If I could walk 10,000 steps and then I would walk 10,000 more

Great now that song is going to be stuck in  my head all day! In case you missed the reference click here for the link.

Ok so I follow a couple blogs (links on the side bar) and one of them mentioned how her husband and herself try to walk 10,000 steps a day. That totally made me interested in how much I walk a day. I went to our super store and purchased a simple pedometer. When I clipped it on I figured I probably walked 5,000 steps a day, at the least. WRONG! It is really embarrassing but I only walked a little over 2,500 the first day. The second day was a little better at 3,000 steps. My plan is to try to increase my steps by at least 500 a day.

One of the ways I plan on doing this is by walking during the commercials on TV. I had tried doing workouts during the commercials but I always forget. So I came up with this:

I taped it to my TV to make sure I have no excuses about forgetting.

I know this will help because I tried walking thru one show and gained a lot of steps!! Feel free to print it up and do the same!! Let me know how you do!

Love,

Ashley B. 

Month Two

Our second month is approaching quickly and I am not ready for it. How can we already be heading into February? Was it just not Christmas?  On the bright side Month one of no sugar and no soda went well.

Before we move on I want to clarify what no sugar means to my family. No refined sugar ie: white sugar, high fructose corn syrup and the like. Also no engineered sugar like splenda or sweet n low. We have been using natural sweeteners when needed. Stevia, Honey, Maple Syrup, Turbinado, are the main sweeteners in our home now. I've been meaning to explain that all month. Better late then never I suppose. Now onto :

Month Two

Food

No No List:

Refined Sugars
Soda
Fast Food

Limit List:

Refined White Flour - try replacing this little by little. Read ingredients and look for 100% whole wheat.This is a hard one for kids so be patient.
Salty snacks- if you must have something make it as close to its natural state as possible with minute amounts of man made additives if any at all.

Add  Ins:

Probiotics- get them in yogurt, kefir, or supplements. Try to get some in you and your family everyday. These little guys are crucial in overall health. I make homemade kefir with raw milk and the kids get a glass every night. I will write more on this subject... eventually.


Exercise

Continue to move through the day. Get at least 30 minutes of  exercise in a day. Do not jump into some hardcore exercise routine that your body is not ready for. You cant work out the next day if you are to sore to move! Getting into the routine of working out is a great goal for this month. Keep it fun and fresh. I do a mix of YouTube videos to keep from getting bored. Do not measure your success by your weight either. You can gain weight in gaining muscle because muscle weighs more then fat. It is more important to feel strong and fit then to be "skinny".

Spiritual

My goal for this month is to journal more and to read a devotional every morning. It is also important to read the Bible every day too. Even if its only a verse or two just get into the habit. My phone has an app on it called YouVersion. It is a bible app with all sorts of devotionals on it and its free. Super cool and worth checking out.

This may not seem like a lot of change but I'm trying to make sustainable long term changes and habits for my whole family. By the end of this they wont even realize how healthy we have become. I'm like a health ninja. I hope and pray you choose to join us.

Love,
Ashley B