As I dig out from what could quite possibly be the world's WORST cold, I had to miss Boot Camp this morning. Ugh. I hate that. My sister, did an awesome job, though, as the sole sister in Fit Sisters. I know she gave the girls a fab workout.
As I sprawled in bed, trying to sleep and not think about all the ninja jumps and burpees they were doing without me, I got all sentimental about the journey leading me to start my own fitness business. Maybe it was the fever or maybe the lack of sleep with two kids who are up more times each night than I care to share, but I was all in tears. Big sloppy wet tears.
I just felt an overwhelming sense of thankfulness for all that I have been given, been exposed to and the people who have believed in me along the way!
One person, really stuck out in my mind as the one who got my foot in the door with boot camp, Christa Mills (my first manager at 24 Hour Fitness).
So, I was totally this kickboxing-and-dance-only girl until Christa suggested that I teach boot camp. I mean I was the girl who was all hips shaky-shaky, not drop and give me 20 until your arms are shaky-shaky.
But Christa is this awesome, totally buttoned up girl (and so encouraging), so I said "what the heck." She believed in me and assigned me a 6 am class at 24 Hour Fitness. {Wow. Ummm that was early for me. At the time I did not have kids and was more of a sleep until the last possible minute before I had to get up for work kinda person.} But I committed.
Fake it, 'til you make, right? I asked the google for help as I planned for my class. I put together a really intense first workout with lots of wind sprints, a solid section of stations and a bunch of strength moves.
After I taught that first class and people said "holy cow, that blonde chick was hard!!" I was hooked.
P.S. my first class, I wore hot pink camo cargo pants and an itty bitty hot pink bra top. I thought I looked all boot campy and tough.
Anyway, in this month of thankfulness, I am thankful for Christa's encouragement and all the steps afterward at 24 Hour Fitness that led me to love that format and become confident in my abilities.
Thank you Christa and thank you 24 Hour Fitness!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Avoiding an epic treat fail
Have you ever baked cookies, intending to eat 1, but instead eaten the whole lot of them?
No....Me neither. [insert awkward laugh and shifty lying eyes]
But if that ever did happen, you'd feel guilty, right? Like super guilty. So guilty that you decide to wash away your sorrows with more cookies. Ugh! Epic treat fail.
Well, I really wanted chocolate chips cookies today. Like fresh-baked. Like the delicious warm, gooey kind. So, I happened to stop by Target to grab a few grocery items and snagged some break-and-bake cookies.
After dinner, Big E and I broke off a few and plopped them into the oven. I put the rest in a ziploc bag and froze them.
We sat at the table together and share a few cookies and had milk (I had almond milk). It was a nice little moment too, sharing cookies with my first-born. He is getting so big!
So, I only ate 2 (and they were small). Hooray! Applause!
Ok, while not Earth-shattering it was a win in a lot of ways. I was able to portion control, baking a few, therefore not able to eat too many. And there weren't sweet treats tempting my son either.
He is notorious for having a treat at night and then demanding it for breakfast the next morning (ahem...temper tantrum style). But out of sight, out of mind for both of us!
Just a tiny tip to get you one step closer to your goals in the health department. Or at least you aren't too many steps back.
Enjoy your evening Naked Stretchers!
Picture courtesy of Getty Images.
No....Me neither. [insert awkward laugh and shifty lying eyes]
But if that ever did happen, you'd feel guilty, right? Like super guilty. So guilty that you decide to wash away your sorrows with more cookies. Ugh! Epic treat fail.
Well, I really wanted chocolate chips cookies today. Like fresh-baked. Like the delicious warm, gooey kind. So, I happened to stop by Target to grab a few grocery items and snagged some break-and-bake cookies.After dinner, Big E and I broke off a few and plopped them into the oven. I put the rest in a ziploc bag and froze them.
We sat at the table together and share a few cookies and had milk (I had almond milk). It was a nice little moment too, sharing cookies with my first-born. He is getting so big!
So, I only ate 2 (and they were small). Hooray! Applause!
Ok, while not Earth-shattering it was a win in a lot of ways. I was able to portion control, baking a few, therefore not able to eat too many. And there weren't sweet treats tempting my son either.
He is notorious for having a treat at night and then demanding it for breakfast the next morning (ahem...temper tantrum style). But out of sight, out of mind for both of us!
Just a tiny tip to get you one step closer to your goals in the health department. Or at least you aren't too many steps back.
Enjoy your evening Naked Stretchers!
Picture courtesy of Getty Images.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Boot Camp Sereis launching October 1
My sister, Leslie Hancock, and I are launching a new 6-week boot camp
series starting October 1. It's a total body conditioning series that
will guarantee you leap over plateaus, burn fat and tone up. We'd love
for you to join us! It's a killer workout for a great price. Feel free
to pass on to friends and family!
Here are the deets:
What:
Indoor Boot Camp Series featuring certified fitness instructors, Meghan Henderson & Leslie Hancock.
When:
October 1 - November 9 (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays), 5:45 AM
Where:
2129 N Josey Ln
Carrollton, TX 75006
Cost:
6 weeks (18 sessions) = $85
Details:
Total body toning and conditioning class for maximum weight loss and toning results. Measurements and weigh-ins on Mondays for accountability (optional). 6-week meal plan with recipes and calorie count included. No equipment needed other than a mat or towel for floor work.
You can contact me if your are interested or have questions by posting here or calling 214.708.4123. Please also visit facebook.com/
Naked Stretchers! Gotta do this!!!!
Here are the deets:
What:
Indoor Boot Camp Series featuring certified fitness instructors, Meghan Henderson & Leslie Hancock.
When:
October 1 - November 9 (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays), 5:45 AM
Where:
2129 N Josey Ln
Carrollton, TX 75006
Cost:
6 weeks (18 sessions) = $85
Details:
Total body toning and conditioning class for maximum weight loss and toning results. Measurements and weigh-ins on Mondays for accountability (optional). 6-week meal plan with recipes and calorie count included. No equipment needed other than a mat or towel for floor work.
You can contact me if your are interested or have questions by posting here or calling 214.708.4123. Please also visit facebook.com/
Naked Stretchers! Gotta do this!!!!
Friday, August 24, 2012
Healthy Grocery Shopping: Cool New App
God I love the grocery store. All those aisles of delicious possibilities. But it's somehow different with two kids in tow. I have approximately 20 minutes before there is a serious meltdown or I end up with a basket full of junk to appease my three-year old. Frustrating and a big suck on the 'ol wallet.
And not to mention that I don't have the time to investigate food labels to ensure that I'm feeding my family healthy foods. As a general rule, I don't buy anything unless it is organic or all-natural. Clean eating. I won't climb on my soap box in this post, but I blog more about clean eating and where to shop here.
Ok, back to my point. [Cue drum-roll]. There is a new site and app that takes the guesswork out of shopping. Not sure if that all-natural granola is really good for you? Well Fooducate.com allows you to scan the barcode on a food and then it generates a grade (like school). "A+" is awesome, F is run away bad. Then the app gives you healthier alternatives if the grade is no bueno.
How flipping cool is that?
The site also has a database of foods so that you can find the healthiest cereal, yogurt, snack, etc. for you.
Love. Love. LOVE.
The app is available for iPhone and Android. Plus visit the site and troll around a bit. It's fab!
And not to mention that I don't have the time to investigate food labels to ensure that I'm feeding my family healthy foods. As a general rule, I don't buy anything unless it is organic or all-natural. Clean eating. I won't climb on my soap box in this post, but I blog more about clean eating and where to shop here.Ok, back to my point. [Cue drum-roll]. There is a new site and app that takes the guesswork out of shopping. Not sure if that all-natural granola is really good for you? Well Fooducate.com allows you to scan the barcode on a food and then it generates a grade (like school). "A+" is awesome, F is run away bad. Then the app gives you healthier alternatives if the grade is no bueno.
How flipping cool is that?
The site also has a database of foods so that you can find the healthiest cereal, yogurt, snack, etc. for you.
Love. Love. LOVE.
The app is available for iPhone and Android. Plus visit the site and troll around a bit. It's fab!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Think before you eat: 5 questions to ask yourself BEFORE eating anything
My Mom always told me to "think before I speak." And I think that simple lesson applies to what we consume, too. Here are five questions you should ask yourself BEFORE eating to avoid guilt, weight gain and diet derailment:
1) Am I really hungry? If yes, then eat. If no, then do another activity instead. Fold some laundry, take a shower, play with the kiddos. Whatever. Just avoid the kitchen if you aren't legitimately hungry.
The scale of 1-10 rule is perfect here. Ask yourself how hungry you are – 1 being not at all hungry (i.e., you just ate a full Blue Mesa Sunday brunch) and 10 being absolutely ravenous (like as in you might willingly eat brussel sprouts). If you are a 6-10 you should probably eat. If you are below that then distract yourself until you reach that point. 6-7 = a snack and 8-10 should require a meal.
Most nutritionists will tell you that you should let your hunger guide you when it comes to portion. Just because it is "snack time" doesn't mean you should eat. Eat when and if you are hungry.
2) If I eat this now, will I feel guilty in an hour? So often I convince myself I "need" a piece of chocolate, or a cookie or a handful of random snacks, when really it is a short-term buzz of delicious goodness followed by the "oh-dear-did-I-eat-that-crap" syndrome. Guilt is an icky feeling. Avoid it.
3) Is this going to fuel me until my next meal? In my opinion the best meal is a balance of fiber and protein. Fiber to keep you full and protein to fuel your body. I blog more about this here.
4) Would I be embarrassed if someone saw me eat this? Ok, this goes without saying, right? But think about it. I mean I would be embarrassed if someone saw me eating a sumo-wrestler-sized bowl of ice cream smothered in caramel, chocolate, cookies, whipped cream and a cherry on top. Imagine the horror if I had gooey treat dripping all over my face. I mean as good as that dessert sounds, I would hate for someone to see me devour that. I would be ok with someone seeing me treat myself to a small bowl of frozen yogurt with some crushed oreos. That is a respectable treat. Sumo-style no.
5) How does this rank against my overall daily food intake? I am not a proponent of cutting any food groups. I think you need all things within the food pyramid to lead a healthy lifestyle and maintain your weight. So, breads, meats, dairy, etc. are ok in my book. However, there is a delicate balance of foods each day.
For example, you shouldn't never go on a carb binge, even if they are all healthy carbs. A day of wheat toast, oatmeal, bran muffin, turkey sandwich, wheat pasta and crackers, while full of fiber, is not balanced. Too many carbs lead to bloating, ultimate weight gain (or no weight loss) and probably hunger. Think about an alternating approach to meals and snacks. If you had toast for breakfast, then have hummus and carrots for a snack. If you ate wheat pasta for lunch, balance that with a more protein-rich dinner of chicken, sauteed spinach and quinoa.I blog more about carbs here.
The big lesson: Think before you eat!
Stretch on my gorgeous friends!
Image courtesy of Getty Images.
The scale of 1-10 rule is perfect here. Ask yourself how hungry you are – 1 being not at all hungry (i.e., you just ate a full Blue Mesa Sunday brunch) and 10 being absolutely ravenous (like as in you might willingly eat brussel sprouts). If you are a 6-10 you should probably eat. If you are below that then distract yourself until you reach that point. 6-7 = a snack and 8-10 should require a meal.
Most nutritionists will tell you that you should let your hunger guide you when it comes to portion. Just because it is "snack time" doesn't mean you should eat. Eat when and if you are hungry.
2) If I eat this now, will I feel guilty in an hour? So often I convince myself I "need" a piece of chocolate, or a cookie or a handful of random snacks, when really it is a short-term buzz of delicious goodness followed by the "oh-dear-did-I-eat-that-crap" syndrome. Guilt is an icky feeling. Avoid it.
3) Is this going to fuel me until my next meal? In my opinion the best meal is a balance of fiber and protein. Fiber to keep you full and protein to fuel your body. I blog more about this here.
4) Would I be embarrassed if someone saw me eat this? Ok, this goes without saying, right? But think about it. I mean I would be embarrassed if someone saw me eating a sumo-wrestler-sized bowl of ice cream smothered in caramel, chocolate, cookies, whipped cream and a cherry on top. Imagine the horror if I had gooey treat dripping all over my face. I mean as good as that dessert sounds, I would hate for someone to see me devour that. I would be ok with someone seeing me treat myself to a small bowl of frozen yogurt with some crushed oreos. That is a respectable treat. Sumo-style no.
5) How does this rank against my overall daily food intake? I am not a proponent of cutting any food groups. I think you need all things within the food pyramid to lead a healthy lifestyle and maintain your weight. So, breads, meats, dairy, etc. are ok in my book. However, there is a delicate balance of foods each day.
For example, you shouldn't never go on a carb binge, even if they are all healthy carbs. A day of wheat toast, oatmeal, bran muffin, turkey sandwich, wheat pasta and crackers, while full of fiber, is not balanced. Too many carbs lead to bloating, ultimate weight gain (or no weight loss) and probably hunger. Think about an alternating approach to meals and snacks. If you had toast for breakfast, then have hummus and carrots for a snack. If you ate wheat pasta for lunch, balance that with a more protein-rich dinner of chicken, sauteed spinach and quinoa.I blog more about carbs here.
The big lesson: Think before you eat!
Stretch on my gorgeous friends!
Image courtesy of Getty Images.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
My hiatus from blogging is done.
What is plump, juicy, kissable and helps me lose weight? Why my beautiful baby girl, that's who! Elan Kathleen was born on June 4 at 8:17 am. She is a healthy girl weighing in at 7 lbs. 13 oz. She is delightful, smiley and sweeter than sugar (and I know sugar!)
Here she is at 2 weeks. Isn't she presh? Um, yes, I absolutely HAD to get her in a hot pink tutu and Etsy bow immediately. She is a party girl in training, afterall.
Ok, so now she is now 10 weeks old. I can't believe it!
It was rocky at first.
The dreaded word: Colic. She cried. And cried. And cried. But when she hit 7-8 weeks, she turned into this perfect, sweet amazing baby. She smiles, gurgles and coos all the time. I can tell she is going to be a chatter box like her Momma [insert smiley, winky face].
Oh and the weight loss thing. I am nursing and have lost all but 8 pounds :)
Hooray!
Well, I just had to catch you all up on my time away from you.
I missed you, you gorgeous thing. I can't wait to get back to my blogging duties.
Stay tuned for oodles of fresh content. Here is just a sampling of what you'll see:
1) Fit Clubs on MeetUp.com
2) CrossFit - holy crap will it kill you?
3) Getting your abs back after baby
4) Scheduling exercise with two kids
5) Sleep deprivation and its impact on weight gain
6) Raise a glass, not your weight - healthy alcoholic drinks
7) The scoop on boot camp
8) New classes features - I will take a bunch of different formats and blog about my thoughts
9) Delicious healthy recipes
10) My semi-vegan adventure
It's all coming your way, you fit thing!
Ok, so now she is now 10 weeks old. I can't believe it!
It was rocky at first.
The dreaded word: Colic. She cried. And cried. And cried. But when she hit 7-8 weeks, she turned into this perfect, sweet amazing baby. She smiles, gurgles and coos all the time. I can tell she is going to be a chatter box like her Momma [insert smiley, winky face].
Oh and the weight loss thing. I am nursing and have lost all but 8 pounds :)
Hooray!
Well, I just had to catch you all up on my time away from you.
I missed you, you gorgeous thing. I can't wait to get back to my blogging duties.
Stay tuned for oodles of fresh content. Here is just a sampling of what you'll see:
1) Fit Clubs on MeetUp.com
2) CrossFit - holy crap will it kill you?
3) Getting your abs back after baby
4) Scheduling exercise with two kids
5) Sleep deprivation and its impact on weight gain
6) Raise a glass, not your weight - healthy alcoholic drinks
7) The scoop on boot camp
8) New classes features - I will take a bunch of different formats and blog about my thoughts
9) Delicious healthy recipes
10) My semi-vegan adventure
It's all coming your way, you fit thing!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
New Discovery: La Croix
I love fizzy drinks. Especially the way they tickle your nose. I mean a frosty root beer or diet dr pepper is just the most in my opinion.
But alas I have sworn off sodas off and on for years. I stopped drinking regular soda in high school to get "lose weight." Seriously? I was already skinny! Anyway the switch to diet happened at age 16 (right around when I stopped eating red meat).
Then I nixed any sodas when I was preggo and nursing E. I introduced them back into my diet very moderately afterwards and am now on the no soda bandwagon again with baby #2 cooking away.
The chemicals, aspartame and high fructose corn syrup just have me heading for the hills. Nothing good can come from those ingredients.
Ok, but I still miss a flavor to my drinks and of course the alluring fizz. I drink water like crazy and it gets boring. And there's just too much sugar in juice. So where does that leave me?
This weekend we were in Kansas for my gorgeous niece's christening and my sister-in-law introduced me to La Croix. Have you tried it? It's carbonated water and natural flavor in a soda can. That's it. All natural. No artificial sweeteners. No calories. No sodium. And it actually tastes yummy. It's a subtle flavor, but I get the fizz and it's not so ho-hum.
It comes in oodles of flavors. My favorite is the coconut one! Love, love, love!
But alas I have sworn off sodas off and on for years. I stopped drinking regular soda in high school to get "lose weight." Seriously? I was already skinny! Anyway the switch to diet happened at age 16 (right around when I stopped eating red meat).
Then I nixed any sodas when I was preggo and nursing E. I introduced them back into my diet very moderately afterwards and am now on the no soda bandwagon again with baby #2 cooking away.
The chemicals, aspartame and high fructose corn syrup just have me heading for the hills. Nothing good can come from those ingredients.
Ok, but I still miss a flavor to my drinks and of course the alluring fizz. I drink water like crazy and it gets boring. And there's just too much sugar in juice. So where does that leave me?
This weekend we were in Kansas for my gorgeous niece's christening and my sister-in-law introduced me to La Croix. Have you tried it? It's carbonated water and natural flavor in a soda can. That's it. All natural. No artificial sweeteners. No calories. No sodium. And it actually tastes yummy. It's a subtle flavor, but I get the fizz and it's not so ho-hum.
It comes in oodles of flavors. My favorite is the coconut one! Love, love, love!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Going Bananas!
Ok, so I've seen on Pinterest a couple times (and had a suggestion from my friend Katherine) to try making non-dairy ice cream from bananas. I was like yeah, yeah, I'm sure it just tastes like cold bananas.
Well, my mother-in-law and I had a discussion about going to get ice cream this past Sunday. We opted to save the calories and give this idea a try. We were skeptical to say the least.
All you do is slice a few bananas, freeze the slices and then blend up in a food processor.
And it makes ice cream? Really?
Well I am here to tell you that it is OMG delicious and actually gets the same texture as really thick ice cream! We added about a teaspoon of vanilla and a tablespoon of fat-free milk (just because we needed liquid to get the blender to work!)
You could totally add cocoa powder, strawberries, different types of extracts or even pureed veggies to make this delectable treat even more nutritious.
E gobbled it up too. He had no idea that this was not the calorie-ladened kind that he goes nutty for. Ha ha! Momma tricked him again. I'm going to mix up some more tonight for dessert and try adding some sweet potato or carrot to get some more veggies into E.
And did I mention that a bunch of bananas is pretty cheap, too? Love!
This is a MUST try for anyone who has a sweet tooth but doesn't need the calories. And ok, who really NEEDS extra calories from ice cream. Maybe some skinny little celebrity who is gaining weight for a movie role. But whatever.
Stretch on!
M
Well, my mother-in-law and I had a discussion about going to get ice cream this past Sunday. We opted to save the calories and give this idea a try. We were skeptical to say the least.
All you do is slice a few bananas, freeze the slices and then blend up in a food processor.
And it makes ice cream? Really?
Well I am here to tell you that it is OMG delicious and actually gets the same texture as really thick ice cream! We added about a teaspoon of vanilla and a tablespoon of fat-free milk (just because we needed liquid to get the blender to work!)
You could totally add cocoa powder, strawberries, different types of extracts or even pureed veggies to make this delectable treat even more nutritious.
And did I mention that a bunch of bananas is pretty cheap, too? Love!
This is a MUST try for anyone who has a sweet tooth but doesn't need the calories. And ok, who really NEEDS extra calories from ice cream. Maybe some skinny little celebrity who is gaining weight for a movie role. But whatever.
Stretch on!
M
Friday, March 23, 2012
A worthy cupcake...
...well my dessert strike backfired, darn it. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and have LOST weight. Seriously? They did a sonogram and baby is tracking with weight and size, so that is good. But bottom line you really shouldn't lose weight unless you are super sick (first trimester nausea) or started overweight (not me). Occasionally people lose weight during the last few weeks because they are too full of baby and just can't eat.
The doctor said to eat more. Sounds like a good problem, right? Well, I sort of felt all stressy about it. I don't want to eat the wrong things. I want to continue to eat healthfully, but I guess my little sweets indulgences aren't all bad.
So, I found a worthy cupcake. Metaphorically anyway. It took the form of a free chocolate chip cookie at Target. E and I both had one.
And onward through the remaining 11 weeks of my pregnancy I go – pausing occasionally for a cupcake along the way.
Photo courtesy of Dimples Cupcake Factory in Frisco (Frisco Town Square). My absolute FAVORITE cupcake shop ever! Beats Sprinkles, Cupcakery and the rest. You can check out their website here: http://www.dimplescupcakefactory.com/ Can't go wrong with the cookies and cream or wedding cake flavor. Absolute heaven!
The doctor said to eat more. Sounds like a good problem, right? Well, I sort of felt all stressy about it. I don't want to eat the wrong things. I want to continue to eat healthfully, but I guess my little sweets indulgences aren't all bad.
So, I found a worthy cupcake. Metaphorically anyway. It took the form of a free chocolate chip cookie at Target. E and I both had one.
And onward through the remaining 11 weeks of my pregnancy I go – pausing occasionally for a cupcake along the way.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Dessert Strike
When someone tells you (pregnant or not), "wow you are huge!" that can't be well-received. Well, apparently baby girl has had quite a growth spurt over the past week and people have noticed. So, I decided to go on a dessert strike.
I really don't eat a bunch of junk food ever, but when preggo I let myself indulge a bit more in sweets. Well, to combat these comments (and my lowered self-esteem) in a constructive fashion I've decided to go on a sweets strike. Yes. Me, sweet tooth extraordinaire is avoiding sweets. I just have to do something that makes me feel in control of my increasing size, increasing discomfort and DECREASING self-image. So I am on day 7 of no sweets. The only thing I have had that might classify in that category is organic hazelnut granola with bits of dark chocolate. But I hardly consider that a dessert.
I am not decreasing calories, so don't worry. I am eating very healthfully - fruits, veggies, lean proteins, legumes and whole grains. Baby girl is getting everything she needs. What she doesn't need is unnecessary sugar.
How long will I carry on this little charade? Not sure. I suppose until a really worthy cupcake comes along.
I'll keep you posted.
I really don't eat a bunch of junk food ever, but when preggo I let myself indulge a bit more in sweets. Well, to combat these comments (and my lowered self-esteem) in a constructive fashion I've decided to go on a sweets strike. Yes. Me, sweet tooth extraordinaire is avoiding sweets. I just have to do something that makes me feel in control of my increasing size, increasing discomfort and DECREASING self-image. So I am on day 7 of no sweets. The only thing I have had that might classify in that category is organic hazelnut granola with bits of dark chocolate. But I hardly consider that a dessert.
I am not decreasing calories, so don't worry. I am eating very healthfully - fruits, veggies, lean proteins, legumes and whole grains. Baby girl is getting everything she needs. What she doesn't need is unnecessary sugar.
How long will I carry on this little charade? Not sure. I suppose until a really worthy cupcake comes along.
I'll keep you posted.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Maternity Fitness clothes
When my workout clothes became a bit snug....ok a lot snug a month or so ago, I started to panic. For some reason I was able to wear almost all my stretchy workout clothes until month 9 when I was pregnant with E, but this little Vixen is making me large and in charge in lots of areas. Darn it.
Ok, so I love any good excuse to shop but I hated to spend money on maternity fitness-wear that I would only wear for 3 months or so. First of all, it's hard to find, and secondly it's expensive. Boo [insert sad face].
So, I started to get creative and came across some must-haves for pregnancy exercise:
Long and lean tank tops from Target
Love these! These little gems are only $7 at Target and come in lots of colors. They can work with a stretchy skirt or maternity jeans with fun accessories for outside of the gym to a lovely little workout top. And yes, I bought like 5. The bonus is that you can wear these after baby arrives, too. Hooray for multi-purpose tops! You can buy these tops here.
Nike Pro Fitness pants
The waistband is very forgiving for these pants. I actually had two pairs from pre-pregnancy that still fit! Plus I bought two more in a larger size for a little bit of extra comfort. They are designed to go underneath shorts or sweats, but I like them just as my single layer pants. And again, they will transition back with your body after baby is born.
Super supportive sports bra
This goes without saying. I blog about this here. But find a sports bra that will hold your ample girls tightly. Nothing is more uncomfortable than the boob bounce. Ugh. Fortunately I've been able to make most of my sports bras work. I have purchased a couple extra that I'll be able to use while nursing.
Hubby's shirts
Creativity and an empty wallet got the better of me. I decided it wasn't to my benefit to buy too much, so I re-purposed some items. I'm so green.
Ad man has some really cool dry-fit Nike shirts that I have now made mine for the duration of my pregnancy. Thanks Ad man!
Hubby's long shorts
And, he has some relatively cool athletic shorts that have made their way to cover my large derriere. Pair them with one of those long and lean tanks and a funky hat and you are one stylin' preggo lady!
Stretch on.
M
Ok, so I love any good excuse to shop but I hated to spend money on maternity fitness-wear that I would only wear for 3 months or so. First of all, it's hard to find, and secondly it's expensive. Boo [insert sad face].
So, I started to get creative and came across some must-haves for pregnancy exercise:
Long and lean tank tops from Target
Love these! These little gems are only $7 at Target and come in lots of colors. They can work with a stretchy skirt or maternity jeans with fun accessories for outside of the gym to a lovely little workout top. And yes, I bought like 5. The bonus is that you can wear these after baby arrives, too. Hooray for multi-purpose tops! You can buy these tops here.
Nike Pro Fitness pants
The waistband is very forgiving for these pants. I actually had two pairs from pre-pregnancy that still fit! Plus I bought two more in a larger size for a little bit of extra comfort. They are designed to go underneath shorts or sweats, but I like them just as my single layer pants. And again, they will transition back with your body after baby is born.
Super supportive sports bra
This goes without saying. I blog about this here. But find a sports bra that will hold your ample girls tightly. Nothing is more uncomfortable than the boob bounce. Ugh. Fortunately I've been able to make most of my sports bras work. I have purchased a couple extra that I'll be able to use while nursing.
Hubby's shirts
Creativity and an empty wallet got the better of me. I decided it wasn't to my benefit to buy too much, so I re-purposed some items. I'm so green.
Ad man has some really cool dry-fit Nike shirts that I have now made mine for the duration of my pregnancy. Thanks Ad man!
Hubby's long shorts
And, he has some relatively cool athletic shorts that have made their way to cover my large derriere. Pair them with one of those long and lean tanks and a funky hat and you are one stylin' preggo lady!
Stretch on.
M
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Swimming and Pregnancy
Yep, I'm in my third trimester and really starting to feel heavy and achy. And I tend to moan and groan on occasion. This whole carrying a baby thing is a bit harder the second time around when you are running around after a toddler. And not to mention I'm three years older than the last time...
But I'm keeping as active as possible – still teaching 5 classes a week (modifying the intense bits) and trying to move as much as possible each day.
This weekend we traveled with Ad Man to lovely Tulsa. Yes, Tulsa. Ad Man had a work obligation and we just went along for the ride since he has been traveling quite a bit lately. I had no interest in spending another weekend by ourselves.
Well, it was not the beach vacay I've been dreaming of, but we managed to have a good time. The best part was the indoor hotel pool. E and I had quite a fun time swimming and splashing. And it was awesome for my big, preggo self. I felt less swollen, less puffy and generally rejuvenated from the swim. I of course played with E and then while he was bobbing around with his floaties, I did kicks along the side, ran from one end of the pool to the other ("chasing" E) and bounced around. The water made my belly feel so much lighter.
I didn't take any pics to share of me in my oh-so-flattering maternity swimsuit. Darn it. Sorry.
But I will be swimming as much as possible for the next 2 1/2 months, I think. Entertainment for E and relief for me.
Stretch on.
M
But I'm keeping as active as possible – still teaching 5 classes a week (modifying the intense bits) and trying to move as much as possible each day.
This weekend we traveled with Ad Man to lovely Tulsa. Yes, Tulsa. Ad Man had a work obligation and we just went along for the ride since he has been traveling quite a bit lately. I had no interest in spending another weekend by ourselves.
Well, it was not the beach vacay I've been dreaming of, but we managed to have a good time. The best part was the indoor hotel pool. E and I had quite a fun time swimming and splashing. And it was awesome for my big, preggo self. I felt less swollen, less puffy and generally rejuvenated from the swim. I of course played with E and then while he was bobbing around with his floaties, I did kicks along the side, ran from one end of the pool to the other ("chasing" E) and bounced around. The water made my belly feel so much lighter.
I didn't take any pics to share of me in my oh-so-flattering maternity swimsuit. Darn it. Sorry.
But I will be swimming as much as possible for the next 2 1/2 months, I think. Entertainment for E and relief for me.
Stretch on.
M
Friday, March 16, 2012
10 Things Every Woman Needs in Her Closet
There are some key pieces that every woman should have in her closet, and I'm not talking about that little black dress. I'm talking about the most critical elements to your fitness wardrobe.
As a Mom, you sometimes find that you have only 30 minutes to do an in-home workout while the kiddos are napping. Or Grandma swings by for a visit and you have a few hours to go to the gym and the grocery store (what a treat!) I find that I need the right things on hand so that my workouts are as successful as possible.
Ok, so here's the list:
1) Two pairs of training shoes – Training shoes can easily and comfortably take you from the lateral movements and athletic bursts of boot camp (like Nike Training Club) to the twists and shimmies of Zumba. They are light-weight, have great traction on the bottom and are designed for multiple fitness formats. Plus they are just cute. My favorites right now are the Nike Free TR Twist shoes.
They are just beyond in my opinion. You can buy them here.
Ok and why two pairs? Well, shoes get sweaty. And it's best to let them breathe in between workouts. If you alternate pairs, they won't wear out as quickly and won't be stinky. Ugh. Nothing is worse than stinky gym shoes. And why men like to leave their gym shoes IN the gym bag IN the car so that it stinks to high heaven, I will never know.
2) Hand weightsOk and why two pairs? Well, shoes get sweaty. And it's best to let them breathe in between workouts. If you alternate pairs, they won't wear out as quickly and won't be stinky. Ugh. Nothing is worse than stinky gym shoes. And why men like to leave their gym shoes IN the gym bag IN the car so that it stinks to high heaven, I will never know.
I talk extensively about the importance of adding resistance workouts to your routine. The more muscle you have, the more efficiently you burn fat. And having these little fitness gems on hand at all times makes working in the workout much easier. Hmmm...I like that. Work in the Workout. Ok, anyway. I have light and medium hand weights under my bed (5 pounds and 8 pounds sets). If they are in your house, there is no excuse to take 30 minutes before bed or first thing in the morning to do some reps of curls, squats, overhead presses, lunges, etc. You can buy some cute ones here.
3) Yoga mat
Whether you are a Yogi or not, a Yoga mat is a must. Roll it out and do abs exercises at home. I have loads of awesome exercises on a previous post here about ab exercises. Take it to the gym and use it instead of the...ahem...well-loved mats. Plus it sort of makes you cooler to have a Yoga mat. You never know when you might decide to take a Bikram yoga class. I haven't ever taken one, but hear they are amazing. It's on my fitness bucket list. After baby arrives, I might have to give it a go. You can buy a super cute yoga mat here.
4) Flattering workout pants
You gotta find pants that hold it in and make you feel confident when you hit the gym. The Nike Legend pants are probably the BEST pants that have ever covered my (now amply pregnant bottom). They make your butt look cute with this V-shaped stitching, plus they don't push up your love handles. I mean not that you have any... They come in various lengths and colors. You can buy them here.
5) A super supportive sports bra
I talk about sports bras in a previous post. Check it out here. I'm normally not a girl who has large boobs to hold tight, but pregnancy (and then nursing) makes them large. Your workout will be more comfortable (and thus you'll be more successful at reaching your goals) if the girls are held tightly!
6) Black and white ankle socks
Now this is just a fashion must! Most importantly ankle socks are the ONLY way to go at the gym. The only exception is if you are wearing funky tall socks (up to your knees). I've been known to wear cool striped socks or retro tall gym socks (circa 1970). But the 1980's mid-calf slouch socks are O-U-T! Please don't wear them. If you could see me, I'm making a grimace and have my hands on my hips.
Ok, now that this point is clear, match your socks to your shoe color. If your shoes are black (which are wildly cool, here's a pic of some of my black shoes)
then your socks should be black.
If they are mostly colored or white-based
then white socks are appropriate.
7) A few funky accessories
You dress the part when it comes to the gym. If you dress in old, grubby T-shirts with holes or dirty, grass-stained kicks, then you certainly can't feel like the amazing, fit, hot athlete that you are! I love to have a few funky, fun accessories to spruce up any workout outfit. My faves include a funky hat like this one (P.S. I'm 5 months preggo here)...
Fun socks
Crazy gel bracelets
Belly chain (ahem…definitely sported this pre-baby #2)
Grafitti top (courtesy of Feelgoodstyle.com)
You get the idea. It makes you feel all fashion-ey even at the gym.
8) Various solid colored workout tops
I love to wear all black because of it’s obvious slimming effect, but I also love bright bold colors to keep me upbeat and rockin’ my workout.
9) A heart rate monitor/calorie counter
You can’t know how many calories you burn unless they are accurately tracked via a heart rate monitor. The machines at the gym are far from accurate and they don’t take into account your individual stats and heart rate. I talk about this more in this blog post, click here. Or here. I SO want a Nike+ FuelBand (hint hint Nike!)
10) A really awesome exercise DVD
There are oodles and oodles of these from Turbo Jam to P90X. It’s like having a trainer in your home. If you find yourself in a pinch and unable to get to the gym, pop in a DVD and get rockin’. Plus the kids will think it’s fun to watch you wiggle around.
If you don't have these items in your closet (or drawer or cabinets), then you must run out and purchase them immediately. Your fitness success depends on it! Plus it's a great excuse to go shopping.
Nakedly Yours,
M
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Stretch Naked has a new look!
So I've been wanting to up the aesthetic ante on this blog. My design skills are limited to PowerPoint and Keynote. But my wonderful friend Gabby offered to make me a new header and now the blog looks fab! Thank you so much!
If you are interested in Gabby's mad design skills, you can check out her portfolio on http://gabrielatorres.carbonmade.com/
She is an awesome dancer, too. She shakes her cute booty in Zumba classes on a regular basis.
Thanks again Gabby! You rock!
If you are interested in Gabby's mad design skills, you can check out her portfolio on http://gabrielatorres.carbonmade.com/
She is an awesome dancer, too. She shakes her cute booty in Zumba classes on a regular basis.
Thanks again Gabby! You rock!
Nike Fuel band...why aren't you mine? A desperate plea to Nike
You all know that I totally geek-out over all things Nike. I have countless pairs of kicks, oodles of clothing and now my current obsession is the can't-find-it-anywhere Nike+ FuelBand.
They sell out online just as quickly as they are put on Nike.com. My Nike connections don't even have any. And when I see someone post something on Facebook about fuel points or their new band, I sort of tear up {sigh}...
Ok so what is it?
Nike+ FuelBand is a fitness tracker that tracks your daily activity and converts it to "fuel points." Many activities are tracked and converted to points. Run, walk, dance, train, clean your house - and you earn points. It's a fun way to move more and work to reach a movement goal.
It also tracks time, calories and steps.
You link it in to your phone or computer and it tracks progress. And of course, there is a free app for the iPhone.
You can learn more here. But right at this moment you cannot buy it anywhere! I feel very tortured when I can't find something that I desperately want. I wanted to get two actually, one for me and one for Ad Man for his upcoming birthday {I mean but really more for me, I'm the one who is fitness obsessed}.
So what do you say Nike? You want to send me one to test drive and I'll write a review? I gotta have it! Furthermore, there are lots of reasons I need one:
1) I teach Nike Training Club
2) I almost exclusively wear Nike clothing to the gym (and often around the house, to the grocery store, etc.) It would match my fitness fashion
3) I'm pregnant and still rockin' my workouts (Preggo-athlete-style)
4) I would blog about it extensively and how it will help me lose weight after sweet baby girl is born
5) I REALLY REALLY REALLY want one!
Plus I'll make this very, very sad face if I don't get one.
And, yes, I'm blogging from my car. I am not driving, though. Don't worry.
Well, friends, if you and your shopping-savvy-self can find one, grab one for me. I'll pay with cash (of course), hugs, kisses and a special Nike Training Club drill named after you. Seriously.
Nakedly yours,
M
They sell out online just as quickly as they are put on Nike.com. My Nike connections don't even have any. And when I see someone post something on Facebook about fuel points or their new band, I sort of tear up {sigh}...
Ok so what is it?
Nike+ FuelBand is a fitness tracker that tracks your daily activity and converts it to "fuel points." Many activities are tracked and converted to points. Run, walk, dance, train, clean your house - and you earn points. It's a fun way to move more and work to reach a movement goal.
It also tracks time, calories and steps.
You link it in to your phone or computer and it tracks progress. And of course, there is a free app for the iPhone.
You can learn more here. But right at this moment you cannot buy it anywhere! I feel very tortured when I can't find something that I desperately want. I wanted to get two actually, one for me and one for Ad Man for his upcoming birthday {I mean but really more for me, I'm the one who is fitness obsessed}.
So what do you say Nike? You want to send me one to test drive and I'll write a review? I gotta have it! Furthermore, there are lots of reasons I need one:
1) I teach Nike Training Club
2) I almost exclusively wear Nike clothing to the gym (and often around the house, to the grocery store, etc.) It would match my fitness fashion
3) I'm pregnant and still rockin' my workouts (Preggo-athlete-style)
4) I would blog about it extensively and how it will help me lose weight after sweet baby girl is born
5) I REALLY REALLY REALLY want one!
Plus I'll make this very, very sad face if I don't get one.
And, yes, I'm blogging from my car. I am not driving, though. Don't worry.
Well, friends, if you and your shopping-savvy-self can find one, grab one for me. I'll pay with cash (of course), hugs, kisses and a special Nike Training Club drill named after you. Seriously.
Nakedly yours,
M
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Need some design talent! You up to the challenge?
I really want to re-vamp the header for my blog. Looking for something clean and fresh. Fun and vibrant. Any designers out there want to take a crack at it? Cool font, deep colors (magenta, plum, turquoise) are my faves.
Would love for the title "Stretch Naked" with a little tagline - "a health and fitness blog" as a little signature.
I can only do so much with my mad PPT and Keynote skills. I need a photoshopper extraordinaire!
Any takers? I would sing your praises on my blog and give you a kiss – virtually that is :)
Would love for the title "Stretch Naked" with a little tagline - "a health and fitness blog" as a little signature.
I can only do so much with my mad PPT and Keynote skills. I need a photoshopper extraordinaire!
Any takers? I would sing your praises on my blog and give you a kiss – virtually that is :)
Saturday, March 10, 2012
It's ok to brag...
Facebook is like the cost of entry into the social media world, right? I mean, you have to have a page. And you absolutely must waste an ample amount of time each week stalking old friends (to see if they got fat) or to check out people's party pics (living vicariously through them). Right?
Well as you are checking out a random friend's cousin's bachelorette party (of which you know no one in the pictures), you are bound to come across the very cocky post every now and again. Many are related to working out:
"I just killed it at the gym. #irock!"
"Got up at 4:30am to get my 15 mile run in this morning!"
"Yay for me. I took 7 aerobics classes today and then went for a 10-mile bike ride. Feeling sort of tired now. LOL!"
Or the endless check-ins from people at 24 Hour Fitness.
Brag, brag, brag.
If it's a day that you slept through your alarm, ate a donut for breakfast, then accidentally had three cocktails for dinner, those kinds of post make you feel sort of...well...guilty. I mean the only sweat you worked up today was the nervous kind when your boss asked you about a presentation that is dangerously past it's deadline. You think, that person is such a bragger!
Well, change your mind on that one, please. Pretty please. I give you permission to brag when it comes to taking care of yourself. Document your workouts! It will keep you and other motivated. When I see posts like that, I try to think GOOD FOR THEM! Then I think, what else I can do to be kind to myself in the health department - an extra few push-ups, a couple jacks, some yoga, a bowl of fruit. You get it.
So, now, Naked Stretchers. Whenever you finish a workout - large, small, intense or moderate, post about it on Facebook, or this blog, or on Twitter or on LinkedIn - whichever site is your social media poison of choice. And tag me! I will say something awesome like "you hot, fit thing, you!" or "you are fabulous." Or something equally as charming :)
Brag away, please!
Nakedly yours,
M
Well as you are checking out a random friend's cousin's bachelorette party (of which you know no one in the pictures), you are bound to come across the very cocky post every now and again. Many are related to working out:
"I just killed it at the gym. #irock!"
"Got up at 4:30am to get my 15 mile run in this morning!"
"Yay for me. I took 7 aerobics classes today and then went for a 10-mile bike ride. Feeling sort of tired now. LOL!"
Or the endless check-ins from people at 24 Hour Fitness.
Brag, brag, brag.
If it's a day that you slept through your alarm, ate a donut for breakfast, then accidentally had three cocktails for dinner, those kinds of post make you feel sort of...well...guilty. I mean the only sweat you worked up today was the nervous kind when your boss asked you about a presentation that is dangerously past it's deadline. You think, that person is such a bragger!
Well, change your mind on that one, please. Pretty please. I give you permission to brag when it comes to taking care of yourself. Document your workouts! It will keep you and other motivated. When I see posts like that, I try to think GOOD FOR THEM! Then I think, what else I can do to be kind to myself in the health department - an extra few push-ups, a couple jacks, some yoga, a bowl of fruit. You get it.
Brag away, please!
Nakedly yours,
M
Friday, March 9, 2012
Healthy, Iron-Rich Salad
Ok, so Pinterest is my new obsession for all things health, fitness, food, kids and baby. I could literally spend hours trolling people's boards and pin myself into oblivion. It's actually quite a good way to keep yourself from actually shopping. It's like shopping without the dollar signs and argument with the hub. So, when I stumbled upon this salad recipe, I had to give it a go. And boy howdy, this preggo lady was in heaven.
It's healthy, it's rich in iron, it's raw, fresh and clean. All the things that add up to a good meal for baby girl (and her large and in charge Momma). Did I mention I've gained 18 pounds so far? Yep. 13 more weeks to go...what will the total be? Ugh. I can't bear to think. Anyway, that's another post for another day...
Now back to my green, red and brown heaven in a bowl... I saw this picture with ingredients listed on Pinterest, but there was no recipe attached. So I just created my own version...
What you'll need:
1 avocado
2 big handfuls of cherry tomatoes
1 cucumber
a bunch of cilantro
1 can of organic black beans
3-4 generous handfuls of fresh baby spinach
olive oil
lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
So easy. Dice up the avocado, tomatoes and cucumber. Dump into a largish bowl. Wash and add the baby spinach. Rinse black beans, pat dry and add to your bowl. Tear up the cilantro and let it join the party. Drizzle olive oil sparingly and shake on the lime juice like it's Cristal and you are some hot, rich celebrity. Stay with me here. Add salt and pepper to taste. I'm quite heavy-handed with black pepper. And toss it all up, you healthy thing, you.
Let it sit in the fridge to let the flavors marry or just serve it up immediately. I served my salad over plain brown rice to add a little carb action. You remember my immutable law of staying full, right? Carbs plus protein.
Anyway, it was delish! And instead of that full, nauseated, why-did-I-eat-that feeling you sometimes get after dinner (I mean not that you ever have that, but you know, imagine others who might feel that way), you will feel GOOD about what you just devoured.
Now, it is not a kid-friendly meal. I gave E a bowl with rice and everything sans the fresh spinach and he looked at me like I was an alien. Maybe that's actually what I look like to him. At any rate, he ended up eating PB&J, yogurt and strawberries for dinner.
But for you and the other adults in your household this is the salad of all salads!
Give this a go for din or as a cute little look-at-me-and-how-healthy-I-am lunch at work. People will look at you with jealousy as they heat up their sad little Lean Cuisine or drag in their greasy bag-o-burgers. Score for you. And all the more reason to stretch naked, my friend.
Nakedly yours,
M
Credits: Photo courtesy of Pinterest
It's healthy, it's rich in iron, it's raw, fresh and clean. All the things that add up to a good meal for baby girl (and her large and in charge Momma). Did I mention I've gained 18 pounds so far? Yep. 13 more weeks to go...what will the total be? Ugh. I can't bear to think. Anyway, that's another post for another day...
Now back to my green, red and brown heaven in a bowl... I saw this picture with ingredients listed on Pinterest, but there was no recipe attached. So I just created my own version...
What you'll need:
1 avocado
2 big handfuls of cherry tomatoes
1 cucumber
a bunch of cilantro
1 can of organic black beans
3-4 generous handfuls of fresh baby spinach
olive oil
lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
So easy. Dice up the avocado, tomatoes and cucumber. Dump into a largish bowl. Wash and add the baby spinach. Rinse black beans, pat dry and add to your bowl. Tear up the cilantro and let it join the party. Drizzle olive oil sparingly and shake on the lime juice like it's Cristal and you are some hot, rich celebrity. Stay with me here. Add salt and pepper to taste. I'm quite heavy-handed with black pepper. And toss it all up, you healthy thing, you.
Let it sit in the fridge to let the flavors marry or just serve it up immediately. I served my salad over plain brown rice to add a little carb action. You remember my immutable law of staying full, right? Carbs plus protein. Anyway, it was delish! And instead of that full, nauseated, why-did-I-eat-that feeling you sometimes get after dinner (I mean not that you ever have that, but you know, imagine others who might feel that way), you will feel GOOD about what you just devoured.
Now, it is not a kid-friendly meal. I gave E a bowl with rice and everything sans the fresh spinach and he looked at me like I was an alien. Maybe that's actually what I look like to him. At any rate, he ended up eating PB&J, yogurt and strawberries for dinner.
But for you and the other adults in your household this is the salad of all salads!
Give this a go for din or as a cute little look-at-me-and-how-healthy-I-am lunch at work. People will look at you with jealousy as they heat up their sad little Lean Cuisine or drag in their greasy bag-o-burgers. Score for you. And all the more reason to stretch naked, my friend.
Nakedly yours,
M
Credits: Photo courtesy of Pinterest
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The Dallas Morning News!
The Dallas Morning News wants to do a fitness profile on little ol' me!!! I am so excited! They are going take pics during my class this Saturday at 24 Hour Fitness Valley Ranch, 11:30.
The focus of the story is about continuing to exercise while pregnant, which I am clearly (and some days painfully) doing :)
I'm pretty sure I know what to say, but the big question is WHAT THE HECK AM I GOING TO WEAR??? I have to look super cute, trendy and Sretch Nakedy. Natch!
I want all my Naked Stretchers to come take my class! I promise it will be one of the best you've ever taken!!!! And I'll add one more exclamation point to that!
And if you are curious about the growing bump, I will post a pic-y soon :)
The focus of the story is about continuing to exercise while pregnant, which I am clearly (and some days painfully) doing :)
I'm pretty sure I know what to say, but the big question is WHAT THE HECK AM I GOING TO WEAR??? I have to look super cute, trendy and Sretch Nakedy. Natch!
I want all my Naked Stretchers to come take my class! I promise it will be one of the best you've ever taken!!!! And I'll add one more exclamation point to that!
And if you are curious about the growing bump, I will post a pic-y soon :)
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Dessert Alert
There is no denying my sweet tooth with this pregnancy! I had to have something sweet today and discovered an amazing low-fat, kid-friendly, delicous treat.
Mix equal parts natural peanut butter with light cool whip. Stir until smooth. Spread on a graham cracker and top with banana slices.
Easy and A-mazing! I intended on having only one graham cracker spread but ended up eating two :)
I was going to take a pic, too, but it didn't last long enough.
Thanks Weight Watchers for the idea!
Mix equal parts natural peanut butter with light cool whip. Stir until smooth. Spread on a graham cracker and top with banana slices.
Easy and A-mazing! I intended on having only one graham cracker spread but ended up eating two :)
I was going to take a pic, too, but it didn't last long enough.
Thanks Weight Watchers for the idea!
Monday, January 2, 2012
New Year's Resolutions
First of all, Happy New Year! I hope that you are still going strong with your New Year's Resolutions. For once, my resolutions have NOTHING to do with losing weight! I suppose that will come in June when baby girl is born. But breastfeeding should take care of a lot of that weight gain (fingers crossed). And hopefully the rest will come off quickly when I get back into my exercise routine after I recover from my c-section.
Ok, so what are my resolutions? Some are health related, some are family-related and some are just plain fun :)
1) Have a healthy baby! I'm going to do this by eating well, exercising as much as I can and trying to find time to rest more. I will teach classes as long as I still feel well. Hopefully until April, but I won't beat myself up if my body tells me otherwise. I'll go on more walks with Baby E (which I'm going to have to find a new name for him since he won't be the baby anymore!) Well not the smallest baby. He will always be my baby :)
2) Cook more! I have fallen victim to laziness a bit in this area. It's become far easier to pick something up or to eat peanut butter sandwiches. But I think that cooking is so important to overall healthy eating for my family. Healthy recipes rich in lean protein, whole grains and veggies are high on my list! Plus Ad Man is trying to lose weight. He says the "diet" starts tomorrow when he goes back to work. I'm going to make a meal plan for all of us each week and we have to stick to it. Of course, I'll build in some opportunities for us to eat out and have fun every now and again, but the more you plan to more money you save and the healthier you eat! I made our first family meal plan and we've stuck to it perfectly so far! I'll do another post in the next few days so you can see what I put together!
3) Project Life! My friend told me about this awesome way to scrapbook and capture all the little moments in your life, called Project Life. I bought a starter kit and binder for both myself and my sister-in-law. Anyway, you take a picture of your family/kids each day for a year. Then there are all these cute little cards and patterns that you slide into these page protectors. Add the pictures, then you simply journal what you were doing that day or a little saying/date and there you have it! I'm going to print pictures every other week and then sit and do the journaling once per month. I have it marked on my calendar to keep me accountable!
3) Blog more! Yes, my Naked Stretchers. I am going to blog more. Yes indeedy!
4) Get organized! Ok, ok, This is on like everyone's list. But I've already started down this path. Ad Man and I purged out closets, got rid of oodles of things we don't need and put organization methods in place. I'll blog more about how my kitchen organization is making cooking and eating healthy easy!
5) Play, teach and love more! Play more with E. Teach more to myself and to E. Love unconditionally - E, Ad Man, June Bug and myself!
There you have it! I would love to hear your New Year's Resolutions. If they are health and fitness-related, I might be able to give you some advice. So let's hear it!
Ok, so what are my resolutions? Some are health related, some are family-related and some are just plain fun :)
1) Have a healthy baby! I'm going to do this by eating well, exercising as much as I can and trying to find time to rest more. I will teach classes as long as I still feel well. Hopefully until April, but I won't beat myself up if my body tells me otherwise. I'll go on more walks with Baby E (which I'm going to have to find a new name for him since he won't be the baby anymore!) Well not the smallest baby. He will always be my baby :)
2) Cook more! I have fallen victim to laziness a bit in this area. It's become far easier to pick something up or to eat peanut butter sandwiches. But I think that cooking is so important to overall healthy eating for my family. Healthy recipes rich in lean protein, whole grains and veggies are high on my list! Plus Ad Man is trying to lose weight. He says the "diet" starts tomorrow when he goes back to work. I'm going to make a meal plan for all of us each week and we have to stick to it. Of course, I'll build in some opportunities for us to eat out and have fun every now and again, but the more you plan to more money you save and the healthier you eat! I made our first family meal plan and we've stuck to it perfectly so far! I'll do another post in the next few days so you can see what I put together!
3) Project Life! My friend told me about this awesome way to scrapbook and capture all the little moments in your life, called Project Life. I bought a starter kit and binder for both myself and my sister-in-law. Anyway, you take a picture of your family/kids each day for a year. Then there are all these cute little cards and patterns that you slide into these page protectors. Add the pictures, then you simply journal what you were doing that day or a little saying/date and there you have it! I'm going to print pictures every other week and then sit and do the journaling once per month. I have it marked on my calendar to keep me accountable!
3) Blog more! Yes, my Naked Stretchers. I am going to blog more. Yes indeedy!
4) Get organized! Ok, ok, This is on like everyone's list. But I've already started down this path. Ad Man and I purged out closets, got rid of oodles of things we don't need and put organization methods in place. I'll blog more about how my kitchen organization is making cooking and eating healthy easy!
5) Play, teach and love more! Play more with E. Teach more to myself and to E. Love unconditionally - E, Ad Man, June Bug and myself!
There you have it! I would love to hear your New Year's Resolutions. If they are health and fitness-related, I might be able to give you some advice. So let's hear it!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Healthy Pregnancy
So why this topic? Well I'm pregnant with baby #2! Yes, Ad Man, Baby E and I are thrilled to announce that we are expecting a baby girl in early June! I'm calling her June Bug since we haven't decided on a name yet.
I know that many of you know this already from Facebook or taking my classes, you can already tell!
So, having survived my first trimester (whew the exhaustion and nausea were wild), I'm ready to focus my efforts on having a healthy pregnancy - via healthy eating and exercise.
Will I continue to teach? YES!!!! I am planning to teach until April. However, I will listen to my body and stop when it tells me to! I have started to modify my activity a bit. I don't jump as much in TKB and just demonstrate a lot of the drills in Nike Training Club. But, still going strong with exercise.
Will I teach after June Bug is born? Of course! Hoping to stick with my current schedule. I will keep everyone posted as my delivery comes closer! I should only be off April through August. Back for sure in mid-August, early September. I will have lots of great subs filling in, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, I am using oodles of willpower to avoid sweets. My weakness all the time, but especially during pregnancy!
I'll keep everyone update on my pregnancy and growing healthy baby! I'll post belly pics, too. I know that I love looking at other people's growing belly pics :)
I know that many of you know this already from Facebook or taking my classes, you can already tell!
So, having survived my first trimester (whew the exhaustion and nausea were wild), I'm ready to focus my efforts on having a healthy pregnancy - via healthy eating and exercise.
Will I continue to teach? YES!!!! I am planning to teach until April. However, I will listen to my body and stop when it tells me to! I have started to modify my activity a bit. I don't jump as much in TKB and just demonstrate a lot of the drills in Nike Training Club. But, still going strong with exercise.
Will I teach after June Bug is born? Of course! Hoping to stick with my current schedule. I will keep everyone posted as my delivery comes closer! I should only be off April through August. Back for sure in mid-August, early September. I will have lots of great subs filling in, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, I am using oodles of willpower to avoid sweets. My weakness all the time, but especially during pregnancy!
I'll keep everyone update on my pregnancy and growing healthy baby! I'll post belly pics, too. I know that I love looking at other people's growing belly pics :)
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