Cheater, Cheater, Chocolate-Raspberry Torte Eater... YUM!

Today is my baby's first birthday.  I'm down over 11 pounds now, and yes, I am celebrating!  This, my friends is what I call a valid reason to cheat :)

We made our absolute favorite for baby's cake... Cook's Illustrated recipe of Chocolate-Raspberry Torte.  And if you've never had it, then you have NEVER had the richest, most indulgent, touch every aspect of your senses, throw you into dreamland, most delectable chocolaty dessert ever!  (Yes... I'm a bit over-enthusiastic about it, but... you just have to taste it to understand.  *sigh*)

Besides... I've already cheated by licking the chocolate off my fingers... off the spoon... off the bowl... off the glass cup measurer... off the floor... (just kidding... 30 second rule doesn't apply to drippy chocolate that has hit the floor... eeew.)  My point is... I've already cheated a bit, so with that curl right in the middle of my forehead... It's time to go all the way ;)

On top of that, we're having a family favorite for dinner.  Tacos!  I'll tone it down a bit by skipping out on the sour cream and skimping on the cheese, but... I don't think I can keep that meal to only 400 calories and give it the full umph it deserves.  Right?

So, happy birthday to my most beautiful Jacq Jacq, and thank's a million, my darling, for the best reason to cheat!

Shaun T... I'm sure you'll reckon with me in the morning ;)

Insanity... "Groan and bear it."

Every morning I get up between 6 and 6:30 am to do my Insanity workout.  I'm grunting and groaning as I drag myself out of bed and force my tired body to stumble down the stairs, make my way into the living room and key up the video of the day while I grab my water.

Thank God that Shaun T isn't one of those annoying exercise video people.  I'll never forget P.E. in high school, when my friend Jackie and I somehow talked our coach into letting us do the Tony Little workouts while everyone else played basketball.  We'd be stretching it out and all the sudden, Tony would say something like... "Imagine me... all alone... with you... in your living room."  EEEEEEEWWWWW!  Um... I don't think so, Tony... But Shaun T?  Well... suffice it to say that I just don't mind spending a little extra quality time with him.  ;)

Too bad that "quality time" is spent with me huffing and puffing and barely making it through... ahem... the warm up.  Oh geez... did I just say the warm up?!?!

Don't judge me, my friends.  At least not until you've tried a little Insanity yourself!  In the last couple of days, I've finally reached the point where I can actually force myself to complete the warm up without stopping.  And I'm so proud of myself!  *smile*  I do have to stop about a million times throughout the rest of the workout.  But, hey!  I'm sweating hard at the end, so I figure I've done my part... and I AM getting better.

The best part?  After only 10 days, I'm 4 ounces shy of losing 10 POUNDS!!!  Yes... Did I say 10 pounds?  I most certainly did!  I just can't wait for what's to come.  My abs are starting to look a lot better, and the rest... well... it's comin' along pretty nicely too :)

On top of everything... I have so much more energy throughout the day.  I'm sleeping better at night.  And... I tend to get more done with the time I have. (Due to my surplus of energy.)

When all is said and done... I might groan and bear it in the morning... but the way I feel the rest of the day makes it all worth it, and gives me the energy I need to repeat the cycle again the next time my alarm goes off.

And to you, cute chick in the front, with the short dark brown hair and chiseled abs... Yeah... I've decided I don't like you just yet.  You're too happy.  You workout too hard.  And you look too good.

That is all :)

Bananas and Peanut Butter... My saving GRACE!

Borrowed from knackfornutrition.com

Following the Insanity plan means that I have to learn a new diet.  This is rather frustrating, because between caring for five kiddos, soccer, my Doula business, and the million other things I do - like clean house... I just don't want to take the time to get to know everything all at once.

One easy meal that I've discovered is an oldie, but goody.  The peanut butter and banana sandwich!

I take Ezekiel bread, Kirkland's natural peanut butter and sliced bananas to make a quick, healthy and yummy lunch in minutes.  In fact, If I just cut that in half, then I'd take care of one of the smaller meals in my five meal plan, and it only takes a couple of minutes to throw it together.  And believe me... with a big active family, time is of the essence.

The picture I use here is borrowed from another website, because I scarfed down my lunch today in my excitement to get the babies to bed and get to work.  But my sandwich had a top and a bottom, and no cinnamon.  Although... I think I will try the cinnamon on my next go-round.

Today I am sore... all over.  Every move is pain.  BUT, I feel really good.  The baby is actually starting to sleep better with my diet change, and I'm getting some awesome nutrition from Shakeology.  I've been feeling happy and energized, and on top of all that... I'm down a couple more pounds!  This is my third day, and weight is dropping fast.

To be honest... I kind of expected the weight to drop fast the first week and a half.  That's normal for me.  The real test will be in a couple of weeks, when it has slowed down a bit.

For now... I'm sore, but excited.  And I know, that although I whine my way through my 6am morning workout... I can do this.  I just keep repeating that mantra.  I can do this.  I can do this!

Insanity is whooping my... um... tail...

So... I started Insanity yesterday.  I'd LOVE to say that I made it all the way through the first day fit test, but I didn't.  I'm a pretty tough gal... but about 2/3's of the way through, my stomach was on fire, and I felt like... well... suffice it to say that I became extremely nauseated and had to stop.  I was SO frustrated with myself.  I HATE stopping... and if there's one thing I'm not... I'm not a quitter.  I mean... I didn't expect to do amazing or anything, but I did expect to do better than that.  Oh well...

This morning, I got up at 6am and did the second day cardio workout, and... let me tell you... it is absolutely INSANE!  There is a reason they call this workout Insanity.  I swear...  the person who came up with this exercise routine is definitely insane... and I guess you could say that I'm insane for actually trying it.  I about died half-way through, and definitely finished half-a... (well... you get it... :)  I just kept telling myself, "If Anna can do it, I can do it."  

Yes, I'm VERY competitive... and if I have to tap into that to make myself finish these nasty little workouts... then that's what I'll do... I'm competitive, and I hate to lose... well, in this case... I'd LOVE to :)  (Couldn't resist that one!)

When I did my weigh-in yesterday, I was upset with myself, because I had gained more like 6 or 7 pounds, give or take a few... mainly give... (sigh).  So... (and I'm so embarrassed that I'm even putting this AND my picture out there in the public...)  I weighed in yesterday at 151.5 pounds.  *GASP!!!!!!!!*  (And yes... I did make that the smallest font... hopefully you can't read that number...  EEGA!)  I worked so hard to lose all of that pregnancy weight... and here, I let several chaotic months, lots of stress, and loose eating cause me to lose a bunch of ground... so discouraging.

After two days of Shakeology and Insanity, I'm already down a few pounds, so... I'm grateful that the shedding has begun, and determined to keep at it... although... I'm REALLY dreading what Shaun T has in store for me tomorrow morning at 6am.  Ugh... Can you hear me groaning?  :P

On the verge of INSANITY!

That's it!  I've had it!  Sticking to a diet all by myself is just too hard for me right now.  This summer, I have gained five pounds.  FIVE POUNDS!  Okay... might not seem like much, but five can turn into 10, can turn into... well... you know...

So, I've made a HUGE decision.  I've decided to go the route of the insane.  I have signed up for Beach Body Insanity.  That's right.  I'm going to be working out insanely hard every morning with Shaun T.  And in addition to that, I'm trying out the Shakeology breakfast meal replacement.

Friends tell me... "You know, that's kind of extreme."  "It's probably only going to work for awhile, and then you'll gain the weight back."  

You know what?  Maybe I will gain the weight back... maybe I won't.  All I know is that I've battled depression this summer, and I'm tired of it.  Exercising makes me feel good, and as a result, I'm happy, and I am ready to be happy ALL the time.  

So... I have made the decision to:

1. Get my butt out of bed every morning to exercise (starting Monday).
2. Drink my breakfast (via Shakeology).
3. Follow the Insanity diet (allowing breaks to maintain SOME sanity).
4. Be a happier mama and wife.
5. And ENJOY the fact that Peanut Butter is on said diet.  (YAY!!!  Oh, how I have missed thee!)

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.  I'm going to put out weekly updates and pics in order to keep myself on task.  (Oh gosh... did I just say that?  Now, I'm REALLY gonna have to stick with it! ;)

I KNOW I can do this!  Now, I just gotta make it happen :)