Soooo...

So I went back to work on Tuesday and I am already hating it!  I've had a disagreement with the supervisor and a meeting with both the manager and the supervisor.  Long story short, the day I got back from my maternity leave I submitted my request for a day off (before you jump to conclusion let me just say that I am a bridesmaid at my cousins wedding so clearly I need the day off), anyway the supervisor denied my request; after emailing back and form saying I need it, no I can't get it the sup scheduled a meeting for us three.  Well, needless to say the manager also said no.  She pretty much told me there was nothing she could do to help me. Oh, and to top it off she said that if I called in sick she would write me up and that my job was on the line.  So yeah.... Can you see why I am so upset.  First I didn't want to go back to work and now with this I really don't want to be there.  I am stressing out, lashing out on my husband, missing out spending time with my son, unable to attend to my daughter the way I want to, all because I have to work to get some damn medical insurance.  I hate this!!!

In other news, I am still continuing my workouts.  I am going twice a week between 5:30-6 am.  I go early because in the afternoon I don't have enough time to do anything because of stupid work! Anyway, the workouts are super intense but I really enjoy them.  Well let me clarify, I hate them as I am doing them, but I love the way I feel once I've finished.  I've had to stop going to the Saturday free ones because my daughter started soccer already and her games are on Saturdays anywhere between 9-11 in the morning.  I know, right in the middle of the workout.  I am thinking of going 3 times a week in the mornings.  Even though I will pay about 30 bucks more I am ok with it because they are really that good of a work out. 

Ok, I am going to "man up" and humble myself and share my current weight.  I said I wasn't going to weigh my self but once a month at the beginning of the month and so far I've committed. Ok so here it goes... drum roll please.... My current weight is.... 184lbs.  There I said it, huge weight has been lifted off my sholders LOL, JK.  But I was/am a little embarrassed of those numbers on the scale cause' one, I'm only 5'2 and two it's already been 4 1/2 months since my son was born and I feel like I haven't made any progress.  I hate to admit it but even though I am busting my behind not only doing the intense workouts but also waking up at 4:45 in the morning twice a week (don't know which is harder, waking up so early or doing the workouts) I've noticed I haven't really changed my eating habits.  I've come to the conclusion that if I don't change and watch what is put in my mouth I will not notice the outcomes no matter how much and how hard I work out.  God I need help!  I need to learn how to push away the food that is in front of me and learn to listen to my body.  Stop eating when I am satisfied and not wait till' I'm full.  I'm sure a lot of you can relate. Right?  Each Monday is a "new beginning", or like us Mexicans say "El lunes comienzo la dieta". Well, each beginning seems to only last that Monday.  Shocker!!! Shall I continue rambling on....jajajaja  Help me people please!  I need a buddy who is going through the same thing as me :( Any volunteers?

MIA

I have been a little MIA lately but only because we had no internet.  Since we are doing some work to the house, when the men were making our back patio they brought down our cables.  We were without internet, phone and cable.  But now my husband reconnected it again, woohoo!!

I signed up for the monthly Network Fitness! I am so excited.  Since I signed up for it towards the end of the month I got a couple sessions for free when I  paid for the month of September.  I went to my first session on Tuesday and I am still sore.  They make Saturdays workout look fun compared to what we do during the week.  I had to have an assessment by the trainer on Friday just to see what I was capable of doing and so forth.  Well,  I had to do a 5 min work out and I was supper sore for the entire weekend.  He also asked me what my main goal was and I told him it was weight loss.  The first thing he said was to NOT get so caught up on the numbers on the scale.  To focus on the way that I feel, look and they way my clothes are fitting; this is really going to be great because, even though it's been 4 months since I've had my son, I am still struggling to fit in to my clothes.  I am still using the rubber band trick to hold them up.  Some of you might know what that is.  So, because of his advice I am going to take off the weigh loss ticklers I have up on my wall.  This way I have decided to way myself only once a month, on the first of each month.  Like today...  He also mentioned the Paleo Diet.  Needless to say I went out and bought a book and a cook book about it.  I have yet to read it but I have an idea of what it consist of. He told me that when I was ready to do the 30 day Paleo Challenge.  We'll see when I'm ready :) For now, workouts, workouts, workouts.  Oh, and yesterday my husband and I rode out new bikes down the riverbed for 10 miles.  Dude I thought I was going to die but I finished.  We plan on doing that a couple of times during the week as a couple.  I'm motivating him to get up and start moving, yay!!!

On a more personal note, I go back on Tuesday (sad face all around, boooooo). I am not ready to leave my munchkins yet.... I will let you know how I am managing my new schedule with a kindergartener, a 4 month old and working full time.  Oh the joy...

Unmotivated

I don't know what went wrong this week but I have been feeling so unmotivated lately.  I haven't been choosing the best foods to eat and I have done ZERO exercise. Not even gone out for a walk for that matter.  I am planning on going to the Network Fitness workout session on Saturday and hopefully I get back in the mood.  It's just been one of those weeks all around where I don't feel like doing much.  My house is a complete mess because they are still working on our driveway/ fences/ landscape and I hate to bust my behind to clean only to see it dirty once I'm done.  There is so much dust and dirt from all the construction and work that is going on you can only image how it gets inside.  And to top it off having dark hard wood floors only make the dirt that more obvious.

In other news, I am venturing or attempting to venture into a new project of mine.  I've had this idea for quite a while (over a year to be exact) and I am finally putting it to play.  What is it you may ask?  A little photography business.  Beautiful Dewdrop Photography. I put an add on craigslist and I got my first client yesterday.  An aspiring actor/model.  We went to the Orange Circle and I took his pictures.  I am pretty satisfied with the result.  I am really excited and hope that this can go somewhere.  When theres a will theres a way right?  I have will so.... I created a business page on Facebook, please like my page, still haven't uploaded any pictures yet but I will get around to it.  I want to get as many photo sessions as possible before I upload the pictures, that way there is not only one session to look at but a couple at least.  I am going to practice mainly with my two beautiful children and wonderful husband for the most part, but if you live around the area I will take your pictures for free weather it be just a family photo shoot or a special event.  I will only charge $25 for the CD that will include 2 of the best poses (for portraits) or of the event.  The $25 will go towards material fees and gas of course.  Wish me luck on this cause' I am really excited :)

Network Fitness

OMG!!! I am so sore!!! I can't believe I actually finished the session.  I'm very proud of myself.  It was very intense but oh so worth it.  I'm thinking about buying some session during the week and still attending the saturday class.  Well here is a bit of a run down of what we did.  After you warm up the group is divided in two "teams".  There are two breakdowns of workouts written down on a white board.  The instructor goes over each work out and the repetitions for each work our.  After everyone is aware of all the workouts on each session team 1 and team 2 flip to choose who wins and decides which session they want to start with.  Once thats done the music starts playing and you start your work out.  After 15 minutes of repeating the session you get a small break, then the teams switch to do the other session.  After another 15 minutes it's over then we take group pictures, stretch and each amazingly delicious fruit.  Ok so here was the breakdown of each session.  (Can't remember exactly the number of repetitions for each, but you'll get the idea):

Session 1:


FWD jump rope X 100
BWD jump rope X 45

Crab Crwal (about 5-7 yards)

Jump on circular rings (about 3 feet apart, both feet in circle)

kayaks X 45

Squats X12

*Keep repeating until the 15 minutes is over

Session 2


10 X 12" box jump w/ burpees

10 X pull body up and have toes touch bar/ pull knees to chest

10 X put fit over head to touch wall/ walk feet up wall

20 X lunges

*Keep repeating until 15 minutes is over

I am not sure of the correct terminology of each exercise so I just named it based on how the exercise was, Sorry...

So anyway, even though it was only for 15 each they were one hell of a workout.  My thighs are completely sore and I can barely sit or stand without whining.  I am really excited about the workouts and I plan on going back, maybe even doing more than just once a week.  For this I have to consult my husband and see what our budget is like.

I also wanted to add that we are going to take up bike riding.  This is something my husband is really motivated in and I am just going to join him on the ride.  I'll keep you posted :)



10 X Burpees

Hiking

On Monday and Tuesday I took both my kids and we went hiking at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim Hills.  I put my son in his car seat and settle it in on the jogger and off we went.  I didn't think I was going to have a hard time but I did break a sweat.  We stayed on the main trails because most other trails had stairs and it was just way too complicated to get the jogger up them.  We only stayed there for about 30-40 minutes because Ximena wanted to join her brother on the jogger; she started getting tired.  On Tuesday she did last longer though.  Today unfortunately I couldn't take them because I had many errands to run and I wasn't going to have time.  Ximena's last day of summer school was last Friday, this is the primary reason why I decided to go for a hike so we wouldn't be cooped up inside.  Anyway, since Ximena has been with me all day I haven't done my "Get Running" program neither Monday nor yesterday.  Today I did do it, however, I had to do it inside my house.  I kept running around the dinner table, down the hall and turning in my son's room.  When there's a will there's a way right?  I figured since I've gone hiking it's ok if I missed the first two days of the second week.  

On Saturday I am joining my cousin in some exercise program she has been going to for quite a while now.  I've never been but I've heard many "horror" stories jajajaja.  Horror stories I say because they are pretty intense and hard core.  I'm kinda scared I'm not going to lie.  Only because I know I am really out of shape and I just hope I can last.  I will let you know how that went after Saturday.  The best part is that its totally and completely free!! Check out their website http://networkfitness.com/

Lastly I want to add that it seems like I finally got through to my husband :)  Looks like he will be joining me in this new healthy lifestyle I am embarking on.  You don't know how happy I am about that.   I will keep you posted on his progress as well :)

Get Running

On Wednesday I did day two of the Get Running challenge.  I did it again!!! I felt better than the first day that I did it.  I'm sure that the more and more I do it the easier it will be for me.  Tomorrow Friday will be day three and I plan on doing it with flying colors :)

The Pedometer that I got and started using is working great.  Did I mention I got one for my husband?  Yup, I am pushing him and pushing him to join me in this healthier transformation I am embarking on, or should I say "we" are embarking on.  Well, last post I mentioned that I was aiming for 10K steps a day just on the house alone.  Well.... Yesterday that I did my 30 minutes of jog/walk exercise with my "Get Running" app I only managed to put in 6400 steps.  WOW!! I thought easily I was going to hit the 10K.  Thats not mentioning that I also went grocery shopping and I stopped by Target to get some pencils and paper for my daughter.  Hadn't really realized that 10K is a lot.  The RD at the nutrition class told us that 10K daily steps was recommended to loose weight.  Anywhere between 6-8K steps a day was recommended to maintain current weight.  I guess I have to bump it up a notch to hit the 10K steps each day.

Today I am not feeling all that motivated.  My house feels like a circus.  I have men taking out the pavement on my driveway, another man cutting down a yucca tree in my back yard and putting in through the "chipper" (that totally reminded me of friends when Joey was working at the Christmas tree lot) and another man working inside my kitchen on the dishwasher.  Oh, and that's not mentioning my 81 year grandma and two cousins I am looking after this week.  Blah!! That is exactly how I feel.  Can't go into my kitchen to cook my food and all I've eating is cereal with a banana and some chex mix.  I'm hoping I can fit in at least 20 minutes of walking later in the afternoon.  Blah!!

Nutrition Class

My sister in law gave me the number to a dietitian she went to to help her lose weight and make better food choices.  Well I attended a group class they had both last Tuesday and today.  I must say it was helpful however it was nothing out of this world.  Eat better, exercise regularly and voila, you lose the weight.  It's easier said than done isn't it?  There is no magic trick or not miracle diet out there; just the old fashioned and most successful way, eat better and exercise regularly.   They did however show us what to look for to make better food choices.  What and how to read the nutrition labels and to remind us to be "active" daily.  The dietitian was very particular not to use the work "exercise" but to be "active".  She gave us examples on little things we can do to improve our activity levels like doing some gardening, park further than usual, take back the grocery cart to it's proper location instead of placing it in the parking spot next to us and the one that I like the most was to unload the grocery bags one at a time, this way we walk more steps getting the bags instead of wanting to unload them on one trip.  It was insightful information, now I just have to actually do them.

I will admit that I envy all those who can run at a steady pace and for long distances without looking like they are about to die, like me.  I've never been a runner, even when I was at my fittest.  I found this great app on my iPhone called "Get Running" that helps you train to become a runner.  I tried it out for the first time yesterday and I just have to brag a little and say that I actually did it.  It's a big accomplishment for me since I haven't done any type of exercise in almost two years.  Anyway, the app tells you step by step on what to do. It tells you to warm up for five minutes then run for one, walk for a minute and a half then run again for another minute.  It reminds you of your progress every half a minute and ten seconds so you could be prepared for the next action.  You do this one day, rest the next, do it again the following day and rest the next.  After the first week is done the next week you run for a minute and a half following the same process as the first week.  After each week is done you run more and more and rest less and less in hopes of running without having to stop.  You can also choose to stay within a certain week if you feel you aren't ready to advance to the next one.  I will admit that I was dying by the time I finished.  It didn't seem like much when I fist saw what it consisted of but when I finally tried it, it was harder than I thought.  I also bought myself a pedometer just to see how much walking I do on an average day.  5280 steps is equivalent to a mile.  I'm aiming for 10K steps just around the house alone doing daily chores.  I'll see how I do with that too.  

In other news, some of my husbands family invited us camping to Yosemite this past weekend and you can only imagine that bad eating choices we had there.  Even though there was a lot of walking, the eating wasn't that great.  I will post pictures of our trip maybe tonight.  It was amazing!  Our first trip as a family of four :)

Oh man!

I've been wanting to restart a blog for quite a while now, 7 months maybe.  I had one but my account expired and I haven't renewed it yet.  In the meantime I am going to start yet another blog.  Let's see, a little recap;  My daughter will be 5 in October.  She is starting kinder in August and right now we are doing summer school at the new school she will be attending.  We decided to put her in summer school so when the school year comes around it would make it easier for her to adapt to new friends, new teachers and overall a new school.  My son was born on April 28th 2011 at 5:52 am.  He is almost 3 months old.  Man how time goes by before your eyes.  I'm going back to work the first week of September and I am just dreading the day.  Life with two kids has been a little challenging but overall an amazing experience.  It's been challenging because our routine was set everyday being just the 3 of us and my daughter already being able to change herself, feed herself, potty trained and sleeping through the night.  Baby came along and we had to reorganize ourselves.  All in all it has been great.  My son is  super easy, easier than my daughter was actually.  She loves him though and he just made my little family that more special.

Some other exciting news... We are homeowners!!! Wooohooo!!!!  We got keys to our house June 1st and even though we are completely moved in we still have lots to do in this house.  It's a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house with a 2 car detached garage.  We are so happy and feel so blessed to finally have it.  Our little one bedroom duplex we were in was just too small for us.  Also we had to get rid of our dog Pongo,  he was just too much for us.  I looked online for some family shelter rescue places that specialized in Great Danes.  I doubt we will have a dog or a family pet for that matter anytime soon.

So another reason why I wanted to restart my blog was to start documenting my weight loss progress.  After having the baby I have hit the highest I've ever been on the scale.  I am too embarrassed to publicize my current weight, I know I know I sound pathetic, but I feel so uncomfortable with myself that I'd rather wait.  Hopefully by the time that I have lost it or have made some progress I will bluntly admit to it.  For now, I am just hoping to lose a bit at a time.  Wish me luck cause I will need it :)