Getting Back on the Horse

So, yea.  It's not New Year's yet, but I need to take accountability now.  Back in September, sciatica and a bulging disc completely ended my marathon training.  Then I tried to accommodate my injury and continue working out but with caution.  I started hitting the gym in the morning and focusing on non-running cardio.  Then I started to get more depressed abut not running and ate junk to feel better.  Add work/life/financial stress and the holiday season and it's a recipe for disaster.  Disaster for me comes with a number. 29% - That is my body fat.  Three months ago I was training for my third marathon and running 4 days a week, including a 16 mile run and now I have 29% body fat.

Well, that's all I can stand and I can't stands no more.  This morning I headed to Pedal NYC to meet with Ray Wallace.  Pedal is a brand new boutique gym on the west side that focuses on spin and core training using equipment such as TRX.  I am a stranger to both spin and TRX but 29% is not a number that I can live with.  We did about 35 minutes on core work using the TRX, kettlebells and some funny, little blue balls (insert joke here).  Then, I joined a few of  "Toni'sBootcamp Mamas" for 20 minutes of a spin class.  Had to head out to get to work though.

So, now it's up to me to make the commitment.  To be consistent in my workouts and my food choices.  And then I came across this on my friend's Facebook page today.

The time is now!

**Who's with me???

Holiday Season in a nutshell

I have been completely out of if for the last week.  Christmas came in like a hurricane.  There was shopping, eating and time with family.  I'll take 2 out of 3.  The shopping part will haunt me for months to come with credit card bills.  So, I will now bombard you with my Christmas in pictures.

The Princess and my Mom

Mom and I - Do we look alike?

Paparazzi

With some of my cousins

Fam shot - outtake

The Love of my Life :)

Me and my cousin Holly - Isn't she gorgeous?

My boy

With Great Grandma - She's 96!!!

My boy and his future wife, Josephine

Are you bored yet?  You are actually lucky because most of these are from Christmas Eve.  I have yet to download Christmas day.  I had a great time seeing so much of my family and some great friends.  I definitely need to make more plans with family throughout the year (*writing that down for my resolutions).

I still have boxes piled in my dining room and toys stacked up under the tree.  Husband wanted to take down the tree this week.  I told him he had to wait because the tree somewhat camouflages the mess.  Well, not really, but it makes me feel better to think that it does.

This weekend I am back to business as usual.  The house and my life need some cleaning up.

**Do the holidays completely throw your life off course?  If not, how?!  Please share your secrets with me.

** When do you take down your Christmas tree (if you put one up, obviously)?

Lights, Camera, Christmas

So, I didn't blog for a few days, because, well, nothing will likely ever top my moment with Joe McIntyre (for me at least).  I know it was almost a week ago, but I cannot even bring myself to change my Facebook profile picture.  Yes, it's Christmas time and I have pictures of my beautiful children to post, but c'mon, it's Joe McIntyre!

This past Saturday, I hoped to hit Toni On New York's Mamas Bootcamp again at PedalNYC.  The gym is now officially open and they had their first spin classes over the weekend.  However, being that I live in the forgotten borough, I had logistical issues getting there.  Instead I hit my local gym and did some cardio.  I even did 40 minutes on the treadmill, which included alot of walking and yet, still the sciatica pain reminded me it is still here.  I am trying to shift my fitness focus in an effort not to get frustrated about this injury.  I plan to run the NYC Marathon in November 2012, but for now I am just going to focus on getting stronger.  More on that to come.

To change gears though, Christmas is coming fast and since I did not start shopping until this week, I am way behind.  Any chance my love and gratitude is enough of a gift?  Didn't think so.  Ugh.  Anyone want to shop for me, oh and pay for it? I did get some things done.  I finally took Christmas pictures of the kids.  I decided early in the season that I was not going to send out cards this year due to time and finances.  However, I still did our annual photo shoot to give pictures to the family.  Below are some of the outtakes. :)

Okay, maybe giving her a Lenox Candle Holder was a bad idea.

Gotta love the attention to detail... notice the cracked window pane on the left.

Extreme close up

Couldn't put her in this.  She is scared to death of the reindeer.

Yup, she was done.

**Do you take professional Christmas pictures?  (I used to but it is just too crowded and stressful unless you take them in October.)
**Are you finished Christmas shopping?
**Are you still making time to work out during the holiday season?

Germs, germs, go away... My Date with Joe Mac

So, I am sick AGAIN.  I finished my antibiotics about a week and a half ago.  Then my kids started theirs.  And THEN this week, my husband found out he had strep throat and spent the last few days in bed.  Well, I guess germs love to share.  I am sick again.  Not nearly as bad, but I'm foggy and my throat is scratchy and my nose won't stop running.  This my friends, is the story of December in my house every year.  Gotta love kids.  They bring home everything from school including all the germs in the city.

That said, I have not worked out all week.  I can barely get out of bed in the morning for work.  I did however manage to start Xmas shopping.  I hate shopping and I cannot deal in crowds.  Christmas shopping is painful torture to me.  However, it must be done and I hopefully I'll finish before Xmas.  Hmm, am I setting my expectations too high?

Sick or not, I had the opportunity to see Joe McIntyre from New Kids on the Block perform a one-man show in a small venue in the city the other night.  (Thanks Nicole!!)  It was absolutely awesome.  As a lifelong NKOTB fan, it is amazing.  There were only about 150 people there and after the show he signed CDs and took pictures with everyone!  Oh yea!

Please don't go Jen.  Don't worry Joe.  I'll be here with you.

Ok, cheesy, I know.  And proud of it.  Now back to being sick.

**Were you a New Kids on The Block fan?  Or other boy bands?  Be honest!  

Bootcamp and Booty Shakin

So I had an open invite from Toni On! New York to join their mamas' bootcamp, a 12-week weight loss program for a group of awesome mamas. I had been trying to attend for a few weeks but Saturday mornings without kids are scarce. Well, this Saturday my plans changed due to a great surprise homecoming from Hubby. So, he stayed with the kiddies and headed out to Pedal NYC for an ass kicking workout. My sister joined me for her first postpartum workout. We headed outside and the fun began. There were running intervals, push ups and lots of steps! Up and down and up again. And it was fun... In an "I like to get beat up" way. And boy, these mamas are hardcore. Kudos to their hard work and motivation.

My sister & I after bootcamp.  Wanted to take pics with the hardcore Mamas but everyone was busy working it out.  

I am so grateful to the trainer, Ray, "Warrior Princess" Lisa and to Toni for the invite. You guys should check out Toni On! New York on Channel 25 (WNYE) in NY. And my shout out in Toni's blog post.  if you watch, you might even get to see me doing too many push ups and possibly even my booty shaking (a whole other story).

It's Monday and I am still feeling it. It's that good type of pain. And I'm not surprised, I even did some assisted pull ups (not by choice -thanks Ray!). I think I see a goal in sight. I definitely want to keep this motivation.

I will definitely need some home workouts. I see Jillian Michaels in my future!

**Thoughts on bootcamps? Love'em or hate'em?

**Wanna try Toni's Saturday for bootcamp in NYC?? Let me know...

**Suggestions on good video workouts?  (I heard that ExerciseTV is coming off Fios cable.  I am at a loss here!)

Book Giveaway

Amylee - Despite the low odds due to so many entries, the book is yours! :) Please email me your address and I'll
send it out tomorrow.

I ran

After 11 weeks on the sidelines post-injury, I ran 2 miles.  It wasn't fast and it wasn't easy but I did it.  Afterward I started to feel the sciatic pain right away.  It's not that bad and I stretched afterwards (new concept for me).  I also spent some quality time last night with electrodes and heat. Still sore today but I think that is partly because I haven't run in so long.

I am not going to get frustrated about it.  I am just going to use it as a checkpoint of where I am at in recovery.  And that would be somewhere between injured and recovered but not at the end of either spectrum.  I am going to take it slow.  I think yoga might be the way to go here.  I just need to get my butt in gear.

That said, it is 2 weeks before Christmas and I have no begun shopping.  Truth be told, I hate Christmas shopping.  I hate being forced to buy things for people.  I prefer to casually shop and buy things for people when I see something that I know they would like.  I personally would prefer random, thoughtful gifts from people throughout the year then forced, often generic gifts from people all on one day.  And I am by no means a Grinch.  I just prefer to enjoy the holiday without the shopping stress.  I love the lights and the music and the whole family together part.

But I have two kids and they want gifts so I have some shopping to do.  As cliche as it sounds, I will be fresh and ready to start anew for the New Year.  Until then, I will do what I can.  And of course, I will keep you posted.

*Book Giveaway* for Pregnant Runners or Future Pregnant Runners

So, I have this book and while I always plan to be a runner, I never again plan to be pregnant.  It is gentlly used because well, I read it. ;)  Mostly, I just need the space back and I hate to waste books.

So, let me know if you want it.  I am not going to make you follow me or anything (although that would be nice).  Just leave me a comment.  I'll wait until Friday, 12/9 and pick a winner at 4 p.m. randomly (if I get more than one interested person.)  If it's out of the U.S however, I will need to ask you to pay shipping.

Inertia

Sorry for the disappearing act. It's been a rough week with some huge challenges and happy occasions. This week my husband started a new job which requires me to take on full responsibility of the kids 3-4 days a week. All I can say is God bless single moms! I cannot imagine how they do it all the time. But I guess it's like I say, if you have to do it, you just make it happen.

I was also still fighting that nasty virus I had last week. The good news there is that I think I won. However, I also haven't worked out in a week. Winning? Not so much.

Finally yesterday was my son's 6th birthday. (Rest assured, there will be a recap post on the party.). This is also the birth date of when I became a mom, a gift I will always treasure regardless of the struggles.

What's next? Well, unfortunately I am a victim of inertia. When I am in motion, I stay in motion. But when I'm at rest, I have alot of trouble getting my butt off the couch and my head out of the fridge. I need to get my head and my body back in the game.

[Insert positive comments now (please.)]