Let's remix this business...

I've said in more than one post that 365 part two is too restrictive, and I've decided once and for all that it is.  Let's remix this business -- extra points to the person or people who know what movie that's from.

Here's the plan. I am going to kick it old school with The Zone.  For those of you who don't know what The Zone is I suggest you check out Dr. Barry Sears' website. In a nutshell, The Zone advocates consuming calories from carbohydrates, protein, and fat in a balanced ratio of 40:30:30 -- 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat.  The Zone is Dr. Sears' term for proper hormone balance.  I could geek out on your here, but I suggest you check out his website instead.

My husband and I ate on The Zone from 2006 through 2008 with great results.  I am not going to lie, this nutrition program is tedious.  You have to weigh and measure all of your food; I am literally counting the number of almonds I consume.  The Zone forces me to measure accurate portions of food for my activity level and current body fat, which is perfect for me since I have an issue with portion control.  If you CrossFit, this is the diet most often prescribed by trainers.  The other awesome thing about The Zone is I can eat gluten, dairy, and sugar if I want, I just get smaller portions.  I think The Zone will help keep me on track with my goals, and it is FAR more sustainable for the long term.

A friend recently asked me, "Why can't you just eat in moderation like the rest of the population does?"  Good question.  The easy answer is that I've tried that and it doesn't work for me.  Far too often I slip down the rabbit hole and make terrible food choices that result in bad habits and body fat gain.  The hard answer is that I don't know why that doesn't work for me. I wish it did work, it would certainly be easier.  That being said, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition programming.  While moderation may work for my friend, it doesn't work for me.  And while The Zone may work for me, if may be far too structured and tedious for someone else.  My advice is to keep trying until you find something that works for you, in life and in nutrition.  

August cheat...

I broke down last Friday and used my August cheat.  I ate a York peppermint patty, a few gluten free / dairy free Oreo-type cookies, fried okra, and a drank full strength sweet tea.  I ate and drank these delicious things throughout the course of an entire day, not in one sitting.  Oreo's and okra don't really go well together.  The only thing I ate that I would have considered a cheat during 365 part one was the fried okra. Otherwise, I would have eaten everything else happily and gone along my merry way. You can see by what is listed above that I have a teensy tiny problem with sugar.  This is obviously something I have to work on... still.

I've decided that my new program is too restrictive.  I'm not sure if I am just being a whiner who wants a constant flow of chocolate entering her system, or if it really is too restrictive.  I am leaning toward the too restrictive side, although I do love chocolate.  I am not really sure how to remedy this.  I could add dark chocolate back to the mix, but I am not sure if that is the solution.  What's funny is my "food is fuel" husband thinks it is too restrictive, and if he thinks it's too restrictive, it probably is.  For now, I am going to try to keep pushing forward -- although images of ice cream are currently dancing in my head.  Maybe 365 part two will get easier with time or maybe I will have to figure something else out.  Only time will tell.

Seven days in...

I'm seven days into my new program (365 part two), and I feel pretty good. When I was eating off of the plan, I was tired, lethargic, bloated, and always hungry.  Those symptoms have gone away for the most part.  It hasn't been the easiest seven days though.  I am seriously craving chocolate... I mean really, really craving chocolate.  And on day one of my challenge, I helped a good friend celebrate her 30th birthday at one of my favorite restaurants.  It wasn't easy watching everyone eat bread, pasta, and bread pudding.  To be more specific, it was pure torture.

I am allowed one cheat day each calendar month, and I almost used it yesterday.  Since I am still hanging onto a couple of pounds of water weight from my ten day free-for-all, I figured I should probably wait until that has left my system to enjoy my cheat.

One day at a time.  That's my recommendation for just about everything challenging in life.  Take it one day at a time.  Eventually, you'll look up and things will be easier.

Day one of my challenge was Rebecca's birthday (middle).  Please excuse our scary eyes and my strange pose.  I apparently think I am some sort of supermodel.

The new plan...

What happens when I eat what I want for ten days, you ask?  I gain six pounds!  WHAT?!  I realize most of that is water weight, but it is good reminder that I need to properly fuel my body.  Last year's 365 challenge was not just a fun challenge to do, it was a lifestyle change that I want to continue.  That being said, read below for what the next 365 days have in store for me.

Beginning on August 1, I am going to restart my 365 day challenge from last year.  We will call that 365 part one (I realize I am a nerd, there is no need to point it out).  365 part one is going to be coupled with a new, more restrictive plan.  365 part two is going to consist of the following:

• No gluten
• No dairy
• No sugar - this is where I am going to get more restrictive.  I've said many times that I have an issue with sugar.  During 365 part one, I allowed myself to eat dark chocolate, gluten free / dairy free baked goods, soy ice cream, vegan treats, and half sweet / half un-sweet iced tea.  Those items will not be allowed during 365 part two.  They were not supposed to be allowed during part one either, but I am weak.  
• No processed foods - I am not going to get crazy on this and say I won't eat anything that's processed.  I'm not a complete nut.  I am going to eat salsa and jarred tomato sauce.  Throw me off the island if you must.  I just don't want to eat products that have ingredients I cannot pronounce or recognize. 
• Portion size counts - I am going to be very conscience of portion size.  I don't need to eat as much as my husband, although that sounds like fun.  He outweighs me by forty pounds and trains like an athlete.  He needs to eat 4,000 calories a day (this may be a slight exaggeration), but I don't.      

I know what you're thinking, "What the heck are you going to eat?!" Whole foods.  No, not the store.  Fruits, vegetables, meat / protein, nuts, seeds, etc.  I will allow myself to keep my iced tea k-cups, because I am not a robot and let's be honest, I'm addicted.  I am also going to allow myself one cheat day per calendar month.  I think having one cheat day per calendar month will help me stay on track -- and somewhat sane.  Here we go again!

The aftermath...

In the aftermath of my 365 day challenge, I have eaten the following things:

An entire box of Kraft macaroni and cheese
A pint of Ben & Jerry's Red Velvet Cake ice cream
A blueberry muffin
Several homemade chocolate chip cookies
A pepperoni, mozzarella, and ricotta calzone
A Kit Kat bar
A large sweet tea
A Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich

I need to eat a Firehouse sub and some Five Guys and then I'm tapping out.   I may die if I continue eating this way for too long.  I feel terrible. Eating has turned into a horrible job that I dread.  Food doesn't even sound good; I'm just eating junk because I can.  My stomach is in a big knot, I'm exhausted, sleeping poorly, and foggy headed.  I did PR on a couple of workouts this week, but that's because I was blowing off some steam.  Today's workout was awful and left me nauseous for hours.

The bottom line is I need to go back on some type of program soon -- like in the next couple days.  I also may start a new challenge.  As soon as I decide exactly what I am going to do, you will be the first to know.  In the meantime, I will be eating myself sick.  I'm obviously a glutton for punishment (pun intended).

365 days down...

... zero to go!  It's been 365 days since I began this crazy challenge.  Can you believe it's been a year?  Can you believe that I made it a year?  My answers to those questions are no and no, just in case you were curious. When I started this challenge, my bity baby was seven months old.  He's now a 19-month old toddler.  Oh how time flies... excuse me while I wipe my tears.  

Anyway, here we are a year later.  Let's recap... I was not supposed to eat gluten, dairy, or large amounts of sugar during the past year.  I think I did quite well, only cheating eight times.  Eight times in 12 months is quite respectable as far as I am concerned.  I am shocked that my number of cheats was not higher.  I will admit that I ate more sugar on a day to day basis than I originally intended.  As I have admitted in the past, I have a small addiction to sugar.  This is something I am going to address in the next year, possibly in a new challenge.

As a reminder, this was me a year ago:

Height – 5’8”

Weight – 160 pounds

Body Fat Percentage – 27% *

Drumroll please....

These are my current stats:

Height – 5’8”

Weight – 145 pounds

Body Fat Percentage – 22% *

* As a reference point, 25% body fat is considered overweight and 30% body fat is considered obese.  The average woman's body fat is 33%, while the average man's is 22%.  

I am quite pleased with where I ended up!  I would have liked my body fat to be 20% or below, but I will take a 5% body fat loss and a 15 pound weight loss any day.  At the beginning of this challenge when I visualized myself on this day, I saw a lean, muscular woman.  I am not quite as lean or muscular as I had hoped, but I am getting there slowly.  I have learned throughout this process that body fat does not melt off quickly.  There are no tricks or magic pills.  Hard work and dedication are the only ways to get there.  I am patiently trying to reach my goals, and hope that one day I will be that lean and muscular woman.  In the meantime, does anyone know the phone number for Papa John's?

My unhealthy obsession with the scale...

I weigh myself obsessively every morning, letting the number the reads across the digital scale dictate my mood for the day.  I know it's just a number.  I know it's unhealthy and stupid and self-destructive, but I cannot stop myself.  However, over 4th of July weekend, something wonderful happened.  I didn't weigh myself... not one time.  This is mostly attributed to the fact that we were in Tennessee spending time with our wonderful family, but it is also because I made a conscience decision not to.  I sat around my mother-in-laws kitchen table and ate and laughed and felt loved.  I didn't count calories or enter my food consumption into the LoseIt program on my phone.  I just lived.  And had fun.  And cheated by eating cookies, brownies, rice crispy treats, and chips.  And when I weighed myself when I got home, I'd lost two pounds.  Lesson learned.        

Flashback...

Here's a blast from the past for you.  This is what I looked like my senior year in college.  If you can't find me, I am on the far left and am the only one wearing glasses.  Drinking, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, and drinking (again) probably led to my physique.  I put this on here, because people often say, "It's different for you, you've been fit your whole life."  If the photo isn't proof enough let me reiterate, I have not been fit my whole life.  I actually didn't begin caring about exercise and nutrition until I met my husband at the end of 2002.  And, I still don't consider myself fit, but more on the path to fitness.  Everyone has to start somewhere.  Whether it's today or tomorrow or you started last week. Finding your path to a healthier lifestyle can only lead to a healthier you. Enjoy!      

I love this photo by the way.  Some of my best friends in the world are in it.

 

11 months down...

Drum roll please... 11 months down, O-N-E to go!  Shut up!  You don't actually have to shut up, I just got a little excited there.  I can see the finish line in the distance, and it is rapidly approaching.  I am going to save all of my stats for next month, as I don't think there will be much change between now and then.  I don't want to give everything away, and then have nothing to write about when I post about the completion of my challenge.  Don't worry, you will get full disclosure in my 12-month post.

I have been having a hard time eating as cleanly as I should lately, especially given the fact that I am going to list my body fat on the Internet for all to see in a few short weeks.  It turns out that I just love to eat junk.  I know that I shouldn't, but oftentimes, I feel like I cannot control myself. Through this challenge, I think I have figured out that I'm plagued by stress-eating and even mild compulsive overeating.  These issues are something that I have to work through on a daily basis, and am trying to address in a healthy manner.  Rome wasn't built in a day, so I am aware that it is going to take me some time to change my relationship with food.  

I haven't posted any workouts in quite some time, so I am going to give you a sample of what I did this past week.  First, I offer a piece of advice.  Do not, and I repeat do not, complete the first workout listed below on a day where it is over 100 degrees in your gym aka garage.  If you do, you will send yourself into mild heat stress, as I did on Father's Day.  Sorry honey, I will make that one up to you.  It was awful and I thought I was going to die. Remember, consult a physician before beginning a physical training program, as you could be a moron like me and end up hurting yourself.

Sunday

Back squat (5 repetitions of each) - 50, 60, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95

-then-

Run to the end of the street and back

Burpees - 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Ball Slams with a 25 pound ball - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Run to the end of the street and back (then lay on the garage floor in front of a fan and try not to puke)
= 18:09

Tuesday

Snatch to overhead squat (3 reps of each) - 10 sets with a 15 kilogram/33 pound bar

-then-

Kettlebell swings with a 35 pound kettlebell x 15
Sit-ups x 15
Complete 4 rounds as quickly as possible while maintaining good technique
= 3:59

Thursday

Back squat (5 repetitions of each) - 50, 60, 70, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100

-then-

Dumbbell push press with 15 pound dumbbells x 20
Row x 10 strokes
Burpees x 5
Complete 3 rounds as quickly as possible while maintaining good technique
= 4:52

From now through July 21, I am going to eat as cleanly as possible.  No more cheats, no more excuses. 

So proud...

I am so proud to introduce a new blog that I will be following religiously. Chasing old gold is my husband's new blog about Olympic weightlifting and his pursuit of gold at the Masters level.  He's not only an amazing husband and father, but he is also one heck of an athlete.  Anyone that can throw 205 pounds over their head in one swift motion is an awesome athlete in my book!  I don't mean to brag, but I think he's pretty great. Click the link above to check it out and see him in action!

Missing in action...

So, I've been completely MIA lately and I am sorry.  My son started swim lessons and it is a daily thing.  I am not sure what I was thinking when I signed him up.  It's like having a full time job on top of a full time job.  It is fun playing in a pool that overlooks the ocean though.  Either way, it's been far too long since I last posted.

I have 44 days left in my flab to fab challenge, and I am sabotaging myself. It's like my brain -- and stomach -- know that I am nearing the finish line and are bombarding me with cravings.  I haven't cheated in a while, but it is getting quite difficult to stay on the straight and narrow.  As I said, I haven't cheated on my diet, but I am not making the best food choices.  All I want to eat are corn chips.  I know that this is crunch time (no pun intended) and I should be eating as cleanly as possible and working out quite a bit, but I can't bring myself to do it.  My workouts are okay, but I am not killing it in the gym like I want to be.  Maybe it's the fact that it's 90 degrees outside with a heat index of 105 that is causing my laziness.  It's a wet heat, the kind that makes you feel like your breathing through a blanket.  Ah... the South in June.

I need to find my motivation!  I still have body fat left to lose.  I need to get my stuff together!  HELP!

A wash...

Last week was a wash.  I didn't work out at all, and I barely ate.  I also missed a couple events that were important to me.  I ended up catching an upper respiratory infection that kicked my booty.  I don't remember being that sick since I had my fourth bout of mastitis when my son was an infant. The joys of breastfeeding that no one ever mentions, because it is far too painful to speak of.  I digress.  

It's funny how when you're physically ill, it begins to take it toll on you mentally.  I ended up throwing myself a giant pity party last week.  No fun in the sun for me.  I was sad; I guess I am still a little sad.  I have 55 days left in my flab to fab challenge, and all I am feeling is flab.  It's not just the challenge though, it is a myriad of other things too.

My husband and I long ago moved away from our families.  I do realize that was our choice.  Our nearest relatives are in North Carolina and Tennessee, both an eight hour drive from here.  When I was sick last week, I didn't have anyone to call in as back up.  And I desperately needed back up.  All of our friends have jobs, and Terry is on loan to another division at work, so he can't take time off.  It all felt very unfair and lonely.

Lonely is a feeling I'm becoming far too familiar with these days.  I think that's a symptom of being a stay-at-home mom.  Brady's a joy, but his conversation skills are still developing.  I miss day-to-day interaction with adults.  I belong to groups, Brady and I go out and about daily, but it's not the same and I don't know how to fix it.  I love spending each day with my son and I wouldn't give up being a stay-at-home mom for anything.  I guess I just need to find a hobby before I drive my sweet husband crazy.    

By the way, I am not writing this for sympathy.  I know my life is blessed, and I really have nothing to complain about.  I am just writing it because sometimes writing makes me feel better.  It sort of heals my heart and helps me move past what's bothering me.  This too shall pass.      

It's been 10 months...

It's been 10 months since I started my flab to fab challenge.  10 months since I gave up gluten, dairy, and large amounts of sugar.  Although math is not my strong suit, I am pretty sure that means I only have two months left until my year is over.  Can you believe it?  I can't.  I am proud that I have made it this far with only a few deviations!  And on July 22, I intend to have a huge deviation and eat an entire pizza.  But, for right now I am going to keep my eyes on the pizza, er... I mean prize.    

Over the course of the next two months I plan to work as hard as I can to lose a bit more body fat.  I saw a photo of myself from this past weekend at the beach (in a swim suit), and I was not happy.  Instead of having a pity party about it, I am going to use it as motivation and hit the gym extra hard -- as soon as I kick this upper respiratory infection.  I thought at the end of this 12 months, I would be a muscular, fit, beast of a woman.  Turns out it is going to take a little more time, but that's fine by me.  At least I am on my way.

As far as my stats for this month are concerned, my weight loss has pretty much plateaued.  I knew that would happen and I am happy with where I am sitting right now.  I am still about 16 pounds under where I was when I started this challenge and 11 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight.  Not to shabby as far as I am concerned.  Like I said, I have more body fat to lose, but I think that will come with time.    

Last weekend, my sister, mom, and I competed in the Turtle Crawl 5K.  My sister came in second place  in her age group and my mom came in fourth place in her age group.  I stayed with my mom the entire race and I am super proud of her for accepting the challenge and competing in her first 5K!  She was beaming as she crossed the finish line.  Next year, she and my sister are again going to compete in the 5K, and I think I am going to bite the bullet and train for the Turtle Crawl Sprint Triathlon that occurs at the same time as the 5K.  We'll see if I actually commit, it is a year away.

I am excited to see what happens in the next two months.

My sister's second place medal.

A little post race hydration.  Who doesn't drink beer at 9:00 am?  

74 days...

I have 74 days left in my Flab to Fab Challenge.  74 days to hit the gym hard and make sure I am eating correctly.  This year has flown by, and I can hardly believe I only have 74 days left.  When I started this challenge, I didn't think I'd make it past the first month, let alone this far.  I have to say I am happy with the results.  I had my husband check my body fat yesterday, and while I am going to keep the results a secret, I was happy with my progress.

I am going to take the next 74 days and do the best that I can to make the most of each day.  I am going to try to work out every other day, and eat as cleanly as possible.  There are a few challenges that lie ahead in the next 74 days, but I think I can manage.  As long as I can make it through my family visiting next week, it should be smooth sailing.  As an aside, I love my family, they just love to dine out and parade wonderful food from the best local restaurants in front of my tempted face.  Either way, I am going to do the best that I can.

Although I only have 74 days left, there is still work to be done, body fat to lose, muscle to gain.  This challenge won't really be over on July 21.  I think this is going to be a permanent lifestyle change, a change for the better. But, I am going to start that lifestyle change on July 23, after I wake up from my pizza, macaroni and cheese, and cookie induced coma.    

Anxiety

Yesterday was about the worst day I've had in recent months.  I woke up on the wrong side of the bed; my sweet boy woke up with an ear infection which led to a doctor's appointment which led to his ears being checked by the doctor AND by his medical student which led to two meltdowns which led to my t-shirt being used as a tear catcher/snot rag/napkin; a can of tuna fish exploded in my face (don't ask); I almost locked my keys in the car with my child inside; and my overall anxiety level was at about a 100 out of 10.

My anxiety level has been at a constant high in recent weeks.  You see, I have several friends going through tough times right now.  Divorce, separation, cancer, and overall life stress are what I have been coaching these ladies through.  I think I give too much of myself sometimes, almost like I have to take their burden as my own.  And by carrying their burden   -- and mine -- I can hardly breathe.  Yesterday all that I was carrying came crashing down.  I felt as close to a meltdown as I ever have, almost like the room was closing in on me.

I think through my flab to fab challenge, I have discovered that I am a stress eater.  Since I have cut most of my go-to stress eating foods out of my diet, I generally turn to exercise to relieve my stress.  Luckily for me (not), I took this week off from working out.  Since I didn't exercise yesterday, to cope with all of my stress and anxiety, I turned to food.  And I didn't turn to broccoli...

I turned to glorious, wonderful, sugar/dairy/gluten laden zebra cakes.  I had to go to Target last night to pick up my son's antibiotics and as I blazed through the aisles, I saw these glistening in the florescent lights. Without a second thought, I threw them in my basket and motored on.  I opened the box as I got into the car.  Four cakes later, I pulled into my driveway in a sugary haze.  I didn't stop there though.  After we administered Brady's medicine and got him to bed, I ate four more.  To save me from eating the last two -- at my request -- Terry threw them in the trash.  Thank goodness he stepped in, because if I'd eaten two more, I probably would've been sick.

Let this be a lesson... don't take a week off from working out when it is your sole means of stress relief.  
       

N-I-N-E months down...

It's been nine months since I started my flab to fab program, which means I only have three months to go.  You're welcome for that brief lesson in mathematics.  I am quite proud of myself for making it this far with only a handful of "cheats".  As this challenge progresses, it gets a bit harder for me to stay on the straight and narrow.  Since I am so close, I am going to focus on doing the best that I can for the next three months.

As most of you know -- during this month -- I tried the 21-day sugar detox. I wasn't very successful at it, although I learned quite a bit during my almost 11 "clean" days.  I am trying to remember those lessons and be smarter about consuming sugar.

Here are my stats for this month:

I am still 11 pounds under my pre-pregnacy weight, and 16 pounds under where I was when I started this program nine months ago.  My clothes are starting to get loose, and I see a shopping trip in my future.  While I didn't lose any weight this month, I am still seeing changes in my body signifying that I am probably dropping body fat.  I am quite happy with my progress thus far.  I don't think I will lose any more weight during this challenge, and I am fine with that.  I just want to lose body fat and gain more muscle definition.  Below you will find an updated picture my husband took this weekend.  Please excuse my bad posture and the stupid look on my face.

My new running skirt and top.

Thanks for taking this journey with me and leaving positive, uplifting comments.  They are very helpful.  Only three more months to go!

Game over...

My 21-day sugar detox is over.  I made it almost 11 days before my weakness for sugar caused me to cave in to the cravings that I'd been trying to ignore.  As the days progressed, the detox got harder and harder and the cravings got louder and louder.  What did I do to derail myself after almost 11 "clean" days?  I ate corn chips -- lots of them -- and soy ice cream.  It was glorious and wonderful.  As an aside, when I derailed myself from the detox, I still stayed clean on my flab to fab plan.  It's the small victories that count.  

Was I mad at myself?  Yes, but not for long.  You see, about day six I decided this detox wasn't for me.  I can do pretty much anything I put my mind to, but this pushed me over the edge.  I have been working very hard in the gym the last couple of months, and this detox set me back.  Each time I worked out, I felt weaker.  On the days I completed my heavy lifts, I almost passed out.  I have no problem tweaking my diet, but I am not going to continue doing something that is messing with my progress in the gym.  Maybe that makes me weak, but maybe it makes me smart.  I don't really care which one it is, the fact of the matter is I'm done and I am fine with it.

The good news is that I learned quite a bit during my almost 11 "clean" days.  I am going to be smarter about when I ingest my sugar.  If I want to drink one of my iced tea k-cups, I am going to drink it immediately following a workout, so my body can metabolize it faster.  The same goes for fruit.  I am also going to try to eat more vegetables, as I have enjoyed doing that these past few days.  As an added benefit, my sweet boy has loved every new veggie he's tried during this time.  I am going to do my best to avoid refined sugar as much as I can, although I was doing that before.

I just want to make it clear to my readers that I complete detoxes and challenges as a way to better myself, not as a way to lose weight.  In fact, if you click the link above, the person who created the 21-day sugar detox specifically states that it is not a weight loss program.  As a reminder, I started my flab to fab program to find my inner athlete.  Weight loss has just been an added benefit post-pardum, and I am happy with where I am. I will continue my flab to fab program, because I made the commitment to create a healthier lifestyle for me and my family.    

This detox sucks!

I am on day ten of the 21-Day Sugar Detox, and it sucks.  I am tired, grouchy, hungry, and craving sugar like it's oxygen.  The beginning of the challenge was a breeze for me.  It wasn't until I hit day five that things went south.  I had previously reported that I was feeling fuller longer after eating a meal.  Unfortunately for me, this is no longer the case.  In fact, I almost passed out mid-workout on day five.  That has never happened to me before, even in the extreme heat.  Do you know what my saving grace was as I limped into the house that afternoon?  Coconut water!  I am slowly getting used to the taste, but on that day it served it's purpose and made me feel human again.  You can think of coconut water as primitive man's gatorade.

Another lovely side effect that I am dealing with right now is sleep disruption.  I've slept very poorly for the past few days.  I wake up feeling exhausted, and anyone with a toddler knows you must get your rest.  I don't normally nap during the day, but I have been sneaking a short one when I can find the time.

Finally, I had a very stressful weekend, and I am a world renowned stress eater.  I wanted a cookie or a mocha or a stupid piece of fruit so bad I pouted.  It didn't help that my beloved husband ate Ben and Jerry's right in front of me.  While I did eat half a strawberry, I didn't come completely off the program.  I am not certain I can continue with this madness.  The cravings keep coming and show no sign of disappearing.  I am going to do my best to make it another 11 days, but this is hard.  

21-day sugar detox, day 4...

It's day four of my 21-day sugar detox.  So far, I feel pretty good.  I haven't had any crazy headaches or cravings, as a lot of people report in the first few days.  I will admit that yesterday I wanted to sail through the McDonald's drive thru and score a half sweet, half un-sweet tea.  It's my Tuesday ritual after all.  But, I didn't cave to that craving and I lived to tell the tale.  My biggest issue thus far is with drinks i.e. what to drink.  I can only handle so much water in a 24-hour period.  During the past few days, plain black tea and sparkling water have been my go to drinks when I get tired of regular h20.  As an aside, I challenge you to track the amount of calories you are drinking.  I think you will be shocked.

I have noticed a couple changes during this brief time.  First, I feel fuller longer after a meal.  I used to feel hungry throughout the day and that doesn't seem to be happening anymore.  I don't know if I can attribute this to the detox or if it's because I've been busy.  Either way, I like it.  Second, certain vegetables now taste like candy.  Yesterday, I diced up some peppers and tomatoes and they both tasted way sweeter than normal. Delicious!  Yes, I realize tomatoes are technically a fruit, but they are allowed on the detox.

If you recall in my last post, I discussed how I was allowed eight ounces of coconut water each day and one green apple.  If you have never tasted coconut water, I do not recommend it.  I don't care for it, as I think it tastes like dirt.  I will finish that last little bit that I have, since I am too cheap to throw it away.  I know there are a ton of benefits to coconut water, but it's really yucky!  As far as the green apple is concerned, that has been my go to dessert.  I generally eat it about an hour after dinner.  I am not the biggest fan of green apples either, but I think that as the challenge progresses the apple will taste less tart.

If you have done any research on the 21-day sugar detox, I am a level three, which is the most restrictive.  If you are going to try this detox, I suggest you start with the level one.  Otherwise, I think you are setting yourself up for failure.  Level three is generally for people who have already given up most gluten and dairy.  If you haven't looked at the specifics of the detox, check it out using the link above.  

I'm quite happy with where I am on day four.  Sometimes, I just need a little push to help me clean up my diet.

The 21-day sugar detox...

As I admitted in my last post, I am addicted to sugar.  I desperately need to do something to break myself of this addiction.  My sister-in-law completed The 21-Day Sugar Detox in January, and challenged me to try it myself.  She said it had a profound effect on her sugar addiction, and I am hoping that it will do the same for me.  This detox is not for the faint of heart.  I showed it to Rebecca, my friend/neighbor/sometimes training partner, and she promptly exclaimed, "I will NEVER do that!"  She acted as if I'd asked her to streak through our neighborhood.  It was hilarious! No, really it was... I guess you had to be there.

If you click the link above, you can see what the challenge is all about.  To someone else, even the idea of doing this may seem impossible and highly restrictive.  The reality is I am already gluten and dairy free, so all I'm cutting out is fruit, iced tea, corn products, and dark chocolate.  "Oh, that doesn't sound too bad," you say.  Just wait, on day three my husband will probably bury my whiny behind in the backyard.  This challenge is going to be hard!  I restrict my table sugar intake, not my fruit intake.  I am a fruit-a-holic.

For brevity, I am going to list the things I cannot have.  Remember, I already don't eat gluten or dairy, so those are obvious and I am not typing out every form of dairy and gluten.  I am lazy that way.  I cannot eat fruit of any kind (see below), corn and corn products, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, winter squash,  peanuts or peanut butter, cashews or cashew butter, barley, black beans, buckwheat, garbanzo beans, lentils, pinto beans, quinoa, red beans, rice of any kind, soy, alcohol, pre-sweetened coffee or tea drinks, juice, rice milk, soda (regular or diet), protein powder, soy sauce, bottled salad dressing, supplements that contain sugar, AND last but not least, anything diet or sugar free.  I know what you're thinking, "That's it?  Piece of cake!"  Thanks, now I want a piece of cake.

It is important to note that each day, I can consume one green apple or one green banana.  I am opting for the green apple, since those don't get sweeter as they ripen.  I am also allowed eight ounces of coconut water per day.  I've never had coconut water, but I figure it is worth a try.  I will probably cling to these two "sweet" products for dear life.  This challenge has an added level of difficulty for me because my husband and son are not participating.  I can deal with my husband not participating, but I have to feed my son and he loves fruit.  I guess I'll have to be careful not to steal food from my child.  Let's be honest, I sound insane.

I am intrigued to see what happens during these 21 days.  My sister-in-law told me that the first five days were really difficult.  I've also read that during the first few days, I should be prepared to exist with a constant headache.  Sounds like fun, doesn't it?  I plan to start on Sunday, April 7 and finish on Saturday, April 27.  I will keep you updated via my blog on how I am doing throughout the challenge.  Anyone care to join in on the craziness?  No?  I don't blame you.  

Easter fail...

I'm addicted to sugar.  There, I've said it.  I have been having a really hard time lately eating according to my rules, especially when it comes to sugar. Sugar has cast a spell on me, and I can't seem to come out of it.  At the beginning of this challenge, I don't feel like I had a hard time keeping sugar at bay.  Then I ate cake on my baby's first birthday, and I feel like it has been downhill ever since.  Each day, sugar wraps its fine crystals more tightly around me, like a snake does to its prey.  I try to get away, but I can't.  It just tastes too good.  

So here is my admission.  This weekend I ate soy ice cream.  It was far tastier than I thought it would be.  It didn't have gluten or dairy, so I don't really consider it a cheat.  Although, I probably should consider it a cheat due to the amount of sugar it contained.  Not too bad right?  Wrong.  Then I really cheated.  I ate a rather large cookie.  A chocolate chunk cookie from Starbucks to be exact.  It was divine and I savored every sugary bite. In case you were wondering, that cookie contained gluten, dairy, and sugar. Oops!

Do you see that beautiful cookie sitting there?  YUM!

 
Now I've cheated on my diet three times in almost nine months.  When you look at the totality of the time I've eaten cleanly, three times doesn't seem so bad.  However, I have decided that I need to recommit myself to this challenge, and I am doing that right now.  I am going to try to satiate my sugar cravings by eating fruit.  I can't promise that I am not going to cheat on my diet again, but I am sure going to try to do better.  Now, someone please hold me accountable because it is obvious that I can't be trusted!  As an aside, I realize there are far more serious issues in the world than eating a cookie.

Clean eating is for the birds...

I've had about enough of this clean eating stuff.  I want a burrito or a sandwich or a piece of cake.  I don't want to deprive myself of gluten or dairy or large amounts of sugar anymore.  I'm eight months into this challenge and I am about to go nutty!  I am sick and tired of eating the same thing over and over and over again.  Variety is the spice of life, right? I know I am nearing the end of this challenge, but I cannot see the finish line.  There is a giant Krispy Kreme doughnut in the way.  I'm feeling defeated... and very hungry.  

Brunswick, Georgia

Let me paint a picture for you.  There is a small town in Georgia where magnolia and oak trees line the streets in front of neatly kept houses. Where springtime has set in, causing an explosion of pink, purple, and white flowers.  Where people drink sweet tea and wave to their neighbors whether they know them or not.  Where young people call their elders ma'am and sir, and it is not taken as an insult.  Where strangers wait a few minutes to hold the door open for you, because it's the nice thing to do. Where the ocean breeze feels cool against your skin on a warm spring day. Where Terry and I chose to live and settle and raise our family.  Where I felt safe, until Thursday.

Thursday morning started out like a normal day.  It was a cool morning; cool enough to require Terry to go outside early to start his car and let it warm up.  When he came back inside, he looked concerned.  There was something strange in the front yard.  I followed him back outside to see what it was.  Low and behold, it was our mailbox.  Someone had completely run it over, smashing it into pieces.  "Great," I thought, "Another thing to add to my to do list."

For some reason our smashed mailbox made me feel uneasy.  I was already feeling uneasy that morning, as I'd decided to take Brady to a MOPS group for the first time.  MOPS is different from the other groups Brady and I attend.  With MOPS, you leave your child in the church nursery and hang out with the other moms in a different part of the church.  I don't leave Brady with people, with anyone really.  My husband affectionately refers to me as a helicopter mom.  The thought terrified me, but everyone is always telling me I have to get over my fears.  "It's good for him," they say.

I left the house earlier than I had planned, so I could drive through Starbucks and get a cup of coffee.  As I left Starbucks and headed downtown, the uneasy feeling overwhelmed me.  I wanted to turn around and head to Lowe's to buy a new mailbox.  "I should use this time more wisely," I thought.  I pushed those thoughts out of my mind, telling myself that going to MOPS was a good thing.  Brady needed to meet other kids and I needed to meet other moms.  As I got closer, I called my friend to tell her she'd be proud of me for taking Brady to the group.  I also thought the phone call would distract me and calm me down.  It did distract me.  My friend was crying, sobbing actually.  I struggled to understand her words. I parked on the street right in front of the church, sat in the car sipping my coffee, and tried to console my friend.

Brady has never been a fan of his car seat; he'd rather be running around. Halfway through my conversation, I realized I wasn't going to be able to sit in the car and talk to my friend.  I knew I couldn't hang up, so I was going to have to take Brady out of the car and let him roam around.  It was a little after 9:00 am, and MOPS didn't start until 9:30.  While talking to my friend, I took Brady out of his car seat, grabbed my purse and his diaper bag, and set them all down on the sidewalk.  I had my back to the church, a phone up to my ear, and my eyes on my sweet baby running between two magnolia trees.  I was distracted.

A little after 9:15 am, one block behind where I stood watching Brady play, two evil, cowardly teenage boys attempted to rob a woman pushing her one-year-old baby in a stroller.  When she told them she had no money, the older of the two boys shot her in both the ear and leg.  As if that wasn't bad enough, he pushed her out of the way, walked around the stroller, and shot her sleeping baby in the head.  Her baby died right there on the sidewalk.

One block behind me.  One block from where my angel ran playing between two trees.  One block from where my Coach purse and Vera Bradley diaper bag sat on the sidewalk unattended.  One block from where a distracted mother was on the phone, making her the perfect target.  I never heard the gunshots, I was distracted.  I heard the sirens.  "I must be near a fire station," I thought. Had they walked one block further, they would have come into contact with me.  I never would've seen them coming.  My life never would've been the same.  I didn't know anything was wrong until I saw uniformed officers walking up and down the street with shotguns.  "Strange," I thought as I hung up the phone and walked into the church.

Although I don't consider myself to be weepy or dramatic, I am taking this very hard. You have to understand, I am a trained law enforcement officer. My husband is a trained law enforcement officer who trains other law enforcement officers for a living.  I know better than to be distracted like that.  I knew I was going into downtown Brunswick.  I knew it had a reputation for being a little unsafe.  I was uneasy as I drove downtown, but I didn't listen to my instincts.  "It's 9:00 in the morning, I'm going to a church, it's good socialization for Brady."  Those were all of the excuses running through my brain.  I'd become complacent because I live in a small town.  This isn't LA or DC, two places I've lived in the past.  This is Brunswick, Georgia -- it's safe.  Sadly, it turns out, nowhere is safe anymore.    

This story is not about me.  It is about the woman who so tragically lost her child.  A woman who was running a simple errand on a beautiful spring morning with her son.  A woman who's past may be checkered, but who's future will never be the same.  Cherish every moment with your children and your family.  In a split second, they could be gone forever.

It's that time again...

Another month bites the dust!  It is time for my eight months down, four months to go check-in.  This month flew by.  We had a slew of visitors, events, and busy days, so this check-in snuck up on me.

I'm going to come right out and admit that one event threw me off track this month.  My husband and I went out on our first real date in almost 15 months.  It was an early anniversary present to ourselves.  We went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and then to a concert.  We attempted to behave like normal people, who weren't insanely worried about the sweet boy we left at home in the capable hands of a good friend of ours.  I only text messaged her 100 times that night.  That's normal right?  It's a good thing that she's keenly aware of how neurotic I am when it comes to my boy, and in general.  Now it's time for the admission... I ate bread and cheesecake at dinner.  The bread was divine.  I could have eaten every last morsel of it, although I limited myself to three teensy, tiny little pieces.  The cheesecake, however, wasn't very good.  I mean it tasted good, but it made me feel sick.  I actually stopped eating it after a few bites.  This reconfirmed that my stomach has serious issues with dairy.  It was a good thing I took lactose pills prior to ingesting the cheesecake; otherwise, the concert wouldn't have been pleasant for anyone.  I am happy to report that the entree I ordered was 100% in line with my flab to fab rules.  It's the small victories in life, isn't it?

It looks divine, doesn't it?!

As far as my physical training program is concerned, I have added strength training back in.  I am now snatching and doing back squats once a week, along with an interval based workout and a long cardio / metabolic conditioning workout.  So far, I really like it.  The workouts push me, but I still feel good.  My lower back isn't giving me trouble yet either, which I am super happy about.  I am hoping to stick with this programming through mid-May.  We'll see if that happens.

My stats for this month are as follows:

I am still 11 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight and 16 pounds less than I was when I started this challenge.  I didn't see additional weight loss this month, but I am fine with that.  Since I added strength training back in, I didn't think I would see any weight loss.  I can tell that I am losing body fat though, as my clothes are still getting looser.  

I did fall off track this month, but I predicted that would happen in a previous post.  I am not going to beat myself up over it.  I am just going to jump back on the wagon and move on.  No sense in having a pity party. It's not like a meteor struck me down once I was done eating my treats. 

Training for what?

My husband often asks me why I am training.  It's a great question.  Why am I working out?  The only honest answers I can come up with are I workout for health and aesthetics.  Lately, I really couldn't care less if I workout, let alone if I eat well.  I am not sure why I have such an apathetic attitude about the whole thing.  I think I am just stuck in a stupid rut. Part of me just wants to be like the rest of the population, who eats what they want and doesn't fret about squeezing workouts into their day.  I long to be normal.  Let's be honest, I am about as far from normal as they come. All I know is working out for health and aesthetics is not fulfilling to me. Don't get me wrong, they are great reasons.  I just need to find other reasons.  I just wish I knew what they were...

Mochas and zebra cakes...

I don't know what's gotten into me lately, but I want to hurl my nutrition program out the window and survive on mochas and zebra cakes.  My sugar / carb cravings have been insane lately, and I don't know what is fueling them.  Perhaps, it's just my body being mad that I have deprived it of these delectable treats for so long.  Or maybe it's the fact that every time I go out to dinner with my girlfriends they eat bread and dessert right in front of me (the nerve)!  Or maybe I'm just a weak crybaby.  Either way, I can see myself purposefully jumping off of the wagon and letting it run me over.  It's fine, really.  Don't try to convince me otherwise.  Just stay tuned for a post where I whine about falling off the wagon and tell you how horrible I feel.  I'm just pre-warning you.  Carry on!  

Doesn't this look delicious?!

 

Easing my way back in...

Remember how I said I was going to ease my way back in to lifting weights?  Apparently, I am unfamiliar with what the phrase "easing my way back in" actually means.  My first day back in the weight room, I completed 40 snatch to overhead squats with a 15 kilo bar (33 pounds), and 26 back squats with various weights ranging from 45 to 75 pounds. Just in case you were wondering, that is a total of 66 weighted squats. Hmmmmm... I'm not a doctor, but that could explain why my legs are so sore.  Sometimes I wonder where I put my brain.

Muscle definition or lack thereof...

Lately I've been super disappointed with my lack of muscle definition.  I am seven months into this challenge, and I really thought I'd have some rock hard muscles by this point.  Unfortunately, I don't.  I suppose this could be attributed to my utter lack of weight training.  If you recall, towards the end of last year, I kept having issues with my lower back.  I decided that I would lay off the weight training and pick it back up at the beginning of 2013.  The problem -- I've found -- is that it's March of 2013, and I still haven't picked up a single barbell.  Hmmmm... I suppose I thought those muscles would just materialize.  Too bad it's not that easy.

I need to keep this in mind!

I have decided to run another 5K in May with my sister and my mom.  I need to train for this run, as I would like to attempt another PR. Hopefully, this one will occur sans side stitch.  Say that five times fast.  Hard right?! Don't be embarrassed to admit you tried it.  I also need to slowly pick weight training back up.

Here's the weekly plan:  I am going to complete a "long" workout on day one.  Long for me is greater than 20 minutes.  Day two is going to consist of interval work.  Hopefully, this will help me to decrease my mile split times.  Finally, day three is going to involve working on my snatch and back squat.  I am going to begin these lifts with low weights, and try to work my way back up to where I was at the end of last year.  I am going to mix and mingle these throughout the week, meaning that I may do a "long" workout on day three and a short workout on day one.  It's anarchy, I know.

Here goes nothing!

Super Dolphin Day 5K

On Saturday, February 22, my sister and I competed in the 35th Annual Super Dolphin Day 5K.  This was the very first 5K I have ever attempted to run.  I was excited and nervous on the morning of the race.  If you've been reading my previous blog posts, you will remember that leading up to the race, I was plagued by side aches.  I really didn't want a side ache to put a damper on my first 5K.

About two minutes after the gun sounded, signaling the start of the race, I got a crippling side ache.  I was furious, but I didn't want to give up.  I decided to use a breathing technique my friend Julie told me about.  I was elated when Julie's breathing method worked!  My side ache didn't go away, but it lessened and I never stopped running.  I'd wanted my sister to push my pace, but the side ache wouldn't allow it.  My poor sister had to slow her pace to run with me, but we finished and had fun in the process. If she had run at her normal speed, she would have placed second in her age group.  I did appreciate having a running partner, but when we run our next race, she is running at her pace and I am running at mine. Homegirl needs a medal!

The obligatory pre-race photo.  We never took a post race picture -- too sweaty!

Below are my stats from the race.  If you can believe it, I actually got a PR even with the side ache!  It was only a 9 second PR, but I'll take it.

Finish time - 29:40
Previous fastest time - 29:49
Ranking in the female 30-34 age group - 7th out of 19
Ranking out of 287 female finishers - 79th  

I had really hoped for a time in the 28 minute range, although I am pretty proud of myself for even finishing.  Our next race is the Turtle Crawl 5K on May 18.  It just so happens that my mom will be in town, so she is going to join us.  It should be a fun family event!

SEVEN months down...

It's been seven whole months since I started this journey.  SEVEN!  At the beginning, I would've never imagined that I'd make it this far.  I've still only had one cheat day.  My willpower -- at times -- shocks me.  The old me never would have been able to turn down doughnuts or ice cream cake. Although, I am on the downhill side of this challenge (only five months left!), it doesn't make it easier.  New obstacles pop up every day that try to throw me off track.  Each day, I do the best that I can to try to make a healthier me.

If you recall, last month was a bust.  It was the first month where I didn't lose a single pound, and to top it off, I was a slug.  My motivation was missing and try as I might, I couldn't seem to locate it. This month, I decided to see if there was a reason for my lack of motivation.  I started using a program called LoseIt to track my protein, carb, and fat intake.  After a week of tracking, I noticed the problem.  My protein intake was low and my carb intake was on the high side.  No wonder I was tired and hungry all of the time!  As soon as I increased my protein intake and decreased my carb consumption, I started to feel better.  It's funny how your body "speaks" to you sometimes.

Another pleasant surprise to getting my diet back on track was weight loss! I am two pounds down from where I was last month.  I realize two pounds is not a huge weight loss, but I will take it.  Since I began this challenge on July 21, 2012, I have lost 16 pounds.  I am now 11 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight.  I really don't think I will get much lower than my current weight, and I am fine with that.  As long as I keep losing body fat, I will be a happy camper.       

This month, I have stayed pretty consistent with my PT.  I plan to make some changes to my PT program next month, but stay tuned for those.  My sister and I have a 5K on Saturday that I am excited and terrified to run. The truth is, I am super competitive.  I want to get a PR in the race, but I am having weird abdominal pain.  Every time I run lately, I get excruciating pain on my left side.  The pain lasts for DAYS after I run.  I noticed yesterday it hurt when I carried my son around as I walked.  I will make a doctor's appointment after my race.  I swear if I have to walk the 5K, I am going to be ridiculously furious.  I have worked my booty off to prepare myself for this race, and I am not going to let some mystery medical issue get in my way.  Gosh, I am stubborn. 

Physical Training Log

Another week of PT bites the dust!  The 5K I am running is next Saturday (2/23), and I am quite excited.  Lest you forget, I am running with my sister who averages EIGHT minute miles.  I am not that fast, so I am slightly terrified that she will either leave me in the dust or I will cross the finish line and puke in the nearest trash can.  Oh what fun!

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Run the neighborhood loop twice

= 29:49

* According to mapmyrun.com, I ran approximately 3.15 miles.  This was a PR for me!  My previous fastest time was 30:41.  I was quite proud of myself, as I thought I was running slow.   

Monday, February 11, 2013

Run to the end of the street and back

-then-

Kettlebell swings (35 pounds) x 15

Sit-ups x 15 

Complete 4 rounds 

-then-

Run to the end of the street and back

= 11:01

* According to mapmyrun.com, the run portion of the workout was approximately 0.64 miles.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Row x 250 meters

Snatch balance (15 kilos) x 5

Push-ups x 10

Complete 5 rounds

= 12:40

Have a super weekend!

Two physical training logs and Lose It!

I apologize for being absent these last couple of weeks.  My husband's been out of town, my sweet boy is sick, and we've had a lot of other randomness going on.  My PT logs for the past two weeks are a bit on the minuscule side due to the aforementioned, but I did what I could with the time that I had.

On another note, I decided to start tracking my food consumption using a program called Lose It.  It has been a really eye opening experience for me. I thought I was eating great... boy was I wrong!  I am eating far too many carbohydrates and far too little protein.  I never would have thought that was the case.  Programs like Lose It are great for keeping you accountable. I hate to see when I've gone over my allotted calories for the day.  A word of advice, don't try to cheat the system by not putting in everything you've eaten.  You are only cheating yourself.

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Run the neighborhood loop once

= 14:55

* According to mapmyrun.com, I ran approximately 1.60 miles.  

Monday, January 28, 2013

I walked the neighborhood loop with my baby in the BOB
= 30:00

-and-

Squats x 15
Sit-ups x 10
Burpees x 5
Complete 5 rounds
= 6:16

* This workout left me sore for days!  I am not sure if my soreness was due to the pace at which I completed it, or what.  Ouch!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Run the neighborhood loop once

= 14:33

* According to mapmyrun.com, I ran approximately 1.60 miles.  I ran this a bit faster than I did the week before, so I was happy!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

I walked the neighborhood loop with my baby in the BOB

= 30:00

-and-

Snatch and front squat technique work using 33 and 38 pounds

-and-

Back squat (33 pounds) x 7
Ball slam (25 pounds) x 7
Complete 5 rounds
= 4:43

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Row x 1000 meters
-then-
Overhead squat (33 pounds) x 5
Sit-ups x 10
Complete 5 rounds
= 9:12

Have a great weekend!!

Beating myself up...

I have spent the last two weeks beating myself up.  And, I'm not talking about working hard in the gym.  I am talking about emotionally beating myself up.  I'm not a good mom, I'm not losing enough weight, I'm eating more food than I'd like to be, I'm not attractive, my house is a wreck, I don't work out enough, I have a gut, blah, blah, blah... the list goes on and on.  I just came back from a fabulous new mom's group that I've been going to for the past couple of months, and do you know what I realized? My sweet boy doesn't care about any of these things.  He just wants his mama to scoop him up after another child bonks him on the head with a cell phone.  He wants me to kiss him and throw him up in the air.  He doesn't care if I eat five squares of dark chocolate and drink too much tea, nor does he care that my hair has been in a pony tail every day for over a year.  He just wants his mama.  It took hanging out with these wonderful women, watching our children play, for me to realize that.  My heart is full.

This is an oldie, but a goodie.

Physical Training Log

Last week I got off my lazy booty and worked out!  I was elated with my run time on Saturday.  I set a personal record (PR) for myself, and I couldn't be happier.  Perhaps, taking a week off did my body some good. Working out this week is going to be a challenge.  We have a lot going on in the evenings, so I will have to sneak workouts while my baby is napping. We'll see if that actually happens.

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed last week.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.  If you are starting a physical training program as a part of a New Year's resolution, begin slowly.  Rome wasn't built in a day.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Run the neighborhood loop twice

= 30:41 (PR!)

* According to mapmyrun.com, I ran approximately 3.15 miles.  This is the third time I've been able to run this distance, and it was my fastest!  Sweet!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Snatch technique work with the help of the world's most handsome trainer (my hubby)

-and-

Snatch balance (15 kilos) x 3
Farmer's walk to the end of the driveway and back (45 pound plate) x 2
Complete 5 rounds
-then-
Complete 3:00 of planks
= 14:00

* I used my brand new 15 kilo bar for the snatch work.  For those of you who don't know, 15 kilos equals 33 pounds.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Run to the end of my street and back
-then-
Overhead squat (15 kilos) x 10
Burpees x 5
Complete 5 rounds
= 12:07

*According to mapmyrun.com, the run portion of this workout was approximately 0.33 miles. 

I have a problem...

My name is Kellea, and I am addicted to peanut butter.  Gasp!  I took peanut butter out of my diet a few months ago because it was hurting my stomach, or so I thought.  I am starting to think that was just a bad batch of peanut butter.  That happens, right?  Either way, for the last two weeks I've been eating peanut butter like Jif is about to stop production, and I've had no tummy issues.  However, after finishing another jar (seriously, I just licked a jar clean seconds ago), I have decided I must bid peanut butter adieu.  I don't need it, and I eat far, far, far too much of it.  Good-bye sweet peanut butter, I will miss you.  It's not you, it's me.

Motherhood

This post has nothing to do with exercise or nutrition.  I just wanted to give you a glimpse into my brain.  Sometimes being a stay-at home mom is hard.  Hard?!  Yes, hard.  Sometimes I miss working.  I was quite good at my job and, for the most part, I enjoyed my work.  Sometimes, I just want to get out of bed, take an extra-long shower, straighten my hair and do my makeup, put on a pretty outfit with accessories, drive-thru Starbucks, and go to my office.  I want to sit there and talk to other adults about adult things.  I want to spend hours finding background information on subjects, then track them down and interview them, getting them to confess things they thought they never would.  It's like the ultimate game of cat and mouse.  I want to write affidavits and appear in court.  I want to feel like I have a brain.  If you don't know what I used to do, use your imagination.

Five seconds after these thoughts cross my mind, I feel an enormous sense of guilt.  I love my baby.  I love being at home with him, watching all of his firsts.  I love to watch his little mind work as he figures things out.  I love the sweet smile that crosses his face when he accomplishes something that he's proud of.  I love his contagious laugh and the way he smells.  I love the sweet sounds he makes when we're playing.  I love being blessed enough to spend my days with him, I really do.  He is a joy and I am very lucky.  

I think as moms we are often times very hard on ourselves.  There is a lot of guilt that comes with being a parent.  Guilt for thinking about our child-less days or for trolling Facebook when we should be pureeing baby food. What makes matters worse is that we are also judgmental and critical towards one another.  Stay-at-home moms judge moms who work, and moms who work judge stay-at-home moms.  How about we not judge each other, and instead be kind to one another.  After all, we all want what's best for our kids and we don't know what personal struggles go on behind closed doors.  

He is the best boss I've ever had!  And the smartest, cutest, and most wonderful!