I have to admit to forgetting about this monday post...You'd think I'd remember after this long, but we are getting ready to put our house on the market this week, so needless to say I'm a bit sidetracked and covered in paint!  Fun stuff!

     So this is my last "get off your butt and get healthy" post...aren't you all so glad! :)



     I got to thinking about how much my kids move!  They don't even sit still when they sit still!  I'm thinking they have got something there???  I'm going to make this simple, not only because my brain is not turned on, but I have boot camp in 54 min and my husband is asking me for a real quick haircut..oh life is glamourous!



     So here is my one deep thought...if we all followed our kids around and jumped, climbed, ran, wrestled,  and just all around moved, we would probably be in pretty good shape (or at least we would have more fun!)  Here are just a few things I love to do with my kids...



I'd love to know what you do with your kids!  Let us know in the comments below!



Please share us with your friends!

Britny ... is a Mommy of 2, wife to 1 and lover of God. Her days are filled with homeschooling her monkeys, making a home on a budget and bringing joy to mankind in the form of sweet treats! She owns a small boutique bakery, Brit’s Bakes, which gives her a fun and creative outlet from Mommyland. A self-proclaimed “foodie” she enjoys reading food blogs, cook books and searching for the best local eats. She is also an occasional runner (which is necessary when there is so much good food in the world) and enjoys setting goals and running road races. When not covered in flour and drowning in laundry, multiplication tables and coupon clipping...you will find her sipping on a vanilla latte with her BFF, who also happens to be her husband of (almost) 11 years.



In the month of June, my husband and I have started a “get off your butt” routine. On Monday, Wednesday & Friday, we put on are matching Nikes ( I know. we are ridiculous), grab some water, put on our favorite Pandora station and head out to the garage. No, we don’t have any fancy machines, or a personal trainer who stops by to kick us into shape - it is just us, two jump ropes, a pull-up bar, dumbbells and our neighborhood to sprint through - I LOVE IT. If you are in need of motivation grab a friend or few - or that good lookin’ guy you married and keep each other accountable! This makes working out so much more fun and when you are working together for a common goal - stuff just gets done, in all areas of life.

My son cheering me on !!

So what kind of health goals do you have? Are they realistic? Are they preparing you for the future? So many times our goals can be far fetched, chasing the wind, “I want to wear my Junior High jeans” kind of goals. What if we changed our mind about our health goals and really purposed being healthy as a legacy for our children and even grandchildren? As moms, we have the power of influence in our children’s lives that affect the generations to come. Everyday. If they see Mommy freaking out about her pant size, number on the scale or filling her body with junk food in truck loads...this is the pattern they are most likely to follow. Be a healthy example! Every choice we make is knitting together the person our little people can become. If they see Mommy feeling good, being strong, active and making balanced food choices (we are not talking deprivation people!), they too are set up to do the same. What do you want the “health” legacy to be for your family?



Having our health is a gift and exercise is a way of saying thanks for the gift we each have been giving. It doesn’t always have to be about looking “better”, though as you cultivate a healthier lifestyle that is sometimes the bonus! So put your ideals and perfectionism aside and think about what lifestyle you would like for your children. Make healthy choices as a family - go for walks together, prepare healthy meals together, and teach your kids (by example) to have a healthy relationship with food...there is a time for cupcakes and a time for carrots....:) Let your children see you set goals and see them through - Let them see a Mommy who has energy to run with them ( and sometimes catch them), a Mommy who takes risk and is willing to climb on the jungle gym or slide down the slip n slide with them. Making memories and teaching your child to make positive choices for their future too, now that is healthy!

Let your kids see you drinking this and you will be the picture of utmost health...... or you may totally gross them out! :)



Blend together:

1 Quarter of a Fresh Pineapple, chopped

1 Mango Sliced

1 Cup Fresh or Frozen Peach Slices

Half of an Orange

1 Medium Banana

1/2- 1 cup Coconut Milk



After the mixture is good and blended, GO GREEN!!



Add in a large handful of Spinach (preferably organic) and blend away! Pour in a jar throw in a straw and sip your way to better health :)



IF you must, you can add some agave or honey to sweeten things up, but the banana usually does the trick!



NOTE: If the green color freaks you out (I promise the taste will not) you can add a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries. This will give you a purplish drink, that even the kids might drink!





You can find Brit's Bakes on facebook at www.facebook.com/britsbakes she also has a blog at: www.pocketfulofmoments.blogspot.com 

One of the things I love most about our little EMM blog is that you get to hear so many different perspectives from different mama's. Sometimes they make you think or laugh and sometimes they give you a sweet punch in the face and inspire you....  I'm so excited, I think we really do have something for everyone this month wether you're a food nazi and exercise fanatic, don't run unless someone is chasing you with a knife... or somewhere in between... this is going to be a great month on EMM!



Needless to say in the area of health, diet (as in the food we eat... not the swear word we're not saying this month) and exercise Gena and I agree on the basics. With autism taking up a permanent residence in my home, my pantry has been free of gluten, casein, dyes and most sugars. After facing some minor heath issues with my hubby a few years we ousted hydrogenated oils too... and that's about where the similarity train between Gena and I stops:) hehe



I happen to fall somewhere in between the "Gena food nazi's" of the world (those are her words:)) and  a complete fast food junkie. I LIKE FOOD... I just do... no wait I LOVE FOOD. I love getting together with  family and friends and enjoying cheese, butter, bread and wine... I love going to my mom's house for dinner and savoring every bite of her A-M-A-Z-I-N-G (and at times possibly a little orgasmic... ya I said it) cooking... I don't want to be on a diet!!! I don't want to give up the things I love so I can possibly fit into a size 8 pair of jeans or weigh 10 lbs less on the scales. It's just not that important to me...



{What is Important to ME???} 

Not feeling like crap! I work out... enough... I eat decent 80% of the time... BUT, when I have a rough day... I binge... when I realize my checkbook is not in the condition I thought it was in... I binge... When I feel stressed or overwhelmed... you got it... I binge... when the weekend hits... it's an all out food orgy for like 72 hours...  I have "food hang overs" that rival hang over hang overs... It's not pretty not pretty at ALL!



This month... my commitment isn't to stop eating fast food or salt or butter or bread for the rest of my life... (quick, someone go resuscitate Gena:)) I won't apolgize for eating the food I love... IN MODERATION. But I am committing to working out with my "trashy boot camp" sisters and I am committing to STOP the bingeing. I am committing to stop trying to fill the voids in my life... the hurt, the pain, the frustration... with food. When I tell myself that it doesn't taste good or I'm full... dah dah dah... I'm going to stop eating. Some of you may be sitting there thinking,  it's not rocket science lady... but other's of you who know the struggle of emotional eating get what I'm saying... I will no longer darken the drive thru of McDonald's and Taco Bell because I need something to "calm me down". 





Food has been my drug of choice for too long. I want to stop abusing it AND my body. I want to start enjoying it again. And more than anything I want my kids to see a mom who is strong and healthy and even on occasion... balanced:) I want my boys to have a healthy body image and a healthy relationship with food... yes even us mom's of boys have to worry about the example we set in this department!



I know the power I let have food have in my life is bordering on the psychotic side and honestly... I'm just sick of it. I'm sick of feeling sick... I'm sick of having zero energy and being grouchy... FOOD Can't fix me... FOOD can't fill the voids I should be turning to God to fill... hopefully this month I can make my actions match my words.