Proud of Myself This Week!

The first week of September as flown by, maybe its because I'm in Baby Shower mode, but I can truly say I am proud of myself.

On the Fitness Side of My Journey: I haven't stuck to my fitness calendar 100% but I haven't given up. I have come to realize I am not at the 3 workouts a day level yet, after putting my all into 2 I am spent. Wednesday ended up being a day of rest because Zack and I went on a date and time slipped away. Thursday I started the day with Jillian to get shredded then I did my first water aerobics that night, I went into it thinking it was going to be easy and wasn't expecting the workout I got! It was totally fun and man it worked my muscles good, I want to do it more! Its offered 2 nights a week and 2 mornings a week, with Zack's schedule I am hoping to catch it at least once a week. When I got home I was all set to do my Biggest Loser, yea that didn't happen my body was mush and that's when I realized if I push too hard I will hurt myself again. Friday I made it to the gym for a good 45 min Cardio workout then came home and did 30 Day Shred! Very pleasantly surprised when I went to weigh myself and it showed 167.8, since only a week before I weighed in at 170, I'd say 30 Day Shred is doing some work! The way I am doing shred is on 2 days off 1 day. Yes it will take me longer than 30 days to get shredded but gives my body recovery time! Now yesterday (Saturday) was another oops Rest Day. With Zack working it makes it hard to get to the gym kid free with their hours and I was doing Shower stuff. With that guilt of taking another day off that I was supposed to be getting my butt into gear I woke up at 4:20am this morning and pulled myself out of bed. Determined to do my first jog outside in almost a month, I tied up my shoes and made my way outside using the elevator as my stretching time. When I got outside it was drizzling, now my inner lazy bum said turn around and go back to bed but I'm not made of sugar so I decided to just enjoy the warm rain. This was my first non-gym cardio since I hurt my knee a few weeks ago, so I wasn't completely sure how far or long I could go. Now I'd like to be able to say I got out there and jogged the entire 26min but I would totally be lying! I'd say I jogged 85% of the time. My problem is breathing techniques while I run I tend to try and hold my breath and pacing myself- hopefully restarting C25K will help with that. Now I lasted 26 min I was shooting for around 30 cause Zack had to leave for work and Bristol slept through the night so I didn't want her screaming for a bottle as he was trying to get ready, I will take my 2.15 miles over 0 any day!

 Looking like a hot mess after my rainy jog

Kinda proud I could still pull of 12 min miles

Hoping to get more miles in this month than I did last month!



On the Food Side of My Journey: Other than our Italian Dinner we have stuck to our meal plan and haven't been bad this week. I am actually having a hard time eating enough calories in a day. Since I have 2 under 1 during the day in the week, sometimes I just cant find time to eat - which is a terrible excuse and I am working on it. I saw this on Pinterest and wanted to share it:

I remember this every time I think about eating cookies or cake after I work out. Just cause you burn X amount of calories doesn't mean you should reward that with eating something bad for you. Now this doesn't mean I will never eat cookies and cake, cause lets face it that is TOTALLY unrealistic *especially with the Baby Shower happening today*! My favorite meal I whipped up this week was a tie between my Chicken Avocado Wrap with Cottage Cheese:

 

Or my Mexi-Ranch Turkey Burgers (Protein Style for me) with Sweet Potato Fries.

 



 I got the idea for the burgers off Pinterest but then ended up just making my own recipe, they were amazing, even Sawyer gobbled his up in no time. I did top the boys burgers with cheese and added Jalapenos to Zack's, but just served mine on lettuce with Avocado! Here is how I made them:

1 lb. Ground Turkey
1/2 packet or 1 1/2 TBSP of Ranch Seasoning
1 TBSP Mrs. Dash Southwest Seasoning
1/2 tsp Cumin

Mix well, then divide into 4 equal patties.
Grill or Cook in Pan until done.

Nutrition Facts. Serving Size 1 Patty:

236

Calories, 1 Carb,

17g Fat,

199 Protein,

261mg sodium

0g sugar

I'm still on the quest to drink more water, not sure how something so easy can be so hard to do! I will get this down though!

Well it is time to get ready to go decorate the rec room, be watching for a Baby Shower post cause I am totally excited about how all our stuff came out! Until Next Time~

XOXO
Jenn

 

That Little Voice Gets Really Annoying and Lies!

Jillian kicked my BOOTY twice today, 30 Day Shred Level 1 Day 2 this morning and Biggest Loser Wii Lower Body workout tonight. For as sore as my booty is, I better have a fine&toned back side soon!
Here it is only September 3rd, my body feels like it should be at least mid-September. Its a good feeling once the workout is over but during more times than not its a struggle to push through- not physically, mentally! That inner bum in me likes to say things like: "Just rest. No need to keep going. Eat Cookies. Get on Pinterest. No one is watching just sit there and watch the video but don't do anything". Or when I'm mid circuit and my legs are burning and my heart rate is up, I think "Sitting down not feeling the burn would be nice" but I WONT QUIT. I CANT QUIT. Bristol will be 3 months old in a few weeks, sometimes when I look at myself I still look/feel preggo. The pooch has got to GO! To help keep me motivated and focused on this Biggest Louser Challenge (and getting my pre-Bristol body back) I decided to make a Fitness Calendar.

I  have dedicated Sunday as my day of REST and I have been doing 2 "workouts" a day, usually ends up being about 1 hour of strength/cardio/circuit training.

In the eating portion of this journey, I would say as a family we are doing quite well! As always with Pinterest as my guide I have been able to whip up a weekly meal plan of "Skinny" recipes that my whole family likes! Here is this weeks menu:
Sunday:  Malibu Chicken with Acorn Squash
Monday: Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry --out of the p90x nutrition book!

Tuesday: Pizzadillas with Salad (or leaves as Sawyer calls them)
Wednesday: Turkey Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries
Thursday: Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Salad
Friday: Chicken Taco Chili
Saturday: Skinny Slow Cooker Beef Curry

All work and no play makes me a little crazy so I got my inner crafty Momma on and made a new wreath! I love going down to the Daiso (100Yen Store here, would be like a Dollar Store in the States but much better stuff!!!) After browsing Pins I decided a yarn wreath would be my next décor, so the kids and I watched a movie while I wrapped the noodle.

Then once the kids went to bed I got the hot glue gun out and finished making it pretty. I used and old wood letter from a previous craft project, glued burlap (left overs from my last wreath but it was only 200Yen at Cainz for a HUGE roll I still have lots left!) to the letter, glued on my flowers from the Daiso and BAM a simple and cute wreath to welcome Fall in. Total Cost to make it was only about $6! (Pool Noodle $1, Yarn 100Yen, Flowers 200Yen, Burlap 200Yen) 

 

 I've kept busy the last few days but it that sore feeling means I am making progress. Still need to work on drinking more water but my knee isn't giving me too many issues. Hoping by the end of this week that little voice simmers down and realizes that I am committed to getting fit, I can't keep wearing maternity pants and I'm tired of being flabby!

I wrote it on my calendar and I will leave you with this quote as it has motivated me the past three days:

"The voice in your head that says that you can't do this...

IS A LIAR" 

Until Next Time!
XOXO
Jenn

If you don't already follow me on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jsmith032310

New Shoes+ New Goals = Feeling Motivated!

Its been a month since I started my Operation Lose 30. The first month wasn't as successful as it could have been but I didn't go backwards so that a plus! My knee is feeling better but I am trying not to push it, I have been doing the elliptical at the gym to get my sweat on! This feels like a huge step for me because I HATE going to the gym. Not because I don't like working out, because I feel like the instant I step in I am being judged on my weight. I feel like people who are fit don't give credit to those trying to get fit. I find the empty stares and lack of smiles you get when you step into the gym very negative and slightly intimidating! But with my body protesting me jogging and walking on the pavement I had to buckle up, and get over thinking about what others are thinking so I can get to my goal. Right now its doing low impact, building leg muscles to strengthen in knee so I can get back out on the pavement!

 Anyone who knows me knows that I am good at making spontaneous decisions well this morning was one of those days.... I got up checked my facebook and decided I wanted to join a Biggest "Louser" Challenge here on base! With only an hour until a weigh in I found a partner to compete with me and made it to the gym! Now we got there before weigh ins so we got a good 45min of cardio in and I fell in love with this new elliptical machine which will probably become one of my best friends until I can run/jog outside.

Its one of those virtual everything machines. You can watch your progress on a track, up a mountain, around a housing area, or the intensity level. Or if you don't want to watch your progress you can watch TV (AFN of course) right there on the screen in front of you! AND to make it even more awesome you can hook up your iPod/iPhone/MP3 player and it will charge it while you workout. If we have more room in this apartment I would be seriously thinking of just buying my own!

So after our nice cardio workout it was time to face the numbers, now my WiiFit weighed me in at 167.8 this morning, but that was right after waking up. A couple hours later after our workout and drinking water I weighed in at 170 on the gym scale... 3 pounds seems like a HUGE difference, but clothes and water must do that to you! I really like my number better but for competition sake 170 is my starting weight. Then we used a Omron Body Logic Fat Loss Monitor to measure body fat and BMI. Appears you can buy your own on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Omron-Logic-Monitor-model-HBF-306C/dp/B00006WNPU , might be an interesting tool to have at home! These measurements were a little eye opening Body Fat: 31.6% and a BMI of 27.8. Really looking forward to seeing those numbers drop a little!

My plan for the following month is to get at least 4 days of Cardio in per week as well as strength and toning workouts outs at home (WiiFit Biggest Loser, modified p90x workouts, even some Jillian workouts). I want to be active daily. Meal planning will continue on as usual, We have been eating fairly "skinny" and I keep finding new healthy recipes my boys love! I seriously don't know where I'd be without Skinnytaste.com!  I do need to work on drinking more water, there have been days that I go and only drink 16oz of water on top of my 10oz cup of green tea in the morning!  

I am totally in love with my new shoes I found at the Yokosuka NEX, Nike Vomero 8's. I feel like they really help my supination issue and are totally comfortable **and cute**. After almost 10 miles this week on the elliptical my feet don't hurt, nor do my joints (but the Mobic might be helping in that area).

I guess its time for my sweaty self to go shower and get ready for my day with the family! I'll leave you with my monthly body pics, not much change I see from last month but hopefully the measurements will go down!

Until Next Time

XOXO

Jenn

31 August 2013

Weight: 170

Body Fat: 31.6 %

BMI: 27.8

Waist: 37.5 inches

Hips: 44 inches

L Thigh: 25 inches

R Thigh: 25 inches

L Arm: 12 inches

R Arm: 12 inches



A Week of Appointments Leading to a Reality Check That I am NOT a 16yr Old Athlete Anymore!

This week has been a week of many appointments, ending in news that could be worse but I still didn't like hearing...
Monday  I made a hair appointment to take some Mommy Time while Daddy watched the kids. With this heat and humidity mixed with having two kids under 3 keeping me busy I didn't feel like I had enough time to manage my medium length hair and wanted something cooler. I thought about going back to my high school hairstyle but figured I needed a "Mom" cut. I opted for Posh Spice inspired Bob. Hoping the shorter style will be easier to maintain and the front is still long enough to put up when I exercise!

 

 

 

Tuesday I had my 8 week postpartum check and IUD procedure. My OB/GYN doctor said everything is healing great and told me IF we were to have another I am no longer a VBAC candidate, which is fine IF we decide on another I wouldn't even opt for a VBAC. After reading horror story after horror story I still decided on the Mirena, I don't have to remember to take something everyday and its a semi-permanent solution to prevent a 3rd Smith running around for awhile! So far I haven't had any of the crazy symptoms you read about in the horror stories and the whole procedure was relatively painless and quick!   

 

Wednesday Little Miss Bristol had her 2 month well-baby appointment... AHHH where did these past 8 weeks go to! I feel like just yesterday she was in Tachikawa at the NICU now she's in 3 month clothing (mostly some 0-3 still fits) and a little chatter box when she's awake! She weighed in at 10lbs 12oz and is 22 1/4inches, right in the 50th percentile for her age. The new pediatrician is AMAZING, sadly she is just a manning assist while our other is out but she was so great I wish she would stay! She said Bristol's development looked great and had no concerns.

 

Thursday I took another Mommy day but it included carting the kids around since Zack was working nights. One of my Friends and I drove down to Yokosuka, I was on a mission to get new running shoes since I needed a new pair, I was wondering if my shoes were part of my knee issue. I did get a pair and REALLY want to try them out but that leads me to Friday's appointment...

 

Friday I finally called and scheduled an appointment with my PCM to get my knee checked out. Last Saturday I went on a 7.5 mile bike ride followed up on Sunday with another day of C25K which I got my run time down and was so stoked! But after my cool-down and was relaxing in the house my knee started killing me. I have had 2 knee surgeries, one on each knee back in the day of being a school athlete. My last surgery- a Lateral Release- was 10 years ago and left me on crutches for months and lots of physical therapy, so I know my knees have some problems. After not working out for 5 days and the pain becoming no better and worse by the day I knew I had to at least go make sure I didn't tear anything. After a not so pleasant exam of twisting and pulling and pushing on my knee, I got news that could be worse but Dr. S is on board with getting me to run the 5k in November so I will make it through....

 

I managed to sprain my MCL and have possible Bursitis. Now he was 75% sure its just a sprain and I didn't tear my MCL but I have a follow up appointment in 3 weeks to re-evaluate it. He also suggested that at my next appointment we talk about sending me to the orthotics lab on base for custom knee braces, he said the position of my hips and leg shape appears to put a strain on my joints as it is which is made worse by exercise. The current plan of action includes R.I.C.E. and Mobic (Mobic: a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat pain or inflammation caused by arthritis). He doesn't want me to start up any outside running if I start feeling better until after my follow-up and has suggested swimming and elliptical if I feel up to it. Also he suggested I quit wearing flip-flops, they are the worst choice of footwear since they have no support and with my gait and alignment issues put added stress on my joints, he said if I want slip-ons Birkenstocks or Crocs are the best options... guess I need a pair of Birk's then :)

 

So what have I learned from all this? Apparently I jumped into getting ready for this 5K a little too hard too fast after being so inactive (I'm still blaming the bike ride on causing this, since I didn't feel bad when I was running). I am getting older, I am no longer that 16yr old high school athlete therefore my joints need a little extra TLC and don't bounce back from injury as well as before. I hate not being able to work out but hoping by taking it easy, when I do start training again it will feel great! Dr. S is also going to help me lay out a workout plan that will get my 5K ready. Although I want to be out there running as I type this I am thankful for medical providers who want to help me to my end goal and are supportive instead of telling me to give up!

Here's to hoping for a speedy recovery cause I want to wear my new shoes so bad and hate feeling like a lazy bum!!!

 

On a more positive note I am down 4lbs in Operation Lose 30... Kind of looking forward to taking my progress pics around the 1st of the month because although I might not be dropping lots of weight I am feeling better and feel like I have less back fat!

 

XOXO

Jenn