Wow -time flies!

So today, I googled my name and images came up and all of a sudden this blog appeared! I had forgotten all about it so here I am today making a quick entry as I feel this will help me figure out my day to day activities and keep track of my life in a nut shell. 

I really hope to keep up with this blog again since I last wrote in it nearly 6 years ago!

I am now approaching 48 years of age in September 2017, but I still feel like I am in my late 20's.  My children are now adults- ages 21 and 19 and my husband is still Brent, although we have has\d our ups and downs through this thing they call "marriage".  I still adore him and we are doing great in our marriage.

I will update more in the future as now it is lunch time. This is a more recent picture of me at 47 years of age (current age).

Planning for the Next 6-12 Weeks

So I began Bootcamp again with Shea Fust http://www.sheafust.com/default.html , and I am now sitting down to write down some goals.  I have also got to do some homework from a great online friend of mine who is doing a neat 12 week program.  Her name is Kimberly and if you want to know more about her program: Here is the link and the questions I will be answering on this Blog to myself.  I must be more authentic to myself!

This week we are talking about your authentic self! This is the basis for everything! The REAL you!



With this week there is some homework as you'll see in the video. Here are the questions to answer for this week:


1. What are your values and beliefs? What do you stand for? List these things out and be real, be honest and put some thought into it.

My values and beliefs in regards to life in general, are to be positive, work hard, love passionately and give 100% in all I do.  I stand for truth, determination, and never giving up (even when I feel down or like I should be giving up!)  As far as becoming the "best Michelle that I can be", I want to be healthy, fit and happy in all areas in my life.  Be a better Mom, Wife, Friend, and overall the best "Michelle" that I am capable of being.

• be more accountable for my workouts
• eat 90% paleo for the next 6 weeks and beyond (allowing for one cheat day a week if necessary)
• be more in tune with my children and their needs
• be more of a support for my husband working in Afghanistan
• contributing economically to our family needs (get a job-which I have!!!!)
• saving money for our future
• spend time with friends
• try new things (will be trying out snowshoeing...thanks Rhonda for lending me yours)
• say positive things to people everyday and smile

2. What do you want to see change in the next 12 weeks or 90 days? Who do you want to be at the end of this?

At the end of 12 weeks, I hope to see the following (of course this list may grow and change as time goes on):

• be able to do 30 men's push-ups in a row
• lose 12-15 pounds of fat and replace it with 5 pounds of muscle
• work on my consulting business and make it work for me
• enjoy important communication between my kids, husband and myself
• Be 100% Paleo style eating
• continue growing and evolving

3. What will it do for you to see these things change? How will it make you feel?


That's it... a short assignment! :)

With the above changes, I will feel strong, more connected to the loved ones in my life and empowered.  It will also broaden my world and those around me.  I will also be more confident than I am now!!!  :)


Now "click here" and watch Week 1 video. And I'll see you again next Monday! We will move on to Goals and Beliefs and do they line up? Below is the motivational video for Week 1 from Kimberly!  Enjoy!


I have been finding so many inspirational pictures on www.pinterest.com  Here 2 that I love:

This one relates to the 12 Week Program and what one could accomplish:

This one relates to the Paleo Lifestyle of Eating that I expressed above:

Have a wonderful day and don't forget to smile and share your positive attitude!

Michelle Gets Hungry!!!

So this blog is about having a down day and getting back up the next day and making sure I have a better day! (So if you have a slip up, it's okay, forgive yourself...figure out what happened and get right back on track!)

Apparently, I was super hungry yesterday (Monday)...I had a good day with eating but after I did a 30 minute run and came home, I got very very hungry!  I still ate healthy foods, however, it appeared that I couldn't get full.  Not sure what that was all about!

This is what I ate yesterday:

• Coffee and Protein Shake for breakie
• Big bowl  and a half of homemade chicken stew for lunch
• Pork Tenderloin and Quinou for supper with zucchini
• 4 pieces of string cheese and an orange (snack)
• A pomegranate
• The remaining portion of Pork tenderloin and quinou

Finally I was full at 8:30 pm and I felt disgusting!!! So skip forward to today....

I am back on track and decided to eat a bigger breakfast so that I am not so hungry for the rest of the day! And guess what?  It worked! I am back on track with great food choices and not over eating.  I do eat healthy on a regular basis, but even overeating good and clean foods can cause weight gain!!  Ha ha, I do realize this!

Now to talk about the amazing and challenging workout we had today.  It was a mixture of cardio and resistance! (But I did a bit of cardio (20 minutes) on my own today at the gym)
I found the resistance exercises such as push ups and wall sits very difficult and the lunges with weights made my legs like jello.  But at the end of the workout, I felt AMAZING!!! There were some darn good "sweat people" left on the walls and mirrors from our sweaty bodies!!!

Whooo hooooo girls...we rocked this workout and Shea once again-THANK YOU!!!

A bit about me :)

Well I thought I would give you a little insight about me, since some of you may not know me at all!

I am 42 years old and the mother of 2 children ages 15 and 13 (a boy and girl).
I am married to a wonderful man who works overseas.
I went to University at the University of Windsor and then to Red River in Winnipeg.
Until I was about 26 years old, I was able to eat anything I wanted to and I weighed 110 lbs...never ever had an issue with weight, but after having my children, I have weighed up to 155 lbs and for me that is a lot on my small frame- I am 5' 4" tall.  My ideal weight would be anywhere from 128-132lbs.  I am currently 136 lbs. (Me on the left when I was 21 years old!)

I totally love to workout and I enjoy challenging myself.  I also love encouraging people to workout and give 100% of themselves to the workout.  I also play soccer year round.  I am currently playing indoor soccer on a co-ed team once a week and in the summer I get out on the field with a co-ed group also. Soccer is my favorite sport and then a close second would be lifting weights and running when the weather is nice.

So here is a hilarious picture of me as Shakira! I want to have a tight body like hers and I plan on doing it.  Want to join me???

I love it....so funny! Hope you will find your passion for working out too! I look forward to knowing you all more in Bootcamp!

Week 1 of Eating Clean is DONE!

First off....I want to give credit to all those people who served our great country of Canada and gave their lives as the ultimate sacrifice so we could be FREE! I have not and will not forget!

On the topic of Eating Clean and Working out, I have to say I passed with flying colours.  I kept all grains out of my diet except for the Quinoa Flour (which is a seed but has grain like qualities)...but I think I will still consider it a seed.  (All in moderation!)

The workouts all week were amazing and I managed to get 5 days of working out in.  Two of the 5 were Bootcamps!  I am loving the energy of the women in the 4:30 pm class and am trying to learn new people's names each class. So if I ask you your name, please tell me, as I really want to know everyone! I love cheering people on in class!!!

I was honoured to receive the Bootcamper of the Week award and I am always so humbled to receive it! (Thanks Shea) I absolutely love working out and challenging myself!  Please add me as a friend on Facebook if you would like to...I love people and encouraging you on your goals too! (Michelle Cudmore-Armstrong) After all we are a great community and with constant support, we will all achieve our goals!!!

Day 1 of Eating Clean and Working out for 6 Weeks

So yesterday I went to Winnipeg with my friend Tanya to the Tosca Reno seminar! There were lots of people from Portage la Prairie there (Cindy, Natalie, Dawne, Dianne, Nicki, Jackie) so I think we will all be following her rules of healthy eating into the future. She looks amazing in person at the age of 52, and I hope to look just as good if not better at her age!

The things that I found out that were news to me (I have most of her books) are the following:

• Quinoa is a seed and is an excellent source of protein


• Get rid of Sugar (it is the devil and can make you look puffy and bloated)


• Look for items in the grocery store that have less than 5 ingredients in them (they are more clean as long as you know what the ingredients are)


• Have ground up Flax seed every day (2-3 table spoons)


• Want to spice up your love life? Add 1 cup of broccoli and little bit of coconut oil to your diet everyday for a week!


• Use coconut oil to cook with when cooking with high heat (it is more heat stable)


• Drink up to 3 litres of water a day and add a pinch of sea salt and a squeeze of lemon juice so that the water will not go through you so quickly


• Sea salt has approximately 90 trace minerals to your body that you require and normal salt has only 2!


• Take 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar 20 minutes prior to 3 meals every day (this will help with your acid in your stomach and can help you digest your food better plus it is shown to aid in weight loss)


• Ensure you chew your food well (approximately 25 times for each bite full) Why? Because some foods actually digest in your mouth and this will help with that process as well as slow your eating down so you will recognize when you are full!


• Finally How do you stay motivated? Take Action and get results. Find your FIRE, PASSION And DETERMINATION!!!

I really enjoyed all the reminders that Tosca shared with us and she is a ball of energy and passion, who lives what she preaches!

So now onward to the next 6 weeks....(I have joined Shea Fust's Bootcamps again)
My Goal
To Eat Clean and get to my "Happy Weight" (click link to find your Happy Weight)
My Happy Weight based on this site is 127.6 lbs...so I am rounding that off to 128 lbs.
My weigh in this morning was 137.5 lbs (my scale is heavy by 1.5 lbs but I am going to list what it actually reports for this blog)
Therefore in the next 6 weeks I will lose 9.5 lbs!

No more stealing Halloween treats and I have definitely given up sugar! I am going to go "clean shopping" and visit our local "Honey Bee" store here in Portage la Prairie. Anyone else want to post their Goals for the next 6 Weeks?

Have a great day and eat clean and move your body! :)

Ever have an emotional yet cathartic day?

Wow today I woke up and I was such a happy person! I felt amazing, positive, full of life and ready to take on the world. I did some Univera work first thing in the morning, ate a nutritious breakfast, spoke to my sweet husband on the phone in Africa...then I logged onto Facebook!

Now don't get me wrong, the day continued to be stellar, but I watched a video that my dear friend Deb had posted on her profile and it literally brought me to tears! It was about giving and how a man is helping to feed the unloved, mentally disturbed, and poorest people in his country. It was totally amazing and I realized that perhaps, that is what I am supposed to do also! I am supposed to help people...I really want to make a difference in the world! How about you?

So this is what I did today! I called my local Salvation Army and am going to volunteer my services in helping with making Christmas Hampers and then delivering them to the people who require them. I am thinking that this is going to be the beginning of something, wonderful, beautiful and so fulfilling for my heart and the best part is I am getting to help people!

Please watch this video, I dare you to! Blessings to you all!
http://www.facebook.com/michelle.cudmorearmstrong#!/video/video.php?v=464334032902&oid=305516332017&comments