Sleep. It’s a beautiful thing. Yet it is also a source of frustration for many. It has recently come to my attention that a few of my children are having trouble sleeping. I thought it might be situational. Our oldest son is in flight school, training to fly the F-18 Super Hornet. Over the last few years he has spent a lot of late nights in the simulator or studying so I am not that surprised that his sleep routine has been altered. However #6 (Grace), who is a freshman in high school, also often has trouble sleeping. She is a VERY active 14 year-old. If I was doing what she is doing (in terms of physical activity), I would crash every time my head hit the pillow. Then #3 (Thomas), when he was home for Christmas, told me he has trouble with sleep as well. A Division 1 athlete, Thomas has a daily afternoon practice of 2-3 hours and attends morning practice 2-3 days a week around 5 am. So why is he having trouble with sleep? I can’t imagine making it to 10 pm without falling asleep on my feet with the physical schedule Thomas keeps. [Read more…]
Modern Technology and Sleep Deprivation: You Might Want to READ THIS!
My 300th blog post: Thank you Today’s Charlotte Woman!
Thank you to Dawn Liles and the editors at Today’s Charlotte Woman for profiling 9 Kid Fitness last month in their wonderful Charlotte-based magazine. I’m honored! I also wrote my 300th blog post last month. And #301 and #302… When I started 9 Kid Fitness, I never imagined how much writing I would do (I’m happy to be putting my undergraduate degree in Journalism and English to use)! Thanks everyone for supporting me and joining in on the conversation about fitness, family, and life!
Incredibly Awesome Lentil Soup
Yes, I even have cabbage and fresh basil…which is better than what the recipe calls for!
I love soup. Lentil soup the most. So I’m always searching for good recipes. Especially ones whose ingredients I actually have. Imagine my joy when I found this one for Winter Vegetable Lentil Soup…that even included my favorite spice, curry. I was giddy as I looked over the ingredient list. I have every one…in my kitchen…now (the better you know me the better you will understand how amazing this is). I even thought to myself…I should have created this recipe (this is also quite humorous if you know me)! Can’t wait to make it today and eat it tonight. Do you have a good soup recipe to share?
This Too Shall Pass….Unfortunately: Fitting in Exercise When Children are Young
The other day I took a break from homeschooling #7, #8, and #9 (John, C.C., and Sam) and went to a barre class at noon (#6 who is 14 was home). Although it’s been awhile since I was really unable to steal away, it still feels a little strange when I do. For so many years my only chance at exercise during the week was early in the morning or while the kids were napping (thank God for my lifecycle). It’s a question I’m often asked, “How did you fit it in when your kids were all young?” [Read more…]
Seven Foods You and Your Family Should Be Eating
Alan Tyson, physical therapist and owner of Architech Sports, recently wrote about the best foods for our bellies. There are seven. I was surprised by the last one! Add these to your shopping list and try to include them in daily meals.
1. High-Fiber and Antioxidant-Rich Vegetables
All veggies are good for you. They are high in vitamins, phytonutrients, antioxidants,
and fiber and are generally low in calories and low in fat. But certain varieties do contain “FODMAPs”, [Read more…]
To Your New Year’s Resolutions…I Say, “Go For It”!
To those who say they don’t “do resolutions”, I have to ask, why not? What is not to like about a resolution? I always welcome a chance to start again. That is the very definition of hope! It’s like saying I’m not going to celebrate my birthday because it’s just gonna come around again next year.
Isn’t that the beauty of it? Yes, it comes around every January. And no, I can’t remember my resolutions from last year (actually, the unfortunate consequence of blogging is that my resolutions from 2014 are there for me and anyone else to see- yikes). But it doesn’t really matter. A resolution is a very here-and-now thing. It’s present day. It’s knowing yesterday is gone. Today is a new day. And it’s a new year! [Read more…]
Top Ten Fitness Trends Predicted for 2015!
If you’re doing “body weight” exercises such as push ups, lunges, and squats, then you are already part of a growing trend. Results recently released in the article, “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2015: What’s Driving the Market”, might surprise you. Here are The American College of Sports Medicine predictions (and I can’t help myself…I add my two cents in italics after their comments).
1. Body Weight Training:
- Uses minimal equipment
- Allows us to get back to basics
- More affordable
- Body weight training also happens to be one of the most effective type of fitness for us if we are consistent about it. If you incorporate push ups, lunges, and squats into your daily exercise routine, I promise you will see results. I love barre classes for body weight training. For ultimate body weight fitness, watch American Ninja Warrior…you’ll be amazed.
2. HIIT (High Intensive Interval Training) [Read more…]
Hoka One One: The Newest Running Shoe Bandwagon?
I first heard the name Hoka One One when my husband showed me an article about the new running shoes. He asked me how I thought you pronounced it, “Hoka 1..1.., of course”. Actually, no. It’s pronounced Hoka One (oh-nay) One (oh-nay). I read the article, and I couldn’t help thinking about the plight of butter (butter good….no, butter bad…no, butter good). Or maybe just the fickleness of us humans.
We love a bandwagon. Especially when it’s backed up by sound research and personal experience. I am not saying, necessarily that the new Hoka One One shoes are the newest wagon to hop onto. It’s simply an observation. Just like my observation at the running shoe store that my daughter (#5) works for. I noticed a few months ago when she first started working and I came in to pick her up, not one “Five Finger” shoe could be found. Hmmm, interesting. [Read more…]
Why I am Thankful for “The Run”…and Why I Regret Never Telling my Dad
I was going to call this post, “9 Reasons I am Thankful for ‘The Run'”. As I pulled up my chair to my computer and began to type, I realized that it would not be a post I could whip out in 9 neat reasons. My first reason was more profound than I thought upon initial reflection. So I bagged the title. And I just started to write…
I was running the other day on a trail nearby with #7 (John). John is 11. He will be fast one day. So I realize I won’t always be able to keep up with him. I love running with John because he talks the whole time. Which means I don’t have to. It was a fun run. Six miles. As we were beginning the last mile, John had run out of things to talk about (or he was too tired), so I started to talk. I try not to philosophize too much with my kids while we run but it was a particularly beautiful fall day and I couldn’t help but to tell John to look around and to be grateful for “the run”. “Be grateful for your legs and offer your run for those who can’t” (we know a young man who is paralyzed and cannot use his), “be grateful for your ability” (many kids John’s age can’t run one mile, let alone six), “be grateful for the desire” (he was happy to run that morning), “be grateful for the trail” (we are lucky to have such a great place to run nearby). “John, don’t ever forget to be grateful for running. It just might get you through a lot one day”. [Read more…]
Let’s Talk About the Butt
“Seat work” at a barre class…don’t let the fact that it looks easy fool you…
Now that I have your attention, I’ll use the term glutes (I don’t even let my kids say butt). Glutes (of which the gluteus maximus is the largest) are a key component of the core. Yes, they are associated with the core. Let’s just say they support the core.
According to Joe Tedesco at Architech Sports, “Glutes … are part of the core. Typically, we tend not to think of them that way because they appear to be relatively far away from the stomach. It helps to think of the core as a base of stability, rather than to associate it only with the stomach area. The core begins at the top of the ribs and includes the whole area to about mid thigh. Therefore, whatever helps to create stability in those areas can be thought of as part of the core.” [Read more…]
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