Getting in shape

It's past eleven on a Sunday night and I'm still working away!  Hopefully, I'll be able to get some things done tomorrow and post some pictures.

Anyway, I thought that since I haven't got pictures ready from our week out and about, I'll post on this.

It is my goal to be physically fit before or rather should God bless us with another baby.  Given my track record, we're looking at about six more months tops before then :)  Soooo, I'm on a deadline to lose baby weight from, oh, say, the past five pregnancies (I lost the baby weight from Zoe's pregnancy pretty quickly...having your gall bladder removed, via an emergency at four weeks post pardum will do that to you).  Actually, somebody (meaning the men) in our family (that would be Uncle B, Papa, and Mark) decided that it would be fun to see all of us bust a move (or break a bone) on some ski slopes this winter. 

And so, I would love to be out on the slopes (very briefly...it's cold out there folks...or at least I think it would be...I've never been skiing) and not huffing and puffing and bulging where there needs to be no budge.

Let's also tag on that Mark and I both feel a responsibility to God and our family to be good stewards and take care of our bodies by eating right (most of the time) and exercising.

Let's just be honest here...I've got about forty pounds to shed/musclize (yes, I made that word up) to be down not only to a good weight for my height but to also be healthy.  And, honestly, I started working out at about six weeks post pardum.

Mark and I started September using a DVD.  It's called 10 Minute Trainer, and it works great.  The goal is to not really use just one ten minute workout but to stack them together doing about three to four a day.  We've gotten up to doing two a day.  However, I started back this month going to the gym.  And with my gym workouts, I decided to use the First Day to 5K Podrunner Intervals.  Let me be the first to say, I do not enjoy running...nor breaking a sweat.  That is just what these DVDs and podcasts will do though.  And actually, I'm enjoying the Podrunner exercises.  They really are working.  I'm not really sure I'll actually run a real 5K race...but just knowing I could at the end of a few weeks, well, that's reward enough for me :)

So, the Podrunner Intervals is a podcast that is FREE!  That's right.  Free.  I've heard there is an app for your phone you can buy or a podcast that you can purchase.  But what I have is free.  The goal is interval training running and power walking for around 30 minutes (it gradually adds more minutes per week) for three times a week.  I'm on week 2.  I've heard some complaints about the lyrics being inappropriate but all I've ran into is "Play that funky beat.  Check this out."  and that's it...but then again, I'm only on week 2.  The music is hip hop/techno and not boring at all.  I really enjoy it and it keeps me focused on it.  Supposedly in about ten weeks, I'll be ready to run a 5K.  There are also podcasts for 8Ks and 10Ks and a Ziggurat (which sounds excruciating).  I'm not sure I'll have time to do the 8 or 10 Ks before we hit (and I do mean that literally) the slopes...but we'll see.

Here's my plan:
5K training on Mon, Wed, and Fri. 
10 Minute Trainer (mostly lower body/total body and abs...I'm getting cardio through the 5K and those videos provide enough cardio without having to throw it in...but I could if I wanted) on Tues, Thurs, and Sat.
Rest on Sunday

And the weather is pretty enough that I can take the kids for a mile or two walk around our neighborhood on those off-gym days or just to go walking with Mark after supper.

I'll try and remember to report back every month on my progress.  So far, I've lost five pounds.  Actually, I gained a couple of pounds on our vacation last week, but thanks to the kids (and Mark) sharing the stomach bug, I lost three in one day!  I can tell I'm actually getting in shape because I'm not huffing and puffing through some of the workout videos now.

Here's a couple of confessions:
First, I found 10 Minute Trainer while feeding Bryant in the middle of the night (people sell interesting stuff late at night...I believe Mark regrets cutting our cable off).
Secondly, I'm actually running on a treadmill, not fast, mind you, but I haven't fallen off yet.  Even I'm in shock that I'm running.  In place.  And not being chased one single bit.  My dad should be so proud!

So what do you do (if you do anything or are trying to do something) to get in to shape?