Healthiest Life 4 Me

Last weekend was Zack’s last game of the fall season.  And of course, the next season starts right up.  This time he is playing NJB basketball.  He is in Division 3, which is 3rd and 4th graders.  He was so excited to start this season.  Last time he played was in 1st grade and it was considered Rookie Division, which is basically an hour of learning drills.  He thought it was boring and didn’t get much actual time with the ball or getting instruction as an individual.  So he chose not to play his 2nd grade year because it would have been the same thing again.  When he remembered that he would be able to play on a team and have games, he was ready to play again.

We’ve had about 4 practices with a great dad as coach.  He is so good with the kids.  But you never know how you’ll match up when the games start because after all, you’ve only seen yourselves.  And while we’ve seen improvement in 4 practices, what does that really mean? 

We got to see how we stacked against another team today.it was our First game of the season.  We played a team of what seemed to be mostly 4th graders.  But it didn’t really matter because only 3 of the players really touched the ball.  And while those 3 players were really good, how sad for the other 7 kids.  What I was most impressed with is that our coach really taught the kids to pass the ball around and make sure that everybody had chances to touch it.  After all, isn’t that what each kid is playing for.  They want to play.not just be a body on the court filling up space.  It’s a lot of running up and down, up and down, up and down, to barely ever touch the ball. 

As a parent of a kid who just loves to play and be a part of a team.I APPRECIATE the coach we were given.  He has the right idea.   And I know you are wondering.we lost 17-35 (i think that was the score.because it really doesn’t matter to me).  I am most excited about what the coach said to the kids after the game.”I am proud of you guys.  You passed the ball the way I asked.  You played a good game.  Now we are just going to work on playing harder in the game.”  Thanks Coach Powers (not that he’ll be reading this, but just in case.) I want you to know that I am very happy that we got a coach like you.lead us through a great season! 

Let’s GO CELTICS!! 

Here are some pictures of Zack during his first game!  He is number 11 (funny story: I picked up the uniforms for the coach on Fri night.  He told me I could pick one for Zack and bring him dressed.  When I went through the uniforms, there were 5 youth mediums - which was the smallest - so Zack wanted to be 11 since he is always 2 or 3 because he is always one of the smallest.  So Zack is 11 and kids bigger than him are 3, 5, and 10.  I think it’s really cute):

What a great game Celtics!! Let’s have a great season!

While hanging out on Twitter one night, I saw a blurb about being able to do push-ups.  My curiosity took over and I asked why she was so focused on the amount of push-ups she could do and how many weeks she had to do it in.  @Kelownagurl responded to me with a website with this 100 Push-up Challenge. 

I have become quite impressed with my strength in the past few months.  And although I am struggling with my diet again, I am fully focused on my training.  So, I inquired at 100 Push-up Challenge to see what all this fuss was about.  And now have committed to this challenge.  The program can be as long as 6 weeks depending upon how many push-ups you can currently do. 

Here is how the program works:

1. Take an assessment of how many pushups you can do in one sitting.  Do the push-ups correctly and don’t cheat if you want the program to work. 

2.  Go to the website 100 Push-up Challenge and email Steve and let him know that you are taking the challenge and he will add you to the list.  Admitting to someone that you are taking the challenge will keep you accountable.  Recruit a physical partner if you’d like to report to someone physically each week.  Feel free to comment here each week if you want to have encouragement from me.

3.  Print up each week and follow the directions.  You do push-ups 3 times a week and depending upon the week you are told to start in and the amount you are capable of will determine how your workout will look each day.

4.  Follow each week without cheating.

5.  When you complete week 6, you will rest for 2 days and then you will try to do a set of 100 push-ups!

It may seem weird to have the need to do 100 push-ups, but the push-up is the most comprehensive upper body exercise that you can do.  And most importantly.it can be done ANYWHERE!!  You don’t need any special equipment or special facilities to do it in.  When executing a  regular push-up you are pushing 60% of your body weight.  When you elevate your feet and do decline push-ups you push 80% of your body weight.  Talk about upper body strength training. 

So let’s get started on this journey together.  And just because I am starting my program next week, doesn’t mean you can’t start yours anytime.  You will be so proud of yourself for the accomplishment and even with the way your arms take shape!

This morning started off slow.  I was behind schedule getting to the gym this morning because I had to take care of some room mom duties.  Worked fast and then off to the gym. Got a great workout in and saw a few old friends who are finally coming back to the gym.  Today was “shoulder” day.  Did 5 shoulder exercises, some abs and 50 mins of cardio.  Whew! Then off to some errands.  Had to go turn in paperwork and money for booth at family health fair in a few weeks, get some snacks at the dollar tree, then to get cookies for my daughter’s teacher’s birthday celebration at school, to the school for the celebration and finally home for lunch!
And that brings me to my food journal (which I hope to get to everyday).

630 am
5 egg whites
1 yolk
¼ c oatmeal
Supplements

8 am workout
10 am
Shake – iso extreme
2 sodium free rice cakes

12:30 pm
4 oz. ground sirloin
1 c broccoli
1 sodium free rice cake
1 tbsp ketchup
supplements

3:30 pm
Shake – iso extreme
2 sodium free rice cakes

6 pm
4 oz. salmon
1 c broccoli
2 sodium free rice cakes

9 pm
Shake – iso extreme
2 sodium free rice cakes (ok…kinda hooked on the rice cakes right now)

But the best part of the day wasn’t anything I’ve written about yet. This evening I got to feel like a kid again.  Of course, the reserved kid I have become at least.  At my son’s soccer practice it was them vs. the parents. OMG!!! It made me want to play soccer again.  See, before I became that fat girl in the pictures, I was an active young person.  I played soccer, and very well if I may say so myself, and I danced, and as a young adult my hubby and I played co-ed roller hockey.  I used to love to move and play sports.  I used to love to watch sports (ok…so it’s ok if that never comes back…I like my stupid tv shows).  So, today showed me that I wasn’t too old to have fun.  And a LOT OF IT!

The kids had so much fun!  The adults had so much fun!  The kids won (well, after we didn’t count about 5 goals, but hey it was all for fun, right).   I would like to point out however, that those dads from my previous post about soccer didn’t participate.  Again…not sure what could possibly be going on in their minds, but it would have been great for their kids.  The wives came through though…as if that would ever be a question…Let’s hear it for the moms…MOMS ROCK!!  Mom’s ALWAYS come through!  

Well, my son’s team in U8 of our Region is undefeated and yet somehow the family dynamics on the sideline is something that I find curious.  Each family sits far enough away from the other so as not to look unfriendly, yet are far enough away from each other that they don’t actually have to speak to the other.  This is the first time in 6 soccer seasons that I have experienced anything like it. 

However, weird as it may be.I kinda like it.  It is hard to be on the sidelines and listen to parents yell to the kid with the ball to pass it to their kid and their kid alone when sometimes another kid is in better position to receive the pass.  And when a kid other than theirs scores, makes a great pass to set up a goal/goal opportunity or stop a goal from happening against us, these few dads have nothing to say.  But they are loud and clear when their son does something right. 

That’s right, we are undefeated.  Not because we have a few good kids, but because our kids are learning to play the game together.  And while yes, we do have a few standouts on our team, they play well with the others.  The newer and younger kids on the team are learning a great deal from those who have been playing longer. 

But, hey DADS, would it hurt for you to cheer for the team as a whole.  I love seeing a kids face when he hears the whole group of parents on the sideline cheering out for him.  Especially those newbies who are unsure if they are doing the right thing.  When they make a great play, reinforce it!  Does it really cause you pain, random DAD?  Do you think it hurts your kid to have him hear you cheer out someone else’s name OR do you think it may help him be a better sport and better person in the long run??? 

Anyhow…Hats off to those of you who cheer for all the kids, encourage all the kids, and enjoy watching all the kids learn the game, play the game, and become better people and quite possibly, even become great MEN!