Monday Mommy Transformation

Krisse from Airman Getting Strong is next up to offer inspiration! 

-What was your life like before you started your journey to better health?

I would always just take diet pills to lose weight and I never lifted weights. I was scared of them. Instead I would just b-line to the ellipticals and call it a day.

-What motivated you to make a change?

Pregnancy for sure. Right before I became pregnancy I was thinking that I need to step up my fitness level. But then I was so incredibly sick my first timester that I was barely able to leave the house for a walk. Then my second trimester came around and I got moving and started eating healthier! I started walking every night (still not lifting for some reason). Once I had my baby girl, I made a vow to become healthy and strong for her and myself. 

-How do you involve your family in your journey?

My baby girl is only 7 months old so she can't workout with me... yet. She loves flying baby, so I try to hold her above my head for as long as I can to get that extra burn in for the day. My husband compromises fat and flavor at dinner time. :) But I do my best to change up the meals often and boost the flavor while still remaining healthy.

-What is your biggest accomplishment so far?

Push ups!!! I'm in the Air Force, and part of our physical assessments are push ups. I've always been horrible at them but after I had the baby I couldn't even do one... but 6 months after baby I went for my test and was able to do 37 in one minute!!! One month later I can do 40 now. 

-When your in a slump what do you do to shake it?

That is where I am at now. I lost the 30 pounds I gained during pregnacy plus I lost another 5 but I've been stuck for 6 weeks now. I'm not seeing the muscle that I want. So, I went back to basics. I just started following Jamie Eason's LiveFit Program.

-What future goals do you have for yourself?

I want muscle, muscle, and more muscle. I wouldn't care if I didn't lose another pound, just as long as I had some visible muscle. My triceps bother me the most so that is my main goal for now.

-How did you do it?

3 weeks after giving birth I went straight to the gym. I went to my go to cardio, Mr. elliptical, but this time I would set goals like to burn 800 calories in 45 minutes. I also started lifting and I fell in love. But my work had a different agenda. They wanted us to workout together during work hours. I kept up 2 a days for probably a month. But a guy I work with introduced me to beast workouts. This is not something you can find on the internet, these are just workouts that we created on our own. We would do them outside at work. We used sand bags and chains as weights, a sledge hammer, truck tire, and pretty much anything heavy that we could move around. We realized that we incorported Crossfit into our workouts without even knowing. We also took it to the road and would run... a lot. We would also sprint suicides in between sets. It got me to a 13 minute 1.5 mile (Air Force assessment also). Then we went to our gym on base and took the intro to Crossfit class and fell in love! We do that at least once a week.  

-What is one of your favorite recipes?

My comfort food is my favorite recipe! I sprinkle a raw tuna steak with seseme seeds and sear it on all sides with a cast iron skillet. I steam a little bit of jasmine rice and I make a dipping sauce made from rice vinegar, Mirin (sweet rice seasoning), and low sodium soy sauce. I also steam zuchini and squash to complete my perfect meal. 

Krisse can be found on Facebook HERE. Check her out and like her page!

ENERGYbits!

A while back I was watching an episode on the Discovery Channel where Andew Zimmern gave an inside look of a Spirulina Algae farm. He spoke of its benefits and how natural it was for your body...then I wondered where the heck would I ever find something like that and then changed the channel.
Fast forward a couple years later...

After seeing Energybits all over Twitter I decided to look into it since I'm always looking for new items in health and fitness. Turns out Energy Bits are just little bits of algae that are taken to improve energy and overall health. The best part is the ingredients- Spirulina Algae. Thats it! ONE calorie per bit and ONE ingredient to help increase energy and all 100% natural.
This all natural product works a lot like a cup of coffee or energy drink without that crappy feeling your left with after the caffeine has worn off. Talk about a miracle!
So what exactly are Energybits? 

Made from 100% organicallly grown spirulina algae and loaded with 40 nutrients, ENERGYbits® algae tabs have the highest concentration of protein in the world (64%) all for just one calorie per tab.

What is even more appealing is that this isn't considered a supplement, its actually a food...we all know how much I love food!

My Experience with Energy Bits:
Being that I live overseas I find it hard to find new things to try so I was hoping I'd get this chance! I received an email response from Jonathan Levitt, Brand Manager/Pro Sports soon after contacting him.  I was immediately excited when I was offered the chance to try out Energybits!

As a mom to 2 boys, I am constantly trying to boost my energy through out the day and once I cut coffee from my daily diet I noticed a bit of a slump towards the afternoon...Here enters Energy bits! I need to get up with my boys at 530am make it through the day (workout) and well into the night with my newborn.

Heres how you take them:

For best results, take at least 30 ENERGYbits® (or more) before any workout, run, game or intense physical or mental activity. They will improve your energy and endurance. Also take whenever you are tired, hungry or don’t have time to eat or cook. They are a terrific high protein, low calorie snack or meal on the go.  A favorite of Olympic athletes. Swallow with beverage or chew them as you would a handful of nuts. Remember, they’re “bits” of food (not pills).”

The Energy Bits website lays everything out and explains exactly how every person, be it athletes, children, or moms like me, can benefit from Spirulina Algea. Thats right...I said children. When I read that I was completely blown away! Not only can you stop a cold from getting worse but they help prevent them as well!
Algae has the same nutrients as leafy green vegetable so what better way to give your entire family a boost of nutrients and protein!

Day 1 and 2
I was given enough to take them 2x so I popped open my cute little tin on Tuesday and Wednesday morning and gave it a go. The first day I decided to try chewing some for the heck of it (they recommend swallowing them because you'll end up with some green in your mouth). I figured either way my son would get a kick out his mom's tongue being completely green!

BAD IDEA! The taste was kind of like a pork rind (weird huh?) and my mouth was definitely green!
I would also recommend swallowing them! 4 or 5 at a time would be pretty easy with a glass of water.  (Although It would be more convenient if they were combined into maybe 1-2 pills instead of 30!) Once I finished I went about my day! I did my workout, ran some errands, took my son to the park and made a late dinner....THEN stayed up taking care of my new little man. To see what Skinnyfitchick thought about Energybits click here.

The end result
I didn't feel the drop in energy like I usually do around 3pm (the one where I just cant seem to keep my eyes open) so this is what I needed. Even though I didn't feel more energized in my workout than I usually do, I felt it more through out the length of the entire day (maybe a placebo effect?)

I would also add that I believe 2 days of taking the Energybits isn't going to give me the best impression of this product. I'm sure taking these over a period of time and getting the nutrients in your system would help gauge the amount of energy I could have.

Energybits can be found HERE and on FACEBOOK

**I was given this product free of charge to review. I did not promise a positive review nor was I paid to endorse this product. These opinions are solely my own. 

Monday Mommy Transformation

This week Im featuring Jessica's journey! Ive been following her on facebook for quite a while so when I heard she was a Sweat Pink Ambassador I jumped at the chance to share her story! Enjoy!!

What was your life like before you started your journey to better health? 

Before I started my journey to health & fitness I was depressed. I had no self esteem, self worth or confidence in myself. I didn't know anything about being healthy or how to eat clean. I always thought "eat less, weigh less" and I tried ever diet pill, extreme diet etc you can think of! I would lose weight a lot of the time but gain it right back & usually double.

What motivated you to make a change? Well, I started my journey in September 2010 for the first time at the weight of 181 ...and I admit back then it was for the wrong reasons..I just wanted to get skinny then. I didn't even consider fit. By December 2010 I was down 29 lbs but in January 2011 found out I was pregnant with twins. While pregnant I changed my whole outlook. I researched fitness & healthy eating..I was very motivated to get it right this time. After I had my twins August 19th, 2011 I walked out of the hospital at 183. I was motivated bigger than life!! I had 6 weeks of C-section recovery time and it was HARD to keep myself recovering! Haha. Having my daughters changed everything for me. I wanted to get healthy for them..I wanted to set an example for them. I never wanted to be too out of shape to keep up with them! So..this time..I did it for the right reasons..my daughters!

How do you involve your family in your journey? I have a jogging stroller & on the weekends I will take the girls out on a run with me. Or my husband, me & the kids will take long walks on this gorgeous trail we have where we live. Also, I love doing races so my family is always on the sidelines cheering me on :) 

What is your biggest accomplishment so far? This one if tough for me because everything I have accomplished so far is far beyond my wildest expectations!! But, I used to hate running so knowing I found a passion in that..is a great accomplishment in my eyes. 

Who inspires you? My daughters mostly! And other moms who set aside excuses & make it happen!

When your in a slump what do you do to shake it? Remind myself where I started. I never want to be that unhealthy person again so giving up is not an option!

-What future goals do you have for yourself? I have SO many! I love strength training so really challenging myself in the weight room is one. Also, I  have been training for a marathon that I will take on in 2013. In a few years when my daughters are older I really want to train & compete in a bikini competition..my reason for waiting on that is my daughters. They are only babies once & I do not want to miss one minute of them growing up!! But, I WILL do it someday!! For now, my goals are just to keep up in the gym 5 days a week, get my long runs in on Sundays and be healthy, happy, eat clean & train mean!

How did you do it? No excuses!!! I don't always have the time to workout or eat clean, I mean my whole journey has been while my daughters were infants...but it's important to me so I do it!! I get up at 4 am before my husband or the babies are up and I get my butt in the gym. I prep my food daily and journal everything. I don't let myself have excuses because when I do that's when things crumble!

What is one of your favorite recipes? Jamie Eason's turkey muffins...I'm obsessed :)

Click HERE to check her out on Facebook!
Instagram: jessicansmith12 

Thankful Thursdays

During the month of November Ill be doing my Thankful Thursday Link up with some other blogs. This is a way to really keep my heart and head where it belongs and remember what is important.

• This week I am thankful for the safety of my family. As many of you know my husband, mother and sister were all visiting family in NY and NJ this past weekend and their trips took a horrible turn with the arrival of Sandy. Every single person Im related to (minus my brother and father) were affected by Sandy. I feel for all the families that have lost things they hold dear. {Red cross donations can be made HERE}
• I am thankful for my children. For the first time I am a mom to 2 boys and taking care of them alone has been quite the learning lesson! I am reminded to be patient and understanding. 
• Im thankful for will power! Halloween has been a true test to that! With many pounds of candy sitting on my table (and my son constantly looking over it) I am tempted by the smells of chocolate and sour treats. I've stayed strong and avoided eating any!
• Im thankful for the Navy. The men and women on this base have kept us safe through the bomb threats made earlier this week. As frustrating as some of it may be, I feel safer knowing we are protective by brave men and women on a daily basis. 
• I am so thankful for my friends. I have an amazing group of ladies doing a Paleo challenge that started this week! Even though I may not actually know many of them, Im glad to have their support and support them on a daily basis! Keeps me honest and ready for more!

Monday Mommy Transformation

What was your life like before you started your journey to better health? 

My life wasn't terrible. For the most part I enjoyed it and lived very carefree. I had a wonderful husband and two beautiful, healthy children. But there was a lot of self doubt. Wondering if I'd be able to keep up with my kids if I continued in my current state. Wondering if I could ever truly love myself the way I was.

What motivated you to make a change?

I distinctly remember a conversation with a friend upon my husband receiving orders to Guam. "All of the mommies are very into fitness here," she said. Honestly, hearing that was like a terrible nightmare for me. I had visions of sitting on the beach, pale and tired looking, wearing my 'mom suit.' It was then I knew something had to give. I started the Couch to 5K program in May 2011 but didn't pick up weightlifting until November 2011. Though I have not continued to run since completing C25K in July 2011, I credit that as my official 'start.' 

How do you involve your family in your journey? 

Though I do most of my workouts during school hours, there are times I utilize the family fitness room at our gym. My five-year-old son will often stand beside me using the small dumbbells and telling me about his big muscles. He has witnessed my transformation from the start and enjoys looking at my pictures with me and telling me how I'm shrinking. Also, being fairly new to clean eating myself, I am striving to slowly change the eating habits of my children to match my own. There is a lot of trial and error, and they do have the occasional happy meal, but I am looking to help them strike a balance so that they do not struggle with food addiction the way I have. 

What is your biggest accomplishment so far?

As much as I hate to pin numbers on this sort of thing, my biggest accomplishment would have to be the 52 pounds that have vanished from my body. In all my life, I have never lost more than 20 pounds at any given time. Knowing that I have overcome that number hurdle gives me such a satisfying feeling. And knowing that I didn't subsist on carrot sticks and meal replacement shakes(like I had in the past) and that I have ENJOYED this ride means, to me, that I'm doing something right.

Who inspires you?

Many people inspire me but I'd have to say that my two-year-old daughter takes the cake. I look at her, so young and so openminded, and know that I have to set the example for her. It is my job to teach her, and my son, how to find balance so that they can enjoy life while living it in a healthy way .

When you're in a slump what do you do to shake it?

This one is easy! I go into the gym and I pick up, to the pound, how much weight I've lost. Holding that in my hands and feeling the heaviness of it is like a slap in the face! I've also recently taken on a workout partner. I don't need the motivation to actually get to the gym, but she knows how to push my buttons to get me to work harder if I'm slacking off.

What future goals do you have for yourself?

My functional fitness goal is unassisted pull-ups. I would also like to do more cross training to become a more well-rounded athlete. 

How did you do it?

Balance, preparation, hard work and a positive mindset. There is no secret, nor magic pill that will do the work for you.

What is one of your favorite recipes?

I have a lot of favorites but since I prepare my chicken ahead of time, this one only takes five minutes. It's great for a quick lunch!

1 chicken breast, chopped

1 apple, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

2 tbsp. plain greek yogurt

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all of those together to form a delicious chicken salad!

Safe Postpartum Running

Now that I am back to working out (almost 2 weeks in!) Ive been thinking about what I want to accomplish in the next year. I have my 6 month and 1 year goals but the one I am most wanting to start preparing for is a 1/2 marathon. I have done countless 5ks and love them but Im ready to challenge myself! I want to properly train for it and feel like I did everything I could in order to do my best.
I've been looking at some training programs but haven't found one that I'm going to go with.

I prefer to run with a jogger. This gets you and baby out and adds resistance-especially going up hills!
Here are some tips for safely running after pregnancy and with a jogger!

• Recovery: After giving birth its important to be cleared for exercise by your doctor. 
• Age of infant: If you are not using a car seat attachment your baby should be at least 6 months old when running with a jogger. 
• Pack accordingly: Bring items for the baby just incase you have to change or feed. Depending on the weather- bring extra water, blankets, sunscreen, snacks. If its raining bring a cover. 
• Safety: Baby should be securely strapped in seat. Stay clear of busy roads (especially when wearing headphones) and unsafe areas.
• Ease into it: Whether you ran while pregnant or are just starting out, taking your time to build you endurance back up will take time. Don't expect to run 5 miles the first day! Find a plan and have patience! 
• Sole Sisters: Most cities have running groups like that you can join or find some friends to jog with around your neighborhood. Having support and accountability is the key to success! 

Some great running sites:

• Beginners
• Couch to 5k program
• 5k, 10k, Marathon
• Stroller Strides

Monday Mommy Transformation

What was your life like before you started your journey to better health?  

Well... I have been over weight my whole life, pretty much beginning when puberty struck. I was always "big boned" But my weight really ballooned when I got married. I really never realized how miserable I was...even at the beginning when we were "happy". 

I was obese, my highest weight being 236lbs..not pregnant!  I went up and down many times, never getting lower than 190lbs.  Well, long story short, after a decade of being in a difficult marriage, struggling with infertility, financial problems, etc (everyone has their struggles, mine are no worse) I separated from my husband in July 2009. That was a rude awakening for me. I struggled badly with my new life as a single mother.  

How do you involve your family in your journey?  

Well, I enlist family support to give me time to run while training for a half marathon.  I couldn't do it without my "village".  My kids are a part of  the everyday..they go to weight watchers meetings with me, help me prepare healthy meals and snacks, etc.  Their current favorite thing: roasted veggies!

What is your biggest accomplishment so far?  

    In general:  Being  a good,healthy example/role model for my two children (ages 5 and 9) is by far my biggest accomplishment.  I am showing them how to take care of themselves by taking care of myself.  They are happier because I am happier!

   Health related:  I reached my goal weight this fall and am maintaining under my goal.  I weigh less than I did in jr high now at 147lbs.  I exercise regularly and I am training for a half marathon (completing this will be a huge accomplishment.  I can't wait!).

Who inspires you? 

 I have a friend (Hi Tracey!) who I met along my way in this weight loss/health journey.  She is around my age.  She suffered a stroke recently and since has taken charge of her health and has lost over 100 lbs so far.  I would post online about my runs..and she would post about her walks from one end her driveway to the other.  I know if she could run, she would put me to shame daily.  She gives maximum effort all the time despite her health challenges.  She is kicking butt!

What future goals do you have for yourself?

Fitness related...My very short term goal is to run my first half marathon on Oct 21.  After that, continue to maintain my weight loss and my running for my second half on my 39th birthday in February.  

Simply put, how did you do it? 

 Weight watchers, couch to 5k running program were the two main things.  I have gone past the 5k distance now, but if it were not for that program I would not be able to run more than 60 seconds at a time!  Those two programs have changed my life!

What is one of your favorite recipes?

Slowcooker lentil polenta stew

1.5 cups brown lentils (rinsed and picked over)

2 onions sliced

1 large green pepper, diced

4 garlic cloves, sliced

1 can plum tomatoes with juice

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1.5 cups vegetable broth

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 cup quick cooking Polenta

Layer lentils, onions, green programs garlic in slow cooker. Halve tomatoes and add to cooker with juice. Sprinkle with oregano, pepper flakes, and salt. Pour in broth and vinegar. Cover and cook on low for seven hours or until lentils are tender. Serve over Polenta (I stirred it in!)

Serves 6. Per serving... 300 calories, 1 gram fat, 57 gram carb, 15 gram fiber, 16 gram protein

Click HERE to check her out of Facebook!

This Week in Workouts

Now that I am close to being cleared at my 6 week check up I wanted to start sharing This Week in Workouts with everyone! I had my son on September 16 and took 4 weeks to relax, re-coop and spend everyday with my husband loving on our babies!

Morning Routine!

I knew starting after being out of it for a month would be a lot so I needed to start slow and work my way up. The old me would have taken off running. Here is a look at what went on in my week!
Its not much but it'll do until Im cleared...1 week left!

Monday: 2.5 mile walk
Tuesday: 2.5 mile walk
Wednesday: 3.1 mile walk
Thursday: 3.4 mile walk
Friday-Sunday: bowling and family time!

Hopefully this next week we'll go farther. I think the only thing that puts a damper on things is the heat! I worry about the baby more than anything.
Hopefully this next week we'll get some clouds and a break from the heat!

LINKING UP:
Me Plus My Trainer

Little Girl in the Big World

Staying active

Even while you are pregnant its important to stay active! This is the best time to do it for your body and baby and continuing exercise throughout pregnancy reduces the risk of obesity, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.

Please check with your doctor when starting any activity during pregnancy. 

If you are a beginner to working out, especially while pregnant, start slow and stick to your level of fitness. You don’t want to over do it and hurt you or your baby. 

STRETCH!

Stretching throughout pregnancy has helped me stay ache free. I try to stretch at least once a day and it doesnt take long at all! I feel that due to my constant stretching I can still touch my toes and do most yoga poses with ease at 40 weeks! I don’t think my belly is on the small size either so Im grateful for my flexibility!

I usually stretch once Im at the gym in the morning both before and after I work out. During the day if Im sitting I try to sit butterfly style and once Im in bed I stretch my back out a bit! After a long day, stretching helps ease my body and I sleep so much better! 

WARM UP!

No mater what you plan on doing for exercise I highly recommend warming up and cooling down at an easy pace. I walked on the treadmill/elliptical for about a mile before I start any weight training to warm up my body and get my heart rate up without over doing it!

CLASSES!

Just about any class that is offered in the gym can be taken while pregnant. With any class, inform the instructor that you are pregnant and most will give you alternate moves or easier ways of performing during the class. 

*Spinning, take it at your own pace. If you are not used to the intensity then stay within your limits or take the speed down. 

*Yoga/pilates be mindful of moves done on your back or stomach.

*Water aerobics: consult your doctor later in your pregnancy

Warning signs

If you have any of the following symptoms while you're exercising, stop immediately and contact your doctor if they don't quickly resolve:

• dizziness or feeling faint
• headache
• chest pain
• bleeding
• contractions 
• fluid leaking 
• decreased fetal movement
• rapid heartbeat while at rest

Always perform your workouts with good form and know your limits!

Here are a few workouts I enjoyed!

Waterbaby work out!

Baby stretches

Baby Bumps and Barbells 

To weigh or not to weigh

I've been trying to decide whether or not Im going to weigh myself as I get back in shape post baby.

After my first child I weighed in every Friday, sometimes as early as 3am...just so I could say I weighed in on Friday! That was a healthy way of doing it but as the years went by I started weighing in everyday, any chance I got. I even had the scale in my kitchen-this was after trying every hard surface in my house to see where it told me what I wanted to hear. It was driving me insane! I finally decided to toss the scale and not even think about my weight. I started the LiveFit trainer October 2011 and only weighed myself in the beginning and then at the end.
Only a few days later I found out I was pregnant and vowed not to step on a scale.  I loved how my body had changed during the trainer and now with the upcoming weight gain over the next nine months, I didnt want the stress of the number on the scale. I wanted to enjoy being pregnant! So every 4 weeks at my OB appointments I would step on the scale and tell them not to tell me. Some of them remembered me from the time before and others laughed! They had NO IDEA how big of an accomplishment this was for me; it took the one stress of pregnancy away! (My doctor did mention my weight once or twice but never the actual number)
In the end I ended up gaining about 39lbs...I had to look at my record! I am fine with that number, I gained 37 with my first and I had a rough start this second time and gained quite a bit in the beginning. Now that I have had the baby and dropped 20lbs from labor I'm left with 20 to lose and another 30 before my ultimate goal.

Should I weigh myself once Im back to regular workouts or stick with just my measurements?
The number on the scale doesn't reflect any time in the gym or strength I'm adding so it could be detrimental.  I may do my measurements and leave the scale to only monthly weigh ins. At least till I've lost the rest of the baby weight!  Ill be posting all my starting numbers once I am given the OK to return to regular exercise. Hopefully I can get a bit more lean until then
 just from my eating!

3 weeks Post baby

Not the prettiest but I GOTTA KEEP IT REAL..3 weeks postpartum...there are about 2crispies and some corned beef giving me a foodbaby lol

Whats New?

        I rang in the new year feeling strong and in control of everything going on! I had been eating clean and following my training program perfectly. The results were amazing and gave me such a new outlook on what being healthy was. But recently I had lost my appetite and had zero energy. I stopped doing my cardio but stuck to the weights and pushed thru it...I had an idea of what might be going on. 

Lets rewind a bit......

Over the past couple months I’d been struggling with 2 things that I wanted. 

On one hand I had come so far working out and getting in shape. I loved the new me and the energy I had. I loved being in the gym, feeling strong and doing my part in keeping my family healthy. I felt confident at the beach which was something Ive struggled with over the years-I had finally put my fears aside and stopped caring what everyone thought! 

The flip side was that we wanted to add to our family. It took my husband 4 years to get me to even consider having another child because I had everything I wanted- an amazing job, a cute little “house” and such a tight bond as a a family of 3. It had been the three of us for so long I didnt know if I was capable of adding to it! So here we are 8000 miles from where used to call home trying to conceive. 

I knew that once got pregnant I would be putting all my hard work on pause. I was so conflicted and had never struggled with what I wanted so much. 

So back to the reason Im writing this....

        New Years Day we drove up to the other side of the island to purchase a massive weight set, bench and other goods for our home gym we were putting together. I grabbed a test on the way to the checkout....

Later on New Years Day we found out we were having a baby. Every thought about my body, hard work and time spent sweating went out the door. I didn’t even care. All I knew was that I was over the moon and couldn’t wait to start this new journey. ( I wont gross you out with the positive pregnancy test photo!)

         After the news came appointments and moving boxes. During this time I lost all my energy and could barely keep my eyes open! I continued to go to the gym but found I needed to take longer breaks. I started a water boot camp class to try and ease the stress I was having about working out. {I found out that when you want something so bad you do everything you can to keep from losing it}. We moved into our new home and I slowed down even more. Naps were more of a necessity and I changed my workouts to nightly walks and light weights in my house.

 We had a couple issues in the beginning which put me in a crazy place that brought the emotional eater out of me. After I saw the scale at my first check up I was dead set on NEVER knowing how much i was gaining. I had to stay positive no matter what size I got! Thankfully I am still eating pretty well with the occasional cupcake...this is me being honest!

Raising an athlete

Being that my son is barely into preschool I don't know what is in store for us in the coming years but I have always spoke with Mr. M about how I want to be completely open minded about our son playing competitive sports. {Competitive as in 1 team gets a trophy because they are #1...Not where everyone gets one because "we're all winners"}
I played sports-yes, cheerleading is a sport-until I graduated and if I had gone to a sports college I would have participated. Anyways, Sports kept me in school, I knew if I wanted to play that day I had to be in school, at least part of the day!
My parents were always active: lifting, kayaking, hikes, running and diving. This gave me a good foundation to try everything under the sun.


Everything you do affects your child. Activities, food choices, game systems,

Respecting yourself

When children see you are accepting of you own body and how your treat it they will feel the same about theirs. Too many children grow up with unhealthy ideals of what perfect should be.

Positivity is key

Children don't "diet." I don't even think they should know the meaning of it. Healthy eating, better choices, or trying new things is a better approach to food.
Your kid wont be good at everything they try. They will trip, miss, pick daisies and wonder off. Keeping a level head about it and redirecting them will help them see whats important more than you screaming at them. Which lead us to:

Make things worth trying

If by chance your child does not want to go to practice find a way to make it appealing. Forcing them will cause a brick wall. They'll go but when given the option to go again wont see it as a fun occasion. They will resent you for pushing. Give them options but take a back seat. They will find where they fit and what they enjoy; they just need exposure, support, and for you to be there.

As we rebuild our home gym we have been considering a program like CrossFit Kids. I want Little M to have the best advantage while competing and CrossFit will give him this. He doesn't mind eating clean so that isnt a hurdle. "CrossFit Kids workouts consist of constantly varied, functional movements that deliver a fitness that is broad, inclusive and general and scaleable for any participant at any level."  His high energy will now be focused and give him the skills that he uses in everyday play-"pull, push, run, throw, climb, lift and jump." -CF Kids

What will your approach be?