Not Everyone's Mama

The bar method is a fabulous workout that I have been DYING to try (the ballerina in me is calling out!). It integrates the fat burning format of interval training, the muscle shaping technique of isometrics, the elongating principles of dance conditioning, and the science of physical therapy to create a revolutionary new workout that quickly and safely reshapes your entire body.

One lucky winner here at Not Everyone’s Mama is going to win the entire set!  You HAVE to tell me how you like it when you are done trying it out!

Beginner’s Workout DVD

Joey Decker, dancer, choreographer and owner of the Burbank, California Bar Method studio, guides beginning students through the Bar Method’s basic body-sculpting exercises such as “standing seat-work” and “kickstand curl” in this 37 minutes long, full-body workout. Joey’s humor and precise instructions helps beginners and more advanced students to brush up on their form and get a great workout at the same time. Joey’s fellow performers are Jennifer Keyes and Joyce Miraflor, teachers at Joey’s studio, Tiffany Baldwin, a Los Angeles master teacher, and Whitney Bania, co-owner of the Newport Beach, California Bar Method studio. Price: $20

Dancer’s Body Advanced Workout

Actress, singer, dancer and master Bar Method teacher Marnie Alton delivers a no-holds-barred, super-advanced Bar Method DVD workout that will slim down and sculpt your body quickly. In this 62-minute Bar Method workout, Marnie draws from the principles of dance to target the muscles that give your body a beautiful, defined, graceful appearance. Exercises include: “water-ski thigh-work,” “arabesque,” and the Bar Method’s ultra-challenging new abdominal exercise, “the clam.” Marnie’s fellow performers are Denise Burchard, co-owner of the Portland Bar Method studio, Marin Van Vleck, upcoming owner of a Dallas-area Bar Method studio, and Michael Lowery and Katelin Chesna, both long-time Bar Method teachers in Los Angeles. This DVD will inspire you to get serious about changing your body! Price: $20

Pregnancy Workout

Master teacher Lee Potter in her third trimester with twins adds her own special wit and playfulness to the Bar Method’s pre-natal workout, a long-standing and popular class at its flagship studio in San Francisco. Lee leads you through this 45-minute long series of gentle, safe and challenging moves, including free-weight work, thigh exercises, standing seat-work, and abdominal strengthening exercises performed while propped up on pillows. Lee’s fellow performers are Hannah Blue, co-owner of the Downtown San Francisco studio and Lauren Dunning, a teacher at the Downtown San Francisco studio, both appearing in this DVD in their second trimester. As Lee puts it, this DVD “will help you feel strong during your pregnancy, will assist you in delivering your baby, and will snap you right back into shape.” Price: $20

The Bar Method Super Sculpting Workout

Bar Method founder Burr Leonard has packaged together the Bar Method’s most fast-acting body-reshaping moves into one super-targeted 59-minute workout. The exercises include four sets of thigh work and the Bar Method’s famous ‘pretzel with the ball’.  Burr also utilizes the Bar Method ball to zero in on problem areas such as the inner thighs and seat. Burr’s fellow performers are Chelsea Glavinovich, co-owner of the Walnut Creek and San Ramon Bar Method studios in San Francisco’s East Bay. Keryun Dukellis and Mike Najjar are both teachers at the San Francisco’s flagship Marina studio, and Tera Roth is a teacher at the Downtown San Francisco studio. If you want the quickest results possible, this is the workout for you! Price: $20

The Bar Method Super Sculpting II Workout

Tighten your seat-belts! Bar Method founder Burr Leonard puts the pedal to the metal in this 58-minute workout by combining her most aerobic variations, many of them never seen except in studios, with a fast-tracked pace. Included is five sets of thigh work, one of them performed with the Bar method ball and two sets of seat exercises that simultaneously challenge both legs. During the abdominal section, Burr leads safe, beautiful-looking sequences that sets abs on fire! Presenting the workout with Burr are Sharon Demko and Keisha Ramey-Presner, both teachers at the Bar Method flagship Marina studio in San Francisco and Juan Barba, a teacher at the Bar Method studio in Burbank, California. In Keisha’s words, Super Sculpting II is “intense, but with reach for someone to work up to. The choreography is really fun, and Burr inspires you to do it." Price: $20

About The Bar Method

The Bar Method is full-body exercise program created by Burr Leonard. The workout utilizes a ballet bar fitness technique and draws from the principles of isometrics, dance conditioning, interval training, and physical therapy. The result is a noticeable “Bar Method” sculpted body featuring:

· Firm, elongated muscles

· Reduced body fat

· High muscle definition in the chest

· Improved posture

· Long, narrow thighs

· A lifted seat and defined hamstrings

· Strong, flat abdominals

· Increased stamina and energy

· Extended youthfulness

About Burr Leonard, Founder of The Bar Method

Burr Leonard is the founder and creator of The Bar Method, a full-body exercise workout that utilizes a ballet bar technique. The method draws from the principles of isometrics, dance conditioning, interval training, and physical therapy. With 20 years of experience in the fitness field, she and her business partner have turned their one Bar Method studio into a franchise operation with 30+ studios and a media company selling exercise DVDs and accessories. Huffington Post, ABC News, KUSI TV, and KUSA-TV have featured Burr Leonard’s The Bar Method.

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Giveaway ends on 10/20/11 at 12:01 AM CST. ETA – Winners will be chosen by random number generator. Winners will be emailed and must respond within 48 hours or an alternate winner will be chosen.

I was not compensated for this giveaway

Popularity: 21% [?]

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We recently got to try the Radius Intelligent toothbrush. 

I gave it to Jordan in the hopes that he would brush his teeth all the time.  He’s at the age where he doesn’t get excited about hygiene.  He actually told me that he wants to let his teeth fall out so he can get those cool fake ones.  *sigh*  When I heard about the Radius Intelligent toothbrush I jumped at the chance for him to give it a try!  I thought it might be easier than sitting on him to brush his teeth myself as I threatened to do at his last dentist appointment.

Here’s a little about it:

• 2 minute timer — toothbrush beeps once and green light flashes once every 30 sec. to 2 minutes.
• 90 Day wear meter – after 180 uses the light changes to red to indicate time to check bristle wear. Depressing the button for 5 seconds resets the meter to zero.
• Lightweight unbreakable replacement heads made from surgical-grade nylon.
• Dramatically increases softness and efficacy of brushing with 65% more bristle tufts than ordinary toothbrush.
• Reversible for both Right or Left handed brushing – Available in soft or medium bristles.
• Handle lasts forever – the head can be discarded as you would a razor blade!
• KID FRIENDLY! Great for children 6 years and above.

Jordan thinks it’s really cool.  The 2 minute timer made him jump the first time he used it.  That made me giggle a little.  He’s doing a good job with brushing his teeth when he brushes them and uses it for the full two minutes which means his teeth are getting WAY more attention than they used to. 

I love the fact that the handle lasts forever and that you just replace the head of the toothbrush.  I also love the 90 day wear meter.  I usually know to replace my tooth brush, oh let’s say when the bristles are pushed out flat.  That’s bad isn’t it?  I’m also kind of jealous.  I want a Radius Intelligent toothbrush for myself.  It’s on my list of things to get.

Did the Radius Intelligent toothbrush miraculously make Jordan want to brush his teeth?  For the first 3 days.  He’s 11, I don’t think he’s going to want to brush his teeth until he wants to kiss a girl – when he’s 30!  But, with coaxing, he goes in and brushes them, and I know his teeth are getting better attention!  That’s a plus!  With the full 2 minute brushing, I’m noticing less build up of yellow on his teeth also.  I know, gross.

I think the price of the toothbrush is great too!  It’s about $7 for the original tooth brush, then around $4.50 for 2 replacement heads.  I spend more than the price of the replacement heads on ONE of our toothbrushes. 

All in all, this gets a big

for showing Jordan the proper length of time that is needed for brushing his teeth and for just being an awesome toothbrush at a great value!

Thank you to Radius for providing us with one of their Radius Intelligent toothbrushes!  Make sure you check out their other toothbrushes also!  They have quite a few awesome ones!

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Congratulations to Cynthiia M!  Thank you to everyone who entered!  Cynthiia, I’ll send you an email and you have 48 hours to get back to me with your information. Thank you!

Technically I should be on week 4, but due to a child malfunction, ok, my child didn’t actually malfunction, but both of my youngest two were sick last week, my baby was very sick with c. diff.  I couldn’t find 20 minutes in a row to put him down, even slept with him right up against me when he would sleep.  Christiano isn’t 100% yet, but I am able to put him down to play for longer periods of time.  Monday I got to do week 3 of Cardio.  I didn’t get to do week 3 of Core until Thursday so tonight I worked in week 3 of resistance when Pato got home from work. Nothing like starting your workout at 10:30 at night.  There were a couple of moments where Christiano was crawling under the “bridge my legs made during a squat, but it worked out ok.

Jordan bailed on me this week.  He wouldn’t do it last week when I couldn’t.  This week I couldn’t get him to do it to save my life.  I can’t force an almost 11 year old 150 lb kid to pick up a KettleWorX if he won’t do it.  I still have hope that he’ll rejoin me this week coming up.  Maybe I can get him going on Sunday with me doing one of the 10 minute workouts when he gets back from his dad’s.

All I know is after just 2 weeks I was starting to notice a difference in him.  His jeans that I bought him in September were getting tight, to the point I had to button them for him.  After 2 weeks doing KettleWorX , you might be able to physically notice a huge difference in him, but I could tell when I went to button his pants and he didn’t have to suck in. I made a huge deal out of it, so I’m hoping he’ll come back to doing this with me.

So, I have good news though. Last Saturday after doing KettleWorX for just 2 weeks I pulled a pair of jeans out of my closet that I have never worn.  My friend gave them to me 3 years ago (that says something about my closet and me hanging on to things doesn’t it?).  I guess I didn’t give them away because I don’t want to be this size my whole life.  I want to get back down into my size 10′s that are hiding out in the garage.  Anyways, I wear a size 16 in Old Navy sizes right?  I’m assuming in most other sizes also, because the only other brand of jeans I own are Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker.  I bought those before I got pregnant with Alyce.  They are an 18 and have been too big for quite awhile now.  I have to wear them with a belt.  Back to the story, I pull these jeans out of the closet and gaze longingly at them.  They say they are a 16, but I’ve never been able to get them all the way over my hips. Never. I say they fit like a 14 since my other clothes are all 16s that fit.  Anyways, I pulled them on, right over the hips they went.

Just about fell over in shock. I thought, I wonder how long it will be before I can button them?  Pull them together.  They buttoned……….and zipped!  I wore them all day that day.  And didn’t pass out.  They were snug, but not so snug that I was cutting off circulation to my upper half or anything like that.

I have not been so excited since I gave birth to my last child.

I now love this man.

Ok, maybe not so much when I’m in the plank position for the second set and he is telling me to go to my happy place or when I’m doing girly push ups alternating arms on the KettleBell instead of doing manly push ups like he does, but after I’ve had a cold shower and feel good about what I just did, I think that Ryan Shanahan is a genius.

Pato’s noticing more and more. Last night he came up behind me and made a comment about being able to feel my hip bones without pushing in as much.  Why thank you for pointing out how far you had to push in before darling.

I’m just waiting for the day when my upper arm doesn’t stop waving goodbye until 10 seconds after my hand has finished.

I’ll get there.  I’m determined.

I’m 35.  I want to get in shape.  It’s not going to get any easier as I get older because I have noticed, even at 35, things don’t feel as young as they did say at 25.  Your only as old as you feel right?  And I’m determined to feel 35 for a long time.

Back to week 3.  Each week Ryan pushes you a little harder.  Adds a little more skill to the moves while working in moves you already know.  I’m still working on getting my knee all the way to the ground on the curtsy.  Resistance was good tonight.  TMI I’m sure, but you know it’s a good work out when you are dripping sweat on the carpet and your husband is behind you pointing, ewwww!  I said, I don’t see you doing it.

He gives me grief then about how it doesn’t look that hard.  Why am I breathing heavy, sweating so much.  That’s the thing, it looks easy.  The moves aren’t difficult.  Well, ok, they aren’t difficult to figure out, some moves might take me some more time to work myself into, such as the curtsy one and this one on Fast Abs that KILLED me the other day.  You lay on your side, put the KettleBell on your hip then lift your hip off the ground.  Like a side plank.  I couldn’t even lift my hip off the ground.  I willed myself too.  I did.  Wasn’t happening.  Like I said, I’ll get there.  Just have to strengthen those muscles more.

I’ve got 3 more weeks to go in the 6 weeks challenge and I can tell you, I’m not stopping after the 6 weeks.  I can see changes happening.  I’m excited about it.  I enjoy it.  I actually enjoy working out.  It’s not the same thing every day.  The moves are mixed up throughout the 20 minutes and throughout the week.  I hated walking on treadmills for that very reason.  I can’t just do the same thing.  I get bored and quit.  I’ve never lasted 3 weeks doing any type of exercise program so just making it this far and saying that I like it is huge progress for me!

See Ryan, I pushed past the mental burn and now I have progress! Both physically and mentally.

I need to get another picture up of me.  I’ll have Pato take one tomorrow and add it to this post.  For now, you can check out week 1 and week 2 here.

And now, what you’ve been waiting for!  The KettleWorX giveaway!  I was going to do this last week, but I wanted to give it away with an update so here we are!

What will you win?

KettleWorX is going to be giving one of you their Essentials system PLUS a 5 LB KettleBell just like I was using.

Ok, like I am kind of still using.  I cheated today and yesterday.  I started with the 10 lb and then on the 3rd set of Core and 2nd set of Resistance I switched down to the 5 lb.  Didn’t quite make it past the burn. Thought my arms were going to turn to spaghetti and drop a KettleBell.  I’m telling you, Ryan works you good!

How do you win?  Good question!

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Go over to KettleWorX and tell me something that you learned on their website. They’ve got tons of info over there.

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Giveaway ends on 3/12/10 at 11:59 PM CST. Only US entries. Winners will be chosen by random number generator. Winners will be emailed and must respond within 48 hours or an alternate winner will be chosen.

Thank you to KettleWorX for providing me with a KettleWorX system!

Popularity: 40% [?]

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I don’t have pictures to show because the kids were not cooperating with me.  But, we made it through week 1.

I love this workout!  The first 2 days of the workout had my muscles begging for relief, but I continued on.  Pato had told me, keep doing it.  The more you stretch them out, the less it will hurt.

Last night Jordan and I started week 2 of the KettleWorx DVDs and Ryan Shanahan kicked that up a notch.  I did resistance again because well, I accidentally started on that, did Cardio and Core Friday and Monday.  That took me back to Resistance yesterday.  I think that’s the hardest one for me.  Pushing those muscles past their comfort zone.  I think it’s important to say again that this is low impact.  I have a rough time with my knees and lower back when I do high impact aerobics, jogging, all that jazz.  (One of the reasons I haven’t run in years.)  KettleWorx doesn’t bother me at all in those normal problem areas.  Now, if you have the same problems that my mom has with her back, I wouldn’t suggest doing this straight out of the box.  I would talk to your doctor first.  Which you should do before starting a new exercise routine anyway.

Week 2 resistance, like I said Ryan ups the sweat factor in this one.  Who am I kidding?  I was sweating like a dog after the first workout last week.  By the end of the last 2 DVDs for the week I was getting really confidant and not quite sweating as much, still working the muscles, but they were a good sore.

Last night, even with one time of having to pause the DVD, I was dripping.  Not that you want to know that, but it’s just to show the kind of workout you can get in 20 minutes, without running and jumping.  I was squatting and lunging, and can I tell you how proud I was that I was able to hold the plank position during both sets without falling on my face this time?

Seriously, that’s progress!  Ryan told me to go to my happy place, I told him, I don’t think I have a happy enough place, but I still held it.  If you’re wondering what the plank is, you get down on the ground, the Kettlebell on the floor, but in your hands.  Forearms resting on the ground, then you are also on your toes. Kind of the beginning of a push up, without going down into the push up.  Your abs will start hollering at you after a few seconds.  But you breathe, breathe, breathe, and attempt to find a happy place.  Then you collapse on the floor.  Ok, last night I actually got to my knees instead of collapsing out of the plank.  I was mighty proud of myself.

Now I need to work on my balance because I’m a tad bit tipsy on one foot for some of the exercises.

Now, since I don’t have a scale, I’ll tell you how I feel I’ve progressed after week 1.  I’ve noticed that the tummy flab has backed off a little bit at the bottom.  My legs feel a little stronger, in fact, I can actually feel my thigh muscles.  Now, I’m not ripped yet like Ryan.

or like Miss Kim, who’s abs just kill me when I watch her in the DVDs.  It’s just not right that she can lay on the ground and do things resembling crunches and her stomach looks good!  Mine looks like pudding.

She’s a darn good example when you’re watching to see what muscles are actually doing.  Not an ounce of fat there.  I’m hoping my muscles move like that under my extra layers I have going on.  They should be right?

I can honestly say, that looks really good on him, but that is not my goal.  My goal is to wear shorts and t-shirts this summer and not feel like a cow.  My goal is not to have this big old pooch.  My stomach is funny in that I carry my extra weight above my belly button and below my chest.  My lower stomach is flatter (notice I say -er, not flat by any means flat) than my upper stomach.  I think that’s because I carried my kids up high.  It looked the same when I was pregnant.  The kids were always right under my chest and down low in my stomach was flatter until they dropped.  I’ve kept that pooch up high and hate it!

Jordan has been doing it on our scheduled days too.  He’ll moan and groan, but then he’ll start and have a big smile on his face when he’s done while telling me your turn mom.  Though, he was a little upset that he had to curtsey during the workout last night, because “I ain’t no woman”.  First, there is nothing wrong with being a woman, second, call it a cross over lunge, then you won’t feel like you’re curtsying son.

Speaking of that move, I can’t make it all the way to the ground with that back knee yet.  I’ll get there, if I went farther than about 1/2 way down, I’d fall over sideways, amusing for my kids, not so great for my work out as I miss the next few moves getting up.

I did notice that I could button Jordan’s jeans a little easier this morning.  His jeans that we got him for school in September are already tight.  I didn’t have to pull so hard to get the button closed.  So, I think it’s doing some good for him too.  And that’s just after 1 week.

Heather from KettleWorx emailed me and told me they are sending us an extra 5 lb Kettlebell and a 10 lb Kettlebell so that Jordan and I can actually do our workouts together instead of one and then the other.  That should kick up the competition factor (though let’s face it, Jordan is in better shape than me, in the fact that he does PE 3 times a week, rides his bike – he was able to get it out yesterday, plus he is active at recess, and soccer season starts up next month).

I have to say that I am really enjoying KettleWorx.  Who thought I would ever say I enjoyed working out?  I’ve always hated exercise, but this has been fun and I look forward to my days when it’s time to get it out. I think it’s because even though it’s working me, my heart rate is up, I’m sweating, etc, it’s not hard.  The moves are very straight forward.  I’m not struggling to get into position (ie: yoga, which I love, but have have the hardest time getting into some of the positions correctly).  It also doesn’t hurt me while I’m doing it.  I’ve done some exercise programs where my knees are just creaking and popping and hurting and I’m in pain the next day.  Not just sore muscles from using them, but actually pain.  It helps too that each workout is 20 minutes.  When I have to workout for an hour at a time, I dread it every day, not to mention the fact, that I never have a straight hour to myself where I could do it.

I think today I’m going to get out one of the other DVDs that came with it and throw in another workout besides the Cardio, Resistance, and Core.  I’ve also got -

I think I’ll try the Fast Fat Burn today because lord only knows I need it.

See you back here next week with week 2 finished and the giveaway for the KettleWorx Essentials system PLUS a 5 LB KettleBell.  We’ll get the kicked off and give it away at the end of my 6 weeks to my total body transformation.

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Otherwise known as please just cut off my legs.  No, just kidding!! I think.

Don’t mind that my blacks don’t match and my shirt is all freakishly faded and that I went out in public like that today.  I didn’t have this picture snapped until I came home and realized just how lovely I looked today. I had a sweater over it, I promise.  And let’s remember I’m still nursing Christiano.

Do we look like we are happy for those pictures?  Mug shots anyone?

So, Jordan and I are taking the 6 week KettleWorX challenge and today was day 1!

I may pass out and die, but I made it through it darn it!  Well, day 1 that is.

What is KettleWorX you might ask?  Let me show you -

That my friends is KettleWorX.  And that is what Jordan and I have decided we are going to start doing to get ourselves into better shape so we are healthier and don’t have to worry about our hearts.

KettleWorx is a program that uses the kettlebell as a tool to deliver Cardio, Core and Resistance all in short 20 minute workouts.  If the customer follows our program for 20 Minutes 3 x a Week, in six short weeks they WILL change their body in a positive way.  We designed it to be simple.

That is Ryan Shanahan. He created KettleWorX. I know, he was torturing me this afternoon, but he did it for my own good.  He says if I can make it past the burn that’s when I’ll get progress and baby was I burning.

Ryan Shanahan is the world’s leading kettlebell trainer and foremost expert in KettleBell fitness. He is an internationally acclaimed trainer who regularly works with superstars, athletes and exclusive private clients, including the cast and crew of major feature films. For over ten years, Ryan has conducted private KettleBell training sessions working out of the Toronto Film Studios.

That is a KettleworX class and what I see on TV when I’m doing the videos.  Kind of what I aspire to look like, or even two times one of those ladies’ sizes would make me happy.

This video on ABC 7 News (WLS Chicago) is what inspired me to bring Jordan along on my endeavor to make myself healthier than I am now. I want him to feel good about himself and more importantly, I want him to be healthy.  We both struggle with our weight. It’s hard.

This is a feature on WNBC in NY.

Here’s a mother and son doing it.  And they are having fun!

And if you’re interested in celebs, quite a few of them use the KettleBell:

• Lance Armstrong
• Katherine Heigl
• Jennifer Lopez
• Kim Cattrall
• Matthew McConaughey
• Penelope Cruz
• Geri Halliwell
• Jennifer Aniston
• Sylvester Stallone
• Kim Basinger

Let me give you a little background on myself.  I didn’t start having weight issues until I was in my 20′s.  After I had Jordan I was 240 lbs.  That was after losing the 15 lbs I gained with him.  I’m only 5’4″.  Not a healthy weight for me.

I went to my doctor who prescribed a diet pill. Between that and riding my bike 4-5 miles a day, I lost 80 lbs in a few short months.  And it stayed off….for awhile.

When I was pregnant with Katiana, I gained 35 lbs in the first 12 weeks.  I put on 35 more during the rest of the pregnancy.  Do the math.  70 of those 80 lbs were back.  I lost a little of it after I had her, but nothing near what I should have.

Got pregnant with Alyce.  Gained 16 lbs. Lost that in the first 14 days. Didn’t lose any extra.

Got pregnant with Christiano.  Gained 15 lbs.  Lost that in the first 4 days.  Didn’t lose any extra.

I refuse to own a scale.  When I have one I obsess.  So, I don’t know how much I weigh now. I am less than 240 lbs because when I was that weight, I wore a size W28. I know with nursing Christiano that I’ve gone down to a size 16.  I’m semi-vertically challenged though (I say semi, because my mom is 5’0″ tall.  I’m actually the tallest female in my family.)  That’s another thing, I needed a low impact workout because I still am a nursing mommy.  Even with sports bras running and jumping around just isn’t comfortable.

What happens now that I have this big floppy tummy.  Part of which is extra skin from losing what I did so quickly and not toning it up, the other part from having 4 kids that have stretched me out of shape.  I feel like I have been pregnant and nursing for most of the last 6 years. I haven’t gotten back into shape.  I’d be happy with getting back into my size 10′s in the garage that I have saved.  I felt good about myself then.  I don’t anymore.  I don’t want to meet new people.  I don’t like pictures of myself.  I hate the way I look.  It’s hurt Pato and my relationship, if you know what I mean because I don’t want to be seen without clothes on.  Doesn’t bother him at all.  He tells me if I don’t like it, change it, but don’t do it for him.  My body “housed” our kids.  He loves it for what it did.  (Isn’t he neat?)

I don’t go shopping.  I hate buying myself clothes.  Hate it hate it hate it.  I used to be the biggest fashionista.  Cutest dresses, shirts, shoes, skirts, jeans, I had closets (that’s closet in a multiple form you see there.  I had a slight problem with shopping when I could wear cute stuff) full of clothes and shoes.

Now, let’s go to Jordan’s issue.  Jordan was on ritalin up through 1st grade.  Want to see what he looked like when I took him off of it?

I don’t have a lot of pictures from 2007 on this computer.  So that’s all I really have to use as an example.  He drastically lost weight on it. And this is a few months before I said that’s it.  By the time he went off of it, his ribs and hip bones were poking out.  That was 3 short years ago.  He weighed about 50 lbs when I took him off of it.

He now weighs 145 lbs at 10 years old.  He gained 50+ lbs the first year, 50 lbs the second, and 45 lbs this last year.  His doctor has run blood tests to check for various things.  Nothing. I try to make sure they are eating right, not many processed sugars or white flours are allowed in our house.  When Jordan has a sugar cookie at school I can tell.  He’s bouncing off the walls from it when he gets home.  Every once in awhile we’ll make treats, because I think that if you completely restrict everything, you’re going to have a serious chocolate binge one of these days.  Believe me.  I’ve done it. For the most part, I don’t bring a lot of cookies, candy, chips, all that into the house.

He’s active in soccer 2 seasons a year, I’ve talked to the recess and PE teachers, he’s very active in those areas, he loves to ride his bike.  I’ll admit it, in Iowa in the winter, there’s not a lot of getting outside.  They can go out when it’s above freezing, but lately it’s been below 0 a lot.

It kills me when kids on the bus call Jordan a fat a**, when they tease him about his size.  They don’t understand what started it and they don’t know what we’ve done to help him.

I’m desperate for this to work, more for him than for me.  I’d love to be healthy myself, but I don’t want my son to have a heart attack at 16 and I don’t want him to feel bad about himself.  Because he does.  They have ruined his self esteem and it doesn’t seem like anything I do with loving and supporting him and telling him how wonderful I think he is helps.  Kids just put so much stock into what their peers think.  You know it, I know it.  We all were that way as kids.

I say as kids.  Heck, I hate leaving the house because of the way I feel about myself.

I know this is a long post, but I had to get to the reason behind why Jordan and I have decided to start KettleWorX.  Everything I have read has been so positive about it.

So today was day one for Jordan and I.  He was excited to be doing something with me, and I felt the same way. I went first. I went out of order on accident because I didn’t have my email up. This is how you do it:

To start the program, the customer chooses 3 days (exam=Mon/Wed/Fri) of the week as KettleWorx days:

• On Day 1 (Monday) they pop in Cardio and do the Week 1 Workout
• On Day 2 (Wednesday) they pop in Core and do the Week 1 Workout
• On Day 3 (Friday) they pop in Resistance and do the Week 1 Workout
• Week 1 is now complete and they have only invested 1 Hour.   5 more weeks/hours to go!

I did resistance today.  I’m thinking I should have started with the cardio.  My legs are like spaghetti. They don’t hurt.  They are just all wobbly wobbly. Like standing up is humorous to watch.  The funny thing was? So low impact, but I was working hard. Breathing heavy, burning in the muscles, and um, telling Ryan what I thought of making it through the burn to progress.  It was fun though.  It felt good while I was doing it.  Ok, until the last part of the 2nd set when I said, I can’t get down like a baseball catcher.  I can’t.  And my children said, MOM!  You have to do it!

My littlest kids?  They thought it was a blast because every time mommy did a squat?  Yeah, they went under the bridge I made.  Oh it was jolly fun for Alyce and Christiano.  At the end I told them to move before mommy fell on them.

I’m going to get in the right order on Friday.  I may have to duplicate something somewhere to get in the right order, but I am determined to follow this the way it should be.  Ryan I’ve get Ripitude!  Is that how you spell it?

On to Jordan doing it.  Now I know why they were laughing at me.  It’s not that what you are doing is funny looking it’s that towards the middle of it, each of us were looking for a chair to hold ourselves up on.  I think I can I think I can.

Who knew 20 minutes could make you burn so much.  I’m not using a huge heavy weight that will hurt my back.  I’m using a 5 LB KettleBell.

Go check out their testimonials.  I read all those before I started this.

And their FAQ’s.

You can also watch the infomercial.

This being the one that concerned me the most for myself -

We guarantee you’ll be amazed at the changes you’ll see – and feel – after just six weeks. Of course you have to follow the plan. But what makes KettleWorx so effective for so many is that we’ve designed a plan that anyone can follow. Most people fail other fitness programs because the requirements of those programs are unreasonable. They demand hours of exercise each day and combine that with severe calorie restrictions or strange diets. That combination is all but impossible – and it’s unhealthy as well! The KettleWorx program is simple, easy and healthy. You’ll see your body transform as a result of reasonable exercise and reasonable diet consistently applied over six weeks. You’ll look better, feel better and actually be healthier. We guarantee it.

That whole 20 minutes a day/3 days a week? I can do that.  Even with 4 kids I can do that.  What I can’t do is get to the gym 5 days a week and sweat it out for a couple of hours, though I do miss yoga class a lot.

I’m going to be posting pictures of Jordan and I every week and post our progress, which at this point, unless I do break down and buy a scale, will be in how we look and how our clothes fit.

And when I hit the 4 weeks to go mark KettleWorx is going to be giving one of you their Essentials system PLUS a 5 LB KettleBell just like I am using.

So be on the look out for that! And wish Jordan and I luck.  I’ve failed at so many diets it is not funny, but maybe making a commitment not just to myself, but to you all that I’m going to do this will help me follow through and get it done.  I’m determined we will succeed.

Popularity: 25% [?]

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• KettleWorX – Week 1 done
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• Getting Some Help Part II
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• It Is Working!

I got this right in the nick of time, well, actually, right at the end of the fever, but perfect timing because I can’t figure out what Pato did with the thermometer after he took Christiano’s temp last night.

I have been wanting one of these since I heard a commercial for them on our local radio station. It’s one of those things that slips my mind until the kids are sick though. Then I don’t want to take them out to get one. I am so excited to have one now.

As I’ve told you the last few days, Christiano has been sick. It’s a great reminder about how much he loves to have his temperature taken. That would be, not at all. Even trying to sneak it under his arm pit when he’s sleeping wakes him up. You just want to let a sleeping baby lie, but when they are burning up when you touch them, you have to check and see what is going on.

When the premium temple touch thermometer got here today Christiano was napping. What better timing could I have asked for? I snuck in there after reading the instructions. Pushed the power button, waited for the 2 beeps, then pressed it to his temple, waiting for the beep to tell me it was done (6-8 seconds). No waking baby. Woohoo! It’s moving his arm to put the thermometer under it that wakes him up and I don’t even want to know what trying to take it rectally would do to his attitude when he’s trying to sleep.

I had to wait until he woke up to take pictures of him with it because the flash would definitely wake my light sleeper up.

He’s still a baby, I had to bribe him to lay still when he’s awake to take his temperature with a little watered down juice. Otherwise we played the game of “Here, let mommy touch this to your head while you attempt to grab it out of my hand. Can’t grab it? We’ll just smack mommy’s hand over and over again so she can’t get a good reading.” Definitely easier when he’s sleeping. Squirreley child.

3 hours after taking Tylenol his temperature is still normal. That makes my life easier, for the time being.

Can’t try out something new without Alyce getting to test it too. For the record, she’s as normal as she always is. And she wanted to keep checking her temperature over and over because she might have a fever. Because you know those come out of nowhere in 30 seconds. Ok, they might actually at times, but she was just having too much fun with it.

Nano asking, “Mom are you done with me yet? Please?”

Here’s a description of mine:

The world’s only combined thermometer for both forehead & underarm measurement in a new innovative design. Another breakthrough in thermometers, its unique design & technical capabilities, which enable parents to receive quick and accurate temperature measurement by just touching the infant’s forehead or open armpit. The temple area is a comfortable and easy measurement site, accessible when child or patient is awake or asleep.

It is currently sold at Walgreens® stores nationwide for $29.99 and online at www.walgreens.com.

Features:

• Measurement locations – temple and underarm
• Instant measurement, 6 – 8 seconds
• Room Temperature display.
• Large and easy to read back-lighted LCD
• ODPT® – Over Dose Protective Timer.
• Recalls last reading recorded
• Celsius/Fahrenheit scale readouts
• Simple to operate, no scanning required
• Family friendly, safe and gentle enough for newborns
• Meets ASTM Accuracy requirements

Can I get a mommy woo hoo for the fact that the temple touch thermometer takes 2-AAA batteries? That is something I always have in my house. What I don’t have is the little watch batteries that all of my other thermometers called for. I ended up never replacing the batteries and just getting a new thermometer rather than go through the hassle of figuring out how to open up the thermometer, find out what kind of battery it took, and then trying to find a place that sold the right size battery. Seeing as they were the little round ones, that means going up to a counter and waiting for someone to decide if they have that type or not. 2-AAAs makes me very very happy.

The Premium Temple Touch Thermometer that I received gives you the option to take the temp on the forehead OR under the arm. You just push a button, it’ll show a picture of the head or the armpit, then take the temp. Alyce and I tested it both ways, multiple times. M-U-L-T-I-P-L-E times.

Want to know what else is cool? It has a timer to remind you of when you last gave a dose of medicine/need to give a new dose of medicine. If I don’t write everything down I forget what time Tylenol/ibuprofin was given, and that is something you don’t mess around with. You can easily screw up someone’s kidneys and liver with too much Tylenol, especially important when your dosing little kids.

Walgreens sells the Digital Temple Thermometer that I received.

Walmart sells the Mini Temple Touch under the ReliOn brand. I don’t see it listed online, but you can see it here. If you’d like it, ask for it at your local Walmart.

It’s the little things that make me happy and this made me extremely happy.

For being an excellent product that helps me monitor my child when they are sick WITHOUT waking up a sleeping baby -

Thank you to @TempleTouchMom and Temple Touch Thermometer for sending me the Premium Temple Touch Thermometer.

Popularity: 8% [?]

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