It's not any fun unless you're healthy

Time to get back to it. I'm ready to drop these baby lbs. I started the quest for my skinnier/healthier self yesterday with Day 1 Week 1 of Couch25K. I laced up the Nikes, plopped Lily in the jogging stroller and away we went. Nothing like running for the first time in 6 months in 100 degree heat. Ah life in South Texas. But I've got 10+ pounds to lose and the sooner I start the sooner I can start getting back into my favorite duds and buy all those cute new clothes for the Fall in my regular size...or maybe a bit smaller! In college i used to say it wasn't any fun unless i was skinny. Thats when i had endless hours to work out and i could survive on Subway Veggies Delights for every meal. Now, life has changed and so have my priorities. Now being thin is a great side effect of being a healthier person along with having more energy for my girls and setting a good example for them as well as feeling better mentally and emotionally. Breastfeeding mamas are advised to only lose a pound a week so I'll hit my goal around October. I've contemplated sharing my numbers on the blog for accountability sake but I feel like that might be counterproductive for me. I tend to stress over the number on the scale anyway and this time it's more about the journey than anything else, making healthy choices everyday and reinstating them into my routine. If my number drops great, but if I like the way I feel and look, well I'll consider that victory. Here's the plan: C25K for 9 weeks (which means running three times a week). This week I'm also doing one day of Jillian Micael's 30 day shred. Also starting to pay attention to my calorie intake and logging what I normally eat on a food journal app. Just getting my feet wet... What did you or do you plan to do to get healthier?

Friday Favorites: Working It Out

Quick baby update:
So, this is what I was busy doing yesterday morning...

My husband performing the treatment that the acupuncturist prescribed. 

On Wednesday afternoon, I went in for my appointment and to my surprise no needles were involved. Instead they burned moxa sticks next to my little toes to encourage movement from the baby. Baby did move quite a bit during the treatment and again while A was performing it yesterday, per doctor's orders. One of the stranger things I've asked sweet hubby to do for me, but he happy obliged. What a guy :) 

I have also tried a variety of yoga poses that were suggested to me by a prenatal yoga instructor:

• downward dog
• dolphin pose
• cat/cow
• bridge
• feet up the wall 

These positions get your hips higher than your heart which is supposed to encourage the baby to move into the correct position.

Doing these poses felt great and I can't wait to get back into yoga and working out regularly. Which leads me to my Friday Favorites, some great trainer tips from my friend and trainer, Amity Ponsetti with Lift Fitness.

Amity got me back in pre-pregnancy shape after I had Lily in no time at all. Her boot camp style workouts are challenging, but she is nothing but supportive and reassuring. My very own Jillian Michaels without all the yelling-- well maybe a little yelling. Kidding Amity! 

Since I have been dying to be more active lately, I asked Amity to give me a workout I could do while I'm still with child and I'd thought I would share her wonderful suggestion with you today:

Assisted Plie Squat:
Face wall. Spread feet a bit more than hip-width apart. Turn knees out. Start with legs straight and place hands on wall. Bend knees and lower torso towards floor. Straighten your legs, pressing upwards through your heels. Repeat with 10 or 12 repetitions. Perform 2-3 sets.

Assisted Standing Pushup:

Face wall. Feet again hip-width apart. Place hands on wall, arms straight. Pull belly-button inward towards your spine. Keep your back straight. Bend elbows and bring chest towards wall. Push back. Repeat with 10 or 12 repetitions. Perform 2-3 sets.

Standing Leg Lifts:
Stand tall, lift one straightened leg out to the side and return to start. Use wall for balance if needed.   Repeat 10-15 repetitions on each leg.  Perform 2-3 sets.

Wood Chopper:
Grab a very light weight (optional) with both hands and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Let the dumbbell hang naturally in front of your thighs. Squat down until your knees are bent . Keeping your elbows slightly bent, brace your abs and press up to standing, swinging the dumbbell up until it's directly overhead. Lower the dumbbell back toward the floor. That's 1 rep - Repeat with 10 or 12 repetitions. Perform 2-3 sets.

I love this for a quick 15 minute daily workout, pregnant or not! Thanks again Amity! 

If you would like to find out more info about Lift Fitness check out Amity's website and facebook page.

Happy long weekend y'all!

A Good Day

Even though the weather is damp and gross and I'm still not quite myself, I feel that today is going to be a good day...

On the agenda:

1. Lunch with S at the infamous Wahoo's Fish Tacos
2. An afternoon in the "studio" creating an animal out of beading wire, and finishing my mat board sculpture of the Eiffel tower for design class. awesome.
3. Laundry. It’s bad, really bad…
4. Home cooked dinner by my lovely husband.
5. Chuggin' Monkey's Anniversary Party. Hoping to spot one naughty bachelor.

Other News...
A and I have decided to renovate our 90's kitchen. We visited Home Depot earlier this week with the idea of painting or re-staining our kitchen cabinets as well as replacing our ugly laminate counter tops and beige and blue back splash. Lucky for us, Home Depot is running a cool promotion right now. They will send a designer to your house to assist you with the renovation project free of charge.

They are really pushing cabinet re-facing, but they also bring out counter top and back splash samples, give your design ideas, and work out a plan that fits within your budget. No strings attached that we know of, and you get a full two hours of their time. We meet with the designer tomorrow morning, so I'll let you know how it goes!

My new favorite person:
Bethany Frankel.I’m pretty obsessed with the Real Housewives of New York, to the point that I read their cast blogs. They are almost as entertaining as the show itself. These girls are the BEST, so fun to watch and Bethany is by far the showstopper in my opinion. I enjoy her quick wit, and healthy sense of self. I would watch the Bethany show if given the opportunity.

Anywho, I was interested in her book Naturally Thin, and after reading the excerpt I hopped over to Amazon to order it, along with Jillian Michael’s 30-Day Shred DVD. I’ve heard really good things about this DVD and if all goes well I might have to order her new Wii program as well. Keep you posted.

Love, M

P.S. Did you know that Bravo is doing a Real Housewives of New Jersey??
P.S. Deux: Did you that designer Kenley from Project Runway Season was arrested for assaulting her boyfriend?!