Exercise

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Two Kickballs Required

Saturday, April 14th, 2012

Dear NHL and JSL,

Spring break is basically over. It has been a relatively relaxing one spending time with both of you. Thanks to Passover, we stayed close to home most of the time. The weather was cooler and did not allow us to pack a picnic for the park.

Just before break, JSL and I went shopping to get a few things. While there, I walked by the big display of kick balls. I knew that NHL wanted one after using them at school. We walked over and picked one out. Little did I know that it would be very popular with the two of you. So much so that we HAD to get a second one.

The two kickballs went with you and Daddy to the park the other day where you played Volley-Basketball. A few days later, we went back to the park together. It was fun watching the two of you play, run, and get so much energy out. You truly did seem to enjoy having your own kickballs and even made great games using both of them together.

Yes, some days it is the simple things that make me smile and the two of you so happy. I know this will be something we do over the summer.

Love,

Mommy

My Little Workout Buddy

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

Dear JSL,

Thank you for being my workout buddy. This week, you have really helped me to exercise and make sure that I got my workouts in. Although I like to get things done while you and NHL are at school, it did not happen two of the days. Wednesday, you came home from school and I asked if you wanted to do a special exercise DVD with me. You were so excited. I even let you pick which one that we got to do.

Much to my horror, you picked the Leslie Sansone DVD that has the jogging within the miles. You liked the blue case out of her five that I own. You stood next to me walking, kicking, and smiling. The kick-backs confused you a bit, but you kept with it. The sweetest part was you wanted to hold my hand as we did the parts that went forward and back. As the second mile was winding down, you were starting to get cranky. I would have tried to push in another mile, but I knew it was getting late and we had to get ready to pick up NHL.

Thursday, I was so busy with laundry and a few projects that I never had a chance to get my workout in. You told me that was ok that you would cheer me on. So I got out my Walk Booster to do some resistance work while walking. Since our living room was so warm and your nose drippy, you did not want to participate. You made sure I had water and watched. You were mesmerized by the item I was wearing. So much that Friday afternoon you greeted me and begged to test them out. I had to take a photo since you were so proud.

Thank you for keeping me going and cheering me on. Watching you with all of your energy keeps me inspired to walk, kick, and sweat up a storm!

Love,

Mommy

BTW – In case you are curious about the DVD’s that I used. These are the two that I tried with JSL this week. They are linked to an Amazon Affiliate where I will receive a percentage of the sale should you purchase them when shopping. I bought these and three other Leslie Sansone DVDs with my own money over the years.

Sports Time for Kids

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

While touring the main room of the Kidz Expo at the Empire State plaza this weekend, it reminded me that this is the time that we need to sign our children up for sports and even look at summer camp options. With two young boys, I have a feeling we will be registering for soccer and possibly karate. The return of more consistent mild temperatures shows that spring is just around the corner. The robins have returned to the area and soon children will be out and about on playgrounds, fields, and beyond.

For those of us living in the Capital Region, it is time to dust off the sports equipment. Then, we need to figure out what activities our children want to do before summer break and sign them up. Does your child prefer baseball, softball, karate, swim lessons, tennis, soccer, or something completely different. There really are so many possibilities these days for our children to try.

I still remember going with my parents to the old Westland Hills Park as a child. We spent many spring days at practice and games. The memories I have of parades, fun with friends, and banquets for trophies at the end of the season are priceless. When I look back at the photos of those days, it still makes me smile.

In addition to the physical fitness benefits from participating in a sport, there are many other items that your child will learn. The activity will also help them to get energy out and reduce some stresses that exist in their life.

Teamwork Time

For kids that participate in group sports, it allows them to be part of a larger team with a goal of working together. Your child belongs to a group and together they have common interests on and off the field. This time also allows them to learn to encourage their friends and cheer them on. Often, being part of a team gives a child the opportunity to shine in one way or another, even if they are not the best at the sport. Sports help develop teamwork and leadership skills. It does not take long for the kids to see that they have to work together and communicate for success.

Life Lessons

No matter what sport you play, you must develop some sort of self discipline. Listening to your Karate teacher, following the instruction of your coach, or taking time our of your day to practice. Kids realize that they must do these items to accomplish their goals and see it makes them feel good. Whether playing baseball, running track, or swimming in a league – kids see after time that winning is not everything. Kids that are part of a sporting ritual see that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Understanding the importance of being a good sport whether you win or lose is a major life lesson for children in elementary school. We all know it is not nice to gloat or be a sore loser. Participating in a sport helps children to see how others cope with disappointments, successes, and keep going.

What sports do your children participate in? Please chime in on the comments below and let me know so I can check into them for my kiddos. Always looking for new and exiting options for our family and no doubt others are as well.

Disclosure: Parts of this post were previously used on another project, but new additions have been made to update it.

Pine Cone Olympics

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

My new Leslie Sansone DVD and booster

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

Raise your hand if you need to move it more. . . . picture me sitting over here wildly flailing my arms around. I fully admit that I slacked off and got way too lazy. Of course, I had no control over some of it. I may have wanted to workout, but I couldn’t. It had nothing to do with lack of time, place or anything like this. I literally could not breathe to do my beloved Leslie Sansone workouts. Thanks to H1N1 in early October, it took me until January to feel like I could workout. Just walking across the room left me winded and needing my inhaler.

For the New Year, I finally felt like I had the stamina to get my rear in gear and do some walking and kicking with Leslie Sansone. Over the last few weeks, I have dusted off my Omron Pedometer and DVDs to get moving. Monday morning I was ready for my third workout in a row, but something stopped me and woke me out of my sound sleep. I had a huge split in my heel and could not walk (also quite pink looking). I took a day off to treat it with antibiotics. The following day, I worked out and felt good with two miles. Yesterday, we were running around at stores getting lots of walking in. I also bought new batteries for my pedometer since mine died Friday night.

Today, while we were out at Target looking for some items, I went down the special sale aisles. Out of the corner of my eyes, I spotted the following:

I had read about these last summer when they came out. They are Leslie Sansone DVDs that come with workout boosters. Unfortunately, the Targets in our area did not carry them. I figured one day they would show up here. Today was apparently that day.

They had the following:

There I was at Target unsure of which one to try. I knew I was not interested in the one with the Walk Belt since I already have a DVD for that, along with a Belt. The Toning Bands was not high on my list since we have EA Sports Active for Wii. The other three were quite interesting to me. In the end, I went with the following since it was very different than anything else I have.

So tonight, I am hoping to test this out and see how it goes. Hoping that these will help me to get ready to walk up a storm at Disney World for the Social Media Moms Celebration. I know that doing these last year were huge in getting me ready for our May trip. No, I may not drop a lot of weight before the trip, but at least I can get myself some great exercise.

Trapped by the winter

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Winter is here and there are days that I just feel trapped. Not only trapped in my house, but in my own skin. I can not simply pack up the little guy and head out to the park to enjoy some sunshine. For several months, the sky is gray and we hardly see the sun or any hints that it exists.

Bundling up to head out into the extreme conditions often does not feel like it is worth it. Instead, we stay in the warmer house and try to keep busy. I know that one of the things that will help me to feel better is to exercise. I think I am tired and feeling sluggish from lack of activity. My pedometer is back on and I see the lack of steps in my winter life. The reality is there. . . once again I need to Move it, Move it! It has less to do with helping in the weight loss department, and more for making ME feel better.

I need to stop worrying about my post H1N1asthma/lungs and kick it into high gear. I need to get back to where I was before we went to Disney World. I want to get sick of hearing Leslie Sansone and tune her out while walking and kicking 25+ miles a week. I need to find all of the EA Sports Active parts and moan/groan about how it hides squats and lunges into every nook and cranny of the work out. I need to walk/run in place while watching things on the DVR while wishing I had a treadmill or elliptical machine.

I want to stop feeling like this (a special thanks to my 2 year old model):

I think if I get my rear in gear I will be more motivated to count my points and stick to my healthy living. If I don’t feel like sludge moving in slow motion perhaps my attitude will change. I know I need to do this for ME.

Excuse me while I go and find my workout clothes and dust off my Leslie Sansone Walk at Home DVDs – Mama needs a work out pronto!

The Year that was 2009

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

I remember it like it was yesterday, December 31, 2008. The boys and I were snuggled onto the couch. We were looking at a photo album from our honeymoon at Disney World. The boys were fascinated because we told them we would all be going there in 2009. That day we had officially booked our first big family vacation. Yes, in a few short months the boys would be going on an airplane for the first time to experience the magic of Disney.

The year has gone by in a blur. It is hard to believe that 2009 is just hours away from being over. Here are some memories from a year in my life:

January:

JSL learned at 19 months old that snow is tricky to maneuver in. We captured this life lesson on video.
Last year, I joined the anti-resolution craze. Did really well with this until things gradually slipped back and H1N1 killed it all.
Going back on Weight Watchers, I was obsessed with my Nalgene water bottle. I was constantly drinking that and living my life in points (heading back on this as well).
Then 5 year old NHL showed me that Word Families can be rather fun thanks to the "-it" clan. My angel was growing up too quickly.

February:

Disney planning happened early one morning when I called in to make our dining reservations. This was huge and important for our trip that now included Nana and Papa.
We continued to battle for control over NHL’s allergies and breathing troubles.
A year passed from JSL’s first febrile seizure. A false sense of security from a year with no additional issues as I recalled the events from 2008.
We went to Sesame Street Live. This was the first time for JSL and Cousin S, NHL was a pro and showed them what to do.

March:

Reality hit and I learned that simply doing Weight Watchers was not enough. I had to move it, move it and Leslie Sansone became my friend. Time to dust those off again for 2010.
We said goodbye to TechyDad’s long time car and bought a new one in the snow.
Everyone dressed up for Purim and went to the parade for some fun and games.
A weekend away for a family party = fun at a hotel pool. It was also the weekend that we questioned where the adult-parent line is in certain situations.
13 months had come and gone and nightmares returned as JSL had 2 febrile seizures in 30 hours.
With 4 years of physical therapy behind him (to improve low muscle tone), NHL learned to ride a bike. This was a HUGE milestone and he was so proud, so were we.

April:

For the first time in my life, I actually liked exercising and sweating. I walked and kicked with Leslie Sansone for miles each day. Leslie and I are going to be good buddies next week, asthma permitting.
Lots of preparations went into Passover and the Seders were fun. This year, NHL really got into it thanks to Hebrew School.
An early morning phone call on Shabbat from TechyDad’s parents proved to be bad news. Grandma had passed away. She was a beautiful woman who is missed greatly.
Flowers were planted for Earth Day. They were gorgeous while they lasted. Sad to say, the neighborhood bunny dug up the bulbs and they will not be coming back this year.

May:

Just in time for the trip to Disney World, I bought a pedometer. I tried daily to get in my 10,000+ steps. Need to get this puppy back out for the new year.
Lots of packing, errands and last minute items were bought for Disney World. This included a shopping trip to buy everyone a new pair of shoes for sunny Florida. I lived in my Teva while we were there and all summer long.
A week away from the computer meant scheduling posts for my blog. Right before we left a prize arrived with Mickey Ears. Check us out!
While at Disney, the little guy turned 2. Here is a look back at two years in his life.
Before we could blink, our week at Disney World was over. I wrote about a lot of the trip, but hate to admit I never finished. Our trip there, Chef Mickey in photos, Mother’s Day at Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom & Boma, and Day at the Magic Kingdom.
This month also brought us EA Sports Active. Loved this, but my knee did not. An old injury came back to life thanks to a million lunges, squats and the like.

June:

Memories from my childhood visits to Disney World and a Figment bribe from my father.
We all celebrated a big birthday for my mother. Thanks to Aunt L, we had a nice party for her with family all there.
After the allergic reaction at Disney to walnuts, I went to the doctor and got my blood test results. New inhaler to help asthma and lots of vitamins were added to my routine. . . need to go back to those again too.
Shooting at the National Holocaust Museum brought back memories of living in fear of hatred that I have had as a Jewish American.
The end of Kindergarten for NHL was filled with fun events. There was Field Day, Cake Balls for the last day with the horse rides, and kindergarten graduation. NHL went into kindergarten with the goal to read and came out with that and so much more!
TechyDad and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary. Here’s a look back at our wedding.

July:

NHL learned to play tennis at a local tennis program. He had a lot of fun, and we hope to do it again in 2010.
I learned what was causing my intense stomach pains for weeks – SOY! Our almost vegetarian lifestyle was turned upside down.
A long weekend trip to visit Uncle I, Aunt M and Cousin S meant a stop to see the Berenstain Bears at the museum. The kids loved entering their world.
Thanks to season passes, we had a lot of time at Six Flags/Wiggles World. NHL conquered his fear of characters, we drove in Big Red Cars, and followed the M&M Road.
A BIG event also came to our area. We were lucky enough to take the boys to see Walking with Dinosaurs. It was amazing on so many levels.
NHL learned to swallow pills! Nice to be able to give him a little pill than tons of liquid or chewables.

August:

When the rain stopped long enough, we went to the park. JSL liked going on the swings with Daddy. Here they are having a blast.
In an attempt to relive the yummy memories from Disney, we tried our first stab at the Pop Century Tie-Dyed Cheesecake. This was in time for TechyDad’s birthday celebration .
I also got my first pair of Crocs, some wedges that were really fun. Since then I have added 3 more pairs, including some boots.
NHL went to camp for the first time. He had a blast during the week long Dinosaur camp.
In the middle of the month, my first born turned 6. NHL was growing up before my eyes, so I showcased the past year for him.
The summer was filled with Wiggle Tooth woes. It actually required the Tooth Fairy to write NHL a note to encourage him to keep wiggling.
My knitting took on a new adventure as I tried circular needles for the first time. A baby blanket for my new nephew due in February 2010 is in the works.

September:

My best friend that I went to kindergarten with had her baby shower. It was so nice being a part of this special day for her.
A night away from the boys was a special treat as I went with my parents to see Cirque du Soleil while it was in town.
NHL got ready to begin first grade. A new adventure was waiting for him as he went back to school.
A beetle invasion in our house led to the discovery of termites in the basement below. A quick plan of action and lots of money invested led to at least the termites being taken care of.
We celebrated the Jewish New Year with family eating lots of yummy food of course.
A weekend away to celebrate my sweet niece’s 2nd birthday also included craft time with MY little brother.
NHL was off to a great year in first grade. He was reading a ton, getting perfect scores on spelling tests. Of course, a little fun and excitement at pick up happened one day when JSL landed head first on the concrete at school. Yet another ER visit for our family.

October:

We took the boys to a pre-season hockey game. We had a blast and the little guy loved the zamboni the most.
After the hockey game, I started to feel lousy. Being a Mom, I ignored the symptoms until it was too late. A week later, a visit to the doctor confirmed that it was likely H1N1 (thank you ER visit). We left with my asthma being treated and a script for Tamiflu for the little guy just in case.
A 2:00 in the morning call to Nana and Papa required the Tamiflu being filled. H1N1 attacked JSL fast and furious.
While taking NHL to get his 6 year old portraits, we learned there is a great conspiracy involved.
TechyDad and I entered the wonderful world of texting. We dropped our cable phones, added texting and have never looked back.
Between sicknesses, we managed to get out to pick 35 pounds of apples. We had a blast with the boys out in the orchard.
During Halloween week, NHL was one of the 30% of kids out from his school with the flu. That same week, JSL had febrile seizure #4 while I was home alone with both of the boys. We still do not know what caused this one.
By Halloween, NHL was feeling well enough to head out to trick-or-treat at a few houses. Check out his costume here.

November:

Both of the boys are Wiggles Fans. We bought tickets over the summer to take JSL to his first Wiggles concert. He had a blast and could not believe what he was seeing.
There were several absolutely gorgeous days in November. The little guy and I took advantage of this and went to the park for some fun while NHL was at school.
LEGOs came alive in our house with a fun discovery. Lots of imagination and building have followed.
NHL has been learning Hebrew each Sunday at Hebrew School. He even made items to use at home for Shabbat.
Twas the day before Turkey Day and we went to visit the 1st graders. . . later that night we went to a fun filled hockey game.

December:

My birthday arrived this month. I finally picked out something from my parents from last year and this year. I now have a gorgeous Pandora bracelet that has so much meaning behind it. Oh course having a December B-day often means snow ruins plans. This year the snow, illness and a trip for NHL to the ER got in the way. TechyDad also got me a premium Picnik membership, so lot of photo fun has taken place over the last few weeks.
Chanukah arrived and there was so much going on. Here are each of the boys enjoying the special time of year.
A gingerbread house building party closed out 2009 in the first grade. The kids had a fabulous time. I was so glad to be home and able to watch this.

Of course, these are just some of the major events that took place here in my world. Thanks to my blog, I have many other moments captured for our family. 2009 has had it’s share of good and bad moments. Even with all of the ER visits, scares and things I would not change the year gone by. If we did, who knows if we would have had our magical memories at Disney World and other fun family moments.

Thank you to my family, friends (both IRL and online) who have supported me this year. Another thank you to the wonderful PR people and companies that I have worked with this year. Eveyone’s interest has been crucial to helping TheAngelForever.com to be a success. I look forward to 2010 and beyond with all of you.

Happy New Year to all of you and your families.

Tennis time with 15-Love

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

When I was growing up the neighborhood kids used to play tennis a lot. At first we would simply hit the bouncing yellow ball around the street in front of our houses. As we got older we bought more sophisticated tennis rackets and started to play on actual tennis courts. My brother and I used to go to play for fun during the summer months and would have a great time.

Several weeks ago NHL came home from school with the paper advertising a program called 15-Love. I had heard fabulous things about 15-Love and was intrigued. They actually have a beginner programs for children that are 4-6 years old. From their website: " 15-LOVE’s mission is to serve inner-city youth, ages 4 and up. We welcome everyone, of every background and tennis ability, including summer lessons for adults." The program for kids is 30-60 minutes once a week and at a park close to where we live. It seemed like a nice option to add to NHL’s summer.

Last week we went to the first session. I was floored with how many children showed up. It was a nice sized group of 4-6 year olds, plus a lot in the next age group. Clearly 15-Love had done a great job getting the word out about their program for the kids of this area.

NHL was very excited. He has never played tennis before, unless you count using the Wii. He quickly ran onto the court to learn all about tennis. The kids did some drills where they walked the tennis ball "dog" up and down the court, dribbled the ball with their rackets and listened to the instructors.

1. Waiting for directions, 2. Walking the tennis ball, 3. Taking the "dog" down the cour, 4. Enjoying the activity, 5. Trying to bounce the ball, 6. Showing he is listening

The instructors were fabulous. They were patient with the kids, really explained things in child friendly terms and they were not afraid to work with the kids when they were frustrated with an activity.

At the end of the hour NHL declared that he loved tennis. He talked about going to buy his own tennis racket. I asked him if he was excited to come again and he said he could not wait! Of course JSL may have a different opinion. The little guy was definitely bored just watching everything going on. Eventually he got out of his stroller and found a stray tennis ball that kept him amused …along with his shadow.

1. Having fun with a tennis ball and shadow, 2. Hey Mom look at me, 3. Running near the court

This week I will definitely bring some items to keep JSL entertained more while NHL is out on the court. I do not want to see this little face pouting again.

Calcium, Vitamin D and Fish Oil . . . oh my!

Friday, June 12th, 2009

In recent months, I have been trying to spend more time taking care of myself. Most of the time, this means working out either with EA Sports Active or Leslie Sansone. If you had asked me a few short months ago what I thought of exercise, I would have complained. Now I know that it makes me feel better. I have energy and love knowing that I did well when I am sweaty. Who knew that I would ever feel that way.

Another part of this was finally making an appointment for a physcial. It had been a LONG time since I had done this. I finally made the appointment and had the papers for blood work to do before seeing my doctor. She warned me that since I am still nursing JSL my numbers may be elevated in triglyceroids and cholesterol. I went the Saturday morning before my appointment early in the morning since I had to fast for the tests. In addition to the CBC, the doctor also wanted a lipid screen, A1C (my mother is diabetic), kidney function (I have gout), TSH (thyroid was enlarged when pregnant), and Vitamin D levels.

I went last week to see my doctor. My blood pressure was fabulous and she was happy to hear about my lifestyle changes. Of course, she was most thrilled that I had lost almost 30 pounds and was exercising regularly. The day I went I was quite sore after just starting EA Sports Active. The nurse went to track down my test results. As expected, my triglyceroids and cholesterol levels were slightly elevated. Most likely they are due to nursing. The part she was not happy with was the low good cholesterol number. In addition to that, my Vitamin D numbers showed that I have a major deficiency. This has become something that more doctors are looking into now with people using sun screen all the time and blocking the much needed Vitamin D into their body.

At the end of the appointment, I left with a list of vitamins to get and how much to take each day. Here is my new routine. Each morning, I take 3 Fish Oil capsules with Omega-3 Fatty Acids, 1 Calcium w/D, 4 Vitamin D, and a multi-vitamin. At dinner each night, I take 3 more Omega-3 Fatty Acids and another Calcium w/ D. For those keeping track, that is 13 vitamins each day. Below is a photo of my mini-pharmacy which also includes my inhaler and allergy pills that I take for a few more weeks (still boosting up my lungs after the allergic reaction to walnuts at Disney World).

In three months, I go back for a recheck on my lipid test along with the Vitamin D levels. With any luck, the combination should help get everything back on track. The best news is now that I know about the Vitamin D and work on it I may have more energy. I always assumed the exhaustion was from being an overtired Mommy. Sure, that may have been part of it, but my extremely low levels were a huge factor.

So my question for you this week:

Do you take vitamins daily? If so, what do you take and are you good about taking them regularly.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the Mr. Linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #52

Feeling the burn from EA Sports Active

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Last night JL and I finally took the plunge. My breathing was good enough from the new medicine, so we broke out the EA Sports Active for our Nintendo Wii. Both of us were quite intrigued since we have not heard a bad review for it yet. Before we left for Disney World we pre-ordered it and were surprised to find it had arrived at our house before the scheduled release date.

I was the one that "plugged" in, while JL worked out along side me. The workout for beginners was about 25 minutes long. It encorporated walking, running, toning along with the dreaded lunges and squats. What I really liked was that the "trainer" was personable and did not loop the same phrases like the WiiFit does. That looping of compliments and motivational phrases drove me bonkers with the WiiFit and quickly made me stop using it. The leg pouch fit nicely around my thigh and really seemed to register my movements with the Wii.

Half way through the work out I really was feeling my muscles burning. Of course, leave it to JL to mention that I also had sweat pouring down my back and face. Lovely, but I knew I was really getting a good workout. During the time it registered that I burned 153 calories and kept track on my journal for the goals. All I had to do was follow the easy instructions before each exercise and figure our where to wear/hold the WiiMote and nunchuk.

JL and I were so impressed that we went out to get another EA Sports Active accessory kit. This way we can both workout together while keeping track of things on the Wii. Of course, when we went out I was still feeling the burn. Walking and especially climbing strairs is tough today. The muscles in my upper thighs are feeling the pain today. Of course, I love this since I know it is a good type of burn from using the muscles and working them out. I would often feel this when I use the third mile of Leslie Sansone’s 5 Day Slim Down mile three that concentrated on legs with squats and lunges.

Another neat feature with the program is you can participate in the 30 day challenge. The first challenge just ended and a lot of the people did amazing. One participant included Alison Sweeney, the host of The Biggest Loser. She used the program to get back into shape after having her second child. Starting tomorrow there is a new June challenge. JL and I may try this since it looks like a great option. Of course, I still plan on wearing my pedometer and power walking with Leslie Sansone.

Happy exercing all!

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