Balance

It's an ever evolving idea that we are always trying to strive towards. As moms, balance is a nice idea but I'm not sure we ever achieve it. As someone who is a mom and trying to lose weight, it's darn near impossible. You must pick your priorities and be okay with the tasks that get left on the table.

This week, I had to find balance.

1) Literally. I had to find my center of gravity, core muscles and equilibrium and balance during a lot of the lifting I did with my trainer. He doesn't have me doing overhead press on a gym ball, nothing like that. But even just step ups make me realize that after prolonged inactivity, ruined abdominals, baby hormones, ligament changes etc, it's impossible to balance! This is something we forget to retrain after a pregnancy and I must incorporate more of in my routine.

2) After my last post about my crazy day, I realized that the food choices may be misleading. Because I balance out days like that with days like yesterday. My last post was about me squeezing in every minute on the treadmill that I could and putting my kids and errands first at the expense of not feeding myself properly. That is fine, somedays. But you must balance that out with a day like yesterday:

Breakfast: turkey sausage and corn flakes

Trainer

Lunch: popcorn on our living room picnic, 3 meatball roll up on a corn tortilla with a slice of cheese and a coke

snack: zone bar

Dinner: Filet, broccoli, little potato, gf Chocolate Thunder from Down Under (split 3 ways)

I also choose to play with my son and his new toys and send my husband for the cake instead of sneaking in 20 mins at the gym while picking up the cake myself. Balance.

Then you have to realize you had Chocolate Thunder from Down Under last night and you have to balance that with passing up on cake today. Just because it's a party (vacation, holiday, bad hair day, whatever) doesn't mean you lose sight of your goal. Pick your battles, pick your treats.

3) Need to balance out all this cardio and weights now with a little yoga. This is always the last installment of my weight loss journey. It's probably the most important but always the last to join the program. Skipping warm ups and cool downs makes for one tight ball of twine of a body. I love yoga, I love the way it feels afterwards, and I love it makes me feel more balanced in my life. Time to do it.

4) Have fun. Throw a 3 year old birthday party at the pool. Balance the urge to super organize, over decorate, over feed, over think and realize that all a 3 year old needs is a Lightning McQueen (or fill in the disney character du jour here) cake. Okay, I still had the food, drinks, and gift baggies but given my learned trait to over entertain, I showed some restraint. And it was fabulous. It was relaxing, low key, fun.

Most importantly, I got to take off my cover up off, be proud of my body and relax because I felt I had worked so hard to earn that right. I may not be rocking that hot bikini bod yet, but I certainly earned the right to walk tall and not care about those last 9 lbs.

Balance. This week I did a little for me, a lot for the kids, a little for me again, ate a lot good, some bad and oh yeah, is there still time to fit spending time with my husband in there? Thank goodness the weekend is not over yet...

!!!

I hit the 120's!!!

129.9 to be exact. But that 2 is there!!!

time for a picture.

Just Another Day

.......Maybe I cried because I was so uncoordinated while attempting a clean and press with my trainer. (Yes, I said clean and press. Told you I was not messing around).

But after a day like today I have to realize that I am trying, after a day like today, I am trying.

(5am, plan on going to the gym but husband claims I can go before he goes to work)

6:05 am: eyes pop open, go downstairs to make bottle

6:15 am: baby wakes, feed, giggle with, burp, do laundry, put clothes on

7:15 am: put baby back down

3 seconds later: 3 year old wakes, make bfast, get clothes out, give kisses, eat zone bar

7:45 am: finally head to gym. now only have 20 mins at gym before rushing home so husband can go to work

TM workout: 3 min warm up

1 min 6.5mph @ 0% incline

1 min 6.5 mph @ 9.0% incline

1 min 7.5 mph@ 0% incline

8:15-9 am: organize party supplies for 3 year old bday party this weekend, pick up house, pack up food, bathing suits, pj's, towels, pool toys, goodie bag to keep 3 yr old occupied at MD's office.

9:30 am: feed, clean, change, pack up 2 kids

10:00 am: MD office, shots for one, rash for another

10:30 am: want to stop for fast food to bring to pool, instead, go to sandwich shop, get chicken salad, ham and cheese for 3 year old.

11:00 am: have a fantastic time at the pool with kids: chicken salad, 1/2 coke, couple chips, throw the rest away because it's time to get in the pool!

1:00 pm: get both kids in bed. ahhhh..... am so hungry and tired, walk into kitchen. Walk out after a protein shake with water and bite of apple.

2:00-4:00pm: hold baby girl during her nap since she is having a hard time after shots

4:00pm: feed baby girl, get snack ready for awake 3 year old, play with both, zone bar, 1/2 coke

5:35 pm: husband walks in, I walk out. need to pick up cookie cake but really wanted to get back to gym for 20 more minutes. I can either 1) be late to a hair appt (not an option, I hate being late, even with 2 kids, I try to never be late) 2) not go to gym 3) not pick up cookie cake.

5:38 pm: walk in gym

TM workout #2:

5 mins @ 6.5 mph

5 mins @ 7.0 mph

5 mins @ 7.5 mph

5 mins @ 8.0 mph hit stop button. run out of gym.

5:59 pm: run up to get cookie cake (gym is in the mall!), notice the gf cookie!! I want one! I ask for one. Then the guy is so slow to get my cookie cake, I say forget it. No gf cookie today.

6:15 pm: made it to hair appt right on time, to the minute.

8:00pm: pick up 1/2 sandwich on gf bread from Jason's Deli! Turkey, tom/let/cheddar cheese. pickle, couple chips. stop and pick up balloons.

9:00 pm: set up for Blake's bday tomorrow.

9:45 pm: ahhhhhh shower. finally.

I may not be able to clean and press right now, but I do feel like a superwoman today.

That Didn't Last Long

I changed the plan.

As committed to my goal as I am, I am also committed to being a mom. There is such a fine line between doing for ourselves to make us better, happier people and giving up time with your kids. For each person, this is different.

How much time are you willing to keep that kid in a jog stroller? How much time can you handle leaving them in the gym nursery? How many times a week do you want to bring them to the gym? How much time away are you willing to spend?

For each person this is different. Did I mention that yet? And we are not to judge anyone for whatever their answers may be.

For me, committing my kids to one hour in the gym nursery 3x/week was too much. Having a trainer on Fridays so I could take Fast Twitch T/Th meant I would have to do that. Now, I'll bring them for my 20 min cardio without an ounce of guilt. But being committed to being gone for one hour that often, I'm not ready.

I am with my kids most every minute of every day except for M/W mornings. Friday is reserved for playgroups and outings. I decided I was not willing to interrupt that fun, unstructured time together with my children. So here is the new plan:

M: trainer

T: cardio

W: trainer

Th: cardio

F: cardio

S: Full body fast twitch

Sun: cardio

I will give up my beloved Fast Twitch classes during the week. Until my son goes to school in the fall, this makes me comfortable. Do what you need to do to get your workouts in, but don't do it at the expense of precious time or mommy guilt.

I cried in the locker room this morning after my trainer. I'm not really sure why. The workouts are so hard, I am trying to be so tough but it is taking every bit of strength out of me. Mentally and physically. I may have cried because I was so proud of myself. Or I may have cried because no matter how hard I work I still won't look like most of the girls in there with these hips of mine. (I know I promised I wouldn't say that but come on, we all have our moments).

Maybe I cried because I realized that starting to take more than 20 mins/day really does make you feel guilty. But I am pretty sure I cried because I am so proud of myself for pushing my body even harder as soon as things get easy. Yeah, I hope that was it....

Speaking of getting easy.....did I mention I am sleeping? And with sleep comes the craving for fresh, healthy, homemade foods. I went to the grocery store. I started thinking twice about what I put in the cart. I pulled out the cookbooks!

I love the Canyon Ranch cookbooks and The Food You Crave

These are normal foods, healthy and clean, can be modified to be gluten free very easily and it's all real food! I will never ever not in a million years put fake food in my house again.

Real foods = real satiety.

Low fat, no fat, low carb, diet. All foods made in a laboratory. All foods that keep you fat. I promise.

It's still a challenge to find the time to cook so I plan out my meals all week. Well, 2 meals. It's a start.

Up this week:

Beef Tenderloin with chocolate sauce/green beans and mushrooms

Shrimp Bake with feta cheese

Spaghetti and Meatballs (out of the children's cookbook so my son and I can make together)

I don't plan on taking pictures of food but if they turn out especially pretty I just might.

Remember-always have a plan, always have a backup plan, always be willing to change the plan depending on what you are comfortable with. Good luck with your plan!

Edited to add: The hip thing is what it is. I haven't thought about my body shape since I came to terms with the fact that liposuction is not an option for me. But when you have to explain to your trainer why you cannot do hammer curls with proper form because your hips get in the way....well, just brings them to full attention.

Stay with Me Now....

WEIGHT: 131 LBS!

LBS LOST SO FAR: 55

baby is 5 months old

LBS TO GO: 11!!

I know there is at least one of you out there reading. My dear friend and fellow blogger Heather. Thanks Heather for the kind words and 'referral'! Heather (The Long and Winding Road) has an amazing story to share. Her story takes her all the way from overweight and starting down the road towards diabetes, heart disease and other ailments...but instead she steered in the other direction and competed in a figure competition. Now, she is finding the balance between the two to live her best life. An intriguing and inspiring story that is worth checking out for the before and after pictures alone!

So someone is with me. And I hope you stay. Because I am afraid here is where I may lose people.

My focus has always been to show that anyone can lose weight and change their lifestyle. It doesn't require a miracle pill, liposuction, or a privileged life. Basically a good jog stroller and voila. No excuses.

After my last pregnancy I lost 75 lbs without a trainer, meal delivery system or extra nanny hours. It can be done. And it took me about 9 months.

This time, I knew the stages to go through, the progression that would be made and what to expect. So I prepared. By saving my pennies during the pregnancy and not buying clothing (I hate spending money on maternity clothes!) massages, going on trips or out to dinner. I knew where I wanted to spend my money this time.

This week, I am using those pennies. Here is where I hope I don't lose people. I never want someone to say "Oh, you could do it because you hired a trainer and someone else to make your meals." "I can't afford that." Well, I just lost 55 lbs without any of those things. 20 minutes a day. You CAN afford that.

Stage 4 (?) is on. I am so comfortable at this weight. But comfortable isn't the goal now is it? I said I would take it to the next level and it's time. Stages 1-3, anyone can and should do. Move more, eat less. I could continue along this path and lose the last 10 pounds over time and look fine. But fine isn't the goal now is it?

It's time.

I don't think it's realistic to ask you to work out hard, make healthy meals, have the fridge stocked and take care of yourself on no sleep. Sleep deprivation is the number one hinderance to a healthy lifestyle. When you are not sleeping, you do what you have to do to survive. For me that meant a food delivery system for quick easy meals. Like a prepackaged frozen meal except for me that isn't an option because it has to be gluten free. I never did eat the meals as intended, I used them as an emergency meal when the threat of not eating was present. It also meant lots of cardio because cardio is mindless and easy.

But I am sleeping now. Oh, am I sleeping. Sleep, glorious sleep.

So now it's time.

I cooked (see the next post).

I met with a trainer. Hardest thing ever. (only because the memory of running my first minute after the baby is diminished...) I am lifting hard and heavy with no whining. I want to cry. I want to stop. I want to beg for a magic pill. This is the stage where I may lose the rest of you. I want to show you girls that lifting is not just for boys.

The intensity of workouts has just bypassed normal people/normal bodies. Cardio, a little lifting and a couple grilled chicken salads is great and healthy and man, do I wish most people in my life would do it. But I'd like to not be normal. I want people to say "wow, you really do put flaxseed in your cereal?"

New workouts=need a new plan. I can't just get out and run everyday now. I must rest and let my body repair. I learned this the hard way this week. By thursday my body hurt, ached and I was worthless with my trainer. so....here's stage 4 (or 5, or whatever we are on....)

MONDAY: Upper body with trainer

TUESDAY: Lower body fast twitch

WEDNESDAY: Cardio/yoga

THURSDAY: Upper body fast twitch

FRIDAY: Lower body with trainer

SATURDAY: Cardio (running outside or full body fast twitch)

SUNDAY: Cardio

Rest days occur when my body tells me.

and we all know my kids are laughing at the plan....

So stay with me, if anyone is in fact there at all. This is where it gets good. This is where we start realizing what our bodies are capable of. And read the next post...this is where we realize that the food we use to fuel it really does matter. Stay with me, because we are about to enter "Your Best Life".

Back to Reality

10 Followers!! Whoooohooo!!

When you have a significant amount of weight to lose it can be daunting to think about moving the scale in the opposite direction. Once you decide to commit to a lifestyle change, I always suggest one easy step before making the big move-

Don't worry about losing, just don't gain one more pound.

I looked at my vacation this way as well. I didn't focus on losing, it was vacation. But I didn't want to gain any weight. So...runs every morning, shared dinners and desserts every night.

Of course I was still nervous to step on the scale. But I promised...

It's even better when you step on the scale and lose weight. I am still enjoying the memories of shaved ice, pineapple cheesecake and gelato.

But I enjoy that weight even more.

A fabulous find:

It's only fabulous because I pushed out two 8 1/2 pound babies....but Poise Pads with Wings! Probably TMI but I just discovered these. This is huge-if you enjoy running, plyometrics or sneezing but have had kids, you probably will relate.

During my race I had to stop (in front of thousands, it's a 50,000 person race) and remove my poise pad to throw in a trash can because once it fills up like a diaper it falls down my pants or shorts.

Enter wings and yippee!! My runs in 90 degree, 98% humidity FL weather and it made it a little more bearable!

It's the little things.....

How Do You Do It?

If you haven't read the comment sections, I have been asked a couple of times "How do you do it?" How do you lose weight when you have a newborn and older children? How do you do it when you are tired? How do you do it if you don't have childcare? How do you do it if you work? Check, check, and check. The answer:

You just do.

It's as simple and annoying as that. You just do.

If I waited until I got the perfect amount of sleep, the dirty diapers were timed perfectly and nothing was spilt on the floor, I would never work out.

1) Prioritize : I'm not saying that weight loss has to be a priority. Who cares if you lose the weight? If you don't care, use your time in other ways, but don't complain about your weight 2 years later when you haven't made it a priority. Time is a prized commodity. When I have it, I work out. I choose working out over showering, shopping, nails, playing on the computer and reading. Use your time how you want, but again, don't say you can't lose the weight if you are doing these things instead.

When I was breastfeeding, I would feed the baby, pump (she had reflux issues that I found subsided with bottle feeding the breastmilk) have to burp her for an hour (again, the reflux), put on the 2 sports bras, nursing pads, drink a ton of water and pee every 3 minutes and plan around the boobs refilling. That left about 20 minutes before it was time to do it all over again. And guess how I used those 20 minutes? Yep, plan ahead, be fast and do it.

2) Stick with the plan. But always have 3 plans. You are on your way to class at 10 am, at 9:55 someone won't eat their bottle, someone poops or someone won't get dressed. Either stick with the plan, be late to class or head out for a run with the jogger instead.

You literally have 20 minutes at the gym, someone stops to talk to you, you now have 17 minutes, make the most of it, hop on the TM and work out so hard during those 17 minutes. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard "That was fast" from the front desk as I bolt out after 17 minutes. "At least I'm here" I want to reply, but I am in too much of a hurry to do so. Commit to working out but be ready to do something other than your plan. Use whatever time you have, it's never wasted time.

3) Have a gym with childcare. I will never work out in a place without (good) childcare. I will not hire help to watch my kids so I can workout. I did not have kids so that I could go on with my life and hire someone else to raise them, I am going to figure out a way to incorporate my workouts in my life with my children. Rain or shine, I always have an option to go to the gym with my kids. I didn't start taking the baby until just recently though. If it got to the evening time and I hadn't had a chance to workout, I would take my son and my husband would stay with baby girl. This is tough though because a sick child can take away this option, that's where number 4 comes in.

4) Have a great husband. I have a great husband. But even the best husbands cannot be expected to know when you need help. Speak up. If you can't find 20 minutes per day then you need to speak up. Full disclosure: I put cooking dinners, grocery shopping and errands on the back burner. I choose to play with my kids instead of grocery shopping and walk with them in the evenings instead of cooking dinner. There is something always on the table, but it's not fancy and many times my husband has to cook it.

Exercise makes me a happier person. After 9 months of giving my body to someone else, it's now my time. My husband is a great husband because he understands and supports this. But I also speak up and tell him that this is what I need.

Dinners are about to become a priority again. I will return to making healthy, hearty meals because life is getting easier, and I enjoy it. We just had a little hiatus so I could get myself to feeling stronger and healthier again.

5) Spend the money to have some help. Hmmm...isn't this a contradiction to what I just said about not hiring someone to watch my kids? Not really. I do think it's wise to get a couple hours of help a week so you can plan doctors appointments and at least know there will be a time when you can work out. I work a couple hours/week, but I have my help stay a couple hours extra so I can do just that. Financially we end up even, but it's worth the break I get. If you work, pay to have one extra hour when you can work out. It's worth it.

I still work around nap times and with my children or my husband's help 5 days/week. But getting help those 6 hours have allowed me to schedule my trainer and know I can show up on time. That's nice.

What is your excuse? Why can't you find the time to workout? Why don't you eat better?

Write it down. Then talk to your partner and figure out a way to get your 20 minutes/day.

Then use it. Because as hard as today has been with a newborn, work, no sleep and a toddler.....tomorrow may be worse.