This Blog

So I was trying to decide what this blog should be about.  I obviously started it to keep myself accountable and hold myself to my goals in the 30 Day Shred and that idea was shot with the addition to Baby #2 on the way.   I am pleased to say, however, that at 30 weeks, I am still below where I started when I initially started the 30 Day Shred.  So even during pregnancy watching what you eat and moderate exercise is a great idea!  Summers in Arizona are not the best time for working out or long walks, but after a monsoon a walk in the wash is enjoyed by all!

Anyway, with baby #2 on the way I was trying to decide.  Am I a crafty mama?  Should this be a DIY blog - no definitely not!  I am an okay copy cat but I fear there would be more epic fails than I care to admit if I did a DIY blog.  I am not a crunchy granola mama and I prefer the CTFD method of parenting over any specific style (though I do have to remind myself to do just that sometimes!)  So what kind of blog should this be?  I decided I had no idea, not enough expertise to blog about any one thing, so this is my blog about stuff...

So that is my plan.  I am going to blog about stuff.  I know, I know.  It sounds very exciting and you are at the edge of your seats.  However, I hope to change your minds soon!

Follow Up on The Shred

So on day 4 of the 30 Day Shred, we were bowled over to find out we were expecting a new addition in October. About 1/2 way through the 30 Day Shred, I was told by the doctor due to some complications I couldn't do 75% of the exercises required. So that was the end of the Shred for a moment. Now, we appear to be in the clear! So while I do require some modifications, I am going to at least continue with the weight lifting portion of the workouts. After all I have a bridesmaids dress I need to fit into in July despite that I will be 6 months pregnant at the time.

Another happy note is at this point I am down 15lbs from when I started the 30 Day Shred.

In the meantime, I have 6 more months as a Mommy to one before I become a Mommy to two little munchkins!

Day 12 & 13 Aftermath

Level 2 pretty much sucks.  Though I did notice I was able to do 90% of the exercises today as prescribed. Day 11 and 12, some of the planks were done using my coffee table so they were a bit easier.   I did a couple walking push ups instead of walking planks.  I did my plank twists at the end.  I am noticing my back and knees are killing me, so with a lot of the jumping cardio, I am having to substitute.  The skaters dont bother me, mountain climbers (on the coffee table) are fine and I can do plank jacks (except after chair squats and v flys my shoulders want to snap off, ugh!).   I rotate through those and punches from level 1.

Anywho, I promised hubby we would all go for a bike ride, so that is what I am off to next.  Phew! 

Level 2 - Day 11

Hello Anita, my old friend!  Wow.  That was worse than Day 1 Level 1.  The only thing that makes it okay is knowing that day 20 will be better.  I dropped my weights several times and felt like a clumsy oaf trying to learn the moves!  Any else have feedback on Day 1 level 2?  I am sure I will be sore tomorrow.

Day 10 - Level 1 Complete

I feel very accomplished today.  Level 1 is done!  I even noticed the without conciously meaning to I was following Natalie on most exercises.  I havent been sore in several days.  I finished all the exercises and yesterday in the mirror I felt ever so slightly better about my stomach and butt.   

I had asked hubby to help me with staying accountable and all.  I mentioned suggesting my sugar free pudding if I mentioned ice cream etc.  Well he probably wont be a good accountability partner in that respect anymore.  He had cleaned up after our Super Bowl get together and on Monday I wanted a snack.  I thought some left over guacamole and a few tortilla chips would hit the spot and he wouldnt tell me where the chips were.  I almost bit his head off.  Oops!

Tomorrow starts day 11 of the 30 Day Shred and Day 1 of level 2!

Day 9 Aftermath

So yesterday was Sunday, the Super Bowl and I was having stomach issues, so I deemed yesterday my day of rest.  Upon looking at other blogs, I see that occasionally other people took a day off and the following day proceeded, however typically they counted their day off as one of their 30 days.  To me that seems like cheating.  I know a day off isn't ideal, however if it needs to happen so be it, jump right back up the next day and keep counting.  However, I do not think you should count a day off.  Rant done.

How about that Super Bowl?  Honestly, I didn't really care.  I started off rooting for the Ravens because they were the underdog and then after the black out switched to the 49ers because they were making a good comeback.  I am much more of a March Madness fan.

Day 9 was a little stinky.  I am still not 100%.  However, only 1 more day of level one kept me going and I got the workout in before 8 am which helps me feel like I start the day off right.  My least favorite is still the side lunges and anterior raises.  I did some yesterday during the Super Bowl just to stay in the groove, but I probably needed to do more because my arms still wanted to fall off.

Day 8 Aftermath

Everything was working against me today.  Hubby had to be at work at 8, C woke up at 7:45, so I had to workout and try to keep a 1 year old entertained.  (Thank goodness it is only 28 minutes!  At one point I had to fish dog food out of her mouth).  Then all through Circuit 1 the video was doing a weird skipping situation.  It would keep the counter going but the picture and sound were frozen.

Luckily Circuit 1 is my least favorite!  So I just did the amount of each exercise I had previously done during that level and I still feel like my workout was good.  My left arm is really sore! Weird.

Right now C has decided it is NOT nap time and she is currently SCREAMING in her room.  I think I am going to cave and bring her downstairs to cuddle.  I was really hoping she would nap for a few minutes this morning so she would be awake and pleasant when I have to go show clients a few houses.  Looks like she is going to nap while we are out, meaning I will get nothing done.

Day 7 Aftermath

Level 1 is starting to become routine.  I did my (modified) pushups without a break.  Just boom, boom, boom.  I even followed Natalie for some things. 

After the workout I was curious what level 2 was going to look like.  Should I start dreading it now?  So I peeked ahead.  Honestly it looks like it will be fun to changing it up a bit, there are some cool new moves, but I am sure it will really suck.  I bet I will be begging for level 1 back halfway through Day 1 (or especially day 2).  However, I have to imagine by day 7, it will probably seem like today, a bit of a routine.  Which is exciting because the only reason I can imagine for not dying through every part of this like I was the first few days is that my body is getting stronger!

Keep up the good work if you are doing the 30 Day Shred as well!  Week 1 is done!

Day 7

We have now been home from the Netherlands for over a week.  I have been diligent about working out every day for the past week and I think C is finally back on our time.  Yesterday she took 1 three hour nap, which she takes if she doesn't get in a morning nap.  She was a pleasant baby/  There were days this past week when she would scream if you put her to bed, scream if you picked her up, scream if you set her down and when you tried to play with her you needed to change games every 90 seconds or she would scream.

Today I am a tiny bit sore in my right quad.  Why only the right one?  No idea.  To balance it out the left side of my neck is a bit stiff/sore.  I have decided I love these few minutes of me time while hubby is getting ready for work and C is still asleep.  Since hubby is a chef, and a bit too dedicated, his work days easily average 12-14 hour days, 6 days a week.  After C was born we had a little talk when he worked 28 days straight.  I was home with a 2 month old and it had been far too long since I had time to shower. He has been much better since, however he is still a perfectionist and working as Chef of a luxury resort takes a lot of time. Our trip to the Netherlands was a bit of a wake up call for him about how much he was missing.  He has worked hard to try to keep his days to 10 hour days and tries to take 2 days off a week.  Yet here we are 9 days after our trip and no day off yet... Anyway, its 7:36 and time to cut the jibber jabber and get to work before C wakes up. 

Day 6 Aftermath

So this morning I woke up with an incredible headache.  C slept through the night and took two naps yesterday, which was a miracle but my head is throbbing this morning.

Every single time I did a jumping jack I wanted to punch Jillian in the face.  So let's just say Day 6 was hard.  I needed extra pep so I put on the Pandora work out station again and just did it.  As much as it sucked I did it.

As an interesting side note, check out Natalie at 12:30(ish) during lunges and bicep curls, when the camera starts to pan to Anita, she does two bicep curls without lunges.  Not that she really needs them, but if I were in a room with Jillian, I would be afraid!

Another interesting note, I worked hard today but I am sweating less than day 1 or 2.  Still need a shower, but not drenched.

Alright, Hubby just brought C downstairs so its time for me to get something for the headache and start the day. 

Day 5 Aftermath

Yesterday threw me on an emotional roller coaster.  I won't go into detail just yet, however it gave me every excuse in the book if I wanted to stop.  So I woke up this morning and debated.  Do I continue? Last night C decided to start screaming at 12:45 and finally I brought her in with us.  She fell asleep and around 2:30 I tried to put her back in her own room.  She caught me and ended up in our bed all night.  Typically that would be fine, I liked the extra cuddle bug after yesterday, however at 6, Hubby's alarm went off and he pushed snooze 4 times!  The first three times C went back to sleep, time 4 was just once too many.  So I didn't get as much sleep last night as I would have liked and I was tired... So do I continue?

 I'm in this. However,  I needed some extra pep, so rather than listen to Jillian, I turned on Pandora's hip hop workout station and watched the video without sound.  It was great.  Day 5 is easier, than day 4, than day 3 and definitely than day 2. 

The bicycle crunches I attempted to modify and did then on the edge of my coffee table.  It was waaaaaay harder!  So I kind of "phoned" that part in.  I also didn't stretch because C was tired of watching mommy jump up and down and begging for attention. 

Day 4 Aftermath

Day 4 is done before 7:30am.  I love knowing that.  Otherwise I would dread it all day until it was done.  Now it's done.  The coffee is brewing and *hopefully* I have 30 minutes until I need to get C out of bed.

My thoughts after Day 4's workout:
I want extra stretching at the end.  (So I did a bit)
By the end of circuit 3, I agreed with Jillian that it was easier than it was on Day 2.  Please note I said easier, not easy!
Today I hated shoulder raises just a little bet less, but circuit 1 just as much as ever.
 Thank Heaven it is still January.  Opening the door to let that frosty air in was delightful as I worked out!

Day 4

Good Morning!

Last night I stayed up until 9pm, so I am getting a little more in the groove.  C slept yesterday until 8:30 am.  That is her normal wake up time!!!  However she has not napped for the past two days making afternoons fussy.  I even tried laying her in her bed and letting her cry but she throws out her pacifier, we call him Clifford, (I love WubbaNub.  She got him at 1 month and he is a lifesaver!) and her bunny and then wails.  Why would she throw out her comfort items?  It doesn't hurt me...  I let her cry for 45 minutes and even gave Clifford and the bunny back once but it didn't help.   So I got her up and yesterday was Day 2 of no naps.  I hope this doesn't become a thing.  She is only 1, she needs at least 1 nap, preferably (for me) 2.

Day 4 of 30 Day Shred!  I had my first comment on the blog last night.  I was so excited.  It encourages me that not only do I need to keep it up, but I should also keep posting.  Today my legs are sore, but less so.  My arm pits no longer scream whenever I pick something up.  The new sore spot is my neck and I would classify it as more stiff than sore.

I also weighed myself this morning, despite the fact that I hadn't intended to until the end of Level 1.  After a minor heart attack (NEVER EVER EVER use a $5 Ikea scale on carpet.  It will add 25-30#) I lost 3 pounds.  3 Days, 3 lbs.  I know that trend will not continue, but I like it for now!

Day 3 Aftermath

I still only counted "3 phoning it in"s.  Maybe it just seemed like more day 1.

I really hate shoulder raises but of the three circuts, circut 1 is by far my least favorite.   I don't know if it is because I know I am only just starting or if it is the push ups and jump rope, but I dread it.  By circut 3 with those evil shoulder raises at least I get to do chest flys and I know I am almost done.  Plus when I am just about to quit miraculously Jillian says 5 left, so I power thru.

Day 4 is tomorrow... I am dreading it a bit.  However, I am definitely less sore tonight than either of the past two nights.

Day 2 Aftermath and Day 3

So we got to go visit Oma and Opa over in the Netherlands for C's 1st birthday.  It was incredible.  We didn't tell anyone we were coming and showed up on the doorstep on the Day of Oma's 60th birthday.  Then 1 week later they celebrated C's first birthday with us.  We went to the Blijdorp Zoo, which was amazing even in the snow, and the next day had a small "feest" with the Dutch relatives and friends.  Unfortunately, there is also an 8 hour time difference.  So when we arrived in the Netherlands it took C nearly a week to sleep thru the night.  The way home, 5 days ago now, was better.  She cried the entire first night (and we let her because my husband had do work and I am useless as a parent without a bit of sleep).  Night 2 she slept until 4 am, at which point we were all awake anyway so we got up.  Night 3 and 4 (Days 1 and 2 of Shred) she slept until about 6:30.  I could handle that.  Right now it is 7 and I have yet to hear a peep.

The only problem with all this is, I have gotten myself on this senior citizen routine of falling asleep shortly after I put her down, typically around 8 pm.  The hubby always harassed me about being a grandma.  He is a chef, so once C goes to bed at night, I am the only one home and awake so I typically straighten up and go watch TV in our bedroom until I fall asleep.  Normally that is 10:30-11:00ish.  Not this blue hair time of 8pm I have now adopted.

The one benefit is I wake up early and can do these workouts first thing rather than at naptime, because man oh man it makes me sweaty.

Yesterday, I was sore.  No denying that.  However, it was not the I can't get out of bed or walk up the stairs sore I have on occasion experienced.  For the workout, I only counted three "phone it ins" but I know there must be more.  I was distracted trying to breathe.  By the end of the warm up, I was breathing a little hard (Day 1 I did not experience that).  I had to drop for 2 seconds during one of my push up sets.  They were modified but I did 5 regular first.  I also had to shake out my legs during the squats at one point, but once I got going it went pretty well.  On Day 1 I had to drop my weights and just do my arms for the last 5 to 10 shoulder presses and yesterday I did them all.

I am headed down to do Day 3 before C and the hubby wake up.  I am sore, but its getting better.  If anyone else is doing it, I think Day 2 is a hump day.  You are sore and not yet in the grove.  Find a way to do the workout and move onto Day 3.  After that it will start to become routine.

Day One Aftermath

Since the baby was asleep I decided to quickly run downstairs and do Day ones workout right away.  Here are my thoughts as the workout progressed...

"I wonder how many times Jillian Michael says 'phoning it in'?"
"Shoulder raises suck"
"I wonder if I should turn the AC on, even though it is January and I have the doors open"
"This 20 minute workout doesn't actually finish until minute 27 on the DVD"


Looks like I made it just in time... I hear some fussing from the room next door.

Day One

My daughter turned one last week.  A whole year has gone by since the days she was born.  It is absolutely unbelievable.  We've survived.  Sometimes it wasn't graceful, but we made it.

I waited a year, so why blog now?  Honestly, it is because of that stupid scale.  I have avoided it as much as possible my entire life (even when I look back at pictures and realize at that point I was remarkably thin), but this past year I have dreaded that evil little metal box sitting in my bathroom.  So here I am.  Ready to do something about it. 

I've gathered up a few friends and we are going to partake in Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred.  Want to join?  The more the merrier.  Level 1 for 10 days, Level 2 for 10 days and then level 3 for 10 days.  About 20 minutes a day.  Easy?  I bet it's not.  I've watched the biggest loser, Jillian Michael's doesn't seem to understand easy. 

Measurements are important so they say.  Perhaps even more so than what that scale says.  The results aren't pretty, but that's the reason for all this right?

Bust 39.5
Chest 36
Waist 34
Hips 42.5 (I died when I saw that)
Thigh 27 (a little more dying inside)
Arm 14 (ugggh!)
and that dreaded scale read 188 - not much less than when I gave birth and much more than I was before this darling girl was a flicker in my eye.  So here I go.  Let the adventure begin.

This is Day 1.