I'd rather list 5 things I love about LA Boxing

Today you get a "Five Things" post and an LA Boxing post, all wrapped up in one.  (Five Things is a meme created by Trayce, in which I simply tell you 5 things about me.)

Ohhh, LA Boxing, how I love you, let me count the ways...

1.  You provide an hour of "me" time, at least three times a week.  Yes, I count sweating buckets as "me" time these days - a girl takes what she can get.

2.  I have gotten the first "Hey!  You are looking thinner!" compliments (from anyone in my family other than my awesome Mother-In-Law) since possibly before I had my last kid.

3.  I can lift my 8-year-old over the railing and into her loft bed while she is sleeping with out the fear of giving her a concussion on one of the posts.

4.  Apparently I have arm muscles, and the tiniest hint of ab muscles - who knew!

5.  You have showed me that I can keep going.  I can hold that plank, I can keep hitting that bag, and I can do one more rep.  That is worth more than I can say.

Happy Friday, ya'll!  Now, either join us and blog your own "Five Things" or go hit the gym!  I'll let you choose. 

I'd rather get the job done.

I have a new confession.

I haven't been to the gym in a while.  I've missed yoga.  I've been unable to go to boxing.  I was even too sick to make it to my personal training session last week.

There have been sick days, yes, but also busy days, stressful days, and previous-commitment days.  Every kind of day.  Every kind of excuse.

I wonder if I still could of gotten some kind of workout in?  I probably could not have made it into the gym, but I could have a least done some kind of workout at home.  I didn't have to go on a gym-free binge, that's for sure.  (Thank goodness, at least, for the no-eatting-out rule.  Because, if it weren't for that, I probably would have gained some ridiculous number.)

And where am I now?

Still the same weight I was two weeks ago.  Probably not as strong, having less endurance.  And most of all - I'm afraid.  Afraid to go back.

Tomorrow I see my personal trainer, and I think I might literally go in cowering.  I know he won't give me too much sympathy.  And why should he?  I've fallen down on the job.

Working out is my job.  Eating well is my job.  Being a heathy role model for my kids is my job.  It is my responsibility, my duty, to do these things.  No one else's.  I can't blame anyone else when the job doesn't get done.  And although I am the one that pays the majority of the consequences, it affects others as well.  I'm more cranky to my husband, have less energy for my kids.

Tomorrow, I go back to work.  I clock in, and pay the price for skimping out on my job.  It will probably suck. And there will definitely be a lot of sweat - maybe some mild cursing.

 But I'll be there, getting the job done.

I'd rather get better and box

I'm sick.  This stupid summer cold came on from out of no where at the end of the week and now here I am, Monday afternoon, still feeling like I was run over by a truck.

Let me tell you people, this isn't pretty.  At all.  I have yet to master the art of being "sick-cute" as opposed to "sick-gross."  I'm a fabulous mix of the dwarfs: Gumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, and the yet to be found dwarf - Icky.

So I think I have the right to complain.  The right to moan about my achy muscles, to blow my nose loudly, to sleep half the day.  I have a lot to gripe about.

But do you know what one of the most annoying parts of this cold is?  I missed boxing.

What?  Did I write that correctly?  Have the cold meds sent me into a NyQuil-induced drugged-up haze?  Nope.

I miss boxing and I'm bummed.

I normally go in once during the weekend to LA Boxing to sweat out the stress of the week.  Hit the heavy bag hard and walk away feeling like a weekend warrior.  I get on a high horse - gloating in the face of my former "can't be bothered to get off the couch" weekend-self.  I start Monday feeling strong, not bloated.  Quicker, not exhausted.  Ready.

Not this week.  Monday is currently laughing at me, all balled up in the corner, and kicking my butt.  (Well, to be honest, last week wasn't a gleaming example either.  Apparently Memorial day weekend - and alcohol - make for a really, really bad personal training session on Tuesday.  It was laughable.  Literally.  We laughed at my inability to do just about anything last week.)  But this is even more reason why I was ready to have a great weekend so that I could return to training on Tuesday in top notch form.

Instead, I spent yesterday in bed, surrounded by tissues.

I miss boxing.  I want to get well.  I need to get well.  So I can go back, put on the gloves, and get back into the groove.  Kick some butt.  Tell the heavy bag who's boss.

I'm going to drag my butt in there tomorrow if I have to.  It may not be pretty, but I know I'll feel so much better for doing it.

Now, please pass the chicken noodle soup.

I'd rather confess, I'm an eat-out-aholic

I have a confession.

I eat out.

A lot.

Not just a lot - but frequently.  I am too embarrassed to admit how many meals (and how much money) I spend eating out.  I think the trend started a long time ago - way back in college, because who wanted to eat the crap they passed as food - and it just never let up.

It has its advantages.  My kids have grown up going to restaurants, so they know how to behave well while there.  It takes the stress out of planning for and making dinner.  It tastes good - most of the time.

But the disadvantages are huge.  The finances can't keep up with me.  My kids may be growing up to think it's normal to eat crappy food all the time - and worse yet, that it is the most perfect reward for doing even the smallest task.  And, of course, the weight gain.

Every week, from Monday til Thursday, I am pretty good at eating.  I eat veggies, and fruit, no fried food, and hardly any sweetened beverages.

But, then then Friday rolls around.  Who wants to cook Friday night?

And then Saturday arrives.  It's the weekend, let's celebrate!

Then it's Sunday . . . might as well take advantage of the weekend while I can!

Before I knew it, I was too busy/stressed/tired to cook some weekend nights too.

Now, I could probably eat this:

But, I usually cave, and get this:

Sighhhhhhhhh.

My confession: I'm a eat-out-aholic.

What does an eat-out-aholic do to try to get it in check?  Well, the setting day or number of visit limits didn't really work.  And setting a budget didn't really work either.  So now we are getting drastic:

No. Eating. Meals. Out. . . for a month.

(The only exception: my daughters birthday (when we are taking her out to an amusement park) and our anniversary.)

"That's not too bad" you may say, but for me, it's unheard of.  To be honest, the thought of doing this makes my stress levels rise.  It will be hard.  Hard to plan, hard to follow through, hard to not wuss out on.

But, I have a problem, and something has to be done.  I just have to do it.

Do you have any fantastic (yummy, but easy) recipes to share?  Have you kicked the eat-out-aholic habit?  Please, I beg of you, help a sister out with you input below!

I'd rather shrink for summer

Well, I totally forgot to update you all on the 21 Days Challenge over at Shrinking Jeans.  I'll do a quick recap for you...

• Working out most days of the week.  I did pretty well with this - I think it could have been better, though.  I did my boxing and yoga, but I have slacked on the training walks.  
• Went vegetarian for 21 days.  This was super successful!  I wasn't expecting to make this a permanent change, but it definitely showed me I can cut back on the meat and feel great.
• Vitamins didn't happen.  Just couldn't find one that sat well with my tummy.  Not giving up on the search though!
• Water intake was slightly better than normal.  I have made best friends with my water bottle, but I really have no idea how much I'm actually drinking.

Now, moving on ... the ladies are starting a new challenge - The Shrinking Days of Summer!

You know I'm all over it - like sand on a beach.  (yeah, I'm corny...and what?)  I hope that it brings more umpf and motivation and will power to my game.  Cause I'm really at this annoying stage where I'm working my butt off and not seeing the results I want.  I'm not sure if it is a result of self-sabotage or just plain impatience, but either way, I'm done with it.  So, bring it on Sisters!  

And if you really, really, need to know, I'm at 205.2 pounds presently.  I'd really like to get back to "onderland" as soon as possible, as I have never loathed a two more in my life.  

Want to join me?  Come visit the challenge here!

I'd rather vlog, LA Boxing update

I'm doing my update via vlog today.  Check out Jen's blog that I mentioned: Jen in Real Life.  I'd love to hear from you if you have any healthy living updates, tools, or gripes. 

Disclosure: As a participant of #Fitbloggin' 10, I was offered (by LA Boxing) three months free membership, free personal training, and merchandise - all in exchange for blogging my *honest* opinions once a week.

I'd rather have a cool app

A while back Mariana from Riding With No Hands introduced me to SparkPeople.  It really is a fantastic site that helps people reach their healthy goals - for free.  They have nutrition, health and fitness information in all forms and types, including articles, interactive tools (fitness trackers, meal planner) motivational tools, and a huge online community.

While it has so much to offer (so, so much) I had one problem with it - I was majorly overwhelmed.  There was just too much for me to focus on, and I found myself losing track of time every time I got on.  I quickly bailed on the whole thing, altogether. (Sorry for going MIA in your group, Mariana!  No hard feelings?)  It was a bummer to know I was wasting such an awesome tool kit, but sometimes you just have to have the right fit for it to work.

Since then, I have had the pleasure of becoming a smart phone owner.  (I heart my Droid.)  I've seen so many great apps to use for healthy purposes - and have used a hand full of them.  But guess what I just stumbled onto?  A SparkPeople app!

And it is a beautiful, beautiful thing.  Here's why I'm using it:

• It helps you determine your goals - weight loss, calories in, and calories out.
• There is a food tracker that includes an optional menu plan, tailored to your calorie needs.
• There is a fitness tracker as well, that calculates your calories burned based on the activity you did.
• Multiple status bars and reports show you where you are in your goals - including a weight graph and a water tracker. (Which I was really happy to find - there is a severe lack of good apps for simple water intake.)
• Links to just a few SparkPeople articles. (This is great for me, I can go look if I want, but I don't feel overwhelmed.)
• Plus, you have the option to link to a SparkPeople online account, or just do the app by itself.  If you link up, all of the info automatically shares between the app and site.

Of course, you can always go to the mobile site with any web-enabled cell phone, but (besides the Android) this app is also available on the Blackberry and iPhone.  I also found another handy little SparkPeople app - SparkRecipes.

It's perfect for finding tons of healthy recipes.  It includes a search by keyword or by category/course/cuisine/occasion or dietary needs.  Each recipe also includes nutritional information, and the option to view it online to get comments and ratings.

These are my new tools to help me kick butt.  Got any to share?

I'd rather get schooled, er, trained

I have to admit, the first time I walked into LA Boxing for a personal training session I was nervous.  Honestly, I was so scared my stomach was doing back flips.

I'd never really had a personal training session before, so I did my homework. I learned I was going to be partnered up with Donte Brown, so I looked him up on the local LA Boxing website.  The site said he had been training for over a decade, had been a trained boxer for even longer, and that he was one of their best.  And then, there was his photo that said, "mmm-hmm, I know you may think you're gonna live through this, but I'm gonna try my best to show you otherwise make you have a workout the likes of which you've never seen before."

What, you don't get that from the photo?  Well, I guess it reads more "I'm bad ass" than "I'm gonna kill you," but I was already freaked, so I took it there.  Oops.

Turns out, in real life, he is all smiles.  Immediately my freak-out level went from a 9 to a low 5 when I met him.  (If I were a sane, mildly healthy person, it would have been lower, but I'm not.)  I promptly told him how scared I was and he said not to worry.  I didn't believe him, but I figured the chances of me actually dying that day were slim, so I gave it a go.

First up,  I ran up and down four flights of stairs for what seemed like eternity, but was probably only 4 or 5 minutes.  I got a little light headed, but still felt like I'd live - at least for a few more rounds.  Then, I went through a few more tests - jumping jacks, squats and lunges, and more running while punching with dumbbells.  I have no idea how I made it through all that. (I get winded just climbing up my own steps with a load of laundry, people.)  But I did, and he was there, cheering me on the whole time.

Not all of the sessions have been the same as that one, but one thing that is consistent is teaching.  Donte is determined to turn the gym into a world-class boxing gym, so he not only makes you sweat, he teaches you something.  I'm pretty sure I have an ugly boxing technique, but at least I'm learning.  We do combo's and drills in the ring, on the heavy bag, at the speed bag and at the double end bag.  Thankfully, he knows that when I'm getting too dumb to do know my jab's from crosses - or when I'm turning green - that I've pushed myself to the limit.

He has listened to me during class and knows what is going to motivate me.  He knows I'm determined to not be one of the last walkers back to camp on my next Susan G. Komen 3-day for a Cure walk, unlike previous years.  So he urges me to run a little longer.  He knows I miss the buff shoulders I used to have in high school, so he makes me do punches a little higher.  He knows I want to slim down, so he makes me work hard for the whole. entire. hour.

And even when I think I'm feeling sick, I still end up amazing myself that I can run laps around the gym while carrying a 16 pound sledge hammer.  (I took a picture as proof - those are my feet at the top of the picture.  I couldn't hold the hammer anymore or even take the picture myself because my muscles were shaking. Donte gets the credit!)

In summary:  Personal Training + LA Boxing + Donte = GOOD.



Disclosure: As a participant of #Fitbloggin' 10, I was offered (by LA Boxing) three months free membership, free personal training, and merchandise - all in exchange for blogging my *honest* opinions once a week.

I'd rather take a kick butt workout class

I was talking to my Dad this weekend, and he asked me what I did at LA Boxing.  It made me realize most of you probably have no idea what goes on in there. So this week, I'm going to do one post outlining the classes, and one post outlining what my personal training session looks like.

First up - the classes.  I've only personally taken the kickboxing and boxing classes but they also have abdominal work classes, martial arts classes, and MMA classes.  I've got to admit that I'm kind of nervous to do the other classes, as the boxing and kickboxing are more than sufficient in kicking my butt.

If sufficient means: walk away shaking, having used every single muscle in your body, and drenched in sweat.

The classroom isn't your typical lay out.  First, there is a big metal rig set up in the room, from which, 25 or so heavy bags hang.  There is no "front" of the room, as the instructor walks around a lot.  He may come back to one bag to show you the next combination, but trust me, there is no "hiding." (I know this because I "may" have been hoping to go unnoticed.  I "may" have been hoping to wuss out a little and take it easy.  I "may" have figured out that both those things would never happen.)  The instructor also comes around with pads and practices one-on-one during the session as well.

If you are a first timer, you need to get to class early to get your hands wrapped and get gloved up.  Then once class begins, the instructor pumps up the music, and you begin an hour-long super intense workout.  (And yes, it is intense for me, but it is also intense for everyone else in the class.  I've seen strapping young guys covered in sweat, panting, looking like they may pass out.  It's not just me.)

You'll work your bag with different combinations, depending what class you take.  But this isn't just an upper body workout.  Be prepared to drop on the ground and do push-ups, sit-ups, and various other forms of torture exercises.  You might end up shadow boxing, jumping rope, or even running laps through the bags.  I have found that the instructors have some kind of sixth sense and know when a person is pushing themselves enough or not.  If you are slacking, you'll hear about it.  (In the most caring, "get your ass in gear," "don't waste your time," way possible.)  And when it's all over, you'll get a chance to stretch and marvel in the fact that even though you are covered in sweat, you somehow did not melt into a puddle.

You will be tired.

You may be a little out of it.

But you will feel damn proud that you lived to tell the tale.

I live to tell the tale.

PS - I'm giving away an awesome Thrive natural performance shirt that would be perfect for any LA Boxing workout, as it is wicking, anti-odor, and really comfortable.  Check it out here!

Disclosure: As a participant of #Fitbloggin' 10, I was offered (by LA Boxing) three months free membership, free personal training, and merchandise - all in exchange for blogging my *honest* opinions once a week.

I'd rather make a habit.

Alrighty, time for a check in on the scale and on the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans 21 days challenge.

I'm down just a bit from last Wednesday (which I still think was a freak off-number day), but from last Monday I'm down by 2.8 pounds!  I'm psyched about this - mostly because I know I've also gained muscle weight as well.  How could I not, when my buddy Donte (from LA Boxing) has been making me run while punching free weights or while carrying a 16 pound sledgehammer?!!  I really have to take my measurements and take a picture, though, because I think that will really tell the tale much better than the scale will.  (Oh, and also?  I fit into a pair of shorts I haven't worn in ages.  Hells yeah!)

Now about the challenge:

Working out: check.  I've been kicking arse.  Seriously.  I've been walking, yoga-ing, and boxing like a champ.  Plus - at my personal training sessions I've had to run.  This might be nothing of significance for most of you (it's just a minute or two of jogging at a time) but before this - I would only run from a fire.  Maybe.  So the fact that I'm able to run is not only incredible, it's down right shocking. 

Eating vegetarian: check.  It hasn't been very hard, either.  I love seafood (that really helps) and I've tried out a few new recipes with soy protein crumbles.  My kids are even digging on it!

Drinking water: check, mostly.  I have been filling up my water bottle often, and chugging away.  Problem is, I think (judging by this water calculator) that I should be drinking 85-105 ounces of water a day, and ... um ... I so don't.  So I still have to keep adding more fill-ups.

Multivitamin:  not so much.  Well, I did manage to take it 3 times.  The results were not favorable, to say the least.  I think I may have to resort to Flinstone's chewables, because like a child, the big-girl vitamins made my twummy hwurt.

Seven days down, 14 more to go.  I'm feeling good - how about you?

I'd rather make a change

Today I'm linking up my first-ever Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans post! Woohoo!

I had the pleasure of meeting some of the Shrinking Jeans girls at Fitbloggin.  I had lurked at the site before, and tweeted once or twice, so I knew they were my kind of people.  But, I never really had the time to participate actively.  After meeting them in person - and seeing how much they rocked - I decided I would make some time.  Because these ladies (even with out having known them more than I know my mailman) are like that old friend you have.  You know the one - she can move away and not talk to you for a year, then move back and pick right back up as if it hadn't been a day?  Yeah, that's them.  They take you any way you are - and when ever you have the time.  Even if you're like me, and only do a drive-by comment every once in a blue moon.

That's because they are awesome-sauce.

And also?  They aren't afraid to tell you to get your butt up off the couch and get your arse in gear.  Except, they'll say it with a few more expletives and with the threat of hunting you down.

In the most loving way possible, that is.

ANYWAY....

All this is to say, I'm joining in on their current challenge.  This 3-week challenge is to pick some habits and incorporate them into your daily routine in order to help you reach your healthy goals.  Mine are:

1. Workout (almost) daily.  See my last post, "I'd rather kick it up" to see the exact workout regiment I'm trying and to see my weigh-in.  *cough*208*cough*  (But, somehow I stepped on the scale and it said 205.4 this morning, so lets take that tiny shiny miracle and roll with it.)
2. Eat vegetarian.  My husband challenged me to go veg, so we just started that on Monday.  It is my first ever foray into abandoning beef (I freaked a little) but it's going well so far.  No really, it is.
3. Drink water.  This will probably be my hardest goal.  Not that I have anything against good old H20, but I just never think to drink until I'm already thirsty, or worse.  So, do me a favor and tweet me to chug, if you can.  Please and thank you!
4. Take a multivitamin.  I am a total medicine/vitamin slacker.  The only vitamins I even have in the house expired in 2009.  Guess I'll get some new ones soon.  Promise.

That about sums it up for me - what healthy habits do you want to create?

I'd rather kick it up

It's time to fess up.  I've been slacking off on this weight-loosing gig.  More than slacking, really - more like going backward.

It mostly started when I found out my scale was lying to me, and it just kept going downhill from there.  I guess there are a lot of excuses, but none of them are any good.  I've been stuck in a "I couldn't care less" crazy spiral, and I want out.

Alarms started ringing the last time I stepped on my (new) scale.  Due to the huge error in the old scale, and the total lack of all things healthy, I've crept back up over 200 pounds.  In truth *gulp* I weighed in at 208 pounds.  Ugh, that sucks to write, but it's the truth.

UGH.

Thankfully, when I was at Fitbloggin, I was given a great opportunity to team up with LA Boxing.  These guys are letting me join their gym for 3 months and hooking me up with weekly personal training sessions as well.  They even gave me a some goodies to get me going - including gloves and wraps.

The gloves have already seen action (aside from my family walloping up on each other) at the local LA Boxing gym, here in Rockville, Maryland.  I had a personal training session Wednesday, and yesterday my friend was sweet enough to join me for a kickboxing class.  Both visits helped me understand why they call it a 1000-calorie workout.  It was intense - I really put my body to work, sweat like crazy, and woke up super sore.

Let me clarify --
By "sweat" I mean:  I exuded rivers of perspiration from the top of my head all the way to the bottom of my feet.
By "sore" I mean:  Each time I moved my limbs, I was reminded how hard I worked, mostly followed by an "owwwwww."
By "put my body to work" I mean:  I found muscles I didn't know existed, pushed myself farther than I thought possible, and opened up my lungs more than I ever have before.

And this is just the beginning.

This is shaping up to be my weekly regiment, for the next 3 months:

Monday - possible rest day, but more likely a walking day
Tuesdays - Yoga (at my yoga studio)
Wednesdays - Personal Training at LA Boxing with Donte (more on him to come)
Thursdays - Boxing class at LA Boxing
Fridays - training walks for my third Susan G. Komen 3-day for the Cure.
Saturday - another (longer) training walk
Sunday - Kickboxing at LA Boxing

Do you think that this is do-able?  Is it crazy?  Will I be able to get back to the 180's by June - maybe even back into the legwarmers for BlogHer in August?  Will I get strong enough to hold a downward dog for more than 10 seconds?  Do you think I will survive?

What do you think?



Disclosure: As a participant of #Fitbloggin', I was offered (by LA Boxing) three months free membership, free personal training, and merchandise - all in exchange for blogging my *honest* opinions once a week.

I'd rather end this relationship

That's it.  It's over.  This was the final straw.  I'm leaving you.

You heard me right, Mr. Scale.  It's over.

For years now, you've been keeping my secret.  You have been diligently reporting back to me the number I craved to have.  The number I needed to know so that I could tell just how well my weight loss was going.

You were cute - at first.  All shiny and white, with retro styling and a simplicity I adored.

But then things got fishy.  You were never set to the right number - never could seem to get back to zero.

Sure you didn't need batteries, but I could step on you 10 times and get 10 different results.  What kind of life is that, Mr. Scale?  It's just cruel!  Cruel, I tell you!

And now.... now I hear that you have been lying to me.  Out right, bold faced, over the top lying.

You padded your response.  By how much?  5 pounds? 7? TEN???

You hear that, Mr. Scale?  Those are my tears.  My tears are flowing knowing that I've really been seven to ten pounds heavier this whole time.

So, it's over.  I've found something new.  Something that won't lie to me.

You thought I was going away to Fitbloggin' just for fun - turns out I also brought back your replacement.  The EatSmart digital bathroom scale.

He's just as cute.  Not retro, but more sleek - more sophisticated.  He's transparent.  He's smart. He honest.  He's mine.  

His display is large, and easy to read.  Not like your puny little numbers.

His platform is larger than yours was - and is quite sturdy.

He self-calibrates.  Not like you, who I had to prod every time I wanted an answer.

He is reliable and accurate.  He'll give me the truth, every time, with out change.

So that's it.  You're going into the garbage tonight.

My EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale and I will live happily every after. 

(And you can too - they are being sold on Amazon here, for a pretty good price!)

*Disclosure: I am not being paid for this post.  I did, however, relieve the product as a gift from EatSmart, as they were a vendor at Fitbloggin' - a conference I paid to attend.  The opinions in this article are completely mine - and I truly am throwing the old scale away!*

I'd rather focus on the positive

Happy Monday everyone!  I know a lot of people hate Mondays (and, I'm normally one of them) but this Monday is good.

Why?

Because I can breathe out of my nose again!!  Hallelujah!!

I was M.I.A. this whole past week with a killer cold.  It was doubly hard because I was on demand 24-7, as daddy was away on business.  I tell you, every time he leaves, I get another reminder of just how awesome all you single moms are.  It makes me want to send flowers and coffee to my bestie (she's a single mom to 3) because that is hard work, with no relief.

Anywho, as some of you may know, I was too darn sick to work out (steps made me winded) and I didn't have the ability to eat as well as I would have wanted.  Actually the eating was funny - at times I was fantastic (lots of fruits and veggies, water, soup, etc) then others I ... uhhh ... wasn't.  (It's really hard to cook for everyone when you have a box of tissues glued to your hand.) (Oh, and all those girl scout cookies sitting in my dinning room really didn't help matters!)

So, I stayed the same for my weight this week.  I'm a-okay with that, and I am still feeling very motivated.  My husband and I have fallen right back into our competition and there isn't an end for that in sight.  (Actually, that continues to be a really great motivator.  If you haven't tried it - you really should - especially if you all like to smack talk.  We obviously do, judging by his "anonymous" comment on my last mamavation post.  Silly man, doesn't he know he stands no chance?!)

Also, I went to a friends baby shower this weekend, and saw a bunch of people I hadn't seen in a looonnng time.  I got a lot of compliments - even a "you're looking thinner!"  So, I know I'm on the right track.

Here are a couple other random tidbits for you all:

• I met Roni, the organizer of Fitbloggin', while at Bloggy Boot Camp this weekend, and she is fantastic!!!  You really should check out her sites - they have so many great recipes and ideas.

• I triple dog dare you all to go try steamed artichokes.  Not the canned, mushy kind, but the kind where you have to scrape the meat off he leaves with your teeth.  It is a childhood favorite of mine, and I'm happy to say that my daughter has found the joys of it too!

• I attended a yoga for headache workshop a week or so ago, and I plan on writing a post about that soon!  They gave us lots of good info - and I've already been putting some of it to use.

That's it for this week.  I hope all of you are having a great week, and if not, then I hope you are picking your selves up and moving forward.  Because you are Maaaavelous, dalinks, simply maaaaavelous.

PS - Did you know I always link these posts back up to the blog carnival at Bookie Boo?  The support of the Mamavation ladies has been key to me.  If you are lacking that in your life, please consider joining us.  Plus, if nothing else motivates you, there are giveaways each week. ;)

I'd rather have a motivating list

I brought it!  I brought it!

Before I go a step further, I've got to say a big thank you for all of the comments I received on last week's post.  I gathered so much motivation from you all!  Some of them made me scared, some of them made me look inward, and they all re-energized me.  If you skip the rest of this post (and, I really wouldn't blame you because, holy hannah am I long winded) then just read this list.  It is some of the suggestions you all gave me to get out of my rut, and get motivated.  (I repeat, these are not my suggestions - they are that of my Mamavation Sista's.)  Save them to use in your "weight loss tool kit."

• Read your old posts, or a journal if you're a non-blogger.  Read the ones when you are sad to see what you want to avoid, read the ones when you had tons of motivation to channel that energy.
• Think about your kids.  If you can't do it for you, do it for them - so that they see a good healthy role model.  (Twenty years from now I don't want my kids to feel like I sometimes do.)
• Have someone give you a pep talk.  Sometimes you just have to be told "you CAN."
• Figure out what drives you - what is the end result you want or don't want.  Will you be okay with staying in this rut forever?
• Find someone who is in the same place and urge each other forward.  (See below for the contest results with my hubby.)
• Try something new - new workout, new workout clothes, new foods.
• Suck it up.  Push your self forward.  Shove the "I can't" monster in the closet and just fake it til you make it.
• Act like who you want to be (like your future healthy self) or emulate a healthy role model.
• Get threatened with wearing a cheese bra topless.  (Yikes!)

So, thats the list.  What follows is my progress for the week.  Seriously, feel free to skip it - I know there are a lot of posts to read, and my feelings won't be hurt. ;)

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This week, the competition with my husband saved me.  If you didn't see it last week, we had a contest to gain the most "healthy habits" points.  Points were gained by working out and taken away for eating out or even suggesting we eat out.  It worked so well for both of us (working out 5 times this week!) that we decided to keep it going.  So no clear cut winner right now.  BUT, I am one point up as a write this post. ;)

I decided to pull back on weight watchers a bit.  Well, truthfully, I have been out of it for a while, but I decided to take a new approach to my eating in general.  I was getting really tired of counting points and measuring, so I decided to put my years of WW knowledge to the test - to see if I could do it with out all the scales, and cups, and trackers.

Surprisingly, it has gone pretty well.  Every time I'm hungry, I go first for something that is nutritious in some way: fruits, veggies, high protein, fiber.  I still allow myself a bit of chocolate from time to time but I'm finding I am craving things less.  I didn't really "need" that evening snack as much this week.  Several times I thought, "well self, there's nothing in this house that is worth it, so fa-get-a-bout-it."  I'm still making progress, and of course this helps:

It has saved me a few times when rummaging in the pantry looking for "I'm bored so I might as well eat" food.  I see it, I get irritated, I silently kick myself for doing something so annoyingly useful, then I allow it to work.

All of this combined is doing good things - I'm down 2 pounds.  I brought it.  Did you?

I'd rather be more "bring it" than "bleh"

Bleh.

That's what I want to say in this post.

Well, mostly.  I'm actually in a really weird in between spot.  I'm half "bleh" and half "bring it."

Bleh because I have been coasting.  Sometimes not even coasting.  And it's so stupid.  I sit here, every Mamavation Monday, seeing the great things you all have done the previous week, and I feel jealous.  I want to have lost pounds.  I want to have eaten that well.  I want what you where able to do.  And yet, the next day comes, and I don't do it.  I get lazy, or overwhelmed, or bored, and then I cop out.  I do workout.  I do eat well.  But not all the time, only sporadically.  And doing it "when I feel like it" isn't getting me anywhere.

Duh.

I just don't know how to force myself to always want it.  And it is so funny - I'm sure if you went back and analyzed my posts - half of them would be upbeat and "bring it," and the other would be "bleh."  So, I'm a little bit of both this time.

My "bring it" attitude is a way to force myself into doing it.  (Shhhh, don't tell that party of me that I don't really want to "bring it.") It is a way to force me into action.  This time around I've made a mini competition with my husband.  One point for each time we work out, one point away for each time we even mention going out to eat.  I plan on kicking his butt. *Hi boo, glad you're reading this, and yes, I am smack talking via my blog. muah.*

Bleh and bring it.  Feeling one more than the other, but I guess the trick is to force "Bleh" into submission....for as long as I can.

(Bet you can guess I didn't lose pounds this week.  I'm around 194.  Bleh.  Bring It.)

I'd rather eat more disney food, but with out the weight gain.

Alright, I confess, I did HORRIBLY at policing myself at Disney World. They just made it so hard with all that fantastic food they gave us!  Breakfasts of quiche, croissants, sausage, etc. etc.  Lunches of italian comfort food, snacks of antipasti and cheeses.  Dinners of burgers, bbq, and hot dogs.  Not to mention the cheesecake, the adult "lemonade" and other goodies.

It was all really, really good.

And I really, really enjoyed eating it.

The upside, was all that walking.  Walking, walking, walking.

So I'm back now, hopping back on this wagon.  I gained a pound or two from the trip, but that's okay with me.  Tomorrow I start all the new exercises I recorded while I was gone, and attempting to get my gruve to green everyday (along with Jen and Trayce.)

The countdown to Fitbloggin' begins!  I'm racing to lose more to look even better when I get to meet so many of you! Woot!

I'd rather be not sore.

Okay mamavation ladies, and any other lovely visitors I may be receiving, here is my weekly update.

I have been doing pretty well with food - and we kept the eating out to just the weekend!  I didn't stick to the plan of doing just one meal out, but we made it every week day with out a last minute trip to a restaurant.  (Believe me, this is HUGE in my house.)  And I can tell my kids are starting to get the drift - getting fruit as a snack with out asking for junk, preferring carrots at a friends house.  Who the heck are these kids!?

I decided that I would share any new workouts with you guys that I do weekly in these posts.  Last week was Bollywood (if you tried it, let me know what you thought!)  This week is the Weight Loss Workout with Violet Zaki.  She reminds me of a British Jillian Michaels - except for not a raving lunatic much sweeter.  (In case you missed me saying it before, while I love what The Shred does for my body, I find Jillian to be my nemesis.) I found Violet's routine to be pretty comparable as far as the sweat factor, and she gave great modifications too.  Plus, she has that cute accent.

She pretty much kicked my butt.  My hamstrings were sore for 4 days.  No joke.  FOUR freakin' days of "oooowwwww" every time I sat down on a hard chair.

The scale went down again - woot!  Another pound gone.  Now I only have two more to lose to get back in the leg warmers! (That means I currently weigh in at 191.)  I'm really excited about this - but I have one MAJOR hurdle coming my way: Disney World.

If you all have any suggestions as to what I can do while I'm there, I would love to hear it.  I know I will be walking all over the place, but in past trips to WDW, I haven't faired too well.  To be honest, I haven't even tried previously.  I'm hoping that if I get my head in the right frame of mind, I'll do okay.  I have one more week to get ready for it, so help me out!

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for your support.  Mamavation ladies are so great like that. Smooches!

I'd rather be in Bollywood

Good morning and happy Monday!  It is a rainy day here, but I'm feeling quite chipper, regardless.

Ready for my weekly check-in?  Here is the run down:

Work outs:  Did more yoga, walking, balance ball work outs, and more Bollywood dancing!  Some of you had mentioned you were interested in them, so taking a cue from @BusyBabyMama, I thought I'd post a clip for you.  First is a short trailor that gives you a quick glimpse into the video:




And, yes, I do feel like a bit of an ass doing the workout.  But it is still fun to do.  If you have time, here is a clip of Ellen doing it on her show - she looks goofy, but you get the idea that it's a happy, fun dance.



WARNING:  The elk move at the end is VERY dangerous to preform around any male. *wink*

Onto food:  I followed my usual m.o. - good during the weekdays, not so good on the weekend and once everyone is in bed.  I have made a plan with my husband to tackle our major affection for eating out, but I think I need advice from you all about my nightly snack habit.  I wait until everyone is asleep, and I have this nice happy quiet moment when I catch up on my shows, and get to eat what I want, with out having to share it with little sticky fingers.  The problem though, is that I pick sweets (hello chocolate and peanut butter, my two best friends) or salty foods with dip (everyone knows pretzels taste better with queso dip.)  I am determined to make better choices, but not ready to give it up entirely.  Do you have any suggestions as to what might make a better (yet still deceivingly satisfying to my craving) choice?  Because I am kinda sick of working so hard, then sabotaging myself.

I'm feeling good, overall.  I think I have lost about a pound.  (Hard to tell, on my scale, but the needle moved a little, so that's what I'm going with.)  I'm happy with this, as I think I'm gaining some more tone in my muscles too.  I'm still in the right mode, and really want to keep losing.  This week, I am committing to working out Monday through Friday (whew!) and only eating out once (gasp!) - because I have heard a few compliments lately ("wow, your face is looking thin," "hey skinny mini,") and I want to keep them coming!

Thanks for listening and I look forward to your snack advice!

I'd rather be in swimsuit shape!

Hey guys...

Here is my weight loss update:

Food:  Been doing okay.  Was tracking, eating lots of fruits/veggies, and not drinking coke - but always have a step back on the weekend.  This weekend, however, I tried to be pretty good at my meals out.  Ate smaller portions, made sure to get veggies as my sides, only one bite of desert - if any.

Exercise:  Did a few great exercises this week - lots of yoga, and some Brazilian dance too!  I missed one day that I had planned, but I semi made up for it by sitting on the balance ball all night while playing with my kids.  I figure doing that is better than lying down, right?  And I finally charged up my Gruve and am currently rocking that too.  (As if to drive that point home, it just buzzed me. Ha!)

Nitty Gritty:  I am down 3 pounds!  Back to 193 - and only 4 more to go to get back to my leg warmers! Woot!  Feeling good too.  I'm really committed to getting down as much as I can in the next 3 weeks, when I get to meet all the other Disney Social Media Conference moms!  It really whoops you into gear knowing that there will be 100 other moms (whom you've never met before and who are also twit-pic pros) seeing you POOL-SIDE!  Ack!  So I'm off to work out!