Breakfast. We know breakfast is important, but how many of us start our day off with 2-3 cups of coffee and neglect to provide our bodies with the vital nutrition needed to make it through the morning. We may snap at our kids because of the jitters from the excess caffeine or we may feel sluggish despite the fact we've consumed enough caffeine to last a couple days.
I've always been a big breakfast eater. When I wake up I think, "What am I going to eat?" That makes sense. Our body has been working all night, about 8 hours, repairing and rejuvenating us. It has been healing and restoring so we can make it through another day. The body needs to be refueled. For about the last 20+ years I've thought of my body as a machine. I cannot run this machine if I don't properly fuel it.
How do you fuel your machine? The number one thing I think of first is protein. I like protein. Rebuilding and maintaining muscle/lean body mass is very important to me as I'm now well into my 40's. My goal is to maintain healthy bone and muscle tissue. Next I think of good, healthy carbs. My mom was diagnosed with Celiac Disease a few years ago, so I'm careful with gluten/bread products. I like vegetables, fresh fruit, maybe a slice of gluten-free toast with almond butter. Last, but not least, healthy fats. They're essential for good brain function, hormone function, joint health, etc.
If you think of these three things every time you're preparing a meal, you'll be sure to fuel your body properly and have enough energy to make it through your busy day.
So what does this type of breakfast look like today? Two eggs (or one egg + 3 egg whites) scrambled with vegetables in about a teaspoon of coconut oil. (Coconut oil is so fabulous for you! That's another post.) After I scramble my eggs I top them with about a teaspoon of feta cheese, sliced tomatoes on the side. I may have a slice of gluten-free toast.
Saute some onions, broccoli, zucchini, etc. in about 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Two eggs- Do not be afraid of the yolks. They're good for you food.
Scramble the eggs
Let begin to cook
With a spatula, begin to scrape the bottom of the pan to scramble the eggs
Over the years many aspiring homeschool moms have asked, "How do you do it? You're with your kids all the time?" Yes, the truth is I am with my kids most of the waking hours of the day. Fortunately, I'm crazy about them and we have a lot of fun together. More importantly, I discovered early on in our homeschool endeavor I need to have a regular stress relievers. One regular stress reliever is routine exercise.
For years I've been a runner/jogger. I don't think my running speed qualifies me as a "runner", but like the energizer bunny, or perhaps the tortoise, I'm slow and steady. Physical therapists tell me my body is not designed to have great running ability, but I love the freedom I feel and the sense of accomplishment it gives. One year after our oldest was born, I completed a marathon (26.2 miles). I trained with Team in Training for six months. Most of my runs were pushing a jogger hoping my baby would be entertained by the motion and scenery. After the six months of training, I completed the marathon in Alaska. It was a dream come true! At the end of the 26.2 miles the muscles that hurt the worst were in my face from smiling so hard.
I've continued to run over the years since the marathon, but this past year I decided to mix up my workouts. I've tried adding biking and strength training over the years, but needed something that was more consistent, organized and challenging. A couple friends joined CrossFit gyms and the strenuous exercise intrigued me. Additionally, any given CrossFit workout is between ten minutes and about forty minutes which fit in my limited time schedule.
I admit I was a bit intimidated by CrossFit. Many people who frequent our gym are elite athletes. They are police officers, fire fighters, and former military personnel. They are stronger than I ever dreamed. At one CrossFit gathering Greg Glassman, founder of CrossFit, asked me if I had a question for him. The previous questions that night were from some of the elite athletes I mentioned. They were questions about training, the future of Crossfit, etc. When he put me on the spot, my response was, "What does CrossFit look like for the average mom?" Truth is, I'm not the 20-something training for the next CrossFit game. I'm just the average mom, looking for a great workout, wanting to be healthy and active. He then praised the moms who frequent the gym and reassured me there is a place for moms in CrossFit.
I've been at a local CrossFit gym since August of 2010. I love setting goals and trying to achieve them. Many weeks and months go by without any apparent improvement, but this week was different!
This week I was able to do a couple CrossFit exercises that up until now were impossible. One exercise is called Toes to Bar. If you can't do Toes to Bar, you try for Knees to Elbows. I've been on a variation of Knees to Elbows for months. Here's a video of my friend doing toes to bar, knees to elbows, and pull-ups on a blue band.
This week surprisingly, I did the Toes to Bar. One of our trainers suggested I look up or back to get my body momentum going in that upward direction. The tip paid off. I was able to swing my toes up to the bar! Granted, I did not move as fluidly as the gal in this video, and I grunted quite a bit more, but I was able to do it. It felt GREAT!
Two more firsts happened for me this week too. One was doing pull-ups with the blue band. Up until now I was on the green band. This week I was able to do 42 pull-ups with the blue band. Here I am on the blue band. Maybe one day it'll be no band!
Lastly, the next big accomplishment I had was doing the tire flip. I'm told it was about 250 pounds. In order to flip it over you have to get a bit under it and then flip it over. It felt good!
Some days, I just work out because I know it clears my head. This week I really felt like it did more than just clear my head. It gave me confidence and a renewed sense of accomplishment. I felt healthier, stronger and happier. Doing these little things makes me strive to do more. Life is Good!
Six years ago, I was a stressed out, overweight, medicated, mom to three amazing kids. Because of my unhealthy lifestyle I was missing out on so much with them. I was too tired to run and play. I needed routine naps. I was on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication. I didn't laugh like I used to. I didn't make time to spend with friends, and I didn't exercise at the level I had for the majority of my life. Somehow I had let my health slip and recovering it seemed like an overwhelming task.
With many months and years of baby steps, life is good now. I'm now in my forties, about 40 pounds lighter and free of all medication. I laugh daily and have an active lifestyle. I make time with friends. I try to make life less stressful and more balanced. I'm a CrossFit Momma, and love the challenges it brings me everyday and the friendships I've made through it.
This blog is an opportunity to share what has worked in bringing me to this place. I hope to share what I continue to learn about health and exercise and how to incorporate it into a busy homeschool life. I've found being a homeschool mom, I need to make time for myself. I know a lot of moms don't do this. We sacrifice for our kids and families at the expense of our health. It's important to care for yourself so you can properly care for your family.
I hope you are encouraged and excited to make a step toward a healthier you. It's a daily journey that is life-changing.
