How to work out at work...

I went from working at a daycare part time chasing kids around to working full time behind a desk doing nothing all day fetching files and answering phones. When I was working part time I was incorporating exercise into my lessons, my 3 year olds loved zumba, and running when I got off work at 11am everyday.

Now days when I get home from work I really don't feel like doing much of anything. I do run at least every other day, but some days I try to get my workout done throughout the day so I can binge watch netflix on the couch cook dinner, supervise homework, and watch tv with my kids.

Here are some ways to workout at work.

1.

Squats. Every time I got to the bathroom I make a point to do 10 squats before I leave. I mean depending on how many times you go to the bathroom a day that number can add up.


2.

Planks.. I mean usually I can hold this from 45 seconds to a minute. I try to get down and do a few planks a day.

3.

Desk push ups... I mean what else do you have to do while you're waiting on those copies to finish?

4.

So Im not expecting to get a six pack sitting in my desk chair but there are plenty of ab workouts you can do in your chair. Denise Austin has a great video its about 3 minutes long. I posted it on Friday. I completed it a few times in one day and I was definitely feeling it the next day.

5. Going to check the mail? Going to make coffee for your bosses? Do some lunges on the way.. dont worry the stares will stop.

6.

Just tighten dat ass for like 60 seconds and then rest a few times... I dont know if this is a real workout but I read somewhere that it was so I do it.

7.

Have a few minutes? Just move your chair and do wall sits... I'll admit I suck at these.. seriously they burn!

8.

Jog in place... or hell take your lunch break and jog outside. I dont get a lunch break so Yeah you'll see me in my office working on my fitness.

9. Chair crunches I mean you're already sitting there anyway....

10. Calf raises. again move your chair and stand on your toes then back down. Do it until you feel the burn.


Those are the top 10 things I do to get a workout in while Im on the clock which makes it funner!

You can't buy their love....

     Have you ever heard this statement? Don't worry about it you can't buy a child's love. Im not so sure I believe this whole-heartedly. Lets face it when children are young they are materialistic. Things that shouldn't matter DO but that's all part of growing up. Eventually we learn that people, love, kindness, etc are things that are to be valued. However, when children are in their early years I believe their love can very easily be bought. In my case this makes parenting very very difficult for me.

   My point is once you are divorced and have to do this thing called "co parenting" (which I think is a total SHIT word... just sayin') lines can easily be crossed. In my situation it is anything but 50/50. Hell for the last 8 months my ex-husband was too busy playing daddy and husband to his girlfriend that my children didn't matter. I guess I'll be fair I totally had a restraining order on him but for good reasons. However once you become a parent you are still responsible for caring for them in any way that you can. Am I right or am I right? When I first left my ex I couldn't find work in my field. I ended up taking a part time job at a day care that paid only once a month. Mike and I split all the bills down the middle and I have 2 children to support. Every month when I got my ever depressing paycheck I would be left with a total of .79 cents to last me an entire month. Im not exaggerating. I thank God everyday for Mike because he stepped up in so many ways, he will always be my hero. I haven't received child support in almost a year. Throughout that year my kids had wants, their needs were taken care of, but like all children they had wants. It broke my heart to always be the one to say no. Every time they asked me for something I had to say no. I didnt have the money, hell I didnt have enough gas in my car to take them to the park. I was struggling to keep my head above water but we were making it and that's got to count for something.



February shit got real. He went to jail and all kinds of stuff happened, and he very well could be returning to jail this month. I caved, like the idiot good mother I am and broke the restraining order and let him start seeing the children again. Hes been paying me $300.00 a month since February but I mean that doesn't make up for the past does it?

I still haven't made my point. I'm long winded at times. Now that he is getting the kids 2 days a week for a few hours. Every time they come home with something new. I don't know why but it pisses me off. Why do you get to pretty much buy their love and affection and be super dad all of a sudden and Im just the mean ass mom that says no all the time and disciplines them. I know my kids love me dont get me wrong but it hurts to be the bad guy all the time. He gives them whatever they want and since he only gets them a few hours a week he doesn't have to enforce any discipline.

I tried to talk to him about it last night. I told him I was sick of being the bad guy all the time and it wasn't fair that he bought them whatever they wished for. His response... "If I have the money and they want it why not?" Maybe I am being too sensitive maybe I'm getting all butthurt over nothing but it makes me angry.

He says well I give you child support.

Yes. You do. Thanks but see I have to pay 400$ a month in daycare (you only give me 300/month) and then I have to buy diapers and wipes and food and ya know pay the bills and provide a roof over their heads. I can go on... ya know I then have to use my paycheck for the things your 'child support' doesn't cover like then 977896403908 letters the school sends home asking for money for some bullish, gas in my car to get back and forth to work, new clothes, medicine, whatever extra-curricular activity they want to partake in.

They are 2 and 7 they don't understand those things. What they do understand is ooohhh shiny new things that my daddy buys me when Im with him. Meanwhile mom is in groucholand and says no all the time and makes me do stupid stuff like taking a bath and doing my homework and cleaning my room and then punishing me when I act like little assholes in public.So I mean if you are 2 and 7 clearly the winner is going to be daddy with all his buy me stuff abilities.

I know its not a competition between us and again I know my kids love me but quite frankly im sure they dont like me quite a bit. I know in the long run they will understand but damn it sometimes I want to be the cool mom.

Rant over.

20x31 WEEK 2

The fabulous ladies at JVKom Chronicles, 24 to 30, Optimistic Health, and Running Smiles put together this fabulous challenge where you have to move your body any way you want for 20 minutes (or more) every day for the month of May. Lately I have been slacking so this challenge has totally helped me get back on the running wagon. You can read last week's update here.

Week 2. I left off on Friday last week so this week will be from Saturday until Friday.

Saturday 5/3 140 minutes
Friday night we went out late and didnt get home until 4am.. I was pretty sure I was going to fail this challenge come Saturday. However, I got up at 6am YES 6am took my kids to McDonalds and then walked for 20 minutes at the park and then came home and cleaned my house for 2 hours... hangover for the win!

Sunday 5/4 20 minutes
Sunday I actually got pissed off at the people in my home and needed some fresh air so I went for a walk. Score for me I found a brand new patio set that someone sat on the side of the road with a free sign next to it. Yay for random walks around the neighborhood ;)

Monday 30 minutes
The weather was so nice out I finally ran 2.5 miles it was the first time ive really ran since winter showed up, it took some getting used to but it felt great!


Tuesday 20 minutes
Tuesday was a slow day at work and I felt like I was going to fall asleep at my desk. I looked up "workouts you can do at your desk" I found this short video by Denise Austin and decided to do it repeatedly for 20 minutes :)

Wednesday 29 minutes
Aunt flow came to visit and all I really wanted to do was sit in my Pjs and eat ice cream but I toughed it out. It was like 90 degrees outside so I didnt run my usual 2.5-3 miles but I got 2.15 in so that was good enough!

 

Thursday 45 minutes

I walked for 25 minutes running with Brock in the stroller and I also completed my crossfit ab workout. I said I was going to do crossfit abs every other day in my May goals but to be honest I havent been but I have been doing some sort of ab workout every other day so same thing right?

Friday 34 minutes

Its Friday and I havent completed this yet but I am running as soon as I get home from work we have a busy busy weekend ahead of us I think its going to be tough to get 20 mins in but Im sure I will.

Total minutes this week: 327 WOOT WOOT!

Its never too late to join in! Click one of the ladies names above and link up with us :))

Im the kind of girl....

So my lady friend that visits once a month decided to visit me today "hey at least you're not pregnant" UGH so I feel like I have tiny ninjas in my lower stomach and I need chocolate and a nap so enjoy some random shiz about me!

I'm the kind of girl who would rather snuggle on the couch and watch tv then go out and party #lame

I'm the kind of girl that will fall asleep 15 minutes into that movie we decided to stay home and watch #doublelame

I'm the kind of girl that gets embarrassed easily, and being embarrassed will make me cry, and crying embarrasses me.. got all that?

I'm the kind of girl that will eat peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon in the middle of the night.

I'm the kind of girl that will be there for you #rideordie until you cross me then prepare to meet satan.

I'm the kind of girl who takes things way too seriously. Don't joke on me I will legit be ready to punch you in the face.

I'm the kind of girl that takes naps pretty much at any available opportunity

Im the kind of girl that doesn't have any girlfriends well because drama sucks

Or this. I could date myself so hard! I'd be like hey girl lets go to Starbucks and get a mocha frap then stay home and binge watch netflix TV series all night. Hello best date ever!

Im the kind of girl that truly enjoys running. I mean I hate it when I first start but then Im like SILENCE YES! #momofthreeboys

 

Im the kind of girl that likes hashtags for no apparent reason .... bitch this ain't twitter!

Im the kind of girl that literally gets in a murderous rage while driving home at 5:00. Seriously Im even ashamed of the words that come out of my mouth when Im driving home.

 

hmmm maybe I should blog the thoughts on my daily commute home... it would be rated R!

Im the kind of girl that feels really socially awkward, I feel like everyone is judging me (maybe because Im always comparing myself to other people GIRL STOP!)

So now you know Im pretty freaking awkward in real life but hey Im being honest here and Im PMS'n which means Im telling you about everything negative right now...

 

My transformation

Im sure on my sidebar and about me that you noticed that I have lost 89lbs if you didnt shh just pretend that you did. I really want to share my story with you now so you can understand me just a little bit more.

Lets start here.

This was me in 2010 at the weight of 224lbs. Im smiling in this picture but I am anything but happy. My little boy was 3 years old we had just moved to another city and Bailey got really sick. He had recently been diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome which is a kidney disease that caused him to swell and be very uncomfortable. We spent weeks in and out of the children's hospital, on and off of steroids, and changing our lives completely. The doctors said he had to be on a strict no sodium diet and we had to keep him healthy because viruses (such as strep throat) would cause him to relapse.

This is the difference in just one week

I was in a marriage with a man who abused and cheated on me often, and I was also in a deep depression that my sweet boy was so sick. I was scared and confused, and I wasn't even sure if this "kidney disease" (doesnt that sound terrifying) would kill him.

I quit school and Bailey and I stayed home all day everyday. We baked A LOT together and the pounds piled on. Have you really looked at the sodium content at the grocery store. EVERYTHING has a ton in it even if it says low sodium its not. I spent a lot of my time baking things from scratch so he could still enjoy 'kid friendly' foods.

Fast forward. He hasnt had a relapse in 2 years and though I was still in a toxic marriage, but my baby was healthy again. I pray to God he stays that way. Then I took a long hard look in the mirror...Brittney you're not healthy and youre not setting a good example for your child. I started walking everyday and lost a few pounds but lets be honest here I wasn't trying very hard.

Surprisingly not too much longer after this picture was taken I got pregnant with Brock. I went into my first doctor's appointment weighing 209lbs so after losing 15lbs I got pregnant go figure lol.
My doctor didnt cut me any slack he said Brittney, you're too heavy to gain the 25-30lbs most women gain when they're pregnant. He said Id like you to maintain your weight throughout your pregnancy WHATTT!? However, after I got finished crying I took what he said to heart. I walked everyday and I didn't give in to ANY of my cravings.

I ate a lot of fruits and vegetables...and only chicken if I even ate meat (i know that isnt that healthy but I was obsessed with not gaining any weight). When I went in to deliver Brock I was 217lbs.. so much for not gaining any weight huh? But guess what he was 8lbs 3oz so really I didnt gain anything!

I left the hospital smaller than I was when I got pregnant, and that is when I made the decision it was now or never. I had 2 boys to chase after and I needed to be the best me I could be. I contacted my friend Michelle who was advertising Visalus on facebook and I was like what the hell. I ordered it and began my meal replacement shakes. I also became a promoter. I was taking boxing classes 2 times a week, school full time, and walking everyday. The weight was melting off I lost 56lbs in 1 year. I then began to worry was it the shakes or the exercise. Was I going to gain it all back when I quit the shakes?  However my confidence was back and I was feeling like a whole new woman. I left my husband in January and I also left the shakes. I couldnt afford them and I didn't know what was going to happen.

This was me exactly one year after Brock was born! I quit going to boxing classes and I graduated college. I met Mike and I was so scared I was going to pile the weight back on. However, I started running one day and I really really fell in love with it. I ran my first 5k and I was/am truly obsessed with my new healthy lifestyle. Over the last year I lost an additional 33lbs.

Everyday is an uphill battle. Yes I love to run and be healthy but I will always struggle with my unhealthy relationship with food. In the 13 years I was with my ex-husband I turned to food for comfort when I should have been turning to family or friends. I hid my life from the outside world I didnt want anyone to know I was married to an abusive cheater. I ate my guilt, my pain, my shame food was just always there. I catch myself falling into bad habits from time to time but I remember where I came from and I know I never want to go back there again. I track my calories every single day. Im honest with myself. I fall off the wagon from time to time but I always get back up. I quit making excuses for myself even though some days I could make 1000. In this 4 year journey Ive learned that you are your own motivator the weight isnt going to come off until you do something about it other than wishing. Ive grown to love myself again and be proud of the woman I am. Every day I strive to be a better me. I still have plenty of imperfections my tummy isnt tight and I still have cellulite but Im getting there one day at a time. Its not something you can do for a while and quit. It truly is a lifestyle change that you have to live with every day.

palms sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy....

Today I had my teaching job interview that I was telling you guys about last week. Over the weekend I tried to freshen up on special education terms and really figure out my answers. You know so I would sound like I had my stuff together. I was feeling pretty confident when I left the house this morning; my outfit was on point and I really felt like I had my answers locked and loaded.

Sorry no full length mirror at work but trust me my outfit is adorable ;)

We all know it never plays out like it is in your head right?

Anyway my interview was at 9:10 but I wanted to make a good impression so I got there at 8:45 hashtag brownie points! Well the person that was supposed to interview before me didn't show up so I was the very first interview of the day which is good I didn't have to outshine anyone before me.

A nice woman comes out of the double doors and asks me if I am ready and quite positively I said absolutely with a big smile on my face. ((I have chronic B* face and I have to plaster a cheesy grin on my face otherwise Id look like I want to eat your soul.)

Right before we get to the doors she turns around and says oh by the way, there are 7 principals in here, not just one. Don't worry you'll do great.

Noo please I think I'm going to be sick, I legit started totally feeling what B rabbit was feeling before his big rap battle... if I had moms spaghetti it might have come up just sayin'.

I was already nervous but now I have S-E-V-E-N people listening to me, judging me, deciding my future. I was ready to die right then and there. However I was like I got this fake it til you make it right?

I went in and shook all there hands and I had my portfolio with me but I totally forgot to give it to them because I was clinging to it so tightly at that moment, it was keeping my planted in my chair.

They each began asking me questions and guess what I was doing an awesome job! Of course I didnt say half the things I rehearsed in my head and I totally should have but I was just trying to stay calm and do my best to not throw up or start crying.

I had made it through 6 of the 7 principal's questions and I had an answer for everything and I was feeling pretty confident. Then the last one asked me what RTI was and I froze....

Um what? Then Im scrambling in my head what is this I know I heard it before I know what the acronym means (response to intervention) but how did I put it into practice. CRAP!

I have no idea if I answered this question correctly I just told them what I thought it was and told them I wasnt sure if I was correct but as a first year teacher my lack of experience is sometimes a weakness but I was willing to learn.

They didnt say how long it would be before they made a decision, I should have asked. Something else that totally slipped my mind *sighs*

When I got back to work I sent each principal an email saying thank you. I dont know if I got the job or not but that was definitely a good experience if I can take on 7 at one time, 1 will be a breeze next time.

I got to thinking though having seven interviews at one time is actually way better. I have better odds of actually landing a position.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I really feel like I have my life together and once you realize the things that make me feel that way you're going to be like OMG get this girl some help.

1. The fact that I avoided the doughnuts in the office all day long makes me really feel like I have my shit together. Im not going to tell you how many times I walked in there stared at the deliciousness and was like nah bikini season girlfriend.

2. When Im too freaking lazy to put makeup on and no one asks me if Im feeling okay.. I thought it wasnt much of a difference but after seeing this on pinterest Im starting to reconsider.

3. When there is at least 1.00 left in my bank account on payday BALLER!

4. When I actually do my hair all week... Im just going to say Ive been rocking this pony tail since Tuesday (shh I wrote this post on Friday). Im lazy when it comes to hair and makeup. I need a stylist or something.

 

5. I really feel like I'm winning at life when I cook my children a good meal at least 3X a week, but lets be honest I dont have my shit together much at all..maybe one week out of the month. Fruity pebbles, pack a crackers, and a banana...thats all the food groups right?!

6. Last but not least I really feel like I have my shit together if I clean the house and do the laundry throughout the week and do absolutely nothing but sit on my butt and watch netflix on the weekends. I feels all kinds of winning when I get a lazy weekend!

Thats me on Mondays after a Netflix Binge!

So quite obviously it doesnt take much to make me feel kinda successful HA what makes you feel like you have your life together?! Please tell me Im not the biggest loser of loserville!