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Set backs are fun aren't they??  No, I'm joking.  They totally suck.  7 months from today I have plans to compete in the NPC Daytona Beach Classic.  212 days.  30 weeks.  It seems like so much time but no time at all.  

Earlier this month I started training and working on my nutrition.  But, Friday I ended up making a trip to the E.R.  Diagnosis?  Pneumonia, AGAIN!  They put me on 2 different medications that have screwed things up a bit.  

A week before my ER visit I started eating 5 small meals a day.  Breakfast, a snack, lunch, dinner and another snack.  One of the medications has completely messed with the timing of my meals.  The other medication caused my joints to feel really loose and I cancelled a few workouts.  Luckily I was only on that prescription for 5 days.

But, this is the reason I started so early.  To make room for these things.  

Training

• Train 5-6 days a week
• 2 days lower body
• 2 days upper body and back
• 1 day cardio and core

Nutrition

• 5 small meals
• Alternate high and low carb days  {low carb = no bread, pasta, rice, potatoes}
• Portion control 
• Load up on fruits and veggies

Want to see my vision for September 27th?  These ladies are how I envision myself.

6 Weeks to a Sugar Free House

With Kaylee and Mantha starting sports in March I decided that we were going to start cutting out sugar.  I'm am going to "gently" ween the kids (and myself) off of sugar over the next 6ish weeks.

I still plan on allowing them desserts but, they will be the healthy kind.  Sugar-free sorbet, fruit cobblers and things of this nature.  

I'm not going to be the SUPER-STRICT, ridiculously, sugar free mom.  I just won't allow it in the house except for on special occasions.  If they have it in school, fine.  When Mantha, Sunny, and Kaylee's birthdays come around, we'll have a cake.  But after those are gone?  Bye, bye sugar.  I WILL still allow juice, and Sunny will get her strawberry and chocolate milk. 

I will be weening myself off of sodas.  I can't cut out my morning Monster.  I don't drink coffee, I drink Monster.  It's what keeps me up at 5:30 every morning.  Cereals will be non-sugary.  Rice Krispies, Cheerios and Chex are acceptable.  Frosted Flakes are not.  (Duh!)  Here's a hopeful timeline of how our sugar cancellation will go.

GOAL DATE -- Feb 25th

Week 1 & 2  January 14-27

• Use up all the sugary desserts in the house (candy, cookies, etc)
• Finish box of sodas (3/4 of a box left!)

January 28-31

• Eat Mantha's birthday cake

Week 3 & 4  Feb 1-10

• Decrease the number of days the girls eat dessert
• Cut out soda all together

 

Feb 11-15

• Trip to Virginia

Week 5 & 6  Feb 16-24

• Stop dessert/completely substitute with non-sugar desserts 

FEBRUARY 25th  -- Be a 100% sugar free house!!

But you might be wondering how I got the kids to be on board with us cutting out sugar.  It was actually quite simple.  I told them since they were going to be exercising more that they needed to eat better.  I told them that Olympic soccer players and gymnasts don't eat sugar.  

Don't worry though.  I'm not pushing my girls to go for gold...yet.  

Fitness Bucket List

Wouldn't you love to find this precious child in your bucket???

I saw on a few other fitness websites that people had made fitness bucket lists.  I also found this awesome site with ideas for your bucket list.  1250 Ideas for Your Bucket List  I decided to make my own fitness bucket list. I broke it up into a few different parts.  

Part 1

Fitness list

• Take a hot yoga class
• Indoor rock climbing
• Outdoor rock climbing
• 25 regular push-ups without stopping
• Learn how to scuba dive
• Compete in a 5k
• Kiteboard
• 10 pull-ups in a row
• 50 push-ups in a row
• Take an ariel class
• Pole dance class
• Trapeze class
• Own a kayak/stand-up paddleboard
• Surf
• .Participate in a swimming race
• Ride 100 miles in a single day (ride a Century).
• Join a beach volleyball team
• Learn to ski
• Learn to snorkel
• Learn to scuba dive
• Go Hiking in the Rainforest
• Be able to bench-press 150
• Participate in the Empire State Building Run Up (you have to run up 86 flights of stairs).

Part 2

Kinda Fit

         ·         Ride a unicycle

·         Be on the reality game show, "The Amazing Race"

·         Learn to ride a skateboard.

·         Ride a jet ski.

·         Go to a shooting range

·         Take horseback riding lessons.

·         Go horseback riding along the beach.

·         Ride a horse bareback.

·         Learn to jump on horseback.

·         Own a horse.

·         Ride a mechanical Bull

Part 3

Not Fit, Just Cool

• Learn fluent ASL
• Go to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee
• The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
• Become a millionaire
• Renovate a house and sell it at a profit
• Go on that honeymoon that keeps getting postponed
• Be recognized as an authority in your field
• Turn a hobby you love into a profitable business
• Become a personal trainer
• Start a bakery
• Be invited to the Playboy Mansion's annual Halloween Party

What's on your bucket list??

I'm Back!

        I know I’ve been MIA for a few days.  I’ve been taking Baye to the pool every morning for about an hour.  One day she even demanded I take her for a bike ride around the community after our bike ride.  I love it that she forces me to exercise.  She loves the pool.  She’s a proverbial fish.  She could spend all day playing in the water.  

As you know I decided to cancel the 2 sugar free weeks.  I’ve decided to reschedule it for the  month of May.  The plan will be much more strict than the original.  Here it is:

• No sugar
• No unnecessary processed/boxed products
• 45 minutes of exercise every day
• No eating out
• No beef, chicken or pork.  
• Seafood only, and only 2x a week
• Fruit at every meal
• No white bread, only whole wheat bread

For more information about what I'm doing read this page by 100 Days of Real Food.  I'm doing it slightly different as you can see.

I’m not completely heartless so, I will make an exception for Kay’s birthday dinner and cake.    I’m only allowing sugar from the 18th - 23rd AND I’m only allowing sugar in the form of birthday cake.

When I told Mr. Amazing about my plan his response was “I guess I’ll be eating at work next month.”  Isn’t he loving and supportive??  He really is great though.  

Mr. Amazing and me on the camping trip

Us at the beach

Does your significant other support you when you have a crazy (or not so crazy) healthy idea?

Gotta Get My Veggies

Today I spent $53 at the market.  Here’s what I brought home.

It was a gorgeous day to goto the farmers market.  Bright blue sky, not to hot, just perfect!  I got a lot of great stuff.  I decidd to buy some Gouda from the new dairy farmer.  I love cheese and can’t pass up the chance to try something new.  I just wish cheese was cheaper.  The muffin man was back today.  I was so excited.  I bought one for Kay and Baye claimed one.  That leaves only 4 for me.  But I figure by them taking 2 they’ve saved me between 300 and 500 calories.  Mr. Amazing had me buy the bok choy so he can make us something special.  I love being married to a man that can cook.

My friend took my kids to a movie at Kay’s school so I had a night to myself.  The first night withpout any kids in over 3 years.  I had grand dreams of a long swim and maybe a walk.  My swim lasted 20 minutes (I was completely worn out after 20 minutes (I have a long way to go before I can consider the Olympoics don’t I?)  It was great to be back in the water though.

Breakfast
Chiobani Blueberry
Banana

Snack
Blueberries
Grapes

Dinner
Peanut butter and jelly french toast  (I'll post the recipe soon)
Liquid egg substitute (leftover french toast dip)


Speaking of dinners, here's my dinner from a few nights ago.  Fat free taco salad.  Lettuce, sauteed mushrooms and onions, salsa, beans, sour cream and refried beans.  

Workout
45 minute pool trip with Baye
1 mile bike ride (to and from pool)
10 minute freestyle
10 minute breast stroke

Goals check
1)      Get my waist measurement under 27
          Still working on this one
2)      Weight at or below 115
          Only a few pounds away
3)      Stop snacking
          I haven't stopped yet but, I only snack on fresh fruits 
4)      Exercise everyday
          Done!
5)      Cut out 99% of the fat from my diet
          Done!
6)      Cut out 95% of all sugar
          I've cut out about 75% I think
7)      Cut out 90% of all processed/packaged food
          Except for things I can't make myself like yogurt I've done really well
8)      Make it 12 days without sugar (April 9-19^th)   
          As you have read from my post a few days ago I've switched the dates up.  We're going to start in May
9)      Limit carbs to 2x per week
          I had bread yesterday and I think that was my only carb for the week

Farmer's Market Friday and April Goals

Farmer’s Market Friday

I had another great Friday at the Farmer’s Market.  I found out that they added a dairy vendor to the market.  I'm going to have to up my market budget every month!  I love taking Kay and Mo with me.  We always have interesting conversations and a good time.  I also feel like I’m teaching them valuable lessons about food, money and shopping locally among other things.  The only downside was that my muffin man wasn’t there today.  A whole week without muffins!  What am I going to do?  How am I going to survive?!?!??  But I got a lot of good stuff, mostly stuff that I needed for Easter dinner.  I’m hoping I got enough to last us the whole week too.  But if not I’m willing to go to the grocery store to supplement my veggie needs.  Okay this week I spent only $40.  (I saved $15 by not getting my muffins)

Here’s everything I got:

2 bunches of bananas

2 containers of strawberries

2 pounds of mushrooms`

Medium bag of kettlecorn (Mo and Baye shared a bag today)

Celery

4 yellow onions

2 red onions

2 ¼ lbs of baby potatoes

1 lb of spinach

1 lb of baby carrots

Jar of strawberry jam

Not pictured:

5 honey sticks

Gummy worms

Last night I decided I needed monthly goals for myself.  I'm going to keep track of whether I do (or don't do them) every day.  I'll let y'all know how I did at the end of the month.  Here they are:  

1)      Get my waist measurement under 27
2)      Weight at or below 115
3)      Stop snacking
4)      Exercise everyday
5)      Cut out 99% of the fat from my diet
6)      Cut out 95% of all sugar
7)      Cut out 90% of all processed/packaged food
8)      Make it 12 days without sugar (April 9-19^th)   
9)      Limit carbs to 2x per week

Do you have goals for yourself?