Health Hobbies BEYOND Fitness

*Published posthumously.

During the summer I was hooked on fitness!  I worked out daily – sometimes twice.  Now that I am working from home, working out is something I'm still figuring out how to fit in.  It’s a big adjustment for me to not have as much time to focus on the ‘fitness’ aspect of my journey towards health, but it’s important to remember that this is a journey and that there is so much more that goes into one’s health and happiness than just ‘diet’ and ‘exercise.’

What do you do to promote your health and happiness beyond the normal diet & exercise?  I couldn't pick just one, so here’s my top 5 Health Hobbies BEYOND Fitness.

1. Family time - I have been blessed with a great family.  When my dad passed away last October from pancreatic cancer, I gained a newfound perspective on the relationships in my life.  I can exercise for hours and eat a perfect diet, but at the end of the day – that’s not what matters.  What matters is my relationship with the people I love and cherish.  Make quality time for them.  Hug them.  Sometimes it’s the little insignificant moments that end up meaning the most – don’t take them for granted.

2.  Crafting - I have always been crafty.  I love crafts of all kinds – crochet, sewing, stamping, scrapbooking, etc., etc.  It can be so therapeutic just to delve into my creativity.  I have a whole IKEA room devoted to crafting!  It is so nice having a place where I can just go create. 

The best is when you can invite a friend over for some craftiness!   In college, my friend and I used to have Saturday morning crafting brunches.  We wore pajamas, ate breakfast, and crafted!  We joked that we were preparing for early retirement.  

My sister even recently had a ‘Brit Kit’ craft party.  You should check it out on her blog.  

3. Reading - Ah, the exercise of the brain.  “Between the pages of a book is a lovely place to be.”  Maybe it’s the teacher in me, but I love to read.  I have memories as a little girl standing outside the doors of the BIG downtown public library, just waiting for it to open.   A whole floor devoted to children’s books?  I was in heaven!  Then there was the time that I remember my dad said “I’m going to the library.”  I came down screaming, “I want to go! I want to go!”  I didn’t realize that my dad meant he was going to the restroom.  Needless to say, I got to go to the actual library that day. 

 I am one of those people that get so into books that I feel like they are my best friends.  I laugh with them, I cry with them.  When the book is over – I feel lost.  “What’s next?” I think.  Or… “I’ll never find a book that’s better than that,” …until I find the next great book.  There’s just something magical about a book.  You can travel to mysterious places, or just deeper into your own hopes and dreams.  Reading can be an escape or a place of refuge.  Or it can just be someone saying, “I understand exactly how you feel.”

4. Life group - Every Wednesday, my husband and I spend time with a small group of friends.  Sometimes we spend time in the Word, and sometimes we just fellowship.  It has been so good for us to set aside time to sit back and enjoy time with some of our friends.  It may have been a bad day, and we may not even feel like going, but we always leave feeling refreshed.  Laughter is the best medicine, so they say. And our life group has been a lifeline to the most important thing in life--pursuing a relationship with Christ and with each other.

5. Pets - That’s right—whether it’s really true or not, I don’t know, but I’ve always heard that pet owners live longer and happier lives.  Maybe I just made that up, but it sounds good.  I have a 13-pound ball of fur that lives in my house – she’s a Yorkie and her name is Maggie. 

 I have to say…there were a few days in the beginning when we thought, “What have we gotten ourselves into?”  But, I wouldn't trade her for the world.  She’s my fur baby and I would definitely say she improves my quality of life.  It’s hard not to be active when you have a little ball of energy living with you! 

*Note: This is Allison's sister. It appears that Allison left this post unfinished--without a conclusion. Please allow this to be the conclusion... Allison passed away on May 20, 2016. You can read some of the details here. Our lives are forever altered by the loss. She was such a beautiful person--inside and out. My heart still breaks that she isn't here with us anymore. No one could have ever imagined that her life on this side of heaven would have ended the way it did.

But I know if she had been given some sort of wisdom to have seen how it would all play out, she would have lived her life very much the same. She loved the Lord with everything in her--all her heart, her soul, and her mind. And she loved her family, friends, and "neighbors" deeply. She grew from an exuberant, curly-haired little girl who bounced around singing, "Happy! Happy! Happy!" to a beautiful young woman who exemplified what it meant to have the joy of the Lord. Strength and happiness poured out of her--from her smile to the way she loved and served others so well.

Since her passing, I have often had her very own words come back to me when I've needed them the most. At times it's been through a memory--a simple recollection of something she once said. Other times a friend has shared with me the encouragement they once received from her. Today her words are coming to me through a draft I just discovered in her blog archives. It's the only post that was left unpublished. It is my hope that her legacy and her words will be as uplifting and encouraging to you as they were to my heart today. Allison truly knew and understood what mattered most.

Color Me RAD

Have you ever heard that joke - the one about how if you catch me running, you better check and see who is chasing me? Too funny! Well, I am not a big runner, but I am motivated to run when you throw a little colored powder in the mix!

5 Secrets to Getting Back on Track

This saying makes me laugh! Don't you wish that was possible? The holidays can be so difficult! I always have the best of intentions, but sometimes it doesn't always go as planned.
I think the key to success is learning to get back on track after life happens. This is something that has always been so hard for me. I do will great for a while and am fully on track - then I stumble on one stair and end up throwing myself down the whole flight. Can you relate? 

Goodbye, October - Hello, November

It's that time! 

Time to look back at see how the 'plan' for October went!

Fitbit Fitness

Think you are really active? I thought I was. Then I got my FitBit. I was moving a lot less than I thought.
This little band has been by my side for a year now - you may see it change colors, but it is there. Tracking my activity. 
I LOVE it! It tracks my steps, active minutes, calories burned, miles traveled, and my sleep. It syncs with MyFitnessPal to keep track of calories in versus calories out.  I once left it in its charger and forgot it on my way to Zumba! I had to remind myself that my body wouldn't know the difference, even though I wouldn't get credit for all those steps!!

Get Your Workout On!

LAZY! <-- That is the word that currently describes my workout routine. 
The summer was easy - I had endless time! I spent my mornings at the Y and then usually still found time to walk the dogs or hop on the treadmill for a bit. I did good at first when work started back, but now I have been a s-l-a-c-k-e-r!
I am a planner. If I have a plan or a schedule, I'll stick to it! I'm good at making it to appointments. So, I have made some appointments for myself - my health depends on it!

30 Days of Clean Eating

So I've been doing pretty well with my eating and lost 15 pounds! Woo hoo! I got off track a little - it is so easy to forget how good you feel when you eat good. My husband and I went a whole month without eating out (to be healthy and save money) and when we went out for a friend's birthday, we got so sick! 
I am taking a 30 day challenge to clean up ourmy diet - which means my husband is along for the ride. We are eliminating as many processed foods as possible. There are so many awesome resources out there on clean eating - some of my favorite clean eating blogs are 1oo Days of Real Food and Whole Foods New Body. I will admit - we probably won't be perfect, but who is? I say if we have eaten 85% clean, we have succeeded! 
Eat: Whole foods Whole Wheat / Whole Grain Lean protein Locally raised meat - when possible Fruits and Vegetables Organic - when possible (though I think it is better to eat a non-organic strawberry than a candy bar)
Do NOT Eat: If it comes out of a box and has ingredients I cannot pronounce Foods that say 'Fat Free, Low Fat, Light' Fast Food JUNK Sodas Refined or Artificial Sweeteners
There will be some obstacles - that's life, though, right? Our anniversary is this month - so we will be enjoying the Melting Pot. (I am not sorry!) There's also a day or two that we will be traveling and we'll do the best we can. Other than that, I hope to 'clean up' my diet as much as possible! I know at the end of our 30 days, we'll feel so much better. 
Today was actually day 2 - I'm a little behind! I went grocery shopping at Trader Joe's and was ready for the week.

5 Health Hobbies Beyond Fitness

Back in October I was asked to write a post about 'Health Hobbies Beyond Fitness.'  My first thought was... what is fitness besides eating right and exercising?  Then I realized that how I was thinking of fitness was all wrong.  There are so many other things we do and include in our lives that contribute to our overall health.  After all, fitness isn't just about getting thing - it's about being healthy, and there are a lot of things that contribute to our health.  Be sure to check out my top 5 Health Hobbies BEYOND Fitness over at Healthy Living Blogs.  

Surviving Tailgating!

It's football time in Tennessee!  Tomorrow is the first game of the season, and you know what comes with that?  TAILGATING!  That word can be a healthy eater's worst nightmare.  So what do you do to stay on track?  

1. Scope Out the Spread — See what all the options are so you can make the best choice and what to choose.  If there are so many things you just can’t resist, just pick one.  Pick your favorite.  Remember to ask yourself if it’s worth it. 

2. Bring a Healthy Dish — Not sure what is going to be available??  Try this alternative for Honey BBQ wings! Bring a dish or two that you can eat, and stick to them!   Going to be tempted by dessert?   Bring some vanilla Greek yogurt, diced strawberries, blueberries, and granola and set up a yogurt bar!

3. Fruit, Veggies, and Protein — There will usually be a fruit and veggie tray.  Fill up your plate with these!  Go for some lean, grilled protein.

4. Drink Water — This isn’t an issue for me because I don’t drink.  Remember, you don’t have to drink to have a good time,  and you’ll be consuming WAY less calories.

5. Eat Beforehand — Don’t come to the tailgate famished!  If you are really hungry, your willpower will go right out the window.  Eat something beforehand so that you are tempted to just pig out.  You can even do a quick workout before you go – that always makes me more health conscious. 

6. Focus on the Game — Make it about the fellowship and the game, not about the food.  Our culture wants to make everything about food.  Switch that mindset and focus on the point of the occasion.

7.  Be the Host — Host the party and you’ll be in control of what is served.  That way, you can ensure that the menu will include plenty of healthy options.

8. Moderation — Be conscious of your portion sizes.  Don’t overdo it!  In the long run, will it be worth it?  It might seem great at the time, but the next day you’ll be kicking yourself.

9. Avoid Slippery Slope Foods — You know you have those red light foods that once you start eating them, you can’t stop.  Don’t even let yourself take the first bite (you’ll thank yourself later).  Avoid the mindless munching!

10. Move Away from the Table — Constantly standing by the food is just going to result in more eating of the food.  Fix your plate and then move away from the food.   

Going to football games with dad is a cherished memory.  Dad was so funny - he hate sitting in traffic, so he left at the end of the third quarter - no matter what!  Dad always got awesome seats, too.  I hold all those times with my dad near to my heart.  

Extreme Weight Loss

I'm going to sound like a big commercial, but if you haven't seen Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition on ABC, you are missing out!  Each week a different person is selected to participate in Chris Powell's program.  The show follows them through their year long transformation.  You see the ups and you see the downs, but the results never cease to amaze me!
Last night featured Mike - he went from being 417 pounds to 198 pounds with about 10% body fat - whoa!  I am always inspired by their stories and their weight loss.  It make it really hard for me to come up with excuses!
P.S. If you haven't checked it out, Chris Powell's wife Heidi has a blog!  She has great recipes and weight loss tips. 

Biggest Loser - Family Style

I am so excited to tell you about what my family is doing!  My sister Jennifer and brother-in-law Tim had the idea to have a little family competition as motivation for all of us to get healthier - and smaller!
Who? Sharon (my mom), Jennifer, Tim, Carl (my husband), and I are all competing! 
The Game! We are competing on 2 levels. 1. Losing % of body weight 2. Losing body fat %
The stakes? Everyone put $10 in the pot! The winner of each level wins $25.  If you lose the most % of body weight and most body fat % - you can win the whole $50 pot! We'll all win healthier bodies!
What do you do to stay motivated?  Stay tuned - I'll keep you updated you on how everyone is doing! 

Tips for Eating Out - Part 2

If you missed them, check out the first 5 tips! 

6. Pick the restaurant.  “Where do you guys want to go?”  “I don’t know, where do you guys want to go?” “Gee, I don’t know. Any ideas?” – Does this sound familiar?  This is how it usually goes down when we try to pick a place to eat with friends.  So instead of doing the back and forth banter, just pick.  Pick the place you feel you can do the best.  I cannot eat healthy at Cracker Barrel.  Are there healthy choices there?  Yes.  I just can’t resist those blackberry pancakes. 

7. Go for the protein.  It’s going to happen.  At some point you’re going to end up at a restaurant, cookout, or a theme park.  We have season passes to Dollywood, but when I go – I panic.  There is virtually nothing healthy there.  Once I went and they told me they didn’t have salads that they were seasonal.  What?!  So go for the protein.  If lean is available, go for that.  Get protein and try to get some veggies with it.  Once I had to settle for some kind of fajita at Dollywood – I ate the meat and cooked veggies and tossed the shell.  Maybe not the best thing, but you do what you can when you’re in a pickle.

8. Pack.  Yes, I have seriously brought my own food into a restaurant.  We were at a teaching conference and all my friends wanted to eat out, but I had already packed my healthy lunch.  Solution?  I ate my packed lunch with them in the restaurant.  I bring my own snacks to the movies.  I packed up a cooler of food when we toured Biltmore.  Pack your own dressing if you know you’re going to eat out and get a salad.  That’s usually where restaurants get ya – on the salad dressing.

9. Personal Restaurant!  Okay, this isn’t exactly eating out.  This is more like avoiding a restaurant.  Your friends want to have a nice evening together?  Invite them over to dinner and then you are in charge of what goes on the table.  Host a game night or a cookout.  Have friends over for dinner and then head out to the movie or putt-putt. 

10. Doggie bag it!  Usually the servings at restaurants are very large.  Ask for a box when you get the food – put half of your entrée in a box.  If it’s on my plate, I’m going to eat it.  If it’s not – I won’t.  Otherwise - order the lunch portion.  Split a meal with a friend.  Don’t hate me, but you could order off the kids’ menu.  You’re the customer – substitute for healthier options, ask questions about how it’s prepared.

Do you have any other suggestions for eating out?  Guidelines to follow?  Favorite places to go?

Tips for Eating Out - Part 1

1. Plan, plan, plan!  Planning ahead is vital when you are eating out.  Knowing when you are going and where can help you make good decisions!  If I know that I'm going out to eat for lunch, I can make sure that I eat really well the rest of the day.  I can also make sure that I have dinner at home planned out so we don't end up having to eat out twice in a day.

2. Check the Nutrition Guide!  This is also part of planning – if you know where you’re going, you’ll have time to look up the nutrition information.  Most restaurants nowadays offer a nutrition guide.  Panera posts their calorie counts on their menu!  McAllister’s Deli and Subway both have nutrition calculators so you can actually plan out your meal.  Other places have a nutrition guide online – Zoës Kitchen, Applebee’s, and Red Lobster.  There are also a lot of calorie counts available online at myfitnesspal.com or on their app.

3. Check the Sodium!  You would be SHOCKED at the amount of sodium in EVERYTHING at restaurants.  A ½ turkey melt and ½ grilled chicken salad at McAllister’s Deli has 2,000mg of sodium.  WHOA!  Talk about bloat city.  Try to pick something on the lower end of the sodium count.  Otherwise you’re going to feel the bloat!  Watch your sodium intake the rest of the day. 

4. Choose water!  Don’t drink your calories!  We waste so many of our calories on what we drink.  It’s not worth it, and it’s not good for your body.  Drinking a lot of water when you eat out will also help to flush out some of that extra sodium.  Don’t go for diet anything – you’re just pumping your body full of artificial sweeteners.  If you don’t already know how bad those are for you, you should definitely do some research!

5. Workout!  I don’t know about you, but when I complete tabata bootcamp or even just a 20 minute deck of cards workout, I am more inclined to make good choices the rest of the day.  Are you kidding?  You want me to eat what?  After I quite literally worked my tush off??  No thanks!

Stay tuned for the last 5 tips!

Confessions of a Yo-Yo Dieter

Up and down, up and down!  I've been on a roller coaster of weight loss for quite some time now.   I lose it, then I gain it all back.  Before Hawaii, I worked really hard and lost 15 pounds!  It felt great - I went to buy beach clothes and actually had everything I took into the fitting room fit me.  That is the best feeling!  Of course, I took a break from healthy eating while I was in Hawaii - it was my honeymoon, after all.  My problem?  Taking a break for me = a downhill spiral.  I struggle to get back on track after a splurge or a vacation.  

So here I am - AGAIN.  Unfortunately, I found that 15 pounds I lost.  This time I"m determined to shed the pounds and KEEP THEM OFF!  "I'm not losing weight, I'm getting RID of it!"  I'm getting of the yo-yo coaster and I'm adopting this health lifestyle permanently.  I'm counting calories - keeping clean eating in mind!  If you're looking for a great resource on clean eating, try The Gracious Pantry.  I am trying to limit my processed foods and really amp up the fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and lean protein.   I feel like counting calories gives me the freedom to explore new recipes and sometimes have something I really want in moderation.  I also go to bootcamp Mondays & Thursdays.  Then I try to workout at least 3 other times during the week - sometimes I even do some extra cardio on bootcamp days. 

I'm learning tackling my challenges!  The other day we went to the movie theater with friends.  Instead of chowing down on 900-calorie-clog-your-arteries popcorn, I packed my snacks!  

The ingredient lists on these snack foods are ones I can actually read!

On Father's Day, we took a day trip to West Virginia.  Usually that would mean I'm done for = but not this time!  I ate breakfast at home, packed lunch & snacks, and planned ahead my dinner out.  

Envelope #2

I reached my 2nd goal and got to open my next envelope!  My reward for losing 10 pounds was new makeup!  I picked some makeup goodies from Mary Kay & Target. 

 I can't wait to meet my next goal!  My reward for losing 15 pounds is a mani / pedi at Salon Biyoshi.  I have never been there, but have heard it's great.  My sweet mother-in-law bought me a gift card there for my birthday and I can't wait to use it.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Happy Birthday weekend to me!  I promised myself I wouldn't - but I did.  My present to myself this year was supposed to be staying on track, but it didn't go exactly as planned.  I worked out, but I definitely indulged more than I should have - and boy do I regret it.  The saying 'you are what you eat' rings true.  After a weekend of eating 'junk' I feel like just that -- JUNK! 

But it's okay!  I'm not going to beat myself up about it.  I'm going to pick up and get right back on track!  There are 4 weeks until Spring Break and I am going to make the most of them.

I have a hard time having A splurge. It turns into a downward spiral for me, which is exactly why I cannot use food as a reward.  I found an article called 8 Reasons Why You're Not Losing Weight, and it really hit on some important points - consistency, eating the right kinds of calories, not letting your "cheat days" cheat you, and understanding that it's a combination of exercise AND diet. 

How do you pick yourself up after a slip?

A Little Shopping Motivation

There's nothing like a little, light shopping to make you want to do some heavy working out.  I went shopping with my mom today.  A few pairs of pants later, my sense of motivation suddenly came rushing back.  You've been there - the dreaded between sizes!  The size you want is a little too tight, but you are NOT going to buy the bigger size.  

I'm on my way to fitting into those motivational pants!  I'm down 6 pounds and still going!  I've had a few rough days, but I'm keeping on.  My mom used to quote the saying "nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels."  It's true.

Diet.  It's a word associated with fad eating, weight loss, and deprivation.  At boot camp the other night we discussed 'diet' versus 'on a diet.'  (On Tuesdays & Saturdays I go to 'boot camp' with some other ladies.)  I've really had to change my mindset about what diet means.  Everyone is 'on a diet' because diet is what you eat.  It's the food you choose to fuel your body with, whether it be healthy or unhealthy.  I have stop feeling so restricted by the limitations of what I eat and start remembering that I am choosing to make my 'diet' a wholesome one that will keep my healthy and happy! 

A great app / website I've been using is called My Fitness Pal.  It's a great way to keep track of what you're eating.  You give it information about yourself, tell it your goals, and it tells you how many calories to eat each day.  It makes it so easy to keep a food journal because I do it all from my phone.  Adding food is as simple as scanning the bar code or typing in the search bar - their database of foods is huge!  If I forget my phone or it dies, I can simply access   my account online. 

You can find friends to give you encouragement.  Keep track of carbs, fat, sugar, etc. for the day or week.  Keep track of your goals, exercise, and food diary - all in one.  My favorite part is that when you complete a day's diary, it gives you an estimate of what you would weight in 5 weeks if you keep eating the same.  It helps keep me motivated and holds me accountable.  

Envelope #1

I got to open my first envelope this week for losing 5 pounds!  Whoop, whoop!  My reward was $25 to Panera and Barnes and Noble.  They were gift card I already had that I put up for my first reward.  So tonight, my mom, husband, and I got to enjoy a Panera dinner and a trip to the book store.  Maybe my next reward should have been a camera!  I'll have to be sure to start using my husband's good one. J

While at the bookstore, my mom and I happened upon this 100 Calorie Snacks & More cookbook.  It had some really great recipes in it - all for under 100 calories!  I can't wait to try some out and post them.  I don't know about you, but I have a major sweet tooth...if I can satiate it for less than 100 calories, I'll be on my way to opening my next envelope in no time. 



Get MOTIVATED!

I don't know about you, but I don't just think exercise and eating right is a ball of fun.  I need motivation, or there's no way I'm going stick to it.  Yes - eating right needs to be a lifestyle change, not just a "fad" diet.  But who doesn't enjoy making weight loss more like a game?  

I saw this idea on Pinterest a few different times and decided to give it a try.  While I was at Target, I picked up some of these marble-like vase fillers and 2 mini-buckets from the dollar section.  I wrote on the buckets with a chalk marker "Pounds LOST" and "Pounds TO GO." 

I filled the "Pounds TO GO" bucket with marbles to represent the amount of  pounds I want to lose.  I placed them by  my scale and will move a marble over to "Pounds LOST" for each  pound I lose.  As small and trivial as it may seem, I am excited about moving those marbles! 

My husband suggested that maybe I pay myself for working out.  I like it!  I picked up an extra bucket at Target and am using the leftover marbles to keep track of the money I earn for working out.  I get a $1.00 per day that I workout.  When I've saved up a sufficient amount, I'll get to use my reward money on something that I will enjoy!  A movie?  Shoes?

Another idea I am trying is to have some reward envelopes ready for when I lose 5 pound increments of weight.  I took some time and really tried to pick some incentives that motivate me.  We just had Christmas, so I went through my wallet and decided to use some gift cards I already have.  

-5 pounds = Panera Lunch & Book Date! 

-10 pounds = New MAKEUP! 

-15 pounds = Manicure & Pedicure

-20 pounds = Shopping Spree! (Giftcards for Limited, JCrew, & Victoria's Secret!!)

What motivates you?  A new outfit?  A new hairdo?  A trip?  When deciding how to reward myself, I had to keep in mind that rewarding myself with food would defeat the purpose. (I have always heard the saying - you are not a dog! Don't reward yourself with treats!)

How do you get motivated?