Week 5: Cleaning Up the Damage From Tropical Storm Angie

I tore through Kauai like the Hungry Little Caterpillar on Saturday, eating my way through way too many delicious Hawaiian treats.

And like the caterpillar, after it was all over, I had a stomachache.

Session 3, Week 4: Chillaxin' in Paradise

Sitting on our condo's lanai in Kauai, I'm in heaven.

I'm just steps from the ocean where a family of turtles splashes around.

Week 3: Running for Sienna

Body Backers past and present showing their support for a great project.

Last weekend my family and I had the opportunity to be part of something really special.

Some of my amazing Body Back friends invited us to participate in a 5K at Mission Bay to raise money for Sienna's Play Garden. The Rancho Penasquitos playground revitalization project was started by the family of a little girl named Sienna who passed away unexpectedly in 2012 at just 16 months.

It was heart-warming to see the more than 500 people who came to show their support for the family.

Before the race started, a woman stood up to address the crowd and I heard someone whisper, "Is that the mom?"

Session 3, Week 2 + What Not to Do Between Body Back Sessions

I owe my great results from Session 2 to our instructor Ashley!

By the second-to-last week of my last Body Back session, I was within a pound of my goal weight!

So I put all of my focus into the eating plan and workouts. I kept thinking, "I don't need that <insert bad food choice here>. I just have a few more days."

I passed up desserts, avoided alcohol, planned my meals and snacks, drank my water, worked out hard. And I did it! I surpassed my goal and realized amazing overall results. I was so excited and proud!

And then I went nuts...

Whose Body Is This?

We did it! We officially survived another session of Body Back! But, I think there's been a mix up! I didn't get my body back! I got someone elses!

After another 8 weeks of intense, 5:30 a.m. workouts and disciplined, clean eating, I have some surprising results to share!

I wasn't sure how this second session would go - it's one thing to do this for eight weeks and see results, but it's another thing to keep the momentum going...

15 Weeks and Counting: My Body Back Journey So Far

 

Wish this baby was on the food plan... :)

Can't believe I'm almost done with my second 8-week session of BodyBack!

Tuesday after next is our final assessment where we'll see how far we've come. That means I have just eight days left to give it my all.

After a super encouraging email from our Body Back leader, Ashley, I have a renewed commitment to do my very best during this last week. In fact, it came just in time to help me plan NOT to have mimosas at a family brunch today - a big deal for me, since I LOVE a good mimosa ... or several ... :)

For those who aren't familiar with BodyBack, it's a workout program with a meal plan and food journal designed for moms who want to get back in shape after having kids. We meet for workouts twice a week and are encouraged to workout on our own for a total of six days, with one rest day.

"To get what you've never had..."

It's Been a While - Let's Catch Up!

 

 

Wow! I can't believe it's been over a year since I last posted... A LOT has happened. Most importantly was the birth of our beautiful baby Coen in August - he's 11 months now!

Vegan Zucchini Lasagna with Tofu Ricotta

Life has been crazy these past few months. In case you haven't heard the news yet - I'm pregnant! I'm now at 31 weeks, so almost 8 months. I can't believe how fast it is going by. I feel lucky to be feeling great, still full of energy and still sleeping well. Yahoo!

My blog posts have been few and far between since I started this crazy journey. At first I didn't feel good, so I stopped cooking as much and had a hard time sticking to my new vegan lifestyle. I started craving comfort foods like macaroni and cheese, pizza, ice cream (and any other dessert I could get my hands on) - and I wanted the real thing - no vegan substitutes.

So I went for it. I also started eating eggs as an easy way to get more protein. So, I guess I can say, I'm eating more as a vegetarian than a vegan these days. Although I do try to keep the dairy to a minimum. And as I started feeling better, I started cooking more, which makes it easier to get the protein and nutrients I need without resorting to too many animal products.