Paying To Climb Stairs

I know I am pregnant, but I have been feeling so heavy and unfit and sometimes it just gets to me. So I end up talking to my husband saying, "Why didn't you tell me I was gaining weight??!"

Really? How is he supposed to respond to that? He is a wise man so I know he wouldn't ever actually say anything. ;) But then I tell him I need encouragement to go to the gym- that he can watch our daughter and let me leave for an hour.

So today I did just that.

I got to the gym ready to burn some calories and lift some weights. I piddled around on some weight machines and then headed to the stair master. And while I was "climbing" it dawned on me that I am on this $5,000 machine of stairs...

I HATE climbing stairs and here I pay a monthly membership fee to "work out" on stairs...






It made me realize that I need to incorporate more activity into my day, like hiking or cycling or even walking. I only have 7 weeks left before this baby is born and I will NOT fizzle out now!

A Laptop In Pieces And I Am Still Pregnant

I have to reassure everyone that I REALLY love to blog here. That I am not one of those sporadic-when-I-feel-like-it-bloggers. I have a really good excuse for my absence...

My dear, amazing husband was looking up piano chords on my laptop and had it sitting atop our piano. Well, my beloved laptop of almost 6 years slid off and crashed into pieces on our tile floor. I watched it fall. I held my breath and let out a little, "SAVE THE LAPTOP!!!!!" But it was too late.

For 6 years that beloved white Mac had traveled with me and gotten me through four years of college. It was probably time to let it go, but it was still running so I held on.

Well, our journey together is over. And I just couldn't justify buying another Mac right now when we have a baby on the way. Priorities, you know?

So fast forward to a couple days ago. Hubby and I decided to buy the iPad! We both thought it was a great idea because it's bigger than a phone and lighter than a laptop. So here I am back at my blog!



Now, let's talk about babies...

I am now 32 weeks pregnant! It has honestly gone so fast. Unlike my first pregnancy where I counted every minute. Lol. Having a 1 year old does help! I hardly have time to focus on anything else!

But I have stayed pretty consistent with my healthy eating and moderate exercise. I have enjoyed several evening walks with my husband and daughter and done lots of swimming and some Pure Barre to fight the flab that tries to ensnare every pregnant woman! So far I have gained about 25 pounds, which isn't amazing, but definitely isn't over the top!

                                                       Mama, Baby 1, and Baby 2!

Third Trimester Madness! 

And I DO have plans for finishing out the next 8 weeks strong. I have cut back on certain carbs and fats and I am going to try and do a little more Pure Barre to tone my body.

Well, that is it for now! It feels so good to reconnect with everyone again!

Till tomorrow!

P.s. I can't seem to make the pictures larger? #newiPadproblems

Letting The Cat Out of the Bag....

   Not sure where the expression, "Letting the cat out of the bag" came from, but I am sure I could Google it and spend a solid 30 minutes reading different articles about it. But I won't do that right now. I will just continue on with this blog post. :)

   Okay, so you know how lately I have been complaining that I felt lazy and was just sitting on the couch and could not find the motivation to get going? Then the Women's Soccer team thing happened and that really inspired me to push past my "feelings" and workout. Well, the reason for all of that is...

   We are expecting Baby Two!

Still Can't Believe It! :)

  It's hard to type that it still feels unreal. On the one hand, it's amazing because our children will be close together in age (something I wanted), but on the other hand, it's like, "Oh no! I am going to be flabby for another year!" Terribly shallow, I know. Trust me, the good outweighs the bad. ;)

   So I am going to be trying to work as hard (and as safe) as I can to stay fit during this second pregnancy. And this is how I am going to do that:

•   EAT HEALTHY! Starting my day off with healthy, fibrous foods, and limiting my starchy carbs throughout the day, as well as eating lean protein. I know this sounds like what all the fitfoodies say, but they are fit and it does work. So.....
• REJOIN MY GYM! I like using YouTube for my workouts, but I need some weights to really help me fight the jiggle in my thighs and I need to hit the gym for that. I will be doing a little cardio, but my focus will really be on weights this time around. 
• DRINK LOTS OF WATER! Sadly, these pregnancy hormones have got me hating water at the moment. Which is majorly strange since I actually LOVE water. I drink it all day long with no flavorings. But right now it just makes me sick, so I force myself to drink it, and sometimes I add a little cranberry juice to it so there is a hint of flavor in it. Definitely better to be hydrated than to worry about a tiny bit of sugar! 
• CONTINUE STRETCHING! Just because I am pregnant does not mean I need to give up my flexibility! It actually helps me stay more comfortable. 

   These are the main things on my mind right now, but I will add things as I go along. I will also be posting my progress as well as some of my favorite healthy foods for any of my girls out there that are expecting and wanting to stay fit!

  Okay, let's MOVE!

Inspiration

You know how sometimes you just need a little inspiration to get up and work out? Well, I would like to thank the USA Women's Soccer Team for giving me the kick I have been needing to get my burn on.

These women are so physically fit (even in their middle 30's!) and have the stamina to push themselves to the very limit.

So today, while my little Beauty took a nap, I went to YouTube and worked out to Fitness Blender. It was only two short workouts, but it was more than I have been doing lately. I have been so tired and ran a few fevers last week and had just allowed myself to sit ALL DAY.

But not anymore! I will be getting myself up and at em' more! Look how many awesome women I have as an inspiration!!

Let's Move!

Healthier Lifestyle

It all started the other morning when I was making Husband some french toast for breakfast. I was whipping together the ingredients and noting, that's a lot of sugar. Hmm, that's a lot of butter. All of this is going on white bread...

And while we were eating, we were drinking coffee with heavy whipping cream and Husband was adding Maple Syrup to his already buttery, sugary toast.

And I didn't feel very good.

I couldn't feed this to him! I want him to live a very long, healthy life. I want our daughter to be healthy.

So Husband and I started talking. I found out that he was more than okay with a change. He said he had been feeling a tightness in his chest and felt lethargic.

That day I began making more nutritious meals. Spinach salad with homemade dressing for lunch. Vegetable stir fry for dinner. 

And then today we did our shopping. It was great to see all of the beautiful color in our cart!

That tomato looks poisonous it's so red!

We bought salmon and avocado, spinach, wheat flour, bananas, oatmeal, hummus, tuna fish, herbs, cucumber, tomato, grapes, black beans and potatoes to name most of the list!

I then got right to work on making some homemade Greek food. It was delicious!

Falafel was easier to make than I thought!

So much nutrition on one plate!

Not only was our food really good, but it was so much cheaper than eating out. If Husband and I had gone to our local Greek restaurant, one felafel pita would have been $7. I made 4 for about that price.

Now, I do have to mention that I thought we were doing good when it came to food. We didn't eat processed junk. I made almost everything from scratch. I made sure there were always vegetables included in lunch and dinner. But there was too much dessert and too much fat at other times. I was refilling the sugar container too many times.

We are now going to focus on cutting out most meat, dairy and sugar. And I think we are already feeling the effects of it!

~TabsAbs 

Sharing My Closet!

Everyone raise your hand if you have a lot of clothes...

I am raising both of mine because I have TWO closets that are packed full! I am not going to lie, I love to shop. Did you even read my previous post?

I love clothes.
I love getting clothes as gifts.
I love giving clothes as gifts.

Buckingham Palace... My home... ;)

Now I don't claim to be a major fashionista. Like I don't always accessorize, but I do love fashion!
And when I looked in my closet(s) and saw how many articles of clothing I have, and how I don't even get a chance to wear it all, I thought I NEED TO GIVE THINGS AWAY. And instead of throwing things out or dropping off a big trash bag at a random goodwill, I decided that I want to give things away to YOU for free!

No, really.

It would make my heart happy to see these beloved outfits going to good homes. You, my readers, have been so sweet and encouraging and I want to give something back.

So, here is what I am going to be doing every month starting TODAY:

I will post a video on my YouTube channel, Tabs Abs (and here), with the article of clothing I am giving away and all you have to do is tell me in the comments why YOU want it and the person with the best response wins! That's it!

I hope you enjoy what's in my closet!

~TabsAbs

                                             If you cannot view video please click here!

Clothes Look Better When You're Fit!

Good Saturday to You All!

Today I wanted to do a fun collaboration of some of my favorite outfits that I have put together, but unfortunately cannot even think about wearing at the moment due to the clinging baby weight and heavy whipping cream in my coffee. Hahaha!

I usually have not had someone at my disposal to photograph me whenever, wherever, so a lot of shots have been taken with my iPhone in a mirror. Sad, I know! ;) Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Selfie in the Dressing Room!

I adore this top that I found in a random Asian store in the mall. It was on the 60% off rack and was so different than anything I had worn before and pairs great with gold accent jewelry!

Selfie in a Coffee Shop Bathroom! Don't Judge! It Had A Floor Length Mirror!

Sometimes I really love dressing down, but this little sweatshirt makes it so stylish. I found the little gem in Wet Seal of all places and I was able to find a lipstick that matched perfectly with the hoodie strings. I can't remember where my jeans are from, but my nude flats are from Nine West. Soooo comfortable!

Shopping in Anthropologie!

First of all, I love Anthropologie! Best store to browse! So here I am wearing a nude top from Free People. I was shopping at Macy's when I saw a woman walking around with it and I fell in love. I kind of stalked her around the store, hoping, praying she would put it down. Annnnnd she did! It hugs my curves so well and goes with anything! The jean shorts were like $5 from the Macy's sale rack and my brown leather boots are from Chinese Laundry. 

Lady in Coral

Let me just start by saying I absolutely love this floor length maxi dress from Urban Outfitters. It has a built-in ruching that accents your curves and the coral color is just to die for. Also, it is so long that it actually hits the floor which makes it so elegant. Want to know a fun fact? I have worn this dress to 4 different weddings! But each time it was a different circle of friends so nobody knew. ;)

Black on Black on Black

 Sometimes I really love wearing black...And a hat. So here I am wearing a Wet Seal form-fitting dress that was $10, with a hat that says, Made in China, and my sexy lace Nine West heels. What a way to feel elegant! Here is another fun fact: I was almost 4 months pregnant in this photo!

Black and Brown!

I have so many nice things to say about this dress. This was a great find at a Ross store! I think it was $12.99 or something cheap like that. It has a natural slit that makes walking up or down the stairs a stylish affair. Haha! And the stripes just make it that much more trendy. I paired it with some simple brown sandals to match my sunglasses. Want to know another fun fact? I was on my honeymoon in this photo!

Off the Shoulder Elegance!

And here is one more! I wish I had a full view photo of this dress, but the prettiest part is the top. I love how this dress only has one sleeve. It just makes me feel feminine. I do not recall the brand, but it was in the Juniors section at Macy's, and of course, I found it on sale. ;) My necklace is an eye-catching ruby red heart from Swarovski Crystal.


I hope you enjoyed my outfits! And although it seems like I only buy items on sale, it isn't true. I have been known to drop $200 on a pair of Seven For All Mankind jeans, or $300 on a Dooney and Bourke purse, but I swear sometimes the sales just leap out at me! And I do love a steal deal, so I will continue popping by a Ross or random Asian store, because there are little gems hidden there!

~TabsAbs

Training on the Ice Again!

I have had a few passions in my twenty-something years, but ice-skating has always been at the top of my list. It is athleticism, dance, fashion. It is a glorious sport!

Here I am doing a show just weeks before getting pregnant!

  How I got into it, as well as my training schedule, will be in another post (remind me to get on that!), but needless to say, I was quite conflicted when I had to stop my training while I was expecting. I was scared I would never get back into it the same, or that my body would change so much that I wouldn't be able to do what I did before, or that I would be "old" and people would say to give up already.

But today when I got back on the ice for my first lesson in over a year, it was like I had never left. I began to stroke confidently down the ice rink and switch rather effortlessly into backward crossovers. The only thing that was different was the loud scratching of my toe picks (an indicator that I was sitting too far forward on my blades).

My coach lead me in some posture exercises and then she started off by getting me back into jumping. People who watch figure skating usually call it spinning, probably because they see the skater leap and then spin in the air, but they are actually called jumps. Spinning requires the skater to have one foot on the ground, while the other is in a certain position. Now, I don't want to get too technical so I will move on! :)

Anyway, everything seemed to flow together and before I knew it, my lesson was over and the zamboni (ice machine) was on its way out to clean the ice. I did not want to get off. I wanted to skate and skate! I was so energized.

Mother and Daughter on the Ice! 

   And I realized that nothing had changed. I could still skate. I could still learn and try new things and my life was even more complete because now my daughter was sitting all bundled up on the side of the rink with my husband watching me, smiling at me.

~TabsAbs

Running and Squats!

Hello Everyone!

I am excited to tell you that I have been running again! Before I got pregnant, I used to love to go on long runs. On the local track, around my neighborhood, and especially the beach! I never did a marathon, but I would run 6-6.5 miles at a rapid pace without stopping and I enjoyed it.

But after I got pregnant-BRAKE- I did not want to even think about running. The thought of my tiny baby bouncing around in my womb freaked me out. So I walked, or did water aerobics. Then as I have mentioned in previous posts, I had complications after giving birth that delayed my healing and I had to take it easy much longer than I wanted to.

I tried to run through my neighborhood when I was 3 months PP, and the pain was crippling, so I stopped that and just waited.

Finally, on March 31st (a late birthday present), I went for a run at the track. I ran one long, slow mile without stopping. My lungs were burning, but I did it! I was so invigorated that I knew I needed to start back up again.

Post Run!

So with my darling husband's help, I run about 3 times a week at a park that is quite a distance from us, but is very neat and pretty. It is a perfect setup. My husband puts our little girl in the infant swing (which she absolutely loves) and I run the entire radius of the park. We all have a great time and everybody wins!

So keep that in mind if you have a little one and want to work out!

Now onto my next topic.... Squats...

I did a lot of these when I was doing my 30 challenge, but stopped afterwards. Since then I keep reading about how amazing they are for that perfect bum and toned thighs so I decided I have to start doing them again. Usually I am a go-big-or-go-home kind of girl, so I am doing 50 squats a day indefinitely. I did not put a time limit on this because I need to keep doing them, not just reach some date and then stop again.


So  I hope you join me!

~TabsAbsFitness

Time For More Challenges!

I don't know about you, but when there isn't any fire under my feet, I tend to kick back and relax. But there are too many things I still want to do and learn! I don't have time to recline right now.

That being said, I am going to be doing a series of challenges over the next few months. When I did my 30 Day Fitness Challenge, it really motivated me. I was so consistent and I enjoyed blogging about it every day and it was great having you join me! It felt like a community effort. Haha!

Working out in my nursery studio!

Since the end of my challenge, I have continued to work out (maaayybee not every day), but I am wanting to focus on my diet right now. Too much sugar has turned me into a Plum Fairy and I don't want to feel that way!

So what I am going to in the next 30 days is cut the sugar, fat, and extra starches most of the time. And what I mean by that is I will be making a conscious effort to cut the "fun junk" unless it is absolutely necessary. For example, someone has a birthday next week (hint: me!) and the birthday girl should be able to have some cake! Also, family is coming in from out of town and that means eating out and other goodies, but even with all of these additions, I know I can make better choices!

Let's do it together! Let's have a piece of fruit instead of ice cream. Let's skip the buttered bread and let's cut back on sugar. At least try it for 30 days! I will be posting what I am doing and will be sending tips your way.

Here is to healthy eating!

To Diet or Not To Diet...

The word "diet" stirs up so many emotions in us. It can be a major mood killer, or someone's beacon of hope. Many of us have told ourselves we would cut out ALL starchy carbs and then a few days later the smell of pizza is in the air and there is this internal debate of should-I-shouldn't-I. Or we set ourselves on a diet that we just know is going to make us thin finally and all past problems will melt away.

But they don't.

Usually what happens is we "cheat" and then feel guilty and then give up altogether. That does not sound appealing! What does is changing what goes into the fridge and pantry (and don't forget the freezer!) in the first place.

So what I want to do in these next few blog posts is share some of the help-me-stop-eating-so-much tips that have worked for me. 

So many people do not eat breakfast!

Tip #1: Eat breakfast!I know that sounds soo basic, but it really does fire up the metabolism and keeps you from saving all of your eating for later in the day. 

Tip #2: Before eating lunch or dinner, eat at least 2-3 stocks of celery. It starts up the metabolism and since celery is so low in calories, it actually takes more calories to burn them than to consume! 

 Tip #3: Drink a tall glass of water before every meal. There wont be as much room to stuff your stomach with other things! 

Tip #4: If you are craving that brownie or cookie or whatever temptation it is, take just one bite and throw the rest away. You were able to enjoy a little bit, but not overindulge.

I used to eat out of boredom or simply for taste and would justify that with a good, long run on the treadmill. But just like that big piece of equipment, you aren't getting anywhere. You stay the same.

Now that I have had my baby, I get sooo hungry for fattening foods (like I mentioned in previous posts!), but I really want to become healthier and eat a lot less sugar than I have been.

Why don't you join me? :)

Day 30 of Challenge!

Hello Everyone! The day has dawned on the last day of my challenge! 30 days ago I decided I would work out at home using only free videos I found online or to DVDs I already owned.

What I wanted to see was could I be motivated enough to workout without a trainer? Without going to a studio? Without paying a cent? And I did it! Every day I headed off to my daughter's nursery with my laptop to browse Youtube in search of a great workout video.

Some days I seriously only had 10 minutes to devote to exercise, while other times I spent a solid 45 minutes. But I tried not to focus on that and instead focus on doing something every day.

Well, here are the results! 

Day 1 of Challenge and Day 30

I definitely feel like my waste has shrunk a little bit! But please understand, except for a few days where I was sick, I did no dieting. I never cut out sugar or carbs or cheese. I improved simply by doing something every day.

I think there is this temptation to bite off more than we can chew when it comes to a fitness regime. We think we have to run 5 miles a day, do 1000 squats a week and cut out all sugar. But that kind of lifestyle quickly loses its appeal and discouragement sets in. Try just 10 minutes a day. It is more than no minutes! :)

Well, this concludes my challenge! Thank you to everyone who has followed along and for all of the sweet, encouraging comments! I hope I have inspired you in some way and I have decided that my next target is to clean up my eating a little more. We will see how that goes so stay tuned! ;)

Day 29 of Challenge!

So guess what I did today?

Pure Barre.

It's been a while so I decided today was the day. I must say there were a few bittersweet moments as I worked out because I used to switch back and forth between the two PB DVD's while I was pregnant and it brought back memories!! I cannot say I was one of those women who adored being "with child." I couldn't sleep on my back or my stomach or my left side (my baby would kick like CRAZY in the womb if I lay on my left side!) and my back hurt a lot and I had a lot of morning sickness. That being said, feeling my little girl kick in the womb was surreal and I do miss that.

Anyway, back to Pure Barre. :)

My little red ball...

 The DVD is called Pershing Square 2 and I am sure it can be found on Amazon if you are looking for a deal! It really is an effective workout, I just wish it wasn't so darn expensive to go to their studio! $175 a month is a little more than I am wanting to spend right now.

Well, my challenge is over tomorrow... Another bittersweet moment. Haha!

Bring on DAY 30!!!

Day 28 of Challenge!

I woke up feeling a little nauseous this morning so I decided to keep things light today, starting with my eating. For breakfast I just had a Greek yogurt, cherry and banana smoothie and then worked out to Ballet Beautiful.

Ballet Bicycles

This was a full body 15 minute workout that was decently difficult but not nearly as hard as some of her other videos! Still, I worked my whole body and I felt good about that.

So keeping with the ballet theme today, I tried XHit's Natalie Portman routine.  

Not quite on pointe, but nice workout

This one was only 8 minutes and it never felt hard but I was still tensing my muscles so I choose to believe my body benefited from it. :) I do not have the time or drive to work out 8 hours a day, 6 days a week like Natalie Portman did preparing for her role in the Black Swan, but I always do what I can and I feel good about that.

And I think I ended tonight really well. Still not feeling the best, I kept dinner light, but very good and nourishing!

These wonderful veggies here... 

Became these... :) 

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

 Soo delicious and not heavy on the stomach! I thought about having dessert because I told you I have a major sweet tooth, but decided to skip that tonight.

Bring on Day 29!

Day 27 of Challenge

Have you ever noticed just how many different names there are for the Butt? The Bum, the Booty, the Behind, the Rear, the Seat, the Badonkadonk?

Well, whatever you prefer to call it, that is what I really focused on today.

Iconic Bum lifter exercise!

So I tried to find a video from a much less popular Youtube channel to get my burn on, but I think I went through 4 different videos trying to find one that wasn't just an ad, or one that actually had some quality workouts, but sadly I couldn't and ended back over at FitnessBlender. I only did the first set of this 3 set Brazilian Butt Lift because I was just a little bored with it. Sometimes I find it hard to workout with the guy instructing via voice over. There is no music, just his voice and an occasional sniffle.

So after the first set, I moved over to Pop Pilates Bombshell Butt Series.

Cheerful as always!

It was really hard! I struggled to stay in each move for the full length so I hope it was working! It just takes soooo much exercise to see progress. How many squats do I have to do to see the kind of results I want? How many hip raises are in my future?? It all gets a little daunting after a while.

Yet when I think about it, what is my vision for my "fit" self? Any time I think, "Well, it's to be somewhere in between this person and this person." I am just comparing my body type to someone else's and that isn't going to get me anywhere except discouraged. A Dr. Seuss quote comes to mind:

Be YOU!

 I have to keep going and do what I can to be the best ME and not try and be someone else! And with that thought I will bid you, Adieu. :) Bring on Day 28!

Day 26 of Challenge!

The past couple of days I haven't slept very well. This has made me feel a little groggy and didn't give me much energy for exercising. I will not lie, working out was not high on my list of things to do today. When I put my baby down for her afternoon nap, I was very tempted (VERY) to just plop down on the couch and read or play on my phone. Or do absolutely nothing.

But ironically, working out can increase energy so off to the nursery I went!

This is one of my favorite oblique poses.

I just selected FitnessBlender because they had an Arm and Ab combo workout and I could knock out both areas with one search. But it was not my favorite. For example, throughout the workout one move would be on the ground and the next was standing up and then back on the ground and then back up again. This just made the video feel really choppy and sporadic. So I would not revisit this particular video, but at least I worked out.

Getting back in shape after having a baby is HARD. It feels like one day you are making great progress and then the next day you swear that flab grew on you overnight! I think the best way to combat this is to keep going and try not to let yourself go in the first place!

Feeling a little discouraged but pressing on!

 Alright, You Guys, the end is in sight! Bring on Day 27!

Day 25 of Challenge!

Let's call today The Sunday Stretch because that is what I really focused on today. I hardly slept a wink last night which put me in such a funky mood this morning so I just wanted to do something relaxing today.

Funky mood!!

Since I knew I was going to be doing a lot of stretching, I had to get my muscles warmed up so I did two leg workouts to make my thighs nice and ready.

Hip and Leg Killer!

I did this one before, remember? When I was sick and just felt like laying down to workout? But it is sooo effective and really works the legs and hips like it says! Even Mrs. Bowers shows signs of fatigue!

Inner thigh time!

 Then I did an inner thigh workout. I actually never did this one! It wasn't too hard but I could feel that my inner thighs were being targeted so one point for me!

After all of that I was ready to stretch into the splits so I put on some relaxing piano music and just relaxed as I stretched.  It was just really nice and I was happy that my body is still so limber.

Well, Happy Sunday Stretching, Everyone!

Day 24 of Challenge!

Hey, guess what?  I am sore this morning! Those 100 squats from last night really did some damage that I could have missed out on. So here I am feeling like a winner right now! :)

Speaking of winning, today I tried out the popular PopSugar Channel. I realized I had never worked out to any of their videos before so this was the day.

Fight the flab!

First was Arm Jiggle Tightening Workout. It was only 10 minutes and pretty easy. I never once felt like, "Oh man, when is this over??" But it was entertaining and I am sure it did something.

Then I worked my abs with The Ultimate Ab Workout For Your Skimpiest Bikini.

Decently difficult

First of all, I just had my baby 3 months ago so a skimpy bikini is not in my plans, but toning my abs? Yes! Now this one was quite advanced and I liked it. The first exercise was in a push up position with something that glided under your feet so you could move your legs in and out to really work the core and since I did not want to step on a towel, I used dryer sheets! I thought it was a great idea! And it burned my abs.

I also lightened up my eating a little by substituting Naked Juice for one meal.  I have to be careful to continue eating properly and drinking plenty of water since I am still nursing.

All in all a pretty good day! See you tomorrow!

Day 23 of Challenge!

You would not believe the kind of day I had! It was pretty much several errands that took me all over town and these were the type of errands that no one enjoys doing. Then it was home to make dinner, bathe and feed my baby and suddenly it was late. Too late to finish crocheting a pair of gloves for my husband and almost too late to work out.

But I knew I had to do something. I couldn't miss Day 23. So I had the genius idea to do a squat challenge! Keep that in mind if you only have about 10 or 15 minutes to exercise and want to feel a burn!

100 Reps and smiling!

Fitness Blender had a Part 2 of their Squat Challenge Series and it was really good! I will definitely be feeling that in the morning!

So that is it! Aren't you proud of me, though? It would have been so easy to put off my workout until tomorrow, but I really do believe everyone has at least 10 minutes!

Happy Burn, Everyone! See you tomorrow for Day 24!

Day 22 of Challenge!

You know, as I have been focusing on getting fit these past 22 days, I couldn't help but ask myself what my real motivation was. I am not the girl I was a few years ago.

 I am a married woman now.

 I am a mother now.

Why does a married woman get/stay fit? For her husband? For health? For herself only? Why does a mother do it? For health? To keep up with those little legs?

Why am I doing it? I guess it would be for a few reasons... Yes, for health. My body is God's temple. It is also because I want to look nice for my husband and set a good example for my little one. But I think the biggest reason is I want to be ready if/when I get pregnant again. I can sit comfortably with an extra 7 pounds on my body but if I were to be expecting again, it will be that much harder to get the weight off afterwards.

So I will work really hard now! And here is what I did...

All kinds of crunches...

I was ready for more ab work today so I did XHit Victoria's Secret Abs. I have no idea why it is called that. Does the instructor have an inside scoop? Will I really look like a model after this? Well, the answer is NO! Because I did it and I still look like me. :) But I liked the intensity of the workout! Even as I type this I feel how tight my abs are!

Then I worked my chest.

She has little dumbbells, too!

So I did another XHit video for the chest and back. It was pretty straightforward and fast paced. I do like how energetic the instructor is.

Well, that is all, Folks. I just want to thank you all for keeping up with me for the past 22 days! It has been interesting for sure, but I am so glad I have had you along for the ride! :)

Bring on day 23!

Day 21 of Challenge!

Life is short.

I was reminded of that today when my husband and I sat at the bedside of a dear old friend as he slowly waits to slip out of this life and into the next.  He was so calm as his wife sat by him rubbing his shoulder. He has lived a full life. 85 years on this earth and one of the last things he said before we headed out the door was, "Time goes by very fast." Yes, Bob, it does.

It made me think about what I spend my time doing. What really matters at the end of the day? God matters. Family matters. After that, it is about doing the best we can with what we have and not wasting anything.

And I did not waste time today. I worked out as hard as possible because the end of my challenge is near and I want to feel good about what I did this past month.

Hard core. Hard floor.

So BodyRockTV today for the lower half. Except, Miss Instructor always adds abs and arms to her workouts so I basically got a full body hit. And if you want to try that same hit, then do it!

Then I hit my butt again with Ballet Beautiful!

4 Sets of 8 every time!

I did this video before, but never in conjunction with another butt and thigh workout so I feel like I am making great progress with my stamina and muscle tone. Yay! This is Part One of her workouts and it really does kill your legs. So go ahead and kill yours! :)

Well, that was my day. I hope I can inspire you to take every opportunity to do the most you can with what you have because time really does go by so fast. Just ask my dear friend, Bob.

Day 20 of Challenge!

Things do not always go according to plan and that was my day today. I ended up not having as much time as I would have liked to for working out, but isn't that how life is? And usually fitness is one of the first things thrown off the schedule.

But not for me! I have a challenge to finish! Even a little is better than nothing.

So like I said yesterday, my body was due for Abs and Arms and I did what I could.

"Chopping" wood!

The video was only 8 minutes and it actually felt really easy. :/ I don't know if it's because I am getting some serious muscle tone back or if it just wasn't a challenging workout.

Then I tried out this woman...

Say Hello to Joanna...

This video was all about light weights and quick repetitions. However, after working out with her I read some of the comments from her workout and some people were quite upset with her. They seem to think working with light weights and doing fast movements is wasting everyone's time and she is just a plain LIAR! Lol. I say if you want to use heavy weights, find a different workout. That is all.

Except for a 20 minute walk with my baby, that is all I did today!

Me and my wee little weights...

 Bring on Day 21! 

Day 19 of Challenge!

Lets call today Leg and Butt Day because that is what I really focused on this morning. Shorts weather is nipping at my thighs and I want to be prepared!

First things first was a Squat Challenge! I would NOT have done these on my own. I needed a video to motivate me. The whole time I was thinking about the nice bubble butt I was making. LOL.

How low can you go?

I recommend you try it out because it was hard and varied and motivational with it's calorie burning bar. So go ahead... Click here.

Then it was off to make my thighs leaner and slimmer with Ballet Beautiful. I have done this video probably 3 times since I started my 30 day challenge. Are you getting the picture? I think it really works! But don't take my word for it, you need to find your inner Ballerina for yourself. ;)

Stretching to keep muscles lean! 

Now you think I would be finished now, yes? No! I wanted to hit my legs one more time so I tried a BeFit video for calves. I really did not like it all that much. It was confusing... The instructor said not to place an emphasis on toes while in a calf raise to avoid bulking the muscle. But all we did was work on our toes. Then she said not to use weights because that adds too much weight and can bulk the calf. But then she grabbed some dumbbells to help work that area.

Do what I say and not what I do?

So I would not recommend this particular video, but I worked the area out all the same.

Okay, now I am done. Tomorrow I will focus on abs and arms so I am looking forward to that. See you here tomorrow!

Bring on Day 20!!

Day 18 of Challenge!

You know how " they" say when you're losing weight (or toning up) that it takes a week for yourself to notice change, two weeks for close friends/family, and 3 weeks for the rest of the world (or something like that?) Well, let me tell you that yesterday my husband said that I was definitely looking more fit! Yay! And no, he wasn't just being nice because he is always nice and when I asked him if he saw a difference when I was only Day 6 or 7, he said not really! So I know he meant it.

So there is progress, People!

Well, I found the saying and I guess I was a bit off! Haha! But you get the idea and I am glad my hard work is becoming visible.

So here is what my day looked like:

We did A LOT of Eagle Crunches. Ouch!

A 17 minute full body workout from Pop Pilates. It was hard and short and I felt like it was effective, which is what I am looking for in a workout! Try it out if you want. :)

 And then another stretch with this woman! I was feeling so tight that I needed to do this.

Did this one before...

After all of that I decided to clean my whole house, which required a lot of lifting, moving, sweeping, swiffering, scrubbing, bending... Whew! That felt like more of a workout than anything I did today! I guess that is what my fitness regimen was missing! ;)

See you tomorrow!