Exercise goes on Vacation

It's spring break here in the great state of Alabama, and every year my family and I pack up and head south to Point Clear, AL for a week of fun and relaxation. But does that mean a break from exercise? Absolutely not! Are you crazy? I would go insane with out my exercise fix, but I do think it is wise to take a break from your normal routine. So what does exercise on vacation look like? Well, I will give you an example of what it DOESN'T look like. My crew and I were happily playing on the beach when a woman (I wouldn't call her a lady) was so rude to her three adorable kids. Her boys wanted her to take them out on the kayak and she snapped back at them announcing that she had already run six miles and played tennis and she couldn't possibly have the energy to take them out on the kayak. I wanted to throw sand in her face and tell those sweet faces that I would take them. Witchy woman. The point of vacation is to relax and enjoy yourself and your family. Here's a peek at what my exercise routine looks like on vacation: Day 1: Took a walk (yes that counts!) about a mile and 1/2 down a beautiful path. On the way back I sprinted two telephone pole widths then walked one telephone pole width. I repeated this until I got back to the house. Day 2: Slept until 9 a.m. Gasp! Couldn't muster up the will power to go outside and run. But I did take the kids out on the kayak. What an amazing arm workout! Day 3: Both kids are now sick. Gibson keeps saying "this is the worst spring break ever!" Been trapped in the house all day. Going crazy so I entertain my mom by showing he all my "moves" from class and trying to come up with new routines. This show lasted about 30 minutes. Day 4: Just a walk....a very fast walk. But, give me a little credit, my little one up half the night with tummy troubles! Day 5: Tomorrow is day 5 and in my head I plan to hit the gym. If not, we are going to the pool where i will sneak in some flutter kicks, high knees, running and fun play time with my kids. Whever you may be there is always a way to MOVE. And usually on vacation, you have extra hands to help with the kids so you can get in a short workout. Or, rent bikes as a family, go on a hike, walk the beach, have a plank-holding contest with your husband! Just keep moving....with at least one day that you just lay around, of course. Or, to loose any of my vacation weight gain, I can take a hint from from one of my favorite movies, "The Devil Wears Prada", "I am only one stomach flu away from my goal weight.". I can just get Gibson to blow in my face or offer to share a Sprite! Just kidding! Happy Spring Break!

Being the Base

I always hated being the "base."  


If you were ever a cheerleader you will know what I am talking about.  The base is the girl who throws the other girls in the air.  The base is the strong cheerleader who holds the other girls up in the air.  


But in my warped mind, base = biggest, fattest, heaviest cheerleader.  


You know those woman who are just teeny tiny?  The 90-pounders.  The ones God created to be tiny.  I was never one of those girls but always wanted to be.  I never longed to be tall.  I liked being short, but I always wanted to be miniature too.  


As I brought this subject up to my dear friend Kelli, a fellow cheerleader from the past, she couldn't believe I would have ever felt that way!  Being a base meant you were STRONG!  She said to me, you were a great base! 


So, I looked up on dictionary.com the definition of base.  "The bottom support of anything that which a thing stands or rests." 


Hmmmmmm.


That definition didn't say base: someone really fat and worthless. 


I was the support of the 90-pounders!  They depended on me to keep them safe and catch them when they fell!  They put their trust in me to hold them in the air!  


If all the cheerleaders in high school were built the same way with the same talents, there would be no pyramids, no basket tosses, no liberties!  How boring would that be? 


Same goes for us as believers in the body of Christ.  It takes all of us with all our special talents.  I love these verses from Romans 12: 


 ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b]do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.


Embrace yourself the way God made you - mind, body and soul. 

Back to College

I wonder if anyone would mistake me for a college student?


I kept thinking this in my head this past weekend while Colter and I were in Auburn.  We headed down to the plains for a baseball reunion and dinner.  Colter was on the 1997 World Series Team, and they were the guests of honor at this year's annual banquet.


I dropped Colter off for a team lunch and tour of all of Auburn's amazing new facilities, and I went running on my old route around campus.


And, it started.


As I put on my running gear and look in the mirror, I kept thinking, I wonder if I still look like a college student. Surely I will just blend right in. I put on my hat, turned up Katy Perry and headed down College Street.


As I run past the Sigma Chi house I get a glance....from a college kid!  Whooohooo!  Still got it! I blend! Confidence boost!  Little do they know that if they got really close they might see the slight beginning of creases around my eyes! 


As I continue on my run, my mind goes back in time to my college days.  I thought about my accomplishments, my challenges, my friendships and my boyfriend...who is now my husband. 


Would I really want to go back?  Do I really want to be my 20-year-old self?  


I think we all ponder "what if" or "those were the days."  But, here we are!  Now!  Today!  In this moment!  In this body!  At this age! 


My 20-year-old self had a flatter stomach. My 34-year-old me has two precious, healthy children that made my stomach a little softer! 
My 20-year-old me thought I was SO busy.  My 34-year-old me IS so busy. 
My 20-year-old me was overly emotional. My 34-year-old me is strong.
My 20-year-old me was fearless.  My 34-year-old me is cautious. 
My 20-year-old me thought mostly about me.  My 34-year-old me thinks of others. 
My 20 year-old me believed in God. My 34-year-old me has a relationship with God. 


Instead of wishing to be the 20-year-old you, look back and see how much you have grown and changed.  See what God has done in your life.  And, if you don't like what you see.  Change it!  


 "There is a time for everything, 
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:"


We are right where we need to be.  Believe it and claim it.  And, trust me, sometimes it is hard.  Especially, when the diamond doll sitting at my table "mams" me.  Just when I thought I hadn't really changed much from my 20-year-old self!  

Behaving Badly

So, it is taking me some courage to write about this incident.  I acted like a total and complete idiot.  And, unfortunately, I bet a lot of you can relate.

Before I tell my tale, I want to say that I really and truly believe that ALL women are beautiful....at ANY size.  I believe that with all my heart.  So please don't think I am judging the rest of you for my bad behavior, I just judge myself....harshly.

It was a beautiful day in the quaint little town of Fairhope, AL.  My mother and I were shopping and stopped in to one of our favorite boutiques.  It was the perfect time of year because it was the end of the season so all the gorgeous and expensive clothes were on sale.

So, I am flipping through the 75% off rack and spot this absolutely adorable gray dress with blue polka dots complete with a thin matching belt.  I look at it and think, this is my size!  It is perfect.  Then, I looked at the tag and it went downhill from there.

The tag said it was a size 10.  For those of you who don't know me, that is not my normal size at all.  And, the employees of this store were about to get an earful about how this was absolutely not my normal size.

And so it began....diarrhea of the mouth.  It went a little something like this:

ME:  "This CANNOT be a size 10.  I mean it just can't be. Look how small it is!"
MOM: "Just try it on!  It is a $300 dress for $38!!!"
I reluctantly try it on.
ME  "This must be mis-sized.  There is NO WAY this is a size 10.  I wear a size 4!  NEVER a 10!  That is not even close to my size.  I mean, maybe I might wear a size 6 sometimes but usually a 4 but never a 10!"
This dress fits like a glove like it was made for me.
ME: "This dress is probably 75% off because it is mis-sized. I just couldn't be a a TRUE size 10."

And it went on and on and on.  How insecure could I get?  REALLY?  

Mom is probably so embarrassed by me at this point, but does convince me to get the dress. It was $38!

So, as we are checking out the saleslady gets a pair of scissors, cuts out the tag of the dress, hands it to me and says, "Here, now it is a size 4!"

I totally deserved it.

I hate to admit it, but this only happened about a year ago and as I reflect, I think.....

1.  SO WHAT?  So what if that dress wasn't labeled the size I wanted it to be? Who would EVER know?  Why do I care SO much?
2.  How did it make everyone else around me feel to be going on and on about a size 10 like it was a size 1 million?

I still struggle with having all the perfect numbers.  In my head I know it is completely ridiculous.  But, in my heart, it is a struggle.  So, how do we as mothers overcome this need for perfection?

DAILY give it to God.  God wants to bear all our insecurities and struggles...big or small.
REMIND ourselves to love and embrace the body that God created for us and USE it to glorify Him.

Ladies, you are beautiful.  I am beautiful.  We are all created in the image of our Lord and Saviour.  CLAIM that today.

Make a Lot; Share the Love

Just call me Meals on Wheels.

A name my husband gave me years ago when I kept baking, cooking, grilling and making food for everyone all the time.  New baby,  new neighbor, sickness, death in the family, or just because.

I love to work out. I love to cook.  And, best of all, I love to eat!  I am a hungry girl.  I want hearty, healthy meals for my family and to share with others.

Here's one of my favorite hearty, healthy soups from Cooking Light.  It is simmering on my stove right now.  The recipe will make enough for my family, another family that had a baby, my parents and one for my sweet friend Emily just because.

Chunky-Chicken Noodle Soup
2 t olive oil
1 C chopped onion (I used green onions....aren't they SO much easier???)
1 C diced carrots
1 C sliced celery
1 garlic clove (I cheated and used the minced garlic from a jar!)
3 T flour
1/2 t oregano
1/4 t dried thyme
1/4 t dried poultry seasoning (didn't have this one, didn't make a difference to me!)
3 cans fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth
2 1/2 cups diced, peeled baking potato
1/2 t salt
2 cups diced roasted chicken (love to crock pot the chicken!)
1 12-ounce can fat free evaporated milk
2 cups wide egg noodles (I used whole-wheat shells)
**Note....I added a little more milk in the end
1.  Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic.  Saute' 5 minutes or until tender.  Sprinkle flour, oregano, dried thyme and poultry seasoning over veggies; cook 1 minute.
2.  Stir in broth, potato and salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, 25 minutes. Add chicken, milk and noodles, and cook 10 minutes or until noodles are tender.  Yield: 8 servings......more if you ask me!

CALORIES: 240. FAT: 4.5g SODIUM: 667mg  Serving size: 1 cup.

Now, make this, enjoy it and share it with someone else.  You will brighten their day with your act of kindness.  And maybe, it will be the only kind act they see all day.

No Excuses

I'm too busy.  I'm too tired.  It's too expensive.  People will judge me.

A.  You are NOT too busy.  Are you too busy to eat? shower? catch your favorite show?  You can make time for things YOU think are important and necessary. Always remember something is better than nothing.
     *A 10-minute jog
     *A quick game of tag with your kids
     *A 20-minute video
     *10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups and repeat 3x throughout the day
B. We are all tired.  Life is exhausting.  But, if you want to enjoy your life more, have more energy for your family, and be healthy, you have to move!  Yes, our bodies need to REST.  But, it doesn't need a rest seven days a week.  Get a workout buddy.  I would never have gotten up at 5:30 a.m. to go running if it weren't for my running buddy, Lindsay.  And, there is no way I would have completed a 1/2 marathon under 2 hours without her!  We were accountable to one another to be there, to keep moving and to push through the tiredness.  Find someone who has a similar schedule, similar goals and make time to go.
C.  Since when did they charge you to walk or run outside?  I haven't seen anyone taking up money in your living room to workout to that fitness DVD.  If you can't join a gym, there are many other options for fitness.
     *Look for a groupon for a local bootcamp or class
     *Start a walking/running club with other moms
     *Go hiking at a state park with your family
     *In the summer, quit sitting on the chair or the side of the pool.  Get in a SWIM with your kids!
     * Check out http://www.irontribefitness.com/.  They post their CrossFit workouts daily that you can   do at home!
D.  People are always going to judge us no matter what we do or where we go.  It is our sinful nature to judge others to make ourselves feel better or worse.  As one of my favorite fitness professionals says....you have to "DIG DEEP."  Dig deep inside yourself for the confidence to get out there and try something new.  Pray that God would give you the drive and the energy to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

Moms, YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL. You really are.  Isn't it amazing what God allowed our bodies to do?  To create life? Embrace your beautiful body and get out there.  Be confident in yourself.  Don't worry about what others think.  You never know, your confidence to step out of your comfort zone may inspire someone else to get movin'.

Don't be a Skipper

So, you wouldn't NOT put fuel in your car, right?

Our bodies need fuel just like our cars need fuel.  Common sense - if we don't put gas in the tank, it doesn't run.  Period.  Same with our bodies.  You don't put food in your body, it will not function properly.

So, please don't be a skipper!  The saying "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day" hasn't stuck around this long for nothing.

For all my skippers out there, here are is a list of suggestions to fuel up in the morning:
1.  Greek yogurt, granola (mind your serving size!!), and blueberries.  Full of protein to keep you full!
2.  Kashi GoLean cereal with skim milk or two Kashi whole wheat waffles (frozen!)
3.  Whole wheat toast with peanut butter (mind your serving size!!)
4.  Of course, if you have time (HA!), eggs and turkey bacon!!
**And, always a great addition to any meal....fresh fruit!

I know all you moms are movin' so make sure you are filling up your "tank" so you can have a better workout, have more energy for your kids and not be a hungry, crabby wife.