I have no idea why this old country song pops in to my head every time I think about giving my workout a jolt but it does. It's kind of appropriate as it will certainly be kicking a little ass, and in this case, my ass.
I have just entered week 6 of BFL, the half way point. I have lost a few inches and this weeks weigh in showed I have lost 2lbs as well. It is such a great feeling knowing their are changes taking place, real actual changes! And yet still somewhat discouraging that I can't see those changes yet and looking at pictures husband took this weekend makes me even more determined to get these thighs in check.
We registered for a 5K on Oct 2, my first race! It's just a small town local race to benefit the local high school athletics and I am all for supporting that. Of course then I realized I hadn't run since I started the BFL program, umm eep! I have walked and I have done intense cardio on the elliptical but that doesn't mean I can run 3 miles! I also think I am past the point of restarting c25k plus I wanted a shorter training 12 weeks is too long. I picked one from fitness.com I think it is, I don't recall as I wrote it all down rather than bookmarking. I decided to start it in week 3 make it a 4 week program instead of 6.
I was really impressed with how much easier it was to run today. I guess all that weight lifting and cardio on the elliptical have made improvements! It took me 43 minutes of run/walk to hit 5K which is just awesome as I'd like to be able to run it in 30-35 min and I think that might actually be possible! My new training schedule looks like this (though I got a day off track)
week 1
Mon - running + weight lifting
Tues - walk + elliptical
wed - hooping + weight lifting
thurs - walk + elliptical
fri - hooping + weight lifting
sat - running
sun - OFF/Free day
week 2 - 4
mon - running + weights
tues - running
wed - hooping + weights
thurs - running
fri - hooping + weights
sat - run
sun - off
I might be a little crazy but thankfully school starts in 2 weeks and I'll have my days free to get my workouts in without kids yeah!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
It's just "what we do"
I have heard and read this comment by so many moms so many times. It's like the mantra for when you did something before you educated yourself on it. I am guilty of this as well. So many things in our American culture that we "just do" as parents without really thinking about WHY we do it or if there is another way. Why is it in our culture we do not question "what we do"? Are we afraid of breaking tradition? Bucking the system? Questioning authority? Is it fear?
14 years ago, when I had my first son, I was seriously lacking in available resources for research. There were things I instinctively knew I wanted to do or not do, but so much that I just didn't know and no way to find out, or I didn't know ho to find out. I knew I was going to breastfeed (which in the end didn't last very long due to many factors), I knew I wanted to try for a natural birth (which once labor hit I was singing a different tune, yet I still ended up with a mostly unmedicated birth), I knew I was NOT going to circumcise my son, I knew I wanted to keep him close though I knew nothing of babywearing or the gear and I knew nothing of safe cosleeping. I also knew nothing about vaccines, vaccinating was just "what we do". I never questioned it, not for years and not until I was pregnant with my second son 4 years later.
My parenting ideals haven't changed much from my 1st child, though I have become softer in my discipline techniques, I have become very firm and headstrong about many issues. I am for all intents and purposes a crunchy hippie alternative parent. Those of us who go against the mainstream have taken a lot of heat for our crazy natural ways. We seem to always be defending our choice for doing what is NORMAL, what is natural, and what is best for the child.
This year has been a good year for those of us on the alternative flow. We have made the AAP back down and take back their statement on FGM and "ritual nicks", the ACOG has realized that the increase in induced labors is a cause for the increased amount of cesarean sections and as well are changing their stance on repeat c/section. The CDC announced a stunning and dramatic drop in the rate of infant circumcision, from 56% in 2006 to 32% in 2009! Babywearing and kangaroo care has been proven to be very beneficial for mother & child, and today Harvard released a study that shows "cry it out" is detrimental while cosleeping and giving your child attention helps create a secure and independent adult! Those of us in the natural community of course are all thrilled with this years events but at the same time we can't help but roll our eyes and say "Duh! e have been saying this for years, but it's nice that you all are finally catching up"
Currently there is a lot of media attention on the issue of circumcision, which is great! I just feel so heartbroken for the mamas I see posting about how they had their son(s) circumcised (and many despite the fact they really didn't want it done but left it up to dad) because it was just "what you do" but they are so glad to know now the truth and help spread the word of truth when it comes to this painful medically unnecessary procedure.
The tide is finally turning from a culture of it's just what we do to a culture of WHY do we do that and discovering the truths. A culture of researching parenting decisions and questioning and changing. I can't even begin to describe how this shift makes me feel, how much it brings me hope and joy for the future generations of children born in our culture. I can't wait for the day when moms no longer feel the guilt over an uninformed choice and will no longer have to say "it's just what we do".
14 years ago, when I had my first son, I was seriously lacking in available resources for research. There were things I instinctively knew I wanted to do or not do, but so much that I just didn't know and no way to find out, or I didn't know ho to find out. I knew I was going to breastfeed (which in the end didn't last very long due to many factors), I knew I wanted to try for a natural birth (which once labor hit I was singing a different tune, yet I still ended up with a mostly unmedicated birth), I knew I was NOT going to circumcise my son, I knew I wanted to keep him close though I knew nothing of babywearing or the gear and I knew nothing of safe cosleeping. I also knew nothing about vaccines, vaccinating was just "what we do". I never questioned it, not for years and not until I was pregnant with my second son 4 years later.
My parenting ideals haven't changed much from my 1st child, though I have become softer in my discipline techniques, I have become very firm and headstrong about many issues. I am for all intents and purposes a crunchy hippie alternative parent. Those of us who go against the mainstream have taken a lot of heat for our crazy natural ways. We seem to always be defending our choice for doing what is NORMAL, what is natural, and what is best for the child.
This year has been a good year for those of us on the alternative flow. We have made the AAP back down and take back their statement on FGM and "ritual nicks", the ACOG has realized that the increase in induced labors is a cause for the increased amount of cesarean sections and as well are changing their stance on repeat c/section. The CDC announced a stunning and dramatic drop in the rate of infant circumcision, from 56% in 2006 to 32% in 2009! Babywearing and kangaroo care has been proven to be very beneficial for mother & child, and today Harvard released a study that shows "cry it out" is detrimental while cosleeping and giving your child attention helps create a secure and independent adult! Those of us in the natural community of course are all thrilled with this years events but at the same time we can't help but roll our eyes and say "Duh! e have been saying this for years, but it's nice that you all are finally catching up"
Currently there is a lot of media attention on the issue of circumcision, which is great! I just feel so heartbroken for the mamas I see posting about how they had their son(s) circumcised (and many despite the fact they really didn't want it done but left it up to dad) because it was just "what you do" but they are so glad to know now the truth and help spread the word of truth when it comes to this painful medically unnecessary procedure.
The tide is finally turning from a culture of it's just what we do to a culture of WHY do we do that and discovering the truths. A culture of researching parenting decisions and questioning and changing. I can't even begin to describe how this shift makes me feel, how much it brings me hope and joy for the future generations of children born in our culture. I can't wait for the day when moms no longer feel the guilt over an uninformed choice and will no longer have to say "it's just what we do".
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Day 31 of 84 -- weigh in!
4 weeks down, 1/3 of the program finished! I am feeling better and pushing myself to really work the muscles. I added in the cardio the last 2 week and that has been great, I am in love with my elliptical. But now comes the fun part, pulling out the tape measure and checking my stats.
Measurements:
Weight -- 127 lbs my new norm, and I am ok with that! :)
BMI -- 20.7
(no changes)
calf: 14"
thigh: 22" wooo lost 1.75"!!!
hips: 36.5" down 1/2"!
waist: 29" down 1/2"
bicep: 10.75" heh gained 1/4" lol
chest: 32" I dont expect any changes here ;)
I am excited to see some measurable changes! I can't really physically see those changes yet but I know it's happening and for the first time since I started this journey 6 months ago. This means that the program I am on is the right one for me and that, that gives me the confidence and boost to keep going and keep pushing myself.
Measurements:
Weight -- 127 lbs my new norm, and I am ok with that! :)
BMI -- 20.7
(no changes)
calf: 14"
thigh: 22" wooo lost 1.75"!!!
hips: 36.5" down 1/2"!
waist: 29" down 1/2"
bicep: 10.75" heh gained 1/4" lol
chest: 32" I dont expect any changes here ;)
I am excited to see some measurable changes! I can't really physically see those changes yet but I know it's happening and for the first time since I started this journey 6 months ago. This means that the program I am on is the right one for me and that, that gives me the confidence and boost to keep going and keep pushing myself.
Monday, August 2, 2010
15of 84
I have successfully completed the first 2 weeks of the 12 week Body For Life challenge. I have been struggling with designing the perfect workout for my weight days as I am limited on what exercises I can perform without a gym or gym equipment but getting a darn good workout none the less. My biggest challenge is making sure I am eating 6 times a day and since I generally hate breakfast I have a hard time starting my day off right. I think I may switch it up and add a scoop of protein shake to my morning coffee, workout and then have breakfast.
I just got an elliptical so I will be able to add in the intense cardio plan. To add to my overall body fitness (and just for the pure fun of it!) I have started hooping. This is the most fun I have had in awhile and it's very addicting. I am loving learning how to move the hoop around, do tricks, dance. It really is a full body workout + cardio! I am trying to limit myself to hooping only on my cardio days but now that the kids are also getting in to it I want to hoop everyday!
I had weigh in this morning and I am not sure I like what I saw. 129.2lbs. Ermm huh? I am hoping it's just muscle built but this has been the ongoing battle, lose 3 lbs gain 2 back. Part of me really wants to toss the scale and only weigh in once per month but the other part of me obsessively checks my weight 1-2 times a day and can't seem to let go. Why the obsession with what's on the scale when I know that isn't what really matters? I seem to have fallen into that weight trap and I don't like it not one bit.
I just got an elliptical so I will be able to add in the intense cardio plan. To add to my overall body fitness (and just for the pure fun of it!) I have started hooping. This is the most fun I have had in awhile and it's very addicting. I am loving learning how to move the hoop around, do tricks, dance. It really is a full body workout + cardio! I am trying to limit myself to hooping only on my cardio days but now that the kids are also getting in to it I want to hoop everyday!
I had weigh in this morning and I am not sure I like what I saw. 129.2lbs. Ermm huh? I am hoping it's just muscle built but this has been the ongoing battle, lose 3 lbs gain 2 back. Part of me really wants to toss the scale and only weigh in once per month but the other part of me obsessively checks my weight 1-2 times a day and can't seem to let go. Why the obsession with what's on the scale when I know that isn't what really matters? I seem to have fallen into that weight trap and I don't like it not one bit.
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