Great Work out and new swimsuit!

Did my final 'free' personal training session today. I used my LTBucks to join a T.E.A.M. class that was doing a treadmill routine that focuses on keeping you in heartrate zones 2&3 (fat burning zones). It was a really good workout! I was sweating a ton and the ladies in the class were all very nice and welcoming even though I was joining their 'group' for only one class. We could choose our own speed (in order to keep us in zones 2 and 3, but the trainer told us when to change our incline from 4-15 and also told us when to do weights or bands with our arms as we were walking. It was a really good workout and I wanted to do it so I could copy it at home on my own treadmill :) After class I did some of the machines that Treasa had showed me how to use. It was a little weird NOT doing a group fitness class while I was there, but that's ok. That's what I am trying to do, broaden my workouts and workout more effectively not just more exhaustedly. I am really hoping this pays off, because as I've said, I really don't want to be jumping around for the next 20 years, I would love to learn some new lower impact things that keep me in shape and keep me motivated and working out.  It was a good day.
Then it became even better when my package arrived from Land's End with a new swimsuit in it. I have been looking for the past year for suits that aren't matronly, but aren't showing cleavage. I don't even have big boobs, and even with my small cleavage I feel when I am around men other than my husband that there is too much showing (only stuff my hubby should see). I don't care if other mom's see it, I just don't like other men to see it. And I admit, I wear triangle top string bikinis when I am home at our own pool with no male guests almost all the time, because it allows me to get a fuller coverage tan and then when I wear a more concealing suit there are no untanned areas peaking out.  I also like bottoms that cover my cheekers! Which is impossible if you buy a suit intended for a 'junior', they all seem to be cut with the intention of letting cheeks peek out. ugh. Anyway, I have a booty, and I'm a mom, and I just don't like cheeks hanging out on anyone(I don't care how old u are! and on that topic I can't stand the new fad of wearing suits so small that not only your cheeks hang out , but your butt crack is intentionally showing too! gross! Kim Kardashian, this is NOT attractive!!!!)  Anyway, so I am always looking for good bottoms that cover and fit the hips of a WOMAN , not a 17 yr old who hasn't had kids yet! A few years ago I fell in love with Tommy Hilfiger suits because their bottoms did this (tops still show a bit too much cleavage for me, but I have several anyway). Well, this year when I went to buy some new ones I realized they must have changed the styling on the bottoms because they weren't as full coverage as before :(   I don't like spending a lot of money on swimsuits, in fact I usually buy at the outlet mall out of season and get each piece for between $5 and $10. But I was having such difficulting finding the coverage I wanted, that I ventured into online swimsuit shopping (scary! since u can't try it on!!!)   Land's End has a good return policy that u can return to a local Sears store and not have to pay return shipping. They were recently running a special of $20 off plus free shipping, so I ordered some stuff to give it a try, knowing if it doesn't work out I can return it for free (love Zappos this way, but they don't carry Land's End  and usually don't have much in the line of sales, although I did order about 20 pieces of swimwear recently from them and returned all of them, blah!)
So I see this suit in Land's End that is on sale and it has full coverage bottom AND a top that has a few inches of fabric between the band on the top and the cups. I've realized that if most tops just connected the fabric at this middle point it would cut out the cleavage I am trying to conceal. I was excited to see the style and I liked the pattern, plus it has some little nautical ties that make it cute.  I LOVE IT! Here is a picture, because even though I don't look perfect in it, I am super happy with it and the fit! It achieves my goal so I am willing to share my picture(even though I'm working on losing 10 pounds still) I am even posting the not super flattering rear shot (really HOW flattering can a behind picture be when you've got junk in the trunk like me? ;) ha ha, but I'm ok with showing you, because I think this suit is great and good enough to wear in front of  men besides my hubby and not feel weird.  Plus I think the top is secure enough to do water sports and not run the risk of readjusting or slipping out.  Great suit! Loved it so much I went back on line tonight to try to buy it in more colors, but sadly they are out. Hopefully they will carry this same cut, in new prints/colors next year :) fingers crossed!

staying strong

I am pleased to announce that after my 9day Isagenix cleanse three months ago, I am still staying strong at the weight I'd attained after the cleanse, which is 145. (Remember, I'm 5'8", not 5'2").  My clothes are all fitting comfortably (not tight, and even a bit loose in areas I like them loose, like my thighs and butt). Which of course is the best part and main goal, to have my clothes fit the way I like them.

I am in no way on any sort of 'diet'. I am simply living, and trying to do all things in moderation. Yes, I eat ice cream. (And last weekend on vacation I indulged in berry cake(divine), fresh cookies, ice cream, swiss rolls, chips, and even THREE apple turnovers at the Dixie Stampede!) Not something I normally eat in any 5day period, but I did there, and I had no sense of 'guilt'. I knew that moderation is my plan in everything, and that this was just a splurge while on my vacation and that my main meals were moderate and not gut-busters, so I wasn't 'completely off the wagon with no hope of return'.)

The main part of my moderation plan is portion size. I've realized that my family hates any 'healthier' version I make of any food so I am tired of the complaints and am no longer trying to use whole wheat pasta etc in my dinners. I am simply making normal dinners, but my portions are the difference. Instead of eating past fullness and getting stomach aches, I am eating less, and THINKING about it during a break. If I am still hungry after the break, I'll eat more. If I then realize I am full (usually the case because it takes a while for your brain and stomach to register fullness), then I don't eat more. It is working out well. Especially since my family is definately a 'restaurant' family. Yes, I usually try to get grilled fish or salads (because I like them, not because they are 'diet' foods). But some restaurants have only one genre of food (ie. fried food or pizza), and so at those restaurants , yes, I am eating fried fish and pizza. In fact, this week I ate pepperoni pizza twice. But the improvement for me is that I only eat 2-3 pieces and am completely full, versus when I used to eat 5 or 6.

This moderation, in normal every day food, is keeping me at an even weight level.
I have to admit also (don't get jealous--I am amazed myself), that my workouts are less intense and less time consuming than before, and I am STILL maintaining a good weight.
I am trying to do my treadmill everyday (like I used to), but it doesn't always happen. (The good thing though is... I don't freak out when that happens, like I used to!  I am so pleased to see this progress in my mindset --see Mindy, I told you I was working on being less of a gym rat!---- anyway, this is good progress , plus instead of trying to do at least an hour on the treadmill, I am fine if I can only fit in 20-30 minutes. During the summer I was able to do about 2, and sometimes 3 classes at the gym a week (the kids don't like going, so I didn't want to drag them there everyday, it was summertime and I wanted to focus on having fun all summer with my kids, not dragging them with me to the gym). I was planning that once school started (2days ago) I would be able to go to the gym 4 days a week. At the beginning of summer I was really looking forward to this, but for this first month or so I have a lot of stuff going on at school (I'm the PTA treasurer), and at my husband's companies (I am the bookkeeper, and there are a lot of new changes going on that require my attention right now). And quite honestly, now that the end of summer is here, I am looking at my schedule and thinking 4 days a week at the gym is probably unrealistic for me, unless I want it to become an 'idol' again in my life. Which I don't. So... all this to say...

I am not working out like a maniac, yet I feel good about this new moderation in my life.
I am not on a diet.
I am not restricting myself in any way, but am making wise choices, and using moderation in ANY choice I make.
And I am happy to say that this LIFESTYLE is working. My weight is not a yo-yo. I am at a good, comfortable weight, and I am STILL enjoying life  (sorry, but I can't handle deprivation, it doesn't work for me).
I really want to stay on this plan. I hate being yo-yo in my weight. I hate that 'weight' becomes a focal point because of yo-yo stuff. I want it to be a non-topic, just a part of life. Honestly, I am getting there. Now, this isn't to say I wouldn't mind losing another 5 pounds, but I am not focusing all my thoughts and time on that. If it slowly comes down, just because of wise moderate choices, that's fine. But I'm not thinking about that everytime I get dressed. I am doing good. This is just life for me. I want it to stay this way. I don't want this to be a 'phase'. I am consciously making it a longterm reality.

So there is my update, I haven't blogged in a while (like I said I was out partaking in summer activities with my kiddos), but here is the update, and its a good one :)

p.s. while on vacation, I was goofing off while changing into my swimsuit and struck a pose in the mirror. I was surprised... I looked GOOD! It was the whole "Daisy Duke" look, bikini top and jean shorts---of course my shorts weren't cutoffs with my cheekers hanging out, but you get the idea, at least they were jeans :) So I told my daughter to snap a photo of me, and I jumped on the bed and showed it to my hubby and said "look, you are so lucky, I am looking GOOD!", he laughed and blew me off and told me I was crazy. Which maybe I am, but I was seriously digging the swimsuit top and jean shorts look. I'm posting the shot here for proof that moderation works. "You can have your cake, and eat it too" (just a slice though, not the whole cake at once!)  lol  So, hopefully, this is inspiring to folks out there... if u can get your mind grasped around a concept, it can become a lifestyle, and not feel like a deprivation diet.

Little muscles?

I guess I've always been trying to strike a pose and show my bicep muscles...
its just a shame they never seem to want to come out and be seen  ha ha ha.

Found this picture of my brother and I from 1975 when I was 5 years old and he was 10, on a shoreline in Michigan. How cute is that?

p.s. I told you I was always a 'tow-head', see why I want to keep dying my hair blond? I'm trying to keep my youth lol ;0

6-pack in 6 weeks

Ok, so I've got a new goal. My fitness life seems to be a constant journey. A bit up and down (which I am trying to stop), but a continual process, none-the-less. Therefore, I sometimes get bored or worn out from doing the same things over and over. Other times I'm so motivated I'm like the energizer bunny going, going, and going. I'm trying to stop that up and down cycle and maintain more of an even-keel in my fitness.

 As you know from my recent posts I've gained some weight.

 I'm still happy,

 but I know I need to get back into better shape... love handles are beginning to appear and my tummy is starting to want to stick out (not to mention my REAL problem areas of my butt and thighs being bigger than I like and therefore making certain pants too tight in those areas). So I am on a new plan to get my body re-energized and get back to where I prefer to be (140, 145 at the most).

I have been doing some sort of exercise, whether it be a class at the gym, the treadmill, outdoor running or biking, the AMT, or an aerobic DVD, 6-7 days a week for over 8 years. It honestly shocks me when my gym-rat buddies (yes, this is you, Jen) tell me that they have gone a whole week and only worked out once (this isn't normal for her, but she went through a spell many months ago where she just couldn't find the time to fit it all in). Anyway, when I'd hear that, I'd really be speechless. I have been doing this for so long, that I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't on this schedule. Its crazy, but its just part of my life. Its something normal and expected , and routine for me. Which might be part of the problem sometimes. It sometimes becomes so routine, that I begin to get bored and lose interest which results in less effort and consequently less results. However, I am re-energized to (not go to a super High -no more yo-yo's remember- but to get back on track to get some results). My plan for this is to increase my running.

When I was pregnant with my second daughter, I began running. Just 2 minutes at a time. But I slowly worked it up to 5 min, 8min, 10min, 15min, then 20min. After I reached the 20minute mark I began running more and more. It felt great to be reaching these goals I had never dreamed of reaching, (because if you didn't know, I used to HATE running. I was on the h.s. track team one year and HATED it the whole time. I was the absolute slowest person in every race (except 2), and it hurt my shins so bad. However, I never quit, because I'm not a quitter.)  Well, anyway, the first time I reached 5 miles, then 8 miles it was incredible. Then a friend told me I should run the --------Run. It was a 10mile run I think. I ran it, and LOVED it! I had only planned on running 5k, then walking and taking a break, then running/walking the remainder. But, I missed the 5k marker, so when I came upon the 6k marker I was like "I already went farther than I planned and I feel great, I'll just go to the next marker and see how I feel." I told myself I could stop and walk, but only once I reached a marker. Funny thing was that at every marker I felt good so I just continued on to the next one. I ended up running the whole race which totally surpassed my personal plan/goal and it was awesome. So then I figured if I can run 10, how hard could 13 be? A half-marathon was scheduled 2 weeks later, so I ran it. Its amazing what you can do when you try.

Anyway, this post isn't about running, so to summarize this, I ran a second Half marathon and then began training for my first marathon. I really wanted to acheive that but I found that when I was training for it I began to dislike running. I was putting too much pressure on myself for it and it wasn't fun anymore. I just couldn't will myself to do it when it was no longer fun. I wound up cancelling the marathon and pretty much quit running for about a year and a half after that. I'd jog (slowly) for a mile or two, but nothing long or serious. About a year ago, I was looking through my running log when I realized this (this lack of running) and realized I needed to pick it back up. So that is what I have been doing I've started REALLY running when I'm on my treadmill, not just lolly-gagging and getting only 1-2 miles in. I have found though that I tend to mentally get defeated when I run and get tired and want to take a break but don't. So in order to combat this I took a que from some different training methods out there and decided to set my treadmill programs up where I run a minute, then walk a minute, run, walk, run, walk, etc. I've found this new routine is working really good for me right now. I also set another program where I run about 10 minutes, then walk about 5, then run 10 again. I've found that just about the time I am ready to yell "Mercy!" the treadmill kicks back down to the 'walk' and gives me that break I need, then I'm ready for the next run and I get right back at it.

So all this background info, to say, that is the type of running I am doing right now to acheive my goal of getting back to 140 and toning up my mid-section again. I also am finally using REGULARILY my weighted hula-hoop (thanks Jen and Cindy for getting me back on track with this) so we will see if that helps with results as well. I have also picked up some Jillian Michaels and Biggest Loser Last Chance workout DVDs to intersperse into my workouts, as well as my gym classes. Hopefully with these new plans I will not be as bored and get back on track. Jillians DVD is "6pack in 6 weeks" so that is my first goal. Based on my body-type and how I gain/lose weight, if I get my six pack back, the other areas will get back in shape too, so it will be a total-body recovery. I'm going to give u pictures along the way to see if we can SEE any progress. You know (yes u can laugh Jen) that my ultimate triumph is when I can wear my favorite cute purple shorts again lol, so of course that is the final goal :) and a picture will of course be granted when that happens. :)

Here is my first picture, which by the way was taken 2/16/11 and I am at 150.

You can see I've got the definition (good genes I think) to get my tummy in line (I love those lines on the side and that one at the top), but I want to get rid of the little love handles forming and of course u can't see my butt and thighs yet (ha ha----later folks you'll get a pix after I get some preliminary results, I don't want to scare you with the current situation!)

So there u have it, my plan for the next 6 weeks and a starting point picture.  No matter what though, I want you to know I AM HAPPY. I hope you are too in whatever workout regime you are currently in. That's all folks!

Thighs wider than a freight train

Here are the first pictures that started me realizing that I might have gained more weight than I thought... We were celebrating Jen's birthday and took these pictures and I realized that my upper body looks fine but my lower body looks wider than a freight train! I guess not weighing myself everyday and eating basically whatever I wanted, combined with less running has had a very negative consequence.
Compare these pictures to the ones on the left side of my blog. My thighs have gotten extremely wider!

In fact, in these photos with my husband, even though I KNOW I am smaller than him, my thighs and butt look BIGGER than him! I certainly don't want that!

This is when I first got these jeans. They are still body-hugging, but they just didn't seem as wide in the thighs back then. So I am on a mission to lose this extra 15 pounds I have gained this year and get rid of it.

funny picture

I went and got some pictures taken with the girls this weekend. While I was there I posed for a few funny pictures myself, which not only made the girls laugh(part of the plan), but also the photographer (ha ha). Anyway, when we were done they put together this little composite and added the tag line "Milk makes the body grow", I thought that was so funny I had to show you! It is kinda funny isn't it? Especially since I still don't have any biceps, even though I REALLY do keep trying to get them to GROW! LOL