Might be time to update the name of this Blog

Well, I haven't posted in a while, so if you didn't already know, I got married a little over 2 years ago and we are expecting our first (my second) daughter any day now.  It's been a great two years so far.  I won't lie and tell you it's been sunshine and rainbows everyday, but I can honestly say, that our good days far surpass our tough days.  Having a mutual respect for eachother and what the other is capable of makes a huge difference, as well as the fact that we share many things in common (sadly not running) and except eachother exactly as we are.

Toward the end of 2014 I was picked up by Lackland AFB as a contract Personal Trainer there and have been training a couple of clients over the last few months.  I really love working with people that are ready and willing to make a change and listen when I explain to them why I do things the way I do. I am also working on starting up a group fitness/bootcamp style workout in my neighborhood since we have the space for it.  I will have to wait on that until after I have the baby though.

Sevrine is gearing up for another track season after having two successful Cross Country seasons, qualifying for Nationals, two years in a row.  Hopefully track season will go just as well.

It's the little things

     Even though the day didn't start out that great, we ended up having a really good day. We had to get up early this morning so Sevrine could go to her very first day of league bowling, but the little one did not want to wake up.  Turns out she snuck her nabi into her room and stayed up way too late watching Netflix.  Neither of us is sure what time she actually went to bed.  Thankfully by the time league started, she was in a good mood and was taking instruction from the coaches and trying to apply the coaching they were giving her.  She bowled better and better with every game.  We don't know what her handicap will be yet, but she was bowling pretty well.

After she got done with league, we got another lane so we could bowl together.  She continued to improve and was really happy with how she was doing.  The lanes were pretty dry so neither of us were sliding very well, but we managed to work through it.  After that, we decided to head over to the bowling alley on Lackland to see if the pro shop was open since it seems my shoes really were cheap and that might be part of the reason I'm not sliding as much anymore, and Sevrine decided she wanted to bowl some more.  She didn't bowl as well at lackland, but I think that it can throw you off switching lanes.  There is definitely a difference in the approach as well as how dry the lanes are.  I also think that we were both pretty tired by then.

All in all, Sevrine bowled for about 6 total hours today and I bowled for 4.  Definitely a long day, but we both had a lot of fun.  I was really proud of her attitude and behavior during league today, as well as the rest of the day. During her last few games she put the ipod on and listend to music because the kids next to us were a little distracting.  It was really cute watching her bob her head and dance as she bowled.

My favorite part of the day was after we got home.  Sevrine still wanted to listen to the ipod, but she went straight to her favorite spot in the house (in between the TV and the coffee table on the floor) and layed down and fell asleep.  I had headphones in as well watching a show on the ipad when I started to hear her snore.  It is hilarious how much noise comes out of such a small girl.  When I went over to check on her, she was completely out.  I don't think there is anything cuter to a parent than seeing their child asleep.  Even if the whole day had gone badly, that one moment would have changed everything.  

Here's to enjoying those little moments.

Colleen and Jeff are getting hitched!

Self - Test and other updates

Okay, so I saw a clip from Dr. Oz about Green Coffee Bean Extract and it's weight loss benefits.  Prior to this though I was reading a bunch of information on how regulating your glucose levels will help speed weight loss since sugar turns to fat in the body.  Obviously this takes a lot of preparation and time with the diet, and lets be honest time is precious.  The Green Coffee Bean Extract has Chlorogenic acid in it which helps regulate the glucose levels in the liver so the liver burns fat instead of sugar.  I figure why not try it and check the results for myself.  I weighed myself this morning and will continue to eat, run/bike and strength train the same as I've been doing and see what kind of results I get.

In the study they did participants lost an average of 17 pounds in 12 weeks and Dr. Oz did an audience study where one woman lost 2 pounds in 5 days and the other lost 6 pounds in 5 days.  They didn't change their diets or exercise so I should get results with the amount of running/strength training I do.  Besides I have less than 2 months before Jeff is supposed to be home so I obviously want to look my best.

I will try and get before pictures taken tonight so I have a point of reference to see my progress throughout this little experiment.  Crossing my fingers.

As far as other updates go, things are progressing and I am getting the house ready for the move.  I'm ready for this next chapter of my life to start.

Day 2 of "The Workout" - 65 days

Okay, so I figured you might want to know what workout I'm doing, or maybe you don't..... Either way, this is it.

Mon-Wed-Fri
3x20 Dumbbell bench press
3x60 sec plank
3/12 lunges
3x20 calf raises with 5lb weights
3x25 bicycles
5 roll-ups
30 min stationary bike

Tues-Thurs-Sat
3x7 push ups
3x25 crunches
3x15 squats
3x20 calf raises with 5lb weights
3x20 chest flies
3x25 scissor kicks
3x30 side plank
Run 2 miles during week 3-4 on Saturday

Tonight I had to change my run to the stationary bike since Sevrine was still awake, but the plan is to run in the morning.  Will be tracking my progress beginning yesterday to see where I'm at since I have 65 days until my move to San Antonio and only a matter of a week or so after that until Jeff gets home.  I have a ways to go until I can get back to my ideal race form but I'm working on it.  So far I'm starting to see more definition in my legs and have notices small changes in my core.  Hopefully those changes will become more visible soon.

Getting ready

Well, we turned in our apartment application this weekend and now we wait to hear back to confirm that everything is set.  It's kind of made me realize that I'm really moving to Texas in 2 months.  I have so much to do between now and then.  Sevrine and I started on her room this weekend and should be able to wrap it up tomorrow.  Once the cleaning phase is done, we'll start sorting her toys into Keep, donate and toss.  We'll be doing the same thing with her clothes.  Next weekend I should be able to start on my room.  I'm also hoping to get a picture of my piano and dining room set on Craig's list so I can get them sold before I go.  That will help pay for the u-haul trailer and gas to go out there.  I figure it will cost be about 500 for both.  As part of my ongoing readiness plan I've been doing a home workout.  I've missed a few days here and there because of fatigue and a cold, but I didn't actually go backwards and tonight's workout felt good.  I even feel like I can start adding weight to my dumbbell bench press and my one-arm dumbbell rows.  I did my calf raises holding 5lb weights so that made me feel good.  I've even started to see some results in my abs.  I have a ways to go over the next 8 weeks, but if I watch my diet and keep my fitness level up I should be able to get to where I want to be.  I will probably have to buy a whole new outfit to wear to the airport. :)

80 days and counting

This deployment is starting to wind down.  We have less than 3 months to go now and I am anxious for Jeff to come home so we can start this next phase of our lives together.  It's a good thing too since sending out care packages is pretty pricey. :)  I like sending them though because I know how much he loves getting them.

I started a new workout last week (has nothing to do with him coming home).  Now that school is back in I have less time to hit the gym if Sevrine and I are going to work on her homework and reading when we get home and have her still go to bed on time, so I decided to start a home workout circuit to try and get my workout done without having to take away precious homework time.  So far it's going well.  My only rest day is Sunday and tonight will be my 7th workout.  I set up two different 6 workout routines and I rotate them every day.  I also alternate my cardio.  On non running days I use the stationary bike and Mondays I double up on my run and the bike.  Trying to get back to my race weight.  It's going to take some time as I build up mileage again, but I'm really happy with my consistency so far.

 Happy running!