Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Jules wants her body back.... AGAIN!

Well, here we go again.  This past July I had my darling baby boy, Zackary.  He now makes me the Mommy of 2 ;) which means double the fun, double the joy, double the WEIGHT?!?!  Well... not actually double, but right back where I started the last time I started Body Back,  meaning we are back to square 1 and MAMA WANTS HER BODY BACK...again

And so it begins...
 
Last week we began and had our weigh in- 153.6 on the scale.  They say not to get wrapped up in the number on the scale, but c'mon ladies, we all know how hard that is.  We all have that number in our head that we would love to read when we look down at our feet, and that number for me is 140lbs.  Seeing it in the 150's is just errrr!  So as I write it down on my folder, Ang tells me to kiss it goodbye.  Heck I would make out with it and give it one hell of a goodbye if I could- you know one of those never ever going to see you again so lets make this dirty and sloppy kind?!  Fingers crossed I never do.

The same day of the weigh in we did assessments.  We did tricep, bicep, crunches, planks, and oh what fun, the dreaded run.  The run was around the parking lot and I'm pretty sure each lap was a mile, so 8 miles.... (or at least thats what it felt like)  Around my 3rd lap I wanted to stop and walk, but pushed myself not to.  Each lap Ang had a little praise or funny phrase that kept me going.  As I looked at all the ladies running around me, the supermodel that finished first, the runners that are barely sweating, me- somewhere in the middle, and the newbies who just started BodyBack- I envision myself where I started the last time around.  I remember my red sweaty gross face (which I still had this time) and I remember coming in DEAD LAST... feeling kind of embarrassed, but mostly angry at myself for not being a better runner.  I realized that the HUGE advantage I have this time around is knowing that I CAN push myself, I CAN get better, and I WILL see the results.  That it doesnt matter if I come in first or last, but that I will get better.  See, I KNOW from experience it works- so I kept running through the pain.  Had it been the first time around, I would've been last again- easily... but since I know to tell my mind to "FUCK OFF" when it starts hurting I did a little better... I can't wait to watch the ladies I am with make the same journey and transformation that I know is possible- this is going to be a great session.

The next workout was at the beach and, well, how do I put this... My dumbass was hungover.  I went to a concert the night before, and let me tell you- mama doesnt get to go out very often, so its was KIND OF A BIG DEAL.  I had 2 beers, and 2 glasses of wine- which just set me over, and woke up feeling disgusting.  As I dragged my ass out of bed, my little gremlin told me to get back in bed multiple times.  I seriously had a major battle with myself.  I got in the car, out of the car, and then back in the car before I made it out of the driveway.  Then I made it down the street, had to turn around to go back and get the beach pass, fought with myself to get back in the car again, and finally got going back down the street.  I finally made it to the beach, running late- only to find the Body backers running down the beach on the sand.  FML, are you kidding me?!  This is what were gonna start with today, a sand run?  Figures.

Well- I did the workout- feeling like I was gonna throw up the whole time.  I would say I was proud of myself for at least making it there, but I didn't push myself like I could have... used my hangover as a crutch.  I told myself Tuesday would be a different story, and man- was it!

Tuesday we did a station work out and I knew it had to be better.  My friend felt the same way as I did after Saturday's beach workout (minus the hangover) so we made a pact that we would motivate, push, support each other along the whole workout.  We went station to station and pushed ourselves at each exercise.  It was great because as my knees would come down on the plank- she'd get me to pick them back up... and as she slowed down, I'd encourage her to pick up the pace.  THIS, for me, IS SO IMPORTANT.  I can work harder, go longer, get faster, be better if I have that encouragement.  If I know someone is counting on me- I'm much harder on myself and wont let myself slack off.  I wont tell myself that it hurts to bad, I deserve to stop, or the kids had shots today so I get a break, or I'll work harder at the next stop- no... I keep going.  So Tuesday was great, I left feeling invigorated and strong- and excited about whats to come.  And Wednesday, today- I am SORE AS HELL (but its just a reminder of how BAD ASS I was last night!) so it doesn't bother me.

So there you have it, the beginning of my post-baby #2 Mama Wants Her Body Back- take the journey with me as I try to slim down, once again- and get my pre-baby body back!

Current Weight:  153.6 lbs

Monday, March 28, 2011

Just call me STEADY EDDY

Well friends, Today marks the beginning of Week 3, Session 2 of Body Back. I started out two weeks ago weighing in at 140.4lbs- and after two weeks I step on the scale again to see that unchanged number once more... 140.4lbs. Didn't gain, so that's a win right? Just call me Steady Eddy. Its probably because I have been loosely following the meal plan. Granted, you read about the cookies and cupcakes last week. And although this week was better, I still slipped up a couple of times. I drank some wine, a little here, a little there... and it was Eric's birthday so there were more cupcakes! I also haven't been the best about working out, WAM BAM, all in the past two weeks. With Blake being sick I didn't make it to Stroller Strides and was too lazy to workout at home. Why is it SO MUCH harder to stay on track the second time around?! I'm just glad that today starts a new week... I had a great AM traveling workout with the Body Backers, did the resistance run- you know my favorite one :) and a killer thigh drill... Today I ate off the plan, and even though I had about three extra snacks, I feel good about the choices I made. Maybe this week I will actually lose a couple pounds! Now don't get me wrong... this session isn't about losing weight. I am where I want to be at 140. Of course, losing a little more weight is never something I would MIND, and it would be nice to no longer be a liar by way of Driver's Licenses.... but its not necessarily the purpose of this session for me. This session I want to become stronger. I want to be able to do 25 push ups. REAL push ups, not girly ones. I know that if I can do that, and I will do that... I will feel like SUPERMOMMY! I'm also doing HOT YOGA with a couple of my favorite bodyback girls on Wednesday night, so stay tuned. Being extremely uncoordinated, inflexible and hating to sweat- this should be interesting to say the least!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

A little bit better...

Monday's workout got rained out, so we had to workout from home. As bummed as I was that we couldn't go to the park for Body Back, there was one silver lining here... NO SCALE!!! Phewwwww! Saved by the RAIN!

So as we got the email of the exercises to do I got started. I completed it, but let me tell you, it was MUCH MUCH harder to give it my all when I was all alone. I thrive off of all the other energy from the group, these girls push me to go farther, faster, and become stronger. So needless to say it wasn't the best workout I've had, maybe because I was so careful not to be too loud with the grunting since Blake and Eric were fast asleep in the other room. And we all know that the grunting helps you keep up the pace (that's why all the porn stars and tennis pros do it).

As far as Monday went, I felt a little better about falling off the train last week when I got a note from one of my fellow body backers. Turns out she read my blog and was having an equally tough time staying on track. Imagine that! You mean, I'm not the only one feeling guilty about eating so poorly this week??! Hallelujah! Ladies, Its amazing what a little support can do. I instantly felt re-energized and ready for a fresh start. We made a pact to stick together, eat better this week, and get back on track. I love me some Amy!

So in order to do this, I went to the grocery store to stock up on all the good stuff, threw away all the bad stuff, and planned out my meals for the week. In honor of my new pact with my sweat sister, I will share what we are having for dinner tonight:

Crock Pot Chicken Verde

4 Chicken Breasts
16 oz jar of Salsa Verde
1 can pinto beans (drained)
1 can corn (drained)
1 onion (chopped)
Cilantro
** optional brown rice

Place Chicken and other ingredients into Slow Cooker (except for the cilantro, rice). Cook on low for 6-8 hours (until chicken is cooked through). Serve alone or on a bed of brown rice and Enjoy!

I can smell it cooking now and I CANNOT wait for dinner!!!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

a VERY tough week.

Let me start out by saying, I am absolutely dreading weighing in tomorrow. This week I have NOT been good at sticking to the meal plan, making the best choices, or working out.

Blake is sick. He has had a terrible cold with a fever and congestion, and this is the first time he has ever been sick. Its incredibly frustrating not being able to just make him feel better and make the congestion go away. We do the "booger sucker" every couple of hours- which infuriates him, and you wouldn't believe the amount of snot that tiny little nose can hold. Poor baby. Were doing everything the Dr. said we could do and the bottom line is we just have to wait for him to kick it.

Needless to say, this mama is STRESSED. and when I am stressed, I don't make the best dieting decisions- apparently.

I've been stuck in the house the whole week since we don't want to take the sick baby out in public or in the cold air. So what do I do, well, I bake.

I bake whatever I have the ingredients for. I bake cake balls, cookies, cupcakes. And then I eat them. (there in lies the problem) I know I've said that the best way to ward off the temptation of eating the things you shouldn't eat is to get rid of it, take away the option. And I mean that. But hear me out, I didn't have any of those sweets in the house, I only had the staples of flour, oil, vanilla, sugar, ect. I told myself (or my little gremlin told me) that baking would give me something to do while I'm stuck in the house and that I would send the sweets off with Eric to work, give some to the neighbors and spread a little cheer. Seemed like a great idea at the time- until I realized I can't giveaway something until I've tried it to make sure it tastes ok. And then once I tasted how good it was, I couldn't stop eating them!!!

Three cupcakes and Six cookies later, I decided to send them with Eric to work. It was hard to part with that Tupperware full of yumminess, but I was glad to know that it wouldn't be a temptation anymore.

All great- til Eric came home from work that night with the Tupperware still half full!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO GET THAT OUT OF HERE!!! And he continues to tell me that once he tried some of the goodies he "hid" the Tupperware so he wouldn't have to share it with everyone and could still eat some at home. Great- Of course I popped the top and pounded about three cookies as soon as I saw it. DAMNIT!

Now as far as the workouts go, I made it to Body Back on Monday and Wednesday- but haven't been able to go to Stroller Strides and haven't worked out at home at all. I don't have any excuse for not doing home workouts since I have the DVD to do... so that makes me pretty mad at myself. I'm pretty sure tomorrows workout might kill me if the disappointment of whatever the scale reads doesn't do that first.

BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaa what a week! And he is STILL SICK!

Hopefully this coming week will be much better.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Here we go AGAIN...

Yesterday marked day 1 of my second round of body back- and of course we did the Monday weigh ins. I am still 140lbs, so at least I didn't go to horribly off my diet during my two weeks off- good news!

The group this time is larger than before and I know many of them from Stroller Strides already. There are a few new girls though, and everyone I met yesterday seems really nice. I have a feeling this group is going to be A LOT of fun!

For our workout we were split into two groups, the returning body backers, and the newbies. The newbies did their beginning assessments, and the returning body backers... dun dun dun... did a run workout. Now when Angela handed me the run workout, I was a little worried.

I can run here and there, I can run in between exercises... but running for an entire hour?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? This was a little out of my league (or so I thought) but I was with two of my favorite girls, and figured if they can do it, I can do it too.

It ended up being one of my favorite work outs. I got to chat with the girls during the run- which was actually really funny because as our pace went from easy to medium to fast the conversations were filled with deep gasps of air and fewer words! And by the time we finished, we had ran the whole time, gotten to know each other a little better, and the time really flew by. Once again I'm reminded of how much stronger I've become. I did fine, maybe could of even kept going if we weren't out of time! Monday workout, DONE!

Now off to the grocery store to get the meals back on track...

NOTE TO SELF: TRASH THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES HIDING IN THE FREEZER!
(and the Cheetos, soda, and chocolates you've acquired since your BB break!)
**they won't stop calling to me**

Current Weight: 140.4 lbs

Sunday, March 13, 2011

The CELEBRATION!

Last week we had the Body Back celebration Brunch where our results were revealed.

We all put on an outfit that didnt fit us 8 weeks ago and potlucked brunchy items over to one of the girls houses. We were greeted with Champagne and had an incredible spread of food to choose from, some healthy, some not- but this was a splurge day since it was our final celebration.

I filled my plate with some of the most delicious items, quiches, breakfast tostadas, fruit, cake balls (yes, I said CAKE BALLS, YUM!), breakfast casseroles and more... and had at it, all of it!

Then Angela stood up and one by one revealed our results. Now most of the girls already knew I had lost 13 lbs, but what was incredible were my strength results. Here they are:

Starting Weight 153.2 lbs Ending Weight 140.1lbs
Total loss 13.1 lbs

Measurements Beginning to End
Chest 34.5 to 32.5
Waist 29.8 to 26.3
Hips 40 to 36
Thigh 22.8 to 20.8
Total loss of 11.5 inches!

Run 5:46 to 4:41
Biceps 31 to 50
Plank .36 to 1.32
push ups 4 to 9 (still need to work on this one)
Sit ups 22 to 30
Squats 38 to 56
Side Bridge .37 to 1.09

TOTAL IMPROVEMENT 323% WOW!

So, YES, that results sheet is hanging on my Fridge, right where we will proudly display all of Blakes artwork when he gets old enough to make it. The fridge was actually a great place to put it, seeing that when I am hungry- its reminds me to go for the veggies instead of the ice cream! After all, EVERYTHING paid off.

Angela ran a contest during Body Back for the biggest loser. The girl who had the most improvement/ weight loss/ inches lost won the contest, and recieves another round of Body Back for FREE.

AND I WON IT! I was the Biggest Loser!

So here we go again- starting tomorrow I will be doing another 8 weeks of the Body Back Program.

What's my goal this time? Well, that easy. I want to get even stronger. I want to become a better runner and kill my arch nemisis- those push ups.

As far as weight goes, What's my goal. Well, thats easy too! Lets see if I can get to my "Driver's License Liar Weight" because lets be honest ladies, NO ONE puts their actual weight on there. I usually go for a -5lbs or so, maybe -10 if Im feeling skinny on the day I fill it out... Right now it says I am 135lbs. Hmmmm... think I can do it??

Cheers to ROUND 2!!!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Drumroll PLEASE!!!

Today was our Final Assessment Day for Body Back. I got up in the morning nervous but ready for my final weigh-in, and ready to show some major improvement from my stats on the first assessment.

As I drove up I could see Angela pulling out the scale. Oh, my dear old enemy and recently, friend... the scale. It has all come down to this. You and Me. Me and You. I was crossing my fingers hoping that magical number would be on the scale, but literally had to hope and pray since last weekend was my birthday weekend and I didn't exactly follow the meal plan. As I stepped onto the scale and it calculated, I closed my eyes one last time for a final prayer. When I squinted each eye to open them I slowly saw that blurry number more and more clear. 140.1 Wait, am I reading this right... 140.1 Really 140.1? 140.1! 140.1!!!!! I let out a huge "YESSSSSSS!" and high fived my group members. Nothing you could say could wipe that smile off my face. I made it to my wedding weight! After 8 weeks, I lost 13lbs! I made it to my goal weight!

Next Angela measured our chest, waist, hips, and thighs. Drumroll please.... I LOST 9 INCHES!

After the high of those measurements and weighing in, I was SO ready to rock this out! Again, we were measured, weighed, and counted, but this time it didn't matter what place I came in. I could be dead last in my group, but all that mattered is that I got better, and MAN! I sure got better!

The run was the first up in the assessment. As I was running, I could feel myself wanting to slow down and walk a bit for a break, then pick up the pace and carry on. I didn't want to slow down, I had to keep running. It helped that I could hear one of my fellow bodybackers and Angela at the end cheering me on, but I had to keep telling myself, "keep pushing through it, you can do it, keep running, come one!" And guess what... I DID IT! I ran the whole time and even sprinted at the end. I lowered my run time by one minute, which doesn't sound like much, but when you think of it as a whole 60 seconds you can tell it was a huge improvement from before.

The next part of the assessment were bicep curls, squats, sit ups, push ups, and planks. All categories I made major improvements in as well, WOO-HOO!

When we finished the assessments, we laid back to watch our final Body Back sunrise, and did a little meditation. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes as Angela told us how amazed she was at our journey. She told us to visualize who we were in the beginning, and who we are now... and to look at the transformation. When I did this, I felt so proud and I felt so strong.

The thing that amazes me is that I thought I would be most proud of my weight loss, and I'm not. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that I am back down to my wedding weight... that is just AWESOME! But I am so much more proud of the fact that I have gotten so much stronger. I feel empowered to train to do things I never ever even thought I wanted to, like run a marathon- and the Jules I was 8 weeks ago would've laughed in your face if you asked her to run a marathon! Body Back has made me not only physically stronger, but its made me realize that I can truly do anything I set my mind to.

So the BIG question all you Stroller Striding mamas are wondering... Was it worth it?

The answer is YES.

The money it costs- YES! I'd even pay more because I got the results I wanted. And I'm not the only one who got results, our group on average lost 10 lbs. and 8 inches per person. Its a program THAT WORKS, in a world where there are so many weight-loss get-fit programs out their that don't. With Angela as your coach, failure is not an option. With the camaraderie built between the women in your group, failure is not an option. If someone told you you could pay money to lose weight and inches, what mama wouldn't save their pennies to do it??

The Early Mornings/Lack of Sleep- YES! and I am NOT a morning person. Once I got past the hard part waking up to my alarm- I was fine. After a cup of coffee I was ready to go. And towards the end, I loved having that early morning time to myself. It was my ME-TIME where I could drink my coffee, check my email, and head to my workout- all by myself, before the sun rose, and all while my husband, baby and the rest of the sane world were sleeping. The best part was that I didn't have to find time in my schedule to fit the workout in. I made time, when I would've been sleeping in bed, and had the rest of the day to do everything else on my Mommy Do List.

The Soreness- YES! I was actually worried that if I was sore, I'd have trouble carrying Blake or picking him up. This was not the case. Was I sore? HELL YES. but the soreness never got in my way of being able to carry Blake, and it served as a constant reminder that I was a little bit closer to my goal!

Can Breastfeeding Mamas do it- YES! I have been nursing Blake exclusively for the past 5 months. The meal plan allows for healthy snacks and lots of water. The workouts, weight loss, and diet change didn't affect my milk supply at all. (I would nurse Blake before I left if he hadn't gotten up within the hour so that I could get through the workout without worrying that he would be hungry.)

I know it sounds a little corny, but being in Body Back has changed my life in such a wonderful way. Its been the greatest thing I've done for myself after having a baby, and I would do it ALL over again. So YES! It was worth it, ten times over!!!

Current Weight: 140.1 lbs