Snack Yourself Silly to Boost Your Metabolism

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Fiona Bryan

I’m an all or nothing kind of gal and this really isn’t a great trait when it comes to trying to eat healthy. I often find myself having eaten breakfast around 8am, Lunch around 1 or 2 and then Dinner around 7. There are times that I don’t snack much and this is a big NO-NO for several reasons. First, your metabolism is like an engine and if you don’t oil it regularly it gets sorta ticked off and slows down. For best results, you should be eating something every 2-3 hours during the day to keep your metabolism happy. The second reason is that, by only eating three times a day, I tend to eat more and make different choices than I might if I were not absolutely famished by the time I slowed down enough to eat.

This is a dilemma for lots of moms, whether you stay at home or work in or out of the home, there is no denying that we mammas are a busy bunch. Taking time to feed our bodies small nutritious snacks helps fuel us both physically and emotionally. Chances are that at the very time of day when your toddler is throwing herself down in the middle of Whole Foods telling you she hates you, is most likely the same time of day that your own body and emotions are struggling stay stable. This state of being is partially due to the fact that your child has turned into a demon and partially because your body is running low on enough energy and strength to handle the situation!

I think there are periods of time in our lives when things go a little crazy and we lose our way. We take shortcuts or consciously go against what we know because it is easier. When this is the case we just need to reel ourselves in and make changes going forward. So, if you are not fueling yourself appropriately STOP and make a conscious decision to change this. Here are a list of five of my favorite healthy snacks that have a wee bit of protein for extra mileage.

1. Celery with peanut butter

2. Apple slices and a string cheese stick

3. Low fat yogurt (1/2 carton) with 1/4 cup of cottage cheese

4. Handful mixed nuts (I like the South Beach mix from Planters) and a piece of fruit

5. Turkey/Cheese roll (I just roll up slice of turkey and a slice of cheese … so gourmet!)

What are some of your favorite healthy snacks?

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Who Knew? Camping is Fun and Will Get You Moving!

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Fiona Bryan

If you heard Friday’s show, you know that I was approaching my weekend camping trip with some trepidation…. with a lot actually. I knew the kids would have a blast, but I’m not one to go without showering for several days in a row and, while I enjoy the outdoors, sleeping with the critters has never been at the top of my “must do” list.

It occurred to me within minutes of arriving at our campsite, that this adventure was going to be awesomely bloggable and VLOGable (still editing the video!). From the moment we arrived at our campsite in the Rocky Mountain National Forest, we were all moving fast to get things set up. There had been some rain on the way in and we wanted to get situated in case it started up again. As we unloaded the car and set up our tent the kids were carrying backpacks and sleeping bags down the trail to our site. They were so excited running back and forth, eager to help us set up our “abode”.

Our friends had arrived before us and were starting up a fire for dinner. I’d be lying if I said we had planned our meals with ultimate nutrition and health food in mind, but we did have whole wheat buns for our burgers so I think you’ll have to give us a pass this time!

The kids were climbing up and down and all around on the mountain of rocks and by 10pm they were all pooped out and bundled up in their sleeping bags. We stayed up chatting with our friends, gazing at the sky and enjoying the beauty of it all.

The next morning we took the kids horseback riding. OK, that is not a passive activity folks! The trail ride we took wound up and down steep hills and I could definitely feel my core working to stay on the horse. I also had K riding on the horse with me and got a major bicep workout trying to keep her on the horse!

Later in the day we took a little hike and marveled at all the wildflowers, bunnies, deer, and awesome critters we never see in the city. The kids were definitely tuckered out by the time they settled in for the night.

As we packed up the next day, I decided that this was definitely something our family should do a few times a summer. We all enjoyed the outdoors and togetherness without computers or TV, and we created fun (and active) memories for our family.

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Keep Moving ~ Your Children Are Watching!

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Fiona Bryan

As Moms, fitness is not just important for keeping ourselves healthy, but also for the example we set with our children. These examples will stay with them their whole lives.

Time, time, time. Whether you are a working mom or a stay at home mom, it is often hard to find time for fitness. No matter how hard it is to find the time, there is no doubt how important it is to carve out a place for activity in our lives.

My mother has been a great example for me. When I was very young she was “healthy”, but she wasn’t active and didn’t work out or participate in a fitness program of any sort. Then, I remember one day, being in junior high and watching her start running around our backyard. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. As kids we were involved in sports and always outside playing baseball, kickball etc. As I look back, I now see exactly what she was doing and I’m so very proud of her and grateful for her example.

My mother was a stay at home mom in the 70′s and 80′s and dedicated her entire life to raising me and my brother. She had gained weight and was trying to get in shape. She wasn’t comfortable running out on the road yet so she worked her way up by running laps around our backyard, and eventually she hit the road. She then joined an athletic club and ultimately became an aerobics instructor! I can remember running road races with her when I was in high school, and it is amazing to me now to look back and remember that she started out by running laps around the backyard. This is a great example of how to get started if you are not already active.

You may be interested to know that my mother is perhaps the most active 60 year old you’ll ever meet. She wakes up early every morning and road bikes with a bike club, she then heads to tennis where she is a ranked player in the Senior Division. She often ends her day with a run. On the weekends she crews on a sailing team and, let me brag on her a bit more, has been the Southwest Florida Ladies Day Helmsman of the Year for four years running. The only thing missing that would make this the dream life for me is winter snowboarding!!

Our children learn good and bad habits from us. If you aren’t yet active, take a few moments and think of the ways that you can start.

Involving your children in activity is a great way to get started and to spend quality time modeling a healthy and fit lifestyle. Here are a few warm weather ideas that are fun for the whole family. I challenge you to take time this summer to find some new activities that your family will enjoy.

Hiking – Google hikes in your local area to see what trails or hikes are suitable for families. Many sources will even grade the difficulty of a hike.

Geocaching – Geocaching is a high tech treasure hunting game that people all over the world play using GPS devices. Visit geocaching.com for more information and stay tuned for a more detailed article on this topic soon!

Bike Riding – All kids love to ride bikes. I live in the city and we have many paths that are designated just for bike riding. My three year old rides in a seat on the back of my bike while my 9 and 6 year olds speed ahead. There are all kinds of contraptions for riding with small babies or children. You can often find great deals at yardsales or a used sporting goods store like Play It Again Sports. On days that I am not able to get to the gym I will often get a good run in by jogging along with my kids as they ride their bikes or scooters.

Walking/Jogging – Whether you have babies or tweens on up, walking is not only a great activity for fitness but I find that I have had the most amazingly open conversations with my sons while out walking. We walk to school and the park and often just take a short walk after dinner. My 9 year-old will often ask to come running with me. When we first started running together we moved slow but now that he is growing so tall I find that I’m getting a pretty decent workout when I’m with him!

Play Ball – Grab a ball, any ball, and head outside! Your kids will get a kick out of watching you and as they get older they’ll even get a little laugh, and every laugh helps to build a bond and memories that will stay with them forever. I like to play basketball with my boys and since I’m 5′ tall and they are growing fast, I’m getting quite a run around at times Soccer with my sons is a major workout, those boys move fast!

Swinging - If you have younger children that still want you to push them on a swing you can turn it into a workout. There is a fun game I play with my daughter. She calls it “Freeze Underdog”. I push her in the swing and run under the swing yelling “underdog”, back and forth. Every now and then I surprise her by holding her up in the air and yelling “freeze”, I tease her by pushing her up and down (working my arms!) and then let her go… and then resume. Trust me there have been many calories burned this way!

What are some ways that you are modeling a fit and healthy lifestyle? Are there areas you could improve? Share your ideas with our readers!

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