Health and Happiness with Amie

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

Week ✌️ of this 1/2 lifting 1/2 HIIT program and I am in ❤️.

I just appreciate that it’s no non-sense, 30-40 minutes, half lifting and half HIIT, followed by a few minutes of core work at the end. It’s a little of everything all rolled into one! The end core moves are when I take the time to do my physical therapy boring ass lame moves for my diastasis recti lol, but very important to do of course.

I, of course, suck at posting everyday as I am always busy making sure my 9 month old twins are not eating cords and licking outlets, but hey, I’m still being held accountable in our fitness group!

Don’t forget to do things that make you happy no matter how busy you are. We’re all busy. Being active makes me feel really happy and I asked for support from my husband to help me squeeze in workouts at least 4 days a week. He’s putting the babes down for their naps as we speak. 😇

People either inspire you or drain you- choose wisely.

❤️

Long gone are the days of perfect lighting, flattering filters and on point quotes lol! Today is simply me and my wrinkly tummy, a dirty mirror and a promise I’m making to myself for the next 8 weeks.

I started a fitness challenge group today for a new HIIT/lifting program Beachbody recently launched, it’s just what I need! To gain some lean muscle back and get some cardio endurance back in my life. The average workout is barely 30 minutes, 4 days a week. I can do this! I’ve committed to doing it right after the babies’ first nap as it’s always their longest.

This is literally NOTHING to do with weight loss. In fact, I do not want to lose any weight as I still nursing two hungry boys and I’m burning 1,000 calories a DAY nursing them! 😳🍼🍼

This has to do with wanting to feel a little more like myself again. Fitness was a huge mental / emotional / physical relief for me before I got pregnant and had these precious miracle babies. Most days I am busy enough trying to keep them alive and healthy lol. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do things for yourself as a MOM. I think it’s important for our mental health to feel like we are more than “just a mom.”

I’m ALSO: a running and lifting ju**ie. Lover of Costco frozen pizza. Vermont IPA beer. I love documentaries and murder mysteries. I love doing face masks. I love watching beauty YouTube videos. I love being outside. I love hiking. I love old school rap.

So today, I’m going to do the ultimate balance of being a mom and a also a bad ass who completes an 8 week fitness program 😎.

(Anyone feel free to reach out to me to join our group if interested!)

I didn’t quite make it the full 40 minutes on my “chisel cardio” workout before I heard a little teething birdie crying on the baby monitor.

So, with 11 minutes left to go I used this (?) 18 ish lb kid for squats, over and backs on the bench and shoulder pressed him. He thought it was very funny.

* progress not perfection, mentally and physically *

👶🏼: Sullivan Nikkolai, baby B, my big boy, loves his mama, her bed and her breakfast. Has zero teeth but is miserably teething. Edible thighs. Cellulite on his butt. Desperately loved. Almost 8 months. Happiest when standing. Tall.

So well written! I am all about OVERALL health these days: emotional, mental and physical! I also believe an Oreo (or a sleeve) every few days makes me happier 😊

You’d think the two people who had to do zero work would be the ones smiling and the two people who took turns running with a double jogger and running in hot weather trying not to die would have the sassy attitude look on their face! 😂

(A great example of accountability, no way in hell I would have drug my ass out to run today! Thanks Alicia!)

Walk gently and lightly on your path today...

And leave a trail of lights for others so that they may find

their way.

💙💙

You know that phenomenon where you have one thing to do all day and it takes literally all day to do it? But when you have 1,000 things to do in a day you are up running and have your day meticulously planned out for the day, nailing your to do list?

This is what I have finally figured out works for me if I want to get anything done in a day when my babies are napping besides staring at the wall with no TV on or aimlessly scrolling through social media 🙄 or obsessively reading about whatever baby stage I am currently obsessing over (right now it’s baby led weaning lol).

Since the boys take an awesome 2 ish hour nap in the morning about 2 hours after they wake up I now : wake up, feed and change them, bring them downstairs while I grab a cup of coffee and pump, then I get their solids ready and make my breakfast at the same time and basically shovel food into 3 people’s mouths at the same time 😂 and then clean up, and by then they’re usually ready to go down for a nap. Plop them down for a nap, run downstairs and WORKOUT IN FREAKING PEACE. This is definitely the longest slot I have open in my day so I am trying to be more intentional about it!

I could use having twin infants as an excuse to not workout (which is slightly valid lol), but it’s more that I don’t really manage my time well. My goal is 4 days a week of doing this! Me time! Somedays I mourn my “old self” even though I love my “new life” and my kids more than words can EVER say. But fitness is / was a huge part of my life! It’s ok to want to do things for you and also be an awesome mama too. Plus I need to work out to carry these two bubbas until they’re about 14 years old 😅

You can have time for literally anything you want, as long as you wake up each and every morning with intention and a plan! 😊💪🏼👊🏼🍑

(PS: 80 day obsession leg day. Please give me my butt back. I read that breast milk literally comes from gluteal reserves in your ass! Ha! Explains that.)

You’d think that if I ran more than once or twice a month, I’d stop wanting to die each run...

Here’s to high hopes for next month. 🤣

As someone who’s been running consistently for over 8 years, I forgot what it’s like to literally be at square one. 😩

The burning lungs, the side cramps, the heavy legs, the looking at your watch every .15 miles 😂... well here I am. I am definitely back at square one. And huge jiggly sensitive b***s added into the mix 🤣

I had to stop running with my twin pregnancy around week 28, and they are 6 months. That’s a long ass time not to run! Starting again has really sucked because running SUCKS ass as a beginner. I have a whole new appreciation and sympathy for people who start out running and I GET why they hate it and stop running all together...

It’s because that hump in the beginning sucks and it’s real. But everyday you get out there, you figure out your breathing, you build cardio endurance and you have to stop to walk less and less. Most people stop BEFORE it gets easier, most people don’t give it enough time.

It took me 4 30 minute runs to stop having debilitating side cramps! I think the reason I didn’t today is because I actually was mindful of breathing and kept breathing in and out long and hard, no panting or short breaths.

So, if you’re new to running don’t give up! It will get easier as long as you get out there and run through the s**tty beginning part. One day you’ll go out there and you’ll actually ENJOY it! 🤗 take it from me, I’ve now been at both ends of the running spectrum. I’ve ran a full marathon and did 5 hour training runs, and today I came inside and yelled up to my husband “I did the whole 3 miles without stopping today!!!” 😂 Progress people, progress! 🤪

Do you make your own baby food? 🤔

I recently started a little bit of cereal oatmeal and last night made a little batch of avocado / breast milk / pinch of oatmeal blob things! So fun! Both boys loved it.

Honestly, besides the obvious reason that eating fresh foods versus shelf foods that can sit out for 3 years, 😱 I have learned VERY quickly about thinking a step ahead, always. I do anything to avoid hard transitions, I want them to be able to not even notice a difference in tastes once we start doing strips of whatever we are eating soon! And also, my loving patient wonderful husband 😂 hates fruits and veggies and I fear it’s a genetic trait bwahahahah.

Any food tips for this mama? Any favorite recipes? I really wanted to do BLW, but I am just too nervous right now! And I want them to want to continue to nurse as long as possible! 😊 (yes I know food is secondary to nursing the first year 😀)

The struggle to start running again is oh so real 😑 but the beautiful weather, my girlfriend to run with and some cute boys to push sure made it more enjoyable! 💪🏼

(I was struggling really hard to keep my eyes 👀 open in the direct sunlight in this picture 😂)

Took my crew out for a 75 minute walk today in this gorgeous weather! 🙌🏼 the weather in VT has been cray cray so I’m trying to get outside every single day it isn’t snowing (which happened 2 days ago.) 🙄

I also was counting on my chicken nuggets taking a good nap during the walk, but as you can see, only one got that memo 📝 and the other one was just busy holding his hand and supporting his decision to take a nap! Ha!

(I am such a lame mom who rarely dresses my kids cute 🤪)

Anyone else get outside today? 🏃🏻‍♀️

Never underestimate the power of nature to feel refreshed, recharged, thankful and hopeful that warm weather will FINALLY stay! The winter in Vermont has been never freaking ending. 54 degrees was quite the treat for parents, babies and our dog! We all basked in its glory, for even just 30-45 minutes or so.

(How are my babies 5 months. How. When. Why.)

Happy 🌏 day and thank you Mother Nature for the gorgeous day and a chance to appreciate you and my family.

PS you’re WELCOME FOR RECYCLING 😂🤣🤪

PSS dads with babies 🤤🤤🤤🤤

Anyone else eat avocados like kiwis? 🤣

My appetite is the craziest it’s ever been in my entire life! And I’ve trained for a damn marathon!

Breastfeeding twins feels like a full time job, and I burn 1,000 calories a day doing it. Sometimes I reach for avocados, and sometimes I reach for a box of Girl Scout cookies...and consume the entire thing in one...day. 😩 Damn those crack cookies. They speak to my bo***es. 👀

Any quick easy snack ideas for me?

I wanted to share some of my diastasis recti exercises I have as “homework” from physical therapy! I really need to do a post about what it is, how you test for it, why I have it and how to heal it.

But first, I’ll just share a typical Friday afternoon of no shower, pajamas 24/7, holes of postpartum hair missing, busy busy twins and a gaping hole in my abdomen 🤣

I do a whole breathing/contracting thing first before I do any exercise, I’ll share that soon.

I don’t even remember the name of this move because , but you contract your transverse abdomen with an exhaling breath, then raise your left hand and right leg and hold it for 15 seconds or when you start to feel shaky or you’re losing your form. Repeat on other arm/leg and do this about 5 times or until you feel your core start to tire out. Keep breathing the entire time WHILE holding the contracted tummy. (My form is far from perfect ☹️)

Small tedious things like this are so easy to do, and so easy not to do. I have a hard time setting time aside specifically for stuff like this, so I do it while my boys are awake and playful. Poor kids like to just stare at my animated face a lot, so I throw in some moves while they are doing that. 😁

I hope this helps anyone who is looking for safe moves to heal their DR! And I’m curious who started to breathe and hold their tummy in while reading this because I did doing it just to make sure I was saying the right thing! 🤣🙃

(Will on floor, Sully in chair. How are these chicken nuggets 17 weeks? 😭)

Never mind walking 🚶‍♀️ outside in shorts because , but the breeze through your hair leg had me rolling! 🤣 Literally never shave my legs.
Maybe my ankles if I am wearing ankle jeans or something bahaha.

Anyone else? 🤔

Let them be your reason, not your excuse.

Just kidding. 🤣

They are definitely my excuse right now, HAHA!

But I wouldn't have it any other way! Sully is not into long naps lately, so I brought him into my fitness room with me and he hung out and stared at me the whole time! Such a good bub! 😇

What was your workout today?

Sometimes the smallest things take up the biggest space in your heart. I'm not talking about my kids, I'm talking about hot coffee! 😂😂😂

I recently splurged on a YETI coffee mug WITH a handle because that's a requirement in my life, and boy, not having to microwave my coffee 13 times in a day is really a treat. I really rely and really freaking love coffee! ☕️

What other mom hacks do I need to know about?!

Cardio core from 80 day obsession. All I have to say is, I have a whole new respect for people who have big b***s and do cardio. 2 compression bras and I still had to hold my b***s during A LOT of jumping around. 👀

307 calories burned, so bouncing b***s still burn calories, lesson learned.

Any recommendations for sports bras for bigger bo***es? I think I prefer the front zip ones!

(PS thank you Sully for sleeping through my workout and thanks husband for making sure Will slept too!😘)

No fancy filters. No inspirational wording on my picture. Just me, my greasy pineapple bun and little bands that I only slapped myself in that forehead with once during my first workout in like um...4 months probably? I've been dreading this day for a long time.

Day 1 of "80 day obsession" in the books! I loved that it was slow and intentional moves, no nutty cardio. I don't think I or my huge milking b***s are quite ready for that adventure. 🍼🍼

I just showed up during nap time when my sweet dear husband was hanging out with the babies and reading them "the barnyard dance" book for the 1,000,000 time, I pushed play and hoped for the best. I didn't wait for a full moon, the perfect workout outfit, some stars to align, me to be in better shape, my diastasis recti to heal more...I just did it and hoped for the best and prepared for the worst.

Good news, I have way more muscle memory than I thought. No struggling here, although I did use light weights and opted out of a lot of core moves and did arms moves instead until I learn more about which ab moves to not do with diastasis recti.

So tomorrow, the only thing I'll wait to align is nap time lol. I'll just show up tomorrow and see how it goes. And then the day after that and then the day after that. ❤️

If you're waiting to for the perfect timing to start a fitness program, I'm telling you, it will never happen. Just show up and push play. It'll start to work itself out. Progress > perfection.

I thought today's would be a good way to try to sneak in the fact that I haven't posted anything related to fitness since I was about 32 weeks pregnant with twins, and now I am 7 weeks postpartum. I'm too sleep deprived to do the math, but it seems like a really long time lol.

Long story short of remaining weeks of pregnancy:

I was able to work out until I was about 32 weeks pregnant, and then I just got too big and tired. I worked until I was 35.5 weeks, and then my legs got so swollen that my thighs, knees and almost ankles touched. 😂😂😂 After that, I literally became borderline immobile and needed to be shoved out of bed, assistance to get dressed and dear God did I dread taking a shower. I needed to nap after I took one usually. My last measurement taken for pure comic relief was that I was measuring at "50 weeks" and baby A was 6.5 #, and baby B was measuring at like 7.5 # or something. That's a lot of babies.

I ended up being induced at 38 weeks + 2 days and after a long 2 days, I had my babies! Perfect and healthy: Will was 6 lb 3 oz, and Sully was 7 lb 1 oz.

Long story short of postpartum:

I lost too much blood after delivering Sully and needed blood products which ended up making me really anemic and so incredibly weak. I also ended up with a choriamniotitis (infection from having my water broke too long). I felt like I had the flu which made it really hard to take care of my babies when I felt like s**t. My 2 weeks postpartum visit revealed I had thyroiditis which meant my thyroid was overactive, releasing too many hormones at once, causing me to have rapid heartbeats and losing weight too fast. (You think this would be a good thing, but I lost something like 40 lb in 8 days I think.) I didn't even gain that during my pregnancy! It was alll confusing and scary. Anywho. I recovered on my own and finally felt normal (ish) at about 4 weeks postpartum. I was finally able to sit on my butt comfortably (lol) and was able to not have heart palpitations when a kid would latch onto my super sore ni***es (lol.)

Things I realized:

I am not that mom to jump back into a fitness program 2, 4 or even 6 weeks postpartum. It just seems insignificant at this time. I have a 3 finger wide diastasis recti and have to go to physical therapy for that which I am looking forward to!

I'm not that mom who cooks meals or even had frozen ones ready. I usually eat handfuls of s**t from the counter when I walk through the kitchen or I sit and eat a meal like I am running a marathon tomorrow haha. I feel like I haven't gotten a routine for an in between yet.

I'm not the mom to invite people to challenge groups 1,3,5,7 weeks postpartum. I've seen this so much in my FB and totally applaud all new moms who can get back into any routine so quickly! It amazes me. I seriously have to be told to shower by my husband. I have to remember to p*e. Remember to drink water. I somehow remember very specifically to drink coffee every morning. HA!

I have all the loose skin. Stretch marks. I thought I would care much but I really don't. I'm just reminded of what miracles I have in front of me every day. I have bigger fish to fry, my friends!

BUT; my babies are happy and healthy and I think they really like me. 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦

I am not complaining at all. I am so insanely in love with my babies I cannot put into words! All I'm saying is balancing all things has been much harder than anticipated. I'm a true hot mess mom. I want to remain active on my page and share my postpartum journey and DUH my adorable babies, but I fear I will be so inconsistent because I don't have a lot of spare time! I'm going to give myself grace and hope you can too! 😊

Progress not perfection. My mantra for 2018. ❤️

Edit: I still put up my Christmas tree this year. It took me 2 weeks to put up but I did it.

Food prep tip: wash and cut your fruits and veggies as soon as you get them home from the store! Otherwise, they'll sit in your refrigerator and eventually mold. There's something to be said about opening your fridge, seeing perfectly cut and portioned out fruit/veggies and sticking to the plan of eating it!

I've been SO lazy about doing this throughout my pregnancy, I'd rather rush rush rush through putting groceries away since my back always hurts, ( ), and then I'll sit on the couch and rest my back for "just a minute" and before I know it, I'm googling "how tall is Jesus." And how to boil a "perfect egg." Or is it "splitting image or spitting image?" 🙄

I swear pregnancy has made me a freaking wack a doo. But today I slayed the 1.) clean the fridge out 2.) put new food in 3.) cut fruit up for easy consumption.

It's a big day for me p*eps! 😂

Haha! How cute is this?! (Most definitely not the case for me, but I hope it was for you!)

🎃 🎃

Not a whole lot to do with health / fitness, but let's be honest that's not my life right now haha.

But THIS? This struck a chord with me. I love the wording. It's so important to be a loving person and to be loved back. To tell people you care about that you love them and embrace every positive word someone says back to you.