Just Do it!

What ever it is just do it. Everyday I play the same scenario in my head. I lay in bed thinking of reasons why I should not get up! "I need my rest" "I went to bed late last night" "I have a headache" "I'll work out later" etc... Then I play the other side "You'll never exercise if you don't do it now" "You'll feel so much better after you do it!" "Your already awake" "what's another 45 minutes of sleep, really?" "You can take a nap later (even though this really is not true it seems to work)" etc... I don't know why I have to play these games with myself! I wish it was super easy for me, but it is not! I do know that if I don't exercise I just don't feel very happy during the day so I absolutely must do it for my sake and everyone around me!

Right now I really need to work on my diet. I do love bad foods. Why does everything that is bad for you taste so good? Again I have to remind myself nothing tastes as good as it feels to be thin. I've also been suffering with a kidney stone so eating lots of asparagus and drinking lemon juice is not really helping me to enjoy healthy foods. I am proud of myself though for exercising every day even with a kidney stone.

So again my goal will be to just do it! Work out! Resist those weak moments when I want to eat a whole bag of chips followed by a coke!

The holiday blues!

Some times it is hard to feel motivated after stuffing yourself full of food over the holiday. I think to myself why am I talking about exercising when I'm not even doing everything I should. It seems as though there is so much to do over the holiday that I begin to feel overwhelmed by everything. Originally this blog was going to be just about exercise and having a healthy lifestyle, but I think it is now more about loosing all the junk in your trunk.

I do love to start my day with a run on the treadmill. That way if everything else in my life seems to be falling apart I feel I have accomplished something. I have to remind myself to live day by day. Who knows I may not be here tomorrow so I don't want to spend my whole day worrying about next month. Change today for who knows what tomorrow will bring. Goals for today clean out the craft closet, do all the laundry, put the Christmas boxes away, pay the bill with out being depressed about my dwindling bank account, and be happy about all the good in my life!!

Trying Something New

Sometimes trying something new is just what you need to help jump start your engines again. Today I went to the gym and did a leg work out with Brent! Wow what a killer. My legs are going to be sore tomorrow! Feels so good to work out so hard you can barely walk.

Tired Blues!!

I have been really tired the last couple of days. Really having to push myself to do anything. I did however push myself out into the garage to do my 5 mile run. My strength training was a little weak! It sure is easier when you have the energy to work out. I just keep reminding myself to do my best and forget the rest!

Wobble Boards!

The wobble board. This is a great little item that helps with balance and stabalization. It is also great for ankle strength! I found it is great to do while you blow your hair dry or brush your teeth!!! It is great to get some type of fitness in when your just doing your every day routine! No need to schedule it in just do it when your doing one of your normal activities!!! I got mine at Target for about $25.

Back in Black with Steel Cut Oats!

I am back again ready to blog again! Ready to get back into shape. So my tip for today is Eat Steel Cut Oats. I have been meaning to eat Steel Cut Oats for a long time, but when it is new to you sometimes it is hard to do! Let me tell you Steel Cut Oats are way better than regular oatmeal! I can't believe I have been missing out on these! They sell them at Costco now too! In 1/2 cup cooked oats there is 5 grams of fiber, and 7 grams of protein, and they taste delicious!!! I like to add a little brown sugar and a little milk! More like a treat than a healthy breakfast!!!!

More Excercise!

Ran another 5 miles today. Ran 5 miles yesterday too. This could become a very boring blog, but hey it is a great way to keep me going. Cleaned the garage while doing wall squats, push-ups and pull-ups in between. What ever I am doing I like to squeeze a little strength training in! The diet has not been that great, but as soon as the kids go back to school, I will do a little more planning and get my eating back on track, but for now I will just do my best and forget the rest!!

Excercise Excercise Excercise!!

The single most important thing I do for myself is exercise! I usually run 5 miles every day except for Sunday when I rest. Running gives you that natural high that makes even bad days good! Today I ran while my oldest had football practice. Then I did some stretches and of course 40 guy push-ups. I actually felt like sitting in the chair I had brought and just watching with the other parents, but because I do love to multitask I pushed my self and ran the track while I watched practice. I don't really like to exercise while others watch, but whatever, right? I felt as if I was going in slow motion, but I just kept going, and I felt so good when I was done! Like I always tell my kids, "Just do your BEST and forget the REST!" That phrase can get me through anything!

AFLATOXIN!!!!!!!!!!

Have you ever heard of Aflatoxin. I had not heard of it either. My child is severely allergic to peanuts and so I thought I would share with you what Aflatoxin is and where it can be found!!

Aflatoxins are naturally occurring mycotoxins that are produced by many species of Aspergillus, a fungus, most notably Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxins are toxic and among the most carcinogenic substances known.[1] After entering the body, aflatoxins are metabolized by the liver to a reactive intermediate, aflatoxin M1, an epoxide.

The native habitat of Aspergillus is in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains undergoing microbiological deterioration and it invades all types of organic substrates whenever conditions are favorable for its growth. Favorable conditions include high moisture content (at least 7%) and high temperature.

Crops which are frequently affected include cereals (maize, sorghum, pearl millet, rice, wheat), oilseeds (peanut, soybean, sunflower, cotton), spices (chile peppers, black pepper, coriander, turmeric, ginger), and tree nuts (almond, pistachio, walnut, coconut, brazil nut).
The toxin can also be found in the milk of animals which are fed contaminated feed.
Virtually all sources of commercial peanut butter contain minute quantities of aflatoxin,[2] but it is usually far below the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recommended safe level.
High-level aflatoxin exposure produces an acute hepatic necrosis, resulting later in cirrhosis, and/or carcinoma of the liver. Acute hepatic failure is made manifest by hemorrhage, edema, alteration in digestion, and absorption and/or metabolism of nutrients and mental changes and/or coma.
No animal species is immune to the acute toxic effects of aflatoxins including humans; however, humans have an extraordinarily high tolerance for aflatoxin exposure and rarely succumb to acute aflatoxicosis.

Children, however, are particularly affected by aflatoxin exposure which leads to stunted growth and delayed development.

You can read more by going to wikepedia.org and looking up Aflatoxin.

What else are we eating that could be harming us. I did not know there was Aflatoxin's in my peanut butter, and it certainly was never labeled on the jars of peanut butter I used to buy! I wonder if my daughter is really allergic to the peanut or is it the mold???

A little food for thought........................................................

Avocado's, Is Guacamole bad if it is brown?

I have always wondered if eating Guacamole after it turns brown could harm you? So I decided to do a little research on Avocado's

Basically no it will not harm you. When you cut open an Avocado oxidization occurs which is the reason the Avocado or Guacamole turn brown. Like with apples if you apply something acidic like lemons/limes, vinegar, etc. and then put cling on wrap over the top it should stay looking fresh longer. Personally I would not eat the guacamole if it has been in your fridge for over 3 days and is brown, but it probably will not make you sick if it is brown and only been a day.

I do love Avocado's and so here is a little info on Avocados - They contains Lutein, a carotenoid along with vitamin E, monounsaturated fat and Magnesium. It is a great source of Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and Folate and has 13 g of fiber. Avocado's help to improve the absorption of the nutrients from other foods and improves skin tone and clarity. It is high in total fat, but at least it is the good fats. Happy eating!!

Product I love and Why I love it!

I love this vinegar, because it has the naturally occurring 'mother' !

This Salad dressings is delicious and there is not one ingredient that is not a real food item!

I originally bought this at a local little health store. They have gone out of business, so when I find a new place to buy it, I will post it!

Getting Healthy!

A few years ago I thought I was eating pretty good. I new I could do better, but really did not want to. As time went on and I began to get older I realized the Junk in my Trunk was beginning to way me down! I was pretty flabby! I thought to myself, "Hmmm, I wonder what I am going to look like and feel like in a few years, if I keep this up?" The image was not exciting to me, and so I said to myself again "Get your bootie out of bed and do something!" "Take a hold of your life, and make it the best life you can live!" Now I had a lot of excuses, you know, 4 kids, a baby that woke up at night, etc..... So I said again to myself as I do like to talk to myself...... "No more EXCUSES!"

I started by throwing out all the food in my cupboard that had hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup in the ingredients! Can you believe I gave away Stewed tomatoes that had high fructose corn syrup? I thought I would just be getting rid of snack crackers! I couldn't believe that they would put high fructose corn syrup in my tomatoes. I don't even really like tomatoes! I always read the labels on everything! The fewer ingredients the better! I want to be eating real food, not fillers!

Next I started exercising! Just a little bit! I couldn't even run for longer than 30 seconds before I had to walk! I would try to do a pull-up and I just hung on the bar with a red face! The fact is that I started and I knew that in 21 days it would be a habit!

So this is how I started, and now I can't stop! It is my addiction! I love to find things that make my life easier and that is why I started this blog! I decided I would write all the things down that have made my life healthier and easier! Anything that motivates me to do better and make my life healthier and fuller! My moto taken from Tony Horton is "DO YOUR BEST AND FORGET THE REST!"