Love me, Love me not - Mamavation Monday 13

Since we are on the middle of choosing finalists for Mamavation Campaign 7, I figured this is a clever title. Don't you think? Maybe be not that clever, but I like it.

Since, I am starting to feel like a politician during the election season, I'd like to say this:
Nah, I am not going to say anything. Vote for who you think is right for the job

We are hear to lose weight, learn to live healthy and support each other. So, let's do just that.

My biggest achievement of the week - I completed 30 day shred. YAY!
Biggest project of the upcoming week - Detox! Since the holidays are finally over, I think it is time to get rid of some unwanted stuff in my body. I love my carbs, so it won't be easy (it is never easy - and I've done this few times). At work I am still temporarily relocated, so the closest restroom is quite far and ... it will not be fun...

If you haven't had a chance to check out my post about Kefir, please find a minute and do so - it could make a great addition to your healthy life syle.

Have I ever been injured start­ing a new exer­cise rou­tine?

I decided to get a health club membership after my first baby and worked out for about a week and a half before I had an actual session with the personal trainer. The trainer made me do an exercise and I told him that my knee made a noise. He ignored it. The knee kept popping and ended up getting dislocating. I went through few days before getting my chiropractor to put it back. However, it became a constant problem, because I got pregnant at about the same time and weight gain just made knee dislocation are regular thing. It got much better after I started loosing weight though
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Keep track of goals
-2.4 lb since last weigh in I am now 194.2 (initial start 04/01/10 - 209 lb). Have 4.2 lb to go. I could get used to this progress
2. 2-3 gallons of water a day. I empty my jumbo bottle every day (2.2 L is 9 glasses of water) and sometime fill it again half way

3. Stop night snacking.
I am much better now since holiday treats are gone

For this week
I am planning to start my 7 days detox on 01/10. More about my detox here.

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Mamavation TV

Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV. This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Salonpas.

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Challenge yourself


Biggest Looser challenge with Shelley's group Join FB page and don't forget to chart your progress there

WII Active 2 challenge



Join us on Wednesday, January 12th from 8-10pm EST for the Less Pain More Gain Twitter Party with SALONPAS

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Giveaways You might like

Kidswitch Giveaway light switch to let small children safely and easily turn lights on and off without having to reach, stretch or use unstable items as stepping-stools

Big Yoga – Flexibility This DVD focuses more on creating more flexibility in the body, to make a more challenging Yoga practice comfortable for those with weight issues, stiffness, or injury

YumYum Dishes, are cute ceramic bowls that hold up to 4oz of our favorite snacks

Your Name in Crayons,These crayons are made in plain or swirled letters of your choice. They also come in the following alphabet letters.

Mamavation - Week #10

If you ever see this kind of a tweet coming from me, here what it means

"I stuck to the couch and I can't get up. I know I have to workout, but I feel so comfortable, I really do not want to get up".

So if you are around, please take a second and kick my butt.

I have been doing good with shred and would like to invite everybody to join me. See this post for details and the reasons why YOU need shred

I hate spending money. When I realized that the weights I was using were too light (2lb), I got immediately unhappy about a trip for heavier weights. However, before I made it to the store, my hubs and I found a creative solution to our problem - I wrapped my 2 lb wrist weights around my previously used 2 lb free weights and now I have new and improved 4 pounders.




Flashlight moments of the week

1. Even lazy steps can get you there
I do not like pushing myself and some of you can probably relate to that. That means, if I am riding a bicycle and going up the hill, I start getting tired. Instead of closing my eyes and continue pedaling, I look ahead at the 3/4 of incline and stop "There is no way I can make it there" (That's where the "Mind over matter" is supposed to kick in, but my mind's kicking abilities are too weak). I will walk up the same hill every time, because I know I can't make it there.

Since I started doing the shred with my good friend Jillian (and some of you, girls), even with my "I can only do so much" attitude I go further and stronger every time. But the only way to notice that, if you doing it every day. It might not look like much of a progress from day to day, but I feel the difference after doing it half way


2. I only hate my life before I workout
Don't know about you, but for me the longest part of my workout is getting off the chair. During the warm up I still hate my life, and my brain continues to tell me - relax it. "Watcha movie, hava tea. U had a hard week. You deserve it..." And I am very tempted, but if I can get off the couch, I can finish the workout. With sweat comes the desire to make it though the workout. And after that, I feel like a "bad ass"!

3. Don't be sore
You know, when you start working out, you are sore beyond believe and You feel You can't workout, because even the idea of lifting your arm is making you mad and sad at the same time? Guess what - one way to avoid that is to continue working out day after day (unless, of course, you enjoy being in pain)

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Keep track of goals
1. shed 10 lbs by the end of January. 9.8 (on 11/28/10) to go from 200 lb on 11/8/10 (start 04/01/10 - 209 lb). I will check my weight next weekend

2. 2-3 gallons of water a day. Trying, but it's hard now. Restroom is too far away. I think I do about 1 litter a day.

3. Stop night snacking. I am doing ok.

However, I have been picking some treats in the lunchroom. Weak, weak me!

For this week
I will continue working through Jillian Michael's DVD every day and will do my best with water intake.

Sista of the week
Lots of hugs to Christi (@ChristiDarty) on becoming a sista of the week. Christi, you rock!
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Mamavation
You might know, that I applied for Mamavation Mom Campaign. See my application here and don't forget to tweet Leah

Hey @bookieboo! I want @elenka29 to be the next #Mamavation Mom! She has my support! http://bit.ly/zqUxa

If You are on Facebook, go here http://www.facebook.com/mamavation and post the following

Bookieboo, Lena (@elenka29) has my support in becoming the next the Mamavation Mom. She is committed. (Feel free to add something nice)

Oh, and tell you friends to help out too.
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Join us for Mamavation TV this Monday. We will be talking about Mind, Body, and Soul with the guest Special Guest: Suzanne Forbes-Vierling, PhD (@tribalenergy4u). Please visit Tribal Energy Cardio to learn how to move your body and mind.

Consider Applying for Campaign 7 Mamavation Mom (15 December to 5 January)

if you want to transform you life and ready to commit

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Challenge yourself

P90x in the New Year Discussion

Earth Footwear: "All's Well That Ends Well" Blogging Program

30 day Shred

Biggest Looser challenge with Shelley's group

My Mamavation Application

Just in case, if You missed my tweet or just want to see my video again, it is here.




Make sure to send a tweet to @Bookieboo

Hey @bookieboo! I want @elenka29 to be the next #Mamavation Mom! She has my support! http://bit.ly/zqUxa

If You are on Facebook, go here http://www.facebook.com/mamavation and post the following

Bookieboo, Lena (@elenka29) has my support in becoming the next the Mamavation Mom. She is committed.

(Feel free to add something nice)

Oh, and tell you friends to help out too.

Thank You!
You are the greatest!

Mamavation - Week #9

Finally found a minute to sit down - kids are down for a nap, but the little one keeps trying to wake up.

First and foremost, Thank You Janice for kicking off the 30 day Shred. I managed to stay consistent for most of the time and hope to continue doing it. I did miss Saturday this week. Came back from parents so tired, I swear, I put kids to sleep and fell asleep before even laying down. I am definitely doing it tonight. And that will be my number 11 out 30.

It was challenging to workout while on vacation, just because there is so much going on. Kids were very active and I ran around a lot with them.

I have too tell you, "Here come Santa Clause" never sounded sweeter, but when you are in the swimsuit fighting fake waves of the wave pool of the waterdome.

OK, back to the coldness now. I forgot my weights, so I had to improvise. I had to make sure that I would get my workout done fast before my left dumbbell spoils.

I did workout every day I was there. YAY me!

I also decided to make an ultimate commitment and apply for Mamavation Mom Campaign. Working on the video now, where you get to hear my adorable Russian accent. Chosen or not it will be an incredible experience.


Keep track of goals
1. shed 10 lbs by the end of January. 9.8 (on 11/28/10) to go from 200 lb on 11/8/10 (start 04/01/10 - 209 lb). I haven't checked my weight and will wait a just a bit longer. However, jeans fit loose loose loose
2. 2-3 gallons of water a day Totally failed. Will do better this week
3. Stop night snacking Could of done a little bit better - blaming vacation

For this week
I will continue working through Jillian Michael's DVD every day and will do so much better with water intake and night snacking

Congrats to this week’s Sista of the Week: @jessicafiumara from the blog “Hundredth Time’s a Charm“.

All my friends,
I need your support in becoming a next Mamavation Mom. I will post my video application December 15th. If you think I deserve it, please tweet Leah the following

“Hey @bookieboo! I want @elenka29 to be the next #Mamavation Mom. She has my support! http://bit.ly/zqUxa”

Mamavation - Week #8

Once again thank You everybody for the support . It is greatly appreciated - You are getting me going!

This week was about overcoming ongoing or let's just call it Stomach Flu week. Monday night my daughter throw up, but I didn't really know what to make out of it. It didn't hit me until other members of the family started getting sick. My mother-in-law (aka babysitter) on Wednesday, my 1 yo son on Thursday, my husband on Friday. Clearly I saw it coming my way, so drank insane amount of water, had some aloe and probiotic. I got away with very minor symptoms (few unplanned trips to the washroom). The moral - water heals. Call it whatever you want, but I truly believe in water intake (I probably took close to 5 liters over Friday and Saturday)

30 Day shred.
Girls, thank You very much for giving me a butt kick I needed to get up and move. It is not easy to do butt kicks when your butt is 200 lb. I never realized how much I like my couch like I did when I was kicking my butt (sorry for the redundancy, but this is my #1 unliked exercise). I refuse the weight myself for now, because I do not want to disappoint myself with muscle growth (weight gain). I got a late start, but I did complete 4 workouts this week. 26 to go

We going on vacation for few days, so I will be working out in the hotel room.

Keep track of goals
1. shed 10 lbs by the end of January. 9.8 (on 11/28/10) to go from 200 lb on 11/8/10 (start 04/01/10 - 209 lb). NOT CHECKING WEIGHT NOW
2. 2-3 gallons of water a day 5 out 7 days
3. Stop night snacking I slipped on Saturday - didn't eat because of the stomach, but couldn't handle it by the end of the day

This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Earth Footwear. Walk it and work it!

Mamavation - Week #4

For this week just call me a sorry looser.

I know, so many of you that do what ever it takes to get out and do at least something even if sick and I applaud you for that.

Not me. I got sick on Tuesday, and since than I am feeling a little off. Well, bad enough to not wanting to do anything and spend a week feeling sorry for myself.

Here is what makes me really frustrated some times - I eat generally good

I have caffeine on occasion
I only drink water or 50/50 water juice
I do not add sugar (or sugar alternatives) to anything

I am trying to stick Mediterranean diet. Some say my food is very plain, but that food is fuel and nothing more than that. Chicken, meat, fish, buckwheat, rice, wholegrain pasta, salads with limited amount of dressing, whole grain bread, fruits. Do not take me wrong - I enjoy my food and not complaining about my menu.

I try to drink 3 liters of water a day (norm is 2, but there is a formula, that says so much per pound of weight)

January through June I didn't eat at night and worked 5x a week

So, what the f...? (sorry for letter naming, but since some of us run and fart - I think can swear a little)

It just feels like the worst punishment and main reason for quitting.

Ooh, got it out of my system, so now it is time to get constructive.

Oh, no, stop - got another thing to complain about - do not like politic! Was riding my bike from work and, since I ride on the path walk rather than the road, I have to deal with the cement blocks not being leveled. I suddenly so a really big, and knew I wouldn't be able to jump on it, so I got on the grass and there was "Vote for XYZ" sign right on my way. With no ways around, I tried to go back on cement and fell. I decided not to vote!

Sorry for complaining, and I am so hoping to be better next week

It looks like I lost 2.4

Monday:
17 minute ride to work
30 min ride back (+ plus 5 minute to put the chain on after the fall and Thank someone up there for making me wear a helmet)

And that's all for the week

Now it's a time to set some goals

1. I want to shed 10 lbs by the end of January. If I do that I promise to replace my profile picture with the one where I am not hiding behind my kids and honestly show my face
2. I will continue drinking 2-3 gallons of water a day
3. Stop night snacking
4. My previous goal included completing 11 bike trips to work before the end of the year. I still have 6 to go, but it is getting colder and being sick didn't help. I just need 6 warm days and no sniffles.

Earthfootwear is this week's sponsor. Please support them supporting us and visit their website

Mamavation - Week #5

Please use this link
Mamavation. Week 5 Thanks

Week 2 #Mamavation

So guess, I got a late start on this thing, but better late than ever. Thank You Mamavation Sistas for taking time to read and talk to me

I spent months blogging to myself and trying to talk myself into not giving up (glance through some of it if You have time) and here I found a support group. I need support!!!

I am trying to drink more water. My usual goal is 3 gallon bottle, but it is a bit of a challenge right now, since I can't fit a huge bottle in my backpack (since I pedal myself to work). So I am sticking right now to 1 gallon and refill from the faucet if needed (Yak!)

I still cannot workout at home. My workout of choice is WII (has been since January), since I can't go anywhere. Due to the tide living arrangements, I have to be quite till my daughter falls asleep. But if I drop my butt down on the chair, You better believe it "the butt" ain't moving until it is time to go sleep.

While I am trying to figure out how to make it work, I will do the best I can cycling to work - two 20 minute rides.

My low - my daughter's birthday cake. Not willing to give it away, I am finishing it. Not proud of it.

Tuesday
2 twenty minute bicycle rides = 40 min

Wednesday
2 twenty minute bicycle rides = 40 min

Thursday
1st ride - 26 minutes
2nd was 22 minutes, but I fell off the bike half way there (wasn't paying attention where the bike was going) and now my knee sooo hurts

Friday
I am doing much better (Thanks to the ice pack and cream gel my husband suggested I use). I wanted to to ride, but got up late and it takes me 40 minutes to get a family of four out of the house (and a minute less)

Bottom Line -
Challenges - Cake is almost gone (I did give away few pieces), so I will be better in doing it the right way
Late night snacking and eating - still have to figure it out. All the time after work is running around with kids. By the time they are in bed, it is too late to eat
Plan when to work out indoors (at home)

Wins - Idea with biking worked out great. Workout, saving money on gas, charging myself in the morning. It is all in one! Result - 128 minutes of power cycling

I started enforcing balanced meals in my family. We normally eat well , home made good food, but didn't do great on vegetables. Well, now I am prep salads for next day while making dinner for kids.

Goals: Drinking more water
Complete 11 bike runs before it gets really cold (for each week til the end of the year). Have 3, still have to do 8
Stop eating late

My measurements - HOW OFTEN DO YOU TAKE MEASUREMENTS?
October vs June (last measurement)
weight 199.3 (200.2)
BMI 36.67 (36.84)
measure breast 40-1/4 (39)
measure waste 39-1/2 (38.5)
measure hips 50-1/2 (50.5)
bicep L 14-1/2
bicep R 14-3/4


Total loss 6 inches, 8 pounds and 1.51 BMI

Between May 3rd and October 20

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV.

SISTA OF THE WEEK: And a BIG congratulations to April of @GAFlygirl for being the Sista of the Week!

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by SUBWAY. SUBWAY is giving away a $50 gift card to Lulu Lemon, a green Gaiam gym bag and yoga mat. All you have to do is mention the Commit to Fit Campaign and Jared on their Mamavation Monday post.

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