Humor Me: The Ultimate in Multitasking!

I just cannot get over this latest gadget on the market. These lovely utensils sport a 1.5 lb weight as a handle! As a newly certified personal trainer, I can not say that I will be recommending them anytime soon. However I just can stop thinking about these funny gadgets!

Can you really burn calories and build muscle by eating with weighted utensils? Stay back when I am doing my P90X because a girl working out while wielding a knife and fork could be a really dangerous thing! Can you imagine doing the bicep curls and scooping up a bite to eat every rep?

And worst of all, where's the spoon? It just might make it all worthwhile if there was a spoon, so I could burn a few extra calories while eating dessert!!!

Have a great day my friends, and please be careful if you choose to eat and exercise at the same time!!

Just My Luck!

I am home today with a sick child. So I cancelled my run with my buddy, I was so looking forward to it after a long and busy weekend. Then, I stick in the DVD that came with my new medicine ball that I picked up, guess what? Something is wrong with it, so I call customer service they are sending a new one; however it just didn't help that I had to figure out what I was going to do instead of that workout.

In the process of getting set up to do some sort of exercise, the orthodontist's office calls, the request for approval for my son to have oral surgery is both denied first by our dental insurance and then by our medical. UGH! She is going to make some calls and see what she can find out.

OK what next? I get in my workout and then a shower, I bring my adorable and snotty nose 8 year old upstairs for a lesson on how to use the neti pot. Well that really didn't go over so well, but we got through it. Nice thing, I can't hear him breathing right now. It cleaned him out! Oh please let him feel better and go back to school tomorrow for we have no groceries in the house and I was supposed to go shopping today. I made the menu and list last night and it appears that I will be in the grocery store tonight after my husband comes home from class, and the kids come home from Odyssey of the Mind practice and Scouts. That would be about 9pm. Not so excited!

How much more can a girl take? Well one good thing, my new iPod is finally full of music. So I came downstairs and made lunch for the boy and myself. I sit down and the computer tells me I have a new email! A bright spot yes!!! Perhaps the bad luck has finally run out for real! I won blog candy from The Fitness Freak. Check out her site, she has great healthy living tips, exercise, recipes and motivation! I am so excited to get a copy of Tosca Reno's New book The Eat Clean Diet Recharged! I love that her books are SO focused on whole foods, and even as a vegetarian she has lots of recipes that are vegetarian or that I can adapt! SO hurray for some good luck in my life!!!

My New running program

I found the outline to the new running program that I am doing with my running buddy, for those of you that are interested in giving it a try here it is. RunSource - GW28k Outline If you are a brand new runner I suggest that you try the couch to 5 k to start. We decided to do this GW28K program because we missed a few weeks when the weather was really nasty. It is however more challenging to run with the sidewalks slippery, so we have have to get creative and run on the streets and find areas that are pretty clean. (IE, not full of ice) sliding on the ice at my age is a bad thing! Goal for this year, 10k in the summer and maybe even a half marathon depending on how my knees hold up with the added distance. If you would like to join my out of the roads. Let me know... I have also set up a ticker on my blog here to keep track of my running and spinning/biking miles. Goal for the year 1200 shouldn't be an issue at all especially with the increased mileage we are planning!

Pondering Thoughts...

This textbook has been my main source of entertainment for the past few months (and years on and off to know the truth) I purchased the study bundle from American council on Exercise years ago, and have studied on and off and always let something get in the way of actually taking the exam and getting certified.

On Thursday morning, I finally took my ACE personal trainer certification. I passed which is wonderful news!! It was the hardest exam I have taken ever. I am relieved it is over and glad that I had studied so hard to prepare. Still always so much to learn.

My thoughts are so much more. Back in 2004 when I began my life changing event of losing weight and getting healthy who would have thought today I would become a certified personal trainer! Getting the 'fat girl' image out of my head and mind has been ore than a challenge for me. Realizing that I am NOT that girl anymore has been beyond difficult for me, allowing myself to enjoy the results of hard work is not easy. It's also not perfect. Keeping off he weight has proven to be much more difficult than I ever imagined. I and my weight loss are still an on going process; however the realization is that I can still motivate and teach people to be on this life changing journey without being perfect! What a great realization!!

I am busy working on some projects and relaxing until Monday when I start my next nutrition course. I will finish that degree and begin making my dreams and desires a reality. Life is too short to let fears get in the way of dreams. This year I have already stepped beyond what is comfortable and safe and will continue to do so. This is my year!

What are you going to achieve this year?

December in Photos

December has been an extremely busy month so I figure it's best to just show lots of photos. Above is Nikolas in the red and gray sweater waiting for his turn to sing in the winter concert with his class.

I couldn't resist this is two of my 'boys' Dasher and Vixen, they are too sweet!

Here's Ariana at the middle school on concert night showing off her artwork! Great Job Ariana I love it!

Here's Ariana on concert night, sporting her first 'high' heels and new outfit. She was so proud and she LOVES to be part of the chorus!

Zach, Nikolas and Ariana building a snow fort in the backyard! They love to play in the snow!

Second night of Hanukkah having a big Latke dinner with family and friends. It was a great night. Thanks all for coming and sharing with us!

Here's my family and I on the first night of Hanukkah. We were fortunate to have mother-in-law here to visit and take the photo of all of us!

A few nights into Hanukkah it was Nikolas' 8Th birthday I can't believe that my baby is 8 years old. He is growing so fast. You can see on the table his very favorite things. Mac and cheese, bionicles and chocolate anything, all by his request!!!

Zach sporting his new guitar, he was very excited! Can you tell? He is almost 14 so what do we expect!!

Nikolas also excited to have his new guitar. Anyone want to come and teach these two lefties of mine how to play!!??

Ariana opening gifts, Look at the look on Nikolas' face, he didn't think he was getting a gift! Oh boy! Then out came the guitars!

Nikolas saying the prayers while Ariana lights the candles. The all love to do it and we have to set up a rotation for them to all get a few turns!

Caught Zachary with his glasses on... hum.. how did I manage that, I barely remember that he has them!

After Hanukkah was over we put up the tree for Christmas and Brian's family to come visit. We also had a great time making gifts for the kids teachers and soon we will be able to relax!

Nikolas laughing about candy that Fl Gramma sent, It's called Toxic Waste. I didn't try it, it smelled disgusting.

Zachary laughing as he was trying to figure out how to get the gift card OUT of the puzzle box!! He loved that and can't wait to try it on one of his friends!

Nikolas loving his new guitar sweatshirt!

Ariana wearing her new vest and showing off her new PJ's. We have had a great and busy month. After years of thinking about it I will be taking my ACE personal trainer certification exam. I hope to find more time to relax and write on the blog in 2010. I will continue working on my master's starting mid January. I am confident it will be a good year!

I am excited to clear the slate and start a new. I love the idea of a fresh start. Continuing to work on goals, and become a better person each year! I hope for all of you. A happy and healthy 2010. Eat your peas, hug your kids and enjoy every day...

Sharing

I have recently been immersed in studying, family, the holidays, and life. I yearn to blog and write and connect however there just isn't always time. I am still reading my favorite blogs although it seems all of you are busy with other things in life too and not posting as much.

I have recently began running again, for the umpteenth time, it clears my mind and is nourishment for me in every way. Some days I run with a friend (or two) others I run alone. Alone, I challenge my myself, my mind that always doubts what I am capable of and my body that always says it's too old and too tired to keep going. Somehow, I always remain the victor. How? Not so sure, but nonetheless a reminder that no matter my age, size, or how much I slept the night before I am always capable of much more than I believe that I can do. I have been taking some steps to accomplish things that I have had fears of doing and I will share that at a later time.

I came across a most wonderful blog post this morning on the student message boards at Hawthorn, here. I can not recommend enough taking the time to read this article, if you are a regular blog reader of mine, or human, some part of this article will touch your heart. The photos and words are simple yet heartfelt and true. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I did...

What I have been eating lately... and what's on the menu

Here's my first pasta sauce that I have made from fresh tomatoes and my first canning project. Yummy.. it didn't last long.

This is acorn squash with Jenny's apple (link to her site) pie filling. I just put a scoop in each half and baked it that way... Yummm!!! Thanks Jenny!

This is great spaghetti squash recipe. Not the one the I posted yesterday, this is a mexicana one, the salsa on top is pineapple, tomato, and avocado. The squash has black beans, onions, and corn.

One my menu this week:

Sunday: Spaghetti Squash casserole

Monday: black bean burgers, potatoes, and salad

Tuesday: Homemade chili (sorry no recipe I just throw it all together)

Wednesday:Creamy Quinoa primavera

Thursday: Grain and Vegetable Casserole

Friday: Left overs or something else creative I come up with, maybe breakfast for dinner

Saturday: Dinner with friends, it will be a surprise!

Wednesday and Thursday dinners are from a new(to me) website called Eat Better America, I have not tried either one yet. So far so good for a few others I have tried from there. I love to find new recipes, however I am really not good at following them exactly, unless I am baking. I love to just start cooking and see what happens, recipes are a guideline for me and I love to add my own touch to it. If I like the recipe I will put it in my binder and take note of what I did, liked etc.

Let me know if you try any of them or what you are eating these days!!