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True Fans Run in the Family…Keep Pounding

February 6, 2016 by Leave a Comment

IMG_0372When the Carolina Panthers went to Super Bowl XXXVIII, #4 (Peter) celebrated with a Super Bowl party at our house. The end of an exciting Panther’s season just happened to coincide with his birthday on Super Bowl Sunday. He was turning 8. It was a great party with games and cake and kids gathered around the TV to watch the game. Unfortunately it ended with Peter in tears over the Panther’s loss to the New England Patriots.

Peter turned 20 this week and today the Carolina Panthers will play in Super Bowl 50. A lot has happened in the years in between. One thing hasn’t changed. Peter has never waivered in his love of the Carolina Panthers.  Neither have any of his four brothers (although #9 wasn’t even born in 2003, he’s been a Panther’s fan as long as he’s been able) or his four sisters, for that matter.

We moved to North Carolina from the midwest 18 years ago.  #5 (Annie), #6(Grace), #7 (John), #8(C.C.), and #9(Sam) were all born here.  Although my husband James and I grew up in Chicago Bears country, we couldn’t help but quickly become Carolina Panthers fans as we watched our boys form an attachment to the team (2016 Carolina Panthers and their energy and enthusiasm remind me of the 1985 Chicago Bears team). [Read more…]

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Balance in Eating is Not Easy But it is Key

June 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment
You Must Be Hungry is a book written by a mom who is food journalist and her daughter who battles eating disorders

You Must Be Hungry is a book written by a mom (Sheila Himmel) who is a food journalist and her daughter (Lisa Himmel) who battled eating disorders

My daughter is a runner.  She recently decided that she needed to lose a few pounds in her attempt to drop some time on the track.  My motherhood antenna went up automatically.  Since she already runs quite a bit and also works on strength training, exercise is not something she needs more of.  So she is focusing on the kitchen and on eating healthier.  Of course I am all about my kids eating healthy.

Unfortunately I also know that we all can become out of balance sometimes.  We are, most of us, aware of the issues of eating disorders for teenage girls and young adults.  So when a 17 year-old tells me she wants to drop a few pounds, my first thought is NO!  Yet I also remember that sometime around that same age I first started becoming aware of eating healthier.  In some ways, in fact, the early we recognize that good food choices are important in maintaining healthy weight, the earlier we can make good habits a part of everyday life. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Family Life, Nutrition Tagged With: , ,

I Went For a Bike Ride…What is You Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone?

June 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

group-ride2-350x205I went on a group ride on Saturday. I couldn’t believe how far outside my comfort zone it took me.  I used to ride a fair amount.  Clipping in and out of my pedals used to be no big deal.  But that was a long time ago. After many years away from the bike, I made my biking debut at the Giordana Velodrome last summer. Then I was off it again for almost a year.  I got back on twice this week.  On Thursday I joined #6 (Grace) on a practice ride back at the velodrome.  On Saturday I saddled up again for a 30 mile ride in Waxhaw, NC along with #7 (John) who is 11.

Oddly, my anxiety about cycling remains high.  I can’t blame it on my age since most of those riding in the group ride were at least my age and many were well over 10 years older than me.  I can’t really blame it on inexperience either, since I started cycling as a junior in college at Indiana University. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Family Life, Getting Started, Motivation Tagged With: , ,

9 Simple Tips for Making Smoothies (Juicing Too)

April 24, 2015 by 2 Comments
Some of my favorite add-ins are basil or mint leaves....

Some of my favorite add-ins are basil or mint leaves….

I love my Vitamix.  I feel so fortunate that we decided to “bite the bullet” and buy one when my husband was diagnosed with cancer some years back.  It’s been worth every dime (or dollar…or hundreds of dollars…but whatever). As long as we have a little fruit in the house, some greens, and maybe yogurt or kefir, we can make great smoothies almost everyday. I would say we do the smoothie thing about 4-5 days a week.  I love handing #5 (Annie) a smoothie as she heads out the door. She’s 17 and drives so she has access to junk food if she wants it.  I feel good about loading her up with a tall glass of greens and fruit, knowing at least she has started the day right. The rest of my younger kids stay home for school, and smoothies are a quick way to start the day (clean-up is another topic altogether). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cancer, Family Life, Nutrition Tagged With: , ,

Modern Technology and Sleep Deprivation: You Might Want to READ THIS!

February 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

sleepslSleep. 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…]

Filed Under: Family Life, Running Tagged With: , ,

My 300th blog post: Thank you Today’s Charlotte Woman!

February 10, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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!

Filed Under: Family Life, My Favorite 9 Kid Fitness Posts, Women's Health Tagged With: , , ,

Incredibly Awesome Lentil Soup

February 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Yes, I even have cabbage and fresh basil...which is better than what the recipe calls for!

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?

Filed Under: Family Life, Nutrition Tagged With: , , ,

Seven Foods You and Your Family Should Be Eating

January 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

images of groceryAlan 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.

images of peppers1. 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…]

Filed Under: Family Life, Nutrition Tagged With: , , ,

Why I am Thankful for “The Run”…and Why I Regret Never Telling my Dad

November 25, 2014 by 8 Comments

running womanI 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…]

Filed Under: Family Life, My Favorite 9 Kid Fitness Posts, Running, Spirituality Tagged With: , , ,

Fall, Cross Country Meets, and the Changing Seasons…These are a Few of My Favorite Things

October 7, 2014 by Leave a Comment
#6 (Grace) at a cross country meet.

#6 (Grace) at a cross country meet.

Fall means cross country season in our house.  Many weekends I find myself at the start of a race…dashing with other parents through the woods to the one- mile marker and then off to the base of a hill….then to the edge of a small lake…. hoping to catch a glimpse of our daughters or sons as they race by.  I love cross country meets.  They’re exhilarating.  Watching younger runners dig deep and push themselves out on a cross country course motivates me to get in touch with my passion for running.

Autumn does that too.  Cooler temperatures make running easier.  It’s my favorite time to run. Especially this autumn.  I am not injured.  Not burned out. Not really anything but happy to get out and run.  I’m planning on running a race sometime in the next few months but haven’t signed up for anything yet.  I’m open to a half-marathon or even a trail run.  A few of my running buddies have already tackled a fall marathon. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Family Life, Running Tagged With: , ,
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