Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Halfway Point

This week has been crazy, I can not believe it is the halfway point. I feel like it is going by so fast and before I know it BodyBack is going to be over. Monday was great, I was really nervous about my weigh in, but I lost 2.2 lbs and am officially in the 170's. It has been a very long time since I have been in the 170's so obviously it is very exciting!

Monday's workout was great, we ran about 3.7 miles and watched an amazing sunrise, but today was beyond words. It was very tough for me to get through, we did rounds and then we went to the HILL. THE HILL, it is outrageous. We shuffled up the hill with a partner and ran back down it and then did high knees back up the hill and ran back down, all with a partner. My partner was Cindy, she is quite lovely actually. We have become very good friends and I am so grateful for her because she really has been there when I need her the most. She always pushes me to continue on and tells me that I am doing a good job. She is an amazing mom of two very beautiful little boys. I am so lucky to have friends like her and the other women at SS and BB.

Today's class focused on working with our partners, Kelly wanted to let us know that we are all here for each other and that we all have people who support us and lift us up. At the end of the class while we were winding down, Kelly played a song for us. It just so happened to be one of the songs that Brian and I danced to at our wedding, needless to say I cried immediately. Once the song was over Kelly gave us each letters from our husbands.

The letter was exactly what I needed, I am blessed beyond belief with a supporting, loving, caring husband who would do anything for me and our daughter. I love him more than words can explain and he is one of the main reason I am the person that I am. I could not be the woman, wife and mother I am without his love and support. Today I thought a lot about the time that Brian and I were apart when he spent a year in Afghanistan and months before that in Ft. Bragg NC. I think about the years we were married before we had Kaelyn, the places we went and the things we experienced together. The loved ones we have lost together, the support we were able to give each other during that time. I think about the anniversaries, birthdays and holidays we have shared together. And then I think about the years to come, the days we get to spend with Kaelyn and any other little ones we are blessed with and I can not express how grateful I am to have Brian. The one thing I hope more than anything is that he really knows how much I love and appreciate him. Today I am definitely counting my blessings.

Time to change the subject because I am getting really emotional lol! And back to BodyBack, Kelly did inform us that our workouts are only going to get harder from this point on! I am sure I will be pushing myself to new limits. I am excited to see where we go from here, week 5 here I come!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

BodyBack Day 6

Let's start with the day before yesterday, once I got the baby to bed, I started youtubing video's about plyometrics because Kelly had fore warned us that we would be doing a plyo class yesterday. Much to my surprise I watched a bunch of UFC guys jumping up and down boxes, doing jump pushups and all kinds of crazy stuff. At that point I was scared to death! Then I watched a few videos of basic plyo and it looked pretty fun! So I started feeling a little bit better and quite a bit more confident that I could potentially do the workout that she had planned.

We got started right away as usually and it was fast paced non-stop jumping! It was one of the most intense cardio workouts I have ever had, it was awesome! After it was over, I went straight home to get ready for Stroller Strides, we started SS a little early yesterday because we were planning on going to the nursing home after class to take the kiddies in their costumes to visit the ol' folks!

On a side note- SS was amazing! It was a cardio class that turned into Kelly coming up with whatever she could off the top of her head because it started raining, it was really coming down at times! It was wonderful, I have lived in AZ my whole life so needless to say when it rains, it is happy time for me!

After class we got the babies all dressed up and headed to the nursing home, it was not until I was literally in the car on the way that I started getting really emotional, thinking about my grandma and how much I miss her, it has only been about 6 months since she passed away very unexpectedly. She had hip replacement surgery that went well and the next day, I spoke to hear and she sounded wonderful, about an hour or so after I talked to her she got up to do physical therapy and collapsed, that was about it.

I know grandma's are grandma's and that they all go eventually, but my grandma Nancy was not just a grandma to me. She was like a mom at times because my dad lived with her for a large portion of my life and when I would visit my dad I would be with her as well. She was very young at heart, she liked dressing up and getting her nails done and wore a lot of the same shoes and jewelry as I do. She had awesome taste! She also loved the fact that people thought we were mother/daughter, I know it was because it made her feel young. :)

My grandma Nancy meant more to me than I could ever explain, she loved me unconditionally and was always proud of me and everything I did. There are not many people in our lives like that, in fact I can count mine on one hand. Even though I wish I could bring her back sometimes so bad it hurts, I know she is in a better place. She was a very faithful woman and loved God with all her heart.

So when Kaelyn and I got to the nursing home it was hard to see all of the people and how they were waiting the days out until they go to their next home. Some of them could barely understand what was going on, their quality of life seemed very minimal. Once we left, I thought about how grateful I am that my grandma never had to live that way, that she was young and youthful and happy up until the day she died.

I wish I could tell my grandma Nancy about BodyBack, I know she would be so proud of me for what I have accomplished and how I am setting a good example for Kaelyn. I know she would tell me to keep up the good work and that all of the hard work will pay off in the end. I know she would call me and ask me how my workouts were going.

Today is her birthday and I am glad I waited to post this until today because I am happy that this post is for her and that I am remembering how amazing she was as a woman, how she may not have been physically strong, but she was a strong woman and never gave up on the people she loved. I hope that I can make Kaelyn feel as loved as she made me feel my whole life.

She was a wonderful woman and I love her with all my heart.

Monday, October 18, 2010

BodyBack Day 5


Today was a good day, I took a day or two off from working out last week and I felt well rested. I am a little disappointed that I didn't do better running yesterday morning because I wanted to do three miles and I will explain more in a bit but it just didn't go well. BUT I have had some serious self control when it comes to my eating, eating healthy and whole foods seems to be second nature to me now.

Everything I eat revolves around the idea of turning things I love into healthier versions. So after talking with my good friend Kellen the other day about what I want to be when I grow up I decided that once this BodyBack blog is done I am going to transition into a blog about what I eat and probably about exercise too! HAHA, sounds a little crazy but I think you would all be very interested in knowing what this crazy person eats and how I keep my calories and fats low yet still get all the nutrition I need. Also, I have a very serious passion for preparing healthy foods for my daughter (on a budget) and I would like to help other moms realize that they can do the same and that a Happy Meal is not their only option.

Anyway, I mentioned that I would be changing my weigh in day to today so at weigh in this morning I lost 3.8 lb's! Yeah, pretty awesome right?! Not only did I loose almost 4 lb's I went shopping in my closet and found that ALL of my clothes fit me, a few of my jeans are a little snug, but for the most part they all fit and some are even too big! The funny thing is, I weigh about 180 right now, that is about 10 lbs larger than I was when I used to wear the same clothes! MUSCLE WEIGHTS MORE THAN FAT! It is so true!

I had 2 awesome workouts today and can see great results from working out and eating healthy and I am so motivated. Yesterday on the other hand, I was not in the mood for going on a run and I had already told my friends who were running the 1/2 that I would run a 5k and think of them. It didn't go so well, I got started and my mind was working against me and I ran about a 1/2 a mile and quit, I literally walked for about 20 minutes and came home, a quitter!

When I got home I felt like poop, I could have pushed myself to get it done but I just didn't have the motivation. Then days like today come where we are reminded of how hard we have worked and how much potential we have, and for me, that is how I get my motivation to keep going. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to participate in this BodyBack program. It is really helping me remember to push myself and to make healthy decisions when it comes to eating and life in general.

Today was a good day! :)

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

BodyBack Day 4


As the sun rose this morning, I stared at a picture of Kaelyn and I when she was just a month old. I still had chubby cheeks and she still had her cute squinchy face that all so called cute newborns have (to be honest, I think they all look like aliens who have been soaked too long in amniotic fluid) but never the less, she is the most beautiful thing in my world.

I feel good, I feel motivated, I feel energized to take on a new day. At this particular moment I am feeling a little tired because we had quite a day today. I got up at 4:15 for BodyBack, then came home and took a shower, did my makeup and straightened my hair! What?!?!!? yes I did my hair and makeup! Loaded Kaelyn up, went to Stroller Strides and then proceeded to the pumpkin patch where Kaelyn and I's knight in shinning armor surprised us with his presence.

Daddy showed up and we got a ridiculous amount of cute photos of our sweet pea and of our family. So God knows if Kelly planned it but to have a workout geared towards pushing yourself to the limits for our little ones and then a fun cardio day followed by a family outing that will last in memories for a lifetime was PRICELESS!

This is what it is all about, I am blessed more than I ever thought I would be and I thank the GOOD Lord for what he has provided.

So needless to say, today was an amazing day!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

BodyBack Day 3

Sorry I didn’t post yesterday, but I was literally physically and mentally exhausted. With Sunday’s run, BodyBack yesterday and then Stroller Strides right after, I was pretty much a walking zombie. BodyBack was intense, we did our first traveling class, we started running right away and then would stop every once in a while to do workouts with the resistance bands. It was tough; I realized once again that I am a ridiculously SLOW runner. Kelly told us at the end of class that we ran 2.8 miles all together!

After Sunday’s run I felt amazing, I had accomplished so much, granted my time was nothing to be proud of, but I didn’t stop I ran the whole flippen thing without stopping, it was a huge accomplishment for me. But yesterday morning when we started our traveling class I fell behind right away, I by far was the slowest of them all. I tried, really tried to hustle up and no matter what I did I just couldn’t catch up.

So I started getting down on myself but it did not last very long, when we were nearing the end of class and we were running to the last area to work out I started getting all flustered and short of breath and even shed a tear or maybe two, but I snapped out of it really quick. I am noticing that my “feel sorry for myself” moments do not last very long these days. Instead, I suck it up and keep on going because I might be slow at running compared to everyone else, but I am a hell of a lot faster than I was a few months ago when I did not think there was anyway I could run three miles.

So with all that nonsense being said, I am pretty much telling you all that I may not be the best at things, but I am doing the best I can and not letting my emotions get the best of me and I am very proud of myself for that. I have the ability to suck it up these days and keep on moving and that is an awesome thing to be able to do!

Ohh and btw I am changing my weigh in day to Monday and yesterday when we weighted in I lost 1.2 lbs. I know it isn’t very much, but it is consistent and I am really happy about it!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

5K Race for the Cure




What did I do this morning you ask? I got up at 4:30 AM to go Race for the Cure. It was amazing, spending time with my fellow SS mama's and my beautiful daughter. I have to admit, I was scared before we started and I got some serious butterflies in my stomach when we were standing at the Start line. I worried that my mind would work against me and that I would stop mid run to walk it out :(

Instead, I found a steady pace, well Kaelyn and I found a steady pace as she slept in the stroller the whole time and I thought about all kinds of things. I thought about how grateful I am that God has blessed me with legs that give me the ability to run and arms that can push my daughter in our stroller. I thought about what pain and suffering he went through compared to the pain that I was feeling during my run. I thought about my husband, how strong and motivated he is to succeed and get better at everything he does. I thought about Kaelyn and how I went through many hours of labor with her and that my running pains were nothing compared to that!

I then didnt think anything at all. I felt like I was able to let my mind be free and just run. I didnt care how far away the finish line was and before I knew it I was rounding a corner to see the finish line only a little bit away!

My fellow SS mamas helped cheer me on at the end and I am so grateful for them. They are all so motivating to me, they have multiple babies or just had a baby within the last year, some of them are even pregnant now! What amazing women I was able to spend this morning with.

So today I am proud of myself, but mostly I am grateful for all the blessings that have been given to me whether it be family, friends or just another day to enjoy the sun coming up, the smell of fresh air and the feeling of running and accomplishing things I have never accomplished before!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

BodyBack Day 2

Soooooooooo tired, sorry for such a short post, but I am exhausted. Today's workout was awesome, we got started right away and went hardcore non-stop. As I explained to one of my friends, BodyBack is like Stroller Strides on steroids without the crying babies, just a bunch of moms pushing themselves to the limit!

It was amazing, I left class today knowing deep down in my soul that I will be a different person once I complete this 8 week period, I have already seen such a wonderful change in my life and I know it is only going to keep getting better.

Monday, October 4, 2010

BodyBack Day 1

I should be sleeping right now because I am exhausted, but it seems like every time I get that baby down for a nap, the first thing I do is jump on my laptop. So I mine as well take advantage of the time to tell you a little about the first day.

We got up bright and early (not so bright actually), myself, I got up at 4 am because I wanted to nurse Kaelyn before I left so that she wouldn't wake up hungry and fussy for daddy. Once I got ready we were on our way, there are 2 other gals doing BodyBack who live just around the corner so we are going to carpool, very nice and saves a little money!

First thing first we did out weight, measurements, before pictures, woohoo and then got ready for assessments. We did a few exercises for a minute each to see how many we could do within that time period. Then we did a few exercises for however long we could do them for, once we were done we had to call out "TIME" and then Kelly told us our time and we had to record it on our "Assessment Sheet". I did good for the most part, but I am seriously going to work my butt off so I get way better scores at the end!

After that we all sat down and talked about what BodyBack is all about, how it isn't just about getting in better shape it is about finding motivation as mothers to get through the day and accomplish things we have never accomplished before. After we went over all the materials which include a food diary, a workout video that we are to do on our own and introductions, we had a few minutes left. Kelly took us to the bball courts and we ran sprints, jogged, sprinted, jogged, sprinted, it was about a 5 minute taste of what we have to look forward to for 60 minutes on Wednesday.

I have to admit, it took my breath away, but then again, running always does :( but were going to change that right! That's the whole point.

My feelings after today- nervous about Wednesday, but very excited about what I am going to accomplish over the next 8 weeks!

Friday, October 1, 2010

GETTING NERVOUS


This weekend probably isn't helping it, but I can honestly say I am getting a little nervous. Kelly (our BB instructor) sent an email today with "BodyBack" details. Pretty much just going over what to expect the first day. At first I was pretty excited, then I realized this weekend is going to fly by and Monday will be here before I know it and I started getting very nervous.

When I start getting nervous and doubting myself, I have to think about how far I have come. When I started Stroller Strides when Kaelyn was 6 weeks old, I could hardly do a jumping jack, let alone push ups. Now, there are times when I go to a Stroller Strides class and do everything at high impact. My fellow Stroller Striders would understand how much of an accomplishment that is. Also, when I started we were outside at Rio Vista Park and the Surprise Park, I couldn't run from one station to the next without stopping 1/2 to 3/4 of the way there to walk the rest of the way. Now I take classes and run (jog) from station to station with ease. I am so proud of myself.

That being said, I did a little research today, because I have been talking about it for a while, and have decided that I am going to do the Arizona Half Marathon Feb 20th 2010. Below you will find a link to the map of the route, yeah, pretty crazy right! I started freaking out a little when I realized we would be going from Goodyear to GLENDALE! But I know I can do it and BodyBack is just going to be an 8 week period of time that is going to get me closer to running my first 1/2 marathon less than a year after giving birth to Kaelyn! AMAZING!

So with that being said, BodyBack- here I come!