Working on my Six-Pack

It's only about 15° F outside today, so I was not about to exercise outside today.
I might sometime subject myself to that, but I won't inflict it upon my innocent kids. I still have been exercising though. I've been doing so with one of my favorite Exercise TV trainers, Cindy Whitmarsh. I like her Fat Burn and Less Is More cardio sculpting workouts. Today I did her Six-Pack Calorie Abs workout. I had forgotten how much I love it. Because I have just started exercising again after having my baby, my core needs a lot of work. This workout is perfect because it adapts perfectly from beginner to advanced.

Seriously, I feel like this workout is worth doing daily. Let's be honest though, I'll probably only do it a couple times a week. It takes less than fifteen minutes and is super effective. Try it out!

Seriously Good

Sometimes I have zero self-control. I'm pretty good about not buying fatty foods myself, but if someone else provides it, I have a hard time resisting. Thank goodness for delicious gum, like this Extra Key Lime. Instead of reaching for a cookie or french fry, I can chew this instead. It really tastes like key lime pie or lime sherbet and stops me from eating what I would inevitably regret eating later. Thank you, Sugarfree Gum!

Measuring Progress

Last week I decided to do some body measurements so that I could measure my progress better. I've never done this before, but I'm already glad that I did. I measured in centimeters using a flexible measuring tape:

• Bust: Measure around the breast right at the center line, but don't pull the tape too tight.
• Chest: Measure just under your bust
• Waist: Measure a half-inch above your belly button
• Hips: Place tape measure around the biggest part of your hips
• Buttocks: Measure around the midline of your buttocks
• Thighs: Measure around the biggest part of each thigh
• Calves: Measure around the largest part of each calf
• Upper arm: Measure around the largest part of each arm above the elbow
• Forearm: Measure around the largest part of the arm below the elbow.

I also measured my pulse for a minute to get a resting heart rate and then my total weight, of course.
Because of a rotten cold, I wasn't able to start back to running until this week. Monday was pretty discouraging. I would try to jog at a brisk pace and after about two house lengths I was ready to walk. Wednesday I tried jogging again. I decided postpartum for me is lower than "couch potato", because running for a full-minute is too long, even at slow pace. I opted instead for 30 seconds fast jogging and then a minute walking. It turned out great! I was able to go a couple miles that way and even keep up a reasonable pace on the running segments. It was much more encouraging (although I still have a long ways to go).

Well, after one week, I already have made a small amount of progress in my measurements. Once a week I'm adding data into a speadsheet so I can make a graph. This is what it looks like now.

Which Direction Are You Heading?

Now that my baby is six weeks old and I'm cleared for exercise again, I have been looking forward to getting back into an exercise routine. I had been planning to start week one of the Couch Potato to Runner training program. The weather last week was in the upper sixties, and now the high is in the forties, but that wouldn't have stopped me. Unfortunately I also have a cold with a killer sore throat. I have postponed my first cardio workout, but that doesn't mean I have to hold off on everything.

I have still started back up with hand weights. I love feeling my arm muscles work and know that I'm getting stronger. It will take some time before I am strong enough to do this upper body workout with 10 pound weights again, but I'm sure I'll get there.

Today at my postpartum doctor appointment, I weighted in at 180.2 pounds. It's a far cry from where I'd like to be, but it's closer than I was after my previous pregnancies. Even thought the weather and a virus are not in my favor, I'm determined to get started in the right direction. Here is great quote by Jon Gruden:

"You never stay the same. You either get better or you get worse."

Which direction are you heading?

I'll Be Back Soon!

I had my beautiful baby girl 3 1/2 weeks ago, which means that pretty soon I'll be back exercising and working hard to get back in shape. I've got about 30 pounds to lose (way better than the 50 I had to lose after having my last child). Pregnancy does a number on the physique, but aren't these adorable babies worth it? I definitely think so.

I can begin exercising again on October 25, so starting then I should starting posting more regularly as well. In the meantime, let me leave you with a great quote I found. It has proven to be true in all aspects of my life, including getting in shape.

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
- Calvin Coolidge

Great Information

Here's another great informational website on nutrition and exercise. Check it out!
http://hussmanfitness.org/

How to Slim Down

Sorry I've been so lame about this blog. I'm eight months pregnant and definitely not slim. In a few months I still won't be slim, but I'll be very actively trying to get there again. This time around I'm lighter than I was with previous pregnancies, but I'll still have plenty to lose.

In the meantime I found this amazing blog that has lots of healthy weightloss tips. Check it out here.

Pushing Yourself While Having Fun

A few weeks ago we took a vacation to Portland, Oregon. We enjoyed many things, including the Historic Columbia River Highway and all of the waterfalls. We hiked up to the top of Multnomah Falls. It's only 2.2 miles round trip, but has a 700 foot elevation gain. With a cold and at six months pregnant, it was a little challenging to push myself to the top, but I made it. I was seriously relieved enough to see that 11 of 11 switchbacks sign that I took a photo. Really though, I enjoyed myself immensely. it was so beautiful and fun to exercise in a different way!

We don't all live close enough to take this particular hike, but surely we all live close enough to something. Take the opportunity to get some exercise doing something fun out in nature.

Eating a Rainbow

Have you ever wondered if different colors mean different things in foods? Well, I hadn't, but I found it very interesting to learn that they do. Here is a list of what vitamins and minerals are found in the rainbow of fruits and vegtables.
Here are more healthy eating Tips and Recipes.

Help More than Yourself

In my pregnant condition it won't work out this year for me, but after my last pregnancy I did the Pound for Pound Challenge. For every pound of weight you lose, they will deliver a pound of food to a local food bank. I pledged 20 pounds, but ended up losing 26. It's nice to know that 26 pounds of food were delivered to local people in my community. Last year 3.5 million pounds of groceries were delivered to food banks.

Even if you can only pledge a few pounds, do it and help support two good causes: families in need of food and you getting to a healthier you!

Don't Take Advertiser's Word For It

I try to be reasonably consciencious about checking food labels for myself and I am so glad that I do. Yahoo Health and Men's Magazine teamed up to rate breakfast cereals and made a list of the worst offenders for cereals marketed as healthy when it really isn't the case. They also have rated other types of foods if you want to check it out. You might be surprised if you've been assuming that cereals like Raisin Bran, Start Smart and Multi-Bran Chex are healthy choices.Luckily I don't eat any of those, but it is a definite reminder to me to check my nutrition information and not just take the advertiser's word for it!

Slowing My Decline

Typically, eating right and exercising gets you more and more fit and into shape. Pregnancy gets you less and less fit and less into shape- well into a rounder shape. I've been doing both. I've been very conciencious to take it easy and I've had to adapt my exercising because of my growing belly. I have, however, still been exercising.

I've changed my outlook. I'm certainly not trying to lose weight anymore (I've gained almost 15 pounds already). Now I exercise to slow my decline. It's certainly working. Despite my weight gain, I look and feel so much better than I did with previous pregnancies. (Hopefully I can avoid gaining quite so much as well.) I still get a little winded when I run up the stairs or am carrying a child up the stairs, but I remember getting out of breath even easier with those past pregnancies.

I've been doing The Couch Potato to Runner Program, but I'm even taking that slowly. I did week two for two weeks. I may not ever be able to keep up a very fast pace while pregnant. Even if I never get beyond sprint/walk/jog intervals for any duration of time, I am still WAY BETTER OFF than I would be if I didn't try.

I imagine that most of you are not pregnant, but the idea still applies. Do what you can. Even if it's not as much as you wish you could do. Even if you only have 20 minutes, that's better than nothing. Doing something will be so much better for your health and almost even more so for your confidence. Prove to yourself that you don't give up even when things are hard.

++Have twenty minutes to work on your arms, try this.