2018: The Year of Consistency

The start of a new year is always a good time for change. It’s a time to set goals and make plans on how to achieve them. Don’t let the haters bring you down before you even get started. We all have to start somewhere and for a lot of us, January 1 just feels like an ideal time for a fresh new start.

I feel that in 2017 I was not just treading water, but actually taking some steps in reverse. Life has it’s ups and downs but if we don’t get a hold of ourselves, we can continue on a downward spiral that is even harder to get out of. I know I’ve been inconsistent with just about everything in my life lately and it’s time to make a conscious effort to be consistent with my actions. From what I eat, drink, how I work, use of my time, etc. It’s time to stick to the plan. So, I’m here today to share my goals and plans and hopes for this new year.

Fitness + Health Goals

Consistent Meal Planning/Prep – Working from home, I always felt that meal prep was something I didn’t need to do. I could always take a break from my work and make my meals. But the truth is, I don’t always feel like taking the time to cook just for myself so I end up winging it and it’s not always balanced or the healthiest options. I have been pretty good about meal planning for dinners, so I want to keep that up and add meal plans for breakfast and lunch too. I also plan to use Sundays as a day to prep some meals or have semi-prepared options that I can easily and quickly turn into a complete meal. For example, making a batch of paleo egg muffins, having boiled eggs on hand, and making enough dinner for lunch leftovers the next day.
Run 3 days/week + Gym 2 days/week – Getting consistent and back to a routine with my workouts is a must. Although I always have a monthly plan on my calendar for my workouts, I do not always follow through. I am determined to make this a priority in my life again!
Weight Loss – Without having consistent workouts and meals planned, I have let the weight creep back up. This is the year to get back on track and not let all the hard work I’ve done go to waste.
Post Monthly Goals – When I first started my weight loss journey, I shared a lot. Maybe even over shared! But, it helped me stay consistent and accountable to myself. Somewhere along the line I started thinking that maybe I was sharing too much, that people didn’t want to see/read about what I was doing and I stopped sharing and eventually that led me to taking it easy. I started relaxing too much and without that accountability on social media and my blog, I started to overindulge too much and workout less and less. That stops now! Hope you’re ready for a maybe a little over sharing but just know, I’m doing it for myself! Not to brag or make anyone feel bad, but rather to put myself on blast in the hopes that it will keep me accountable and maybe give someone else ideas on how to do it for themselves too 😉
Blog a min. of 2 times a week – You’ll be seeing a lot more of me this year! I really enjoy blogging so I want to make sure I’m on here a few times a week sharing my thoughts, ideas, frustrations, travels, race recaps, family life, and everything/anything else of this messy life!

I’m also working on my race schedule for 2018, so be sure to check those out HERE! If you have any suggestions for races I should put on my radar, please let me know in the comments. Or, if you’ll be running one of the races I’m doing this year, let me know so we can meet up! I’m debating if I want to run a marathon for 2018. What do you think?

These are the main goals and objectives to get back on track and feeling better about myself. I don’t want to feel sluggish and tired all the time like I used to, so it’s time for consistency! Do you have a word for 2018?

4 Tips for Getting Kids Active

All kids are different and have their own unique personalities with very specific likes and dislikes. Some will gravitate towards athletics or have a natural ability for a sport, others prefer to read a good book, or can have a natural ability for math or science. Whatever your child’s natural ability or focus is, as parents, of course we want to encourage our kids to follow their dreams.

As parents, we also want the best for our kids and we want them to be healthy. We all know that too much time in front of a screen creates a sedentary lifestyle and we don’t want that for them or for us! So what can we do to encourage our kids to be more active, without making them hate us for it?

When I started running half marathons and obstacle course races, my kids became curious. Why was I coming home drenched in sweat while they were barely waking up? Why did we suddenly have a big tractor tire in our backyard? What was a PR? Why did I need something called GU (gross!)? So, I showed them. They come to most of my races and are my biggest cheer group! They come to boot camps and sometimes they join in on some of it. I got them involved in my new found passion for running and my excitement became contagious. Soon, they were joining me on short runs around the block. They were setting goals for themselves to beat, their own Personal Records. We made up little boot camp style workouts for them in the backyard and eventually we signed them up for some of their own races and then they had to “train”! Then came race day and they were stocked to receive their own medals and see all their hard work pay off.

Tips for Getting Kids Active

Lead by example. Show excitement about going for a run or working out. If you complain about having to workout, there’s no way they’re going to want to join you. As the saying goes, you don’t have to workout, you get to workout! Keep a positive mindset for your own activities because those little ones are always watching us 🙂
Get them involved. Ask them to join you for a run, if running is your thing. Get yoga DVDs that are kid-friendly and do them together. Go to the park and play basketball together. Plan hikes as a family. Whatever gets them excited about being active!
Reward them. Set goals together and when they reach them, give them a reward. It doesn’t have to be anything outrageous, just something that will keep them motivated to keep going.
No pressure! Don’t make it a chore for them. It should never be about punishment, but rather something they look forward to regularly. Keep it fun, change it up a bit, and go with the flow.

It’s not always easy for us. One kiddo likes it better than the other. They still fight and tease each other sometimes during our family runs. They can be competitive, even with the almost 4 year age gap. But, as parents we just keep encouraging them. I keep inviting them on runs with me and sometimes they don’t want to and I don’t make them. Other times they ask to join me on their own. It’s not perfection but they are more active than they used to be and now they are really understanding the importance of taking care of their bodies.

Do you have any tips on how you got your kids excited about exercise? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear them 🙂

2016 Goals: Reclaim

While we still have a few days left in January, I thought I’d finally share my goals and plans for this new year. On January 1st a good friend of mine held a Vision Board Party. We talked about what worked and what didn’t for 2015. We discussed our goals and dreams for 2016 and then put together our vision boards to go along with these goals. Mine is hanging in my office, so I can see it everyday and not lose focus of what I intend on working on for this year.

As I mentioned in my Year in Review post, 2015 was full of ups and downs and we went through a lot. A lot of my plans and goals for last year ended up being put on hold and on the back burner. Well, here we are in 2016 and I am ready to RECLAIM those goals and take on some new ones. I intend on taking on 2016 with lots more determination and hard work than ever before.

A big running goal to start the year has been to run the LA Marathon. Training for this race has really been kicking my butt and it’s taken up a lot of my time. It has definitely been a challenge. I actually have my last long run of 21 miles on Monday and then I taper for the race, which is on Feb. 14. I’m super nervous and excited about meeting this goal! 26.2 miles here I come.

I’ve got lots of business goals and plans that I am working on and have started to put in place. I’ll be working on rebranding my photography business, which means new marketing materials, updated portfolio, etc. Fun Times for sure to reclaim my business and get back on track! I need to make money to pay for all my races 😉

A personal goal I have for myself is to focus more on my style. I work from home, I workout, and that’s most of my week. I never have anything to wear when it’s time to go out for a nice dinner or anywhere else that’s not they gym, really! Shopping is a chore for me. I really do not enjoy it at all. So, my goal for 2016 is to figure out a way to enjoy shopping for clothes and shoes that are not fitness related. I have no problem spending $100+ on running shoes. $12 for a pair of Injingi socks, no problem! My favorite running bra is about $60. Now ask me to spend more than $30 on a top and I hesitate! This is gonna be a tough one, but i think it’s important for me to find some balance in this aspect of my life and to reclaim my fashion sense!

Lastly, now that both of my kiddos are in full-day school (YAY!!!!) I have a lot more time to focus. This has been a blessing and a challenge. Time management has never been my strongest attribute, so I fully intend on working on that this year. Since I mostly work from home, I’m putting together a schedule for myself so I can have ample time to reclaim all the pieces that make up my days: motherhood, housekeeping, workflow, and fitness.

How about you? What are your goals for 2016? Is there anything you’re looking forward to?

Happy National Running Day 2015 | 10 Ways Running Changed My Life

In the past 3 years, I’ve learned to love such foods as cauliflower “rice”, brussels sprouts, beets, and almond milk. I eat greek yogurt like it’s going out of style! I’ve learned how to do burpees, Bulgarian split squats, and deadlifts. I am the proud owner of a pull-up bar, foam roller, and yoga mat.

I’ve also found a love of running that I never thought possible. Running is a great cardiovascular exercise and great calorie burner. But for me running has become more than that. Running pushes me to try harder and reach new goals. Running keeps me motivated and signing up for races is a sure way for me to keep at it! Running has an amazing community of people. Running can help me clear my mind on crazy days and will just about always put me in a good mood. So, today in honor of National Running Day, I thought I’d share a few fun ways running has changed my life:

1. I spend more money on running shoes than heels.

2. I’m always hungry.

3. I wake up earlier on the weekends to go on long runs than I do during the week.

4. I plan vacations around races.

5. I’m kinda obsessed with compression socks.

6. I don’t take selfies, I take feetsies.

7. I have more running shorts than jeans.

8. I don’t just drink, I hydrate 😉

9. Food is now called fuel.

10. The only watch I own is a Garmin.

BONUS: I get some pretty rad tan lines!

How about you? Do you love running? Running isn’t for everyone and as with all things, it’s best to do what you love , but don’t be afraid of running. Don’t give up on running because you’ve told yourself you’ve never been good at it or because you can’t run fast, or because you tried it once and it was hard. Yes, running is hard, we aren’t all fast, and we are definitely not all good at it all the time. But, the key is consistency and just giving it a try. Get out there today and celebrate running. Celebrate the fact that you can run. Run for those who can’t today. You may end up loving it.

Spartan Race | #WhyIRace

Spartan Race started a new campaign recently asking folks to share their story. Everyone has a story as to why they race. Below is my reason. I race for many reasons. I race to keep myself motivated in my fitness journey. I race to be a good role model for my kiddos. I race to push myself beyond my comfort zone. I race for those who can’t. I race to prove that I can. I race because it’s fun. But, mostly to be stronger than I was before.

I’ve never been athletic. Running was not something I did for fun. Running wasn’t something I did. Period. Finding this new passion in running and obstacle course racing has been an amazing addition to my life! It’s woken up a spark in me to be stronger, healthier, and better than I was before.

What’s your story? Why do you race? Share your story HERE!

Taking a Break | Visiting Valley of Fire State Park

On Black Friday, rather than deal with crowds of eager shoppers looking for great deals, we took a little road trip to visit the Valley of Fire State Park. It’s about an hour’s drive north from Las Vegas and well worth the drive to get away for a bit. To our surprise, the park entrance had a super long line and we ended up waiting about 20 minutes to get to the gate. I guess we weren’t the only ones not interested in shopping!

I know I say this all the time, but I really do just love getting outdoors with my family and enjoying our time together unplugged from the world, even if it’s just for an afternoon. We sometimes (read lots of times) are so overwhelmed with being busy, that we forget to slow down. We know we should, but we end up getting wrapped up in our day to day routine. We get lost in the chaos of life. This is why it’s so important to be intentional with our lives and our relationships with others, especially our family. It’s important to carve out time to be together to visualize how you want to spend your time with each other and make it happen. For us, we find that being outside exploring nature, brings us together. There’s less bickering and whining out there. There’s time to breathe and laugh and just be.

What kinds of things do you do when spending some time with the ones you love? I’d love to hear about it and get some ideas for my crazy bunch too! xo

Friday Five | Things I’m Loving Right Now

I’m really looking forward to this weekend! Tonight I have book club with my girls and it’s our 2 year anniversary! I can’t believe we’ve lasted this long but I’m so glad for it because it is something I look forward to each month. It’s just a fun time to indulge a little in yummy food, wine, and especially good company! You can read more about why I love book club and how to start one of your own book clubs HERE! So, number one on my list of 5 things I am really loving right now is gonna be my book club!

Two more thing I’m really loving right now are my new facial cleanser and moisturizer. I’ve always just bought facial cleansers and moisturizers at CVS or Target. Nothing fancy. However, as I’m getting older I thought it would be a good idea to invest a little more in my face, being it’s the first thing people see, right? I went to Sephora a few weeks ago and although I felt quite overwhelmed, I ended up purchasing the Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser. I normally would buy cleansers with some sort of exfoliation because I felt they got a better clean, but like I said, I’m getting older and I thought something a little more gentle on my skin would be best. I really love that it’s a one-step cleanser. It is great at removing makeup and it’s gentle enough to use everyday after my workouts. The best thing is that my skin doesn’t feel dry or tight after using it, like other cleansers I’ve tried. I stuck to Philosophy and also purchased their Hope in a Jar moisturizer. So far, I’m really liking it too! It’s light and airy and hasn’t made me break out! YAY 🙂 I purchased the original, but I’ll be sure to get the one with SPF next time.

Another thing I can’t get enough of lately is Vita Coco Cafe. This stuff is so refreshing. It’s made with coconut water so it’s packed with electrolytes. Add a shot of espresso and a splash of milk and it makes for a great pick-me-up! I like to have one before/after a long run or well, just because they are delicious! If you haven’t tried it, you must!

Lastly, I’m really diggin’ my Garmin Forerunner 15 with hear rate monitor! It was an anniversary gift from my mom & sister in August and it totally rocks. It gives me all the stats I need for my runs and workouts (when used in Indoor mode) and also serves as a step counter during the day. I promise to give a full review soon!

So, there ya have it! What kinds of things are you loving right now? Sharing is caring 🙂

How to Encourage Kids to Eat Healthy & Be Active

OOPS, so I haven’t blogged all week. I feel bad about it. I really enjoy blogging and it helps keep me sane. But sometimes, life gets crazy and there aren’t enough hours in the day to do what needs to be done and work, laundry, dishes, all these things tend to pile up on you…BUT, that’s for another blog post because I finally did carve out some time this morning to share a bit of my family life with you.
Most of you know, I’m a mom of two kiddos! I blog about them a ton, especially when it comes to doing fun stuff together and going on family vacations and adventures! Today, though I want to talk about how important it is to lead by example and how to encourage kids to eat healthy and be active. When I started this weight loss journey and began exercising regularly I did it for me. I mean, yeah, I wanted to be able to run around with my kiddos and not be out of breathe, I wanted to be a good example to them about eating healthy and keeping active. But guess what? These things don’t happen by osmosis. Kids don’t just become interested in eating kale chips because you are. They won’t trade video games for jumping jacks because you tell them they should be more active. Nope. You have to engage children. You need to get out there and do these things with them. They not only need to see you go for a run, they need you to invite them to join you. It took me a little bit to realize that while I was enjoying the benefits of a healthier, more active lifestyle, my kiddos weren’t as involved as I wanted them to be. So, I made a conscious decision to change that! And for the past year or so, we’ve been making changes for the kiddos too!

Here are a few things we do & you can use to help you and your family eat healthier and be more active:

Making easy Lexi's Clean Kitchen no-bake nut-free Powerbites! Check out the recipe :) Kids love these! — Making easy Lexi’s Clean Kitchen no-bake nut-free Powerbites! Check out the recipe 🙂 Kids love these!

Cook together! Having my kiddos help me cook dinner or a healthy snack helps a ton when trying new things. It doesn’t mean they’ll love it, but they will at least try it because they helped make it. And, even if they don’t like a certain dish or vegetable, it’s still a great way to spend time together and talk about the benefits of healthy foods verses junk food.
Make Exercise Fun! Kids are kids. You can’t pop in a workout DVD and expect them to love the burn! You gotta make it fun for them and for us, that means taking it outside. Whether we’re going on a family hike, a bike ride with daddy, or a 1 mile run I like to let them know we’re not just having fun but also exercising. We’ll do fun little “boot camps” or challenges at the park. Jason & Diego will play football or basketball. The important thing is to stay active!

Be Sneaky! Yup, I am not above tricking my kiddos into eating healthy. I mostly do this by adding spinach & chia seeds to all our smoothies and making fresh juices with both fruits & veggies! Smoothies are usually a few spoonfuls of greek yogurt, a banana, milk, berries, a bunch of spinach, and a tablespoon of chia seeds. One of Elysse’s favorite juices is made with 5 carrots – 1 cucumber – 4 celery – 2 big handful of grapes! It’s fun to experiment and try new combinations and of course, have the kids help 😉
Share your Passions! I love to sign up for races and my favorite are obstacle races and lots of times my hubby runs along with me. It’s fun to take the kids to watch us run and cheer us on. By race day, they are super excited because they saw how much we trained for that day. They see us put in the work and then see the results of our hard work. Nothing like your kid see you succeed and be proud of you!
Get them Involved! Not only do we sometimes take the kids along to see us race, we also sign them up for their own races! Of course, there is nothing competitive in these races, it’s just a ton of fun for them and that’s what we want. There are lots of races that have fun 1 mile family runs or are kid/stroller/walker friendly. We want our kids to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle now and as adults!

How do you encourage your kids to eat healthy & be active? Feel free to share your tips too!