I wanted to share with you some of the links to some wonderful and informative posts that I found this week on the web.  Every morning I post a new link to a blog post or recipe that I think will help you reach your goals of being healthy on the Desirefitness Facebook Fanpage. 

1- Motivation- Read this article from pickthebrain.com to help you develop confidence, focus, and direction. http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-motivate-yourself/

2-Kale Chips- I have not made them yet.  I have been seeing them on a few healthy/fitness blogs lately. The plan is to make them this week.  If successful I may bring them to the family Christmas celebration.  Here is the recipe I am going to try. http://askgeorgie.com/?p=1754 

3-Healthy Snacks- Wholeliving.com has posted 50 healthy snacks for you to try.  My 2 cents though with this list is to watch the portions you eat. http://www.wholeliving.com/photogallery/best-snacks-for-work/

 4-Exercise- The Burpee- The Burpee is a full-body combo exercise that builds strength and gets the heart pumping.  You do not have to do too many of them to start breathing heavy and sweating.  The Art of Manliness does an excellent job explaining and showing you video of this great exercise. http://artofmanliness.com/2010/01/27/the-burpee-the-one-exercise-to-rule-them-all/ 

Let me know what you think of any of this information.  Try one of the recipes? I want to know how it turned out.

Have a great week!

I recently read an article  from National Wildlife Foundation, 8 Simple Ways to Grow Active Healthy Kids.  The article discusses that children today in general have become “indoor” kids and the implications for their health.  We do want our kids to be healthy and encourage them to play outdoors. 

With the holidays approaching I have formed a list of toys that should keep your children playing and having fun outside for hours on end. 

1. 

    Bicycle- Once children learn how to ride a bike, there are endless possibilities of fun ahead of them.  Races, adventures, tricks, and freedom are all part of the experience not to mention strong legs, lungs, and heart. 

2. 

    Roller Skates- Gliding in and out of obstacles, performing tricks, or just rolling along with friends is a lot of  fun.  Roller skating birthday parties are practically a right of passage in the United States.

3. 

     Snow sled- For children who live in the colder areas that get to have the pleasure of snow days from school.  Flying down snowy slopes with the neighborhood kids or your friends from school is such an awesome experience. At some point a snow ramp will be built with teamwork.  Here is a tip- If you cover your ramp with water after the last run, the next day the ramp will be ice and even faster.

4. 

    Wagon- An outstanding tool for outside play is the wagon.  Pull supplies for any activity in a good, sturdy wagon.  A fort may need to be built.  Big trucks need to be brought to the sand pit.  School supplies need to be set up in a pretend outdoor classroom. More beach equipment can make its way to the oceanside from the motel. A wagon is an excellent mode of transportation. With some creativity a wagon can become any vehicle. 

5.

   Scooter- A scooter is just as much fun as a bike. Being smaller than a bike and in many cases able to be folded up, makes a scooter more convenient to travel with and store than a bike. If a child is not quite ready to ride a bike a scooter is a great tool for learning balance.

6.

    Skateboard- Cool mode of transportation.  Riding and doing tricks with a skateboard is great for all over body control and mental focus.

7. 

     Basketball- My Favorite By the Way – As with many sports playing basketball leads to great physical shape, learning teamwork, knowing how to win and lose, and long lasting relationships.

8.

   Hockey Goal- The great thing about a hockey goal is that it does not have to be just used for hockey games.  The goal can be used for mini soccer games.  The kids can put it on the side of a built in pool and play water polo.  

9. 

    Playground ball- Possibilities are only limited by your child’s imagination. Kickball, dodgeball, SPUD, basketball, soccer, catch, four square, etc.

10. 

        Football- A football, some friends, and a little open space is all you need for running, throwing, catching, teamwork, and forging friendships.

11. 

     Baseball Glove- Baseball is not considered America’s pastime for no reason. Playing baseball is a lot of fun. The entire block can be a part of the game. Baseball is filled with running, throwing, hitting, catching, sliding, scooping, diving, strategizing and playing a unit.

12.

      Swing set- A swing set builds confidence and climbing skills.  Swinging in the air is just plain fun.  Great conversations have taken place on the swing set.

13.

      Playhouse-  Imagination abounds with a playhouse.  The playhouse could be anything.  House, school, firehouse, clubhouse, fort, store, library, post office, bank, or it can be what ever building you can think of. 

14.

      Some children have a lot of fun catching insects outside and observing them.  Sure beats sitting in a desk at school reading about them from a book.

15. 

       A driveway, playground, or sidewalk has such potential for fun with a box of sidewalk chalk. Stories can be told through pictures. Bases can be marked off. Start and finish lines can be established.  The score can be kept. A hopscotch board can be drawn out.  Do not for get to trace around your friend laying down on the sidewalk.

16. 

       Jumping rope rhymes are always fun. A contest to see who can jumprope the most times without missing is great too.

17.

      The tennis ball is not only great for playing the game of tennis, but it can also be used for playing wall ball, stickball, baseball, and catch, plus being used in imaginative play.

Hope everyone has a great week ahead of them.

I started off with this single kettlebell workout in which I used a 8kg kettlebell.

After a warm-up I completed 4 rounds of

10 KB deadlifts

10 push-ups

10 KB two handed swings

10 KB two handed high pulls

20 second plank

5 L/R KB presses

10 L/R goblet  KB split squats

10 L/R  KB bent over rows

A few weeks ago as I was packing for a family vacation, I needed to come up with a way for my daughter to get exercise while we were away.  The hotel had a pool, but I wanted more for her to do.  Then I had one of my more ( I think) brilliant ideas.

Cutie pie was given in a birthday party goodie bag an inflatable beach ball. This wonderful beach ball has now been added to the extra bag I carry around with items cutie pie may need. As you can see in the video she had a great time playing with it on our trip.  She certainly had her heart pumping and her whole body moving.  After I put the camera away I joined in on the fun.

We have used the ball a few times since then in appropriate places.

Here is a list of beach ball activities to get your child’s heart pumping while having fun.

1-Catch

2-Keep it up- either alone or with some friends

3-Kicking

4-Dribbling with hands or feet

5-Volleyball

6-Bounce off a wall

Any other suggestions?

Check out the above video.

Yes I do know how to pronounce cashew correctly.  Don’t know why I went with casio.

Anywhoo.

I eat 1/4 cup of a nut mix pretty much everyday.

Nuts are a great source of healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

The grand total of the purchase of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, and almonds was $12.35.

This mix should last me about a month.

So $12.35 is a nice little investment into my health.

You must store the nuts in a dark cabinet, so they don’t spoil.

The stability ball is a great tool for overall muscular strength.

You may not realize that you can go beyond the crunch.

The above video shows you examples of the ball roll out, plank on the ball, jack knife, bridge, and leg curls.

Enjoy!

Here is a rundown of the above workout.

You’re maybe thinking what does salami have to do with your health goals.

Ok, at a party you may find a tray with cheese,  roll of salami, and bread/crackers.

How is the the salami eaten?

One slice at a time.  Eventualy it is all gone by the end of the party.

This one slice at a time method can be applied to getting healthy and strong.

It can be overwhelming with trying to get in shape.

1- You may have a lot of weight to lose.

2- There is soo much info out there you don’t know where to start.

Salami method- Just do one thing at a time.

Doesn’t matter what you choose.

Just continue going through the slices and repeating the tasks that need repeating.

You will reach your goal.

Start with adding one vegetable to your daily diet for a week.

The following week step it up to two.

Start walking one lap around the block for a week.

Next week add a second lap.

Day one do a push-up.

Day two do two.

You see where this is going.

Just keep moving forward toward your goals.

Who cares how long it takes.

The funny thing is the more you move forward you will start gaining momentum

and start cruising to your desired result.

At the end of the day you want to feel great.  Having a sense of accomplishment will do that for you. You want to get healthier but don’t know where to start. You have tons of things to get done everyday. So many are counting on you. You feel like you have zero time for you. Who has time for a full scale health plan?

Start with the shoulds that run through your head and pepper your conversations.

I should have a piece of fruit instead of a donut. I should go for a walk instead of eating lunch with your coworkers and complaining about your jobs. I should order a grilled chicken salad instead of a couple slices of pizza.  I should gather my family together for a bike ride instead of letting them go to their rooms and get sucked into the tv or video games. I should plan a healthy food shopping list for the week instead of watching Boston Rob dominate on Survivor.

Replay your “should” statements in your mind with having already completing them. You already get a small boost in confidence just by doing that. Then get working on those tasks.

Work on your shoulds and become healthier, feeling great at the end of the day.

I have found a great anonymously written  motivational poem for your back pocket, mirror, or your daily readings.

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill.

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.

When you care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As everyone of us sometimes learns.

And many a fellow turns about,

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man.

Often the struggler has given up,

When he might have captured the victor’s cup.

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out,

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar.

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,

It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.