Ode to a Pair of Pants

Have you ever owned a piece of clothing, be it the little black dress, those skinny jeans, or that fabulous handbag, that made you feel so freakin' good about yourself?

Until today I don't think I have.

Yes, I felt beautiful on my wedding day, and my dress was gorgeous. But my happiness on that day wasn't derived from my fabulous dress.

Yes, I've felt pretty hot when out dancing with my friends in my halter top and stillettos...but I was having fun because I was out with friends, not because my halter made me look hot.

Until today I have never owned a piece of clothing that made me feel so good about myself to the point that I could rival Julie Andrews singing on a mountain top and kick her ass.

Yesterday I went to NY&Co (my new FAVORITE store thank you very much) because I had the day off and was at the mall anyway. To my sheer delight I found that they were having a buy 1 get one free sale on all their pants.

Having had it pointed out to me recently by a co-worker that my pants were currently hanging off of me I thought "why not?" and in I went.

Now these aren't special edition pants. They aren't fancy even. Regular old run of the mill pants.







But they are in a size smaller than I have ever worn in my entire life.



Ever.



Even high school.


Now I realize that this will make some of you hate me more, but you know what?




I don't care. I feel too good in my pants.

And though I know that this happiness will one day be thwarted by cheesecake and gravity I know deep down that I will cherish these pants and recall them with sweet memories when that day comes.

30 Day Shred - Week Eleventybillion

I haven't worked out in about 2 weeks.

Well, ok, I worked out last night, but before that it had been two weeks.

Awesome right? Not so much.

I don't even have a good excuse other than I just didn't feel like it. What a great role model I make. ::sigh::

Anywho, my apologies to those few (poor, misguided) souls out there that were looking to me for support, strength and a work out buddy. I've failed you.

I will not be making any grand gestures and promises that work outs will resume and with a vengeance. I will however tell you that with my new job starting next week I'll have a good couple of hours in the AM with which I *hope* to get in a work out...mostly so I can snuggle with Randy and Keagan at night.

To those out there that have stuck with it, GREAT JOB. Really, very proud of you. Eventually I'll be able to catch up with you and not want to die mid-20 minute workout. But for now I'll have to settle for side stitches from jumping jacks and throwing water bottles at Jillian Michaels.

30 Day Shred - Week 3

I FAIL.

I worked out once last week.


Once.

And I gained 2 pounds.

And I enjoyed many glasses of wine, beer and cheesecake (thanks Gram!). This is what I get for having a birthday.


SO - here's my plan of action:

Tonight - work out

Tuesday AM - work out

Wednesday AM - work out

Thursday AM - work out

Friday - long walk with family as we're going to be out of town

Saturday - long walk with family again - but there will be lots of drinking - Happy 4th of July!

Sunday - Nurse hangover.

As much as I loathe the thought of getting up a 1/2 hour earlier to work out, making my waking time 5am, I think it is the only way I'm going to be able to do it. Getting home after a long day, wanting to cuddle with the munchkin and just having no motivation at night makes it hard to get up and go. I've done it before, I can do it again. Will power baby, will power.

30 Day Shred - Week 2

Wow, I really failed at blogging last week.

In a nutshell - I only got 4 work outs in last week.

Monday - Day One - felt good, life is great, go me.

Tuesday - Day Two - I hate you all. I hate Jillian Michaels. I hate work outs.

Wednesday - Day Three - No Workout, wine instead.

Thursday - Day Four (Three) - felt good. Wanted to quite mid-Cycle 2, but powered through.

Friday - Day Five (Four) - Life with a four month old and an indecisive husband got in the way - no work out...baked cookies instead (but didn't eat any!).

Saturday - Day Six (Four - again) - EARLY morning work out - felt great, could walk and pick up monster 19lb child without crying - two thumbs up.

Sunday - Day Seven (Five) - No work out - instead darling husband made a mess of the gym/laundry room and I had baby duty.

All in all I'm pretty damn proud of myself that I worked out four days out of seven. Considering I wasn't doing any working out at all I believe a gold star is in order.

A couple of thoughts -

Everyone is asking "When are you going to go to the next level?" My answer? "When my poor body says I can." Honestly, I'm not going to move up to Level Two until I've gotten Level One down. Maybe a week...maybe a month. I'm in no hurry to bring the pain any faster than necessary.

Side lunges with front arm raises? Yeah, you suck.

Still trying to figure out how you would even modify a jumping jack.

Also, I never realized until this past week how much Jillian Michaels voice can grate on your nerves. It's pretty bad, I think, when she is talking to her "buddies" and THEY don't even want to answer her!

So, I'm back on the wagon again tonight (provided my gym is back in working order) starting Day Five. My work out buddy, Schwab, and I are approaching this with this attitude: We may not finish the 30 Day Shred in 30 days, but if we get in 30 workouts by the end of July we'll be happy. I don't think it will be a problem.

I ask you readers now to share your work out approach - Are you a die hard that hasn't missed a day yet? Are you a bit more relaxed, trying for at least every other day? Are you including a diet with your workout? Tell me all about it.

30 Day Shred - Week One, Day Three

Will be rescheduled for Thursday.

I've had a hellacious day and a glass, nay a bottle, of wine is in the works while cooking dinner interspersed with cuddling with my baby, husband and pup.

Cheers.

30 Day Shred - Week One, Day Two.

Can't.


Walk.


Send.


Help.

::collapses on floor::

30 Day Shred - Week One, Day One

I've decided that I'll be posting weekly stats for my 30 Day Shred Adventure (catchy huh?) along with pictures (because I'm a glutton for punishment).


Goal - To lose remaining baby weight and then some and tone this body up (of course, carting around an 18lb. three month old has gotten my arms pretty smokin').


So ultimately - to look like Jillian Michaels....that's realistic, yes?


Pounds to Lose to be back to Pre-Pregnancy Weight - 5 (don't throw shit at me, it hurts).


Pounds to Lose to be at "Ideal Weight" - 10


Week One Mini Goal - Drink at least 64oz of water throughout the day.


Day One Pictures -

Review of Workout - Wow. As someone who has lived with the workout Nazi for several year and who thought I had been getting my butt kicked...I have to say, Randy? You ain't got nothing on Jillian Michaels.

The workout, while difficult, was fun (no, seriously) and challenging. I LOVED that each cycle she changed up the work outs so it wasn't a monotonous 25 minutes. It's also pretty cool that she has both a beginner (with abs of freakin' steel - seriously, do we need a super model to guide us through this adventure?) and an advanced work out buddy so you can follow the moves at your level of intensity.

Granted, I'm writing this before bed - adrenaline still high, muscle pain minimal. Tomorrow may be another story entirely. But so far - two thumbs up.

30 Day Shred - The Beginning

Well, I've done it.

I caved.

I jumped on the bandwagon that is Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.

DVD arrived in the mail today. I've got 25 minutes put aside after dinner for Day One - and $20 that says I won't be able to walk tomorrow.

More details soon.