Saturday, January 26, 2013

SUPER FIT SATURDAY-OY VEY

OY VEY!  THE HIIT WORKOUT I JUST DID WAS INSANE AND I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO LOSE MY LUNCH!  WITH THAT BEING SAID - NO PAIN- NO GAIN!


THERE ARE SOMETIMES FLOODS OF EMOTION WHILE WE ARE WORKING OUT THESE CAN BE SAD, ANGRY OR HAPPY AND EXCITED FEELINGS.  THE POINT IS THAT IF YOU ARE FEELING NEGATIVE FEELINGS COME UP DURING YOUR WORK OUT, DON'T STOP!  THESE FEELINGS ARE WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY.  I HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF WORKOUTS AND STARTED CRYING NOT FROM PAIN BUT FROM ANGER OBVIOUSLY SOME REPRESSED FEELINGS THAT HAD NOT BEEN DEALT WITH.
BREATHE IN AND LET IT GO.  


check out this link to a video on HIIT training it's quite interesting and I think I shall try this approach and let you know if I get some fast results! It requires no gym and only 10 lbs or less of weights!
     

You guys ROCK! What are your workout goals for this up coming week??!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Fashion Friday

Look at my cute new, pink kicks! Mom bought these for me today when we went shopping. Looking at them makes me feel happy, is that so weird? I want to go running even though it's raining tonight just to see how they feel. They are Reebok and super super light weight and breathable a lot like my Nike Free's.



Thursday, January 24, 2013

THANKFUL THURSDAY!

What are you grateful for?

My thoughts on gratitude are that you can never be thankful and grateful enough.  I am grateful for my children I love them so much!  Aren't they so Presh?!


Muhammad said that gratitude for the abundance you've received is the best insurance that the abundance will continue.

Buddha said that you have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy.



In my Mormon (Christ-centered) upbringing,  I learned a song "Count Your Blessings" that has stuck with me all my life.  With the concept that when we are at our lowest and feel the worst, think back at your life and all the positives by listing the blessings and you will realize God and Christ are with you always and there is an abundance in your life even though you may not be where you want to be at the time and things are difficult.  With that in mind, some of you know a lot about my past and the difficulties I've gone through, but I am not bitter or angry, I am grateful for those trials because they have made me stronger.  Challenges in life definitely have the ability to ruin you if you let them.  It all comes back to perspective.

"When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength.  Give thanks for your food and the joy of living.  If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself."
                                     -Tecumseh- Shawnee Native American Leader

 Albert Einstein's scientific discoveries changed the way we see the Universe, and when asked about his monumental achievements, he spoke only of giving thanks to others.  One of the most brilliant minds of all time thanked other people over a hundred times a day for the work they had done!  (Excerpt from Rohnda Byrne on gratitude)

No matter where you are today in your life you can start very small and say "Thank You" more often and "Count Your Blessings"!




Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Green Milk

So if your like most and your not feeling the whole green juice movement, why not try some green milk?!! It's pretty darn tasty. This healthy alternative is a great way to start your day.

-10 oz. Unsweetened almond milk
-8 oz. green juice made from 2 English cucumbers, 6 celery stalks, 2 large handfuls baby spinach
-Dash of stevia to taste. I love Trader Joe's pure stevia it's the best with no bitter after taste it's a little bit pricey, but oh sooooo with it!

Stir it up and enjoy!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Motivation Monday- You just never know....

Last week I was at one of our local health food stores and saw one of their workers smoking outside! Now this particular worker is so sweet and such a doll. She is seriously one of the friendliest and most genuine girls I've ever met. She always asks how the fam is and wants to know all about baby Roman. Seeing her smoking was unexpected because she works at a health food store and I said "I thought you were healthy!" She said " I know I need to stop" I said "your gonna give baby Roman second hand smoke lungs!!!" I was teasing as I said this and she knew I was too we shared a little chuckle as we want our merry little ways. I shared with my kids what I had said they replied that it was mean to tease her like that so I wondered how what I said affected her. I went back this week and she came up to me with the usual pep in her step and announced that she hadn't smoked for a whole week! I high five'd her and told her how awesome she is! We talked a bit about healthy eating and working out . I'm so proud of her! She said she just made the decision to stop! Just like that after 3 years and that is some serious inspiration for motivation Monday!!!

Iron man pants cute rocker chic

So I got all dolled up to go out with the hubby and he says those pants look like iron man but me and my besty / wardrobe consultant / daughter think otherwise what do men know anyway??..... Don't they know women dress for each other? Actually I probably dress for myself mostly. Who do you dress for? Your man, your girlies or yourself?

Vest Nordstrom, leggings Windsor, baseball T Express, boots luxury rebel Nordstrom



Workout Buddies

Thank goodness for workout buddies - my kids :) I love how enthusiastic they get about working out. I am a big home workout gal and these little wipper snappers are so much fun to workout with and are actually quite good at it. Mr. Man over on the far left said he was just fine doing the "girl push-ups" he was not about to exert too much energy this time. Little miss perfect form on the right is so much fun and then there was that little ball of cuteness sandwiched between the two who was the one that lasted the longest. Today was HIIT training 30 minutes it was intense but I survived they did not. Thanks to the help of my buds keeping me motivated the time went by fast I wish I had 1/2 the energy they do. It's not always easy to find the time to work out with a big family because something always comes up but you just gotta do it and make it happen! Don't forget to drink lots of water!!!



Thursday, January 3, 2013

What's in your fridge?

I'm pretty proud of mine and hubby's efforts to transition our family to a healthier lifestyle. One way is through our eating. It wasn't to difficult and I can tell you how we did it! Like I said hubby's support is one of the biggest parts of the equation. Discussing and educating the family about healthy food was another big part. Then I started with transition foods then took out the junk foods/ unhealthy out completely. We know first hand that kids will eat what you buy and put in the fridge and pantry. They also will learn from YOU! What you teach your children through your actions will effect them throughout their lives into adulthood. As a side note we allow treat and goodies once in a while our rule is if they drink their 12 oz green (mostly spinach, kale and a little bit of fruit) smoothie they can pretty much have whatever treat they want that day maybe a scoop of ice cream after dinner, a homemade cookie or two, a handful of dark chocolate chips, a few Hershey's kisses or a snack size candy bar. We believe in moderation not depravation. Our diets are mostly healthy with a little bit of fun! Fun meaning sweets and those can come from fruits and homemade treats or a little candy treat here and there.

Here's some examples of how our family transitioned off the unhealthy foods:

Potato chips-tortilla chips-homemade tortilla chips made from sprouted wheat tortillas they are soooo good

Cow milk-sweetened almond milk/chocolate almond milk-unsweetened vanilla flavored almond milk( trader jones best consistency and taste and price) homemade almond milk

Milk shakes usually chocolate(which we still have on occasion) - fruit smoothies with a little bit of spinach and agave added- mostly spinach and other greens a little bitI of fruit and agave- spinach mostly all green smoothie and only fruit to sweeten

White rice- brown rice

Beef tacos - black bean and beef tacos

Beef patties - veggie patties

White bread - 100% whole wheat- 100% multigrain whole wheat or sprouted wheat bread like Ezekiel bread or Milton's multi grain

Peanut butter- almond butter

Store bought salad dressings- homemade extra virgin olive oil and lemon

Butter for frying -Coconut oil for frying

Table salt - Himalayan pink salt like "real salt"

Bottle water- smart water- distilled -buying a water filter that alkalizes and distills our water

Poultry and beef every day - more fish 1-2 times a week and animal meat in moderation 1-2 days a week

Cookies & crackers- homemade cookies and raw nuts

Having fresh fruits and veggies cut up and available in place of all the snacks and store bought preservative filled foods helped a lot.

"Cow milk" was the hardest transition I still remember the day I was grocery shopping in Costco with my 3 youngest at the time 3 boys 6, 4 and 3 years old. When we walked down the milk and dairy isle they opened the refrigerator door to get the "cow milk" and note I never referred to it as that the kids just picked up on this phrasing. Each boy toting a big 2 gallon box of milk in hand and I say oh not today boys remember we are buying healthier milk -"almond milk" wa-ah???!!!!!! "We want cow milk" they all protested LOUDLY, "why won't you buy us cow milk?" Normally I don't care while people observe my parenting but this just sounded biZarre and weird.

So my suggestion is to not take your kids shopping until certain transitions have been made and then it's fun to shop mainly the produce section of the grocery store hunting for the "healthy yummy foods that make us strong".

I also bought a great book that talked about healthy foods and had them try vegetables all sorts of them not just the usual peas and carrots. I made a game of it using a chart they would get a sticker for each veggie they tried for a reward after every 10 they tried. They were so motivated that they tried them all right hen and got their surprise!

I also told the older kids (teenagers) they could eat their salad or drink it in a fruit and spinach smoothie that was sweet they chose as you probably guessed the sweet, green and fruit smoothie.

I hope these suggestions help you and you and your family can be started on your healthier food journey along with us!!