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Exercise Daily: Baby Steps

September 13, 2011 · 12 comments

August’s eat healthy baby steps have made a great impact on me already. I’m packing fruits and veggies for snacks at work, always making sure I get a salad or side of vegetables when I eat out (this is still harder at home since my fiance doesn’t do even lettuce), opting to fill my water bottle for drinking while I work instead of grabbing a Diet Coke, and noting most of what I eat daily on paper. And I don’t have to check those things off daily any more to remind myself to do them.

I just finished reading 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think and the focus of the book is to prioritize and make time for the things that only you can do for yourself, the things you love to do, and the things you do best. Exercise is something only you can do for yourself so it should always be a priority.

I’ve been slowly ramping up my exercise since I finished my radiation therapy in July 2010. I joined a gym this past June and am starting to meet with a personal trainer this week to get some guidance beyond just cardio. But beyond just exercising harder, I want to make sure I’m exercising every day. I’m having some sleep issues and I sleep much better on days I’ve gotten in good exercise so this months baby steps are the ways in which I want to exercise and I need to hit at least one or two if not all three every day.

  1. gym at least 3 times a week
    I did great in July, I kind of got off track in August with two out of town trips. So this month it’s back to three times a week – either to work out on my own, for my personal training appointment, or (when I’ve worked up the courage) to take a class.
  2. walk the dog
    When I do go to the gym, we often go to the dog park first so he can get his exercise. There are some days that both he and I could use a walk and we’re not getting it and we need to get more aware of getting our walk in early in the evening as the sun starts to set earlier.
  3. stretch
    I want to get back to stretching with Wii Fit and EA Sports Active 2. I felt so good when I was doing EA Sports Active’s 10 minute warm up routine each day and I want to get back to doing that, at least on days I’m not also going to the gym. I didn’t love the yoga class I took in November last year but I want to try out the instructors at the gym and see if any of their styles mesh better with my needs.

What baby steps are you taking to get exercise into your daily life?

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Favorite Things 2010: Cancer Survivor

December 2, 2010 · 3 comments

Over the next couple weeks I’ll be sharing my favorite things from 2010. These items weren’t necessarily new in 2010 but they were either new to me, extra awesome this year, or on my own holiday shopping list or wish list. The lists will be grouped by different personality traits I would use to describe myself so that you can use them as holiday gift inspiration as well.

December 2, 2009 I was told I had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. A year later I’m cancer free and feeling better than ever.

If you have a cancer survivor in your life, here are a few things that helped me through the year:

  • Amazon Prime because sometimes you know you need something but you just don’t have it in you to go to the store
  • Everything Changes: The Insider’s Guide to Cancer in Your 20s and 30s
  • Dear Jack
  • Rogaine for Women Hair Regrowth Treatment, Regular Strength Unscented, 2-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 3)
  • Wii, Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board, and EA Sports Active to keep active while on disability leave
  • Yoga class and a yoga mat

And a few things that I know have helped my friends and readers who’ve experienced other types of cancer:

  • Woman to Woman: A Handbook for Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
  • After Breast Cancer: A Common-Sense Guide to Life After Treatment

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Favorite Things 2010: Gamer

November 29, 2010 · 2 comments

Over the next couple weeks I’ll be sharing my favorite things from 2010. These items weren’t necessarily new in 2010 but they were either new to me, extra awesome this year, or on my own holiday shopping list or wish list. The lists will be grouped by different personality traits I would use to describe myself so that you can use them as holiday gift inspiration as well.

Wii

I got my Wii in January this year and I am just obsessed with it.

  • Wii
  • Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board
  • EA Sports Active 2
  • Super Mario Galaxy 2
  • Zelda Twilight Princess
  • Guitar Hero III
  • extra remotes and nunchuks so you can play with your friends and family
  • Energizer Flat Panel Induction Charger

Nintendo DS

Last week, my awesome new boyfriend who I found via eHarmony (but how much I’m in love with eHarmony is another story) asked me if I ever played Pokemon when I was little. I was like do you mean do I ever still play Pokemon because I’ve had my neon green Gameboy Color and Pokemon Red cartridge out all year. He’s semi-permanently lent me his extra Nintendo DS and a bunch of Pokemon stuff.

  • Nintendo DS (If I got my own, I’d pick Metallic Rose Lite)
  • Pokemon Pearl is what I’m currently playing
  • he also brought over Pokemon Heart Gold
  • and strategy guides

Playstation 3

The boyfriend just put his Wii on loan to my little sister because he’s asking for a Playstation 3 for Christmas. His family will be getting that for him while I pick up a game for him.

  • Playstation 3 320gb with Playstation Move Bundle
  • Star Wars: Force Unleashed 2

Computer Games

If you know me you know I’m into two types of computer games: Blizzard games and Sims games.

  • Cataclysm is almost here
  • World of Warcraft, The Burning Crusade, and Wrath of the Lich King are cheap to get people caught up to Cataclysm
  • Starcraft II also came out this year, my boyfriend, brother, and sister are really into it but it’s not quite my style. I do love the cross game chat with WoW though.
  • The Sims 3 World Adventures and Ambitions expansion packs give The Sims 3 a role playing game twist
  • I’m also looking into Sim City 4  with the Rush Hour expansion pack after hearing rave reviews from my brother and my boyfriend

Arcade

The new boyfriend has also gotten me hooked on weekends at Dave & Busters to play Sega’s Derby Owners Club World Edition horse racing and breeding game. To be able to tell my Dave & Busters card apart from his, I stuck on a Mabel’s Labels sticker and he instantly wanted labels of his own so I’m getting him a pack too (I have the Colorful Sticky Labels with owls and I got him space ships and my sister horses). I know Mabel’s Labels look like they’re for kids but they’ve got tons of applications for adults like keeping duplicate cards separate and labeling your electronics and accessories so you know which cords go with your stuff and which cords don’t.

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links.

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Wii Fitness [Guest Post]

September 9, 2010 · 2 comments

Coupon Geek ButtonThis is a guest post from my friend Jaycie at Coupon Geek. Jaycie’s posts about Wii fitness games were my inspiration to get a Wii and try it out myself. Today she’s sharing with us what she loves about Wii fitness.

When I decided that I would become a SAHM, I thought I’d have all this time to get in the exercise I needed to get back into the shape I was in pre-baby. After all, the baby sleeps and then when they get older, you burn calories keeping up with them, right?

I was in for an eye-opener when I found that I had little time to workout. My son was a very active baby and I found myself just too exhausted to exercise. My hubby had picked up a Wii in December of 2006, right when they first came out. I remember him freezing in line hoping to get his hands on one. We were hosting Christmas that year and we thought it would be good entertainment. I had no idea that it would basically turn into my own personal trainer.

I was so excited when I heard they were coming out with the Wii Fit. I did a pre-order for one and picked it up the day it was released. It opened up a new world for me. Exercise was now fun. 30 minutes on it flew by and I began to see changes. By the time I lost a good portion of my “baby weight,” I became pregnant with my daughter. Soon after she was born, I picked up a copy of EA Sports Active (which is my favorite one now) and I let them whittle me back into a healthier weight at that time of 116 lbs on my 5’2” frame.

Having two little kids (and being a blogger) leaves little opportunity for me to rush off to a gym. And the closest one to us is about a 30 minute drive. So I am very thankful that Nintendo has invented the Wii. I find it’s a great workout and I love that my kids are able to see me taking care of myself. I’ve also found other things that we can actually play together such as Just Dance and Wii Sports.

I figured that a gym membership would run us about $35 a month or $420 in just one year for one person. Instead, we have invested much less than this to have our own mini-gym at home. There are so many games to choose from now that it fends off the boredom from repetitive routines.

In the end, all that matters is that you do try to fit in some exercise into your weekly routine. It can be as frugal as a free walk outside or you can choose a higher-priced gym or even using video games or DVDs to help. Staying in shape is worth the investment for the chance at a longer, healthier life and extra time to spend with your kids being able to watch them grow up. So I hope that whatever path you do choose, that you find one that helps keep you motivated to workout and to stay healthy.

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How to Make the Most of Your Wii… for Adults [Guest Post]

August 2, 2010 · 0 comments

This is a guest post from Corrie who is a stay at home mom to 2 energetic boys and the owner of “Cents”able Momma. She loves to help her readers save money on everything from video games to groceries, as well as offering frugal living tips, great deals, and methods to earn some extra money.

Last year, I saved my Swagbucks and traded them in for Amazon gift cards. Why? So we could purchase a Wii as a family present for Christmas.

We have 2 young boys (now 7 and 4), so we thought it would be fun to have a game system that we could all play. Honestly, our boys don’t really give my husband and I much of an opportunity to play alone (unless we sneak it in when they’re asleep). But, we have managed to have fun on the Wii too.

Exercise Games

Sometimes it’s a challenge to fit exercise into the routine, so I purchased both the Wii Fit Plus and EA Sports Active.

I like how the Wii Fit balance board is versatile. You can use it for workout as well as other games, such as snowboarding, etc. However, I struggle with the exercise routines being a little too easy. The Wii Fit seems to focus more on balance, and I don’t feel like I’ve really worked out when I’m done.

The EA Sports Active game has worked better for me, since I’m able to use the resistance band to work out my arms. Plus, I find the games a little more challenging physically. For example, in one game you are rollerblading. You have to crouch down to go faster and then jump up to get over the obstacles. It makes star jumps a little more fun than doing them on your own.

Before you purchase a workout game (and there are many out there), read the reviews and do your research on which game will work for you.

tiger woods golf for wiiGolf

My husband loves to play golf, but can’t get out in the winter months in Michigan. So, we purchased the Tiger Woods Golf game (I know…). Not only is it fun for my husband, but it’s a fun family game too. You can set the levels to accommodate varying skill sets… although my husband tells me that I always win because I set my skill set too low.

mario kart wiiFun Games

We also have Mario Kart and recently my 7 year old received Super Mario Brothers for his birthday. Of course, my boys love both games, but I’ve had fun playing them too.

When you play Mario Kart individually, the game unlocks additional courses, characters, and vehicles to ride as you win races, which keeps it interesting. One of my favorites, too, is playing other opponents via the internet. It’s fun to think that you’re racing against people all over the world. Plus, you can set it up that you can play your own personal friends with the internet connection.

Super Mario Brothers looks like a fun game too, but we’ve only had it for a week, and I’ve been given no access to it by the little gatekeepers at my house.

Netflix

Starting in April, we have also been able to use our Wii to stream Netflix to our TV. It’s really easy and free to get the Netflix disk for the Wii. Plus, we actually save $5/month on Netflix, because we reduced our plan from the $13.99 plan with 2 disks to the $8.99 plan with only 1 disk and unlimited streaming movies.

Although the streaming movies do not include many of the new releases, there are still some good movies and TV shows to be found. It’s easy to browse by category for instantly available movies and add them to your queue.

How do you use the Wii?

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links.

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