Creative Ways to Sneak Exercise Into An Evening

What a fun New Years Eve we had! I went hunting with my husband...didn't see anything until we were out of the tree stand but it was still fun. I had on so many clothes...I could barely move but was warm which was very important. We had to walk about a mile or so to get to the stand so I snuck in a good walk....through 6 inches of snow. We went to some friends to play Wii. My goodness, I am sore today! I think we may have bowled 15 games but lost count some where around midnight. What I really like about the Wii is that we were all up moving around, having a good time, getting a little exercise and didn't walk out of a smoky bowling alley broke! We are trying to find a Wii for our house but have not been successful. Maybe a good spring buy!

Back to work tomorrow. School doesn't start until Monday so our schedule is still a little off but we are getting back into the swing of things.

Exercise--None...a much needed day of rest. Tomorrow will be strength training and some cardio.

It's that time of year again....Resolutions!

It is nearing another New Years Eve. What does that mean? Resolutions. Turn on the tv, open a newspaper, log onto the Internet....everywhere you look you will find things to help you with your New Years resolution. And due to past history of mankind, most of those resolutions have to do with diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, etc. As I thought about resolutions today it dawned on me that we are all focused on a specific date we are going to change our ways. Maybe it is Monday because it is the beginning of the week, maybe it is the 1st of the month, or as most people do it...it is January 1st since the slate is clean for the next year. I actually started on December 20th. Yup, a Thursday. Not just any Thursday but the Thursday before the holiday week began. Why did I choose this day? Well, I knew I was going to be home for the next two weeks and I could exercise each day at a time that was convenient for me. Also, if I could succeed during these two hectic weeks of no schedule, I would have the start of a pretty good habit going by the time our "normal" schedule was back. I've vowed to not do a New Years resolution this year. Instead I am going to exercise everyday until January 31st (which is the day I leave for Vegas). When I get back from Vegas, I'll set another short term goal. I received my Weight Watchers and Health magazines in the mail today. Both are focused on exercise, diet, lifestyle, etc. and both talk about short term goals and the reality of making resolutions. Success is measured different for everyone. However, short term goals are easier to measure and are stepping stones to long term goals. So I am making my short term goal to exercise every day for the next 33 days. After that goal is achieved (and it will be achieved), I will make another goal.

Exercise: 36 minute high intensity butt and quad workout on the treadmill.

The scale is taking a much needed break

Today I got a much needed push to remove the scale from my bathroom. The first sign came when I read this post on http://www.sisterskinny.com/. The second came from a high school friend that I haven't seen in years (who has successfully lost weight and gained the fitness bug) writing to me about her weight loss and her use of measurement as a determinant of success. Both brought me back to the importance of this journey I'm on. It isn't about the number of pounds I lost or gained last week. It's about the way I feel, my hip-to-waist ratio that helps determine my cardiovascular risk factors.....it's about how clothes fit. Heck, it's about looking smokin' hot in my goal jeans!

Exercise:
20 minutes on the treadmill-101 calories burned

Hidden Veggies???

Did you get a chance to watch Oprah yesterday??? Jessica Seinfeld is so cute....but can this new book Deceptively Delicious really be, well, real? I have two small children. One of which loves and I mean loves veggies and fruits. However, my daughter would starve before she would eat broccoli. So if I can in fact smuggle veggies into say pancakes, cookies, chicken nuggets.....I would be one happy mama. I am going to check out from the library before I pay $24.95 for it. I have many cookbooks that were supposed to be wonderful in my basement. We'll see if the recipes taste as good as Oprah said! And just a decorating note, Oprah's stage did look cute in pink plaid.

I have walked the last two days at lunch for a total of 6 1/2 miles. Just that little bit of a commitment has motivated me. So I came home tonight and looked in my closet aka....the exercise dungeon. I have multiple and I mean multiple videos that haven't been opened. Oh, I watched the infomercial and had to have it. Most of these spontaneous buys were due to late night breastfeeding or snuggling with a cranky baby. But that gives me no excuse not to exercise in the morning. I have videos from 10 minutes to Yoga videos that are 1 hour plus. My agreement with myself is that if I show a commitment to one of them...I can purchase the Zumba videos. But to commend myself I have opted to try those before I buy them by checking them out from the library (there is a waiting list so it will be a week or so before I get them). So what is my new Zumba obsession??? I had a test class last spring during one of my work exercise classes and liked it. However, it was offered this fall at the same time as Yoga/Pilates which I really like. So I opted for the Yoga. But...there is a Zumba certification class coming to Rockford next month. I am thinking that if I like these videos and can feel confident enough, I might go for the 1 day certification. It is $199.00....but if I teach classes for community ed....I could make that up pretty quickly. Our community ed. is not offering any exercise classes at this time which is really disappointing. Zumba seems to be all the craze so why not make a buck off of it. Plus, if I taught 2 times a week, I'd be getting my exercise in too!

Tonight is The Biggest Loser.....another TV obsession of mine. I TiVo it and don't start it until it has run at least 1/2 hour. That way I can zoom right through the commercials (though I have started to notice that more and more shows are featuring name brand items....new marketing since DVRs). I checked out the Body Bugg they have been wearing..... It is $499.99!!!! Now that it an expensive piece of, well, ummm, exercise equipment?!? Any how, I am ready for a Bob fix!!!! If only he lived here in Michigan...now that would be motivating.

Following the Plan

I have been faithfully journaling the last two days. Boy, does that make a difference when you go to put something in your mouth! I don't want to write down that I ate a sleeve of Oreos!!! The only problem today was that I made myself and my husband a Kashi Five Cheese and Tomato frozen pizza(which is 6 pts. a serving) and my kids another frozen pizza ("It's not delivery it's.....). Well, I am a sucker for pizza crusts. My daughter was the perfect child and put her crusts in the trash. However, my son brought his to me. I ended up eating 1 1/4 of his crusts! But.....I did write it down and counted it for 5 pts. Anyway, Weight Watchers is easy and successful when you journal!!! And I have to remember that results usually come from it. Speaking of results...check out this success story from theweighwewere.com. I love to go to this website when I need motivation.

I went for a 3 mile walk today. Our department is moving to a new location so a bunch of us walked to the site for the tour rather than drive. It was a hot, record setting day here which was okay on the way there since it was down hill. But the hill coming back was intense, as was the heat. I also wore my pedometer for the first time in months. As of 6:30 p.m. I have 11,183 steps! I'm sure I'll get at least 1,000 more before the night is over.

Well, gotta get lunches packed, laundry done, books read.....The Bachelor starts tonight! It's going to be one of those busy weeks....IT'S PREMIERE WEEK! I am anxiously waiting for Private Practice and Grey's Anatomy. And Tuesdays are The Biggest Loser. What a TV junkie! Great time for the treadmill!

Time is (not) on my side!

Wow! Where did July & August go???? And how did bon fires stop and school start??? This is how much of August was spent.

And this is what September looks like....

We've been busy with soccer, homework, school snacks, etc. And I'm starting my first graduate class next month on top of all of this!

Exercising and dieting have only been happening by chance. The treadmill calls my name daily but is hushed by sleep! I am taking a yoga class once a week, which I love by the way! I've thought about going back to Weight Watchers but when I get out the materials.....well, to be honest I get bored. I think that means I'm burnt out. So right now I am focusing on clean eating. I know my body is a machine that needs to be fueled properly.....and I haven't been doing that so well lately. I have a pair white GAP jeans hanging on my closet door....they are my inspiration! Here is how they fit now...

They will look MUCH better next month, I am sure!

Catch Up

So much for my posting every day! Boy has time gotten away from me lately!!! We've been so busy. Guess that's what happens to families.

Exercise.....it has been going really well! I'm really enjoying the Big Mo strength training schedule from Corinne. It has been really interesting doing this routine while studying for my personal trainer certificate. Corinne designed an awesome program! I haven't been hitting the treadmill as much as I would like. However, I have been taking hour long walks at lunch....at a pretty good pace (fast enough to get in a few miles).

I picked up a copy of the The Eat Clean Diet by Tosca Reno. I am just starting it so I'm sure I'll have more to post later.

On Sunday I am heading to Southern California for work. Believe it or not it will actually be colder there than in Michigan! I will only be there for a few days but it will be fun! I am staying at the Hyatt which has a pretty amazing gym and also offers a GPS for outdoor walking/running. The Today Show actually featured Hyatt as one of the best hotel gyms and workouts this week.

So that is it for now.....

Let the week begin....

Well, the vacation officially ended this morning with my alarm clock going off. I was off all of last week and enjoyed every morning waking up to the birds, sunshine, my darling son's feet in the middle of my back! But it did feel good to get back into a routine. I love my job so it wasn't a problem to head back to reality.

I mentioned last week that I was going to make a Chicken, Cashew & Vegetable Stir-Fry that was featured in Self Dishes. It was fantastic!!! Here is the recipe:


1 cup quick-cooking brown rice
2 tsp. cornstarch
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp. chopped ginger
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 tbsp. peanut (or sesame) oil
1 zucchini, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 yellow squash, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1 inch pieces
1/3 cup chopped cashews


Cook rice as directed on package (omit added fat). Dissolve cornstarch in broth in a bowl; stir in hoisin and soy sauce; set aside. Toss ginger, garlic and chicken in another bowl. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat; cook chicken until nearly cooked through, 4 minutes. Add zucchini, squash and pepper, cook; stirring, 2 minutes. Add reserved sauce; cook, stirring until sauce is thick, 2 minutes. Add nuts. Serve over rice.


Serves 4. 463 calories per serving, 12.4 g fat (2.4 g saturated), 3.9 g fiber, 53.3 g carbs, 35.1 g protein.
Note: I did not have hoisin sauce so I added a little more soy sauce and cornstarch. I also substituted ground ginger for chopped ginger.



Well, tonight is arms/chest strength training followed by the 20-minute "Baby's Got Back" buster from Phit-N-Phat's Cardio Directory (which is amazing!). It is almost 8 p.m. so I guess I better get crackin'.