Reaching my goals

At the beginning of the year I pledged to do the following three things for the #NewYearNewMe weight loss challenge:

1. Exercise for at least 30 minutes three times a week
2. Take the stairs when I can
   
3. Eat a healthy breakfast each morning

I sort of cheated with making that second pledge since our apartment complex is built on a hill. I have to take two flights of stairs just to get from my car to our front door. I do think, however, that setting attainable goals makes much more sense than setting goals that are outside our reach or that we might not be sure about being able to follow through with. This one was easy for me to reach!

Eating a healthy breakfast each morning has been a challenge with a new baby. My morning starts at odd times of the day (or in the middle of the night) since he’s not quite on a regular schedule just yet. Sometimes we wake up at 3:30 am and I fall asleep on the couch, waking up around 6:00 am to quickly make coffee and get my older son out the door in time for school. Somehow I manage to feed him a healthy breakfast each morning.

Being a parent is all about sacrifice. More often than not, I hear from parents – especially moms – about how their needs get put last on the To-Do list and unfortunately, that sometimes includes healthy eating. If I skip a meal (which I have done without realizing it) I also get irritable, which isn’t good for anyone. My new and improved To-Do list now includes a reminder to eat three meals a day, regardless of what time it is when I pour that first cup of coffee.

Exercising three times a week has been the easiest of these three pledges. I drop off my son at school and immediately head to the beach with my baby to stroll along the boardwalk. Who wouldn’t want to add that to their regular routine?

The CalorieStory app on Facebook has been a great tool for helping me keep track of all these goals. Knowing that when I exercise I can consume a few more calories and it’s considered exercise when I go up and down two flights of stairs with my 10 pound baby (and 5 pound car seat) in hand allows me to feel good about getting out of the house  more often (and neglecting the pile of laundry that awaits my return).

Having a new baby brings many challenges to moms, whether we work outside the home or not. My biggest challenge, on top of the three I already mentioned, has been setting aside time to “sleep when the baby sleeps.” Perhaps that should be something I pledge to do more often…

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Better Than Pajama Jeans

As part of my #NewYearNewYou challenge, I’ve committed to share my progress on a weekly basis. I encourage you to take the challenge. Thank you for supporting me in reaching my goals.

Our baby is just over 2 weeks old already. The last few weeks have gone by so quickly, having to adjust to less sleep and a new routine of not really having a routine just yet.

It made sense to continue to wear my maternity clothes after the baby was born since I still looked pregnant but it soon became evident that I would have to start wearing my pre-pregnancy fat pants (aka anything with elastic) since I kept having to pull them up. Pajama jeans were sounding pretty ideal but before I had a chance to pick up the phone and order a pair, I did it – I fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans!

Our son is already 8 pounds and he’s stretching beyond the newborn size clothes. We’re all very happy & healthy over here, getting caught up on sleep and taking advantage of the additional hands that are here to help  us out. My husband is about half way through his paternity leave. I can’t imagine doing this without him…

Breastfeeding has helped me lose the baby weight so quickly and taking walks every other day have also contributed to the rapid weight loss. Only a mile and a half at a time for the last few weeks, but we plan on increasing the length of our treks now that I’m ready to really start exercising and baby is sleeping for longer periods of time between feedings.

This week, I’m venturing out with baby in tow to three events, all of which revolve around food. I’ve been enjoying my husband’s cooking – as usual – but I’m excited to get out and enjoy some girl time with my fellow bloggers and friends.

I swear, the term GNO was originally coined by a mom of only boys. Now that I’m surrounded by three males, I realize how important my girl time really is. Don’t get me wrong, I love being the Queen of the house (with no princesses yet to compete with me), but I’m looking forward to sharing some laughs and sipping on drinks with my girlfriends.

Perhaps one of them has tried a pair of Pajama Jeans and can tell me if they’re better than my pre-pregnancy jeans because right now, I can’t think of anything better to slip into.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Losing the Baby Weight

My baby is a week old already and up until a few days ago, I was feeling good about losing the baby weight one day at a time. Up until my older son told me that I no longer looked pregnant; I look fat. Yeah, at least he’s honest.

Luckily, I have the #NewYearNewMe challenge to look forward to. I feel like I’ve already made progress. The CalorieStory app on Facebook keeps track of my daily calorie budget and with the help of the amazing sponsors of this weight loss / get healthier challenge, I’m excited to share my goals and work toward reaching them.

This year, and this month in particular, I  pledge to exercise for at least 30 minutes three times a week, take the stairs when I can and eat a healthy breakfast each morning.

Take the pledge with me and challenge yourself to a New You this month. It’s a New Year and you deserve the best start possible. Every pledge you make enters you into a drawing to win some great prizes from the following sponsors.

The Carb Lovers Diet is a book filled with recipes that I immediately started to incorporate into my daily routine. Eating oatmeal with bananas, walnuts & cinnamon is a  healthy and delicious breakfast. I’m excited to try out the other recipes that feature the thing that I craved most during my pregnancy: carbs.

I won’t fit into it just yet, but another sponsor, Our Love Yoga, sent a beautiful purple tank top which I plan on using once I reach my weight loss goal.

Yoga Pulse DVDs were also provided for my participation in this month-long challenge and Goodbelly sent a 12-day supply of their Pomegranate Blackberry flavored probiotic drinks. You can take their 12-day challenge as well. They’re so sure Goodbelly will put a smile on your face after 12 short days that they guarantee it, or it’s free!

Larabar, another sponsor, sent a t-shirt and a bag of 100 calorie fruit & nut bars, made of 100% whole food. They come in a variety of flavors and I have yet to find one that I do not like. I threw a few in the diaper bag already and everyone in my house has been enjoying them since they arrived and I intend to refill our supply as soon as we run out.

Head on over to Facebook to make your pledge, invite your friends to support you and your goals for creating a healthier you. You deserve it!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Good Vibrations

I’m always thrilled when local companies find me – through my site – and want to partner me with me in a way that benefits both of us.

When the husband and wife team from Good Vibrations Family Chiropractic contacted me a few months back, I was thrilled. Here’s a company that is in the health & well-being field and whose primary focus is the family. They work with children and even young infants and toddlers as well as adults here in San Diego. Drs. Stacey and Joe Merlo have one child with a second on the way.

It wasn’t until my son started to visibly show signs of discomfort in his neck that I thought to contact them about being seen as a client. The timing couldn’t have been more appropriate for me either, as my back started to become sore with the extra pregnancy weight around that same time.

We made an appointment and met with Dr. Joe Merlo who is wonderful to work with. What I love most about him and Good Vibrations (after years of experience with different chiropractors in different offices) is that their office feels more like home. It’s very welcoming, the furniture and decor is bright and fun and doesn’t seem sterile or much like a doctor’s office at all. He also approaches his clients with a personal touch, hugging me after each session and leaving me with a question or thought to ponder over after I walk out the door.

Before my initial visit, I was asked to fill out some paperwork. Pretty standard for any first-time health visits. Although the questions asked were a bit different. I was asked to list 5 things or ways in which I would personally start working towards a healthier lifestyle and it was a great reminder about all those New Year’s resolutions we make to ourselves that get forgotten before summer even hits.

Here’s my list, which Dr. Joe now has as well so he can continue to support me and keep me on track for a healthier pregnancy:

1. Walking – As a runner, it’s been hard for me to literally slow down now that I’m pregnant. Each time I get my shoes tied and head out for a 2 mile walk, I get frustrated that I can’t pick up my feet and take off like I used to do. I need to remind myself that this time (during pregnancy) is all about slowing down in many ways and I would love to get out and walk more often, but perhaps at smaller distances (1 mile every other day would be ideal).
2. Meditation - Speaking of slowing down, my mind has been racing with everything that’s going on in my world. I used to meditate often and find myself better able to sleep and function throughout the day when I do. My intention is to meditate for just a few minutes before bed each night and slow down my mind which can get the best of me at times.
3. Yoga - I love yoga. I remember doing yoga poses with my mom in the early 80s and got back into it during my pregnancy with my son nearly seven years ago. It was a great way to keep in shape during my pregnancy but after being away from it for so long, I nearly forgot how beneficial it truly is. Just yesterday, I took my first pre-natal yoga class during this pregnancy and cannot wait to go back again next week.
4. Writing – This is huge for me – and for most of you reading this. There was a time when I was posting something here every single day and lately I haven’t been inspired or motivated or even very enthusiastic about keeping up to date with what’s going on. That has to change. It keeps me sane (somewhat) so expect to hear from me more often. Those of you who know how to reach me should pester me if you don’t.
5. Sleep – We all know that getting a good night’s sleep is great for so many reasons but having a consistent schedule is just as important. With this pregnancy, I have such a varied sleep schedule that I’ll nap during the day and then have a difficult time getting to sleep that night. So then I stay up late and sleep in the next morning only to find that the pattern begins all over again and there’s no routine or hours that I keep that are consistent. This also has changed now that my son has started school. I go to bed when he does, wake up early to get his lunch ready and start my day – pushing away the urge to nap so that I can get to bed at a reasonable time. Coffee helps. Trust me. But implementing the other four things I listed above help just as much.

All five of these are things I should be implementing in my life on a regular basis. I’m just so grateful that Dr. Joe is holding me accountable for them. And now that they’re here, in writing, I encourage you to share 5 things that you can do or plan on doing to optimize your overall health. Please leave a comment here, or link to a blog post that you’ve created with your list.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

My mom can beat up your mom

Last week, my son and I walked into the L.A. Boxing gym near our house (the location in Rancho Penasquitos) for our first boxing class. We got there early to get our membership started.

The manager, Chris, gave us a tour of the facility, we checked out the boxing ring, treadmills, weight room and rows and rows of punching bags. Chris was kind enough to wrap my hands for me and got me ready for an hour of hard-core training. The instructors made me and my son feel very welcome and the music provided the perfect atmosphere to get through the workout without even looking at the clock.

My class started before my son’s so he watched as I started the vigorous routine of push-ups, running, jumping jacks, boxing and of course lifting with small weights.

When the children’s class started 15 minutes later, I was able to see my son in the mirror, as he began his own routine. I admired how focused he was the entire time, grinning like the Cheshire cat as he punched the instructor’s mitts and ducking and weaving along with the others.

We both had a great experience. My son had a blast, I worked up a sweat and we’re both looking forward to future classes. We will be going twice a week for the next month, boosting our energy and increasing our stamina, strength and confidence along the way.

I was incredibly sore the following day, but it was a good feeling, knowing that the one-hour routine worked every single muscle in my body, got my heart racing and left me feeling ready to kick some serious ass afterward.

The fact that my son can now beat me up is just one of the benefits of the class. The fact that we are both feeling more confident, in shape and getting fit for the summer is of course the greatest benefit of all. I didn’t weigh myself before our first session, but I have no doubt that after a full month of training, I will be much more prepared for bathing suit season.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Missing, Inaction

I have had no inspiration to write this past week. I was visiting Mr. Right and family in Minnesota over my birthday (two weeks ago) and since my return I’ve been speechless, unable to start a new project here.

I’ve logged into WordPress several times over these last ten days in an attempt to put something together but for some reason, I didn’t see the number until tonight. I’m not religious and certainly not superstitious (or am I?), but seeing that I have a total of 666 posts published (since 2007) kind of jumped out at me.

That number has been sitting there, unwavering, for over a week. I can’t let that affect me and it certainly hasn’t been the cause for my writer’s block (although missing my boyfriend & loved ones has been) but I’m hoping that being aware of this – as well as the negativity that’s taken over – will help get me back on track.

I have a lot to share, much to talk about and promote but I do need to address, first, my lack of activity. I mean, it’s not like I’ve been so busy with life that I haven’t been able to focus on writing. It’s been just the opposite. I haven’t been motivated to do much at all, instead dwelling on my “situation,” missing my boyfriend and loved ones in Minnesota, letting negative thoughts take over.

We all let that happen from time to time, but for me, this last week has raised a major red flag, alerting me that something needs to change. I need to change, start embracing the positive things that are going on around me, the wonderful ways in which my son is developing and growing, and make time to get active.

Tomorrow, I will be getting my membership set up at LA Boxing. They have kindly offered my son and I membership in exchange for a one-month promotion of their facilities and services.

My goal in these next 30 days is to not only get in shape, physically, but to keep track, monitor and share how staying active positively affects my mental health. I have no doubt that after I get some endorphins and adrenaline pumping once again – and on a regular basis – that my world will start to look different.

Wish me luck!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Run Like a Mother

The author tour for Run Like a Mother wouldn’t be complete without an accompanying race, which means if these writers are coming to your neighborhood, you’d better start training so you can try to keep up!

Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea, co-authors of Run Like A Mother: How To Get Moving – And Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity kicked off their book tour at Bookpeople in Austin, Texas Friday evening, followed by their running a half-marathon race the following day through the Texas countryside.

Over the next four months, the Dimity and Sarah will both (together and separately) travel around the country, reading or signing at bookstores in 15 cities, with more events added as summer approaches. Each bookstore reading will be followed by a 5K “fun run” through that city, with winners receiving small prizes, such as t-shirts.

Next week, they’ll be in Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico before heading East. Check out the full tour dates so you don’t miss them as they run by or through your city!

Run Like a Mother was written by and for busy women who strive to balance running with their career and family life.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Thinking Healthier Thoughts

I ran this afternoon for the first time in over two weeks. It felt great. I feel great and my head is more clear.

I track my run using Run Keeper so I can compete – with myself. I’ve never really been a competitive person and I only started running three and a half years ago (when my ex-husband and I first separated) so it still feels like a relatively new experience for me.

Each and every time I run, I remind myself why I need to do it more often, how great I feel afterward and how much more healthier I will be when I add it into my routine more regularly.  I tell my clients this so I need to take my advice: If it’s not on the calendar, it won’t happen. Scheduling in my runs will most likely be the only way I’ll show up!

Life gets in the way and I find myself running less and less often, using excuses as to why I’m sitting on my ass instead of getting outdoors and decompressing in healthier ways.

There are many ways that parents can decompress – with or without our kids – but leading by example is the most important thing for creating healthier children.

You can make exercise more fun too by heading outdoors (when you can) and having your little ones search for rocks, count how many birds, squirrels, rabbits or other creatures you come across, or for tech geeks like myself, you can use a GPS tracking program (like Run Keeper) that your child will be in charge of so they can map the distance, time and pace of your adventure.

My son enjoys being in charge of the iPhone when we use Run Keeper. I challenge him to go further each time, either long distances or more time. Either way, he loves watching the numbers go up (or down) and it’s a fun way to get in some exercise without him even realizing it.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

How my iPhone is helping me get in shape

I started running when my ex-husband and I first separated. I needed to get out of the house and clear my head, so one morning, I picked up my iPod and put my walking shoes on.

My intention was to simply walk around the lake that’s near our condo. Once I started walking, the music took over and I suddenly had the urge to start running.

It’s been three years now and although I get out of the habit every now and again, I’ve got the urge to run once again and am even thinking about training for the Carlsbad 1/2 marathon that takes place at the end of January.

A few days ago, I asked my followers on Twitter to suggest some iPhone apps to track my run. After I researched several apps, I chose the one that everyone kept saying was the best – Run Keeper.

I used Run Keeper for the first time yesterday morning and I am already understanding why it’s everyone’s favorite. During my run, I was able to look down at the screen to see how far I had traveled, my average speed and how long I had been running.

Once I finished the run, the app automatically submits it to the site where I am able to go back and see the map (powered by Google) of my route and the app calculated how many calories I burned, the number of feet I climbed and my average pace.

Besides this app, I also use the Lose It! app which tracks the number of calories I take in versus the number of calories burned each day. This allows me to set goals (I hope to lose 2 pounds a week while I’m training) and chart my progress.

I have less than 100 days until the Carlsbad 1/2 marathon. I’ll be tracking my runs and my calories to make sure that I’ll be able to reach my goals.

Wish me luck!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Zigo LEADER

The first mom- or dad- powered family transportation system. Place one or two children in the ChildPod, put on a helmet, and you’re ready to ride. The LeaderLink System allows the Leader to uncouple in 30 seconds or less, transforming it into the separate elements, Zigo ChildPod and Zigo Cycle.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home