Birthdays are fun, that is, until the OVERTIRED aftermath!

Taylor turned 4!  First of all it's hard to believe, because it seems like yesterday I went through 3 IVFs, a miscarriage and a dose of bed rest.  Second, I can still remember every bit of her birth (minus the c-section recovery room).  And third, am I really 33 with 3 kids?

You know how you listen to bits and pieces of advice every parent gives you before you have a baby?  Well the one piece that couldn't be more true is that time really does fly by.  So although I am not particularly enjoying bed time fights or waking up 3x/night right now, I need to smile everyday because I am blessed!

But now that I am done being sappy.  GOSH the aftermath of a birthday weekend is fierce!  OVERTIRED kids are so not fun.  Luckily tonight is my night to workout so I don't have to do bed time!!!!!  I have got to work off some of this cake.  Taylor requested 2 Ariel Birthday cakes...and although we threw a lot of it away I did not have the heart to throw it all away.  So I have had a piece of cake the last 4 days.  Time to repeat my mantra " I will not give into every craving, I will not give into every craving"!

Advanced Core Workout

I am off to Naples FL for a few weeks with the kids and my parents! So I am posting a few workouts while I am gone. Keep up the Fit Friday workouts too!!!

I have posted this before but I thought I would add it since it was ayear ago! I shot this video in my basement a while back. It's a great Ab workout, give it a try!



Click here for the Free Ab Workout to lose belly fat and get a flat stomach after pregnancy.

I just can't keep up!

Ever feel like your face is going to burst because it's so hot and red?  Or that your lungs are breathing fire?  Or your legs quiver? Well, this is how I feel every time I workout with my partner, Katie i.e. Frogger.

Sure, we only get to workout together 2x/ month but she keeps me motivated!  After I had Rylan (#2) all I recall is her lapping me on the 7 flights of stairs - not once but twice - hence the name Frogger.  And that's when I decided I was going to do my best to keep up with her.

I still cannot keep up with her endurance, but I am still trying!  And she just beat Breast Cancer 1 year ago!  So there are no excuses on my end, except to keep trucking.

It was random that we saw each other on the beach in Naples last week.  We knew we would be in Florid but not in the same town.

P.S.  Can you tell who has older kids?  Not by age, purely by tan color...

And this happens to be my only picture with my 3 kids.  Ho Hum, one day they will all smile right?  But it also happens to be taken in my Goal Swimsuit!  Sure my chest fits a little differently, but everything else seems to be back in place.

Diastasis Recti Core Workout

Find out how to do Diastasis Recti Core Exercises.
Having trouble getting a flat stomach? Or your pregnancy left you with Diastasis Recti? Use these simple exercises to retrain your core. You need to fire the muscles from the inside out. And with Diastasis Recti you will do more harm than good with traditional ab exercises like crunches.

Do these exercises until you have mastered them, then move to a more traditional core routine. Download this core workout and more with our new Core Download Workout Series.

The truth behind the Muffin Top

Truth be told! You must work your abs from the inside out starting with your Pelvic Floor and Transverse Abdominis.

I know many of you have done the CFS Method DVD or download and seen success. Here is Phase 3 for all our new MIF moms. Veterans, I would love to hear how the CFS Method worked for you in the comments below!
Learn How to Get rid of the Muffin Top

Pinterest 30 Day Challenge

The 30 Day Challenge is here (and it's free)! Get started today for spring break and swimsuit season around the corner. You can also purchase some of the video downloads at a discount! I just pinned it to my Fitness board on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/mifmom. Don't forget to re-pin the workout and share it with all your friends!

*Note, my workouts are not for pregnancy unless they say Pregnancy Workout or Trimester Workout.

Fit Friday Contest!

I was working out with my workout partner last week, she is probably the most competitive person I have ever met.  And she laps me when we run or do stairs:)  I call her "Frogger".

So I thought I would put a contest together for everybody!  Every Friday will be Fit Friday.  And every Friday you will time yourself and post your time in a Blog Comment on this Post.  Just click Free Workouts at the top of this page and you will find this post every Friday.

We will be doing a Cross Fit Type Workout, the same one.  It's a tougher workout...but guess what...it's a contest!  So do what you can, challenge yourself each week to do a little more or do it a little faster. And this summer we will make a new Fit Friday Workout for everyone that did this one!

If you need help with some of the exercises, there are a few pictures below the workout.

And if you want more - get a Free Superfit workout Video! Just go to www.momsintofitness.com and sign up.  This workout is a lil' different than my DVDs since I film them in my home studio.  When we ask about your fitness level and such just click Superfit and you will receive our Superfit series.  You can combine those workouts with Fit Friday by doing the workouts on M and W and doing Fit Friday.  Then add the Cardio workouts in the Free Workouts on T & R.  Free Workouts are also available for New Moms!

Click Here or click the Image to download the workout!

Bicycle - twist to the other side

Dips - Advanced

Dips - Modified

Reverse Lunge - from standing position take one leg  back into the lunge (repeat 25x on each leg)

My Fit Friday Time

3 kids in1 picture? No photoshop?

15 Minute Interval & 35 Min Inside Cardio

Here is a new workout for you all!  2 options: print the 15 Min Interval Workout  or do the Cardio workout below.  To make it easier, do 40 seconds of the exercise followed by a 20 second break.  And Slowly progress to 50/10!

As for a Cardio Workout that you can do inside, here is an idea.  Do 3 Rounds - Increase the numbers by 10 each Round (except for the sprints or stairs, increase those by 2):

Do 50 of Each (Beginners start with 30):
1) High Knees - run in place getting the knees as high as you can
2) Booty Kickers - run in place kicking the booty
3) Single Knee Jumps - kinds like the old school aerobics, jump in place and bring a knee up, switch
4) Jumping Jacks - just like gym class
5) Right Leg Kicks - kick right leg forward, bend the knee on the way up and the way down
6) Left Leg Kicks - kick left leg forward, bend the knee on the way up and the way down
7) Cross Punches - arms in guard, alternate punches across the body
8) Shuffle feet and every 5th or 10th do a tuck jump - football shuffle to tuck jump
9) Speed Skaters - jump from side to side shifting your weight to 1 leg
10) Sprints or Stairs 12 x

I am so doing this Cardio Workout tonight myself!

Working out with my Mom

So my mom is the reason I got into filming Fitness DVDs.  I grew up watching her teach aerobics and doing Denise Austin.  So I always wanted to be my mom/Denise Austin!

The other day my mom said she just couldn't get into a workout routine because she and my dad travel so much.  After I got over laughing at her comment, must be hard to travel for fun, I asked her if she planned on not traveling.  She said no.  Then I reminded her that this has been the case for the last 5 years.  And she needed to make a plan.  So we whipped up a workout she can do at the lake, a workout for the road and a workout for home.  She has to workout 4x/week - that's my rule!

No matter what your road block may be for your exercise routine, you have to adjust.  Make it convenient and make it fit in your lifestyle.

And let me know if there is a workout plan you need!  Maybe for the park by your house, the 1 mile perimeter around your subdivision or your son's soccer park.  Some of my favorite workouts are done when we are at the lake in the summer and I use the stairs at the condo and the parking lot lines (while mom and dad play with the kids).

Husband:Wife

So last week I posted on Facebook about David's morning with all 3 kids.  All I wanted was a morning to go get my haircut and workout and maybe cram in a lil' work since preschool is 3 hours long.  I got up at 6:45 to get everybody ready (including 5 minutes for myself) and I GOT HUFFED AT!

Me: 

dress myself with 2 kids whining for juice

dress all 3 kids

feed them breakfast

breathing treatments

pack backpacks

shoes-mittens-hats on

2 kids into the car.  

David: 

dress himself & a nice hot shower

write checks for school

put Taylor in the car.  

And he huffed at me for not having Taylor in the car!!!

It used to frustrate me beyond belief and then I came to the realization after having Rylan - Men are not made to multitask!  So I want to know how you all do it...what's the ratio for the To Do list?

The Biggest Reason you should get healthy

A mom sent us a message a few weeks ago and I thought her message was pretty powerful, yet very simple.  She is 43, went through multiple IVFs, has a 7 month old and just experienced a miscarriage.  She wanted to get control back into her life and I am so glad she found MIF!

And why is she dedicating herself to get healthy and try the 30 Day Challenge?  She does not want her body image to affect the things her son and her do.  She wants to do Parent/Tot swimming lessons and she wants to go to the beach with her son.  

Powerful motivation, yet very simple.

My workout schedule

Talk about a Rough Week getting in a workout everyday (30 Day Challenge).  It took all I had to do my yoga workout the other night at 9pm.  The sink was full of dirty dishes, just fought Taylor for 2 hours on going to bed, slept 3 hours the night before that due to Harper's cough and teething.  I mean the list could go on and on!  But you know what the dishes got done the next morning and I slept really, really well after my yoga workout.  And I did NOT break the 30 Day Challenge!

And yes...Taylor ended up in our bed later that night.  And I wonder why I wake up some mornings not feeling rested???  And why my husband thought it was a funny picture...I think I will move her to his side tonight:)  Anyhoo ...

So many of you ask what my workout schedule looks like and I wish I had been logging it like I had my first 2 pregnancies and postpartum.  But we have been so busy with the workout portal, I just haven't had an extra second to do it.  So here is a quick run down of what my week looks like:

Monday: 35-40 minute Superfit Workout (this is a workout from the Workout Portal)

Tuesday:  40 minute Cardio Workout

Wednesday:  I try to go to a class every week or every other week to get outta the house!  Usually Hot Yoga or a training session with 1 of my friends.

Thursday: Rest (although the 30 Day Challenge I have added a 25 minute V02 cardio workout - let me know if you'd like to see it)

Friday:  Either looks like Monday or Wednesday

Saturday:  Rest (although the 30 Day Challenge added in Boot Camp or Postnatal Boot Camp)
Sunday: Rest (added yoga for the 30 Day Challenge)

And I have to say, just 11 days into the 30 Day Challenge and bumping up my cardio workouts to the V02 max I have seen a change in my body and in my endurance (and that silly puppy chow and Christmas chex mix is outta here!)

On another note - Jess and I have been getting a lot of questions about the workout portal - so here is a quick video.  This is the Ultimate version of the Portal which has our Registered Dietitian and downloads of every workout available.  Note - the free 2 weeks is the Basic version and does not include all of it.  But if you're wanna try it out we have a 100% Buy it Back guarantee!  Ultimate Workout Portal - Click Here

30 Day Challenge

Ok, so I threw away all Holiday treats, put the Christmas tree away and started my 30 Day Challenge. Even though Day 3 of 30 meant bundling everybody up and doing my cardio workout with all 3 kiddos. I want YOU to join me on the 30 DAY CHALLENGE?  Sure it's hard to find time...but YOU are more important than laundry, errands, work and dishes!

So what's the 30 Day Challenge? Well for the next 30 days I want you to do some form of fitness everyday. Of course you shouldn't use the MIF Shredding workouts everyday, you need some Yoga Love and Cardio Love in there! Reminder: toning = every other day.

And if you want my help, it's easy. You can join my new Workout Portal for 2 weeks for Free.  You get a 30 Day Calendar with workouts (including Cardio & Yoga Love).  Just tell your friends via Social Media about the new Moms Into Fitness Free Video Trial at www.momsintofitness.com. Then email Jess at themoms@momsintofitness.com and tell her where you posted it and she will get you signed up for 2 free weeks.

Remember, if you have done the MIF workouts before - the Free Trial on www.momsintofitness.com is not for you, you've done some of it before.  This 2 week Trial of the Workout Portal is for you.

Let me know what you think of the Portal!  It has more or less consumed me and the MIF team for 3 months!

Update - a bunch of you have asked where to find the Workout Portal, because you just want to sign up and get all the downloads, Ask the Regsitered Dietitian and Fitness Calendars. It's for Pregnancy - New Mom - Veteran Moms - SuperFit! Here is the link www.momsintofitness.com/workout-portal-subscription-plans

I think I'm there...

Sure the scale doesn't show it, but I feel great!!!  6 Months post-baby Harper #3.  Which was in December but I am just now getting around to posting them!

Lose Baby Weight: 6 Months Post-Baby #3

View How to Lose Baby Weight

Shutting Down for Christmas!

So Jess, the moms and myself will be taking some time off over the Holidays!  Moms Into Fitness will be closed Dec 23rd-Jan 3rd.  So all Facebook Posts, Emails, Order Inquiries, Comments/Questions within our Workout Portal and Free Trial messages will be answered when we return.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Also when we return we will be launching a 1 month free trial in our workout portal. So just to clear any confusion:
Free 1 month Trial on www.momsintofitness.com = for anybody who has never tried MIF
Free 1 month Trial through our newsletter = for MIF veterans (just sign up for our newsletter by the end of the year on our website and you will receive an email sometime in January.)

FREE MIF Workout Trial!

Ok, so I am finally getting back on track after my week of cookies.  5 workouts last week!  I was sore, but slept so well.  And after the long awaited - been working on it since August - Free MIF Trial launched last week...I finally feel like I can breathe again.  My To Do List got a little shorter!

...BUT I am still putting together our Free Workout Portal Trial for all of you MIF veterans!  Jess, myself and our fabulous team at Activated Marketing have been working our tushies off.  And this is next in line.

So if you have never done MIF workouts - try our new FREE Trial!  You get a new workout every week!  And all you do is enter some stuff about when you had your last baby, weight, goals etc. and we customize the workout for you.  You get a meal plan, target weight and calculated metabolism too.

If you have done MIF workouts before - make sure you sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the MIF website www.momsintofitness.com - you will receive an email when your free Trial of the Workout Portal is ready!

Lose Baby Weight: 5 Months Post-Baby #3, a TOTAL BUST!

View How to Lose Baby Wieght

5 month goal...coming up a lil' too quick!

To my horror yesterday - I realized my 5 Month Goal of being back at my pre-pregnancy weight is fast approaching!  The good news about that is I worked my butt off in a workout I would have skipped today due to my Work List being a mile long.

Don't know if I am going to hit my goal by next week, but I am gonna try!

I need your help!

I was reading all of your comments - which usually have me chuckling out loud in my bed at midnight when I am catching up.  And it got me thinking.  We are wanting to launch some Personal Coaching stuff and Motivation Contests at MIF!

Tiffany, an MIF veteran, and Jess, one of the moms at MIF, are going to help get this up and running.  And we want to know what you want!  

What would motivate you?  A message Board?  A personal Skype coach?  Weekly workouts & calendars?  Nutrition logs that you turn into MIF?  Weekly coaching?  Weekly weigh-ins?  Meal ideas?

Any and ALL ideas are welcome.  We all need a little extra motivation!  In fact, it took every ounce of myself to go to yoga last night at 8:00...but I had a great night's sleep and feel refreshed this morning.  Although I am still trying to catch up on my sleep after all 3 kids have been fighting the time change.  Argh!

How to Lose Baby Weight: 4 months Post-Baby #3

Click here fore How to lose Baby Weight

The Pumpkin Patch

I LOVE the Fall. My favorite season by far!

15 weeks Post-Baby #3

So we are getting closer!  About 9 pounds form my post-pregnancy weight.  The scale isn't giving me much, but my clothes are getting less tight!  And I can now fit into about half of my wardrobe.

Oh motherhood - after 3 breastfed babies my boobs - what is left of them - are sagging!  And I only breastfed 4-12 weeks with each baby - yes Taylor got the most breastmilk!

And why is it that I cannot sleep 8 hours straight?  Harper has been sleeping through the night for a few weeks.  And minus the weeks the kids are sick and/or waking up at 6am just because they want to, I CANNOT sleep 8 hours!  It's either insomnia or I wake up and worry - walk around checking on everybody - go back to bed and I am wide awake!

I caught myself the other day giving myself an excuse as to why I should cut my workout short.  What?  Why am I giving myself excuses?  I had plenty of time to workout - the hubby was home and I took my time running (he takes his time working the in the yard so it was my turn!)  And about halfway through I was talking myself out of the last mile I had scheduled.  Telling myself "I am only 15 weeks out" and "take it easy". Well I was in no pain and could have easily finished the 2.5 miles I had scheduled + the dumb bells in my driveway to finish up some toning....

....ends up I did cut my run short.  But I did do my toning in the driveway.

Here's to NO EXCUSES this week!

How to Lose Baby Weight: 14 weeks post-baby #3

View How to Lose Baby Weight: 14 weeks postpartum

13 weeks Post-Baby #3

I finally gave in and bought stroller #6.  I really didn't want another stroller, but had to get it if I was going to squeeze in a workout or take the kids to the park that is a 1/3 mile away.  And geez - there are 2 options when it comes to a Triple Jogger - expensive and not as expensive.  I went with the less expensive version, and now have a non-swivel front wheel...ah well.  I am just glad 3 kids will stay seated for 20-30 minutes!

And I was elated when I got on the scale this past Monday.  It finally gave in and let me lose a few pounds!  Funny how that works...I worked out twice last week with all of our kids being sick.

12 weeks post-baby #3, stressed!

How to Lose Pregnancy Weight: 10 Weeks Post-Baby #3

Ok, the scale moved, a smidge.  But my measurements still look about the same except for the waist - which would naturally go down after a baby!!!  Everything else is the same as it was 2 weeks after leaving the hospital!

View How to Lose Pregnancy Weight
Here are the ole measurements!  From pre-prego - to 3 weeks post - to 10 weeks post
Weight: 105, 121.6, 121.0
Arm: 9.75, 10.5, 10.5

Bust: 30.5, 35, 33

Shoulders: 35, 35.75, 35.75

Waist: 25, 33.75, 31.5

Below navel: 30, 37, 36.75

Hips: 33.5, 36.75, 36.75

Leg: 18.75, 21.25, 21.25

Nothing fits, so I bought some "interim" jeans

So they were only $12 at Gap - and neatly placed by the checkout by Baby Gap.  I didn't try them on cause all 3 kids were with me and who wants to try stuff on 10 weeks post-baby??

I fit in my size 4 jeans at 18 weeks prego with #3  (with a bella band of course!) and to my disappointment tried those same jeans on last week and couldn't squeeze into them.  So I bought some others that looked little bigger than my others.  Don't get me wrong I am totally happy with a size 4 - I just hope they fit!  I can't wait to be able to wear more than the 5-6 things that fit right now.

I swore I wouldn't by "interim" jeans, but hey I need something to wear!  Now to try them on...

Facebook Group for Moms!

Melissa mentioned in 1 of the blog comments how much she loved the new Facebook Group I started a few days ago.  So I realized I should post it here too!

All the moms are talking about how they fit in a workout being a SAHM, WAHM and WOHM - stay at home mom, work at home and work our of home mom.

Please join us and find your motivation!  And answers to anything you could ask about motherhood.
FACEBOOK MOM GROUP

How to Lose Pregnancy Weight: 9 Weeks Post-Baby #3...15 lbs to go...at a standstill

View How to Lose Pregnancy Weight

Almost 8 weeks Post-Baby #3

Pregnant weight = College unpregnant weight

After I posted my pictures from my college days, I got a ton of messages from you all asking how I kept the weight off.  I weighed the same (134 lbs) pregnant with #3 as I weighed unpregnant when I graduated from college.  And I am sure I fluctuated a lot more!  One of my best friends still finds it entertaining to show off a Party Pic of me freshman year in college.  I will have to track it down, at first I blamed it on a bad camera angle, not so much:)

You all know me, I can talk!  So I am going to break it down to the top 3 things.  Today I have some of the same challenges as most moms - sleep deprivation with 3 kids, finding time to do everything and trying not to eat all the "kid-friendly" food in my house.  And "what the heck am I gonna cook tonight?"  Most of the time it ends up being a frozen bag pre-made meal thing like stir fry or the usual rotisserie chicken, Lipton flavored rice and a veggie.  The only difference is my Exercise Science degree which helps me know how/what to do.  But sometimes I am awful at the application of it!  And bad at finding time to exercise and saying no to some cravings. 

I realized the other day when we were at the mall (its way too hot to go outside and the kids needed to burn some energy on the playground) that I carry many of the nutrition tricks I used after college with me today.  Taylor correlates the mall with Mrs. Fields cookies of course.  And its hard to say no - most of the time - and not get a cookie for myself.  So if I eat the cookie, I do not need to follow it with my usual lunch.  Maybe just a yogurt or some soup.  I always thought during college I needed to make sure I got all my meals in.  Which is partly true so you don't go off the deep end and devour food because you're so hungry.  But 1 cookie = my caloric intake for lunch!

I was a gymnast and dancer in high school.  But once an eating disorder scorned me inside gymnastics I gained wieght rapidly.  And I tried to lose the 40 lbs I gained for the last 2 years of high school.  I thought about it constantly.  That was the time when eating pasta and bagels was the latest diet craze.  Note: diet crazes get a lot of hype - but that's all they are - hype with TV time and magazine slots!

I lived in overalls and baggy sweatshirts in the late 90's...luckily they were in style.  Although I probably wore my overalls a lot longer than they were "in" - but I was comfortable in them.  And I  hated jeans!!!  I mean hated them.

Went to college a little overweight and gained 20 lbs freshman year!  I am sure it had nothing to do with the Chipotle Club (ya know, eating a full burrito) on numerous occasions!  And late night snacking and such.

So onto how I lost the weight and kept it off.  No secrets here.  Just some hard work.  I worked really, really hard for about 6 months.  And kept at it for another 6 months on top of that, then kinda "coasted" through.   I had the luxury of knowing what to do, but I did have to work hard to get there.  And now I don't have to work as hard, except when I am in weight loss mode after babies.

I probably could have lost the weight a lot quicker-from 134 to about 110 and now 105 (I am 5'1") -had I realized that no matter how hard I worked out - if I over indulged too much - it was a losing battle.  And a lot of the time I was overindulging in cottage cheese, crackers, cereal, the "good stuff".  A calorie is a calorie no matter where it comes from!!  Once I grasped that concept and changed my eating habits rather than dieting I was home free!  And it quickly became something I didn't have to concentrate on.    So here is Tip #1:  You will not win the battle unless you treat nutrition and exercise equally.  Nutrition is 50% of the game, if not more!  And you cannot look at it as a diet.  If you want to go to lunch and have chips and a burrito (my personal fave, but now it's 1/2 a Chipotle burrito, not the whole thing!) then go for it.  But just know you cannot give into every craving and lose weight.  You WILL have to count calories at some point.  Just try it for a few weeks and then you will have that knowledge to carry with you forever.  If you need to know how many calories you shoudl be consuming click here www.momsintofitness.com/weight-loss-calculator

At that point I knew if I ate "bad" I just had to compensate and drop the lingo "I will start tomorrow".  That lingo is what made me overweight because I started tomorrow for 4 years sttraight:)  After the initial couple weeks of smaller portions I was used to it.  And I always kept my "fat Sunday" routine so I never felt unsatisfied.  Everyone HAS to have a CHEAT DAY!!  A lot of my tricks are listed in the Revamp Your Nutrition link at the top of this blog.  2 tricks that really helped me were the Plate Method and drinking tea after dinner (instead of snacking).  Find these tricks and more in the link above.

As I mentioned earlier I worked really hard for the initial 6 months.  And I was lucky having the Exercise Degree, just had to apply the knowledge!  So know this Tip #2: You won't always have to work out 5-6 days a week.  Your metabolism will take over!  My metabolism, at age 32, is higher than its ever been!  And that's because I have more muscle.  All the yo-yo diets can really spin your metabolism for a loop.  So I worked super hard for the initial 6 months, combining a lot of different exercise, toning being the MOST important key.  I spun my wheels running 60 minutes on a treadmill my sophomore year...then I took exercise physiology and it was a game changer.  Interval training IS the QUICKEST, most efficient way to weight loss.  Combine this with #1 and you are running into home plate!

Toning boosts your metabolism while pulling everything in.  Especially after babies.  You gotta use those muscles to get them to pull in!  Now, when I am not in pregnancy weight loss mode, I spend about 30 minutes 3-4x/week working out.  1-2 of those days are interval training and the other days are cardio intervals like you find here.

Tip #3: Be real.  Set a goal.  Put the past behind you.  Even if you gained 100 lbs in your pregnancy, put it behind you.  And work hard now.  Don't let excuses get in the way.  We are all super busy.  Excuses only hamper you, not the person you are giving excuses to.

Sure, I do exercise for a living so its easier for me to squeeze it in.  But I still have to schedule it into my day.  I have my excuses too but hopefully have learned to limit them:)

So do the right exercise, make the better food choices (notice I did not say best food choices - who wants beans prouts and grilled chicken for dinner every night) and be real with yourself.  You can get a better body than you've ever had EVEN AFTER HAVING KIDS!!!!

For more fun "not-so-flattering pics" click here

7 Weeks Post-Baby #3...15 lbs to go...still!

Almost 7 weeks out and a few days of working out under my belt.  And I am ready for instant gratification after busting my butt this week!  But I still have 15 lbs to go!

Yesterday I filmed Download #12 of the MIF monthly downloads.  Yikes.  Talk about suffering through it!  It's a fatigue workout with light weight and tons of repetition - creates long lean muscles.  Also working on our new web streaming for the workout downloads so there is no download time involved - just login to your account from an iPad, iPhone or computer and your workout is there!  It's so cool, you can have your own portal in which I create extra workouts for your cardio days and stuff.  Coming September 1st as long as my schedule goes according to plan. 

Totally off task, back to what I was saying.  Intensity provides results...although gotta take it easy the first several weeks of working out after baby.  I need to listen to my own advice before I create another hernia:)  The newest studies show that intense workouts can provide the "afterburn effect" for up to several hours, increasing your caloric burn by about 150 calories.

But anyhoo I am totally sore.  Feel like I have the flu.  And tired.  But I am sleeping better at night - although I have to wake up and feed baby Harper.  Over the next few weeks I expcet the exercise to give me energy again.

Can I just say I am so excited to put caffeine back in my day?  Not because it dehydrates my skin and makes me more thirsty.  But I love Mr. Pibb and Vanilla Carmel hot Tea.  I drank Mr. Pibb during pregnancy (under 200 mg is ok and Mr. Pibb is about 90mg by the time I load up a 32 oz cup with crushed ice), but I eliminated my tea.  I tried to eliminate all caffeine while breastfeeding so I could keep up my water intake.  And now its back into my afternoon or evening "snack" when all I want to eat are M&Ms.  Plus I have it the mornings I work...haven't found time to drink it on days I am home with all 3 kids.  But I balance it with 1 extra glass of water for every tea...gotta pee all the time.  At least my pelvic floor is gaining strength again so I don't pee on myself:)

My first Jog 6 weeks Post-Baby #3

My first time back at the ole jogging stroller...6 weeks and 5 days post-baby Harper.

How to Lose Pregnancy Wieght: 6 Weeks Post-Baby #3...15 lbs to go!

View How to Lose Pregnancy Weight

5 Weeks Post-Baby #3

Not one ounce down on the scale!  Although my stomach is getting flatter.  But I am weaning breastfeeding so I am sure my body is adjusting to that and slowing my metabolism!

Good news...I get to start working out this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Goal...to fit into my white swimsuit!

Yep, I still have the same goal 1 month after having Harper.  And I know I can do it, just probably not possible until summer is over.  Bummer.  But I am encouraged with the slimming of my waistline...and I can start working out next week - fingers crossed the doc gives me the ok!

P.S.  I have not forgotten about all the requests I received about my "fat days"!  Weighing the same 37 weeks prego as I did when I was in high school and college - I will share how I kept the weight off for over 10 years later this week!  Wow, has it really been 10 years since I graduated college..geez!

How to Lose Pregnancy Weight: 4 Weeks Post-Baby #3

View How to Lose Pregnancy Weight

Breastfeeding: Weight Loss for some

So we always here how breastfeeding magically melts off weight.  But that is not true for everyone!  I could go on and on about the benefits of breast milk and your baby, but my expertise is moms!

So let me start by saying everybody is different!  Some moms lose more weight than they started with and some moms hang onto an extra 5-10 lbs until they stop breastfeeding.  For me, I hang on to some extra until I stop breastfeeding.  Now I don't think you should make a choice about breastfeeding based on getting your body back, I want you to know how your metabolism works while breastfeeding!

So bear with me...a lil' science, but you must read - click here.  But my advice, weigh yourself every Monday and see what caloric range works for you.  That doesn't mean you have to count calories...just know if that extra snack is weighing you down:)

How to Lose Pregnancy Wieght: 3 Weeks Post-Baby #3

View How to Lose Pregnancy Weight

I can't believe Harper is 3 weeks old!  I also can't believe I heard the Beckhams just named their baby girl Harper...we were trying for a "different" name, ah well.

Feeling good.  #3 is easy...so far that is.  And I am impressed with how quickly my stomach has gone down.  Even quicker than the last 2 pregnancies - in which I gained 19 and 24 lbs.  This one was 29 lbs.  But I was able to exercise thorughout my entire pregnancy, no bed rest at all this time!  With the vanishing twin, bleeding and separation tears during my other pregnancies there were weeks at a time I was unable to exercise.

I promised myself I would only work 2 days a week this summer.  The kids (except Harper) do daycare 2 days a week and I swore I would only work while they were at daycare so I could really concentrate on having a newborn and enjoying the summer with my family.  But after 3 weeks of materity leave, publisher requests and working with a company to design custom software that takes each of you through your own timeline of pregnancy/weight loss/postpartum nutrition - I have a feeling its not going to happen.  But I am going to do my best to stick with my plan so Harper isn't 8 weeks old and I wonder why I didn't spend more time with her:(

I promise, promise, promise I will answer everyone's questions and comments through this blog and Facebook.  I appreciate all the well wishes and I love hearing from you all!  Just been playing catch up after my 3 weeks off!

 

My 7 Rules to get your body back!

A woman’s body’ is made to bear a child. In order to do that, you will have to gain some weight. For most women that weight will ideally be somewhere between  fifteen and thirty-five pounds for a singleton baby. You’ll put that amount of weight on in nine months time. No matter how you look at it, that’s a significant amount of weight to gain in that timeframe. Losing that amount of weight would be hard for anyone to lose. The good news, is that the pregnancy weight you will have to lose will go when the baby is born and 6 weeks post-baby. The rest is up to you and how you take care of yourself.  6 weeks postpartum you're left with loose skin, loose muscles and probably a few more lbs. than going into the pregnancy. 

So let's make it easy and begin with my 7 Rules:

1) No Guilt - Taking care of yourself will make you a better mom!

2) Do not gain more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy.

3) No Excuses - Complaining only wastes time, so get to work!

4) No looking back - If you are still carrying pregnancy weight from your 3 year old, don't worry just work!

5) If you want your muscles to bounce back you have to use them.

6) Lose the pregnancy weight between babies.

7) Know that not exercising for 9 months sets you on a long journey to getting your body back.

How to Lose Pregnancy Weight: 10 Days Post-Baby #3

So I lost 7 lbs upon arriving home from the hospital:(  Always a tough pill to swallow when you expect the lbs. to fly off after having the baby.  Given, a majority of the baby weight comes from the baby itself (7 to 8 pounds) and your increasing muscle tissue and fluid (4 to 7 pounds). Other sources of weight gain are from the placenta and amniotic fluid that protect the baby (3 to 4 pounds); increased size of breasts (approximately one pound); increased size of uterus (2 pounds); increased blood volume (3 pounds); and finally increased body fat (5 or more pounds). 

But all that "stuff" won't officially be gone until 6 weeks post-baby.  So my 29 pound weight gain will eventually come off.  But the muscles have to be used to get back to where they were - which won't start until week 6 for me (other than some Inner Core Movements found here).  And here is a video of me in my GOAL white swimsuit!





View How to Lose Pregnancy Weight

4 Days Post-Baby #3

So we are home from the hospital and the 3rd c-section is proving to be a little tougher in the recovery stage.  Luckily I have my mom here and the most helpful husband!  Rylan (16 months) just hates that I cannot pick him up so I am in charge of Harper and myself most of the time.  Everything is a little more painful this time around...even getting out of bed.

Thought I would post a few post-preg pics!  No swelling after birth, just a little pudgy/mushy EVERYWHERE. 

But so far #3 seems to be an easy addition.  Given she is still in the "sleep most of the time" stage!



Baby #3 is here!

So Friday night 6/17 our little miracle arrived! A miracle because every baby is such a blessing, but also a miracle to us not having to undergo IVF for Miss Harper!

It was my 3rd c-section (Taylor started off the c-section process a few years ago when she was transverse) and it gets easier each time. Guess it's easier when you know what to expect....but I still remember waking up every hour to breastfeed with Taylor and that was a huge shock! The epidural/morphine makes me a little loopy - which is also why we haven't chosen a middle name quite yet.

I was 1 day shy of 37 weeks so they tried to stop the labor, but Harper decided to push through. She was born Friday night weighing 5 lbs 15 oz. Taylor thinks she is pretty cool and loves to kiss her lil' sissy. But Rylan is wondering what the heck just happened to his spot on my lap. I'd be confused at 16 months too:)

Looks like I gained almost 30 lbs with Miss Harper. And she is healthy as a peach. Makes me wanna have another one...maybe that's the drugs talking???

10 years ago when I weighed the same as I do now prego with #3!

My parents and bro 1999

So I am 5'11/2", always wanted a few extra inches, 37 weeks prego and 134 lbs.  As I was nesting for baby #3 I came across some old photos from college.  I weighed the same then as I do 37 weeks prego with baby #3.  So I thought I'd share some humility.

Summer 2000 in London

University of Kansas Graduation 2001

Naples FL 2001

Almost 37 weeks prego with #3!

I guess the water weights weren't exciting enough today!  Usually that paired with working out in the playroom at least gives me 20 minutes to workout!  But luckily my mom is in town (she thought it was humorous to take these pictures) helping me out for a few days.  Taylor has been asking to go to Grammy and Gramps' pool ever since we left their house Memorial Weekend.  So I thought it would be nice to get some help and have my mom take Taylor to her house - 3 hours away - for some 1-on-1 time before Miss Harper arrives.

So I have a few days of help while mom is here and then a few days with just Rylan.  And he goes to daycare one of those days...I am thinking I may even go treat myself to a pedicure instead of working that day!  Hmmmm...pedicures put anyone into labor?

Saw the doc today and I am a fingertip dilated.  Music to my ears at almost 37 weeks.  And I hate saying I am ready to be un-pregnant but a) I am uncomfortable and b) I want to meet Harper!  After 4 IVFs, 1 miscarriage and a vanishing twin its awful to say.  I remember seeing a 2 year old say "hold you" to his mom after our 1st IVF didn't work, at it seems like it was yesterday.  So it's awful to say I am ready to have this baby since she was a miracle God blessed us with without the hardship of IVF this time.  But I will say it anyway....come on Miss Harper!

No 4 lb gain this past week.  And I am now craving watermelon and cantaloupe over cheesecake and carmel creams.  3 days of fruit in place of my sugar snacks changed my cravings!  27 lb weight gain at 37 weeks, doing good. 

Had the boob feeding discussion with the hubby.  My goal for this pregnancy is 4-6 weeks of boob feeding.  And yes I totally give props to moms who do it for a longer period, I just don't have it in me.  Wish I did.  Wish I enjoyed it.  Selfish, sure.  But its a personal decision I've researched and the hubby and I agree the first 2 weeks are the most important so I can do 4-6 weeks right?! 

36 weeks prego with #3, EEK stop the weight gain!

View 36 Weeks Pregnant and Labor

That's it, I am totally guilty of giving into almost all of my cravings.  And we all know what happpens when we do that!  a) we don't lose weight when non-pregnant b) we gain 4 lbs. in a week when pregnant!

So I know, I know.  It's summer, it's blood volume, it's swelling, it's the baby packing on the lbs.  It's 2 weeks of gaining nothing and WHAM.  But it's also me eating way too much!  What happened?  My last 2 pregnancies there wasn't enough room to eat more than a cracker at 1 sitting.  And this time I can eat the house in 1 sitting.  It's because she dropped...I am going to go with that:)

Ah well, 27 lbs at 36 weeks is pretty good.  Just hoping it's not 31 lbs when I go to the doc next week!  Beacuse I can't stand the sight of my legs in shorts right now!
5' 1.5" tall and Measuring in:
pre-prego, 8 weeks, 14 weeks, 17 weeks, 21 weeks, 25 weeks, 30 weeks, 32 weeks, 36 weeks:

Weight: 105, 108, 109, 111, 120, 123, 126, 128, 133
Arm: 9.75, 9.75, 10, 10.25, 10.5, 10.5, 10.25, 10.25, 10.75
Bust: 30.5, 31, 33, 32.5, 33.5, 33.75, 34, 34.5, 35.5
Shoulders: 35, 35, 35, 35, 35, 35.5, 35.75, 35.75, 35.75
Waist: 25, 25.5, 32.25, 32.75. 34.5, 36, 37.75, 39, 37.75
Below navel: 30, 30.5, 33.75, 33.75, 36.75, 38, 38, 38.5, 39.75
Hips: 33.5, 34, 36, 36, 36.75, 37.5, 38, 39, 39
Leg: 18.75, 19, 20.5, 20.5, 20.5, 20.5, 21, 21.5, 22

Concentrating on toning at this point in the game!

So at this point in the game I have been concentrating on toning and a little less on cardio. For a number of scientific reasons, but also cause cardio is plain ole uncomfortable to do right now!

As I mentioned last week I was also going to take care of myself first with some much needed rest and help. And I feel 100 times better. Thought I'd tell you all about it in my Vlog above.  A happy mom = a happy family! And I am one happy momma when everybody is safe/healthy, and I am exercised and well rested!

P.S.  This doesn't happen all of the time.  I really had to focus on myself last week!  I am sure next week I will be back to staying up late to nest and work.  And I will be thinking about how much better I felt when i took care of myself!

33 weeks prego #3 Swimsuit Update!

33 weeks, time to concentrate on me...what?

Weird, never thought I'd be saying it's time to concentrate on me at 33 weeks prego with #3, but staying up late to work is really taking a toll.  When my temper is already shorter than my fingernails, yelling at Taylor for hitting her brother for the 8th time was up a few decibels and not necessary.
So my goal for the next several weeks is a decent bedtime and a nap when the kids nap!  I know I am a better mom when I take care of myself...not only with exercise but decent rest.  And 5 hours is not decent rest for me.  Work is crazy, which is everything I prayed for...a great family and a great career.  But I've gotta figure out how to make it "work" for me!
I decided to stop trying to plan around everyone else's schedule.  Made my own schedule and signed the kids up for an extra day at daycare so I can make this new and improved me work.
Gosh, I sound like Debbie Downer.  But really I am excited to get a handle on my To Do list, get some good rest and hang out with my kids when we are at home (computer staying in the office) before this baby arrives. And the baby's room...well we'll get there.  My room and a pack n play will work for while!  
Did I mention I will be attempting a maternity leave for the summer?  Is it possible?  To be determined...

32 weeks Prego with #3

5' 1.5" tall and Measuring in:
pre-prego, 8 weeks, 14 weeks, 17 weeks, 21 weeks, 25 weeks, 30 weeks, 32 weeks:

Weight: 105, 108, 109, 111, 120, 123, 126, 128
Arm: 9.75, 9.75, 10, 10.25, 10.5, 10.5, 10.25, 10.25
Bust: 30.5, 31, 33, 32.5, 33.5, 33.75, 34, 34.5
Shoulders: 35, 35, 35, 35, 35, 35.5, 35.75, 35.75
Waist: 25, 25.5, 32.25, 32.75. 34.5, 36, 37.75, 39
Below navel: 30, 30.5, 33.75, 33.75, 36.75, 38, 38, 38.5
Hips: 33.5, 34, 36, 36, 36.75, 37.5, 38, 39
Leg: 18.75, 19, 20.5, 20.5, 20.5, 20.5, 21, 21.5

So the lower body is getting a lil' thicker!  I am going to blame it on all the extra fluid:)  Not the carmel creams at 10 pm.

Some inquiring minds want to know why I have had c-sections.  So here it is!  Taylor was lying sideways when my water broke, she was transverse the whoel pregnancy.  Rylan's fluid was dangerously low so we had an emergency c-section.  And well, #3, we're just figuring we will have to do a c-section for some reason!  Last wek checked Harper was breech.