There are three ways of getting things done:

1.  Procrastinating until the last minute.  Deadlines are motivating.

2.  Sucking it up and just doing it.  Pain works!

3.  Perfect planning, organization, and execution.

[If you are #3 I don't want to talk to you.  You are clearly a robot.  You can leave now.  Go!  Shoo!]

There, we’re alone now and we can talk.  I’m not a fan of pain, are you?  I hate making myself do stuff I don’t wanna.  It’s so much easier to pretend it’s not there as long as possible … and then do it.  You know, after I’ve let it hang over my head awhile, making me crazy.  I’m funny that way.

While the just-get-it-over-with approach has some merit, I’m proposing that instead we find ways to make procrastination work.  Here’s how: Read the rest of this entry »

Forgive the self-centered theme of this post but I’m about to embark on four of the busiest weeks I think I’ve ever had, short of preparing for the birth of my two kids. Though I have to admit those days were riddled with lying around and giant bowls of ice cream on a kicking belly.

We’ve sold our house, I have my grandparents here for my brother’s wife-to-be’s bridal shower, I have to secure a place to rent while our house gets built, notify all utility companies (etc) of our move, pack our current house, (splitting our stuff between what gets stored and what comes with us to the rental), have a wedding rehearsal, a separate rehearsal dinner, get our toddler fitted for his tuxedo, get fitted for my dress, fit into my dress (kind of key, yes?), do all of my bridesmaid duties, move, get the kids ready for school, and then plop into a heap of tired bones at the end of it all. In there? Work, freelance writing, taking care of kids while hubby is out of town all week, and managing to find time to work out. (Oh right, and make MANY decisions on the house that is being built.)
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Boy do I wish I knew how to lose belly fat in less time than what it’s taking me.

I’ve been going to the gym regularly since January and I have lost at least 5-6 inches off my waist. Yet I still battle the mid-section bulge.

It’s common, I know.

So I went in search of things that are supposed to help. Once I got past all the spammy links, here’s what I found. I’m trying them ALL. (Yes, I’m insane, why do you ask)

1) Spinning. Not spin class, though that might help too, but spinning, like a child. I know it sounds silly, but this website claims that working your way up to 200 spins a day (clockwise only, ladies) - in intervals of no more than 20 spins at a time, resting for 60 seconds in between, will help you lose weight. Yeah, I’m not convinced, but I’m trying it.

2) Walking. This one is obviously good for you and surprisingly, all the running I’ve been doing is not changing me as quickly as one would think. I’ve recently slowed to a walk and done sprint training rather than doing long steady runs. I was stuck on a plateau for about a month and this seems to have helped. Walking uphill is even better. Aim for at least 30 minutes every day.

3) Hindu Squats. I’ve been doing these for 3 days and let me tell you - THEY ARE HARD (so they better work!). I’m up to 110. What you do is squat up and down as fast as possible while touching your finger tips to the ground during each repetition. Your goal should be to do 100 repetitions in 5 minutes. Once you can do that, increase to 200 repetitions in 10 minutes.

4) Cycling. I prefer outdoors because there are more hills and being outside is my thing. You can also use the ones at the gym - just don’t pick the ones with the back rest - pick one that looks like a real bike or join a spin class.

5) Jumping rope. Not my favorite but jumping rope for 20-30 minutes provides a complete body workout.

Of course, there are many factors that affect weight. Eat right, keep moving and ditch the booze and cigarettes. Find ways to lower your stress levels too as your body will hang on to fat if you’re stressed.

Good luck and as always, please share any tips in the comments!

Hi, my name is Karen and I am addicted to being competitive.

I’ve been wasting a lot of time playing a game lately on Facebook called Word Twist. I loathe this game. It involves making as many words as you can out of 6 letters, or 7 if you’re masochistic. My win-loss statistic is about 25%. That means I have LOST three quarters of the games I have played!

I may never hold my head up again.

But I keep playing it. Why? What trait that you probably also possess keeps me in the game, over and over again? Read the rest of this entry »

Surrender.

Is this a dirty word to you? White flags? Giving up? Defeat? Or does it mean going with the flow?

Depending on how you answered, you’re either a Spinner or a Masher. Not a cyclist? That’s okay, because these concepts are what we apply to our lives, not just to exercise.

Let me explain: Read the rest of this entry »

You’re tired, you’re hot, you’re sticky. It’s summer and you just got home from work. Take a cue from your kids and use these four ways to relax, shed some summertime stress, and remember your kidhood roots:

1. Eat a popsicle. Seriously, when was the last time you had one? So what if they’re pure evil high-fructose sugar, you deserve one small cold sweet taste of childhood. Or make your own ahead of time from some yummy organic fruit juice. But don’t share if you don’t want to. And be sure to let some drip on your shirt. Read the rest of this entry »

There are a number of things that can work against having a healthy lifestyle, especially as a woman. It takes 21 days to create a new habit. How many of the following things could you give up for 21 days?
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Let me say right up front that I’m sort of horrible with deadlines. I’m a procrastinator. Well, I create in my head my idea of the perfect atmosphere in which to do a task, and I wait and wait and wait for that perfect time and then that perfect ideal never happens. Huh! On top of that I take my commitments very seriously, which seems at odds with my mad time-management skilz, but there you go. It all leads to a lot of sleepless nights. I leave things to the last minute and then drive myself crazy worrying at night when I’m supposed to be sleeping, at a time when there’s nothing I can do about it.

And now we know how stress is born: created out of thin air! I’m magic! Yay me! Read the rest of this entry »

Not long ago I wrote about how toddlers are a great example for us because they’re constantly living in the present. I meant it when I wrote it and I still believe that we’re more at peace when we’re attending to what’s right in front of us, but…

I gotta tell you, I struggle with this.

I mean, what does it mean exactly anyway? And how do we apply the whole “being in the moment” thing when there’s laundry to fold and homework to check and toys to pick up and a deadline to meet and what am I going to make for dinner anyway and OMG did the cat throw up again? Read the rest of this entry »

Last Wednesday night, my 3 year old cried for me not to leave him with his father. “I don’t want you to go to the gym!” he wailed. My heartstrings were pulled so hard I might as well have left my entire heart in his tiny hands. There’s no question that feeling guilty comes naturally with being a mother.

My husband peeled our human fruit roll-up out of my already sweating arms and assured me he would be fine. I gave him the are-you-sure look, and bless his heart, he mouthed back a silent, “Go babe.” I kissed Thomas’ tear-stained cheek and left for another weight training session with my trainer, Homie G.

If there’s one thing I could tell you to take away from this column, it’s to not cave to negative feelings. Laziness, fatigue, being too busy, and putting off exercise due to family demands can all weigh heavily on a Mom’s ability to get her butt out the door to the gym or outside for a run or walk.

Read the rest of this entry »