Color Run! 2014 in Memory of Daddy

It occurred to me yesterday that I never shared my pics from the Color Run here!  And considering I jogged it with my mom and 3 kids (3 GENERATIONS of family!!) and in memory of my Father, it is definitely an achievement I want to share.  So here are the album pages that share quite a bit of how I felt and how we looked on that special day.  Love, Eva

Our Birthright...A Healthy Body

Has it really been that long since I've written here? CRAZY!  But it's true.  It's also a true that it's always a good time to get restarted again...

I had a spiritual "aha" moment today about nutrition.  As I tucked my kids into bed I told them a Bible story, like I often do.  Tonight I taught them the story of Jacob and Esau.  If you remember, Esau was older and meant to have the birthright from his father, Isaac.  But he did not value it.  And one day, after a long hunting journey, he came home tired and hungry.  Jacob had food ready and Esau wanted it.  He wanted it so much he willingly traded his birthright for it.  In the end, Jacob received and valued the birthright and Esau was angry and bitter, and lost a wonderful gift.

I explained Esau was in the position to receive an eternal blessing, one that would affect generations of his family.  Instead, he valued something else more.  In this moment, he valued food more.  He didn't see the bigger value of the birthright and what he could do with it, but instead gave in to the Natural Man.

I was having an "I'll start eating right tomorrow again" night.  I had been planning on having some yummy Costco taquitos after the kids were in bed.  But after remembering this story and really feeling it in my heart I new I didn't need to do that.  I was full enough and didn't need to splurge.  I wanted to value the gift I've been given.

I don't want to be like Esau.  I don't want to give up my birthright, a right to a healthy, happy body to use in this life. My body is a temple.  Would I give up a healthy body for some salty, savory foods?  Would I trade my right to physical and spiritual happiness for a plate of food the Natural Man would tempt me with?  I have before.  I don't want to anymore.  I'm trying not to.  I'm trying to stay balanced and not give in to eating for comfort or because of boredom.  I'm worth more than that.
It's not easy, but it is MORE than worth it.  And with the help of the Holy Ghost and trust in my Savior, I can do it.

Love,
Eva

"And I'm still going!!!"

"And I'm still going!!!"  That's what my daughter said during her first 5K after we had waded through a creek almost waist deep for me, and definitely waist deep for her.  I love this attitude.  Really, that's all that matters.  That we never give up.  I started trying to get in shape a little over 2 years ago.  I have made a lot of progress.  I've had set backs, and gained back weight I lost.  But I worked hard and lost it again, and have kept it off.  I'm not at my goal weight yet, but "I'm still going!!!"  I'm not giving up.  I'm enjoying living a healthier life, and it's not going to stop!  

It's so good for us to step out of our comfort zones and push the boundaries of what we think we can do.  I'm proud of my mom and my daughter for doing just that and joining me on this "Skirt in the Dirt" 5K,  They are inspiring and together we can get through and achieve anything!  So can you!

Love, Eva

 Before the race...

 A little more than half -way through we were on path right by my car so I grabbed the camera!

 A team mate finished and was kind enough to take the camera from me so I could be in some photos!

 At the finish!

 The whole Birthday Bash Team!

 I'll run for that!

 Best race EVER!

The Fitness Part of Getting Fit...Mommy Goals!

I know for me exercising is the cherry on top that leads to me feeling strong, slim and confident.  I like the slight soreness.  I feel proud knowing I stretched my body and pushed it a little farther than I would have otherwise.  BUT FOR SOME REASON I DON'T MAKE IT A PRIORITY!!!

I don't know why.

I mean, I am a STAHM of 3, and that does keep me busy.

There's the interruption of kids while I work out, the tiredness at the end of the day if I try to wait till they are in bed to work-out, and then even more tiredness in the morning if I try to get up early.  But STILL!!!  I'm always so happy when I've completed a workout, yet that only happens every few days.  Why?  If it's moving me toward my goals of being healthier, why don't I make it a priority.

I think it's because I want instant-gratification.  I want to see that scale drop right now.  And the truth is it doesn't work that way.  Health and weight-loss progress takes an investment.  It means minutes, and hours and days of making up for wasted time.

So, I am rededicating myself.  This week, 30 mins a day is all I'm shooting for.  That's not asking too much.  I've done it before, and I can do it again....I think...I hope...AAAAHHH!!!!  I want to!!!!

It's such a hard trade off.  Some days fighting the kids to get "me-time" isn't worth it.   I explode because they need me every 30 seconds or try to ask me questions in the middle of a set of push ups, when I'm red faced and beyond out of breath.  SO this goal has to have some reality checks.

First, I will get my exercise stuff set up and then get the kids set up with some quiet time activities and snacks.  Then I will IMMEDIATELY start working out.  No Facebook or blog checking.  No phone calls or texts.  I will already have water ready and be dressed to work-out so no wandering around the house and getting distracted.  I think this precaution will maximize my time so I can get the most work-out done.

Also, I need to be realistic and expect some interruptions.  And that's OK.  I love my kids and they are the number one reason I am trying to be healthier and more fit.  So "Something is better than nothing."  Some work out is better than none, and I know if I freak out and explode out of frustration then my work-out will definitely get cut short.  So EXPECT interruptions, put what's most important first i.e. the kids, handle them gracefully, and move on.  Literally, MOVE IT and start working out again!

Of course I also exercise with the kids, and there is always an open invitation for them to join me, but there are some things I like to do on my own too.  Besides it really isn't possible for me to exercise too much with a little work out on my own and some play time with the kids at the park or on the trampoline.  If exercise is my cherry on top, then I would like LOTS of cherries on top!  Here's to lots of exercising this week!

Love,
Eva

Healthier & Happier

What can I say about health?  I'm grateful for it.  I'm grateful I can jump with my kids on the trampoline.  I'm thankful I can chase them at the playground.  Today I climbed a net at the park, think two story jungle gym made of thick rope, and I was kind of scared but I did it.  I did it to be with my kids.

I work on being healthier so I can have more moments like that.  20 lbs ago, it was hard to do that.  Today I am closer to my goals than ever before because I understand more than ever why I am working for them.  It's for my kids.  My family.  My happiness.  My confidence.  Because I can't love anyone fully unless I love myself.  And how can I truly love myself if I'm not taking care of and nurturing myself?  That's why the way I treat my body does matter.

My kids, my family, those are the same reasons I sometimes (like tonight) have a candy bar or popsicle with them.  I don't want to take all the fun out of parties and insist on carrot sticks all the time!  It's balance.  It's also persistence.  It's patience the days the workouts don't happen.  It's hope for the future.  And it's a life that's much, much happier than ever before.

Love, Eva

A Positive Self-Image Is Not Just For Girls

"You don't like any pictures you take of yourself," my little six year-old son said to me.  We were on the bumpy bus ride home after spending two hours running through fields, catching bugs, and pretending to be part of the local wildlife at the Ogden Nature Center.  After helping keep track of 30 curious 1st graders I thought the drive home would be the easy part of the trip.  I was wrong.  

After several attempts to take a portrait of the two of us, my heart sank at hearing my son's observation.  "You don't like any pictures you take of yourself."

 

"It's not you.  It's me," I said.  Cringe.  Did I really just say that?

"You look great in all the pictures," I continued.  But see, first I didn't know I had it zoomed in so close.  And then my hair looked messed up in this one."  While that might be true, it didn't account for the 15 others where the angle of my face (to me) made my cheeks look even bigger or my chin even more pointy, my jawline too angular...

I saw his little pout.  Ironically, I was ruining this trip by trying to capture a keep sake of how great it had been, which even in mind I recognized as "All Or Nothing Thinking" AGAIN...

Fast forward to a week later, when after trimming myself some bangs I attempted to taking another self-pic.  I guess I didn't realize how many clicks had gone by and photos I'd checked and deleted.

"You don't like any pictures you take of yourself."  Again, I felt my heart hitting the floor of my stomach.

"It's not that I don't like them," I white-lied, "It's that I just want to look my best, and that's not my best smile."  What stupid lesson was I teaching?  And why?  Just to try to "keep up with the Joneses" of women who have lost all the baby weight and still look like they are in high school?  I've been through this with myself already!

Looking at myself in that digital preview screen I saw a mother that was teaching her son to expect way too much of himself and to not settle for less than his own best version of perfect.  That was not what I wanted.

"I'll take your picture, Mommy."

"OK."

I handed him my camera and smiled, knowing the lighting from his angle wasn't very bright and that I wasn't even facing the right way.  But I smiled big and brightly for my little boy.

A hug and a thank you later he said  "Your welcome, Mom.  Now can we go play scooters?"

It isn't enough to just not have beauty magazines on display in your home or be careful with the media you let in.  It isn't enough to just tell your daughters they are beautiful regardless of their coloring or size.  Our boys need to hear it too.  It isn't enough to just not talk about how you feel fat or want to lose a couple pounds when you around the kids.  We need to be examples.  We need to feel happy and recognize our beauty. We need to watch our actions.  We need to smile big, laugh hard and enjoy and capture the moments for what they are, not because of how good we look in a picture.
Most of all we need to remember we are ALWAYS teaching something because our little ones are ALWAYS watching.

I love these unedited pictures and thanks, Michael, for that last one.

Love, Eva