Don't buy the snake oil!

2015 is less than a week away, which means a number of people are beginning to research the best ways to reach their health and fitness goals; All the while knee deep in continued holiday celebrations which include over eating, over drinking, over extending, and missing key workouts. Don't feel guilty...enjoy it, tis the season. But while you research please know: it is hard work that will bring you success for those desired goals.  

We don't have cable so I am not familiar with the present day advertisements, but I can confidently predict that they are preying on your wish to reach your goals quickly and easily. Heads up, it is total bull hockey (that means bullshit). There is not a 'supplement' that can specifically target upper thighs... There is not a single exercise routine that will ONLY flatten your tummy....There is no truth to dropping 10 pounds of fat in a week (discounting lipo). Do not be duped. Save your money. 

You certainly CAN reach your goals. It will take discipline, motivation, and hard work. 

To ensure you are successful, make adjustments/changes to your routine gradually. Going in full speed will likely burn you out before you can see progress. Slow and steady to start. You will gain momentum as your tweaks become habit. 

How:

Find an activity/exercise you enjoy doing, and schedule it into your planner. You are now accountable if you have it marked down in your calendar. For the first bit, schedule a few short time slots/week. As the weeks pass, block more time on more days (a popular routine is 3 days on, 1 day rest). 

As you get comfortable with the exercise, up the intensity (add more time/add more weights/add more repetitions). 

Add water. Set a goal of 2 litres daily, but reach this by increasing consumption weekly. 250 mls each day week 1, 500 mls daily week 2, and so on. 

Remove the junk. To get to 'clean' eating, slowly cull the crap that is derailing your healthy eating. If you enjoy a glass (or more) of wine nightly, decrease your serving size, and make it every other night, until you can make it a once in awhile indulgence. The same goes for the piece of chocolate, cookies, chips...

Get more sleep. Late night eating can often add calories to what has been a successful day of eating. Going to bed early will not only stop you from munching while watching tv, it will recharge your body. A tired body craves unhealthy foods. 

Finally, stay connected with Jo:Moma....2015 has more in store for all you lovelies. 

Stay happy and healthy 

www.jomoma.ca 

Mirror Mirror....

Imagine. 

Imagine being the fairest in all the land and your own mirror tells you this day in and day out. Your own personal groupie. 

I am going to be honest...I do not own such a mirror. And if I did, I likely wouldn't believe it since I have been programmed by the advertising world to see all my faults. 

Almost every morning I glance at my 'out-of-bed' reflexion (on route to pee) and think "really?! This is how I look?...wow". To be clear, I am not blown away by the beauty that is my image, but rather amazed that my own looks don't raise the children from their slumber immediately. 

It doesn't end there. Every washroom break, shower, and changing of my clothes, has me criticizing  my being. I see the unmanaged locks. I see the pores. I see the crows feet and the unsymmetrical aging of my left side and right side. I see the cellulite on my rear end and spreading to the back of my legs (this takes particular effort, since I have to get a mirror to view my backside). I see my thin eyebrows (passed down from my mom), my aging mouth, my lack of a six pack, and my nothing breasts (I don't want big breasts...but perky, round, and ...perky). I see it all. I look for it. I have been programmed to dislike my physical self. 

And then it dawns on me. I look back at photos of yesteryear....and I don't see what I loathed about myself back then. I can't help but wonder how much joy I have stolen from myself being concerned about bullshit. Stuff that doesn't matter when the years have passed. The little stuff. The lines creasing from my eyes as a photo captures my laugh in a single moment of time. A laugh. Not a before shot of plastic surgery. A laugh. 

I have enough things taken from me, without me hijacking my own happiness by fixating on stuff that only I see, or better yet, stuff I have been brainwashed to see. 

Mirror mirror on the wall...Shut up. I have LIFE to live. 

Stay happy and healthy

www.jomoma.ca. 

Easy...not if it is worth it.

I speak from experience. The good stuff, the stuff you hold in your heart and the stuff you feel pride in...didn't come easy. 

That mountain you had to climb, that ocean you had to cross...it took work. It took determination, guts, and energy you didn't think you had. But when you got there, it was the greatest accomplishment. 

We live in a 'fast food' society. We want and we expect instant gratification. After one day of clean eating and a sweaty workout, I expect my reflection in the mirror to be that of an Angel crafted by Victoria herself. We secure a position in the work place and fully anticipate that our talents will be identified immediately and we will be promoted instantaneously. We have love interests that disappoint us when they have not displayed the most romantic gesture. We have a insatiable void. We want instant gratification. 

Newsflash: it ain't guna happen. 

If you were not already aware, the good stuff, the stuff fishing stories, movies, books, and LIVES are made of.... Take work. Blood, sweat, and tears. 

I am sorry... But it is true. 

Are you happy? Why? Why not? What are you willing to do to get there or maintain it?  

If it were handed to you on a silver platter would it be as precious? If you had to make some tough decisions, reschedule your time, shuffle your finances, give up some comforts to attain something new, something better, something hard... Would it feel like an accomplishment worth celebrating when you achieved it?

. 

DAMN RIGHT IT WOULD. 

I don't know what you want. Only you do. As far as I know, we only get one kick at the can. 

Kick. 

Hard. 

Tell your fishing story. 

Stay happy and healthy 

www.jomoma.ca

Groundhog Day

No this isn't a late/early February post. I am stuck in a rut. Not a routine that warrants mimicking or envy...a brutal effn rut. Yep, I said effn. 

Look, I know.  I have posted and created memes that have promoted the notion: "if you want something to change, then you must make a change...". I guess I was just hoping I would somehow be discovered. I was hopeful the right somebody would have seen my new business venture and promote the hell out of me. Success. Wealth. Notoriety.... You know, the whole bit. Welllllll, to date that hasn't happened. I am shocked too! (Ok...maybe not shocked, but perhaps a little bummed).  

I have not been living under a rock. I know that save for a few overnight successes, and lottery winners, what I want to achieve takes work. In fact, the word achieve would suggest that there was effort involved. And yet I am in a rut. Every night, when I snuggle into bed (usually a bed vacated by one of the kids who has taken up hibernation in my bed), I plan. I pep talk. I visualize the day I want to have tomorrow, and the person I want to be. And then I wake up...typically minutes before my alarm is set to go off and I am already not going to meet my goals. Wtf. If I was working for anybody but myself, I would be the employee of the year. I would have all tasks completed before the boss had finished their 1st coffee and I would be blazing trails to impress and promote my colleagues and management. So why do I let myself down?

I have been telling myself that the past 15 years I have burnt the candle at both ends and now my reserves are depleted. I have told myself I deserve to do nothing. I deserve not being responsible to someone else. But I know it is a lie. I have 4 kids. I have a spouse. I have a mortgage...bills...I am far from a position of not being responsible.  Now is the time. Now more than ever, it is me that needs to shine. I need to promote me.  

Not waiting for tonight's self pillow talk. 

Actions speak louder than words. So here it is. In words: watch me. Watch out world. I have lit a fire that will destroy this rut.

Stay happy and healthy

www.jomoma.ca

Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans

My four year old, soon to be five, has declared she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. Her announcement reminded me of myself. Likely at the same age (4), I too wanted to be a vet. Fast forward 36 years and guess what? I am not a veterinarian. I am not a sportscaster, a surgeon, a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, a supermodel, a peace corps member, a pilot, or a fishing resort operator. I have not travelled the world, rubbed elbows with the rich and famous, taken ballroom dancing, go-go danced, driven a race car, climbed a mountain, written a book, or dined at the best restaurants in the world. I have never been romantically proposed to, whisked off on a date that requires a distance to travel, won a worldwide recognized award, or been on a cover of a magazine. I have made 'plans' and have not fulfilled them. 

In the meantime, I have attended 4 Universities, in two different countries and two different provinces. I have worked in a hospital, a restaurant, a bar, a resort, an insurance company, a police service and home. I have been married twice. I have given birth to 4 children. I have designed a home that was custom built. I have learned to tourniquet stab/bullet wounds, hold a child who has lost a parent and hold a parent who has lost a child. I have grown my heart, shaved my head, worn a bathing suit in the snow, mended a family pet, done 15 loads of laundry in a day, made friends who live across the globe, coached my children, and taken pictures of them when they have won awards at their school. I have juggled household finances, camped with 4 children and 2 dogs. Danced in the kitchen in my underwear, and eaten 'cookies' the children have made. I am loved. I know love. Nothing I actually planned. And nothing I would change for any of the plans I made. 

I still make plans with the knowledge that something better will replace those plans as I continue in this crazy thing called life. 

Life, the good stuff, is what happens when you are busy making other plans. 

Stay happy and healthy

www.jomoma.ca 

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger....

Today I officially hate that saying. I can't help but wonder if it should be changed to 'what doesn't kill you today will catch up with you in the future'. 

So we just finished thanksgiving... Which is somewhat ridiculous, since I think the origin of Thanksgiving is fairly awful, and now it has been changed to be whatever a household deems to be 'Thanksgiving' (be it general thankfulness,... religion based,... military acknowledgement, etc). But if I adopt the idea it is a holiday to take stock in what I am thankful for, I know I can come up with a list to be envied. However, I seem to be keeping track of the stuff that may very well kill me (yes, I am being a bit dramatic but that is a writer's privilege). 

Today I sat across from my main squeeze and we looked down the barrel facing us. We are behind on all bills. We have a mortgage payment due in 2 days that we are no where close to covering. We are maxed out on credit cards and lines of credit. We are up the creek without a paddle (or a raft). I would rent the children out to China but they are already too big and too lazy to be of assistance, and I would pimp out my main squeeze accept that I'm fairly certain that is still not lawful (and he may be too enthusiastic). I am told it is these moments that make you appreciate everything when you do finally attain it. Unfortunately when your raft is sinking it is hard to smile and nod with the 'encouragement' of those that mean well, but have both paddles. I have been the face of this household dealing with overdue bills etc. I have been the one to have to answer the phone calls regarding missed/passed payments. I have been the one juggling finances. And now my balls are about to hit the floor. 

It is not lost on me that I have caused this. I chose to leave a job that covered our expenses. I encouraged my better half to do the same. At the starting line, entrepreneurship looked sexy....but a few hurdles in and it has me winded. 

So what to do!? Don't stop I guess. The steady pay job was killing me.  It was killing our family. It may have paid the bills but it didn't tuck my kids into bed every night.  It didn't sit in the stands to watch my babies play sports. It didn't snuggle on the couch with the love of my life. It didn't afford me the opportunity to try my hand at what I am passionate about nor test my bravery to this extent (which is saying a lot given my past job was one where I wore a vest and carried a gun..). I will keep going. I will keep my passion ignited and my chin up. The other option doesn't appear to have a happy ending. 

So, I take back my initial statement. It does make me stronger. It is my workout for the time being. 

Stay happy and healthy

www.jomoma.ca

So this happened. I turned 40.

There has been sooooo much hype leading up to this birthday. Every other blogger has poured out their hearts and lessons learned that have paved the way to big 4-0. I even did my share of thankfulness and soul searching posts. 

I have to admit, the moment my friends of the 1974 era began to have THE birthday I was already considering myself a 40 year old. So when the big day came this weekend it wasn't a difficult declaration : I AM 40! 

40 is a club. I swear. I have never been welcomed into my teens, my 20's, or my 30's with a 'welcome to the club!'  So now I am a bit panicked. I was previously unaware that there was a club. Are there fees? A secret handshake? Levels to be promoted to? 

Based on my celebratory girls weekend (are we even allowed to be called girls anymore?) I will tell you what 40 is:

40 is being able to wear whatever the heck you want...you have a confidence and a delusion that you are still rockin. 

40 is drinking champagne in a bathtub with your girlfriends, because you are thirsty and a queen of multitasking. 

40 is knowing which credit cards placed on a bar top (not belonging to you) will be able to fund your night out. 

40 is having zero game in a club (24 year old approaches and I announce my children are nearly his age)...

40 is ordering a Manhattan and knowing which vermouth was used. 

40 is knowing that a pair of shoes will make or break your night. 

40 is having a bedtime plan to ensure tomorrow doesn't hurt as much. 

40 is getting a cold/sinus infection after a weekend of late nights. 

40 is knowing who your friends are, the benefit of a great smile, the value of a good cup of coffee, and the knowledge that the next decade will outshine all those preceding it. 

So, to those in the club: thanks for letting me join. I'm ready. 

Stay happy & healthy (get sleep...)

www.jomoma.ca

The little things will make the biggest impact

It is the little things that will make the biggest difference. Let's take Valentines Day for example. On Vday you get the big bouquet of flowers. It truly is lovely, but it is somewhat expected. Now take for example, a random Tuesday in the fall. You get a single flower. WOW. Not expected. It was little...but the impression/impact was big. 

We expect long hours in the gym, eating low calorie/low fat meals, and burning our reserves (staying busy 24/7), will equate to a body of our choice.  We expect a big pay off for huge workouts, little meals, and strict adherence. I will tell you what you will absolutely get: BURNT OUT! It takes a special kind of crazy to keep up with the gruelling workouts and the small meals. It can turn you into an antisocial....bi#£!  You will miss family and friend events. You will stop eating socially because your 'diet' is not on the menu, or anything your mother inlaw has heard of. You will get up early and/or stay up late to get your cardio in. This hardcore approach will result in a tired, cranky, hungrier you. Enjoying that body yet?! 

Make a little change.  Make changes that will have a HUGE impact without making you obsessive compulsive. Drink more water. It improves your metabolism and rids the body of toxins. Get more sleep. It is safe to bet that sleep is in short commodity. A minimum of 8 hours is required by your body to function properly. Eat food you could grow in your garden (if of course you had the luxury of time and a garden) or food that would eat from your garden (think chickens, cows...not raccoons or skunks...). Pass on the cocktail hour (this may seem antisocial, but I am referring to the daily vino once you put the kids to bed...or wake them up in the morning). These little things will make a big difference in your quest for a healthy bod and they won't make you crazy(er). 

Add a small change slowly. It will become habit and it will add up to a bouquet of simple flowers you gave to yourself. 

Stay happy&healthy 

www.jomoma.ca

Workout for What (sing it like 'Turn down for What')

So I am confessing. Or better yet, making an announcement that I hope holds me accountable. I AM WORKING OUT FOR HEALTH. 

D'uh right?! Before you roll your eyes, read why this is a huge announcement. I have been 'active' since I can remember. Played on every team I could.  All of my waking hours, until recently, had a fitness goal. Being a Highschool and University athlete, my time was spent in the gym. Practicing.  Honing skills.  Putting in the reps to be a better performer on the court. I didn't question it. I didn't make my schedule or determine what I needed to do. I just showed up. The result was a healthy and fit body (minus the periodic injury). Then later, fitness was career oriented. It was necessary that I be in top fighting form...literally, or myself and my colleagues could get hurt, or worse: may not come home. So again, hitting the gym or the track was a necessity. 

Well...now I am self employed. I am not on any team. My time table has opened right up and yet I find I am possibly in the worst shape of my life. The irony is not lost on me (I am in the health and fitness industry...). I train individuals who have fitness goals : strength training, endurance, flexibility ..., goals I insist they identify. I was training these incredible warriors and I myself, did not have a fitness goal.  I was that parent who shouts "Do as I say not as I do". Eeee Gawd. 

Well, here it is: I am working out for health. It is an extremely vague goal, except that I have taken my measurements, determined a healthy body fat % (one that allows me to be lean and still have a period). I have vowed that I will not be depressed or motivated by a reflexion that doesn't meet a magazine cover standard. I am not training for a race or a position on a team. I am training for life. This is possibly the hardest thing and most important. I am accountable to me.  Only me. Except that if I am not my healthiest I am gipping those that love me. 

I am scheduling 'practices' and 'gym' times for yours truly. I will not double book 'my' time, with kid's activities, appointments, or work. I am working out for health. I am working out for me...for the first time in my life. 

Join me! 

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca 

Picture this

So unless you are living under a rock somewhere (and if you are WAY TO GO!), you are aware of the media's misrepresentation of women's bodies. The photoshop mishaps, re shaping, digital plastic surgery, removal of pores, and so on. It has become laughable, except that we (women) continue to hold ourselves to an unrealistic ideal. We love the before and after photos. It gives us a sense of hope and is the push to purchase a product promising, well...Let's face it, lies. 

I decided that I would strip down to almost nothing to provide a 'before' and 'after' photo for you lovely Jo:Moma followers. The catch: the photos will be taken within minutes of each other. I will change the lighting, my posture, and camera angle to make a point.  The point being: it is ALL a bunch of horse sh!t. We can convince ourselves we are far from the ideal. We can focus on the negative. The cellulite, the extra weight, the softness of our bodies. OR we can shift our perspective. We can see ourselves from a different angle. One that highlights the strength in our body, the curves that make us feminine, and the sheer incredible beauty that is our vehicle to enjoy life. 

I am scared. I don't want to take a picture, let alone share a picture that shows what I am programmed to recognize as unattractive. And because it terrifies me, I will do it for YOU. I will get uncomfortable so that we can all appreciate ourselves a little bit more. 

So, here goes everything (because nothing doesn't seem fitting)....

Done.

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca

And the AWARD goes to......

Do you have somebody in your life that is responsible for pumping your tires? I am not referring to your car/bike, I am talking about your self esteem. 

I have had two people who have held this position in my life. The first was my Mom. She and I would talk for hours, feet tucked under our legs, sitting on the couch, and she would listen. Really listen. Not wait for a break in my emotional tangents to start to talk about herself or anything else. She was there: hurting, laughing, cheering, right along side me. She gave me much needed perspective (when asked), and made me feel special.  I needed her. I needed that. Fast forward a couple decades and I have a full-time tire inflator sharing my everyday with me. My best friend.  My heart. My hubby. True story. He is better than I deserve and he has taken the reigns from my mom and steers my zig-zagging esteem safely to a pasture where I feel safe, important, and loved (daily). I think it must be exhausting repeating the same message to me. I know that what others think of me, or what compliments I receive from others should not matter (wisdom from my mom and my man). I know, (really I do!), that true happiness is loving myself. Being happy in my own skin. Not allowing others to dictate my self worth. I know this. Yet... I have my own personal maintenance man to keep my tires balanced. 

This weeks pity party for yours truly, involved 'lack of success'. I was sharing my past awards/recognitions/commendations with my main squeeze and had said:  "I am a failure. I used to be the top dog...I used to be the cream of the crop...I used to get awards, and now I am somebody who is not pulling their weight in the household...I am nothing. I used to be something...." .  And this is when my Knight in clean underwear swooped in to inform me: "You are self-employed. Who is going to acknowledge your greatness? Give yourself an award!"  He was partially kidding.  But his message was not lost on me. I am not in an environment that strokes my ego. I live in a home with children and pets. I am the one who takes care of schmidt...literally. There is no award for making beds, doing dishes, folding laundry, cutting grass! I know this because I do not reward anybody in this household for doing what needs to be done. As for my job...which is really 10 months old and created in the dark corners of my imagination and the dark hours of the night, I am IT. I am the president, CEO, accountant, warehouse manager, administrative assistant, organizer, scheduler, marketer and more. There is nobody else. Just me. And in ten months I have not grown my business into a Fortune 500 company so I am a bit bummed. Perhaps my goals are somewhat lofty, but that is how I roll. So, I am going to start doling out awards for the varying positions in my organization. I am going to start giving accreditations that I create and deem necessary to have a position in a future thriving, international business. 

The first annual award for "Best new business on a shoestring budget" goes to ME. Sole proprietor of Jo:Moma is pleased to accept this award. Thank you to everybody who has followed, joined the family, critiqued, purchased a product and/or service, and has supported by making the name Jo:Moma bigger than the 6 people who live in the Jo:Moma headquarters. Thank you to the tireless effort of the president, manager, trainer, and well everyone on the Jo:Moma staff. And mostly thank you to my tire inflators. Without you, the ride is much less comfortable and much slower. 

 

Stay happy & healthy

Jo:Moma 

www.jomoma.ca. 

Train wrecks and fitness models.

Okay, so frequently I just blog. You get subjected to whatever the he## my fingers type. It ought to be health and fitness minded, but frequently it is just my mind throwing up. I would apologize but let's be serious: if you have been following along it is not because of the grey matter, it is more because it is akin to watching a slow motion train wreck. You are welcome. 

Anywho, just to relate to my actual mission: health and fitness, this weeks spew will actually be about, well....health and fitness. Sort of. Maybe. I may get derailed. 

I say it over and over, in either a meme or a photo, or a small post: THERE ARE 100 WAYS TO SKIN A CAT. What I am saying, is that there are a multitude of ways to meet your health and fitness goals. You can go hardcore Crossfit with a Paleo diet, you can get your Namaste on in Yoga and eat vegan. You can run marathons and be an intuitive eater.... So on and so on. ALL will help you reach your goal, in so much as your goal is one of a fit and lean body type. I should apologize now, I have yet to post or provide any information on Sumo wrestling and that appropriate diet. If there is a need...drop me a line. 

Here is the scoop: I am trying to help YOU reach your goal. I am providing a variety of tips and tricks, challenges, ideals, workouts and more; in the hopes that something appeals to you and helps you.  Seriously.  I want to help. 

Am I a fitness model? Ummm...Nope. Have I graced the covers of any fitness magazines or even appeared as a back page reference? Nope again. So how is it that I can possibly help you attain your goals? Try me. 

Look, I am a mother of 4, a previous shift worker, on marriage number 2 (final one too...), 5 weeks away from turning 40, a commercial away from a complete self-esteem break down.... I think I am as real as they get. I am subjected to the demands of children, appointments, extra curricular events, mortgage payments, media, and the fading of my youth (ok fine! Youth is gone!). I understand what most women want to attain in the realm of health and fitness a and the likely hurdles. I want to help. 

I want to help women recognize that they are beautiful. That there is not a perfect mold. We are all different. 

I want to help women be strong. I am not talking Olympic power lifting (although I can help), I am refering to building muscles that move us in our daily activities. 

I want to help women realize that putting themselves first is not selfish, but rather very giving. Taking care of yourself ensures you are in the best shape to take care of others. 

I want to help women design programs that suit them. Each and everyone of us has different time constraints and budgets. I can help. 

Well...look at that.  I sort of stayed on track. I cannot offer a magic pill, a miracle workout routine, or access to the fountain of youth. I can, however, share what I have learned. What I know to be valuable and effective. Help me help you (I have always wanted to quote Jerry McGuire). 

Train is leaving the station, until next week. 

Stay happy and healthy 

www.jomoma.ca 

Confessions...80/20

No, this isn't a full confessional...there are some things better left with the skeletons. However, I will confess I do not do EVERYTHING I suggest for exercise, fuel, and sleep all of the time.  I HAVE done everything but I do not do all of it at the same time. Why!? Well, because I am human. There, I said it. Contrary to the beliefs of my children, I am not a Monster, Witch (well, maybe a lil), or Robot. There are things I enjoy that do not always fit into the 'best practices' for the healthiest and fittest lifestyles. 

I put cream in my coffee. Yep, true story. I have been a fan of the bulletproof coffee where I take advantage of medium chain triglycerides vs. cream, but it takes work; and when 4 kids want breakfast, I opt for the quick coffee with cream. Drinking it black could be a better choice, but I am not interested in better in the wee hours. 

I do not always get my 8+ hours of shut eye. I stay up late sometimes. I enjoy the stillness and the quiet of the house when all children and pets are put to bed. I may be exhausted, but the peace and mental recharge I receive when awake in solitude is heavenly. 

I enjoy cocktail hour. Yep, alcohol is a sure fire way to derail healthy eating. But sharing a glass of wine (read couple of bottles) with friends is AWESOME. It is that grown-up self indulgence that I truly appreciate. 

I skip workouts. Exercise ought not be punishment. On days that it feels like it is going to be a chore, I 'Just DOnt It'. I keep my yoga pants on to hoodwink my psyche, but I don't visit my home based fitness studio. 

I forget to drink 2 litres of water a day. I have never been a 'thirsty' person, so drinking water takes effort. Unless I am badgering others to chug back the magical elixir, I tend to walk the line of dehydration. 

I skip breakfast, unless my main squeeze makes it for me. 

 

I have some pantry/fridge items that are GMO, or contain, sugar and soy. 

My butter is not from an organic eating grass fed cow. 

BUT.... I make an effort to stick to the best routines I can, as often as I can. When I slip on one, I make an effort to be successful on the others (or most of the others...I am only human after all).  

Running away...

Do you ever just want to run away? Thinking about it fills me with a guilt, but it does cross my mind at times. Considering a life without:

Stains. On. Everything. Seriously.  On clothing, carpet, tea towels, grout, walls, driveways, and skin. It is a guessing game regarding culprit and product that caused said stain. 

Garbage. Overflowing. On desks, countertops, porch, and pockets. Seldom in a garbage bag in the garage. 

Laundry. Unfolded. Heaped. Smelling of mildew and outhouse. Never. Ending. Laundry. Lost socks. Pens in the wash. And inquiries of 'Mommmmmmmm, where is my ______?!'  

Meals. Every effn day, these people need to eat. Not just once, but several times a day. Everyone knows where the kitchen is, because they visit it frequently to diminish the stock of groceries and then expect a miracle at meal time. 

Transportation. One car and it is usually with the hubs. Leaving me at home with those I gave life to, who are able to walk but not naturally inclined to do so. Biking to a friends is an unwelcomed idea unless of course the other option is to stay home with me and work on the above mentioned. 

Going to the bathroom in peace. I am still old school. I close a bathroom door when I enter it to use it. Be it empty my bladder or have a shower. I know that everybody and their dog (of which we have two) has observed me in my birthday get-up, yet I appreciate the privacy of a bathroom. I, however am the only one. I am never as important during the day as when I attempt a washroom break solo...unless...

....I am on the phone or my laptop. The moment my attention is needed elsewhere I become increasingly popular. I get asked questions (why do I think kangaroos only live in Australia? How many sleeps until Christmas? And did I know that they have hair in their knees?), as well as emergencies (no milk in the jug, a doorbell was heard, and they no longer like John Deer sheets) spring to life the moment I answer the phone or sit down at my computer. 

Hot coffee. I fantasize about a cup of coffee that can be consumed while still hot. Sitting down, making plans for the day while sipping a HOT cup of coffee without a crisis manifesting in the wings and causing the java to cool. I pour approximately 4 cups of coffee a day and likely drink 10% of it. 

But then it hits me. Like a wall of fruit flies from a banana tucked behind the fruit bowl: 

Without having experienced the stains and garbage and never ending questions, I would not appreciate how beautiful the little things are. I am in high demand. That is something I could not run away from. 

Now, let's see if I can't get a tepid coffee. 

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca

Raising children takes a village ...

Ahhhh, thank goodness I am not raising my children alone (alone refers to the hubby's influence too, but let's be serious, I usually tell him what/how he should be parenting....and yes he goes unsupervised at times and I am still fixing those moments...just kidding, not kidding). 

Spelling

Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl taught my then three year old how to spell 'bananas'. Yup, hooray! Let me hear you say "this shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S".  And recently, my 4 yr old has learned to spell a popular rapper's name: who dat? Who dat? You ask? I-G-G-Y of course! Who needs the Electric Company and Sesame Street when mainstream music has it covered!? 

Wildlife 

Did you know that there is an animal with Owl like eyes, a loooong middle finger, runs amuck at night, killing grubs in trees like a woodpecker and is evil (well, omens suggest it is)? Neither did I. It came up at dinner. My lack of familiarity with the Aye-Aye has dropped my value as a trusted source for information. Thanks Cat in the Hat. 

Navigation and landmarks

Are we there yet?! How much longer? I'm hungry! All lovely melodic questions asked by the peanut gallery (not real peanuts of course, cuz those are life-threatening).  If you were to answer, 'soon' or '20 minutes' or 'we will eat when we find a grocery store' the response would likely be met with: 'Are we there yet', 'How much longer' and 'I'm hungry'. However, if you suggest that there may be a treat for those who could exercise patience, then you will find that you have very keen guides. They will point out burger joints, donut distributors, and dealers of ice cream.  (We go to the SAME grocery store once a week, and maybe a crap food joint a couple times a year, yet they recognize the Golden Arches miles away and ask 'where are we?' in the parking lot of our grocery store). Tip of the hat to you evil genius marketers. 

Second language

Ok, I may have some responsibility to shoulder here...but I shall shirk it like any good mother and place the blame on my older children. Child #1 (1st born, not necessarily ranked first) was shielded from inappropriate language. Sesame Street was deemed riské when he was a babe. Now with experienced school yard children now being in the presence of the younger siblings, interesting language gets introduced at an earlier stage. "Douche bag" has been translated to "Shower bag" a term used by child #4 to call out child #2. It is usually fitting, but not necessarily appreciated by other mother's who are parenting only one child.  

I certainly couldn't do it without all this help. Raising children takes a village... 'Get yourself off the ground, Y.M.C A'...

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca 

You are Her

We all have that one friend.  You know the one. The one who turns heads no matter where she goes. She walks into any restaurant, bar, club, grocery store, gym, bank...and men turn. They watch. They smile. They check her out from head to toe and you can see the appreciation and lust in their eyes because they cannot see you. 

You adore her. She is funny. Intelligent. Bakes a mean lasagna and has driven hours to visit you when you were without wheels. But being around her when the men are flocking kicks the shit out of your ego. In her company a man may approach you merely to relay his interest in her. Ouch. So now when you excuse yourself to use the ladies room you abuse the girl reflected in the mirror. Yep, those laugh lines are deeper. The outfit could be more up-to-date. Maybe I should have worn lipstick like her. 

Why do we do this? Why do we let how awesome she is, affect how awesome we are? She is not you. You are not her. Why do we let our self esteems be lowered by the DNA fortune of another? 

 

But wait... She keeps her head up and makes eye contact when she enters a room. She is quick to smile.  She has an air of confidence that must come from always being the most attractive. Or maybe, just maybe, she has an air of confidence that has made her attractive. 

Shoulders back, head up, smile on your lips... and when you pass by the mirror a head is bound to turn... Yours. You are her. Confidence is sexy. 

So this is kinda real....

Warning: if you do not have a vagina, or you are somehow bothered by blogs that use the word vagina, exit now.

Ok, with that censor warning out of the way, let's talk about all the fun stuff your body (one with a vagina) may do when exercising. Oddly none of this was covered in phys-ed or health class.  Somebody somewhere has dropped the ball. I have the ball firmly in my sweaty clutches and will share what ought to be common knowledge....

Jumping is likely to cause you to pee your pants.  Yes, ones bladder and nether regions do get abused during pregnancy, but even before that, women (yes, even young women) can experience a pee leak. What to do...what to do? Wear dark sweat pants. NEVER wear grey.  

Speaking of leakage... Somebody ought to punch tampon and pad commercial makers in the throat. Of course we can do whatever we want whenever we want regardless of the monthly flow....but this wearing white yoga pants is pure bullschmidt. If you have ever put serious effort into a crunch you would know that there is no femine product out there you trust. What to do? See above.  Love me my black sweats! 

So you are crunching...planking...and now go to lift your legs above your head (yes, some people do this) and your vagina takes a big gulp of air. OMG.  Hey, this happens to the best of us... (and even the worst of us, so take comfort knowing that those you detest have experienced this).  You know in your heart of hearts that air will have to come out. But when? And how loud will this 'exhale' actually be? Best advice...workout in the comfort of your own home...or a gym where the music is REALLY loud. 

Usually we know when we are going to pass gas...fart. As a lady, we excuse ourselves, go to the washroom, hold it in, or pass a silent but deadly and walk away blaming it on some random dude, or if we are lucky, one of our offspring ...right? But there are times when we have zero clue that a fart is on its way. This happens when we are exerting a large amount of energy/force. Spiking a volleyball...throwing a medicine ball...lifting a heavy weight...or sneezing. What to do? Die a little inside.  

Sweat. Ok, yes we all knew that sweating happens when you exercise. Long gone are the days that women 'glisten'. The shocker is where we may sweat. Foreheads and under arms are an acceptable given. But how about your butt and vagina. You may have a handle on your bladder, but a serious workout in a light pair of shorts (do people actually wear 'shorts' anymore...?) and you will wonder if in fact you didn't just pee your pants (or shorts as it were). Facing a mirror, feet shoulder width apart, you sink to the ground to complete floor exercises, and then you see it...the sweaty crotch. Yours. Awesome. You ask yourself 'who else has seen it?'...the answer..EVERYONE. 

The beauty of all of the above is that you are not alone. The unmentioned exercise truths have been outed. We are a sisterhood of leakiness and extra air. We can look each other in the eye and appreciate the popular black yoga pant that make up our workout attire. 

And with that, I will sign off with one piece of advice... Do not mix heavy weights, on a full bladder and a cold....just sayn. 

Stay Happy & Healthy

www.jomoma.ca

Tighten up your wallet and your belt

Remember being a kid, and sometime during the day you asked "what's for dinner?"?  You were not the person responsible for putting the meal together. You had very little control of the meal. You were either elated or whined incessantly when the said meal was served. Your plate likely had a serving of all things your guardian deemed 'good for a growing body'.  Now, as the adult in charge of meal preparation it is safe to say you make meals that you are craving. You fill your tummy with your favorites day in and day out. You resolve in January to eat a balanced, healthy diet, but you are overworked and exhausted at meal time and are influenced by your cravings.  This undoubtedly leads to overeating, and last minute fast food purchases or unbalanced food preparation. 

There is a solution: Plan your meals in advance. 

On a full stomach (and of course, after being motivated by Jo:Moma memes, blogs and tips) plan your balanced meals in advance. Grocery shop according to the planned meals. This way, at meal preparation time you are guided by forethought and not a tired mind and body. 

Attacking meals this way will ensure that you prepare a variety of balanced meals (hitting on needed protein, fibre, carbohydrates, fats....and eliminating, sugars, empty calories, etc). If you are not craving Monday's planned meal... Too bad. You will eat if you are hungry. Sound familiar? Not only will you avoid emotional eating (which is what eating your cravings frequently is), it will keep your grocery bill under control.  

Planning and preparing meals you aren't craving sounds like work. AND it is. BUT it is worth it. You will find that eating meals that have been planned to nourish your body, not fill a craving, will give you MORE energy. Of course you have favourite meals. You can still have them, but plan for it and look and see where they might lack what your body needs and make the necessary modification. Both your belt and your wallet will thank you. 

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca 

"my body is just not the same anymore"

It is the same story.  I hear it time and time again.  In fact, I am guilty of sharing the story with anyone who will listen: "my body is just not the same anymore". 

Whether it is due to the passing of teenage metabolism, pregnancy, a new decade (30's, 40's, 50's...),  shift work, or hormonal changes (menopause)... Bodies change. 

You have two options:

 1) lament and do nothing 

or

 2) celebrate, move forward and change with your body

If you choose the former, you will become increasingly miserable. You will without a doubt pull away from activities, increase your negative self-talk, and get swallowed up in self pity. If you choose to celebrate, (perhaps a lofty ideal at the onset), you will reap the rewards of acceptance and self love. Don't get me wrong, you will still long for the days when you ate deep dish pizza and chocolate without  tipping the scales, but you will have a healthy mindset that your present situation will one day be a point in time that you think back to fondly. Sooo...take advantage of the now....you are still in control and it is a wonderful place to be. 

Take advantage of tips and tricks to give you the advantage you had yesterday. The older you get, the more toxins you have ingested, the more injuries you have acquired, the more sleep you have forgone. All of these will negatively impact you and your body. 

We have yet to discover time travel so going back to age 17 is out of the question, BUT slowing down the ageing process IS possible. Similar to time travel that magic pill advertised for fat loss is also a pipe dream. BUT, there IS a way.  It is not an overnight miracle, but it is quite simple and real:

Eat well. This means eliminating sugars, increasing water intake, decreasing alcohol consumption and avoiding GMO everything.  

Get moving. This means, getting up off of the couch/office chair and pumping blood through your body with exercise (increased movement). 

Rest. This means going to bed when you're tired.  

Your body is still your body. You are responsible for the wear and tear so be proud of it.  It will change and it is only reasonable to expect how you treat it will change too. 

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca

T minus 3 months... Hello 40!

It seems that 40 is a big deal.  Large birthday parties, bar festivities, announcements, and celebrations are documented and displayed by my peer group who have hit the big 4-0. 

If I am going to be honest, it is just a birthday. 

I'm not really sure when I stopped caring about birthdays (mine), but I suspect it happened 14 years ago (age 25) when my first child was born. I ceased looking forward to celebrating my years and began celebrating the milestones of my children. Maybe that's wrong. Maybe I am missing the big stuff in my ever so sparkly life (insert sarcasm) while I observe the birthdays of my offspring. (I was going to say document, but I lack that scrap booking gene. It must be recessive like my picture taking gene.)

So, I am going to recognize my future 40, by paying homage to the years I have used up thus far. 

Birth - High School Graduation: a series of failures and successes. Awards, accolades, and recognition for accomplishments. The future bright and mine to mold. Sprinkle in the disappointment of a limited love life, no boobs upon puberty, and no idea what I want to be when I grow up. Survived heartbreak and the dissolving and the rekindling of my parent's marriage. Bring on adulthood!

Young Adulthood. Gawd this sucks. I know no more now than I did as a kid, yet my confidence and ignorance keep me marching forward into a world of childlike grown-ups. I still have no idea what I want out of life, so I marry a man (boy) I have known for less than 10 months and leave home, university and my problems. Great plan, except that my marriage is a rocky one (lasting 10 years), my problems have followed me, my confidence has disappeared, & I miss home. I start an adventure of rediscovering who I really am and desire to be (talk about a rollercoaster ride).  

Ahhh my 30's. I found love. True love. I love me (most of the time...ok, some of the time...I am a work in progress). Scars, failures, and cellulite included (not really the cellulite bit but it ain't going anywhere). I am getting happier in my own skin. I know who I am and what I want (subject to change). I am accused of being outspoken by those who are threatened by people who SPEAK UP. I learn that I am a teacher, a cheerleader, a teammate, a friend, an ally, and a broken person....and always have been. I love being in the company of greatness as it gives me something to strive for and people to admire. I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up and I hope I never do (grow up). I often share my ideals, which change with the wind, and I am certain I have a flakiness to me that Tenderflake shortening would admire. 

T minus 3 months and I will be 40. I can predict my metabolism will slow even more, grey hair may make an appearance, laugh lines will grow, and skin will sag. I know that the fore mentioned had better be prepared for a good fight. I do not concede (call it a weakness... I call it strength). I have plans. I plan to help more people. Give more of me to others and to me. I am lifting weights, opening my mind, and biting my tongue (when I remember to do so).  

I still have no desire to celebrate my 40th other than to recognize it is better than the other option (no more birthdays)...and of course, with 3 months to go, my mind is subject to change. 

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca

I am sensitive...

I am sensitive. 

Always have been. I have always put too much value in what others thought about me. What others have said about me. What others have said to me. So much so, that I have spent a disproportionate amount of my time acting like I don't care. Yelling from the mountaintops that I am strong, I cannot be hurt! Professing that all that matters to me is what I think of myself. Well, that's total bullshit. I am still the nine year old who's heart breaks when I feel I am un-liked. Believe it or not, I loathe drama. I love love.  I can talk a big talk and get as nasty as the best of them, but it is an act. I can act like any character. That 'talent' was useful in building a wall against the reality of growing up. It was useful in a past career where the need to 'relate' to anyone meant life or death. However, it doesn't mean I don't feel. 

I am sensitive. 

I just got un friended on Facebook. As far as being "un friended" goes, it was a brutally honest 'unfriend'. I received a message that informed me that they were unfriending me. It wasn't a silent push of a button where you notice months later that they are a "people you may know", and you think "hunh,? I thought we WERE friends...?".  This was an honest notification. So, I sent a text, apologizing for anything I may have posted that offended and I was advised that it wasn't me....The unfriending was due to all the body obsessing and how it was in opposition to how they thought. This I can totally appreciate. EXCEPT that, that is NOT what I post.  At least, not what I thought I was posting.  I share links where beauty is being redefined. I follow pages and bloggers that support health and fitness, NOT sensationalized ridiculous body images. I agree with my now 'unfriend' that we train our bodies with a goal to be fit and strong. And yet somehow, I have been misinterpreted. 

I am sensitive. 

So now I question what the hell I am doing. I launched Jo:Moma to share tips and tricks. To redefine beauty. To change how we view exercise and food. My personal page has similar links plus family videos, zany pics, and updates of my less than perfect life. I am still the 9 year old looking to be accepted. 

I am sensitive. 

You, ... all of you, are awesome. Truly. You decide how happy you want to be.  Nobody else should have that much influence in YOUR life. So until I am the person who can confidently walk around without letting the world dictate how I feel, I will endeavour to help you be that confident, strong person. AND if that means you need to unfriend me... Do it. 

I am sensitive. 

Stay happy & healthy (I mean it)

www.jomoma.ca

AMRAP and other stuff that makes you say WTF?

 Ok, so whether you are new to the fitness world or you have kept your head low for a while, you will notice an abundance of acronyms, buzz words, diets, and trends that seem foreign. Look no further for an explanation. Consider this your fitness dictionary:

AMRAP: As Many Repetitions As Possible (feel free to groan out loud when you see this miserable direction)

WOD: Workout Of the Day. This acronym got its wings with the Crossfitters, and has since been adopted and utilized by most every gym in the free world. 

CrossFit: founded in 2000ish, it is a fitness regime and philosophy. Strength conditioning, Paleo diet and competition are all part and parcel. 

Box: a place where CrossFitters and other fitness enthusiasts work out (in the olden days these were affectionately referred to as 'gyms')

Studio: a swanky term for a small gym. 

PR/PB: Personal Record/Personal Best.  

BPM: Beats Per Minute (heart rate, not music)

BMR: Basal Metabolic Rate (the lowest amount of calories needed to sustain life)

BMI: Body Mass Index aka: Bullshit. 

Fartlek: (real word) run training where pace varies from fast to slow 

Lactic Acid: that terrible feeling in your muscles after what is deemed a "good" workout

HIIT: High Intensity Interval Training (feels like hell, but it is over quicker than the traditional workout)

DOMS: Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness.  Occurs 12-48 hours post workout. Affects how you sit on a toilet and how you brush your teeth. 

1-RM: One Rep Max. The amount of weight/resistance that can be lifted/moved one time, but not twice. A sure fire way to test what will injure you. 

RPE: Rate of Perceived Exertion. A scale of 1-10 that rates how you are feeling physically/mentally. 100% of those relaying this # to their trainer are fibbing. 

THR: Target Heart Rate. Recommended range is 60-85% of MHR: Maximum Heart Rate. It is recommended that you always have a heart rate. 

Paleo diet: popular due to the CrossFit regimen. Mimics Hunter/gatherer ancestors. Lean protein (meat/seafood), fruits and vegetables. Off limits: dairy, grains, legumes and starchy vegetables. There is nothing funny about this diet. 

Juice Cleanse diet: toted as detoxing.  Drinking only fruit and vegetable juices (sorry, you cannot juice a chicken on this diet). From this writer's perspective... It is a fad. It doesn't give you the protein and fibre your body requires. Awesome if you need to drink juice... 

Mediterranean diet: high consumption of breads and UNREFINED cereals (wheat), fruit, nuts, vegetables, fish, and cheese. Moderate amounts of wine...HEY, WAIT...SIGN ME UP.

Intermittent Fasting: newest on the scene in the diet world. A typical week would be: eat normally Monday and Tuesday, fast on Wednesday (women consume 500 calories max), regular eating Thursday, Friday fast (>500 cals), regular eating Saturday and Sunday. Here is the scoop: any time between meals is called fasting. Realistically, this diet just lowers the caloric intake for the week...if there isn't a binge that follows the fast. 

GMO: Genetically Modified Organism: altered genetics.  Aka: poison/toxin. It is not a laughing matter. 

Gluten:  it is a glue, a protein composite found in wheat and related grains (makes breads chewy). A small amount of people actually have a sensitivity to it. And an even smaller group have a serious disease (celiac).  Weight related issues can be linked to the consumption of grains. It is not specifically the gluten, but rather that the grains we consume are GMO (toxins get in the way of a properly functioning metabolism). 

WTF: an expression by a fitness enthusiast in response to an unrealistic WOD. 

And with that, TTYL.  

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca

Not half bad, thanks Grandma.

Small print: Reminder, this blog is free to read, so if at anytime you want your money back....

So, you know those moments when you think to yourself: 'hey, I don't look half bad!'? OR, when you have made the necessary changes in your life to reverse the clock and reclaim your youthful self, but then something terrible happens...like I am talking earth shattering....

You catch your reflection in your iPad!  

Yep...you...looking down... not smiling...just...'reflecting'.  It is enough to have you google a crisis help-line but you cannot bring yourself to look down at the glowing screen anymore. Double chin (if your lucky), furrowed brow, and jowels like Winston Churchill. AND if that wasn't enough, at bedtime, when you go to brush your teeth and examine that face staring back at you, you have an Eureka moment (emphasis on the eurEEEKahhhh)... The pillow sheet marks from the morning are still visible...they aren't marks sweetheart, oxford dictionary calls em wrinkles (who likes Oxford anyway!?)

These are the moments that change behaviour. 

As you are feverishly brushing your teeth, cuz there is no freaking way coffee and wine is going to be culled from your life, you plan AND vow to do everything your Grandmother once spoke of.  You now recognize what you once believed was dimensia as true pearls of wisdom!  (I shall quote my Grandma...it has been suggested she may have lacked some 'grandmotherly' tendencies). 

"Stand like you are bought and paid for!" (yes, we can all agree we are NOT property, but the message is gold). By standing straight, the work gravity has done on your 'girls' looks less influential.  Your tummy flattens out (slightly), and your jaw is less buried in your cheeks,..hello jawline! And FYI, confidence is sexy (nobody needs to know it is feigned). 

"Blue, ... I should paint the ceiling blue" (apparently a thought my Granmother had whilst on her back with my Grandfather).. Gross, sure, but let's face it, having children is hereditary:  if my Grandma hadn't had kids (which involves the fore mentioned) then chances are my Mom wouldn't have... Anywho, I digress from the point... 

Clearly the position (on back) not only gives you decorating insight, it erases that double chin! Now, when you are on your iPad (please! You didn't think I was referring to Grandma sex!?) your reflection will be much more Vogue and less Winston. 

"Never let them see you cry".  How is this a helpful 'beauty' tip!? Wellllllll....  If you have ever seen me cry, it involves excess snot, swelling of my eyelids, and red blotchy patches from my neck up. Sure there are glamorous criers (my sis-in-law and Hollywood actresses) but they are few and far between, and I am blocking them from having any further 'tips'. If the pillow sheet marks were enough to send you into a tizzy, then looking like a boxer post bout will not tickle your fancy. 

Invest in big necked t-shirts (dark in colour). You can hide your weepy face and blow your nose in the shirt without being detected (light colour shirts will show snot...test cases have proven this). ADDITIONALLY, do not go to a mirrored environment until you can take a deep breath without it catching and you can talk like you do not have severe sinus congestion. By that point, the swelling will now only plump out the crows feet, the eyes will have the slightest of sparkle and there will be colour in your cheeks. If they didn't see you cry, then they only believe you to be bright eyed! 

Voila, changed. And now I am pleased to return to my feeling of not half bad. 

Signed, Nikela's granddaughter. 

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca

  

Spring cleaning my head space

Sometimes this blog has little to nothing to do with health and fitness...unless you consider that letting your thoughts out is a healthy way to clean out your head space.  

In no particular order...things that I question...today, and other days...and certainly not a complete compendium...

I truly dislike the qualifiers. You know, the: "you look good for having had four kids", "that's great for a non-runner", "not bad for a nearly 40 year old". Say what!? Sooo, if I hadn't had four kids, if I were a 'runner', or if I was 20 something I would be less fantastic? Here's the thing, the 'qualifier' makes the entire statement seem less genuine, and far from complimentary.  Take your qualifier and...

Why are so many people afraid of change? The only thing permanent IS change. So, accept it. Embrace it. Love it. Being afraid of change doesn't make it go away. Just saying. 

Sugar is poison. True story. It fuels cancer. It is addictive. It effs up your hormones and makes you fat. It is a DRUG. It should be a criminal offence when it is an additive/ingredient in the foods we buy. 

What is it with moles? I don't mean the blind rodent, I am referring to the skin growths. Apparently these lil beauties appear in the first 30 years of life...well, I am 9 years past my first 30 and they are still coming. So, I have freckles, I am a red head, I stand at 6',.... My parents truly whipped up a recipe not many have replicated.  So why do I also need moles? 

Being a parent of a teenager truly kicks one's self esteem in the a$$. If I hadn't already thought what I did occasionally was 'stupid' or that what I was wearing was 'embarrassing', I need only to look at my first born to bring my elevated self love back down to miniscule levels. (Seriously, what's wrong with wearing my fedora with runners?!). 

Speaking of hats. Love em! Nothing hides bad hair better than a ball cap. That or staying under the covers all day. 

Cortisol levels increase with stress. Higher levels of cortisol correlate with weight gain. Orgasams produce oxytocin which decreases cortisol. Hmmm, sooooo, if one plus one is two... Then orgasams should equal weight loss no!? 

Love yourself. It is the toughest thing we can do. It is easy to love and see the good in others, but we know the darkest corners of ourselves and often let that taint our self love. The dark stuff is a part of you. You don't have to be it, but you need to accept it. YOU ARE WORTH IT. 

What should I have for dinner.....?

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca

All this body love talk...

I am absolutely committed to changing how we define beauty. I am disgusted with media and how it fuels women's self loathing and low self esteem. So, it stands to reason that I am a supporter of the 'Love your body' movement, in fact, give me a podium and buckle up. 

However, let me be clear. Love your body, to me, means that you take care of it. It means that you fuel it, move it, and rest it appropriately. If by taking the best care of your body (love) and you remain a size 18, who the hell cares, you have every right to love how it looks, feels, and works. BUT if you do nothing, if you put junk in your body, if you lay on your couch, and if you stay up all hours to catch up on tv, texts or what have you, you do not love your body. 

When you are reading this, do not infer that I dislike fat people. Because that simply is not true.  Also note, there are 'skinny' people who are just as guilty of not loving the temple that they walk around in. What I am saying is: We have one body. Take care of it.  

When you love your self, it shows.  You shine from the inside out.  You attract other beautiful people (read: energetic, happy, healthy, self starters...), and you feel GOOD. That beauty does not have a size attached. It has a behaviour. Beautiful is as beautiful does. 

So when the 'love your body movement' moves you, please DO.  Please love your body. Adore the machine that allows you to enjoy life. Shower yourself in love (real food, real exercise, real rest). 

Stay happy and healthy,

www.jomoma.ca

Living life like a Movie Star

You wake up in the morning, hair perfect, make-up still applied flawlessly, and your love interest is inches from your minty mouth whispering sweet nothings, your perky boobs defy your age, while the coffee is brewing in the kitchen. 

Haaaaaaaaaaa, ya, ok.  Let's take Hollywood out of this scenario and add some reality:

You wake up, ughh, your not sure if you have a ponytail in or if your hair has actually matted itself at the back. Your make-up, if you hadn't removed it the night before, is perfectly applied to the pillow sheet.  That person in the bed with you (if it's not the three year old, or the 4 legged child, but rather the person involved with the creation of the said three year old), will not be coming in for some morning smooching. Really. You know you could stand to brush your own teeth, never mind them. As for the silver screen breasts that stand at attention when laying face up, yours are tucked nicely into your armpits (a 'perk', or not, for the big chested). You could really use a coffee...with any luck Starbucks delivers.  

Here is the scoop. Perfection is not the Hollywood version. Perfection is having a reason to get up. Perfection is getting the knots out... Out of your hair, the sheets, your back...your life. Perfection is the reflection in the mirror of that person who battles and wins...ties...or at the very least continues to battle. 

If you have somebody to share your bed with, you are very fortunate indeed.  If you have hair that can get messed, and breasts still attached you are blessed with good health. If you woke up in the morning, you already won. 

Remove the idea of lipgloss and fresh breath at 6am, and get a coffee maker with a timer. Sighhh, such is a glamorous life. 

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca 

Mom, Mama, Mum, Mommy, Ma, Mother..

...whatever name you use, it is the one word that means 'hero' to most who use it. 

There is not a job on this planet that requires so much from somebody with zero financial gains. 24 hour shifts, where the expectation is that you are the everything.  The clean-up committee, nursing staff, financial advisor, project manager, public relations, social organizer, boss, subordinate, psychologist, jail keeper, judge, chauffeur, administrative assistant, coach, cheerleader, and punching bag. 

Zero money. But what you do get, is perspective, knowledge, lessons, a broken heart, pride, fear, elation, disappointment, exhaustion, broke, worried, and the ability to define love. 

Mothers would never exchange the above for a paycheck. The little person who wakes in the middle of the night comforted only by you. The wave from the stage during a concert. The searching in the stands for your eye contact when they score a goal. The broken heart that needs your hug and words of wisdom. The phone call to say hi. It is priceless and worth every sleepless night, snotty nose, load of laundry, and sacrifice. It is being called 'Mom' by a person who is love. 

So Moms, while you are busy wondering what happened to your body, why you have very little time to take care of you... Those people that call you Mom, know you are the most beautiful person in the world. 

Happy Mother's Day

Stay Happy & Healthy

www.jomoma.ca

Letter to my Past

I have been away from 'home' for nearly 20 years. In the past 20 years I have returned only a handful of times. However, the moment I step off the plane I am transported back to when my future was bright...my dreams were big..and I was a kid with the world in the palm of my hand. 

The moment I return to the place I have lived for the past 19 years, I am 'homesick'. I wallow in the lost friendships and contact of the incredible people who had a hand in building the foundation of "me". Friends, teachers, coaches and teammates all had a part in the lessons I learned, the values I hold, my work ethic and my passion. They were all-stars and I knew even then that I was a lottery winner to have them in my life. Returning to a place where they don't reside has been cause for many pity parties for yours truly. Until now. 

I still adore those of my past. They are my heroes, my mentors, my firsts. However, it is time I embrace the awesomeness of my 'now'. All I have to do is open my eyes to see that everything I valued from my past has travelled with me to my new 'home'. I am surrounded by beautiful people who have lessons to teach me. I am no longer a kid, I am the mother and coach of kids. Where I am in life is important. I am in a position to be the positive influence for others. I am not a has been... I am on fire. The embers of my past keep me warm, but now it is time I stoke them. I am proud of my past accomplishments and look forward to what I will achieve in the future. The holding pattern of 'yesterday' is done. I am more than my past. I am my future. 

To my past, thank you. Thank you for being so wonderful. Thank you for building my basement. To my future, I look forward to meeting you, there will be no ceiling. 

Stay Happy & Healthy

www.jomoma.ca

What motivates YOU?

If anybody had an opportunity to be inside my head for a day I am quite confident they would not be the wiser. I think the same can be said about many. We have several thoughts reaching in different directions at all times. When we act on our thoughts it is because we were motivated to do so.

So what motivates you?

Is it intrinsic or extrinsic? Do you long for the warm fuzzy feeling inside or the warm fuzzy new hat? Maybe both? 

Recognizing what will inspire action is a step to successfully reaching your goals. Often people are concerned that what influences them will not be favourably received by others. It is this trepidation that hijacks their goal. 

To avoid having others dictate your action:

First, identify your motivators.  Write them down. When you have your list you will be able to establish if what moves you to action is the action itself (intrinsic) or if what you seek is an outcome (extrinsic). 

Second, write down your thoughts. With so many thoughts bumping around in your head at one time, putting them to paper will help you to identify commonalities. When a pattern is evident (similar themes/ideas) then you know what is taking up your grey matter and what you need to address. 

Third, marry the motivators with the thoughts. This is when you put your thoughts into action. Having a hard copy of both in front of you will govern you in the same way as the people impacting you. The written motivators and ideas are an external influence on the action you should take to accomplish your aim/purpose. 

Lastly, go get em.  Chase your dreams.  Reach your goals.  Reward yourself. 

Stay happy & healthy

www.jomoma.ca

Hey Fitness Industry...!

I have several passions: health, fitness, redefining the word beautiful and bolstering women's self esteem. Due to my passion, I pay particular attention to the communities that support and oppose the aforementioned. 

This past week I read a number of articles/blogs from folks in the fitness industry and I was offended.  Perhaps, offended is not the correct word...upset, confused, disillusioned. Here is why: the articles took stands on the best 'workouts'. They threw mud and took to slandering the other forms of fitness. The weight lifters spoke ill of the P90x crew...The yogis turned their noses up at the long distance runners, and the personal trainers slammed the Crossfitters, who in turn minimalized all the other exercise forums. ARE YOU SERIOUS?!? Come on people! Shame on you. 

All fitness activities have merit. They all engage your muscles, your heart, your lungs and your mind in some form. AND THAT IS FITNESS. Having preferences is natural and it will keep you engaged. We do not need to like the same activities to appreciate the benefits and acknowledge the effort it takes to start/maintain/grow a fitness routine. Differences should be embraced not ridiculed. 

So to the Yogis, the Personal Trainers, the Crossfitters, the Weight Trainers, the Runners, the Rowers, the Dancers, the Walkers, the Home video workout Crews... BRAVO! You are awesome.  You can do it. Keep it up.  

Stay Happy & Healthy

www.jomoma.ca