I'm back!

Hell, I don't even know if anyone reads this blog anymore. I am not even sure I have time to post...but, I'll give it a try!

I don't even know where to begin. Let's see...the last time I blogged, was over a year ago. We were moving to DC.....Well, we did. But, you know what? We've moved back to Maine. If you're interested in our story, head on over to our blog and read this - so yeah, we're back in Maine, and adjusting to a new normal.

Last fall I was able to get up to 7 miles in my running, but then I stopped running, and restarted back in February. I guess I started too fast, with too much mileage, and ended up with a mean IT band issue. It was painful only when I ran. It was very discouraging! Especially when I was eager to get running again! Then I had a few other trials and tribulations which caused me to have to stop running....You can read about that here, too.....So, yeah, lots going on!

But you know what?! I think I've got it all under control. I'm making time for me and running and feeling great. I've joined a running group that my girlfriend has started, and giving me some accountability, and keeping me honest.

I just ran my very first 5 mile road race yesterday and finished in under 50 minutes!

And the biggest news!!!!!!! I just signed up for my very first half marathon! I will be running in the Maine Half Marathon on September 30th! And I WILL RUN.

It actually happened...

I no longer have an excuse about not exercising.

Our sweet little prince, Callum John was born on Friday, April 8th at 4:05pm. After a fast (like 15minute fast) labor, he was born weighing in at 6lbs4oz. He was born perfectly healthy, but soon after birth he developed respiratory distress that only continued to get worse. He ended up being transferred to a NICU where he was intubated and diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. If you're interested in his story, you can read it here. Thankfully after 12 days in the NICU, he was discharged home and has been doing very well. 

Of course his NICU stay delayed my intentions of getting back into shape, but, there were more important things! Now that Callum has been growing and doing everything he should, I finally got the energy to start working out....wait, have I mentioned that I foolishly signed myself (and Kevin) up for the Mother's Day 5K? Yeah. Crazy...and thinking that I would actually have time to try and prepare for it was even more foolish, especially after having a critically ill newborn in an intensive care unit! 

Today, I finally broke down and worked out. I know I had every intention of starting to exercise during the last month or two of my pregnancy, but it just didn't work out. I ended up having a fairly rough last few weeks of pregnancy. I had strep throat, shingles and a stomach bug - not to mention a few family stresses thrown in there, too! Oh yeah, and just being pregnant with three small girls at home made it tough, too....so, while I am not trying to make excuses, I had every intention of exercising lightly.....but, I didn't! 

I did level 1 of the Shred. I did a light to moderate work out, and definitely didn't break that much of a sweat. My heart rate never went above 155 the entire work out and I still burned about 170 calories. Because I am nursing a newborn and just 3.5 weeks post partum, I have to make sure I am consuming plenty of calories, drinking a ton and not pushing myself...I just want to start.....slowly. It isn't about losing weight right now.... it's about taking time for me and feeling good about myself. 

The workout felt amazingly good and definitely gave me that urge to keep doing it and want to get moving...so I will! 

I have to say I am amazed at how fast my body has jumped back after having a baby. When I started my 90 day challenge I believe I weighed about 130lbs......and when I got pregnant with Callum, I weighed 112lbs. Today, I weighed in at 122lbs at just 3.5 weeks post partum. My max weight during pregnancy was close to 140lbs. 

Here I am the day before Callum's birth:

Here I am this morning at 122lbs:

So, here I go.......I will start to relearn how to run and hopefully I will enjoy it as much as I did last year at this time! I can't wait to feel amazing again! 

If anyone else is interested in joining my exercise challenge, comment below.........it's great to have support of others! 

Before & After (well kinda...)

Two years ago, before I got pregnant with Clara, I weighed about 128lbs (the same weight I was when I started my 90 day challenge).

Last week, we went to a "Martini Madness" and silent auction fundraiser at a local camp. Being pregnant, I didn't want to buy a new dress, so I ransacked my closet for something that would fit.

I came across this dress that I wore two years ago at a Coast Guard Christmas party. I chose to wear that dress........about 15lbs lighter.

Here I am two years ago:









































Here I am last week and about 16 weeks pregnant with baby #4 and 15lbs lighter:

Unfortunately, I haven't exercised since I found out I was pregnant, and now that I have spoken with my OB, I have been cleared to do very light activity, like yoga. No weights and walking if I don't have any cramping or contractions.

I hope everyone is doing great exercising and keeping healthy!

Six Months...

It is hard to believe it has been six months since I started my challenge (Mar01). I am amazed to look at myself and see where I have gotten myself. I never thought in a million years I would have succeeded with my 90 day challenge, let alone, continue running willingly.

When I started my challenge, I weighed in about 129lbs (give or take a pound), and today, I weighed in at 117lbs. I couldn't be happier. Honestly. I never thought I would have gotten to the day where I look forward to getting dressed. Putting on clothes. And fitting in them. Comfortably. I am at the weight I was when I married Kevin and found out I was pregnant with Mairead (remember, she was a honeymoon baby!).

This whole challenge has been more about weight loss. I didn't care so much about the amount of weight lost, but more about how I felt about myself. I had been tired of feeling crappy. Not fitting into clothes and not feeling comfortable in them. It sucked. I wanted to get my body healthy again for myself. I remember how energized I felt when I used to exercise and I wanted to feel that good again.

Now, six months later, I have passed my goal of 90 days and gone on to succeed for 6 months. I have been disappointed in how often I have exercised over the summer, but, I am continuing to do it and that is all that matters, right? I still have a long way to go. I want to tone my body and I don't care if any weight comes off. I just want to tone up a bit more - especially in that muffin top region. It's still there, much smaller, but still there.

When I started, I could barely run for 60 seconds without wanting to die, and today, I am running 3-4 miles regularly and not dying. I can finish a run and feel amazing. I would never have thought I'd ever feel so good after running. I never thought I would ever look forward to running in a 6 mile race! It has done wonders for my self esteem! Seriously, if you haven't tried the couch to 5K, I really, really think you should try it!

I have to get myself back on track with running! I am signed up for a 6.2 mile segment in a marathon relay in early October. I look forward to that getting me back on track. I look forward to training for that alongside my husband and food friends.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me in my challenge to get fit....we're not done yet!

Happy 6 months to me and to anyone else who joined in the exercise challenge with me.

What I use...and don't use.

The truth is...

I have lost about 10-12 pounds since March 1st and I have not stepped foot in a gym. I don't have time for a gym. You see, I have three small children who are now 4, 2.5 and 9 months. I am a busy momma. Since making the commitment on March 1st I had to find a way to exercise. Take time for me. It's been tough, but I have done it. I knew there would be no way I could commit to driving to and from a gym every time I wanted to exercise, so I vowed to do it on my own. I have succeeded, and I continue to succeed. There are days where I wonder when I am going to exercise and some days I just can't. Some days (actually most) I don't exercise without some sort of interruption from the girls, and that is okay, any exercise is better than none. I've learned that you do not have to join a gym to be successful in losing weight and bettering yourself. With a small investment, you can do it at home, on your own. You just need a few things...

A commitment: You have to be ready. You can't exercise for anyone else but yourself. You have to want it. Bad. If you aren't serious, you won't succeed because it is just too easy to make excuses as to why you can't or don't want to work out. Commit yourself to a period of time, I did 90 days. Set a goal that you know you can reach (like a 5K). Starting a blog was the best thing for me because it made me accountable. If I knew people may be reading, then I had to do it.

Hand weights: When I realized I'd be using DVD's here at home, I went to Dick's Sporting Goods and bought a case filled with sets of 3, 5 and 8 pound weights. Very handy and cost about $50. Honestly, I didn't start using weights until a few weeks into my challenge. I was so out of shape that even using NO weights made me sore!

Cushy Mat: Floor work on a wood floor is NO fun. I went to Target and spent $10 on a cheapo Yoga mat. It sucks. I recommend buying a nice mat - don't be cheap!

Polar HRM FT7: Kevin bought me this for Mother's Day. I have to say it's pretty cool. It's a heart rate monitor and calorie counter. I like to see how good (or bad) my workouts are. It gives me a good idea of what is going on and how hard I am working. Definitely a cool tool, just not a necessary one!

Asics Gel-Nimbus 12: My running shoes. I had been running on old Nikes - but they got uncomfortable so I went off to get my feet assessed at a local running store. I had a neutral gait, so they fitted me with some shoes. I chose Saucony. I ran in them a few times and my God, they hurt. Bad. So, I took them back and have been in my Asics ever since. They're pretty good. I definitely recommend heading to a running store to get your feet measured and assessed if you plan to run! Worth the money.

The videos I use:

Everyone has different opinions on what is good or bad for exercise. Some like kick-boxing, some like Yoga, some like circuit training, so my opinions may not mean too much :). At first, I started off with OnDemand Exercise TV - it's free and it gives you a great glimpse into videos you may want to purchase. Some of them are full length, and most are only a portion of the real video.
$9

The 30 Day Shred: Jillian Michaels - Target, $9 - completely worth it. Three levels, all 20 minutes each. Anyone has 20 minutes. This is my go-to video if I am short on time. It's challenging and burns a decent amount of calories for only 20 minutes! Level one is easy, two is difficult and three is....well twice as difficult! It uses the 3-2-1 technique - 3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs.

No More Trouble Zones: Jillian Michaels - $9, Target - Absolutely my favorite. It is a true ass kicker. Seriously, an intense work out. 40 minutes in length of circuit training. The AB circuits are amazing! I love the challenge of this workout. I wish I had time to do this more often. It is my go-to video for when I have a bit more time.

CardioMax: Biggest Loser - $9, Target - A pretty good cardio workout that allows you to pick and choose the intensity as the workout goes on. Very versatile. I like this one for the days I can't get out running, but feel like I need a good cardio workout. I also like the fact you can do short or long workouts. Some times, I will do a 20 minute work out after Trouble Zones. This one is really worth it!

Boost Metabolism/Banish Fat: Jillian Michaels - $9, Target. Not my favorite. If you like kickboxing type exercise, then you will enjoy. It's definitely a good workout. It is 40 minutes in length, so like Trouble Zones, if you are limited on time, you may have a tougher time doing this. I like this workout for when I feel like I need to "mix it up".

Yoga: Meltdown: Jilian Michaels - $15, Target. If you think of yoga as a quiet, serene workout, think again. This is another one of Jillian Michaels ass whoopin. She's got you holdin' poses for 15 seconds in poses you never thought possible! It's a great workout, I really, really like it. Definitely great for the beginner all the way up through the ladder. If you like yoga, try it out. Very cool.

So, for a minimal investment, you can set yourself up pretty nicely at home! You don't need a lot. The biggest thing you need is a commitment to be serious about bettering yourself. What are you waiting for? Set yourself a goal and strive to achieve it. You can do it.

Never give up.

Running - Hills & MotionTraxx

I have been running since the week of March 1st. I never thought in a million years I would be able to successfully run 6 miles without dying. Remember, I was the anti-runner! I used to joke about getting winded running to the end of our 100 foot driveway. If someone told me they just "ran 5 miles", I'd laugh at them. I'd laugh at them and say "HA! I hate running" - That was me. That was me, then. This is me now. I run 3 days per week. I run about 3-6 miles per run. I run about a 10 minute mile. Sometimes I run alone with my music. Sometimes I run with a friend. I don't like to run while I am running, but I absolutely adore the feeling when I am finished. I feel strong. I feel motivated. I feel good.

A week from today, my husband and I, along with my parents and some great friends will be running in theSea Dogs Father's Day 5K here in Portland. It will be my 2nd 5K. Ever. My first was on Mother's day. I am really, really looking forward to this race. I think because it isn't so new to me. I know what to expect. I know the excitement that goes along with it. I know the course. I am hoping I can run in under 30 minutes this time!

Here are my runs from last week:

Monday - Running: 5.70 miles, 57:49, 10:08 mins/mile

Tuesday - Running: Speed & Hill training. 2.97 miles, 28:57, 9:45 mins/mile -

Saturday - Running: 4.77 miles, 49:39, 10+ mins/mile (mapmyrun didn't record pace). 

It's no lie, I have been avoiding hills. Running hills feels like you are running in place, except for one thing...it hurts. You just want the hill to end. You just pray there is a BIG downhill when you get to the top. I have been avoiding hills for this very reason. I don't dig the small ones, so why would I try and do big ones?

We live about .25 miles from a salt marsh. Scarborough has a massive salt marsh, and we are lucky to live in the middle of it. There is a bridge up the street that goes over a portion of the marsh. The hill leading up to the marsh isn't huge, but it's bigger than I've done. It's a decent incline, and thankfully, it isn't big at all, but just big enough to hurt.

Not only did I practice hills, but I tried a new podcast called MotionTraxx - it's free, and definitely worth a download! My pace had been slowing down a bit, and I have been trying to get it to under 10 minutes. I did the run/walk interval podcast, it was very, very cool. It was done in 30 second increments, and the music is slowed down or sped up depending on what you were supposed to do. It chimes at the marker, letting you know when it is time to speed up or down. Instead of walking, I jogged, and for the run, I ran at a much faster pace. The music was good, and it had the perfect beat for running. MotionTraxx has all sorts of different podcasts set at all sorts of different "BPM" or "Beats per minute"- depending on how fast you want to run or cycle. Look it up! It's pretty cool. There is also an iPhone application that costs $2.99 - no downloading, just streaming. You can't use it with any other program though, so I suggest downloading a podcast if you're using iMapmyRun.

So, if you're on the fence about running - why not give it a try? Challenge yourself. What's the worst that can happen? You decide it isn't for you and you go on to the next thing? At least you'll lose weight, get in shape and feel good while doing it...or you get hooked, and you are off and running! Meeting your goals and feeling great about yourself. Challenge yourself! There are always local races to get involved in, which help keep you going! I am commited through October to run. There is no stopping now. Try the Couch to 5K - you will be amazed.

Slacking! and Completion

Yeah, I admit, I've slacked majorly on this blog. Life has been very busy lately, and there have been many times where I have reminded myself to catch up, but I get distracted, and well, it doesn't happen.

I will say, I may have slacked on the blog, but I have continued to exercise and......run. Even beyond day 90!

You may have wondered, what happened to 90 days? Surprisingly, life passed me by before I realized, I had reached my goal of running for 90 days. On May 28th, I reached day 90 of my 90 day running challenge. It has truly been a life-changing 90 days. I never would have thought my life would have changed so much in such a short period of time. I'm not talking about family change, or life changing big event, but more like a personal change - an inner change. I have gone from feeling crappy about myself, not fitting into clothes, weighing the most I have ever weighed (129-130lbs), not being an active individual, to......the complete opposite. I am finally starting to feel positive about myself. I fit in almost alll of my clothes - size 4 pants. When I started this, I was a tight 6 and a loose 8.....now, I am a perfect 4 (in most pants) and a very loose 6. I don't feel like I have to squeeze into clothes anymore. I actually enjoy picking out clothes now. I actually enjoy shopping now. I have lost all of the weight I wanted to lose. I am now weighing in between 119-121. My ultimate goal is 115, but until I am done with nursing, I will not try to lose weight. If it comes off, then it comes off and if not, I am fine with that. All I want is to be fit and trim...and now, I consider myself an active individual. I feel lazy and gross when I don't exercise.

I now know that my past excuses for working out were not valid - they were just excuses. I hid behind those excuses. I have learned that I can do anything I want to do - anyone can.  I never in a million years thought I could run 3 miles, let alone 6. I never thought I would continue to run after my 90 days is through....but I am still running. You have to want to do something, and if you feel pressured or aren't ready for the commitment, you are setting yourself up for failure. I truly believe the fact that I was personally ready. I wanted to do it. I was ready to make the commitment. This is why I think I have succeeded. I have been planning for this moment since last spring. That is a long time to mentally prepare for something. I am so glad I did.

I look forward to continuing my challenge of staying healthy. fit. active. I look forward to teaching our girls how important a healthy lifestyle is. I love when our girls get excited about exercising. I love when Mairead asks if she can exercise with me. I love when she gets disappointed because I exercised without her. It's a new way of life for all of us, and I am loving it. I am glad our girls are young enough to not know any different. This is how it will be.

I am not going to stop this blog. I actually want to try to keep it up. I may not be daily, but I will update it. We are continuing to run, and I have commited myself to running through October. I am so lucky to have a supportive husband, family and friends. Kevin and I are scheduled to run another 5K on Father's Day, and I have a few others in the wings, too. It's amazing!

I hope whoever reads this will continue to be inspired. Will continue to see that anything is possible, and while there are always hurdles, you just have to work through them, and do the best you can.We all have to inspire and motivate each other. Support is so important, and I am so lucky that I have lots of it in my life.

How is everyone doing with their goals?

Day 60: Yep. I'm a slacker!

Day 60: Slacking

It's been 60 days since I decided to take the plunge into a healthier lifestyle. It's been 60 days since I started this 90 day challenge. I am two-thirds of the way through this challenge. It's amazing what 60 days can do to a person. The last few weeks, I have really started to see a change in my body. My pants are fitting so much better, more comfortably. I am not quite as self conscious in clothes as I was before I started this. I am actually starting to see some definition in my arms and legs. I love it, I am starting to feel like I have my body back....a tiny piece of my body back. I'll take tiny. 

This past week has been tough. The weather has not cooperated for running - Yes, I suppose I could run in the rain, but I'm not that dedicated yet. We are also in the midst of renovating our bathroom. On Tuesday, I was on the floor for about 3-4 hours tiling, and today, my lower back is killing me. Yesterday, I painted the bathroom. Today...well, I felt as though I needed a mental health day. I had every intention of running, but there was what seemed to be hurricane force winds outside....okay, maybe not that bad, but really bad winds, stronger than I ever want to run in. So, I just relaxed......and ate a half pan of rice krispies treats. Oh boy did they taste good!

I am looking forward to what the next 30 days has in store for me. I am really ready to step it up a notch in my work outs.

 

Day 50 - Reflections...

Day 50 - Level 1 & 2 of Shred!

I so needed to run today, but we had plans to bring the girls to the Portland Sea Dogs baseball game this afternoon, so we were a bit pressed for time.....okay, okay....I'll admit, it was windy as hell outside, and I just couldn't do it today. Tomorrow, I will run. I promise :)

After eating like crazy all weekend, and then like crap today (baseball game food - steak & cheese, fried dough, etc etc), I had to make sure I had a GOOD, quality work out today! I thought about doing No More Trouble Zones - nah.........I had an even better idea! Let's do Level 1 AND 2 of the Shred - I wanted to get some decent cardio in, and this was the way. I have to admit, it was a KICK ASS workout! Seriously! It felt great, and it was challenging, but not too bad. It is amazing how I can complete level 2 now without much of a hitch - when I started, I couldn't finish some of the strength circuits! My right wrist is killing me - I've had issues with it since after Mairead was born, so today, push-ups were virtually impossible.

So, today is day 50 of my 90 day challenge. I am more than halfway into my challenge, and I can't say anything negative about my experiences thus far. I have noticed such a change in my overall composition, mood and just self worth. Not only was this challenge an excuse to get fit, but it was an excuse to take time out for myself...something I hadn't done in a very, very long time. I am starting to fit into clothes I hadn't worn since before I had Lilah, and not feel nasty in others. I bought a size 2 dress at Ann Taylor Loft over the weekend, and it fit. Amazing. I've run a 5K in 30 minutes. It's just great, and I really hope this new "lifestyle" will continue far after I am done with the 90 days.

Just a few weeks until my first 5K race, and I am actually looking forward to it! I KNOW I will be able to FINISH it! How great is that?

Day 45 - Time

Day 45: Full version - No More Trouble Zones & Quick, Boost: Metabolism

It isn't every day where I have time to do the full No More Trouble Zones (40 min in length), so when I do, I jump on it. Let's be real...40 minutes is a LONG workout when you are juggling a household and three small babes under 4. Most days, my girls will nap/rest about 2 hours. If I am not running, this is my time to exercise. Some days, I will forego doing laundry, or cleaning up after lunch to exercise. Some days, nap times are spent fighting with one of the girls to actually take a nap, and by the time I am successful, it is too late to exercise because one of the other girls is up from rest/nap. Days like today are what I call "picture perfect" days. All three girls went down easily and quickly. I came downstairs to silence. I had a snack outside in the sun while reading Oprah. Yeah. there was laundry that needed folding, but I needed some time, too. Today, I come before laundry. After spending 20 minutes in silence listening to the sea gulls, I got down to business.

No More Trouble Zones isn't a joke. It is a really great, challenging work out...and Katie! Stop beating yourself up - you are more than able to do this workout! It isn't that hard! It's an awesome challenge that feels like a great accomplishment in the end.

The "I Surrenders" really get me. Holding 3 or 5lb weights above my head while getting onto my knees and getting back up again without letting those weights down. It's definitely a challenge, but honestly, I feel strong after I do them. The ab workout is just amazing. If these don't rid me of my muffin top, I don't know what will. Two circuits of crazy ab work that leaves your abs "screaming" as Jillian describes.

Once I finished that DVD. All was still quiet in my house. I feel so good after I work out....so, I put on the quick version of Boost: Metabolism and got a little bit of cardio in. I think I am going to buy this. I like it - it's different, and certainly a challenge!

I feel like I accomplished a lot today....personally. Not around the house, but that's okay. I took the time yesterday to clean the downstairs. I matter, too....and if laundry has to wait, then so be it....we will all survive.

You say "I don't have time.........." - just remember - you always have time for yourself...

Day 24: Things have changed.

Day 24: Jillian Michaels, Boost: Metabolism

This morning, I stepped on the scale. I was a bit surprised. The scale read: 125.5lbs - if you have been reading my blog, you may have read I started this journey off at 128.5lbs. I hope the scale isn't wrong! Three pounds lost in just under 4 weeks!

This really got me thinking about how much has changed for me in the last few weeks. Before March 1st, I used to cherish my 1-2 hours to myself in the afternoon. It was quiet time for me, too. I would make my lunch, sit on the couch, read some email, surf the net, call friends and just relax. I didn't have the motivation to exercise at this time. I just wanted some quiet time, too. Honestly, I didn't even think about it (exercising). Now, on the days I don't run, I actually use this "quiet" time for bettering myself. I don't just make lunch and hang on the couch. I now try to eat lunch with my girls, so I have time to exercise during naps. It's amazing that if all goes according to plan, I can exercise and have quiet time!

Some people have commented on they don't know how I do all of this. How do I make time? Yes. I am busy. Yes. I have three small children who demand A LOT of my attention. but...I am important, too. The latter one has definitely hit me in the face the last few weeks. This 90 day challenge is more about losing weight. It's about bettering myself...feeling better about myself as a whole.

I have learned over the last few weeks to make time to exercise.

I have learned you don't need a whole lot of time to excercise.

I have learned you can exercise a little bit everyday for it to be effective.

I have learned that it actually feels good to exercise. I am happier. More energetic. 

Anyone can make an effort to exercise for 20-30 minutes each day. Of course, I never actually realized I could do it until I made the commitment to exercise/run for 90 days.

If Kevin isn't around to watch our girls, I will get the girls to exercise alongside of me. They think it's fun! Our girls are learning that exercising is good for our bodies.

I have never been so motivated to exercise and get myself in shape. I am ass deep in my challenge, and I am actually enjoying it.

Preparing myself

My name is Steph, and I am a 31 year old mother of three young girls (3, 2 and 5 months). My husband Kevin is an officer in the Coast Guard, and we've been together for 6 years in September (married almost 5). Since being together with Kevin, I have not exercised like I used to...life just got busy, quick! Once we got married, we found out I was pregnant shortly after our honeymoon. Since September 2005, I have been pregnant and/or nursing without a break. I gave birth to our third daughter in September 2009. Needless to say, I've had little time to get back in shape.

Last year before I got pregnant with Clara, I promised myself I would start exercising the spring after she was born (2010). Here we are in the middle of February, and I have been mentally preparing myself for how I am going to go about getting myself back in shape. At our wedding, I weighed about 118lbs, and now, I weigh in at 130 pounds. I would love to get down to 120, and even 115 once I finish nursing Clara - which could be a while!

I have decided to learn to run. In high school, I played soccer. Since I was fast, I would play half back. I hated it. I had to run...a lot. Our coach used to make us run hills, and it was horrible. In college, I was on the waterski team. I lifted weights 4-5 times per week, waterskiied about 5-6 times and I rollerbladed 6-7 miles almost everyday. While I know I will not have the time to work out like I used to, I want to make time to exercise. Even though I have such horrible memories of running in high school, I am going to attempt to enjoy running.

I am going to run for 90 days and blog about my experience. I hope this blog will allow me to stay true to myself, and keep me motivated to journal about this. I am hoping my husband, Kevin, will run alongside me. It should be interesting. My goal is to start March 1st as long as the weather cooperates.

I just want to feel good about myself again! I also hope I can motivate others to run, too! So, come along and run with me!