30 Day Shred: The END!

 

Well, here they are...the SUPER DRAMATIC before and after photos. Ta da!

Ok, so I look pretty much exactly the same, but I do FEEL better! See how I stood further away from the camera in the "after" photos so as to appear smaller? Tricks. I forgot to be all gloomy and sad in the "before" and then put on make-up and smile in the "after", that always helps too.

As far as measurements go, I did lose about a half inch to an inch on my lower waist, which was a surprise. Most of all though, I am so glad that I did this 30-day challenge. Not only did it get me kick-started back into working out and eating healthy, but I made some new friends in the process! (barf, I know, but it's true)

Unfortunately I started having some lower back/hip pain the last few days that is progressively getting worse. I will be getting myself checked out and hopefully back in working order soon. I am seriously looking into that half marathon in October, I was in the best shape of my life after the half I ran two years ago and it would be an excellent motivation. 

These next few weeks will be a test for me to see if I can still get some exercise and keep eating healthy through all the craziness. If you haven't read about our upcoming adventure, click here.

How did the rest of you shredders do? Did the word shredder make anyone else think of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles just now?

30 Day Shred Week 4: Failure

This is a lie:

This week’s attempt at the 30 day shred really can’t even be called an attempt. It can however be called a failure. I think I did the shred maybe 2 days this week. To be fair I went out of town and I did do something exercisey 5 out of the 7 days. It was nice this week so we took a lot of long walks and when I was out of town I went for a beautifully refreshing jog through the city of Walla Walla. I actually got a bit lost and had to run further than intended. Bonus!

I’m not sure how this next week will go. I don’t know how often I will do the actual shred, but I do plan to exercise in some way as many days as possible. I am even flirting with the idea of running my second half marathon in October, but that is a whole other discussion.

Here is a quick peek into my fabulous and relaxing weekend:

Our Friday night began with lots of catching up, homemade enchiladas, and drinking spilled margarita out of the bottom of the refrigerator with a straw. You know, like you do.

Saturday began with wine tasting (yes we rock matching t-shirts and cowgirl themed outfits, don't you?) and ended with a fancy dinner and some crazy dancing.

About half of the girls went to college with me in Walla Walla and we have a tendency to get nostalgic for old times. Speaking of old times, this trip back made us realize something…we are old! I mean some of us are getting into our EXTREMELY late 20s over here. Spending just an hour with some actual college kids made this mama yearn for her jammies and a pillow. But honestly, we were still able to rip up the dance floor at the Red Monkey…until about 11:30. PS, a dance club…in Walla Walla? Be serious. I did have a drink with a glow stick in it if that is worth any young-person points.

A round of French 75's for the table! And a failure to get the 60-year-old-man-bachelor-party to buy us a bottle of wine. I think that may be the actual definition of shame.

 

I was so happy to get back to snuggling with the baby girl on Sunday and celebrating my fabulous husband in all his fatherlyness. While I was gone Lily gave all her extra mom-cuddles to her dad, which was the best gift he could have ever received. She also gave him a slightly creepy picture book with his own face superimposed as the main character. He loves it.

She is being extra silly this week and loving her new play tunnel from Nani and Papa. She is also a little more clingy and quick to throw a mini-fit if she is removed from anything before she is ready. I think the mini-fits are due to some awesomely glacial molars (both in size and speed of movement) painfully poking their way through her innocent pink little gums. Evil molars, what are you good for anyway? Oh chewing food? Ok, but hurry up!

Just a couple days ago we found out some news (I am not pregnant, it is sort of similar however, though not nearly as permanent), more on that later. See how I keep you coming back for more?

Good luck everyone on the last week of the shred, I need your motivation!

30 days, 3 years and 13 months!

A lot to talk about in this post!

30 Day Shred: Week 3

I've been better about doing the shred this week. I did take Friday off, but 6 days out of 7 is better than my 5/7 last week right? I just keep reminding myself that it is much more than the NOTHING I was doing before. Tuesday night I did a different Jillian video on demand and when I jumped out of bed Wednesday morning to turn off the alarm I could barely walk! I don't know if it was her booty busting moves or the 2+ hour walk Lily and I took with my Dad, maybe both! I also feel like the stretching they do is never enough, but I just turn the video off and stretch by myself.

I don't feel like I am ready to move up to level 3 yet, so I will keep busting out level 2. That jerk Natalie is whooping my butt! I did get a comment from a friend I hadn't seen in a couple of months that I looked "smokin"...so there's that!

3 Years

Tuesday was Ryan and my 3 year wedding anniversary. We celebrated on Sunday by going to see X-Men: First Class at Cinebarre in Mountlake Terrace. Holy moly I LOVE that place! I had never been. For those of you not in the know, Cinebarre is a regular movie theater...only it is a bar! You have to be 21 to get in. The lobby is a regular bar and when you get to your seats you have a tabletop in front of you and a waiter that brings you food and drinks. AMAZING. It was so fun to carry my glass of wine from the bar into the theater. I may be immature but drinking during the day, especially in places where you don't normally get to, is so fun. The movie was great, it totally appealed to the super nerd that dwells behind this future-soccer-mom facade.

Afterward we took a trip out to Woodinville wine country (I swear I don't always center my life around alcohol), which is where we got engaged almost 4 years ago. We had a great time visiting the spot where Ryan proposed.

 Tree tunnels are my absolute favorite so it was very fitting that this was where he proposed. Also, the bench we sat on when he popped the question is called the "Love Bench" according to someone with a swiss army knife.

People were lining up for an outdoor concert (apparently it was Jethro Tull?), so we took advantage of their outdoor wine seller and plastic stemless glasses. It was a perfect day, 70 degrees and sunny with a slight warm breeze. If it weren't for Ryan's allergies I might still be sleeping on the lawn.

It was a fabulous day, but I was so happy to get home to my peanut.

13 Months

Lily is so funny these days. So smiley and loving. It melts my heart to see her expressing love all the time without prompt. She gives kisses and sweet snuggles randomly, always welcomed with huge smiles and thank yous from the recipient.

She has started pointing at the sky when planes go by. It may be my favorite thing. I hope to capture it in a photo someday soon.

She loves to imitate faces and motions. She won't always "perform" when I want her too, someone has a mind of her own! She also claps after everything she does and looks around to make sure that we are all clapping for her. It is hilarious. When she learns a new thing or does something we want her to do we clap and say "yay!" so she knows it was right. Positive reinforcement people! Now she expects it every time...uh oh. Oh, we are also starting to like "uh oh".

Play date with Stella. Apparently they find their mamas to be hilarious!

She is so close to walking, so confident, sometimes too confident. I have had to come to terms with the fact that she has many tumbles in store. I am always there with a snuggle and a kiss, but I can't hover around and bubble wrap the whole world. Watching your kid get bumps and bruises is so tough, but I am sure these physical owies are much easier to deal with than the emotional ones that are sure to come. First heartbreak? Kill me now. I will be more of a mess than she will!

Look at the awesome Pottery Barn chair that we got at a garage sale for $15! These things are usually like $100! This is her favorite place to stand and wave at cars/people/dogs/birds/trees. It took a few theatrical dives on to her face and much coaching from Mom and Dad, but she now knows how to safely get out of the chair. We are also working on getting off the big couch and eventually going down the stairs.

I can see her little mind working all of the time. She knows what I say to her and does things when I ask her to (unless she doesn't want to...stubborn!). It is just amazing that she went from a soft little lump to this completely conscious being in such little time. I know more words are coming and every time I see a new concept click in her brain it is like tiny fireworks in my belly. Better than new shoes. Not that I wouldn't mind new shoes.

I fully plan(ned) to continue the Ugly Doll pictures at least through the next year, but I just haven't taken the time to do it. She has been 13 months for almost 2 weeks now, is it too late?

I have a big weekend coming up. Wedding season has fully begun and one of my girlfriends is having a bachelorette weekend in our old stomping grounds of Walla Walla. I am going to miss my little pea, but she and her daddy will have lots of good bonding time leading up to Father's Day.

How did the second week of the shred go for those of you who are doing it? Anyone else enjoy day drinking in forbidden locations like I do?

30 Day Shred: Week 2

We made it through the first week! As I said in my last post, I opted for long walks on Saturday and Sunday, but on Monday I was right back at it! Tuesday I moved up to level 2 and I find it much more challenging. I am currently more of an Anita, maybe a little bit of Natalie thrown in when I get ambitious. Me and Anita, we're tight.

Oh, meet my weights:

Yeah, I can't find any dumbbells. These seem to do the trick.

I am feeling a bit sore today. Definitely finding my muscles again, yes! That post workout gin & tonic probably wasn't the best idea...

How are the rest of you ladies holding up?

Here is a preview of what's to come on the little bub front:

Happy Thursday!

30 Day Shred

Yikes!

 

A bunch of other girls and mamas are doing Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred workouts for the month of June and I am joining up because I need the motivation!

I was in pretty good shape for most of my life with participating in competition dance in high school and lots of gym trips/hot yoga post college. It always felt good to workout and I enjoyed eating well (I know, that is weird right?) When I got pregnant I was actually in really good shape having just completed my first half marathon. I managed to stay active during my pregnancy, which I think helped me drop the baby weight fairly fast. I am not looking to lose any weight actually, but I have NO muscles! With nursing I could pretty much eat anything I wanted and not gain weight, but it has been really hard to fit in a consistent workout routine with working part time and raising Miss Lily.

Just like a lot of moms my body has changed and things are just a bit softer than they use to be. I am nursing less now and need to start watching what I eat and exercising, it is time to take my body back!


Part of this challenge includes posting some before pictures. I took these last night with my macbook camera since Ryan was putting Lily to bed and we don't have a full length mirror. Please excuse the grainy photos and the scrub appearance, I just finished day 1 of my workout!

As if posting these awkward pictures weren't embarrassing enough, we are measuring ourselves and disclosing our starting points! I do like that we are going off of how our body shape changes and not a weight number, but still, these are now out in the world for my family, friends, strangers, even coworkers to see.

Ok, here I go!

• each arm (thickest part): R 10.5 L 10.5
• each thigh (thickest part): R 24 L 24
• upper waist (smallest): 29.5
• lower waist (at your belly button): 35
• your hips (biggest part): 38 

Did I really just put that on the internet? Yes I did.

The first workout went well. I didn't have any hand weights so I will pick some up tonight. I am a bit disappointed because I thought it was a different workout each day, but it will be nice to be able to up the intensity. We will be checking in with each other every Thursday, so wish me luck!


I'll be back soon to tell you all about Lily's fabulous flower girl adventures!