We’ve been loving spring break the past couple days! It’s been so nice to slow down a bit and enjoy a less hectic schedule.
I went to the gym this morning and got a great strength training workout in. I worked my upper and lower body and pretty much hit all the major muscle groups. I also snapped a quick pick after my workout…
For some reason whenever I take a pic of myself at the gym, I’m always wearing this outfit! Yes, I do wear other things, lol. However, I really only have 3-4 outfits I can fit in right now. 😉
I was also able to go on a great run yesterday!
My 10 year old came with me on his bike and I pushed my 4 year old in this new jogger I recently received from Thule. It’s a wonderful jogger and I plan on posting a full review about it next week. 😉
We ran 4.25 miles and it was so fun! We kept it pretty slow (10:00-11:00 pace) and I had to stop and walk a couple times (which I hate to do, but it was necessary.) The weather felt perfect for most of the run, but near the end it started to feel hot! It was right around 70 degrees. Thankfully, there was a slight breeze.
After our run, I was STARVING! I made myself a yummy concoction of Chobani yogurt, cottage cheese, sliced almonds, Craisins and chocolate chips.
Those chocolate chips were DIVINE in there….I also thought I needed the extra carbs after a hard run, hee hee.
I enjoyed eating my concoction while sitting on the deck watching my cute kids….who apparently thought it was summer.
They filled those totes with warm water and enjoyed playing and splashing around. They’re so darling.
We also took the kiddos on a quick trip to Maverick (local convenience store) last night. The kids love going there to buy a drink/slushie or pick out a treat.
Kev and I also see it as pretty cheap and easy entertainment. 😉
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Well, I want to tell you guys about the new “healthy plan” I have in the works. I’ve been living a fairly decent healthy lifestyle lately, but I’ve become a little bit lax. I’ve definitely been eating too much sugar and I’m starting to feel a little addicted!
Anyway, I decided I needed to kick it up a notch. I’ve found that it is MUCH easier for me to eat well when I cut the sugar from my diet. Sugar seriously sabotages my healthy efforts. I know a lot of healthy people who are able to have a little bit of sugar here and there and still keep it under control.
I AM NOT one of those people.
Once I start eating sugar, I just want more and more and more! Also, when I eat sugar regularly, healthy food doesn’t taste nearly as good to me. When I cut the sugar out, I start to crave healthy food and it makes me happy!
So here’s my new plan!
I’m going to start on Monday (the day after Easter) because I still want to enjoy some Easter candy. 🙂 I’m going to eat a VERY healthy diet for one month. I’m not going to eat any sugary treats (chocolate, candy, brownies, cake, cookies, etc.) and I’m not going to eat any fried foods. I’m also going to abstain from diet beverages.
I AM going to eat lots of fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains (oats, quinoa, brown rice, Ezekiel bread, etc.), nuts, some Dairy products (yogurt, cottage cheese, a little bit of regular cheese) and whatever other healthy things I come up with. Before I eat anything, I’m just going to ask myself, “Does this food choice offer nutritional value and will it fuel my body?” If the answer is YES, then I will eat it. Otherwise, I won’t. Pretty simple.
I am going to allow myself 100 free calories every day. 100 calories is not very much, but it will allow me to sprinkle a few chocolate chips on my oatmeal, yogurt, etc. and not feel too deprived. I also think 100 calories is a small enough amount that it won’t start the craving cycle in me!
After following this “diet” for 30-ish days, I will allow myself one free weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and then I hope to start all over again.
I just looked at the calendar, and decided I will have my “free weekend” on May 23-24, which is in just over a month.
I would love to keep this up and make it a lifestyle. We’ll see how it goes. It seems pretty reasonable to me, but I know I’ll need to plan ahead and keep my kitchen stocked with healthy food choices.
I also plan to do food prep once or twice a week. I’ll cook up a bunch of chicken, hard boiled eggs, make a pot of quinoa and cut up lots of veggies! YUM!
Well, that’s all for now. We’re getting ready to head out on a hike with the kiddos in a bit so I gotta run. YAY!
I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!
My kids used to LOVE playing and splashing in water also. I used to have a small sandbox I used as a pool for warm water more often than sand! I love how you enjoy your kids having fun.
The jogging stroller looks amazing. You will love it for the new baby by next year!
Good luck with the new healthy plan! From reading your blog, I see you usually eat very well already, so I predict you will rock your plan!
I love watching my kiddos play and am just so sad by how fast they grow! I’ve been loving the new jogger and am sure I’ll love it even more when the baby is here! Thanks so much for your support!
Every so often I have to cut sugar from my diet too. I go a bit overboard, and I can tell by my physical appearance, and also by my mood/energy. Taking breaks from the sugar bus is definitely necessary for me! Awesome job on that run! WHOO!
I know! Sugar wreaks so much havoc on the body, dang it. I love it so much, but it doesn’t love me. 😉
Wow. It looks so mild there. We are getting some nice highs, but not ready for shorts or close to that. Great for getting those workouts in. Your healthy plan sounds wonderful and I know how addictive sugar can be. Once you cut out, or cut back you really reap the rewards in how you feel.
We’ve had beautiful spring weather and I love it so much! I hope your weather warms up soon. We used to live in New England and I was surprised every year by how late spring started! I enjoy winter, but not for that long. 😉
I love sugar so much, but always feel so much better when I don’t eat it.
Sounds like an awesome plan girl! You are so right too, sugar is very addicting and the more you eat it, the more you want. It is a drug! I haven’t had refined sugar in a really long time, I only use pure maple syrup or coconut sugar because they are both unrefined and don’t leave me feeling like crap. Of course, they are still “sugar” so as with all sweets, a daily thing is not a good idea. I make a lot of desserts, but I don’t eat them all myself, I try to bake batches for friends and family and they are always VERY happy about it, lol! Anyways,you look fabulous as always!
I’m really hoping this plan can be one I can stick with for a long time. We’ll see. 😉 I love all of your desserts and know they are SO MUCH better for us than anything else. You’re amazing!
Cannot wait to hear how your new plan turns out. I find myself craving sugar like crazy.
I will keep you posted! I love sugar so so much! I crave it all the time, however when I cut it out for an extended period of time, my cravings definitely go way down. I think it’s kind of miraculous!
I know if I tried to cut sugar (or anything) I would end up gorging on it because I have zero will power!
I know you can do it!!
I have no will power either! But, for some strange reason I seem to have a lot more success when I just cut it out entirely (or mostly.) I wish sugar and all the yummy junk foods out there weren’t so addicting!
Food prep ahead of time is such a huge thing to help us eat healthy. I try to do that on Sunday’s, cook a bunch of chicken or a pork roast and chop up fresh veggies so they’re available to snack on during week. If it’s not done ahead of time, and we get ‘snacky’ it’s so easy to go for the crackers or junk instead of the veggies.
So impressed you’re still running & working out!
And, by the way, 10-11 minute miles are not slow…at all…
I really love it when I have fridge full of yummy and healthy food choices. It definitely makes it easier to eat well.
Thanks so much for your support. I’m still trying to be active, but it’s so hard! I’ll just keep pluggin’ along. 😉
I totally know what you mean. If I have a piece of chocolate, or a cookie, I can’t stop at one and it turns into way too much. I’m all or nothing kind of person. I’m going to try this with you!
I know, sugar is just SOOOO addicting, dang it! I’m definitely an “all or nothing” type of person too. 😉 I would love you to do this with me!
You look wonderful as always! Amazing how active and healthy you are while pregnant…I am impressed. I love the new plan. I need to lose about 8 pounds and am struggling so much to be perfect on my calorie count plan. I like the 100 calorie idea and I think that I could handle that! I struggle when feeding the kids and making their lunches!!! I may join you and try this out myself…the free weekend would be awesome! Have a great week.
Thanks so much. I’m trying so hard to be somewhat healthy and active with this pregnancy, but it’s tough. 🙁
I would love you to join me on my little diet thing! So far, I’ve been lovin’ the 100 calorie thing because I don’t feel so deprived. I’m sure I’ll also LOVE the free weekend. I wish you all the best with losing those last 8 pounds. I know how hard those last pounds can be to lose. Good luck!
Thanks for the encouragement Melanie!!!
We have a Thule bike rack that we like a lot!
Good luck with cutting out the sugar! I know you’ll do great. I, on the other hand, think I would die! I am a sugar fanatic! 🙂
I really love Thule and have been loving my jogger! It’s so so tough to cut out sugar! However, I seem to enjoy it more when I haven’t had it in a while. 😉