Daylight Savings, Running and Summer is Coming

I don't know about you, but I don't mind losing the extra hour of sleep one bit. I have been waiting for DST to begin, well, since it ended, basically. I swear by the end of the winter, I find myself in a funk with working out...I also tend to have been drinking more with holidays or get-togethers with friends because there just wasn't really much else to do when it's dark outside by 5:30pm. It's all just a recipe for disaster and not keeping sight of my goals. Of course I've worked out throughout winter, but I did let myself get lazy and skip more workouts than I normally would. It just seems to happen every winter. You know what always gets me out of this funk? DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!

I hit the gym for the first time in weeks this past Saturday. I hate to say that I hadn't been since sometime in early January! Farrah had just been sick for so long, I avoided taking her to the childcare there, which meant I really didn't get to go. I worked out at home instead, but I sure missed the gym. Also with my new job, finding the time for the gym has been tricky, but I plan to squeeze it in Monday thru Thursday around 4pm before I pick up the kids after work. Then of course, I'll continue to go on Saturdays and Sunday after church. Summer is coming and I don't have much time!

I believe having a plan makes all the difference, so I've written out this week's gym routine in advance:

My cardio will get done via running outdoors in the evenings on nice days or Insanity when it rains.

Are you happy DST is finally here? Does it help you with your fitness goals? How do you stay on track?

Body Beast: Beginning The Journey

Hey y'all...haven't updated in a while on here, but I am actually starting a new Beachbody program called Body Beast and I wanted to share my journey with it on here. I hope you'll follow along over the next few months.

First of all, I want to start with how I came to even order it in the first place. We went to Myrtle Beach over Thanksgiving with my husband's family. It was Black Friday and all the adults had gone with my sons to the beach play park near our rental while I stayed back for Farrah to finish her nap. I was just channel surfing when I came across the infomercial. I am no stranger to Beachbody programs as we own Insanity, P90X, Insanity: Asylum I & II, Turbo Jam and more. I am a believer in their programs because if you've ever done any of them, you know they are not a gimmick, you are definitely torching calories! The hard part is staying consistent and finishing the programs. Well, so I started watching the infomercial and what I liked about it was that it is a muscle building program. Weight training, pure and simple...the tried and true method for a rock hard body. The idea of it didn't intimidate me because I have been lifting for years and I do enjoy it. But I love that this program offered a no-guesswork way of doing it to build lean muscle mass and burn fat, ultimately shaping and sculpting your body. If you see the infomercial, it is definitely marketed more toward men who want to gain muscle and get "big". However, being a woman, and knowing what I know about fitness, I know that I would never gain that bulky appearance that I don't want, as I simply don't have the genetic makeup and testosterone to do so. What I do know is that muscle burns fat, muscle increases RMR {resting metabolic rate} and muscle doesn't jiggle. I want to replace a lot of the fat I've accumulated in my 3rd pregnancy with muscle. I definitely thought this program was the way to go.

And the real reason I was so inclined to order was that I feel the infomercial happened upon me at the right time. There I sat, the day after the big feast that is Thanksgiving, 6 1/2 months postpartum and still having 13 lbs to lose to get to my pre-baby weight. I think I finally had that mental "snap" that I needed...the one that made me think to myself, "OK, I am truly OVER this shit and I want it GONE. I'm ready to go full force." Yes, of course I have been working out hard since I had Farrah...I know a loss of 44-ish lbs in 6 months is nothing to balk at. But have I been strict? Have I really been doing all that I can? Short answer: No. I've enjoyed maybe a little too much wine. I've had bad eating days. Other than all the exercise I do, I haven't been doing much else in the way of shedding the weight. I knew it was time to make an all-around change.

I had to wait for the program to arrive {so I used last week to accumulate all the supplies I needed - dumbbells in increments I didn't already have and a weight bench}.

It arrived last Friday, so this morning I officially started my 90-day journey. My ongoing plan is to carve it into the time I have after I take my oldest son to the bus stop in the early AM and before my other two kids wake up {roughly a 6:30-7:30am window}. It's a no-excuses time of day because there's nothing else to hold me back or distract me from getting it done.

In addition to the program, I will also still be getting some work in at the gym. I have a couple barre classes and a few HIIT classes {i.e. Cardio Craze and Insanity} to take each week there and will use any other days to get my cardio in on the treadmill or elliptical. Sundays of course will be the Sabbath {rest, my friends}. The reason I wanted to keep up with other things in addition to the program was to speed up fat loss and overall cutting/toning. Plus, I do pay for a gym membership so I can't just not go for 90 days!

So yes, I also did a barre class at 10:30 this AM. And I feel great...I wonder what my muscles will feel like tomorrow. Today was chest and triceps day for Body Beast. Tomorrow is legs - which I'm actually looking forward to {it's my fave muscle group to work}.

Last, but not least, the most humbling part of the journey I can't just skip over. These are my official "before" pictures taken the other day. I plan to post updated pics and stats on days 30, 60 and 90. I do hate this part because I hate seeing myself like this...yes, I'm postpartum, but it's still hard to see it. However, for the sake of being real about this process, here they are:

158 lbs / 5'7"

So definitely I feel like my "real" body is just swimming under an overall 1-2" layer of baby fat and my belly still looks a little "postpartum". I also just generally need to tone up. I mean, you can see from my profile pic what I looked like in this exact outfit {which, believe me, I don't wear right now, just wanted to use it as my progress pic outfit} just over a year ago! {Amazing what pregnancy does to a woman - ugh!} So there you have it...I look forward to seeing changes by Day 30! Hope you'll follow along my journey!

Linking Up With: Monday Morning Gossip // Life Of Meg // Still Being Molly // Lipgloss & Crayons // B Loved Boston // Really, Are You Serious?

 

The Plan - Losing The Pregnancy Weight

If you read my post from yesterday, you know that I have three goals to attain in the next year.

#1...Drop the last of the baby weight and get back in my pre-prego clothes.

#2...Train for and run my first half marathon {aiming for the Charleston Half Marathon in January 2015}.

#3...Compete in an NPC Bikini Competition. 

So first comes first, taking off this last 25-30 lbs of pregnancy weight. I'd like to reach this goal by or before the end of this year. In reading a lot about NPC Bikini Competition training diets, I've decided that the best thing to do is for me to eat very clean, as if I am already training for competition. I'm essentially working toward this goal anyway, so it never hurts to get started early. I've got a good bit of weight to lose and this is going to be what makes the most difference.

Here is how I will ensure a clean diet each week:

On Sundays and likely Wednesdays too, I will prepare many of my meals for the week. Mostly getting the chicken grilled and cut up into 4 oz. portions {I will have three 4 oz portions per day} and getting the veggies roasted and separated into portions for throwing on top of fresh greens such as spinach and kale, along with the chicken to make salads. Here is a sample day of the diet I am putting myself on to give you an idea:

• Morning: 500–1,000 mg fish oil and a multivitamin/mineral

• Meal 1: 4 egg whites, 1⁄3 cup steel cut oats topped with blueberries
• Meal 2: Protein shake with: 1⁄2 avocado, 15 g of protein powder, 1⁄3 cup blueberries and 1 cup kale and cinnamon to taste
• Meal 3: 4 oz chicken with 2 cups leafy green vegetables
• Meal 4: 1⁄4 cup nuts
• Meal 5: 4 oz chicken or tilapia with 2 cups green vegetables (your choice)
• Meal 6: 4 egg whites (at least 30 minutes before bed) or protein shake

Also:

• Take 500–1,000 mg of fish oil and multi-vitamin/mineral 12 hours after first dose
• Drink 5–6 liters of water per day
• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid table salt, but some sea salt is OK, but use sparingly (using spices is OK)
• Avoid sugar

It seems extreme, but I no longer want to waste time in losing the rest of this weight. Right now it is what is stopping me from getting where I want to be fitness-wise, so I want to 100% dedicate myself to this. Meal preparation is highly needed for success.

My workouts will consist of 30-45 min of cardio each morning, i.e. a run in the neighborhood. I will work one or two muscle groups per day with strength training in the gym or at home and do some HIIT each day for 20-30 minutes, i.e. a T25 or Insanity workout. I will rest one day a week, or do some hot yoga that day {Sundays}.

This is very similar to what training for the bikini competition will be like, so it will be good to get my feet wet and get a real dose of what it will be like. I can be a tad more lax in this phase of my goals than I can be once I begin officially training in January, but it's definitely not lax in comparison to what I'm doing now, so I know I'll see results if I keep with it...and I fully intend to.

As of this morning, these are my stats:

Weight: 173 lb {Height 5'7"}
R & L Bicep {unflexed}: 11.25"
L Thigh: 22.5"
R Thigh: 21.5"
Waist: 33"
Hips: 40.5"

Wish me luck in this phase, I will keep you posted on progress!

Just Go. No Excuses.

So did anyone join in on yesterday's Pinterest Fitness Board Challenge? I'm urging you to do this along with me. I tell you, the one I did last night was pretty darn good. And today's well, today's is killer. It's the 100 Workout.

I think just the 100 jumping jacks to start off was quite the task. I managed to get it done though - I'm the only one working in my office right now and it used to be a yoga studio or something so it's perfect for workouts - I basically took a 15 minute break and just knocked it out. But killer, yes. Don't worry - I'm wearing workout clothes at work right now...because I also decided I will be running on my lunch breaks in order to train for my first half marathon. Here are my run stats for today's run:

Aren't I so lucky to work right on the water? Here's a pic of the bridge I was on:

And I took this one while on the bridge:

I realize those stats aren't amazing, but here are my lame excuses, in case you were interested:

1. It was hot and humid and noon.
2. I should have drank more water this morning before my run.
3. I walked some - but I did a lot of sprinting too {working on endurance}.
4. I let myself get sidetracked by the view and deep thoughts on some of my walking moments.
5. I'm pathetic and I should have never fallen out of running after coming so far at the end of last year.
6. I need a better playlist.

Yeah, #5. I do not need to make excuses! I just need to keep kicking my ass.

I'm actually headed to the gym later for some strength-training - Biceps/Triceps/Chest Day.

What are your fitness plans for today? Hopefully you'll consider this Pinterest challenge - what have you got to lose?

Half Marathon Training Begins!

I'm on a mission to kill myself this week, y'all. Case in point: My workout schedule for the week...

Monday, July 1 - 4am - 4:30am - Cardio
                           4:30pm - 5:30pm - Barre Class
Tuesday, July 2 - 5:30am - Run 3 miles {First official training run for my half marathon!}
                           5:30pm - Glutes/Legs/Abs {Strength Training}

Wednesday, July 3 - 4am - 4:30am - Cardio
                                5:30pm - 6:30pm - Barre Class

Thursday, July 4 - 6:30am - Run 3 miles

Friday, July 5 - 4am - 4:30am - Cardio
                        5:30pm - Chest/Triceps/Abs {Strength Training}

Saturday, July 6 - 6am - Run 4 miles
                            8:30am - 9:30am - Barre

Sunday, July 7 - 6:30am - Run 2-3 miles

I don't plan for a rest day because inevitably I know "life" will happen and I may miss one of these planned workouts.

What's with the 4am cardio sesh? Well, I work at my gym on MWF as the opener, and I sort of use that time as a "just in case I don't get back to the gym for a workout later" session. I figure 30 minutes of cardio is better than nada. I typically do get back to my planned workout after my normal 9-to-5 job, but some days, sh*t happens. I'm lucky that my main job allows for some flexibility - I don't necessarily have to be at the office the entire 9-to-5, as I can log on and work from home in the evenings if need be, so sometimes I get to the gym earlier for my strength training sessions, which makes my evenings a lot nicer for getting dinner on the table and not rushing the bedtime routine with the boys.

This week is the start of what is going to be a hectic few months of workouts due to training for the half marathon in the midst of it all. I didn't want to give up my strength training or barre classes just because I'm running because I don't believe replacing one thing with another is going to make me better. The running is purely going to be in addition to my normal workout routine, which is why I have scheduled those so early in the morning {plus to beat the SC heat}.

Wish me luck with the half marathon training!                          

Why You Should Use Weight Gloves

Hey y'all - I'm here to tell you about an important item I carry every time I hit the gym --- weight gloves.

Here are my reasons why you should have a pair in your gym bag too:

1. Prevent Callouses

Strength training is an important part of anyone's fitness routine. But that metal or plastic-y exterior of the weights can wreak havoc on your hands.

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Wearing weight gloves can prevent this painful and not-so-good-looking problem.


2. Better Grip

Many glove options provide a better grip for you - making it less likely to slip on the bar or drop a dumbbell. Many are moisture-wicking to keep hand sweat at bay.

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And here are some that I recommend, if you're looking for your own pair:

{GoFit Elite Weight Lifting Gloves}

Making The Most Of Your Routine

I strive to find a little time each day to dedicate to fitness. And knowing how hard it is to carve out that time, I want to make sure I am making the most of it. My workout needs to be effective and worth the effort I put into it. I make a point of not "phoning" it in.

Here are some tips I have for making the most of your exercise routine:

1. Change it up and often. I would say that the biggest game-changer for your fitness routine is making sure to keep from plateauing. You need to switch it up. I see so many of the same people at the gym doing the same things over and over. It's like their body is coasting...5 miles on the treadmill {check}, abs {check}...and so on and so forth. A great rule of thumb is to change things up every two weeks. Especially with strength-training. This may simply be adding in more weight/reps, or trying a completely new exercise for the muscle group you work. I found a book a few years back that changed my fitness routine forever and highly recommend it - The Body Sculpting Bible For Women. It taught me what my routine needs to entail in order to be effective. Keep those muscles guessing...and you will see better results.

2. HIIT. Another effective way to keep from plateauing is high-intensity interval training {HIIT}. This is a form of workout that keeps your heart rate high while switching off and on from different forms of cardio/strength moves that for the most part use your entire body {think Insanity}. It's also a great form of workout when you are short on time...these quick bursts of intensity keep that metabolism high and burning calories long after your workout is done.

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3. Focus on one or two muscle groups per workout {strength-training}. I don't like to be all over the place when strength-training. I find it best to focus on one big or two smaller groups of muscles per workout. If I jump from arms to legs all the time, I'm not sufficiently tearing down those muscles enough to rebuild and tone them. When you focus on a single {or two smaller} group{s}, you are able to tear down the muscles...and afterward provide sufficient recovery via rest {wait 48 hrs to work the muscle group again} and nutrients to rebuild them...which brings me to my next tip:

4. Simple Carb + Protein after each workout. You have to refuel your body with the right nutrients post-workout to rebuild what you just tore down. This is the best method I have learned. Great examples of this type of post-workout snack would be - chocolate milk, fruit protein smoothie, string cheese + fruit, nuts + fruit, etc. Your simple carbs are sugars - try to get those from something like fruit, not candy...and then any protein source - nuts, eggs, cheese, lean meat, whey protein, etc.

5. Aim to workout 5-6 days per week. An ideal workout includes a focused strength-training workout {one large or two smaller groups as described above} and at least 30 minutes of cardio. Here's an example of the workout schedule I try to follow and rotate week to week:

Day 1: Legs/Glutes, Cardio - Elliptical 30 min
Day 2: Chest/Triceps/Biceps, Cardio - Treadmill 30 min
Day 3: Back/Shoulders, Cardio - Elliptical 30 min
Day 4: Legs/Glutes {I work these twice a week}, Cardio - Treadmill 30 min or a Spin Class
Day 5: Chest/Triceps, Cardio - Elliptical 30 min
I work Abs every day - they are muscles that do not require 48 hrs rest.

And I just keep on rotating those, while maybe adding in a barre class, outdoor running, etc. in place of something else to keep mixing it up. One rest day a week is important...and always listen to your body.

Do you have any tips of your own for making the most of your workout routine? I would love to hear them!