Back in the saddle....

After a day of being "down" due to dental work and consequential headache.....back in the saddle today and completed day 7 of level 3 of shredding.  I can't believe it's almost over! I'm gonna be sad. I know I will still do the shred workouts from time to time....I really enjoy them. I can remember when I started and I did day 1 of level 1 and I thought I was gonna die.  Laughing at that now!!!!! Thinking about maybe investing in P90X next.  Not sure.  Any thoughts?

Manic Monday

I was good this weekend....shredded both days....Saturday and Sunday.  Level 3 is still kicking my "abs".  Didn't have time to shred today, but I did manage a good walk this morning before school....it was lovely out might I add!  Love mornings like that....Cool breezes, sun.....
Today was Hank's birthday.  Wanted to make a home cooked mealed but ran out of time for that as well.....Monday night is Boy Scout night. We ended up eating at McDonalds.  (Blech!) I ordered my usual, cheeseburger Happy Meal, no ketchup.  Been a while since I had Mickey D's.....felt like a big pile of crap after I ate it.  Think I'll cleanse tomorrow by eating nothing but fruits and veggies....I'm serious....my insides feel like "mush".  Sayonara boys and girls...I'm OVER and OUT! Peace. Namaste.

Ta-Dah!

Yesterday was my birthday....and in celebration, I busted out an old pair of jeans that I have not been able to wear in a long time.  Well actually....I COULD wear them....just not comfortably.  This is brave ya'll! I actually took a picture of myself in them!!!!!  (Hence, the photo)  Heck ya I was nervous!!!!!! But I SWEAR!!!!! I'm not sucking it in!!!!!  I wore these jeans ALL DAY!!!! Wore em proud too!!!!!! Even ate in em and didn't have to unbutton them!!!!!  Now here's the BAD part.....I didn't work out yesterday.....NO TIME! I know, I know I said no excuses.....What could I have done differently? Woken up an hour earlier I suppose. Got caught up today though......after a long day at school (clinicals) I came home and shhhhhredddded.  Felt good too! And now I'm ready to go out tonight and celebrate my birthday =)

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Day 3 of level 3 this morning.  Getting a little bit easier but skill feeling it! Which is good I guess.  Since I DO like to feel as though I actually exerted myself.  I changed my eating habits as well.  Remember a while back how I said I was getting fuller faster????  Well....I don't like that feeling, so now I'm only eating small meals but more frequently.  I'm such an air-head for not implementing that sooner! I'm always telling people that it's best to eat smaller meals more frequently rather than stuffing yourself full with three squares. DUH SONIA!!!!!!  Been doing that since Monday and I'm down 2.5lbs.....and that's GREAT actually, considering I'm at the greastest "water retention" part of a ladies cycle.....I know I know! TMI.....That is why I say no more......;-)

Did you get your MUFA's today?

Yesterday was a much needed break.  Had my first nursing exam in Clinical Foundations and felt I needed to compensate for my misery by making a batch of brownies.  Not just ANY brownies though.  First of all, brownies are a great way to get your MUFA's in.  Did you know that?  MUFA's btw....are mono unsaturated fatty acids.  Healthy fats.  They are found in healthy oils, such as olive oil, avocados, nuts, and (my fav) dark chocolate.  So these brownies you see, are not only a source of MUFA's (I used Ghiradelli dark chocolate), but I also threw in a batch of fresh raspberries!!!!!  Makes em so good!  Even my "non-fruit eating" child loves them.  The best thing I like about MUFA's is that they battle belly fat.  So I try to incorporate them into every meal ;-)
Today was NO BREAK at all.  Did my usual morning power walk with my pal Connie and when I got home from school I did DAY 1 of LEVEL 3 of 30 Day Shred.  All I can say is WOW!!!!!  In level 3 Jillian introduces a lot of metabolic increasing jumping moves.  I hung in there like a champ.....but afterwards, my poor legs felt like jello!!!!!  Still feeling great! Ready to go jean shopping as my currents ones are too loose in the waist and arse.....(doing happy dance!) 
Those of you who follow my blog....Thank you.  And don't forget to consume your MUFA's!

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Some things that amaze me.....

I know I know! I'm behind.  But I've been working hard.  On Thursday I did day 8 of shred as promised and on Friday (crazy day) I walked AND shredded.  As amazing as I feel when I do back to back work-outs, I've decided that I like it better when I take a break in between work-outs....on my double w/o days.  Overall I'm feeling great and I'm noticing the most difference in my abs and arms.
Now I'd like to point out some things that amaze me that I've discovered lately.
1.) I'm amazed at my lack of appetite.  Don't get me wrong....I DO get hungry.  But I'm getting fuller faster.  Example:  Last night I ordered this INSANELY loaded with calories and fat sandwich.  It was a Monte Cristo.....hadn't had one in a VERY long time.  There was a time when I could eat the whole thing....and of course, feel like doggie doo afterwards.  Much to my surprise, when my food arrived (the Monte Cristo with a side of slaw) my gut instantly turned it away....before it even touched my mouth.  Even though it "sounded" good....it's not what my body wanted.  I only ate one piece (it was cut into 4) along with the slaw and the pickle.
2.) Second thing I'm amazed at, and this kind of links into reason #1, is the fact that I'm totally craving different things now.  If anyone has any interesting feedback in regards to this I sure would like to know. 
3.) Third.....I'm amazed at how well I'm feeling.  No aches, pains, headaches, sleeping problems...in fact, I'm sleeping better than I ever have. At this point I can't imagine resorting back to any other sort of life-style.  Before I always found excuses to not work as hard.....excuses like, too much school work, too much house work, oh it's the holidays, it's cold out....blah blah blah....NO MORE.  =)
Today is my last day of shredding on level 2.  And I'm gonna do it.....RIGHT NOW.

Battle of the breakfast!

I knew it was gonna be a hard day when I was faced with an important decision FIRST thing this morning!!!!!!  Steel cut oats or Greek yogurt! Such a hard decision and wayyyyy to early.  After pacing in my kitchen and pondering.....I chose the.....YOU GUESS!!!!!! Was it the healthy and nutritiously filling steel cut oats OR the creamy and equally satisfying Greek yogurt?
After my breakfast I walked a hella bunch of miles again with my girl Connie.  And it was HOT and HUMID this morning at 8:30.  Sadly I confess, that I didn't shred today.  No time.  Had to grocery shop, do a TON of school work, take a kid to the Dr. (again), and make dinner.  Will shred tomorrow....promise!

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Day 7 of level 2!!!!!!

So I'm almost done with level 2....can't believe it!!!!!  I'm almost scared to move on to 3 :-/  I get a good burn with level 2.  Those blank exercises and plio (spelling) moves KILL!!!!!! 
Yesterday morning I did a power walk....then yesterday afternoon I shredded.  After I worked out I started helping Harley with his homework and he says...."EWE! Mommy!!!!!  You stink!!!!" Guess I really sweat a lot!!!!!  LOL  Today I only shredded ....but still....damn proud of myself for making it this far.  I plan on looking smoking hot for my birthday celebration coming up. Did get on the scale again this morning but no significant weight loss.....HOWEVER (interesting point) I donned this dress yesterday, that I bought and wore over the summer.  Just a little regular cotton summer dress, size large.....well CHECK THIS OUT.....it was so BIG on me! Felt like I just put on a moo-moo......I even had to pin it in a lil in the breast area.  So yeah....BIG SMILES!!!!!!!

Friday was great!!!!!!  Did a seven mile walk with Connie, then came home and shredded.  My body felt amazing after all that hard work.....was a good day =)
Saturday.....not so much.  Was my first day of clinicals for school.  Woke up at the butt-crack of dawn and made it to school by 7a.m.......looooong day.  But this is how my Saturday's are gonna be for the next 12 weeks.....so I had better get used to it!  And I will.  No work out yesterday....super bummed!
But as I said before....it's okay to get off track....just as long as you get back on! Which I did.  Shredded again this morning and I'm back to feeling great.  Gonna meet Connie in the morning for another treck before class.  No pain! NO GAIN!

True Grit

So I got on the scale this morning.  Nothing.  No change. Nada.  Are YOU KIDDING ME!!!!?????  I was shocked.  Not upset, as I didn't gain, but SHOCKED.  No biggie.  Trying not to focus so much right now on the number.  More like....how I'm feeling and what I'm seeing.  Which is great by the way! I'm sleeping good, waking up in better moods, overall just better.  This picture was of my lunch today....and as you can see, I ate my lunch while doing my homework (note dosages book on the side).  I walked 5 miles this morning, then shredded this afternoon.  It was a nice "release" after an afternoon of school work.  Another reason why I'm not so concerned with the number right now is this: Scenario-I'm wearing black velvet yoga pants, and a clingy white tank top with gold and silver flecks on it (My Saint colors), and I'm leaning over the kitchen counter writing a letter to Kennedy's school for some classes that she missed yesterday.  In walks James from behind me.  James says "LOOKING PRETTY GOOD FROM BACK HERE!"  I say "Oh you're just saying that!" James replies "NO! I'm dead serious."  So yeah.....yay me!!!!!!!

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Being nice to myself.....

First let me explain.  I'm truthfully not becoming a slacker.  I took a break yesterday.  Had to! I owed it to myself.  This past weekend kicked my arse!  Housework, homework, workouts, parties, kids, husband, more homework, more kids....I was drained.  So I took yesterday off.  I didn't exercise.  Instead I did MORE HOMEWORK and relaxed with my family and friends at a nice Labor Day cook out at my wonderful friends (Tina and Jeff) house.  The one thing to always remember when you get off track....is that it's easy to get back on.  So today.....I woke up with bells on (not literally...but you know) and as soon as the kids were gone did Day 1 of Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred.....11 days total now.  I think to be fair to myself, I will take a break in another 9 days before I transition into Level 3.  And for the record.....Level 2 kicked my butt!!!!!  I'm feeling it again!!!!!  This time in my abs.  The routine consisted of a lot of planking and core strengthening.  I feel like I got sucker punched in the gut.  I also noticed that my arms are shaping up.....I like that =) 
One more thing before I go.....Since I like to share valuable information, I thought I'd share this:  CHECK OUT MY PICTURE ABOVE    Only 70 calories ya'll!!!!!!!!  70 calories of PURE deliciousness!!!!!!!  Have a great evening peeps.....love each and everyone of you!!!!!!  Think I'll take a quick walk....it's ab fab outside <3

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Ready for level 2

Today was a sad day.  Lost a good friend.  Spent hours doing homework and taking breaks to cry.....needless to say, didn't feel much like working out.  BUT I DID IT!!!!!!  At 4:30pm I found my second wind and did day 10 of the 30 Day Shred.  And it's true.....exercise does release endorphins and make you happier.  Felt so much better after I did =)  I'm NOT going to give up! On a brighter note....got lots of compliments Saturday night, so I KNOW it's working.

**RIP Jenelle Peterson**

Day 9 of Shred...almost to level 2

As I sit here and watch USF (Go Bulls!) whomp up on Notre Dame.....OH YEAH! They scored again!!!!!  (sorry)  I figure...this is the best time to catch up on my blog.  It's quiet...I'm alone....and I just finished day 9 of level 1.  I must say....I'm ready to move on to to level 2.  Nothing hurts anymore.  All though....yesterday, after my 7 mile treck with Connie, my legs felt like lead during the cardio parts.  BTW....between walkin, shredding, and house cleaning yesterday, I think I burned a gazzillion kcals!  Phew!  Went to bed early....got a good night sleep.
I haven't weighed myself yet....but plan to next week.  I will post my progress.  Promise!

Day 7 of Shred! Nuff said...tired....but feeling GOOD!