New Header - New Shoes

As you can see...I have added an AWESOME new header to my blog :) Miss Ashley is the one who created it for me! This awesome new header actually has a special meaning to me!

I took a gait test this evening to get fitted for some running shoes. I slightly over-pronate, which basically means I roll my foot inward a little more than normal. If you don't have the right shoes, it can cause shin splints and knee pain...So I got a pair of Saucony ProGrid Guide 4's :)

Look familiar? Look at the shoes in my header :)

Have you ever heard/seen the quote "Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life?" Well I'm about to become a perfect example...I can feel it.

I bought a new pair of running shoes because on March 12th I'm going to begin training for a 5K :) I don't have one in particular that I'm going to do...just wanted to start running. I finish my 30 Day Shred on March 5th. I"m going to take the rest of the week to relax and then the following Monday I will start my training. So, just you wait...I will soon be living proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life!

Well - Time for this momma to get in bed! Thanks for reading!! :)

Is It Friday Yet!?

I had a pretty darn good weekend :) Too bad it's over and we're back to work and such :(

On Saturday I completed level 2, day 21 of the 30 day shred!! I cant believe I've come this far!! It has not by any means been easy either! Day 21 was the worst of them all! It was so incredibly hard. But I pushed through and did it. I had to FaceTime with Ashley. She offered to start level 3 a day early so we could do it together, and hallelujah she did!

I was sore pretty much as soon as I got done. Buuuuuuut...I cannot tell you how strong and accomplished I felt!! In fact, I'm already thinking a head and starting a workout calendar for the months to come (Ashley's idea).

Later that evening, the hubs and I took Miss Thang and Princess to a local indoor waterpark/hotel/resort with a friend and spent the whole day swimming. The girls had so much fun. And even got to enjoy some one on one with Mommy and Daddy. Miss Thang and I slept in one bed (rough night for Mommy) and Princess and Daddy slept in the other.

On Sunday I relaxed all day after swimming. Ash and I pushed through another hard day of shredding. I thought maybe the second day of level 2 would be a little easier...I thought wrong. It was just as hard.

Tonight was day 23!! I cant believe it!! Just 7 more days and I'm done with the shred! Man, oh man! Today was difficult! I was asked by a friend of mine to fill in on their court volleyball team. I gladly accepted the offer (I love volleyball!!). And it was the second time I have been asked to sub.
Last time I was asked was during the beginning of level 2. It was the first time I had played since my junior year in high school! My calves were so tight afterwards. I was sweating way more then I did during the shred. So I opted out of shredding that evening. I spent a full hour of cardio playing volleyball. I figured that would suffice.

Tonight, however, I chose to shred even after playing. The lunges were ridiculous. And I had to modify EVERYTHING. I couldn't do all the ab exercises, I modified with crunches. But, I still did it!! Thank goodness for Ashley though!! I am so incredibly proud of the two of us and how far we have come!! I can not believe it!
Well...I badly need my bed...So until next time, thanks for reading!!!

A Little Shredage

On February 4th, I weighed and measured myself after doing the 24 Day Challenge by AdvoCare (the hubs is a distributor). I lost 9 inches total and about 6 lbs. There was no exercise involved, and I only changed my diet during the first 10 days for the cleanse. I was feeling pretty good about it too. I posted my results on FaceBook and got some comments that helped motivate me even more.

The main comments that did it for me was the one from my friend Ashley! I had mentioned that I was considering doing the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels, and hopefully this time I would succeed (I tried in the past and quit after 3 days). She said she'd be willing to do it with me and we set up a date to start. That evening I weighed and measured myself. Took some before pictures and sent them to Ashley via text. And then prepared for the next day.

So on February 5th (a Sunday). I got up with Miss Thang, made breakfast, put some cartoons on for her, and then began my journey into "shredding."

Day 1 was horrible. I felt like I was going to die! I modified everything (thank goodness for that option). I wanted to give up half way through and say forget this. But I pushed through and finished the day anyways. It helped knowing that my friend was doing the exact same thing I was. She was pushing through too AND she was counting on me.

Day 5 was a little rough for me as well. Between work, the girls and my new workout adventure, I was completley exhausted and ended up falling asleep on the couch and skipping that day. When Ashley had text me to tell me she completed her workout that evening, I woke up and realized it was actually time for me to go to bed. I felt absolutley horrible. Like I had let her down. But she explained to me that it was okay to take a day of rest. My body obviously needed it, and she in return took a day of rest the next day.

I pushed through the rest of level one (10 days on each level) and then started Day 11/Level two. It felt like I was starting over again. New (and harder) exercises. Once again I modified everything. But as Ashley told me, modification is better than nothing at all! :)

Day 15 was an amazing day for me!! I felt so amazing about myself. I completed the halfway mark! I was so excited I posted it all over FaceBook! I had never come this far on anything!

I know I dont look thrilled (exhausted)...But OMG! Day 14!!

Tonight marks Day 20 for me! My last day on level 2! I can not believe that I have made it this far!! I honestly could not have done it if it wasnt for Ashley! Without her guidence and advice I would have given up before the end of the first week! I definately, 100% believe that having a workout buddy is a MUST! Even if they live in a different state (like Ashley and myself)! Having someone to hold you accountable is an excellent tool!! Ash and I send pics after every workout to show we've compelted it. We have even done FaceTime a couple times (she has an iPhone too) and actually worked out together! I LOVE doing that!! It makes me push even harder since there's someone actually watching me :)

I'll post before and after pics in about ten days when I've completed the shred. Until then, thank you for reading!!

This is Me!

Hello blogging world! Welcome to my blog. I'm so glad you stopped by :) I'm Stephanie (most people call me Steph). This blog is going to be all about my little large journey to get healthy. I want to start with a post telling you about myself, so here we go!

I am 25 years old, and the mother of two beautiful girls. My princess Arianna is 5 and in kindergarten. And Miss Thang (aka Brooklyn) is 2 and an exact duplicate of my personality. My girls are my world! And my world revolves around them.

Princess

Miss Thang

I am married to an amazing man, Beau. He is obsessed with loves Duke University basketball. He's a sports nut! He's also my rock! Without him I'm 100% sure I would indeed go crazy.

The Hubs and I

I have a tendency to over use the ! and smiley faces. I love to craft! I enjoy all things Disney. And I love love my iPhone. I'm neurotic, compulsive and a total control freak. I recently found a new addiction in 1950's style. I love the whole pin-up girl look :)

Okay...so...fitness...I [officially] began my fitness journey this year on February 5th, when I started Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. **I'll get into detail on this in a later post**

I've always been an average sized girl. I'm 5'3 and have been about 135 lbs since my freshmen year in high school. But in 2009 I got pregnant with Miss Thang and everything changed. I gained roughly 50 lbs during the pregnancy. It's been an up hill battle for me since. I've tried many things and failed at them all. This time I'm DETERMINED to succeed!

Thanks for reading, I cant wait to share my journey with you!!