Turning my walk into a run. And my buns into smaller buns.

I’m not a “runner”.  I can run about 2 miles and that’s all.  It does hurt my knees a tad but I have realized that I’ve been running the wrong way, actually.

Anyway, all of that to say:  I’m starting a new fitness plan in just over 2 weeks   I’m so looking forward to it!  I am back into my pre-pregnancy clothes as of tonight (not this morning, but tonight.  Odd how that is) and I’m ready to get going!

I’ve been a size 12 since I can remember — at least since 1996.  The good thing is that I’ve never really wandered off of that path.  I’ve teetered in between a 12-14, but mostly I would feel my 12’s start to get tight and I’d watch what I ate so that I could not have to buy new clothes and be slightly comfortable with myself.

Well, the truth is that I haven’t been comfortable with myself in a while (weight wise).  I realize that I’m not obese or what some people may call fat.  I really realize that.  This post is not some tricky way to draw attention to myself, either.  I am not in shape and haven’t been in a long time.  I’d like to feel better.  Period.  I’d like to be healthier.  Being tall has given me an advantage and that’s nice.  I am evenly proportioned.  That’s nice, too.  Evenly proportioned in that my big hips match my big arms and my big waistline matches my big chest.  It’s all lovely.  And proportioned.

So, this proportioned and slightly overweight girl is getting healthy and here is how I am starting:

http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/turn-your-walk-into-a-run-and-drop-a-size-in-4-weeks/1b52700d2a381210VgnVCM10000013281eac____/news.voices/in.the.magazine/july.2009.issue/

Here is the full article from Prevention Magazine (and I can’t WAIT to post results and pictures. )

Turn Your Walk Into a Run…and Drop a Size in 4 Weeks

By Marianne McGinnis , Marianne McGinnis is a former Prevention associate editor.

We know you love walking– and we do too! It’s one of the best ways to stay healthy and keep your waistline in check. But when you’re short on time (and who isn’t?) or stuck on a plateau, running is another do-anywhere, no-equipment-required alternative that ramps up weight loss.

Adding even a few minutes into your walks can build stronger bones and cut your exercise time nearly in half: Minute for minute, running burns about twice as many calories as walking.

But if you think you’re too old or too out of shape or that running will damage your knees (research shows it won’t), don’t take it from us. Take it from the 46-to 67-year-old women who tested our walk-to-run program: They saw pounds disappear as soon as the first week, and by 8 weeks, they had shaved up to 20 inches off their butts, thighs, waistlines, hips, and arms and dropped nearly 3 sizes–all without dieting! In fact, even those who didn’t lose much weight erased as many as 5 inches of belly fat.

Our 8-week plan is specifically designed to be safe for would-be runners over 40. You’ll gradually increase your running time, allowing your body to adjust without aches or strain, and perform targeted toning exercises and stretches to protect against injuries. And don’t be surprised if you become a convert– adults in one study who tried jogging reported enjoying their workouts 30% more than when they walked, possibly because running stimulates more good-mood hormones in the brain, say researchers.

THE EXPERTS: Danny Dreyer, the author of Chi Running who specializes in teaching beginners how to run pain free, created the walk/run plan. Vonda Wright, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and author of Fitness After 40, designed the strength/stretching workout.

*Also, here is the 8 week plan:

http://www.prevention.com/july8weekplan/dl/PV0709RUNN_84spread.pdf

Sin and Mercy.

“There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” – Richard Sibbes

Thanks be to God!

What have I been doing you ask?

Enjoying my newest addition and pretty much sitting on my buns looking at this….

and this….

and going to a certain someone’s pre-school graduation…

and watching my son love all over his younger brother…

and doin’ a little redecoratin’….

* I repurposed this bench that never got used.  The kids think it’s fantastic that they don’t have to sit on chairs.

and I switched (once again) the dining room to the actual dining room and made the sun room…I guess a sun room!

I’ve really been doing my favorite things:  holding my new baby, reading, cleaning, decorating, talking on the phone, watching Clean House on TLC, playing with my kids, burning candles; etc, etc.  This really is the life

He’s Here!

Just a quick update before a real update

Jacob Shepard Young was born on Thursday evening at 8:15 pm on June 4th.  He weighed 8 lbs and 10 oz!  I had a super awesome labor and am loving my baby.

Here is a picture of Jake and the Welcome Home sign that his big brother made for him.  Gabe found out that Jake could only see 8 inches out and only in black and white.  So, he made this sign and taped it to the inside of his bassinet.  Kind of makes me tear up when I think about it!

More to come.

38.5 weeks but who’s counting???!!!

I feel pretty good.  I don’t feel huge (although my belly is shockingly large when I catch a glimpse in themirror and am not prepared) and I’m not in any pain.  I just feel a little bit like “ok, let’s go”.  I was spoiled by having Camryn 10 days before my due date, so I have already prepared myself mentally that I will go early.  So, if I was to be the same with this baby, I’d go into labor today or tomorrow.    Probably not going to happen.  The hard part about all of this is that I have had crazy contractions regularly.  By the time we start timing them and I make sure I have things all ready for the hospital and am ready to go call the doctor, they just fade away.  So unfair!  The good news is that I am 2 cms dilated and 80% effaced.  I’ll probably be a little more this week when I go for my 39 week check up because of all of the laboring I’ve been doing at home.  I can say that yesterday I thought that “this is it”.  The contractions were 5-10 minutes apart lasting 1 minute 30 seconds (my magic number) for about an hour.  They were uncomfortable and they’ve never really been that before.  I called the doctor and asked him was it ok if I waited until they were not bearable before I alerted him and we went to the hospital.  He agreed.

Other fun news is that I do not store iron in my body whatsoever and it’s all going to the baby.  So, I’m constantly winded and tired.  And crave rubber tire smell and gasoline.  Delightful!  So weird.  I get an iron infusion from the hemotologist on Friday if I am not already in labor at that point.

Hopefully the next time you hear from me, it will be a picture of our Jake with details about how lovely and easy my labor was

Little Jake’s Bedroom

I had my baby shower last week and it was wonderful.  I received  many things I needed (what a blessing).   I was also given a few surprise gifts from my long time best friend Becky –they were key pieces for Jake’s room,  the wall hangings and the toy bucket.  As you can see, she’s so creative.  Her brother Jon is an artist, and her brother Dan is also.  I’m trying to convince her to open an Etsy shop  — it all comes so easy for her!  Anyway, here are a few pictures of Jake’s room from far away and close.   My sister Becky came over and stayed with me until midnight the night of my shower to help me get organized.  Here is the final product, thanks Becky!

Since we already had children’s furniture in the room, we just needed a crib.  We HAD two cribs of our own but gave those away (ha ha!) and received this perfectly matching crib from a friend.  Can you believe that?  It looks like our first child or something — like we’ve gone all out to have things looking perfect.  We didn’t   And I was going to go with blue (because of the walls), red (because of things we already had that would match) and brown (color of the new carpet).  I like the blue and brown combination, but so does the rest of the world and I didn’t want it to just be blue and brown, but that’s what it looks like.  And that’s ok, because it’s cute.  Looks like baby Jake is all set!  We just need him to be here and I think that’s a comin……

Spring Cleaning the Kitchen

The kitchen from afar:

and some cabinet reorganization action….

This took me all week   My cabinets were a mess.

Spring Cleaning the Dining Room

I just did some general organizing and cleaning.  The organizing was so much needed.   Here are some pictures:

look at my cute Mother’s Day flowers

Notice the little treat eggs and such at the bottom of the cabinet left over from Easter!

Here is their art drawer and art corner where I have two little totes that they keep a lot of their supplies in.  Art projects are probably their favorite thing.  I will have to write a separate post on how I keep them occupied and organized with that

Kids Bedroom Transformation

Remember how I shed a pink princess tear over re-doing Camryn’s room MONTHS after we just put it all together?  Well, here is the final transformation.  I’m sorry that I’m a bad photographer.

Unfortunately, I’m not crazy about their bedroom.  I’m not a fan that it doesn’t flow and match and look perfect.  I’m pathetic.  Because we were taking them from their own bedrooms, we wanted to still let them have their own parts to their rooms.  So, Cam has princess bedding and Gabe has Cars.  I also took their toys and tried to arrange some for each of them.  They have matching dressers with their own girl boy thing going on with each.  The closest is his/hers as well.  We still have to put the closet doors up, but we will get to that.

Anyway, they like it and that’s all that matters.

Spring Cleaning — Master Bedroom Evidence

I don’t really have before shots since by bedroom has been ever evolving since the day we moved in.  We are so close to being finished with it.  We want to get the matching armoire (still) but Chad thinks I should have the television on that table when Jake is born and super young so that I can watch television late in the night and such when there is nothing else for me to do while I feed and change him.  Good idea, but doesn’t fit my design idea for the bedroom.  I think I need to let go of perfection, huh?

I love how simple and clean the bedroom looks now.  Lest you believe it always looks like this, it doesn’t.  I moved a few things out just to take a picutre, ha!  That is totally cheating, I know.  Just a filled laundry basket and a stand up fan   Also, it smells like my dog right now, so not so pleasing to the senses either.

and don’t forget a place to put Jake once he arrives….