Digging Deeper

It takes approximately 21 days for something to become part of your everyday routine. Almost a month. I'm on week 2 (again) and already I'm starting to dread working out. Well not dread exactly, but I just wish there was an easier way. I know full well that there isn't a REAL easier way - if I want to lose the weight I've got to put the work in. 21 days worth of putting the work in, and then it shouldn't feel quite as much like work as it does right now.
So when I need to dig deeper, when I need *something* to run towards, when I feel like cutting it short or giving up, I made this.

This is my vision board, my goals, my "why I am doing this". I'm getting healthy for my BOYS. I'm getting healthy for my HAPPINESS. I'm doing this because I love my family and I want to be around for a long long time to bug and harass them. I have put this up right in front of my treadmill, so when I need to focus on something to get through the last excruciating 30 seconds of a sprint or when I need something to climb towards, I can see EXACTLY why I'm doing it.

What gets you through a run or a workout? Are you motivated by the physical or mental changes that comes with a workout? How do you push through or dig a little deeper?

Thursday's Workout (Day 6ish)

Alright, so I have been TRYING to do these daily workouts, I really have. Sunday I had a little screamer, every time he was not in my arms. Monday, the little screamer was nursing every 2 hours throughout the day AND NIGHT and then the icing on the cake was when the 4 year old starting barfing. Oh, and have I mentioned that my hubby works away so I get no tag outs, no relief and no help most of the time?! Tuesday I kept Little Barfer home from school, which he was totally capable of going, so he just ran laps around this tired old mum all day while Little Screamer did was he does best; cry. Bring on Wednesday, which was FINALLY a good day - Starting to get into the groove of things being on our own; neither child overly demanding or annoying; got out of the house for the ENTIRE morning and early afternoon. Woop woop! Success! But after all the running around and playing and putting on my game face for being in public, I didn't have much get-up-and-go to workout. I got through about half of the workout before baby starting fussing and I threw in the towel.

follow the #livingroomworkout on twitter

But I actually got today's workout done. YAY! I pounded it out, so it only took about 10 minutes (next time I'll actually time it). Again, I found it fairly easy, but I need easy right now. The Saturday's workout I had found almost too easy when I was doing it, but I actually felt some of those unused muscles the next day. Now don't get me wrong, they weren't crying out "OMG THAT HURTS SO GOOD!", but there was a little burny happening.
Modifications/Changes: My nursing boobies were complaining quite a bit when I was doing the jumping jacks, so I broke it down and did 20 in between each exercise - which means I actually doubled the reps! I wasn't sure what exactly the lunge split jumps were and didn't want to break stride to google, so I did 20 walking lunges instead. Also, I did modified pushups instead of wall pushups.
Successes/Celebrations: I pushed myself to do this workout fast and hard without doing the exercises sloppily. I got out 15 (modified) pushups before I had to take a little breather, but they were all  in good form.

Saturday's Workout (Day 1)

I just finished my first workout. Yay me! Even though I have been pretty sedentary for the past 10ish months, I found most of it fairly easy. There wasn't much to it, but it's a good starting point, I think. Next week I might have to go through the exercises twice to step it up a bit.
Modifications/Changes: Instead of 1 minute downward dog, I did a plank. And I wasn't quite able to do the jack knife situps, so I replaced with regular situps and doubled the reps.
Success/Celebrations: I have 3 today! (1) I bought XL sweats because that's what fit best pre-pregnancy... and they were a bit too big! They are STILL a bit too big even after washing/drying them too. (2) After having S I was worried my ab muscles might have separated a bit and/or lost strength, but I was able to rock out the russian twists and situps without too much of a problem! (3) Baby S (aka, ScreamyFace) hung out in his swing watching and/or sleeping the entire time I worked out. YAY!

Are you following along with the daily #livingroomworkout on twitter? Join us for a cyber workout buddy, encouragement, and accountability. C'monnnnn. Follow me on twitter @jiggleymommy!

Park Workout

So what do you do if you have kids that need to run and jump and get dirty, but you need to get your workout in? Well you could go to JDFT (have I mentioned that childcare is included in all the family memberships and kids are welcome there anytime?!) OR you could meet up at the park and bang out a couple of reps for the world to see. We had a little park playdate/workout today and it's amazing that you don't see mom's getting sweaty at the park more often - all the equipment you could need is right there and your kids are happier than a pig in sh-poop to play.
Our workout today was heavy on the Butt Buster, which burns so nicely. 12-15 reps, 3-4 sets of each

 Butt Buster: Put one leg up (behind you) and get into lunge position. Lunge as low as you can. To make this one extra burny you can jump your lunges.  We did this one every other exercise.

Pull-Ups: using your arms and chest pull your body weight up.   We lucked out with this parks set up, but you can do a similar exercise on a high bar (chin ups) or even lower bars (lay under and pull your upper body up off the ground)

Tri-Dips: Using your upper arms (bending your elbows) slowly lower yourself and lift yourself back up. We made it harder for ourselves by putting our legs up (using more body weight), but you can do it with your feel flat on the ground to make it a bit easier.

Prisoner Squat with 2 Elbow to Knee: Squat with your hands behind your head, when you come back up quickly bring your right elbow and left knee together twice. Squat again, this time on the way back up bring your left elbow to your right knee twice. Always keep your hands behind your head.

I didn't grab any pictures of it, but we also did GIANT box step ups - find a platform to step up and down from - the higher the box/step/platform the better. The one we used, luckily, had handles to help out, but the platform came to about my waist.

Stay tuned, these park workouts might become a regular thing and I really enjoy getting inventive with what exercises work well at the playground (and my kid loves the park lol)