Working Out For Two

Another great week! I haven't had this great of a week in over two years! I have kept up with my workout routine, and have continued to eat healthy.  Except for one day, Sunday, oh dear, Sunday. You see... I was in a hurry because Andrew and I were going to catch a movie, so I grabbed a protein shake and some seasoned almonds at the grocery store and decided not to look at the back of either, because how bad can those things be? I mean come on, they are healthy. After I had finished the protein shake and had 2 thirds of the almonds, curiosity got me to look at the back of these items. I drank 840 calories!!!!!! Then, I ate 680 calories!!! 1520 calories for a snack? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Why did I not just go to In n' Out and order a Triple Triple Animal style! It would have at least tasted amazing! So yeeeeaaaah. That protein shake was probably made with buttermilk and the almonds soaked in gasoline, that's the only way I can explain how America could fatten up such "healthy" things. Learn from me, READ THE BACK PEOPLE!!!

So you want to know why we were running a little short on time for the movies? Well, I had to drop Eden off at Grandma and Granpa's house, and in doing so I had to tell them the news (as you have probably guessed by the title) that they are going to be grandparents of TWO! That is right, I am as the Bible says, with child! Woot woot! And this month was the month that we decided not to try because my hubby and I were feeling so sick at different times. I guess it's true, stop trying and you will get preggies! So exciting! I think I am REALLY early, like 2.5 weeks. People are worried about me telling others too soon, and I am a little nervous too. But here is the thing, I don't want to limit the amount of prayers for this baby's health and growth. I am asking you guys to please pray for this little one's health and safety, that he or she (I think he) is an extremely healthy baby that grows up knowing and loving Jesus.  

There are 4 of these majiggers to prove baby Lowen's existence =D

I started having some really gnarly cramps yesterday, as well as some light spotting (brown) which is still continuing. I know that cramps can happen, but those were ridiculous, and the spotting I am really not worried about because I remember the same thing happening when I was pregnant with Eden. But it does not hurt to ask for your guys' prayers =D.

I am going to keep on working out, and just monitor my body a little bit more, and maybe go a tiny bit easier. Eating? Well I will not be eating for 2... Or in Sunday's case 6!

Kick Bootie Workout Week!

What a great week. I have done much better with my eating program, and I have ripped it up with my workouts. I have only taken one day off of working out in the past 7 days.  Today was my walk/run. I ran about 3.25 miles and walked a mile, and that was while I was sore! I was so proud of myself jogging, and then I saw a pregnant lady jogging faster than me! She had to be about 5 months preggers, and she looked AMAZING!  That made me even more determined to keep up with my workout program. I want to be pregnant by this year, but I am hoping I lose enough weight so that I can really have a healthy pregnancy. So yeah, that was a wake-up call that I need to go and go hard!   

Yesterday I was awfully tempted to skip my workout. I decided to sun bathe outside in the yard.  All it took was 15 minutes of looking at my flabby thighs and tummy to realize that I NEEDED to workout! Right then and there I did a killer leg and butt workout. I would have done abs but I am still sore from the ab workout that I got in on Wednesday! Today I was again very tempted to skip my run, but praise God I didn't! I thought I would share 3 tips that have really helped me overcome my desire to be lazy.

1. Workout in the morning... and get dressed in your workout clothes right when you wake up.

• This is so crucial. If you are like me, life just gets in the way if you decide to workout in the evening. If you get up early enough to workout in the morning your only obstetrical is your own lack of motivation... which brings me to my second tip...

2. Pray like crazy for motivation.

• I have to do this every day! God is so good, and He wants us to succeed in becoming healthier. Pray that He gives you a passion for working out and eating right. This has really helped me! I am not saying that I always feel like working out, but I am more motivated when I lift it up to Him.

3. Schedule it.

• Write down on your calender what you are going to do for your workout, and stick to it! 

4. Here is a bonus one... DO IT!  

I had to do all of these today in order to get my bootie out the door!

In all of the efforts I have put into working out, cooking healthily, and mommy duty I have found it SO hard to keep up with all the house work! Balance is really hard to master, and I even have help once a week! I know I can do way better. After I workout and cook everyone a legit meal I feel so done that I don't even want to look at the dishes. I am hoping that if I keep up with my workout plans and eating plans that I will gain a lot more energy. 

Remember that today is a very special day... Happy Good Friday everyone. Today is the day that Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. What an amazing thing, that the King of Heaven and earth would come down and die for us to erase our sins. All we have to do is accept Him as our Lord and Savior and accept His gift of salvation. What a beautiful thing.

Well, have a Happy Easter, everyone!  Don't forget, Easter is not about celebrating the easter bunny and eating candy, but it is all about Jesus rising from the dead! It is so fun having Easter egg hunts, but in the midst of all the hype it is truly important to remember the wonderful truth of God's victory! He conquered death! God bless and have a great weekend, everyone!

Anything Is Possible... Even Bumbie Shrinking!

Well  you guys... today I am feeling motivated. Today starts (for me) a new week, and I am ready to rock it! For a while I was off sorts with my workouts, but the last 7 days I have really started to get back on track.  Thanks to my TLS coach, Ryan Grandon, I have started to really track my workouts. Every exercise I do I write down on a calender. Ryan was right when he said that it is really motivating to look at your calender and be able to write something down. This week I worked out 4 times.

Today I kicked butt, my butt. I have to say though, it didn't feel too grand. I'm still feeling it! Have you guys ever heard of jumping-jack-squats? I haven't until this last week in a workout class. I have heard of jumping-squats, but not jumping-jack-squats. I have found that I am really not that out of shape when it comes to power, but when it comes to cardio... can I say heart attack!?! So in this class I was pretty much dying from all of the cardio, but the workout that killed me the most were these wonderful jumping-jack-squats. I mean come on, aren't squats enough of a workout? Do they need to combine them with jumping? But to combine them with jumping jacks? WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!  Needless to say, I decided to incorporate them into my "card workout" routine. For those of you that don't know what a card workout is check out my week 7 blog post: 6 Steps Forward 1 Step Back I did 84 of these suckers today! I about died. Any who, after the crazy card workout which incorporated 3 other workouts (88 push-ups, 164 bicycles/leg-out thingies and 88 lunges) I decided it was a great idea to do 100 sit-ups. I am beat people!

I am really out of shape. I was running on Saturday with Andrew (my hubby) and found that my lungs were completely uncooperative. My legs wanted to go, but my breathing said otherwise! That is so frustrating. So I am going to work on not gassing out this week by upping the cardio up and getting back my breathing pattern! Yikes. I hate running. But it seems to be the only thing that really shrinks my, as the Lowen family would call them, bumbies. And my bumbies must shrink!!! Don't get me wrong, I love having a big butt, but this is getting down right ridiculous! Yes, 'tis time to get pumped again.

I was really un-motivated, but I have been praying like crazy that God would really put a passion in my heart for working out, and I have found that prayer really helps me here! I know that I really cannot do anything without Jesus.  Getting back in shape seems impossible. What is cool is that ANYTHING is possible through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 5:13). Any who, I am excited. After just one week of working hard I feel so much better. I have to admit though, my eating habits definitely need improving! I haven't been completely evil, but I have had my naughty moments! I will do better for sure this week, because if there is one thing I have learned, its that you cannot out-exercise a bad diet!!!!

Here is a video of the evil exercise that did me in today.

And here is a picture of my week this week...