Yum

So apparently juggling life as a mom is crazy busy.  It's a crazy busy that I love though.  

Had time for a quick post.  Here's a little snack I've been loving lately.  I still love chips and it's hard to portion control them so I usually get the little kids size snack packs with Fritos, Sun Chips, etc.  I did however see this little treat the other day and it called my name.  It's my new favorite thing.  Perfect with some cottage cheese or by themselves if you just want a salty, crunchy something.   

Accountability

First I want to give a shout out to my viewers who left comments.  Thank you for the kind words and letting me know that my thoughts, tips, advice, research is being read.  I heart y'all!

Today's topic is accountability.  This is extremely important when it comes to changing one's behavior whatever it may be...fitness habits, mindset, weight, anger management, shopping addictions, etc.  If you have something you're trying to change you must enlist the help of others.  You are doing no favors by keeping your goal secret and trying to battle it on your own.

For my first marathon I told every single person I knew that I was going to run it.  It probably got kind of annoying.  Friends, co workers, clients, people at church, people I barely knew.  I talked about running and my training all the time.  I knew that the more people I told I wouldn't be able to just give up on the idea and not do it.  I knew from a behavior change class that I took in college that this was crucial to my success.  Well I can tell you it worked.  Especially since I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it the first time.  Now I'm addicted and want to run Boston one day.  3:40 PR here I come.

So my challenge to you in becoming an overall healthier person...whether it be physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, etc.  Set up some type of accountability system.  The bigger the better.  If you need to hire a personal trainer b/c you know that's the only way to get you to the gym.  Do it!  If you need to join Weight Watchers or start a food journal to eat better do it.  I'd take the journal another step.  Don't just say you'll write your food down.  Promise to have someone who's familiar with nutrition look at it every day and give you feedback.  If you need to save money literally cut up your credit cards and only spend cash.  My dad taught me this rule long ago.  Only pay for what you can afford and use cash.  Thanks Dad for saving me unwanted heartache with debt.

Hopefully this gives you a few ideas.  I'm doing it too.  Lose baby weight by September.  Run a marathon this summer. Blog at least once a week and hopefully more when possible.  What are your goals???  Here's an opportunity for some accountability.  Get it out there.  I promise it feels good!

Just Get There

Wow I feel like the biggest slacker ever. It's been over a year since I posted on here. What??? How is that possible? I don't think I have any viewers now. For those listening I have a valid reason for my absence. Got pregnant, moved three times in the past year, was put on bed rest for two and a half months, had a baby, husband deployed for three months, etc. Sorry friends.

Actually if I'm being honest I don't feel too bad about my absence b/c this past year has been crazy. I like to do this blog more for myself than anything though. It keeps me current in researching the science of fitness and talking about something I love. So I decided to throw up a post and I'm going to do my best to keep this thing going better than I have been.

My thought for today is about motivation. After having a baby I've been struggling a lot with getting back to my workouts. Mostly b/c I feel extremely out of shape. To go from marathon running shape, with abs, and a "dialed in to the calorie" diet to a post baby body that feels mushy to say the least has been rough on me. After complaining about it and not doing anything I finally decided to forget about all my prior accomplishments. I have to start somewhere. I had to set a goal and do you want to know what it is?

Just get there. Not run three miles a day or walk if we're being honest. Not lift weights four times a week and stretch for 15 minutes every day. Just make the effort to get there and if I do that I've succeeded.

Well I can say after a few weeks of doing this I'm feeling amazing. I can already feel and see a difference in how my body looks. Some days I pound out a workout kind of like my old self. I'm not quite as strong b/c I loss a lot of muscle tone, but I've been doing an hour of weights and cardio most days. Other days I'm freaking tired so I just do the bike for twenty or thirty minutes then go home. A few days the best I can do is stretch for fifteen minutes in my hubbies man cave and have some quiet time to myself, but the point is just getting there and making the effort is what's important.

Hope this can be of some help to people who might be suffering like I have been. Future posts will be more tips for moms to shape up post baby. I'm figuring this out as I go. I gained 65 pounds (maybe more...I stopped looking after that) and have lost 40. Have a good 20-25 to go and believe me when I get there it's going to feel amaze balls!!!
My hubby (I will call him AFBear-Air Force Bear from now on. That's his play station nickname) and I want to run a marathon in September so there will be plenty of posts about that. Nutrition and what works for me. I might throw some of my general workouts on here so you can get a taste of what I like to do and give you ideas. And whatever else tickles my fancy. Shoot me a comment if you have other ideas and I'll do something on it if I can.

Mantra for the day: Life is short make the best of it!