The Post Partum Pooch = Diastasis

I've missed blogging a lot. I took quite the break, huh?
Well, I've been kind of overwhelmed emotionally regarding my career or life's purpose. I just couldn't find time for blogging in the midst of those emotions.
Plus, I'm still slooooowwwwwly unpacking boxes at our new place. I'd like to get every single box unpacked and have all the miscellaneous items that we haven't seen in 2 years.

I replaced my blogging time with nothing other than the gym. LA Fitness to be exact. I'm so ashamed to admit that I still am not at a place in which I can wear a two-piece bathing suit but the rest of me is looking pretty darn good! I only do about 10 minutes of running cardio a week and spend the rest of my time LIFTING WEIGHTS. And I'm in total love with it.
I'd like to think that I moved into beast-mode this past week. I do 4 sets with 30-45 seconds of rest in between each set. Supposedly this higher intensity burns the same amount of fat that our usual forms of cardio. I'm pretty sure I need to do both high intensity lifting and regular cardio. Now that the weather is more consistent, I'll probably do early morning runs. I detest treadmill running.

Regarding my post-pregnancy tummy: I did tons of research and realized that I had a slight abdominal tear, otherwise known as diastasis. This is where your abdominal muscles were spread so much that the tissues didn't come back together after birth. I wish it didn't take me 2 years to realize it. Oh and regular ab exercises actually prevent the muscles from coming together and tightening. [No wonder I still had a mini pooch.]

I visited a couple of body-building gyms, and one gym rep said that she thought I would need to have a tummy tuck and the other gym rep said I wouldn't. Of course I started obsessing and after googling and you-tubing tons of research on proper exercises, I'm finally starting to make some headway. I also bought a diastasis splint associated with the Tupler Technique. I'm hoping I'll be where I want to be or at least closer to my goal by the end of the summer. Hey, the end of the summer is better than never.

If you have an questions about the Tupler Technique or diastasis, let me know. You're not alone!!!

New House, New Workout Shoes and A New Snack

We're finally, officially Texas residents!

 We packed up the rental house ourselves; rented a UHaul and moved all of our shit household items ourselves (with the assistance of one very helpful friend) and then unpacked...okay well almost unpacked all of our boxes.
Mother Nature, who is obviously having an identity crisis, decided to rain on our 'moving day parade.' But like NeNe from Housewives of Atlanta says, "One monkey don't stop no show." We moved in the rain, with our tiny humans getting in and out of the way.
And of course, daylight saving's time was the next day. I'm tired just thinking about it right now. Especially since I'm sitting across from 5 different-sized boxes. Sigh. Life goes on....unpacked or in boxes.

The sellers left us a bottle of champagne in the fridge!

The seller(s) also left us a very nice note filling us in on the neighbors and their families and all of the upgrades that were made to the house since its construction.
We were able to keep the refrigerator since he didn't want to ruin the hardwood floors moving it out. So now we have 2 refrigerators! Which works out perfectly since we need but never bought a deep freezer. Anyway, our congratulatory champagne was a nice surprise.
Something we can do when we sell!

Even though my life was in boxes, my work out gear wasn't. #KeepItTight

I like my shoes. :-) They're the Pegasus' and really comfortable.
Orange laces. Yellow swoosh. #TeamNeon
 

Gotta stay colorful. #KeepItTight

 

We got our new mattress!!!!!!!

Goodbye back pain and hello peaceful night's sleep.
We had to get splurge-y and buy a memory foam. Our old mattress really messed us, well me up in the head. Death to spring-loaded mattresses!!!
I gained 40-lbs with each pregnancy and our old spring-loaded mattress was my support.
"You ain't got to go home, but you got to get the hell up outta here!"
{That's how I feel towards my old mattress}

My new snack addiction. $2.98 at Walmart.

Better than popcorn and pringles! Once you pop, you can't stop!

 

 

My Month Long Hiatus

Yo, what's up folks?!? I've been taking a month long hiatus to give myself some time to read and research a healthier lifestyle.

The church we attend (that we'll eventually become members of) did a church-wide fasting and praying venture while reading a 31-day devotional. Since I've been attending this church, I've learned about Biblical principles that I never really knew and the messages are delivered in a college-lecture fashion as opposed to the crunk Holy Ghost fashion. There's nothing wrong with either method but the latter method tends to side-track my me more.

I've been a Christian and person of good conscience all my life but attending this church has pushed me more to listen to and follow God's plan for my life. Since I have no idea of how to get started, I was that much more inspired to begin finding out what my purpose is....and its not just motherhood.

I decided to fast from desserts, which is a complete weakness and usually a daily meal/snack that I have. I figured it would also be a great time, month to get a tad more serious about my gym time, so all month I've been hitting up the treadmill, stairmaster and free weights.

By the way, I cheated one day on my desserts and I'm 4 days behind on my reading just because I didn't feel like reading. {rolls eyes}
I'm going to finish it though ----> my New Year's Resolution to myself was to read more books and FINISH them.
That really takes up my free blogging time.


Welcome to the 'Gun' Show!

My muscles look bigger in person, but hey, I'm finally getting somewhere on #TeamKeepItTight!

Budgeting Fitness & Doing Supersets

When I first started staying at home with my oldest son, I didn't want to buy a gym membership or technically keep it because I didn't want to have an 'unnecessary' expense. I'm our family budgeter and I thought I could just work out at home.

I invested in Insanity dvds (purchased off of Craigslist) and a couple other exercise dvds that were only used consistently for about a month.

Well, like plenty other SAHMs (stay-at-home moms), that's sometimes impossible to do.

During naptime/downtime, chores and adult [reality] shows always win.

 

{'Adult' shows sounds so x-rated, but its funnier than saying grownup shows.

Especially when your kid repeats to your friend or family member that they got to watch an adult movie.

Iron Man is not what comes to their mind. But its always funny.}

 

I finally realized how important going to the gym really is and since this past late August/early September, I've made an effort to go weekly. At worst, I go bi-weekly, but that's only when I'm sick or traveling.

I realized that it IS a necessary expense. Health and fitness should be budgeted INTO the family budget because it is important physically, mentally and even spiritually.

I'm much happier because I'm in better shape than I was 3 months ago.

 

When you feel good, you look good. Not for vanity's sake, but for the sake of positive self-esteem.....which out precious children have a natural tendency to lower, stretch and leave all wrinkly.

 

Weight training is just as important as cardio.

Of course cardio burns the fat, but weight training tones and sculpts.

 

My cardio: intervals on treadmill and stairmaster

My weights: leg press machine and 15lb dumbbells

Squats

Calf raises

 

Supersets on the leg press machine are doing squats and calf raises. You work the whole leg at one time on one machine.

I do 3 sets of supersets on the leg press machine after doing cardio and then some sort of bicep curls.

I actually experiment with other forms of the same muscle-working machines just for the fun of working out.

 

 Of course budgeting fitness means cutting out a certain amount of shopping and dining out......darn those white chocolate mochas that tempt and taunt me on the days that I can fall asleep while singing and coloring.

 

Do you have a fitness routine?

Earning Some Stars To My Stripes & Postpartum Nutrition

I really earned my "mommy" title this morning!
In a little over an hour: I brushed teeth, fed my toddler and my baby, packed lunch, changed the biggest blowout I have ever seen BEFORE the school dropoff, dropped off my toddler at school, then gave my stinky baby a bath...oh and cleaned two runny snot-filled noses with a nasal syringe. Goodness!
Yes, I'm adding a couple stars to my stripes. :-)

I've been really busy doing....I don't really even know. Between dealing with my toddler's part-time preschool, doing play dates, joining a MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) group and catching up on my recorded shows, I haven't had any time to blog.

Post-partum Nutrition Renewal

Okay, so since I had two babies back to back, I really just couldn't wait to be able to eat what I wanted, meaning not so healthy. When pregnant, I made sure to eat balanced meals and sweets several times a week and not everyday. Well, now that I'm not pregnant nor nursing I have been eating sweets (sweets=anything with chocolate) every single day. I mean, I pop semi-sweet chocolate chips like skittles. So today I have made a pact with myself that I will not be eating anymore 'sweets' for a whole month. Whenever I want something sugary to eat, I'll make sure it is something natural and fresh...blueberries and strawberries.
Um, should I make this 2 weeks instead of a whole month? Okay, okay. I think I'll still keep it at a month, but there will be exceptions like if I'm at a football party or kids birthday party. But when I'm at home or doing day-to-day errands, no chocolate for me.

I plan to eat more protein and green stuff....that'd be vegetables. Although my metabolism is naturally high [still], I'm not as young and healthy as I was 8-10 years ago and its time to get the healthy part back. Maybe we'll head to the farmers market this weekend and buy some fresh veggies. Its time I really started doing everything I can do to get back to my former healthy state. After all, we women are the cheerleaders for the rest of the family so we migh as well 'cheerlead' by example.

What My Hair Is Doing....

I have had 2 twist-out FAILS and 1 braid-out FAIL. Its been a bad couple of weeks hair style-wise. Right now my hair is pulled back into a low bun, even though I was supposed to have given up ponytail styles. I'm totally at a loss right now. I didn't take any pictures because, well, whenever I take my hair down in the morning, I'm always on the way somewhere and then have to rush to recover it in some way.

I've also learned that my hair hates coconut oil. Great. That's always great to learn after you've bought the ginormous $13 container. Ugh. Coconut oil makes my hair/ends feel really crispy and dry. I feel like I still have crsipy and frizzy ends even though I deep conditioned after it. I did a little research and learned that other ladies with that experience claim to be protein sensitive. I've never felt that I had any issues with protein before so this is definitely new and something I will be paying more attention to. 


Has anyone ever had this problem? If so, how long did it take you to finally feel like you've regained moisture? What do you do to make your ends SMOOTH?

Our Insanity Begins....

No, I'm actually not talking about decoding baby babble with a toddler that has mastered the art of 'playing you off'; nor am I talking about my teddy bear baby who is also controlling with his LOUD crying all because I took a toy, remote or well, anything out of his hand. But, yes that does work my nerves. :-) I'm actually talking about Insanity, the 60-day intense workout system with Shaun T. We started a couple nights ago and we actually didn't quit and sit on the couch while watching them finish the exercises. Hell, we even did it again the next day....and that's something for us to be proud of! We're actually going to try and stay committed! Our plan is to get our bodies back in shape as well as do a little toning and sculpting.

My husband is a member of 24-Hr Fitness Club. I used to be but gave it up a couple years ago because I just wasn't going and didn't want to waste that money. Whether my hubby works out there regularly or not, he doesn't feel like its a waste because sometimes he plays pick up basketball. Anyway, I said all that because after buying Insanity at an awesomely used price of $45 (but in perfect condition), I was thinking that even if we had paid the $130+shipping it costs brand new, it still wouldn't have been a waste of money if compared to the $30-$35 a monthly gym membership would cost me. Sure, I don't have access to various other exercise classes and yoga classes, but technically after 4-5 (months) gym payments, I've already covered the cost of Insanity!

If you'd like to check out Insanity or some other workout dvds by Team Beach Body go here. They're all not expensive nor come with goo gobs of dvds. If it were up to me, I would've just gotten Hip Hop Abs by Shaun T (of Insanity) but the hubs looked at me like I had one eyeball.

This is apart of my 'New Self" project that I have started in my mind. The natural hair lifestyle has taught me how to commit to something, so hopefully that commitment goes along with my fitness and Insanity.

Do you have any fitness goals that you are starting or maintaining? When do you plan to start? What helps you stay committed, even through the pain and soreness?

Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip Cookies are Evil

Seriously....its really not fair. Every time I see you, I can't help myself. You're definitely no good for me. Hell, before my second baby, I didn't even like you! I don't even know if I liked you when I was pregnant. So, why is it that I can't seem to escape your hold over me! Sigh.....I thought I could blame post-postpartum hormones, but that was about 3 months ago. Who/what can I blame this on now? You're preventing me from losing this pooch! Oh well, now that I've had the last of this batch, I promise I won't get another bag.......just as long as I never set foot in a grocery store for a month. Looks like the hubby will have to do all of the shopping. Between you and the healthy bananas on the counter, I can't help but open your resealable pouch....

These used to be my hubby's favorite cookies and then once our second boy was born, I found myself eating all of his cookies. See, that's what pregnancy does, it causes you to like food your husband/kid(s) dad likes even if you never liked it pre-pregnancy! 

Hair and Lipstick fun:

I've gotten rather plain post-college, but ESPECIALLY post-babies, but I plan to get my fabulousness back one step at a time. 

This was $12!

I originally bought the $20 one by Make up Forever and my friend made fun of me saying the Sephora brand was just as good. Well, she was absolutely right because I ended up liking this one much better color-wise anyway!

Operation 'Flab To Abs' in Full Effect

New plan --- get these abs back visible or close to it, by July 4th. Our family vacay to Myrtle Beach is the following week and I need to be fabulous! :-)
I visited my doctor recently and she basically told me that my extra stomach will never go away.
::turns head::
:::cups ear:::
"Say what now?!?", "Come again?!?" 
She said that me being so small (I know she wanted to say short), and carrying a big ole baby, my skin stretched more than it would've had for a taller person, with a longer torso, having a baby my boys' sizes or if I were to have had a smaller baby. She said that it will go down, but never back to 6-packin' it.

Well, I'll show her! Hmph!

Check out my new exercises, no crunches necessary (most are self explanatory).



Start in the push-up position and rotate body.

What's your fitness plan(s) for the summer or anytime afterwards?