Monday, August 31, 2009

HFCS and other ramblings.

I have been amazed at how many things have HFCS!! I was looking for bread for sandwiches in the grocery store and it was unbelievable! I make my own bread a lot and I know what ingredients are necessary. It's crazy how many other things are in store-bought bread. I'm going to get back on top of things and make more of our own. The extra bonus to that is the yummy smell that fills the house. mmmmmm!

Other things I've been working on:

I've been checking out the different stores in town, looking for ones that offer local produce as well as grass-fed, all-natural meats. I fell in love with Sprouts Farmers Market today...it's not often you find a real honest-to-goodness butcher around here. We tried some of their sweet Italian sausage for dinner and it was a HUGE hit. (And my husband is very picky where Italian sausage is concerned!) We're definitely going to be heading back there.

I've also been working on how we reduce/reuse/recycle. I am switching from a 95 gallon trash can to 65 gallon one. I've ordered a 95 gallon recycle can. (Available free of charge from the carrier.) I'm determined to both recycle more and take in less. Over the weekend I called and asked to be removed from all of the catalogs we've been getting. I plan to do this on a weekly basis, just to stay on top of it. This will serve two purposes. The environment will be better off and I'll want/spend less by not seeing what all there is to buy.

I feel like I'm making a lot of good changes right now and hope to stay on track!!

Monday, August 24, 2009

How hard would it be...

To cut these three things from our diets?

Foods with "high fructose corn syrup"...aka "HFCS.".....they say this is in a lot more than you realize. The main one that jumps out at me is my precious Mountain Dew. There's no question about that one. As for others, I'm going to start reading labels and seeing what I find.

Trans Fats...aka "partially hydrogenated oils," or "hydrogenated oils." Among other things, these tend to be pretty much anything fried you would get while out to eat. I'm not sure what we have here at home that would have this. I'll have to start checking.

Dyes with numbers behind them. Again, I'm not sure about this one, I will have to do some research.

Why am I concerned about these three ingredients? Check out this blog if you have a chance:

http://simplemom.net/watch-out-for-these-health-busters/

I'll let you know what I find. :)

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Yesterday's workout

I feel like I'm doing a good job of moving more and being a more active parent this week. Yesterday I got quite a workout from playing at playgrounds yesterday. I did the swing and seesaw circuit. My arms are still sore from pushing the kids on the swing for half an hour. lol...I know it sounds pitiful, but you try pushing two kids on swings for that long, all the while hearing, "higher, higher! I want to touch the sky!" You push one with the right hand, take two steps to the left, push the other with your left hand, take two steps to the right, push the other with the right.....and on and on...for approximately....forever. Then take a kid who weighs about 10 times less than you, put them on one side of a seesaw and you take the other. Now remember, she gets scared if she bounces too much, so you have to go slow and easy. Now squat, up, squat, up....for another eternity. lol...I was amazed I was able to walk after that! We had a great time though and I fit in some more exercise! Yay!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Will I slide?

One of the kids had a tantrum this morning. It made me want to go straight to the kitchen and eat. So far I haven't. It will be hard to get it out of my mind....seems easier to concentrate on food. Easy isn't always for the best though...

I'm On My Way lyrics

My husband will make fun of me for this, but I just love this song from Brother Bear. It's by Phil Collins. :)

lyrics to:
I'm On My Way


Tell everybody I'm on my way
New friends and new places to see
With blue skies ahead yes
I'm on my way
And there's nowhere else
that I'd rather be

Tell everybody I'm on my way
And I'm loving every step I take
With the sun beating down yes
I'm on my way
And I can't keep this smile off my face

'Cause there's nothing like seeing
each other again
No matter what the distance between
And the stories that we tell
will make you smile
Oh it really lifts my heart

So tell 'em all I'm on my way
New friends and new places to see
And to sleep under the stars
Who could ask for more
With the moon keeping watch over me

Not the snow, not the rain
Can change my mind
The sun will come out, wait and see
And the feeling of the wind in your face
Can lift your heart
Oh there's nowhere I would rather be

'Cause I'm on my way now-
well and truly
I'm on my way now

(I'm on my way now)
REPEAT

Tell everybody I'm on my way
And I just can't wait to be there
With blue skies ahead yes
I'm on my way
And nothing but good times to share

So tell everybody I'm on my way
And I just can't wait to be home
With the sun beating down yes
I'm on my way
And nothing but good times to show
I'm on my way

Yes, I'm on my way

Still here!

Okay, I'm still here....still blogging and working on becoming healthier. This is good. I'm trying to decide what kind of exercise to fit in today...there's an aerobics class this afternoon or I could take my daughter on a bike ride or the dog on a walk or possibly....all three?!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

This morning

I got up, ready to take the dog on a walk this morning, but she wouldn't budge. The old me would have given up then and there and just played on the computer. BUT, that's not what I did!! :) I grabbed my bike and went for a ride. I had a great time and saw lots of neighbors out and about, starting their day. I might take the dog on a walk this evening, if she seems more inclined.

Today is the first day of school, so it's the official start of my new routine. I can't wait to see how it goes. The kids and I are all dressed and ready to walk out the door, lunches and supplies packed up, beds made, breakfasts eaten. So far so good!

I'm still sore from Monday night's gym class. I'm determined to go again tonight though. Hopefully it won't hurt much more. I'm also setting my phone alarm to remind me to take snacks throughout the day, so I don't go berserk again. Plans, plans, I love them!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

lesson learned

Okay...I've been doing well on the exercise and general "move more" plan, but my eating healthier plan...kinda crashed today. Okay, there's no "kinda" about it. I ate a healthy breakfast, but evidently not enough to hold me to lunch. We were in the check-out lane today, getting our last item for school when I felt sick. The kind of must-eat-NOW-or-I'll-faint type sick. I'm not going to go into specifics, but trust me, it wasn't pretty. Because of this, I've decided to try five small meals a day. I've heard that can help a lot...as long as they are small and healthy. Hopefully that will keep me from crashing again. My journey continues!
I just finished my healthy breakfast (no bacon & cheese scramble this morning!) and am getting ready to take my daughter to gymnastics. The kids have so much energy and love of movement. I want to encourage that and help them to create a healthy lifestyle now, instead of when they're as old as I am!

A few notes about yesterday's class at the gym...I'm aching from it today! I also have to admit that I was only 5 minutes into it before I looked at the clock to see how much longer we had to go. lol. I did make it through the entire class though and felt wonderful afterward. DH did marvelously with the kids and I'm set to go again tomorrow night. :)

Monday, August 17, 2009

I did it!

Just got back from the gym. I'm hot and my muscles are on the verge of exhaustion, but...I DID IT! Yay! The journey has officially begun!

On my way to a healthier me.

This is it. Yes, I've said that more times than I can remember, but this is "IT". I've thought it through (and through and through). I've created an exercise routine. I've found ways to incorporate movement into my days. I've planned healthy foods and snacks. I have nothing to do but begin. And that is what I'm doing now. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, NOW. I'm making a healthy dinner and then heading to the gym. In the morning, I'm going to get up early and take the dog for a walk. I can and will do it!!!!!!! YAY!!