Week 2 Round up

Well this week was much better than last week. I got my nutrition more under control. I was very proud of myself. It was hard but I knew I needed to do it to reach my goals and to be healthy for my kids.

On Monday I did Total Body Cardio Fix. I used 5 lb weights. I just kept thinking of what Autumn says at the beginning of the workout: "Take it one day at a time one pound at a time". This will be my mantra for this week. I really want to lose the weight and I know it won't come off fast. I know I need to do my best today and tomorrow will be another one. Also what is in the past is in the past.

I made progress from last week. I could do 30 seconds of the cross country skiers before I had to modify each round. This was exciting for me. These have always been my hardest exercise and now they seem even tougher.

I also added the Ab Fix today. IT felt good to get them working. It is such a short but fun workout. The only thing that sucks is that I have a cough and every time I cough my Abs hurt.

I got over four hours of sleep last night which is a record for the last few days. We have been up multiple times with D as she needs fed. We have also been up multiple times with C. She is a very light sleeper and I think she wants attention. A and B have also been up a few times the last few nights. This leads to us being up way more than normal.

I love that I can workout while the girls are napping. All four nap at the same time. This is so awesome! I love that I put D in the bouncer after I fed her. At the beginning of the workout she was watching me and I don't know when but she eventually fell asleep. I love that I can teach them healthy lifestyles from such a young age.

Day 2 brought Upper Fix. I used 5 and 8 pound weights again. I as able to do more reps so I know I'm getting stronger. I'm still having trouble doing pushups and the forearm plank. My abs need lots of love. I love the ab work during the second round. It felt so good. And I was pushing myself.

I did have to do this workout later today. When nap time hit I was so exhausted from being sick. I listened to my body and napped and then got my antibiotics after nap and was able to push through the workout in the evening.

My nutrition today was spot on. I was so excited and I got antibiotics today so I'm finally feeling a little better. I'm excited to see what tomorrow will bring.

Day three was Leg Day. I finally felt human again! I was able to do the entire workout with no modifications. This was exciting. I used the 5 and 8 pound weights. It was exciting to be able to dot he entire workout again. It hurt so good.

My nutrition was great again today. I did have to add a vegetable to my afternoon snack as I was starving and was worried about my milk supply.

Day four and time for pilates. I needed the stretch today. If you are doing this program you cannot skip pilates. It is an active recovery day and will help you feel better. I loved every moment of today's workout. I did the forearm without putting my knees down. This is a huge improvement from last week. I had to modify the plank hip drop though. I'm improving every workout.

I did have a cheat this morning at mops. I had some crackers with pepperoni and cheese. I also have a couple chocolate covered strawberries. These were my cheat for the week. Then this afternoon for lunch I got right back on my plan.

Day five and it should have been time for Cardio Fix. This by far is the hardest workout of the week and I ended up not getting to it today. This morning we had open gym play at my church. I spent a lot of time chasing the girls around and kicking balls with them. Then we got home and I rushed to make lunch. Then it was nap time almost an hour late. The baby needed nursed and didn't want to go to sleep. Then C woke up with  102 degree temperature. My husband didn't get home late from work. Then we just ordered out as it was already almost 6pm. By the time we got all four asleep in bed it was 9pm. So we just didn't work out. The worst part about it was that we ordered pizza for dinner. I only had two pieces and a bread stick but that still was two too many.

Saturday morning I was ready to recommit to working out. I did Dirty 30 in the morning and then did the cardio fix in the afternoon. I was determined to do all seven workouts this week. I love Dirty 30. I'm sad as I can no longer do the side plank leg lifts at the end of the workout without modifying. Give me a few weeks and I'll be back to doing them unmodified.

This was from after Dirty 30

 My eating today was awesome. I stayed right on my eating plan with no extras.

Sunday and it is yoga day. I'm was so excited for yoga today. I needed the stretch. I needed to stretch out my shoulders. I'm definitely feeling the chest flies from Dirty 30 yesterday. Then I ended up falling asleep during nap time. I was so tired. D clustered fed last night. she ate for 30 minutes every hour. This evening C puked all over at dinner time and then D decided to just eat and eat and eat this evening so I didn't get it in. I was so sad.

My nutrition was okay today as I didn't get my morning snack as we went straight from church to grocery shopping as the fridge was bare. I didn't have anything to take with me. Then we went to Sam's Club first so I didn't get any food that was easy to eat there. By the time we got to Wegmans it was too close to lunch. Therefore I had a big lunch. Then I ended up sleeping through my afternoon snack. Then I wasn't really hungry for dinner so I ate a tiny dinner.

Here is my plan for week 3:

Here is my meal plan for the week.

Week 3 21 Day Fix 2015

I'm looking forward to a great week 3.

March Specials

It is a new month and time to unveil the latest Beach body specials. This month there are four of them. I'm so excited to share these with you. All of these are challenge pack specials where you get the workout program and one months Shakeology.

The first is Beachbody on demand. To learn more about this program check out yesterday's blog post. This is an awesome option for those always on the go or get bored with one particular program.

The second is Focus T25. This is one of my favorite programs. I lost so much weight when I used T25 after the 21 Day Fix. Here were my Alpha Round results:

I loved this program because in just 25 minutes a day you saw results. You workout six days a week and get a stretch workout for the seventh day. This program is 10 weeks long. There are two phases an alpha that doesn't use any weights and a beta where you need weights or a resistance band. The meal plan is simple and very user friendly. The workouts vary from week to week so there is no boredom. There are five workouts for each round.

The third special is the 3 Day Refresh. I'm hoping one day I'll be able to try this program. When it first came out I was pregnant and now I'm breastfeeding. It is too calorie restrictive for me at this time. I will try it once I am done breastfeeding. Here was my blog post on this program. My friend and upline coach lost five pounds in just three days. Here is her review and results

The last program TurboFire. TurboFire gets you moving to music in 12 workouts. It is kickboxing and interval training combine. This is a 90 day program. The workouts vary from 10 to 55 minutes in length. Because of the nature of this workout you'll need good shoes as there is a lot of jumping. Other than that the only other equipment required is a resistance band. You definitely lose weight doing this high paced workouts.

I'm excited as my next group starts tomorrow. I'm excited to start helping even more people reach their goals. Are you interested in joining us? Please message me.

Beachbody on Demand

I'm so excited for Beachbody's newest workout program option to be launched on Monday. Are you the type who has workout ADD? It seems like you always want to do more than one program. Maybe on Monday you want to do the 21 Day Fix and then on Tuesday you think you want to do Piyo. On Wednesday you want to do P90X2. Now you can.

Starting Monday with the purchase of your club membership you will get access to Beachbody on Demand. This will allow you to stream workouts where ever you are right on your computer. Do you like taking your workout to the gym? Well no you can. Travel a lot? No problem all different types of workouts are available right at a few clicks of a button. Plus you'll get all the digital versions of the program guides and workout calendars so you can start seeing results today.


The best part bout it is that for the month of March you can get Beachbody on Demand and one month of Shakeology on sale as a Challenge Pack. This will allow you to jump start your fitness goals. This gives you access to the club membership tools and Beachbody on demand for three months. After three months you'd pay the quarterly fee to continue having access to these features.

With the Club membership you have access to a customizable meal planner. You also get access to trainer tips. videos, VIP chat rooms, recipes, nutrition tools and blogs. Now it will include Beachbody on Demand too. To keep it fresh the workouts will be updated monthly. You'll never run out of options.

Now you may be wondering what workouts are included. At launch there will be:

• P90X base and deluxe kits
• P90X2 base and deluxe kits
• P90X3 Base and Deluxe Kids
• P90X one on one volume 1
• Insanity Base and Deluxe Kits
• Insanity:  The Asylum Volume 1
• Turbofire
• Brazil Butt Lift Base and Deluxe Kits
• ChaLean Extreme
• 10 Minute Trainer
• Hip Hop Abs

Also included is a one workout "sneak peak" from some of the newer programs:

• 21 Day Fix Total Body Cardio Fix
• 21 Day Fix Extreme Plyo Fix Extreme
• Piyo sweat
• Focus T25 Alpha Cardio
• Insanity Max 30 Sweat Intervals
• Body Beast Build Chest and Tris
• P90 Sculpt

Does this sound like something you may be interested in? I have a challenge group starting preseason on Monday March 2nd. We will start workouts on Monday March 9th. This would be a perfect option for this group. This will be a 30 day group. You pick the workout (I can help you with this). You commit to replacing one meal a day with Shakeology. I teach you portion control, give you meal plans, recipes, tips and help you in your journey. Together we can get your body ready for Spring and warmer weather clothes. Sounds awesome Right?

I'm looking forward to helping you reach you workout goals. Either send me an email pittdrum98@gmail.com or fill out the contact form on my blog and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Let's get started today!  

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

I didn't feel real well this weekend and decided to make the girls a special breakfast. Here was what I came up with. Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal. B loved it so much she had three bowls full. I'll definitely make this one again.

Ingredients:
7 cups pureed pumpkin
3 cups oats (I used steel cut variety)
1/2 cup almond milk
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. sea salt
2 tsp. baking powder
3/8 cup honey
2 Tbsp. Molasses
2 Tbsp. mashed banana

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Mix all ingredients into a large bowl.
3. Pour all ingredients into a greased 9x13 glass baking dish.
4. Bake for 20-30 minutes.

One serving is approximately two cups. If you are following the 21 Day Fix meal plan this counts for 1 Purple, One Yellow, 1/3 Red, and 2 tsp. I hope you enjoy this as much as my family did.

Ready for Week 2

I am so excited for week 2. It is the second week in my Pick Your Fix group and it is the first week in my Busy Moms group. IT is so much fun to see the interaction in these two groups. I love helping new challengers and seeing their own "ah ha" moments.

I'm hoping week 2 for me is better than week 1. During week 1 I struggled with nutrition. I am hoping that during week 2 I can get my nutrition in check. I also only did six out of the seven workouts because of my cold. My goal is to get all seven completed this week.

Here is my schedule for the week:

 

Here is my meal plan for the week:

Week 2 21 Day Fix 2015

I also wanted to show you a fun picture I shared with my Busy Moms group. Here was my sleep record from Friday night from my Fitbit:

Yes you read that right I slept for less than 2 hours! I was awake 10 times. No wonder I cannot kick this cold.
It is time to get serious. Bring it week 2. Here is my mantra for the week:

 

Starting Again

So as of tomorrow I can finally work out again. I'm starting a day early as I feel great and 24 hours isn't going to make a difference. I'm going to be doing the 21 Day Fix. I had thrown around the idea of starting with the 21 Day Fix Extreme but  decided to do a round of the original Fix before moving on to extreme as I don't want to hurt myself right as I finally aloud to work out again.

Here is my workout scheduled for the week:

I will be adding the Ab video everyday as I know I need to tone up that area after having baby # 4.

Here was me three weeks ago and 38 weeks pregnant:

 Here is my pictures from this morning and where I am starting this round:

The last three weeks have been really rough. The lack of sleep is getting to me. With the first baby it is really easy to sleep when the baby sleeps. Now with the forth it is hard to sleep when the baby sleeps as I have three other little girls wanting my attention.

It has also been a tough three weeks as the three older girls have all been sick. They have been up multiple times a night.  I've been doing a lot of snacking as I'm tired and need to keep going!

Here is the weight I'm starting out at:

I'm starting out 5 pounds heavier than I did last April when I started this journey. This is a win since after babies 2 and 3 I was well over 200 pounds after delivery.

Here is my meal plan for the week:
Week 1 Meal Plan
As you can see I have a couple of wild card days as a friend is bringing us some meals. I know this round my food is going to be the hardest part as I am always hungry. My three week old is having two two hour long feeding sessions and is also eating every two hours. I'm hoping by adding the extra categories I can keep my snacking down to a minimum.

I'm excited to see what the next 21 days bring. I'm also excited as my Pick Your Fix group started workouts today and my Busy Moms group started preseason. I'm so glad to have the accountability this round. I also kicked of my clean eating course with my downline coach Sandra. I'm excited to teach people the basics of clean eating. This is such a fun month and I'm excited to be where I am today! I'm excited to start today and I'll keep you updated on my progress. I hope everyone has a blessed day.

21 Day Fix Extreme

I'm so excited to announce the newest program from Beachbody that is scheduled to be release on February 2nd. This program is called the 21 Day Fix Extreme. I'm so excited about this workout program. Autumn Calabrese is my favorite trainer. I love how she is motivating but isn't cloyingly sweet.

Autumn Calabrese's first Beachbody workout program was the 21 Day Fix. This was the first program I started with back in April of last year. I keep going back to it. I love T25, Piyo and the other programs I tried but I keep coming back to the 21 Day Fix because of the results I saw and how simple it is. I love that it is for anyone and the meal planning containers. I love that I don’t have to count calories or buy special food. I love that if it fits I can eat it.

I also love the simple format of the workouts. Each workout is 30 minutes. Each day you do a different workout so there is no getting bored. The workouts have enough variety each day that you don't get bored. They also have a great modifier if you are just starting out or if you are 38 weeks pregnant like I currently am! Some of the workouts use weights.

What is the 21 Day Fix Extreme?

The 21 Day Fix Extreme will not be an extension to the original 21 Day Fix. It will definitely be an entire new program. It uses the same meal planning containers from the original 21 Day Fix but the workouts are of a completely different intensity. One of the biggest differences is that the 21 Day Fix extreme allows for no treats and only CLEAN eating. IT is only 21 days and you will see results. It will allow you to get completely ripped in 21 Days. You won't be sorry you did this program. Here are the results from the test group:

 

Who is the 21 Day Fix Extreme for?

If you've done the 21 Day Fix or another Beachbody program than this program is for you. It is high intensity. If you are already active but have never done a Beachbody program and want to get totally ripped than this program will be for you.  It will give you a dramatic weight loss in a short amount of time if you have the dedication. You will get defined abs and get more toned.  

What is included?

In the Challenge Pack you will receive:
The seven color coded containers
25 oz Shakeology shaker cup
Shakeology in the choice of your flavor
6 high intensity 30 minute workouts
Start here trifold, featuring quickstart guide and workout calendar
21 Day Fix Extreme eating plan
Countdown to competition: Autumn's own competition nutrition plan for getting stage-ready and ripped in 21 days
A bonus workout Dirty 30 Extreme

Also if you order your 21 Day Fix Extreme workout from me you'll get The Fix Challenge workout as an added bonus.

 

When is the 21 Day Fix Extreme released?

The 21 Day Fix Extreme will be released on February 2nd. I'm purchasing this program so that I can preview the workouts but won't actually be completing the program until I am cleared by my doctor to work out after having the baby.

How can you Get into the 21 Day Fix Extreme Test group?

A 21 Day Fix Extreme Test Group is a private Facebook group where you get me as the coach.  It is a closed online accountability group in which everyone will submit their results to Team Beachbody for a chance to win the monthly and quarterly prizes plus you will have the opportunity to be one of the first people to complete the program and share your proof that transformation is possible if you follow the schedule, stay committed and are dedicated to your success.

A challenge group is a place where you can get support. It is a place where you can vent your frustration and get positive support. It is a place where you can discuss your failures and get a "me too." It is a place to ask questions and get them answered correctly. It is a place to share meal plans, recipes, and general clean eating strategies. A challenge group gives you the support to make the necessary changes easily and effectively.

Here is the promo video to get a feel for some of the exercises you will see in this program:

Contact me today and I'll get you started on your free teambeachbody.com account with me as your coach. Then I can add you to my team's countdown event group where you will receive product updates and then launch details. You will have until February 7th to purchase the Challenge Pack for my test group. The group itself will start February 9th. I look forward to hearing from you.

Chili Recipe

A few people asked me about my chili recipe. I make a pretty basic recipe. I don't add a lot  of extras and usually use what I have in my pantry. The kids love it. They each ate two helpings yesterday. It is a great meal for a cold winter's day.

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef, chicken or turkey
2 sweet peppers ( I use whatever color I have on hand. Yesterday I used a yellow and a green)
2 medium onions
6 14.5 ounces can organic diced tomatoes (Make sure they have no salt added)
2 16 ounces cans kidney beans (rinsed and drained. Again make sure they have no salt added)
2 16 ounces cans chili beans ( I used wegmans organic kind as they have no added sugar or salt. Do not rinse or drain)
5 cloves garlic
Chili powder
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or more if you like spicy

Directions:
1. Place onions, garlic and peppers into the bottom of a large stock pot.
2. Caramelize for about 10 minutes. The onions should be translucent
3. Add the ground meat, paprika, cumin and Italian seasoning.  Cover the meat with chili powder.
4. Brown the meat while mixing with the vegetables already in the pot.
5. Depending on the meat you use you may need to drain. I didn't have to as I use extra lean ground beef.
6. Cover the meat again with chili powder
7. Add tomatoes and beans.
8. Bring to a boil.
9.  Turn down the pot to simmer and cover.
10. Simmer for at least three hours.

I sometimes serve this with whole wheat tortillas or dumplings.

For the dumplings:
Ingredients:

 1 1/2 C whole wheat pastry flour

 1/4 t sea salt

 3/4 t baking soda

 3/4 C milk

Directions:

1. Bring chili to a boil
2. Mix all dry ingredients
3. Add milk and mix thoroughly
4. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture on top of the chili
5. Cook ten minutes covered
6. Flip the dumplings with a spoon
7. Cook ten minutes uncovered.

For the whole wheat tortilla recipe check out my blog post here.

If I need an extra blue container (21 Day Fix) for the day I may add cheese to this.

If you are on the 21 Day Fix eating plan one serving is 2 1/4 cups and will cover one red, one green and one yellow. If you add the tortilla or dumplings you'll be using another yellow. If you add the cheese then you use a blue.

I hope you enjoy this as much as our family did. Hope you have a blessed day.

Piyo Week 3 Recap

I'm excited to share what week 3 brought me. I had an awesome week. I gained another pound bringing my total up to 12 pounds in 27 weeks of pregnancy. My OB is still shocked at how great I look. I'm so excited at how well this pregnancy is going. I'm also excited of how great I feel. I still have so much energy.

Day 1: Define: Upper Body: I started with Define: Lower Body as I didn't leave the house all day. A was off from school. We did projects all day. It felt so good to stretch my legs. It also felt good to do the warriors series. Then I did Define: Upper Body. I love rolling like a ball. It is fun especially stopping in the V sit position. I'm getting stronger every day.

Day 2: Buns: Let me first say I started my day way off my game. I had my blood glucose screen for pregnancy this morning and I had to drink that orange drink. You know the one? This one:

I hadn't eaten anything in the previous 12 hours before drinking it. I was so hungry by the end of my appointment. AS I knew we had to do grocery shopping I was glad I had packed everything to make my Shakeology.

This may be my new go to non-bender recipe. I has 1 cup pumpkin puree, 15 ounces water, 7 ice cubes, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, 1/2 tsp allspice and 1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology. I put into my shaker cup and shook vigorously.  IT was so yummy and it definitively filled me up.

 

So onto Piyo Buns. This workout was hard. It is 28 minutes long. I wore shoes for this workout as you didn't use a mat. I could have used the mat towards the end as there was a section on all fours and my knee hurt even though I put my t-shirt underneath them. This workout was tough! It had a ton of squatting. There was also a section at the end where you were on all fours. It was killer especially the elbow plank leg lifts. My legs felt like jello by the end of the workout and the side of my butt hurt. I cannot wait to see how this workout defines my butt and helps my pants fit in that area.

Day 3: Core: I so wanted to get this workout in today. I even did it while the girls were awake. The had so much energy that I thought let's let them do it with me. They also didn't want to nap without mom. The reason I became a coach was to add a little extra income to our house to pay off all the medical bill debt and be able to spend time with my kids when they needed me so I went for it.

C is by far the best at the yoga poses. This surprises me as she I the one that had the toughest time learning to walk and run. She was also the one that had a small stroke while in the NICU. At one point we were told she may never walk and if she did it wouldn't be great.  As we know God is good and she walks, runs and plays and no one would have any clue. It was a long road with lots of physical therapy from our wonder therapist from the Achievement Center but now she is doing yoga with me and seems to be able to do every move.

Core kicked my butt today. I was so sore by the end I was glad to lay down with the girls. I pushed myself hard as I love these exercises. I love this workout as it isn't all on your back doing crunches. It has lots of variety. It is just perfect for this pregnant lady who doesn't want to be on her back for long. I'm so excited to see what the rest of this week brings.

Day 4 : Define: Lower Body: Today I lacked motivation to workout. I tried ever excuse in the book. I even procrastinated by spending time in my challenge group pages and answering emails. I knew I needed it because of the lackadaisical attitude.

Finally I just pushed myself through it and I was so glad I did. I even added Define: Upper Body. I really needed to get out of my funk and that was just what I needed. 40 minutes of uninterrupted Piyo. I felt so much better after my workout. I was also more focused and ready to face the rest of the day even when the girls woke up early from nap and were full of energy and Brian still wasn't home from work.

Day 5: Rest:   I love that Friday's are rest day. Usually by Fridays I am a little frazzled from the week. This week was especially crazy as Brian worked many later days and then my mother in law decided to come pick A up today for a princess weekend.  She picked A up at lunch time. I decided to take a snuggle nap with B and C to start off their princess weekend.

I truly took a rest today. It has been a long time since I took as rest day like this and my body felt so glorious after it. I definitely needed it. Friday night is pizza and movie night in our house. I make a healthy version of pizza with a whole wheat pizza crust. See my recipe Here

Day 6: Sweat: Since A was a meem and papa's and we had just B and C they got to choose where they wanted to go out to lunch. They choose Steak and Shake. I counted this as my cheat meal for the week. We had fun and I didn't go over board as it would have been easy to do.

I definitely needed the Sweat when I came home. It felt so good to work out. I love feeling the sweat. I also love how limber I feel afterwards.

Day 7: Strength Intervals: This workout is 22 minutes long. you don't need a may but they all wear shoes for it. I have very flat feet so I have my running shoes with a good arch that I used for this workout. It may seem like a short workout but it makes you sweat! i had to stop once during this workout as my heart rate was too high. I did the entire workout without any modifiers but stopped once. It has a good variety of stretch mixed in with high bouts of cardio. I think this may be my new favorite workout in the bunch.

Here is my schedule for week 4:

I'm going to use the same meal plan as last week. I'm not much of a variety person and I need easy this week as I have a busy week. I also need simple at this stage of the game of my pregnancy. I hope everyone has a blessed week.

Week 2 Piyo Recap

I cannot believe week two is in the books and I start week 3 this week! I love this program. I'm glad I decided to stick with it. I'm a believer after week 2. I thought it was going to be boring. I also didn't think just doing yoga and pilates could keep me in shape. Boy was I wrong. I already feel stronger and more limber. I'm excited to see what week 3 will bring.

Tomorrow I will be 26 weeks pregnant. I gained 0.4 pounds this week. My eating plan was abandoned one day this week as we went out to eat for out anniversary and went to olive garden. I had way to many yellows and not enough reds that day. I'm thankful to be still exercising and working out. I'm getting nervous as I gave birth to the girls 10 days from now. I'm hoping that this pregnancy will not results in a NICU baby.

 

Day 1: Sweat: Today I was already really warmed up when I started my workout. I've been promising A a nature walk at Asbury Woods before it snowed. Today we made that happen. We walked 2.5 miles and had a ton of fun. Then I came home got ABC down for nap and then moved on to my sweat workout.

I love this workout. It actually lived up to its name today and I sweated. I pushed myself really hard. At one point I thought I was going to have to pause the workout and catch my breath but I made it through. I have trouble with the runners balance. I can do it but it isn't pretty. MY ankle wobbles a lot. I will get it!

I love how healthy I feel and the fact that I can keep up with the girls no matter what they want to do. I'm no longer that mom that after dinner just wants to sit on the couch and do nothing as I'm too tired to do anything. Instead my body is properly fueled and I have the strength to do just about anything. 

Day 2: Define: Lower Body: I love how quick this workout is. It was a perfect workout for today as it was 77 and warm out and I wanted to get outside to play with the girls. I finished the workout and cannot believe how much more flexible I already feel. Then we went for a 3 mile walk before the rain started. I love how much energy I have! I also love how much stronger I feel even though I'm not using weights.

Day 3: Core: Today I started out by taking a 2 hour walk at the zoo with a good friend and her daughter. It was so nice to be outside even though it was a little chilly. Then this afternoon I pressed play on the Piyo core. This is one workout where they have shoes on their feet. She mentioned you didn’t want to slip and with being pregnant I took her caution and put on shoes.

This workout is 30 minutes long. It starts with a stretch and then goes into standing core work. Then it has some traditional core exercises where you lay on your back and crunch. There is also a nice plank section. Also there is a roll up side plank section that was challenging but fun. It ends with a nice stretch. I made it through the entire workout with no modifications. It seems like just as you feel you cannot do one more rep that she switches positions.

My upper abs are a little sore as well as my oblique's. MY arms feel like jelly. I did sweat just a tiny bit but I know by how my muscles feel that I worked hard.  I liked this workout and cannot wait to do it again to try and master some of the moves or at least improve!

Day 4: define: Upper Body: Today I was tired. I really didn't feel like working out but I pressed play anyways. I love the variety in this workout. I also loved how my arms felt like jelly by the end. I also knew my abs worked as they were sore.

Sometime over night the baby moved further up towards my ribs instead of down lower in my pelvis. This made some exercises more challenging but I still didn’t have to modify anything.

As an extra I did define: lower body too. I needed the extra boost today. I felt so good after I worked out. I actually had energy and could finish out my day. I even did four loads of laundry and got three put away. I love how my stress melts away and my mood changes when I exercise.

Day 5: Rest Day: today was anything but a rest day. First I had Mommy Connection and we played in the gym. I had a little Harvest Party for all our friends. We did pumpkin bowling, picture frames, some fishing, and played balloons. All the kids had fun and us moms got some time to sit and chat too.

Then tonight was trick or treating. We walked 2 miles linear, but crossed the street many times so we actually walked further than that. The girls has so much fun and I was proud of myself. I only ate 2 pieces of candy and then stopped.

 Day 6: Sweat: I wish I could do this work out every day.  I love how much stronger and flexible I feel after this workout. I'm in love with it especially the section that has burpees. I used to hate burpees. Now I adore them. I also like the stretch strength section with all the pushups. I was one of those people who thought they'd never be able to do pushups on their toes and now I can do the whole workouts worth on my toes. I was so sweaty today after this workout I had to hit the showers. I pushed myself so hard and it felt great.

Day 7: Core: I absolutely nailed this workout today. MY favorite portion is the punter exercise towards the end. I cannot believe I can see my foot behind my head and then extend my leg and kick! I am amazed at my flexibility after just 14 days of Piyo. I'm also loving the way my arms and legs look. They are getting more sculpted by doing this program. I'm excited to see what week 3 brings.

Here is my workout plan for week 3:

Here is my meal plan for week 3:

Meal Plan Nov 11_2

I'm love Piyo. I am a believer now. I cannot wait to see what the next 6 weeks brings! Hope everyone has a blessed day.

November Specials

I cannot believe that it is November already. Where did the year go? I am so shocked at how this year has played out. I would have never thought that I would be ending the year pregnant with baby number four and 25 pounds lighter than when I started the year! I also would have never believed I could be so strong and healthy. I’ve learned a lot about myself the last 7 months of clean eating and exercising. I’m enjoying every one of my challenge groups and coaching. I’d love to have you join me in my next challenge group.

I’m so excited for the November specials. The first is Piyo! What is Piyo? Piyo has many Pilates and yoga inspired moves. It builds strength, endurance and flexibility. It is low impact. It uses no weights. This program uses your body weight to get you the results that you need. Piyo will improve your range of motion. It will allow your joints a break. Because you are improving your core it will be good in all areas of your life. Why do I love Piyo? Many of you know that I have had both back and knee pain for awhile. Most of it has went away by losing all the extra weight. If I do a lot of gardening or do a ton of stairs then my knee will hurt. During the last 7 months of both the 21 Day Fix and T25 I haven't had any knee pain because of the programs. They have really great modifiers when I needed to have less intense moves. I am excited to have this low impact version to put in on days when I do have some knee pain due to outside activities. I also love this program as there is no impact while I am pregnant. Here was my week one in review http://momforabc.blogspot.com/2014/10/week-2-piyo.html. This program has an awesome deal! You get the workout for $10 when you purchase the Shakeology.

The second program that is on sale for the month of November is a combination pack. It is called the Piyo Kick Start Challenge Pack. You get everything that is included in the Piyo Challenge pack including all the workouts, meal planning information and Shakeology. This kick start challenge pack also includes 3 Day Refresh. What is the 3 Day Refresh? The 3 Day Refresh is a straightforward 3-Day program to lose weight, get a clean break from bad nutrition habits and feel immediately cleaner, lighter and healthier...without starving! Why am I so excited? This program is awesome for those looking to get back on track with their eating habits and be able to feel immediately healthier and become lighter. Those that have already completed the three day program have lost an average of 5 pounds and about 2.5 inches in the waist in the three days. It isn't your typically cleanse as you get to eat real food during the 3 day refresh. This would be an awesome program to choose to get a jump start before all those holiday parties.

 

Also on sale this month is the Beachbody Ultimate Reset, Challenge Pack, and Refill Kit. The Ultimate Reset is a 21-day program that rids the body of all its toxins while maximizing energy production and nutrient retention. Ultimate Reset is a program designed to get the body in top shape internally, just as a fitness program gets the body in top shape externally. Users looking to restore energy, boost moods, and maximize health can rid the body of toxic compounds that could be making them ill-while dramatically improving the way they feel and function. 

I have a few different challenge groups occurring this month and I’d love to have you join one. I’m doing a 3 day refresh/30 day clean eating group November 17. The Piyo Kick Start Challenge Pack would be perfect for this group. You could also purchase the three Day Refresh Challenge Pack. I am also doing a 14 Days of Shakeology Christmas group starting December 1st. This will be a group where we will just replace one meal a day with Shakeology for 14 days. We will also commit to exercising for 30 minutes each day. I am also doing a Christmas Challenge starting preseason November 24th (30 day any program). I will also host my free five day clean eating group starting November 10^th.  Anyone want to join me? Message me for more details.

If you are not Facebook friends with me you can always friend me at https://www.facebook.com/simpkinskl. This way you can have the most up-to-date information. I'm excited for this month! Have a blessed day.

Week 2 Piyo

So many of you know that this week I decide to tackle Piyo. I want to take the next eight weeks and give Piyo a try. I know that this program will increase my flexibility and stamina and may help in labor and delivery when it is time to have the baby.

 

I’m still unsure about this program after week one. I didn’t sweat a lot on any of the workouts. I know sweating isn’t an indicator of how hard I worked but I like to sweat as it makes me feel like I am working. I thought that I would get bored with it and the pace would be too slow for me but so far it is just the right speed for me at 25 weeks pregnant tomorrow. It isn’t as fast as The Fix and makes me miss the high speed of T25 but I know at this stage in the game I need to just stay active and not hurt myself while working out.

Some know that at 16 weeks I was put on progesterone to help keep the baby in my tummy. I will take these shots weekly until I am at 36 weeks. This is a precautionary measure as the twins were born at 27 weeks. There is not any real data with moms in my situation that had a singleton at 38 weeks, then twins at 27 weeks and are now pregnant with a singleton. Many know my husband is a pharmacist and I am a bioengineer. We made the decision that the benefits far outweighed the side effects. This makes me even more cautious working out lately.

 

With week 1 in the books I lost a pound! What how did I do that? I was shocked when I stepped on the scale this morning as I did cheat a few times this week. I made buffalo chicken dip one night for a snack and then yesterday had a cupcake and some candy corn at a goodbye party for a friend. Here are my pictures from today:

Here is my recap from the week:
Day 1: Align: The Fundamentals: This workout is basically a beginner DVD. IT is 45 minutes long and teaches you all the basic moves the trainer will use for the rest of the program.  You only do this “workout” once at the beginning and can refer back to it if you are confused as to how to do any of the moves as you progress through the workout calendar. I did use my mat. I didn’t have to use a chair but if you are a beginner a chair is recommended. I also did the workout bare foot. I felt great after this workout. I felt so stretched out and fell like I can do all the moves without modifications at this stage in the game.

Monday night I was lying in bed and I had muscles that were aching that I haven’t had ache in a long time. It felt so good. I love working new muscles. I’m excited to see my results with this program. I think my biggest challenge is going to be the tricep pushups. I’m still after 6 months not great at pushups. I can do more than I could do one day one which was 0 but still find them challenging especially now that I am pregnant and have a tendency to tip forward. I cannot wait to see if I can do more pushups at the end of these eight weeks.

Day 2: Define: Lower Body:  This workout is 21 minutes long. It was over before I knew it. I loved the flow of the entire workout. There is a lot of lunges in this workout so if you cannot do lunges then this workout  is not for you. There is also some time spent in down dog and pigeon. I loved this workout and it made my legs feel weak afterwards. It was such a great feeling. I didn’t break a sweat but knew I was working.

A few hours after my workout I could feel some other muscles I used that haven’t been used in a while. I was still having a dull ache when I walked up stairs. I love this feeling as I know that I worked!

Day 3: Define: Upper Body: When I started this workout I kept thinking where is the upper body workout. It seemed to start slowly into the upper body workout and have more of an overall stretch. A few triceps pushups didn’t really seem like an upper body workout but by the end of this 20 minute workout my arms were sore. It had a great variety and hit many different arm muscle groups.  I love that I can still do full pushups while pregnant. I love how strong my upper body is and am excited to see how much stronger this program can make them. This was another workout that I felt like I blinked and it was over. I also liked that 20 minutes and it was done and then I could get on with my day.

Day 4: Sweat: This has to be my favorite workout of the series so far. It was so incredible. It is 37 minutes long but it felt like I blinked at it was over. It was an all over workout. I couldn’t believe how many pushups I did. I did them all on my toes too. No modification for this girl. I felt so great after this workout. I felt like I could run a million miles. I’m already feeling more limber and feeling like I’m sitting straighter. I even find that it is hard to sit on certain chairs with my feet under me which is a bad habit I have. I’m excited to continue this program and see my results.

Day 5: Rest: Today was a rest day. I didn’t really rest though as we had a play date in the gym at church this morning. Before everyone got there we ran a few laps and then I spent some time playing and holding babies. It was such a fun morning and a great break. Also I did yoga with the girls as they wanted to do their ABC yoga. I cannot believe after just 4 workouts how much more flexible I am. I also cannot believe I lost a pound this week so far. While I thought this program was easier than the 21 Day Fix I’m still seeing results.

Day 6: Define: Lower Body: Today I pushed myself a little harder. I really didn’t feel like working out as we spent most of the morning raking leaves and bagging them for the garbage men. I also picked up all the sticks that were in the yard. Lots of squatting and lifting. So I just wasn’t in the mood to workout but I made myself as I knew I’d feel better afterwards.

Today  started the warrior series on my left leg as it repeats twice on the first left you do and then only does it once on the second leg. This way I evened out the series from Tuesday and did two rounds on my right keg and two rounds on my left leg. I felt so great afterwards. I was ready to tackle the rest of the day.

Day 7: Define: Upper Body: Today I felt like I was moving though muck but I know it was because I had a cupcake with lunch and didn’t eat my normal lunch as we were at a good bye party for a friend and I didn’t plan well. I did do all the pushups on my feet and I can fell myself getting stronger and more flexible.

Here is my meal plan for week 2. I’m switching back to the 21 Day Fix meal plan as it is one less thing for me to think about.

Meal_Plan_10_27_14

 

Here is my schedule for week 2:

I hope everyone has a great week. I cannot wait to see what week 2 of Piyo brings. I’m also excited as my challenge group starts preseason today. I cannot wait to see what these ladies do in the next 30 days. If you are interested in joining us please let me know as I still have a few spots left. Have a blessed day!