Kid's Nutrition Class

Last Thursday I was blessed with 10 little people interested in learning about nutrition.  What I like about teaching kids is the simplicity behind it.  No need to go into the science, it's kind of like what Carole says is the truth, no arguments needed, just do it.  I asked each of the children to bring a box or a label of their favorite breakfast food and/or snack. 

Sometimes, I wish adults would take note from children and just do it.  It's such a simple concept that within an hour my 5 year olds were starting to grasp and my 10 year olds had mastered.  The concept is this:

Take your plate and divide it into 3 parts.  I told them to imagine those cool styrofoam plates you get at picnics and they were all like, "yeah, those are SO neat!"  Now, fill one part of your plate with protein, one part of your plate with carbohydrates, and one part of your plate with fat.

The kids were then informed that if they did this, they were eating a balanced meal.  I then explained to the kids that protein helps you build muscles, carbohydrates give you energy, and fat makes your tummy nice and full. 

We then took some time to talk about what each of these 3 parts really are in the food world.  We had a raise your hand session and filled up each of our 3 compartments on our plate.

Protein = meat, sausage, bacon, pork, fish, lamb, hot dogs, hamburgers, steak, chicken, turkey, cottage cheese, milk, cheese.

When I told the kids my little secret about protein, some of them looked at me like I was crazy but it clearly gets the point across.  I said if you look at something and think that it once had a face, then it was protein.  Beef comes from a cow, a cow had a face and that makes it a protein.  :0) 


We moved onto carbohydrate.  In the carbohydrate compartment I split my section down the middle and I told the kids there are many types of carbohydrates.  There are good carbohydrates that you can eat lots and lots of.  There are not so good carbohydrates that if you CHOOSE to eat them, you should just eat a little at a time.  You should always try to put the good carbohydrates on your plate first and then if you still really want a not so good carbohydrate then have some but just not too much.

Good carbohydrates = vegetables and fruit.  The kids, like many people I come across didn't realize that a vegetable or a fruit were considered a carbohydrate.  I reminded them that carbohydrates give them energy, so you could get energy from an apple or a red pepper just like you could if you ate a candy bar.  Either one of these is going to give you energy.  So, try to make the right choice.

Not so good carbohydrates = anything with sugar (cookies, cake, candy, pie, etc) and grains (bread, pasta, rice, cereal) The kids were really really good at naming this group.  I NEVER EVER EVER tell the kids that this is bad food, we call this not so good food and to make the right choice.  I find that if you tell the kids "they can't never" eat something....then you are pretty much setting them up for failure.

We then moved onto the fats.  This was a tough one for the kids as many of them have overheard their parents saying they are fat.  When kids hear fat they are literal.  So, they think fat is bad.  I am out to change fat's reputation.  Just saying.  I told them fat = nuts and seeds, oils and butters.  Nut butters, like almond butter and peanut butter. 

After we filled all the sections of our plate, I pulled out my food flash cards and asked the kids to make me a balanced meal.  We all know that our "balanced meal" should have protein, carbohydrates, and fat. 

Please take note that the children are not taught the specifics of PALEO they are taught balance, so don't be judgemental when you watch my videos if a child choose vegetable oil or peanuts, please take notice that these kids are learning about balance first.  One step at a time:

 

Once we made our balanced meals with our flash cards, it was time to talk about the box they brought with a label for their favorite breakfast food or snack.  This happens to be my favorite part.  I first take the kids that can read, and have them look for the ingredients on their label.  I ask them to read me the ingredients.  It's awesome to hear them try to pronounce the words on the label.  I as an adult of 43 years cannot pronounce the words on most labels and to ask an 8-10 year old to do it, well, just makes me laugh.  I tell the kids would you really like to eat something that you can't even figure out how to say?

I have also collected labels to share. I ALWAYS bring food to my kids nutrition meetings.  So, I have saved the labels of the treats I brought to share.  

I hold up my bag of carrots and say, "ingredients, carrots!" then my box from my strawberries, "ingredients, strawberries!"  The kids catch on quickly.  I hold up my egg carton and say, "ingredients!" and before I can get the words out of my mouth the kids say, "eggs!"  On and on we go through the blackberries, the raisins, the honey, the celery, brocolli, almonds, turkey, hazelnuts, pecans, cashews, almond butter, etc.  The kids LOVE this part because in my loudest voice I say, "NOW, WOULDN'T YOU RATHER EAT SOMETHING YOU CAN PRONOUNCE THAN *)(!&)!#&)#!&! THAT YOU CAN'T?"  And I totally make up this big word that makes no sense!!  

The answer is an emphatic yes.  

I then share a healthy snack and have the kids choose a protein, a carb, and a fat to put on their plates.  I make sure to buy many flavors of Larabars and share those with the kids as well.  I always encourage the kids to try something they haven't tried before as I pull out my treats.

As the kids snack, we talk a little about sugar and high fructose corn syrup.  I tell them if they turn the box over and it has high fructose corn syrup in it, then to put it back on the shelf.  I also do a little math with the older kids and have them read the sugar content on their label.  I tell them that there is 1 tsp of sugar in every 4 grams.  One of the kids had a cereal with 28 grams of sugar and I said, "how about instead of eating your cereal tomorrow morning, you just get up and eat 7 heaping spoons of sugar?"  Of course they said, "no, yuck!" and I said, "well, it's what you're doing anyway!" 

All in all the kids leave with some new knowledge of what their eating.  Ultimately it is our responsibility as parents to ensure that our kids are eating healthy and balanced meals.  I always have healthy option and encourage the "good carbohydrates!"  That doesn't mean my children (or myself for that matter) always choose them....but I want them to know that there are choices.

I can always tell the kids that are strictly limited.  If your child goes to a party where this food is laid out, the feeling of eating it will be unbearable to the point where they will probably overeat and have a nice big ol' tummy ache.  Instead if these things are ever present and taught to eat in moderation, when your child ends up at this party they will choose wisely and only eat enough to satisfy that little craving. 

Start with your child's first meal.  Breakfast.  I worked with the kids on balance, one little girl was having a waffle with peanut butter and syrup for breakfast.  We talked about her peanut butter being a healthy fat, and her waffle being a not so good carbohydrate and I said to her, all you have to do is eat a hard boiled egg or some sausage and you will have a balanced meal.

Don't wake up tomorrow and strip your children of all the "not so good" things you've been feeding them, just offer them balance and as time goes on, you'll see that those not so good things will start to dissipate and those good things will be the go to food.

 

Crock Pot Tuesday

So, in our house we have crock pot Tuesday.  Tuesday is the day that Jim and I take the ENTIRE DAY OFF! Ok, well that is a little white lie.  We don't really take the entire day off....BUT we don't coach in the morning and we both vowed to stay off of electronic devices for the day.  No IPhones, no IPads, no Laptops, and no no no WORKING.....

Until the 4:30 class of course.  We then head to the gym together for the 4:30 class and usually follow that up with either the competition team when we aren't in the middle of a challenge or a challenge WOD...which puts us all leaving the gym together no earlier than 7 pm.

Knowing that one of us will not be home to get dinner started we've had to become creative in making sure that dinner is on the table when we all end up in the same place at a late time.  It's bad enough that we are eating dinner at 9 pm on Monday's and Wednesday's...it's nice to have dinner by 7:30 on Tuesday.

So.....along came crock pot Tuesday.

I have tried a lot of things in the crock pot.  Your traditional pot roast with potatoes and carrots.  I made beef ribs in one crock pot while the other one had sweet potatoes, an apple, and loads of cinnamon for my famous smashed potatoes recipe.  Of course you can do cabbage and sausages and your chicken is amazingly tender when cooked slowly in the crock pot all day. But just the other day I stumbled across a stuffed peppers crock pot post and I thought to myself.....hm, I need to try that.

My family LOVES stuffed peppers....I don't mind making them.  But the process takes forever and 24 pans later I finally have dinner ready.

SO, I pulled out my old stuffed peppers recipe and decided to go for it:

Step #1:
Line the bottom of my crock pot with red potatoes.
(In the scheme of eating protein, carbs, and fats....I wanted to add a more complex carbohydrate to our meal.  I chose red potatoes.  Although we don't eat them often, I do love me a potato every now and then.)

Step #2:
Cut the tops off of 6 colored peppers.  Discard the stem.  Save remaining parts that can be eaten for stuffing mixture. Place peppers in crockpot.

Step #3:
Create the stuffing.
I used 1 lb ground beef.  1 pound turkey sausage.  6 garlic cloves finely chopped. A couple stalks of thyme.  6-8 green onions finely chopped.   2 eggs.  4 slices bacon (raw) chopped.  The tops of all my peppers finely chopped.  Chopped parsley.  It called for celery finely chopped I didn't have any so I added celery seed for flavor.

Mix everything together. Do not cook.

Step #4:
Stuff peppers with stuffing.

Step #5:
Cook on low for 8 hours.

Step #6:

Enjoy.  I used one pan and this fed 4 adults and 1 child and a dog.  Gage and Brooke each ate 1/2 of a stuffed pepper and 1 potato.  Jim and Brandon each ate 1 1/2 stuffed peppers and 1 potato.  I ate 1 stuffed pepper and 1 potato and didn't finish mine so Alvin enjoyed it for breakfast the next day.  We had one left over pepper that Brandon brought to work and heated up with a potato for lunch the next day.

Jim topped his with sour cream....you could add shredded cheese or parmesean if you're more primal.  

Comments heard from my family....please cook stuffed peppers every crock pot Tuesday!!  These are amazing and yummy. 

A peek inside our refrigerator.....

So, last week I held a nutrition class for the athletes that are participating in the open games challenge.

I thought I would give you some insight as to what a weekly grocery shopping looks like for me.  Remember I told you when I find a good sale, I stock up. 

It's Sunday morning and all the shelves in my refrigerator are bare.  It's actually not too common to see the refrigerator loaded with food as I try to pretty much buy what we are going to eat for the week as most of our food is fresh.  So, by Sunday it's scraps and leftovers.

The weekly ads come out on Sunday morning.  I scour the pages of all the ads.  Meijer, Target, WalMart,  and Kroger (which usually lands in my mailbox on Tuesday's) I also make sure to hit up Aldi's.  I prefer heading to Goshen as the stores aren't as busy and they are pretty much all in a row as I make my way through each one.

Let me remind you that earlier in the year, I purchased 1/4 of a grass fed cow.  I also stock up on chicken, turkey, and such at DC Meats....so my morning plans are normally to pull something out of the freezer to thaw for dinner that night.

Yesterday's Agenda:

Stop #1:  Sam's Club
On my list.  Toilet paper.  Downy.  Large bag of raw almonds.
Purchased:  All of the above plus a large bag of prunes.  First time I had seen them at Sam's and they are my FAVORITE to go with my post workout protein shake.  Lot's of carbs and full of fiber:0)  YUMMY.  They also had this huge jug of EVOO, bought that as well. Also grabbed a large bag of frozen mixed berries.

Jim will be blogging about his almonds and you will know why we needed to buy those:0)

Stop# 2:  Target
On my list.  SoBe Water is on sale 10 for $10 and if you buy 10 you get a $5.00 gift card.  I don't drink SoBe Water, but Brooke and Brandon like it every once in awhile as a treat.  Normally we live on water and almond milk.  I figured for that price I would buy some in hopes to keep Brandon away from the mountain dew.

Stop# 3:  Aldi's
On my list:  Container of mixed nuts.  Veggies.
Purchased:  Container of mixed nuts.  Bag of red potatoes $2.29.  2 bags of tri-color peppers $1.99 each.  Bunch of bananas .44 cents a pound. Bag of oranges $2.99.  Bag of fuji apples $3.49. 
I love Aldi's I really do.  I had seen a similar but name brand container of mixed nuts at Sam's for $15.00 so very happy that this is only $10.00.    It's deluxe mixed nuts with NO peanuts. I usually take them home and add raisins or currants to the mixture.
Their vegetables are not organic.  I do make sure to wash everything that I purchase from there extra good.

Stop #4:  Starbucks.  Refueled for our big trip into Meijer's.

Stop#5:  Meijer
On my list:  Meijer had a big sale this week on item's that were 10 for $10.00 and if you buy 10 you get the 11th for free.
Some of the $1.00 items were:  larabars, quarts of strawberries, dole fruit cups, canned chicken, pasta sauce, salsa, spicy mustard, avocados, pints of tomatoes, blackberries, - on the items that were perishable I bought enough for the week....you can also stock up and freeze the berries.  At this price it's like stealing you're berries.  I LOVE berries post workout as well...and just for a snack every once in awhile.  The canned items, like pasta sauce, salsa, and chicken I stocked up.  When they are only $1.00 that's the time to buy.
Also, bought.  Almond milk. Marzetti's simply dressed ranch and thousand island dressing.  Some toiletries.

So, my food for the week is purchased.  Some things will last past the week.  The produce and perishables will be eaten and the refrigerator shelves will be empty by next Sunday.  Total time away from home was under 2 hours. 

My dairy items will be delivered on Wednesday:  I order those from Layman farms through Dr. Angela's office.  Milk, cheese, butter, and Alvin's dog food.

My eggs- I picked some up this week at DC meats for $3.25 a dozen.  I picked more up from Angela's office $2.50 a dozen.  And of course Robin gets them for me when she can $2.50 a dozen.  If I am desperate we will buy the cage free eggs at the grocery but I end up paying almost $4.00 a dozen.  We normally eat 5-7 dozen eggs a week....so I buy them often and when I find them. 

100 Random Facts about Carole Ann Turnbo

I am going to attempt to write 100 random thoughts and facts about myself.  Some of you may already know this about me and some of you may not.  Here goes:

1.  I love coffee.
2.  I'm afraid of drowning.
3.  I don't like to touch raw chicken.
4.  I talk to my dog like he is human.
5.  I cry at least once a day.
6.  I laugh more than I cry.
7.  Usually at my own expense.
8.  I hate doing dishes.
9.  I love doing laundry but I hate matching socks  and putting it away.
10.  I procrastinate....really bad.
11.  I'm not a good listener...if you want me to know something tell me at least twice.
12.  I hate wet sinks.  I'm not lying.  If I walk by a sink I have to dry it.
13.  I love chocolate.
14.  I love ice cream.
15.  I never ate potatoes until I was pregnant with Brooke. 
16.  I love potatoes....especially sweet ones!
17.  I am addicted to sugar (oh and probably coffee!)
18.  I barely ever drink water.
19.  If I do, it's usually someone else's.
20.  Christmas is my favorite holiday.
21.  I love babies.  I wish I could have more babies.
22.  I hate guns.  There is one in my house now.  I can't stop thinking that I hate it.
23.  I am so lazy that I will literally be at the point of peeing my pants before I get up and run to the bathroom.
24.  I love to bake.
25.  If I bake, I will eat the majority of whatever it is.  I don't know when to stop.
26.  I love to shop.
27.  I wouldn't think twice about paying $5.00 for grassfed butter but I would think twice about paying $5.00 for a new shirt.
28.  I don't like to peel oranges, I hate when it gets under your fingernails.
29.  I have a little bit of a jealousy problem.
30.  I am very good at praying but not so good at reading the bible (one of my 2013 goals)
31.  I never set goals until I met Jim.
32.  I love Jim. 
33.  I love spelling games.
34.  Although math is my favorite subject.
35.  I love my kids.
36.  I would do anything for my kids.
37.  I hate when people say "Guess What?"
38.  I would rather text than talk.
39.  I screen my phone calls.
40.  I'm shy.
41.  Sometimes, I think I'm fat.
42.  At times my confidence is low.
43.  I like drinking out of straws as opposed to cups.
44.  I speed.  Almost all the time.
45.  I am always late, and I don't know why cause I am speeding.
46.  I hate to drive in the snow...I take that back about speeding...I drive like a grandma in the snow.
47.  I can't wait to be a grandma. Back to that baby thing.
48.  I sleep with my phone by my bed.
49.  I sleep on my stomach.
50.  My favorite outfit is my birthday suit, if I lived alone that's what I'd be in most of the time;)
51.  I have about 50 sweatshirts.
52.  I love lulu lemon.
52.  I never read.
53.  I get mad at Jim when he reads and doesn't pay attention to me.
54.  I need a lot of attention.
55.  It's my fault my kids need a lot of attention.
56.  I spoiled my kids.  I held them ALL the time.
57.  I hate going to the bank.
58.  I hate when I am telling someone something and they say, "I know!"  If you knew, I wouldn't be telling you.
59.  I hate being lied to.
60.  Sometimes when I don't know a word, I'll just make one up.
61.  I don't fare well with electronic equipment.
62.  Apparently I have something called sleepy talk....that scares me as I don't recall most of these convo's.
63.  My nickname when I was a baby was Lovey.
64.  My nickname from Jim is Doll.
65.  My kids still call me mommy. 
66.  I get sad when my kids call me mom....which is ever so rarely.
67.  I super duper love the beach.
68.  I refuse to go sledding.
69.  I am petrified of haunted houses.
70.  Oh yeah and corn mazes.....eeeek!!
71.  I argue with my GPS.
72.  I'm usually wrong...
73.  I have 4 sisters and 4 brothers.
74.  One of my brothers died 3 years ago on 1-18.  I miss him.
75.  My dad has Alzheimer's.
76.  My parents live in Fort Wayne.....and most of my family....I miss them.
77.  My favorite color is purple.
78.  I love shoes.  Especially my o-lifting shoes.
79.  I qualified for the masters....and I am super excited.
80.  I love CSI, Law and Order, and Criminal Minds.
81.  When I was young I wanted to be a nurse.
82.  I used to smoke.  (I know GROSS!)
83.  I like toasted marshmallows but not smores.
84.  I like beer and margaritas.
85.  I love to be barefoot.
86.  My feet are usually always cold.
87.  I wish I could grow a better garden.
88.  I grow beautiful indoor plants....hm.
89.  I hate double unders.
90.  Oh, and running.
91.  I love clean and jerks.
92.  I like getting the mail.  It's like getting a surprise every day.
93.  I love breakfast in bed.
94.  I didn't start exercising until I was 38 years old.....
95.  I love spreadsheets and making lists.
96.  Jim puts my toothpaste on my toothbrush for me every night. 
97.  If I love you, I'm not afraid to tell you.  I think you should always let the ones you love know.  I will tell you, I will tell my husband, I will tell my friends, I will tell my kids, my animals, my plants, my whatever I love...I believe that love is everything.
98.  I like to believe I never look back and always look forward.  I like to think that I can't move forward if I were looking over my shoulder at the past....but I do think that my past is a true reflection of who I am today and what I will be know for tomorrow.
99.  I live by a "no regrets!" motto.
100.  I love bed head!!!  LOL

There you go, I did it.  Not gonna lie at about 26 I thought how am I ever going to finish this.  Enjoy.  C

I'm SO far behind....

Poor Jillian sent me this blog like 1 month ago....and I am SO far behind....I am going to post her words...and she told me she has some good news to share in her next blog.  So, now that I have finally posted this, she can send me another one:0) 

Jillian jumping over Shelly at the last Community Workout.  She can JUMP now!!!

What’s The Point Anyway?

So I am not yet at the place where I feel the magic happening during or even after a workout.  I have been asking myself what is going to keep me going?  I do see changes and progress but not as fast as I want to. Lots of days I just feel like I am not sure I will get there.  Intellectually I know I will, but I am just talking about what my random feelings are sometimes.  And aren’t many of our decision based on random feelings in the moment, made without much thought?  For some people, not so much perhaps.  For others, it is this way in some areas but not in others.  For me, it is a constant and growing awareness of each and every decision. A couple of years ago, I would start some new diet and sometime throughout the day, just after I finished the donut or whatever treat it was, I would suddenly remember that I was on a diet and not supposed to eat that!  Thankfully, I am way past those days.  Now, I look at whatever food might be tempting me in the moment and I carefully think through how this will affect me in the short and long term.  Will it take me towards my goals or away?

Incorporating an exercise plan into my life is really new.  I have in the past occasionally been somewhat successful with a diet.  The long-term benefits never lasted though.  But, I have never really been successful at exercise.  I have never been able to last long enough to reap any real benefits.  To be honest, I am feeling a little scared that I won’t make it now.  I know that I have made some substantial decisions and have slowly been making what I really believe to be lifelong changes.  But, just like when I look in the mirror and see what still needs to happen, when I am in the middle of a workout I can’t imagine ever enjoying it. And that scares me.  What’s the point then?  I know all about the health benefits, of course.  But, I want the joy.  I want that amazing feeling that I hear people talk about rather than lying in bed at night wondering how my mattress suddenly turned into CONCRETE!

Okay, don’t get scared; I’m not going to give up!  This blog is supposed to be an honest revelation of my journey.  And these random thoughts are just part of it right now.  I don’t even feel discouraged like I was feeling last week.  This week, it’s just more of a sigh type of feeling, with just a little bit of anxiousness underlying the sigh.  As I sit and reflect upon the week, there are two times when I really did feel some of that magic that will only come through being in better, stronger physical shape.  Let me share them with you.  The first was when I got a call from the midwife that I work with sometimes asking me to come to a birth.  A short while later she called and said, “Get here quick!”  Well, when a midwife says quick, I have learned that you move FAST!  My daughter was inside one of the school buildings at the college and I got out of the car and ran and got her and ran back to the car!  When I got into the car, I realized I wasn’t even very winded.    That would not have been the case a few months ago.  By the way, I did get to the birth on time and it was beautiful.  The other time was when I helped a friend move.  I was tired going into it, but I found a second wind and at one point when I was carrying something heavy to the truck I thought about how doable it was for me.  Carole and Jim always talk about the fact that you do CrossFit so that you can be more equipped for your life.  I thought about that as I hauled stuff and realized that this is why I am doing CrossFit; to be stronger and have more energy to meet the demands of my life! 

So, no matter what my random feelings may be on any given day, I am learning strategies to cope with them and focusing on the truth.  I was reminded by a friend today who is on her own journey towards health, and a fellow CrossFitter, that I need to remember that the truth is not what I may be feeling, but what I believe I can be!  That was just what I needed to hear today. 

The Tough Persevere......

I received Jillian's BLOG and immediately the word perseverance popped into my head.

     With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable. 

I loved this post and I will tell you why, because we have all been there. 

How many of us have walked head first into an obstacle...whether it be the choice of eating the brownie that is sitting in the break room, or the pressures of being a single mom running around like crazy, or financial pressure, or someone in your family is sick, or your on vacation, or your sick, or your tired, or your too busy, or your scared, you name it we all have obstacles.  It's how you get around the obstacle that makes the difference.

     Romans 5:3-4 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

 

I like how Jillian points out that she is going to focus on the positive things that are happening to keep her going.  How many times have you been down and out and focused on why you were down and out instead of picking three things that went well for you?  This is huge...if you're always looking at the negative and focusing on the negative...well then WELCOME TO NEGATIVE!!

     Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising up every time we fall.  

I also like how she points out that she is going to use the CrossFit Community and me to help her get through these trying times.  We all need accountability - we can't do this alone.

    Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish (John Quincy Adams) 

I know personally about accountability, if it weren't for the other 7 ladies doing the Lurong Challenge with me I may be crazy right now.  Well, I may be crazy anyways but really?!?!?!  Today, I was thinking a hot pocket sounded good.  What the heck is wrong with that?  Hot pockets aren't even real food....BUT I was able to let my friends in the Lurong challenge know and they poked and made fun of me...and I'm over it!!  

Anyone have any helpful hints for Jillian?  Let's send her some words of encouragement from the CrossFit Michiana Community!!

When the Going Gets Tough…….

Well, there’s just no way around it. How can one go through a major physical overhaul journey and not hit some rough patches?  Yep, I am here to tell you that you can’t, and I have hit my first big rough patch.  It’s hard.  I knew it would be hard, but what I am realizing is that it’s REALLY hard!  All of it is hard, not just the weight loss and exercise.  I mean, whatever you have on your plate is no less challenging than what I have on my plate, right?  That’s the point; that life is hard, and demanding, and somehow despite this, one has to figure out how to make good health happen.  Because good health doesn’t just happen does it? I can tell you what just happens:  poor food choices and napping on the couch after them! 

So this past week was a week where I let a few choices just happen.  I was tired, stretched thin, and honestly feeling a little discouraged.  There, I said it.  Sometimes when I look at how far I have to go, I feel like I will never get there!  But isn’t this where the magic is supposed to happen? Like when the superhero is faced with incredible odds and he just digs deep and saves the day?  If I had superhero powers (and believe me I wish I did) then I would just save the day, but that isn’t how life is, is it?  I know that this process is going to take a lot of hard work and perseverance.  I just need to dig deeper and push harder!

So, I have decided to take a minute and share with you some of the victories I have seen in the last week.  You already know that this has not been my best week, but here are some things that I am going to choose to focus on: 

1.)                          In the past, when I have made poor food choices it has discouraged me to the point of just giving up! I mean like give up and go on a food free-for-all for an indeterminate amount of time!  This time it has encouraged me to do another Whole30!  This is very significant growth for me and another major step in the right direction.

2.)                          Three weeks ago at my daily workout we were supposed to do jump ropes. I was HORRIBLE! I probably haven’t jumped rope in 30 years. I could only do 3-6 jumps without getting my feet caught and it took me forever to do the amount I was supposed to do.  Last week in the workout I had to do lots of jumping rope, and my longest stretch was 44! All together I did 460 jumps!  That is incredible and I am seeing gains in my physical abilities.

3.)                          I have never gone this far before in my attempts to change my physical health status.  It has always been a little forward and then a lot back. Now, I can see that I am continuing to move forward.  It hurts, it’s hard, and many days I don’t want to keep doing it, but I AM DOING IT!

I would be remiss not to mention the fact that the community of CrossFit Michiana is making all the difference! Carole seems to get in touch at just the moment I need it, and just when I think I can’t do any more in a workout there is a voice beside me yelling at me to keep pushing, I can do it!  I also have a wonderful community of friends and family that are cheering me on.  So, even on the days that I don’t know if I can really do this, I am going to dig deep and listen to those that are around me telling me that I can.  What about you?  Do you have that community around you to help you through the tough times?  By the way, that doesn’t just happen either.  I am so thankful to have found this community!  Now, I gotta go, I am on my way to a CrossFit class!

Me and My Shadow

Check out the rest of these on my Facebook page.

Me and My Shadow......

For the past 16 years I was the lucky mom that was fortunate enough to spend my time following 3 beautiful children around to all of their respective sporting events.

Brianna and Brooke have competed in dance and cheerleading since they were toddlers.  Brandon swam from the time he was 7 until he graduated from high school. 

My girls have competed in Las Vegas, NV, Branson, MO, Orlando, FL, Myrtle Beach, SC, Chicago, IL, and Indianapolis, IN....we have driven, flown, and carpooled across this country.  Brandon's events were mostly local but we spent many Saturday's in hot natotorium's waiting for his heat in a 2 minute swim.

I always made sure to pack the clothes, pack the cooler, feed them good food, calmed their nerves, curled their hair, did their make-up, sewed their costumes, bought their swimsuits, carried the bags, took the pictures, made the scrapbooks, cheered from the stands, screamed when they won and held them when they didn't...you name it - I did it.......so this past weekend we found ourselves in a little bit of a role reversal when I asked Brooke to accompany me to my CrossFit Competition for the Friendship Fall Master Competition.

Apparently everything I did for my daughter has taught her an invaluable lesson in life....and it's at that moment when you realize you have done something right...

She totally took control when I had none.  When I said I couldn't eat because I was too nervous...she made sure to talk to me gently and reassure me that I would be alright and somehow managed to get me to eat my breakfast.  When I thought for sure I was going to vomit from working out...she made sure to take pictures...something any mom would do.  When I fell asleep on the grass before my 3rd WOD she made sure to send a picture to Jim to let him know that I was OK.  She captured moments of all of my workouts, made sure she took a picture of my score card after every event.  Made my protein shakes post workout and brought me a banana.  Made sure I had the right shoes and my weight belt for each event.

But what I will never ever forget is her comforting arms when I found out I didn't get third place.  You see, this child can read her mama like a book.  I have a great way of turning it off for the rest of the world but this girl knew from the time it was announced until I lay in her arms crying that I really wasn't ok.  I laid on her lap in the back seat of the car while she stroked my hair and dried my tears.  Never having to say a word....just letting me know that she cared by her simple touch.

I am totally bragging here....but I want my kids to have the best of everything...and when I say everything...nothing of material is in my vision.  I want my kids to be happy and successful in whatever they choose to do with their lives...but I also want them to always know they are not the only people in the world.  I hold them at very high regard...and I love them with every ounce of my soul...but do unto other that has been done for you.  And all of my kids do and are.

I love you....my Shadow:0)