Running for Pizza & Giveaway!

I need to do some catching up.  Time has gotten away from me lately.  I'm not sure if it's the day job, combined with the whole being a mom thing and then fitting in runs and making dinner...oh, cleaning up here and there... probably all of the above.  I'm not complaining... just simply saying that I've been running out of time the past few days!

On Monday, my workout was 7 miles.  Well, ok, 6.99.  How stupid is that.  And, how dumb that it actually makes me a little bit irritated that I didn't just run to the next driveway!  Anyway, it was a good run, and about 8:09 or so minute miles.  Not that I'm obsessing with mile pace, but lately I'm kind of... obsessing with mile pace.

Yesterday was Insanity Max Abs.  This was squeezed in to make sure we had enough time for Buddy's Pizza.  The BEST pizza.  I love it.  And, Buddy's Pizza itself is one of the reasons why I exercise.
For Insanity it was Me, Drew Man my faithful parter, Sweet Jordan, Shaun T, Hubby and the Furnace Guy... he was cleaning the furnace.  Anyway...

Today I have my sights set on an easier 5 or 6 miles.  My knees are a little bit sore.  I'm not sure if it's from the jumping in Insanity yesterday or what, but I'm going to take it easy today.

Speaking of today, here in Michigan it's going to be 60 something degrees today, which is awesome!!  But...I was looking in my closet, deciding on which boring pants to wear with which boring shirt  and I realized...everything is boring!  I would love to re-vamp my closet...

I need Stacy London and Clinton Kelly to come and help me out!  More on that to come...I've been checking out the latest fashions in my US Weekly, and I've decided that I'm definitely on the drab and somewhat out of style side.

So 2 things...step it up with my actual wardrobe and with my workout wardrobe.  I'm going to have to take it one piece at a time.

Oh, I actually have some single packs of Shakeology for sale.  Like the Get Fit and Sweat Trying page and leave a comment on Facebook (there's a link to the right), or leave me a comment below if you're interested.  I can send it off to you ASAP!  If you've been thinking about trying it, but want a sample first before you dive in, this is the perfect way to do it!

***If you have ever used a Beachbody Product...any product at all, I would love it if you would leave a comment and tell me about your experience!!***  One lucky comment - er will win a free Shakeology sample!!  Comment by March 10th to win!!

Are My Kids Friends?

Today has been a one of a kind day here in our house.

First off, this really has nothing to do with exercise, outside of the fact that we (me and my little partner D-Man) did our nap-time Max Abs with Shaun T.

Why has this day, of all days been so momentous?  Because my children spent the entire morning playing together.  This has happened in spurts here and there; they've been known to play school and the super fun chase game - until someone runs into a wall or slips backwards on their socks - you know what game that is.

But today, they occupied themselves the WHOLE morning.  They woke up at different times, Sweet Jordan first...and when Drew woke up, you would have thought The Beibs walked into the room.  She was so excited.  That was not so unusual...but it gets better.

They ate their breakfast, talking and laughing with each other for over half an hour.  They both ate, and nobody whined about anything.  Drew got up and got his sis some water...never even asked me for help.

Next, they moved on to school.  Big Bro was the teacher; he's a pro since he's been in pre-school for 2 years.  They had calendar time, learned about the letter "J" for Jordan, and even a bathroom break.  I had to get them cheese sticks, apples and juice for their class snack, and was informed that normally the teacher doesn't have snack, but since today is Saturday, it's fine. 

Mr. S taking a snack break.

I had to go upstairs and clean the bedrooms and bathrooms.  Those two just followed me up, and went right into Big Bro's room and he read her books.  For over an hour.  Even her girlie princess books.  Then, they turned on his Hot Wheels boom box, and they had a dance party while I vacuumed.  

I had to keep myself from checking in too much, you know how that can totally ruin the momentum and throw the oh so peaceful situation into certain doom.  But, even the few times I peeked in everything was running smoothly and kept on that way until lunch!

I was in amazement.  It's one of those catch 22 situations.  I've always said, "Boy, it will be so awesome when those two can play together on their own!"

But...I have to say, I felt a little lonely this morning!  They only wanted me around if they needed something...and then they were off again...no need for old Mom anymore!  I was the one who was waiting by the bedroom door for them to call my name...nope...not even Sweet J, who normally is by my side all. the. time.

I suppose this is just another one of those times when you realize your babies are growing up before your very eyes.  3 and almost 5, and BFF's (when it's convenient of course!)

Now, as one would expect, I'm the one stuck cleaning this mess up, but it's totally worth it!

The aftermath.

Motivation: The Salmon Shorts Edition

These shorts.  The reason my fitness revolution began...in that moment at least.  I just wanted those salmon colored shorts to fit me again!  I have nothing to wear with them, they are not really that cute, but I just needed them to fit without bulging over the top!

Not even really a color...but they used to fit, and I wanted them to fit again, darn it!

Well, this was back in May of 2011.  I was exercising, kind of running, without rhyme or reason.  Basically, I would use exercise as an excuse to eat like a pig once the summer came.  BBQ's and salty foods were the name of the game.  If I ran, then I could eat more delicious summer food!

Nothing budged.  I still looked like a stuffed sausage in the salmon, khaki shorts.  

I had Insanity by Beachbody sitting in the DVD drawer for a while, basically untouched.  That was going to be way too hard and way too much of a commitment.  But it was summer...I thought long and hard...and Bit The Bullet.

My first DAY of Insanity was BRUTAL!  Oh my gosh it was so hard.  I barely got through the Fit Test...the one  before you actually start the workouts to see where you are...and I was at the bottom.

Week 1 was no good.  No good at all.  But, I could feel results.  And that is what kept me going.

Week 2, 3, 4 and I was still feeling results.  Seeing them was a different story.  No 6 pack, no guns; still a sweet muffin top over my stupid shorts.

The half way mark was a turning point.  On to MAX Insanity.  And it's just that.  Insane To The MAX.

Workouts are twice as long and twice as intense.  When you see the hard bodies in the video dropping out for a drink and to compose themselves, you know you've hit the MAX Insanity Level!

Well, I got through the cycle.  It was definitely a feat.  But my shorts were still not fitting the way I wanted them too.  Not like they used to back in...ahem...pre-childbearing years.  But that's no excuse, I told myself!  Get those things to fit!

So, I decided to go through the Insanity routine again.  This time it was...not easier, that's not what I'm trying to say.  I had way more control over my body.  I could feel that I'd developed the muscle strength and some core strength to do a much better job this time around.

Once school started back up, and time was an essence again, I had to start supplementing with running and...I could totally feel a huge difference there too!  My runs were more fluid, and I could feel my core and legs doing so much more of the work.  Less struggle with my upper body.  Way more muscle control.

This brings me to the present day.

Today I popped in Insanity MAX Interval Circuit.  59 minutes of circuit training Insanity.  3 Circuits, 3X each, 45 seconds per exercise.  

Meet Shaun T.  My in-home personal trainer.  He will kick your butt up and down your own living room, or basement, or where ever you decide to let him in.  He won't let you stop until you've gone just a little bit further than you thought you were up for that day.  And then you'll go some more.  Love this guy!  


And, combine running with Insanity and most of all dropping off the excuses at the door.  I can fit into my beloved shorts.  I realize it's the middle of February, and I won't be wearing them for months (and since they're not really that cute in the first place, probably not ever again) but the satisfaction of buttoning them up is good enough for me.


I still have a long way to go.  But, little by little, seeing and feeling changes is the coolest thing.  I was so excited to finish the Circuit today, and that makes me want to do it again!  It's a cycle...one of the healthy kinds!  And that's a good thing!


Seriously, about the shorts, that's just a visual motivator.  You know, a silly goal, that helps you get to a point where you feel like you've gotten back some control...and that's what it's all about!  You ARE  in control.  Every time you make a healthy choice, you've taken one more step toward to your goal, whatever it may be. 


More than all of that...I Feel Better.  I Feel So Much Better.  Days of complete exhaustion and fatigue are Few and Far Between.  I Like Feeling Better!  I know that if I continue on this path, I will keep feeling this way, and that's one of the big factors that keep me motivated.


What motivates you?