Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Sleep, Stress & Sugar

These 3 are crucial for your health.  Weight loss included if that is your goal. For me sugar goes hand in hand with stress & when I'm tired I find I "mindless eat" more than usual.  I'm happy to say that working out has become a huge help for me in regards to my stress management.  To quote one of my favorite motivational speaker/fitness leader "Whatever was bothering you before you started this workout- you won't even remember it when we are done". (Chalene Johnson)  I love that & how true it is.  Ok, I'm sure there are some things that will still be there when you are done working out but truly getting your sweat on really does help.

Another thing it helps is your sleep.  Think about it. You are working out your muscles & moving your body.  You will be more tired at night when you get ready for bed.  It just makes sense really.   Experts say we should be getting between 7-8 hours of sleep a night.  That would be lovely.  I'm a night owl and I'm trying REALLY hard to change to more of a morning person.  Oh I love that feeling of getting my workouts in before my children wake up.  Doesn't happen often though.  Escpecially since my workouts are almost 2 hours long usually.  I keep thinking I can get into bed by 10pm.  That would easily give me 8 hours!  Yeah, lots of my favorite shows come on at 10pm.  Maybe we just need to move to the central time zone?  No, not happening.  I need to become better about making myself get to bed at a better time.  It's worth it.

As for sugar.  I'm struggling with my own "addiction" to this.  I am finding I need to actually change what I'm doing during that part of the day that I tend to go for sugary/sweet stuff to get myself out of this habit of reaching for something. 

I'm still quite a work in progress ~ as we all are.  I'm hoping I can share something with you that might help you along in one way or another.  I am not a professional by any means but I think we all have something to offer others in one way or another. 

What are some ways you help the stress level in your life?  How do you make sure you are getting the sleep you need?

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Kettlebell vs Dumbell






                                                                                VS.




Just putting this out there.  I'm quite curious about kettlebells.  Has anyone out there used them & what did you think?  How did they differ for you from dumbells? 
Very interested in your thoughts.

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Bob Harper DVD's (Biggest Loser trainer)

I have posted this before & I'm doing it again.  Bob Harper, the trainer from Biggest Loser, has his DVD's on sale for $5!!!!!  I'm telling you, I HAVE his workouts & they KICK MY BUTT!!  I have P90X, TurboFire & others & Bob is kicking me through the plateau I have been on.  I'm completely serious!  WHY spend the money on the gym when you can save, save, save & still get a kickin workout!!

https://www.mytrainerbob.com/store/home.php?cat=251

JUST DO IT!!

Be Blessed & Healthy!! 

PS - comment & let me know if you took advantage of this great sale or if you have done his workouts before.

Running

Ah, today I went for a run.  I do believe we ran 2.8 miles.  Wednesdays are my Bible study days & my friend who hosts the study also runs.  We decided to start the day with an early run around our great town then enjoy the study with a great group of women (after we de-stink ourselves of course).  This was the 2nd time I have run with Ms Mikki & I love it.  I usually run with one of my kids or my honey following me or me following them on their bike.  For safety reasons my husband doesn't want me running by myself.  I have to say I look forward to these mid-week runs.  I never seem to have a lack of things to talk about & take full advantage of having a friend right there to talk with. 

We started a new study today called "Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent" by Beth Moore.  Oh I do love Beth Moore studies. 

Wednesdays have always been something for me to look forward to with these studies but now even more.  I will be refreshed with a run then refreshed with the Word.

Have you done any Beth Moore studies? 
If you run, do you prefer to run by yourself or with a friend?

Be Blessed & Healthy!!


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Fruits & Veggies

Have you put any thought into how many fruits & veggies you get in a day?  Do you even know how many we are supposed to be getting?  Off the top of my head I think it's 9 and that would probably be more veggies than fruit.  So many people say they just don't "do" veggies.  Well, personally I love them.  Growing up my mother used to put cheese on the veggies we just didn't like too much & honestly I'm not sure if that made me appreciate them more or just tack on the pounds when I got older :) 

So, the infamous food pyramid.  There seems to be some controversy over it but it can help give us a general idea on what we need.  I don't know if I agree with the amount of "grains" but once we start getting the protein, veggies & fruits in then maybe everything else can fall into place. 

As I'm sure you know, I'm a vegetarian.  A choice I made kind of as a trial and have stuck with it.  Getting my protein in during the day with the workouts I do is a concern for me.  I have started having a protein drink (soy protein) after my workout and I load it with some type of green (spinach, kale, collard greens).  I also put a serving of fruit in it as well.  I can't believe how much it helps with my energy over what I had been doing.  I'm also getting in atleast 2 servings of fruits & veggies.  I would have to say probably more like 3 with what I pack in there. 

A problem I seem to be having lately is sugar.  Ugh!  Since Christmas cookies.  My killer time is from 2-4 in the afternoon.  I can't seem to get away from this craving & I find myself cruising through the kitchen for something, ANYTHING to satisfy that craving.  Thankfully (not for the rest of my family though) I have rid my kitchen of all things "bad".  I end up usually with an apple & peanut butter or something like that.  Today I had a Larabar.  I found a great blog that has a recipe to make my own.  That sounds like it might be a good thing huh?  The Chocolate Covered Katie blog has some great recipes for them.  Check her out!  Oh her blog is just sooooo yummy!  AND she puts in the dairy free options & sugar free options.  Just was cool for those of us needing that.

Well, I guess I am making up for my "blog block" huh? 

Hope you enjoyed this one.  Once I start sometimes - I just can't stop!!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Bloggers Block

That's what I have.


To quote my favorite little blue fish "I got nothin in my noggin'."

So, have you ever had this happen to you? 

Hope you are staying true to you & getting some movement in when you can! 

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

Plateau & stuff

I realize it's only been a couple weeks since I have started a new workout regimen but I have to say I do believe I am seeing a difference!!  WooHoo!!  My honey also mentioned he has noticed a difference as well with my legs (what?!).  Yes, I am quite pleased.  It's rough to start a new program & go through all the new stuff & feel like nothing is changing.  I noticed my jeans are looking a bit baggy which as any woman can attest is AWESOME!   Be GONE plateau!!

I did adjust a bit of my eating as well.  I have limited the amount of sugar intake since Christmas.  Remember those cookies?  Yeah, well I have stopped that.  Even threw the rest of them out!  No way am I keeping something in the house that will make me want them & honestly during the days of no willpower they will get eaten by me!  Making good choices makes me so happy.  Some times because I have changed my food lifestyle now for so long it's hard to see that yes I'm eating healthy I just need to adjust the quantity, etc. 

I was so blessed to sit with a wonderful family from my church the other day & we just talked about the vegetarian lifestyle & food allergies, etc.  I felt like I was being asked questions not because I am some weirdo that doesn't eat meat or CAN'T have gluten & dairy but they were honestly curious about the changes that were made & how they affected me healthwise.  The mom also shared with me about accupuncture.  I have always been curious about that!!

So, I have a couple questions.  Do you ever feel like people think you are weird about the healthy lifestyle you have chosen?  Have you ever tried accupunture?    I DO want to know!!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Wiped Out

In this new year I was very excited to start my new workout DVD's.  Bob Harper is kicking this girls BUTT right now.  I'm not just doing his DVD's though.  I'm incorporating Turbo Fire & P90X.  You may be reading this and thinking - Wow, that's alot girl!  Um, yes it is.  Turns out I have wiped myself out.  Yesterday I was feeling oh so tired so I just did Yoga (Bob Harper style) and then added his Yoga Abs in in the afternoon.  Then this morning I woke up with my upper back telling me to please stop.  I did a very gentle Stretch 40 today with my friend Chalene :)  She always comes through when I need her. 

So, what about you?  Do you workout?  Have you evern really over done it?  What were your warning signs? 

Be Blessed & Healthy!

PS - Click on the Yoga link above for a Yoga Challenge with Bob.  3 minutes.  That's it.  Will you do it?  Come on!  No time like the present!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Bob Harper DVD's!





Just found this link.  These DVD's of Bob Harper's (Biggest Loser trainer) are only $5.00!!  Gym memberships are too expensive & you can do this at your time in your home.  That's what I do.  I don't pay to go to a gym.  Check these out!!

https://www.mytrainerbob.com/store/home.php


As for a previous post about me not having any New Years resolutions I have decided on one.  I want to break through this plateau I have been on for EVER.  Haven't seen any changes SO.... I'm changing things up a bit with these new workouts.  Got a whole bunch of them for Christmas (at these AWESOME prices) and he kicks my butt!!   I don't mind saying I have no problem with getting my butt kicked like this!!

How do you workout? 

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Our Christmas in Texas

What fun we had! 

We drive every where we go usually because flying 5 people can get expensive.  We broke up the trip going out to Texas (Houston) and that was just wonderful.  Very relaxing.  We were minus our oldest child because my sis & her hubby flew him out early to spend time with his cousin. 



The weather was COLD.  Ok, I'm a Florida girl now (for 14 years) and it was just cold there.  Overcast & rainy too.  We were able to enjoy our time anyway.  The days leading up to Christmas we were busy getting the last minute gifts & standing in line for a Honey Baked Ham.  We (my sis & I) were laughing that the 2 that don't eat meat were the ones standing in line for it.  It helped that we made a Starbucks
stop first though :) 



Christmas Eve was spent enjoying a beautiful candle light service at church.  I cry every time.  Instead of singing the usual "Silent Night" though they sang "Go Tell It On the Mountain".  It was a very beautiful service. 






Christmas morning was very easy going.  We waited for my nephews to get there from their moms house then we ripped into the gifts.  Everyone was just having a blast.  It was great to see the faces on the kids.  My little girl got her Rapunzel doll and glowed when she saw that.  Our younger son got the tool set he wanted & our oldest?  Well, he was just asking for 1 gift.  An electric guitar.  He taught himself how to play a while ago and is just awesome.  We decided to play a little game with him & my husband posted it on facebook that he was getting the guitar with a picture of it.  We thought for sure a friend would text dear son & tell him but our boy just sat there NOT checking his phone OR his facebook page.  So....we had to tell him to check his page & the look on his face was just wonderful.  He has been playing the guitar every since & is just awesome.  (I will post a song he did before Christmas with a borrowed guitar in my next post. -- Proud Mama moment)

























It was so hard to leave my sis & her family.  I miss them so much.  I keep in touch with her every day thanks to the internet but it's just not the same as having her next to me to chat with & make meals with. 









On the way home we had our oldest to help us drive & we drove straight through.  17 hours later & we were able to sleep in our own beds.  Worth the long drive for sure!!

Keeping in line with my health & exercise I can honestly say we did really well with that too!  We shared workouts & kept going with them for the most part.  We ate a little too much sugar but then after Christmas made a pact that it was over & no more cookies.  What a struggle it is to get rid of the sugar cravings!!  I have to remember how much I hate this part & maybe next time I won't go for the cookies :)

Well, Enjoy the pictures.  I love hearing from you!  Thanks for checking out my blog & writing me notes!!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!






Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!






Wow it's 2012!  I just can't get over it.  Another year.  It's like a new piece of paper!  What are your plans for this year?  Anything new?  Do you make resolutions?  What are they?

Happy New Year!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

PS - posting some pics from our Texas Christmas soon!!