What's the hold up?

Happy Holidays everyone!  I hope you all had a restful and adventurous holiday season and are looking forward to getting back into a routine!  I apologize for not posting anything recently ~ I have sent out a handful of emails to some pros and am waiting to hear back ~ of course, I had to send them emails around the busiest time of the year:) but I know once they get a second they will respond and I will compile some awesomely informational posts for you to check out!

I mentioned in my last post that I was going to stick firm to a healthy diet over the holiday season and I am happy to report I didn't do too bad.  I veered a couple times (on my birthday:) but overall didn't go the route I have commonly ventured during past holiday seasons.  I worked out regularly and have even pulled the kids on a sleigh around the park near our house a couple days in a row.  Boy does that make you sweat!  I am hoping to get out snowshoeing in January and look forward to that!  One of my 2014 goals is to become a better cook and baker ~ mainly because I like the wholesome foods I can feed my kiddies ~ so tonight I did a bunch of baking.  Even tried a yogurt blueberry cookie and they are delicious!

So do to the fact that I did not stick to my own 60 day challenge as close as I would have like I am starting over ~ giving myself a mulligan:)  I know it will be a little easier not having to attend parties and family dinners:)   This year was easier ~ again because I think that I am simply different ~ I view food differently ~ I view exercise differently ~ I view myself differently.  My will power is strong too.  I think every year as I follow this path will get easier simply because of who I am becoming.  Ok that begin said I have to hit the hay.  There shall be a couple posts a week from now on since life is getting back to normal:)  Chow!

What'chu eatin'?

Mmmm…food:)  I must admit I LOVE food that I love:) As I mentioned in my last post, one way to prevent going overboard this holiday season is to do a little research on the "bad but oh so good" foods you might indulge in over the next few weeks.  Though I think this is great to do in general when you are starting up your healthy eating regime or just need a little kick back on track.  I am feeling like a need a little kick back on track so I have decided to post some of my researched splurge foods as a teeny tiny reminder of what they REALLY consist of.  Maybe some of my danger foods are yours too but I encourage you to google the heck out of whatever it is that is holding you back from making progress on your journey towards health.
Here are some of mine (Oh boy!):

1.  Turtles (these guys seem to be everywhere at Christmas time!)

• calories: 160 (per 2 pieces) and 81! of those calories are fat 
• 15 g of sugar

2.  Nutella (disguises itself as part of a healthy diet…uh nope you are wrong!)

• calories: 2 TBSP = 200! 
• 20% Saturated fat
• 21 g of sugar
• "Nutella has more calories, sugar, and fat (and more “bad” modified palm oil) than an equivalent amount of chocolate cake icing"  WHATTT??? Darn I guess it was too good to be true.  
• Only 13% of the product in the jar is made up of hazelnuts.
• This guy has done some research and boy has it changed my mind about eating Nutella.  You can find him at http://www.obesitypanacea.com/2009/04/nutella-delicious-yes-nutritious.html

3.  Blended Coffee (more specifically a mochachillo ~ caramel cappachillo is a little less calorie rich ~ not like it matters :)

• calories: 390 aka. a small meal!
• 24 g of sugar (ok mind blown)

4.  Margarita (now this will blow your mind!)

• 740 + calories!
• Yes vodka is not high in fat but it is super high in calories and then when you add the mixes it just keeps on growing.  A splash of juice is supposedly better than on the rocks or with club soda/soda water.  Check out this site for more information on your favourite alcoholic bevies ~ http://changeforgood.com/belly-up-to-the-bar-and-to-the-calories-the-10-most-fattening-drinks/#.Uqt5T6Vm1Zs

Ok now that our minds have been blown let's put a few things in perspective shall we?  Here are some great facts to keep in mind:

• One pound of fat is 3500 calories
• You need over 1600 calories a day to survive (that is a baseline) ~ "The number of calories you should eat each day depends on several factors, including your age, size, height, sex, lifestyle, and overall general health " (Medical News Today).  The average man and woman should consume between 2000-2500 calories a day.  

There are a few different ways to figure out your ideal calorie intake for a healthy you.  

• I use a Body Mass Index calculator to get an idea of where I am right now.  Here is an easy one from Livestrong ~ http://www.livestrong.com/tools/body-mass-calculator/  Once you do this then you sort of know where you are and where a healthy you should be.
• You can use a BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR) Calorie Calculator to figure out your ideal calorie requirements.  Here are a couple options I have found easy to use: 
•  http://thefastdiet.co.uk/how-many-calories-on-a-non-fast-day/
• http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/Calorie_Calculator.asp
• If you have an iPhone you can also get an app called "Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker by My Fitness Pal".  

I am going to be completely honest here ~ I am not a calorie counter nor do I think it is something that should be obsessed over.  The fact of the matter is I think we should all take steps to becoming as educated as possible as to what we are putting in our bodies and the impact it can have.  When I read the bit on the Nutella I literally went to my cupboard and pulled it out and threw it into the garbage.  You should go thru your cupboards and fridge and discard (give to a friend if you don't want to throw things away).  You need to create a positive environment that supports your journey of becoming healthier.  Know what your calorie consumption should be to lose weight a healthy way, know the facts about the food you are consuming and make wise choices.  I like using the 80/20 rule that helped me out over the last few months.  I think it is something to live by for sure.  Aim for eating healthy 80% of the time and 20% of the time you can have an indulgence here or there.  When I was participating in the 60 Day Challenge almost a year ago I went those 60 days not cheating, not indulging, not binging, etc. Sometimes at the start it was hard to resist but what ended up happening is I stopped having cravings for things I loved before.  My chemistry changed and I craved healthy foods that would give me FUEL to work out hard.  "Treat" is such a funny word because the real treats you give your body are truly nutritious meals.  Think about how you feel after you eat something good for you compared to when you allow your will power to fade and eat something super crappy…am I not right?  Do I still have those moments?  Hell YES I do.  It sucks but I think it will be something I need to pay attention to for the rest of my life.  I have started a lot of great habits over this last year and I have fallen off the wagon a couple of times too.  My plan is to really focus on what I have accomplished (successfully completing the 60 day challenge, participating in a 21KM Spartan Beast race, being able to do the highest box jump, lifting/pushing/pulling/throwing super heavy weights) and when I am feeling a little blue that I let my guard down, indulged a little too much, gained a little weight back, missed that work out ~ whatever it is that is causing me to feel rightfully unsatisfied, jump back on the horse!  I have all the tools and I really just have to take that step in the right direction.  

Today is December 13, 2013 and as of today I am starting my very own 60 Day Challenge ~ exactly like the one I did last year around this time.  My goal is to drop some more body fat and lose 15 more pounds.  My plan of attack is to continue my classes at EXCEL FITNESS (aiming for 4-6 classes a week) and follow my daily eating rules.  These include:

• No caffeine and/or alcohol
• No bread
• As much fruits and veggies as possible
• 6 smaller meals throughout the day
• Only lean meat like fish and chicken (and small portion when I do)
• No butter, salt and/or sauces
• No baked goods 
• Limit pasta (small portion only)
• No dairy - milk, cheese (substitute almond milk, 0% fat yogurt allowed)
• No food after dinner (eat dinner sometime between 5-6pm)
• Drink A CRAP LOAD of water!  All day!
• No juice
• No sweets (occasional small piece of dark organic chocolate allowed once a week)
• Drink a cup of water with lemon right away in the morning
• Eat breakfast everyday!  Eggs, cereal, fruit, veggies in an omelet
• 1 small piece of birthday cake on December 21(my 31st birthday)

I am excited to jump back on my serious wagon.  I will keep you posted on my progress:)

Keep it on Track~Holiday Plans

This is my first Christmas since I lost all the weight and inches.  Am I a little worried about all the food, drink and change of routines?  NOPE!  Not at all!  And I know how you can also feel confident that you won't go overboard this holiday season.  It's all about having a plan ~ it might take a little time, planning and will power but you will come out on the other side of December feeling happy and proud.  So what is MY plan?  Well I am glad you asked!

1.  Don't go to a party hungry!  Just like they say not to grocery shop when you are hungry same goes for a party ~ even if it is a dinner party or a potluck.  Make sure you eat a good serving of some fruits and veggies BEFORE you head out.  Snack on some carrots, banana, etc as you are getting ready:)  Accompany the fruits and veggies with lots of water as well.  It is also a good idea to do some research on the calorie count (and nutritional information) of those yummy holiday foods and goodies.  I really like LiveStrong My Plate for the breakdown the site provides.  And it is really user friendly.  http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/

2.  Create an "allowance"!  Yes I know you are not 12 anymore and you can do whatever you want but you need to set some guidelines.  Whether you have a Christmas party, New Years party or just one of those busy visiting days go into it knowing what you are allowed to have.  My allowance for each party is 2 alcoholic beverages maximum (no pop in my drinks) and 1 small dessert (aiming for 2 inches by 2 inches maximum).  If it is a potluck or dinner party aim for smaller portions (even use a small plate if available!)  I know I used to be bad for going to Christmas dinner really hungry and then eat a gigantic plate of turkey, potatoes, veggies, stuffing and ALL the fixings.  Then I would feel SO full and tired.  I hate that feeling ~ especially knowing I ate WAY too much of not-so-healthy things.  This year is going to be different!

3.  Keep up with you exercise routine!  I know the holidays are already super busy for a lot of people with the visiting, shopping, etc. but set a goal in advance (ON YOUR CALENDAR) of what you plan to do everyday.  If your gym is closed, go for a walk, make a snowshoe date with friends, go skiing, go for a hike to find that great Christmas tree, skate, sledding.  There is SO much we can do that doesn't require a gym so make a plan, write it down and do it.  I like this workout that I found on Pinterest.  Always great to have an indoor plan where I live:)

4.  Press RESET if you fell off the wagon.  It is never too late.  Don't do what I used to do ~ fall off the wagon and then feel guilty about it that I would continue to fall off the wagon.  If you had a few too many drinks, or one too many desserts start fresh the next day.  Drink a bunch of water before bed to help flush the system and aim for having a super healthy day the next.  Once in a while you will fall because you are human but I think the mistake people commonly make is doing it over and over.  Don't go that last 2 weeks of December cruising along eating whatever you want, drinking a lot and not exercising.  You will pay for it later.  Speaking from experience here:)  And don't wait until good ole January 1st to start either.  Just gives you an excuse to eat bad over the holidays.  The only thing worse than being unhealthy for a year is being unhealthy for a year and a day.  Do it now!  Here is a 2 day Post Holiday Cleanse to get you back on your feet if you need it  http://17ddblog.com/2-day-post-holiday-detox-infographic/ 

5.  Don't lose sight of your goals.  I know I am tired of the back and forth.  I have gone through a lot of changes over the last few years with being in not-so-great-shape, to being in good shape, baby, post baby, baby, post baby, and back to getting on track to reach my fitness and weight loss goals.  I am tired of setting the start date to sometime in the future when I could do it right now.  Last year at this time I was signing up for the 60 Day Fitness Challenge that has kickstarted a passion for being healthy, fit, and strong.  I still have a ways to go but I know that I never want to go back to the size and shape I once was.  I want to get stronger and leaner ~ really see how far I can go! 

I challenge you to follow these 5 steps I have listed above and add your own specific guidelines if need be.  It is hard to say no and it is hard to maintain that will power this time of year but take one day at a time and you will feel (and look) phenomenal!  

Get some sleep

I am not sure what your bed time is but I am a bit of a night hawk.  Unfortunately.  For whatever reason the last couple months have been horrible.  I find it impacts my day negatively when I stay up late.  I am bad for putting the kids to sleep and then thinking "ah now I can have some me time" to clean, read, fold laundry, watch a movie, etc.  I have come to the realization that yes it might be time when I am alone and can do what I please but I need to use this "me time" more wisely.  When I was seriously focused on losing weight back at the start of the year I was really good about making sure I went to bed early (mainly because I was getting up every few hours to breastfeed).  Well now I am usually only up once in the night to feed Jonah or help Marley go potty and what am I doing?  Going to bed at 11+/- and wasting some great sleeping hours!  I have struggled a bit lately with eating right and balancing my moods, etc.  Yesterday when I was having an almost breakdown (sick feverish baby + tantruming toddler = losing it!) I had an "aha" moment!  Yes crap will always happen, kids will be sick, things will get lost but why the heck am I almost losing it with little things?  WELL IT'S BECAUSE I AM TIRED!  And why am I tired?  WELL IT IS BECAUSE I DON'T GO TO BED EARLY ENOUGH TO GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP.  Even if babies wake up you still get a better sleep if you go to bed at a decent time!  SO last night when the kids went down (round 8pm) I finished doing dishes and cleaning up a little then I made a conscious effort to get ready for bed.  I plugged my phone in the kitchen instead of my bedroom because heaven knows I will waste time on it as I lay in bed.  Left the TV off while I was cleaning up so I wouldn't get sucked into some show that didn't really matter.  I left my computer off as well.  I grabbed a couple of books from downstairs and a bottle of water and headed to bed at 8:45pm.  I know what you are thinking~you haven't gone to bed that early since you were 12 but I am a thinker.  My husband is blessed with fall into bed asleep genes and he is literally out within seconds.  But me ~ I think, I worry, I review the day, I plan, I have little panics about what I think I forgot to do and on and on and on.  SO my goal with laying down around 8:45pm with a book was to give my self some calm down time.  Some quiet mind time.  Had some water, read some book and then turned off the light.  I fell asleep quickly (also helps that Dina kicked my butt at Excel!)  I was up only once with Jonah around 4am then back down until 7ish!  I woke up in a better mood and felt better all day.  Even when Jonah had a mini meltdown.  Not only did I feel better but because I was better rested I made better decisions (ie. no coffee as I didn't feel as tired).  Lately I for sure have felt guilty because I have been a little more short with my kids than usual.  I have felt more tired and just not as happy as I would love to feel.  My hope & hypothesis is that if I force myself to go to bed early and get a good rest for the next while I will be happier, more successful with my weight loss, and an all around nicer (& patient) mama.  Life will happen as it does and I expect someone will have a bad night or Jonah and Marley will tag team me and take turns minimizing my sleep but I need to make sure I am taking all the steps I can to take care of my sleep.  More sleep = less stressed out over stupid things = better results at the gym and better eating habits = a happier ME!
My challenge to you (if you are like me) is keep all your electronics off and OUT OF YOUR BEDROOM for the next 3 weeks.  Make a conscious effort to create a sleep friendly environment (i.e. lights dimmed, a book).  From what I have read online ~ you shouldn't watch TV, play on your phone/computer for 3 hours prior to bed as it is just that stimulating (just like making sure you don't eat 3 hours prior to bed as well).  Maybe it is time for you to hit up the library:)  It takes a little planning and a conscious effort but I am positive this will help us in so many ways!  To be continued...  

Getting Motivated

Everyone has to start somewhere.  I know sometimes it is daunting to start at a new gym, start up a new meal plan, attending a yoga class.  It can be uncomfortable.  Now in my last post I talked about how "uncomfortable" I was wearing the clothes I used to wear.  This is a different kind of uncomfortable.  This is the good kind ~ it just takes once and then it is done and you have accomplished the first of many steps towards your health goals.  I challenge you to get uncomfortable and sign up for a bootcamp, try a new recipe, go for a run around the neighbourhood.  Tonight I did a spin class ~ now I don't know if you have tried a spin class and what kind of spin class that was but this is a sweaty, work your butt off type spin class.  No slack option!  And about 20 minutes into it I felt tired but knew I still had another 30 to go.  It was UNCOMFORTABLE ~ my legs felt tired but were working hard.  This is typical in my workout hour ~ I go in pumped up, get to work, get uncomfortable, get sweaty, and get it done!  I would rather be immensely uncomfortable in a gym class/bootcamp then be uncomfortable in a pair of pants!  Back to the topic at hand ~ getting motivated to get uncomfortable.  Now here are my recommendations that worked for me:

• Find a gym/bootcamp/training facility that you LOOOVEEE going to.  I wish every city was fortunate to have a place like Excel.  It is completely class based ~ classes are small so really it is like having a personal trainer.  They know your name, they know your history, they help make modifications.  Maybe you don't like class based fitness ~ so find a trainer that inspires you and motivates you.  Too expensive?  There are a ton of things at home that you can do with no equipment or super basic equipment.  Really you could do a lot at home but for me I like having the motivating environment to go to everyday.  I like someone pushing me.  I like someone critiquing me.  It comes down to training~I am training to become stronger, faster, leaner, healthier.  I guess you really have to figure out what it is worth to you ~ for me the feeling I got after I lost my initial 25 pounds was priceless.  I have "gone to the gym" since I was 13!  I have never ever ever ever! had results like this nor have I ever worked so hard!  Maybe save up, do some research and find a trainer or facility that you find AWESOME.  If you don't have a gym that you want to go to ~ try a bootcamp with a highly trained pro ~ this will get you started and after the 6-? weeks is up you will have hopefully set the stage to keep it going.
• Get a new water bottle!  Now you might laugh at this one but when I started my 60 day challenge back in January I bought 2 cool looking water bottles from Lulu Lemon.  I have used the metal ones with the twist top for ages but finally realized I just was not drinking enough water everyday ~ and the reason: twisting the top off was not an easy thing to do when holding babies so it just never got done.  Time is of the essence people!  So the 2 water bottles I purchased are the squeeze ones that are leak proof (and they are!).  I literally have them filled with water all day.  One is on the living room table, one is on the kitchen counter and my kids and I sip all day long.  When I go to the gym one comes with me!  I go downtown ~ one is in my diaper bag!  It made it way more accessible:)  Seriously if you are not drinking enough water go get a easy water bottle and drink up! http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/water-bottles/Purist-Cycling-Waterbottle-II?cc=12015&skuId=3504475&catId=water-bottles 
• Read THE METABOLIC TYPING DIET and stick to the foods that fuel your body best.  You can find the link to this book here http://eatburpeesleeprepeat.blogspot.ca/p/resources.html  
• Make a motivation board and hang it in your bedroom.  I have mine beside my bed and I look at it when I wake up and when I go to bed.  Even if it is a subconscious glance I am still reminded of what I have achieved and what I WANT to achieve.  I post measurements, before pictures, after pictures, people I found inspiring, pictures of my babies, quotes, etc.
• Gear!  Get a good pair of running shoes (I like the Running Room because they help direct you after checking out your feet and walk) ~ if you have easy feet you might not need the extra help but my feet are a mess.  
• Clear out the JUNK!  Get rid of all the bad foods and drinks in your house.  You will survive without them ~ I promise!  If it isn't easy to grab then most likely you will not bother.  Toss it out or give it away but get rid of it.  When you go to get groceries stick to the list (that doesn't mean if you add Oreos to the list you can get them lol!)  It will be cheaper on your wallet too so it is a win-win:)
• Goal jotting!  Every Sunday write down what your plan is for the week ~ doesn't have to be much ~ keep it short and sweet!  Then when you do it during the week cross it out/check it off.  This is a way of keeping you accountable and a bit of a rewarding feeling when you check it off.  It is also a great way to keep tabs on your progression.  
• ROCKS!  When I started my 60 day challenge I filled a mason jar with the number of rocks that equalled the number of pounds I had hoped to lose.  It had a little sign on it that read "Weight to lose".  I decorated it too but I am a bit girly and crafty.  No pressure if that isn't your style!  Then I had an empty mason jar that read "Weight lost".  After every weigh in I would move the rocks where they needed to be ~ lucky for me I kept on moving them to the "weight lost" jar.  It is a great visual reminder and feels SO GOOD to fill up the "weight lost" jar.  Pinterest is who I have to thank for that idea (type in weight loss jars for a lot of ideas)!  I had them sitting on top of my microwave in the kitchen so if I veered accidentally into the kitchen for a little indulgence I would see my jars and be reminded that it just wasn't worth it!
• Reward!  If you are like me you work harder when there is a sweet reward involved!  Of course, simply losing the weight, body fat, and inches is a pretty sweet reward in itself but I made my extrinsic reward to be a dinner date with my husband.  So after 60 days we got to sit down and have some yummy food and a drink.  It was sweet and romantic.  Maybe yours could be a little trip somewhere you have been meaning to go?  Or that outfit you will look awesome in?  Or a spa day (yes men even you would enjoy a spa day!)?  It could be anything ~ once you decide write it down somewhere and post it in a good place like your fridge.

Sometimes getting motivated takes a little effort ~ but the pay off is huge.  You can do it ~suck it up and get uncomfortable:)

 

Reset

Do you ever wish you could just push the "reset" button and start the day, the week, the month, the year, the last bunch of years over?  I do:) And you know what? I push that button often ~ let's be honest here.  I have realized you do have to start fresh sometimes, you do need to forgive yourself and try again.  If you had a little too many treats, didn't drink all the water you should have, didn't get exercise in for the day ~ it is okay.  That is the beauty of your life (most of the time) ~ you are in charge of starting over, changing NOW, pressing "reset".  I know I am someone who has a guilty conscience ~ I will eat something that I know I am not supposed to and feel bad while doing it.  When your will power is strong and has been for quite some time then sure it is okay to have your "indulge" day.  But I am talking about when you go a little beyond the indulge day.  After completing the 60 day challenge I proved to myself that I do have the will power to keep it clean.  I had never gone so long without giving in to a temptation here or there.  And you feel so much better than that second of glory eating whatever your weakness is.  It is all about the snowball effect.  It can be negative where you hold off, give in, eat because your stressed, don't exercise because you got "so much" going on.  It never really improves~you just keep cycling~eat bad, feel bad, no exercise, feel guilty so you eat something bad and on and on!  On the other hand, the snowball effect can be a positive one as I experienced during the 60 day challenge.  If you keep it clean for one day ~ try for two.  If two works ~ go for three ~ and so on.  That is my challenge to you (and for myself).  How about we aim for 30 days?  Always remember it takes 3 weeks to make something a habit.  When would you like to start?  Tomorrow looks nice but how about right now?
I don't know what time it is at the moment you are reading this ~ could be mid day, your feeling a little tired, looking to reach for that little pick-me-up (my mid-day devil used to be blended coffee drinks).  Or maybe it is late at night ~ you finally have a little time to yourself to chill and look at your computer and you are a little bored so those brownies that are sitting on the kitchen counter are whispering your name (Honesty time: I had a couple 2 bite brownies last night ~ but I pressed reset before I went to bed and drank a crap load of water then had a healthy eating day today~don't judge me:).  It could be any bazillion situations made up of time, place, stress, worry, relationships, emotion.  Before I full on committed to improving my health and fitness I know I sometimes had that feeling of "oh well, what's one more" or "I will go for a run this weekend".  Or possibly you feel so in a hole that there doesn't appear to be any light at the end of the tunnel.  But I hope you know or soon discover that there is light.  I have for the most part been floating between average to a little heavy my whole life.  What is average?  Well it was a size 10-12 for me.

BELOW IS A PICTURE OF MY "a little heavy" VS. CURRENT

The picture on the left was taken about 4 years ago prior to any pregnancy.  Weighed around 165+/-.

Had muscle obviously that was hidden.  Current picture on the right is following 60 Day Challenge + 4 months of maintaining healthy eating and exercising.  Weight around 139 ~ down to 136 by August.

PLEASE NOTE:   I was ALWAYS a girl with a bum and big thighs & hips…ALWAYS ~ as you will see in the following pictures ~ even when I was leaner and more toned I still could not target that area of my body.  AND I NEVER EVER HAD A SPACE BETWEEN MY THIGHS ~ ever until recently.  And you know what?  I still have a bum and thighs and hips but it's a squatters lower half and it is strong and toned:)   

SUMMARY OF MY JOURNEY SINCE 2006ish

1.  Ate clean and ran with husband a lot ~ goal was to get in wicked shape for wedding

So the picture on the left is about 3 weeks after our wedding ~ probably the first time in my life I was that lean.  Like I mentioned above I couldn't seem to target/change the bum and thighs as much as I have in the last bunch of months!

2.  The picture on the left is taken a year after we married ~ lost the leanest I had achieved for our wedding ~ still not targeting bum and hips!  AND THEN I decided to sign up for 12 WEEKS OF BOOTCAMP.  I ended up getting in the best shape of my life up until that point.  Was super stoked and then the last week of bootcamp I found out I was pregnant!  I think my healthy change really helped me conceive and it helps starting with a healthy foundation so it was all good:) 

3.  Had my daughter Marley (she is a cutie!) ~ picture on left is when Marley was about 6-7 months old.  Picture on right is a few months later ~ I had started going to EXCEL FITNESS (Thank goodness they opened ~ I needed them!) and was making great progress getting back to pre-marley weight.  About 140lbs.  Little did I know I was newly pregnant in the picture on the right ~ Marley was just over 9 months old.

4.  Then CABLAMOO!  Paul and I are obviously good at getting prego because we did it again!  SO I did get to my pre-pregnancy weight and was getting toned and strong ~ then I found out we were expecting again.  I kept going to excel up until about 5 months pregnant as I had a HORRIBLE pelvis left over from Marley's pregnancy and the extra weight and hormonal changes was causing it to flair up to the point I had trouble walking (let alone exercise).  SO I tried to eat healthy and would do as much as I could physically without hurting myself.  END PREGNANCY weight was about 180ish.  I can't believe my stomach was so "out there".  The human body is AMAZING!  Bottom left picture is about 10 weeks post partum (Jean size was 34-36) and I was pretty much that way until I started the 60 Day Challenge on January 6, 2013.  Jonah was 4 and a half months old.  Bottom right was a Easter ~ shortly after finishing the challenge ~ I had never fit into those jeans before (Jean size 28)!  And now I can proudly say "I AM IN THE BEST SHAPE OF MY LIFE!" Yay!  

After the birth of my son I was roughly 175lbs and I just found I felt so uncomfortable.  Clothes didn't fit right and it was just frustrating getting dressed everyday.  I was patient with myself as I had just given birth to a beautiful boy 18 months after I had my daughter so I knew my body had been thru a lot and I completely respected my body for  growing, nurturing, delivering and feeding 2 little beings.  On the other hand I wanted to feel comfortable, I wanted to feel strong, I wanted to feel energetic.  Being a parent is tiring and eating crap, not exercising and not taking care of yourself make the job way more incredibly difficult.  I wanted to (and continue to want) be the best mom I can be for Marley and Jonah.  Hence, I decided to commit.  I decided to press reset after a few months of postpartum settled in.  And I am so happy I found somewhere that helped me achieve a healthier me.  Losing weight, eating right, fitting into some smaller clothes, being able to lift weights, running up stairs, etc. ~ focus on what you will ~ the FACT IS YOU ARE HEALTHIER!  Don't focus on losing weight ~ have it as PART of the overall goal of just getting HEALTHIER!  To be honest, things are just easier when you are not carrying around extra weight.  Carrying groceries out to your car, taking that flight of stairs, doing yard work ~ things are just easier.  For me getting dressed is easier because things don't feel uncomfortably tight, don't dig in, you don't need to pull up your pants constantly or pull down your shirt.  And when life is a little easier in some ways I find I deal with other situations better.  So it becomes a win-win.  Get healthy, get your life back.  This isn't a practice round so treat your body good and do something good for it.  It is NEVER too late!  Eat for fuel, exercise, hydrate.  Press reset and give yourself a break:)

The set of pictures at the top are at the start of the challenge and the last day of the challenge.  The bottom 2 pictures I took at the end of September to help document my journey on the 6 month THIS IS LIFE Challenge:)

Ready…Set…GOAL!

We made it!

My last large goal was to complete the Spartan Beast race ~ it is a 21km obstacle race that took place up at Sun Peaks Ski Resort.  Here is the information for the 2014 race ~ check it out! http://ca-en.spartanrace.com/event-details-32  Once I successfully completed that race I took a couple weeks off in terms of had a couple "indulge" days (aka. "cheat" days but I don't like the word "cheat" because to me you are not cheating…you are simply enjoying something that you don't regularly have).  Either way I have strayed a little off course and am looking to get back on track like I was.  I pretty much went from January 6, 2013 until Sept 28, 2013 being very strict on my eating habits, working out 4 to 6 times a week, and limiting my "indulge" days greatly.  It was nice to take a bit of a break and relax ~ working out 3-4 times a week.  And I think my body appreciated a little rest, especially after the Beast! A little over a month and a half have gone by and I have mostly just "maintained" my current weight.  Where do I want to be in 3 months you ask?  Well I would love to jump back into my 60 Day Challenge mode with keeping workouts to 4-5 days a week.  Mainly restricting some indulgences (sorry french vanilla cappuccino!) and sticking to super healthy.  Another aspect of my life that I have to keep in mind is I am still breastfeeding my son (thought he would move on after a year but turns out he has different plans!)  I am completely okay with continuing to breastfeed but I cannot restrict calories as one could if they weren't feeding a babe.  During the 60 Day Challenge I was also breastfeeding so I know I can keep my calories at a healthy level and really put the focus on getting the most effective workouts in.  In terms of weight I would like to drop about 15 more pounds ~ lose more inches ~ and cut a couple more % of body fat.  If I didn't drop as many pounds as I am looking at dropping but the inches have changed and the body fat has changed I would be completely fine with that!  I am a muscular girl by nature so it's all good!  I would like to do the Spartan Beast again and see if I can beat my old time ~ hmmm…something to train for?  I think so!

Pre-New Year's Resolution

I know that January 1st is usually the day people make big promises to themselves regarding changing their lives in some shape or form.  I am guilty of it and I know you are too.  After a few months of sticking to whatever plan you have formulated you veer off of the path and out the window it goes.  Some really follow thru and some don't.  Before you know it the New Year comes along and you pretty much repeat what you did the year before and do it all again.  My challenge for you right at this very moment is to start.  Don't wait until midnight on December 31st to decide.  Think about it right now, decide on a plan of how to conquer it and get your butt moving!  

Here's mine:)  I will continue to train, continue to fuel my body with nourishing food, drink lots of water and learn as much as possible about health and fitness as I can.  That is where this blog comes in!  Too often I learn things, do things, hear things, read things and sometime after my brain focuses on something else and I forget the details of all those important tidbits, know-how, etc. Life is extremely full and I feel that having one place to document these important things will help me (and hopefully you) to achieve health and fitness goals.  I think it is also a good way to be accountable (and yes I will be completely honest even if it's not good news).  I also think that the people I am surrounded by day-to-day are SO knowledgable and I am ready to be a sponge and soak it all up.  

What can you expect?  You can expect to hear stories including mine of fitness and health journeys ~ inspiration and motivation.  Tips, ideas, information, how-to and how-not-to-do ~ straight from the awesome team of professionals I work with on a daily basis.  Amazing things that are happening at my training facility Excel Fitness in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada ~ http://excelfit.ca.  Any research I come across that I find interesting and worth while knowing.  

Here's to learning, improving and much success.  Now go drink some water:)