Holidays Without the Weight Gain?

WARNING: Long, AWESOME post.

So, I did something kinda awesome. I finished the WHOLE ENTIRE P90X3 program.

Yeah. That's 90 days of hard core workouts. Nailed it. Well, sorta.

I didn't follow the nutrition plan as strictly as I probably should have, cuz you know, there was cake occasionally, or pumpkin waffles...*drool*

Anyways, that's where my Shakeology comes in, like a superhero I might add. See, this stuff is like magic. It reduces my sweet tooth cravings (which are heavy duty), gives me all the nutrients I SHOULD be getting from vegetables,  and keeps me full for about 3 hours (thus preventing unnecessary snacking, like me driving to Einstein's multiple times a day). And it tastes FANTASTIC. *score*

And now for the results: I can do twice as many pull-ups as I could when I first started, I can curl 20# dumbbells (for a little while), and I can do lots of funky push-ups. I feel pretty cool. AND I maintained my weight the whole 90 days, through anniversary celebrations, birthdays, family get-togethers, and kids leaving their pop tarts lying around the house. Winning.

SO WHAT? I'll tell you: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are gonna crash down on us all WITHIN the next 90 days. What's your plan? Would you maybe like a safety net so you don't gain an extra 15-20 lbs? You COULD even lose weight through the holidays...just sayin.

I've got a support group for other sweet tooth mommas like me that starts October 19th. Wanna know more? Just comment and I'll give you all the info, cuz we're friends, and I like you!

-Brooke

Day 21: Yoga Fix and NOT eating a bunch of junk food

"It came!  It finally came!" Name that movie (A).  Those are my feelings right now.  And it's not because I didn't enjoy it, because I really did.  But by the end of it, I'm just really impatient about getting my final results and moving on to something new and different. "New is always better." Name that show (B).  So, today is the last day of documenting 21 Day Fix, and TOMORROW I will post my official loss stats.  Super exciting!  K, pictures:

Triangle pose.  Suddenly I'm insecure about the length of my legs in proportion to the rest of my body. Hmmm.

Something pose I don't remember.  That old ballet muscle memory came in handy today.

Today was the start of Fall Break for {E}, and I didn't have work today, so we didn't need to go ANYWHERE today!  I about peed my pants I was so excited :-)  So, naturally, we all stayed in our pjs and watched Halloween movies and ate popcorn all day.  I had a bowl of plain popcorn, but then {C} insisted that she share her buttered and salted popcorn with me.  So I ate a bit of that too, more than I should have.

Also, this week has been the perfect storm (meaning I'm unprepared). We ran out of pretty much all of our kid-friendly-shut-up-and-eat meals.  You know the ones, chicken nuggets, peanut butter sandwiches, hot dogs, you know, that kinda stuff.  So, Brandon and I made an executive decision: Brandon will bring home dinner for the kids.  So, Brandon came home with a pepperoni pizza from Papa Murphys, AND...

...barbecue.  Jerk.  I grew up in Texas.  Barbecue is part of my pedigree.  I asked my Grandpa to cook a brisket for our wedding luncheon.  And he did.  We love barbecue in this household.  I did NOT resist.  BUT, I did restrain myself.  Portion control people: it saves lives.  The brisket was pretty good, the ribs and shredded pork weren't my favorite, but the smoked chicken wings were AMAZING.  Yum.  Also, I did eat the carrot and celery sticks.  Moving on.

Tomorrow I start T25.  Pretty pumped to get going on that :-)  I've even got it all written on my calendar.  There is something about checking off everything after it's done that I just love :-)

So, I'm just gonna leave you hanging a little longer, and pictures and everything will be up tomorrow!  See ya then!

(A) Toy Story

(B) How I Met Your Mother

Day 12: Cardio Fix--Round 2

Hello hello!

Today was round 2 of Cardio Fix and it was great!  Worked up a pretty good sweat and felt good the whole time :-)

Can I tell you something?  Last night Brandon pulled out our bag of Halloween candy, you know, to pass out to KIDS, and he dug through it all, and I may have pulled out some Starbursts and Twizzlers...shhh! Don't tell. :-)  Anyway, I didn't have NEARLY as much candy I as I would have scarfed in previous days, but a little bit later, I got all wiggly and antsy, and I think the sugar actually got to me!?  I can't remember the last time that happened...huh.

So, anyway, I got started on my workout and IT FELT SO GOOD to be moving around and getting the blood flowing.  And maybe I was missing it a little more than usual because I worked this morning, but it was so startling to me to think about how different my body is now than when I first got started.  Crazy how much I've changed on the inside as well as on the outside.

Moving on!

Got my workout on and took my "action pictures" and called it good!  Phew!  Hard work :-)

And me channeling my inner "Autumn"

Like my "to do" list all over the background there?

I've done really well eating today, getting back on track after my indulgences over the weekend.  Shakeology for breakfast, V8 energy and a protein bar for lunch, an apple for snacking, protein shake after the workout, and dinner...

Fish Tacos!

Left over mahi mahi, cole slaw and some homemade salsa :-)  Yes please!

Good day today, and tomorrow: Dirty 30, round 2.  See ya then!

Day 8: Total Body Cardio Fix--Round 2

Today was awesome for SO MANY reasons!  A: It's October 1st, which means it's officially my FAVORITE SEASON OF THE YEAR!!!!  Yay!  So, {C} and I dug out the Halloween decorations and went to town :-)  For your viewing pleasure, this is the outside portion

And no, I don't know who's big ole red dust pan that is is on the right, but it's been there since we moved in.

Reason B today was awesome: tomorrow is my day off :-)  Reason C: It was actually Fall weather, and I swear, today was the first time the air had that cool, crispness to it.  It was lovely :-) And the last reason today was awesome: I did Total Body Cardio Fix again, with heavier weights than I used last time.  What up!?

So, I'm sure you've noticed that I tend to wear my hair up in a bun.  It's just easier that way.  But it got pretty loose last night while I slept in it, and I knew I was gonna be movin around a bit with this workout, so, out came the sock.  Crazy hair!

Last week I used my 2 lb weights, ya know, cuz of my wrist.  But since then I've used my 5 and 8 lb weights with the other workouts, so I brought out the 5 lb weights for today.  It about killed me.  My arms are definitely sore, especially around the shoulder area.  These raised knee pulls were by far the hardest exercise for me, especially with the heavier weights.  I don't know what Autumn was thinking, saying the surrenders at the beginning were the hardest exercise.  Not.  Even.  Close.  And I have a bad knee, so that's kind of saying something.

But I finished, and that's what's important, right?  After I finished I got my {E} to come take my workout pictures.  This is the cute 6 year old behind the camera :-)

Food-wise I've done pretty good.  Sticking to the same menu that I know I like.  But plot twist!  Brandon had pizza here when the girls and I got home from work.  Tempting...As of right now...9:42 pm, I have only had one piece of the supreme pizza that moved into the house, and that was within my "budget."  Still deciding if I want to be naughty and have 1-2 cheese sticks.  What I should do is go for the banana with 2 tbsp of peanut butter.  That would round things out the "right way."  

Still deciding.

In the meantime, my next challenge group starts on Monday.  And if you've been thinking:

"I really should work out more, and get back in shape, so I can look SMOKIN in my Halloween costume," then this challenge group could be your answer :-)

Would it hurt to try?

Day 7: Yoga Fix

Ok people!  I am one week into this thing, and it is looking good!  Granted, I pretty much botched the first 5 days with the meal plan side of it, but I'm getting back on track :-)  I would have written this earlier, but you know, when the husband tells you to look at Zulily for Halloween decorations, that's whatcha do.  I mean, it would be RUDE not to listen to him, right?  I may have found some things that made the horrible, AWFUL ordeal of shopping worth it, though ;-)

Probably, I should have prefaced this with: Halloween is our FAVORITE holiday.  We might could make a car payment if we sold all of our decorations...maybe. :-)  WE LOVE IT.

Moving on!  Yoga...hmmm.  I wasn't sure how this was gonna go, because I haven't ever really DONE yoga before.  Also, I have this sprained wrist that is healing, and it doesn't do so hot in downward facing dog.  And lastly, I wasn't sure what level of yoga this would be, so, before I got started, I may have felt something akin to this:

BUT, I marched onward (metaphorically speaking) nonetheless.  I had my helper to guide me through the moves and calm my nerves.  In the end we made it through all right.  Autumn also did a great job with vocal cues and telling me when I should be breathing.  I feel like this would be a good yoga workout for a beginner, which I thought I was.  Turns out Shaun T had me doing lots of yoga during my stretches and I didn't even know it!  Idiot.  Me, not Shaun T.

Miss {C} in her ready pose...

...and in Warrior II.  Dude, she totally rocked it.

Annnnnnndddddddd this is the picture {E} took of me actually doing the workout.  Hey, notice the VERY different angles of my wrists there?  Yeah, that is what I'm working with.  So annoying.  

I did pretty good with my foodies today.  Can't start my day without my V8 energy, had some oatmeal, a protein bar, and of course, Shakeology was included.

However, after I got home from work, hunger hit me hard, and {E} had been begging for a hamburger for about half an hour, so I ran down to Wendy's.  I REALLY wanted a BIG, FAT, JUICY, CHEESY HAMBURGER...but I was good and got a grilled chicken go wrap.  It's been about an hour and a half since then, so I'll probably munch on an apple or banana, maybe throw a home grown tomato in there for fun :-)  Stayin strong!  Tomorrow: Total Body Cardio Fix, Round 2.