FamilyInShape

Walking- taking small steps for big changes

 

"shadows of a walk" 

Walking has to be the cheapest, safest, easiest form of physical exercise out there. It is a great way to start a fitness program without actually paying gym fees or going to a gym, can be done with family, friends, kids on bikes or strollers, etc.  Did I mention it was free? It is, unless you feel the urge to purchase cute walking outfits and cool walking shoes; which is not such a bad idea.  Still cheaper then gym fees.

Since I moved I have taken up walking with my toddler in the stroller and my young peanut on her bike.  My walks become runs every now and again when the peanut decides to go far ahead of me and I have to catch up.  Try doing that uphill with a 30 lb kid in the stroller!  Ouch on the bum and legs is what you'll be saying.

I have to admit though, that this walking thing is really giving me some great quality time with the kids and often with myself.  I love to listen to music and when I'm at home I can't always turn up the radio and forget the world because inevitably, the moment I do, someone wants to have a conversation with me and if I say not now then I'm being mean.  I know, I'm a terrible mom for desiring to sing out loud! Ugh!!

Anyway, because I love my music and don't mind the walks I find myself looking forward to walking everyday and when I don't or can't I look longingly at the street in front of my house and wish I was there and not here sitting on my ever expanding behind, reading or writing or waiting for the nap to be over.  OK my behind is not expanding because I was fortunate enough to get my mother's genes which dictate that I gain weight from the waist up - oh yeah that's always fun.  I do have some control over that now that I've started my push up challenge and will soon add the sit up challenge to the mix.  That's right, got to nip it in the butt or is it bud? Hmmm - American idioms get me every time.  I should just stay away from them.

So, I have the whole food thing under control, again - yay for me!! Until I start spinning (hopefully soon) I am walking and doing push ups with the kids.  The changes I'm making are having a positive impact on my body and mind.  Physically I feel more energized, mentally I feel rested.  And with my last semester just getting started, I need all the physical and mental energy I can get!

Small steps for big changes... this is how we do it!!

Stay well,

Starting a fitness routine after a long break

 

 Photo credit:  LifeHack

You know it's been a long time since you worked out if you can't remember where you last saw your workout shoes or clothes for that matter.  How about that old water bottle? Many of us have a huge list of good excuses reasons for why we stop a perfectly good workout routine and that's perfectly OK to do.  After all, life does happen and sometimes it happens to interrupt whatever we have going on at the time.  In my case I had a big move and now that it's all said and done I really have no reason to hold back.  Add to that the holidays and the damage could be pretty bad (let's just not go there right now!)

I'm not a big fan of making resolutions because I feel sort of paralyzed after a few weeks.  It's like I make this decision to do the best ever and then if I can't meet that huge goal I feel like a complete failure. Instead I just jump right in and get started with what was working before or at least adjusting what wasn't working.  

So how do you get started?

First - you need motivation.  Only you can make the decision to start a wellness program and only you can determine the reason.  To lose weight, to maintain weight, to be more active? for your kids? Whatever the reasons, write them down and let that be your motivation to START!.

Second - gather up your gear & put it on the schedule.  Get everything ready the night before - find that old gym bag and fill it up with a bottle of water, towel, exercise shoes and clothes.  Be prepared and eliminate any potential pitt-falls. On your family or personal calendar, write your workout plans. Make this an appointment with yourself, your family or your friends.

Third - where are you going? are you going to the gym? calling a friend to join you on a walk? going for a run or bike ride? working out at home? Choose your activity.  It really doesn't matter what activity you choose, but choose one and go with it.  Be prepared to do that activity and several others throughout the week.  

Fourth - Clean out your fridge and pantry.  The last thing you need are temptations to ruin a good workout. You don't have to toss the goodies, although not having them is the best way to go, just tape up the boxes and bags and place them up high or low - you don't want those treats to be easily accessible.  Instead, load up on fresh or frozen fruits, vegetables, healthy snacks such as nuts and high fiber protein bars and of course, water.  Yes, plain old water.  Keep the water bottles ready to go in the fridge or on your counter and drink water throughout the day.

The first workout might be the hardest but it will be the beginning of a much healthier you in 2010!!

Stay Well,

 
 Cross Posted at BlogHer

Really Missing the Farmers Market

 

Photo: "Healthy Food" by Spin Diva

I suddenly came to the realization that eating organic, market-fresh, good for me fruits and vegetables was going to be nearly impossible here in GiTMO and I am disappointed because this is, after all, a tropical island where things are supposed to grow abundantly year round.  So yes, my expectations were a little on the high side.  In the Dominican Republic, where I was born, we had just about everything we needed or wanted to eat growing all around us.  Not in GiTMO.  It seems that this beautiful weather comes with it's own set of consequences.  We have warm mornings, hot afternoons and cool nights in the Winter - everything gets about 20 degrees hotter in the Summer; however, we have the pool, the beaches and the AC to keep us cool.  Overall, it really is beautiful, every single day.  So what's the problem?  It doesn't rain.  The ground is dry, vegetation is scarce and the water is tightly controlled.  That's insane, how we could be surrounded by water (albeit, ocean water) and have such arid, dessert-like terrain.  That really stinks!!

I really miss the open air, farmers markets.  If you have them in your area, learn to appreciate them, visit them often and enjoy the real flavor of the foods you eat.  Unless one exists on base that I don't know about, it looks like I will have to depend on the food that we get at the Commissary (not always the freshest or bestest), frozen fruits and veggies (very limited options) and growing my own (Yikes!), I don't have the greenest thumb but maybe out of necessity I will acquire one, who knows. Will most likely be consulting my mother-in-law frequently in matters of the garden.

This makes being a semi-vegetarian very challenging but I'm up for it and will have to see what creative recipes I can come up with using only what's available to me from the produce and frozen isles; at least until something starts to grow in my own garden.  As for the dry goods I think I can make do with what we have. Many different types of grains are not available but I'm sure I can get someone back home to send me a box of goodies with things like Eight O'Clock Colombian Whole Bean Coffee (hint, hint), Quinoa, Bulgur Wheat, Barley and Sea Salt.  

In the mean time I will continue to climb that hill, get back in the swing of things with Spinning and Swimming.  The kids are spending a lot more time outdoors and because we are in such a small base there really is no competition or try-outs for sports, the kids just join a team and play "competitively" for fun, so we're looking at tennis, soccer, swim lessons and volley ball.  I'm really excited to get all that started. 

I hope you have resolved to not make resolutions this year; instead, put your time and energy into staying active, eating well, and enjoying life indefinitely!!

Stay Well,

For more GiTMO adventures check this out:  http://lifeingtmobay.blogspot.com/

It's Monday - Day one ... again!

 

The Noland Trail in Virginia.  I went for a walk with the kids only to realize this was a five mile trail. There was no way out, we had to finish the walk/run/skip/jump/race. We had a great time!

Hey, yes it is.   It's Monday and time to get back on that 'ole wagon again.  Skip the treadmill, jump on the elliptical; skip those light 10 lbs weights and go for 12 or maybe even 15. Why not? Just get out there and do it!!

OK well, maybe it's not so simple to just jump into a fitness routine after being gone for a while so let's back it up a bit.

Your average person exercises because they have to; whether they do it to get in shape for a race, to lose weight, to improve health or reduce stress; it is an act that must be done or we pay the consequences.  But what happens to our psyche when we skip a day and then another and another....

First we say it's just one day.  I need a break anyway. Ha! 

Then after a few days we say we needed a longer break and we can always start back up Monday, right? WRONG!

Monday comes around and a list of events falls from the sky and lands right on on our laps.  Oh no, now we have to shampoo the rug, cut the grass, the kids are sick, blah blah blah.... can we come up with more excuses? Of course.

But now we've missed an entire week and we know that going back is going to hurt so we find other reasons why we wont go exercise and that one week turns into one month and then three months.

Cut the excuses out of your vocabulary and realize that this is not a chore or a task you do then resent having done it.  Your exercise should be fun, enjoyable, and something you look forward to doing everyday.  

Get out there and enjoy the weather, enjoy nature, take the kids, take the dog, invite your friends. Get on a bike or push the stroller and have a great time.  You wont even know you're exercising but in the end you will feel happy and the kids, well they will remember these days more than anything. Trust me, I know!

 

This was the view at the end of our walk.  Breathtaking, isn't it?

So what are you waiting for? You know the challenge to not gain weight over the holidays is still on and first on my list of things to do is FITNESS! So let's get to it. In or out of the house, it doesn't really matter if you're at the local park or in your back yard collecting leaves. Every minute you spend being active counts and before you know it, that minute becomes five minutes, then ten...etc. You get my drift.

How many miles do you think you'll walk, run, bike or skate this week? How many minutes?

Stay Well,

Almost Autumn

Autumn is my favorite time of year, if I lived in a state or part of the state where the colors changed with the season. The fall season started September 21st and I remember having a discussion with my young 7 year old child about how it wasn't Fall yet and she kept saying "yes it is mom, it started last week" and I argued that it couldn't be because the leaves were all green, we were still wearing summer clothes and cutting the grass.  In my book Fall begins when all that stops.  I spent part of my childhood in New Jersey and some adult time in Pennsylvania, where you can feel the change in the seasons.  I really miss that.

Above is what I see, just not enough orange.

Meanwhile, below was the sky looking gray and cool.

Here, in the Virginia Peninsula, we're still waiting for the leaves to change colors.  I mentioned my dislike for dealing with dreary weather and nothing to show to a friend and I think she was offended because she said "yes we do have colors here, just walk through the park and you'll see."  OKayyyy! Soooorry!  I guess I'll take a walk through the park with the kids, it'll be good for my soul.

Growing up in Jersey I remember we had to get Halloween costumes that were warm and cozy because it was going to be cold trick-or-treating at night, some years we even had snow in October, imagine that.  I miss that too!  Anyway, yesterday was the first day that felt like fall, even if I had to seek out the changing colors, it really felt cool, it was a little gray outside and the air was just a little cooler than usual, I had to wear jeans and a long sleeve shirt, in fact, I had to find light jackets for the kids.  Fantastic!!

So this is the time to break out the crock pot, start making chili, soups and stews. Set up the fall decorations and get the kids involved in seeking out those red, yellow and orange leaves the locals keep talking about.  The best part of this time of year...well there are so many great things happening this time of year but one of my favorite past times is walking at dusk, not only is it a great way to keep the kids (and me) active but it's a great educational tool as well, from identifying tree leaves to identifying animal foot prints.

So go out and walk, seek out what changes in your part of town during this time of year.  If nothing changes outside, guaranteed, something will change inside. Enjoy the season!

Stay Well,

Spin Diva

(Cross Posted at BlogHer.com)

Participating in Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan from A Southern Daydreamer.  Visit Susan to see what other outdoor fun others are sharing.