Thursday 27 October 2011
Another week bites the dust...
One of my aunts recently said something to the effect of someone admiring the role of a stay-at-home-mom and the freedom they have all day, everyday. What they didn't realize is this luxury comes in 7 minute increments. So true! You think I would have re-strategized by now. Hmmm. Food for thought ha ha ha. I've been so distracted I haven't had time to really think about anything. Writing this blog allows me that moment to focus on myself. ME time, so sacred. And it's hockey night. I have a glass of wine sitting on my computer table. The kids are all asleep. Aside from the hack coming from my son's room, it's quiet in the house. I love these moments. I have Etta James playing. Love, love, loving this moment. I could drop and do twenty...or just sit here and relish in this moment. You see what I've chosen....
SO how did this week go? One totally awesome day. Then, six totally stressful, exhausting, non-work out days. My four year old has pneumonia. My six month old is cutting her first tooth. My five year old had her first fight at school. I drank a lot of wine. My elasticized track pants don't make me feel badly about myself. Tis why I am avoiding my jeans.
I'm due for my measurements, yesterday. I will complete them and post them tomorrow.
I knew this was going to be difficult, but it can be done. I am so envious of those moms who have support networks. Mom's that come and take the kids ( my mom is special and would require a totally separate blog to discuss. Love her. We yap daily and enjoy each other. She is one of my favorite people. But anyone out there who has a disabled brother/sister knows what that does to your mom. It makes her completely ex centric and focused on one thing and one thing only. She means well, but just cannot be there the way even she wishes she could be. Mum in law works). Ahh well, life is what it is. So it all boils down to juggling what you've got and finding a way to make it work.
That's the other thing about having a disabled sibling. You learn that there is no "can't", unless you really, really can't. It's "won't" . I won't let myself down, I know I can do it. Every time I visit mum and B (my sister), I return home with a new sense of drive. If you've been given the ability to do anything, do something. You were given these abilities for a reason.....
I could go on and on, or, I can log off and finish this glass of wine on the couch with my new book. The Forgotten Garden. Any minute now anyone could wake up and end this tranquility....I must maximize on this moment.
Be well!
Cheers.
SO how did this week go? One totally awesome day. Then, six totally stressful, exhausting, non-work out days. My four year old has pneumonia. My six month old is cutting her first tooth. My five year old had her first fight at school. I drank a lot of wine. My elasticized track pants don't make me feel badly about myself. Tis why I am avoiding my jeans.
I'm due for my measurements, yesterday. I will complete them and post them tomorrow.
I knew this was going to be difficult, but it can be done. I am so envious of those moms who have support networks. Mom's that come and take the kids ( my mom is special and would require a totally separate blog to discuss. Love her. We yap daily and enjoy each other. She is one of my favorite people. But anyone out there who has a disabled brother/sister knows what that does to your mom. It makes her completely ex centric and focused on one thing and one thing only. She means well, but just cannot be there the way even she wishes she could be. Mum in law works). Ahh well, life is what it is. So it all boils down to juggling what you've got and finding a way to make it work.
That's the other thing about having a disabled sibling. You learn that there is no "can't", unless you really, really can't. It's "won't" . I won't let myself down, I know I can do it. Every time I visit mum and B (my sister), I return home with a new sense of drive. If you've been given the ability to do anything, do something. You were given these abilities for a reason.....
I could go on and on, or, I can log off and finish this glass of wine on the couch with my new book. The Forgotten Garden. Any minute now anyone could wake up and end this tranquility....I must maximize on this moment.
Be well!
Cheers.
Tuesday 18 October 2011
The Voice....
I've had some funny emails lately asking what I am up to with this blog, life, my time. Those that know me well know I love to write. It has always been a passion. I just suck at conforming so writing things like novels haven't quite made my list of to-do's yet. Too much structure for my chaotic life right now.
That said, I feel compelled to write this. Being away from the noise of the office and having had the summer at home with my kids, I've started to pay attention to myself. Specifically, that voice within myself. It's always been there, it's always talking to me telling me who I am meant to be, but sometimes it's too loud for me to really listen. I've decided now, at age 37, it's time to start listening. That voice is steering me towards the path I am meant to travel upon.
I LOVE fitness. It isn't so much about working out or the physical image part of it. It's the learning that takes place when you are working out that attracts me most. It is the first phase of a huge life long journey. If you let it anyhow. It will teach you that if you work for it, it WILL happen. Your effort will reflect your results. You cannot fail for trying. I love teaching others the same thing. That is what attracted me to becoming a personal trainer in the first place.
I used to (still do for that matter), notice women walking around looking down all the time. It was impossible to make eye contact with anyone as no one was looking up. What does that say about that person? Why don't they believe in themselves enough to look the world in the eye and say HI or whatever? What have we done that women don't seem to possess the confidence they should?
Women's self esteem takes a constant beating. Stand in line at a grocery store and just count how many images of women you see. Now see how many of them look like you (or me for that matter). Funny, but I don't see any giant jugs on ladies (except for the top row in convenience stores on mag's wrapped in plastic ha ha). It just doesn't reflect the reality of the world. So why then are so many women obsessed with trying to be who they will never be vs just trying to be their best selves?
This is where my voice comes in. I hear it telling me to return to the path I once began to travel upon, and look for another way. I truthfully won't have the luxury of time to train the women I want to. Or rather, I won't sacrifice my evenings or weekends with my kids to do it. So somehow, someway, I need to work towards reaching that audience and balance life. I know it can be done, it's just the "how" that I am working on.
I have a great job that I am due to return to in six months. Between now and then, I need to work out how I can juggle this calling, my career (which is in the initial stages - after fifteen years I think I have found what I am good at in terms of the office gig), and most importantly, my family. My hubby and my kids will never take a back seat to anything on my list. They need me just as much as I need them.
So, what am I doing then? Well first things first. I have to get moi into shape. And I am, one squat at a time. I am also starting to do what feels right, thus the second blog. I trulely believe we are all here to help one another. It isn't about doing things for money, it's about doing things to help people. So from one mom to another, I've learned a few tricks I'd like to share. If they weren't shared with me in the first place I would still be searching for answers as well. Thus the second blog.
Well, it looks like my writing time is up for today. My youngest monkey is chatting it up in her crib. Apparently nap time is over. Six months old today....where has it gone? Who knows but I'm glad it involves less screaming ha ha ha. I lost decades of life in a matter of months.
Be well.
Cheers.
N.
That said, I feel compelled to write this. Being away from the noise of the office and having had the summer at home with my kids, I've started to pay attention to myself. Specifically, that voice within myself. It's always been there, it's always talking to me telling me who I am meant to be, but sometimes it's too loud for me to really listen. I've decided now, at age 37, it's time to start listening. That voice is steering me towards the path I am meant to travel upon.
I LOVE fitness. It isn't so much about working out or the physical image part of it. It's the learning that takes place when you are working out that attracts me most. It is the first phase of a huge life long journey. If you let it anyhow. It will teach you that if you work for it, it WILL happen. Your effort will reflect your results. You cannot fail for trying. I love teaching others the same thing. That is what attracted me to becoming a personal trainer in the first place.
I used to (still do for that matter), notice women walking around looking down all the time. It was impossible to make eye contact with anyone as no one was looking up. What does that say about that person? Why don't they believe in themselves enough to look the world in the eye and say HI or whatever? What have we done that women don't seem to possess the confidence they should?
Women's self esteem takes a constant beating. Stand in line at a grocery store and just count how many images of women you see. Now see how many of them look like you (or me for that matter). Funny, but I don't see any giant jugs on ladies (except for the top row in convenience stores on mag's wrapped in plastic ha ha). It just doesn't reflect the reality of the world. So why then are so many women obsessed with trying to be who they will never be vs just trying to be their best selves?
This is where my voice comes in. I hear it telling me to return to the path I once began to travel upon, and look for another way. I truthfully won't have the luxury of time to train the women I want to. Or rather, I won't sacrifice my evenings or weekends with my kids to do it. So somehow, someway, I need to work towards reaching that audience and balance life. I know it can be done, it's just the "how" that I am working on.
I have a great job that I am due to return to in six months. Between now and then, I need to work out how I can juggle this calling, my career (which is in the initial stages - after fifteen years I think I have found what I am good at in terms of the office gig), and most importantly, my family. My hubby and my kids will never take a back seat to anything on my list. They need me just as much as I need them.
So, what am I doing then? Well first things first. I have to get moi into shape. And I am, one squat at a time. I am also starting to do what feels right, thus the second blog. I trulely believe we are all here to help one another. It isn't about doing things for money, it's about doing things to help people. So from one mom to another, I've learned a few tricks I'd like to share. If they weren't shared with me in the first place I would still be searching for answers as well. Thus the second blog.
Well, it looks like my writing time is up for today. My youngest monkey is chatting it up in her crib. Apparently nap time is over. Six months old today....where has it gone? Who knows but I'm glad it involves less screaming ha ha ha. I lost decades of life in a matter of months.
Be well.
Cheers.
N.
Wednesday 12 October 2011
I'm staring at the title line trying to think of what to label this one. "le pooped" crossed my mind...we'll see. Something will come to me as I write this.
There are 46 days left of the first stage of this plan. 60 day plan, 46 to go. I could create a whole story here about how great this is going, or I can just say.....I'm exhausted. I'm so tired. I know, working out will give me energy etc. etc. blah blah. I've said it all before to other people who paid me. Now, now I'm that person sitting on the bench saying "later". It's like I have two personalities right now. One that lives in this fantasy land of energy, and then the other, which is 900 years old with a 6 month old, a 4yr old and a 5 yr old who thinks she is 13, is running on 3-5 hours sleep daily. When I lay down on the floor to get into position to do a push up, the one personality says YAY LET"S GO, the other is still lying on the floor controlling my body. I am trying. Walks are good. I feel pumped after a good brisk walk. But that is really all I can handle some days, most days these days. When I do more, I'm so achey. My diet is good, it's the lack of sleep. I'm not recovering well.
My hubby is working from 8am - 10 ishy in the pm weekdays, as well as, Saturdays. Ask me how much I'm loving that right now. He is self employed. Need I say more?
It was the Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend. The weather was unbelievable. Honestly, miraculous. The air was so clean and crisp. Sitting in T-shirts and shorts in October - unreal. My gardens are still blooming. It's amazing. It was still the traditional pig-out fest, just add extra cocktails in the afternoon sun and that pretty much sums up what we did. It was fantastic. I enjoyed every moment consuming thousands and thousands of calories.
I saw this earlier today. Made me chuckle.
Anyhow, the mission continues. 46 days to go. My little ones have just both co-operated and are taking a nap. I'm going to sneak one in too.
There are 46 days left of the first stage of this plan. 60 day plan, 46 to go. I could create a whole story here about how great this is going, or I can just say.....I'm exhausted. I'm so tired. I know, working out will give me energy etc. etc. blah blah. I've said it all before to other people who paid me. Now, now I'm that person sitting on the bench saying "later". It's like I have two personalities right now. One that lives in this fantasy land of energy, and then the other, which is 900 years old with a 6 month old, a 4yr old and a 5 yr old who thinks she is 13, is running on 3-5 hours sleep daily. When I lay down on the floor to get into position to do a push up, the one personality says YAY LET"S GO, the other is still lying on the floor controlling my body. I am trying. Walks are good. I feel pumped after a good brisk walk. But that is really all I can handle some days, most days these days. When I do more, I'm so achey. My diet is good, it's the lack of sleep. I'm not recovering well.
My hubby is working from 8am - 10 ishy in the pm weekdays, as well as, Saturdays. Ask me how much I'm loving that right now. He is self employed. Need I say more?
It was the Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend. The weather was unbelievable. Honestly, miraculous. The air was so clean and crisp. Sitting in T-shirts and shorts in October - unreal. My gardens are still blooming. It's amazing. It was still the traditional pig-out fest, just add extra cocktails in the afternoon sun and that pretty much sums up what we did. It was fantastic. I enjoyed every moment consuming thousands and thousands of calories.
I saw this earlier today. Made me chuckle.
Anyhow, the mission continues. 46 days to go. My little ones have just both co-operated and are taking a nap. I'm going to sneak one in too.
Thursday 6 October 2011
The Dumbass Effect
As we travel along this path together there are a few things you will notice about me....a few constants. There are many things that change or evolve over time, and many that...well....are just me. I am completely an addictive/compulsive personality, and, I am very competitive. Even with myself. I am not a sore loser or anything like that, losing just makes me work harder. It's just, I do everything I can in advance of that moment not to lose.
So let's rewind to earlier this week when I was a dumbass with my TRX. I felt fantastic in that moment. I absolutely love any form of resistance training. Weight training was my personal favorite. There are so many moves using this thing that make it feel as it did when I was using weights. And now, now I hurt in ways I haven't hurt in a very long time. My 15lb munchkin feels like five hundred tons and I have serious lactic acid burn like sensations while trying to hold her. I went way over board. My quads feel completely jacked, triceps cramped, ass - well........sitting is unappealing. Sitting than rising, even less appealing. I'm going to lie down in a minute. The kids are all asleep and my hubby is doing his weekly work-out at hockey. He skipped the TRX..... and so to ensure he never uses my current condition as cause to bypass a workout, I acted as though nothing was wrong all day. I'm so f'ng tired right now...
On a shallow note. I saw this jacket I really would love to sport this winter. It has a belt. I loathe belts at the moment. When you have giant mom boobs, you don't wear anything with a belt. The boobs look like torpedos. I have my shallow side, it involves this jacket....with a belt.
So let's rewind to earlier this week when I was a dumbass with my TRX. I felt fantastic in that moment. I absolutely love any form of resistance training. Weight training was my personal favorite. There are so many moves using this thing that make it feel as it did when I was using weights. And now, now I hurt in ways I haven't hurt in a very long time. My 15lb munchkin feels like five hundred tons and I have serious lactic acid burn like sensations while trying to hold her. I went way over board. My quads feel completely jacked, triceps cramped, ass - well........sitting is unappealing. Sitting than rising, even less appealing. I'm going to lie down in a minute. The kids are all asleep and my hubby is doing his weekly work-out at hockey. He skipped the TRX..... and so to ensure he never uses my current condition as cause to bypass a workout, I acted as though nothing was wrong all day. I'm so f'ng tired right now...
On a shallow note. I saw this jacket I really would love to sport this winter. It has a belt. I loathe belts at the moment. When you have giant mom boobs, you don't wear anything with a belt. The boobs look like torpedos. I have my shallow side, it involves this jacket....with a belt.
Monday 3 October 2011
Monday Madness....
So here I am, in my two hour "break" as the other mum's and I call it, and totally demotivated. It's been three days since I've slept and, well, the baby just had an ass explosion in her exersaucer. SOOOOO after an emergency bath and dismantling of the saucer for cleaning, I'm not really feeling a workout at the moment. I've got a cup of coffee, the baby monitor (and yes, she's screaming in it again - but she's fed, changed, burped, sung to, cuddled, played with and now watching her mobile in her crib - and yet, still she's pissy) and my computer. Thinking today may be the kind of day wherein if I can pull off a shower, I'm groovin...!
My hubby cracked a joke that he has not, in our six years of marriage, witnessed me do anything athletic. I was totally dumbfounded. What? I played on sports teams, rollerbladed, trained six days weekly, competed, bike rode.... but all without him. How crazy is that? And now, six years and three kids later, he seriously has never seen me do anything? What have I been doing all these years? Breeding! That's what! And anytime I could find time to do anything, it was without him. I still can't believe it. Being physical is such a big part of who I am...how did this happen? And if he isn't seeing it, are the kids? Will they want to be fit because we are? At this rate, nope. How depressing. I don't want to be one of those mom's who has a photo album full of what she used to do vs still is doing. I want to be an example.
Once upon a time when I cracked a joke about my hubby not having ever worked out, he ran for forty five minutes on my treadmill. That was a few years ago, and was his one workout. So starting tonight, and as he is complaining of backaches (and I joked he has man boobs - which he doesn't but was playfully talking about the bods we once had vs do today), he is motivated to start using my TRX system. I am a huge fan of these workouts. SO maybe I will just join him weekly (I should mention that he believes playing hockey once weekly keeps him in excellent shape - so TRX on mondays, hockey on thursdays and voila - he will be fit - according to him). We can do this together. We'll see what he thinks of my plan tonight, and what bambino thinks. Who am I kidding, she is really the one controlling my availability!! So maybe I need to go sweet talk her...if only she will allow me to interupt her screaming...
My hubby cracked a joke that he has not, in our six years of marriage, witnessed me do anything athletic. I was totally dumbfounded. What? I played on sports teams, rollerbladed, trained six days weekly, competed, bike rode.... but all without him. How crazy is that? And now, six years and three kids later, he seriously has never seen me do anything? What have I been doing all these years? Breeding! That's what! And anytime I could find time to do anything, it was without him. I still can't believe it. Being physical is such a big part of who I am...how did this happen? And if he isn't seeing it, are the kids? Will they want to be fit because we are? At this rate, nope. How depressing. I don't want to be one of those mom's who has a photo album full of what she used to do vs still is doing. I want to be an example.
Once upon a time when I cracked a joke about my hubby not having ever worked out, he ran for forty five minutes on my treadmill. That was a few years ago, and was his one workout. So starting tonight, and as he is complaining of backaches (and I joked he has man boobs - which he doesn't but was playfully talking about the bods we once had vs do today), he is motivated to start using my TRX system. I am a huge fan of these workouts. SO maybe I will just join him weekly (I should mention that he believes playing hockey once weekly keeps him in excellent shape - so TRX on mondays, hockey on thursdays and voila - he will be fit - according to him). We can do this together. We'll see what he thinks of my plan tonight, and what bambino thinks. Who am I kidding, she is really the one controlling my availability!! So maybe I need to go sweet talk her...if only she will allow me to interupt her screaming...
Saturday 1 October 2011
The starting line.
I have this old beat up leather business card/note pad thing that has been sitting on my shelf for years. It holds within it my log, my measuring tape and my pen. It's all my measurements over the years as I tracked myself working out. Before I begin each new regiment I measure myself. I don't use scales. Weight isn't an accurate way of tracking your progress. Muscle weighs more than fat and your number on the scale changes so often it can be discouraging. I go by inches.
Anyhow, I made a decision. I ripped out everything before today and chucked it. I flipped through it and looked at some of my past measurements and remember how I felt when I hit certain targets over the years. And then, I pitched it. I am not who I was then. My body is definately what it was then. Since then I have given birth to giant babies. My smallest was 9lbs, my largest 9lbs 13 .5oz. My hips have changed, and, SIGH, my boobs.
Everyone has that body part that they are not so fond of. For me, le boobs. Motherhood has not been kind to them. They grew so fast and so large some thought I had enhancement. If I did have enhancement, they'd be sitting in an entirely different region of my chest right now! I joke that when I finally do deflate these puppies, they are not going to be pretty. Not that they are now, it's just going to get a lot uglier. Ahh well, back to the main subject at hand here. The log.
Re; the bod... the goals.
First, reduce the chest. Current measurement is, in inches, 38.
Second, build muscle & power ( specifically, I want to be able to lift and push my own weight with ease - push ups, pull ups...)
Third: reduce the post-partum puff. I want a strong core, and not to look pregnant anymore. I do not want to see my six pack, but I do want a tight tummy with strong obliques and no muffin top. To get those abs there are sacrifices that must be made. And, well, now that I am a parent, there is no way I can give up my wine. There are many a days that my hubby and I relax by the fire with a bottle of wine after a crazy day with the kids. It's worth never seeing my pack again.
For the first sixty days my goals are; to lose 2" off my stomach, measured around the belly button (this is, for the most part, the post-partum puff as I call it. I would like to end my relationship with it. It's been almost six years now....I'm ready to let go), starting measurement is 34", as well as, 1" off the chest.
The balance of the measurements I track are;
Back 33"
Thigh 19"
Hips 37"
Bicep 10.5
Weight: not taken. NO scales in the house. Don't intend to buy one.....
I will workout four times weekly. Mon and Tues, rest Wed, Thurs and Fri. There may be days that this doesn't work -but at least 4x / wk on weekdays. Weekends are out. I like playing with the kids. We stay active/busy but it's our play time. And we like baking together. One treat a weekend and pigging out with my hubby in the evening - we have snack night. That is staying in the regiment as well. It's just one of those things we like to do and it's not going anywhere. Tostito's, hot peppers, salsa, cheese = awesomness.
Week one went pretty good. I am feeling positive about everything. I know I can do this. It's just incredible how your body remembers things. That said, it's also incredible how weak and unco-ordinated I am all these years later. I used to be able to do multiple sets of pull-ups (unassisted), now, I just hang from the bar sweating. I used to be able to do one-legged push-ups and what not, now, one or two push ups off the toe, the balance off the knees. Following cardio DVD's I can't seem to make my legs move as they should....But I will get my groove back and find my rythm. At the very least my doing these DVD's entertains my screamer. She laughs vs yells. Win win for Mum!
So now that week one is over, I'm looking forward to week two!
Anyhow, I made a decision. I ripped out everything before today and chucked it. I flipped through it and looked at some of my past measurements and remember how I felt when I hit certain targets over the years. And then, I pitched it. I am not who I was then. My body is definately what it was then. Since then I have given birth to giant babies. My smallest was 9lbs, my largest 9lbs 13 .5oz. My hips have changed, and, SIGH, my boobs.
Everyone has that body part that they are not so fond of. For me, le boobs. Motherhood has not been kind to them. They grew so fast and so large some thought I had enhancement. If I did have enhancement, they'd be sitting in an entirely different region of my chest right now! I joke that when I finally do deflate these puppies, they are not going to be pretty. Not that they are now, it's just going to get a lot uglier. Ahh well, back to the main subject at hand here. The log.
Re; the bod... the goals.
First, reduce the chest. Current measurement is, in inches, 38.
Second, build muscle & power ( specifically, I want to be able to lift and push my own weight with ease - push ups, pull ups...)
Third: reduce the post-partum puff. I want a strong core, and not to look pregnant anymore. I do not want to see my six pack, but I do want a tight tummy with strong obliques and no muffin top. To get those abs there are sacrifices that must be made. And, well, now that I am a parent, there is no way I can give up my wine. There are many a days that my hubby and I relax by the fire with a bottle of wine after a crazy day with the kids. It's worth never seeing my pack again.
For the first sixty days my goals are; to lose 2" off my stomach, measured around the belly button (this is, for the most part, the post-partum puff as I call it. I would like to end my relationship with it. It's been almost six years now....I'm ready to let go), starting measurement is 34", as well as, 1" off the chest.
The balance of the measurements I track are;
Back 33"
Thigh 19"
Hips 37"
Bicep 10.5
Weight: not taken. NO scales in the house. Don't intend to buy one.....
I will workout four times weekly. Mon and Tues, rest Wed, Thurs and Fri. There may be days that this doesn't work -but at least 4x / wk on weekdays. Weekends are out. I like playing with the kids. We stay active/busy but it's our play time. And we like baking together. One treat a weekend and pigging out with my hubby in the evening - we have snack night. That is staying in the regiment as well. It's just one of those things we like to do and it's not going anywhere. Tostito's, hot peppers, salsa, cheese = awesomness.
Week one went pretty good. I am feeling positive about everything. I know I can do this. It's just incredible how your body remembers things. That said, it's also incredible how weak and unco-ordinated I am all these years later. I used to be able to do multiple sets of pull-ups (unassisted), now, I just hang from the bar sweating. I used to be able to do one-legged push-ups and what not, now, one or two push ups off the toe, the balance off the knees. Following cardio DVD's I can't seem to make my legs move as they should....But I will get my groove back and find my rythm. At the very least my doing these DVD's entertains my screamer. She laughs vs yells. Win win for Mum!
So now that week one is over, I'm looking forward to week two!
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