Taking the Leap: Reflections on Saying Goodbye to the Gym

I’m no longer a gym member. It feels weird saying/writing that, because “going to the gym” has been such a big part of who I am over the last few years, and especially the last six months.

This place saved me. When we moved here I was so ignorant to exactly how hard it would be going from being a work outside of the home mom of three rowdy boys to a SAHM of three rowdy boys in a city almost 1,000 miles from friends and family. I just really had no idea. Couple that with a mixture of health issues that left me exhausted and unmotivated and it could’ve been a disaster.

I had some dark days over the summer, and I am eternally grateful that I had this place to go to, where I could drop my kids off at childcare and just put on my headphones and do work; I could sweat and construct more of myself both physically and mentally. I could pee without an audience. I could chat on the phone with my aunt or dad or one of my best friends from home uninterrupted. I would get in a workout at the gym by our house and then cruise across the Huey P to the sister gym site, where I would drop the boys off at childcare there for a little bit so that I could use the sauna or sit in the sun and get golden. I read, I reflected, I zoned out, I drank a beer  or a Gatorade or chomped ice and ate a Quest bar. I needed these precious moments alone more than ever this summer. 

Life would have been much, much harder without this place.

It’s time though. I’m sure I can get an excellent workout at home with my various Beachbody programs and the other assorted equipment I’ve acquired, and I’m dedicated to building a solid home gym. I thought about it a lot, went back and forth several times and talked with Chad, and we both agreed that it made more sense to save the gym membership money and put it towards a squat rack, which I’m very excited about.

I’m also excited because I think my workouts will have a little more joy in them. It’s weird; I love lifting and what it does to my body, but it really had come to a point for me where my heart was just not in it, and I’m not sure why, though I intend to look at that a little deeper. I’m looking forward to the variety that will inevitably come from a home workout, and strangely enough, I’m actually looking forward to cardio, specifically my all time favorite TurboJam, plus the runs that I’m doing to train for my Thanksgiving 5 Miler.

I’m more settled in now, New Orleans feels more like home. And because of that I know I don’t need a home away from home anymore, and that feels good.

Here's to the next part of the journey. 

xx.

That Time I Signed Up to Run 5 Miles...

Have you ever committed to a goal that scares you?

Cause that's exactly what I did yesterday...

I've been looking for a non-scale/non-aesthetics based goal and finally found one yesterday while chatting with my dad.

I've always wanted to do a Turkey Trot or Drumstick Dash 5K on Thanksgiving but for various reasons never have. This Thanksgiving will be our first in New Orleans and my dad, an avid runner, will be here to visit. He and I have talked about doing a race together but once again, for various reasons, never have. So yesterday when we were on the phone I told him I'd look and see what I could find. Well, I found the New Orleans Turkey Day Race, but to my utter dismay it is not a 5K but rather 5 miles. "Yeah, sorry Dad, but I definitely cannot run 5 miles. Damn, that sucks." 

I couldn't shake the idea though and started to consider my options. My thought process went like this "Well, maybe I can do it,  I mean, I'm athletic. I'm in good shape. But it's 5 miles!!! Hmm, let me google this and see how reasonable or unreasonable this is."

Long story short, I found a training program, sent my dad a text, and my training starts today, Lord help me.

Via Pinterest

I had some doubt-talk last night where I was thinking, there is no way in hell I can do this, but then I just accepted that hey, I'm intimidated by this challenge but I also enjoy setting goals and I genuinely enjoy the process, so I know this will be fun and good for me mentally and physically.

My goal is to run more than I walk. I'm not trying to set any speed records. I just want to train injury free and complete the 5 miles.

Do you have any tips for me? I'd love to hear them!

xx, 

Amanda.

Amanda Fierce Fit on Facebook!

It's no secret that I'm passionate about health, fitness, and encouraging women to live their best life. I've created a Facebook page: Amanda Fierce Fit and I would LOVE it if y'all would give my page a like, and feel free to share it with your friends and family as well. 

Obviously I'll be performing original raps about motherhood and fitness, but mostly I'm looking forward to providing fitness tips, recipes, spiritual encouragement, and sharing what works for me and what hasn't, and I'd love to hear from y'all as well; I am here to help. It's my vision that this will be a safe space for women to feel encouraged and empowered. 

Additionally, I'm working as a Coach with Beachbody, which excites me because now I can coach women through proven, effective workouts at home, assist with choosing the appropriate nutrition program, and provide the support and encouragement that is critical to successful long-term weight loss. You can find my website at 

www.beachbodycoach.com/amandafiercefit 

This felt like a natural choice for me because I'm also working to achieve my personal trainer certificationthrough the ACSM, and I realized that not everyone feels comfortable in or has access to a gym. 

I'd love it if you'd join me as we build a tribe of fierce, fit women! 

Life With 3 Kids.

Also known as (organized) chaos.

Organized is in parentheses because quite frankly, sometimes it's just chaos.

Motherhood has always been quite easy for me, and that's not bragging, it's just the truth. I found it comes very naturally and I truly enjoy it. When Troy, our oldest was born, there were moments that were really challenging, but we adjusted really quickly to life as parents. I do remember though, around the time Troy was four months old, Chad asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I was like, to go to a hotel room BY MYSELF and SLEEP.  (In case you're wondering, that didn't happen.)

During my pregnancy with Archer I had times where I worried how it would be possible to love another child the way that I love Troy, but I found that loving Archer came naturally too. It's amazing to me how motherhood increases your heart's capacity to love. Adjusting to life with two children was honestly easier than going from none to one, so during my pregnancy with Rex I didn't think for a second that things might be different.

Let me tell you this, I was naive. So, so, so naive. I thought I'd spend my maternity leave baking fresh bread, and canning, and doing other little projects. (No, I'm not kidding.) Let's just say this, the only "little projects" I've completed since the birth of my third child have been getting really acquainted with the cast of Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta and watching the entire first season of Hit the Floor, another awesome VH1 creation. And napping. #Duh.

Rex is a dream baby. He sleeps at night, he only fusses when he's hungry or needs to be changed, and he is just precious to boot. Rex is easy. What's been difficult is having an almost two year old who literally gets into everything and never stops moving. I love his wild and free spirit; it's just much more difficult when I have to keep my eyes on an infant. I also have a 4 year old who's going on 20, and even though he is a huge help, he can be an instigator. If I hadn't discovered the wonders of baby wearing, my kids would probably still be eating microwave chicken nuggets for dinner every night.

Add to those things that I had another C-Section, we have next to no family nearby who can help us, and Chad's crazy work schedule over the past few weeks, and you have a recipe for difficulty. I only had a few (2) days after coming home from the hospital before I was home all day by myself with the boys. There was a lot of crying (me). I was totally overwhelmed and surprised.

I reminded myself that I was extremely hormonal, that I had just had major surgery, and that the way I was feeling was normal. I reminded myself of this frequently and slowly I started feeling like things were under control.

Within the last two weeks, I've started to feel like myself again, and less like a deer in headlights when Chad leaves to go to work. I've taken all three kids out by myself; Target was our first trip, obviously.

We have a new normal. And it's louder and messier than ever, but I love it.

xx,

Amanda

5 Days and A Dream

OMG Ya'll! In just FIVE days Baby Boy #3 will be here, and I can't even believe it. This pregnancy has gone by so quickly, which is the opposite of how my other pregnancies felt. Part of this is probably because this time around I'm having a scheduled C-Section at 39 weeks, so I know that there is an end in sight and it's much closer than if I had to wait another 2 or 3 weeks. The other part is that I've already got two little wild-men at home, so they have kept me busier than I was the first or second time around.

I'm so grateful that I've had an easy, healthy pregnancy. I'm grateful for a practice of doctors who are progressive, friendly, and capable. I'm grateful to have employment at a company that has allowed me to earn enough PTO and SHCL to earn a paycheck while I'm out on maternity leave.I'm grateful for Troy who has been the best helper ever, always offering to rub lotion on my belly or rub my feet. I'm grateful for Archer's mischievous little grin that has made me laugh so many times this pregnancy, and his sweet little baby smell that still lingers and reminds me of what I have to look forward to all over again. I'm grateful for a husband who is my rock and has been so good about plying me with milkshakes or Blizzards from DQ when requested. I'm grateful for a group of women I consider my best friends, both near and far. I'm grateful for an aunt who has been like a mother to me. And I'm grateful for my mother, who despite her absence, is ever present and whom I credit much of what I know about being a mother to.

I've felt my mom's absence the most this pregnancy. There have been many more days this time around where I wished she was here, and when the actions of other people in our lives have reminded me of just what exactly my children, husband, and myself are missing out on by not having her here.

A few weeks ago I had a dream about her, which is a rare thing for me. Since her death eight years ago, I can count on one hand how many dreams I've had about her. The dreams are never about her, but I know she is present, and the second I acknowledge that she is there and acknowledge that it can't be real because she is dead, she disappears.

This dream was different. Chad and I are in the recovery room at the hospital, following the birth of this baby. I'm sitting up holding him, and in walks my mom, just the way she used to, smelling and looking the way she used to, like Elizabeth Arden Green Tear perfume and smiling and happy. I look directly at her and say, "You can't be here, you're dead. What are you doing here?" She responds "I"m just visiting."

And I think she was.

xx.

Amanda

Lessons in the Kitchen

One of my goals for the New Year was to bake more, and to include the boys (mostly Troy) in cooking and other kitchen projects. So far, it’s been going well, though we’ve mostly stuck to baking things like muffins and brownies.

Last Saturday I decided to branch out and make our own pizza dough for pizza night. Troy hopped up onto his little wooden stool and helped measure and knead the dough, excited at the chance to get messy and play with food. After the dough was properly mixed I explained to him that we now had to wait for it to rise, and he set the timer for 30 minutes.

I started to get nervous around the 15 minute mark, when the dough had not risen at all. When the timer went off, Troy excitedly ran to see the dough, only to discover that it looked absolutely the same as it had 30 minutes ago. I explained to him that it didn’t work, we looked up some troubleshooting options online, and set about making another batch, which didn’t rise either.

By this point it was almost 8 o’clock and everyone was hungry, dare I say, hangry! (Hungry+Angry) We decided to order a pizza instead, and Troy ran out with his daddy to pick it up and bring it home. We ate quietly, which in our household, is how you can tell that the food is good and the people are hungry. I think I was the only one disappointed that the dough didn’t turn out right.

Laying in bed that night I reflected on what might have gone wrong and on the experience as a whole. I decided that I was grateful that the dough didn’t rise. I was grateful to have the opportunity to show my son that sometimes, though you do everything right; things just don’t work out the way you want them to. I was grateful that I was able to show him that when things don’t turn out according to plan you just move on to the next plan, in this case, take out. It doesn’t mean you give up forever, just that sometimes it’s best to walk away and try again later.

As for us, we’ll be attempting pizza crust again this weekend.

Xo, 

Amanda 

.     

Let's Recap...

Happy Monday! 

Let me bring you up to speed on life around here lately...

In exactly 29 days we will welcome Baby Boy #3. I absolutely cannot believe it. My attitude this pregnancy has been extremely laid back, and now I’m like, Hmm, maybe I should finish up buying things like, ya know, clothes, but I’m still not feeling the pressure. Blessings of third time motherhood. 

 I’m overjoyed and excited to share my new business venture with ya’ll! Rodan+Fields is a company that is leading the way in skin care, and their business model will drop your jaw. I could not resist the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of this business, which was started by the same women who created Proactiv. If you’re interested in great skin, or in the business opportunity then comment below with your email, or shoot me an email.

                  St.Patrick's Day

Dressed these nuggets in green. I picked up a pack of chocolate, gold-coins at Fresh Market and spread them out on our entrance table on my lunch break. When I picked Troy up from school I told him that I thought a leprechaun had come by and left something for him and Archer. Seeing the look on his face was priceless, and this will definitely be a tradition in our household moving forward.

We went to an awesome Farm to Table event at Greenbrier Nurseries over the weekend, and I was beyond impressed. There were roughly a billion people there and my stroller was giving me problems (and so was the child trying to climb out of it) but it was worth it.

          

 

                  #plantsnotpets

It's our family motto. Kidding/not kidding.

Hope everyone had a FAB Monday!