Wellness Wednesday: Mommy's Balancing Act

Happy Wellness Wednesday!!!! Long time no post! Okay maybe not that long, but I was just getting into the swing of things of posting at least once a week, and this thing called LIFE got in the way. So here's my little rant.

So I missed last week because I've just been struggling to balance the many hats I wear throughout the day. My husband got a promotion, and now is working 80 hours a week. That leaves me Monday-Friday caring for two preschool-aged children, and maintaining our home. On top of that, I'm still working part-time as Senior Trainer and aiming to get into the best shape of my life. Woo-sah I just got tired reading all of that!

Yes I realize I am not the only wife/mother that has a lot on her plate, but let's face it….it's not exactly a "walk in the park." I can either complain about the lemons I have or make lemonade, and I'll gladly choose the later. My life isn't perfect and I'm okay with that. Somedays are better than others, but at the end of it all I'm just trying to balance everything out. Although often times I'm stressed and sometimes just want to literally pull out my hair, I'm grateful. I'm grateful for my hardworking husband, and his willingness to put his family before anything else. I'm grateful to own our home. I'm grateful to still be able to work within my field with one day being able to manage a gym again. I'm grateful for my health, and I'm grateful for my two children.

I think as mothers and wives we get so caught up in the day-to-day struggles, that we forget how grateful we truly are. Instead of complaining about this or that, and comparing your life to someone else focus on the good and keep it moving. Easier said than done, yeah I get it…..but seriously give it try.

(Family Photo Spring 2013…the kids are bigger and we are smaller lol)

Being physically active (and lots of prayers) is the way I balance it all. I need that adrenaline rush when I'm a few feet away from crossing that finish line. The endorphin release after a tough workout or run. Even the extra deep breath after a relaxing Yoga class. As cliche' as it sounds exercise keeps me sane. When I decided to stop working full-time, I was so gun-ho about exercising regularly because all I wanted was my pre-baby body. Now I could careless. I need exercise to de-stress. Taking care of me is equally as important for me to be around, and take care of everyone else.

If you are a single-mom, stay-at-home (SAHM) mom, new mom, working mom, etc, feel free to share how you balance everything out.

Best of Health,

LaToya

#Wellness Wednesday: Today's Workout!

If I do plan out my post ahead of time, I never know what to write about for my weekly Wellness Wednesday. I've thought of a million and one different topics, so I'm just doing to share today's workout. My day started around 5ish, and I completed P90X3's Accelerator. Another great, challenging 30 minute workout. This was my first time completing this video, and I truly enjoyed it. I loved the back and forth mix-up of upright movements followed by plank variations. Workout #2 was a 2 mile run. I started with a 3 minute warm-up and ran 24 minutes straight. I rarely run with music, but today I threw on my BGR! mixtape. My goal was speed today, so I needed something for an extra push. Pace was 13:34, yes that's fast for me. After my run, i wanted to conitue listening to the mixtape so I lifted for 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes of abs & stretching.

Wellness Wednesday: 80/20 Rule?

Welp its hump day, and time for my weekly Wellness Wednesday. I've beeen brainstorming since yesterday about what I was going to write about, and really still do not know. Let me apologize in advance if this post makes absolutely no sense. I'm just going to vent a little, and share what's on my mind. Inspired by a friend's facebook post, along with the recent Dr. Oz debale really has this mind of mine ticking. As we all know there is a ton of information out there regarding weight loss. Most of which is myths, and people just simply putting it out there because of monetary gains. Sad, right? As a health/fitness professional is upsetting,and often times makes my job diffiult because everyone wants that "quick fix." These potions, pills, and creams make claims that are nine out of ten times just down right WRONG! No one wants to work hard anymore, yet everyone wants results yesterday. In the latest "claim to fitness shame" scam reknown Dr. Oz has admitted publicly that many of the products he advertisies do not have any proven scitentific backing. Translation this man has been marketing products that he knew would not help people, all for money. I don't want to spend a whole lot of time discussing him, but goole it and do your own research. This is one of many example of why I follow and educate my clients on the 80/20 rule. What do I mean? 80% of the time focus on the good, 20% of the time focus on the not so good. For me that mean, most days of the week I workout, eat healthy, get a good night's rest and on occassions I'll indulge in some not so healthy behaviors. I think those who say I'm giving up this or cutting that are only setting themselves up for failure. Why limit or restrict ourselves? If I want a hamburger, I'm going to have a hamburger. That doesn't mean I'm driving thru every fast food franchise seven days a week. If I'm having a bad day and don't feel like working out, I don't work out. One bad meal or skipped workout will not ultimately make or break my progress; however, four or five will do. The 80/20 rule is all about moderation and living life to the fullest. If you've visited my page before, you know I'm a wife, mother, and personal trainer. I'm also 20 pounds overweight, but I don't make any excuses. The weight that I haven't loss yet isn't a result of two pregnancies in eighteen months, but it is a result of overeating and lack of physical activity. With the 80/20 rule, I'm probably more healthier now than I was five years ago wearing a size 0. Yes, I was active but I ate like crap. Instead of spending my time and money purchasing these products that claim you'll drop 25 pounds in 25 days, I spend my time and money purchasing real food. I'm making progress, not striving for perfection. What are your thoughts on the 80/20 rule?

#Wellness Wednesday: Calistenics & Counting

If you have visited my blog before you know that amongst other things I am a mother. I have a four year old and a two year old daughter. Finding the time to exercise when you have two preschoolers can sometimes be difficult. Add in a husband, a home, and a part-time gig as a Personal Trainer, and yeah you get the point. So for the past two weeks or so I've been doing a calistentics & counting with my children, and to sum things up in one word its has been great! I get to kill two birds with one stone. My kids are praticing their counting and I get a little more activity. Somewhere between dinner and bed/bathtime we get started, and the kids love it. Even if I'm not in the mode one if not both of them are asking to do their "exercise." So here's out it works. I call out an exercise (squats, crunches, push-ups, lunges, jumping jacks, etc) the kids inmitate the movement, and they count the reps. So much fun! My favorite part is seeing how they have improved with thier counting since both enrolled in a local preschool last December. My two year old can count from 0-20, and my four year old can count to 100. We'll do anywhere from five to six exercises in increments of 10-20 reps. It's a great way to do what I love with the people I love! So for all those busy moms who say they never have time for exercise, I hope this helps. Happy Wellness Wednesday! Best of Health, LaToya

My Aha Moment!

As a newly proud Sweat Pink Ambassador (SPA) today I'm sharing my aha moment! Coincidently it's also #testimonytuesday in the social medial world, so the timing couldn't be anymore perfect.

All of my life I've always been petite. On a good day (that usually means with heels) I'm 5'1, and have always held a small frame. I maintained a decent level of physical fitness through at-home workouts, biking, and keeping active with family and friends. Not really having a care in the world about my weight because I was a size 0-2, I pretty much ate what I wanted when I wanted it. Fast forwarding to college, I survived without gaining the freshman 15. Once again I was fairly active; as a Exercise Science I lived in the gym so working out was never an issue. Yet, still I ate as I pleased.

(September 2004 120's)

When my now husband then boyfriend and I started dating in October 2004, the pounds slowly packed on because we did a lot of "wining & dining". I think during our first year together I put on 10-15 lbs, and had moved up to a size 3/4. Still petite by most people's standards, it was also the first time I became conscious of my weight/ size. I made a commitment to drop the weight before my senior graduation, and I did. My girlfriends still tease me about us roaming the aisles of Old Navy in search of the perfect after party outfit, and here I was getting a size 0 pants.

Fast forward to April 2010 when I became a mother & wife. I gained 40 pounds during my first pregnancy. I was a newlywed, mother, and manager of a corporate fitness center. I don't recall my exact weight, but it was somewhere in the low 170's. As a fitness manager, I also taught 3-5 group fitness classes a week, and was a personal trainer so I expected my pregnancy weight to just drop it self. Little did I know, that it would take some work, and I probably would need to change my eating habits.

About eighteen months later (December 2011) we welcomed baby number two into the family. My husband and I had some tough choices to make, and that meant me becoming a stay-at-home mom to two children underage two. During my second pregnancy I gained around 25-30 pounds, and I hate to sound like a broke record, but I still ate whatever I wanted when I wanted. In my mind, I was still that little petite -size 0 wearing, gym going gal I was back in college, and there was no point in me taking nutrition seriously. The pregnancy weight was going to drop itself. Especially since I was nursing, I'd be back to "old" self in a few months!!

(January 2012 about 4 weeks post baby #2)

I remember my six week postpartum check-up and the medical assistant congratulating me on my weight loss. When she called out my number I nearly pooped my pants. I still don't remember the exact number, but it was 180-something. That there was my aha moment! That's is all I remember the entire time I spent waiting to be seen my by doctor. In less than two years, I had put on about 60-65 pounds. 

Here's another aha moment pic of me in my 180's after having my second child in eighteen months. Can't begin to explain the varying emotions I experienced going from a single, petite, size 0 wearing, gym going, personal trainer turned fitness instructor turned gym manger to a married, obese, size 14 wearing, couch sitting, stay-at-home mom! To sum it up: DEPRESSED!

I'm not where I want to be or where I used to be, but I'm continuously striving for progress not perfection! 

Today I'm a happily married wife and mother of two (ages 4 & 2). I returned to the fitness industry and work part-time as a personal trainer. I've developed a newfound love for running & blogging, and of course am very honored to be part of the Sweat Pink Fit Approach community. 

Now off to swap out some laces!!!