What a COLD tuesday!

While most of the schools around this part of the state have a two hour delay this morning, our school system does not..   Brrrr!  I almost feel bad that my kiddo's have to go outside in this FREEZING weather.. After all, we live in the South..It just shouldn't get cold? Right?  That is what everyone always says... Little known fact about the South.. ON ANY randon fall/spring/ Winter day..You'll find you might just use your heat AND your air conditioner in the same day....  It happens almost every spring.. At nights, its COLD.. During the days it gets up in the 70s and maybe 80s. It's insane.. We've had snow.. We've even had a couple of blizzards...  I don't like cold. I'll never complain about it being 70 degrees, ANY TIME OF YEAR.

Okay, getting on with our post for the day.. I'm always on the lookout for health and information sites regarding how to live a healthier life.  I am  a fan of various pages on facebook of fitness models, motivational fitness people, Clean eating, etc.    I Love learning new ways, I just need to learn to implement them into my everyday life.

I came across a site called Lose Big Fat .  It has a TON of information on it and yesterday there was an awesome motivational speaker on there.  (It didnt neccessarily deal with weightloss, but being successful in general and he made some really really good points).  The site is updated several times a day with new information and articles.  I'm already a huge fan.  They also have a facebook page, which will alert you of new postings to the website.  It's a really great site and I've been learning a ton.

One of my favorite posts is about something that MANY people forget.  Instead of watching the scale go "down"...it may stay the same and might even raise a little maybe  making you think you are gaining weight..
But have you  "measured"... Yes. get out that measuring tape.  Muscle weighs more than fat, but is MUCH more attractive.  If you have lean muscle then you are going to look better even at the same weigh you are now, than if you just have fat and no muscle.   Measuring yourself is one of the best ways of knowing whats going on? Whether its muscle or fat.  You main gain an inch in your arms over time but your arms may also appear more slim!   You could be losing inches in your hips and thighs too?  But the scale may not change much.

You have to go visit this page and search through all the tons of information.... I'm heading there now, to see what their newest update is!  :)

Challenges

I should have posted this the beginning of September, when I started it.  You can probably use this for any month though, there are always health and Fitness challenges out there.
During the Month of September I started seriously working on my butt and thighs.  I cant count the number of lunges and squats that Ive done, and there have been days where it was hard to walk, and especially hot to sit, but I made it through.  I've even got something to help you get through those painful days a little bit easier.

I'm posting a picture of a challenge from a site that I visit a lot on Facebook.  I got this from Health and Fitness Chick.   This lady is a Killer Workout Lady.   She's got some awesome stuff going on.

Okay, I do NOT only do the workout's in this challenge. This is just like a mini workout. (I have done this on several occasions while the kids were eating breakfast and getting ready for school.  I also do an entirely different workout that includes Dead Leg Lifts, more squats and lunges, side lunges, side squats, bridges, donkey kicks, one leg squats, etc.  On top of all this, I am consistently running almost everyday. I normally run at least 3.1 miles, but some days I go 3 1/2.  Of course, there are a few days, where I only make it 2 miles.  -But hey, at least I'm doing it, right.   GOT Young kids?  No problem, put them in a stroller and start walking.. Heck, At the Talladega Half and 5k, I saw people RUNNING pushing their kids in an Umbrella stroller.. As long as its a flat road like surface, this isn't a problem, but if you want to be extra safe and don't want the child to asborb all the shock, check out craigslist and look into buying a used Jogging Stroller.  Or a new one if you have the funds for it!.

Okay, so Earlier I mentioned something that can help you get through those days where you are hurting so bad you can barely walk from your awesome workout the day before.  Well first off, SLEEP, but don't stop working out!  Keep it up. PUSH through the pain. -But this will help cut your sore time down..Nightime Recovery   If you want something to start immediate after your workout, you can try this: Post Workout Recovery.
Also, make sure you are eating foods that will HELP your workout, not hinder your workout. This is one of the hardest parts for me. I love food. I love junk food. I love pizza. I love chocolate. I love .........non healthy foods!  -  I have found that I can still eat all of these, just not on an every day basis like I was.  It really does help.  

Almost there..EEK!

Wowzers!!! We joined the local YMCA, because they had so many things offered for our three kiddos. Its pretty amazing!!! I started running on the treadmill when we go, to keep my running up, which actually helped me to achieve a new running goal. I was actually able to complete week 6 of C25K and I was able to run for twenty minutes straight.. Yesterday I was suppose to run for 25 minutes straight but I ended up stopping and walking for a few minutes. It felt SO good to get that running out. With the crazy week (non running related) I've had it was so nice to let it all out!

Okay, so updating you on my challenge. Today is Day 10. Final day of the Cleanse phase. Clean eating has been a new challenge for me, but I am really enjoying it. I feel so much better. Even though I DID slip up twice and eat some pizza,  I still feel great!  So far, when I measured yesterday morning. In the nine days since I started the challenge, I had lost 7 1/2 inches and 6 lbs! Yes! I am 100% telling you the truth!  

Also, crazy week. Yes please! What is my life w/o a few crazy turns thrown in there.. On the business side of things we had a Fantastic Photo shoot for Fashion Week AL for my Bridal Line.  The photographer was TRULY amazing and so sweet.  The MUA, The Stylist, The Accessories Lady and everyone involved did such great work. The model was gorgeous!
I honestly can not wait to make another wedding gown similar to this one but a tiny bit different.  It will be MINE for my husband and My vow renewal for our 10th anniversary this summer!  I'm so psyched.  Ten years/a Decade/ is a long time.... Especially when you hardly even knew each other when you got married. (NO LIE THERE).  Our story is unique to us. We just move fast, thats all.  We met, fell in love, (seriously it was like a love at first site type of thing). Got engaged a couple weeks later, four months after that we were married.. Then just barely three months after our wedding day, we found out we had a bun in the oven!
So our first year of marriage was filled with getting to know each other, Me being pregnant with our first child, moving into a new home,giving birth to our first child (ONE MONTH before our 1st wedding anniversary!)..Wowzers.. and We've barely slowed down since. We now have three gorgeous kiddos.
We are blessed in so many ways.. So yes, A decade of us getting to know each other, our kids, and learning to get along., Its not been easy, its been Hard but its been FUN!  Most importantly, We've kept GOD #1 in our lives and are teaching our kids to do the same. That is how we've been able to get through some of the crazy trials we've gone through. Without God, we wouldnt be where we are today.

Anyway, sorry for the long rampant. I get off topic a lot and end up rambling..
Does anyone wanna see a pic from our awesome Bridal Gown shoot. Its my first NON tulle wedding gown!
Well You've waited through all my rambling.. So here ya go!

Photography Credits:

Exclusively Yours Photography

Dress Desginer:

Stephanie of Kalli Alba Bridal Couture

Hair Piece: Be Spotted

Will be showcased at

Fashion Week Alabama

Getting there:

So, I completed all of my week 5 C25K which is where I had to run for 20 minutes straight.  I made it 17 total and walked for 3.   I thought that was pretty good.
Yesterday I started week 6, and I was supposed to walk 5, run 5, walk 3, run 8 walk, 3, run 5 walk cooldown.
At my cool down I saw I was very close to 2.5 miles, I really wanted to hit 2.5 miles so instead of doing my cool down I ran for a few more minutes and then did my cool down.  Just so I could get in my 2.5.  After my cool down, according to my MotoActv when I finished my cool down I was at 2.66 miles, which was really neat.
I missed the deadline for the 5k run here at a local church, that I really wanted to do so I could wear my Moms RUN This Town shirt, but Now I will just have to wait until May to wear it in another 5k that My son and I are doing together. Yes, my 8 1/2 (will actually turn 9 one month after the 5k) and I are doing a 5K together.  He can run a 5k with no problem at all. Kids and All their energy.

Im still hoping to get some more ladies to join me in the Warrior Dash in TN in September to be running partners with.  My running partner may not get to go. :-(

Anyway, so with this whole 24 day challenge that I started on Tuesday.  I am already down almost 6 pounds. I checked my waist measurement (I didnt want to check the rest) and so far, I've lost one inch in my waist..Now come on Hips..CATCH UP..lol... (I didnt measure my hips so its possible an inch or half an inch is gone already)  I feel so much better. I have more energy. My skin already looks much better and I can see my belly being more flat! I'm so excited.  Click here to get the 24 day Challenge.  Its Truly amazing!

So anyway, I had a really great experience yesterday.  A week ago, Fashion Week AL contacted me while I was on vacation to design a wedding gown for an upcoming promo shoot.  I was able to do this as soon as I got back home... It took about two days, and I know if I had more time I could have done a TON better and it would have been even more amazing
The shoot  (from the sneak peek) pictures that I was shown, was totally Amazing!! An amazing photographer, stylist, hair and make up artists, and even accessory designer! AMAZING.....
I want to show you a sneak peek but I have to wait till I get the final edits back in.... SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!

Okay, thats enough for now.....Have a great day!!!! Remember-* No matter how slow you are going, you are lapping EVERYONE on the couch!