FitMommas

Movin' on Up!

2010-01-04T15:39:00.000-06:00

Hey, FitMommas, the blog has MOVED! You can find me over at WordPress now at.....

www.FitMommas.com

Thanks a bunch!

Frugal Fitness

2010-01-03T12:38:00.000-06:00

Everyone's fitness goals get tweaked a bit every year, but more and more, my fitness goals have become more than "eat better, get skinnier." This year, I've added another layer to my fitness goals....Getting healthy & fit without breaking the bank.

Oooh, now that's another thing all together! When you factor in gym memberships, decent workout shoes and gear, the higher costs of organic and all natural foods, getting fit and healthy on a budget is tougher than it might seem on the surface.

But when I factor in my individual family circumstances, I gotta bite the budget bullet. Our income has gone down while our expenses have gone up. And while I dabble in some home-based businesses, being a stay home mom of three isn't exactly a lot-of-time-on-your-hands kind of job! So Budget Cutting is our name in these parts!

And I figure I'm not the only Momma trying to figure out how to live like Jillian Michaels on a Sanford & Son income. So in addition to Healthy Family Eating and Increased Family Activity, I'm adding Being Fit & Healthy on a Budget to my list of fitness goals. I'll be on the lookout for sales, deals, freebies that affect us FitMommas, and pass them on to you. I would love any leads you may find out there, too. After all, we are all in this together!

So Happy New Year to all you FitMommas out there, and I look forward to getting and staying fit and healthy with keeping our money in the bank!

End-of-Year Planning

2009-12-18T11:37:00.000-06:00

Right now, is anyone focusing on the Fit & Healthy? Those of you who are awesome beyond belief are. Unfortunately, those of us with normal, crazy lives are still trying to figure out how to keep clean clothes on everyone's back amongst all the shopping, wrapping and *gulp* baking!

One thing you can find time for, tho....
Planning. January is right around the corner. That whole "New Year's Resolution" thing will be looming over you. And the biggest reason that resolutions don't come to fruition is because of a lack of planning.

So think about these things....and come up with some answers?

What are you going to do for exercise? Is it going to involve any new equipment or athletic wear? Last minute Christmas ideas for your family!
When are you going to do it? If this involves waking up earlier than you do now, it would be wise of you to start setting the alarm clock ahead a few minutes each day between now and the first of the year.
How are you going to change your diet? Remember, these are lifestyle changes, not crash diets. Start compiling some healthy recipes to start trying.
What is your daily diet going to look like? Start putting it together now. What are you going to eat for breakfast? Snacks? Lunch? Dinner? Desserts? Write it down, and start putting together grocery lists.
Is your family going to support you? A huge key to success is family involvement. Get working on the above steps, and let your family know you are serious.

Moving forward on these questions now, mid-December, will greatly increase your chances of long-term success come January! The hidden success key here is, of course, the fact that you'll start thinking about these plans NOW, rather than January 1st. You'll be investing your thoughts in getting healthy, and as we all know, life is so often Mind over Matter!

I'd love to hear any ideas you have - as I will be working on my own plans!!

Even a Little Bit

2009-11-04T07:35:00.000-06:00

It has been my plan to get up with my husband at the buttcrack of dawn, take the dog for a good walk/jog, and be back by the time my hubby leaves for work (which is Six AM - very much buttcrack). Of course, I rarely happens, but thanks to the return to standard time, the kiddos have been waking just after 6am, so this morning, I was actually awake before them.

Unfortunately, it wasn't as early as I wanted, but 5:40 is better than nothing. Oh, I laid there thinking, "This isn't even worth the time to put on the clothes." But I snapped that out of my brain after an ugle 30 seconds, got up, put on the clothes, grabbed the iPod, and walked past my confused husband for the shortest workout ever.

I spent 15 minutes walking up and down my street. A small cul-de-sac with only 11 houses on it. Total. Both sides of the street. But I walked, I sucked in that cold air, and felt my lungs burn like the depths of hell. God, it was awesome!

As my hubby pulled away, and I had to head back into the house, I knew it - even a little bit counts. It was totally worth putting on the layers of clothes and tennis shoes. I can take on the day, and it's only 6am.

Cast out the Halloween demons

2009-11-03T11:15:00.002-06:00

Do you still have Halloween Candy sitting around? Then get it out of the house! If throwing it away is too wasteful for you, do what any self-respecting woman would do. Send it to work with your husband. Note I said "Your Husband." Not your work! Because you work there, and taking it with you would be bad, very, very bad!

Send it with hubby, he'll think you're being generous, and the women in his office will all hate you.

Hiatus...again

2009-10-19T16:10:00.002-05:00

Well, I still haven't figured out how to blog regularly while raising this crazy family. We recently has another child join us full time - my 10yo stepdaughter came to live with us full time, and we're still in quite the adjustment period. I have great ideas of what to blog about, but haven't had the opportunity to sit down and write them out.

So, I'm taking a hiatus once again, hopefully will slowly start reblogging ASAP. In the meantime, when will this laundry ever get done? =)

Practicing what I preach

2009-09-28T10:58:00.004-05:00

This morning, challenged everyone with a "So what are you doing today?" To show that I am trying to practice what I preach....

This was a Murphy's Law morning - whatever could go wrong, was going wrong. But I struggled through (to the point of tears welling up in my eyes) and got myself and the boys to the park for Stroller Aerobics with my FitMommas. I struggled through the workout, but in the back of my mind, I could tell ... my body was loving it. And now I feel Fantastic! I don't smell so good, but I feel great!

Eating? Well, I need to work on it. The dog ate my breakfast this morning when my 3yo had a "Mommy, I have to go peepee!" moment. So I've eaten half a piece of dry raisin bread today. Not too great.

Me time? HOping to make it to a free Piloga class that a local church offers tonight at 8pm. If that doesn't happen, then when the boys get to bed and my hubby and 10yo daughter are chillin' on the couch, I'll retreat to the bedroom for a few yoga breaths and stretches.

I can do it! And...so can you!

Just so you see that I try to practice what I preach! LOL!.... this morning, despite the "what can go wrong, will go wrong" theme of the day, I managed to get myself and the boys to stroller aerobics with my FitMommas, and got in a good workout. It was a struggle, but of course, I FEEL GREAT! I need to work ou

Monday - as good a day as any.

2009-09-28T07:36:00.003-05:00

So, what are you doing today? When are you going to move your body? What are you going to fuel your body with? How are you going to take time for yourself?

Every single day...Move Your Body. Nourish Your Body. Take Time to Relax.

It should be easy, but it's not. We're trained as moms to take care of everyone else. But how can you possibly take care of others if you're barely hanging on by a string.

So figure it out...wake up earlier. Take time during their naps. Take a family walk. Keep driving past the fast food, and bring healthy snacks with you. Ask the hubby to take the kids for 15 minutes while you do some deep breathing and stretches in the bedroom.

You can do this. So can I. Today is as good a day as any to change the priorities in your life!

How to Raise a Healthy Eater

2009-09-25T08:17:00.004-05:00

Keep healthy, fresh foods within easy reach of your young ones, keep the not-so-great stuff either out of the house, or out of hands reach!

My 9 month old, sneaking an apple from the fridge while I put groceries away.

Wednesday Funny

2009-09-23T13:09:00.002-05:00

Sometimes the best medicine is laughter. Got this from my Momma this week....

Last night, my kids and I were sitting in the living room and I said to them,

'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and

fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.'

They got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine.

They’re such asses ...

Monday, Monday

2009-09-21T14:56:00.002-05:00

Monday is always the day of beginnings. Who starts a diet/workout program/new job, etc. on a Saturday or Friday? No, Monday is the universal day to embark on new endeavors. So I began today like I do every Monday.

"This is it. I'm going to get up, work out, I'm going to eat healthy, here's my plan - OK, break!"

And, for the most part, the day has been going great. Until about an hour ago. I got up, had a piece of whole wheat toast, I worked out. After the chiropractor put my neck back on straight, I came home to another awesome multi-layered wrap that I am so in love with, drank lots of water, and some coffee to keep the caffeine demons at bay.

And then....a box of cheap-o mac-n-cheese was pulled out of the pantry, and I had three kids all begging me for some highly-processed cheesey pasta. And for reasons I cannot explain, I used all the butter the recipe called for, and then rather than using my skim milk, I used the baby's whole milk. Holy crap, that was the best mac-n-cheese I've ever had, but really - Why, Why, Why!?

I shall go drink a liter of water to cleanse my eating sins....

FOOD! Why must you taunt me?

2009-09-20T10:47:00.003-05:00

It seems that while I am doing good on getting back to the workout groove, my eating habits are still sucking. Big time. I seem to have lost all self-control. Last week, I ate a box of Snickers ice cream bars all by myself. In two days. I should issue the disclaimer that I was pre-menstrual, but I think that's a pretty big cop-out - especially since I didn't stop there. I ate half a container of Bryer's Chocolate Chip ice cream as well. Plus half a bag of chocolate chips (just plain ol' semi-sweet chocolate chips.)

What is up with me? What's my deal? Why can't I enjoy the goodness of healthy food, and chill out on the forever-on-the-hips snackies? Because, trust me, I appreciate the yummies of healthy foods. The only bright spot in my diet these past few weeks has been my new-found love of the wrap. Whole wheat wraps, seasoned hummus spreads, lean deli meats, lots of veggies - like carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, avocados - topped with sunflower seeds and/or wheat germ. Incredibly good for you and yummy. And then I stuff my face on fat and sugar.

So this is my challenge right now. All the workouts in the world can't counter the high-calories I've been consuming. Will keep you all updated on this latest turn of events!

So, whaddya waitin' for?

2009-08-06T09:55:00.007-05:00

So I am officially back in the game, and it's kicking my ass. But let's be clear....I Feel Great!

Last week, I had a mini-mental-breakdown. I am a co-founder of FitMommas of St. Peters. I started this FitMommas blog. I have helped others overcome their obstacles and given them support on their journey to be fit & healthy on a daily basis.

And yet...I have struggled.

Confession Time: I have not worked out on a daily basis since before Piglet was conceived - and he's now 8 months old! Yes, I agree that some movement is better than no movement - I do lots of housework, gardening (for reasons that elude me, I kill everything!), laundry up and down the basement stairs, dancing with the kids, etc. But no doubt, if I want to get back to my fightin' weight, I need to do true cardio, strength training and stretching to get there.

So last week, it all hit me, and I decided to swallow my pride and confide in a couple FitMomma friends. It was hard. Repeat - This Was Hard! Admitting, to yourself and to others, that you're failing at something is hard to do. And when you're supposed to be a somewhat expert at that something, it's even harder to admit. First step is always the hardest, and my first step was enlisting outside help. If I couldn't be accountable to myself, I was going to have to make myself be accountable to others. And not just one person, I chose THREE people, all of whom are regular FitMommas, and I could count on each of them to be there for me.

That was just the first step, the next step was actually getting out! We leave on vacation tomorrow, and then we have a playdate at our house that week after, and the next thing I knew, I was putting off starting for another three weeks. And one of my Confidants said, "So what are you waiting for?" Wow, did that strike a nerve. What the hell was I waiting for? For everything to be perfect? For all the stars to be aligned? It's a variation on the Nike "Just Do It" slogan, but without a doubt FitMomma Melissa B's mantra "So whaddya waitin' for?" is my new mantra.

So how am I doing? Well, I have attended Stroller Aerobics Monday and Wednesday of this week. And it sucked! Wow, am I out of shape! As much pride as I had to swallow to call my three Confidants, the pride I am swallowing while working out amongst the FitMommas is even greater! I'm huffing and puffing. I can't do all the reps. I'm walking when everyone is still running. I'm coming in last.

But I am doing it! And I'm going to get up and do it again tomorrow! And I'll take my week's vacation, and I may workout, I may not, but sure as the giggle in my thighs, I will be back working out with the FitMommas when I get back.

Even better? Every single FitMomma has welcomed me back with open arms. No snide comments about "Where ya been?" Just "So glad you're back!" (Uh-oh, my eyes are filling up with tears!) I love these women, they are amazing. I'll talk more later about having support, but right now, let me state for the record that this group of FitMommas that has come together is with me through thick & thin, laughter & tears, muscles & flab. I could not ask for a better group of friends.

So, I ask you....Whaddya waitin' for?

Where do FitBabies come from?

2009-07-06T14:09:00.004-05:00

First off, let's just get it out there that I'm STILL struggling. Very much, every single day. While I continue to drop a pound or two, I have not been this chubby-wubby since the summer after my first son was born. I only have about 12 pounds to go, but I am all flab. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

I do get lots of movement from gardening and cleaning, but my second son is now seven months old, so at this point, it's time for me to get my groove back. Seven months is when I hit the "I don't want to be fat anymore!" wall with my first son, a few of my Playgroup mommas got together and started walking the mall three days a week - hence the start of FitMommas of St. Peters. Granted, two is totally different than one, Piglet has a different nap schedule than Lil' Boo had - actually, Lil' Boo was just a bit more pliable! LOL! Piglet likes his routine.

However, while I struggle with getting back into my FitMomma glory, I am embracing Fitness where I can. So let's turn to my babies! Where to FitBabies come from? Why, FitMommas, of course. To help get my kiddos off to a good eating start, I make my own baby food. Let's be clear, I always have a stash of store-bought food, because life with two kids is crazy. But making your own baby food is not only easy, it's super-duper cheap, AND you can tailor your babies diet to his or her exact needs. This morning, I made some apples and pears - and then some Pear-Applesauce. No added sugars, no preservatives. Just peel & slice; steam (my preferred choice is in the microwave, puree with water, and you have tons of healthy food for baby.

And storage is easy-peasy, too. One reason I like to buy store-bought food is for the containers - I keep them, and them fill them up with my homemade goodies. Another great trick is to fill ice cube trays with your concoctions, freeze, and then you have ready-to-go, single servings of goodies at your disposal. And, if you're thinking that apples and pears can get old, check out my favorite site for making your own baby food - Wholesome Baby Food. It is The go-to site for all things healthy for baby.

Once you get a feel for this site, you'll realize that what you can make for your baby is limited only by your imagination. So get creative, and let's make some FitBabies!

Chew On This!

2009-06-08T07:25:00.003-05:00

Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you've had a few good weeks, been crazy as usual around here.

Let's get honest, I have not worked out. The only movement I've been getting are my fake-out workouts, but right now....that seems to be all I got. It seem that the crankiness that is my 6 month old can be attributed to a series of ear infections. That does actually make me feel incredibly happy, because now I know there is a source to the nighttime wake-ups, difficulty to get to sleep, cranky playtimes. Certainly better than the knowledge that your kid is just a first class crabass!

Given all that, sleep has been a bit on the low side lately, and my eating habits are in the toilet. Carb central, little fruits or veggies, and these past two weeks we had my stepdaughter staying with us the whole time - Sugar Monster! But one good health thing that came out of her visit was the reinstitution of...gum.

Yes, Gum!

I had forgotten how glorious gum can be to cut out a nasty sweet tooth or chocolate craving. In fact, gum should be your new best friend, I don't care how much you love your Bunco group. Every time the urge to binge hits, wait as long as you can, and if it's still there...pop in a stick o' gum! Personally, I'm Big Red or Juicy Fruit kind of gal, which isn't the best for the teeth, but this is not a discussion on dental hygiene just yet! Trident or Extra would be a GREAT choice, tons of flavors to choose from. Gum does have calories, but not near the extent of an entire chocolate bar, bag of chips or pint of ice cream. It's all about checks and balances here, ladies!

So my dear Izzy B has headed back to her mom's for a few weeks, and I can try to get my "good food" brain working again, but in the meantime, I am strategically placing packs of gum in the house and car!

And here's to a great week to everyone!

Made-Up Workout #63

2009-05-20T08:11:00.003-05:00

So us busy moms really need to find movement wherever we can get it. Make no mistake, the best way to maintain physical and mental health is regular high-intensity cardio and strength training. But any FitMomma, especially those with infants in the house, knows that's not always easy to get during the day - especially when certain Piglets start fussing at 5am in the morning, and continue off and on until awake for good at 7am. Bring on the coffee!

But I digress....So a friend reminded me today of yet another pseudo-workout in our midst! Grocery shopping! Have you ever taken two kids to a grocery store and not felt like you were training for a marathon? So put a little more effort into it, and by all means log this as workout time.

Tips for making a trip to the store into more:

Go armed with a well organized shopping list - you are multi-tasking!
Don't stroll the aisles, move it! Just beware of the other zombie moms and avoid running over small children.
See that bar in front of you, otherwise known as the cart handle? Use it! Calf raises, squats, lunges - all done easily with the support of the cart. Fine with me if you opt to do this down that aisle with the random household items that no one ever visits.
Make hard to reach items count - lunge, stretch, tighten the abs and buns as you reach for the Dijon on the top shelf, or heave a pallet of water from the bottom shelf. Just use your legs and keep the abs tight to avoid back injury.
Take advantage of bagging it yourself. Don't rely on the zitty teen to do all the work; bag your own stuff, load your own cart and take your own groceries out to the MomMobile.
Take the kids - right there, you've added wrestling, marathoning, and strength training to the mix. Not to mention building your endurance because your shopping trip just became twice as long.
OR - leave the kids at home, and go all-out-freak exercise in the store. Speed walk, full-on lunges and squats, plus you can slip on your iPod for musical inspiration. Not to mention it'll take half the time!

The Plague...Not so much Swine Flu

2009-05-13T11:19:00.002-05:00

Ugh, apologies for the absenteeism. The Plague has descended upon our house. Translation: Spring colds, mixed with severe hayfever, suck!

All four of us are sick in the house. Only the dog has been spared. Hacking cough, throbbing stuffy/runny head. Good Times. I have managed to get in a few squats here and there, but not sure it's counting for much.

Know what the kicker is? I managed to stay healthy All Winter long! I should give a Shout Out to the makers of Zicam for that minor miracle! I swear by it, but this time, I just thought it was the allergies kicking my butt, and by the time I realized it was something more, it was too late. And too late for the family, too - poor babies!

Anyway, I'm working on a new routine/schedule. I've decided to cancel my gym membership, because it's not getting used, Ryan's nap schedule really keeps me from being able to use it, and I've lost the weight TWICE without one, so I know I can do it again! I just need to find a regular yoga thing to keep me going. Thoughts?

The Angry Side of Postpartum Depression

2009-05-04T15:08:00.003-05:00

Postpartum Depression. Ok, so what's going through your head?

A mom in her raggedy pajamas, hair's a mess, weepy, puffy eyes, can't get off the couch. Pretty close? That's what I always thought, too.

But let me give you another picture. Happy mom. Gettin' stuff done. Then baby starts crying. Toddler throws a fit. The phone rings. The dog needs out. Hubby home in a few minutes. Dinner's not started. Doorbell rings. The tension builds so fast and furious, and your body starts to feel the weight, your shoulders sink, a tingling anxiety flows across you and you Snap. Scream, out loud, if someone was in your reach, you may very well strangle them. You pound your fist into the air, wishing you could deck someone, and you hate your children, your husband, your house, the dog, the phone, the doorbell. All within a few very scary seconds. Then the guilt sinks in - you're a terrible mother, you can't do this job, you aren't able to handle it, no mother should ever feel this way, you want to run away, head hanging in shame. Your family deserves better.

That is how I was feeling.

The problem was that I woke up each day, promising myself I would not snap. Not today, today will be a good day. I am a mind over matter kind of gal, a "no makes you feel anything you don't want to" proponent. Be responsible for your feelings and actions, and it's all about the power of positive thinking! So what the hell was wrong with me!

Turns out I had/have Postpartum Depression, and it is nothing to scoff at. Two times in the week before my doctor's appointment, I actually felt the urge to hurt my baby. Out of anger. (At the time, he had a stomach virus, and it was a worse than usual week.) I ripped my husband's head off out of nowhere. I screamed at my 2 1/2 year old. For being a 2 1/2 year old.

I thought maybe my hormones might be out of whack a bit, but honestly, I thought it was something I could overcome, that I would snap out of it. And that's what I was thinking when I went to my doctor, for my annual exam, and casually mentioned how I was feeling at the end of the visit. No one is as surprised as I am to realize what was really going on. I can guarantee that I would not have called my doctor because I didn't think anything was medically wrong with me.

I have opted to go on Lexapro, an anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication. This is serious stuff. My doctor also advocated lots of exercise, nutritious diet, and getting out for some sunshine. I have follow up visit with her to make sure that I am doing OK, and hopefully this will be a three month or so treatment.

At first, this wasn't something I was sure I should share...with the entire world! But the more I research, the more I confide in friends and family and playgroup members, the more I realize that this is not discussed. No one likes to talk about the weepy side of depression, but when PPD is anger and rage, moms are incredibly ashamed to admit those feelings. Moms are sweet, nurturing, do everything right, know it all, are the angels that watch over tomorrow's leaders. What kind of mother yells at her kids; has feelings of hurting her loved ones; feels an unnatural rage over everyday occurrences? From what I've learned in the past month - many moms. Everyday moms. Working moms. Stay home moms. Funny moms. Loving moms.

So let's talk about this. Let's be healthy. Let's cut ourselves some slack. Let's acknowledge the incredibly hard job we have as mothers in today's world. And if you are reading this and hear yourself saying "Oh, my, I feel that way, too," then you owe it to yourself to do something about it. I'm not going to tell you to go on drugs! BUT...I will tell you to call your doctor. Call your OB. Describe how you're feeling. I don't care if your "baby" is two years old! Find a friend, a neighbor, an aunt or mom. Share your feelings. You are not alone!

Between the medication and talking with good friends and family, I am a new person today. Life is still stressful, 15 things still hit me at one time. But I don't feel like I'm going to scream. A little voice inside tells me I can do this, that I will be OK. I am calmer. I am happier. And I am a better mom for it. And now that I see the clouds starting to lift, my next goal is not just to add in more movement in my day, but really step up my exercise. Get those endorphins pumping, get some sunlight, and start to feel better, naturally!

Sunny, Sunny Day

2009-04-17T12:07:00.002-05:00

This has been one tough week, but I could not ask for anything better than the sunny, warm day we have here in The Lou today. I know parts of the country are seeing thunderstorms and snow storms. But if you are blessed enough to have a sunny day, get outside. Take a walk at lunch. Get up from the computer, shut off the TV and bask in the warm glow of a beautiful Spring in bloom!

Three Months in Hell

2009-04-14T14:06:00.003-05:00

I follow MomLogic on Twitter - and I came across this article this morning.

How many of you have been here?

Isn't it nice to hear the truth every once in awhile?

And how blessed you are if you have no idea what this article is talking about!

Operation Candy Removal

2009-04-13T08:34:00.002-05:00

Hey, everyone! Hope that you had a fabulous Easter weekend, and no doubt you are sitting in your house/office right now, reading this, in somewhat of a sugar coma. Just how many peanut M&M's, chocolate eggs and rabbit ears did you eat this weekend?

Well, no worries, don't fret. What happened, happened, and dwelling on it won't help. Because it is certainly no reason to fall completely off the wagon and give up!

So right now, collect all the remaining candy in your house. Bag it up, and decide where it's going: your husband's work (not your own, that defeats the purpose!); your Nana's nursing home; your child's school; your church's office; your doctor's office; your neighbor who couldn't visit with family this past weekend. Heck, even your local shelter and food pantry would gladly accept your donation! The point is to remove it from your surroundings, and use the opportunity to also share some Easter love with your community.

If you have kids who will be devastated if all the candy disappears today, pull a select few of their favorites our for them to enjoy throughout this week. But by this weekend, really, Easter candy should be a distant memory!

And then go enjoy a nice salad today, be grateful for your health and enjoy your day!

Momma's Dirty Little Secret #57

2009-04-09T15:16:00.003-05:00

Us Moms have a million little secrets - from the good, the bad and the ugly. Secrets we'd gladly share, secrets we'd gladly kill to keep quiet! Let me share one with you today.

I am a stay home mom. No, that is not the secret. The secret is the Power Mom I become between the hours of 3-4pm. I'm like Jack Bauer on 24 - the following takes place between three and four p.m. I become crazy woman. I can complete more tasks in that one hour than I seem capable the entire rest of the day.

Why that hour?

Because my husband gets home around 4:15.

Ah, is it becoming clearer?

Here's the deal - a good FitMomma would rise before the sun, work out, and have accomplished half her to-do list before the children rise, thanks to all the energy she received from her workout and no-doubt low calorie, high energy breakfast she ate.

This mom, with her 4 month old, plus almost-three year old, still hasn't gotten back to that point, so I am still sleeping when the first one wakes up; I'm barely covering my body parts when I stumble into the bedroom, and frequently forget even to pee before I begin my day. This does not create good momentum.

By the time 3pm arrives, I realize that I haven't done half, or even most, of what I wanted to, so I begin the "I better earn my keep" mode of Mommyhood. Power Mom. I can pick up toys at neckbreak speed; I can fold four loads of laundry in less than five minutes; I can wipe down all the counters, put away all the papers, sweep the floor, etc. with the grace of a gazelle. In fact, I'm moving so fast and furious, a little sweat will break out, the heart is racing, and talk about legs! Lunging and squatting like a mad woman!

And that's why at around 4pm, I stop, and clean myself up, and then hubby is in awe of all I accomplished in my day, and I look good, too!

Oh, one day, and hopefully one day soon, I'll be back to waking up before the kids, and getting in that early morning workout that fuels me for the day. But for now, at least, I know that I have a workout coming to me, no matter what!

Getting Honest

2009-04-08T11:39:00.005-05:00

Who saw Oprah's show on moms on Monday? There was a ton of good stuff, but thing that struck the biggest chord with me was....how moms need to get honest with each other! Because we so are not! At least, most of us aren't. I have tried to be, and found that it's is often met with great resistance.

Last year, on my personal blog, I spoke briefly about my marital problems with my husband. While most of my friends and family reached out, there were a few that either kept their silence or even told me I should keep those things to myself. And it amazes me how many conversations I have or blogs I read where life seems to be perfect for that person, but later on, through the grapevine or a small personal encounter, you find that things are not that way.

WHY? Why do we lie to ourselves and to each other? This job sucks on many days. I mean, it's the most rewarding job out there, because nothing matches the unconditional love of your children. But the day in and day out of being a mom is harder than hell! Throw in bills, mortgage, marriage, family, and it's a surprise we don't all have a future at the Betty Ford Clinic.

So if you wanna be a FitMomma, I'd say first things first is to get honest. Being a Momma is hard. Being a FitMomma is harder yet! It's a hell of a lot easier to buy cheap, crap food, and sit on the couch each day when you're exhausted already. Of course, any FitMomma knows that the best way to get energy to deal with your Momma life is to eat right and move that body!

Now, let's clarify that I'm not condoning complaining all the time! That can be an energy drain - you know those people who never have anything positive to say, their life is always full of woe. Ugh. This is more about being honest when you need help; reaching out to friends and family when you need a shoulder. It's about learning to laugh about the struggles, rather than hide them. Especially in this online world, there is someone close to you who understands what you're going through. They've been there. We are there!

So you ready to look in the mirror and get honest? I'm standing right next to you!

Happy Birthday to the Hubby!

2009-04-07T09:56:00.005-05:00

It's a Birthday Day around these parts today, so we all know what that means. Diet, schmiet!

Actually, there is so much to do to get ready for this evening! Today's workout will be running up and down stairs getting through the laundry, power speed cleaning, running around like a chicken with my head cut off! All so that when Hubby walks through the door, dinner is made, cake is ready, kids are happy and house is perfect. Hey, I can do that One day a year, right?

So what's on the menu tonight? Nothing healthy. But definitely scrumdili-icious. Hubby requested some chicken enchiladas. Now, I'll use multigrain tortillas, and reduced fat cheese. I'll add lots of veggies to the meat mix. But overall, not the healthiest of dinners. I will do some fat free refried beans, and I'm trying out a new recipe for Mexican Rice I found on AllRecipes.com.

But dessert? We're going with the traditional cake and ice cream. This is Hubby's birthday, after all, and while he appreciates my continuing desire to live a fit and healthy life, to him, that does not mean denying those things that we love. And in the end, that's what we're trying to accomplish - how to be fit and healthy, and still enjoy those pleasures that we love. Finding the ....here it comes....Balance!

So I'll let you know how I do tonight. Let my pledge for the day not to Get Stupid around cake and ice cream! And in the meantime, I have some serious house to tackle! Have a great, active day!

New Workout Idea

2009-04-06T08:33:00.005-05:00

I have a great new idea for all of you.....

Take your family out for the day. Go to a park, museum, attraction - say, for example, The Zoo.

Bring the baby stroller.

Load it. Water, snacks, jackets, blankets, hats, books, kitchen sink.

Push said stroller for four hours around the park, museum, attraction.

Make sure you use your legs and not your back!

Watch out for steps!

I dare you not to be sore. I dare you not to feel muscles you had forgotten you had!

Plus, you'll save a ton of money, because you brought your own eats and drinks with you.

Just an idea.

From the Kitchen: Shrimp & Basil Pasta

2009-04-02T20:46:00.004-05:00

Here is one of my favorite recipes - it is not only quick and easy, it's also healthy and yummy in the tummy! You really can't ask for anything better, can you? I got the original recipe from AllRecipes.com, which is one of my favorite sources for recipes. I cannot recommend them enough!

So here's what the fam had for dinner at our place tonight!

Shrimp & Basil Pasta

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 20 min

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil, divided

1 (8oz) package whole wheat angel hair or thin spaghetti

1 large clove garlic

1lb large peeled & deveined shrimp (I buy a bag of frozen shrimp & then thaw - perfect!)

2 (14.5oz) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Bring large pot of water to boil, adding 1 T olive oil. Cook pasta according to package, until al dente.

2. Heat remaining oil in 10 inch skillet over medium heat. Cook garlic, stirring constantly, until garlic is tender, about 1 minute. Do not let garlic burn! Add shrimp, and cook 3 to 5 minutes. Remove shrimp from skillet, and set aside.

3. Stir tomatoes, wine, parsley and basil into skillet. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by half, about 8 to 12 minutes. Add shrimp, and continue cooking until the shrimp are heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve shrimp mixture over pasta, sprinkling with Parmesan cheese.

ENJOY!

How Many Things At Once?

2009-04-01T07:38:00.003-05:00

I've been doing really well with the eating/tasking issue! It does frighten me a bit, tho, how much I have to concentrate on enjoying my food through the day, and resist that urge to get up to do something else while eating. As if I was wasting valuable time by savoring the food! What a commentary on our society! Dinner is not a problem - we all sit down at the table and enjoy our meal together. It's all the eating I do before dinner, which is the most important eating all day!

What I hadn't anticipated this week (because this is life, and there's always something) is that a stomach virus from hell would hit my little one. My not-quite 4 month old has been vomiting and had diarrhea for a week. As in this is Day 7. This was preceded by an ear infection. Now while he has had reflux issues, my little Piglet managed to stay healthy all winter, so these last two weeks - the beginning of Spring! - have blindsided me! Who gets sick Now?!

So between comforting him and the mountains (and I do mean Everest-sized loads) of laundry, my head is spinning. Of course, what I need is a good exercise routine to help with the stress level. But I'm still trying to establish that new routine with a new baby.

I'm feeling...oh....frustrated? Overwhelmed? Helpless, even?

Of course, I know I am none of these things if I don't want to be. Every Single Day will bring its challenges. And our life is not to live without challenges, but how to embrace them and work with them, rather than around them or avoiding them altogether.

So...it's supposed to be mid-60s today. I commit to getting the boys in the double jogger and going for a walk. And if I have to turn around after one block due to pukies or poopies, so be it! At least I got out for a block, right?

Multi-Task This!

2009-03-26T22:24:00.004-05:00

I am apparently known for my ability to do multiple things at the same time. Others seem to think this is a positive thing. I know better.

Throughout the day, I'll stop and realize that I'm starving. I am waiting too long to eat between meals, starving by the time I get around to eating, and then stuffing my face way past the point of full. I know this is not good. I don't need anyone to tell me this. I am well aware that the best way to lose weight and maintain weight is to eat consistently throughout the day, five to six meals. This keeps your metabolism cranking, your blood sugar levels even. I know this!

So what's my problem? My main problem is...multitasking! When you're always doing more than one thing, no one thing is getting my full attention. And that includes eating.

Oh, I'll start getting breakfast together first thing in the morning, but it may be a few hours before the entire meal makes it in my tummy. The baby wakes up, the dog needs let out. The next thing I know, I forgot that I was fixing breakfast, I start folding laundry, then I have to feed a kid, then I remember the bill I forgot to pay online, then I remember the blog I wanted to post a week ago, and so on.

The French don't have this problem, in fact, a woman wrote a book about it. Us Americans try to cram too much stuff into one day, and even eating becomes a task to accomplish. We don't sit and savor our food. We eat standing up, on the run, in the car, or, if you're like me, while surfing the net looking for ideas, answering emails, reading about how to be fit and health. Oh, the friggin' irony!

OK. So here's my self-imposed goal for the next week - sit down and eat. Don't read, don't surf, don't clean the kitchen. Fix my meal, sit down at the dining room table and enjoy my food. I may even find I get more done with a fully nourished body!

My Tongue is Burning!

2009-03-24T18:21:00.003-05:00

We deviated from the normal menu this evening, and ate a ham steak that my MIL brought to us this weekend. I LOVE ham, though rarely eat it, given it's high fat, sodium, processed-ness. But I made a veggie medley to go with it, and thought "Yeah, treat time!" I also stupidly opted to cook an Uncle Ben's Country Inn Broccoli Rice Au Gratin rice mix. I apparently had a lobotomy for an afternoon snack.

So I proceeded to devour half the ham steak, plus a serving of the rice. My tongue is actually burning a bit right now. That can't be good. I have naturally low blood pressure, but I'm starting to think I probably shouldn't have gone willy nilly on an overly-salted slab o' pig.

Just out of curiosity, I decided to check out the Nutrition Facts label (it's your best friend, ya know!). Holy Crap in handbasket. A 3oz serving has 950mg of salt. That's 40% of your total daily value. In three ounces. I would say I easily had 8oz, so two and a half times that. Is A Lot Of Sodium.

The Rice? One serving (which is about what I had) has 850mg of Sodium.

I easily just consumed well over 3000mg of salt. In about 20 minutes or so. No wonder my tongue is burning. I better go drink about a gallon of water to try to thin my blood of its sodium content.

Oh, and in worse news? There was 14 grams of fat (4.5 grams of Saturated Fat!), per 3 oz serving, in that ham steak. That's just the ham steak. So not only is my blood screaming, my ass ain't far behind it. I hang my head in shame!

Who needs two guys and a truck?

2009-03-24T08:25:00.003-05:00

Thanks to having kids and a dog, our carpet is awful. Really, any health buff knows that the best way to do flooring in your home is to go bare - hardwood, laminate, tile, anything but carpet! Carpet harbors the dirt, dust, mites, bacteria, etc. that can bring on a multitude of sickies for the family. However, we're in the midst of a basement finishing project, so redoing our upstairs flooring will just have to wait. Next year maybe?

However, we still have that dog and three kids. So today, the carpet is getting cleaned! I'm getting ready to put my favorite "Don't F*** With Mr. Zero" shirt on, and get moving on some furniture (anyone get that pop culture reference? Anyone??). So this is my workout of the day. Hauling crap in and out of rooms. Should be a good time. I can hear my dad - Life with your legs!

To get ready, I'm now sitting down to my favorite breakfast - 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, 5-6 sliced strawberries, and a ginormous cup of coffee. Them's good stuff!

Two kids = Time suck

2009-03-16T13:04:00.004-05:00

I'm slowly realizing that the addition of one more person in the house has an exponential affect on my time. I find myself doing ten things at one time, never having the focus to finish any one item. Lil Boo needs me, Piglet's crying, BoxerGirl needs outside, the laundry's buzzing, my stomach is growling. All at the same time.

So the greater question is, then, what can I do about. Well, nothing, right? I mean, this is what I signed up for when I became a mom. And it's intensified by my choice to stay home, as this is my life 24/7. It's presumed that if you stay home, you have all the time in the world to clean, organize, grocery shop. Instead, it feels like there's less time, because I'm constantly just behind the tornado, and I never get a solid break. And I mean *break*! A few hours block of time! 15 minutes here, 45 minutes there is not enough to truly accomplish some of the larger tasks.

So it goes without saying that I am still struggling to find dedicated blocks of time to work out. I started back with STroller Aerobics, then the time change hit, and my kids are all over the place in the morning! If Lil Boo doesn't wake up at 6am, it's 9am instead! One day last week, it was 10:30! Tough to make that 9am class when your little ones are still asleep - and it is not an option to wake them!

And my blog is getting neglected, but I think that's because of my perfectionism. I feel like if my posts aren't meaningful and thought out, they have no use being here. That's something I need to get over.

So here I am. Monday. Mid-March. Still struggling to figure out our new routine with baby #2. At least I am standing while typing this - doing squats along the way!

25 Tips for a Better Life - 2009

2009-02-26T11:54:00.002-06:00

I got this in my email from my good friend, Jane, today. Love It! May you find some inspiration for today!

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, salmon, broccoli and almonds.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9 Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. Forward this to the ones you care about the most. I did.

Responsibility & Accountability

2009-02-04T15:45:00.002-06:00

So who else is a fan of The Biggest Loser? I know it's not just me, the show is pretty amazing. For all the reality crap out there, here is a show to actually find inspiration! Not to mention useful tips and helpful information. And last night, I found profound insight in a contestant named Joelle.

If you've been watching, you already know where I'm going. Joelle was/is a terrible contestant. She always had an excuse, didn't give it her all, and definitely hung her partner out to dry. But she also demonstrates key factors in being fit and healthy - Responsibility and Accountability.

It goes without saying that the people who are going to succeed in achieving their goals are the ones who are going to give it 110%. But I also think it's important to note that the people who will have the greatest overall success - short term and long term - are those who take responsibility for their actions, and hold themselves accountable for their results.

If you aren't reaching the small goals you're setting for yourself, look inward first. Be honest with yourself.

Where are you faltering?

Are you claiming to be working out two hours a day, but aren't really giving it your all?

Are you advocating a strict diet plan, but find yourself sneaking a handful of chips or sips of soda on the side?

Then be up front with yourself. And others. Take accountability. Fall off the wagon, admit what happened and then get back on again. When you face the truth and face reality, you will get exactly where you want to be. When you lie to yourself or fudge the results, you'll feel shame and disappointment (consciously or subconsciously) - and that can never turn out good in the end.

In the meantime, who else is dying to see the finale now? Should we start taking bets as to who - Joelle or Carla - will kick ass and take names?

How to Become a Yoga Momma

2009-02-02T09:52:00.004-06:00

Over the course of this blog, you'll all find out that I truly believe Yoga to be the single best thing anyone can do for their bodies. You can burn calories, increase flexibility, strengthen muscles and find restorative relaxation - all in one exercise routine!

Really, there are so many benefits of yoga, it's tough to know where to start. I found this nursing blog in which Alisa Miller gives us 77 Surprising Health Benefits of Yoga. I'll discuss my personal reasons for loving yoga in subsequent posts, but for right now, if you've ever wonder what the hullaballoo was around yoga, Ms. Miller's list is a good place to start.

And this weekend, I was turned on to this website from my awesome FitMomma friend, Tracy. It's Yoga Journal's Poses section - where you an browse various yoga poses. Selecting one pose, it will give you step-by-step instructions on how to do the pose; what body parts are being worked; the overall benefits; beginner's tips and advanced steps; as well as related poses, so you can put a series together. I also love that they include the "real" name of the poses, so those Yogi wanna-bes like myself can learn the language of yoga!

So find a pose or two that inspires you, and start a yoga practice today. You can't go wrong with a Mountain Post into a Downward-Facing Dog into a Child's Pose, if you're looking for a place to start. And your kids will enjoy it, too!

Keep On Rockin' Me, Baby

2009-01-22T08:56:00.002-06:00

No, this is not an homage to my favorite Space Cowboy. Or Gangster of Love. Or Maurice. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, you are obviously much younger than I am!) This post is about yet another way you can incorporate moving your body while taking care of your kids. As the Momma of a 7 week old baby, I frequently find myself rocking or swaying in some manner to soothe him. And in the process, I have found a killer ab workout!

Long story short, Piglet is sleeping in our room, in the bassinet, where we have a chaise lounge - as opposed to the nursery, with the crib, and rocking chair. And it is not easy to rock in a straight-backed chaise lounge! So I have taken to sitting on the edge of my bed, with feet up resting on the lounge, and rocking my body back and forth while holding Piglet. Keeping my back straight and abs firm, I can knock out a pretty decent ab workout, while soothing my little one! And this works on any flat surface, really. I sat on the edge of the coffee table and accomplished the same thing.

Also, there's the swaying (if you are familiar with Happiest Baby on the Block, you know what I'm talking about!). With baby swaddled and nestled in my arms, I can sway back and forth, easing his fussiness. If I tighten my legs and buns, along with firm abs, I turn this Momma and Baby time into another mini workout.

And while I can't be sure, I swear that the more I hold my growing bundle of joy, the firmer my arms will be! Is it me, or do your biceps and forearms start to burn after awhile? Let's go with the positive thinking on this, and say "Yes!"

Anyone else have any other Rockin' Baby moves?

The Inauguration...and Your Health?

2009-01-20T09:32:00.003-06:00

What the heck does today's inauguration have to do with your personal health? Well, stop and listen for a second. Do you hear that? The buzz? It's the buzz of hope and inspiration, the buzz of what is possible in the new world today. Whether you voted for the guy or not, the election of the first black man in our nation's history is a monumental moment (and really, he's only considered black because he's not 100% white!). We are still a segregated people, though now it's by choice and not law - how many times do I have to hear from my fellow suburban moms that they don't like going a certain place because it's so "dark?"

What today shows us is that anything is, in fact, possible. People who have never cared about the political process are feeling the call to action, reaching out in their communities, to their friends, their families and asking - how can I help you? We are in this together. No one man can do much to change - it's the inspiration he gives others to make their own changes.

And inspiration and hope and feelings of the general good are without a doubt essential to your overall health. You can be fit as a fiddle, eat perfectly 100% of the time, but if you are filled with hatred or despair, you have a long way to go before you can consider yourself fit and healthy. Your health is the sum of your body and your mind - so feed your mind today and feel the hope and inspiration buzzing around this country.

Figure out what inspires you - what can You do to make yourself, your family, your community a better place. It can be as simple as putting on a smile and being respectful and kind to your neighbors at the grocery store. Write a letter to one of our troops serving overseas. Clean out a bedroom or a closet and donate those items to your local church or Goodwill. Find your favorite charity, give them a call, and find out how you can volunteer - in time or money or both! There are any number of things that you can do, and all of them will feed your mental health.

This is a new day, indeed. Get out and make your mark Today!

Working Out However You Can

2009-01-19T09:23:00.004-06:00

The past week has shown me that working out as a new mom is next to impossible. So I've been redefining what a workout is!

Let's see....

I took extra time to walk up and down the steps to the laundry room, squeezing buns and abs one trip, running up the next time.

I did jumping jacks in the kitchen as I was making dinner.

I got the soccer ball out with my 2 year old and kicked it around the yard for about 30 minutes while it was semi-warm over the weekend.

I lifted my newborn up and down over my head.

No actual workouts - between sleepless nights, feedings every 3 hours, running after (and trying to control) a two year old, those don't really seem to fit in right now! But every little bit helps, right?!

More is Not Always Better

2009-01-15T08:39:00.005-06:00

Every blue moon, I catch The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, and this week, I caught a segment on dieting. Mike and Juliet reported that on Monday, the National Center for Health released new numbers on the health of Americans, and the numbers are not good!

There are now more obese people in this country than there are just plain overweight people! Yikes!! 34% of the population is obese - that's 72 million obese people in this country! Overweight people make up 33% of Americans, and 33% are of average/normal body mass. Isn't it amazing how a society as obsessed with looking good can be so freakin' fat?

So what makes you obese versus overweight? Your Body Mass Index - take your weight, divide by your height and square it. 25-30 means you're simply overweight, while 30 and above means you're obese. Very simply, it's all about how much fat you have. Do keep in mind that it is only one number to look at - it's possible that body builders and other muscular athletes might be labeled overweight by their BMI (muscle does weight more than fat). And BMI does not factor in is where your fat is - belly fat is much more dangerous than the awesome butt/hip/thigh fat I have going on. Tis better to be a pear than an apple!

All kidding aside, keep in mind the higher your number, the higher your risk for health problems, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Because it's not just about lookin' cute in a bikini this summer.

Do the GOOP with Gwyneth

2009-01-14T11:48:00.004-06:00

I recently came across a pretty cool, informational website and newsletter called GOOP, the brainchild of Gwyneth Paltrow, she of Shakespeare in Love and Brad Pitt fame. (Yes, that was Snarky.) Granted, she has access to things not available to the Average Suburban Mom like myself, and I have no idea what her tagline, "Nourish the Inner Aspect," is supposed to mean, but I find her site inspiring and she provides little nuggets of interest, such as this month's DO Newsletter.

This little butt move from her trainer, Tracy Anderson, may very well kill you. However, no doubt once I can muster a full round on each leg, my a$$ will be looking killer! And isn't it nice of Gwyneth to share workout tips from a trainer-to-the-stars like Tracy, who is currently on tour with Madge (aka Esther, aka The Material Girl, aka Madonna)?

Not everything Gwyneth discusses is helpful to me, such as next week's newsletter, which promises a list of the best places to eat and stay in NYC. Maybe we can get her to do a segment on the Lou soon. In the meantime, I'll share newsletter segments from her that I find helpful - and I hope you enjoy the GOOP!

A Post-Partum Reality: Where'd My Abs Go?

2009-01-13T08:48:00.004-06:00

We all know that pregnancy does real doozy to women's bodies, but I learned something yesterday at the doctor's office that not only did I not know, it shocked and somewhat freaked me out! It was my six week post-partum follow up visit, and my doc did a neat little trick to see how my stomach muscles were doing. She had me lay down flat on the table, and she placed her fingers over the center of my abs. She then had me lift just my head (chin to chest.) From this, she was able to measure the space between my abs. Because, apparently, your abs don't stretch over your belly, as I had assumed, but actually separate and go to the sides of your belly. (Ewwww!)

So your abs have to come back together and then rebuild their strength. And I still have three solid fingers worth of space between my ab muscles. That translates into: Get movin' on those sit-ups, sister!

That does, of course, make me feel slightly better about the ginormous muffin-top I'm sporting over the top of my jeans. And what us moms all need to remember is that the post-partum period is technically an entire year - so let's give ourselves a break all around, let our hormones get back to normal and let our bodies heal.

In the meantime...I'm all clear to begin working out again, so no excuses! The gym will have to wait, as I'm not ready to expose my newborn to the nursery at the gym (can you say RSV, people?). But crunches and pushups will be my new wake-up routine!

Cesar Millan Whispers Subtle Truths

2009-01-10T18:11:00.008-06:00

As I perused the Parade magazine in the Sunday paper, I came across an article written by Cesar Millan, the famed Dog Whisperer called "What Your Pet Can Teach Yo." I laughed when I read that out loud, and my 9 1/2 year old stepdaughter replied "Uh, Nothing!" She's obviously too young to get the subtle lessons to be learned by a non-speaking four-legged, hairy being, but hopefully you all with find some insight in these lessons from your pooch. The last one, Celebrate Every Day, is definitely my favorite!

Here is the direct link to the article.

And here is the text copied below:

The Dog Whisperer:

What Your Pet Can Teach You

By Cesar Millan

Publication Date: 01/11/2009

I am honored that so many people look to me to help them enjoy more fulfilling relationships with their dogs, but the truth is that the dogs themselves have been my teachers. The most valuable lessons I’ve received have come from animals. Here are some of the ways dogs have helped me become a better, happier, and more-balanced human being.

Live in the moment.

People often wonder how I get such quick results with the dogs I rehabilitate. The answer is simple: Dogs live in the moment. They don’t regret the past or worry about the future. If we can learn to appreciate and focus on what’s happening in the here and now, we’ll experience a richness of living that other members of the animal kingdom enjoy.

Nurture a balanced life.
I tell my clients to follow this simple rule with their dogs: Offer exercise, discipline, and affection every day. Do the same for yourself. We humans are happier if our routines include physical activity, a sense of structure, and the opportunity to give and receive love on a daily basis.

Trust your instincts.
Animals don’t care about words. They recognize that what’s really going on in any interaction is beneath the surface. Many of us have lost touch with this all-important instinctual part of our natures. By paying attention to nonverbal cues such as body language and energy, we can learn more about our friends, our loved ones, and ourselves.

Be direct and consistent in your communication.
Many of my clients only intermittently enforce rules, leaving their pets confused about what is and isn’t acceptable behavior. Great relationships, no matter the species, begin with clear and consistent communication. This is a lesson we should carry into other areas of our lives—with our family, our friends, and at work. Remember: We teach people how to treat us.

Learn to listen.
Make the time to lend an ear to those you love or those who want to transform their lives. But don’t try to fix their problems, and don’t take their problems personally, either. A great leader is also a great follower and knows that everybody counts.

Don’t hold grudges.
There’s a remarkable lack of conflict in dog packs. That’s because members resolve the situation when disagreements arise, then move on. Imagine what our world would be like if we dealt with our conflicts before they escalated out of control. Holding onto negative feelings tends to make them multiply and prevent us from moving forward.

Live with purpose.
When dogs are bored, they develop issues ranging from anxiety to aggression. But when given a job and a way to contribute to the pack’s well-being, they turn around almost immediately. All animals—including humans—have an inborn need to work for food and water. Ask yourself how you can contribute more to your job, your family, and the world around you. You’ll feel much better about yourself if you earn your food and water, too.

Celebrate every day.
For a dog, every morning is Christmas morning. Every walk is the best walk, every meal is the best meal, every game is the best game. We can learn so much by observing the way our pets rejoice in life’s simplest moments. Take time every day to celebrate the many gifts that are hidden in the ordinary events of your own life.

Cesar Millan is the author of “A Member of the Family” and star of the National Geographic Channel’s “Dog Whisperer.”

Oprah and I are Like This

2009-01-09T08:58:00.003-06:00

Who knew I had so much in common with the world's richest woman? Much less the world's richest woman who is also a 200lb black woman from Mississippi? I mean, on the surface, I'm just a semi-skinny, curvy, big-butted white girl from California.

But if you've been watching Oprah's Best Life Week like I have (and I suspect millions upon millions of others) this week, you've been learning what Oprah thinks we all need to live our Best Life. And what has struck me most this week is something she said in the very first installment. Oprah's life needs to be about Balance.

Say what? Cuz if I'm not mistaken, that has been the ongoing theme of my personal blog for the last six months. Family, God, personal time, kids, money, eating, weight, working out - I've been discussing the need to find the balance of all these things in my life so that I can feel content, happy, purposeful.

And there was Oprah, the world's most famous talk show host and more, saying the same dang thing this week (something tells me I won't be getting her pay check anytime this week, tho!).

So I plan on making Balance a main theme of this blog, and I hope it doesn't appear that I've taken that theme straight from my TV screen.

In the meantime, think about those things that are out of balance in your life right now. Look at it two different ways - the balance amongst the roles you play each day (mom, wife, daughter, employee, friend, for example) and the activities you spend your time doing (cleaning, writing, exercising, working, for example). Identify at least five of YOUR roles and activities, I've just given examples.

What do you pour most of your energy into?

What would you like to invest more energy in?

(I got this activity from my MOPS group earlier in the fall - great idea!!)

Right now, let's just identify where our energy is, let's not worry about balancing today. Once you see those things in your life that are sucking all your energy, then you can start to make small changes to give other areas what they need. So let's identify first....

Anywho, I'll be back at ya in a few. Right now, I'm typing as I eat scrambled eggs and wheat toast, with coffee (with some Nesquick and milk added.) Pretty good, decent meal. Even better, my 2 1/2 year old is eating it as well (well, without the coffee!), so that makes me feel good. But I should make one confession: A MOPS mom brought us a meal last night of a very heavy (read: fattening) broccoli, cheese, and potato soup with brownies. Guess what my appetizer was this morning before breakfast? Yep....brownies...

But the soup and brownies were absolutely DeLish!

Welcome Back!

2009-01-06T08:37:00.004-06:00

The FitMommas Blog has reopened for business! I have been on what turned out to be a five month hiatus - not necessarily my intention, but I have good reasons...

1. I was pregnant and have since given birth!

My second child was born December 4th, and I am just now attempting a return to normal life. I'm not quite to the six week recovery mark, but I'm feeling good and know that it's time to ease back into my former workout/healthy eating life!

2. 2009 had more than life's usual stress.

I've had some major disappointments this past year, and one that I dealt with for a large chunk of the year just made it incredibly difficult to discuss living healthy - when I struggled from day to day to even get out of bed. Life deals you blows, and this was one of my first. But time to move on...

3. Daily blogging is hard!

OK, if I was paid to sit here full time and wax poetic about living a fit and healthy life, I'd be all over it. But my full time job is not to sit in front of the TV. It's to raise my kids and run my house. Coming up with thoughtful discussion on health and fitness issues when also dealing with teething toddlers, bills, laundry, etc is not nearly as easy as I expected it to be! Surprisingly, my 2 1/2 year old son can clearly say "Mommy, off the computer!" - and since he is my boss during this time of my life, I do listen to him sometimes!

All this being said, I'm hoping to figure out how to blog somewhat regularly, as was my original intention. I am now the stay home mom of two boys - 2 1/2 and one month old. I'm not exactly sleeping. Eating takes a back burner to changing diapers and wiping tears. But...this is my life, and I can't put everything on hold "until this time passes." Because it will always be something!

So...let's start over again. OK, last March when I got pregnant, I was 135.5 pounds. This morning, I weighed in at 153. Not to sound like I'm copping out, but a week, week and a half ago, I weighed 149.5. So I either packed on some Holiday weight, or I've got some water weight going on. But for the same of argument, let's say my weight is what it is - 153. Hey, all the more weight I can claim to have lost in a few months, right?

As of this morning - I have nothing. No workout plans, no meal plan. But I am going to slowly reintroduce daily workouts and meal planning - putting it all together here on the blog. I have found in the past that I wait to start my plan until it's perfect, stick to it, and then let it go. I'm going to try a different approach. I'll work on the plan, but start today to do the little things to make that daily change. Like the banana I'm eating right now. ;-)

Also, along with blogging about my daily attempts at living fit and healthy, I'd love to find some other bloggers, sites, etc that I can tap into and reciprocate some postings. I'd love to bring fresh content on a daily basis, but realized that developing fresh contact on a daily basis is an altogether different beast. So if you find sites that you love, let me know!

Blog Hiatus and Retooling

2008-07-15T07:10:00.005-05:00

My deepest apologies to my two readers out there!

There's been a significant amount of activity in my personal life, causing much reflection on who I am, who I want to be and where I'm going. Unfortunately, it's just personal enough that I'm not comfortable publically blogging about everything, but it's major enough that I'm rethinking my purpose in this blog, what I want to write about, what's important to me, and what I think may be important to other moms.

So if you're reading this, please don't mind my brief hiatus. I hope to relaunch, with a new focus and new design, in the next few months. Any thoughts, ideas, comments, insights, suggestions would be much appreciated. If I have updates on where this blog may be going, I will post them along the way.

Thanks so much for your patience!

FYI - I'm back at the gym a couple times a week....and LOVING IT!

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

2008-06-25T10:28:00.004-05:00

Life has been taking me for a ride a lot lately, with a cold followed up in less than two weeks with a summertime flu-like virus! But more importantly, I received news that an old college classmate lost his battle with Cystic Fibrosis this past weekend.

Cystic Fibrosis a genetic disease with a life expectancy of only 35 years old. Josh died at a heartbreakingly-young 31 last Friday. Cystic Fibrosis was the charity of choice for our chapter of Delta Sigma Pi in college, as one of the chapter's founders died from the disease; and it is the charity of choice for the Saint Peters Playgroup that I run, as one of our little guys has CF as well. My MOPS mentor from last year has a son with CF who's an amazing 44 years old - thanks to a double lung transplant.

So if you're thinking about it, check out the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - 90% of the charity's donations go towards research, care and education programs, so please consider making a donation today, and write it off your taxes next year. When Josh was born, life expectancy was still in the teens, and thanks to this Foundation, the life expectancy has increased from 32 to 35 years old just since 2000. It's a worthwhile cause that literally saves lives.

Wii Workout

2008-06-16T12:01:00.003-05:00

My MIL purchased a Wii for my stepdaughter and the family has, of course, been playing around with it. I'd heard all about how using a Wii was a workout, and I'm happy to report that it's true!

When you purchase a Wii, it comes with Wii Sports, a game package that includes Tennis, Baseball, Bowling, Golf and Boxing. Holy Crap! Any of these will get your heart rate up if you let it! Boxing especially wore me out. Now, the young kids, you know the 9 and 10 year old gamers, play less dork-like, and just stand there and move the controllers. But us adults, I find, really get into it, using our full bodies to simulate hitting a tennis racket or trying to knock out our spouse. If you're doing it right, you'll find yourself sore the next day!

My two year old son, whom I don't really let play, loves to pretend he's playing, so much so that it's become a morning workout for me. (Which is helpful since I'm still on doctor's rest from Stroller Aerobics.) We do about 45 minutes of Wii, with my son holding a second, unactivated controller, imitating me while I play tennis and baseball. Both of which I'm terrible at, but I keep trying. I'm pretty good at the bowling, though, I bowled a 201 this morning. That has never come close to happening in real life!

So, I strongly recommend that you start putting money aside, and look into investing in a Wii for your family. Wiis are expensive, and if you want to play with a second person, you have to invest in another controller and nunchuck, sold separately, of course. Seriously, we have about $330 in gaming equipment, but if I consider that i'll play it for about 45 minutes each day, I actually get more use out of that than a gym membership! Ha! And if it gets the whole family off the couch, it's ten times better than a gym membership.

And if you already have a Wii, I'd love to hear from you and what your favorite games are! And has anyone tried the new Wii Fit? Could make an already cool machine even cooler!

15 Sneaky Ways to Exercise

2008-06-13T13:24:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Debbie, who shared this on the FitMommas of St. Peters message board today. Great Ideas!

15 Sneaky Ways to Get Fit
By Jillian Rowley

When you're a mom, it's tough to find time to exercise. But with a little creativity, you can squeeze in a workout without overhauling your busy schedule. Don't believe us? Check out these brilliant suggestions.

Stock your trunk
Feel like you spend your life in the car driving your kids from one activity to the next? Try storing a pair of sneakers and a jump rope or resistance bands in the trunk. Next time you find yourself waiting for your daughter's ballet class to let out or your son to finish his piano lesson, you can get in a quickie workout.

Dance every day
Every morning, turn on the stereo and get your kids energized for the day with a 10-minute dance session in your living room. Not only will they love learning how to do the Twist and the Electric Slide, but you'll break a sweat and burn a few calories.

Have the babysitter come early
Having dinner plans means you have even less time for yourself, right? Not always. The next time you and your spouse have a dinner date, ask the sitter to come an hour earlier. While she watches the kids, use the first 30 minutes to exercise and the rest to get gorgeous. Remember, working out before a big meal helps rev up your metabolism and makes you more likely to eat healthier.

Take a walk at naptime
Don't just sack out on the couch while your little one naps in his crib! Once or twice a week, strap him into the stroller instead -- the vibrations from being on the move will help him fall asleep quickly while you take a power walk around the neighborhood.

Ask Dad to run errands
"The key to finding time to exercise is to look at your schedule and find a few tasks that you can assign to your husband," says Julie Morgenstern, a professional organizer and author of Time Management from the Inside Out. "Maybe it's having him pick up the kids from daycare or going to the bank and post office." A good place to start: Every Sunday afternoon, have Dad take your little ones to do the grocery shopping while you hop on the treadmill, go for a jog outside, or head to the local pool to swim some laps.

Plan around playdates
Ask around at your child's preschool and you're bound to find another mom who wishes she had more time to exercise as well. Then set up a playdate schedule: One week, you host the playdate so the other mother can exercise for an hour; the next week, she watches the kids so you can use the time to hit the gym.

Play T-Ball before pizza
If you're like most families, you probably order pizza or Chinese food at least once a week. The next time you're waiting for your food to be delivered, get the whole family outside for a pickup game of touch football, softball, catch, or even tag.

Start a video library
Buy a few inexpensive, 30-minute workout videos to use while your child is napping or right after he goes to bed. To keep costs down, borrow tapes from your local library, see whether your video store has any used videos, or check out sites like half.com, collagevideo.com, and secondspin.com.

Pump some iron
"Women don't realize that just five or 10 minutes of strength training provides enormous benefits to their muscles, boosts their metabolism, and reduces their future risk of osteoporosis," says fitness expert Kathy Smith. Every other night, while you and your family watch television, use 3- or 5-pound weights to do three sets of 10 biceps curls, triceps kickbacks, and chest flies.

Cheer on the move
Don't just sit in the bleachers or on the sidelines during your child's soccer and basketball games. Instead, walk the perimeter of the field or court as many times as possible. If you find it too distracting to walk while you watch, try to slip in some yoga moves while no one's looking.

Use your lunch hour
If you work, make your lunch break your designated time to exercise. "My company has an on-site fitness center, so I try to hit the gym for a 30-minute workout three times a week. On those days, I bring my lunch and eat at my desk," says mom Sara Schmid, of Atlanta. If you don't have a fitness center nearby, keep a pair of sneakers under your desk, grab a coworker, and climb up and down the stairs in your building.

Enlist the kids
Need a fitness buddy? Look no further than your child! Most community YMCAs offer "Mommy and Me" swimming or yoga classes, many big cities have stroller-walking programs, and any yard is big enough for an impromptu obstacle course. "When the swim class I take with my 12-month-old son ends, I hand him to my husband so I can squeeze in 15 minutes' worth of laps," says Lynzi Ziegenhagen, of Baltimore.

Window-shop before you buy
Even if you know exactly what you want, always do two laps of the entire mall before you buy a thing. Not only will you burn calories, but you'll also find out who's having the best sale.

Tone and tighten around the house
Doing little exercise moves throughout your day will leave you with strong, shapely muscles. Try calf raises while you iron, leg lifts when you're washing dishes, and deep squats and lunges as you feed your toddler lunch in his high chair.

Get up earlier
It's true: The morning is often the best time for moms to fit in an uninterrupted workout. Just once a week, set your alarm for 45 minutes earlier so you can ride your bike, practice yoga or Pilates, or go running and start off the day refreshed.

How to Create a Home Gym
We're not talking about spending thousands of dollars on a treadmill and other high-tech gear. "Believe it or not, you can get a full-body workout by buying just a few inexpensive pieces of equipment that you can use in your TV room," says Sue Fleming, director of physical education at Riverdale Country School, in the Bronx, and author of Buff Moms-to-Be. Check out Fleming's suggestions for getting fit on the cheap.

Dumbbells. If you're a beginner, buy 3- and 5-pound sets of weights. Use them to strengthen your arms, chest, back, and shoulders. ($10 to $20)

Resistance bands or elastic tubing. These provide great resistance for leg and arm exercises. ($15 to $25 for a set of several bands)

An exercise step. Use a sturdy, hard plastic step or bench with a slip-proof rubber covering for toning moves like squats and lunges, in addition to heart-pumping cardio workouts. ($25 to $50)

Fitness ball. Strengthen your abs, back, and lower body with the help of this oversize plastic ball. It's also good for safely modifying moves when you're pregnant. ($30)

Copyright © 2006. Reprinted with permission from the November 2006 issue of Parents magazine.
© Copyright 2008 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Chili Dogs without the Heart Attack

2008-06-05T09:25:00.005-05:00

(It has taken two days worth of attempts to get this online! And it hasn't been computer problems, but life problems, like a terrible two year old, and a "honey, I need" husband!)

One of the many struggles to life fit and healthy is giving up all your old favorite standards. Most of us grew up on a typical American diet, which back in the day wasn't as terrible because we moved more and didn't consume quite so much. But today, we're fairly sedentary and have grown accustomed to super-sized portions. And we think we can't eat foods that are traditionally bad for us. So here's a new column feature of how to enjoy old favorites, but a bit healthier than we're used to. By no means am I saying these are healthy meals you should eat everyday! But there are ways to incorporate the tastes of your youth without killing your waistline (or, yourself!)

This week, I was really wanting a chili dog! Talk about a heart attack on a plate! Hot dogs are a hot bed of who-knows-what - anyone remember the Dan Ackroyd/John Candy classic "The Great Outdoors?" I love that movie, and one of my favorite lines is Dan Ackroyd's character's description of what a hot dog is made of. Unfortunately, it's not fit for family reading, but it's not pleasant! And Chili! The only thing that keeps chili from killing you on the spot is that it's loaded with fiber if you're smart enough to eat it with beans.

So how can you enjoy a chili dog without the heart attack? First off, replace your regular funky dogs with turkey dogs. Yes, turkey is now the Great Imitator, being manufactured into some of your favorite foods to offer up a healthier alternative. Now, the quality of turkey dogs varies, and unfortunately, you definitely get what you pay for. No off brands here, buy the good stuff, and you'll be justly rewarded.

Second, (you should know what's coming here), give turkey chili a try! My favorite no-brainer choice here is Chili Man's Turkey Chili with Beans. Found at every major grocery store, and is a significantly healthier choice than most commercially made chilis. And opting for chili with beans gives you more fiber than you'll know what to do with at one time (that's actually a bit of a warning! Drink Up!)

You can forgo the extra carbs by opting to go bunless, but if that's just not cutting it for you, pick up some 100% whole wheat hot dog buns. They make whole wheat hot dog buns, hamburger buns, tortillas, english muffins - at this point, there's no excuse for any refined white flours in your life! Top off your chili dog with some shredded 2% Fat cheddar cheese, and you've got yourself an American classic that won't give you a coronary! Add some baked potato fries and some fruit-flavored water, and you have a satisfying new take on an old classic!

Now, let's be clear - this is not a health-food meal. Hot dogs and chili have various chemicals and fillers, not to mention the sodium. However, this is about reinventing old favorites, so that when you are feeling like you just can't take another grilled chicken salad, you don't find yourself at Sonic, ordering not only their chili dog, but also a batch of chili-cheese fries and a mega-soda!

Healthy Snack of the Week

2008-06-02T15:54:00.004-05:00

I'm still struggling with tiredness, but at least my nausea is coming to an end. And I'm trying to develop some regular Blog features, making it easier for me to think of stuff to write about everyday. And my eating habits for the past week inspired my first column feature!

Healthy snacks can be tough, because most marketed snacks come in small bags or packages, and contain more calories, fat and sodium than most of us need in one short sitting! So I'm going to feature easy to make snacks that are healthy for you! Keep them around the house or in the fridge at work and hit them up first before heading to a vending machine!

This week's snack is something I ate almost every day last week - Apples and Peanut Butter! Apples are so good for you - loaded with soluble and insoluble fiber and vitamin C. Research shows that apples lend to a healthy heart, lungs and, ahem, colon. I tend to like crunchy, sweet varieties, like Pink Lady, Gala or Fuji. My hubby and stepdaughter will only eat tart Granny Smith. Try a few different varieties out to find your favorite - they are definitely not all the same!

As for peanut butter, I can only advocate a natural, organic peanut butter, not the good, old fashioned Jiff or Skippy we all grew up on. That stuff is loaded with trans fats and "stabilizers." Natural peanut butter should only have two or three ingredients on its label - peanuts, oil and salt. When you open up your first jar, do not be alarmed. Natural PB separates, and it needs to be stirred up at first, then stored in the fridge to stay firm. But the taste is all there! And despite the high fat, peanut butter is good for you! The fat is Good Fat, and will help reduce your risk of heart disease. And it's loaded with protein. Just keep your servings to no more than two tablespoons, as fat is fat, and PB is high in overall calories.

So slice up an apple this afternoon, and take them for a dip in some peanut butter. Yummy!

The Hunger Solution

2008-05-30T06:59:00.004-05:00

Apparently, the way to keep from waking up at 3am in the morning from hunger if you're pregnant is to eat something right before you go to bed! Isn't that was health and fitness professionals are always saying, eat right at bedtime? (*snark*)

No wonder us preggos gain so much weight, we're stuffing our faces as we lay down to rest! However, it does keep me from being awake in the middle of the night and sleep is so precious in these few months before a new little one makes it's presence known. So my strategy will be to eat something light, but worthy (like an english muffin with a bit of peanut butter) along with a glass of milk before bed. Let's hope I get my energy back to restart my daily walks!

I'm Just So Hungry!

2008-05-27T10:52:00.003-05:00

What is it about pregnancy that brings on ravenous hunger? I distinctly remember this with my first pregnancy, casually telling my husband that I was hungry, and within minutes ripping his head off because I was so hungry I wanted to eat his arm. I can't remember if this was just a certain trimester or the whole pregnancy, but I remember it!

So far, this has only hit a few times, and not quite as intense as I remember with the first pregnancy. But last night was a new experience. After our long weekend out of town, we treated my mom and stepdad to a big dinner of grilled steak, roasted potatoes and roasted asparagus - Major Yum! - for taking care of our dog for us. I definitely ate until full, though I didn't overstuff myself. By bedtime, I was telling my husband how I already felt hungry again, but I went to bed. By 4am, I was up and out of bed, rummaging in the kitchen, looking for something light enough to satisfy the hunger, but let me go back to bed. Two hours, two whole wheat english muffins and a cup of lo-fat yogurt later, I was finally satisfied enough to be able to go back to bed!

I really wanted some fruit and cottage cheese, but we didn't have anything that fresh since we've been out of town. I know that protein would have helped satisfy me, but didn't even think to put peanut butter on those english muffins until I was already done. Another reason to keep a well-stocked house of lots of low-fat proteins and low-glycemic carbs - which, of course, would be easier to do if I was ever in town to keep a well-stocked house without it all going bad!

Working Out While on Dr's Order's to Rest

2008-05-22T09:00:00.004-05:00

I'm now at 11 1/2 weeks pregnant, and I continue to have sporadic spotting. Even though ultrasounds continue to show that everything is going perfectly, I'm on doctor's orders to take it easy. She specifically said "No Stroller Aerobics!" which is my main form of both aerobic and strength training exercise! For the past few weeks, I wasn't worry about it too much, and fully enjoying the reasons to rest!

However, here I am now, and while I'm in major "Wow!" over not gaining one pound, I realize that I'm getting really squishy! Translation: I'm losing muscle mass! Yikes! So rest or no rest, I need to find ways to keep active while keeping the activity to a minimum. How the heck do I do that??

Well, I'd love to hear any ideas, but here are some that I've come up with.

1. The Exercise Ball.

I need to bring mine up from the basement, which is currently undergoing some remodeling to make room for baby. It's time to bring it to the living room, and do some easy stability moves that will help me keep toned without over-exerting myself.

2. Embracing Housework

WHA?? Ok, not that I love cleaning house, but if you're familiar at all with the FlyLady (check out her site if you're not), you learn that you can do a weekly once over in your home in about an hour - racing against the clock! If I gotta clean anyway, I might as well make it worth my while! The idea is that you make a short list of chores, and do the best you can in 10 minute segments, actually setting a timer and racing against it. The house is clean on the surface, and you get a decent, meaningful workout doing what you have to do anyway. No Heavy Lifting allowed!

3. Assisted Squats and Lunges

I don't know about you, but squats and lunges raise my heart rate fast, and I can find myself overdoing it fast! So if you need to take it easy, grab the back of a chair or couch with one hand, go slow and get squatting. These are great moves for pregnant moms anyway, and you'll still reap many fitness benefits even though you're not doing them at full strength.

4. Take a Walk

Unless you're on Full Bedrest, there's no reason you can't take a simple walk. It's better than sitting on the couch any day. For me, that means putting my little one in the umbrella stroller, and taking a walk around the cul-de-sac. If I'm feeling ambitious, we can drive to the park, give Momma a walk, and then let the little one burn off some energy on the playground when we're done.

Ok - so these are just off the top of my head, and I'd love more ideas if you have them!

Life Takes Hold

2008-05-21T10:48:00.003-05:00

There's no excuse for lack of posting, only my perfectionism to blame. The fact is this pregnancy, and my May schedule of one family event after the other, has left me with next to no energy to even come on the computer to type a simple post. That, and my desire to have all my posts be ground breaking and full of information - well, that's just silly, because this is supposed to be a blog about a real mom facing real challenges (Like Life!!) while trying to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle, right? So if I'm struggling, I should be on here talking about it, and not worry about giving all the best analysis of the latest fitness news!

So anyway, I worked out for the first time in two weeks on Monday - and it was awesome! I had SO much energy in the few hours afterwards. And then exhaustion set in, as it does every day in this first trimester of pregnancy! And I slept the rest of the afternoon! Yesterday, Tuesday, was a small birthday party for my son with his playgroup friends, which wiped me out! Today....recoup and regroup! The crazy schedule is coming to an end, only one more family event this weekend, and then we're done. In the meantime....

I'm happy to report that I've been too tired to stuff my face, and at 11 1/2 weeks pregnant, I've not gained one pound. I have noticed, however, that I'm a bit squishier, most likely due to the lack of exercise. Some of that was doctor-ordered, but everything's looking better now, so I'm hoping to get back to 3 days a week of good cardio, at least two of good strength and two of yoga.

So I promise to update every day, even if it's just my daily struggles. That's what I started this blog for!

Get Yourself a Workout Partner

2008-04-30T17:17:00.002-05:00

A not-so-secret symptom of pregnancy is feeling like crap! My nausea has been up and down so far, but the exhaustion is constant. I hadn't left the house in over three days, so overwhelmed with tiredness, and feeling like the pit of my stomach was in my throat. Blech!

But something got me out of the house today, and it certainly wasn't my overwhelming desire to be fit and healthy. It was knowing that I obligated myself to lead a Stroller Aerobics every Wednesday morning. I missed last week because of physical concerns with the pregnancy (which turned out to be nothing.) So while I wanted to stay on the couch (again) today, I put on my workout clothes, ate some toast to soothe the belly, and grabbed my ginger hard candies. I wanted to turn around a million times, but once I saw my friends there, I knew I had made the right decision. I did ask someone else to lead the group, but I was there. And even crazier is that I felt great once it was all over!

Having someone or a small group to workout with is such a huge key to your overall success. It's a painful truth, but we have no problem letting ourselves down. But the flip side is we find it terribly hard to let others down. So one way to ensure your commitment to yourself is to find a reliable outside person to commit to.

Some things to keep in mind:

Choose someone who is reliable, not someone who will be skipping out for a million reasons or will be talking you into a trip to Dairy Queen instead of a morning walk.
Keep your workout location convenient for both of you, as this will eliminate excuses for not showing up.
It's helpful if you and your partner are of similar physical shape - so that one isn't ready to run a mile while the other is barely walking around the block.
Remember that you're getting together to workout, and to push each other to achieve better health - any conversation is bonus!

If you don't automatically know who to ask, here are a few ideas:

Ask neighbors, friends, church members if anyone is interested - you may be surprised who is looking for the same thing as you.
Check out Meetup.com to see if there's a local workout group in your area. If not, consider starting one if you're feeling ambitious (this is how FitMommas of St. Peters was started.)
Try to match up with a fitness partner using a site like Exercise Friends, or posting an ad on Craigslist.
You can always post a small flyer at the local library or grocery store bulletin board.

Hopefully once you find a partner to commit to, you'll find it easier to commit to yourself as well!

Just Who Will You Be?

2008-04-29T17:55:00.004-05:00

Last week, I mentioned in my How To Be A Better Mom post the new Maria Shriver book, "Just Who Will You Be?" Well, my copy arrived via Amazon today, and I have to say, it's an inspiring little read. And I do mean little! It took me about 35 minutes to read, but she packs a nice punch in those few words.

It's not life shattering, but eye-opening. Knowing what we know of the Kennedy family, it's refreshing to hear from one of the more famous and successful ones that everyone struggles with their identity. We all feel lost at times, but to hear that from someone so seemingly put together is not scary, but comforting. There's no such thing as having it all, and it's OK to constantly change and figure out who you are.

I encourage any woman of any age, especially if you find yourself at a crossroads (which for me is every other week!). You won't find the answers, but may feel more comfortable asking yourself the questions.

20 Worst Foods in America

2008-04-24T15:19:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, I revealed pretty much the only thing you need to know about losing weight - well, OK, I might have oversimplified, but I postulated that simply eating less food and learning correct portion sizes is key to overall weight loss. It must be on the minds of many, as I found an interesting link on the Yahoo page to the 20 Worst Foods in America, written by one of the authors of "Eat This, Not That." (Anyone read this book yet? May be an interesting read...)

Take the time to read through each of the 20 foods and you quickly see that I wasn't just whistling Dixie about the ginorous portions that we've become accustomed to in restaurants. I love those quick, fresh-Mex places for a good burrito, and always thought that the grilled chicken burrito was a good way to go - who knew that Chipotle's version packs in just under 1200 calories! YIKES!

So even when you think you're choosing something somewhat healthy for you, remember to stop when you're full, and don't feel compelled to finish every bite. And if you suspect that something's atrociously unhealthy, rest assured that you're 100% correct, and opt for something a little less detrimental to your health!

FitMommas Big Weight Loss Secret - Eat Less Food!

2008-04-23T03:30:00.004-05:00

Okay, this could be a career ender for me right here, but I'm going to give you the big, weight loss secret that trumps all others - eat less food, exercise more. Alrighty, my work here is done, we can all go home now.

(crickets chirping)

Oh, you're still here? This "eat less, move more" theory isn't as easy as it seems? Well, all joking aside, it obviously isn't, because look at us. We, as a nation, are huge! And it may just have something to do with the fact that we eat constantly! Have you noticed this? I referenced in my post yesterday about our extreme overconsumption, and in no area is that more prevalent than in the area of food. We eat from sun up to sun down, we eat when we are not hungry, we eat when we're bored, tired, upset, happy, sad, up and down. And we're teaching our kids to do the same. My just-about two year old son eats all day, and I'm to blame! I can't leave the house without half our pantry in small ziploc bags in case he has a Goldfish freakout in the middle of Costco.

So what to do? Nine times out of ten, it's all about portions. That's right, folks, good ol' Portion Control will save you inches off your waist. You can eat the exact same foods, just eat less of them, and you will lose weight. Now, if you want to do an Ali-like transformation, yes, you will need to address what you're eating as well, but good health can be attained by simply eating less. Here's some ideas to help.

1. Only Eat When You're Hungry - I'm going to go out on a limb here with this crazy suggestion. Don't eat if you're not hungry! Hunger is a physical feeling in your tummy, not a mindless reach for the chips because it's 3pm and you're bored. If you're bored, take a walk, call a friend, check your email, read a book to your kid. If you're sad or angry, call a friend or write in your journal. If you can't resist when someone else opens up a bag of chips, carry some sugar free gum with you, and pop it in your mouth. No explanation needed, just say "No Thanks!"

2. Learn What a Portion Is - Restaurants have seriously distorted our view of what portions are, and we are partly to blame for this. We feel like we're getting a better deal when they bring out a bowl of spaghetti the size of the Colosseum. But spend a few days in your pantry. Read those labels, and find out that a portion of chips is not half a bag. Dole out those portions, and learn what a 1/2 cup of rice actually looks like. Also, use some handy non-food references. Body For Life taught me to use the palm guide (not palm reader...). When filling up your plate, only give yourself about a palm-sized portion of each item you're eating.

3. Eat Slower - One reason we eat so much food is that we've swallowed half a plate of food before it even hits our stomach. We're a society on the go, and eat half our meals in the car or at the counter in about five minutes. Be like the French, and sit back and relax - savor each bite! Make eating an event, and slow down. When you allow the food to reach your stomach after each bite, you'll find that feel fuller after eating less food!

4. Use Smaller Plates - When we registered for our wedding, I insisted on these awesome 12 inch white porcelain plates from Pier One. I love them. They also look really, really empty when I put normal portions sizes on them. Surely that's not enough food, look at all that white space! In turn, I've taken to eating more meals on our lovely salad plates. It gives the illusion that I'm eating a full plate of food, and amazingly, it works!

5. Stop Cleaning Your Plate - Oh, your mom is so mad at me for this! But seriously, stuffing your face will not help the starving kids in China, or anywhere else for that matter. If you can't control the portions that are given to you, do not feel the compulsion to eat every last morsel. If at a restaurant, ask for the lunch size portion, and if that's not an option, ask for the to-go box up front, and put half your food in it right away. If you're with friends or family, Just Say No to more food when they start pushing. Sing praises of the chef, but politely suggest that you simply can not eat another bite, you're full! (Yes, they'll talk, but they're talking if you're overweight, too, so don't worry about it!)

6. Ban the Buffet - Let's face it, we love to get a good deal. And if I'm paying $9.95 for an all-you-can-eat, you bet I'm going to eat all I can! So just don't do it. HomeTown Buffet is now angry with me, but those just aren't good places to go if you're trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight. This also goes for big family gatherings, you know the ones where every bit of counter space is covered with some dish, and you just keep going back in for one more bite. Stop lurking over the counters, and go sit in the living room and strike up a conversation with your Aunt Myrtle instead.

7. No More Family Style - Along the same lines as Ban the Buffet, let's change what eating Family Style means. Take the pot of mashed potatoes off the dining room table and keep it in the kitchen. Make it harder to go back in for seconds. If you really want more, you have time to think about it while getting up and walking into the other room - you may decide that you aren't still hungry after all. If you really want to go gangbusters here, dish out everyone's plate, and immediately put all the food into tupperware. Then you'll definitely have room for dessert!

And speaking of dessert, you'll find that if you aren't constantly eating all day long, you actually have a few calories to spare for a nice, small treat! Rather than the extra large Blizzard, opt for a small cup of ice cream with nuts on top. And sit back and enjoy!

Easy Ways to Go Green

2008-04-22T15:25:00.006-05:00

Today is officially Earth Day, and if you haven't been paying attention, we're in danger of turning over an increasingly dirty planet over to our kids. As a fit and healthy momma, don't we want our kids to inherent clean air and water - and have an equal opportunity to be fit and healthy as well!

If it seems just all too overwhelming, and you're wondering what one person can do to save the planet, think of this as taking baby steps! Rather than worrying about the entire earth, let's just worry about our own footprint left on this planet. Here are some really simple (and MONEY SAVING!!) ways to get started!

1. Recycle - The easiest way to get started! We all throw stuff away, it's just about rethinking how we get rid of things. First of all, find out from your trash company what their recycle policies are and start participating. Maybe they give you a container, maybe you have to do it yourself. Also, what you can recycle in your everyday trash differs from company to company, so get that list, and familiarize your family with it. At our house, we have two extra trash cans just outside our garage door. One for paper recycling, and one for glass, cans and plastics. It all goes out in the Thursday trash. Easy Peasy.

As for everyday household items, become a member of your local Freecycle community. There's no reason to ever throw anything else away, just post it on here, and wait for someone to come pick it up! Or call Vietnam Vets of America for donations, or take items to your local Goodwill.

For hard-to-get-rid-of electronics, check out www.mygreenelectronics.org to find the nearest recycling center.

2. Change Your Light Bulbs - Stop buying the incandescent bulbs you've been buying all your life. Spend a few extra dollars upfront, and buy the corresponding compact flourescent bulbs - you'll use a fraction of the energy (and money!) to produce the same amount of light! Plus they last ten times longer. You can buy them at bulk at Costco or Sams, and even my local Aldi's sells these babies. Even your floodlights, and other obscure bulbs around the house, now come in CFLs. Oh, and just at tip - most of these bulbs take about 10-15 seconds to get to full power, so don't freak out when you turn on the light and it's still dim!

3. Drive Better - No, your mom did not ask me to tell you this, but seriously, the better you drive, the more you'll get out of that gas-guzzling machine sitting in your driveway. Don't speed, avoid quick stops and starts, and be a more relaxed driver. You'll save a ton of gas, not to mention wear and tear on your car, and a ton of patience while you're at it! Have you seen the prices at the pump lately? Yeah, it's enough to make you sick!

4. Control Your Thermostat - This is not a commentary on your temperament, but actually the temperature of your home! Whatever you normally feel comfortable in, try setting the thermostat just two degrees different - two degrees cooler in the winter and two degrees warmer in the summer. Just two degrees will have a few hundred bucks a year!

Go a step further, and invest in an automatic thermostat. With this gizmo, easily installed in place of your current one, can adjust the temperature in the house over the course of the day to meet your families needs. And you'll avoid drastic temperature changes, which tax both your furnace and your AC.

5. Unplug Electronics - How many phone/mp3 player chargers do you have plugged in right now? Did you know that you're using (and paying for) electricity just to have these items plugged in? While not every single item in your home can be unplugged when not in use, you'll find that most can. Rather than unplug every item behind your TV, plug them all into one power strip and flip the switch when not in use. Unplug appliances when not in use. And put the chargers away in a drawer, taking them out every night to charge what you need the next day. And watch your electric bill drop! Oh, and my dad wanted me to remind you - Turn Off The Light!

6. Keep Up on Home and Car Repairs - This is something we should already be doing, but we always let these things go. Fix that water leak in the hall bathroom, repair the broken window in the basement, reseal your doors and windows around the house. And keep your car up to speed by checking your tire pressure, replacing air and fuel filters regularly and get your oil changed as recommended for your car. All of these things will save you money every single day of the year!

7. Embrace The Tote Bag - Plastic bags never decompose, paper bags require a lot of energy to produce, and those (awesome!) department store bags have a nasty coating on them that allow them to live forever in our landfills. None of these options are ideal for shopping, so start investing (slowly) in canvas tote bags. Keep them in your trunk, and have them on hand whenever you go shopping. Aldi sells a massive one for only $2! You can now buy these at almost any grocery store for a few dollars more. If you have a specific need to reuse those plastic bags (need bags for garage sale or always need a few on hand for pooper scooper duty), then opt for them when you're low. But otherwise, gradually make this switch, and you just find that your need for all those bags isn't really there in the first place.

8. Ditch The Plastic - I've heard we use one BILLION plastic bottles a week. Billion. That should really be eye opening to you - and I'm just as guilty as the next person! So I've decided no more plastic bottles. I'm going to invest in a few eco-friendly reusable water bottles. If you want to drink like the stars, check out these cool Sigg bottles. I'm hoping to find a decent knock-off at my local Target. Let's slowly invest in a few bottles per person in the family. And your tap water is already pretty darn good, but if it makes you feel better, you can buy a Britta or Pur water pitcher, filter for the sink, and even a filter for your fridge water and ice. Makes these investments and ditch the billion plastic bottles a week.

9. Support Your Local Farmers - I've already blogged about the beauty of local produce, but let me reiterate it here. Buy meat and produce from a local supplier, and you'll not only be saving the earth (as these producers tend to be more earth friendly in their practices), but you'll also be saving money, as you won't be paying for items to be shipped from around the world! It's just good all around!

10. Consume Less Stuff - This is a personal mission for my family right now. We live in a society of extreme overabundance - we simply have way too much stuff, and that results in tons of waste every single year. So just stop the madness! Create a basic menu every week (or two weeks or whatever works for you!), and only buy what you will use. Aren't you tired of throwing out pounds of fruits and veggies every week that you bought without thinking? I know I am! Do you really need another TV in the house? How many computers does one home need? Is that couch really shot, or would it be just as easy to reupholster it? Go shop in your mom's basement, and see what unique items may be lurking there that you could refinish and reuse. And no matter how cute they are, do you really need 20 pairs of strappy sandals?

And rather than continuing to ask for things at birthdays and holidays, start asking your family to buy you experiences - family memberships to the Zoo, music or dance lessons for the kids, help with your big family vacation. Do you all really need another sweater, Tonka truck or Barbie doll? Maybe you do one, but do you need five of them at one time?

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There is only one Earth, and I hope you've found a few things here that can help us all keep our Earth as fit and healthy as we want to be! If you're interested in doing more, check out this awesome list of 50 Easy Ways To Go Green from MSN. And check out Oprah's Earth Day Event for some other fun ideas. And did I mention that you're not only saving the Earth, but you're saving Your Wallet?

How to Be a Better Mom

2008-04-21T15:57:00.005-05:00

I spent this past weekend alone - resting with the dog, no kids, no husband, and barely enough housework to call it so! It was much needed, for many reasons, but what I got out of it the most was...catching up on Oprah! (Did you think I was going to say something really healthy, like lots of exercise?)

So as you know, I continue to believe that any FitMomma out there is not only working out her exterior, but more importantly, she's continually working on her interior. True health is mental and physical, and say what you will about the Queen of Entertainment, but Oprah really does have amazing shows on working on your mental health. She's so mainstream and popular, I want to not like her, but I just can't. The woman just really knows how to tap into what I need to hear.

What I got out of many of the shows I watched were steps I can take to be a better mother - and woman.

Stop Putting Yourself Last - This weekend was a good example. I was spent. The next six weeks of our lives, we are traveling out of town four of them, and have family coming to town for big events for the other two. Besides needing to lay low because of my early pregnancy, I needed a weekend to recharge. I am no good to anyone if I'm not good to myself. Say That Out Loud to Yourself! "I am no good to anyone if I'm not good to myself!"

Spend 10 Minutes In Silence Everyday - Do you think I'm crazy? Ok, if this is completely foreign to you, or impossible sounding, try just five minutes or even one minute. Set the timer if need be. But pick a time (when you first wake up might be easiest), spend time awake, but in silence. Listen to what's going on inside of you. Take deep breaths and relax. You'll find some amazing answers to your daily problems in these moments of peace.

Learn to Say No - For a man, no is no. For a woman, it's the beginning of a negotiation. You cannot attend every single family/friend function. You cannot accept every bit of overtime handed to you. Your kids have to learn the disappointment of learning they can't have everything they want. I guarantee there will be those that are upset with you, but they will get over it, and you will find yourself more at peace and feeling less chaotic. Be honest with yourself and others, and learn when to say "When!"

Don't Let Any Thing Define You - The least interesting things about you are your race, sex, clothes, hair or makeup. You are not the designer purse your carry, or the car you drive, or the neighborhood you live in. Those are things, and give no one a true idea of the wonderful, unique person you are inside. You are the experiences that have defined you, your attitude, your humor, the way you treat others. And stop judging others on those exterior things - you may be passing up on an amazing friend and teacher.

Never Stop Asking "Who Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?" - Conventional wisdom has us decide what career we want to follow when we're in high school or college. First of all, we are not our career. Second, what we want continually changes through our life, and we need to continually seek out what we want out of ourselves. Wife, Lover, Mother, Friend. Poet, Doctor, Accountant, Artist, Writer. We can be all of these or any number of other things. Continually evolve and learn, and you will never feel stuck.

If you're not sure what any of these things have to do with being a better mom, just give them a try. I suspect you'll find that you're more at peace, happier with who you are and where you are, and will suddenly find yourself being present with your children - and that's the best a mom can do!

I have no read the book yet, but understand that Maria Shriver's "Just Who Will You Be?" is an easy, inspiring read, and plan on getting my hands on a copy soon. I'll let you guys know what I think.

Help for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

2008-04-11T13:00:00.005-05:00

This week has been a crazy one around these parts. First of all, a bit of news for my faithful readers, who I temporarily abandoned this week! This FitMomma is Pregnant!

Yes, I found out last Thursday that we're going to add to our brood the first week of December. That puts me at about 5 1/2 weeks pregnant right now. My list of topics for this blog just expanded.....if I could just stay awake long enough to write anything creative!

But the other crazy thing we've been involved in is a charity garage sale for our Playgroup. One of our Playgroup and FitMommas members has a son, Chase, with Cystic Fibrosis. He'll be three next month, but has years of struggle ahead of him - the average life expectancy for a person with CF is only 37 years old. I just turned 34 yesterday and I certainly feel like I have lots more living to do!

Cystic Fibrosis is primarily a chronic lung disease, which causes thick mucus build-up in otherwise healthy children and adults. It's inherited, and typically diagnosed under the age of two. In the 1950's, most children with CF didn't live long enough to enter grade school, but research into new treatments has greatly improved the lives with those with CF.

To learn more about Cystic Fibrosis, please check out the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's website. Chase is the fourth person that I've known with CF, and those that have lived past their mid-30's did so only with a double-lung transplant.

Part of being a FitMomma is nurturing your FitMind, and nothing works better than helping others in need! If you would like to help little ones like Chase, please check out his mom's fundraising site, CHASEing A Cure, and please consider making a donation in the next few weeks. The fundraising drive ends May 3rd, culminating in the CF Great Strides walk-a-thon.

Taking Care of Your Momma Skin

2008-04-03T15:03:00.006-05:00

(Apologies for my absence - I've been creatively impotent this week!)

This past weekend, I had a spa day with my mom - and I urge each of you to add this to your wish lists for birthdays and holidays right now! Any spa treatments are worth their weight in gold - I had a message, facial and a pedicure, and it's the facial that really opened my eyes!

First off, I discovered that I need to drink even more water than I originally thought. As I wrote in The Importance of Water, you should take your weight in pounds, divide in half, and that's how many ounces of water you should drink. But I was mistaken in how much water you should add for every caffeinated or alcoholic drink - rather than ounce for ounce, it should be two ounces of water for each ounce of beer or wine, or coffee or soda.

So....I weigh 136, and typically drink two 6oz cups of coffee a day. Therefore, I should drink 68 ounces of water, plus an additional 12 ounces if I drink my normal coffee. And even more if I have a margarita at the Mexican restaurant! Wow!

Second, the esthetician recommended a facial every 4-6 weeks, as that's the cycle of your skin cells, and that would generate the best results. But who has $62 once month to spend on a facial? Not this momma. But that doesn't mean this momma doesn't need to take care of her skin - between age, sun, stress and pregnancy hormones, my skin is not what it used to be, and given that it's the largest organ of my entire body, I better take dang good care of it!

Serendipity is a good friend of mine, and today it brought a speaker to my MOPS group to discuss....at-home spa escapes! Translation - recipes for awesome skin care that you can use in your home. Much cheaper than $62 for an hour facial.

The speaker provided a host of recipes, most of which she gathered from the KitchenCraftsNMore.net site. This link will explore specifically facial care recipes, but check out the site as you have time, as you'll find everything to bath and body recipes to homemade cleaning products - much better than all those chemicals most of us use around our home and on our body.

My favorite recipes from today?

Olive Oil & Sugar Body and Face Scrub - Gentle on the skin, and oh, so simple!

Equal mixture of olive oil and sugar, wet your body down in the shower, and message into your skin. Rinse well - but beware that the olive oil will make the tub slick!

Avocado Mask - for those of us with Dry skin.

2TB honey

2 TB dry milk powder

1/4 medium avocado, mashed

Combine, stir until smooth, leave on face for 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with damp warm washcloth

Cucumber Mask - for those with Oily skin

2TB honey

2TB dry milk powder

1/4C cucumber puree

Blend cucumber into a puree, combine with other ingredients until smooth, leave on face for ten minutes, gently wipe off with damp warm washcloth.

One of the best things I got out of today - another affirmation that what we put in and on our bodies has a huge impact on how we feel! Chemicals have a place in our lives, but frequently, nature has provided most of what we need for our bodies and homes!

Sign 'O The Season - Fresh Produce!

2008-03-27T15:26:00.005-05:00

Spring is here! Well, at least that's what I'm told, because it's just rainy and blah here in the Midwest. Still waiting for gloriously sunny days and blooming flowers and trees!

Either way, now is the time to acquaint yourself with a local produce stand. Having fresh fruit and veggies in the house is the number one way to make sure that you eat fresh fruit and veggies everyday! Plus, produce typically needs to be bought more often than your other grocery items, so finding a quick-stop stand close by will help keep your produce bins stocked.

With the start of spring, the local produce stands are beginning to fill their shelves with some of our favorites. Now's a good time to find a few in your area to check out and figure out which one your most likely to shop on a regular basis. Local produce stands will typically sell more-locally grown foods than the typical supermarket, and are usually cheaper to boot! Not to mention the satisfaction of keeping your money in your community and supporting your mom & pop shops! Since it might mean an extra shop in your weekly grocery route, I find the most convenient location wins over almost anything else for this busy mom!

Not sure where to start in your search?

On YellowPages.com, search for Fruit & Vegetable Markets in your area code.

On Yahoo Yellowpages, I found it a bit harder, but searching for "Food and dining produce" got the best results.

On MSN Yellowpages, I got great results with a simple "produce" search in my zip code.

(Why they have to be unique and difficult is beyond me!)

And don't forget for old fashioned word of mouth - ask neighbors, friends, family where they like to shop locally.

Jumpin' With My Baby?

2008-03-25T10:21:00.004-05:00

I'm learning quickly that living with a toddler is the best form of exercise! We've been dancing, strollercizing in the yard, and this morning...learning to Jump! I started with squat kicks out to the front, and my son started imitating me, running around, kicking his leg out to the front. Then we squat jumped - and then the fun really began. He's not quite two years old, so he can't actually get air under both his feet. All the more reason to keep practicing! But ten minutes of squat kicks and squat jumps was enough to get me winded, him laughing, and ensure many more jumping sessions ahead!

Do you have TOO MUCH EASTER CANDY?

2008-03-24T07:46:00.005-05:00

Easter is second only to Halloween when it comes to candy overload. My son ate more candy yesterday on Easter than he has in his entire (albeit short) life! So what to do on the day after?

First, I emptied out all the candy. All wrapped candy went into a large Ziploc (or more than one if necessary!), and the lose candy (random M&M's, Jelly Beans, Malted Egg Balls, etc) went into another. All candy in one place, no secret stashes!

What to do next depends on the age of the kids in your home.

If you only have young children who don't really understand that the candy fairy dumped pounds of candy on them yesterday...

Decide how much candy you want your little one to have - there is no right or wrong answer, and none is OK, too! My son also has a small hallow bunny, so I decided on one piece of wrapped candy per day for this week. I have set that aside in a baggie with his name - one piece per day, perhaps for a mid-morning snack. Enough time to let the sugar burn off!

If you have older children who are very aware of the candy in the house....

Decide how much candy you really want them to have each day, and let them pick out what they want to keep. One to three pieces a day is reasonable. The amount is not negotiable, but which pieces to keep is their decision. You'll quickly learn what their favorites are!

So how much for you and the hubby? Again, this is your decision. For us, that bag of loose candy that we have is more than enough for this week. (Four plastic eggs full of M&Ms and a handful of malted egg balls.) Plus helping our son eat his hallow bunny! If we didn't have the loose candy, I'm thinking no more than two pieces a day for the week is plenty - again, you have to decide how this candy fits into your 80/20 rule!

Now what do you do with all that extra Easter Candy? For the wrapped candy.....

Send it to work with your hubby! It really doesn't matter where your husband works, surely there are adults without children there who did not have the Candy Fairy, er, Easter Bunny visit this weekend!
Bless your neighbors! If you have any childless-neighbors, divvy up your remaining wrapped candy into smaller Ziplocs and be a belated Easter Bunny for them. Maybe they want it, maybe they don't, but it's the gesture that counts. And it's out of your house!
Craigslist or Freecycle! If you live in any community of size, you may very well have a Craigslist or Freecycle that serves you. Check out their sites, and post a FREE ad! Give away your candy to the first person willing to drive to your house. Worried about the stranger pick-up? Place your candy in a tied-up grocery sack and leave it on the front porch with that person's name.
Donate it! I'm not sure candy is the reason food banks were set up, but find a place in town that services the needy. Food banks, churches, shelters, etc. Throw in a canned good or two, and I'm sure they'd be happy to take your candy!
Throw it away! As drastic as this may be, if all the options above don't work for you, just throw it away. The tree-hugger in me doesn't like this idea so much, but honestly, it's candy - there's no nutrition, someone else isn't necessarily better off because they have it instead of you!

As for the unwrapped, loose candy you may have left over, just throw it away, too. Children in China are just fine without all that extra candy!

And Next Year? Plead with your family to give a little less candy and a little more love!

Stroller Aerobics....in your Yard!

2008-03-21T09:11:00.005-05:00

There's nothing better than discovering new ways to workout that are fun and easy - and I made such a discovery just yesterday! After all this gloom and doom weather we've been having in Missouri, yesterday was in the sixties and we had...Sunshine! Rather than sit inside and enjoy the glorious sun from the confines of my comfy couch, the hubby and I decided to clean up the garage a bit.

We had the jogging stroller (on loan from FitMomma Colleen!) out and set up for cleaning, and my son was rather adamant about going for a ride. So I strapped him in, and we ended up running around our front yard in a figure eight - and within a minute or two I realized what a good workout I was getting while entertaining my kid! WooHoo! My hubby, and probably my neighbors, thought I was a fruit loop, but the kid was laughing his head off, and I was working hard!

These are the little gems that can be found - if any of you have any great workout ideas that aren't really workouts, let me know! And I think I need to come up with a term for this - any ideas? Fakeouts? Funexercise? Ugh, I'm drawing a blank!

You Don't Have To Be Perfect

2008-03-19T23:23:00.003-05:00

To achieve the model or celebrity bodies that we crave, most of us would have to achieve perfection of our diet and exercise first - and most of us are even aiming for this perfection! We know what we need to eat, we know what we need to do physically, so there's no reason for us not to just be perfect at all times. Right? EH, not even close!

So let's just get this out there right now, and admit to yourself - say it out loud - I do not have to be perfect! There is no such thing. Those who try to achieve perfection lead incredibly unfulfilled lives, because perfection cannot (and really, should not!) be attained! While it is possible that we could live our lives like drill sergeants, eating just so, maximizing every minute of our day to attain perfect bodies, the fact is that we're human, we're moms and our days on this earth are numbered - so we should make the best of them!

Think about what you want to attain, set your goals, set a plan in action - and then give yourself room to be human. Rather than focus on how you failed in your diet today, focus on how well you did do, and how much you enjoyed and savored that dalliance in your diet! Keep in mind that most of us seeking a fit and healthy lifestyle are eating better than the average American - so your bad day is likely better than most people's good day! And you're probably eating better than you have in your life.

If you're looking for some practical info in this post, I found a great gauge for living a fit and healthy lifestyle - the 80/20 Rule. Do what you're supposed to do 80% of the time, and don't beat yourself up about the other 20. This is not an Amy-ism, I found this little nugget from Pamela Peeke and the Body For Life For Women. Eat what you know you should, workout like you know you should, and then let the other 20% of the time go. This rule stuck with me, and I have found that I'm less stressed about my overall health by keeping this in mind and forgiving myself for not being perfect. Being less stressed in and of itself will aide in your health - so give yourself a break.

The Importance of Water

2008-03-17T21:16:00.008-05:00

I like to describe myself as someone who likes to go with the flow - take things in stride, let things roll off my shoulder, run with things rather than fight them. But the flow I'm talking about today is not about being laid back, but about water. Agua. Eau.

To be truly fit and healthy, we all need to embrace the miracle of water. It is the wonder drug of being healthy, so put those diet pills away and read on. What can water do for you?

*Give you energy

*Is a natural appetite suppressant (so drink a glass before each meal!)

*Boost your metabolism (are you saying Woo-Hoo yet?)

*Rid your body of toxins, i.e. random crap floating around in your body

*Make your skin glow (save money on all those beauty products)

*Keep headaches at bay

*Keep your digestive system running....smoothly

What I'm afraid is that you already know this, and yet you still aren't drinking all you should. Or, worse, you're sabotaging your intake. What to do?

~Well, first, be aware that for every cup of coffee, soda or alcohol, you need to drink an extra cup of water. Alcohol and caffiene rid your body of water, so you need to replenish that.

~You also need to make sure you drink extra water when working out to replace all you lose when you sweat.

~If you don't love the taste of water, try one of these two suggestions.

First, add some citrus. Buy some fresh lemons, limes or oranges, cut into wedges and give a squeeze to each cup.

Secondly, give Crystal Light (or whatever generic you like) at try. Be aware of the fake sweetener in this stuff, and go easy on how much you use. I use those single serving packets, and one packet gets me through 2-3 bottles of water.

Edited to add: FitMomma Jodi suggested sliced up cucumbers as well!

~There are many schools of thought on how much you should drink, but I find the most reasonable gauge is to drink in ounces half of your body weight. So, if you're 140 pounds, shoot for 70 ounces of water. Does that sound CRAZY? Well, small bottles of water are 16.9, and those sport tops are usually 24 ounces. Three 24oz bottles, with a bit of citrus or Crystal Light if you need the flavor, and you're golden.

~Get it out of your head that drinking more water will cause you to gain water weight. If anything, not drinking enough will cause you gain water weight, as your body starts storing it (not unlike a water buffalo) when it thinks it's going to run out. The more you drink, the better your kidneys work, and the more you'll be a-peein'. Which gets me to....

~Just come to terms with the fact that as you increase your water intake, you will be in the bathroom constantly as your body adjusts. It's like your 9th month of pregnancy, but not as uncomfortable.

~Feelin' sluggish? A bit out of sorts? Like you're swimming in mud? You're probably dehydrated. Drink your water. This is your mother talking. OK, this is a mother talking, but still. Make the commitment to drink more water, carry it with you, drink it instead of soda, and you'll be stunned at how much better you feel after a few days. And if I'm wrong...well, you're mother told you so.

The Importance of Cardio, Strength Training AND Flexibility

2008-03-14T00:16:00.005-05:00

There are only so many hours in the day, and some movement is better than no movement. So do not let this post stress you out, and give you an excuse to sit on the couch and eat ice cream. Though that is one of my favorite things to do! But I digress...

While getting up and moving any which way you can is the first step to a fit and healthy lifestyle, I wanted to take the time to explain why the kind of movement is also important. I won't go into depth on each of these right now, but here's an overview on the three types of movement you want to strive for each week....

Cardio

This shouldn't be news to you, but cardio burns fat. Period. Do you want more than that? Well, it boosts metabolism, strengthens your heart, helps you sleep, regulates your mood....I could go on. Cardio is the foundation of most people's workout routines, and it's pretty easy to work it in. Walking, running, aerobics, dancin' with your baby, even housework qualifies. If it gets your heart rate up into your target heart rate, it's cardio, and it's good. Aim for 45-60 minutes of moderate Cardio or 20-30 of intense Cardio at least 3x a week.

Strength Training

Cardio helps you burn fat in the few hours after your workout. Toned Muscle burns fat while you sleep. Seriously, did you read that last sentence. Burn Fat While You Sleep! That's freakin' ingenious! This is also why when you and your hubby start a weight loss program together, he loses more right away - he has that toned muscle working for him while he sleeps while you...well...don't. That's where strength training comes in. A set of 3lb and 5lb weights is all it takes to get you started. Again, I'll post more later, but here's a good place to start for some basic information. And please note - you will not become a beheamoth by working your muscles. Think buff, not bulge! Shoot for 20-30 minutes 2x per week.

Stretching and Flexibility

You weren't expecting this, were you? Well, dedicated stretching workouts, like Yoga or Pilates, do wonders for your body - alleviate back pain, tone long, lean muscles, and find a sense of relaxation and peace through the breathing exercises that accompany the movements. Your whole demeanor will change once you add Yoga or Pilates to your routine - you'll feel lighter...and you'll look lighter! Here's a beginner's site, but I really like this Yoga for Beginners book. Aim for 30-45 minutes at least twice a week - more if you can. If we all did daily yoga, there'd be a little more love in the world!

So while there's plenty more to say about each of these subjects - and don't worry, I will - this is hopefully an explanation on the importance of a little diversity in your workout routine. Now I'll get working on that one move that incorporates all three at the same time - to save all us momma's time, right?

Dancin' with my baby

2008-03-11T22:31:00.004-05:00

This past week has been incredibly stressful, and tomorrow AM will be the first time I workout in a week. But I've found that I can still get a lot of activity in by doing something so simple and fun with my toddler....shakin' our groove thang! Between family and friend stress, this past week just hasn't allowed for me to workout for an hour or even 30 minutes. But with the little one, I turn on the radio, and we both just dance! Dance in place, dance around the house, I chase him, he chases me! And it's fun! And it wears me out!

Is your little one still too little dance on his or her own? There's no reason you can't hold your lil' bebe and dance together - they'll love the motion and you'll burn a few more calories lugging the extra weight.

Need some inspiring music? Well, almost any station on the radio works, or try some kid-friendly selections. My little guy LOVES the Backyardigans, and we frequently play their Groove to the Music CD. A FitMomma recently turned me onto Laurie Berkner for some fun, kid friendly tunes that won't have you wanting to stick a fork in your eye. You may have heard Laurie's band if you watch Jack's Big Music Show on Noggin'.

No matter what melody you choose to shake your booty to, dancin' with your baby not only gets your heart rate up and burns calories - it's an amazing way to play and bond with your kiddo!

In need of a little inspiration?

2008-03-06T14:49:00.003-06:00

I received an email today from a very good friend, and not a friend who tends to get sappy! So when Renee says here's something amazing, I know it really must be!

You may ask what this has to do with being a FitMomma? Well, I believe being fit and healthy is not only a physical thing, but a mental thing as well. We have to work on both the outside and the inside.

This may be the most inspirational thing I've ever seen. If you are a regular Oprah watcher, you have probably already seen this.

NOTE: This is 11 1/2 minutes long. Set aside the time to watch - it is worth it.
Randy Pausch reprising his "Last Lecture"

Looking for the Best Workout Video?

2008-03-04T23:09:00.004-06:00

If you like to workout at home using exercise videos....well, I'm not much help in that department because I pretty much suck at working out to videos at home. We're cleaning out the basement right now, and today I came across my stash of workout tapes...that I never use! Buns of Steel, Abs of Steel, Tae Bo, Windsor Pilates, The Firm.....ugh, the money I have spent!

However.....I know that there are those of you who LOVE workout tapes, who, in fact, thrive on working out in the privacy of your own home, without anyone else passing judgement on either your form or those workout pants. And I applaud you. So here is my gift to you...

Collage Video is the single best source for those who use workout videos at home. They don't just SELL videos, they DO them. And if the workouts SUCK, they don't sell them just to make a buck! The descriptions are written by those professionals who've done the workouts, so there's no hype. Their online search will get you exactly what you're looking for, or you can peruse their paper catalog by category. I can't vouch for their prices, but their expertise and independent reviews are unmatched.

I expect their check in the mail any day. In the meantime, enjoy that gift...from me to you.

How to Eat Better Everyday

2008-03-02T15:32:00.006-06:00

I think we all get that we're supposed to move more and eat better. We tend to be an all-or-nothing society, however, and most of us will decide to go on a diet and radically change what we're used to doing everyday. And then we won't stick with it and we beat ourselves up and give up. And then we do it all again when the next fad diet comes out.

However, a great way to get started on eating better is to just change a few things every day. Let's not start off by drastically changing everything we know about Food. Let's start with little things. Here are some basic ideas for eating better everyday. They've been gathered from books, magazines, FitMommas readers and general experience. Please feel free to post more!

Follow the 80% rule. Eat what you should 80% of the time, and use the 20% to enjoy what you're craving. A piece of cake at a party. A piece of chocolate after dinner. A margarita. A small cup of ice cream from Dairy Queen.

Don't deprive yourself. Eat an alternative snack first. If you still can't stand it, and need that chocolate or fried food or whatever your vice is, then eat it! Eat it slowly, savor every bite. Chalk it up to your 20%. Then Move On.

Do NOT buy junk food. If it's not in the house, you can't eat it! Tell your hubby and kids to get over it. I did it to my husband - no soda or chips in the house! If you're going to someone's house and you don't know what crap food they may have out, bring your own snack. It may or may not work, but at least you tried!

Keep LOTS of healthy options readily at hand. If I had to prepare each snack, I wouldn't eat it. It's easy to open a bag of chips - it's also easy to grab an apple, orange or banana. So have those in the house at all times! ALL TIMES! And even in the winter, you can find fresh fruit at the grocery stores.

Other snack ideas:

A small bowl or Dixie cup full of dried or freeze dried fruit.
An apple with string cheese or tablespoon of natural peanut butter.
Mix lo-fat cottage cheese with berries (this is heavenly and will sometimes curb my craving for ice cream.)
Buy and eat l0-fat yogurt. The benefits of yogurt are amazing. You can buy Activia in bulk at Costco!
A handful of almonds or walnuts.
Lo-fat and lo-sugar granola bars.
Whole wheat crackers and lo-fat cheese
Any combo of healthy-for-you carb with lo-fat protein - the protein keeps you satisfied longer than carbs alone!

Make the bad stuff better. Pick off the pepperoni and sausage and pat the grease off of the pizza. Use lo-fat ingredients in traditional recipes. Order a burger, but hold the cheese and mayo. Rethink those "bad" foods and see if you can reinvent them. And don't forget to tell us your new creations!

Pile on the Veggies. Make your dinner plate 50% vegetables. Fresh, frozen, canned - whatever works to get them on your plate. A salad with a lo-fat dressing and some sunflower seeds works great too! Do you prefer to douse them in butter? Then.....

Give a few fake foods a try. For the most part, I don't endorse "diet" foods. I tend to think that the chemicals that make them lo-fat or lo-sugar are worse than just eating the fat or sugar! But there are a handful of things I take advantage of, and one of those things is Spray Butter! I'm a huge fan, use it on everything. I LOVE butter, and a few spritz's of the zero calorie/zero fat fake butter does wonders for the veggies. Sometimes I still use a pat of real butter, as to limit the fake food in my life. Sometimes I'll do a little of each, when I really want a butter-overload flavor!

Embrace the glory of the No-Sugar-Added Fudgscicle. Whomever invented these should get a Nobel Prize. You can buy them anywhere, but I recommend the Aldi version. Cheaper than dirt, always in stock and just as yummy.

Go grocery shopping at least once a week. You can't have healthy, fresh food on hand if you only go shopping once in a blue moon. Schedule it as an appointment the same day every week if you need to. And be sure to have a nice, full belly when you go. Everything seems like a need when you're starving!

Buy or Create Your Own snack packs. You can eat your Oreos and lose weight, too! OK, you can eat your Oreo crisps and pay a pretty penny, but still, the idea is good! Either stock up on the store-bought packs at Costco or Sams. Or, even better, Create Your Own! Take some of your favorite snacks and some small, sealable sandwich bags. Take a look at the nutritional panel to what their serving is, and then create your own snack packs. The key here is not to eat 10 packs in one sitting!

Stay Out of the Drive Thru! I know you're hungry and Mickey D's is right there. But you know you can't resist the sweet smell of their sugar and salt covered fried potatoes! If you're frequently in need of a quick fix on the road, keep some of those easy snacks in the car. Weather will dictate what you can tote around, but in general, granola bars, your homemade snack packs, nuts - all good items on the go! Just keep the string cheese at home in the middle of the summer!

Get your family and friends on board. Even if they aren't going to participate, make sure those people you spend lots of time with and eat with know that you're making an effort to eat healthier. Do Not tell them you're on a diet. Very few people take the word "diet" very seriously. Let them know that this is a lifestyle change, rather than a get-skinny-quick scheme, and they may be more willing to offer up healthier options. And if they see how happy and not deprived you are, they may even join you! But also don't be surprised if they don't!

Edited to add (Thanks JaLisa!):

Eat until you're not hungry anymore. All we heard growing up was that children in China were starving, so clean your plate! Somehow that made it better for the kids in China. But what it actually taught us was to overeat. Put less food on your plate, slow down and only eat until you're full. Set aside at least half of your portion at a restaurant, even ask for the to-go box up front if you need to. A serving size is about the size of your palm - makes you realize how huge that Red Robin burger really is!

Make Mine a Mocha!

2008-02-29T12:34:00.005-06:00

Are you a chocolate lover? Do you also enjoy a daily cup o' jo? Then you obviously know the tantilizing joy of a good Cafe Mocha!

Well, here's a shout out to my good neighbor, Joe, a fellow chocoholic and caffeine addict who tipped me off to the best way to enjoy a little chocolate treat. No Sugar Added hot cocoa mix in your cup of coffee is a wonderful, cheaper, better-for-you way to enjoy a Mocha without that trip to the local coffee shop.

I use Swiss Miss's No Sugar Added Milk Chocolate, bought in bulk at Costco. (Note that this is a seasonal item at Costco, and I don't think they'll carry it past March.) One envelope is 60 calories, 1 gram of fat and 7 grams of sugar - and for my taste, one envelope is more than enough for two cups of coffee. I know that some will need a little more creaminess, so add a tablespoon or two of skim milk, and you have one delicious treat!

Figure that a 12oz Tall Cafe Mocha from Starbucks has 270 calories, 12 grams of fat (7 of which are saturated) and 26 grams of sugar. Order it with nonfat milk and no whipped cream, and you at least go down to 2 grams of fat, but still 25 grams of sugar. Starbucks now touts their Skinny Mocha, and the 12oz version comes with only 90 calories, no fat, but still 12 grams of sugar. (Which, really, isn't that bad, but go with me on this.)

And let's not forget about the financial cost of a daily Starbucks habit - a Tall Mocha is what, almost $3 with tax? Plus the cost of driving there? And who really orders only a Tall? You know you go for the Grande or Venti when you're there!

So go easy on your waistline and your pocketbook, and enjoy a homemade Mocha today!

Blueberry Surprise

2008-02-24T15:43:00.006-06:00

Remember just a few days ago, I was waxing poetic about Honeyville Farms shipping me a can of freeze dried blueberries by mistake - a $30 can that I paid $16 for, I might add!

Well, my son didn't take to them at first, but as all FitMommas know, you have to try, try again when it comes to getting your kiddos to eat healthy food. So around Thursday, my son realized that he loved blueberries, and I was happy as a clam. And now, this past weekend, I've found out a surprise about blueberries.

First of all, my sons fingers and mouth are stained purple, and I wonder if he's emulating Violet Beauregard from Willy Wonka.

Second....the diaper. As any FitMomma know, food does funny things to the bowel of a toddler, and blueberries apparently are no different. Blueberries consumed in mass amounts are not pleasant when they come out the other side. I'm just sayin'.

Last Night...Not Good...

2008-02-23T08:39:00.005-06:00

My husband is out of town until this afternoon, so last night I found myself alone.....with food in the house....and late night munchies.

I'd spent most of the afternoon preparing our taxes, and then followed up with lots of research on a new computer. After I put my son to bed, I didn't do the smart thing and settle down on the couch to watch a movie and snuggle with the dog. No, I headed back to the computer to strain my eyes for a few more hours. And then it hit....this insatiable need to eat. And eat. And Eat.

I couldn't stop. I was even saying to myself, "Self, you're gorging yourself, and you need to stop." Did I count to ten? Did I fill up on a few glasses of water? Not, I just kept eating. I'm not sure if it was boredom; it wasn't stress eating. I felt like I was hungry, but I couldn't possibly have been. I can't define it, and I think that's even more disconcerting!

Of course, today is a new day, and there's certainly no need to dwell on the past. But I really wish I could figure out what the source of that binge eating was. Apparently, I can't be left alone!

Weight Loss Calculator

2008-02-22T13:55:00.004-06:00

FitMommas of St. Peters member, Amy E., found a pretty cool website for calculating weight loss.

This Weight Loss Calculator can estimate how long it will take to achieve your desired weight loss, depending on how many calories you cut. For instance, I have about 8-10 pounds to lose, and I can achieve that by end of April if I cut 500 calories a day. Good to know. Not sure if I'll put that into practice, but interesting information none-the-less!

Thanks, Amy!

The Key to Happiness on 60 Minutes

2008-02-20T14:04:00.006-06:00

I find it intriguing this whole idea of what really makes us happy. Because my life so far as been a case study in finding out what things I thought I wanted that don't actually make me happy. When I was 18, I looked forward to my future as a Marketing VP, living my perfect life in my perfect house with my perfect husband and kids. 15 years later, I'm learning that no logoed purse or Plasma television makes me feel happier than simple time spent with my family and friends.

So intrigued I was to see on Yahoo a link to a 60 Minutes segment called "The Key to Happiness." Turns out - surprise, surprise - that Americans aren't actually that happy as a whole. In fact, we score pretty darn low among free nations, and the wealthiest zip codes in the country have some of the unhappiest residents. In our quest to have it all, in our belief that more is better, we've lost the focus on what is most meaningful to us, and let those family and friend relationships slip. The professor interviewed in the segments commented on how American women are particularly unhappy, not enjoying time with their children, because they don't engage with their children. Apparently, they're too busy admiring their new designer handbag?

So why do so many people equate their happiness with how many toys are in their house? And by toys, I'm not talking about Fisher Price, I'm talking HDTVs, SUVs, MP3s, and all other manner of cool abbreviations.

So take a look at The Key to Happiness, and let me know what you think. On one hand, it all seems so obvious, but if it's so obvious, why are we all still trying to attain more things rather than relationships?

Freeze Dried Fruit on the cheap

2008-02-20T13:36:00.002-06:00

My son has some few quirks, one of which is not eating wet foods, particularly fresh fruit. But he loves freeze dried fruit, which can get quite expensive in those tiny Gerber bags you buy at the store. So I did a little Google search, and found an online company where I can buy in bulk.

Honeyville Grain has a great selection of freeze dried fruits and vegetables, and if your kid is quirky like mine and consumes these in mass quantities, I strongly recommend them as a place to buy. They have flat rate shipping, and every once in awhile, they'll send out a 10% off coupon. I buy a large can each of apples, strawberries and raspberries, which run $15-17 each can. This last shipment, they accidently shipped me blueberries instead of strawberries, which was fine by me, considering the blueberries are over $10 more! I have noticed that their prices have slowly been creeping up, so if anyone finds a better deal, please pass it on. It may just be related to how all food seems to be slowly getting more expensive!

Skinny Cow = Yum!

2008-02-20T13:27:00.004-06:00

You will soon learn that I'm an Ice Cream fanatic. And I've seen Skinny Cow in the stores, and even saw Oprah raving about it as part of the Best Life diet.

Yesterday, I took a big gamble and bought a big box of the ice cream sandwiches at Costco. (You'll soon catch onto my Costco addiction as well!) I figure bad ice cream is still ice cream! Holy Schmoly, they are just simply delightful! What's even better is that they are only 140 calories a sandwich (worth two Weight Watchers points), 97% fat free, 3 grams of fiber and no trans fat. And did I mention how scrumdilicious they are?

AND if you are a Costco member, it's coupon time, and they have a coupon for these fantastic little treats (not that they're little, they are very satisfying!). So you get a box of 20 sandwiches, normally $8.21, and they have a $2.50 coupon running through March 9th, I believe. If Ice Cream is your thing, as it is mine, run, do not walk, to Costco and buy some!

My Ah-Hah Moment

2008-02-19T08:18:00.001-06:00

So, the whole idea of FitMommas, for me, was born out of the idea of how to be fit and healthy while raising a family - two things that don't necessarily go hand in hand. At the start of 2007, a couple of my Playgroup friends and I started FitMommas of St. Peters on Meetup.com. We scheduled walks in the mall, support groups ala Weight Watchers. During the Spring 2007, I was able to get back to my pre-baby weight. Leading into Summer, we added Stroller Aerobics workouts, and even with a few hiccups here and there, my workouts and eating were pretty good.

But one thing I really wanted to concentrate on was my mental health, because I strongly believe that it may be the biggest key to overall health. That entailed, for me, blogging regularly about the daily ups and downs of a healthy lifestyle with kids, searching out articles and news on health topics to share with everyone, and getting to that mental core.

So mid-September hit and my 1 year old son Sean got a cold. It turned into bronchiolitis, and we were in the dr's office for almost 3 hours doing breathing treatments before we could go home. Since then, he's caught four more colds, all of which have led to the same thing, and an official diagnosis of Asthma. Sean was kind enough to share every cold with me. In mid-December, the stomach flu hit every family member, save the dog. I don't remember that ever happening, not even as a kid. My husband, Trey, and I both got hit over the head with the regular flu not quite three weeks ago, and have since been dealing with a severe ear infection (Trey) and severe sinus infection (me.)

Hardly the fit and healthy lifestyle I'm supposed to be living.

But over the weekend, I started to realize something. This is my life. Ah-Hah! For better or worse, germies or not, this is it. I keep waiting to start this mental journey until "this" passes, but the fact is, pass or not, it's my life, and the whole point of FitMommas is how to be fit and health and deal with life as it's thrown at you. It's not easy, if it was, everyone would be doing it. It's hard, and there are tough days, and there's guilt and there's a need to let it out before you explode. I've totally been missing that point.

So I hope to start that mental journey here.