The Dirty South

I could not believe how dirty I got at boot camp today.  We did a 45 minute intense interval workout that resulted in the following picture.  I was covered in dirt.  At one point during the workout sweat was dripping into my eyes and I could not wipe my face because I could not find one clean section on my hands or shirt.  

I LOVE BOOT CAMP!!! I LOVE BOOT CAMP!

Missed Boot Camp

I missed boot camp today - Was not feeling well when I woke up. I am bummed because today was the long run and I was really looking forward to seeing how I responded to running a 5k. It is crazy to me that I wanted to actually run a 5k. In the past I would dread the thought of running for 45 minutes straight.

So I am going to go to the studio tonight to attend an interval class. I will be back at boot camp bright and early tomorrow morning.

4th week of Boot Camp

Monday is always the hardest day of boot camp.  After 2 days of not getting up at the crack of dawn my alarm is never welcomed with a  a warm good morning when it goes off.  Today we did the Tour of hills at boot camp.  It was very hot and humid and about 10 minutes into the workout I felt myself struggling to push past my comfort zone.  I so wanted to walk, to catch my breath, but somehow I kept going. 

Doing boot camp has been so good for me during the emotional roller coaster of adding another baby into our family.  The adjustment has been harder than I thought it would be.  Gigi has reflux and has quite a few fussy times in the day.  Our first baby was so easy - so this has been a big change.  Being able to go and exercise first thing in the morning has been so good for me.  I find that when I am feeling good about myself and making healthy decisions about what I eat and how I spend my time it directly reflects in how I parent our kids.  

I'm a little nervous about the long run that I know is coming this week and the mile run on Friday... hoping my time improves again.

Leadership Lessons

Yesterday was quite a workout... It's 24 hours later and I am still recovering. We ran around a perimeter of cones the entire workout and each time Mari blew the whistle we were instructed to either sprint or perform a certain exercise. I'm not sure how many times I made it around the circle but I will say the last few times around I wasn't sure I was going to make it... but somehow I did. One of the main things that kept me going was the amazing boot camp instructors. I am blown away by their support, encouragement, and belief in me. They know every boot camper by name and I honestly believe they want me to succeed.

One of the things that I love most about boot camp is not just how I am changing my life when it comes to exercise and eating but how I am growing as a leader. I love to watch Mari lead her team of instructors and each of the boot campers. She is an absolutely dynamic leader. She does not stand on an elevated platform barking out commands - she gets right in with her instructors and campers and leads us by example. She is constantly inspiring, she makes people believe in themselves and their hidden potential, she is relentless with helping each of us reach our goals, I see her pushing herself and when I watch her I know that she is doing what she was born to do... she leads with passion and conviction.

As a leader in a very different line of work I have been challenged by Mari to lead others with that same kind of vigor and tenacity. To make sure that the people that look to me for direction and leadership know that I am with them and for them and that I want them to flourish. Thanks Mari for how you inspire me as a leader.

Making Progress

On Monday we had our midway mile run.  When I started 2 weeks ago I was at 14:57.  When I ran the mile on Monday I was still just as tired but I completed it in 13:37.  It felt so good to shave over a minute off of my time.  I still have a long way to go but it is so rewarding to see little victories.  Its crazy to me that as I am changing so is our little girl.  She was 11 weeks old on Monday  and she is getting so big.  In fact she just rolled over for the first time.  

No more burgers for me.

My family is in town for the weekend and one of the things we love to do as a family is eat.  So tonight we had a huge BBQ and I am so proud of myself... I had a turkey burger, on a healthy wheat bun and watermelon and I felt fine.  Don't get me wrong... passing the seasoned french fries, buttery corn on the cob, and brownies to the person sitting next to me was not easy but I feel so satisfied that I let the food pass.  Changing my eating habits is going to be a huge shift for me.  I not only need to loose the weight that I gained during my pregnancy - but I need to develop better eating patterns for my life.   I am working hard to count my calories daily and record my protein and fiber.  I need to normally have around 1200 calories for the weight loss but because I am breast feeding I also need to consume and extra 600 calories a day... So this next week I will record a couple of my daily food journals.  

Fire Hydrants Galore

Today was the Killer Fire Hydrant workout.  Oh my gosh - I can't believe how sore I am tonight.  After literally hundreds of fire hydrants and donkey kicks I am not sure when I will be able to walk up my stairs with out being in pain.  It was a great work out and even though I am sore and tired - I am feeling good.  It is amazing to me that after 3 days of boot camp I can already tell there is a shift in my attitude.  I have such a better perspective about myself and about life when I am taking the time each day to work out, eat right, and get enough sleep (which I am still not doing).

Doing boot camp with a 2 1/2 year old and a brand new 2 month old baby has been a juggling act.  My husband Jarrett (who has also survived boot camp) has been Amazing!  He is up with the baby when I leave in the morning and getting our little guy breakfast when I come home from boot camp.

Tomorrow is an off day from Boot Camp but I am headed to the studio for an interval workout at 6am.  A dry mat will be nice since the fields have been wet and the air is humid and filled with bugs.

2nd day of bootcamp

I made it through the second day of boot camp.  When I walked in the door my 2 1/2 year old commented on how messy I was.  He asked if I spent the morning rolling around in the mud? 

Starting out with 45 push-ups, being out of breath after the warm up, running up dew covered hills - forwards and backwards, sweat dripping into my eyes, these are a few of my favorite moments from my second day back... 

On another note I am drinking so much water I feel like I'm pregnant again - Feeling like I need to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes

The soreness is kicking in and my normal activities of walking up and down the stairs and lifting a 2 month old baby are much harder today than they were on Sunday... BUT I'm glad they are hard because it reminds me that I am doing something that will make a huge difference.  

I can do this, I CAN DO THIS!

First Day Back to Boot Camp

Today was the first day back at boot camp. Standing around the dark parking lot waiting for the baseline test to begin was both nerve racking and exciting. My heart was pounding thinking about that mile run... going up that hill twice - YIKES! I haven't run since I was about 3 months pregnant. I am so ready to get back in shape. As I was rounding that last corner I felt my energy kick in and my excitement was rising knowing that I was almost done.

Here are my times and my goals.

Mile Run 14:57

1 Minute sit-ups 26

1 Minute push-ups 47 (half facilitated)

I am strangely excited about tomorrow morning... I am determined and committed to the eating plan and to being at blackburn every morning by 5:45am.

Till tomorrow.

Jeanne

Twas the night before Boot Camp

Twas the night before boot camp and I am so nervous. I'm not nervous because I don't know what to expect - actually I know exactly what is coming. The alarm going off at 5am, the thought of hitting snooze, walking through a quiet house hoping not to wake anyone, pulling up to blackurn,