I just signed up for Smithfield Half Marathon. It is insane hard, up Smithfield Canyon. So nervous and excited! What races are you doing this summer?

6 Ways Busy moms Can Stay in Shape on the Go

I love this article from Melissa Bixby on how to take care of you so you can take care of everyone else who needs you.

Your job as a mother is not an easy one. Whether you work out of the home or are a stay at home super mom, managing a household, caring for children and keeping life running smoothly leaves little time for yourself. Many mothers become complacent when it comes to personal things, such as that extra baby weight they have yet to shed, or their personal diet. Who has time to take that Yoga class when you have three soccer games to attend? Why bother cooking healthy meals throughout the day when that fast food dollar menu is so convenient and cheap? It seems like a nearly impossible thing to fathom, but staying in shape, even when you are leading the busy, hectic life of a mom, is a lot easier than you think. Try these tips for the next week and see how you feel.

Make Exercise Fun
Take the kids to the park and play tag. Walk the dog together. If your children are still stroller bound, push them around the block a few times. Just a 20 minute walk a day can greatly reduce your stress levels, boost your energy levels and lower your blood pressure.
Jumping jacks are a great cardio booster. Make it into a game, see who can jump the longest and reward the winner with stickers or a treat-a glass of wine for mom perhaps? Incorporating exercise into play time also has the added benefit of keeping your children active and tiring them out for that sacred time of the day; nap time!

Grab some ankle weights and work on those legs while you vacuum. Turn everyday chores into a fun exercise opportunity. Work in some squats while you are picking up toys. Concentrate on keeping your tummy tight while you fold laundry.

Eat Smart
Save money and calories by preparing healthy snacks to refrigerate and grab on the go. Apples and peanut butter, celery and peanut butter, anything with peanut butter is delicious and easy to eat when you are on the run. If you need something sweet, squirt dime-sized drops of yogurt on a cookie tray and freeze overnight. Frozen yogurt drops make a delicious breakfast treat that you can stick in a Ziploc and enjoy anywhere.

Stay hydrated

Keeping a steady flow of water through your system is the most important factor when it comes to staying in shape. It is so easy to just grab a soda or processed drink because they come in easily accessible and reseal able containers. Bottled water is a better choice but can be expensive over time, so opt for a reusable water bottle.

Relax and Rewind
Take time to slow down and take stock of your surroundings, even if it is only for five minutes a day. So many moms get burnt out and live in a constant state of exhaustion because they just don’t know how to find the time to relax and breath. You have to make the time. Meditate for five minutes, close your eyes and allow yourself to be free from your day, if only for a few minutes. When your body is stressed, it releases the hormone Cortisol. When Cortisol is released too frequently; weight gain can occur, further slowing you down and leading to other health problems. Keeping your stress in check is key to staying in shape.

Try adding one tip a day for the next week and work from there. Guaranteed you will have more energy, feel better and will be well on your way to getting and staying in shape.

Melissa Bixby writes about parenting, saving money & frequenting www.dentalinsurance.net.

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4 Exercises Your Kids Will Love

On the blog today I have Ashley Holmes sharing some fun ways to get our children moving.

Teaching your child to stay healthy from a young age will help them maintain that healthy attitude and well-being as they grow older. This is because if exercise becomes a habit for your children when they are little, they will grow to believe it’s normal to be active all their lives. Activities such as television, gaming, etc are not healthy choices. Furthermore, lack of physical activity can lead to many adverse health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and more. Take it upon yourself to make exercise fun for your children and help them get that jump start on physical fitness. Below are some ways to do so!

Leap Frog

Leap frog has been a game that children have played for years. On a nice, sunny day take time outside to enjoy a game of leap frog with your kids and their friends. To play leap frog, have the children sit on the ground, crouching over. Taking your hands and placing them on the child’s shoulders, hop over their body and crouch down yourself as the next person in line stands up and jumps over everyone. Children love jumping, and this will lead to some sweaty fun, which means pumping hearts and calories burned.

Frankenstein Walk

The Frankenstein walk is an exercise that makes children burn lots of calories, but laugh while it’s being done. The exercise is replicating the moves that Frankenstein made when walking. Have the children walk in a large, open area and kick one leg up in the air at a time. While doing so, have them lift the opposite arm and touch the toes of the raised foot. Having the children hold their stomach in tight will give a great abdominal and cardiovascular workout!

Hopscotch

An old time favorite, hopscotch is so much fun for children. Not only does it create lots of body movement, but making the hopscotch squares is just as much fun as the exercise. Let children use colored chalk to draw the squares before playing the game. Let them hop on one foot and then two throughout the square board for about 15 or 20 minutes for a great exercise program that is fun as well.

Jumping Rope

Lots of calories can be burned by playing jump rope with the kids and their friends. This is a great way to teach the children about good cardiovascular workouts and will also be helpful to keep your children looking good as they get older, because jumping rope if great for toning legs, especially calves.

Kick Ball

Another traditional game from years ago is kickball. A good game of kickball with just family or friends is a great way to have the children running around the yard and chasing the ball. Playing kickball for about 30 minutes provides a good cardiovascular routine and will also tire the kids out for bed time later on. The fewer players, the better, because that means more activity.
Ashley Holmes writes about fitness, finance& saving money at www.homeequityloan.net.

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Last chance to win fitness prizes

Today is your last chance to enter the fitness giveaway. Hurry, my friends, and enter on all the sites you can. I really, really want my followers to win most of the prizes - hee, hee!
Click here to enter. I'm going to draw a name per 50 entries so don't hesitate to enter on every blog, even those that have hundreds of entries, your chances are still really good for being drawn.

To thank everyone for entering the fitness contest, we've lowered the price of Dead Running Kindle version to $2.99 until the end of May. Click here to download it.

Go Easy

Are you ever hard on yourself? I think too often we as women like to tear ourselves down. We are all struggling to do our best and be our best. Sometimes we make mistakes, maybe we eat a huge bowl of ice cream and five or six cookies (not that I would do that) or miss our son's lacrosse game so we can go on a girl's getaway (it's only happened once, or twice). Of course I don't recommend doing either of these things but sometimes things don't go the way we want them to (most of the time). Keep a smile on your face and don't let negativity drag you down. Especially as this relates to body image. Nobody has a perfect body. The models are touched up. Don't compare yourself to anyone else or to how you looked in high school (so comical that I thought my thighs were big then). Throw that stinking scale away and realize that you are doing your best to be healthy and that is what matters.

As President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “God wants to help us eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but He knows that this is a long-term goal,” President Uchtdorf said. “It is OK that you are not quite there yet. Keep working on it but stop punishing yourself. “
“Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others,” he added. “Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.”

Don't you just love him? Be patient with yourselves, my beautiful friends. Be happy. Life is too short to not eat chocolate.

How to Measure Your Overall Health Condition

I'm excited to have this great guest post about How to Measure Your Overall Health Condition.

The key to measuring and maintaining your overall health condition is an annual physical examination. Ideally, your annual checkup will be performed by a physician who is familiar with you, your previous test results and your family history. In addition to a physical examination, certain tests and screenings may be ordered as needed. Here’s what you need to know about your next check up!

1. Family History
It is very important to give your doctor an accurate and detailed family history. This helps to determine which tests and screenings should be done on a regular basis. If you have a family history of a certain health problem, your physician will be more thorough with questions about symptoms, the physical examination and screenings.

2. Screening Tests
Your age, sex and symptoms determine which screening tests you should have. If you are overweight, you will probably be tested for diabetes, especially as you get older. High blood pressure, coupled with shortness of breath, suggests that you should be tested for heart disease. Yearly mammography is recommended for women at the age of 40; earlier for women with a strong family history of breast cancer. Since colon cancer is very treatable in its early stages, a colonoscopy is recommended for anyone 55 and older. Your doctor will determine which tests are needed, based on your physical examination, overall health status, symptoms, family history, age and sex.

3. Healthy Weight
Obesity contributes to a host of medical problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Certain cancers have a higher incidence in an overweight person. Obesity is also a factor in the development and pain of arthritis of the knee or hip. In order to lose pounds and maintain weight loss, you need to be very motivated. There are a number of options that your physician can discuss with you, including diet, exercise, medication and surgery. If (s)he is not an expert on diet strategies, they may refer you to a dietitian or a diet psychologist. If you can find a group to work with, this often offers encouragement and helps maintain motivation.

4. Active Lifestyle
It is never too soon or too late to start an exercise program. Adults should schedule at least thirty minutes of aerobic exercise every day. It can be as simple as walking, or as complex as hiring a personal trainer and working out at the gym. Just be sure that it’s something you enjoy and something that gets your heart pumping. Studies show that regular exercise slows the aging process and development of disease. Be sure to consult your doctor before starting any exercise program though.

5. Mental Status
Your mental outlook has an influence on your health. If you are depressed, or have a lot of negative thoughts, you need to tell your doctor. He may prescribe medication, but seeing a therapist might be a better long-term solution. Actively seek help if it is needed.

Dr. Andrew Weil has written a number of books on health and healing. He believes that a person can discover and enhance the body’s natural ability to maintain and heal itself. He emphasizes diet, exercise, mental health, and some complementary and alternative therapies. The Mayo Clinic’s comprehensive website also discusses complementary medicine to maintain health.

Kyle Fordham writes about health, family finance & www.flowerdelivery.net.

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Retail Therapy

Last weekend I got away with some wonderful friends. We drove like speed-demons to City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake. It was delightful. First of all, City Creek is a beautiful outdoor mall. I loved the way it was setup, the creek and water features really added an element of peace and beauty that I've never seen in a shopping center. Second, the shopping was amazing. I actually feel cute in my own clothes now. Yeah! Third, we were able to meet Kristen Oaks (wife of Elder Dallin H. Oaks) at Macy's. She was an angel. It was such a delight to speak with her, feel like one of her friends, and have her tell us that "retail therapy" is extremely important for a woman's mental health. Can you see why we loved her?
All in all, it was a fabulous shopping day that I hope we can repeat really soon. Click here to see pictures of City Creek.

Aren't my friends cute? Notice all the Macy's bags. We're kind of addicts!
Where's your favorite spot for retail therapy?