Yep, that’s right, I have too much junk in this trunk! That is why I’m doing this blog, right?! I’m never gonna lose some of this booty if I don’t move it! I know this. So, today I went on a 2.2 mile walk with all three kids. I’d like to report that it was uplifting and wonderful, but let’s be real people. Walking with 3 kids that are 4 years old and under is crazy. The 70 pounds I pushed in the jogger ensured I got a workout! Carrying the baby in the sling made me thankful that that 12 pounds wasn’t a part of me!
The best part wasn’t the kids fighting or Tatum trying to talk to me over the busy traffic, but I wore the wrong shoes. What was I thinking when I put on a brand new pair of Sketchers? Are they walking shoes? NO! I have great walking shoes. I was thinking about them fondly as my toes were going numb walking home today. Hey, the Sketchers matched my outfit. Isn’t that important when you are exercising trying to lose weight? So smart, I am!
You know what, I would love a great gym membership with a great child care. I would love a second car to get to said gym. That is not my circumstance at the moment. So, instead of sitting here feeling sorry for myself, I’m going to be grateful I have a double jogger and a sling and the use of my legs. I’m going to get exercise how I can right now. Sure, it will take me an hour to get out the door. Everyone has to be dressed (I think the neighbors might have an issue with naked toddlers in a jogger), we have to have snacks for the kids because riding in a jogger takes up a lot of energy, the baby has to be fed before we leave, water bottles for everyone made, oh I have to be dressed as well, keys, phone, blankets if it’s cold, etc. That’s OK though, it’s worth it, right? Please somebody tell me it’s worth it! If I’m going to tell others there is no excuse not to get exercise, then I have to throw all my excuses out. Bummer.
I am happy to be able to exercise. I am grateful I can walk. I am happy to be able to get out with my kids. Exercising lifts my mood, helps my spirit and helps my body. That is something to appreciate. Also, when I exercise I want to eat better, because darnit, I don’t want to undo the 2 hours it took me to get 45 minutes of exercise! If I invest that much time to work off calories and heal my body, I want to keep all the benefits! Tomorrow is Saturday, so I’m making the hubby go with me. Two days in a row would be great! I’m feeling healed from the birth, so I’m up for it!
So, if I can do this, then don’t even try to tell me your lame excuse! What are you doing for exercise right now?
I feel like a new person today. I ate great yesterday. Not just that though. My thinking is changing even more. All of the changes I have made with food in the past are not comparable with the new level I am taking myself and my family to. I would not have been able to just "go vegan" a few years ago. I needed those baby steps that turned into us being "food freaks" according to friends, families and acquaintances. Now that I am already familiar with and ok with not eating a lot of foods, I am taking it further. I am opening my eyes for the first time (again). Kind of like Neo in the Matrix. The plug has been pulled from my brain and the mask taken off my eyes. I am not going to preach about animal cruelty and what meat/dairy does to your body. That I will save for a specific post. I just want to get across that it is so freeing to stop letting others influence you, to admit that you have been lied to and to stop believing those lies. Is this making any sense? Maybe it will spark an interest to learn more for some of you or maybe you aren’t ready yet. Whatever the case, keep making those small changes and don’t quit, b/c they will lead to a huge step and then even a leap of faith!
What did I eat today? Well last night I went to the store to get some fresh produce and rice and a few other things. While I was there I took my time looking through what I call the "tofu section" of Whole Foods. I wanted to see what products were available and if they were vegetarian or truly vegan. It was nice to take the time as I only had the baby with me. Anyways, I got our normal organic tofu (the Whole Foods brand) and decided to finally try tempeh. I have no idea what I’m doing, but isn’t that the fun in it? I also did give into some Vegan chocolate chip cookies. I don’t want to stock up on and indulge in what I have seen referred to as "vegan junk food", but I think it will be nice to have one little treat in the house at a time.
I am what I eat:
-An organic banana and an organic orange (foods with peels I’m not as concerned about organic if I can’t afford them, but they were priced well last night)
-About 45 minutes later I was still hungry so I ate 2 slices of Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin bread with organic roasted (won’t get roasted again, but I’m going to use it up) peanut butter.
-I drank a lot of water this morning. I need to drink a lot in the AM, b/c I love to sip on iced teas and Kombucha. I will tend to do that and have no water. Not good.
-Decaf Green Tea
-Lunch was an Amy’s California Veggieburger cut up and dipped in organic ketchup and mustard. Organic edamame beans tossed in sea salt and cayenne pepper.
-A small bowl of air popped popcorn with a little organic extra virgin coconut oil and sea salt on top!
-4 vegan chocolate cookies. Hey, they were freakin’ good and the kids loved them too!
-An organic red delicious apple and a handful of organic baby carrots, water
-Dinner was simple pasta. An organic pasta sauce with added basil, oregano and sea salt. Served on white pasta. I know, I know. We are using it up before we buy the good stuff.
-Uugghhh…I got the munchies. So, I indulged in a (large) handful of organic Winne the Pooh cookies from Costco and dipped them in organic vanilla rice milk then ate some more air popped popcorn with 2 tbsp. of olive oil and sea salt
-Synergy Kombucha
Did I Exercise Today?
Yep. I walked a mile to the park with the babe in a sling and the toddlers in the jogger. Interesting, but I did it! Brandon picked us up b/c it got late.
Overall
I feel great about what I ate today. I can already in 2 days feel the difference w/no meat products. Less bloating and gas and a better mood. Pretty cool
Tomorrow’s Goals
Eat a better balanced dinner and afterwards have some green tea or Kombucha, then brush teeth. This should keep me from munching away on calories and food I do not need!
It has to be done! Period, no way around it. There are so many benefits as many of us know…higher seratonin levels for a happier you, good for your heart and gets that fat off your ass. So, my chosen method of shedding fat is walking. I like being outside instead of a gym and I can do it with the kids. This is how I lost the 60 lbs before getting preggo with my last baby. I invested in a double jogger and went to town. Now that I have 3, I am wearing the little one in a wrap…hey an extra 10 lbs will only help, right?
I live within a mile of a great park. So, that is where I’ll be walking. A mile there and a mile back. However, right now I am still sore since birth (that’s right STILL sore!), so when I walk there (I started this 2 weeks ago to try it out), I am sore for 3 days. For now, my goal is going to be to walk there, let the kids play at the park for a few hours, and walk home. For you stay at home moms or dads, this is perfect b/c the kids run around, get all their energy out and konk out on the way home. Sweet! I am going to build up to 6 days a week and walking another mile around the lake at the park. So it will be at least 2 miles, play at park and a mile home.
This is my account of my first walk 2 weeks ago:
The First Time Hurts!
Ok, so today was my first walk. Yes, I actually put on my tennies, loaded 2 kids in the jogger and put the baby in a sling. It is interesting what it takes to go from thinking about doing something to actually doing it. Nike has it right when they patented the slogan “Just Do It”, because that truly is the only way. I just decided to do it.
I started in motion almost like a robot. Ok, I need snacks…check! Water…check! Tires filled up on the jogger…check! Shoes for us all…check, check, check! Kids in the jogger…check! Oh, the baby…in the sling…check! That’s right I need my keys and phone, oh an diapers and wipes…check. Ok, we are off and headed off down the sidewalk. Oh crap, my I-pod, b/c this will be the ONLY time to listen to my personal development…let’s turn around…while we’re at it find the sunglasses too…check, check!
Now we are really on an adventure. This should all count as a mile’s worth of work.
Anyways, down the road we go and the baby starts fussing. What else can I do but pull out the left boob and shove it in her mouth. Well, the baby’s now happy to continue walking.
Oh my goodness… at this point I am cracking up, thinking I’m nuts and proud of myself all at the same time. Who else could do all those things?
I walked about a mile to a local park. The kids played for about 90 minutes and I relaxed with the babe. We ate healthy snacks…apples, oranges, etc. This feels good. I’ve done it.
Then Brandon picked us up and drove us home. LOL! Hey, I had to meet a maintenance man at the house and there was no way were going to get all loaded up and back home in time. Not to mention I am sore. I did just have a baby 5 weeks ago!
The first time is done, it doesn’t hurt so much the 2nd and 3rd time and then it starts to get enjoyable and I’ll look forward to the fix! Wink!
I feel like a new person today. I ate great yesterday. Not just that though. My thinking is changing even more. All of the changes I have made with food in the past are not comparable with the new level I am taking myself and my family to. I would not have been able to just "go vegan" a few years ago. I needed those baby steps that turned into us being "food freaks" according to friends, families and acquaintances. Now that I am already familiar with and ok with not eating a lot of foods, I am taking it further. I am opening my eyes for the first time (again). Kind of like Neo in the Matrix. The plug has been pulled from my brain and the mask taken off my eyes. I am not going to preach about animal cruelty and what meat/dairy does to your body. That I will save for a specific post. I just want to get across that it is so freeing to stop letting others influence you, to admit that you have been lied to and to stop believing those lies. Is this making any sense? Maybe it will spark an interest to learn more for some of you or maybe you aren’t ready yet. Whatever the case, keep making those small changes and don’t quit, b/c they will lead to a huge step and then even a leap of faith!