workout

Halloween was just a few days ago, we trick or treated in a snow storm. Everyone jokes about how we have 4 seasons in one day here in the Midwest, but this week has been extra crazy!

The snow didn’t stop our kiddo’s they all dressed up and took off running. I made it about half way through the neighborhood before I declared I was frozen and went home! The kids finished up before returning home to pour heaps of candy out!

The snow melted the next day, but the temperature was 27 degrees. By the weekend we had a heat wave of 55 degrees! 😆 no better weather for a day in the park!

We packed up 3 children, the dog, myself, and my husband and headed to our local park. Funny I have 1 stepdaughter but, children seem to multiple around here. The more the merrier.

They have an awesome fitness trail that I frequent but, today was about letting the kids play aka burn off extra energy from the Halloween candy and being confined to the indoors while the Arctic temps blasted us.

We played freeze tag which burned more calories than any cardio workout at home! Then hide-n-seek followed by an impromptu photo shoot of the girls acting silly which my husband and I joined into.

I look forward to playing with the kids unlike the way I sometimes dread a cardio workout and I burn tons of calories laughing, running, climbing the equipment, getting stuck in the slide, and attempting the monkey bars. Even the dog was beat when we got back home.

The grown-ups took nearly 20,000 steps just playing and laughing! We lost some unwanted calories and the girls made some great memories with us! Bonus I got some hilarious pictures to remember the day with.

What unexpected workouts have you gotten in this week?

Realistic Goals Make The Weight Fall Off

Journal Entry

Breakfast 1 hard boiled egg, glass of water
Lunch 2 lettuce leafs, 1 olive, sniff of bread, water
Snack 3 deep breaths
Dinner fasting until breakfast

These extreme trendy diets like the only eat air diet, grapefruit diet, or eat yellow and green foods diet might sound good when someone is selling the idea of rapid weight loss to you. Hell, even I followed the lemon with cayenne pepper fasting diet for days at one point! Sure, I lost some weight, but the moment I ate a real meal I gained it all back.

The overly restrictive diets will never work long term and they are the opposite of healthy. If you want real results for your real body you will need to eat real food. We aren’t designed to live off of only lettuce or gallons of spiced lemon water. These diets only set you up for failure.

1. Stop being afraid to eat. Food is what fuels our bodies and allows us to be active, exercise, and chase little humans all day long without crashing from exhaustion and lack of fuel. Eat real food and ditch the overly processed fake stuff.

2. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Let me say that one more time hydrate! Water is really the only drink we need. Our bodies are made of up of around 60% water so drink up to maximize your body’s ability to function. Also, dehydration is easily confused with hunger. Keeping hydrated will decreased those unsatisfiable feelings of hunger that are often just thirst.

3. Exercise. Yep, you knew it was coming the dreaded “E” word. It doesn’t matter what exercise you do just do something! If you current take 5,000 steps a day and you get annoyed every time you watch buzzes demanding you “get up and move” then make your goal more steps. Take the kids to the park and chase them around, get on that jungle gym with them, or go for a walk (alone…hint hint hubby).

4. Set realistic goals. You won’t survive long on air and olives so that isn’t a good goal. Try 30 days no soda or 1 week no trips to the chip machine. If you currently consider walking to the café exercise then don’t set a goal of CrossFit WODs everyday for the next year. Be honest with your self and make the goal attainable.

5. Time frame is as important as the goal itself. Set short term goals and long term goals. Hitting that 1 week no chip machine goal will feel great! Set lots of small goals that you can celebrate along the way. Daily goals, weekly goals, and monthly goals all add up and make you feel great.

6. Journal the journey. Find some way to track your successes and even the failures. I use a journal and print out my journal pages. Looking back at my previous weight, measurements, and celebrations of successes motivates me when I am struggling! I remember what it felt like when I lost my first 10 pounds or finally made it 30 days no soda. Those memories motivate to keep going!

7. Obstacles aren’t always obstacles. I hear so many Mom’s say I can’t work out with the kids climbing all over me. I say include them! You don’t have to do a workout video from start to finish and get irritated when the kids are rolling around on your mat! Make them your workout! Lift your little ones instead of weights or encourage them to follow along. I know children aren’t the only obstacle we face, but no matter what’s stopping you can work with it! Don’t let an obstacle stop you! If you want something bad enough you will make it happen.

What is your biggest obstacle right now? Maybe we can help you find a way to move that mountain or make it a mole hill!