My new lifestyle.

Well, here we are again. Posting my journey. I have been on a fitness journey for the better part of 10 years. With a few breaks in there while I had my babies. 

When I first started, I went to the gym at 4:30 in the morning to get a workout in before I had to be to work. I went six days a week and loved it. I still ate what I want, just in moderation. The problem was, I had no idea what I was doing. I would go on the elliptical for a few miles, ride the bike, left some weights, and be done. I was doing something, but not the right thing. 

Fast forward to moving to South Dakota. There wasn't a 24 hour gym so I walked. It didn't keep up with my drinking and eating habits. I gained...a lot. I was the heaviest I had ever been. 

When we moved to Colorado, I tried to be better. I worked on the ranch until I got a job at the bank. I again got a gym membership and thought I was doing something, but I went nowhere. I was eating junk and not working my body the correct way. 

I got pregnant with my son and ate whatever as much as I wanted. Bad news. I was very big and very unhappy after he was born. I started Weight Watchers and never looked back. I started running, I lost a lot of weight in that year and felt great! 

I found  weight I could maintain and still have the life I wanted. We moved to Nebraska and I kept my running routine going. We got married and I felt beautiful in my dress. 

I then got pregnant with my daughter. I was better this time around and didn't binge eat as much, but still got a little heavy. I thought it would be easy to get the weight off the second time, just do what I did the last time. 

I was wrong. 

This was June 2014 holding a friend's daughter. I felt good then, I was confident. I knew I wasn't the size I wanted to be, but I was happy with my life. 

This was July 2014. I knew how to pose my body so it would look flattering. I love this photo. Very much. I know I wasn't the perfect size, but it is a photo of my children and I, that I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

In April I decided to change my life. I wanted to get into shape. I thought to myself, "when the weather gets nicer I will start running, this will just be a jump start." Little did I know, I was embarking on my new life. 

I started 21 Fix on April 16 with Pilates Fix. I loved it! I was out of shape and it was hard, but I felt like I accomplished something after that first workout. 

I didn't have a DVD player in the basement...I used my laptop. I pushed play. 

21 Day fix incorporates seven workouts. Something different every day to keep your muscles guessing. There are modifications as you start to help you get used to the moves. I modified a lot in the beginning and there is NO SHAME in that. We have to work toward our strengths. Kat was my best friend for many weeks! 

On top of the workouts, there is a wonderful eating plan. This is a lifestyle change. Little changes makes the biggest difference! I still follow Weight Watchers and use the containers for my lunches at work. I eat more fruits and veggies then I ever have. "You need to fuel your body for these workouts" as Autumn would say. It's so important. 

Shakeology is another key component. It is a shake that is filled with the nutrients you need daily. I drink mine for breakfast and seriously, it's delicious. Like, I am sad when I am finished good. My kids even want a bit every time I make it. If that doesn't say something about the taste, I don't know what does! It has been fueling my body for over a week and I can feel the difference. I am eager to see the changes it brings to my body this round. 

On April 19 I did yoga for the first time. I bought this yoga mat 10 years ago...it say unused for 9.5 of them. 

That first round of 21 days I saw BIG changes. I formed this habit of getting up at 5:30 and busting out my 30 minute workout. It was MY time to do something for me. So often, us moms put out so much energy helping everyone else, we let ourselves slip away. I was determined to do this for myself. I need to be happy in order to help make my family happy. 

What I love about this program, is it isn't just about weight loss. It is about being a better you. I hadn't been able to touch my toes in YEARS, On May 30, I was finally able to! 

June 2 I saw some definition in my arms and was actually able to do unmodified push-ups...this was HUGE for me! I struggle with that, and have been working hard to get stronger. 

This was a big day for me. On June 5 I decided to bust out my old jeans. I have held on to all of my "skinny jeans" with the hope that one day they will hang in my closet and be worn again. I have a pile of them. One by one they slipped on over my hips (a little snug as that is my problem area) and snapped with ease around my waist, without any "overflow"! I was ecstatic! I would put on a pair and run out into the living room to show my husband and say, "these are size 9, SIZE 9!!!" 

In the photo above the photo on the left I am holding up the pair of jeans I am wearing in the photo of my kids and I from July 2014, on the right are the jeans I wore at my 30th birthday party in 2012. I never thought I would wear them again. 

I love the new me. I feel good in clothes, and can wear all the clothes I have been holding on to. I feel more energized, happier, and in the best shape of my life! 

I leave you with this.I started 21 Day Fix Extreme last week and it is not easy. I sweat- A LOT each workout but it hurts so good! I am ready to be toned and continue this journey. 

The biggest part of success is having a coach, and being a part of challenge groups on Facebook. Having the support of others in the same game has been the best thing. Checking in, asking questions, they are there and they are in it with you. 

Now I am talking to you. If I can do this SO CAN YOU! Seriously, I can't tell you how many at home workouts I have tried once, maybe twice and put it back on the shelf never to be used again. I even tried the original Beachbody workouts from years ago, and only lasted two weeks. 

This one I have stuck with. I have missed 4 workouts in 11 weeks. I just get up and push play, I feel fantastic after I do. There are days, too many to count, that I don't want to get up. That my bed feels SO GOOD and I think, "just this once, it won't effect me" but then I get up and push through. I have NEVER regretted it. 

For me, it isn't about being skinny. This is about making time for me. Making a better me for my kids and husband. Making a healthier me so I can be on this earth longer with them. 

Feel free to look through my website and ask me any questions you may have about this program.
www.beachbodycoach.com/FITMOMTOG

 If I can't answer them, which I probably can't this early in the game, I will ask my coach (who is AWESOME by the way) and get the answers to you. This isn't a gimmick. There is no magic pill. You have to work for it. And this works. There are so many people that are living proof.   

The "Decision" {Stay at home Mom Blogger}

It's an epidemic. It's popping up everywhere, you can't hide from it.

 Everyone is getting pregnant.

I know at LEAST eleven people (including myself) who are pregnant and due in the Fall. This is not including celebrities :-)

I am thrilled about this, I really am. I think Motherhood is an amazing thing and those that are carrying their first, you will never be the same. Starting now.

I debated writing this blog post. Do I dare touch this subject? Everyone is different and have their reasons. But I want those who haven't been in my shoes, to know just how much fun it can be.

Here is the question I am tired of getting. "Are you going to find out the sex of the baby?". No. We are one of those crazy couples that stick it out and like the surprise of finding out as the baby arrives.

Truthfully, it's all my husband's fault. With our first child I desperately wanted to know the sex. I went along with him wanting to be old fashioned and surprised. (I really think he was doing it to torture me!) I had the mother's gut feeling I was carrying a boy, and it seemed everyone else seemed to think the same thing.

Let me tell you something. There is NOTHING like the feeling you get when your husband looks at you after all the sweat, tears, and of course pain, and tells you that you have a son. Brings tears to my eyes as I type this. It's a truly magical moment.

I'm not saying that it wouldn't have been magical had we known all a long that we were having a boy, I'm saying that for us, it made it that much MORE amazing. We had names picked for both sexes, so we were prepared. All the clothes we got were green and yellow to be neutral. Our nursery was decorated in farm animals as we are ranchers and horse lovers, so it fit our lifestyle.

Here we are expecting baby number two. And you know what? I don't want to know the sex. This will be our last child so to make it that much more special is important to me. When we talk about the baby it's "him or her", "Sister or brother", "the baby". We have names picked for both sexes again.

I do recommend not finding out. Especially if you found out with your first. There are so few surprises left in life, and this one is a true miracle from God.

If you choose to find out, that's ok too.  To each their own and there are no judgements.

Like I mentioned earlier, everyone has their own reasons. Ours is we just love that moment. I love having my husband tell me, not the doctor. Plus, when they are born it's 100% accurate ;-)


So, CONGRATULATIONS on all the pregnancies and new babies coming into this world. Finding out, or not, there will be many new lives arriving and I can't wait to see all those squishy face photos on Facebook!

Sept. 8, 2009

Feb. 2013