day three ~ b3 challenge

Day three started off with a 10 minute routine - again, before the shower. After the routine, and again, before the shower I stepped on the scale and saw...

 

I almost jumped for joy but I realized I was standing on glass ;-)

My original goal {that, one year ago, I NEVER thought I'd make} was 170 pounds and I think it is safe to say I am almost there!!! Though, since I made this goal it has 'changed' to 160. So 10.8 pounds to go :) Hopefully by Christmas-ish. For my 'milestone' present I have decided to get myself something called a FitBit. It's like a pedometer on steroids...more on it later!!!

For the second part of the mybarre3 challenge we needed to workout {brisk walk, jog, hike} for 30 minutes. I knew I needed to get myself to the gym. I wouldn't have put in an awesome effort if I'd gone home. I really do need to be around others!! I went to the gym and did 10 minutes on the stair stepper at Level 5, ran/walked for 20 minutes. It would say it was about 40 run/60 walk. I walked at speed 3.4 and ran at speed 4.3!!!! I felt like I could have gone longer but I wanted to make sure that I saved my back because it has definitely been tight this week!!!

This new life of mine is pretty sweet. I think the weight loss, in a way, makes up for all that time we spent trying to get pregnant. It makes it tolerable.

Fingers crossed.

day two ~ b3 challenge

Day Two ~ my first day of working out at home. And now I know there is a reason I pay good money to have other people make me workout. I SUCK at working out on my own. It look me over an hour to do the 30 minute one because I kept getting distracted or I was trying to cook dinner. Why I thought I could exercise and cook is beyond me!! It is really nice to have the "secret Facebook group" to check in with. Very motivational

day two ~ 10 min. turbo twist before shower {with a cat watcher that is probably currently plotting my demise}

a challenge dinner. chicken, asparagus, sun dried tomatoes, onion, garlic {didn't do the mushrooms}. I added pasta with some olive oil and garlic drizzled on it.

It will be interesting to see how my body does with doing barre3 6 days in a row!!

day one ~ b3 challenge

I was chosen to participate in the barre3 ~ 28 to Great Challenge and it's so amazingly cool!!! It is 28 days of mybarre3 {the online classes} workouts, food tips, and a "secret Facebook group" where we all support each other!!! Today was the first day...and I can tell I will be sore!

Today we were supposed to a 40 minute mybarre3 video...BUT...one of my favorite instructors was teaching that afternoon and she only teaches in the afternoons once or twice a month so I chose to go to a class instead :-)

Here goes nothing!!!

Fingers crossed {that I can make it through the whole 28 days}!!!

major break through...

...today at Barre3 I looked in the mirror {while I was super sweaty and focusing on engaging my abs while pulling my legs up one at a time during a push-up series} and unconsciously thought...

i am beautiful

That, my friends, was an earth shattering moment in my life. I don't know if I've ever thought this. I've tried to convince myself of it - only to often not believe it. But now I know...

i am beautiful {like me}

who would YOU be at barre3???

Here's someone's take on who comes to barre classes :)

http://blog.rateyourburn.com/blog/post/2012/08/30/which-barre-bie-are-you-14-classmates-i-always-see-in-barre-class-1.aspx

I'm happy that I was #13. I'm happy I started Barre3. I'm happy I'm heading towards #14.

back to school...and out of synch!!!

Well, it's back to work for me... I love teaching but man, being a special education teacher can be a draining job!!!

I am definitely trying to be a creature of habit this year and so far it is kind of working...I really need to stop working 10 plus hour days so I can get to Barre3!!!

 

~creating habits at home~

 

~ making my bed every morning. I have never, ever, ever in my life done this. It isn't very pretty but it is done and tidy looking. I do it while brushing my teeth so many that is why it is messy ;-)

 

 

~ cleaning up my stuff in the bathroom before I leave

 

~ making my lunches at home the night before

 

I've been documenting my lunches on my Instagram Account. You can find me under the hashtag #annieslunchbox

 

first day of school!

yesterday.

 

~food management. Last night when I was making dinner I was triple-tasking. Making dinner, packing my lunch for the next day & cutting veggies for the next day's dinner!

 

Since I just started services two days ago I have yet to really go into a routine at school...we'll get there!!

My biggest goal is to figure out how to schedule and plan exercise! One of the nice things about Barre3 is that you can sign up online ahead of time and if you don't go/don't cancel you still get charged - which is really motivating to go!!! They have 4:15 times and 5:30 times most days which will eventually work for me (someday) when my schedule simmers down!! I've also been doing some mybarre3 and I am doing the "28 to Great mybarre3 challenge" starting next week!!!

I'm so excited to get started and see what it is all about!!!

 

If you're a teacher...how do you fit exercise in your schedule?!?!



my month of Barre3!

Thanks to the generosity of the barre3 community I was able to get an unlimited month at barre3 for just $99. See, once in a while it pays to be a teacher!

In the month of August I went to barre3 16 times out of 31 days!!! This was a big time commitment and health commitment and I am so thankful that I made it. Before I started my month I was able to do 3, 30 second plank holds with my personal trainer. AFTER one month of barre3 I was able to do three, one minute planks!!!! Amazing progress I tell you.

Part of sharing my story was sharing it with the staff of barre3. I felt a strong pull to let them know what they really meant to me. I was greeted back with loving and caring smiles and questions when I came back the weekend after I had shared my story with them. What had happened is I had let Carrie know and she has asked if I would mind if she shared and of course I said she was more than welcome too! If I can help one person go to the doctor or learn and share about PCOS I feel that I will have made a difference! I was honored and moved that Carrie and Sadie felt compeled to share my story further...on Facebook ;-)

To me this means even more people hearing about and learning about PCOS. It means more people in my village. It means that others can see that I am making positive changes. It makes me happy, proud, slightly shy, and overall excited!!!

And now I'm looking forward to my next venture with barre3...

 

I have no clue what the "28 to Great" means but I am excited to find out!!! I'll keep you all updated on here!

 

Fingers crossed!!!

after the workout...

Not that I was ever flexible before... but with all this new working out I've been doing my body is certainly getting tighter and tighter both in size and in flexibility. And while barre3 is AMAZING it certainly makes my muscles break down and build back up - which is the point it is just new to me! With the osteoarthritis I really do take care of my back but slowly but surely other parts of my body are starting to feel some strain. Here is how I take care of all my problem areas...

~BACK~

 

Giant Ice Pack...

a TENS unit. It provides shock to the muscles in my back to transfer and numb pain.

A Chinese pain relief liquid. It's from my accupuncturist and it's amazing.

A lumbar traction device. I had it for 3 months but insurence wouldn't cover it and they are $pendy!! Someday.

Little {walkable} ice pack.

 

~TOES/FEET~

 

I ice my toes {and back and knee} every night.

 

~MUSCLES~

Foam Rolling.

{please ignore the mismatched comfies}

{My roller is from Target}

 

Foam rolling really helps to massage the muscles after a hard day. It is still sometimes quite the workout in itself because you have to move yourself around. You can use a foam roller so many ways! Most rollers will come with instructions on how to use them. I just do whatever feels good!