New Before Pics and Day One of MY Journey Begins!

I am so excited to begin MY journey today. I put that in all caps everytime to constantly remind me to own it. Own this journey. Own this plan. Own my motivation. This is MY journey this time.

I am currently 150 lbs. My goal is 130 lbs. I had Matt take new before pics for me. I am trying to focus on looking ahead to future gains, not on all I lost... So, posting these requires some bravery. I have to reject all the feelings of shame that I'm tempted to feel. It's not because I'm just ashamed of how I look. It's because I lost so much that I'd worked so hard for. So, please do not think that I think a 150 lb 5'4" woman is in terrible shape. No body shaming here, and that has to start with not body shaming myself. <3 Oh, I should take measurements too. I'll have to do that next time.

I lost my food scale. So, I'm just using measuring cups for now.

After the kids got home from school, and we picked up our new fish from a neighbor, we all piled in the van to meet Daddy at the YMCA. Boy, that childcare is a total game changer!

I didn't want to do my floor exercises in front of everyone at the gym. So, I hit all the leg machines they have. I did one set of 20 at a challenging weight. Then, did one more set of 20 at one level heavier. I also did 15 minutes on the good old stairstepper. I got 50 floors in. 

After the YMCA, we got Little Caesars for the kids since we were pressed for time. We dropped off the 3 that had a dance class. Then, Matt went to Applebee's to get us some salads (Grilled Chicken caesar). I took all the croutons off of mine and didn't use the dressing. It was so good!!

When we got home, I jumped down to the basement with Isaiah and did my floor exercises. Wow! good workout!! Give it a try! Just switch the sets and reps. They got those switched around!

So, here's my day in my notebook. As you can see, Selah got a hold of it. I was under my protein, and over my carbs and fats. Not too shabby for day one, though!!

Whew!! I worked hard today!!!

Patience with Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression is a real thing, and it really stinks. Basically, your emotions do not match your reality. You feel sad when there is nothing to be sad about, or angry when there is nothing to be angry about. After 12 years of snowballing PPD symptoms, I finally gave in and saw my doctor. I started taking an antidepressant. One of my major goals is replacing my antidepressant with working out. I know it's possible because endorphins can fight depression. I have felt a lot better since I started taking medication for PPD, but I don't want to be on medication!!  I look forward to the time when I am past the risk window for PPD, and I can wean off the medication, but I am not there yet, and that is really discouraging to me.

So, I need to give myself a pep talk. I'm just going to pretend I'm talking to someone else because it's so much easier to encourage other people, right? Yes, I realize this may make me sound like a crazy person, but hey! I'm already on an antidepressant. So, why not just go with it?  (Pssst... I am TERRIBLE at jokes. That was an attempt at making a joke.)

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Just 3 months ago, you couldn't even balance an empty barbell. You really strained to push that sled without any weight on it, and could hardly push it at all when he put a little weight on it. Your side planks were 6-10 seconds long. You could not do a plank on the stability ball. You gave your all when you put in 25 minutes on the stair stepper, and the elliptical was enough to kill you. Box jumps seemed like a pipe dream.

Today, you were squatting weight on the barbell (I'm not sure how much total) for about 30 minutes. You pushed that sled with no problem even when he added weight. Your side planks are now a full minute long. You CAN do a full minute plank on the stability ball. You put in 50 minutes on the stair stepper or elliptical, and you challenge yourself with speed and calorie burn. And, yesterday, you did 5 box jumps.  

3 months. Look what happened in 3 months. Give yourself a break. If this is PPD, you'll get off that medication, but you just need some more time. Keep at it, and imagine what you'll be able to do in another 3 months...

The Little Mama That Could

1. My muscles are teeny. 2. Daisy works so hard!
3. First time successfully doing a plank with my feet on the
stability ball!! 4. 5 minute bridge! 

I've had a cold the last few days. Mucinex is how I am surviving. I haven't missed any workouts, though. Friday, Matt and I went to the gym and did some cardio. I did about 20 minutes on the stair stepper while Matt was on the treadmill next to me. Then, we went over to the bikes. It's crazy how much slower you burn calories on the bike compared to the stair stepper! It was nice having Matt with me. Saturday, I crushed my lower body routine at home! I doubled my reps for the squats, and I added 5 reps to all the other sets. I also did my core routine. So, yeah. I felt pretty awesome. Then on Sunday, I went to the gym, and spent 40 minutes on the stair stepper. I still wasn't feeling 100%. So, I didn't push myself to beat my record. Monday, I did upper body. I had to use lighter weights for some of the exercises. So, I felt a little wimpy, but it was because I am still sick. I don't feel too guilty.

My favorite meal:
rice, taco seasoned tilapia,romaine lettuce,
baby spinach, 1/2 avocado, and tomato slices
with lime squeezed all over it.

Today was a training day! Matt came with me. It was great. I forgot to get pictures of us! All legs. The leg press is fun. That's how I move furniture! Hey, my calves are getting defined, by the way!

I'm down 16 pounds since I started training 6 weeks ago!  That puts me 22 pounds away from my original goal, but since I'm weight training, that end goal will probably change due to muscle weight gain.

I'm working so hard, but my hemophilia gene is showing. the sides of my thighs, especially my left thigh, is all bruised up from the weights. I'm pretty sure that won't look nice in a swimsuit! Any hemo carriers reading this have tips on bruising less??

Progress Pics!!
First pics taken on April 8th.
Pink shirt pics taken today, May 17th.
In 6 weeks, I've lost 16lbs, and I've gone from large pants to medium!

Surprise!! The Kids are The Best Part.

I am amazed at how making my health and fitness a high priority is such a wonderful thing for my children. I honestly didn't realize how much they'd love this. I have 7 children, and they all support me 100%. They are excited that I am getting stronger. They love to hear when I beat my record on the stair stepper. Probably, the most important thing is that they like to jump in and exercise with me when they can.  Isaiah brought my weights and yoga mat upstairs today so I could workout while the kids were playing outside. Isaiah, my main coach, took a bunch of pictures.  Halfway through, they all came back in, and I had a room full of coaches, teammates, spectators, and cheerleaders.

Moms, we constantly feel guilty for choosing to take care of ourselves, but we are wrong. I am seeing the proof of this right now. When we put on our oxygen masks, our children can breathe easier.

Less importantly, I had a great weekend. Friday evening, I went to the gym. Since the stair stepper was taken, I improvised on the treadmill by getting it up to 8.0 incline. On Saturday afternoon, while my mother in law watched the kids, I went to the gym, and broke my record on the stair stepper: 123 floors, 50 minutes! Then, today was a home workout. So, I decided to do my lower body workout (in pics above). I was going to do core too, but it's late now (you know, for a mommy).  :)

Coffee and Cardio

108 floors!!! Take that, Powermill! I'm still just strolling up the stairs.
Someday, I'll be jogging up them like Rocky, but for now, I just try to beat my last record, and I did!

My Powermill record so far:

76 floors in 35 min

96 floors in 40 min

108 floors in 45 min

It must be my new favorite shirt and rainbow socks I wore today. :)

Also, I'm officially on my new nutrition plan. So far, it's going great! Along with my usual wonderful cup of coffee, I had eggs with broccoli and cheese; and steel cut oats with a little vanilla, nutmeg, and allspice for breakfast. A few hours later, I had chicken and sweet potato cooked up with cilantro, green onions, salt, cracked pepper, California style onion powder, and some tabasco sauce. After my workout, I had my protein shake mix over some frozen blueberries mixed together with some water and some fat free whipped cream. It was like melted ice cream. Really good! I'm supposed to have 3 more meals today, but it's already after 5:00! So, we'll see...
But, you know what? WE ARE OUT OF COFFEE. So, I better get to Mad Goat ASAP. . . after I take a shower and get out of these crazy socks!