How Far We've Come...

Until I Collapse....

   I have fallen prey to the "Strong is Better Than Skinny" slogan.  Not the idea of it, but the images of it.  Ripped biceps, toned abs, stellar legs.  Oh yes, I look at all these images and think, "Hmmm, my legs aren't really shapely like hers, my triceps still are in desperate need of repair, and don't get me started on my abs; which the lower portion proudly bears the stripes of motherhood, however can never show the physical work put into them underneath.  I work out literally almost an hour everyday.  Sweat pouring, muscles aching, lungs screaming, yet I envision the images I've seen splattered all over the internet of the "perfect, strong female physique" and while some areas of my body are starting to change and resemble them, I look no where close to those images.  Enter a hanging head on top of this. 

Stronger....

   I have been honest with myself and have told myself that being strong is extremely important.  The most important thing I have to keep in mind when thinking of myself being stronger is that, while my muscles may not be bulging or ripped, they are in fact becoming stronger!  I have started doing things I only aspired to do while seeing pictures posted by other people.  And while my form is not perfect, I still was able to go farther in my training than when I started out, thus executing moves or poses I never thought possible.   On top of this, my stamina has improved as well, and I am keeping up during HIIT routines, even dancing in between sets due to so much energy.  Also a feat I never thought would be possible.

 Finally extending my legs out in Side Crow.

 

Not Afraid....

 

     I know I still have more goals out there I wish to fulfill, and you better bet I'm going to do just that.  When I was younger, I would finish one thing just to find something else to tackle.  Well, working out as a whole has been one of those things I've stuck with.  I just can't quit!  People really have no  idea how addictive it is and how awesome it can make you feel, for real.  But all of these little "tests" for myself, well, as soon as I achieve one, I'm off to the next.  I'm still trying to prefect my form, because that is the perfectionist coming out in me, but my "hummingbird" tendency has me eyeing my next feat on the horizon.  And what makes me ready to move on to bigger efforts?  Seeing what I've accomplished, which has eliminated my fear of trying new things.

 

Take a Bow....

 

     I am like most people trying to lose weight or better themselves; I keep peeking at what's ahead, or sulking over how far I have to go.  What I'm training myself to do is to look at how far I've come.  For strength training, I've increased weights.  (No better feeling than having to buy heavier dumbbells!)  For flexibility, my yoga/Pilates poses are improving.  Cardio/Plyometrics, I'm doing longer HIIT workouts without having to take breaks.  I'm jumping higher, and moving faster.  During a cool down with my favorite workout site, Fitnessblender, they wanted us to go into a back bend.  I breathed out, "Yeah, right," because I've never been able to get my head off of the mat before.  I decided to try it, and look what happened:

 



 

     Now, I know my form is off and my arms aren't straight, but that wasn't really the most important thing on my mind right then.  I was just elated that I crossed one more thing off of my list.  Take a bow, or a back bow. 



Keeping Those Resolutions

Great Expectations...

      The New Year celebrations have come and gone.  Millions upon millions of people have aspired to make those resolutions and stick with them, come hell or high water.  Among all those resolutions, losing weight is a major frontrunner.  So, how many people vowed to eat right and lose weight?  And how many have already smacked their foreheads and shook their heads in disappointment?  We've all been there, believe me.  But do you know why we fail?  Because we set ourselves up to do so.  Great Expectations is not just a book, my friends.  One thing I've learned is to set realistic goals, obtainable goals.  One can plan to shoot for the moon, and that's admirable, but maybe try shooting for the star right in front of the moon first, especially if you've never made a trip that far before.

The Grand Illusion....

     One year I made the resolution to run a marathon.  "I'm going to do this," I proudly proclaimed to my husband.  I was excited, and the excitement of that endeavor clouded my reality.  For one thing, I wasn't a runner, well, not long-distance anyway which meant learning how to run a distance over a mile.  I was (and still am) a stay-at-home mom to a preschooler and a toddler, which meant I was their babysitter, so I'd have to take them along on my runs.  (That was almost a combined weight of 55 lbs. that I would be pushing, and I wasn't used to that, let alone running by myself.)  The factors kept piling up against me and finally the voice of reason, aka my husband, said, "Honey, that is a really great goal to have, but maybe it's not a right now goal. Maybe once both kids are in school and you could train by yourself. That would be a better time to try that."  He had a point.  A very good point.  I was so disappointed and my hopes crashed down around me.  But I stopped wallowing in self-pity and made another resolution:  I would practice Yoga and Pilates more that year; I would work it into my workout schedule.  I was always interested in it, so why not try it more?  At the end of that year, I was trying more advanced moves than I ever thought I would when I started, I had more flexibility and was stronger! I felt proud and accomplished.  It was a practical goal.  Instead of stating, "I'm going to be a Pilates instructor," and not knowing the first thing about either being an instructor or the moves themselves, I made the goal of just trying it more and learning the practice. 

 

 



 All The Small Things...

    This year, I've elected to incorporate more strength training into my workouts and also to try some new routines, such as Booty Barre and CrossFit. It's baby steps to emerge me from my comfort zone. As far as diet goes, I am striving to cut down (not cut out yet) nighttime snacking.  That is one of my weaknesses, so instead of deciding, "No more snacks at night, nada, zip, zero," and setting myself up for failure (because who am I kidding), I've cut down my snack, which is usually popcorn, to two nights a week (as opposed to five/six), then it'll be one, and hopefully will result in zero.  It's realistic.  I know I can do that and I won't cheat.  I will be accountable. 



Just Keep Swimming...

     Each year the promise of a clean slate, a fresh start, has us all resolving to these grand plans and then a month into them, we slip because it's just too overwhelming and we can't keep up.  Big dreams are great, don't get me wrong, but for those of you out there who are like me, you have to tackle that big dream one piece at a time.  I'm an "instant gratification" kind of person.  I want results and I want them now.  But I'm grasping onto the concept that slow and steady wins the race.  I mean, Rome wasn't built in a day.  So why not conquer one structure at a time until that beautiful masterpiece is complete?

Here's to a Happy, Healthy, and Successful New Year!



    

    

    

    

    

Cleaning Out My Closet

     It's a great feeling when you have to buy new clothes.  Not just because, "Oh wow, that sweater is just too cute", but because the sweater in your closet looks like it literally swallowed you whole.  Then you try on the blouse in your closet, too big, then another with the same conclusion.  And before you know it, you're cleaning out your closet, and half of your clothes are gone.  Go on, do a happy dance, I know I did, with a big, toothy smile on my face.

     It was before Thanksgiving and I was going through my clothes to figure out which outfits to don for the upcoming kick-off to the holiday season.  I saw a sweater towards the back of my closet that I hadn't worn in quite some time.  I decided to try it on, thinking surely it hadn't gotten that much larger, and was actually shocked when I looked in the mirror.  I looked frumpy, swallowed up by this sweater that I used to wear all the time.  It was a beautiful sweater, and was even more beautiful by what it now signified; I was a new person.  Not that girl I used to be who was unhappy every time she looked in the mirror, seeing her frowning, judging reflection staring back at her.  The girl who wondered how she let herself get to this point and always promised to do something about it tomorrow.  I cleaned that personality out too, kicked her to the curb along with all of her excuses and the negativity that consumed her. 



   
    Cleaning out our closets can take on different meanings.  Along with giving away my previous clothes to Goodwill, I also cleaned out my way of thinking.  I had become a very negative person, I stopped seeing joy in everyday life because internally I was angry with and about numerous things.  Sure, I could plaster on a smile, but it never reached down to my soul.  It never came from pure happiness.  Once I decided that enough was enough, I changed my attitude and my overall mindset.  If something goes wrong, I try not to get upset right off, but instead I take a deep breath and try to think that it's not the end of the world.  (I'm not saying I never get upset, I've just learned to tone it down quite a bit.)  I take in the beauty of each day, for instance it's snowing right now, and I watched one flake make its decent to the ground, swaying and flittering this way and that....absolutely gorgeous.  I'm training myself to slow down.  Not everything has to be done in one day.  If my kids want to play, the dusting can wait until tomorrow, the world will not implode due to my lack of housework.  I smile more, at everyone.  Kind smiles at strangers because you never know who may need one.  Honestly, I feel more peaceful and grateful. 

     I must admit that this chain reaction started with my decision to become healthy, not just by losing weight, but by improving my overall health and well-being.  Whether it be exercising everyday and eating cleaner, trying to rediscover a faith shaken, over-hauling that attitude that took over so long ago, or just trying to be a great role model for my kids, I'm always cleaning out my closet.  Because how else does one clean out a closet besides "out with the old and in with the new"?  The first step is simply to open the door.





    

   

Finding One's Fitspiration

"I'm just not feeling it today"....

     We all have those days when we know that we want to workout, we feel the need to workout, but we're just not feeling it.  I have those days, especially on dreary days that are cool and it's rainy and my head starts pounding, glasses are substituted for contacts.  I'll think, "Oh man, my head hurts, I feel blah, nope, just not feeling it today."  Some days I go with that feeling and do some extra cleaning in place of exercise.  But other days, I have to pep-talk myself.  This is literally what I say in my head, "You can sit here and think about all the reasons to not exercise, or you can get your butt up off the couch, look through the YouTube videos and find something low impact, maybe even do some Pilates, put on your workout gear and get to it. You're blessed to be able to move."  One day my head hurt so bad it was on the verge of a migraine.  I did some low impact cardio and the headache was gone by the end of the workout.  Natural pain reliever! 

Enter Healthy Inspiration.....

     Other times, even if my drill sergeant pep-talk has failed me miserably, I look at my "Inspirational" photo to kick my booty into gear.  (Which was actually my profile picture on here.) Just this week I had to go dress shopping for a wedding.  I fell in love with a certain dress so naturally I took a picture because I thought, "How often in my life do I get to wear a dress in place of yoga pants? Better make this picture good!"  I never pose for pictures, and I always feel like I look slouchy in them, but no one was with me in the dressing room, hence the pose.  The picture of me in this dress is my new Fitspiration.  It will be my go to motivator, because it is due to all my hard work that I can look at this and think, "Wow, I did this.  It was my blood, sweat and tears that made this possible.  No magic pill.  No fad diet.  Eating right and being active produced this and I'm proud!" 

 

 

Finding the Fitspiration that Fits You.....

 

     Inspiration can come in many forms.  Whether it be a dress/pants/outfit you're working hard to fit into, your kids, family, friends, a picture you're proud of due to your progress or how you want to look again, a marathon you're training for (or even a 5K), a song, a cause, if it's important to you and keeps you going, you've found your Fitspiration!  Just be careful not to make your Fitspiration a picture of a VS model, actor/actress, etc. (I'm totally guilty of doing this when I first started, not good).  These people may not necessarily have the same body shape or makeup as you, and it can actually harm more than help.  It should be something attainable and healthy. 

 

 

The Long and Winding Road....

 

     A lot of times I see those last few stubborn pounds mocking me on the scale, or my arms are not shaping up fast enough to my liking.  I have to tell myself to STOP.  Stop looking at the road ahead and turn around and take note of how far I've come.  I completely gave up on health at one point, sank into the depths of my own despair and wallowed there for a long while.  Finally one day, I opened my eyes and realized, "Nope. I'm just not feeling it today, something's got to change."  I started with me. 

 



 







An Outlet

      We all start somewhere, for a reason....

      I started this blog because I needed somewhere to share all my thoughts, struggles, accomplishments, tips, and discoveries regarding fitness.  (I figured I was driving people nuts on Facebook with all the status updates and shares.)  So, whenever I find something worth sharing or have something exercise/healthy eating-related on my mind, this is where I'll post it.  Whenever I find something worth sharing, I love to do so because I am like most mothers (even fathers) in the fact that I do not have a lot of free-time on my hands to just workout all day.  I have to fit it into my kiddies' Rest Time, which varies everyday.  I hope you all appreciate the info as much as I love sharing it! 

     I'll give a little peek into the landslide....

     Years ago, my family went through a crisis and I took it really hard.  I used to play soccer year round, run, workout, you name it, I did it.  I was always athletic and never had to worry about what I ate because I was constantly active.  After our crisis, I stopped caring about my health.  I stopped running, I stopped working out, I drank, and I ate.  A lot.  I went into size 15 pants.  (I was a size 3/5 in high school, and this was not much longer after that, just to give perspective.)  I didn't care.  My now husband never said anything to me about myself becoming overweight.  He always said he loved me the way I was, so I never thought of getting healthy again. 

     After our first baby came along....

     I was looking through pictures and was actually shocked by the way I looked before becoming pregnant.  Well, shocked and mortified.  Wow, how had it gotten this bad?  I then saw a picture of myself just after high school and I cried.  I was never "skinny" or "bone-thin" and that never bothered me.  I was healthy looking, muscular, I loved the way I looked!  Right then, I vowed to become healthy and fit again.  After our daughter was born, I lost (post-baby weight and regular weight) 40+ lbs.  I got up extra early every morning before work just so I could workout.  I watched what I ate.  I started to like what I saw in the mirror. 

     After our second baby came along....

     After our son was born, I knew I wanted to get back to what I was before.  And with the help from Lisa at our local gym (thanks Antonelli's!!), I knew how to eat properly for energy while losing weight, took Spinning classes, and even was recommended some tailored workouts for my problem areas.  I lost around 40 lbs. of baby and regular weight.  I am the closest to my high school weight that I've been in a long time.   My body has changed after having two children, so I'm not expecting to look exactly like I did in high school, and I have to say, my arms actually look and feel stronger than they did in high school.  (Score!) 

     Once I became a SAHM....

     Transitioning from working mom to SAHM was not so easy for me.  I was used to go, go, go!  Now I had a newborn baby and a 21 month old.  So, it was more like, go, nurse, go, nurse.  I needed an outlet.  Enter exercise. 

     For the love of exercise....

     I fell in love all over again.  Oh, it was a love/hate relationship at first, but now, I can't go one day without doing some form of exercise (although I do know the importance of taking rest days).  If I'm not feeling very energetic one day, I do Yoga or Pilates.  If I have tons of energy, I do HIIT or Tabata, along with strength training.  Now, I'm no exercise professional, but someday I hope to be!  All these years of feeling like, "What is my purpose", all became clear to me as I started falling in love with being fit and eating healthy.  I have come to understand and appreciate the benefits of exercise.  It truly is a natural anti-depressant and anti-anxiety method.  It makes me feel strong and powerful.  And one of the best perks, is when my daughter and son say they want to have muscles and be strong like mommy.  My plan (after the kiddies start school) is to become a Personal Trainer.  I want to share my passion with anyone willing to enjoy it and benefit from it, starting here. 

     Closing Time....

     I love helping people.  I always have.  I guess being at home, I feel like I do not get to reach out and help others (besides my children) as much as I would like to.  This is my way of doing that.  I know there are some women who appreciate the things I share on my FB page, so I decided that this may be a better way to organize it.  I use YouTube a lot because it's free.  (Hey, we're not rich here so I try to be as frugal as much as I can.)  When I find things that are beneficial, I like to pay it forward. Please let me know what you think as I always love feedback! 

     And remember: Movement is a gift, enjoy it!

(Above) This was me in 2005, at the heaviest I'd ever been in my life.  (I am not proud to post this.)  (Below) This is me in 2012, after working hard to get my true self back.