Falling off the wagon is easy to do...

Now I know why I haven't taken more than a day off at a time since I started my 90 day challenge back in March!

It's been hotter than hell here in Maine, and to be honest, exercising without air conditioning isn't all that fun. I had been working out about 5-6 days a week (more like 6) since the start of my challenge, but recently, I've slipped down to 3-4. I find the more days I take off, the harder it is to get back on the wagon! I knew this would happen...getting lost in the hustle and bustle of summer. Beach days...long days and can't forget the hot & humid days. Speaking of humid, it's been so freakin' humid here lately, and honestly, that kills me more than the heat itself. So not fun. I come home from my run pouring in sweat - and that's saying a lot because I am not a sweaty person.

I have been trying to maintain my 3 days/week running, and that has been really tough to do. I haven't done more than 4 miles in a long time, but shit....I never even thought I'd be able to run 4 miles.....ever...or equate to 4 miles in a week total! So, I really shouldn't complain. I guess I could get up early and run, but that just wouldn't work since I co-sleep with our youngest.

I have also been limited in exercising at home. During the really hot days it has been in the mid 80s in our house. Did I mention we don't have A/C??? May I also add that fans don't help very much when it is that hot inside the house. I'd prefer to sit down and suck on a popsicle!

Thankfully, this week has cooled down a bit. I did level 2 of the shred on Monday. I kicked my ass and worked really hard. The next day, I was feeling it. It was a good pain though. On Tuesday, I did the OnDemand shortened version of No More Trouble Zones along with the Last Chance Workout. I am definitely feeling the two workouts today!!! I love that feeling though...it feels like something was accomplished.

I have reached my goal weight of 118lbs (I fluctuate between 117-119). I couldn't be happier. This is the weight I was when I got married (and pregnant with our honeymoon token)! All I want now is to tone up...and with that, I still have a ways to go. I need to step back up on my running and get back into a workout routine again. I feel like when I take days off, it just kills me, and it's so hard to start back up again.

It's easy to make excuses for not working out.....not enough time, too hot....etc etc etc etc etc. The list could go on and on some days. So, I need to suck it up and do it. Every little bit counts. So, I am going to get back on the wagon because it's a pain in the ass to fall off and try getting back on.

I'm going to try and blog on here more often! How is everyone else doing? Any goals set? Races to be run? Complaints???

Nursing & Weight Loss

I don't about many of you, but I am nursing my almost 9 month old daughter. Nursing is a definite pro to losing weight after pregnancy, but for me, I tend to hang on to about 5 pounds of weight with each child. When I found out I was pregnant with Mairead, I was about 118lbs. When I got pregnant with Lilah, I was about 125lbs (give or take) and with Clara, I weighed about 128lbs. Clara was the only child that allowed me to get back to what I was before I was pregnant, which was still not what I wanted to weigh!
I think I hold onto the weight because each time I have become pregnant (except for the first - haha), I have been nursing a child. So, in essence, I have been consecutively nursing for - count em - 4 years. Yes, four years.

According to Kellymom.com (a wonderful resource for breastfeeding mothers), mothers should wait until their baby is at least 2 months old before they start a weight loss regime. It takes this time to establish a healthy milk supply. You must also maintain adequate calories throughout the day. This has been one thing I have had to really focus on. There was a time earlier in my challenge where I was counting calories. I wanted to see where my calories were coming from. At this time, I noticed myself holding back a bit, and then, I noticed a decrease in supply. Once I upped my calories to about 1800-2000+ (I don't count anymore), my milk supply returned. I am also not a big water drinker, so making sure I drink enough fluids during the day also plays a huge role in my supply, too. So, if you are noticing a milk supply issue, pay attention to calories and fluids.

I eat what I want to eat. I don't want to have to restrict myself where I don't enjoy what I eat. I have made changes like eating healthier, more whole foods, cutting out foods with high fructose corn syrup, eating larger meals (I try to eat about 500 calories per meal) which leaves me with room to snack a bit, too. I will cut up fresh pineapple, have fresh berries, or grapes so when I have a craving to munch, I can munch on something better than junk. I have found that making sure I eat enough during meals will also limit my snacking. I eat a lot of eggs, Greek yogurt, fruit, tuna, fresh fish, salads, etc....and still love a bowl of ice cream at the end of a long day! 

An exclusively breastfeeding mother should take in 300-500 calories per day above what was needed to maintain pre-pregnancy weight.

A friend of mine asked about lactic acid build up in milk after exercise.....well, I looked it up, and kellymom.com says:

Research has not shown a noticable increase in lactic acid buildup after moderate exercise (50% & 75% intensity). The lactic acid in breastmilk does increase somewhat if mom exercises to maximum (100%) intensity, also described as exhaustive exercise. This increase may be present up to 90 minutes post-exercise. There are no known harmful effects for the baby. 

Most studies have found no difference in acceptance of the breast, even after maximum intensity exercise.

Although a highly publicized 1992 study indicated that baby might fuss or refuse expressed milk from a mom who had been exercising at 100% intensity, the results were questionable because the babies were fed the milk by dropper (unfamiliar to these babies), and the mothers reported that the babies had not had problems with nursing after exercise in the past. A more recent study showed no change in infants' acceptable of mom's milk an hour after exercise, even for the moms who exercised at maximum intensity (and thus did have a slight increase in lactic acid in their milk).

Dr. Ruth Lawrence, in her most recent volume (Breastfeeding, A Guide for the Medical Profession, 1999 edition) says that there is no reason to wait to nurse after exercising. 

I have nursed Clara many times after a long, hard run, and she hasn't seemed to have a problem with the milk. I know some babies may have a problem because of the sweat and salty taste of their mothers skin, but for me, I have had no problems.

Have any of you had any experience with this? What have you learned?

Day 79: I'm there!

For the last few days, I've stepped on the scale to see if what I have been seeing was real. This morning, I stepped on the scale, and saw..........119.5 pounds. Seriously!?! I guess the 120-121 numbers I had been seeing previously were actually real. I think I am attributing my "accelerated" weight loss of 2-3 pounds in under 3 weeks is from the increased running I have been doing. I surely have been eating like a horse, and really making sure I eat enough. Yes. enough. Since I am still nursing around the clock, with the exception of one solid meal per day, I have to make sure I eat enough calories to maintain my milk supply for my sweet Clara! About a month back, I had noticed a dip in supply, and once I upped my intake and paid attention to eating without restriction, it bounced back up again.

It is such an amazing feeling to be able to fit into my clothes again. I am now almost too small for my size 6 pants, which I barely fit into when I started this challenge. I am wearing a pair of size 4 petite pants from Ann Taylor Loft Kevin had bought me for Christmas. It feels great. Even though I am at my goal weight, I still have a lot of "toning" I would like to do.....and of course, maintenance. I don't care if I lose any more weight - if I do....bonus....if I don't, I'm okay with that too as long as my body changes - for the better.

Today, I tried Boost Metabolism from Jillian Michaels. It is another 40+ minute cardio workout. It is also on OnDemand, but like Trouble Zones, it is only a portion of the entire work out. Kevin had bought me the full version for Mother's Day, and today was the first day I tried it. It's a very good workout. I burned 410 calories with it today - not too shabby! It's all cardio - kick boxing, plank work - you know, her typical kick ass work out. It's definitely not my favorite, I felt a bit bored by the end, but it is a great work out when you feel like you need to mix it up a bit. I think I'd rather do two shreds than one of these, but that's my opinion. I don't really feel the "kick box" vibe like some do, and that's okay.

Overall, it was a good workout that had me sweating. Now, that I am feeling better after my cold, I am ready to get back into it again........just a few weeks until beach season is here! I will be sporting a bikini this summer, so I must continue! :) ha ha

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.

Showing it all...

Happy March 1st everyone!

Today is the start of my 90 day challenge! I am so excited to see what the next 90 days brings to my life! I will be planning on doing my couch to 5K this week for week 1, and I am unsure if I will be starting today or tomorrow - it depends on the weather! I will admit, I am a little tender from our ski adventures on Saturday! If I don't run, I will be doing a Yoga segment on my Biggest Loser Wii.


I wanted to share a few "stats" with you so I can document my progress or digression into this 90 day challenge :)

Today, I am starting at 128lbs with a goal weight of 120 pounds (115 after I stop nursing). My 90 day challenge is more about losing weight though...it is more about getting my body in shape so I can feel better about myself. I try not to get discouraged about my body because it is the way it is because I have carried three beautiful babies inside of me. My body has grown three healthy babies inside of me.

Here is what my "muffin top" looks like today: