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Coach's Oats sent me samples of their oats to review...I fell in love. All was well and good, then...I ran out. Now it wasn't shocking to me that I fell in love with Coach's Oats. I'm a self proclaimed oatmeal freak. In fact oats have been a cornerstone of my healthy-living-weight-loss-be-the-best-me-I-can-be journey from the beginning. I have gone from instant oatmeal, to quick cook, to old fashioned, to Coach's Oats . My journey has been one of constant learning and adjustment, but what I've found for myself is that if my eating were a building, the four cornerstones of the foundation would be: oats; fruits and veggies; protein and protein and some more protein; and what I call healthy indulgences (foods I consider healthy but watch the portions) like dark chocolate, nuts, coffee with half and half, etc. So, of course I fell in love with Coach's Oats. I love me some oatmeal. What did shock me however was last week when I ran out of Coach's Oa...

All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. Wayne Dyer

Do you ever get caught up in social media validation? By that I mean, looking at how many RT's and @'s you get on Twitter...or how many comments people leave on your blog...maybe how many emails you get from blog readers or bloggy friends. Not just looking at these things, but looking at them as if they're some measure of you...as a person. This last week I've realized that I have been. I've found myself thinking: hmm, no one has talked to me on twitter today, weird,  and wow, that blog post only got 1 comment, wonder why?  or maybe hmm, my blog views are down a little, what am I doing wrong? and my favorite why did those bloggers unfollow me on twitter? did I offend? Now, I do look at my blog as more than just an online journal, so I do pay attention to views and comments and metrics like that, but here's the thing: when did all of that cross over into feeling I need these things to feel OK? Because it has! The last week I've found myself feeling b...

What's on your workout playlist? My running playlist is kind of corny. Sort of a mix of utter randomness and pre-teen pop?  Ya, something like that. It's a happy playlist. Hey, whatever gets me through the run right? So, for your amusement...entertainment...curiosity...whatever, I thought I'd share my running playlist: Love Story (Pop Mix) Taylor Swift How Do You Sleep? Jesse McCartney Unwritten Natasha Bedingfield Pocketful of Sunshine Natasha Bedingfield Since U Been Gone Kelly Clarkson Circus Britney Spears Miss Independent Kelly Clarkson Just Dance Lady GaGa When I Grow Up Pussycat Dolls My Hallelujah Song Julianne Hough (my favorite song) The Climb Miley Cyrus Ray of Light Madonna Don't Stop the Music Rihanna Hot N Cold Katy Perry Washed By the Water Needtobreathe Stay Sugarland Red High Heels  Kelly Pickler Live Your Life T.I. Feel That Fire Dierks Bentley Song of the South Alabama Objection Shakira So What Pink Cowboy Take Me Away Dixie Chicks Hips Don...

Lately I feel perpetually behind.  Behind on my writing. Behind on my workouts. Behind on my housework. Behind on my weight loss. Behind, behind, behind. Seriously, let's not even discuss my gmail inbox. With all of the things on my plate it seems like there are so many days I'm doing good to just tread water. I feel like I'm in a constant state of trying to catch up. Here's the thing though: in always tending to look forward to the day when I'll be 'caught up'...I am missing today. Yes, there are a lot of things on my plate right now, but at the same time they were all carefully chosen by me. I am mindful to not be busy just for the sake of busy. I try to watch my priorities and say no when I need to say no. So, why do I feel so overwhelmed lately? I think the root of my problem here is I still struggle with thinking I need to do all these things perfectly. I'm a recovering perfectionist I guess you could say. I realize full-well...

I think a lot of times we tend to focus on the negatives of healthy living. We look at the things we have to take away, we look at the hard work that needs done, we look at the daunting amount of weight we have to lose. We look at the can'ts instead of the cans.  This negative focus only fosters feelings of deprivation and resentment. For me, it helps to focus on the positive . I try to  look at the things I'm adding in instead of what I'm taking out. I try to focus on the cans instead of the can'ts. Just a little shift in focus can change everything. It can take me from feeling deprived and resentful of my healthy living goals to enjoying the journey. Instead of thinking of what you can't have or do, how about asking yourself: What are 3 new healthy foods you want to try? What are 3 reasons you want to improve your body/health? What 3 new activities do you want to try this year? What are 3 positive things you notice about yourself when you are making healthy ...

Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses. George Washington Carver

Yes, there are a lot of great books, DVDs, fitness games, etc out there, but if you can't afford to go out and buy them there are always options .  Of course we can just go out for a walk. We can do things like jumping jacks and push ups. All free.  As far as information goes, there's information overload online!  There is always something we can do. And let's face it, something is always better than nothing. Point being, finances are NOT an excuse to not live healthy.  Case in point, my latest library haul: These are all things I've been wanting to read/try lately, but didn't want to shell out the money for (yes, I'm cheap). There are many books/workouts I happily buy. But for things like Zumba, that I'm just not sure about, I'm ecstatic when I find them at the library to try first!  Yes folks, that's a Zumba DVD in there. I'm not real big on dance workouts, but this one intrigues me. Sometimes you have to wait a while on a hold...

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This post is inspired by the Ting Tings. Yes, bizarre, I know. My creative process runs a muck often. You see, I have this song on my running playlist: In some weird way, it inspires me. OK, maybe I have no idea what the words really say, and I take it to say completely different. Meh, I'm OK with that. OK, backing up a bit. I was pregnant at age 17 and after having my oldest son, I was lost. I had no idea what to do with my life. Here I was in charge of another human life and not doing such a great job with my own. After attempting to be married to his father for a brief, horrible, time I was on my own. I decided I needed to put myself through college. If I was going to be able to afford to support us I needed better than a high school education.  It was a rough time. I worked full or part time and went to school full time. Add to that being a single mom and yes, my life was beyond hectic. And stressed. And tight on money. And lonely...and, and, you get the picture...

Last year I wanted to go to fitbloggin. Really. Badly.  However, I couldn't afford it and as a fledgling blogger sponsorship wasn't in the cards. I sat at home and hung on every tweet and every post from the bloggers who attended.  I promised myself I would go in 2011. You may have read about my love for Coach's Oats . If not, go read...I'll wait.  Not only am I head over heels for the product , but the company too. They value bloggers, they get bloggers, they're just an amazing company all the way around.  So, when they approached me offering to sponsor me to fitbloggin I was ecstatic...to say the least!  I am so excited to have such an amazing sponsor with a product I am a true fan of, sponsorship or no. I'M GOING TO FITBLOGGIN! Woooo! (insert happy dance here) Have you tried Coach's Oats ? Will I see you at fitbloggin ?? P.S. Happy Valentine's Day! In my excitement I forgot all about it. Oops.

Your relationships can only be as healthy as you are. Neil Clark Warren

Today I am joining bloggers around the globe along with fitbook and the American Heart Association for Blog Your Heart Out Day. A day for us to speak up about the number one killer of women--heart disease. February is American Heart Month. A few facts from The American Heart Association : Heart disease is the number one cause of death among women 20 and older, killing about one woman every minute. More women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. 90% of women have one or more risk factors of developing heart disease. On average 2200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of 1 death every 39 seconds. Staggering facts, yes? I had no idea. The American Heart Association has a great page on getting healthy to fight back at this killer. It discusses things we can do, like losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising, etc. Definitely go check out that link.  Ladies, I enc...

I had the craziest evening last night, I just had to share my story.  I was supposed to host the #FitStudio chat on twitter. My internet went down yesterday morning. I wasn't too worried, it does this on occassion. So, I called the company. Now, we have rural, out in the middle of nowhere, something close to high speed type internet....ya, the joys of rural living. The guy on the phone, who is always the same guy on the phone, said he had a line of people in front of me and he would call me back. No call. None. So, I decided I would go out to my in-laws because they live about 5 miles away on the family ranch where they can get DSL. Lucky them. Went out to start my Durango. The driver door was frozen shut . All other doors were locked. The keys? In it. Frantically, I came in looking for spare keys. Couldn't find. So, I go back out and hammer at the ice on the outside of the car, get most of it broken off. Still won't open. I have called hubby 5,000,003 tim...

We really can learn a lot from our kids. If left to their own devices, for the most part, kids seem to know what to choose, what to do to be healthy. Granted society has marketed much junk at them, but it's our job as parents to wade through that. I think we all probably know what to choose, deep down. Many of us have just spent years ignoring it. Pushing it down. I really do think we have a lot to learn from those that haven't yet ignored their natural instincts. From my sweet 5 year old I have learned "Full, but not real full." He says this after every meal. What he means is that he is satisfied, but not stuffed. What a concept, right? From my awesome 7 year old I have learned that we just "Gotta get outside and play." Winters are hard for this son. He is quite the outdoors-man. The other day it was snowing and there was about a foot of snow on the ground. He donned his big coat, gloves, boots, hat, the whole spiel and tromped out into the elements...

Well, if you're not fond of Mondays that title may not delight you. But it's true, every day can be Monday or be January 1st...a fresh start that is. I had a bad weekend. OK, bad is kind. Monumentally terrible? Yes, that's a bit closer. I didn't just fall off the wagon, I lit it on fire and rolled it down a rocky cliff side with a river of lava at the bottom...ya, something like that. I binged. It is hard to admit that, but it is true. I binged pretty much all weekend long. Yesterday too.  My pants are now tight. Like, tight, tight. I'm glad I'm not weighing because I don't want to see it. It's crazy how much weight I can gain so quickly. Yet it takes forever to take weight off. Sigh. Such is my metabolism.  I screwed up (understatement). I stumbled (don't we all). Now what? Well, first, I will not beat myself up, been there, done that, it's no help and no good for me. Second, back to basics. Today I will: workout at least 30 mi...

The weakest living creature, by concentrating his powers on a single object, can accomplish something: the strongest, by dispersing his over many, may fail to accomplish anything . Thomas Carlyle

Call it my new mantra, or maybe it's a positive affirmation? Who knows. But I find myself repeating: Expecting the positive, expecting the positive, expecting the positive... a lot lately. Just reminding myself. Do you EXPECT the positive? 

Thought I'd share what I've been reading lately. The Great Fitness Experiment . Loved this book. Good information on a lot of different fitness options along with some funny stories, all woven together with a touching account of Charlotte's battles with an eating disorder and over-exercising. Recommend. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years . Wow. Really made me think and examine my life. Highly recommend. The Paleo Solution . Enjoyed. Very informative. If you're curious about Paleo, definitely recommend. While I enjoyed The Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain, I would say this is a better read. Gold Medal Fitness . This book was just OK for me. I wound up skimming the last half. Not a plan that's for me. The New Rules of Lifting for Women.  Liked this book, but it wasn't much new information to me. I was glad I checked it out from the library instead of buying. If you're new to weights it might be a good read for you. I tend to devour books. I read a lot. My l...

What's your top excuse? You know, the one you use to make it OK while you eat half a tub of ice cream or a pan of brownies (what, that's just me?).  Mine is "Oh, I just don't care!" Nonsense, right? Absolutely. But it's the one I use. Over and over again I have told myself this. Thing is, I DO care. Obviously. Still, it's my go to excuse when I want to throw everything out the window and be stupid. So, today I'm sitting down and writing out: Why I DO care. Then, next time I tell myself that I in fact do not care I will take out my journal and read it. Will it help? It's the best idea I have at the moment! How about you? What's your top excuse? **2011 journal exercise: Write down your top excuse. Now, write out why it's absolute bunk. Be detailed, be real with yourself.

I am an oatmeal freak. Yes, yes I am. I LOVE my oatmeal. Not only is it one of my favorite go-to breakfasts, but I'm known to have it for lunch and dinner on occasion too. Many a no-grain diet has crashed and burned into fiery flames because I love me some oats. (Yes, that is the hallelujah chorus coming up in the background again.) Recently I was sent some samples of Coach's Oats . And this oatmeal freak... in love ! This is what they look like un-cooked: What makes these oats different? From their blog : Traditional steel cut oats take about 30 minutes to cook on the stove. Coach’s Oats can be made in 3 to 5 minutes on the stove or in the microwave. You can bake with Coach’s Oats! Traditional steel cut oats need to be pre-soaked or cooked before baking. It only takes 1/3 cup of Coach’s Oats to make 1 cup of oatmeal. You would need ½ cup of rolled oats to make the same amount. Steel cut oats (and Coach’s Oats) have a lower glycemic index rating than instant o...