Workout Du Jour

This week it's Lindsay Brin's Boot Camp 2  It's the one that came with my prenatal series (which I loved and totally recommend, but you can buy just the boot camp after you're done).

Today I did warm up, the 2nd in the core exercises (which was still REALY challenging, I wonder if wearing my hip support belt makes it harder), the 6th in cardio/toning (also super challenging) and a cool down.

The cardio/toning, she does a new exercise every minute and usually combines arms with legs and toning, and it gets your heart rate right up there!

Actually, if I was deciding between the 2 bootcamp videos

I think that I would pick Boot Camp 1.  Even though it's more outdated, there are a lot more options.  I don't think its core part is as good (so if you're wanting to focus on core, I'd pick 2) but man, that boot camp 1 has a lot of options.

The other thing I love about the bootcamp is that the cardio/toning is only 10 minutes, so if you're not able to get up early (like some crazy people I know) you could still get your kid breakfast, and do the 10 minutes, throw in laundry, do a 3 minute core.  It'd be doable to fit it into your life as a mom.

I'm in the mood for a new workout video.  Does anyone have any recommendations for a less than 45 minute video?  I also have netflix, so I'm thinking of adding some there!

Monday Weigh-In

Hey ladies! 
Good news around here.
I weigh under 180 with my clothes ON.
Our scale's getting a little crazy.  Sometimes when I weigh I get 2 pounds variance one moment to the next, but I'm taking the low -- and I feel it's important to actually weigh with clothes on.
The wii fit said that I'm 0.7 pounds lighter, and I think that's about right.
I'm really REALLY happy to have come below that barrier, and that gives me 20 bucks to work with for clothing (I'm giving myself 20 dollars to spend on clothing every time the 2nd number of my weight changes -- for instance, it's now a 7).
I'm almost to my lowest point in the last 9 years, or so... which is really exciting. :)
I hope I can keep it up, like my last entry says... summer is killing me to diet.
More activity, less eating.  That's my vacation mantra. :)

Summer Dieting {booooo}

The setiment seems to be that dieting in the summer just can't be done.  After all you're active, you're hot, you should be able to eat more, right?

Truth be told, I feel that exact same way.  Add in the fact that my husband and kids are home all the time and I just want some tasty grub.

But I've promised myself, weight watchers. all year.

Except on holidays and vacations.  We will have a vacation this summer.  My hope is that my stomach KNOWS what a serving size is.  My hope is that I remember to eat slowly and really enjoy it.  My hope is not to gain a lot on vacation.

So, what are you doing this summer to keep it slim?  I swear my scale has an aversion to showing numbers less than 180 on it.

Dear Scale, 179 would be great.  Give it a try, you'll like it.

Monday Weigh In

I am down 1 pound.  I think.  I must admit my weigh-ins are happening with less and less clothes...
BUT, even with some clothing still on I went below 180... and THAT is a very happy thing! 

It is getting harder now that we're all home all day.  I think that being on a diet is going to help our buget though, because when everyone's home all day it makes you want to go out to eat.

And that makes me fat.

The end. :)

Workout Du Jour: Postnatal Boot Camp (old style)

Today's workout was Lindsay Brin's older Postnatal Boot Camp.

Man, this a goodie.  There are SO many options.

I've been mulling over if I should take some workout DVD's on my trip this summer.  I'm not sure I will.  I think I plan to just do a lot of walking and borrow some workout videos if possible.

And a lot of napping.

BUT, if I was going to take a DVD, this would totally be one of them.  She includes 6 core workouts, and 10 cardio/toning workouts.  In order to make a 30 minute routine, I start one one of her cardio workouts, and then do a core, and then a toning one.  It works my whole body in 30 minutes.  I have a high heart rate and I'm feelin' "done" by the end.  I think I could do this DVD for a mont without getting tired of it because of all the options.  Also, I like how there's  break in between so if I need to go save the world I'm able to without missing out on part of the workout, or pausing it (somehow I hate pausing it, and yes -- I am serious).

My target heart rate is between 112 and 149 and this got me up to 150.  So, that's pretty good.

I also really appreciate that she has 3 levels on all the exercises.  On many of them, I am proud to say, I'm doing the advanced but sometimes I have to drop to the lower one, just to keep going.  Most of those have to do with my arms.

Puny little arms. :)

What'd you do to workout today?  Is there a video you love that I'm missing?

Weigh-in Monday: Realism.

On Saturday I weighed in losing 0.6 pounds.  I'm happy with that.

I had a goal to lose a pound a week for the whole year.  I'm starting to think that's just not realistic.

This morning I realized that I have lost 7 pounds in 10 weeks (you record your weight in Your Shape every 10 workouts that you do).  That made me happy.  Of course, I wish it was more....

I watched Losing with Jillean over the weekend and the lady lost 32 pounds in 6 weeks!  Part of me is super jelaous, and the other part of me wonders if you lose it that fast, do you really have a lifestyle change that is able to support such a weight loss?  I hope so, as I'd love to give anyone who loses weight a giant hug... but I do think that mine is a lifestyle change that will work for me in the long run.

Even when I don't run. :)

Workout Du Jour: Core Fitness

Today I did Linsday Brin's CORE Fitness for Moms.

Wow.

I haven't done the CFS Method for a few weeks and this one is like all 3 of the CFS methods put together.  PLUS she works the rest of you.  Arms, legs, butt... no one is left out, but the stomach gets the most intensity.

It's true, I get tired of crunches, but she sure knows every ab exercise out there and somehow she keeps on surprsing me with the exercises she comes up with!  You REALLY feel it.

And of course, I met my friend the plank for a good 10 minutes of it.

My only beef is that I chose the 30 minute workout and at 32 minutes she was still going strong.  I had to stop it because we had a rushed morning.  I wonder how much longer it would have gone (you can pick between Express Core Sculpting: 30 minutes; Core Sculpting: 45 minutes; or Core Yoga and Pilates: 25 minutes).  Anyway, great workout and the time went fairly quickly.

This video is mostly a strength one, there isn't much cardio included.  However, that heart rate does go up just because you're workin' hard, hard, hard.  Feel free to compliment me on my slender waistline. :)

Saturday Weigh-in: Hilary

I weigh in on Saturdays, but usually I don't report it til' Mondays.  This weekend was our big monthly weigh-in where we check where we are according to our goals.  Yay!  We are 46 points (we combine a few measurements as well as our weight) down from the beginning point.  Every 20 points we get to do a new "thing".  This time we've promised ourselves some tickets to a show... and, of course dinner.  Perhaps a night at a hotel... takers? :)  Takers of our children, not my husband. :)

Anyway, sad news is that I only lost 3 pounds this month and 1.25".  That's pretty depressing for me, but the month -- healthwise -- was a real bummer.  I am reinvigorated to start anew.  Of course, the totals are pretty exciting.  I am down 19 pounds since my high at the end of January, and 17 inches lost!

Drew has lost 15 pounds (inititally, he lost a lot more, but he has tapered off), but the exciting news is that he's lost 4 inches off his waist which is what we were really focusing on for him.  Yay Drew! 

Much like Lara I often want to kill him for him losing weight (what seems to me) so easily.  BUT, it is nice to be doing this as a team.

We both just promised ourselves to make June our best month as we're home and we'll be vacationing a bit in July.

Promises, promises.... hopefully not easily broken. :)

Here's my overall totals, completely only for my own benefit:

Arms:  1"

Hips:  4"

Waist:  3.5"

Thighs:  3.5"

Bust:  3"

Calves: 1"

Neck:  1.25"

Workout Du Jour: Shed 5 Fast

Ladies.  I'm back to working out.  It's hard to work out with a cold.  I feel like I'm drowning in my own secretions... and who wants that?

Not me, that's who.

But I'm on the mend, back on the wagon and I must admit I'm picking workouts that appeal to me.  My anal side says I need to rotate through the stack evenly, you know -- make sure no DVD gets more love then the others... but today, I didn't.  I found one that spoke to me.  That's right, at 5:45 this fine AM a DVD spoke to me.  It said do me, do me good.

Woah.

Anyway.  I did it.  This is actually the DVD that I gave away on my blog.  Perhaps Maryanne could gather herself and do her own review (she had some disparaging words about Lindsay's peppy killing nature last time I spoke with her on this topic)   This workout is def. not for the faint of heart, BUT each exercise is done on the "levels"... which I really appreciate.  I tend to go intermediate, but these puny arms of mine sometimes can't even do that... so I jump into the easy portion.  It's 30 minutes of non-stop intervals.  It's not as bad as the 30 day shred, but because it's longer, I'd say it's probably on an even plane.  However, more enjoyable. 

Pro:  I like how she does some new and different exercises that I don't do on every darn DVD.  She seems to find new things to do that work new muscles and stretch you (which is what I hate about the 30 day shred).

Cons:  My back hurt.  I'm not sure if it's from the crazy yoga breathing that's on this dvd, but my back isn't loving me as of late.  This actually has nothing to do with the DVD but it was the one thing that bugged me this AM.

How was your workout today?

Late Monday Weigh In

Technical difficulties yesterday.

I'm up 1.5 pounds.

There, I said it.

I've also lost all will to stay on this whole diet thing.

I've also lost all will to pack lunches, help with homework, stay awake....

I am feeling better, and I'm trying to amp myself up.

I will give myself a break when we go on vacation, but that's not for over a month and I'd LOVE to be smaller when we head out on the vacation.  I'm loving how I look in the newer clothes.  I love not hauling around my big fat body...

But I'm up and I lack motivation.  My husband eating ice cream in front of me isn't helping either.

This is where you come in ladies.  How do you get past a "wall"?