21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 21

Well, this is the last day of my challenge. I started out weighing 183 and this morning I weighed in at 179. I have hit some mental and physical roadblocks in the past three weeks, but this is not the end of my quest to be healthier for myself and my son.

It didn't end with a great workout or super healthy day of eating, but I am much more mindful of my actions and realize that makes a huge difference for me. I want to try to find a widget for tracking my workouts since I think this is key, but I'm not having luck so far since I'm new to this whole blogging world.

21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 20

Wisconsin State Fair, enough said! Actually because we went to the fair I got my walking in for the day no problem. I also could have eaten a lot worse than I did, this is true. What I did eat at the fair was:

Four bites of beef jerkey, a piece of chocolate covered bacon on a stick and a soft-shelled taco.

We also had a picnic with college friends after the fair and I started out OK, but did have a cupcake and a beer. My mom made bratwurst for my dad's birthday when we got home from that. I definitely have a love/hate relationship with the state of Wisconsin and visiting my parents! This is where I really need to start evaluating my relationship with food because this is where all the trouble began. Is it no wonder that Wisconsin is 25th in the nation for obese adults?

21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 19

This blogging accountability/guilt seemed to help today. I had just done some catch up posts and realized I was fading fast with my challenge, so I put on my gym clothes and went to the gym right after I put Elliott down for his nap. I did 12 min. straight of running (slowly building up to my 5k again) and 20 min. on the elliptical. I've decided to use the indoor track at the old gym for $2 a pop because running on a treadmill seems to mess with my right knee. Plus I don't like the hamster feeling.


We were eating so well today and planned on buying some sushi from the supermarket when we got up to my parents' place, but my mom had other plans. It's our own fault for not being more proactive, but she ended up ordering Toppers pizza and breadsticks and I happily indulged. :( Nothing like your college pizza shop expanding and opening up shop right by your parents' house to make a girl lose her willpower).

21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 18

Crap! What's up with me and Fridays? Have I ever worked out on a Friday during this challenge? I don't think so.

It was a rainy day outside, so no walks and by the time I could have worked out I didn't. I barely squeezed two 30 min. naps out of Elliott today and by the time he went to bed I just felt totally unmotivated. He goes to bed by 6:30-7:00 so I really could be working out, but I don't. I can't wait until he's feeling better so I can bring him to the gym again (will this just continue our cycle of sickness?). In the meantime I need to make working out a priority because life and stuffy noses are bound to happen and I can't use them as excuses to slack.

Eating today, eh. It was OK until the end of the day when we had a margarita pizza and a drink. Granted this isn't the worst and I'm sure ultimately my calories for the day were not totally out there, but it just didn't feel right after our splurging yesterday. This is how my spiral into bad eating starts, so I really need to keep on my toes this time and not slide too much.

21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 17

Today was our 5th wedding anniversary!

My sister and her "friend" came down to babysit Elliott so we could go out for a celebratory dinner. Usually we just hang around the house when they are around, but since we had a couple hours to waste before dinner my sister and I took Elliott to the free zoo near our house. A fun and easy way to get 30 min. of activity in for the day and Elliott is starting to notice the animals!

We also took them out to lunch at On the Border and I got Pico Shrimp Tacos, but definitely overindulged in the chips and salsa, doh! Like I said, it's the little tweaks, right? If I wasn't mindful of my eating choices then it probably could have been a lot worse.

Of course we went out to eat for our anniversary and I personally don't feel that it was a time to think about calories or fat content. We enjoyed ourselves to the fullest and it was so nice to get out and be adults and not have to worry about somebody grabbing food from your plate. Scallops, cucumber martinis, lambchops, homemade Mounds Bar, mmmm.

21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 16

Today I was stuck at home since we only have one car and George had to go into the city for work. My activity consisted of walking around the neighborhood and to the store and my food consisted of Lean Cuisine meals. This may not sound all that healthy, but it is a huge improvement from the crap I used to buy when I was home alone. I definitely have an emotional eating issue which is going to be the biggest hurdle in my quest to eating healthier.

I did weigh myself and am down to 176.5 from 183 on Day 1 of my challenge, so that's super exciting! I have been far from perfect with my goals, but it just goes to show that little tweaks and awareness have been helping.

21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 15

Nope, it just didn't happen today. Keeping myself awake and taking care of Elliott was enough activity for the day, even though I know in theory that working out is supposed to energize you.

Eggs for breakfast, salad w. black beans and veggies for lunch, a taco salad minus the shell for dinner and plain yogurt w. honey for dessert kept me functioning today. That and 2-3 cups of coffee!

I feel a fizzle happening with this challenge and it's discouraging. On one hand I feel like life happens and you can't be 100% on all the time, but on the other hand I feel like I committed to 21 days and I should just suck it up. The story of my life, I don't know which side to listen to!

21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 14

Oh boy, last night was rough with a capital R! Elliott is definitely sick and poor thing was so stuffy and snotty. It got progressively worse throughout the day so I called his doc just to see if he had any pointers since this is Elliott's first official cold (damn gym). They just had me come in for a quick office visit and I used that as an opportunity to get my 30 min. of activity in since I was pretty darn tired myself and knew Elliott needed extra attention. Luckily we are about a 10-15 min. walk to the doc's office, so I walked Elliott over there and stopped at the store on the way back for soft tissues, Vapor bath and all the other goodies needed for a cold. Fun.

My brain is mush when it comes to remembering what I ate, but I do know that I've been keeping in line and not going overboard with my eating, so that's a plus.

One more week of the challenge and it will be challenging with a sick baby, that's for sure!

21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 13

The day isn't over and realistically I COULD still workout, but I'm not. ::Sigh::

We went to the pool at the gym today and did some Babies R' Us and Whole Foods shopping. Elliott appears to be starting with a cold or some other snotty condition. The last time he was stuffy was when he was 6 weeks old and now he's 8 1/2 months old, so I'm guessing the gym childcare might have something to do with it. I have a reservation at noon tomorrow for the childcare, but if he's still sneezing and has a runny nose I'm not taking him. Looks like it might be a day for the BOB or coordinating with George so I can get to the gym by myself.

Eggs for breakfast, salad for lunch and adobo chicken for dinner. My husband is too good to me and all these posts makes me realize I need to cook more (or at all)! Of course I couldn't pass on the greatest summer beer that we just discovered last weekend, O'Fallon Wheach Peach Wheat Beer.

Overall I'm still doing pretty good and have gone from around 183 to 179 in 13 days. Nine more pounds to go to get to my pre-pregnancy weight, but at least it's going in the right direction. Once I hit that weight then the REAL work begins!

21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 12

I tried a new machine at the new gym, it was some sort of Precor that was a mix of elliptical, stairstepper and the Gazelle. I like that I can mix up my workout a little even though I'm not doing anything crazy different. By the time my 30 min. workout was done and I went to daycare Elliott was not a happy camper. They have a glass partition door and he was on his knees with his hands up against the glass, it was a very sad and pathetic sight. I think next week I will keep the workouts short and try to pump some snacky bottles and go during off-peak times. Fingers crossed that he will start to like the place and get to know the sitters. I feel comfortable with the caregivers and the facility, now I just need to convince Elliott.

Good eating day, although I did have a couple drinks at night. At least we didn't go crazy with eating after drinking like we usually do. George made Korean short ribs, once again a very yummy dinner from my hubs!

Crisis Management: JJ Cole Travel Blanket

What would I do without you JJ Cole Travel Blanket? Probably curse and complain about the broken zipper and origami skills needed to fold up my old travel blanket.

Seriously everytime I bring this blanket out I mutter a quick "I love you blanket". I think my husband is getting sick of it, but my mommy friends are quite impressed and I think I'm starting a cult following with this thing. If there is a better outdoor blanket out there I'd like to see it.

It wicks off spilled juice like nobody's business and is a breeze to fold up and carry, what else do you need? I can see I'm not alone in my adoration of this blanket!

21 Day Fitness Challenge: Day 11

Can I have a do over day?

Totally skipped the 30 min. of activity, although I did spend the day at the park with Elliott and friends. Walking from the parking lot to the pavillion and then to the swings does not count as activity though.

Eating was just as spectacular today. I didn't realize our outing would be close to four hours long so I only had a granola bar in the diaper bag. Luckily my friends and their kids planned accordingly, so my whole morning and afternoon meals consisted of granola bars and gummy bears. We did have sushi for dinner, so I kind of redeemed myself at that point.