Breakfast Anyone?

I'm not telling any of you anything you don't already know when I say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day! You've all heard the quote, "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper." I love this quote, and I love breakfast. I think it would be MUCH easier to live-like-a-king-in-the-morning if life in the AM could slow down just a bit. Who has the same time available before rushing out the door in the mornings to make breakfast that we may (or may not) have in the evening? Our mornings are packed with getting kids ready for school, ourselves and husbands ready for work, morning workouts, etc. My almost-2-year-old is seriously starving the instant she wakes up in the morning, so if breakfast can't be on her plate in 2.5 seconds, we're all in for a rough morning.

However, if my kids don't get a good breakfast, we're not only in for a rough morning, we're in for a rough day! As much as they (and don't we all) love them, sugary cereals are not an okay breakfast option. The havoc wreaked on their blood sugar first thing in the morning leaves us all in a state of hysteria for the rest of the day.

I do, however, love cereal. A few months ago, when I was still in first-trimester-of-pregnancy hades, I had to stay in bed while my husband fed the kids breakfast. If we didn't have any cereal, they wouldn't get fed, and I'd end up getting out of bed to the sounds of their screams. They were hungry, and ornery. The trick was finding breakfast cereals that are full of healthful attributes, are low in sugar, have no saturated or trans fat, are full of whole grains, and most importantly...still taste great!

If you feel guilty for providing nothing-but-cereal for breakfast, don't! Cereal has lots of benefits! If you're a ready-to-eat cereal eater, you probably consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than a non-cereal eater? Cereals contain important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. So actually, cereal is a guilt-free top source of key nutrients in children´s diets!

Shopping for cereal, however, is no easy task...especially with kids in tow! The only boxes they want to buy are the boxes that may as well be full of little cookies. Dessert for breakfast? No way! Maybe my kids are missing out on "fun" breakfast traditions like donuts and cookie-cereal, but my life is much easier because I simply don't provide these options in the morning.

A few weeks ago, I received an email with information from General Mills through MyBlogSpark. They offered me coupons for four free boxes of cereal. Anyone who knows my husband knows that this family loves freebies! (He was once the Showcase Winner on The Price is Right to name one of many instances...) I jumped at the chance to score some free cereal, and was even more excited when I read about the changes General Mills is making in the cereal world!

General Mills recently announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain. Yay!

Eating a good breakfast is important for ALL of us, but several studies have shown the benefits especially for kids, including the following:

• Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.
• Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.
• More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.
• Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

For more information about kids and cereals from General Mills, please visit the Cereal Health and Wellness page.

Find a cereal that works for you! A few years ago, my in-law-extended-family had a reunion. Everyone was supposed to bring a box of cereal to share. I brought one of my favorites which my husband's aunt tasted. After taking a bite, she exclaimed, "This tastes like cardboard!" So yes, one person's perfect whole-grain cereal with less sugar is another person's bowl of sawdust. If you're one who prefers breakfast cereals that come in lots of colors and artificial flavors, then you might have to choose between taste and nutrition. But if you like a cereal with natural flavors from toasted whole grains, and maybe some nuts and dried fruit, you'll have many healthful cereals to choose from. And according to General Mills, tasty cereal's about to get healthier! I can't wait! Also, if you click here, you can score a coupon for $1 off some cereal! Enjoy!

And just in case I didn't make it clear, General Mills provided me with the free product, information, and gift pack through MyBlogSpark.

What did you eat for breakfast?

Born To Run Review

It doesn't happen often, but today I feel amazingly enlightened. Two nights ago, I finished reading Born To Run by Christopher McDougall. The only reason I won't tell all of you to RUN out and buy it right away is because the language in the book is terrible! But the insights into the human body and our running potential were amazing! McDougall told an incredible story describing his journey leading up to a fifty-mile footrace in the Copper Canyons between arguably the best runners in the world. But thrown in with the story line were incredible discoveries on the human body, and the fact that quite literally, we were born to run.

Running is actually right at the heart of what it means to be human. Among other insights I gleaned from this book, here are a few thoughts:

• The rate of running injuries has actually increased with the existence of more expensive, cushier running shoes. Our feet are looking for stability, and the more padding we land on, the harder we land (in search for the solid ground). The more expensive the running shoe, the higher the rate of injury! Who tells us to buy new shoes every 300 miles? (Besides the fact that I've said that before...ahem) THE COMPANIES SELLING RUNNING SHOES! Worn out shoes may actually be BETTER!
• Some of the best college teams train barefoot! Imagine your one-year old is running out into a street, and you are standing in the driveway barefoot. How you would sprint after your child with your bare feet is probably exactly how you should be running with shoes on! Light on your feet, toes striking the ground first. (Have any of you tried the Vibram Five Fingers? I'd love to get my hands on a pair...the bare footing alternative!)
• Other animals get in one breath per stride. When they reach their limit, they literally have to stop to pant and catch their breath. Humans can breathe multiple times per stride. We sweat to cool off, and we can continue running as we "rest." Because of this, our ancestors outlived the bigger, stronger neanderthals. They could literally RUN an animal down, and women were just as involved as men in the hunt! (Pregnant on the hunt? No problem...just squat on the side of the trail, pop that baby out, and continue tracking the animals). A typical hunt could last 4-5 hours...very similar to the time it takes most people to run a marathon today. Coincidence?
• The best way to eat when training for a big run is to eat like a poor person! Recipes I'm dying to try after reading the book (Pinole and Iskiate--the Chia drink) can be found here!
• Running should be sheer joy! It is, after all, the very essence of what it means to be human. Running should make you not only healthier, but happier, and a better person overall.
• Running is the only sport in which males and females can participate together, and compete on almost equal levels. It's also the only sport we can actually get better at as we age...returning to our 19-year-old pace at the age of 64.

I drove my husband crazy as I read this book with all the insights I had to share with him every five seconds. He was pretty disheartened at the fact that our expensive running shoes could actually be hurting us, but also happy to know that if done right, running should not be painful at all.

As for my personal application of what I read, I've tried two things so far:

1. I ran on the treadmill yesterday, and outside with my husband (and the jogging stroller) this morning. Each time, I focused on landing on my toes rather than my heels, and actually letting my toes spread as I landed instead of just relying on the shoes to take the impact. Result? I'm sure I still have work to do. My calves are super sore, but my knees (which have been bothering me lately) didn't hurt a bit! Maybe one of these days I'll brave a barefoot run on soft grass, but not until it's warm.
2. This deserves it's own post, but I have one 3-year old, super defiant boy. I decided to take my kids to a local park this afternoon next to the trail my husband and I like to run on. Part of the trail circles the park. It's too cold and wet to play at the park, but we went there just for a run. My 3-year old literally ran around the track eight times. He probably ran close to two miles. And the expression on his face the whole time? PURE JOY! He loved the thrill of running as fast as his little legs would carry him. We came home, he was extremely AGREEABLE, took an awesome nap, and has been happy ever since. I don't know if running is the ultimate solution, but it can't hurt. So for my strong-willed child's sake, running around the park is now on the daily agenda. And as I watch him, I'm going to learn.

Running shouldn't only be the means to an end, but an experience. It should allow you to connect with your body, feel air on your face, connect with others, and feel the ultimate joy of what it means to be human.

YAY for running!

What I'm Reading...

So, it's Monday, and for the first MONDAY in quite a while, I'm feeling super motivated to get this week going! Why? (Besides the fact that I need to post SOMETHING new so that the real me isn't the face you see smiling when you enter FitMePink!) I spent all weekend reading (from start to end) this:

I loved how Dave Ramsey, in The Total Money Makeover compared being "financially fat" to being physically out-of-shape. It's time to take a serious look in the mirror to evaluate all areas of our lives. That's right...look in the mirror, stop sucking in your belly, and see what's really there. Of course, the point of the book is to teach you how to financially "live like no one else so you can later live like no one else," but the principles can carry over to many more aspects of life as well. Read it. Very inspiring!

The other reason I'm excited is that today I'm going to start reading this: Can't wait to learn about the fact that we, the human race, were actually literally designed to run. The author argues that running is at the heart of what it means to be human. Running, in essence, should be sheer joy! Born To Run, here I come! (Thanks, Michael, for the suggestion!)

What has you excited on this wintery Monday morning? What are you reading?

Unapologetically ME!

A few days ago, my cousin Stie wrote about the parts of our lives we choose to reveal on our blogs. (And if you don't read her blog, by the way, you should. When I first started blogging over on my sad, neglected family blog, hers inspired me to try a little harder to BLOG a little better. Really.) Anyway, Stie's post really got me thinking about who YOU all think I am. As a blogger, I have to liberty to be whoever I want to be....or whoever I want you to think I am. More often than not, I definitely try to put my BEST self out there for the world to see. But how often do I let you in on the other side of me? The one I cover up with makeup and a cyber-smile everytime I log on to blogger?

Okay...so to give myself a LITTLE credit, you all know that occasionally I turn into Monster Mom. You know that I will never brave a 1700-mile drive again with two small children while pregnant. You also know that sleep-deprived-me is not one to invite over for game night. But you probably think that I never miss a day of exercise, that my kids get full servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and that I have no problem waking up at 5 am to get in a full workout each day.

Well FitMePeeps, to even things out a bit, I'm going to let you see much more of the real me than I've EVER shown you before. Actually, the only ones (un)lucky enough to see this side of me are my family, and other occasional household guests. I honestly NEVER leave the house without makeup. So here I am in my just-out-of-bed-greasy-hair-under-eye-baggage-and-no-makeup glory!

Yowza! I'm sure my husband was surprised when he saw me without makeup for the first time. I actually can't remember if I ever let him see it pre-marriage. I'm hoping for his sake that I did. Had to let him see what he would be waking up to each morning...for, well, forever.

And while I'm exposing myself, why not let you in on a few more pieces of the real me.

1. The main reason NO ONE ever sees me without makeup is that I have blonde eyelashes. I've ALWAYS hated them. Even if I'm going to the gym at 5:00 in the morning, I cover up those beauties with a bit of mascara. I NEVER leave the house without makeup. Ever. Luckily, I actually truly enjoy the makeup and primping, but I really wish I were one of those girls who truly, honestly looks good without makeup. I'm just not. Soon after my wedding, my new sister-in-law invited me to go with her to dye our eyelashes. I was silly enough to put on mascara before she picked me up. I just wasn't ready for her to see the real me. These days, if I don't have my makeup on for the day, I probably won't even answer the door. I guess I'm a bit vain, but if you see me outside of my house, you can bet a gazillion dollars (and win) that I'll have makeup on.


2. I constantly compare myself to others. If I know I'm not good at something, I have a really hard time doing it. Take last night for example. I went ice skating with the youth for a church activity. I'm a terrible ice skater. I went around the rink twice, and spent the rest of the time standing outside, wishing I were like the amazing 5-year olds out on the ice. Getting better ain't gonna happen on the side-line!


3. I often feel like my life is completely unorganized. If I haven't decided what I'm doing the next day before I go to bed, I waste most of the day. Before I know it, it's 5 pm, my kids are whiny, I don't know what's for dinner, and the only time I've left the house is to work out (if that).


4. And finally, what other people think about me matters WAY. TOO. MUCH. I am constantly reading people's faces, gestures, and emotions to make sure they aren't mad at me, etc. I hate salespeople for this reason, because saying "no" to them feels very personal to me. I need to be liked.

There you go. A few bits of reality for you. And now that I've exposed myself, I would love to see the real you. Without makeup. Without a cyber smile. The person you face in the mirror each morning, for better or worse. Post it on your blog, or leave a comment with a few insights into YOU.


Ready, GO!

Selfish Blogging

Tonight, I was at my weekly get-together-to-sing-a-little-and-talk-A-LOT night with my girlfriends. It was the first time we've gotten together since before Christmas, and it was great. It's our "singing practice," but we didn't even sing a single note tonight. We talked, and laughed, and relished in the beauty of away-from-home-and-kids time.

Four of us are pregnant, and listening to the two that are still in their first trimester made me SO GRATEFUL to have those 13 weeks of you know what behind me. All night vomit fests should be enough to force every woman to never have a second child, but somehow we forget.

One of my so-miserable-she-hasn't-washed-her-hair-in-five-days friends asked me how in the world I manage to keep working out when I'm pregnant. Honestly, when I wasn't feeling good for those few months, working out was the only thing that made me feel better.

A few nights ago, I was feeling sorry for myself. I had just watched Julie & Julia and was wondering why in the world I even write this silly fitness blog. I definitely don't have the knowledge or skills MizFit has, or the organization SimpleMom has, or the 365-day plan Julie Powell had.

But tonight, after talking to my lovely friends, I realized why I blog. I've started and failed at a lot of things in life. I've dreamed big dreams I've yet to accomplish. But I've somehow mastered the art of fitting fitness into my occasionally chaotic life. If I accomplish NOTHING else in a day, I can almost always (as long as the last two weeks don't count) say that I exercised in some way. And somehow, blogging about it keeps me motivated and accountable.

So for those of you who stop by and read what I have to say, thank you! YOU are my inspiration! I can't wait to share 2010 with you!

Resolutions

For the first time since I wrote them, I just revisited last year's resolutions. I didn't accomplish all of them, but I came pretty darn close. I'm not going to bore you again with this year's resolutions. I'm sure you've all read enough about making them by now that you didn't even click over to read this post when you saw the title!

I will, however, say this. As much as I hate the month of January, I do love that it gives each of us a chance to start fresh. Whatever happened in 2009 can be forgotten. You now have a clean slate, can move on, and be a little better this year. If you fall off the wagon this month, however, don't think the entire year is headed for disaster! Each and every DAY, WEEK, or MONTH can be a fresh start. If one day you don't eat how you'd like, start fresh the next day. It doesn't have to be a MONDAY! It doesn't have to be JANUARY 1st! Resolving to be better, healthier, and happier can happen ANY DAY OF THE YEAR at ANY MOMENT! If the whole day has been a disaster, there's nothing wrong with going for an evening stroll to get back on track.

Make every day this year count. Heaven knows I made more failed resolutions last year than I'd like to admit. Chocolate fast? Lasted one day. Sugar fast? Maybe one week. And here I am at the beginning of another year hoping to be a little better.

And as for resolutions? I lied. I'll let you in on ONE goal I'm hoping to keep:

Do not DRIVE from Utah to Tennessee for any reason. If we can't fly, we're not going. Vacationing after a 28-hour drive feels how I would imagine a never-ending hangover would feel. I'm still recovering! Four entire days spent (with my lovely children) in the car is more than this expectant mama can handle!

Happy New Year! What are YOUR resolutions?