Checking In With the #TEMT!

Hello Joan and the rest of the gang at #Temt.  It has been a long time since we connected via posts.  I still like catching the occasional tweet that reminds me we are connected.

Since last September, I have been using MyFitnessPal as my primary motivation.  In case you are not familiar with the site, you record all your calories in and calories out through your own personal account.  You can see what your foods cost you and what different activities credit you.  That has been really helpful for me - the accountability.

I have not made record progress in the weight loss area and I am often scratching my head about it but I think the tool is solid.  The best part is I am aware of what I am doing each and every day.  There isn't anything new about this approach to wellness but it has been good for me and I know I get a lot more exercise in my life because of it.  I am healthier and that has always been my one true goal.

I look forward to hearing how other folks are doing and what is working or not working for you.

This is me 13 months ago & 25 lbs heavier.

Let's go #Temt!

Some of the fabulous folks who tweet with #temt! Yay, we got to walk with Jerry at ISTE12!

I can't believe it's been nearly a year since a post has graced this blog, and yet I also can believe it. We all get so busy, but hopefully we have found ways to keep up the commitment we made to our health, whenever that was! And if this post hits you in a lull or a "fall off the wagon" moment, maybe it's a sign to devote some care to your health.

I know that the #temt tweets from others remind me to "move it" and the replies I get when I post motivate and affirm my own inner desire to be the healthiest self I can be. Thank you to all who use the hashtag that stands for "Twitter Exercise Motivation Team."

So, here's what I would love to know! If you are one of the original blog members who posted here, I would love to see a post from you, updating us all on how your quest for health has been going.  And, I would really like to know if there are any others out there willing to guest post on here occasionally, and by that I mean with whatever regularity you choose!

It would be wonderful to renew this blog and continue together on our journeys to our best healthy selves. Are you in?

Back on Track

I see it's been a while since someone has posted here, but it's great to see that #temt is alive and active on Twitter. The temt team is always in the back of my mind pushing me, reminding me to take care of my body so I have energy and good health for myself and my family. Although I was pretty good through the summer, I finally feel back on track this fall.

I have REstarted my own exercise program with two new frames of mind:

1) Exercise every day! I'm no longer assigning workouts to certain days. I'm just exercising every day. For me, early in the morning works best - the time before my family wakes up. This is time for me and I just DO it! That way, I don't wake up and say, "Today I don't have to get up and move." Instead, it's, "Get up - it's time!" If I'm really exhausted one morning, it's no big deal if I don't get up and sleep in a little instead. But the next day - no excuses. It's working for me.

2) It's not too late, it's too early! Both my hubby and I have started getting back on track late summer and, well, we didn't really get a chance to show off a stealth bod at the lake or in the pool. "So, what?" he said, "We're just getting a good head start on next summer." I've adopted this attitude with him and together we have made a pact to keep working out and eating right through the winter, into spring and summer. In other words - our cup is half full.

I'm looking forward to fitting better in my jeans as the weather gets colder and having more energy as the days grow shorter. I can feel the difference already in my attitude and energy.

Getting fit, let's face it, is a good thing no matter the season!

Awesome Green Smoothie Challenge Wrap-up

I loved the Green Smoothie Challenge, but I could only participate for 10 days due to my trip to Europe.

This was a facebook event, and all the recipes, tips, suggestions, and websites were posted to the event wall. This can sometimes make it hard to find things. (Facebook needs a "favorite" button like Twitter, and Twitter needs a "Like" button like Facebook!) So I consolidated everything into a word document. Then I wanted to share it with the event participants and others, but couldn't figure out the best way. I didn't want to post "message me with your email and I'll send it to you" because I have enough email to manage. Then, DUH! Google Docs! (Thank you, Karen Chichester!) Here's the link, enjoy!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HpHg_bgIdQLDuRcihlCuY18bffxasYJd9mn9Ax430do/edit?hl=en_US

The Nerdy Teacher: Teachers are advocates

The Nerdy Teacher: Teachers are advocates

Summertime..and the #Temt in's Easy

Spinach Salad with Shrimp

For me, summer is the time when I finally get my act together, resume regular workouts, and prepare yummy healthy meals. Well, most of the time, anyway! Even with family visitors, celebration of holidays and birthdays, it's still easier for me to take care of myself when the pressures of the daily commute and busy teaching day are off.

Maybe it's time that I developed some new habits. They say that it takes 30 days to create a habit, and I have just about 30 days before I return to work full-time.  So here are some things I am going to do to make my life easier and prepare for when the hustle and bustle of school returns.

1. Make a yummy, healthy food shopping list on Evernote: This way, when I am at the store, starved and brain-dead from a long day, I will have a go-to list and I won't feel deprived.
2. Keep a salad bar ready in the refrigerator : If I get in the habit of having healthy veggies cut up and ready in the frig. I can just keep it going when school starts. I have thought of this often, but the habit just hasn't stuck. Suggestions?
3. Make a menu of fun workouts: Sometimes when I am tired or just unable to make a decision, I need ideas of fun ways to exercise so that it sounds less like a chore. Why not get creative and draw (or create on the computer) a visual representation of all the ways I like to exercise? I bet I can come up with at least 10..maybe even 20. Stay tuned for a future post on that!
4. Get a buddy involved: Last year my teacher friend next door and I talked of choosing a day after school when we would run together. Another coworker suggested hiking on a nearby trail. We didn't do it, but I plan to make it happen this year. A google doc is in the making for "collaborative opportunities for exercise."I will share it at our Summer Institute when we get together for professional development in August. 
5. Start the day in workout clothes: It's hard to distract yourself from the workout when you're already dressed. Today I will be going straight from the pj's to the fun new workout clothes I scored on the clearance rack at Marshalls! 

How will you develop a new habit to make health a priority during all seasons of the year?

Change-up

Today's Recipe:
2-3 cups of seedless grapes (I used green)
1 handful of parsley (I used curly)
2 cups of spinach
2 cups of water

I thought about adding a banana, because I really like the texture it adds, but decided I would try the smoothie without banana today. This recipe is particularly refreshing. First you taste the sweet tang of the grapes, then the freshness of the parsley hits. I did not really taste the spinach at all. I'm actually thinking this one might make a good slushie by incorporating chopped ice.

Wish I would have taken a picture this morning. It was a lovely bright green!

Photo by cafemama