Why work out?

I think it's important for you to figure out WHY you want to work out before you start working out.

Before I started I came  up with a list and if I ever get discouraged or want to give up I go back and look at this list to remind myself why working out is SO important to my overall health.

1.  Control your weight-we are a society surrounded by delicious food all day every day.   Exercise will help you keep your weight in a healthy range so you can enjoy the treats you love!  

2. Keep you healthy-working out will  help you fend off heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Heart disease runs in my family (both of my parents had heart attacks-my Dad at 58 and my Mom at 64) 

3.  Improves your mood-working out increases your endorphins which makes you happier :-). 

4. Better sleep-working out can help you fall asleep faster and help you sleep more deeply throughout the night.  You will wake up feeling refreshed and ready for another workout!

5.  More energy-regular activity will help build strength and endurance which will give you lots more energy to tackle errands, chores and daily life.  

It's important to write down the reasons why you want to start working out and refer back to it often.  You could put these on a post it, in a notebook or you could keep a list on your phone.  The important thing is to write them down!  Try to come up with one or two and you can add more as they come to you.  

Tell me what are your reasons for wanting to work out?  

Coming tomorrow-deciding when exercise fits in your busy schedule 

31 days to fitness!

I am going to join the Nester this month for her 31 day series.  Lots of bloggers will be writing about a variety of different topics each and every day during the month of October.  I loved reading about some of the 31 topics last year and I'm excited to join in as a writer this year.  I've thought a lot about what I want to write about and to be honest I don't feel like an expert in any topic but I've decided to follow my passion and write about working out.  

I started working out regularly in January of 2011 and though I'd still like to lose more weight I'm proud of the fact that I've stuck with it and it's become a part of my daily routine.  

Never in my life did I think that I would be able to run a mile.  I started couch to 5k in March of 2011 and since then I've completed 20 5k runs, a few 10ks, and 3 15k's!  In January I am going to begin training for a 1/2 marathon!  (I'm # 865, and #179)

This month I'll talk about starting and learning to maintain a fitness program.  I'll also talk about different types of exercises you can do and we will talk about weight training, eating healthy (I struggle with this daily!), and training for your first 5k race!  I also have met fabulous experts in the fitness field and they will be doing guests posts for me throughout this month.  I believe a training program should be balanced and most importantly FUN!  You are not going to stick with something you hate so this month I'll challenge you to find a training program that you love that you can stick to and be successful!  

Day 1-Why work out?

October 9 Day 2-Deciding when to work out?

First Day of school!

Last Thursday Brock and Ava had their first day of school!  I am SO happy that they are back in school and that soon we will be back in to our routine.

Brock is in 11th grade and Ava is in 6th grade this year.

This year will be the hardest year of high school for Brock class wise.  He is taking physics and chemistry this year and he will be playing baseball and basketball.  On top of that he has applied for a dish washing job at a local restaurant (bless his heart!) and we are going to plan a few college visits for the fall-yikes!

Ava is starting middle school so she will have different teachers for every subject and she will  change classes each period.  She will be playing basketball and softball through the Boys and Girls club (she can't play for the school until 7th grade) and she is (sadly!) only taking one dance class this year.  She has also taken over Brock's paper route in our neighborhood and will be doing that with Graig each morning before school.

I got up early and made them a back to school breakfast on Thursday morning. I wanted them to have a good breakfast before their first day.

I also looked through my blog and found some other back to school pictures of them. 

2009-Brock 7th grade, Ava 2nd grade

2011-Brock 9th grade, Ava 4th grade (they looked thrilled to be going back to school-ha ha!)

I guess I didn't take pictures the other years because I couldn't find them on my blog-oops! 

Happy Monday!

Catch Up!!

This summer I was determined for us to get the most fun out of each and every day.  I accomplished that goal because we had a great summer!  It was so fun that I forgot to do any posts in August-oops!

I really need to get better at blogging regularly!  Here are some pictures of our summer fun!

During the first week of August we went to Maine for a little vaca.  We had a great time but the water was FREEZING!!  It was beautiful but next summer I think we will head a little further south for warmer weather. 

Brock turned 16 on our trip and as soon as we got home we went straight to the DMV so he could get his drivers permit.  In NY you have to wait until your are 16 1/2 to get your license so Brock has been practicing and is patiently waiting until February when he can get his license. 

They are so thrilled when I take their picture-ha ha!

 As usual went to a ton of baseball games this summer.  Brock pitched at Doubleday field in Cooperstown in July.  I love this picture I got of him with my iphone.

Brock also started taking flying lessons.  He has wanted to do this for SO long and I am so proud of him but I am terrified at the same time.  I am such a nervous flyer and Brock as always loved flying and being on airplanes.  

This is Brock making his first ever landing-and yes that is a grass runway!

Last weekend my friends and

I have been going to a lot of yard sales with friends this summer.  A few weeks ago we had a spray paint party to paint all of the stuff that we had purchased.  

Our yard is full of pretty flowers and I have been making a ton of flower arrangements this summer

Graig and Brock went to a Yankee game last weekend.  Sadly the Yankees lost :(

My friends and I did a beverage tour last weekend and we visited all 6 breweries in our county.  

Brock and Ava started school last Thursday and I'll be back tomorrow with pictures from their first day!