couldn't find the house's "clean outs" (ever hear of those? I hadn't until that very moment), so they had to dig. And dig. And dig. Eventually they asked Rob's nephew to come over and help. (Believe me, this was a HUGE undertaking and I'm so glad I never felt the urge to get a blue-collar job!)

Long story short, the plumbing wasn't fixed until 11:30pm. By then, I'd finished off the anniversary cake I'd received a few days before. Trust me, there was waaaaay more than one slice left to begin with. More like three! I was that stressed. (I know that sounds nuts, but when you're going to the grocery store to use the ladies room, or you're wondering how you'll take a shower in the morning? Or do laundry??? Enough said.)

Then the very next day, I received word that my sister had been admitted to the hospital. (She has a severe form of Lupus.) She lives way out in Pennsylvania and I'm over yonder in Washington. This news unleashed another wave of anxiety, which brought on yet another binge, this time consisting of Chicken in a Biscuit crackers, a bowl of Frosted Flakes, and a peanut butter sandwich. In one sitting. At one point Dean--my sweet, smooth talking husband, saw what was happening and asked, "Do you honestly think eating all that's going to help?"

No. I mean, yes. I mean...oh, darn it all!

Later that night, I rode my exercise bike for over an hour and did 4 sets of 20 push-ups. That felt so much better than the food! :)  My workouts both before and since these incidents have been good. I've clocked at least 60 minutes of exercise in each day, plus additional walks (per usual).

Want to hear something interesting and kinda weird? I actually lost 2 lbs this week! {Wow, how did that happen?}

So does anyone else stress-binge like there's an international food shortage or like a bear getting ready to hibernate for the winter? Hopefully not!!!! But if you do, I just want to say that the "power" workouts relaxed my nerves far better than the food and I'm sure it'll be the same for you. Give it a shot next time and let me know. :)

To recap: Workouts--60 mins + each day with the exception of Wednesday (120 minutes +)
                Nutrition--Not good at all. Over-ate significantly and all junk!
                Positives--Lost 2 lbs
                Negatives--See "nutrition"

How was your 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.*


 
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 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.*



Happy Friday, ladies! I just completed the Shoulders & Arms workout (P90X) and am feeling pretty darn spritely, if I do say so myself. I pushed myself a little harder than I did earlier this week (funny what 1.5 extra hours of sleep will do!), and am very proud of myself. I completed more reps with heavier weights--woohoo! Per the prescribed routine, I still have their Abs workout to do but I'll get to that in a bit. I wanted to get this post up first! :)

As I somewhat mentioned, today I got to sleep in (til 5:30am). Dean's OT is decreasing (at least for today) and we could definitely use the break. Not that the extra money isn't needed or appreciated...LOL. But sleep, I've learned the hard way, is quite a necessity.

My workouts this week have been ranging anywhere from 60-75 mins, taking the form of workout DVD's (P90X) and the exercise bike for added cardio. This is of course, on top of the almost daily walks around the neighborhood running errands or taking Sierra and Ethan to taekwondo class.

Nutritionally, things have been going fairly well. I've upped the veggies/fruit and water, and haven't had a single sweet thing to eat all week. Hooray! :) Well, okay--there was 1 peanut butter and jelly sandwich. {Ahem} But it was on multi-grain bread so that's not too bad, right? (LOL) I know, I know. Excuses!

As far as improvements are concerned, I've noticed that my arms are already looking tighter. I'm still holding out for a dramatic "backside" transformation, though. {Sigh} Oh, the pain of being half-Mexican and loving carbs! Did you notice I didn't record any weight loss? That's because there isn't any! :o/

How was your week? Anything exciting to report? Changes, transformations--it's time to share 'em all! :)

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 don't know about you, but for me this week has been incredibly exhausting. Dean's been working OT all this week (and last), waking up at 4am and working 'til 4pm. Now some of you may be wondering what that has to do with me. Well, I shall tell you. It's because I wake up 10 mins before he does in order to get everything ready to wake him up 10 minutes later. (Setting out clean towels for his shower, starting the coffee...and of course, putting on my makeup and quickly brushing my hair and teeth. Ahem.)

So what does glass of whine have to do with my fitness exploits? In a word--everything.

Although I've been consistent with my exercise, my workouts feel incredibly lazy. Forced. Borderline unenjoyable. Why? Because I'm so darn tired. Not even the massive amount of liquid energy I've been consuming (chai) has helped much. I'm often afraid I'm going to drop a weight on my foot (or my head if I'm doing a chest press or something), so I really have to be careful. :o)

Yesterday was by far my best day. I had a nice burst of energy while I was doing the P90X's Legs and Back workout, and yes--before you ask--my inner thighs are a tad sore. I was hoping to feel it more in the backend, but no such luck. Perhaps if I'd pushed myself harder I would've. I admit I went a bit "easy" on myself during the wall-sits and one legged wall-sits. I didn't go down nearly as far as I could've/should've because I was worried that, once I was down, I wouldn't get back up! I'd just keep sinking toward the floor and take a nap. (Hee hee)

Please don't think I'm advocating anyone here to workout past the point of exhaustion. I'm sure I'm getting very little to no benefit by doing this, but I'm the type of person who *has* to workout each day otherwise I feel off-center. Even if I do have to d-r-a-g myself through it.

I've given myself a few (to several) days off in the past during times like this, but instead of being peaceful it only made me feel worse. I couldn't enjoy my day(s) off because it felt like I was "bad" for not working out. Seriously, I would beat myself up with thoughts like "Are you kidding me? You're too tired?", "One lazy day turns into a  habit!", "And now you want a donut?!"

Addiction. It's a powerful thing. :-}

What about you? Are you driven to workout each day? Or do you allow yourself a day off here 'n there? Please tell me I'm not the only psycho.... LOL!

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

Well, this past week left much to be desired.

In my defense, I've been sicker than a dog since Sunday. Therefore, I didn't do--or feel like doing--anything outside of the absolute necessary (like showering or caring for my children--one of whom was sick like his Momma).

My head felt like it's been clogged with cement and pounded with vicious force every time I tried to think, move or breathe. Because of that joy, I didn't get in a single, stinkin' workout this week. {Sigh} And as you're all well aware, getting back on that train's always hardest after being sick. Which means next week is gonna be rough! :o/

On the bright side, illness always destroys my appetite so I've managed to drop a few pounds (hooray!). Too bad it was mostly water weight, which means I'll gain it back with my first bowl of cereal. :o/ (Boo!)

Please tell me the rest of you precious ladies had a better week than I did! I'm already dreading Monday morning's workout. This past week (or rather, the past two weeks I should say!) reminds me of a saying we had back in my ballet days:

If a dancer misses one class, no one notices.
If a dancer misses two classes, she notices.
If a dancer misses three classes, EVERYONE notices!

Let's just say I've missed more than three classes....(gulp!)

So, tell me; how did your week treat you? Were you able to keep yourself in check? Or did you succumb to illness like me?

On a much more somber note, our fellow Fit Mommy, Heidi S. is grieving the loss of her best friend, Sue. This precious lady passed away this morning from cancer. If you get a moment, please stop by and give Heidi a big cyber hug. I'm sure she'd appreciate it. :(

Dancer Health Screenings

I realize not too many of my readers are interested in dancer health. But for the few of you that are (like myself), I found this interesting article in this month's issue of Pointe Magazine. Perhaps if screenings such as this were available back when I was dancing, it might've made a difference for me. Then again, I was pretty stubborn, so I doubt I would've even taken it. But now that I have a daughter anxiously eyeing the prize of a ballet career, I couldn't help but think this was a fabulous idea that was long overdue. Check it out.

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 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!