Comments Rule!

OK...I promised a pre-marathon post, but it's going to have to wait. We'll see whether my husband survives 26.2 miles with only 5 weeks of training under his belt, and THEN we'll decide whether his method works or not. Maybe I'll be posting how TO train for a marathon rather than how NOT TO train!

I'm actually supposed to be packing right now, but my kids are sleeping and I'd rather take a few moments to share with you some of the AWESOME stuff we've gotten from our fitalicious readers this week. I feel really humbled by the sincerity of your advice, your thoughts, your insecurities, etc. I love that we're all working from the inside out...because who we are inside matters most...and makes us more beautiful on the outside! Anyway, in case you haven't read the comments, you should...cuz this is just a snipit! (And yes, Michael, feel free to comment on the comments!)

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With regards to healthy eating, and getting our kids to eat right, y'all gave some much-needed (for me, anyway) insight!

Michael said: (from his experience as a missionary in Honduras) Kids will eat what everyone else eats ONLY when there aren't any other options. There wasn't a single picky eater down there. When they know there's something else, of course they're going to want it.

Kimberly said: I try not to make food an issue. We have an open cupboard policy, but I want the kids to feel like they are the ones making the healthy choices and that their mom isn't forcing them to eat that way.

Christie's not afraid to throw away any uneaten birthday cake the day after the celebration. "I don't feel it's wasteful because we don't need to eat something just because it's there, and somehow, nobody seems to miss it."

Kristin's theory on sweets: We have dessert probably once a week, and my kids have to eat all their dinner to get it. I don't see this as a reward. I see it more that I'm teaching them that the healthy dinner is most important and if they don't get all the nutrition from the dinner, then they can't afford the sweets.

Erin said: Kids watch us! They watch us weigh in. And when they're toddlers it's fun, but when they get older, they think they have to go on a diet too. So be careful that you say you are eating healthy to be well and strong; not to be skinny or because you're too fat. So we have to be careful what we say!! So what's my point? Moderation...but don't freak out about it...be happy!

Rachelle reiterated the BALANCE and MODERATION theme: My 3 year old knows that I do buy treats, but she also knows that they are not to pig out on whenever she wants. I also don't want her to have an unhealthy relationship with treats and sweets because she will probably grow up and pig out as soon as I let her, so...I guess we (us lucky parents) need to find a balance.

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NOW, ONTO THE REEEEALLY GOOD STUFF! ON SELF-ESTEEM, and FEELING BEAUTIFUL FOR WHO WE ARE:

Here are three women who have had to overcome some SERIOUS stuff with their bodies, but are truly beautiful on the inside and out...

Evelyn said: After two misscarriages, numerous surgeries to have kids and two kids... my body is just not the same! It's so hard for me, but I honestly think my honey likes it better this way...I work on me so I can be that for him and we're both happy with the outcome!!!

Erin (and I don't know what to cut out, so I'm just posting the entire thing) said:

Seriously folks, I'm the queen of deformed bodies! After a masectomy, reconstruction, (yes, my stomach IS my boob)my body is one giant road map leading to no where.

I think one's true character is discovered when you look in the mirror and have no hair, no eyebrows or eyelashes; your face is fat due to the 40 pounds you've gained from the steroids your taking so the chemo doesn't kill you, you're missing one boob and you look at your husband and go..."Wow babe, I'm sexy!" I guess you just embrace what you've got and realize that beauty comes from the inside out.

And trust me people, that's hard to say when your reflection stares back some face you don't even recognize! But it's true. Life is about LIVING not being worried about all of our faults. Eat right, exercise, stay healthy and let the scars be happy reminders of all the fun things we've accomplished in life.

I still have a scar on my leg from a hiking trip to a beautiful Hawaiian waterfall. I love that scar...every time I look at it I remember how much fun that trip was!

So each stretch mark can count for each year we've celebrated motherhood. Each wrinkle can remind us of all the laughs we had with our families and our saggy boobs can remind us that our kids were once tiny babies and how much fun it was to cradle them in our arms. We need to teach our kids, (especially daughters) that beauty is the person that you ARE, not the person you SEE.

And a first-time commenter, Tina: I have struggled with self esteem my entire life. Feeling like I wasn't "good enough" to make parents happy or want me etc. And unfortunately when I put on weight after having children, I wondered what could possibly be attractive to my husband.

But, the awesome thing is. He loves me. I guess I am lovable.

So why don't I love myself?

I have an awesome scar from my birth defect on my stomach that is literally a deep crevasse that you can lose a finger in....OK, so not THAT deep, but I have struggled with the way my stomach looks, especially in a skin tight, wet swimming suit.

But you know, that scar represents life to me.

I am alive, and that scar reminds me every day what a gift my life is.

Behind that scar is scar tissue. It almost looks like an inner tube, only partially inflated, is stuck right to my stomach. Yes, the hole in the middle and everything.

Anyway, I have struggled with self esteem so long and so much but I am with Erin, I have to find my inner beauty and it shows on the outside as well. We aren't all supermodels. But we are "Hot Mama's" because we are moms who love our kids and do our best to be our best.

I guess that when we know who we really are, and WHOSE we really are, we can always find something to love about ourselves because of whose image we are created in.

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So way to go...a Trace Adkins song turned into a Young Women-esque lesson!

Have a fabulous weekend. Do something for YOU! We'll be back Monday (unless my sister's more motivated than me to blog on the weekends...)

LOTS OF TIPS FROM THE FITALICIOUS FAMILY OF READERS

***Only a few more days to enter the healthy recipe contest! Send in your recipes***

When we decided to start this blog, we hoped not only to impart some of the little knowledge we have of health and fitness to our readers, but to gain some insight as well. You ladies (and Michael) know your stuff! So in case you aren't keeping up with the comments, here are a few of the tips we've learned from our fitalicious family of readers (that means you!).

In response to a question about fitness for pregnant women, Tami said:
The elliptical kept me sane as a prego mom. Also, fast walking/jogging to the park every day helped me feel better. Exercise is said to reduce swelling in the legs and to shorten labor. Good luck!

For skin-care products, Christie recommends Origins Perfect World moisturizer and Bare Essentials make-up. They are just the best.

Regarding skin care, Michelle had some great at-home remedies:
I like to use just plain old, regular, white sugar to exfoliate my entire body. It's important not to push AT ALL, just move the sugar around gently and thats enough. It works everywhere, except for my feet (I use Ped Egg and then moisturizer on my feet, I recommend it highly...Exfoliation has been the number one way for me to rid myself of acne (which I am also prone to.) My skin is so hyper sensitive I can no longer use even Proactive Solution's sensitive formula anymore. I use banana boat sunscreen for babies spf 50. For whatever reason it doesn't make be breakout. It feels a little greasy going on, but soaks right in after a few minutes. Then I do the rest of my make-up.

Michael (yay for male readers...nevermind that he's our brother and has to...) said on acne treatment:
Dr. Fulton gave me one free bottle of this:
After one bottle, I was sold. Nothing gets rid of acne like that stuff.

Lots of you helped set the record straight on work-out myths as well!

Melissa said:
My physical therapist told me that stretching before a workout can actually hurt you. Always do most of your stretching after you've worked out.

On ab-work (Listen up, here! We all want to lose our mummy tummies...) Tami said:
Watch out for doing crunches and sit-ups. Not the best way to work the ABS! The abs are postural muscles and we definitely don't walk around in a hunched position all day, so why would you do this to work out. Besides that, it can create or worsen a diastasis ( a separation of the rectus abdominus muscle that comes from being pregnant or doing sit-ups and ab work wrong). Do work the abs by holding them in on all the work you do. Planks are great, heel slides are great, holding the abs in as you do bicep or tricep curls or holding them every time you stand up from a chair has you working them all day long.
For more info check out the book "Lose Your Mummy Tummy" by Julie Tupler

Christie attests to the importance of strength training:
I've been working out with a trainer for almost a year now. Strength training really has made a difference for me. And no, women can't bulk up unless they do steroids. You're right on!

To which Erin responded:
Yes, women can bulk up and do without the use of steroids...I'm a living example!!

Any thoughts? Just for the record, though, Erin definitely doesn't look like a woman on steroids! She's a hot, buff mama!

On to the food stuff!

On eating healthy, Lyenna (who happens to be 5 lbs. from her pre-pregnancy weight 8 weeks after giving birth!) suggests portion control.
I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm satisfied, not full. I also cut out extra fat. For example, I use mustard instead of mayo, for a sandwich and pile on the veggies to make it more satisfying. Also a good rule of thumb is to pay attention to serving size. If it's bigger than your fist (use this for fruit, potatoes, etc) or palm (use this for chicken, steak, etc) it's too big. Also with dessert, have it, just don't go overboard.

Aly (the beautiful cake maker) suggests:
Lots of...Fiber/Grains
Fruit and Veggies

2 servings...dairy
Easy on the...leans meats

8 glasses (or more)...of water

Essential Fats/Oils: Very small amount

All in moderation 6 days/week...

AND one over induldging day that I throw it all out the window!

Tami (who really is a health and fitness expert) says:
I try to avoid the five whites which are well known for giving you a "gut," "rice gut," "spare tire," whatever you want to call that extra around your waist line.

The five whites:
White flour
White pasta
White sugar
White rice
White potatoes

So what the heck do I eat? Hmmm.... good question!
Whole wheat bread
Whole wheat couscous
Quinoa (said to be the most nutritous grain, it's high in protein - use like rice, or like oatmeal)Brown rice (brown rice cakes are nice to snack on)
Oatmeal
Whole wheat pasta
And I try to eat my vegetables
Go for variety in color

And finally, some extra motivation...cuz I know we could all use some!

Christie nailed one of my motivating factors for exercise on the nose:
The only thing that motivates me is my extreme desire to eat bad food. I work out so that I can eat bad. Sure, I'd like to lose a few pounds, but if I can keep myself from gaining, I've done good.

And we know she runs like crazy...she ran a marathon a few years ago...

Miguelito said:
I guess one motivation is to keep up with you two. There's nothing better than a mid-morning jog in San Diego with my sisters.

We love our cute little brother!

And my favorite from Evelyn:
It is the one thing I can fully accomplish during the day.

If you cross nothing else off your to-do list for the day, you can feel accomplished knowing you did something good for yourself!

Thank you so much for making this blog better than we can make it ourselves. We hope our readership keeps growing so we can keep learning from you inspiring people! Have a great weekend!

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