November Goals

OH MAN YOU GUYS.  I did a TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE job at fulfilling my October Goals.  I'm honestly embarrassed.  I can't let that stuff happen again!    I drank alcohol more than once, slacked on Insanity, didn't make all of the recipes I planned.... oh boy.  (And we didn't go to the apple orchard this year!  Lame-sauce.)

Eva's disappointed in me!  Gah!  I won't let it happen again!

November is going to be a crazy month because I am participating in NaNoWriMo and running the first month of Fit Friends (have you signed up yet!?)  My daughter turns 5, my mother is visiting from Colorado for a week, we have to finalize our reception location for the wedding and it's Thanksgiving.  Holy moly!

"Goals help you channel your energy into action." -Les Brown

November 2012 Goals

-Write At Least 50,000 Words For NaNoWriMo 

-Make All Of Eva's Birthday Party Food Homemade

-Do Baby Yoga 3x A Week

(Mom and Baby Fitness)

-Make These 3 Recipes That I Did Not Last Month:

Grilled Zucchini Pizza Slices

-Baked Apples

-Chicken, Sweet Potato and, Quinoa Stir-Fry

-Try These Two Recipes:

-Sweet Potato Enchiladas

-Cowboy Caviar

-Get Down to 130 Pounds

-Finalize Reception Venue For The Wedding

-Get To 50 Google Followers

-Try Not To Have Meat More Than 1x A Day

-Replace One Meal A Day With A Protein Shake

-Take At Least 1 detox Bath A Week

-Write At Least 4 Blogs A Week

-Drink Gotcha Matcha Every Day

-Skip 1 Faturday

-Hold A 1 Minute Plank Every Day

---

There you have it!  My November goals!  Are you setting any goals this month?  I'd love to hear about them!  If you blog about them-- let me know and I'll share your link below:

 Ain't Got Nowhere To Go : November Goals

---

Tomorrow I'll be posting my very first vlog!  I'm participating in the Girl Behind The Blog blog hop... Be sure to check out my awkwardness!

I'm also currently hosting a Giveaway on my Facebook page!  It's open for another 2 hours-- head over and enter!  I'm celebrating the 200 fan mark!  Here's what is up for grabs:

Free Daiya- Free Earth Balance- Free Bottle of Mamma Chia!

Daiya Winner + October Goals

Let's jump right into it- who's the lucky winner to win *Free Daiya Cheese*!?

Congratulations Jordan!  

Send an email to: mamasbellyblog (at) gmail (dot) com - include your name and address and I will get your Free Daiya sent to you!

I love announcing winners + hosting giveaways is super fun!  (Check back Monday -- I'll be hosting a giveaway from Chobani Yogurt!)

Now- it's almost the end of the month- which means it's time to set up my monthly goals!  Like I said in my last post, setting goals is an important step in the process of getting in shape.

---

-Do not miss one day of INSANITY!

-Do Baby Yoga 3x a week

(Mom and Baby Fitness)

-Get down to 135 pounds

-Visit an apple orchard

(Preferably Emma Krumbees)

-Hold a plank for 1 minute straight

-Drink Gotcha Matcha everyday

-Eat 2 Vegan meals a week

-Only drink alcohol 1x 

(At a friends wedding on October 6th)

-Do 25 real push-ups in one sitting

-Try these 5 recipes:

-Grilled Zucchini Pizza Slices

-Baked Apples

-Chicken, Sweet Potato and, Quinoa Stir-Fry

-Matcha Muffins

-Vegan Black Bean and Potato Cheese Enchiladas

-Carve Pumpkins

-Make homemade pumpkin seeds

-Take at least 1 detox bath a week

--

Goal setting is super important- it gives you something to work towards.

Are you setting goals for October?

(I have the weekend to finish up a few goals I have yet to complete for September!)

---

"Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination." -Fitzhugh Dodson

Weekend Weigh-In + SPARK WINNER!

Another weekend done and gone-- how was every one's?  Mine was *excellent*  Tons of family fun, physical activity, and cooking!

Saturday we had our friend Tara's little 5 year old over at the house for the day.  Him and Eva had a ton of fun throwing water balloons and enjoying the sunshine.  We will be taking him quite a few Saturdays while his Mama works and I couldn't be more excited about it!  He is a great kid and it's nice for Eva to have someone to play with that is near her age!  

I am proud to tell you guys that I have exceeded my goal in regards to getting in 4 runs with Garrett during the month of September.  Our jogging stroller fits *both* kids (seriously- SCORE!) so-- we can make a family adventure out of it!  We did 3 miles yesterday and I was pooped. 

sweaty- but so worth it!

I did manage to motivate myself into doing a Baby Yoga session after recovering.  It was awesome because Eva grabbed a doll and joined in with me, as well as Garrett!  We moved all of the furniture in our living room so we could all fit comfortably.  It was a great morning!  We also made time for a dance party!  My favorite song right now is Calvin Harris- Feel So Close.. 

What's yours?!

Garrett has been such a huge supporter of me on this journey.  I wouldn't be able to do this without him.  Getting healthy has been bringing us closer.  We both get so excited to share with one another something new that we've learned or something that we think would be fun to try.  It's pretty neat!

Do you work out with your significant other?

Okay with clothes on... Without- Scary MOMster!

As of Sunday night- I had hit my goal weight of 140 pounds!  Woo!  That makes my total weight loss since Abram was born 35 pounds!  

source

I'm a happy lady- that is *for sure*...

I also know someone else who is about to be a happy lady:

YOU WON 14 POUCHES OF ADVOCARE SPARK!

Lacey-- to claim your prize, send an email containing your address and your choice of flavor (Grape, Pink Lemonade, Cherry, Mandarin Orange, Citrus, Mango Strawberry or Fruit Punch) to:

azia dot archer at gmail dot com

Congratulations Lacy!  

Be one the look out for more giveaways in the very near future from Earth Balance, Daiya, Mamma Chia, Chobani, Bob's Red Mill, Dr. Lucy's and MORE!

Happy Monday everyone!

Weekend Weigh In & Spark Giveaway!

Hey guys!

How was your weekend?  Mine was awesome-- lots of family time-- parks, fresh air, football, movies.  I don't have a single complaint from the weekend.  I even accomplished a couple of my monthly goals! Woo!

Last night before bed, I weighed myself, I was teetering between 142 pounds and 143 pounds.  It's been over a week since I've been at 145 so, though it's mostly water weight-- I feel I'm accomplishing something!  I feel like Emilio right now:

source

OOOOOH YEAH.

Moving on... Today's post is about the amazing product Spark.  Anyone that knows me has probably noticed I'm constantly raving about this product.  It's made a huge difference in my life.

Having a 2 month old and a 4 (almost 5!) year old can be exhausting.  Especially when Abe was first born and not yet sleeping through the night.  To say I was tired is an understatement.  I felt like a blind, brainless, Robot-Zombie going through the motions of the daily grind.

Garrett kept telling me to drink Spark-- that it would make me feel great without the crash of an energy drink (or all the nasty crap that are in those things!)  I wish I could go back in time and kick myself-- I was such a skeptic and should have started drinking this much sooner!

It comes in a variety of flavors (I've tried Grape :my favorite:, Cherry, Fruit Punch, Mandarin Orange and Pink Lemonade) and they have all been *awesome.*  I fill up a shaker cup with 1 scoop of Spark, 10 ounces of water and ice twice a day-- and it's all I need to stay going throughout the day.  I can play with  my kids, clean, write, cook, exercise-- it's crazy!

And I want YOU to try it!

I'm going to be giving 1 lucky reader samples of this life-changing (for me!)wonder drink!  The Lucky winner will win a 14 pouches of the Spark flavor of their choice!

To have your name entered into the drawing:

-Comment on this post and let me know whether you've tried Spark before

-Follow me on Blogger (Hit that "Follow" Button over on the left side of your screen!) and leave a comment that you are a follower 

-Follow Mama's Got A Big Belly on Facebook and comment that you've done so

That's right!  You can have your name entered up to 3 times!  This giveaway will be open until Sunday night and I'll announce the winner next Monday!

Good luck!

Portion Control, Goals & Pen Pals- OH MY!

Can you guys believe it?  It is *already* Friday!?  I don't know about you, but for me the week just flew on by!

I weighed myself this morning and I was at a steady 144 pounds.  Tomorrow, Garrett's Aunt is throwing a meet and greet on Abram's behalf and I'm nervous about all of the food I will shovel into my face.  It's much, much easier to eat right when you are at home.  But, when you are going to a party (with a ton of delicious food!) it becomes challenging.  Garrett reminds me it will be okay, it's our "Faturday" (more on that soon!)

I think about the impending holidays and I get discouraged :  am I really going to lose this weight over a cold, holiday-filled, Minnesota winter?  It's certainly going to be a challenge.  My biggest obstacle may in fact be - portion control.  This Mama CAN EAT! I've always been a "good eater" (according to my Mama).

source

Web MD has an awesome site that shows you the true portion of common foods and if it's not something you are familiar with: prepare to be surprised!  You can be eating all of the "right" foods, but if you are overeating- you are doing your body a disservice!  (And you will not lose weight!)

I will try to keep this in mind this weekend!

But, moving on- tomorrow is the first day of September!  (In my eyes, that means the summer is over and- it's the beginning of my favorite time of the year- Fall!)  Every month I will be posting Monthly Goals that will focus on healthy living.

Do you set goals for yourself every month?

I also wanted to share with you the awesome program: Foodie Pen Pals!  I've participated in this program a few times and it's wonderful!  Lindsay over at the Lean Green Bean runs this awesome food exchange!  Every person who signs up is assigned a partner in the United States and you send each other goodies!  It is really fun!  I'd recommend clicking on the banner below, getting more information and signing up!  You guys have one more day to become September participants!  Otherwise, you can try again next month.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and that you stop back on Monday to see Mama's Big Belly!