"A Wink and a Smile"

Faith & Family : Features : 8 Ways to Be a Fit Mom It was a little more than a month ago that this article was posted on Faith and Family . I was quite honored to be asked a few questions from Kate Wicker . Of course at this point of the summer, I'm feeling a wee bit guilty for not getting out there as much to exercise. Not that I have fallen completely off the wagon. It's just that I have had some convenient excuses as to why I am not getting in what I would like to . The EXCUSES ... too hot timing is all wrong no one to help watch my little ones The TRUTH ... It has been a record breaking HOT summer. Just this week we have had several days of 100+ degree temps with heat indexes in the area of 110-120. Can you say SWEAT? I do, however, have a treadmill. It does work just fine. My excuse there is that I only like to do a few miles on it at a time. The outdoors is where I prefer to RUN. While summer seems to be a time that most would think that a stay at home mom ...

Most of the time you will hear me say that I love to exercise. That might not be the whole truth. I love the way I FEEL and LOOK after I exercise. The during part is what I HATE. It was a struggle when I was younger ... when I swam.  Back then I had coaches to push me which made it nearly impossible to not give it my best. Even then I can recall reciting the lyrics to songs to make the time go by faster.  Today I don't have a coach and it's all up to me. Sometimes I count songs or take a peek at what my Nike + reading tells me.  The beginning few weeks always takes me a while to build up to a level.  One where I hit my zone and don't notice as much the time or distance. Right now I am in the beginning (again) stage where I count, look at the time, and secretly hope that I just make it a little further than last time.  The "zone" would come a little sooner if I didn't take so many days off and my "last times" weren't so far apart. This is the we...

I love the start of a new year ... resolutions, de-cluttering,  and all those goals. After a 3 week hiatus from exercise (bad, I know), I started back with my running.  My husband will go full force into his P90x and I will likely do some of the workouts with him.  YOGA was really my favorite and the kickboxing was pretty good too.  I know the program works.  After a few weeks of working out with it, I was really seeing some changes.  My only issue is that life happens (so do excuses) and everyday exercise is not always priority to me.  Taking this on just at the start of Thanksgiving and Christmas was tough too.  I was also missing my running because while doing P90x, I just couldn't squeeze that in as well.  There were just not enough hours in the day. SO, starting on January 1st, I dusted off the sneakers and went for a little run.  Today again I donned a new running outfit that my sister gifted me for Christmas, and used my new handy dandy nike+ pouch ... I love that thing....

This past year was probably the most motivated that I have been since before children.  I WENT to the gym pretty regularly (3 gym days and usually a run or 2 on other days) ... never letting more than 1 week (or 2) slip on by.  I would certainly feel those missed days, but I would regain pretty quickly. May came and things got busy. Excuses started. Exercise DID NOT HAPPEN. Besides the physical effects of not exercising, I started to notice the emotional/mental effects.  I NEED to exercise.  I NEED the stress relief.  I NEED the little time alone. So, this past holiday weekend, I have made some new goals for myself.  Putting exercise on my calendar will make it happen more than just saying I will try to.  Already I am feeling so much better, but I tell you, I CAN FEEL THAT I AM OUT OF SHAPE.  My muscles are just throbbing and the other day after a stupid run in the heat of the day, I seriously thought I would throw up. I KNOW IT WILL GET BETTER.  I just need to be consistent and pus...

I can't continue to look at myself in pajamas on this blog ... and very bright, animated ones at that. Today the bubble came off one of the pools we use at our gym. What that meant for me was a very, VERY crowded parking lot come workout time. I don't enjoy walking all that much through a lot with small children in tow. They want to walk and people are just crazy in those lots. I really need to consider a new workout schedule for the summer. Heading to the gym at 4:30 PM is just nutty. I had to wait and wait on my STRIVE machines today. Thankfully I didn't have a problem getting on a treadmill, but my time was definitely cut short. Bubble off the pool also means that recreational swimming, swim lessons, and lots of teenage girls in teeny bikinis (the top often untied while they lay on their front) are what you see. I do recall baking ... I mean basking in a (half off) bikini at that age, but not so publicly. That was reserved for the backyard only. I am sure t...

1. I AM (getting) OLD . Yesterday while running on the treadmill I caught part of a soap opera that I watched back in 1989-1990 ( while in college). I could tell this because I recognized a few of the characters. Back when I was watching that show, these actors were not super young and now their faces REALLY show it. I guess 18 years will do that. 2. It is always a good idea to get on a cardio machine NEXT TO someone who is in good shape . They usually motivate me to work a little harder. In recent times I have noticed that I get the in-shape people coming to use a machine near me. I can either take this as a compliment, that they like the particular machine, or just that it is the only machine left to get on. I prefer to go with my first thought. 3. Proper attire is necessary ... even down to the under essentials. Most of the time I wear shorts and a tank/short sleeve shirt made of that fancy sweatproof material. Yesterday I was all out of those clothes (they were in my dirty laun...

I am aiming to be a "Hottie" by 40 ... that is still 4 years from now. Sometime within that span of 4 years my teeth will be straight, my jaw re-aligned, and my body will be firm and fit. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR? I really don't think so. I grew up with a Mom who looked better than most of my friend's moms. If not for the last 10 years and the incredible stress of my Dad being sick and passing away ... I think my Mom would still look pretty young. Plastic surgery and all the fake stuff is not on my agenda, but taking care of my body (eating well and exercising) and my health are really important to me. The teeth are already in the process of being fixed . For the most part I have been pretty darn miserable. The wires have completely cut up my inside lower lip to the point that I just wear wax on my brackets most of the time ... NOT a pretty sight. Kissing is so uncomfortable . I miss my little {b}'s BIG smooches. Now I have to tell her to give me soft ones bec...