I Workout Because...

Over the years my reason to workout has changed so much. Originally it was to lose weight to get pregnant because having PCOS made me gain more weight and also difficult to lose weight. Or to lose weight for an upcoming trip with the family.

Now it is so much more. I almost died last year. I have been given a second chance to be with my family. To live a life. And darn it, I better not waste it! That means being the best that I can be. That means taking care of me everyday. That means actually working my butt off to find time to exercise and eat better ever single freaking day. I have come up with emotional and physical reasons that actually rock me to the core on why I choose to exercise and eat healthy every single day. It is so much more than just for my family but it is for me too! It is apart of me and is the main reason why I have changed my lifestyle.

Need help finding your why? Ask yourself these 5 questions!

1.  What makes you come alive?

2. What has happened in the past that made you really think you need a change?

3. How will it affect those around you if you decided to not change and if you decided to change?

4. How would you feel if you stayed the same and never felt?

5. What are you willing to do to get the results you want?

I challenge you to sit down today and think about why you want to exercise. why you want to eat better. And if it doesn't have you crying or emotional dig deeper! Now the second part of this is to WRITE IT DOWN and place it where you see it everyday! Don't just think about it, put it into action! 

Want more help in finding your why and/or achieving your goals? Let's work together. I am a virtual health and fitness motivator, support and educator. This is what I do. Through online private groups and personal emails I help people just like you rock your workouts, and balance your life to achieve your goals!  Send me an email and let's chat! 

What is your reason? Comment below!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Kids Photo Books

A few months ago we lost all of our photos that were stored on a backup hard drive. ALL. OF. OUR. PHOTOS. Pictures from before Mason was born, all of Collin's birth pictures. Anyways, it was an accident and I have finally accepted it. Good thing I post a lot of the pictures to Facebook and on this blog. That has helped.

Anyways I have a lot of catching up to do as I haven't made any of Collin's baby books and I still have Mason's year 2 to finish, and start year 3 and year 4. Yeah, a lot to do. I am so proud of myself. But I just finished this one so I am so happy! Check it out. Do you do special books for your kids?

 
Click here to view this photo book larger

**Update! I got a good amount of work done on Collin's 0-12 months baby book today, even with the missing photos I have been able to find lots of them. So thankful for social media! (still working on it but making progress!) 

1. Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

5 Rainy day Toddler Activities

We are on about day 17 of straight rain here in central VA! I feel so badly for Mason's preschool teacher. All the kids are going stir crazy not being able to go outside and play on the playground. So her and I am sure other teachers and parents are on the lookout for fun indoor activities for the weekend to keep these kiddos entertained!

Honestly I am at a loss as to what we can do, so I went to the internet to find more actives. I feel like we have done a lot of these ideas but here are more ideas to entertain your kiddos! What do you do that is special for rainy days?

1. Pretend to go camping. 
   
2. Build a tent in your living room out of blankets and chairs. Or use a real tent and hang some Christmas lights on the outside to have the "stars" shinning brightly! Don't forget to bring the flashlights, snacks, and books. Or make it an igloo and pretend to hunt for polar bears and go ice fishing. 

1. Recycle, reuse, renew. 
   

1. Find broken crayons, put them in an oiled muffin tin, and place them in a warm oven to melt. Let them cool and pop them out of the tin. Use your new "rainbow color-wheel crayons" to draw pictures for Grandma and Grandpa.

1. Create an in-home drive in theater. 
   
2. Take some old boxes and paper plates and have the kids make their own cars, turn out the lights, grab popcorn and beverages, and put on their favorite movie.

1. Mix education and fun.
   
2. Pull out old magazines and catalogs and let your kids find pictures of animals, food, babies, or cars. Give them safety scissors and glue sticks to make collages. Or have them make their own picture out of the colors they find! 

1. Get messy! 
   
2. No outside dirt play, play in the tub with shaving cream, bathtub paints, and bath crayons. Don't want a bath? Paint with finger-paints or, for easier cleanup, let your kids paint with chocolate and vanilla pudding cups. That way they can lick their fingers without the nasty after taste of paint! Yummy!
3. Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

How To Control Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Yesterday was the first time in this pregnancy that I literally had a freak out over my weight on the scale. I have only gained 8 pounds in 21 weeks but seeing the numbers on the scale scared me to death. I am a plus size lady. And honestly the idea of getting closer to 250 pounds scares me so much! I worked so hard before getting pregnant to get those numbers down and well, it is going the opposite direction. Most most moms-to-be fear this and it is often inevitable: WEIGHT GAIN.

But my doc today summed it up best when we were taking about this..."Do you know how many women out there wish that they have only gained 8 pounds at 21 weeks pregnant. Just goes to show what healthy eating, and exercise can do for pregnancy! (which we talk about at every appointment, I tell him my exercise routine for the week!) Whatever you are doing, keep doing it because it is working!" Looks like I will be sticking with my shakeology and 30 minute workouts, and strength training 5 days a week.

(Me at 20 weeks with all 3 of my different pregnancies!) 

With Mason I gained 55 pounds. He was born at 39 weeks weighing in at 7 pounds 4 ounces (Wow, so weird to think I gained that much). Collin I gained 20 pounds and he was born at 40 weeks 5 days weight in at 7 pounds even. For most moms weight gain is something that is just going to happen whether you like it or not. And how much of the weight you gain can be controlled, but there is never any guarantees how much weight you will gain in the end. Check out how each of my pregnancies have been so different in terms of eating and exercise! 

Talk with your doctor about exactly how much weight they recommend for you to gain during your pregnancy. The common rule for an average pregnancy is to gain between 25-35 pounds. But that really what most women thing they should gain regardless of weight prior to pregnancy. It varies for women who are overweight and underweight too. Overweight women, like me, are now being advised to gain less than the average recommended amount while underweight ladies should gain more in order to support their pregnancies. And if there are twins or triplets, then the weight gain will be even more.

So how do you control your weight gain while pregnant?

1) Thing to help you NOT gain too much weight...DO NOT STOP EXERCISING! Unless advised by your doctor, you can continue normal exercise and daily routines, at least walking. Just move your body. As much as we want to sit and eat ice cream all day everyday, it isn't going to do you or your baby a bit of good. Aim for a good 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 days a week. I have been doing 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates, Cize, Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts and the Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity 2nd Trimester workouts. 

2) Do not eat for two! You are eating for you and a tiny little human. Not an adult sized human. The recommended caloric intake increase is only 300 calories in the second trimester, and 500 calories in the third trimester and during breastfeeding. 300-500 calories is really not that much in terms of foods. It can be easy to over eat and over indulge. So make sure that you are diligent in what you are eating. 

3) Eat 5-6 meals a day. Not big meals, small meals just like you did before you got pregnant. Making sure that you are getting veggies, fruits and protein in as much as possible, and limiting your sweets and sugars intake. Stick with whole fruits and veggies, good carbs, lean proteins and in the right portions. Stay away from sweets, treats, breads because we often eat too much of them in one sitting and those are filled with excessive calories. Indulgent meals are okay on occasion but do not make it a regular thing. Try not to give into those ice cream cravings on a daily basis because it could cause you to gain over the recommended amount of weight during your pregnancy! 

**Want to know my #1 tip to have a healthy pregnancy? CLICK HERE! Because I have done it! 26 pounds total gained and I gave birth to a healthy baby girl!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

Bump Update: 21 Weeks

 Hello to more than halfway! Man, time really is going by so much faster since I have Mason and Collin to take care of too! I am thinking that this summer the pregnancy is going to fly by...or drag...I have no idea but I guess we shall see! I have a busy month this month with end of school activities for Mason's school (mom's day party), his graduation ceremony and I am helping host the last day of school party for his class. Plus getting my music studio students ready for their big recital at the beginning of June. Just so much going on in the everyday family dept.!

Tomorrow is my monthly checkup with my doc. In a couple months I will be going twice a week, which is weird to think about, that we are getting at that point. Oh and I have to start thinking about when I will be getting the nasty gestational diabetes test done. And on the 23rd I get a follow up ultrasound and it should be my last ultrasound until Elyse arrives! So much to do!!

I can tell that Elyse is getting bigger. I am feeling her kick all the time. And it is at specific times during the day. Usually around 7:30-8am, for sure around 4pm and then at 9pm when I am laying in bed. She definitely is making her own schedule. I am really looking forward to when Matt and the boys will be able to feel her kick for the first time. I know it is coming soon, and Mason says he can feel her and hear her, but just you wait kid!

Total Weight Gain: 8 pounds total weighing in at 245.6 pounds.

Symptoms: Feeling pretty great this week. Just making sure I don't over do it. I do love taking my daily naps. I feel like I almost have to but I don't require 3 naps like I did in the 1st trimester.

Baby’s Size: Banana/Pomegranate  

Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops I wear maternity now and my bigger t-shirts.

Stretch Marks: I already have a ton that I got when I gained weight years ago. So nothing new.

Gender: GIRL!!! 

Sleep: I am only waking up once a night to go to the bathroom. But started having some crazy weird dreams! I am flipping over from one side to the other a lot, but often times I end up on my back. 

Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my belly or back! Sleeping through the night. 

Cravings: It has gone back and forth between carbs and then to protein/meat. I have really enjoyed eating burgers. We indluged in our food budget and I got some really good grass fed beef for burgers for Mother's Day.

Aversions: nothing yet

Excited About: My monthly check up is tomorrow so I get to hear her heartbeat. I am feeling her kick so much more than before! That has been fun. Looking forward to when Matt and the boys will be able to feel her kick from the outside.

Workouts: Got in my workouts 5 days a this past week, which is awesome! Still getting lots of massages from Matt for that. I have been doing 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates specifically, Cize, Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts and the Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity 2nd Trimester workouts. 

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!