Mamavation: Managing Challenges

This was another challenging week. I'm still having vision trouble (could this really be caused by allergies???). And I was at conference Thursday evening through Saturday evening, which meant a lot of sitting and not enough fruits and veggies. I learned a ton of great blogging "stuff" and discovered a new, all natural chocolate snack. Can't wait to share it all with you!

And a highlight of the conference was meeting fellow Mamavation sista Sue, aka @mrsfatass.

But the real reason you're here today is for my weekly Mamavation update.

Fitness: I did cardio on 6 days out of 7, for a total of 158 minutes. I restarted the 200 Squat Challenge because I missed a week. But after I finished my third squat workout, I realized I was looking at Week 2! Goodness, my vision is affecting me! So, I think I'm going to move on to Week 3. Confused yet? I know I am!

My original running plan that I laid out in January called for a 5 mile run this week. It didn't happen. Between being away and my vision, I pushed it back a week.  So that is the huge goal for the upcoming week (Saturday).

Monday - running, 37 minutes
Tuesday - #easactive 2 full body workout, 25 minutes; resistance band strength training, squat challenge
Wednesday - running, 30 minutes
Thursday - #easactive 2 full body workout, 21 minutes, squat challenge
Friday - running, 25 mintues
Saturday - rest day
Sunday - exercise bike, 20 minutes: resistance band strength training, squat challenge

Nutrition: I really struggled in this area this week.  I've been feeling down because of my eyes. Then going to a conference. There were some decent salad options at meals, and there were some delicious eggplant roll-ups (must find a recipe!) on Friday night. It's hard being out of the "normal" routine.

I am re-focusing my efforts on proper portions and balanced clean eating this week! Here's our healthy menu plan for the week. I loaded up on a GRIP of Chefs Requested steaks last week - woot!

The Scale: Blergh. Up .5 lb this week. But considering the less than perfect food choices at the conference, I'm okay with it. 

Blogging Carnival: The question for this week's carnival is: How do you encourage your children to contribute to your family's healthy lifestyle?

Because our daughter is only 3.5 years old, we are still doing a lot of the influencing for all of our family. We are tying to make a healthy lifestyle the "norm" for us.  We want our daughter to automatically know that fruits and veggies are an every day occurrence, and juice, soda, candy and cookies are not.  We allow occasional treats, but they are just that - treats.    We also encourage lots of physical activity - walking in the neighborhood, learning to ride a bike, playing chase, playing on the playground.   Ladybug has even told us that she wants to learn how to play golf. I can see that being a fun family activity for us.

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

Review & Giveaway: E-mealz

 This giveaway is now closed and the winner has been contacted. Thank you for your interest!

Do you menu plan? I love it! I don't get it done every single week, especially if we super busy.  But you know what I've found?  Those weeks that are super busy is when I need menu planning the most!!

My usual menu planning practice is to sit down Sunday afternoon, look through our previous menus that I post on my recipe blog, search through any recipes that I might have stumbled during the week, and assess what we have on hand and what we'll need to purchase.  It works well.

But sometimes I run out of inspiration.  I don't want the same old meals week after week.  But I do want healthy and 3-year-old friendly meal ideas.

So I was very excited when I was asked do a review of E-mealz!


E-mealz is a menu planning service to which you subscribe.  Yes, you pay (but I have a giveaway, so don't bail on me already!).  But for $1.25 a week, you get not only a menu with recipes, but also a full shopping list.

E-Mealz was created by sisters Jane DeLaney, mother of four, and Jenny Cochran, mother of three. The sisters were frustrated by the challenge of coming up with healthy, budget-conscious meals for their own families and inspired by their own mother’s frugal ways, they launched the program in 2003.

Their goals are: 1) to provide delicious, family-friendly recipes; 2) with ingredients on special or at the best price available; 3) to help families provide an easy and stress-free home-cooked dinner; 4) to provide special memories for families who gather around the dinner table together. 

There are several different meal plan choices. You can chose the regular meal plan that is based on your favorite grocery store and their sales.  Or choose Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Vegetarian, WW Points Plan, or the new WW Points Plus plan.  So many choices!  

I chose the new WW Points Plus plan and have tried three recipes so far. They have been easy to follow, nutritious, and acceptable to even our 3.5 year old.  I have made a few substitutions, mainly because we don't use store-bought Cream of Something soups.  I made a homemade cream of something instead and it worked quite well. I've also been enjoying their blog, which includes recipes, coupon tips, and other food related features.

Until March 1st, you can try this service for 15% off by entering the code BLISS. And if you click on this widget, I'll receive a referral commission. 

Now for the giveaway! One lucky reader will receive a FREE 3-month subscription to E-mealz!  Three months of menu planning!  This giveaway will close Sunday, March 6, 2011, at 9pm EST. The winner will be notified by e-mail, so please make sure you leave your e-mail in the comments or that your account with which you comment has an e-mail associated with it.

Mandatory Entry: Visit the E-mealz site and leave a comment telling me one thing that you learned that I did not mention in my review.

Bonus Entries: 

1) Like Not a DIY Life on Facebook

2) Like E-mealz on Facebook

3) Follow E-mealz on Twitter

4) Tweet the following (Max 1x/day): "I just entered to win a 3-month subscription to @Emealz with @notdiyheather ...http://bit.ly/h4qiEV"

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, stating what the entry action is, including your e-mail and/or twitter ID in each comment. 


The winner of the 3 month free subscription will be notified via e-mail on Monday, March 7, 2011, and will have 48 hours to respond. If there is no response in that time, another winner will be chosen. 


Disclaimer: Emealz provided me with a free one month subscription. The opinions in this post are my own.

Mamavation: Overcoming Obtacles

This was a week full of obstacles. One thing after another threatened to pull me off course. I wish I could say that held true.  I didn't fall, but I did waver. I was a rough week.

I came down with a cold Sunday night. Wednesday, I started having vision trouble. At first, I thought it was related to the cold, but it turned out to be inflammation from my contacts (yes, I wear them too much, I admit it). Then began the monthly bloat. Oh joy.

On top of all that, I had to keep my head in the game to be mentally prepared for my 5k Friday evening.  I've never run an evening race before, and I think the hardest thing about it was the all-day anxiety and anticipation. It was almost my undoing.

I do have to share a funny. I sneezed a lot this week thanks to my cold. And I sometimes tinkled a little when I sneezed.  Oh, the joy of being a mom and getting older.  After I finished my 5k and we were walking (almost a mile!) back to the car, I sneezed several times. I not only tinkled, I peed myself!  Good thing it was dark and I was wearing black! I found it quite humorous, given the obstacles of the week.

I know that I had to dig deep to find the mental and emotional strength to press on.  I fully realize that being in a good mental and emotional state is very important in this weight loss journey.  You have to have your head and heart in the game.

I'll quit rambling and give you the weekly recap...

Fitness: I did cardio 6 days out of 7, for a total of 156 minutes. I took it easy this week because of my cold and to save my energy for my race.  I didn't do any strength training other than EASActive, mostly because I didn't have enough energy.  I had started the 200 Squat Challenge, and since I missed this week, I'll start with week 1 again this coming week.  My race was obviously the highlight of the week - I love the challenge.

Here's little clip that Hubs put together of me on the final stretch.

Monday - running, 31 minutes
Tuesday - walking, 19 minutes
Wednesday - running, 22 minutes
Thursday - #easactive 2 full body workout, 20 minutes
Friday - 5k, finished in 46:30
Saturday - #easactive 2 custom workout, 18 minutes
Sunday - rest day

Nutrition: Not a stellar week, I'll admit. But I'm very thankful that I have an actual nutrition plan now, because it keep me from totally throwing in the towel when I didn't feel well.  And having my race also kept me on track.  I know how important proper nutrition is when you are asking your body to perform in an excellent manner.

Here's my healthy menu plan for this week. I'll be out of town at the end of the week, but will do my absolute best to stay on track with balanced nutrition.

The Scale: I'm up 1 lb this week, due to the monthly bloat. I'll be drinking lots of water to get that flushed out of my system.

Blogging Carnival: This week's Mamavation blogging carnival is sponsored by Fit Studio. They are also a wonderful sponsor of the Mamavation mom boot camp.  Thank you!! This week's question is: What motivates you to get going and what keeps you going? 

I have definitely found that having a race on the schedule keeps me motivated.  I set a training schedule for all of my workouts, including running and cross-training.  I know what I need to do and that definitely helps when motivation wanes.  (Next race: April 9th!)

When I don't have a race, I have to remind myself of the end goal: a healthy, active life including being able to keep up with my busy preschooler.  I want to be a good role model for her, and she has tons of energy!  Staying dedicated to my workouts helps me have the extra energy that I need.

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

Race Recap: RBC 5k

Before I ever ran my first 5k (way back in October 2010), I already knew I was hooked on running and set my goal of a second 5k.  After months of preparation, an injury that sidelined me for three weeks, and more training, finally the RBC 5k arrived yesterday!

It was a rough week going into the race. I came down with a cold on Sunday night, then Wednesday started having some eye trouble that is most likely inflammation.  My cold got better, my eyes still bothered me on Friday.

I was a bit nervous about running an evening race.  I always run in the morning.  For my first race, I didn't sleep well the night before due to the anticipation.  This time, it was all-day anticipation and anxiety.  I think that was the worst part about an evening race. 

I had decided ahead of time what my nutrition who be for the day to give myself proper fuel, with my final "snack" an hour and a half before race time.  Didn't want to race with a full belly! 

The crowd was less overwhelming this time.  I think I was more preoccupied with my sight and with the thought that Ladybug (3.5 years old) was probably giving Hubby a hard time. (How like a mom, huh? I can't even enjoy my me-time!)

I was ready to run, no matter what thoughts were on my mind. 

There were pacing signs, 6-8 min/mile, 10 min/mile, etc. I was near the back, but I asked some ladies nearby if they were running or walking so I would know if I was in the right place.  Had some good pre-race chit-chat.  Then it was time for the National Anthem and the starting gun. 

It took a little while to weave through the walkers and find my pace.  I kept reminding myself that this was my race. I also reminded myself of my "running" Bible verse.  Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  I chose that as my verse before the first 5k.  Running is not easy for this overweight Mama.  But I love it and love the challenge of improving myself that it brings.

I found a good pace within the first quarter mile.  There were plenty of police and security diverting traffic and keeping us safe.  There were a couple of rude, impatient drivers that didn't care for the inconvenience of waiting for 600+ runners and walkers to pass.  There were clocks at the 1 and 2 mile markers, and I felt good about my pace.  I enjoyed chatting with a few runners/walkers who were nearby (one of the fun benefits of running without ear buds).

I made the final turn and heard Hubby and Ladybug yelling, "Go, Mama! Go!"  I got a little emotional but turned on the after-burners. The finish line was in view!  I had a strong sprint finish. I passed under the clock as it was nearing 48 minutes. Because it took almost a minute and a half from the gun until when I crossed the starting line, my official time was 46:30. (I had set it up to text me with my time when I finished - how cool is that?)

I got my very cool medal and made my way to the water and food.  Eventually, Hubby and Ladybug found me.  Hugs all around.

My first 5k time was 46:12.  I was a little disappointed that I didn't improve on that time.  However, I looked at my average pace per mile (14:58) and realized it was only eighteen seconds slower than my most recent "fast" training pace.  Any number of factors could have contributed to that. 1) evening race instead of my usual morning run; 2) having a cold for more of the week and having lower energy than usual; 3) my eyesight.

Really, I'm happy with my race.  I love running. I love the camaraderie. I love the sense of accomplishment and achievement.  I was out running, improving my health.  I was being a role model, not only for my child, but for anyone watching, that an overweight almost middle-aged woman can RUN over three miles. 

Next race: Building Futures Autism Clinic charity 5k, April 9, 2011

Ten Things I Wish Parents Understood About Their Kids' Nutrition

I am not a registered dietitian. However, I AM passionate about helping children get the proper nutrition that their growing bodies need, and that will set them up for a lifetime of health.  Anytime there is a candy-filled holiday (Valentine's Day, Halloween) and there is a party at Ladybug's (3.5 years old) preschool, I am shocked at the amount of sugar that arrives home in her bag.  I question if other parents think this is okay for their children.

I realize not all parents have a lack of knowledge or desire to feed their children proper nutrition.  There are things I have discovered in my few short years of parenting that I want to share with you.

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

1. Food = fuel.  Food does not equal love, rewards for good behavior, or bribes.  If you are using food for these reasons, you are setting up your child for a bad relationship with food, including obesity and all of the related health implications.

2. Sugar is the devil. It does not have a place in our daily diet.  Children do not need candy every single day.  Sugar suppresses the immune system (so if you're wondering why your children have been constantly sick this winter, here's a clue).

3. White flour has no nutritive value; it's all been stripped out.  So if you are using only white all-purpose flour in your kitchen or buying food products with white enriched flour, you're not giving your child anything nutritious.  Think about changing to whole wheat flour and wheat bread.

4. It's okay to sneak vegetable into your foods, but make sure your children are given the opportunity to see and taste them in their usual form.

5. If you have a picky child who refuses to eat fruits and/or veggies, don't let them shoot you down with one refusal. Present the food again. And again. And again.

6. Let them see YOU eating healthy food.  If they see you eating broccoli, spinach, or cabbage, they will be more likely to try it.

7. Offer fresh fruit and veggies as snacks as well as at meal time.  Fruits and veggies are a more nutritious choice than those processed crackers.

8. Learn to read labels.  If you can't pronounce the ingredients in a food, do you REALLY what your children to eat it? And teach your kids to read labels too!

9. Teach your kids to drink water.  Water is GOOD for you and for your children.  Juice may sound like a great way to get your picky eater to get some nutrition, but there is more sugar and no fiber in juice. Teach them to ask for water instead.  (And you be a good example for them!)

10. YOU are responsible for your kids' nutrition.  Don't blame the school system, the daycare, etc. Make good nutrition decisions and teach your child to make wise choices.


I'm not trying to be on a soapbox here.  Parents, understand that you are responsible for your children in all areas of their lives, including their nutrition.  Teach them good habits because it impacts their health now AND for the rest of their lives!

Link up at www.ohamanda.com

Mamavation: On Being Epic

Heading out for my 1st 4-miler, with a Bondi Band that reads "Run Like a Mother"

 Thanks, Shelley, for my "Run Like a Mother" Bondi Band - I love it!

I had an epic week! (Hey, every time I say "epic," I want you to take a big drink of water, mkay?)  Remember the Bible story about David & Goliath?  I am David, and I faced a giant.  Or, if you're a fan of The Princess Bride, I am Wesley, and "someone hasn't beaten a giant."  Lots of big successes this week!

Fitness: Cardio on 6 out of 7 days, for a total of 221 minutes.  I also got in three solid strength training workouts. And I ran 4 miles for the first time in my life.  At the beginning of January, I set out a training plan for the goal of being able to run 5 miles by the end of February.  I am well on my way! An EPIC success!

I also started a 200 squat challenge.  In addition to building muscle, I want to build strength so I can run more and continue to improve my time.

Monday - running, 38 minutes
Tuesday - #easactive2, 18 minutes, walking, 15 minutes; strength training w/ resistance bands, took initial test for squat challenge (maxed at 30)
Wednesday - running, 34 minutes
Thursday - #easactive2, 19 minutes, strength training w/ resistance bands including squats (61)
Friday - #easactive2, 22 minutes, walking, 15 minutes
Saturday - running, 60 minutes
Sunday - rest day, but did squats (75)

Nutrition: I made a lot of changes this week. I've been stuck, so I got some help. My nutrition plan has been revamped. I am weighing & measuring everything, and focusing on portion size & balance. I've added more protein.  It's not that I was doing anything "wrong" before. But what I was doing was leading me to maintain and not lose.  I still have 70+ lbs to lose.  Something needed changed. The changes weren't huge, but added up to another epic success!

The Scale: Woot!! I lost 2 lbs this week!!  Epic!!  I don't usually lose that much in a week, 1/2 lb to 1 lb is normal, so 2 lbs is awesomely amazing!  My total weight loss since joining Mamavation is 24.5 lbs in 13 months.

 THANK YOU for your continued support. This is a long journey, and it's so much nicer because I have awesome encouragers and cheerleaders to keep me going!

I Feel Like a Misfit

Has anyone noticed that it is becoming more difficult to stay true to your values in this crazy world?  Especially Christian values?  Dang, it's hard!  God's Word says one thing, the world says something else.  All.the.time. Every.day. 

And I feel like a misfit when I make a decision to stick to my beliefs. 

Here's an example:

Ladybug's (now 3.5 years old) preschool has "Fun Friday" every week.  Some fun activity to make five whole mornings of school bearable to 3 & 4 year olds. Sometimes it's the library, sometimes an activity that corresponds with the letter of the week (pizza for P week).  This Friday is bike day.

Last fall they had a bike day and it made us painfully aware that our tall girl has outgrown her tricycle.  She's ready for a big girl bike.  We considered getting her a new bike for Christmas but decided to wait until her birthday in May.  No big deal, right?  Wrong. 

Bike day at school and Ladybug without a bike.  What better way to make a child feel "different." 

We couldn't go out and buy her a new bike this week.  It's not in the budget right now.  We are working hard at being the good stewards of resources in the way God expects us.  We are paying off the last of our credit cards.  Soon, we will only have a mortgage and student loan debt.  We use our debit card for purchases, so if there is no money in the account, there's no money.  We plan our monthly expenses.  If we can plan ahead, then there is money for fun stuff. 

Knowing that we couldn't just go out and buy a bike this week, I made some phone calls and was able to borrow one.  Ladybug was THRILLED!  We told her we were just borrowing it (she understands borrowing because we "borrow" movies from RedBox).  She was still thrilled.

But I hear this little whisper telling me, "It's okay to go buy your daughter something new even if it's not in the budget. Just use a credit card.  It'll be okay this one time."  Devil, SHUT UP! 

And let's face it, the enemy is everywhere.  Even if he weren't literally sitting on my shoulder, there are plenty of influences in the world that tell us we have to measure up to the world.  Do what everyone else is doing.  You WANT to belong, to fit in.  C'mon, everyone else is doing it. 

I don't want to conform.  I want to be in the world, but not of it.  I want to live according to the values that God is calling me to. I feel like a misfit, and that's okay. 

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.  Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Mamavation: It's Mutual

I love supporting and encouraging others. I feel so uplifted when I can help other people. But support in Mamavation is mutual.  I need support just as much as everyone else, even though I am uncomfortable asking for it.

Here's my recap of the past week:

Fitness: I completed workouts 6 days out of 7 this week.  I hesitate to call it all cardio, because Friday I "only" did yoga.  I knew I needed some rest, but I'm too much of a crack monkey (thanks, Leah!) to give myself 2 rest days in a week.  After yoga, I definitely feel stretched and relaxed, but I also felt some soreness the next day, so I know I worked my body.  Felt so great!

Like I mentioned in my vlog, the run I had on Saturday was one of the best I've had in a while.  It felt so great!  I'm a little behind on my training plan.  My goal is still to be able to run 5 miles by the end of February. 

Monday: 2 mile run, 31 minutes
Tuesday: #easactive 2 full body workout, 27 minutes
Wednesday: 1.4 mile run (cut short by heavy rain), 22 minutes, yoga, 30 minutes
Thursday: #easactive 2 full body workout, 27 minutes
Friday: yoga, 30 minutes
Saturday: 3.1 mile run, 46 minutes, upper body resistance band workout
Sunday: rest day

Nutrition: A good week in this department. I was more mindful of what I was eating, reminding myself that food is fuel and nothing more.  I know I didn't quite get my 7-8 servings of fruits and veggies every day.  This next week, I'll be focusing on proper portions and balance. 

The Scale: Yes! I lost the 3 lbs that I gained at the Blissdom conference.  I'm back to where I was pre-conference and pre-PMS.  Now, time to stay focused!

Blogging Carnival:  This week's blogging carnival is sponsored by Chef's Requested. Yum, yum, yum!  And this week's question is: What are you doing to keep your heart healthy?

I know all the cardio that I do is good for my heart.  But I know that good nutrition is also important to heart health.  By focusing on a clean (whole foods) diet, I know that I get a good amount of fiber, which is good for heart health.  I love my fruits and veggies, and most mornings I start my day with a bowl of oatmeal with ground flax and fruit.  Love my oatmeal!

As always, thank you for your continued support and encouragement.  And don't forget to ask for support when you need it! It's mutual! I love encouraging you too!

Saturday Stumbles, Blissdom Edition

Lots of great posts to share with you this week!

I'm working on tweaking my nutrition plan, and I found a couple of older posts at Nourished Kitchen about the role of sweeteners in our diet and a guide to natural sweeteners.

From Sarah at A Wife Loved Like the Church (who I met at Blissdom!), a great post on the physical aspects of training for a half marathon.

From Jenn at Frugal Upstate (who I also met at Blissdom!), a yummy recipe for chocolate waffles. (Yeah, I realize the irony in sharing a sweet breakfast recipe right after sharing a post that recommends not having much sugar in your diet. Don't judge.)

And back on track with healthy recipes, I can't wait to try this animal cracker recipe from Super Healthy Kids.

I had a fabulous roasted cauliflower and onion soup while at Blissdom, so I was searching for a recipe.  I might try this one!

And for something NOT food related, I love these two posts on the problem of romance novels by Mary at Giving Up Perfect (who I also met at Blissdom! Sense a theme other than food?)






For more Saturday Stumbles, visit Mandi at It's Come 2 This. Oh, I see that Simply Staci is hosting this week! Go there instead. :-)

Got Bliss

Whether we realize it or not, we all need bliss.  We need SOMETHING to feed our souls.  As an extrovert who enjoys being with people, I definitely found bliss at Blissdom!  I love connecting and networking, especially face-to-face, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to attend this fabulous conference.

I can't possibly contain such a fabulous time into a brief blog post, so I'll try to hit the highlights.

~ Meeting so many of my favorite bloggers in person for the first time.  Amanda, Christine, JoLynne, Jamie, Loralee, Melanie, Donielle, Katie, Jenn.

~ Rooming with Leah, the awesome founder of Mamavation. Her story is so inspiring, she has boundless energy, and I love that I was able to spend so much time with her!

~ The opening keynote with Brene Brown. Vulnerability in Bliss. The main point I heard from Brene was about how we are relational and that we NEED connections, that we cannot do life on our own.  Um, sound familiar? (see my tag line!)

~ Seeing other fabulous women that I met at the Type-A Conference in September. Malia, Jenny, Amy, Carla, Amanda, Kelby, Ang, Robin, Bernice

~ Hanging out with our "fitness tribe." I know some people don't like the idea of niche-blogging, but I love being with like minded folks.  I mentioned in my vlog on Monday how wonderful it is to be with people who get you.  Other fitness bloggers get me on the fitness/healthy living front AND on the addiction-to-social-media front!

~ I am absolutely LOVING the collaborative projects that are emerging as a result of making these connections at Blissdom! I am such a team person, I function much better as part of a group. Look for some awesome things to come from Blissdom connections!

More than any tidbit of wisdom from any of the sessions, my biggest take-aways are the inspiration and the connections made.   And the love and support that we are encouraged to share with one another.  The Internet is big enough for all of us.

Big, puffy-heart love to all of you!