Thriving, Not Just Surviving

credit: big thompson crossfit

Well, I survived my first week back in regular CrossFit classes. I would even say I thrived. I made it in three times, completed the workouts, and lived to tell about it. Better yet, my attitude was good. I'm happy. (I did smart off to my coach that I swear he is programming to make sure he runs my a$$ off, but hey, even all the running was fine. Really. You can get up off the floor from your dead faint now.)

It's also been really fun having my 12 year old in class with me- he's really working hard, and I'm very proud of him. That's him in the only photo he would give me permission to use here. :D Even though I jumped him in the box the other day for "mom. mom. mom. mom."-ing me... "Buddy, this is MY space. I am happy to have you here, but do NOT do that to me while we are in the box. Period." Message delivered, message received. (Poor kid- he won't do it again, I'm sure of that.)

My major ah-ha moment was working on the hang snatch yesterday. BTW, any of the lifting stuff = fabulous. Love it. Anyhooo, I learned that I wasn't pinching my shoulder blades before starting the movement. HUGE difference. I can't wait to work on that some more.

And yesterday the WOD had kettlebells. Which I love. That is all.

One more week down...

#consistency

#52weeksinayear

#crossfitopen15.1iscoming

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Snacks for the Family

Obviously, a big theme of my life is learning to take care of myself in the midst of family life. I chose them, I love them, and I wouldn't change them.  However, I am finding that having snacks ready to go is a huge plus during this season of my life. Now, I've figured out my meal packing and family dinner preparation, but one area I was still struggling was snack food. We have bins of veggies, fruits, and dairy (yogurt/cheese sticks) in the fridge. But I was buying a lot of snack food- granola bars, etc.- that add up very quickly. Part of the problem is that kids were grabbing those things because they were easy, rather than eating dinner or heating up leftovers. And there are times were I need to yell at them- "Grab your water bottle and a snack and GET IN THE CAR!" (Not that I ever yell. Ever. <eye roll>)

I needed to portion out the snack stuff I brought into the house. Magic! All of the sudden, kids were not eating mass quantities of the convenience stuff. Now, I'm not sure what happened, other than they are aware they have a limited quantity and therefore are being smarter with their choices, but it's working. 

Basically, I just used the same awesome candy jars my mom bought for me (family holiday tradition thanks to my grandmother). Instead of putting all the granola bars in one bin, all the fruit snacks in another, jerky in another, etc., we parcel them out by person.

Here's how it works:

• Kids unload car. 
• We stack like items together on the counter. 
• We divide up the items based on likes/dislikes.
• We put items in the jars. 
• Dad gets a plastic bin to take up to work.
• Kids eat out of their own candy jar. 
• If they dislike something, they can trade with a sibling for another item.

Love it. Not my problem anymore! And our budget is going further as well... (I still don't understand the mechanism here, but it suspect it has to do with greed and territorialism.... I'm kidding... sort of.)

Lots of junk in these jars, but mostly healthy-ish stuff from a discount grocer nearby.... kids picked Buddy Fruits, Funky Monkey fruit snacks, veggie chips, beef jerky, some candy, etc. I scored some Perfect Fit cookies (protein), olives, and nuts. I actually find I need to reapportion my bin during the week to share with the kids because I'm just not getting through them... which is good, but also nice to have some quick options to grab if I get behind on my eating plan.

And I'm having fun playing with Canva and Zemata to help with my blogging. Neat tools I learned about from other A to Z bloggers by visiting their blogs!

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Food for the Family

One of the things I have been working through is how to get my family fed in the evenings. Sure, I'm good. I have my meals for the day packed. And I eat on a schedule that doesn't always work with eating together in the evenings (especially if half of us aren't at home or we wait for dad to arrive from work).

Now, the family food is cooked and in the fridge/freezer/pantry, but it seems to be a task of gargantuan proportions for the rest of the family to get the food out, heat it, and eat it. I tried making sure there was a 'menu' list on the fridge. Didn't work at all. Last night, several parties that shall remain nameless chose to eat Hot Pockets rather than the pre-made food. Another party chose to not eat and woke up at midnight starving and had to brave unknown creepy things and sounds to sneak into the kitchen, nab some food, and run back to the bedroom before the zombies could attack.

I give. My priority right now is my own health and well-being. I have made things available to my family, but obviously that is still too hard for them. I cannot be everything to them, and with our schedule the will have to make some choices to step it up. However, I will feel guilty and eventually quit caring for myself or opt to take on their stuff if I can't make this sustainable for them.

Here is the new plan... bins in the outside fridge with all the fixings. This accomplishes several things:

1. No one can say they forgot what was for dinner. Grab the freaking "Tuesday" bin and eat what is inside it.
2. My inside fridge actually will have some space for leftovers and snacks now, in spite of my huge shelf of pre-packed meals. 

chili and spinach salad

pork chops, fried potatoes, asparagus

The bins are the Mainstays Large Storage Basket from Walmart. ($3.49) They are cheap and big enough to fit a 9x13 dish (needs to be set on top of something in the bottom or tilted a bit). I purchased four- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Friday is pizza night. Saturdays and Sundays are leftovers, snack foods, and sandwiches/frozen items. I'll be adding 4x6 cards with directions, so that anyone in my house can prepare the dinner. I'm not sure what the new 'rule' will be, but I know it will be that you have to eat what is in that night's bin.... no grabbing yourself a corn dog or some other junk because you don't want to fix it. I think I'll leave it to them to figure out... the rule may be that he who is hungry first is responsible for rounding up the rest of the family to cook together. 

I'll let you know how it goes in a few weeks. I'm taking down the list that has been ignored. (Note that things keep getting crossed off, but magically are never eaten. It's like the oil and flour that never run out... except the family is still hungry.)

Hitting the Escape Button

photo by michaelaw 

I finally hit mega-overload this week. This is the time when I want to quit every single thing in my life and my family's life. When I start planning minimalist calendars and schedules. When I seriously consider converting to the Amish faith just so I can live their lifestyle. When I want to hit the escape button. Over and over.

I am trying to judiciously cut some obligations before I crash and burn, rather than quitting everything... as tempting as that may be at this moment.

 Today, I:

• Quit a part-time job cleaning businesses that was taking up 3 nights a week. 
• Removed my cell number from my business line so it doesn't ring to me.
• Set up an email vacation response for my weekly days off. 
• Deleted my work email address from my mail application. 

Not too shabby. Those four steps probably saved me 20-30 hours a week of time and hassle.

Now, if I can just learn to not get overloaded in the first place.... (oh, it's just this one little teeny tiny extra thing, or just for a little bit, or it really helps my family, or my husband needs me to, or my child asked me to and he/she isn't doing much, or a friend asked, or I need the money slippery slope.... BAM- right back to mega overload)

Have you hit the 'escape' button lately?

Related Links I Love: (because I'm a research dork)

The Cortisol Connection, Ch. 7 (online) 

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives (book)

becoming minimalist (blog)

At the risk of sounding totally schizo...

I'm going to talk about these two personas that reside inside my little self, and are sometimes at war with each other. I'd honestly like nothing better than to see the parts mellow and blend each other into a healthy whole.

Julie tends to be the responsible adult one. She has a strong work ethic, high standards. Loves her hubby and kids. She can also be controlling, perfectionist, and an absolute pain in the butt. 

Jules, on the other hand, knows how to have fun. She can relax, appreciate the moment, and enjoy life. She is also seldom seen these days- she is weak from years of too much seriousness. My coach calls me this, and it reminds me that the best friend from high school/college and the collegiate/masters rower is still alive. 

Thus the genesis of the name of this blog.  I want Julie to be Jules. And I want Jules to be Julie.