We just lost another little league game. I'm not sure if I'm cut out to be a mom of three boys. Give me cheerleading any day - win or lose the game, we brushed it off in minutes! I shouldn't admit to being a rah-rah. My little sister, Abbie, has been embarrassed for me for years!
I think Stockton has gotten me sick. I ran 9 1/2 miles this morning and now I'm worn out and my throat is hurting. Maybe I should quit kissing the cute little fart, but I don't know how to resist.
I'm excited to sleep in tomorrow and let my body rest. Then we'll be ready to hit it hard on Monday.

Lower Body Workout
Warm-up - 5-10 minutes
Squat with a front kick - 2-3 minutes
Calf Raise - 20-24 reps on each leg
Cardio - 5 minutes
Walking lunge with a glute press - 20-24 reps on each side
Side lunge - 12-20 reps on each side
Cardio - 5 minutes
Plie - 20-24 reps
Plie and jump to middle for two - 12-20 reps
Hamstring curl (with cable machine or band) - 20 reps on each leg
Cardio - 5 minutes
Lunge with back leg on bench - 2-3 sets of 12
Box jump - 20-24 reps - leap onto a step or box, squat down low, step off.
Cardio - 5-10 minutes
Cool-down and stretch

Cami Checketts
www.camichecketts.com

My little Stockton is really sick. We got him to our pediatrician yesterday afternoon and he's wheezing and can't get enough air. We had to do a steroid and the Albulterol air treatments with the nebulizer. I hate those things.

I wanted to talk to you all about something today. As you're eating right and exercising, you need to do what works for you and what is going to help you meet your goals. On this blog I provide suggestions and tell you what works for me, but every body type is so different. Plus we all have different ideas about how we want to look and what goals we want to achieve. Some of us may want to be shredded. Some just want to increase their energy or lose a few baby pounds. Some may be in training for a marathon or triathlon, others would be thrilled to run a mile.

Whatever level you're at and whatever long range goals you have, find what works for you. Doing our contest is fun and a good motivational tool, but please don't think that you have to exercise two hours a day or give up chocolate for life to be fit. You need to do what's going to help you feel fit and healthy and most of all happy. If I gave up chocolate for life you'd see me on a poster at the post office one day!

My point is - we want to be happy, healthy moms, but we don't want to strive so hard for that perfect body that we miss out on the good things in life (our families, serving others and yes, chocolate!)

That said, if you are trying to become more fit and lose weight, there is nothing better than a weight lifting program. Weight lifting is the single best way to increase your metabolism and looked toned and fit.
My advice is to follow my weight-lifting program, but tailor it to your needs. You might not have time for three sets, you might not like doing the plyometric jumps, you might want to work abs more than I do. I'm giving you the knowledge of how a weight-training program works. Take that and do what works best for you.

Did I throw out enough disclaimers today or what? I feel like I almost told you not to listen to me! We know that wouldn't be good. You all love listening to me tell you what to do. I just never want anyone to feel guilty if they aren't doing everything I say. Guilt is a waste of time. Try your best. Be healthy. Be happy. And most of all - love the crap out of yourself and your family!

Until tomorrow,
Cami Checketts
www.camichecketts.com

Okay, my baby has a cough and fell asleep hacking. Now he just woke up crying again. I love being a Mom, but crap like this just breaks my heart!
I got a fun recipe from Deanna Lindley.

Mango Slaw

1 lrg ripe mango, peeled and chopped
3t. fresh lime juice
2t canola oil
1t. salt
dash cayenne pepper
1 small head of cabbage, thinly sliced
2 lrg carrots, grated
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/3c. chopped cilantro

1- place mango, lime juice, oil, salt, and pepper in blender: process until smooth and set aside.

2-Stir together cabbage, carrot, onion and cilantro in a large bowl: add mango mixture and toss to coat. Chill 20 minutes.

Looks good, eh?

Here's tomorrow's workout - Chest, shoulders, triceps and quads
Warm-up and cardio - 5-45 minutes
Incline chest press - laying on an incline bench - 3 sets of 12
Squat with frontal raise - 3 sets of 10-12
Squat and jump - without weights, squat slow down, then leap towards the ceiling (don't do if have joint or health problems)
Upright Row - 3 sets of 12
Triceps Dips - 3 sets of 12
Overhead triceps extensions - 3 sets of 12 (laying on a bench makes them a bit tougher)
Cool-down and stretch

If you're short on time, just do one set. The three sets will challenge you more and increase your metabolism and muscle density, but one set is a great place to start.
If you need descriptions of the exercises, check my website - http://www.camichecketts.com, go to the links page and download Cami's Strength Training Guide.

I am so stiff. Every time I stand up, I want to cry. I told you we had our girl's night out at the Rec. Center last night. The spin and Pilates class were great, but we were already sore from the leg workout the day before. One of my friends hurt so bad she iced her bum last night!
I'm a bit stressed about doing hamstrings tomorrow. I guess I'd better get stretching and maybe try some ice myself!
If you ever get sore from working out the best thing to do is to keep moving (slowly), try to walk and stretch and if it's bad enough a few ibuprofen will really help. I like to be a little sore, so I know I did something, but not being able to walk is a problem.
Tomorrow we're doing back, biceps and hamstrings (if I'm healed)
Warm-up - 5-10 minutes
Lunge with a bicep curl - 14-20 lunges on each side, if your arms get too tired, take a break and keep going with the legs - can do these alternating onto a step if you want.
Seated row - with machine or a band looped around a stationary object - 3 sets of 12-14 reps
Pulldown - using the cable machine, kneel down, pull arms straight down and back, keeping elbows straight - 3 sets of 10-12
Lunge with a hamstrings curl - Lunge down, as you straighten, balance on one leg and curl the other leg up, 12-14 reps on each leg
Hamstring curl - with machine or band - 12-20 reps on each leg
Biceps Curl - 3 sets of 12
Cardio - 5-45 minutes
Cool-down and stretch

Cami Checketts
www.camichecketts.com

Big girl's night tonight. We're going to Smithfield Rec. for spinning and then a yoga/Pilates class. After we get good and sweaty we're going to Smoothie King. Any of you who live in Cache Valley feel free to join us. It should be hilarious watching me try to act like I can ride a bike in spin class. I'm just excited to do something different. If you haven't tried something out of the norm lately, do it. If you run, go for a swim. If you bike, try lifting weights. If you do the Elliptical, try a kickboxing class. Every time you change your routine, your body gets challenged because it has to move and balance in different ways.

Tomorrow is our interval cardio day. Warm-up for ten minutes, then one minute high intensity, three minutes active rest (slow down a bit). Try to repeat the cycle 4-7 times, then cool down. I'm going to run (listen to me talk about variety, then do my same old!) I'm trying to do one minute sprints, then one minute steep incline and alternate. I've got to start getting stronger for the half-marathons I'm doing this summer and especially The Wasatch Back Relay. Can't let my team down!

I don't have any deep thoughts, but Nicolle Clay gave me a quote this morning that I've always hated (because it's true).
"A moment on the lips, a liftime on the hips."
Only eat a treat if you really need it for your sanity. The pleasure of that chocolate on your tongue will fade quickly, but feeling good and looking good will stay and stay.

Cami Checketts
www.camichecketts.com