A year ago

                 My Story to Fitness

It will be a year exact on March 31,2013 that I moved to Florida. My hubby as you can tell in this picture is a little stressed out we haven't seen each other in a month before our move. He came down before us to get our house ready. Web chatting with him everyday was cute to see Christopher kiss the screen.

So much has changed in a year I don't know where to start. For one time away from your spouse can make you eat a lot more. My hubby gained 20 pounds in a month. I gained 10 pounds. I would post pictures of my hubby weight loss but he is a little shy when it comes to full body pictures besides he moves to much to get a good picture. I don't know why he is? He is  gorgeous naked. On the other hand I'm not shy at all I love my body even when I was pregnant with both kids. Even with as hairy as my belly was with Christopher I still loved the way I looked in the mirror. I don't think I have ever hated my body image to think about it. I sported a bikini outside almost everyday. I will have to find a picture Christopher is darker then everyone. The picture above I weigh 150 pounds.

I weigh 140 pounds in the last picture

                                                      My timeline for P90X
I'm not going to lie working out is hard work but it's all who you want to be in the first place. I found out the hard way when you don't workout like they show in P90X it's a good thing to take it easy. Nope, I went hardcore with this workout 7 days a weeks everyday by my first week I was in so much pain I thought I was going to die. I couldn't lift anything up let alone walk. It is better to go slow. I'm thankful my loving hubby help me get through that rough patch with encouragement and great back/shoulder massages. I wasn't as fit as I thought even if I did workout before this program and walked five miles daily. It did however get easier as the month went by. I made sure I had my share of water when working out and yes if you take on this program at times you will feel like you have to get sick. It's all normal I guess.  P90X takes you to a whole other level. I'm currently still working out with P90X on top of little programs here and there.Like hip hop abs and soulcycle.

I love this picture above I'm on the beach spending a lovely day with my family in September which is weird I'm still on Michigan time. I look amazing I really start to see a difference in my body that makes me want to work even harder on my health. I restarted juicing in September I did it back in high school only because my friend did it. Turned out I enjoyed it now that I started it up again it is not at all what I remember. It took some time to get used to it. I now love it again. I also get a kick out of having my boys and hubby try my new invention just to see their face. It's priceless to hear my little one say " Gross."

This picture was taken in December 2012 as you can see I'm growing an ego. By Christopher's second birthday I started working out with my hubby at the YMCA lifting weights. I now have muscles everywhere. I love it. My belly is taking a little longer to get my six pack but I have a pack of four. Just one complaint my abs some reason seem to bulge out with the muscles. I'm not sure if I like that. I want to be tone and flat but hey if those muscles get tighter I'm all for it. BRING IT!!
 I hate wearing jeans so I really need to find a good store that sells something else. They just don't fit me anymore no matter where I buy them from. I have to take my wedding ring in to get it sized because it keeps coming off. It's getting a little harder to workout because I'm sore all the time. I thought it would easier as I get stronger nope another myth. I love it I really do I have never felt more alive then I do now.

                     
                                          My daily workout routine goes something like this. 

Wake up at 4:00 am workout with P90X which is anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour long so I don't have to worry about the kids or hubby calling me for something. By 5 I start my squats 100 in a row each day I go up by 10, sit ups 339, push ups 25 I go up by 5 each day and I jump rope. By 5:30 am I'm doing yoga for 30 minutes then I take the time to just relax and stretch. In the evening I hit the gym and lift weights with my hubby. Somewhere in the afternoon I find the time to walk five a day with my boys. I stay as active as I can during the day with my boys and hubby. I always take Sunday off that is our Family Day.



I'm almost to my goal of 135 pounds that was my pre weight from my first son. As of yesterday I weigh 139 pounds. However with all the weight training I have been doing I think I may stay the same weight. If I do I still love my body. Why you may ask because I have taken much pride in the fitness of my body. It's my drug it's what keeps me going beside all the enjoyment I get out of being able to run around with my children. Is the best feeling in the world. Being able to just do anything without having to slow down is wonderful. I also love the fact it's not just about losing weight it's about getting fit with my family. I never say anything about weight in front of my boys. I don't want them to think skinny is a way a woman should be but healthy and fit is the way a person should be.

I'm a fitness freak I guess. I have taken out red meat, dairy and sugar out of my in take of food. I substitute with coconut milk and veggies are my best friend along with daily intake of 80 ounces of water a day.

                        Not bad  for a  30 year old mother of two. What's your fitness story?
                                                                Please share.

30 on 30 day 9

Lizard chasing  is apart of our daily activities. There are all shapes and sizes which are all Christopher's buddies. Along with his big brothers friends who adore him. Easter is right around the corner and I don't have a clue what we will be doing. My hubby thinks we should go to the beach which is always fun. Christopher and I started a seashell frame  this afternoon. I am also working on a jet pack for him I believe we are on day nine not to much to report.

Day 10

Justin is teaching me how to skateboard with his buddies. I'll let you know how it goes.

Day 11

We took turns racing. Later it was playing cars with Christopher.

Day 12

It was a day full of video games. Of course my nine year old won. I'm not a gamer.

Day 13

Playing sports with my kids may kick your butt at the end of the day but it's a lot of fun.

House madness

I'm sitting outside getting my tan on. Watching my son play with the neighborhood  kids. Christopher is taking a nap in the stroller after our  four mile walk.
Yesterday we played with bubbles again. They seem to be a big hit in my house. I helped my hubby clean the garage. It's amazing what you can find packed away.

 Now we will set up for a garage sale for next week. I really don't have a need for a crib,car seat and play pen miscellaneous  baby stuff.  I was so excited to get mail but not what I thought mail from Marine Headquarters is not what I expected.
 My hubby has some phones calls to make in the morning.( Update Monday 3/18/13 on those phones calls seems to be what I expected. He is not retired anymore he is on active duty now. I think I will get sick now.) I may be having a heart attack for nothing. My handyman at work on our ceiling fan. We washed our car. Took a walk with Christopher in his hot rod. Took a nap, fix little things around the house, washed clothes, made dinner and watch the UFC fight with my hubby. This is the life I mean its nice to have a house again that we can make our home like back home. It has a lot of potential. How was your weekend?

105 years old

http://www.facebook.com/directrelief/app_313014592143358?sk=app_313014592143358&ref=ts

Go friend this wonderful woman on facebook who is 105 years old. I saw her today on Ellen which was a inspiration to me about how she lives her life.

Ellen asked her

         '' What is your secret ?"

Edythe replied

" I have a happy marriage. I'm a happy person and if something happens that I can't do anything about it I don't worry about it. "

I love that answer because that is how I live my life. I'm a very happy person in life in general about everything. I show my children daily that its more important  to be happy in life then what you can buy or have. For anyone who knows me "Being Happy" means more to me above anything else. It took my hubby awhile to learn to be happy and let go.  He has a childhood past no child should have. A childhood filled  with pain. A soldier  who has guilt .

He told me
     "That he never knew happiness until he meet me."
I'm grateful I was able to show him a better life then what he was living. He has changed so much over the seven years we have been together its amazing. I could tell a change the first week of getting to know him after we met two years before. A whole other side was to be uncovered that he showed me. I love my hubby with every fiber  of my being. He may have faults like everyone else but the difference is I accepted who he is not who he was. I think what has made our marriage so successful  is that we went though a similar childhood. We understood each other in a way that was meant for us. I have never told him " Life,Love,Marriage and kids would be easy. It would always be a challenging no matter who you are." It's how you decide to let the other person in. It's  will and how you fight for what you want that makes a difference.

There are things in life that you have no control over. When that happens you have to just let go. To be happy its doesn't come easy to some its becomes something you learn to do like riding a bike. If you can learn that then everything else will fall into place.

30 Day challenge

30 day challenge for your butt who's with me? 
I'm on day six and my butt feels great on top of P90X,walking the neighborhood, running I should have a nice butt my summer.
I don't want a flabby butt so to keep myself and hubby happy. Well more for me I love workingout. I love looking at my progress  in the mirror. Besides when you workout you look good naked. You lose weight to look good in clothes I like both. I have found when I am happy about being naked my hubby and I have a very healthy relationship. We are happy regardless  of what my butt looks like same goes for him. I like his dimples  they are sexy.  Besides activities like that 3 times a day seven days a week seems to burn a few dozen calories and its fun. A new lift is in order for the summer since I'm determined  to go a nude beach  with my hubby.

He is behind me 100%. Lol

Let's see what my butt will look like in 30 days. I'm not sure about before and after shots but hey who knows. My new butt may change my mind.

Lizard chasing

30 on 30 part 2
Day 6
All about bubbles again. My boys are easy to please. Playing at the park is another favorite playtime  they enjoy as well as I do like being a kid again going down the slides.

Day 7

Today it's  lizard chasing time. Lizards are very common here in Florida. There have been a few in my house which causes the cat to go crazy. Christopher doesn't like them but likes to tell us where they are. This is something I didn't forecast  doing. It's still a lot of fun. We always let them go. No lizards were harmed  in this activity!  Sorry I'm blogging from my phone so the pictures are all at the end of my post.
UPDATE: By dinner time I didn't get a picture of Christopher but I did get a video of him. He is now the lizard's best friend. He was calling it his baby using the sign language  he has been learning for over a month. He is too cute!

Bubbles

30 on 30 part 2

I think its been a a few days since my last post on our 30 day challenge  of 30 days of fun.  We had to skip a few days for our move. Which we are all unpack now its just finding a place for everything that is a pain. Mickey our cat has not come out from our bed in three days. She is hiding from everything and everyone. Today she is back to her crazy self terrorizing  the boys jumping all over the place like this morning when I walked into the kitchen  she was on top of the refrigerator. She came out of nowhere I about had a heart attack.

Day 5 its all about bubbles. My hubby and I had to fix our screen porch while we did that we took a brake to play football,bubbles and fly. I pick Christopher up and swing him around like he is flying then we act as if we are dizzy. He loves it! I'm really happy we have a bigger backyard its nothing compare to our acer we had back home but it will do.(I miss Michigan) We are already talking about a garden. Justin and Christopher have a blast playing in the dirt  when we set up. Here are some pictures  from yesterday. How was your weekend? What fun games and activities  did you do with your kids?

Moving Again

There are a few tips you should follow when moving. First always have the car packed well with toys,books,games,dvd player,movies,cds and stop for coffee.  Don't follow to to closely to the car in front be prepared to stop at anytime.
I admit I have fallen off the wagon the coffee wagon. This past week has been crazy Monday we looked at a dozen houses. Tuesday and we signed papers.My wonderful hubby stayed two nights to work on it to get it move in ready. Our new house is two hours from Tampa. I packed up the house running on NO sleep because I can't sleep when he is gone. Hubby shows up Wednesday morning with the Uhaul truck we pack up the house while my oldest was at school. We are pack by 2:30 pm just in time to get him from school. We head to our storage unit for the rest. Stop by the post office for change of address forms,the bank,711 we stop to eat and fill up the tank on the road by 8pm. I don't like to drive at night but it was okay. There weren't a lot of people on the road. A smooth hour drive Christopher is sleeping.Justin and I are jamming to some old school,Shinedown,Rihanna and Britney. The second hour I spent listening to talk radio and sob stories on the request  hour. I'm on my second cup of coffee from 711 and Doritos. It's 11:13 pm as we drive into our driveway.
It's the most beautiful site I have seen in awhile as I get Christopher out of the car. Stars are everywhere they are huge. The big dipper is right over our house. I haven't seen stars like this in almost two years. My father lives in the U.P where if you turn off the porch light  you are swallowed  up by the stars. It's kinda of freaky when you are surrounded  by woods on 40 acres of land. We put our boys in the master room so we can unload the truck. My hubby grab me by the waist kissed my forehead we stood there taking in the moment at hand. We stand there talking about the constellations. I love looking at the stars. My hubby goes to the other side of the truck to show me something. I follow only to hit my leg on the back of the truck. We haven't even begun to unload yet. I'm laughing to stop myself from crying it hurt so bad. My hubby is rubbing my back laughing asking me if I'm okay. I try to walk it off but my leg feels like its broke. I still have a 26 foot truck to unload. With every step I take I feel the pain. I dont know how but we had the truck unloaded by 1am. I bypass  hitting my head off the top of the  garage broke all my natural nails trip into the kitchen found a bug outside the size of my toddlers hand. That freak me out! I'm not a bug person. It's been a year since we moved to Florida I still can't get use to the bugs on steroids. The house is a mess the garage  is full and the truck is unpack its 1:30 am by the time we hit the bed to only have to wake up by 7:30 am to drive back to Tampa to return the Uhaul truck. It saved us $400.00 dollars doing it that way instead of returning it down the street from us.
Morning hits I have to drag myself out of bed pour a glass of water on my hubby to get him up. It wasn't a lot of water but enough. Trust me it was the only way to get him up. He wasn't as mad as I thought he would be. I'm really sweet only evil when I have to be. I guess its the Mexican that comes out. It's 7:49 am by the time we hit the road for our two hour drive back to Tampa. On this trip I have to avoid slamming into my hubby big white ass meaning the Uhaul truck from going 70mph to 20 mph because on the other side of the highway  a car is on fire. Of course we slow down because all the stupid  people are looking instead of driving being nosey. We sit in traffic for 20 minutes then we start rolling I'm coming off the on ramp when the car in front of me is at a dead stop. Thinking to myself this is great we are going to die! Traffic is heavy I put the pedal to the ground to beat the cars coming up on my side. I look in my rearview mirror to see if the car is still on the on ramp yes it let four cars go before they did. People need to learn how to drive. I'm exhausted  along side my hubby we make it to the Uhaul place drop the truck off. My hubby slams a five hour energy and buys a monster I have a full cappuccino  this time. I was looking for a place that sold Cuban  coffee. That will wake you up in a minute No doubt! It's like taking a shot of pure caffeine. I have to talk to my hubby the whole way back home to keep him awake for two hours. It wasn't that hard because out of the blue Christopher starts vomiting turns out to be a 24 hour bug. I change him twice by the time we get home he is naked.  We both are running on no sleep by now. I don't advise this with us its never let's plan to move it just let's move today kind of thing. It's always been that way on a tight schedule . I'm safe to say I won't be driving anytime soon and we are on our last move for at least five years or more until we find a house with property  for our farm. Be safe today my readers. Have a great day live it up to the fullest.

YMCA

30 on 30 Part 2
Day 3
Sunday we didn't do to much but movie it out since everyone in the house seems to be sick. We all watched FX that had tons of great movies on like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, A-Team and Tron. We watched the  UFC Fight:Silva vs. Stann from Saturday night on DVR. It was an overall cuddle on the couch kind of day all four of us was in real need of some family time to just relax. As much as I love them I really hope I don't get sick. I can handle a house full of sick people but I can't handle myself being sick. It always seems to be followed by a headache from hell. I have downloaded an app VIGGLE on my phone it gives you points for watching TV. Then you can redeem them for gift cards ect. I'm not sure if it works or not but hey why not try.
Monday
Day 4
We went to the YMCA for some family basketball. It's the only way my little one will go into the kids zone without crying. I won't leave him crying I can't do it. It seems so mean when other parents do it. I just want to pick up the kids that are crying because they are scared. They just want some love. I even made a worker mad by asking her if I could fill out the book to sign in so she could pick up a 6 month old who was crying. I wasn't leaving until she did. That's just me I get myself into trouble by doing that. When Justin was born right after I went back to work in retail. A customer was just letting her little baby cry. It went on for a good ten minutes I couldn't take it besides I was nursing and had to go change my shirt. If you have breastfed a baby before you know what I mean. I walked over and asked her "If she was going to pick up her baby because if not I was going to." She looked at me without hesitation said "Sure pick up the brat." I was in so much shock I picked up the baby and held her until her mom was done shopping. People!!!

Christopher wanted to race so we did as you can tell from the picture. The other people in the gym must have thought we were crazy. It was a lot of fun. However that was my cardio for the day. I still hit the bike for 30 minutes and it was legs and back. I can't get my oldest out of the gym he loves basketball to death. He would play all day if I let him. I love watching father and son play they are so competitive with each other. It's all fun and games never over the top. We always want our son in whatever sport he takes up to be fun after all it's just a game. After 3 hours at the Y it was time to go home for a movie night with the family. We all have sore throats its horrible. I don't think running around made it any better either. What did you do today for 30 on 30?

Board games

30 on 30 part 2
Saturday
Day 2 with Justin: Board games
My son Justin has a collection of board games like monopoly, chess,guess who and battleship. I just named a few of the ones he loves to play. It's never one game unless we are playing monopoly which can take days to play. The last time we played it took us four days before I had to sell my properties. My hubby and Justin still had another day of it. Here they are playing checkers.

Day 2 Christopher:
Mommy and me classes
Christopher has a blast with these classes. They are a little of sit down and stretch  in the first five minutes which Christopher has no interest in so we run around until Ashley  starts class. It's more of a gymnastics  class for toddlers. Daddy even gets involved in our class. I think we have more fun rolling around on the ground showing Christopher what to to then he does.

Animal hoarders

I have today off to work on my book. I came across the show animal hoarders. Two stories one man has 19 pitbulls and a two year old daughter. His name is Shane who lives with his momma and sister. He steals money from them has full custody  of his little girl who doesn't support her which the mother of the little girl was married to someone else at the time of conception . His two pitbulls  ate his sister's cat and killed his moms dog. They are on a 20 foot chain on his property. That is no way for a dog to live but Shane says he is doing God's work. He blames his behavior  on the fact that when he was 7 his parents divorced. None of the dogs can be around each other.

Second story lady named Sharon  has a house full  of cats and no appliances  due to the cat using  the stove as a toilet. I think you know where I'm going with this. The house is full of feces  it needs to be demolished. She still owes 50,000  on her house. I have one cat and can't stand the smell of urine. Cat urine  is the worst in the world to smell. I don't know how this woman lives in her house. Sharon's daughter  talked her into moving out and surrendering  83 cats. Sharon and her hubby skip out on their medications to buy cat food $600.00 worth.They qualified for a veterans housing. She blames her animal hoarding  to her father not loving her.

I don't understand animal hoarding at all. I'm sure someone out there knows a crazy cat lady. I love animals but I wouldn't take it this far at all. My children come first unlike the man Shane above I mean that is crazy. Those dogs need love not just a place to stay. Two ate a cat I'm sure they would have no problem munching on his daughter for a snack.

                                     WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

 I mean sure when your parents divorced at 7 it was hard. DUDE, you are now 30 get over it and move on. Be a father to your little girl go get a job and man up! Sharon you are in your late 60's let go of the past please for your health you need to stay cat free. I'm sorry animal hoarding is a choice not a disease. People excuses these days kill me. No one takes any kind of responsibility for their actions anymore. They always blame someone else. Everything I have done in my life I have taken responsibility for them good and bad. That includes what you say as well. I hope both Shane and Sharon can get better but they have to realize they need to fix themselves.

You have to love yourself before you can love someone else.
You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of someone else.
You have to have a job before you take a person/animal in your care.

                                   What are your thoughts on this subject?

Rock Wall

30 on 30 Part 2

Day 1

 I took these pictures of my 9 year old who loves to take adventures anytime he can. The YMCA is a great place to spend time with your children. I took the pictures of him in the red last week but the one in the blue shirt is from today. When we lived in Michigan he like to go to Gibraltar Trade Center where his passion took off. It was the summer after he turned four years old. He likes to do anything new and fun. He saw the rock wall and instantly wanted to do it. He did and he made it to the top not once but three times. The next morning he complained about his belly hurting but it didn't stop him from doing it again and again. My hubby and I are very proud of him. No matter what he may want to do in life like rock climb we will support him. I always tell my son if you put your mind to it, you can do anything your heart wants.

He is a pro at it now. Its too cute to hear him brag. " I have this mom it's a piece of cake." Even better is hearing him telling the kids who have a hard time that there is nothing to it. His encouragement with his words are amazing for his age. Nothing new to us our son has always tried to help others to be there best. He is growing into a warm,kind, helpful and generous pre teen. I guess my hubby and I have done a great job so far. I don't see my son changing in this aspect. We love you Justin very much. Never give up honey the world is yours to conquer.