Movin' on Up!

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

www.FitMommas.com

Thanks a bunch!

Frugal Fitness

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

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

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

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

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

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