The little things

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

The kiddo and I went outside today with her sled to enjoy the beautiful afternoon. We sledded, ran around, and momma dragged her all over the place non-stop for an hour. Before I started sparking I'm not sure I would have lasted 5 minutes (and man that kid is heavier than the last time we did this!)

This is what Sparkpeople means to me-that I can enjoy the little things with my daughter and create the big memories. Every sweaty workout, every thoughtfully planned meal, every day that I drug my butt out the door to run when I didn't really want to-this afternoon alone makes it all worth it.

  

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SEPTLEFTY 2/8/2012 5:44PM

My son and I walk the dog. Report Inappropriate Comment

Don't Quit!

Friday, June 10, 2011

So one of our challenges from our fearless pirate ninja hooker leader Kate is to write a blog about exercising and the 100 day challenge.

For full disclosure-I was a regular exerciser before I started the 100 day challenge. I'd hit the fitness center 3-4 times a week and walk or jog. So the exercise thing-it wasn't starting from scratch.

That's not to say that it hasn't been a learning experience. Since we've started the challenge I've discovered a couple things-one was that I needed to push myself harder. The whole walk/jog ewwww I don't want to sweat too much-yeah-that's not cutting it. The new motto-if I'm not dripping I'm not done.

Another thing-strength training-why the heck wasn't I doing it? It's made a huge difference in how I look, how I feel, oh yeah-and how strong I am.

Also-exercise alone isn't going to give me the body I want. The exercise in combination with paying attention to what I eat and staying in my calorie range-it's like a magic wand. The irony is I eat more now that before I started watching my calories-the difference is that it's quality food-things that give my body good fuel to get through my workouts and my days. And believe me-once I upped the intensity of my workouts good fuel became especially important. Two fruit rollups and a handful of oyster crackers will not sustain me through a workout-no matter how convenient they are.

And finally-a shout out to my fellow RFML challenge members-the posts have been awfully sparse the last few weeks. I hope that's because you're all busy rocking the challenges-not because you've punked out on us. Because I'm telling you right now-DON'T QUIT. Don't you dare! We signed up for this together and so help me god we're going to finish it together if I have to personally fly to your homes (after somehow tracing your IP addresses and finding out where you live-note to self-learn how to do that) and kick your butts to the end.

I know 100 days is pretty epic but 100 days can change your life. I know we've all got madness and troubles, and our lives are being run at a dead sprint but you've got to figure out how to make it work for your life. No excuses. I want to see you all posting here, cracking me up, and making me spit water out my nose for a long time, and even farther down the road-I want all of us to hold our grandkids someday(and have the energy to chase them around!) Build a life that's going to get you where you want to be in 20 years. When it's hard, when it hurts, when it sucks-think about what you're doing it for. And if that doesn't sustain you-think about how freaky it would be if I really did show up on your doorstep with my butt kicking boots on.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

STARS_GAL 6/12/2011 11:32AM

Great motivation! I'm here with you...just at turtles pace. Report Inappropriate Comment

KATEINMICHIGAN 6/11/2011 11:33AM

WOOOOT~! Report Inappropriate Comment

JENN079 6/11/2011 11:32AM

Preach on. :) Report Inappropriate Comment

YCAMOMMY 6/11/2011 10:51AM

YOU ARE AWEEEEEEEEESOOOOMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEE EEE!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

PLEEBLES 6/10/2011 11:07PM

Yeah! What she said! Report Inappropriate Comment

2/3 of the way through...I love me some Mommies!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

So we're 2/3's of the way through the Rants challenge and I gotta say-there's nothing like a big ol group of snarky snitches to help you change your life. I'm eating better-and more thoughtfully that I ever have, I've got more energy, I'm actually getting bicep-like the kind you can feel and even see a little bit when I flex-madness. I think I'm actually in better shape now that I was after Army boot camp.

And through the whole journey I've had this great group of ladies cheering each other on, supporting and encouraging, laughing and crying, and just totally rocking. Honestly-my fellow snitches have kept me inspired and accountable and made this journey amazingly fun.

Mommie's-you rock my world!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

STARS_GAL 6/12/2011 12:21PM

I agree! I hope you have a chance to read my blog "For those serious". Almost completed the challenge and I am a comfortable 10 lbs less and I eat SO much better thanks to your guidance! I have really enjoyed this :). Report Inappropriate Comment

HEYTEACH75 6/3/2011 8:40AM

Go Go Go Girl! Report Inappropriate Comment

CRAZYRIKI 5/26/2011 12:29PM

:) Report Inappropriate Comment

YCAMOMMY 5/24/2011 7:22AM

That is way beyond the awesome!!!! You guys are keeping me around, if if I haven't been as committed to the challenges as I wanted to be. I was worried that with this many snarky snitches in one place, it would get ugly, but it rocks my socks how amazing everyone is!! Glad you're doing so well, Beakie - love having you around! Report Inappropriate Comment

RUNRUNMAMA 5/23/2011 2:55PM

I have to totally agree! The mommies are the best! Report Inappropriate Comment

Dear Fitness Fairy

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Dear Fitness Fairy,

There seems to be some confusion between us. Now don't take this the wrong way-I totally understand your job is so much harder than the tooth fairies-I mean all she does is come along, pick up a tooth, drop a dollar, and leave. You on the other had are apparently in charge of fat removal from all parts of the body. Obviously a very complicated job.

My problem fitness fairy is this-you seem to be removing all the fat from my tush and chest area. Now those particular areas-I'm rather fond of them-they fill out my shirt and my jeans quite nicely. Now you're welcome to all the fat you'd like to take from my midsection and if you're feeling peckish-I've left you a lovely muffin top to nibble on.

At the rate we're going fitness fairy I'm afraid I'm going to look like a pregnant 13 year old boy-no boobs, no butt, and this lovely little donut around the middle. I mean it's cute and all how every time I lose 5 lbs I lose a cup size but honestly-I'm getting awfully close to innies at this point and no one wants to see that.

Thank you for your prompt attention,
Boobless in Iowa

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KATEINMICHIGAN 5/12/2011 2:03PM

OMG. Boob innies. I love it! Report Inappropriate Comment

DUGIESTONER 5/12/2011 9:39AM

Love it! Thanks for the laugh!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MUDSKIPPER26 5/11/2011 8:37PM

OMG! Too funny - and too true! My boobs are GONE! Report Inappropriate Comment

GEECHEEGULL 5/11/2011 1:10PM

Cute. Well done. Report Inappropriate Comment

MONKEEANDTHEBEE 5/11/2011 1:09PM

haha! Amen girlie! Report Inappropriate Comment

Clean eats

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

I was really excited to see that part of our challenge this week was to do some cleaning eating reading and eating. It's something I've been interested in and trying to incorporate more of in my diet so the extra kick in the pants was great.

My clean eating menu for tomorrow (and I'll be sticking with it because I've all ready entered it into my nutrition tracker and I'd rather poke out my eye than go back and redo all that!)

Breakfast - smoothie (1/2 cup homemade yogurt, 1 cup spinach, 1 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup frozen mango, 1/2 cup frozen pineapple, 1/2 banana, juice of 1 orange)

Lunch: fava bean salad (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fava-Bean-Sa
lad/Detail.aspx) , basmati rice, 3 oz chicken breast

Supper: fish sandwich on wheat buns (I'm aspiring to make my own but if it's as hot as it was today I'm going to be a dirty girl and bust out the sarah lee), leftover fava bean salad because it gets even yummier as it sits, and baked zucchini fries. There will also be mac and cheese at this meal for my kiddo and I'll probably try a small bite as I'm making a new recipe for her (we're on a hunt for the perfect-non velveeta mac and cheese recipe-because Velveeta-it's just not doing it for me anymore)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BEAKIEBEAN 5/11/2011 12:05PM

It is soooooo easy to make your own yogurt. I use this method and have found it to be pretty foolproof. It's been our observation that the yogurt is a little thicker and yummier using milk from our local dairy but I've used all sorts of milk brands and it's turned out fine. For the overnight bit I wrap my crock pot in a beach towel and stick it in the oven overnight with the oven light on-just don't forget it's in there and turn on the oven or you'll have the scent of burning beach towel to contend with! http://crockpot365.blogspot .com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogur t-in-your-crockpot.html Report Inappropriate Comment

MONKEEANDTHEBEE 5/11/2011 9:56AM

The salad sounds delish! I wanna know how you make your own yogurt too! (or Yo-grit as my sister used to call it lol) Report Inappropriate Comment

KATEINMICHIGAN 5/10/2011 10:59PM

Is it hard to make your own yogurt? I go through SO MUCH, it must be cheaper and better fo0r you to make it. I absolutely love how I feel when I've been eating "clean." I suppose I need to get rid of the diet Pepsi to really make it work, tho. I just ... mmmmdietPepsi.... it's a vice. But also -- what an amazing idea to pre-enter your day's food. I never thought of that. xoxo Report Inappropriate Comment