Dear Friends,
Well, it's that time of year again.
No, I'm not talking about twinkling ornaments (gorgeous), or gifts under the tree or by the menorah (love them all) or even the magic of the holidays (although there's absolutely no denying it, no matter what you celebrate!)
I'm talking about the fact that New Year's Eve is just around the corner and once again, I find myself thinking about resolutions, or, more to the point, how to keep them.
For me, I've made the same New Year's resolution every year for the past 15: lose 15 pounds and keep them off. Heck, if I only lost one pound per year, for the past 15 years...hmm...well, it would have taken a long time, but by George, I would have accomplished my goal.
This year, my resolution is the same but my motivation is different: to stay healthy for my family as well as for myself. Somehow, all the incredible wonderful changes that have happened to me and for me this past year (wonderful husband, three monkeys, aka toddlers, (all six and under, God help me) to love and care for, and a renewed sense of what's possible, have made me even more aware of how great a responsibility it is to have little ones who depend on me and need me to be at my best. And for me, that means my most energetic, healthiest, and happiest best.
Hence, the New Year's resolution.
Some of the strategies I've been using to get a jump start on 1/1/12 include working out more, sometimes with a trainer, and trying add more colorful veggies to almost anything I can. Breakfast has also become much more of a focus, and I make a concerted effort to eat as healthily as possible in the morning, to get my day going with a nutritious, delicious, and mindful start.
Having kids to feed in the morning has made a huge difference at breakfast time--I am so acutely aware of all the healthy things I offer them to eat, whether they are sitting down at the table (more often on the floor, between playing sight word Bingo or watching Nick Jr.), or whether they are running out the door and are eating in their booster seats. Don't ask what the back of my car and my husband's car looks like! Giving them healthy, yummy, and fun foods to eat every morning, and teaching them why it's so important to eat a good breakfast, is also part of the fun. Watching them enjoy breakfast has made me want to eat more like they do. Go figure.
Some of my favorite things to offer up are fresh fruit (apple slices, blueberries and strawberries are huge hits in our house), low-sugar oatmeal with raisins and berries, or, our family's new favorite, Jimmy Dean Delights, which is made out of egg whites, cheese, and turkey sausage. Even better--I can make them in the microwave, which means I can get the kids dressed, fed, and out the door in no time.
Not only do the kids love these, but they're under 300 calories and fit ever so nicely into my own weight loss and get-healthy campaign. So, finally, I've got a solution to finding and making a delicious, filling breakfast that I can feel good about giving to my kids and to myself, while working toward those healthy-eating/healthy-lifestyle goals. Not bad.
Now, if only the kids could do a daily 45 minutes on the elliptical for me....now that would be something to celebrate!
Happy Resolutions,
Jodi
