For the last 3 days, I've been meeting up with another Cub Scout mom and walking at the park by my house. The kids were off from school on Monday and Tuesday, so it was a great excuse to get outside and get a little exercise.
On Monday, the kids just played at the park and rode scooters/bikes a little bit. Yesterday, we got more ambitious and walked/scooted/biked on a short trail first and then let the kids play. Each day, the kids played hard for 2-3 hours.
Today, that mom, the puppy I babysit, and I walked for an hour and a half. I'm sure we walked at least 4 miles! She dropped her youngest child off at preschool and we walked until she had to leave to pick him up. I have major housework to catch up on from being out so much lately, but enjoying this rare, beautiful weather has been worth it.
I have noticed the last few days that we've all been sleeping better. It is starting to get dark later lately, so I'm sure that is helping. It always throws me off when it gets dark before dinner. I've never been great at shutting down at night or staying asleep. I know my mood has been better lately. I'm glad we are reaping so many benefits from getting more exercise!
Thanks for reading,
~ Vanessa
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Zumba Kids
My local YMCA has started offering free kid's fitness classes. I live about a half an hour from there, so I don't go to the gym nearly as much as I'd like to. If we lived closer, I'd go there daily.
They are now offering: Kids Yoga, Zumba Kids, and R.I.P.P.E.D. 4 Kids. I'm trying to find a class that both of my kids would enjoy. Right now, my son is doing basketball 3 times per week, so he is more physically active than my daughter.
My son would like the yoga class. My daughter is not calm at all, lol. Yoga may do her good, but she wouldn't enjoy it for quite a while. She puts on weight really easily, so my main focus is trying to find a class that they'd both enjoy. I will probably put them both in the R.I.P.P.E.D. class when basketball ends. Eventually, when I go back to work after I finish school, we will be able to afford to put her in a gymnastics academy. They are very pricey. I think both the kids would benefit from strength training. They take swimming lessons once per week and my son is struggling with his lack of strength.
Today, my daughter tried out Zumba Kids. She really enjoyed it! My son stayed home and played MTG with Hubby. It's good that they've found a hobby they both enjoy. My son also didn't want to be the only boy in the class. The teacher said there are boys that take the class, but it's a free drop-in class, so each week, it can be different people. Today there were no boys in the class. My daughter came home raving about the class, so her brother is a little jealous. He'll probably go next week with us.
I wasn't sure about how the class would work (drop off or stay there). This teacher's preference is that the parents leave for 20 minutes and come back to watch them do a routine. It was really cute! The song was an empowerment girl song. I'll have to download it for her so she can practice. My daughter met a girl that was also taking the class for the first time that was about her age.
While she did her class, I went to the Cardio Room and did weight training. Since I've been walking so much lately, I focused on the upper body. I will definitely remember to bring my MP3 player next time so I can listen to music.
Thanks for reading!
~ Vanessa
They are now offering: Kids Yoga, Zumba Kids, and R.I.P.P.E.D. 4 Kids. I'm trying to find a class that both of my kids would enjoy. Right now, my son is doing basketball 3 times per week, so he is more physically active than my daughter.
My son would like the yoga class. My daughter is not calm at all, lol. Yoga may do her good, but she wouldn't enjoy it for quite a while. She puts on weight really easily, so my main focus is trying to find a class that they'd both enjoy. I will probably put them both in the R.I.P.P.E.D. class when basketball ends. Eventually, when I go back to work after I finish school, we will be able to afford to put her in a gymnastics academy. They are very pricey. I think both the kids would benefit from strength training. They take swimming lessons once per week and my son is struggling with his lack of strength.
Today, my daughter tried out Zumba Kids. She really enjoyed it! My son stayed home and played MTG with Hubby. It's good that they've found a hobby they both enjoy. My son also didn't want to be the only boy in the class. The teacher said there are boys that take the class, but it's a free drop-in class, so each week, it can be different people. Today there were no boys in the class. My daughter came home raving about the class, so her brother is a little jealous. He'll probably go next week with us.
I wasn't sure about how the class would work (drop off or stay there). This teacher's preference is that the parents leave for 20 minutes and come back to watch them do a routine. It was really cute! The song was an empowerment girl song. I'll have to download it for her so she can practice. My daughter met a girl that was also taking the class for the first time that was about her age.
While she did her class, I went to the Cardio Room and did weight training. Since I've been walking so much lately, I focused on the upper body. I will definitely remember to bring my MP3 player next time so I can listen to music.
Thanks for reading!
~ Vanessa
Not Seeing a Difference Yet
Since December, I have lost about 20 pounds. I'm very happy about that, but I'd be happier if I looked 20 pounds lighter. I really don't see a difference in myself.
I have been walking a lot lately with puppy-sitting my dad's GSP puppy. I notice definition in my legs, especially in my thighs and ankles. I suppose my ankles look a little thinner. It makes me wonder if my ankles were 10 pounds heavier each, lol. I told my MIL about it and she said, "well, maybe that's what they mean by 'ankle weights.'" It was really funny. I just wish I'd lost the weight in somewhere more noticeable, like my stomach or face.
It's actually kind of funny that I've slimmed down the most noticeably in my ankles. I've always loved ankle bracelets and toe rings, but I've never owned any. Maybe this summer, I'll treat myself to some.
Thanks for reading,
~ Vanessa
I have been walking a lot lately with puppy-sitting my dad's GSP puppy. I notice definition in my legs, especially in my thighs and ankles. I suppose my ankles look a little thinner. It makes me wonder if my ankles were 10 pounds heavier each, lol. I told my MIL about it and she said, "well, maybe that's what they mean by 'ankle weights.'" It was really funny. I just wish I'd lost the weight in somewhere more noticeable, like my stomach or face.
It's actually kind of funny that I've slimmed down the most noticeably in my ankles. I've always loved ankle bracelets and toe rings, but I've never owned any. Maybe this summer, I'll treat myself to some.
Thanks for reading,
~ Vanessa
Friday, February 13, 2015
Turbo Splash before Book Club
I used to take a Zumba class on the nights that I have book club. My family has a membership to YMCA that we mostly utilize for my kids to do sports. It is about a half an hour drive from my house, so I really don't go to the gym very often due to the distance. My book club is about 15 minutes from there, so I try to get the most out my rare nights out that I can. My hubby and I also share a car, so I have to make the most out of when I have the car.
Zumba has moved to another time slot, so I'm trying to find another class to go to in place of that before book club. Tonight, I tried Turbo Splash. I have taken the class before when Hubby was working the night shift. He now works the early morning shift, so I can't go to the gym in the morning.
Honestly, if I feel sore or not tomorrow will determine if I make this my replacement class or not. I had taken the class before in the morning and it seemed a lot more challenging then. Some of the students were also saying that the Friday evening class is different than the rest of the week. The instructor called it Fun Friday. There was a little bit of exercise in the class during the relay races. It was fun, but I spent the majority of the time just treading water. After the relay races, we played water volleyball. Which again, was fun, but not really the workout I was looking for. I really like water aerobics classes, especially with being such a beginner to exercise.
I need to get the most exercise I can with having such limited access to a gym. Next time, I may try out Aqua Zumba or maybe I'll just swim laps. It's fun to try out new things. I had forgotten how much I enjoy volleyball. One of the times that we go to the lake this summer, I'll have to bring along a ball and play volleyball first!
Thanks for reading,
~ Vanessa
Zumba has moved to another time slot, so I'm trying to find another class to go to in place of that before book club. Tonight, I tried Turbo Splash. I have taken the class before when Hubby was working the night shift. He now works the early morning shift, so I can't go to the gym in the morning.
Honestly, if I feel sore or not tomorrow will determine if I make this my replacement class or not. I had taken the class before in the morning and it seemed a lot more challenging then. Some of the students were also saying that the Friday evening class is different than the rest of the week. The instructor called it Fun Friday. There was a little bit of exercise in the class during the relay races. It was fun, but I spent the majority of the time just treading water. After the relay races, we played water volleyball. Which again, was fun, but not really the workout I was looking for. I really like water aerobics classes, especially with being such a beginner to exercise.
I need to get the most exercise I can with having such limited access to a gym. Next time, I may try out Aqua Zumba or maybe I'll just swim laps. It's fun to try out new things. I had forgotten how much I enjoy volleyball. One of the times that we go to the lake this summer, I'll have to bring along a ball and play volleyball first!
Thanks for reading,
~ Vanessa
Out of the 300 Club, Part 2
So, I was doing really well with my nutrition, and especially exercising at the beginning of the summer. When my family moved the first time, I was busy with moving (always on my feet, packing, stacking boxes, organizing, etc.) and lost 20 pounds. I lost an additional 10 pounds over the summer from mostly walking. I was walking at least 2 miles just about every day.
Then, we had to move again right after school started. Cue the depression, anxiety, and general lack of motivation. Moving sucked for many reasons. I'm not going to go into most of them.
The house that we were in for nearly 5 years was ok. It was a double wide mobile home that was only 10 years old or so and had 1200 square feet of space. It was good enough for now. I loved the huge living room. With having 2 kids and 2 dogs, we spent most of our time in that room.
The house we moved to was 30 years old and about 900 square feet. The rooms were all much smaller, especially the living room. But, it was a nicer neighborhood with a nicer yard. It would have been a great place for my kids to grow up. It was also a house, not a mobile home.
For many reasons, we only lived there for 4 months and moved to another mobile home. This one is 40 years old with 1400 square feet of space. There are many cons with it being an old mobile, but there are also many good things about it. We have a wood stove! I love having one! My biggest complaint is that there is no fenced yard for the kids and dogs. I have always had a fenced yard in the nearly-10-years that I've had my dogs. I could always just open the door and let them outside to go potty. Now, I have to stand outside with them. I know it's a petty complaint, lol. I also have to be much more conscious about taking them for walks, as they've never been confined to the house like this.
Life in general has been one transition to another for the last year or so. We're still trying to get back to "normal." My daughter, after we'd been here a couple of months, asked when we're moving again. To my kids, moving often became "normal." I said "NEVER!" I don't plan on ever moving again until I buy a house someday.
This house is slowly coming together. The living room here is at least half the size of the first mobile, so that has limited my exercise habits. At the old mobile, I regularly did exercise DVDs. I even had my kids do the Yogalates one with me, as there was enough room for all 3 of us to do yoga. There is not the space for that here, especially with the wood stove. The kids and I would do this in the evenings in the cooler months.
Right after we moved, our TV broke. It was a big, heavy, old TV that fit in the old entertainment center. My hubby was given an older flat screen from work, but it did not work with the entertainment center. Things were pretty much where I wanted them, then we had to re-do the living room. For now, the TV/computer is sitting on the computer desk, but I have no extra space for my DVD player or Wii. The kids and I especially love the Just Dance games, so we really miss it. When we get our tax refund, we will get something better/permanent and reorganize yet again.
So, right now, my exercise is mostly walking the dogs. It's something we all need, but I miss the variety, especially in this rainy weather.
It's been a long few months, but I'm back to where I was in May. At least I'm back on the right track.
Thanks for reading,
~ Vanessa
Then, we had to move again right after school started. Cue the depression, anxiety, and general lack of motivation. Moving sucked for many reasons. I'm not going to go into most of them.
The house that we were in for nearly 5 years was ok. It was a double wide mobile home that was only 10 years old or so and had 1200 square feet of space. It was good enough for now. I loved the huge living room. With having 2 kids and 2 dogs, we spent most of our time in that room.
The house we moved to was 30 years old and about 900 square feet. The rooms were all much smaller, especially the living room. But, it was a nicer neighborhood with a nicer yard. It would have been a great place for my kids to grow up. It was also a house, not a mobile home.
For many reasons, we only lived there for 4 months and moved to another mobile home. This one is 40 years old with 1400 square feet of space. There are many cons with it being an old mobile, but there are also many good things about it. We have a wood stove! I love having one! My biggest complaint is that there is no fenced yard for the kids and dogs. I have always had a fenced yard in the nearly-10-years that I've had my dogs. I could always just open the door and let them outside to go potty. Now, I have to stand outside with them. I know it's a petty complaint, lol. I also have to be much more conscious about taking them for walks, as they've never been confined to the house like this.
Life in general has been one transition to another for the last year or so. We're still trying to get back to "normal." My daughter, after we'd been here a couple of months, asked when we're moving again. To my kids, moving often became "normal." I said "NEVER!" I don't plan on ever moving again until I buy a house someday.
This house is slowly coming together. The living room here is at least half the size of the first mobile, so that has limited my exercise habits. At the old mobile, I regularly did exercise DVDs. I even had my kids do the Yogalates one with me, as there was enough room for all 3 of us to do yoga. There is not the space for that here, especially with the wood stove. The kids and I would do this in the evenings in the cooler months.
Right after we moved, our TV broke. It was a big, heavy, old TV that fit in the old entertainment center. My hubby was given an older flat screen from work, but it did not work with the entertainment center. Things were pretty much where I wanted them, then we had to re-do the living room. For now, the TV/computer is sitting on the computer desk, but I have no extra space for my DVD player or Wii. The kids and I especially love the Just Dance games, so we really miss it. When we get our tax refund, we will get something better/permanent and reorganize yet again.
So, right now, my exercise is mostly walking the dogs. It's something we all need, but I miss the variety, especially in this rainy weather.
It's been a long few months, but I'm back to where I was in May. At least I'm back on the right track.
Thanks for reading,
~ Vanessa
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