Props to me

You read that right, this post is a big pat on the back to yours truly!

In an earlier post I rambled off mentioned to you that I started working out at the beginning of the year.

Now to preface this, I have never been the 'athletic' type or 'fit'. I have always carried extra baggage in my hips and have never had much upper body strength.

Don't you go thinkin I'm some sissy or that I'm carrying around 20 extra pounds!

My goal at the start of the year was to lose about 10-15 lbs and to get toned.

I tried P90X with the hubby last year and lasted a month because I just felt it wasn't working since I didn't lose a pound! Well I have been following Bodyrock since January and have lost about 8 lbs! That's 18 lbs I've lost since December... Oh ya!

Now I don't see any difference when I look in a mirror but I have gotten comments that I look 'thinner'.

I was almost to the point of discouragement since I didn't see the results myself, but that was until Monday night rolled around. I did my 12 min workout like usual and was about to stretch when I saw my hubby left his pull-up bar up.

Now when I did P90X with him, I couldn't do one pull-up without using a chair for help. Yes I was that weak.

I looked around... The hubby was at the park with the pups so this was my chance to see if I was stronger without embarrassing myself in front of anyone.

I went up to that pull-up bar and....

I did it!

source

I felt like this!

I actually did two! OK so that probably sounds like nothing to most of you but I can't tell you the accomplishment I felt being able to do something I couldn't do before.

I was so ecstatic that the moment the hubs got home I made him watch me do another one.

I just had to share my excitement on my mini achievement. 

It's the little things...

Running

     First of all Happy Leap Day everyone! OK so I'm not really into the whole leap year thing so let's move on.

      I have been thinking about starting a 10 week fitness program recently but have been hesitant since it includes a dreadful thing, running. I have always admired runners and wished I could enjoy running but frankly running hates me.

     I have tried to pick up running  jogging before but all I get are hurt shins and lungs that feel on fire! Not only that, I'm the slowest runner I know.

     A friend told me about the Couch to 5K program that lasts 10 weeks and by the end of it you would be able to finish a 5K (without walking the entire time). I viewed the schedule and it intimidates me at about week 5. Jogging for 10 minutes sounds like torture, I mean I couldn't even run the mile in high school under 10 minutes (can you see now that I'm super slow).

     I really want to sign up for a 5K and make it a goal to do one by the end of the year but truthfully I'm nervous. Has anyone done a program like the Couch to 5K? Do you think it works/will work? Any runners out there with advice?

Source: fromcouchto5k.com



Quick and Healthy

     Keeping with my goal to eat healthy, I am always trying to find quick healthy meals to put together since I don't always have a lot of time to get them together. Recently while browsing Costco, which is dangerous for my wallet, I found myself strolling down the breakfast isle. 

     Normally I would head towards the name brand cereal or one of many breakfast shakes that tastes oh so delicious. But as I neared the end of the isle, without putting anything in my basket amazingly, a bag of oatmeal caught my eye.

    Now, I despise plain oatmeal, as in I would rather eat rocks, so it must have been the golden bag that got my attention. After reviewing the nutritional facts and scanning it with my Fooducate app I put it in my basket.

     After it sat in my pantry for about a week, I opened the bag of Coaches Oat and made a bowl for the smaller appetite. I just about spit out the first bite I took! It was so plain and awful. I immediately thought that it was going to be just another bag that ended up in the trash and money down the drain. 

      About another week passed and I couldn't stand throwing out a full bag of oatmeal so I looked up variations to spice up my bland oatmeal. Now this probably sounds like a no brainer for most of you but adding some strawberries, blueberries, bananas and a bit of honey was my answer. This has become my new go to, quick healthy breakfast meal and I love that I don't feel guilty about it.

Resolutions...

(Photo from bodyrock.tv t-shirt)

     At the start of every New Year millions of people make resolutions that usually aren't kept. I am not one of those people. I don't make New Year's resolutions because of the high failure rate. With that said, I did make goals for 2012 and I like to think that goals have a higher success rate. My goal first and foremost this year was to become healthier this year and exercise more. I had started to watch what I ate in December and lost 9 pounds (yes I had gained some newlywed weight) but I hit a plateau and couldn't lose any more. So I started to follow bodyrock.tv which posts 12 minute interval workouts and healthy food choices. They started a 30 day challenge January 1st so I decided to change my eating habits even more and began this challenge. I will be the first to admit that I haven't done  every single workout but I am seeing results. The 12 minute workouts are great since it doesn't take a huge chunk of time out of my day but they still work up a sweat. Since starting this challenge I have lost 2 pounds and some inches I'm sure. This has been such a great challenge and I know that this will only make my quality of life better. Let's all make goals, no resolutions, and make them a reality.

Note: Some of the images on bodyrock.tv are suggestive