Our Sunday workout!

Apr 27, 2014

Picture above Mr. 2 years old is crying because he can’t beat his sister Miss 6 racing on the track. Mr. 2 also had to have some of mommies protein shake he loves it!

I just couldn’t get up at 5:00am to run after having her two kids and her nieces yesterday. I dropped my nieces off at 9:30pm and got home by 10:00pm. It was a fun day yesterday celebrating my daughters birthday. I was up by 6:00am trying to get ready for my run but guess what Mr. 2 years old was up and ready to go for the day 10 minutes later. So I decided to clean and make the kids breakfast. They had been begging to go to the YMCA anyways all week. After morning bath time we were off to the YMCA! I ran for 64 minutes 6 1/2 miles. I wanted to do 8 or 9 today but my luck I end up talking to friends around the track and we didn’t get to the Y right when kid zone opened today so not a full 2 hours to run. Were slow moving but hey we made it to workout today. After the kids went to kid zone they asked if they could run on the track. So run they did. Have a wonderful Sunday everyone. What did you do today to stay active?

Reflections – On The Healthy Living Team Challenge Program 2014!

Apr 22, 2014

Article from the – DeKalb- Daily Chronicle article and interview published on Thursday, April 17, 2014.

Today is the last day of the Healthy Living Team Challenge run by the Kish YMCA and Kish hospital! My reflection is if you come into a program for health and wellness it is hard to stick to it. Many don’t and many will not be there at the last weigh-in. As my experience I remember the room always being half full. Many will make excuse of why they couldn’t finish. That is fine losing weight plus keeping it off is the hardest thing to do. Yes, I have one 3 times out of the 6 times I have done the challenge. This year I know I won’t win and that is okay with me because I have gained so much more within the past years. Things I never thought I could I can, I am more out going too, I have a smile on my face and know that I am in the best spot I can be. The YMCA is a community and more like a family of friends. I have been a part of 2 other health organizations in DeKalb county and neither were a best match for me. All I can say is I remember the Jackie that could hardly walk people told me I had to go to the foot doctor. Really?? No what I had to do is this lose the weight that was impacting my life. The positives I have gained are so many. Let’s start with the health benefits; 20/20 vision, no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no feet problems, don’t need to worry about becoming a diabetic, I can easily bike 100 plus miles, run miles on end never thought I could in a billion years run, swim fast and furious, play with my kids for hours, and just love life!  Really I have to always stay on top of eating! Yes that 80 percent of it and yes I could gain the weight back in a heart beat even if I worked out too.  My advice know what the food industry is putting into our food because you would be surprise and just calculate the calories you put into your mouth.  I had no clue until I started counting!  I really hate to say this but it is not that hard if you count calories and keep track everyday.  I still keep track everyday it is hard work but boy am I worth it!  I won’t criticize people what they put into their mouth and all I want to do is motivate you to be your best!  Live your best life!  The lessons I have learned I have researched and taken what I have learned from the hospital/YMCA Monday night classes and put them into action.   If your thinking about starting the journey to new health it is never too late!  You can do it just believe in you.  Focus on the positives!  Must get sleep ya because tomorrow is 5.10am boot camp – I got my days messed up.

Local newspaper DeKalb Chronicle interview in the newspaper today about how: DeKalb County improves in health wellness rankings!

Apr 18, 2014

Daily Chronicle interview about how: DeKalb County improves in health wellness rankings.  Click here to read a little part!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am thankful to share my story in the local area newspaper if it inspires someone. DeKalb County provides a lot of great options for a healthy lifestyle!  One way to inspire someone is not to pick on them but lead with a positive attitude. The Live Healthy Team Challenge ends this Easter Monday.  I have to say I started this blog 2 years ago really to keep me on track and was shocked another YMCA member doing the challenge did the same thing.  I never thought like I said that members would say please make a Facebook page I want to follow you because you inspire me.  You are all sweet cause you inspire me to stay on track when days are hard.  The YMCA is a positive place in DeKalb county.  I thank the YMCA for listening to their members.  When I first was a member I relied on Kid Zone their daycare program.  It helps single moms or working moms depending on a daily life schedule.  Many members asked for the kid zone to be open for  Every time you go the staff is very friendly.  I have to say they have lots of workout classes that are in the cost of your membership that make it affordable.  I totally forgot to ask for a scholarship for my daughter for YMCA camp this year but the YMCA last year provided us a scholarship for my daughter to attend camp for 5 weeks!  She loved going to camp she would tell me don’t pick me up on time. She is Kindergarten this year.  I informed my daughter this year she will be joining the Northern IL kid track team.  Which she is excited and a YMCA instructor runs this group.  She loves swimming and has been involved in swimming from age 18 months.  She really wants me to sign her up for the swim team.  Not sure she is ready for the swim team.  I have to say that I was apart of 2 other gyms in the past one in DeKalb County.   I believe the positive attitude of members and staff has made a difference.  The community feeling is great.  The reason I changed in the first place is having my daughter and need day care plus I wanted her learn how to swim and be involved in different activities.   She loved the sleep over night she really wanted to spend the night but she is only 5 😦 haha.  With a YMCA staff member saying to me and a friend of mine that we had to get out of the spin room and really ride our bikes.  It was the best thing every and I discovered bike events.  It was great having a friend to ride with a friend who I meet through the Live Healthy Team Challenge (called weight no more back in the day).  I have become a very active member of Kish Bike and Rec Club which started last year.  This organization did some great things in their first year by providing bike rides, hiking, kayaking and more.  Unlike other bike clubs we go the speed of our slowest member and no member leaves someone behind.  If your tires pop we help change them and don’t leave you stranded.  Trust me I had 3 or maybe 4 tires pop last year.  So thankful to Toney for putting this organization together and other super members for their help.  I have been asked by Nitro members to join them too and run.  I love running lol and many YMCA members are Nitro members I know they are a great organization in DeKalb County.  Maybe I will join?? but I really love biking over running.  The YMCA is a community and offers a lot and there are always other choices.  As another season of the Live Healthy Team program comes to an end I know I haven’t won this year but the reason I joined this year is many YMCA members asked if I would do the challenge because I was an inspiration.  I am also thankful and feel to be a part of 2 Live Healthy Team Challenge groups Sue and Carrie are awesome.   Without Carrie pushing me this year I may have truly slacked off.  It is hard for instructors cause you have all levels from seniors, to people just starting the journey and some overachiever members ;).   Really those who ask me to come back your my inspiration for trying to start or maintain a healthy lifestyle.  This journey is a step by step and day by day processes for me.  Maintaining is so hard.  LOL I just thought of this I may just win this year right now with the flu and a 100 degree temp!  Seriously though I have lost like 6 pounds which is healthy.  Starving is not in my vocab but eating veggies is yum! Ugh did I just talk about food.  I totally need to go to bed because my son has the same thing.  Please will my 5 year old daughter join us in dream land and stop working out with Jillian!

PS: Great picture of the green teams workout this week!

Our Journey – Me Losing Weight!

Mar 23, 2014

Our day and our journey. To running, spinning and a boot camp workout it was all good and over 1,000 thousand calories burned. Then some fun on bikes and scooters outside. I can keep up with Miss 5 on a bike and out run her bike LOL and she is not happy! Miss 5 my picky eater discovers she loves Fiber One Whole Wheat Bread. I think she ate a whole loaf today smh!! Just glad she likes something new and yes we went to the store just for bread today that’s what we call a family adventure getting bread. All and all 9 1/2 miles on my fitbit and I am sure I have lost weight for the weigh in on Monday. I am not checking but I know cause I fit into smaller clothes again. That was my day plus cleaning the house and having guest over. Plus both of my kids took a nap at the same time it is a miracle. Happy Spring Break 🙂 to mom.

Sunday Cross Training Swim and Running done! Last Chance workout for the Healthy Team Challenge 2014!

Mar 9, 2014

I started at 9.0 mph thanks Carrie! I am sorry I laughed that wasn’t tough for a minute and half. I would of don this thanks for inspiring me :)! But I stopped and back down to half marathon training at 6.0 mph just 5 miles at one time this week. Next week 6 miles. Plus no pictures of me swimming this morning but I did for 40 minutes. Can I say my legs were killing me in the pool. I did lots of pulls. Sore muscles from workouts this week a good sore though. I seriously had no side pain running woot! 5 miles was nothing did I just say that!!!!! Running isn’t as bad as it use to be and it is getting more enjoyable. 🙂 One thing I must stretch my favorite part last year my IT-band was on fire after the Biggest Loser 5K mid June. I just stopped running and did my triathlons with no running practice. I am sure I did not stretch right after my workouts. A lot of triathletes cross training at the Barb City YMCA! How did I miss my best friend at the the y too seriously I most of been focused. I hardly talked at all I have to concentrate on my running. A for the marathon! B This running thing is what slows my triathlon times down. I know I am at the top tier when I look at swim times, biking not a problem as long as I remember to get into the right gear, running without music at a Tri seriously hard for this music teacher. I need to bob my head up and down to music to keep me going. Then I realize a 1/2 marathon will be super easy because I have my first love with me music. Positive vibes! I know I am ready for the Shamrock Shuffle this year in Chicago in a couple weeks. I was dreading it last year this year I say let’s rock this and have fun!

This week the Advocare challenge stopped and I am in full force Healthy Living Challenge mood!  Yes I am eating why do people think I don’t eat?  I workout a lot seriously I do to burn the calories.  I am going to keep positive vibes!  I will do separate post on both sometime today.

My Blogs 2 Year Anniversary. Watch the Video if you like!

Mar 4, 2014

Inspiring Stories of My Healthy Lifestyle Change!
Hi my name is Jackie and I am 35 years old. I spelled losing wrong on purpose! Why because I am not perfect and will struggle with my weight during my journey to a new healthy me. I have lost 90 pounds twice after both of my pregnancies! No surgery needed just old fashion exercise and eating right. July 14, 2011 I gave birth to my handsome baby boy and weighed 265 omg as of May 2013 I weigh 163 ish. My passion is bike riding, swimming, and music! I have transformed from obese to an athlete. I don’t have much more to lose but am focused on my goal. I see obesity on the rise in our children and it sadness me. I am trying to raise my kids to be active. This is my story of my lifestyle change. I am a working mom of two small kids and to reach my goals I work my butt off :). Don’t ever give up hope because your worth it!

Stay away from fast food.  Say yes to veggies!  Track your daily steps with a fitbit or any pedometer.  Keep a food journal!

Indoor Triathlon at the YMCA Finished! Yes and I just had surgery not even 2 months ago! No excuses.

Feb 23, 2014

I finished a little better than last year at the indoor YMCA triathlon. I have been working on getting myself back into shape after my gallbladder surgery on December 27th, 2013.   I am just 2 months shy of having surgery and am working hard to get back to full performance. Note today also I wasn’t 100 percent with my swollen eye sty bruising but I still showed up.  I never believed the nurse and doctors when they said I be tired and it would take me a few months after surgery to get my pep back in my step. Next year remember cycling shoes Kara said, Jackie where are your bike shoes.  I thought we couldn’t wear them 😦 I would of done better with my cycling shoes I ride in oh well now I know.  If you have been reading my blog you know I don’t like running as much and this is the discipline I need to get better at out of the three.  Then bike events and triathlons.  I have figured out I am great at swimming and love trying to keep up with the master swimmers in the morning.  I will be there Tuesday to swim 🙂 with the best and Thursday 😦 not so much back to night workouts as my hubby will be away on a music gig.  As a young adult I use to guard pools but not race.  Next event Shamrock Shuffle 8K run in Chi-town. Then a 1/2 marathon Biggest Loser in Rockford. Lord help me why am I running so much lol.

Here is my results from last year and this year.
This year overall 19 and 9th in female.
2014                   2013
Swim 21           Swim 18
Bike 10.01      Bike 9.53
Run 1.70          Run 1.64

Side note I am crazy after the triathlon I went to group power to lift weights and work on my core. Who likes normal anyways! My core needs help after surgery.