Day 11 and 12: I'm a machine!

Day 11: Level 3. OMG

Day 12: Level 2. Still difficult but like a walk in a field of roses compared to level 3.

I'm sore but in a good way. Very unlike the first few days of the shred when I was sore to the point of immobility.

Man, I'm boring. What else can I talk about besides exercise? SNORE

Day 10: Level 3

Level 3.

OW

Just...

OW

Either way, it's still work. And Day 9.

At small group yesterday, some of the girls were talking about the struggles of being a working mother. Now, I quit my job almost two years ago to stay home with the kids, so I've definitely had to think much less about the never ending strife of a working mom. However, the four plus years of being a working, commuting mom definitely took its toll on me. So when Macalla asked how the working mom does it, I answered with the only thing that made sense to me:

"You do neither job particularly well"

I remember struggling to focus at work, zoning out during meetings, passing up opportunities of promotions and more challenging work. I'd rush through the day in order to catch the first train that left the city. Once at home, I'd obsess about cleaning up the trail left by the kids, husband and mother-in-law. I would attempt to spend quality time with the children, while also craving solace and peace in my room, away from the bustle and mayhem of my chatty  MIL. At work, I felt unmotivated and sluggigh. At home, I felt leeched and worn. At neither place was I at my best. At neither job did I excel. At neither job did I even really try. I had just barely the energy to be good enough. Good enough was not really acceptable at my job and my children definitely deserved more from their mother than just mediocre, just good enough.

So when I got pregnant with Wesley, I decided that I just couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't make myself wake up daily at 4:15, to begrudgingly ride the train to Seattle. To sit in an office instead of playing outside with my kids. To have my elderly MIL care for three children. I couldn't go through life half assed anymore. I wanted to be able to be a good mother to my children, a better wife to my husband.

To clarify, I never felt like bad mother because I worked. I worked out of necessity and even at times I felt a sense of pride in my job. I didn't necessarily choose to work but I know many women who do. I hold no judgement for mothers who work  and who have successful, lucrative careers and are the main breadwinners of their family. In fact, I am in awe of women who are able to reach that level of career success with happy, healthy families, and yes, I do in fact know many women who have been able to balance their lives in this way.

But for me, I craved the time at home with my children. I went back to work when Evelyn was 12 weeks old. Oliver was 11 weeks old when my maternity leave ended. I didn't want to have to leave another tiny baby at home while I went off to a job I didn't really even particularly love. I wanted to be the one to wake up and make breakfast for my kids, to drive them to preschool and to put them down for naps. When I was working, I felt like I had no control over what my  kids did during the day. No matter how much I nagged my MIL or husband, they just couldn't do things the way I preferred. I just wanted to be home with them full time.  So in April 2008, I quit my job and became a Stay at Home Mom.

And so here I am.

The life of a SAHM in itself has been a challenge and let no woman tell you that it is easy to stay home all day long with your beautiful, demanding children. That being said, the role of a SAHM is none the easier just because I'm not leaving the house everyday to work. I just get to work in sweats. The pay kind of sucks though.  But I get paid in memories right? Wah Wah. Ha. But I'll save the woes of the SAHM for another post.


***

Day 9: I'm getting into the groove with Level 2. The hardest obstacle for me is trying to get Oliver out of my way as I attempt some pushups. He was kind enough to support me during the workout and tried some of the moves himself. Very cute.

Next is Level 3. I'm scurred...

BTW, I just made some brownie spoon pudding and ate about 1/4 of it. OH YEAH.

Day 8

I snuck in a Level 2 workout on Tuesday and I definitely felt the burn. I haven't worked out again since but I've got some excuses - sick kids, tired mom, etc... I'll resume my workout schedule very shortly.

***

And I also promise I will write about something less mundane than working out. Ugh. Who am I becoming.

Day 7: A weekend!

I know I had said earlier that I'd like to avoid working out on the weekends but today I found myself home early after church with not much to do. As I write, Lisa and Pat are driving back home from a road trip and John is at work. Kids are playing and dogs are napping. In other words, I am enjoying a rare quiet moment.

I decided I'd try to fit in a workout since I had some free time. Thank goodness each workout is only 20 minutes! I decided to do Level 1 again to see if my strength had improved over the week, and indeed it has. I definitely felt stronger and less winded than I did the first week. I don't notice any signifant changes to my body but I do feel stronger, less bloated and ever so slightly less flabby.

I am shocked to say that I no longer loathe exercise like I used to. I still don't love it but I don't hate it, and that is saying quite a bit. I have noticed an increase in energy and a couple of people have said that I've been less evil... moody... mean in a better mood lately. So really, everyone is winning!

Day 3.. break....then 4, 5 and 6!

Whoops, I forgot to update my shred status. Let's see here...

OH. So I did Day 3 Level 1 of the video last Friday. By day 3, the soreness from the first two days had worn off just ever so slighty and I wasn't quite as winded by the cardio and I could manage the strength series without dropping my weights. Also, by far the abs series are the most difficult for me. Seriously, the ones where I have to lift both my legs AND my chest? Yeah...ok, right. The abdominal muscles... you know... the ones where my stomach is? They don't exist, those muscles. I had three babies who wrecked my body and left my skin a lifeless, striped sack of flab who have brought me nothing but joy. But nevertheless, three babies, each whom stretched me as far as I could go.

Then we went away for the weekend, which meant no exercise - which, honestly... was totally fine by me. But I did resume the shred on Tuesday, the first full day back at home. Surprisingly, I found that I could actually do a "real" pushup now, without having to rest on my knees. It may seem like a small feat, but I don't think I've been able to do a plank pushup for years. or maybe even ever? Anyways, I finished the week with two more workouts, on Thursday and today, which is Friday. The Level 2 is obviously more challening than Level 1 and I feel like Level 1 definitely prepared me for Level 2. Plus, it was more difficult given the fact that Oliver kept trying to sit on my back during the pushups. Hey man, I'm not that strong. Yet....

So here is what I've done so far:

Week 1: Level 1, three times (Tues/Wed/Fri)
w/ one session on hot hatha yoga on Wednesdayevening

Week 2: Level 2, three times (Tues/Thurs/Fri)
w/ one session of hot power yoga on Tuesday evening

Week 3: (Next week)
I will do 3 times/week on level 3 and hopefully I can get a hot power yoga session in. The combination of the two is great and I love the feeling of rejuvenation when I'm done with the hot yoga.

I have decided do each level thre thrice weekly but somehow fit it in between Mon-Fri so that I can have the weekend off.

And now you've finished reading what is officially the most boring post I've ever written. Yeesh.

***

My current fave Jillian Michaels quote:

"I want you to feel..... like you're going. to. die"
(Level 2)



.

Day 2: Ow. Ow... ow....

OW

I'm sore. I went to bed feeling sore and woke up feeling sore. But I got through day 2 of the shred. Some of the moves were harder today because of my sore muscles but the cardio portion felt a little bit easier to bear through. I definitely think abs will be the most difficult part for me. Three babies and late night McDonalds runs have done nothing for my muscles...and my thighs... and my butt.

So. Day 2 is done. And I'm sore.

***

I'm trying hot yoga tonight with Macalla.

I'm scared. So.. scared.....

Day 1: Not shredded just yet

I just finished my very first workout with Jillian Michaels.

After the first set of strength training with little 2 pound weights, my arms were burning. After the first set of jumping jacks, my knees were protesting in pain and I could barely use my so called abdominal "muscles" to do a proper sit up.

Verdict?


I am horribly out of shape. And obviously in need of some exercise.

I can't say much in terms of change just yet, but I can tell you that I do feel better after a nice brisk workout. We'll see how long I can keep this up and how soon I will see some, if any, changes in my body and my mood.

Day one: DONE

Yes, it's really me writing this post

Those who really know me know this -

I don't exercise.

I don't like to work out. I don't like to exert myself. I just don't like it. It's all... hard and stuff.

However, I have recently had a tiny change of heart. I mean, I think I look relatively thin but I'm nowhere near in healthy shape. One word - Flabby. I might look fine to in clothes but looks are deceiving under drapey sweaters. Also, why do you think I wear black all of the time? I just want to feel healthier and have more energy. I drag my knuckles around the house all day from fatigue and low energy. This in turn causes me to be grumpy - to my kids, to my husband, actually...to anyone in the 100 yard vicinity of me.

So I have decided to do something about it.

No, I haven't joined a gym or anything - because I'm too cheap - but I've am going to take the plunge and try this:

I'd like for someone to hold me now. Thank you.

When I was in line at Walgreens waiting to purchase the DVD, the cashier actually pointed to it and said "OOH, she's mean". Fantastic. Just what I need to get this flabby vessel in shape. I mean, have you seen her berate some of those contesants on The Biggest Loser? Although, I must say from experience that sometimes being mean gets the job done. Ask my family,

Anyways, I'm sharing my workout news with you because I figure I will document my progress and see if I notice any changes to my body/mind/spirit. I am not going to do this for 30 days straight but the idea of the workouts is to work your way to 30 days on increasing levels of intensity. I will probably aim to work out at least 3 times a week.

And sorry, I won't be posting any pictures of my "badly in need of a tan and a good sloughing" body. After all, I am a very vain person who has too much shame respect you all too much. Yeah, something like that.

So... tomorrow is day one. I'll let you know how it goes.