Settling In

It seems that life is finally starting to slow down a bit and allow itself to be enjoyed.  It has been so long since I sat down and wrote.  Lets see...since the post surgery update...my hubby is doing SO well.  Like ah-may-zingly well.  He is taking his doctors advice to heart about getting out and moving to get himself back on track.  He has been walking a few miles a day or hitting the gym.  nothing overly strenuous...just the elliptical for right now as he hasn't been given 100% clearance yet...that comes in a few short weeks, but he is doing great!  I got him a fitbit for Fathers Day to keep him motivated...hoping it fits ok.  He has had a really hard time finding something that fits comfortably on his wrist.

Mini me is rocking out things too.  She has been asked to audition for her dance studio's Competition Team.  She is over the moon excited about this.  She has a clinic today to get ready and tomorrow is the big day.  Mommy is taking the morning of from work to get her all ready and be there tomorrow. We went and got a new leo to wear, have all our hair stuff ready.  Daddy even found a super cool dance bag to buy if she makes the team.  We have been talking about how much more time this would mean at the studio if she makes it, and she is excited.  I think she found her passion in dance and that makes my heart soar!  We have also talked about the importance of making good choices with this new adventure.  She has always been good with food choices...this one will ask for fruit or veggies  before sweets and chips and stuff 99% of the time.  We have been trying to pick fun activities that will keep us moving too and keep us both in better shape.  She is LOVING her bike right now, so we have been doing long walks with the dog and her on her bike...I even attempted to get back out jogging some but she is too hard of a coach.  She kept shouting that I needed to move faster...I was slowing her down. hahahahha

My big girl had her first night of high school soccer training last night.  Mini me and I dropped her off and then went and did a 1 mile walk.  They worked those girls hard.  They have to pass a fit test in order to even be considered for the team.   They have awhile series of stuff they have to do...sprints, kicks, burpees, juggling, sit ups, laps, etc all in under 27 minutes to be considered.  She started at 35, which wasn't terrible for her first time out, and that was with stopping to see what had to be done at each station.  It was a shock to her system I think, but in a good way.  She got in the car after and asked if we could start running together.  So proud of how she has stepped up to this challenge. 

My new job is awesome!  So family friendly and the schedule is unreal.  I heard someone down the hall the other day say he was "too blessed to be stressed."  I really feel like that is the best way to describe life right now!

My Fitspiration-an honest look in the mirror

I stumbled across this picture  the other day (as you  may have seen on my facebook page) and honest  to  goodness, my first thought was "I HAVE to blog  about this."  It has been a long time since I have felt that strongly about needing to get my thoughts out and I think this is all part of my overall "acceptance" of things.  I need top keep  moving forward and finding the things that I can own, that I can hold myself to, and these two ah-may-zing blogs I am fortunate to be a part  of,  both Waits and Measure(ments)s and The Journey, allow me to  do that.

I  have challenged myself this  year  to do right by ME.  I took the time (and bravery) to take physical measurements and put them out there to all of you.   Numbers in print that can't be taken back...well, I  mean I could delete the post but we all know once its in cyberspace it is  there forever.  I have been working through the pain in my hip, I have been trying to focus.  The past few months have been hard.   My who-knows-why-my -hip-hurts chronic pain, yep I said  chronic.  Did you know that if you suffer  from pain for  more than six weeks it's considered chronic?  I didn't until my doc told me. My poor husband with his back pain that turns out to be not one but TWO herniated discs and just keeps  plugging away as best  he can.  The winter blues, thee kids activities, life in general.  It's so easy to get bogged down, and that is not  good.  It (at  least for me) leads  to feeling blue  and that  leads to overeating which leads to guilt  which leads to more eating, which ultimately leads to your pants feeling just  THAT much to tight.  I know, I  have been living it.

I was feeling puffy and gross and shameful for allowing myself to get  this way.  How does someone who writes for  not  one but TWO health focused blogs spiral down like  this?  Could you feel my shame,  I mean, I fell off  the face of  the earth with my blogging.  I  wanted to disappear, but I didn't. My family inspired me, as they always seem to do.

When my hubby and I went to see  the kinesiologist  we found the reason for  my hip pain, at least  part of  it...bad foot.  Crazy I know,  but the doc gave me an orthotic insert and I felt relief for  the first time in a long time.  While there, both the hubs and I took a nutrition survey for toxicity.  WOW was I shocked.  I mean, I know that we  don't always eat what we  should, I know that I don't exercise as much as I should...but there is SO much more than that when figuring out why you feel the way you do.  The survey covered topics like: digestion, ears, emotions, energy, weight, head, skin...to name a few.  It asked about our risk exposure  ton  things like household chemicals, pesticides, and pets.  Once we finished, after picking my jaw up from the floor, I knew it was time to do something about it.

We took home the detox cleans the doc suggested  and read through what we needed to do and decided to get started.  This was  all before the herniated discs were actually diagnosed...just severe pain for  my poor hubby.  It got to  the point where he  knew after
no  relief came from the AK doc that he  needed to  see  someone how would help with the pain.  With that in mind,  we decided to put the cleans eon the back burner for a few (who wants to  cleanse pain meds out when you feel as   awful as  he does).

Fast forward  a few weeks and we are on the long wait to see  thew spinal surgeon, so meds are in place for a while.  Dear hubby encouraged me to  go ahead  and start  the cleanse, he can always do  later.  So I do...I can't even begin to tell you how much better I felt after just a few days.  The puffiness and bloating I'd been carrying in my midsection is gone.  My hubs even said my face looked less puffy and more sculpted like  it used to.  I  got  complimented at work by someone who said I looked as though I was"glowing".  All of this from detoxing?!?!  I mean, I wont get into the details but my little 5'2 frame was really holding onto a lot of stuff it shouldn't have been.

So as I am progressing, my hubby goes to see  a pain management doc.  The pain management doc is having him  wait on pain blockers until he tries some water therapy...ok, at least  we have something in place now.  I am feeling pretty good at this point but still not getting back on the workout trail.  Do you ever feel guilty for working out when someone else can't?  My  hubby has ALWAYS been my workout buddy.  He pushes me to keep going, keep getting stronger, and with him WANTING to work out and not being able to I felt as though I couldn't or at least shouldn't enjoy those endorphins without him.  And because he knows me so  well, he knew  I was stalling.

He told me that I was NOT to wait  for  him, that if he  was  able he'd be working out everyday, and I know he means it.  So I  hit the mat.  I am aiming high too for just really coming back.  I figure February is a short month so why not try to do SOMETHING everyday.  Whether its walking, a full on cardio or  strength workout...whatever....as long as  its something!  AND even better, PT has encouraged swimming for the hubs, its supposed to be a great way to  workout with herniated discs s o  he is re-upping the rec membership so he can start to swim and try and get himself back on track and stronger  and more fit wile still dealing with this pain.

Its funny because I have really only been out of my routine for about 6-8 weeks which in the grand scheme isn't a lot, but even with the setbacks I must have been doing something right.  My kiddos (well  the little one at least) actually will sit and watch and CHEER for me as I burn those calories,
and then they hit the mat together too.    They know the importance of it.

the girls  doing a little yoga together :)

So we are moving forward, and finding/making better choices and I feel like there  are  some GREAT things on the horizon for  my  little family!  Feeling fit-spired!

Whirlwind Weekend

So this (see above) was my weekend! With a month full of September birthdays and the ongoing activities that they kiddos are in we always have the "when to celebrate their birthdays" dilemma.  This year we had already decided to do "destination" parties so that we didn't' have to also make time to clean and prep the house.  It was nice too because it actually saved us a little green in the long run so that is always a plus right?!? 

So we started out our weekend bright and early with soccer for the little bear.  She is REALLY loving it, and that just makes my heart happy!  I just wish my heart could be happy closer to 10 then 830...but oh well.  She was VERY excited this week that her Sissy was coming to watch too, so she was able to really show off her skills :)  Sissy went right out on the field to help with warm up.

Then we went home for a quick outfit change and got on the road for back to back club games for the big kid.  It was a beautiful day for soccer, just an already over scheduled one.  But three games down, a trip to the orchard, and a stop to pick up the cakes for the parties and we were back at home and changing clothes again (and showering, I mean...that's a lot of soccer playing).

My big girl turned 12 this year (her birthday is right around Labor Day so generally celebrating the weekend of the holiday with friends doesn't work), and she wanted a laser tag party.  The Dad's decided to get in on the action and they all seemed to have a great time.  If you have a pre-teen at home, you will understand when I say how hard it is to make one of "them" smile, well I am happy to report that there was nothing but smiles (well, nothing but smiles and a lot of smack talk) at laser tag.  We feasted on the traditional destination party pizza and a yummy cookie cake.  The big kid prefers cookie cake to regular, and proudly I managed to control myself.  That was Saturday night.

Bright and early Sunday morning, little bear rolls over in bed and without even opening her eyes says "I'm so excited!"  FINALLY her party day was here.  Don't get me wrong, she had a blast playing arcade games at her sissy's party, but today was about HER!  Sissy decided to forego the 4 year old party and go to her soccer game (yep, ANOTHER one...different team).  So we got bathed, dressed, dropped Sis off at a team mates house and headed to the Jumpyard.  A warehouse full of inflatable bounce houses.  It's like a preschoolers best dream ever! 

Blurry pic, I now but they were literally moving too fast to get any good ones while bouncing/sliding/running/partying/having a blast!  So needless to say on Sunday we feasted yet again on pizza but this time we added cake into the mix instead of cookies.

To top of our weekend of "not so great eating" weekend, I cat sit for our neighbors a LOT.  To thank me, they give us lots of veggies from their garden (which is much more abundant then ours) and very generous gift cards to the Macaroni Grill.    We decided we would go there to celebrate turning 4!  So onday night off to the grill we went for dinner.  Have you ever looked at a calorie breakdown for MG?  If not, spare yourself the horror.  The food is totally yummo. but the sacrifice...let's not even talk about it. :)

The hubs and I had already discussed the plan of attack for Tuesday morning and the changeover to less cals so we were okay with splurging for the little bear's birthday.  So many yummy choices, but I guess my body knew better then I thought it would and this delish dish is what I ordered, grilled salmon and spinach orzo salad!

 

 

Now, I did give half to the hubs in trade for half of his lasagna, but (without actual verification) I feel like I did pretty well.  And it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good!  It's funny to me how much I like salmon having grown up refusing to eat fish.  I just love me some salmon now!  (moment of pride)

So that was my whirlwind weekend.  Now we are back to "game face" on with our food choices.  Ready to re-vamp the workout schedule.  The tricky part is...there is one more birthday left this month....what healthy choice can I pick to celebrate my day with that will fly with the kiddos?!??!!

 

What is your celebratory food of choice when watching what you eat?