What got me going?

Yep so you know how everyone has that "aha" moment? Well I had mine this past summer. Realizing that I was and am capable of so much more and that if I don't do something about it now I am just wasting precious time was a BIG DEAL.  What changed you ask? Let me tell you...

My daughter was about to turn one, and I was still stuck battling the baby weight and feeling miserable and sorry for myself.  So one day at work, I made the executive decision to go online and purchase an at home workout program, Focus T25.  I decided that even I could commit 25 minutes a day to exercise, and I decided that I would take the first step in buckling down on my nutrition and I ordered my first bag of Shakeology.  It was expensive, and I thought my husband would flip his lid if he knew how much I was about to spend on this, so I did not say anything. I just ordered it, and considered it an investment in myself (which was something I was really slacking on at the time). I got the progam in the mail and my chocolate shakeology and dove in head first.  I was waking up early before work (4am) and getting my 25 minutes of intense exercise in and started drinking my shakes. Now I'm not going to lie, I was not enjoying the effects of the shakes at first but in time I really started noticing differences. The weirdest was that my skin was changing and not breaking out as much, and I just felt better. So I kept going with the shakes and before long the GI side effects from the shakes stopped (THANK GOODNESS).

 I continued with my workouts but still wasn't seeing results. So I contacted someone I found through beachbody, my free coach and asked her for help. Deidra Penrose. This woman had a similar background and a rockin body that she worked damn hard for and realized that if she could do it, so can I.  So I very nervously contacted her, and she asked me to join her upcoming challenge group for the 21 Day Fix. And so I did...

I ordered the program (and in the process paid the coach fee thinking maybe I could learn to work the business at some point), and soon enough the beautiful box arrived on my doorstep just in time to start the challenge group. And let me tell you this is where things changed...

Every.single.day. I was held accountable for my food intake, water consumption, exercise and shakes. Every.single.day. I had someone cheering me on. Every.single.day. I had a group of like minded individuals working towards similar goals and leading similar lives working through their own issues in life. Every.single.day. I had a goal to work towards. It was amazing!

I realized very quickly that something magical was happening.

I was finally finding a place where I belonged.

Not to mention this whole time, I was trying to rapidly prepare for my first Spartan Race with my friend (who was also and contines to be a great sourse of inspiration and motivation). So my motivation was high, and remains high.

I FINALLY finished something I had started. I finished the challenge group and decided that I had seen such a change in myself both physically and mentally that I wanted to keep going.

Seriously when they say that it takes 21 days to change habits there is some truth to it but it also helps when you have an amazing group of women to draw strength from. My confidence is soaring (well at least compared to what I was at previously), my determination is strong, and my body feels like it is on its way to being what I once only dreamed it could be.

I have a long way to go, but I have my very first challenge group to thank for getting my mind in the right place.  My husband is seeing a happier and more fulfilled wife, and my kids are seeing a mom who works hard to set a good example for them on a daily basis. And to think, all this happened in such a short time, I am beyond excited to see what happens in the future.

Thank you Deidra. Even though what you did may seem small, you have done your job of changing another life.

Got anxiety?

Got anxiety? Sure we all have anxiety at one time or another...that new job we just got, the baby on the way, money stressors...everything we do in life can cause anxiety for us. But what do we do when that anxiety starts to occur more frequently? What do we do when we find ourselves becoming crippled by anxiety on a daily basis?

I have always been an anxious person or a "worry wart". But it was not until recently that I discovered just how much it is affecting my on a daily basis. With the birth of my daughter, life seemd to come hurling down on top of me and things were happening at such a rapid pace I could not seem to keep up. I felt it piling up, becoming heavier and heavier and then realized I needed to do something about it. So I started small, learning to let certain things go, taking a few minutes to just be alone and regroup but eventually found myself having a full blown panic attack at work. Not good right? Nope not at all. I recognized what was happening and immediately recognized that I had to take drastic action to get this under control. Now, I am a nurse but I am not a mental health specialist. By forcing myself to become more aware of what my triggers are and what helps I have been able to come up with a list of things that help me cope with my own personal anxiety. I hope some of these can help you, if you to suffer from anxiety or are a "worry wart" too.

 

 

Meghan's Ten Tips to Battle Anxiety

 

1. Eat healthier.

 

Oddly enough some of my anxiety stems from my lack of healthy lifestyle. I have enourmous food guilt when I eat things that are "less than desireable" so the one thing that makes me feel better about this is ..... Tada... Eating healthier. I joined a challenge group that forced me to examine my eating habits and realizing just how bad they were I made some big changes. And now, if I deviate from my healthy eating plan I notice.

 

2. Exercise.

 

Seems obvious huh? Well let me tell you, the feeling I get from having a good sweat session is amazing. It helps me feel more focused, energized, accomplished and strong. To go along with #1, this is part of living a healthier lifestyle. Physical acitivty, even just 30 minutes a day, can do wonders for one's mood and outlook on life. And not to mention helping shed those unwanted inches and pounds...another source of anxiety for me.

 

 

3. Practice Deep Breathing.

 

My mantra is "IN 1-2-3, and OUT 1-2-3". It slows evertything down and allows me to take a quick mental vacation from whatever chaos I'm surrounded by at the moment.  It's no secret that yoga utilizes breathing techniques to help relieve stress as well as meditation. Now, I am not a committed yogi or nor am I committed to daily meditation, but deep breathing works! I use this for my patients who have anxiety attacks along with imagery to help take them down a few levels. It doesn't always work but it helps.

 

4.  Make a list, and prioritize that list.

 

As parents, we face daunting to do lists. They are in fact never ending lists that seem to go on and on and on....well you get the idea. But there are some things on those lists that JUST DON'T MATTER.  Repeat that,  the "JUST DONT' MATTER."  Sure you  need to have clean clothes and dishes but do you have clean your base boards on a weekly basis? Nope sure don't. Often times I find that sheer act of trying to balance all the responsibilities of being a working mom send me into a hulk like mom rage and ultimately my anxiety and stress shoot through the roof and my family end up paying the price for that. So I make lists. These lists let me literally sort of out what needs to be done and what can wait. Sometimes the things that are on the "do later" list get done and sometimes they don't. But you know what, I ultimately did not panic because my toilet didn't get cleaned last Tuesday.

 

5.  Find a hobby.

 

Yes I said it. Find a hobby. Something you enjoy doing, and honestly it doesn't matter what it is but find something. I've realized over the years that losing myself to my kids and life did not make me a better mom, it just made me a mom who didn't know herself anymore and didn't find joy in anything. And that's a hard thing to admit, but I admitted it nonetheless. So find something you enjoy doing. An activity that makes you smile, gives you goals, allows you to interact with actual grownups outside of work...you know something fun. I discovered that I really really enjoy playing with and learning how to do makeup. I dove head first. I got excited about it, and found myself facinated with it. Now I am incorporating my health lifestyle habits in my daily routine as well and finding that I have actual intersts in life outside of work and my kids! Who knew right??  But seriously do yourself a favor and find something that puts a smile on your face....it does a body good and makes you feel as if you have a sense of belonging.

 

6.  Let it go.

 

Seems to easy right? Well not so much. There are many things that are out of our control. I would sit and literally panic at the thought that I could not fix other people's problems around me. Maybe that is the curse of being a highly empathetic individual, but it caused me a great amount of emotional distress. I had to learn to "let it go."  I cannot be responsible for other's decisions, nor can I allow myself to want to fix everything for them.  Now this takes practice, and I am by no means perfect at it but over the years I have had to do this. I still struggle but I have to take a step back and "let it go."   This goes for tasks as well. As a mom, I often times find myself getting caught up in completing tasks. Do the laundry, do the dishes, fold the laundry, vacuum, dust, clean the toilets, etc. And in that long list nowhere was there mentioned, cuddle with my kids, ride bikes with my son, have a date with my husband.... so to those tasks that did not get done...I let them go. I am not living my life to make sure my house looks pristine at all times. I am living this life to makes memories with my family, and if my kids want to cuddle, guess what I am going to cuddle. And I ultimately feel better after because I know my time was spent wisely.

 

7. Sleep/Rest

 

Um yea. Ok. Let me get right on that, ok? If you breed non sleepers like I do sleep is a valuable commodity and often times like an unattainlable goal. It is no secret that sleep deprivation wreaks havoc on our bodies both physically and mentally, and again for anxious person like myself sleep deprivation just sky rockets my level of worry/stress. So how do we cope? Squeeze it in wherever, whenever you can, and have a routine. I am big on routines and I know that by no later than 1030 at night I am done with the day. I don't force myself to stay up unless absolutely necessary,  so I can get as much sleep as I can for the night. When my daughter was not sleeping at all, I would take my benadryl (yes I take a benadryl at night to help me sleep) early, and be ready to sleep by 830-900 pm range. I maximized my ability to get as much sleep as possible. I am not afraid to admit I need to slow down and take a break. I know myself well enough to know that if I am running on more than empty I begin to feel my anxiety levels peak and it is really hard to come down once they get up to a certain level. So in short, practice pacing yourself, establish routines, and make other small sacrifices if possible to ensure you are getting an adequate amount of rest in your day. I realize this is not always possible, but when you can make this a priority.

 

8.  Unplug from technology.

 

Oh yes!! Being buried in your phone/tablet/tv does nothing good for you. I am just as guilty about this as anyone and am working hard to make changes here, but trust me its a good thing. I find that on days when I barely look at my phone I am much more calm. It may have something to do with not being bombarded with pictures of people's fancy vacations or seemingly perfect lives that make mine seem completely inadequate but the societal pressures that are placed upon us from social media are immense.  Women have pictures of barely naked damn near perfect looking creations shoved in their faces making us feel like that thin mint we just had ruined our whole diet when in reality, we are on a journey to become better and should remember that change does not happen overnight but overtime.  And if you notice when you read through the news online, or watch it, they never talk about anything good. All I get to hear about is a child that is missing, another violent shooting or war in another country. Seriously can a girl just get a break from the negativity in the world? Yep! And I do when I unplug, and guess what my level of stress and anxiety over things I have little to no control over go down significantly. I focus my on family or my hobby or some much needed rest.

 

9.  Talk it out.

 

Now this may seem simple to but it helps. Talking is how we relate to other people, share our feelings, and feel connected with the world around us. There are different ways to "talk it out". Do you have supportive spouse that is a good listener? It would probably be beneficial to talk with him or her. Not only will it help you get out what you need to get out but it will also give your spouse a chance to see life from your perspective and be more supportive. Do you have a best friend? Go grab a coffee and talk. Or if you are struggling to find someone to talk to that you know seek help from a therapist or counselor. There is NO SHAME in doing this. I remember back in college I was really struggling with life in general. I sought out some help but I quit after just one session because it felt "awkward and intrusive".  Now fast forward 10 years later, I realize there is a lot of value in seeking help from a person who has an entire tool bag of things and resources that you can access and they are there to help. I have seen my own patients benefit from therapy  and I am finally no longer afraid to admit that it is a good thing.

 

10.  Seek medical help.

 

Now this is one that people may blast me for but in all seriousness if you feel that your anxiety is becoming too much for you to handle, you are beyond your own coping mechanisms that that point. Make an appointment, take a sick day, get a babysitter and go to the doctor. I don't necessarily advocate for medication but I am not one to deny using them. In fact recently, I reached "critical mass" and immediately went to the doctor. Medication is not a cure all for your anxiety and stress, because despite the fact that the medication may make you feel better over time does not eliminate your source of stress. So don't forget to address those issues when you are more emotionally stable and capable of dealing with them. Again, THERE IS NO SHAME for going this route. It can be temporary to help you through something but if your anxiety/stress is that bad you need more help.

 

 

So there  you have it. There is my list of ways to help cope with anxiety and stress. I am by no means a master at these and let me be quite frank,, there are many days when I really struggle. But I try to utilize my own ways of coping and most often I am able to get through. I am a work in progress and on a journey. I expect there to be road blocks along the way but I am determined to better myself.  I may never fully get rid of my anxiety and "worry wart" tendencies but I know there is a lot I can do to lessen them.

xoxo,
Meghan

 

I want to hear from you. Do you have anything that works for you? I am always up to learning new things to incorporate into my list. Please comment or leave your feedback below!

Recipe: Quinoa Salad

Quinoa Salad Recipe

 

Clean eating can be tricky but here is a simple, easy to prepare and cost effective recipe that is sure to please your taste buds.

 

 

Ingredients:

1 cup dry quinoa cooked ( 1 cup goes a long way when prepared so you will have some left over, follow directions on package to prepare)
Fresh veggies (Pictured above I used cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, and avacado, but really any sliced veggies will do)
Light Agave Nectar
Lime Juice
Tobassco Brand Green Pepper Sauce
A pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Prepare dry quinoa according to package instructions. (you can choose to either chill the quinoa or use warm)
2. Cut up your choice of fresh veggies to use
3. Combine cooked quinoa and veggies into a bowl
4. Sprinkle a little salt, agave, lime juice and a bit of the green pepper sauce...stir and enjoy! Season to your preferences of course but the combination of sweet and hot is to die for and the lime juice adds the perfect extra touch for this super healthy meal.

ENJOY!

 

Clean eating does not have to be boring or expensive! This is inexpensive option for a quick go to meal that packs a lot of flavor!

 

 

 

Have a good recipe? Share here with me so I can try it!

xoxo,
Meghan

 







My WHY

For a long time, whenever I was asked even simple questions to describe myself, my beliefs, my values, interests or hobbies I really struggled to provide any answers. One day I realized, I did not even know myself anymore. I would look in the mirror, and I no longer knew who was staring back at me.  I had hard time even thinking of what my favorite color was. I was so caught up in taking care of my family, dealing with insane schedules and zero family and very few friends around, and work that I completely lost myself. I forgot that I was a person with needs, desires, and goals. I remember crying many nights when I would be at home alone again, my son in bed, and always wondering what else I was capable of. The 22 year old my husband met and fell in love disappeared. She lost her desire to set new goals and achieve them, to feel accomplished, and proud. I was also not setting a good example for my son. I may have smiled on the outside, but on the inside I was numb.


Fast forward to my 30th birthday, I worked hard (or at least I thought I did) to "lose weight" so I could fit into a certain outfit for my 30th birthday. I thought that was going to be the solution to "finding myself" again but my efforts to lose weight (yes I will admit I took pills and lost weight) were weak at best. I did not work on changing my bad habits, nor did I work on myself from the inside out. So in essence, the number on the scale changed (not even as much as I wanted it to), I fit into the "goal outift" but the weight came right back on. Another really rough pregnancy and baby girl later, I found myself hitting rock bottom all over again.




30th Birthday celebration with my husband, Ocotber 2012

 

 

I have continued to be really bothered by the fact that I did not feel like I have anything to be proud of. I mean sure I am beyond proud of my family/kids, but there was always the feeling that something was missing.I had no goals, no passion, no drive, nothing. I was and continue to be at a standstill professionally despite many efforts to move forward.  And clearly have not been working my personal health and fitness goals. And then I was at a party for the 4th of July and saw a picture of myself.... and I had a moment.

Seeing this was the moment I realized if I don't change, everything will remain the same.

Its time to change.  No more excuses. No more complaining. Time to get to work.

 

I realized the day I saw that picture that if I did not work to get healthier and finally lose the weight by changing my bad habits, nothing was ever going to change, and I would always feel the same way; stuck, alone, depressed, unmotivated, lack of purpose and unproud.  Not only do I have two very important little people looking up to me, I am a nurse who tells people they need to take care of themselves in order to be around for their family. So why am I not taking my own advice?  Besides, I had committed to running a Spartan race with a friend and needed to get in shape, quickly.

 

I had already been working out with T25 at home for a few weeks, got a horrible cold (yes I got insanely sick during the summer on my only vacation time), and of course was getting frustrated because I was not losing any weight.  But really what was I expecting...... I continued to just eat although I had incorporated Shakeology into my diet along with my whopping 25 minutes of exercise but still was angry everyday when the scale did not do what I wanted it to do. How dare you scale??? I mean I was working out so why wasn't I losing weight? I mean seriously not even a pound would disappear!!!  But I realized the day this photo was taken, that it was because I had not made a conscience decision to change my bad habits. I could not continue to drink wine and eat crackers and cheese every night and expect to lose weight. I mean seriously what was I thinking??  So I sought out the help of my free beachbody coach, Deidra Penrose. And this is where my journey really begins...

 

She invited me to join her challenge group for the 21 Day Fix which helps you to focus more on nutrition along with the exercise component, and in 21 days the hope is that you learn to change your habits and with the help of the challenge group you are forced to be accountable. I decided to make a comitment to myself to just get through the 21 days. During those 21 days, I dove head first into the beachbody lifestyle. Clean eating, pushing play everyday, and learning more about the coaching opportunity. Throughout the 21 days, the more transformation stories I read about, the more coaching success stories I read about something began to happen.... I began to feel like I was a part of something. I began to feel proud. Proud of myself for

•  sticking with something because I am notorious for starting full force and then stopping
•  choosing to get healthier and set a good example for my kids
• Proud that I was working towards a goal....my first ever Spartan race with my friend who said it would fun (it was fun however amazingly challenging)

 I very soon realized that something amazing was happening. I began to feel motivated again, and each day I was working harder and harder, and noticed that my body was changing. I was getting a little better each day at the harder exercises, my strength was getting better, my endurance was getting better... each day saw improvement. And with each physical change, I also noticed some very important emotional and mental changes as well. I was happier, more motivated, more organized, more energized, and more proud. I decided at the end of my first 21 day challenge that I would start again and see what else I could do. My first 21 day challenge ended with the Spartan race, which I did finish by the way, and with a completely new outlook on my life. I feel like belong, I feel like I have a purpose, and I feel like I can do anything.

 

And I discovered my very important WHY....

 

 

 

 

 

My WHY for being the best me I can be

 

 These two little people here are my WHY. My reason to be healthy, my reason to commit to push play everyday, my reason to do whatever it takes to be there for them. 

 

So its officially onward and upward from here on out....

 

I am FOR REAL about being better. I am FOR REAL about getting healthy. I am FOR REAL about rediscovering myself. I am FOR REAL about being the best I can be.

 

I am quite simply...

 

A mom on a mission.

 

xoxo,

Meghan

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome

Welcome!!!! I am so thrilled (and dare I say it, scared) to finally be taking this step... I started a blog! Now you may wonder what makes mine so different from other health and fitness blogs or mommy blogs, the difference is that this is intended to be a place to inspire, motivate, support, and provided thoughtful nonjudgmental insight into the modern day world of being a working mother (who is also working hard to meet her own health and fitness goals).

First, let me take a minute to really introduce myself. I want to create a relationship with my readers and let them know this a place where you can come to connect with other moms working with similar goals in life. I am a 32 year old mom, wife, and nurse originally from a small town in rural Ohio. I attended The Ohio State University, where I earned a BSN in Nursing, and upong graduation started my nursing career at the University of Cincinnati hospital where I worked in a cardiac step-down and intensive care unit. I met my husband in 2005 (at a bar), we were married in October 2007, and now have two small children and are currently residing in the greater Washington, D.C. area living our often times chaotic life one day at a time. I work full time as a nurse and am currently on a journey to achieve a healthier life and of course...lose weight (but I mean seriously who isn't on that journey??). 

This journey started for me because somewhere along the way, I realized that I had begun to settle, and quickly realized that I had completely lost myself. This journey is about so much more than achieving health and fitness goals; it is about rediscovering myself and learning to love the woman I have become over the years.

This blog is a place for me to share that journey and my life as a very busy working mom. Join me and together let's get for real about the journey to a healthier life!

xoxo,
Meghan
A Mom on a Mission...

DC Spartan Sprint 2015, First race ever and I loved it!