New Year, New Fitness Goals

Like many people, when the new year rolled around I said I needed to get back on track with the diet and exercise. I hadn't strayed too far, but with all the food and baked goods around the holidays I wasn't exactly strict with my diet either. I quickly got back into my routine that I had been doing for the last 10+ months. Then my friend told me how he started doing crossfit. I had heard about crossfit but didn't know much about it. He encouraged me to try it out. 

Now after two weeks of crossfit, I was thinking of where I was a year ago in regards to fitness. This time last year was right before I started working out with a trainer (March 1st) and before I ran my first ever 5k (end of March). In the last year, I've lost 30 lbs, I ran six 5k's, did 2 mud runs, and have learned a lot about the fitness competing industry.

This year my goal is to continue my diet (basically the paleo diet) and exercise and hopefully get more lean (it'd be nice if I could actually get abs). I think including crossfit into my workout regime will be good for a change of pace and to get my cardio in. I also like the close knit family feel of the "box" (a crossfit gym). Everyone is supportive and encouraging and it's just a fun environment... when I'm not wanting to pass out from a workout. Carlee even likes it. She can do a burpee and tries to do push ups. When we left the box the other night she asked if she could hear the song that was playing in the gym. I told her I didn't know which song she was talking about. She said "Moves like Jagger!" Maybe she just likes the music from crossfit.

I also signed up for four 5k's this year. Its a Quadruple Crown series of races where I'll get a medal at the end for completing all four. I only do the races for the medals... kind of. I dislike running and do not do it as a form of exercise but doing a race is different. Its fun and your adrenaline is going. I'd like to do a few of the other 5k's I did last year also, like the OC Fair 5k and the Wet-n-Wild 5k. 

We'll see how this year shapes up, but I'm striving for a healthier, leaner self. It will be interesting to see where I am in a year from now. 

Any parent...

...should be able to appreciate this.

Happy Monday

Last 3 months...

...Via iPhone photos. 

Here is a quick recap of what we have been up to the last few months. A photo dump from my phone is the best way to recap because I always take pictures using my phone and hardly ever have my camera on me.

Movie date with my peanut. She couldn't wait for the Chipmunk movie to come out. (Here we saw the Muppets)

Shopping. She looks like a serious shopper here.

At Knott's waiting in line.

Thanksgiving morning after playing with gift tags.

At Grandma's playing on the iPad

Thanksgiving!

Waiting in line on Black Friday. View to the front of the store.

View of the line behind us.

Carlee looking at what to put on her Christmas wish list.

During our lunch date

At a birthday party having a cupcake of course.

After being sick and wanted to snuggle in Mommy's bed

Ready for the Christmas program

Singing...sort of

Another day at Knott's

The big rigs at Knott's

New dolls= happy child

Christmas Eve

Christmas morning with her Lalaloopsy doll that she knew Santa was bringing her. (And yes, she's in her outfit from the night before. It was Xmas Eve if she wanted to sleep in tights and a dress so be it!)

Playing her guitar. This kid loves to sing.

Carlee playing at My Giggle Place.

Being Carlee

Disney on Ice with her best friend.

With her Jessie hat

Birthday party

Park days...

Playdate with her buddy

Holding hands...

Pajama day at school. She's so particular with clothes that her pajamas had to be similar to regular clothes (dress, leggings, and boots).

Random picture last Friday.

 

 

 

Us being us!

4 going on 14...

October had been really busy for us, as I've mentioned. But the highlight of the month was (and always will be) Carlee's birthday! My baby girl turned four! She's my smart, sweet, sassy stinkpot and she amazes me more and more each day.

One day old

1st birthday party

2nd birthday party

3rd birthday party

4th birthday party

I am one lucky mama. I love you, Carlee! Happy birthday peanut!!

Family

I'm grateful for my family. I'm pretty fortunate in that department. My brother and I have always been close. One thing I'm grateful for is Carlee's relationship with her uncle. Sure they bicker and fight because they're so much alike, but they love each other and have fun together. 

Last night we were going to Dien's basketball game (I should say "our" game because I'm on the roster but haven't played yet. That's a whole other post). Carlee went to the game in her uncle's truck because she wanted to ride with him. (I cherished the 10 minute drive where I didn't have to listen to Shake It Up music). Then when we were walking in, Carlee told me she's walking with her uncle and not me. 

She sure loves her uncle. Or she's just getting some brownie points because she knows her birthday is coming up and she wants him to get her this baby laundry center thing she's been eyeing at Target.

I did it!

Anyone that knows me knows how hard I've been working at losing weight and getting in shape. Some may even say it is excessive. I say it's necessary. I certainly didn't get to where I am today from sitting on the couch or from eating whatever I want to eat. It's been two years of hard work but I finally hit 50 lbs! That's 50 lbs of weight loss! (Well 51.5 as of yesterday) I never set a target weight because I didn't know what a number would translate to in regards to my body. But hitting 50 lbs certainly was a milestone.

It all started (almost) two years ago, when my friend wanted to join Weight Watchers and she dragged her mom and I along. That was October 23, 2009. Here is a picture of me at Carlee's birthday party just two days later...

Weight Watchers was the best thing I could do to jump start me getting back in shape. I lost 20+ lbs before even joining the gym. After about 6 months I finally joined the gym and started gaining muscle from working out. I quit Weight Watchers because I felt like I had learned a new way of eating, a new lifestyle. I continued working out and trying to eat healthy for the next year.

Come the beginning of 2011, I felt as though I had reached a plateau. I didn't know what more I could do. I decided to check out a local gym and meet the trainers there. I did a free session and I was hooked. My trainer changed my diet completely. It's the same diet that his fitness competitors are on. It's a complete 180 from my eating habits two years ago but obviously it works. In the seven months I've been working out there, I've lost 20 lbs but have gotten more toned and couldn't be happier!

Here is a picture from last week (when I thought I'd hit the 50 lb mark)...

And here is a picture from our family shoot done by Carolyn at Carolyn Jayne Photography this past Sunday...

While I hate to admit I was 50 lbs heavier, I am definitely proud of myself for taking control of my life and just living a healthier life in general.