7 Tips for a Better Beach Bod

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Summer is just around the corner. It sneaks up on me every year. The dreaded bathing suit shopping season has reared it's ugly head and I refuse to let it beat me this year. I'm not hiding behind my towel anymore. I am gonna be the mom who not only slips into a swimsuit but I am going to comfortably splash around in the pool with my kids and chase them around the beach. I want you to join me, so I put together a list of things to help us get there.

1. Be Realistic
First and foremost, let's set realistic goals. I can't tell you how many times I have said that I am going to lose X amount of pounds and then after one week step on the scale only to be so discouraged that I give up all together. Let's face it, we aren't teenagers any more. Our bodies have changed. Many of us have birthed babies and we just don't come back from that. Not 100%. So let's make a goal to be a better version of ourselves and not fail at being a perfect replica of the girls in magazines. Then we can wear it proud. Deal? Let's move on.

2. Water, Water and more Water.
Drink it up ladies. Not only drink it, plan it out. We have been told a million and one times that we should always drink at least eight glasses a day but what if we planned them out better. Instead of trying to chug them down at the end of the day when we realize we forgot (admit it. I'm not alone here), let's put them in the most helpful areas of our day. Drink 2 glasses before your big meals of the day. This will help to fill your tummy before you fill it with excess food. The other 2 glasses, put them between meals to keep you full longer. Make sure to still eat up your needed calories though. Water does not replace food.

3. Exercise 
Whaaa?!?! You mean to tell me that stuff actually works. Lik,e more than the magic pill that you got off the infomercial. Yeah, go figure. In the past, I avoided exercise like the plague. No time. No energy. NO! It only takes 30 minutes of getting your heart rate moving to see some results. The energy, you'll get more of it if you get your body moving. So dance, or run, or take the kids for a walk up hill. It will suck majorly at first but you will appreciate it later.

4. Choose Lower Calorie Options
I have a weakness for soda. I love it but it's usually not an option while trying to get fit. I am not a fan of diet so it puts a wrench in my goals. So, I was thrilled when I found the TEN Sodas at Wal-Mart. Ten Calorie soda that still tastes like...well, soda. I was able to cut my calories but have a full flavor drink.  Totally cheating the system without cheating myself. I'm a huge fan of the A&W. Oh, and if you want to really splurge and treat yourself, add a scoop of Vanilla frozen yogurt and thank me later. Mmmm.

Wal-Mart also has 7-Up Ten, Sunkist Ten, and Canadian Dry Ten. Get $0.50 off of the purchase of two 2 Liter bottles or two 4-pack cans with this offer or if you were to share that digital coupon you can get a $1.50 off coupon instead!. Offer available while Supplies Last.

The 10 Calorie Sodas are also really great options for using in recipes that call for soda. I want to give pulled pork a try with the A&W Ten!

Follow the makers on Facebook and Twitter.

5. Replace a Meal with a Green Smoothie
It's so easy to chose bad options for meals when we are running around taking care of kids, jobs or just life in general. A muffin or a doughnut are convenient in the morning. What if instead though, we grabs a bunch of healthy ingredients, like spinach and fruits, and blended up a green smoothie for breakfast. Not only would we be giving our bodies less calories but good healthy ones at that. Greens don't have to be the yucky choice, we have found so many smoothies that we love, like our Kid Friendly Smoothie.

6. No Midnight Snack
Please, don't hurt me. I know. I get it. I love dessert in bed as much as the next girl. Probably more. Eating at bedtime or really anytime after 8pm, is usually always a bad idea. Unless you are PMSing or having the day from "you know where", put down the Oreos and hop back in bed. Trust me it works. Even if you do cry to your husband that you are starving but only for ice cream. Shout out to my hubby! Ha!

7. Portion Control
Simple way to do some good ol' portion control? Use a smaller plate. Serve yourself a meal on your salad plates. The plate doesn't start off looking empty, so you don't feel ripped off. You still are getting the food you want, just a little less. If you are still hungry, you can get up for more but this will stop you from overeating simply because it is there. Make sure to carry over this rule during snacks as well. Instead of grabbing a bag of chips because it's easy, have a small bag of low sodium almonds on hand.

Now girls, go buy your bathing suits and wear them proud. Oh, and hop in front of the camera with your kids. These are memories you will want to remember. Don't miss out because Junior added 5 pounds to your hips and his sister gave you love handles.

Then and Now

About a year and a half ago, I started sharing about my weight loss. I had a goal in mind and was ready to get to a healthier and happier me.

A happier me came but not because I lost the 25 pounds that I had set out to. It was because I found out I was pregnant! So instead of losing, I started gaining. In the best possible way of course.

Since having Corbin in July, I have been back at it. I haven't shared here yet. I am not sure why. I am so excited to let you know though, that I have reached my goal. And then some.

When setting that goal, I really didn't think it was possible. I was discouraged with where I was. I am still not quite happy with where I am. Even after losing a few extra pounds. Honestly, my body is just different after having kids. Go figure. The weight I am at now doesn't look like it would have pre-babies. Again, rocket science, I know.

I am setting a new goal. Not a goal that I am insistent on reaching but a pie in the sky kind of goal. I am on my second round of the 60 days Body. Mind. Spirit challenge and the weight isn't falling of as easily as it was the first time around. I'm at that point of slow and steady-ish.

Anyhow, I am coming back to you with more healthy tips and recipes as I learn myself. Ignore the unhealthy recipes I will be posting here (when I am done with the BMS challenge). I do better when I don't deprive myself.

I'd love if you'd follow along. Offer tips and advice. I will share them with other readers as they come along. I'd love to share your success stories as well.

Just for some motivation I thought I would share some before and after shots. And some numbers.

Not gonna lie, I am super embarrassed to do this. So out of my comfort zone. I see other people share their photos and I am thrilled for them, I get ready to share my own and cannot believe that I am showing the before. Eek.

This was shortly before my first post about losing weight. 34 pounds heavier than I am now. Unfortunately, I didn't take measurements back then. From the beginning of the first BMS challenge until last month, I had lost a total of 12 inches.

Looking at these pictures, the weight is obvious but the way I feel is 10x more. I can run around so much more. I am in a better mood...most of the time.

I want to continue feeling this way. So here we go to the next 10-15 pounds. I can do it. Who's with me?

Kid Friendly Smoothie

The past few months we have added Green Smoothies into our diets. Most mornings our breakfast is served in a cup. Honestly, I feel so much more energized on the days that I am drinking them. And a nice little perk, the kids are getting more veggies than ever.

Today I thought I would share the kids favorite smoothies with you all.

 Ingredients:
1.5 cup spinach
1/2 carrot
1/2 banana
1/2 cup frozen berries
1/4 cup frozen peaches, mango or pineapple
1/4 cup old fashioned cracked oats
100% Fruit Orange Juice

Chop Carrots. You don't need to do them to small. Just enough to fit in the blender. I do mine smaller so that it blends more quickly.

Add all of the fruits and veggies into the NutriBullet or Blender and top with oats. The reason we are adding oats is to make the smoothie a little more filling. I notice when drinking them for breakfast I was getting hungry pretty early. This helped. When drinking in the afternoon, I usually substitute the oats with almonds to add protein.

Pour your juice to the max fill line or if using a blender, just enough to get the veggies really mixing. For an even healthier version, try coconut water. The kids prefer juice. I figure as long as their is no sugar added and it is 100% juice, it is worth it to get them to love the smoothie.

Pour and enjoy!

Weight Loss "Secrets"

Many of you have been asking how I am losing weight. Today I thought I would share exactly what I have done to shed the pounds that I have lost. Really it hasn't been too much and it's completely doable.

First thing I want to point out, I just had a baby. So the massive weight loss is partially an illusion. The big belly that disappears literally over night plays a little bit of a trick on your eyes. The instant 15 lb. weight loss is a little bit of a cheat.

From that point on, I have done the work on my own, no magical instant tummy disappearance.

To begin, we cut back on red meats and added in a lot more salads. Cut back on sodas and juices and replaced that with water. Oh, and as most of you know, I {heart} Starbucks. Like big pink puffy heart LOVE Starbucks. In order to cling on to that relationship, I cut out all the yummy sauces, no more extra caramel or chocolate drizzle. In fact, I nixed the sugar all together. It's all non-fat sugar free goodness now. Simple changes that made a huge difference.

Those alterations got me down to my pre-Corbin weight. Once those pounds were gone, I was a little stuck for a couple weeks.

To lose the pounds that my body was clinging onto, I started the Body.Mind.Spirit Challenge with April over at April Kennedy..My Life + My Style. This is the forth week of the challenge and my body is slowly losing the weight that I wasn't able to.

Since being on the challenge we have been eating healthier options. Basic changes. More veggies, less carbs. MORE water than anything. Just good healthy changes. Plus some exercising.

Work outs for me are simple. I warm up with general yoga poses. Do a small tiny amount of running. And focus on my problem areas with LOTS of crunches and lunges. Nothing major but I am starting to see a difference in inches.

The last thing that I have been doing, our most recent change, is green smoothies. Hubby bought me a NutriBullet and the whole family has replaced breakfast on most days with green smoothies. Making sure to get all the key elements into the smoothies so the kids and nursing baby are getting everything they need.

And okay, if we want to be honest, my green smoothies are purple because they are sooooo loaded with fruits but hey, they are delicious and the kids are getting more greens than they ever would eat on their own.

So that's it. That is how I have lost the weight I gained with Corbin. My next goal is to get back to my pre-any baby weight. My end goal is to be back to almost my wedding weight. I gave myself 5lb leeway because I have delivered three babies, my body has changed...and well I don't wanna be greedy. Haha.

The secret to my weight loss has been basic but if I come across any secrets, I'll share them with you. I will definitely be sharing some recipes soon.

What goals are you working towards?

Sweet Tooth Safety

The gloom that October brings me has meant two things for this little series.

1. I don't check in often.
I haven't been really posting on the blog. I don't have time and when I do, I just don't feel like doing anything. I hate October. Other than Rhiannon's birthday, that I haven't shared about, this month is nothing but sadness for me. So I neglect the blog and all of the things I know I want to post about.

2. I eat. A lot.
I am a bit of a depression/stress eater. It means bad things for a diet. I have done fairly well considering but the weight isn't shedding as quickly as I would have liked.

So here I am. Finally checking in. With little to no useful info for you all. But I wanted to sign on and let you know I have not quit. Set backs, yes. Quitter, no.

What I can share with you is about not gaining while in a funk.

I have been able to maintain and even slowly lose weight despite the stress and sadness eating. The trick. Don't tell yourself no. Don't make it so you can't eat the things that you need to sit and cry with or the things that bring you comfort. If you are anything like me, if you tell yourself no to a favorite, you will want it more. It becomes the food you sneak. So why not just make it work?

I am a coffee drinker. I love me some Starbucks. I mentioned it in the last post I believe but I have simply been choosing lower calorie options. The taste is a tad bit off but it still meets the craving.

Let's look at the Mocha Frappuccino (this is the part of the blog where you look away if you would like to continue living in denial). The Venti Mocha Frappuccino has a whooping 400 calories. Ouch. That is a third of my daily intake. Not okay. But when we move on to the Light version it is only 190 calories. Less than half of the caloric intake. What the what?!?! New favsie. I can drink this and eat a fruit and we have breakfast. Is this the healthiest option? No, but we will work on healthy when I'm not lookin' for comfort. Don't judge :)

Need a chocolate fix? Go with dark chocolate. Although the calories are about the same, the carbs are not. Now I don't do the no or even low carb diet but when I'm not eating a protein to balance it all out, I try not to eat too many carbs. Makes sense, right? I think so. Haha. Oh and also, maybe it is just me but I feel like dark chocolate tends to be more filling. Don't quote me on that though.

Lastly, ice-cream. Who needs it? Go Fro-Yo.

So those are my tips to losing weight while eating whatever you want.

Mind you, I do not do this every day. It is not a regular thing. But when I need something to meet my "I need sweets 'cause I'm sad and I'm a girl" craziness, these are the options I have used to stay within my limits.

25 Pounds to a Better Me: Week 1

So today is my first week of weighing in. I cannot even tell you how nervous I was to step on the scale and have lost nothing or even worse, gained weight. But I sucked up the fear of disappointment and stepped on the scale. Here is were I am at...

Twenty-five Pounds to a Better Me

I'm not overweight. Nor do I have any health issues. So how can I say that losing 25 pounds result in a better me?

When Steven and I got married, I felt healthier. I was more confident and much more secure.

After our first miscarriage I went into a major depression and gained about 15 pounds. It didn't bother me much.

Then I had kids. I only gained 15 pounds while pregnant with Rhi. After having her, there were only 7 pounds to lose. I got rid of 5 of them. The last two lingered. All the way into my pregnancy with Talon.

With Talon I gained 17 pounds and then lost all but 5. Leaving me at a grand total of 22 pounds gained since our wedding day.

These last 7 pounds feel like 50 in comparison to the initial 15. Having kids really changes your body.

I don't feel like myself. I have grown to hate the mirror. I struggle daily with what to wear. I will not go to pool or beach events. I'm just not happy with myself. And it is time to do something about it.

You see, by a better me, I don't need a skinnier me. I want a healthier, more energetic, happier me.

So I am beginning a journey. I am not setting a time frame just a number goal. 25 pounds to start, 35 at most if I am not happy when I reach 25.

Here's where you come in. I don't think I can do it alone. I want to but I struggle to stay focused.

I will be using myfitnesspal.com and airing my dirty laundry. My 3 sizes larger than I'd like dirty laundry. I will be sharing there how much I lose or gain. I will even tell you what I eat each day. The only thing I won't be sharing is my actual weight. I'm not that brave.

I will come back here each week, Sometimes more sometimes less, and share how much I lost that week.

I'll be giving tips, sharing recipes and letting you know what is/isn't working for me.

I want you to hold me accountable. You can join in and let me know how your doing, maybe we'll even do some guest posts. If you don't want or need to join in, I'd love for you to still follow along. See the journey and hold me accountable.

What do you think?