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So, hows it going?

OK, so hopefully you read my last blog and you know that I have finally gotten on the right path for FINALLY getting back in shape. Maybe you're curious on how that's going. I am excited to tell you that I am still going strong. The weight varies day to day, week to week....but on the whole, my fat is melting away and being replaced by much more attractive muscle. 

What's the secret? A few things... 

1) three times a week I have to meet my hard-ass trainer, Craig and I know that I have that commitment every Mon, Wed and Fri at 6:00 am

2) Craig makes me keep a food diary...so what's the point of that...again accountability. I know every time I come in, someone else is going to have total visibility to what I am eating...and he doesn't like excuses

3) I have cut out 99% of the carbs and almost all the sugars... taking in fruits, vegetables and proteins (meats, etc).

Now, don't get me wrong! Craig is tough on me. Just Wednesday, he had me out in the parking lot pushing a big tub of weights around the parking lot as I ran behind it to push it across the parking lot... FOUR times back and forth. But, he is a great trainer because he knows just how far to push. Sometimes pushing me when I didn't think I had any more to give, but never pushing me over the edge. 

Good trainers are hard to come by and I would highly recommend Custom Fit. 

I haven't been near as disciplined at keeping up this site...but please check back to see how life is progressing (including but not limited to my new found attempts at getting in shape)

In the meantime, check out http://www.custom-fitpt.com/ 

Staying...I mean getting in Shape

So, the premise of this blog was to talk about real topics that real people deal with every day. Generally speaking, the intended audience is other women or I suppose men looking to understand women better (imagine that). We'll kind of flow with the topics that are at the top of my mind... And, this week it happens to be staying in shape. 

Many can relate to this I am certain... When you reach a point where you're still the person inside but don't quite recognize the person outside as much. Rewind... Four years ago, my body was my body...I put whatever I wanted into it and I just exercised my way to staying in shape. Until.... I had baby #2 (keep in mind the first was when I was 21 so body recovered as though it had never been pregnant). I was 34 and pretty active. Then, I get married to a guy who can eat ANYTHING he wants and never put on a pound. Three months into our marriage I am pregnant (wow that didn't take near as long as we thought it would)... Baby takes its toll but feeling good about bouncing back. Then, low and behold, two months after baby #2 I am pregnant again. This one gets even better with 5 long months of bed rest (you heard that right... 5 months). It wasn't enough to be completely inactive...but the lovely ladies from church were dears and brought a 5 course meal to our house nearly every night (couldn't let that go to waste). Need I say more. So, two babies later and 50 pounds heavier I am trying to figure out if I will ever get my body back. 

Yet, I have decided NOT to part with the clothes that fit me four years ago and are 6 sizes smaller. They continue to occupy a nice spot on a shelf in the basement. Surely you would think chasing after kids would help shed the weight but not so. Instead, I find myself picking at their food and eating more and more comfort food (after all, how in the world can you not have a vice with two kids 12 months apart and under the age of 2). 

First, I buy a gym membership. Wonderful fitness club with child care facilities. My first visit to the club, I am called out nearly 10 minutes after I arrive "Renee Hahn, please report to the child care center"... Poopy diaper and "they don't change diapers"... Diaper clean, baby handed back... Resume workout on the treadmill... 15 minutes later... "Renee Hahn, please report to the child care center" - What now... Other baby has been crying for 15 minutes straight and "they don't keep the babies if they have been crying for more than 15 minutes" - You have to be kidding me. Clearly today was not meant to be my return to fitness.

Three months pass... Decide it would be much easier to go to the gym in the morning before the day starts...Set alarm to wake up at 5 am the next morning... 5 am ends up being an eternity because baby is up all night crying... ear infection. Climb back into bed (after shutting off alarm for 5 am)

Four months later... Decide to try the gym thing again... Definately need to get back into shape and no way am I touching that diet thing. I've never believed in diets (after all most of the time the person ends up heavier 3 months after the diet than they were before the diet). Workout is going good...Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.... Day 4 early morning meeting gets called at work...will have to miss this workout... I'll "pick in up next week"

It's now over a year later... and another 10 pounds heavier. Baby excuse has expired...time to do something about it. Swimming, that's it. Swimming is a great exercise option. Switch membership to the new fitness facility that has a pool and an even better day care. Shop on line for lots of swim apparatus (goggles, cap, swim board, resistance gloves, speedo). We are ready. Pack up clothes first thing in the morning and get to gym...Only to realize I had left half of my work attire at home...Ah! Turn around, drive home. No time left to work out. Will start tomorrow. Actually do go the next day and faithfully for almost two weeks after that. Until...the little pool of germs we call my daughters infect me with the bug. Knocks me out for 3 days.

Three months later after thinking long and hard about how this "couldn't possibly be this difficult"... decide that my workout gets cancelled for everyone and the best way to hold myself accountable is to get a trainer. The money I wasted for nearly a year on unused gym memberships wasn't incentive enough. The commitment of having an appointment with someone should help.

BINGO! So, now I have a trainer 3 days a week (still in the morning) and I go to his gym on my other 3 work out days. He's tough (and has no pity) but it's working. It's actually working!

So what's the secret... He has me doing tough workouts but he also has me on my first ever diet. This is a total lifestyle change for me (low carbs and low fat)...still haven't found a recipe book for that combo. I am averaging a loss of 2-4 pounds a week. Want to hear more... We'll pick this one back up at another time if there's an interest. Lets just say I've seen the light.

In the meantime, check out http://www.custom-fitpt.com/ 

Why Wait

Blogging... what's that? So I'm online looking for "ready made meals in Cincinnati" and I end up on someone's BLOG. Yes, I've heard of blogs but never really read one and certainly never contributed to one. 

Well, it got me thinking... what a great way to communicate to the world when you have things you want to share... Right?

So, here you go... Join the ride with me as I start my very own Blog. Why should you? Well, I'm a women in her thirties who is living life amidst a three ring circus. Yes, a three ring circus. Aggressive career (at GE), a 16 year old daughter (part of my college experience... so I've done the single parent thing), a husband of just barely over three years and two newer additions to the family (Paige 1 and Madison 2). Oh, did I mention we also have a female cat. I understand what its like to have dreams and live amongst chaos. 

Sounds just like you? That's the point... Why not have some company to live and laugh with. I look forward to this journey together.