Mini Hanses

It is no secret I bore three mini Hanses.  The boys just love their dad.  If you ask the boys who is cooler without hesitation they will say, "Daddy!".  Who's nicer?  "Daddy!"  Currently I'm the prettiest, but I'm not sure how long I will be able to hold that title.

All three boys like to do what Hans does.  Play games, sing songs, watch football, workout, ect.

This is often what I see in the morning.  Anders isn't as quick to move from exercise to exercise.  He is still waiting to do the back exercises against the wall. 

I love the fact that the boys love their dad so much.  I just wish I could be the "coolest" every now and then.

Oh Metabolism, Where Art Thou?

I miss the days when I could eat anything my heart desired, which usually consisted of greasy bacon cheeseburgers and fries, and I wouldn't gain any weight.  Those days flew out the window the day I got married.  I'm not blaming Hans, I think it was just my age and the stress of marrying a soon to be pastor.  I guess I can add the moving to a new state, starting a new job and getting pregnant parts too.  Either way my metabolism went running for the hills, with out burning any calories on the way, and I haven't seen it since.

This is me pregnant with Gus.  Seriously.

I did manage to lose weight after I had John.  It took me almost 2 1/2 years to lose all that weight.  I had finally reached my goal.  Then I found out the next day that I was pregnant.  And, if you think I had time to lose weight between August and Anders you would be wrong.  So now I'm on a mission.  I am not one of those women that loses weight just because I'm nursing.  Supposedly nursing burns about 500 calories a day and I'm not sure that is actually happening.  One would also think that running after three kids...well, at least two kids, would burn some calories.  You've read my blog right?  My kids are not the quiet, sitting still type kids.  I am actually forced to run after them sometimes.  I'm also not a complete bum and I do workout, but not regularly.  Sometimes, instead of working out, I take a shower or sleep, luxuries around these parts.

So, I'm on a mission.  I have a big 70 pounds to lose and I'm going to do it. Hopefully it won't take me another 2 1/2 years.   My biggest problem is that I love food and find myself constantly hungry due to the all the nursing.  But, I'm going to do this.  I've done Slim in 6 in the past so I'll start that up again and I recently discovered Zumba so I'll give that a go.  If you have a work out program you love and/or some great low calorie foods, I'd love to hear from you.  I very well might be grumpy for the next few months.  This is your heads up.  And, if you see my metabolism around anywhere, will you send it back?  It might make things a little easier.

Working Out

I am not one of those people who loves working out.  I will admit that I feel better after a few days of working out, but I don't get this fantastic high that everyone else seems to get.  I can promise you, I will never be addicted to working out.

Up until I had kids, I've never really had to workout.  However, the first time I became pregnant it was as if every Chick-fil-A sandwich and order of fries I ever ate permanently attached themselves to my outer thighs and midsection.  I was finally able to get back down to my original size about a 20 months after John was born.  I hit my goal weight and, the very next day, I found out I was pregnant again.  Despite being pretty food-and-exercise conscious during this last pregnancy I still managed to gain quite a bit of weight.  Feeling pretty good after giving birth (the second is way easier) I started using our elliptical about a week after Gus was born.  I tried to have regular workouts and eat smaller portions of healthier food.  Regardless of my efforts, I only managed to lose 10 pounds in the 9 months since August was born.  So I needed something else....

So, here is my workout product endorsement.

 

 Debbie Siebers' Slim in 6 is a great, low impact, cardio workout.  The 2 disc set comes with 3 core workouts that are to be done if phases.  The goal is to not move onto the next phase until you feel you've mastered the beginning workouts.  The first phase consists of a mere 24 minute workout.  The second phase is a more intense 48 minute workout and the third phase is a 60 minute workout.  I just started the last phase which will last about 4 weeks.  I still hate working out with every fiber of my being, and I find myself cursing Debbie as she seems to get through an hour of working without feeling the burn, but I'm getting results and that is all that matters.  In the 2 1/2 weeks since starting this program I've lost about 2 1/2 inches off my weight and gone down a pant size.  I still have a long way to go, but I'm pretty determined to hit my goal.  The things we go through for our children!  I'm sure I'll manage to shed the rest of the weight just in time to be pregnant again.

So here's to all of you on the weight loss train.  Keep your goal in mind and keep those workouts going.  In today's world of immediate gratification this journey you're on won't seem fast enough...but stick with it.  And remember, you don't have to like working out to workout.  I haven't gone a day without saying 'I HATE this', yet I keep coming back day after day.

My Goofy Boys

They may be weirdos, but they are my weirdos.  I've just been going through my pictures and thought I'd share a few of my goofballs.

John fell asleep watching "Hero of the Rails", the new Thomas movie.  I think this was about the third time my dad had sat through it.  What a trooper!

Gus was smiling and laughing and the second the camera was in view he posed like this.  He thought his tongue was something special.

What a smile.  I'm pretty sure John is telling Hans how to take the picture.  John is such a know-it-all.

"Are you listening to me?"

Hans was taking pictures of Gus and John was getting a little jealous.  He really wanted to show off his dinosaur.  You like that scab between his eyes?  I'm pretty sure Gus did that.  It doesn't take long to learn how to fight back.

Mr. Potato Head. What's up with that hair, Gus?

I was taking some 'before' photos since I started the Slim in 6 from Beachbody and John wanted to take his 'before' photos too since he is joining me in the workouts.  I will say watching John try to do the workout is so funny and it makes the time go by a little faster.

Tonight I was calling John and looking for him everywhere.  He was tucked in a corner so I didn't see him right away.

I'm not sure how this is comfortable.

Working Out

Lately I've been doing Tae Bo in the mornings to get back into shape and lose a few of these baby pounds. John loves working out with me and he tries to mimic everything he sees on the DVD...it is so cute. He will even count in sets of 8 all out of breath, it makes me laugh.




Usually I'll do this when August is taking a nap, but he was wide awake this day and enjoying every minute. He was smiling so big at times I thought he was going to laugh.






He is already learning how to wink...I'm in trouble!


He looks so old in this picture.