What life is all about

What life is all about

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Beauty in Strength Challenge

I'm really nervous and can't believe that I'm really posting these pictures. I've been thinking about it all night long, and I've decided to share these because of the huge impact this challenge has had on both Josh and I.

Where we workout at (crossfit cache valley) put on a Challenge to anyone that wanted to face it. The owner and trainer of CFCV (Brad) has always sworn up and down that the way we eat will not only affect the way we look but also our performance during workouts and the way we feel throughout the day. So he challenged us to change and follow a totally different way to eat and fuel our bodies for 9 weeks this way and if we did that then we would see the results. In order to gauge these results we had to do 3 things.

1-Take a 'before and after' picture to see the physical change within 9 weeks
2-Write a food log of EVERYTHING we put in our mouths for the entire 9 weeks
3-Do a workout at the beginning of the challenge and make a goal to beat that same workout in 9 weeks. Whether that be through heavier weights or doing it faster.

So we took our pictures (so terrible for me), started our food logs and set our goals. The food plan that we were advised to follow was either the Paleo diet or the Zone diet. Brad understood that was some huge changes for some of us so we were encouraged to do our best for 2 weeks, turn in our food logs then and he would guide us from there. We chose the Zone diet (paleo is too strict for me right now)

The workout the both Josh and I chose was called the filthy fifty. This is what that is...

50 jumping pull-ups
50 box jumps
50 Kettle Bell swings
50 walking lunges
50 knees to elbows
50 push press
50 back extensions
50 wall balls
50 burpees
50 Double Unders

You do all these things and you must do all 50 before you go to the next movement. The catch..you must do this as fast has you can.

My time- 32:00
Josh's time- 31:57

So......here are our 'before and after' pictures from only 9 weeks of following this plan.


















If you think there is quite a bit of change in the pictures, then I wish you could understand the change in how I feel. I feel almost like a totally different person now. I'm full of energy, I'm in a better mood, and for the first time in a long time, I actually feel strong and way more powerful. At first when I started this I was weak and feel drained because I took all the bad carbs but as the weeks went on I started feeling better, stronger, faster and just more 'alive'. Then after about a month, I couldn't believe the change in my workouts. I was moving up to heavier weights then I ever that I would be able to do, I've become so much better. At the end of the 9 weeks I turned in my food log and the last thing I had to do was my beat my time in my workout. I was super, super nervous. I felt like this was the time it would should my true results.
Final time
Me- 27:11.... I shaved almost 5 minutes off my time!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Josh- 30:16 ......Josh shaved almost 2 minutes off his time!!!!!!!!!!!
So needless to say, we saw HUGE result in this 9 weeks. This is something we totally plan on sticking to, and I can't wait to look even better (and that's the plan)
I love the zone diet, I eat more then I have ever in my life. It's crazy how food can really work in your favor the more you eat it when it's the right stuff. I'm never hungry and I know I'm getting healthier every day.
Last but not least~
Josh got 2nd place in this Challenge in the Men's category and I got 2nd place in the Partner's category along with my partner Mindee Nyman who worked just as hard as we did and she looks amazing!!!
If you want to get in shape and feel better then you ever have in your life, you should really look into crossfit. It IS the BEST program you'll ever find!! Just click on the crossfit picture and it will take you to their website!



Monday, March 15, 2010

Getting ready for the big race

Jace and Josh finishing up their run

Okay, as most people know. We have the Wellsville Mile race every year in May. This is where every 4th & 5th grader on the South Side of the Valley race for an entire mile.
Most of you might be like my husband and say "oh, that sounds fun and it's good for the kids"
But not me!!!! I HATE it!!!!! Only because I did it when I was in 4th and 5th grade and it was a terrible experience. Sure running and exercise is great for kids but hear me out for a bit.
#1- I think it is so much pressure on these little kids in front of so many people. They all look so scared and they are so nervous!!
#2-The kids that love running -great....but what about the ones that cry and hate it and don't want to do it??? Oh it breaks my heart
#3-Then there are stupid parents that don't even know their kid's are racing so of course they don't come and support them but to make matters worse they usually send their kid to school that day in a sweatshirt and jeans or cowboy boots. Can you imagine running in jeans and boots for a whole mile???? And I see it EVERY year!!!!
Every single year I go and watch to support these kids and every single year I end of crying. Watching some of these kids struggle so much to get to the finish line. Do they feel like they accomplished something big???? Maybe...but I didn't. I was so upset I vowed to never make my kids run the Wellsville mile.
So here we are...I have a child of age.....what to do????
Yep!!! He is going to run it. But......to make things easier on his old mom (and on him as well) We are going to practice, practice and practice some more. I will take comfort in knowing that he will not be dieing out there while he is running. I am going to teach him how to pace himself and not sprint the first block but to sprint the last. I'm going to track his time each day so he can continue to getting better each week until the big day comes. Not because I want him to win, that doesn't matter to me but because I want him to feel confident and I want him to know that he can do this!!! I'll probably still cry but not because I feel bad for him but because I'll be proud that he had a better experience then I did, and that he might actually like it!

Gage the fix-it man




I had to run and get my camera when I saw Gage reading off instructions to Josh about how to fix the toilet. He was studying that paper like he knew exactly what it said. At one point he said to Josh "Dad, it says that the toilet is not suppose to leak not even one bit" LOL
He was rattling off all sorts of things he want Josh to do. It was so cute!!


Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Happy Birthday Des!!

Today is my oldest sister's Birthday! All us girls got to go to lunch with her today. My mom surprised Desiree by decorating the back room at Fredrico's pizza with streamers & balloons.
Des standing with her cake and decorations

This is Desiree's reaction to her little Birthday room



Just thought I would show off some cute pictures of Desiree from 100 years ago!!! LOL
She really was one of the cutest little girls I've ever seen. I must say, her little Avery has got her eyes!!


Those are called Cloth diapers, have you heard of them before???




Des is the very best est mom I have ever met. Her children should know how very lucky they are to have her. She is amazing at everything she does.....REALLY-- you name it and she is probably a pro, if not she is learning how to do as we speak! (cooking, painting, crafts of all sorts, knitting, cleaning, fixing stuff, schooling...just to name a few) She always gets mad when I say that she is the perfect mom, but I really do feel that way. The world would be a much better place if we could all follow her example.....and we would all have much better children as well. Happy, Happy Birthday day~ We all love you!






Sunday, March 7, 2010

Gavin's Birthday at boondocks

Gavin turns 4!!! So big!!!
This little guy is on of the toughest kids I know, and we were so excited to be able to celebrate his 4th birthday with him. Gavin has been though more in his 4 years then most people do in their entire life. Gavin has won the battle of cancer and numerous surgeries. He is the cutest little spirit you'll ever meet! Happy Birthday Gavin!~
Who's kid is that??? Pretty sure he was raised in a barn!!

My 'home boy' Jace!! LOL


Clay making the most out of the birthday party experience!




Clay and Gage adore Gavin!!




Boondocks puts the Fun Park's soft play to shame!




Clay wouldn't leave Gavin's side in the soft area. He played with him the entire time. What a sweet kid!!!






Best part of having a birthday party....the mom's get to get caught up on all the latest Gossip..JK
But really it's was fun to hang out with some good friends while the kids played!








The boys and their friends Kaden and Carson getting ready and super excited to do some 'NASCAR' racing with the go-carts!








Look how excited they all are!!









As you can see, Jace takes his race very seriously!! Completely focused on winning the race!LOL








Gage ~ not quite as serious! But has absolutely no fear with speed!











And the race is on.....looks like Gage is taking the lead, Clay is tied with some girl close behind!












Jace relaxing a bit!













Gage and Clay..looks like Clay pulled ahead of the girl!















Clay just can't hold back his excitement!















Our little Carson friend~ his first smile of the race, he was super nervous and very caution of all the other drivers. He was so funny to watch. He is for sure his mother's child! LOL















Clay~ making sure I see him for the 100th time!!

















At this point...Gavin is so done with having his picture taken!!


















Me with my very good friends Jessica and Daci!!




















Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday today, the kids got to dress up as their favorite book character for school...NO...thing 1 and thing 2 are not favorites but it was fun and cheap for us. Plus it was all we could come up with last minute. One of Jace's favorite books is Captain Underpants, and I tried so hard to get him to dress up like him, with clothes underneath of course. But he chickened out at the last minute and did the same thing as his brothers. Oh well....I think they look really cute and they loved the blue hair! PS~ Not sure if the blue coloring is a wash out or not, so they might have this look for awhile! LOL

Monday, March 1, 2010

Families that Play together, stay together

My sweetheart Josh went out and bought me a whole new snowboarding get up. I've needed a new coat for years and boy did he come through! He got me pants, a coat, goggles and a helmet that all match perfectly. Now I feel like a cute little snow bunny! Josh bought all the boys helmets too. Josh is very much a safety freak to say the least and he wasn't going to let any of us go snowboarding one more time without helmets. It's a good thing too. Gage and Clay both hit their heads off the lift and I did a major crash where I slammed my head off the ground. Good thing we have Josh to look after us!!!
Jace heading for a jump..I took the picture too soon

Jace


Clay falling and smiling at the same time



Gage shredding it up





Gage not shredding it up anymore!! LOL




There is my happy, happy Clay






Jace and Gage on the lift







Eeeekkkkk! Should I be nervous about this crazy boy Jace?









Jace loves to board up in the pines and powder









Clay hitting the jump... I'm not thinking he landed it! LOL









Can you believe that is my 6 yr old little boy about to go off that jump?











All my boys












Buckling up













Gage waving at the camera














Clay loving it and smiling















Clay smiling again
















Gage and I getting ready to head down the mountain

















Clay...always smiling, even after he crashes!


















My little Gager Man



















Me