Can you believe that I am already 1/2 way through my initial goal of 3 months? Of course, I plan on re-signing the second my 3 months expire, but, man...how time flies when you're...having fun? Somehow that just doesn't seem like the right saying.

Anyhow...Jen taught us last night because Tracy had to prepare for a weekend trip she's taking. Wednesday night, out of nowhere, my back muscles began to spasm. Yesterday morning I woke up with very sore muscles...that ached even as I breathed. I preyed that we weren't going to do a lot of running, since running + breathing = pain...I would rather not.

After we did our walk/run...I asked Jen if we were doing a lot of running that night. She said, "Oh yeah...Cardio Mania baby!" C~R~A~P

Now, rather than bore you with all the details with this MARVELOUS work out again...please click HERE to refresh your memory.

In addition to everything that we did on day 3...Jen added:

25 burpies
skipping the park backwards
star jumps
skipping the park (facing forward)
3 sets of (40) good mornings PER SIDE...my poor back...

My back is SUPER painful today...not so much like I can't walk, but just muscularly sore.

Paige is slowly giving up on herself as she spends more time every night talking with her friend than actually working out. I can't blame her...it is a lot more fun than boot camp...but I constantly feel the need to remind her of our agreement. Paige would rather choose which of the exercises she does rather than attempt them all. For example, she was exhausting herself because she skipped all of the "down" exercises that allow your heart rate to slow down until the next cardio run, and would go right from one cardio run to the next. Although it's not good for her, I have to admit that I was rather impressed at her endurance. The downside of her doing that is that she would be so tired from running/skipping/shuffling laps that she would collapse on her mat for at least 10 minutes, which would ruin her rhythm. Anytime I tried to explain why the other exercises were so important, her attitude would rear it's ugly head and make me feel like a horrible mom in front of everyone...my little drama queen nearly in tears saying, "Why are you making me do that Mom?" I was quickly losing patience...especially because I was EXTREMELY tired, sweaty, hot and sore.

Once we were done with CARDIO MANIA, it was time for Butts & Abs.

Fire hydrants
1 min hip lifts (on back knees bent lift your butt off the ground, HOLD)
1 min hip pulses (hip lifts, but pulsing up & down)
1 min scissor kicks
alternating toe touches

When that was over, we stretched (my FAVORITE part of the night). Then we shared 5 of our personal favorite affirmations. Mine were:

1. I have been given the perfect circumstances to make a permanent change in my life
2. I am the kind of friend I would like to have
3. I am human, and if I make a mistake I am able to forgive myself
4. I love life & life loves me
5. I let go of the past so I can move forward
   

Some of the affirmations that were shared that I liked were:

1. I am a winner
2. I am a survivor
3. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary
4. You are only as successful as you allow yourself to be
5. Everyone slips. It's what you chose to do next that matters.
6. I am the only one in control of my life

On another note...I have lost another 5 pounds...according to my scale!

When you've eaten too much and you can't write it down,
And you feel like the biggest failure in town.
When you want to give up just because you gave in,
And forgot about being healthy and thin.
So What! You went over your points a bit,
It's your next move that counts....So don't quit!

It's a moment of truth, it's an attitude change.
It's learning the skills to get back to your range.
It's telling yourself, "you've done great up till now
You can take on the challenge and beat it somehow."
It's part of your journey toward reaching your goal.
You're gonna make it, just stay in control.

To stumble and fall is not a disgrace,
If you summon the will to get back in the race.
But, often the strugglers, when losing their grip.
Just throw in the towel and continue to slip.
And learn too late when the damage is done,
That the race wasn't over and they still could have won.

Life-style change can be awkward and slow,
But facing each challenge will help you to grow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint in the cloud of doubt.
When you 're pushing to the brink, just refuse to submit.
If you bite it, you write it. But Don't You Dare Quit!
~Author Unknown

List another 25 Positive Affirmations. Pick 5 of your favorite & post them throughout your house in places that you will see *and read* them every day.

Last month's list: (additions in PINK)

1. I have the most beautiful, loving, kind, sensitive, and well-rounded kids in the world
2. I have a husband who loves me for who I am, not what I look like, who would do anything for me.
3. I am so fortunate to have a steady job, beautiful home, and family near-by.
4. I have the most awesome sister in the world, who is also my best friend and an excellent Auntie to my kids.
5. I have a great Mom who constantly tells me what a great mom I am and encourages me to be a better person.
6. I am an excellent friend
7. I am very creative
8. I am a good writer
9. I am an excellent story teller, caregiver, nurse, housekeeper, hugger, kisser, cuddler, disciplinary, chef, playmate, field trip organizer, encourager, confidant, protector, teacher and friend (aka MOM)
10. I easily forgive
11. I am a hard worker
12. I am strong
13. I have beautiful eyes
14. I write beautiful poems
15. I am emotional and compassionate
16. I am an animal lover
17. I am fortunate to be financially stable
18. I have a family who loves and supports me
19. I am smart
20. I am organized
21. I smile a lot
22. I love watching my kids just being kids
23. I love to read
24. I appreciate the smaller things in life, like sunrises/sunsets, rain, nature at night
25. I am very compassionate towards & concerned for others
26. I am successful
27. I attract positive-minded people to me; I draw all things positive to myself
28. I am caring, smart, supportive, loyal and fun to be with
29. I am sure of my ability to do what is necessary to improve my life
30. If I make mistakes, I remember that I am human and I'm able to forgive myself
31. I behave in ways that promote my health more every day
32. I am highly motivated to exercise my body because I now find exercise fun
33. I let go of the past so I can move forward
34. I am provided with the perfect circumstances to make a permanent change in my life
35. I always have more than I need
36. Everything I do and everywhere I go, the outcome benefits me
37. I love life, and life loves me
38. I am here for a reason and I live my life with deliberate purpose
39. I love myself and I am worth the effort
40. My body is getting slimmer with every new hour
41. My energy and vitality have increased 100%
42. When I wake up in the morning, I am at peace with myself
43. I am in control of which path I take
44. I am the type of friend that I would like to have
45. My daily fitness routine makes me feel healthy, strong, accomplished and proud
46. I am a walking example of God's love
47. My personality is radiant with success, beauty & happiness
48. I have more than enough strength and vigor to accomplish my goals
49. I have the courage, strength and will power to follow through on my dreams
50. My personal experiences in life have made me the strong person I am today.

When we got to the park last night Paige was thrilled to see that her friend had also joined her mom for the night. I, on the other hand, knew that it was going to be very hard for my little social butterfly to push herself to work out when her friend was not. However, I was curious to see how devoted Paige really was, and didn't say anything to her.

After our walk/run stretch, we finished warming up with 1 JJ 1 PU, 2 JJ 2 PU...etc to 10.

Tracy told us that the night's routine was called "Super Sets."

SET 1

lunges across the parking lot. When you got to the other side, you had to hold a lunge position until everyone was there (we could change sides when we were tired)

1 min mountain climbers (my hands have blood blisters this morning since we had to do them on the blacktop. Kind of dangerous since there are a lot of loose ricks!)

1 min side crunches

REPEAT SET 1

1 min break

SET 2

1 min push ups

1 min burpies

1 min plank

REPEAT SET 2

1 min break

Set 3

Russian sit ups

1 min suicides

1 min angel wings

REPEAT SET 3

1 min break

Set 4

6 minutes Indian run (running single file, last one in line sprints to front)

1 min break

Set 5

1 min dips

1 min wide push ups

1 min knee taps

REPEAT SET 5

1 min break

Set 6 (we took turns choosing our torture)

1 min JJ
1 min fast feet
1 min knee taps
1 min lunges
1 min high knee skipping
1 min side shuffle
1 min rockys
1 min good mornings (per side)

1 min break

BUTTS & ABS

fire hydrants
1 min leg pulse per side
1 min leg kicks (per side)
1 min laying down toe touches
1 min plank

What was up with the planks last night? Geesh! I HATE them...we did 4 minutes of them!

Just to give you an idea of how tiring that night was...I usually drink about 1/2 a liter of water per practice. Last night I drank almost a liter. I stole the rest of Paige's water (since she "rested" a lot) and also accepted another lady's offering of an extra bottle she brought. I woke up at 1 am because I had to pee so bad! I was actually dreaming about finding a bathroom!

Anyway...when we were done, Tracy went over our weekly project assignment. It was to add another 25 affirmations to the list we had already started, and then to pick 5 affirmations to post throughout the house so that we would see them every day and read them aloud...reminding ourself to have positive thinking. I guess I better get started on that!

Oh, and if you're wondering how Paige did with her friend there...she did OK. She could see me looking at her when she was taking a "break" and would say, "Sorry (friend's name), my mom's getting mad. I need to work out." Now, if she were taking breaks because she needed them, by all means I would not have been getting upset. However, she was taking breaks...and a lot of them...so that she could listen to her friend's High School Musical 3 CD.

On the way home I told Paige that it was good of her to take breaks when she needed them, but not to baby herself. If she sat out most of the exercises she wasn't helping herself. She was very emotional, reassuring me that she was taking breaks because she was SOOOO TIRED, but I wasn't convinced. I just asked her to remember that she sees her friend every day at school and that it's distracting to the other ladies when they're talking. Boot camp is for exercising...not talking...and that I hope she remembered why she wanted to come.

I think she understands. My child the talker!

I am so incredibly proud of Paige.

I have been getting concerned with Paige's weight lately. I know that she has a lot of things working against her...her genetics in particular...and I want to make sure that I teach her proper eating & exercising habits NOW so that she has them when she'll need them in the future.

It's such a touchy subject...trying to teach good eating habits without making her feel like she's fat. She is already made fun of in school because she has a belly, and any time I try to casually steer her from a fatty snack to a healthy one, she says, "I know...I'm fat." I DO NOT want her to get a complex so young about her body or self-esteem. Luckily for me, there is an easy solution that will make her feel so great about herself...joining me every night for Boot Camp.

She's been begging to come with me, but until now I have elected NOT to let her come for a few reasons:
1. it runs past her current bed time
2. when I'm working out I'm so exhausted that I wouldn't be able to watch her
3. when I DID take her, she gave up so quickly

Elmo and I discussed it, and we agreed that ANY amount of physical exercise was better than none and worth far more than the extra 30 minutes of sleep she would be missing.

When I told Paige that we decided she could come every night (she's been begging to come) IF she PROMISED not to give up and to try her best. She agreed...and last night she did just that.

Paige started the night super charged...when we did our walk/run, she was 1st in the pack. Not wanting my daughter to show me up...I was right beside her. We finished 1st, and all the ladies were saying, "Whoa Mama! What got into you? You should bring your daughter more often!"

Having our self-esteem lifted, we stretched & then started the night's routine. The name?

Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me?

.....I told you Tracy names these according to what ever song is on at the time!

Anyway...the night went as follows:

Skip for 30 seconds...skip backwards for 30 seconds.. repeat 3 times

Side shuffle 30 sec each side...repeat 3 times

30 JJ, run to line 30 JJ run back

1 min lunges, 1 min v push ups...repeat 3 times

1 min squat jumps, 1 min fast feet...repeat 3 times

1 min backward lunges, 1 min angel wings...repeat 2 times

1 min leap frogs, 1 min reg push ups...repeat 2 times

1 min jump turns, 1 min arm circles...repeat 2 times

1 min burpies, 1 min plank...repeat 2 times

1 min knee taps, 1 min spiderman lunges...repeat 2 times

Now, let me briefly explain what a SPIDERMAN lunge is...

first, get into a plank position
bring your right foot to your right hand...like you're scaling a wall (like spiderman)
bring your right foot back into plank position
bring your left foot to your left hand
bring your left foot back into plank position

Doesn't that sound like fun!! It's NOT. My inner thighs are sore!

Butts & Abs:

fire hydrants
leg lifts...1 min each side
laying down toe touches
big flutter kicks

Now, back to why I am SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF PAIGE....she didn't quit at all last night. I could tell she was so tired, but she never gave up. She was such a trooper. I told her that she did amazing, and that I was so proud of her. She was glowing. She was so proud of herself and said, "I'm not going to stop at all tomorrow Mom." I told her that if she needed to stop to catch her breath there was nothing wrong with that. I don't want you to pass out or hurt yourself. I am very excited to see the impact this will have on her, as well as our relationship. This, for us both, is a bonding time, not strictly a workout. She feels so special that she's allowed to come.

This morning when Paige called me to let me know that they were at the bus stop, she said (in a super happy voice), "Bye Mom, I love you. And I'll see you when you get home and I'll be all ready for tonight's practice."

I am so thankful for the way things just seem to work out...how I am constantly reminded that God has a plan for us all. My life has completely changed by joining this boot camp, which I would NEVER have known about if I hadn't gone ONLINE (rather than to the actual office) to sign the kids up for their winter sports. Because of Boot Camp

I have a much higher self esteem
I am much more healthy than I was just a month ago
I am strengthening my bond with Paige
I am SO MUCH less stressed because I have ME time
I am losing weight
I have gained friends, of whom are so incredibly supportive and inspirational
I am so much happier

Honestly, who could ask for a better impact than that?

I am still waiting for these nights to get easier...or at least for me to be able to end without feeling like I am going to fall over & die. There are girls in the group who have been with Tracy for over a year, and they are so inspiring (and intimidating). They are (more often than not) far ahead of me, and though we are told "There is no competition here" I feel so discouraged at times. I think to myself (and I'm sure I'm wrong), "There's no way they're really doing all 120 Rocky's; that's why they're ahead" or "I'm doing the exercises properly, and that takes more time than their ways."

I asked them last night before we started, "How long did it take you before you were able to do all 120 Rocky's without stopping?" They said that they STILL DIE when they're doing them, but that their endurance (and inner competitiveness) is stronger and it allows them to push them out. Then they told me something I wasn't expecting, and it made me glow...they said "I don't even know why you're questioning your performance; you're doing so amazing. My first month I couldn't finish a single routine, and you have finished every single one." It was nice to hear some reassurance & know that even though I wasn't able to keep up with the veterans yet, I was still holding my own.

Wednesday I was so sore from Tuesday's workout. I felt like an old lady every time I tried to stand up and walk. My legs (mainly my thighs) were so stiff. Based on my experience with Boot Camp, I knew that doing exercise when you're sore is just what the Dr. ordered, so I dragged myself to the Elliptical and pushed out 20 minutes (250 calories). I was exhausted, but stretched out enough that I wasn't sore anymore. I cleaned up and headed directly for bed...my soft, fluffy, warm inviting piece of Heaven.

Thursday morning I woke up and didn't have even an inkling of pain anywhere. It was the first time in a long time that I work up without moaning from the aching in some part of my body. I felt great...knowing that my recovery time was finally decreasing.

For our routine that night we did what Tracy called "Playing Fitness." It was supposedly derived from football...according to Tracy, but even now I don't see the relation.

After we walked/ran/stretched/1JJ, 1 PU, 2 JJ, 2 PU etc...to 10, we were given the instructions for our routine.

Tracy set up cones in the parking lot (8 on 1 side, 9 on the other). We were to start at one cone on one side with a given exercise, run across the lot to the adjacent cone, do another exercise there, and run back to the other side...repeating until we reached the BIG cone. Once we reached the goal (cone) we had to do another exercise back, and start all over with other exercises.

So, cycle 1:

Bottom side: 10 burpies (90 in total)
Top side: 10 Jumping Jacks (80 total)
Frankenstein walks back to start

Cycle 2:

Bottom side: 10 squat jumps (90 in total)
Top side: 10 good mornings each side (160 total) My hands are skinned from these!
Lunges back to start

Cycle 3:

Bottom side: 10 Squat Jump turns (90 total)
Top side: 20 foot shuffle (hands on ground alternate feet up & down) (160 total) My hands are skinned from these too.
Side shimmy back to start

Cycle 4:

Bottom side: 10 Side Crunches (90 in total)
Top side: 40 angel wings (320 total)
Skip back to start

Butts & Abs:
Fire Hydrants
Track position (like racers at the track) moving 1 leg back & front for a minute...both sides. This KILLED KILLED KILLED!!! Did I mention that killed? What PAIN!
Laying down toe touches

At the end of the nigh we had to share one of our goals. I shared that one of my financial goals was to start savings accounts for the kids, with semi-monthly deposits drawn from my checks.

The newest girl is so sweet, and is getting so discouraged. Every night we try to reassure her that she is doing great, but she feels like she isn't. She's very competitive, so when she see that we are all ahead of where she is, she gets down on herself. (kind of like me, but she's worse) She is so concerned with the length of time it will take for her to see results. Despite everyone telling her that she will be amazed after only the first month, she isn't convinced. I hope that she is able to push herself a little more and longer so that she will be able to get stronger and stick with the camp. It truly is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life...and I know that if it weren't for all of the girls in the group reassuring me and my progress it would be so easy for me to stop coming. Every single night is hard for me...every single night I feel like crying from mental & physical fatigue, but just when I need it, someone will say, "You're doing great" or "Awesome job Melanie" or some other word of encouragement. At the end of each night, I am soaked with sweat, exhausted, hot and sore, but I feel like a million bucks....with legs of Jello!

I am SO INCREDIBLY SORE today! Last night (in conjunction with Monday's workout) was so fast paced and exhausting. I am very thankful to have a day off.

After our normal warm up, we finished with the JJ/PU routine (1:1...to 10:10).

Tracy told us that the name for the night's routine was "4 corners."

Each "cycle" consisted of doing a given exercise at each corner, running to the next corner and doing 3 sets of 40 step ups at the BLUE area.



Cycle 1:
10 Burpies
Run
10 Burpies
Run
10 Burpies
3 * 40 Rockys
Run
10 Burpies
Run

Cycle 2:
15 Ground Jump Squats
Run
15 Ground Jump Squats
Run
15 Ground Jump Squats
3 * 40 Rockys
Run
15 Ground Jump Squats
Run

Cycle 3:
20 JJ
Run
20 JJ
Run
20 JJ
3 * 40 Rockys
Run
20 JJ
Run

Cycle 4:
20 Angel Wings
Run
20 Angel Wings
Run
20 Angel Wings
3 * 40 Rockys
Run
20 Angel Wings
Run

Cycle 5:
15 standing sit ups
Run
15 standing sit ups
Run
15 standing sit ups
3 * 40 Rockys
Run
15 standing sit ups
Run

Cycle 6:
15 Side Crunches
Run
15 Side Crunches
Run
15 Side Crunches
3 * 40 Rockys
Run
15 Side Crunches
Run

So, in case you were wondering...
that's a total of:

55 Push-ups
135 JJ
40 Burpies
60 Ground Jump Squats
80 Angel Wings
60 standing sit ups
60 Side Crunches
720 stairs - UP & DOWN
and 6 miles (give or take)

And, as if that weren't enough...we still had to do butts & abs.

Fire hydrants
leg pulse (right & left)
leg lifts (on all 4's, knee bent foot flexed, reach for the sky) each side
laying down toe touches
leg ladders (climb leg touch toe)

No wonder I'm sore today!!!!! Geesh!

Our project for this week is Goal Setting again. We are to review our goals that we set last month, see if we met the goals with past deadlines, alter the deadlines if need be, and set at least 1 new goal per category.

My goals last month were:

Physical - Under 200 by Thanksgiving - Deadline has not passed. Still a goal
Financial - Save at least $500 a month - No luck with this goal yet. Still a goal.
Family - Dedicate 1 day a week as a family day (games, outings, events) - COMPLETED We have dedicated 1 weekend day as the FAMILY DAY and the kids get to pick from a baggie of a bunch of family activities.
Career - Couldn't think of one here....
Social - Make more time for me with friends - I am in the process of achieving this
Spiritual - Start reading/teaching biblical stories to the kids - I have not completed this (or even attempted to start) yet. Sill a goal.

My new goals for this month are:

Physical - By the end of this month, I want to complete the "bicycle exercise" for the whole minute, which will show me that I have increased my abdominal strength
Financial - I want to start savings accounts for the kids
Family - Less shouting and more talking
Career - still nothing
Social - I want to gain more self confidence so that I won't be embarrassed of my appearance when I go somewhere
Spiritual - I want to start nightly prayer again.

Last night was the start of a new session. There was 1 additional girl who joined, who coincidentally has a daughter that is in the same class as Paige. Small world.

Anyway, the night started off as usual...walk / run / stretch

1 min JJ
1 min squat jumps
1 min fast feet
1 min prisoner squats

The routine was called "I want it all." I'm starting to think that Tracy names these routines based on what song she's listening to at the time! :0)

As the name might imply, the workout was targeted at working every muscle...Luckily we had a few days off, but I still did 40 minutes on the Elliptical and burnt 503 calories!

We started with Cardio, followed by core, then cardio, then legs, then cardio again.

1 min JJ
1 min burpies
1 min squat jumps
1 min fast feet

1 min planks
1 min ab blasters (plank ups)
1 min push ups
1 min angel wings

1 min JJ
1 min burpies
1 min squat jumps
1 min fast fee

1 min wide push ups
1 min angel wings
1 min side crunch (left)
1 min side crunch (right)
1 min bicycle

1 min JJ
1 min burpies
1 min squat jumps
1 min fast feet

1 min lunges
1 min backward lunges
1 min side lunges (left)
1 min side lunges (right)
1 min prisoner squats
(A lot more that I can't think of at the moment)

1 min JJ
1 min burpies
1 min squat jumps
1 min fast feet

Butts & Abs

Fire hydrants
toe touches (like situps but legs flat)
reach throughs (like sit ups, but you touch the ground in between your feet)
leg lifts (right)
leg lifts (left)
Alternating toe touches (legs in air, crunching while touching alternating toes)

I am sore this morning. I felt so bad for the new girl last night. She is thin, but said that she hadn't worked out in over a year. She was exhausted and was preoccupied with trying not to throw up. I told her that it was normal, and that she may feel better if she did throw up...I know I did on my first night!!

I think that Tracy makes the first night of each new session hardest so that those who are new know what they're getting into. Not that any other night is EASY (far from it) but I think that she pushes us harder & faster on the first nights of new sessions!

Last Month, my measurements were as follows:

Weight - 223
Neck - 13.25"
Bellybutton - 45.75"
3" below hips - 52.75"
R Thigh 6" above knee - 25.5"
L Thigh 6" above knee - 25.5"


Current Clothing sizes
Pants - 20
Shirt - 1X
Bra - 38C

This morning, I re-measured and am happy to report:

Weight - 220 - Lost 3 pounds
Neck - 13." - Lost .25"
Bellybutton - 44" - Lost 1.75"
3" below hips - 51.5" - Lost 1.25"
R Thigh 6" above knee - 23.5" - LOST 2"
L Thigh 6" above knee - 23.5" - LOST 2"

SUMMARY:

Inches lost: 7.25"
Pounds lost: 3 pounds


Whoooo Hooooooo!!