Oops I said…

Ok, so I made a colossal slip and inserted my foot right into my mouth. Those of you who know me, know this is not the first time, and most likely not my last. But I am so upset about it, mostly because it is something I try really hard to be intentional about doing well. I was in the middle of a “discussion” with my eight year old sugar bug when right then and there I said… Ok, first I think I need to give you a little background so you know what was really going on in my head at the time of the before said slip up.

My eight year old daughter A looooooooves all things sugar and carby (yes, “carby” is a real word. Don’t bother looking it up). It is a difficult battle to get her to eat a balanced diet with enough protein and veggies to go along with the carboliciousness she so desires. Anyway, every week she goes to an event that requires the kids to bring a snack and drinks to share with the group. So, every week I watch as parents bring sugary processed crap food and a couple of bottles of death by chemicals pop to share with the group. Did I mention that this is a group for 3rd-5th grade children that meet right after school? Anyway, EVERY week just like clockwork my child is given a sugary snack and a salty snack. We have come to a compromise in which she is allowed these snacks but must always drink water. No caffeinated cancer pop, ever.

Now here is my disclaimer: I am by no means a complete nazi food police when it comes to fun snacks. I enjoy and indulge in a sweet dessert or salty treat, especially on special occasions, celebrations, and occasionally just for fun. I do, however want to make sure that the majority of food that my family eats is good for them. I am crazy intentional about making sure that we understand that those are treats and that we don’t fall into bad habits. Been there. Done that. Threw out the T-shirt.

Ok, so this coming week is A’s turn to bring a snack. We pour over the cookbooks searching for just the right “sweet and salty” mix that is our guideline. I am bound and determined to be able to bring something that fits that description while being somewhat good for you. A is as stubborn as her mother set on bringing the epitome of sugar heaven. I’m trying to redirect her without hurting her feelings. My husband walks in as we’ve been “discussing” and asks what is going on. Fire and smoke coming from my ears, I explain that A and I have completely different ideas of what a good snack is and then I said… Oh, man I really said it… Did I mention that Obesity now affects 17% of all children and adolescents in the United States – triple the rate from just one generation ago (CDC.gov)? I turned to my husband and said “we’re just trying to find something to make that doesn’t make you… (ugh) fat. WHAT!!!???? I NEVER say the F-word! I try really hard to always talk about eating healthy food and being strong and healthy girls. I don’t want to use the F-word because our culture is super saturated with it and the lengths that girls go to avoid it is scary. I try to always talk about getting healthier or stronger not losing weight. I even talked about it in a post earlier on this blog. Ugh, the instant I said those words I wanted to reach out and gobble them up!

So, what did we learn today? First, A and I came to an agreement of what to bring that includes a little sweet and salty without pushing them into carb comas. Second, make sure to always pick your words intentionally. Then, if you have to eat them they will be sweet!

 

Asylum 2 “Upper Elite”

Oh my goodness. Seriously. Today was Day 2 of Insanity Asylum 2, the Upper Elite workout. It is a mere 60 minutes and every one of them is challenging. The pace is still quick, but much slower than yesterday’s X Trainer. You have a few breaks and you need them. Although, it is not the typical jumping workout, it is the  ”combo you don’t expect” kind of movements we have grown to associate with Shaun T. He starts with a short move and then builds upon that base for each round. An example of this was when he had you on your back doing chest flys while lifting alternating legs, then chest flys with a chest press while lifting both legs, then on the last round you are in an isometric “hip up” while doing alternating chest flys and presses. I’ll be honest here, I have fairly strong abs and normally do not experience soreness in my lower abs. These moves were hard. This evening when I got on the floor to demonstrate the move to my husband, I was met with a scream from my lower abs I haven’t heard in many a workout! Woo boy! I can NOT lift my legs without my abs arguing. In a sick, twisted way, I love this. Call me crazy, but I love feeling sore and knowing that I have pushed myself, that I have not wasted my time. Although, I am a little concerned since I’m already sore and I am usually sore two days out. I can’t imagine what I’m going to feel on Thursday! In addition to the ab moves, there are an obscene number of “assisted” one handed push ups. I am definitely not as strong in push ups as ab work. I did almost all of these on my knees after a few face plants. I am determined to be able to do these on my feet by the end of the thirty days, but in the meantime I will just try to do a few more face plants each workout. :)

I am a self professed “cardio junkie.” This is why I love workouts like Insanity, Asylum, and TurboFire. I do not typically love to lift weights. My favorite weight workouts are Les Mils PUMP and Asylum Strength because they are not the typical lift 12 reps, get bored, dance around, then lift 12 more reps. Upper Elite had enough variety and challenge to keep this easily bored, easily distracted girl engaged. Even for 60 minutes! While I can’t say that it is my favorite workout, I know that I worked hard and expect to see good results from it.

Tomorrow is Power Legs. I am excited about this one because for some reason I really enjoy working legs. I am hoping that there are no more push ups.

Sugar Bugs and Obesity

I have an eight year old daughter. She loves all things sugar. In fact if she had the chance she would eat, drink, and sleep sugar. She loves candy, bake goods, gum, sugary drinks, and all sorts of pastas and breads. It is a difficult task, as her very health conscious mother, to get her to eat a balanced diet. Many of the functions and activities that she participates in require parents to bring in snacks, the majority of which are cookies, cupcakes, chips and the like while being paired with pop or “fruit drinks” (10% fruit makes it a fruit juice drink). While I am not one to say that you should never have a treat, the frequency of eating and drinking this way has largely contributed to our country’s current obesity epidemic. This should greatly concern us as parents of future generations. We feed our children, we buy the groceries, we plan or don’t plan the meals. Don’t our kids deserve better? If you don’t believe me, maybe this little video will help change your mind…

It’s Really Not as Easy as Pinterest Claims…

WARNING: Soapbox Rant follows… I need to let you know that when my husband proofread this post, he mentioned that I sounded angry. Honestly, yes, I am. Not at any one person specifically, but for the pervading ideas that flood the million dollar weight loss business. I want you to be healthy and succeed in reaching your goals, but I want it to be in a way that is healthy and beneficial to you and your heart, not just the scale. That being said, the rant is next. :)

I have a confession to make. I get sucked into the black hole that is Pinterest extremely easily! Lately I’ve been looking through to find DIY Christmas gifts (I always have grandiose ideas of giving everyone fancy home made gifts). Anyway, while being engulfed in the vortex, I’ve noticed the insane number of weight loss programs, tips, and “motivational” pictures/videos. Each pin claims huge success, love of the program, and the ease of the routine. While I do not doubt the success gleaned from some of these programs, I am genuinely concerned for some of the “ideas” being portrayed.

First off, if you look like you haven’t eaten in six months, that is a SICKNESS not a success story. There is a significant difference between being healthy and starving yourself. Many of the pins I’ve discovered promote eating disorders as a way of losing weight. This will DESTROY your body, mind, and wreak havok on your soul trapping you in a dangerous cycle of self abuse.

Next, 3 day, 7 day, and 10 day juice detoxes will not offer you the lasting results you want. Will you lose weight? Of course, you will! Any time you expend more calories than you feed yourself you will lose weight. I have to ask you though about the cost. A strict “juice only” or vinegar detox robs your body of nutrients depleting strength and energy and can cause many other physical problems. Not to mention that as soon as you go back to your regular life, the weight will come back and you will once again be frustrated at your “failure” to lose weight.

And here is my biggest beef (he he he), losing weight and becoming healthy isn’t easy or painless. It is simple when you get down to it, but it takes a LOT of work. Every day you will face the decision of what to put in your body. Will it help your goal or sabotage it? Every day you will face the decision to get up and exercise. Do you do it even if you don’t “feel” like it? The reason we all don’t look like supermodels or Mr. Olympia is because it is hard. If it were easy everyone would do it. It takes time and effort daily to reach your health and fitness goals and to stay there once you do. Yes, you can do it, but don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s going to be a cake walk.

There really are many ways of pursuing your goal of being healthy and fit. YOU are definitely worth the effort to reach them. Please choose wisely and know you will feel victororious when you have worked your tail off to reach those goals. If you don’t know a healthy way of reaching your goals, I can help you! Email me and we can set up a time to talk.