Tag: Health/ Fitness

5K HIIT Walking Program

Image is a screenshot from My Fitness Pal App Blog.

I DID IT!!!! Yes, all the caps and all the exclamations because I’m proud of myself! I had to fight to finish this challenge. I struggled with self doubt, poor food choices, exhaustion, angry kids, asthma issues due to the fires as well as a bunch of LIFE. I was originally thinking this would be easy compared to the Chloe Ting 2 Week Shred and I was right however as this was longer it presented different challenges. I regret nothing and would encourage everyone to try it as long as your doctor says it is okay.

Distance not shown as it was a countdown type thing

It took me 1 hour 11 minutes and 8 seconds (1:11:08) to complete this 5k but I did it. It was past 9pm but I finished. I was shaking and crying but I finished. I was having breathing problems but I finished. My knees hurt but I finished. Now my feet are swollen (need different shoes), my hair smells, my kids are crying and the dog feels ignored but I finished. I am currently writing this right after finishing and as tired as I am I feel amazing.

I’m thinking about my next fitness challenge as they seem to keep me motivated and active while inside. I have a vague idea but I know whatever it is, I’ll complete it. I know the scale won’t magically go down a ton without steady healthy eating habits but it is a start and it is contributing to improving my mental health which is extremely fragile. Any little thing I can do to feel amazing, especially if it is free, I’ll do because feeling amazing right now is an accomplishment by itself. With everything going on in the world, I think everyone should find something big or small that makes them feel amazing! Please pick your version of amazing safely ❤

Diet?

With all of the updates I’ve given regarding my diet, you think I would’ve stuck to something by now but you’d be wrong. My problem is the same as a lot of others. I start something, am super excited, something comes up, I’m thrown off then whoops. I get derailed, down on my lack of self control then I start the cycle all over again. Well this time is different because I won’t give up. In the words of a cool Instagram meme I’ll just yell “Plot Twist” and keep on going. This won’t be perfect, pretty or pleasant but I know it will be worth it because health.

Going forward, I’ll be making short weekly videos about my diet week rather than the same old blog posts about what I did or didn’t do. The videos will be faster seeing as how I’ll be cutting out the desire to add pictures or any other window dressing. I’ll be talking about how the week went which will include hits, misses and whatever in between. I also post product review videos. In about a month, I’ll be redoing the MyChelle Perfect C Pro Serum. I loved it but didn’t finish because I got pregnant. Yes, I could have continued but I didn’t as my skin is unusually nice when I’m pregnant so I didn’t think the review would be fair. However with a toddler and an infant I feel this will really put the serum to the test.

Hopefully you’ll join me weekly on YouTube to see diet related videos as well as an occasional review 🙂 It’s Journey to Mommy and the picture on YouTube is the same one I use here. https://youtu.be/ZT8y9dqsFGs

April 2018 Weigh In

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No Your eyes do not deceive you. I am using the same picture again but this time I am using it as a comparison. Full disclaimer the pictures below were actually taken in April however it was 3lbs ago so I feel it’s still a fair representation.

Actual Date: 5/4/2018

Weight: 227.1lbs

Measurements in inches

Chest: 46

R/L Arm: 16

Waist: 45

Hips: 51

R/L Thigh: 29.5

Goal(s):

  • Stick to some type of diet/ healthy meal plan (IP!!!)
  • Read something other than children’s books (Check)
    • The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
  • Exercise 3x/ wk (IP)
    • I did this 3wks in a row then not so much so mostly a win
  • Post monthly updates on/after the 8th for accountability (Fail)

Is this were I wanted to be for my first weight post in a long time? NO but I am no longer beating myself up about what I know I did or didn’t do. I know what I ate, how much I worked out and what I let distract me from my goals. This time is different because I don’t feel like a failure. I feel like a work in progress. I feel stronger and more powerful because I’m not quitting. I feel grateful my body hasn’t failed me though I have put it through way too much stress and strain. The best feeling is seeing the progress even though I didn’t think there was any. My current versus my original shows a slightly smaller body but most noticeable to me is my waist. Again I can’t tell when I look at myself because breasts are in the way but this picture shows I have made physical changes.

To my body:

Thank you for not giving up on me. Please accept my apology for the abuse and know that I will never give up on you again.

With all my heart,

JTM

What I’m Eating – March

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Mustard Deviled Eggs with bacon & paprika

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Green & Black beans w/ sliced almonds

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Turkey Soup w/ kale & Celery w/ hummus

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Bean Soup (red beans, lentils, kale, celery and shrimp). Cook with vegetable broth and no shrimp to make it vegetarian or vegan

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Chicken Wings & Sauteed Kale

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Tuna & Cucumbers (still don’t like cucumbers)

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Tuna w/ Spinach

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Pork Roast w/ Sauteed Kale & Bell Peppers

December Weigh In

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Note for November’s missed update: This month was a lot better. It wasn’t perfect and my stats will show that but I did accomplish some things that were on my list! Goals are November & December.

Yes, another post using the same exact picture but this time I’m pleased with what I’ve done. I started the 4-Hour Body again… My goal is to do better so one day I can do it perfectly and eventually try the “meatless machine” mentioned in the book. So far I haven’t had one perfect week but you know what? As of this morning I’ve officially lost weight. I’ll go back slightly by saying I gained way more than I’d like to admit by emotionally eating, giving up and having a looooooooong pity party. However as previously stated I am not going for perfection instead progress, healthy changes and eventually a new lifestyle are my main goals. And to my surprise it is working!! I don’t find myself binge eating on cheat day like I used to. I enjoy cooking even on cheat day which I thought would never happen. I also don’t dive head first into a giant mound of cheese which used to be one of my favorite things to do on cheat day. Bonus I discovered I actually feel better when I eliminate or limit dairy.

Actual Date: 1/9/2018

Weight: 229.3lbs

Measurements in inches (Forgot)

 

Goal(s):

  • Stick to some type of diet/ healthy meal plan (FAIL/ IP)
  • Read something other than children’s books (Check)
    • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – finished
      • I’m counting this because it isn’t for his age group even though I started reading it for him
    • Told Under The Green Umbrella – finished
      • Doesn’t really count but I enjoyed it more than my son. I don’t think there were enough pictures to hold his attention
    • Treasure Island – finished
      • Not enough pictures to count for him so I’m counting this
  • Exercise 4x/ wk (Fail)
  • Post monthly updates on/after the 8th for accountability (?)
    • Missed November but this post is up so I guess Yes & No

All in all October – December were emotionally hard months. My son has been testing his boundaries. I haven’t been sleeping well. I really haven’t been liking who I am as a wife, mother (to human & animal) and April thus the long pity party. Despite these feelings I managed to make the changes needed to improve. No I don’t have dramatic pictures to show off like I’d hoped; what I do have is a better understanding of self and hope for the future. I have clear goals written down that I plan on displaying so when things get hard I can remind myself of what I need to focus on in order to improve.

And for those reading this if you are in a similar situation: It CAN and WILL get better we just have to take it one step at a time 🙂

October Weigh In

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So… I’ll insert details under each goal but keep the same goals for this month. Actually I might keep the same goals until I get it right. When I get it right I will completely change my goal or I’ll modify it to continue challenging myself.

Actual Date: 11/8/2017

Weight: ?lbs

Measurements in inches

Chest: ?

R/L Arm: ?

Waist: ?

Hips: ?

R/L Thigh: ?

Goal(s):

  • Stick to some type of diet/ healthy meal plan (IP)
    • I have made healthier choices
      • Ex: swapping coffee for unsweetened tea (most days)
      • Ex: Penny Date night (detailed post coming soon) rather than simply eating out
  • Read something other than children’s books (Check!!)
    • Jules Verne Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
      • Side note: Adventure, Sci-Fi and mystery are my favs
    • Bonus points because I was able to read it to my son
  • Don’t use motherhood as an excuse (Umm technically check)
    • I didn’t but I still didn’t exercise regularly
    • I did maybe 3-4 workouts; progress but not my goal
  • Post updates every month on or after the 8th in order to hold myself accountable (Check)
    • Yup!! Though nothing has changed (well I don’t think so because I didn’t check)

 

About My Weight/Wait

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Yes, this is the 1st “before” picture I posted but I look the same so I figured why not be lazy and use this 😉

You read that correctly. I waited to write about my weight because I kept hoping I’d have amazing before and after photos. I’m still over the weight I want to be, look like my “before” picture(s) and haven’t seriously stuck to anything. I tired the 4 Hour Body, intermittent fasting and counting calories but I always allowed myself to make excuses; motherhood was my go to excuse (avoids eye contact with fit moms). I don’t have it figured out and I will keep trying things until I find something I like but until I find my happy healthy plan here are my stats and what I hope to achieve.

Actual Date: 10/8/2017

Weight: 230.6lbs

Measurements in inches

Chest: 44

R/L Arm: 15.75/ 15.5

Waist: 41

Hips: 50.5

R/L Thigh: 29.5/ 28.5

Goal(s):

  • Stick to some type of diet/ healthy meal plan
  • Read something other than children’s books
  • Don’t use motherhood as an excuse
  • Post updates every month on or after the 8th in order to hold myself accountable
    • I am considering posting weekly on my Instagram @jtm2015.wordpress so I don’t fall off of whatever wagon I’m on that week

 

Color Run 2017

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This is everything from the Color Run packet: Happy tattoo, number, coupon for the C.R. store, epsom salt, official shirt, detergent sample (I think) & sweatband. There were also free Lays Poppables when you picked up your packet the day before run

The day finally arrived. I would be in my first fun run! I ate clean, exercised, got a good night sleep and prepared my outfit the night before. Just kidding I didn’t do any of that 😉

I’ll start by saying in the beginning I was preparing very well then I let life get in the way. The nail in my coffin was hanging out and having a few sips the night before/ day of. I don’t regret a thing because I needed to catch up with my friend and relax without hearing someone scream bloody murder when I left the room.

Race Day

Somehow I managed to drag my tired self out of bed on time so I could shower and get all dolled up. I was going to wear my lime green wig, fill in my eyebrows some shade of pink with matching lipstick, use the brightest Crayons to add flare to my number and blend my favorite green smoothie which at the moment is spinach, pineapple, banana and carrots. What did I end up doing… well I’m not sure but by the time I finished showering I was rushing to do everything. I’m not wearing any makeup and barely colored in my number which I attached to the front of my shirt instead of the back. I didn’t drink water that alone blend a smoothie. The best outfit I could do was my Color Run sweatband and shirt which I put on while my husband was driving (don’t worry I stayed buckled up the whole time; safety first). To add to my mess of a morning, I forgot the freeway was getting a much needed face lift, there was a bad accident involving multiple cars (everyone seemed okay just shaken) and we (I) was running so late that the regular entrances were closed so hubby had to drive all around to figure out how to get me to the race before they stopped letting people in. Well we (I) made it with only a few minutes to spare but they weren’t very strict on the time since there were multiple waves.

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Top Left – taken at start line; Police Officer – shortly after starting; Mile markers 1 – 3; Purple Party – last marker before finish line; Medal & son (covered in purple) – Finish line party which you can see behind us

Notes

  • Any fitness level can do this (walkers, runners, families, etc)
  • It’s shockingly fun: beginning had foam/ bubble area and hubby liked the end*
  • Family Friendly!! Police officers were out in full effect some even enjoying the music and giving high-fives to the kids as they passed by while others were singled out because they looked more like calendar models than real officers 😉
  • This is more fun with a buddy or a group but can be enjoyed by an individual with the right attitude
  • The halfway point had water and a Port-A-Potty (sp?)
    • Official Color Run Water cups. Yes I have four! I wanted a set
  • Be cautious if you have respiratory issues or have little ones. Bring a mask or ask that they not throw color on you. As my husband went through with our son everyone was very kind and asked if he wanted color. He declined but our son was able to get color during the finish line party and he wasn’t a fan 😦
  • Finish line party is awesome but extremely loud. If you have hearing issues or little ones you might want to bring ear plugs, stand far away from the speakers/ stage or skip the party. We decided to go but the combo of colors, noise and crowds weren’t his thing however if he wasn’t with us we would’ve stayed and partied.
    • I almost forgot to mention the free stuff at the party!!! If you’re like me and love free then this will be almost as awesome as the run. Pay attention to who is sponsoring as these are usually the ones with the best stuff. Lays gave Poppables: Sea Salt (okay…) & White Cheddar ( my fav), Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Soak Relax & Relief which was really helped and smelled amazing (glad I took a few) as well as free beverages and multiple booths giving away prizes
  • Not sure all Color Runs have this but our run had blowers so you can get some of the color off before you leave. It was more fun than effective but I was still grateful for it

*hubby was a big naysayer but supported his wife and is now planning our next fun run so give it a try

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Review: Face & Body Brush

The Perfect Skin Brushing System (face & body brush cleansing system) by Essential Skin Solutions

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Price: Varies but this was under $25 on Amazon (Feb/Mar 2017)

Packaging: Efficient and easy to open (see product pic in collage)

Instructions: Not a lot included but I received additional instructions in an email from the seller which I found helpful. I would also recommend looking at a review on Amazon with one star that gives detailed info which is the reason I bought this product.

Quality: Appears to be great buy for the price and service. The customer service seems to be great. I’ve been contacted a few times to verify the product is working correctly

Progress:

Skin – I spaced on taking any decent before or after pictures so I will not include any. However I will say with regular daily use I noticed old acne scars start to fade, smoother skin and softer smile lines. I will add taking before and after pictures when using any skincare product (no makeup of course) would be the best way to see if a product is truly working for you but if you have a really observant husband like I do who compliments you on the improved texture and clarity then that goes a long way 😉

Feet – Unfortunately I can’t give a thorough review of the pumice stone as I became lazy and stopped using it regularly but I can say after 2 weeks of (every other day) use I noticed slightly smoother feet. It made a bigger different on my rough heels than on the pads of my feet but I do still use it for pedicures.

Overall: The Perfect Skin Brushing System (face & body brush cleansing system) by Essential Skin Solutions is worth the money for me as I really like the ease of use, battery life, handle and hanging string plus all of the accessories. The only downside is having the time to spend brushing your entire body. If you are on the larger side like I am and want a thorough clean then it takes a bit to be able to use the body brush all over then switch to the pumice stone then switch to  the facial brush. Was it time well spent? Absolutely! Do I have that kind of time as a new inexperienced mom that likes a tidy house and is attempting to get on a schedule for son, husband and personal care… No but I still use this entire system (face & body brush and pumice stone) when hubby takes over and I have an in home spa day.

 

March Update

Well things went south… Details would be boring so here are the highlights 🙂

Parent Life

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  • breastfeeding beyond one
  • trying solids
  • teething
  • tantrums
  • clingy mommy only times

Food

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  • too much so I’ll show the healthy ish ones and avoid pics of pasta, buttery shrimp, fried stuff, cookies and muffins… (avoids eye contact)

Life Changes

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  • Weight: 230.2lbs
    • it is 6:38pm PST and I’ve been drinking lots of water but it’s still bad…
  • Health/ Fitness: exercised 4 out of 10 days (3/26 – 4/4)
    • big accomplishment considering I haven’t been this consistent in years!
  • Note: I was going to write “before pics” as the caption but I already started the journey so these were rightfully captioned “IP (in progress) pics”

Self Care & Balance

Life happened and I wasn’t being balanced. I haven’t been on the diet in weeks, was eating everything in sight (thanks Pinterest not so healthy food pins) and my weight showed it. As of Sunday March 26th, 2017, I stayed awake (son still wakes 2+ times per night), drank coffee possibly ate breakfast then prepared to walk. I didn’t let my son getting back up stop me. I dressed him in his track suit and strapped him into his stroller and off we went. This started a chain reaction which included exercising intentionally, weekly pampering, drinking more water  and eating meals with more attention to health. For now life seems to be all over the place but those are little things I can do no matter what.

What I learned:

  • Don’t forget about yourself
  • Don’t sweat the small stuff
  • Appreciate the present even if it isn’t ideal
  • As long as you’re alive you can change things but it is up to you if it changes for good or for bad