Hit me like a semi truck

Ever have one of those days where you just can't shake the feeling of inadequacy? Where not matter how hard you try, you just feel like it's not quite good enough? Where the emotional relationship you have with food comes out in high gear? Well today was one of those days for me...

To start out with I'm PMSing, so I am highly emotional, want to do nothing but eat, and am bloated. Add to that my home situation is extremely stressful and wearing. PLUS I didn't get to the gym today. All that adds up to feeling like I was punched in the face (emotionally). So with all that I think I need to talk about my relationship with food (then probably go bake something lol).

Food is a very strange subject for me, it is something I am very passionate about. I love to bake, I love to cook, I LOVE to eat. I don't think I have ever really had the healthiest relationship with food. I mean it was not so unhealthy that is was to the point of an eating disorder, but it was a dysfunctional relationship for sure.

I have always relied on food. When I was bored, it gave me something to do. When I was sad, it made me feel better. When I was happy, I celebrated with food. I was also lucky to grow up in a home where my mom, and Gma, knew how to cook well. As a kid this was all fine a dandy. I was fairly active, had a fast metabolism, and was a kid. Lol But come about my junior year, it started to be a problem. I was eating more fast food due to a very active extra curricular schedule. I was getting less exercise, due to said schedule. I was also dealing with my metabolism slowing down a tad. I want to say I saw about 10lbs in weight gain my last two years of high school. But I refused to see the issues, or to listen to my mom when she tried to talk to me about it. My senior I was at my biggest of approx 150lbs (only 10ish lbs less than my delivery weight with my second baby, and 5ish less than with my first...) and refusing to wear bigger than a juniors sz11 (even though I probably should have been).

My freshman year of college my relationship with food become a little more "healthy", even if my diet wasn't the best. I was a poor college student who was used to eating delicious home cooked meals at least 2-3x a week. Don't get me wrong, the dorm food wasn't bad but it wasn't home. It was here tho that I got addicted to energy drinks, imagine that. Lol I managed to loose a couple lbs during my freshman year, and got down to between 140-145lbs.

My relationship with food has come and gone from unhealthy since then, mainly depending on how much extra we had to spend on crap at the time. It wasn't until I started actively trying to loose weight that my relationship became more dysfunctional in one area and less dysfunctional in another. My relationship with WHAT I eat and my portions has become quite healthy. As a family we have decided to change the way we eat, for the most part. We make basically everything from scratch. I even make my own chicken stock and such. However, I am not the type of person to completely deprive myself of anything. I still have my desserts, I still eats all those delicious carbs, and I love everything dairy. The relationship that has gotten more dysfunctional is WHEN I eat.

While I was counting calories I became so obsessed with not eating too much ( don't get me wrong, my min was 1500cal BEFORE working out) that when I got emotional I had to force myself to eat. That habit has stuck with me, along with sometimes forgetting to eat when I get busy. Those habits, and dysfunctions, have stuck with me even now that I am no longer counting calories. Well, except when I'm PMSing, then I just want to eat everything in sight. Lol

These new dysfunctions have been hard for me to deal with lately. My home situation has been highly stressful. My marriage is on the rocks, AND my husband deploys for the first time in October for 8 months. Plus, I have a 3 year old and almost 2 year old which are stressful enough as is. I have been "forgetting" to eat a lot, and when I do eat I usually have to force myself. Not this week, like I said, I'm in eat everything in sight mode. Lol

It's weird for me to sit and write about this, because I don't even really know what my point is... Basically what I am saying is my relationship with food has always been so intertwined with my emotions that I don't know how to break the cycle. I feel like I went from one extreme to the other. How do I build a healthy relationship with food, when cooking/baking is one of my biggest ways of loving on someone (I'm Italian, it's in my blood...)? How do I build a non-emotion based relationship with food when I have lived with an emotion based relationship all my life?

Feeling a bit random...

This post is going to be a bit random, just to warn everyone. Lol

I went and did my body fat % test this morning. It was nice to finally see exactly where I am at. I was actually extremely happy with my results! The last time I did the test was in march and I was nervous I was going to see a higher % than I saw last time, even though I know I have lost weight and I can see more definition. But I have gone down from 19.6% to 19.1%. The part the shocked me the most was it says I weigh 120.4lbs.

If I am remembering my numbers from last time correctly that means I have lost around 6lbs of just body fat since the last time I tested. That astounds me! I didn't realize my workouts were that affective. lol oh, and something else that is crazy is I stopped dieting in April. Needless to say I'm pretty proud.

I really feel like my body has changed drastically since I started running more seriously. I feel I have more overall definition than I did before, even if I am doing less strength work. They say running is the best full body workout you can do, and I am by far starting to agree. My calves have never looked this good, and my thighs have gotten pretty tight and defined as well. Basically my legs have become what I always wanted them to look like. I have definitely fallen in love with my thunder thighs. A lot of people who give me crap for calling them that, because as far as measurement goes they aren't very big. But, my quads are huge (and I only plan on building them up more!) and I love them.

I am actually hoping to go on a run once I finish writing this. The weather is perfect, Chase is home, my kids are sleeping, AND I exchanged my Vibrams today!

Oh man. Let me just tell you how much I love REI. That store has never done me wrong. I honestly cannot think of a time when I was upset by anything or anyone at any REI location. But here is the latest awesomeness from them. I went in today to exchange my Vibrams, because, as I mentioned the other day, they were a size two big and causing serious pain in my ankle. I was pretty nervous there would be some kind of problem, for several reasons. First, I bought them almost 3 weeks ago and they had OBVIOUSLY been worn. Second, I didn't have my receipt or the box. But when I went up and told the cashier the issue, she simply pulled up my REI member info (a great reason to be a member FYI), told me to go find the size I need and we could do the exchange. That was it. No "Let me talk to my manager" or anything. It was so painless I'm still in shock. Basically, if you don't shop at REI, you should, and invest in an REI membership, it is beyond worth it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mileage goal: 15+
Strength goal: 30DS 6x

Mileage w2d: 14.89mi
Strength w2d: 30DS 4x

I saw this pic at Macy's today and had to share it

Weekly Chase 8/20-8/27 & 30 Day Shred start info

 

It has been such an insane week already and it's only Tuesday... BUT I am taking the time to make my Weekly Chase Goals (even if I was supposed to post this yesterday lol). If you haven't heard of the Weekly Chase that the wonderful Ms. Melissa does over at Live Love Run does you should really go check it out. It's an awesome way to set and stay accountable to your goals, even if you don't blog.

Ok, so last week I didn't set any goals because it was an insane week of getting back from vacation, my older daughter Chi starting preschool, and dealing with my stupid sore ankle. But how I usually do it is I set 3 goals: a mileage (for walking to be included it has to be at at least a 10 incline) goal, a strength goal, and a daily life goal.

This weeks goals:

1. Mileage goal: I am going to keep this at 15. My ankle is just getting better (I figured out what the deal with it was!!)
2. Strength Goal: 30 day shred everyday, taking Saturday as a rest day
3. Daily Life Goal: Deal with my Vibrams at REI

On a little side note, and an explanation of #3, I figured out how I messed up my ankle. It did have to do with running on the old treadmill at the hotel fitness room in Seattle, but it was also largely because my Vibrams are too big.

This is the anatomy of the bottom of my new Vibrams. I bought them for trail runs, mud runs, etc. The issue with them being too big is, see the wonderful arch protector? Well that thing was my arch in the wrong spot, causing serious pain in my foot and putting stress on ankles that already have issues. How do I know this is the reason, you may ask. I wore my other Vibrams, the ones I have been wearing for the last 8 months, while doing my 30 Day Shred this morning and didn't have any issues.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Day Shred Start Info



Ok, again, I should have posted this yesterday when I actually started my shred but yesterday was insane beyond words. I didn't even get my shred in until 2130 (930pm for all you civilians ;) lol). I was actually a little shocked at how intense the shred felt yesterday and today. I'm not gonna lie, I was expecting to be able to just blow through it. Man was that a joke! I barely made it through yesterday, and had to do half the push ups on my knees today... Today's calorie burn for my shred was 251cals. I am also trying to schedule a bodyfat % test, hopefully by the end of the week. I am really excited to see my changes.

My Day 1 measurements:

Weight:121.5lbs

Bicep: 10"

Pecs: 31.75"

Chest: 30.75" (see I'm not lying when I say my pecs are bigger than my boobs...)

Waist: 25"

Hipbones: 31.75"

Hips(5" below hipbone): 37"

Thigh (6" above knee): 20"

Calf (8" above anklebone): 13.75"

A couple notes on my measurements. I measured things I wanted to track the change in. For the last three measurements, the inches above or below aren't technical places to measure or anything, it's just so I measure in the same spot lol. My weight will probably go up. I am typically at between 122-125lb but with how busy I have been and the stress I've been dealing with I have been forgetting to eat, but that is an issue for tomorrow's post.

My Day 1 Pics:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mileage Goal: 15+

Strength Goal: 30DS 6x

Mileage w2d: 3.34

Strength w2d: 30ds 2x

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PS
I started my first job since Feb '10 last night!! I am pretty stoked to work at Starbucks!
PPS
Those pants are my first pair of "skinny"s (which is a HUGE deal coming from a self proclaimed skinny jean hater!), AND they are a smaller size than I have worn EVER!

30 day shred challenge Day 1

Today has been such a LONG day. It started with taking my oldest to preschool at 830. Then my little one and I went to the gym and I ran 2 miles, did some weights, then did a mile at 10-13 incline. After that we went and picked up Chi from preschool, went to the grocery store for things for dinner, came home popped dinner into the crockpot, and snuggled with my oldest on the couch. THEN I cleaned up the kitchen, got ready for work, went to my first day of work at Starbucks from 6-830, came home and dinner.

After all that all I wanted to do was pass out on the couch... BUT I made a commitment to start this 30 dat shred today, so I forced myself to do it. Let me just tell you, it was ROUGH!! But I did it. I will post all my measurements and pics tomorrow, cuz now it's time for bed.

30 Day Shred Challenge

This is it folks!! It is time for my 30 Day Shred Challenge!


I am really excited about this, I love this work out. As I mentioned yesterday I have a bit of an obsession with Jillian Michaels, and it all started with this dvd. I first heard about this workout program from friends at myfitnesspal.com, all of whom had awesome results. One of my friends convinced me to try it with her, and I was so impressed with the changes I saw (see my results here). I know a couple people who have been wanting to try it, and said they might be interested in doing it with me. I am so happy to be able to set this up. There is nothing quite like the motivation and accountability of doing a program with a group of people! So are you in?


If your answer is yes, here is what I am asking of YOU:

1. Take a picture before you workout on day 1 (I like to measure, weigh, and take the pics first thing in the morning, after going to the bathroom, to get a number that is affected by as little variables as possible)
2. Measure yourself before you workout on day 1. I measured my weight, true waist, my hip bones (aka love handles), hips, thigh, bust, bicep, and neck
3. Measure (and take a picture if you want, I always forgot...) yourself on the day you start each new level
4. Check in with me on the first day of each new level. I will post a blog about it and you can either check in there, or on the post on my facebook page. You don't have to tell me your measurements or anything (unless you want to), just let me know you are still with me.
5. Take a final picture and measurement the day after you finish all 30 days
6. We will have a final check in at the very end, again you don't have to tell me any numbers I just want to know who made it all the way through and what you thought.
7. I really suggest only doing the shred 6 days a week, and giving yourself that rest day. It helps, I promise

Everyone who completes this challenge will receive a pair of these AWESOME Sweat Pink laces from Fit Approach, no joke these make me want normal running shoes (instead of my Vibrams) so I can rock these laces! If you are a fellow SPA, I will find something just as sweet to send you.

If you're in LET ME KNOW! We start Monday!

I may be obsessed...

I may or may not be having a bit of a fitness love affair with Jillian Michaels... I own 5 of her 10 fitness dvds, her dumb bell set, and got all nerdy excited when I saw she has a kettlebell 5-10-15lb set too.

So I am finally back from "vacation", and am pretty sure I need a vacation to recover from it. The only time I truly got to relax was while I was camping last weekend. But it was so worth it, I got to do some awesome runs. Even if I did come home with two sick kids and a messed up ankle. Luckily my older daughter recovered just in time to go to her first day of Preschool today :) It is so hard to believe she is already that old.

While I was in Portland I picked up two more Jillian dvds: 30 day shred (since mine has disappeared) and Yoga Meltdown (I have been talking about trying yoga for awhile). I don't know what it is about Jillian, but I just love her. Her dvds are the only ones I can do day after day and not want to punch the person on the dvd in the face. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that she owns the fact that working out is tough, and that it can suck sometimes, but you have to fight through it to get results. I am really excited about the addition of Yoga to my collection.

I have been pretty sad about my ankle. I promised my body I would take the week off from running to try and let it heal, but I needed the stress relief only a workout brings. It was mental power struggle not to go running today, so I decided to try Yoga Meltdown instead. I loved it.

Normally I hate yoga. I've done it maybe a handful of times and never even remotely enjoyed it... But something about the way Jillian puts it together in the dvd made it enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, it was hard, and I was once again reminded that my balance sucks... But, I got through it and my body feels way looser than it did when I started. I was stretching muscles I didn't even know I had, and could really feel it in my inner thighs (YES!!! They could use some tightening...lol) Basically, what I am trying to say is it was an awesome workout and I will definitely be doing it again.

I know I said I would be starting my 30 day shred challenge today, but life got crazy and my ankled got screwed so I am planning on starting on Monday. I will post details about it tomorrow for anyone who is interested in joining me! :)

Running Adventures

I have been doing my best to get my mileage in while on vacation. I'm not gonna lie, it's actually been easier because I haven't had to worry about my girls while I'm running.

I went running this morning in Seattle, down on the waterfront, and they were doing tons of construction. Needless to say the path they usually have for bikes and running was all screwed up and they had very poorly marked detour paths. So I did what I would normally do, set my eyes on the guy in front of me who looked like he knew the area and just followed him.

I should have known, I should have recognized the under armour shirt he was wearing since my husband has the EXACT same one that he wears with his uniform. But I was running, not thinking, and didn't even notice. I didn't notice until we went through the gate of the US Coast Guard base in Seattle...

The gate guard didn't even stop me, he simply smiled at me as I ran past. I stopped when I saw signs for the exchange, the gym, etc. Looking around I realized I really was on a base... But I had my military ID on me, so I went exploring. Lol No one ever stopped me, but I did almost hit up the gym. ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mileage goal:15+
Jillian Michaels: 2x

Mileage w2d: 13.93
Jillian Michaels: 0

Weekly Chase #2

If you haven't check out what this whole Weekly Chase thing is all about you should really head over to Live, Love, Run and check it out. It is an amazing way to keep yourself accountable, and who doesn't love having goals they can check off at the end of the week?



I started this last week and it was so nice to have specific goals set. It was also extremely helpful to have them posted on here, I hated the idea of letting all of you down! I made 3 goals for last week, a mileage goal, a strength goal, and a daily life goal.
1. Mileage goal- Run at least 15 miles. I DID IT!!! Last week I ran 20.18 miles. Not bad if I do say so myself. ;)
2. Strength Goal- Go to Bodypump 2x during the week. Done. 
3. Daily Life Goal- Finish my pre-vacation check list. I got my list mostly done. I did all the important things done lol ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am on vacation this week, but I still plan on making and COMPLETING some goals. Here are this weeks goal:
1. Mileage Goal- Since I am on vacation I am going to keep this goal at 15 miles.
2. Strength Goal- Jillian Michaels "No More Trouble Zones" 2x
3. Daily Life Goal- Enjoy my vacation and see everyone I have planned on seeing. 

On Vacation

I am finally on vacation!!! We got to Portland late last night, and spent a wonderful day with friends. BUT i was able to start my day with an amazing 2.6 mile run. The best part? I was able to leave my girls with Nanny (their Great grandma) while I ran.

We are staying at my mom's while we are in Portland, in the house I grew up in. My mom lives really close to Glendoveer golf course, and their is a beautiful 2 miles trail that wraps around it.

Ever since I was little I had always told myself that one day I would be able to run the whole thing. Today I finally did it! I dropped the girls off with Nanny ( who lives literally around the corner from my mom) and ran their and back in 27 minutes.

It felt so amazing, and the trail was so beautiful. I spent the rest of today feeling completely accomplished, even if the distance wasn't anything spectacular, but it was awesome to finally do it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mileage Goal: 16+
Bodypump Goal: 2x

Mileage w2d: 20.18
Bodypump w2d: 2x

I met all my weekly chase goals!! WOOT!!

Fashion Friday: Uncycling old Tshirts

These last couple days I have talked to several people about what to do with old tshirts that have gotten too big. I even agreed to have a little "how to" class with some friends to show them how I have upcycled some old ones of my own. Then yesterday a fellow blogger posted a pic of piles of clothes that were too big, and it inspired a genius idea! Fashion Friday :)

So this is my first, of what is going to be weekly, Fashion Friday post. Each post will be about something fashion related that I love. I will also try to, somehow, relate it back to fitness or a healthy lifestyle.

Today's theme is upcycling old tshirts. I have gotten really into this the last couple weeks, which is probably good since we're broke and most of my shirts are too big. lol So far I have made 4 (3 different styles) of them, the last of which I made last night and am currently wearing. All of these shirts I wear as workout shirts, but the grey and purple (the one I'm wearing) ones I also wear in everyday life. All the patterns, all two of them, I got from pinterest.

Most of the patterns say to use old, crew neck, men's tshirts. But I have found you can make just about anything work.

This has become my favorite workout shirt. This is the first style I tried, and I have made two of them. I used an old crew neck for this one. You can find a tutorial here:

This is a variation of the above style. I used a scoop neck shirt for this one. The way I varied it is: 1. I simply cut the off the neckline then left it as is. 2. I took the back V wider and deeper. 3. Instead of wrapping I simply used the bottom hem to tie a bow at the top of the V:

This is the one I made last night and am wearing right now. I used an old V-neck and simply cut the neck line out. You can find a tutorial here:

Have you upcycled any shirt, or anything else? Do you enjoy it? Let me know if you try any of these!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok so on another note, tomorrow is the Sacramento Color Run!!! I am so excited. It also means I will be heading to Portland, Or tomorrow afternoon, and I haven't even started packing yet...

Mileage Goal: 16+

Bodypump Goal: 2x

Mileage w2d: 14.38

Bodypump w2d: 1x (class at 3pm)

I better have my list done before be tonight because leave right after the Color Run tomorrow...

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

I am a super big fan of Jillian Michaels. She is a no nonsense, get results or die trying type of person. My friend was talking about starting strength training and a bunch of people suggested this wonderful 30 day shred. This shred is what I always suggest to people when they are trying to loose weight and are ready to "get more serious", ok I actually tell EVERYONE they should do it... lol How do I know it's so fantastic? I did it back in January, and the results were amazing. I lost 5lbs and a total of 8.65 in. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but visually it made a lot of difference.

My suggestions for the shred are this:

1. Take a picture before you workout on day 1 (I like to measure, weigh, and take the pics first thing in the morning, after going to the bathroom, to get a number that is affected by as little variables as possible)
2. Measure yourself before you workout on day 1. I measured my weight, true waist, my hip bones (aka love handles), hips, thigh, bust, bicep, neck
3. Measure (and take a picture if you want, I always forgot...) yourself on the day you start each new level
4. Take a final picture and measurement the day after you finish all 30 days
5. I really suggest only doing the shred 6 days a week, and giving yourself that rest day. It helps, I promise

When you start the shred, you will be sore. I hate to say it, but it is true. BUT after day 4(ish) it's like your body flips a switch or something and the soreness goes away (well most of it anyway). So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stick with it if you start. It will be worth it I promise!

Ok so here are my measurements:
Day1:

• Weight: 134.5lbs
• True Waist: 25.75in
• Hip Bones: 35in
• Hips: 39.5in
• Thigh: 22in
• Bust: 31.5in
• Bicep: 11.5in
• Neck: 12in

End lvl 1:

• Weight: 131lbs
• True waist: 25in (-.75)
• Hip Bones: 33.75in (-1.25)
• Hips: 38.5in (-1)
• Thigh: forgot to measure...
• Bust: 32in (+.5)
• Bicep: 10.75in (-.75)
• Neck: 12in (0)

Total loss lvl 1: 3.5lbs and approx 3.25 inches

End lvl 2:

• Weight: 128lbs (-4)
• True Waist: 24.5 (-.5)
• Hip Bones: 32.75in (-1)
• Hips: 37.5in (-1)
• Bust: 31in (-1)
• Thigh: 21in (-1 from beginning)
• Bicep: 10in (-.75)
• Neck: 11.5in (-.5)

Total loss lvl 2: 4lbs and approx 5in

End lvl 3/Final measurements:

• Weight: 129.5lbs (I remember this pissing me off!! I was super bloated...)
• True Waist: 24.5in (0)
• Hip Bones: 32.6in (-.15)
• Hips: 37in (-.5)
• Bust: 31in (0)
• Thigh 20.5in (-.5)
• Bicep: fail....
• Neck:11.5 (0)

Total change this level: up 2.5lbs..., down approx 1.15 inches
Total change: down 5lbs, down approx 8.65 inches

I also want to say that the 30 day shred isn't just for people who are looking into getting into shape, it is a great thing for already fit and active people to do to change things up. In fact, I am thinking of doing it AGAIN. Anyone up for a 30 day shred challenge?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mileage Goal: 15+

Bodypump Goal: 2x

Mileage w2d: 14.38

Bodypump w2d: 1x (going tomorrow afternoon)

Happy to say my pre-vacation list is SLOWLY getting done...

What's your body type?

Which are you?

Do you know your body type? I'm not talking about your body SHAPE (pear, hour glass, etc.), I am talking about your somatotype. Ok, so I can almost see the blank looks on most of your faces that says you have NO IDEA what I am talking about. There a three basic somatotypes: Endomorph, Ectomorph, and Mesomorph. I found some pretty good explanation on wikipedia and brainyweightloss about somatotypes. Click the links if you are interested in more details, but here is a basic explanation of each one:

Ectomorph: characterized by long and thin muscles/limbs and low fat storage. Ectomorphs are not predisposed to store fat or build muscle.

Mesomorph: characterized by medium bones, solid torso, low fat levels, wide shoulders with a narrow waist. Mesomorphs are predisposed to build muscle but not store fat.

Endomorph: characterized by increased fat storage, a wide waist and a large bone structure. Endomorphs are predisposed to storing fat.

I personally am a mesomorph, I took this test to figure it out. The test is really basic, and knowing my body type has given me real expectations of what my body is capable of looking like. None of these body types are superior to the other.

I think realistic expectations are something that most women struggle with. They want to look like something that their makeup is predisposed against. Learning my body type really helped me to understand I would never be long and lean, and I would never be voluptuous. But I could build up my muscle and maintain it pretty easily. So because I want everyone to have a more realistic expectation of what their body type can look like here are some pictures of famous people from each type.

Ectomorph

Keira Knightley

Cameron Diaz

Gwyneth Paltrow

Mesomorph

Jessica Biel

Sarah Jessica Parker

Arnold Schwarzenegger (just for fun ;) )

Endomorph

Selma Hayek

Marilyn Monroe

Beyonce

See what I mean about no type being better than the other. Each one has its own distinct beauty.

Here is a sight for each type that has some workout deatils: Ectomorph, Mesomorph, and Endomorph

Did you take the test? What was your body type? Was it what you expected? Let me know!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mileage Goal: 15+

Bodypump goal: 2x

Mileage w2d: 10.88

Bodypump w2d: 1x

Don't even ask how my pre-vacation list is coming along.......

Weekly Chase #1

Ok, this is part of the reason I wanted to start this blog. lol I got this from my friends over at Designing a Better Me... To be better for YOU, who linked up with the originator (Melissa) at Live, Love, & Run and really wanted to do it. It's pretty simple, but an awesome way to stay accountable to your weekly goals. Here is how Melissa wants it to work:

1. Every Monday, bloggers will post at least one (1) goal that s/he would like to reach that week. It can be for anything – weight loss, eating habits, training goals, organizing your home, finishing a project, whatever. Your choice.
2. Include the Weekly Chase badge on the post to help you link up to other bloggers that are chasing down goals for the week. I’ve made four badges for you to choose from (so any fellas that want to join in can) and I’ve included the code for each.
3. Visit my Weekly Chase post every Monday so you can link up your post! This gives you the chance to peek in on other bloggers and form some awesome support systems.
4. After the initial Weekly Chase post, make sure you include how you did on your goal for the previous week. The whole goal of this project is to get a wicked support system rolling and to help lift each other up!
5. Tweet about your goals with the hashtag #weeklychase to see when others have posted, to fill everyone in on your accomplishments, or just to get a little extra push!

Sound like something that would help keep you motivated? Then JOIN US!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know it says to start on monday... I came up with my goals yesterday, I promise. My goals will have a typical layout every week. There will be a mileage goal, a strength goal, and daily life goal. Here are this weeks goals:

1. Go to Bodypump at least twice this week
2. Run at least 16 miles
3. Get my pre-vacation to do list done (I leave for Portland, Or, aka HOME, on saturday after the Color Run!)



Mileage Goal: 15+

Bodypump Goal: 2x

Mileage w2d: 0... but I have 6miles planned for tonight

Bodypump w2d: 1x

Who I always wanted to be

Since I was younger (we're talking like middle school here) I have always wanted to look some thing like this:

I always expected it just to happen. But guess what? It never did.

Hey! My name is Anna. I was recently inspired by a friend to start this blog to motivate others. I want to show what is possible, even in the crazy world of being a mom. I am excited to see where this blog takes me, and not only how it helps me motivate others but also how it helps keep me motivated. But first, let me tell you a bit of my story.

I was never very physically active as a child. I wasn't competitive enough to be good at organized sports, and frankly I could have cared less... The only sport I cared about as a child was snowboarding. I started snowboarding at 7, and absolutely loved it. I have two older sisters who also really enjoyed it, and my mom started as a skier but crossed over after a couple years of us 3 girls snowboarding. Starting at about 8 we were up on the mountain every weekend from late November to the end of March, I even raced for a couple years in middle school. It was like a dream. But once the season ended, so did my regular activity. Luckily for me I was a naturally thin-ish child. Then high school started.

Oh high school... I think I am one of the few people I know that can say I truly enjoyed high school. But the only downfall for me was when high school started I had to make a choice. A choice between performing arts and snowboarding. I chose performing arts. I can tell you, I am very glad I made that choice. It gave my high school career purpose. I basically lived in the performing arts wing of my high school. We're talking 6:30am-6:30pm most days. If there was play practice or a choir performance I was usually here till around 9:00pm. Needless to say my eating habits weren't the best. My diet consisted of mainly, no breakfast, snack machine food and soda, and the surrounding fast food restaurants.

I believe I started high school at a juniors sz7 pants and about 125lbs. I graduated at a juniors sz11 pants and approx 150ish lbs (I can't say exactly because I avoided the scale). I know you may be thinking "Big deal, what's so bad about that?" Just know that I am 5'4 with a petite build, and I was the heaviest in my family at the time.

Once I started college I was determined not to gain anymore weight, and I have to say I some how succeeded in getting down to 145ish my freshman year. Don't ask me how, because I have no idea. After freshman year at my smaller university I decided to move home, yes my boyfriend (who is now my husband) had a lot to do with it, go to community college and get a job. I managed to maintain my weight but was still unhappy with my size. Eventually Chase and I joined a gym. I really enjoyed the gym, it gave me a taste for what is now a full blown addiction. I was slowly loosing weight. I was down to 139 when I found out I was pregnant. I found out a couple weeks later that working out and lifting anything over 20lbs was out of the question for me if we didn't want to risk loosing the baby...

Needless to say I cancelled my gym membership. I know what you are expecting to come next, tat during my pregnancy I blew up like a balloon. Sorry to disappoint, but I think I gained a grand total of like 20lbs... But after I had Chimera it didn't want to come off, and with a husband who was gone at Tech School there was nothing pushing me to loose it. So I didn't even try. Then when he got home we had 2 weeks before we had to moved to our first duty station in California.

A month after arriving in California we got another surprise. I was pregnant again... So I was now pregnant with a 6 month old.You better believe I wasn't "wasting" any time working out. But again, I am made for pregnancy or something, I only gained maybe 15lbs. But add that 15 to the 15ish that I still hadn't lost from the last pregnancy, and you get the 165ish lbs that I was after having Moya. I was miserable. I had a 15month old, a newborn, and felt completely disgusting.

The disgusting feeling didn't go away either. I was beyond self conscious, I didn't even like being naked in front of my hubby, and my sex drive was at 0. I tried to workout, but with all the things that were going on around me it never lasted. I did slowly drop to about 155lbs by early summer of 2011, but I was still beyond out of shape. Then when we were in Portland last August I got the push I needed. Chase's old recruiter, who had now become something of a friend, introduced us to AdvoCare.

In October of 2011 we finally got enough money for us both to do the 24 Day Challenge, I started walking everyday with my huge HEAVY double stroller (no joke the stroller with both my girls in it weight at least 75lbs), and I started using myfitnesspal. These three things seriously changed my life! I was set on a journey, no looking back.

I now happily sit between 120-125lbs (depending on the day, or time of month...), I workout in some way 6 days a week, and I LOVE running. I have recently decided to train for a half marathon and am seriously considering becoming a LesMills Bodypump instructor.

Now for a picture representation of my journey:

May 2011

June 2011

October 2011

Thanksgiving 2011

January 2012

(Jillian Michaels 30 day shred before and after)

End of February 2012

End of March 2012

May 2012

June 2012

July 29 2012

So I may not look exactly like the girl in the picture from the beginning of this post, I may have the extra belly skin that comes with having 2 children 15 months apart, but I am finally who I always wanted to be. Fit and healthy.