Six Pounds Makes a BIG Difference

Much more than I thought.

You all know I've grown accustomed to doing the shred. What can I say? I love the work-outs and the short amount of time it requires. It just really works with my schedule right now.

I've done all 3 levels. Not to perfection, but I have done each level consistently since May.

I only had two 5-pound weights, so that's what I've used. 10 pounds total still made for a good stress on my muscles.

I was getting bored with level 3 (even though I was nowhere near perfection with it), and believe it or not I had skipped the shred for almost 8 days.

You can go ahead & pick your jaws up off the floor.

I have implemented my new plan. :)

See that? Ignore the dorky aspect of the picture (I was trying to look tough...ha!). I'm showing my 8-pound weights! 3 more pounds per weight, and I'm shredding now with 6 extra pounds than before. (oh yeah, and ignore the upside down 8)

I have started back to level 1 using the 8-pounders, trying to follow Natalie the entire time.

You can laugh at me now, because let me say I did not expect 6 pounds to make such a difference. WOW. I did it just once so far, and I am sore. Even my legs. Doing those darned squats with the weights, and my legs are yelling at me for a sauna or something.

I plan to start today without missing a day. I am back to counting my points as of today (took time away while vacationing), and I hope to shred each day. I really enjoy it, and my body is finally to a point where it craves exercise. I can say in all honesty I didn't think I'd reach this point again. I have not been to this point since I danced in high school.

Oh, and please note that the picture was taken after I exercised, so I'm sweaty and icky.

I do shower, I swear. ;)

Level 3 & the Big-Boy Bed

I'm talking about two different topics here, people. I hope your minds were not in the gutter! ;)

Today brought 2 new adventures for us: the biggest was transitioning Brennan from his crib to a big-boy bed. The other was me doing level 3 of the shred for the first time.

Brennan:
From the beginning, Brennan has been our "crib baby". Aidan was a co-sleeper from day 1, but Brennan has always liked his space. He's our kid that slept in a crib, making new territory familiar to us. (in a good way) However, ever since Milwaukee, he stopped sleeping through the night.
NOT FUN.
I took him to the doctor to rule out any physical problems. Thankfully nothing was found.
We noticed he was resisting all sleep in his crib. He has completely stopped napping, too. The days are feeling pretty long lately...
We got to talking, and Pat shared with me that he felt Brennan would start sleeping better in a big-boy bed. Fortunately we had another twin bed available. It just meant de-bunking the bunk beds & buying some bedding stuff.

Today was the day.

After church this morning we attempted to put Brennan down for a nap, like we've been doing the past 2 weeks. Nothing. Sure enough he was resisting to his fullest potential.
So with Pat actually being home, we got busy. The bunk beds are no more, and the crib is out of sight. (yes, this momma teared up when the crib came down. Think it's time for baby #3?)
Brennan went from this:

To this:

Their room looks completely different, but so much better.

Before:

After:

Brennan's new big-boy bed Ta-da! Finally 2 sleeping little boys

It will be an adjustment, but hopefully a good change and a fast one, at that.
We did have to get them to sleep separately, then move Aidan back once asleep. Brennan was way too excited over his new Lightning McQueen blanket, as well as he wouldn't stop inviting Aidan to "jump bed", as he calls it. Why sleep when you can have so much fun jumping on the bed?!
Regardless, they are both asleep now, and I am hoping that this change brings back Brennan's good sleeping habits. This momma sure misses her sleep!

And why do I need my rest? Because I am wearing myself out doing the shred!
I love it, though. I absolutely love this workout & am happy to say I am seeing results. I am 0.4 pounds away from being back to my Weight Watchers goal weight, but I'd like to lose even a little more and continue toning up. It's hard, but I am enjoying it.

Level 1 was tough, level 2 a little harder, but whoa nelly...level 3 is much harder!
I was huffing & puffing just a few minutes into it. Jillian Michaels has you doing jumping jacks with weights! Come on! Good calorie-burning stuff. My body just isn't used to it. I plan to do level 3 again tomorrow, and all week. Maybe even John & Erin will do it with me at the end of the week when we see them. What do you guys say? ;)

Shredding at level 3, bidding an unknown good-bye to our crib...changes. Small things add up, don't they?
20-some minutes a day is toning up my body, and sleeping in a twin bed is making my "baby" seem so much bigger.