My Thoughts During Day 23 at the Barre

On Day 23 of the 60 Day Pure Barre Challenge I walk into class to see a friend from High School. I started to say old friend, but we are not old. She told me that all my post on facebook about what day I was on in the Challenge inspired here to come back... No Pressure to look like I am totally sore and can't move. 

So here we go.....

Warm-up begins and I am determined to not look like I haven't been doing this for the past 23 days straight :)

We get to that awful 90 second planks.. The one were we hold it FOREVER!!!! I am determined to hold it for at least 30 second at the beginning and not end.. Kay I made it maybe 15 seconds before going to my knees and the back up for the last 10 seconds. 

Here are the differences in the planks and the muscles you use, It seems that on your knees actually works alot more muscles!

Maybe I should try the not on my knees more often.

Time for Thighs.. Take you Ball to the Barre.. but we don't need it for the first Thigh exercise.. 

It was that dreading back to the Barre Chair position hold for a good 3 minutes.. It could be longer because it seemed like forever, but I made it almost all the way through.. Here is what I mean without the double tubes but sometimes we use them.

Thigh continued with 2 more thigh exercises. and by the third one my thighs were screaming.

A Short stretch and back for Seat. 

And this is where it got funny. Place the Ball high between your inner thighs.. Okay now I took measurements last night, Right Thigh 30inches, Left Thigh 29.50 inches which means that ball just doesn't fit unless my knees are a little farther apart then anyone else in class. This is what is was supposed to look like:

That didn't happen. I ended up putting down the ball so I could focus..

Thighs done Check

Seat done check

Abs.. Here we go Check

Class 23 in the books!! Day 24 is coming......

38 More days of the 60 Day Challenge and 15 until I hit 250!!!

22 Days into the 60 Day Challenge at Pure Barre Huntsville and I am feeling Stronger. Well that is are least until I get to class and the warm-up starts!!

I really wish I would have taken my measurements!! I mean really.. My stomach and hips seem so much smaller and flatter and my legs (thighs) are getting tighter.

 Day 22 (Monday Feb 2 2015) wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Don't get me wrong, but after Friday's Class with Shawna The last three days have seemed easier.. Maybe I needed that little kick in the butt. Not only did she pull out the Double tubes but the Velcro tubes were there and if I remember correctly we used them for EVERYTHING!!

What is a Velcro tube you ask??

It attaches to the Barre with a black piece of Velcro and has two red tubes on it with handles. Just imagine a Puppet on a string because that is what I feel like. Here are some photos of what we do with the contraption... Pictures were found on the web, They haven't asked for me to pose just yet :)

Here we have Velcro Thigh and Abs at the Barre.. Not only do you work your thighs and Abs but you are secretly working your arms.. Well at least I think you are, I know I am.

I can tell that I am getting stronger. I tried the last 10 seconds of plank work the other day (we do 90 and I am on my knees but it is still effective)  until my Abs were on fire.. Yeah you read that right, 10 seconds.... Try that after some 100s and other Ab work sometimes before or after pushups.

Only 38 more classes to go until I reach the 60th day.. 

If you haven't Tried Pure Barre you should.. you really don't know what you are missing!

After Day 15 of the Challenge

My Pure Barre Life over the last 2 weeks..
1) I wish I would have taken my measurements because to me my stomach feels so much flatter and my calves are getting way defined.

2) Double tubes are not made for girls with big thighs.. They will cut your blood circulation off if you double them up and they are new tubes. However in class if you can only do one that is what you do. I love that at Pure Barre we are all doing the same class but everyone at their own levels and no one makes you feel intimidated because you dropped your ball or your couldn't hold your chair.

3) Velcro tubes make you feel like a Puppet on a string.. lol

4) Double tubes wrapped around the bar with one leg hanging through it while working seat.. Yes this is a picture everyone needs to see... You can't put your leg down because it stuck in a tube and there is no way out of it smile emoticon

5) getting into the tubes is like trying to do an assisted pull up with bands.. If you haven't tried either you should

6) You may not want to be in class but once the warm up starts you are fired up and ready to go because of all the energy from everyone there

7) The little red ball... Once placed between big girl thighs you can not put those heels together.. smile emoticon it takes very little to squeeze on the ball

8) I got Ask today by Meredith.."Is this day 15? Aren't your sore?" Well I know I am I just don't feel it. M y muscle feel tight and I know when I take a rest day on day 61 I am going to hurt like crazy on day 62... Maybe I will just keep going

9) When you thighs are sore, tight and burning an inch is really just that.. Down a inch, up and inch.... okay it may be more like a centimeter, heck just holding my form on highest pair of heels, knees bent and toes together can be a Challenge

10) Flat back,, my favorite part, Stretch out your legs and work your abs util you realize that your double chin is pressing against your chest and you can't breathe.. lol

11) Flat back, do you really think that I can press my back flat up against the wall and keep my thighs close together.. hmm.... need to lose the stomach

12) Ab work on the mat, Where is my ball? When will it end

13) Cat/Sow stretch that is nice smile emoticon

14) What, Back dancing? you said when we were done with seat we were done with that and now you want me to leave anything I don't want me to take with me... This is going to hurt

15) You have earned your cool down.. Yeah I will just lay here, roll me out of class when it is over

16) Great Class!! What time am I scheduled tomorrow?

Yes it is addictive, Yes you will see changing, Yes you will be sore, Yes you will not understand everything in class until you have come a few times and then I suggest you take a Breaking down the Barre class..

45 More Days to Go!! ‪#‎purebarrehuntsville‬

2015.... The Year of......

January 14 2015

I would to say the Year of Change, The year I take my life back, but how many people make those resolutions and never follow through with them? Well that is not going to be me.

So you know what I did?

I didn't make a Resolution. I am working on a plan. A Plan to fix my spiritual life, family life and my health.

Spiritual Life.
1. Read the Bible more
2. Pray More
3. Get more Connected at Church

Family Life
1. Eating Dinner at the table 4-5 nights a week together
2. Reading the Bible together
3. Working together to keep the house in order teaching my sons some responsibility.
4. Finding activities we all like and do them together.

Health
1. Finding what works for me.
2. Move more

Keeping it simple.

No Scale!!

I have known for years that the number on the scale really doesn't matter. I am 5'2" 190lbs and based on these numbers have a BMI of 34.7

"Your BMI is 34.7, indicating your weight is in the Obese category for adults of your height." 

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/results_obese.html?pounds=190&inches=62

What this doesn't tell you is how much body fat I have? Or if I have any other medical conditions that are causing this or even how much I work out. 

Ladies the number on the scale is a lie. Sure it is a way to measure yourself but it is not who you are. You are so much more..

This is where I am at today and How I am going to change.

After a month of watching what I eat and having binge days and/or meals during that time, heck one week I got off track for 4-5 days, I have lost 6.4 pounds. On June 16 2014 I weighed in at 196.4 today July 24 2014 I weighed in at 190. It is depressing to work so hard and see so little results on that scale even though I know that is not the whole picture.

I feel better. My pants are not as tight and I can see a flatter stomach. I will get there but over the next six weeks I am taking part in a #SixWeeksScaleFreeChallenge. 

For six weeks I will not get back on that scale. 

I will keep a food journal like I have been doing but I will also be writing down my feelings when I eat or what triggered the binge. I am female, I know that I am hormonal and I times I am going to want to crave my emotions by eating... Ice Cream, Chocolate, Wine, Pizza, Wine you get the picture. Writing down my feelings or how I feel after a meal will help me to see what causes my relationship to food to be so bad.

I will work on me. Not only in the gym and in the kitchen, but my emotional and spiritual well being. I am going to following the Made to Crave Study and re-read this book. I am going to study the Bible Everyday and spend 2 minutes with God! #20minuteGodChallenge.

I am going to work on my planks, double-unders and pull-ups. I am setting physical goals for myself and push to get there.


I am going to get healthier without having a relationship and weekly date with the scale!!

Iron Tribe and Paleo Living

On February 24, 2014 I went to a Try the Tribe workout..... Run, Squats, Situps, Kettlebell swings, run... Say What!!!!!

I have been working out off and on for a past year or so at home, but really had no idea how out of shape I was! Yeah it was bad... but at the same time I Loved it! This is my type of workout. I work out better in a group when I have not only time to compete against but other people. Sure we may not being doing the same weights, but finishing last is not something I am good at. Well at least this is how I start off at Tribe.

In the first month of Tribe I  learned how to eat properly on the Paleo Lifestyle. Cutting out diary wasn't really that hard for me because I have been drinking almond milk for a few years now. I did however eat yogurt a good bit. After only 4 week at tribe I was down 6 inches even though my weight had stayed the same. I decided to add back in a few things, rice and tortillas. Bad idea. I learned quickly that my body did not like these things. As most people go after about 6 weeks I had started settling into my old ways. Ice cream, Yogurt, Stuff Crusted pizza from pizza hut you name it.. Oreos too!!

Well enough is enough. On the First of May I had a realization. Things had to change. It was time for me to totally commit. I was getting stronger at Tribe but my body weight was going no where. Food is my real enemy!! So for the last 4 days, going on 5 now I have really tighten in my food.. Here is what I have been eating.

I feel so much better!!!

This week in Tribe I hit a new PR for Back Squats 185# at a 3RM. 

I also ran for the first time more then 400m. 800m in 6:38mins

#whyitribe

Faith and the Single Mom 2013

“We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” -2 Corinthians 5:7-9

As a single parent we have the responsibility for everything when it comes to our kids. Not only do we have to feed and clothe them, but we have to make sure they go to school, have a roof over their heads, take them where they have to be and make sure they are being raised with manners and with a moral compass. At the same time, we have to deal with our own rejection from our ex-spouse or lack thereof and figure how to support our child(ren), in the ways that they need it.

 When our jobs seem threatened or our finances are not in order we tend to totally panic. Will the child support show up on time? Will it even show up? Some single parents have an ex-spouse that pays their child support on time and is there still to help with the kid(s). For some of us though there may have never been an ex-spouse in the picture or they disappear without a trace. Sometimes it is for the good of the child(ren) and other times it is the ex-spouse being selfish, childish or just plain irresponsible.

Have you ever heard that God will not give us more than we can handle? This is not only a saying but it is found in the bible: 1 Corinthians 10: 13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” However we know that bad things happen to “good” people and sometimes it just makes no sense. Of course when it comes to faith we do not what is really going on with someone. They can say that they are a Christian, go to Church every time the doors are open, be active in their church and tithe but we really don’t know their heart. Only God does. He promises not to give us more than when we can handle when we are with him. Once we start drifting he may do things to bring us back.

In Sunday school this last Sunday we were studying the book of Mark like we have been doing most of this year. In the verse Mark 11:15-19 it talks about how the priest made things convenient for those that came to the temple to give their sacrifice during Passover. At the temple the prices were highly inflated and Jesus did not want his father’s house made of a den of robbers. We ventured off into the subject that if something like that was convenient was it really a sacrifice? Sure it cost them money they may not have but it was not something they cared for or would no longer have to feed their family. Convenience can make things a sin because it makes things others than God the priority in our lives.

Just like with our health and fitness we have to work consistently on our relationship with God. Just like we can’t wrap ourselves healthy or take a pill to fix our health problems, we can not attend church once a week and expect us to have a relationship with God and for him not to give us more than we can handle because we are not really in our faith with him. We are those hypocritical Christians that says we are Christians but we do whatever we want because we are saved and we can do what we want. Well we all know that this is not true. When things are going wrong in our lives we need to look at our relationship with God. Maybe he is bringing on the anxiety and stress so we will turn back to him. Maybe he is giving us insomnia so we will be brought to our knees before him.