Week 1 Report & Weigh-in

It is time to get back on track.

When I started this Journey of mine in September, I had no idea what the future would hold. I felt old, weak, slow, fat, out-of-shape, injured, sick and pretty disappointed in myself.

By the end of October I felt strong, awesome, powerful, healthy, fit, quick, in control, motivated, and excited about the future. I was PROUD of myself. All that in two months of being consistent. Quite the Profit.

In November I found out that I had to have a pretty intensive surgery and it sort of paralyzed my efforts. I was still working out like a machine, but I started eating my emotions and my fears a little bit. I fought it with everything that I had, but I was pretty scared and insecure about the future and it was defiantly playing a major roll in my weight loss. I was still proud of myself for continuing to workout...the old me would have quit.

And now December 15th has come and gone and I feel that it is a true miracle that I am doing so great. I feel great, I feel blessed, I feel FIXED.

So now what? I have NO more excuses. REALLY. None. I'm better than I could have ever hoped for. 

So here is to 2012.

A year of reaching my goals.

Pushing myself.

Being an example.

Overcoming my fear of failure.

Relying on the Lord for strength in moments of weakness.

Enjoying this body that I have.

Loving this body that I have.

Using this body that I have.

Today was my first day POST-OP in the gym. I took it easy. I tried to be smart. I felt like I wanted to fly.

It was hard not to do more. 

But, I felt strong. I felt awesome. I felt powerful and healthy and fit and quick and in control.

I am realizing just how much all that training did to help me prepare to recover from the surgery. When I found out about my surgery it felt like my efforts were wasted and I was going to have to start all over again.

But what really happened is that my training made ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

And while I gained a few pounds being idle and eating holiday treats, I didn't lose any muscle. And I didn't lose my vision.

So I'm back. And I could really use some company.

Do any of you want to join me?

This journey isn't just about losing weight. It is about getting FIT and LIVING LIFE.

What are your health and fitness goals this year?

I want to hear!!!!

(I'm not weighing in for another week or so. But I will soon. And I am being accountable.) 

Wednesday: Did You Know?

1. Christmas is amazing. I can't believe how much I love ribbon, wrapping paper, and family.  The kids love it too and Kate and Sawyer had so much fun decorating Papa. My dad is a kid at heart and is so patient with the kids. Isn't he cute!

 2. How cute is Sawyer rolling out the cookie dough that came in {this amazing Christmas Cookie Basket from the Folkman's}. You have to check out the link. It is the cutest Christmas Gift idea I've ever seen. Rachel is a genius, just like her mother and always puts together amazing theme ideas. It blew my mind, and my kids were the ones that benefited from the great gift. They had so much fun making and decorating cookies with Nana.

3. Before we left Utah on Tuesday, we hit up the Quicksilver store in Provo. Everything was 75% off and we scored. My favorite purchase was this flannel shirt for Sawyer. Oh my heavens I am in love with it. It cost me a Whopping 2 bucks. So cute.

4. I'm going to stop talking as much about my medical issues. There will be a few more posts, but I'm sure you are all sick of hearing about 'poor' me. So here it is. It is two weeks post surgery and I am FABULOUS!!! I can't believe how good I am. Miracle after Miracle have gotten me here and I feel so blessed to be doing so well. The worst part of the entire surgery was my rash, and the first time they filled up my bladder with fluid.

My catheter got a hole in the bag the night before I had it removed and so I had to double bag it with grocery bags. SO GROSS!!! But pretty funny.

I am TUBE free, PAIN free and I have no holes in my bladder or uterus that aren't supposed to be there! AMAZING! I feel so blessed.

5. Scott and I laid in bed last night while Sawyer was sleeping on the floor. (This happens a lot. Don't ask.) He started telling  us jokes and we were laughing so hard. I can't believe that he is almost 3. I have enjoyed him so much. Everything that he says or does is just magic. I sure have a soft spot for him in my heart. I love all my kids so much, but every mom should have a Sawyer.

6. Today, when I put Kate's hair up in pig tails I made her promise me that she would wash her hair tomorrow. It has seriously been a week since she washed her hair. Gross. She sure clean's up cute though.

7. Wyatt is getting really mobile and really brave. This is him yelling at me for trapping him in the living room with stools. I'm not sure what to do with him. He is everywhere. He is hilarious. And really smiley, as long as he is roaming free.

8. Scott left the house today and exclaimed "we are going to a family movie tonight if the house is clean when I get home." I know that this incentive was for the kids...but good grief, that is still a lot of pressure on me. I better get busy!

9. On Monday, Kimm, Nana and the clan took me and my Catheter to see A Dolphin's Tale (my first public outing with my pee). I cried about 10 times.  I dreamed of being a dolphin trainer as a child and still have a love for the Sea and it's creatures. Great movie. Scott ended up driving the two babies (yes I still call Sawyer my baby) around in the car for most of the movie. Thanks Scott.

10. My first night without my catheter and my first night with a working bladder I had to use the bathroom about every 45 minutes. This is worse than pregnancy. I literally felt like I was going to the bathroom all night long. (TMI I know!) Anyway, tell your bladder that you love it!

How was your Christmas?

What is the longest your daughter has gone without washing her hair?

Do you have a extra soft spot for any of your children?

Post-Op Thoughts...Lot's and Lot's

• Waking up from surgery and seeing Scott and my parents huddled in the corner with tears in their eyes was a moment in time I will never forget. Oh the blessed state of being alive!!!
• It is such a relief to have the surgery behind me. I will be very grateful to never have to stay in the hospital again. Ever. Never. Ever.
• It is funny realizing that the surgery has been way less painful than I thought it would be.
• I am also realizing that it is going to be a much longer recovery than I anticipated. When they said I wouldn't be lifting anything for 6 weeks they weren't kidding. I have two babies people. How am I going to make it?

• I tried so hard to read, sleep, watch movies, and blog, but I was a  total zombie. I couldn't do anything. My mind was a wasteland. The whole thing so far is one big blur.
• I was so grateful for visitors while I was in the hospital. I wish I would have had more visits. I can't believe how much it helped having people stop by.
• The surgery ended up taking 5 hours and I feel so bad for Scott who had to wait and wait and wait with no word from the Doctors.
• Dr. Cahoon explained the entire surgery to me in great detail after I woke up from the Anesthesia and I have no recollection of this whatsoever.
• Getting poked by nurses who can't find your veins is really annoying. And painful.

• This Bair Paws Machine is AMAZING and I wish I had one at home. It blows warm air out of a hose and I put it under my blankets and it kept me super comfortable and warm. Where was this machine when I had spinal meningitis?
• This was my first hospital visit ever where all the buttons on my bed worked. The TV remote worked, the lights worked, and even the rolling table worked with no problems. Luxury I tell you.
• If I had to say one bad thing about my stay it would be the food. They didn't have a menu. I really like when I get to plan what I eat instead of mystery meals just being brought in.

• This picture is Ashley. She is like a sister to me and she works at the hospital. After her shift she came in and helped me change, walk around my room for the first time. She was a great blessing to me and I love her so much. She was made to be a nurse. 

• Can you tell how stoned I am in this picture. My eyes were barely able to stay open, I couldn't focus on anything and I felt like I was flying. Those are strong drugs my friends. Strong.
• I had two catheters after the surgery and one drainage tube. I still have one catheter and it comes out of my stomach and it is really freaky. I have to carry it around with me and Sawyer calls it my "ewe, yukky poop bag". This makes me feel really loved. There is nothing worse than carrying around your own pee bag. EXCEPT for carrying around your own pee bag that isn't working. (Like last time. That was super painful.)

• Come one. Tell me how bad you wish you could carry around your own urine? When was the last time you told your bladder how much your loved it? Bladders are awesome. Bags of pee are not.
• My biggest worry was being able to go #2. I have had success. Nough' Said.

• I love Michael Buble. Love him. Not as much as my friend Laurel loves him, but he is most excellent. I rocked to his Christmas tunes while I was in the hospital. It helped.

• I have a beautiful 7 inch long incision that starts at by belly button and goes down, down, down. It is lovely. NOT.

• And seroiusly, NOTHING has made me feel better than having my sister JENNA put on these eyelash extensions. I love them. They make me feel feminine and girly, and a little bit less like an ugly jigsaw puzzle. BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER JENNA. I LOVE YOU.

• The only complication that I have had is an allergic reaction to the glue and tape they used on my incision. It is completely scabbed over with blisters and such. It hurts and itches and looks terrible. 
• I've been taking Benedryl for the allergies and I have slept for the past three days straight. I have slept all day and all night. LITERALLY. 
• My Mother-in-law Shawna has taken over the care of everything at my house. EVERYTHING. Remember I told you that I have been sleeping for 3 days straight. She is remarkable.
• My friends and neighbors have taken care of all the food and meals so far. They are the best people in the world and I can't believe that I lucked out getting to live next to them.

Well, I am making it through this. It hasn't been easy. I will be happy when the catheter is taken out on Tuesday. For now I have given up all Christmas goals and ideas and projects. They just aren't going to happen. It is okay. I feel closer to my Savior than ever before. More aware of his mighty power and love for his children. More aware of his love for me, and his willingness to bear my afflictions.

I am so blessed. I am so humbled. I am so grateful.

I am alive. I am ticking.

And pretty soon I will be back to normal. And I will have to try a lot harder to remember where I have been, and what I have been through. But I am determined to remember these lessons, these little nuggets of wisdom, the gratitude for life that I have been given.

I am most likely not making sense, I am on drugs, remember?

But I am so blessed.

Remember that.

Love to  you all!!!!

PS. I've missed you. How are you all doing?

Pre-Op Thoughts

• I let the kids pack their own clothes. I hope they packed underwear.

• I sat Dylan and Kate down and told them how much I love being their mom. I told them that if God ever decided he needed me in heaven, to make sure that Scott found a beautiful, kind new wife. Dylan said, "like a step mom?" and I said "No, a REAL mom? And you would be super lucky to have two moms". He said, "ya two moms is great, but one mom is better if it is you." this made my heart smile. It was kind of a mature conversation, but I felt better for getting my wishes out there.

• I'm looking forward to hospital food. Is that weird?  

• I started crying when I was praying for my Surgeons. I was expressing how much they would be blessing my life if they could fix the problems and I completely lost it. How cool would it be to truly be able to change someone's life like that for good? Pretty awesome. 

• Scott is the best husband in the entire world. He helped me so much today and he knew just what to say. I love him. 

• Hoping that tomorrow I have one less hole in my bladder and one less hole in my Uterus. Fingers crossed. 

• Best case scenario I stop leaking fluids from all the wrong places and I get to have another baby. 

• Hoping the incision from my belly button down to my pubic bone isn't too hideous. 

• Grateful that the hospital is close to my parents house. 

• Grateful for my faith, my friends, my family, my husband, my children. 

• Watched an amazing documentary last night called Buck. Now all I can think of is riding horses

• I am blessed. 

I will check in tomorrow and let you know how it went. 

I love you all.

Week 8 Report and Weigh-in

(CoCo, don't give up on me, New York Post coming tomorrow! Gosh I love you!)

Remember the last time that I posted about cutting out the Halloween Candy?

Ya, well...I sort of never did.

DANG IT!!!

I'm pretty mad about it too. I've been having some serious mental battles {like not wanting to have surgery on December 14th, but needing to have surgery on December 14th} and somehow I turn to food to make me feel better...ya...I know, I sound like I should have been on Oprah.

On Friday I was working out with Lisa {my super awesome trainer} and I started crying. I didn't even feel emotional, but I started sobbing and letting out all sorts of emotional baggage. BELIEVE ME, those people on the Biggest Loser are not a bunch of sissy cry-babies. I learned that there is a serious connection between being completely physically spent, and having a trainer ask you about 'what is holding you back'.

Duh...I AM HOLDING ME BACK.

After I got it together and got really honest about what I had been eating, I felt much better.

Honesty really is the best policy people.

So here is my mini-recap of the past month.

Hop on scale...

"Oh good, that chocolate didn't show up yet..."
"Oh man, yep, there it is..."
"What? I didn't eat that much chocolate.
"Help, I'm out of control!"

I really have felt a little bit out of control with my eating the past month. I have however stuck to my workout plan and so I feel really good about that.

I am back on track now and hopefully will have better numbers next week. And you are all going to me amazed as I LOSE WEIGHT DURING THANKSGIVING WEEK!!!

I will. Just watch.

Here we go again.

Starting Weight: 168lbs

Last Month's Weight: 157.8 lbs

Current Weight: 159.5 lbs

This Week's Weight Gain: 1.7 lbs

Wow, it feels better having that out. 

How are you doing with treats during the holidays?

Have you been giving in like me?

Do you ever feel out of control?

Week 7 Report and Weigh-in

Week 7 Report and Weigh-in

Great week. I'm having a hard time saying NO to all the holiday treats that are coming my way, so today I am committing to no sugar unless it is my day off. I get one of those a week. So GOODBYE Halloween candy and SUGAR cookies!!!

Monday Oct. 17
Upper body weights Shoulders and Tri's & HITT

Tuesday Oct. 18
Ab Ripper at home

Wednesday Oct.19
Lower body Weights

Thursday Oct. 20
Off

Friday Oct. 21
Upper body Weights Back and Bi's

Saturday Oct. 22

Lower Body Weights and Plyo

Weigh-in Report 

Starting Weight: 168lbs

Last Week Weight: 159 lbs

Current Weight: 157.8 lbs

This Week's Weight Loss: -1.2 lbs

Changes I've noticed.   

Physical: My clothes are starting to fit a little looser. Nice Perk!!! Friday night during our crazy Halloween scavenger hunt I was running and my pants fell off. That was a little embarrassing. BUT the KEYWORD was I was RUNNING!!! I felt fast too.  I was sprinting as fast as I could and I felt so good and ALIVE. My piriformis was not liking me too much on Saturday. Poor sciatic nerve. But I feel better this morning so WAHOO!!!!!

Mental: I've been justifying my eating a little bit so it is time to focus on that again. My workouts are going SO GREAT, no I just need to get my eating back on track and I know the results will come quicker!

Spiritual: I'm falling behind on my Book Of Mormon reading and it is stressing me out. I am trying to catch back up. I had three really great experiences  on The Sabbath and I love that.

Week 6 Report and Weigh-in

Week 6 Report and Weigh-in

Here it is. I played mental sabotage with myself this week. I doubted my abilities and my potential. I was a mess. I got in some pretty amazing workouts, but I sort of lost focus of my goal and gave into small edible temptations.  


The good news is that I am not making excuses for myself and I have my head back in the game.

Monday Oct. 10
Lower Body Weights

Tuesday Oct. 11
Upper Body Weights and HITT (With Trainer Lisa) Started new 4 day split with Super sets and plyo

Wednesday Oct.12
Lower body Weights

Thursday Oct. 13
Upper Body weights and HITT

Friday Oct. 14
Lower Body Weights and PLYO

Saturday Oct. 15 

Day Off

Weigh-in Report 

Starting Weight: 168lbs

Last Week Weight: 158.6 lbs 

Current Weight: 159.00 lbs

This Week's Weight Loss: +.4 lbs (OH man!)

Changes I've noticed... 

Physical: The new workouts that I am doing are amazing. I can hardly believe that I can do things that I couldn't have dreamed of just 6 short weeks ago. I am amazing myself everyday. I'm pretty proud of myself. And I can jump pretty high. Go Figure.

Mental: I already told you that I had some hard days last week. I had a bit of depression and self pity. I give in too easily sometimes.

Spiritual: I am facing some hard truths about myself.  I'm learning that I can do hard things. I am learning that I really can ask my Heavenly Father for help with getting in shape, or controlling my eating. I sometimes feel like I should be able to do it alone, but I am so much more capable when I rely on the Lord. (Duh!)

Week 5 Report and Weigh-in

Wow, 5 weeks down. I hit a wall again this week called the FLU. Oh man, it just never lets up. There is always something keeping me from doing what I want to do...but I made it through. I missed three workouts but oh well, this is life and I'm going to just keep going. (See my Sunday Post about Consistency!) My weight dropped to about 156 when I was in the middle of the FLU so I am happy that I was just able to re-hydrate and keep it down a little.

I want to make a point that this journey for me is NOT about the numbers. But the numbers are a good way to measure my progress. I don't have some magical number that I want to weigh. I just want to feel good, feel healthy, and feel light.

As for food I need to do a separate post on that. I am eating a lot of food, just good foods. I could probably lose weight faster if I cut my calories more, but I am nursing and trying to make a change that I can live with forever. So I'm following Michael Jordan's advice.

"I just eat enough to FLY!!!"

I hope that these posts aren't annoying. I think that they are playing a BIG role right now in my motivation and success. It is amazing how many times a day I think...oh boy, make a good choice, you have to weigh yourself on Monday and the whole world will know if you hit your goal.


Monday Oct. 3
Upper Body Weights & HITT

Tuesday Oct. 4
Lower Body Weights (With Trainer Lisa check her out {Here})

Wednesday Oct.5
Sick with the FLU. Boo!

Thursday Oct. 6
Flu.

Friday Oct. 7
Flu.

Saturday Oct. 8
Cardio and Abs

Weigh-in Report 

Starting Weight: 168lbs

Last Week Weight: 160.4 lbs 

Current Weight: 158.6

This Week's Weight Loss: -1.8lbs (I'm in the 150's!!! Watch me go!)

Changes I've noticed... 

Physical: I felt pretty crappy this week due to the flu, but I buttoned up some jeans that  I couldn't fit in before. Awesome. I am getting around so much easier. I don't think about my knees, hips, back at all anymore. 5 weeks of any kind of torture is worth that my friends.

Mental: I hate being sick, but I didn't lose my head and I couldn't wait to get better and get back in the gym. (Who am I?)

Spiritual: I've been spending A LOT  of time in my scriptures this week and WOW I am feeling so full of light and inspiration. 

Week Four Report and Weigh-in

Week Four Report and Weigh-in 

The Worth of a Soul

Well, another week has come and gone and I am still pursuing this goal of mine. I must say that it is hard work. But at the same time, it really isn't that hard. But it is taking FOCUS and EFFORT. 

Last week I received an email from a fellow blogger. 

Erin,

There is a scripture that says 'let thy soul delight in fatness.' 2 Ne 9:51. It has caused me some deep reflection because of my bodily injuries to my back and hips 6 years ago. I can't recover from them, and that keeps my body weight heavier than I want. It is so hard to look at my body without hurting for the old body I had. And yet every time I covet my old body, (which I'm trying so hard not to do) I feel as if the Lord tells me to focus on the new person I'm becoming. He wants me to focus on becoming spiritually fat... He wants me to stop being ashamed of Him and His ways - which I spent the first 30+ years of my life doing.

Who would ever think that losing my physical abilities and becoming physically fat that I would learn that I had been spiritually skinny (ashamed of Christ - YIKES!!) and that I needed to become spiritually fat and to start living what I said I believed, instead of being ashamed of it? Does that makes sense?

Since you are on a weight loss journey, I'd love to hear your thoughts on being spiritually fat..   

Sincerely,

S... 

I am going to use this post as a response to "S".

Dear S,

Thank you for your email. And thank you for following me on this Weight-Loss Journey. I would be a liar if I didn't admit to looking forward to a slimmer physique, feeling more attractive to my husband, having more energy and buying a cute pair of skinny jeans. But I want you to know that those are only some of the minor rewards that will follow the completion of this Goal of mine.

Now let me tell you what the driving force behind my Journey is.

The Lord sent me to this earth with a few gifts. My free agency. The Light of Christ. My Family. My Spirit. My Body.

It has taken me years to fully realize what a true gift having this body is. I haven't taken the best care of my body in the past. And just like you used the metaphor "Fatness" to describe your spiritual growth, I think I can flip it and describe it also as "Slim", "Conditioned", "Strong", "Powerful". I must tell you that this Journey for me is as much about as becoming Spiritually Conditioned as it is about becoming Physically fit. And it is Truly more about overcoming my WEAKNESSES {Ether 12:27} than it is about Vanity. 

You see, I've made a lot of excuses for myself, for a long time. Too many kids, injuries, no time, etc. But I was lying to myself. I wasn't doing ALL I COULD DO to take this body of mine and treat it like the TEMPLE that it is. Not my TEMPLE, but God's. {D&C 93:33-35}.  

1 Corinthians 6:19-20. 

 19 What? know ye not that your ^abody is the ^btemple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your^cown? 

 20 For ye are ^abought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

The past year has been very eye opening to me.  There is a certain clarity that comes to you when your body starts to give out and stops working properly. I've spent much of the past year dealing with Sickness, Illness, Injury, and Pain and like I am in the Winter of my life and not the Summer. And while some of it isn't my fault, I can't help but wonder how much of it is. I feel that I need to take responsibility for what is in my control, when so many of my current health problems are out of my control. One thing that is in my control is my relationship with food, and my activity level. The only reason that I have gotten out of shape is overindulgence and idleness. (I am speaking for myself only). Both of these have led to laziness, and self-pity. So this journey is about taking control of what I CAN control: My choices.

There is a part in my patriarchal blessing that cautions and warns me to "take good care of this physical body." I don't know what the Lord has planned for me. I don't know if I will be blessed with more children, be called to serve another mission, or if I will still have health issues for the rest of my life. What I DO know is that I have received personal and specific direction from the Lord and I am following it. I want you to know that this is a Spiritual and a Physical Journey; the two just can't be separated, and I am learning so much already. 

Thanks for your email, 

Erin   

Find Free Printable {HERE}

Weekly Report

Monday Sept. 26
Upper Body Weights & HITT

Tuesday Sept. 27
Lower Body Weights

Wednesday Sept. 21
Upper Body Weights & HITT

Thursday Sept. 22
Day Off

Friday Sept 23
Day Off

Saturday Sept 24
Lower Body Weights.

Weigh-in Report 

Starting Weight: 168lbs

Last Week Weight: 162 lbs 

Current Weight: 160.4lbs (So close to the 150's)

This Week's Weight Loss: -1.6lbs 

Changes I've noticed... 

Physical: I am feeling good. I can't believe how much stronger I am. My hips and back have almost completely stopped hurting. I am amazed what a little muscle can do!!!

Mental: Wow. I struggled with eating healthy. I mean I did pretty good, but I gave in a few times and wish I would have been stronger. I feel pretty stable and unemotional which is nice. No mood swings, and I'm not as grumpy anymore from giving up Sugar.

Spiritual: There isn't much to say here. General Conference is amazing and I'm on the right track. So happy.

Week Three Report and Weigh-In

Week Two Report and Weigh-in 

(Super Sick Edition)

Wow, this past week started out amazing and quickly turned into torture. On Wednesday morning I had so much blood in my urine that it looked like prune juice and the symptoms quickly followed. The week feels like a little bit of a blur. I started anti-biotics on Wednesday and am still taking them. My kidney's have been really sore and I haven't felt like doing anything. My energy has been low and so have my spirits. But, I still pushed through and followed my eating plan and workouts as good as I could. (Normally I would have just totally given up, but this is the NEW ME we are talking about.)


Monday Sept. 19 (With Trainer Lisa)
WE did a lower body weigh workout and she pushed me so hard. My favorite new thing we did was one legged leg press. This was so hard, but so amazing. The next day my entire butt was so sore and tight in the BEST way. Awesome.

Tuesday Sept. 20
Upper Body Weights & Cardio

Wednesday Sept. 21
I started feeling terrible so I just did 20 minutes of Cardio and headed home.

Thursday Sept. 22
Day Off (Sick in bed)

Friday Sept 23
Day Off

Saturday Sept 24
Lower Body Weights. I didn't push as hard as I normally would have but I did my workout and that is what counts. I'm trying to be consistent, regardless of my personal expectations.

Weigh-in Report 

Starting Weight: 168lbs

Last Week Weight: 163.6 lbs 

Current Weight: 162lbs 

This Week's Weight Loss: -1.6lbs (Total shock and amazement. Super happy about this considering.)

Changes I've noticed... 

Physical: Apart from physically being really sick, I am physically starting to feel really strong. I can tell when I pick up the kids that I am stronger. I seem to have more energy and I think that I look a bit thinner. I came down with a cold this morning and rescheduled my workout with Lisa for tomorrow morning. My body is having a hard time fighting off all of these bugs, but I'm pushing through.

Mental: This week has been a big mental battle. Do I workout even though I feel horrible? Is this an excuse that is reasonable, or am I just trying to shirk my workouts? Am I ever going to get better? Am I ever going to reach my goal? Is it worth it? 

Spiritual: This is the one area that has been great this week. I've felt the constant love of my Heavenly Father and Savior. I've felt the reassurance everyday that this is what I am suppose to be doing, that I am overcoming a weakness, and that they are there to help me. I feel safe and secure in this plan of "ours" and know that this is not just what I want for myself, but what they want for me. Only good can come out of losing weight and becoming more fit. I will be better able to fulfill my responsibilities as a wife, mother, and servant of God. I will become less dependent on others and more dependent on myself. I am becoming less idle, and more active. I feel a stronger desire to love those around me, to help others, to feel the spirit and to love my husband (amazing how feeling more attractive helps in that department). I also feel a sense of pride that I am sticking to something, and gratitude that the Lord is making it easier than in has been in the past. 

So keep me in your prayers this week will ya?

I'm looking forward to the day when I am no longer struggling to recover from the nightmare surgery I had earlier this year.

I can really use some prayers.

Thanks.

Handstand Champ

There is a list of things that I am going to do when this extra weight is off and my muscles are back and one of them on the top of the list is reclaiming my title as Handstand Champ.

Scott use to win me once in a while.

 (He thinks that walking on your hands counts. But walking makes it easier, duh. Try holding one babe.)

But now I can barely even do a handstand.

The kids are getting pretty good too.

Nothing like a Sunday Evening Handstand contest.

I will win one.

This is a warning for you Scott.

It is not far distant!

Week Two Report and Weigh-in

Okay, so last week felt like a really good week. I only got to the gym four times which was disappointing, and I had a day where I didn't not eat well, but all-in-all I'm pleased. 

Monday Sept. 12 (With Trainer Lisa) 
Upper Body & HITT
Incline DB press on bench 3 sets 12
DB chest press on ball 3 sets 12
Straight Arm Pull down 3 sets 12 ( I love this one!)
Back Extension 3 sets 20 (Still hate it, but better than last week!)
Rotator Cuff 4 sets 15
Upright Row w/ Barbell 3 sets 12
Sitting REar Fly with DB 3 sets 12
Hammer Curl with DB 3 sets 12
High Cable Curl 3 sets 12
Skullcrusher with DB 3 sets 12
Tricep Kickback w/ DB 3 sets 12

Tuesday Sept. 13  
Lower Body and LSD 20 min.
Walking Lunge 4 sets 10
Leg Press 3 sets 15
Split Squat 3 sets 15 (Hell on Earth)
Plie Squat 3 sets 15
Leg Extension 3 sets 12
Leg Curl 3 sets 12
Hip Abduction Back/Forward 3 sets 10/10
Hip Adduction 3 sets 20

Wednesday Sept. 14
Day Off.

Thursday Sept. 15 
Upper Body and HITT
Chest Press Machine 3 sets 12
Pec Machine 3 sets 12
Lat Pulldown Machine 3 sets 12
Row Machine 3 sets 12
Rotator Cuff 4 sets 15
DB shoulder Press sitting 3 sets 12
Lateral Raise standing DB 3 sets 10
EZ Bar Curl Standing 3 sets 12
Alternating DB Curl sitting 3 sets 12
Tricep Pressdown W/ Bar 3 sets 12
Skullcrushers w/ DB 3 sets 12

Friday Sept. 16
25 minutes HITT

Saturday Sept. 17  
Day Off.

Weigh-in Report  

Starting Weight: 168lbs
Last Week Weight 166 lbs
Current Weight: 163.6lbs
This Week's Weight Loss: -2.4lbs

Changes I've noticed... 

Physical: I still don't physically look different, but I have lost two inches around my waist. I feel tighter everywhere (less jiggly) and I feel SO much stronger. I also was still really sore after my workouts, but it was manageable and not deadly like the first week. I love lifting weights. And Cardio felt amazing this week too, despite having a cough and a cold. Also, no bladder infection this week, so that helps a ton too.

Mental: I did hit a few walls this week. The eating plan I'm on is awesome, but I still had a few moments where I wanted to throw in the towel, and I did on Wednesday. This probably stems from the fact that I didn't get up and work out this morning.  I definitely feel like eating better on the days I worked my butt off. 

Spiritual: I still feel a great peace and assurance that this is what I'm suppose to be doing. I'm not on a crazy diet scheme where I am watching for instant results. I am EARNING the results which feels lasting and rewarding. I feel a stronger desire to help and lift others.

Week One Report and Weigh-in (Heaven help me)

This might be SUPER boring for some of you. But I have to do it. I have committed to getting back in shape and feeling YOUNG and ALIVE again (with the goal of course of doing a back hand spring again). So I am checking in so that I can be ACCOUNTABLE. (Ya, who knew!)


Seriously dreading writing this post, but I promised myself that I would...so here it goes.

Operation: Erin Gets Her Sexy Back has begun.

Here is my report for the finish of my first week.

Monday Sept. 5 (With Trainer Lisa)
Upper Body & HITT
Incline DB press on bench  3 sets 12
DB chest press on ball 3 sets 12
Straight Arm Pull down 3 sets 12  ( I love this one!)
Back Extension 3 sets 20 (I HATE this one...Ouch.)
Rotator Cuff 4 sets 15
Upright Row w/ Barbell 3 sets 12
Sitting REar Fly with DB 3 sets 12
Hammer Curl with DB 3 sets 12
High Cable Curl 3 sets 12
Skullcrusher with DB 3 sets 12
Tricep Kickback w/ DB 3 sets 12

Tuesday Sept. 6 (With Trainer Lisa)
Lower Body and LSD 20 min.
Walking Lunge 4 sets 10
Leg Press 3 sets 15
Split Squat 3 sets 15 (Hell on Earth)
Plie Squat 3  sets 15
Leg Extension 3 sets 12
Leg Curl 3 sets 12
Hip Abduction Back/Forward 3 sets 10/10
Hip Adduction 3 sets 20

Wednesday Sept. 7
Just had a Cardio Day

Thursday Sept. 7
Upper Body and HITT
Chest Press Machine 3 sets 12
Pec Machine 3 sets 12
Lat Pulldown Machine 3 sets 12
Row Machine 3 sets 12
Rotator Cuff 4 sets 15
DB shoulder Press sitting 3 sets 12
Lateral Raise standing DB 3 sets 10
EZ Bar Curl Standing 3 sets 12
Alternating DB Curl sitting 3 sets 12
Tricep Pressdown W/ Bar 3 sets 12
Skullcrushers w/ DB 3 sets 12

Friday Sept. 8
Day Off!!!


Saturday Sept. 9
Lower Body and LSD 20 min.
Ball Squat 4 sets 15
Lunges 3 sets 10
Leg Press 3 sets 12
Leg Extension Machine 3 sets 12
Leg Curl machine 3 sets 12
Hip Abduction Back Front 3 sets 10/10
Hip Adduction 3 sets 20 to Burnout

Weigh-in Report (do you know how hard this is?)

Starting Weight: 168lbs  (Darn Vacation for 2 weeks killed me)
Current Weight: 166lbs
Weight Loss: -2lbs (Now that is the right directions. Slow and steady wins the race...Right?)
Body Fat: 38.4% (I will only be reporting this  monthly and yes I actually MEANT to write a 38.4% and         yes I get just how much that is...SHEESH!!!)

Changes I've noticed...

Physical: Well I don't look any different but I feel so much better. Eating healthy is amazing. Even just cutting out Active Carbs after 3pm is making a huge difference. I have been EXTREMELY SORE this week and I am looking forward to the worst of that being over!!! I love how lifting weights makes me feel

Mental: What can I say, Mental game is everything. I have felt really energized and invigorated this week. Anybody can do something for a week right. I have to prove to myself that I can do it until I reach my goal.

Spiritual: I feel amazing. I KNOW that I am suppose to be doing this. I KNOW that I need to get my health back so I can fulfill my calling as a wife, mother and a SERVANT of God. HE has BIG PLANS for me. (My fitness testimony in a nutshell)

There you have it. Week one down.