Charlotte's Awesome Transformation

Charlotte Schroeder's Goal To Become Fit

I came across my friend Charlotte's most recent Facebook picture and I had to share the motivation!! Her husband deployed to Afghanistan in May 2011, she was the heaviest she had ever been, and was really unhappy. Her goal was to lose as much weight as she could before her husband's return home.

In order to meet her new goal she did a bit of walking and tried to drink more water, but wasn't fully committed to losing the weight. Finally, in October she went to Energy Sports and Fitness just to have a look around and consider joining, but still wasn't 100% serious about it. Fortunately, she walked out that day with a membership and it's been amazing! 

She now works out 5-6 days a week and has dramatically changed her diet, cutting out a lot of white breads, pasta, rice, and sugar. Sugars have been difficult for her to stay away from, but she knows it was what took her to her heaviest weight. 

At this very moment she is working on Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, trying to shred the last of her weight before her husband comes home next month. So far she's lost close to 30 lbs and would like to lose close to 20-30 more. Most of all she tries not to focus too much on the scale, but on how she feels and looks. 

I love a good inspirational story and Charlotte has done an amazing job reaching her goal! I think the picture speaks for itself. Nothing can stop her now! :)

Healthy Wife...Healthy Life...

In my journey to become super fit the past few months I've mastered eating healthy, and have came up with a fitness routine that I think works well for me. I can finally look in the mirror and say I'm happy where I am and I'm happy in the direction I'm going...

...But in my process of finding the new "healthy" wife and mother to my family, I have realized I have neglected to share my well-eating knowledge with my husband and kids. While I'm seeing a change in my husband who has expressed his interest in being more physically fit (yeah!) I find myself still feeding my kids JUNK. I am by far not an expert on the matter, so I'm wondering what you "health freaks" feed your kiddos?? There's no way mine are going to eat Salmon, Tilapia, or Tuna with me. I don't want this to be an excuse to why I'm feeding them Vienna's (I know, I know!) or pickled bologna (Okay, so slap me!), this is all stuff I grew up eating because I didn't know any better. Now I do, and I want to stop it with my 2 little ones. Any healthy alternatives or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

It's 5am Somewhere...

I've always wanted to be one of those people that rise before the sun does and heads off to the gym to start their day. After 26 years of getting to know myself I have came to the conclusion that this will never happen for me...

According to www.sleepfoundation.org adults need 7 - 9 hours of sleep a night. According to the way I feel in the morning after waking up at 6 to take my son to school, I need 10 or 11 hours (sometimes 12 even feels great) of sleep! According to experts I have the sleeping schedule of a 3 - 5 year old. So I thought about this, as I do most things that have no real significance. After researching (who doesn't love Google?) I have came to the conclusion that I am always tired because I suffer from Parenting Fatigue. There, the secret is out. Parenting is exhausting, who knew right?

Apparently, when you have babies and small children in your home, you find yourself constantly sleepy because you are not resting at night. Parental protectiveness will not allow your body to relax enough to fall into a deep sleep. Great, not only is my little monster screaming in the background as I write this, but even while he's sleeping he is unconsciously pestering me. The remedy...time and birth control!

So you see, while I may not be at the gym at 5am because of this newly developed illness I have discovered, you are more likely to see me out running at noon, or utilizing the gym daycare while exceeding my 30 minute weight session just to get a break. I, however, will not let Parenting Fatigue keep me from working out at some point in time during my day. Does anyone else have any excuses you would like me to analyze for you? ;)

Insanity At The Avery House?!

BREAKING NEWS: My husband is attending my spin class Saturday morning!! I thought about selling tickets for this, since it's such a HUGE occasion, but I didn't want to put him under anymore pressure. As if that wasn't INSANE enough, we both plan to come home and do Day 1 of the 60 day Insanity Challenge...I'm thinking we should get a sitter for the kids for this first week, considering neither of us will probably be able to move, but I don't think any of you really realize just how HUGE this is!

Let me explain: I have been married for over 8 years, becoming active myself a little over 2 years ago after having my 2nd baby. My husband on the other hand has always lived for his food. He lives for his chocolate, his buttery mashed potatoes, his cake icing right out of the container, his 10 cokes a day...it's been bad folks! So when about a month ago HE asked ME to go for a run with him, needless to say I liked to have fell out of my chair. This coming from the man who eats a hotdog as he cheers for me while I cross the finish line of a half marathon. This coming from the man who sets in a lounge chair outside watching me make my laps around our subdivision dripping in sweat. This coming from the man who said he would only run if there was a dog chasing him. What has happened to THAT man?!? I don't have the answer to that question...but I can't say I'm sad to see him slowly disappearing.

Several reasons I say that: 1st - I love my husband!! I want to him to live as long as, if not longer than me. 2nd - I think everyone should feel good about themselves, and I want my husband to feel the rush of accomplishment when he crosses his first finish line. AND 3rd- I want us both to be awesome and active role models for our two boys...and I think those reasons are honest and legit.

So with all that said, keep an eye out on my Fitness Facebook page for pics of all this Insanity to come in the next week! Super excited for Before/After pictures and experiencing these things I love with the person I love the most! Go Avery's!!!!

How fit is fit?

I was asked TODAY to do a fitness lecture TOMORROW about fitness, which got me thinking...how fit do you have to be to qualify to talk about fitness???

Sure I've been a runner for over 2 years, sure I have a gym membership, sure I had a personal trainer who taught me the basics, yes I was a sub spin instructor, and I do workout 5 days a week, but do I really know how to tell someone else to get off the couch and as Nike said, "Just Do It"?

I look at some of the women at my gym and I don't even compare! They've got muscles any man would envy. So what do you think?? Will I disgrace myself, or will I motivate?? Has anyone else been in this position?

Shocked about Shox

  

Shocked about Shox

As you can see I'm no stranger to the shoe aisle. So of course when the Nike Shox came out with rave reviews I had to have a pair to add to my collection. 

After hitting the gym in them and running 3 miles I felt like I could scream, and my feet were!! My toes were sore from the lack of room and my arches felt bruised. It was a horrible experience. I felt like I had been a victim of false advertisement. These were supposed to be great running shoes, but my feet felt like they had been to war and lost! Lets be honest, no one wants to pay 100.00 for shoes just to be disappointed.

When returning home from the gym I looked up reviews (guess I should have did that BEFORE) for the Shox and discovered that I wasn't the only one who was let down by this high dollar shoe. After reading Running Shoe Finder on the Runners World website I found that a major complaint of this shoe was its lack of stability. Reviewer Trironman wrote that these were the worst pair of running shoes he's ever owned. That they were nothing more than a fashion shoe...and I can't say I disagree!

Has anyone else had issues with Nike Shox?? My husband loves them, but he's not a runner! I think I will stick with my Brooks when my feet hit the pavement!