30 Days to Better

Hiatus

I'm in Florida for the week with Noah helping my mother-in-law recover from her recent knee replacement.  All is well. I'm eating healthy foods, getting plenty of fresh (also:gross) humid warm air, and my exercise consists of my spontaneous leaps in heart rate as I lurch to rescue Noah from yet another horizontal surface like a table or unsteady chair.

I will return soon with a new topic for August!  

To see some images from our days ... click here!

Reflection: Balance

Back in January I tackled the concept of Balance.  I noticed that I mostly complained about not feeling as those I was able to balance parenting, running a house and finding time for myself, specifically, time for exercise.   I found that BALANCE, as a notion, concept and faraway pipe dream was a tougher thing to achieve than I had originally thought.  I think it is something that you have to face each and every day and just do the best you can, make the best decisions you can, in each moment to maximize what matters most to you any given point in life.

Six months after this posting, I am no longer searching for exercise time.  Now, three months pregnant, I walk one and a half to three miles about 3 or 4 times a week.  I always push Noah in the stroller and sometimes even take the dog along for added stress and difficulty.   For the most part, I, personally, feel a moderate amount of balance in my life right now and I attribute this feeling to the simple fact that I have simplified my life drastically, mainly to conquer the first trimester *issues* like morning sickness, massive food aversions, super-nose, extreme fatigue, and general gestational moodiness.

As I reflect on how I'm achieving positive balance in my life, for now, I have to give myself a serious pat on the back and a PASS.  I feel a good balance right now, mostly.  I'm taking care of myself first and foremost because if I feel sick and gross, I cannot care for Noah, and then we have real trouble.  Making sure I'm rested and eating well are my top priorities and so far this is serving us all fairly well.

Who is this pregnant lady and where is Stacy?

I just have to tell you what I ate yesterday and if you can find the real pregnant lady please stand up because I have no idea where the whipped cream eating, diet soda chugging girl went.

Breakfast:

Omelet with tomatoes and feta cheese
Whole Wheat toast with butter

Lunch:

Bowl of Strawberries and Blueberries
Yogurt
Crackers w/cheese

Dinner:

Lightly fried Catfish w/ mixed veggies and noodles

I'm sure I had a few snacks in there too, in fact, I know I had at least two Rice Krispy treats, but seriously, the meals are well planned and BALANCED.

In terms of reflection, I can honestly say I didn't eat this well until much later in my first pregnancy.  I didn't exactly feel like eating this soon, although, to be fair, I didn't have the early morning sickness that I did with this baby.  I have spent a few solid weeks living on animal crackers, white bread, water and juice.   For the sake of keeping on topic (Whoa! Me?), I am doing better than before and I'm sticking to plan and goal.  I want to make healthy choices each day, and that doesn't mean depriving myself of a frozen dessert treat a few times a week.  I mean, a pregnant lady only has a few real treats in this world, besides the ability to have multiple orgasms.   Also, exercise, I have done a three mile walk four times in less than two weeks.  My goal is to walk three times a week for 30-45 minutes and I have walked three times this week alone! 

Let's see how long I can keep this us. 

Reflection: Modifying exercise for pregnancy

I was thinking recently about much more active I am with this pregnancy, particularly this early on.   there are definitely days when I succeed at keeping the couch warm and Noah exists on crackers and water. 

But!  Several times a week I am getting out for a walk, a real walk.  Today was over 3 miles and clocked in somewhere between 45 and 50 minutes.   I was exhausted all afternoon but I know the exercise is good for me and the baby and that number on the scale which is definitely NOT inching up nearly as fast as it did last time and for that I'm super grateful. 

July: 30 Days of Reflection

The year is half over, or perhaps I should say, we still have half of 2009 left!! 

I'm taking this month to reflect back on the year so far and consider how I want to spend the rest of it.  Personally, I have had ups and downs, backs and forwards.  It has definitely been a year of evolution and continues to be so.

So far this year I have focused this website on the more physical and eating-health related topics but I think it is time to look inward.  Since I am recently pregnant, I will no longer be looking to achieve new goals on the physical horizon, at least for the next year or so, unless you count measuring my growing waistline.  Therefore, I'm looking at the pieces you can't see on the outside, thoughts, beliefs, faith, and beginning with July, reflection on the past and how to move forward with only the best goals and intentions. 

Join me?