Our Creation Boxes

I love them all!  I hope those of you who participated in this second side-challenge had a good time capturing via your creativity all the goals and dreams you have in quotes, pictures, clippings, etc.  4 of us did it that I have emailed pics of so far...but send them later on and I'll add them in :)

AMY F:

-Rollerblades - because I LOVE the feeling I get when I rollerblade and I want to get back into it

-Tennis - Tennis makes me happy and I would love to be in a tennis league or tournament someday

-My boys - why I try to stay healthy.

-Skiing - there is a rush that comes with this sport, and I want to get back into that too.

-5K run - One of my goals in the next year or 2.

-Me and Dave - our engagement picture - where I want to be weight wise!!! When I felt the sexiest!

I also have a list of a ba-zillion things that I want to do before I'm fifty - some are physical things, some are vacation things, but all things I want to experience in life!

This was a great thing to do, and I have mine now on my window ledge above my kitchen sink, where I am most of the day! hahah!

NICKI:

My printer hasn't been working so I couldn't print any photos off. I'll definitely add to it though. :) Basically I wrote down all of my "Why's" along with all of the other things you suggested. I also included a bunch of other goals and dreams that I'm headed towards that don't have anything to do with health, but definitely go along with the person I want to become. Thanks for getting us to do this, it was very good for me!

MEGHAN:

Here's my creation board! I put pics of my family and me to remember who I want to b healthy for. I have a pic of a cruise liner and Bora Bora b/c that's where I want to go looking all hot and sassy! The Berbee Derby runners are on there. And most important, two quotes with happiness in the center reminding me that I hold in the palm of my hand.

SARAH W:

My jar is filled with a whole bunch of quotes I love all about us becoming what we think about the most, about dreaming big, about letting the inner us guide us along, about achieving goals. 

Same with Nicki, my things in the jar aren't all physical fitness goals.  A lot of them are things I want to accomplish in my life, like run a bunch of marathons in fun places, look smokin' hot on our vacation to Hawaii next  June, have toned arms & shoulders, have a home filled with redheaded kiddos, have snuggly pups, be an active and healthy mom, and finish a century cycling ride (100 miles).  I also have some clippings from some magazines of some cute skinny clothes I want to buy. 

I plan on adding to this jar throughout the next year or so.  I love it.  Absolutely adore it :)  I shared all its contents and quotes with my hubby and it was a really good experience. 

And I love that you all have opened your hearts and spirits and shared such beautiful dreams and goals with me over the last 5 weeks!  I appreciate and cherish each of your contributions, words of encouragement, tips & ideas, and overall support.  YOU are what makes any one of our fitness programs a long-term lifestyle change and not just a temporary kick.  THANK YOU!!!!!

I know a couple others of you were working on boxes of your own.  Whenever you do finish, and no pressure, no rush, email me it and I'll post it on here :)  Keep dreaming big!  What you think about yourself and your future is what you'll become...

Feel Good Friday

Do you ladies want to know yet ANOTHER reason why you're so amazing!?!  1. Yesterday was supposed to be about feeling the burn instead of motivation, and no one called me out on my blooper :) 2. Today I spaced posting this morning & again, no one called me out on it!

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week to Tara!  I can't believe you went without cake- WHOA!  Hope you're feeling better, too.  Kim, you're so sweet to be uplifting when it seems like so many of us on the blog are quieter than usual this week.  That's what's so awesome about this blog- sometimes one person will be up and shine and lift others, and another week someone else will be the "lifter."  I love it :)

I had such a great time putting together some odds and ends for my Creation Jar this week.  Last night I got a big gallon Jar ready. I've been clipping & printing all week.  I'm going to assemble it all tonight.  I found such great quotes that the exercise in and of itself has been uplifting :)  I can't wait to hear about and see your boxes/jars/pails come through my email in the next 24 hours :)

I wanted to share today snipets from a Fitness article called "Bounce Back Better."  It's not online unfortunately, or else I'd post a link to it. I can't find it on their site.  But I have it ripped out of the mag and sitting on my lap here :)  In a nutshell, the article is talking about all the setbacks and rollercoasters we face on our "journey to your healthiest, fittest self."  It offers 6 strategies for overcoming those setbacks:

1. Walk Tall- confidence precedes resiliance. "The first step is believing that your goals are worth fighting for and that you deserve to reach them. That confidence helps you turn thoughts into action." -John Heil
2. Focus on the Facts- focus on the process that's in your contorol rather than focusing on emotions or outcomes
3. Bond with your Buds- studies show we recover more robustly from stress and illness when we feel supported by others  (WINK WINK- LIKE THIS BLOG :) )
4. Emphasize the Positive- you're guaranteed to come back tougher if you view negative events as opportunities for improvement.
5. Build a Backup Plan- think aout your last lousy workout or diet blunder and figure out what you can do differently next time.  Let go of the past and focus on planning your next healthy meal.
6. See the Bigger Picture- it's best to own up to your foibles- it enables you to take control of how you think about what to do next.  "Remember why you're doing what you're doing, beyond seeing a certain number on the scale or the time on a clock.  Know that you're in it for emotional and healthful fulfillment. And keep in mind that those who've achieved the greatest heights are often the ones who've fallen the farthest.  So brush off and keep climbing."

I have been having a great week and I hope you have, too.  We only have a week and 2 days left of this challenge!  Make it count. Last chance workout!  hehe, jk  But really, thanks for all the support!  Make it a great weekend :)

Thursday Motivation

Check out this story from Fitness- I really liked it :)

Today remember that you made a commitment to yourself and your goals.  If you don't workout, nobody knows but you.  But THAT should be big enough and motivating enough to really work hard with the few minutes you can squeeze in each day to work out and with each little food decision you make all day long and hit your goals because you're worth it.  As I've said before, you're not competing against anyone in this challenge but your old full-of-excuses self.  Just as you know your body's weaknesses better than anyone else, you also know the key to your body's strengths and your mind's motivation better than anyone else.  Take advantage of the strengths/motivation and don't lay back as victim to the weaknesses/excuses.  Find the balance and find the determination.  You can do it!

Whatcha Eatin Wednesday

What snacks and meals have you been trying this past week? Anything yummy or exciting????? We made up a batch of Thai Chicken Pasta (recipe from Janis) on Sunday night. So yummy! And how have you all been at getting in enough cold water sipping?

Thai Pasta

Ingredients:

1 c. green onions, chopped

1 c. grated carrots (whatever other veggies I want)

1/2 c. peanut butter

2/3 c. soy sauce

2/3 c. olive oil

4 T. chili oil or powder OR 1/2-1 T. chili paste (red rooster chinese bottle)

1 T. sesame oil

6 T. honey

2 lbs. noodles

mandarin oranges, optional

shrimp, chicken, pork, beef, optional

Directions:

Cook noodles. Toss with onions and carrots. Whisk all other ingredients together. Mix sauce with pasta. Chill. Even better the next day.

I used two boxes of Barilla whole wheat fettucine, which was scrumptious.  We actually picked up some real rice Udon noodles in the Asian aisle of the grocery store for the next time we make it, to make it even more authentically like Pad Thai from Chin's Asia Fresh (one of my fav meals ever).  Next time we're going to toss in cabbage, egg, sprouts, and sprinkle on chopped peanut bits as topping. 

Tuesday Motivation

Thank you so much for all of your great ideas and input yesterday!  That first question was 100% describing me and I'm so grateful for all the encouragement :) Yes, little by little I have been and will reach my goals.  I'm not worried about reaching them; I really do believe in myself and I know I'll hit them someday.  I'm working on recognizing when negativity creeps into my brain about the progress being so slow and so then I consiously have to remind myself it doesn't matter- any step in the right direction is wonderful! :)  Sounds like ALL of us, though, want some tips on making it through the weekend as succesfully as we make it through the workweek.  Here's an article I found about just that topic: Control Weekend Splurges

What I liked best about it is the tip to make your "I deserve it" rewards into something non-food.  I don't know about you, but a new pair of clearance shoes at DSW or a cute shirt on the 70% off rack at Kohl's will make me so giddy for a good 24 hours.  Much more satisfaction than an order of Culver's cheese curds w/ ranch dressing!  That makes me sound really materialistic, and I'm really not, I swear, but with the non-food rewards like clothing, it first of all makes you feel sexy, and second of all, makes you have extra resolve to keep your body making progress on its route to hotty-bo-botty-ness (yes, that's a great word).  So here's my weekend goal for this weekend- If I stick to my MFP calorie tracking like a rockstar Thursday through Sunday, then on Saturday night or Monday night I'm going to go browse Kohl's clearance racks :)  (I adore the Vera Wang clearance clothing that's ALWAYS 70-90% off there).  Anyhow, enough about me, what about you!?  What are you going to do this weekend to keep on top of your game?  You're not up against anyone else, not competing with anyone but yourself.  How are you going to trick yourself out of being a slub this weekend?  We know what our bodies will fall for- so plan some good effective tactics :)  Or play dirty if you must!  I wanna hear all about it :)

What I really wanted to share is this idea I ripped out of my Shape magazine over the weekend.

If you click on the image, it will enlarge it so you can actually read it.  But what it says is "Banish the word 'should' from your vocabulary and you may find you can accomplish anything.  'By saying you should do something, like exercise, it immediately implies you feel the activity is a burden,' says B.J. Gallagher, an inspirational speaker and the author of the book Why Don't I Do the Things I Know Are Good For Me? 'But replace 'should' with 'want' and you'll start to build positive energy.' So try telling yourself that you want to work out today and you'll get in the right mind-set to go to the gym, which is half the battle." 

So, what do you ladies WANT to do today? Hehehe :)  Make it into a phenomenal day!

Monday Morning Check-in

How did you all fare this past week?!? I can't wait to hear! Share
your successes or struggles, what differences you notice, give us an
advertisement for a healthy lifestyle! :)

2 Questions for thought today, so please weigh in on each if you have
a sec to:
1: One tends to be a motivated, unstoppable rockstar Sunday through
Wednesday, and a slub Thursday through Saturday. How do you all keep
the great steam and momentum going strong all week long and not just
around check-in time when resolve is high?
2: What are your tactics for keeping entire bowlfulls of Halloween
candy out of sight and out of tummy?