Sarah: Update!

O. K!  So not that we finally got internet I can keep up with this blog better. I haven’t started the whole squat challenge yet (just saw it tonight….maybe I’ll do it before bed) well…I can already feel my legs getting sore just thinking about it. That means growing muscles though, right?

A new thing that I’ve kind of done this last week at least is making recipe’s I have not tried yet and “healthier” too. Well, some of them…anyway I have to share the links because they were awesome! I have to tell you about the yam/sweet potato (? Whatever?) nacho’s. Ummmm YUM! They were surprisingly awesome! I was a little scared to try them because sweet potato nacho’s doesn’t sound very appetizing…and maybe they were AMAZING to us just because I was worried they would be disgusting. Anything NOT disgusting is…awesome right? Well I have to show the picture too cause, they were just really good. The picture isn’t mine though. I need to be better at cooking breakfast for Leo. I am either sleeping or nursing when he gets up…usually I try to freeze breakfasts but, I should be better. So one of my goals, in the future, will be to try all the breakfast recipes that sound and look amazing. It’s more motivating to get out of bed when you –found an amazing looking recipe, have the ingredients, and are excited to try a new, or favorite, recipe.

Honey-Garlic Chicken: AMAZING! If you’re in the mood for Asian tasting food? Yes. Easy too! (just make sure the chicken is COMPLETELY thawed before cooking, we had to microwave ours a little). Tons of spices used, I didn’t have sage or thyme, so I just put a few tsp’s of Italian seasoning in place. (Leo votes = Tastiest…I think it probably had the most flavor too)

http://www.nlrockrecipes.com/2012/04/doube-crunch-honey-garic-chicken.html

Lasagna Soup: LOVED IT! Tastes just like lasagna, except not all the layering (although it is prettier that way). Okay, so maybe not on the super healthier side…. (Leo votes = another great way/easier way to make a favorite dish)

http://www.shugarysweets.com/2013/03/lasagna-soup

Chicken Salad wrapped in Lettuce: GREAT!!! Less carbs, still filling…I would have something on the side though next time. I think this was one of the prettiest. (Leo votes =”Those were just good”)

No link: Just make chicken salad with whatever you had. Grapes, Apples, nuts? Mayo, salt and pepper, peppers, onions, uhhh seriously whatever. I kind of branched off from the Usha’s(?) chicken salad that was used at steph’s and my receptions. ANYWAY wrap them in romaine or any really, lettuce leaf and enjoy. Mine kind of cracked in places so you might just want to pile it on top of the leaf and enjoy!  

Sweet Potato Irish Nacho’s: Surprisingly yummy! I didn’t have a lot of the ingredients like yellow and red peppers. Just had green. Didn’t have cilantro. I think These actually would be gross with salsa, but had sour cream with them, ranch wasn’t bad either. We added just a sprinkle of browned ground beef with onions and garlic with it…Leo thinks that it made it a lot better than it would have been. Basically, you can put whatever nacho toppings you want on them. (Leo vote: Most creative of the week. He really likes them too)

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/10/sweet-potato-irish-nachos.html#_a5y_p=1025305

Okay, so has anyone else gotten into bad habits DURING pregnancy and are still in them or working to get out of the habit? Um, I have! (I won’t mention some…any of them) I have been trying to change. It’s hard. I am totally rambling, and need to go to sleep.

P.S. no one look at what time I posted (bad habit) J   

This is what I'm doing this month. Join me?

Happy November

Hi again:)

On the day of or before November, dad was preparing a Thanksgiving speech type thing and I was......massaging his back.    Well , the next day I was supposed to babysit for the people I work for and I was kind of nervous cause I can sometimes have a hard time with them.....well, I was kind of praying the whole day that  I would be able to have a good time babysitting and that all would go well and that I would be ''gentle and loving in deed and in thought'', i kept on thinking about babysitting while i was massaging dads back and all of the sudden he started thinking out loud saying....''gratitude...hmmm...gratitude....an attitude of gratitude gives latitude.''  That was from an insurance company or something....so then he typed in on the search bar, words that end in 'tude''.   He found aptitude, so he came up with  ''An attitude of Gratitude gives Latitude in Aptitude''.  I asked him what aptitude means and he said, "like skill or something.' So i was like oh, if i have an attitude of gratitude then it will bring latitude in my aptitude.  So, what did  i do the next day?  i remembered that an attitude of gratitude brings latitude in aptitude.  So, i encourage you all on this Thanksgiving season to practice gratitude and you will be able to have latitude in what ever thing you work on, even if its cooking, cleaning, having to watch your kid every second so they won't knock down the book shelf on themselves on accident or fall down the stairs etc....  It is still hard for me but it has made it easier. So, if i start working on gratitude now and keep on going i will probably have a happier life because attitude is something naturally contained but a good attitude has to be obtained and the bad attitude has to be tamed:)     I hope this post wasn't boring or confusing to read, and i hope that we all will someday have our good and grateful attitudes obtained and maintained so we can all have a better and easier life both here and in our afterlives.  Cause wouldn't you think that a attitude of gratitude would spiritually bring latitude?

Love Ya!   Jessica                                P.S this is what it looks like when it rains here...just a thought.;)

Hi!

Hey girls,
sorry if you all got an email for a password recovery type thing....i changed my password and  forgot it. And i can't remember if i wrote it down or not which is kind of.....blond.  :]

I  was wondering if any of you have some suggestions, sites or songs that you could help me with. I was thinking about doing a group lesson for my piano students this December(if any of you don't know what  a group lesson is, its kind of like a piano lesson just with all of the students in the same level...for example; all students in level two combine at a time and all students on level 5 would combine at a different time. I teach them about a certain composer, have them do activities based on their level and skill on the piano and each of the students performs a song they have memorized for the students in their level and for me as well. This is just for the teacher and the students in that level.  I think that group lessons are good every once in a while because it gives the students more than one opportunity a year to perform a memorized piece of music for other people, it helps them get to know eachother and helps them have the (good) competitiveness  to practice hard.. And of  course we have a little treat afterwards.:D )  Anyways, if you have any sites that might have music for beginners i am all ears. And eyes. : )  If you have any suggestions of anything for me, just let me know.  Thanks!
                            Love you all!!

                                                  Jessica : )

So I have a few minutes! I just want to say thanks to steph for the 'Run for Ice Cream' poster. I am not good at waiting till the end or even waiting in general to have a treat, BUT it is really nice to see my progress in exercise and it helps me see how much I have done and can do in the future. Anyway, Things have been going great here! Caleb is starting to crawl now!!! I can't believe how fast time fly's. Today I listened to "The Heart of The Five Love Languages" It was short and really good! It made me think of ways I can help Leo know that I'm still in love with him (not that he's been doubting it) and understand ways that I feel loved too. I thought it was great and thought I would invite you guys to listen (or read) it too. Love you all!!!

Long Time NO Talk...

Hey girls,

Sorry it's been a century since I've done anything on the blog.  I've been a little pre-occupied. ;)  And, it isn't just Efren, it's mission too. :)  So about my mission, I've been thinking about making a blog.  BUT, as we all know, I can't be the official "blogger" while I'm out there.  Anyways, so I was wondering if any of you would be willing to be the blogger person for me.  I just want a blog that all of our extended family and friends can see, as well as the immediate family.  If none of you can do it, I understand...but I thought I would ask because I don't think people here (we know who those are;) would keep it updated.  Well, I love all of you!  Thanks for all you do for me.  I am going to miss all of you soo much! :(
Have a fabulous day!  Love, Johannah

Sorry I haven't updated forever, i will try to be better at it once my new school schedule is for sure not so confusing and difficult to get used to.
I blogged today because i need to ask you of a favor for me that i have been putting off for a long time because i feel like i would be throwing a pitty party for myself which is not my intention.  So, for a while I have been......like depressed but not a "take away my life" depressed. I don't know how to explain how i have been feeling and some days i am having a great time but alot of times i find myself depressed and I am trying so hard but the problem i have is probably something a i need to figure out on my own. Please pray for me....I think I need some support from people who can give me advice without a grudge of who i might be dealing with or me.  I hope I don't make you sad or feel bad for anything, i thought i was doing okay but it has been really pushing on me lately and I really need your prayers.
I love you all, thank you for everything you do for me!

                                          Love Jessica

Ratatouille Sauté

Look! A recipe! Before you turn up your noses and say it doesn't look or wont taste good, give it a try. It's nice and fresh and SO delicious! This is a recipe I absolutely love! I've made it many times and served it over rice, rice noodles, and with fish. It's pretty versatile, and great for student budgets.  Hope you enjoy!

Ratatouille Sauté

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 chopped red onion
1  or 2 chopped bell peppers (any color works!)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
5 1/2 cups diced peeled eggplant (about 1 pound)
1 or 2 small chopped squash (I use yellow squash or zucchini)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained ( I have also used 2 or 3 fresh tomatoes)
1/4 c. Balsamic Vinegar


Heat oil in a large nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell peppers; sauté for 3 minutes. Add garlic, and sauté for 1 minute. Add the eggplant, squash, salt, black pepper, and vinegar. Sauté 3-5 mins until squash is cooked. Add tomatoes; stir to combine. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.

Source: Adapted from myrecipes.com

Update: Sarah

Sorry that it has been FOREVER! It's not that I don't ever read or want to post. I don't have internet yet and have to make trips to the library....sometimes hard to sit and do stuff while Caleb is ready to go home already. So, I thought I would take this chance to post. I have been thinking a lot about eating healthier too. I have been trying to make most of the foods we eat. I was looking at this book called "cook this, not that" similar to the books "Eat this, Not That". It compares home-made meals with restaurant meals. GROSS! They give recipe's as well and encourage you to explore...that recipe's aren't set-in-stone, you can sub things, you can entirely leave something out if you don't have it (okay, but be smart....you can't just leave yeast out of bread) but, you can leave celery out of fried rice or replace with...I used cabbage. ANYWAY'S, every single meal was under HALF if not more the amount of calories at restaurants!!! Seriously, eating out (ALL THE TIME) is a waste of money and can have serious effects over a period of time. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a meal out here and there, just be careful! You would have to do a lot more to burn those cals, then from a home cooked meal of the exact same thing (basically). I just have to mention one more thing before I stop. My opinion and what I have learned with Organic foods...If you are set on eating only organic than go for it. Just make sure you read the labels and find out what is REALLY organic and not. Just because the labels say it does not mean that it's true. Compare an organic food label of something to the same non-organic version. A lot of organic claims are really just 'give me more money' claims. Pesticides for fruits and veggie's really is not dangerous because of the SMALL amount that is actually on them. Just clean'em before you eat'em. Okay, enough of that.
I have been getting out of bed earlier (meaning 8-9...don't judge) and exercising 4-5 times a week now and feel so much better when I do. Thanks for all the encouragement to eat healthy, it really is an important part of...being healthy. OH! Fruits and veggie's are expensive, yes, but....Leo and I spent A LOT less of what we would have spent by price matching at Wal-mart. So, we get adds in the paper for all these food stores (or you can go online and look at the prices), then we plan our menu according to whats on-sale or a steal. You can match prices from any store with Wal-mart AND (at least in Utah county..just ask next time you're at wal-mart about your area) they have double coupon Tuesday's. Meaning if I have a coupon for a dollar off, I can get it for $2 off....you can use coupons from other stores too I THINK, but if you find a coupon for something you need, then price match with another store that may have a good deal on it at the time, then go on a Tuesday....yeah.
     

In Defence of Food: A Book Review

Image Source: MichaelPollan.com

My latest read was this incredible book by Michael Pollan.  I really enjoyed his take on food and how it should and shouldn't be eaten. I especially loved the way it was presented. It was clear and to the point, and also very scientific...in an unbiased kind of way.  He basically points out that much of what we are eating is not really "food" in the traditional sense. It is instead a "food-like substance" something we eat that is kind of like food, but not really FOOD.  His main mantra is "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." It's a great thing to keep in mind. Make sure what you are eating is real food. Not stuff that is made by scientists. And keep it simple. The closer to the ground the better. :)

Image Source: Degreesearch.org

Another great point he makes is to eat food from your culture...like traditional food. Instead of eating the American or western way. You know, the cold cereal, the fries, the junk. Stuff that isn't easily made in your own kitchen. Unfortunately, many people have not learned to cook real food. 

Image Source: Degreesearch.org

And a great point: Seriously! If it doesn't go bad sitting on the counter for a few days, it's not a good idea to eat it.

Image Source: Degreesearch.org

Anyway, it's a great book. You should read it! It is very enlightening, and has given me a great appreciation for home-cooking and eating whole foods.

I'm Running for Ice Cream. Wanna Join?

 I have a thing for ice cream. I think you guys know that. Like, I have a big thing for ice cream. But lately I have tried cutting it (and any other processed sugar food) out of my life. It went really well for about 2.5 weeks. Then I crashed...Daniel left for 4 days and I ate a 1/2 gallon all by myself. Lest you think ill of me, NO! It was not in one sitting! (There, I do have some redemption.) So I tried to make myself limit it again. And again! I was stressed out and tired and PMSing, and I bought ice cream when I wasn't "supposed" to, and we ate another 1/2 gallon over the course of 3 days. So I thought to myself, I seem to have a problem with limiting my ice cream. Maybe if I run a certain number of miles, I could reward myself with ice cream (only one bowl)! So I made this little chart to see if it will work. And I think it will. It's totally attainable.

There are 20 spaces. 1 box will equal 1 mile or 30 minutes of any other exercise. This is attainable because I generally try to run 3 miles about every other day. I am trying to work up to 4 or 5. I also try to work out for at least 30 mins or an hour on my off running days. (Especially since I am trying to be awesome like Sarah and do the dragonfly pose in yoga...eventually...I kind of have to make up lost ground for a little while. Why did I ever stop doing yoga regularly?) I am also counting walks to the park (our closest park is 1/2 mile away and the next closest is 1 mile), which we do quite frequently. SO. If I REALLY wanted ice cream, I could make it happen in a week. If I just do my normal thing, I can get ice cream in 1 1/2 weeks. No problem.

I hope this works. I've been at a plateau in my weight loss for about a month now, and I can feel myself starting to get a little depressed. Which leads to not caring anymore, which leads to weight gain. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on myself since Daniel has been gone 3 times, we had family in town for a week, and we are about to go out of town...I've had a lot going on. AND, I have lost 8 lbs since I started this whole thing! I guess that counts for something!

Also, If you would like a copy, either download the png from here, or I can email you the pdf. Love you!




  PS. Am I the only one that uses this blog anymore? Remember it doesn't have to be about weight loss, health, or goals even. You could share a quote or movie you really liked, a book review, a new recipe, or even a photo of what you've been doing recently. :) I'm just into clean eating and health right now. I am sure it will change soon. :)

Clean Eating

So...Daniel and I have completely revamped the way we eat since I last posted. It started out as an experiment to see what might be causing Daniel's tummy trouble, but we really like it, and are planning on making it a lifetime commitment. Let me explain what got us excited about it....For a long time I have been concerned with the way we eat. I felt like it was fairly healthy (especially compared with the average American diet), and I tried to follow the word of wisdom, but I still felt like our diet was not quite right. Wondering what to do, and how to break the cycle, and concerned about Daniel's GI episodes, I started to do some research.

I found a diet I was interested in starting called "The Virgin Diet." It was basically an experiment to take certain foods out of your diet completely, and then add them back in again slowly, taking special note of what happened to your body. Those foods are Dairy, Soy, Corn, Eggs, Sugar (or subs), Peanuts, and Gluten.  We actually started doing that and did really great for 2 weeks, and then "summer" hit and we realized we were going to have to change our plans. Daniel has a conference this weekend that will feed him several times, and with the current American diet vs. the Virgin diet, we doubted Daniel would be able to eat anything at all. Because gluten, soy, and corn are in almost EVERYTHING! Not to mention scout camps (2) and weekend vacations. So the testing is put on hold until the fall when trips/vacations end and real life starts again.  However, that doesn't mean we are going back to the way things were. We now feel very strongly about this whole thing, and do not plan to go back.

During this time of research, I was talking to a friend about changing the way we eat and in particular about Daniel's episodes, he mentioned this documentary. Well, this is a trailer for it, but we watched the whole thing.

Although we are sure there are hidden agendas with them (as well as with any other movie or organization), we feel that it really can't hurt to eat this way. I mean, who is going to die from eating more vegetables and fruits? No one. There are many instances in this documentary and I have also heard from others who have switched to whole foods, raw, paleo, green smoothie, etc. diets, of amazing turn arounds in health. AMAZING. My thoughts? Well, I'm not expecting amazing experiences or stories from changing the way I eat, like those people, but I am only hoping it makes me more healthy than I have ever been in the past. NOW is the time to change. NOW while I am still young, and can easily change my habits.

So we've been eating "clean" (no processed foods, grass-fed beef and free-range chicken, and LOTS of vegetables and fruits) for a couple weeks now. We have already seen amazing results. We have both lost 5 lbs (or more...we weigh in on Mondays), I am fitting into my clothes better, and we have experienced WAY less cravings. (Although the first weeks was amazingly rough as far as cravings go.)  As far as non-measurable things go, we both feel that we have more energy (again, except that first week), I have been able to run when I never had been able to before, and we both feel great!

So, I would encourage all of you to re-think the way you eat, and be willing to make some changes for your health. 'Cause seriously, who's not gonna benefit from eating more veggies?

Maybe we should all try this!

I saw this and...I thought of Grandma, then I thought that it might be good if we all try this.  It might help us talk to one another with more love.  ;)  Iay ovelay ouyay!


    

Just felt impressed to share this!

There's a place for everyone!  I love all of ya'll, and everyone needs some kind of smile enhancer sometimes! :)
ENJOY!!! Love, Johannah

Hello Hello!

First of all, Happy Belated Mothers day to all you Mothers, it is so awesome that Mom and you guys chose to do the right things and you never know how many people you will and do impact in a good way.

So, with my goals, I did really good on making my bed before i get ready for seminary and it has actually helped me feel better, cleaner and more ready and organized for the day.

2.Do all school per day as needed and try to maintain a good average. I did okay with this one, a couple days after i posted my goals we left for Utah for two weeks and then we got back and i had a hard time getting into the schoolinessness excitement or whatever you call it. I still took some tests but haven't done that great in the last two i have recently taken but today i looked over my test and did a couple rounds of a card review for it so i feel  a little more comfortable about taking it.

3. Exercise for at least 45 mins. a day. This was kind of a one week i did super great and the next i barely even did anything to exercise, i will try harder this time and keep on my goals. I love to exercise i just need to do it!

4. Practice the music i need to so i can play for choir etc...good. I think i did pretty good on this but i could have practiced more...know what i mean? one of the choir songs is an organ for the accompaniment (?) and so i have been practicing the organ for it. No one else knows how to play the organ except me and the  pianist and both of us are just trying to figure it out.  (i hope we don't break it :/ )

5. Eat less sugar and junk food and  try to put more whole wheat into the things i cook.   Weeeeeellllll.....i could have done a lot better on this one than i did.

6. Get to sleep every night at 9:30 except Sun, Tue, Fri, and maybe Saturday.  Honestly this was a good goal to set but that is only like two nights that i almost could go to bed at 9:30 so i think i will change it to go to bed at 9:30 whenever i can.  

7. Have a positive attitude and outreach to others and try to finish PP before the year is over, so i can work on my third time through.  I think i have a positive attitude most of the time and i try every day to reach out to others as good as i can and i need to work on Personal progress more. I finally got my medallion 2 sundays ago and i have finished two things i think so far starting over.

8. this is another goal. Print off my goals and put them where i will see every day and so i can remember what they are.

Sorry for the long post again.  Hope you all have a good day! Love you guys! :)

Happy Mother's day!

Happy Mother's day to all you awesome moms! I think this is a cute video. :) Mom, thanks for all you do. You are an inspiration, and have been there through it all. There are times I still say to myself "I just want my Mommy!" I love you! Thanks for always being there!

PS. You're Mother's day present will be in the mail soon. And yes...you know what it is. :)

Weekly Weigh In

Current weight: 170

Last weeks weight: 170

Ok guys. I must be really good at this maintaining thing, because I thought for SURE I would have gained a pound this week. I was not good at all. I did exercise most days, but my food choices have been less than ideal. Meaning I had a lot more cookies and ice cream than I should have...ahem. So I was super surprised when I got on the scale. Nothing has changed. Although...I feel like my arms and back are a little more toned! That's always good news!

Thanks for all the motivation! I really appreciate it. :)

Going Out On a Limb

Just an update on my current emotional status. I have been feeling a lot better emotionally since I blogged about PPD. Thank you all for your helpful comments, and for letting me know I wasn't the only one struggling with Postpartum Depression. Honestly, I was so worried none of you would know how I felt or even what Postpartum Depression was, and I was scared that I was going to be told to get over it and to stop being selfish. (That's probably because that's how I feel about myself.) Anyway, thank you all! Also, I've been reading my scriptures first thing in the morning, in stead of at night, and that's been helping a lot too.

Ok, now for the real reason I am blogging today.

I gotta get something off my chest. Remember when we'd be sitting in seminary and the teacher would say something that wasn't very accurate, and I'd sit there with my arms folded and my leg bouncing until finally I had to say something? Well this is how I feel whenever people talk about the benefits of circumcision. Ahem. Now are you all interested? Let me explain.

When I was pregnant with Tetra, I didn't find out if she was a boy or a girl, so the whole time I worried about whether or not we would get our "boy" circumcised. I new that my midwife was super anti-circumcision and I didn't want to be swayed by her. I also new that my entire family and Erick's family were pro-circumcision and I didn't want to be swayed that way either. I wanted to make my own educated choice. So I started doing research. After articles on the internet, reading from a medical books, and lots of pondering a praying, I had my answer: My boys would not be circumcised.

Wait! I know you're probably thinking, "Umm...ok..." but before you completely lose interest, read this blog post:

The Circumcision Decision

This lady was in the same boat as I was, except she new she was having a boy, and she explains the reason why she decided not to get her son circumcised.  She addresses hygiene, STDs, UTIs, Penile Cancer, age, and looking like other boys. She even has links to where you can find the information, which I found very helpful.

I think the biggest eye opener for me was this video from YouTube. I don't know if this guys bible facts are really accurate, but his other information is pretty accurate.

Why Circumcision in Medically Unnecessary  

As far as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints policy on circumcision, that law was done away with. Here's the link to that info:

Church Policy 

Also in the Book of Mormon it says it plain as day that, " the law of circumcision is done away in me." Moroni 8:8 

In my opinion, if Heavenly Father didn't want men to have their foreskin, he wouldn't have put it there. Besides when our husbands, sons, fathers, and so forth are resurrected, their gonna have their foreskin. Also, if there is an infection at some point in my boys' life, where they have to get their foreskin removed, it will probably be when they are older and can actually take pain medication. If at some point they or he wants to get his foreskin removed, it would be his choice not mine.

My biggest concern with this blog post is that I will offend some of you or make you think I think you're a bad parent for circumcising your son/sons. Well, that is not my intention or thoughts. My motive is to inform you that circumcision is not necessary, and that an infant boys foreskin is perfect. I can't sit on my butt and not say anything when I hear that someone told you that cutting off 3/4 of the nerve endings, on your babies penis, was the best thing for your baby when tons studies have shown that it's not necessary.

If the information I gave you is not to your liking, at least I gave you a great dinner conversation . . . which is better than nothing! :) I love you all!!

Rachel

  

To the BEST Mother(s) out there!

I saw this Mothers Day video, and I thought of you mom.  Thank you very much for everything you have taught me, and all of your children.  I have never learned so much from anyone except you, mom.  I love you soooooo much mom!  Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for me, and that you still make daily for me.  If I can be half of the Mother you are for me, my children will be very lucky!  I love you and hope you have a fabulous Mothers day!  And to my sisters:  You all are amazing Mothers!  Your children are very blessed to have come into your lives.  Thank you for the examples you all have set for me!  I love all of you, and I look up to you so much!  Happy Mothers Day!!
https://www.lds.org/topics/parenting?lang=eng

OOPS....

I need to learn how to work this stuff. haha. Heres the link https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDMQuAIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqX9FSZJu448&ei=shKEUYGtDY7yigLg3IDYCQ&usg=AFQjCNGqepDduaDDsH6ttXTUb7_U1kfaFQ&sig2=JUl5VgPQgS50wGwshLQJvA&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE    WHOA! Or it might be easier to give you the title and look it up on youtube by yourself... its called  "Never, Ever Give Up. Arthur's Inspirational Transformation" Its awesome.

Never, Ever Give Up. Arthur's Inspirational Transformation!

I absolutely LOVE this clip. You can take this a spiritual way too. Never give up! "Keep on, Keepin' on" it just shows what people can do. Where you can end up if you just get back up and keep trying.

Confession

It's been a while since I posted on how I'm doing. Well, honestly, I don't feel like I'm doing well. When I was pregnant with Tetra, I was really scared that after I had her, I would have postpartum depression like I had after I gave birth to Wren. My fears have rung true, I have really had a hard time emotionally lately. It never hits me until about two months after I have had a baby, but when it hits, it hits hard, and sometimes it's all I can do to get out of bed in the morning.

Maybe I should fill you guys in on what postpartum depression is. For me, postpartum depression is like riding a rollercoaster with my eyes shut. Sometimes I feel really happy and then all of a sudden, I drop into a pit of anger and sadness. I feel very inadequate and unloved, often contemplating why I even try to continue on the earth. Don't freak out, I have never tried to end my life, but I do, at times, have those thoughts.  I cry a lot. Sometimes I get mad at Heavenly Father asking him why I have to have this trial, wasn't being pregnant and giving birth hard enough. I just want to enjoy my husband and children and be a good wife and mom. Instead, I sometimes resent my husband  and my children. It's really hard because I often feel like I can't control how I feel, and I've been taught all my life that I can. I have been wanting to write about postpartum depression for a long time because I think you ladies can help me get through this. I just wish I could get my old self back again! I love all of you!

Rachel  

Ugh!

Current weight: 170

Last week's weight: 170

UGH! I've been working out like crazy. (Ok. I didn't yesterday because it was Sunday and rainy so we didn't go on our normal family walk.) By the end I'm shaky. I'm dizzy. I'm SWEATY! But I feel awesome because I DID IT! I have also been really good at eating under my calorie level. AND I ran 2.5 miles on Saturday without stopping! So I was feeling pretty good about myself...And then I got on the scale this morning...Haven't lost a pound. Not ONE! And I've lost a measly .5" on my waist and gained 1" on my hips, both of which I am attributing to not measuring in the same place as before.

This is the part I hate about trying to loose weight--plateaus...I get so discouraged then decide it doesn't matter and binge away...I only have 250 calories left today and it's only 2:30 here. (Course...I usually have a binge problem this time o' the month.) Maybe I should go out for a walk later this afternoon...

Despite all this, I am not going to stop. Sarah, thanks for your comment on my last post. You are right. Numbers don't matter. And I should feel happy about me taking care of my body. I am. I feel good. I finally could sit on the couch today and not feel like I was going to fall to sleep if I read Heather any stories. That's success in my book. Maybe that has something to do with me finally getting to bed on time yesterday! (Another accomplishment!)

Sorry its taking me forever!!

Okay i don't have a lot of time to do the blog right now, i will definately do it soon though. I came up with two quotes though in the past month and week so i thought i would put them on the blog:)

:"A smile is a cheerful word unspoken"............and....

:(okay this ones a little weird and don't worry, i don't cuss or anything like that. I heard someone say  this word and i came up with this like right after that. Anyways on to the quote!)  "If your tired of someones BS, go scrub the toilets!"      

                Anyways i feel kinda guilty but its true.  

                                      Love you guys :)

Week 2: I knew I shouldn't have gotten on that scale today...

So, I'm nearing the end of the second week of the new me. :) All I'm gonna say is "IT'S NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO BED ON TIME!!" Anyone else feel this way? What are some ideas that help you to get to bed/wake up on time? I've only got 3 pebbles this entire week mostly due to not getting to bed on time. Time just slips away and before I know it, its 10:30...

However, even though I haven't done well with my bedtime, I have done very well with exercise, tracking what I eat, and getting enough fruits, veggies, and water. (Which is why I am SO confused about how I gained a pound back...maybe it's water weight. Or new muscle.)

I have started doing the "Bikini Body Mommy" challenge, and it is kicking.my.butt. big time! I hope it helps me to loose weight (or at least get super toned and loose some flab). The best part about it, is that it is mostly Calisthenics (hardly any equipment, push ups, sit ups, jumping, Burpees, planks...all that good stuff). So I don't need to go anywhere, or get anything out and then have to fight over it when I need it (happens all the time...Heather has this thing for resistance bands). Anyway...we'll see how well it goes.

Current weight: 170

Last weeks weight: 169

HELP!

So, I have done better accomplishing my goals this week, but I NEED HELP! Can anyone give me some idea's of things to do? I never realized how hard it would be to...BE a mom! I don't even have a toddler or teenagers or more than one kid. Taking care of Caleb is not the hard part. I can't just sit around all day! The house is usually clean, I can't unpack everything cause we are moving as soon as Leo gets a job, I can't do little projects for my house cause I don't have one yet....I try to play with Caleb, but that can get old after he gets bored of me making weird faces and talking funny to him. I find myself watching TV a ton and, well, it drains me and I feel icky at the end of the day. I come to the library with Leo almost everyday, just to get out and not spend money and use my computer for a while. I have thought of a few things like, listening to a good book on CD, going on walks (if it's warm enough for Caleb), cleaning (usually nothing really needs done), oh, and I have been taking better care of myself...doing my hair other than down or in a bun thing, wearing make-up and stuff. I do feel more awake and better about myself and my day (and it takes up time). ANYWAY...Any suggestions on what I can do???

Trust In The Lord

Just when all seems to be going right, challenges always come in multiple doses simultaneously.
When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see proverbs 3:11-12). He therefore gives experiences to stimulate growth,  understanding, and compassion which polish you for everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.... Your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to an experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or the benefit of those you love.



                                                                              Love Mom

All about the pebbles

You have heard about "getting a pebble" from my previous posts. I suppose now is a good time to explain what that means.

The pebble jar is mainly for motivation and also a little bit of friendly competition. The idea is that both Daniel and I have certain things we need to do to get a pebble everyday (mostly fitness related). Daniel is still working on goals similar to the ones I mentioned before, I am doing the updated 5 goals. Basically, if we do all those things that day, we put a pebble in the jar. When the jar is full, we will put $1 for every pebble toward a trip for our 10 year anniversary. We really want to go to South Africa, as it will be really close to his 10 year mission anniversary, and he has always wanted to take me there. It will be a lot of money. It almost seems impossible, but we think we can do it. If we can't afford a trip to South Africa, we will have a lot of money saved up for a fun trip! We also have a deal that who ever has the most pebbles gets a special prize. But we don't know what that is yet.

It worked well in the past. We started one last year and used the "money" we earned for a really nice date. Looser (Daniel) had to plan it. It worked really well for that, so we thought we'd do it long term. So far this year has been a little rocky. We get a pebble every now and then, but we haven't been consistent. A lot of our lack in motivation and even ability to get stuff done is due to stress. All Daniel and Josh's medical problems in the past 6 months, as well as Daniel is teaching his first class, and taking his last. We are hoping we will be able to be better. And we have been.

Although...I haven't gotten one pebble this week (since Monday). I've done all but one thing: GO TO BED ON TIME! How hard can it be? Apparently very hard! Although last night I was in bed, I just had a really bad migrane and wasn't able to sleep. And then there was a thunderstorm that started at about 1 and lasted till 3:30ish. It was the kind you can't sleep through because it's so bright and LOUD! (And you're worried the tornado siren is going to go off any minute.) Sigh...c'est la vie.

Dove Real Beauty Sketches

To all by beautiful sisters and mother, you are more beautiful than you think. I love you guys! 

Recipe

Sometime last week, we had butter rice with beans, salmon (Canned Salmon, I'm not rich enough for fresh salmon.), and salad. It was delish, but I made way too much rice so we had five cups of cooked butter rice sitting in our fridge. Another day last week, we had taco salad and had left over beans from that. Today I was trying to figure out what to make Erick for dinner and had some awesome insparation. This is what I came up with:

Rachel's Spanish Rice

In large pot add:
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 onion
Apox. 1. cup frozen corn (More or less depending on what you like)
A few shakes of Tony Chachere's Original Seasoning (Tony Chachere's in quite salty and kinda spicy, so it gives this meal a nice kick.)
Cook together until meat is browned.
Add 1 pk. taco seasoning, mix well.

To the meat mixture,  add:
Aprox. 5 cups cooked rice (I think in uncooked rice, this would equal 1 1/2 cups rice. I'm not sure though.)
1 can beans (I used the red beans that were leftovers, but I think black beans would add a nice color.)
1 small can tomato sauce
2 cups or more of shredded cheese (I used Monterey Jack) 
Salt and pepper to taste
A couple more shakes of Tony Chachere's if you wish.
Mix well and heat through.

Serve with fresh salad...or be unhealthy, like we were, and eat without any salad.

I think it would have been tasty with a bit of fresh cilantro and maybe some lime juice. Anyway, even without the cilantro and lime, Erick, Wren, and I all thought it was yummy.
 

  





 

Week 1 of the New ME!

So Mom asked for photos. Well, here they are! I am not in any way proud of the way I look, but in my mind I think I look much worse than I actually do. At least in these photos...that's encouraging. :)

Current Weight: 169
Last Weeks Weight: 169

Side view. 169 lbs

Front view. 169 lbs

Well, I didn't loose any weight this week, but I didn't gain any either. I feel like I did really well with exercise, but my sweet tooth got the better of me. Just FYI, I am going to revise my goals a bit. I had had those 11(!) goals since the beginning of the year, and I think it was stressing me out a bit. I am going to change the way I do things. Here are my new fitness goals *in order to get a pebble*

1. Exercise 50 minutes
2. 5 a day
3. Record food, and count calories (This will prevent me from having too much sugar better than saying "You can't have ANY sugar!" I just discovered that doesn't really work for me because I put on a "I already blew it because I ate some syrup without thinking, so I might as well have a cup of ice cream." True Story. But, if I am counting calories I either have to bust my butt off exercising to even out if I eat too much sugar, or not eat anything substantial for the day. I am thinking I will make the choice not to eat it because 1. I am a lazy human being, and 2. I LIKE REAL FOOD! ...hope this works better)
4. Drink enough (but not too much) water
5. Go to bed by 10, get up at 5:30 (The first few weeks will be hard until my body adjusts. I just have to keep working on it!)

My other goals: Scripture study/pondering, me time, and fresh air are all going well. In fact, the fresh air goal is pretty much irrelevant now that the weather is nice. I had to really work on it in the winter, but now it's not a problem. We are out at least 2x a day!

How are your goals going?

Stephanie

Just some thoughts...

Okay, so all of your goals have been fabulous!  I have been trying to stick with the ones I made, but I'm not perfect!  So, sometimes it's hard for me to always have a smile on my face...and I hate it when that happens.  Other times though, I am super happy all the time, and it's just awesome!  Well it seems like it's been a little harder for me to be happy all the time, and so I was just wondering if you guys had any advice for me.  I feel like when I am more fervent in the spiritual side of my life, I am so much happier.  On the other hand, it can be challenging for me to always do the best I can, and make more time for spiritual things. (Don't get me wrong, I don't slack off and not read scriptures or go to institute everyday... :)  I just feel like sometimes I can't absorb what I'm reading or learning, and it kinda worries me sometimes.  Anyways, I just wanted to ask you pro and wonderful girls that I have as my sisters and mom. 
Was it just me, or did a bunch of talks during conference talk about Christ being the Center of our lives and home?  Well, I just found a lot of comfort and help when I heard that again, and again, and again!  Maybe I need to make Christ more the center of my life.  I know that when I do make Him a priority and the center in my life, I am much more peaceful and happy.  It's really amazing what our Savior can do for and to our lives!  Well, it is a new goal of mine, to rely more on Christ, and focus more on Him every single day, and in every aspect of my life. 
I love all of you SOOOO much, and thank you all for your amazing example to me.  I don't know what I would do without you guys..I mean women, as my stalwart examples!  Have a wonderful day!  I love you all!
Love, Johannah

So, I was going to wait until the end of the semester, but I couldn't wait any longer. I been wanting to start these goals and thought I might as well post. 

PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH/KNOW!!!

-          Study scriptures daily

·         I have not been as good as I should be with scripture study. I really can tell the difference when I have versus not studying and need to add spiritual strength to my life.

-          Personal prayer (every morning)

·         I need to be better at remembering to pray in the morning and not sleeping in until the limit to where I am rushing out the door and forget to pray.

-          Workout daily (3 Cardio/2 strength)

·         I have been awful the last 3 months! Here I am graduating in a health degree and am literally dying on my behind. I know what it feels like to exercise every day and have the added energy and happiness that comes with it. What I mean by ‘practice what I preach’ is that I have had clients and had the opportunity to help other people or give advice, while I am sitting here, not doing what I am telling them to do. It has been hard to find time, with school and having a new baby. LIFE IS BUSY! If I have a mindset of not exercising because I simply don’t have enough time??? Uh……I would never exercise in my life again! My life is probably just going to continue to get busier and I HAVE to MAKE the time, Whether that means waking up earlier or going to bed later.

-          Learn something new each week and teach someone else about it

·         I am not going to lie, I am kind of sad that I won’t be in school anymore! You know the saying ‘great and dreadful day’? Yeah. That’s my life right now. I am SUPER excited to finally be done and free, but at the same time I am realizing that I am going to miss learning, more specifically, miss learning new things pertaining to my major. UH…Why stop right?

-          Go to bed at a decent time (workout though! Even if it’s just 10 minutes)

·         Hmmm…..We’ll see how this goes =)

-          Smile!!!

·         I decided to add this to my list, because when I consciously have ‘smile’ going through my brain, I have a better day, I feel better about myself and work better with those around me. I don’t want people to see me and think I’m mean or such a serious person, just cause I’m not smiling.

Jessicas goals!(:

I thought of some goals that i think i need to set for myself. And i also think this is a super good idea because now i can't(or won't) stop keeping them cause i am accountable to my four fabulous sisters :) I am way excited! :)    Okay, so my goals are....

1. Make my bed every morning BEFORE i get ready for seminary.
2.Do all my school per day that i need to and try to  maintain a good average.
3. Exercise for at least 45 min. a day( 15 minutes 3 times a day or something.)
4. Practice the music i need to so i can play for the choir etc...good.
5.Eat less sugar, and junk food and (like Johannah) put more whole wheat into the things i cook.
6. Get to sleep at 9:30 every night except Sundays,Tuesday,Friday, and maybe Saturdays.Wake up at 4,4:30, or 5:00 for seminary.
7. Have a positive attitude and outreach to others and try to finish personal progress before the year is over, so i can work on my third time through.



1. When i  don't make my bed when i get up it doesnt get done until that night so i can go to sleep in a made bed. It's hard for me to feel and get organized for my day or anything when i don't start it out doing the simple thing. :) plus it makes me fell so goo when i make my bed , especially when my room is clean!:)

2. Eye am tirerd of tryeeng to ketchup on mi graids espeaclly inn mi eanglish. jk;)  I am tired of trying to catch up on my school work, i am getting good grades but i don't think i am learning as much as i need to because they are open book tests so its easier to look in the book for the answer instead of really learning about it. I still learn some and study some but not enough. I have a good average usually in the 90s but i want a 4.0 gpa so i can maybe go to....SVU (southern Virginia University)

3. I love to exercise and i need to exercise, might not be so good at that or most of my goals this week or the next week cause we will be traveling alot. BUT! i intend to keep them!!:)

4. I am the assistant ward pianist so when the WP isn't there then i play the piano which includes choir, musical numbers, sacrament meeting an so forth. Plus i am supposed  to play two duets this May and June with one of the young men in our ward, and i am playing two songs for girls camp practice and they are so confusing sometimes!(: I hate it when i am in choir and keep messing up. "Know what i mean?";)

5. I think you guys are all probably working on the same thing or similar to this so i don't think i need to explain it.

6.Um.....all those who have shared a room with me should now how late i usually stay up, and if you don't that is probably a good thing;) i just need to go to bed earlier because i have to fight sleep for like two hours in the middle of school every day because i am so tired. I need to work on that. And for the days i wouldn't be doing it would be because of mostly church things, and Fridays are Fridays.

7. I love being positive it is so fun!:) I got my interview with the bishop on Tuesday for pp and now i am starting again. I have to get four at least....remember???!!!

I'm Not Perfect Yet

First off, thank you Stephanie and For God, Country, Family for the encouragement and advice after my last post. :) Umm...haha, well this week went well. My children are still alive and I am only a little more insane than I was last week. As far as my goals this is how they went:

Practice WW Posture

I did pretty good on this goal. The hardest thing for me to remember to do is pull up my chest. While we're on this subject, I went to see my midwife last Thursday and she checked to see the position of my cervix. She said my cervix was "Low, but not scary low." Wahoo! I was expecting the worst, so I was super relieved to hear my midwife say that.

Write In My Personal Journal

I must have forgotten I set this goal because I didn't even do it. *Sigh* Dang it!

Do the Dishes

Ahem, well this never happened either. I did do some dishes, but not the ones I was setting this goal to do. However, I did buy more paper plates. :)

Laundry

Probably the ONLY goal I feel like I didn't skip over. I have clean folded and even put away laundry...yay for me!

Go on Date With Hubby

For our date,  we watched a movie that we picked out together. I think it was Wreck-It Ralph. Super funny movie, and the company wasn't bad either.

Drink Enough Water

Well, I tried, but not hard enough. I think I did drink more water than usual though, so that's good.

Now onto the good things I did that weren't goals!

- Purged. Yes, I went crazy a couple days ago and went through ALL the clothes. I filled an ENTIRE 30 gal garbage bag full of clothes that either we never wear or I think are ugly or too small. (My boobs are huge and probably wont shrink down to my old bra size anytime soon.) Ok, this is the best part! My hubby doesn't like to get rid of things, but he let me give two pairs of his old Sunday pants to his little brothers who needed them. I WAS SO HAPPY!

-Played a lot outside with Wren. Wren loves to play on the trampoline, so we did a lot of that during Tetra's nap time. (Wren and Tetra are my daughters.)

I hope I do better next week! I have decided to stick with these goals until I actually do them. Although, I think I will write them down and stick them somewhere so that I can remember to do them.

Well this is how the week ended up...

1. Go to the gym every day, except Sunday and maybe Saturday.                                                     ~I went to the gym everyday last week, except for Saturday when I made chocolate chip cookies instead. (It was a very hard weekend... I just started on Tuesday.  Does that explain my splurging? :)
2. Eat at least one vegetable or fruit with every meal.                                                                        ~I think that went pretty well, and I definitely had lots of other friut (well just cuties) during the rest of the day.  Over all, I made sure I had my fruits and veggies every meal...But I could always have more. :)
3. Add whole wheat, or other grains to everything I can. (Pizza crust, rolls, bread... )                       ~I could do better with this; but I did make corn bread with most of the flour as whole wheat...and it was super delicious!  Yeah, I really didn't make too many bready things this week, but I want to make more this week. 
4. Go to sleep by 11:00 p.m., and wake up when alarm rings...no more than 1-2 snoozes. :)     ~Okay, so the snooze part wasn't as good as I wanted it to be...of course.  But, I did go to bed by 11:00 or 11:15 every night.  It was awesome getting that much sleep, and I'm gonna keep going to bed at that time, or earlier. :)
5. Drink at least 3 cups of milk, and at least 8 cups of water.  (I am the worst at drinking enough!)  ~Can we not talk about this?  I did horrible!  I need to start bringing a water bottle to school everyday, and I think I'll get enough water if I do that.  Guys...I mean girls, I will do better! :-}     

I love all ya'll!  Have a great day! :D
Johannah

Goals! Which goals?

Yep that sentence pretty much sums up my last week. I didn't do so hot. :( I blame it mostly on the tease of spring and then a big storm we had this week. SO depressing! I also am struggling with motivation. But it's been going a little better since Sunday. Daniel has been turning the light on at 5:30, so it forces me to get up. I've been super tired. Hopefully it's just a temporary thing while my body adjusts to the new schedule.

Here's the low down:

1. Scripture Study and Morning Prayer



 I did really well here! Probably a perfect week! That feels good!

2. Ponder/Meditate
Another A+!

3. Me time (NO computer.)
I was on the computer too much this week, but I did manage to get my no computer "me time" in.

4. Fresh air
I only got 15 minutes of fresh air on 3 or 4 of the 7 days. In my defense, we did have an awful winter storm. I got pretty depressed (and cold) and I didn't want to venture outside.

5. Five servings of fruits or veggies
Check!

6. No sugar
Triple fail on this one. I probably only made 2 days without sugar. However, whenever I did go crazy, I wrote down why I did it. I think I'm starting to notice some patterns. So hopefully even though I haven't been doing excellent here, I will be able to recognize triggers and avoid them in the future.

7. Exercise 30 mins
I did 5 days. Not 7. But, it's way better then it has been!

8. Exercise 10 mins
Most days.

9. Food Journal

Yes. Even on the bad days. Except while I was gone at Time Out for Women for 2 days, and forgot. This is where I write down what I ate and why I feel the need to eat sugar.

10. 8 glasses of water
I did drink 8 glasses everyday. More most days. But my bladder has been a lot better. AND I'm starting to notice correlation between the amount of sugar I eat and my bladder problems. (This sounds so awful! I'm only 24. Why do I have this problem!)

BONUS: In bed at 9:30 pm, and awake by 6 am.
About an even split.

So....That was my first week. Not perfect, but good. I lost 4 pounds, so I must have been doing something right! I hope I'll be able to do better next week. 

Stephanie

Rachel's Goals

Well, I'll be honest, I'm not really a goal setter. But for the sake of this blog, which I think is an awesome idea, I will set some goals and try to reach them. Since I was put on bed rest right after I gave birth, it's been really hard to get back into the swing of things. Seriously, my house is a disaster. Hopefully, having to report to someone will help me get back on track.

Here are my goals for this week.

1. Practice Whole Woman Posture

2. Write in my personal journal everyday.

3. Do the dishes everyday.

4. Wash and fold the laundry.

5. Go on a date with my hubby.

6. Drink enough water a day 6-8 glasses or 64 ounces.

Practice Whole Woman Posture

As everyone knows, I had a third degree uterine prolapse when I gave birth Tetra. Changing my posture is one way I can manage my prolapse. This is my exercise goal for the week.

Write In My Journal Everyday

I hate to admit this, but I have gotten out of the habit of keeping a journal. Getting back in the habit would be really beneficial for my emotional state.

Do the Dishes Everyday

Ahem...I have to hand wash them ok!

Wash and Fold the Laundry

Wash and fold the piles and piles of laundry...

Go On a Date With My Hubby

We have been doing pretty good lately at going on a date every week, so I want to keep it up.

Drink Enough Water A Day

This is crucial because I am nursing two babies. Plus, I should try never to be constipated because straining on the toilet it bad to a woman's pelvic floor. 

Good luck everyone!! 

Johannah's Goals!!

I guess I should tell you all some of my goals that I'm working on.  I'm super excited about this blog, and I think it will be very beneficial to all Five of us Fabulous Sisters! :)  Okay, so here are 5 health related goals that I want to work on:

1. Go to the gym every day, except Sunday and maybe Saturday.
2. Eat at least one vegetable or fruit with every meal.
3. Add whole wheat, or other grains to everything I can. (Pizza crust, rolls, bread... )
4. Go to sleep by 11:00 p.m., and wake up when alarm rings...no more than 1-2 snoozes. :)
5. Drink at least 3 cups of milk, and at least 8 cups of water.  (I am the worst at drinking enough!)

1. I am in a class that makes it so I have to go to the gym 45 times in the semester.(About 3 times a week) I really want to take this opportunity, and go to the gym everyday.  It is sometimes hard to turn the corner and go, but after I'm done working out, I feel amazing!  I have less acne, stress, and miserableness!  I love going to the gym, and I can't stop now!

2. It can be hard to wash that piece of lettuce, and get in the fridge for those carrots, but I hate having any meal without something healthy.  I'm excited to have more of a motivation to eat more veggies and fruit!!  Oh, and something that has really helped me to eat more fruit, is that I bring 3 cuties(little oranges:) to school everyday.  It's great, and helps a lot!

3. Okay, so I love doing this...But I don't do it as much as I should!  Tonight we made pizza with 2/3 of the crust as whole wheat.  Everyone loved the pizza, and I have to say that is was pretty darn good...and healthy! (Cross out the Alfredo sauce and some of the cheese..)  So if you haven't got it yet, I love using whole wheat flour instead of white.  It works wonders!! :)

4. Umm yeah, I have a lot to work on!  I love the snooze button, but I've got to set limits!  AND, going to bed by 11 is really hard, especially being in college!

5. I have the hardest time drinking enough water and milk!  I am GOING to change that though, and make my body happier! :)

Fab Fitness: Example Post and Stephanie's Goals

I am so happy we are starting this blog. I think it will really be a lot of fun!

I will get started by telling you my goals for spiritual, emotional, and physical fitness! I have 10 goals that I will be charting throughout the week.

1. Scripture Study and Morning Prayer
2. Ponder/Meditate
3. Me time (NO computer.)
4. Fresh air
5. Five servings of fruits or veggies
6. No sugar
7. Exercise 30 mins
8. Exercise 10 mins
9. Food Journal
10. 8 glasses of water
BONUS: In bed at 9:30 pm, and awake by 6 am.

I know this is a lot of goals, and I have a specific reason for that (which needs it's own post).

In future posts, I will separate each goal and tell how I did on each one. This post, I'll just tell about why I have the goals I have. It is a little long, but I promise they wont be this long in the future!

Scripture Study and Morning Prayer

This one is something I struggle with constantly. I forget to start my day by talking to God, and I often just forget to study. And I mean study. With a journal. I have found that I get SO much more out of it if I have a pen in my hand, I just think more. I know goal is important because when I am consistent I can tell a difference in my day.

Ponder/Meditate

This goes hand in hand with scriptures/prayer. How often are we told to ponder, but rush through our scriptures and prayer without listening to what God has to say to us? I am SO guilty of this one, I just need to take time to slow down, be quiet, and be still.

Me time

This sounds a little selfish, but I have found that the longer I go without making some time for me to do something I like to do, I get grouchy. I care for the kids and Daniel, I try to do everything for them and fulfill their needs, but I have learned through the years (all 5 (: ) that I also need to focus more on fulfilling my own. This could be reading a book, painting my nails, taking a nap(!), or anything that interests me at the time. The catch: NO COMPUTER!  I know this may not be a problem for any of you, but it has become a habit that as soon as the kids go down I get on the computer, and sometimes don't get off till they wake up. Not healthy!

Fresh Air

Get out and get some sun and be active. This is for the kids sake, but also mine. I have new found energy when I spend at least 15 mins outside. Rain or Shine.

Five Fruits or Veggies

I could have put "eat healthier" but that isn't easily measured. I can count whether I had 5 fruits or veggies. I have a bad habit of going to the cupboard (for pretzels or cookies or something else) instead of going to the fridge or fruit basket when I want a snack.

No Sugar

The title says it all people!

Exercise (at least) 30 minutes everyday

Exercise...I always feel like skipping it, I never regret doing it!

Exercise 10 minutes

You're probably thinking I am making a mistake, but it will all make more sense when I wright about the pebbles in the jar thing Daniel and I do. This 10 mins I usually like to be Abs/Pushups routine, but it could be stretching, Cardio bursts, or even yoga for relaxation.

Food Journal

Keep a food journal. Be honest!

Eight Glasses Water

I actually don't have a problem with getting enough. I have a problem with getting too much! Who does that? Anyway, the goal is 8 glasses (the recommended amount which most people don't even meet). When I drink enough water and not too much, I don't have as many bladder problems...yeah...

BONUS: 8+hours of sleep!!!

The health benefits of sleep are amazing, the physical, emotional, and even spiritual aspects of life are greatly improved with at least 8 hours of sleep.


SO...those are my goals. What are yours?

I am so excited to work together toward healthier and happier and more fit lives!

-Stephanie