Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Getting Stronger!



Last Monday the sun was out and so I took the boys on a walk to pick Evan up from preschool. I gave the boys a sucker (not the healthiest) but they haven't had much of any sweets lately and they needed something for the long walk! Both boys fell asleep with their suckers in their mouths! Kai was even snoring...it was pretty cute!

I thought I would share what I am doing for exercise.

I have always been a runner. I wouldn't say that I LOVE it. I have enjoyed running in the past but for the most part it is what I do to not gain weight. I also go through spurts where I do strength training type of exercises...lunges, squats, dead lifts, etc. For me exercise is critical, it is something I do just for myself. Exercise keeps me from going insane and being a crabby mommy, it also teaches my kids to be healthy and active. Some of my favorite memories are with my boys running around at the track, on the trails, riding bikes, hiking, playing bball at the Church, or just playing in the yard. I have noticed that any time I start acting more critical or feeling depressed that is when I haven't been exercising on a regular basis and that's when I realize I need to step it up. It's amazing what a difference exercise can make on our minds!

So here's what my weekly workout schedule has been for the past month.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are my strength training days.

1. Squats. 3 sets of 15 reps. 45 total. I use dumbbells and move up in weight.

2. Lunges. 3 sets of 15 reps. 45 total. I use dumbbells and move up in weight.

3. Dead lifts. 3 sets of 15 reps. 45 total. I use dumbbells and move up in weight.

4. Push ups. I do the wimpy women kind! 3 sets of 15.

5. Plank. Hold as long as I can!

Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are my cardio and Ab days.

Tuesday and Thursday are my shorter runs about 2 miles. I go to the track and do different sprint exercises.

Saturday is my long run and I run about 5 miles.

Before my runs I do the Ab Ripper X video. It is killer. I also have just started doing burpees, these are pure torture. I have only been able to make myself do 15 but my goal is to do 3 sets of 15.

I have also been trying walk more with the boys. Whenever the sun is out that is when I load up the double jogger and get me some vitamin D!

So there you have it. This is what I have been doing for the past month. Can I tell a difference in my body doing these exercises and eating healthy? The biggest change is how great I feel mentally. Physically though I still haven't lost weight, I have actually gained a few pounds but I feel a lot less flabby because of all the strength training exercises I am doing. I didn't take measurements of my body before the 30 day challenge or take a body fat calculator test...doing that would have been helpful to track my progress better. The most important thing is that I feel better than ever!

3 comments:

  1. So true! ...about exercising and helping you feel less anxious or irritable (less depressed, too). This reminds me of the movie Legally Blonde, where Reese Witherspoon says, "...working out gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy, happy people just don't shoot their husbands!"...haha.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coemj2qdWMw

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  2. Haha. I had fun today chatting with your sis Rachel. We need to make a plan for the three of us to get together and talk Paleo. I need a little encouragement, I have been having the worst cravings and I even ate half of a chocolate muffin today! AHHHH What's happening?!

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  3. Omgosh you are funny. Hello, it happens. I cheat here and there all the time. It's just so hard to break a life long habit...you know? But you are doing so much good for your body, even when you have a cheat meal or snack. So give yourself some credit and accept that you're gonna screw up once in a while. I was super strict for the first 60-90 days and then had an entire CHEAT MONTH! Who does that?! So relax...just try to stay committed and focused. This is a process, it's not gonna happen overnight, or over even a few months! I've been doing it just over a year and I'm still learning so much. And YES...that would be so fun to all get-together. Let's plan for something STAT :)

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