It's Picture Day!!

It's Friday! And that means, picture day!! I'm excited because I THINK I see a little bit of a difference in my stomach already! So here we go!




I might be crazy, but I really do think I see a difference, and I'm proud of myself :)

Now, already thinking about next week! I'm going to do the 20 minute workout again tomorrow (Saturday), and take Sunday off, but Monday I'm starting a new challenge :)

While searching for exercises to put together next week's challenge, I came across an 8 week bikini body challenge on Pinterest. It looks great! Each day's challenge seems to average about 30/45 minutes, some are longer (around an hour), but totally doable! There's no running (good for my ankle) and it can be done completely at home. So... I'm doing it :)

The whole exercise can be found here and I'll be linking each day's individual workout as it comes.

It looks pretty intense! Very excited (and a little nervous!) about it!

On that note, I've already finished my morning, and my 20 minute workout today. I think I'll throw in the Pilates ab challenge before naptime is over, and I'll count the babywearing I'm going to be doing later while shopping at Target as a workout too ;)

April is almost here, which means it's almost beach time! So let's go!

Feeling the burn!

Well my plans for a walk/jog yesterday were foiled... I'm having some ankle issues :/ Apparently even the 3 minutes of jogging in place in the beginning of the 20 minute workout for this week has been too much for my bum ankle. I'm doing stretches and strength exercises for it, and pushing through for those 3 minutes, but I don't want to go for a run and end up re injuring it. Boo bum ankle! It's a gorgeous day here today though, so at least I should be able to go for a good long walk after morning naptime :)

So, after 4 days of following this weeks workout plan, how is everybody feeling? My abs are starting to feel a little tighter! My arms have been a bit sore too... good sore! Next week I'm thinking a good leg/butt focused workout? Possibly alternating with an intense arm workout? This week seems to be sort of generally focused, which I think has been a good starting point. I'm on the lookout now for some good leg/butt and arm workouts, and I'll include some ab work each day. (Abs are my specific 'trouble zone' and even when alternating other things, I like to get a bit of a tummy burn every day!)

With all of this working out, don't forget the water and the stretching! Both very very important! I'm going to try and get together a good stretching routine to include here (with pictures, as I'm REALLY bad at explaining stretches! lol!)

Since I've already completed my morning, and 20 minute workouts today, I need to get to my other goals (spring cleaning!) Tomorrow is picture day! Get excited!!

Keeping motivated while BUSY!

I don't know about anybody else, but for me, it's easy to workout and keep motivated when my only plans are around the house. Throw in errands and playdates, and my motivation is so much harder to find!

We were out of the house most of the day today, so I haven't gotten my 20 minute workout in, BUT I'm super proud of myself for still doing the quick morning workout, and the ab challenge from yesterday. Instead of the 20 minute workout, when naptime ends here in a couple minute, I'm going on a walk/jog with my little man. :)

Found this picture on Pinterest and LOVED it!!


Strap that baby on your back and go!! :)

Ab challenge!!

Good morning! Just finished my 20 minute workout :) And started my day off right with my quick AM workout. Feels good!

Have a few extra minutes today and want an extra challenge? I posted videos below of the Pilates Ab series. GREAT, QUICK workout that really targets your core. Shouldn't take longer than a few minutes! Go for it! :)


('http://www.youtube.com/p/0291D1EA9E890E31?version=3&hl=en_US',)

Day 1!

Day 1! Woo hoo!!

Here's my official 'before' pictures... I wish I had a good full length mirror so I could get my legs in too, but all I have is our bathroom mirror and pictures from the hips up. I'm happier with how my legs look right now than my stomach and arms anyway, so at least I can get photos of my 'trouble spots'.




Looking at these I realize how very very flat my butt is... lol hopefully I can get a little something going on back there with some squats and lunges!!

Got my quick workout done before the bed was even made (Fun fact... jumping jacks seem to be a sure fire way to get a fussy 9 month old to stop whining and giggle... hmmm), and just finished the 20 minute workout. Feeling good!

And just remember....

Week 1!

Okay here's the workout challenge for week 1! I found this recently on Pinterest. 20 minute, no equipment needed workout... yes please! It didn't include pictures, so I'll just copy and paste the instructions, and I'll include the link at the bottom (from what I can see, the website this workout comes from is pretty awesome!)


1) Jog : in one place for 3 minutes

2) Jumping jacks: 25 repeats
When landing, bend your knees slightly to reduce the impact on knee joints.

3) Crunches : 15 repeats
Lie flat on your back with your knees bent. Place your hands behind your head with elbows pointing outwards. Support your neck with your hands. Keep your neck in a straight line with your spine. Flex your waist to raise the upper torso from the mat. Lower yourself until the back of your shoulders touches the mat.
Muscle worked: rectus abdominis

4) Hip Bridges : 10 repeats
Lie on your back. With your hands at a 90 degree angle to the floor, lift your body off the floor to form a straight line, a sort of a bridge, from the shoulders to the knee. The position should resemble a table … your hands and legs as the legs of the table and your upper body to your knees as the surface. Hold this position for two seconds. Squeeze your gluteus (butt muscles) and then lower yourself.
Muscle worked: Lower back, hamstrings and gluteus.

5) Step – up’s : 1 minute
You will need a stepper for this.
Muscle worked: hamstrings, gluteus, quards.

6) Reverse crunches: 15 repeats
Lie on your back with your hands on your sides. Keep you knees bent. Bring your knees towards your head, till your hips come slightly off the floor. Hold this position for a second, and then lower your knees.
Muscle worked: lower abs and obliques.

7) Mountain climbers : 1 minute
Get your hands and knees and raise your knees like a starting block sprinter. Run in that position, supporting your upper body with the palms of your hands. Keep your back straight.
Muscle worked: triceps, deltoid muscle, gluteus, quards, hamstrings, calves.

8) Push – ups : 15 repeats
Muscle worked: triceps, deltoids, pectorals.

9) Squat thrusts: 1 minute
Stand straight. Now, drop to a crouch position. Immediately thrust your legs out straight behind on your toes, in push up position, now jump to pull legs back to the chest, in crouching position , then stand up straight,
Muscle worked: arms, legs, chest, and lower back.

Cool down by walking around, till your heart rate starts getting back to normal, stretch.

A minutes rest is needed in between exercise. Proper form is important. Do not hold breath. Sip water during the workout. This workout targets the whole body, improves cardiovascular efficiency and tones and strengthens the body.


Found the workout here

In addition to this, I'm hoping to find the time to do 20-30 minutes of cardio this week. My options:

Elliptical
Long walk/speed walk
Treadmill

Any of these will have to be done while baby wearing. I have an ankle injury from my ballerina days that keeps me from doing anything too high intensity, cardio-wise. The elliptical will be ideal, so hopefully I'll find the time to go to our apartment complex's gym a few times this week.

I know I said that I would be posting pictures on Fridays, but I will also post a picture tomorrow morning as a starting point.

Here's to a successful first week!

Star the morning off right!

I don't know about any of you, but for me, once I do that first minute of working out, my motivation goes through the roof and I feel like I can do anything! This doesn't just apply to working out, but to other things I need to do around the house as well! Who doesn't love a little extra motivation like that?!

So why not start my day off with a few quick exercises to get me going? Right? Ok so here we go!

Jumping Jacks x 50
Pilates 100 (scroll down for a video!)
Squats x 25
Push-ups x 20

Every morning? Think I can do it? Anybody with me? :)

If you thought this first thing in the morning workout routine was the weekly challenge, think again ;) Once I get the little man in bed, I'll be posting that, so stay tuned!

Hi!

I figure my first post should be a little bit of an intro before we get into everything... so here we go!

My name is Sarah and I'm a Mommy to 9 1/2 month old, handful of a little boy. I grew up taking ballet classes, and danced professionally for 4 years after high school. I don't always miss the grueling hours spent in the ballet studio, but I do miss the shape I was in! I've been able to workout here and there since my little man was born, but haven't been able to stick to anything for very long. Now's the time to change that! My husband will be deploying soon and while he's gone, one of my goals is to get back into 'ballerina shape'.

Goals for this blog:

-Photos taken every Friday to track my progress (I will not be doing weigh ins since at this time I don't need to lose weight, but do need to focus on toning)
-Weekly workout challenges (I like to change things up, so hopefully a different workout challenge each week will keep me from getting bored!)
-Links to videos, blogs, articles, websites, etc with good exercises, tips, and information on getting in shape
-Inspirational pictures and quotes to keep me (and hopefully all of my followers!) motivated!

With all that being said, I find that Mondays are the best days to start anything fresh (including a kick butt workout plan!) Since today is Saturday, I'm going to leave this post as is, and go enjoy breakfast with my little family :) I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!