Wordless Wednesday: A New Me

Surprise Surprise...I kept it long! But I'm loving it! It's so much lighter and prettier now!

Check out my highlight sponsor this month!!

XOXxx

Shana Danae..

Why do I run? Fitness Friday {week 13}

You'll see I missed last week! Sorry peeps but it was an off weekend between school holidays and sickness...but I'm Back so relax! ;-)

WHY DO I RUN???

It was a simple question but it caught me off guard. Hubby Dearest and I were having a bumpy day (you could say) and fishing got brought up. Sometimes I get a bit frustrated because it feels like the moment Hubby Dearest has some time where he could just chill at home with me and the kids, he is off to go fishing!

I want to scream. I’m just like look..DUDE...I’m here all afternoon EVERYDAY and ALL weekend with them. I love them but they want some daddy time. You’re at work. You aren’t here with all the stress. Come on, man!

Then he asks me that. I’m like, umm duh! Because I need a break for just me. I need to do this one thing that is my time for me to be a little selfish in this parenting ordeal. I need to distress and forget about everything. It is just me, the pace of the music, my beating heart, the thrump thrump of my feet against the pavement, and that goal I’m trying to beat. It is me against the world. It’s....oh I get it now.

Sometimes, I forget that he needs some him time to. Running has become a necessity for my life. It is something I look forward to. It is something that helps me wind down and recharge at the same time. I can see things from a different angle when I’ve just had a run. New possibilities become visible and windows that seemed closed are now wide open. It just resets me back to well....a better me!

Why do you run??

Recap:

March 18- March 23

Have I mentioned that it has been raining....like constantly. EVERY FRACKIN’ evening! It is cramping my style. I am proud to say I’ve beat my goal and ran my 5km in 32 minutes! Whoop whoop! This is frackin’ awesome. If you don’t think so then quit reading! NOW!.....

I’m still trying to figure out the whole cross training with my littles..but we got our cable turned back on and that means I use the electronic baby sitter while I workout.

Problem...next week I go back to working FULL DAY!! I already battle to figure out how to fit everything in and am PRAYING that I manage to learn a routine that works.

Running during lunch is a severe possibility. It is already getting to dark to make long runs in the mornings. It just isn’t safe here to run when it isn’t light out. I’m considering buying a pepper spray to carry in my hand so I can at least get out and run the 1km loop that is my home street.

I did the following:

1x 5km run in under 35 minutes

1x 4km easy

1x yoga day

2x core workouts

It still isn’t near what I’m aiming for but I refuse to lower my goals. In other news....my first 5km is suppose to be in 3 weeks! EEEKK...but I haven’t figured out transport there as it is, duh duh duh 38km away from home! To be continued....

Future outlook:

April 1- April 7

3x cross training (2x full body 1x core)

2x Easy runs totalling 15km

Speed: 4x 800m @ 4:35-4:40

Tempo: 2x 2k tempo @ 6:00

12 km long run

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!

Shana..

Fitness Friday {week 11}

I haven't got a lot to say this week....there is a lot going on at home that is affecting me and has thrown me right off my game. SO here is a quick recap and a look into what I want to achieve.

I've said before running is like therapy for me. When it becomes too much, I can hit the pavement and work it out. That seems to have halted. A lot is going on emotionally and even running just seems to be one.more.thing.

I hate this. I know that is a strong word...but running is suppose to be a release. It has nothing to actually do with running that I've hit a wall...it's me and my mind right now.

I need focus and nothing..NOTHING I do gets me out of my head. I'm praying constantly that relief comes, but each day it is like the load gets heavier.

My future currently lies in someone else's hands. Their decision affects the lives of me and my children forever. This is putting me in a dark place. I do not like to feel so out of control. So...I've been sitting and waiting. I'm waiting for a sign as to which direction they will go. I've been waiting for words that have failed to arise. I wait in silence hoping that my WANTS for the situation will magically come forth.

I'm tired....of waiting...of hurting...of questioning.

So, I ran yesterday. (It didn't rain for a change!)

I went out for a slow, easy 5 km run. I got to the T-junction that loops me back to my house to finish my 5 km. Here is a decision point...one I don't normally think to much about. I can go forward and take the long way and do my 5 km or I can turn right and cut it short to 4 km. The thing about the short path...it hurts a little more. There is a hill. Not a big one...I can see the top of it, but it is enough to let my calves feel it. 

This time the decision struck me. I stood there looking at these two paths as if they're where I sit now in life. I could go forward...continuing on my easy path I've choosen in silence and battle out what I'd already set in mind. Take it for the long haul....

Or. Or I could cut it short knowing it is going to burn a little more and open up. I can voice up say what I want and let the cards fall where they may.

I chose the shorten path. And yes....my calves felt it a little more. But you know what else...I saw other runners. I never see them on my other forward path. Yesterday, I saw them. They saw me. It was like they were battling just as I was.....maybe.

Photo courtesy Google: My Motto for the coming week

Recap:

March 4- March 10

Dudes and dudettes....I've been slacking. 

It's been raining. It's late in the season for rain...but it's here....every...EVERY afternoon. I still haven't gotten the morning thing down to where I can fit in a run before work...so when Hubby gets home at 5:30pm is the only chance I get. If it's raining that means no run for me...since I still don't have a treadmill. I'm dying for one but they cost about 1/4 of my monthly salary! So until we're out of debt...that is a NO GO! :-(

Here is what I managed to get done....

2x 5km runs. Both were easy and done in about 38 minutes. I'm wanting faster for my April run...but since I'm not getting out there as much as I'd like; I'll take it!

1x 4km run. This was a fast run and I was back in 25 minutes! Yea for a little bit of speed.

1x yoga day. I learnt I can get some cross training done with the littles involved. Lil Mister enjoyed trying to knock me out of my poses...I enjoyed the extra challenge holding them while he rammed me!

1x core strength train....I really need to do more of this!

Future outlook:

March 18- March 23

4x cross training (2x full body 2x core)

2x Easy runs 4-6 km

Speed: 6x400m @2:25-2:20

Tempo: 2x 1k tempo @ 6:00

10 km long run

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!

Shana..

5 for Five

Do you tend to set goals only to see them slide down your priority lists? Do you want to make your goals each week to create a better more efficient you?
Do you want to start making goals?
Monday is the day for {5 for Five} with Jenn and Jessica! This link up allows you to come and share your top 5 goals for the week ahead. Link up with us and share what you accomplished last week AND what goals you're setting for yourself the week ahead.  (Still need a little clarification? That's okay! Check out Jessica's summary of the link up here!)

So....I have an obsession with planners, journals, logs, and goals. I feel the insanity of it all is what keeps me sane! With all that I do (and don't do!), it's a great idea if I share some of my weekly goals with you and how I 'attack' them in my daily life. Goals are the structure to my life! { 2 for 5} 1) 4x Runs and 2x Cross Training 2) Do at least two structured activities with Lil Mister- we totally knocked out some awesome activities...we practiced cutting, we made a tent, AND we baked cookies again ;-) We're currently working on a surprise gift/card for Ouma's birthday. 3) Run 5km under 35 minutes- I've got this goal on lock! I can't wait to start my speedwork and get a little faster. I learnt that my medical aid has an awesome tool on their website that helps me track my runs and the routes I run. Each time I log a workout I'm entered for a chance to win a trip to the Berlin Marathon! ;-) 4) Do a devotion every morning. 5) Establish a morning routine to fit everything in.   1) 4x Runs and 2x Cross Training I've decided to keep this goal another week. I will not change a goal until I meet it 100%!! I need to focus on my physical health. I LOVE running. If you didn't know that, clickity click that little tabby in the balloon over there >>>>>>> that says running! I have to plan to get this in with two kids and a ful time job, but it is well worth it! I've cut my cross training back to twice a week. I did some research and with as much running as I'm trying to get in and I do yoga twice a week, 4 gym sessions aren't really necessary. Although I'd still like to get there! 2) Wash my face every night This is going to probably seem a little obvious but I have a terrible habit of NOT doing this. I'm doing great at my night time routine. The kitchen is cleaned, lunches made, and bags packed every night before bed which is making my mornings go so GREAT. So, I figured I can add something else to my routine. My skin is getting terrible because I'm sleeping with make up on. This MUST stop ;-) 3) Have a Date Night Hubby Dearest and I have such hectic schedules between work and the kids that we rarely spend time with each other. However, an awesome friend has offered to take the kids for an evening. She loves my boys and is a great auntie. So...I'm taking her up. She must just name the night she is available and I'm going to surprise Hubby Dearest! 4) Do a devotion every morning. I've decided to keep this goal another week. I will not change a goal until I meet it 100%!! I have found an awesome daily devotional delivered right to my inbox! So excited to try it out for a few weeks. Will let you guys know all about it! 5) Establish a morning routine to fit everything in. I've decided to keep this goal another week. I will not change a goal until I meet it 100%!! Winter is quickly approaching here and it will be getting lighter later. I need to soak up the opportunity to run in the am while I still can. I need to establish LJ into a feeding routine that allows me to get out the door in the morning. Come winter, I will crosstrain in the morning and run in the afternoons. LJ is eating at my run time right now so I need to get him moved back by about an hour! (We've successfully moved back 30 minutes! Hopefully we can secure the hour by the end of the week!)   So, there you have it! Those are MY goals for the week ahead! What about you?! What are you setting out to do?!  Link up and let us know! 

By the way, if you decided to link up with us today (THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!) we just ask that you follow good 'blogging manners' & do the following itty bitty things....

1) Please use the button (see sidebar) and/or link back to Jenn's or Jessica's blog- or both!
2) Pretty, pretty please follow Jessica  & Jenn! It helps us get to know you better! Plus, we love having new friends!
3) Jump around! Go have fun and meet some new friends! Maybe you'll find motivation in someone else post OR perhaps you'll be able to offer them some encouragement. We have some wonderful ladies linking up with us so I'd encourage you to get to know them! 
Follow my blog with Bloglovin



Shana..

Fitness Friday {week 10}

Hey guys! I'm also blogging over at Believe & Inspire today! Go check it out!

What is your niche when working out? You know...that thing that gets you in the groove. Something that gives you that edge to push a little bit further.

I’ve always admired those that get out there, sans headphones and run their marathon. I used to envision them as the ‘real runners’ as opposed to those of us who I guess were just pretending out there.

In reality, we’re all real runners. Some of us just go about it differently! I, for one, cannot hit the pavement without my headphones in my ears. I’ve read all the articles telling me how dangerous it is because I’m not paying attention to my body or that I’m drowning out the background noises. For the record, I only run with one ear piece in so I can still hear the cars coming up, the people singing in their showers, or that annoying mutt of a Jack Russel that swears my ankles are made of biltong.

The music puts a pace for me to hit. It places a beat in my heart to run by. And nothing....nothing can drown out the feeling of pain. You know when you’re pushing to far. Your mind, however, will give up long before your body. So, whoever said a little distraction from myself wasn’t a good thing....I don’t think they’ve spent enough time around me!

This playlist puts me just a few second over 42 minutes. With a warm up kilometre, it puts me at a perfect pace for a decent 5km run. However, you can find tons of suggestions for some awesome playlists just by Googling 5km playlist!

Lose Yourself-Eminem

Firework- Katy Perry

Funhouse- Pink

Welcome to the Jungle- Guns n Roses

I gotta feeling- Black Eyed Peas

Eye of the Tiger-Survivor

Moves Like Jagger- Maroon 5

Where’s you head at- Basement

Boom Boom Pow- Black Eyed Peas

Waka Waka-Shakira

Recap:

February 25- March 3
This past week was a joke. I don't know what is wrong with me. I keep finding excuses. Okay...LJ is feeding when I need to leave in the morning so there is nothing I can do about that except to keep trying to move his feed back. I wake him up at 4am but he just looks at me like WT-Frack is wrong with you and goes back to sleep. Then wakes up at 4:50 and eats. To run and be ready for work I have to be out the door by no later than 5am...This isn't happening! And three days last week it was raining in the evenings so no run there. Sorry but I'm not one for coming home soaking wet :-/ Plus the whole visability with the cars and all!
Our parents were visiting again with our brothers over the weekend so cancel Friday and Saturday. Where does that leave me....
I ran 2x 5km runs in under 40 minutes which does make me happy about spped!
I got in 2x cross training but really this is sad. I could totally do more since I do this at home with the kids. I have no excuse in this category.
If I don't step it up I'm not going to be ready in April!

Future outlook:

March 11-March 17

4x cross training (4x full body)

3x 5km runs combined with 6x strides work

6 km run with 2x 10min bursts at SS

10 km ‘long run’ at a slow, steady pace (last 15 min @SS; 15 min core workout)

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!

If you’re at all interested in what I’m doing or getting yourself back into shape can I please encourage you to check out two of my favourite mommy runners! These women love being mommies and their health and continually inspire me!

RunFasterMommy

Mommy With Her Running Shoes On

MCM Mama Runs

Shana..

5 for five

Do you tend to set goals only to see them slide down your priority lists? Do you want to make your goals each week to create a better more efficient you?
Do you want to start making goals?
Monday is the day for {5 for Five} with Jenn and Jessica! This link up allows you to come and share your top 5 goals for the week ahead. Link up with us and share what you accomplished last week AND what goals you're setting for yourself the week ahead.  (Still need a little clarification? That's okay! Check out Jessica's summary of the link up here!)

So....I have an obsession with planners, journals, logs, and goals. I feel the insanity of it all is what keeps me sane! With all that I do (and don't do!), it's a great idea if I share some of my weekly goals with you and how I 'attack' them in my daily life. Goals are the structure to my life! { 2 for 5} 1) 4x Runs and 2x Cross Training 2) Complete Pinterest activity with Lil Mister-I had originally wanted to do a craft activity but instead settled for this great obstacle course idea. I was so caught up in the fun of it with Lil mister that I didn't get any photos :-( 3) Finish my day planner 4) Do a devotion every morning. 5) Establish a morning routine to fit everything in.   1) 4x Runs and 2x Cross Training I've decided to keep this goal another week. I will not change a goal until I meet it 100%!! I need to focus on my physical health. I LOVE running. If you didn't know that, clickity click that little tabby in the balloon over there >>>>>>> that says running! I have to plan to get this in with two kids and a ful time job, but it is well worth it! I've cut my cross training back to twice a week. I did some research and with as much running as I'm trying to get in and I do yoga twice a week, 4 gym sessions aren't really necessary. Although I'd still like to get there! 2) Do at least two structured activities with Lil Mister I strongly believe that education begins at home. I hate it when I see children that sit in front of the TV the whole day. I also despise parents who refuse their children to have any kind of free play. Lil Mister has days where he needs entertainment and other days he is perfectly content sitting in his room with his cars. I try to keep a balance. That is the purpose of this goal. I want to plan and do at least two activities (around 30 minutes each) during the week (Mon-Fri). Activities like art, clay work, baking, ect. 3) Run 5km under 35 minutes. After this past week of epic runners fail, this might be a big feat. I'm sure I've lost a good 2 minutes after last week but still. My goal in Aprils run is a sub-00:35 5km. I'd like to get there now to be well prepared. I want April's run to be a pace setting run; not a "I want to rip my lungs out why did I decide to do this again" run!! 4) Do a devotion every morning. I've decided to keep this goal another week. I will not change a goal until I meet it 100%!! I have found an awesome daily devotional delivered right to my inbox! So excited to try it out for a few weeks. Will let you guys know all about it! 5) Establish a morning routine to fit everything in. I've decided to keep this goal another week. I will not change a goal until I meet it 100%!! Winter is quickly approaching here and it will be getting lighter later. I need to soak up the opportunity to run in the am while I still can. I need to establish LJ into a feeding routine that allows me to get out the door in the morning. Come winter, I will crosstrain in the morning and run in the afternoons. LJ is eating at my run time right now so I need to get him moved back by about an hour! (We've successfully moved back 30 minutes! Hopefully we can secure the hour by the end of the week!)   So, there you have it! Those are MY goals for the week ahead! What about you?! What are you setting out to do?!  Link up and let us know! 

By the way, if you decided to link up with us today (THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!) we just ask that you follow good 'blogging manners' & do the following itty bitty things....

1) Please use the button (see sidebar) and/or link back to Jenn's or Jessica's blog- or both!
2) Pretty, pretty please follow Jessica  & Jenn! It helps us get to know you better! Plus, we love having new friends!
3) Jump around! Go have fun and meet some new friends! Maybe you'll find motivation in someone else post OR perhaps you'll be able to offer them some encouragement. We have some wonderful ladies linking up with us so I'd encourage you to get to know them! 
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Shana..

Fitness Fridays {week 8}

Recap:

February 11- February 17

This was a hectic week and signified week two of being back to work. We have yet to get a morning routine down for me to run/train in the mornings and I’m on the verge of giving up! GRR!!!

Okay, you know I won’t give up, but really…it is SO hard to change an infants sleeping patterns. Then he smiles at me with this naughty little smile every morning when I finally pry myself from our duvet and his love to go shower as if he has once again won the battle.

You may have won the battle little dude but I will win this war! ;-)

I got 3 of my 4 runs in and two cross training days. Not as good as I’d hoped but I slacked the weekend. MIL and Vin came to visit us again so I kind of threw my plans out the window. We only see them once a month right now so I wasn’t wasting any time away from them! I don’t regret it mentally but I can feel in my body I’m regretting it physically!! Long breaks are not good right now!

Future outlook:

My training to run 30 minutes in 6 weeks is completed now! I’m super excited and although it is still difficult I’m achieving it! Since I got a week behind, I have to make that up now. This was suppose to be a little bit of a rest for me where I dropped down to only running 3km per run and work myself back up. However, I’m scratching that plan and jumping right in. Let’s see how it goes right! ;-)

February 25- March 3

4x cross training (2x full body 2x abs)

2x 5km runs combined with 5x strides work

6 km run with 2x 5min bursts at SS

6-8 km ‘long run’ at a slow, steady pace

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!

If you’re at all interested in what I’m doing or getting yourself back into shape can I please encourage you to check out two of my favourite mommy runners! These women love being mommies and their health and continually inspire me!

RunFasterMommy

Mommy With Her Running Shoes On

MCM Mama Runs

Shana..

5 for Five Mondays....

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Do you tend to set goals only to see them slide down your priority lists? Do you want to make your goals each week to create a better more efficient you?
Do you want to start making goals?
Monday is the day for {5 for Five} with Jenn and Jessica! This link up allows you to come and share your top 5 goals for the week ahead. Link up with us and share what you accomplished last week AND what goals you're setting for yourself the week ahead.  (Still need a little clarification? That's okay! Check out Jessica's summary of the link up here!)

So....I have an obsession with planners, journals, logs, and goals. I feel the insanity of it all is what keeps me sane! With all that I do (and don't do!), it's a great idea if I share some of my weekly goals with you and how I 'attack' them in my daily life. Goals are the structure to my life! {3 for 5} 1) 4x Runs and 4x Cross Training I didn't do to terrible though. I got in 3 runs and 2 cross training sessions. I would have done better but our Ma came to visit the weekend and therefore I didn't run all weekend! :-/ 2) Drink 6x glasses of water Score! And I feel better for having done this. My skin is looking great too! 3) Clean and prep at night! I did this all but one night. I've started this week off good and was on the right track this morning! ;-) 4) Make cookies with Lil Mister. We had so much fun and can't wait to post all about it! 5) Organize kids closets I'm so glad this is done! I feel relieved and have a small project in the house each day to do!
1) 4x Runs and 4x Cross Training I've decided to keep this goal another week. I will not change a goal until I meet it 100%!! I need to focus on my physical health. I LOVE running. If you didn't know that, clickity click that little tabby in the balloon over there >>>>>>>that says running! I have to plan to get this in with two kids and a ful time job, but it is well worth it! 2) Take one night for myself! For a lot of people it would seem with my running that I am spending time focused on me. However, as much as that hour a day is my time it is a different aspect. This night for myself is after the kids have gone to bed and the house is picked up. I just need to crawl into a hot bubble bath, grab a magazine and unwind. Paint my toes when I'm not rushing and let my body relax. It is for the sanity of my entire family!  3) Clean and prep at night! I've decided to keep this goal another week. I will not change a goal until I meet it 100%!! By the time Lil Mister and LJ are asleep, I'm ready to pass out on the couch. However, this ruins my mornings as then I am pressed for time with so much to do and end up not running! So rather I've rallied Hubby Dearest in to help me and we are doing everything at night. Together it takes 30-40 minutes. This is cleaning the kitchen, making lunches, packing school bags, laying out clothes, and ensuring all toys are packed away! It is actually a lot to do if you saw my house by 8 pm! 4) Do a devotion every morning. I used to be very good about my daily devotionals. But during my maternity leave I wasn't checking my emails as regular and fell behind. I need to get back to spending that time with God everyday at the beginning of the day. 5) Establish a morning routine to fit everything in. Winter is quickly approaching here and it will be getting lighter later. I need to soak up the opportunity to run in the am while I still can. I need to establish LJ into a feeding routine that allows me to get out the door in the morning. Come winter, I will crosstrain in the morning and run in the afternoons. LJ is eating at my run time right now so I need to get him moved back by about an hour!   So, there you have it! Those are MY goals for the week ahead! What about you?! What are you setting out to do?!  Link up and let us know! 

By the way, if you decided to link up with us today (THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!) we just ask that you follow good 'blogging manners' & do the following itty bitty things....

1) Please use the button (see sidebar) and/or link back to Jenn's or Jessica's blog- or both!
2) Pretty, pretty please follow Jessica  & Jenn! It helps us get to know you better! Plus, we love having new friends!
3) Jump around! Go have fun and meet some new friends! Maybe you'll find motivation in someone else post OR perhaps you'll be able to offer them some encouragement. We have some wonderful ladies linking up with us so I'd encourage you to get to know them! 

Shana..

Fitness Friday {week 7}

Recap:

February 4, 2013-February 10,2013

Not to much was happening. I am proud to say that I got in 3 runs during this week and doubled my distance! It was great.

Pa measured the circle around our block that I like to loop quite often. It is exactly 800m. So that gives me a rough idea of where my km stand. Hubby Dearest and I will take a drive this weekend to measure the longer routes that I tend to frequent so that I can be more accurate.

As for now, time is still my main focus but I am happy to know what distances I am reaching. This will give me a more accurate fixture to go on once I start building distance.

Otherwise, things are pretty slow and I’m still struggling to get out in the morning. LJ wants to feed when it is time for me to be leaving! Therefore my runs cram into my evenings and unfortunately get lost some days!

Future outlook:

I’ve acquired a plan via Womens Health about getting yourself running 30 minutes in 30 days. You can check it out here for more details to how the plan works. I’ve incorporated this into my plans along with some strength training.

As I’ve said, these are my goals. Everything is subject to change based on how my mind and body copes. Instead of a strict day by day plan....I’ve listed my workouts as goals I want to achieve this week!

18 February 2013-24 February 2013

4x runs totalling a minimum of two hours. This week I will hit 30 minutes solid running. For a lot of you this isn’t a lot but for me just having had a child less than 3 months ago this is a really big deal! No breaks...just running!

4x cross training totalling a minimum of two hours! I’m not meeting this goal as of yet so I’m still working on it. It will continue to remain here until I reach it!

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!

Shana..

{5 for Five} Linky!!

Okay...you're probably totally sick of linky's by now with me this week! But I've found so many great ones I just cannot decide! I'm going to try a few out and narrow them down over the next couple of weeks. But in light of my Fitness Fridays I thought this was a great one!

Monday is the day for {5 for Five} with Jenn and Jessica! This link up allows you to come and share your top 5 goals for the week ahead. Link up with us and share what you accomplished last week AND what goals you're setting for yourself the week ahead.  (Still need a little clarification? That's okay! Check out Jessica's summary of the link up here!)

So....I have an obsession with planners, journals, logs, and goals. I feel the insanity of it all is what keeps me sane! With all that I do (and don't do!), it's a great idea if I share some of my weekly goals with you and how I 'attack' them in my daily life. Goals are the structure to my life!
1) 4x Runs and 4x Cross Training I need to focus on my physical health. I LOVE running. If you didn't know that, clickity click that little tabby in the balloon over there >>>>>>> that says running! I have to plan to get this in with two kids and a ful time job, but it is well worth it! 2) Drink 6x glasses of water a day This seems so simple but jeeze I love my coffee. The more coffee I drink the less I drink water! So...I decided to drink a glass of water with every cup of coffee. 

3) Clean and prep at night! By the time Lil Mister and LJ are asleep, I'm ready to pass out on the couch. However, this ruins my mornings as then I am pressed for time with so much to do and end up not running! So rather I've rallied Hubby Dearest in to help me and we are doing everything at night. Together it takes 30-40 minutes. This is cleaning the kitchen, making lunches, packing school bags, laying out clothes, and ensuring all toys are packed away! It is actually a lot to do if you saw my house by 8 pm! 4) Make cookies with Lil Mister. It seems silly to make this a goal but I must! If I don't plan to do something structured the afternoons will fall into nothing but free play. He needs some structured activities with me. This is a two day project as the dough must sit 24 hours! 5) Organize kids closets Especially LJ! There is so much clothing, toys and blankets it looks like a ToysRUs explosion! It must be sorted....NOW!
So, there you have it! Those are MY goals for the week ahead! What about you?! What are you setting out to do?!  Link up and let us know! 

By the way, if you decided to link up with us today (THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!) we just ask that you follow good 'blogging manners' & do the following itty bitty things....

1) Please use the button (see sidebar) and/or link back to Jenn's or Jessica's blog- or both!
2) Pretty, pretty please follow Jessica  & Jenn! It helps us get to know you better! Plus, we love having new friends!
3) Jump around! Go have fun and meet some new friends! Maybe you'll find motivation in someone else post OR perhaps you'll be able to offer them some encouragement. We have some wonderful ladies linking up with us so I'd encourage you to get to know them! 

Shana..

Fitness Friday {3}

Recap 7 January- 13 January:

Jan 7: 20 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes full body workout
I got in the walk/run. The workout unfortunately was missed because the kids were running a muk when I got back to the house! Hubby Dearest must still get used to being alone with both kids! ;-) I guess I must alotte for a time of adjustment for him as well! Definetly realized I need better sports bras! The girls are much bigger with me breast feeding and I need support I didn't use to need! ;-)
Jan 8: 20 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes abs workout
Again the run was a success! I was super into it and even pushed myself a little faster than I expected. Understand I'm not running at a fast pace or even the full time. It is a walk warm up then run one minute walk one minute rotations. Each run I add one more rotation. I got in half of my workout before the children were needing my attention again!
Jan 9: Semi-rest day 30 minutes yoga
I did manage to squeeze in a short yoga session but not the 30 minutes.
Jan 10: 20 minutes walk/run
This is where everything went wrong! Friends stopped by our house just as I was to be heading out for my run. Run was postponed until Friday morning!
Jan 11: 20 minutes abs workout
Unfortunately (actually we really needed this so it was a blessing!) we woke up to big thunderstorms and since I don't own a treadmill my run was postponed again! Yet, we had plans to braai Friday night again so another day of no training :-/
Jan 12: 20 minutes walk/run; 30 minutes yoga
Again this was a flop. I'm very disappointed in myself but I believe I set my expectations too high. Physically I feel I can handle the plan but schedule wise I wanted to much too quickly. This is a time of adjustment for my entire family and I need to be consious of the changes for them as well. However, I need to remember that this is the one thing that is strictly for me that I do and need to make it more of a priority!
Future outlook:
I’ve acquired a plan via Womens Health about getting yourself running 30 minutes in 30 days. You can check it out here for more details to how the plan works. I’ve incorporated this into my plans along with some strength training.
I’ve added in an additional strength workout on Thursdays this week. I plan to keep up the 4 days double a week.
As I’ve said, these are my goals. Everything is subject to change based on how my mind and body copes.

Jan 21: 30 minutes walk/run; 30 minute yoga aerobics
Jan 22: 30 minutes walk/run; 30 minute full body workout
Jan 23: Semi-rest day 30 minutes yoga
Jan 24: 30 minutes walk/run; 30 minute yoga aerobics
Jan 25: 30 minute full body workout
Jan 26: 30 minutes walk/run; 30 minutes yoga

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!

If you’re at all interested in what I’m doing or getting yourself back into shape can I please encourage you to check out two of my favourite mommy runners! These women love being mommies and their health and continually inspire me!

RunFasterMommy
Mommy With Her Running Shoes On

Shana..

Fitness Friday {2}

I find myself through the first couple weeks of my new fitness plans. I assure you that it is more difficult than I had imagined (I’m a glass half full girl!) but I’m coping well! You’re probably eager to hear about how week one went?? Well...

Recap 31 December- 6 January:
It wasn’t as good as I’d hoped. My plans were to walk everyday and get in 2 workouts. I only got in 1 workout and walked twice. It is harder than I imagined to get the kids into a routine. I have a feeling this is going to take a few weeks to get down right. LJ was doing excellent since birth at feeding. His timing was perfect for me to get in an early run. However, now that I wanted to begin training again he has moved his routine around completely and is cluster feeding from 4am to about 10am! I can’t get him settled long enough for me to be out the door! I’m holding thumbs for the future weeks!
I will say my motivation is good. I’m eager to get out there and love the feeling I have once I’m done. It is bringing back a lot of memories and I enjoy that I feel I’m setting a good example about a healthy lifestyle for my children! I’m rewarding myself with ice cream since my usual Sunday night glass of wine as a reward for meeting my goals is out the window what with breastfeeding and all! ;-)
Future outlook:
I’ve acquired a plan via Womens Health about getting yourself running 30 minutes in 30 days. You can check it out here for more details to how the plan works. I’ve incorporated this into my plans along with some strength training.

As I’ve said, these are my goals. Everything is subject to change based on how my mind and body copes.

Jan 14: 25 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes full body workout
Jan 15: 25 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes abs workout
Jan 16: Semi-rest day 30 minutes yoga
Jan 17: 25 minutes walk/run
Jan 18: 20 minutes abs workout
Jan 19: 25 minutes walk/run; 30 minutes yoga

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!



Shana..

Fitness Fridays Week 1

If you’ve been following me for a while or taken some time to look through previous posts you must have picked up on the FACT that getting back into shape after my pregnancy with LJ has been a big focus of mine.

If you haven’t realized this yet the what the heck is going on here?? Please take sometime and go over to that little tag bubble on the right. Yea the paragraph with all the random words! Click on some of them like fitness, healthy living, new me or running and get an idea of where I’m headed in life right now!

My health is pivotal to my family. How can I be a strong and motivational mother if I’m not taking care of myself? My physical health is so much more than just that. It affects my daily mood and life in every aspect. My mental and physical health are linked and so is yours!! Hehe

Let me make it clear, however, that I am NOT a fitness expert of any kind. Anything I say on here is clearly and strictly that of my own opinion and Google research! Please do not decide to go with what I’m doing here as a perfect program! I know that my plans will at some point prove faulty and changes will be made. This is a learning process for me as well.

You don’t need a degree in physical health though to get and keep yourself in shape! There is plenty of information out there via internet, magazines, books and doctors/professionals to get you in the right direction!

I’ve been cleared however to begin light physical activity. For me this is perfect because I am working on getting myself from the couch to the Comrades! No not in the next year (this is a long term goal!) but it starts now! Just over two weeks since my LJ was born! Yea, I’m a little gun-ho! It’s all good though.

So each Friday I’ll be asking you to put up with reading about how my previous week has gone and what I’ll be doing in the next week. I’m doing this both as a journal and tracker for myself as well as that I want some encouragement along the way!

I also hope to encourage a few others to get out there and do it too! As someone who has been sitting on her butt for the past year almost, I hope that other women see that we can make huge changes by taking small steps at a time! By providing details about both the positives and negatives; ups and downs; and the victories and failures, I hope that others can see they aren’t alone in the struggle for physical dominance! ;-)

My recaps will be a week behind. For instance, my plans started December 31 but since we are still in this week the recap will be next Friday. The post on the 11^th will contain nothing of the week from December 7. However, I will include my plans for the week of the 14^th! A little confusing but you’ll fall into the routine quickly! ;-)

I am a firm believer that if you are unhappy with yourself then you are the only one who can change it! I’ve had such weight variations since moving to South Africa that I made it my mission to get myself under control and achieve a personal feat! I will write a post about why the Comrades and what it means to me.

Future outlook:

I’ve acquired a plan via Womens Health about getting yourself running 30 minutes in 30 days. You can check it out here for more details to how the plan works. I’ve incorporated this into my plans along with some strength training.

As I’ve said, these are my goals. Everything is subject to change based on how my mind and body copes.

Jan 7: 20 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes full body workout

Jan 8: 20 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes abs workout

Jan 9: Semi-rest day 30 minutes yoga

Jan 10: 20 minutes walk/run

Jan 11: 20 minutes abs workout

Jan 12: 20 minutes walk/run; 30 minutes yoga

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!

If you’re at all interested in what I’m doing or getting yourself back into shape can I please encourage you to check out two of my favourite mommy runners! These women love being mommies and their health and they continually inspire me!

RunFasterMommy

Mommy WithHer Running Shoes On

Shana..

You'd be surprised...

To know!
I’m a pretty open book. If you’ve been reading my blog for sometime or have perused the archives at all, you will have gained quite a bit of knowledge about, well, me! Yet, there are times where even I ask if I really know me.


I used to do a lot of people watching back in the States. I loved going to a popular café or restaurant and grabbing a secluded corner table where I could see the door. I would watch people come in and write the first word I thought about the first person I saw. I’d then continue to let the image of that person pull things from my mind. As they would sit with their party and enjoy their time I would continue to document character traits and actions that either agreed or disagreed with my original judgment.

I could spend hours sipping coffee and filling up my notebooks with such characterizations.
I often wonder if this is what people do to me.
When I walk into a shopping centre with my son in tow, what do people assume about me?
What impression do I make when I first step into an interview?
What kind of notion do you gain of who I am when you first look at my blog?

Hmm…it got me into a deep thought. Am I jumping off the pages that I write? Am I screaming this is me and I’m proud? Or do I scrutinize each word wondering how you perceive it?

Who am I? I’ve wrote a post similar to this before; find it here. But here’s a few things I bet some of you weren’t aware of!!

1) I never lived outside of the town I was born in until I packed up and moved to South Africa!

2) I’d never been to South Africa when I moved here. Actually, I’d never been out of the country at all!

3) I’d only ever met Hubby Dearest 3 times in person when I decided to move here. We actually had not seen each other face to face in 7 months! We dated/were engaged for 3 months when we got married!

4) I’m actually very self conscious. I’ve always been outgoing but one of my biggest flaws is that I’m always concerned with how others perceive me and therefore prevent myself from being myself sometimes.

5) I have a very hard time making girl friends. I’ve always been the girl that was actually friends with the boys!

6) When I first decided to come to South Africa (before Hubby Dearest) it was to be a missionary/volunteer.

7) I hate, with a passion, any form of kidney, chicken hearts, pigs feet or other funny body parts that are used in cooking! I can’t even stand the smell of it!

8) I can whip up tears like a Hollywood actress. I can cry at the drop of a dime. Ask for tears and they will come; I just don’t know how to stop them!

9) I only ever wanted daughters until I had a son! Now all I want is boys and thank God everyday for changing my mind!

10) I despise medications. I have a pharmacy account because of how sick Lil Mister was as a baby, but actually have to FORCE myself to even take vitamins.

11) MY favorite hairstyle I’ve ever had was when I was blonde! I don’t care how many people say it didn’t suit me…I loved it!

12) I pray about 100 times a day. Okay not that much but I find myself constantly carrying on a conversation with God in my head. It keeps me grounded.

13) I can eat an entire large pizza by myself and then finish it off with a cheesecake. Please don’t ask me to prove this because I do NOT want to make up the run I’ll have to do afterwards!

14) I’m really REALLY bad at learning foreign languages! I’ve lived in South Africa in an Afrikaans household for almost 4 years and am just now speaking in a very toddler form. I still ask ‘what’ about 20 times in the 30 minutes of Afrikaans news at night!

15) I get embarrassed so easily! I hate it. I can talk about almost anything but if you joke or tease me I almost clam up so tight you need the Jaws of Life to get me back!

16) I Google EVERYTHING! For example, one night we were debating the name of a movie at home. Our parents and my husband had a good laugh because they thought the name I said was not only wrong but hilarious! I got up and went and Googled because I had been laughed at! I have no problem proving I’m right either!

17) I love salty & sweet stuff together! I dip McDonalds French fries in Mcflurries! No I do this when I’m not pregnant! Hot and cold too! I love a hot piece of steak dipped in ice cold sauce!

18) I could eat my weight in sushi! Shrimp too!

19) I would drink a glass of wine after every workout if I thought it was sociably acceptable. I’m pretty sure though my children will grow up with a complex from this!

20) I have no fear of snakes but a centipede makes me run for the hills! All those dang hair like legs…it’s just not right!

I’m sure there are more quirky facts to spew out but here are just the ones from the top of my head!! ;-)

Shana