Sensational Sunday, Short and Snappy

Crack-of-dawn baby watching “Max and Ruby.”

Irish makes an appearance.

Snack making and trying to get someone interested in fruit by involving him in the prep.

I left the boys and FINALLY got back to the Bikram yoga class I took WAY back in April.

I’m going to try to make it my new Sunday habit. It’s the only day I can carve out any time for the class.

Anyway, when I got home I made everyone an egg feast for brunch.

Then I put the kids to work.

I made lunches for tomorrow early because we had a busy night planned.

Lunch making always leads to snacking.

The 8-year-old and I had a Boy Scout date at a local historical mill.

He was really interested.

We hiked,

went on a scavenger hunt, and learned about blacksmiths.

When I came home, the first words out of The Husband’s mouth was, “Did you wear that? You look like a dork.”

I was like, “You’re one to talk. At least I showered.”

I set up the 2-year-old with some Play-Doh.

And made a special taco dinner to help with an article I’m writing for The Laughing Cow.

The boys all liked it.

During clean up I caught this brother moment.

When dad left for tennis practice, the kids and I worked on our pull-ups.

I’m determined.

The day ended with some unhappy laundry folding.

But it all worked out in the end. :)

Sorry for the short post again but the season finale of “Breaking Bad” is on!

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Wednesday Weigh In: Selling Ourselves Short

I was shocked at the scale reading this morning. If you are keeping score the past 4 weeks – pretty much since seeing my “magic number” on the scale —  I’ve shown a gain. So last week I decided to change things up, trust myself a bit more. I wanted to focus on what I was eating, not how much.

I didn’t talk about this last week, but I really think I was/am underestimating my calorie needs for my current activity level, especially with all my CrossFit workouts. Sometimes I still approach the eating/weight-loss thing as I did 8 years ago when I didn’t workout, run, or have 2 kids to tackle. I’m still grappling with lowering my calories because, well, that’s what worked! I was able to consistently drop 2 lbs a week through diet alone back then.

Now things are a bit more complex.

I’m not making excuses, just self observations.

Overall my new approach worked. I immediately felt less pressure to figure out how to enter something in MyFitnessPal or weigh out a serving. I started to get excited by making kale salads and fun ways to add more vegetables to my diet, but as the week went on I started to slowly slip into old habits. Little remnants of the perfection mindset were sneaking in and by last night I found myself binging on cookies because there was no way the scale wasn’t going to show a gain this morning.

I was self-sabotaging before even giving myself a chance.

I sold myself short and I’m going to bet you’ve done it, too.

I hopped on the scale this morning, eyes closed. I waited 30 seconds until the number locked in, and then I saw this…

 Trusting myself may be the hardest part of this journey.

I really felt fantastic all week too. I’m wondering if it may be time for me to step away from scale again, or at least figure out a way to track the data without the unconscious pressure I appear to be putting on myself.

GAH!

Enough about me! How was your week? I have to go anyway, I’m late for CrossFit! 

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Remembering a life cut short.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.

This month (like the other 11) I’ll be thinking a great deal about my friend Sue who passed away only two months after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

The picture above is from her 50th birthday party.

A surprise party which even at the time seemed a fantastically, perfectly over-the-top celebration of my friend’s 50 years.

Ive spent lots of time pondering how I could honor Sue this month & feeling grateful her family chose to honor her that day and *daily* while she was here with us.

Sue was passionate about helping others.

She was instrumental in both helping me discover my voice and celebrating with me all the small successes along the way.

Sue ‘got’ me.

She understood my tattooed, tutu’d approach to life might LOOK different than hers to outsiders, but underneath it all we were remarkably, remarkably alike.

(A woman I did not know once commented to a woman I did how Sue & I made a motley crue.  That phrasing still inexplicably makes me giggle.)

I feel the loss of her daily and more than ever last week as life here changed so dramatically.

I longed for the dose of tough-love & lovelove I knew Sue would have given me.

My friend Sue’s mantra & life-mission was reminding people that every step matters™.

Every movement toward achieving our goals is a step that needs to be both recognized and celebrated.

Big (like the Kinder) or seemingly small (like a few things I have planned this weekend).

That’s how Ive decided to celebrate my friend during Ovarian Cancer Awareness month & I demand lovingly ask you join me.

A two-fold assignment request:

Make time this month to STOP, reflect, identify a recent success and *celebrate* you. No matter how seemingly insignificant MAKE the time to recognize a step you’ve taken toward creating the life you desire.Make time this month to remind someone else of their successes. Email, call, tweet, blog-comment, visit & let someone know a way you’ve noticed she’s been successful lately.  It may seem silly (hell it may even feel incredibly awkward) but I guarantee you’ll make her day & perhaps, as Sue did for me, propel her onward toward continued success.

And that’s where I leave you on this first day of Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.

No questions to spark your comments.

No please to hit us all up below.

Two simple requests & an urging to git out there and LIVE! on your way.

I know Im preaching to the proverbial choir here, but life is short, People.

Today truly is a gift and indeed why it’s called the present.

Our big ole motley crew walking/jogging/running last weekend in memory of our Sue.

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Short Cuts - Upper Body Workout - with Leslie Sansone

This 30-minute strength training workout provides firming and great conditioning for the upper body. You get toned, lean sexy-arms. You won't believe how great your upper body will look and feels. Best of all, if you tuck in your abs and draw back your shoulder blades while you're walking, you will get good natural posture into the bargin. - Leslie Sansone

Price:

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Short Cuts - Upper Body Workout - with Leslie Sansone

This 30-minute strength training workout provides firming and great conditioning for the upper body. You get toned, lean sexy-arms. You won't believe how great your upper body will look and feels. Best of all, if you tuck in your abs and draw back your shoulder blades while you're walking, you will get good natural posture into the bargin. - Leslie Sansone

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon