12 Weeks to a better ME!

I've been planning on a challenge to do among friends for quite a while and it is not finally going to happen! Group made, sign ups done and now we are ready to rock it!

I feel that being held accountable is something I need! I love checking in, motivating and being motivated by others. I know that even if Im having a bad day and want to eat any sweet I can get my hand on, there will be a friend to talk me down and help me get my brain back on track! 

I look forward to seeing what I can accomplish in the next 12 weeks!

Thankful Thursdays

During the month of November Ill be doing my Thankful Thursday Link up with some other blogs. This is a way to really keep my heart and head where it belongs and remember what is important.

• This week I am thankful for the safety of my family. As many of you know my husband, mother and sister were all visiting family in NY and NJ this past weekend and their trips took a horrible turn with the arrival of Sandy. Every single person Im related to (minus my brother and father) were affected by Sandy. I feel for all the families that have lost things they hold dear. {Red cross donations can be made HERE}
• I am thankful for my children. For the first time I am a mom to 2 boys and taking care of them alone has been quite the learning lesson! I am reminded to be patient and understanding. 
• Im thankful for will power! Halloween has been a true test to that! With many pounds of candy sitting on my table (and my son constantly looking over it) I am tempted by the smells of chocolate and sour treats. I've stayed strong and avoided eating any!
• Im thankful for the Navy. The men and women on this base have kept us safe through the bomb threats made earlier this week. As frustrating as some of it may be, I feel safer knowing we are protective by brave men and women on a daily basis. 
• I am so thankful for my friends. I have an amazing group of ladies doing a Paleo challenge that started this week! Even though I may not actually know many of them, Im glad to have their support and support them on a daily basis! Keeps me honest and ready for more!

I {heart} BOOBS + Giveaway!

October is breast cancer awareness month but we need to be aware year round!

Growing up my mother made it clear that as I was getting older it was important to do your self breast exam once a month when I was in the shower...at times she even hung up a waterproof card with a boob on it with instructions! 

I never really took it seriously until I was married with kids. I have had lumps found and checked with (thankfully) nothing found...I guess I have lumpy breasts! Regardless I will continue to check and be checked! 
You can say "feel you boobs", "check your chest" and "get a mammy" (mammogram) all you want but if you aren't actually doing these things you are doing yourself and your family a disservice. 

About 1 in 8 U.S. women (just under 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Source

What I'm doing (and YOU CAN DO) to reduce the risk of breast cancer:

• I choose to #livepink  everyday and check myself!
• I choose to breastfeed to help prevent breast cancer.
• I choose to stay active to reduce my risk.
• I choose to be alcohol free to help my chances at being cancer free!

Early prevention is key!

Source

Check out my THINK PINK GIVEAWAY!

Safe Postpartum Running

Now that I am back to working out (almost 2 weeks in!) Ive been thinking about what I want to accomplish in the next year. I have my 6 month and 1 year goals but the one I am most wanting to start preparing for is a 1/2 marathon. I have done countless 5ks and love them but Im ready to challenge myself! I want to properly train for it and feel like I did everything I could in order to do my best.
I've been looking at some training programs but haven't found one that I'm going to go with.

I prefer to run with a jogger. This gets you and baby out and adds resistance-especially going up hills!
Here are some tips for safely running after pregnancy and with a jogger!

• Recovery: After giving birth its important to be cleared for exercise by your doctor. 
• Age of infant: If you are not using a car seat attachment your baby should be at least 6 months old when running with a jogger. 
• Pack accordingly: Bring items for the baby just incase you have to change or feed. Depending on the weather- bring extra water, blankets, sunscreen, snacks. If its raining bring a cover. 
• Safety: Baby should be securely strapped in seat. Stay clear of busy roads (especially when wearing headphones) and unsafe areas.
• Ease into it: Whether you ran while pregnant or are just starting out, taking your time to build you endurance back up will take time. Don't expect to run 5 miles the first day! Find a plan and have patience! 
• Sole Sisters: Most cities have running groups like that you can join or find some friends to jog with around your neighborhood. Having support and accountability is the key to success! 

Some great running sites:

• Beginners
• Couch to 5k program
• 5k, 10k, Marathon
• Stroller Strides

Staying active

Even while you are pregnant its important to stay active! This is the best time to do it for your body and baby and continuing exercise throughout pregnancy reduces the risk of obesity, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.

Please check with your doctor when starting any activity during pregnancy. 

If you are a beginner to working out, especially while pregnant, start slow and stick to your level of fitness. You don’t want to over do it and hurt you or your baby. 

STRETCH!

Stretching throughout pregnancy has helped me stay ache free. I try to stretch at least once a day and it doesnt take long at all! I feel that due to my constant stretching I can still touch my toes and do most yoga poses with ease at 40 weeks! I don’t think my belly is on the small size either so Im grateful for my flexibility!

I usually stretch once Im at the gym in the morning both before and after I work out. During the day if Im sitting I try to sit butterfly style and once Im in bed I stretch my back out a bit! After a long day, stretching helps ease my body and I sleep so much better! 

WARM UP!

No mater what you plan on doing for exercise I highly recommend warming up and cooling down at an easy pace. I walked on the treadmill/elliptical for about a mile before I start any weight training to warm up my body and get my heart rate up without over doing it!

CLASSES!

Just about any class that is offered in the gym can be taken while pregnant. With any class, inform the instructor that you are pregnant and most will give you alternate moves or easier ways of performing during the class. 

*Spinning, take it at your own pace. If you are not used to the intensity then stay within your limits or take the speed down. 

*Yoga/pilates be mindful of moves done on your back or stomach.

*Water aerobics: consult your doctor later in your pregnancy

Warning signs

If you have any of the following symptoms while you're exercising, stop immediately and contact your doctor if they don't quickly resolve:

• dizziness or feeling faint
• headache
• chest pain
• bleeding
• contractions 
• fluid leaking 
• decreased fetal movement
• rapid heartbeat while at rest

Always perform your workouts with good form and know your limits!

Here are a few workouts I enjoyed!

Waterbaby work out!

Baby stretches

Baby Bumps and Barbells 

A year from now..

Now that I'm so close to being able to fully work out (2 weeks to go!) I've been thinking about where I want to be and what I want to be doing in the next year. Only 2 1/2 months until 2013 and I want to go into the new year ahead of the game! No resolutions or promises to be broken!

6 Months from now:

I want to have shed at least the rest of my baby weight- 20 pounds.

I want to have the endurance to finish a 5k in under 30 minutes. 

No longer fit in my current wardrobe...because Im so in shape!
Wear a pair of shorts! 

1 year from now:

I want to be Sweating Pink in a 1/2 marathon or two.

Push my body farther than I have in the past and surpass my PR from last 2011.

Complete 10 baby wearing hikes on Guam.
Get dive certified with my husband.
Run on a pair of shorts and a sports bra!...its been about 7 years since I've done this.

Inspire at least one person. 

After growing a human for almost 10 months I know I have my work cut out for me! If I start now I wont regret it. Its going to take time to get my body where I want it andI cant wait to share my journey!  

A few of my favorite things!

This week's 6 Favorite things are my everyday must haves! In and out of the gym!

I use my Blender Bottles for everything from my protein shake to my iced tea! I take it everywhere and love getting one in every color! They also have different sizes!
Their awesome facebook page with to keep you up to date on all their new products!
Check them out!

Have to have my iphone/ipad! Even though I hardly use it for talking it has all my playlists on it!  I also have  an app that has all my fitness magazine subscriptions! 

I LOVE this stuff! I use Egg Beaters 100% egg whites both raw and cooked! SO many options- making shakes in the morning, to cook with when baking and in my nightly chocolate shake before bed!

I use True Lemon everyday in my water to change it up a bit! They have so many different flavors I cannot wait to try!

I am constantly making lists-and sometimes I make lists of my lists! lol I find that writing things down helps me stay on track with food, home, exercise and finance! 

My all time favorite piece of clothing is  a razor back tank! I love how they fit and can be dressed up or down for the gym! 

3 weeks Post baby

Not the prettiest but I GOTTA KEEP IT REAL..3 weeks postpartum...there are about 2crispies and some corned beef giving me a foodbaby lol

1 Week Postpartum

Not the best photo but 1 week postpartum. My husband and I are both glad "I'm back!" Well sort of lol I can't wait to get back in the gym or at least start running!

I cant wait to have an "After" photo to go with this!

A little Tri

I have always said I wanted to train for a triathlon, not actually do one, just TRAIN for one! Participating in one just seemed like too big of a goal. So when did I start training you ask? NEVER. But it was still a goal of mine that I would probably never complete. 

That was until I heard about the sprint or “mini tris” that a bunch of other Navy wives were doing. I though “I could do this!” It was a 400m swim, 6 mile bike ride, and 1.5 mile run. It seriously could not get any easier! I think I’m a pretty decent swimmer...biking is an breeze and the run...Id deal with that when it came! After being on a trainer that called for “no cardio” I was a bit behind on that part. 

When I finally talked myself into showing up for one it was one of the most nerve wracking mornings of my life. I was SOOO nervous! I figured Id be last, do the worst and go so slow I wouldn’t be able to show my face at the next one. Boy was I wrong!

Since I only knew 2 other people it was really a race against myself. This made it less stressful. I figured what the hell...I don’t know any of them so if I suck they probably won't even notice! 

The entire time I was doing the tri I stayed pretty much in the middle of the group which gave me people to keep up with (ones in front) and people to push me (ones in the back). Did that make sense?  

Everyone was so supportive and cheered each other on. I was so glad it was laid back and fun! It was hotter than hell and I was not properly hydrated (I should have started the week prior!) but it was so worth it...the tan didnt hurt either!

Here are a few shots from the first 2 I did. They are so fun and I recommend them to anyone and everyone of any skill level! It would definitely be something fun to start in your community with other moms/wives you know. Nothing serious...just have fun and get fit!

Fit for 2!

I am now into the 7th month of my pregnancy and since this blog has changed into more of what Im doing while pregnant I figured Id post my workout routine and meal plan. I did a lot of searching online for articles on pregnancy workouts and eating (along with speaking with my doctor) so I knew I was doing the right thing. You really only need and extra 300 calories starting at the 3 month point and that is basically like eating some oats and protein...and not the entire bag of M&Ms!

For the past couple months Ive been quite motivated to hit the gym and stay on track with my meals. Some weekends I do let go a bit and have the things Im craving but it doesnt last the entire day...mainly dinner and its usually always sushi! 

Workout

Monday - Thursday

• Walk to and from the gym
• Stretching
• Treadmill/ Elliptical 2 miles @ incline
• Followed by either arms/legs (squats, pushups, plank, lunges, rows, etc)

Fridays

• 2-4 mile walk outside
• Lots of stretching

Weekends

• If we aren't doing anything active outside I usually just take periods of time thru out the day to stretch really well and we walk in the evenings with our dogs.

Meal Plan

Breakfast: Coffee (w/ crm and sugar) and 4-5 Egg Whites or Oats
WORKOUT
Snack: Protein/ Fruit/ WW Toast with NPB
Lunch: Chicken, Salad, Brn rice/sweet potato
Snack: Fruit/cheese
Dinner: Chicken/Fish, Brn rice, salad
Snack: Cottage cheese

• I generally drink about 6 shake bottles full of water a day. May be more if Im walking to and from the gym in this crazy heat!
• I always have my water bottle with me so as soon as I see its empty I know to fill it right away. Ive found that my body actually CRAVES the water...Im sure the baby likes it too!
• Right now I am only taking prenatal vitamins and 100% Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein.

Work it out!

Here is the most recent photo I have...rocking my workout gear even on Memorial Day! 

25 weeks pregnant. Can you tell I've been getting some sun?

Daily workout:

2 miles on dreadmill 4.0 @ 2.0 incline

Stretching

Pushups and weights

Stretching

Pm walk

New furry friend!

We recently adopted another ridgeback and have been spending time getting her acclimated to her new environment. Her name is Misty and she gets along so well with our other ridgeback Marley.
My workouts have been stretching during the day, light weights and 2 mile walks in the evenings! We take the dogs either to the dog park or the baseball fields to let them play! 2 big dogs need long workouts!
Our dogs are so important to our family. They are like my children and we love getting them out of the house and getting exercise. 

Whats New?

        I rang in the new year feeling strong and in control of everything going on! I had been eating clean and following my training program perfectly. The results were amazing and gave me such a new outlook on what being healthy was. But recently I had lost my appetite and had zero energy. I stopped doing my cardio but stuck to the weights and pushed thru it...I had an idea of what might be going on. 

Lets rewind a bit......

Over the past couple months I’d been struggling with 2 things that I wanted. 

On one hand I had come so far working out and getting in shape. I loved the new me and the energy I had. I loved being in the gym, feeling strong and doing my part in keeping my family healthy. I felt confident at the beach which was something Ive struggled with over the years-I had finally put my fears aside and stopped caring what everyone thought! 

The flip side was that we wanted to add to our family. It took my husband 4 years to get me to even consider having another child because I had everything I wanted- an amazing job, a cute little “house” and such a tight bond as a a family of 3. It had been the three of us for so long I didnt know if I was capable of adding to it! So here we are 8000 miles from where used to call home trying to conceive. 

I knew that once got pregnant I would be putting all my hard work on pause. I was so conflicted and had never struggled with what I wanted so much. 

So back to the reason Im writing this....

        New Years Day we drove up to the other side of the island to purchase a massive weight set, bench and other goods for our home gym we were putting together. I grabbed a test on the way to the checkout....

Later on New Years Day we found out we were having a baby. Every thought about my body, hard work and time spent sweating went out the door. I didn’t even care. All I knew was that I was over the moon and couldn’t wait to start this new journey. ( I wont gross you out with the positive pregnancy test photo!)

         After the news came appointments and moving boxes. During this time I lost all my energy and could barely keep my eyes open! I continued to go to the gym but found I needed to take longer breaks. I started a water boot camp class to try and ease the stress I was having about working out. {I found out that when you want something so bad you do everything you can to keep from losing it}. We moved into our new home and I slowed down even more. Naps were more of a necessity and I changed my workouts to nightly walks and light weights in my house.

 We had a couple issues in the beginning which put me in a crazy place that brought the emotional eater out of me. After I saw the scale at my first check up I was dead set on NEVER knowing how much i was gaining. I had to stay positive no matter what size I got! Thankfully I am still eating pretty well with the occasional cupcake...this is me being honest!

Who me?

Yes, I was the girl that lived on the dreadmill. Of course I never referred to it as that because I thought I was in love. I had found the answer to all my problems, fat and energy! I have always been active and loved playing any kind of sport! I didn't grow up with a whole lot of cable TV or summers spent sleeping in...I had to, as my mother would say, get out and blow the stink off. I spent my summers at the beach, the fall cheerleading and spring playing volleyball. Any other time of the year I was running...or eating. Usually one or the other.
Once I graduated I spent 6 months running, 6 months eating...I didnt want to be unfair to either so I did a little of both!

Running cleared my head and got me {after many months} "toned." Up until a bit ago I thought that running was the only thing that would get me in shape! I ran 5ks for the shirts and the piece of mind.                                  

         

I met a friend a couple months back who was lifting weights and following a training program that helped her lose over 30lbs! It was quite inspiring to see her growing stronger every week. I decided to start asking questions and soon I was on board! We are now in the process of rebuilding our home gym and revamping our fridge. I have also been mediating more to find a missing piece... I just don't know what that is yet.

Ill be writing about this process in the coming months. And that is me. Start to finish...mostly.