30 Minute Beginning Zumba Workout

For those of you in the spring chick challenge who are looking for a new exercise to do this week and don't know what to do here is a play list I created on youtube for beginning zumba.  Most of the songs are instructed by tiffanyloveszumba.  Again, I am having trouble embedding things into blogger, so here is the link!

It is pretty low impact, runs for 30 minutes and I think is a nice intro to Zumba.  Let me know what you think.

What are  you trying out for your new exercise this week???

 http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFB92E48586C0E4CA

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 3

Initial: 189

Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)

Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)

Week 3: 185.0 (-1.9)

Things are moving along this week.  I did not track, it was my little experiment.  I tried to eat as I would if I were tracking, being moderate.  I exercised four times at the gym and got in an additional walk.

I choose not to track my food, to get my mind off of food.  I have found when I am tracking I am constantly thinking about food.  I think it makes me more hungry.  I didn’t skimp on calories, so it is surprising I did lose weight at all.

One of the other reasons I didn’t want to track is I wanted to really focus on listening to what my body needs.  A few weeks ago I had all sorts of labs done at the doctor, cause for the last little while I have been feeling off.  The only thing that we have found deficient is my iron.  It has been running a little bit low.  It makes sense, I feel like it has been more than my blood sugar.

This week when I felt like things were getting low I made myself a green smoothie (water, milk, spinach, strawberries and protein powder). I guess that is another reason I didn’t want to count calories.  They aren’t the lowest calorie snack (266 calories), but they help me level out.  And hey, I still lost weight!  I am not going to worry about how many calories are in my green smoothies.  They help me keep my energy up and keep me from snacking too much between meals.

So here we are venturing off into the next week.  I will post some updates about my book a little later this week. I am at my in-laws for the weekend so things have been on hold.

Have a great week. Let's rock week 4!

Bogged Down? Tell it to the Punching Bag!

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings name them one by one.

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care,

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

Click Here to listen or for the music...

This hymn has been buzzing through my head all morning.  I have felt some of life’s burdens bogging me down.  Some of the things are things I have control over, and some of the things I only have control over how I act and react.  I am so very blessed, sometimes I don’t see my blessings clearly and they lie in a fog.

In attempt to remedy my frustrations and lift the fog in my mind, I took it out on the punching bag. (Another blessing, I actually have a pretty awesome gym set up in my home.) I kicked, punched and back handed the bag with all my might.  I allowed myself to grunt and groan as loud as I felt and gave it all I have got. 

I am not feeling really well (stomach bug again!), so my beating of the bag was a brief 12 minute session, topped off with riding my bike that is propped up on a trainer.  Now that I am cleaned up and getting on with my day I feel a little better.  My issues are the same and nothing is solved, but channeling my frustrations on the bag was helpful.  I can now choose to have a better attitude and hope my body doesn’t freeze in soreness tomorrow.

In the mean time I need to keep my sisters motto in mind, “Good things are coming my way!”  I actually should be saying to myself, “My life is full of wonderful!”  It really is.  I have the cutest kids and a supportive husband.  What more could a girl ask for?? 

Life is good, and I shouldn’t let the things of life bog me down and cloud my vision. 

Good things are comm’en my way!

STS Mid-Week Report

Re-cap of the week thus far.  Things are going good.  Not perfect, but good.  My goal is to be under 165g of Carbohydrates/day, exercise 5 times a week for 45-60 minutes, and to have 10 glasses of water a day. Oh yes.... and to run/walk a 5K in under 40 minutes.  I do not have a caloric goal, but I am keeping track anyhow.

When I am able to work out on the treadmill I am going for 40 minutes and seeing how far I can go.  My goal is to increase my distance each time.  Saturday I went 2.6 miles and Tuesday I went 2.88 miles.  I know I will accomplish my goal of a 5K I under 40 minutes before the challenge is over.  In that case, I will set a new time goal.

Monday: Carbs:144 (21 under) Calories: 1514 Water: 10 glasses

Exercise: 45 minutes Elliptical and Bike

Tuesday: Carbs:157 (8 carbs under)Calories: 1840 Water: 8 glasses

Exercise: 40 minutes walk/jog 2.88 miles 20 minutes strength training

Wednesday: Carbs:176 (11 carbs over) Calories: 1974 Water: 9 glasses

Exercise: 50 minutes elliptical and bike

70 minutes ice skating

Wednesday my husband: The Chocolate Lover and I celebrated our wedding anniversary so I splurged on a super rich Magnum ice cream bar, and a late night trip to Taco Bell following our Ice Skating date.  I did go over on my carbs, but not ridiculously high.  Had I not splurged I would have been wayyy under.

Getting the water in is challenging for me.  I have to remind myself to keep drinking.  I imagine as the weather warms up I will be drinking more.  Today it is a balmy 57 degrees here in Boise, Idaho.  I also should bring two water bottles when I am working out.  I could easily drink another bottle when I am working out.  I always run out of water and I am beet-red in the face for an hour or two after running.  Maybe if I get in more water my body will learn to cool itself down more efficiently.

I haven’t been posting my food journal on my blog, but if you are curious or interested in seeing what I am eating here is the link to my food journal@ Myfitnesspal.com

Have a great day!  It is fast approaching the weekend. Yeah!!

Work Out update and Sunday Rest Report

I am getting excited for the Summer Slim Down!! I am going to do a weigh in, in the morning and do my monthly measurements.

Yesterday I took a solo trip to the gym.  I have been working out with a neighbor and it has been fun.  Usually we do the elliptical or the bikes.  I am working on improving my running so I prefer the treadmill when I go solo.

So one of my goals is to run a 5k in 40 minutes.  I have run several 5K’s pre-pregnancy and marriage.  My pregnancies are rough on my body and I have a difficult time even getting by.  I suppose that is one reason I have gained so much weight post-partum.  When you spend 9 months sick as a dog sitting still and then the baby comes out and you feel wonderful again, it is hard not to eat.

Anyhow…. Back to the 5K.  I get off track way to easily!  Usually when I do a treadmill workout.  I walk at an incline for the first 30 minutes, then spend the last 30 minutes doing walk/jog intervals. I usually do around 3.5miles.  I am changing it up to get back into running more.

My new plan is to spend 40 minutes on the treadmill and see how far I can make it in the 40 minutes.  Yesterdays distance: 2.6 miles.  I am pleased with it.  I think my goal is very reachable.  If I end up reaching it sooner than 12 weeks, I will work on decreasing my time.

Sunday Rest Day Report:  Today was a wonderful day at church.  It was fast and testimony meeting.  I always love hearing how others hearts are touched by living the gospel.  In Sunday school we talked about fasting.  A scripture from the Old Testament gave me an ‘aha” moment.  I wish I could remember the reference!!  It basically talks of fasting with a purpose.  In the footnote, it goes into a little more detail expounding that if you don’t fast with a purpose, you are basically just starving yourself and will be cranky for doing so.  If I find the reference I will re-post it!

I have always known we should be fasting with a purpose, but it is nice to see the background teachings on that.  I am grateful for Sunday’s and taking the day off to rest!

I will be back tomorrow to begin posting about my new journey!!