This journey we are on is not against others… but against ourselves.  We need to quiet that inner voice and learn that any and all competition is against yourself.  Keep running and moving forward.  Do not compare yourself to others.  Do not quit.  Keep running the race!

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The year 2012 is well on its way. We are seven weeks in to the new year and I have implemented a small change each week. Each small change builds upon one another to help me with my goal of living a healthy and active lifestyle.

So far in 2012, I have made 7 healthy changes and have continued those changes the following week(s). I have made a commitment to eat a healthy breakfast upon waking (every day), drink more water (atleast half my body weight in ounces), take a daily multivitamin, eat more fiber (atleast 25g) , record my food in a food journal increase my protein and last weeks focus to eat five square meals a day.

As a busy mom I often find myself going too long between meals… or even *gasp* skipping meals.  The hunger pains result in a cranky, hungry, Mama… and at times cranky, hungry kiddos.  Having a plan to eat five healthy meals during the day by spacing them accordingly has helped ease that crankiness.

My plan of action this past week was to eat a healthy breakfast (whole wheat bagel, hard boiled egg, cheese, juice), mid morning snack (2 clementine), lunch (varies), afternoon snack (protein bar), and a well balanced dinner.

Knowing that I was going to eat again in 2-3 hours reduced my desire to binge on unhealthy items.  When I did feel a hunger pain I drank my water or chewed gum.  That hunger pain dissolved and shortly after it was time to eat again.

This journey the past few weeks has taught me a lot about myself.  I am stronger than I think.  I actually need to trust my body and listen to my body.  By starting the day with a healthy breakfast, drinking my water, focusing on fiber & protein (keeping it all in balance), being aware of what I put in my mouth, and eating often to keep my metabolism going… I feel healthier, happier and more in control of my body than I have been in months!

The past 7 weeks I have focused on adding one small change each week covering the topic of nutrition.  This coming week I am going to shift gears and begin goals focusing on movement.

This week my healthy change focus will be:

Get Routine Activity Each Day – Move!!

Living an active life improves the quality of life, reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart disease.  It can also help reduce your risk of some cancers, strengthen bones and muscles, improve your overall mood… and help prevent injury!

Baby steps. One small change at a time!

Care to join me on my small change journey through 2012?
Commit to making regular movement throughout your day.

What small changes do you make during your day to MOVE MORE?

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Happy Fitness Inspiration Friday! I hope you had a fantastic fit, active and healthy week!  Keeping  up with the tradition from the past few months, this week I am featuring a woman who is a fitness inspiration to me.  I have only known her a short amount of time, but the moment I met her I was inspired.  She is a fellow fit mom and you know my heart, I love when mom’s fit fitness in their day!  

Tina shares her journey through her past and what she has overcome to be the woman of God she is today.  I find Tina a fitness inspiration, but also a spiritual inspiration as a mother.  She always has an insightful way to stay grounded and keep her focus on Christ.  Tina is my FitSpiration!

Tell me a little bit about your fitness journey

I was always active. I participated in cheerleading and gymnastics for fourteen years. Then, in college, I stopped any regular activity until taking a required fitness credit.

I ended up missing the regular workouts after the class ended, so I ordered some fitness DVDs from Beachbody to do at home with my mom and my sister. Over the next year, I built up a fairly extensive workout DVD collection and got in great shape using solely Cathe and Turbo Jam workouts.

Eventually, I joined a gym and became a huge fan of strength training and spinning. To this day, they are a regular part of my workout rotation.

It wasn’t until shortly after the birth of my second child this past January that I ventured into the world of running. And now I will be running two half marathons in November! Crazy!

Basically, I love being a work in progress and constantly finding new fitness goals.

What is your fitness LOVE?

Running and strength training. Both empower me in their own ways and I couldn’t imagine life without them. There’s always a new challenge and new goal to achieve – more push-ups, a faster pace. I seriously love them both!

What is your ONE piece of fitness advice you find helpful to keep you motivated?

I apply this to many things in life, but I strive for the mentality to "focus on progress and not perfection". Don’t give up. Keep working and the results will come.

I have found inspiration during my I don’t wanna phases and know that if you would like to be inspired and motivated you would love following Tina.  You can follow her journey on her blog, twitter, or facebook.

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It seems that our house and street has become the happening place for little boys ages 6 and under to hang out.  Just the other day I was outside playing with six little boys (two 6 year olds, two 5 year olds, 1 three year old, 1 two year old). 

Many miles were drive up and down our street. 
Many wheelies were jumped on their little dirt ramp. 
Many arguments were fought over one particular 3 year olds bike (who knew it was so cool!?)
Six little boys slept really well that night!

Boys! Boys! Boys!  It was a fun filled afternoon… and Mama slept really well too!

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Oh the many joys and laughter motherhood brings.  When I take the time to pause and live each moment to the fullest, I am bombarded with the hilarity of my children.  They are quite comical little creatures.

Peyton came out of my room wearing my Sparkly Soul Headband on his head and proceeded to do “workouts” in the living room.  He said that the headband gave him “Magic powers like Super Man… I am super strong!”  Then proceeded to flex his muscles.

My children love working out with my husband and I.  My two youngest LOVE encouraging me to run faster while they enjoy the fresh air and ride in the double jogger.  Our children are always watching our moves.  We are their examples… healthy or not.  Good and bad.  They are always watching.

Now… I just need to figure out why Peyton thinks we wear headbands on our forehead versus on our head.

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I found this image on pinterest this morning and was instantly humbled by its message. God’s gift to us (over 2000 years ago) was the ultimate gift of love. LOVE should be shared daily … not just on Valentine’s Day.  His LOVE offering is for everyone! 

Happy Valentines Day!

xoxo

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My youngest son (2 years old) is hitting the age where he thinks he doesn’t need to take a nap.  Some days he can hang with the big boys.  Other days he is a hot mess by 3:00 and ends up climbing in the recliner to pass out.

We have had a mild winter in northern California and when the sun is shining and T-man has not napped… we load up in the jogger and head out for some fresh air with the hopes of someone (or BOTH) taking a nap.

Some days it works and T-man passes right out.  Other days both littles are wide awake and ready to tackle the afternoons dreaded witching hour… screaming, crying, whining and fighting.

Which often leaves Mommy in a hot, sweaty, cranky mess… counting down the clock to when Daddy gets home.  It is a deadly combination when you have 1 tired mommy + 1 tired 2 year old + 1 tired 3 year old + 1 tired 6 year old who just got home from school. 

Yikes! Watch out!!

I am thankful for the sunshine and the afternoon sweat fest (failed attempt to get littles to nap)… where is that parenting manual again?

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The year 2012 is well on its way.  We are six weeks in to the new year and I have implemented a small change each week.  Each small change builds upon one another to help me with my goal of living a healthy and active lifestyle.

So far in 2012, I have made 6 healthy changes and have continued those changes the following week(s). I have made a commitment to eat a healthy breakfast upon waking (every day), drink more water (atleast half my body weight in ounces), take a daily multivitamin, eat more fiber (atleast 25g) , record my food in a food journal and last week’s goal to increase my protein.

This week I have been extra aware of new and fun (tasty) ways to get protein during my day.  I have enjoyed Odwalla bars, Vega bars, and adding hemp hearts to my meals.

I was sent a bag of hemp hearts by Manitoba Harvest to review.  I was super excited because it arrived just in time for my protein goal week.  I am already a big fan of adding flax seed to my meals… but had never heard of hemp hearts.

Did you know that hemp hearts are the highest in protein, contain rare omegas, you don’t have to grind and are low in carbohydrates!?  Basically it is a super food for your brain!  Which is super cool!

I have found that when I have focused on increasing protein each day, I am less hungry.  Of course, I am eating more fiber, drinking more water, eating a whole healthy breakfast and more.  But I think protein has something to do with it too.  I am less tired and ready to tackle my day.  Yay for protein!

Continuing on with the small changes each week, I will be adding a new healthy focus this coming week.

This week my healthy change focus will be:

Get Five Square Meals a Day

Developing a regular eating schedule helps keep you satisfied throughout the day.  Also, having a plan to know what you are eating (and are going to be eating later) will help you ME stay on course for success.

Baby steps. One small change at a time!

Do you plan your meals ahead?
What are your favorite easy meals and snacks?

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Happy fitness inspiration Friday!  Each week I feature someone who is a fitness inspiration.  I love celebrating and sharing fitness inspiration with others with the hopes that it will inspire you too!

Today’s fitspiration is my friend, Rachel.  I met Rachel a few months ago in an online fitness community.  I was instantly drawn to her for her dedication and drive to continue with her fitness journey on her own.  She is a force to be reckoned with. 

Tell me a little about yourself and your journey.

Growing up until I got pregnant with our oldest daughter I was always smaller – about a size 2. I could eat anything & would never gain a pound man those days were nice! I was also very active before I got pregnant in sports, so once that stopped it was very easy to pack on the pounds. Five years later & at the time at the heaviest I had been to date I got pregnant with our second daughter. She was six months old when Adam & I were away for our anniversary and found out that they were soon going to be big sisters. I hadn’t really lost much weight from K & then really wasn’t going to have time between H & A. Once A was born life got really busy not that with two kidlets it wasn’t before but we ended up moving out of state. So needless to say fitness was not a priority at the time.

Once we moved here, I felt like I didn’t really know anyone & a good friend of mine had been a part of Mamvation and so I figured it was a win win because I would meet new people even ended up meeting people who lived near me and would also work on my ditching the baby weight. Throughout the almost year that I was a part of the Mamvation community I lost about 25 pounds including the weight I lost during the MILI campaign #9 (15 lb.’s) & also lost 20" during the 7 week campaign.

I am not where I want to be yet but almost 28 pounds later I am well on my way! My future goals are to get back to a health BMI & to feel comfortable in my own skin regardless of what number pops up on the scale. I am trying really hard to focus on how I am feeling physically and not basing my progress on the number. It is not easy by any means but it has helped me not to want to weigh in all the time. It also really helps when I only weigh every now & then because then it’s a bigger loss! That is always super motivating.

My current fitness goals are: Training for the bridge run (running the bridge at mackinaw island in MI) with my husband & in laws next fall. Also next spring (maybe fall) Adam and I will be running our first half marathon.

Training & working out together has really made our marriage even stronger as well as our family. There is nothing better then knowing that TOGETHER you are doing something so amazing & crossing off goals of the bucket list

Our kids now participate in what they call "shopping for the good stuff" aka grocery shopping for healthy food & also participate in cooking meals as well. This is not just a change in me or in Adam & I but in our whole family.

What is your fitness love?

I personally love to run. I ran cross country in high school & also have played soccer since I was little. So I loved running & sports. As I am sure you can guess .. running is not something I do everyday now like I used to. I am working on getting back to that place though. I am currently doing C25K aka Couch To 5k running plan. I am also using the EA Sports Active 2 – Love it! One thing that I really love about it is that I do "real world activities" like mountain biking, boxing, sparing (that is a great workout on a stressful day!), soccer, basketball, etc. The thing I love most about those is that it incorporates activities with exercises – mountain biking you have to squat and hold it to gain speed, run to gain speed up the hills, jumping is how you jump the jumps on the trail, etc. Also I know first hand that moms don’t always have time to set aside for working out, but one thing we do a lot is dance parties. Our youngest son is autistic & he loves dance parties, so it gives all of us time to have fun, spend time together & be active. How cool is that that something as simple as a dance party w. kids is such a great workout!

When I need motivation I have two things that keep me going 1. I have a picture of me at my heaviest. I have it up where I see it daily. It is a reminder to me of how far I have come & where I don’t want to go back to. 2. My kids. They look at Adam & I to see what they should do. It’s not just the big stuff but also what they should eat, how much they should eat, etc. We are setting the example. I want them to be healthy and never have to fight to get back to where they once were like Adam & I are doing now. Our decisions and actions now are setting the example for them & one day their own family.

You can find more inspiration from Rachel and follow her journey on her facebook fan page Finding My Abs & Myself Along The Way, twitter, or blog.

Rachel is my FitSpiration!

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