Challenge Accepted!

See ya scale!

I am part of an online fitness community that is very supportive of each others efforts to get fit and eat right.  We have fun little challenges weekly, monthly etc.  For the month of March we are putting the scale away and I am excited!  Honestly, I hate weighing in..... I feel it sabotages my efforts.  Sometimes I lose, sometimes I don't AND I get discouraged when I don't, even when I see big changes in my body.

So for the month of March, I am doing what works for me- trusting my body.  Eating when I'm hungry, stopping when I'm full, hydrating, pampering and best of all measuring my progress by how I feel.

Today was good ole cardio one.  The first circuit felt easier, but by the last circuit it was as hard as ever.  My shoulders must be getting stronger because kick outs with arm circles are not torture as they once were.  This was my least favorite move, but now it's running man- why does this move seem like an eternity?!?!

Full disclosure..

Today is my birthday and I indulged in a slice of this jumbo cupcake! A huge thank you to my hubby for only getting a cupcake so there wouldn't be tempting leftovers.

To be honest, I doubt I'll be tempted by what's left. I have been eating only organic, healthy foods for about two years now. I think it is absolutely fine to indulge every once in a while, but my taste buds are just different. These days when I have a sweet tooth, I just have some cacao chips or a chocolate protein shake with mint leaves mixed in. Regular chocolate just tastes fake now and I used to LOVE it.

Anyway, workout 4 today. Off to a rocky start. When I say rocky, I mean literally. The warm up includes some balance work and I stumbled a couple times. I love the workout-hollow man is hell, but I am happy to feel some burn in the good old abs- that was missing the first two weeks. Single leg dead lifts--I'll get better. Finished the workout feeling good and there was sweat on my mat. Awesome day.

"Comparison is the thief of joy"..... Theodore Roosevelt

I saw this quote today and oh, how it rings true on this fitness journey.  One minute I am so pumped and proud of the progress I am making and then I search the internet and I see people who are doing the same program losing crazy weight or people who think that the workouts are easy, peasy and I wonder what I'm doing wrong?  Why isn't it easy for me?

Which brings me to this morning, my beloved workout one was replaced with workout 3.   In true Jillian fashion she steps it up.  I had previewed the workout and didn't think it would be too bad, but for me it was HARD!  You start right out the gate with military push ups.  I used to bang those out like no problem, but post baby even the modified push ups were difficult.  But I did the push ups- I think I need to work on getting a little lower and a little faster... but I did them!  Then there is a cable chest press, looks easy and straight forward, but OUCH!   Hello- lateral raises while in tree pose?!?!?  Made it through without losing my balance the first time.  Second round through lost my balance a couple of times. 

The self doubt started creeping in today... it's only the 3rd week and I am struggling.  BUT today was only day 1 of this workout, I have 3 more times to perfect it!  I am feeling it already, so that's good.  Looking forward to seeing how I fare with workout 4 tomorrow.

I have mentioned I am not following the meal plan.  OMG, I made the most delicious superfood smoothie this morning.  Jill may not approve, but I feel best when I start my day with some greens.

1 cup spinach
1 cup kale
1 cup almond milk
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup yogurt
1/2 acai smoothie packet
1/2 cup blueberry
1/2 cup blackberry
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 scoop vanilla protein powder

Uh..... YUMM!!

The results are in...

My goal for kickstart week was to get down to my pre pregnancy weight of 142, this morning I weighed in at 142.5. I'll take it!!! My body is definitely not the same, my ultimate goal is to get to 130. This may or may not happen in the next 12 weeks. I am not able to follow the diet plan 100% since I am a nursing mama. I need another 500 calories a day to make milk, so weight loss is going to be a little slower for me and that's okay!

I am sore today and heading out for a day trip with my guys, oh glorious rest day...

Kickstart.....done!! :)

Oh yeah! Kickstart week is done....BOOM! I sooooo did not want to do the second round of cardio today, but my hubby joined me and we pushed through it. I am so glad this week is over. It isn't so much working out twice a day, it is that I am SICk of that cardio video. I have done it 8 times this week, over the next two weeks I will do it 4 times-- half as much in twice the time. I'll probably do extra cardio if I feel like it, just not cardio 1. I think I have the video memorized.

My "Master Your Metabolism" book came in from the library and I'm loving this book. I have hypothyroidism and I had gestational diabetes so the endocrine angle on this book is fascinating. If anyone else reading this is doing Body Revolution enjoy your rest day tomorrow! :)

Me time....

Working out is my "me" time. As soon as my 14 month old is down for his nap, I push play! I then shower and get ready and by the time he gets up I am refreshed and ready to go.

It doesn't happen often, but some days I'm spent and just need more. Today was one of those days. Soooo.... I treated myself to a pedicure @ the spa . I just realized that it was my first pedicure since a few days before I went into labor. I just kept putting it off, just like getting into a consistent workout regimen. I am DONE putting off taking care of myself. I am a better wife and mother when I just do what I need to do. No excuses!

Oh and I squeezed in workout 1 this morning and cardio 1 tonight. This was my last day doing workout 1. 2 more kickstart days to go!!

Cardio! Cardio!

That would be double cardio day- done!  YAY!  I'm not gonna lie- double cardio day sucks.  I am dreading Saturday now and who the heck dreads Saturdays?  Kickstart is only six days and three are done- I've got this!

All this working out.... is tiring someone out!

Day 2 of kickstart week......outta here!

Okay, so I don't feel like I gave my all to Cardio tonight.  I did Strength Workout 2 around noon, took a 2 1/2 mile walk and got lots of park playing in with this little cutie, and then the hubby and I tackled cardio around 8 pm.

Since workout 2 focuses on the glutes it is logical that cardio would be harder.

Looking Ahead-

So I made the mistake of previewing workout 3 and 4 today since I start those next week.  They look do-able, but there is a move in workout 4 that has me terrified.  It is a one legged dead lift- WHA, WHAT?  My balance is not near where it needs to be for this move.  Soooooo..... I have been practicing improving my balance.  Trying to do as many things as possible throughout the day on one leg to prepare- folding laundry, brushing my teeth, etc.  I am resisting the urge to preview further into the program.  One day at a time.

Tomorrow is double cardio day- whoot, whoot!

Happy Monday ~ 7- Day Kick Start Day One- Done

Booooo yaaa!  Day 1 of the 7 day kick start is done and no, I still haven't fallen in love with cardio.  I did Strength workout 1 this morning around 10 am (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE) and busted out the cardio @ 8 pm.  The husband joined me doing cardio this evening and I think it was a little more than he bargained for-  we were both sweaty messes at the end.

Jill states that suicides are the toughest part of the whole workout, but I beg to differ.  That kickout move with the arm circles is the longest minute EVER!  Out of the 3 workouts that make up weeks one and two, this is my least favorite move. 

I am feeling good right  about the program and look forward to it everyday- but I have worked out with Jillian before I know that these workouts are just the warm up.  The jump in difficulty from level 1 to level 2 in the 30 day shred was steep so I am interested to see what next week brings..... but I want results and "those aren't coming for free people"- ha!!!

I have mentioned the Shred before, so I am going to post my before and afters.  I want to reiterate I am NOT trying to lose alot of weight.  Some improvement in some extra post baby fat and improving my overall fitness level.

Belly Front Before-146 lbs

Belly Front After-144 lbs

Side View Before

Side View After

Introduction- Body Revolution

Whoot! Whoot!  I am very excited to take on Jillian's new Body Revolution Program.  I am a week into the program and am LOVING it so far, though I am sure that will change soon enough.  I officially started on February 13th.  I did not do the kick start week since it was Valentine's day week and I knew I would be busy and not be able to commit to the 2 workout a day schedule.  Starting tomorrow it is KICK START Week--- okay so I know you don't need to do kick start week and I am really not looking to drop alot of weight.  So why am I doing kick start week?  I HATE cardio.  I am a strength training girl and the cardio video is torture for me.  I know it is going to just get harder, so I am hoping spending alot of quality time getting crazy with the cardio will help me grow to love it..... or more realistically not dread it. 

I am a 30 something new mom to a wonderful 14 month old boy.  Wonderful in every way- except for SLEEPING.  So for the first almost 13 months of his life I told myself walking and light strength training would be enough to get my body back, ugh no.  I need to work and I need to work out hard.

Finally, frustrated with being stuck at 4 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight I started the 30 day shred January 3, 2012 and the scale moved for the first time in 7 months!  I lost 2 lbs and noticed a significant reduction in my love handles.  Now I want to keep that momentum moving with Body Revolution!  I am excited to see what the next 90 days bring!!