My Kiddos

my babies

Look at these two faces...OMG they make my heart full and happy!  They are the driving force behind my wanting to get healthier and in better shape.  They inspire me, motivate me, make me crazy at times, but they are the reasons I wake up in the morning!  I am so blessed to be able to be their Mom and want to be around for them for a long, LONG time! 

My focus since starting this blog has really been about them.  It has been to inspire them to be healthy and fit.  To show them "See Mommy and Dadoo are doing it, you can too!"  They are both active in their own ways but I feel like we need more.  They both play soccer.  My oldest on our local city travel team and on a premier level team...my mini in a "munchkin" league (too cute), plus they will play and practice together.

my girls enjoying the sunshine as they play together

 

My oldest also does horse back riding.  She LOVES it.  She smiles through her entire lesson.  She is prepping to starting jumping in the next few weeks (nervous Momma) and for her first show this summer.  She has been riding for six years and the strength she gets from it (both physically and mentally) is amazing!

sorry its blurry, its through the glass in the observation room

My mini me is still doing her swim classes which she really enjoys.  She is a natural born "floater" which is the exact opposite of her sister.  She will do pretty much whatever the teacher says as long as Mom isn't watching.  If I am there, she refuses to put her head under.  If she thinks I'm not watching and I catch her dive from the side and go under she insists I saw it incorrectly.  The little stinker.

Momma's little floater

Mini is also still dancing.  After the Christmas holiday we stepped it up a notch from just tap and ballet to tap, ballet and acro.  She is too cute learning cartwheels and back bends.  She is starting to really like all three components to her "dance" class now.  They are too darn cute with their recital dance too.  OMG!

my little dancer is on the left
 

As any parent would, I have concern about making sure they are getting enough activity and the right food to fuel their ever growing bodies.  My oldest was concerned after her last physical that she was on the high end of the BMI scale.  Mini had the same high BMI at her 4 year check up, but as I said when I posted about that...my pediatrician puts NO stock in BMI calculators.  This got me thinking though, could I be doing more for them? 

Then one night while my hubby was working out, mini was playing on nick junior on the computer.  Every few minutes she was asking for a snack.  This went on for the entire 50 minutes he worked out.  Once he was done he watched  a few minutes of the computer time with her to find that she most likely kept asking for treats and snacks because every few minutes there were commercials most of which were focused on snacks.  Can you say RED FLAG????  Couple this with my 12 year olds obsession with both her iPod and kindle and locking herself in her room as most tweens seem to do...

Then as in response to this new found fact, I get an email from Fitness Magazine the next day with the subject line How Healthy is Your Family?  I like to think that we keep the kids fairly active, as well as ourselves but now I'm nervous.  With both of the girls BMI;s being higher than normal, should I be making them do more?  This article said that "a new study suggests short bursts of exercise-as little as 15 minutes-can dramatically reduce your child's risk of Type 2 diabetes."  That night I was putting away laundry and mini asked to help.  We had  a lot of laundry to out away, I mean a lot...like of the apocalypse DIDN'T happen so now I need to do something for clean underwear a lot, and she wanted to help.  She ran back and forth from my room to hers as she only likes to out away 1 thing at a time.  SUCCESS!  That took her close to 20 minutes of running back and forth.  Then on "family dog walk" she wanted to walk and not be pushed along in the stroller.  SUCCESS!  Before I even had a chance to worry about the big girl, her soccer coaches (on both teams) have instituted a new conditioning format at practices.  The hubs watched last night and said its running with bursts of "Insanity like" exercises.  Hopefully these steps will make a difference. 

We (the hubs and I) have also committed to adding in more family exercise...jogs in the park coupled with bike rides...the kids, the parents and the pup are all en route to healthier lives.  I am loving it! 

Now if I could just kick this cough and give my workouts 100% I'd be SUPER happy, but hey...I'm still pushing through...even 60% is better than 0%!!!

I like to move it, move it

Yesterday was a big day for me step wise.  I always laugh at how many more steps I get at home on the weekends as compares to during the week at work.  I laugh because my parking garage is a quarter mile walk from my building so I do that twice a day, I work on the 3rd floor so I do those stairs at least twice a day, I am up moving around to and from meetings, other offices, the restroom...and some days I am lucky to hit my goal of 11K.  Even with workouts, some nights I find myself jogging in place until I feel that sweet little vibration on my wrist saying that fitbit captured my 11K steps for the day. 

Yesterday was a perfect reminder of how much more active I am at home.  This badge is the one I earned yesterday.  I hit (and exceeded) 20K steps in one day.  It was a gorgeous day, sunny with a nice breeze, 78 degrees, so we set to spring cleaning and airing out the house, got the kiddos outside playing, did a lot of yard clean up from the winter...all for not as it is supposed to snow again tonight.  Don't even get me started on that one though. 

mini me enjoying the sandbox

my girls kicking the soccer ball around together

It was SO nice out.  We spent all day Saturday (another beautiful day) enjoying the big kid in 2 soccer games.  Mini me had a nice sideline game going herself with me for a bit, then Dadoo, then Papa...then another little girl who was there watching her big sister play.  After we got home though it was snack and bedtime, and my mini me was NOT happy.  She didn't get to do anything that SHE wanted to do, so we made a mental list and set to it Sunday morning.  Some things were added as we went along because she hadn't even thought of them.  How did I get 20K steps (outside of cleaning and laundry)...this is how:

Mini Me's Nice Day Wishlist

• play Polly Pockets
• play Littlest Pet Shop
• play cots (aka school...she likes setting up for naptime)
• ride bike
• ride big wheel
• ride scooter
• build a fort
• play soccer in the front yard
• play in the sand box
• play in the yard
• do chalk drawings

By the end of the day we had dinner and a bath and were pretty tired out.  The past few nights bedtime ahs been a meltdown because we were at THAT point of overtired.  Last night, we hit the meltdown at bath time, so by the time we were jammied, teeth brushed, and ready to go...she snuggle next to me in bed and was out literally in 5 minutes.  I am excited that (sporadically) the nice weather is here and we will have many more days like yesterday.  I would say that Sunday was a success for both of us.

 

 

 

Not "flaking" out

As the weather gets colder and we distance ourselves from News Years's I know that in the past with the dropping of snow flakes came the dropping of resolutions, at least it always did for me in the past.  But this year I am not (snow) flaking out!  I can tell that this time around with my workouts and eating habits its different.  This time it feels like the stakes are higher, like we (the hubs and I) are REALLY going to commit to it.  Some of it is that we are realizing we aren't getting any younger (HA) but I think it all comes back to one conversation, one moment after a workout when my amazing hubs said he felt ALIVE!!  That made it all click into place.

Part of what spurred me to start this blog was the need for accountability out side of myself.  To know that there is a group of people who are looking for me to succeed, who are cheering me on from a distance.  I love that about this blog and about the facebook page, but it's more than that. I wanted to be a good role model for my kids and inspire them into being healthier.  And I have to say I am seeing it succeed!   My oldest has always been good, she is an athlete.  She is also now a pre-teen though which means a good chunk of her free time is supposed ton be dedicated to texting, instagraming, and pinning right? LOL  So when there are breaks in her sporting schedule we do need to nudge her some...this has been fun.  I did get her to join her sister in some Wii fit games last week and that was fun, after forcing her to do boot camp a few weeks ago (terrible Mom I know).  :)

My mini me, well she is a workout junky!  She loves her yoga, just "upgraded" (read more expensive) dance classes to one that includes acrobats along with tap and ballet, and we took the plunge (love my wordplay today) with swim lessons.  SHE is the one who asks the hubs and I everyday...when are you working out today?  Are you working out.  She likes to sit on the couch with the ipad and look up and cheer us on, or count down reps with the videos.  How awesome is that!

And yesterday, I caught the hubs tracking his food on myfitnesspal too!  We are finally becoming the family I had hoped we would become when this blog started!  And as we get closer to better health, I realize what seemed like such a HUGE step then is really just a baby step now.  This isn't about losing a few pounds anymore, this is about life style choices....and life in general.  I am proud to sit here and say how STRONG I am starting to feel.  Thin, no but strong YES!  And I can honestly say I'd rather be strong.  I am proud to see muscles toning and building, and I LOVE the way I feel.  Just as my hubby said almost 2 short months ago...I feel alive!

 

2014....this is OUR year!!

Resolutions

As 2013 comes to a close, I am smiling.  We have had so many wonderful adventures this year as a family, and looking back through old posts makes me happy.  I am most happy about our family decision to get healthier in 2014!  Even my little mini is moving more and more.  I am excited that part of the reason I started this blog was to hold myself accountable and try to make healthier decision for myself and my family...and now my family is making choices that are inspiring me.

As we near the end of another year, I watch as my 4 year old does her workout. because as she says "we need to exercise everyday."  Is there any better proof of success then that?!?! In the past few days she has been actively playing games on the Wii fit and today she did her yoga DVD.  So proud of her.

My big girl, after being off from soccer and riding for a week the other day went upstairs and did my Belly, Butt and Thighs Boot camp DVD, just to get in some sort of workout.  The went up and down the sledding hill yesterday, and today is back at her riding.  Awesome!

last night my motivator, my hubby...opted to pass on our workout.  Did I let that stop me?  Nope.  I went upstairs and busted out one of my Ellen Barret DVD's and started working up a sweat.  before I new it, the hubs was changing into his workout gear and did his own workout.

All in all 2013 was a good year, and there is so much to look forward to in 2014.  As we finalize our "resolution" lists I urge you to challenge yourself everyday!  when you do and succeed...there is just no greater feeling!!

Heres to a happy, healthy 2014!!

Knocking on Wood

Well, I'm almost afraid to say it but I think, THINK, we may be coming out of the woods on all our illnesses.  Stomach bugs have passed through both my hubby and myself (pardon the pun), the sore throat has left my oldest, the cough is gone from my hubby and almost completely gone from me...the only concern on our horizon right now is that my youngest was exposed to Scarlet fever at pre-school last week.  That little gem of a note was in our cubby Monday morning.  Great.  Scarlet Fever.  Like I said, I'm knocking on wood.

I am feeling SO much better, and have been surprised that after all the ick has left and my appetite has returned that the number on the scale has stayed down.  Maybe there was something bad in there that needed a good stomach virus to push it out to get me on a better target.  Or...(and I realize this is more likely), it could be that since I haven't been over to the gym in a while due to all the illness I am losing muscle mass which weighs more and therefore seeing a smaller number on the scale?!?!  No, I like the first option much better. :)  To be fair, I had been starting to do better about watching what I eat, and am still doing fairly well in that department.

I am just glad to be feeling healthy again and look forward to getting back on track.

Healthy again...finally

my awesome gift from my Valentine

The past two weeks in my house have been a test in perseverance.  we started with the hubs being sick (flu like sick for what felt like forever).  Then the baby bear and I had respiratory and congestion ick...then just when I thought we were clear...baby bear pukes and the dog is sick all over the family room floor.

Needless to say, waking up this morning to no one coughing, sniffling, puking, aching, complaining or anything feels lie it is nothing short of a miracle.  Thank you Lord for finally getting us on the road to health again (fingers crossed).

Despite all the disgusting germs, we did manage to have a nice Valentine's Day.  See my gift above...my hubby rocks!  I had sent him a pic of this (from pinterest of course) because I wanted to make it as a decoration for valentine's day and he didn't bring me home the wood so i thought it was something to wait for until next year.  Little did I know that he was going to surprise me and make it himself for me.  It is going to look AWESOME above our bed.  I am so excited to hang it up. 

It was a good year for homemade gifts.  I made him something (also pinterest inspired) that marked off all the important dates in our life together.  First kiss, engagement, wedding, our girls birthdays...he has it proudly on display right now in our dining  room...I think it will get moved upstairs though to our room.  Our first Valentine's Day together he made me a finger painted picture of two hearts interlocking (I know the sweetness factor is off the charts here) and I have kept it on my nightstand ever since.  I am thinking it may be time to hang that and add the new gift I made him to next to it on the wall.

With my being down in the dumps with the ick, I didn't get his WW sign up done.  I had gotten a bunch of books from the library already for us to look over and he has been checking them out.  Without me realizing it...he went ahead and started his own thing.  He has started cutting back his portions and making some better choices and is already down 7 pounds.  He's happy with the start, and I am SO happy for him.  He said this morning, 7 down...53 to go.  It's a big undertaking but he is inspired right now.  he is seeing results from changing his eating habits and hasn't even started adding workouts in yet.

Me on the other hand...yikes!  having a respiratory ick isn't good when working out.  My coughing fits weren't even helpful to my abs as they went deeper then that.  I have soreness still in that "poochie" area that seems to never be affected by sit ups.  With no workouts and having felt the need for comfort type foods I am back up a whopping 3 pounds.  Doesn't seem like a HUGE number, but at 5'2" every pound is noticeable.  I am finally feeling like I could make it through a workout though without going into respiratory distress so i have a renewed vigor towards working out.

So, healthy again brings my weight loss goal back up to: 16 pounds.  I would LOVE to lose 16 pounds.  The hubs would prefer me to only lose 8-10...but I would like to cut 16.  Time to get serious.  It's on like donkey kong.