Mommylete

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Healthy While Home for the Holidays +october surprises!

We got to start our 'home for the holidays' early this year!

Usually you don't get to count Halloween as home for the holidays but we got to because we flew home to surprise our family!

If you want to see some cute Aunts, Uncles and Grandma's and Grandpa's light up the pictures and Video are at the bottom!

Our recent trip home plus finally finishing the video for this trip had me thinking about all the ways we try to stay healthy when we go home for the holidays.

6 Tips For Staying Healthy While Home for the Holidays

Holidays are filled with FOOD FOOD FOOD and we always associate the holidays with weight gain but NOT this year.

1.ONE TREAT DAY

Good choices are 'key' when it comes to the holidays and I try to keep treats to a ONE day ONE treat limit. This is important because when we are on vacation we have an 'I can eat whatever I want' attitude. So lets do opposite! Pick one day to have your dessert or treat and STICK TO IT! If treats prop up (AND THEY WILL) kindly decline and think about how amazing yours is going to taste when the day comes! Finally when the day comes chose your one treat (don't stuff all day) and savor every bite:) Eating out is the same...don't waste your treat and find the leanest options on the menu.

2. MOVE

When family gets together we see a lot of sitting to catch up, or sitting around the table to eat, or sitting around playing card games or watching movies. Don't miss out on those fun memories but this year plan more activities where you are moving! Get out and move! There are fairs, boutiques, light shows, parks you can use to get out and walk. Instead of watching all the football games GO start your own! Wherever home is GO EXPLORE!

We loved visiting the Aquarium! Another fun place to explore!

3. WAKE UP EARLY TO EXERCISE

Keep your workout regime while you are gone for the holidays...you will be so glad you did even for just 30 minutes! The only time you will have to workout is before the day starts. If you wait the day will get away from you (especially because you are filling your day with active activities;) ) And if you wait until night time you will be too exhausted.

4. FIND GOOD 'INDOOR' WORKOUTS

Find workouts you can do in a more compact space and if home means colder weather find exercises you can do inside! I will post my favorite vacation circuit soon but in the meanwhile, find workouts you don't need a lot of space or weights for since you might be staying in the spare bedroom and can't bring that at home gym. EX. imaginary jump rope, push up, plank, sit ups etc.

Another good tool are workout videos (I take a portable DVD player and P90X) or check out your local library.

5. GROCERY SHOP
Whenever possible
If you are traveling on the road and need snacks pack a cooler because you will make healthier choices then if you have been traveling for hours and have the munchies and have to stop at a gas station. Also if you have the chance to grocery shop for your family when you get 'home' for the holidays you will tend to eat 'in' more and again make better choices.

6. PERSONAL FAVE: 5K

This is my personal favorite healthy tip

5k's are super family friendly. When I travel I love scheduling a 5k race (beforehand or you will find a reason to backout) there are always turkey trots or santa races. I love competing with people I don't get to run with and I love talking the whole family into it! Usually you hear a little bit of hesitation or even griping but, everyone is always laughing and grinning when they finish!

Take it to the next level if your whole family are runners make it a challenge by either aiming to finish at a certain time or go for longer lengths.

Most importantly ENJOY every second!

and

HAVE A HAPPY HEALTHY HOLIDAYS

We had so much fun at the Aquarium! Everything to Baby J was a "gog"

Baby J and her Aunt were born to be Best Buddies

My mom is cooler than your mom

Happy Halloween from our garden to yours

Our Little 'Punkin

By jandjsharpie 9:43 PM // 1 comment

We finally made it to a pumpkin patch!

It finally felt like fall (sorta).

This will be our first Arizona fall/winter and we are already loving that we could wear shorts to a pumpkin patch, except I am already craving a cozy sweater and boots.

Maybe in December or January?

We melt

I am going to steal all the little kisses while she lets me

"Guys this one is my size!!!"

Growing like a...pumpkin!

How about this one?

From roosters, to pigs to donkeys to goats everything was a "Gog" (dog)
and she was in heaven!

Happy Fall and Happy Halloween!

Not EVERYONE is beautiful

By jandjsharpie 11:30 PM // 1 comment

Oh boy do I love a good controversial title

Of course I don't mean exactly what you might be thinking.
I have been working on some workouts to post but, I don't want to post them to fuel 2 fires I have seen a lot lately that I am not the hugest fan of...

I am not the biggest fan of this "EVERYONE is beautiful" thing you see everywhere because all though their purpose is a wonderful (and important) movement, they are still missing the mark.

Beauty in my personal opinion has NOTHING to do with looks, or size.

Beauty starts from the inside and will shine through anything whether you are wearing no make up or 10 layers whether you are size triple 0 or 100.

You are beautiful if you have learned how to love someone unconditionally, beauty is conquering a weakness, beauty is serving those around you, beauty is thinking about others before yourself, beauty is having goals and working towards them....beauty is....(well you probably get the idea)

So not, everyone is beautiful.... hopefully this doesn't sound harsh but, if you are a bully who cares about no one in this world except yourself and you focus on fortune and fame and making sure your needs are met first....then you don't fit in the beautiful category, but you easily can be.

I can guarantee when you try to be beautiful the right way first, the rest will come easier.

All the other "size" business is another problem I have. I love that there is a movement to feel confident in your own skin because the exciting part about life is all the uniqueness you can find in the human race... and there isn't just 1 good body type.

I love the confidence that it takes to find happiness no matter where you are at but the focus NEEDS to switch to Am I HEALTHY? instead of pant size or measurements, or no changes will happen.

We need to find a specific purpose to exercise and it CANNOT be "to look good."

The purpose you find needs to trump any excuse you will make against getting out and pounding the pavement or eating that bowl of veggies and that is when your HEALTHY lifestyle changes will come to stay.

I went to a workout class with my mom at about 6 to 7 months pregnant

(because I am ALL about working out while pregnant... that soap box to come after this one)

Although an awesome class the ONLY motivation I heard through the class was, "Come on ladies we have swimsuit season!" and "that burn=an awesome beach body!" and "pain is beauty!"

Being due in October I knew I would have far from a "beach body" that year. I would be 6-9 months pregnant that summer and in a maternity swimsuit.

If that was the only reason to work out then if anyone I had all the reasons to leave or quit

But I didn't because:

-I wanted my body to be strong enough to bring a baby to this world -I wanted the best start for my baby's health -I want to be able to feel that adrenaline at mile 5 when your favorite Jam comes on -I want to be able to run to class (if running late) to catch that quiz and walk in calm and not breathless -I want to have the energy to play with my kids (and grandkids someday) -I want to avoid any preventable diseases and have ALL the years possible with my family -I want to be able to hike to any height and see unbelievable views -I want to be able to compete and win ribbons and medals -I want to have the memory benefits from exercise to remember my children all my years on earth -I want to avoid taking medicine for anxiety and depression -I want to feel the wind in my hair and the flight under my feet -I want to help others no matter the task -I don't want to just survive I want to thrive, feel well, and be happy all the years of my life -

I exercise because I want no limitations to all the things I can do or see.

HEALTHY MEALS! Edition 1:Chicken Lettuce Wraps w/ Addictive Peanut Sauce

By jandjsharpie 10:45 AM // No comments

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As mommylete's one of our biggest battles can be meal times.

A battle because we run out of healthy ideas. A battle to get those babyletes, littleletes and daddyletes to eat it, and a battle to take the time to prepare. Add dietary restrictions and all of a sudden you would rather clean bathrooms than make dinner!

Luckily I have good eaters so I can experiment more often, but I have to eat gluten free, lean and light sugar due to some AWESOME physiological responses. My gastroenterologist looked at me like an orphan puppy when he was explaining my results, but its actually not that bad:) Like my mother-in-law always says its an excuse to eat healthier.

ANYWAY we have a couple favorite lunches and dinners we will post here for the sharing! And if you have any favorites we can use please leave them in the comments or email!

Today's dinner is our

Chicken Lettuce Wraps with an Addictive Peanut Sauce

Before we start I have to explain something! Because I want making dinner to be more fun to make instead of dreading it I sort of pretend I am a chef and I sort of add ingredients and spices without measurements:) I will try to give you a ball park number but, I don't want to take that freedom from you either, so add or subtract things as desirable to your taste it really is SO MUCH FUN to experiment. Don't believe me....try it!

For the chicken you will need:

-1 lb. Chicken Breast

-1-2 T soy sauce

-1 clove of garlic

-1-2 T olive oil

For the Peanut Sauce:

-2 T Peanut Butter

-3/4 cup of your favorite Sesasme Ginger Dressing (Newman's Own was our fav. but its NOT gluten free)

-1/4 cup chopped peanuts optional

Produce:

Fresh Cilantro 1/4 of a bunch

Fresh Head of Romaine Lettuce

1 Yellow pepper

Shredded Carrots as needed

Shredded Cucumber as needed

Grains

1-2 Cups of Brown Rice OR Quinoa

This really is SO EASY and pretty quick!

if you are ambitious you can marinate the chicken in the soy sauce, olive oil, garlic mixture the night before BUT I have forgotten to do that many times and just fried it up with the oil, soy sauce and garlic and it tasted great still!

Toss your brown rice or quinoa into a rice cooker while frying up your chicken. Once the chicken is done cut it into more manageable bite size pieces.

Shred some carrots and cucumbers as needed for the amount of people eating. (we use about 8 baby carrots and half a cucumber for only 3 people), slice your pepper into long spears. and chop up the cilantro leaves.

I am a sucker for a good peanut sauce and this one is yummy! This is where I get creative I start with around 2-3 T of peanut butter and I really just start mixing in the Sesame Ginger dressing (we really do love the Newman's Own low fat, but found out the hard way it wasn't gluten free) until I like how it tastes. We like it more peanut buttery and thick, so experiment until you like it! Then add the crushed peanuts if you want!

Serving for Mom and Dad and Older littles dish some of your brown rice OR quinoa into your lettuce leaf, add some chicken, veggies and cilantro to taste and top with your yummy peanut sauce and ENJOY!

*Serving for Toddlers give manageable sizes of chicken shredded carrots and shredded cucumbers and peppers to eat as finger foods!

Its EASY and its SO YUMMY!

*to your discretion, never give your infants anything they can't handle or anything a pediatrician doesn't suggest.

The Best Workout Ever?... Be a kid!

By jandjsharpie 9:50 PM // No comments

The best way to survive Arizona summers is to leave it!

Okay not really!

We surprisingly enjoy the heat especially for this being our first 2 months here but, we have definitely found sanity in pools and splash pads!

She is our little water baby! splash pads, pools and baths are some of her favorites!

Maybe she will be a swimmer someday?!

Our babylete looked so tiny being just 10 months and walking and running through the water!

You could tell from day one she was just itching to run around and now she doesn't stop, not even to eat:) Her little legs keep kicking from her high chair.

So speaking of always moving have you ever watched your sweet little ones explore the world? They are up and down and running around back and forth, climbing, lifting, jumping, playing with one toy to the next? The best exercise ever is to be a kid!

Some of the best advice I got while pregnant was to ALWAYS be on their level, if they are crawling, be on the ground with them, if they are walking get down and play with them always find yourself getting down and spending good quality time with them.

We are always looking for good ways to be active and healthy and lean this is one of the best ways! Your kids will love having your full attention and you will get the workout of your life bending up and down and running around.

At the splash pad I noticed mom's sitting around the edges watching their kids play so I tried something new;) I wore a swimsuit and ran around with Jaycee and splashed and jumped in the water with her! It was one of the BEST times I have had with her and I loved the energy I got from running and jumping and bending up and down. I kinda felt silly running around as a 24 year old.

BUT you should have seen what happened!

Kids started going to their mom's and asking them to come play and in just a matter of minutes there were most ALL mom's and dad's and kids running around and playing together. It was seriously contagious!

I too often catch myself staring at screens or being a sideline mom. If you want to be more attentive to your kids or you want to start being more active, start here! It's as easy as running around playing and doing what they do! Start today I guarantee you will have so much fun being a kid again and you will start a trend for the parents around you, plus most importantly your kiddo's will be beyond thrilled! If you are already good at this just you wait! I have a play time workout coming soon that is just a blast!

Oh my goodness she melt my heart!!!

Welcome To Mommylete

By jandjsharpie 12:47 AM // No comments

moth·er
ˈməT͟Hər/The meaning of being a mother is virtually endless. A mother is a protector, disciplinarian and friend. A mother is a selfless, loving human who must sacrifice many of their wants and needs for the wants and needs of their children. A mother works hard to make sure their child is equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities to make it as a competent human being. Being a mother is perhaps the hardest, most rewarding job a woman will ever experience. (livestrong.com)
ath·lete
ˈaTHˌlēt/
1. One who participates in physical exercise or sports, especially in competitive events.2. One possessing the requisite strength, agility, and endurance for success in sports (freedictionary.com)

Mommylete

Its as easy as that. This is our journey as moms and as athletes. If there was ever a time to focus on your health and well-being this is one of the best (for many reasons we will talk about in future posts)!

Fitness is "all the rage" right now, which I am super grateful for because they now make degrees for it in college! So with all the real professionals, differing opinions and studies out there, who am I to think I get to talk about fitness?

Nobody really, just an active competitive girl who married a way cooler college athlete who had a sporty little baby and this mommy happens to also be a.....student.....who has a senior project.

A lot of thought came to mind when figuring out what to do for my senior project. First Daddylete and I were reading 'Tuesday's With Morrie' together (yes, we do the actual prehistoric turn the pages read out loud type reading and YES, you should read it if you haven't). I thought to myself do I have a professor that has influenced me like that? And I realized maybe not to the extent of Morrie but, Dr. Boyer at UVU (before I ended up at ASU) is one of those type of professors. He is so animated, thoughtful and understanding. I was in my first trimester for one of his 8 am classes and happened to have a "sick" morning which happened to be a day of an important quiz. When I explained the situation he first thanked me for chosing the path of motherhood and for all the sacrifices I would give.

HE THANKED ME!!!

Choosing to start our family while in school is a hard one to explain to people...we just knew... and although never got mean comments or judgement we know it isn't the HIGH opinion....but not only did he help me make up the quiz, he thanked me for sacrificing and choosing to be a mom! No one does that!

Dr. Boyer does. He also has 'Books of Boyer' which I won't give verbatim here because if they should ever be published it should be by him:) but one of his main focuses was to serve each other and always give back. He didn't just talk the talk he also usually had a client he was working with for free.

Now I am no professional yet, but I am studying hard to be! I hope to earn a master's someday in Kinesiology/strength and conditioning where I can be of more help. But while I am learning and even after attaining degrees I hope I can give back. Thus, the revamp and rebirth of this blog as my project. We will talk about anything and everything mommy, health physically, mentally, spiritually, workouts and getting those little ones active and involved!

welcome and enjoy!

p.s. being a student I can't keep up 2 blogs so this is also where I will post some of our family updates so babylete's 'granny and grampyletes, uncletes, and auntyletes can see our little one grow up!

Jaycee's Birth Story

By jandjsharpie 9:29 AM // 2 comments

It is crazy how October 1st has come and gone 22 times and all of a sudden became a day that has changed my whole world!

September 28

was my 40 week Doctors appointment. The appointment was the regular appointment I was 39 weeks 5 days I was starting to show signs of my body recognizing labor was coming. Nothing too soon, nothing dramatic, everything was average. I went home with excitement that my baby would be here no more than 1 week longer and that she could show up at any moment.

September 29

was another great day. I had the day off work and was trying to get some last minute baby prep done. Josh and I were so excited for our little one to appear we were determined to have everything ready by 37 weeks so with nothing left to do the last three weeks went by slowly. While out with my mom I had a worrisome feeling that she wasn't perfectly okay and I started to be really aware of each movement so I could be sure she was alright. That night I was laying in bed with some little contractions and then all of a sudden I felt her kicking harder and faster then I had felt for about 8 weeks. Of course I turned into a worry wart; that combined with contractions kept me up ALL night.

September 30

This morning and the night before I kept moving around waiting for her to move. I hadn't felt her move since her crazy movement the night before. I tried everything! I even ate cinnamon toast crunch thinking that the sugar buzz would wake her up since I cut out dessert and candy while pregnant. Each hour that passed the more worried I got. When I expressed my worry to Josh he told me to just call in. I did not want to call in and be annoying for nothing or to just be sent home and feel silly. (side note to mommy's and daddy's ALWAYS, ALWAYS call no matter how silly you may feel). Throughout the pregnancy Josh was always so reassuring when I felt worried about the baby. When I saw a little concern on his face and didn't' hear the usual, "Everything will be okay," I called.

They told me to come in to the office and "they would check for a heartbeat." What?! why would you say that to an already worry wort of a future mommy! I sat in the waiting room thinking of how I would react if the news was not as we wanted and telling myself to be strong. They called me back and the whole pep talk was in vain, the tears started flowing. They put the Doppler heart monitor on my big 39 week belly and there was my sweet girls heartbeat right away. Cue more tears. I was so relieved and ready to go back home, right then the doctor informs me he would like me to go get a Non-stress test at the hospital since we still hadn't had movement while I was being monitored there either. After being monitored on the NST for 30 min and then an additional 20 just to be sure the nurse leaves and says I am going to send these results to your doctor. She calmly walks back in says "your docctor would like you to deliver." My heart sank and I immediately started to be nervous, excited, happy and scared.

I called Josh who was lifting for basketball and no answer so I called my mom and there was no answer. I started to panic because I was being sent straight up to get this baby party started and no one knew but me! I couldn't even go home! Even though it seemed like eternity it was only a couple minutes until he called back. Josh finished packing for us and came over right as they were breaking my water just before noon. The minute I saw him walk in everything was okay and it really set in that we weren't going home without our little one.

I kept looking at this calm, empty heating table and knew it would soon be busy and filled.
I don't know why but this view made it real for me

The flavored ice chips were the best!

The rest is pretty simple the nurse came in every 45 min-1 hour to turn up the pitocin. I didn't want the epidural at this point because I felt more productive going through contractions and it made the time fly (plus the thought of being numb seemed way worse than the pain). We eventually got all the way up on the pitocin and the doctors said kept saying try to get rest. The contractions were bearable but definitely NOT comfortable and I kept thinking they were crazy for thinking I could sleep through contractions. I would close my eyes and relax in between and that seemed sufficient for me. Eventually, thinking we had another 10 or more hours of labor after already laboring for 9 I decided to call for the epidural and get that rest that they so highly spoke of:) I was shaking as Josh held me because I had been so nervous for this part. It ended up being so simple and quick thanks to my anesthesiologist who was wonderful. I could say this a thousand times but Josh was a champ he made everything so incredible and the way he would hug me and reassure me through the process made me so motivated to get his baby girl here safe and sound and soon.

waiting...

...waiting...

still waiting

passing the time talking about everything our daughter would be!

Little did I know the time would fly after I got the epidural! My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and mom came to visit and hang out and pass the time for a little bit because we were going to have a long night and next day (supposedly). I was so excited to see them and loved having their company. Their excitement was contagious and was another motivator to getting their granddaughter and neice here so they could meet her! They decided to leave around 9:30 pm so I could sleep and they could sleep. The nurse checked as thy left I was only 3 cm. Josh walked my mom down so I was all by myself, no bustle of nurses no family and no Josh. I started to get really scared knowing my life was about to change dramatically within the next couple hours. I kept wondering would I be a good mom, would my baby like me, would I like being a mom, what would my baby be like, would I regret our choice to start our family? Thank goodness Josh came back just a couple minutes after 10:00 to help calm me down. The nurse checked again because the baby's heart rate kept dropping dramatically with every contraction and I was all of a sudden at 8 cm. My body and baby decided it was time to get here! We were about to deliver a baby!!! 9 came just minutes after and soon I was all set ready to go. I kept looking at the clock thinking I was going to have a September baby but, I really wanted an October baby! I told Josh if it came down to the wire I would just pretend to push until it was October:) The nurse let me start pushing and by then I had planned to let the epidural start to wear off so I could have a little more control. Josh was so amazing and so supportive and we had so much fun in between contractions. All the excitement that our little one was minutes away made us so giddy we laughed and talked about our plans for the next couple of minutes and hours WITH our little one! I feel so lucky and blessed to have had such a blissful, peaceful (and dare I say fun?) labor (all because of Josh). I had to stop pushing while the nurse called the doctor over. We waited just a bit for him to arrive but, once he arrived she too arrived and I was holding my beautiful baby girl. We found out the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck shoulder and foot which possibly were why there were some complications in the tests earlier that day. The doctor expressed how glad he was that we got her out right away and we couldn't have been more grateful to have our beautiful, healthy October girl.