whoops... forgot to blog

Wow!  I haven't blogged in almost a week!  I get scatter brained and busy sometimes I guess.

Last week.  I managed to "maintain" in that I lost the 5 pounds I somehow gained over the weekend last week.  Well, not entirely maintained.  I was 174.4 July 18th, and 174.6 July 26.  But I'm glad I was weighing myself daily because then I knew that I had actually done a LOT of work last week. 

I set myself a goal of not over-doing it this weekend and I did not do well at achieving that goal.  I am up 3 pounds this morning.  So, not quite as bad as last week but not as good as I had hoped for.  I still need to lose 5 pounds in order to get to 172.  But, I did that last week so I know I can do it again!

This week is a cardio blast week.  I really hope that it kicks my body into high gear and burns some fat!  By the way, I have been taking my measurements and they haven't changed in 3 weeks. 

My other problem is that I keep skipping Saturday workouts.  So this week I'm going to try to work out everyday Mon-Fri and just plan to take Sat and Sun as my rest days.  It always feels strange to rest on Wed anyways.  We'll see how that goes.

The weather hasn't really felt like a typical July.  The kids are in the house too often, we haven't really been going to the pool.  Today looks just as dreary so that sucks.  Feels more like late August. 

Anyways, off to work out! 

Ups and downs.

This weightloss thing sure has its ups and downs.  Just like life I suppose but I really hate seeing the scale go up.  I don't know how its even possible to gain 5 pounds over 1 weekend.  I didn't even think that I cheated THAT much.  I had McDonald's Friday night.  Saturday I went to a baby shower so I ate spinach dip, coldcuts, cheese and cake.  Then Sunday I weighed myself and I had gained FIVE pounds!!!?? Ugh.  Talk about a little depressing.  By yesterday I had taken off 1 pound and then this morning I've maintained that.  So in order to be down my 2 pound loss goal and weigh 172, I have to lose another 5 pounds by Friday.  Oh, yes, my friend and I decided to change weigh in day to Fridays now.  Since that gives us another day to lose before our free day. 

My new plan, is to not take a full free DAY.  It seems like the idea of a free day lets me cheat way too much and ends up turning into a free weekend.  I want to try to stick to the same meal plan, most importantly eating 6 small meals.  But to maybe replace 1 meal with 1 cheat.  That way hopefully I should not GAIN anything but instead MAINTAIN the weight I end up at on Friday. 

On the bright side, I'm always getting compliments!  We were at my in-laws yesterday and my Father-in-law looked at me and said, "Wow you're getting positively SCRAWNY!"   That made my day!  My other family members all chimed in with compliments as well and it felt so good that other people are seeing the work I'm doing!  I'm not giving up on my goal! 

The food this week so far tastes fabulous!  I love the beginning of the week because I get to eat new recipes again!  Just to give you an idea of the food you'll get to eat if you do this program... breakfast burritos, fish tacos, grilled chicken skewers and strawberry-banana ice "cream"!  Its certainly delicious food! 

I'm still without a vehicle.  Autopac has inspected my van but says it won't be until next week when they get back to me with the amount they'll give me for it.  I think we are going to see if we can just buy a new vehicle guessing how much we'll get.  But of course hubby is busy with work so it's hard for us to go car-shopping during the week.  I just wish I could take the kids to the park or the pool cause I feel like we are getting summer cabin fever around here.

Well, I'm going to get moving for the day!  Time to workout and shower! 

Weigh in day!

So its weigh in day and I'm so happy with myself!  I lost 3 pounds!!!  174.6  So I'm really on track.  I've been doing GREAT this week.  my only cheats all week have been a handful of popcorn, an iced coffee (with sweetener instead of sugar) and half of a teensy McDonalds kiddie cone.  I'm feeling pretty great today!

I was in Brandon visiting with a friend and her kids so we went to McDonalds and then to a park.  The kids had a ball and then I went and bought a stability ball and kettle weight at Wal-Mart after.  I can't type much because my kids are all demanding my attention at the moment but I just wanted to post a quick update on how things are going.

The little things :)

So if anyone knows me, they'll know that a big joke of mine is that I hate exercise because I HATE sweating.  But here it is, evidence that I'm actually working hard... that's sweat!!!!  eww!!!

See that sweat??
 

Its actually dripping down my face!

 When you enroll in Revolt Now Fitness one of the great keys to success is the support you receive.  There is a private Facebook group for subscribers who are super supportive and helpful.  Whenever you have questions about the workouts or recipes, you have access not only to the creator of this program but a ton of people who are doing the exact same thing as you!  There are often little comments about the little/big changes they are noticing aside from the numbers on the scale.  So I thought I'd share a couple of the little changes I've noticed in me that has me encouraged! 

This morning, I got out of the shower, wrapped my towel around my body and it hit me.... this towel actually WRAPS AROUND MY BODY!!!!  That has not been true for me for quite a while!  I can remember when I could just get the ends to meet under my armpit, today... they overlap and the towel is actually covering me!!!!  Such a silly "little" realization has brought me a great deal of joy this morning!

Sorry for the blurry pic I never realized that it was blurry till after I got dressed.
 

My next little/big thing is although my scale weight hasn't moved a whole lot, look at those shorts!  The beginning of this summer I could barely button them!  Now, I can't even wear them because they fall off my bum every time I bend over!  Bring on the shopping please!!!!

Obviously, this journey has its good days and its bad days. Today for me is a pretty good day!  With my frequent weighing I discovered another loss, plus I'm determined to find as many little/big changes in me that I can today :)  To look at all that I've accomplished and feel proud of the work I've done to get here!  My goal is actually within reach and I feel closer to it than ever!

 

Re-losing weight.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed going for all you can eat sushi on my free day, I'm getting a little tired of re-losing weight.  Its only a pound but its still annoying since I never lost anything last week.  I even ate my regular meal plan all day just to try and not overdo it that night....it didn't work. 

The workout was hard this morning, I struggle so much to keep my balance doing lunges.  Push-ups... pfft.  I can't do those.  Even my window ledge style ones to make them even easier are crazy hard.  I can't wait to get stronger so that I won't struggle so much!

I don't have that ridiculous urge to eat anything and everything yesterday or today so I'm really hoping for a nice big loss this week.  Yes I'm back to weighing myself daily, but I like it.  Thursday will be my official weigh in.  I'm excited that I went swimsuit shopping yesterday and didn't have to shop in plus sizes, bought a size large and it fits wonderfully and I don't feel like a beached whale anymore! 

On the home front, summer is great!  The kids play outside most of the day and we have plenty of fun activities planned.  However, I broke my van.  I was driving along my gravel roads and suddenly come upon a big ridge the grader had left.  A big rock shattered my oil pan, the oil ran out and my engine seized.  We drive older, used vehicles so it is likely going to be a write-off.  Car shopping!  But in the meantime, I'm 'grounded' here at home with no vehicle to use. 

Hubby is in the field cutting hay, kids are outside... think I'll sneak a rest on the couch since my lil girly is napping :)

Making plans :)

Sorry I missed yesterday everyone.  My day got busy.  So I lost little yesterday morning.  I finally did not feel bloated and hungry yesterday and so I stuck to the meal plan perfectly!!  So proud of myself!  As a result I was down even more today 176!  So that means I lost just over a pound this week but since I had actually gained this week I'm only down .4 over all.  But heck, that's still great news!!! 

I've formulated a plan to deal with my excessive hunger during my period.  Revolt gets you to choose diet 1, 2, or 3 and I landed in diet 1.  So i'm thinking that maybe for the week of my period I'm going to eat diet 2 to see if I can avoid being so hungry and grabbing at junk foods.  But that's a month away. 

I'll just try to focus on the next week!  I'm making my shopping list today and should get to the store tomorrow afternoon and have time to prep it all tomorrow evening.  I am awake nice and early today so I am planning to actually do my Saturday workout for the FIRST TIME EVER since starting Revolt!  Yeah!!! 

It's my free day, but I must admit because of all the cheating I did this week and that I've finally got the scale back to where I started I'm really tempted NOT to cheat.  So far I ate the breakfast from the meal plan, cause I actually really like it.  My cheat so far has been that I put a little milk in my coffee :)  I'm just going to wait and see what my day brings and not "plan" a whole lot of cheating.

My house is in desperate need of a good top to bottom cleaning, so I'm going to try to accomplish that today and get caught up on laundry again.  Its such repetitive work that never seems to actually get done.

Lady Talk

I almost didn't blog today.  I'm so sad.  I went through the difficult task of detaching myself from my beloved scale for a whole week....and it kicked me in the arse. 

So before I disclose the wretched truth I'll tell that this week I started my period.  I am bloated and hungry and bitchy.  I tried to not get discouraged but I did cheat on my meal plan a little, everyday.  So I suppose I shouldn't be completely surprised by my scale's revelation this morning.  But it still hurts to be betrayed by something I'm so close to.  I was up a pound from last week :(  Actually 1.2 pounds.  177.6   *oof*  Depressing.

My husband and my dear friend reminded me that I'm probably retaining water due to my lady time.  So I googled to see if they are just humoring me.  I am happy to report that according to many women on a thread discussing this exact topic,  say the same thing!  Actually, some of them noted that they are often up as much as 5-10 pounds!!!  woah!  I suppose I should thank my lucky stars that I didn't gain THAT much!  Here's the link.

I still managed to get my workout in this morning, despite my great sadness as a result of my failure.  So, I am just hoping that I can do better next week.  I feel torn between resuming my daily weigh-ins so I won't be so stunned if something like this happens again and trying to stay off it again this week to see if I like it better when it's not that time of the month. 

Regardless, I hope that by reporting this news other people trying to accomplish this huge task of getting in shape and eating healthy can feel that they are not alone if this happens or has happened to you.

I've got a big task today.  Heading out of my house to take the kids for a playdate at a friend's house.  This means I have to pack along my food to eat there and not eat birthday cake.  I'm also going to bring 2 full litres of water so hopefully I can stick to my meal plan and avoid the temptations.  Wish me luck!

Everyone needs a bosom for a pillow

Being a stay at home mom of 4 little darlings has its share of work.  Despite what any naysayers to this statement believe, I don't sit around watching soap operas eating bon bons.  Having 6 people living in a house creates a LOT of mess.  There is constantly meals being eaten, toys and books and puzzles being left out and a constant nagging to "put that away when you're finished, bring your dishes to the sink, take that bag of garbage out, wipe the seat if you tinkle... etc etc"  Doing Revolt has been fabulous for me, but taking 2 hours every morning to do the warm up, workout and then shower and dress means 2 hours of NOT doing the other stuff.  So today being my "rest day" means, oh wow, I really need to get that laundry folded and mop my floors and hopefully get the bathroom scrubbed because I haven't gotten that done in a while.  And of course this is between making breakfast, doing the dishes, helping kids get dressed, go potty, brush teeth, change a diaper and then next thing you know its time to make lunch.  Don't forget the coloring, playdough, puzzles, crafts, read me a book requests.  Its no wonder daycare is so expensive, caring for kids is a big job. 

I still haven't weighed myself... because of course I can't.  I sure have wanted to!  I can't wait for tomorrow to see if all my hard work has paid off!  I'm not at all bored of the food this week, its all fabulous and I'm happy to keep eating it.  I've done a lot better at sticking to my meals but have still snuck in the occasional bite of this or that...oops.  I do wonder however if that is because I'm still nursing a toddler... I never did ask if I should eat more calories or not due to that fact.  But mostly that's because she really only nurses once or twice a day.  Yesterday was a cute day.  She refused to take her nap at the usual time and around 4:30 the poor thing was exhausted and asked for num nums.  We layed down on the couch together and she actually took a wee nap on me for the first time in a while.  So here's my lil girly having a nice snooze with a booby pillow  :)

Darling daughter's camera work

I gave my big girly my phone again.  I think I'm going to charge up the battery for my actual camera for the next time I get her to photograph a workout though because out of 170 pics only about 10 were not blurry!

So this morning I did get up early but it was so cold in my house that I did not feel like working out yet.  Then I realized that my one and only sports bra and outfit were still in the washer so I had to dry that first.  I think it may be time to go buy at least one more workout outfit!  So by the time I was ready to workout, everyone was up.  I got them all breakfast then finally got to work!

I stuck to my meal plan pretty well yesterday but in the end cheated a little cause I finished off something my lil boy didn't eat... some pasta salad.  I swear I just want to get through ONE day where I don't cheat a little.  I'm still dying to weigh myself... I can't wait until Thursday! 

In life, I'm going to try to sort through and clean the boys room today.. if I can walk after all those squats and wall sits!  I counted and I did around 140 squats today!!!  woah!  I never thought I'd EVER say that!  I feel really good about myself, but wow do I hurt!  Lower body sculpt days just KILL ME!  But I'm always happy that I did it in the end!

So without further adieu, here is my big girly's photography....

Shoes are helpful :)

Good thing I made hubby hide my scale.  I dunno if I can do this!  I wake up and my routine is to pee, then step on that scale!  I feel separation anxiety and then I already start to question myself... I look in the mirror and think "Do I look bloated?" 
Of course my tiny rational voice says, "you are fine, you followed the meal plan you probably lost weight!" 
But that ridiculously loud voice continues to throw doubtful thoughts in there like "ya, but how much did you gain on your free day?  maybe you'll be working all week just to get back to where you were?  if you had weighed yourself after your free day then you'd know where you are at!  Weigh yourself now and you'll know what you're working towards for the week!"
But Im staying off that thing until Thursday!

Anyways, enough about inner wars.  I did do great yesterday!  I feel so good about myself I bet whatever I did gain on my free day I lost yesterday!  Its only 7:30 so I actually got up before everyone, probably because I was so stinking excited to eat my fruit and yogurt parfait with granola!  I just finished downloading my workout video so I can go workout right away...before anyone is up to bug me :) I'll come finish this post after my workout!

Wow that felt great!!  I sweated and I hurt but I feel awesome!!! I did something that again seems like a no brainer... I wore shoes.  It goes along with my other weird excuse that I've broken which is that I started wearing workout clothes, mostly cause once I put them on I realized how good they fit!  So today I put on shoes and I am sooo glad I did!  The squats were so much easier to keep my balance while wearing shoes!

I managed to finish JUST as my littlest lil woke up!  Plunked her in front of cartoons, which of course alerted the other kids that it was morning.  I managed to sneak in a quick shower... which by the way, does anyone else miss shaving foam?  Its all shave gel now unless you buy cheap men's shave foam, which I do but then I smell all manly till I put body lotion on... haha! 

I'm really enjoying my protein shake today.  I've never been so happy to have a shake after that detox week!   I was sure sick of eating so much food while feeling so hungry!

Ramblings.

Free Day was awesome!!!  I ate.  A lot.  mmm.  I've decided to start a new thang.  Inspired by the wonderful support group on the Revolt Fitness Facebook group I'm part of.  I'm not weighing myself except for once a week.  It shall be Thursdays.  So I'll be sure to start telling you all my stats every Thursday!  What everyone was saying about weighing yourself daily being discouraging has never been the case with me.  I've usually enjoyed seeing those lil steps down my scale was making and even maintaining my weight from one day to the next felt good.  But I would often justify little cheats within my day based on how well I was doing.  So if I lost 1-2 pounds in a day I would think "I'm doing great, its ok if I have this ONE little bite of something"  I'm hoping that by changing this daily weigh-in habit I'll break through this and stick more closely to my meal plans.  I did take pics today.  But I wish I had done it on Thursday when I wasn't bloated from my free day because I'm having a hard time seeing a big change even though I've lost a full 8 pounds in 3 weeks.  I'm going to wait and take more pics THIS Thursday after I've been awesome for one more week :)  I'm really hoping to see at least a 2 pound loss from my last weight of 176.4

I've prepped all my food.  Let me say it was torture to make me melt chocolate for those chocolate dipped banana bites on my last day of detox!!!  Otherwise I'm super excited about this week!  The food looks awesome and I'm going to try to stick to the plan.

I get one of these delicious morsels each day next week!

I did not work out yesterday.  oops.  I slept in again and had to get everyone dressed and out the door to make it to our family gathering yesterday.  I feel like such a boring person as I tend to spend a lot of time talking about my new lifestyle and weightloss.... hahaha.  Hopefully people don't find me annoying!  I'm kinda glad I took sat and sun for rest days because yesterday I was still VERY sore but today I feel really good.  I think I needed the break.  But I'm ready to hurt all over again tomorrow!!!!

Well I should go do dishes and put away laundry :)

Tomorrow is my free day!!!!

I can't wait until tomorrow!!!!  There is a family get together for me to pig out at!  I'm so sick of dieting right now.  I can't wait to eat some sweets and salty foods and CARBS!  Oh how I miss my carbs!  Sucky part is I gotta go to my kitchen right away and make a pasta salad and some cupcakes for tomorrow and I would get to do any taste testing :(((  OH well just think how great it will all taste tomorrow!

I got up and did my workout today.  My kids were much less supportive this morning.  My littlest lil just kept wanting me to pick her up and getting in the way.  I just about knocked her head with the weight a couple times!  Poor lil thang.  Then my big boy kept begging me to turn on cartoons alternating with "aren't you done yet Mom?"  *insert lots of whining and long sighs*  But I got it done.  I still can't even do the girly pushups and instead braced my hands on my bay window ledge so that I was at even less of an incline.  My poor shoulders today.. ugh.  But I did it!  yeah!  I feel so good when I do my workout!  Tomorrow my big goal is to actually get up and do my workout by 7 so that none of them are up yet!

Short post today!  Thanks for reading!

Summer Break brings new routine!

So now that my older 2 kids aren't having to rush out the door by 8am to catch the school bus we are all sleeping a little later...and of course staying up a LOT later at night.  I have been doing my workouts with four little cheerleaders all week.  So this morning I got dressed and handed the camera to my 7 year old daughter.  My boys were outside in the sandbox and of course my lil one was in there helping me out.  These aren't the best pics but I'll just share them with you anyways because its fun!  There's a couple that are ridiculously blurry but too cute not to include.  Please enjoy!

By the way... I was 176.8 this morning and that is officially the least I've weighed in 10 YEARS!  years!!!!  I'm feeling on top of the world this morning!!!  I did the warmup video and the cardio workout because I hadn't been doing a warmup and my genius sis-in-law pointed out that THAT could be the reason why I'm so stinking sore all the time!  LOL... should be a no brainer.  I was always concerned about the time. 

I'm holding a pillow cause I don't have a stability ball

Watching Mama

And the bear sequence

She put the bear on my back while I was trying to do the plank to pike!  haha!

blurry but TOO CUTE!

Back to where I left off!

Wow oh wow!  Yesterday and got up early and the lower body sculpt workout was not there yet, unfortunately I had such a busy day planned that even when it did show up I was out of time to do it.  But no problem, today is supposed to be my rest day so I just did my workout today.  I feel so awesome!  I can do ALL the exercises!  AND all the reps!  I did the whole thing today!  I POURED sweat... literally, it was dripping onto my glasses and I had to send my 5 year old to grab me a towel!  WOOT WOOT!  I hate sweating.. truly I hate it.  But this felt great!  And now my legs hurt sooo much!  Can't wait to take my measurements again!  The end of this week will be 3 weeks that I've been doing Revolt and so I think I'll take some new pics and measurements.  Still need to get calipers so I can start to keep track of my body fat %

I cheated on my diet for 4 days and missed one cardio day.  As a result I'll admit that I was up to 182 (3 pound gain) again on Monday.  So disappointing!  But I think it was mostly "water weight" because this morning after 2 days on the detox diet I was 178.4!!!  So I lost 3.6 pounds and I'm back on track!  I will NOT do that again.  All I can think is if I'd been reasonable and had just one free day, like I was supposed to then I could be as low as 175.4...oh well I learned my lesson (hopefully)

I was even brave enough to workout with the kids awake for the 2nd time.  Most of them were eating breakfast but my lil 20 month old daughter was right there with me, bringing me weights I didn't need and trying to mimic the exercises!  Super duper cute!  I wish my hubby was home to get pictures.  But then again maybe not.  One of my weird excuses that I used to use whenever trying to do home workouts was that I'd have to get dressed twice... so I do my workouts in my underwear!  haha!  One of these days I'll get dressed into some cute workout clothes and get hubby to take pics ;)

This detox diet leaves me feeling like I eat all day while still feeling hungry all day!  So weird.  But it appears to be doing the job. 

If anyone wants a reasonably priced exercise program with tons of online support and manageable diet plan and home workouts... do this!  You seriously won't regret it!  www.revoltnowfitness.com  I love this woman for doing this for us!  I've looked into other home workouts and the cost is astronomical!  I can afford this and I feel like I can really truly do this!

My goal is to hit 150 pounds by Oct 26th so I can look all sexy and hot when hubby and I go to the city for an overnight to see P!NK !!!!  I wanna be able to get buy a new outfit and feel great!  I can't wait to get there!

Wait up wagon!!!!

So I fell off the wagon in a big way this weekend.  I had a rehearsal bbq Friday, my cousin's wedding was Saturday and then yesterday I went bowling with friends and indulged in even MORE junk food.  I never got any of my food prep done and so although I got up and did the workout this morning (ahem, 9am... that's still morning right?) I didn't have my meals ready to eat so I just made myself a protein shake until I could get my food ready.  I've got everything cooking as I type.  This week is not getting off on the right foot!  I don't even wanna admit my weight gain from this weekend. 

But let's look on the bright side shall we.... I feel stronger than ever from doing these workouts!  We went 10 pin bowling last night.  Last time I went was shortly before I started Revolt and I could barely bowl using the lightest balls.  After I was sore... my shoulder and my hip felt the pain.  Last night I found the light balls incredibly manageable and was able to whip them down the alley :)  Even got 3 strikes!!!  I am so impressed with the way my clothes fit and with my stamina.  Now if I can just get my cravings and eating on track I'll be in great shape!

I find the hardest times to be when I leave this house.  When everyone else gets to eat the carbs and sugary things or the burgers and fries... that is when I fail.  My will power is pathetic!  I have yet another test of my will this evening at a family BBQ for Canada Day.  Lets see if I can hold firm and eat what I'm supposed to eat.

I'm taking the kids to the pool this afternoon so I'm happy to be staying very active and I'm going to do my utmost to stick to this diet for the rest of today and the week!