Thursday, January 30, 2014

Zumba Thursday- Zumba in...boots?!

Today was Zumba day. YAY! I actually thought that I might have to miss Zumba today. Lucas woke up with a fever and felt icky all day. So, there is no way he was coming with me, and he's not real fond of me leaving without him. Besides, who could leave a sick baby who just wants his mommy? Lucky for me though, he was sleeping when it was time to go. So, off we went.

Since it's winter in Michigan, and we have 47 feet of snow, I usually wear my winter boots, and just bring tennis shoes with me. Today, however, I forgot my shoes. So I had to Zumba in winter boots. That made my feet SO sweaty. I definitely don't recommend it.

Even though my feet were extra sweaty, I still had tons of fun! One great thing about going to Zumba every week, is that you start to learn the lyrics of all the songs (if you don't already know them). Knowing the words to the songs somehow makes the dances easier. My two favorite dances are Timber and Dance With Me Tonight, I think partly because I know the songs.

Of course, as soon as you learn all the songs, Jessica changes them up on you. But that is to be expected. Every workout routine needs variety. It is always fun to learn new songs! I have my favorites, and some that are not my favorite, but none that I just don't like. It's all fun, and upbeat :)

                                          Matthew's new Zumba Shirt


                                         Mama rockin' the winter boots


                                      Matthew's new Zumba headband


                           Jessica, Alyssa, and me with our Zumba bracelets




Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Wednesday Already??

Well, battling a headache all day, combined with two crazy three year olds, meant no long workout for me today. Lucas did want to play "Shake Your Booty" (Just Dance 4), so I turned that on for a little while. I also cleaned the house about 12 times. Seriously, these boys are insane.

My head was pounding, so I really didn't want to do our challenges, but I did them anyway. By the time we were done, my headache was nearly gone. That is exactly why I power through anyway! Even if I'm exhausted, or my head hurts, I always feel better, not worse, after working out. Even if it's short. A little exercise is better than none at all ;)

I am hungry all the time, so I am on the hunt for some quick, easy, cheap and GOOD snack ideas. If you have any recipes, please share them with me! Everything that I find on Pinterest calls for either vanilla protein powder, or chai seeds. Neither of those are easy to find around here. I also need ideas that are child friendly. I appreciate any help anyone can give me! I do not have a blender, juicer or food processor. I do have a crockpot. I really need a blender, or food processor!

I can't believe that it's already Wednesday. The kids being home has made this week fly by. For me at least. Tomorrow is ZUMBA THURSDAY! Remember, if you want to join Matthew and me, it's at 7pm at St. Mark's. Only $7 ;)




Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Another Snow Day!

Today was another "snow" day for the kids. It was actually a wind chill day, but whatever. Matthew and I had wanted to play Just Dance 2014, but the 2nd remote had no batteries, so we just went with the Wii Fit again.

I had intended to do several different things today, but I took so long on the bicycling that my legs were jelly! Whoops, ha ha. Matthew did the obstacle course several times. Then he was invited to Kyle's house, so that was it for him. Gotta let kids be kids, right?

My niece and nephew were both here all day today. My niece and my daughter are both 7, and my nephew and son are both 3. So they kept me pretty busy. Between the girls and their constant "costume changes" and the boys running all over, it was pretty crazy in here. The kids all had fun though.

Matthew and I did our challenges, of course. 105 crunches, but only 80 squats. However, we are up to THREE MINUTES on the plank. Not fun!! I am impressed with Matthew though. He has not tried to give up, or complained about exercising even once. Oh don't get me wrong, we complain, loudly, while we are planking, but that's complaining together ;)

My cousin Tonia told me that the 30 day Shred was on Groupon for only $5.99 today! Yay! I can't wait to start it when these challenges are over! As I said before, Matthew will not be doing that one with me. Jillian is just too hardcore for kids. I may have him do some modified moves alongside me, if he wants.

The kids are back to school tomorrow, so I'm losing my workout buddy during the day. Maybe Lucas will join me ;)







Monday, January 27, 2014

SNOW DAY!!!!

The kids were off school today, due to the extreme cold, and poor driving conditions. No one was sad by this. Matthew's best friend Kyle came over for most of the day. Then Alyssa's friend Emma came over later on in the afternoon.

Before Kyle got here, Matthew and I both got 30 minutes in on the Wii Fit. Most of it was that darn bicycle. Those flags are impossible to find! We end up biking around for 25 minutes, the giving up, lol. it's still fun to do though. I Googled it, and I'm pretty certain that I need a Wii U just for the new Wii Fit. It looks so cool! Seriously, check it out.

We also did day 21 of our 30 day challenges. We are up to 100 crunches, and today was 145 squats. We are getting pretty good at both of those. The plank is still a killer though. I'm not sure how we will ever do 5 minutes. But we sure are going to try!!

We did not go to the pool for open swim tonight. I thought that small children with wet hair and below freezing temps would not mix well. We will try next week, if its not so bitterly cold out.

I still have not finished my Fitnet Tabata series. Maybe I will do that tomorrow... I swear I'm not avoiding it ;)

The kids have another "snow day" tomorrow. Maybe Matthew and I will do some Just Dance 2014, to change things up a little!







Sunday, January 26, 2014

Do What You Have to Do

Some days, I have to squeeze in a workout, or the challenges, where ever I can. Today was one of those days.

I was able to get a little bit of cardio in while Alyssa and Lucas napped this afternoon. Matthew didn't get home from his dad's until dinner time though, so we did our challenges in front of the open bathroom door while Alyssa and Lucas took a bath. We do what we have to ;)

Really and truly, being "too busy" for exercise is just an excuse. Anyone can squeeze in a short workout. I get it though, I have always used being "too busy" as an excuse. I have three kids, I babysit, I have to run errands, etc. But you know what? I STILL have three kids. I still babysit. I still run errands. I also MAKE time to workout. Even if it's just one short Fitnet workout. If you have no interest in exercising, that is fine. I'm not going to look down on you, or force workouts on you. If you want to do it though, then stop making excuses, and start doing it!!

Here are some articles to help you, if you have trouble fitting workouts in:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/fitness/slideshows/fitness-excuses/2

http://blogs.denverpost.com/fitness/2013/08/02/too-busy-to-exercise-tips-for-fitting-fitness-in/12955/

http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/im-too-busy-work-out-workout

I hope that these are able to help some of you that have trouble finding the time :)

P.S. For those of you that follow my Grammar Queen blog, I had originally titled this post "Do Whatcha Gotta Do", but had to change it, because I couldn't handle it ;)








Crazy Saturday

My house was pretty crazy today. Lots of people and kids here visiting/playing.  I spent most of the day trying to clean up from the night before, while trying to clean up after two toddlers at the same time. We had a very late brunch of omelets, then the adults who stayed up way too late the night before, fell asleep, and left me with all the kids, lol. I guess that could count as cardio ;)

I was also able to get a few Fitnet workouts in later on, after my house cleared out. Today was a rest day for the plank, but not the other two. Tomorrow is a rest day for them. However, since Matthew is at his dad's, I told him that we can take a rest day on all three today, and do them all tomorrow, together. SOLIDARITY SISTERS!!  And brother...

I looked into the open swim at our pool. It looks like it's $2 per student and $5 for a family. Seems pretty doable to me. Everyone in my house likes to swim, so it will be a fun family activity. I'm not sure if we will start it this Monday, or wait a week, but I definitely want to do it.

As soon as it warms up, I think I'm going to start the Couch to 5k. My Aunt Barb suggested that any family member that are interested should do a family 5k run this September. That sounds like so much fun! I've had the C25k app on my phone for a while, but it's been to cold to really use it. So, I'll start as soon as it warms up :) I think Matthew can do it with me as well! Yay :)
           
                      

Friday, January 24, 2014

Too Tired To Think of a Title

I am completely drained today. This week has been insane. Lucas hardly slept at night, so I hardly slept. Yet I still had to get up just as early. Today it is really catching up with me.

Matthew and I still did our challenges today though. We are up to 2 1/2 minutes on the plank. That is not fun. I had planned on him and I doing another workout of some sort, but the day got away from us. The kids had doctor appointments, then we had to go grocery shopping. After that Matthew went to his dad's for the weekend. So, that killed that plan. That's okay though.

At the doctor, I noticed that Matthew is down about 7 pounds from where he was at his appointment when he had bronchitis, so we must be doing something right. I didn't say much about it though, because as I've said before, I don't want him focusing on a number. I know far too many girls who obsess over their weight, or what size their jeans are. Taking pills, or crash dieting to get skinny is NOT the way to do it. It is not healthy, and it is only a temporary solution.

My husband suggested today that we look into going to the pool once or twice a week. Matthew and I can swim laps, and my husband and the younger two kids can free swim. I think that this is a great idea! Matthew loves swimming, as do I, and it is fantastic exercise. Plus maybe that will convince my husband that we need a pool ;)

Sorry, that's all you get tonight. I'm very sleepy, and I have friends over. Have a great night everyone!








Thursday, January 23, 2014

Zumba Thursday- Zumba FUN!!

I know that I say this every week, but Zumba is so much fun!! It doesn't even seem like exercise, even though I sweat my butt off. The first week that we went back, after not going for a very long time, Matthew had trouble, and had to sit out for a song or two. But tonight, he rocked it like he did before. It really doesn't take long at all to get used to it. And once you do, it is so, so much fun. Here, I'll show you:



 My friend Joy couldn't make it this week, but hopefully she will another time. Alyssa and Lucas came out while we were dancing to Timber, so Luke could dance, and stayed out dancing the rest of the class. It was very cute. I took a video, of course ;)


I have to tell you, if it weren't for this blog, I might have skipped Zumba tonight. I was SO tired. Lucas has been staying up very late this entire week, and I'm drained. But, I sucked it up and went anyway. I'm so glad that I did! I left class feeling much better than I did when I came. When we got home Matthew said "Mom, I'm really feeling like I love life right now." If you know my son, you know that this is HUGE. For several years he has been a mopey kid, who frequently said that he hated his life. He hasn't said that at all lately, and tells me, often, how happy he is. It thrills me to no end, and reminds me why I am doing this.

We also did our challenges. We both managed to stay up the entire 2 minutes of the plank. Not easily, but we did it. Now here are some pictures from class today, and one from a parade over the summer.

















Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Stretching is important

I don't know who's bright idea it was to put so many darn stairs in my house, but I am NOT impressed. After three days of sore legs and butt, walking up and down these stairs all day is a workout all on its own! I forgot to mention yesterday that Matthew got a bonus workout when he helped me gather all of the laundry from upstairs. Our laundry room is in the basement, so we went upstairs, grabbed laundry, then went back down, then down to the basement, back up, rinse and repeat. Several times.

I'll admit it, I'm pretty terrible about stretching before and after workouts. Unless a video specifically includes and warm up and/or cool down, I don't do it. I know that stretching is important, and the last few days of pain have proven it, but that doesn't stop me from blowing it off. Honestly, I enjoy the feeling of knowing that my workout works. However, stretching actually helps your workout, so I really need to make an effort to include it.

Today Matthew and I did a workout on the Wii Fit Plus today. I ran for ten minutes, hula hooped for another ten, then did a few other short ones. Matthew did 19 minutes of biking, the obstacle course, and a couple other short ones. Then we did our challenges. 80 for both the crunches and squats, then TWO MINUTES for the plank. That plank will be the death of me, I'm certain.

Well, absolutely no one commented on yesterday's blog post. So, either no one reads it, no one cares if I do the 30 Day Shred, or no one has a Google account. Either way, I think I'm going to give it a shot.

Tomorrow is Zumba Thursday! My friend Joy is coming to check it out. Yay! If anyone else wants to come, it's only $7 :)






Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Workout Buddy

Yes, I know. This blog is about Matthew and me being workout buddies. However, he goes to school 8 hours a day, so sometimes I need to tag someone else into the ring ;)

Today my friend, and workout buddy, Joy and I had an "exercise date". We basically just searched YouTube for exercise videos, and did a bunch. Then we did a 20 minute circuit on my Fitnet app. I think altogether we probably did between 45-60 minutes of exercise. I am sore still (again?), but that is okay. It was fun! I've said it a million times, but working out with friends is fun. I can't wait for warmer weather, so that we can go for walks. I might start jogging again. Maybe...lol.

Matthew is doing fitness tests in gym this week, so I am letting that be his daily workout. It's his last week of gym class though, so next week he is back at it here at home. Today was a rest day for the crunch and squat challenges, and another 90 second plank. Matthew did better than I did! The kid is really rocking these challenges.

I am considering doing the 30 Day Shred next month, when we are done with this set of challenges. Just for me, I think it's too much for Matthew. He can use his Ninja app. I was doing it at our old place, and really liked (and hated) it. Jillian Michaels is insane! But effective. The problem that I have with the 30 day shred is just finding the opportunity to do it. Our only DVD player is in the kids' playroom. There is enough room in there, however it's hard with Lucas underfoot. I can try to do it when he takes his naps, that's what I used to do. Or after he falls asleep at night.

If you have a Google account, leave me a comment and tell me if you think that I should start the shred back up next month :)