I’ve been torn about what to do about my weight loss. I’ve been doing my barre workouts, but I don’t always have time for a video. When I improvise, it’s usually late at night (okay 8:00…but I’m SO tired by the end of the day! Being a mommy is hard work!) and I’m too tired to count reps, let alone get creative with movement. I lost about 10 pounds, then it just STOPPED. Yesterday, Tracy Anderson’s 30-Day Method arrived in the mail. I’ve heard just about every type of review for this book (and I’m not normally one to enjoy or even follow a fitness program out of a book. I prefer a ‘live’ (read: DVD) demonstration so that I can be sure to get the movement correct. That being said, The book seems to have addressed all of my worries. It comes with a DVD that not only demonstrates ALL of the exercises that she has included in the book, but also outlines the two dance cardio segments (which I have not tried yet…I’m waiting until Tater takes his morning nap). Some reviewers felt that the inclusion of a DVD meant that Tracy would be running each 10-day workout sequence through completion. She doesn’t do that. I don’t really mind, though. For a mom who has limited time on her hands, it was nice to have the DVD as a reference point, and the book for my actual workout (which I split into 3 segments today because of Tater’s nap schedule).

Because my day is never predictable, Tracy’s suggestion to schedule in her workouts for 45 to 90 minutes was just plain unrealistic for me. I realize that by splitting them up I’m not going to sweat as much, but WOW am I sore from just the musculostructure work! I do like that the book provides a new challenge every 10 days-that will keep me entertained and hopefully speed up my progress toward a svelte new me! I haven’t tried the meal plan yet-partially because I need more calories that it provides so that Tater can eat, too, and also because I’m not in a position to run to the grocery right now…. The meal plan does have a vegetarian option, but is NOT vegan. Bummer. I’ll just do what I normally do and modify. The recipes look simple, fresh (YAY!) and mostly raw (DOUBLE YAY!). I do plan on trying a few of them that I happen to have ingredients for, though.

Overall, I’m impressed with the thought that Tracy put into explaining her Method, the composition of the book (it’s a super-easy 2 hour read at the most), and her engaging style. Where this book loses points is the unrealistic (at least for me) expectation that I can just schedule 90 minutes a day uninterrupted. I have a 5 month old. Interruptions are the story of my life (and I love every minute of them). The fact that Tracy was thoughtful enough to include a vegetarian option on her menu was great, too-although I am worried about the EXTREMELY low caloric intake. Her workouts are taxing, and my body needs to recover. I will definitely be modifying them.

Overall, my first impression is a good one. If you have the time (and an extra $25), this book is a nice compliment to other Tracy Anderson DVD workouts (I have all but the dance cardio…this will be my first attempt since I’m not able to run right now). The strength work had me grimacing, which I expected, and I enjoyed the fact that there were only 16 individual movements for this first 10 days. Looking ahead, the movements definitely get FAR more complicated, and I’m sure that my 20 minute per side workout will definitely become longer as the month goes on. I’m excited to see the changes, though!

Probably a little more than I should…. I eat them at least two or three times a week. Give me sweet potato fries, sweet potato drop biscuits (I have eaten SO many of those today! Thank heavens for my extra workout with Tater!), or just a baked sweet potato! And with so many health benefits, I don’t feel terribly guilty.  I enjoyed my food today, but I think that I enjoyed my workout even more. Tater had a bit of a rough day today, so a video was not going to happen. Instead, Ish, Tater and I went on a family walk (about 3 miles) around our neighborhood and then when I got home, Tater and I got down to business. At almost 5 months old, Tater weighs in at just under 20 pounds (that’s A TON of extra weight!), and makes for a fun workout buddy. Tater and did squats by the Christmas tree, lunges around my living room and kitchen, chest presses, bicep curls, dead lifts, calf raises, and plies. I have to say that I was burnt out after all of that, but it felt good to know that I can still workout even if Tater wants to be held. I think the best part was his giggle fits (he thinks that mommy working out and bouncing him around is HILARIOUS!), which ended up with me having a giggle fit, too. I will definitely be doing this workout again! I even got in some belly dancing (he loves the swaying motion). All in all, today was a great day.

At least for Ish. I am so super-duper proud of him! He seems to be enjoying eating vegan, although he did mention that he “can’t wait” for an egg and ham breakfast sandwich after January 6. I’m hoping that the next three weeks will change his mind. I am happy to report that I seem to be slimming down, even if the scale isn’t moving. I’ve been super busy both preparing meals and working out (when I’m not doing my full-time job of being mommy to Tater). Tonight I made stir fry because it was easy…is that cheating? I had planned on making sweet potato biscuits to go with the ah-mazing veggie pot pie stoup that I made last night (I love soups and stews the next day because the flavors seem to really intensify), but time got away from me. Tater is realizing he has a voice-which is so much fun, but also means that he tells me ALL about it 24/7. Have I mentioned that I love being a mom? Okay, enough about my adorable kiddo. I sat down to share the progress of the ‘vegan experiment’ thus far. So…Ish is down 8 pounds (and we’re only 6 days in!), and I’ve lost inches, but not more than 1 pound. I’m actually okay with that. I’ve been doing my barre workouts, and they’re still kicking my behind. Hopefully by the end of my 30 days I can consider myself ‘advanced’!

I have a confession. I’ve been focused so much on getting my diet out of a rut, that my workouts have slid all the way into the background. Sure, I do my isometrics while I watch football, but I cannot remember the last time I actually finished an entire barre workout (or any workout! Not even Insanity’s short 20-minute ones!). I am always starting them, and then baby cries, or something boils over, or the laundry beeps. So, starting this week, I’m issuing myself a 30-day barre challenge. I know that it will be a big commitment…that’s why I’m waiting until Wednesday to start my challenge. I need a few days to prepare. I was thinking of sticking with one workout, but I realized that I love ALL of my barre workouts, and want to be able to pick a 20, 30, 40, or 60 minute workout depending on how much time I have available. I also like the idea of being able to do an ‘easier’ workout on the days when my muscles feel like they’re going to shrivel up because they’ve just given their all for the 5th or 6th time. Don’t get me wrong-I love the afterburn that you get from a great barre workout, but I’m also a realist. I have a 4 month old who takes up a ton of time. I need to be sure that I can still pick him up when I’m done with my workout! You’re probably wondering why I picked December-Christmas season-for this challenge. After all, New Year’s is just a month (less!) away…. I know myself, and I’m the first to admit that I’m a terrible procrastinator. So it’s now or never (I’m even putting off starting until Wednesday because Ish will be home to watch Tater for me). Wednesday also marks Ish’s journey into full-blown veganism. So…why not meet his 30-day challenge with one of my own?

…58 to go! I have to say that in my very brief experience with Insanity I am absolutely LOVING it. Of course, it’s sports drills, which I’ve always had a good time doing. This morning I played basketball (thankfully without the basket or the ball!!), skied, and did some mountain climbers (not what you’re thinking). And the best part? The 35 minutes literally FLEW by!! According to my HRM, in that short time I burned almost 500 calories!! (489 to be precise) Not too shabby for a relatively short workout. I do have to say that I did modify a majority of the moves, because I just cannot do a ‘real’ pushup yet. But I am working on it. AND I’m actually looking forward to tomorrow!! I can’t remember the last time that I did a cardio circuit and was excited to do more. I wonder what’s wrong with me? Of course it’s not a barre workout…but I am feeling that familiar burn deep in my muscles. My calves are killing me (in a good way). I can’t say that I’m super impressed with the workout, but it really made me sweat, which was a GOOD thing. And it was shorter than any of my barre workouts (which right now, thanks to Tater), unless you look at the individual segments-I prefer to get my whole body rather than focus on just one area. So, that being said…tomorrow is more plyo and cardio. 2 days down, 58 to go!

So, everyone knows how much I love my gadgets. But I’m giving them up for 60 days. I know, I know. You’re totally SHOCKED. So am I! When a friend offered to let me borrow her Insanity program, I jumped at the chance. Yeah, I’ve heard that it’s truly insanely difficult, but what better way to get my body back (or rather, to kick-start the process). Yes, I’ll miss my barre workouts, and my WinsorSlim (which I am totally LOVING, by the way!!), but I think that this will be a good thing. I did my first fit test this morning…OMW! It completely kicked my butt. I got an AWESOME workout (and had to use my HRM for the first time since I had Tater), and feel like a million bucks. Of course…it was just the fit test. I’m sure that the actual workout tomorrow will leave me slightly regretting my decision. BUT, it’s only 59 more days, right??

Okay, I’ll admit that I’m a gadget junkie (they make working out SO much more fun!), but I’m TOTALLY IN LOVE with my newest addition!! As my loyal readers (there are some of you out there, right??) know, I’m a sucker for a good barre/ballet/pilates inspired workout. Especially if it’s quick, fun, and (most importantly) challenging. I was fairly skeptical when I got the chance to try WinsorSlim. Afterall, I have resistance bands and weights, so what makes this so special?? For starters, the workouts are quick (just 10-20 minutes), and as a new mom, that’s SUPER important to me. Tater doesn’t have the patience to sit still while I workout for 45 minutes to an hour. All of the workouts provide safer modifications for those just beginning to workout, or just returning to exercise (a category that I MORE than qualify for right now). and with the accelerator (the bar thingy), you can increase resistance just by winding the resistance band around the bar. Super easy. I have to say that I am IN LOVE with the workouts. I’m not usually a huge fan of Mari Winsor’s style, but something about the new gadget combined with her tried-and-true moves really works for me. It’s challenging and familiar without being too doting. Long story short (too late!!), for around $60, this isn’t a bad system. There are alot of moves that the bar can make SO much easier or harder, depending on how you use it, and how much resistance you provide yourself. The system claims that you can lose up to 10 inches in two weeks…I’m not sure that I buy that, but I do think that you could significantly improve your flexibility and strength. And yeah, you’ll probably lose some inches over the course of the workout. It does provide the potential for a good burn, but it’s not as consistent as the barre workouts, which I miss. On the upside, I have been able to do a WinsorSlim workout each day, whereas I’ve needed a day of recovery for the barre workouts (like I said, I’m out of shape!). Overall, this is a fun system for beginners, and it’s keeping my attention, which is a GOOD THING!

Ummm…yeah. I remember looking forward to that burn that you get from a really intense barre workout…and getting excited when I could maintain for just a ‘few’ more seconds. I think that mommyhood has softened me a bit (and made me crave an insane amount of protein!!), because when I popped in Exhale: Core Fusion Body Sculpt, I was…how should I put this? In EXCRUCIATING pain. I think that I completely forgot how hard some of the workouts really are. Normally, I would tell myself to start with a basic The Bar Method workout, but that’s 45 minutes. And let’s be honest, here: I’m lucky if I have 5 minutes to shower, let alone 45 minutes to workout while Tater is either contented with his playgym or sleeping. So, I chose Core Fusion because of the 10-minute option. While 10-minute workouts are a WONDERFUL invention for those of us who are too busy to fit in an entire 30-45 minutes, those 10 can be painful, and productive. I do want to clarify that when I say ‘painful’ I mean you will get that awesome burn without spending a ton of time. While the Exhale workouts aren’t my favorite, they do serve their purpose, and will come in handy until Tater gets into a semi-regular nap schedule. Normally, by the time I realize that I had time to workout, he’s awake and it’s time to focus on him again (which is blissfully wonderful, and SO worth the extra 30 pounds…okay, I REALLY need to get back into shape!! Want to join me??). In sum, last week I found that 10 minute workouts are a must for me. I can find 10 minutes in my day, right? This coming week, my goal is to try and get 2 (I know!!) workouts (just 10 minutes at a time) in each day. I figure that if I keep slowly increasing the time, by the time Tater naps for more than a few minutes, I’ll have my groove back….

I am SO very glad to be back! I am pleased to say that Tater was born on July 29th at 2:00 am! After an excruciating 8 hours of labor (thanks to him being extremely HUGE!), he was born via c-section. I’ve been recuperating for the last month, and am SO ready to lose this baby weight!! Tater is doing well. He just needs to learn how to sleep at night!! I’ve decided that if I’m going to be up at all hours, I need to have a few quick and fun workouts to help jump-start my journey (since I’m not allowed to run just yet) back into looking FAB. A good friend gave me the Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System DVD Set and I couldn’t wait to try it. Y’all know that I’m a die-hard barre workout/kettlebell/PINK Fitness girl when it comes to strength and flexibility…but without running, my cardio is hurting! SO, I was pleasantly surprised when I found that I actually ENJOYED a ‘dance’ workout DVD. Huh. I’ve always abhorred other dance workouts that I’ve tried (short of Cardio Barre), but this was actually FUN! I can honestly say that I won’t do it in front of Ish…but by myself at 2 in the morning, I had a blast! The music made me want to move, the instruction was good (if you try this set, be careful of the cueing and editing…there are a few moments where they do not match!), and I couldn’t believe that my 20 minute workout was OVER so quickly. I will admit that I was VERY winded when I was finished, but I really felt that I’d accomplished something…now I’m off to do some Bar Method!!

I had some extra energy (yay for getting 5 straight hours of blissful sleep!) and was jonesing for a barre workout when I got home from work today. SO…I have been wanting to do the beginner version of Cardio Barre: Four Workouts on One DVD, and as I was dragging out my barre (if you’ve never tried to maneuver a Fluidity barre at 6 months pregnant, you should be VERY proud of me!! That thing is AWKWARD and heavy!!) thought that I might share my thoughts (and a giveaway) with you, my loyal readers (you’re still out there, right??) I know that I have been VERY baby-obsessed the last six months, but I can’t really help that. I promise that after Tater gets here, you’ll hear all about me getting back into shape. Scout’s honor. Okay, moving on. So I finally got the barre set up (YAY!) and the DVD put in (note to self: move the DVD player to a higher location!!), and the Intro workout started. I have done the third and forth workouts before, and KNEW that I could not keep up…ummmm…yeah. I did okay. The workout is 144 bpm, which definitely got my heart pumping, and the moves were clearly explained. Some of the twisting I was unable to do for obvious reasons (and nothing on the floor…that heavens for my exercise ball!!), but I thought that it was a nice, short and to-the-point workout.

Now for the giveaway….I have a BRAND-SPANKIN-NEW Cardio Barre: Four Workouts on One DVD to giveaway! How do you enter, you may ask? Well, I’ll tell you. Leave a comment here telling me WHY you want this workout. It doesn’t have to be long, just tell me why you want it. The contest will run until Midnight EST on Sunday, April 11, 2010 (contest now ended).

I haven’t done this before, but I thought that I’d give it a try: EXTRA ENTRIES!!

-Follow me on Twitter, then post here (separate post, please) to tell me you are a follower.

-Fan me on Facebook, then post here (separate post, please) to tell me that you are now a fan.

-TWEET about this contest (one tweet per person, please), and post your tweet.

Good luck all!!

**Thank you for all the entries and follows!! We (Ish and I) drew the winner tonight…and…it’s DANIELLE! Congratulations!! Please email me your mailing address and I’ll get the DVD right out to you!**