How many times have you considered just getting your tired body to the gym a victory in and of itself?
The prevailing attitude where exercise is concerned typically goes something like this: if I'm here (at the gym), I'll do something, and that's better than nothing at all. It's an attitude that I personally subscribed to for years.
It was typically only after I arrived at the gym that I started trying to really figure out what I wanted to do with my body that day. And let's face it, the brilliant majority of us often say the same things when asked what we plan to do on that day: "cardio and some weights", "a spinning class", or some "Pilates or Zumba".
Not that there's anything wrong with any of those answers, but after your 20th Zumba class, are you really feeling challenged anymore?
Just think about that for a second.
As for me, my rut was cured naturally when my responsibilities as a mom and wife started to get prioritized ahead of most everything else.
I dumped the gym trips in favor of building a personal home gym instead –both for convenience and monetary reasons–and the fly-by-day exercise routines in favor of a more focused approach to building my body into the goddess figure I saw dream for it to become.
More specifically, I've begun taking a spiral notebook to write out my weekly regimen and that has been a massive time saver for me because I know ahead of time where my attention will go and I'm more motivated to take on that challenge without feeling guilty that I didn't do enough that day.
It's important to take your approach to your fitness plan seriously because, in the end, you are the person responsible for how successful your regimen will be for you.
Challenge yourself and think creatively about how you can maximize each and every minute, of each and every workout, and then be consistent with it on a weekly basis.
Plan first, then execute.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Make A Resolution to Live Healthy, Not Lose Weight
Diets aren't my thing. I mean, living healthy can seem a bit like dieting but, when you're talking about making a lifestyle change, it's not exactly the same as someone who has signed up for Jenny or Weight Watchers for as long as they can pay the fees and afford the foods. No, a lifestyle change is simply a decision to "eat this, not that" and that's as simple as I can put it for those who like simplicity.
That said, every day can be a challenge for even the healthy minded because there is always new information about food and some new definition of "healthy". It's a challenge that I have trouble facing up to, from time to time, I must admit. But, eating healthy and preserving this God-given body of mine is something I am so passionate about that I am willing to make the effort to do what I can to remain informed and not succumb to whatever information is force fed to me through less reliable sources with an agenda.
Even so, I am not perfect.
I enjoy a slice of cake every now and then, and it can be difficult to turn down a piece of chocolate when the craving hits me but, for the most part, the mantra for me remains to "eat this, not that" and keep up my regular exercise/stretching regimen and that is something that has always worked for me.
Many people, I feel—and if this sounds arrogant or short-sighted, please trust that is not my intention—complicate the process too much by subscribing to one dietary plan for some random extent of time. The only plan that has ever worked, consistently, is to eat right and exercise. It's not now, nor has it ever been, rocket science. That's the tried and true way to remain healthy and lose weight—if losing weight is your goal.
You have to commit to this not for 30, 60, or 90-days, but for a lifetime, anything less is futile.
That said, every day can be a challenge for even the healthy minded because there is always new information about food and some new definition of "healthy". It's a challenge that I have trouble facing up to, from time to time, I must admit. But, eating healthy and preserving this God-given body of mine is something I am so passionate about that I am willing to make the effort to do what I can to remain informed and not succumb to whatever information is force fed to me through less reliable sources with an agenda.
Even so, I am not perfect.
I enjoy a slice of cake every now and then, and it can be difficult to turn down a piece of chocolate when the craving hits me but, for the most part, the mantra for me remains to "eat this, not that" and keep up my regular exercise/stretching regimen and that is something that has always worked for me.
Many people, I feel—and if this sounds arrogant or short-sighted, please trust that is not my intention—complicate the process too much by subscribing to one dietary plan for some random extent of time. The only plan that has ever worked, consistently, is to eat right and exercise. It's not now, nor has it ever been, rocket science. That's the tried and true way to remain healthy and lose weight—if losing weight is your goal.
You have to commit to this not for 30, 60, or 90-days, but for a lifetime, anything less is futile.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Where Have I Been?
It's been several weeks since the 'Living Fit Mommy' blog has received any of my attention and I must admit, up front, that I currently post content for more than one site. This blog was always meant to be the one with more personal insight into me as a married, mother of two, with a strong desire to have the body of goddess (no, I'm not kidding about that last point either. I literally do about 1000 sit-ups a day and exercise more than I likely should in an effort to reach my personal physical goal of being "too sexy").
But, egoism aside, and more seriously than that, I write this blog because I need a release from the daily dial of being completely overwhelmed by this world of mine. It's a state that I have found myself in more often than not over the last couple of months—due in large part to dealing with the death of a very close relative—and I could not juggle it all. I needed, as they say, "a minute".
I'm not Superwoman, by any stretch, and my faith, patience, convictions, and personal views on life, love, and family took quite a hit after losing a loved one so dear and I struggled mightily to find my center again.
That's the edited truth of it.
Thankfully, my foundation wasn't built on sand, but on God, and that's a hard foundation to obliterate without decidedly making the decision to forsake all I know and walk away from His love completely.
And that, my friends, is something I will never choose to do.
That said, I've had to breathe and give myself a break from bearing my all here for a few weeks because, plain and simply, I couldn't handle the candid chatter without falling to pieces at my laptop.
But, I will be making a more concerted effort over the next few weeks to be more present here if for no other reason than I'm ready to try and come back to some semblance of normalcy in my creative life, too.
So bear with me and stick with me, I'm finding my way back.
But, egoism aside, and more seriously than that, I write this blog because I need a release from the daily dial of being completely overwhelmed by this world of mine. It's a state that I have found myself in more often than not over the last couple of months—due in large part to dealing with the death of a very close relative—and I could not juggle it all. I needed, as they say, "a minute".
I'm not Superwoman, by any stretch, and my faith, patience, convictions, and personal views on life, love, and family took quite a hit after losing a loved one so dear and I struggled mightily to find my center again.
That's the edited truth of it.
Thankfully, my foundation wasn't built on sand, but on God, and that's a hard foundation to obliterate without decidedly making the decision to forsake all I know and walk away from His love completely.
And that, my friends, is something I will never choose to do.
That said, I've had to breathe and give myself a break from bearing my all here for a few weeks because, plain and simply, I couldn't handle the candid chatter without falling to pieces at my laptop.
But, I will be making a more concerted effort over the next few weeks to be more present here if for no other reason than I'm ready to try and come back to some semblance of normalcy in my creative life, too.
So bear with me and stick with me, I'm finding my way back.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Show Them The Money: When Being Healthy Isn't Cost-Effective
It appears that a school in Seattle is regretting it's total ban of 'junk food' because it's not making enough money off the healthy stuff. Surprisingly (and by "surpisingly" I mean, DUH!) most teenagers aren't interested in eating granola bars and Baked Lays (I've had Baked Lays, by the way, and that's reason enough to never eat chips again—just saying).
I've actually seen one of those "healthy" vending machines at my daughter's dance studio and, I have to tell you, it's a welcome change for me as a mother. I often bypassed anything coin operated because I knew no good could possibly come of inserting my money into any company's vending machine, particularly if I had any designs on eating a wholesome, nutritious, snack.
That said, I walk the fence where certain acts of government are concerned because while I can applaud a government-related fitness initiative (like the one Michelle Obama is crusading for), I don't feel it's the governments responsibility to tell us what we can or cannot eat.
Let me clarify that a bit, though. I am all for offering better (by better, I mean healthier) options, however.
For instance, I think there's great value in adding more leafy vegetables to school lunch menus as opposed to always trotting out the processed fare. Even more, why not give elementary schoolchildren the option of drinking water in addition to the standard milk offereing? Some milks, as pointed out by Jamie Oliver on the now-canceled "Food Revolution" are just as bad as any soft drink you buy.
In short, why not try encouraging healthier choices by offering healthier options? Just a thought.
But, I digress.
It seems to me that this particular high school shot a bit high and missed the larger target: food education.
How about allowing health classes that not only concentrate on the human body, but also on the effects of certain foods on said body; delve into topics like portion size, recommended daily allowances (RDA) for the more important nutrients (as well as where to obtain them), and moderation (a particularly effective lesson when speaking of just about anything). All could be a beneficial add to a school district looking to make positive gains in banning the mass consumption of junk food.
Quite honestly, I think the more important matter should be addressed with this little overlooked point in the article, "The district promised in 2006 to repay ASBs for the revenue they lost because of the policy. But it never did."
Sounds to me like the district simply needs to write a check and do what they promised, then everyone can be happy again—at least until is rains.
...In 2001, before the junk-food ban was passed, high-school associated student body (ASB) governments across the city made $214,000 in profits from vending machines, according to district data. This year, they've made $17,000.Hmmm, I wonder what that school board was thinking? Surely they didn't think other schools in the area would continue with such an idea. I mean, the moment being healthy stops being cost effective, it's out the window for most businesses and, trust me, some schools are run precisely like a business.
The district promised in 2006 to repay ASBs for the revenue they lost because of the policy. But it never did. So the ASB organizations — which subsidize athletic uniform and transportation costs, support student clubs, hold school dances and fund the yearbook and newspaper, among other expenses — have had to cancel programs and ask students to pay significantly more to participate on athletic teams and in school clubs.
I've actually seen one of those "healthy" vending machines at my daughter's dance studio and, I have to tell you, it's a welcome change for me as a mother. I often bypassed anything coin operated because I knew no good could possibly come of inserting my money into any company's vending machine, particularly if I had any designs on eating a wholesome, nutritious, snack.
That said, I walk the fence where certain acts of government are concerned because while I can applaud a government-related fitness initiative (like the one Michelle Obama is crusading for), I don't feel it's the governments responsibility to tell us what we can or cannot eat.
Let me clarify that a bit, though. I am all for offering better (by better, I mean healthier) options, however.
For instance, I think there's great value in adding more leafy vegetables to school lunch menus as opposed to always trotting out the processed fare. Even more, why not give elementary schoolchildren the option of drinking water in addition to the standard milk offereing? Some milks, as pointed out by Jamie Oliver on the now-canceled "Food Revolution" are just as bad as any soft drink you buy.
In short, why not try encouraging healthier choices by offering healthier options? Just a thought.
But, I digress.
It seems to me that this particular high school shot a bit high and missed the larger target: food education.
How about allowing health classes that not only concentrate on the human body, but also on the effects of certain foods on said body; delve into topics like portion size, recommended daily allowances (RDA) for the more important nutrients (as well as where to obtain them), and moderation (a particularly effective lesson when speaking of just about anything). All could be a beneficial add to a school district looking to make positive gains in banning the mass consumption of junk food.
Quite honestly, I think the more important matter should be addressed with this little overlooked point in the article, "The district promised in 2006 to repay ASBs for the revenue they lost because of the policy. But it never did."
Sounds to me like the district simply needs to write a check and do what they promised, then everyone can be happy again—at least until is rains.
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