Soccer Moms

This season I had my first taste of being a soccer mom.  

It was way cool! 

Four  things I learned: 

1)  Support the coach.  (It's super easy when you have a fantastic one like my dd Hannah had!) 

2)  Join them in the game.  (Of course you can't run out onto the field when they are playing, but make sure you are exercising yourself.) 

3)  If you correct the girls from the sidelines, make sure you can do what you are asking them to do.  Don't be a nag. 

4)  Don't put a presidential bumper sticker on your van.  It ruins the paint!   

Watching the games only motivated me to go home and exercise and be active! 

Not at all tempted by the concession stand! lol :)

 

Different Ways to Workout

Today our Elite Boot Camp ran a 5k in the cold, dark and rain.  

I was supposed to bring my bike to monitor the runners. 

Well, last night I found out they all had flat tires (Needing new tubes), 

so I took my daughter's scooter and used it. 

What a great workout!  

MY thighs were burning by the end of the race!  

I would encourage you to workout with your children.   

Follow them around and exercise the same way. 

You will be surprised how intense and FUN the workout can be!  

The Locals Hang Out Here!

Over the weekend we stayed with some good Guam friends who now live in CO Springs. 

Our children had a great time playing with their children and we had a wonderful time renewing our friendship.  

On Saturday we went to visit the Garden of the Gods.  

We ran on the paths and crawled over the  rocks.  

IT was a great time and a good workout.  

What was most impressionable was the majority of cars in the parking lot were from CO. 

That was so encouraging. 

The locals don't  leave this gorgeous playground to the tourists, they actually use it!  Wow~! 

Find the spots of beauty in your area and take your family there for some fresh air, sunshine and exercise. 

INdluge a Bit---Life is SHort

We're still on our week's vacation in CO.

It's been an active one with one or two treks/runs up the mountain daily, a daily swim and a daily romp in the weight room.

We like active vacations.

My husband and children also like physical activity.

ANd I like that!

And we also like good food.

When I have the time, I like to cook.

But, I cook with "real" food---butter, cream cheese, buffalo, sour cream, raw milk, cheese, etc.

IF I am going to cook, it is going to be like my grandma's cooking, before all this artificial food came on the scene.

SO, this week I have indulged a bit---

Organic cream cheese. (Num!)

Chips and salsa.

Cereal and raw milk. (YEs, it's good for you. I grew up on the farm and drank Wanda's (our cow's) milk all my life until we went on a diet in high school and got fat!)

Microwave popcorn. (We don't have a microwave at home.)

I like the fact that I have choices to eat treats occasionally.

I am to the place in my life where I am thankful for:

1) THE choice to indulge.

2) A body who tells me when I'm done indulging.

3) A chance to get back to eating "normally".

4) A body who craves the healthy food and lifestyle and doesn't want to be on vacation forever.

5) The knowledge of how to get the treats "off" my body quickly.


Today my 10 yo daughter said she would like to live here forever.

SO we talked about what life would be like...

It's nice to get back to the normal routine of everyday life and I'm thankful for the way our bodies have been made...

Just like my Horse Ginger...

Today we ran/hiked some of the bike paths on the ski hill.



The children had great fun finding the black diamond bike paths and tyring to conquer them.



Those bike folks are extremely brave and like living on the edge.



I couldn't believe the jumps/bridges/drop-offs. WOW!

We were out on the mountain for 2.5 hours.

For the most part, the children were good troopers.

I do have to say, they reminded me somewhat of my old horse Ginger when I was a child.

When I wanted to ride away from the barn, I would have to kick her and work hard to get her out of her comfort zone.

Then, once I turned around and headed her toward the barn, she ran like a wildman!

The children weren't as stubborn as ole Ginger, but they were happier and livelier on the way down than on the way up the hill!

But, I don' t remember having that challenge when I was 8, 10, 11 or 13 years old.

My children are more knowledgeable about physical fitness and a healthy diet than I was growing up, but the advantage I had was growing up on the farm and playing out side every day.

Living in the city and being a work-at-home-mom (WAHM), we have to plan phsical activity in to their day and make sure we are good role models.

We're in CO!

It's been a few days since I've blogged.

I think about it daily and always have something I want to write, but the last few days were spend getting ready for the trip to CO.

We arrived to snow yesterday!

We are staying in Keystone and having a great time running and hiking in the mountains.

The children were great troopers today with two treks in the mountains, an hour-long swim in the outdoor pool (45 deg.) and a romp in the weight room.

The resort is deserted, so we can take full advantage of the facilities.

IT feels great to be out in the sunshine, fresh air and exercise.

Those principles have been around for years, maybe centuries, but for some reason it feels healthier in CO!

THE air is thinner and we are still adjusting to the altitude, but for the most part the children have gotten over their headaches, chapped lips, etc.

WE do need to drink three to four times as much water, limit the salt, caffeine and alcohol the first few days and go easy on the physical exertion.

Only the last part is the hard one to do! :)

Today on the TV I heard where the RDA for Vitamin D doubled. Hang out in CO in the sunshine and you'll get plenty of Vitamin D.

OF course, I swear by my two to three spoonfuls of cod liver oil daily.

It's my constitution.

SO, next time you're thinking vacation, think CO.

Lots of healthy food and activities here...

Fasting

Today was Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement. 

ON this day, denying oneself, translated as fasting,  is required. 

It wasn't that bad.  (More on that later.) 

Yom Kippur's emphasis is to examine one's self and to ask for forgiveness from others and God for one's trespasses. 

Usually it is those closest to you which you need to ask for the most forgiveness. 

We did that today in our family. 

It is necessary to mend relationships and not allow a bitter root to spring up. 

And we did that exercise at the park while we exercised our body and mind. 

IT was a gorgeous fall day so we walked to the park for sunshine, fresh air and exercise. 

Now, back to the fasting, fasting from food for 24 hours is really not that hard. 

It is fasting from water which is hard. 

By 5:00 p.m. I was getting a major cotton mouth. 

You see, when I was 40 lbs. heavier in my 20's, I determined to lose the wt. and set up an exercise program for myself with built-in incentives and a healthy eating plan which included one or two days of fasting each week. 

That was 17 years ago and I am still the same wt. after four babies.  

I was excited to find a similar program recently who teaches the same concepts that I used initially to lose my excess wt. 

The program is called Eat STop Eat by Brad Pillon,   www.eatstopeat.com

CHeck it out, I like his research, the price and ...it works! 

Many Uses for Pumpkins!

Moms, 

Do you realize there are many wonderful uses for pumpkins? 

1) home  grown in a garden

2)  High in beta carotene 

3)  make fabulous pumpkin pies and custards

4)  festive decorations for fall 

5)  and working out with them! 

Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself

Do we love our neighbors? 

Do we love ourselves? 

"Love thy neighbor as thyself."  

Who is thy neighbor? 

We cannot love our neighbors until we love ourselves. 

Do we love ourselves? 

IF so, then why do you overeat?   

WHy would we not be good to ourselves and exercise daily? 

SHort and sweet is fine. 

WHy would you fill your plate with chips and salsa when there are healthy options? 

Search your soul this weekend.   

See  if  you love thyself. 

Healthy Luncheon

Tomorrow the 12 Simply Music  Teachers in this area are getting together for a quarterly meeting and of course, we will be eating together. 

Very typical for women! 

It doesn't have to be a free-for-all and eat whatever. 

It can be a time of self-control and making great choices. 

I am bringing a spinach salad with extraneous doo-dads and an apple and pear compote. 

I usually bring a large salad to gatherings because:  

1)  I LOVE salad. 

2)  I know it will be healthy and I can fill up on my salad. 

3)  It's a great example for others who want to eat healthy and feel better. 

The best part is leaving feeling great about yourself and your choices! 

Community Spirit

Some days I don't feel like working out. 

My body feels weak, sluggish, tired, not motivated, etc. 

Ever have those days? 

Today was one of those days. 

Even though I was leading the Boot Camp workout, my body still wasn't cooperating. 

But, once I got going working out with others, my body started to follow suit.  

That is the beauty of working out with others. 

I recommend it highly. 

Up until 1.5 years ago, I exercised by myself. 

I ran for miles and miles and miles on my own.  

Training for marathons and half marathons. 

When I hit the Boot Camp scene last March, I was hooked. 

I loved the camaraderie, socialization, competitiveness, etc. 

Try it.  You'll like it.