Thursday!

All sweaty and worked out from the Crunch: Fat Burning Dance Party. No, I didn't like it much. But it was a good workout anyway. Why didn't I like it? Just not my kind of dancing.

Worked the waist really well- that I liked. I was going for more cardio than a real strength building workout. I'm thinking tomorrow Pilates or Yoga.

I really am trying to work in more running on top of my workouts... but the timing has not happened yet. With midnight feedings I just haven't been able to drag myself out of bed at 5:30 am. I mean I get up to nurse the baby, but then I think "if I get up now, I'll be exhausted before 2 o'clock!". That just isn't fair to the kids... so it just hasn't happened yet on a regular basis. I go out occassionally and jog around, but it's not a regular schedule yet- which my body is craving.

So tried this - didn't like it... not doing it again. But I tried it out. So maybe I'll try another new one next week, while the Netflix trial period runs- cuz we're canceling before they charge us :)

Don't forget that water - telling myself as much as anyone... yesterday I forgot to drink enough... and because of this I felt a little run down. Couldn't figure out why either - ha! More water!!!

Thanks for reading! Sweat on!

Monday and Tuesday!!

Monday- too busy to type up an entry. oops. So yesterday I did the Best Butt Fast and the arms from the toning video... not completely happy with the arm routine, but it's not bad... still looking for better. great workout no less.

Tuesday! 40 minutes of Crunch: Super Slim Down. I add lots of stretching to the end, I don't think she lets you stretch enough afterward. Now I count this as my yoga too, because it integrates Yoga with Pilates with a dash of ballet. There's a TON of Triangle pose!!! I LIKE it!! Surprise, surprise! I feel the pose getting easier. This video seriously strengthens the core, abs. Terrific workout of my flabby abs. They are getting stronger and firmer!! Having 7 children really does take a toll on this midsection, but I'm slowly getting it to where I want it.

Another thing I am slowly improving, despite nursing all the time, is my posture!! WONDERFUL!! I am really working on posture! And it is paying off. Strengthening my abs and back is decreasing my back pain - which when you're pregnant is almost inevitable. And many many people suffer from back pain. Exercise - Yoga, Pilates, etc can really improve that!!

I am still "looking" for improvements, but I guess I'm just not there yet... my arms don't really look any better, but they FEEL stronger. My bum doesn't look any leaner, but it feels that way. So I'm still waiting for the Mirror to show me what I want to see, but I'll have to wait longer and keep working at it. I have 32 pounds I want to lose. And I know that when I increase in muscle the pounds are slower to come off. That's okay! Slow and Steady said the turtle.

Great workout!! Are you drinking more water?? Great!! The next super easy step to becoming a little more healthy and losing some extra weight is: Replace that extra helping of bread at dinner with another helping of veggies! Salad, fresh green beans, broccoli, something GREEN! Yes, go ahead and have a roll with your dinner. But instead of reaching for a second, put another spoon of peas on your plate. Try this, added to your extra water intake, and see if this decreases what your scale has to say.

Sweat on!!

Friday!!!

Double workout AGAIN! Yesterday if you recall I did That overall body workout, but it REALLY seemed to focus on abs, chest, with a little leg thrown in.

Today I did the SELF: Best Butt Fast again. Such a GREAT workout out for the rearview. And I topped that off with 10 Minute Solution: Target Toning. She has a 10 minute segment on arms and upper back. I stretched it to 20 minutes, and skipped the pushups, cuz I did sooo many yesterday morning. Gotta remember you should NOT work the same muscle groups two days in a row!! Alternating is key.

But all of it, excepting the arm workout is also aerobic. The jumping squats killed my hiney! Whooo! I am sitting here typing this up while STILL feeling the burn. Feels soooo good!

Hopeing to run Sunday morning, since tomorrow morning is out. Maybe Restorative yoga tomorrow? depends, as DH is gonn be gone. We'll see. I am on a roll and don't wanna stop!

You're FABULOUS! Visualize the results you are going for! Keep it up! You're AMAZING!!

Sweat on!

Thursday!

What a great day!! Okay this morning I did Yoga For Health with Jenny Cornero... a little restorative and I felt it working. BUT it was so difficult and uncomfortable... I decided to reqard myself for completing it by doing Crunch: Super SLim Down afterwards!!!

I could FEEL Jenny Cornero's positions working within my body... but they were so foreign and uncomfortable I was very proud of myself for finishing the thing!!! Not sure if I'll repeat that. Maybe I'll try it again just to make sure I don't really like it. ha!

But the Crunch episode was really good. A beautiful mix of Yoga and Pilates with a little ballet thrown in. This one I want!! My core worked soooooo hard. MUCH harder than in the "Ab Blaster" from yesterday. I REALLY feel like I strengthened my core today.

By then end of the second workout I was nice and warm. I am thinking it might improve my opinion if I did the Yoga for Health AFTER I did a workout that warmed me up. Those position may not be so uncomfortable IF my body is warmed up for them... I'll think on that.

Didn't feel good last night, and this morning was a feel good wake up either... but now I feel quite a bit better. YAY for exercise!

Energy - you gotta spend it to get it... a lot like $$. So SWEAT ON!!

Results... and Step One

Real Quick... If you begin working out about 6 weeks after you have your baby will will experience an energy increase. Take it easy at first, a walk around the block, etc. Some recover faster, some slower. Do what you can, when you can make the time and you will feel better. Works for me EVERY time.

Also you get a mood lift!! YAY! Endorphins!

Since baby I have lost 15 lbs, and amazingly about 15 inches. The pounds, for me, are slow to go after a baby. But I fit better into my clothing, and my bigger sizes are falling off now. AND, even though I work out almost everyday, I am still nursing the baby without any problems. The key there is drinking!!

Yes, exercise is important but for just a minute lets talk about water. If you do NO exercise whatsoever yet trying just drinking more water. Drink drink drink. If you have trouble drinking enough water, nursing or not, I woud suggest keeping your bottle of water in your hand as much as possible. You're more inclined to take sips here and there if you're holding it. It's an easy thing to do, and great first step towards weight loss. Just drink more water. However much you drink, drink more. It will help you shed those pounds while detoxing and cleaning out your body.

Start out slow and start out with water!! If you're drinking more water then you are on your way to a slimmer you. You can still drink the pop or juice or whatever, but that does not count towards your water intake. So grab a bottle of water and keep sipping. Refill and keep sipping. Try that for a week. Sweat on!

Wednesday!!!

Self: Best Butt Fast. Okay- I want this dvd!!! WOW!!! That worked my legs in so many new ways and pointed out so many weak areas I think I need to do this workout for months. She also garanteed that if you do this workout 3 or more times a week you will see results in 4 weeks or less. So? I'm gonna try it!!

Ben trying lots of different workouts lately, but this is the first my body could seriously benefit from doing many more times. Felt the bigtime BURNNN.

Great workout... I dunno if I'd recommend this one to people just starting out. The kick boxing stuff was fast paced - fun - but fast. If you're just starting out - watch it first. Then you won't feel like you're stubling so much.

I want this dvd!!! I think I want the other one the Self: Bikini Body Fast. I plan on repeating that one as well. But that was a whole lot slower paced!! This one was F-A-S-T !!

Well, wanna start your day out right?? First get enough sleep! ha ha. We had a REALLY late night last night. Then get up and MOVE into whatever workout works for you!!

Sweat on!!

Monday!

Trainer's Edge: Integrated STrength Training... This dude kicked my booty! I could NOT do one more leg lift, or squat to save my life!! My bum is gonna hurt tomorrow, if not this afternoon!! WHAT A BURNNNNNN!!!! I emptied my bottle of water and need more!! What does all that mean? Great workout!!! I would suggest this 45 minute workout to anyone who wants to get as much work done in 45 mins as possible.

I added a few minutes to the beginning and end. He didn't really warmup so much as jump right into the workout. I like a little slower warm-up, where my body can actually get warmed before lifting weights or doing squats thank you. And I aded some stretches, because honestly, his stretches were lame.

He also tried to add some Yoga into his workout, and while I'd recommend trying that at home, I din't like the fact that he was teaches or showing moves he obviously didn't know anything about. But that's a persona criticism and really makes no difference to the overall effectiveness of the workout... which I already mentioned was Fantastic!

Sweat, sweat, sweat! I lifted weights all over my body, did a ton of intergrated squats, and strengthened my abs!! My abs were crying!! It was great!

Also my hubby told me the other day- "hunny, you're lookin' pretty thin." Need I say that it felt so good to hear??? Didn't think so.

So I feel as though I'm really making progress. As the guy in this workout said, "The goal is progress, not perfection"! Sweat on!!

Friday!!!

I wanted to do an aerobic workout this morning cuz I've been pushing my muscles pretty hard so far this week. I wanted a good sweat and to push my lungs, but lay off most muscles groups today. Something easy for my body to do. So the plan was to get on the treadmill. But our 2 yr old is sick and in our bed. Treadmill will wake her... going to the dr later (which I don't normally do) However I did find something!!!

So much fun this morning... first off let me just say I have always wanted to learn how to dance, and have never had a natural talent for it. I am one of those goofy girls on the dance floor who dances alone for fear of hurting someone but can't stay off the dance floor altogether. Dance Off the Inches: Fat Burning Jam was this morning's workout. The video itself is a 36 minute routine... but I PROMISE I worked out for at least an hour as I needed to repeat several sections over and over again.

What I got hung up on was the box step. She doesn't explain how to do that one- just jumps in like EVERYONE knows it. Well, now I can box step... most of the time. When they reverse it I get a little off kilter. They covered some basic stuff, then Latin steps, then some jazz. I did pretty good (I thought) till the jazzy stuff. I even had to goosle how to SLOWLY get the box step. But other than that I thought I did pretty well! YaY! me!!

I did add some stretching to the end. AND I know I wanted to lay off most muscle groups and did, but this workout challenged my abs. All that controlled hip movement! Fantastic!! When our Netflix free month runs out I may have to buy this one. My only issue is when I master it the 36 minutes is not enough. I prefer to workout an hour or more, unless crunched for time. So we'll see. Maybe I'll find an even better one. But i'll repeat this one for fun I'm sure till I nail all those moves.

Great sweat!!! Just pooring off me. LOVE IT!!

One of the things I'd like to mention is that I've lost another pound!!! I can feel them just melting away now that my muscles are back to a good start. I fit better into my "bigger" jeans... and according to the Dentist secretary I look really good for 7 kids -BEFORE she knew I JUST had the last... so that's encouraging as well. I think one of the key things to losing weight and feeling good while you do it is focussing on all the good comments over and over. Every good thought needed to be replayed in the mind. Mudhamed Ali said that he HATED his workouts, but he wouldn't stopp because in the end he'd live a champion. He succeeded.

Been thinking a lot about dreams - what are your dreams for yourself? Been reading the Magic of Thinking Big... It's really sinking into my skull too. My workout dreams are: be lean, fit, strong, and have loads of energy throughout my days every day! Curves aren't bad, but I want mine a little smaller (built like an hourglass here). I want long lean muscles with lots of strength! I want to be able to run FOREVER! I mean I want to run to town and back if I feel like it (live out in the boonies). And I want to have the energy and exercise and STAY fit all through the rest of my pregnancies. I haven't been able to do this yet. But I want it- and I want it BAD!! I want kicking abs! I don't care if you can see that they're strong, I don't wear revealing clothing. But I want them strong for ME! I want to be able to go out and do ANYTHING I want and not be held back by lack of strength or stamina. So I've had 7 children. Well I plan on having more. But that does NOT mean that I cannot be a STRONG Momma! It does not mean that I have to be soft lie a pillow for the rest of my life. I am strong inside! I want my outside to reflect my inside. I wanna be able to toss these wonderful kids around all the time! I wanna run kites with them ALL The time!! I want to feel light and lean! I also want to teach my girls that Mom's should be healthy anf fit! The average size of a woman in the US is 14-16. The clothing industry has even changed their sizes to make women feel better about their extra weight! A size one from 5 yrs ago is now a a teen size 10!!
I have no desire to be underweight or look like an anoxic model. But I want to look like I feel inside!

So I am thinking this way: I am thin! I AM light! I am Lean! I am strong! I LOVE sweat! I love the burn! It's not pain! It's sensation! It's work! I love work! And I have great posture!

Yeah I just threw that last one in :) But I want that too!

So what are your fitness dreams? Come on!! I used to weight 190 lbs at 5 foot! I have been (in between babies) 120lbs of nice muscle! I can do it- so can you! What do you want for yourself? Flatter abs? Stronger back? Leaner thighs? You CAN have all that and more!! You have to want it bad enough! Then you have to change your thinking. You deserve all this! You deserve to feel great everyday! You deserve to have fun in moving your body!

So move it! And lose it!! Sweat on!!

Thursday!

The Trainer's Edge, Baron Baptiste. Well, It's a lot like Deni Preston's. I enjoyed the flow, although Baron took it faster. I have to slow it down a bit to keep the bahndas, and the form correct sometimes, but no biggie. My abs worked really hard.

Yep, last week all yoga, this week lots of new stuff. I've got some new stuff to try out a bit - so I'm taking advantage.

This one made me feel like I working hard, but not actually straining. Baron put enough lower key poses in between the tougher ones that I felt a slight cool down, and restoration of breath so I could continue with the practice without loosing that very important breathing technique. Although my pc messed up a few times and that broke consentration. It's ok.

Overall, you wanna do a Deni Preston video first, because she goes more slowly over the flow poses than Baron. He just jumps in. It was different enough from Deni's workouts to be intriguing. And like Deni always says- Shock those muscles!!

I would love to be able to vary my workouts more often, but I don't usually have the means. But if you dont' you can get kind of bored with the same stuff over and over.

Good workout. Great start to my day!! Sweat on!

Wednesday!!

I tried a new workout! Self: Bikini Ready fast!! Fun and different. The moves are based on ballet positions and movements. So I did a lot of pliets. Fun. The warm up was fast, less than 5 minutes long. I liked that. The workout was high intensity. so if you're new to exercise I wouldn't recommend it. But I really enjoyed it. Lots of cardio with some weights.

This workout is geared towards toning, not building muscle. But the different positioning of the feet shocked my muscles! whooo!

It's great to change up your workouts occasionally. Shock the muscles. Try new things!

Sweat on!!!

Tuesday!!

Disc 4 workout #119!! Deni Preston and her Aerobics! FABU!!! Love those V-sits, everyone. Don't ya? They KILL my abs everytime! But I know that one day, if I keep at it, they wil be easier!

I can feel that i'm getting stronger and slimmer. I lost another pound. I know, not much, but it is sooo much more encouraging that an ounce a week or so. I know I know. I'm 14 weeks postpartum... I can't lose it all at once after the baby. And I HAVE been petient... I'm just thrilled it is starting to look like my patience is paying off. I am slimmer, according to my pants.

I was at the dentist yesterday (14 weeks postpartum), and the secretary asked how many kids we have. I told her, "7". She almost gasped, eyebrows up and everything. Then she looked right at me over her paper work and said, "You look terrific!!" Awe, isn't that just the nicest compliment I could have gotten!! But then she said something that bothered me... "I've had only 3 and and..." as she motioned to her tummy.

Got me thinking. Yeah, at 14 weeks I have a waist! And it rocks! But this is the slimmest I've been right after a baby. I have recovered more quickly each time than the time before. I have gradually eaten better, and worked out better and more. It's a journey. As I find out more about health and my body I apply that information in my life, after prayer. This is Heavenly Father leading me in the direction I need to go in. Some people may say that exercise is benief Heavenly Father's concern... but is it? I don't think so. He wants us to be happy. He wants me to be happy and to take care of this wonder gift, my body. SO He's going to show me how. He will show everyone how if you look for the guidance He sends you, if you pray about it. If you feel it's worth a prayer, then it's worth The Almighty's attention!

So my pants are more lose, I have 2 that are getting baggy, I'll get to move down a size soon. I have a waist and I lost a pound. Results are happening and they can happen for you too!! Just remember to lose - you HAVE to move!!

I'm all sweaty and in need of a shower! Feels great!!! "Open yourself to the world, because you're soooo happy!" Sweat on!

Monday!

YOGA! Let's face it Yoga REALLY helped lasy week with releasing stress and tension. Terrific! I am beginning this week feeling less stress and much more postive. I feel great, frankly.

So I did Yoga Zona Abs, and both Power Yoga parts. The sebond wasn't intense enough (I felt the heat leaving) so I stepped it up to keep the heat up. Felt terrific.

Yes, I'm a little sore. I also have a pretty good sunburn from Saturday's run... but I feel great anyway!!

Fab way to start my day. Namaste!

Sweat on!

Saturday!

Easy 3 mile run... felt terrific!!! Man, I think eveyone should run. run for fun in the hot hot sun, as Dr. Seuss says.

Got a sunburn... but it was worth it. Best run I've had in a while! Felt great the entire time.

Fab! Sweat on, baby!!

Friday!

Easier workout. Gonna be a great day! Yoga Zone is awesome. Almost as awesome as Deni Preston! But not quite. I enjoy the new tidbits of info they share too.

Flexibility was the thing today. Very enjoyable.

Sweat on!!

Thursday!

Feeling GREAT!!! Yoga Zome's Fat burning double series. Vinyasa, or flow Yoga, similar to Deni Preston. So including the stretching at the end that I added about an hour of work. Sweaty, very warm, happy, heart soooo open. I LOVE YOGA!!

Hoping to go for a run this evening when DH comes home. I've been trying to get my tush out of bed at 5:30, but with midnight and later feedings with the baby I haven't been able to yet. I'm still hopedulf- it WILL happen.

Results? Well, it's coming of very very slowly. I low a few ounces a week. Losing too fast would not be good for nursing, so I am happy with this. My inches seem to be falling away faster that the pounds. I've lost another inch and a half. I've had a waist since 4 weeks postpartum, which is the faster ever. I still struggle to find clothes that fit every morning, I am wearing smaller stuff than I was a couple of weeks ago.

Losing just weight that you gain from lack of movement and over eating is a little different from losing baby weight right after having the baby. In that baby weight goes more slowly. But it does go. I'm not dieting at all. But I'm not a huge fat and sugar eater either. But if I feel like fried fish I have it, and if I feel like a piece of chocolate I have it. I don't believe in deprivation, just sensible eating. I do better on less red meat, more rabbit food, and PBJ's. I'm happy going veggie, or veggie plus a little white meat on the side. So for some a diet changes needs to take place, for others it's not an issue. Whateveryou do- make sure you're HAPPY with it!! If you're DYING for a candy bar, personally I don't think it'' kill anyone to have one. But if your issue is eating an entire box of candy bars I can see the problem. Maybe abstaining completely is better for some. I know when I skip the sugar every watermelon, pineapple, and pear tastes sweeter and more satisfying. Do't ya love summertime when these foods become more available?? YUM.

I am cravng watermelon now :)

Well, I feel a lot LESS stress. We'll see how the day goes and maybe I'll get that run. Looks like rain so probly the treadmill - but even that would be nice. Ever notice how stress makes you feel weighed down and tired? Well I'm feeling more energetic now. YAY! So open and free! LOVE IT!!

Namaste! and sweat a little in your day!!

Wednesday!

More YOGA!! Today 20 minutes of ab work and 20 minutes of Flexibility Focus. I enjoy Yoga Zone. I feels slower than what I usually do... and I think right now for that stress relief that's what I need. I felt my abs getting stronger, whooo. That's a workout on these flabby things. I also saw myself stretching a little more fully, going deeper into my poses - something I've been looking for since the baby.

So I am accomplishing bit by bit, and I think I may be slowly getting the stress relief I am looking for. Very nice way to start my day.

Sweat on!

Tuesday!

Yoga Zone- Total Body Conditioning 2. More challenging than yesterday's... but I think tomorrow I will put 2 of these shorter workouts together. I love the abs! SOOOO good for us mommies with weaker abs from having bebies.

So was it relaxing? Not so much- the baby wanted to nurse in the middle of it, even though I just fed her. So hadda stop in the middle. But I still LOVED deadman's pose.

Not gving up hope- perhaps more relaxation will happen with tomorrow's workout- am also contemplating making time for an evening Relations series before bed... hmmmm. If I remember :)


Sweat on!

Monday!

This is YOGA week!! I need to focus on RELAXING!!! I have been VERY stressed out lately and it is affecting my sleep, moods, overall progress, and work production. So we're gonna try something. Every Yoga teacher tells you that Yoga will help you to relax, as well as tighten your tushy, strengthen your body, and all the other things that appeal to your ear when hearing about an exercise. Yes, Yoga does all of those things... and yes, I have found Yoga to be relaxing. BUT this week we're gonna see just how relaxed I can get with daily Yoga.

This morning I needed something non stressful, and something that doesn't feel like it take tons of energy. And for some reason I have a stomache ache - having them often lately. Working on figuring this out. I also needed something that didn't take long. I feel tired all the time right now becasue of the stress I am carrying around, and these are what I looked for this morning in my workout.

So where did I go? youtube.com YogaZone- Total Body Conditioning. I've got a dvd of YOGA ZONE loaned out right now- so I'm familiar with their style, and like it. 20 minutes of relaxing poses that help slow the breathing, bring oxygen into every cell in your body, and she said it slowed the aging process (and we all know decreasing stress does this) and how breathing more effeciently will do these things. It worked on posture, abdominal strength, and oh my goodness I did Triangle and LIKED it. I dunno, maybe it was the way she talked me into the pose, but it felt more possible today, I felt my abs getting stronger, I felt the beauty of this challenging straight pose. I worked through the entire workout, but it did't feel like working. I'm warmed up but not exhausted. My mindis more focused and clear while I also feel more relaxed.

So this is the beginning of my Yoga week. Everyday Yoga. I am hoping to feel a lift in my mood, and less stress ( a LOT less) but then end of this week. Follow along and I will share each day's results, if any with you. THanks for reading. Sweat on!

Friday-

Errand day so no sweat. Well, except for carrying babies, grocerys, and so on. Maybe Saturday or Sunday I'll do some restorative- I NEED it! Have a great weekend!

Thursday!

Disc 2 Strength Training... I'm tired. But it was worth it.

Remember you need strength training to lose weight too!! building muscle increases your metabolism!!

Sweat on!!

Wednesday!

DVD 1 in the pack. Yoga- strength emphasis. Kicked my booty!! Was WONderful!! Enjoy your day! And remember to sweat a little!

Sweat on!!