Flexibility is key. Making it work[out]

I'm trying to get through a handful of questions that a friend had asked me regarding working out, making it work, eating, the whole shabang.  Once I think I have things figured out, something changes.  Inevitably, right? 

When I was in the Army, this whole working out/eating right thing seemed to work so seemlessly.  For all intensive purposes, my last job in the Army I was on a bit of my own schedule.  At the time for me, working out always worked great at lunch time.  If I wasn't able to get it in at lunch b/c something came up, I was able to leave work a little early to knock out the workout just in time to pick up the kids before daycare closed.  All fine and dandy. 

That was a year ago...then school happened.

My workout world was rocked when I started school.  Not that school was the issue, but more than anything the 2 hour [in one direction] commute really put a kink in things.  Every semester I have to make adjustments with my workout schedule as it pertains to my school schedule.  I try to keep the rule that I do not workout (or study) when my kids are awake b/c that is their time. 

During school, if my schedule allows I prefer to workout with the ladies' Crossfit group in the wee hours of the morning.  If that doesn't work, my next option is a mid-day workout if my class schedule that day is only half day.  If that doesn't work, then I probably don't workout b/c studying during the semester always took place from 9pm to midnight which doesn't leave room for working out.  Sleeping takes place from midnight to 5am.

Now, I'm currently working for free in my first clinical.  The clinical is going great by the way.  My hours are 8am-4:30pm.  I have a 45 minute commute in one direction [without traffic] and get home around 6pm.  I leave the house at 6:45 in the morning.  Seeing how my gym doesn't open until 5:30am and I like sleep too much to use my garage gym, I NEVER get in that workout before my clinical.  Luckily, I don't have to come home and study after 'work.'  I'm able to play with the kids, eat dinner with the kids, play a little more with the kids, bathe the kids, and put them to bed.  At which time, I either go to the Cadet gym on post or use our garage gym from 9pm-10/10:30pm. 

Each time my schedule changes, I get stressed about how I'm going to fit in my workouts.  Somehow I always manage to figure it out.  My mom (who is currently staying with me to help b/c Matt is away for Army training) can't understand how I like to workout at 9pm.  The answer is, I DON'T like to workout then.  HOWEVER, the other option is to not workout and that is NOT an option. 

I've learned through this whole process that FLEXIBILITY IS KEY.  I have also learned to survive on less sleep.  This is a learned skill since starting school and being a parent.  The other option is to not workout and that is not an option. 

So my advice to people who think they don't have time, are too tired, are too busy, whatever.....YOU ARE WRONG!   B/c if you understand that not working out is not a viable option, then you will jump on board with me. 

Tonight's workout agenda: 
Location:  Chase garage gym
Chest day:  Push ups, bench press, working on the chest pull strengthen portion of a muscle up on rings.  (I can't do a muscle up, yet....I intend to by the end of the summer!)
HIIT:  35 min of treadmill HIIT. 

Weights - How did it change my body?

When I began this process (changing from a 'runner' to a 'weight lifter') I was post partum 6 months with my second baby.  I had previously lost all my baby weight from the first baby to a somewhat healthy diet, mainly running, and minimal weights. 

Why did I make the change?  I made the change b/c while I enjoy running and am relatively decent at it as a sport, I never achieved physique wise what I thought I could.  So I sought out a different approach.  I've followed certain fitness models for a number of years and have always liked their look.  Not too bulky, nice tone, great shape.  And what do they do?  They LIFT WEIGHTS!  Revelation. 

So how did my physique change? 

The photo on the left is shortly after I ran the Army 10-miler in 2011 at 4 months post partum.  In that photo I weigh about 136 pounds and am 21% body fat.  The photo on the left is April 2012 at 10 months post partum after I spent 90 days doing strict eating clean, following the meal plans from the Jamie Eason Livefit Trainer as well as the workouts from that trainer.  In that photo I weigh approximately 133 pounds and am 14% body fat.  So as you can tell my weight did not change a lot but my body composition did.  What does this mean?  THROW AWAY your scale. I do not weight myself on a regular basis.  Matter of fact, I weigh myself only when I go to the doctor.  I gage my body off of how I feel and what my muscles look like.  When I feel like I need to lean out some, I add in extra cardio in the form of HIIT usually done on a treadmill out of convenience unless my husband drags me to the track.  When I was finishing the trainer, I noticed my clothes were much looser and actually went down roughly 2 sizes when I went shopping for new clothes.  That's always a joy!

In every relationship there is a give and a take.  What did I have to give away to take the tone physique?  Sadly my boobs.  I don't think it was entirely from lifting and probably mostly in part due to nursing and then stopping nursing.  However the two coincided so it feels like it happened from the lifting.  Now I know why a lot of bikini and figure competition ladies get implants.  Sigh

I recommend to anyone wanting to make changes to take progress photos of yourself.  They don't have to be for anyone to see.  It's a good visual tool for you to see how you are doing.  It's encouraging. 

Don't expect to see change right away.  Remember 80% of your results are what you eat and 20% is the workout.  I would give yourself a strict 3 month period of hard core clean eating (keeping your sugars low) and challenging lifting.

A quick down and dirty on what extras I add to my diet now that I lift.  I always take in a post workout protein shake after each workout.  I use the Optimum Nutrition All Natural Whey protein from bodybuilding.com.   I blend this with unsweetened almond milk, ground flax seed, half a banana, and fresh spinach.  I also take a multi-vitamin, calcium, fish oil, BCAA (branch chain amino acids), and a plant derived digestive enzyme. 

What are your questions?