So I think I will be adding an additional challenge.... I will be doing the 2 week mamavation challenge on top of my kosama challenge.... Woot woot!!
I have always had the best luck with the challenges and enjoy them so much so I am doing it too!
Why not right?!?

So I will have to post my results and how things are going as I go.... And I will be posting my measurements later also.
But here are some starting numbers
Weight 165.6
Height 5'4
BF: 36.8%

 
So today I am signing up for a 6 week challenge to see who can earn the most MEPS (activity points based on heart rate) during our workouts! Woot woot!! I have committed to working out 5 days a week (which is one, two more than my current level), to eating healthier and trying to build some serious strength! I am so excited!! Yay!!
Even if I am not a winner the challenge is going to rock and make my fitness level be even better which is so dang exciting!!
Today I did another assessment it has been 8 weeks since I joined kosama and although I have not lost a lot of weight I am stronger! 8 weeks ago I could not do more than 5 regular push ups (not on my knees) today I did 15 with my chest all the way down to a 2 inch block each time!
I did 36 sit ups in a minute which is awesome (I think it is the mans number they have to have for the PT test in the Air Force). The only disappointment was with my wall sit I could only hold it 1:27 seconds (probably due to my legs being sore and tired from my k box class and other workouts this week but who knows).

So my goals for the end of the challenge are great but so attainable!!
1) I want to lose 6 lbs (a pound a week)
2) I want to be able to more than 25 push ups (less than 2 added a week)
3) I want to be able to do 40 sit ups in a minute only 5 more but this one may be the hardest goal)
4) I want to change my body fat % (at least 2% this is huge and may be a crazy goal to but it will get me closer to a healthy range since my body fat is so high).
5) I want to be able to do 5 days a week or 5 workouts at kosama a week min. During the challenge with at least a couple 2 a days to push me towards my goals even more!!
6) I want to kick ass on my MEPS keeping my heart rate up and never quiting early (3 seconds early is NOT okay.... Finishing strong is the only way to finish)!
7) I want to commit to also commit to running intervals on my own to be able to lose some fat and burn some extra calories too (and to build up to running longer.... All runs for me are run/walks and I have never been good at pacing so doing a full running 5k with no walking would feel amazing!
8) the hardest goal I need to commit to my diet everyday of the challenge (treats are fine/ cheats are not).... I need to figure in treats working my calorie budget and not splurge all weekend and screw up my weeks hard work!

So wish me luck.... I will need it but even more so wish me strength, health and endurance during the challenge so I can finish strong!!
 
Okay so we all have heard the saying you are what you eat right? Well lately I feel good cause I have been eating well but wow... Let me tell you when I eat crap now I can REALLY feel it.. . I never believed that mood, energy levels and so much changes based on your diet! I knew if I ate healthy I would lose weight but it is incredible how one night of junk can make me feel like a complete turtle for two days in the gym! I also noticed after junk I feel drained at work and am moodier! It is almost like a hangover including the shoot I may puke (especially at the gym)! So I am thinking food hangovers should be on my list of things to avoid! Eating clean makes my body and mind happy! ;-)

So my goals for the new year are going well expect one huge fail....
We (my family) get a huge fail on the going out less than 3 times a week! With basketball, indoor soccer, work, and now hockey our lives are chaos and I want to workout at night (because I am also failing a doing the 455 am class lately too).... Anyhow instead of cooking we have been grabbing healthy food on the go.... Well kinda healthy as far as fast goes.... subway, panera salads, chick fila grilled salads! So my goal for next week is to plan some meals Sunday and really try harder not to eat out!
So how is everyones goals for this year going?

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Not my photo but LOVE what it says! ;-)
 
Happy New year 2013!! Yay!! So 2012 was a great year! My baby's girls first year of high school, my lil mans last year of grade school, and a local position for my traveling husband! Plus I graduated from college,passed boards, got an amazing job and lost 25 lbs (too bad I did not keep it all off.... And gained 7lbs back between dec. 15th and jan. 2nd)!
So what do I want to accomplish this year? What are my goals? What would I like new in my life?
Hmmm... So much to ponder!. Whatever the new year brings I am ready (except for extra poundage I am NOT okay with that and will NOT let it happen)!
My first goal is to be healthy so for me that means I want to lose that 7 lbs I gained plus another 20 lbs. I want to get to a healthy body fat % (my goal is under 25)! I want to work out 3-5 days a week (minimum 3 and only on weeks my kids schedules are NUTS with sports otherwise 5 days)! What are my time lines well the 7lbs mus go right way within 4 weeks), the 20 lbs within 16 weeks and the body fat % by Dec. 31st).
The workouts of course are a part of this and have already began! I will reward myself $1 a workout and will buy a workout top or a New piece of clothing every time I reach $50!

Secondly I want to do more with my kids and try to get the hubby involved too.... When lil man begs to go ice skating no more reading books and watching I need to go with him and try to enjoy it! I want to Zumba/ workout with my daughter Alyssa at least one day week because despite her sports and being active it is important for her to see me active and to spend time together! As for the hubby I will continue to ask him to join the gym, will ask him to go on walks and will prepare healthier meals and maybe he wk come around and want to join me on this healthy lifestyle journey sooner than later!
Another goal that goes with getting healthy is eating out less than 3 times a week (including lunches) this may be the hardest goal of all but will help is save $ and will help me eat healthier!

Goals goals goals..:::so another goal? .... I want to be more passionate about life in general! Life is what we make of it so why the heck not make the best of everything I do?
I want to get this blog up and get more visitors! I want to inspire others and make people smile and relate to me even if it means spilling and making fun of my bad day to give someone something to laugh about
! I will begin to spend 15-20 minutes a day praying, mediating and thinking about what I have now, being thankful for everything God gives me, and thinking ways to achieve my goals!

Finally I want to start paying off some of my debt! Yuck eww and yep I admit we have way to much and have not been the best at paying it but hopefully with my new job and less eating out that will change!

Alright I am ready to kick some ass this year and make it fabulous! I am ready to succeed and to make this a great year! Welcome to 2013!!
Final work out of 2012 Zumba baby!!!
 
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Taking the step to start the new gym today! Found the one! Trying Kosama! ;-) Excited and hoping now I get the chance to start this fitness challenge as well! sponsored by Omron and mamavation! We will find out soon! Have a good day ya all! http://www.mamavation.com/2012/12/omron-strapless-heart-rate-monitor-fitness-challenge.html/comment-page-2#comment-230982
 
I love love love Christmas! It is the perfect holiday to celebrate Jesus birth and to spend with family! This morning I baked homemade cookies with my little man for Santa! Santa will be thrilled with the choc. chip and PB cookies (esp. Since he knows mom and donovan HAtE pb cookies and made them special for him)! So The best part was watching my little guy do so much on his own! Man 10 yrs old and already I know he is going to be a good man! He helped clean our mess up without being asked! He used his manners, followed directions and then turned the oven light on and sat in front of the oven to watch his dough turn into cookies! He helped wrap a few of his sisters gifts! Lots of Joy in his laughter and in my heart! It is days like this I LOVE being a mother!

Today and tomorrow all my fitness goals and eating healthy is not going to be worried about at all!
I will get back on track the 26th until then I am just going to enjoy my time with my family and hope you all do!!
Merry Christmas to you all!!
 
So yesterday as I tried to get residents to join us for group exercise (chair yoga), I had to laugh at how many times I was told by the seniors yoga was not exercise. When asked why not they would say things like it is just moving your arms or body and stretching.
Made me think abouty biases when it comes to exercise, I know the importance of stretching and muscle balance, but prefer HIT, running, Zumba and cardio mixed with strength training classes over Pilates and yoga any day!
So my goal for next week is to go with the PT I am working with to yoga and to maybe start incorporating it or Pilates into my weekly routine since I know the importance of flexibility and know yoga has so many benefits!
The only yoga I am doing right now is the chair yoga at work which does not challenge me (although I would totally recommend it to my seniors patients or residents as my employer prefers us to call the seniors living at the lighthouse).
So my question for everyone who reads my blog is what is it that you do or hate to do that you have trouble thinking of as exercise?
Why do we get in our little boxes and avoid trying new things? Isn't exercise about moving, about getting are muscles working and creating optimal health for ourselves,not just about burning calories?
If we are not stretching enough even though we exercise 5 days a week are we really making our bodies the best it can be?
All things for me as a theaprist to really think about..... Time to practice what I preach...... And help myself achieve one of the goals I love seeing patients reach better flexibility and range of motion! ;-)

New gym

12/18/2012

1 Comment

 
Gym shopping is by far harder than Christmas shopping for anyone so far!
Yikes, yuck and HELP!!!!!!!

So looking for a new gym.... The gym I have been going to is the opposite way from my job and does not offer night classes and would be hard to get to in the morning because it is 20 min from my house in the wrong direction and about 45 min from my job!
Frustrating because I LOVE My old gym!I like group fitness, enjoy making my own circuits, I LOVE rowing and sprinting the track....pluseI love being around others and hate working out alone! So wherever I go they need to have a variety of free weights, kettle bells, a box or steps for box jumps and a bosu ball an preferable a few group fitness classes I can attend a week.
The gym I visited tonight was not a fit for me, I walked in loved the machines, but hated the small area with the bosu balls, step and other misc equipment. Not enough room for burpees, moutain climbers, plank jacks and NO kettle bells! Then I find out no rowing machine....and no fitness classes. Blah so for the same $50.00 a month I spend now..... plus a $50 key fee, a $20 maintence fee and a year contract I have to give up fitness classes, the track, the rowing machine, space and my gym buddies!
Wowza that may be a little too much to give up ---- would I still be excited about going to the gym without all those things? Will I lose some motivation? Honestly I am thinking I probably will NOT be happy and will get bored.
So I guess my journey continues... Tomorrow I will be checking into Kosama (a group fitness club offering a variety of classes including kickboxing, Pilates, kettle bells, Plyo workouts and more!) I am super excited and hoping that it is a fit! Even though it is a but more costly..... I am thinking that the mix of classes, the fact that I like group fitness and support I will receive there willl make it well worth my money!
So this weeks goal to work out 4-5 times, to find a gym and to get back on track with my diet since I have been a sugar addict since my birthday on Saturday and have been slacking on logging my food!

Anyone with advice on how to stay motivated with schedule changes, gym changes and a new career let me know!
 
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Alright I guess I HAVE to start being the boss! ;-)
So today was my first day of work! The lighthouse facility is huge.... Should have no issues getting in lots of steps! Now to get in my workout! Gotta be a boss right? No canceling! Ohhh But I am tired.... (Something you all should know is procrasting is something I do really well)! On that note I Guess I better learn to get up earlier and figure out a way to get it done and over! . I am not a morning person (I practically tossed my alarm this morning at 540 am.... How will I ever be able to get up earlier?).
So about my job no Physical therapy today just some paper work, going over doccumentation/computer system and then meeting the residents and my coworkers. It was fun and I think I will LOVE the PT I will be assisting!

I can not wait to start doing therapy with the residents and look forward to seeing the gym (that was suppose to be done today) come together! Right now we have no light fixtures, no baseboards and the only pieces of equipment we have is the parallel bars and weights .. Which would be fine if we wanted to lift or do gymnastics in the dark but since I am working with the elderly population probably not a great idea. ;-)

Ate a healthy breakfast and lunch slacked a lot on my water consumption and can feel it for sure!
Tomorrow is my second day.... Maybe the construction company will give us light so we can actually get the gym put together and doing some therapy! ;-)
 
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This is me!