Inspiration from Siri

So maybe you've seen the suggestion to "ask Siri to beatbox". Maybe you've tried it. If you haven't, go ahead, I'll wait. 

(If you aren't an Apple user, she says "here's what I've been working on: catsandbootsandcatsandbootsandcatsandboots. I could do this all day. Catsandbootsandcatsandbootsandcats..") 

This morning I was texting Scott my feelings about my body, about wanting to be and look less chubby and more strong,and how I wanted my guns back. And my abs. Then I heard the chant in my head: 

Gunsandabsandgunsandabsandgunsandabsandgunsandabsandguns.

Funny, silly, and strangely motivating. Obviously I can't spot reduce, and I'm working up to three cycle classes a week by next month to get more cardio, especially while it's too cold to walk outside regularly, but those are my external goals, the Guns will emerge first, but eventually I will see my abs, and hopefully sooner than later. 

I might even make a few signs to keep me motivated. 

I do have some more concrete goals for progress. I'd like to be wearing:

Size 8 jeans by 2/15 (4.5 weeks) 

Size 8 skinny jeans by 3/1 (7 weeks) 

Size 6 jeans by 4/1 (11.5 weeks)

Size 4 crops/shorts by my birthday (24.5 weeks) 

Update: I'm loving PiYo. It's kicking my butt, and I really struggle with keeping up, but I do think I'm already improving. I can see myself returning to it for years to come, as a break for my joints for a couple months, as a way to switch up and keep my body guessing, I love it. I really hope to see some results soon, now that the holiday food is gone. 

Also- I'm transitioning to drinking my coffee bulletproof-blending it with vanilla, stevia, coconut oil, and soon ghee, to give my body some healthy fats to fuel and start the day with! So far I love it, and I have more energy. I'll keep updating with other changes! 

Different can be good, comparison is bad.

I am really enjoying PiYo. It's very different from my usual, but intense and challenging, and I really think it's gonna be good for me for the next few months while my foot keeps healing. It's the best of what I love about yoga, that it connects me to my body and its grace and strength, but also the intensity that I like to create with HIIT. I love that it's not easy for me, and I have plenty of room to improve, because that ensures I won't get bored. I think it will couple well with cycle class too. 

Ugh. My struggle with comparison is rearing its head again. My postpartum fitness journey has been tough, and it is tougher and downright depressing when I compare to others and how different/easy it is for them. I've gotta hike my own hike and keep the blinders on, and really focus on blooming and embracing-two of my three words for this year. I'm stronger than I was yesterday, and my body is transforming into the healthy body of a mama of two, and she is a new woman I'm still getting to know. 

Starting 2016

Happy New Year! Like most folks, I've got some things I want to accomplish this year. I'm still kinda trying to get my mindset sorted out, because I don't want to strive for things I can't control and end up disappointed and discouraged (Hello Summer 2015!). 

I've written about my general goals on my mama blog (http://crunchyvida.blogspot.com/2016/01/happy-new-year-here-what-i-aiming-for.html?m=1), but here I want to be a bit more specific about my fitness goals. 

First, lets be totally real and honest here- I want results I can see in the mirror and how my clothes fit. I want to be back in my lil bitty shorts by the time it's hot enough to wear them. I want to be in my size 8 jeans (one size down) by the end of February, 6's by the end of April, and those 4's by my birthday. I want my guns back. I want to be back at the part of my journey where fat and sizes aren't a factor and I'm just getting stronger, more agile, increasing stamina. Obviously all that is part of the journey now too, but what I didn't expect was how hard it was going to be mentally and emotionally to be 3 sizes back from where I worked so hard to be in addition to the physical recovery of having a baby, which had been complicated for me by some serious PPD. 

So what are my actual goals, since I have only moderate control of how fast I get the stuff I just said I want? 

Consistency. This is the biggest factor, especially as Declan transitions to solid food over the coming months and we move, and transition him to his own room, and all the challenges and good stuff those changes will bring. I have to work out consistently, 6 days a week,and eat to fuel my body. 

Momentum. I worked out this morning, and it was flipping brutal. I got very bad sleep last night due to Teefers McSoremouth (3 teeth in the past 10 days and at least one more coming) and I haven't worked out since early December. I don't want to feel like I do right now again. If I am consistently challenging and building, I will gain momentum to achieve more and more. 

This last goal is trickier to describe- I want daily victories. I want to notice my muscles popping, my face shape changing, being able to go deeper on a move, sprint longer in cycle class. I want payoff. 

And I want my size 4 jeans in the fall.