Starting An Exercise Program

I'm sure March Madness has nothing to do with it...but it seems the last few years in March I've put an exercise plan in to motion.  I usually start strong on it and then something happens to throw off my schedule and then I never make the time to fit it back in to the routine for a long time.

In the last few months, I believe my metabolism has come to a screeching halt. I weigh more now then ever and have just felt unhealthy. Plus I really have to start an exercise program and stick with it...not only for obvious reasons but I already have Osteoporosis.

I was diagnosed at the age of 37 (a little over a year after giving birth to our oldest - Megan) with Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) - early menopause. A few months after Megan was born I was diagnosed with postpartum Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's Disease). This particular form of Hypothyroidism is what they think caused my ovaries to come to stop functioning. Anti-thyroid antibodies also attacked my ovaries. We actually conceived our twins through the use of donor eggs.

I did try running last Fall, but after 2 weeks my knees hurt so bad that it took a couple weeks for them to feel better. I'm sure that was due in large part to my shoes. My in-laws then gave us their treadmill since they use their elliptical. I was doing good with that until Anna and Ethan changed their sleep routines. :-)

So, starting last week I am back on the treadmill ~ 3 times a week and started going to Curves for their Zumba class. My mom goes to this Curves and has been wanting me to check out their Zumba class. I loved it the class the moment it started.  I really like Curves since the do offer quick, effective workouts, it's close to home and they have weights which are weight resistant. I really need the weight resistance to help with the bone density.

The great thing is that my husbands health insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield) has a fitness aspect to it. So for a $29 registration fee and $29 a month I can go to any fitness center in their system (including Curves) and not have to pay anything else to go! Since we are on a very tight budget, this made it very cost effective. And since I could just crumble at any second to a pile of bones - it also made sense to my health!

I don't know why it is always so hard to get back on that horse once I've fallen off. I always feel so good physically and emotionally after I exercise, it should not take as much effort as it does to get motivated to start back up with a routine once I've stopped. So here's to this one sticking!

Have a great Saturday, and love to all. ♥

Thursday Ramblings

Not sure what else to call this post other than that...I have things to say, but they are all over the place!

I'm now on my second week of regular exercise. Don't get me wrong I've always exercised, but I just haven't been consistent for the last few years. So anyway, this is my second week of building up my running. Last week I was walking 4 minutes and running for 2 minutes - do that 5x's. This week is walk 3 minutes and run 3 minutes - 5x's. I started that Tuesday and can now barely walk! The inside of my knees are killing me. I'm hoping it's just because I'm doing something my body is not used to, but I feel like I'm 90 years old! I'm supposed to go again tomorrow, but I think I will just do Pilates. I really don't want to aggravate it anymore or do any damage.

My little Anna has been quite a pain about taking her nap! She fights it, refuses to take one and then is miserable all evening long. The problem is that she shares a room with Ethan - so his sleep ends up being disrupted too. We've now taken out the Pack n' Play again so we have a place for Anna to go when she won't cooperate. She still won't go to sleep though. Little bugger!

I had a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting this evening. It was so much fun. I love the ladies in MOPS. I've actually started attending the church where this MOPS group is held. Hmmm, I was raised Catholic, but have honestly never felt a true connection spiritually. The Co-leader of MOPS - her husband is Pastor at this church. It is a Christian church, young and contemporary. I love the pastor and his wife. The are awesome speakers and I instantly felt such a connection to them and what they said. I walk out of church now feeling such an incredible connection - and so much stronger. The community at this church is great too, everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

Okay, lastly, some tough news came to me yesterday. A friend of mine, who has 2 sons - one is 7 and the other 2 1/2. The 2 1/2 year old has had bouts of cancer - they just found a reoccurence yesterday. Just incredibly devastating news. This friend and her son are the two strongest most positive people I have ever met. Just incredible. My heart is just breaking though. Like I said I was raised Catholic and we have a "prayer" for everything. Non-demonation Christian does not have that though - you just speak from your heart. This is very unique for me because I want to find the perfect words to say. But, if you can, can you all just think of him and his mom and pray that the Lord will give them strength and courage through all of this and that He will show mercy. I'm not really used to speaking from the heart in prayer ... some people are so good and expressing themselves, but I think you know where I'm going with this, right?

On that note, I will end for today! Thank you for giving me your time. :-)

What A Great Day!

So today I woke up and began my 10 week training for a 5K.  I don't know if I will actually run in a 5K, but since I've never been a runner it will be nice to build up to that properly and then make a 5K my normal route.

I then started potty training our twin daughter.  I decided over the weekend we really need to get this done so I, mistakenly, tried a crash course in it which didn't go over so well.  I put both Anna and Ethan in new underwear with their favorite characters and then the both proceeded to have accidents and completely freaked.  Anna has been wanted to wear her underwear ever since, which is a good opportunity for us to "practice".  So now I set the timer.  I have her sit on the potty initially, then put her underwear on her.  I then keep setting the timer for 10 minutes until she goes in the potty.  Once she goes, I then do it in 30 minute increments until she goes.  No accidents today...but I'm still not sure she's really "getting" it.  Ethan has no desire to try again...so we'll wait until he starts to show interest.

I then had a full schedule with appointments for my home business which ended with me getting a new partner started this evening.  I'm very excited to help her and her family, not only get really healthy and safe products into their household, but also that I have the opportunity to help her earn a really great income which will just allow her to dream.

Since my husband is at the Fire Department tonight, tomorrow morning with be Pilate's.  We have Comcast Cable and through their On Demand there is a Fitness Channel with Pilate's.

Overall I would call it a good day!  :)