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

Weeks 18 & 19 for Jessica

On Monday of Week 18, I did Ripped in 30, Level 1.

On Monday of Week 18, I did the 30 Day Shred, Level 1.


And that's it! the first week, it was because I got caught up in writing. This last week, it was because 5 of the 6 of us got sick (including me).

So, you know, back to the drawing board!
-Jess

recap

Okay, so I tried doubling my workout time this week (from 20 min-40ish) and it has done the trick in helping me feel myself again.   It's been awhile since I've felt so good!  However, it has been a very tiring week with all the extra exercise and I am going have to re-format my days off next week because 5 days in a row of 40 min exercise was way too much.    I just couldn't do it today despite my best intentions!!!

sa/su--rest
mon--4 miles
tues--4 miles
wed--2 miles, 20 minutes pilates
thurs--4 miles
fri-1 mile speed run.  8 min 10 seconds.  my record pre-preg was 7 min 30 seconds.

Emily's week 7

Saturday - nothing
Sunday - nothing
Monday - nothing
Tuesday - nothing
Wednesday - nothing
Thursday - No OM dvd (15 minutes)
Friday - dance party with the boys (10 minutes), yoga at my own pace (20 minutes)

It has been a nutty week. Hopefully I'll get back on track now.

snacks and water tip

I cannot help with recipes as I refuse to bake unless it involves lots of fat and butter.  (:

However, my quick go-to snack is a rice cake with peanut butter and honey on top.  Simple, easy and quick.  I also like to snack on pickles and beef jerky.  Ok.  I guess I realize now this isn't helpful because none of these are really satisfying for a sweet tooth.

One GREAT tip, though, I got from my midwife: when you drink your water, squeeze a slice of lemon into it and add a little honey and a pinch of salt.  It makes the water more tasty and instead of the water working to flush out the nutrients in your body, your body absorbs the nutrients in the water!!!!

My biggest tip is the more water you drink the less stuff you crave.  I really mean it.  Every time I have a craving, I first drink at least two glasses of water and I usually find that the craving has diminished.

Last week

Just body shaping on T/Th once again for me. I had planned on adding a Saturday morning class to the routine, but Little Ted developed a fever on Friday morning and is still battling it. His illness is going to affect this week's workout as well - no class for me tomorrow so my hubby and I can take him to the dentist and *hopefully* get to the bottom of this not-so-pleasant infection.

Thanks for the great recipes. I have been in a baking mood lately, and these are much healthier options than the chocolate croissants I made over the weekend. Will report back once I try them out - after our A/C is fixed. It went out the same day Little Ted's fever started. *Sigh* When it rains, it pours!

Bran Muffins

I posted this recipe on my own blog, but thought you all might like it too:

http://making-room.blogspot.com/2011/10/bran-muffins.html

I literally eat these with milk or coffee/milk everyday. They are high fiber and low in calories and contain only fruit and honey to sweeten them. Enjoy!

Oh, and last week I walked and did Bob's pure strength workout again (1/2 one day and 1/2 the next). I still feel it today and have to break up the strength training with the walks. It is perfect for someone like me who has hip troubles, but is otherwise in good shape. Often after a workout with Jillian, the jumping and cardio segments would set off my bursitis.

Emily's week 6

Saturday - No OM yoga dvd (15 minutes)
Sunday - nothing
Monday - No OM yoga dvd (30 minutes)
Tuesday - nothing
Wednesday - No OM yoga dvd (15 minutes)
Thursday - nothing - dang it, I totally had time and actually FORGOT!
Friday - more dental work :(

My right wrist and shoulder are acting up again. This appears to be my permanent nemesis, and may necessitate a visit to a physical therapist.

Because of the wrist and shoulder, I'm mostly doing core and lower body yoga with the No OM dvd. My favorite is the lower body workout, although I find that I wish she would do the same flow of movements in twice as much time. While I get the reason for the 15 minute segments (heck, that's what attracted me in the first place!) I feel rushed through the poses. Maybe I'll work on memorizing the flow, and then aim to complete it in 30 minutes instead of 15? Something to think about.

week recap

Wow.  This week was exciting.  The mini-pill caused me to have migraine aura and I learned that migraine aura symptoms are very similar to stroke symptoms and that is why you are supposed to rush to the doctor if you have those symptoms while on the pill.

Exciting.

But, needless to say, I have stopped taking the pill and am now back to square one with figuring out how to self-regulate my hormones.  The next attempt, which is probably the most effective, is to step up my cardio to 40-45 minutes a day.  I have been aiming primarily for just 20-30 these days.  I've been doing that W/Th/F and feeling great.

Sa/Sun-rest
Mon-2.5 miles
Tues-rest
Wed,Thurs, Fri--4 miles

Granola bar recipe

I posted this as a comment to Yolanda, but thought others might miss it in the comments. For anyone who'd like to try them, here is the granola bar "cookie" recipe:

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup WW pastry flour
1/4 cup sucanat (or brown sugar)
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 cup melted coconut oil (or butter)
1/3 cup honey
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
approx. 1 cup add ins (I use about 1 T. chia seeds, maybe 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips, and fill the rest of the cup with well chopped walnuts.)

Preheat the oven to 350 deg. Line a 9x13 pan with foil or parchment paper and coat with a little oil. Combine the dry ingredients, then combine the wet ingredients separately (I usually just use my 2 cup glass measuring cup) Pour the wet into the dry and stir until well blended. Press evenly into a pan - I find a piece of parchment paper makes this a lot easier!

Bake 25 to 30 minutes - it is done when it is starting to turn golden. It usually takes 25 min in my oven. Let cool completely then turn out onto a cutting board. Cut into bars or squares and store in an airtight container.

Last week's workouts

Su - nothing

M - nothing

T - body shaping

W - nothing

Th - body shaping

F - nothing

Sa - nothing

I thinking I've been in this aerobics class long enough that my body has gotten used to the exercise. I don't feel wiped out at the end of the class and can keep up with the exercises better now.

Goals for next week: add a day of working out (I need more movement to get the weight loss going again)

Find more healthy snacks (Halloween candy & cookies aren't helping me with my goals - any suggestions for healthy replacements?)

kelly recap

sat-rest
sun-3 miles. 20 minutes pilates
mon-2 miles, 20 min pilates
tues-2 miles, 25 min pilates
wed-4 miles
thurs-2 miles
fri-2 miles

Emily, week 5

Saturday - nothing
Sunday - nothing
Monday - No OM yoga dvd (30 minutes)
Tuesday - nothing
Wednesday - nothing
Thursday - No OM yoga dvd (15 minutes)
Friday - nothing


I'm not thrilled with the way this week went. We had car repairs to deal with (boy, do those ever mess up the daily plans!) and I've also been feeling really sick for the past 10 days or so. Nothing new; the familiar fatigue and headaches have just gotten a lot worse. As of Thursday I'm following my doctor's suggestion to remove gluten from my diet. She says that if I do that for 30 days, it should become very obvious if that is the problem or not. I can't decide if I hope it IS the problem (at least then I'd know what is wrong) or if it ISN'T (at least then I wouldn't have to completely change the way I eat).

I hope you don't mind if I include a little nutrition in my posts, since this is kind of all part of getting healthy for me right now. And honestly, I'm very discouraged and could use some prayer and accountability for both exercise AND nutrition right about now.