#4WeeksFit - The Results

Can you even believe that tomorrow is the last day of May? Time is a-flying and I can't say I mind because June is my favorite month of the year! The end of May also means the end of our 4 week fit challenge. I was SO excited to see how many of you linked up with me and Erin and joined in to challenge yourself to get healthier in whatever way you wanted. I was so inspired by all of your goals and following along with your progress has been a huge motivation for me this month! 

If you read my goals post, you know that I set three different goals for myself. But, in truth, I had more. When I originally sat down to write that post I came up with 7 goals but decided to narrow them as to not over-promise and under-deliver...the point was to set myself up for success, right?

I decided that I would strive to achieve all these goals but really focus on the first three and not beat myself up if I didn't meet the rest. 

I am so proud of what I've accomplished this month. I didn't necessarily achieve each goal but I achieved a lot. I think the biggest lesson I learned over these past 4 weeks is to listen to my body. I've really been striving to push myself {something I have not been good at in the past} but I do need to know when its too much and I need a break. I had a little meltdown on the Friday before Memorial Day and realized my body was flat out exhausted. I took a couple days to rest and then came back totally energized and ready to finish the month strong. So let's get down to the details, shall we?

Here's how my month went down...

1. Drink 100oz of water per day - almost nailed it!

I gotta tell ya, this was a really hard one forme. I reached 100+ ounces 22 / 29 days and am PUMPED about that. My lowest day was 64oz which is my daily goal on fitbit and also significantly more than I was drinking before I set this goal. Overall, I averaged 105oz per day and feel like I've FINALLY made drinking enough water a habit. Success!

2. 30 day plank challenge - not-so-much!

I. HATE. PLANKS. Hate, hate, hate them! As you will see on my calendar I made it to a 3 minute plank and then threw in the towel. I think anything over 3 minutes is completely unnatural and absolute torture. I take that back, anything over a one minute plank is unnatural and torture. I will say, I am MUCH better at planks now than when I started and I do want to try and make a 1-2 minute plank part of my every day routine. 

3. Finish C25K - kind of nailed it!

Yesterday I completed the C25K training app! I will admit that as the distances got longer it got much harder to run every other day, especially with all the other workouts I was doing, so I did skip over a couple of the days to give myself a break. BUT, the point of doing this was to train for the 5k I am running this Sunday and I feel ready and excited to achieve a new personal record! Wish me luck!

4. 10,000 steps every day - we're going to say nailed it!

I missed TWO frickin' days of 10,000 steps but I averaged 13,300.5 steps a day this month so I'm totally considering this one a win! Thanks FitBit!

5. 25 {non-walking} workouts in the month of May - sooooo close!

13 C25K training sessions + 4 kickboxing classes + 2 yoga practices + 1 TC Bump Club Stroller Strides Class + 1 Moms on Mats Pilates + 1 Zumba Class + 1 Jillian Michaels DVD = 23 non-walking workouts this month! And...just for fun I counted up all the walks I took with Kenley & Bailey this month which came out to 12, so I guess you could say I exercised 35 times this month! HOLLER!

6. All calories entered in to MyFitnessPal - nailed it!

I've been a calorie entering machine! Even when I splurge I've been entering my calories which is hard because when I splurge I really don't want to face the harsh reality of the amount of calories I consumed. BUT, I really can't tell you how much counting calories has helped me. I've learned that for me it's all about what I eat, no matter how hard I work out.

7. Lose 5 pounds - nailed it!

During the month of May I dropped 5.2 pounds! Which puts me down 20 pounds since New Years and 44 pounds down from my pregnancy weight!  Holla!

I'm so excited to read how all of you did and share in your success! Just because May is over doesn't mean your goals need to be! I'm busy working away on my goals for June!

Giveaway Winner!!!

Oh hey! It's me, the world's worst blogger again! Just popping in to announce the winner of the Sassy Stamped Designs PB&J Bestie Necklace giveaway winner!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Stephanie J!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 {shoot me an email at mamaandmou@gmail.com with your address so I can get you the necklaces!}

I'll be back tomorrow to recap our amazing Memorial Day weekend, because there's nothing like a good weekend recap on a Thursday, right?

xoxox.

 

Healthified Summer BBQ

Now that it's warming up outside we have brushed off our dusty little grill and have once again been putting it to good use. We absolutely LOVE to grill at our house and it's pretty inevitable that the summer will be filled with BBQs with friends and family. But let's face it BBQs, while fantastic, aren't always the healthiest. Typically you'll find yourself downing burgers and/or brats and/or hot dogs with some potato salad, potato chips, maybe a teeny portion of fresh fruit and then some kind pasta salad packed with carbs and calories. 

Well no more my friends. I'm here to share my new Summer BBQ obsessions. 

 Pretty much the easiest thing ever....get some brats of your choosing, get some veggies of your choosing, slice them up, throw them on skewers and grill! We use Chilli Cheddar Brats with Red Bell Pepper, Zucchini and Onion. YUM!

1 head of Broccoli cut down to just florets, 1 container Hormel Less Fat Real Bacon Bits, 1 cup reduced fat shredded Cheddar Cheese, 1 cup reduced fat Mayonnaise, 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/2 tbsp Sugar

And, if you just absolutely can't avoid a pasta salad {let's be honest, it's my favorite part of a BBQ} make this one:

1 box Whole Wheat Penne Pasta, 50 Turkey Pepperonis, 2 small cans sliced Black Olives, 1 cup low fat shredded Parmesan Cheese, Fat Free Italian dressing to taste {I used a little less than a cup}

--it's still high in calories but is MUCH better for you nutrition wise!--

OK, so who is coming over to cook out?

Besties Like PB&J {A Giveaway!!!}

Without question my favorite thing about writing this blog for the past 6 {almost 7!} years is the people I have met through it. I've made some incredible friends locally as well as long distance and I am so grateful for those relationships. In February, I got to meet one of my favorite blog friends, Erin from Hello Erin, while we both happened to be in Las Vegas! 

I am pretty obsessed with Erin and her adorable daughter Lex, and know without a shadow of a doubt the 4 of us would be besties if we didn't live so dang far away. Thankfully, we have the US Postal Service and through the mail Kenley and Lex have become LDBs {long distance besties} and send each other fun treats! After Lex sent Kenley some adorable necklaces {that Kenley MUST be wearing at all times}...

 ...I knew we needed to find something special to send in return. 

Enter Sassy Stamped Designs.

The entire store is FILLED with adorable little charms and trinkets but when I saw the Peanut Butter and Jelly Best Friends Necklaces it was a done deal! 

Can you even handle how cute these are?

seriously....long distance bestie twins.

I am so so excited because I get to give away a set of these ADORABLE necklaces to one of my awesome readers! All you have to do is enter below! I will announce the winner on Monday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! All of my readers can receive 10% off ANY of the insanely cute jewels from Sassy Stamped Designs by using the coupon code: PBJ10

Good Luck!

Guest Mama :: Creating a Birth Plan

Happy Tuesday mamas!

Here's what you do:
1. Write a post about ANYTHING baby {or pregnancy} related.
2. Add my button to your post.
3. Link your post with the link-up tool found at the end of all of my posts.
EASY PEASY! 

I'm really excited about today's guest post, because I think having a birth plan is an important part of pregnancy and childbirth. I shared my birth plan with Kenley and while things didn't go exactly as planned I was so happy I wrote it. Whether you print it out and bring it to the hospital or just use it as a way to brainstorm what you want for your birth and discuss those desires with your hubby - I think it's time well spent. I used mine as a way to share what I wanted with Jason and my doctor so that they could advocate for me when I wasn't thinking entirely clearly, so pretty much from first contraction on. 

Melissa has some GREAT information on things to consider including in your birth plan, so enjoy! 

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Hi everyone! I’m excited to be here at Mama and Mou to share what I’ve learned through my birth experiences. My name is Melissa Woods, and I am a blogger at Welcome to the Woods. I blog for the homemaker in you; my posts include DIY projects, financial advice, and parenting tips. I hope you enjoy this post and stop by to check out my blog!

After having two children and two very different birth experiences, I thought I would share 5 things I think are beneficial to include in your birth plan. I know everyone has different ideas about birth, so these are just coming from my opinion, experience, and research.

1. Delayed cord clamping
Delayed cord clamping involves the umbilical cord staying attached to baby and placenta staying intact immediately after birth for about 5 minutes. This benefits the baby by allowing fluids (especially blood) that were being shared between baby and placenta to drain back into the baby's body. Delayed cord clamping eases the transition into the world. This video does a wonderful job explaining why it is a good idea to delay cord clamping:

From personal experience, my first child (girl), who we allowed the doctor to do standard immediate cord clamping for, developed jaundice. My second child (boy), who we did delayed cord clamping with, did not.

2. Exercise  
Listen, I know some people opt to get an epidural or other pain medication at the start of labor and this does not allow them to get up to move around, but hear me out. Standing, swaying, walking, balancing on a birthing ball and other exercise during labor drastically improves pain and helps the labor progress faster. Sitting on a bed is not the best position for labor. You are putting weight on your bottom, right where the baby is trying to come out! When you stand, gravity helps you to handle the feeling of baby's descent. If you still want to get an epidural, my advice would be to hold out until you can't anymore. It will expedite your labor greatly.
From personal experience, my first I labored sitting on a hospital bed the whole time until the pain was so unbearable I got an epidural. Labor was 5 hours long. With my second, I stood and swayed and walked and knelt and moved the entire labor and it provided so much relief (along with my doula offering massage) that I did not use any pain killers. Labor was 3 hours long.

3. Immediate skin-to-skin contact 
  Most doctors place baby on Mom's tummy right after delivery. This is great, but take it one step further and have the first thing your baby feels be your soft familiar smelling skin. All a newborn wants the first seconds is to be close to its mother. Don't put things between you like clothes or blankets. Spend baby's first hour just holding, cuddling, and feeding. Immediate skin-to-skin contact has been shown to increase chances of successful breastfeeding, encourage Mom's milk production, help baby stabilize breathing and nervous system functions, and strengthen the mother-infant bond. It is used as therapy for premature babies, but ALL newborns can reap the benefits of skin-to-skin. And don't be self conscious about having an exposed belly during labor; the people in a delivery room have seen it all.

From personal experience, my first was set on my tummy briefly, then whisked away to be bathed and swaddled. We tried breastfeeding about an hour after delivery and it went okay. She was groggy from the epidural and wasn't orientated to the outside of my body. She was never a great eater and then developed jaundice; breastfeeding was a real struggle the first month. With my second, as soon as he came out, we were skin to skin. Within twenty minutes he wiggled himself to my breast and started feeding. Our first feeding was phenomenal and he's been a great eater ever since.

4. Opposition to an Episiotomy  
An episiotomy is a surgical slit your physician makes on your perineum (the space between your vagina and anus) to facilitate baby coming out near the end of delivery. They are not considered standard practice, but they used to be and unfortunately some physicians still regularly perform them. The reason this is unfortunate is because episiotomies are difficult to heal from, can easily get infected or tear dramatically, cause more severe tearing in future births, etc, etc. Ultimately, episiotomies are something that should be avoided unless necessary. It sounds bad, but there are practitioners out there who will perform an episiotomy just to speed things along. My first born was delivered by a physician with this mentality. Write it in your birth plan and talk to your provider about what circumstances might warrant an episiotomy. Natural vaginal tearing is almost always more preferable.

From personal experience, with my first I did not have a birth plan and did not even know what an episiotomy was. During the pushing phase, I felt a slice and suddenly my daughter fell out. I was mostly numb from the epidural when I was sewn up. I had no idea why my episiotomy was performed, except that my physician rushed off to deliver another baby a few minutes after mine. With my second, I had told them I did not want an episiotomy. I knew the physician thought about it because he double checked with my doula at the last second saying, "No episiotomy, right?" I had very minor tearing and healed wonderfully in four, not six weeks.
 

5. A Doula
This one I didn't learned until going through labor once. With my first, I had complete faith in myself and trust that my support person (hubby) were a dynamic team ready to take on labor. My labor and delivery with my first was not a poor experience, but there were many things that would have went better if I had a doula. A doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth. My doula was phenomenal at helping me through every stage of labor and delivery. My experience with my second made me see the huge benefits of having someone knowledgeable advocate for you during one of the most difficult and precious times of your life. Please consider hiring a doula, and if you're in central MN, contact the wonderful doula I used via doulamatch.net or on facebook.
Photo credit NV Photography, courtesy of www.thegreatletdown.com

From personal experience, my first birth experience was a blur because I had a vague plan. When bad things happened, no one was there to offer solutions. During labor with my first, I did not breathe deeply, I was not in optimal birthing positions, I did not manage my pain, I gave in to a medicated birth that I didn't want, I experienced periodic deafness, and I was disappointed with the choices made during the labor process on my behalf and that of the staff. Having a doula along with my second, all of those things were turned around, plus I had a coach, an emotional rock, a masseuse to manage the pain, and a knowledgeable advocate for the medical circumstances that arise which you just can't foresee. I felt elated, empowered, strong, and so proud after my delivery experience with my second, all because I had a doula.
These are just a few of the many choices moms are faced with when having a baby. This is not intended to be medical advice; I am not a medical professional. Do your own research, write down a birth plan, and consider including these five things.

Thanks for reading and thank you to Kristin for having me at Mama and Mou. Visit my blog http://www.welcome-to-the-woods.com to see more!

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To submit a birth story or guest post - email me at mamaandmou@gmail.com

Life Lately

Hi my name is Kristin and I am the world's worst blogger. I really thought leaving my 9-5 would turn me in to some kind of super blogger and I'd have all this time to sip coffee and channel all my inner creativity but as proven by this little old blog of mine, leaving my job has done quite the opposite. It also hasn't helped that the snow is melted and back-to-back spring & summer plans have started to fill our calendar, here's what I've been up to...

My friend Kari and I joined my friend Nadine for a super fun Zumba class that benefited the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It was my first attempt at Zumba and I absolutely LOVED it!

 

 We found out that one of my besties and her hubby are welcoming a baby GIRL in September!!! This exciting news also means that I have a baby shower to plan which you all know makes me as happy as a clam!

Carolyn and I have been taking kickboxing classes and are having a blast. It's an insane workout and don't be fooled by our pink boxing gloves....we are pretty bad ass. 

I got together with some of my favorite MN Bloggers {Jess, Carolyn, Katie, Kelly, Dawn & Bridget} for a wonderful yoga practice and a Zula Juice tasting with the owner Renee - if you read my post on Zula from a while back you already know I'm obsessed and I was really excited to get my girls obsessed as well!

 

I sent my baby sister off to prom! Kara is just finishing up her junior year of high school and it is beyond me how she is already this grown up and this beautiful. It's making me feel old. 

 I'm spending as much time as humanly possible outside with my love bug. We are READY for summer and READY for the pool to open! C'mon Mother Nature!

We celebrated my dad's birthday - complete with sister selfies, a family dance party to Whitney Houston, a group plank session and of course pies because our family can't get together without pies. 

This past Friday night our best friends Colin & Sharisse welcomed their baby boy, Wesley, in to the world and to say I was excited t meet him was a HUGE understatement. We are all so excited to have this bundle of joy here safe and sound and I am excited to watch him grow {so is Kenley}.

 

Also this weekend I met Dawn & Melissa for a blogger coffee date {and failed to take pictures}, I met my mom for dinner and a movie {we saw The Other Woman} and Jason and I took Kenley to a Twins game - which they won! We were shocked!

I got myself a fancy blog planner {more on that soon} and let's hope it helps get my butt in gear!

Is It Worth It? Let Me Work It.

Who doesn't love a lil Missy on a Thirsty Thursday morning?

Please hit play to set the tone:

OK, so this song really has nothing to do with today's post, but the title is pretty perfect - so go with it.

 Losing weight is nothing but math...calories in - calories burned = 3,500 calorie deficit and BOOM a pound gone! And getting fit is as simple as cardio + strength training. And getting healthy? Duh. Veggies + Fruits + Protein - Sugar & Processed foods = happy body.

But as we all know too well, nothing about any of that is easy. Losing weight, getting in shape and getting healthy is hard. REALLY HARD. It' a process and it's a commitment. Which is why my blood instantly boils when I hear "you lost 19 pounds? Wow! Tell me your secret!" There is no secret. I've been busting my ass for five and a half months. And nothing about it has been easy.

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I've earned every pound I've lost. No one can lose this weight for me, no one can lift the weights for me, no one can go on the run for me. Every day me, myself and I have to CHOOSE to eat cucumbers instead of crackers, a skinny vanilla latte instead of a peppermint white mocha and water instead of wine {although that one doesn't happen often}.

After busting my ass for months, people are starting to notice the change and all I want to hear is "You look awesome!" "Keep up the hard work!" "You are my hero!" "Your hard work is really paying off! Good for you!" I don't want to hear that I really should let myself have that brownie or plate of nachos, that I should just accept my body as it is or that I have no more weight to lose. I've said it a million times - it's not about the number, it's about feeling great and looking great and if that's bad, then sorry I'm bad. I really wish people could learn to applaud each others successes versus criticize them.

OK, I'm starting to rant! This is supposed to be an inspiring post!

My point is that none of this is fun - but seeing results is WAY fun! And motivating. Does it suck sometimes? Sure, it sucks a lot of the time. But I feel better, I'm no longer bloated, I sleep so much better, I have a ton more energy, my last period I didn't even get cramps, my clothes fit better and I feel more confident. When I feel frustrated or sick of working so dang hard I try and remember those things. If I feel this awesome after 5 months, how awesome am I going to feel after 10?! It's a slow race but as they say....

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Annnnd....I'm off my soapbox! We're halfway through the month! I'm dying to know how your goals are going!!! Catch me up! You can do it! Don't give up!

Preggo Style :: Kristin Cavallari

Happy Tuesday mamas! 

I'm finding that when I schedule my Baby Talk posts the link-up doesn't work despite me setting it up and adding the code to the post - does anyone else using LinkyTools have this problem? I've sent them an email telling them they better fix it and fast - so if the link up doesn't work again today, I'm sorry! I'm working on it!

Here's what you do:
1. Write a post about ANYTHING baby {or pregnancy} related.
2. Add my button to your post.
3. Link your post with the link-up tool found at the end of all of my posts.
EASY PEASY! 

I'm also actively working on not completely sucking as a blogger. A whole post on how is coming up - get excited! 

Anyways, Kristin Cavallari has been all over the news for welcoming her second baby boy last week. And all of the photos of her pregnant have really made me admire her pregnancy style. I never watched Laguna Beach or The Hills or any of those shows so I literally know NOTHING about K.Cav {do people call her that?} But I do know that girlfriend knows how to dress a bump AND she does it in a way that could totally be duplicated by a non-celeb-mama-to-be, aka ME in a couple more years. 

She mainly rocks some form fitting tanks or dresses and then adds a blazer or cardigan which are probably non-maternity. Such a great way to mix up your outfits without investing in a bunch of stuff you can only wear for nine months. 

She also jazzes up what can be VERY boring maternity outfits with fun prints and colors, but again deos it with pieces that can be worn afterwards.

And just because part of being a celeb is getting to dress up and part of being a celeb stalking is drooling over evening gowns...here's some of her preggo night out looks. 

SO GORG. 

Who is you celeb mom fashion favorite?