yuck

So I've been sick. Which means, no workout cause I don't want to bring my  nasty to the gym. Mainly because it's already hard to breath in there in the first place without having a headcold. Not to mention, the gym was probably where I caught this sucker in the first place. AND, I dont want to get anyone else sick.

Anyway, Ive been out of commission for over a week now and it doesn't seem to be getting better. I did manange to push myself out the door yesterday morning to go for a 2 mile run around the neighborhood. But that was the most pathetic run I've ever taken. I wouldn't even call it a run, really. It was more like a shuffle. And I was weezing and coughing the whole time. I even carried a tissue with me cause I knew Id have to blow my nose on the way.

I thought that maybe getting out in the sunshine would make me feel better. You know, the whole fresh air thing.. but it didnt. I feel worse this afternoon. I even took a nap on the couch this morning. I keep thinking that this has to get better - head colds dont last for weeks, do they? What if I have the Flu? I've never even had that before so I have no idea if I do or not. (note to self: Google "flu symptoms") I was pretty achy the other day. I couldn't even let my kids touch me cause it felt like I had bruises all over my body..

But enough complaining. There is an Oktober Fest 5k on the 23rd and I'm on the fence about running it. I know that I should since I havent ran an actual race since April, but part of me is just to lazy.

Aaron says he'll run with me and push the boys in the stroller. I guess that would be kinda fun. Obviously we woudln't be running for time though.. cause eveyone knows pushing a stroller and running is kinda hard. (atleast I think it is!)  But it's like a big festival and it looks like fun. Might be worth it to get back into the running thing again instead of being a gym rat all the time. Really, there is nothing like running. The feeling. Just going out there in Mother Nature with your thoughts and your sneakers..

This is what I think..

And it may not come out right, cause I'm never very good with words. .

 I was just thinking about how far I've come in a year and how easy it would have been to just give in to becomming an over weight Mom and Wife.

I see it happen time and time again. We get pregnant, gain some baby weight, and then become completly consumed with this whole life of changing diapers and taking care of these adorable human beings that we brought into the World.

I get it. You're a Mom now and have another life to worry about but your own. BUT, that's the problem. Another day goes by and you are still at your pregnancy weight. You go to bed each night saying, " Tomorrow I will go for a walk.. tomorrow, I will exercise" and tomorrow comes, and it doesn't happen. Believe me, I've been there.

When you're used to being a certain size, and you're now 60+lbs over that weight, (like I was) you start getting depressed and start to give in to the fact that you're always going to be over weight because with a new baby, it's just so hard to get out there and do something about it.

But it's not! When I first had Noah, I was 30+ lbs over weight. After my 6 week check up, I could hardly walk around the block without getting winded. I remember trying to do crunches on my living room floor and just failing miserably. I tried laying on my back, putting my legs straight out, and trying to lift them up and I couldnt. That's when I knew I had to do something. And I did.

I started walking every night around the neighborhood. It turned out to be 3 miles. I did that Monday-Friday (this is easier when you're a stay at home Mom like me) and took the weekends off. Then I started doing more and more.. and then even tried running. I think I could do about a half mile.. and then a mile..and then more..

Until I got pregnant wirh Benjamin. I fell right back into that," I'm pregnant, I can eat whatever I want and not do anything" mode. That's when I gained almost 60 pounds. I was over 180lbs when I delivered Benji. I was miserable.. I had no self esteem and NO motivation to do anything about it..

I had Ben in May, 2008, and stayed that weight until January, 2009. In January, I had had enough. I went to the gym on base with my neighbor and made myself run a mile on the treadmill. It took me almost 14 minutes, but I did it. I went right home, and decided that THIS was going to be the turn around in my life. And it was.

I've been working out ever since. This is easy for me bacuse like I said before, I'm a stay at home Mom. I don't have a job to go to every day. But if you do, I still think you need to make time for some exercise. Even if it's going for a walk around your neighborhood. After all, that's what got me started.

"No matter who you are, no matter what you do, you absolutely, positively do have the power to change" - Bill Phillips

I think I've come to terms with..

The fact that I have a big butt.
That my hips are always going to be a bit wider.(Thank you Noah and Benjamin)
That I might always have this "double chin," (and an awful profile)
That I have a lot of work to do on my theighs.
That I have the boobs of a 12 year old.
That I still have a widdle "Mommy pooch"
That I'm not 19 anymore and my metabolism is slowing waaaay down.
That I need to workout longer and not harder.
That exercise is very important to my self image.
That its one thing I can do for myself.
That exercise is a daily need. If I don't get out and do something, I feel like a slug.
That exercise makes me a happier person and has been such a positive in my life.

Lovin it.

Did over 4 miles on the stairs today. It took me 30 minutes aend I burned 510 calories! Phhew! I sweat buckets when I do the stairs. And after that, I still have another hour to do the rest of my work out which mainly consists of leg presses.

I'm obsessing about my legs lately. I feel like my theighs rub together when I walk and that my legs should be more muscular. So leg presses and hip flexers it is.

Da gym.

While I was running every day, I didn't see the point in going to the gym. I hated the idea of getting in a workout in front of everyone. I felt as if everyone there would be staring at the fat girl trying to run on the treadmill. So, I ran outside. I ran almost every day. And running, is how I lost my 50+ pounds of baby weight.

Now that I'm down (to)wards my goal weight, I don't run as much. And when I do run, (outside) now that I'm down in North Cacki Lackie, I've come to realize how hard it IS to run down here.  I haven't gotten used to the heat. Nope, it's awful! I just can't get my breathing down.

Sooo, I go to the gym. I go Monday,Tuesday,Thurs, and Friday with Wednesdays and Saturdays off. I try to run around the neighborhood on Sunday nights.  Anyway, I love it!

We're practically regulars there now. We drop the boys off at day care and hit the gym for an hour and a hafl each day.

I normally start witrh cardio. I'll either run on the treadmill or do the stairs.

Today, I ran 2 miles on the treamill. Then did my abs, legs, and arms.. then ended with 3 miles on the stairs. All in all, a pretty good workout I think.

If you haven't done the stairs at the gym, I suggest it. It's a crazy workout. I sweat an insane amount..and love it. It's one of those workouts that you really feel like you've accomplished something. I do it at 110 steps per minute for 20ish minutes. That's about 3 miles. I'm working up to 30 minutes. If you do that baby for an hour and 110 steps per minute, you are supposed to burn over 1,000 calories. PHEW! I coudln't imagine spending all of my gym time on the stairs..

Wait a sec..

HOW do I delete this whole blog? I'll be starting a new one, shortly.

I've made the decision..

To delete this blog and start fresh.