Has It Been Forever?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My kid's summer vacation began May 19th and since that time I have been far too busy keeping them busy to maintain two blogs with any level of dedication so, unfortunately, "Living Fit Mommy" was the one selected to fall dreadfully behind.

However, now that my little ones have settled into their summer routine and I have reconfigured my schedule to accommodate days filled with all things children, I will attempt to get myself back on the "Fit Mommy"track.

That said, this posting is less about the norm of eating right, living well, and maintaining balance than it is about getting my readers up to speed on what's been happening in my world.

The idea to do so was taken from my country cousin, Ally, over at Copacetic in Carolina—whose blog if you haven't visited by now, shame on you, so go now!—and it's called "Currently".

So, here I am...

What I'm reading: It's tough to find time to do more than peruse the holy plethora of magazines I have on my nightstand—Muscle & Fitness Hers, Oxygen, Essence, and Yoga Journal are among the few—but I do try to throw in a novel or two just for fun. Right now I am wading through a book on Abraham Lincoln, with whom I became intrigued after our trip to Washington this past April, but I also have The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks on my radar for the very near future.

What I'm watching: Lately, television does nothing for me, so I've been renting DVD's of shows that are now off the air. I have watched "Alias" and re-watched "Felicity" (a show I adored when it aired on the WB more than a decade ago), while also starting "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "Entourage", and "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency".

What I'm doing now since my kids are home: I haven't abandoned my workout regimen but I do have to be infinitely more creative to fit it in between shuttling them to karate and gymnastics, respectively, as well as the myriad of activities I plan for them to enrich their minds whilst school is out. That means what is normally a 75-90 minute workout is now 45-60 minutes. It's working out well so far as I get plenty of exercise just running around behind them.

What I'm ready for: Seriously, I'm soooooooo looking forward to getting a new MacBook. I love mine but I am giddy for a shiny new one to type upon. Second to that, an iPhone 5 of course. My tiny, slow, out-of-date 3GS has done all it can do but I refuse to spring for an iPhone 4 with the 5 supposedly right around the collective corner.

What I'm loving: the fact that my other passion—college football—is less than three months from starting anew. As a rabid Georgia Bulldogs and SEC fan, Saturdays seem empty minus some pigskin. less than 90-days and counting before what's wrong is made right.

Well, that's about it. As I said, I will try to get back on track with the blog now that the kiddies and I have a well-established schedule to follow.

Hope y'all are enjoying your summer thus far.

Malaysia: Should It Be Okay to Add BMI to Report Cards?

As if A's and B's weren't enough for your elementary schooler to be concerned about, now there's at least one school that is taking your child's overall health one step further.

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, schools are adding body mass index (or BMI) to the report cards of each student. BMI is the tool most used to determine obesity in individuals.

The decision to do so is one that adds more credence to Malaysia's attempt to combat the growing population of overweight and obese children in the school system.

While I can definitely appreciate an aggressive approach to battling this progressively worsening issue, I don't think it's useful to send home a number (especially one as confusing as the BMI) without adding nutritional health education into the mix.

It would make more sense to leave the placement of BMI data on report cards out of the equation and replace it with one-on-one dietary counseling for the family—chances are good that the child isn't the only one struggling with their weight.

However, if all you're planning to do is send home a score and leave it up to the parent to do something about it, then you're not only leaving a negative imprint on the mental development of that child but you're placing the sole responsibility of righting the ship on the parent—who may or may not have the resources available to make the necessary changes.

That said, at least send pamphlets home on obesity and the inherent health dangers it causes to, not only children, but adults as well, and offer a viable resource for said parent to find more information if they choose to do something about it—otherwise this move doesn't seem to matter much.

Related articles

• Talk About Physical Education: Malaysian Report Cards to Include Body Mass Index (newsfeed.time.com)
• Malaysia report cards to grade students on weight (sfgate.com)
• Malaysian school pupils to be scored on weight (telegraph.co.uk)
• Malaysia schools put fat on record in anti-obesity drive (bbc.co.uk)

Fitness: The Constant Struggle To "Keep Up With The Joneses"

If you've read enough of my posts, you know by now that I am a proponent of living a life free of the external—don't worry about what others think, just do you.

Well, as the blog description says: I am human. I make mistakes. I make them often. That said, my biggest fault, where maintaining my personal fitness goals are concerned, is in not allowing other like-minded individuals to influence my opinion of my accomplishments.

It never fails, I walk out my door—looking my pretty girl rockin' self—and I see some other woman whom I perceive looks 10 times better. And, instead of giving her the props she deserves, I make a mental note of just how much further I have to go.

That mindset has been both a positive and negative influence on my life.

On the one hand, I'm never at a loss for motivation but, on the other, I am never able to stop and appreciate what I've already done to better my physical self without finding faults in the process.

Let me espouse to you a not so secret idea: you will never be as skinny, as toned, or as healthy as you imagine others to be. That's an unreachable goal for the modern woman who isn't spending her life devoted to health and fitness—we can't all look like Jillian Michaels or Elizabeth Hasselbeck (although some of us will kill ourselves trying).

I know I can't. I've got a lot more on my plate than just reps, sets, and cardio.

So, what's the solution? Hmmm, I don't know really, but I enjoy the learning process this constant self-evaluation offers me in my day-to-day struggle to be fiercely fit and fantastic.

In the meantime, I can only suggest that you give yourself a break. You likely look a lot better than you think and, trust me, at some point, you have inspired another woman to do just five more minutes of cardio or one more set of leg curls.

So, take a moment to celebrate yourself. Flex a little in the mirror, give yourself a wink and a nod, then break out your best smile, walk out the door, and do your pretty girl rock—proudly!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Related articles

• Best iPhone App for Daily Motivation (brighthub.com)
• Jillian Michaels Wants You to Look Cute at the Gym (fitsugar.com)
• Morning Links: Jillian Michaels On Saying Goodbye to Biggest Loser (blisstree.com)

The 6 iPhone Apps This Busy Mom Can't Do Without

I own an iPhone—proudly. I have been on-board with one since 2007, and would not switch to another smartphone if you paid me.

I consider myself an app-addict and often peruse the Apple App Store for new items to that can help me stay organized and focused. At present, I have better than 150 apps on my phone—most of which are there for that "just in case" moment, but some are used almost daily—this list speaks briefly about the latter.

That said, I tend to keep my app choices to those which are offered for free because, in this economy, I don't need my money going to something frivolous or unnecessary. So, if I do shell out any money for an app, trust that I've researched it long enough to consider it worth my while.

So, let's get started:

1. My Fitness Pal (free): Calorie counting has become a way of life for me—despite what the doctors or weight watchers has to say :)—I do so as much to evaluate my sodium and fat intake as I do to make sure I am keeping my eating habits in check. This app offers a huge food database (I have yet to enter an item that wasn't in their listing) and online syncing. It's been an invaluable tool in helping me to maintain my fitness goals.

2. Nike Training Club (free): This is a great way to either diversify a routine you've already established or get you started on your way to one. I use it, at least 2-3 times a week as a supplement to my regimen and I have to say it has been phenomenal.

3. Cozi (ad-supported, free version): I recently have had to start re-organizing my calendar to include varying activities for the different members of my family and Cozi has been a nice tool for giving me that quick glance of what's on the menu for the day. It offers color coded dots for each family member and gives you the option of setting reminders (via email or text) for all the most important tasks of the day. It's the PDA for my famLay—okay, that was cheesy. But, it really is great.

4. All-in-Yoga ($1.99): I love this yoga app for it's simplicity and ease. I'm still a novice so I didn't see a need to spend a ton on a yoga app that I wasn't sure I'd use very much, but I use this one 2 to 3 times a week. It's been a little up and down lately, due to various updates, but I still favor it above most of the others I've seen/used.

5. Facebook (free): Of course, just about everyone updates their Facebook account via a mobile phone these day,s and I am no exception.

6. BlogPress ($2.99): I write two blogs and BlogPress offers me a decent way to keep both updated with fresh content as well as write on the go—something I have done on more than one occasion.

Related articles

• New iPhone adverts: "If you don't have an iPhone, well, you don't have an iPhone" (9to5mac.com)
• iPhone 5 prototype said to show flat metal back (electronista.com)

Day 18: There Are No Shortcuts...

Have you ever awoken on a particularly hectic day and thought to yourself, "can I just skip to the end"?

Although it seems like a nice thought, the problem with actually doing so is  you have no idea what you'll miss if you do.

Unfortunately, many of us live in a vacuum filled with the stress and expectations placed in our path by those who employ, love, and befriend us.  We don't want to hear the alarm clock go off in the morning because we know nothing but more stress, more fatigue, and more disappointment is likely all we'll get.

It's an existence that becomes tough to deal with, and many of us have to  develop mechanisms to get through the tough times.

So, we tell ourselves it's only a five-day week and we start living for the weekend.  Or, we party with friends and hope the camaraderie will provide a temporary escape. Better still, we immerse ourselves in the web—tweeting, facebook-ing, blogging, or browsing the myriad of sites cyber-world has to offer.

The cycle isn't vicious, but it's indicative of the world we live in today. We are all looking for the easiest way to appease the restless beast within us that feels trapped by the monotony of doing the same ol' thing everyday.

That said, it's high time that all of us, who are stuck in that rut, start re-evaluating our direction.

Don't continue to fall back on the same patent excuses that have come to be a staple of our explanatory repertoires—not enough time, not enough money, or not enough resources—but, rather, start looking at what opportunities you can make happen for yourself.

What can Y-O-U do to make your life better?

Because, the sooner you start believing and understanding that there is more to this life for you than a routine you'd just as soon chuck than adhere to, the more fulfilling your days and nights will become.

Amazon Offering Pedophile Book for Public Consumption—Seriously

As much as I consider myself a proponent of free speech and non-censorship, I do come across things that make my blood boil from time-to-time—particularly as the mother of two young children.

Amazon.com is offering the following book for public consumption and, honestly, I see absolutely no merit in them doing so:

 

Seriously, this is something that needs to be sold?

Even more disturbing is the product's description:

Product Description

This is my attempt to make pedophile situations safer for those juveniles that find themselves involved in them, by establishing certain rules for these adults to follow. I hope to achieve this by appealing to the better nature of pedosexuals, with hope that their doing so will result in less hatred and perhaps liter sentences should they ever be caught.

Huh? What?!? So, let me get this straight, this book is meant to make the victims of these animals more amenable to whatever is done to them so that if/when they get caught, the consequences won't be as bad?!?

There are no words for such filth and, honestly, until Amazon removes this offensive product from its offerings, I have little need to shop, refer, or even look at their site.

Just unbelievable...and don't even get me started on the complete ignoramus who actually wrote this "book".