Ripped in 30, day 5.

I am well into Ri30 and will move up to the next level in 2 days. My plan is to do each of the 4 levels 7 times and take one day off per week. This week it was yesterday, because we were busy with Memorial Day plans. Ri30 is HARD. I'm getting through it, but only because I am fresh off the 30DS. Down another .5 pounds for an even 5. Slow and steady.

Haven't thought of a prize yet for completing this challenge. Maybe a new wallet to match my new bag???

Year 2, finished!

This guy finished his second year of preschool on Tuesday. I can't even believe it! This year went so incredibly fast. I remember him, not even a year old yet, touring the school and deciding if we wanted to apply for a spot for the following fall (yes, we had to plan that far ahead!). He still seemed so small then. The first day of his very first year was excruciating. Something that had seemed like a good idea the year before suddenly seemed like the worst idea I ever had. Susan was more confident, reminding me "it's only three hours." He cried, I cried, but we made it. Through that day and a year to follow. This year was different. We both knew the ropes and knew it would be ok. He was nervous that first day, a new teacher, new friends and a new classroom. His teacher seemed firmer than his warm, squishy toddler teacher - more expectations for our big boy. He nervously hung up his backpack full of undies and spare clothes and monkeys, just in case. Those monkeys never left his backpack and after a few weeks, we didn't pack them at all. Our boy is growing up so fast.

He learned a ton, made new friends, went to birthday parties and music class, and became more confident and independent. He started the year a toddler and ended it a full fledged preschooler. Next year, he will go three mornings a week for the first time and his baby sister will be with his warm, squishy toddler teacher. Three mornings will be tough for me, I have mixed feelings. I don't want to rush him out the door since I know that once he is in kindergarten the days of him being home all day with us are over. On the other hand, he loves school and his friends and we just can't always entertain him as much as he seems to need. And it's still only three hours. :)

But, I won't dwell on next year and what's to come and will instead focus on this summer and all the fun we have planned. We are kicking it off today with a trip to the pool, then a nap and after everyone is up we will make an hour's drive out to the country for a cookout with friends. Theo is still in swimming lessons and we have added soccer. They will probably both do jump jump class in July. We will head to Great Wolf Lodge for a few days next month with the Hills and will end our summer in the mountains on the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad. And all the days in between will be spent at Granite Falls, I'm sure. I can't wait.

Here's to everywhere we've been and everywhere we are headed. Happy Memorial Day!

Finished!!

I completed my 30 day challenge on Tuesday, but am just sitting down to document the results. I only lost 4.5 pounds, but did lose a total of 10 inches! I was also rewarded with a brand new Vera Bradley bag to take to work, since my old one was fraying. Definitely taking it as a win.

Overall, I feel stronger and healthier. I think increasing my water intake has been of huge benefit. I have noticed that my body now depends on all that water. Towards the end of the challenge, I had two days where I was really busy and didn't do a good job with water. Before, it would have been no biggie, but now I woke up feeling SO crummy. Stiff, headachey and tired the next day. So, body is used to lots of water and now seems to need it or I get punished.

What's next? Well, I took last night off to go to book club and dinner and today I will start a new challenge. I will keep up my portion control and water and will start my new DVD: Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30. I think this is what I have time for at this stage in my life and while it's slow progress, it's still progress. If I am down another 4.5 pounds and 10 inches in another month, I will be feeling pretty darned good. My sister is getting married in November and my goal is to not be the family fatty in all the pictures. Plenty of time to hit that goal.

I've had a lot of support and cheerleaders along the way and have SO appreciated it. Definitely helps knowing I have people celebrating with me when I feel like quitting.

Here's to another month!

30 day challenge, day 28.

Tuesday, I will be DONE with this challenge! I have still only missed two days (which is why I will be done Tuesday instead of yesterday). I admit, I am discouraged. Pounds wise, I didn't lose that much. And I looked at pictures of myself from a festival yesterday and felt so sad. I just looked huge in them. I swear I don't see that when I look in the mirror (which is probably half the problem) so I just wanted to delete them all. I guess I can be proud that I only had two little bites of funnel cake yesterday when normally I would have wanted one to myself. And, I've never exercised this much in a month, ever. So, that's something.

30 Day Challenge, day 25.

Yes, it should be 24. Alas, I got home from Greensboro around 10pm on Tuesday, after having gotten up at 5:45am and spent all day in a conference. I'm committed, but not crazy. I went to bed.

Level 3 is hard. I feel like I can't conquer it because of all the jumping. I mean, I am doing it, but not without tremendous struggle. I have missed only 2 days of 27. I am proud of that. I shouldn't have to miss anymore until the end.

An interesting fact - I think my ab muscles are coming back together. Did you know your stomach muscles separate during pregnancy? Yep. They part like a curtain to let the baby poke out. Afterwards, they should go back together. After Theo, they did. I remember the midwife putting her hand between them and saying I didn't have any space and they were back together at my 6 week check up. Well, I didn't go to my 6 week check up with Lucy (don't judge - at that point in life flying to the moon would have been easier than packing up my toddler, my constantly screaming newborn and post partum body and driving us all to Chapel Hill), so I don't know for sure, but I don't think my muscles went neatly back together the second time around. After I would eat, I could easily poke my stomach out to make it appear I was at least 6 months pregnant. I can't do that anymore. Trust, it still pokes on out, but not as far and I can feel resistance from my muscles now. 18 months later, right???

What's next? Another Jillian video. I still have a long way to go. I like the DVD option. 20 minutes a day is about all the time I have and I like just throwing on whatever and walking downstairs. At this stage of life, that's the only way I can roll.

Oh and Susan's doing it now, too. Day 5 for her!! Yay, us.

30 day challenge, day 23.

Haven't Shredded yet today, but I will this evening. I still hope to get back to regular updates, but by the time I have been a mom and/or worked all day and then worked out and showered, etc., I just want to lay on the couch!

Today is day #3 of level 3. Level 3 is NO JOKE. I have to take a few 5 second breathers just to live through it.

Susan has started it and today will be day 2 for her. I am proud of us!

We just got back from a great vacation. Not gonna lie, I ate like I was on vacation. Seafood, ice cream, etc. We did walk everywhere we went, so that was good. I Shredded the day we left, skipped a day and Shredded yesterday when we got home. I gained a pound while on vacation, which sucks, but I was expecting a lot more. So, sitting at 3.5 pounds lost now.

That Vera bag is nearly mine!! I still can't believe I actually kept this up for (almost) a whole month!

Slacking on blogging, but not Shredding!

I'm behind on blogging because I got super busy. Now we are at the shore on vacation! I am doing great, down 4.5 pounds and haven't missed a day of Shredding. Yesterday was my first day on level 3.

I'm actually NOT Shredding today because we are away, but we will be home tomorrow and I will do it then. So, one day off in nearly 30 - which I think is pretty darn good. I've almost made it to my Vera bag!! I've done lots of walking to make up for it and am trying hard not to go TOO overboard with vacation food.

Hoping to return to regular updates soon!

30 day challenge, day 17.

1. Shred: Check. Level 2, day 7.  

2. Walk: Yes, a short one. We walked over to the store to get something for dinner. 

3. Water: Great.

4. Snacks: Great. A snack size Luna bar and a Fiber One bar.

5. Portions: Great. Food choices were good, too. 

6. No eating after 7: Skinny Cow at 8:00.

7. Blog: Yep.

What went well:

The kids and I went to the pool today and I was TIRED and sun kissed and not interested in Shredding. Alas, I didn't give myself an out. I got dressed and did the work. Also, I didn't have sour cream and chips with my chili, which I usually do.

Not so well:

Cornbread. I only had a piece, but dinner would have been healthier without (turkey chili).

Keepin' it real:

Vote AGAINST Amendment One tomorrow.

30 day challenge, day 16.

1. Shred: Check. Level 2, day 6.  

2. Walk: Nope.

3. Water: Ok.

4. Snacks: Great. Only had one today and it was a mango.

5. Portions: Great, but food choices weren't great. Fast food for lunch and Mexican for dinner. Dinner was gross, so I barely ate any of it. 

6. No eating after 7: Cereal. I was starving. But, afterwards, I felt SO gross and pukey, so I won't do that again. 

7. Blog: Yep.

What went well:

Down another 1.5 pounds, for a total of 3.5!

Not so well:

Food choices. But, I know that will happen and I ate reasonable portions.

Keepin' it real:

A fire place tool is excellent for retrieving wayward hand weights. 

30 day challenge, day 15 (HALFWAY!).

1. Shred: Check. Level 2, day 5. From memory and in the dark. Oh yeah. 

2. Walk: Yes, all around Out Raleigh.

3. Water: Great!

4. Snacks: Great. Only had one today.

5. Portions: Great!

6. No eating after 7: Check!

7. Blog: Yep.

What went well:

Two things. One, I went to a festival with funnel cake, gyros, corn dogs, etc. I LOVE fair food. LOVE it. I didn't have a single thing. Then, literally just when I hit play to do the Shred, the power went out. Susan emailed me (on my new fancy phone) and said it would be 9:15 before it came back on. So, I did the whole thing from memory in the dark. I didn't miss a single step. :)

Not so well:

Had a little piece of Theo's pizza at lunch. 

Keepin' it real:

I dropped my hand weights behind the chest freezer in the garage. So, I had to do the Shred without. 

30 day challenge, day 14.

1. Shred: Check. Level 2, day 4. 

2. Walk: Nope. I think this is going to be bonus challenge. It's not really fair to penalize myself when it depends on so many factors. Namely, the kids not being melty puddles by 6. 

3. Water: Great!

4. Snacks: Great. 

5. Portions: Good. Susan's birthday celebration and I didn't overdo it.

6. No eating after 7: Check!

7. Blog: Fail.

What went well:

Shoulder felt a lot better. I didn't overindulge for Susan's birthday. I made an absolutely awesome cake and we each only had one piece and I sent the rest to work with her. Her colleagues ate the calories for us. Seriously. ONE piece of a whole cake!

Not so well:

I think everything went pretty well, actually.

Keepin' it real:

I still licked the beaters. 

30 day challenge, day 13.

1. Shred: Check. Level 2, day 3. I did it without an arm, but I still did it!

2. Walk: Nope. Work day.

3. Water: Decent.

4. Snacks: Great. Only had one today.

5. Portions: Good. Well, I had McD's for breakfast. Lunch and dinner were pretty light, though. Lots of veggies.

6. No eating after 7: Check!

7. Blog: Yep.

What went well:

I had to get a cortisone shot in my shoulder today and it hurt like a mother. My arm is still really sore and he told me not to exercise today. Well, I figured I could just not use that arm. I did. I just modified the workout and did other things that didn't need my arm when I needed to. 

Not so well:

McDonald's. First time in 13 days, so not bad, but still. McGriddle. 

Keepin' it real:

I love fast food. 

30 day challenge, day 12.

1. Shred: Check. Level 2, day 2. Very sweaty.

2. Walk: No. Work night.

3. Water: Good!

4. Snacks: Great!

5. Portions: Check!

6. No eating after 7: Check!

7. Blog: Yep. Well, late.

What went well:

The Shred. I feel stronger.

Not so well:

Brownie. But, only one. This will happen every Wednesday, for sure.

Keepin' it real:

Last night I considered just laying down on the floor and sleeping there immediately after finishing the Shred. 

30 day challenge, day 11.

1. Shred: Check. Survived the first day of level 2. Admittedly, way hard. Jillian seems to have skipped a few levels between 1 and 2, in my opinion.

2. Walk: No. This probably won't happen on Tuesdays because I work late.

3. Water: Eh.

4. Snacks: Fine, but I did have a bagel at 3 because I was starving. I walked up and down 4 flights of stairs to get it, so that has to count for something.

5. Portions: Check!

6. No eating after 7:  Also won't happen on Tuesdays because of my work schedule.

7. Blog: Yep. Well, I did it late, but I did it!

What went well:

I survived level 2. And I am down 2 pounds!

Not so well:

Eh, the bagel. 

Keepin' it real:

Just sweat. Lots and lots of sweat.