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!!

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

Monday - as good a day as any.

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!

Wednesday Funny

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 ...

So, whaddya waitin' for?

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?

The Angry Side of Postpartum Depression

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

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

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!

Getting Honest

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!

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!

How Many Things At Once?

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?

Two kids = Time suck

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

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

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

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. (Sorry, I have had to remove the link to this story. Feel free to Google it for yourself. Thanks!)

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!

The Inauguration...and Your Health?

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!

Cesar Millan Whispers Subtle Truths

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*

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!

Blog Hiatus and Retooling

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!