10 + 3 Challenge

I am of course behind due to the interruption in computer access but I thought I should address the 10 + 3 challenge.

Jen the one who inspired this challenge stopped a few weeks ago, without me really noticing. Actually I stopped on my own around the same time. It seems as though the point of the challenge was to live a more healthy life and in the end it was actually getting in the way of being healthy so I stopped.

2x 8kg kettlebells new for my birthday.

It opens up a whole new world of 2 handed exercises.

I am still going to aim for 3 kettlebell workouts a week. Last week with R's birthday party and our family trip I *GASP* didn't do kettlebells at all. That was the first week since early February that I skipped. It is all good though, I feel like it was a nice break for my body. The week before that I only got in 2 workouts, but besides these 2 blips I have worked out 3 times a week since this whole thing started.

Drinking water as a goal has not been a priority. I find if it is busy at home, I just don't think of it. The funny thing is I have become very aware of how crummy my body feels when I am dehydrated. So I won't be letting this goal slide anytime soon. I will still aim for 6-8 glasses a day. In fact it's 7 am and I have already had 2!

Food journalling was the real last straw. It is what made me stop the official challenge. It was great for a while, don't get me wrong, I was fascinated to see how quickly the calories add up and identify some foods that just don't fit with my goal of being healthy. I was surprised to see that if I ate healthy choices for every meal, I could even have a small chocolatey snack and stay easily in the range I was aiming for. I also discovered that I didn't loose a ton of weight on very restrictive calories (1200 a day, don't worry, not crazy low, just the minimum recommended number). When I aimed for 1500 a day I lost more weight and when I tried calorie cycling I did even better. So the ongoing plan is to do a version of calorie cycling but not to record calories every day, just if I want to see what is going on with my diet. The modified plan is this: 2 days a week very healthy and low carb, 3 days a week moderately healthy, and 2 days of more liberal diet.

But how did the challenge benefit me in the weeks I was sticking to it? Have I noticed any differences from when I started exercising regularly (February remember)?

Well, I have triceps. That is a first for these little arms. I have much better posture, I really notice this and my shoulders are hardly ever sore anymore. My legs and hamstrings in particular are very solid. My tummy, especially lower abs, is improved, probably more flat than it has ever been, at least since before the 3 pregnancies. I am in pants that have been untouched for a year and just bought my favorite jeans 1 size smaller. And the numbers? I am down 10 lbs. Not bad I think.

So that is the update and the plan.

We are experiencing some difficulties

The beloved Mac is at the Mac store getting a spa weekend to help him feel better and run a bit quicker, and to replace some part I have most likely never heard of.

Ironically the only thing that was running smoothly on our Mac was the windows platform. Ha. So we are back to the old PC laptop (which is surprisingly different to type on) and that is why I haven't been around for a bit. So it is actually Tuesday but we are going to pretend it is Sunday, ok? Alright.

10 + 3 update

I have decided to take a break from the food journaling for now. I was making it very complicated and getting away from the real plan which is to eat healthier.

Water will still be a goal. I have been busy so I haven't done that great on the water, but this week that is something to shoot for.

I have been keeping up with the exercise though. I still love to work with the kettlebells. Two weeks ago I pulled my right quad a bit but I was able to work around it and it is feeling 100% now. Then last week I pulled my right hamstring a bit, while the quad was still sore. All that to say I have been off for a few days now and I feel much better. That's it for the update.

10 + 3 Challenge update

A quick little update to say I am still doing the 10 + 3 challenge. Could be drinking more water. Could be eating more veggies. Exercise is going well.

That really was quick. A few more details...

-I am doing week 2 of calorie cycling and I like it.

-I added in some Turbulence Training workouts to the mix. Wow, great way to shake things up. The chin ups really worked my back and chest and sides. I felt that for a few days even though mine were more "lower downs" than pull ups.

-I found this new workout style called circular strength training (don't you just love youtube? They have everything on there). Did a bit today with the kids outside and it was FUN. I am going to have to learn more and add it to the kettlebells. It is a bit of plyometrics and bodyweight exercises combined and done in a circuit. Very interesting.

Anyway, I am going downstairs to try and workout now, see ya later.

10 + 3 Challenge update

As of Sunday (I am posting late because I was working night shift) I now declare this to be the 5+3 challenge. Things are moving in the right direction. Again I met all my goals for exercising, water drinking, food journaling. I also am noticing a resurgence of muscles, I like that.

But, I am finding issues with my diet that I didn't know were there. I am planning on tackling a few of those this week. More veggies are in order. It is just so darn much work to wash and chop and chew, and I am lazy. But I am trying to do it this week and thanks to Costco I have a few things already chopped up. The rest of this is pretty much to help me remember what my plan is from here on out so feel free to stop reading if you like ;^) I am finding it easy to stay pretty low on my calories and am remarkably consistent even without really trying. This is good except I think my body is content here and not super responsive, considering the exercise I have been doing. I pretty much proved that this week as I upped my calories and lost the same. I am going to try calorie cycling this week and see how I like it.

I would also like to do a week where I only do the Tabata Protocol for exercise. I would like to do 6 minutes 6 days and nothing else, and just see how it goes. It isn't going to work this week with our schedule, but I will keep it in mind for later.

That's it for this week.

10 + 3 Challenge

Update for the week, coming to you a bit late. What can I say, the sinus infection is hanging around a bit longer than expected. I am falling behind and might even need to give in and go to the doctor.

So here is the short and sweet version. Tick, tick, tick. I am rocking the goals. I even ate more veggies this week. Moving towards healthy.

Next week more of the same: water, veggies, and Kettlebells x 3 days.

10 + 3 Challenge

Update for this week.

Water - Improved. I had at least 5 glasses every day. Yeah for water.

Food Journaling - Good. I recorded 6 days out of 7. It is a pain but I am snacking less so I guess it's working. Also, I need to focus on more fruits and veggies for next week.

Exercise - 5 days done! As per my initial goals I did 3 K-bell workouts (hard ones I might add), and walking/yard work on 4 days. Because I sometimes did both in one day, it equals 5 days of exercise. I don't know my schedule for next week- no work pre booked - so I am going to plan it the same as this week and work around what ever happens.

It feels good to say I accomplished all my goals for the week.

10 + 3 Challenge

This is a quick update. I am counting the week Sunday to Saturday because that is how sparkpeople does it. So last week here is how it went....

water - tick. I did indeed drink more water, as I said before this is not the hard part for me.

food journaling - X Not so good. In fact I didn't even start. We were away for a few days and crazy for the rest so it just didn't happen. But hey, I have already started to record today's food.

exercise - I didn't quite make 5 times last week. I did 4 days of Kettlebells and fully explored my new video. I love it and can't wait to workout when the munchykins go to bed tonight.

There was a good reason I only got 4 days in, though. A bad cold (that I suspect is RSV) has overtaken the children, and as of today, A as well. I am not sick (yet) but I did spend 3 evenings contemplating taking one or the other of my asthma kids to Emerg for terrible croupy coughing fits. So you see I couldn't just go and get sweaty then shower when I was busy listening to coughs and taking kids out in the cold in their PJ's. I am, however, quite pleased with my 4 exercise nights as I probably would have only done 2 if I weren't trying to meet a goal.

There ya go. Start on the food journaling and try for the full 5 days of exercise are on teh agenda for next week.

New Goals

Jen @priorfatgirl is doing a 10 + 3 action plan. That is, she gained 13 pounds recently and she is working to get it off. The challenge is 3 part: drink water , journal food intake at least 5 days a week, exercise 5 days a week.

I also have 13 lbs to lose to reach my pre prego weight. I joined sparkpeople a while back and for the first week or so recorded my food intake and ate pretty well I might add. I also record my water intake and exercise there.

But really I have lost interest in the food journaling, why? Because I don't really want to write it down if I am having bad snacks. In general I eat well, good healthy food. It is just the snacking that gets me. Afternoon boredom, evening reward for a tough day, not out of hunger. So I don't write it down if I haven't been perfect. Gotta stop, be honest and record it.

Water is pretty easy, I like it, I generally choose it first. I have a Britta filter jug in the fridge and a water bottle for work. Can I just mention that I love the ice machine at work? Almost worth being a patient just to get the ice cold water. I am easy to please, ok? But when I started recording my water intake on sparkpeople (did I mention it is free to sign up?) I noticed that unless I push myself I usually only drink 5 glasses of water a day, sometimes 6. That was a bit of a shock since I consider myself a water drinker. I have been fairly faithful in recording my water intake so I will just keep it up and try to be conscious of drinking more.

Cute little Kettlebell monkeys

Then comes the exercise. I really do like to exercise so it is not too hard to incorporate it but it is a matter of timing. I have consistently recorded my kettlebell workouts and walking with the family on sparkpeople and I have to admit I love looking at the graph of how much I have done. Kinda nerdy, huh?

Also, I just treated myself to the second volume of Lauren Brooks' Ultimate Kettlebell workout. The new video has 2 shorter workouts (about 20-25 mins) with some add on sections. The first video has a 12 min workout and a 40 min workout. So that is 4 choices for me besides something less intense like a long walk with the kids. I am fine with some lower intensity workouts as long as I get at least 3 good Kettlebell workouts in. Those workouts burn up the calories.

Guess I should actually get a scale if I want to measure progress. But I have never owned one so I think, why start now? In the past I have weighed myself at work and at Rosalin's house so maybe that's what I will do for a start. The main point is bringing uniformity to my life. Acting healthy because I value health. Money where your mouth is kinda thing. The numbers are secondary.

There ya go. This is the new plan.

Another goal update

Last week I did pretty well, cooking about half the time, making homemade apple pie (from the Clean Eating with Kids cookbook) and getting quiet times in most days.

Healthy Apple Pie, pretty good actually but the crust wasn't right.

I'll have to play with that next time.

Still haven't made it for that prayer walk but the weather is great right now, so maybe later this week.

But the kettlebells - oh baby am I ever getting obsessed with kettlebells! I made my goal of doing 2 x 45 min workouts and they were tough. I used Lauren Brooks Ultimate Body Sculpt and Conditioning with Kettlebells.

I also did look into the snatch a bit (with the very scientific info I gleaned for youtube I decided I should master the stuff I am doing right now and work up to using my 12kg bell ( I am currently using an 8kg) before I venture into that teritory.

I used the big papa bell for part of both long workouts and it is heavy. I decided to go back to 3 small workouts for this week and try to use the heavier bell more so I can get stronger (there is no way I could use the heavy bell for the whole 45 mins, I would die, I actualy almost died using it for 4 intervals of my long workout ;^)). So that's the plan, ease into the heavier weight with 3 small workouts. I was so excited about this goal that I have already finished one workout for this current week (I am reporting a bit late). I think I am going to try one of Lauren Brooks workouts from her blog, maybe this one or the quick fat burning one.
That's it!

Working on my goals

I have exercised 3 times a week for the last 2 weeks! Yeah! OK, so they are mini workouts, so what? I hit 80% of my MHR and sweat. That means I am really working and establishing a good pattern. This week is different with A on afternoon/evening shift he won't get home til 11 or 11:30 pm all week. So I plan to do 2 big workouts this week (45mins) on top of walking etc. I might do a bit more on the kettlebells because I am trying to master the snatch but cannot seem to get it. If I finish my work tonight I may watch a few youtube tutorials and try some more.

Meal planning, not so much. I cooked healthy things about 4 nights this week, then made a few pasta meals because they were quick and easy, and better than pizza. But no one really likes it and there is not much veggies in a meal like that. I am losing enthusiasm for food again, it is so not my forte.

Prayer and quiet times. Hmm. When I have been on it was really good, but more often than not I was distracted this week. It has a lot to do with my overall health and schedule last week. This week I will try afresh. I am thinking of trying to go on a prayer walk, doesn't that sound fun?

Resolution update

I think I should address how I am doing with my New Year's goals. Let me see, what were they again... oh ya.

1- Meal planning: wa, wa, wa. That's the sound the Backyardigans make when they are secret agents and they get caught in a booby trap. In other words- not so good. I planned and made about 3 meals per week over the last 2 weeks. I have also fed the kids Mickey D's once already and it's only the second week of January.

2- Exercising. I was hoping to fit in a bunch of mini workouts and enjoy them. The first week I did 3 workouts, this past week I only did 2. I wanted to do more but with work and feeling sick 2 of the nights the time got away from me. I am shooting for 3 this week and planning to up my water intake. The best plan would be to wake early to exercise, shower and then pray and get all my goals going before anyone else wakes up, but that is easier said than done. And it requires going to sleep early, I have trouble with that even if I am in bed by 9. I blame the shift work ;^)

3- Then we come to praying. I have been setting aside 15 minutes a day and journaling my prayers. I am finding it enjoyable, comforting. I am trying to focus on listening too. I like what Pastor Chris said today about starting where you are. I am at 15 minutes, and it is a good place to grow from.
All in all I think I am getting there! Ok, except for the meal part. We are having salmon and salad tomorrow though, ok?

Totally random thoughts...

I should be posting lots of things, as lots of things have happened and I have a few pictures to prove it, but.... I would rather write about the random thoughts bouncing around my head and get to the practical (and interesting) stuff later.

I didn't really feel the Christmas spirit this year and I think it was because there were no surprises for me. Except from my own Mummy. I did aim for stress free, and it was fun but pretty low key, no panic, no over doing it and NO GUILT. That is a major accomplishment for me. To let things go and not lament the lack of them, or think how better of a person I would be if they got done (or done properly). We did a gingerbread house, we did Christmas concerts, we did cards (eventually), and we downscaled the family presents. My mom gave my kids a children's literature collection that was mine from my Grandpa in 1985, and a ring given to her by my late Grandma. All very treasured and meaningful and essentially free. Love that.

The other day at IKEA we saw a lady walking around in a full burqa. I told you this was going to be random! She was wearing a cream coloured floor length outfit and boots with a caramel coloured robe over it- long sleeved and just a bit shorter than her full length dress. And then she had a full head covering with a veil so only the small area around her eyes was showing. I noticed right away and A noticed shortly there after. He just remarked it was unusual to see a lady with her whole face covered around here. And it is. There is a fairly large Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern population around here, I personally know many people who immigrated from Iran. And it is not out of the ordinary to see a lady with her hair covered. But this was surprising.

I also noticed that my kids didn't blink an eye, didn't say what's that or anything. I initially felt bad, wondering if she had any autonomy and if she was respected. Then I watched as she and her husband browsed and held hands, and their body language did not portray any such issues. SO then I felt bad for assuming things based on religious choices. Why was I so ready to judge?

Any way I thought about it quite a bit and decided I am thankful for my own exposure to different ways of doing things and that my kids will see how so many different people live. That is amazing and exciting.

On a completely different note...

I worked a lot this year. A and I only had 3 days off together in October and 4 or 5 in November. Busy for us, for the kids, for everyone. I am going to try and work a bit less this year. I only went back to work in April (maybe the end of March) but I checked my pay stub before Christmas and I grossed more than some entire families that I know. Wow. That means I was up a lot of nights. I am happy that I was able to contribute and happy that despite the major basement renos (we are at the insulation stage in case you are wondering) we have only a few hundred $$ on our line of credit. I think that is great. Really, a bit of an accomplishment. Still since all (or at least most) of the professional stuff is done, it should be less expensive to do this stage. Right? Or do tiles cost more than plumbers? I hope not.

I am making resolutions for 2010, sort of. I am making general goals and moving away from the all-or-nothing 'oh no I failed again' Jessica of years passed.

I am again choosing to seek out exercise that I enjoy. This was a goal last year and I did stay active more than my usual. I liked it. I walk R to school and back (that's 4 trips up my street) 3 days a week and I drive the other 2 only because K's preschool is basically at the same time as Kindergarten so the distance and 2 location issue makes our walk impossible. That's an hour a week of enjoyable exercise built in to my life. Nice!

Then this year I discovered the Kettlebell. Oh I am so hooked, I love that thing. If you don't know what I mean you should type it into you tube and watch for a bit. It is cardio, weights, functional training and intervals all in one little (heavy) package. It makes me feel like a kid, and like an athlete all at once. I am just mastering snatches, which are tricky, but make me feel like an olympic weight lifter, only with 15lbs ;^) I think the mental key for me is to associate myself with the athletic side and not to picture myself as a girlie at the gym just trying to be skinny. The goal is to do better than I have in the past and have fun sweating, not to loose a certain amount of weight.

So I found a bunch of interval style workouts, using the Kbell, stability ball and bodyweight. All workouts 12 minutes long. I am aiming to add this to my life because it seems doable. This week 2 workouts and I will hopefully go up from there.

Also I am resolving to work on my prayer life. I am going to be doing a book on prayer with my beloved homegroup and am much looking forward to that. I even got a second copy for A so he can read it too. But he is becoming a bit of an ebook snob and asked if there was a digital version. You're welcome honey, I know you're glad I thought of you...

Also meal planning to feed my family better and to keep sending in check, not that we are really extravagant, but it is a good idea. I just dislike the whole thing, but I am going to work on it.

As always there are lots of other things floating around this disorganized head, but I think I shall stop right here. The boys are watching a movie and L is sleeping (yeah Naps!) and all that will end sooner or later. The dirty dishes on the counter are calling my name.

New Years Resolutions

My hubby hates resolutions. I love a fresh start. Scrapbooking queen Heidi Swapp loves Mondays because it is a fresh start for every week. Hmm. I don't know if I would go that far. Maybe when my kids are all in school I will become fonder of Mondays.... ok back to resolutions.

This year I would like to exercise regularly, for fun. Not for some goal, or to loose weight, but really regularly work out to feel better.

I would like to "catch up" on my scrapbooking, that either means weeks away at a scrapbooking retreat...or changing my definitions of caught up, a la Stacy Julian and her Library of Memories and Big Picture Scrapbooking.

Regular quiet times. So important. Enough said.

Quilt something, maybe the afore mentioned table runner.

Dates with the kids. They are so great one on one. I want to make that time a priority this year so we can really enjoy them and they can enjoy time with us.

Ok, I almost forgot... find and maintain a reasonable method for dealing with the mounds of "artwork" the kids make on an ongoing basis. This will free up 2 drawers and one Rubbermaid tub currently used for random storage of everything artistic, with absolutely no organization, I might add.

Lots of other things like eat the Zone diet, clean my house to make Fly Lady proud, but really, I think these are enough goals for now!