Confessional Vlog: November 28th

Mamavation Post: Friday, November 27th

Week Five is in the books and I survived Thanksgiving and an illness. Only two weeks left in this Mamavation campaign. The time has gone so fast; it just doesn’t seem possible that it all will be coming to an “official” close in a short amount of time. However, the lessons that I have learned and the changes in habits that occurred for me in the last month will last forever.

This week was extra tough to stay focused. I missed a few workouts and spent extra time resting. But, the more I rested, the more I wished I were more active. It was a terrible twist. Thanksgiving went okay at my mom’s. I kept to the plan of small portions with a kid-sized plate. I will be curious to see how Monday goes on the scale.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors for staying with us during this journey to personal health and positive state of mind. I can’t go a day without my Earth Footwear. I have become so accustomed to these shoes that I have a hard time wearing anything else. Everyone should try a pair of Earth Footwear to accelerate their calorie burning.

Thank you to EA SPORTS Active for the amazing workouts and support. Your programs are intense, but enjoyable at the same time. And, it keeps the children entertained watching me huff and puff in the living room!

Thank you to Smooth Fitness for the treadmill. Our interval running program on the treadmill is tough. But, the machine truly keeps me entertained the whole time. Plus, it reports my progress as I go and logs my profile. It’s as if it knows it me when I arrive. How cool is that.

Thank you to the amazing Mamavation team and sistahood. Not a day goes by that I am not appreciative of your gifts of time and talent.

As we close out the last few weeks, I challenge everyone to take a snapshot of the next month and focus on getting through the holidays in a healthy, active manner. Together, we will be here to support each other. I am living proof that this program can change lives.

Confessional Vlog: November 24th

November 21st Confessional Vlog

Mind over Mattress? Everything in Moderation?

Another week down – can you believe we have been doing this for a month together? A month! And all our hard work is starting to pay off.

Significant, noticeable changes are occurring inside and out. The biggest thing I am experiencing is an almost panic if I don’t get to exercise. My body is starting to crave the physical activity again. Finally! I have waited a very long time for these feelings to show up again! Thank you to the Mamavation team for helping bring them back. If it wasn’t for your encouragement, it wouldn’t be happening.

Also, thank you to our amazing sponsors that make this campaign possible. Thank you to Earth Footwear and to EA SPORTS Active. You have given me the strength and confidence to get moving in a forward direction. I will never forget the role you have played in my journey. Also, thank you to Smooth Fitness for your donation to my positive personal health with your amazing treadmill.

Two important phrases have been running circles in my mind this week. I will talk about each one individually.

The first one is, “Mind over Mattress.” If you go back and review my Bookieboo.com daily food and exercise logs, I have yet to get up and exercise in the mornings, which was a personal goal for the week. Why? Because of the darn “snooze” button. I have the same excuses as everyone. The baby is up half the night. I am up working late. I am sick and tired. Perhaps, my team of supporters can help me to be disciplined and clear-minded these last few weeks to fight the “Mind over Mattress” battle and get out of bed and get my exercise done in the morning. This will give me more time at night with my family. Who’s with me?

Second phrase is “Everything in Moderation.” Some would say this phrase is an untruth, especially when dieting. Others will rely on the phrase as a way to let you off the hook when you slip up now and then and grab a bit of the sweets. Is this the same thing as saying, “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” or “Don’t major in minor things?” I would like to hear more opinion on this topic because I did have a few food slips this week. Nothing that would create tidal waves, but also these slips were not listed on my nutrition plan by Dr. Renna.

For example, I had a small portion of a pumpkin bar at a holiday party. I had a craving and I went for it. Perfection is really hard to maintain. So, it seems that if you eat some things in moderation, you are less likely to fall off the wagon and end up binge eating.

We only have a few weeks of the official campaign together – but I know that this bond will last a lifetime. I hope each and every one of you have a weekend filled with quality time for yourself. Take a few moments to reflect on your goals for personal health and positive state of mind.

Confessional Vlog: Working out with @TraceyMallett

#Mamavation November 14 Confessional Vlog

@AlyssaBecthold Mamavation Post: We Can Do This!

As we bring week three of Mamavation to a close, I am so thankful for the new faces and changes that have entered my life. So many of you have become so important to me in such a short amount of time, that now I wonder how I ever lived without you.

Thank you to Earth Footwear for hanging out with me every waking hour of everyday. You have become a permanent fixture in my life and I count on you for constant reminders of my goal with every step I take.

Thank you to EA SPORTS Active for constantly kicking my butt into gear. I enjoy our time together, even though it is a bit of a love/hate relationship.

This week has been more of a mental challenge and that is where having a support system becomes so critical to success. You can follow the plan to the letter, do your workouts, eat right and sometimes your body goes through a stall for a few days. I am in a transition and my body is sensing it.

Some days I think I may not be eating quite enough food to keep my metabolism moving fast enough. Thankfully, I have an awesome Mamavation team that is keeping close track of my progress and helping me make adjustments along the way. I trust them completely. They are the experts.

I know what I am good at and I know where my weaknesses are. Surround yourself with strengths. That is a lesson I learned years ago as I was beginning my career. You will go further in life if you surround yourself with people you can learn from, they will move you forward.

To recap this week, it’s been a week of challenges and celebrations. The funeral of a close friend taken from us too soon. A birthday party for my little girl turning six-years-old. The circle of life.

And in the end, I realize this is our one and only chance to get this right. I am so proud to be here with each and every one of you.

As we begin our last month together in this Mamavation campaign, let’s vow to make it the best one yet!

We can do this together.

#Mamavation November 10 Confessional Vlog, featuring my Fit Friend Mariah!

#Mamavation November 7th Confessional Vlog

I'm alive...and well

This week, I started to take down the Halloween decorations from my house, I came across and flipped one of my calendars that was still stuck on “October”…stuck in the past. As I turned the calendar to November and glanced at the dates, my mind starting wandering to all the activities planned for this month. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was reflecting on Thanksgiving and my own personal blessings. While it is a few weeks too early to truly be a “Thanksgiving” post, it is never too early to do a little blessing counting Mamavation-style.

It goes without saying that hours turn to days and days turn to weeks and life gets so busy that before we know it, we’ve gone too long without thanking the people in our lives and giving credit where credit is due.

One thing I learned after undergoing a life-altering medical procedure a few months ago was to never wait to tell people how you feel about them. This year, I count Mamavation and the changes brought to my life among the top of the list.

The sponsors of Mamavation, Earth Footwear and EA SPORTS Active, have positively impacted my life tremendously in the last two weeks alone. So, thank you.

Thank you to the team of leaders behind Mamavation for taking on my countless questions. Thank you, thank you.

To the community of supporters cheering us on, counting on us and believing in us – what a difference you make in our daily lives. Thank you and please don’t go away. I only hope that one day you will call on us to repay the favor. I will be there for you, too.

But let’s get real before I close this post. This campaign is not a walk in the park. It’s tough to be exposed, to have our lives unfold in front of the world everyday. And the more honest you are, the tougher it is. But, we rise and fall as a team.

However, it is rewarding to learn and grow and change for the greater good. And that is what we are doing…together. I see it happening and I can feel it in my bones and I am most proud to have made it this far. Mamavation is about change and it is designed for success. The best IS yet to come. Let’s stay focused on the prize: personal health and positive state of mind!

I find inspiration and reflection in words and music. Perhaps that’s because I’m a writer by trade. Regardless, there is a popular country song out on the charts right now that kind of sums up how I feel about my life and I want to share the lyrics with you:

I’m Alive by Kenny Chesney
So damn easy to say that life's so hard
Everybody's got their share of battle scars
As for me I'd like to thank my lucky stars that
I'm alive and well

It'd be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you've sat and watch go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me... I'm alive

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I'm alive and well
I'm alive and well

Stars are dancin' on the water here tonight
It's good for the soul when there's not a soul in sight
This motor's caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I'm alive and well

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
Now I'm alive and well
Yeah I'm alive and well

#Mamavation November 3rd Confessional Vlog