Taking the Time to Make Time

I have been thinking a lot lately about my schedule and how I am going to get it all done, including a little time for me. I have sort of been freaking out, because my schedule is going to be picking up a lot here soon- not a bad thing, I know, and I am not complaining. I am actually really excited as well as very anxious. I have been a stay-at-home mom for four years, slowly growing my fitness business as my daughter becomes more independent. She will be in five day a week preschool come this Fall, so I have filled in those preschool hours with my Moms In Motion classes and Buddy Training clients. This will be the biggest increase in work load I have taken on since giving birth to my sweet baby girl. As you can see, time has been on my mind, and the timing could not have been more perfect for me to have come across the wonderfully insightful article entitled, Space for Change: Time Planning for a Better, Happier You written by Kay Cross, Med in the IDEA Fitness Journal (a professional fitness publication I subscribe to). I would like to share some of what I learned. Even though the article is geared to my profession, I think the basic concepts apply to all of us no matter our vocation, age, or stage in our lives. I also feel that if we can take control of our schedules, we'll be happier and healthier!

Let's Get a Physical, Physical...Every Year!

No,  I am not talking about the Olivia-Newton John song. Though it is the hit TV show Glee's reincarnation of the song and music video (check out the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ_5RocJHWw  if you haven't seen it. It's a riot!) that not only brought back some horrible memories of fashion and hair style choices from my youth (I digress), but got me thinking about the importance of getting an annual physical exam every year. The connections I make sometimes scare me...that's supposed to be a joke. :)
No really, it's just as important as your OBGYN exam and your kids check-ups!

What's supposed to happen at an annual physical exam and why is it important you ask? 

Muffin Top- Time to Get Serious

Now I am going to talk about why carrying around that excess body fat around the mid-section isn't so good, but in a moment.

First, indulge me with a little digression. I'd like to talk about how both nature (what we're born with- our genes, heredity) and nurture (environmental conditions, behaviors, experience) play a role in what we look like (duh, you say) Bare with me. I think we all know the behaviors that have gotten us to where we're at body fat wise, and that behaviors can be modified. However, sometimes I feel we forget how much of a role nature does play in how we look, how fat is distributed within our bodies, length of bones and so on- our body type, you could say. Now, that is no excuse not to do the best with what we've got- to get and stay in shape (whatever that shape may be).

The Food Diary

The Food Diary in calendar format is up and running for all to see(scroll down and you will find it). Don't go too crazy now- I know this is exciting news! Really, my goal is to chronicle my food intake for a month. My husband thinks I am insane. I secretly think, deep down inside "who gives a crap!" We'll see. I think it will actually help me to eat better (that's the selfish reason). Maybe if anything, this food diary will provide some insight (along with a lot of potential humiliation) into the eating habits of a middle class, full time mom, and small business owner living in the city/burbs. That sounds kind of scientific, doesn't it. I'll keep telling myself that. If you click on the food items, I give some fun tips/facts/etc. So check it out if you dare! Bon Appétit!

My Story

“And... push!” I huff and puff. “And push!” my husband repeats. My screams reverberate throughout the drab hospital room and down the hall. Completely fatigued, I implore, “Any progress?” “Yes.”, the OBGYN replies. I'm relieved my efforts were productive. Two hours later, my daughter was born. She was well worth the nine months of incubation, the movie of the week-worthy labor, and even the forty-five pounds of weight I gained..

About that weight gain. This mama-to-be had a thing for French toast and ice cream. Don’t get me wrong, I took my prenatal vitamins as prescribed and ate a well-balanced diet. But despite everything I read about proper diet and caloric intake during pregnancy and regardless of my doctor’s concern, I surrendered to my cravings. I love food and was thrilled to have the excuse to eat more of it. Suffice it to say, I was pretty lucky to have had a complication free pregnancy and to have given birth to a healthy baby. However, I wasn’t off the hook. After my postnatal physical, I learned that I had above normal total cholesterol levels that put me in the borderline high risk category for heart disease. Not a good finding, considering heart disease runs in my family. I also found out that I had a genetic blood clotting disorder called Factor IV Leiden, which increases the tendency of the blood to clot, leading to sometimes serious and/or life-threatening complications depending on the location of the clot. I was really counting my blessings at this point, that I had a rather medically boring pregnancy and healthy baby!

Muffin Top

Image via Wikipedia

That's right muffin top. I am sure you've heard the term and if not well here's what the oracle told me (the www that is), as follows:

• "Muffin-top" is a generally pejorative slang term used to describe the phenomenon of overhanging flesh (fat) when it spills over the waistline of pants or skirts in a manner that resembles the top of a muffin spilling over its paper casing. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muffin_top
• The roll of fat that overflows out of the top of low-cut or too-tight jeans
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/muffin_top

I love the show 30 Rock on NBC. When they did the muffin top episode, I was rolling on the floor with laughter (please note I did not write ROTFL. I am too old for that) Anyway, it was a good laugh and sometimes you need a good laugh, especially when the reality of that muffin top song hits home!
So, check out the link to the clip.

http://www.nbc.com/30-rock/video/jack-tor-highlight-2/117375/

Get a good laugh, because it's funny and o.k. to laugh!