Tip #2 THE E-WORD!

Exercise...the most important meal of the day. Alright, so this is a doosey for me to keep consistent. You would be so impressed that I actually got up to running three miles. Yeah, well...then I stoped running consistently and now I'm back to ONE great mile. Oh wait, then I was out on the road yesterday and rolled my ankle. I guess I'm back to ZERO great miles.

Since I feel completely inadequate to post a tip on exercise because of my recent track record, I'll tell ya what worked for my first kid and what I've learned since.

1. Find a passion...or at least enjoyable. I just happen to love running (most days of the week). If you don't like running, bag it. My sister was the queen of speed walking and could out walk my run. My sister in law loves a good home video. I also love dancing and could dance all night if given the chance or at least a good class of step/dance aerobics. I also worked with a gal that swam every single morning for an hour. So you see? Just go for it. Try it all. Yoga, Polo, Soccer, Kayaking. Get out and be creative. On time I set up an obstacle course in my basement because I got sick of the same old. That was really fun to set PR's or see how many times I could run it before the buzzer went off.

2. Make it enjoyable. If I can't squeeze in a work out (let's face it, it's tough) I'll take the kids to the park and run around with them. You'll be suprised how hard it is to keep up to those little legs. I'll also turn on some tunes and hoe down on cleaning my house (make sure you are curteous to those around you). We also have a family bike ride every Saturday morning which I love, love love.

3. I have more ideas on exercise, but the kids need me now. Good luck and remember give your heart 20 minutes of good blood pumping!

WhOoPS! TIp #1 Abs are made in the kitchen

Sorry guys, I went off about why I was posting some weightloss tips and then didn't post anything. THat would be my mommy brain!

TIP #1: it's all in what/how you eat. If you are struggling to do both healthy eating and exercise routine, or feel overwhelmed with both I would recommend that you focus your main efforts on what you are eating and HOW you are eating first and then gradually integrate exercise. If you are okay with both, great on ya!

Everyone thinks that the biggest change will come if you hit the trail running. While it's a huge part of weightloss, many people spin their wheels because they haven't gotten a firm grim on their eating habits.
GREAT ABS ARE MADE IN THE KITCHEN NOT THE GYM

Without going into a lot of detail, here's what I suggest:

1. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS on your ability to gauge Satisfying over FULL. You need NEVER feel FULL. We are not like cars that need to be filled up to the brim with gas. Moderate yourself. The more and longer you work on feeling satisfied (and not eating past that) the better control you will have over your "problem" foods, more self confidence that equals a longer ability to stick with your new health habits, and freedom in the foods you can eat. Not to mention a smaller waist line as well.

2. GO GREEN...and BROWN one step at a time. Fresh produce and whole grains please! Your body will thank you. I eat whole grains in most of my diet and I've seen at big difference. I've also incorporated foods void of hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. BUT, you make your own improvements on your own time. There's always progress you can make with how healthy you are or become, but the idea is to improve the quality of your food to a level you can handle. DON'T do more, become fanatic or obess... you won't be able to stick to it and end up feeling hopeless.

3. LIVE YOUR LIFE. I call this tip the 80/20 rule in maintaining and 90/10 in weightloss. 80% of your day, week, whatever is healthy, great, etc. 20% of your day, week, whatever of what you eat is LIVING. Have a sweet, or hot dog, or junkie junk. It's called life folks and we all live in it; just don't let the margin become the page. YOUR BODY CAN HANDLE IT AS LONG AS YOU CAN HANDLE YOUR BODY.

Okay, that's about it of the food/eating basics. oh also, don't go hungry. Don't skip meals or graze all day. that's stupid. give your body reliable times it can count on to get a fully dose of nutrients and a chance to feel satisfied; chemically that's very important.

The basics in serious weightloss

I've decided to start a series of tips for basic weightloss. I was reading on Katie E.'s blog (hope you don't mind Katie) and I was inspired by how many women are serious about losing weight. While my experience working in Gyms deters me from the confidence I should have as a weightloss counselor/trainer(the long and short of that comment is: if client don't lose weight they point a finger to you AND gyms and weightloss centers are all commercial), I think I could really help people make good choices in long term weightloss. That is why I'm gonna give the Basics for losing weight as I've experienced in my life and studied. Just for those who wonder where I'm getting my info: I've graduated a BS degree in Health Sciences (Nutrition, Exercise Phys, Weightloss Fitness, Recreational Leadership, Lifetime Wellness). I've also worked as a Personal Trainer for 3 years and Weightloss Counselor for one. I really need to brush up on things, but it's a good base to start from.

So there ya go, oh and this week was a great week for me. My shorts are fitting just the way I've been expecting all these long months.IT PAYS OFF LADIES, KEEP EATING GOOD!!! 80/20!!! Hopefully, only ten more pounds to go and a serious resistance routine to shape out those curves we were all born with. LIKE ZONKS SCOOBS!

Just hanging on

I haven't published much lately, but there really hasn't been much to publish on the weightloss side. I'm still truckin' and there has been some improvement, but I keep forgetting to take a picture so until then, here's the only thing I got on camera. No, I'm not proud of it, but it shows the truth of the situation. I'm still eating well, but the exercise is REALLY hard folks. I'm not that motivated because I'm so tired all day. My kids wake up 2-4 times between the two of them. So, I'll get to sleep at, say, 11pm then Paul wakes up at 1am, then Lydia at 2, then Paul at 4, then Lydia at 6, and then Tom goes to work and the day is started.

I guess that's what I bargained for, but it is still tough to get my booty out on the road. Not to mention all the other things that get in the way....what is that called, Life?! I better just find out how to work exercise in otherwise I'll never do it. Any suggestions?

It's been a while

Okay, well life has been very crazy and I've had no time for blogging. I have had time for continuing my fitness quest. Although I don't have a picture you will be very proud to know I have kept up my efforts. If there is anything I can say it is: JUST KEEP SWIMMING! (you know the Dorrie line from Finding Nemo...well my sisters get it.)

I think the weight is finally coming off, although I've got plenty of "softness" all over, and even if it's not a ton, it's still something. What week is this?... like 200 thousand?! It feels like it, but still I haven't given up, or given in to being hopeless.

Here's the thing I'm doing: making this a lifestyle. No fast gimmicks, or watching calories, or killing myself to get to the gym. I eat healthy about 85-90% of my day and I choose a little sweet at the end of my dinner meal...cuz I absolutely need it (thanks to Amy I know enjoy a few chocolate chips). I try to get exercise at least 20 mins 3 days a week...yes walks count but only if both kids are in the stroller folks! I look forward to the weekends, to me they symbolize togetherness; not only with my family but with Tommy and sometimes some friends. So I enjoy myself the best way I know how: have my cake and eat it too.

So there ya go, not fast, but very effective since I'm still sticking to it. And hey in twelve weeks I've lost 8 pounds!

Stopping the Domino Effect

Well, I am alive and truckin' along. Life has been so crazy. Paul and Lyddie think they need to be waking up multiple time during the night; ah, I needed a night job anyway. So formal exercise has taken a back seat. Robbie taught be a great lesson: sleep first, exercise second. It's not an excuse I truly want to be healthy,not just thin.

With that being said, I continue to battle my weight. I don't want this to be an on-going domino effect in my life so I have been working on my eating habits.You would be really proud of me I really am laying off the sweets. Robbie and I have a deal sweets on the weekends or a special occasion that pops up. It's been a chore, but well worth it at the end of the night, especially when I'm craving all sorts of bad things.

Okay, well there goes Paul, I better go. I went to the Doc today and the scale said no big difference. So, sad, but that's life. Just keep working on it, that's all I can do.

Binky Wars

Stealing binkies in this home is a felon. Unfortunately those who don't have the ability to commit the crime also don't have the ability to stop the act or at least fight back. That, however, does not extinguish the will to try...

Paul was so taken by the camera he didn't see his sister coming. He has such a determination. He actually propelled himself forward onto his sister. I decided to keep out of it and catch it on camera. Lydia is actually laughing in this last picture as she thinks this is a great game.