We're in This Together***Jan 2-Jan31st**

[mini-natty]

Hello everyone

Yesterday's w/o was Tabatacise (all 5 rounds!). I ate a date rolled in coconut beforehand. I think that's the perfect fuel to prepare me for intense cardio. I still deem 40/20 Cathe's hardest cardio to date though . Oh and Sat I did Super Cuts + 100RC Lateral Raises. I used 3lbs to test the waters and it was EASY! Upping to 5lbs next time .

Remember my DH best friends pregnant wife I told you guys about not long ago? Yes, the one that smokes marijuana, cigarette's, and drinks alcohol during her pregnancy . I went to their body shower (very hesitantly might I add) yesterday. I was wining and acting like sucky child the whole way there. I just HATE, HATE her for what she is doing to that poor innocent baby in her womb . I look at her, and she just makes me stick to my stomach. Ok, rant over.

YES! Back to weight training this week! I feel great and ready to go!


Jen
I'm so excited about your trip to Texas! I think the whole move will work positively in your favor .
I'm jealous you never have to deal with snow again! It's pretty and all but a big pain-in-the-rear if you ask me .

Colleen
Sorry to hear about the kiddies sick . I find that kids deal with illness so much better than adults to (thank goodness!). I wish them a speedy recovery .
WTG on the hip thrusts! Yes, it is easy to push with your back instead of through your glutes. Form is absolutely critical. I know when I did them, I was doing them at a super slow, controlled pace. I have a tweaky back and I don't want to be out of commission .

Marie
I'm so glad you had a lovely evening . I'm sure you looked super hot .

Sarah
Your "napping" story reminds me of some of mine . No way in hell I would have Bella take a nap at this age! Mark would say "oh let her sleep a few minutes!". And I would be like "ummm HELL NO! I don't want this kid up until 11pm!!!". So ya, I know what you mean .
Glad your mom liked the Leslie . Holy, 5 miles is A LOT! I hope she is doing ok with her knee.

Have a great day

 

[mom2kttj]

Jen - Sounds like you did get a lot of exercise having to take care of the tree.

Marie - Glad it was a good dinner, I have found that with work functions the dinner is never good. I made the Apple Chips and proceeded to eat all the chips so thats 2 Apples, gone. They were a nice change.

Nat - I do remember you telling us about hoochy Mama. Good job on Tabatasize.

Colleen - I am so sorry about sick kids. I would be nervous too with vacation comng up

I am sick! Saturday I progressively got worse. Sunday I was down and out all day. Last night I felt like I had the FLU. I slept for about 4 hours this morning woke up drenched in sweat. I am feeling better now. I am feeling bad about not exercising today because it will screw up my rotation.

Sarah

 

[mom2kttj]

Still running a fever. Plus TTOTM. Looks like another day bites the dust. I feel bad, I was doing so well.

SArah

 

[JT]

Natty-Congrats on your workout!! You did awesome!! Great power food.

Sarah-Please feel better soon. The 6 degrees is helping me out. Mine stuck around for more than 2 weeks. Don't worry about working out.

Colleen-Yes, I'm job hunting plus giving me late date move.

Marie-Hope you and B are doing well.

Today, I posted for 4 positions in 20 minutes which would've taken me an hour to find for MI. Indeed today had 1496 for Ft. Worth (same size as Grand Rapids), 1400 for Detroit (Bigger than both Ft. Worth and GR), Dallas-Ft Worth almost 6300 jobs. Grand Rapids posted 684.
DFW has snow sometimes but not like MI.
Tentative schedule is alma mater early Tuesday, dinner with former classmate Tuesday night, interview Wed AM, find a place to live and spend time with brother's friend wednesday afternoon. Thursday, follow up, sleep and airport.

 

[mini-natty]

Hi everyone

Today's w/o was XT BS C/B/S + 100RC Scarecrows. I went lighter in my weight #'s than I typically do, as I was unsure how my shoulder would hold up. I was a bit fearful . Better safe than sorry .

I ransacked my entire house today looking for Bella's birth certificate and Baptism certificate to get ready for her school enrollment. I've moved twice since she was born. I have no clue as to where her damn birth certificate is!!! Can you believe that??? I keep everything too, that's the real kicker . Now I have to spend $110 on a document that I KNOW is in my house, probably safely nestled in a box somewhere .

Sarah
Sorry to hear about your sickness . Rest up and take care. I wish you a speedy recovery .

Jen
Pardon me for not understanding, but what exactly is an Alma Mater? I feel a bit embarrassed, but I really have no clue.


Have a good evening everyone

 

[cokonkel]

Hello ladies!

I was home again this morning with the kids. Lydia was pretty miserable last night, and although Dylan seems to be coming around he has to be free of the fever for 24 hours before going back to school. I sure hope this is it now! The only thing is...I'm at work right now and my stomach is feeling pretty questionable.... Oh dear.

Since I had the morning off (Mark came home again at 12:30 so I could work the afternoon), I decided to finally try Hard Strikes. I stopped at about 23 minutes. It just was not enjoyable to me at all. I tried modifying the impact, using the rebounder...nothing really helped. It's okay though...I didn't expect to love every single workout in XTrain. I knew I'd be happy if I loved at least half the workouts, and so far that's the only one I didn't care for. Supercuts wasn't what I expected, but I still really like that one alot. Sooo...I decided to do HC Volume 2 instead and XTrain burn set back. Then I was feeling pretty strong so I went ahead and tacked on express premix bi's and tri's (rounds 1-5) and 100 rep scarecrow challenge with 2 lbs. I'm going to go back to 3's next time, though, as that was a little too easy.

Sooo...there is a pretty controversial thread going on right now on OD. Crazy how some people get so worked up!

Sarah- I'm so sorry you got sick. Just get better...the workouts will be there when you feel better. I sure hope I'm not going down the same road here!

Natty- Do you have a fireproof box you keep stuff in? I keep all our documents in this mini-safe thing. Your dilemma reminded me of the time my mom couldn't find her naturalization papers! She was convinced she was going to be sent back to Canada if she couldn't find them!

Jen- Good luck in Texas!!

Hi Marie!

Okay, feeling yucky right about now...TTYL girls!

 

[JT]

Hi Friends.

Home from network event. Might be on an website testimony.

An alma mater is one's former educational institution presumably where you graduated and/or considered to be an alum. It can high school or college but many presume college.

Felt great to get out of the house.

JT

 

[mini-natty]

Ohhh, it's bloody cold out there! It's -17c here with the windchill . Yesterday I was not able to go out for my walk, so I did a Leslie 2 mile walk/jog in the evening.


Colleen
Hope the kids feel better soon. How are you feeling?
Several people from my check-in's are not feeling the love for Hard Strikes. I personally liked it, but I can see why many would not. I still think KPC is the golden egg of kickboxing workouts. Some w/o's are just hard to top, and that is one of them. I doubt Cathe will ever make another complex step gem like Step Blast. There is just something about that workout that is absolutely flawless. Even Cathe's personality is fun, and her energy is infectious. It's hard for me to smile during w/o's, but with that one I am smiling and enjoying myself the whole time.
Yes, I usually keep my important documents locked up, but for some reason the Birth Certificate did not make it's way back there. I remember using it to get Bella Baptized, and that was the last I saw it. I'm blaming it on my post-partum confused state .

Happy Hump Day! (lol that sounds funny )

 

[cokonkel]

Hello ladies!

My workout today: To the Max, premix with fitness tabata instead of compound legs. Yesterday I did Ultimate Yogi: Cross Training. I feel like Travis's zen is starting to permeate my brain. lol I'm finding myself talking alot about positivity and self-love these past few weeks. Good stuff!

So the kids are finally better, but now we will be leaving for Cancun next Wednesday. Yeesh...they've missed a lot of school this month! We'll be taking some homework with us to Mexico, it seems.

Natty- ITA that KPC is the mother of all good kickboxing workouts! I so wish Cathe would make another one. I'm all about lots of kicking and combos with kicking/punching. Hard Strikes is really more Hi/Lo with punching. I really hope her next one has tons of kicking in it!

Sarah- are you feeling better?

Jen-when do you fly down to Texas?

Marie- hope everything is going well!!

Have a great day ladies!

 

[mini-natty]

Hi everyone!

Yesterday's w/o was XT Legs (standing+floor). I was feeling strong so I upped my weights considerably from what Cathe was using. I used 1x15lbs for the walking lunges. For the plie squats w/the ball, I used 25lbs (ooohh it burns!). For the one where you "shave" the area between your knee and ankle with the weight, Cathe used a 5lbs and I used an 8lbs. This is the first leg workout where I kinda question Cathe's weight selections. I personally think, since she is THE QUEEN of legs/glutes, that she could have went considerably higher. The floor work is a doozy . I love how it really gets into the glutes.

Today I went to Walmart (grocery shopping) and scored an awesome Everlast toning band & jump rope set for less than $20!! There are 2 bands (light/med). My hope was that one of the bands would be good enough to use with Xtrain and IT IS (YAY!). Today I am going to do Imax2 BUT with a slight twist. I will do the step combo's, then during the blasts I will jump rope instead. My legs are just too darn sore to do all that jumping, but I still want some kick-a$$ cardio, so the jump rope should provide a good challenge there. Wish me luck!

Colleen
ITA with your post on OD. I feel to get the body you want, you must love the body you have. Since I have given birth, I love and accept my body so much more. I've never been so confident in my entire life! I see all these positive changes in my physique, but perhaps in reality it's not my body that's really changed so much, but my outlook towards it.
Glad the kiddies are doing better! I'M JEALOUS OF YOUR VACA!!!! I was looking at prices to Cuba today . I'm a last-minute gal, so hopefully when we decide to book I get a fantastic deal. I REALLY REALLY REALLY need a tropical vacation gosh darn it!!!

Hope everyone is having an awesome day

 

[cokonkel]

Hi everyone!

Yesterday's w/o was XT Legs (standing+floor). I was feeling strong so I upped my weights considerably from what Cathe was using. I used 1x15lbs for the walking lunges. For the plie squats w/the ball, I used 25lbs (ooohh it burns!). For the one where you "shave" the area between your knee and ankle with the weight, Cathe used a 5lbs and I used an 8lbs. This is the first leg workout where I kinda question Cathe's weight selections. I personally think, since she is THE QUEEN of legs/glutes, that she could have went considerably higher. The floor work is a doozy . I love how it really gets into the glutes.

Today I went to Walmart (grocery shopping) and scored an awesome Everlast toning band & jump rope set for less than $20!! There are 2 bands (light/med). My hope was that one of the bands would be good enough to use with Xtrain and IT IS (YAY!). Today I am going to do Imax2 BUT with a slight twist. I will do the step combo's, then during the blasts I will jump rope instead. My legs are just too darn sore to do all that jumping, but I still want some kick-a$$ cardio, so the jump rope should provide a good challenge there. Wish me luck!

Colleen
ITA with your post on OD. I feel to get the body you want, you must love the body you have. Since I have given birth, I love and accept my body so much more. I've never been so confident in my entire life! I see all these positive changes in my physique, but perhaps in reality it's not my body that's really changed so much, but my outlook towards it.
Glad the kiddies are doing better! I'M JEALOUS OF YOUR VACA!!!! I was looking at prices to Cuba today . I'm a last-minute gal, so hopefully when we decide to book I get a fantastic deal. I REALLY REALLY REALLY need a tropical vacation gosh darn it!!!

Hope everyone is having an awesome day

Oh oh oh! Is it okay if I steal this gem for my signature line?? Sums up my wordy post well! LOL Sometimes I gabber on and on to get my point across when one sentence sums it up so well!

 

[mini-natty]

Oh oh oh! Is it okay if I steal this gem for my signature line?? Sums up my wordy post well! LOL Sometimes I gabber on and on to get my point across when one sentence sums it up so well!

You know what, I think I read this line somewhere...not sure exactly where though . Maybe I came across it in Pinterest or someone posted it on Facebook. Oh for sure, take it!

 

[mom2kttj]

It's my first day off the couch and not running a fever. I feel bad that it messed up my rotation so much. Right now I still have so much congestion I don't feel like I should do anything more than catch-up on housework and maybe talk a walk. I am thinking I will go ahead and restup for the remainder of my week. Then I will start week 3 on Monday. If I feel like doing something more I will just play or do yoga since part of what I had just made my joints hurt so much.

Colleen - Glad to here the kiddos are better and that you never ended up getting sick. Yesterday I had another home keeping me company on the sofa. I had to watch cartoons all day. Oh well, most of the day I went in and out of sleep. That and checking the catty OD discussion which really was entertaining me while I was sick. Now I just feel bad. If we were all alike and shared the same views what a boring world this would be.

Nat - Good score. I got a blue tubing at Target for $8 and snatched that sucker up. It works great for X-train subbing the bands just wasn't comfortable. So is Bella's school stuff all squared away? I'm sorry it's so cold up there right now. We have been having some really cold weather also. Both myself and hubby invested in some appropriate cold weather walking gear. Makes all the difference.

Marie - I hope everything is going good with work/home and nobody in your family is sick.

Jen - Thats a huge diff in numbers. About how many of those would be "jen" appropiate jobs?

Colleen and Nat - We are on Season 4 of breaking bad and are digging it. I have fallen for Sal. Love his humor!

Sarah

 

[mini-natty]

Hi everyone

Yesterday's w/o was Hard Strikes (cardio only). This is my 2nd time doing it. I enjoy myself, I LOVE the music, I like the simple boxing cardio like jump rope and jacks. I really, really want boxing gloves . I'm jealous of everyone who scored a great deal on them. I see some purchased for $10 . We NEVER get deals like that on fitness equipment here in Canada. I've seen the same pink Everlast in stores costing $50 . I'll have to shop around and "look" harder .

Sarah
I feel so bad you got the flu . Flu's SUCK . Why do you feel bad? It's not your fault you got sick. Just start again when you feel up to it that's all. There may be a silver lining to this you probably lost some lbs. There's a line in the movie Mean Girls, where one of the girls says "I'm 1 stomach flu away from my goal weight!". LOL .
I'm not a wuss when it comes to the cold. I always said that I would walk in anything under -20c (-4f I believe). When it goes higher than that, it can get pretty uncomfortable and downright nasty. Canadian winter's are not for the faint of heart.

Colleen, Jen, Marie
Hope you all are doing ok .


Happy weekend to you ladies

 

[JT]

Hello Friends.

Happy Weekend!!

Sarah. Take it easy. Mine started as a cold turned to flu and ended with stomach flu. Doing too much will set you back.

Natty. You're my inspiration as far as working out. I still believe you would be successful with starting your own workouts/DVD. Give Bella a hug for us. Yes, Canada does pay more which is a total bummer.

Colleen. Going on vacation? Where?

Marie. Hope you and B are doing well.

Update:
24 days till Texas. Yes, I have positive energy/intuition when it comes to DFW. Things are falling into place without much effort. Thank God!!
My "friend" from FB now is driving down there about the time that I will be. He knows I have stuff to do down there. He lives 90 minutes away from me now.
Yes, the jobs on Indeed are general postings so between customer service corporate, banking and finance equals about 20% are for me.
Getting over the broken promise from the company from CA. I told him to leverage before he did his deal with Walmart but didn't now he is scrambling to raise money. Only part of the story.

 

[mfv3]

I can't believe I haven't checked in so long. This week has been busy. I finished my last week of Meso 1. Active recovery next week. I've been getting my cardio in too, even if it means getting up at 4am. I worked yesterday and then today and tomorrow starting at 7. I got up again and did AB and core#1 this morning. I have doing core#1 alot and it is getting easier....not easy lol, but easier!

Breckin is doing so good. He has been sleeping from 9pm to around 4am. Works out good for me to get up and feed, workout then work. I have been avoiding caffeine, but on these days I drink a few oz or else I would be exhausted.

In other news...my BF is in labor right now or possibly already holding her sweet baby. She was dilated to a 5 this morning and they broke her water at 9. I haven't heard anything since so I'm assuming she's busy

Colleen- Sorry to hear about Dylan. Is he feeling better?

Jen- Good luck with the interview.

Sarah- Glad you're feeling a bit better. Good call on taking it easy for now.

Natty- WTG on Tabata...all 5 rounds...impressive. I have yet to try it. I did do Low Max the other day and thought of you That date rolled in coconut is a good idea...I'll have to try it. My blood pressure went up when I read about that pregnant chic! Honestly, how horrible! I would have had a really hard time going to her shower. Good for you for going.

 

[mini-natty]

Happy Sunday everyone

Yesterday I did XT BS Bi's & Tri's + 100RC Tri's. I had rarely any gas left in the tank for the challenges . It's also TTOTM for me, and I'm feeling very bleh.

Today I'm going out to lunch with Bella, my mom, my sister. I'm not looking forward to it TBH . If lunch wasn't enough she always wants to come over my house and hang out. Not to sound like a total b**ch, but spending hours at a restaurant (which won't be a pleasant experience with A) Bella B) my mother) and then having to spend more hours afterwards, just sets my BP soaring. Sorry to vent here. There are just some things that really *stress* me out, and today will be no exception.

Marie
LOVE your new Avatar .
I admire you for getting up at 4am to exercise. You make no excuses that you don't have time. If a first time mom with a newborn and a job can *make* time, so can anyone right?
Breckin is sleeping so well. 9pm-4am is absolutely perfect .
How is your BF? What did she have???
The date in coconut really gives me much needed energy during those tough cardio sessions. Yes, try it .

Jen
Thanks so much for the compliment . You are far too kind . Perhaps one day I will be given the opportunity
(or make my own ) and start offering step classes at my gym.
Hmmm, interesting about your FB friend "coincidentally" being in TX at the same time as you. I wonder...
I have this gut feeling that TX is going to work out VERY well in your favor. Finger's & toes crossed!!!

Have a great day everyone

 

[JT]

Natty,
I believe in TX but not this guy. My slight irritation is that he could see me here instead of there. I think he's leading me on to some degree again.

JT

 

[cokonkel]

Morning everyone!

Today I'm thinking of doing an all out lower body blitz. I want to do Tabatacise plus the first 2 tabatas (skip c/d) and then do lower body Trisets, then the 100 rep hip thrusts. Only a few more days before I go to Cancun! Gotta get that booty burning! Tomorrow I'll have my normal day off (unless I find some time in the evening to do some Gentle yoga from UY) and then Tuesday I want to do a Horizontal Conditioning dvd to send me off. No exercise for a whole week! I know it'll probably be good for the body to give some extended rest but it amazes me how quickly I start to feel "squishy" when not working out. It's like my muscles stubbornly resist being firm when I don't work them!

Natty- good luck with lunch and spending time with your mom today. I know how stressful that is for you. We had some family drama this weekend involving mom and my sister, so as you know, I definitely sympathize.

Marie- You are AMAZING! The dedication you have to get up at 4 am...I bow down to you my friend! I constantly worry about how I would keep up with my workouts if my schedule or work situation changed so that I couldn't work out at the time I do now. I am really fortunate in that I can sort of make my own schedule, and since I work in a retail situation, I don't have to work super early in the morning. I purposely have myself start at 10:00 on Tues, Wed and Thurs so that I can have more time to work out in the morning. I work at 9 on Mon and Fri. This way, I take Mon and Fri as days off (unless I have Friday off when I work Saturdays). I still get up at 6:30 so I have plenty of time to drink my coffee and wake up before I tackle getting the kids up and ready for school. I'm slow to come to consciousness in the morning!
You're definitely wise to avoid caffeine while breast feeding. I made the mistake of still having a cup of coffee in the morning with Dylan (less with Lydia as I learned my lesson!). It definitely affects the kids and makes them more cranky, less able to sleep. By the time Lydia came, I had figured out a lot! Poor Dylan! lol

Jen- Good luck in Texas! Like Natty said, for some weird reason, I have a really positive feeling about this for you. I had this sense right from the first time you mentioned it that this was in the cards for you.

Sarah- definitely take it easy coming back from this flu! Yoga and light workouts would be perfect to ease back into it. So many people have had a boomerang effect with this flu where it came back on them after they thought they were well again. Take care! Cathe is always here waiting for us on our shelves when we're ready .

Have a great Sunday ladies!

 

[mfv3]

LowMax this morning. Such a great lower body workout

Worked and then was going to see my friend at the hospital. She had a boy. His name is Lincoln, so cute and original. She did it all natural.....amazing! With no tearing! Anyways, the roads were super bad today. We got a bunch of snow and it was icy so we decided it would be best to meet up on Wed. Im so excited to meet the lil guy! I was nervous enough to drive myself let alone to have B with me was not a good idea.

Thanks all so much for the props on getting up at 4 to workout. So many people told me things like....

Oh just wait once you have a baby you won't be able to workout.

Or....

Good luck keeping in shape with a kid.

Or....

There's no time to workout when you have kids.

Among others rude comments. Honestly nothing pisses me off more! I will always make time to workout no matter what...even if I have to get up at 4 in the morning. People and their excuses. I guess if people aren't dedicated enough they will make up any excuse in the book. Well not us. If it's important enough it will get done. Ok sorry I'm going off but it really gets to me when I hear people say stuff like that. Thanks for the props ladies!

Natty- I hope it went ok with your mom. Family situations can be so hard sometimes. Thank goodness we can at least pick our friends. Nice job on Bi's and Tri's!

Colleen- Yay for Cancun! So excited for you and your family! I feel ya on the getting squishy. Happens so quickly for me too. You are one hot mama though and are going to be rocking that swimsuit!

Jen- I have to say I agree with the ladies about TX. I think it will be your new home very soon.

Hi Sarah!