Introducing: The Self Care Series

This image is courtesy of artur84/ freedigitalphotos.net

I've been wanting to post about this for quite some time. It just took some 'urgency' to do so.

After this weekend I realized how much more effort I want to put into myself. I don't know if you read my Monday post this week, but I had a moment with my fiancee (check it out here), and in that not so obvious moment of realization I knew it was time to put my foot down- with myself. I say, enough with the mommy look!

Here and there I make time for myself, but its not a routine. I don't make an effort everyday, and its something I'd like to do because I always feel good when I take care of myself. I feel refreshed, and recharged! 

This Self Care series will be split up into a few different posts, and with my new schedule I just posted for blogging yesterday (check it out here) you can come back next Wednesday for another addition. 

This week (after all my rambling), I'd like to start off by introducing you to the topics I have on my mind. I'd also like to ask for input as to what I could write about for self care- ideas are always welcome!!

• Week 1: Meditation
• Week 2: Exercise
• Week 3: Skin Care 
• Week 4: Hair (oh god- THE HAIR! Did I mention I used to be a stylist?)
• Week 5: New make up regime? (mine is about 2 minutes..)
• Week 6: ...help me out here ;)

Please, if there's anything you'd like to see me write about, I'd more than happy to do it! Is there something you've been wanting to do for yourself? Let me be your cheerleader, I can be a good one! I may have fluffy hair at times, but I'm working on it. I think I scared myself when I looked in the mirror this weekend, but that scare was for me to start making leaps and bounds for the woman I want to become. 

Becoming a mother has changed me. Not only is raising a toddler a sometimes hectic experience, but the last few years of life has changed me. In that transitional period I think I lost face- sometimes those moments in life are difficult, and you just forget about yourself, so I'll call this my 'polishing period'. Have you had one of those? This is my terminology, so don't go looking it up ok?

I might even Youtube this.... no promises though, but I'm considering it right now. If I don't Youtube this now, I'll do it at a later date after I write the posts.

Let the brainstorming begin! (please leave comments below this post after you have signed into your google account, or just sign in with "open ID" which is another option. Thank you!

Life Hack- Exercise Part II + Exercise Music

I wanted to give you an update on this awesome workout I talked about earlier this week called HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). I'm so happy and excited that I came across this exercise, as I stated previously- I'm lazy! A full workout for me is literally 25 minutes in total- with 10 minutes of actual HIIT. I love stretching- which is the last 15 minutes of my workout- but I only stretch when I have to, so this workout is giving me good reason to do so. The day after my first HIIT workout my mid back was super tight so I made sure to focus some effort around stretching my back today.

The first time I did the workout was Sunday, and in my last post A Little Piece of Mexico I said I was going to do another workout but I ended up tiring very quickly (as of yesterday the bug has completely left my system- FINALLY, and my energy is back to normal- WOO-HOO!).

Since my son stayed the night with his 'Nan' I stayed up late reading a novel in the bath tub with half a bottle of wine- yes, half a bottle. Not a glass because when does this mama get to have more than a glass of wine with no kiddie around? Not often, so I take full advantage of my days when I get them.

I came across this article on twitter the other day and thought I'd share it as I had a cup of joe before my workout today and felt good doing so "5 Reasons to Drink Coffee Before Your Workout". 

Also, who doesn't like some good tunes when they workout? An excuse I used to have (I found it to be very logical) was I didn't have the right music to workout to, right? Who wants to workout in silence? Since I'm doing a hard hitting, 10 minute, sweat inducing workout I needed some hard hitting music to keep myself pumped.

Here's my NEW, and probably my very first playlist (usually my Mr. is my DJ- its still his music, but I'm compiling my own list from his tunes). I wanted to share it because I'm uber proud of it, and I think it rocks :)

1. Bad Kingdom- Moderate (super fav, and I will always start my new workout on this song)
2. Caller ID- Mat Zo (When I did a planking challenge last year I used only this song)
3. Hey Now (Arty Remix)- London Grammar
4. Pyrimad Scheme (Club Remix)- Mat Zo feat. Chuck D
5. Hindsight- Audien 
6. Karma- Sunny Lax

Since the workout only takes 10 minutes + whatever time you add in for your stretching this list is more than enough. Are enjoying this "life hack" as much as I am? 

Life Hack- Exercise

It has been too long since I've posted! And I cannot wait another day (I like to start my blogs off on Tuesdays- but I'm having blogging withdrawls). So here is a post to start off our week after a long hiatus. My 6 day trip to Mexico landed me in the hospital shortly after we arrived at home with a lovely bug, 3 days in a hosptial bed, and a week at my grandparents to help me look after my ball of energy 2 year old son.

This is where I tell you how naturally lazy I am at heart- because I am. 

Not a hard feat to admit. I can laze around in the sun all day if life (and Vancouver) permitted me to. I love hiking, river rafting, biking and snowboarding a LOT but it doesn't mean that I don't have to muster up every ounce of energy and will to actually get out there and do it. 

Sometimes if I'm hiking The Chief in Squamish to the second peak I ask myself "why oh WHY am I doing this again?!?" And then I get to the top and remember how breath taking the view is from such heights. 

(this photo was taken during a hike I did in 2009)

I've been talking about something for the past little while and it went a little something like this "I'm going to find a life hack for working out that actually works!" But I can't take credit for this one- I found it on Facebook! 

Let me introduce to you a new friend I will be becoming acquainted to this week called 

HIIT

High intensity interval training. 

Yes, this type of training is supposed to take LESS time than the normal 1 hour+ that people usually spend in the gym- and get you results FASTER! The lazy part inside of me is saying "YES! Lets do this!" And the motivated side is saying the same. As a mother of a toddler who is at his most active, curious and rambunctious state of his life- I have to fit a lot of "me" time into his nap time (which can range anywhere between 1-2 hours). And in that time I usually; clean house, cook lunch, blog, try to incorporate 15 minutes of meditation, and workout. Now all of that happens almost everyday except the last 2 which are incredibly important to this mama's life. 

So if I can fit in a HIIT workout for 10-20 minutes just before he rises I will be one FIT mama! I'm looking forward to it- are you? Come try out this easy (not so easy) 4 move HIIT workout for the next 2 weeks. I know it'll stick around longer but it gives my mind ease to have a set date (and its also awesome to have goals to work towards).

Are you like me and have been looking for this all your life? I'm pretty stoked to try this out. Whatever can get this lady toned and happy is good in my books! 

Video by: Insane Home Fat Loss 
Website: http://sixpackshortcuts.com/rdm3

Please let me know if you'll be joining me on this little adventure by commenting below!