Day 25 of Day 84

FINALLY I got up by 5:15am. Got in that powerful back workout. I originally was thinking of doing an upper body/lower body split, but it feel so much better to totally exhaust one major muscle group at a time. So legs done; chest done and back done :) Three awesome workouts!! Tomorrow I am thinking cardio day. In the meantime, have to think about some super clean eating, so that I can fuel this body and get my energy back.

I was thinking about how many more calories I burn in a shorter period of time on the Cross trainer or the elliptical. I WANT ONE!! I think I am going to start pricing things and maybe hint for one all the way to Christmas ;)

Day 24 of Day 84

Some how I managed to turn off my alarm clock when it went off at 5:15am and was waken at 7:25am by my 3 1/2 year old. Needless to say, any of you that know my daughter this was not a calm wake-up call :) So I felt pretty disoriented as I walked the dog and had a quick protein shake with 1/2 a banana and was in a rush to get somewhere at 9am. Well all was accomplished and I got in my Chest workout along with cardio by 2pm. My head hurts a bit but I am taking the day in strides and hoping for a better one tomorrow.

I think going on vacation and indulging in a cup of coffee a day has got me going through withdrawal, which for anyone who has tried to go off of caffeine can be rough. Although there maybe some benefits of caffeine, there are sure some more negatives that generally makes me stay away. But after a few days in Vegas and only having one week to see it all with my daughter and husband, the lack of sleep it was the only way to get in my powerful workouts in. Now I am paying for it. I just have to stay away and just indulge in the green tea instead and stay away the coffee beans

MAJOR CATCH UP: Day 13 - 23 of Day 84

So vacation was a blast and I did not miss a beat with the workouts, even if towards the end of vacation I had a few cheats. Just one cheat meal of BBQ chicken pizza and my treats/cheats where a handful of popcorn and some M&M and another day night I had some frozen flavoured yogurt which was worth every calorie. So overall I did not over indulge and did really well. So well that even after a week in Vegas, I gained only 0.4lbs. That's right and am I proud. Usually I come back with a 3-5lb weight gain, so not even gaining a 1/2 a lb is a big accomplish for me. I had tons of energy due to clean eating and keeping up with my fitness regimen. In fact, I worked out 6 days out of the 7 full days I was there. Yes "6" not a typo.

This is what my week looked like:

Sunday: Lowerbody & Cardio

Monday: Upperbody & Cardio

Tuesday: Cardio & Abs

Wednesday: Lowerbody & Cardio

Thursday: REST

Friday: Upperbody & Cardio

Saturday: Cardio

Sunday: Rest

Combined I burned just over 2800 calories.

So there you have it -- still on track.

As of for Day 22 and Day 23:

Yesterday was a rest, even though that was not the plan. I believe that the time change from Pacific Time to Eastern Standard Time hurt my energy levels a bit and at 9am I was just getting out of bed. Today on the other hand I was downstairs working out at 6am. Great powerful Leg workout and 40 minutes of HIIT on the treadmill. Feeling great and plan to go all the way to Day 84 with great results, consistency and determination.

...Almost Day 12 of Day 84 ......

Boy can I tell I am going to have a tough time tomorrow morning. I am having such a hard time falling asleep last night and am starting to wondering if the low carb diet today had something to do with it? Well let's just say I got up, took a look at my biceps, triceps and calf workout and did so eating a yellow plum. Did not help - so I decided to chew on some gum. I did not feel hungry at all -- and it is not like I just needed something to chew, just thought I would. No reason to my madness.

I was reading My Sister's Keeper upstairs and this started making me think about how grateful once again that my daughter is healthy, energetic and full of live. Than I started thinking would I go to the extremes that these characters did in this book to keep their daughter alive, but jeopardizing the life of someone else, which also happens to be their child? I should hope not - in fact as I was reading the first dozen pages I was actually in shock that any parent could put through someone they loved in that situation. Of course, I want to go on, but for those of you who would prefer that I did not say anymore I won't :) But maybe, this is why my mind is racing and still can not fall asleep.

Than I started thinking back - what did I have do drink with dinner? Usually water - but today since i had egg whites for dinner, I decided I would have some tea. Organic decaffeinated tea -- very soothing. So could not be that ....Could not have been the cherry tomatoes or the asparagus. So still unsure.

I did not take a nap, same routine tonight -- no TV was left on --- I was not on the computer --- nothing is rattling in my brain because of family --- maybe it is that darn book. I hope not, because I can tell it is going to be an excellent read and well I have held out on seeing the movie, so I have to read the book. Yes must be the book. Now how do I solve this one? I want to read it. OK second attempt at sleeping.

A little something .......

I came across this picture today which was taken August 1st '09 at the beach with my daughter who is 3 1/2 years old. I was thinking how how much she has grown and how much I have grown as a person overall since this little creature joined my world. Now I feel like it is her world. She gives me strength to do more, be more and give more.

The other day I was thinking about how much I give and how much I sacrifice as a mom, as a wife, as a sister and sometimes as a friend. And it occurred to me, that this is what makes me unique, this is what fulfills my life and this is my purposes. But my purpose is also to take care of me. Without taking care of myself how can I support others. How can I encourage others to follow their dreams, be the best persona they can? I can't. If I am not 100% true to me and my needs, and prioritize my life, than those around me suffer. And what I have learned and what is so true is "If mom is not happy, nobodies happy". SO TRUE

So I am trying everyday to be conscious of my needs and the needs of those around me. I am grateful for what what other take for granted sometimes and even though I now I am not perfect, my life is not perfect - it is up to me to help mend and shape the "me" I want to become, both mentally and physically and sometimes even emotionally.

I encourage you all to do the same :D

Day 11 of Day 84

With no commitments to walk the dog - I was able to get to bed early and up at 5am with ease. The agenda was small muscle groups - but I though why not a big muscle like my back and shoulders. It was thought - but I accomplished it along with 40 minutes of cardio, burning over 500 calories in 90 minutes. And yes I got in the ABS. What a productive morning :) And only 2 more sleeps till Vegas.

Tomorrow biceps and triceps are on the agenda along with some cardio.

Eating yesterday was right on and today I am right on track. This is what my meal plan looked like: M#1 oatmeal and 1 serving of whey protein DONE; M#2 whey protein and a pear DONE; M#3 chicken, yellow peppers and onions DONE; M#4 and Meal#5 to follow but the plan is: whey protein for meal #4 and M#5 egg whites, 1 whole egg and sprout bread. Adding that extra serving of protein is doing wonders for my energy, so I am going to continue that. I figured when I am on vacation I can still do that with ease with a whey protein drink. In control, baby, in control.

DAY 10 of Day 84

I was up at 3am this morning after our puppy was started barking that she needed an outdoor break. Needless to say getting up at 5am just was not in the cards. So I slept in till 7am when my daughter came into my bedroom and joined me on the bed.

So the day eating wise has been going great even if I missed a workout. In fact eating clean is that much more important because of missing my cardio session. Tomorrow is a new day and I will get in cardio as well as shoulders and the dreadful abs. Yes it will get done.

The dog is gone till we return from vacation. The breeder lady that we wanted to use is leaving to a Sheep Herding thing tonight which means DH will be bringing her. I am actually looking forward to cleaning the place without having to look over my shoulder and see some new paw prints :D It will give me a chance to pack without worrying about our puppy and my daughter, together ALONE LOL. So lots of stuff to do in the next 2 full days and working out MY FIRST PRIORITY along with food prep so I will be energized for my to do list.