I don’t know how I pulled it off but I was able to squeeze in todays workout before hitting the road to make it to my friends wedding over in Michigan. I am trying not to stress too much about how close we will be cutting this. When I say close I am still leaving over an hour of buffer time but I was hoping for at least two hours to play with.
Todays workout focussed on a mix of maintaining very specific muscle groups under tension for prolonged periods of time followed by a brief intense cardio interval between exercises. I found it to be a pretty great balance and feel very good having fit this in, especially prior to getting into the car for three hours. I am a little nervous about my legs stiffening up on the way over there but its nothing a night of dancing with close friends can’t fix!
This is a super belated post, as I have been up visiting my family. It was a really nice visit but I was super distracted with everybody having all the fun times with little Davey! I was proud of myself for getting this work out in on Wednesday after coming home from an all day continuing education course but after that, time got away from me and I have not been able to keep up. I am hoping to get in tomorrows workout in the morning but we are traveling over to Michigan for a close friends wedding and I not sure that time will allow that either. It is important for me to stay on schedule and it does hurt my soul a little each time I don’t get to put a sticker in my binder. It is also important for me to intermittently take a step back and realize that sometimes life just gets busy, especially with a young baby and I will not always be able to do what I had planned and that is ok.
Let’s rewind back to my day on Wednesday. I woke up bright and early handed Davey off to my dad to watch for the day and headed off to my course. The course was titled “The Gut Brain Connection” hosted by INR seminars and taught by Dr. Willett. She did and absolutely amazing job covering the topics and keeping us engaged in what was arguably some pretty heavy learning. The course was packed full of information regarding how the health of our gut directly impacts the health of not only our bodies but our minds as well. I found it especially intriguing as one of the main points she continually circled back to was the value of maintaining a healthy Microbiota (a variety of microorganisms living inside of our intestinal tract) in order to stay healthy. The diversity and number of these organisms present aide in improving our overall immunity, brain health, metabolism and emotional wellbeing. I couldn’t help but stare at the Shakeology I had brought with me (Chocolate yum!) and wonder if there was even more to it than simply getting the nutrients my body needed.
As the course dug into the advantages of certain probiotics and prebiotics I began to look at the packet of powder as more than just my midmorning snack but a wellness creating powerhouse, helping fight off all sorts of potential future ailments from diabetes and cardiovascular disease all the way to anxiety and depression, possibly even alzheimers! I have been coping with many forms of anxiety since late in high school and have resorted to many lets just say “alternative” coping mechanisms to try and reduce the symptoms. With the birth of my son I knew I needed to make a change and stay ahead of the ball when it came to managing my anxiety as I was at a higher risk for suffering from post partum depression (PPD). While in the hospital I received a low dose prescription for Zoloft and have been taking it religiously since the day I got home. I think it is helping? I certainly don’t feel any more anxious than normal which is surprising with a new baby, but I do wonder if it was actually necessary. Here is the catch though, I am scared to death to get off of the medication just in case it is the only thing keeping the darkness of PPD at bay. I plan on starting some cognitive behavioral therapy which I have read to be one of the most effective forms of therapy with managing anxiety but I was intrigued that maybe making some small adjustments to my diet could also play a major role in my overall mental health.
I know this was super heavy this week everybody, thank you for hanging in there. I guess I should mention the workout went great, I was much more confident as I had anticipated after being more familiar with the routine. I probably won’t be reaching out until Sunday or Monday so have a great weekend everybody! Remember we are all working to be happy and healthy so be nice to one another.
Today, Chalene gave me the option of Hardcore on the Floor or Core. As I have already done Core and am new to the program I decided to give Hardcore a shot. Holy shit that was hard! My left elbow was a little strained and I was definitely more sore from yesterdays workout. My gluts are screaming and all I wanted to do was stretch, but I persevered and was able to actively participate in about 75% of the workout. I was not only limited by not knowing the general flow but also my some significant muscle soreness. Since this routine takes place on the floor, as suggested by the title, it was harder to follow the workout on my laptop.
Davey and I are up visiting family and I was super lucky that my dad offered to watch him while I squeezed in a quick workout. While I was getting everything set I went to check and make sure he had everything they needed before starting and found the two of them snuggling soundly…so adorable.
Keeping this one short so I can go catch up with my pops.
Where did day nineteen, twenty, and twenty one go? Obviously, they were absorbed into the spirit of the Easter Celebration!
In all honesty, my in-laws ended up coming in from out of town and all my routines went out the window. Friday night was spent manically cleaning up the house and preparing for company. Saturday I worked at the hospital and got to enjoy multiple fun photos from the families trip to the zoo. By the time I got home we had lots to catch up on after months of not seeing one another.
Fun at the zoo with Auntie Allison!
Easter Sunday, what a beautiful day to celebrate! After waking up and getting ready the whole family walked to the church for the morning service. Everyone we passed was truly in the spirit smiling and enjoying the long awaited spring weather. After mass we came home for a small brunch then spent the day relaxing on the patio. So needless to say, my workouts fell a little by the wayside.
So it’s time to get back to it! With a spring storm rolling in I took the opportunity to bust outside and do my workout in the backyard! What a different experience, not only did I feel more powerful having the solid concrete beneath my feet, I was also much more relaxed with the rain pattering on the awning above me and the storms gentle breeze cooling me down. I was able to hop back into plank throughout the entire work out and doubled all of my push-up reps (still on my knees though). It was a great workout and I was more than a little sweaty after pushing it to my max.
I wish I could leave you all with this positive image, but alas, life is not that easy here in the Zuck household. Springtime is loved for the flowers, the bunnies, and the sunshine it brings. There is a darker, smellier, fouler side of spring that hides in the evening shadows, they call this darkness the skunk. Yes, our dog Charlie somehow managed to antagonize that little smelly demon creature into spraying him again so we got to add scrubbing the dog and carpets to our bedtime routine. The paradoxically good news is this is not the first time this has happened so we pretty much have the routine down now and when we woke up this morning the house and dog smelled surprisingly fresh. (See below how we pulled this off!
Here’s to powering through and keeping on track after my minor slip up this week
Do not open your windows…the smell is probably worse outside.
Quarantine your pet to the bathroom tub
**If you have a partner to help use this time to pick up any plush fabrics that could absorb the smell (dog beds/baby chairs and toys/laundry/blankets)**
Mix a cleaning solution immediately before applying to your dog: 1 quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, 1/4 cup Baking Soda, 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap (we like Dawn)
Apply mixture generously to your dogs fur (focus on the chest and forehead as this is most likely where the majority of the spray has landed)
Let your pet sit for 5-10 minutes with the mixture (not too long as this can eventually irritate their skin)
While they are sitting sprinkle baking soda on any carpeted surfaces, leave overnight or at least 3-4 hours to absorb any residual odor
Rinse the solution thoroughly from your pets fur
Towel dry them
Have them stay somewhere away from the main living area for 3-4 hours (we left Charlie in the basement overnight)
Vacuum up the baking soda from the carpets
Bring all clothes/towels/blankets/washrags immediately to the laundry ( I mix a cup of plain white vinegar into my normal wash detergent)
Cross your fingers, smell your dog and carpets…hopefully there is no need to repeat!
Another rainy day here in Chicago, Davey and I spent a good portion of the day hanging out in the living room watching movies and generally wasting the day, it was absolutely lovely after the vaccination craziness of yesterday. What was not a waste was todays work out! I felt great! So much so, that this workout is actually beginning to be a bit too easy and I’m grateful we will be phasing it out. I’m ready to level up!
Chalene really did an excellent job on the program – just when I start to feel too comfortable, she pushes you just a bit further to really help you get the most out of the workouts. She is also extremely motivating, making it a very positive experience to be a part of. The entire BeachBody community has been so supportive of me through this journey, I feel truly blessed to have found such good people.
Belated posting on my Day 16 Buns workout, sorry guys we do a Taco Tuesday GoT combo in this house and I was lucky to have enough time for my work out. Buns was a good workout that I feel will only get better as I become more familiar with the routine and am able to be more comfortable with the flow.
Side Bar: It was an absolutely beautiful day here so I got to take Davey out to the backyard for the first time, hanging out on our blanket in the yard, it was amazing! Short lived though as I was worried about burning his pale baby butt, I will have to get used to that I’m sure my skin will thank me as well.
Today’s workout, Day 17, was Core again. This gets better every time as I get more confident in the movements. I was even able to do my PiYo Pike! (On my right side that is, when I switched to the left I messed up and kept crossing my ankles the wrong way making it incredibly difficult.)
Confession time, todays workout was exceptionally hard for me, but it was my own fault. Davey had his 4 month vaccinations today so I decided to help myself deal with the crabby baby by treating myself to even more tacos from this amazing spot “Taco Grille and Salsa Bar” out in Westmont, IL. Well, I definitely overindulged and put myself into a food coma where I napped with Davey all afternoon. I was only awoken by a friend calling and my work out buddy showing up…talk about a tough work out. I’m still proud of myself for pulling through and not only sticking to it but pushing myself even further through some of the poses.
I just had one of the most relaxing workouts of the program. My mom came and picked Davey up for a walk so I came home to an empty house. They are still out walking and I am able to sit in my living room in complete silence other than the tapping of the keys. I feel like I can breathe and am just falling into myself, it feels like that state of mind and body you can sometimes get to with a really good Shavasana (Corpse Pose).
Overall, it has been a pretty good day today, Davey was in a very relaxed mood all morning which made for a great way to start the day. It’s amazing how starting off on the right foot can really change your entire day, I felt I had more patience with my patients which laid the ground work for some very open discussions regarding their care.
Chris is off at the grocery store so that will be off my list for the week, always a relief. I also came home to the set of freezable teething keys getting here which I hope will help Davey through this phase. Dinner is just leftovers from the other night so I won’t need to worry about that. Charlie is learning to embrace his calming jacket helping make the household even more relaxing. Plus, the forecast calls for sunshine and temperatures in the 60’s tomorrow, I think Davey and I may take another trip to the zoo.
I hope everyone else is starting their week out right, happy Monday!
Mission successful, Davey finally allowed us to get through an entire workout uninterrupted! We started off with a very clean transition from being held and rocked into the swing, way to go Chris, super dad. He only napped for the first half of the workout but was surprisingly chill just watching us from his swing. Actually, he is still swinging away as I type this.
Today I was very sore, yesterday’s workout kicked my ass as I had anticipated and it made today much harder as my body was pretty fatigued. This is probably not the case for most people going through this program as they had a rest break on Friday if they follow the program as designed. I am still struggling with my PiYo Pike but am able to hold a side plank without taking a knee now which I find encouraging.
I was also very grateful to hear that the mom of two who is in the back of the videos has her kids off at college…I feel way better about my progress. I know the only person I should be competing against is myself, but I can’t help it, anyone who knows me will tell you I have a slight competitive edge.
Side bar, if you look closely at today’s picture you will note the SNOW all over our backyard! I told you all, this is life in the midwest. Yesterday we were out doing yard work in a light jacket today its back to bundling up. I think we are going to take the rest of today to bunker in and play a family video game. Happy Sunday everyone!
Today’s workout definitely earned its name Sweat! Wow, I feel great today. I woke up to a happy cuddly baby (who let us sleep in until 6:45!) We then went for a family walk, Charlie our dog included and he was surprisingly well behaved. After which we came home I got my workout in while Chris and Davey made a super yummy breakfast. My one gripe about this morning is that apparently the entire neighborhood decided to be online so my workout kept pausing mid stream. It put my poses to work as I waited for the program to continue.
Even though it is going to be slightly chilly outside I am excited to get out and open up our patio in preparation for Easter weekend! The sun is shining and I am looking forward to taking Davey out while we try and get a little extra yard work taken care of to prep for spring.
I’m keeping it brief today, lots to do. Have a happy Saturday everybody!
No rest for the wicked…the wicked being an exaggeration of course. Today I had to forfeit my rest day because of my missed workout earlier this week. I would say it was well worth the change in schedule as today’s weather was no where near as nice as Tuesday and when you live in the midwest you jump on those early springtime days because a blizzard could be hiding just around the corner.
Today was PiYo Define Lower Body, I can definitely tell I am getting stronger with these workouts. This time I was able to hold all of my planks without going to my knees as well as not needing to take any additional rest breaks, bravo to me!
As my workout buddy is off being a totally awesome super nerd celebrating at the Star Wars Convention (super jelly) we decided to switch things up here at the Zuck house. We tried for a family workout, it went great for the first 10 minutes (for those of you who have been following since the beginning you may notice this 10 minute trend). Davey worked on tummy time and we got to work out the weeks stressors. Too good to last, halfway through the first warrior series Davey decided he had enough and wanted to be put to sleep. Chris came to the rescue picking up Davey and allowing me to finish the workout on my own…at least we tried.
