The days go by so quickly with a little one! I feel so productive because I am always on the move - it's awesome!

 

Anyways - today was a great weigh in. I was wondering what it was going to be like because I started on kind of a food plan this week that is 1700-1850 calories a day. When I assessed my calories from before the food plan, I was only taking in an average of 1100 a day. That is much too low for how much activity I was doing, and for the fact that I am still nursing. I would feel fine until the end of the day or during an evening workout and then I would completely weaken. Not good and a recipe for disaster and sabotage later on. Now if I have what I am supposed to have, I take in a lot more food during the day and I don't feel that way anymore. And it's good food too - I actually feel awesome right now. I feel as though everything is running really smoothly. I don't have cravings, I don't really want to eat bad foods, and I am enjoying all of my workouts. And as a bonus the weight is still dropping... I haven't had a week yet since baby that the weight hasn't dropped so I spent some time this week mentally preparing for when a plateau comes my way. I think I will be okay with it, the way I am feeling right now is overriding the scale - although the numbers are still an important indicator for me.

 

This week we started Mom and Baby Aquasize - so much fun! And I am not a huge fan of the water - I love tanning, but I rarely venture into water activities. Taso said he was more worried about me than Michael because I suck at swimming! Good thing my feet could touch - ha ha! Michael loved the pool - the water was nice and warm and he was in a flotation device, he was kicking away like a maniac and smiling so much throughout the class. I have to say - during the class I was like 'this is easy' but it wasn't until later that I felt completely exhausted!!! I think because the water is a constant resistance but at the same time is continuously cooling you off - you don't perceive the workout to be as hard as it is. But I definitely felt it later on! And swimmers are in great shape, so you can't ignore that fact!

 

Oh yes - Provincials last weekend. Overall, it was not too bad. Nothing really disastrous... a couple of bright moments - some great routines and some medals, but some disappointment as well. Not necessarily a bad thing if it gets put into action to be better for next year, but it can be hard on these young girls to not do as well as they had hoped. Nothing changed for me though, it's always a process. I always push for 'good gymnastics' in the gym, not just stuff that will win you a medal. I want these girls to get more out of gym than just the external rewards so I push each individual a bit differently, they are all such different kids.

 

The worst part of the entire weekend were the treks to and from Red Deer. Apparently late April is a great time for a snow storm in Calgary and the roads were very scary! I am a control freak and can't have anyone drive me anywhere so it was just me and my mini van on the QE2. Obviously I made it safely, but it was a tense ride... tons of accidents and cars in the ditch. One trip took me three hours! Brutal!

 

And the Fame Show is this weekend! I know a ton of people competing and I am wishing them all the best of luck... sounds like it is going to be a huge show!!! I am seeing what my schedule is like tomorrow - I would love to pop in for a bit, but I am not sure yet. Just make sure you guys post a ton of pics up on Facebook - I need to creep and see how awesome everyone looks!!!

 

I'm just on my way to another class with my favorite boy - who will be THREE MONTHS on Monday! I will blog more later, but my weigh in this morning was a happy one. I am finally back in the 170's and since I have been here before many time pre-pregnancy I think I can consider the 'excess baby weight' gone! This doesn't mean I will be prancing around in a bikini any time soon, but I have 'retired' my maternity clothes to the back of my closet until 'next time'! People keep asking me if I have new clothes - I don't really - things are just fitting again for the first time in a year! Ha ha. Gotta go! I'll be back on here later today to update you on my week! 

Tomorrow officially marks my 16 weeks out point from Nationals - I am on track for 3 lbs a week and for right now I am going for it! I'm not going to be a martyr and compete for the sake of competing, I have done many shows and the standard is quite high for me. I know how I want to look and I will make the effort to look that way so that I have a fighting chance, but if I can't do it or if it comes at too high a price - I can let it go. Like a good friend of mine said - the competitions will always be there.

 

I set myself up a plan based on what I have been doing 'naturally' for the last 11 weeks in terms of eating. Food has not been a battle, the mindset has changed and it is a great place to be, but I do have to be conscientious of how often I am eating and the foods I am choosing. My main premise is choosing unprocessed natural foods - no sugar, no dairy, no wheat. Plenty of lean meat, fruits, veggies, nuts, and unprocessed carbs though - with one Tim Horton's Double Double daily. It's my vice I am keeping in for now! I am eating pretty much the same thing every day, but I like that, I feel it keeps it simple.

 

And this week I added Spinning to the workout regime. My legs still hurt from Wednesday so I know it is a good shock to my system! I booked Michael in for daycare at the gym every Wednesday so I can take the Spin class followed by the core class, which I also totally need! He loved the daycare this week, I don't think he wanted to go home - so much attention from the girls!!! And a kudos to Kristi the instructor - 8 months pregnant with amazing energy and excitement! I naively thought maybe I could keep up - yeah right! I struggled big time!!! I love that though. It's no wonder her Saturday classes fill up an hour before they start!

 

And in hot yoga I went back in the Hero pose... this is big news. Huge!

 

I am just getting ready for a trek out to Red Deer today for the Alberta Provincials. All of my Provincial level 2 girls go today and my Provincial 3 goes tomorrow. It'll be interesting to see how things go. It's the best of the best and all of these girls are prepared, but emotions have run high this week. It could be an age thing. I remember being 11 and 12... I'm sure my mom could vouch that I was an emotional roller coaster!

 

So that covers being 16 weeks out and Provincials... now onto egos! It's funny, because every time I lose weight or prepare for a show, most people are great or keep to themselves about it... but then there are those who always try to tear you down. Why? I am not losing weight to make someone else feel bad or inferior... I know that this process is an emotional and difficult one and I have the highest respect for anyone fighting the battle. I am fortunate to be in a situation where I can afford to take workout classes with my baby and that I have a husband who can watch him while I work out on my own. I also have equipment at home, a husband who eats very healthy, and a high level of fitness knowledge. I am extremely grateful for my circumstances, but I am also working very hard to get my workouts in and balance my life. It's a continuous effort and I am not always successful. What makes me laugh, because I am so used to it now, are people who almost get angry because you have lost weight.

 

When I competed previously it was usually in the form of backhanded compliments 'Oh you lost a lot of weight - I wouldn't want my arms to look that manly though' and 'Just wait until you eat normal again, you're going to balloon up so bad'. Is that necessary? Nobody training for a contest is doing it for 'compliments' - if they are they won't get far. But no one needs the negativity when they are battling something so deeply emotional and challenging. All it takes is for one comment to come at a moment of weakness and vulnerability and it could sabotage the whole effort. I'm reading A New Earth, I am seeing the ego's need to be 'better than' and I know I have been guilty of it myself many times. No more though... it's such an annoyance.

 

The comment I am specifically referring to for myself this week was in a conversation that went like this

 

P: You lost that weight fast hey?

 

Me: Almost - still a work in progress!

 

P: I remember after my first one how fast it came off - just wait until the next one. It's a whole different ball game. You may just want to stick with one actually, after two you are going to be so big.

 

Me: Cool, thanks.

 

Seriously??? And I don't think you read this, but if you do - I did not exaggerate it, so read it to yourself and see how unnecessarily demeaning you are. I am sorry you didn't lose your baby weight and you feel you need to attack me in a subtle manner.

 

I know lots of women in the Figure and Fitness world who are moms and even grandmas and who can get into phenomenal shape! The body is amazing when you work with it and not against it. These women are my inspiration and my reason for not setting limits on myself.

 

And that's all for today!

Who knows... it's scary but it's in my head - Canadian Fitness Nationals is 17 weeks away!

 

At my weight today - I have been this weight before - 16 weeks from Nationals 2006... mind you I was not post pregnancy with this newfound mess throughout my midsection, but I have came from this point in terms of numbers and been successful before.

 

This time, I feel much more disciplined and much less dramatic at this weight. I will need to lose 3 lbs a week for the next 17 weeks to meet my goal. I am going to try for it - about 80% sure I am really going to go for it - I will assess this again 12 weeks out.

 

It would be very cool to win the Tall class with a 6 month old baby.

 

I was a bit lazy this week as well - I made excuses... we had a 7 hour power outage and my intention was hot yoga, but when my garage didn't open electrically I went back to bed for the day with Michael. The house was cold! And I DO NOT manually open garages! The next lazy day was yesterday when I decided to skip both our Mom and baby morning class, my run, and our daily walk because of this spring storm. I could have done something else - but I didn't. I didn't miss the running - just so everyone is up to date on my running progress - I still absolutely suck. It's embarrassing! Today though - we are ready to go! Mom and baby class, our walk, and then I do two Hot Yoga classes on Friday because I don't work. Plus on Saturdays - I sleep a lot.

 

And baby news!!! Taso's cousin had a baby boy two days ago - their second. Everyone is doing well and I can't wait to meet him! And my friend Kelly who was due yesterday is still waiting to meet her little one last I heard!! The waiting is so hard!!! 

 

Biggest Loser Finale this week! Can't wait! I love that show and I hope Ali wins it all! Plus 'The Office' yesterday.... sooooooo funny. I love that show. I'm kind of a TV junkie now - I blame it on breastfeeding and my discovery of the PVR. A great combination!

 

 

It's been a great week in the world of me, I am listening to some very active babbling and violent rattling in the background as I type this which makes me laugh.

 

My poor little peanut had to get 3 shots at his vaccinations this week, I held him while he looked at me and screamed - my only comfort to him was to tell him that at least he doesn't have Polio! Ha ha... he's a trooper though, forgot about it within a couple of minutes.

 

And the little chub bub is 13.5 lbs!!! He's in the 90th percentile for weight for his age. He's already outgrowing a lot of his 3 month outfits at only 2 months old.

 

He's a very scheduled little guy right now. I figure the best thing for us to do while we can is to sign up for a bunch of 'Mom and Baby' workout classes. Right now we are taking a Pilates class once a week, a dryland fitness class twice a week, and an aquafit class once a week starting April 22. That will mean I have to wear a bathing suit in public in 2 and half weeks - yikes! I apologize in advance to everyone at the pool.

 

What else this week??? We went for a visit to Auntie Heather's house! And Michael decided he was going to scream for no apparent reason for an hour to the enjoyment of all! Perhaps it was memories of a past life - we haven't quite figured it out yet. Also, my girls competed at the Southern Zone Championships for gymnastics - they did great overall, we had a category champion and all but one of them qualified for the Provincials. The one that didn't was in a tough category and has surpassed my expectations of her already thios yer. She had an 'off' day - which happens - and there is no way I could be disappointed in her as she definitely trains hard and tried her best. I am sad for her, but what can you do???

 

And Hot Yoga is getting easier - I love it again. Going a few times a week is definitely the only way to go for me. I feel like I am good at it again. The weight is still dropping... but I am still quite far away from the goal. Patience!!!