Baby Steps

DAY 1 - SHINE YOUR SINK!

I have to say, the group that I have put together on Facebook for this FlyLady Challenge has been overwhelmingly motivating!! In just the last two days I have already made new changes in my home that are seriously making me feel better about the habits we have for our family!

Let me first day that Day 1 was a HUGE success! Out of the 36 people in the group, 13 people posted their pictures in the group. I know more then that did the work, but THIS IS A BIG SUCCESS! On top of that, the support and encouragement among the ladies in the group is AMAZING! I seriously didn't expect THAT much interaction! Most people even found that it pushed them to do more then just their sink!

 

Some of the ladies' comments:

"I have to tell ya'll that after I shined my sink, it lead to me scrubbing my stove, which then lead to scrubbing hubby's bathroom sink and toilet and then I vacuumed the living room. Once I get started its hard for me to stop lol." - C.K.

"I am super happy about doing this and wanted to thank ALL OF YOU for motivating me to make that change! It cleared up space for me to display the awesome cutting board my husband got for me and made an open space for me to keep my oils for easier access!!" - D.M.

"Ok Ashley and ladies i finally got mine done actually my husband and I both did i did one side he did the other declutter together!!!! 8 glasses down before noon" -T.S.

"For anyone with kids (or husband) that needs a kind note as a reminder of the new rules........I put mine in a plastic sleeve and taped it where I knew everyone that can read can see it. This IS a water area and I didn't want to have to replace it daily.
Super excited that the kids are home from school and already following my lead!
Just had to share!" - K.I.

 

The motivation and support has been absolutely wonderful and carried on to day 2!!

DAY 2 - GET DRESSED TO SHOES, HAIR, AND FACE

and shine your sink

 

This one was more challenging of a day for most people. This is something most people don't do because, well, when you don't have to, you just don't. This is something that I HAVE to do in order for me to get the motivation to actually get  ANYTHING done.

 

If I don't have my shoes, the ones that lace up and tie, I find myself sitting down on the couch and not getting up. I also find that when I fix my hair and do my make-up I feel mentally happier. The phrase,

"When you look good, you feel good!"

really rings true in my life. I mean, who doesn't feel good when they are all dolled up. Today, all I did was put on a little eyeliner, a little lip gloss, and threw my hair in a bun and I felt like $100!

Some of the ladies' Comments:

"I didn't manage to get dressed the way Danielle did today but I didn't wear sweats and cleaned my bedroom. Babysitting 5 kids under the age of 5 didn't leave me much time to get all cute but tomorrow is another day!" - K.I.
"Dressed to my shoes. Until I have to change because my kid spilled or wiped something on me, lol." - A.M.

"So all dressed up....time to shine my sink and get ready to head to work. — feeling great." - A.C.

 

The motivation and support, again, was absolutely wonderful and I have a STRONG feeling it will carry into day 3!!

DAY 3 - Explore FlyLady.net

Get dressed to shoes, hair, and face

Shine your sink

 

Day three is a nice, relaxing day. You still have to do the new habits from Day 1 and 2, but the only other thing you are adding in is checking out the resources that are available to you at the FlyLady website. Not really hard to do this one. The main thing to focus on is finding tools that you will use regularly, like the Launch Pad, the Control Journals, and the Flight Plan.

 

 

 

Check in tomorrow evening for an update on day 3 and day 4's BabyStep!

 

 

 

Flying to declutter!

I love FLYing!

I have been a big fan of FlyLady for a while now. I have been using her habit building skills, aka FLYing, for almost 3 years. Some days are easier then others but it is a learning process.. it's a matter of learning how to not do something you have been doing most of your life and replacing it with a new habit.

Are you able to determine what is a good and bad habit in your daily life? They are typically simple things that you don't even realize you do. Things that later make you stand there and wonder how you got so much put on your plate and how you got so far behind in your house work. Luckily Flylady has put together a list of simple things that help people get organized, de-cluttered, and ultimately less stressed.

Because I believe so strongly in FlyLady and FLYing, I have decided to do a facebook group to share everything that I have learned from FlyLady's website and my experiances!

I am going through the FlyLady Getting Start, BabySteps, and Control Journal! This is the best way that I have found to get into FLYing and stick with it! Once we get through the BabySteps, Putting together everything for the Control Journal will be extremely simple.

Before we go any further I want tell you the number 1 tip that I have had to learn. YOU WILL NEVER CATCH UP. If you don't get around to doing something, do it another time. Don't stress yourself out by trying to squeeze it in somewhere else. If you allot for  15 minutes to clean a room, and you don't finish, try again another day. It doesn't have to be perfect, no matter what your OCD tries telling you.

Now, DAY 1, Shine your sink!

This is in both the "Getting Started" and the "Baby Steps" for good reason. The sink is typically in the center of your kitchen. It is generally the first area of your home that people critique when they visit (tell me you don't do it!). Did you know that when your sink is full of dishes, old food, and soap scum your kitchen generally looks messy as a whole? How about this, did you know that if your sink is free of dishes, clean, and shining your messy kitchen generally looks clean?

 

Doing your first "shining" will take a little more time. Once this is done once, you wont really have to do it again unless you start putting this off. Once it is cleaned, then it will be VERY simple to keep up with it. CLICK HERE for simple instruction on how to do your first "SHINING".  Once you get your Sink all nice and pretty, you have one simple task... KEEP IT THIS WAY! You eat, do the dishes right then, don't let them sit in your sink. Take pride in your work, even if no one else seems to care. Every time you go into your kitchen, shine your sink.


Now that you have day 1 done, do what you normally do, only remember to keep that sink shining! We'll be adding more to our new habits as we go along!


Danielle M. Montoya

References
http://www.flylady.org

 

Elf on the Shelf - The Shakeology -PICTURE- Challenge Group!

Hello Everyone! Another picture challenge group coming up!

Getting Started

Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, please be sure the following steps have already happened. 


1.) You have your Team Beachbody Account set up through me. If you are coming from a different coach, please be sure to contact me PRIOR to the start of the Challenge Group. I dont want your current coach upset with you participating in someone else's Challenge Group. If you need the link
----> for Danielle Montoya as your coach...

2.) Order your Shakeology NO LATER then November 21st to ensure that it arrives on time.
3.) If you ordered on Home Direct (HD for short, allows for free shipping and can be canceled by phone any time), you can start drinking Shakeology as soon as you get it! Your next shipment will come in on the same day each month. If you do not order on HD, wait until August 1st before you start drinking!

---Those who order Shakeology on HD through me will receive a free gift!

4.) Make sure you camera, phone, or tablet, is ready to go for Picture day! I will be posting the full list of themes on November 20th. I will also try to post the daily picture theme a day early each day.
5.) On or BEFORE November 28th, have someone help you take measurements. You do not have to share these and you can find what measurements to take by reading the "Measure Me Weekly" section of this blog .
6.) There will be no cleanse portion to this group.
7.) Make sure to read the rules section of this blog as well. Not much different then what is in here, but there are a few extras!!

RULES

This is a PRIVATE group... meaning no one can see who is in it, what we are saying or if this group even exists unless invited in. Let's keep the members in this group private. If you know someone who would like to be a part, please feel free to add them and make sure they follow these rules for the privacy of all our members. What happens in this group with someone else, STAYS in the group.

Welcome to the Shakeology Picture Challenge. Please mind the rules so you are not banned.

1.) No hating, bashing, or insulting. This is grounds for immediate dissmissal from the group and will NOT be tolerated.
2.) No recruiting for other products. This group is meant for for this challenge.
3.) Follow the Daily Theme. I will be posting a list on the day BEFORE day 1 and will TRY also post my photo with the Daily theme and a MEME the day prior each day.
4.) Please contact ME prior to inviting anyone to the group. All new members must be approved by an ADMIN.
5.) Be sure to post with the Theme each and every day. This is meant to be fun and I really look foward to seeing everyone's photos!
6.) The photos MUST contain you, your shakeology, AND you Elf on the Shelf!

Measure Me Weekly

You do not have to share your results if you are uncomfortable but recording them is essential to this challenge group!

Please refer back to this every 7 days to review and update your measurements to see your body girth changes.

This is the Document showing what areas and how to measure yourself to check your girth changes weekly. This is essential for showing you exactly how your body is changing. 

1. BEFORE PHOTOS - Take one from the front, back and side. Three photos total!
2. Weight - if you are able get down to the 10th of a pound. Example: My starting weight is 130.2
3. Neck :Across the Adam's Apple
4. Chest: Across the nipple line
5. Waist: the narrowest point below the rib cage and above the hip bones. (if no area is narrowest, across the belly-button.
6. Hips: feet together, widdest portion across buttocks.
7. Thighs: 10 inches above knee
8. calves: widest part between knee and ankle.
9. Biceps: widest part with arms extended palm facing foward.
10. Triceps: widest part with arms extended palm facing foward.

If you are interested, Danielle Montoya will be able to help you find your hip-to-waist ratio and/or your BMI from these measurements.

DoTERRA Essential Oils

As many of you know, I am searching to provide all things Health and Fitness. Well, this includes preventative health measures as well as healing. I have dabbled in a lot of different areas of health and fitness and have finally found something that I believe in just as much as Team Beachbody and personal fitness training. A few months ago I got into it and want to make sure that it was at the highest level of quality before I fully shared it with all of my customers.

doTERRA Essential Oils are legit! They work, they are pure, and they are AMAZING!! Before I go any further, let me tell you what you will be reading. First, you will read the back ground, paraphrased by me, of the doTERRA company. Followed by what essential oils are and how doTERRA is elite in the essential oil productions. After, I will tell you some of my personal experiences while using doTERRA in my home with my husband, children, pets, and myself. 

doTERRA... the word in Latin means, 'Gift of Life'. In 2008, a group of healthcare and business professionals got together to find a way to get a higher quality of therapeutic grade essential oils to the world. That spring they release their first 25 essential oils and 10 oil blends. Since then, they have released a number of essential oils, oils blends, Spa, nutrition, and cleaning products. They have picked up a wellness philosophy consisting of nutrition exercise, rest and stress management, reduction of toxic load, informed self-care, and proactive healthcare. Click here to see the full Mission Statement and be sure to check out the Introductory Video.

Now, to explain all there is not know about Essential Oils, I could be here a while. So, I am going to give you the quick low-down on them. First of all, Essential Oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and well, every part of plants. They are very clean, almost crisp, to the touch and are immediately absorbed by the skin. Essential oils have been used throughout history in many different cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic properties. Now doTERRA's oils are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG). This means they are the safest, purest, and most beneficial. Click here for more information!

Now that I have given you a little big of information here are a few of my experiences with the oils.

Lavender - This is an oil that my whole family uses, including the dogs! For the kids, I typically put a few drops on a wet towel and throw it in the dryer with their cloths and sheets for their bed. This helps with them calming and sleeping better. I also put it on their foreheads and the backs of their necks when they have fever. For the dogs, it goes on their bed's and toys. I also massage them with it in the evenings to help calm them down.

OnGuard - This oil I use on my kids when they are sick. A little bit on the bottoms of the feet goes a long way for fighting viruses. I also add it in my home-made cleaner.

Peppermint - One of my favorites. I put it on the bottom of my feet in the mornings to wake me up and in my Chocolate Shakeology (Mint Chocolate Shake!!! YUMM).

Serenity - This oil I use for myself to help me sleep. It helps with all around insomnia. I put it on my chest and forehead.

Deep Blue - This oil is use for ALL things pain. Post workout soreness, post surgery pain (NOT ON OPEN INCISIONS), bruises, pulled muscles, twisted ankles... all of it is soothed from this oil. It also comes in a roll-on and rub (lotion).

Balance - This oil is used for my anxiety and stress. A little bit on my neck, forehead, chest, and wrists.



The products are sold exclusively through Independent Product Consultants, or IPCs.

Find more information HERE.

A whole new world

I am living in a whole new world... In fitness that is. As many of you, who follow me of Facebook, know, I have been working towards being a certified personal trainer. Spare time went out the window, most of the work that I put into Team Beachbody went with it, my house even suffered because I wasn't cleaning as much as I normally did... All of that hard work and dedication has finally paid off.

On May 3, 2013, I am happy to say that I took AND PASSED my NASM certification test!

But what does this really mean?

Well, this means that I have a whole new service to offer and I will be making more time to work one-on-one with clients. This means I will be able to better help people who suffer from depression, stress, and anxiety. I will be able to better help people who suffer from S.A.D., P.P.D., P.T.S.D, and other major mental disorders. I will be able to help stay-at-home moms, elderly, and soldiers achieve their goals when it comes to health and fitness through more avenues then just Team Beachbody programs.

The sole purpose for me becoming a trainer is to help 'shut ins' (moms and elderly) get in shape and ward off depression. I, as a mother, know how hard it is to workout, stay in shape, GET BACK IN SHAPE, and be over-all happy with myself with having small children. I have three children under 5 years old myself. I want to help people BE HAPPY with their bodies, their children, their homes, and most importantly, their lives

What does this mean for my Team Beachbody business?

I am still an Independent Team Beachbody coach. Honestly, I do not think that I will be leaving Team Beachbody any time in the near future. I still LOVE their programs and suggest them when I can. The supplements are something that I will always suggest to people because I believe they are the best on the market. Shakeology... Hands down will always be my shake of choice. Their equipment, yea, there are cheaper places to get the stuff, especially living in Alaska (and I will tell my customers this everyday I can), but I will buy from them because I want to do whatever I can to support the company that I truly believe in.

What does this mean for my doTERRA Essential Oils business?

I am still an Independent Product Consultant. These products have reinvented healthcare for my family and they will not be leaving and therefore I will continue to offer them to my clients. These oils are used on everyone in my family and they have completely changed the way we view medications and changed our lives as a whole.

What is currently offered?

I don't have too much offered at the moment. I do have online training through Trainerizer. Prices vary upon goals and other variables (in-home workouts vs. gym workout; Video consultations vs. email consultations). You can contact me for information on this at the link provided at the end of this post.

I also offer nutrition assistance/guidance and exercise accountability through 411fit.com. This website does have free accounts availabe if you would like to try it out first! :-) Prices start at $15.00 a month and includes a monthly full-body exercise regimen (1-hr workout). You can also combine with other services through Team Beachbody, doTERRA, and online training to receive discounts. 

One last thing that I am currently offering is In-Home training. Prices vary upon what services you would choose. Fitness assessments start at $75 and last about 2 hours. This is needed prior to any training. One-on-One training sessions start at $40/hr and you can get discounts on sessions by purchasing bundles or through other discounts like Military and senior discounts.

FOLLOW UP LINKS:

Sign up for a Team Beachbody Account       

View Team Beachbody Products     

View Shakeology Information     

View Ultimate Reset Information

View doTERRA Essential Oils

TRAINERIZE ONLINE TRAINING

Freaking and Funny Shakeology Picture Challenge

Since my last Shakeology Picture Challenge group was such a blast and a great success, i have decided to do another! This one is going to be a full 30 days and start on October 1, 2013. 

Here is how it will work.

1. Sign up for your FREE Team Beachbody Account. CLICK HERE to sign up now!
2. Order your choice of Shakeology in a 30-day bulk bag. (order on HD, aka autoship, and get a free gift). 
3. I will add you into an exclusive PRIVATE group on Facebook (if you do not have Facebook, we can discuss getting you set up for a 411Fit account*.) where we will be doing out picture posting. There are rules posted in the group.
4. Starting October 1, 2013, start replacing ONE MEAL a day with Shakeology. You can use any recipe on your Shakeology recipe card or on MyShakeology website.
5. On October 1, 2013, the Challenge Group starts. I will then post a list of all the wacky-crazy-freaky themes that day for the photo. 

This group is meant to help jump start your nutrition and weight loss and/or get you through a plateau.

There is an optional 3-day SlimDown. You do not have to participate in the SlimDown. You are also welcome to cut the SlimDown to 1 or 2 days. During the three days, drink LOTS of water. The SlimDown is a LOW CALORIE "cleanse" that helps rid your body of toxins that cause fatigue, headaches, body aches, and all digestive complications.

I will post a list of the daily photos. Each day you post a photo, you MUST include you Shakeology. Some of these will have to be unique but this is mean to be fun and creative. If you choose to do the SlimDown, post photos for all the 4 shakes!

The end of November, I am hosting another Shakeology Group (Elf-on-the-Shelf themes!!) as well as a Fitness Challenge! So be on the look out for those!

Remember, Nutrition is where weight and fat loss come in. A major factor to getting that toned, sexy body.

Thank you for stopping in. I hope you come back and see what we have going on. I have blogs in the process for Challenge Groups, App Reviews, and information on Personal Training and Health and Fitness. In the near future I will be posting Challenges, Competitions, and FREE-STUFF!

Danielle M. Montoya, NASM-CPT

S.A.D. Fitness from S.A.D. to FIT

APP REVIEW : Cozi: Family Life. Simplified.

Cozi Family Organizer.

The #1 organizing app for the modern Family.

Review

There are a few apps that I use daily on both my iPhone and iPad, but there is only one that my entire family uses, husband and children alike. Best part, it isn't a game!

The Cozi Family Organizer lives up to it's name. It keeps the family life in sync with each other and is available as a desktop app and available in the Google Play Store and the Apple Store!

Seriously, it is set up for a color coded calendar. Choose a color for each family member and then it makes to seeing who is where and when at a glance. This is especially helpful for parents who need to know when doctors appointments and play-dates are.

When you add appointments, you can designate which family members are involved. Once you add in the appointment is it added into the "family calender". Everyone will have the option to see it once it is added.

Additional features in this app are to-do lists, shopping lists, and even a family journal that you can include text and photos that you can share certain posts over the internet as a "family blog".

The account and apps are free, however these are ad-supported. If you choose to pay $5.99 to upgrade to CoziGold you get the ad-free apps and many more features. Best part, everything works cross-platfrom...meaning, it works on the iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet...

Personal Opinion

I personally have found this app to be a life saver for both my family life and my business life. Being new to the business world and starting a new business, keeping appointments, to-do lists, and shopping lists in the same place as I keep everything for my home life is a lot simpler then keeping different apps or calenders for everything. 

I personally keep multiple to-do lists: my husband's home projects, my to-do list, my work to-do list, and even my "house-cleaning" lists. 

Multiple shopping lists: Husband's Project shopping list (with headers for different projects), my business shopping list, and household/grocery lists.

I dont use the journal all too often, but when I do it is for major events like holidays or fun little bets between me and my husband. :-)

Conclusion

Try this app out! It is worth the time and effort. I have been able to relax knowing that my family's schedules are all in sync. Have you already tried it? Comment below and let me know what you think?

Link

http://www.cozi.com

Winter-Prep Fitness Challenge

Hello All! Welcome back! 
If you live in Alaska, then you know that winter is not that far off. A few more months and snow will be back on the ground, the sky will stay darker longer, and that cold will chill to the bone. Let's prepare for the winter by teaching our bodies how to create more heat for itself all the time. Many people have heard me say that building muscle burns more calories, even when you are no longer working out... well, in doing so, you body creates more heat internally and externally... keeping you warmer longer! (No, it isnt going to make it to where you dont have to wear that down feather parka. There isnt much that will prevent that at -60.)

The Challenge Group starts September 7th and will end 60 days later. There is a second group, same challenge group and everything, but this is for the "late bloomers". It will start on the 22nd. Here is how it will work.

1. Sign up for your Team Beachbody Account. Again this is a Free Account.
1. For Danielle as your coach CLICK HERE.
2. This Challenge Group is a "Pick-Your-Poison" Group. I will personally be doing Insanity. Order your choice program AS A CHALLENGE PACK. (If you already have Shakeology on HD, then just order the program). 
3. Make sure to choose your flavor of Shakeology. It is a must for this challenge group!
4. Fill in your body stats in either your Team Beachbody Account or your 411Fit Account (exclusive to members signed on with Danielle Montoya). Make sure to take before pictures as well. These are a great motivator and actually SHOW you the results from all the work you will be doing!
5. I will have a PRIVATE group on Facebook (if you don't have Facebook, have no fear, I will also have a group set up on 411Fit for my members). This is where we are going to be posting our motivation and accountability posts. You must check in or your coach will be checking in with you!
6. From the day you receive your Shakeology, start replacing ONE MEAL a day with it using only WATER and ICE. We will get to the good recipes as soon as you know you are following your meal plans properly!
7. The day you receive your workout program, watch a couple of the DVDs and even try some of the workouts. This will help you guage how hard you will need to push, and will show you when you need to rest. Remember, "Do your best, forget the rest."
8. September 7th, the Challenge Group begins. Daily reminders will be posted to do your workout and you need to let us know when you finish them. Remember to drink your Shakeology Every day!
9. September 22nd, wave 2 will begin. This is for the people who didn't order their programs on time, or who have skipped too many workouts during the first 14 days.
10. I will also start posting different Shakeology recipes for people to try.

This group is meant to help you achieve your fitness goals. Whatever they may be. If you are trying to loose weight, make sure to drink the Shakeology daily with as little of added ingredients as possible, this will keep the calories lower. Still make sure you are getting the recommended amount of calories and DO NOT GO TOO FAR BELOW THAT! Getting too few calories can cause you to go into "starvation mode" which can cause different health problems

Remember 

good nutrition = weight loss

Exercise = Sculpting/Toning

As always, thank you for stopping in! Come back and see us as there is a lot of new, fun, exciting things to come! Here is a sneak peak as to what is to come:

• Road-Trip workouts and Campground Fitness
• PumpUp App Review
• SAD to FIT
• Being a Team Beachbody Coach
• Carbohydrates, Why are they essential to fitness?
• Logo Design Competition
• Supporting the Local Community
• 411Fit Account Review
• S.A.D. Fitness - Services
• Team Beachbody - Free Account VS Club Account

Keep an eye out!

Danielle M. Montoya

S.A.D. Fitness - Fit, Healthy, and HAPPY

24-day Shakeology Picture Challenge Group

Hello my fellow-fit-friends. Welcome to the new blog. To jump start this blog, I am going to invite everyone to join me in a 24-day Shakeology Picture Challenge Group. 

The Challenge Group starts August 1, 2013 and will end on August 24, 2013. Here's how it works... 

1. Sign up for your FREE Team Beachbody Account
1. For Danielle Montoya as your coach CLICK HERE.
2. Order your choice of Shakeology in the 30-day Bulk Bag. You don't have to order on HD, but if you do there are more incentives (FREE STUFF) for you.
3. Fill in your body stats in your very own 411Fit account (this will be set up as soon as you order your Shakeology and is exclusive to members with Danielle Montoya as your coach)
4. I will set up an exclusive PRIVATE group on Facebook (if you do not have Facebook, have no fear, 411Fit will also have a group) where we will be doing our picture posting. There will be rules for this in the group. 
5. From the day you get your Shakeology, start replacing ONE MEAL a day with Shakeology using ONLY WATER and ICE. (we will get into the good recipes I promise, just bare with me). 
6. On August 1st, the challenge group begins. Daily guidelines will be posted in the group and here on my Blog. 
7. On August 2nd until August 4th, we are going to start the Shakeology 3-day Cleanse. Below is a basic guideline on how the meals will go for those days. You will also receive this in an email. Also, on these three days there will be 3 pictures due a day. This is because there will be THREE Shakes made.
   
8. Starting August 5th, will start the last portion of the Picture Challenge. This is the part where you will be able to make the shakes however you would like. Personal Favorite recipe for me is the Chocolate Banana-Nutter with Vanilla. I will share recipes in the groups daily for you to try. 

This group is meant to help jump start your nutrition and weight loss. 

The 3-day cleanse is OPTIONAL. You do not have to participate in the cleanse if you do not want to. You are also welcome to cut the cleanse shorter to 1 or 2 days. During the three days we are doing the cleanse, drinking a LOT of water is REQUIRED! The cleanse is a LOW CALORIE cleanse that rids your body of toxins that cause fatigue, headaches, body aches, and all digestive complications.

I will post a list of the daily photos. Each photo you take MUST include your Shakeology in the photo. Some of these will have to be unique but this is meant to be fun. On the days of the cleanse, there will be a single theme for the day, however, you will need to submit three photos for each of those days because you will be drinking three shakes each of those days.

The following month we will be starting a 60-Day Summer-Fit Challenge Group of with you are all welcome to join in. The program will be of your choice. Shakeology is NOT required for this challenge group, however, it is recommended for the best results. 

Remember Nutrition is where weight loss comes in, Exercise is where you body sculpts itself to look good.

Thank you for stopping in, and I hope you come back and see us. I have a lot in store for you in this blog. Everything from Fitness App Reviews, to information about personal training, to information about health and fitness in general. I will be posting about more Challenge Groups that will be coming up in the future (like the Summer-Fit Challenge) as well as competitions and FREE-STUFF!

Danielle M. Montoya
S.A.D. Fitness from S.A.D. to FIT

Daily Life.

How does your day normally go? Do you have a lot of down time? Are you busy from the time you wake to the time you drop? Do you go by a schedule or do you do more of spur of the moment?

I am normally busy from the time I wake up, to the time I pass out. You see me on FB a lot, I do my occasional blog, I know but with the help of a smartphone and tablet, I can take it with me anywhere.

So how do I find time to do fitness or health related things? Well, right now, I'm not working out. I am in the process of refining my daily schedule. This is everything that I do each and everyday. Cleaning, cooking, pumping milk for the baby... Everything is planned. With three kids, routine and structure is a must. Their days are currently pretty spur of the moment but as time goes, this will change.

I have always struggled to keep up with house work because I focus so much on one thing and neglect another. I never thought to use the tools that my iPhone and iPad had in them. I use the calendar occasionally but that was it.

Here's where I WAS:
You know that feeling of complete and utter chaos? The feeling you don't want ANYONE near you but you have to because you are a wife and mother? Yea, that has been me. I can't seem to find time for the things I need but manage to still do nothing all day. People tell me, 'welcome to motherhood'. But I can't believe that motherhood is nothing but messes, chaos, and anger. So I ended up getting in a depressive rut. I couldn't seem to get out of it. The deeper in I got the worse it got. Housework was being neglected, my diet was done for, exercise, HA!, what's that?

Here's my turning point:
Got to my lowest around Christmas. I had to do something. So I got online and start researching different things that would help me. Of course, my searching brought me to something that I knew very well... FLYLady.org. An amazing site and full of great tools for time management, housecleaning, decluttering (both mental and physical)... I sat there and read page after page, bought her books on my NOOK, and decided to try some of the tactics she teaches... With my own spin.

Here's what I did:
I journaled my daily life at the end of every day. I looked at how much time I spent doing, well, nothing. I looked at how much time I spend cleaning, cooking... Anything that I did, I logged. I wanted, no NEEDED, to know where all my time was going. After I saw how unorganized and chaotic my life was on paper, I decided to start a routine. Nothing too crazy, just made a cleaning routine. This made it to where I can literally clean the ENTIRE house in 3.5 hours. But with three kids, this was a little redundant. I then started planning out my days.

Here is where I am today:
Though I am not 100% on where I want to be with my daily plans, I am getting closer. I currently have a day planned out from the time I wake up to the time I got to bed. You may think that this is a little over board, but if you struggle with everyday life as I do many days, this is a necessity. I have it now where I cook three meals a day for my whole family, I am awake before my kids to take care of me, I am making time to pump milk for my breast feeding daughter. I am able to clean the house to where it works for my children and husband.

With planning like this, I am able to enjoy my family at the end of the day. I am able to enjoy meals together at the dining room table as a family. I am able to know that at the end of the day I have accomplished SOMETHING. Which is something that I need.

If you are wondering what kind of tools I use for planning. It's all in one app which is for apple and android and even works on your computer. It is called Cozi. With it you can make to-do lists, shopping lists, post appointments for the whole family. It really is a life saver for an active family. Check it out at www.cozi.com