taking a step back

blood work came back good!  Seems the heartburn was totally unrelated (doc thought it might be a thyroid issue) and am treating it as it's own separate thing now.  I was left with the reminder, though, to "Take it easy.  Remember--nursing a baby takes a LOT out of you."

That is true and, in hindsight, I do think I was pushing my body to hard.  I plan on starting exercising again next week, but I am going to just plan on simple workouts and I will add more on a day to day basis only if I have the energy and not because I feel compelled to.  Yes, it may not keep the panic attacks completely at bay, but, my body doesn't have the energy to do otherwise right now.  And, honestly, it is okay if I need to rely on people once in a while to help me when my hormones get out of control.  I don't always need to be completely self-sufficient.

In other news, I am in my favorite pre-preg pants again!!!  I ironically lost more weight in the last couple weeks after I stopped exercising.

another week off

The anemia was making my workouts too hard and I've been experiencing chronic heartburn since my last period (my third in six weeks due to that brief spell on the mini-pill totally screwing up my hormones).  I'm going to the Dr today to get checked out and see if it is okay to workout while trying to re-establish healthy iron levels and to see if the heartburn is related to the anemia or another issue altogether.

Darn my body!

11 Holiday Dessert Recipes You'll Love: self.com

Because I'm always in the market for healthier desserts (yes, I know that is an oxymoron), I thought you might enjoy these recipes too.

11 Holiday Dessert Recipes You'll Love: self.com

Emily's week 11

Saturday - nothing
Sunday - nothing
Monday - walking stairs at the park (about 20 minutes)
Tuesday - nothing
Wednesday - running/walking/carrying heavy objects (45 minutes)
Thursday - nothing
Friday - heavy yard work (1 hour and 45 minutes)

This week has been about fitting things in (I've been extra busy, trying to catch up after the birth last week and then getting ready for Thanksgiving). Also about resting my wrist, which is hurting consistently. So my workouts were kind of creative. :) But they sure raised my heart rate, and I'm proud of myself for doing something, and not letting busy-ness and pain be an excuse not to try.

Also, here is my winterized garden!

Before (look at the size of that plant!!)



After:

Weeks 23 & 24 for Jess

Not much for week 23 - I got sick. Yes, again. Yes, I am tired of this pattern. Oh well.

Week 24:
Sunday: nothing
Monday: nothing
Tuesday: 27/40 minutes of Personal Training with Jackie DVD
Wednesday: nothing
Thursday: No More Trouble Zones DVD
Friday: nothing
Saturday: nothing

Hey! I worked out twice! I'm still sick, but not working out was starting to make me feel crappy, so I worked out a couple of times anyway.

If I was really smart, I might sleep at least 8 hours a night too . . .

-Jess

Emily's week 10

Saturday - yoga zone dvd (45 minutes)

Sunday - nothing
Monday - yoga zone dvd (22 minutes)
Tuesday - yoga at the park (about 20 minutes while the kids played!)
Wednesday - nothing (resting my wrist which has been hurting)
Thursday - birth support
Friday - birth support

Well, this is a fabulous week. Good for me. :)

I am SO SORE from the birth! Counter-pressure, and leaning over a bed at odd angles, and supporting a "limp and loose" mama who is leaning all her weight on you, and squatting in front of her as she sits on a birth ball (not to mention staying up all night...) that is some workout!

Break

After a two mile jog on Monday, I took the rest of the week off.  I just needed a break and I am glad I did (and glad that it was during a time of the month I could manage emotionally!).  The craziness of family visiting last week plus my anemia struggles just had me worn out.

I am really annoyed I'm anemic now (especially since I'm pretty certain it was that brief episode on the mini-pill that started it.  It totally messed up my cycle).  I just wish I had pushed myself to exercising 40 minutes first without trying the pill as a cop out! Anyhow, since starting floradix a couple days ago, I'm already feeling  little better.  

Good Week

I have been loving Bob Harper's Pure Strength DVD (except for some of the silly "hardcore" camera shots, etc..). There is a beginner 20 min workout and a one hour knock your socks off hard sort of work out. I had been trying to do the hour long workout, but I was seriously sore for an entire week. When I am lifting a baby and wrestling a toddler all week too, it is just not practical for me to be that sore. So, I am contenting myself with the beginner. That combined with walks, my bike, and some good old yard work is giving me plenty of variation to stay motivated.

I can't remember what day was what (still coming out of the sick/baby fog from last month), but my goal was to do Bob 3x, walk at least 5 days, and the bike 2x, with a smattering of yard work. I missed a day on the bike, and didn't as long of walks in as I wanted everyday, but pretty much met the goal.

Yay!

Week 22 for Jess

Sunday: nothing
Monday: 30 Day Shred, Level 1
Tuesday: nothing
Wednesday: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism
Thursday: Dancing with the Stars: Cardio Dance (jive section)
Friday: Personal Training with Jackie (40 min. circuit)
Saturday: nothing

This was a great week. And I had extra incentive: I bet my brother $10 that I could lose 10 lbs. before he could (which might be a bit nuts, considering how much taller than me he is!) and we're going to be weighing in once a week. If we both hit the 10 lb. mark at the same time, we're gonna go spend the money together. (thanks to Yolanda for the inspiration!)

It's totally fun - nothing like a little competition to get things moving!

-Jess

Week 21 for Jess

Nada y nada por nada.

I'm blaming my pulled tooth; I just hurt all week.

But, back at it today, so hopefully this will be the week-of-getting-back-to-normal.

-Jess

Last week

Got to the gym on Tues, Thurs, AND Sat. Determined to at least try to meet the 10 lb weight loss challenge I signed up for (besides, I want my $10 back!). Will see if I've made any progress on Thursday of this week.

If anything, I'm trying to be more careful about what I eat in addition to working out more (goodbye chocolate candy snacks - for the most part . . .). If I can keep this up for a month, I know these will turn into good everyday habits for me. Here's to healthy success!

recap

M-3 miles
T and Th--45 min pilates, light weights and yoga
W-4 miles
F-2 miles

Emily's week 9

We'll just skip this week, shall we? :)

Recap of Last Week

I am back in the groove, having returned to my 2x/week exercise classes. I also signed up for a 10 lb weight loss challenge at my gym. My aerobics instructor is monitoring the participants, who have all paid $10 to join the challenge. The gist: try to lose 10 lbs in 4 weeks (right through Thanksgiving!). When you lose your 10 lbs, you get your $10 back.

I don't actually think I will lose 10 lbs that quickly, but the challenge has motivated me to be more careful about what I eat and will get me in the gym on Saturday mornings. Other bonus: if I actually do lose the weight, I will expand my wardrobe again (my pre-pregnancy clothes are still too small, but I nearly fit into a lot of them).

Katie, I have all the ingredients to make your muffins, but I haven't baked them yet! Between my hubby's law school applications, my job applications, and student essays, my free time is quickly disappearing.

recap (not so much)

So, we went to my parents for a long weekend this last week.  I exercised but can't remember what I did for the first half of the week.  Oh, well!

I did enjoy a break from running for a few days and used my parents' exercise bike.  Although I prefer running, I have found that every so often its nice to give my muscles a break and alter things up a bit.

The increased cardio continues to help with my hormonal imbalance.  No real problems the last couple weeks.

Week 20 for Jessica

Sunday - Power Yoga with Rodney Yee (60 min.)
Monday - 30 Day Shred, Level 1

And then that's it. Because I got sick AGAIN. Argh! I'm so sick of being sick. I'm hoping this is the end of it.

-Jess

Emily's week 8

Saturday - yoga class (75 minutes)
Sunday - nothing
Monday - nothing
Tuesday - nothing
Wednesday - yoga, my pace (30 minutes)
Thursday - nothing, sick
Friday - nothing, sick

Hopefully I'll feel better in time for the yoga class tomorrow morning!

Crazy Weeks All Around

No exercise for me last week. Was dealing with a sick child. He had a pretty high fever, and our AC went out the same day he developed it. No fun for anyone.

This week, it's time to get back on track. I'm going to try out your bran muffin recipe, Katie, get back in the gym, and try to add a Saturday exercise class (assuming we don't head down to the Homecoming parade that morning). Wish me luck.

BTW, Self.com has daily tips for snacking smarter. Thought you might appreciate this one: http://www.self.com/tips/healthy-snacks/02-100-calorie-snacks