Back in August 2011, I decided to try a website my friend Ashley used to lose 80+ pounds. It's funny how I could take this weigh-loss attempt more seriously because of that very fact: it worked for her, maybe it could work for me! Once I got signed up on My Fitness Pal I prayed, "Okay, God, if it is for me to lose weight I'm going to need Your help. I can't do this alone." So for one week I logged my food on the site and realized, after a few days, that I could log my exercise as well. Yet another mind game that worked: If you can get credit for exercising, why not exercise? Because, you know, exercising alone isn't enough pay off.
After week one I decided it was time to stand on the scale: down four pounds. I was shocked!! And then it occurred to me that I always lose exactly four pounds after week one of any diet. So I didn't get my hopes up. What the heck? Might as well see what happens after week two. And so I logged what I ate, exercised, and hoped for the best.
After week two: down another four pounds! WHAT?!?! I was SOLD! If this is why people watched what they ate and exercised, well, I could probably become 'that girl'. After eight pounds lost it's probably hard for anyone to doubt the effectiveness of staying within a calorie budget and exercising. Mind you, I wasn't doing anything crazy, I was doing exercise DVDs that had collected a lot of dust on our television stand. I didn't always keep up - probably never kept up in fact - and I didn't follow the 'advanced' version of the exercises EVER. But I was moving, which was what hooked me into this idea of a healthier lifestyle in the first place.
On one episode, Dr. Oz said something like you can tell a person the benefits of anything until you're blue in the face, but only when they themselves FEEL different, FEEL the improvements, FEEL the changes will they be convinced. Well he was right because all of my life I saw people exercise, heard that exercise makes you feel good, gives you energy, and makes you crave more, but I wasn't hearing any of that. Exercise, from my experience, only made me tired, hot, sweaty, and hungry. So I figured these amazing benefits just didn't apply to me.
Until I started exercising on a regular basis.
It took two weeks of exercising 3-4 times a week before my body craved exercise. If I didn't DO something I would feel really tight, tired, and sometimes even grumpy. No one, let alone a Mom, has time for that, so I'd exercise. In turn I felt like my new self again: energetic, focused, ready for the day. Mind you, I hadn't started seeing any physical changes in the mirror yet, but the way I felt in my day-to-day was enough to convince me that this was the way. I remember saying, "If I never lose another pound it's okay, I'll still exercise." It was for the sheer benefits both mental and physical. It was a new quality of life. I was 33 years old and had never felt that way before.
Those two weeks in August are what got me started on this journey to feel better, be better, and fully enjoy my life, my husband, my kids. Oh if I could only go back and tell my younger self...
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Bienvenido a Miami
Earlier this month my besty and I headed south to the warm, sandy beaches of Miami. We try to do something like this annually, and Babe was adamant that time in Miami would be very relaxing. Being that we're both Moms and, well, exhausted much of the time, it wasn't a hard sell.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Is it dinner time AGAIN!??!
First, I am thankful that figuring out dinner is one of my biggest issues in life right now. It could surely be worse, but I am so grateful that it is not. That said. I hate dinner time. That 5 o'clock hour when I realize we should have something defrosted and ready to cook or at least a plan as to what we will be eating when the youngest of the bunch comes in, bouncing a ball, asking "what's for dinner?" I dread it many days because sometimes, tossing something into the Crock Pot at noon doesn't sound appealing. Pulling out one of those great looking recipes I printed out long ago may happen, but it has so many things in the ingredients list that I don't have - ugh, scratch that. Heck I typically don't even have anything frozen, like a quick meal, that I could take out and slap some broccoli or salad next to! I'm just UNPREPARED!
Okay, wait, no I don't hate dinner time unless I am unprepared. It would seem the remedy to that would be to meal plan, right? Well, have you ever done that? It's kind of involved, which means it's kind of annoying to do, but that it really does pay off.
1. How much money do you have for said meal plan?
2. What is in the sale papers for the week that might help me decide what we will eat?
3. Okay, what do we all like enough that it will get a pass for dinner...for a week?
4. What do we already have in the pantry/fridge that I won't have to buy?
5. Now let's go grocery shopping. (Bonus: This must be done weekly or monthly)
At this point, we are ready to cook dinner, ideally, for a solid week - probably with a leftover day in there somewhere. I find this process tedious. But when I don't do this, I find that we are spending quite a bit of money eating out and although it's not McDonald's we're getting, it's still not a home cooked meal. When I follow these five steps, however long it takes me, we eat at home and the kids can take leftovers to school for lunch! Win-win in my book! I don't think my family realizes what it takes to get that dinner on the table or into their lunch boxes on a daily basis, but I feel so much better knowing that what we are eating is not full of preservatives and sodium the way restaurant food typically is.
Don't be confused, there are days when both Babe and I say, "let's just pick something up" and we do. But when a meal plan is in place and the groceries are in the house just waiting to become dinner, it doesn't happen as often. And when both of your kids find the kid's menu at any restaurant unsatisfying - especially the kid who is still young enough to eat off that menu - ya really need to eat at home!
Okay, wait, no I don't hate dinner time unless I am unprepared. It would seem the remedy to that would be to meal plan, right? Well, have you ever done that? It's kind of involved, which means it's kind of annoying to do, but that it really does pay off.
1. How much money do you have for said meal plan?
2. What is in the sale papers for the week that might help me decide what we will eat?
3. Okay, what do we all like enough that it will get a pass for dinner...for a week?
4. What do we already have in the pantry/fridge that I won't have to buy?
5. Now let's go grocery shopping. (Bonus: This must be done weekly or monthly)
At this point, we are ready to cook dinner, ideally, for a solid week - probably with a leftover day in there somewhere. I find this process tedious. But when I don't do this, I find that we are spending quite a bit of money eating out and although it's not McDonald's we're getting, it's still not a home cooked meal. When I follow these five steps, however long it takes me, we eat at home and the kids can take leftovers to school for lunch! Win-win in my book! I don't think my family realizes what it takes to get that dinner on the table or into their lunch boxes on a daily basis, but I feel so much better knowing that what we are eating is not full of preservatives and sodium the way restaurant food typically is.
Don't be confused, there are days when both Babe and I say, "let's just pick something up" and we do. But when a meal plan is in place and the groceries are in the house just waiting to become dinner, it doesn't happen as often. And when both of your kids find the kid's menu at any restaurant unsatisfying - especially the kid who is still young enough to eat off that menu - ya really need to eat at home!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Basketball: Season 2
We just wrapped up season two of basketball for Nas' team, the Rowdy Rebels. The boys were undefeated this year, which is a huge accomplishment considering his team last year lost all but one game, which ended in a tie.
It was fun to see Nas grow and learn the sport. He dribbles much better, leaps full-on into the air to grab rebounds, made several points over the course of the season, and learned to kick it up a notch when his opponent was more aggressive. Nas understands the game of basketball now, last season? Not so much.
He wanted to practice all the time - at the playground basketball court or at the make-shift court he created at home. Many a morning we were awaken to the rhythmic sound of a bouncing ball. However irritated I may have been because he woke me from my slumber, I always smiled because Nas truly does enjoy basketball. Much like I find myself, sometimes, annoyed with the loud music blaring from the family room because Jay is practicing her ballet positions or just plain old rocking it out, I know that this is what she loves. Granted I do ask that she turn the tunes down, I never make her stop because watching my children find the things in this life that fulfill them reminds me of how I felt when I was eight years old. Back then I realized that writing was much like talking - but I wasn't nervous when I wrote, no anxiety there - it became something I wanted to do as often I could. It became a part of me.
I don't know that basketball will be part of Nas throughout his life, or dance will permeate all that Jay does in this life, but for now, right now, I know that my kids have found things they love doing. No matter what, I pray they always have something they can go to that allows them to get lost and forget the world around them. For now, my sleep will be interrupted by a bouncing ball and my peace will be cut short by music that makes my daughter move. I think it's something that I will miss when they grow up and leave home, so I cherish it while I can.
It was fun to see Nas grow and learn the sport. He dribbles much better, leaps full-on into the air to grab rebounds, made several points over the course of the season, and learned to kick it up a notch when his opponent was more aggressive. Nas understands the game of basketball now, last season? Not so much.
He wanted to practice all the time - at the playground basketball court or at the make-shift court he created at home. Many a morning we were awaken to the rhythmic sound of a bouncing ball. However irritated I may have been because he woke me from my slumber, I always smiled because Nas truly does enjoy basketball. Much like I find myself, sometimes, annoyed with the loud music blaring from the family room because Jay is practicing her ballet positions or just plain old rocking it out, I know that this is what she loves. Granted I do ask that she turn the tunes down, I never make her stop because watching my children find the things in this life that fulfill them reminds me of how I felt when I was eight years old. Back then I realized that writing was much like talking - but I wasn't nervous when I wrote, no anxiety there - it became something I wanted to do as often I could. It became a part of me.
I don't know that basketball will be part of Nas throughout his life, or dance will permeate all that Jay does in this life, but for now, right now, I know that my kids have found things they love doing. No matter what, I pray they always have something they can go to that allows them to get lost and forget the world around them. For now, my sleep will be interrupted by a bouncing ball and my peace will be cut short by music that makes my daughter move. I think it's something that I will miss when they grow up and leave home, so I cherish it while I can.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
A Night to Remember - Part Two
Once we finally arrived at the Pepsi Center, we decided against valeting the car - $30? Psh! - and found a perfect spot that was well-lit, it cost all of $12. With the anxiety of getting downtown during rush hour dying down, I felt a rush of excitement surge through me as Jay and I crossed the street with other "Beliebers" and their Moms. This was gonna be good!
Of course a basketball arena doesn't have the best food, so we found something decent that would tide us over during the concert. I was reminded that I don't go to many concerts when I found myself getting impatient waiting for the show to start. We got there early so we could have time for any issues that might arise, but it seemed 7:00 would never come. And when it did, Carly Rae Jepsen took the stage.
There were a few people who fully enjoyed her performance, but it was quite clear most of us were there simply to see Justin Bieber. The sooner Carly Rae got off the stage, for those of us who weren't really fans, the better. But after forty minutes of performing, she announced that Justin Bieber would be on next. So we waited. We could have gone to get more food and drinks, gone to the restroom, gone to the car - parked it somewhere else if we saw fit, and still made it back to our seats in time for the show. It wasn't until 8:35, nearly an HOUR later, that Justin Bieber finally appeared on stage.
Jay.went.wild. She was SO happy when Bieber 'flew' in with white wings behind him. I must say I enjoy his latest CD, "Believe", so I knew the first song he performed, "All Around the World". It was so cool to see how excited the little girl in front of us got, but the 11-year-old girl next to me was screaming, singing, jumping when instructed to do so, and dancing. My oh-so-mature middle schooler exhibited every tween girl behavior she should when one of her favorite artists is LIVE on stage. And I loved every screaming-girl minute of it.
The concert was well-done, the kid definitely knows how to entertain. He even asked the crowd how we live at this altitude - 5,280 feet above sea level - and whether we got used to the thin air or not. As we moved through the songs it seemed all the fans knew, Bieber let them know that anyone can achieve any goal they want - if they only believe in themselves and never give up. To hear that from a teenage boy who has done more than most of us will in a lifetime, had to inspire those who were open to it.
When he announced that he would be singing his last song I knew Jay was sad this huge moment was coming to an end. I'm not a fan of leaving an arena with a horde of people, so we left at the end and bought Jay a t-shirt with Justin Bieber on front and his tour dates on back. I knew he would perform an encore, but it wasn't a song Jay loved so I figured we would get out of dodge with the other people who left.
In the hallway our ears were still ringing from all of the loud music - music loud enough to drown out the screaming girls! - and I looked at Jay to ask her how she liked it.
"I can't believe it's over!" She said with tears in her eyes. Mission accomplished. She wanted to experience this so badly and we were able to make it happen for her. It's something she likely won't ever forget, nor will I. I'm not the one who has Justin Bieber pictures and posters plastered on my bedroom walls, rather I'm the Mom who wants to scream, sing, jump and dance when her kids get to do things that they truly, truly enjoy. This was a Mommy moment I will never forget. Babe came through for his baby girl and let me be there to see her become the Jay-Baby we know, love and adore. It truly was a night to remember, one I will forever cherish as her Mother.
Of course a basketball arena doesn't have the best food, so we found something decent that would tide us over during the concert. I was reminded that I don't go to many concerts when I found myself getting impatient waiting for the show to start. We got there early so we could have time for any issues that might arise, but it seemed 7:00 would never come. And when it did, Carly Rae Jepsen took the stage.
There were a few people who fully enjoyed her performance, but it was quite clear most of us were there simply to see Justin Bieber. The sooner Carly Rae got off the stage, for those of us who weren't really fans, the better. But after forty minutes of performing, she announced that Justin Bieber would be on next. So we waited. We could have gone to get more food and drinks, gone to the restroom, gone to the car - parked it somewhere else if we saw fit, and still made it back to our seats in time for the show. It wasn't until 8:35, nearly an HOUR later, that Justin Bieber finally appeared on stage.
Jay.went.wild. She was SO happy when Bieber 'flew' in with white wings behind him. I must say I enjoy his latest CD, "Believe", so I knew the first song he performed, "All Around the World". It was so cool to see how excited the little girl in front of us got, but the 11-year-old girl next to me was screaming, singing, jumping when instructed to do so, and dancing. My oh-so-mature middle schooler exhibited every tween girl behavior she should when one of her favorite artists is LIVE on stage. And I loved every screaming-girl minute of it.
The concert was well-done, the kid definitely knows how to entertain. He even asked the crowd how we live at this altitude - 5,280 feet above sea level - and whether we got used to the thin air or not. As we moved through the songs it seemed all the fans knew, Bieber let them know that anyone can achieve any goal they want - if they only believe in themselves and never give up. To hear that from a teenage boy who has done more than most of us will in a lifetime, had to inspire those who were open to it.
When he announced that he would be singing his last song I knew Jay was sad this huge moment was coming to an end. I'm not a fan of leaving an arena with a horde of people, so we left at the end and bought Jay a t-shirt with Justin Bieber on front and his tour dates on back. I knew he would perform an encore, but it wasn't a song Jay loved so I figured we would get out of dodge with the other people who left.
In the hallway our ears were still ringing from all of the loud music - music loud enough to drown out the screaming girls! - and I looked at Jay to ask her how she liked it.
"I can't believe it's over!" She said with tears in her eyes. Mission accomplished. She wanted to experience this so badly and we were able to make it happen for her. It's something she likely won't ever forget, nor will I. I'm not the one who has Justin Bieber pictures and posters plastered on my bedroom walls, rather I'm the Mom who wants to scream, sing, jump and dance when her kids get to do things that they truly, truly enjoy. This was a Mommy moment I will never forget. Babe came through for his baby girl and let me be there to see her become the Jay-Baby we know, love and adore. It truly was a night to remember, one I will forever cherish as her Mother.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
A Night to Remember - Part 1
So needless to say Justin Bieber was going to perform for many of his fans at the Pepsi Center, but Jay and I would not be part of the crowd.
Then it occurred to me to have Babe ask one of his co-workers/friends if they could help. I had to remind him a couple of times, but once he did the ball got rolling. Bieber's touring management company sold tickets for the face value - read: NOT $400-$800! - and we would get details the week of the concert after we paid for the tickets. I was cautiously optimistic and Babe and I had decided to keep this information from Jay until we knew for sure. Then we decided that the day of the concert, after school, we would deliver this wonderful information.
We got the tickets! Keeping it a secret from Jay? That would be the hard part. I told my Mom and my best friend because they were both excited for her to see Bieber, and of course I probably would have exploded had I not been able to talk about it with someone!
On the morning of the concert I thought I would just have to tell Jay. She was so sad. When she sat down for breakfast I asked her what was wrong.
"My friends who are going to the concert are talking about how excited they are on Instagram," she said. My heart broke.
"Oh well, we'll be talking about our own excitement in June when he's here again," I said. We had convinced her that we could make it happen for the June 2013 concert date Bieber had added to his tour.
"Yeah," she said in her most pathetic tween angst-ridden voice. "I dreamed we got tickets but you guys surprised me with them at 9 o'clock tonight so we couldn't go anyway. Then I dreamed we got tickets but I had to wait for Nana and Auntie and they made us late so I missed the concert," she recounted.
"Don't be sad, Jay. We'll get our turn." Meanwhile all I wanted to do was run upstairs, shake Babe awake and tell him we just had to tell her. But he wasn't budging. So when Jay's ride arrived to take her to school I was SO glad I didn't have to look at that pitiful face anymore. The next time I saw her we would be able to tell her just what we'd be doing that night with the rest of the screaming fans!
After a full day of anticipation Babe and Jay walked into the house and I had my phone camera all set to record the moment.
"Jay, go put away the dishes and get ready to go because you're going to see Justin Bieber tonight," Babe said in his usual calm voice.
Jay didn't believe it. Then when she decided it must be true she started shaking her head in disbelief. As she turned to walk away I knew I had to follow her because this was the moment I'd been waiting for - I expected a tween girl squeal! When she turned around, my phone still pointed in her direction, she was crying happy tears - then she requested I turn off the camera. She's not the crying type so she definitely didn't want it recorded!
After much excitement, adding her own Instagram 'I'm going to see Justin Bieber tonight!' picture to the feed, and getting ready, Jay and I headed to the Pepsi Center. I couldn't have been more excited for her!
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