post-baby body check-in (diet & work-out included!)

i've received a handful of emails recently requesting healthy "non-boring" eating and workout advice. mostly from new mommies (i'm with ya ladies!).

i honestly didn't start seeing "real" results until i got "real" about the two dreaded C's:

1)cutting CALORIES
2) CARDIO.

i thought i was making progress. in my mind, i guess i was satisfied because i was getting to the gym most days of the week and, well, my maternity clothes were "way" too big and some of my bigger jeans were starting to fit loosely. and then, i got a wake-up call. pictures don't lie. my dad snapped this lovely photo of my siblings and i at my sister's graduation in early May. i didn't see it until he "tagged" me on facebook. as i sat there clicking (and "untagging") through those photos i was angry with myself. i'd reached the epitomy of a plateau and had been content with being complacent. complacent with my eating, my workouts and my body. i'd made some progress, but got comfortable along the way and let the intensity die. once i got over my little breakdown/tantrum over my reality check (thanks, dad) i obtained a copy of this picture and stuck it on my fridge. some people stick old "skinny" photos up as motivation...not me.

THIS was my motivation. i wanted to see a change. and i KNEW it had to start with my eating....

it was at THIS point that i realized sweating my booty off in the gym wasn't going to get me where i wanted to be unless i got serious about watching my eating. i wasn't eating horrible, but i was definitely not being disciplined with sugars, carbs and most of all, PORTION SIZE (motherhood makes you hungry!).

so with picture posted for strength on fridge, here's what i did:

1. i cut out "white" starches (breads, potatoes, rice, crackers, chips...)
2. i LIMIT dairy. i gave up my beloved cheese, yogurt, of course ice cream and even switched completely over to almond milk, which i now PREFER.
3. i eat breakfast EVERY DAY. either oatmeal or a flax/whole grain organic cereal with fresh fruit.
4. for a mid-morning post-workout snack i either make a shake or drink a muscle milk LIGHT ready-made shake.
5. for lunch and dinner, i focus on VEGGIES, VEGGIES and more VEGGIES. salads, stir-fry, soups paired with healthy whole grains like brown rice, black beans, nuts/seeds.
6. for dessert or extra snacks throughout the day= FRUIT!
7. i eat when i'm hungry, i just control my portions and make sure it's as pure and fresh as possible (not processed with a bunch of fake ingredients!)
8. i have healthy snacks on hand at all times (for me AND Kai!). this way i'm not tempted to sneak through the drive-through to satisfy my hunger! (I LOVE the south beach diet mixed nut packs! i mix em' with raisins and it's a great filling snack!)
9. i learn from Kai. i feed my baby natural, healthy, whole foods. why do we ever stop eating that way? i told my mom i was going to call my diet the "high chair" diet because i would often eat my lunch with him right off of his high chair (like chunks of avocados and cooked squash, sweet potato and asparagus!).
10. i treat myself. this one is key. i usually save my "treats" for social events. i'll have a yummy drink (or two!) or a piece of birthday cake or a cookie. this is neccesary and enjoyable.

my best friend when it came to finding healthy veggie or protein-packed recipes was the internet! seriously, if you have an internet connection you have all you need to whip up a healthy meal or come up with a good grocery list. plan for the week and sit down on sunday night and find a few meals you want to try...i will even make a bunch of brown rice and a big fat salad for the week on sunday night, that way half the battle is done!

on the WORK-OUT side things definitely shifted. i was no longer able to get to the gym 4-5 days a week for cardio and classes because G was gone in Vancouver for work and well, my Mom doesn't live at my house. i VOWED to make Kai's lovely long morning naptime my sacred workout time. NO EXCEPTIONS. and here's the kicker. i bought this dvd. at Walmart. for $10:

i followed this video religiously. i didn't cheat. i dripped sweat. i wanted to cry. i wanted to punch her in the face. but in all honestly, i started seeing results within weeks. i know i've blogged about it before, but seriously it's no joke. it's hard, and i LOVE it. it was just the "wake-up" call my body needed.

and for added cardio, i would throw Kai in the jogger and Honey on her leash and we would walk/jog for 40-60 minutes almost every evening. this is an enjoyable way that i can burn extra calories, get Kai outside and Honey some exercise. it's fun and something that i greatly MISS when life get's too full and we don't get to go.

and then, there is yoga. POWER yoga. i obviously do this every Thursday at the gym because i'm the instructor...but i like to throw it in the mix a couple of times a week as well.

So, about 2 months later, after making a CONSCIOUS effort to eat RIGHT and shock the body with a new, consistent and CHALLENGING workout routine, here i am (sorry about the picture quality--it's just me and my blackberry!)....

may 4th 2011 - june 30, 2011



blurry, i know.
but look! i'm getting tank top shoulders back! (finally...)

dirty mirror & lost inches in waist & thighs.

 It's PROGRESS!

and progress sure don't come easy.

one of Jillian's key phrases that i've engraved in my mind when tempted to eat crap:

"remember, you can eat your way through any workout."

you can log hours upon hours in the gym, but if your eating sucks, so will your results!

{cheers} to hard work and healthy living!

My "favorites" of summer...

Favorite summertime.....

coffee:
Venti sugarfree hazlenut iced coffee w/a splash of soy. bomb diggity. and easy on the pocketbook.

"adult" drink:
i usually stick to a good red wine but in the summer i like to cool off with either a tall glass of skinnygirl margarita on the rocks or a spiked Arnold Palmer. {salivating}.

snack:

vegetable:
tomatoes (from my garden, of course), corn and CABBAGE! why cabbage, you ask??

well, the two BEST summer salads in the whole wide world just happen to be cabbage based. these salads are super duper easy AND healthy (cabbage is GOOOOOD for you!)

Sarah's addictingly delicious avocado-cabbage salad/dip/salsa, whatever you want to call it!:
ingredients: cabbage, avocados, tomoatoes, onion, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno and/or packet of guacamole mix if desired.

finely chop all ingredients and throw in a pretty bowl. she likes to use more avocados than tomatoes, but play around with it! enjoy with chips, as a topping for fish or chicken tacos or honestly, just plain! SO GOOOOD!

ramen noodle cabbage salad:
this is a pretty well-known and popular picnic staple, but my Mom ROCKS it. here's her ingredients: 1 bag coleslaw mix, 1 cooked and chopped chicken breast, 1/4 c. red wine vinegar, 3/4 c. olive oil, 2-3 T. of sugar, 1/2 t. salt, 1 bunch of green onions chopped. sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, cranberries, 1 bag of crushed ramen noodles on top (crunchy). note: add ramen noodles just before the meal so they are crunchy and not soft!

bbq dish:
the cabbage salads listed above!

meat:
wait, i don't really eat much meat. well, it's not meat! these baby's are delish. on the grill or in the microwave!

ice cream:
you gotta splurge once in a great while, right? well, when i do i want to make it worth it and Fiesta Foods whips up THE MOST DELICIOUS pink "cupcake" ice cream. no lie, i almost fainted upon the first taste.

sunglasses:
anyone who knows me will tell you that i live in these. i have a pair in almost every color: {via}

pastime:

...and swimming/sunbathing (so sue me) and cool evening walks with Kai and Honey.

tops: breezy, light and hip. (most importantly, affordable!)

mode of transportation:

longboard.

flower:
the cheerful sunflower. i have hundreds popping up and can't wait to post photos of those big bright blooms!

ground cover:
i have this pouring out of one of my planters and it's beautiful!! and as an added bonus, it does EXCELLENT in "dry" climates.

moss rose!

means of exercise:
mowing the lawn. with kai on board (quite a workout!) AND anything in the water....(rafting, swimming, aerobics).

Hey Bloggy buddies! Re-post and showcase your summertime faves!!! :)

Yay for Summer!!!

An afternoon with Micah & Kai (and Honey & Mr. Turtle, of course)

 Kai: Mommy, look! We're picking up the living room! NOW can we go swimming??

Micah: (GASP!) Did you say SWIMMING??! Like a bath outside but with no stupid soap?

Kai: Sure did....

Kai: ok, Micah, it's kinda cold at first, but just at first...you just gotta tough it out.

Micah: Wait, isn't this turtle supposed to be filled with sand??

Micah: SAND, I said! Not balls!

I wan't this thing outta here, this turtle sandbox isn't big enough for the three of us!

 Kai: Alright buddy, the balls goin' out.

 {smack!}

 Micah: Ahhhh. Much better. So much room for activities!

Kai: Woah there, don't get ahead of yourself now.

I've slipped in here too many times to count.

Micah: Hey, what happened to the turtle's eye?

Kai (after Micah decided to take a crawling break): Time to sprawl out and stretch out my pirate feet. MA! WHERE'S MY BOTTLE?!

Micah: Pirate shmirate. I bet Kai doesn't even know how to hide under his slide....

 Kai: Well, I don't! It's scary and itchy under there. I like to stand on top of the slide. With no help. I HATE when my worry wart Mommy tries to help me, so. annoying. I'd rather fall off the back...ok, so I've done that and it kinda hurts but still, I don't like when she treats me like a baby.

All this chatter has got me all steamed up, lets get back in the pool!

Kai (behind true-to-life mischief look): I have an idea, lets bulldoze Honey!

 Kai: Micah, you want your head wet?! This is how Mommy does it in the tub..

Micah: Well, Kai, not really. But see those dry flowers over yonder?

...they look thirsty..

 Micah: Kai these are cool shoes. Ya mind if I pull this one off and give it a try?

Kai: Hey man, hands off the pirates. I need these guys for stompin bugs.

Lets shimmy ourselves outta here and play trucks!

{together ramming the turtle with anything and everything}

 and then, they napped.

~ THE END ~

when Kai met Seattle.

first, Kai wants to showcase a fun little trick he recently learned from daddy (volume needed!):

G also taught him how to head butt. yeah, like that one's NOT going to backfire down the road.

it's pretty cute right now though. perhaps i'll post proof of that soon?

Now for our wonderful little weekend escape to my favorite US city, SEATTLE :)

i love that i lived there for a few years as i feel that i am able to more fully experience the city in a shorter and more convenient amount of time as i know shortcuts and backroads and what's worth seeing/doing and what's not.

we got to see auntie beckyjo (and i HATE myself for not getting any pictures!!!!) which was long overdue and SO wonderful. we don't connect often by phone but it amazes me how we can just pick up right where we left off, like we have never moved apart. that's the mark of a best friend.

saturday was, unfortunately but not suprisingly wet and rainy. so we didn't brave the overcrowded and sloshy fremont festivities. instead we mall walked and celebrated with mommy when she bought jeans that were 4 SIZES SMALLER than the last shopping trip! yeah, i splurged a bit, but haven't done that in a LONNNNNG time. it feels good to have new, properly fitting clothes!

later we spent a few hours walking along the beach, docks and paths of Golden Gardens off of Shilshole bay. Kai loves being outside and really enjoyed crawling around in {more} sand and bird/people watching. we even enjoyed a nice light lunch at a little cafe by the bay.

then we made our way downtown to my parents hotel so Kai we could enjoy a refreshing dip in the beautiful top-floor pool at my parent's hotel (the Westin--i highly reccomend!)

once our little water bug was all tuckered out, my mom (nana) let us sneak away to our favorite Seattle dinner spot for a little Father's day/decrease in jeans size celebration (Chinooks!)

then on sunday, it was all about the mariner's game. which was perfect...

the weather AND the company.

there were several delicious meals, sights and sounds in between,

but here is a bit of what i captured from the good ol' blackberry....

golden gardens

 

waiting for some delicious hot clam chowder (he loved it!)

 

can you spot the little orange mohawk?

 

the. best. salad.
[ahi tuna, tomato, avocado, mango, papaya, sliced almonds and a sprinkle of wonton strips w/a basalmic vinegerette]

 

hit it here!



happy [father's day] to papa!



jude passed out on uncle G in Kai's backpack after the game... (Kai was stuck in her stroller!)

and now, i'll leave you with a little musical treat:

 a sweet vagabond singer who traded us a beer out of our cooler for a little jingle.

Kai was appreciative of the show....

this trip rekindled my desire to visit the city that still has so much of my heart.

there is still so much i want to introduce Kai to and do and see and taste and experience.

we are so grateful to have friends who generously open their homes to us

 (thanks to beckyjo & darrick and dallas & misty! you guys rock!)

our {jumping!} bean

our little mister is getting more fun with each day.

we recently snagged a yardsale jumperoo that Kai (obviously) enjoys, and we've been noticing how {{{crazy}}} he gets when he's in there and gets excited about something.

here's what it looks like...

(Mommy's playing "gonna GETchu!"--make sure your volume is turned up!)

...and a kiss to seal the deal.

i'm smitten :)

for the "Dads" in my life...

G has wanted to be a Daddy for a long time. i remember when his parents were badgering us about "having a baby" a couple years ago and his mom remarked to me how when Gary was like, 18 he told her he loved kids so much he was "ready to be a Daddy...just not a husband." haha. guess that explains why he was ready to get pregnant like, the day after we got married (i obviously bought myself some time).

i can remember the first time i saw him interacting with his nephews. i could tell right and there that he was going to be an awesome dad.

...and i've got preeeetty high standards because i had a darn good daddy myself.

i remember how even after a long day at work my dad would still take time to play with us kids when he got home. i can say that now, after working an "adult" job--especially a taxing one that calls for working with rowdy kiddos all day that most days you want to come home, kick your feet up and enjoy a beverage. he rebounded for me in our driveway basketball court, he got on the floor and played with my brother and often kept us kids entertained while mom made dinner. and {most} fridays, when we were young he brought us home what he called a "handshake surprise," which consisted of a tight handshake filled with candy he'd picked up on his way home from work. these "handshake surprises" we're AWESOME, we thought Fridays were the best...because we got a handshake surprise :)

my dad has been a lot of things to me. coach, teacher, counselor, co-worker, "boss"...but he was always "dad" first. i can remember the first varsity game i got in my freshman year...i needed to get his attention for some reason and kind of stopped short of shouting for him because i wasn't sure if i should yell "Dad" or "coach." well, i chose what i felt--which was always "Dad."

i can talk to my Dad. if i'm in a pickle, stuck or need some valued [honest] input about something, i go to him.

all of the above and much more have made me a very blessed daughter...and a better mom.

..............................

and the same selfless, unconditional love that was (and is) given to me by my own Dad, is the same love i see given from G to Kai day in and day out.

G is a "man's man." he's rough around the edges, he works hard, he gets dirty....but he's not to manly to sing his baby boy to sleep, or cradle him in his arms and whisper to him.

when we were told that Kai had been moved into recovery from his surgery we both hurried down the hall to him. immediately upon seeing our sweet four-month old baby, all swollen, stitched up and struggling to come out of anesthesia {we} cried bawled.

he gets down on the floor and plays trucks, catch and animals and will take him just about anywhere in the backpack or jogger.

he's an adventurous, fun-loving dad who wants to give Kai life-thriving experiences--and really teach him to love nature and new things.

he's always sending me texts while his away on jobs to "send me a picture of my baby boy..."

he changes stinky diapers, gives bubble baths, reads stories and sings songs...and is forever changed and still in awe at how much our precious baby boy has changed our lives and made our little family feel so {complete}.

i'm beginning to see more and more of G's expresions in Kai, and even sometimes see Kai reflected in G. my heart skips a beat each time i feel that intricate connection between two people i love so much. it's kind of like seeing your heart beat outside of your chest...

thank you Dad, and thank you G for being who you are.

for loving me, and for making life fun, exciting, adventurous and full of love...

just like good Dad's should.

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

~ Clarence Budington Kelland

happy father's day. everyday?

Happy (1st!) Father's Day, G.

(i have been investing in your gift all year long....)

*a [humourous] post in leiu of Father's Day that details just a few of the gifts that mommies give thier hubby's/baby-daddy's every day, all throughout the year....

1. i change things. every day. every night. lots of things. i change (too many!) diapers, i change wet, poopy, dirty clothes (mine AND Kai's) i change crib sheets, i change and change and change...(oh, and not to mention that something ELSE that has changed since i carried your son (like,{ahem}--my thighs...).

2. you, my dear get to pee in peace and quiet while you are away and working. i have had to learn to manage a child crawling on me and playing on and all around me while i take care of bathroom business. tricky and dangerous. no dignity in this parenting business.

3. my stay-at-home mommy middle-name is "laundry." i fold Kai's clothes (painfully large amounts), i fold YOUR clothes (even the socks when i'm in a good mood!) and most the time by the time i get around to folding (or washing) my clothes i'm so tired i just wad them up and shove them in a drawer. not a fan of folding clothes. but i fold yours with love, babe.

4. a break. yeah, that would be your job. where you get to pee in solitude and hear your own thoughts.

5. i get up every day with poopy/crying/singing/screaming/wet/puked-on baby. you complain when your alarm goes off? i forgot what mine even sounds like!

6. i give you groceries (shop at walmart during peak hours with a 10 month old who needs a nap much?) and dinner (cook with a 10 month old crawling up the back of your legs much?). then a clean kitchen. then a clean baby (bathtime). then a quiet house (bedtime) then a clean house and finally, a quiet evening (when your home). [when it's just me and baby boy the above is just slightly modified (ha!)]

7. a well-rounded, engaged, educated son. oh yes, and it's my pleasure. we sing, we play, we go on outings, we read, we listen to music, we dance and we even speak spanish. don't blame me if he's a bit different (a chip off the old block!), he's happy and well-learned :)

8. YOUR faves, fit to order. the bed made how you like it, your favorites in the fridge, the lawn mowed and flower beds weeded upon your return from out of town trips, the recycling taken (your worst chore) and the house vaccumed, swept and smelling fresh and welcoming (NOT like diapers or throw up).

9. even when i'm tired... (from doing all of the above) i "stay up late" with you (hehe).

10. my love: a relieved, genuine, "glad to see you" smile when you walk through the door, a tight "man-it's-been-a-long-day hug, and a kiss that says "you make this all worth it."

and with a tired smile i wake up and do it all over again...and even though i whine and sometimes whimper, i really wouldn't want it any other way.

so don't ever say i didn't get you anything for Father's Day...

;)