I can, I can upDATE cha!

A little Beyonce never hurt anyone…. (see what I did there^^^)

Anyway, I am here to give some updates on life these days as we get closer and closer to baby girl’s due date. I am eagerly anticipating the day more and more each day. I am antsy, getting a little uncomfortable and just ready to be done! I want to meet this little girl so bad!!! Too bad I technically have 8 weeks to go because I am 32 weeks as of yesterday! I keep telling myself that if I can get through February, she really could be here anytime in March…which is when I will start driving down all the bumpy roads, eating spicy food at every meal, walking up Rib Mt., and bouncing on the stability ball as we watch our shows at night. :) In the back of my mind I keep thinking about labor and how awful my first one was with KB…makes me cringe thinking about it. Fingers crossed I can get an epidural and keep it the whole time!!!!!!

We talk about baby sister a lot with Kamden and I think he mostly understands what’s going on but there are a few disconnects I have come across with him:

1)      He likes to lift up his shirt and point to his belly while saying “baby sister??”

2)     He patted me on the boob and said “baby kick?”

3)     I asked him what we should name her and his response was “Percy.” (From Thomas the Train, of course.) All of the other times I have asked him he responds with some jibberish or completely ignores the question altogether.

4)     He likes to crawl, elbow and drop-kick me in the stomach all the time. This baby girl is going to come out fighting if he doesn’t knock it off!

I am really excited for Kamden to be a big brother because I think once she is here he will do great. Makes me sad thinking he won’t be the baby anymore and that a lot of my attention will be towards the baby for a while, but at least he is a daddy’s boy and he and Bud can do man things together. :)

We got Kamden moved into his new bedroom with his big boy bed last month and he loves it. The transition went really smooth and he seems to love the space in his “new” bed. He’s a lucky boy and inherited our spare bedroom bed, which was a queen-size.  We are basically done getting his room set up minus some curtains and maybe something to hang on the wall above his bed. I am all about decorating and every time I am in there I just feel like something is missing above his bed….

This weekend we are painting baby girl’s nursery and I am pumped!! I just want to get her room done sooner than later so we don’t have to worry about it. We pretty much have everything we need for her room minus a dresser and some decorations. I am going with a mint and coral theme - mint walls and coral and white accents throughout. Thanks to Pinterest my expectations for how this room should look are set really high. I will keep you posted on the final product!

I am still exercising regularly and overall it’s still going good. I had to lay off the running though, which I am bummed about. Right after I turned 30 weeks I tried to run some intervals on the treadmill and it was painful. It felt like my hips were going to explode and I am pretty sure baby girl dropped a bit, making it feel like I was going to pee all over the place. Not cool. So, I have resorted to walking at an incline and my Les Mills Pump workouts. Those workouts are still working really well for me and have really helped me not gain 5 million pounds this pregnancy. I haven’t weighed myself in a few weeks, but I am thinking I am up 25 or so pounds. I’ll take it!

If you haven’t been following me on Facebook or Instagram or visited this blog before, you may not know that I am a health and fitness coach. I am telling you this because I am starting my next online challenge group on February 16^th. This group will feature both the 21-Day Fix and 21-Day Fix Extreme workout and nutrition programs. If you are looking for short workouts (30 minutes), a fool-proof nutrition plan, portion control containers (no counting calories or points) and ME as your coach, add me as a friend on Facebook at facebook.com/devon.hardel and send me a message! That way we can chat and see if this is a good opportunity for you. Most of my challengers have lost between 5-15 pounds in 21 days with the 21-Day Fix so it’s perfect timing with spring sneaking up on us! And if you are looking to really kick things into gear, the 21-Day Fix Extreme would be perfect for you! It was just launched this month and the before and afters I have seen are RIDICULOUS!!

21-Day Fix Before & After

21-Day Fix Extreme Before & Afters

Welp, that’s all I have for now. If you have questions about anything you can always email me at devonladu@gmail.com too! 

29 Weeks

How far along are you? 29 weeks on Wednesday!

How I’m feeling: I am still feeling really good overall, but this last week I have been totally drained. Maybe the baby is going through a growth spurt or something?? Also, this cold/flu/crap has been going around so I think that has something to do with it. Is it summer yet??

Total weight gain: 19 pounds. I am still able to wear my non-maternity jeans, even though my maternity jeans are a lot more comfy! J

How big is baby? 2 ½ pounds - about the size of a butternut squash.

Maternity clothes: I still wear a mixture of normal and maternity clothes. Good thing longer and looser fitting shirts are in style because I haven’t had to buy ton to accommodate this growing belly!

Sleep: Still doing well with sleep even though I am to the point where a daily nap would be glorious!!

Best moment this week: I don’t know if this is my “best” moment but instead my funniest moment, but the other day Kamden patted me on the boob and said “baby kick??” Apparently he is a little confused as to where this baby is located!! J

  

Movement: Tons of movement! I honestly feel like she is dancing around in there constantly. Probably jumping around and fist-pumping if she takes after her mother! ;)

Food cravings: Still loving peanut butter everything. My sweet tooth has been tamed, but I still like a treat here and there. I drink Shakeology which helps with that but I still find myself craving ice cream and chocolate. Fruit is another craving of mine….probably because it’s sweet tasting.

Food aversions: Nothing so far, thankfully! Although, my sense of smell is definitely heightened. I feel like a super-hero.

Belly button in or out: I am sporting an outie! It’s not too bad but it’s definitely out there!

What I Miss: I am going to keep this answer consistent and go with “wine.” I have also been daydreaming about having a honey-bear on a warm, summer day. I just need this winter to go away already.  

What I’m looking forward to: Getting baby girl’s room ready! We moved Kamden into the spare room and into a big boy bed a couple weekends ago. I am not going to lie, I was pretty emotional about it because after we got his room painted, bed set, up, etc., his old room just looked so empty. I spent many nights in that room rocking him and seeing his abandoned crib just made me sad. I know that it will be occupied again but there is something about seeing your first born grow up. I am sure it’s the same for all kids but I just have this one to reference so humor me and agree. J

Milestone: I am officially in the third trimester, whoop whoop!!! Not that this pregnancy has been hard or anything like that, but I am just ready to be done. I am so excited to meet this baby and not worry about every little thing I am doing, eating, drinking, breathing in (I held my breath longer than I ever expected to while walking through my work parking garage because it smelled like gasoline so bad)…. I am just ready to feel normal again! I like to break down the time I have left into segments…so, by the end of this month I will be 31 weeks. Then it’s Bud’s birthday, then the Superbowl, and then by the end of February I will be full-term! So, this baby is more than welcome to make an appearance anytime in March!  #wishfulthinking

New Year, new goals, new possibilities....

Let’s talk New Year’s resolutions. Everyone is making them and I bet about 80% of them include some form of weight loss or getting healthy goals. (I totally just made up that statistic so don’t quote me on that!)

I too, like many other people, have always made the resolution to lose weight once the New Year starts. It just seems fitting after the holiday festivities slow down and I am not surrounded by cookies, cakes, pies, egg nog, cookies, cakes, pies….you get what I am saying. I always say that I am going to work-out more, eat less and finally get down to my goal weight! I usually set my deadline to achieve this goal weight around the start of summer so I can rock a bikini and not feel so self-conscious. But, you know what happens every single year? I work-out and eat well for about 2 weeks and then my motivation fizzles. Before I know it, it’s June and my shorts don’t fit. >>>>>>Insert sad face. Then I go on another kick to work-out and eat well until cook-outs, vacations and summer bevs (hello honey-bears!!) happen. By the end of the summer I am usually not anywhere near my initial goal and at that point I just coast back into the holidays because it’s sweater-weather and I can hide anything under a sweater and leggings. Then it’s NYE again and I am making the same damn resolution as I did the year before!!!! It’s just a vicious cycle that I never can seem to get out of…. Until this last year.

This last spring I finally told myself enough was enough and got my act together. I became a Beachbody coach and learned how to eat clean and incorporate daily exercise. And I am not talking about running 5+ miles, 5-6 days a week like I thought I had to do. I am talking 30-45 minute work-outs, 5-6 days a week in the comfort of my home. With the support of my coach, and other challengers in my groups I run as a coach, I was able to learn how to maintain a healthy lifestyle that allowed me to lose weight (17 lbs) without having to feel so deprived all the time. I could still enjoy the cook-outs, adult bevs (in moderation, obviously), vacations  and still stay on top of my weight loss and health goals.  I learned how to incorporate healthy living into my life to use forever and not just a month or so. I have gone on diets where I have lost 10 or so pounds to only gain it back a month later. NOT FUN AT ALL AND NOT WORTH IT.

So, this year, being that I am pregnant, is a little different for me. Not that I don’t have a goal weight I would like to get to because HELLO, I am pregnant and better not stay at this weight after the baby is here!! J This year is different because I won’t have to change much from what I have been already doing. Because I was able to learn how to maintain this lifestyle through all the seasons of life, I have been able to keep my work-outs and mostly clean eating going throughout my entire pregnancy so far. Sure, I have splurged a little more than I normally would (because pregnancy cravings), but overall I am so used to making healthier choices that it has been like second-nature to me. I still work-out 5-6 days each week and plan to up until baby girl enters this world. Working out has made a tremendous difference in how I feel so far being pregnant. So really, my New Year’s resolution is to continue what I am doing but at a higher intensity (once I am able after baby) to get back to my goal weight. In 2015 I will be the best shape of my life because I have the tools, knowledge, and support to do so. Gets me REALLY excited! I just know how good it feels to be healthy and feel good about yourself!

In year’s past I would focus my New Year’s resolutions on weight loss and weight loss only, but this year I want to make sure to focus on a few other things as well. They are:

~ To be more present. I tend to get caught up in work between my actual job and coaching business that I sometimes feel distracted from what is going on around me. My resolution is to plan out my day better and actually stick to that plan so I can designate time in my day to work and have other time to spend with family and friends.

~ To focus on my hubs more. With having a kid (and one on the way) time at home can get hectic. By the time we have any alone time I am usually exhausted or distracted (see above) and that is just not cool.

~ To actually send out birthday, holiday, etc. cards/gifts ON TIME for once in my life! I am horrible at this! I have really good intentions but never seem to act on them on time. This year I need to do better! No more “I’m just trying to make your birthday celebration last longer” excuse!! J

What are your New Year’s resolutions? Do they include weight loss or getting healthy?

If you are looking to lose weight and get healthy in 2015 let me know! My next challenge group starts on January 5^th! You can fill out the application to be considered here:

http://devonhardel.wufoo.com/forms/21-day-fix-test-group/

I am excited to share this life-changing opportunity with people who are committed to making 2015 their healthiest and BEST year yet!

Pregnancy Hormones

Last night as I was lying in bed….far later than I thought I would be when I started my day, I got to thinking about my night. A typical week night for me is picking up Kamden after work at the sitter’s house, then 9 times of out of 10 we make a stop at the grocery store or Sam’s Club, we get home, I turn on Nick Jr. to distract KB while I scrounge up some sort of dinner that he may or may not eat depending on how bad he wants a PB&J, Bud gets home from work, we play with letters/cars/read books/chase each other until it’s either bath time or time for bed.

As of the last few weeks Kamden has been REFUSING to go to bed. He flat out yells, cries, screams, throws a fit, flails out of our arms as we carry him into his room….pretty much anything that falls into the “tantrum” category goes down. What happened to our little boy that would go to bed with ease? Who would grab his blanket and his nuk and walk himself into his room when it was bedtime? Well, he has been long-gone for the past couple weeks and I miss the little guy.

Anyway, last night was no different. He fought and fought and FOUGHT going to bed. He crawls out of his crib constantly (he’s moving into a big boy bed after Xmas), cries, yells, talks, jumps in his crib, turns on his closet light from his crib, kicks the side of his crib…basically anything he can do to NOT fall asleep. I think we had to put him back to bed last night about 15 times….not exaggerating at all. Usually Bud and I switch off who gets him and puts him back because 1) it’s exhausting and 2) one of us is usually about to go ballistic on our kid. In the midst of the circus that is now KB’s bedtime, Bud had to run to the store and I was rolling solo. It had been a good 7 minutes and 34 seconds since he crawled out last, so I was starting to think we were in the clear. As I was cleaning up the kitchen and doing dishes I heard a knock on his bedroom door and as I turned the corner to try to catch him in the act I see his door creep open and him walking out with his head down, and smiling. As if the lack of eye-contact and the knock to let me know he was coming out would make him invisible….nice try kiddo. I scooped him up immediately before he could dart off down the hall and he immediately started whining and crying. This time I was going to try a different route with putting him back to bed. I picked up his blanket, draped it over my shoulder, grabbed his nuk (yes, he still sleeps with one - get over it) and laid his head on my shoulder and started singing to him. It took a few seconds, but I could feel him nuzzling into me and getting comfortable. He was quiet. He laid on my shoulder while I sang to him (You are My Sunshine, Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star, Rock-a-Bye-Baby). It was almost as if every stress I was feeling from him not going to bed was lifted right off me. I couldn’t help but think that at that moment he was my baby again instead of a crazy 2-year old toddler. I hadn’t rocked him like that or had him snuggle up to me like that in a long time. As much as I wanted to freak out about 5 minutes prior, I really wanted that moment to last forever. I know the time when he will not want to lay his head on my shoulder or when my songs won’t calm him down is coming faster than I can imagine. That moment was a reminder to just slow down and take a moment with my son. It was a reminder that those moments are going to be few and far between as he gets older and that I should take advantage of them while I can.

After about 15 minutes of rocking him and singing to him I laid him back in his crib. He was calm and didn’t throw a fit this time…..even though he still climbed out again about 5 minutes later…..

Thankfully that was the last time for the night. The time was 9:38pm.

So, as I am lying in bed last night, thinking about my all that went down, all I can picture is Kamden’s face smiling at me. That smile he gives me when I pick him up after work as he runs to me while excitedly yelling “mama!!!!” He just has the most amazing smile and biggest, brightest blue eyes. For some reason I started thinking about how it will be in a few years or so when he is older, playing sports, etc. I pictured myself sitting in the stands watching him play some sport and catching that same smile again. About how I will still be able to see that little 2-year old boy in my not-so little boy. Of course, I started bawling. Time just goes so fast and I am 25 weeks pregnant. Hormones.

It’s so easy to get stressed and caught up in sticking to a schedule or a routine as a parent. I love the nights that go according to plan because I feel so accomplished and like I actually have my life together. But, I need to also learn to love the nights that don’t. Maybe last night was a way to tell me to cherish these moments with my son because I have a little girl on the way that is going to take up a lot of my attention. Maybe it was a way to let me know that Kamden, as much as he sometimes fights it, still really needs me too. Or maybe it was God’s way of preparing me for the chaos that is having 2 kids under the age of 3. J

21 Weeks



Excuse the awkward bathroom selfie ;)



How far along are you? Today I am officially 21 weeks! Past the halfway mark, whoop-whoop!!!

How I’m feeling: Overall, I am feeling great. These last few days I have been extra tired and REAL hungry, but overall I am feeling good. I am still running and working out and I think that is helping me feel better this go-around. I recently purchased a belly sports bra that I am going to test out tonight! With all my running my belly has been starting to bounce around a lot and I need something to support it.

Total weight gain: 7 pounds. Although, with my appetite lately I feel that number is going to go up a little faster than it has been!

How big is baby? According to the ultrasound last Friday, SHE (!!!!!!) is 11 oz or the size of a large carrot. Just a little bean…. I mean, carrot. haha

Maternity clothes: I am starting to wear a few maternity shirts and leggings a bit more often, but I can still wear my jeans comfortably. My belly seems to be a little higher than it was last time so I am hoping I can get away with not having to wear maternity jeans too long.

Sleep: Ahhh sleep. I feel like I can never get enough. I still miss naps and I still am not a morning person. When I do sleep, it’s amazing…. No issues there!

Best moment this week: Finding out our baby is a girl!!! J You can check out the reveal here.

  

Movement: Baby girl was really active during our ultrasound - lots of kicking, rolling and hands all over the place. I feel her kick quite a bit now and mostly at night.

Food cravings: Anything sweet. PB&J’s all day, every day would be amazing… but really, that is nothing new.

Food aversions: So far, nothing! I have been picking up certain smells a bit more though. I was walking through the stairwell at work and the smell shot me back to 2^nd grade at Lincoln Elementary…super weird.

Belly button in or out: It really wants to come out. My belly button ring is pushed out and my belly button is pretty much even with the rest of my belly at this point. I do not want an outie.

What I Miss: Wine still.

What I’m looking forward to: The holidays. It will be the last holiday season we spend as a family of 3. I am excited but also kind of sad in that KB is growing up. Looking at him now and trying to picture a newborn is crazy. My hormones are outta control right now and thinking about him being a big brother has made me cry like a million times. Time sure does fly.

Milestone: Other than finding out the gender, there haven’t really been any other milestones lately. We are trying to get KB to realize he is going to have a baby sister but he still doesn’t quite get it.

Until next time.....PEACE OUT!! 

Why Shakeology?

I got serious about my health when I started coaching last March. As you may have read, I started coaching by purchasing the Les Mills Pump challenge pack (Les Mills Pump program + 30 days’ worth of Shakeology).  At the time, I didn’t really give much thought about Shakeology because I just wanted to be a coach (I signed up to coach by ordering a challenge pack) and have the Les Mills Pump program; so to me, it didn’t really matter either way that this also included the shakes. I wasn’t a shake person. I was not about to drink my meals every day (I REALLY like food) and initially thought they would be a waste of money. I had no idea what these shakes even were made of and I figured if anything, I would give them a shot for a month and never touch the stuff afterwards.

When my program arrived in the mail I was PUMPED (pun intended) to start my work out routine! I took all the contents out of the box (DVDs, nutrition guide, barbell, weights, etc.) and there it was…. the box of Shakeology packets. I decided to try a variety pack of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. I pretty much brushed that box to the side and went about setting up my weights for my first Pump work out. After my first work out I noticed there was a little commercial talking about Shakeology and the benefits, how good it was for you, blah blah blah, and figured I might as well give it a shot. I needed something to eat after my work out anyway, so why not give it a whirl. I had no idea what I was doing when it came to making shakes, so I just mixed my chocolate packet with water and started chugging. My first initial thought was that it didn’t taste that bad and actually tasted kind of good. I drank it pretty fast and afterwards felt pretty good. I felt replenished from my work out and didn’t feel the need to snack on anything more. That was a win for me because I am typically starving after a work-out.

The first few days of drinking Shakeology I didn’t really notice much of a difference in how I felt, other than that I wasn’t as hungry between meals. I was using the shakes as a mid-morning snack or afternoon snack because I was also eating clean and they came in handy when I was craving something sweet. At that point I was just happy they were keeping me from buying peanut M&Ms from the vending machine at work. By day 4 I really started to notice my energy levels increasing and just overall felt good. I can’t really explain it. I just felt healthier. So I continued drinking them daily… mostly as snacks but would also have them as a quick breakfast some days. They are just so easy to put together when you are in a time crunch. By the end of the 30 days I was hooked. My hair looked better, my skin was clearer, and overall I just felt great. Better than I had in a really long time. I knew they were a big reason I felt that way and knew that I didn’t want to stop drinking them. So, I ordered another 30 day supply and have every single month since.

You are probably thinking “that’s great and all, but are these shakes really worth the money?”  I actually get asked that all the time and the answer is “YES!” If someone is eating healthy and looking to make a meal, generally that meal will cost anywhere between $4 and $7. The price for Shakeology breaks down to $4/day. That is the price of a grande-sized drink at Starbucks or a meal at McDonalds but is WAY healthier for you and doesn’t leave you feeling guilty afterwards! Shakeology can replace any meal you would like because it’s nutrient-dense and includes 70 different fruits and veggies (whole foods), fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, prebiotics, probiotics, and protein. It’s basically a super-charged multi-vitamin. Some benefits that come from drinking Shakeology are clearer skin, weight loss, healthier hair and nails, increased energy levels, lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, reduced junk food cravings, and helps aid in digestion….to name a few. J

**Click here for more info on Shakeology.

I know weight-loss is a big interest for a lot of people, ESPECIALLY with New Year’s right around the corner. I personally know Shakeology helped me shed 15 pounds by reducing my junk food cravings and helping me stay on track with my clean eating. I know these shakes will come in handy as I detox myself from all the pumpkin pie, cookies, cakes, etc. this holiday season!

If you have questions about Shakeology or want to try it out yourself, feel free to comment below or shoot me an email at devonladu@gmail.com. My next health and fitness challenge group starts today with another one starting on December 1^st!

Happy Monday!

Unpacking the pounds for the holidays

As a health and fitness coach, I help people stay active and healthy by running private, online accountability challenge groups through Facebook. In my groups, we focus on clean eating and working out for 30-60 days. By providing accountability, motivation, support and nutritional guidance for the 30-60 days, I have found that my challengers are able to create a habit that will carry on long after the challenge ends; and if not, they jump into a new challenge.  

Starting an exercise routine and healthy diet is hard… especially when you have never done it before. Even those that have done this before, but maybe recently fell off the wagon and need a jump-start; have a hard time getting back to it. Life gets busy….especially as we get older….with jobs, kids, activities, every day errands and duties, holidays, sports, etc. It’s so easy to put ourselves on the back-burner during these times. And where are we supposed to fit in a work out? How are we supposed to pay for a gym membership? It can be HARD to figure this out on your own and to find the support to do so.

The beauty of my challenge groups is that everything is figured out for you. I get that it’s hard to get started on your own so I want to make it as easy as possible for you! Generally the work outs we do are around 30 minutes long and do not require any equipment AND can be done in your home. That makes working out non-negotiable because EVERYONE can spare 30 minutes in their day. Whether they are waking up 30 minutes earlier or getting it in after the kids go to bed, it can be done! As far as meal plans - we provide those too! We have grocery lists, weekly plans and meal ideas. I really believe that once you have a plan, you will not fail. And that is why the group is helpful. We will teach you how to plan out your meals each week so that you are set up for success. This also takes the guess-work out of what meals to make during the week when you are already busy enough!

In my last few challenge groups I have seen my challengers get AMAZING results! That is what keeps me going and makes these groups so fun to run! One of my ladies lost 9 pounds in 3 weeks and 2 other ladies each lost 12 inches off their body! I think one of my favorite messages I have received was that my challenger, who is diabetic, went for her regular check-up with her doctor and was told her blood sugar levels are the lowest they have ever been!  How awesome is that!!??! I have had so many people comment on how they have found confidence again and energy they have never had, just by adding in a work out and eating clean. It can change your life in so many ways!

If you are looking for a place to start your weight loss journey, or a place that will help you get back on track with your health, then maybe one of my challenge groups would be the perfect solution for you. If you want more information or have any questions, please add me on Facebook at http://facebook.com/devon.hardel. I would love to learn more about you and to see if my challenge group would be the right fit for you! My next challenge starts on November 17^th!

The holidays are fast approaching and I know how easy it is to say you will start after the New Year. But that is over a month and a half away! That’s a month and a half that you could be starting your own fitness journey and getting that far ahead of the game! Can you imagine ending the holiday season and rocking that NYE dress? Going into the New Year weighing less than you do now? Don’t put yourself on the back-burner this holiday season and give yourself the best gift of all - HEALTH.