June is for Running!

Kelle Hampton from enjoying the small things talked about running every day this month in her post hello june. That was the motivation I needed to finally follow through on some goals.

Last January (a year and a half ago) I had a great idea for a new years resolution. I would pick a goal each month, and focus that month on following through with it. This way I would implement some lifestyle changes, one at a time, instead of committing to too many goals and sticking with none of them. But, I never actually started this brilliant idea of mine, even when the next new year that I was holding out for came and went.

So, I've decided that if I want to make changes, why wait until January first. So I am committing to run every day this month. It doesn't have to be far, it doesn't have to be pretty. If need be it can be a jog down the street and back in my flip flops, although hopefully I can be more thorough than that. It's day 2 and so far so good.

What I have realized so far is that I am incredibly out of shape. I guess not exercising for 9 months, plus recovery time after, will do that to you. Even after my morning sickness subsided I was pretty sedentary for the second trimester, and by the time the third rimester rolled around my belly was too big to do much more than stretch. Plus, it's not very fun to run around when it's cold outside, and I'm a wimp.

I have also realized something else. Running can be fun. I would still much rather be running after something (a soccer ball, a frisbee, and obstacle course etc.) but it feels good to get my legs moving and my heart pumping. I was doing a great job of getting in shape last summer before I found out about the peanut, and I think that as the weather gets warmer my motivation is slowly seeping back.



Megan Francis from The Happiest Mom also wrote a post about June. June: It's all about you. In it she says that in planning fun stuff for our families this summer, mom's should also consider how many hours there are and plan some fun stuff for themselves. She also has some good ideas, like taking a class to pursue a hobby. I would love to take a photography, pottery, or painting class. I would also love to join a soccer team or go climbing.

I think that as parents we are better able to serve our kids when we don't feel like we're losing ourselves. By spending time with the people we love, and doing adult based activities we enjoy we are able to still live our lives, which means we can be more committed to our kids when we are with them and we can model for them a healthy balance of serving our families and taking care of ourselves. One of my biggest struggles is filling unstructured time  surfing blogs, looking at facebook pictures, or watching reruns on hulu and netflix. I am with my kids but not giving them my attention. But when I  take time to do something I love, like going to lunch with friends, I come back ready to give my kids 100%. win win.

Here are some other goals I hope to pursue in the upcoming months.

• Drink at least 8 cups of water a day. I have never been a big water drinker so this is important. I also tend to act on my sweet tooth when I'm really just dehydrated. However, I must add that since I got my new camelbak water bottle I have been drinking a lot more. It has become my new fidgeting habit. 
• Read the bible every day. I did this for lent and it was great. I have been much better since, but can already tell I'm slipping again. 
• Read a book. I spend so much time reading magazines and blogs that i forget to read quality literature. I hope my kids will see me reading and learn to love it themselves. Part of this is also reading with them every day, patiently, talking about the pictures on each page, and without rushing to the end. 
• Play with my children each day. Make my daughter laugh and actually follow through on my plans for her week. I will try to write more about my plans for our weekly schedule that usually is forgotten. Play with and sing to my son more, it's easy to forget to when they are so unresponsive.
• Make out with my husband every day. This post from simple marriage gave me some extra inspiration for this idea. 10 second KISS. 
• Edit my pictures as they come. I can take over a thousand pictures in an afternoon if given the opportunity, so you can imagine why I get so behind on posting them. I would love to stay on top of this for a change and maybe even get in a better habit of deleting bad photos. I feel like his is easier to do when the photos are fresh, there is less of an attachment. Hopefully I can stick with this habit and even start making memory books or seasonal slideshows for my kids. 
• Stick to a budget and record each purchase. We have the best of intentions to d this each month, but I don't think we've followed through for a full month yet. 
• Become more passionate about prayer. Pray with my husband each night., and listen to the spirit. Pray for my friends when they have needs, right then and there.
• Spend time outside each day. This one becomes much more of a problem when it's cold. But even the burden of getting bundled in layers upon layers is worth it. 

I'm sure I will come up with more ideas, or find more ideas jotted down on sticky notes, buried in my backpack. But I would also love to hear from you. You can do just about anything for 31 days or less. What are some lifestyle changes you would like to commit to, even if only for a month. 

DVD Workouts

All of the snow that has been blanketing the nation does not make it easy to work out. After women everywhere set hopeful resolutions for the new year to lose weight, get fit, and generally be healthier the clouds decided to open up and mock us with never ending snow.

There's no denying that it's harder to go work out in the winter. Over the next few weeks I will try to do at least a weekly post about how I've been trying to beat the snow day blues and get in shape for summer. (swim suit season here we come)

On days when it's to cold to go outside I like to pop in a workout DVD and work up a sweat. This can be difficult since I live in a tiny apartment, but I work with the space to the best of my ability.

I usually try to do DVDs right when Haley goes down for her nap, that gives me anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to work out, and then usually time for a shower before she wakes up and demands my attention.

Of course, things don't always go as planned during nap time, (aka, I get distracted reading blogs or looking at pictures) so occasionally I have to force myself to work out while Haley is up and about.

She was pretty content sitting in her bouncy seat to watch her crazy mama for a little while. (Maybe if I can keep up with a healthier lifestyle it will rub off on her... here's to wishful thinking)

But, she does eventually get restless, so she opts instead to roll around on the floor. Did I mention my tiny apartment. Hopefully adding leaps over Haley will make my workout that much more effective.

Here are a few Tips

-Embrace the cheese. Most work out DVDs can be really cheesy, but don't let that stop you. You might even find the trainers encouragement and self-talk motivating.

-Don't worry. Even if you only do one segment, be proud of your 10 minutes. Any time spent moving is better than time spent sitting. Even a 10 minute workout is worth the effort.

-Push yourself. Hold yourself accountable and give it all you've got. Don't hold back just because you feel silly or because no one is watching. Even if you can't work out for long, you can work hard. A lot of DVDs offer modifications on different moves, only do the easier version if you need to, and don't be afraid to try the harder versions.

- Be Prepared. Nothing breaks up your workout more than stopping mid lunge to get a glass of water. Get your weights, some water, and any other equipment you need ready before you start. Also, set the thermostat a little lower and layer your clothes, that way you can just take off layers as you get warmed up. You're acting like an athlete, so don't forget to dress the part.

- Partner up. Working out with a friend, spouse, or your older kids can be a fun way to bond, and a great way to push yourself. I love when my husband joins me for a DVD. He finds some of them a little too cheesy, but will gladly admit that there are some tough work outs. Also, it's pretty hilarious to try to find room for both of us to do push-ups in our limited floor space.

My top 5 work out DVDs ... (I'll add the other 5 to my top 10 list after I try out a few more)

for most of these all you need is some 2-5 lb. hand weights.

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

3 2o minute workouts of increasing difficulty. They are done in intervals, 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio, and 1 minute abs with a warm up and cool down. These workouts are intense but you feel incredibly accomplished when you're done. My only complaint is that I haven't figured out how to skip the DVD intro that come on each time I put the DVD in. ( I usually try to do some dishes while I wait for the main menu to pop up)

Perfect Body Workout with Amy Dixon

I really like Amy Dixon. This DVD has some fun sports inspired moves and a great yoga stretch in the special features.

Total Workout in Ten with Amy Dixon

If you only have 10 minutes this is a great way to spend them, or you can stream a few workouts together to create a more complete routine. There is a bonus section using an exercise ball.

Train for your Body Type with Jessica Smith.

This DVD is nice because it can be tailored to your specific needs. It has a custom workout feature to help you set a routine to attack your problem areas in the time you have.

Carmen Electra Aerobic Striptease

This DVD is fun and helps you feel sexy. But, it is not the most challenging workout. However it does have some good stretching and once you learn the routines they are easy to do when you are away from our TV or away from your exercise equipment.

There are several other workout DVDs I'm eager to try; The biggest loser DVDs, the rest of Jillian Michael's DVDs, and skinny bitch fitness DVDs. I also want to find good DVDs for yoga, kick boxing, exercise ball workouts, and cardio dance routines.

check out more great tips at Works For Me Wednesday.

Momma Yoga

what is yoga?

An Indian tradition related to the union of mind, body and spirit.

So What does yoga have to do with being a mom?

It's a great way to stretch out and relax while bonding with the little bean.

Here are my 2 favorite ideas.

Cat Cow

Do cat-cow while mooing and meowing at baby. Haley loves this, she had a big giddy smile on her face each time I looked at her and made noises.

Sun Salutations

The other great one is sun salutations. I loved these in the yoga class I did in college. When you are doing downward facing dog you can bark, or hiss during cobra. Just don't go to low.

This is the simple version. It's easy and relaxing. I enjoy the rhythmic movements.

I like this one because it has some warrior poses thrown in.