I just can’t get over how rapidly my body changes!  It seems that every time I turn around my clothes are too big, especially in the waist.  I love shopping, but this is getting costly!  LOL!

I never realized how much my abs would be affected by doing push ups and pull ups.  I can see so much definition in my stomach just from this challenge.  Each time I do a pull up I can really feel it in my abs.  Crazy, always looked at those exercises as ways to strengthen and tone my arms.

Can actually feel and see some muscle…guess that is what keeps getting me back up on that chin up bar!

May have to buy stock in Ann Taylor, Levi and a few others if I keep this transformation going!!!

It really puts a smile on my face when I realize it definately does pay to continue a well rounded workout!

Time keeps flying by, can’t believe it has been 8 days since I have updated this blog.  Enjoyed my 5 days off and got some good bike riding in!

Today was a lazy day, well, not really lazy but on the exercise front that is how I see it.  Thursday nights are our “Survivor” nights with our neighbors, we trade every other week at each other’s house for dinner.  This was my week..so by th time I get out of work and hit the grocery store for my weekly shopping, I got home in time to put dinner together and 7:15 we try to eat…so tonight I had made something the neighbor kids and my kids love…we call them “Dough Dogs”. I make homemade bread dough, then put hot dogs in the middle, dough rises around them and then you bake.  I made ww with turkey sausage inside for myself and my hubby.  They are such a hit…..take time to make but always worth it!   There are 9 of us all together, use to be 12 but some have grown up and moved on….been doing this for 6 years…really a great way to spend an evening.  Plus every other week, I don’t have to cook on Thursday…yippee!  But then again, every other Thursday I have to come up with a meal to serve many more than my usual family.  But it is worth it!

So anyway, my workout consisted of 10 pull ups and 20 pushups…feel guilty for not running but just felt beat!

Tomorrow is a new day…already planning my morning run….and RT at some point and hopefully a little bike ride in the evening between the kids activities.  Going to be another gorgeous day…in the 80’s so no excuses here!!!

Good night!

My son has had some resistance bands since last Christmas, they have been laying around and I have thought many times I need to pick one up and give it a try.  Well earlier this week I did the intermediate arms and shoulder workout, felt great! Last night I did the ABS, triceps and legs…WOW!  Couldn’t figure out all day today why my glutes and thighs were a little sore…kept thinking man is it the change in the weather or just my old age!  :)  Finally dawned on me silly, it was the workout last night…loved it!  Always looking for something to mix up the workouts and think I found my new program for a while!  Even my ABS are little sore so must have worked some different muscles.

Having a tough time keeping up with the Fall Four Challenge the pullups are something I can’t get behind on or I will never catch up! Already made the push up goal but love what I see as results so keep them coming…runing and biking…time just escapes me…I am hoping to get some miles in this weekend as I have a 5 day weekend…can’t wait!!!

Kids keep me running, this house doesn’t get much sleep, but that’s ok…life is what you make it!

Time to get out there and make something happen! 

Enjoy!

WOW!  Amazing what energy you come up with when you are with the kids.  Got up this morning earlier than normal thanks to the time change!  Ran 3.1 miles while kids laid around, hubby was off early to do some dance fundraising at the Raiders Game.  After I ran I ask the kids who was up for a bike ride…they kind of  groaned…neither was up for it…but they knew how badly I wanted to get some miles and dad was gone…so they both agreed to go as long as it wasn’t a marathon.  I was so proud of them, I knew right there how much they loved and appreciated me. We headed out for just a 6 mile ride…we talked, and laughed along the way.  Every once in a while my daughter would get a little far behind and we would wait for her….rode slower than normal but that was ok…riding with them was worth it!  They did it for me!

After we got home I had made a deal that I would take my son to Sports Chalet to get a new basketball and then to the video store where they each got a new video game.  Picked up a couple Subway sandwhiches and headed home to make some pumkin bread and soft pretzels with my daughter.

Ended up feeling so great I got an RT in too and lots of push ups and pull ups.  Did an RT workout with my sons GoFit resistance band, had never done that before…that was one heck of a workout …did the shoulders, back and chest workout ….tomorrow will be stomach, legs and arms….

One incredible day…spent with my kids doing what I love…HAVING FUN!

Can’t believe it is November 1 already…this year has flown by.  My motivation to workout seems to slip in the cooler weather and especially when it gets rainy, just don’t seem to have the same level of energy.  Definately working on keeping my focus, if it wasn’t for this challenge, I would probably be sitting on the couch with a hot cup of cocoa.

I do know that this time around I have been focusing on more lifting and of course the push ups, pull ups and sit ups have helped.  This morning my husband noticed the increased definition in my stomach and said he could really see a difference…maybe that 6 pack will one day arrive!  He thought I should have taken before and after pictures, but I hate having my picture taken so of course didn’t do that.  However, would have been nice to compare.

Been kind of a lazy day…went and saw High School Musical 3 with my daughter and Hubby, pretty good movie…been doing lots of cleaning and shredding…hoping to get some motivation to jump on the treadmill tonight and of course do some push ups…love all the push up competitions this challenge!

From the time I got out of bed this morning I knew it was Monday!  Anything that could go wrong did go wrong! Plus I was very tired from working the dance fund raising at the 49ers game..not sure why I was so much more tired than usual.  Maybe it was the 3 hours I had spent Saturday night making caramel apples???  Who knows!

Got to work and had Monday morning computer issues to go along with the usual crazy Monday where I am buried since I don’t work on Friday’s.  Guess the price I pay for only working 4 days a week.  On top of that my son was sick!  Of course I made it through the day!  Got home and had time for a 6.8 mile bike ride with hubby…he was off to the races..had a hard time keeping up.  As I sit here typing at 7:40, someone has to go get my daughter from dance…hoping it is hubby as I really really need to jump up and get some weight lifiting it!  Yep, he will get her!  So…I really am not looking forward to lifting..but off I go…it has to be done right? Just another part of my work for the day!

Must have been really tired this morning…woke at 6 am when family was getting ready to go to school..but didn’t get up.  Fell back to sleep and the next thing I knew I hear my cell phone ring with a text from no other than Kwags.  I look at the clock and it is 9 am.  Felt terrible for sleeping so long but must have needed it!  Something doesn’t feel right, just can’t pin point it!  Kind of a queasy, off balance feeling…thinking it may be because I didn’t eat much last night and did an RT at 10 pm when we returned from our weekly Survivor night with neighbors.

Got up and jumped on the treadmill and ran the first mile steady paced at 6mph, then I did HIIT for the next 1 1/2 miles and then steady for the last 1/2 mile…felt awesome!  Think I could have ran more but planning an evening bike ride so wante to give my legs a little rest!  Went on to do some morning push ups and pull ups.  Really can’t believe how much easier they get the more you do!  What a concept!!!

Just finishing what I love the most..baking…made some very healthy banana bread for hubby, some dark chocolate orange scones from his low cholesterol cookbook and am baking right now some whole wheat oat bran bread with sunflower seeds and flaxseed in it…smells so good!

Crazy weekend ahead for me…but what more could I expect with the active kids I have!  I have been told that is what keeps me young…not too sure about that sometimes!

Enjoy and have fun!!!!! 

I worked out last night with my free weights and my weighted ball, I did lots of lunges and squats which I definately have been slacking off at and paid the price….I got up this morning and my legs and glutes were sore…as the day progressed it seemed to get worse.  After work was thinking of just resting, didn’t want to do much with my legs…started with my push ups…yep got 20 done easily..then to my pull ups, did 7 in a row and the 7th was tough, had to wiggle a little to get my chin over the bar, then used my exercise ball and did a variety of different sit ups totaling 100….was really thinking about running but my thighs were killing me.  I didn’t run last night and didn’t get up this morning so I knew I really needed to…so..got on the treadmill and took it slow for the first 5 minutes..then got into my rhythum and did an easy, steady 2 miles…my legs felt better the longer I ran.  Glad I pushed through it…but yes they are still sore.  Amazing what a few weeks of no squats and lunges will do to you!  Lesson learned!

Made chocolate chip cookies for the kids and really wasn’t tempted to eat any, not sure what has come over me…maybe all the clean eating has finally sunk in!  The real challenge will be this weekend when my daughter and I make caramel apples, dipped in chocolate and rolled in different candies for her teachers and friends for Halloween….a very big weakness for me is caramel apples…always looking for them at candy stores…they are somewhat healthy right???  There is an apple under all that sugar! 

Ok, off to do a few more push ups before I call it a night!

Well, I have been working hard to get my push ups and pull ups in this challenge….actually have found I enjoy lifting weights more and more, the more I do!  As the definition begins to show, that is all the motivation I need.  Still  a big struggle with the pull ups…but that’s ok…I will keep at it! Push ups…even my hubby said I was doing some great looking push ups…guess my form is acceptable…lol!

Been a stressful couple of days but the exercise helps to make me feel better. Daughter is a little worried about the bank robberies taking place…and with the one on Monday where I work…a little too close for comfort.  Now have to let her know that all they are after is the money and answer her millions of questions.  She is concerned for my safety…working hard to reassure her…but it is hard as a child to understand why people do what they do sometimes!  Just don’t want her to worry about these things!  Sometimes I think the world we live in makes kids grow up too fast and worry about things that never entered my mind at that age….how the world changes!

Have gotten a couple of bike rides in which feels great.  So glad to be back on the bike…wish it didn’t get dark so early…looking forward to riding a little this weekend.

Been working hard on making clean meals which are also heart healthy and cholesterol free as hubby has high cholesterol which I believe is hereditary…trying to control with diet and exercise but that may not be enough.  Got a couple of great cookbooks so experimenting to see what we can do!

Ok…I need to go get some push ups and pull ups in…Pittspilot is a machine…he is leaving me in the dust…that’s ok…if I make it to the end that is what counts!

Get out there and make it happen…and always remember to have fun!

Day three already?!?!?  How time flies….I am so glad to be back in the groove of working out and being held accountable for it!

I am excited about the Fall Four Challenge  that I have the opportunity to participate in with Pittspilot and Shower7.  Couldn’t ask for anyone better to keep me working out!

My arms are a bit sore from the push ups and pull ups I have been doing.  Have found it is best to do 10 push ups at several different times throughout the day.  Thank goodness my son has a pull up bar in the doorway of his room…I make many trips a day to put things in his room and clean it up…each time I grab the bar and try very hard to get 5 pull ups in…by days end forget it!

Anyway, looking forward to getting back on my bike..haven’t biked since the last crazy challenge which was the 520n52.  Miss riding, but have enjoyed the break.  Hubby just got clearance from the dr. from a back injury to get back on his bike so hopefully we are off and riding!

Working hard this challenge to get my muscle tone to the point I really like and then just maintaining!!!

Enjoy the challenge everyone it is a great opportunity to meet wonderful people, learn new ways to achieve your goals and just plain have fun!!!!