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.*


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.*


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.*


Here's the short version of my week:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How was your week, fellow Fit Mommy?

Fit Mommy Friday

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


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.*



I'm so sorry for the delay, Ladies!! Please forgive me. I've been running around like crazy, trying to prepare for our family's weekend trip to Whidbey Island. My in-laws will be arriving shortly to join us. I've been up to my eyeballs with cleaning, packing, grocery shopping--you name it. I'm exhausted and it's not even noon.

To make matters worse, I've been sick all week long with a nasty sore throat and headache. Today the headache has decided to leave, which is wonderful. But this rotten sore throat is really kicking me in the fanny. Ugh!

Anyway, because of my illness I haven't eaten much of anything all week. It hurts too much to swallow so I've basically been living off of toast and herbal tea. I haven't worked out, either. I honestly didn't have the strength or energy to do so. {Sigh} And I had such high hopes for myself this week, too! Bummer...

I think I overdid things last week with getting ready for my daughter's recital and not stopping to catch my breath, even though I could feel this cold virus seeping in. I thought I'd avoided it pretty well when it finally hit me, but then seemed to go away. But when I woke up on Tuesday, it had clearly returned with gusto.

I hope the rest of you have had a better week. Please say you have...?

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.*


Hooray! We've made it through another week, ladies! :) Aren't you excited? Okay, clearly I need to slow down on the caffeine... (Hee hee)

I did pretty good with my workouts, considering my epic failure earlier this week. Ahem. While my upper body (and ego) recovered (believe me--I'm still a bit sore!), I focused on cardio and lower body to even things out...

Monday - 60 mins bike/personal ab routine
Tuesday - P90X (Chest/Arms/Shoulder) = OUCH / Walking
Wednesday - Firm Lower Body workout / Walking
Thursday - Lower body routine/Abs (personal routines consisting of lunges, squats, plyometric jumps, crunches, reverse crunches, oblique twists, pelvic lifts) / Walking

However, I haven't worked out at all so far today. Why? (I'm so glad you asked.) Well, it's because my husband has the day off. Which means I slept in ('til 6:45am).

When I finally rousted myself out of bed at 7am, I had every intention of climbing on the bike and logging in a good 45 mins or more of cardio. (Sounds good, right?) So, I went into the bathroom to get ready (ponytail, brush teeth, wash face a bit) mentally preparing myself for the torture ahead, when suddenly I heard sounds coming from the kitchen.

Sierra was up.

And that, my sweet ones put a screetching halt to my workout.

For those of you who don't know me very well, here's a little secret insider scoop--I don't workout in front of my family. Well, with the exception of my sister. But she's clear in Pennsylvania and I'm all the way out here in Washington. But I digress. Point being, when the kids or husband are up, my workout is over. Kaput. Finito. Finis. Over. Done.

I know that sounds kinda nutty, but it's just how I am. I look at my workouts as my leave me alone time a cherished hour of peace. They're my time to think, sweat, push myself, perhaps even utter a few unkind things toward my TV trainer of the day. :) And I really don't like to be interrupted.

However, I do plan to try to get something in later today. Dean plans to mow both the front/back lawns today, so that just might be my ticket to Fat BurnVille. (Hee hee)

Hmm. Where was I? Oh yes. Nutrition!

Well, I didn't too horribly bad. No junk food, which is great. No sweets. (Hooray!) Still heavy on the carbs and light on the produce though, which is bad. {Sigh} I plan to do better this week though. I'm going to get more fixings for veggie sandwiches and perhaps take a stroll through the local Farmer's Market this weekend to load up on fruit for snacking. That'll be good! :)

Alright, I've taken enough of your time. It's your turn to check in! :)

Oh wait. One last thing. Has anyone been keeping up with the Core Conditioning program? What do you think? Have you noticed any results yet?

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. *


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?

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. :(

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

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!