fitness update

**elmer's giveaway open below...go check it out!!**

 

try not to be jealous of the post-workout hair. so purdy. :)

okay. here i am. 3 months into working out 1-2x daily.

well,except for the 2 weeks i was in tx. i did the 30 day shred three times in those 2 weeks, but other than that my workouts consisted of mexican food and wine. nice. :)

i am feeling great. GREAT. it's funny...the number on the scale has only changed by about 5 pounds. but my body is completely different. and even better than that, my i FEEL completely different. i no longer am winded at the top of the stairs.

i can carry the babies around without feeling exhausted.

i feel better about myself. happier.

now if you ask harper she says when i "essercise" i'm sweaty and grumpy.

HAHAHAHA!

i can tell you what this refers to. it refers to when i'm leaving the YMCA and it's 100 degrees and humid and i've just sweated my you-know-what-off for an hour and i'm trying to get the babies to the car and she stops RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME and looks around like she's lost and i say HARPER!WHATAREYOUDOING?MOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!!

yes, sweaty and grumpy a bit. i can admit it.

it's not always fun. it's HARD. lots of days i just want to skip exercising. but i've forced myself to go.

and i'm still working on the "eating healthy" thing. i've made some progress. lots of whole foods, no artificial sweeteners or ingredients. i only eat things i can pronounce. i only drink water (and coffee.i will NEVER get rid of my coffee, sorry).

no more white sugar, flour,pasta,or rice. way more veggies and fruit.

but i'm working on eating regularly. i tend to forget this when J is gone. we are committed to eating healthfully TOGETHER when he gets home. :)

today i thought i'd share some of my favorite exercise-related things with you.

disclaimer: i'm NO expert. i'm not a runner. i'm not a pro athlete. i just go to the gym every day and take a class. and i want to share what has really worked for me.

 

tops:

i LOVE these shaping tops by champion. LOVE them. i cannot say enough good things about them. they wick nicely and they make my stomach look way smaller. which is awesome. i've had four children. my stomach will take a LONG time to fix. and i'm okay with that. but i don't neccessarily want to look at it when i'm exercising. :)

 

but nothing compares to these c9by champion empire tops (i get them at target). i bought all three colors. aqua, purple,black. they FLOW over the stomach.i'm wearing it in the 2nd photo above! and they are fitted up top. i cannot explain my love for these tops. i'm so hoping they make more colors soon.

 

 

pants:

i like a good compression capri. for some odd reason i don't like exercising in shorts. nor do i like pants.

my favorites are the ones from champion (these are the shaping type as well)...LOVE

 

 

and the ruched ones from old navy

shoes:

i haven't gotten a pair of nike free shoes yet, but that's next on my list.

right now i alternate between rykas:

 

and my favorite pair of brooks:

deodorant (yes, i'm going there.what? it's an important gym accessory!)

i LOVE the secret. it lasts long, and doesn't come off easily. the mitchum works amazingly well. almost too well,to be honest. even after a shower i could still smell it and it kind of drove me nuts. but it works.

preferred workouts:

at the gym i take:

zumba

turbokick

step(thinking of dropping this one, it's my friday class and is really starting to bore me).

there is a cardio class i take sometimes that is amazingly hard but so effective. it's like an interval training sort of class. she had us run sprints once and i'm pretty sure i almost keeled over.

30 day shred:

 

really wanting to try turbofire next. i love turbokick and i need something similar to do at home.

so there you have it!

i'm really wanting to get a spin class and a yoga class into my schedule somewhere.

also when j gets home he is going to help me incorporate short crossFit type workouts.

i do so much cardio...i really need to bring in a bit of weight training. i want definition.

hoping someone found this post interesting or helpful...i'm now worried i talked waaaaay toooooo much and that it was boring. sorry! hahaha!

oh, i wanted to add this...i get asked a lot how i fit it in. especially when j's gone. my best answer is...i just do it. i have had a LOT less crafty time the last few months and i think that's just the way it's going to have to be. but there's simply not enough time for everything. when h and s start school it will be easier to balance i think.

happy wednesday!

xoxos

p.s. GO GET THAT FLOWY CHAMPION TOP!!!

 

Comments

[steph h]

Okay you skipped out on the most important work out detail...sports bras. Or are you lucky enough to get all the support you need from those tops (in which case my DD nursed for 19 months sagging girls are insanely jealous)

Also, on the healthy eating and coffee front, I don't know if you put anything in your coffee, but there is a new all natural coffeemate with no crazy artificial stuff in it. I love the sweet cream version!

[steph h]

Okay you skipped out on the most important work out detail...sports bras. Or are you lucky enough to get all the support you need from those tops (in which case my DD nursed for 19 months sagging girls are insanely jealous)

Also, on the healthy eating and coffee front, I don't know if you put anything in your coffee, but there is a new all natural coffeemate with no crazy artificial stuff in it. I love the sweet cream version!

[Kim]

LOVE THIS POST!!!!!!! I am addicted to fitness posts!! :) I love a good top, pants I have yet to find & shoes I am brand loyal (until they change this design) THanks for all of this info!!

[Stephanie Howell]

i need minimal support b/c i have ummmm barely there? girls.

[Yaritza]

You encouraged me to get to the gym. I only have two kids but my sister needed me to watch both her kids this summer. Going from 2-4 is an adjustment. I learned time management very quickly. I go for two hours a day for 5 days a week and take weekends off to help hubs around the house with the remodel. The funny thing I feel the same way about step. Hate that class. I only take it because it's the only cardio class they offer on wed. My favorite classes are the mon. and thurs. Mornings Zumba classes(taught by the same instructor), 20/20/20, and tennis strength. Those two are semi boot camp type classes. I had to take this week off due to minor surgery and I feel so differently. My body is definitely missing my workouts.

[Nicole]

I love the Turbo Jam DVDs I have. They helped me lose 25 pounds for my wedding a few years ago. I hadn't heard of Turbo Fire...going to have to check that out!

[Colleen]

Thanks for the info. I am trying to get myself going again in the exercise dept. Think I will make a trip to Target soon! Love your blog - your girls are beautiful!

[Stephanie Howell]

yaritza-
that is awesome. congratulations!! whats 20/20/20? that sounds interesting.

[Katrina]

Enabler - just ordered the babydoll top! I am loving BodyPump classes for strength training. And by "loving," I mean..."I can barely walk today." Ha!

[Erin]

Yay, Stephanie! But don't worry about bulking up from lifting weights. You won't. As my boot camp instructor tells us, girls aren't made to get that type of muscles naturally, so lifting heavy weights alone isn't going to do it. With free weights I usually use 10 - 15 pounds, but have used up to 25 - 30 for various things, plus heavy on machines and am not huge with muscles. I haven't been lifting regularly lately, but will get back in to that this fall. I have friends who do follow a lifting routine weekly and they have awesome defined muscles, but are not huge.

Working out, and sticking with it, is hard. But there's nothing like that feeling once you've accomplished something you never thought you could do, once something that seemed so hard during the process is over and you look back and say, hey, I did that! I love working out, something I'd never had said two years ago.

[Yaritza]

20/20/20 is 20 minutes cardio, 20 minutes kickboxing and 20 minutes core. This class kicks your butt!

[Kristen]

Loving that top! Headed to target later today and just might have to check it out! I also want to check out those Turbo Fire dvd's. I started using Jillian's Ripped in 30- which is ridiculously difficult- but you have inspired me to go back at it. Oh, and I HIGHLY recommend spinning. I am obsessed with it- goes by so quickly and is a tremendous workout! sign up- I think you'll be hooked!

[Lisa Day]

INSPRIRING!! I was walking into work just a few minutes ago thinking that I need to start working out so I don't feel so dang tired all the time...and then I get online and read your blog. I'm inspired. Now I just need to put it in motion! Thanks for the post!

[Amanda]

This was very helpful to me! I am on a similar journey myself right now! I was starting to get a little dicouraged since that number wasn't going down alot, I've lost 4 lbs, but after reading your post, I started thinking about how I feel and I'm not so discouraged anymore! I'm like you...I FEEL better, I can keep up with the girls for longer the 5 minutes! Thanks for the tips on the workout clothes, I have had ALOT of trouble finding things to wear that support the girls, and don't ride up between my lovely thighs. :) I think I might check out some of those videos you listed too...I don't have a gym close to me, so I have been doing Jillian Micheal's Ultimate Fitness 2010 on the wii, and holy cow! That's some hard stuff right there! Anyways, sorry for the ramble here, just wanted to say thanks for sharing and helping me to see that while I may not be exactly where I want to be, I am on the right path!! :) Hope you and your girlies have a great weekend! :)

[Jill]

you rock girl!

[Melissa S.]

I just wanted to chime in with another vote for BodyPump. I LOVE that class- don't know if your gym offers it, though. It's lighter weight and more reps, so you'll tone instead of bulking up. It takes some getting used to, though. I wasn't a huge fan of it when I first started, but now that I've been doing it for a while (almost a year) I'm a complete addict!

[Ally]

You're absolutely right about the strength/weight training. In actuality, that will help you see more results! Building muscle (not bulk, that won't happen) actually will make all that cardio you're doing twice as effective! The more muscle mass you have, the better and more (and for longer periods - even when you sleep) you will burn fat. It's the only way. This is why men have higher metabolisms, lose weight faster/easier than women - they naturally have more muscle mass. It's so unfair :P Congrats on hitting the 3 month mark! Boot camp is definitely my crack and I've become so strong this year. I lift a 10# bag of ice like it's a coffee cup. Love that feeling.

[whitney]

I would highly recommend the books "The New Rules of Lifting for Women" by Lou Schuler and "The Female Body Breakthrough" by Rachel Cosgrove. Someone recommended them to me when I was "stuck" with my weight loss efforts and they gave me the push to change things up and think about food and exercise in a new way.

[jennifer Camplin]

amazing you rock... you did it so well.
Keep on roll going for gym and all.

Congrats..

[tara pollard pakosta]

I NEED some new workout clothes!
I lost 20lbs from Feb to May, but now I am STUCK>
but I do think it's 90% diet & 10% working out to be honest! Because I ran/walked 93 miles in June, but ate horrible and I GAINED weight! But the other months, I just watched what I ate 90% & exercised 4 days a week, not hard though, just some cardio and walking and dropped 20lbs.!!
once you REMEMBER TO EAT, YOU WILL LOSE! trust me on this!
especially IF you are working out that much!!! YOU HAVE TO EAT stephanie!!!!!!!!
okay, I totally LOVE those shirts!
and I WILL NOT Wear shorts unless I am running outdoors and it's like 90! but at the gym I wear capris too, but I only have 2-3 pair and need some new ones so thanks for the recommendation!!!
you go GIRL! and I need to get back ON TRACK, and this totally inspired me!
we have an elliptical at home and I have 2 gym memberships, but in november we are joining the YMCA and I think it will help to be able to bring my girls with me!
have a GREAT DAY!!!

tara

[KristiGMomOf3]

You are very inspiring!

[Barb]

That lady on the Turbofire box is absolutely terrifying!

And, maybe Harper would feel differently about the exercise if she realized that there is a whole other kind of fashion involved in fitness. :)

[Katy]

Thanks for the tips!!! Ok, you are INspiring me to hit it HARD after this last baby!!! I mean it! I'm gonna do it!!! :)

[Patty G.]

Love this post! Honestly, some of my fave workout clothes are the Champion (is it C9?) ones from Target. I love the longer tops with the built-in bra. At 54, after coming off steroid treatment for an illness, I started working out with a personal trainer to get in shape for my daughter's wedding last summer. Wowza! 20 pounds later, I am strong, fit, and lean! It's all about the weight training! You go girl!

[Ellie A.]

YOU GO Darling! I am LOVING see your process :) Yes it is hard but it feels awesome at the end of the day to be able t say hey I did this for me and to be healthier it is a rockin feeling. I don't go to a gym so I do everything either at home or grab my jogging stroller and "trick" the kids to come along for my 5K runs(which one of those is today) So if you happen to be in Long Island,NY and see a crazy lady w/a running stroller and 2 boys running in front well that shall be me! Ha.. Now about Turbo Fire.My SIL does it. That workout is SO INTENSE... I stand there in AWE.. confession I am so chicken but said I am gonna give it a try......hmm soon! Ha.. Continue your awesome success and can't wait to hear more of your journey

[Kami Pfingsten]

You rock!! That is soooo awesome!! And I have been going at it hard for 5 months straight. I do not exercise every single day, but every other. I used to go to Zumba classes (love it!), but now with summer vacation upon us I run/walk on the treadmill and lift hand weights. I too have only lost a few pounds, but I look so much better!! My muscles are much more tone and defined and I feel great, it does wonders for the mind too!! Mostly I do all of this for my high cholesterol (bad genes, ugh!) to take care of my heart so that I can live a long life for my children. Thank you for sharing your workout clothes, I am also a big fan of Columbia. Have a super day, Steph!!!

[Kami Pfingsten]

I meant Champion, not Columbia! LOL!!

[Becky]

Try the Insanity workout dvds, awesome!

[Davinie]

I'm so proud of you!!!!!

Just an FYI - try Stevia as a sugar substitute. You can use it as a sweetener and in baking as well. It's natural and better for ya.

XOXOXOX

[Es Cavazos]

I love that flowy top. I def need some new workout clothes. I also love the cropped capris to work out in. I have and use shorts, but always feel self conscious in them. I much prefer the other and usually wear those, but I really need some new ones. Great job on the working out:)

[Deanna M]

Funny you should post an exercise post today, because I finally started going to the gym today (thanks to a post a long time ago about your anxieties about going but pushing through). Today I pushed through! In my mind I tried to make excuses--it's the first day of school, I look really cute, maybe I should just ease in to it....but I gotta tell ya. I went, I ran/walked, and I did arms. And I feel a lot better physically and self-esteem wise too. I've not braved a class yet, but I will. Thanks for the inspiration! Now off to buy some clothes!

[Amanda S.]

I love that top and you look fantastic!! Go get 'em!! :) And contrary to what people say, you will not "bulk" up if you weight train. It's crucial to weight loss. You can do all the cardio in the world but without balancing that with weight training, you won't lose as much!! So don't be afraid of it. That's my favorite part of exercising - not as hard on my joints and I feel like I'm stronger too :)

[Melanie]

Great post! Thanks for the reviews on clothes. And i hear ya about the stomach, i think baby 4 broke me! But i have to get to work, dont think the natural bounce back is happening after this one!

[elizabeth kartchner]

I guess I should put down this cookie... thanks for making me feel lazy. ;)

[Stephanie Howell]

uh, have you ever looked at a photo of yourself? you are smaller than i ever was BEFORE i had children. :) xoxo

[Stephanie Howell]

i know, right? she scares the tar out of me!

[kate]

I looked at this when I first woke up and it inspired me to get everyone ready really quickly and fly out the door to my spinning/core class. (they have babysitting). That felt good. Thanks!

[Abbeyviolet]

I think it is a great post. I like the clothes recommendations too, as I agree that I like the capri length and sometimes have a hard time finding things I like and somehow being slightly more cute makes me more likely to go to the Y.

I ADORE Zumba and am glad you are liking it too. I'm at 3 days of Zumba + 3 days of run/walking, or was until my Costochondritis flared up again this week. Odd, but even missing only four days seemed long after going six days a week for a couple months. So happy for you!

[Kelly]

I still have to try Zumba. And I echo the Body Pump love. I didn't like lifting weight until I started taking Body Pump classes.
TurboFire is a super fun workout! I'll be starting the 90 day program again in a couple weeks. :)
Love all your favorites. My favorite workout top is from Lucy and I love my champion running skirts. :)
Stephanie, don't forget that if you want to order TurboFire, there's a way you can save 25%. :) and FYI, it comes with a great nutrition guide.

[Cricutashjoy]

I love the look of those shirts, and would be great for Yoga, going to take a trip to Target to see if I can find me some:)

Just stopping by on the SC hop.

[[email protected]]

I love the 30 day shred. Such a good workout for 20 minutes! I have a hard time some days fitting a workout in, so I can only imagine what it's like for you. So the 20 minutes is great. Collin and I also do crossfit type workouts. Again, short and killer workouts. I am the opposite of you right now, gotta get more cardio but w/o a gym membership i am running, and hate that! But just got some Ryka's and am loving them as well! Also, only workout in capris! :)

[Kimberly Harrington]

you are so inspiring me! It is now two months post baby and I need to get this butt in gear! Maybe some new work out tops will inspire even more. Tar-jay here I come!!!

[Monica Brown]

Love that top! Wish I had seen your post before I went to Target this afternoon! Getting back to the gym once school starts next week. Thanks for sharing! :)

[Lauren N]

Totally inspiring!! I need to get my butt in gear. Just found out I'm preggo with #2, so I'll have to figure out what kind of exercising I can do.

Way to go!!

[Julianne]

Thanks for the inspiration!!Just what I needed to help get me motivated to lose the last of my baby weight. Now I want to go get me a new workout top!! : ) How many days a week do you get to go and take the classes, and how many days do you work out at home?? I have a hard time motivating myself to work out at home LOL...

[Linda E]

Stephanie, I thought I would post before I run to Target. Hope I am not too late to get the top. Just wanted to congratulate you for sticking with it. It's funny how when life happens, working out is always the first thing to fall by the wayside. Keep up the great work! Target, here I come!

[diana]

What a great post! Not too long at all with all the great info & tips about working out and, most importantly, workout fashions. Hey, looking good is a great motivator! And Target will be opening some stores across Canada soon.

BTW, I was a little sad to read last week that Harper doesn't say 'ashion any more. Does Sadie still say 'what in the jose?' ? ;-)

[kelly purkey]

the turbo fire woman?
scary.

[Stephanie Howell]

haaaaaa!!! i know. up above i commented that she scares the tar out of me. can you imagine her yelling in your face? id pee myself.

[Mel]

I've started doing Zumba myself and I love it! I feel so much better. I'm heading to Target in the morning to pick up that flowy top and then over to see if our Old Navy has those ruched capris...love those!

But, I do have a kinda weird question...and it's open to anyone who comments :) If I wear these cute tight capris, can I wear my regular bikini undies? Does it make panty lines and is that, like, totally uncool gym etiquette?? With my new Zumba (ungraceful) moves, I need all the cool points I can muster.

[Stephanie Howell]

Haaaa! I totally wear my normal cotton underwear. Theres no way Jose I would go panty-less as I almost had a pants splitting incident the other day. Haaaaaaa!

Sent from my iPhone

[Steph H.]

Steph,

Kudos to you for sticking with it. I also don't know how you do it - I have a hard enough time just getting my run and weighlifting in with a new business and I don't have littles or bigs to contend with.

BTW, thanks for the review of the clothing. I love that flowy top! I usually wear t shirts because I hate tight stuff (yes, I don't want to see my she-had-two-babies tummy! lol), but this is cute and loose. Yay!

Keep up the good work kid!

[Jonnelle]

Thanks for sharing and being inspiring. If you can lug four cuties to the gym, then I can lug my big ole rear out to exercise!
THank you for your clothing choices, I have NO idea what to wear to the gym and I cannot wear shorts, they (ahem) ride up and leave my thighs....uh, nevermind - TOO much info here! Those capris look so comfy and I will probably wear them even when not exercising, HA!
Keep up the sweaty good work!!!

[Angie F]

LOVE this post...I will definitely be checking out those tops at Target!! THANK YOU!! :)

[Veronica]

THANK YOU!
You are an awesome inspiration. Every time I think about skipping my daily workout I think - If stephanie can fit it in and do it with 4 children I can do it (after all I have only myself to take care of):-D

Lots of love to your family, I'm of to work out :-)

[Liz]

I love this! I run every day and have definitely found that it does take time out of my day, but it's so worth it. I am healthier. I feel great. And you know what? I haven't been sick in a very very long time (knock on wood). If I invest the time now, I'll have a longer life in the long run, so it all evens out, right? :)

[Katie L. Cavanaugh]

Those brooks shoes are my fav's as well. Buying a new pair on my trip to the States next week!

[joanne smith]

that's awesome stephanie! you look great!
thanks for sharing your faves... it's always nice
to check out new things :)

[corey Brock]

Girl, you look awesome! WAY TO GO!!! It's amazing how once you start "essercising" you just can't stop! Whenever I'm in a bad mood my husband says "Go run!" hehe! Keep it up!!! :-)

[Lisa Martin]

when I wear that style of flowy top people ask me if I'm pregnant :( lol. but you look great. 1-2x a DAY!!! I have ZERO kids and don't work out. ever.

[kimberly]

Yay for you! And thanks for the tip on the flowy top--I was just thinking today that I need something like that so people don't see as much of my chub as I try to burn it :) Oh, and I totally know what you mean about Mitchum--once I start wearing it regularly, I almost don't need to put it on every day...it just lasts so long (even with showers!) It's a little scary, but sometimes I need that kind of protection ;)

[Beth]

So proud of you my friend! Keeping up a fitness routine is not easy for anyone let alone a Mommy of 4, with twin babies!

Steph, I'm turning 50 in December and please keep up your new routine because I can tell you that I am a far different "almost" 50 than I would have been had I not started running/cycling at age 38........just finished my 18th half marathon on Sunday, #19 is next weekend and the BIG 20 is in October...two weeks after that I will do my 3rd FULL marathon in 12 months.....

I'm not special or a super athlete but I am determined to be healthy and fit as long in my life as I have control over it!!

The consistency and the healthy eating are the key to a longer healthier life.

[Marti Richards]

WTG, Stephanie! I believe you have motivated me to at least take the plastic wrap off my 30 day shred.... lol! ;) Thank you for sharing all of this with us! Going to get my butt back in gear when the kids head back to school. Must get those tops from Target- I like!

[Ketena]

I love you. Thank you again for being real! Hugs Ketena

[Melanie L.]

Good for you for making the time to exercise. I love exercise only when I'm done with it, then I feel great. It's so hard to get to the gym but I really need to. Thanks for the review on the flowy top. I need to get some of those, and Target is so affordable and accessible. Just this week someone thought I was pregnant, and I'm not even overweight! All of my weight is in my middle area!

[gretchen]

Jillian Michaels and her stupid 30 Day Shred. she is pure evil!! and she gets cussed at a lot by me. :)