Five on Friday

Things have been a little crazy and I consequently took a brief hiatus. I am back, darlings. The timing couldn't be better, either, because it's FRIDAY and you what that means--yep, Five on Friday time! Since I missed a couple of weeks, I am going to catch you up on some of the good things that I have been loving over the last couple of weeks. 

1. Another Class Down

I finished my SEVENTH graduate school class a couple of weeks ago and am now down to five more classes, including the class I am nearing the halfway mark in. Every class completed is like a whack at the piñata of school. I can't wait until the candy--graduation--comes spilling out in all its bright and delicious colors!

2. Back To Work

I returned to work last week and am fully back in the swing of things. I'd be a liar if I said I was sad about returning to work. I wasn't. I was sad to leave my little buddy, but I was not sad about being back to work. This is an important distinction. I'm a career woman, the daughter of a single mother who is a career woman. It's just in my DNA to be busy and on the move outside of the home. I might reflect on my experience of being a temporary SAHM (that's stay-at-home mom for you novices) sometime.

3. Jackson's Daycare

Our buddy is the first grandbaby on my mom's side who has had to attend a daycare. This part of returning to work was not easy for me--leaving my baby in the hands of strangers. Danger! Loss of control for this OCD mom! Ahhh! Not to worry, friends. We were able to secure a spot for our buddy at one of the best daycares in town. (Thank goodness for that little baby who decided to get walking early, which opened up a spot for us. Yeah!) 

We were impressed with the methodologies and passion of the daycare. Plus, too many amazing parents that we know have kids who have attended the daycare in the past or are currently attending the daycare. Jackson's pediatrician has heard a great deal about his daycare from her patients' parents. I've heard nothing but glowing remarks about his "school", so this helped alleviate all the initial fears I had. 

His teacher absolutely loves him and feels he is an old soul that loves to people watch. She can't believe how intently he studies people and listens to the music man who comes to the daycare once a week to play live music. I know I'm biased, but I think our little guy is her favorite. (Shh, don't tell any of the other parents!) Our buddy is clicking along with his routine and adjusting so well to his new daytime hangout. 

*NERD ALERT* I looooove getting his daily reports to see what interesting things he has done while at school with his friends. 

4. Spring AT LAST

Ata girl, Lansing. I knew you could do it!! Although the first official day of spring was March 20th, we all know it did NOT feel like anything close to spring. However, a look at the weather forecast shows good things lie ahead. After the winter we've had, we Michiganders are seriously DESPERATE for spring. 

5. First Training Session

I should have called this "Thank God I Made It Out Alive Session"! I didn't think my personal training session would be easy, but I didn't think it would nearly kill me. If it would have been more socially acceptable for me to cry and close my eyes like the girl in this picture during my session, I totally would have done it.

To start out, I was running on about four hours of sleep because I was anxious about my first day back to work. Additionally, because I was bopping all around at work that day, I didn't drink nearly enough water to sustain a proper hydration level during such an excruciating workout. 

We started out taking my measurements, getting my BMI and then headed right into the workouts. I always internally roll my eyes at those guys at the gym that make all those loud grunting noises. I think "if the weight makes you do all that, it must be too much for you". Well, I became that gym grunter! This woman is good, but at one point I thought "I cannot do this". My legs were shaking and after I finished, my legs were like noodles as I walked down the stairs. Four days after the workout, I could finally walk again.

Cheers,

Samara

Getting Started Is The Hardest Part - Week 4

Good morning, friends. Congratulations, you've officially made it to the middle of the week! 

How are your personal fitness goals coming along? Since health and wellness is about much more than just burning calories, I've decided to focus my efforts this week on things we put INTO our bodies (as opposed to what we burn off) and some apps that help us track this activity.

Week 4 

1. Vitamins

 I haven't perused the vitamin aisle in quite some time as I was on prescription vitamins during my pregnancy. Before pregnancy, I was taking Women's One-A-Day. When I went looking to purchase a new bottle of vitamins, I was slightly overwhelmed by the choices of vitamins for women (even the ones made by the same manufacturer). 

I purchased a bottle of the Women's One-A-Day brand pictured above, but was left wondering if some other vitamin was "better". It was hard to put down the "More Energy" vitamin bottle, but I decided to since I figured there was a focus on only certain ingredients and I'd thus be left with less of a balanced ingredient menu. Sure enough....

What brand of vitamin do you take? Any recommendations? Also, any recommendations for a brand for men? 

2. Fun iPhone Apps To Keep Me On Track

A.) My Fitness Pal

My Fitness Pal

Many moons ago, I downloaded "My Fitness Pal", but never got around to figuring out how to use it. (Not that it's rocket science--I was just being lazy.) With my recharged fitness efforts, I decided to download the app again when I purchased my new phone. 

I was tickled to discover that the My Fitness Pal app is a little like a mini version of Facebook for health and nutrition--complete with a news feed--and is rather fun. You can add "friends", "like" activity from friends, track your food, exercise and more. I like that you can enter a weight goal and it can tell you how long it would take you if you stay on your current (tracked)fitness and nutrition plan.

B.) Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers

Before our wedding in 2012, I was actually tracking my fitness activity and daily food intake rather well on Weight Watchers. My husband also lost a ton of weight before our wedding by using this app to really keep on top of his diet.

Well, it'd been so long since I'd tracked my food on this app that I'd forgotten my password. (Oops!) I have downloaded this app onto my phone again, and am logged in and tracking!

My husband is also being super supportive by getting back onto WW as well.If you see him, please send him words of encouragement. We all need it from time to time, but especially in the beginning days and weeks when we are getting back into the swing of things after a period of gluttony and being sedentary. :-P

Good luck with Week FOUR!!

Cheers,

Samara

Getting Started Is The Hardest Part - Week 3

So, this weather constantly feels like a huge drag and hindrance upon my workout attempts. But even if I don't complete all my workouts, I never stop trying to drag myself to the gym. Also, each week feels like a new start!! With that said, let's move to week 3!

Week 3 

1. Begin incorporating jogging intervals into cardio sessions

I actually got a head start on this one late in Week 2. During my thirty minute cardio sessions (which have actually slowly crept up to 40 - 45 minutes), I've started implementing a few jogging intervals (just three minutes at a time) into my treadmill routine. 

To be clear, I've never been a great jogger, much less a great runner. 

I'm slowly getting back into a routine,though. It is even more difficult than I remember. However, by the second time I incorporated jogging intervals into my cardio session, my body was already starting to feel less like a few hundred pounds of steel bouncing up and down and more like a human trying to run. 

I won't stop trying. I won't quit. I won't give up. 

2. Improve plank endurance

Last week, I started planks. I actually started off with an ab workout that had one plank move at the end. Since my doctor recommended planks as the best ab workout, I quickly changed my ab routine to planks only. (I throw in other ab workouts if I have time or if I'm feeling a burst of energy.)

I have just recently started the plank workout routine above, but modified it so each position only lasts 30 seconds. Seriously, that is all I can handle until these abs and my endurance build up a little. I'm struggling by the end. To be fair, I do these plank routines near the end of my gym session, so I've already worked my body pretty hard by this point. 

Good luck with Week 3!

Cheers,

Samara