Life is Good

Life is good....real good...very good.  Just think about it.  No matter what you have going on, you DO have a life and that's a good thing.  I am a positive person.  So much so, that I can't be around a lot of negativity.  It just weighs me down.  When that happens, I have to regroup.  Normally, I shut out the world by going for a walk, whether it's through my neighborhood or at one of my favorite parks.  Nature always resets my mind and makes me feel better.  Or being around kids.  I love to hear their laughter and conversations.  My granddaughter is 3 1/2 now.  She is so much fun to be around - even on her bad days (which I admit are few and far between).What do you do to reset and get away from the every day things that are weighing you down?


Big news!  Honey-Buns and I have been eating healthy since the beginning of the year - January 4th to be exact.  Honey buns has lost 60 pounds - yay!  Me?  One pound away from 25.  We're watching portion sizes - measuring our portions of rice, 4 ounces of meat, etc.  I have been cooking fresh vegetables only and we always have a green one - green beans (snap or pole beans), asparagus, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli.  If I have a carb like rice or potatoes, we measure it out.  I have found lots of great healthy recipes online that we are always trying out.  Our favorite is a chicken/spinach/tomato spaghetti one that uses sundried tomatoes.  I feel like such a chef whenever I make it - lol.  I've cut out all sodas and drinks, only drinking water and milk.  I can see such a huge difference in my skin since increasing my water intake.  I really am hydrated now - inside and out.


I have been walking, but it seems like if I walk too many times during the week, my weight increases.  I have the weirdest metabolism of anyone I know.  It doesn't help that I'm going through peri-menopause either.  Oh well...it is what it is.  I'm happy that I made my driver's license tell the truth on my weight for a day or two.  I will have to change my weight when I renew them this summer, but this time the weight change will be in a good way.  And THAT makes me happy.  :)

I worked out today!

So...yesterday was my 51st birthday.  Yep.  Five...one.  I wonder if that's why I decided to work out today?  idk - All I know is I felt like so I did.  Yay me.  I know I've said it before, but will say it again...I believe running after my almost 3-year old granddaughter has helped me physically.  I am pleased to say I was able to get on my treadmill and run, even though running to me is at 3.8 speed I was still able to run.  :)  I listened to Megan Trainor's newest cd, Thank You.  It's a great, upbeat cd.  Check it out if you haven't already!


I did last Friday's workout from HIIT Mamas..."Katie" - 3 rounds of running 300 meters, 20 wall ball shots, and 10 push-ups.  My time?  20:19:57 - Not bad for my first workout in months.  I started running all three segments at 3.8, did slow down to 3.6 on all, and I slowed down even more to 3.4 on the last one.  I started cramping really bad in my side during the last run.  Yep...more water needed.  I had no issues with the wall ball shots, but I did modify the push-ups to knee pushups.  I was able to do all 10 without stopping during the first two segments.  I did pause twice on the last set of pushups.  I was too quivery!


Anyway - I did it.  I feel good.  Let's hope I make this a priority again.  :)

You can do it!

This is what I constantly tell myself during one of my "run" segments on my treadmill.  "You can do this.  You got this."  Then I start with "only ___ seconds to go".  Sometimes I even close my eyes as say "20 seconds 20 seconds 20 seconds"  or "halfway there halfway there".  You'd be surprised how well I can chant this in my head in correlation with my steps.  lol 


Well, I did it!  I stayed at 0 incline, but still - it was done.  I completed 1.5 miles in 28 minutes.  If my mind was working correctly during this workout, I did 8 segments of walking (2.8) for 2:00 minutes and running (3.6, last two segments at 3.7) for 1.5 minutes.  Munchie arrived during my last walking segment and really wanted on the treadmill, but I was able to distract her and avoid all looming disasters that could have involved.  :)   When I completed my workout, she went to hug me and was like "Grammy - you're all wet."  Yes, Munchie...I'm sweaty.  It was a great workout and I actually drank almost half of my water quota for the day, so a plus all the way around!


I didn't "work out" yesterday because I stayed up way later than I should have on Monday night reading and just had zero desire to move yesterday morning.  Munchkin and I did go on a picnic at a park yesterday, then we played for about an hour outside.  It was our first time going to this particular park and I must say it was the cutest park ever!  All of the playground equipment looked like it was made out of tree logs.  The steps were made out of "rocks", so there was lots of rock climbing and sliding through hollowed out logs.  They even had a water stream for splashing.  Needless to say, it didn't take Munchie long to strip down and sit in the water "cuddles".  I stopped her from going completely naked and made her keep her panties on.  She was only allowed to play in the water for about 15 minutes because I didn't have any sunscreen and didn't want her to get burned.  It was a hot, sunny 85 here in Georgia yesterday. 


I purchased  a little swimming pool for Munchie yesterday.  My plan for today is to buy her a swimsuit for my house, then I'm hoping to cut grass in the backyard (on a hill, with a pushmower) while she splashes around - so maybe I'll get a "pseudo workout" in as well.


My thought for today - Do it.  Doesn't matter what.  Doesn't matter how.  Doesn't matter when.  Just get out and do it.  You got this!  :)

Beautiful Georgia Weather

So far so good as far as exercising goes.  It's a beautiful, sunny 80-degree day in Georgia.  Naturally I went outside for my workout today.  I actually went for a hike at a local park.  I have been wanting to go hiking on these little woodsy trails where I walk and just have not done so.  Now that Munchkin is older and LOVES being outside, I thought I'd check one out to see if she'd like it.  She stays with her other grandmother (Nonny) on Mondays.  Needless to say, she will love it.  The one I went on started at a playground we like to go to and ended up inside a state park at not quite a 1/2 mile away.  It was a great, wide, easy walking trail through the woods.  I continued walking along the roadway inside the park to see if I could find another trail that might circle around, but ended up turning around because I didn't want to get too far away.  I know...I'm a pansy.  But it's okay.  I did get out and do something "exercise-y" today and that's always a good thing.


I didn't post on Friday, but I did a pre-programmed treadmilk workout while wearing my 12 lb vest.  That was pretty intense.  I feel so energized after I do a workout and it really sticks with me throughout most of the day.  I've increased my water intake as well, not drinking anything else until I get a minimum of 5-7 cups of water per day.  I will drink a little bit of milk, but I absolutely LOVE milk!  I hope I never lose the taste for it.  I know people who don't drink milk and it makes me sad, because I have enjoyed it for as long as I can remember.  I just get in the mood for milk! 


Just so you know - I also walked on the treadmill on Saturday. The only day I missed a walk was yesterday and I was so busy.  By the time I was un-busy, I was super tired.  I even napped for  an hour and half late yesterday afternoon.  Then paid for that nap by not being sleepy until after 1:00 this morning.  Luckily I can sleep in on Mondays since Munchie isn't here.


I do still plan on adding CrossFit to my workouts, but am going to give myself another week or two of just walks/hiking before doing that. 


My thought for today....do your own thing...be happy...live happy.

:)

I am kinda/sorta/maybe back.  I have renewed my relationship with my treadmill and am hoping to make it last awhile this time.  I'm not starting back with CrossFit yet because I do NOT want to be sore yet and I know that will happen.  lol  Just being honest. 


I have started a new blog titled Queenie Figures It Out.  This will be about life as a 50-year old mother/grandmother and all of the changes that come along later in my life.  If you're interested in that sort of thing, then go check it out.  I will warn you, though - it's pretty graphic and detail-y and personal.  If that's not your thing, then do NOT go check it out.  :)


I will say that I'm surprised at my capabilities on my treadmill.  Before I never could breathe if I tried running...I would always have coughing fits.  Well, I can say that I've been doing a walk for two minutes/run for one minute routine and have been able to do my run segments without hocking up a lung or two.  I think it's from chasing around my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter.  I'm super excited about working out again and am really, really, really hoping I will be a runner.  It's all I've talked about in previous blogs, so let's hope for the best.


Another thing I have discovered is one reason for my inability to lose weight, no matter how hard I've tried is because I apparently have entered peri-menopause.  Yay me.  Anyway, the weight may or may not come off this time.  I don't care either way.  I just want to be able to keep up with my Munchkin.  Right now, she doesn't run very fast so I'm lucky.  My goal is to be as fast as she is.  Isn't that an awesome goal?  I think so. 


Anyway, I hope y'all have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

A beautiful day today!

It was a beautiful, sunny day in Georgia today!  Mid-60s, no clouds, just a tad windy - but overall gorgeous day.  That being said, I took Addy to the park.  I pushed her in the stroller on one of the mile-long walkways, then we played on the playground for another 45 minutes.  Twenty of which was me pushing her in the swings.  That little girl loves to swing!  The rest of the time was me chasing after her as she just ran around - she also loves to run!  lol

I know this is a short post, but I wanted to let you know that I did get out and do something today.  I'm watching what I eat and try to sub healthier choices at least once a day.  Baby steps, right?  I've also upped my water intake and other than milk, I will not drink anything else until I meet my minimum 8 glasses of water.  I don't drink a lot of soda anyway, but I do like my sweet tea and kool-aid which is just as bad.  Normally, by the time I drink my water  I don't want anything else.  :)

Tomorrow is supposed to be another gorgeous day, so I'll let you know what I decide to do then.

Bike Ride day!

I did not work out yesterday.  My mother-in-law was admitted into the hospital with mini-strokes.  It's a good thing because I had a very hard time moving/walking yesterday.  I felt like I had bricks on my thighs, they were so sore!  I'm going to do my bike ride today.  Short and sweet today...I have a very active 17-month old who wants Grammy to read and play and play and play!


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Done!  I actually worked out after I took Addy home tonight since I didn't get a chance during the day.  My thighs are already screaming at me - lol.


Pre-programmed workout #8 on recumbent bike
30 minutes
5.26 miles


Boy!   Was I slow compared to what I could do before, but I did it.  I told Honey-Buns 5.26 miles beats zero miles all day, every day.  :)


Tomorrow is payroll and billing, plus I'll have Addy, and Hayley's wheelchair folks are supposed to come by and replace the motors in her chair.  It was quicker to replace the motors than it is to order a new one.  This just puts off us getting a new until next year.  She's been without a motorized chair since right after Thanksgiving, so I'm excited to get it back.  I know she is as well.

It's a good excuse for a bike ride.

Guess what?  I have stomach muscles!  And thigh muscles....and triceps!  Yep...they're there.  I am feeling them this morning!  lol  When I first woke up, my shoulders were achy.  Now?  It's my thighs that are the worst.  But, that's what happens when you use those "unused" muscles so I'm not complaining.  :)

If you can't tell from today's quote, it's recumbent bike day.  I was going to ride my bike the other day, but the batteries were dead.  So, I'm changing them today and getting on that thing.  It's quiet and I can workout while Addy naps.  I ended up working out in my dining room and on the back deck yesterday.  I did jump rope outside on the deck, so I wouldn't disturb Addy while doing that.  Since it was a tabata workout, I just did everything in the dining room/kitchen area.  I went to all this trouble to write down each exercise on a dry erase board and even numbered them for the 8 rounds.  It was misty outside and I didn't think, but my dry erase board got wet, so I had to scrounge during my first 10 second break to find pen and paper.  It was not fun, especially when I thought I was prepared.  I really liked the Tabata timer app that I downloaded.  I had it set for 60-second preparation, then 8 20-second workout rounds with 10-second breaks in between.  When my eighth round was completed ad it shut off, I would just hit the start button and then I had the perfect minute in between exercises.  Much easier than trying to workout and stare at a clock!

Well, things to do this morning.  It looks like someone wants to watch Frozen AGAIN!  I'll let you know about my workout after it's completed.  :)

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Wake up with determination. Go to bed with satisfaction.

This is a good one for me today.  I did not get a chance to work out yesterday.  I was rearranging the office/workout room so I could have Addy's t.v. out of the way and still have room to work out, plus just work.  Then, I just lost all of my mojo.  I just can't seem to force myself to do things these days, but I hope to improve on that.  If you're at the bottom you can only go up, right?  Or...stay at the bottom - which is not what I want.  Since I didn't work out yesterday, I did that workout today. 

Here's what I did today...

  Tabata This!  20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest, 1 minute in between each exercise

     Jump rope          - 11 - 0 - 19 - 10 - 6 - 10 - 12 - 11

     Squats                 - 10 - 12 - 11 - 8 - 10 - 10 - 9 - 10

     Push press, 24#  - 18 - 12 - 14 - 10 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 8

     Push-ups*          - 8 - 9 - 9 - 9 - 9 - 9 - 7 - 6

     Sit-ups                - 1 - 4 - 4 - 3 - 0 - 4 - 2 - 3

*I did wall push-ups today.  I will say it is crazy how slow/out of shape/sore I am!  The one exercise that I always sucked at before is the one that was actually okay today and that was jump rope.  I did way better this go around doing jump rope.  And by that, I mean actually jumping the rope several times in a row without missing and starting over.  I was surprised at how weak my thighs are when I was doing squats.  My legs were so squiggly before I finished those up.  AND push-presses, which I used to breeze through - ridiculous squiggly arms!  I knew sit-ups would be bad, so that didn't surprise me.  And yes, I had a round of "zero".  I just couldn't do it.  The stretch felt too good!  lol

Well, I will say I got up and worked out.  I'm going to go ahead and take an aspirin and hopefully head off the pain.  My thighs are already throbbing.  I just need to not let myself get to this point again.  This will be a good workout to do periodically and see if I have improved or not.   

   



The first 5 days after the weekend are always the hardest!

Yes, they are!  lol  I'm sure you noticed I went MIA last week.  A stomach bug decided to visit my house and that was NOT fun.  I'm hoping this week will be a much better week than last week.  One thing I do ask...please try not to judge me too bad this go around.  I have great intentions, but I am a procrastinator.  Most of my siblings are procrastinators as well.  I don't recall my parents being that way, but then again I never really paid that much attention to the grown ups in my world when I was younger.  I was too busy outside having fun!  Anyway, please don't be harsh.  My psyche likes positive thoughts not negative ones.  ;)

Today's workout choices are listed below.  I do believe I'm doing HIITMamas today.  I need to try to figure out some way for me to keep up with the 20 seconds in an easy way.  Maybe I can find a timer online and have it on my computer where I can see it easy.  It'd be great if I had the time to do a recording or something with a timer going off after 20 seconds and one minute repeatedly.  I might see what I can do.

HIITMamas:

   Tabata this!

      8 rounds each exercise, 20 seconds each round with 10 second breaks in between

      1 minute rest between each exercise

         - jump rope

         - squat

         - push press, 20#

         - push-ups

         - butterfly sit-ups

   They suggest you write down your reps during your 10-second break.

Brand X CrossFit:

   "Randy"

      buttercups (beginning beginners)

         35 power snatch, using PVC-15# weights

--UPDATE--  I found a tabata timer at the Google Play Store.  It's called HIIT Timer and it looks awesome.  I can't wait to see how well it works today.  :)

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Another day....another workout!

Well, I am pleased to say that I was not sore this morning when I woke up.  I did take a nice, long, hot bubble bath last night.  I was feeling a little stiff before I went to bed so I was surprised not to feel any soreness.  My left knee has been wonky for a few days and I thought it would bother me while on the treadmill yesterday, but it was fine.  I just feel a twinge whenever I go to sit down or go down steps.  It hasn't been as bad today as it was yesterday, and that's a good thing!


The two workouts I have to choose from today are:
   HIIT Mamas
      5 rounds for time
        - 20 bench dips
        - 14 thrusters, 20-30# weights


   CrossFit Brand X:
      prep - 3 rounds or 5 minutes
        10 arm circles forwards
        10 arm circles backwards
        5 explosive push-ups
        5 power ball
      beginner
        21-15-9
          push press, 20-30# weights
          box jumps, 12-20"


I believe I'm going to do the HIIT Mamas workout today.  Y'all wish me luck!


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Queenie Gets in Shape Again!

Yup...that's the plan.  Let's hope I stick to it.  It's going to be tricky because I am still babysitting my beautiful granddaughter, Addy.  She will be 17 months old on Thursday.  She's a lot more independent and a lot more mobile, so we'll see how it goes.  I am not going to go all "gung-ho" on starting, but start at my pace and then do more and more.  I am going to follow the same CrossFit/type blogs that I followed before - HIIT Mamas and CrossFit Brand X.  I may or may not stick to just those two workouts.  I haven't really decided.  I do know that I plan to do something every day - I just don't know what that something is.


I have made a resolution - which is to do the equivalent of a minimum of 1 mile/day, whether on my treadmill or outside (weather permitting).  Seven miles per week is my commitment for now.  Which means, if it comes Sunday and I haven't done anything, then my butt will do all seven miles on Sunday, which doesn't sound like fun...at all.  So I'm going to work really hard to keep that from happening.  My workout week will begin on Mondays and end on Sundays. 


Todays blog workouts are listed below...
   HIIT Mamas:
      4 rounds each for time -
         run 800 meters
      *rest as needed between rounds
   CrossFit Brand X:
      rest day


I'm choosing HIIT Mamas today, but I will not be running.  I will walk the entire two miles.  I don't know what speed, incline, etc. until I get upstairs on my treadmill.  Again, I'm not going all gang-busters....it is my first day back after all.  I should have no problem doing this since Addy is not here on Mondays.  She stays with her other grandmother every Monday, unless it's a doctor's appointment day or if the other grandmother has plans.


I'm super excited to be back "at it" and I hope you bear with me as I start this journey and try not to judge me too hard. 


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Done!  I admit, it felt good to sweat again - without having a hot flash!  lol  I did the entire two miles and my time was not great, but I wanted to start off slow and I made sure I was doing a speed on the treadmill so I wouldn't have to hold on to the handles.  I'm listing the breakdown of speed/incline below.


50:31 total time
200 meters @ 2.0 speed/0 incline
200 meters @ 2.4 speed/2 incline
200 meters @ 2.6 speed/3 incline
200 meters @ 2.6 speed/4 incline
200 meters @ 2.8 speed/0 incline
200 meters @ 2.8 speed/2 incline
200 meters @ 2.8 speed/4 incline
100 meters @ 2.8 speed/2 incline
25 meters @ 2.6 speed/0 incline
25 meters @ 2.4 speed/0 incline
25 meters @ 2.2 speed/0 incline
25 meters @ 2.0 speed/0 incline


I plan to take a long soak in the tub tonight and try out some new bath bubbles I received for Christmas.  Hopefully I won't be too sore tomorrow.


Two miles down, 5 to go for my weekly minimum!!  :)

Taking a "blog" break...

Okay - I know I need to work on my new schedule.  I do...I really do.  I was unable to work out yesterday because Addy was NOT feeling well at all - her poor little nose is either stuffy or runny.  I swear all I did yesterday was suck it out with the "snot-sucker"!  lol 

I am not going to post anything until I can get into a normal routine with her.  I'm still writing down the workouts from HIIT Mamas and am still going to try to do them.  I just feel like such a failure because I haven't been able to do them lately, yet I know Addy comes first.  I'll post when I can workout - so hopefully this blog won't be totally blank.  I know things will get easier, but I'm just trying to catch up on work or housework while she naps and I just play with her while she's awake.  It won't be for long, so bear with me!!

Failure is not fatal.  Only failure to get back up is.  Well...that's a good thing in my case, isn't it?  lol  I want everyone to know that I am NOT a lazy bum/couch potato whenever I don't get a workout in.  I'm just busy.  I did not workout yesterday.  My original plan was to catch up on office paperwork for most of the day since Addy was at her other grandmother's house.  Well, I did make it into the office, but only for about 45 minutes.  Then, I started on Hayley's laundry, which led me to finally getting her winter clothes out and putting her summer clothes away, which led me to going through all of her clothes and getting rid of what she doesn't/can't wear any more, which led me to cleaning out the closet and under her bed and before I knew it I had to stop and pick her up from school.  I then finished up everything after I got back.  Right when I was getting ready to go work out, Katy called to see if I could pick her up from work.  The clutch went out on Andy's car so it was in the shop, so he drove Katy to work but when it came time for her to leave he was in the middle of his work and couldn't leave and she had to go so she could feed Addy and keep her on schedule.  So, being the great mom that I am...yada, yada, yada.  :)   Anyway - the point is - I was very busy yesterday and my butt muscles are sore.  Not sure what I did that used them so much yesterday, but yeah - they're there! 

My plan is to do the workout I planned to do yesterday - "20 x 20".  I'm not going to list them all again - just read yesterday's blog.  :)
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Okay Monday...let's do this!

Okay Monday...let's do this!  For real!!  I did not get a workout in last Thursday (I'm sure you noticed that), nor did I even look at the workouts on Friday.  I've really got to work on my new schedule.  I know I sound like a broken record, but it's true.  I've got to get back in the groove.  But - on the bright side....I DID get two workouts in last week and that's better than none, right?  Right.

 

I just looked at Friday's HIIT Mamas workout and I do believe I'm going to do that one today.  It sounds like a nice challenge to start off the week, plus it's a "compare to" and y'all know how much I love those!!

 

Today's workout - "20 x 20" - sounds fun, right?  ;)

   20 - wall ball shots

        - sit-ups

        - box jumps

        - push-ups

        - cleans, 20 lbs

        - jump rope

        - thrusters, 20 lbs

        - front squats, 40 lbs

        - kettle-bell swings, 20 lbs

        - bench dips

        - sumo dead-lift high pulls, 20 lbs

        - burpees

        - hang squat cleans, 20 lbs

        - pull-ups

        - walking lunges

        - dead-lifts, 60 lbs

        - knees to elbows

        - squats

        - leg lifts

 

We did this on 12/6/12 and my time was 27:02.  Let's just hope I don't do worse!  lol

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Nothing much going on...

Nothing much going on this morning.  I still cannot post pictures on my blog.  I've sent ANOTHER "feedback" to Blogger - maybe they'll respond to this one.  Oh well...I'm here...I'm blogging.  :)

Today's workout looks fun - tough, but fun.
   5 rounds for time
      20 push-ups
      30 walking lunges
      40 sit-ups
      50 squats
   *rest 3 minutes between each round*

I just spoke with my daughter, Katy, and she wants to increase the amount of milk in Addy's bottles today and possibly cut out one bottle.  So, we'll see how that goes.  I'm sure it will be a crazy day here today because of that, but I'll have Honey-Buns helping out and should be able to workout again.  It feels really great to get these workouts in.  I have to say, I'm pretty glad I haven't gained weight since I haven't been working out as much.  Maybe this will kick it back in and I'll start dropping a few - even though that's not the purpose of my working out.  I just want to be more fit and able to keep up with Addy like I was when my kids were little.  Children are so much fun to have around!

I've gotta run - running late this morning.  Y'all have a good day.
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Another day...another workout!

Another day...another workout!  Let's hope so, anyway!!  Again, I'm having issues with Blogger and cannot upload a photo.  I've tried using both Chrome and Internet Explorer, with the same results.  The box pops up for me to add a picture, but it's completely empty.  It's driving me crazy!!

I'm doing yesterday's prescribed workout from HIIT Mamas - I'm a day behind this week.  Here's what I hope to do today:

Run 1 mile
50 Sumo Deadlift High Pulls, 20 lbs
Run 1 mile

I'm really hoping either Honey-Buns will be here to watch Addy or she is better at just watching me today.  I'll take my carrier upstairs just in case - but I can't run with her in it, nor can I do deadlift high pulls.  I'm really hoping for a happy baby this afternoon!!
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Yay!  Two days in a row!!  Honey-Buns was here - thank goodness because Miss Addy was not having anything to do with the upstairs today.  She pitched the biggest fit with me just putting on my shoes!  Of course, she's happy as a bug in a rug right now.  :)

I did this, but cut it short - meaning, I did not do the last mile.  I am VERY proud to say that I did NOT hold on AT ALL on the treadmill today!!  :)  I did the "run a mile" training - run 100 meters walk 300 meters times 4, except on the last quarter mile I ran 100 meters, walked 100 meters, ran 100 meters, walked 100 meters.  All running was at 4.3 speed and all walking was at 3.3 speed.  SO happy with that!!  I used 24 lb dumbbells with the sumo dead-lift high pulls.  My shoulders are burning!!  I was able to do 20, then 10, 8, 7, 5.

Total time was 19:14 - 16:55 was my treadmill time.  I know that isn't a great time for a mile, but I did NOT hold on!  :)

Make things happen.  Yep...that's what I need to do!  By the time I got back from FODAC yesterday, I had a pretty bad headache - rain, traffic, rain.  What is it about the rain that makes me people drive like idiots?  Maybe they've always driven like idiots and I just don't notice until it rains?  Who knows?  lol  Regardless, I did not do anything yesterday.  It was even after supper time that I put the lights and ornaments on my tree.  Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love to hurry up and decorate my tree.  It just didn't happen this year.  Oh well...it's done now and I must say it is gorgeous!  I went back to traditional Christmas colors this year.  Last year, I used only pink ornaments, the year before that it was pink, blue, green, and purple.  This year, it's red balls and silver stars.  I've always used only white lights on my trees for as long as I can remember - has to do with my childhood.  My family always used multi-colored lights and I always wanted to try white lights, but they wouldn't do it.  So, I use multi-colored lights outside and white lights inside.  This year, I decided to use white and red lights.  I was going to buy new white lights this year (I've had mine forever) and just get a some red lights and sit and mix them up, but luckily Target knew of my plans and decided to sell strands of lights that have white, frosted white, and red so that saved me a LOT of trouble!  Thank you, Target!!  Honey-Buns was not thrilled with the idea of red lights being added, until he saw them.  He even said "Our tree looks so sharp this year!".  Yay - it's Honey-Buns approved!  :)

Sorry my blog is later than usual.  I had trouble uploading photos again today and decided to troubleshoot it.  Apparently, my pop-up blocker was on for this site.  I fixed it! 

I'm doing yesterday's workout today.  Just a reminder:

   5 rounds for time

      7 dumbbell squat clean thrusters with 20-30 lbs

      20 sit-ups

I got this!

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Well...I was able to work out today, just not completely.  I took Addy upstairs with me because Honey-Buns had to go and check on our drivers/deliveries.  I set her on a pillow with her soft blankie on top and she watched me do a complete first round.  During the second round, she started fussing a little when I was doing the sit-ups, so I picked her up and held her "airplane" like while doing sit-ups.  She seemed to enjoy those, but when I put her back down to do thrusters again, she got really mad.  She wouldn't even calm down while doing the airplane sit-ups - I was able to get 10 of them done, then I stood up and we did 20 squats.  Then, I decided to just get on the treadmill.  I was barefoot, so I only went 2.0 speed, and I held her the whole time.  I was really wishing my carrier was upstairs, but it was downstairs and I wasn't going to stop and go get it.  We walked for 10 minutes on the treadmill, the last minute and half of her screaming!  I jumped on the scales with her, then compared to without her.  She now weighs 12.5 pounds!!  At least I did something, right?  I'm thinking she didn't like the Offspring - they were who I listened to today.  I'll have to switch it up and see what kind of music she likes.  I know she loves her xylophone and she has a toy we call "baby crack" because it puts her right to sleep - it's a Little Einstein musical toy.  No matter if she's pitching a fit or not, she zones out the minute that thing starts playing and just stares at the lights and 9 times out of 10, she falls asleep.  Crazy kid!!  :)

Monday!!

  I'm not sure what is going on with blogger this morning, but I am unable to add a picture to my blog.  I tried to do it both using my Google Chrome browser and Internet Explorer, so it's definitely a website issue.  Oh well - hopefully they'll have it working correctly tomorrow 'cause I really like adding pictures and quotes!  :)

I'm going to be honest and just say I knew I would not have time to work out last week, so I didn't even bother looking at blogs or anything.  I will say I did do a LOT of walking and moving stuff around, so I'm counting that as working out.  No really - I did.  My butt is even sore this morning (and has been just about all weekend) to prove it!  I'm not sure if I mentioned this before, but my son has had to move back home into the basement.  It's a good thing I moved the office upstairs, huh?  His roommate worked for his father's company and that went out of business.  My son knew he couldn't afford to pay the rent and monthly bills by himself, so he asked if he could come back home for a little bit and we agreed.  I helped him move the majority of his stuff a few weeks ago.  He left some stuff for the roommate to continue to use until he moved out.  Well, we moved the remainder of the stuff last Wednesday and just stuck it in my garage.  Yes, it was overflowing - I only had a direct path to walk through to get to my vehicle.  So yesterday, he and I moved the stuff out of the garage and into the basement.  Let me just say...stairs.  Lots of them!  As we would come back up, we'd bring a load of stuff to take to Goodwill.  I had a lot of stuff down there and he went through his stuff and purged during this move.  No lie...my van was full.  And by full, I mean the entire middle area where the wheelchair goes and the entire back part.  Thank goodness for Goodwill!  I'm hoping to go to FODAC (Friends of Disabled Adults and Children) today to donate Hayley's old wheelchair and stander that are taking up more space in my garage.  I want to burn a fire in the fireplace and I can't because I don't have wood and I can't get wood because we can't get to the storage spot in our garage!  It's a catch 22!!  Katy, Addy, and I all went shopping on Friday at the Mall of Georgia.  We got there around 1:30/2:00 and yes, it was packed but we were able to get front row parking at Dillard's which was awesome timing for us!  The mall was packed and I saw more men out shopping on Black Friday than I've ever seen before.  I used to go with the 6:00 a.m. crowd, but switched to the middle of the night (2:00 a.m.) crowd for the past few years.  With everyone going cuckoo for Thanksgiving night shopping (not me, some things you just don't need to do during family time) I figured I wouldn't go this year.   But, Katy and I decided last minute to go.  It was actually pretty calm and everyone was very friendly - it was just crowded.  Addy is a great little shopper!  Katy called on Saturday to see if I wanted to go to Target with her since we never made it on Friday, so I said "sure".  My son wanted to go because he needed some new shoes, so off to Target, Kohl's, and Georgia Square Mall (in Athens) we went.  I also did not plan to go Christmas tree shopping yesterday since Katy said they were going next weekend.  I figured I'd go one day this week - it's WAY less crowded on a week day, but Katy called and said they decided to go yesterday so yes - I now have my Christmas tree.  It's not early for me and a tree...Honey-Buns always makes me wait until December to get my tree 'cause he's afraid it will die before Christmas.  Luckily, December seemed like it came early since Thanksgiving was so late.  I don't have lights or decorations on the tree yet, but I'll do that today sometime.

Addy's other grandmother has decided she wants to keep her on Mondays, so that is the new plan.  Honey-Buns picks her up in the mornings and I'll do the first feeding, then take her to Nonnie's house.  I'll pick her up around 4:45 and take her to meet Katy like normal.  Katy doesn't want Nonnie bringing her because Nonnie has four-year old twins that would be with her and she thinks that's too much of a distraction.  So, to make Katy comfortable, we're sticking with the original pick-up/drop-off plan. 

I am working out today.  I have not decided if I'm going to do a run (which I really need to do) or if I'm going to do the HIIT Mamas workout.  Regardless...it's getting done!!  :)

5 rounds for time:
   7 dumbbell squat clean thrusters w/20-30 lbs
   20 sit-ups

I'll post my results later!
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Just a quick note....

Just a quick note - I took Hayley to her surgery follow-up appointment yesterday.  It was at 10:30 right across from Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Atlanta.  Can you believe I left at 9:10 and did not get there until 10:30 on the dot?  Traffic was horrible!!  I ended up with a stress headache that just would not go away yesterday afternoon, so no work out then.  Today is a Special Olympics event.  After doing payroll and billing and the event, it doesn't look like I'll have time to work out today either.  I'll get something done over the weekend.  Y'all have a good one!!