July Family Challenge!!

Here are my results from June....

Miles - 60.42
Pushups - 398
Squats - 1,430
Crunches - 1,000

My husband and I along with my parents are starting a challenge for the month of July. It is similar to my other challenges I set each month but this time we will focus on nutrition. So for this month it is NOT about calories but rather eating whole foods, and those that can increase our immune system and contain high amounts of anti-oxidants. Each family member will have a slightly different challenge to meet their needs but we all will be following a variation of the same goals.

And so my challenge is as follows....

1. Fitness - Walk/Run 20 miles per week

2. Strength Training - 3 times a week for at least 30 mins. Aim to do Cathe Drill Max, Muscle Max and segments of P90x.

3. Water intake - consume at least 128 oz of water per day.

4. Take vitamins and supplements every day

5. Aim to loose a total of 3 inches. Focusing on hips and thighs.

6. Crunches/Core Work with and without medicine ball - 2,000 reps for the month.

7. Military Pushups - 300 reps for the month. Variations allowed : Dive bombers, T plank to push up, close grip, diamond and wide fly but all MUST BE standard military. I can not count incline or otherwise.

8. Squats - 2,000 reps for the month. MUST BE full squat either plyo or otherwise.

9. The foods - Daily goals are to consume at least 10 super foods each day.

Here are the super foods list from the site Super Foods RX site.

Apples
Avocado
Beans
Blueberries
Broccoli
Cinnamon
Dark Chocolate
Dried SuperFruits
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Garlic
Honey
Kiwi
Low Fat Yogurt
Oats
Onions
Oranges
Pomegranates
Pumpkin
Soy
Spinach
Tea
Tomatoes
Turkey
Walnuts
Wild Salmon

Here is another list of foods drom DoctorOz.com

Vegetables & Fruits
leafy greens
brussels sprouts
tomatoes
beets
carrots
sweet potatoes
squash
broccoli
onions, leeks, shallots
mushrooms
lentils
peppers: bell, jalapeno
spinach
oranges
grapefruit
lemon
lime
apples
berries - blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
apricots
pomegranates
mango

Whole Grains
whole grains (bread, pasta, tortillas)
oats
flaxseed
quinoa

Proteins
salmon
mackerel
tilapia
tuna
soy products (tofu, beans, milk)

Spices & Herbs
turmeric
ginger
cinnamon
rosemary
curry
chive
garlic
basil

Nuts/seeds/oils
pecans
walnuts
almonds
hazelnuts
flaxseed/flaxseed oil
olive oil
canola oil

Desserts/sweeteners
dark chocolate

Beverages
green tea
ginger tea

10. Dinning out - DO NOT go out to eat during the week and limit dinning to two meals on the weekends and always split dishes.

So these are our 10 goals for the month!! I am excited about doing this with my family!

Sunday Run/Walk....

Gotta make this blog fast but I had an amazing run/walk today. My knee is doing better. I think all the walking has helped a great deal.

Today my Mom was pushing Kayla in the BOB and my husband was walking with her so I had the chance to get to run and walk on my own. I had to take walking breaks every few minutes but I still managed to pull a decent time despite all the walking. I look forward to when I can run a full 3 miles again but for now the walking intervals will have to do.

Todays results -
3 mile run/walk - 35:25 mins, 11:49 mm avg pace
Splits -
Mile 1, 12:47
Mile 2, 11:42
Mile 3, 10:59
Avg HR - 162, Max 186

June Results so far....
Miles - 56.80
Pushups - 358
Squats - 1,260
Crunches - 1,000

Fantastic walk this morning!!!

After yesterdays 5 mile walk I was bound and determined to get in another great walk this morning. As we started out the heat and humidity was already getting to me but I pressed on. My goal was to do 3 miles as I did not know how long Michaela could last outside as it varies from day to day. I started off strong and progressively started walking faster and faster. It felt great. After mile one I had a good feeling this was going to be my fastest walk ever pushing the stroller.

As I turned the corner on one of the trails I started really walking fast, at that moment a girl passed me and I tell you she looked like Paula Radcliffe! LOL! She was running fast and it was my mission to catch her, but how, I was only walking. So I started walking faster and faster but I could not even come close to keeping up with her. She turned a corner on the trails and I lost her. That was ok though, it motivated me to keep walking as fast as I could. I soon turned the corner and there she was WALKING! WHAT?? Paula was walking? What is this? I now thought this was the perfect opportunity to pass her and so I began the walk of my life! I was nearly tripping over myself I was walking so fast. Right as I was just starting to get close to catching up with her, she started running again. I started to laugh and knew there was no way I would beat her this morning by just walking. Maybe someday, right? Don't you just love when you get people in front of you running to motivate you? I love it! I was happy as she provided the best motivation for me this morning!! I kept going as fast as I could.

As I was nearing 3 miles I was walking uphill going faster and faster and then I did it, I hit 3 miles in just over 40 mins...40:06 to be exact an avg of 13:23 mm. For me, this was my fastest walk EVER with my stroller. My precious Michaela was awake the whole time soaking in all the trees and surroundings. After I finished my walk she fell asleep in the stroller so I decided to keep walking but at a slower pace. I ended up doing another 2.61 miles with an avg of just over a 15 mm which is not bad considering this was after my earlier run.

I am SUPER excited to see how well I am doing. I have a long way to go from where I am now to where I want to be but todays walk did a lot for me. It made me feel as if I am taking a step in the right direction! I miss running but for now, walking seems to be working for me. My knee is feeling better and I am loosing inches so how can I complain!

So my miles for June are now 40.71.

Here are my splits from this morning. I never knew I could walk so fast with my stroller! I am SO happy and proud that I pushed myself!!


First walk this morning 3 miles -
Mile 1 : 14:18
Mile 2 : 13:07
Mile 3 : 12:45...yea!

Second walk 2.61 miles -
Mile 1 : 16:08
Mile 2 : 15:26
.61 : 14:57

Update on June goals...

Here are my results so far for the month of June.....
Miles - 35.10
Pushups - 308
Squats - 1,020
Crunches - 900

Goals this week -
1. Get in 15 miles
2. Aim for 60 mins of cardio every day
3. ST 3 times this week


Need to finish my shake and steel cut oats! I am SOOO hungry after our 5 mile walk we had this morning. Have a great week everyone!

Workout results so far this week...

I am trying. I am trying. I am trying with all I have to do the BEST I can!

New totals for June....
Miles - 27.10
Pushups - 265
Squats - 895
Crunches - 760

Workout results 6/15 -
Time - 132 mins
Calories burned - 744
4.68 miles with 30 mins of dance as cardio (Kayla loved it!)
Morning walk with stroller - 3.68 miles, 15:42 mm avg pace along with 30 min walk at mall with stroller.

Workout results -
Time - 154
Calories burned - 949
4.46 miles along with Cathe Butts and Guts DVD with ST
Morning walk with stroller - 3 miles, 14:23 mm avg pace - 43:06 - fastest walk with stroller so far - NO running just walking - last mile 13:42
Walking at mall with Garmin - 45 mins
ST and cardio - 61 mins

Single arm DB raise overhead with squat - 40 reps with 5 lb DBs
Double arm DB raise overhead with squat - 20 reps with 5 lb DBs
Bulgarian split squat - 20 reps with 5 lb DBs
DB single leg Romanian deadlift- 20 reps with 5 lb DBs
Squat with DB curls to shoulder press to curl - 20 reps with 5 lb DBs
Squat with DB full moons - 15 reps with 5 lb DBs
DB boxing with squat - 100 reps with 5 lb DB
Combo curl and swimmers with DB and squats - 100 reps with 5 lb DBs
Runner curls - 200 reps with 5lb DBs
Hammer punch - 40 reps
Functional rotations with DB - 25 reps with 5 lb DBs
Leaning tower on balance ball with DB - 40 reps with 5 lb DBs
Inchworm to pushup - 5 reps
Pushups - both incline and standard - 60 reps
Laying tricep extensions with Db's - 40 reps with 17 lb DBs
Alternating DB curls - weigh is for each DB - 60 reps with 17 lb DBs
Rise and shines with squat - 40 reps
Standing side oblique crunch with leg raise - 100 reps
Crunches - 75 reps
Squats - 50 reps

Workout results 6/7 and 6/8 -

Doing well, just have to keep going STRONG!!!

New totals for the month of June.....
Miles - 16.19
Pushups - 120
Squats - 480
Crunches - 485

Workout 6/7 -
Time - 57 mins
Calories burned - 581

1 mile walk plus 40 mins of ST -
Green p90x bands - bicep curls - 3 sets of 10
Red P90X bands - Shoulder Press - 3 sets of 10
Red P90X bands - Standing flys - 3 sets of 20
Red P90X bands - Bicep curls - 3 sets of 20
Bicep curl holding 5 lb DB with squats - 2 sets of 100
Dive Bomber Pushups - 5 reps
Military Pushups - 20 reps
Squats - 40 reps
Bent over fly with DB's - 3 sets of 10 with 5 lb DBs
Kick punch with squat - 2 sets of 100
Firehydrants - 2 sets of 50
Standing side oblique crunch with leg raise - 2 sets of 50
Crunches - 200 reps
plank hold to failure - 5 reps
Laying tricep extensions with Db's - 75 reps with 5 lb DBs

Workout 6/8 -
Time - 61 mins
Calories burned - 428

3 mile walk/ run - 41:26 mins with 5 min cool down walk for .3 miles
Pilates - 15 mins
Crunches - 50 reps
Pushups - 3 sets of 10 reps

Workout results 6/3

Easy day for me. It was storming here today so I kept my workouts indoors. This morning I did mange to get outside with Michaela for a 1 mile walk before the rain hit. Today was all about core work and pilates. I also stretched a great deal and worked on my PT exercises for my knee and ITB.

Thank you guys for your support! I am determined to make June a success........GO JEN GO!!

Workout results 6/3 -
Pilates and 1 mile walk

June Challenge Totals for today -
Pushups - 15
Crunches - 90
Squats - 45

So far for the month of June...
1. Miles - 7.75
2. Pushups - 65
3. Crunches - 135
4. Squats - 240
5. Gallon of water each day - yes!
6. 4 servings of veggies - yes!
7. Log foods - yes!

May Challenge Results and June Goals....

I did well this past month but I need to be doing more. I did not reach my goal of 60 miles nor did I complete the amount of pushups that I wanted, though I came close with both my goals.

May Challenge results -
Run/Walk Miles - 51.89/60
Pushups 311/400

Michaela is doing very well. We are making great progress with her sleep patterns. She is learning how to fall asleep on her own and the past 2 nights she has been sleeping through the night with only one feeding in between. I just hope that it continues! She is laughing more now, which just breaks our hearts, it is so precious!

I wanted to thank all of you for your super sweet birthday messages!!! I am running behind on answering emails and comments. Please forgive me, but my days are pretty busy as of late. Just know that I read them all and it made my day so very special.

Hope everyone has a fantastic month!! REACH HIGH!!!

I need to really try and work harder for the month of June. I have found areas where I am doing well and others that I cam improve on....

What I am doing right....
1. Taking advantage of the time in the morning to walk with Michaela instead of going back to sleep while she naps.
2. Drinking my gallon of water most days
3. Consistent with pushups and ST on weight training days
4. Fruit and Fiber intake

Where I can improve this month....
1. Try and improve my run times
2. Try and get in more veggies and protein
3. Stretch! Make sure I am doing my exercises for my knee and ITB issues
4. Make sure I am logging more. Take the time to enter foods in before the end of the day.

Now that I can see the areas that I need to work on, here are my goals for this month.....

1. Walk/Run 60 miles
2. Complete 500 pushups
3. Loose 3 inches overall
4. Complete 2,000 crunches
5. Complete 2,000 squats
6. Eat 4 fist size servings of veggies a day
7. Log foods and daily results for accountability!!!

Off to work on becoming the very best I can be!