Let's All Cheer for Adam, Okay Cheering's Over*

We're doing P90X Lean (Week 5, Day 2), and I can't believe that I'm still at it. I am getting to the point where I shout out all of Tony H's jokes before he says them (which is annoying to my husband); and it's starting to annoy me that I have to warm up for every cardio workout with a little yoga ... and I love Yoga! But not in my workout shoes. My mat looks like my dog used it for a chew toy.

I have noticed that my jeans are loose, which is great except for the fact that I have to hitch them up every few minutes so that the crotch isn't riding at my knees. I look like my Dad. He was the real impetus for Pants on the Ground.

What's not working for me: reading the recipe for vegan chocolate on Charlotte's website. It is so easy to make my four-year-old can do it - by himself. Yes, I made some with toasted coconut today. I don't keep Agave nectar, but I did have Pennsylvania Maple syrup. I only used 2 tsp. though. maple syrup is really sweet. I thought that I didn't have any sweets in the house, but with this recipe I do. Ugh.

News on the fridge is weird. We turned it off for a couple of days, but left it plugged in for the water filter. I turned it on for some reason and it works perfectly. So, we're okay for now, Whew! Also good: I still haven't taken the dorm fridge we were using out of the kitchen, so that's 3square feet that I don't have to vacuum every morning. And it looks so pretty sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor. Maybe I'll knit a cozy for it so no one will notice it.

*Obscure Tony Horton Reference

21

21 days of exercise in a row. So, isn't this the point where it becomes a habit again? I'm still finding it ridiculously hard to wake up at 5am. I cannot fall out of bed and exercise, so by the time I'm up, coffee'd and ready, it's 6. So we hurry through our workout and morning to get a couple of us out of the door by 7:30. I'm trying to get to bed earlier; but Lost is on tonight.

This morning was X Stretch. After P90Xing all week, this is the 'workout' I need most. I was standing in front of the pantry yesterday, willing some chocolate to appear when I pondered the fact that "Legs & Back" means "Buttocks", because I am so sore there. It does make for fun conversation with my husband while waiting for services to begin:

"You were so good this morning."
"Yeah, but that part against the wall was really hard, my legs were shaking."
"That's nothing, I can barely walk. My butt is killing me!"

My butt hurt so much last night that hubs volunteered to rub it for me until it felt better. I had to assure him that my bum was fine, yes you can stop rubbing it, and no my chest feels just fine too. With all of this exercise I haven't lost one pound. That's okay, because I have made two batches of rolled butter cookies with buttercream icing and crushed mint candy. I have been pretty good with having at least one fruit/veg with every meal. Now that I'm in a routine with exercise, I need to focus on eating properly. One sweet per day will suffice. It will sure beat the sugar with sugar chaser method I've been treating myself to lately.

Bad news: woke up to buzzing fridge this morning. Had a close call in the summer when we needed to replace a switch (for free). The repair guy said that the compressor could go at any time (over $600 repair). Guess what we're looking at? Anyone want a broken Jenn-Aire armoire fridge? I can't justify the expense. I'd like to try to replace the switch again. If that doesn't work, I'll buy a white junker and give the fridge to the repair guy.

Week 2 - Day 5

Of P90X Lean - Legs & Back. I love what working my legs super-hard does to my heart-rate. Never do I get winded from working on my arms, but this leg routine is a huge cardio-vascular workout. I am one of those annoying people who can't keep themselves from chirping out a few 'woots' when I'm having a great workout. Did this a few times today. Tony Horton - you're growing on me.

- Finally got a webcam so that we can Skype with Gran and Pap (hubs used LogMeIn so that he could set up my Dad's computer- another reason he's a keeper), so put up a new profile pic - I HATE pictures of myself, can't help but notice how tired I'm looking today. It's probably a good exercise in just getting over myself. Ugh!

Out of Shape

The last time I did P90X was 1 1/2 years ago. Back then, I would get sweaty and it would get my heart rate up, but I really didn't think that the program was challenging enough. Today I completed Day 3 of P90X Lean (Shoulders, Arms, Ab Ripper X). I'm just going to say, Ab Ripper X is the proof of how out of shape I am. Last go-round, I would finish all of the exercises, even fit in a few extra, and internally scoff at my husband who had to stop and take breaks throughout the workout. I was him today. Although I have to admit, it's a bit hard to get every rep in while holding a conversation about the intricacies of Lego Indiana Jones with my 4 yr old. (Did you know that Lego Harry Potter for Wii is being released in March? I know. All three of my sons are nice enough to remind me of this every. single. day.) I get a gold star on my forehead for not shushing him, or screaming out from the combined torture of Ab Ripping and Lego-obsessed ramblings.

If you see me today, I'll be the one who is having a hard time reaching for my seatbelt, or putting on mascara.

On it's Way:

Wide health club step from Amazon. Used my National City points for an Amazon gift certificate. Now I can do Cathe workouts on a step instead of a balance ball (insane).

Hubs and I are breaking out the old P90X starting tomorrow. We'll be doing P90X Lean. Not looking forward to Kenpo, it always made my knees hurt - so after a couple of weeks we'll substitute with Cathe and Jillian on Kenpo days. Charlotte from Great Fitness Experiment (and Pink on Oprah) inspired me to do P90X again. If you're doing P90X, don't forget that yoga is 1 1/2 hours, so plan accordingly.

Hey There Shakey Shakey

Go Here. I just finished all 68 minutes of Cathe Friedrich's Muscle Max DVD. It's the featured DVD on her site this week, so it's 30% off until Sunday. I'm having a bit of trouble typing because my arms are still shaking; and I'm a bit worried that my legs will fold underneath me like a newborn foal when I try to stand. Both are good things, because that's what I crave from a workout. Probably part of that no-nonsense Protestant upbringing (thanks Mom!). I love Cathe. Love, love, love.

Healthy Start 2010 - Write It Down

I have a tendency to be completely useless when it comes to personal responsibility. Unless I write it down. So, for me it's time for baby steps, and the most important one for me is tracking. The picture in the post shows the way that I track. The best way for me to eat is the old Weight Watchers CORE method. Any food that isn't CORE gets counted as points. For me that's usually nuts, peanut butter, a cookie or piece of bread. I get 5 points a day to use as I choose - no more. So if I want a piece of cake, it's the small piece of cake and clean eating for the rest of the day. I can do this, and still cook for my family without a PhD, charts, graphs, and third-year Calculus. Otherwise, I'd be eating frozen dinners while the kids eat pizza or some other crap on a daily basis. That's me.

Also really important (possibly more important for me) is exercise. When I exercise, I put a big star on the top of the page and write in what my activity was (as you can see, no activity yet today). I haven't exercised regularly since the kids started school in the fall and I've been spending 4 hrs/day taking them to their respective destinations. Now that wrestling/skiing has started, my personal time just took another huge hit. That's why the new goal is to be in bed before 10pm nightly so that I can exercise before everyone gets up. I've done it before, and though it's not my preferred time to move, I can do it if it's my only option (and it is right now). Today I'm going to park the 4-y-o in front of Dora the Explorer after lunch so that I can do my workout. We're going sledding after I pick up the boys from school on the great hill near Maltby (in this part of MI, you have to actively find hills big enough to sled on and travel to them).

I'll be posting my thought on a Healthy Start to 2010 for the rest of the month. Any thoughts would be really welcome.

Parenting 101

Not a good idea to buy 2 kids a cupcake to kill time between school pick-ups even if you tell them that they should probably keep that information to themselves.

Because when we pick up the third kid, it will be the first thing G mentions to him.

*edited to add: Also, don't take G with you to buy your 10-year-old a birthday present unless you want G to tell 10-year-old about the Lego Starwars ship he'll be getting.



Also today: Jillian's 30 Day Shred and Gilad.

Gilad and Jillian to the Rescue

I haven't worked out in ages. Old habits that I knew were ingrained have just fallen by the wayside. Among other excuses, I haven't been able to figure out exactly where I can fit exercise into our new schedule.

Today, I decided to put my preschooler in front of NickJr (when did it stop being Noggin?) for a bit while I worked out to my hero Gilad, and I squeezed in a level of 30-Day Shred before having to basically run through the shower on my way to pick up Son1 from school. I feel great about not making excuses today.

And I'm calling myself out to keep it going.

I'm making it a habit. Especially because there was cake on Fri for G's birthday, and there'll be cake again for E's big day.

image from Netflix

Get the ball rolling

So, I've managed to overcome a bit of my inertia of late. I managed to work out three days so far this week. Most of my challenge is just getting started. I worked out (Cathe Slow and Heavy chest and back, ow) on Tuesday, then husband asked me to go to the track with him and the boys. I said that I'd walk a couple of laps. Well, I got there and started to walk, and of course the music started to get to me and I wound up running a few miles in my trail shoes. Hubs knows that if I get started, I cannot help myself and have to continue until I get in a full workout.

So that's the idea for the rest of the week. Of course 6 veg/fruit per day, 6 waters per day, and FIVE minutes of working out. Five because I know that if I can just get started, I'll get in a full workout.

Any other tips for just making it happen?

30 27 Days of Exercise in June: Still Going

Let's keep the ball rolling and see 7 days of activity this week.

Mon, June 15: Gilad's Bodies in Motion and Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad Did I do it? Yes I did! Kickboxing and TBS back, chest, abs, thighs. Arms aren't sore from yesterday's Cathe workout.
Tues, June 16: Yoga Did I do it? Yup. Inhale w/ Steve Ross
Wed, June 17: Run/walk 5 miles, upper body Did I do it? Too much rain for the run, so 1 hr on mini trampoline plus a bit of abs.
Thurs, June 18: Jillian Michaels Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism Did I do it? Nah, but I did do 30 min of yoga.
Fri, June 19: Short Run, yoga Did I do it? Stuck inside w/ storms & rain, so Gilad's Bodies in Motion and Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad
Sat, June 20: bike ride, yoga Did I do it?
Sun, June 21: Yoga, Run, or Cathe - depends on T's Father's Day requests Did I do it?

30 27 Days of Exercise in June

Okay. Last week didn't work out as well as planned, but I am going to work out every day for the remainder of June. I finally made a schedule to see how well I can follow an actual plan from week-to-week without having to rebel against myself.

Mon, June 8: Gilad's Bodies in Motion and Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad Did I do it? Yes I did! Kickboxing and Total Body Workout II
Tues, June 9: Run/ walk 5 miles, yoga Did I do it? I did it! 5 mile run and 30 minutes of yoga.
Wed, June 10: Jillian Michaels Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism, yoga Did I do it? Yes I did! Fitness trail w/ kids, Jillian Michaels, then 30 minutes of yoga. I'm exhausted today.
Thurs, June 11: Fitness Trail, and 50 states or playground sprints Did I do it? Sort of, too rainy, so went for Bodies in Motion and Total Body Sculpt. Abs are actually a bit sore today. The first time in a while.
Fri, June 12: Kick, Punch and Crunch, yoga Did I do it? Mostly. Cathe's Kick, Punch, and Crunch after Pens game because I worried that turning the game off would mean that they'd lose.
Sat, June 13: arms/upper body, yoga Did I do it? Yoga (Crane sequence) and Cathe Friedrich's Stretch Max 1
Sun, June 14: bike ride (16 miles minimum) Did I do it? Yeah, Forgot that T had a triathlon at Belle Isle today, so no bike ride. Instead ran three miles, and one hour of biceps and triceps. I haven't worked my arms that well in a while - I think that I'll be hurting tomorrow.

Smartasses, stalking the subdivision, and of course, exercise.

With three kids, I have to say that something I'm very thankful for is that they're not picky eaters and they tell me they really like the meals I make for them. I wasn't so fond of my mom's cooking when I was growing up. It was a real thrill for me to have meat, starch, and vegetable actually appear as three distinct items at dinner. My favorite included anything that didn't leave a thick film of grease on the bottom of the plate.
So tonight I was serving pork with broccoli, lemon, and capers over wheat cappellini and as I was rounding the table I nearly tripped. I said, "Whoa, if I died you guys wouldn't be able to eat any more of my good cooking." My oldest (9) deadpanned, "We'd be okay - there'd still be leftovers from tonight."

Last week was a good one, T was in Vegas for work, it was nice to spend time alone with the kids. When either parent is missing, it seems like the morning routine is so much more streamlined, so we were able to get out of the house for school in much less time with much less confusion. There were lots of great conversations with the older boys that seem to sprout up more when only one parent is in attendance. Just before T left, we got an email from a couple of neighbors telling us that there was some kind of wild animal loose in the neighborhood, that one of the kids had found a bunny missing its head and shoulders (on Easter), and that a cat was attacked and managed to survive. The vet who performed surgery on the cat said that it definitely wasn't wounded from a domesticated animal, maybe a fox or wolf. I was hoping that there wouldn't be any bunnies for the dog to find, and since a rabid fox attacked someone in our town last fall, I was worried that the animal might be sick as well (why else would you not finish your Easter bunny?).

Exercise: So far this week, I've completed yoga everyday, and we took the kids for a short (8 mile) bikeride after the rain on Sunday. I had fun with Bodies in Motion and Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad today. Gotta get the youngest to bed, I hear him sneaking back downstairs.

Exercise as Motivation

Getting a pretty good start to the week activity-wise, but because Easter brought with it lots of candy - food's going to be a pretty big focus for the rest of the week. I've really been missing the yoga that I practiced a few years ago. I've been so into the so-called "power yoga" that I've lost some of the more contemplative nature and deliberate movement of the yoga that I fell in love with. So, for the last two days, I've given 1/2 hour morning and night to a slow, deliberate Hatha practice. I'm already noticing an increase in flexibility.

Easter was really good - the kids loved their baskets despite the fact that the Easter Bunny made some significant cutbacks. Oldest got the third Diary of a Wimpy Kid book (bought with Borders coupon) and Pokemon cards with his bit of candy; Middle found an Indiana Jones lego set (on sale at Target but on his wish list) along with knitting needles and yarn. Baby (who's now three) is also really into the legos, so the Easter Bunny gave him a lego firefighter set along with some pastel Pla-Doh.

We took the kids to (UU) church. This is the first time in their lives that they've been to any kind of church on Easter. Does it sound like a back-handed compliment to you when someone tells you that your son is "all boy?" Or do they intend it as a comparison to your other son who prefers to dance shirtless in your living room so that he can show off the designs he made with his tattoo marker?

This week:

Sun: One hour yoga and 4 mile intervals

Mon: One hour yoga, Total Body Sculpt, and Bodies in Motion

Tues:Kids go back to school! 30 min yoga, 5 mile run, 30 min yoga.

Wed: 30 min yoga, triceps, biceps, back, chest - TV where Priscilla was TiVo'd suddenly isn't working - look for some yoga online tomorrow.

Thurs: 1hr30 raking yard, 30min yoga, Cathe Friedrich Bootcamp.

Fri: 30 min yoga, fitness trail and walk w/ kids, 30 min yoga.

Sat:4 mile walk w/ kids, fitness trail,

We're back

Okay, after a week of family wide ....Gastro-Intestinal issues, a trip to Pgh, and lots of coughing and sneezing - we're back. While most of the family was in the throes of vomit and the other thing that comes with that type of illlness, I was smug in the assertion that I was Superwoman and nothing could make me sick. I was so wrong. Five days of "GI illness" and I was left feeling like a deflated balloon.

Yesterday, I finally was able to get it together enough for some much needed exercise. Since it was so nice outside (after the weekend's 7-8" of snow melted) the whole family headed to the track with footballs, running cones, and iPods for the grownups. I definitely misjudged the weather as I ran/walked in the frigid temperatures that start as darkness begins to fall. I stopped a bit short of my intended 16 laps because the whole family was cold, tired, and NOT enjoying themselves.

so here's the exercise I have for what's left of this week:

Thurs: 14 laps intervals on track. Lungs burning from cold air and lack of exercise for over a week.

Fri: Gilad's Bodies in Motion and Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad

Sat: Lots of scouring antique stores for a couple of particular things that we needed for Easter, no exercise.

Now I'm off to get the needed supplies to finish Easter Baskets and something cute for the new neighbors. Trying to decide whether to make them cupcakes or cookies. Made adorable cupcakes for Boy2's birthday last week with marshmallow peeps on top. Might do that.

Sitting on my ass and eating won't make the economy better March 22-28

I've just had to take over the finances in our house because my husband's terrible money handling skills have us in a hole so deep that it will be a decade before we even see the light of day. Also, do you know that I don't believe in charge cards, and don't have one? But I just found out that hubs does, to the tune of $60,000. Idiot. Also, how is there a company-wide paycut while you're still working 75hrs+ per week? Because of our financial situation there is no extra money for child care - so get f'ing home sometime so that I can get a job that pays in money, and the kids actually know what their Dad looks like. Also, enjoy your trip to Vegas next month for 'work'.

Exercise
Tuesday: Gilad's Bodies in Motion/pretty old one with the guys sporting waist-deep armholes and women wearing belts on their leotards. Also, Total Body Sculpt/as always lots of lunges, functional moves.

Wednesday: All Star Workouts: Core workout w/ Petra Kolber.

Thurs:no

Fri: Gilad's Bodies in Motion and Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad

Sat:Gilad's Bodies in Motion and Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad

Food -on plan
Mon-yes
Tues-yes
Wed-yes
Thurs - no - Had a nasty turkey reuben for lunch that probably had a gallon of mayo and almost no turkey. Cost for sandwich and cup of coffee $12.75!
Fri -yes, despite heading toward the pantry a few times, super healthy eating with lots of fruit and veg, and a great piece of wild salmon for lunch.
Sat - definitely not enough fruits and vegetables or water

Exercise - March 15 thru 21

I can't believe that it was actually 60 degrees today! I took the opportunity to go running outside, then drinks with the ladies - it was really good to get out without hubs and kids.
Here's how the week looks:

Sun - 5 mile run.

*Mon - 1 hr yoga (Inhale w/Steve Ross)

*St. Patrick's Day - 5 mile run; then 2 1/2 hrs. at Kensington walking around lake, playing on playground, and fitness trail with the 3 boys.

*Wed - Cathe Friedrich Pyramid Upper Body

*Thurs - Boy2 spent the day becoming the vomiteur - so no exercising, but lots of scrubbing, disinfecting, and herding rest of family away from Mr. Contamination

*Fri - Boy 2 still puking

*Sat - off/ is it normal for husbands to work 75+ hours/week while taking a company-wide paycut?

Exercise - March 8 thru 14, 2009

Okay, since I stopped recording my exercise weekly, the activity has been lacking. More than any other time in the last four years of my life. So, welcome back weekly exercise logs.

Also, there has been much baking going on in the house. It started with bread, then beer bread (amazing when made with a Yuengling Black & Tan), then I needed to make a cake with chocolate buttercream, and finally today a dark chocolate cake with mocha and vanilla buttercream. I don't know if it's the weather, the economy, or what that's creating this pervasive funk around the house; but cramming baked goods down my throat definitely won't make things better. So, in honor of the dark chocolate cake, here's my exercise for the week:

Sunday - Gilad's Bodies in Motion, Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad, and 1/2 hr. yoga (went through a series from a book - yawn).

*Monday - Gilad's Bodies in Motion, Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad

*Tuesday - Gilad's Bodies in Motion

*Wednesday - Gilad's Bodies in Motion, Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad

*Thursday - Off

*Friday - Gilad's Bodies in Motion and Total Body Sculpt

*Saturday - Total Body Sculpt Plus VII

Exercise is not all I'm going to write about, January 25 - 31

* Exercise is not going to happen.

Came back from Boyne today. Didn't want to leave, but luckily it kept getting colder and I was running out of hand warmers. Also, no fitness classes on Sunday, so I missed my chance at Pilates or Spinning at the spa.

This week, I'm looking for six days of activity. I want to do the 30-day Shred, yoga, and one more day of treadmill. If I can fit it in, Gilad and Cathe, and possibly some P90X. I'm starting to get a cold, so I'll try to knock it out with Airborne, water, and saline nose spray. Here's how it looks:

Sunday - 4mile run on the treadmill, arms, and abs.

*Monday - Spent the day in bed with two kids home from school sick (suspect the oldest took advantage of my weakened state with some acting). Fever, headache, chills, congestion. Not feeling guilty for taking the day off.

*Tuesday - Woke up with the bed drenched in sweat, so worst of it is over. Middle son still home sick. Still feeling crappy - so we're all eating soup and as it burns to breathe, I'm not exercising today either.

*Wednesday - So, apparently it's dangerous or something to workout with the flu. So, taking a break until next week.

*Thursday -Flu

*Friday -Flu

*Saturday -Flu

*(edited to add) -

Exercise will make me stronger, January 18 - 24

So, skipped some days last week but had a great day yesterday and did some yoga before going to the UU church today.

Goals for this week: skiing Thurs, Fri, Sat, at least one day on treadmill (meaning I need to make a new (good) playlist NOW), at least four days with Jillian Michaels, and one day of yoga. If we're going to Boyne next weekend, I'll probably get in some Pilates or spinning too.

Sunday - One hour of yoga (Inhale) before church. 1hr,20min shoveling snow while T watched the Steelers get ready for the Super Bowl.

*Monday - Total Body Sculpt w/ Gilad and Level 2 of 30-day Shred.

*Tuesday - One hour of yoga (Inhale). 45 minutes on stepper while watching Real Housewives.

*Wednesday - Off

*Thursday - 30-Day Shred Level 2

*Friday - 5 hours skiing.

*Saturday - 5 + hours of skiing. Didn't mind that it was 11 degrees because I was wearing 9 hand warmers.

*(edited to add)