body confidence? or lack there of?

In my life I have never been someone that can just eat anything and everything and not suffer the consequences.  Even when I was dancing in high school five or more hours a day five days a week I was still not "naturally" skinny.  That being said I think it's safe to say that I have always been cursed with body image issues.  I have dealt with my fair share of ups and downs in weight and along with that came issues with food including not eating, eating too much or not keeping food down. 

That being said being pregnant is a whole new challenge in body image.  I feel very conflicted with my ever changing shape right now.  On one hand, I absolutely love my new body.  It's a funny thing how sexy you can feel with these added lady bumps, not to mention the thicker, shinier hair, longer, stronger nails and luckily I have had the clearest skin I have ever had in my life.  So, for the most part I can embrace my new body, however on the other hand, I do find there are days that I just feel uncomfortable in my own skin.  My waist has almost completely disappeared, my boobs are too big (cleavage in a hoodie kind of big), my belly gets in the way,  I'm starting to gain weight...everywhere. (pregnancy face, arms, thighs, anyone?)  I even went to Target last weekend and found the cutest pair of leopard print jeans on sale for $6!!  They were two sizes too big for me and I was so sure that two sizes up would be plenty (maybe even a little loose) for my baby bump.  Boy, was I wrong.  So, so wrong.  It was such an eye opening moment for me.  I have not just gained a little weight I am touting around a cantaloupe sized human that has shown no mercy for my abs or hips. 

The other side of body image that pregnancy has brought on is the fear that I will not return to my former size.  My former self.  My hips have clearly widened and that has taken six months to happen.  What if it takes six months to get them back?  What if they never go back?  What if the exercise I'm doing now and the breast feeding that all these celebrities swear by does not get me back to my pre-baby body fast enough, if ever?  It's a lot of the unknown that I most find myself concerned with. 

Luckily I have an amazing husband that constantly compliments me and tells me how beautiful I am pregnant.  He tells me almost daily how he thinks I have never looked as healthy and sexy as I do now, carrying his baby.  He's too good to me.  I also have so many family and friends that tell me that I look great and that is a sure-fire to make any pregnant chick feel good.  The bottom line is that it's out of my control.  I can only do what's right for myself and my baby.  As long and I am keeping us both happy and healthy, in the long run it will all work out the way it's supposed to.  A happy healthy baby boy is the most important body that I care about right now.

Ten Images of Inspiration - Health

I can't expect my fitness and nutrition overhaul to have any amount of longevity if I don't feed it's existence with some inspiration. 

Here are ten images of inspiration I'm using to motivate and entice my body over the finish line.

The greatest wealth is health. ~Virgil



New Name - New Plan

I spent nearly all of the past year planning for one single day, not a week or even a weekend, but just one day.  That day was my wedding day and it was, as I previously mentioned in yesterdays blog, AMAZING!  So after spending the last week recovering and relaxing, I got to thinking about the next year ahead.  I want to put the same amount of energy I spent planning for my wedding towards a new plan, and the plan for next year is to run in the Detroit Marathon.

I must note that I hate running.  I despise it in fact, but I do love exercising and I do love being healthy.  I always envy my best friend that can run twice as long as me if not longer and those people at the gym that run longer on the treadmill than I even spend one the stairmaster, treadmill and free weight area combined.  Also running yields far better weight loss results than other forms of cardio and combined with weight training the benefits are striking.  Besides obvious weight loss benefits, running benefits the body, cardiovascularly as well as bone health, mood, coordination, etc.  If I can focus my energy once spent researching venues, making fortune cookies and matching sparkly red shoes to satin red dresses on building up endurance and stamina on the treadmill, I really believe that I could successfully finish the marathon next year.  (I mean if Katie Holmes can run a marathon, so can I. Right?)

Last year as Miss Laura Defoe I walked the Reindeer Run, and next year as Mrs. Laura Bloomingburg I will be running the Detroit Marathon.

2009 Reindeer Run

I don't care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don't harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you're never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants. ~Zig Ziglar

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Last week my best friend asked me if I watched Thintervention on Bravo, because the host and trainer, Jackie Warner, had some really great tips regarding diet and exercise.  I'm no slouch when it comes to fitness and nutrition, and sometimes I feel as though I have heard it all before, but I stopped in my tracks when I heard that drinking water with lemon as opposed to just plain water can help to burn an extra 65 calories!! Something so simple can't be true?! Right?!  I did a little research and found out that not only does lemon aid as a calorie burner, but it has quite a few health benefits. 

Here are the "Top 10 Health Benefits of Lemon Water" found on Life Mojo :

1. Good for stomach

Lemon can help relieve many digestion problems when mixed with hot water. These include nausea, heartburn and parasites. Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently. Lemon acts as a blood purifier and as a cleansing agent. The intake of lemon juice can cure constipation. It is even known to help relieve hiccups when consumed as a juice. Lemon juice acts as a liver tonic and helps you digest your food by helping your liver produce more bile. It decreases the amount of phlegm produced by your body. It is also thought to help dissolve gallstones.

2. Excellent for Skin Care

Lemon, being a natural antiseptic medicine, can participate to cure problems related to skin. Lemon is a vitamin C rich citrus fruit that enhances your beauty, by rejuvenating skin from within and thus bringing a glow on your face. Daily consumption of lemon water can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads. Lemon water if applied on the areas of burns can fade the scars. As lemon is a cooling agent, it reduces the burning sensation on the skin.

3. Aids in Dental Care

Lemon water is used in dental care also. If fresh lemon juice is applied on the areas of toothache, it can assist in getting rid of the pain. The massages of lemon juice on gums can stop gum bleeding. It gives relief from bad smell and other problems related to gums.

4. Cures Throat Infections

Lemon is an excellent fruit that aids in fighting problems related to throat infections, sore throat and tonsillitis as it has an antibacterial property. For sore throat, dilute one-half lemon juice with one-half water and gargle frequently.

5. Good for Weight Loss

One of the major health benefits of drinking lemon water is that it paves way for losing weight faster, thus acting as a great weight loss remedy. If a person takes lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water and honey, it can reduce the body weight as well.

6. Controls High Blood Pressure

Lemon water works wonders for people having heart problem, owing to its high potassium content. It controls high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea as well as provides relaxation to mind and body. It also reduces mental stress and depression.

7. Assist in curing Respiratory Disorders

Lemon water assists in curing respiratory problems, along with breathing problems and revives a person suffering from asthma.

8 .Good for treating Rheumatism

Lemon is also a diuretic and hence lemon water can treat rheumatism and arthritis. It helps to flush out bacteria and toxins out of the body.

9. Reduces Fever

Lemon water can treat a person who is suffering from cold, flu or fever. It helps to break fever by increasing perspiration.


10. Acts as a blood purifier

The diseases like cholera or malaria can be treated with lemon water as it can act as a blood purifier.

(my super awesome Steve Yzerman glass)

I've been adding lemon to my water all this week and I have nearly doubled the amount of water I drink per day.  In the morning I cut two slices off a lemon and squeeze them into my glass of water, and continue to refill the same glass of water all day long with the same two slices of lemon from the morning.  They continue to re-flavor the glass of water all day long.  To save the rest of the lemon I use a lemon preserver that my fiance and I got for our bridal shower.  This container keeps the lemon super fresh, the inside won't get dry and it even holds in the scent.

(we also have preservers for limes & onions)

So essentially when life gives you lemons cut those suckers up, squeeze 'em into your water and feel the benefits!

P90X

Last week my hunny and I started P90X If you aren't familiar with P90X it's a fitness fad that promises drastic results in 90 days. I must say that I am susceptible to falling for infomercials and this was no different. The before and after pictures are extremely convincing, not that I will be posting our before pictures or anything, but maybe after 90 days I'll post the after.

The idea behind the work out is this muscle confusion technique that keeps your body from getting into a routine and plateauing. There are 3 phases to both the fitness dvd's as well as 3 phases to the nutritional guide. The instructor, Tony, is actually really motivating. I have watched countless exercise videos and been to just as many exercise classes and let me tell you without a good instructor an hour long class can seem like 7 hours. Tony however is really great. He isn't cheesy or corny, he's really motivating and gives plenty of options for those that can't do 30 pull ups (in my case) or inverted triangle during YogaX (in my fiance's case).

After 6 days I am definitely sore and still have to work out today before I have a full day of rest. I would much rather have started on a Monday so that my rest day was Sunday. It took everything in me to put on lycra stretch pants and make myself do pull ups yesterday. So anyway, now that I am sore and have nearly a week down, I think I can see how these videos can produce results. They are aggressive and you will sweat, however I also believe that if I forced myself to work out at maximum effort 6 days a week at Lifetime Fitness and followed a relatively reasonable diet I would also see the same results. I guess the difference is that while following an instructor and silently competing with your significant other in your own home is a bit more inspirational.


I'll keep you posted on my progress, but as long as I feel awesome in my wedding dress, it will be worth it enough to me.