Look to see what's happening in your area and spend the day celebrating our troops and enjoying the beginning of summer!

Run for a cause!  We just love the idea of getting out there and exercising while contributing to a great cause to help others!  The Smile Mile Run was started by my really good friend from college.  Her sister-in-law, Laura, has ovarian cancer and Laura’s Smile Foundation, which is dedicated to leading the movement towards ovarian cancer awareness, was started in her honor. The Smile Mile Run will be held in Milwaukee, WI on June 5th.  All you WI fans, sign up today!

You don't have to live in WI to run for a cause!  There are races all over. One very popular race is the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure for breast cancer awareness.  Charity runs and races are such great ways to get actively involved not only in contributing for a good cause, but also to get your family and friends involved.  It can become your family tradition every year or a fun goal for you and your friends to achieve together.

Get out there, join a run and have some fun! 

Of course this topic hits home for me.  It's been almost 2 1/2 months since my Mom had her stroke.  She continues to make progress, but has a long road ahead of her.  Thankfully we have a wonderful family and friend support network to help keep Mom positive and strong.  She's a fighter that's for sure. 

I honestly never, ever thought this would happen to my Mom.  She's only 62 years old and very active and independent.  After I started doing more research, I found out some very alarming information:

*Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

*425,000 women suffer from stroke each year. 

*Women are twice as likely to die from stroke as breast cancer!!!

Would you be able to recognize the warning signs of a stroke?  Do you know what might be putting you at risk of having a stroke? Visit http://www.healthywomen.org/healthcenter/stroke to learn more.  And please share this information with your loved ones. 

Hahahaha...this cracks me up.  Wanna know why?  Because it's soooooo true!  I read it in my Women's Health Newsletter and I think it hit the nail on the head. 

OK, let me clarify "skinny".  My idea of a skinny chic is a fit, lean and in shape women.  If you're eating healthy and working out you can be skinny as well as strong and beautiful!

Here is the scenerio Women's Health Magazine describes...

"You wake up after a late night spent with a pint of Rocky Road ice cream or a jar of marshmallow cream. To avoid any more calories, you replace breakfast with a tanker load of coffee. Lunch gets back on track with a big healthy salad ... but somehow, you're not satisfied. Then the cravings kick in. Chocolate chip cookies ... sugary candy bars ... frothy iced caramel mochachinos ... you can't resist. And worst of all, you find that once you start, you just can't stop. And you wake up back where you started."

Sound familiar?  It's a vicious cycle.  The description above is essentially your metabolism going on an out of control roller coaster ride.  GET OFF!  We don't believe you shouldn't eat salads. They are great for you if you pack them full of good stuff (minus the heavy salad dressings).  You just shouldn't think eating an itty bitty salad with a few veggies is a meal replacement that will take care of that ice-cream you ate the night before.  You don't want to cut your calories...you want to get back on track with eating a balanced meal.

Even if you don't eat the junk and you have that tanker coffee in the morning, you're not getting any good calories to get your metabolism on track for the day.  Follow that with a salad for lunch and your body thinks it's going into starvation mode, so it's going to cling to any calories you do take in...it wants to store fat for survival! 

Bottom line, if you're eating five small yet balanced meals a day your body most likely won't crave a whole pint of ice-cream.  Add those balanced meals with regular exercise and you can be that skinny, but healthy, chic! 

What a wonderful day to celebrate all the amazing Moms out there!  It's a hard job, we all know it, but so very rewarding.  Take this day to enjoy, appreciate and congratulate yourself and your Mom on a job well done.

For a perfect Mother's Day, take Mom for a walk in the beautiful spring air.  Local parks, botanical gardens and regional or national parks are great places for a hike or stroll.  Pack a little picnic with sandwiches and fresh fruit, maybe even a little mimosa to reminisce and toast to good memories. 

A special little gift from child to Mom or Grandma would be a homemade card with your child's hand print.  Little hand prints are treasured memories that can be hung on the wall and cherished for a lifetime.  

Another great gift for Mom from the heart would be to fill a glass jar with little tiny envelopes and in each envelope write a single memory from growing up.  Our past, in so many ways, can shape our futures and it is so special for parents and children to know what made each other's lives so special. 

Share your memories, your joys, your laughs! Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!

Since I've entered my career as a trainer and  health professional, I hear of SO many things we shouldn't eat.  Gluten-free this, low sugar that, organic this, whole grain that.  I have always believed eating things in moderation and developing your taste buds for more natural earth ingredients are the best and healthiest way to eat.  As a kid, that is how we ate and as an adult I have continued to eat that way.  Of course I eat cookies, brownies and ice-cream.  That is part of staying balanced and living life! ;)

In the last 5-10 years, there has been a greater demand for buying foods that are organic, contain no growth hormones, cage free, etc.  I have read and understand the reasoning and for the most part buy those products, but it wasn't until I watched Food Inc. on PBS two weeks ago that I had a pivotal moment. 

I think it took me seeing and hearing in more depth about what goes on within our food industry that made such a big impact.  It honestly was appalling.  Don't get me wrong, I know there was an agenda for that show and believe some facts to be skewed, BUT there definitely is no denying the lack of respect for animals, earth, the workers and ultimately us, the consumers. 

I think everyone should watch the show just be be informed!  There's a lot more to the show then just what's in our food, although I have to say I'm amazed.  It's also about who is in control of the consumer, the farmers and the workers.  We do have choices and we do have options, we just need to know what they are and become proactive about it. 

See the movie, let us know what you think and leave a comment on one way we can find and eat healthier foods. 

With the weather warming up nicely, spring fever has sprung!  It's great to see so many people out walking, biking, firing up their bbq's and playing in the park.  What's a great way to burn calories this time of year?  Gardening!!  All that bending, planting, weeding and raking can help you burn up to 300 calories per hour.  Gather up the family and get outside for some fresh air and exercise!

We are back in action, but I feel compelled to share with you our stories.  Not for a pity-party, but to let you know that we too have situations that pull us away from our routines, rituals and just life.  AND how important it is to keep some of those routines no matter where you are and what life throws at you.

Andi has had the horrible experience of her mom having a stroke six weeks ago and is back in her home town to help and support her mom and family.  Talk about trying times...the mental and physical exhaustion of sitting in a nursing home at her bedside and cheering her on to push through discomfort, pain and fatigue is nothing short of a challenge.

My experience (this is Amy writing) was with my son.  He broke his femur and is in a spika cast, which essentially is a half body cast.  He will heal remarkably and has found he can move around very well on his belly.  It has been a huge adjustment for him as well as for us, but he has adapted so well.

Despite life's curve balls, both of us continued to get some means of physical activity, nutritious meals and rest.  Is it all picture perfect?  Hell no!  Andi has to eat out often and I try and squeeze a 20 minute nap in where I can.  We both go for walks or push through a sometimes pathetic workout to get the stress out and keep the body going.  Trying to get the energy or sheer will to even attempt a workout has been tough.   BUT we know it  truly does feel better when all is said and done.

It's also been an eye opener.  Things happen that we don't always have control over and you have to go with it.  It's not an option for Andi to not be with her mom, nor me to take care of my son.  It is a choice how you go about doing it though.  You can pick your head up and shed some positive light on the situation no matter how hard it may be to see it.  I can't be negative and in the dumps around my boy or that will reflect on him.  I hate he's in the cast for so long, but with constant affirmation he is his vibrant, active and funny little self again.  He doesn't even see the cast as a hinderance.

To keep that positive mentality and push through rough days or challenging moments, you HAVE to take care of YOU!  Keep it real...move, eat well, rest and be in the moment.  It may not all be peachy-keen and picture-perfect, but this is the one life you've been given so make the most of the good times AND the trying times!

Like yogurt?  Switch from plain yogurt to Greek yogurt for nearly 50% more protein!  Add toasted almonds and a few fresh berries and you have a yummy meal for breakfast,  a between meal snack, or an after dinner treat.

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is color Easter eggs.  No matter how old we get it never gets boring!!  We found a dozen great ways to dye Easter eggs on Amazing Moms website, or Disney's Family Fun has decorating ideas for those who are feeling really creative. 

When your colorful masterpieces are finished, display to make a beautiful center piece, place on the table as name cards for Easter Brunch or hide around the yard for a festive Easter Egg hunt! 

Don't be afraid to branch out from the traditional and try something fun! 

Happy Easter!