Life After I "Dew"

So remember when I posted my 30 Day/300 Ab Challenge results and was like "yep, I'm sold, I'm going to keep this up!"?  Then remember how I didn't post anymore about it? Yeah that's because I was a big fat liar.

Just like I did with the logging of calories on MyFitnessPal, once I hit my goal I just expected my body would stay there, I guess.  Clearly I've learned nothing during this weight loss struggle. 

So while I didn't completely give up doing the challenge I wasn't doing it religiously like I had been.  Same with counting calories. I would do it one day, not do it all weekend, kinda sorta log my calories but then see I was going over so quit for the day.  Yeah, like that.

Truth be told. Since I hit my goal weight, last September, I've gained 15 pounds.  I can't help but be embarrassed as I type that.  But, in true L.A.I.D. fashion, I like to keep it real.  When I think about that I can't help but wonder what my results would have looked like if I wouldn't have packed on the pounds.  

I have always been they type to lose in the winter, gain in the summer, completely opposite of how it should be.  I blame the delicious cook outs, iced cold brews, and too many fun activities to work out. Pathetic, I know, but it's the truth.  

I haven't felt comfortable in my skin in a few weeks now.  I've noticed things fitting a bit tighter, not looking as cute, just kinda blah.  I've also been rocking the tankini again.  I wore my bikini like twice and then I started feeling really self conscious so I went and bought a really cute {and flattering} tankini and I've been rocking it ever since.  Lame.  My skin also doesn't look so hot .  I blame that on the lack of water I've been drinking.  Must drink more water.

But we go to the beach in less than a month.  I am determined to be the hottest I've been by then.  My brother-in-law has challenged our whole family to get into the best beach body possible, the winner gets pampered by all on day 1 of vacation.  You know what that means for me?  I get childcare the first day of vacation.  If that's not motivation to get my ass up and the lbs down, I don't know what is.  Seriously.  I'm also thinking that I should pull some Mariah Carey shit and demand only blue M&Ms and only red Skittles.  Why not?

So with the push of my family competition and with the help of my Vi-Shakes, I am down 3lbs this week, already!  I officially started doing the ab challenge again too and I can only imagine the results I'll get when combining it with calorie counting.  I'm actually really excited.   

I kinda like life without cable.  OK limited cable.  We have basic and a few extra channels {Style, TLC & MTV2} so basically there is nothing on TV, ever. I mean if it's not on Bravo! I don't watch it so, yeah, I"m not watching much of anything these days and it's kinda nice.  Also Big Brother starts today and OMG am I excited!  Thank God my downgraded service lets me keep the DVR.

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I sent out Kendall's birthday invitations yesterday. I cannot believe my baby girl is going to be two-years-old!  Didn't I just plan her 1st birthday?  I mean, seriously?  How does this happen? Although I'm so excited for her party, she's going to freak when she sees all the Doe-rah.  EEK!  So excited.

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Notice how I haven't done another link up for the 30 day/300 ab challenge?  Well that's because I've been a slacker.  I've still been doing it, just not religiously like before, and it definitely shows.  I'm embarrassed.  I know a lot of girls have just started and are seeing great results already and now they are motivating me.  So maybe we'll have a link up soon.  Maybe.

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Speaking of fitness, we have The Color Run in two weeks.  I was so super pumped when we signed up, then I got kinda blah about it, but now that I'm starting to see the pics from other cities I'm getting pumped again.  I know I won't be able to run the entire time, especially if this heat keeps up, but I know it will be a good time and I'll be with good people.  What more could you want?!

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I need a new book to read.  This year I've already read more books than the previous 2 years combined so I'm on a streak and I want to keep going.  I've read Bloom and the 50 Shades trilogy so try something else.  I don't do Nicholas Sparks books so don't even go there.  Oh and if you even mention Hunger Games, I'll cut you.  I hated Twilight and Harry Potter was OK for one book, if that gives you any idea where I'm going with this.  I thought about reading Room but fear that it's going to be too much for my mom heart to handle.  Help!

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Jimmy and I signed up for Netflix.  Yeah welcome to the 21st century, right?  We don't agree on movies, ever, but we do agree on TV shows.  We just finished Sons of Anarchy {well caught up to current}, we're currently finishing up Entourage, and up next is Dexter. I really am glad we did this because it saves a lot of fights when it comes to "movie night".
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You know how I posted the picture of Kendall making the formations with her diapers the other day?  Well it's gotten more interesting from there.  She's been lining up EVERYTHING.  I posted more pictures on Instagram and I've gotten comments telling me that it's a sign that she's ready to read and that it could mean she's gifted.  I can't say I didn't burst with pride when I read those statements.  I guess only time will tell but in the mean time I'm enjoying seeing what she comes up with next.
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To say that I have felt the love from my readers in response to my results from the 30 Day/300 Ab Challenge would be an understatement.  From Twitter, to Facebook, to Pinterest, to the comments on this blog to personal emails, you guys have shown me the love and for that I want to say THANK YOU!  Seriously.  You rock my socks.  Hard.
As promised, Jimmy has been on board the 300 train too.  He's skipped days here and there but in his defense he does work a physically challenging job 5 days a week, so we'll cut him some slack.  He usually gets up in the morning, before work, around 5 and just cranks it out.  If he doesn't then he'll usually come home from work and do it really quick or at night when we're watching Cougar Town.  He's seen results and each week he says how he feels better, not only because he looks better but because he's feeling stronger too.  Need more proof?
Yep, that's my man.  I mean I think he looked great before but the after is even hotter. Ow! Ow!
Many of you said that you were up for the challenge too!  Yay you!  The first step is getting started.  The hardest step is getting through days 1-4.  The best part is seeing the results in such a short period of time, talk about motivation!
With that being said, I want to see your results! I want to hear how you were cursing me {and this challenge} on day 3.  I want to read about when you found the time to squeeze it into your day {it's only 15 minutes after all}.
My goal is that those of us that are doing this can share our success stories and motivate others to get off the couch and join in.  Not only do I want to inspire people to get fit but I want to prove that it is possible for anyone.  If you want it, you can get it.  Like I said, this routine takes about 15 minutes {20 tops} and everyone, yes everyone, has 15 minutes to do this for themselves {if they want to}.
I'm hoping that people are brave enough to post their results, whether on day 1 or 15 or 30 or even 60.  Trust me, I know it's hard to put yourself out there like this, for the world to judge, it is.  But the reward is so worth it.  I'm not talking about the, "holy shit!  you look amazing!" comments {although those are so so nice} I'm talking about the, "thank you for posting this, I didn't think I'd make it past day 2 but I did and feel GREAT!" comments.  Those make my heart happy.  To see that I got someone motivated enough to do something about their fitness, gosh it's enough to make me tear up.  No, really.  I've never been one to see myself as a influencer of any sorts.  I've always been an on-the-sideline kinda girl and so when I hear that you saw my journey/results/story and it inspired you, well that makes posting my flab all over the world wide web totally worthwhile.
I'm thinking that this may wind up being a new page in the title bar on this here blog, for ease of tracking/finding/linking up purposes.  I'm not sure yet, you tell me!
So let's hear it! What has been the hardest part thus far? What day are you on?  Is your significant other doing it with you too?  When do you find the time to do it?  Have you seen results yet?

It's the moment you've all been waiting for, or so I like to tell myself.  The results of the 300/30 Day Ab Challenge are in. Technically the 30 days were up on Tuesday but my poison ivy was still a hot mess so I didn't want to scare anyone.

I still have that little pouch-y-looks-like-I'm-2-months-pregnant belly but it is tighter and firmer.  The other thing I have to keep in mind is that this has just been over 30 days and these are sit-ups, not miracle workers or liposuction.  Hopefully when I come back for a 60 day update it'll be much flatter and far less pouch-y.
Like I said in the halfway update, the first 4 days were the worst.  I was sore, I didn't want to do it, I could barely finish the roll-up, v-ups, but I just kept telling myself, "no pain, no gain".  After day 4 I didn't hurt anymore and the moves got easier.  I can now blow through all the moves in probably 10 minutes and never feel sore the next day {which actually bums me out because I feel like it's not working unless there's pain involved}.
And further proof that this is working?  I took a picture when I got my bathing suit {April 10} thinking, "meh, I don't look too shabby" but now?  It's a whole new ball game.
And on that note, me and Kendall Paige are off to the pool for the first time this summer!

Today marks day 15 of the 30 day, 300 Ab Challenge. 

I blogged about it a couple Fridays ago.  I was only 3 days into it the last time I updated and I was seeing results that quickly.  Now we {I say "we" because Jimmy is doing it too} are halfway through the challenge and I wanted to give an update.  Actually, I'm still not sure where the whole 30 days thing came in b/c it never says that on the other site, but whatever.

We have been doing it EVERY day for 15 days. Well Jimmy missed one or two days because of school and he dug us a patio {we'll let that be his workout for that day}.  I haven't missed any days though, toot toot!  Even the day we went out on an impromptu date night we got on the ground and did our workout before we left!  It's THAT easy. We have all the moves memorized now so we don't have to spend time looking them up and all that nonsense.  We have it down to about 15 minutes and we usually do it in the evenings when we're catching up on The Voice or Cougar Town, easy peasy.

I took pics last week, after just 7 days and I hesitantly posted them to Instagram.  The feedback I got was so amazing and encouraging that I told myself on day 15 I'd bite the bullet and post the pics on this here blog.   

So here I am after just 7 days.

I can definitely tell the biggest difference in the forward facing photos. My belly button still looks wonky but I just blame that on Kendall.  I can definitely see that the lower portion is less blubbery the pouch is starting to get smaller.  The side view, I kinda sorta think the before looks better/flatter.  But whatever, we'll go with it.

I should also note that these exercises work your thighs too!  The first two days that we did these workouts we.were.dying. from soreness. I felt it in my thighs and back the most but I didn't let that stop me from getting on the ground and doing it again the next day and every day thereafter.

It has gotten easier!  To be a fly on the wall on day 1 would have been comical! We both struggled through the entire thing.  Oh and Roll-Up, V-Ups were the devil.  I actually had to Google a video on them because I was certain I was doing them wrong.  Well, turns out I was doing them right just wasn't strong enough in the core to do them properly or more than one in a row.  Those are still the worst of the bunch but they have gotten better.  Oh and the Kayaks?  I used to be able to do maybe 20 in a row before I needed a break, now I can do all 50 without stopping!  YEAH!

15 Days, halfway there.

Changes are happening people! I didn't think so yesterday but when I woke up this morning I could see it.  That pouch is slowly getting smaller and my belly button is beginning to look someone normal again!  I definitely feel like there are less "ripples" in my lower tummy, you can see them really good in the front view on day one, woof!
I am so pleased with the results I'm seeing so far that I'm thinking instead of just a 30 day challenge we move it to a 60, 90 or hell, just- keep- doing- it- because- it's- obviously- working- challenge!  I have done lots of ab workouts, home videos and machines at the gym and I've never seen results as quickly as I have with this program.  And now that we've got it down to a science we can kick it out in less than 15 minutes.  Sure it's a brutal 15 minutes but it's paying off and that helps push through the pain.
No pain, no gain, right?