I think sometimes we're looking for huge radical changes we can make in order to get healthy or lose weight. We think we can't succeed unless we completely overhaul everything we're doing because it's obviously not working.
After years of trial and error and plenty of experience, I am firmly in the camp that says small simple changes add up to the biggest results. They are more sustainable long-term and easier to implement in your already-established schedule.
Read MoreWhen I first started the MuTu System to lose the baby weight and heal my diastasis recti, I thought doing 10-15 minutes of core work each day was enough. I completed the 12-week program, and even made great progress!
However, once the 12 weeks was complete, I only remembered to do the core work a few times a week and tried to jump right into high-intensity interval training right away. Suddenly my back was bothering me again, and my insides started to feel like they were falling out through my belly button. I was right back to where I started.
Read MoreIt's no secret that I love my protein shakes! I replace one or two of my meals with a high-protein meal replacement shake every single day. This is absolutely the best one on the market. Sometimes, however, I like to have a high-protein snack in between meals to eat along with a piece of fruit, or I want something warm to eat instead of a cold shake. In these situations, I like to make protein snacks with my shake powder for my kids, my husband, and me.
Read MoreI never used to be a morning person. In fact, my sisters used to laugh because I could barely utter a word before I had my cereal and shower. The older I get, however, the more I appreciate the beauty of a perfectly crafted morning routine to help me reach my goals.
Now that I'm a mom of 3, the only way to get some quiet time for prayer, reading, or writing is to wake up before the kids. Since my oldest is a pretty early riser, I have decided to start my day at 5 a.m.
Read MoreSo you've tried everything - meal prep, giving up carbs, every diet out there, and out-exercising a bad diet, but you haven't been able to stick with anything. I was there. I thought intense exercise was my get out of jail free ticket to eat anything I wanted. Then I got married and had a child, and I started stressing about the nutrition choices I was making. Was I feeding my family healthy enough food?
Read MoreYou guys. Nursing hunger is REAL. As a breastfeeding mom, all I can think about is what I'm going to eat next, while simultaneously thinking about how I can fit back into my pre-pregnancy shorts. The solution, of course, is to focus on filling up on nutritious foods, healthy and easy snacks, and lots and lots of water.
Read MoreWelcome to 2018! Where do you fall on the spectrum of New Year's Resolutions? Are you a goal-setter? Do you set an intention or pick a word? Do you avoid the subject altogether, and think of it as just another day?
Personally, I feel no need to wait for January 1st to start striving for new goals. However, it's hard to deny the pull of a fresh start: new year, new month, new week, new everything!
Read MoreMeal replacement shakes are a hot topic, especially when we know so much about the importance of whole foods and clean eating. What most people don't realize is that no matter how much they meal prep, buy organic food, and eat clean, they may still be missing key vitamins and minerals, causing them to feel sluggish or not see the results they're looking for such as weight loss or building lean muscle.
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If you ask most moms of young kids who are "working on their fitness," there is very little time or money to spend on their health habit. Of course as moms we make due with what we have, but it often means skimping on equipment we could use or washing and rewearing the same workout clothes multiple times a week.
If you have a woman in your life who also happens to be a mom, and if she loves all things health and fitness (or wants to), here are a few items she may not spend the money on herself that would make the perfect gift.
Read MoreLet me begin by saying that before I had my third child, I was the mom you wanted to punch in the face. Babies 1 and 2 were excellent sleepers right from the start. They were both sleeping through the night by 3 months, and never experienced any regressions. I couldn't necessarily relate to the fatigue other new moms were experiencing.
Read MoreResearch shows that we are much more likely to form a habit if it's convenient. The less time, effort, and decision-making we have to do, the easier it is to stick with an activity we know is good for us. Never have I found this to be more true for me than in the kitchen. If I make a pan of cookie bars and they're sitting on the counter, I won't give it a second thought: I'm cutting off a square and eating it immediately. If, instead, I have fruit neatly cut up in containers or a basket of crisp red apples on the counter, I'm having a much healthier snack.
Read MoreI first discovered I had diastasis recti about 8 months after I had my second child. I had just finished nursing him, and was already back to my pre pregnancy weight, but noticed I still looked a few months pregnant. I figured I would be able to work off the belly fat through more strenuous workout, clean eating, and nutritional cleansing.
Read MoreI was making great progress until about week 8 or 9, when I hit a weight loss plateau. By no means am I upset about this, but I did some research and brainstorming about how I could break through and continue to change my body composition. Here is what I'm changing up, and some things I'm continuing to do!
Read MoreI like a little bit of coffee with my cream and sugar.
It's true. I love the morning ritual of a hot cup of coffee, but the bitterness of black coffee makes me cringe every time. I've at least upgraded to healthier creamer options, but still wonder if my morning cup is slowing down my efforts to lose the baby weight.
Read MoreAfter having my first baby, I was back at my pre-pregnancy weight within a few months. I still felt uncomfortable seeing myself in pictures or wearing a lot of my old clothes, since my weight had apparently shifted around. Here is my story of how I felt like myself again and even saw abs for the first time in my life after having my first baby.
Read MoreWhen I first found out I was pregnant, I was determined to make it my healthiest pregnancy yet. I knew I would be stretched to my limit taking care of a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old, teaching part time, and running my business and blog, so I needed all the extra energy I could get!
Read MoreAnyway, this smoothie is such a simple way to eat healthily and meet your fruit and veggie quota for the day without stocking up on tons of ingredients. With kids in the house, anything that hits the easy, quick, and healthy categories is a win in my book!
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