Monday, monday....

Weekend catch up: One word - AWESOME! We spent Saturday at my best bud Shanan's cottage, swimming, seadooing, lounging, and eating! Pictures are worth a thousand words:

Relaxing me in my 'bug' sunglasses!

kids chillin'

Jeff - touring the kids (over, and over, and over!)

Happy, wet Abby begging for food!

Today, Shanan and I took in a Real Ryder class - Cole style! It was all intervals - hill work, speed work, and very little rest. Phew, way to 'bring it' Cole!

Tomorrow there is no workout - I have a lunch time event that my professional association is putting on. The good news is I weighted in tonight - 170 lbs. This means I've lost 2 lbs somewhere! Yeah!!

Later :)

Birthday Saturday

Well thank god Shanan and I went to Max's RealRyder class this morning (and worked even harder knowing that there were no classes until Tuesday). It was an excellent class, and every bike had a body in it! YEAH!!

We ran  some erands today, and I did some gardening in our 20 degree weather!! The kids had a late afternoon birthday party, and then we rushed home to get ready for my birthday dinner. I invited most of my favorite people (some were missing, but I was thinking about them) and we went to a sushi restaurant...mmmm, sushi! Many were sushi virgins, but all did well. We had a great nite, Jenny brought me a  home made fondant cake (someone took pictures with a phone, I'll post them later). It was so pretty and yummy too! What a wonderful way to ring in 40 - good friends and good food (and family too)!

I'm knackered and need my beddy....promise a longer one tomorrow - with pictures!
Nite

T-minus 12 days!

Happy Good Friday everyone! Only 12 days until I am on a plane with my family on the way to the Dominican!! Yiippeeee!

There is nothing I like better than a good holiday, unless its a holiday WITH my hubby - boo, he had to work. But, after a damp morning the moisture burnt off into a +14 afternoon filled with glorious sunshine!

The kids had an easter egg hunt right after lunch, then daughter sold Girl Guide cookies (thank GOD they are out of the house) and son raised pledges for the Jump Rope for Heart (Heart & Stroke Association). Then up to the playground until suppertime!

Supper was BBQ's burgers (mine without bun), mixed veggies, edamame beans and orzo salad (feta and crunchie veggies) -mmmmm. Now its starting to feel like summer!

After supper the girls and I were off for a LONG WALK. We did a 7 Km loop that took and hour and a half. All three of us are pooped now! While I was out hubby had a great TRX workout (he's all nasty and sweaty).

Sorry no pictures, I keep forgetting that I now have an operational camera.

Now, a nice rest tonight and a RealRyder class tomorrow am with Max (and Shanan).

Nite

PS forgot to post yesterday, I was so tired by the time I got home and  kids fed that I just couldn't muster the energy - good booty boot camp at lunch. However, I know my bod needed the rest again as I really only gave it 75%.

The Meltdown!

Sorry, no post last night - it was 10:30 by the time we got home from the Meltdown and we were tired! We had a quick snack and off to bed. I just have to say how EXCELLENT the Meltdown was!

Here's how it worked, teams of 5 (Shanan, me, hubby, Jane and Jennifer) started on the RealRyder.

Laurissa led us through an intense 15 min ride. This was also the first ride I've done with Laurissa and as short as it was I have to say that I think she would be a tough instructor - she had us doing left/rights for 2 beats each WHILE out of the saddle! I'll have to remember to try her for a 60 minute ride in the future. : )

After the RealRyders we were off to Kettlebells.

This ws sprinkled with cardio moves like burpees, bootstraps, and mountain climbers. We worked though the basic two handed swing, one handed swing switching up top, rack position and cleans. Craig did this portion, he is the kettlebell man, and he lives up to his reputation - he is an intense instructor. He gets in your face, but not in an agressive way, more of a 'I'm watching and I KNOW you can do it - so DO IT' kind of a way. :)

Next, and final station, was the Water Rowers.

We did a 2000m ride, my time was 7:38. A good time for a woman, but I know I could have done better. It was a hard ride, I was cursing those last 500m. I really enjoy the rower though - reminds me of my youth. Hubby had the second best time at 6:20-ish. Shanan had a WICKED ride (I nattered in her ear the whole time trying to push support her through it)! Good fun! This makes me want to better my time ... not that I'm competitive or anything!

This just in! Here's a link to a short video that shows my team on the water rowers (Hubby is on far left and I am in the pinky shirt on the far right).

After we finished workout out there was nubblies (fruit, hummus, crackers, BEER and wine!) Yummmm. The hummus was sooooo good, and I washed it down with a nice, cold beer! All in all it was an excellent evernt and a SUPER way to welcome Craig into the Core Essentials fold. It was also nice to meet some of Craigs clients and learn about the successes he's been able to help them achieve.

And, lets remember that we did our regular noon hour workout - although Laurissa did take it easy on us knowing we had the evening event too. I can't even remember what we did, but I was sweaty so it must have been good! LOL!

Also, I did buy a new camera! Yeah!! It's the Fuji Finepix J20, and looks like this (IN HOT PINK!)

Now, I know I was going to take all sorts of great photos but the Lithium battery seemed to have juice in it, but died early in the day....so, now pics just yet. However, there was a great pic of hubby coming off the water rower last night that I should be able to pilfer get a copy of and use here soon.

Today, after yesterdays double workout, will be a day of rest. Its 8:00 and I'm going to finish my coffee and take the girls to the dog park so Abby will have someone to play with. Echo doesn't care about such things as long as I bring a ball for her. Its sunny, but -10 out there....bbbbrrrrriiiiiiiiihhhhhhh!

Later!

Real Ryder March Break

As an add on to last nights JOGGING post, I thought I'd just point out that I calculated that I ran 3 KM!! I ran 3km and was feeling good. I probably could have done another km at least - well, maybe if I hadn't been wearing my puffy down-filled winter coat! LOL!

Anyway, today at noon we had a 45 min ride with Elvira (a new instructor for me). She is 20 weeks pregnant (looking more like 10 weeks) and managed to out ride Shanan and I AND leave us both as a sweaty puddle on the floor! There were lots of killer moves - my hated favorite was the riding out of the saddle for one minute, then hovering over the seat for one minute (we did this for a full 6 minutes)! Phew!

So, the exercise today was great, but my eating is WAY OFF today. Its like I have a tape worm or something...I can't seem to fill my belly, and then when I do I'm still thinking about what the next thing I can eat will be! This is NOT like me and I'm NOT happy! I think its early to bed tonight to save myself from myself!

Tomorrow is another Ryder class but with Mike, another instructor that I'm not familiar with so it should be exciting - and  my hiney should be good and sore by tomorrow nite! Ha!

Ok, just a quicky tonight....tomorrow I will try to take more photos, I know they make the blog more interesting....

Nite

Hump day

Well, I was hoping to get a home workout in tonight, but that didn't happen. I was back to work this am, so after leaving work I rushed to the Rink to attend son's hockey practice and relieve Oma who had the kiddies today. The practice went an extra 1/2 (as there was no one waiting for the ice - extreemly rare). By the time we got home, and I threw together my new favorite quick meal (Pita Pizza's) it was 7:00!

Here's my pita pizza:

Doesn't it look great! Mine was chicken and spinach (with red peppers, zuchinni and cheese) on a whole wheat pita. Takes less than 5 mins to prepare, and about 5 to cook. We used to order pizza or do the frozen ones, but after a good look at what is in them we made a decision to make healthy pizza's. The other great thing is that each person can make their own - daughter likes just cheese, son is cheese and pepperoni, while hubby and I generally do the heavy-on-the-veggie pizza.

So its now 8:00 and I still have to bath the kids, clean the kitchen, flip the laundry, walk the dogs....wait, hubby just arrived home - I'm off to walk the dogs.

Back from walking RUNNING with the dogs! I'm not sure what got into me, but after a few warm up minutes of walking I felt like running. And lord knows the dogs could use the exercise. So, we did almost 30 mins of running (really jogging cause I'm slow and steady). I stopped twice for 30 seconds, and then back at it again! I'm quite proud of myself! I didn't think I could do that, but I'm feeling pretty go and likely could have gone farther (and the girls could have too). I guess this speaks to my increase in fitness!

I could use a soak in the tub (I ran in my heavy jacket and I'm WAY sweaty) which reminds me, I need a massage. I now find that every few months my body just gets overall tired and needs a good rub. So I must remember to call and book an appointment tomorrow for this weekend! It always does a world of good.

Tomorrow and Friday are both RealRyder noon hours (Laurissa is off with her kids on March Break so our regular class isn't happening. Luckily we could throw in these Ryder classes to fill the void). All this cario and I'm going to have to do a heavy-duty TRX on the weekend to balance it all out!

That's allllll folks!

Nite

Weekend catch up

Sat am hubby and I had a great Real Ryder class with Max - she delivers (as always) a challenging ride that leaves me hot and sweaty! It also leave me with shaky legs that I don't trust leaving steep stairs out of the building! LOL!

Sat night we attended a 30th party, at the Elephant Castle pub, for one of my dearest friend - I've know Jen since she was 18 and the cool part of this has been watching her through the stages of becoming a full fledged grown up - early partying years, variety of apartments and boys, moving in with the man who would become her husband and just recently the birth of their beautiful baby boy Max! Love you Jenny!

Anyway, last night was fun but higher on the caloric intake than usual! We did make the healthiest choice on the menu (pan fried Haddock with spinach and mashed potatoes), but the two beers and one rum and coke did me in! Also, I had some asthma issued (and no puffers) so we came home around 10:30 just when the rest of the animals were heading to the second (and third, and fourth....) bar! The rest also had the night off from their kiddies, so its easier to party hard when you don't have to get up with the rug-rats in the am.

Weighed in this am for the X-Weighted challenge, and I'm still at 166lbs. No loss, but no gain either! Got up and took the girls on a nice, brisk walk in the park and through the woods - they love just tearing it up!! After lunch I've booked in time to do a TRX workout (hubby and I try to schedule sometime for each of us to workout on the weekends).

This evening we have a scheduling conflict - Sis-in-law's Carmen's birthday tea and the Men's Hockey Gold metal game!!! We'll see how that turns out - she's not a hockey fan but the rest of us are, and I'm hoping she doesn't get offended if some of her birthday attention is diverted to the game : P

Later taters!

Being sick is great for weight loss!

So today, Sunday, is weigh in day for the X-Weighted Challenge. I was a bit shocked to find that I'm now weighing in at 166 (down two pounds from last week's 168)!! I'd been home, sick, for most of the week and it really didn't feel like a good week for my food intake - for me when I'm home it gives me more opportunity to graze the kitchen and generally I eat more than I need to. But, apparently I did ok because it certainly wasn't the exercise.

This week I got a full day of downhill skiing in on Monday, a noon hour workout on Friday, and a 60 RealRyder class on Saturday (which was AWESOME - Max, I love your classes!). That's it. Maybe the skiing made up for the two missed noon hour workouts? Who knows, but I'm thrilled! I believe the last time I weighed 166 was in university.

Actually, I am really starting to notice some body changes. The most dramatic I think are my thighs. They are smaller and tighter, and the shape is back. There is no cottage cheese on them and the saddlebags on the outside of the tights are gone. I can actually see daylight between my thighs when my legs are together!!!

The other notable changes are mostly in my waist and chest - I know there have been changes in my arms, calves, back, etc but they have been gradual and there wasn't as much to change there I think.

So, the start of another week and I'm feeling GOOD! My health is better (only about 85%, but each moring I wake up feeling better so hopefully another few days and I'll be right-as-rain) and I'm encouraged by my results this week!

PS I'm still using the My Healthy Plate program, and I'd really recommend it for anyone who's trying to stay accountable for what you are putting in your body. I don't need to use it everyday as I've developed some great eating habits, but its a great way to check in and stay on track!

Sunday recap

I missed checking in yesterday, but it was busy day and I just didn't find the time. Last night we got together with Carmen (other sis-in-law) and her new beau (and his kids). We planned to have a night of Cranium but due in part to our lateness in arriving we did get to play. Instead we had a nice night chatting and eating (but there were tons of healthy eats!).

Saturday Hubby and I (with Shanan and Kristen) took in a 10 am RealRyder class - great, sweaty class! Afterward Hubby and I spent an hour (maybe a little less so we could recover from the Ryder class) with Laurissa showing us a good routine on the TRX. This was really more for hubby who hasn't used the TRX before, but I've used it a fair amount in my normal workouts so I was pretty confident in what she showed us.

On Sunday we spend a large part of the day cleaning the basement (purging it of old toys, stuffed animals, half a puzzle, etc.) so we could setting up the TRX. So now, the rec room looks like a rec room (minus a 1/2 ton of dog hair!) and there is space for our TRX workouts (sorry for the poor photo quality, really need to get a better camera):

The kids have been hanging all over the TRX, I'm sure the novelty will wear off. Both huby and I can't wait to try this little baby out! It comes with a DVD so I think I start with that, and then work on the moves Laurissa showed us!

Oh, and Sunday was weigh in day for the X-Weighted challenge - no net loss...I'm hanging in at 168, which is ok as I didn't have a stellar week (feeling sick and I really didn't eat well). So, a new week with a new piece of equipment to help me along!

Later

'Stations'

Wicked workout at lunch today - Laurissa mixed it up again for us! Today the workout was three sets, each set broken in three exercises, and each exercise was for three minutes. It might make more sense like this:

Set #1:

• Water Rower - 3 mins
• Skipping - 3 mins
• Step up on bench (with 10lb weights) - 3 mins

Set #2:

• Russian Twists on a ball holding a 15 lb kettlebell - 3 mins
• 
  
  Kettlebell rows (20 lb kettlebell) - 3 mins
• Pushups with a lat row (using 1 lbs bumbells) - 3 mins

Set #3:

• Squat with club (swing club between legs, squat and bring club up in front of face) - 3 mins
• Sit up with club (club over head bringing club up as you crunch forward, then back down) - 3 mins
• Medicine ball slams (holding med ball overhead and swing it down to slam on the ground using all abs) - 3 mins

This was a great workout, still feeling good...but hungry! I might pop some popcorn...mmmmmmm! Tomorrow will be a killer day, we have a 60 minute RealRyder (with sis-in-law and Shannany) class at 10am and then hubby and I are taking in a session with Laurissa to help us prepare a routine we can do at home with the TRX! We'll be tired, but happy!

Off to bed, so I'm rested and ready for tomorrow!