Juice Fast Day 4

Well, it looks like my fast is going to end early. This evening in fact. A birthday got rescheduled to tomorrow, and cake is not a good idea as a first food after a fast.

When I started I didn't take any of the dates into consideration as I mentioned in that post. But looking back I'm glad I did it. One of the effects of a juice fast I forgot to mention was the tongue thing. Day 2 always (for me) starts clearing out toxins and impurities, and it shows on my tongue. I end up brushing much more often to get the film off. By the end of day 3 my tongue is clean and fresh and more sensitive to flavors. Always nice right?

I don't feel guilty, I got a feeling this afternoon that it was time to end this fast. Ending it now feels right. I'm having difficulty getting up the interest in solid food, so maybe I'll wait till morning. We'll see. Maybe this is all my body needed this time. Maybe next time will be longer like I expected this one to be. Maybe not. I'm okay with being wrong. Incorrect. Mistaken. I'm flawed. A LOT! I'll start with something very light and a very little of it. And when it comes to cake time, my slice will be oh so tiny, but our daughter won't feel like Mommy's not excited for her birthday and cake.

So, thanks for reading along with this fast. Thanks for the support on this blog too! You are all terrific!

Results IV

Real quick, I know I haven't done this when I scheduled it, but I haven't made the time. This morning though I took the time. After about 3 weeks I have lost one pound. One. *sigh* I am building a lot of muscle though.

On the brighter side I have lost 4 1/2 inches. YAY! Yeah to some it seems that the loss is slow, but sometimes it is. I am determined to be happy with any and all improvements. To show that I am building that muscle, my arms show a loss of 1 inch!! So working at those wings is paying off. Another place I have lost is my waist. Nice. Muffin top!! My flub is decreasing in size! Slowly yes, but decreasing!! A big reason to celebrate!!

I now fit into a pair of jeans I have been keeping in the recesses of my closet for several years, bound and determined to wear some day! They show the tiniest bit of love handle, but I can live with that. It will only remind me what I need to work on. But these jeans feel so good to get into!! They are my "skinny" jeans, and every girl has a pair, they're about a size in a half smaller than the others that were falling off. But it's hard to tell with the different size/shape/cuts now. I'm one size in one brand and another in a different brand. They're smaller- that's the point. The actual size on the tag doesn't matter! What matters is how you feel about them and yourself!!

Me? I feel great!!! I like looking in the mirror a little, which is novel for me. I was never a conceited teen, or into makeup and stuff when I was young. I feel like I am starting to see the real me in the mirror. It is also the real me when I am with child. It's the in between that's so NOT me. And this extra weight I have kept on for so long isn't. So my glances in the mirror are revealing the me I feel I am to my eyes. It's pretty neat, and terrific for my self esteem!!!

Keeping working, girls! You're as young as you feel. You're beautiful! You're gaining in strengths and striving for your potential! Sweat on!!

Day 4 Juice Feast

Alright, am doing really well. Alert, woke up earlier today and felt good about getting out of bed! Did my workout and still feel really good. Lots of energy. I'm liking this.

My stomach has made some noise this morning, but I don't feel hungry. Thirsty. I feel thirsty. That yoga show today was quite a workout! So I need to replenish my fluids.

But right now I feel ready to start my day! Diapers, laundry, errands, and everything else. It's a good day!

Thanks for reading!

Friday! 105

Yoga Lunge Series!! WOW. That was a LOT of work! I noticed a couple of things with this series of lunges. After each lunge, in downward facing dog, my entire leg felt warmer and the muscles felt much more loose, which was very nice. I did mostly intermediate poses with a couple of advanced. But some of the advanced required more strength or energy than I had this morning. So, I honored that and enjoyed a wonderful practice.

This really was a great episode! The balancing poses were FUN! Some I had never done before. One lunge position asked the advanced to wrap their arms about their quads and link hands. I admit, I wasn't up to it. By the time we came to that pose my breath was pretty choppy, so I kept it down so I could restore my breath.

I want abductors like Amy's !!! She's the blond in the front. Deni said that she worked at it to get that openness I witnessed this morning. I was still in a beginner's pose on that wide leg stretch! My abductors are stubborn. Always have been! If Amy can do it, I can, right? Something else I wish everyone would notice about Amy and those like her. She is NOT a string bean. She's not heavy, don't get me wrong. She has a lovely figure. But she is not the stereotypical size for yoga. Don't you hate stereotypes? A lot of people seem to think that yoga is only for those tiny little fairy like builds. You know, the small boned, skinny things. It's not. I love how Amy is an example of this. She is very strong and very flexible. She is a great representative of those of us who have lots of curves and do yoga! Like Deni said on the show today, it took work to get there, as flexible and as strong as she is. We can do it too!

Thought for the day: How you are right now is perfect! We work on improvement. But right now is fine. Tomorrow we may be somwhere else, and that will be perfect too. As long as we are working towards a good goal, where we are right now is perfect. Wonderful word. PERFECT!

Juice Fast Day 3

Hey, everything is goin well. I woke up with loads more energy than I've had in a week. I think this is my wake up call to pay better attention to my diet. Last week or so I wasn't being too picky about what I fed myself, so long as it was quick. I slept better last night- YAY! Ya know, minus the baby waking us up 2-3 times, but she went back to sleep easily.

So benefits so far? 1- better sleep (which blesses the sleeper with more patience!- I had been wondering where all of mine went!) 2- More energy

Today was pretty busy, didn't have time to juice anything raw, so I drank a store bought Veggie/fruit mix. Lots of carrot juice in it, apples, etc. This evening I'll juice something organic though. Now while a lot of people frown on the store bought juices, as a busy mom, you gotta do what ya gotta do.

A note: like store bought juice... I started this kind of thing not by starting with JUST juice. I had to wean myself of the emotional attachment to solid foods. I would start my day with a protein shake, or smoothie. Drink loads of water, a little bit of juice and another protein shake. Then I would eat something solid. A bagel, some toast, a little soup, something light. I would do this for a few days at a time. Then I began doing these little fasts skipping the solid foods. The protein shakes help control the hunger, and they saw me through those days. I built up to about a week. Then tried a 3 day juice only fast. No I did not start this with juice fasting as the goal. I *felt* I should try looking at my diet. But I needed to clean out my system first. No, I NEVER fasted when pregnant (except when my stomach revolted), or nursing. Only in between those times did I try cleansings of any sort. But if this is something you wanna try, you start it however your body and mind can handle it. Skip one meal on a day, see how it feels, go from there. I did not just JUMP into this!! It was a slow process. And now? A smoothie in the morning is the BEST! I'd rather have that than bacon, eggs, and grits any day!

I feel really good. I started noticing this yesterday afternoon. When nap time came and I was content to fold laundry, instead of sneaking in a nap myself. Today, Instead of napping along side the 3 yr old, I've caught up online, made bread, read a homeschooling magazine, and figured out dinner plans. So I have to say this is a definite improvement. Reminds me of the last time I fasted... on the last day I felt I didn't want to go back to regular foods. It feels really good to go without. I guess that's when it turned into a juice feast instead of fast. Maybe this will help me to make some needed dietary changes, as I figure out whatever it is that was weighing me down.

Anyway, Day 3- Very Very Good!

Thrusday! Total Body -114

I rose with the sun! Lots of energy today. So as I followed Deni and her class through this Total Body (general) workout I was having lots of fun. Lots of step exercises in this one. A few of them took me a couple tries to get right. And the muscles I worked yesterday, were not the ones targeted this morning. The cardio was fun though, even with the complicated steps. It might be easier to follow if I wasn't using the tall linkin log box, oh well.

We worked ABS!! OOOOOH! So good for my 6 babied belly. When I do the V-Sit I keep the very tips of my toes on the floor. Have to, or an earthquake transpires and I fall over. But it used to be my feet, and before that I was just leaning back a little. So progress is taking place. I have faith that eventually, I'll get my legs up there and be able to hang out as long as those strong girls on the show. Plank!! I LOVE plank. It is such a challenging pose! Then the side plank variation. I have never seen that one before. It was fun to learn. Tough to do. Works your body good.

As always the stretches are a perfect compliment to the workout. So, thanks, Deni. Great episode! Afterwards, I rushed out with our eldest girl to milk the goat! Ha Ha. Just strikes me as funny.

Fast Day 2

Oh my goodness!! I had a moment of weakness!!! I made my kids brownies for snack... and I popped a piece with an almond in it into my MOUTH!!! Even as I chewed and swallowed I felt guilty!! No, no, no!!

Okay, recoup. I'm calm, I've accepted it. Gosh I need a drink of water! So I drank some water, accepted my weakness and decided to refuse all other temptations of solid food with a piece of gum. There- bad stomach! Chew on that!

Okay, the first two days are the hardest, especially in the evening for me as that is usually when I realize I hadn't eaten all day and grab a bagel from the freezer. So I'll get through the night with more tea and wake up with less urges.

Here's me getting more gum :)

Oh! And I thought it was about time I posted a pic of me. Here's ME, in my John Deere shirt .

Wednesday- Exercise and Fast Day 2

Treadmill warm up then weights. I worked and stretched for about an hour. But not pushing myself. I'm not feeling my usual energy level. So that's it really. If I feel up to it I'll get on the treadmill again later. Or maybe I'll try to catnap again.

Juice Fast Day 2- got hungry last night, but drank some Tea. Usually if I drink something hot it'll con my stomach into thinking it ate something solid.

This morning, fruit juices only. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apple, lemon (touch). Yummy. Later I'll do veggies. I just really wanted the blueberries this morning. I am drinking lot of water and tea (infusions). The infusions I am drinking are chamomile, RRL, echinachia, mint, that kind of thing.

Some of you may be wondering if juice fasting induces constipation or diarrhea. Nope. And if you try it, your bathroom experiences will show you it doesn't. So? Happy Fasting to me.

Juice Fast Day 1

Almost over. I slipped though. I was making a new recipe for Gluten Free Biscuits (lots of allergies at our house), and didn't think about it when I popped a piece in my mouth to taste. Come on! Every mom has to taste what she's gonna force her family to eat, right. I realized my mistake after I swallowed and felt this heaviness inside. Darn. Oh well. Honest mistake. I drank some water and went on with my day.

Day 1 Rule, whenever you feel hungry DRINK. I talk to myself. "I'm not really hungry, my body is just thirsty and confused." So I drink and feel better, my stomach satisfied. Drank some fruity juice this afternoon, apple, mango (yum!), lettuce, and pineapple. Scrumptious.

I mentioned before how I count calories, I don't during a fast. It's pointless, as I do not consume more than 500-700 a day. Remember this is a fast. Fasting is all about cleansing, allowing your insides to heal, rebuild cells, flush out yuckies, thatsortofthing. So, yes, we're talking about abstenence... of food! Just food. Other things you can go all out on! For instance: we went on a hike today, I got to read a few chapters of a book while rocking a baby, and I actually snuck in a catnap (with a 3 yr old on me, but still rest is rest). So during a fast, yeah sacrifice sure, but only of one thing! Everything is fair game, baby!

Okay that's the first thing I have noticed about my fasting affects- my mood has improved. While my body is releasing a lot of gass and schnuck (2nd thing I noticed), my mood is really good. Gas, it happens. Even if you were to change your diet to JUST fruit in the morning then graduate to veggies in the afternoon, not getting into meats until later, at first your body would be relieving itself of extra toxic gas. Been there. Done that. So, it's normal. And did you know? The average person passes wind (I'm so tactful;) an average of 13 times a day. Better out than in, right?

So, no big deal. Day one- it's all good.

Juice Fast

Don't panic, I've done them before. It's not as detrimental as folks think it is. As a matter of fact it's not detrimental at all. It's a great way to detox! And feeling tired lately - giving my innards less of a challenge 24/7 sounds like a good idea. The main reason I'm doing t0 though is because I *feel* I should. Now if you don't know what that last line means, please disregard, I don't think I could explain it well.

I know it's Tuesday, who begins things on a Tuesday? Well, I do. I NEVER wait for the end of the year to begin something and I never wait for the beginning of a week, or month, etc. I make a decisions and just run with it. While I do research and form my own educated opinions - If I seriously thought out all of the outcomes, or possible consequences and challenges I doubt I'd have 6 kids, or even leave my home.

Now The first time I did a Juice Fast I went for 3 days. This got rid of a stubborn candida infection. The second time it was a week. The third time was 10 days, I think. Numbers are not my strong point. Anyway, I'm not sure of the length of this, I never am. I just start when it *feels* right and stop when it *feels* like I should. But I think this one might go for 2 weeks. I started taking in more fluids than solids yesterday, and today I used a borrowed juicer of a friend. My children enjoyed helping. We mixed some carrots, celery, radishes, and half a tomato. Mmmmmmm. You have to like celery though.

I do not do these close together, and I do not use them to lose weight. I actually don't notice any weight loss during the few I've done in the past. But if I do this time, I'll mention it here. As I will be extra hydrating none of it will be fluid loss. Bowels will empty thoroughly, so that may count for a couple, which will be gained back when I start solids again. Anyway- I'll let you know if anything significant is lost long term.

One more thing about the juice fast - I am looking forward to lots of benefits. More mental clarity, better sleeping!, better memory, spiritual benefits (can always count on those!), and day 3. Day 3 is the BEST! That's when you lose the craving for solids. Well, if you're not emotionally tied to food. That brings me to a note: If your head's not in it - DON'T DO THIS! It will be agony! You'll feel desperate for solid food before you begin! So do a head check first.

Hope your enjoy the fast from a spectators point of view. I'll try to update everyday, but no promises. I do have 6 kids, of the human variety. See pic above :)

So My thought for the Day: Yum! Juice! Carrot is my FAV!

Tuesday- 108

Okay going on a little over 4 hours of sleep... I'm an insomniac lately. Call me hormonal, I really don't know what the issue is. Maybe it's my cycle coming up soon. I need to be longer in between babies to figure this out. However, even though I'm low on sleep I feel pretty good.

This morning 108- Basic Flow, everyone! Something I really liked about this one: Deni gave a heads up. Telling the class 3 Sun Salutation B's, afterwards we'll go into plank, 3 more breathes, and so on. So it was easier to stay in time with the class on screen, as I wasn't looking up all of the time. Honestly, I don't look up. I'm not the ones on TV, so it doesn't matter if I'm out of sync. But I did enjoy the heads up anyway.

I am becoming more and more flexible all of the time- YAY! I am learning to really enjoy big toe pose, and that hand under the foot thing. Feels good now, instead of just bearable.

Good episode! Hope you enjoy it too!

Monday!

TREADMILL!!! 2 hours, YES! Nice easy pace. Goal: increased energy level. When I was done and stretched I felt much better! Feeling tired lately for unknown reasons, so I figure it's best not to push myself. But yesterday I didn't do any exercise, because I was so very tired... but my mood went down hill. It was harder to stay cheerful, so today I HAD to do something to keep the optimism going, but not use up all my energy and feel like the walking dead the rest of the day. The treadmill is my friend.

Thought for the day: Take joy in the moment. Forget about the errands, chores, dishes, laundry, or whatever is waiting for your attention. Enjoy the moment. We only get this one once. There is never another one just like it. Lesson I am always trying to learn. Joy in the moment.

Sunday

REST. Rest. And Rest some more.

Saturday

Busy morning, got a little yoga in to warm up my muscles and stretch out real well. I'm too tired to do anything beyond that. Maybe I'm getting something. Oh well. I'm sleepy, think I'll catch a nap.

Friday- 106

It is Friday, right? After milking, and getting breakfast into the oven I got into it. Yoga: Balancing. This one showed me two big things to me. 1- My triangles are improving. 2- I am really tired and should get in a nap today if I can.

We have a busy morning planned, so conserving energy is in my (and our) best interest.I enjoyed it, and would have more so if I hadn't been so sleepy. It's rainy and chilly this morning, and my muscles reflected this by being unusually tight. Especially my shoulders. But all is well, as there are many ways to modify yoga poses to be more comfortable. Like I mentioned the other day, sometimes I'm able to go into the advanced poses, sometimes not. I approach the poses, and allow my body to be "comfortably uncomfortable", not pushing it too far. Tree Pose has always been a favorite.

Even though I was fatigued I did enjoy the stress releasing effects of the poses. And I must admit I appreciate the appraisal of my body it has given me for the day. I will know better how to go about my day, conserving energy and not expecting more than I can give. The benefits of exercise are nonending, aren't they? Sweat on!

Namaste.

Thursday - 107

Like I said I can't go in order. This morning I was up long before the sun, to milk a goat if you can believe it. We have several goats, one of which is a dairy goat who just freshened a few days ago. So, I got to get up and milk her before working out. It also gave me a chance to start breakfast early. Since we have a busy schedule today, it's a very good thing.

107- is dubbed on the package as Aerobic - Total Body. It's not Aerobic. Okay the warm ups are mildly aerobic, but it's Strength Training!! One of my FAVS! Because I worked so hard yesterday, I didn't work quite as hard as today. This episode has the calf lifts, OOOOOOHHHH! "like it's painful"! It is!!!! But worth it! I was not blessed with long sleek calves, but rather short dumpy ones, and they are looking nicely leaner and longer. No doubt at least it part, due to these movements. The aweful leglifts, I've mentioned before. Do them!! One day you'll look at your rear view and be grateful. I did add a couple of extra tricep moves, but I'm trying to get them up to par. Now, I think I need to more actively attend to my pecs! Pec push-ups are hard! The tricep push-ups are easier! Ab work was also in this one with inner thighs. Ooooh. But the stretches Deni tacks on after each difficult workout make up for the effort. You say, "oooooh!" when doing the hard stuff, then "aaaaaahhhhhhhhh", when stretching.

Our computer is up and running, but we haven't transferred the pics yet, so the blog will be sadly lacking in interesting pictures for a bit longer.

Thought for the Day: Paint your nails, give yourself a home facial, take a long bubble bath, whatever you like to do to feel relaxed and feminine. Do yourself a favor and pamper yourself sometimes. While you're trying to slim down, or toughen up, remember that we are soft and girly for a reason. Enjoy that. Appreciate the curves. You are a woman and you are beautiful in your femininity.

Sweat on!!

Wednesday Day Run

Treadmill, nice easy bout an hour. The children had a movie night and they watched Barbie and the Pegasus, or something like that. I cannot watch something that mindnumbing... and I don't think we'll bring anything like that home again. But on the bright side, it did give me an excuse to get on the treadmill. Sweet.

Wednesday -103

Yoga with Strength Emphasis. Wow. This was challenging. I think my favorite thing Deni said on this episode was, "Let's all drop to our knees into Child's Pose"! My breathing was excellent for this practice! Probably because it was difficult. I find my breathing quiets or lags when I am not pushing my body.

I had to pause my practice at least 3 times. Twice to kill those darn spring bugs sneaking into our home and once to clean a bum. None of these "breaks" lasted long enough for me to cool off, so it was okay! I hate getting warmed up, having to stop... then going back to warm up AGAIN! The warming up is not the fun part!! It's like I have to work twice as hard to get to the good bit,

Wag the Tail, I am a beginner. Twisted Root, I am intermediate. Dolphin - big time beginner. Man, my triceps need work! But there are other poses in which I am advanced. Every one's body is different and we should never expect the same level of ability for all of these poses.

I noticed last night after my comfy jog that my flexibility has increased. Standing forward bend, I can put my head to my knees. When I started I was so lacking in flexibility I could barely touch my toes. This morning, I find that my Dandasana, Staff Pose, is WAY better! When I tried it the first time, I was pushing on the floor, but didn't go anywhere. Now, my hippo gets 2-3 inches off the floor. So cool!

This was a really good episode. I feel a little tired, but I know after I eat something the energy will come back. I got good and warm and pushed myself, while honoring my current limitations.

Thought for the Day: We all complain about out bodies, our limitations, or flaws, and our bodies never say a bad word about us. Our body's never stop working because it gets offended, it just quietly does it's best to do the tasks we put to it. It never betrays us. When it breaks down, it is due to some outside force, or more usually due to our own treatment. Let's try to honor our bodies in a similar way. Let's try to take better care of these shells that do so much, be more accepting of their trials and weaknesses. We do it for our friends, don't we? We forgive and forget, we comfort and help. Perhaps if we do these things for these husks that do so much for us, we might like ourselves more.

Fat Day...

Do Skinny People have "fat days". I just feel plumpy dumpy today. It's not a logical thing, as you all know. It's irrational, it's vanity, it's ANNOYING! So... in about 20 minutes I am getting on the treadmill... Why, you ask? No, it doesn't make me feel thin. No, it doesn't make my 33 yr old body look any different nekked in the mirror (thank goodness I don't stare at THAT very often!). What running does do - It makes me feel GOOD! Go endorphenes go!

Now that I have admitted to myself that this is a hobby, don't think I've ever had one before, I have eagerly gone out of my at the library and found a book... about running. Just the physiology of it is fasinating. I have a hobby! And it's not feeling bad about myself! I have a hobby! I like it, I love it! I want some more of it!

I know I have a hobby - what do I do with it? I once asked a new friend, "So what happens now?" Her confusion was obvious. "I mean, I haven't had a girlfriend, like ever. Now that we've decided we're each pretty cool. What happens? It can't be like being friends with a guy, who has got a very different goal once he discovers he likes a girl. What do girls do to have fun together?" Yeah, I know. I'm pretty backward. That happened when I was 26. Our friendship ended fairly quickly. I'm just wierd. So, back to the - Hey I'm clueless!- question. What does one do with a hobby? I've been into this getting fitter thing for years now, longer than I've had any friend, except Hubby, and I don't know what "normal" people do about it.

To those of you who are my girlfriends: ummmm I'm not THAT backward anymore!!!

Tuesday

Easy Peasy jog on the treadmill. I thought my legs would be screaming, but no. They were tired, but not mad. So I warmed up by a nice leisurely jog, stretched, did some bicycles and called it a day. I dunno how long I ran. I just did until I felt I'd had enough and was ready for my day.

Off to feed the heathens, dress and do errands. Gonna be a great day.

Thought for the day: It bears repeating. Breathe in, breathe out. Enjoy it.

Monday- revisited

This evening I caught a bug and HAd to run 3.5 miles. So I did, when hubby got home. I should NOT have. Because my legs had not fully recooped. Bad me. Ah, well, ya live-n-learn. So tomorrow I'll jog rather sedately on the treadmill. I'm seriously thinking about trying a 5K.

Not sure. The idea of running with a lot of people is kind of intimidating. Maybe I could find a friend to go with... would that be better? I just feel like I should try it. So I guess I'll start looking round to see what I can find locally.

Even though it hurt, I enjoyed it. I think I'm a closet masochist. I refused to walk even a tiny bit of it on the way home. I got lost in the beat of Sting's Sacred Love, and only in between the songs did I think about the ouchness of it. I loved it. Yup, I am definitely a masochist. I can accept that... I'll just learn to revel in it. If you're gonna be somethin, ya might as well make the most of it, right?

I wonder if I could go the full 8 miles again Saturday. hmmmm.

DVD Here!

Way COOL! Wow, when I bought it, I had no idea it had so many discs! 7 Discs! $25'n change, including tax and shipping. Very Cool! Thank you, Deni ! ! !

Just Glancing over the episode guide on the back I have already done, and recorded thoughts on episodes 101: Basic Flow and 102: Hi-Lo. So I think I'll skip those, although I will go back and do them again. Also, there is no kickboxing episode on this. So sad, as it's like my fav ever! I know I sound 16. But right now I feel pretty darn young, so humor me.

Tomorrow, I'll be on the treadmill. However, the next day I'll do episode 103? Maybe, it's subject to change - do not expect me to go in order. I can't. I'm some kind of organizer's nightmare, ask my husband. My home reflects this state of mind. I'm improving a LOT, but I am still terribly organizationally challenged. And doing things in order, it's just possible for me at this point in my life. Maybe when I'm 80. Maybe then I'll be able to follow the directions in a manual, or organize my house, or be able to stay within the box. But, I have had many many people just about weep at my inability to do "things by the book". I was a Navy disaster, it was amazing I left with honors. So, please, forgive me, but I will undoubtedly go out of sequence.

Excitement. I will, probably, put this in tonight and scan a few of the episodes before deciding on a few to start with. Excited! OM, goodness. I bought something for me! Can you stand it?

My husband mentioned once that he prefered my trunk with more junk. I told him, frankly, "I guess it's a good thing I'm not trying to shrink it for you, Babe". Apparently the message sunk in, cuz the other day he told me that I worked hard for my booty, and he'll be happy with whatever I'm happy with... provided he can't ever count my ribs through my shirts. I think I can accept that. As IF, right?! The goal is not to look anorexic! What is the goal? A Healthy and Happy body. What does that look like on me? Not sure yet. Let you know ;)

Monday- Hi-Lo

I got online this morning as the sun was coming up, with a sneaky 2 yr old sleeping on the couch, and as quietly as possible I did Deni Preston's Hi-Lo Cardio workout. Liked it a lot. Low impact on the legs, and with mine still aching from Saturday I wasn't about to push them. This episode was a little tricky with the footwork. I will need to do at least one more time soon to get the steps down. I may have been better able to follow the steps if I had been able to turn up the volume! But I have to wait for the other pc for that. This is a handmedown laptop we've got hooked to the TV in the Tv room (which is an extension of our bedroom, where the baby still sleeps-hence the additional volume complication).

There was push ups, ABS!, jumping jax, boxer jump rope, lots of hams, and some weights on top of the Hi-Lo work. At the end I added Tricep weights and some bicep curls. I like to get all of the upper body in one day if I can. Since the babies were still sleeping I did it. I also added some extra stretches. I did extra leg stretches, and arm stretches. I ALWAYS add a spinal twist if there isn't one, and there wasn't today.

Like I said, it was fun. Also, with my legs the way they are, I enjoyed the lighter work. It warmed everything up nicely, but didn't force my hippo into high gear.

I LOVE the blond girl in the front! I love the intensity. She's the one I follow usually. Fun! I will be doing it again!!

Sunday- Restorative Yoga

My dvd still isn't here. I'm growling you just can't hear it. So, on BYU TV, yesterday at 5 am, there was a Total Body workout with Deni Preston. Restorative Yoga. And, boy, did I need it!

Well, pigeon, after yesterday's run had my thighs in agony. But before I began my thighs were pretty unhappy. Now? I can walk around without pinching pain. Pigeon is worth the tears! The knee/hip circles felt good, but my hip popped a lot, which was disconcerting. Other than that it was just pretty restful. When I first did pigeon I hated it. Now? I certainly see the need for it and appreciate it accordingly. Now, if only I could grow to like Triangle. It is my least favorite pose.

I'm bouncing up and down on my calves enjoying the lack of tightness in my leg muscles. Planning another run next Saturday - and the day after Pigeon. Definitely a good combo.

Thought for the day: Challenge yourself, but set yourself up for success. Set goals you can achieve within a short time period, so you can enjoy the success rate, improve your self confidence and self image. I doubt I'll ever be able to do a split. So I can accept that. But after 3 years of running and 2 babies, I can run 8 miles in 60 minutes without stitches in my side, or being out of breath. Golly, I'm gonna have ti think pretty hard on what I want my goal to be. Running 8 miles wasn't the goal- 5 was! Hmmm. I was certainly set up for success there.

Namaste!

Saturday!

It's spring, my hubby's home... so outside I run!!! My first outdoor run this year! I got my sweatshirt, water, cd player, headphones, and STING. Talk about inspirational running music. I love Sting! The pic is the scenery. ha ha.

Okay, hold your breath. I've not timed or measured myself for a LONG time. But the last time I did it was before the last baby and I ran 4 miles everyday or so. I was going for 6 today. Surely after running on the treadmill, I could take these hills for 6 miles, right? I got to my 3 mile marker, a graveyard, and looked towards the next marker. I kept going. I thought, that's not so far. Here it comes... I ran 8 MILES!!! More than that, I ran 8 miles in less than 60 minutes!!! I figured, it's been so long since I ran these darn hills I'd go 10 minutes a mile. But no. Yay me! I did better than I hoped.

My hippo came along, and burned during every uphill climb. I have a trick with hills, maybe it's common. But I'll tell you anyway. When taking a long drawn out hill I keep my focus point about 3 feet in front of my feet. Then as I glance up closer to the top I run faster. I just kick it in high gear. Yeah, my booty's an engine. Then at the top I do a little dance and keep going. Sometimes the dance is mental, sometimes it's not. Today I danced almost all the way back from my 4 mile marker singing along with Sting.

Gosh I feel great about this! I started running, jogging, whateveryoucallit 3 yrs ago. I walked/ran at first. I was pregnant, then postpartum. Gradually I was able to run the entire time. I stretched distance instead of focusing on speed. However, amazingly enough I have gotten faster. A LOT faster. huh.

Now I'm still not very fast, but that's okay. I'm not racing anyone but me. And if I was, it wouldn't matter. I'm not competitive, something people have complained about, but I am hopeless at changing. But on that note, I would like to find some kind of run. Like for cancer, or SOMEthing. But I wanna go far. I want it to be something I need to work towards... any ideas?

After the run I did some serious stretching, and I figured out why you need to walk before you stop. I tried stopping and almost fell down. So I walked around the yard. Ha ha. My inner thighs were super tight- ouch. But the stretching felt so good that like the run I really didn't want to stop. I wish I could go run some more right now. But I gotta be mom. Well, I don't want it to get old, so I'll look forward to next time, and go me mom.

The Amazing Shrinking Hippo ran 8 miles!!! The Amazing Shrinking Hippo is sore, and gonna be more in the morning. But I'm gonna do it AGAIN!! Man, I need a shower and a drink.

Cheers!

Vitamin C

I recently read that people who take Vit C actually burn more fat than those who do not. Those who do not, apparently, burn off the carbs and protein they eat more than the fat they have stored.

After doing a little research, I've decided to try this. I started yesturday. In a month we'll see if it has helped me downsized my fat any faster.

Now, I'm not going to influence you in any way here. It's just something I'm going to try out, because I've done the research and found that it may suit me. I've found that I may be a little low of Vit C to begin with.

I advise anyone who wants to try supplements or any other form of dieting/weight losing aid - CHECK IT OUT FIRST! Do a little research, check with your doctor, whatever. Don't just jump into it! Especially diet pills. I'm am very anti diet pills, for myself. It is not my place to judge for anyone else. I would just caution you to be careful.

No lecturing here!! Okay where was I? Ah, so I'm gonna see if a little Vit C added to my daily intake will help my body in any way. I'm going to go take my supplement now, and I'll let you know in about a month!

Cheers!

Healthy snacks

I chatted up a friend today who gave me a great idea for jazzing up popcorn. A little sugar and cinnamon. Mmmmm. Air popped, of course. She's so cool. So the kids and I tried it today, we used brown sugar - yummy mummies!

The thing I've been getting out lately for myself is lite whip cream, mixing it with some cocoa, and then spreading about a tablespoon onto a chocolate rice cake. Now I'm bad, I eat 2 of these. But one is only 85 calories, so eating the second to satisfay my chocolate craving isn't so aweful. My evil chocolate craving visits me almost daily. Naughty little demon! If I'm not into the rice cake thing that day I'll eat a homemade truffle. I keep them in the freezer. And as we all know, the darker the chocolate, the less you ned to satisfy. The truffles are from a recipe found online and (if one keeps the size reasonable) are just 70 calories each.

I LOVE yogurt, and I found a vanilla I like that has only 80 calories per serving. Pair it with a few almonds and viola'. We love carrots at out house too. Lets see what else do we eat often? Apple/cinn rice cakes, bananas, grapes, apples, hmmmm. Now I make donuts and cookies and all those other things for the kids... I just try very hard to keep them away from MY lips. The cookies are particulary difficult to resist. So I try to make my least favorites. However, one must remember that a peanutbutter cookies has a lot of protein and if eaten with enough water can fool your belly into waiting patiently for the next meal. *wink wink*

So, I have a question... what healthy snacks do you go for? I'd love to have some new recipes and ideas to add to our snacking cabinet.

DVD and waiting...

Today was SUPPOSED to be the day I recieved my Total Body Fitness dvd!! And it is NOT here! Grrrrrrrrr. Well, I might as well tell you my plans now as later.

When I get said dvd, my goal is to go through every one of the episodes and see what I think. I will be recording my feelings and thoughts on each here. To share with you.

Obviously I am too skatterbrained to keep to just that and the results, so here's a headsup. I will also be recording the new healthy diet changes I may make, new (to me at least) exercises I try, thoughts on fitness articles I read, eating in general, and so on and so forth.

I am really excited about the dvd... and a little irritated with the fact that it is not here yet. But, I will put forth the effort to show patience and just allow myself the tingle of anticipation. As an aside, I HATE suspence. I fast forward through Hitchcock films. I love them, but I skip through the heavy music and nonconversational bits. So, now that you know how difficult this is for me... this is me pretending not to wait.

Comments... Almost speechless

A friend of mine was telling me how she liked the blog. Nothing blown up or out of proportion, just that she enjoyed some of the entries. I laughed. I couldn't help it. Someone I actually see often, or at least weekly, enjoyed something I wrote. Even if she never comes back or likes anything I ever write again, that is going to stay forever in my head. I laughed, not at her or at what she said... but out of pure surprise. Someone I respect and care for liked something I wrote. I am still in shock. Delighted shock, but shock nonetheless. I suppose this may sound silly to some people. Some may ask, "Why would you be surprised?". I can't answer that really. I just am.

Deni Preston, who has an amazing story and has overcome so much in her life, has mentioned me on her blog. This woman that I admire greatly... I want to be a grandma like her when I grow up, and have never met has posted some thoughts about this blog on her blog. I know blog blog blog, sounds funny. Anyway, if you are interested in what she wrote, you can go read it yourself at queendeniforever.blogspot.com I have never heard of anyone saying such things about me. I feel like Anne of Green Gables when she got her dress with puffed sleeves.

Thank you for reading and commenting. I've run out of typing.

Friday

This is my peace of mind picture.

Bad night for sleep. So I squeezed in just 30 minutes or so of yoga. Let's see, my back was stiff so the first thing I do was standing pelvic tilts. I got that from a pregnancy yoga dvd. I'm not pg right now, but they are a great way to warm up the spine and help digestion. They are basically standing versions of Cat and Cow. I'm a bit stressed, so I did some Pigeon poses. Haven't done them in a while. Some others I did were Big Toe pose, chaturangas, and three point pose. I got 3 point from another dvd, one from Yoga Zone. I did not pay more than $5 for these dvds at least 7 yrs ago. So none of this is new stuff or anything. But in between all of these I did basic flow.

Now like I mentioned, I am stressed, so I "went shopping" during a lot of these poses. Instead of chastising myself for this I decided just to observe. I didn't make an effort to "fix" it. I just watched. I find I understand myself more if I take time to observe before making any judgement calls or rushing to "fix" things.

What I observed was that my breathing was right on. I remembered to tuck my tail bone, keep my shoulders down and back... really the only thing was that I kept closing my eyes and just "leaving" my body for a few seconds here and there. That's okay. Maybe that's what my practice needed to be like this morning.

I guess what I'm saying is I try not to expect too much from myself. I know I do, but I TRY not to. So maybe I need some escape time from myself... okay. It'll pass. Then I'll come back and get back into whatever needs my getting into.

I love yoga. I love seeing the things my body can do. For example, my flexibility has increased again; my muscles can shake a lot and it doesn't affect my breathing. I would like to learn how to meditate. hmmmm. I wonder if I could get my brain to pause for long enough. Even when I'm sleeping it's going 90 miles an hour. Meditation could be good.

Thought for the day: Everyday is practice. Everyday is new. Perfection is too much to expect from anyone, including yourself. Expect your best instead.

Results! III - BMI

Okay my BMI about 6 mths ago was 29.somethingerother. I am delighted to say that today it is now at 24.7. Cutting edge, I know... but such a great improvement. Now I don't put a huge amount of stock in BMI, as it is really the fat percentage that does it. But I'm not super muscular so it probably matches my fat percentage pretty closely.

I think that for me, building muscle in order to burn more fat more efficiently is essential. So, I feel really good about the decision to incorporate some weights into my workouts. I made that decision roughly 6 mths ago. I have to say - it has obviously made a difference! YAY ME!!! But it wasn't something I tried for a week, or even a month. I kept it up for an extended period of time. Note to friends here: if you're gonna give something a chance, it can't be for a brief spree. You have to commit yourself to a longer term in order to see if it really works.

The Amazing Shrinking Hippo!!! That's me! Now look at yourself. Really. Take a good look. But look for some improvement You have made! Something you've changed! You may surprise yourself and find not just one thing, but a list. Congratulate yourself for it or them. Give yourself a hug. Do a little dance. Have a mental party if you're in public. Don't forget to take notice of your own steps towards bettering yourself. It's not the flaws that make a person beauiful. It's not your flaws that make you who you are. It's the efforts to improve, to change, to do your best that shows your true beauty and spirit. Feel good. You deserve it! And the most beautiful people are happy people. So people! Be HAPPY!

Thursday

This morning I hopped on the treadmill to warm up, then attacked the weights. After weights I did those AWEFUL leg lifts. Why did I do the AWEFUL leglifts? Because I have SEEN the difference they make. I have a J-Lo -ish bum. I have this all natural tilt to my lower back and an abundant ammount of padding. I know it works for the singing popstar. Not for the mom next door.

Except for the treadmill, all of the exercises I did I learned from Deni Preston on her show, Total Body Fitness. As I was lifting those heavy legs I could hear her in my head shouting, "oooh!", and "oh!", as my thighs and tush burned. Also did some squats. I cannot wait for my dvd, which is in transit apparently.

Due to these painstaking leg lifts I am the amazing shrinking hippo, or at least my backside is. I need to work on my arms. Not the least fav of my body- that's my belly - but my arms are my second least fav. I don't hate them, I don't even hate my muffin top. My arms do what they are told and they do it all pretty well. They could just be a bit better. I'll address my belly on a blog later.

Thought for the Day: Don't be afraid of the pain, or soreness, or whatever. It's like child birth. The after effects can be wonderful! Rather, invite the pain. Ooooh! Ohhh! It burns! Which means, you're doing something RIGHT!

Sweat On!!!!

Wednesday!

As the sun rose through the trees in our backyard, I ran on the treadmill. I ran for over an hour, I dunno exactly how long. An hour and half or more. I love the feeling that I get running. After a while it feels like I could could run forever. Okay, maybe not forever, but for a lot longer than I thought. I feel so light as I continue to put one foot in front of another, then the belt in the treadmill hitches and I stumble. Need to tighten that belt! I love to run. I'm not a short distance runner, not in for speed. But I'd love to try some kind of long distance run, just to see if I could.

After the run, I stretched a bit then biked, in the air. You know the one. With my abs already warmed up it felt easy for a bit. Then I had to stop. One - more - set. Done. Stretch. Mmmmm. *sigh* Lovely.

Started breakfast. Need a shower like nobody's business. Then out into the yard for chores with the kids. Bright sunny day. I could almost forget that my hubby kept me up last night coughing into his pillow. Yes, I kept passin his cough drops... allergies. Hmmmmph. I'm sure I'll remember come naptime - AKA : Quiet Time.

Thought for the day: Breathe in. Breathe out. And enjoy it!

Tuesday

Baby was up again at 3 am till almost 6. I crawled out of bed late, grumpy and frumpy. While breakfast was cooked, I ran on the treadmill for about an hour. While the table was set I did some weights. Felt considerably less grumpy. So much to do today I posted very late.

But my thought for the day is: Thank goodness for exercise! My mood today would have gradually become so much worse instead of better. After the sweating and shower I was good company again. Three cheers for sweat!

Note: I've finally ordered Deni Preston's dvd! So as soon as it comes I'll start with it, and it won't matter than the computer's still dead! YAY!!!

I got a comment!!

I got a comment in my email!! I won't spoil it by telling you about. Here, you read it:

"Hi Christina, I recently was made aware of your blog by Deni Preston's comments about it on her blog."

Okay, I'm interrupting here. I have since gone to Deni Preston's blog at http://queendeniforever.blogspot.com/2010/03/just-when-you-thought-show-was-getting.html and I read that post. Deni Preston thinks I'm sweet!!! Okay she thinks the blog is sweet, but I'm gonna extend that to include me!! Someone thinks I'm sweet. Little mental party going on. How cool is that? Alright, shutting up - back to Linda!

" I've really enjoyed reading your posts about the workouts. I've been working out "with" Deni for about a year now. I first found her program on BYU tv then learned about the DVDs and bought them. I've worked out on my own for years, with various programs, but I must say, I like Deni's the best. I alternate her workouts between the higher, cardio ones and the various yogas. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for posting and tell you that I look forward to reading more. I'm a grandmother of 7, soon to be 8, so you and I are at different places in life. But I still love your comments on the joys of working out. I got hooked on it when trying to lose my first "baby" weight way back when and have been going fairly steady at it since then. I still battle the pull of the cookies etc. and now deal with the mid life slower metabolism and other fun aging type annoyances. But all in all I'm in good shape and hope to be able to continue exercising for the rest of my life. your fellow exercising friend,Linda Haning"

Wasn't this neat? Anyway, thanks Linda! I am just pink with delight that someone is enjoying the blog. I hope that it is encouraging. I really appreciate the shared opinions! I wrote Linda back and she told me about Yoga Booty Ballet. It's my new favorite phrase. Say it three times fast! So much fun. So now I'm on a search to discover what this Yoga Booty Ballet is. Thanks again, Linda!

Thank you for reading!

Results! II

Okay- First I wanna point out why I avoid details. Am I ashamed of my size? Not at all? My weight? Well, like most women I don't want it gabbed about. At least not until I am happy with it. But the main reason why I will not share exact sizes or pounds is: This is NOT about me! Okay the blog IS about me... but the way YOU are losing or staying in shape is about YOU! So to keep things in perspective I'm happy to share the number of inches and pounds I lose, but not size or shape. I really want you readers to appreciate where YOU are. Though I am certain everyone is as thrilled for me as I am when I lose some. I'm posting results so you can see how someone else is working off the weight and getting in shape... as a partner. Not as a competitor.

That said - in two weeks I have lost a pound. Yep, one measely pound. And 5 inches. Yes, I have lost 5 inches! Mostly on my waist and bottom half, which would explain why my pants are falling off my rump. But it's nice to know my hippo is just a little bit smaller.

I am going to resist temptation and NOT weigh or measure myself again until next Saturday. Do not weigh yourself everyday. It will drive you batty. Pick the same time too. I'm shorter (short people know exactly how short we are!) at night than I am in the morning, and I weigh more at night too. I bet it's similar for everyone else.

One other thing I would like to say here- I ROCK! I am the amazing shrinking hippo!! There's a voice in the back of my mind whispering, "you're goona blow up like a balloon with the next baby".- "Shut up!" I say back. You never know, I could end up being a smaller balloon next time;)

On that note- You ROCK! I ROCK! We are superdeeduper cool! Sweat on!

Catch Up Quick ! - Monday

Okay the next day I did some kind of workout with Deni Preston... sorry, I forgot which. Then next day I ran on the treadmill. Then Yoga abs. Ouch! But I'm sure after I do that for a few months it'll be worth it. My belly's pushed out 6 children, it's kind of out of shape.

Then I ran. Now the night before that one of our girls got sick. Then I didn't work out for 3 days! I know I know.... bad me, right? But between the toddler teething and the 4 yr old throwing up I didn't get any rest. Now the 4 yr old's better, but the 2 1/2 yr old is sick to her tummy. Came home from church early yesturday - ran from church actually tryin to keep other peoples' kids from getting it.

This morning- allergy headache, meds, treadmill, and me. My stomache's not happy with me, so I may not put anything in it for a while... but it could just be that I'm low on sleep. Tea, I'll have some RRL tea! That'll fix me up.

Tomorrow? Well, I'm planning on something, but since the pc's dead I'll probably end up on the treadmill again. Man, I gotta get Deni's dvd!

Feel good this morning now that I've sweat a bit. Sweat is great! Rids the body of toxins, emotional baggage (who needs that?), and refreshes the spirit.

PLUS: I've got results to post too, so later today I'll post them. Good stuff.

Thought for the day: Your day depends on you. Have a great one!

Kaput-

That's my computer, folks! Kaput! So will catch ya'll up asap! Thanks for readin'!

weighing yourself

Few notes on this:

1- do not weigh yourself early. If you are scheduling your weighing once a week, or every other, or once a month. do NOT weigh in early. You'll lessen the thrill when on your weighing day if you have lost, and you'll be disappointed if you haven't.

2- do NOT weigh yourself when you've got your period. Period. You carry around extra water weight, you don't think that bloated feeling is just in your head, do you?

4- weigh in on the same day and some time you measure yourself. That way if you haven't lost an ounce you can appreciate the inches you've lost without feeling like you've done something wrong concerning your weight. Subnote- weigh in in the morning, nekked. it's a plus to find out how many lbs are your clothes and NOT you. It's most accurate this way too.

3- If you do any of the above and you find yourself disappointed- talk yourself out of it!! "I'm doing fine!" tell it to yourself over and over to cancel out those feelings of disappointment.

4- if you find you're losing weight more slowly than before, weigh in less often. Those last 10 lbs takes their sweet time. They cling, baby! So give yourself more time to shed them.

5- Lastly, don't forget this is not about fitting your body into someone else's mold. This is about how good YOU feel about YOU. Not your boyfriend, and if he ain't impressed ... well that's another blog topic. So we're not looking to impress anyone but ourselves. Feel good being in the skin we've been given.

I'd like to quote a wonderful musician. "This is my body it's fine. It's where I spend the vast majority of my time. It's not perfect, but it's mine."

Children are in constant wonder at their bodies. "Look at me! Look at me!!"- that's our 5th baby doing yoga in the picture above. I need to be more like that. Appreciate more of what my body is capable of instead of deride myself for what it's not.

Cheers, all!

Tuesday

Baby's internal alarm went off at 3 am, and I couldn't get her back to sleep till almost 6. Needless to say I got up a little late. I got to get on the treadmill for a measely 25 minutes whil breakfast baked. Darn. Well, maybe if I'm a really good girl and get all my tasks done I'll get to get on the treadmill again late this afternoon. hmmmm.

Well, I gotta get going if that's gonna even be remotely possible!

Thought for the day: Even if it's parking further out in the parking lot, every step you can get in counts. The stairs instead of the elevator, every step counts. Keep going!! Great job!

Monday

Strength Training. I LOVE weights. I learned about them in highschool and enjoyed them then... and somehow forgot about them for a while. But they are back in my life! And, yes! Squats can replace a sled! Leg lifts make me cry!

Note here- I've mentioned it before but it bears repeating. You can't just do aerobics, or eat smart. You need a little strength training! Build more muscle to burn more fat. And I got lots to burn.

And I haven't gotten into this before but I think I'll start. Eating. Smart eating. What is it? Smart eating takes trial and error. No one book, or nutrition expert on TV can tell you what YOU need to eat. You need to find what works for you. What foods help you feel good and give you the most energy. On top of that, if you're trying to lose weight, you need to figure out how much to eat in a day. Remember- you don't wanna lose more than 2 lbs a week, or LESS. Less than 2 lbs a week is OKAY!

I do a little calorie counting. I keep a food journal in the kitchen. It has some kiddie artwork in it, but it works. I have figured out basically how many calories I need to take in to stay healthy, and how few to lose weight. I try to be sure that the calories I eat count. I wanna make sure that 1- They taste good; 2-They will satisfy my stomache; 3- Whatever I eat give me the energy I need for my day.

You read loads of info about the food pyramid (which I do not go for); healthy fats versus unhealthy fats; natural sugars; synthetic whatchamacallits; 3 meals a day, and so on. Some poeple say you have to pick your poison in the grocery store nowadays. You just do the best you can. If you wanna eat more naturally, you'll learn about it and do so. If you're not, then you don't. There is no right or wrong way to do this... EXCEPT you need to do what's right for YOUR body.

Me? I feel best when I take my breakfast in some liquid form. A protein shake, fruit smoothy, etc. I feel best when I eat very little meats, especially red. I feel best when I remember to include some carbs, but not too many- they make me sleepy if I eat too many. I eat a lot of green stuff. I record every naughty cookie in my food journal.

We're not carbon copied people. What works for me may not for you. Most people I know who watch their weight, or body shape, don't count calories. There are lots of options. Google it. Be inventive.

Thought for the day: The most important thing is that you find what works best for your body. What helps you have the stamina and umph for your day!

Sunday

2 yr old was up a few times last night, so I slept in. But I did get some yoga into my afternoon. Note to self- do NOT do yoga with a full belly. Do any of you have a problem with this? I usually exercise early in the morning, or well after a meal. But today I ate before with the family... and ick. Not comfortable.

Yoga - Sun Salutations. I like to keep Sundays as restful as possible, so I did something very light. It was a little like basic flow, but not as challenging. The practice reminded me of my limitations in flexibility, but at the same time it pointed out my improvements.

The two yr old fell asleep while laying on the couch watching.

Thought for the day: Make sure you give your self time to ponder, recoop, and take stock of yourself. You'll better be able to see the tiny improvements and feel better about what you are doing.

Wonderful weekend. Sad it's over. But I am looking forward to a wonderful week! Namaste.

My treadmill

I'm about to get on again - but I wanted to note here something about my beloved treadmill. I picked it up a few yrs ago at a garage sale for $50. It's great - I love it... but it's soon gonna bite the dust. It's just old. The main point is- I used to know how much I ran in the summertime, as I ran outside. I got up to 4 miles a day- before the last baby. Now? Well, I certainly run longer than I used to, but I have no idea how fast or how far... my beloved treadmill doesn't do that. I know I know, it really helps to know these things, but I don't. I'm an emotionally driven person. And the numbers would be nice, but I'm not sure they'de be very motivating for me. I run cause it *feels* good. I stop either when I have to, or because I *feel* done.

So, sorry if any of you are interested - but I just don't have the numbers for ya. In the future, after this one dies maybe we'll get a new treadmill with more of those special options ;)

Thanks for reading! Even more though, thanks for moving! Cause I know your body's grateful!

A Love Story...

For those of you who may be interested -

I have heard many women mourn over their perceived inability to do yoga. They take a class, given by a "string bean", or follow a dvd, taught by and followed by a clan of "skinnies". The people I have known bemoan the lack of flexibility, their "extra insulation", and their myriad of "problem areas". A lot of people, mainly talking about women here, decide not to try exercise because of these issues. A lot of people give it a "shot" for a week or so, then give up, because of it's difficulty levels.

To you, let me tell you my story- I began this trip at the age of 20, when I weighed 98 lbs soaking wet (keep reading!). I was underweight and sadly lacking in strength when I took up dancing. With my second pregnancy (the first ending in a stillbirth) I developed a (at the time) rare dietary problem that resulted in doubling my weight and a long list of illnesses before I gave birth to a full term little boy. It took at least two years to figure out what the problem was, change my diet accordingly, and begin to feel better. My occupation at the time was very physically demanding, so the weight ever so slowly fell off before the toddler grew to be 4 yrs old. I, however, was at a much more healthy weight, no longer unable to lift more than a toothpick.

At that point I tried kickboxing at a gym, a circular training gym, and jogging. All at different points. Then I tried yoga. I kept up the jogging sporadically. But the yoga became part of my weekly ritual. I became pregnant again... I discovered I hated gyms and where we were yoga was still very new. So I picked up a few cheap dvds and started on my own. I still have one that I refer to now and then. I have never been to a class, sadly.

That 4 yr old is now almost 12 and I have since given birth to 4 little girls (and adopted a little boy), each pregnancy and delivery better and easier than the last. More importantly each baby healthier than the one before. My weight has fluctuated with each pregnancy, and afterward it takes me a sad long year at least to lose it all. .

My mother and grandmother are both overweight... so I guess you could say I am predisposed to that. However, I don't seem to be going in that direction at all.

That said, I also want to point out that I am NOT a skinny minnie. I am what some have called "womanly", "curvy", "well-endowed", "chunky", etc. I was a c cup when I was 13 yrs old. When I'm nursing I'm a DD. I am still a D, and likely to remain so, if birthing and nursing 5 babies hasn't diminished them by now. I am not extraordinarily flexible, or strong. I am a pretty average 33 yr old girl. I don't consider myself as exceptional in any area, really. I still sometimes feel as though I have a hippo hanging on for the ride when I get on the treadmill. I still reach for a cookie when I should be drinking water. My arms, my life long sorrow, have decided wings attached (inherited!), that refuse to budge other than to wobble showing off their existence. I am 5 foot a little bit over. I have thighs that rub together. I have love handles, I call it flub, around my middle. I am imperfect physical woman! Just like you!!! I feel much more happy and comfortable with my body than ever before. I am in better shape now than ever in my life! I may not be able to do them often but - I love hiking, running, horsebackriding, yoga, weights, and many more. I would love to try rock climbing! I wanna go rafting! I'd like to give cycling a whirl. And dancing! I am trying to find some way to dance - like date night!

This all stated, I would like to point out - if I, at 180lbs (after I had that little boy!), can begin to get my bum in gear, so can you! It takes guts, don't think that it doesn't. It takes resolve. And it ain't for sissies. If you want more energy - If you want to feel more comfortable in the skin that you're in... ya gotta "move it! move it"! (as our kids would say)

So, that's it. That's me and how I fell in love with exercise, or how exercise made me fall in love with my body.

Saturday!

TREADMILL! We're reorganizing the other room, so I haven't the space to exercise there... so I heard the treadmill calling. One lovely hour. Then stretching. The sun is shining. Today is going to be a good day.

Thought for the day: Enjoy life! That's what makes it worth living.

Friday

Good Morning!! Last night was a late night for the kids... so I got on the treadmill and got to stay on for almost 2 hours! Ohhhhhh, does that feel good! I'm warm, sweaty, and all stretched out. Can't get much yummier than that.

Review on yesturday - we worked out in the yard all day, prepping a garden and caring for the animals. I'm a little beat up. I didn't wanna do anything this morning that would accentuate the soreness, KWIM.

Got a new pair of runnin shoes yesturday. My feet went down a size. Maybe that's weight loss. Maybe it's not being pregnant for this long. Dunno. I always get half a size larger to accomodate socks and possible swelling. I broke them in just now. Nice shoes. I wear a champion brand. I know some people prefer more support, but I like as little as possible. I feel like my feet are trapped with more padding and arch. I'm not suggesting this is the best brand. What I am saying is: the shoes you run in are important. I've worn handmedowns before, when I started. Getting new ones are worlds better. I'm not trying to make my feet fit into someone else's mold.

Thought for the day - Life- the more you use, the more you have. It's a wonder!

Wednesday Catch up

Last evening I felt like a jog- so I did for about 30 minutes, then put the kids to bed and still felt like burning some energy off... so I put in a cd and did some yoga. Pigeon! I did chatarangas (I know that's not spelled right) , plank, and side plank. Some stretching of course. Felt much better afterwards.

Thought for the evening: Instead of reaching for the candybar, or cookie, or whatever your vice is try a little water and some body movement. For example: the baby dance is ALWAYS good. Fun, romantic, AND burn calories! Even better than chocolate.

Thursday

Strength Training! Oh, so important! I LOVE this workout! ! !

Let's see I used all my weights. I have moved up to using my 5 lb on a regular basis! Whooooo! I used to use the 5 lb for a few reps and switch to the 3 lb for the rest. Now on my biceps I use the 5 lb for the entire time! I used my Bush Beans plus wrist weights for the squats; 3 lb for the tri workout. I used them all I just can't remember all the combos.

The Linkin Log box came in handy for the calf training. Yes, my calvs were BURNING! YES! Oh and I used a couch pillow instead of a mat for the ab workout. The leg lifts? Well, I wanted to cry towards the end there. Wow did it burn? Or what?! It's one of those things that it just feels so good when you stop, it almost seems worth it.

I still feel like jogging though. So next time I do this workout I'll try to plan ahead so I can get on the treadmill for a bit before everyone wakes up. I have two of our girls fighting this morning... and maybe that's why I wanna run. :)

Thought for the day: If you're lookin to lose weight, you need to remember aerobics is not enough. Smart eating is not enough. You need the strength training! Build more muscle to burn off more fat! It's not about weight. It's about fat and how little you want to carry around. Strength training will help you get rid of it! Go Go GO!!