Monkey bar Monday.

Who wouldnt smile over a HEAD SIZED cupcake?

I cant remember where it came from (perhaps the movie City Slickers?), but somehow the child & I have made a running joke out of the notion of losing our smiles.

One of us announces she’s lost her smile (meaning she feels less than happy) and the other offers a smile to try on.

Invariably the grin doesnt fit (lopsided, too big, too small, too grimace’y…you get the idea) & after a little while both of us are laughing and have re-found our smiles.

Ive had a little bit of a lost smile the past few days.

I looked for it myriad places (in books, on phone with friends, in BRAVO reality tv) to no avail.

Until yesterday.

The Tornado commandeered my smart phone while we were frolicking at the park & announced she wanted to film me monkey bar’ing.

That shit chickenbus is HARD when you’re over the age of 6 and who knew it would be where Id find my smile.

ShowOff McGee The Tornado then shared her mad skillz:

How do you re-find your smile when life conspires to steal it away?

Next time Im starting my search at the playground.  Who knew?

View the original article here

Gratitude boards & six year olds.*

(The Tornado’s gratitude board mid-creation.)

Since she’s been old enough to register her surroundings the Tornado has been curious about my vision & gratitude boards.

Her questions began as simple ones (What this is?) and have recently grown more specific (Who is this? Why is he on here? Do I know him?!).

Although we’ve always stressed the importance of gratitude it’s pretty much only taken the form of before bed prayers.

The concept would come up sometimes during our days, but for the most part we were nighttime-grateful Peeps.

Not necessarily a bad thing–but she made it clear she was ready for more.

And a harebrained plan was born by this not-too-crafty** mama: it would be a wonderful learning experience for her to create a gratitude board of her own.

A learning experience for her.

And yeah.

It was I who received the bulk of the educating.

Allow me to spare you the messy process share with you the 6 things I learned.

Mama needed to let go of the cutting. Literally & figuratively. I painstakingly trimmed photos of friends & family for my gratitude board. It bothered the Tornado not at all to carelessly snip at a picture of her Bubbie, whack off half her head, & plop it on her board. I had to repeatedly remind myself it was a gratitude board not a voodoo doll and if that’s what the Tornado wanted hanging in her room—it was fine. More importantly she did it all! by! her! self! & I stayed out of the process.We are grateful for different people in her life. I’m a pretty mellow mom. I like to give the Tornado as many choices as I can throughout her day so she feels empowered. It surprised me, in this instance, I wanted to take over & seize control. I found myself longing to say REALLY? You’re grateful enough for X to put her on your board? or suggest Dont you think we need to find a picture of Y? He’s so good to you! I had to stop, step back, and view this as an opportunity to learn who’s important to *her.* And, through doing so, I gained insight into her world.It’s OK if her 5 year old definition of gratitude differs from mine at 42. This sounds like a no-brainer, yet the realization surprised me. Especially when we moved from photos to magazines. I’d see a picture of a house and anticipate she’d cut it out & proclaim gratitude for our home. The Tornado? She’d spy an image of a flip-flop and hack cut that out instead (“I’m grateful my mama wears flip-flops!”). Again this typically *not* controlling mom fought the urge to point her toward what *I* thought she should be grateful for. Again, as with the photos, this activity was more a learning experience for me.The Tornado grasped the difference between gratitude & entitlement. Yes, this was all on a five year old level. Sure we’ve had a few, uh, challenges with entitlement even after creating the board. I was still surprised she expressed gratitude for items/experiences I’d have assumed she’d thought she was owed or entitled to. Providing her with the opportunity to show & share this with me was invaluable. I give her lots of credit and yet, I learned, still less than she’s due.Gratitude begets gratitude. Every time I glance at my gratitude board (it’s covered with photos, pictures, swatches of fabric etc***) Im reminded how blessed I am. Whether this sight/feeling link is as concrete with the Tornado Im not yet certain. I do know, however, having a visual (& silent) reminder created by *her* of how fortunate she is hasn’t hurt. She sees how fortunate she is without my constant prattling on about how lucky we are. As with fitness (practicing what we preach so we dont have to preach!) silence goes a long way.Gratitude fosters happiness. Ive still not decided if I think optimists are born or created. What is clear is happy, optimistic people focus on all that is good/positive in their lives & unhappy people tend to focus on the negative. I’m not claiming the creation of her vision board has produced an always cheerful, glass-half-full Tornado—but it has prompted her to focus on gratitude throughout her day. Im willing to do whatever I can to make this shift a lasting change/mindset.

And there you have it.

The six things I learned during a process where I’d thought I would do all the teaching.

And you?

Will you join us in creating a gratitude board for yourself or with a little person?

Do you already have a board and care to share a link/YOUR tips in the comments?

*This is a Friday Flashback prompted by the fact we spent a spring break day updating our vision boards.  The Tornado is still finishing hers & announced when she’s done she’ll decide if she wants to share.

**That’s ‘arts &’ not ‘as in sneaky or wily.’ Poor sentence structure.

***Here is the link to my Vision Board/Gratitude Board video in case you, like the Tornado, are curious.

View the original article here

We love our JumpSport trampoline!

Oh people.

Im winding my way away from reviews/giveaways & lolloping lovingly toward more plain ole MizFit musings.

Writing what’s in my heart without thought to did I promote XYZ well enough? will they be happy with my post?.

All that disclaimer to say:

I wanted me a fitness trampampoline.  A lot.  I sought this sucker out. I was very curious if it would be something the Tornado & I would enjoy during the raging heat of the Texas summers or if it would gather dust in the corner. 

Please to enjoy our reactions to the JumpSport Fitness Trampoline model 350f.

What did we love about it?

Easy assembly.  Im the woman who will beg to pay extra so she can buy the floor model of a recumbent bike.  I long not to have to assemble a thing.  It’s part lacking in the assemblage gene & part fearing Ill assemble incorrectly & end up injured as a result.  The trampoline went together easily & I had no moments of panic over whether Id done it properly (or extra pieces!). Unfold. Add legs. DONE!

It was sturdy.  This thing is not cheap (it retails for 360.00), but I’ve purchased many ‘not cheap’ fitness items which turn out to be very flimsy.  The specifications state it can be used by individuals up to 250 pounds and it feels like it, too.  I’d also semi-anticipated the Tornado might break it after her first jumping session (she be overzealous that way) and she didnt even make a dent. I puts the legs on myself!

It’s a great workout.  I named this blog MizFit only because MiredInAFitnessRutofEnormousProportions.com felt too long.  Suffice it to say I was coresore coresore the next day and obviously need this change in my routine.
It’s fun for the whole family.  And friends.  The DVD was “fine”  (we skimmed through it for ideas) but we had more fun taking turns and issuing challenges.  This free form trampolining (jumping jacks, wide jumps, close jumps, running on the trampoline etc) was more fun for the Tornado & her friend *AND* worked the hell out of my UNACCUSTOMED to this kind of exercise bod quite well. Chillaxing between jumping sessions.

What did we not love?

Nothing.  The trampoline is precisely as described: sturdy, silent, stress-reducing and a convenient core & cardio workout.  The accompanying DVD is a dated looking, but the moves are easily learned so we wouldnt have used it much regardless.It is a little pricey–but you get what you pay for.  Of course I wish I were the Oprah of JumpSport trampolines (You get a trampoline! And YOU get a trampoline!) but Im not.  In many instances with regards to fitness equipment pricey is a negative.  When I am jumping up and down on something repeatedly Id prefer to pay more and know I am safe. 

I wanna add here I really try and never take items for review if I cant get one to giveaway. 

I took this one. I loved this one.  I’d spend my hard-earned money on this one and I can redefine the word stingy frugal at times.

Bottom line: 

I’ll use this.  The Tornado will use this.  In the heat of the summer we probably watch far too many mid-day movies around here and I *love* the fact she’s now begs to JUMPY! if the TV is turned on.

And you? Have you, too, been curious about the indoor rebounders for us adult-types?
Have you tried them?  Got any tips for me to avoid constantly needing to pee with regards to exercise & safety?

FTC the trampoline was free. The awkward leaping videos (here and here) & unabashed love is all my own.

Pin It

Tags: Exercise, rebounding, trampoline

View the original article here

Greedy Recipe: 3PM Workday Power Muffins

Afternoons at work can suck. By 3pm my morning workout endorphins are definitely depleted and I’m just about annoyed with sitting in the dang office chair at this point. So you know how men think about sex almost 20 times per day? Well, on workday by 3pm, I’ve probably thought about muffins and cupcakes and other forms of delectable goodness more than 472 times already.

Don’t worry. They’re just thoughts. I don’t act on these impulses.

So the idea of a “Power Muffin” recently popped into my head. I wanted a muffin that’s tasty, yet works for me with a seriously healthy power boost. This muffin must also whiplash my stomachs into satisfaction so I don’t fall prey to unhealthy crap before dinner.

Wouldn’t you agree that to be powerful?

After turning to Google, it seems the idea of Power Muffins has already been done a gazillion times over in all kinds of different ways. So instead of reinventing the muffin from scratch, I chose Oh She Glows Flax & Oat Breakfast Power Muffin recipe and adapted it with very slight changes to fit my empowerment needs.

Here’s what I did and this is what I call it:

3PM Workday Power Muffins (adapted from Angela Liddon at Oh She Glows)

Ingredients

1 large ripe banana2 tsp olive oil1 eggJust shy of 1/4 cup brown sugar (unpacked)1/2 cup ground flaxseed1/4 cup whole wheat flour(heaping) 1/2 cup oats1/2 tsp baking soda1 small handful crushed walnut pieces

Directions

Preheat over to 350 and place cupcake liners into muffin tin.Mash banana in bowl and then mix in oil, egg and sugar.In separate bowl, mix flaxseed, flour, oats and walnuts. Then combine with wet ingredients and stir until blended.Spoon mixture into muffin tin and bake for 15 minutes (or a few minutes longer if not done yet).

Yields 5-6 muffins. Approximately 200 calories per muffin.

Wohoo! And you see how my muffins turned out in the pic. Delish. Nice and moist with a subtle hint of sweetness. Just perfect. And you gotta read up on the benefits of flaxseed. The knowledge of the flaxseed will send shockwaves into your cranium — high in Omega 3's and protects against cancer to name a few. Do NOT ignore foods that protect against cancer!

Okie dokie. Love you much,

Josie

View the original article here

What’s on your laundry tag?

What would your label read?

I’m very prideful about the fact I ask for what I need.

Specifically, clearly & in the moment.

Long day of work & Im feeling insecure about my writing?

“Tell me I rock & my words are amazing!”

All gussied up for a (his) work event? Feeling a little awkwardtastic?

“Tell me I look bad-ass and yet still completely like myself.”

Working 24/7 & bringing home the (turkey)bacon in the form of…tinybacons?

“Tell me it is not at all about the money.  Remind me it’s about the people we help while we’re here.”*

The problem I encounter is my *asking* for what I need may be good, but the  longass circuitous way I go about it is not.

I tend to lose Ren Man as I ramble.

All of this clicked for me recently as I searched for the laundry tag in a piece of his clothing.

I could keep asking for what I needed—but we both might be better served if I  consolidated it into fewer words.

Ala this Einstein quote:

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

If I couldnt ‘laundry tag’ my emotional needs (& needed to ramble) perhaps I didnt understand them well enough either.

Maybe *I* should invest time distilling them down to their basic essence—for me.

I did.

And this is what I came up with:

Lots of laughterBeing acknowledged & heardAlone time to recharge

I wont lie to you.

My process was a long and ugly one. 

It was challenging to come up with my basic emotional needs in a terse fashion AND  have few enough to fit on a hang-tag.

The struggle, however, is forced me to prioritize my needs. 

I began with something which resembled a laundry list & eliminated till I had the three above.

What did I learn from this exercise? (thanks for asking!)

I need to be more clear and concise—in all facets of my life.   This exercise was a reminder if I dont know exactly what I want and need no one else will either.  I can grow frustrated with people not giving me what I want, yet it hadnt occurred to me I wasn’t telling them in words they could understand.  Non-verbose ones.
Be bold and ballsy.  It’s easy with this exercise to think “well Id want that and Id put it on my tag—but it’s not happening.  It wont ever happen.  Ill leave it off.”  You may be right, but not asking for what you need guarantees you wont receive it.It’s kind of a mini-vision board.   Ive started visualizing my ‘tag’ hanging on the insides of my clothing (I crazy that way).  To this end I’m consistently sending the world cues as to what I want & need *and* it can flow back to me.Dont settle for what is offered...when you’ve not asked for what you desire!  In this exercise we’re talking emotional needs, but this concept is applicable throughout our  lives. Yes you may ask and not receive just dont settle for only what’s offered to you.Remember to read other people’s labels.  Beyond the fact it’s important not to be so consumed by identifying your needs you forget others’—-when we are empathic we feel connected.  When Ive worked with women’s groups I consistently hear lamented the lack of feeling connected.  (OK so I wanna add that to my label now, too.  Feeling connected.)

I learned a great deal about myself from this exercise.

I forced myself to identify & choose what’s really important to me emotionally (when eliminating ‘needs’ I weighed two with regards to their importance to me, eliminated the lesser and moved on) and found I’d been rambling a lot more than I’d been working to meet needs.

If you created a self-care laundry tag—what would it say?

Is this list something you know immediately or do you, as I did, need to work the ‘process of elimination’ to figure it out?

Please tell me you, too, have pretty much given up on reading the real laundry tags & just cram everything in at once.

**Ive received a number of emails recently asking how I can relate to your weight struggles if Im not currently fitness-struggling. 

I have a post about this in drafts coming soon. I do struggle on a daily basis with this money = worth notion.  In my experience struggling is universal.  The specifics of our struggles are almost secondary.

View the original article here

Hello Bike Path!

This morning, I took one helluva test in Medical Nutrition Therapy. 100 points. Math was involved. Yuck. And it was timed. Afterwards, I was shaking and second guessing myself. ‘Dammmit, I should have answered that question another way. Wait…was she asking about PPN or TPN? Ugh! I’m stupid. I’ll never pass.’ It was 60-something degrees outside. Sunny, but a bit windy…25 mph gusts. I’d been up studying since 6 a.m. I watched the sun rise, I checked the weather a million times on my phone, and I thought about Bike. I’ve been eyeing her every time I pull in my garage the last few weeks, wondering if she misses me as much as I miss her. Bike needs a tune up, no doubt. But did she have enough oomph from last year to get me through a late winter ride?

My mind was making me nuts. I had to get OUT of the house, and the only place to go that made sense was the Butler-Freeport Community Trail:  21 miles of personal peace. I worked out a whole lot of arthritis angst there last year. It was the place I said no to sciatica and yes to my thighs when they said, ‘Are you sure?’ while pedaling up a 2-mile incline along the outer edge of a gun range.  I had to go there. So I slathered Vaseline on my face to protect it from the wind, and dressed in two layers of shirts, a jacket, leggings, and tennis shoes. I backed the car out of the garage and loaded up my bike on the rack. I felt strong and in control, even though it had been five months since I’d engaged in the bungee cords and straps ritual.
My body felt good hugged in form-fitting clothes. The snugness reminded me that I had one. A body, that is. It wasn’t lost in the perpetual layers of winter. And while I’ve gained 20 pounds since my lowest weight, my body feels stronger than it did at 125 pounds. I’m no longer afraid I’ll break. I felt so fragile back then.
With the sunroof open and the tunes cranked, I drove to the trailhead, wondering if I’d be the only car in the parking lot. I didn’t think so, but since I didn’t know the answer to question 17 of my MNT test, I figured what the heck did I know about anything?
But when I pulled into the lot, I discovered several people felt the same way I did.
I took my bike off the rack and examined it. It was encrusted in last year’s mud and I wondered if it would carry me for the simple 40 minute ride I had in mind. I’d pumped up the tires before I left, and I had a tube and tire levers in my pack along with a pump attached under my seat, but it had been a year since I learned how to use them. What if I got a flat?
I stood there with my right hand on the saddle and my left hand on the left handle bar. The sun was warming my back, the air smelled so spring-like, and…ahhh!! I figured I’d walk the damn bike back if I had to. Nothing was going to stop me from riding. I had to. It was calling me. It’s like my body and the weather and the trail were a holy trinity offering salvation. Not riding was not an option.
I hopped on Bike my favorite way: with my left foot on the pedal and my right leg swinging over the seat like it was the back of a horse.
Hello picnic table! Hello campsite across the creek! Hello shelter that kept me and another biker I’d never met before and haven’t seen since dry in a torrential thunderstorm last year!
Hello ice and mud and the bug that just flew into my eye! Hello rapids! Hello really tall bridge across Route 28 whose foundations are built like the legs of the Empire’s Imperial Walkers and scare me every time I ride under them!Hello mile markers that remind me how far I’ve gone and challenge me to decide how far I’ll go! Hello Monroe Road that I pedal like hell across because people drive around the bend like they’re racing in the Daytona 500! Hello couple walking their dog off leash! Not cool, by the way!
Hello wind and sun and 65 degrees! Hello faint smell of woodsy western Pennsylvania! You’ll be in full smell soon.
I rode 20 minutes and turned around. While I wanted to go further, I knew my body and Bike needed time to "tune up" into the regular summer rides. I loaded my bike on the rack and drove home in the closest thing to a perfect state of mind I could achieve: Whatever happens, happens. School, weight, relationships, life. I'll figure it out. Maybe not on the trail right now. After all, it’s early. It will rain and it will not doubt snow. But I rode Bike in western Pennsylvania on March 7, 2012 with no repercussion or consequence other than a lot of mud sprayed on my backside.
Bike will be going in for a tune-up next week. She deserves it and needs it. We have a lot of stuff to figure out this year!

View the original article here

Legs on Fire (Home Workout #4)

Challenge yourself and get that heart pumping as you sculpt your legs into sexy hawtness.

Legs On Fire Video Demo

Equipment Needed: Interval Timer or a steady eye on the clock.

Primarily Targets: Legs and fat-melting cardio.

Time Needed: Approximately 25 minutes or less.

LEGS ON FIRE (after a thorough warm up)

20 Reps: reverse lunge kick, right leg20 Reps: reverse lung kick, left leg20 Reps: alternating reverse lunge hovers3 minutes speed rope intervals (45 secs skipping /15 seconds high knees jog in place). If you don’t have a speed rope or can’t use a rope in the house (due to carpeting), it’s no big deal. Just use your “invisible” speed rope instead!Repeat circuit 3-4 times  (very short rests only when absolutely needed).

Beginners: decrease lunge reps and/or skipping intervals. Maintain good form (no knees over toes), keep your body tight and stabilize your core. No flopping around!

More home workouts are on the way, so subscribe to my YouTube channel and snag yourself an interval timer.

Say hello to your sexy legs, baby!

View the original article here