Monkey See Monkey Do

Hi guys!
  Today I wanted to share with you the deep-seated reason of why I want to live a healthy lifestyle, no matter how challenging it might be (particularly in the kitchen!).

As a child, I loved being active. Growing up, I was involved in Tae Kwon Do, swimming, basketball, and dancing... not that I was exactly good at them. Ha.

But I loved being active. I really enjoyed weight lifting in high school as well.
I spend 1-2 hours in the morning working out and 2-3 hours of the night dancing.
There are times when I felt guilty for spending time away from my family.

But it's like what they say, a happy mom = a happy home = a happy family.
This momma needs her workouts and dance sessions :)

But the other day, I was reminded why I keep going, even if I do feel guilty at times.

When I work out, the kids are at home with me- either playing, napping, doing whatever it is my two little munchkins do.

I don't force them to exercise (at least not yet :P) but when they see me working out, they join me!
Well.. most of the time they do. Other times, they sit on the couch and cheer me on :)

But I absolutely love it when they join me, even if the living room space isn't large enough for the three of us to see the TV at the same time.

We jump, we sweat, we lift weights, we log our progress- they make my workouts fun and they are my workout partners! :)

With child obesity as an issue in the U.S., I really don't want my kids to be a part of that statistic.
In a CPR class that I had to take several months ago, my instructor said that, "back in the days", the depth compressions for an infant/child was 1-1.5" and adults are 2". Nowadays, it is 2" for children as well because of child obesity.

To live a healthy lifestyle is more than just about taking care of my body. It's so that my family can be healthy too. This is the reason, for the sake of my children's health, is why I pop in my workout DVD's or lift weights, or occasionally go to the gym. So they can see what I am doing to be healthy and follow along as they get older.

Cooling down in a lunge V-Sit with rowing

Melody and Jade tracking

 Excuse Melody's oversized pajamas haha :P


What about you guys? Other than the health benefits of eating healthy and exercising, are there any other reasons why you guys maintain or want a healthy lifestyle?
Share in the comments below! :)

April Ab Challenge Results!

Hi Everyone!
  I tried to post this before it was way too far along in May! (7 days isn't too far, is it?)

But I wanted to do a quick post before my day starts and won't get to share my before/after pics!
I see slight differences but it's nothing dramatic.
I did end up skipping some of the days because I didn't feel like doing them or I was just too busy.

But I didn't quit altogether and kept doing what I can to keep up.
Also, as hard as I have tried to eat clean at most and healthy at the very least, I failed miserably.
I'm sure, had I kept my eating under control, my results would have been better.

But here it is!
First picture was taken in the beginning of April.
The next one was taken in mid-April.
The last one was taken yesterday because I kept forgetting to take my pictures.. sorry!

 

 

My next challenge is a challenge I gave to myself- and you can most definitely join me in on this too, but I don't have  tangible workout system for you to use.

But seeing that I have a few workout DVDs from BeachBody, I figured I should at least complete the whole 90-120 days (instead of doing it for a couple weeks and calling it good).
I am on week 3 of Chalean extreme and week 2 of Turbo Fire.
We'll see how long I last :P
But I am tracking my progress, made a little calendar for me so I can see what workouts I'm doing ahead of time, and doing my best to eat keep my eating healthy.

Let's do this!
Huzzah for health!

P.S. If you have before/after pics, feel free to share!
Or you can share it with words- how great you feel, how slim your tummy got, etc.- pics aren't necessary and I would never use them for any reason at all!

How did you feel about it? Was it easy? Hard? Did you stay on track or miss some days like I did? Share your experience! :)

What Motherhood Has Taught Me

There are things that being a mom has taught me. Things that I wouldn't have learned otherwise, I feel.
These are 5 things out of many I have learned.

1. Enjoy the moment
    My head is always in the future. Whatever I am doing in the present is for the future. I hardly just "live" in the moment. My downtime is watching things on Netflix while daydreaming about the future or falling asleep.

But whether I am out dancing or staying in with my little girls, it's important to take a breath and enjoy what I am doing.

If you aren't enjoying the present, then how could you possibly enjoy the future? It's the journey, the process, the things you love doing, the people you love that makes it all worth it and I have to constantly remind myself of this.

So, enjoy the moment.

2. Smile and laugh
    Whether things are tough or going great, I have learned to always smile. Fake it til' you make it!
Even when I am upset, sometimes, I find myself laughing- perhaps because the situation is so ludicrous, but whatever the case, it makes me feel better.

Not only does it make me feel better, but I want to be able to show my kids that, even when things are tough, it doesn't have to mean your attitude has to be synonymous to the situation.

3. Plan ahead!
I'm going to have to thank my 8th grade AVID teacher for this. I forgot her name or what AVID even stands for anymore, but I learned how to be organized and manage my time wisely in that class. She wasn't joking when she said we would be able to use this stuff in college or as an adult.

But I love planning and organizing my life. Everything has a set schedule and I get through my things to do list 90% of the time. I set aside time for working out, dancing, cooking, errands, "educational" time with the kids, working, even naps! (No joke)

It helps me sleep at night, knowing exactly what I'm going to do tomorrow and I wake up looking forward to the things I need to get done... is that weird? haha

I never really used it outside of school. But now as a mom, it's something I do once a week.

4. Dream big, Go hard
Growing up, I think I was one of those people that were scared to set goals because I didn't want to be disappointed when I didn't achieve them. But here I am, dreaming big and doing what I can to make it happen.
I have a few set backs (something I plan on sharing with you all once I get the problems fixed), but I really know what I want for myself and for my kids (hopefully for the better).
It's a little tough sometimes- Working hard means sacrificing time with friends, putting money into a savings account instead of spending it, or even missing out on family get togethers on occasions.

But that's what it takes to train hard, work hard, study hard all the while being a mom and a wife.
In the end, real friends and family will be there when I reach my goals.. and keep pursuing goals.

5. Give
I always remind myself that my life isn't all that tough.
I have a body I can dance with, I have kids and a husband to share my heart with, I have my faith in Christ, I have a place to call home... you get the idea.
When I say give, I don't mean just in a monetary sense, but a piece of yourself, whether it's knowledge, philosophy, time, patience, wisdom.

I love sharing what I know about fitness. I'm at a novice level, but there are people who are unsure and have questions and I love sharing with them the knowledge that I know. I'm even considering taking it to the next level and become a personal trainer..but one thing at a time! I need to get my master's degree first :P

I learned that giving is more rewarding than simply taking. Sharing what you know about the world, sharing your happiness, sharing a piece of knowledge your are passionate about, is much more valuable than taking. Yes, be a student, because you can't not stop learning and continue your growth, but share as you carry on your journey- it's more memorable that way :)

These are the things I live to on a daily basis. These are the things that being a mom has taught me- what Jade and Melody has taught me<3

Grocery Shopping Do's and Don'ts

So, I feel like many of my friends would already know what I'm about to post.
But I have been in the dark about eating healthy for such a long time, I thought it would be nice to share what I have learned just in case ;)

My whole entire life, I have always eaten unhealthy food.
My mom cooked healthy food, of course, pertaining to our Korean culture: Rice and multiple side dishes ranging from various vegetables prepared differently, different sources of protein and sometimes soup.

Out of all my options, what did I eat? Rice and whatever meat I liked. Sometimes, I only ate my bowl of rice because I didn't like anything she made (I know, I was so ungrateful >.<)

I was very picky and never liked vegetables... I still don't.
I ate junkie snacks like Hot Cheetos and Pringles all the time, too.

In Middle School all the way through high school, it was pizza for lunch all day, everyday, 2-3 slices or the occasional fast food run when I got my car.
Yuck.

So, when I had kids, my world was filled with questions:
How do I protect them? When can I enroll them in extracurricular activities? How many diapers am I supposed to change a day?

WHAT DO I FEED THEM?!

Over the last few years, I have learned a few tricks.
Here are the 5 tips I use every time I go grocery shopping.

1. Avoid advertisements that read: LOW FAT! Reduced SUGAR! 100% NATURAL!
Chances are, there are other "hidden" processed ingredients to make up for it or to sell the product.
And yes, even the 100% Natural advertisements are probably not so natural.
Not healthy.
To see if it's natural, check the ingredient label, which leads me to number two.

2. Ingredients to look out for:
I'm not a nutritionist and nor am I a die hard eat clean guru.
But through my journey of eating healthy, I have learned to avoid certain foods that contain these ingredients:

High Fructose Corn Syrup (any type of added fructose, actually)
Maltodextrin
Dextrose
Dextrin
Enriched bleached flour
Aspartame
Sucrose
artificial flavoring/sweeteners
a note that says "used as preservative"
dyes for food coloring

I tried to think up as many as I can ^^"
When I looked at the food in my pantry and fridge, I was shocked to see so many of these ingredients in the food I eat daily.
Needless to say, I tried to finish whatever was in my fridge so I can buy cleaner versions of them (because we don't waste food here! Haha).
Definitely a little more expensive, but my body...our bodies, deserve the best!

3. An ingredient list tidbit:
   a. When looking at the list of ingredients, if it is filled with words you're not sure of, stay clear!
I mean, referring to my number two, what is maltodextrin? What in the world is aspartame?
Yeah... No thanks (for the record, in simple terms, they are man made form of sugar and your body doesn't need that much sugar.. that's why sweets are at the top of the pyramid!)
   b. When an ingredient list is long, avoid it. It is probably filled with unnecessary, processed things.
A general rule of thumb I use is, if it has more than 5 ingredients, don't use it.
BUT, there are healthy, packaged foods out there that have more than five.

I was looking up a recipe, and the author posted a picture of the ingredients label of a pasta sauce she was using. It was fairly long, perhaps 10 were listed, but they were all words and foods I knew.
It contained things like... I don't know.. pureed tomatoes, pureed garlic, salt, pepper...you get the idea.
All real ingredients.

4. Shop on the OUTSIDE edge of the grocery store
You have your produce, meat, dairy, and grains like bread (sometimes) on the edges of the store.
Have you ever walked inside a grocery store and have the vegetables and fruits in the center of the store?
I haven't...

But whatever the case, the realest, cleanest foods are on the outside.
Packaged, processed foods are on the inside on shelves.

5. When buying grain/pasta, opt for whole grain:
I personally do not think there is anything "bad" about white grains/wheat/pasta/whatever.. haha

My opinion on white grains is that it isn't bad but it's hardly nutritional. Whole wheat on the other hand, is nutritional.
Now, I don't know if the number of calories are the same between white and brown rice/wheat/grain, but let's say a cup of each is both 50 calories. Wouldn't you eat the same amount of calories with more nutritional value than the one without? I sure would. But I love my white rice, I don't eat rice that often, but when I do, you can bet it's white.

Eating clean was a difficult transition for me.
When I was doing my research, I was bombarded with information and I didn't know what to do with all of it.

I like to keep things simple and I took bit and pieces of information that I believed I can do and have written it down.

As I have started this journey, I have learned to remember which brands of snacks, meats like bacon, pasta, etc, I liked and which to avoid, and some, I'm still exploring and learning.

I hope this was helpful!
Remember to take it one step at a time and be patient!
Exercising is important but fueling and nourishing your body with good, healthy food is even more important!

As always, thanks for reading!! Keep warm! Here in CO, there's snow!
   Yeon :)

P.S. How is everyone doing on the ab and thigh challenges!! I have definitely missed a few days, I'm human too and mess up! But it's ok! I just gotta keep going! :)

Benefits of Challenges!

 

 

Hey guys! 
    I am about 10-15 pounds away from my goal weight now.
I often think about what is going to happen when I reach my goal weight.
Do I stop? Do I keep up the same regimen? Do I push harder?
What happens?

Most people go on an up-and-down trend.
They reach their goal weight and think, "Hey! I'm here! 20 pounds gone! I'm free!"
And they will live life as they have before: lack of exercise and healthy eating.

They will gain some weight back and before they know it, they are making the necessary changes to restart their journey. Sounds cumbersome. Why even bother in the first place?

What can you do to prevent your relapse?

Set personal challenges!

Whether it's running a marathon, doing a monthly challenge, weight loss challenge, entering a bikini competition, whatever it might be, refocus your goals!

There are few options to prevent a relapse but my focus for this post is setting challenges for yourself.

And it doesn't have to be for people who have reached their goals, anyone can set a goal, whether it is for fun or to trump a plateau.

It can be set as long term or short term. I know some people who have started training for a marathon a year ago and others who are starting to train now. People have different regimens and different goals, and they are also at different stages.

The benefits?
You won't relapse, you'll be improving yourself, and most importantly, you will remain healthy!
It is also rewarding and fun! :)

Just for fun, here is an April Ab Challenge! This was found on a facebook page I am involved with: No Excuse Moms
(keep in mind though, you can't spot reduce! ^.~)


(Save picture as on you computer for a bigger, readable calendar)

This is a 30 day thigh challenge calendar that I found :)
Another area I would like to work on.


Happy challenges guys! Remember, being healthy is a lifestyle! ;)
Keep at it!

How to be a Super Mom

Among our daily lives, there are Super Moms everywhere. You just don't see them because we dress like ordinary people. There are some Super Moms in training out there, and I thought it'd be nice to give a little advice.

Here are 5 tips:

1. Don't sleep.
    There are only so many hours in a day (24 to be exact). You have to spend time with your kids, keep up with the laundry (washing, drying, folding, putting it away), cook breakfast, lunch, dinner, do the dishes, put them away, and clean your home (including but not limited to vacuuming, dusting, picking up toys, scrubbing the toilet and bathtubs and cleaning the windows).
  If your kiddos are younger, you gotta feed them every few hours and change their diapers often and if they are older, there's the whole aspect of helping them with their homework, possibly giving them a workbook for them to do, being their chauffer taking them to the park, swimming lessons, play dates, and the sorts.

If you are sleeping, you can't possibly do all that. So, no sleeping.

2. Pick a super power.
    Some moms opt for multiple arms. They are cooking while they are folding the laundry. Or they are picking up toys while helping their kiddos with homework. Some of them do all four at the same time. Way to make good use of your extra arms!
   Other moms choose the power be at two (or more) different places at once. They are at the grocery store shopping, at the bank making a deposit, at school dropping their little ones off at school, and some manage to get their hair done as well and have enough time to come home to prepare an after school snack and dinner.
   You can definitely pick more than one super power, but remember, with great power, comes great responsibility. Having too many powers at once can and will drain your energy!

3. Be the family file cabinet
    I don't mean be a push over and take crap from people. But as a Super Mom, people will start dumping to do lists and stories all day and night.
   Your kids will cry, babble, giggle or if they are older, they will ask questions you don't know the answer to, tell endless stories about what happened at school, and will constantly beg you for something you possibly cannot retrieve.
  Your husband will ask questions he already knows the answers to, he will vent his anger and sadness or tell funny stories about what happened at work. You will have to listen, and let it all pile up and you will have to remember. Why?
Because you are Super Mom and you keep track of everything: Birthdays, errands, anniversaries, important meetings, conferences, appointments, things-to-do-lists, things your kids will need (like school supplies, things your husband will need (like more socks or ties), phone calls you will have to make.. the list is endless.

You might be thinking, "But isn't that what calendars and memo notebooks are for?"
 Yes, it is. But here is the catch. Only Super Moms can see it. You can hang it on the fridge or the living room wall. Your husband and your kids will not see it. They will come to you.

So, please use this special gadget to help you.

4. Speaking of gadgets...
There are a few special gadgets you should always have in hand.

- Magic kisses. Thankfully, once you become a Super Mom, the supply is endless. Simply kiss your child when they are sad, and it'll make them feel better. It will heal all physical and emotional wounds.

- A second pair of eyes. This comes with a little training. But before you know it, you will be able to know where your child is, even if you're not looking at him directly.

- The Look. This too, comes with practice. But it will come in handy when your little one is being strayed from the good side. Simply, give her the Look, and she will back away from the dark side and rejoin you.

- The Magic Bag. This, you must carry with you everywhere you go! It's like Batman's utility belt but we as Super Moms have much more responsibilities and hence, need a bag to carry all our gadgets with.
This may or may not include: Bandages, Neosporin, wipes, diapers, milk, snacks, water, small toys, extra clothes, blankets, jackets, hand sanitizer, and many other things (or less).

5. I saved the most important for last: Love and Faith
Super Moms don't sleep. We are beckoned at every call by our husbands, kids, parents, siblings, bosses, co-workers, and friends. Our minds are filled with past memories (good and bad) and the future, yet we are surviving and living in the present. At the end of the day, what gets us through all trials and tribulations is love.

Sometimes, you will be weary. You will want to run and hide. But you don't. And it's because you are surrounded by love and exude love.

Faith in knowing that God is there, that you are not alone, will keep you in touch with Love and you can get through almost anything.

Cheers to us and soon-to-be Super Moms!

Switch It Up!

Ever since I've started waking up early, I've attempted to work out every morning.
Sometimes, it didn't happen.
When it did happen, I always opted for cardio.
Well, I have workout ADD. I always have to switch it up or I get bored so fast, I'm jumping off the healthy band wagon and never getting back on again for a month or two.

This past week, I lifted weights in the morning.
For now, I absolutely LOVE it. I haven't lifted weights in awhile- it's a love/hate thing.
I love how I feel during and after, I love muscles, I love the challenge. But I hate the counting...
I know, it's such a frivolous reason to hate.

There I am, breathing hard, huffin' and puffin', and all I'm thinking is, "Onnneee..... Twoooo......."
It's mindless...and boring....

It doesn't matter if I'm listening to some pumped up music or in silence or whatever, I hate counting.

Anyway, enough with the hate, because I'm loving it at the moment.

I've also decided to do some HIIT or tabata work outs during my cardio days.... if it happens at all..

I'm always doing one or the other- I'm either really good with keeping up with my weight training or I'm really good with staying on track with cardio.
For some reason, I am never able to do both.

But I'm going to try my hardest this week to switch up and keep them both consistent.

That means knowing what my options are since I can't seem to do the same things for more than 3-4 weeks.

Cardio:
toprocks
footwork
jump rope
HIIT
tabata
workout dvvds (Turbo Fire)

Weight Training:
Dumbbells
calisthenics

Hm... seems like my weight training options are a little short. I should look more into weight training options. I do have some resistant bands, but so far, all the workouts I've seen or tried haven't been appealing to me so they are just sitting in a box.

When I get bored of my regimen I always try and find a way to mix it up or spark my motivation again.

- I spend time on my pinterest looking up fun and interesting workouts
- I look up amazing dancers on youtube because the strength (among many other things like flexibility and balance) always puts me in awe and inspires/motivates me to keep going
- Heck, I look up workouts on youtube
- I look through my little notebook of previous HIIT workouts and see if I want to re-do any of them and improve my score (drawback: I don't always track my reps because... you guessed it! I hate counting!)
- If you are a member at a gym, try a group class! When I was a 24 hour fitness member, that's all I ever did and it was A LOT of fun! Plus, they have many different classes at different times so it was awesome! I miss it.... :(
- going back to the basics: This is a new one for me, I tried it yesterday just for fun and to see how I feel about it. I did the most basic, most simplest exercises in a HIIT format, maybe you'd like to try-
    Three exercises:
      1.  knee push ups (yep, that basic)
      2. crunches
      3. reverse crunches
12 rounds. 30 sec work, 10 sec rest. A total of 4 rounds. You don't have to do what I did, you can put your own favorite exercises in place of mine.
I was dripping in sweat and I loved it! I will be trying this again, with different exercises of course (or the same).

What do you like to do to stay on track with your workouts? Do you get bored as easily as I do? Or are you pretty good about doing what you gotta do? :)
Share some of your favorite workout regimens!