Muffintop Meltdown {v.1}

Before I get REAL about my muffintop…lol…

The WINNER of the Tommee Tippee Explora Truly Spill Proof Sippy Cup 2-Pack {whew! what a mouth full!} is KRISTINA who blogs at From City Corporate to Suburbs Mama!

Okay friends…this is where I put it all out there…oh how I have changed since birthing my little girl!  These will be my official before pictures.
 
 
  Let's talk about my GOALs for the Muffintop Meltdown:
Goal Weight: 130 lbs.Ideal Weight: 125 lbs.Goal Measurements:  Chest: 34"Waist: 28"Hips/Butt: 38"Arms: 9"Thighs: 22"Muffintop: GONE!
My plan to accomplish these goals:
Fitness:  Pilates, Running & Free Weights
I am starting with every other day bare-minimum workouts…the last several times I've tried to start an exercise program I've been injured…so this time, I'm doing the painstakingly slow build up to daily exercise.  I have done one Pilates session this week, and though it felt SUPER easy {almost lame} I was sore the next day.  As I gain consistency I will focus more on intensity and frequency, but for now, I just need to start moving and keep moving.
Eating:  One-for-One, Medifast, Juicing, H2O Therapy
I am focusing in January on trading 1 bad habit for 1 healthy substitute.  I call this my "One-for-One" plan.  I'm currently contemplating fully giving up caffeine {and by contemplating I mean holding onto it and screaming at the thought of letting it go}.  I have already begun H2O therapy…which is basically drinking copious amounts of water to reduce retention.  Water is also critical for me because I have hypothyroidism which throws my whole metabolism into disarray.  It is SUPER hard to lose weight and keep it off with this condition.  If I am not yet pregnant by February I will start Medifast for 1 month, possibly 2 to kick start my metabolism and help me to get used to small portions several times a day.  I plan to come out of the Medifast ready to become a partial vegetarian {basically primarily vegetarian, save for low-fat dairy, eggs & fish}.  Along with this diet change, I'm hoping to incorporate one day of juice fasting per week {this may not be possible if I'm pregnant, we'll see}.
Motivation:  Point-Reward System, Visual Reminders, Biggest Loser
I am getting my husband involved in my goals, and he is a great coach.  I've set up a point system with cash rewards, yet to be fully approved, so I will share that next week sometime.  I also have visual charts and pictures set up in my room to chart my progress and motivate me.  I've got a few more fun activities planned to motivate me as well.  Plus, I'm watching the Biggest Loser and will be pumped by the amount of weight they are taking off and their determination.
Next Weigh-In/Measurement Day is 1/12/12
Want to participate?  I'd love to have you join forces with me.  Grab the button below and link up with your weight-loss goal blog post, and I will follow your journey!

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Chronic. Sleep. Deprivation.

I'm staring at this page, willing to write, yet my brain is running on reserve power.  Therefore, I'm throwing in the towel and hoping to resume after a good nights rest.

Here is what we have been up to:

I finished my fall yarn wreath and quite satisfied with the results.  :)

I cut out cardboard letters, Z-I-O-N, to finally make a sign for Zion's door, planning on using yarn for this as well.  I've yet to actually wrap a single letter, or figure out how I want to finish it.

I'm knitting again…and lately wondering if I have post-partum-arthritis, I had no idea that this actually exists, but my joints have not been the same since I had Zion, and I am starting to wonder if I should get them checked out.  (Stay tuned for more on my current knitting projects.)

Baking, baking and more baking.  I just did a dozen or so each: M&M Sugar Cookies & Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Zion is great at stirring, and quite territorial about it as well.  Future baking plans…definitely want to do more cupcakes, for starters these and then definitely these as well!

FAIL notice…remember this post here?  Yeah, well, I totally nailed the starter, but I couldn't find a good/easy enough recipe to start out with…and so, well, the starter went right into the trash.  Boo!

While I'm admitting FAILures, I might as well update you on this journey here.  Yeah, remember that running thing I was talking about?  I haven't. Not even once. Ran. Double boo!

I'm blessed to be working my tail feathers off to coordinate sending Christmas care packages to the MacDella Cooper Foundation Academy in Liberia, Africa…if you are interested in participating…send me an email.  60 boys and girls, orphaned by violent civil war will be receiving backpacks filled with goodies to ring in the holiday.

The winds of change are blowing in our family, if that sounds vague, it is intentional, and you'll have to stay tuned for details.  Don't you love cliffhangers?

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Body for God: Couch-to-5k in 9 Weeks

I've decided to do a 9 week program to get back into running.  I mentioned in my previous post, I have had a lot of injuries this year, due to thinking I am invincible starting out too hard and fast, and not giving my body enough time to adjust to new routines.
I was browsing training programs and stumbled upon this guide here.  I have a hard time accepting that this is where I am at, because I honestly do not enjoy running under 3 miles.  I am more of a distance runner, in fact, I love running 6 or more miles at a time.  I now understand that in order to get back there, I have to take baby steps or I'll be benching it yet again, waiting for my injury to heal.
The thing I love about this particular 5k training program is that it only requires 3x a week.  That is less than half of the days, which seems like less pressure to get out and run.  Time won't be so much of an issue either, 20-30 minutes per workout is all that it takes.  
I have to get my jiggly-self outside (rain or shine) and do it this week, or I'll likely be faced with the "it's too cold outside" dilemma.  If I can get back to an addictive 3+miles a run before the brutal chill of winter, there is a very good chance I will be in crazy-running-addict-mode enough to run in the 20 degree tundra that I expect will be hitting by December.
If I get my way, next fall I will run my first marathon, in Chicago!  I've been dreaming of running that 26.2 mile race for the last couple of years.  (Not to mention visiting Chicago, which I hear has some serious foodie-friendly restaurants!)  
What are your fitness goals for the fall and the winter?  Do you want to try the 9 week program? 
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Body for God: My Home "Gym"

While Jerry is blessed with a complimentary gym membership including personal training three times a week, I have to be much more creative in my approach to physical fitness.  Being in good health is extremely important to me.  When you feel good and look good it shows, and it makes a huge difference in the life of a homemaker.  I have to keep all those cookie-baking, gourmet-recipe-trying, toddler-running-circles round me, lazy pajama day calories at bay, you know?

There are likely a million reasons out there for why you should get regular exercise, a few that are personally important to me are: stress relief, mood elevation and libido.  I also believe that God wants us to be good stewards of our physical bodies, taking the best care of them possible.  My cure for the no-time for a gym-membership blues is my ever-evolving home gym.  Lets talk about what I have created so far, and what I hope to gather in the coming months.