Life Behind the Curve

Before from the front. (Look at how bad my scoliosis is. My shoulders are all uneven.)

A year and a half ago, after dropping all of my baby weight from B (son#2), I had a miscarriage. It was a long, painful, emotional process (which I’m sure will make it into another post someday) and despite not having particularly planned the pregnancy, I was devastated. Both Scoot and I medicated ourselves with food. I’ve never been an emotional eater, but I’ve also never been through anything like this. I couldn’t workout because exercise would cause me to bleed (sorry if that’s TMI).

Now that my hormones are finally back to normal, the time has come to get back to my previously (fairly) healthy self. I was pleasantly surprised when a group of bloggers who I follow on Twitter came together to support one another in a 30 Day Shred (a fitness program by that slightly crazy but strangely likable trainer from the Biggest Loser). I thought this would be a great way to get to know those that I follow a little better while working towards my goal of losing 15-20 pounds in the next six months.

I was unable to start at the beginning of March when the rest of my fellow #shredheads did because I was sick, but here I am, joining them in working towards a healthier lifestyle. Here are my starting stats:

Code Name:Radar Bradwell

Tagline:Whatever doesn’t kill you will onlymake you more shredded.

Weight: the same it was when I got married in 2001

Goal: around what it was between D and B

Before from the back.

Diet Plan/Personal Rules:eat breakfast, eat more whole foods, more milk and water, no artificial sweetners, less eating out, daily exercise

Shred Plan: daily (except when I have soccer games); level 1 for no more than 7 days; advance to level 3 as quickly as possible

 Day 1 (March 12th)

I started the 30-day shred on a Thursday. Thursdays are strange nights in our house because I’m a fan of Fox’s top shows, 24 and American Idol, which are on Mondays through Wednesdays. I don’t regularly watch TV for the other half of the year, but during the 24 and Idol seasons I often come home on Thursdays and think, “Well, what do we do now?” So this Thursday, I psyched D up and told him we were going to do “eckersize.” He was super excited. We started the video and both D and B began doing the excersises along with me.

It started out ok but the only hand weights I have are 10 pound weights. Note to self: go buy some lighter weights. OMG ouch!

I think I did pretty well. The leg and stomach exercises were ok but man, the arm exercises were tough (again, probably because I was trying to do them with 10 pound weights which were quickly dropped to the floor). I’m quite pleased that the arm exercises hurt so bad because I absolutely love the look of strong arms on women (see Jill Biden and Michelle Obama). I’ve been pleased with what having babies who have to be held for one or two or five years has done for my shoulder muscles, which were previously non-existant. But I haven’t had toned arms for quite some time so the more this DVD works my arms, the better.

D and B were totally into doing the excersizes with me. But as soon as Ms. Jillian pulled out the hand weights, the boys tried to grab mine so they could keep up. That was a non-starter so D says, “Mommy, plause it. I got a great idea.” He went running off upstairs. He came back with these: 

D's "Weights"

Not just one pair, he brought a pair for B as well. Now I have online and IRL Shredheads to get me through this.

Day 2 (March 13th)

Played in a (co-ed league) soccer game, so thought shredding could possibly kill me.

Day 3 (March 14th)

OK, so this isn’t going quite as well as I had hoped. I was planning on getting up this morning to shred with my 9-year-old nephew but we went to bed too late so after I woke up this morning, I had to get on the road to Santa Barbara with my parents. But I’m hoping to do something tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes.