OK Sisters, this one will be quick.  I am not feeling very wordy today : ).

Sundays here at Shrinking Jeans were the days we posted recipes and a weekly menu plan. However, that is all changing with the new addition of Shrinking Kitchen.  If you read regularly, then you already saw the post announcing this newest endeavor.  If not, then I’m letting you know now.  Shrinking Kitchen is our new site where we will post recipes and all things food related.

Have you checked it out yet?  If not, then go do it now, please.  We are SO excited about this- special kudos to Christy, Melissa and Heather for pulling it together- you girls ROCK!

Shrinking Kitchen-  Eat! Drink! Shrink!

P.S.- Today is Superbowl Sunday.  Maybe you know that and care and maybe you don’t know that.  Anyhoo, before you head to that Superbowl party or celebrate just because every one else is, you much check out Thea’s post about what the typical person consumes at a Superbowl Party and what it would take to undo the damage of just three tortilla chips.

P.P.S. Kelsey, you won the Attunes Gift Pack.  Please forward your mailing address to lisa@shrinkingjeans.net

The first time I ever did yoga was years ago and I had a cold.  Not ideal when the class I walked into was super-quiet with n’er a creature stirring.  My sneezing, coughing and general phlemgy loudness made me so nervous because I know that I was disruptive to the peacefulness of that class.

I never went back to a yoga class until I started my running journey.

I ventured back into a yoga class last year but this time I made sure that I was healthy and breathing freely : ).  I loved it!  No, I couldn’t do every move but I could almost do the modified moves- ha!  More importantly, I loved how my body felt less stiff/sore/achy after doing that class.

Since then, I go to yoga whenever I need to loosen up the body.  I have invested in a few yoga videos so that I could do yoga anytime I wanted which is usually at odd, non-gym hours.  I also searched www.youtube.com for specific yoga sequences to target certain areas of my body that were ailing me at any given time.

I have found that doing a 10 min morning yoga sequence in the morning wakes up my body achy joints for the day.  I don’t do it every day but I do try to squeeze it in on the days I run.  It. just. feels. good.  Oh so good.

I know some of you are sitting there blowing off the thought of yoga, saying *yoga isn’t for me* and maybe it isn’t, but how will you know if you never give it a try?  You don’t have to perfect at it.  The point is to make your body more flexible and stronger at the same time and that sounds like a good thing, doesn’t it?

Here are my favorite yoga DVD/youtube videos for yoga:

• Rodney Yee’s Yoga for Beginners (broken down in to a 20 min morning workout and a 15 minute evening workout)
• Morning Yoga for Flexibility (www.youtube.com video, 11 minutes long; I LOVE this video and try to do it on the mornings I plan to run, it just loosens everything up so nicely for me)
• Yoga, an Evening Practice (www.youtube.com video, 16 minutes; I love this one to help me wind down and relax at the end of the day.  Again, I don’t do this video every night, just the evenings that I need to stretch out tired, sore muscles).

Do you have a favorite yoga video/sequence/class?  Or is yoga in the *never* category for you?!

Enjoy!

The first time I had any of  the cereals from Attune Foods was at Fitbloggin 2011. It was served at breakfast one day and man, was it delicious!

I had the opportunity to do an *official* review of several of their products recently.

Uncle Sam Honey Almond Cereal, Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice with Mixed Berries, and New Morning Cinnamon Grahams.

So you might be thinking- what’s the big deal?  There are lots of healthy food products on the market.  Well, yes, there are, BUT these taste good, yummy, delicious, and as an added bonus they are filling, low fat and made of the good stuff (whole wheat, fiber, protein, no transfat, organic stuff).  The ingredients list on each box is short and made of things you’ve heard before, not some weird make-up of ingredients that you could never pronounce nor understand.

I shared all of these with my three kids (ages 8, 5.5 and 3).  All three LOVED the Crispy Brown Rice Cereal with Mixed Berries and the Graham Crackers. While I very much enjoyed the Honey Almond Cereal, my kids were not in love with it.  To mix it up a bit, I used the Honey Almond Cereal as an addition to my Greek yogurt and it was da ‘bomb! I had to literally pry the box of grahams out of the three year old’s hands- I don’t blame him for not wanting to let them go. They taste light, crunchy and have just the right amount of flavor in my opinion.

Ya’ll should really go out and try these products.  I really like them.

Would anyone like to win a gift pack of the products shown above?

To enter:

• Leave a comment answering the following question- what’s the one thing you look for/at when shopping groceries?  Low fat/protein/fiber/no HFCS/no transfat/etc?
• For extra entries, follow Attune Foods on Facebook and/or Twitter.
• For one last entry, Tweet about this giveaway, then leave a comment with the link. Be sure to mention @shrinkingjeans and @attunefoods in your tweet.
• Open to US residents only.
• Giveaway will end Saturday January 28, 2012 at 11:59pm PST.  A winner will be drawn via www.random.org and notified by email.  You must leave an email address in the comments section in order to be eligible.  If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, then a new winner will be drawn.

Disclosure: Attune Foods sent me a gift pack for review purposes only and will be sending another pack to the winner.  I did not receive monetary compensation for my review and all opinions expressed are my own. 

Yippee, it’s Wednesday and you know what that means?  It means we all get to weigh-in and share it with each other- how exciting!!!!  It’s our second week of weighing in and I Hope everyone’s scale is moving in the right direction : ).  Go ahead, kick off your shoes clothes and go weigh yourself.  Really…..go.

The Assignment

Dear Me.  We asked the future you of 2013 to write your present self a letter about all the wonderful things you did this year, as if you had already done them.  We want you to talk to yourself about your accomplishments and what you learned, what you overcame, and so on.  Have you written your letter yet I haven’t?  Go ahead and write your letter- you won’t be sorry.  Also, next January, when you pull out that letter and see all that you did do- it will be awesome.  You can go here to link up your letter post and to read every one else’s Dear Me letters.

The Fitness Challenge

Our fitness challenge will remain the same this week (and I think, every week).  We’re asking you to do either 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times weekly OR 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times weekly.  The lovely Heather outlined the difference between vigorous exercise and moderate exercise over here.  How’s it going for you? What kind of exercise are you finding enjoyable, yes enjoyable?

Other Blog/Social Items

• We have a great Chobani Greek Yogurt giveaway going on right now (ends 1/14).  If you haven’t entered it yet, then you should go do that right now!
• How many of you have joined us for the 52 Small Changes challenge?  Week 1 was all about the water, as in getting enough hydration for your body.  Week 2 is all about getting enough sleep, like a minimum of 7 hours of sleep PER NIGHT.  Please join our group at the Hood for support, motivation and discussion.
• Monday nights at 8 p.m. Central we gather at the ‘hood and have Sister Chat about all things healthy (and not-so-healthy)! It’s totally fun and funny. I promise you won’t be sorry if you come, but you will be sorry if you miss it!Every Tuesday, we have a Tworkout (Twitter + Workout = Tworkout) at 8 p.m. Central time. You won’t find a more fun workout anywhere, trust me! April is like a drill instructor, but she totally loves listening to all of us whine about how much we hate burpees and side planks. True story.

All right- that’s it.  Let’s get to the weigh-in form.

The Check-In Form

I’ll go first yeah me.

True Confession #1

We took an 11 day road trip for the Christmas holidays.

• The good- I survived the 18+ hour car drive there and back without harming anyone mainly my husband.
• The bad- I didn’t drink nearly enough water I replaced it with alcohol and that’s never good- he he.
• The ugly- I threw caution to the wind and ate way too much junk, junk and more junk.

True Confession #2

I am back to my normally scheduled programmed workout as of today!

• The good- I am registered for the Zooma Half Marathon in Austin, TX on March 31st.  This will be my fourth half marathon.  This year, I have been chosen to participate in the Zooma/HEB Texas Girlfriends Program, where they pair up seasoned runners with newbie runners.  I am mentoring a new runner (Hi Carmen!  She’s new to the Sisterhood as well.) and together, we will train together and cross the finish line together.  It feels so strange to be on the *other side*, imparting my running knowledge as little as it may be, with someone new to it.  It feels really really really good and positive to help someone else out, to focus on someone other than myself.
• The bad- After a two week haitus, I returned to the Body Pump class at the YMCA.  Lunges can still suck it.  Period, the end.
• The ugly- All that junk and drink from the holidays have packed on a few pounds to my 5’6″ frame and I feel like a clunky tank when I run wog= walk+jog.

True Confession #3

This has nothing to do with health and fitness but it does have to do with life and family stuff.  My kids watch too much TV.  There, I said it.  It’s true and I think it’s affecting their behavior.

• The ugly- my 8 yr old daughter had a TV in her room, not by our own choosing but because it was already in *her* room when we moved in with my MIL.  (Long story short- we’re building a house and sold our house quicker than we thought we would. We’ve moved in with my MIL, all five of us- ha!, while we wait to start and finish the building of our new home.  Tight quarters- ugh.  No mortgage payment- yippee!!!!).  Anyhoo, I noticed that my daughter was basically addicted to the TV in her room, shutting out the rest of us and getting quite ugly when we told her to *turn it off*.  In our old house, we never had TV’s in the kids’ rooms.  We (the adults) got lazy and used the TV to *babysit* her in the MIL’s house.   I know, bad mom.  No judgement here, right?
• The bad- My 5 yr old son was following in her footsteps.  The television was beginning to rule our house and I felt like I was losing touch with my kids.
• The good- we removed the TV from her room today.  She wasn’t even upset when we removed it- she seemed relieved, of all things.  We put in place a 30 minute rule for each kid for *after school TV watching*.  I explained to the kids that playing outside and with each other was way more important than any TV show.  We talked about all the things we could do instead.  I stayed off the computer and truly focused on them.  I am here to tell you that it is amazing how much I can get done when I don’t have my face stuck in my laptop.  Also, my kids talked to me non-stop right up until bedtime.  We played, we cleaned, we made dinner and my daughter- the one who is so sassy and can have such an attitude at times- was beautiful and sweet and hanging all over me with hugs.  In addition, when she wasn’t playing with her brothers, she went to her room and chose to read a book- twice.  I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF THE TV MONTHS AGO.

So talk to me peeps!  Let me know how your previous week went- health, fitness or otherwise.  Confess it all- you’ll feel so much better.  Leave the link down below and don’t forget to visit every else’s blog to see what they’ve been up to.

I have been nice.

I want to be nicer.

To my body, that is.

On this very merry of merriest of days, take a moment to say thank-you; show love and gratitude for what you can do; revel in the beauty around you; show love to those you care about.

From the Shrinking Jeans family to yours- Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa.

May you go with lots of peace, joy and happiest today and every day.

Don’t be jealous, but we’re loading up the minivan with our family of five plus grandma and driving 17+ hours to visit my sister and her family.  It should be an awesome time for us to connect with the 8, 5, and 3 years old during those many miles.  We can sing and laugh and play car games and when all else fails to keep the kiddos entertained, we’ll turn on the DVD player and let them watch movies back to back.  Truthfully, our kids are really well-behaved on the trip going there because they are fresh; it’s typically the car ride home that is a little more rough.

Ahem.

So yeah, we’re traveling for the holidays and you know what that means?  It means that it will be even more difficult to stay the course and not go batsh!t crazy with overeating and not exercising enough if at all.

However, I’ve decided that this season, I am giving myself three things to target for each and every day.  Small things that I can accomplish regardless where I am.

1. Drink, drink, drink.  And by drink, I don’t mean the bad stuff- I mean the good stuff- WATER.  Do you guys know how much sodium is in a lot of foods, especially pre-packaged or fast foods?  The calories and fat are bad enough, the sodium sends it over the edge.  I can and will continue to drink 80-100 oz of WATER each and every day.  My husband might not like it on our travel days when I’m begging him to stop way too often so that I can use the facilities but he will have to get over it.
2. I will do basic strength exercises 3 times a week and will run a minimum of 2 times a week but aiming for 3 times a week.  Strength exercises will be things that don’t require any equipment, stuff like squats, lunges, push-ups, sit-ups, etc.  Running……well, it’s running.  I don’t want to lose all the power I’ve gained from taking Body Pump the last few months and I certainly don’t want to go backward on the running front, especially since I am now officially registered for the Zooma Texas Half Marathon on March 31, 2012.  Also, did I mention that Zooma has launced a new *Texas Girlfriends Program* where they are pairing up runners with newbies for a 15 week training program sponsored by HEB?  Yours truly is a running mentor (Yes- REALLY!  Me, a mentor.  Who would ever have thought this back when I started running two years ago?!).  More on this program later.
3. Hmmmm, I have some ideas on this one but wanted some input from ya’ll.  What should be the last thing I do (not do) each and every day while on vacation?  Hit me up in the comments and I’ll pick one to do- it’ll be like I’m taking you with me : ).

Am I the only one who has a hard time controlling myself at the Christmas buffet of foods at holiday parties?

Probably not.

Anyhoo, American Council on Exercise reminded me of some great tips on avoiding the holiday bulge, things we can do to avoid excessive holiday weight gain, like:

• Bring your own healthy treat like a veggie platter
• Eat something healthy before going to the party
• Drink a glass of water with every alcoholic beverage
• Stay away from the dessert tray
• Pay close attention to portion sizes
• Avoid going back for seconds

But WHY is exercise good for you? Here,  The Mayo Clinic tells us why and I also share my thoughts on each bullet point.  Yeah, I know this is a lengthy post but it’s definitely worth the read.

• Exercise controls weight.  DUH.  I don’t need to explain this one, do I?  OK, when you do something physical, like running, swimming,, biking, lifting weights, a Zumba class etc- you expend energy and the more calories you burn.  Yeah for burning calories!  Exercising can help you lose weight or maintain your weight.  Also, strength training/lifting weights is a must- your muscles burn calories long after your session is over….I have an entire post running through my head on this : ).
• Exercise combats health conditions and diseases.  Yes and yes.  Sign me up. I had a physical finally recently.  While I still have a few pounds left to lose to be considered a *healthy* weight, after speaking with my doctor about my exercise program, she said that I was exactly where I need to be.  Sure, yeah it would be great to lose those extra 10 lbs, BUT because I exercise regularly and have been for some time, then I am in actuality in GREAT shape.  Awesome blood pressure, heartbeat, cholesterol….the whole bit.  She told me that exercise counts for BIG points in how your body is doing.  Also, the Mayo Clinic had this to say (and I quote I hope they don’t mind, I just had to share because there is no way I could paraphrase these words):  Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.
• Exercise improves mood.  I could write a novel on this one alone.  Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.  This is so true.  My husband has been known to push me out the door to go run when he notices me in a foul mood.  Also, for me, exercise is an excellent stress reliever.  Bad day?  stressed?  Overwhelmed?  Mad at the world/people/certain situations?  Go exercise, take it out there, and tell me that you don’t feel better afterwards.  Go ahead.  I’ll wait.
• Exercise boosts energy.  The Mayo Clinic says “Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores”.  You’re gonna have to trust me on this one, but it’s true.  Granted, in the beginning, if your just started an exercise program, you might feel like dying, you might feel more tired, etc.  BUT, just keep with it and you will notice an improvement in your energy level over time.  Pinky promise swear.
• Exercise promotes better sleep.  Ahhhhh, sleep- I love to sleep and truth be known, I rarely have a difficult time falling asleep or staying asleep, unless one of my kids is waking me up.  The Mayo Clinic says “Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep”.  I can attest to the last part of this sentence- if I exercise too close to bedtime, then forget about falling asleep quickly.  My body is energized by physical activity so I have to do it earlier in the day.
• Exercise puts the spark back in your sex life.  Um, yeah.  I bet all of our husband’s would like us to exercise more for this reason alone : ).
• Exercise can be fun.  Really, it can.  Would I lie to you?  Find a physical activity you enjoy and just do it.  Enjoy the outdoors, invite a friend to join you or make new friends in a class at the gym  Your body and spirit will thank you.

Hey ya’ll, hey ya’ll, hey ya’ll!

We’re starting a new challenge today and it’s been gonna be a quickie one, only 5 weeks long.

We all walk, all day long.  We walk from the bed to the bathroom.  We walk all around our kitchen.  We walk to get into our car, to get from the parking lot into the office and down the hall to our cubicle, we chase walk our children at the park, we walk in the mall and at the grocery store and at the post office.  Here, there and everywhere.

Do you know how many steps a day you take?  I have no freakin’ clue.

Is it 2,000 or 5,000 or maybe 10,000 steps?

Does anyone know that they walk 10,000 steps per day, every day?  Stand up and raise your hand!

Why 10K and who is saying what about it?

Walking Tidbits:

• The Surgeon General recommends 10K (10K = 10,000) a Day and that dude knows his stuff!
• The SG recommends that all adults get 30 minutes of physical activity several times a week.
• It takes roughly 2,000 steps to walk a mile.
• 2 miles of walking can be completed in approximately 30 minutes (that’s 4,000 steps).
• Therefore, the goal of taking 10,000 steps in one day (that equals 5 miles) assumes that a typical individual takes 6,000 steps during their normal daily activity.
• Studies have shown that 10,000 steps daily can reduce your risk for chronic disease and an early death.

GIVEAWAY!!

You see that lovely pedometer below? Well, we’re going to giveaway 3 of them! YES! We want to help you get your 10KaDay!

To win, leave a comment below telling us how you plan to get extra steps in every day for the next 5 weeks. Surely all that shopping you’ll be doing will add to the pot, right?

Contest is sponsored by the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans, and will end on Friday, November 25th at 12 midnight PT. Winner will be announce the next on this post. Please make sure you leave a valid email or twitter @ so we can get in touch with you! Oh yeah, if you buy a pedometer using that link above, we’ll make 2 cents since it’s an affiliate link! Gracias, and Happy Thanksgiving!