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Burnin' Fat & Gettin' Fit with FireMom: BlubHer Overhaul!

Burnin' Fat & Gettin' Fit with FireMom, Goals, Health 1 Response »

Oct 132008

Here’s an update on me since joining the YMCA in August: I’ve fit back into some pants, not all. I’ve lost absolutely no weight. My arms are more toned. And FireDad says my butt looks great. And while the last of those points makes me feel pretty darn spiffy, it’s not quite the total package that I’m going for here!

And so, I joined the Our BlubHer Overhaul blog. (See my introduction here.)

In short, I have a new goal. If I can lose my ten pounds by the BlogHer conference next year, I will attend. I know. I’ve previously said that I won’t attend because of scheduling conflicts during that week. But I can make something work. Granted, for me to attend, I’m going to have to lose this weight no later than February 2009 so I can save money appropriately for travel and hotel and gifts to take home to boys. And that Husband. And, to be honest, if I can lose the extra five vanity pounds, well, I don’t know what I’ll do! Other than be super excited.

But, I need some help. I’m stuck. I’m honestly of the opinion that the stuck-ness comes with nursing and we’re not ready to wean. (He’s not even a year yet! Hush!) I won’t do anything unhealthy that could adversely affect my son, our nursing relationship or even my own health. And so, I just keep trucking along. I’ll get there. Right? Someday?

This week is far less busy than last week. Yet I’m keeping the same goal of three workouts at the gym and three home/outdoor workouts alone or with the boys. I think I need to suck it up and lengthen my amount of time on the elliptical, don’t you think? My legs, arms and general body cry at the thought but, well, it is time.

In the meantime, head over to Our BlubHer Overhaul and read about others’ weight loss goals and how they’re reaching them together. And leave me a comment, here or there, with some kind of inspiration. Because, man, if I don’t see some weight loss soon… sigh.

I Found (and Bought) Shoes That Support My Arch!

Goals, Health 6 Responses »

Sep 292008

It started a few weeks ago. My shoes were killing my feet after my workouts. Killing. In fact, last week, I thought I broke my toe but it was just strained after being in an improperly fitting shoe. And so, I forced myself to head to the store, without TheBrothers, and find a shoe. That fit.

And I did!

I ended up with the Nike Dart V Extra in pink and white. It’s not in stock on Nike’s sit anymore considering they’ve released things like the Dart VI. As such, the Dart V was on sale in my store. Here’s how I ended up choosing my new sneakers.

1. I walked up and down the aisle, looking for something in green. I tried on something in Nike with a light green swoosh. It did not fit well. I then tried on an Asics with green. It fit even worse. These were my only green options.

2. I walked up and down the aisle, ruling out anything in blue. And black sneakers. Because my legs are too pale for black tennis shoes.

3. I ended up pulling off the pair that I bought, another pair of Nike’s in a silver and pink and a pair of Adidas with pink as well. (Of note: I would prefer green. Sigh.)

4. I tried on the two Nike pair, one on each foot. The pair that I bought had the best arch support though the silver pair came very close. I walked up and down the aisle with these two different shoes on, trying to figure out if they would have enough arch support.

5. Then I put on the Adidas pair, prepared to fall in love immediately and pay a greater price. It had absolutely zero arch support. That made it easier for me.

6. I chose the Dart V because it had better arch support and, while not as cute, was cheaper. I’m a stickler for a sale.

7. I walked to the counter to ask the girl to retrieve the other shoe. The manager came back and offered me another ten bucks off the sale price if I took the pair in which the display shoe was slightly yellowed. I’m not vain. I bought the cheaper, barely noticeably different pair.

8. I walked out a very happy customer.

That’s right. The shoe was originally $49.99. It was marked down a few times to $29.98. And the manager gave it to me for $19.98 (plus tax). I say that’s a pretty darn good deal! My Dad would be proud. These shoes are already laced and in my gym bag for today’s workout. I’m hopeful that they will be supportive enough for my insanely high arch. Of course, I worry that my OCD tendencies will freak out about the color difference betwen the two shoes. So, I took a few different pictures in different white balance settings and am posting them here to make myself feel better.

Yes, the one on the right is the more yellowed one. But, I can’t get over my deal. And I don’t care. I DON’T CARE! I’ll toss my OCD tendencies to the wind for shoes that fit and didn’t cost me an arm and a leg.

And, as for this week, my goal is to hit the gym three days, do some home workouts for two days and take the weekend completely off, without guilt, for my sister-in-law’s wedding. I’m hoping that the dress I bought last week will still fit. I’m not particularly worried about my mid-section. It’s more of a nursing-mommy-issue. Such is life!

Last Week Equals Fail, Fail, Fail

Burnin' Fat & Gettin' Fit with FireMom, Goals 2 Responses »

Sep 222008

Remember when I set some not-so-strict fitness goals last week, citing scheduling conflicts as the reason? Well, that was prior to the phone call letting me know that my grandfather had passed away. And let me tell you, it caught me off guard so much that even my simple goal of three days at the gym and four other days of “staying active” was too much for me to handle.

So much so that I made it to the gym zero days. I didn’t even go to my fitness class. I meant to go, knowing that the physical exertion would help me get through some of this emotional trauma but, well, I also neglected to mention on the blog last week that our sewer backed up into our basement. (I refrained from sharing pictures.) And on Thursday morning, when my Step & Sculpt class is scheduled, the plumber was here, wasting our money. Gee, the scheduling conflicts I wrote about on Monday morning weren’t even the scheduling conflicts that ended up keeping me down and out all week. It’s life, isn’t it?

I feel awful having done nothing but take one (just one!) walk with the boys last week. I feel like a big, fat, sloppy mess. And I don’t like it! Especially when you add in the fact that I turned to comfort foods almost immediately in the wake of my loss. Did I also mention that my monthly cycle hit, too? What a horrible, horrible week for fitness, healthy eating and general goal-reaching.

I know I’m being hard on myself. But someone has to or I’m not going to get myself back into a schedule that works for me, my butt and my family. I need to set my daily goals. I need to stick to them. And I need to keep working towards a healthy me. Right now? I’m not feeling healthy. I ate too much all week. (Have you been to a Polish after-funeral dinner?) I didn’t move. I didn’t push myself. And I don’t even want to try on my jeans. Not this week. Not again.

Goals:

Monday: Elliptical and arms.
Tuesday: Elliptical and yoga at home. Walk with boys.
Wednesday: Pilates at home and ab workout. (Can’t go to gym this day.)
Thursday: Step class.
Friday: Elliptical. Walk with boys.
Saturday: Elliptical. Walk with boys.
Sunday: Ab workout at home. (Likely no gym.)

I really do so much better when I set out a specific day-by-day list of what I plan to do. I still haven’t found shoes. I didn’t have much time to consider it last week. You know, with death and raw sewage and Polish food. Such is life. I’ll find a pair soon. My foot hopes so.

I Can Almost Move

Burnin' Fat & Gettin' Fit with FireMom, Goals 7 Responses »

Sep 152008

I didn’t get a chance to write about where I stand with my fitness goals last week. It’s not because I’m behind. Exactly. I have learned int he past two weeks how important it is to go to the gym first thing in the morning before things come up and excuses are made. But I have also forced myself to remain active at home on days that I haven’t made it into the gym.

But the real news here is that: I WENT TO MY FIRST FITNESS CLASS. And three days later, I can almost move! Alert the presses! So, here’s the rundown.

I got to the gym with enough time to drop the boys in childcare, sign in, switch my shoes and have a short conversation with a firefighter my Husband works with at the Fire Department. Then I walked down the hall and into the fitness room. The happy surprise was that there was only one other person (a woman with two kids the same ages as TheBrothers) as some couldn’t make it the first week. The unhappy surprise was that the male teacher wasn’t there and a female was teaching. That made me nervous.

But we got to moving. We did some stretching. And breathing. And then we started stepping. And, let me tell you, we got to stepping. If you think the Advanced Step on Wii Fit is even remotely hard, don’t take a Step class at your local gym. I was able to keep up with the footwork. And I was able to push myself past some comfort levels for some repeaters. But, by the end of that first half hour, I was sweating. And fully aware that I was going to feel it in the morning.

But it didn’t end there, folks. Oh, no. Because it’s not just about cardio. It’s about building muscle, too.

So we got body bars and did some arm workouts. And chest workouts. And more arms. And some squats. And then we ended the class with abs. ABS, I TELL YOU. ABS OF DOOM! Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit. But, still, as we neared that hour mark, it sure felt like movement of doom in general.

I left the fitness room and went to change my shoes. My firefighter friend told me that my face was red. Then I pointed out that his was as well. I changed shoes. Picked up the boys. And went home. I felt pretty good. I was proud of myself.

And then I woke up the next morning.

That was my first mistake. Waking up on Day Two Post Step Class was my second mistake.

I’m happy to say that I can walk today without thinking my calves were going to revolt and just separate themselves from my legs all together. I’m still aware that I worked muscles that I forgot I had but, can I tell you something? I AM SO PROUD! I was able to keep up. I was able to finish. I was able to keep going. I was able. Period. And that feels great. I’m going to get in shape. I’m going to fit back in my thin jeans. And I’m going to be HEALTHY while doing it. And that’s totally awesome folks.

However, I am still in desperate need of shoes. (Want me to review a pair? Send me some! I have high arches.) I went to try on a few last week and, let me tell you, I have weird feet people. So far I haven’t found anything that initially strikes my fancy. I’m going to maybe have to purchase a pair and just hope/pray that they work on my weird shaped foot. More suggestions, please. Specific models, not just name brand! I’m planning on a blog about my shoe buying experience this next trip out!

But the bad news is: still no weight loss. Things do fit differently. My arms look shapelier and my legs look, well, nice. But no movement on the scale. I know. Muscle weighs more than fat. And yadda yadda yadda. But it’s kind of heartbreaking. And discouraging. But I keep on keeping on.

This week’s goals are a little more loose as we have some scheduling conflicts going on. My goal is to hit the gym 3 days (fitness class included) and stay active at home for the other four. Whether that’s with yoga, the stability ball or an evening walk (sans-ice cream) with the boys, I don’t yet know. But activity (and not just up and down the stairs to do laundry) is the goal on those four days. Stop by Go Workout Mom and tell her your goals for the week.