Fitness Tip #1

People ask me all the time what they can do to lose weight and get in shape. The truth is there is a lot you can do. I think because there is a lot to do, and you get so much information on the subject, you don't know where to start. It feels overwhelming and so a lot of people just say "forget it!"

In my opinion, the key to changing your fitness level and lifestyle is mastering one principle and then moving on to something else. Don't try to do it all or to remember it all.

I've decided to throw up fitness advice here and there on my blog to help any of you working on your fitness level. So here is my fitness tip for the day:

Increase INTENSITY first and then TIME.

For example, if you are running on a treadmill at 6.0 mph for 20 minutes and you aren't seeing a lot of results, bump up your speed to 6.3 or 6.5 rather than your time. After you are running comfortably at the new speed, then you can increase your time.

You will see more results increasing the intensity of your workout rather than the time. I promise. You should feel every workout if you're expecting to see results from it. So put down that book you're reading on the teadmill and make your exercise time count--push yourself. :)

You Know What I Love?

1. Getting up at 5:15 am M-F for early morning workouts. I get to exercise, shower, get ready and eat breakfast before most suckers are even out of bed. Love that feeling! (of course by noon I am exhausted and need a nap and then the world passes me by--oh well).



2. Morgan walking around saying, "Robot, Robot" in a suprisingly good robot voice accompanied by robot arm motions.

3. Owen staring off into space (this happens often). Today when I asked him what he was thinking about it turned out to be a Popeye cartoon where termites eat Popeye's wooden house and then he builds a metal house instead. For some reason this fascinates Owen.

4. The fact that Shane STILL (we are well over 6 months married here people) rubs my back for a little bit every night, even though he is ridiculously tired.

5. This picture that Livy drew of me as an alien-cat with one eye yesterday. (also drawn: Livy as a cheerleader and Owen "just as an alien".)

6. Living in Arizona. It's the best. If you live in another state I'm sad for you.

New Life Never Gets Old

This is Max. My sister Allyson just had him a week ago.
Everyone, even little kids know there is something special about a new life. How do they know this? (This is Max being held by my sister Jenny and being adored by his cousins).

Livy goes to check on Max every day when she gets home from school.

Even Owen's extra gentle side comes out when he's around Max.

Morgan is working on being soft and loves to pet his head.

I remember when my kids were tiny babies like this. I didn't think they would ever be naughty or that they could ever make me angry. I couldn't even imagine it. I have a better imagination now. :) But sometimes when they are being really sassy or frustrating I try to remember them like this--tiny, innocent and completely dependent on me. And I realize no matter how frustrating they get, my heart will never stop loving them. Never.

The Birthday Boy

Owen turned 4 this past Saturday. In my family growing up we only got a big birthday party every 4 years (4, 8, 12 & 16). Sometimes I hated it, but it did make the years I got my big party WAY more exciting and really helped me to appreciate it. Now, as a mom I am realizing my mom probably did it that way because it is so much work--it was just a bonus that we learned a lesson on appreciation and delayed gratification (which, btw, I am really into). Anyway, without further ado, here he is.....

THE BIRTHDAY BOY (see, you can already tell he's more excited than most 4 year olds that get a party every year). :)


Since Owen doesn't have a lot of friends just yet I got to invite MY friends' little boys. That was fun. We made cars out of cardboard boxes and plastic colored plates and then we let the boys paint them too. I think they had fun. (left to right: Westin (my cousin Ben's son), Gunner (Julie Eagar Spahr's son), Griffin & Brian (my cousin Wendy's sons), Cooper (Nicolle Magnanti Webber's son)..Owen (mine).

Here's the back view.

Here's me with my handsome little boy.

It was a fun party.

Highlight of the party was when we were playing "park, park, drive" (our version of duck, duck, goose since it was cars & trucks party) and a little white airplane pulling a banner behind it flew right over our head. I think it was endorsing some Halloween store, but I said, "Look everyone, there's the plane that says 'Happy Birthday Owen!'" They all thought it was pretty cool except my cousins little boy Brian who was skeptical. He kept asking me, "Really? Does it really say that?" I just tried to avoid the question and smile....because hey, Free Plane!

Metamorphosis of a 2 Year Old

Here is a picture representation of Morgan coming to the realization that she is indeed 2. So cute and sweet here and then....


BAM! She turns into a completely irrational human being. There is no reasoning with her. There is no compromising. It's just a lot of fits and crying and frustration (I'm talking about Morgan right now).

However, she still has some of her cutest moments at this stage. I'm certain Heavenly Father knew he'd better make 'em pretty cute during this time...you know, so they can make it to 3.

I'm kinda bugged...

You want to know why? My kids haven't said or done anything "blog-worthy" for the past several days. All they have done is look cute at times, fight with each other at other times and cry at other times. BORING! Don't they know I had them so they could be good blog material? Say something clever or funny? Do something crazy that I can take a picture of? Nada. They are totally not holding up their end of the bargain.

Here are some highlights of my un-blogworthy life:

Yesterday Morgan insisted on wearing underpants because her cousin Brooklyn does. After about an hour of underwear success Brooklyn yelled, "Morgan pooped!" And sure enough, I rounded the corner to find Morgan standing with her poop-riden (diarrhea) unders at her knees. Fun. I suppose I could have taken a picture for everyone to enjoy. Oh well, next time.

At dinner last night I made a really yummy meal, IMO. Livy told me it was really good and that as long as she has water to wash it down it won't make her throw up.

Owen has just been a punk. But he did take this picture of Morgan and I. Impressive.

P.S. I had to look up how to spell "diarrhea". It's a hard word.

My Brothers

See these two big, strong, handsome guys? They are my brothers. That's Eric on the left and Porter on the right. I talked them into doing the triathlon with me.

I love these guys.

I'm gonna kick their trash.

:)