Lake Powell

We just got back from LAKE POWELL!! Right after I got home from running my marathon we finished packing the trailer and we hit the road! It took two days driving each way but we got a good 4 days of playing in between!!

I brought ALL of my running gear, I was totally excited to run there. I was planning on running about 4 miles on Tuesday and again on Thursday. It didn't work out; the place was ALL hills. I didn't think that would be much of a recovery run so I opted out. Though I still think it would have been SA-WEET!!! Next time!

We DID get in some good exercise though! We hiked to Rainbow Bridge {The largest natural bridge in the world}.I exercised my imagination by reading and reading and reading. Mr. Darcy's Diary as well as Pride & Prejudice and Zombies. It was HEAVEN!I worked my legs and arms playing behind the boat! THAT, my friends, is a workout!And I soaked up A LOT of sun and scenery! It was beautiful. It's been so long since I've been there that I nearly forgot how gorgeous it is! I am completely rejuvenated. It was such a great thing for me and my family. Where is your favorite vacation spot?

Summer Family Boot Camp

My neighborhood just started this "Boot Camp" today and I HAD to share with ya'll! Cause I KNOW you're going to want to organize your own neighborhood Boot Camp after this!! It's all about keeping your kids active and healthy throughout the summer!!

We started out today with a Duathlon. It was split into 4 groups: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Adult {I'll get to distances in a minute}. Afterwards we had treats and everyone got a chart to keep track of points earned {I'll get to that in a minute too}. It was a really fun way to kick this thing off. The kids had SO much fun. And it's helping motivate us Moms too. Every couple of weeks we will get together for a game {kickball, soccer,ultimate frisbee...}. At the end of the summer we will have another Duathlon {same course}, water party and awards ceremony. Fun huh?!

Here's the skinny:

Beginners: BIKE 100m RUN 100m BIKE 100m
Intermediate: BIKE .5 mile RUN .5 mile BIKE .5mile
Advanced: BIKE 1 mile RUN .5 mile BIKE .5 mile
Adult: We haven't done ours yet, so I'm not sure on distances... maybe 1-1-1 or 2-1-1 or 2-1-2?

THEN, all summer you keep track of points earned in which ever category of your choice. One point per day, per action. They are:

Basic
~drink 4 cups of water
~1 hour of playing outside
~1 treat a day {1 SERVING size treat}
~3-5 servings of fruit and vegetables

Intermediate
~drink 6-8 cups of water
~3-5 serving of fruits and vegetables
~one treat a day
~30 minutes intense workout
~20 pushups and 25 sit-ups

Advanced
~drink 8 cups of water
~one treat a day {one allowed on one free day}
~one hour of intense workout
~25 pushups and 50 situps
~5 servings of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables

Adult Advanced
~drink 8 cups of water
~no treats {one allowed on one free day}
~one hour of intense workout
~25 pushups and 50 situps
~5 servings of fruit and vegetables
~I can't remember this 6th one {I'll come back and update it as soon as I find out}

So that's it. We got a simple graph/calendar to mark how many points we got each day. Just before school starts in the fall we'll redo the Duathlon to see our improvement, have a picnic & simple awards {parents are chipping in $3}!

I am loving this idea! What a great way to help motivate kids to be proactive about their health! This is on a small neighborhood scale {20 kids or so} so you can all easily whip this thing together! Help your family and friends get motivated to be active and healthy!! Have fun!

10 Years & Counting

A few weeks ago The man and I packed up the car, left the kids with Grampa & Gramma, and we headed up to the ski resort where we were engaged 10 YEARS AGO to the day!!! Holy COW!!! We stayed in the same lodge where the big event happened. It was the most fabulous few days.

Day One: Arrived at said ski resort & got settled. I SO want this bad boy on my wall!We grabbed a most fabulous dinner; pork loin and halibut... I'm still salivating! During dinner Hawkeye gave me a new wedding ring {to replace the one I lost several years ago}. Isn't is GORGEOUS?!! We capped off the night watching Olympics, which only psyched me up even more!

Day Two: Hitting the slopes bright and early!! No new snow for days so it was a groomers kind of day but even a bad day here is better than the best day anywhere else!!! Here we are on the chair lift up our first run! I still got mad skills!!! What a workout too! My legs were on FIRE!We boarded all over that mountain! We took a million pictures. We smiled, laughed and had just an AWESOME time! There really is no place more beautiful, stunning or awe inspiring as this ski hill.After a killer day on the hill we decided to strap on the snow shoes. It was an absolute BLAST!! Here we are with the ski resort behind us. We had the most amazing view of the hill and the valley on the other side. Well worth the climb to get there!Day Three: We really wanted to board in some powder! Thanks to our hike the previous day we found the perfect place. We were able to get in a few run of perfect, untouched powder. There was even a jump for the man to play on. Oh it was the most perfect way to end out trip!I had to throw this one in there too. We hiked past the horses that the resort uses for their sleigh rides up to a yurt where they serve dinner {we so wanted in on that awesomeness but they didn't run on the days we were there... MAJOR bummer}! Isn't this guy just AMAZING?!It was the trip of a lifetime. I was on cloud 9 the entire time. It was THEE most perfect way to celebrate the beginning of my life with the man of my dreams!

Good Deed

Today I had a TON of laundry to do. CRAPPY since we don't have a washer & dryer anymore {we sold them when we sold the house, but don't you -or me- fret, we'll have a new set when we move next month} Luckily my sweet sweet in-laws more than graciously opened their home 24/7 for me to come an wash load after load of laundry. We've been doing that for a lovely 5-6 months now.

ANYWAY {sorry for the tangent} we got dumped on last night with a fabulous couple inches of snow!! I had a BRILLIANT idea to shovel their driveway in between loads!! I LOVE shoveling snow; our little sidewalk just doesn't do it for me! So I was giddy with excitement to be able to shovel their WHOLE driveway, circle & all!

It felt great! It took me 70 minutes to finish; all but one TINY part that I didn't get to, but they'll knock it out in no time with their plow. Yes, they have a plow and could have done the very same job {plus the part I neglected} in no time at all but what's the fun in that?! It was a fabulous workout {burning over 400 calories}. Plus I got to do a good deed for a couple people who are ALWAYS doing wonderful things for me & my family.

Oh, and I shoveled our sidewalk, the neighbors sidewalk AND their driveway. So tack on another 30 minutes of shoveling, plus the 30 minute run... I burned some MAJOR. CALORIE. BUTT. today!!

Yukon Charlie

Today was GREAT! I decided to break out my Yukon Charlies and go for a little walk around a nearby lake. It was AWESOME!The scenery was great. I could have gone for an even more secluded place but this was the best I could do. I still managed to break my own trail and enjoy the fairly fresh snow!
I got a great little workout too! I did a few switchbacks of sorts, up and down the banks. It felt FABULOUS! I can't wait to go again!!

When I started looking to see how many calories are burned when snowshoeing I found that it depends on a few different things: terrain, snow conditions {packed or powder}, pace {& whether or not you use poles... I did}, and your body size. So according to MY calculations I burned somewhere between 350-450 calories in about 45 minutes. SA-WEET!

A couple things that I LOVE about snowshoeing. It doesn't cost much; buy or rent your shoes and then you're good to go! I get to be OUTSIDE & in the SNOW {one of my first loves}. It's a GREAT workout that's FUN! Definitely something you should try... given you are lucky enough to live where there's snow!

Check out THIS article; it's cool!

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}!!

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!

Hit The Hills

Yesterday I took my 4 kids on a hike with my cousin and her little one. We chose a hike that was a little on the easier side for the benefit of those with little legs {though they have A LOT more energy}. The first 1/3 of the trail is paved, then it has a big loop that gets more difficult. All along the way there are signs that talk about the area, plants and animals. It's a great hike!

I carried my 10 month old in the Kelty; a MUST HAVE. He loves that thing. We use it ALL the time!! But for hiking, it really is a lifesaver. While we were hiking I was noticing all the muscles that were getting a GREAT WORKOUT!!! Which was increased by the added weight! It felt AWESOME!!Hiking is one of my favorite exercises. You get a GREAT workout but you don't realize that you're exercising!! Well maybe you do but I get too caught up in the scenery and the amazing beauty that is around me. That and keeping an eye on my kids so they don't wander off the trail!! But it's easy to forget about the work and focus on the hike!

What I love is that you can pick a trail to fit what you want!! You want to spend the entire day hiking, you can. But if you only have a short amount of time, you can find a short trail too {or just go up and ways and then turn around}. There is SO MUCH out there to see!!!

You don't need ANY equipment for this killer workout!! Just a good pair of hiking shoes! It's a great way to lose weight! It helps with mental health; it's impossible to be out in nature and not let your mind wander, you will be rejuvinated... I PROMISE!!

I am planning a BIG hike in a few weeks!! It's one of those hikes that will be really hard but so worth it when you make it to the top!!! I can't wait. It's going to be so FABULOUS!!

Kayaking Rocks!

This past weekend my family went camping on the river. It's always an awesome week full of play: wakeboarding & surfing, jet skiing, swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. As I was out on the kayak one morning, I was thinking about the many awesome benefits of said sport. So I thought I'd once again, do a little research and post it for ya'lls benefit.Some of the things that I thought of were:
* It's super FUN!!
* It's RELAXING & STRESS REDUCING!! There is something about being out on the water, soaking in the sun & scenery. It's super THERAPEUTIC!! I love going out early in the morning or later in the afternoon {when it's NOT sweltering}. I love looking for pelicans, fish and other wildlife. I love the smell of the water. It's fabulous!!
* It's great to do with a group of family &/or friends OR all by your lonesome
* It's a great WORKOUT!! You will work every muscle in your upper body and some of your lower body muscles as well. At 3 mph, in one hours time, you will do about 1500 low impact repetitions. At 5 mph {give or take 500 strokes per mile} you will burn 400 calories in 1 hour!

On a personal note: I rotated every day with running and kayaking {high impact vs. low impact}. On top of those workouts I got in plenty of wakeboarding, surfing and kneeboarding. I love enjoying the great outdoors!!!