Kind Words from Strangers

We woke to snow this morning! Just a small dusting but enough to get me excited about future snow and to make it feel a bit more like the Christmas season. I was a bit late heading to the gym because I wanted to avoid the morning rush hour and people trying to head to work, with snow on the road.

I started off my work out with a mile run on the treadmill while I waited for an arc trainer to free up. I was about 20 minutes into my workout when a  middle-aged lady I had seen around the gym took over the machine next to me. She was on hers about 30 minutes and before she left she made it a point to pat me on the back and say "you're doing great! keep it up!" She didn't give me a chance to take my ear buds out of my ears to respond before walking away. I should have been the one praising her. She KILLS on the arc trainer everytime I see her. She carefully logs all of her workouts. Me keep it up? Lady, you simply rock! YOU keep it up!!

So thank you, random gym lady! Your words of kindness and encouragement were over-appreciated!

Sneaking in the Fitness

I'm always trying to get the little bits of uncounted exercise into my daily life. You know the few you never count but the ones that probably matter in the long run. Here's how I sneak in a few extra burn.

- Taking the stairs. I know this seems basic but every little bit counts. Even in my house I always try to make the most out of my stair trips. We have split level house so there is no way to avoid them. If I'm in the basement I have to go upstairs to use the bathroom, to get a drink, to grab a snack. It always makes you rethink whatever you're craving when you know you have to walk all the way upstairs. I carry items upstairs one at a time. Every trip counts! Plus I always run up, as fast as I can.

- Watching TV. I never sit still while watching TV, even when laying down I am constantly moving, even if its as simple as shaking my legs. Some days when I feel like I didn't get a good work out in I will walk in place while watching TV.

- Folding laundry. I think this is the perfect time to get some squats in! Every time I bend to pick up an article of clothing I squat or I lunge. I also do not simply stand. I do the basic aerobic move where you step left, step right and tap, step right, ect... Since normal walking doesn't utilize these muscles effectively it's a great way to work those other muscles that you don't normally use.

- Counter push-ups. Whenever I am heating something in the microwave I do counter push ups while my food heats (usually just 1 minute), if it' requires a longer heating time I usually alternate counter push-ups and standing crunches, in 1 minute or 30 second intervals.

These are just a few ways you can squeeze random exercise moves into your daily routine and it's great for every day, whether you've been to the gym or not!

Goal & 30 Day Shred

I've decided that I'd like to lose another 5 pounds by Christmas. I see this as not very likely but it averages out to about 1.25 lbs a week. I'd really be happy with losing just 3 pounds by then which would put me at 165. However, I feel like I am going to aim for the 5 pounds, I think it will be a better push than the 3 I would easily lose.

So today I have a boy with "tummy sickies." Being that I just got over a week of being sedentary while my daughter had this a few weeks ago I decided that in trying to make this goal I should get up and do something. I broke out the 30 Day Shred for the first time in probably 10 months. I grabbed my 5 pound hand weights and went at it. Now, lets go back to April 2010 when I first started this long journey. I was dying by the end of the jumping jacks at the warm up, let alone the 18 minutes to follow. I remember sweat pouring off me and thinking my legs were just going to give out if I had to do one more lunge. I did this for 30 days and lost 16 pounds. Even at the end of the 30 days I struggled with this.

It was such a wake up call as I was doing this when I realized how out of shape and miserable I used to be. Now I could do this is in my sleep! How far I have come! It was so empowering. I even followed up with a 5k walk around my subdivision while pushing the kids in the stroller.

So answer me this: in one word how does exercise make you feel?

Me? Capable. I realize that I am much more capable than I thought I was. Capable of doing more and capable of reaching my goal.

Thanksgiving Work Out

I started off my 2011 Thanksgiving by a trip to the gym! I got in a 1000+ calorie burn and I felt good about whatever crossed my path yesterday. I figured if I started with a trip to the gym I could eat without remorse. So I took a day off from my diet. Although I don't think I did too horribly until Josh offered a milkshake and I counter-offered a Reese's McFlurry. I didn't eat pie so I figured this was my Thanksgiving splurge!

As of yesterday morning I was already down 2 pounds for the week! It was only Thursday! PLUS I had a missed gym day this week! This is the lightest I have been since right after giving birth to Dalton! (I didn't have long to stay at this weight since I got pregnant again when she was 4 months old) So excited!

I hope everyone had an amazing holiday. I truly enjoyed spending it with my family, and best yet I enjoy that my in-laws and my grandparents can have holidays together! I have been blessed with the best family.

Body Design

I'm pretty sure I died a little today. I've been trying to get back to the gym early in the morning to attend the express fitness class. I miss all the people in that class. However, today 2 of the ladies convinced me to try out this class, which they regularly attend. I decided I'd try (I'm not one for trying too much on my own). I am so glad I went! I do believe it is called Body Design but I could be wrong since it's not on the schedule. It was an hour of working your muscles, every muscle, with lots of reps. It was definitely a challenge and I think I might add it to my weekly gym line-up. Except next time I do not think I will start with express fitness, instead I think I will go to the class and then complete 45 minutes-1 hour of cardio.

So what does a mom do when she takes an unexpected fitness class and that changes up her whole gym plan? Since I missed out on cardio (got about 15 minutes in at the gym), we came home and I let the kids ride their power wheels (it's a beautiful day) in the back yard while I ran with them. I managed to get about a mile in while I helped them avoid crashes and getting stuck.

Now its off to finish the 4 large loads of laundry that have been piling up and to clean the house for Thanksgiving. Now if I can just avoid the 2 bowls of chex mix I made earlier I'd be OK!