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Thursday, December 29, 2011

ready for a HEALTHY New Year?


First of all, I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year 2012 from the Move It Momma!



What are you thinking in terms of goals for the new year?  If losing weight, getting healthy or getting physically fit is on your mind, you might want to keep a few things in mind this time of year:

*gyms will be offering HUGE incentives for signing up in January.  Usually waiving enrollment fees, offering lower monthly dues and much more.  I suggest calling the gyms in your area to see the deals.
*home workout equipment is usually interest free and you can find some great deals at your local retailers.
Use a food journal!  It's amazing what writing down your food will do for you.  It will usually help you understand that although you THINK you're eating healthy and keeping your calories in control, the candy jar at work and the handful of munchies while cooking dinner might actually be adding up to more than you think.  "If you bite it, WRITE IT!"  
Set smaller goals!  And once you reach those goals, set another and another and ANOTHER!  If you always have a goal in mind, it'll keep you focused on the task at hand!
Find workouts that you actually ENJOY doing!  We are all different and enjoy different things!  Find what works for YOU!  A local CrossFit, boot camp, gym, track, anything that keeps you active!  My husband and I choose to run outdoors and not use a gym, but it's every person for themselves...if you don't LOVE doing it, chances are you'll probably get bored and quit before reaching your goals.  
Find a support system! Having people around you to push you, motivate and guide you to reaching your goals is always a positive key!  Although you MUST believe in yourself, when others hold us accountable, sometimes we succeed more than we thought possible!
NO MORE EXCUSES!  You can do anything in 2012 and all of the time!  Believe in yourself.  Nobody can hold your hand through this.  It's a tough struggle and we all have moments of defeat, but it's how we come out of it and if you come out stronger and you meet and exceed your goals this year, I promise you will live a happier, more fulfilling life!  

How will you make 2012 a happier, HEALTHIER year?  
What are your goals?  
If you say those goals out loud and often, they'll run through your mind all day, every day!  
THIS IS YOUR TIME!

As for me, I'm still struggling with my back pain, but I am NOT letting it get me down!  I will run 13.1 miles on January 15th!  I have waited long enough for this day to arrive and I'll be ready!  Even if I must interval walk/run, I will cross that finish line with a smile on my face and most likely, tears in my eyes!  It's totally worth it, knowing how far I've come and I plan to make 2012 the best year yet!  Taking my running to the next level and seeing where it will take me.  Possibly my long awaited dream of a triathlon?  Hmm, we'll see!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

FOOD DETOX??!

Whew!  Such a wonderful Christmas 2011 but now it's time for DETOX!
FOOD DETOX!  
From all of the cookies, appetizers, turkey, breakfast casserole, chocolate dipped pretzels, cranberry, honey baked ham, rolls, Beer...etc!  
Have I given you a glimpse at all of the goodies that were consumed over the past week?  Ugh.  

Makes me completely sick just thinking about it.  I have a food headache...is that possible?   Don't get me wrong, my husband and I have our weak moments from time to time and definitely allow time to splurge, but this Christmas was a little out of control.  I'm not sure if we figured, "hey, we're running so we can EAT!" but whatever the reason, NO MORE EXCUSES!  It's back to our healthy eating!  Although we didn't go overboard and only had small amounts of the goodies, it's still time to DETOX!  Ha!



So, that means all of the leftover "Cookies for Santa" have now been put into giant, Ziploc bags for my husband to bring to work!  All of the other leftovers from the fridge have been tossed out...sad but true!  And that means tomorrow is a new day!  Waking up to oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon and pumpkin puree, followed by a morning run!  I am hoping to get in about 6-7 miles but that'll depend on the rain!  We have had  some cold, wet days here lately and although we needed the rain, I am ready for some long runs where I don't come home drenched and cold!  Ha!  

How about you?  
Did you let those Christmas goodies get the best of ya?  Or did you practice great self-control?

And the Houston Aramco Half Marathon is only 20 days away!  I can't believe it!  I have had the back injury set back, but hopefully I can really kick it up these coming weeks to make up for lost time!  Yikes!  I'm still working on my running playlist for the race and it's pretty good so far, I'll share with all of you once it's complete!  Am I really going to do this?  CRAZY!  I hope lots of our family and friends decide to come out and show their support...I know it's going to be an incredibly emotional day for my husband and I.  

Friday, December 23, 2011

running in the rain, some tips and a weak moment for ME!

We have been celebrating Christmas for a few days now and I've totally slacked here...
To update:  
My back is better, but has not allowed me a LONG run like I would have hoped, being so close to the half!  That's okay though, I am determined to finish and I will FINISH with a smile(hopefully) on my face!  
A few days ago, I ran in the pouring rain!  It started off cloudy, turned to sprinkles and then at mile 2, POURING!!!  Ha, I enjoyed every second of it.  There was something so freeing about running through the rain ON PURPOSE, ya know?  My socks were drenched, my hair was dripping, as I tried to wipe the sweat from my face-I ended up covered in more water...but it was all okay, it felt AWESOME!  Crazy, but true!

For our family gathering last night, I made a delicious dip...
1 container of Greek PLAIN Yogurt
1/2 packet ranch
1/2 cup turkey bacon pieces
1/2 package 2% shredded cheese-or cheese of your choice!  
Mix and serve with veggies and whole wheat crackers!  So yummy!!  ...and sneaky too!


Merry Christmas to all of you!
I hope you are finding ways to stay healthy during the holiday season!  
Stay active. 
 Never arrive at a party on an empty stomach, you'll eat much more than planned and feel the guilt afterward.  Grab a quick snack on your way-handful of almonds, fruit...anything! 
 Last night, my husband and I were starving by the time we came back home and instead of serving the meal, we decided to binge on all of the yummy appetizers..
."BIG MISTAKE, HUGE"(name that movie!!)  We felt awful afterward, bloated and totally not hungry for the meal...so, where did we go wrong?  Ugh, allowing ourselves to get to the point of STARVING!  Ha!  And having NO self control!  A very weak moment for us!
This year, suggest a family walk AFTER the meal!  It'll help keep the focus away from FOOD and more on the simple part of just being together and enjoying time with family!  
Plus, you'll encourage healthy living for the people that you love! 

Monday, December 19, 2011

Inspire Me! Series

                 compliments of Motivate Me Monday, hosted by Jessica @ Running to be Skinny!

  We both realized once this series started, that we were both featuring motivating stories on Mondays!  So, this week I am very honored to be her feature story HERE If you haven't read her blog, it's great and very inspiring!  She's another amazing blogger that I've "met" who puts her health as a top priority in her life and that is motivating in itself!  From sharing my story, I hope you will help me spread the message that change is always an option!  You or someone you love can change their life NOW.  Not tomorrow, not next week...NOW!  If you make up your mind and set a goal for yourself, you'll reach it and never look back.  You have to believe in yourself and it helps to have a support system along the way, helping push you to finish what you've started! 

 Merry Christmas and hope you can spread the word of healthy living at your Christmas gatherings this year!!  As for my back, it's healing and we'll see how my afternoon run goes...thank you again for all of the kind words.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

update...and how bored we REALLY are!

Thank you for all of your sweet comments regarding my back injury.  Things seem to be getting better, slowly.  I plan on going for a short walk/run tomorrow morning to see how it feels.  I will definitely listen to my body and take it easy from now until the half!  It's scary with any injury, but especially hurting my back one month away from something I've looked forward to for so long.

And since I've had an injury and my oldest son has been battling a fever/cough...we've been BORED and stuck indoors, which allows us too much time for silly stuff:
Like spending 30minutes taking pictures of ourselves on my iPhone...sad but totally true. 
Putting on the Holiday Hits channel and dancing all over the living room to "rockin around the Christmas tree" and much more...
playing freeze tag in our kitchen

Hope tomorrow's walk/run works out for me.  I'm totally frightened that I will not reach my goals that I have set for myself at this race.  I know that I've learned a few things from hurting my back!  One:  Don't lift ANYTHING incorrectly! I should have known better
Two:  When you know your back isn't feeling quite right...REST immediately!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Uh Oh...

I'm very upset right now.  

My husband decided to re-do my mom's coffee table for her and it looks awesome... 
BUT when I helped him move it back to her house after it was complete...
I lifted TOTALLY wrong and now I'm paying for it.  I am in SO much pain.  My husband had to call off from work and he's helping me take care of the boys and I'm sitting around with a ThermaCare heat pack on my back!  Yea, I sure didn't need this one month away from my half marathon, BUT I'm hoping with a little rest it'll be back to normal sooner rather than later??  We will see.  

 
**Also, I had lots of comments regarding my Greek Yogurt Ranch dip!  I promise that it TASTES exactly the same and your guests will NEVER know the difference...promise!  I usually mix it up and my boys dip veggies and crackers without knowing the difference!!  Plus, my youngest will NOT touch yogurt, so it's a great way to get a serving or two in him every now and then :-) I'm SO sneaky!!!  

Thursday, December 15, 2011

ALMOST famous and a great salad too

If I haven't said it a zillion times already, my FIRST half marathon is exactly one month from TODAY!
Woohoo!  I'm terrified and super excited, all at the same time!  Is that even possible?  I've found myself running and sobbing a lot lately.  Yes, I'll be running and all of a sudden burst into tears thinking about what I've done for myself and my family in regards to my running.  About how running is so much easier than before, especially how hard it USED to be for me.  How I NEVER thought I'd be taking on 13.1 miles!  Crazy!
 Back to how I am ALMOST famous, right?  The Chevron Houston Marathon committee has a website and my husband and I were a feature story!!  I guess because of our weight loss, our goal of completing this half together and that we'll be running it on our seven-year anniversary!  
Pretty cool huh?  
If you'd like to read, you can find the story HERE!  I thought it was pretty cool how they told our story in such short words, but hope those words will help others find the motivation they need for years to come!
If that link doesn't work, try this...
http://houstonmarathon.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/runner-profile-marissa-mcclellen/?preview=true&preview_id=812&preview_nonce=75b7498e55
  



And onto other news...my husband and I have created the perfect salad and I think we could eat it every day if possible!  Start off with your favorite greens, the greener the better right?  RIGHT!  We use some spinach and romaine.  Add thinly sliced purple onion, chopped avocado, chopped apple-we used Gala, and chopped walnuts.  We use a serving of each, so we don't go overboard and then drizzle with Vinaigrette dressing!  Make sure you watch portion sizes, especially with the serving of dressing and other than that, ENJOY IT!  It sure is good with all of the flavors and that crunch...ah, the crunch is the best part!  If you don't like vinaigrette dressing, try mixing a little red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.  It makes a great dressing that's easy and has lots of flavor!  What's your favorite salad that you create at home??

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

a lot to share...

It's Christmas which also means lots of parties and LOTS of great foods!  That's okay, if you plan ahead you will have a great holiday season WITHOUT packing on the extra pounds!  If you're in the mood to munch at a party, bring your own great alternatives to the fattening appetizers that are usually served!  I suggest trying these instead...

Pretzels & Cottage Cheese
I tried it for the first time the other day and fell in love.  Sound like a strange combo?  I'm not super crazy about cottage cheese, but I do enjoy the Lactaid 2%...it tastes pretty good and doesn't make my tummy hurt afterward!  Before trying with pretzels, I'd eat a serving with fruit, but the salty from the pretzels is actually great!  Yum! 
 It's a great low-fat snack that's packed with protein, so give it a try!

Greek Ranch Dip
Mix one container PLAIN Greek yogurt with 1/2 packet ranch dressing powder.  Mix well and serve with your favorite veggies!  This makes a great snack and your guests will NEVER know that you've replaced sour cream for yogurt!  So sneaky!  My favorite yogurt dippers are broccoli and snap peas!  

Fruit and Cheese Kabobs
Layer the skewer, alternating your favorite fruits and cheeses!  Yep, it's that easy. You can make this super kid-friendly and fun just by adding fruit and cheese shapes!  Hmm, I'm thinking Christmas Tree cheese and star-shaped fruits!!!  HOW CUTE!  


Today's Workout:  Today I went for a run in the muggy, misty weather...ugh!  It was a light run, 3 miles but I am getting a little faster, so that makes me very happy!  Afterward, I came home and worked on planks and my son wanted to work on his planks too...pretty good form for a five-year old, huh?  Do your kids enjoy workouts with you?

 ...and totally nothing fitness or health related, but I've sure enjoyed this Christmas season with my husband and our boys!  My husband has had some time off and we've really enjoyed spending some quality time together, doing some fun and exciting things!  
Unfortunately he's not in this picture because he's taking it!  Ha!    
 May 2012 bring you much joy and happiness.  If you are working on goals for the New Year, it's never too late to make a HUGE change!  
The sky is the limit, so dream big and make 2012 the healthiest year for you and your family!!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Inspire Me! Series...another inspirational story!

So happy that I have another inspirational story to share with all of you this week!  
Around the holidays, I know we must find inspiration in ourselves to avoid all of those holiday temptations BUT it's also nice to be inspired by others!  That brings me to this week's amazing story...
Meet Jen @ Runner...Maybe


Before: 2008

After: 2011...rocking a half marathon!
She's a wife and a mother!  And an amazing athlete!  I think you will be inspired by her story, just as I am.  And hopefully you'll stop by her blog and show her some love!  Now on with her story...

My story -


I have been on my weight loss journey for several years. I was overweight before my daughter was born, and although I lost the pregnancy weight quickly I gained some back when I went back to work.   I struggled with the ups and down of weight loss and at times would hit my stride and the plateau for months on end.  Instead of giving up I would find the strength to keep moving to reach my goals.  In 2011, I decided I was going to run a Half Marathon. Something that I thought I would never be able to accomplish. With the help of my husband and family members I ran my first half on Mother’s Day, finishing with my then 3 year old running the final .1 with me.

I continued my love/hate relationship with running and signed up for a second half. I think I realized more about myself this last week preparing for this run then I have the entire year.  Life is about living, life is about finding what you love (or hate) and going at it like there is no tomorrow.  Life is about never giving up on your goals and dreams no matter how big or small they are.

What motivates you?  When I first started losing weight I made a list with things I wanted to do. Go to a movie without feeling strange in a movie theater seat, never shop at Lane Bryant or other plus size clothing again, say good bye to clothing with XXL on them, be able to walk with my head held high because I felt confident, eat healthy food because I wanted to, not because I had to. The list goes on.  My motivation in the beginning came with crossing things off this list.  However now my motivation comes from within – it comes from the want to live my life and to never give up as we are only here for a short amount of time.
If you made a lifestyle change, what helped you make that change?  I have used lots of products, when I got serious about losing weight I hired a trainer. When that got to expensive I went at it on my own. As my weight stalled I received a BodyBugg as a birthday present! I love the BodyBugg and while I am not using it now it really teach me about portion control and getting the most out of my workout.  I would recommend a BodyBugg to anyone who has over 50lbs to lose and is serious about getting it off. The BodyBugg is just the road map; you have to put in all the work.

Are you sharing your passion for healthy living with others? I have been a member of an awesome online community called Modern-Bliss.com. It’s a group of women who chat about our life and everything in between. We have Fitness board which has been a big inspiration for me to not only share my progress but to get encouragement when I am done. I started my blog runnermaybe.blogspot.com as a journal to help keep me accountable, if someone is inspired when they read it to make a change then that is great, but that isn’t why I started it.  I also have a small group of women that I email with on a daily basis. We talk about everything but most of all we are support for each other in our weight loss journey. We have never met in real life but feel like I have known them forever.

And lastly, who inspires YOU? Many people inspire me, but I am most inspired by people who are ‘real’. The person who wakes up and chooses to be happy, the person who smiles at a random stranger, the person who cheers for a runner even if they have to stand in the rain to watch a race, the person who ends the day with Today was a good day no matter what happened during the day.
And as always, please email me at rissarose80@yahoo.com if you'd like to be featured!  I love this series because we are all sharing something in common!  We all have stories to tell and ways to relate to one another!  We are striving to STAY FIT, LIVE HEALTHY and raise a HEALTHY FAMILY!  No matter what's your story, it's worth sharing so please join the series :-)

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Uncle Sam's and my run!

I had mentioned a few weeks ago that my aunt has been loving the Uncle Sam cereals.  Many of you agreed that like me, you hadn't tasted this cereal before and would like to know more, so I decided to contact Attune Foods and see if they'd be interested in sending some my way.  And luckily, they said yes so here's what I thought...

Uncle Sam Strawberry, Original and Honey Almond
The first one that I tasted was Strawberry-now I'm a blah cereal lover, meaning I don't really like sweetness to my cereal but this one was actually pretty good.  
Nutrition Facts:  3/4 cup, Calories: 240, Dietary Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 7g, Protein: 7g


The next one that I tried, dry in a cup without milk was the Honey Almond...this one was VERY yummy, with just a hint of great honey flavor!
**I also enjoyed this flavor mixed with more natural almonds, a handful of cranberries and sunflower seeds for a snack!  Easy, on the go snack that keeps you full and satisfied :)
Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup, Calories: 230, Dietary Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 5g, Protein: 6g


And finally, Original.  This one was probably my favorite!  Great flavor and by far the most fiber and protein of most cereals that I enjoy eating and lower in calories too!
Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup, Calories: 190, Dietary Fiber: 10g, Sugar: less than 1g, Protein: 7g


All of these cereals were very filling.  They all tasted great with and without milk!  They made a great breakfast and also a great snack that kept me satisfied when I had the munchies during the day!  I am glad that my aunt shared her favorite cereal with me and I'm also happy that Attune Foods was kind enough to allow me to taste their wonderful products!  
What flavor do you think you'd like best?  


And now for Today's Workout: 6.3 miles in 1hr. 2min! I'm ready to kick some booty in this half marathon!  If you watched Biggest Loser marathon (I loved it!) then you probably were totally motivated by the end of the show?  Right?  I sure was.  I told myself...Hmm, one day I'll totally conquer the 26.2, but then reality set back in after a while and I realized that my half marathon is a little over ONE MONTH AWAY!!!!  Yikes!  Today was a breezy 46 degrees with some pretty intense winds, but I pushed through and totally felt great!  I've gotta find a way to stay hydrated...one of the belts that holds my water, right?  What else is a must-have on race day??


Disclosure:  Attune Foods sent me 3 boxes of their cereal, free of charge, in exchange for my honest review.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are 100% mine.  

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

I need a TOP 5?

It's well known that I MUST run to music!  I have tried running in silence and listening to my body, but I just can't help myself...I wanna ROCK!  Ha!

As the half marathon gets closer, I find myself wanting some GREAT songs for that final mile...I know I'll be hurting and wanting to finish strong, so I'm going to need some motivating music!
Any suggestions?  
What's a song that pushes you through your run and helps you find that last burst of energy to put you across that finish line, with a smile on your face?!  Hopefully I'll be smiling?  Right? Ha!  


Anybody watching the Biggest Loser Marathon tonight?  I'm SO excited to see it!  No better motivation than these people pushing themselves 26.2 miles, after gaining their life back and losing weight!  Woohoo!  Oh and it'll be great to see Bob and Dolvett at the finish line :)

Monday, December 5, 2011

Inspire Me! Series


Welcome to another week of Inspire Me! Series 
and now I'd LOVE to introduce you to another favorite fit blogger friend of mine, 
Christy Johnson
and you can find her blogging about her fitness adventures at, www.homehearthealth.blogspot.com


Her Dad, Mom, Sister and Christy in Arlington, TX before racing a 10K
 What a super fit family, right?  
Ah, I love that this family puts health and fitness as a priority in all of their lives!  Nothing better than that...NOTHING!!!  This family is proof that if you introduce your children to fitness early on, it's something that will stick with them for a lifetime!  AWESOME!
Christy after finishing her FIRST half marathon!


My Story
Just a few months before my 30th birthday, my husband, kids and I participated in a 5K fun run through our church. We couldn't even finish the whole distance (running or walking). I knew then that things had to change. That following week, I started doing run/walk intervals around the school near my house. At first, I could only do one lap (about 3/4 of a mile) doing about half jogging and half walking. I slowly built up until I could do three laps, and then eventually, run more than I walked. I completed a "3 Miles at 30" 5K on my 30th birthday with my sister, who had been on her own weight loss and fitness journey well before me. I ended up doing two 5K races in a short amount of time and struggled with my IT bands for a while after that. But I kept at it.

I coupled this new exercise routine of running two or three mornings a week before teaching junior high with healthy eating and lost about 20 pounds. It's still a battle to keep the weight off, but I work hard to make health a lifestyle and not a diet.

My mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago (she had a mastectomy and is cancer free now). I completed the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in Dallas the following year in her honor, raising more than $3,000 for the cause. At the end of that event, I was given the opportunity to sign up and fundraise for Susan G. Komen in the Dallas Rock N Roll Half Marathon. I took the chance to bump my running to the next level and signed up. I completed that half marathon in March 2011 and couldn't have been happier with my race.

What I'm Doing Now
I am now in the last week of training for my second half marathon, the Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon. I'll be running it with my best friend who lives in Montana. We only get to see each other about once a year, and I am so excited to run with her!

I'm also in the running for a Refuel with Chocolate Milk grant. I'd love to win it so I can enter a winter race. I have a couple in mind, but I haven't decided exactly what I want to do.

Motivation
I am motivated by several people. My sister gave me the courage and support to start this crazy journey. My mom and dad are also running now and continue to inspire me. Mom completed her first half marathon a week ago, and Dad completed a 100K bike ride in August. I'm motivated by my kids, to set a good example for them. Most of all, I'm motivated by the feeling of being healthy and active. Running is my "me" time. It keeps me strong and sane so that I can be the best me I can be in all the roles I have...wife, mother, friend, teacher, sister, daughter.

(The first picture is my dad, mom, sister and me before running in Arlington, TX. The girls ran a 10K while Dad ran a 5K. The second picture is of me and my kids after I finished my first half marathon.)

Christy M. Johnson
www.homehearthealth.blogspot.com

 Thank you Christy for sharing your story!  On behalf of myself and all of the Let's Move It Mommas readers, good luck on your second half marathon!  We know you'll rock it!!!  Thank you for being an inspiration to your family and all of us too!  
Remember if you'd like to be featured, just email me at rissarose80@yahoo.com and tell us your story...how do you stay fit? how you plan to lose weight in 2012? anything health and fitness related! I hope to hear from you SOON!!!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

the best part of my run...

Is when I'm able to come home to this...

Today's run felt really good.  I might have actually even cried on mile 4.  Yes, I admit it.  I would like to think it was because I fell, or a body part was hurting but NO...I just cried.  I think the emotions were strong today because for the first time, I wasn't thinking about when the run would be over. I wasn't thinking about what body part was aching, I was just RUNNING.  I felt totally alive and could not believe that, although I had been on this weight loss journey for a long time, my running was terrible just a year ago.  It was awful in the beginning.  I think I might have hated it.  Now I love it.  I mean, I could barely run 1/2 mile without feeling weak and having to stop!  I'm serious.  It is TRULY amazing what our bodies are capable of.
Get out there today and make today a day for a GREAT workout!  A run, walk, workout at the gym, swim, bike...whatever, JUST KEEP MOVING!

Friday, December 2, 2011

NEW menu items around town!


I love finding new, healthier items at certain restaurants and yesterday I was able to find two!  I was excited to share these with all of you!  Who doesn't love finding great menu options for those times when you're out and don't have time for breakfast or lunch at home?!  
I skipped today's workout but tomorrow it's back to training!  My husband will be off for 12 days (vacation!!) so we plan on really taking our running and other workouts, over the top!  I want to reach/exceed my goals for the half marathon in these next few weeks, while we're able to alternate with the boys and take turns on long runs! 
 I find that to be the hardest part:  Finding a way to both workout while one of us keeps the boys!  We only have the outdoors and our living room for exercise purposes, no gym or equipment
 NO EXCUSES, we make it work!


Last night, while I was grabbing Subway for dinner, I noticed a new side item on their menu.  The 160 calorie, yogurt parfait!  Looks pretty good, right?  I had no idea that they added this to their menu choices.  What a great idea!!  Grab a 6-inch sub for lunch, take a parfait TO GO and if you're headed back to work, you'll have your afternoon snack!  I love yogurt and with the crunch from the granola...Mmm, has to be yummy!  I admit, I didn't see what the actual parfait looked like, I meant to check and totally forgot.  Have you tried it??


Also, Smoothie King has launched their Lean1 smoothies.  I used to drink these all of the time, that was before kids...where I could spend hours at the gym and spend lots of money on myself!  Ha, but it was nice to go back to my most favorite place, Smoothie King!  I went with vanilla, but I probably should have tried strawberry, since I love all things strawberry!  Here's a little about the new, Lean1, vanilla:

Lean1™ Vanilla

Burn body fat up to 68% faster with Lean1! This great tasting, high-protein smoothie is known for fighting hunger cravings, plus it helps tone and define muscles. With 27 vitamins & minerals, it also aids in speeding recovery from workouts. Available in Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry.

Ingredients

Bananas, Almonds, Lean1 Vanilla

Nutritional Information

serving size:
Calories 273
Fat (g) 10
Saturated fat (g) 1
Calories from fat 80
Cholesterol (mg) 3
Carbohydrates (g) 26
Sugar (g) 17
Protein (g) 22
Sodium (mg) 317
Fiber (g) 5
This smoothie had a great flavor.  I chose 20oz and drank about half.  It was filling-I used it as breakfast, since that morning we were running around like crazy trying to get my oldest to school and there's a Smoothie King drive-thru very close to the school!  Yay!  This smoothie had great texture and seriously helped me stay satisfied!  At 270 calories, you probably don't want to use this as a daily meal but if you like variety, this is worth a try!  I wanted to explore their menu a little more because I read that you can request to make it less sugar/calories?  I'll definitely have to check that out!  
Have you tried Smoothie King?  Do you have a Smoothie King near you?  Mmm, you should give the Lean1 or any other smoothie on their menu a try very soon!

Disclosure: Smoothie King sent me a gift card to purchase a Lean1 smoothie in exchange for my honest review of their product.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions are 100% mine.  

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

BL's Sunny...I think I wanted her to win?

     I really don't have a "favorite" this season, which makes me sad.  I usually pick the one person I think will take it all the way until the finale and lose a crazy amount of weight and share their story and passion with millions for years to come!  Ha, okay so I may not predict the winner every season, but I'd like to think I'm pretty darn good at it! 

     Last night I was pretty bummed to learn that Sunny was eliminated.  Maybe because she was from Texas?  Possibly because I felt for her, after all of those years not "living" her life.  Secluded and not doing things with her husband and children...all because she was hiding behind her weight.  We all know people like Sunny.  You know they can be SO much more...and you want so much more for them.  Bob said Sunny reminded him of his very own sister, struggling with weight most of her life.
Sunny, 41 from Frisco, Texas
Fifth Grade Teacher, Starting Weight: 277 lbs.


all photos taken from NBC.com
and when they showed "where she is now" in her weight loss journey after this episode aired...she looked even MORE amazing...almost losing 100lbs!  Yay Sunny!
Do you have a favorite this season? Did you think Sunny should have made it to the final four?

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Goals for 2012

As I reflect back on 2011, I can't help but start to focus and set goals for the New Year!  You all know that training is underway for my first half marathon that takes place in 2012, so that is definitely at the top of my list:

  • FINISH the Aramco Half Marathon(Houston, Texas) -January 15, 2012!
  • GET INVOLVED in my community!  I want to find ways to spread the word about health and fitness in my area.  Organizing a health fair, local 5K or family walk/run, anything to get our community ACTIVE, together!
  • Start teaching aerobics at a local gym.  I miss that part of me.  I used to love the music and the motivation of being an aerobics instructor...I gotta update my certification and get back into it!
  • Tone up my tummy!  It's not a pretty sight when bathing suit season comes around...so I need to take my core to a whole different level in 2012!  
  • Take my running to the next level...possibly a full marathon?  Hmm...not so sure about that!
  • Expand The Move It Momma!  I'd like to reach a larger audience in many different ways!  The possibilities are endless, but there's one thing that I know...when I started this blog, I decided that THIS was something very important to me.  Sharing my story, my struggles, my successes was something that helped others relate.  Helped others know that change is possible.  Helping my readers get the tools they need for success!  Knowing that this blog has allowed me to reach and inspire others...it's THE greatest feeling in the world.  
What's on your list for 2012?  
Follow through with things that you want in life.  Keep those goals in mind with everything that you do.  Make THIS the year for something great...a weight loss success, a healthier way of life, a healthy life for your children, quitting smoking, heart-healthy eating...anything!  The sky is the limit!  Set your goals to where you WILL achieve great things in 2012!  We can do it TOGETHER!  How will you make 2012 your healthiest year EVER?

Monday, November 28, 2011

Exciting News!

I am very proud to announce that I will be joining the FitFluential team of Ambassadors! Woohoo!



When I started my weight loss journey over 11 years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would use my knowledge, personal experience and passion for healthy living with as many people as possible, and if I changed ONE life then I did my job! Right? Wrong! FitFluential will help me reach a larger audience, touch more lives. I may help motivate others and help them understand that change is always an option, it is always possible to gain your life back. This will help me share my story and hopefully that will inspire others to spread their love for health and fitness! Finding a new way of life was THE best thing that I did for myself, my family, my children, my husband and I am so excited to begin this new journey with FitFluential!






Today's Workout: 5K on the jogging trails near our house! It's mid-50's and windy here in Texas today, but it was a great run! I felt good and finished in 32:12! My goals for this month will be to sign up for my first ever 10K! I figure I might as well do one ASAP since my half marathon is coming up very soon-January 15th! Yikes!

*Also, I am sad to say that I do not have another Inspire Me! story to share with you all today...that means YOU need to send me an email rissarose80@yahoo.com and tell me something inspiring! That's IT! Do you have a weight loss story, do you make time for exercise every day, have you run a marathon? Half? Tri? 10K or 5K? Do you have a goal to be healthier in 2012? ANYTHING! I'm waiting to hear from you...

Saturday, November 26, 2011

No Excuses! and some cereal...




After my huge accomplishment the other day(thanks to all of you for your kind words and support!), I was feeling some pain in my hip and knee, so I decided that a 3 mile run would be great.


I set out and then it started..."I need someone in front of me, pushing me", "I would be faster if I had a running buddy", "If my hip didn't hurt", "I shouldn't have eaten so much on Thanksgiving", "I should have worn a better t-shirt", "my knee hurts"...and on and on! Then I realized, there are NO EXCUSES for my speed-or lack thereof. I finished those 3 miles in under 33 minutes, but I knew I hadn't truly PUSHED MYSELF to my limit like I had the other day. But you know what, that's ok. I woke up, worked out, took care of my heart, my body, my mind.


I did this for me, my family, my life. NO EXCUSES.


So, why did I feel like you should know my struggles? Because we ALL have them. We must all make NO EXCUSES. We must all push ourselves. Whether we are athletes, wanting to lose weight, get healthy, just starting a weight loss journey...whatever! We are our own support group, our own personal trainer, and yes-support from your family and friends is SO important, but it's not up to those people to push us, we MUST push ourselves. Every day.




And now for exciting news. My aunt has been on a journey to lose weight and is doing AMAZING. She is so healthy, knows what foods are good for her body, knows portion control and exercise! Wow. She's doing it! Her and I were talking about healthy foods and products and she says in the morning she lives by, Uncle Sam cereal. Oh my goodness, was this a product I hadn't heard of? YES. I had to learn more. She said it tasted so good and controlled her appetite. 10 grams of fiber? I was all over it. Have you tried Uncle Sam cereal? Attune foods has a great, informative website that's all about their products. They have gluten-free and high fiber products. What's sad is that this cereal has been in production since 1908. I had never heard of it but once I saw the box, I did recognize it from the stores. I am going to have to give this cereal a taste and I'll tell ya all about it.






Do you find yourself making excuses when it comes to exercise?


What's your favorite, healthy cereal?

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I had my game face on and pushed myself harder than EVER before...

for my morning run! And I looked like this when it was all over...

red cheeks with a smile on my face! Why? Because I set out to run a 10K! Started off at a pretty good pace(we had a cold front and mid-50 temps-Yay!) and at about 3/4 of a mile, I caught up with my competition! Ha, not really but without a running buddy, I decided to use this woman as my motivation! She was going pretty fast, so I decided to put my game face on and TRY and keep up! I hit the 5K mark at 29:54...INSANE!!! I never run that fast, EVER! I felt great, no pain and my legs felt like they were flying! Seriously, I know that is not incredibly fast, but for me-it totally was! And then there it was...6.4 miles in 58 minutes! OH MY GOODNESS! Not even sure how that's possible, but I have my Nike+ to prove it! I was shaking by the time I was finished!


Proof that pushing yourself harder is ALWAYS an option! Here I thought I was pushing myself to my limit, however this competition proved that I can push harder! Wow. I don't even know the woman that I was "chasing" but I'm sure thankful that she was there! She motivated me and she doesn't even know it. Amazing how our minds are SO powerful. I told myself I would and guess what? I did. I am feeling good and after burning over 900 calories, I'm ready to enjoy some turkey and cranberry tomorrow...Mmm, my favorite!



Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Lucy Review and my 5K PR!!!

Have you heard of Lucy? If not, it's fabulous women's active wear and clothing! I recently had the privilege of reviewing the Lucy Hatha Leggings! I took them right out of the package and tried them on! Super comfy, great fit and I loved the length!


Allow me to model them for ya,
Maybe you are looking for tops, skirts, dresses, hoodies, jackets, bras and accessories...
well, you're in luck because Lucy has it all! An item on my wish list would have to be the Lucy Hatha Power Capris! Super cute and seems like they'd make the perfect bottoms for any workout! The 10K seamless cami bra seems great too!
Anyway, I decided to try my Lucy Hatha Leggings on a little 5K run! The result: It was a fabulous race and not sure if the pants had anything to do with it,
but I hit a 5K PR: 33:49! WOOHOOO!!!!!!



and here's a post-workout picture too! I loved the way these pants fit! Very comfortable and great for running. I personally think I look a little silly in them, but that's ok...they did the job! I guess the next item I need to try is a running skirt! I've heard great things about them and I know I'd probably love it but I worry that it'll "ride" up? Hmm...
All I know is that I will be racing in Daily Vitamin "F"virtual Thanksgiving 5K and I'll be wearing my new Lucy Hatha Leggings!

What's your favorite brand of active wear?
Do you wear compression shorts/pants?

Disclosure: I received a pair of Lucy leggings at no charge in exchange for my honest opinion and review. All opinions are 100% mine.





Set an example

I'm trying to set a positive example for these boys...and every one around me!

As I find inspiration through fellow health bloggers, I find a trend and it is that we all strive to set an example for our families, our children, our parents...everyone.

Having an active lifestyle WILL impact your family in a positive way. We can't just want our children to be active, we must make healthy living a priority in our lives as well. I hope as a parent that I am doing just that.

I feel very strongly that we must associate physical fitness with fun and happiness, not as a chore or punishment! Too many times it is used incorrectly and we want our children to have a passion for being healthy and making exercise a positive part of their life.

Having been overweight myself, I find that people have found encouragement through my weight loss journey and I am able to serve as a "she did it, why can't I?" person! Yay! I couldn't ask for more than that. I think that also helped me relate to the overweight children I had the privilege of teaching. I helped them understand that change is possible and that their health is important! I wanted them to make a positive connection between exercise and feeling good!



So, I ask that you and I work together and set an example in our lives and the lives of our loved ones...spread your passion and love for health and fitness!

It will catch on and be contagious, I promise! As my husband's life changed and health became a priority, I watched my boys find a higher interest in exercise! They wanted to be like Daddy. They wanted to run fast like their Daddy and those moments for me are priceless!


It's never too late...EVER!


How will YOU set an example?






Yesterday's Workout: a great 5.4 mile run in the ridiculous heat! Yes, I said heat. While some of you are having to layer yourselves, I was dripping in sweat and could barely breath in the insane humidity! A cold front is approaching and I'm hoping it'll stay cool long enough for me to get a long run in this week?! My husband runs better in the heat and humidity and I am the total opposite, I'd rather it be freezing cold! Ha! What about you? Do you prefer hot or cold temps for running/exercise?






Monday, November 21, 2011

Inspire Me! Series-Week 2

When I say that this woman inspires me every day, I truly mean that. I am amazed by her strength, her passion, and her determination...you will be too! Her weight loss journey has been extraordinary and she is an incredible athlete!




Before: After:
Now I have your attention, right?



And here's her inspirational story:


What motivates you? I'm motivated by so many things. I'm motivated by seeing current pictures of myself especially when I compare them to past pictures of myself. Knowing that the changes I have made really are visible is enough to keep me wanting to push forward and reach my ultimate goal. Running keeps me motivated, even during a bad run I want to keep going. Even when I do feel like giving up because I'm having a bad run. Just knowing that I have finished a run whether it's 2 miles or 10 miles, knowing my body is capable of moving forward is motivating. I want to get out there and have a go at another run to improve my time or distance. Seeing others around me reaching their goals is also motivating. I'm often told that I inspire others but I want others to know that them saying that is a huge motivator for me to continue on. I mean what would happen if I just quit everything I was doing (running, workouts, weight loss) one day? All those people that I have inspired, that have motivated me would be disappointed in me. I wouldn't want that and I know they wouldn't want to see me fail.




If you made a lifestyle change, what helped you make that change? Well, for me it started a couple of years ago when I realized I needed to lose weight and a lot of it. The first thing I did was go to a local LA Weight Loss center and joined their program. Once I got the hang of it and lost weight and made the overall changes at home (throwing out junk, cooking healthy meals, and working out several times a week) it became our household lifestyle and it just stuck. I quit the center and we made little changes at home. Less junk food, more fruits/veggies. Less eating out, more cooking at home. The little things...they make a huge difference. And I joined a gym. I also started the Couch to 5k program which helped me find my love for running.


Are you sharing your passion for healthy living with others? Absolutely! I blog my weight loss and running at http://anotherrunningmom.worpress.com/. And I am more than happy to share my story with anyone that asks...people I haven't seen in a long time, folks at my gym that see me daily and recognize my changes. Friends, family...I talk about it on Facebook even. I want to see others around me succeed in their weight loss (and running...you know it's my passion!) goals and if my story inspires them or motivates them to reach their goals then I absolutely want to share it or offer up any advice I can.




And lastly, who inspires YOU? I'm inspired by many... friends, family, fellow bloggers and a whole community of runners.So many of my readers and bloggy friends have amazing stories to tell!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN THE INSPIRE ME! SERIES?
Spread the word!! Send me an email, rissarose80@yahoo.com and share some inspiration with all of us! Remember, a new feature every Monday and I'd love to feature YOU!





Friday, November 18, 2011

what makes it GREAT?

The other day I had one of THOSE workouts!

The one where you come home, take a deep breath and smile! You feel good. Really good.

You know you've done something great for yourself.

You left all of your stress IN that workout.

You pushed yourself harder than you had before.

You felt your body getting stronger.

And at one point, I think I even got a little emotional knowing I was working so hard!

Know what I'm talking about?

So, I'm asking you....what makes a GREAT workout?
I think to achieve THOSE workouts more often, it's in our mindset. If we tell ourselves we can, then we WILL. If we tell ourselves before we begin that we may fail, or we don't want to do it, then we probably won't see the results we'd like. We have to work for the things that we want and if we want it and work hard for it, we'll crush anything in our way!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

holiday temptations...

While we all give in to temptations every now and then, the holidays make it even more difficult to control ourselves with all of the UNhealthy options that seem to be all around us this time of year! Some things to keep in mind...
MODERATION-it's ok to have a little of your favorite things, but once you've sampled, move away from the table!
BE ACTIVE-have a great workout before Thanksgiving, or maybe sign up for a great Turkey Trot 5K in your area! Find a way to get your family outside and active together after the Thanksgiving meal...maybe a football game, a hike, or bike ride as a family!
BRING ON THE VEGGIES-Thanksgiving dinner is known for carbs, carbs Oh and more carbs! Right? Mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, casseroles galore and much more. This year, prepare lots of delicious veggies to go along with your meal. Fill your plate with half veggies and then sample each of the carb options, and leave room for the turkey! This way you'll be filling up on greens, rather than all those heavy carbs!
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES-many recipes are offered in a lighter version, so check around and see if you can find a favorite menu item that's lower in calories and fat!
PACKAGE BAKED GOODS-when preparing cookies for the holidays, go ahead and package those items in their gift-giving containers, this way you'll be less likely to pop open those cookie jars!
PLAN AHEAD-with lots of holiday parties in your future, make sure you never arrive on an empty stomach! Make sure you've planned ahead and had some great protein-rich snacks beforehand, that way you can control your portions rather than over indulging!



What's your secret to having a HEALTHY Thanksgiving holiday?

*and a hilarious side note: My son was riding his like while I ran, pushing my two year old in the stroller! My five year old told me at one point to, "speed up Mommy, you're a slow poke"...ya think he'll be a coach/trainer in his future? Ha! He was sure motivating me to speed up...what Mommy wants to be a slow poke?? HA!!!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

MY BADGE and some other stuff too!

Oh Yea! My 2012 Aramco Houston Half Marathon "In Training" badge, baby! January 15th will be here very soon and I cannot believe that I will be taking on 13.1 miles! My passion for healthy living will come full circle when I cross that finish line and I can already tell it'll be an emotional journey for me :) Houston, HERE I COME!!! and now for Miso Soup, anyone?
I LOVE Miso Soup! It pairs perfectly with sushi and soybeans! However, I also like to eat it by itself! I love the flavors and although it has quite a bit of sodium, if I watch my intake and balance as we all should do with everything that we eat, it's ok in moderation.
Here's what Dr. Oz says about Miso:
"Belly Blaster #2: Miso
Why it’s a superfood: A traditional food of fermented soybeans which hails from Japan, authentic miso is brimming with good-for-your-belly probiotics, which help keep our gut flora healthy. Dr. Oz also recently discussed how this Japanese food lowers triglycerides, the fat in your blood that contributes to belly fat.

Dr. Oz’s Prescription: Pick up instant miso soup mix in the supermarket, but look for low-sodium varieties. Alternately, look for traditional red or white miso (sold as a paste) in the refrigerated natural food section of your grocery store. It makes simple but satisfying soup (simply add hot water), or an absolutely delicious marinade for fish."-
Dr. Oz
Healthier Miso Soup: adapted from Women's Health Magazine
2 Tbsp dried wakame
3 c water
1 packet (0.75 oz) dashi stock base (such as Dashi Moto)
2 Tbsp white miso
1 12 oz package silken-firm tofu, drained and cut into cubes
1 c (about 3 oz) thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps
1/4 c thinly sliced scallions
1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1. Soak wakame in warm water for 15 minutes or until fully rehydrated; drain.2. In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add dashi packet; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove packet. 3. Ladle a half cup of dashi into a small bowl; whisk in miso and set aside.4. Stir tofu and mushrooms into pot; simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in miso mixture, top with scallions and soy sauce, and serve immediately. Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 81 cal, 4 g fat (0.4 g sat), 349 mg sodium, 7 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 7 g protein*The shiitake mushrooms are an added immunity booster to this soup. As well as vitamins A, K and iron.

Wakame A seaweed packed with the antioxidant compound fucoxanthin. It can be tough, so use kitchen shears to cut it into smaller pieces.Dashi the chicken bouillon of Japan. Made from dried fish flakes and seaweed, dashi is what gives miso soup its signature subtle fish flavor and light amber color. powdered, liquid concentrate, and stuffed in a handy packet like the one used in the recipe above.

**I have also seen instant, lower sodium versions of this soup and they taste great too!







Today's Workout: Well, I'll say yesterday's workout was great! My 5 year old and I ran 2 miles...yep, we ran side by side and he was ahead of Mommy, most of the time! Then we came home and my boys watched AND participated in Jillian's 6 week 6 pack, 2. They love mountain climbers and one of these days I'm going to video their workouts...HILARIOUS! They will do push ups, crunches and mountain climbers right beside me, but the other stuff-they say it's boring! HA!