Dual-Purpose Your Cleaning Routine

There are two things I like to get done around the house but never manage to find time for.

Clean.
Work out.

Today, I tried to prioritize both.

Made bed.
25 jumping jacks.
Loaded laundry.
15 girly push-ups.
Tidied up living room.
50 bicycle sit-ups.
Prepared son's breakfast.
Jumped with son on medicine CORE ball for 2 songs (about 6 minutes) - must have a strong core to do this, otherwise you'll fall off with your kid!
I am sweating.. and the house doesn't look so bad.  An idea worth revisiting!

Mommy Muffin Top Destruction Begins

I knew boob feeding meant an extra 500 calories.  I ate well, exercised mildly (if that), and quickly lost all my baby weight.  I was left with some jiggle, but it wasn't too bad... easily hidden with clothes not too tight on the waist, flattering dark shades, and jewelry.  And then at 9 months, we began to ween my son.

I went from around 7 feeding a day to 5 and then to 3 and finally I'm at 2.

And I continued to eat roughly the same (I won't lie, I had some moments with Chinese New Year and then Superbowl Sunday!) and my work outs were likewise.

And then....

Out of nowhere, I gained five pounds (two of it might of been gone after I pooped).

Worse than that... the jiggle has magnified into a very noticeable mommy muffin top.

And so it begins today.  I will annihilate you mommy muffin top.  Say good bye to your days on my hip.

DAY ONE 


Thursday - I went to a latin aerobic class today that was boring.  My mom made me go, I talked with all her friends, noticed I was the youngest girl there by about ten years, and tried my best to remember how to move my hips from my ballroom days (about ten years ago in college).  My left ankle started to throb.  I continued.  I sweated a tiny bit.  I hope all that hip twisting did a number on my muffin top.  Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, and even about one minute of Jive.

I think I'll put on Smash and Switched at Birth while doing some bicycles and toe taps.  And yes, I'll post a before and after photo - I'm just too embarrassed to post a before one now.  To be continued...

Four More Pounds....

I'm four more pounds to my pre-pregnancy weight but I'm struggling to find the time... so when Pinterest gave me some ideas for quick cardio reps, I took it and modified it (in purple) to the following:

1. 50 jumping jacks
2. 5 real push-ups
3. 5 girly push-ups
4. 30 seconds at the lowest of push-up hold
5. 20 sit-ups (arms crossed on chest and all the way up, can use a couch or coffee table to tuck your feet under)
6. 25 swimming paddles (on your stomach, feet up and alternate right hand and left foot up and left hand and right foot up)
7. 20 climbers
8. 30 second plank
9. 10 burpees (jump up in the air, down to touch your feet, jump your feet back into a plank, do a push-up and then jump back to your hands and up into the air and repeat)
10. salsa for 3 minutes
11. hip-hop pump your stomach 16x left and 16x right with knee to stomach standing straight up, alternate legs
12. pick up your son and dance with him for 5 minutes

Repeat twice. Three if you have time.

I'm Packing 32 Pounds

I know I'm pregnant and that's why I'm packing 32 pounds - mostly in my belly, some of it distributed to my swollen feet, legs, and bigger chest.... but mostly it's in my belly. So I've been wondering lately, isn't it uncomfortable to have a big belly if you're not pregnant? Isn't it uncomfortable to not visually see your feet when you look down, without bending over because your stomach is in the way? Sometimes, when I sit next to men at work, our bellies are comparable - theirs from years of too much beer, not enough exercise, and mine from a growing baby!

I know I can't do anymore ab exercises on my back (I can do them with an angle, put some pillows behind my back, etc.) but how I miss them.

Here are some of my favorites that I can still do.

Sit on a big bouncy exercise ball. It strengthens your core.

Sit up straight when working. It helps your stomach stay in versus letting it all hang out. The muscles start to train itself to tuck in and reduce the image of a large belly.

Pretend like you're a belly dancer or ballroom dancer or hip hop dancer and move your hips, pump up your legs and twist and shout. It really does work.

Use a hula hoop with weights. Hula much? Just get a hoop - the Asian ones have a padding with weights under it - and hula!

I miss doing ab exercises. The above are the easiest.. there are also far more challenging ones that probably work quicker, alas, for another day though...

Convenient Push-Ups

It takes a while for the water to get warm when I shower. In its place, I can...

a) stare at myself in the mirror
b) wander around the house
c) watch TV
d) do some push-ups

D is fun and good for you! Using the sink, I place my hands so that they create a perpendicular right angle in my elbows, my body is in a plank position at approximately 45 degrees since my feet are about 3.5 feet away from the sink. Imagine it for a second (if you don't have as much bathroom space, adjust your plank angle, you'll still get a good work-out). 12 reps.... twice... and water is ready and my arms are just sore enough to have worked out a bit.

Not sure if it works.. but it sure feels good to do something productive in a mere 3 minutes.

Informercial

So my Equinox Challenge was a bit hard.. I reduced about 3% of body fat but my arms, back and stomach didn't shrink and only my thighs did. Oh well.. lost a few inches there. I am however, MUCH stronger than before as I can actually do real push-ups now!

So ....
Infomercials are mostly crap that infest your television airspace and are targeted towards those seeking affirmation, easy change and those who are for the most part.. retarded.

Falling into that last category, I have toyed with some exercise informercial stuff in the past...

1) Thighmaster...

2) Urban rebounder...aka overpriced trampoline

3) Windsor pilates (courtesy of the BFF)

4) Tae-Bo (also courtesy of the BFF)

5) Some tummy belt...

So the latest obsession? P90X. It really works is what everyone says!. Question is.. can I get through a one hour exercise everyday for 30 days minus Sunday rest day? Only time will tell..