Weight Loss Wednesday

Weight Loss Wednesday ....

My tip of the week: Find an activity that you enjoy. Exercise should be fun or you won't stick to it. I like variety, so I tend to enjoy group fitness classes, spinning, doing something with someone else and changing up my weights routine frequently. This keeps me interested and keeps me coming back for more!

Anyone got a tip to share this week?


Also... check out my interview over on Mama Notes today~! Samantha has an awesome blog for parents! Check her out!

My first real Mama

This post is slightly sappy, so bear with me. Yesterday Isabella said "Mama" for the very first time, and I think she meant it. It was probably the most special moment for me with her (besides her birth, of course) so far. I've never in my life felt such a rush of love and excitement as I did in that one very second. I know it totally sounds bizarre, but that's the only way I can describe it. 

She's been saying "mmm-mmmm" for awhile now. She does it constantly, so its not anything new. Yesterday I put her in her high chair around lunch time so I could make her some food. She was doing her "mmmmm" and I was talking to her like always. Then, she got quiet and I turned around to fill her sippy with water when I heard-- clear as day-- "MA-MA!" I  couldn't believe it! I turned around, smiled and said, "yes baby??" She grinned that huge adorable grin at me with her two little teeth and kicked her little feet. Then I felt the mist in my eyes and I was so excited! She said Mama! And she was talking to ME! Of course I kept saying it back to her and kept trying to get her to do it again and she thought THAT was hilarious, and didn't do it again, but we'll work on it. But I'm definitely counting that moment as the first "Mama" and writing it down in her baby book. She knew exactly who she was talking to and that she was trying to get my attention. It was so amazing to feel like she knew that I was "Mama" and that she needed me... and that she is learning to communicate so well. I just love this little girl more than I could ever imagine loving anyone in my life. 

I know there are going to be tons and tons of moments that out do this one with our family, but this was a very special moment for Bella and I. And she said "Mama" before "Dada" and I think Jer is a bit jealous.. hehe ;) I am convinced though "dada" and "doggie" or "buffy" are not far behind... or maybe "Mimi" for my mom :) 

Crawling is also becoming better for her. She does the regular crawl for about 5 paces before deciding she wants to do the "I am paralyzed on half my body" crawl. Haha.

Time Saving Tips for Staying Healthy

Many times what keeps us from living a healthy lifestyle is time. There just isn't enough of it. If I had a penny for everytime a client told me they "didn't have time" to workout, or "didn't have time" to make a meal at home, I think I would be a very rich woman! I do not expect us to workout everyday or always eat at home... thats not realistic, nor is it very much fun! I enjoy eating out as much as the next guy, and I most certainly enjoy my rest days of laying around like a bum on the couch with my dogs and family! But ... using the "I never have enough time" excuse does run out... here are some time saving tips for you and your family:

1. Always keep pre-washed salad greens in your refrigerator. When in a pinch, you can alwayus have a salad; or add it to a meal for some vegetables to be added! I've also gotten in the habit of eating a salad if I'm in that "ravenous" mode while dinner cooks. Much better than polishing off half a bag of Sun Chips...

2. Cook up big meals once a week and save them; eat leftovers! Leftovers save our family. I always make extra, especially meat when I make dinner so Jerry and I can both have lunch the next day without thinking about it.

3. Learn to love your crockpot. Seriously.

4. Prepare chopped veggies one a week and keep them in ziplock baggies in the fridge. Same goes for fresh cut up fruit.

5. Can't fit a trip into the gym? Get up during the day and take a 20 minute walk.

6. Have a bag of nuts and/or a cheese stick available for "on-the-go" snacks. If we are going to be out and about running errands on a Saturday, I keep a baggie  of nuts and stuff in the car. This helps keep my hunger in check and provides a nutritious snack.

7. When you go out to eat, take half your meal home and you have a meal for the next day.

8. Have you seen those Steamfresh vegetables in the frozen section yet? Seriously, they are always on sale, and EASY to cook. It only takes like 5 minutes for fresh yummy vegetables. If you are a frozen-meal junkie (aka Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones) add a serving of these vegetables to your meal. Many more nutrients added plus more filling (I don't know about you, but 5 ravioli just doesn't do it for me..."

9. Buy canned tuna and/or chicken. Its easy to grab and travel with for lunches on the go.

10. Have a dozen eggs? Hard boil half of the dozen at the beginning of the week and keep them in the fridge. Makes easy, quick snacks. 

Do you have good time-saving tips to add to the list to help families stay healthy? If so, comment and let us know! 

Fat Language

Tonight's blog is a bit of a serious one coming from me. I have been having these reflective thoughts today and thought I'd share them with all of you! I have watched and followed the entire season of The Biggest Loser, and the season finale was last night. I don't know how many of you watched it, but I think there are good things and bad things about this show. Good things-- it tends to inspire people to exercise and eat healthier. Bad things-- gives false hope that dramatic weight loss is normal and healthy; that even at 300 pounds, its completely acceptable and safe to start a workout program with 9mph sprints on a treadmill and that its OK to run a marathon even though you haven't trained for it. 

Now, I have been slightly more impressed with TBL this season; they touched on issues this time around like how its not so easy to loose weight at home; how you must eat ENOUGH calories and how finding balance is tough. At the end of the show however, I was dissapointed by the winner's look. Helen, who got on my nerves all season, looked scrawny, depleted and 10 years older. And yet, they celebrated the fact that she lost 140 pounds in 9 months. I found myself thinking as a professional that I really hope my clients don't expect or try to see these fast results. I also found myself thinking about my daughter.

I don't want her to base her self-worth on her weight. I know as females especially, we grow up in a world where beauty is stressed and throw in our face; where thin is in; where its wrong to think you are beautiful and God forbid you actually like they way you look... if you do, you'll be considered full of yourself. As fate would have it, Jillian Michaels from TBL was on tv this mornign talking about this very issue. Have you ever noticed that when a woman says "Ugh, my thighs looks fat..." we, as her fellow female friends, are programmed to say... "no they don't!" OR ... "oh, tell me about it. have you seen my calves??" Why is it that we as a society, especially as women in today's society, find this "fat talk" normal? Is it normal? I don't know the answers... I am just reflecting :) But I know one thing. I am going to watch what I say around Bella. There will be no more "I feel so fat" or "Ugh I look terrible in this outfit!" statements around her. She will hear everything I say, and want to be just like Mommy. (Remember on TBL how Mike wanted to be big and fat just like his daddy??) I think this cutting out of "fat talk" in my life will not only be good for Bella's self esteem as she grows up, but will also be good for my own self-esteem. 

Its time that I tell myself its OK to like the way I look. So goodbye fat talk, you are not welcome in this house anymore! :)

Anyone care to join me??? Come on ladies!!

Oh and don't forget about the Celebrate Nutrition giveaway... only 3 more days to comment!