Day 55- Last day at FC

For those of you following my journey with my weight loss classes, last night was my final class.  I didn’t win the challenge  … but then again, I really did not expect to.  Out of 10 moms, I came in 4th place.  The percentage between 3rd and 4th place was a whopping .02 %.. so I was pretty damn close to winning some cash haha.  It was so great to be in the group, and to see the other women do so well.  I lost 11lbs in the 8 weeks that the competition was going on, I am not sure how much 3rd place lost… 2nd place lost 15 lbs, and 1st was 25 (25 lbs!  In 8 weeks!!!  That is just crazy!!!) !  These women worked their asses off (literally).. and I was really proud to be a part of a group of moms that said “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! ITS ME TIME DAMN IT!.”

In the beginning of class SFT did our measurements, and I am happy to say that my measurements are now all in the healthy range.  My muscle mass, BMI, and Body fat are all in the “good” range, and I have lost several inches over the past 8 weeks.

I will continue my weekly fitness/health updates, as I started P90X last week.. and I am really looking forward to seeing my STATS at the end of the next 3 months!

Stay motivated ladies, summer is just around the corner!!

Day 54- It will take over your life

Seems as though I have fallen off of the earth again.  It looks like writing every day is not a realistic goal for me.  I am just running out of hours in a day.. and the little bit of time I do have left over, I am exhausted, from head to toe, and can not seem to think of anything of substance.  What is taking all of my energy you ask?  Besides having two kids, a dog, and a house to take care of?  P90X.  I got the brilliant idea to devote an hour + a day to working out a few weeks ago, but I brushed it under the rug, because lets be real here.. I didn't think I  had that kind of time!  A friend of mine was doing the program, so I asked him how he liked it, and he said it is hard, but he was seeing results.  This friend was "built like olive oil" (his words.. not mine!).. so I thought, hey if he can do it, I can do it!  His wife caught wind that I was thinking of it and quickly emailed me and said "DO NOT DO IT!  It will take over your life!"... I thought shit! I don't have time for that.. forget it.. I'm not doing it!  Until a week and a half ago.  I was chatting with a fellow mom (with a KILLER body) that I was thinking of starting p90x.. and she very strongly encouraged me.  She told me it was worth the hour a day, and it was a real life changer.  So when I got home, I mentioned this conversation with my husband, and he quickly jumped on board before I could even finish my sentence.  My in-laws happened to be in town, so he asked them to watch the kids, and we went on our quest to find P90X.  And that was the beginning of the end.

The next day we started the program... and it is kicking our asses.  The first day we got 40 minutes in (to a back and shoulder work out) and my husband (who has been working out his shoulders and back for about 6 months now) called it quits because he was getting dizzy and felt like he was going to throw up.  Awesome.  Me.. with my little chicken wing arms could barely do any of the exercises... it was an hour of push ups and pulls ups.  I collapsed flat on my face multiple times.  We knew that we were in over our heads.. but we just spent $140 on this damn program.. we were too far in to go back.  The first week was brutal.  I found myself literally yelling at the tv "F- YOU Tony Horton!  You're an asshole!"... but the first week came.. and the first week went... and guess what.  We survived it.  I couldn't quite do all of the exercises correctly, I am still learning.. but we are doing it.  The exercises are intense, but I am already seeing/feeling results.  Just sunday night we did the second round of shoulders and back.. I could do all of the exercises.. and my husband did the whole thing without wanting to throw up!  Progress!

If you know anything about the program, you know that it comes with a pretty strict diet.  If I thought that SFT was strict, man was I mistaken!  It is protein, protein, oh.. and more protein... with 1 little tiny serving of carbs a day.  So when I am not working out to 1- 1 1/2 hours a day, I am preparing meals to go along with this damn routine.  (side note.. I have been trying for YEARS to get my husband to eat right.. and he refused... but the program says that he should..and suddenly he is analyzing every little thing that he eats.)  So thinking back to my friends email, when she said "DON'T DO IT!  It will take over your life!" She was absolutely right.  We are eating, breathing and sleeping this damn program... it has taken over, but I am OK with it... This summer I will be able to wear a bathing suit without cover-up shorts... I could even wear a bikini if I wanted.... if it weren't for these damn stretch marks!

Oh.. and if your wondering what the hell we do with the kids while we are working out... little lady jumps in her jumper.. and little man rides his tri-cycle around the basement.. running into us every few minutes so that is a lot of fun.  Between him on his bike.. and the dog chasing him because he has her bone.. its really like an obstacle course... bonus calorie burning!

Day 53-The Road not Taken

Yesterday a friend of mine from art school added me on facebook.  I have not spoken to him in a few years, we took different paths in life.  While we both went to school for art, both painters, both became art teachers, but I chose to prioritize having a family and being with them as my #1 goal, and he his painting.  He eats, sleeps, and breaths painting, and it is very obvious in his work.  I have always been completely amazed by his abilities with the paintbrush.  Check out his work here. (See... amazing!) When he created a studio in his garage, he told me I could come over any time and work, but I was planing a wedding, got pregnant and just did not have the time to devote.

Yesterday while I was looking though his work, I couldn't help but wonder.. what would life be like if I had also chose that path.  What if I put my painting as my number #1 priority.  I like to think that I could have made it.. I once had a professor get very frustrated at me and tell me that I had the talent, I could do great things with my art, but I did not put the time in.  And she was right, if I had worked harder and painted more, I probably could have been something great.  What if I put more time in, I could be in galleries, art shows, and would be as inspiring to others as my friend is...

After I threw myself a pity-party of what could-have been... I stopped and looked around at my life.  I could have been a great artist.. but how fulfilling would that have been to me?  Maybe my art would hang on a wall of a gallery.. but who would have been waiting for me when the big gallery party was over? My paintings couldn't love me back. I certainly wouldn't have time for a family.  I could have been a great painter..  but I am a great mother.  I am a good wife... and for now I am an OK artist, and I am fine with that.  The kids will get older.. and I will eventually have more time for myself, so maybe then I will focus more on my art.  But for now, as I look down the road not taken, I could not be happier with the path I chose.

Day 52- The day my world changed

Today my little boy is 3 years old.  Where the hell has time gone?  I could go on and on about what an amazingly wonderful little boy he is.  I could gush about how generous, funny, sweet, fast-to-smile, smart, and caring he is.  I could tell you that he is an absolutely amazing big brother, and always tries to make his little sister happy.  I could tell you how proud I am to be his mom.  But this post isn't going to be a sappy my-kid-is-the-most-amazing-3-year-old-in-the-world post (lets be real... we all already know that ;) ).. but this post is going to be about why his birthday marks the anniversary of the most important day of my life.  The day my world changed.
They say that motherhood starts when a women gets pregnant.  And sure, it does... to a point. I knew the decisions I made no longer only effect me. I knew that for the next 9 months, I was in baby boot camp, and it was my job to read every baby book I could get my hands on. But once my beautiful baby boy was born, I realized that the 9 months leading up the birth of my baby, there way no way I could have prepared myself.  There were no amount of baby books, baby classes, or advice from seasoned mother that could have prepared me for the colossal change that was about to happen.  And it happened immediately.  As soon as he came out and was placed on my chest, the world changed.  There was nothing else in the world that mattered to me at that moment.  The amount of love that I felt for that little screaming, naked, slimy little man was completely overwhelming.  I really had no idea that I could love another person so intensely and so deeply.  My relationship for my husband immediately changed as well.  He was no longer just my husband, but he was the father of our child.  We made a person (just the thought of that still blows my mind).. and we at that moment tied to each other for life, we were now a family.
The day my son was born, I was born also.  I received a new purpose in life, and it was keeping my little man safe.  It was my job to love that little guy with everything that I had.  It was my job to put his needs before mine.  Sure there are sacrifices with motherhood, but they are all sacrifices that are totally worth it.  Do I sometimes miss the Richelle yesterday?  Sure.. admittedly I do sometimes miss the freedom that I once took for granted (ya know.. to take a shower without an audience.. or to pee without someone watching.. the little things haha)... but when I look at that little guy today, I am reminded that his birthday 3-6-09 is the most important day in my life.  It was the day I became a mom.

Day 51-Date Night

When we lived in NJ, we could pretty much go out when ever we wanted.  The kids have THE BEST grandparents anyone could ask for, who really just want to spend as much time with them as possible.  We could count on AT LEAST 2 date nights a month, my Mother in law needed her little man sleep over at least once a month, and so did my mom.  It was wonderful.  Things have changed quite a bit...being up here in Canada, our date nights are few are far between.  When we moved here my husband's boss recommended his niece as a baby sitter.  His 16 year old niece.  We have NEVER left the little people with anyone other than our parents, or very very good friends, and little lady usually won't let anyone put her to sleep but me, so I knew that a 16 year old was just not going to have the patience to deal with a very "spirited" little munchkin.  While the offer was nice, we had to decline on the 16 year old, I am too much of a spaz to leave my children with a kid.  Our dates nights are limited to when we have either my mom, or my mother in law come up to Canada... which is maybe once every other month, if we are lucky.  We got really lucky this past month and had them come on back to back weekends, so we fully took advantage of having TWO whole date nights in two weeks!
Last weekend we went and saw a movie, then when out to dinner, it was nice, and pretty typical for a "date".. besides the fact that we were home by 8, and I was in bed by 9, haha.  Little lady is still a difficult sleeper, so as much as I love my husband, and would have loved to go out for drinks and flirt the night away with him... a girl needs her damn sleep.
Last night was our second date night.. it was SUPER exciting!  (I say this in the most sarcastic way possible).. Yesterday we started p90X... I am going to give it a few days before writing a full post on it.. but judging from yesterday, this week is probably going to include some hysterical stories.  Just yesterday my husband had to stop 40 minutes into the "chest and back" DVD because he thought he was going to throw up, and I got stuck in a few of the push ups and just collapsed to the floor.  So by the time our "date" started.. we were both pretty exhausted.  First we went to buy a "George Foreman" grill, so we could healthily cook the massive amount of meat that is required for the program.. then we headed to toys-r-us to look for a birthday present for little man.. he will be 3 tomorrow.  Where the hell is the time going?!?... then we went to dinner at 4:45 to eat our "last meal" (the P90X diet is VERY high protein.. and LOW carb... sigh).. and the best part of date night?  We went grocery shopping.  Yup, I bet you can just feel the romance.  We found a brand new- enormous grocery store of the gods about 5 minutes from our house, and we were both pretty excited to check it out.  We walked it, and the place was like nothing we have ever seen.. we felt like we just did not belong there... I would go into details, but I doubt that my readers will get as jazzed about the sparkly beautiful grocery store as we were.. plus I wouldn't want to make you jealous seeing that it is ALL the way up in Canada, and most of you will not  be able to experience its glory... anyway, we stocked up on our meals for the week, slowly strolled up and down every isle, and returned home by 7:30 (I was in bed by 8:30 haha).
I know that our most recent date  night may not seem like the most romantic, or magical date ever.. trust me, at one point in time, we did have more exciting date, and hopefully we will get back there some day.  But we did it together, and that is what counts.  While shopping for a George Foreman grill, or for high protein meals does not spew love, we did it so that we could do this whole diet and work out plan together.  With two kids we lead a very hectic life, and we (like many many couple) often forget to set time aside for US.  We are doing this thing together, and even though our "date" did not include flowers,  drinks, or making out like a couple of crazy teenagers.. it was setting us up for a daily allotment of time for "us".. and I think that sounds pretty damn nice.

Day 50- off...again

Damn it. I told myself that I was going to write every day my inlaws were here.. But of course that didn't happen. This weekend has been so hectic.. And in my sleep-deprived state of mind, I forget to write till i am laying in bed, and way too tired to think of something smart..
So now.. At 9:00 Sunday night, as I lay in bed, typing this on my iPad, and cursing the blogger ap because it SUCKS balls... My brain is going into shut down mode. It is telling me "bitch..You were up till 11 last night watching a movie.. Up from 2-4 with little lady because she thought it was party time.. Then up for the day at 7:30... Go the f-to sleep". I am going to listen to what my exhausted body is telling me and I will write more tomorrow. I actually have some good topics, just no energy to write them right now. But coming this week: my first few days on p90x (I will just say that my arms are numb, and I am
Concerned that I may not be able to pickup little lady tomorrow). And our super exciting date night. Stay tuned!

Day 49- off schedule

When little lady was a new born - about 3 months old, I would dread weekends. Don't get me wrong, I loved the extra help that my husband tried to give, and loved that little man had someone to play with.. But little lady did NOT react well to changes in her schedule. She was used to me giving her every bottle, rocking her for every nap, and being the only one that changed her diapers.. When the weekend came and my husband was more than willing to help out, it just really pissed little lady off. How DARE we deviate from HER schedule! My husband would try to get up with her on the weekends to give me a break, but she refused to eat if it was him holding the bottle. Now at 6 months of age, I can say that she happily allows her dad to help with the feeding, cuddlings, diaper changes, and play time. We have settled into a nice little rhythm up here in out isolation. We (ok I)have been working really hard to find the right balance in little ladies schedule that ends in less tears at bed time, and fewer night wakings. We (I) have read numerous books on baby sleep, and how to achieve it, and this week it seemed like we had a bit of a break through. Little lady is still waking up at night.. But it's less... And we had a full 5 days of no tears at bed time.. It has been glorious.
Last week my mom was up, and little lady had a bit of a rough weekend for sleep, she got up every few hours Friday night HYSTERICAL and only mommy could calm her down. My mom, my step-dad, my husband... All fought the good fight and tried to get little lady to settle, but she was not having it. I chalked it up to the fact that we were still working out the kinks of her sleep plan, and she was adjusting. Then, as soon as they left, she settled back into "happy Kadence" and turned into a far better sleeper than we have yet to see from the little princess. Today my inlaws arrived... Guess who else arrived with them... Angry.. I-don't-want-to-go-to-sleep... And-when-I-do-I-am-going-to-wake-up-hysterical Kadence... Sigh. This little lady is NOT a fan of change... Either that or we just bore the hell out of her, so when new people come to town she refuses to sleep because she doesn't want to miss a second of the fun. Either way.. I am writing this from bed, early, because I am bracing for a night of hysterics from an extremely over sensitive, over stimulated, little love bug.