Every Day May Not Be Good...But There Is Something Good In Every Day!

Guess what?!? It's raining AGAIN in central VA! We had 17 days straight of rain in the last month. Then just a few glorious days of sunshine, then today. Rain all day long. I can look at this in either 2 ways...I HATE RAIN, it sucks because we have to stay indoors and with 2 boys that is so hard. OR, I LOVE RAIN! It is watering my grass for free. Making my flowers and garden grow. And we need the rain, since we didn't get enough snow this year.

I have had really great days and really, really crappy days. But I always try to find the good in my life. My miscarriage last year, was a HORRIBLE day, but I gained an understanding that it happened for a reason. That it was better that way. As hard as it was to go through it, I not only survived but I became STRONGER because of it!

You can choose to be happy in your life or you can choose to not be. You get to make that choice. Life isn't perfect for anyone but its important to be thankful for the good that we do have in our lives.

So how are you going to look at the day today? 

What is ONE thing that is GOOD in your life today? Comment below! Let's celebrate your amazing day! 

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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! 

Benefits of Using Coconut Oil

Did you know that you can use coconut oil for a lot more than just cooking? Yep here are some benefits of coconut oil for moms and babies! 

Uses of Coconut Oil for Moms: 

During Pregnancy:

~While pregnant you can use coconut oil on your ever growing belly to help prevent itchiness. It can even help reduce the amount of stretch marks or reduce the stretch marks you already have with regular use. (it's cause of that fatty acid chain)

~Use it to help with dryness, if you have any, you know, down there or to help aid in perineal massage when approaching your due date.

~If your face is super dry you can use it as a moisturizer at night. I have been doing this for about 2 weeks now. I tend to break out while pregnant and I have noticed that all my zits are gone.

Post-Partum for Moms:

~I use coconut oil as a nipple cream. It is safe for babies to consume, and doesn't taste too badly but because of the anti-viral, anti-viral, and antibacterial properties it will help to safely keep your nipples happy and healthy. Cracked nipples, it will help them heal faster and stay healed. And it is not sticky like lanolin. In January a friend of mine just had her new baby and within 2 days had sore cracked nipples. She started using coconut oil and within a few days they were healing and by a week they were completely healed. Apply a small amount with breast milk all over nipples  after every feeding and allow to soak in through "air drying".

~Again use it on your now shrinking belly to help reduce itching.

Uses of Coconut Oil For Babies: 

~Does your baby have cradle cap? It is one of the most common things that babies develop. It looks like a yellowish dandruff. And it is ok. Coconut oil is great to treat this, instead of buying the expensive cradle cap ointment at the store which can be full of things we really don't want to put on the baby. Coconut oil might be in a solid form when you buy it but it melts very quickly from our body heat. Easy to apply to a sensitive newborns head that has already been traumatized from birth. Rub some coconut oil on the babies head and allow to soak for 20 minutes. Gently rinse the oil out and using a soft brush, brush the flakes off. It can take a few treatments for all the flakes to go away but you will notice a difference.

~Diaper cream is expensive. If you already have a good quality coconut oil on hand you can use it on your babies sensitive bum. If you apply a small amount just after birth it can help reduce the stickiness of the meconium (the tar like poop on the diapers for the first few days of birth) on the babies behind. Making changes faster and a little easier.

~Also it can help reduce and heal diaper rash as it is a lubricant and helps heal owies.

~Last thing for babies, great as a lotion and as a massage oil for your baby. Babies love being touched and it help to grow your bond with each other. It will soak into their sensitive skin easily and keep it moisturized just like it does for you!

Dietary Uses:
Plus 15 dietary uses for coconut oil. Are you going to start using coconut oil? 

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! 

No More Mom Guilt

MOM GUILT! How many of you have felt guilty for wanting to get your hair cut, spending some time away from the kids to regroup, for working out maybe when your kid is crying for a little bit, for spending money on you and not your kids, for just taking some time for you. STOP IT! DROP THE MOM GUILT! You are not supposed to be last. You know what happens when you take care of everyone before yourself? You will crack! You will not be happy. You will feel sad and even angry at times. YOU NEED YOUR TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOU!

The number one thing that most women feel about taking care of themselves, especially moms, is GUILT! You are no being selfish finding time to workout. You are not being a bad mom for maybe letting your kid cry a little so you can knock out the last 30 seconds of a move before you can hit pause, take care of your kid and then hit play again to finish it up (and sometimes a 30 minute workout can take 45 minute when you have to do that, and IT IS OK!) You are not horrible for taking 30 minutes just after you get home from work, exhausted, to bust out your workout. YOU DESERVE to be HAPPY. You DESERVE to kick butt! And you are WORTH IT! NO MORE GUILT for doing what you need to do to take care of you!

I have been there. Mason's first year, I never, ever had time for myself. Matt was deployed and I thought I had to do it all myself. Thankfully Mason was often held at church for me because, maybe I looked like I needed a break, I don't know, but just a few months after Matt returned and I was still doing everything first over me. I cracked! My facade I put up just shattered. I finally told Matt how I was feeling, how I felt like I just "lost myself" I didn't know who I was. I was first just a wife. Then just a mom. Then I was a wife and a mom and was still doing EVERYTHING and never ever took a break for me. I thought I had to do it all to be happy, but the one thing I forgot was ME! And without taking care of me, it just didn't work.

Why am I sharing all this here...YOU ALL NEED TO HEAR IT! Stop the guilt. Self shaming. And do what you can. Put aside 30 minutes a day to take care of you. Taking a nap, alone time, EXERCISE. Whatever you can fit into your day. JUST DO SOMETHING FOR YOU! You are worth it and deserve to be as happy as possible! Your kids are great and deserve your love, but so do you! 

***Comment below with some experiences where you didn't allow yourself to take care of you and what you should have had to do in the past to overcome the Mom/Self guilt and shaming for taking care of you over other things. Learn from your past and do better!

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! 

Fit and Healthy Plus Size Pregnancy: Exercise

I have no idea why but most women, including myself with Mason (pregnancy #1) once we get pregnant, our mindset changes to EAT ANYTHING I WANT AND YAY! I CAN STOP EXERCISING! Seriously! So many women, the moment they get pregnant they just stop doing what they know they should be doing. I get it, the first trimester though, backing off from exercise because that is the most crucial stage and when most miscarriages happen, but once you hit 12 weeks there isn't really anything stopping you from continuing exercise. 

With Mason, I was so scared to do anything. I worked so hard to get pregnant with him after 8 years of trying. It literally terrified me to exercise. But I didn't take care of me. I didn't do what I knew I should have. Even just walking would have been better than nothing. And walking regularly. I went walking more once I hit 32 weeks or so because I was trying to get my body ready to have the baby and I needed to have him ready a week early since Matt was being deployed to Iraq. 

Let's change the mindset for pregnancy. Here are 5 tips to help you start right away with exercise! 

1) GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY! 

When you get pregnant, yes, back off from doing HIIT, jumping, running even. But continue to walk, or do the elliptical. Do as much as you can before morning sickness sets in. And when you do get morning sickness, still try to do what you can, but know it is ok to back off for now.

2) GET BACK TO IT! 

Once you hit 12 weeks or feeling better from morning sickness. GET BACK TO IT! You will have to go slowly, especially if you took some time off because you were sick or exhausted. But slow down. And you might be out of breath more because of the increased blood flow requiring more energy to move oxygen around your body.

3) DON'T GIVE UP! 

At times it is going to be hard to want to get your workout in. But don't give up. It is exactly what you need to be doing to keep you healthy and to keep the baby healthy. Added bonus, exercise while pregnant helps with labor! So if you are wanting labor to faster, more controlled, DON'T GIVE UP! 

4) PICK SOMETHING FUN! 

For me, what keeps me interested in exercise is to pick something that I enjoy. About one day a week, I am doing something that allows me to shake my booty and dance! Why? Because it always puts a smile on my face. I might be horrible at dancing but it is still fun. Or yoga. I never, ever thought that I would enjoy yoga but it is my relaxing me time every week and just stretching out my sore muscles and keeping my back from hurting even worse is a BONUS! And you don't have to do hours, on hours of exercise. I am honestly doing 30 minutes 5 days a week right now. The exercises I do, 21 Day Fix, Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity, Cize are specifically cardio + strength training. A 2 for one as it were. Which cuts down on me having to do cardio on top of it. Would I benefit from doing cardio, of course. But I don't have a treadmill at home and being a stay at home mom I can't get into the gym to walk on a treadmill. We are getting outside more and walking since it is getting warmer. But since I have the boys walking with me, we aren't going too fast. But something is better than nothing! That is why I am specifically doing cardio + strength training. 

5) DON'T LET YOUR CRAVINGS CONTROL YOU

You are working hard to stay active and do exercise. That does not mean you earned a candy bar or cupcake. Nope. Exercise does not have a reward system. For so long I thought it did but it doesn't. It is OK to eat treats and cravings OCCASIONALLY but not everyday. Eat right, eat whole foods, and be smart about how you treat yourself. DO NOT feel guilty for enjoying a treat. There is nothing wrong with having a treat. And honestly to stay on track with your progress you need to allow yourself treats otherwise you will go back to old habits. Which for me include binge eating the foods I am depriving myself of! Or find new cravings. Frozen grapes are AMAZING! Strawberries! Watermelon! Homemade Granola! YUM! Buy exotic fruits, like mango or pineapple and enjoy them. Your body will love them and will thank you! 

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: 20 Weeks

HAPPY HALF WAY POINT TO ME!!!!! Yay for finally being at 20 weeks! this is so exciting and HUGE for me. With 3 miscarriages under my belt, making it half way is such a huge sigh of relief. I am feeling Elyse kick so much now. Everyday, multiple times a day and often I ask Matt if he can feel her kicking. Not yet for him. We even did the remote control test. (Where you lay on your back and put a long remote controller on your belly and it should move when she does.) Well it didn't work. Not yet. I give it another 2 weeks before Matt and the kiddos can feel her moving. 

Things, pregnancy wise have been going pretty straight forward. I have the normal round ligament pain, but a little more since I pulled it in my last pregnancy with Collin. I have to be careful when I move so that I I am having Braxton Hicks Contractions already. Not regular or anything but maybe one every other day. 

Total Weight Gain: 7 pounds total weighing in at 244.4 pounds.

Symptoms: Feeling great overall. I had a bad migraine on Tuesday so that wasn't fun, but it went away after about a day. I do have some shoulder pain from sleeping on my right side. 

Baby’s Size: Mango/Banana

Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops still good to go on regular shirts, but quickly starting to get too big! 

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! Having some hip and shoulder pain from sleeping on my side. I just hate it. So I am flipping over from one side to the other a lot. 

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

Cravings: Nothing really this week. Maybe veggies and Shakeology. I have been really good about getting in my Shakeology every day!

Aversions: nothing yet

Excited About: HALF WAY TO MEETING OUR LITTLE GIRL! And feeling her kick so much more than before! That has been fun. Pretty soon 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. Did you see my post about how my belly is different now compared to my other 2 pregnancies? Be sure to CHECK IT OUT! 

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!