21 Days Later...

Today was the day!!

21 Day Fix Extreme

Day 21

Here are my before and after pictures. 

I know what you're thinking!! You can't really tell a difference. I get it. 

BUT, I knew going into this that I wouldn't have too much to SHOW for it because of my body type. 

However, I did invest in a scale and I did take measurements on Day 1. 

So, the stats are as follows:

I lost 4" on my waist (oh my!)

My hips didn't fluctuate.

I gained 1/4" on my biceps.

I lost 3/4" on my quads.

And...

I lost a total of 5 pounds!!

Woot! Woot!!

Can I say something else? Ya? ok...

If you feel like you don't have weight to lose, but just want to tone, then this is definitely a program worth looking in to. Not only does it have 30 minute workouts (LOVE this feature because I'm already a busy mama), but the portion control containers and meal plan really helped expose me to how much (or how little) I should be eating of certain food groups. 

My non-scale victories include: eating less, not craving carbs as much, and an overall sense of health. I don't feel sluggish from eating junk. I fit into my jeans and I seriously felt sore the whole 3 weeks. It wasn't the I-can't-walk-the-stairs kind of sore each day, but each day I could tell I worked my WHOLE body! I LOVE that feeling!

The 21 days were fun! I had the support of my children, who didn't hesitate to join in on the fun!

 I gained more definition in my arms (my main goal!!)

 AND.....

I DO have abs!! Just not the 6-pack of my dreams, but hey...I'm a work in progress!!

Question of the day...

What program do I do next?

My choices are T25 or back to PiYo (one of my personal favs).

Which program are YOU doing?

If you're looking for an accountability group to keep you on track with your goals, I host monthly challenge groups on Facebook. My next 60-day group will start on March 23rd! Reach out to me: https://www.facebook.com/befittribe

I'd love to have you join one of my groups and help you reach your health and fitness goals!

One-on-One Time

Today I want you to make time for each of your children doing what he or she chooses. It can be putting together a puzzle, or having a tea party, or riding bikes...whatever it is, the child chooses the activity.

This can be done at time during the day when your child comes to you and asks, "Mommy, will you draw with me?" or it can be a time that you are free of household tasks and you approach your child and say, "Hey, let's do something together!" and you have your child choose the activity.

Whatever you do--spending the whole 20 minutes doing one thing, or bouncing between activities for 20 minutes--just take the time to BE WITH that child and do something he or she enjoys.

Although you should aim to do this daily, if you’re not already in that routine, then try TODAY to make that happen. If you have a large family and 20 minutes per child is not realistic for you, then break it up into multiple days. 

You decide.

I have tried this--and obviously need a refresher--and have seen how my children value that time and appreciate that I give them my full attention.

What activities do you do with your children as you try to be more present in their lives? <3 

Eye Contact

We are on Day 2 in the Mommy & Me Challenge Group about being more present with your child(ren). 

Today's focus--Eye Contact.

One of the best ways to connect with our children (or anyone, in fact) is by making eye contact a habit. Eye contact shows that you value your child. Direct eye contact is beneficial to the child and can help increase the child’s focus and ability to connect with people.

Many times, as a parent, I find myself busy doing something – taking care of the wee little one, cooking dinner, cleaning, on the computer, etc. – and my son will ask me a question and eventually say “Mom, you’re not listening to me.”

Since realizing my bad habit and how detrimental that can be to our relationship, I make a concerted effort to STOP and look directly at my son when he is talking to me.

One-on-one full attention with your child cements a parent-child connection that every child needs and deserves.

You can start by actively looking them in the eye when they are speaking to you, and by asking them what they think about things. Let them teach you about themselves by being an engaged listener and giving them your full attention. If you get down on their level with the Legos and let them lead, you’ll find that they are present as well.

Today, I want you to consciously make EYE CONTACT with each of your children when you are having a conversation with them; from the infant to the teenager.

This may surprise your children if you are used to “multi-tasking” and carrying on a conversation while you’re working or doing other things. 

BUT not today!! 

Today, stop, look, and then talk. smile emoticon

Mommy and Me CHALLENGE Day 1

I'm hosting a challenge on Facebook that encourages parents to be more "present" with their child(ren).

It's almost selfish of me, because it's something I struggle with, and that's why I chose to do the group.

Today was Day 1 and here is the challenge I put forth for the members of the group:

Day 1

YES vs NO

These two words are short, but have much power!

If you had to answer your child with one of these words, which would you say you use the MOST?

Sadly, I use NO too often.

I’m not talking about the days when I tell my kid “No, you can’t have candy for breakfast” or “No, you may not climb on the bookshelf, that’s not safe”.

Obviously, “no” is a word that is going to be used a lot in the home with small children. What I’m referring to is the times when my kid asks for something innocent, at a slightly inconvenient time, and I promptly shut them down without even thinking about it.

Like the day when we pulled into our apartment complex and my son asked for his window to be rolled down. We still had a minute or two of driving before we reached our home, and yet I immediately said “no” without even considering it. What’s so wrong about rolling his window down for two minutes? It would be a minor inconvenience to push the “down” button slightly to my left for a grand total of ten seconds now, and then ten more seconds in a few minutes when we pulled up to our house. Why did that need to be a “no”? The truth is, it didn’t.

Sometimes I catch myself, and I take back my hasty “No” and respond with a “Yes” or a “Sure, why not”. Sometimes I pause for the 16 seconds it requires to take a peek at the world through the lens of a 3 year old; a little guy who just wants to feel the wind on his face, and feel like a big-boy because he can reach his fingers out the window when it’s down. Sometimes I need to remember that there are a thousand good reasons that I must tell my boy “No” everyday, so I don’t need to seize the opportunity when it’s not necessary. In fact, I need to search for the chances to tell him “Yes”, and give him that little bit of pleasure as he feels the wind on his face and touches the sky with his finger tips.

Sometimes I need to stop being annoyed by his constant questions, and just say “Yes” whenever I can. Because we all know those chances aren’t always as prevalent as the chance to say “No”.

YOUR CHALLENGE for today: During TWO circumstances where you would normally say No, I want you to say YES.

Yes, I will read you a story. Yes, I will get down on the floor and play legos/trains/a puzzle with you. Yes, you may go outside in the cold weather (as long as you have a jacket on wink emoticon ). Yes, I will answer your question.
Instead of “In just a second, honey” or “Right after I finish up here” or “I’m very busy right now, maybe a bit later”. Let’s try, “Yes, right now”.
Then put down the phone, ignore the piles of washing, forget about the emails, or the floor that needs to be swept, or the trash that needs to be taken out, and just be WITH your child.

All those other things will wait.
Our children may not.
Show them they matter.
Be available.

------------

So, if you're up for the challenge, try saying YES more often today! <3
And if you'd like to join the group, you can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1528966887365621/

21-Day WHAT?

21-Day FIX.

Extreme.

Ya, it's the "advanced" version haha!

I'm starting Day 6 after I submit this post. 

These workouts and meal plan aren't for the "faint of heart", BUT there is a modifier on the screen for every move and I have to resort to her in almost every exercise. 

I thought I was in shape, and then I started this program and I wake up SORE each day. Ha! I'm obviously working muscle groups I hadn't been in a while. 

Day 1 and I was rearing and ready to go!

(Don't you love my homemade, sharpie marked, shirt?! :P)

As fort the eating plan. I'm still getting used to it. The easiest thing to do with the container system is to keep it simple and sweet. (Well, not "sweet" in the literal sense of sugar.)

My favorite meal thus far was last night's "carnitas".

When my husband got home, his first question was, "Exactly how much lard did you use?") 

Uh, honey, NONE!

He's a purebred Mexican and that's the only way he knows his carnitas, BUT he had high compliments about mine and LOVED them! That made my day!

These portion control containers with the 21-Day Fix meal plan aren't bad at all! I could comfortably have 2 tostadas with some fixings left over (remember, I'm a big eater ).
They were super easy too!I stuck a pork roast in the crockpot with a few seasonings (your preference), then typical fixings: lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and beans. 
The "tostadas" were homemade by crisping up corn tortillas in a 350 degree oven for about 12 minutes (I'm SO not buying tostadas anymore  these were that good). 
And the dollop of white goodness was Greek yogurt with a squeeze of lime and chopped cilantro. Mmm!
Definitely a KEEPER recipe. 
(Recipe adapted from: http://bit.ly/1yBOE6A)

I'm anxious to weigh in and share my results from Week 1. I may still do so. 

I haven't decided yet. 

Only 2 more weeks to go!

I got this!!

Take what you get....

...and don't throw a fit.

That's a common phrase repeated in classrooms, or so I've heard. ;)

It's a phrase that often comes to my mind when I look around at our living circumstances. When we were living in Burley, we had just bought a home roughly 3000 sq. ft. in size. It was two levels and plenty of space for our growing family.

Then my husband got transferred.

We had to leave that spacious, gonna-grow-into-home, and downsize to a 1300 sq. ft. townhome.

We had the 3 boys at the time. Since being here in eastern Idaho, we have since had our fourth boy and still live in the 1300 sq. ft. space.

Take what you get and don't throw a fit. 

I seriously have to keep repeating that to myself when I think of the size that our Burley house was.

And that's why I choose not to think of it too often--what can you do, right?

So, now I present to you a sneak peak of my office,

which is also my craft/sewing room,

























which is also my preschool classroom,

which is also our dining room/kitchen.

What was that quote again?

Take what you get and don't throw a fit. 

I am grateful we have a space that allows me to do the things I want/need to do in order to run a business, teach preschool, practice my hobby and provide meals for our family.

With this, as in all things, I need to be grateful for what I have been blessed with.

Being a mom is...

HARD!

There, I said it.

It's not easy.
If you, or someone you know, say it is, then I would LOVE to know the secret to your success!!

I do admit, that some days are easier than others, but my reason for this post stems from my 4am wake-up call this morning...

Nano was yelling from his crib, across the house, and I slowly made my way to his room.

He wanted to get out.

Really?! Do you have to go to the bathroom? (He's been out of diapers for almost 2 weeks)

No.

Ok, do you need a drink of water? 

No. I want some bread.

Seriously?!?

I've learned to honor his requests so we don't have a major meltdown and wake up the other sleeping children. So, with a "piece" of bread, sip of water, we made our way back to his crib. I put him in.

I want you to read me a story.

Are you kidding? (I thought this, because, like I said, I've learned to just do what he asks--it's the easier option).

So, I do my best to read him the story he handed me, with only his dim nightlight to guide my eyes. (Yes, he has a stock of books in his crib, along with about 10 other toys/stuffed animals he shares the bed with. Don't ask me--it's a fetish he has that I can't seem to understand).

And only then am I able to leave his room without him crying out again.

My head falls on my pillow and I think...being a mom is hard!

-------

We have four boys.

They have only one volume level.....LOUD!

There is no quiet, or soft, or even mute...nope, just. plain. loud.

If you've ever been in a small room with screaming, loud laughter, make believe noises of guns or fighting or calling out, then you can understand how my stress level seems to rise every time the decibel count exceeds 60 (the typical number for a regular speaking voice).

I seriously have to put ear plugs in some days to keep my sanity level at bay.

Of course, it doesn't help that there are 6 bodies in our 1300 sq. ft. rental home. But, you do with what you have and what you can afford. These circumstances are a part of life and something I cannot change at this present time.

The only thing I can change is how I respond to such noise levels. And I will tell you honestly, it is NOT easy to be calm during these outbreaks. Sure, it's so nice to see the boys playing together, using their imaginations, but it is dang hard to concentrate on anything but watching them when they are expressing themselves in loud tones. Some days, it takes every ounce of energy not to raise my voice above theirs just to be heard, and obeyed.

During times like this, I think....being a mom is hard!

----------

I recently started my own business as a fitness coach for Beachbody. It's my way of helping our family get out of debt. As a mother of four children who all demand my attention--especially when they're hungry--I have to prioritize my time and activities each day.

I have to manage my time very carefully when I want to put effort into the business. I have found that waking up at 5am each morning I am able to get work done for about an hour and a half and then fit my workout in during the next 30 minutes, shower and get ready, all before I send our oldest off to school.

Does that happen, as planned, each morning?

Of course!!

haha...just kidding. Of course it doesn't!

I have to be super flexible when it comes to early rising children, a hungry baby, or even lack of sleep on  my part that leads me to hit snooze one too many times and fall behind in my schedule.

Do I want to be successful at this business?

Yes.

Do I want to be more successful as a mother?

YES!

Balancing my time and efforts takes practice and sometimes trial and error. Being a stay at home mom that works from home is not the right fit for everyone. I have to decide each day if it's worth it to  me to get up so early and go to bed so late so I can work when the kids are sleeping. I have to decide if it's worth it to sacrifice sleep, relaxing time in front of the TV, taking naps, and having an uber clean house, in order to supplement my husband's income to help us become financially free.

It's days like this (usually 6 out of 7 days) that I think...being a mom is hard!

But is it worth it?

YES!

Be U.G.L.Y.

TODAY, I'm asking YOU to BE U.G.L.Y.!!

That's right! 
Be U.G.L.Y.!!!

This word has a bad rep. I get it.
But not today!

Today, I want you to:

Be Unique. God made you different from EVERYONE else in the world. Accept that with open arms.

Be Gifted. Again, God has given you many gifts. Cultivate those and use them to do good in the world.

Be Loveable. I think of the song, "Kindness begins with me." Love others and love yourself.

Be YOU. Don't try to blend in with the crowd. Just be yourself.

There ya go...be U.G.L.Y! :)