Soaking Up Summer

That's what we did this past week - we soaked up as much of summer as we could! The temperatures have cooled off just a little, enough that it's still hot enough to enjoy the beach and the pool without feeling like turkeys on Thanksgiving. So we had a lot of busy days, staying active & enjoying the beautiful weather!

Now that the Knock Out the Fat challenge is over, it was nice to relax and enjoy myself. When we went on vacation in July, it was the middle of the challenge, and I felt like I couldn't enjoy myself as much because I still had to be focused on my nutrition and exercise. It didn't feel like vacation. This last week was more of a stay-cation (at least for Ladybug & me) and I loved it!

Also, now that the challenge is over, I'm taking a break from the scale and from keeping a food journal. I am still being mindful of what I eat, I'm just not writing it down. My brain needs a break from the hyper-focused attitude. I will however be highlighting a non-scale victory each week. I think these are just as important, especially for the emotional and mental aspect of weight loss and healthy living.

Fitness: I did cardio on 6 days out of 7, for a total of 199 minutes! I felt great, had tons of energy, and felt balanced.

Monday - running 32 minutes, legs/core/arms strength circuits
Tuesday - exercise bike 30 minutes, core/arms strength circuits
Wednesday - running 32 minutes
Thursday - exercise bike 30 minutes
Friday - exercise bike 10 minutes, 20 minutes of leg/core/arms with no rest breaks to keep my heart rate up
Saturday - running 45 minutes
Sunday - rest day

Nutrition: I did allow myself a few treats this week, but focused on fruits and veggies to keep my meals balanced. I made a yummy snack mix for the beach: puffed wheat cereal (no sugar), almonds, and craisins. I also enjoy some delicious homemade iced coffee: cold coffee, Ovaltine, and almond milk over ice. That was a great early afternoon pick-me-up! I love that Ovaltine has a new formula without artificial colors (which trigger migraines).

I haven't had a chance to do my weekly menu plan, but I'll be trying a few new things. I bought some nice zucchini at the farmer's market and will be making grain-free "pasta" with it. I'll let you know how it turns out!

The Scale: I'm on a break from the scale. But I forgot to mention last week that I have now lost 40 lbs since joining Mamavation in January 2010!

Non-Scale Victory: My run on Wednesday was A-MA-ZING! The humidity was a bit lower (than the usual 100%) that morning, and I felt fantabulous! Love that feeling!

Blogging Carnival Question: What qualities do you look for in a healthy breakfast? Any go-to breakfast recommendations for a busy mom?  I look for balance for the first meal of the day. And my absolute favorite breakfast is oatmeal with ground flax, peanut butter, and fruit. I don't use milk in my oatmeal, but I do add unsweetened applesauce to make it creamy with just a hint of sweetness. In addition to oatmeal, I have a rotation of two other breakfasts that are my go-to way to start the day. I find that keeping options simple help me get the day started right. I don't makes waffles, pancakes, or anything complicated unless I have leftovers when I make breakfast for dinner.

This post is sponsored by Quaker Oats and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation and sponsored by Quaker Oats.