I am Wonder Woman

Well maybe not, but I feel like it. Around the end of December I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. I wanted to workout but never had the time with 3 little boys and felt like I would weigh 180+ lbs forever. I think at that point I had even started crawling back up to 185 again. I was on a favorite fitness site of mine and found a friend that is now my Team Beachbody coach. I signed up under her and joined her Facebook fitness group of women motivating each other instead of cutting each other down. I felt more like maybe I could do this but still made excuses for time. I mean seriously how many other women have 3 BOYS all 5 and under?! Then I saw Maria Kang. Her picture popped up looking amazing with her 3 boys all 3 and under posed around her fit body with a headline "What's YOUR excuse?" Uhhhh well Maria my excuse was that I had 3 kids close together and I don't have time but you've pretty much blown that out of the water now haven't you? Well crap. Now I have to think of another excuse. Surely she has a nanny or a personal trainer or she never ever eats anything fun? RIGHT? Nope. She is just dedicated to her body just as much as she's dedicated to her home business and her family. (Insert line of expletives here.) Ok, ok, ok. As I am pondering starting Turbo Fire and all the excuses I still had as to why I couldn't do it another blog I follow announces Garden of Life vitamins is having a free trial for their new weight loss supplements Fuco Thin Green and if you are chosen you will get so many months for free to test it. What now? My favorite vitamin company is giving away free all natural, organic, non GMO, weight loss supplements to 25 lucky people?? I HAVE to try for this. And I did. And guess what? I got it! That got my momentum going. Seeing Maria, watching Ashley bust it out through a pregnancy, and now getting this trial, I had to start right then. I got Turbo Fire and started January 21, 2013. About 3 weeks in I didn't feel like there was a lot of changes, my weight wasn't going down and I was feeling overall discouraged that my house was in disarray and time with my children was suffering but dangit I was going to do this. I felt like stopping and just sticking with my new found yoga practice I had started once a week, I cried that even though I wanted to feel better I obviously wanted to stop looking 3-4 mos pregnant too. I messaged Ashley completely discouraged, she gave me more pointers and refreshed my resolve and I kept going. At 4 weeks I took pictures and measurements and could see a slight change. YAY! At 6 weeks I had dropped a few inches and the lbs were starting to come off. WOO! By 8-10weeks I had dropped over 10lbs since I had started Turbo Fire, 20+lbs from my heaviest and my body was showing significant changes. I started adding more changes, Garden of Life's Raw Meal Meal Replacement shakes for lunch, amino acids, probiotics, and iForce Nutrition's Compete. Raw Meal is very similar to Shakeology but without the adaptogen blend, it's raw food, vegan, and gluten free. I think if you can afford Starbucks and fast food you can afford Shakeology but since I can't afford either of those I definitely can afford Garden of Life's Raw Meal. It tastes good and its so similar to Shakeo I am able to do the cleanses and make the yummy no bake cookies with it. Raw Meal made a huge difference in my energy levels and overall how I felt, but the balance of my life came back when I was introduced to Compete by iForce Nutrition. This stuff I call my Supermommy Juice. It has turned me into a full fledged Wonder Woman. I ran my first 5K with it, I worked out 3+ hours a day, played outside for 2 hours with my kids and had a perfectly clean house with it. It. is. AMAZING! No caffeine, just clean energy. If you haven't tried it. DO IT! Every mama, especially ones working to be fit and balance their me time with family time should have this. I went from no water a day, to choking down 50-70+ ozs a day to now putting down 90 oz a day with Compete and I am so productive. I wouldn't be where I am so far without these people and without these supplements. I also invested in some workout clothes and a Polar HRM. Knowing how many calories I am burning pushed me to beat myself every time. Fitness is an investment in yourself. If you can afford the soda, the fast food, the Starbucks and doughnuts you can afford this stuff to make your life healthier. Because of conquering my fitness fears I have been able to conquer other fears, my yoga practice has helped me in my life so much too. Me, who had a panic attack on a fair ride 6 years ago because I am so afraid of heights, jumped out of an airplane on Easter Sunday. I am putting my fears of being judged to the side and putting myself out there by posting less than pretty pics of myself on the internet, by meeting new people, by trying a yoga asana that I might totally bite it while attempting. I am putting on my Wonder Woman gear and running Warrior Dash for the first time in 2 weeks, and I have even decided to pursue a career as yoga instructor. I am working on being more mindful in my life, being grateful everyday and for the first time in a while I am excited to wake up in the mornings, not dreading the workday ahead but know now I can handle what comes my way. I am still the Farmer's market loving, cloth diapering (again finally), hippie mom, but now I get to be the yoga mama, the fit mama, the sexy wife and Wonder Woman all rolled in to one.
Everyday now I get up and ask myself "What's MY excuse today" after I answer I push past it and keep going.

Here are links to all the helpful people!!
Garden of Life: http://www.gardenoflife.com/
Maria Kang: http://www.mariakang.com/
Ashley Bailey the worlds best Team Beachbody Coach if you want to start changing your life: http://wwww.beachbodycoach.com/ASHBAILEY86
iForce Nutrition: http://www.iforcenutrition.com/
Sage Studio: www.mysagestudio.com

After my 1st 5K

Turbo Fire Before and After 90 Days

Garden of Life Raw Meal

Turbo Fire 8 week progress

Garden of Life FucoThin Green

iForce Nutrition Compete

My 1st full wheel in yoga

Turbo Fire 6 week progress

From Mom to Mom

On the heels of so much sleep training bashing recently I have to share a few things I have learned so far about being a mom for my new mamas out there.
#1. If you think sleep training is letting your baby idly cry (scream or being generally upset) while you put your feet up in the other room, you're doing it wrong. Sleep training is assuring that your baby is fed, loved, dry, burped and not sick or colicky/in pain and laying them down to learn it's safe and ok to fall asleep in their own bed instead of your arms/bed/their car seat etc. Sometimes they may cry because they are tired and do not want to sleep because everything else seems so much more interesting and thats ok. But plopping baby into its crib and walking away without routine, wind down time, assuring they are ok and feeling safe... not ok.

#2. Take time to read the baby books and learn general things like babies cannot have certain foods before a year, straight water before 6mos (This can be DEADLY for a baby), how to secure baby in car seats and the car seat to the car, when they can have certain meds, etc Find out what safe alt treatments are out there for them and by what age groups. These things can literally save your baby's life.

#3. Whether you're a Stay home mom, working mom, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, cloth diapering, disposable diapering, vaxing, not, cir'c ing, not, etc You're right. Do your research and make the choice right for your family. The only right answer here is what works for you, family and baby. What you feed your baby AFTER the first year of life is just as important as what you fed it for the first year, so please do not be high and mighty about breast milk or formula then give your kids constant fast food and junk.

#4. This too shall pass.
The times that you haven't slept for hours, you are crying along with the baby and you feel like your legs may never get shaved again... It will pass. When your toddler seems to only have 1 volume and it's screaming. The tantrums seem to be unending and you feel like the worst parent ever.. This too shall pass. But so will the good things. The small moments, the rocking before bed, the private feedings, the firsts, etc. Those will also pass, so savor and enjoy them.

#5. Love them all the time, unconditionally.
Love and enjoy them for who they are even f who they are doesn't match with what you imagined or thought it should be. Love them no matter what.

#6 Be good examples. Most of the time kids that are rude, disrespectful, snotty, and unappreciative have parents that act like that towards them. If you wouldn't talk to your spouse or a stranger like that, chances are you shouldn't talk to your child that way. Model the behavior you want to see in them.

#7 Let them be a kid. Let them play, build, get messy, run, play, scream, and rompus. Preserve their innocence. We need more adults that aren't cynical and dead inside. You can learn just as much from them as they learn from you if you allow them to just be and you are open to watch it.

#8. Babywear. Not because its beneficial and wonderful and all of those things, but because it's convenient and amazing. HAHA I would have lot my sanity with 3 small kids by now without babywearing. Slings and boppys are more useful than a crib in the first 3 months.

#9. Teach them to love to clean! Trust me on this one. Having kids that thinks cleaning is fun, is awesome. And makes your job 1000x easier.

#10. Don't sweat the small stuff and pick your battles. I'm not going to fight my kid for an hour over a jacket when he may not be cold or get mad that while I type this my 7 month old has decided to experiment with pouring water on my coffee table and splashing in it. Because water will dry and not stain and he's having fun.

#11. If you have boys, teach them to be gentlemen, teach them to clean, cook, and sew as much as you teach them to build and fix. If you have girls, give them cars and powertools, not just kitchens and babies. Teach them they can be an astronaut or a geologist just like they can be a mommy. Teach all of them to respect themselves and others. To treat their body with care. That their bodies are sacred and to be respected with good food, rest and not to be given away. 

There are more. So many many more. But this was on my mind. Enjoy your kids and savor all the silliness and sweetness you can. 

Looking back on this year of growth, with love.

    2012 has been a year of growth and change for me. Looking back on even the "bad" things or the challenges I have to do it with a smile. This year started with us outgrowing our old home and moving into a new home that has been a source of great joy this year. I can see us moving on to a permanent and larger home for 2013. I will look at this home with so many fond memories when that time comes. We had an amazing birth experience that brought me into my own as a mom and woman. We brought our newest and last bundle of chilled out, sweet, giggly joy home this year. I have pushed myself, my body, and my spirit to new limits this year that will only continue for 2013. J and I have grown stronger as a couple this year. I became a school mom and a sports mom this year. I have learned so much about who I want to be, who I am as myself, a wife, and a mother. I am finally changing my thinking and realizing how much love and happiness I deserve, that thinking can only bubble over to everyone around me. We have reconnected with old friends, made new friends and let go of "friends" that were not real friends. I turned 30 and while my party was not at all what I wanted it to be I know my 30s will be amazing. I lost my a friend and guide this year. While she was "only a cat" to some, she had been a confidant to me for more than half my life and she knew that this was the year to leave and let me grow more on my own. She will always be remembered and greatly missed. We welcomed a new friend and guide into our lives about a month after Ty passed. Luna has so much similar energy, she is so bright, sweet and fun. Looking back on how quickly the year pasted, there are so many things I can think of but can't put into words.
     My hopes and resolutions for 2013 are to write and journal more. To keep a journal of the boys' milestones and funny sayings to remember. To get to a healthy weight and feel confident in my body again. To improve on being loving, patient and kind. To practice more random acts of kindness and gratitude. To be more adventurous. To make time for myself, time for yoga, time for meditating. To start fulfilling a vision I have for where I want to be in our lives. I want to let go of the past, heal, forgive myself and others and move forward. I'm sure I will think of more memories and more resolutions as this week goes on. Right now I can't help but feel an excitable energy for what's to come and bless the past with a smile, knowing each year is new experiences and ways to change and evolve. Happy 2013 to everyone. I hope this year treats you with love and happiness and you can look back on the positives of 2012 with a smile as well.

What a Difference 2 Years Makes

Two years ago today I was upset and disappointed. I was scheduled for an induction, got up at 3 am, bags packed, showered and called the hospital to confirm. They told me to stay home. The delivery ward was full and they were turning women away to other hospitals. Looking back I guess it just wasn't meant to be for M to be born on November 2nd for whatever reason but we tried again the next morning. Nervous and scared that my In-Laws would not be able to be there since they had taken the previous day off and worried I would call and hear that I would be waiting another day to meet my little man, I still picked up the phone and called. They said come on in we are waiting for you. We went in and got hooked up, back labor would not subside and even with an epidural the pain was intense. My birth doula was there and was a complete God send. I had never had a doula prior to this and she kept me calm and focused through my 11 hours of labor. At the end my doctor popped in long enough to deliver him and 13 mins of pushing later we were blessed with a screaming and crying, very pissed off Baby M. The smallest of my babies at 6 lbs 14 oz he had (and still has) the loudest cry. He was so similar to N but so different at the same time. We quickly learned he had silent reflux and he was colicky, vastly different than my easy going Baby Bear (N) but they both enjoyed eating frequently. Every feeding I was glad I had chosen to formula feed, imagining how awful I would have felt trying to keep up with his every 45 min nursing sessions. Then N broke his leg and I was even more grateful for formula since that night was my first night away from my newborn son.   Looking back on the last 2 years I realize that there are so many things different about M because I am able to be here to watch him grow, teach him and experience things with him, a gift I did not have with N at that age. I became a mom with N and for the 3 years that he was my one and only, he taught me so many things, but M and N together taught me how to be a mother. When we moved into our old apartment and I became pregnant with M I started changing and evolving. Now I'm a mother of 3 of the most sweet, funny, sensitive, amazing sons and they each have taught me different things. M is a funny, sweet, empathetic, loving little boy. He has his own sense of humor and I've rarely seen a kid so smart. 2 years seems like forever ago but also not possible that its been that long. I look at who I was then and who I am now and its so different. I'm so much more confident as a woman and mother.
    


M,
You are such an incredible boy. Sometimes I just sit and stare at you. You look like a perfect little doll. I feel sorry for people that haven't made an effort to get to know who you are. You have such deep thought in those blue green eyes of yours and a spirit that I can only hope evolves but never fully changes. You have an amazement, wonder, and humor that is infectious. You love and trust deeply, please do not ever loose those qualities. Your favorite thing to do is run and hug my leg, you tell me all the time how much you love me and when I tuck you in at night you ask for hugs and kisses then stare into my eyes, pet my face and kiss my cheeks. I know these moments will not last forever and I cherish every one in case its the last time. Sometimes there is nothing more fun than annoying your older brother but you also pride yourself on being a big boy and being an excellent big brother to Baby J. I cannot wait to see what this year of your life brings and how your grow and change even more and how I change as a mommy. Thank you my little Pipsqueak, my dancing partner, my crazy monster for picking me as your mommy. I thank God every day for you.
Happy Birthday.
Love,
Your Mama

Day 3

We are 3 days into the 7 Night's of sex challenge. I've noticed that we are a lot more flirty and touchy feely today. Tonight I wasn't as stuck in ny head. At one point it seemed like a meditative state. It was just relaxing. I find it interesting all 3 night's have been very different.

7 Nights of Sex Day 1 and 2

For anyone that hasn't seen Lifetimes show 7 Nights of Sex the premise is that we all know that after years in a relationship, kids, bills, stress, work.. etc romance and sex tend to fall away. One of my favorite relationship quotes is "Love is friendship set on fire" and it's true, passiob, attraction, and sex sets friendships and roommates apart from lovers and couples. But it is so very easy to forget that. Most women want romance and thoughtfulness and men want that sexy temptress  in Tue bedroom, we were probably  those things for each other falling in love and then life happens. This challenge is to have couples commit to 7 nights straight of sex no matter what. Committing to the passion, the sensuality and the sexy side of the relationship. After 2 babies in 2 years and trying to connect with and love myself and my body again I thought we could use this kind of commitment to each other physically and mentally again.
Day 1 was sort of easy because we went a week without sex before and really let it build  up, then had an at home date and a few drinks.
Day 2... A little harder. I've been sick with a cold and exhausted  all day. Plus I have a monkey mind that goes and goes full of a thousand things and it's difficult to shut off and just feel. After a few mins of woosah, I shut the thoughts off and we kissed... Like really kissed. It was tender and sweet. I could get used to this. :)

How does she do it?

I don't see myself as a supermom but I get asked a lot how I balance everything. Some days I feel like I'm juggling and barely keeping the balls in the air. Other days its seems so easily and simple I don't think twice about it. I've already posted about my schedule and keeping organized this post is more about keeping your sanity.
Sometimes I see moms complaining and think to myself "We want to be martyrs because that's what we are used to hearing from other moms for generations" I think we make it hard on ourselves when it doesn't always need to be. Here's my tips:

#1: Make A Schedule.

One thing I do is give myself a "clock out" time. After this time of night I'm off so to speak. Ill cook dinner and tend to my kids if they get out of bed, are sick, or had a bad dream just like a mom that works outside of the house. However I don't do anymore housework. Once my boys are in bed for the night I give myself 30 more mins to finish up the end of the day stuff like vacuuming and cleaning up the kitchen and then I'm off. The rest of my night is to have time to watch TV or movies, read a book or one on one time with my husband. Granted I still don't go to bed before midnight usually but that's because I'm a night owl. I also use this time at night to work out if I didn't have time that morning.

#2: Teach your kids to entertain themselves

Kids having the ability to play alone is just as important as you playing together and them playing with other children. They need to feel secure enough to be self sufficient in some areas. This also helps when you need a mental break during the day or you need to tend to housework, work out, or make dinner.

#3: Empower your kids to make their own choices and teach them through daily life and play.

If you're trying to cook and your kiddo is clinging to your apron then sit them up on the counter at a safe distance and teach them how to cook. Cooking is also a great math activity as well. If you're cleaning then give them a towel, have them help load or unload the dishes (Toddlers can handle the plastic unbreakable stuff) If they're too young for that invest in a wrap. They are life savers!

#4: Pick your battles

Ask yourself how much this will this matter in the long run then let it go if you can. Clothes don't always have to match and sometimes breakfast for dinner and mashed potatoes and green beans for breakfast is ok.                                                                                               

#5: Take a time out when you need it

Time outs aren't just for kids. If you feel like your head is going to explode, they can play alone for 5 mins while you take a few deep breaths

#6: 15 mins is your best friend
Grab your to do list and work on it for 15 mins then stop to play. By the end of the day everything is done and youre not overwhelmed.

Most of all take one day at a time and enjoy your babies because the won't be little long. I do a good job balancing everything usually and sometimes I don't. I'm lucky to have a supportive husband and family to help on the days I have cracked. So be gentle with yourself and do the best you can.