Friday, August 29, 2014

Feeding The Masses with Clean Eating

I'll be honest. Hospitality is NOT my strong suit. I do not keep my kitchen stocked to be able to just invite someone over last minute (though I am getting better). I am not able to keep my house company worthy at all times though I desperately try...and fail! However, I have come a LONG way in this area.

When I first got married, my husband stated he wanted to entertain and have a welcoming house. Um! GASP! What? Now, give me a little credit. When I first got married I knew how to cook a total of three meals. THREE! My poor husband lived off of Lasagna, Spaghetti, and this dish called Joe's Special for three years. That's if you don't count the dinner of grilled chicken (courtesy of my hubby), protein shakes or cereal. :) I would literally have a mini panic attack when he would announce so and so was coming over for dinner.

Fast forward 9 years and you have me today. I still frantically clean before company comes and often worry about how the food will turn out but I no longer freak out about cooking and I love having people over. We have a CRAZY life schedule (who doesn't these days!) so our dinner invites are less than what we like but I am always on the search for meals I can try out on company...or maybe a little bit before hand. Often I am a little lenient on what I cook, knowing that most families are not as strict with what they put in their mouths as mine. But I also don't bend my food values just because company is coming. Thus, I do have a few tried and true company meals that are also CLEAN and YUMMY!

Here are some of my favorites (and a few that I am dying to try):

Appetizers:
  • Fruit!-I will often have a fruit platter of strawberries, apples, grapes...really whatever I have on hand for snacking. I normally don't even bother putting anything with it or on it cause fruit itself tastes SO AMAZING! Sometimes though, I will go and get some vanilla Greek yogurt and use that for dipping. I rarely ever have fruit left over if I do this.

  • No Bake Energy Bites- I actually have these on my snack list but I have so many of my friends ask for them that I often will make them for get togethers. I have seen this recipe floating around the internet everywhere but I received mine from a friend, who I think found it somewhere on bodybuilding.com.
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup toasted coconut flakes
1/3 cup honey
1 tap vanilla extract.
1/2 cup flaxseed
Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together. Add remaining ingredients. Refrigerate until moldable (about 30 min) and then form into one inch balls. Makes about 15-20.


  • Turkey Bison Balls- These fall under the category of "dying to try". I have had this in my recipe binder for awhile now to try but for some reason I haven't found a good reason yet. It looks so yummy I thought I would share. 
1lb ground bison (or turkey or beef)
1 pkg turkey bacon
1 green bell pepper, cut into small cubes
1/2 onion chopped
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp. seasoning of your choice
1 tsp lemon and lime juice
1-2 fresh jalapeƱos
1 wedge of the Laughing Cow cheese
1/4 cup guacamole
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, combine bison, bell pepper, onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, seasoning and citrus. Either allow to marinate or start making the balls right away. Roll bison mixture into small balls and set aside. Slice jalapenos to desired thickness and place on slice onto each ball, as well as one small chunk of cheese and a dollop of guacamole. Wrap each ball with a slice of turkey bacon, pinning it all the way through with a toothpick. Bake the balls in an 8" x 8" or larger glass dish for 15 to 18 minutes, checking the center once in a while.
 
Sides:
Sides are my weakness!!! I tend to do the same ol' same ol' sides all the time. I am currently trying to branch out so any suggestions of AMAZING sides would be appreciated.
  • Greek Salad-This is my "go to" side. My hubby loves it and so do I so I make it whenever I have all the ingredients. Just throw some lettuce or a salad mixture into a bowl and top with feta, tomatoes (I normally use cherry ones), sliced red onions, and black olives. Voila! My favorite salad!

  • Flatbread- Every time I make this for company I get compliments and "oh my gosh this is good". One time I had two husbands approach me afterwards asking me to give their wives the recipe. The downside to this recipe? It does take some prep work and a couple more steps than I would like. The upside? It only has a few basic ingredients that most people have on file. Enjoy!
1.5 Cups Warm Water
2.5 tsp Yeast
1 Tblsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil plus extra for spreading
1 tsp Salt plus extra for sprinkling
4 Cups Flour plus extra for rolling

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add in the olive oil and salt. Let sit and wait for bubbles to form (roughly 10 minutes). Add the flour gradually and form just until mold-able but not quite hard. Place in a warm place for about an hour until it doubles. Divide into 8 pieces and roll each piece flat. Tip: After you roll them place a paper towel in between each piece so they don't stick together. Spray olive oil or a non stick spray on a griddle heated to medium high heat. Heat each piece for 30-45 seconds on each side (until the bread starts to bubble). Pull off and set aside (it should not feel cooked yet). Heat a grill and put on just long enough to spread olive oil over it and sprinkle A LITTLE bit of sea salt on each side. THEN ENJOY...cause they won't last long!


They don't look like much, but believe me....they taste good!
  • Baked Potato Wedges- I don't even remember where I got this recipe but I love fries, wedges or regular so I had to find a clean version pronto! This one is one of my favorites!
2 large potatoes
8 small garlic heads, minced
3 Tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1/2 tsp Chili powder or paprika
1.5 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
Salt to taste
Water
To prepare garlic infused oil, heat olive oil in a pan, just until it turns warm. Add garlic and switch off the stove. Keep aside until required. Boil the potatoes for about 10-12 minutes. Make sure it doesn't become soft and mushy. Let it cool and cut into wedges. Transfer the wedges into a large bowl. Add the olive oil (discard the garlic), paprika, black pepper, garlic powder and salt. Gently mix using your fingers to uniformly coat the wedges with the spices.
Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Arrange the potato wedges on the prepared baking tray, without overlapping. Bake for about 30-40 minutes until the wedges turn golden brown and crisp on the outside.
 
Dinners:
  • Chicken-Made anyway. I normally will throw some seasoning or marinade on it and grill them! Easy, quick and painless. Sometimes if I feel more inclined I will cut it into cubes, add some veggies like cherry tomatoes, green peppers, red onions, and mushrooms and then put them on skewers and grill those. Chicken (or steaks) are one of the EASIEST clean eating dinners to make.


  • Crockpot Chicken Tacos- This is one of my newest favorite recipes but it's OH SO GOOD! So I can't pass it up at all. And seriously, it's a crock-pot meal that you just throw in the ingredients and practically forget about it. Who can complain about that? I found the recipe through the following link but since you have to go through a couple of hoops to get to it I have provided it below also. The only thing else I can say about this recipe is YUM!   http://www.iheartnaptime.net/taco-bowl/

4 Large Chicken Breasts
1/4 Cup Water
1 Cup Fresh Salsa
1 Tsp Chili Powder
3/4 Tsp Ground Cumin
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
1 Clove Garlic Minced
1 Can Black Beans, Drained
1 Can Corn (I used frozen and measured it out with the black beans can)
1/2 Lime Juiced (or 1/2 Tbsp)

Toppings: Shredded Cheese, Guacomole, Sour Creme

Put all the ingredients in the crockpot. Stir the best you can. Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or until the chicken shreds easily. 
I will make a pot of brown rice and dish both up into a bowl with toppings of my choice. It is AMAZING!

 
 

  • Kung Pao Chicken- I recently had a friend, who is just as enthusiastic as me (if not more) about clean eating, have myself and my two kiddos over for lunch and she made this for us. Technically, I have not made this yet but I have had it and LOVED IT! and now its on my "to make someday" list so I thought I would share with you guys. It seems fairly easy to make and fairly inexpensive to. I don't remember where she told me she got the recipe from but I do remember she tweaked it to how she liked it anyways.
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/4 Tsp Red Pepper Flakes
12 oz Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast (cut into 1 inch cubes)
1/4 Cup Raw Unsalted Peanuts
2 Tbsp Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
1 Clove Minced Garlic
1 Tsp Ground Ginger
2 Tsp Rice Vinegar
2 Cups Cooked Brown Rice
Optional: Pineapple chunks
 
In a large skillet on medium-high heat the oil. Add pepper flakes, chicken, and peanuts and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Stir in soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and vinegar (and pineapple if using). Bring to a simmer and cook until chicken is no longer pink. Serve with rice.
 

 
Desserts:
 
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies-These are my MOST REQUESTED dessert when I have family or friends over. My sister-in-laws will often request I have a batch of these made when they so graciously watch my kiddos for me if I need to go out somewhere alone. I got the original recipe from the Clean Eating Magazine but have tweaked it to my personal ingredients and taste buds. Note: Follow the cooking and cooking times EXACTLY as they are outlined. These do not look or feel done until they are cooled completely.
The link to the original recipe:http://www.cleaneatingmag.com/recipes/under-45-minutes/almond-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies/
 
1 Cup Peanut Butter (all natural)
1/2 Cup Truvia Baking Blend
1 Egg
1/4 Tsp Sea Salt
3 oz dark chocolate chips (the darkest you can find)
 
Set oven at 350. Stir all ingredients together. Drop by spoonful's onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on sheet for 5 minutes. Cool on bakers rack for 15 minutes. NOW you can eat them. :)
 
  • Chocolate Sour Cream Cupcakes- These are currently my favorite clean eating dessert. However, I have made them for my family before and they were not loved. These are meant for clean eaters who LOVE chocolate.
 
1 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/2 Cup Truvia Baking Blend plus 1/8 Cup Truvia
1/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 Tsp Sea Salt
1/4 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Cup Low Fat Sour Creme
1/3 Cup plus 2 Tsp Nonfat Milk
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Whole Egg plus 2 Egg Whites
1 oz Dark Chocolate
 
Set oven to 350. Line a muffin pan with 12 liners. Mix cocoa powder, 1/2 cup truvia, salt, and baking soda. In a separate bowl whisk sour cream, 1/3 cup milk, oil, vanilla, and the whole egg. Combine together mixing well. Using a clean, dry bowl mix egg whites until they begin to foam. Add remaining truvia and whip until you can get peaks (never could do this so I just whip for awhile). Fold the whites into the cake batter. Fill each muffin tin 3/4 of the way up. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted. Remove from oven and let cool. Meanwhile combine chocolate and remaining milk. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until the chocolate is all melted and smooth. Spread 1 tsp  on each cupcake.
 


  • Carmel Corn- I am not a popcorn lover but I live in a household FULL of popcorn lovers so when I saw this recipe it instantly went to my "have to make someday" pile. If you happen to try it let me know if you like it. I originally saw this in one of my older magazines of Clean Eating.
1/2 Cup Popcorn Kernels
1 Tbsp Coconut Butter
2/3 Cup and 2 Tbsp Raw Honey
2 Tbsp Crunchy Almond Butter
2 Tbsp Peanut Butter
1 1/4 Cup Raw Nuts of your choice

Pop corn kernels using an air popper or stovetop. If you are popping over the stovetop, ad the coconut butter during the cooking process.; if air popping, top with coconut butter after the popping is complete. In a small saucepan set over medium low heat, bring honey to a low simmer. Add nut butters, whisk with a fork and remove from heat. Add raw nuts to popped corn. Immediately pour honey mixture over popped corn, tossing occasionally to combine. Place popcorn in a glass container and refrigerate 30 minutes. Once set, spoon caramel corn into cellophane bags or small jars.
 
 
Well, that's my clean eating for company items. Do you have some? Please feel free to share. I seriously do add recommendations to my food binder to try later. You never know what is going to become a new favorite.



Friday, August 15, 2014

Learn With Me: Educational Activities for 1-3 Year Olds

Before having my first, I was a teacher. I honestly loved teaching---SO MUCH! I would go back in a heart beat....if it wasn't for my kids. Fortunately, I have kids who LOVE to learn, play, and experience life through what we call "activities". If I don't have at least one structured activity for my kiddos in a day, they go CRAZY! Seriously! That being said, I have googled, pinned, and brainstormed for the best activities that also have a learning aspect to them to come up with some new ones for my kids to do. Here is what I found that I am currently usin and want to try next.
 
Colors
 
  • Button Sorting Activity- You know those disposable and reusable bowls with lids that you can find just about anywhere? Yes, grab some of those with some colorful buttons that match. Cut a slit in the top of the lids and show your little one how to sort the buttons by color. This is a great activity to know if your kids are starting to grasp the color concept. Most kiddos that I have seen know their colors before they can associate a name to them.
Here is the link to the blog where I found this idea from: http://aboutfamilycrafts.com/button-sorting-cups/
  • Matching Clothespins to Paint Chips- I have seen this activity in a variety of forms. The cheapest and easiest way though is to go to Lowe's or Home Depot and snatch some of the paint chips off the shelf. Make sure you grab two of each. with one glue it to a clothespin so you have a match set of a paint chip and a clothespin. Show the little goober how to match the correct colors together. This is also a great fine motor activity as well.


  • Fruit Loop Sort Game- This one is just genius and super duper inexpensive. Grab a piece of paper and draw circles with crayons that match the colors of the fruit loop cereal. Demonstrate to your kids how to sort the cereal by colors. BONUS: Discuss the circle shape while your at it, killing two birds with one stone while building a background knowledge for shapes and connecting it to real life (eating cereal).



Bonus Activity:
  • If it's around Easter or you happen to be able to find the plastic eggs, grab some of those, mix up the colors and have the little monster match the correct colors again. We did that one year and my son LOVED it. Now that he is older, I am planning on using them again but writing Uppercase and Lowercase letters on either side and he has to match them.
 
 
Letters
 
  • Q-Tip Painting-There are a TON of free letter q-tip painting links floating around pinterest. Print one off and let your toddler go to town. As he is exploring, talk to him about the letter and its sound. He may not understand right now but it will be planting some background knowledge for later.
 
  • Building letters- Do you have a fish? Or some rocks lying around the house? Print out a coloring page of a letter or cut out one from construction paper and show your child how to place the rocks inside the lines of the letter to build it. Confused? Here is a link to a picture of what I am describing:
  • Matching Magnets- Periodically at the dollar store you can find a magnet set of letters. If you grab a couple or more sets of those its easy to create some simple alphabet activities. One I have done is to write the alphabet on a piece of paper (or the kiddos name) and then instruct them to find the matching letters and place the magnet over the letter. My son had a blast doing this activity and since he is currently learning his name I plan on doing it with his name very soon.
 
 
  • Letter Stamping-With those same magnets (or a fancy set of letter stamps) you can break out the much hated but well loved playdoh and let your lil one stamp letters into the playdoh.
 
 
Numbers
 
  • Number Sort- Collect some number/letter stickers and a big piece of construction paper. Draw a line down the middle and then show your lil one how to sort the stickers; numbers on one side and letters on the other. You may need to do the first couple with them or just play with the number stickers discussing what they are during your play.

  • Number Match with Popsicles and a Box-I saw this one the other day and I really really want to try it out. Essentially what it is: Cut some slats in a box and label the slats. For this age group I would do 1-10, but feel free to do more if you feel so inclined. Then get some craft sticks and label those. After you mix them, demonstrate how to match the craft stick and the slat by putting it in there. This could also be doubled for a hand-eye coordination activity! WIN WIN! Here is the link to where I originally saw the idea but honestly it just takes you to the homepage and I can't locate it:


http://adaycare.com/PreschoolCurriculumSample2.html

  • Number Train Puzzle- My mother in law found this number train puzzle and my kiddos LOVED putting the puzzle together and pulling it apart. Sometimes, I would just let the kids play with it, listening to my three year old discuss the numbers with his 1-2 year old sister. Other times, I would casually comment or ask what number they were working on and how to count to that number. Make it casual. Make it fun!

  • Cut the Cards-I believe everyone and their grandmother has an extra deck of cards lying around somewhere. This is seriously the easiest activity if you do. Take that deck and cut each card in half. Give the cards to your toddler and ask them to match them up.....well...maybe not the entire deck of cards, but start with a few and add more if they seem to catch on.
Shapes
  • Matching Shapes-This is a combo of an activity I found on pinterest and the fact that I love busy bags/folder games. Cut some felt in different shapes and then draw the outline of that shape on a file folder game. Glue a Velcro piece to the inside of the outlined shape. And have your toddler match up the felt piece with the outline. Here is a link to the picture of the original idea that just used an old cardboard box. (which works also)
 http://diapers-to-diplomas.blogspot.com/2010/04/tot-school-red.html

  • Ice Cream Shapes File Folder Games- I saw this activity on etsy that you could buy but it is probably super easy to make through a computer program print outlines of the bottom of the ice cream cone with shapes inside and glue them to a file folder. Then print outlines of the ice cream part of the cone with the same shapes inside and have your crazy match them. If you have a laminator then use it, if not just use a heavy duty construction paper or cardstock.

  • Bathtub Building- I had some foam pieces that I cut into different shapes. I then showed my son a picture of a city and asked him to build one of his own using the shapes while we discussed the different shapes he used.







Friday, June 6, 2014

Bye Bye Baby Body!


Before I had kids and was a full time homemaker I used to be of the mentality that the best (and only in my opinion) way to lose weight and stay fit was to lift weights and do cardio in the gym. I know, I know. I was extremely ignorant. Upon having kiddos and having different time restraints and priorities set on me by others and myself I have quickly learned that there is no ONE WAY to staying healthy and active. Everyone has their own definition of what that means and how it looks. Don't get me wrong, I still believe that some have the wrong definition and do not understand the process but I no longer hold the belief that one way (for example, lifting weights) is the only way to stay healthy. It may be the only way to get to where YOU want to be but not where someone else wants to be. Does that make sense?

I have a three-fold purpose in creating this post:

1. I am currently pregnant and am already thinking about how I can realistically lose my baby weight once I am cleared to go and decided to use this opportunity to brainstorm and organize my thoughts.

2. A friend of mine recently had a baby and asked for my recommendations.

3. I get asked this question A LOT! Plus, I am constantly finding new ways and programs that I want to try and this will be a great way to just add to my list. :) (Those of you who know me personally understand my love for lists)

Before I even start in on workout ideas or programs I feel the need to address the issue of food. I am not going to go into detail because I realize people are going to do what they want to do and everyone can research the food issue for themselves. I, however, do not aspire to any of those fad diets that are out there right now (HCG, low carb, soup diet etc.) or the diets that take away a food group entirely (paleo, (gasp!) nonfat, gluten free (I understand about allergies) etc.) or the diets that emphasize ONLY portion control (like weight watchers) instead of emphasize the RIGHT kinds of food to put in your mouth at the right time. My philosophy when it comes to food stems more from the Clean Eating principles. To sum it up, eat what God made not man. If you want to research it out for yourselves here is a link that gives the basic principles of clean eating:

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-basic-principles-of-eating-clean.html

I also love Tosca Reno and her book series on Clean Eating. Here is her website:

http://www.toscareno.com/

Okay, now for the fun stuff! :)
As a mom, I realize that everyone is in a different spot in life and life requires different priorities during those specific times so I have broken down my list of After Baby Workouts into three categories:

1. At Home Videos
2. At Home Workouts
3. Gym Workouts

Personally, I see the most change when doing consistent gym workouts but since I am currently in a spot in life that does not allow for that I have had to reach out for other options.

At Home Videos

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred
  • Pro: This is a GREAT starting point. You only need one set of dumbbells and a mat (but that can be optional). It is only 20 minutes a day which makes it super duper easy to find time to do it. With my last pregnancy (I have had two before this one) I used this workout just to get my motivation back into working out. Since it was just a short amount of time I wasn't able to use the "I don't have time" excuse. Plus you can find this video for super cheap on amazon as well as in Walmarts.
  • Con: I am not a fan of Jillian Michaels. For some reason she irks me the wrong way. However, when it comes to fitness SHE KNOWS HER STUFF!
Turbo Fire
  • Pro: This video series is fast paced and keeps you motivated. After I finish one of them I feel as if I can take on the world (but also feel like I could fall over at the same time). After my first pregnancy I had gained A LOT of weight and pretty much used this series to lose most of that weight ( I got pregnant again before I could lose all of it).
  • Con: If you follow the program you sometimes are working out for almost 2 hours a day. At times, I felt it was overkill and didn't fit into my busy schedules. It also is almost pure cardio and I missed my weights. This overkill on cardio also caused me to start losing my milk supply since I was breastfeeding so you need to be careful you eat enough also. It can also be expensive to purchase. Your best bet would be to borrow from a friend or find one used.
Tracy Anderson Post Pregnancy

  • Pro: One reviewer on amazon stated that it was a "kick your butt" video which is exactly what I want out of a home DVD.
  • Con: I have not personally tried this video but it made it to the list cause I want to. I bought her DVD series for pregnant women and loved it. Not because they were hard or that I felt that I had a great workout afterwards but it was something totally different and kept me interested. I have read that it is little weights and more of the cardio and leg lifts which might bum me out a little but I am interested enough to try.
At Home Workouts

Running
  • Pro: My once hated cardio option has become my most favorite. It's cheap. You can do it anywhere. You can find any number of running programs online to get you started or keep you going. Here is the one that I followed after my first pregnancy when I was just trying to get used to the idea of running:
http://snapwidget.com/v/639173923075398264#.U5H9kstOWcx

Here is the one I followed after my second pregnancy in preparing for a 5k that I did right before I got pregnant this time:

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/50933/Novice-Training-for-your-first-5K

 
Coming across the finish line at my first 5k!
 
  • Con: At first your body is going to HATE you! Running is a great cardio option but your body is going to fight it. I had shin splints, back aches, and the feeling that I couldn't breathe. The breathing got easier as I went but everything else got HARDER the longer and more often I ran. My solution? After talking with multiple running buddies I tried those weird looking five finger vibram shoes. They actually work! My running time improved and my aches and pains went away. Granted, it took a long time to train my feet to get used to them but if you try them. Be PATIENT! It's worth it in the end.
Jamie Eason's 30 Day Knock Out Workout
  • Pro: This is the program that Jamie Eason created for her post pregnancy body. She gained 35 pounds with her lil one and lost it all plus more. I am a big fan of Jamie Eason. I believe she stands for balance (even though her job is the fitness industry) and she knows her stuff. I have met her and she is very sweet ( as opposed to some who I have met that come across as air heads and stuck up snobs.
  • Con: You do need some equipment to be able to do this at home. I have included the link to her workout here and then her notes on how to make it an "at home" workout. I have not done this workout yet, but it is on my list!
 
 
Her notes on how to make it an at home workout: "Change the wide-grip lat pulldown to 1 arm dumbell row and the reverse grip pulldown to bent over row with 2 dumbells. Leg extensions can be lying on your back and holding a dumbbell in your feet . Instead of the seated leg curl, use a chair for your foot and do a single leg deadlift."

She follows up her training days with this at home cardio routine:

 http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/8a/a0/af/8aa0aff138369fd0ff61658b6d1592f7.jpg

21 Day Clutch Cut Workout
  • Pro: It's only three weeks! It does the trick! It even has a meal plan included with it. This is the program that gave me that last "push" that I needed to finally get down to my pre-preggo size...you know that last 5 or 10 pounds that just WILL NOT come off. Well, this is the workout I followed to get there.
  • Con: It does have to be modified for at home workouts. You will need dumbells, a weighted ball and a jump rope to complete. For the cardio portion, I did it while my kids were napping and took the baby monitor outside and used the street in front of my house (I ran back and forth). This is an INTENSE workout. I did  not do it while breastfeeding! I don't think my milk supply would have withstood it. Especially considering I followed the program to the "T" (food, supplements, workouts...EVERYTHING!). In the three weeks I was able to lose 6 pounds. Considering 1lb a week is normal for what size I was at it really works! This is also not a program I would follow all the time due to the intensity but I will use it in the future before special events (aka before that cruise my husband and I want to take).
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ashley-conrads-21-day-clutch-cut-training.html

This is my before and after picture. The picture on the left I took just a couple months after my first child was born. The picture on the right was the last day of the Clutch Cut Workout program (after my second pregnancy). Thirty pound difference!

Gym Workouts

The Female Training Bible 12-Week Program
  • Pro: This is a GREAT place to start if you are new to the gym. It takes you through all the information of lifting weights, what to eat, when to eat, and even supplements. I was able to do the first four weeks at the beginning of my pregnancy and the next time my schedule allows me to be back in the gym I would like to finish the program.
  • Con: You have to go to the gym! :)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/womans_lean_sexy_bible.htm

The Live Fit Trainer--by Jamie Eason
  • Pro: This is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE program. It takes you through each stage of the weight lifting process. Starting with four weeks of the basics while building muscle, then four weeks of toning and getting stronger, with the final four weeks of fat burning. I have done this program twice now and will do it again someday. It also includes a meal plan for the most optimum results.
  • Con: Many people claim weight gain in the first four weeks but if you hold out it turns out to be the good weight gain and you end up losing it later or just looking better! The beginning of the program you are only in the gym for a short period of time but by the end you will need close to 1.5 hours some days. It's worth it but as always your schedule and priorities have to line up.
 
 
So, there you go. Those are my recommendations for starting.
 
My plan? Well, after my six weeks of "oh my gosh I just had a baby, how do I survive again?", I plan on starting with Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, then trying the 30 day Knock Out Workout. From there I am going to see what the weather is like and my time restraints. I really really enjoy running now and want to get back into that but if the weather does not permit I will try something new, redo the Live Fit Trainer, or possibly do Turbo Fire over again. It really depends on where life is at at that moment. My goal is to stay active, in whatever means that entails.
 
Disclaimer: In no way am I claiming I know it all when it comes to health and fitness. I have a long road ahead of me to learn but I also have a long road behind me. These recommendations simply come from my experience and what I have happened to try. There are a ton of other options and I love to try new workouts to keep it fresh and fun so I am constantly looking for new ideas. I am not affiliated with any of the workouts I have posted, it is all just my opinion.
 
What have you done? Have you tried something on my list and hated it? Loved it? I would love to hear about it and know what your active lifestyle passion is. 








Monday, June 2, 2014

Roadtrippin With a Newborn Tips

I have never been one to do things in order. Even when I was drafting papers in college, I always wrote the body and conclusion of the piece before going back and writing the introduction. With that being said, my first post is going to be regarding a question a friend of mine has about traveling instead of the normal "who I am" post. So, here I go...

Seven Tips For Traveling With a Newborn

My husband is in the military and we have had to move across the country twice with a newborn. The first time I researched and planned for how to make the trip easier with my two month old son. The second time I completely winged it with my three month old daughter. It became very clear that preparing for the trip depended on how I was as a mother, and how my babies were as well, BABIES! However, with both those trips I came out with a few pointers that might help other mothers facing the same daunting task.

1. Don't Drive-I know this is a hard one to manage since the majority of households have more than one vehicle, but if you can manage it, it is SO worth it. Our first cross country trip, we knew we would only be gone for about 1-2 years and opted to leave my husbands car at home and pull my car behind the moving truck. Our second trip, my sister-in-law flew out and took over most of the driving for me. This allowed me to be able to attend to the needs of my lil one whenever they came up.



My lil man all ready for a road trip!


2. Plan Your Stops Around Feedings- I loosely followed the Babywise method with feedings and sleep times. This gave me a rough estimate of when my newborns would need/want to be fed. With both my children at the time of our travel they were wanting to be fed roughly every three hours. We did NOT stop every three hours (see next tip) but we did make sure that we stopped for food, potty breaks, or gas around the time I was supposed to feed, thus cutting down on how many times we needed to stop during our trip.

3. Don't Stop At Every Feeding-This one depends entirely on your driving situation and whether or not your baby can physically handle it. Neither of my kiddos had issues with spitting up or reflux so thus I felt it was safe to feed them while the driving was still going on. NO, I DID NOT TAKE THEM OUT OF THEIR CAR SEATS. I invested in a breast pump and would pump and then afterwards give them the bottle of collected milk. They never had any issues, but I can see how some babies just could not handle not being burped or eating in a moving vehicle. However, if you can manage this it is so worth it and will make the trip shorter (less stops). We worked it out to where our stops were every other feeding, and then I would pump in between. This gave us a good balance between pushing forward to our destination and taking those much needed breaks.

4. Invest In A Baby Mirror-This one is mostly for if you have to drive. With a newborn and the amount of weird noises they make I found myself constantly getting that "mommy intuition" to check on my child. While driving, this means you either have to pull over and check on them or sit there worrying the entire time you are driving if your baby is still safe. The mirror will help cut down on stops as well as ease any nagging feelings you may have.

5. Bring Some Music or Play A Book On Tape- If you are driving alone with the newborn this one is especially important. The music or voice recording may just be the white noise your baby needs to stay calm or fall asleep during the trip. If not, it may be the ticket to your sanity if the baby is in the backseat screaming.


Here is my wonderful sister-in-law having some "niece time" after spending two hours listening to her screaming from the back. She was such a good sport and a GREAT help!
 

6. Get Sufficient Amount of Sleep- My husband was very wise when he decided we were not going to push ourselves each day until we were exhausted or until we reached a certain spot. He gave us a drive time: The amount of time we were going to spend traveling that day (including stops). Once, we reached that timeframe, we were done and started looking for a place to sleep that night. Now granted, my husband still had our trip mapped out on where he thought we would make it to and had a sleeping destination in mind. Sometimes we made it, other times we didn't. Flexibility was key.

7. Have Necessities Within Arms Reach- A friend of mine had an awesome tip for traveling which I copied on my second trip and loved it! She invested in a deluxe utility tote from Thirty-One and then purchased the fabric boxed containers from Target. Two of them fit perfectly in the tote. On one side I had diapers, wipes, powder, an extra pair of clothes (really anything you would think you would need for the day for your baby). On the other side, I had my snacks: nuts, granola bars, fruit...etc. Anything I thought I would use for the day. Then, I would place it to where I could reach wherever I was in the car. For the snacks, that just meant I didn't have to pull over to reach one when I was hungry--cause we all know how hungry breast feeding mommies get! For the diapers and such, it just made it easier to have everything in one centralized location so if you did need to stop unexpectedly to change that smell coming from the back seat, it was a quick stop with no digging for all the necessities you need.

Well, those are my top seven tips for traveling with a newborn. Everything else may be just a preference. However, I could have also missed some. Let me know if you have any other tips and tricks to make traveling with a newborn easier.