Fit with Ruthie

Here I am Dec of 05 (left) and here I am June of 07 (right) I decided to repost my pictures. For one reason only.. If my embarasment encourages others to get in shape then its worth it. Below you will find my Body for Life pictures over the course of years. I have put the dates and explanations under each :) Challenge one before.. In this picture I am a size 16. This was just a few months after having baby #2 by emergency c-section. Just a bit later I decided to take the challenge. Below is my first challenge Before and After pictures. I went from a size 16 to a 6 in 12 weeks! About a month after finishing this first challenge I ran a 5k. One week after my 5k I found out I was expecting Baby #3. (who was born.. i might add weighing 9lbs15oz!) ===== Seven months after baby #3 I decided .. to take a second challenge. About a year later I had quit my job and was a SAH homeschooling mom who had put every...

OK.. big news here.. I have an anouncement :) I am officially able to wear my size 6 jeans again! Its been three years since those things have even made it past my hips! I was so excited yesterday... I just want to scream to everyon "BODY FOR LIFE WORKS.. IT REALLY WORKS!" my 7 year old took a quick picture last night (he loves taking pictures... and just had to share my joy with you!) I went running this AM. although I didnt crawl into bed until 12am.. I still got up at 618 (without the alarm I might add). I was on the pavement at 636. I did 2.5 miles with a few breathers (walking about 10paces). After the run I decided to jog over to the stadium and do some bleachers. (did 5 passes).. then I ran home. It was a beautiful morning and I am becoming a firm believer that Early morning runs are the BEST! I made a shake this morning (Peach)..I never thought I would CRAVE shakes but I DO.. Its become like ice cream use to be to me :) I added a new song to the running Ipod list.. ...

Its been a good 24 hours here.. I of course ran yesterday morning then last night we took the kids to ride bikes around campus .. so i ended up running another 2 miles to keep up with them on thier bikes.. I was a beautiful night.. but the track was a bit crowded.. I def. like the Me and four other people at 645am over the 100 people at 8pm :) But it was fun. I woke up this morning and realized my bottom is getting too small for my britches.. I was putting off buying new clothes but I dont know if I can wait another month.. guess I will just belt it :) The workout went great this morning.. took a bit longer than normal cause I tried several different lifts. I LOVE this book! Sculpting Her Body Perfect... I used for the new lifts.. Heres a breakdown of Upper Body workout Chest Press 12- 15lbs 10- 20lbs 10- 25lbs 08- 30lbs 06- 30lbs Burn outs: Flies 12- 20lbs 12- 15lbs Back-Reverse Lat Pulldown (NEW) 12- 30lbs 10- 40lbs 08- 55lbs 06- 65lbs Burn outs: Cable Row (seated) 24- 40lbs and Be...

Well.. I did it.. I ACTUALLY got up this morning at 615 and left at 635 to go run. I ran around campus but this time I actually RAN the whole way around.. instead of walking a long section of it.. I just made two short brisk walking breaks. The sun rise was BEAUTIFUL .. that time of morning is soo peaceful! .. (2 mile run with about a mile of walking and all this before I was actually awake! :).. OH, I almost forgot.. my leg workout from yesterday is once again feeling like a "Tushie Implant" .. I was fine on the run, felt great .. it wasnt until I bent over to pick up the newspaper that I thought "OH NO.. here we go again!" BUT I must remind myself yet again.. it me PROGRESS :) The Scripture below is at one of the "stretching/resting stations" on the run/walk course around campus.. Itsnt it GREAT! " It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the hei...

(be sure and check out progress photos on the post below) Well today is 13 days to go.. I did lower body this morning.. here are the highlights: Squats still 105lbs six times Lunges up to 30bls plus the curl bar weight six times Dead lifts- 105lbs six times Abs- did ab pull downs on the smith machine and incline crunches (a zillion of them!) I tried to focus today on slow and steady lifting.. working on both sides of the movement.. Its amazing how lifting can get your heart rate up. I enjoyed doing squats and lunges to "Legs" by ZZtop :) (funny huh?) I read this on buff mother this morning (thanks Josha) .. I am going to see if I can get this book: "Then one day while reading the book FIT for the LOVE of IT by Kary Odiatu I read this quote....OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS NOT THAT WE ARE INADEQUATE; OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS THAT WE ARE POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE. IT IS OUR LIGHT NOT OUR DARKNESS THAT MOST FRIGHTENS US. WE ASK OURSELVES, WHO AM I TO BE BRILLIANT, GORGEOUS, TALENTED AND F...

OK gals.. said I was going to post progress pics and measurements today.. didnt want to take that picture.. I HATE taking the picture.. but I do see progress.. so thats good! I am looking forward to Lower Body workout in the am Blessings: and now: THE DREADED PHOTOS : Before Day 31 Day 55 Day 70 Front Before =========Back view========= Before Day 31 Day 55 Day 70 Before ---------------------- Measurements ----------------------------------- chest ====Jan 37.5 inches....July 12th 37.25...... July 27th 36.5 ... .Aug 12th 36.5 {same} Aug 27th 36 inches Chest down 1.5 inches bicept === Jan 12 inches...... July 12th 11.5.........July 27th 11.5 .. .Aug 12th 11.25 (.25 inches lost) Aug 27th 11.5 (gained muscle?) hips ====Jan 40.4 inches..... July12th 40............July 27th: 39.5 ...Aug 12th 39 (down an approx 1.5 inches) Aug 27th 38.5 Hips down aprox 2 inches waist === Jan 34 inches ........July 12th 33.75..... July 27th: 32. ...Aug 12th... {same} 32 (down 2 inches) Aug 27th 31.5 inches ...

Well. I cant believe that tomorrow will be day 70! I have two weeks left in the challenge! amazing! Its gone by soooo fast! I am planning to measure and take pictures tomorrow.. will be interesting to see any changes.. I posted before about the IPOD my DH got for me.. Let me tell you I LOVE that IPOD! .. its great.. I have a few new adds to the song list I was excitted to get.. Def Leppard and ZZ Top to name two. :) .. (I know I am dating myself!).. My runs are so so sooo much better with my ipod.. really makes me puss myself harder when I have that music pushing me... I ran around campus this morning and it was GREAT! a beautiful morning with a gentle breeze, the kids moving into the halls, and young, old, and with children going around the walking track! I stopped two times.. and really pushed myself at the end to run as fast as I could to the "corner" .. I finally hit a "second wind" for the first time since I started running again.. it was great I felt like I co...