Monday, January 18, 2010

"Workdown" Partner

Normally, I never make New Year's Resolutions! I can't ever keep them and if I do make one, I always manage to go way out of my zone of comfort and end up braking it two days into the new year! So, like every other year I didn't make one. However, I did decide that this was going to be the year to make some changes for me and my family. I decided that I would attempt to take a little better care of us!

Being a Mom is the most rewarding job out there but at times my focus was so much on Jaxon that I lost the motivation to care for myself! Before having Jaxon I took much better care of myself. I ate better, was more active, maintained my appearance and pampered myself! Now I am lucky to use the bathroom alone! Don't get me wrong... I'm not complaining, but there are times when I feel as though a little "me time" wouldn't hurt anyone!

About a week and a half ago, I decided that I would take 30 minutes out of my busy morning and workout to a DVD from many moons ago! The workout session is a little risque and I wondered if maybe I should save it for after Jaxon's bedtime but decided to go ahead and give it a try. "After all, he'll probably end up playing with his toys instead!"

The DVD was suggested to me by a coworker a few years ago. I was looking for something fun! Something that I could laugh at myself while doing! She told me about a workout tape that Carmen Electra had out called Aerobic Striptease! At first I thought "no way", but decided to swallow my pride and give it a try. It ended up being really fun and I was able to stick with it for sometime. In fact, a friend and I would get together after work to do Pilate's a couple times a week and would end up doing the striptease routine instead!

I put the DVD in and told Jaxon that Mommy was going to do some dancing for a few minutes and that he could play w/ his toys until I finished. He was of course curious and insisted on "dancing" with me! The first part of the tape focuses on stretching. Jaxon enjoyed trying to do some with me. The next part goes into an easy routine... this part he really liked! And after we finished, he wanted to do it again!

Kent is convinced that Carmen and her "workdown" (as Jaxon calls it), partners are the reason Jaxon wants to keep doing the DVD but I know it's because it's something fun and different that we can do together! Besides, Tony from P90X is nothing to look at and he still enjoys those DVD's too!

We have also started eating better and are enjoying the preparation of some new dishes in the kitchen. Getting Jaxon to try everything is a little different story, but I am not above trying kid-friendly meals as long as they are healthy. And while we are only about two weeks in, I've managed to lose 10 pounds! I have more energy and feel as though I am becoming a little better Mom as a result... that is motivation enough to keep at it!

5 comments:

Ann said...

Way to go Mandy!!! That's great, 10pounds is awsome!! I am hoping to lose 15...so we shall see!!! I have a routine when Dylan goes down for his nap..computer time, workout time(I do Jillian Michaels' tapes and run/walk on the treadmill)and then make supper. The "striptease" work-out sounds...interesting!!!:-)

Suzy Shoup said...

Way to go, girl! I had rented that workout from Netflix a few years ago and just never got around to it, but should try it again. Sometimes I think being a mom is enough of a workout, but I do agree that you need some "me time"!

Amanda said...

Thanks girls! I am really excited... it feels good to feel good again! Suzy... I reccomend Carmen! It's a lot of fun! We end that "workdown" w/ some Toddler Tunes dancing... Jaxon gets a real kick out of that (and so does our lab LeRoy)! Ann... I am watching The Biggest Loser this season and always see the ads for Jillian's DVD's. Are they worth going out and getting? I'd like to add a few more tapes to my collection and hers are the ones I am considering buying next.

Ann said...

Yes, Mandy. Her DVD's are WONDERFUL!! They are as short as 20 minutes workouts but lots of sweating!!! They use weights for some of it, but I totally recommend them. If you want to borrow one of mine sometime, you should could. I have just about all of hers!!!:-)

Amanda said...

I would love to borrow some sometime Ann! If these roads ever go back to normal again maybe Jaxon and I could stop by sometime?