13 More Days!

So here I am, only 13 more days till the "Big Reveal" as my sister put it.

WEEKLY STATS

Weight: 125.5 lbs (1.5 lbs up from last week)
Body Fat %: 19
BMI: 22.9

Waist: 30 1/4 inches (-1/4 from last week but we'll say no change becasue that could just be that I didn't eat as much this morning)
Hips: 36 inches
Chest: 33.5 inches (-.5 inches)

Pretty much this week i've seen no change apart from gaining 1.5 lbs. I don't really pay too much attention to weight though. Weight is a terrible indicator of health and wellness.

Something cool that I noticed while working out in my body combat class is that at the beginning of my 60 days I could last a half hour in that class. Now I can work my very hardest through out the duration of the class and still feel up for more. That right there is a big WAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This same thing goes along with all my weight training. 1 hour seemed like an eternity at the gym, now it feels like 15 minutes.

One of my goals that I actually took on a while ago was to be able to do 15 pull ups by the time I went on my cruise. I wasn't able to do a single one 4 months ago and I can now do 7. It's not 15 but I've still got 2 weeks right? ;)

I can now fall asleep quickly! Before I started my 60 day challenge and a little bit in the beginning I was having a really hard time sleeping. Now I lay in bed and pass out in 2 minutes + I have tons of sustained energy through out the day.

When I started the 60 day challenge I would seriously eat a whole sleeve a cookies or 18 pieces of candy. Candy or cookies was one of the things on my grocery list and Andrew and I would eat some (or a lot) every night. Now both of us have broken that habit that we've had for 2 years.

TUESDAY
Interval training in target heart rate zones.

I have to take continuing education credits to re-certify through NASM every 2 years. I just took a Cardio for Weight Loss course that gave me a great insight to maximizing your Cardio.
I already knew about finding your target heart rate zones and how to use them but I didn't know why you used them in certain ways and why certain programs where designed the way they were. Now I can actually design my own programs! Woot woot!

WEDNESDAY
Rest

THURSDAY
45 minute bike ride with Denali-Hills
30 minute upper body weight training

Days 25, 24, 23, & 22

Friday: Rest Day

Saturday: Body Combat. Have I mentioned how much I love this class? Any stress of the day or the week just flies out the window. This. Class. Is. Amazing!

Sunday: A much needed rest day. After Saturday's class Andrew and I went to the Zoo and I was exhausted! Climbing up the small hills they have there totally wiped me out and every time I would squat down to check on Denali and stand back up I would get really light headed. This all made me nervous that I'm over training so I really needed this rest day.

Monday: 20 minutes of core on the TRX. 1 hour hike. 1 really, REALLY tough climbing rout. Seriously I almost peed my pants.  On the hike out from where we were climbing Andrew slipped and gashed his leg open on a sharp rock. I was actually hiking ahead and didn't even know it happened till we got home and Andrew finally told me. I could tell it was deep but since it was so bloody I didn't realize how bad it was. I told him the hop in the shower and we would see what needed to be done after. After he showered I told one look at it, put some gauze on it, wrapped it up, and took him to get stitches.  So we spent the evening at Instacare. It was pretty gnarly, you could see tendons and all sorts of stuff.

Forgot to take a before picture! What was I thinking?

Yesterday I had Andrew take pictures of me so I could personally get motivated by any improvement, or maybe a lack of improvement. I'm sure you can guess that the improvement isn't great by the lack of posted pictures. I honestly could see only the tiniest of changes. Talk about discouraging. I feel tough and buff but it's definitely not showing. Want to know why? DIET! I've really gone off the deep end now that I don't have an app tracking my calories. I've got 3 weeks until I leave on my cruise. Still I don't believe that you have to go on a crazy diet to lose weight but lets see what a little food management can do for me in 3 weeks.

What did yall do for the holiday weekend? Hopefully there were no trips to Instacare or worse! 

Stay classy.

Laura out.

Day 29, 28, 27, and 26

Saturday:
Stair stepper - 40 min

Sunday:
Rest

Monday:
Total Body TRX - 1 hr

Tuesday:
Bike Ride -18 miles/ 1 hr
Dude this was HARD! I knew I only had so much time on the bike before Denali would get tired of it and freak out. I figured I had 1 hour and I wanted to ride as hard as I could. I made it 18 miles in one hr, including baby stops. No wonder I'm so crazy pooped and tired today. My HR watch said I burned around 700 calories!
The craziest part was that Denali fell asleep for about 20 minutes on the way back. Kids are crazy. I don't know how she slept slumped over in her chair, bumping around on the bike.

One Year

Today is my daughter Denali's one year birthday! It's been an entire year since that amazing amazing day when I labored for 15 hours and put my body through hell, for the most amazing outcome. Since this is my fitness blog I won't be sharing much about her, but about my journey over the past year.

I remember when I went out for my first walk postpartum. It was literally around the block and I was totally exhausted. I came home and went right back to bed and was sore for days.  I remember thinking "I have a LONG road in front of me" and it really has been. I never wrote down my goals but I think my one year goals were to weigh the same as  I did before I got pregnant and to have a "hot bod". Well I don't know if you can say I have a hot bod but I think it looks pretty darn good! I have less body fat than I did and I weigh less than I did. I'm actually in better shape than I was before getting pregnant with Denali which I didn't expect. Also during the past year I have accomplished a lifetime goal of completing a half marathon and on top of that have ridden 50 miles on my bike and am still training for a full 100.

Here are my measurements from 6 weeks postpartum vs today:

Weight- 142.5 lbs (I was 165 lbs the day I delivered) 124 lbs (-18 lbs)

Body Fat %  25.7 19% (-6.7 %)
BMI 26  22.7

Measurements in inches (right side of body)
Bicep- 11.5 9.5 (-2)
Chest- 37 34 (-3)
Waist- 35.5  30.5 (-5)
Hips- 40 36 (-4)
Thigh- 23  20.5 (-2.5)
Calf- 13.5  11.5 (-2)
                = -18.5 inches

Wow! I was honestly not expecting such big changes. I feel so incredibly blessed to have the body I have. That it moves the way it's supposed to, that I have all 4 limbs, that I have the ability to do the things I want to do. I'm so grateful as well that Denali and Andrew have really great health.

I think the biggest help for me during the last year is that my husband tells me I'm beautiful everyday. This huge self esteem boost has helped me be okay with who I am and what I look like at any stage. I think it's important that you become friends with yourself or you'll never make it through your weight loss and wellness goals. If you become too obsessed with being the perfect this or the perfect that then you'll lose hope. You have to celebrate the things you've done right, not the things you've done wrong.

Day 30

HALF WAY!!!!!!

Day 30 Workout

Hour bike ride with Denali on Legacy Parkway

This weekend is going to be a good weekend. I'm going to make it a good weekend. I can not give up. I will not give up. I will work out today. Even though I have to make 48 cupcakes today I will not stuff myself with cake.

Day 31 + Weekly Stats

Do you guys ever have times in your life when things are CRAZY!! Well the month of May has turned into my crazy month. We have something going on literally every evening and weekend. Plus things like planning and getting everything ready for Denali's birthday (why am I doing a party any way? It's not like she's going to remember), I have to pass two exams in the next 20 days for my NASM re-certification (Oh procrastination), 3 vacations in the next 20 days to plan and pack for. Anyway, just my little rant which really can't count for a rant because all the "things" we have going on are awesome!

WEEKLY STATS

Weight: 123.5 (-.5)
BMI: 22.6
Body Fat %: 19 (-1) (wooooohooooooooo!)

Chest: 34 inches (-.5)
Waist: 31 inches (-1.5)
Hips: 37 inches (+1, I blame this on my all my bun muscles I'm getting from biking.)

WORKOUT + DIET

So, I've failed miserably on logging my diet since I lost my itouch.

Monday- Max Circuit Training Insanity video. This was "insanely"  hard. + leisurely bike ride with family.
 = 100 minutes

Tuesday- Nothing. Lets call it a rest day..... I spent the evening trying to take some one year pictures of my little girl and a family picture.

 TODAY'S GOALS
-remember my password to the calorie count website
-log my diet
-workout somehow even though my day is crazy



*****FOR FUN! Leave a comment telling me for favorite form of exercise and a personal goal for the summer!*****

Spokes for Hope

Spokes for Hope was both Rachel and mine first bike race ever! Our sister in-law Danae had signed up with us but was feeling ill the morning of the race and didn't end up making it. 

Race start time: 8:00 AM

Rachel and I before the race.

 The whole environment and feel of the race was really chill which I was glad for since it would have been much more intimidating if everyone was really serious about it. + it was a Women's only race.

We were escorted over the first overpass by police but after that we were on our own.

Since Rachel signed up for the 30 miles (really 32 miles) and I signed up for the 50 miles (really 56 miles) we only spent the first 20 miles together.

We reached pit stop #1 (18 miles) around 1:15:00 so we where making pretty good time. This was by far my favorite part of the race.  The route took us out to the new Airport in St George so it was mostly just us and the beautiful red rocks of Southern Utah. 

After Rachel and I separated from each other, I headed back into town and didn't see another rider for 20 miles. The only indication that I was still participating in a race was the occasional sign with an arrow pointing me in the right direction. 

I was feeling good until mile 40 where I had to climb a huge hill, not only once, but twice. After that I got a pounding head ache and every bump in the road meant pain. After getting lost twice, and no luck on getting my headache to subside my moral really started to drop. There was no one there to say "We can do this! We only have 5 more miles".

I cried, well not really because I was so dehydrated that I couldn't form any tears. The last 5 miles all I told myself is that I was never going to do this again. Although the second I saw the finishing line all those feelings went away and I was the happiest person in the world!

Looking back- I can now realize I was getting severely dehydrated, hence the head ache and lack of tears. I needed to take more stops than just the 2 provided and make sure I was drinking enough water. I only had about 4 water bottles full in the 4 hours I was riding in 90' weather. 

I also won't be doing it alone. I am a social person. I thrive on the energies of the people around me and positive reinforcement. Not to mention the fact that you can get a break by drafting off the people you are with. 

Despite all the negativity I felt during the last 10 miles of the race, you can ask me if I would do it again and I would reply with a "HECK YA"!

 My average pace was 13 mph which really is quite terrible but I'll take it!

Rachel finished her 30 miles in a little over 2 hours which is fantastic!! She said she would definitely do it again.

Best Parts:
-Making most of my passes on hills. I didn't realise I was a good hill climber until this race.
-Laughing with Rachel
-Knowing that I can do anything I set my mind to.
-Seeing the finish line.
-Andrew and my in-laws being there at the finish line.
-Eating lots and lots of food after.
-Jumping into the swimming pool when we got back to the house.
-My HR watch said I burned a little over 2500 calories during the race.

38 &37

I lost my Itouch.....
I don't want to admit how sad I am about this.
It's going to make it really hard to log my calories/meals.

Today's Workout:

TRX
-Bicep Curl
-Tri Press
-High Row
-Shoulder Fly
-TRX Crunch
-TRX Pike
 = 30 Minutes

Body Combat Class
My watch said I burned 480 calories in 55 minutes.
=55 minutes

Total workout time = 85 minutes

3 Week Update 

Bust 34 inches
Waist 31.5 inches
Hips 36 inches

125lbs

20.3% Body Fat
22.9 BMI

-Not really a great week as far as measurements and weight loss goes. I can't say I didn't expect it though. Monday night Andrew took me out to Ruth's Chris for our Anniversary and Tuesday night I went out to dinner with my parents at PF Changs + eating out 3 times last week. This week I have been carbo loading, and if you do it right you'll gain around 2-3 lbs. I don't mind as long as I don't die on my race this Saturday.

Tomorrow and Friday are rest days besides stretching. Saturday, RACE DAY!

Days 42, 41, 40, & 39

FRIDAY: Rest day.

SATURDAY:

42.5 mile ride = 3 hrs
It. Was. Hard.
My Dad and I always leave on our bike rides heading into the wind, the theory being that we will have to wind at our backs on the way home. So far every long ride I've been on somehow the wind changes half way through and I get a head wind both ways. This was the case Saturday besides on our way back down Immigration Canyon.
Of course I decided to not only go for a 40 mile bike ride but to ride all the way to the top of Immigration Canyon from Bountiful and back. The way out was great. I actually beat my dad up the big climb at the end of Immigration which was a first. By the time I hit North Salt lake, the last 7 miles or so, I was done. My legs literally felt like someone had injected acid in them with thousand needles. I sat and rubbed my legs, groaning, for about an hour after. Even though that ride was very hard I think I'll be okay for my 50 miler this weekend. I'm not sure the elevation gain of Saturdays ride but I only have 1,800 ft elevation gain in the race so, fingers crossed, I think I'll be okay.

This week I'll be doing a gradual carbo load and only a few workouts so I can be rested and stored up for Saturday.

SUNDAY: Rest Day

MONDAY (today!): 

It's my husbands and mines 2nd Anniversary today and we'll be going out to dinner tonight. I attempted to get up early and go to the gym with no success so I improvised knowing I won't be going to the gym later.

30 minutes upper body TRX

15 minute Cardio Abs Insanity Video

20 minute Classical Stretch Video

Total time = 65 Minutes

Day 43 - TRX Upper Body Workout

My adorable hubby had a SAR (Search and Rescue, but it's cooler to say Sarrrrr like a pirate) meeting this evening, which means he couldn't watch the babe, which means I couldn't go to the gym. So my upper body workout was done in my apartment on my TRX. 

If I didn't mention before, since i'm doing so much biking I count my biking as lower body.

Just for fun I took some pictures and yes I do feel a little silly about it, thanks for asking, but I thought it might keep things interesting. I thought of doing a video but it's a little hard without a tripod. I couldn't get the camera far enough away so you kept getting awesome booty shots. 

I think I did pretty good for two of my meals being out of the house.

WORKOUT (Or is it work out? Someone be a pal and help me out here.)

Chest Press

Low Row

Triceps 

Biceps 

"Y" (shoulders)

Can you tell that one of my shoulders is more elevated and I can't straighten  my arm all the way? Has to do with  my  slight Scoliosis which has made all the muscles on the right side of my back over develop which tweaks everything. 

High Row

"T" (Shoulders)

(4 more not pictured)
15 reps each, 3 sets.

Have I told you that TRX is AWESOME?! Oh I have? Okay then. Well just in case you didn't get the picture, TRX IS SO AWESOME!

Day 44

A little more than two weeks in and it's been more tough then I would have thought. I'm sure if I wouldn't have publicly announced my goals I would have given up by now which is REALLY, really sad.  

The past couple days have been the hardest so far. For one I have not been sleeping well so I've kind of lost my drive. I also lost a bit of inspiration when I took my 2 week measurements and there wasn't a single change. I had to remind myself that more often then not you'll have a "big lose week" and then won't lose at all the next. You have to give your body time to come back to homeostasis and decide it's okay with losing a bit more fat. I just need to hang in there and be optimistic. 

The good things that have happened:

-Not including the past two days, I have had way more energy than I have had in a long time. Even Andrew has noticed and loves it.

-Definition in my arms is starting to show.

-I'm starting to break some really bad eating habits that's I've had for years.

-I'm sticking to what I said I would do.

WORKOUT

Body Combat class at Gold Gym - 500ish Calories

I laugh so hard every time they do they OFortuna routine. Watch this video to know why.