Fitness 101

Technology is great. As I am typing this out, I am laying out in the Phoenix sun (95 degree) in my backyard. Laptops are so portable! I get too anxious just sweating away in the sun and feeling unproductive, so what a better way to pass the time than by blogging! I can't tell if it's sweat trickling down my legs, or ants crawling around...either way, it's nice to get a bit of color. Wrangler is by my side rolling around in the grass, scratching his itchy back (from laying in the dirt) and sneezing.

Nothing new to report unfortunately. Jared is still unemployed and looking for work. The rejection from the FBI has been a hard one to swallow. He was so prepared emotionally and physically (scoring a 30 on the PT test! He could run a 1.5 mile in a little over 9 minutes, pump out 80 push ups non stop, 65 sit ups in a second, etc). My ACA school year is officially over, with graduation happening yesterday. I will teach 3 weeks of summer school in June and my older boys even get to come with me! I will teach a HS/JR high writing course.

I went to the gym this morning, after having over eaten last night some homemade Mexican food...the guilt motivates me to sweat off the extra fat and calories. I pushed myself hard in a spin class, and then saw that Troy, a phenomenal trainer at my gym was alone (for once!). I had taken my body fat earlier that morning (18.1%, not sure how accurate it is?) and had some questions for him....

I have been working out all wrong! As many of you may know, I have been a dedicated gym goer since I was a senior in high school. I would take my mom's Bally Fitness card and work out (so dishonest, I know). I have had a love/hate relationship with the gym ever since...and have been teaching at one since 2004. I love the workouts, I hate the pain.

For anyone who likes to work out...continue reading...

I know that a lower heart rate encourages a higher fat burn. I know this, but I forget it. Once I am in those intense classes (kickboxing, spin,), or sprinting at a 10.3 on the treadmill...all I can think about is ENDURANCE, DEDICATION, DISCIPLINE, DETERMINATION, A GOAL. I want to push myself 'til failure and I feel stronger for doing so.

Troy set me straight. I need to be doing a lower burning heart rate (130) vs my intense 160-180. I have been doing this heart rate for YEARS. It's the dumb way to burn calories! For all of us women obsessed with calorie burning, we are doing it all wrong! Unless you are a terrible eater, you need to be doing less intensity. Less is more! From a 25% fat burning zone to a 75% zone.

My sweat is trickling onto my laptop. Am I even getting a tan? I still am pasty white.

Troy had me hop onto a stair master for 3 min, level 8. My heart rate was at a 180. I then put it to a level 4 (quite boring and slow), it went down to 130. This is where I need to be at for fat burning and getting leaner.

I feel like I have been in a workout rut. There are seasons where I am super good about weight training, and no cardio. Or, I do 6 classes a week and no weight training in the gym. I just need to find some balance. This is why a personal trainer would be ideal. They keep you accountable, they give you diet advice (lots of which I know, but choose to not follow b/c I have little self control with carbs and sugar....ugh), and they know when to switch up your routine.

I would love to tone up the belly fat (I have super strong abs, but they are hidden underneath the mama pooch), and tighten up my triceps. Nothing too crazy. Just want my clothes to fit better around the waistline.

But, who can afford a personal trainer? I know we can't. Another thing, is that I feel like Jared and I are in decent shape and know a lot about diet and fitness. As though we are "too knowledgeable" for a trainer. But....there's always room for improvement!

This is where a great idea was presented to me. On-line fitness training with Troy! I am not promoting him, although I wish I could get some discount for doing so (LOL). It just sounds like something Jared and I could really benefit from. He gives you your workouts every day, analyzes you diet, text/emails daily, and a phone call once a week for support. I can have the accountability of a trainer, I know how to use the machines and what form to use, and now I can have someone else do the thinking for me. I need to be eating way more protein in my diet and less carbs (no more licuados full of bananas, juice and granola). It's hard boiled egg whites and hummus for me.

I want to start his program as soon as I can, which won't be until Jared gets a job. But, for Father's Day...this is what Jared is going to do for the next 3 months. I am super excited. He needs something to lift up his spirits and give him purpose at the gym, now that the PT exam is no longer relevant. Troy said that he has been watching Jared workout, and he is not doing a lot of exercises properly to build up the muscles.

So....a long story short...I have a great gift for Jared. I am also a bit more motivated to be aware of what food I put into my body, I will aim for a lower heart rate (130 for 60 minutes) and I am going to drink a protein shake right after a workout now (which I haven't been doing), and maintain a 1300 calorie diet per day. (Calorie counting will be the key!).

Jennie Souders is my workout partner...a great motivator and friend.

Hold me accountable dear friends and family!

Now if only we could find a job.

Answers

Answers

Today we received one that we did not want to have

Or accept

Devastated
Frustrated
Sad
Heartbroken

Why?
What could we have done differently?
What to do now?
How long until we will know what our NEXT step is?
How many more prayers, fasts, and temple visits do we need to keep doing?

I guess more.
Many more.
Until the peace comes.

It doesn't matter what the question was. It only matters that we have our answer.

So....the battle continues. Between faith and doubt.

Life is meant to be up and back down. I feel like we have had a lot of slow declining hills.... almost a year of them.

I still count my blessings: Jared, Wesley, Austin, and Isaac.
They are what matter to me.
I have a healthy body, I am employed, we have truth and knowledge, and a fridge full of food.

Still doesn't make the discouragement go completely away.
Time does heal raw wounds. I am grateful that this is a smaller wound.
Could always be worse.

I pray that it won't be worse.

Hang in there.

Fake it 'til you make it.

Father and Sons

Jared took the boys on the Father and Son's campout for our ward. Wish I knew more details and had more pictures...but, even taking the pictures was asking a lot! Looks like they had fun with the horeshoes, suckers, peeing in trees and campfires. It's always low key when mama is not there to stress everyone out and make things sanitized.

Spring BBQ

Springtime in AZ in like Summer anywhere else. In April and May, we are easily into the 90's and 100's. So...swimming and bbq's are the best way to spend time outside. Even though the water is freezing to adults, the kids always jump right in (blue lips and all) and splish splash.

Here are pic's from the first official BBQ for this season with the Thrower's and Ashton's (back in April). Isaac surprised me by getting in the water and loving it! His baby fat kept him warm, until he started getting goose bumps. I am so glad Wesley and Austin know how to swim! Last year Austin had just learned and it was a bit stressful with a newborn in tow at the Surprise Public Pool. They will be taking swim lessons later this year to learn more strokes and confidence. Children learn to swim so early here in AZ, usually by age 3.

Isaac, el campeon

Isaac is our favorite little person to take pictures of right now. How can I resist with that big belly, pudgy feet, chunky bum and slobbery smile? All my boys have had the large belly, and it is my favorite to look at when he's wearing just a diaper or shorts. Between 15-16 months old, Isaac has finally mastered his walking, standing, lifting and carrying skills. He wore flip flops around the house for a few weeks, and now he can wear them outside without tripping over himself. That's pretty good for a brand new walker!

He loves his new independence. His whole world has opened up, literally. He loves the pantry door where he can toss down all the cans and plastic cups, he loves the bucket of cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink, and he loves opening up the toy room drawers to empty out action figures. He still loves sunglasses, balls, eating cereal with milk and yogurt.

We communicate with him with tongue jabber, grunts, waving adios and kisses.

Boys will be boys

We finally visited the sweet 9 puppies that our "visitor" Rudy had days after we dropped her back to her family. Wesley and Austin literally climbed inside the cage to help attach her puppies to the nipple to feed. Isaac wasn't so sure about all the kisses and squirmy bodies. I loved them all. Too bad they have to grow up and become big dogs.





Wesley is in spring T-ball, #11 for the Raptors. He has a great throw and loves playing catch with papa. We usually arrive just as the game starts and so he is the last runner, who gets to run all the bases before switching teams to bat. He loves running all over those bases! Austin usually hangs all over me and Isaac now is beginning to be very daring with his newly acquired walking skills. Now that the weather is HOT (100 this week), the games require a lot more water breaks, shade and earlier games. T-ball is that much better when you have other mama's to chit chat with and snacks after the games to cool off those red faces.









One night the boys all dressed up in the same PJ shirt from last year's Pat Tillman race. With Isaac still learning how to walk, it was really cute seeing Wes and Austin help him out...although they smothered him a bit too much. I love seeing them interact with love as brothers. I should take some pics of them fighting as well, but that wouldn't be as sweet. LOL.

Wrestling is always the boys' FAVORITE activity. They usually choose it after every FHE. Thank goodness I have such a buff hubby who can handle the rough housing. I can't wait until they are bigger than him and can pin him down 'til he yells, "Uncle!" I just sit on the side lines, happy it's not me getting beat up. Even Isaac is learning early on. His grunting is adorable. They recently learned how to give papa a wedgie! I also love the looks on their faces when they flex.