Last week it was a struggle to not go insane at my house. The kids weren't feeling well, I wasn't feeling well, our house was a mess, and I was completely overwhelmed. Now that is is behind us, I prefer not to reflect upon it.
This week started off much better - mainly because I tried to put things into perspective. I have a lot of goals right now, but trying to work on all of them simultaneously is causing me a bit of stress - so I decided that for the next few weeks I only care about keeping my house corn free and getting to the gym at least three days a weJessicek to train for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Once I have a steady grasp on both of those, than I can start working on other things as well.
Sunday, I didn't work out (I was still getting over feeling like death), but we took the kids to my brother's house and left them with the grandparents so we could go shopping for a sofa. The sofa situation has been a major source of contention in our house since I moved in four years ago - the current one is squishy, has no support, and I find it incredibly uncomfortable - so we have decided it is time to get a new one. This is easier said than done (he is 6'3" and I am 5'5" and we are polar opposites on almost everything) and we have gone out shopping several times already. Amazingly, Sunday was the day that we found something that made us both happy! So, while this has nothing to do with my goals, it did boost my mental health a bit (and my back will feel better once the new sofa arrives in April!) and put me in a good mood for the week.
This week started off much better - mainly because I tried to put things into perspective. I have a lot of goals right now, but trying to work on all of them simultaneously is causing me a bit of stress - so I decided that for the next few weeks I only care about keeping my house corn free and getting to the gym at least three days a weJessicek to train for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Once I have a steady grasp on both of those, than I can start working on other things as well.
Sunday, I didn't work out (I was still getting over feeling like death), but we took the kids to my brother's house and left them with the grandparents so we could go shopping for a sofa. The sofa situation has been a major source of contention in our house since I moved in four years ago - the current one is squishy, has no support, and I find it incredibly uncomfortable - so we have decided it is time to get a new one. This is easier said than done (he is 6'3" and I am 5'5" and we are polar opposites on almost everything) and we have gone out shopping several times already. Amazingly, Sunday was the day that we found something that made us both happy! So, while this has nothing to do with my goals, it did boost my mental health a bit (and my back will feel better once the new sofa arrives in April!) and put me in a good mood for the week.
Jessica
Monday I met with my personal trainer, Jessica. I trained with her for the Avon Walk last year and absolutely adore her, so it was an easy decision to call her up to help me get ready for this year. I have had a couple of sessions with her over the past several weeks - but this week I was determined to get through the session and give it my all. I made it through the workout (most of it anyway - pushups and I still don't get along) and by that night I could FEEL the workout. Despite being sore and exhausted, hubby and I stayed up late Monday night (which was not a good decision) because it is the one night only one kiddo is at home so we have a better chance of making it through a movie.
Tuesday morning I hurt! I still dragged my ass out of bed (mostly because my 3 yr old wouldn't let me sleep anymore) and went to the YMCA to walk with my friend Carrie. We walked together for about 50 minutes - and during that time, I convinced her to join me in doing the Avon Walk this summer and now Barbie's Rack Attack has a new member!!! Walking was the only exercise I did since I had lifted the day prior, but I spent the rest of the day cleaning up the house and baking (big bake sale next weekend, so I am trying out new recipes). I got caught up on laundry (I fell behind when I was sick) and was able to get through a mound of paperwork and bills. I also discovered that lemon lavender bars are AMAZING (it was one of the recipes I attempted) and it is quite possible that they can be used as an indulgence instead of always relying on chocolate.
Wednesday I was still sore, but since I had to bring my 5 yr old to preschool at the YMCA, I decided I may as well workout while I was already there. I did a 15 minute warm up on the elliptical and was able to do a mile in under 12 minutes, repeated most of the workout from Monday (making alterations where necessary), and then decided that doing pullups and dips on the counterweight machine sounded like a good idea (because the counterweight only goes up to 180lbs, I am still doing a good amount of weight for just starting out). I then spent 15 minutes in the sauna and that was SOOOOO worth going to the gym for! Unfortunately, by the time my husband got home from work I was so sore I could barely move. The girls got scrambled eggs for dinner and I ran to get stuff for the adults (Portillo's for hubby and sushi for me), I was too tired to play around on the computer, and I was in bed by eleven (unheard of for me)!
This morning I woke up still feeling exhausted but not as sore. The girls and I plan on baking chocolate chip cookies and visiting our favorite local store (it is closing for good this weekend and we will miss the owners and their cats terribly). I was invited to walk again with Carrie this afternoon and my trainer is teaching a pilates class tonight - so I know I will do one or the other (just haven't decided which yet). I contemplated doing both, but that is a lot of driving that is not necessary (we live 30 minutes from the YMCA).
I feel less insane this week because the house is starting to get back under control and an end is in site. We got rid of our dining table and desk in the same week - so there have been piles all over my living/dining room for weeks now. Our carpenter came over yesterday to fix the 'new' dining table that my mom was nice enough to let us have (it is a 36 yr old butcher block table and had been in storage for a few years), so that will be put into use this weekend. Once that is in place, it will be easier to decide what we want to do about the desk - replace it or go in a different direction (like a buffet that we just use for storage of home school stuff and paperwork). I don't handle chaos well, so motherhood is pretty challenging for me, but I do better when the house is mostly clean and organized.
I also feel less stressed now that I am not constantly beating myself up over what I am eating. I have already noticed that my pop intake has started to drop off this week (I prefer water when I am working out) without me even thinking about it and the lemon lavender bars are so sweet and tangy that eating just one is satisfying enough for my sweet cravings (and since I cut them into two bite pieces, it isn't as horrible if I indulge two or three times throughout the day). Plus, I have two 4 ft long grow lights in my living room with dozens of little plants sprouting under them. It sounds nuts, but having peppers, tomatoes, lavender, cucumbers, etc. sprouting in my house makes me feel like eating those things, so I have definitely increased my veggie intake over the past few days. I think as long as I stay on track with the training, everything else will just fall into place. Of course, this could just be the endorphins talking!
Tuesday morning I hurt! I still dragged my ass out of bed (mostly because my 3 yr old wouldn't let me sleep anymore) and went to the YMCA to walk with my friend Carrie. We walked together for about 50 minutes - and during that time, I convinced her to join me in doing the Avon Walk this summer and now Barbie's Rack Attack has a new member!!! Walking was the only exercise I did since I had lifted the day prior, but I spent the rest of the day cleaning up the house and baking (big bake sale next weekend, so I am trying out new recipes). I got caught up on laundry (I fell behind when I was sick) and was able to get through a mound of paperwork and bills. I also discovered that lemon lavender bars are AMAZING (it was one of the recipes I attempted) and it is quite possible that they can be used as an indulgence instead of always relying on chocolate.
Wednesday I was still sore, but since I had to bring my 5 yr old to preschool at the YMCA, I decided I may as well workout while I was already there. I did a 15 minute warm up on the elliptical and was able to do a mile in under 12 minutes, repeated most of the workout from Monday (making alterations where necessary), and then decided that doing pullups and dips on the counterweight machine sounded like a good idea (because the counterweight only goes up to 180lbs, I am still doing a good amount of weight for just starting out). I then spent 15 minutes in the sauna and that was SOOOOO worth going to the gym for! Unfortunately, by the time my husband got home from work I was so sore I could barely move. The girls got scrambled eggs for dinner and I ran to get stuff for the adults (Portillo's for hubby and sushi for me), I was too tired to play around on the computer, and I was in bed by eleven (unheard of for me)!
This morning I woke up still feeling exhausted but not as sore. The girls and I plan on baking chocolate chip cookies and visiting our favorite local store (it is closing for good this weekend and we will miss the owners and their cats terribly). I was invited to walk again with Carrie this afternoon and my trainer is teaching a pilates class tonight - so I know I will do one or the other (just haven't decided which yet). I contemplated doing both, but that is a lot of driving that is not necessary (we live 30 minutes from the YMCA).
I feel less insane this week because the house is starting to get back under control and an end is in site. We got rid of our dining table and desk in the same week - so there have been piles all over my living/dining room for weeks now. Our carpenter came over yesterday to fix the 'new' dining table that my mom was nice enough to let us have (it is a 36 yr old butcher block table and had been in storage for a few years), so that will be put into use this weekend. Once that is in place, it will be easier to decide what we want to do about the desk - replace it or go in a different direction (like a buffet that we just use for storage of home school stuff and paperwork). I don't handle chaos well, so motherhood is pretty challenging for me, but I do better when the house is mostly clean and organized.
I also feel less stressed now that I am not constantly beating myself up over what I am eating. I have already noticed that my pop intake has started to drop off this week (I prefer water when I am working out) without me even thinking about it and the lemon lavender bars are so sweet and tangy that eating just one is satisfying enough for my sweet cravings (and since I cut them into two bite pieces, it isn't as horrible if I indulge two or three times throughout the day). Plus, I have two 4 ft long grow lights in my living room with dozens of little plants sprouting under them. It sounds nuts, but having peppers, tomatoes, lavender, cucumbers, etc. sprouting in my house makes me feel like eating those things, so I have definitely increased my veggie intake over the past few days. I think as long as I stay on track with the training, everything else will just fall into place. Of course, this could just be the endorphins talking!