Fit with Ruthie

UPDATE: .. just wanted to post quickly and say my 3Bs are done.. .. we leave in the AM for our trip.. they have a workout room and a heated pool :).. so I will workout while I am there.. they also have internet service.. so just because I am traveling doesnt me I wont be posting:)... .....seems i am on a roll :) .. .. Its been almost a year since I measured and actually wrote it down and actually compared the measurements with previous ones. Here are the most recent measurements.. from Dec 13th of last year!! (the Purple are the areas measured at my largest since starting) Jan 2006 Chest: 37.5 inches. 12.13.06 Chest: 36 10.31.07 Chest: 35.5 2 inch loss Jan 2006 waist 34 inches 12.13.06 waist at belly button: 33 10.31.07 waist at belly button: 30 4 inch loss! 12.13.06 waist above belly button: 31 10.31.07 waist above belly button: 29! 2 inch loss Jan 06 hips 40.4 inches. 12.13.06 hips: 39 10.31.07 hips: 37.75 2.65 inch loss July 27th 2006 : 23 12.13.06 thighs: 22.25 10.31.07 thighs: 2...

Ok.. I just finished cardio (2.24 miles) and while I was running I had a thought.. how about a 21 Day Ab challenge.. I am going to do it.. if you want to challenge yourself thats GREAT too.. if not.. no big deal (no pressure)... I decided to focus on Abs by taking before pictures (see below) and i will take after pictures on Nov 20th.. to see if there is any change.. this is to keep me focused on eating clean.. :) .. and making progress.. :)... My goals are:) to keep eating like I have (no bread, cookies, chips, or cokes etc.. except on free days) to crank up my ab workouts.. (which I HAD slacked a bit on)... and to focus on great cardio workouts. I have always heard that abs are made in the kitchen.. not the gym... and this is another reason I am focusing on Abs.. :) I consider between now and June 1 (7 months) my Body for Life EAT healthy challenge. :) .. Can I change my High carb habits? we will see in 7 months :) now.. for my post from earlier today: did you do cardio yet? .. me n...

I took a few pictures wearing some baggy pants that use to fit me.. I love these pants and if i was every on what not to wear they would make me throw them in the trash.. but I wear them rolled up four times and enjoy the comfort while I clean house or lift weights.. (please note I try not to wear them in public :) .. I am just amazed at how many inches (esp in my thighs!) I have lost over the last 18 months or so.. and to think two christmas's ago these were tight on me!!! ..wow.. feels good to make progress! :) ===== well.. I am back at it today.. had a great workout.. shoulders, chest and tris.. .. then I danced and danced some more while cat laughed. :) it was fun. eats today: meal #1: 1 mini pinch of a muffin (DH bought for the kids).. then I ate oatmeal .. water Meal #2: Salad with chicken tea Meal #3: trail mix and water Meal #4: half a serving of beef stew and water (this was right before my workout.. so I ate light) Meal #5: full serving of stew with water Meal #6: will b...

today was so incredibly pretty that I couldnt resist going for a fun walk run with Su . we only did about 1.5 miles but it was just amazing out there.. I loved it. .. I had been fighting a headache all day.. I think from the doughnut I ate this morning at church:(.. but after eating good the rest of the day and going for a run I feel soooo much better :) how was your Sunday?

its been at least 6 years since I have worn a dress (i usually do skirts and shirts cause they are more versatile ) .. PLUS I never have find anything I liked.. but today I found something I liked.. and it fit! :) .. PLUS it was on sale! AND I had a gift card. so all total.. it only cost me 10 bucks! wooowhoo :) .. I didnt do hair and make up tonight but I wanted to post before the day was out! .. today was a great day.. and I am looking forward to Sunday being totally FREE from workout! ... ahh.. its nice being back on schedule :) blessings r

dont have much time.. have to leave for supper in a few minutes and I still have to get ready... I just finished my run on the treadmill.. 2 miles.. 21 min.. I felt like I was just getting warmed up and I had to quit .. but atleast I got 20 mins in! I had forgotten how nice the treadmill is.. it seems so much easier after running outside so much! .. :) My left hamstring just doesnt want to loosen up .. I stretched a lot the last two days and today.. I think the rest on lower body until wed will be good for me.. heres my eats for today breakfast mcdonalds busciut .. plan with 1/2 a small coke then i went shopping! got new jeans and a dress.. will post pic later.. oh and new slide on shoes! :) lunch.. red robin hamburger (3/4 of it) with 4 fries and a coke last night I had a small serving of ice cream with m&ms.. yummy:) its been a great free 24 hours.. plan to be back at it this meal.. I am loving my progress and how I am feeling so i dont want to sabotauge it. :) more later r

Here is a photo friday post (it was three Bs today) plus a video! Ok I am excited cause I finally figured this out.... :) Yipee.. free day ! more later

my workout is complete.. PHotoFriday and possibly a video will be posted later tonight :) Angela said this was great and she was right! wow..

732am and cardio is done.. (G0T UP AT 640) 40 degrees and cold but I ran around campus 2.5 with su busy morning.. better go get ready to leave.. more this afternoon.. I FEEEEEEELLLLLL GGGRREEEAAAATTT!!!!! ----------------update------------------ eats: meal #1: marathon bar tea meal #2: chicken breast, wasa wafer, tea, 1/4 apple (snack time I had 5 animal crackers. . literally FORGOT and just popped those things in) meal #3: almonds, peanuts, sunflowers, cranberry (dried) water meal #4: left over taco stew corn bread water meal #5: will be a shake before bed I was amazed today with how much energy I had .. I am usually EXHAUSTED at the end of coop.. but not today.. I had energy and just felt wonderful alll day.. I am wondering.. its the run this morning that did it.. or is it the no bread eats? I am leaning towards the eats.. It feels great to feel great after a "long day" . how was your day? r

Well.. after having to keep pulling up my pants yesterday .. I decided this morning to get out my 4's and sure enough. My booty is in them comfortably even as we speak! (or I guess I should say blog).. .. I know I shouldnt be bothered with size but it is nice to have a second pair of jeans to wear! :) Lots to do today to get ready for tomorrow.. but I plan on working out this afternoon when it warms up a bit.. its in the 60's right now but still toooo cold for me :) .. I slept in my thermal's last night and was warm and cozy!.. ..what am I going to do when it gets reallllly cold? i just wasnt designed for cold weather :) hehe . Eats today so far: meal #1: oatmeal with cranberries Meal #2: peanut butter ball, wasa wafer (1) Meal #3: salad and speg meat sauce, wasa wafer (1)tea *Meal #4: trail mix with added almonds, tea, 1/2 wasa wafer Meal #5: taco stew with 1 piece of cornbread, tea Meal #6: shake (before bed) *Between meal 3 and 4 i ran to the library and then th...

congrats to Josha for getting the quote and the book right! I started reading "The Mysterious Island" to the kids last night .. i got i for myself but they wanted me to read it to them.. :) (see the HS blog for more information. ok .. so my goal this winter is to involve my kids in cardio when I do it.. if I am going to be inside working out I might as well get them up and going too! Plus if the kid like it.. then they will always be asking me to "dance" with them:) so here is what I did: I brought in our mini tramp, jump rope, ex. ball, and a basket ball. I also hooked up my techno music to our stereo and turned it up LOUD! We warmed up for about 5 mins (aerobics style) and then we did circuits. One would jump on the tramp, one would bounce on the ball and one would do deep bends with the basketball three times and then toss it to me. We did each item one time and then danced. I have to admit I can shake my booty a bit better than my kids :) they need some work ...

ok .. this morning was a slow start.. I just felt like I needed to sit and veg for a little bit after this past week and weekend.. so I sat and ate breakfast .. and just sat some more. I was completely off on my eats yesterday.. ate some of Cats birthday cake and everything! .. this morning I woke up wanting oatmeal but when I walked into the kitchen and got the left over sugary cereals down for the kids to eat .. I gave in and had a bowl of fruit loops! Fruit Loops are my weakness. Not being allowed any sugary cereal as a child I went to college and literally lived on fruit loops! seriously!.. so I need to throw them out today so they will no longer be a temptation to me. .. the good news is.. it was only ONE bowl! .. I usually eat 4 or 5!.. (crazy huh?) So.. after a aweful start this morning I got my shoes laced up and headed to the garage. I did 3 Bs today.. I might be off from last week.. but I really wanted to do 3 bs instead of upper today.. since I missed on friday I guess i...

something must be in the air.. I decided to take off today too cat's birthday today.. busy day (again) but I did manage a nap this afternoon so I feel a bit better.. I am heading to bed early tonight.. hoping that one more night and I will be back to feeling better... I hate feeling so tired! I guess I will do lower body tomorrow morning.. and its back to good eats tomorrow too. Life happens.. thats why its called body for LIFE!

well.. the lifting didnt happen... I literally cleaned allll day. and when I say alll day.. I mean alll day.. I went to be last night about midnight but didnt sleep but about an hour cause i was in the camper with sweet girls that talk in their sleep, a dog who wakes me up at every little noise (which is a good thing) and a neighborhood that is filled with college kids who come and go at all hours.... (not that i am complaining..).. The girls are having a blast and I can sleep later this morning! :) the house is clean and so is the garage .. so I have no excuses today after I sleep some.. to get my workout in.. I was good on eats until free time started yesterday.. I had pizza and some coke.. but didnt eat the fondue... gotta go.. need to run to the store to get the girls breakfast (cat wants to have a cereal smorgishborg .... I think fruity pebbles is on the list.. ahhhh ,. :) happy saturday .. more later r

we are deep cleaning the house today.. trying to get caught up on cleaning .... its amazing how dirty a house can get! It is a beautiful day to clean we have all the windows open and I am almost temped to clean a few of those too! ... . I even took time to scrub the oven this morning! and you know that is a rare occasion when the kids want to watch how to do it! :) .. UHG.. what has happened to my house! its like a dirty little monster came and attacked it! .. I am hoping this weekend to get the paint touched up and the garage clean (again).. Cat has a slumber party tonight.. so we will be working on fondue and pizza later tonight .. she is really excited to have everyone over.. .... ok.. eats for today so far: meal #1 oatmeal with peaches, water Meal #2 trail mix and tea will post after I lift this afternoon. tonight starts free day and I REALLY want some bread! .. we will see what I pick.. UPDATE on MEALS: Meal #3: oh girls I waited toooooo long for this one.. got busy cleaning and...

well.. I woke up at 6 but not to run.. I had to do the dishes first thing this morning .. and I still have one more load to go.. but that will have to wait. :) .. its amazing how quickly they pile up when you have plumbing problems! good news is DH fixed it.. so we are back to normal. my plan today is to work out when I get home.. I will have to cause I am really really sore! Eats in my box are on target so should have no problems staying on track today. one thing I have noticed is that I am sleeping a LOT better!!! thats nice:) happy Thursday .. more after i do cardio :) r UPDATE: ok .. well.. majority of today was good. eats were on all day.. until I got home. dirty kitchen.. plus extremely tired momma equals .. supper as carryout in the form of Pizza! yes.. Pizza! I am also not going to workout today.. I am just exhausted and my feet are killing me.. so.. I will wait and lift tomorrow and it looks like the plan I had to make Thursday free from workouts is the best way to go. Next...

well.. its my first day back at a morning workout routine.. i just finished a bit later than i wanted but thats ok. upper body for me today.. chest, shoulders(i did light weight high reps just to be careful) tris then I polished it off with pushups UGH.. it been too long since i have done those! it really feels GREAT to have it done. now my goal is to get up EARLY and get cardio done tomorrow.. its my co-op day but I just havent liked the free thursday's.. its like I dont have a free day cause I work all day.. so my free workout day will be sunday.. eats friday night to sat night. I actually had 6 meal yesterday. After I drank my shake (vanilla protien, strawberry yogurt, and fresh strawberries) an hour earlier than normal by the time i got to bed i was hungry. so I ate some trail mix which is great.. equal protien to carb ratio! .. and a small glass of milk. I slept great! :) yipee. AND I am so happy... so very happy that I went all day with no bread, crackers, chips, or cookies! ...

just finished my cardio for today.. jumpin on the mini tramp. .. 25 minutes without stopping.. but I did fall once! I guess it just takes practice. I am glad i have yet ONE more thing to do when its cold outside this winter! I also did ab work.. :) One thing I think is that this whole "getting in shape-healthy" thing is all about a process. I have to go through a process of eleminating one "bad" habit after another. First was the bad habit of NO exercise. (got that one).. the second one was the bad habit of eating ice cream every night (got that one), the third was getting off cokes (got that one) and in the mists of all this was getting IN the habit of eating five to six times a day. (got that down) and now.. its time for me to conquere another habit. The habit of bread crackers and more bread. this habit seems almost over welming to get over.. understanding that I use to come home from school as a child and eat an entired "row" of crackers all by myself...

Hi gals.. i figured out my mini challenge. Over the next 36 days (from now until Nov 21st) I will steer clear from the following: processed foods (cookies, chips, crackers) white flour and sugar after i post.. chips, cereal, crackers, and breads will be put away.. far away and i will be heading o the grocery store for fruits, veggies, nuts, and other turkey challenge friendly foods. this is not just a me thing.. but a whole family thing. i have not told the kids and dont want to make a big deal about it.. but will just stop buying these products and making their food options fruits, veggies, and healthy snacks. i am going to look for some fruit salad recipes and already have a peanut butter ball no bake cookie that they LOVE that i will make today. so.. heres to changing .. wanting to get healthy.. and knowing .. IT AINT GONNA BE EASY! but its only for a month! right? care to join me on my challenge? UPDATE: just returned from the store(s) .. and I am have three things I am excited...

ok.. I am feeling so much better! My shoulder is normal. but i still took it easy on back and bis just in case lower weighs higher reps. as of 2 this afternoon my stomach is feeling back to normal. you know what i needed in order to WANT to eat better? a horrible tummy ache for an hour last night .. where were you between 2 and 3 am last night? ME? you dont want to know.. that tummy trouble "trickled" over into monday morning, afternoon.. but now i think i am just totally fine! note to self: no matter how long its been since you had a hotdog with chili, NO matter how wonderful it tastes.. no matter it was the best hotdog I had tasted in my life! DONOT I repeat.. DO NOT eat it! the price is too high! had a busy day of schooling the kids.. and working on a project for the coop and no i need to go make supper. .. need to post my eats: meal #1: protien shake with 1/4 cup cheerios meal #2: ham cheese quesadillia 6 chips, tea meal #3: nutty bar (just one.. i need to go to the store...

ugh.. tonights run was so tough it makes me want to get in shape! 2.5 miles and walk,.. jogging.. running.. and a hard huge crazy long sprint!!! where I ran past all these people really really fast and then at the end of my sprint. I started walking.. about to pass out .. and then they all past me again.. it was fun!! :) i plan on ironing tonight and will either go grocery shopping tonight or in the morning.. I need to get back on eats this week in a major way!!!! abs will be done before I shower in a few.. good news. my shoulder feels better! still a tad sore but much much better!

well.. I am not working out today (obviously) or yesterday. I was so busy yesterday .. not that I am making excuses.. I decided to miss.. and again today I chose to miss.. I am sore from my workout on Wed. and today I am really really sore on my right shoulder.. so much so it "hurt" to hang out laundry today :) .. I didnt hurt it lifting.. I am pretty sure I strained it helping put up tables yesterday at the science fair.. .. so.. a bit of a rest today was what Dr Ruthie ordered :) .. .. anyway.. I plan to run to bike tomorrow.. unless the shoulder still hurts. as far as eats.. .. not too good yesterday and today.. but I consider it free so its ok .. :) .. will try and be on target tomorrow as much as possible.. Heres what i did today instead of working out: laundry.. lots and lot and lots of laundry helped DH clean the garage/gym cooked three things from scratch cleaned the kitchen.. and then got it dirty again.. got the gray out of my hair ran to the store.. watched the ...

busy good tired sore that about sums up my day in four words.. how about you? off day today.. will lift tomorrow.. plan on sleeping good tonight after Cat finishes her abstract for the science fair:)(its in the morning) more tomorrow night

hey yall well I am off to a good start this morning.. dispite not getting to sleep until after 2.. I dont know what was wrong last night.. I just couldnt sleep (hormones? getting old? who knows?).. anyway.. I am determined today to be back on track as far as eats.. this morning I had my oatmeal and a glass of protein! success so far.. and yes.. I drank half my protein before I ate any carbs... :) I wanted to ask if you gals wouldnt mind posting your 2 favorite bfl recipes I am ready to change things up a bit .. and seeing Sara's turkey wraps gave me an idea.. we need a recipe page! I might even create another blog to house our favorites .. and to list new things I/we find over the next .. well.. hopefully years! I think it would help me to remember "oh yeah . I remember eating that.. it was great!" after a while I get in a rut and start eating the same thing over and over.. anyway.. if you dont mind.. 2 recipes please.. whenever you have time .. no rush :) OK>. created...

well.. I started out this evenings jog by saying I would make it all the way around campus (2miles) without stopping to walk. I did really well but I ended up stopping during the last 1/2 mile to walk three times.. a total of about 60 or 70 steps. Its is the fartherest I have run without stopping in a long time.. and .. I ended up walking another 1/4 of a mile at the end.. so I figure I did almost 2.75 or 3 miles. I will measure tomorrow so I will know for sure. but for tonight.. I am happy with going the distance I did. While i was running I thought about the one person's family who died in the marathon this past weekend.. so sad.. OH.. I did abs.. crunches and hip-ups ;0 better go get some eats.. i might post later .. if not.. will tomorrow after i lift UPDATE heres my eats for today meal 1: cheerios and toast with tea (is milk enough protien? i dont think so) Meal 2: salad with 6 crackers (thin sliced ham and lots of veggies( meal 3: 1/4cup cheerios dry and tea (craving cheerios...

Me neither.. but I am fixing too.. will post afterward :) 5:36pm.. approx 20 min later: ok. I am done.. YIPEE! Upper body for me today.. chest, shoulders and tris.. I alternated between 12 and 15 reps and repeated each set 3 times with a burnout on each part... my arms are jello!!! I said I would start posting my eats.. so here they are so far.. just a two meal bobble.. :) Meal 1: french toast with butter and syrup. (why didnt I make mine the healthy version? lazy I guess.. so this had butter and syrup) Meal 2: frozen pizza and chips, tea (now THATS healthy) Meal 3: open faced peanut butter crackers with tea Meal 4: taco stew (which i am fixing to make) Meal 5 protein shake I am at that point where I am frustrated with myself as far as eats go.. I am also frustrated with .. you guessed it.. my tummy. I said I would never talk about it again.. but the few lbs I have gained this last week from eating poorly have all ended up on my tummy.. which drives me crazy as that little layer hang...

sure it is!!! I did 20 mins around the neighborhood today around 530pm.. it was hot.. but shady so not too bad at all! .. I was in a hurry cause DH had to leave to go to work.. I think it was just enough for me.. and i wonder if maybe I should just do the 20 mins for a while to help my shin issue. .. there are also better hills there too! :) I am planning on getting a menu together (again) for my eats this week.. and hope it will help me stay on track. I am mentally ready to get "strict" on my eats again.. and i think I should start posting them everyday.. it always helps me! hope you day was great! I am looking forward to upper tomorrow.. OH.. my MY LEGS ARE SOSOOOOOO SORE! :) check it out.. i finished it today ! I also got four more cleaned ready to start! :)

well.. I got up this morning and walk/ran around campus.. I took a bit of a short cut so I am calling it 2 miles... my shins were hurting a bit.. so I took it easy.. I really need to take my bike in to the shop.. I think i might do that today.. I miss riding! its a beautiful day here! i plan to work on my window and hopefully finish it today! Just the frame left to paint! :) yipee! lots to do today in so I better get going.. great news is we bought another hammock at a garage sale this morning! so now we have a his and hers! or a mom and kids! so fun!!! more later ruthie

Please read alll the way to the bottom :) ----------------- this sounds weird .. but yesterday and today I just have this desire to take a break. It seems that I just need to just decompress for a few days from my BFL lifestyle. I read in the BFL book that Bill suggests that you take atleast a week break in between each 12 week session... maybe this is one reason why.. Its like i want a vacation from lifting and running.. and to just not worry about it for a few days. so.. heres is my plan.. I will take completely off today, Sat and Sunday... during this time I will try and figure out my next set of goals and really get some things down that will motivate and get me all pumped up again. I know I will never quit BFL lifestyle.. its like habit now.. so in a way it will be "hard" to not workout... but I think it will be a good break What do I want to accomplish by this resting period? To rest my body so I can make more gains when i start next week and just refocus mentally. :) m...

"didnt want to do it but I did, but i did, but I did.. and I thank you" (thats somce 1980s lyric..cant remember who).. yeah.. I worked out.. thank you very much! I did upper today.. chest (I am in the 30lb school these days too!).. and shoulders, tris. .. I was.. wait.. I still am shaking in the areas worked! so I think i did good Bad news is >> my eats .. no so good... i am having some "mental... I need a break from thinking about what I am eating right now.. " rest. ... I decided that every 12 weeks I take a break.. so.. just because I ate a fried pie today.. and some cookies yesterday.. it is OK. I have been on track except for those two things and soda isnt even on my radar these days :) .. Salad for lunch and 6 meals a day.. so i am going to say i am doing ok. .. I know I just need to refocus and set a few new goals.. and I will get that done by this coming monday. .. so no worries. My plan will be to take a walk tomorrow to destress after teaching at co-...

tonight as i walked out the door Yes, , I think it was! thanks!!!! I just finished running 2.5.. shins felt great.. stretched a bunch though.. it was SOOOOO humid.. (i hear ya sara!).. a storm is rolling in and it was windy and humid .. but I beat the storm and got home before it came a down poor! Ab work on the ex. ball.. and I am spent! wowzzer!!! but it feels good. I have decided some issue I am having: getting use to our new weekly schedule with co-op, swimming, etc etc I quit taking CLA (I ran out about three weeks ago).. and I thought today I bet that is one reason i am not feeling as great as I was. I have eaten bad since last thurs. (we ran out of protien!! so.. I havent quite known what to do!) I was a bit down cause I didnt get to go to the reunion.. (but I have gotten in contact with another girl from highschool.. she went and told me I didnt miss much.. that it was fun. but no big deal)... and now the cool thing is we can email each other and when i go for a visit (xmas) w...

oh well.. I give up.. it just didnt happen today. and thats ok no workout but plan on getting back to normal tomorrow.. I had a busy day. (see my hsblog).. but it was a great day all around.. .. my house is cleaner than it has been in a Long long time.. and it feels great! .. so.. i wonder how everyone else is? thinking i need a new goal. hum r