Fit2BMom Monday - Weeks 10 & 11

Happy Cinco De Mayo Readers! 
This week I am thrilled to announce I am down another 3lbs!  I can hardly believe it.  Although I am still working on that baby belly gut I am feeling and looking great.
These last two weeks have been filled with lots of great Fit2BMom activities, recipes and changes!  One of my biggest changes is the challenge to complete a #whole30 eating program during the month of May. I am in the last weeks of the MyFitnessPal Challenge, that you can read about back here, and decided I needed to take some extreme measures to get to my end goal by June 1st. Have you heard about Whole30? It seems like it's the big diet craze here in Utah. I have read some people losing up to 15lbs in the 30 days but what sparked my interest was so many Whole30 participants size changes!  These ladies were looking great after 30 days!  One incredible example of a successful Whole30 is my sweet friend Ashley. I have been following her amazing progress, recipes and tips on her Instagram Account. You should follow her to HERE. This morning Ashley was featured on Good Morning America! 

She is truly the poster woman of a busy mother trying to eat healthy and stay in shape for herself and her three young boys!  Thanks Ashley for sharing your journey and for all the great recipes... and for being so Awesome!  Read all about Whole30 Here.
Here's what this fit mama has been up to the last two weeks. Fit2BMom Monday Weeks 10 & 11.

Workout:

-Continuing to walk like crazy, especially with the help of my new job. 

Some days I walk for almost four hours!

That burns almost 800 calories.

-I still love my 30 minute 50/50 Circuit (Cardio & Strength) every couple of days.

-Last week I tried out Zumba for the first time at my community center and it KICKED my butt.

My cute friend Callie taught the class and she was awesome.

The energy is so fun that you almost forget you are working out.

I was really surprised at how the dancing kept my heart rate up for the whole hour. 

I also loved how I learned a few new dance moves! 

Activities with my kids:

Hunter & I are so excited that it's getting warmer and have been spending lots of time outside.

He loves riding his bike, jumping on the trampoline, playing at the park and visiting the animals at Thanksgiving Pt.

It's so nice to see Hunter enjoying the outside.

I have such a fear that my kids will be taken in by all of the distractions of modern technology that they won't want to play outside when they get older, so I am so excited that Hunter shows interest in playing outside now and I hope I can keep that excitement alive as he gets older.

Do you remember playing hopscotch or riding your bike or playing hide and seek with the neighborhood kids late into the night?

Those were the days of outside activities! 

Healthy Foods:

This Whole30 thing has been a struggle for me.

(Yes, I know it's only been 5 days) 

No Dairy, No Soy, No Grains and No Sugar.

On day two I actually almost fainted because my sugar levels were so low.

Luckily I have been able to find some awesome Whole30 approved recipes. 

One of my favorite places to get recipes for Whole30, besides from Ashley, is from #jennawholerecipes on Instagram. 

Check out the great Whole30 recipes she's creating and feeding her family.

Here are some of the few we've tried in our home the last 5 days.

(Most of these recipes you can find on Instagram at Jennas Kitchen or #jennawholerecipe)

*Disclaimer*

Since my son is still so young, I have chosen not to put him on this strict eating schedule I have for myself. 

He needs his milk, applesauce, cheese and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches.

However, it has been fun to see him try the things that I cook for my husband and myself and most of it he actually likes.

He is also snacking on fruits and veggies more then his usual teddy grahams and goldfish. 

Now off to the Kitchen to figure out how we are gonna celebrate this fabulous FOODIE holiday Whole30 style!! 

What Cinco De Mayo food are you making this year?

Fit2BMom Monday - Week #7 Wishlist

I can't believe I am already 7 weeks into this journey and continuing faithfully to work hard for the body of my dreams.  Big News this week for my followers. I hit my first post baby body goal!  My first goal was to get down to 140lbs by March 31st and I did it. Barely. I felt I struggled to drop the weight as quickly as I was hoping and had to work really hard down to the last day to reach that goal. I really thought that a 30 minute a day workout, no soda, no sweets and eating healthier would show immediate results, but I just didn't see the pounds falling off! For my next goal, 135lbs by June 1st, I know I am really going to have to step up my physical activity and find new workout routines.
As I hit my goals I have decided to reward myself with some workout goodies and I have a pretty little fitness essential wish list going that I am going to start checking off. 

BottleBand / Nike Running Shoes / Polar Watch
Pure Trampoline / Albion Fit Sports Bra /Albion Fit Sweater 

What Fitness Essentials are a must have for you? Are you still following along?
Happy Monday Readers.

Fit2BMom Update.

I am home and have lots to catch up on. First things first though. I have totally SLACKED on FIT2BMOM Mondays the last two weeks. I feel like I have let all my readers down with the weekly update. Two Mondays ago I was driving 12 hours from Utah to California and yesterday was my first day home after a week of vacation and I was running around washing laundry, grocery shopping and getting my house back in order.  I did however, stay 100% true to my fitness plan the last two weeks. I was so impressed of my self control while in California. I didn't cheat ONCE with soda or sweets and kept on my exercise and water goals. Huge accomplishment since vacations are ALWAYS when you want to eat all the delicious foods and lay around and be lazy. Especially since California is home to many of my favorite places to eat! 
Here's how I stayed FIT in California During Week 5 Fit2BMom Mondays (Coming to you on Tuesday) Weeks 5 & 6
Workout:  -LOTS of walking. The MyFitnessPal Challenge requires at least 30 minutes of exercise a day and even though I logged 15-30 minutes a day while I was home in California, I am sure I did HOURS of walking throughout the whole week. It was easy since I had been in a car for 12 hours and knew I was going to be in the car for ANOTHER 12 hours a week later.   -50/50 Circuit (Cardio & Strength) -Stretching
Activities w/My Kids: Hunters FAVORITE thing in the whole world is a Park. He is so obsessed with the slides and swings. We were lucky enough to find a park on our 12 hour drive that Hunter played on, poor guy was getting a little stir crazy, and also a park while to play at while on vacation. This little guy literally RUNS in circles up the steps and down the slide.

Parks are definitely our favorite kid activity! 
Healthy Foods: I will admit that I didn't get a chance to make any new meals this week and I did eat out more then usual but I was very grateful that the MyFitnessPal App allowed me to count my calories of everything I ate and I was able to stay under my caloric intake the entire week. Excited for a new week and to try some new recipes.
Daily Goals: -At TWO weeks of NO SODA and NO SWEETS. -Drank 80 oz of water.
Fun Fact: It is estimated that only 22% of American adults participate in regular, sustained physical activity for at least 30 minutes 5 times a week.
Workout Song of The Day: "My Humps" The Black Eyed Peas. 

Fit2BMom Monday - Week #4

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Today marks ONE Month since I started my Fit2BMom journey and I am so excited with the results I have seen!  In just 4 short weeks I have lost weight, noticed I have more strength and energy during they day and feel much "better" in general all around. Today also marks the 1st day of the MyFitnessPal Challenge. I, along with 20+ other women, are participating in a challenge using the MyFitnessPal App. I have been using it for a week already and am totally in love with how it works.  I love that it tells me what my daily caloric intake needs to be in order to hit my weight loss goals.  I can track my food calories and also track how many calories I lost based on the different activities I have done. So far it's been a great app and I feel like it will bring me more success in this journey! The MyFitnessPal Challenge runs through June 1st and the winner, based off a point system, take home a grand CASH prize.  A little extra motivation! 
My personal goal is to hit 130lbs by the end of the challenge. Totally Got This! 
Fit2BMom Monday - Week #4

Workout:  -15 Minutes of the 50/50 Circuit (Cardio & Strength) -10 Minutes Stairs

-30 minutes P90X Yoga
Healthy Activity With (For) My kids:

Today at the Library they had reading time.  Luckily for us, since the weather was so crappy today, they had singing/dancing time along with the stories. Hunter got in a good 10 minutes of solid shaking and moving!  He LOVED it. Thanks Story Time! 
Healthy Dinner:

Tonight I made a Whole Wheat Ground Turkey lasagna!  The recipe calls for beef but I switched that up and also added a layer of Spinach between each layer of lasagna!  I am not a big lasagna fan but this was actually pretty good! 
Daily Goals Met: -Drank 92oz of water. -Did Yoga for the 1st time. -Came in WAY UNDER my daily calorie goal. -Day 1 of NO SODA success. (That's right, I have sworn off Soda...at least through the MFP Challenge)
Fun Fact: Exercising releases endorphins and makes you feel happier! 
Workout Song of the Day:

 Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz - "Get Low"

(Also a FLASHBACK song!)

Check back in next week for another Fit2BMom Spotlight! 

Fit 2 B Mom Monday - Week #3

3 weeks down!  Time flies when your trying to get fit. Things have been going great as I continue to work hard to lose this baby weight and get in shape.  This week I am starting back up with running.  I wanted to get myself used to working out again before I threw myself into running miles in this chilly, dry Utah air. I have always loved to run. I played soccer for 14 years which required lots of running (obviously). There is just something so therapeutic about putting in your headphones, drowning out the world and following the pavement.  I LOVE it. I definitely have more energy and feel like I am getting stronger but not quiet sure I am dropping the weight as quickly as I want. I have changed my eating habits and been exercising more then I have in a long time, but I haven't completely cut out date nights with the hubby or that one cheat day of Dr. Pepper (since my mother of two under two patience needs a reboot every week) so I am thinking a re-evaluation on how to drop the pounds by the end of the month is much needed.  Maybe I will need to give it all up. I'll be anxious to see what I can do in these next 20 days to make sure I hit my first weight goal. Any suggestions as to what has worked for you for quick weight loss? I'd love to hear your ideas! 
This week I am excited to feature our first Fit2BMom. Readers, Meet Carly. We were next door neighbors when Kevin & I first got married and we instantly became friends. She had her second son last fall, and has been working on staying in shape for her two boys!  Here is her story! ----------------

Hi I'm Carly!! I'm a housewife, a Beachbody coach, and a mother of two amazing little boys! 

My kids are only 16 months apart.. I love it but it was not 'supposed' to happen that way :) After I had my first, Luke, in June of 2012 a I really wasn't motivated to work out so I kept putting it off thinking 'oh I'll get around to it'.  Then all of a sudden 7 months went by and I found out I was pregnant again!!  Our little Soren was born in October of last year!  So 2 kiddos in 16 months kinda takes a toll, and my second pregnancy was a lot harder on me than my first.  I know that part of it was the fact that I was insanely out of shape, and I gained 10 more lbs than with my first!!  

Now I was a college athlete, I played volleyball at a D1 school for four years.  And I played sports pretty much from age 4 till I graduated from college.  So needless to say I was always in pretty good shape.  So finding myself with two kids and realizing that I hadn't really worked for a good two years was hard for me to swallow, but even harder for me to see!!  And I knew that I needed to get my behind in gear!  

Luckily during my pregnancy with Soren I started to get the urge to start working out, that never happened with Lukes!  I had some friends, one who is a Beachbody coach, that were posting really motivational things on Facebook and Instagram and that really inspired me to get my act together! I appreciate them so much, and have told them so since then! 

The first day I started my workout was HARD! I barley did anything and it was so difficult!  To be honest I felt so pathetic and was so embarrassed that my husband was witnessing my patheticness..!!  He didn't care at all but I had never struggled that way before and it was frustrating!  After doing lunges, squats, some abs, and few other things I was so sore the next day!  Like how I felt after my first day of college practice, weights and conditioning!  But the sad thing is is that what I did this time was NOTHING near that first day in college.  And I honestly didn't want to do anything ever again!  But my husband was really supportive and kept me going.. well he made me workout the next day.  I am so grateful he did!!  

It was really hard but I'm now on week 6 of working out typically 6 days a week and eating a lot healthier than I did at the end of my pregnancy.. I kind of just accepted the fact that I was going to gain more weight with my second pregnancy so I wasn't as careful with how I ate.  

Something else that really helped was a woman from my stake for church got a healthy living challenge started.  I jumped at the chance to be a part of a group and be held accountable by weighing in and keeping track of the things that I ate more carefully.  We have always eaten pretty healthy but this has really helped me kick eating sweets!  I loved motivating my partner and seeing people make changes through this group.  And so from that group I decided to become a Beachbody coach and to keep inspiring people to live a healthier life style, and get in the best shape of their lives!   

I'm still on my weight loss journey, and getting toned.  And I'm loving the changes that I've seen already!! But more importantly than my own health and getting in shape, I'm excited for how this is going to affect my family. Starting to make healthier eating decisions have already helped my children, and it will continue to do so!  The decisions that I've made in the last few weeks are not only helping me, but its helping to keep my family healthy, and set the tone for the rest of their lives. And for me, knowing that is so priceless!! 

Here is Carly 12 weeks after her son Soren was born.

This is her AMAZING progress just 4 weeks later! 

Isn't Carly looking great? I love how her healthy decisions are keeping her young family healthy!  You are such an inspiration lady!  Thanks for sharing your story with our FordOlogy Readers.
Hope you enjoyed our first Fit2BMom Feature and can see that there are women just like you trying to overcome their own weight loss trials and working hard to reach their goals! 
Happy Monday Readers! 

Fit2BMom Monday - Week 2

One week down and it's been a wonderful start to this journey!  I am loving how great I have been feeling. I love how much energy I have and how I can feel my strength already improving. I have my 6 week postpartum checkup on the 13th of this month and I will be interested for my weight check. With my healthier eating habits, water intake and active workout routines I am hoping for some results.  I am loving all of the fitness and healthy habits trending on Instagram right now.  I have seen so many friends working on being healthier and I have jumped on a few weekly challenges to keep me on my toes.  Have you joined the healthy habits party yet? Don't miss out and follow along at #fit2bmom

Fit2BMom Monday - Week #2. Here's what I did today.

Workout: -Afternoon neighborhood walk with Hunter & Hayden -15 minute dance party with Hunter & Dad for FHE (We were really working it to that techno music. Got our heart rates up for sure) -20 minutes of P90X Leg workout with Kevin -1 round (10minutes) of the 50/50 Circuit (Cardio & Strength) -Day 8 of 30 Day Plank Challenge

Healthy Activity With My Kids: This last week I have been trying to get Hunter up and out of the living room (I am so guilty of letting him watch WAY TOO much MickeyMouse ClubHouse since Hayden was born)  We are taking daily walks, when the weather is nice enough, and trying to find activities inside like dance parties.  Hunter loves dancing and if I do say so, he is the cutest little dancer ever! 
Healthy Dinner: Tonight I made this yummy Chicken Alfredo w/Penne recipe I found on Pinterest. Of course we all scarfed it down before I had a chance to take a picture. (Don't let the ingredients fool you.. It's SUPS delicious) I substituted Whole Wheat Penne Noodles and seasoned my chicken with Garlic Powder and Pepper while I cooked it. Try this out!  And if you have been following along on Instagram you saw these substitute cookies I made.

I found the recipe on Pinterest here and am kind of addicted now. Last night I made them again and added some Chocolate Protein Powder. Perfect GUILT FREE cure for my sweet tooth. Enjoy! 
Daily Goals Met: I drank 90oz of water. I tried a new workout.
Fun Fact: During your lifetime, you'll eat about 60,000 pounds of food — that's the weight of about 6 elephants. (Crazy!!!)

WorkOut Song of the Day: Let It Go - Frozen Soundtrack


+Check back in next week for our first Fit2BMom guest post feature+

Operation Hot Mom

Yesterday marked DAY 1 of Operation Hot Mom, my 30 day challenge to get my body back in shape after baby.

It's been 4 weeks, and I figured that is long enough for me to "recover".

During the last 4 weeks, with no physical activity, I made it almost back to my post baby weight (4lbs over)

My goal for the first 30 days is to hit a specific weight and body fat percentage. 

I have mapped out an exact workout plan for each day and will track and watch my food intake. 

I am hoping that I can hit these goals and that after the 30 days I can continue to work on my health and stay in shape.

It has always been important to me to make sure I am healthy and in shape so I can have energy to keep up with my children and every day life.

I also want to make sure my husband still finds me SEXY.

I am very excited for the next 30 days to see my progress.

Here I am, 4 weeks POST baby, Day 1 of 30 day challenge. 

This is PURE motivation. Yuck. Get rid of that Gut.

 What tips do you readers have on eating healthy? Meal ideas, snack ideas?? I have a "plan" in place but always interested to hear what has worked for others.

(Especially for yummy healthy meals. I LOVE a good meal)

Wish me Luck everyone.

Watch for weekly updates on my progress and more. 

Also Enjoy Some picture of the week :)