All the Sun For You

A mom, two boys, a husband, and a whole lot of adventure!

Category Archives: Fitness and Health


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Boys Only!

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All three of my boys raced today, and for the first time all year, I didn’t. It was my turn to watch the boys while Hottie ran a quick 5k. It was fun to hang with the boys and cheer Daddy on with them!

We were told that there was no kids race after the 5k, so I let the boys run the long finish with Hottie. Once they were done and eating their gelato, the race organizers announced the kids race. Ok! We took our two tired boys to the race start and had them take another go at it. Matthew ran hard again and Bryson took his time… he needed a nap! They both crossed the finish and got their chocolate medal!

We came home with a bag of solid chocolates, 2 chocolate medals, a dark chocolate bar with bacon and caramel, a coupon for a pound of chocolate bon bons, and tummies full of dark chocolate gelato and chocolate covered bananas. This is, by far, the best SWAG we’ve gotten from a 5k… which is why we like to do it with the kids!

Now I’m off to hide all of that chocolate!

 

 

 


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My Support Team… My Loves

I ran a half marathon this past weekend.  It was amazing and such a great race for me – the best and fastest 20K/half I’ve ever run (this last race was #4).  Hitting a personal best, feeling as great as I did throughout the race and at the finish, and kicking off racing season with a bang was all great – but it doesn’t hold a candle to the highlight of my experience.

My boys came out to support me – in the pouring rain.

As they dropped me off close to the starting line, I blew them each a kiss and said I’d see them along the way.  Because of the rain, I wasn’t sure that I would see them.  It’s a pretty tall order to get two little kids out of the car multiple times to stand in the rain and wait for their mom to run by.  As I waited in the rain for the gun to go off, I felt emotional and even teared-up thinking about them standing along the race route waiting for me in the rain.  I knew they may not be able to make it work, but I was hoping they could.

And they did!

I gave Hottie a course map the night before the race with three general areas circled that would be nice points for the boys.  He said that they would do their best but that the weather could be an issue.  I agreed.  I honestly hoped I’d see them once.

They came to the first point circled on the course map, but I was running faster than anticipated and they missed me.  Shoot!  I had no idea until after the race that they were there, but my heart melted when Hottie told me.  I saw them around mile 6/7 as I came down a straight stretch, but they didn’t see me.  I shouted out for Matthew and they got so excited and had a hard time grabbing their little signs (in all fairness, they were also eating donuts)!  I really wasn’t concerned about my pace so ran up to give them each a kiss and it was just wonderful – I ran faster after that!

My phone/headphones started to fail at about mile 10.5 and I kept hoping I’d see the boys again so I could give them my electronics.  We had JUST bought the new phone the night before (not recommended) and here I was in the rain with it.  I was terrified I was killing it with the rain and just then… there they were again calling for me!  I ran over to kiss them (again) and hand off my phone when the boys said, “Mom!  We brought you oranges!”  Cut orange wedges are my favorite race food – I learned that 6 years ago when running Grandma’s Half in Minnesota.  Of course, Hottie remembered that and brought them for me.  How wonderful!  I sucked on one of them as Hottie fished my phone out of my running belt (my fingers were frozen and could not function) and then they sent me on my way after another orange wedge.  As I ran off (with no music), I heard, “Go Mom Go!  Go Mom Go!  Go Mom…”  Seriously – there is nothing more motivating!  I heard them in my head until the finish line… where they were NOT!

Once again, I was running faster than anticipated and I crossed the finish line without my support crew.  HA!  It was a very anti-climactic finish given the awful, cold weather with very few spectators there.  I wasn’t sure what to do!  I couldn’t get my fingers to work they were so cold and couldn’t even zip my coat or open my water bottle.  I walked back to the finish just to make sure I hadn’t missed them and I hadn’t – they weren’t there.  I went to the relief tent and asked for a blanket from the EMS table so I could warm up and then asked a gal if I could borrow her phone to call Hottie.  Her phone had taken it as well and my fingers weren’t working, so it took forever to get the call made.  Turns out, they had just gotten to the finish line, so I headed their way.

Matthew’s little face lit up when he saw me and he and Bryson kept saying, “great job, Mom!  You won the race!”  They were so excited!  I got a kiss from everyone and we headed QUICKLY to the car!  As I held Matthew’s hand, headed for shelter from the never-ending rain, he looked up at me and said, “I heard them say on the radio, ‘Courtney Donaldson from Urbandale.”  I was so happy – they were there for my finish (just not at the finish line, but getting out of the car), and my little boy heard them announce my victory!

Hottie, God love him, took me straight to his downtown office to take a shower to warm up since we had two bags full of dry clothes and shoes, and because I now had a “towel” in the form of the flannel EMS blanket I walked off with.  My boys continued to support me as they waited in Dad’s office (eating even more donuts) while I took the longest, hottest shower ever!  And as I was showering, Hottie came to the door and said, “2:04 was your finish time, I thought you’d want to know right away!”  He knows me so well, and loves me so much!  Because I’d given him my phone, I had no idea what my time was until he told me.  It was so fun hearing it from HIM, of all people!

It was the most perfect race… and it truly rained the entire time!  HA!

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Fitness Update

I finished up an 8 week challenge doing the Beachbody PiYo program.  I loved it!  It was a great program to get myself motivated for tougher challenges to come.  My finishing stats, pics, etc. are here.

I’ve started a new challenge (why not just jump right into another one, right?) just today and am tracking my progress here.  The holidays, especially the 4 days between wrapping up the last challenge and starting this new one, were not kind to me – or rather, I was not kind to myself.  I got a little fluffy.  I had to up my goals for this next challenge so I could get below where I STARTED the last challenge.  HA!

 

 


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12 Weeks of Maintenance – Wrapped Up!

It was getting pretty tough to focus on this 12 week challenge since I started PiYo 3 weeks ago – PiYo has  ended up taking quite a bit of time.  I knew my running would take a hit, and am honestly glad that it didn’t take a bigger hit than it did.  My goal was to run a minimum of 240 miles and I ended up at 229.77 miles prior to resetting running goals in week 10 to reflect the time required of PiYo and weather considerations (it is so wet and cold outside – I haven’t run outside in 3+ weeks, sigh).  I’m pretty darn happy with that and if nothing else, it reminds me it’s time for a new pair of running shoes  😉  I’ve definitely put 500 miles on the ones I’m currently wearing.  HA!

At the end of the day, most goals were met and I lost weight, if only 2.6 pounds (I did weigh 1.2 pounds less yesterday when I thought I was done with this challenge, but that’s OK).  My goal was to maintain, so any loss is a win!  I never went above 145 pounds and my body fat did not go above 24% – both of those were my highest-priority goals.  If fact, I lost 1.4% body fat, ending up solidly in the 21%-range (21.4% today) and I could not be happier with that!  I have never had body fat percentages this low before!  I think you can see the changes in the pictures – things really tightened up!

I almost spent 5 hours a week being active – and I have the PiYo challenge to thank for that.  I was slipping big-time on this goal but then PiYo started and it’s not a big calorie-burner, so I had to step it up to keep burning my calories while getting stronger and more flexible.  I ended up coming in under my weekly 5 hour activity goal by only 9 minutes a week – and when you consider my steps per day – I bet I met the goal.  I move a LOT chasing these kids around  😉

Another great challenge with most goals met!  I can’t always control how much time I can spend being active, but I can modify calorie intake to off-set those challenges and that’s what I did.  I’ve learned these last 12 weeks how to plan each day the night before, and to think about modifications when things don’t go according to plan.  A great thing to figure out, no doubt!

Summary (09/02/2015 – 11/25/2015)

  • Weight:   140.4 Pounds
    • Number of Weeks Meeting <=145 pound goal:  12 weeks
    • Pounds Lost or Gained (started at 143.0 pounds):  2.6 Pound lost
  • Body Fat %: 21.4%
    • Number of Weeks Meeting <=24% goal:  12 weeks
    • Body Fat % Lost or Gained (started at 22.8%):  1.4% Lost
  • BMI: 22
    • BMI Points Lost or Gained (started at 22.4):  0.4
  • Time Spent Being Active (goal is 60 hours):  58 Hours 12 Minutes
    • Number of Weeks Meeting >= 5 hour goal:  4 weeks (average of 4 hours 51 minutes per week, which is very close to the weekly goal!  Only off by 9 minutes per week)
  • Miles Run:  229.77 Miles (averaged 19.14 miles per week, only off 0.86 miles per week)
  • Measurements:
    • Natural Waist: 27 inches (27.5 on 08/29/15)
      • Lost 0.5 inches
    • Belly Button: 31.5 inches (31.75 on 08/29/15)
      • Lost 0.25 inches
    • Hips:  35.75 inches (35.75 on 08/29/15)
      • Neither lost nor gained inches

12 Week final

12 Week final side


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It’s Time…

… for a dedicated fitness blog.  I know that most of my parenting readers don’t care about my fitness challenges and stats, and the people who follow me for fitness reasons don’t care about my challenges and joys as a parent (or the newly-indoctrinated fashion-obsessed woman I seem to have become).  Three health/fitness companies have reached out to me to post for them and I always say no, but I finally said one to one of them and I hesitated a LOT.  I don’t want random people reading my parenting/personal blog.

So…

Here’s my fitness blog, in case you want to follow along.  I will try to move the fitness stuff from here to there and will probably rarely cross-post.  I want to keep the two identities/themes separate!

http://everchangingevermore.com/


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So… Fitness… Challenge…

I am still finishing out my “12 Weeks of Maintenance” and logging daily, but I decided that with winter around the corner, and my lack of strength training, that doing something different and exciting would be a good idea.  I’m not sure when we’ll get our weight machine from my in-laws (we have some things to move to make room for it) and I pondered classes at the Y, but don’t want to dump Bryson in “child watch” when M-W is our time together (and it’s winter – colds – yuck).  So I’ve been thinking about some new programs and videos and decided to just jump in and join Josey on her “Fit Through the Holidays” challenge.  My friend has the PiYo DVD’s she’s giving me and Josey was kind enough to still let me join her team, which is great because there’s a lot of motivation on the FB page for this challenge.

I’ll start a page for this challenge because it goes beyond my 12 Weeks of Maintenance which just gets me to Thanksgiving.  It was Thanksgiving last year when I was sitting at 144.6 pounds and 22.8% body fat.  Today, I’m at 141.2 pounds and 22.8% body fat, so I’ve had a stable year.  But I need to stay interested, I need to stay motivated.  The holidays are the worst and I need to stay on track.  I did a great job last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas (ended up at 140.2 pounds and 21.9% body fat), but I think that’s because I was riding the high of losing the weight.. but a year at essentially the same weight isn’t near as exciting as dropping 1-2 pounds a week, you know?

So, what am I doing?

Well, I’m doing the full PiYo program.  Hottie got all over me for getting DVD’s and not the streaming service (“you should have just bought VHS tapes!”  HA HA!), but I reminded him that we didn’t pay for the DVD’s and the streaming service doesn’t have the full PiYo program included.  I already think I’ll get the streaming beac.hbod.y service once our exercise room is up and running (which will credit my coach, I think!), but for now, I’m doing the full PiYo on DVD, 6 days a week.  I start once my friend returns from Europe (or Asia, I can’t remember) and can get the DVD’s to me – so later this week/weekend.  I’ll have to double up workouts the first week to get caught up to the group who all started today.  I’m going to keep running – a lot.  I honestly do not intend to decrease my mileage much/at all while doing this challenge (20-25 miles a week).  I will maybe lift some weights once the weight machine is in the house, but that may not be necessary.  Hottie is getting the kickboxing bag prepped for winter use in the garage (needed a good mat), but like weights, I expect to not do that too often.  We have committed ourselves to eating cleaner than we already eat (we cook ultra healthy at home, but we can always improve), and we need to cut the sweets – not entirely, but they need to be reduced.  AND… if all works out… Hottie and I are going on a fitness trip in early December together in Utah!  It’s our Christmas present to each other!  He’s ready to get in shape too, so these next few weeks will be great fun working together at getting healthy/healthier for Utah and beyond!

I’m pretty amped up to start, and hit it hard starting yesterday and today to not lose any time as I wait for my DVDs.  I run my current “12 Weeks of Maintenance” Wed – Tues and will likely continue that trend.  I really like weighing in on Wednesdays – it’s a more realistic weight than on Fridays before the “free” weekend.  🙂

I’m still thinking of specific, measureable goals.  But my “before” pics are done.

Here we go… AGAIN!

 


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12 Weeks of Maintenance – Half Way Done!

Here I am, half way through my “12 Weeks Until the Holidays” challenge to myself.  I really flubbed it this last week – I was so, so sick.  If I get sick (that’s a big IF), I’m usually sick for no more than 24 hours.  This thing got me for 72 hours – 3 whole days.  I was out of energy, suffering a sore throat, and sneezing constantly.  I just did not have it in me to run or do any exercise, really.  Miraculously, I only gained 0.2 pounds from last week until now, and lost body fat.  So, I think it’s fair to say that I’m managing my calorie intake rather well, especially when I’m unable to exercise.

Here are my mid-way stats:

  • Weight:  141.4 pounds (down 1.6 pounds from my starting weight of 143.0 pounds)
  • Body Fat %:  22.8% (neither up nor down – started at 22.8%)
  • BMI:  22.2 (down 0.2 from my starting BMI of 22.4)
  • Natural Waist Measurement:  27.5 inches (no change from starting measurements)
  • Belly Button Measurement:  31.75 inches (no change from starting measurements
  • Hips:  35.75 inches (no change from starting measurements)

Goals for the 12 weeks:

  • I want to weigh 145 pounds or less every Wednesday
    • This goal was 100% met!
  • My body fat cannot go above 24%
    • This goal was 100% met!
  • I want to keep doing 5 hours a week of vigorous activity
    • This was only met one week… most weeks are running about 4.5 hours of activity a week

Thoughts at the Mid-Way Point:

  • I’m really happy with the main stats of weight and body fat % – to be hitting those goals consistently, week after week, with less than 5 hours of exercise is promising for my busier future
  • I do need to be more consistent with exercise, and got back on the wagon today with a horrendous 5 mile run – HA!
  • If I could drop another 1.6-2.0 pounds in the next 6 weeks, I would be under 140 again (I only got under that when I was still nursing Bryson very consistently) which would be pretty awesome!
  • It’s getting colder outside… it’s time to get back into KB in the garage and INSAN.ITY workouts in the kitchen


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Fitness Maintenance, Going Strong!

I keep my weekly stats and thoughts on this page, but I wanted to check in for accountability since it is Wednesday – weigh-in day.  And because this is the final week until mid-program stats (always a little scary!).

Ugh – why did I choose Wednesdays?????

By Friday, I’m usually down to an even 141.0 or even lower before eating like a fool on the weekend.  Fridays are great days for me to weigh-in, but Wednesdays are more “real,” because Monday and Tuesday are “correction days” from the weekend and I’m at a pretty stable weight by Wednesdays.  By Friday, I’m at a low that is going to be ruined by the weekend, so why bother even thinking it’s a real weight, you know?

This current week (starting today) is week 6 – half way through this 12 weeks of maintenance.  I’m happy to say that I have actually lost weight, but not a lot so I still think I’m maintaining.  I am hoping to be an even 141 next Wednesday which would put me at an even 2 pound loss for the first 6 weeks (I started at 143 and am 141.2 right now).  This should be do-able since we’re not traveling this weekend for the first time in 4 weeks!  I better see 141.0 on Wednesday – you all know my goal now and can feel free to heckle me next week if I don’t meet it.

Body fat has stayed pretty darned constant – started at 22.8 and am at 22.9 today.  That is such a flakey thing – depends on what you ate, drank, etc. the night before and also the time of day that you exercised.  I don’t get too bent out of shape over this number – as long as it stays under 24% each Wednesday.  I just don’t think I’ll be losing much fat even though there is still plenty to lose (if you saw me n*ked, you’d agree – trust me!).  I’d have to really rock the boat to amp up fat loss (I am thinking of rocking the boat the second 6 weeks, but we shall see!!!).

I will post pics and measurements next week, but I just had to put this out there since I have one final week before mid-program stats AND I can have a clean eating weekend ahead of me if I choose to.

I’m choosing to.