I read the craziest article in The Herald Journal this morning - women with a hearty appetite who eat breakfast, especially banana and cereals are more likely to have boys. Now I'll be able to insure a girl next go around. I'll just starve myself and give up the bananas. On second thought, I know I won't starve myself, so maybe a girl is a pipe dream for us. Oh, well, good thing my boys are cute.

I didn't look so hot running my intervals this morning. After interval five I decided if I was going to make it home I'd better cut out the sprints. I've been eating a lot of treats since Sunday and my body is fed up with me. I don't think my eating is going to improve anytime soon - I leave on a girl's trip in two hours. Maybe going shopping and not being able to wriggle into my normal size will curb the ice cream cravings.

Here's tomorrow's workout - we're going to do everything on time, remember to go slow, especially on the lengthening or eccentric contraction.
Warm-up and cardio - 5-25 minutes
Step and squat - 2 minutes (squat narrow, straighten, step wide, squat, repeat other side)
Walking lunges - 2-3 minutes
Plie with a calf raise - 2 minutes
Squat and leap to ceiling - 30 seconds
Side lunge - 2 minutes
Glute press - 30 seconds on each leg - as you finish one side, balance on one leg, while holding the glute press with the other, slowly lean forward until arms are stretched out facing floor, balance for as long as you can, then switch sides
Cool-down and stretch

I'm leaving town for a few days to attend BYU Women's Conference. Hopefully I'll come back inspired to be a better mom. My sister, Abbie, is taking over the blog while I'm gone. Those of you who read her posts last summer remember how hilarious she is.
Hope you all have a great week - Cami

Today is the day I chat at you. I've been pondering about something new to talk about. Then it hit me at the rec. center this morning. Here's my awe-inspiring topic.
Why I prefer free weights over machines.

First of all let me explain that on some exercises machines work more effectively - lat pull-down and the seated row need to be done with a machine or a band. If you mimicked the motion of the machine with hand weights, you'd be working your shoulders and not your back.
Also, a good cable machine is a wonderful thing. The cable machine is the pulley-looking machine with a lot of different handle options. I like to use it in conjunction with the weights for triceps pulldowns, bicep curls, chest press, or rows.
But most of the time I use good, old hand weights and here's why:
- Stabilization - as you lift with hand weights you tighten your abs and use your core to stabilize you as opposed to a machine where you are usually sitting and not engaging your core at all. Really concentrate on good posture while you lift and you'll see your abs improve without spending extra time on them.
- Grip - Gripping the weights and controlling them with your hands improves your grip strength and forearm strength (great for water-skiing). This is a real issue for me because of my accident last summer. My grip strength in my left hand is still pathetic and sometimes I want to cry as I lift, but I can see it gradually improving and I attribute that to using hand weights so often.
- Work each side evenly - When you're using a machine it's easy to let one side compensate for the other, with free weights right and left have to lift their own load.

You should all be proud of yourself for following an exercise program and taking care of your body. I'm proud of you. You are tough Mommas and it really means a lot that you choose to read my blog.

Tomorrow is our interval cardio day. You all know the drill - warm-up for 5-10 minutes, do 4-7 intervals - 1 minute high intensity, 3 minutes moderate. Then cool down and stretch. Last week on interval day I forced my way into a run with my friends, they were cursing my name before we were done. This week they told me I was uninvited. How rude is that?

Have a terrific day - Cami

http://www.camichecketts.com

Okay, friends, I've decided I am messed up and I can't even blame it on my parents! I ate terrible yesterday and promised myself I wouldn't have a treat until I went to Women's Conference this Wednesday. Two days. Now I'm talking myself out of it. My tongue is trying to convince my mind that I deserve ice cream and one bowl isn't going to hurt.
Please let my brain triumph today!

Stockton has decided he won't take naps in his crib. He usually sleeps on the bed in his room, but today he dragged his pillow and blankets into the closet and is napping in there.
Is it considered abuse if the child puts himself in the closet?

Here's tomorrow's upper body workout.
Warm-up and cardio -5-45 minutes
Okay, the weights are a little odd today, let me explain and if you have questions please e-mail me - camichecketts@yahoo.com
We'll do them in pairs, but the first exercise will have three sets and the second will have two. So you'll go back and forth, ending with the first, then move on to the next set. Savvy?

Seated Row - 3 sets of 12
Incline pushups - hands on a step or bench - 2 sets of 10

Lat Pull-down - 3 sets of 12-14
Bent-elbow lateral raise - 2 sets of 12

Biceps curl - 3 sets of 12-14
Triceps dips - 2 sets of 12 - to make it harder, place your feet on a bench at the same level as your hands

Lower back - I can't remember the name of this one, but you lay on your stomach on a ball or you can lower your abdomen off the edge of a bed. Then raise the upper body with hands straight out in front of you, when you're hyperextended bring your elbows down and back and contract your upper back - 3 sets of 6
Plank - 2 sets of 3-6 ten second holds

Cool-down and stretch

http://www.camichecketts.com

I told you my honey and I attended The Child and Family Support Center's annual banquet and auction last night. It was a lovely evening, that ripped my heart out. The theme was "Phantom of the Opera." They had exquisite singers, wonderful food, and fun items to bid on. The director, Estherlee Molyneux, gave a wrenching speech about a local case of child abuse. Then they showed a video of these beautiful children with tears on their faces and statistics and reports of cases of child abuse in Cache Valley. I had to force myself to watch the video through my tears. I turned to Stan and said, "Give them all the money in your wallet and let's go home and hug on our babies."
The people who run the center are amazing. I couldn't have more respect for anyone. If you ever have a chance to support them, please do it.

We missed Stockton's birthday yesterday so today we celebrated with a trip to The Fun Park. If you've never been there it's one of those places that is only fun for children - it's loud, over-priced, reeks of pizza crust (which of course I can't eat so it just infuriates me), and the worst part - my children love the silly video games that spew out tickets as a reward. After accumulating hundreds of tickets, they rush to the treat counter and receive - a dum dum and three tootsie rolls. Ten dollars of tokens for ten cents of candy, sounds reasonable.

The kids had a wonderful time at Fun Park and Stockton was adorable for his birthday party.

I'm almost finished with an entire week of perfect eating. Seriously - five-six small meals or snacks, lots of water, no treats. Can you believe it? My question is this: If I stay up until midnight, can I officially count it as Sunday and have a slice of birthday cake or is that pathetic? Please tell me to go to bed and dream of chocolate rather than wear it on my abdomen.

Sorry for the rambling post tonight - it's late and my honey is watching the Jazz game. I needed someone to talk to. I've got a better chance of a response from one of you tonight.

Here's Monday's workout.

Warm-up and cardio - 5-25 minutes
We're going to do the exercises in pairs. Do one set of the first, then the second, repeat through two-three times. Ten to twelve reps on each set.
Lunge onto a step - Dead Lifts
Squats - Hamstring curls
Plies - Calf raises
Walking lunge - step-ups (holding 10-15 lb. weights, step onto a bench or platform)
Step and squat - Glute presses

If you're short on time, it's okay to cut the last two out. Please check the links page of my website - http://www.camichecketts.com for a list of exercise descriptions.

Have a restful Sabbath - Cami

My baby is two. Happy Birthday Stockton Checketts! Can I cry for a minute? The dang kid is so adorable and so much work. He's been giggling all morning at the happy birthday song and screaming, "No," whenever I tell him he's two now. Guess he won't be showing off by telling his age anytime soon. I keep telling Stan we need another baby. He thinks we should wait a few years. Maybe when Stockton isn't dumping cans of baking supplies and dancing in them (yesterday it was the soda, last week cocoa).

If any of you live in Cache Valley you need to go to a couple of garage sales for me tomorrow morning. The first one is at Dave and Shari Willis's - 473 South Main Street in Smithfield - they're raising money for a brother-in-law who has terminal cancer to help pay for his medical bills and help the family.
The second one is at Casey and Jill Drysdale's - 721 West 1000 South (4600 North in the county) - they're raising money for an autism walk and for a nephew who really wants to play in the band.
They will both be great sales. The Willis's will also have baked goods for sale that the 14th ward young woman are making. The Drysdale's will also have a play area with large blowup toys.

I hope you all have an amazing weekend. We're going to a dinner for The Child & Family Support Center tonight so we'll celebrate Stockton's b-day tomorrow. Luckily, he's two and so far has been more excited about the balloon his friend gave him than any of the presents we bought him.

Tomorrow is our long cardio day. I'll have to work hard to burn off all the cake and ice cream. How fun!

Cami Checketts
www.camichecketts.com