Week three down, ten more to go for my first 90-day round.
The third week was much better than the second. The biggest area where I noticed improvement this week was in my flexibility. And, I did my first unassisted pull-up...until now, I'd been doing pull ups with the assistance of a chair. Finally!!! Even when I was swimming at UH, I didn't do pull-ups without some sort of counterweight. I felt like a sloth every time one of the girls on the team would put on a weight belt to do her pull ups.
Week four is a recovery week. There are still workouts, but its more flexibility/yoga/core work, and less push ups/pull ups/traditional weight training. I'm looking forward to it.
Oh, and a shout out to Hiedi in SLC... Thanks for letting me know you're doing P90X, too!! And, we're on the same week - you go, girl. I can't wait to see your before/after photos.
Jet's Birthday Party
I attached below a copy of the invitation (minus the address & phone number). I'm so excited for Jet's 6th birthday party. Now that I've got a little more skill under my belt when it comes to baking...my first attempt at a cake last year for Jet's 5th birthday was quite a sight...
http://thecadefamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/jets-5th-birthday.html
The photo from the invite was taken by me on Saturday. I made zucchini & carrot cake cupcakes and dressed them up with Halloween candy to try and fake-out the kids so they wouldn't know they were eating something that had veggies in it. I took them to the park for the Trinity First playdate and handed them out to the kids for the beta testing. It worked. I'll post the recipe online after his bday party, but it looks like these will make-do for it. Thanks much to marathon runner, my P90X coach & fellow blogger "Motivation MamaDrama" for inspiring me with her post about healthy brownies. Check it out http://motivationmamadrama.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-special-brownies.html.
http://thecadefamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/jets-5th-birthday.html
The photo from the invite was taken by me on Saturday. I made zucchini & carrot cake cupcakes and dressed them up with Halloween candy to try and fake-out the kids so they wouldn't know they were eating something that had veggies in it. I took them to the park for the Trinity First playdate and handed them out to the kids for the beta testing. It worked. I'll post the recipe online after his bday party, but it looks like these will make-do for it. Thanks much to marathon runner, my P90X coach & fellow blogger "Motivation MamaDrama" for inspiring me with her post about healthy brownies. Check it out http://motivationmamadrama.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-special-brownies.html.
Walk To School
Mesita Elementary had their first Walk To School day. Participants met at Madeline Park & then walked together to the school. Outside of the school upon arrival, there were refreshments of bananas, bottled water, & orange juice. We enjoyed getting to participate in this super-fun event.
P90X Week Two
I'm not going to fake enthusiasm...week two was a tough one for me.
I found this week harder than the first. Some days, I was so thankful that I'm doing the 7-day workout option (7th day is 60 minutes of stretch) just because I knew that if I had an off day to play with, I might have switched it out on any given day and just slept.
What's tough? I kind of equate it to the middle 100 of the 200 yard freestyle. The first 50 yards, we often have to slow ourselves down from all of the adrenaline. The last 50 yards is where we bring it home where all of the cheering and excitement pumps us up. It's the middle 100 yards where we win the race. It is in the middle 100 yards that all of our training, our endurance, our technique come into play.
It's the same here.
I'm sore. I'm exhausted. Jay lost 10 pounds right out of the gate. His whole midsection completely transformed in 7 workouts. Me....not so much. I told him the other day, "I feel like I work twice as hard to get half of the result." His response, "That's because you do."
Please don't think I'm complaining. I'm not. If it was easy, everyone would do it. But....know this....I swam on a college scholarship for a Division I University. I've done 10k's, 20k's, a 30k, and a triathlon. And, I find it tough. So, if I get worn out, if I feel beat up and sore, if there are days that I don't want to "push play", then know that if you're doing this program and you feel this way, you're not alone. It's a very intense program, the average person burns approximately 700 calories per workout.
Here's the thing I do remember from my years of training. There are some days we feel like a million bucks & workout just comes easy. There are days that are hard to get through. And, there are all of the days in between. We just keep doing our best and putting one foot in front of the other.
And, then there are the positives to focus on...amazing sleep, glowing skin, those heavenly post-workout showers, a diet that doesn't have alcohol or cheat meals, neither of which were difficult to give up....
I do think that after day 30, I'll be getting a massage.
I found this week harder than the first. Some days, I was so thankful that I'm doing the 7-day workout option (7th day is 60 minutes of stretch) just because I knew that if I had an off day to play with, I might have switched it out on any given day and just slept.
What's tough? I kind of equate it to the middle 100 of the 200 yard freestyle. The first 50 yards, we often have to slow ourselves down from all of the adrenaline. The last 50 yards is where we bring it home where all of the cheering and excitement pumps us up. It's the middle 100 yards where we win the race. It is in the middle 100 yards that all of our training, our endurance, our technique come into play.
It's the same here.
I'm sore. I'm exhausted. Jay lost 10 pounds right out of the gate. His whole midsection completely transformed in 7 workouts. Me....not so much. I told him the other day, "I feel like I work twice as hard to get half of the result." His response, "That's because you do."
Please don't think I'm complaining. I'm not. If it was easy, everyone would do it. But....know this....I swam on a college scholarship for a Division I University. I've done 10k's, 20k's, a 30k, and a triathlon. And, I find it tough. So, if I get worn out, if I feel beat up and sore, if there are days that I don't want to "push play", then know that if you're doing this program and you feel this way, you're not alone. It's a very intense program, the average person burns approximately 700 calories per workout.
Here's the thing I do remember from my years of training. There are some days we feel like a million bucks & workout just comes easy. There are days that are hard to get through. And, there are all of the days in between. We just keep doing our best and putting one foot in front of the other.
And, then there are the positives to focus on...amazing sleep, glowing skin, those heavenly post-workout showers, a diet that doesn't have alcohol or cheat meals, neither of which were difficult to give up....
I do think that after day 30, I'll be getting a massage.
Sweet Kimber Elle
You've grown so much in 3 short years. Your eyes turned from blue to blue-green with flecks of brown. You're sweet and kind, you're still my snuggle bug. You love eating healthy foods and watching princess movies. You're sensitive. You don't trust quickly and you get to know people on your terms, in your own time. If people try to get you to open-up before you're ready, you run away like a kitten. You're long and lean. Your shins are covered with bruises from playing at the park. You've got your mama's curls and your daddy's thin, fine hair. You've got gumption. You completed our little family, providing balance with your sweet presence. You are loved more than you know.P90X First Week
Well, we've completed our first week out of 13. I've got one word to describe it.....YES!!!
Saying that I'm liking the program is an understatement. I haven't even noticed missing cheat meals or alcohol. A few of the things I'm really enjoying:
Jet & Jay doing yoga. Yep, both JET and JAY are doing vinyasas,
That's me towards the end of the plyo workout.
Jet striking a pose after plyometrics.
Saying that I'm liking the program is an understatement. I haven't even noticed missing cheat meals or alcohol. A few of the things I'm really enjoying:
- I love the variety - it's something different every day, and the same workout isn't repeated for a week. The constant change up keeps me from getting bored or injured.
- I love the intensity. Every single workout has me sweating from the end of the warmup until the last stretch.
- I love exercising at home. Prior to this, I exercised at home only on the days I couldn't make it to the gym. I hop right into my cool shower, take my multivitamin, and feel like an energizer bunny for the rest of the day.
Jet & Jay doing yoga. Yep, both JET and JAY are doing vinyasas, the crane, and warrior. Happy girl, I am.
That's me towards the end of the plyo workout.
Jet striking a pose after plyometrics.MRW, the face of SMA
I'm a mom. I relish in the moments that are milestones in my children's lives....peeing in the toilet, riding a bike, first steps. My son's first word was "dada" and my daughter's first word was "mama". Those of you who know them know that's pretty characteristic of their personalities. But, like most moms, I find myself complaining from time to time about trivial things...pee on the toilet seat, not eating enough veggies, taking too long to pull on those shoes in our rush to get to school on time.
And then I catch myself.
I have a daughter. I have a daughter who pees. I have a daughter who pees on toilet seats, who loves to be cradled in my arms, who smiles, who laughs, who....breathes.
My friend Kendra Webster lost her daughter. On December 13, 2009, Mackenzie Rye Webster took her last breath. It was 12 days before Christmas and she wasn't 5 months old. Kendra's pregnancy was normal, she had a good delivery, she took her daughter home. After a few months, it became a concern when MRW wasn't gaining weight and had difficulty breathing. Despite a heart valve surgery, Mackenzie's health wasn't improving. She would arch her back in pain, she still wasn't eating well, and she started having blue spells. In November, with much frustration and confusion, Kendra took her daughter to the hospital, and a few weeks later, Kendra left without her.
Like my daughter, Mackenzie loved to be cradled in her mother's arms. She was a beautiful little girl, with a bright smile and dancing eyes. But, MRW couldn't breathe. She was battling a rare neuromuscular disease called SMA-RD (Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress). It's a disease that causes weakness in the muscles due to nerve loss in the spinal cord. It affects all of the muscles in the body, including the diaphram, and it's a terminal disease. Currently, there is no known treatment or cure.
Kendra asked me to blog today about SMA to create awareness about the disease, along with many of her other friends. Today, we are all posting information on our blogs about this disease that robs young mothers the opportunity to have those things so many of us take for granted...thumbled fingers learning to tie shoelaces, pee on the toilet seat, the ability to breathe.
To learn more about SMA and the innocent babies it takes from the arms of their loving mothers, visit the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation at http://gwendolynstrongfoundation.org/ and VOTE or watch http://www.youtube.com/gsfoundation.
And then I catch myself.
I have a daughter. I have a daughter who pees. I have a daughter who pees on toilet seats, who loves to be cradled in my arms, who smiles, who laughs, who....breathes.
My friend Kendra Webster lost her daughter. On December 13, 2009, Mackenzie Rye Webster took her last breath. It was 12 days before Christmas and she wasn't 5 months old. Kendra's pregnancy was normal, she had a good delivery, she took her daughter home. After a few months, it became a concern when MRW wasn't gaining weight and had difficulty breathing. Despite a heart valve surgery, Mackenzie's health wasn't improving. She would arch her back in pain, she still wasn't eating well, and she started having blue spells. In November, with much frustration and confusion, Kendra took her daughter to the hospital, and a few weeks later, Kendra left without her.
Like my daughter, Mackenzie loved to be cradled in her mother's arms. She was a beautiful little girl, with a bright smile and dancing eyes. But, MRW couldn't breathe. She was battling a rare neuromuscular disease called SMA-RD (Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress). It's a disease that causes weakness in the muscles due to nerve loss in the spinal cord. It affects all of the muscles in the body, including the diaphram, and it's a terminal disease. Currently, there is no known treatment or cure.
Kendra asked me to blog today about SMA to create awareness about the disease, along with many of her other friends. Today, we are all posting information on our blogs about this disease that robs young mothers the opportunity to have those things so many of us take for granted...thumbled fingers learning to tie shoelaces, pee on the toilet seat, the ability to breathe.
To learn more about SMA and the innocent babies it takes from the arms of their loving mothers, visit the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation at http://gwendolynstrongfoundation.org/ and VOTE or watch http://www.youtube.com/gsfoundation.
P90X: A First Look
It's no secret to my friends & family that I've wanted P90X for a long, long time. I've asked for it for Christmas & birthday presents for the last year and a half. When that box arrived, I tore it open.
My first impression of the nutrition plan was that it was WAY more detailed than I thought it would be. I thought it would give daily portion amounts for different body types and goals, as well as some recipes. It had that and more. There's actually a day-by-day, meal-by-meal approach where it gives you the exact menu of what to eat each day in addition to the other options. So, someone who knows how to eat correctly & within the given portion amounts can choose the first option. However, for the person who doesn't really know how to do this and needs a highly structured menu, they've got it. The nutrition plan is very much along the lines of the information you'll find in this blog - lots of veggies and lean meats, fruit to balance out the blood sugar, and the good whole grains. The difference is that this is broken down into three 30-day cycles with the first 30 days having a higher protein:carb ratio than the the second and third 30-day cycles. This is to take off fat quickly in the beginning and to have more energy during the later cycles. Another difference is that there are no cheat meals during the 90 days.
There is no alcohol during the 90 days. This is right along the lines of other well-respected results-driven trainers. While the caloric content of alcohol is of concern, it's not the only thing that makes it important to avoid. Mixers are usually high in calories & sugars as well. But, the most important aspect of why one should stay away from alcohol during a kick-your-butt training run is because of the way it changes our hormone levels, which are largely responsible for how we store (or don't store) fat. Also, not drinking during this time makes the body feel clean, energized, and well-rested.
The intensity of the two workouts I've done is similar to our dry-land exercise when I was a swimmer at the University of Houston. During the plyometrics session, the trainer says..."all elite athletes train with plyos..." He's exactly right. It was almost as if he had a session with our old trainer and had the workout down pat. We all had similar plyo workouts - basketball players, the baseball team, swimmers....that is what helps an athlete with explosion off of the blocks or their vertical jump. It also kick-starts the body into shape, burns fat, and helps immensely with cardiovascular fitness. I found the shoulders and back session to also be similar to what we did at UH....back to the basics. It was a lot of push ups and pull ups - body weight exercises that are rudimentary yet highly effective. Today, I've got the shoulders and arms workout which is biceps, triceps, and deltoids. And, every Sunday I'll be doing 92 minutes of Yoga X.
The workouts are 6 days a week for about an hour daily. There's the doubles option, which is similar to 2-a-day workouts we did in college. The 7th day is a rest day, or one can pop in the "Stretch X" video for an hour long stretch session, which helps prevent injury, increases flexibility, and reduces soreness. I'm choosing the stretch option for now.
My first impression of the nutrition plan was that it was WAY more detailed than I thought it would be. I thought it would give daily portion amounts for different body types and goals, as well as some recipes. It had that and more. There's actually a day-by-day, meal-by-meal approach where it gives you the exact menu of what to eat each day in addition to the other options. So, someone who knows how to eat correctly & within the given portion amounts can choose the first option. However, for the person who doesn't really know how to do this and needs a highly structured menu, they've got it. The nutrition plan is very much along the lines of the information you'll find in this blog - lots of veggies and lean meats, fruit to balance out the blood sugar, and the good whole grains. The difference is that this is broken down into three 30-day cycles with the first 30 days having a higher protein:carb ratio than the the second and third 30-day cycles. This is to take off fat quickly in the beginning and to have more energy during the later cycles. Another difference is that there are no cheat meals during the 90 days.
There is no alcohol during the 90 days. This is right along the lines of other well-respected results-driven trainers. While the caloric content of alcohol is of concern, it's not the only thing that makes it important to avoid. Mixers are usually high in calories & sugars as well. But, the most important aspect of why one should stay away from alcohol during a kick-your-butt training run is because of the way it changes our hormone levels, which are largely responsible for how we store (or don't store) fat. Also, not drinking during this time makes the body feel clean, energized, and well-rested.
The intensity of the two workouts I've done is similar to our dry-land exercise when I was a swimmer at the University of Houston. During the plyometrics session, the trainer says..."all elite athletes train with plyos..." He's exactly right. It was almost as if he had a session with our old trainer and had the workout down pat. We all had similar plyo workouts - basketball players, the baseball team, swimmers....that is what helps an athlete with explosion off of the blocks or their vertical jump. It also kick-starts the body into shape, burns fat, and helps immensely with cardiovascular fitness. I found the shoulders and back session to also be similar to what we did at UH....back to the basics. It was a lot of push ups and pull ups - body weight exercises that are rudimentary yet highly effective. Today, I've got the shoulders and arms workout which is biceps, triceps, and deltoids. And, every Sunday I'll be doing 92 minutes of Yoga X.
The workouts are 6 days a week for about an hour daily. There's the doubles option, which is similar to 2-a-day workouts we did in college. The 7th day is a rest day, or one can pop in the "Stretch X" video for an hour long stretch session, which helps prevent injury, increases flexibility, and reduces soreness. I'm choosing the stretch option for now.
Summer 2010 Photos
With summer coming to a close after Labor Day weekend, I'm posting some of our photos from the season. It was a hot summer, and Jet's broken arm got in the way of the swimming I'd planned we'd do. We had fun in other ways...
Jet & Kimber went to the circus for the very first time. My dad & I took
Jason's family visited El Paso for a wedding. We all went to the zoo together.
Kimber's 3rd birthday cake.
That's me in the lab.
Taking a nap with my sweet baby girl. She's a thrasher
Jet & Kimber went to the circus for the very first time. My dad & I tookthem. Jet loved the motorbikes, Kimber loved the acrobats.
Jason's family visited El Paso for a wedding. We all went to the zoo together.They love their older cousins Megan & Jordan so much. It was an
amazing visit.
Jet's getting so big. That's a full portion of enchiladas that he ate.
He calls them, "chiladas". He's blowing bubbles at the park & riding
go-carts in the photos above.
Kimber loves playing dress-up. She's "Doctor Kimber"
& wearing every costume she owns in the photos above.
Jet's giving her a helpful lift at the zoo while she looks at a snake.
Jet's getting so big. That's a full portion of enchiladas that he ate.He calls them, "chiladas". He's blowing bubbles at the park & riding
go-carts in the photos above.
Kimber loves playing dress-up. She's "Doctor Kimber"& wearing every costume she owns in the photos above.
Jet's giving her a helpful lift at the zoo while she looks at a snake.
Kimber's 3rd birthday cake.I sacrificed a barbie doll making it, but it was worth it.
I'm pretty proud of my creation. Thank goodness for You-tube
and the cake makers for step-by-step instructions.
That's me in the lab.
Taking a nap with my sweet baby girl. She's a thrasher& takes up the whole bed. I have no idea where she gets
that from.
You Won't Come Fast Enough
P90X....you were supposed to be here a week ago. get here. hurry up, come on, what is taking so long....i can't wait. i bought my pull up bar, i drank my last drink of alcohol. i'm looking at before/after blogs. i'm talking to friends. i'm chomping at the bit. i'm plugging in my days into an excel spreadsheet so i can start to have an idea of when my days off will be and how i'll structure that with studying, commitments, and my responsibilities. i'll do you in the morning because i have night classes (yes, i know that sounds dirty). i'll wake up and push play, then drink my coffee, take my shower, and start my day. i can't wait, i can't wait, i cannot wait.
hurry, dammit.
hurry, dammit.
When The Bird Flies
My sister is a performer. She has this way of lighting up a room when she walks into it. She and my father are kindred spirits in that they feel most at home in front of a crowd...singing, playing, telling stories. They capture the attention of those around them. There are times when I feel so grateful when she walks in and rescues me in the middle of a conversation, and there are times when I feel immediately extinguished for the same reason.She is ten years my junior.
I remember tucking her in bed at night, reading bedtime stories, & letting her play with my makeup. I changed her diapers and helped her pee in a toilet. I taught her the lyrics to, "The Flame" by Cheap Trick. She was a very young performer, singing the song in front of my teenage friends to their, "Awwwww.....thats so cuuuute!!" exclamations. I was 17 when I left home for college. She was 7. That was almost 20 years ago.
She leaves for New York in less than two weeks.
To say that my heart is breaking while it is beaming is the only way to describe how I feel. I'm so, so happy for her. She has the courage to fly... to chase a dream regardless of where it leads...to jump without a net. For her to move to a place full of art, song, and dance fills me full of delight. We should all be so lucky as to be immersed in a culture that we love. She's said many times that she doesn't know how long she'll be there, but it doesn't matter...she must go. Now's her time.
But, my heart breaks, too. I feel spoiled to have been around her these past 10 months. She's one of the very few people that I ever really let in to my own little walled-off heart, and it hurts to see her depart. It's a selfish hurt, but a raw one. I also have that big-sister stigma...who'll be there to make sure that she's safe on the subway, who will be there for her to talk to about how her audition went...letting go can be so hard sometimes.
I think of my children, and how this is only one small experience of what is to come. For I know that in time I will see many of those I love dearly bat their wings and fly. There's something natural about it. There's something beautiful about it, and there's something a little sad about it, too.
Birthday Weekend Lowdown
I had an amazing weekend - here's what we did:
Friday, August 27th, I woke up to my 5 year old sleepy-eyed son telling me, "Happy Birthday, Momma" with a big hug and morning-breath kiss. So, so sweet. I opened presents - new Asics running shoes & P90X!! YES!! I had breakfast with my dad and my daughter, had a hair appointment for lunch along with some chocolate truffles, and had dinner at my favorite steak restaurant with my husband, kids, and dad. My sister waited on our table.
Saturday, August 28th, Farmers Market morning - my fav. I love how I know the person who grew my peaches, apples, and garlic. I image their love and dedication along with the sunshine growing the food that supplies our delicate bodies with the nutrition that we need. I went home and made eggplant parmesan for an early dinner with the eggplants I bought there. The kids threw-down. Jay took Jet to see Star Wars in the park while Kimber and I had a girls night.
Sunday, August 29th, Morning walk over scenic drive - they close it down for pedestrians every Sunday morning. We put Jet on his bike and Kimber in the jogger stroller & set off. Fun. That evening, we went to Jake, Isaiah, and Baby Jake's Bday party with a bouncehouse and a band. Amazing.
Tuesday, August 31st, My sister's birthday. We celebrated all three bdays (mine, my sisters, my step-sisters) with a family cookout last night at my step-mother's home. Brisket was on the menu, and I got to spend time with everyone.
Friday, August 27th, I woke up to my 5 year old sleepy-eyed son telling me, "Happy Birthday, Momma" with a big hug and morning-breath kiss. So, so sweet. I opened presents - new Asics running shoes & P90X!! YES!! I had breakfast with my dad and my daughter, had a hair appointment for lunch along with some chocolate truffles, and had dinner at my favorite steak restaurant with my husband, kids, and dad. My sister waited on our table.
Saturday, August 28th, Farmers Market morning - my fav. I love how I know the person who grew my peaches, apples, and garlic. I image their love and dedication along with the sunshine growing the food that supplies our delicate bodies with the nutrition that we need. I went home and made eggplant parmesan for an early dinner with the eggplants I bought there. The kids threw-down. Jay took Jet to see Star Wars in the park while Kimber and I had a girls night.
Sunday, August 29th, Morning walk over scenic drive - they close it down for pedestrians every Sunday morning. We put Jet on his bike and Kimber in the jogger stroller & set off. Fun. That evening, we went to Jake, Isaiah, and Baby Jake's Bday party with a bouncehouse and a band. Amazing.
Tuesday, August 31st, My sister's birthday. We celebrated all three bdays (mine, my sisters, my step-sisters) with a family cookout last night at my step-mother's home. Brisket was on the menu, and I got to spend time with everyone.
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