Tuesday week 2

Well I believe I've been at this for a whole week now.  And I've gained two pounds.  But I'm going to assume that's water or something at this point.  Right?  I did a great job today!  I had a pretty good breakfast, did break and get a muffin at coffee, but had a good lunch with salad, rice and salmon.  A pretty decent dinner too.  Sitting here starving right now but not sure what I can eat.  I need to look up some good after workout/before bed snacks I guess. 

I took the dog for a run after work as rain was forecast and I knew we wouldn't get out after dinner.  It was another 20 minute run, bookended with 5 minute walks.  I feel pretty good about that, it's enough to make me sweat, him pant, and I think we both get a good workout.  It was freaking hot out there, but that's ok. 

The power went out twice, right around baby's bedtime, so he didn't get a bath tonight and it kind of stinky, not much to do for it I guess.  When it came back on I quickly popped in the Firm tape and did the first workout again.  I am better at the choreography, but it's still hard and quick.  I felt pretty good about it though.  I used 3lb dumbbells, which is pretty light, but whatever.  I then did Slim and Limber to cool down and get a good stretch.  That made the whole thing take a bit longer than I would have liked, but I guess that's ok.

Any way.  I'm feeling good and powerful.  Just wish the scale was moving in the other direction.  I know diet is a bit deal, so it'll be the thing to really focus on when I get back from my parents place after the long weekend.  Off to google snacks, and watch 19 Kids and Counting, then get to bed!!

Monday June 26

Today has been an interesting day.  I did not get up early enough to workout and felt bad about that.  I also didn't get up in time to finish making my lunch, so took only my salad and a handful of nuts & raisins for an afternoon snack.  I ended up buying more at work than I had intended to, and therfore eating poorly.  I did better for dinner, having a nice sensible dinner.  And am now enjoying (I use that term loosly) a protein shake.  Well protein in water any way. 

I did great with workouts considering I didn't get up in time.  I took the dog for a 20 minutes jog after work, which was difficult but I made it.  I sweat a lot.  Then after I put the baby to bed I did level 1 of 30 day Shred.  And it was hard, and higher impact than I would like.  But I did it, and I will feel it tomorrow.  HOopefully I will get up early enough tomorrow to do something then, and get in another workout.  It's supposed to rain, so no after work run, but I might be able to do something else. 

I need to get some more protein powder, mine is kind of old, and vanilla.  I like vanilla in things, like a nice smoothie, but on it's own, bleh.  I need to figure out what to do about after workout/before bed snacks.  I know I need to have some protein and think some carbs would be a good idea too.  I'll have to check and see what I can do.  I am always hungry after, so if I don't have something in mind that's healthy, I'll graze and end up eating cheese & crackers, or ice cream lol. 

Any way.  Today was a mixed bag but I feel good, and think I'm on the right track.  Tomorrow is another day, and will be even better!

Sunday

Well today was a good day.  At least I ate well, lots of veggies :-)  And the weather cleared up so we were able to go for a walk this afternoon.  It was HOT!  But good.  I also picked up Jillian Michael's 30 day Shred, and a Firm compilation dvd at Indigo.  I'm looking forward to trying Jillian tomorrow morning, 20 minutes is doable!  Well it should be any way. 

Thankfully the postal strike is almost over too so I will be able to get something new if I want to, and the lovely lady in the US will be able to send me the DVD's she was going to give me.  I should be able to put together a nice little rotation with all these.  I could do 30 straight days of Jillian but am thinking I'd get bored with the same person for 30 straight days.  So I'm thinking of alternating that with the Firm's I got yesterday, and throwing in the new ones I got today on the weekends.  I can do my short yoga workouts in the evening, and will still walk after dinner of course.  I think it will be a nice little balance, and as I get more into it, and happier doing the workouts, I will want to do more and longer. 

Lunch is mostly prepped for tomorrow, I need to put together my snacks and cut up an apple or something.  Hopefully I can stick to things and do well this week.  The weekend will be hard since I go to my parents for 4 days, so workouts won't really happen.  I should be able to get some walks in, weather permitting, and do a workout Friday morning, and Monday before bed.  Once I'm back from that there are not more vacations until early August.  So I can devote some time and energy, and plan things a little better.

Good luck to me for the coming week, early mornings, and 20 minute workouts.  I feel a bit relieved that it's only 20 minutes, even having done one of them already, and it was not easy by any means.  I don't think Jillian will be any easier.  But I can do anything for 20 minutes!  Right?  :-)

Day Five

I think it's day 5 any way.  I didn't do a workout yesterday, and ate rather poorly, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  Today has been good.  The weather wasn't so great, so we went to Walmart to kill some time, I managed to find Firm Ignite Calorie Burn and just finished the first of the two workouts.  It was pretty tough, but good.  I think after I do it a few times I'll get the moves a little better, I was two left feet lol. 

I got some great suggestions for workouts, and a very lovely lady is going to send me two when the stupid postal strike is over.  I can't wait to get them :-)  And there are a few on amazon.ca that are good prices I might look at getting as well, though I might wait until I get the ones from the lady is the US and see how they are.  They are all short, up to 30 minutes, and either circuits or cardio plus weights in other variations.  I am hopeful that I can get up to do 20 minutes in the morning, and maybe 30 after work or after baby goes to bed. 

I ate fairly well today, well started out badly I guess but ended up good.  I'm having a hard time with that, I just love food, especially junk food and bad for me food lol.  I'm better than I have been, but still not great.  And I'm noticing that when I workout hard, I seem to want to eat more. 

The weather cleared up enough this afternoon to get out for a short walk, 30 minutes, it started raining on the way back but we made it home without getting too wet.  The weather has cooled off a bit any way.  Hopefully tomorrow is good.

Day Three

Today was an interesting day.  I had a hard time getting up to workout as I had a very bad headache.  I blame the rainy weather.  I finally did get up but it was too late to workout.  I had a good breakfast, and took some pain killers which helped a lot.  I packed my lunch, very healthy stuff, and got ready for the day. 

I was not so good at work, I ended up getting a BLT, even though I shouldn't have!  I was so hungry.  Does working out (even if I missed this morning's workout)  make you want to eat more?  I hope that's temporary because it'll kind of defeat the purpose!  I also ended up getting an extra coffee (with sugar and cream!)  So I ended up trashing the day.  To cap it off I stopped at Burger King to get supper on my way home.  And then got sick after eating it... So maybe that doesn't count? 

I did just finish a workout though.  And went for a walk after dinner.  It was very hot and humid so the walk wasn't as far as I would have liked, but it was decent and the dog enjoyed it.  He is now hiding in his crate because there was some thunder an hour ago... Any way.  I did Kathy Smith Timesaver Lift Weights to Lose Weight Lower Body workout.  20 minutes, very efficient and it felt good.  I'm still a bit sore from the other day, and am hoping that gets better over time. 

I am wishing I had the time to do Slim in 6.  That is a workout I know works, but it's an hour long and I don't have an hour straight.  I'm wondering if I can split the workouts, do half in the morning and the rest after baby goes to bed.  I might look at them closer and see if it would work.  I don't think they'll be as effective that way but at least I'd be doing the ones I like, you know what I mean?  Right now I am just trying basically all of my videos trying to find something I really like... and it's not going that well!  I know there are a lot more workouts out there but I am also trying to save some money.

One funny thing I noticed after today's workout, I like beachbody workouts because they have the countdown timer that shows how much time is left in the section, and in the workout... very handy! 

Tomorrow is another day, hopefully I do well.  Though it is Friday, and that's usually breakfast day at work... which means bacon day... mmm bacon. 

Day Two

The second day went a lot better.  I was able to get my butt out of bed and do the upper body/abs workout (from Project You) and it was pretty good.  I'm still finding it strange that I'm not enjoying weight workouts when I used to love them.  Perhaps it's the speed or something, I don't know.  I'd still like to do a couple weeks of this before doing CLX.  I used 3lb dumbbells for everything, except one back move that I had to drop the weights for.  I'll up the weight on a few things next time but this was a good intro. 

I'm sore today, my abs and butt lol.  I guess that's good right?  I did a cardio workout after the baby went to bed.  Not sure I really liked it but it made me sweaty.  It was Burn it Off from CLX because it was 27 minutes, which fit in the time frame I wanted.  I guess it's a good workout, just seemed odd to me, I'm used to a more steady movement, and this seemed quite stop and go.  But like I said, I was sweaty, so that's gotta be a good thing!

I also ate fairly well today, I did cheat a little bit, which I hate saying, because it's not really cheating to me.  But I had a few things I hadn't planned on.  And the fiber is getting to me lol, so much fruits, veggies and fibre!  My poor tummy is bloated and feels huge... but I guess that's good too!  I wasn't that hungry for dinner, which was nice.  Hopefully that continues!  I really wanted to stop for a burger but I didn't, because my tummy felt too full. 

Now for tomorrow, back to lower body, though I don't know how I'll manage it lol, my legs are so sore already!  I'll try though, hopefully my abs are getting stronger, because they sure feel tight and worked.  They have always been a weak point for me, and after having a baby they are in pretty sad shape. 

Oh, and no walk today, it's raining and while the baby and I could probably do it, he's in a rough mood, and I do hate getting wet.  The dog refuses to leave the house when it rains, and will hold it all day long!  He is right now hiding upstairs in case I try to make him go out. 

Day One

Well I didn't get off to a great start.  I blame the f'ing neighbours who were having a party from 3 to 4am... I had a hard time getting up this morning to do a workout.  I did take my food to work, and had a pretty healthy day food wise, though I got a tea with sugar which I shouldn't have done but I needed some pep!  We went for a walk after dinner, about 30 minutes to do 3k, which isn't the best but could be worse, and it's hard with a baby in stroller and a dog whose an idiot that barks and tries to attack other dogs.  Makes for a fun time!  No excuse but I also had a hard time with my tummy after all the veggies, beans and fiber today... good thing we were outside :-)

I just did Project You: Lower Body & Abs... ouchie!!  My abs are going to feel that tomorrow for sure.  My legs are sore too.  It's funny how I used to love weight training because I found it easier than cardio, and now I'm thinking I like cardio better!  Crazy.  But at least I did the workout today.  I feel good about that.  I didn't use weights today, but feel I can for some of the moves next time, this was more a refresher to review the workout so I know the moves. 

I've got my lunch made up for tomorrow too, breakfast will be the only thing left to chance.  Really it's two choices, and both are good so either will do, just depends how much time I have.  I really want to get up and do the upper body workout in the morning.  I suspect the extra ab work will kill me but I know abs are one of those muscles that can get a good workout everyday.

Now to drink some more water (and hopefully not too much so I don't have to pee all night!) and maybe have a bit of protein so my muscles can recover.  Feels silly to do that after a relatively easy workout, I mean compared to what a lot of people do this was easy.  But I think it still works!

The Beginning

I've decided to start a fitness & weight loss blog to go with my mama blog.  I am hoping it will keep me more on track, and accountable.  And allow me to keep things separate, exercise and healthy eating separate from parenting and all that stuff :-) 

My plan, right now, is to get up early enough to workout every morning.  I am hoping to start with 30 minute workouts, focusing on weight training/toning, since I do almost daily walks after dinner with the dog and baby, that will count as my cardio.  I plan to add in after work short cardio workouts though I might not be able to do that everyday as I have other things to do after work, and a short time to get it done before picking up J from daycare. 

Since today is my last day of vacation, I begin tomorrow!  I forgot to buy some sweet potatoes at the store today, but since Wednesday is pay day, Thursday is quick shop day.  I stop to pick up a few things on my way home, fresh stuff and sometimes milk, that I need to get through to the weekend.  Today I am going to do some prep work, cut up & wash some lettuce, cook some wild rice, find some recipes to make, possibly cut up some veggies and things as well.  Oh, and wash the grapes I bought so they are ready to go (and easy to grab).

I had an awesome book that I really loved, Fat Loss Plan by Matt Roberts, and I loaned it to someone, never to see it again.  It's no longer printed, so I couldn't just buy a copy from Chapters, however, I did manage to find a used copy online, and ordered it.  It came last Monday and is exactly what I remember.  I loved the recipes, and the diet is easy, it's two choices for every meal, plus healthy snacks.  I loved the recipes and the fact it's mostly fish, vegetarian, and some chicken.  That's the way I like to eat, so this makes it easy!  The food is also "baby friendly" though I may add a few potatoes or noodles for him as he is little and still needs lots of fat and carbs.  The book has a workout plan in it as well, but I tend to do my own workouts and just follow the diet.  It worked before, I'm sure it'll work again 

For workouts I will be starting with Kathy Smith, Project You (the original one, not the Type II diabetes one).  I don't care for the basic cardio workout, but the weight training is good and comprehensive.  I'll be starting with that, and possibly using the Kathy Smith Timesaver Lift Weights, which is also an upper and lower body workout.  I'll alternate, doing 2 upper and 2 lower body workouts a week, with probably a yoga workout on one day.  I would like to add in a full body workout on Saturday, but we'll have to see how that goes.  If I have time after work I'll do the second cardio workout, or another short cardio workout. 

So, since I start tomorrow, and baby is currently napping, I'd better go get that wild rice cooked, lettuce cleaned up, and what ever other prep I need done.  My goal is to lose 20 pounds.  I need to lose more, but that is the first, most important goal.  Once I've been able to do that I will evaluate what's next.  Since I do want another baby at some point, I may decide to do that before losing more weight, or I may lose more before that... we'll see when I get there :-)

The reasons I'm doing this, is for my son, and the family I want to have.  Yes I want to look great, and be able to buy clothes from any store, and not the biggest size the place sells.  I want to show my son that a healthy lifestyle is active, and be able to play and run around with him.  I don't want to be the lazy mom who sits on the sidelines and watches.  I want to be out there!