Relationship, Health and Money

Are you tired of not being able to find time to work out?  One advantage of having kids is you can learn How To Get Fit Playing With Your Kids!   Playing with your kids is the perfect way to get fit, but the question is how? Check out these tips for getting fit, while playing and having fun with your kids.  These are some of the most natural ways you can get exercise in without taking time away from your loved ones!

How To Get Fit Playing With Your Kids

Play Ball

Ball is the perfect way to get fit while playing with your kids, especially when you are playing ball games like basketball and baseball that have you running in all directions. If you are really up for the challenge, try playing soccer with your kids (the running back and forth across the field will have its way with your body).

Dance Party

Having a dance party with your kids is one way to get fit while playing. See who can come up with the best choreography moves. Dancing is a way to get the heart rate up and that body into shape. The best part about dancing, it there’s no right or wrong when it comes to shaking your groove thing.

Playing Tag

Do you remember those long hours of playing tag when you were a kid? It’s probably how you stayed so fit. Playing tag with your kids is a great way to play with them and get your “old” body back. Running and getting your heart beating can help ensure you’re getting the exercise you need.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Sometimes playing outside can get a little boring when you’re doing the same things over and over again. Consider taking your kids on a scavenger hunt. These little hunts are a fun way to get your kids moving and a way to get yourself fit in the process.

Relay Races

Remember that your kids are full of natural energy and you might really have to muster up some extra energy to make a relay race possible. Racing back and forth to see who’s the fastest is one way to shed some pounds and get back into shape quickly.

Spending time hanging out with your kids is going to help them to feel loved, while helping you to get into better shape.  You can get fit playing with your kids when you set aside dedicated time to actually get out and do fun things with them.  Instead of all of your family time being around the dinner table or in front of the television, take time to really get into fun outdoor activities that include the whole family. If video games are part of your family time, make sure to choose ones that are interactive and get you on your feet and moving.

Check out these other tips for getting healthy and in shape this year!

How To Exercise When You Have Chronic Pain

How To Exercise For Beginners

Are You Feeding Your Kids Enough Or Too Much?

Being Fat Doesn’t Mean I’m Not Trying To Be Healthy

Let’s just be honest here.  Most of us truly want to lose weight at some point in our lives.  Whether it be for health or vanity reasons, it is a goal that many of us embark on and will struggle with, and rarely is it an easy task.  These 7 Easy Diet Changes That Promote Weight Loss are simple and easy to make into habits.  They allow you the chance to make positive changes without feeling deprived or stressed about every little calorie or hour on the treadmill.

7 Easy Diet Changes That Promote Weight Loss

• Stop Drinking Soft Drinks or Alcohol On Weekdays.  For some people weekend parties, events and barbecues with friends mean a few soft drinks or mixed drinks so start with only cutting these out during weekdays.  One canned soft drink a day can be anywhere from 120-180 calories.  Over the course of one week you can easily shave 1000 calories from your weekly intake if you typically drink 1-2 daily.  I found using a Klean Kanteen helped me tremendously.  The reusable bottle helped me to not think about what I was drinking, and it kept it cold and handy.
• Cut the Starches In Half.  Instead of having the whole baked potato, all of the rice with take out or 2 pieces of toast cut your serving in half.  This is actually what a regular serving is closer to being.  You can replace the missing portion with more vegetables or simply leave your plate a little more sparse for extra calorie savings.
• Skip Dessert.  Make dessert a rarity rather than the norm on your menu.  Save 200-300 calories a day if you skip desserts and treats.  You can apply this as you would the no soft drink rule.  Make week days no dessert days but allow treats in limits on the weekends.
• Skip Creamy Salad Dressings.  Ranch Dressing is by far the most popular salad dressing and dip in the United States but it is also laden with fat and calories.  While low fat varieties may offer the flavor you want they are often still high in sugar and calories.  Skip the creamy dressings and top your salads with salsa, lime juice or a flavorful vinaigrette.
• Use Greek Yogurt.  With the rise in popularity of Greek yogurt over the last few years you can easily afford the now common breakfast or snack treat as a useful product for everything from smoothies to vegetable dips.  Greek Yogurt is a great addition to many baked goods instead of oil.  It is also a wonderful substitute for the mayonnaise or sour cream in many dips and sauces.  With a mild flavor that adapts readily to many recipes you can’t go wrong with the increase in calcium and decrease in fat and calories.
• Don’t Clean Your Plate.  It has been proven time and again that we as a society have inflated our portion sizes to astronomical proportions.  The average meal out at a restaurant contains easily 3 full portions for an adult.  Make a rule of eating only half or less of an entree you order in a restaurant.  At home use the smaller plates in the cabinet or even invest in a portion control plate that will help you visualize what healthy portions are. We love using the healthy portions plates that make it easy for us to see how much of each item we should be eating to be in a healthy portion range.
• Don’t Eat Seconds (Except of healthy vegetables).  Skip the second portion of protien or grains.  If you are still legitimately hungry have another portion of healthy (steamed, roasted, baked or boiled) vegetables.  Still hungry? Push your plate away, sip water and chat with your friends or family at the table.  Allow your body to digest what has been eaten and send the proper signals to your brain telling you that your need has been satisfied.

While none of these alone will cause you to see drastic changes in your weight, the combination can cause a decided difference in the number you see on the scale.  Plus using these 7 easy diet changes that promote weight loss can crate wonderful healthy habits in you that will stand the test of time and help you to maintain weight loss and overall health.

Want more tips on improving your health?  Check out these great posts!

Why We Have Chosen To Eat Only Organics

Are You Feeding Your Kids Enough Or Too Much?

Cheap Activities To Do With Kids

25 DIY Outdoor Fun Crafts & Activities For Kids

>Being Fat Doesn’t Mean You Aren’t Trying To Be Healthy

One of the biggest issues I have when trying to eat healthy is to fight cravings.  I know that hormones often have to do with my cravings, and I have even learned what healthier foods will satisfy my cravings, but sometimes it is tough.  I really want this year to have my health journey make improvements that are visible in my lie.  So, I gathered some tips from friends and my own experience to give you a list of ways to fight cravings.

5 Ways To Fight Cravings On Your Health Journey

This post may contain affiliate links. 

Learn what healthy options you enjoy.  For me personally, it meant finding a few items to satisfy those cravings in a better way.  You can check out healthy recipes and options until you find what works for you.  I do recommend that whatever you do, don’t automatically reach for processed products that are labeled low-fat or low-sugar.  Most often the item they are lacking is made up for with more of another unhealthy item to give you better flavor.  Go for produce or other foods you can easily make on your own.

• I keep pineapple, oranges, mango, cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon on hand all the time for my sweet cravings.  There are always one or two of those in season at a reasonable price.  I also learned that when any of those are on sale, I can stock up, clean slice and freeze in 1-2 cup portions.  I use either snack size freezer bags, or small pyrex cups for this.  I find double bagging them makes them last longer without freezer burn, but the glass cups are ideal for this storage.  This makes it super handy to grab and eat frozen. The exception to that is with oranges since they aren’t so easy to freeze for later.
• Frozen yogurt or sherbet is another substitute when I really want ice cream but don’t want the calories.  I have even learned to keep plain Greek yogurt in the refrigerator to add some fresh fruit and honey to for a creamy but satisfying snack.
• For salty treats I enjoy pretzels, but homemade microwave potato chips, baked tortilla chips and nuts are all excellent ways to eat a healthier option to satisfy a craving.
• Things like hummus or taziki dip are also great chioces when I want a snack because they are both super healthy and easy to enjoy with fresh vegetables.  They are both high in healthier proteins and pack tons of flavor so you arent missing those rich and cheesy dips. I also like our homemade refried bean dip since it is low-fat and high-protein.

Get more nutrient dense fruits and vegetables in your diet.  When you are feeding your body healthier foods, it will be less likely to have cravings.  One major thing people find when they decide to cut out sugar on their health journey is that after a few day without it, it is much easier to fight cravings because you wont’ have any.  If you continue to feed your body tons of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, you’ll find you are getting the vitamins you need and won’t be lacking and craving nearly as much.  There are some things like hormones and exposure to favorite junk food to still fight against, but it can be overcome.

Drink more water.  Did you realizetha for some people, being even a little dehydrated can also make you crave more foods?  When your body is lacking something, it will trigger the need for you to fill that gap.  Next time you have a craving, drink another glass of water to see if that helps you fight cravings easily and naturally.

Exercise when you are craving something.  One of the biggest things on your health journey is to get more exercise.  When you are craving junk food, you can change how you think and feel by exercising.  For me, this is easier said than done.  I kind of regularly admit to hating exercise.  I wish I didn’t, but I do.  I don’t like pain and I don’t like sweating.  However, I realize that to fight cravings it could help.  I also realize that if I am serious about my health journey, it means I need to seriously focus on taking care of my whole body which includes more exercise.

Don’t go too long without eating.  Perhaps for me, the most effective way to fight cravings is to eat regularly.  When I am super hungry or skip a meal I am much more likely to think about all of the options out there that aren’t so great for me.  Eating regular meals that include healthy foods will help you to crave less often.  I believe one of the best ways to face this part of your health journey is to focus on eating more vegetables than anything else on your plate.  I also include healthier carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and brown rice.  Lean meats or proteins like beans and lentils are excellent to round out your meals.  If you are snacking between meals, look for high fiber choices.  An apple with some low-fat cheese is often just what I need to keep hunger at bay and satisfy a craving.  Our bodies need food for fuel.  We need fats and carbohydrates for energy and brain function.  The difference is in choosing healthy fats and healthy carbohydrates that will help fight cravings.

We all have bad days with food.  I will never deny that.  However, we can each make better choices along the way to fight cravings on our health journey.  Pick up a high fiber piece of fruit like an apple, pear or pineapple to satisfy your sweet craving.  Don’t skip out on great high-protein options like refried bean dip, hummus or low-fat string cheese for a simple snack.  Create healthy menu plans that focus on larger portions of lean protein (meat and on-meat varieties) and tons of vegetables that are chock full of nutrients and fiber.

Don’t miss out on our other great health tips below!

How Your Job Affects Your Health

How To Afford Healthy Foods

5 Steps To A Healthier You In The New Year<

Plus Size Workout Routines

I have discovered there are a number of people out there who need tips on Aerobic Exercise For Chronic Pain.  With so many people suffering from things like back pain, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, and arthritis chronic pain is something that is dealt with all the time.  Even though I was in pain for two years with a herniated disc, I still wanted to exercise.  Sadly, I found many activities just too difficult to do.  It wasn’t until I was about to have surgery that I realized how many things I should have been doing.

Aerobic Exercise For Chronic Pain

Yes, exercise of any kind can hurt even more when you have chronic pain, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least attempt something.  I know that many said I should walk, but the pain in my hips and leg from where my back was injured hurt even worse when I tried to.  Could I swim?  Yes, I could have with minimal if any pain, and I am ashamed that I didn’t more. I understand how debilitating chronic pain can be, and that is why I want to help others who are going through the same things I did.  I don’t want you to feel alone or hopeless.  I will say, the most important thing for you to do before you venture forth to find out what kind of aerobic exercise for chronic pain is right for you, you need to talk to your doctor.  Some pain needs to be dealt with by surgery, therapy and other means.  Had I started working out heavily in January of this year, my injury could have gotten even worse

Make an attempt at exercise.  It may hurt, but attempting is better than doing nothing.  When you have a good day, or a day with minimal pain take advantage of that to get some exercise in.  Think about ways you can get your heart rate up.  With chronic pain, movement can help ease the pain in some ways, and other times it is simply a means to lose weight which also helps with the pain.

• Stretch well:  Depending on what is causing your pain, you may already be doing stretches.  Before you do any exercise you need to stretch a bit to make sure you don’t pull any muscles.
• Try swimming:  Swimming is an excellent low impact workout.  Even if you can’t swim, you may be able to walk in laps around the swimming pool.  Not only is your body working hard, it isn’t being stressed as much.  The water helps your body move easier with less pain.  This is actually the only real exercise I currently get. It is low impact, easy on my back and hips, but is making a huge difference in my health.
• Walk slowly at no incline:  Incline and speed are often what hurt when you are walking.  The first year I had pain from sciatica (later discovered was a herniated disk), I was able to walk at no incline and a slow pace for a considerable amount of time with minimal to no pain.  As my injury worsened, I wasn’t able to do this any longer.  Walking is a great way to work out your body with what is aerobic exercise, but minimal impact.
• Do step exercises. Step exercises were highly popular in the 1990’s and are a great way to work out today.  Whether you use steps in your own home, or you have the old school step platform, you can easily step up and down to get your heart rate going.  Even slow movement is movement to help your heart rate get up and burn calories as well as move your joints and muscles so they don’t get too sedentary.

Don’t push through pain. There is a level of pain that is discomfort, and there is a level of pain that brings tears.  It is okay to be a little uncomfortable, but don’t push yourself through pain that is bringing you to tears, making you feel nauseated or making it harder to move.  Yes, you need exercise and should challenge yourself, but understand that severe or worsening pain isn’t okay.

There are many injuries, like IT Band or kneecap pain that really need attention from a professional to prevent further injury.  This, along with many back or neck injuries can become a huge issue if not cared for properly.

Seek a personal trainer.  If you have tried what you feel is everything and you just don’t know what to do, it’s time to ask the pro.  A personal trainer or even a physical therapist can help you to understand different ways to get your body moving without injuring your body worse.

Getting the right kind of aerobic exercise for chronic pain does take trial and error.  If your body is still unable to do something because of pain, it is time to talk to your doctor about potential help with physical therapy, surgery or different medications.  I never want to depend upon medication to get me through the day, and I am sure you don’t either.  However, you have to sometimes take the advice of the medical professionals to make yourself more comfortable and able to exercise and help your body to heal and move better and easier.

Check out some of our other posts about health and exercise!

How To Exercise When You Have Chronic Pain

Being Fat Doesn’t Mean I’m Not Trying To Be Healthy

How To Exercise For Beginners

How To Get Fit Playing With Your Kids

Things That Hinder Weight Loss

This is a sponsored post for Progresso on behalf of Acorn. 

This year, I vowed I would stick to a Fresh Meal Plan every day.  Well, you know how that goes.  You realize that work, life, kids, basketball practice, and exhaustion come into play and suddenly you are struggling to not reach for that overly processed boxed pasta dish that contains a gazillion additives and makes you feel like the worst mom of the year.  So, for the new year, I told myself I would focus on a new kind of fresh meal plan that anyone could manage.  The kind that included an 80% fresh and 20% semi-homemade plan that featured healthier options I can feel good about.

Fresh Meal Plan Tips Moms Can Feel Good About

I was asked by one of my favorite programs to do a sponsored campaign on behalf of Walmart and Progresso Light Chicken Noodle Soup a few weeks ago.  I sighed deeply and thought about it.  I did this double take and weighed pros and cons.  Let’s get honest, sponsored posts pay my bills, but am I willing to sacrifice my new goals here on the blog to share something I don’t fully believe in?  I was worried that.  Then I started reading about Progresso Light Chicken Noodle Soup, and I realized it was just what I wanted to add to my routine and share with you.  It fits into that 20% semi-homemade plan I wanted to add into our routine.  I am going to share how I manage to feed my family healthy foods, stay within my own Weight Watchers Beyond The Scale program, and feel good about the meals we are eating without being overwhelmed in my tips below.

Use 20% Semi-Homemade Healthy Options

My goal using the Weight Watchers Beyond The Scale program has been to eat the majority of my meals with lean proteins and loads of vegetables.  I add in a few things like sweet potatoes, brown rice, and some tortillas on occasion.  We also have some low-fat dairy.  Some nights, though, I just don’t have enough time and energy to even spend 30 minutes cooking.  Let’s just be honest, working from home isn’t as glamorous as you would think.  Especially, when you have busy seasons like I do in blogging.  I have some 16-18 hour days around the holidays.

Read Related Article: Healthy Meal Prep Lunches

On those nights that the guys come home later, I would rather have some stuff they can easily heat up that is semi-homemade.  That is where Walmart and especially, Progresso Light Chicken Noodle Soup comes in handy.  I was seriously surprised to find out that their soup has antibiotic free chicken.  This was a huge plus factor and a total must have for me.  Looking at the large variety of light and fit soups Progresso now carries, I can have tons of options on hand so everyone has something to suit their taste buds.  This makes those nights when basketball practice brings the guys home at 7pm so much easier to handle.  I can just keep working while I am in a groove on a project, and they can pop open a can, heat up in minutes, and have a light but healthy meal before grabbing showers and relaxing before heading to bed for the night.  Talk about taking away the mom guilt.

Create A Weekly Fresh Menu Plan In Advance

I seriously believe the only way I can manage this is to plan ahead of time.  When I go off my fresh menu plan, is when I fail to plan.  Even if it is a loose plan, I have to have something in mind.  Since we moved, things have been a bit rocky at meal times.  With so many things happening with home renovations, work projects, and the Wee Child adding in his new basketball practice three evenings a week, it has definitely been tough to stick to a fresh meal plan.

A lot of evenings I am at home eating alone at 5pm while my Beau and the Wee Child don’t get in until 7pm after practice.  That means whatever I have for dinner needs to be easy to reheat for them.  Those are the nights I like to use something like a heavier snack before they leave at 3pm, and then have a light dinner when they get home.  Other nights, we might have a more traditional meal.  Whatever our meal time and plan may be, planning ahead by writing down basic recipes and having my grocery list ready for shopping night makes it easier.

Prep Ahead As Much As Possible

It starts as soon as I get home with groceries.  I grab the storage containers and baggies and sort the foods we purchase.  From the fresh vegetables that go with a healthy vegetable dip for snacking before basketball practice to the cheese crackers that my son likes to have alongside his Progresso Light Chicken Noodle Soup, I prep ahead.  I use portion control to stay on my Weight Watchers program and to help keep my family healthy.  So, by planning ahead and portioning everything when I get home with it, I can create an easy to assemble meal in minutes any evening of the week.

If you are focused on building a fresh meal plan this year to make sure your family sticks to a healthier lifestyle, these tips are what make it possible for us.  Sometimes, you have to realize that it isn’t always possible to be supermom and conquer everything.  Using something already prepared like yummy and healthy options by Progresso, or even already washed and sliced vegetables is not failing as a parent.  What matters is that you focus on providing your family with the best you can.  Using already prepared healthy options is a wonderful choice, definitely one that I believe fits perfectly into any fresh meal plan.

More Meal Plan Tips:

• Free Weekly Meal Plan Printable
• 5 Ways To Save Time On Weeknight Meals
• 6 Ways To Eat Healthy Meals On The Go