Tag Archives: healthymom

Root Down To Rise Up

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This. Is. Amazing. Root down to rise up. They say this all the time in hot yoga and it resonates with me in every single way. IMG_3087Last summer-chilling at the splash pad for a quick picture

Physically, I know that you must build yourself up from the bottom to the top through the middle to feel good.

Mentally, I know that you must put your own oxygen mask on first before serving others.

Spiritually, I know you must believe in something bigger than you to be humble and resilient in this wild world.

Mom-ally, I know I must lead by example and say what I mean and mean what I say to raise, healthy, happy well adjusted kids.

Personally, I know I am accountable to myself, for my actions, decisions and words to grow and evolve as a person.

Why are some days so hard? And why does it look so easy for everyone else on the social media? 

Well, my friends it’s all about the swan.

Like my grandma Ardie used to say, SWIM and PADDLE like crazy (under the water) and SMILE with POISE and dignity on top of the water. Then REPEAT the very next day and everyday thereafter. Also, make your bed everyday. That’s important too. As a mom to 3 little humans, making my bed may be the only thing I actually finish today. So make that bed!

I write and share on this mom blog because no matter what it looks like on the Instagram or the Facebook, everyone is paddling like crazy under water just like you and me. Of course, I enjoy the pretty part on top, who doesn’t?! But, I like the real stuff and talk about the “underwater part” which makes the pretty part even bette if you ask me.

Now, roll on summer so I can work on my kiddie, splash park tan. 🙂

Working Out is Hard For Everyone

Working out is hard! Oh so hard.
Don’t feel like working out? Me either.
Too tired to workout today? me too.
Have a sick kid at home and can’t manage to get it together for a home workout? Me too.
Too busy to workout? Me too.
Don’t feel like walking in the cold, wet rain with your 3 little kids in tow to the gym. Me either.IMG_3403Pepper in her tangled dress getting her exercise

But…I do it anyway. I play the same game as everyone else and toss the idea of “not” working out for the above reasons and so many other good, legitimate reasons. But I squeeze that workout or yoga in anyway.IMG_3230Blaize in her cowboy boots gettin’ it on the EFX

People say I’m lucky because I like to workout. Wait, what?! Lucky, I wouldn’t say that. I workout because I like the afterglow. I like my experiences, my thoughts, my attitude, my patience, my food choices and my sleep after I workout. It’s a decision to be healthy and fit and it is rarely convenient or even sounds like fun to me. #realtalk

I will even take it a step further and say it may be harder for me (this is where I piss people off) Not because I’m a single mom and have my 3 small little people most of the time. It’s harder for me because my results aren’t visible and are hard to track. When you’re trying to lose 10, 20 or 50 pounds that’s easy to see results. And as long as you’re consistent with exercise and food, those pounds usually come off fairly quickly to celebrate regularly.

First time in probably 7 years, where I’m not trying to lose the “baby weight.” And, I’m not trying to squeeze into a ridiculously tight and uncomfortable New Year’s Eve dress. Hoping I’m in my swimsuit and local flip flops somewhere on new year’s eve. My fitness goals are different today than what they’ve been in the past…These days, I’m focusing on the “Triple S’s” which are part of my new normal.

My triple S’s are: STAMINA, STRENGTH AND STRETCH. I can kinda measure it with weights and flexibility but forget the scale. As the scale stays the same my clothes get baggier and baggier. Took me awhile to tap back on the cardio queen stuff that I innately love.

I want my 3 little people to grow up thinking water is the preferred drink and outdoor activities and exercise is part of the daily schedule. Blaize stated that we’re getting exercise while we lugged 8 grocery bags from the car, to the elevator and down the hall to our house today. Yep, we sure are!

So when you think, I don’t have time, energy or whatever other good reason you can think of, think of me… Think of me, hustling my 3 little people out the door with their water bottles, snacks and sassy attitudes to walk to the gym. Sure, it’s only a few blocks away (thank God!) But someone always cries when they don’t get to hold my hand for the walk. Real crying with real tears people… One day, I’m sure I’ll look back fondly on the intense love my littles have for me. Taking turns holding mama’s hand is so hard!

My point is, that when I’m on the airplane in my tight, little costume dress it may not “look” like I struggle to workout or make the time to go to the gym but I promise I do. I’m just like you-trying to get out the door to get my workout in is half the battle. Often my body drags my mind to the gym. So strange but very true. Muscle memory is real. Perseverance, and commitment to myself and kids to be a healthy mom wins every.single.time.IMG_9080Maui Surf Session with my hot mama!

This is 42 my friends and it’s different than I planned but it kinda looks okay. It’s not perfect and it’s not for free 😂but nothing worthwhile ever is.

Friends, stay healthy and active even when you don’t want to. 🙂

Thrive, It’s My New Normal

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Talking to one of my besties on the phone this morning about life and she said to me at the end of the call “you’ll be fine.” She’s very empathetic, very pregnant and never dismissive of my feelings. Rarely do I hear those three words from her. But, I heard them today and I’m running with it. I will be fine. I know this. But I want to be fine and much more than that. I want to thrive physically, mentally and with my three little ducks in tow.IMG_7935.JPGMy mini me’s and me striking a pose.

I’ve always wanted more than fine or average. I’ve always sucked the passion out of everything I was interested in. Whether it was spinning. I love spin classes!-I’ll teach them for 17 years. DONE. Whether it was running. I love running and will run 6 marathons including Boston. DONE. Buy a house before I turn 30 regardless if I have a partner. DONE. Have kids and breastfeed those little monsters until they want to quit. DONE. DONE and DONE. Now, as my three little munchkins are 4, 4 and 7 years old, I’m seeking the next level as a mom and a person. I want to thrive. And I want to thrive with my kids in our family and our life.

First, I’m seeking more balance. More self care. More individual and ground quality time with my kids. I’m seeking more fulfilling workouts instead of just putting in the daily 45 minutes. Now, I want some quality and I started a new fitness routine that focuses on “strength and length.” Cardio is still what I crave but like I teach my kids moderation is key.IMG_8488.jpgChilling at pdx playdate in the pearl while my kids get their romp on. 

As I enter the weekend, I’m focusing on thriving. If you’ve been thinking about switching it up for one reason or another, I hope you’ll join me. Let’s do something different this season and see how far we can go. Aloha Friday my friends:)

 

 

 

Feast or Famine is How I get My Yoga

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Yoga is what I need, not usually what I want. Don’t get me wrong, I love the yoga buzz and the after glow that follows every yoga class. Sometimes, I don’t feel like going to yoga but I know that I need it. I’ve been a cardio queen for as long as I can remember. Jazzercise, tap dance and step aerobics is how I grew up. That early dance momentum turned into running, spinning and eventually yoga love as an adult. I still love my cardio but have completely shifted my workouts lately. These days, I’m focusing on strength and length. As the noise increases so does my self care. IMG_7883.jpgStriking a pose with the amazing Roger before his yoga class.

Feast or Famine is how my yoga used to play out. I used to squeeze in my yoga after a run or spin class. It was always the underdog and only “after” my workout. Yoga would go in bits and spurts, and was always the first to go when I fell short on time. Yoga was sometimes once a week or once a month for me. Not anymore…Feasting on yoga this Fall and it feels so good!

 

 

 

Kids Club At the Gym Is A Family Favorite

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I hear a lot from other parents how their kids won’t go to kids club at the gym. I’m lucky because I have 3 little kids who love going to kids club at the gym. I’ve been a gym rat for as long as I can remember. When I was pregnant, I thought “wow I don’t know if I’ll feel comfortable bringing baby Kai to kids club as a 6month old baby? Who would hold him? Would they love him and hold him if he started crying? What if he pooped while I was teaching?

I was a spin instructor for 16 years and even taught while I was pregnant with Kai. Much like everything else, your ideas change once you actually have a baby. I remember counting down the days until I could bring baby Kai with me (must be 6 months old) to kids club while I taught spin classes. I jumped on that spin bike 2 weeks after my c-section with Kai. I started teaching spin classes 30 days after he was born. And it was not too soon for me. 🙂 By the time baby Kai was 6 months old, I was knocking down the door at kids club. Sure, I had to power feed him right before class to keep him happy. And had to eat a balance bar during class to keep my energy high to make it through but I did it.

teaching spin while breast feeding

Happy Mama! Posing post spin class before I raced downstairs to pickup 6 month old baby Kai from kids club.

IMG_5395Fast forward 6 years later and I have 3 little people who wiggle down to the gym with me all the time. Blaize and Pepper have been saying since they were 3 years old, “mommy needs to workout so she can be healthy.” Mimi (my mom) taught my kids that mantra with lots of pep talks. Mimi talked about the importance of going to the kids club so moms can be healthy and strong. Thanks to mimi for being an inspiration and helping me teach my kids that kids club is awesome!

Me and baby Kai

Bottom line, getting to the gym everyday with 3 little kids in tow can feel like so much work! Do I feel like going to the gym to workout? No, not usually. Do I feel like going to the gym to workout with 3 little people that ask 10 questions a minute? No, not really. But, like Mimi always said it will feel so good after you’re done and be worth it. And it is, every single time!IMG_3100Sometimes you get really lucky and adorable identical twin caretakers are at kids club! I told Blaize and Pepper that you guys will be best friends when you’re 21 like these identical twin girls.

 

 

Mamas, keep rocking the kids club so the mother ship can stay strong!