Thursday, December 31, 2009

Cranberry Dip

I have been SO good over these holidays. I have indulged somewhat but I caved with this stuff. We made THREE batches at my parents house for Christmas. I made ANOTHER for New Year's. Oh my oh my oh my this is just TOOO good!

Cranberry Dip

1 12oz bag fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
3 green onions
1 bunch cilantro
1-2 jalapenos {seeded}
lime juice {to taste}
8oz brick cream cheese
Tortilla chips or crackers

Cut onions, cilantro and jalapenos into 1" sections. Mix cranberries, onions, cilantro and jalapenos in a food processor. Add lime juice if needed or desired. Place cream cheese on platter and pour cranberry mixture on top. Use chips or crackers to dip.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Breakfast of Champions

We ♥LOVE♥ breakfast! It's the most important meal of the day, didn't you know?! A few of our favorite breakfasts are breakfast burritos, crepes, oatmeal, 720's {a breakfast roll we've thought up and perfected}, quiche... okay so we love everything breakfast! We really believe its importance though. We want to be sure our kids have a lot of energy and brain power for school and we want the same for ourselves. So we are sure that EVERY morning we eat a good breakfast... you should too!

I found this awesome article HERE. It mentions a few studies to back up breakfast! One has found that if you skip breakfast you are 4.5 times MORE likely to be obese than those who eat breakfast daily. Now, this article is geared more towards cereals. If you listen carefully to those commercials they always say, "PART of a complete breakfast". So in my HUMBLE opinion, you better be eating something else too. Say, a bowl of fruit & yogurt or some scrambled eggs... whatever you prefer but a bowl of cereal just isn't going to cut it.

Still not convinced? Try these articles on for size. THIS one is about breakfast & the connection with weight loss. THIS one talks about the many benefits of eating breakfast. I could go ON and ON. There are countless articles on how important this is.

So here's to eating better! Start your day out right!! Eat a good breakfast!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Motivation to RUN

In an effort to help get motivated {I've been sick} I found a few videos that I thought I'd share. You go ahead and watch these, I'm going to go RUN!






Monday, December 28, 2009

Spoiled ROTTEN

Christmas was great. We played our hearts out and had a blast the entire weekend!! I am not one to boast about loot from Christmas but I just HAD to share what I got... cause it's what I'm going to be DOING!!! I must have been a really good girl this year because I was spoiled ROTTEN!!

Santa left some GU in my stocking! Ah Yeah!!!He also brought me Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 for my Wii. I am SO ready for her to kick my butt!
My man got me the Wii Fit Plus!! I am so excited; I hear this one is WAY better than the original Wii Fit.And I SCORED BIG time with these Yukon Charlie's snow shoes!!! They were intended for my sister but she already has a pair so she graciously sent them home with ME!!! I seriously CAN NOT wait to try these babies out!
A HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to Stonewall, S. Jay See {my sis} and my parents!! I've got the tools and there are NO EXCUSES!! I you guys!!! Thanks again!!!

I also got a hot new hairdo!! Oh how bad I needed a pro color job!!! It looks so GOOD!!! Thanks goes to my MIL for letting us use her kitchen, My SIL for hooking me up with her sister, K for doing such an amazing job and to Stonewall for forking out the dough! Man I feel good!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Merry Christmas!

I really can't believe that Christmas is just a couple days away! We are so excited to spend time with family and enjoy the snow {we're praying for more to fall}. We have the whole week packed with Christmas Concerts & family gatherings! We'll be heading up to my hometown {the most beautiful place on earth} tomorrow and I can't wait!!! I'm going to make sure and get in at least one good run and maybe some snowshoeing! There will be PLENTY of delicious food, EXCESSIVE laughter and a million memories to show for it!

Two things before I take off.

#1. I think that Christmas is entirely too commercialized and has completely gone away from the TRUE meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Everyone is so hypersensitive about being PC with the whole holiday. And I think that it's sad.

#2. It IS possible to get through this holiday season without being glutenous! Yes there will be more goodies than you can imagine BUT just remember "All Thing in Moderation"!! Yes it's okay to indulge every now and then but try not to over do it. And then be sure to get off your butt and do something PHYSICAL!! Being surrounded by family is a great opportunity to be active with great company; you'll LOVE it!

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Bring on the Competition!!!

I come from a very athletic and competitive family. Both of my parents are natural athletes and continue to participate in sports; they are in their 50's and are avid wakeboard and water skiers among other things. My older sister is good at EVERY sport she tries {the latest being RUGBY}! She even went as far as Ireland to play in a basketball competition. I actually got out of a speeding ticket once because the state trooper thought that I was HER; when I told him of his error he simply handed me my drivers license and said, "Well, tell your sister hi for me." My brothers are equally athletic. All three of them are State competitors &/or champions in various sports including football, wrestling, track and cross country. My younger sister is in her Freshman year but is already showing signs of great talent in soccer and basketball!

And then there is ME! Believe me, I tried!! I went out for sports but wasn't aggressive enough to really excel. I was more of the music and Drama nerd; President of both the Pep Band AND Drama Club my senior year {yep, nerd to the "nth" degree}. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED that, still do; you could say that I'm STILL that music & drama nerd. But if I'm perfectly honest I did well in Track. But I didn't love the track coach; he used "reverse psychology" and that just doesn't work for me. After high school I kept up my running a LITTLE bit in college but I really REALLY wish I had been running all this time!

I went on a great run this morning. 5 miles. It was chilly but not too cold and I was once again reminded how much I LOVE to run outside. I loved hearing the sound of my feet crunching in the snow. My mind starts to wander, I get in my groove and I feel like I could run forever. I started thinking about this Marathon business I've gotten myself into and I got SO EXCITED! And I realized that deep down I have a competitive side when it comes to running but what I love is that is competition with MYSELF!! I knew that side of me was in there somewhere and I'm excited to let it out some more! See what I'm made of! Bring it on baby!!

Monday, December 14, 2009

The Countdown Begins

So my Sister-In-Law did it. She convinced me to run a marathon. GASP! I've had my reasons for putting it off. And despite the fact that the requirements I've given myself haven't all been met, I'm going to go for it anyway. This is going to be my "MARATHON Year!" Stonewall and I are going to run one together before he leaves too. It will help him be tip top shape before heading in to Basic.

SO
... I am starting Jeff Galloway's Marathon Training Schedule TODAY!! On the rest days I will be doing a variety of strength training workouts... pulling from P90X, Wii Fit, Jillian Michaels workout DVD's and the like. I like to mix things up, keep my body {and mind} guessing!

I have already identified my BIGGEST HURDLE: the darn treadmill! I hate the thing. I hate that I'm not outside. I hate that the speed isn't the same as running outside. I hate that time & distance seem to EEK by. I hate how it's so noisy {I don't like to listen to ANYTHING while I run, well except for my feet hitting the street & other outdoor noises!}. UGH! There is more BUT I have GOT to change my attitude.

I picked myself up a couple books on tape: Hitler Youth {I am a WWII geek} and my M-I-L brought over The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Nieme. I am REALLY hoping that they keep me occupied enough that I forget I'm on the treadmill or at least make it bearable.

Got any pointers for my first marathon?

Sunday, December 13, 2009

In A Frump

I'm in a major workout slump. Our temps have been in the negatives for what seems like an eternity, but in reality is probably only a couple weeks. It was warmer today {20°} which was great because it was finally able to snow!!! But even then I am lacking motivation {I have a MILLION reasons to leave those running shoes in the closet, some are actually pretty good ones too}. But alas I know better and need to get my butt back in gear.

Aside from that I have had, dare I admit?... a case of the blues. GASP! Could it be connected to my lack of exercise? Maybe... probably. I always feel better if I'm working out regularly. I have really been looking for some change {yes I realize I will have more change than I can stomach in 7 months} and every avenue has brought dead ends. Today it hit me hard. Tonight Stonewall is giving me a good back massage and hopefully after a good night's sleep I'll feel better in the morning.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Army Strong

I haven't disappeared. PROMISE! I have slacked a bit, okay A LOT, with running and working out. But I have a REALLY good reason. See we have been COMPLETELY engrossed with applications for the military. Unless you've filled out those papers, you have NO IDEA what is involved!!

Long story... short version. We originally applied for the Air Force's officer program but out of 1500 applicants, they only accepted 72... we weren't among them. So we tried Army, since we had done so much of the application for the Air Force it didn't take nearly as long to get everything lined up, turned in and sent on it's way {thank goodness}. After that it was REALLY FAST! He passed the board and was sworn in as a "Future Army Specialist". He enters basic training in July. "Stonewall"... that's my man's new nickname, well at least until I think of a better military one, he's not much of a stone wall... but don't tell him I said that. He's super EXCITED! We're excited too. He will be an officer by this time next year!! He was given a packet with all kinds of goodies. My most favorite thing is this flip book, the Army Pocket Physical Training Guide. Oh it's awesome! It's full of exercises and workout routines to prepare these future Army soldiers for the physical demands of their initial training. I am hoping to do some of these exercise sessions with Stonewall, I'm sure they'll kick my butt back in to gear!

We're not just STRONG... we're ARMY STRONG!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Soda Pop HAS to Stop

My family is really good about NOT drinking soda. Our kids don't even get their first drinks of soda until, oh... 4 years old. My husband doesn't touch the stuff; okay maybe the occasional Henry Weinhard's but seriously, that's ONLY for special occasions... like maybe holidays! I, however, am a closet soda lover!! We NEVER buy the stuff... because if it's around... I WILL DRINK IT!! There, I said it. Do I favor one soda over another? Not really! If it's bubbly, I'll drink it... unless it's diet, no way will I drink diet. What's sad though is I may not even really LIKE it but I STILL DRINK IT!! I HATE the way my body feels afterwards too. But does that stop me? No. Sigh.

As of late I have been drinking A LOT of soda too. 7Up has to put out their so super yummy Pomegranate flavored drink on the shelves this time of year and I cave... big time. Plus I took my four kids on a little road trip and I think I drank more soda in that 2 day period than I did in our entire 8 day vacation in October. YUCK!

Why do I do this to myself? I feel dehydrated and grimey. Carbonation is so horrid. Whether it's in soda or water {don't even get me started on how stupid I think THAT is} carbonation is just not good for you! Those little bubbles detroy the nutrients and digestive enzymes in the food we eat. It makes bones brittle. For crying out loud I use Pepsi to clean off my car battery!!! I can only imagine what the stuff is doing to my digestive tract. And though those Diet sodas may toot the Zero-Calorie horn, the sugars in diet soda are WORSE for you!! Thank goodness we're down to just 2 cans of soda left in the house. I've got my bottle of water following me around the house again and I'm sure I'll be feeling MUCH better soon!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thankful ♥

I love Thanksgiving. Gathering around family and loved ones; sharing laughs, playing games, swapping recipes and indulging in yummy food. Oh how I love it!! But more than any of those things I love having a day where everyone is reflective of those things that they are blessed with. There is an overall optimism that I just LOVE LOVE LOVE!! So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are a few things on MY thankful list... what's on yours?

♥ My Man. I have an amazing husband who is my white knight and my best friend.
♥ My Sprouts. I have 4 fabulous kids who are full of energy, brain power, imagination and fun. I love them to pieces.
♥ My Fam. I have such an awesome family. My parents are my heroes. My in-laws love me as their own. ALL my siblings are simply amazing individuals.
♥ My Faith. It gets me through the hard times, lifts me even higher during the good times and warms my heart.
♥ My talents. Some days I feel they are few and far between but if I'm honest I have a lot to offer this world and I'm grateful for that!
♥ My Bod. I have always been lucky to be naturally smaller and working off baby weight has always taken little to no effort. But regardless of that fact I love that I am able to run far and fast. That I can dance. That I can play with my kids. I try to take care of my body and it, in turn, takes care of me!

I am grateful for SO many other things. Shelter, sustenance, friends, security... We live a wonderful happy life. LUCKY ME!

Friday, November 20, 2009

POM

This time of year there are some amazing fruits available. One that I eagerly await is the POMEGRANATE {it's available from Sep-Jan}!! Oh my oh my OH MY how we love this fruit; two of my kids have asked Santa to put one in their stocking this year! I remember 9 years ago sitting with my husband of 6 months at our dinner table {a card table} eating a pomegranate. We talked about how awesome they are and how one day they were going to be BIG. They would be added to foods and drinks... oh yeah, we called it! You can find pomegranate in everything from soda to soap {yes, I have both of those things in my house... Pomegranate 7Up is positively sinful!} The pomegranate is an amazing little fruit. They are native to Persia and is one of the oldest fruits known to man! Cool huh?! It's tart but sweet. Jewish tradition says that there are 613 seeds representing the 613 commandments in the Torah. Some believe that it is the fruit from the Tree of Life. Also {due to it's large quantity of arils - seeds} practically everywhere associates the pomegranate with fertility. It is a BEAUTIFUL fruit too!
Pomegranates are used more widely in other parts of the world. It's been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. But it has a lot of health benefits. The best website is www.pomwonderful.com. Some health facts listed there are:

*Pomegranates contain polyphenols, a natural powerful and effective antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect your body against "free radicals", which contribute to chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer.

*They have A TON of Vitamin C - perfect considering the nasty weather and the sniffles that come with it.

*They also have a lot of Vitamin K which is necessary for healthy blood coagulation.

I got this NIFTY handout at the grocery store when I bought a couple pomegrantes the other day. THIS is DEFINITELY the way to get into these beauties! In case you can't read it:
1. With a sharp paring knife, cut off the top about 1/2 inch below the crown.
2. Once the top is off, you'll see four to six sections. With your knofe point, scoer the skin at each section.
3. Separate the pomegranate at each score, so that you have individual sections {I recommend doing this over a bowl}
4. Over a bowl of water, use your fingers to loosen the arils and drop them into the bowl. The arils will sink to the bottom.
5. Use a spoon to scoop out the pices of shite membrane that have floated to the top.
6. Pour the remaining liquid through a strainer. Place the arils in your favorite dish and ENJOY!

Enjoy them while they're around! Throw a few arils in with your salad or smoothy. Top oatmeal, yogurt or cereal. OR, you can just eat them by the spoonful {or handful if you're not that fancy!}. They are DELISH!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Holiday Struggles

"THE" holidays are nearly upon us! One of the most difficult times of the year for SO MANY of us, myself included. So I thought I would do a little introspective searching and admit to some of my biggest struggles. All in hopes that I will be able to avoid making some grave mistakes this holiday season!

* The TREATS! The plates and plates of goodies brought by well meaning and dearly loved friends. I am a sucker for home baked goodies and they more than bounteous this time of year! My favorites? EASY! Pumpkin roll, carmel, carmel apples, dipped pretzels, toffee, huckleberry, pecan & pumpkin pies, cookies, fudge... okay, you get the point. SEE? I am in serious trouble!

* The COLD! I have THEE hardest time dragging my butt outside to run when it's cold! But even worse, I HATE running on the treadmill {though it's better now with books on tape}. So my exercise drops off dramatically for November-February or March! Not this year though... right?!

*The FOOD! Totally different category in my opinion. I do try not to over eat at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. But how can you NOT when it starts before the meal even starts? Veggie trays, cheese ball, salsa, dips, mazzetta's peppers and more? Then there's turkey & homemade stuffing, cranberry sauce, salads, rolls, potatoes, beans and more!! Top it all off with a variety of homemade pies... I'm a lost cause. I'm sure to eat twice my body weight!!!!

*TAMALES! This technically could fall under the "food" category but it probably deserves one of its very own. We love tamales. We make A LOT of tamales. It's a tradition that we started nearly 10 years ago and it is one of my favorite things about this time of year. The problem is even after sharing with friends and neighbors, there's always a lot left over {intentionally}... and you guessed it, I eat my fair share of those "left over". Oh but they are SO GOOD!

Sigh. That about sums it up. Though I'm sure that I'll think of more things as they surface! What about you? What's your Achilles Heel?

Monday, November 16, 2009

My First AWARD!

So Tiffany {over at Skinny Jeans} has bestowed upon me my very fist blogging award! WOAH! Didn't see THAT coming! How COOL is that?! Thank you Tiffany; I am elated!! Check it out:So as part of the "deal" of getting this prestigious award I have a few things to take care of:

-Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass the award on to five most deserving blogger.

-Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom s/he has received the award.

-Each Superior Scribbler must display the award on his/her blog, and link to The Scholastic Scribe, which explains the award.

-Each blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr Linky List. That way, they'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives this prestigious honour. http://scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com/2008/10/200-this-blings-for-you.html

-Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

So. . . the only left to do is name MY 5 choices. . . and they are {drum roll please} . . .

1 Healthy Ashley - keeps me motivated to eat healthy and KEEP RUNNING
2 Apron Girls - a group of domestic goddesses who are uber talented
3 Summertime Designs - some of the cutest digi scrapbook stuff out there
4 Seriously So Blessed - sarcasm and hilarity abound
5 Get Off Your Butt and Bake - Martha Stewart, watch out!

Stressed Out?

I have to admit that my stress level since we moved is VERY LOW. It's been WON-DER-FUL! One of my biggest stressors has always been financial; BUT we've worked really hard and made some tough choices but they've paid off {thank you Dave Ramsey}. So aspects of that are no longer an issue, HOWEVER, now we've got the luxury/chore {depending on how I'm looking at it that day} of making some new very difficult decisions. I won't bore you with the details but they are pretty monumental decisions; that have a HUGE affect on my family, especially my four little sprouts.

I get HEADACHES. My neck muscles and shoulders get tense, which I think is what causes MORE headaches! I get an upset stomach when the stress gets really bad and I get SUPER CRANKY!! I get that pin-&-needles feeling in my stomach, hands and feet. I EAT, a lot! When I PHYSICALLY feel the stress, I know it's getting out of hand!

So I got looking into what effect stress can have on our health {whether emotional, physcial or mental}. Web MD had this insight:

*Stress can weaken your IMMUNE SYSTEM! I sure as heck don't like being sick so this could be reason enough!

*Stress had a HUGE impact on your heart! It can cause hight blood pressure, blood clots, abnormal heartbeat, coronary artery disease, heart attack and heart failure. YIKES!

* Stress leads to tense muscles {I know that one first hand}. It can lead to neck, shoulder and lower back pain. AND it will make rhumatoid arthritis worse!

*Stress can make the symptoms worse for all kinds of stomach problems like Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease and the like.

*Stress effects your reproductive health!! It has been linked to low fertility, erection problems, pregnancy issues and can make mestrual periods more painful.

*Stress can make asthmatic symptoms worse

*Stress even effects your SKIN! Acne and Psoriasis can be worse due to stress.

WOAH! On top of all of those physical effects, stress gets to us emotionally too right?! Things like: *irritablility or crankiness *jumpiness {is that a word} *restlessnes *lethargy or tiredness *difficulty focusing *unable to deal with small problems *get upset over "little" things.

There is much more to stress that this too. There are different KIND of stress {I'll go into all THAT another time}. But I wanted to end with a few stress coping strategies that I USE.

*Talk about it. I am a firm believer that bottling it up will do NO good for anybody! So confide in someone you trust.
*EXERCISE!!! I couldn't possibly leave this off the list. It's far too important and it works GREAT! Get off your butt and do SOMETHING. It will help! I PROMISE!
*Breathe. Yep. Deep slow breaths will work wonders. Find someplace quiet and just breathe; you'll feel like a million bucks!
*Don't sweat the small stuff. If you're freaking out about the little things you'll really flip when something big comes along!

What works for YOU?

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all our military veterans. I absolutely LOVE this song by Toby Keith:


And a quote that I LOVE LOVE LOVE:
"A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve, - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." ~Unknown

Thank you Veterans, from the bottom of my heart

Monday, November 9, 2009

Hot Bod

Okay. So since the move I haven't gone to Turbo Jam {SHOCK, I KNOW}. So I have been in need of something to replace it. I miss my friends from Turbo and don't think any DVD will EVER replace that BUT...

My newest "thing" is Jillian Michaels. I don't have tv so I haven't seen The Biggest Loser in AGES! But way back in the day when I DID see that AWESOME show I was totally hooked. So, at the reference of a friend {thanks Kim}, I picked up one of her DVD's and gave it a go. WOW did I lose some strength in JUST a little over a month of not doing turbo!! But it's cool, Jillian will have me back up to snuff in short order.

I chose her No More Trouble Zones DVD. I am at my goal weight but NEED TONING something fierce. This will help me get there. I have had her Fitness Ultimatum wii game on my wish list and I've been tempted to read some of her books.

Check out this video from when her Metabolism book came out:


Here is the "ad" for her Ultimatum. Maybe Santa will stick it in my stocking this year?


I like to change things up; constantly getting in to new workouts and exercise. It helps me stay motivated and avoid boredom. So this winter I plan on keeping up my running {as much as I can stand running on the dreaded treadmill}, and alternating that with clogging, Jillian's DVD and the Wii Fit {I hope to get the Plus soon}. The overall goal is to stay active and continue to eat well {as in healthy, not quantity}.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Hot Eh?!

THIS is the HOT picture that I froze my butt off to get!! It was just over 40 degrees outside!! But oh man was it worth it!!!All my hard work has paid off; I feel good and I look good {at least I think I do, and my husband agrees}! I will HAVE to continue to make healthy choices though so it all doesn't go to waste {or waist, whichever you prefer, hehehe}!!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

I C-A-N

There are those who have already seen this video of Dick & Rick Hoyt. Every now and then I have to come back and watch this; it makes me cry every time! What a story of love and determination. I am so impressed by this father. I am so happy for this son. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

I also just found a book written about them. I will be looking for this as I'm sure it's amazing!

Monday, November 2, 2009

World Run Day

I love this!! Go HERE and sign up NOW for World Run Day! You download your bib. You pick how far you run. You pick where you run. You can run for charity. You get a t-shirt. It's AWESOME!! You better hurry though; it's THIS SUNDAY!!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Nutrition Facts

My son came home from school with a little card that he got at lunch. It had a few nutrition facts that I thought were interesting.

Each person has about 10 THOUSAND taste buds.

What food group provides the MOST energy to run & play? Bread, Cereal, Rice & Pasta

What fruit tree grows on every continent except Antarctica? The PLUM! They are a good source of vitamin C!

To help heal cuts & keep skin healthy you need to eat foods with what? Vitamin C! A few good sources are oranges, lemons and grapefruits... yummy!

Our bones are made mostly of calcium. That food group has a lot of this? Milk Yogurt & Cheese!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

just another day in paradise

We just rolled in... well, awhile ago. I am so glad to be back!!! What an awesome week it turned out to be!! 4 days of driving {the sprouts were AWESOME and well behaved; what a lucky Mom I am}!!and 4 days of playing! It couldn't have been better. We had a fun dinner way out on a fishing pier in San Diego {it was yummy}. I snacked on pretty healthy stuff and had at least one salad for a meal per day; what else could I crave when it's so blasted HOT?!! We drank A LOT of water; bottled, that stuff they call H2O down there is horrible {I am biased though, where I come from the water was snow not long before it hits the tap and it's filtered au natural}. But I digress..

We first hit Sea World in San Diego. WOW!!! What an awesome place!! We walked over 15,000 steps {10,000 is considered "active"} which was nearly 8 miles that day. I LOVED Sea World. The weather was beautiful. The animals are amazing. It was FABULOUS!! It was after Sea World that we ate on the pier and it was so cool to be way out there in this little cafe. So fun {minus the migraine that my MIL had}!The next day we went to the San Diego Zoo. Double WOW!! This place was HUGE!! I could EASILY spend days here and never be bored! We walked well over 8 miles this day, up and down hills and stairs. I seriously couldn't get enough of this place! We headed to the beach after the zoo where we had a picnic and played in the water. Coronado Beach was beautiful and picture perfect! We had SO much fun there!The next day was exclusively spent at Disneyland! I couldn't believe this place!! We walked nearly every inch of that park, easily another 8 miles. We rode on rides and met a lot of characters. My kids had an amazingly magical time here.Final day of play: Disneyland and California Adventure. FUN!! Yet another 8 miles too! it got nice and toasty {91 degrees} this day. What a way to end a great vacation! So now I'm back to 37 degree weather!! I'm ready to get back to the grindstone and have a million memories {and well over 800 pictures} to look back on. And an added bonus is that I managed to LOSE weight too; all that walking and being conscientious about what I was eating paid off!!!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

vacation vacation vacation!!!

We are OFF {tomorrow} for our California Adventure!! Wow. I am such a country girl, I am surprised that I am excited as I am for this Urban madness!! We are cramming our family of 6 and my in-laws into our car and driving like 18 hours!!!!! MADNESS I tell you, absolutely CRAZINESS!! But honestly, we are thrilled!! We've worked so hard to get out of debt and we're celebrating BIG by going to Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and Disneyland!

Don't you worry your pretty little heads about me though!! We've got nice healthy snacks for the car {a few junk food items but it's all about portions remember}! I'll be avoiding my traveling nemesis... SODA, as much as possible. I'm bringing my RUNNING shoes and we're going to get in AT LEAST one run on the beach, hopefully two... three if my in-laws are up to watching the kids that often!!! Besides all the walking we'll be doing every day! I'm bringing my little pedometer {even if it isn't the nicest and doesn't count EVERY step} for curiosity sake.

I am so looking forward to seeing the ocean. It's my therapy. I am GIDDY with excitement to see the zoo and sea world!! I wanted to be a marine biologist; how flippin cool would it be to work at one of these place?!!! Disneyland is going to be MAGIC. My kids are jumping out of their skins; and I can't wait to see every second of it!!

So off we go. You can STILL make healthy choices, even while on vacation!! I'll PROVE it!

Monday, October 12, 2009

MY kind of workout

Now I don't know about YOU but I can GUARANTEE that I would get one HECK of a workout on these stairs!!! I can totally see me pulling a "Josh Baskin" {Big...played by Tom Hanks} every morning on these babies!!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Protein Buff

For Fabulous Food Friday I am doing something a little different. Maybe I'll even stick with this for awhile. My kids are obsessed with knowing what things do for their bodies {maybe since we have always bribed them to eat things by telling them what they do for us}. Lately they have been asking me a lot about PROTEIN. So HERE are some things you may {or may not} know about Protein!*Protein is a part of almost every cell in the body! Hair & nails are almost all protein.
*Protein builds & repairs tissues
*Your body uses protein to make things like enzymes, hormones & other chemicals
*Protein is a huge part of things like bones, blood, skin, muscles and cartilage
*Protein is a MACRONUTRIENT... we need a good amount of it. The body does not STORE protein, so there is no "reservoir" to take from when needed.
*The type of protein you consume can play a role in successful weight loss and overall health {this does NOT mean protein diets are the way to go, I don't think they are}

GOOD PROTEIN SOURCES {taken from HERE} are:

  • Fish: Fish offers heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and, in general, less fat than meat.

  • Poultry: You can eliminate most of the saturated fat by removing the skin.

  • Beans: Beans contain more protein than any other vegetable protein. Plus, they're loaded with fiber that helps you feel full for hours.

  • Nuts: One ounce of almonds gives you 6 grams of protein, nearly as much protein as one ounce of broiled ribeye steak.

  • Whole grains: A slice of whole wheat bread gives you 3 grams of protein, plus valuable fiber.

I would like to add EGGS to that list. They are amazing {Click HERE to see our previous FFF post on eggs}

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Recovery Time

This week was initially supposed to be P90X Bring It Week!! It has turned into RECOVERY WEEK! Wow. I haven't taken a whole week off from working out for 10 months!! Double WOW! I listen to my body though and it's telling me that it needs a break!

See. My sweet little family had some AWESOME pictures taken on Tuesday {I will post a pic when we get them back; suffice it to say that they are totally FABULOUS}. My hot hubby and I decided to do some water shots. It was cold outside; 42 degrees cold, not freezing but cold! That water was snow not too long before!! We waded out waist deep and got some really REALLY sweet pictures!! We had towels and a change of clothes, didn't think anything of it.

We did dinner. Put the four sprouts to bed and whipped out PLYOMETRICS {a tough leg cardio workout}. I'm thinkin that was a bad idea! Both of us were really struggling. We didn't complete the workout and we have been SO SORE!!!

So I think the cold water combined with the intense leg workout was a bad combo. LIVE & LEARN right? My point though is A} LISTEN to your body and B} let your muscles RECOVER!! Know how hard you can push your body and when to back off! And what MOST people forget is that RECOVERY is JUST as important and working those muscles!!! You should NOT do the same thing {sit-ups, push-ups... whatever} every day! You NEED to recover in between!! And sometimes that recovery process takes LONGER than 48 hours {hence my week long-ish recovery period}! Listen to your body. Let it Recover!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Body Fat Percentage

It's been ages since I calculated my body fat percentage. I started P90X this week so as part of the BEFORE stage I figured out what mine was. I also found some great information on the subject from HERE.

Your body fat percentage is simply what portion of your body is made up of fat. A certain amount of fat is NECESSARY!! It helps with body function, insulates & cushions organs and tissues. And it's the body's main storage of energy. It's IMPORTANT to know what your body fat percentage is so you know a REALISTIC weight loss/gain.

AGE (Years) HEALTHY RANGE OF BODY FAT FOR FEMALES HEALTHY RANGE OF BODY FAT FOR MALES
18 - 39 21 - 33% 8 - 20%
40 - 59 23 - 34% 11 - 22%
60 - 79 24 - 36% 13 - 25%

Have you taken the time to determine your body fat percentage? I found a cool little website that makes it easy cheesy!! All you need to do is measure your waist, figure your height & weight. Click on Male or Female & enter you age & you're set! Go HERE and check yours today!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Winter Running

Winter is coming fast in my neck of the woods; it likes to come early and stay for a LONG time!! I don't mind; I ♥ LOVE ♥ winter. But I DON'T love running in the cold!!! I have a treadmill, a fairly nice one too. But I must admit that I HATE running on it {I'm an outdoor kind of girl}!! I'm going to have to cave and run on it anyway during the next 7 months or so.

ANY-WAY... I thought I'd check on some tips for running in the cold weather!! ABOUT dot com says:
* Watch for FROSTBITE. YIKES!! Your nose, ears, fingers and toes should warm up a few minutes into your run.
* Pay attention to TEMPERATURE & WIND CHILL. When the wind is strong it penetrates through those warm layers and eliminates that warm air around your body.
* Protect HANDS & FEET. Up to 30% of your body's heat will escape through your hands and feet. Use gloves that wick moisture away {mittens are great because your fingers get to SHARE heat}. Try those lovely disposable heat packs.
* Use LAYERS! Use synthetic material, it wicks sweat away from your body. Cotton will hold the moisture and keep you wet. Nylon or Gore-Tex will protect you from precip & wind but it still allows heat and moisture out to prevent over heating & chilling. You can use a middle layer of fleece on those colder days for an added layer of insulation.
* DON'T OVERDRESS! A good rule of thumb: dress as if it's 20 degrees warmer than it is.
* HATS. 40% of your body's heat escapes from your head! If you're really hard core you can wear a face mask on those bitter cold days!
* Be VISIBLE!! Reflective gear is a must for these shorter days. Be CAREFUL!
* Check with your Dr. The cold air can trigger chest pain or asthma attacks in some people.
* Protect your EYES. Wear sunglasses to prevent snow blindness {my husband has had it before and it is SO not fun}.
* Get DRY. If you are rained or snowed on be sure to get dry quickly. Know the signs of hypothermia {intense shivering, loss of coordination, slurred speech, and fatigue} and get help asap if need be.
* Stay HYDRATED!! {this should be a DUH by now} Cold air has a drying effect though so be sure to drink lots of water!
* SUNSCREEN. Snow reflects the sun's rays. Don't forget your lips too!
* WARM UP! You're at a greater risk for pulling a muscle on cold days. Make sure to warm up slowly and take it easy on really cold days! Save those tough workouts for a warmer day or run indoors.

Active also had these to add:
* Run during DAYLIGHT hours. That way you'll be warmer AND get some of those rays that we are missing out on!
* Stay LOW. Shorten your stride & keep your feet low to the ground; this will lessen your chances of slipping and falling, OUCH! Run on fresh snow when possible vs. ice or packed snow.
* Wear trail running shoes for added TRACTION.
* Briskly WALK for 5 minutes BEFORE you start running!!
* Start your run INTO the wind to avoid getting chilled at the end of your run.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Got Milk?

I love milk! I drink a lot of milk! So for our Fabulous Food Friday I thought it would be great to spotlight one of my favorite drinks!! I got all the following informations from www.gotmilk.comMilk is GREAT for our external beauty. The proteins, lipids, calcium, vitamin A, B6, biotin and potassium help hair to be soft and shiny!

Milk contains WHEY! So for those out there wanting to beef up their muscles, drink milk following a weight training session to help those muscles recover!!

PMS? Drink Milk!! A diet full of calcium can cut the physical and emotional symptoms in HALF!

Need better sleep? One of the proteins found naturally in milk can improve quality of sleep and even alertness the next day!

Good for strong bones. Milk is still the best way to get your daily calcium to decrease your chances of osteoporosis!

Teeth are bones too right?! Milk helps our teeth be strong and therefore reduces cavities {we all like that idea}!
Nutrition Data dot com also had this information:
This food is a good source of Protein, Vitamin B12 and Selenium, and a very good source of Vitamin D, Riboflavin, Calcium and Phosphorus.

The bad: A large portion of the calories in this food come from sugars.

One cup of 1% milk:
Calories - 102 - 5%
Sugar - 12.7g
Fat - 2.4 g - 4%
Protein - 8.2g - 16%
Cholesterol - 12.2mg - 4%
Vitamin A - 478UI - 10%
Vitamin D - 127UI - 32%
Vitamin B12 - 1.1mcg - 18%
Calcium - 290mg - 29%
Phosphorus - 232mg - 23%
Selenium - 8.1mcg - 12%

Go pour yourself a nice tall glass of milk! Your body will thank you!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Feels Good

Stretching is so SO important, before AND after working out. Here are a few REALLY GOOD stretches:

Bringin It.. sorta

Yesterday was a great workout day for me. I went for an awesome 4 mile run; despite my obvious need to get new shoes {my shins, knees and now my ankles are telling me so}. Then when I got home my husband and I did day one of P90X. WOW! I was so beat, I fell asleep while reading {Dr. Laura's "In Praise of Stay At Home Moms"}. I feel great today though; sore but great.

So where does the "sorta" come in to play? Well we can't find our P90X dvds!! We moved and we haven't seen them in all our unpacking. I am so ticked! I finally get amped about strength training {something I don't love} and we can't find the program?!! GRR!! So today I'm going to dig some more and hopefully I find the thing!!! We know the strength programs well enough but not the yoga, plyo or kenpo! MUST... FIND... P90X!!!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Two birds...

What better workout than combining football AND dance?!!!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Run For The Cure

Today I ran in a really fun race: Run for the Cure! I am happy with my performance though I know I could have done better, so that's a little frustrating. My legs were spaghetti from all the clogging and my light run on Thursday ended up being more than I should have done. Then to top it all off I slept like crud last night; I was up all night sick, lovely. So I'm a little ticked that I wasn't 100% but at the same time, I'm thrilled that I was able to get another PR despite those things!!

I hate pictures of me "in action", I don't like to leave ANYTHING on the trail so I always look completely spent... which is good but it's just not all the glamorous or photogenic! Yet here I am in all my tired glory! It was a really pretty run, following the river down half way, crossing a bridge and running upstream on the other side. I managed to come in 9th overall and 4th woman!! Pretty good way to end the year!! I may try to squeeze in one more race but winter will be coming soon here and it likes to stay for awhile!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Dancing Queen

So last night was my first clogging class in ages... I mean AGES!!! I wonder if I'm in over my head but I'm going to give it a go. It's an hour long and it is a WORK-OUT!! WOW! My legs feel like spaghetti. AND it was A LOT of FUN!Dancing is GREAT for your health, physical and emotional! Dancing has been found to:

  • Increase energy
  • Reduce stress
  • Increased flexibility
  • Improve strength & endurance
  • Increase muscle tone and coordination
  • Lower your risk of coronary heart disease
  • Decrease blood pressure
  • Help you manage your weight
  • Strengthen the bones of your legs and hips
  • Provides an overall sense of well being
So whether you like hip hop, line dancing, swing, clogging, ballroom or just jammin in the kitchen while you mop the floor!! Dancing is a GREAT way to get in a FUN workout!!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Vacation Run

I love to run while I'm on vacation. It all started about 4-5 years ago. I was battling postpartum depression; I had three children ages 3, 2 and 4 months. We had traveled to the Washington coast for the wedding of a very dear friend. Our hotel was ON THE BEACH!!! It was FABULOUS!! Anyway, I went walking alone out on the beach early in the morning and it was that moment that I once again felt peace and an inkling of happiness! Whenever I go anywhere near the ocean I HAVE to duplicate that morning.We have been planning a trip to Disneyland and San Diego {gasp! I HATE crowds}. One of my FIRST thoughts is, "where am I going to RUN?" I have had more fun planning this run than much of the rest of this trip! I've been scoping out beaches and parks near our accommodations and there seems to be a lot of options!! We will have Gramma & Grampa with us & they have offered to stay with the 4 monkeys so my husband and I can go run TOGETHER; a rarity but something we both LOVE to do!!! I am SO EXCITED!!!Do you know of any good running spots in San Diego? We'll be there for 3 nights; we'd LOVE to run a different place every day!

Friday, September 18, 2009

BEEF... it's what's for dinner

Beef has a bad rap in my opinion! What's not to LOVE?!! Mmm. My mouth is watering already! I think it's like EVERYTHING else... all things in moderation right?! Besides, it just tastes SO GOOD!!!I went right to the source for this one: www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com. They had this to say:
* Beef is packed with PROTEIN! Which is essential for good health.
* American's prefer "Grain Fed" beef vs. "Grass Finished". For grain fed beef the cows are moo-ved {hehe} to a feed lot where they are fed a high energy grain diet for 3-6 months. The meat tends to be more tender and flavorful. Grass finished graze in a pasture their entire lives; the beef from which has a distinctly different flavor.
* "Prime" meat has more marbling and usually only sold to restaurants though some markets may carry it. "Choice" is the most widely available grade. "Select" has the least amount of marbling; which means leaner but less juicy.
* There are 29 cuts of beef that are government labeled "lean".
A few selecting tips:
* When selecting lean ground beef, go for 90% lean!!
* Hit the meat counter LAST.
* Make sure the packages are cold, tightly and completely wrapped. No excessive liquid.
* Beef should be a bright cherry-red. No grayish or brown spots.
* Choose meat that is firm to the touch.

I think we will have beef for dinner tonight!!!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

For your watching pleasure...

I just LOVE these Nike Ads!!! How could you NOT?!! I happen to wear Nike's too so it just is an added BONUS!!!


2000!!!

Wow!! TWO THOUSAND visitors!! I am pretty excited about that. I have had people find me through search engines; looking for specific workouts and dieting tips mostly. Others are my AWESOME family members and DEAR friends who are always SUPPORTING me!! How did YOU find me? I hope that you'll come back! Let me know what you want to see more of!!! Spread the word; help others get off THEIR butts & get FIT!!!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Running Schedule

I found this AWESOME little help for running.

So I went looking for a FREE online running log. There are A LOT of choices but I really liked Log Your Run. Check it out... it has ALL KINDS of bells and whistles that are pretty stinkin cool in my opinion!! You can enter your SHOES!!! You track how many miles you've put on them! PS. It's not just for running either; you can log other workouts too!!! It's AWESOME!! I'm LOVIN IT!!!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Gene Pool

My uncle had a heart attack last week. He is 36. It turns out that surgery is not an option; the vein or artery {I'm not sure which} is too small so they are treating it with meds. Which he could be on for the rest of his life! He is home and recovering.

This has brought to the front of my mind things like heredity, genes, and lifestyle. I have always known that it's IMPORTANT to know what diseases and such run "in the family". That way you can make the CHANGES in your lifestyle to hopefully prevent or at least lower your risk. AND you can take EXTRA precautions like early screenings and being educated.

Do you know what you're at risk for? Talk to your family and your Dr. Make the choices NOW that will help lower your risks!!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Surreal

This morning I got up bright and early and took off for a morning run. I was going by myself so I opted not to do a trail run {I wasn't in the mood to fight off bears or mountain lions}. So I decided to run the 10K course that I ran a couple months ago. It was pretty brisk this morning; I was glad to have had my sweatshirt!! It turned out to be a FABULOUS run!! It may not have been the race I was signed up to run but it would have been hard to beat this run!

At about mile 2 I was greeted by a doe; she wasn't 40 feet away from me! We just looked at each other; it was a really cool moment! Then after the turn around point I looked up into the sky and saw a hot air balloon! It was so fun to finish off the second half of the race with this postcard perfect image.

I started thinking about why I run and it's moments like this that I love. I get in the zone and just soak in my surroundings. It's an amazing feeling of peace. I was so glad that I got up and ran as if I was running a race, I ended up shaving a good 4 minutes off my last 10K PR. My watch read 56:22; almost exactly double my 5K PR!!

I'm feeling good & lovin life!!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Sacrifice

I am having one of those frustrating days. I have been all geared up and ready to run another 10K this morning. Things haven't worked out too swell so I won't be running {even though I've got my bib# and t-shirt, which I will feel like a cheat for wearing} today. I'm pretty put out about it.

I am a Mom & wife, first and foremost. I have FOUR small children that need me & a husband who doesn't have the best of schedules {retail... he works EVERY weekend}! So getting a good workout can be difficult at times. And getting in a race is even worse!!! As is evident by me missing this one. But that's what happens and it's okay; though it definitely is frustrating at times.

To make up for it I'm going to do one of two things. One: Run my own 10K EARLY or Two: go on a nice long trail run. Either way I'm getting out there in the morning and I'm going to hit the pavement!!! I may even wear my shirt and bib just for the heck of it!!!

Patriot Day

It's supposed to be Fabulous Food Friday. Since moving I haven't done one so I was all geared up with my food for the day {it's a good one too}. I started typing it up and it just didn't seem right. I kept thinking about it being September 11th. So I gave it up and switched gears for the day.

I am so grateful for this country. It's a BEAUTIFUL country isn't it? I love that I can put on my running shoes and hit the street or trail and enjoy this amazing piece of land. I love that I can be part of the process to choose the leaders of this great nation. I love that I can own my own gun{s} and go to church where I want. We have so much FREEDOM!! It's INCREDIBLE!!

To the families of those killed in the attacks at the World Trade Center 8 years ago; our hearts are with you again today. We will never forget! And a HUGE thank you to all the men and women in our military who devote their lives to protecting others.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

And... I'm Back In The Game

Well that was a longer hiatus than I intended!! I hope everyone made healthy choices while I was away!! As for me...

I went on a road trip to the great state of Washington for a wedding. I hate traveling; all the junk food and being cramped in a little car for hours on end isn't fun {especially with a baby in tow}. But I think I did pretty good this time. Plus I made sure to go on a big run while I was there. It was a great run too. I LOVE running when I'm on vacation. I love seeing new places and it feels so good too!

Immediately after getting home it was a mad scramble to get our house packed and move. Yet another thing I hate. We ended up eating fast food {to avoid the messy kitchen and it's quick} more than I'd like to admit. But we're practically all unpacked {I still have 4 boxes that I HAVE to get to} and we're settled and back to our routines. I didn't get as many workouts in but hefting boxes is definitely a workout!!

I've got a good 10K race coming up on Saturday. I'm EXCITED. It will be fun to see how my times have changed from my last 10K. I really want to get in another 5K this summer too but I'm not sure if I'll get to. Signing up for these races keeps me motivated; the RUSH of a good race is totally ADDICTING!! ~Wish me luck!

I did my first weigh in since before I left. Nearly a month!! I was PLEASANTLY surprised. After all the junk that has been in my system, my workouts have done their job! I feel good. I CRAVE my workouts; I NEED my workouts. I am listening to my body and giving it what it needs and in return, it's taking care of me!!! It's a FABULOUS thing... try it... you'll like it too!

Friday, August 14, 2009

MIA

We've sold our house and things are going to be pretty crazy for awhile. I'll be MIA for a couple weeks until we get settled into our new place. Keep making healthy choices!!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Body Language

My husband and I were talking yesterday about health, diet and exercise mostly. We decided that a book should be written {we would call it BODY LANGUAGE} about listening to your body and following what it's telling you. When you make good choices your body feels good. When you feed it garbage and never take out the trash {aka exercise} it doesn't function properly. So take care of yourself!

Everyone wants to know how to lose weight. They'll try ANY drink, shot or other new fad but they WON'T stick to what is a guaranteed formula... EAT LESS, EXERCISE MORE!!! I understand that there are circumstances where due to other health issues that isn't the case BUT for most of us, that IS the answer!!! Is is EASY? HECK NO! Is it FAST? DOUBLE HECK NO!! But it IS the way to take it off and keep it off; you have to change your entire lifestyle.

EAT LESS & EAT RIGHT. I am just like everyone else; I love to eat. Sometimes I over eat. Which I think is OK every once in awhile. I'm of the opinion that you SHOULD splurge sometimes {all things in moderation though, right?}. HERE are a few tips on eating better:

* Eat a variety of nutrient rich foods. Check out MY PYRAMID {there is a link on the side bar} to find out exactly what portions you should be eating {it really is great. They calculate your age, weight, height & activity level to determine what portions your body needs. TRY IT, you'll love it too}
* Eat WHOLE grains, FRUITS & VEGGIES. They are SO good for you!!!
* Watch your portions. It's amazing the misconception that people have as to what a portion of something is. Check into it; you'll be surprised!
* Eat regular meals. Don't you dare skip breakfast!!! It has been proven that those who eat breakfast lose weight easier, and have better health in general!!
* Know your weaknesses. Keep track of what you eat so you can see first hand where your mistakes are. Then fix them!
* Change gradually. You're more likely to succeed that way!
* There are no GOOD VS BAD food {see Intuitive Eating for more info}. Just be sure that your diet is BALANCED!!!

EXERCISE MORE. This is where I think most people give up. They don't see the results they want as fast and they want so they quit exercising all together. Exercise isn't something you do just to lost weight; you should do it continually for good health! You don't have to go out there and run a marathon either, just GET OFF YOUR BUTT and do SOMETHING! Here are a few ways to be more active:

* Get a pedometer. It's recommended that you take 10,000 steps a day.
* Yardwork and housework. Mowing the lawn, gardening, laundry, sweeping/mopping/vaccuming...
* Walk or ride your bike. Park farther away from work or the store and WALK
* Use stairs instead of the escalator
* Find others who walk/run/hike {whatever YOU want to do} and join them
* Take dance lessons
* Play with your kids
{this list is HUGE, find your own ways to be more active, every little bit counts!}

I don't focus on numbers and I don't like to throw my personal numbers out there but I think it applies here. Today I weigh 123 {which for my 5' 3.5" height is a good weight, it may not be for you; that's a whole post in itself}. It has taken 8 months to lose 16 pounds {remember I had a baby nearly 1 year ago?}. This isn't something that happens in 30-90 days! It takes a LONG time to see lasting results. Even after that "goal weight" is reached, the journey doesn't end there. Stay active to stay HEALTHY!

Nike Trainer

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