Category Archives: Health & Fitness

Recovering from Mono – What you can do to help

March 7, 2014

Recovering from mono can be pretty miserable. Here are some tips for those recovering from mono or for family and friends of someone recovering from mono. Epstein Barr or EBV is the virus that is responsible for causing mono (mononucleosis). While this is the most common association with Epstein Barr, the virus can also...

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Chocolate Raspberry Protein Shake

January 27, 2014

How are your New Year’s Resolutions going? Mine are going pretty well…I’ve lost 7-8 lbs in the last three weeks. Granted, I am coming down the “I just had a baby” slide that will soon flatten out as you get to those last ten pounds. It’s worth it though, right? Protein is such an important...

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New Year’s Resolutions and Why Diet’s Don’t Work

December 30, 2013

Meet Trey and Jenn (their incredible weight loss story is at the bottom) Okay, let’s talk about New Year’s Resolutions shall we? I know, I know, if you’re like me, as I’ve grown older I’ve just come to realize that the New Year really only reminds me of all the resolutions I failed to keep...

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My Hysterectomy: Part 3

September 12, 2013

“Hi, I’m here for the bladder test.” “Oh yes, just sign in here, please.” Photo credit: devianart I signed on the line, and took a seat. It’s always interesting to me, to sit in a doctors office and people watch. There were ladies sitting on the couches, holding their bellies, and reading magazines. Little kids...

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6 Healthy Lunch Box ideas

September 4, 2013

My oldest son started first grade last week and I didn’t realize how excited I was to pack a lunch box for him each day. It seriously has been a fun thing for me. Now you might want to ask me how much I love it in a few months, but for now it’s something...

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Megan
I love all of these lunches! For the pb&j sushi, even quicker than using flattened bread is to make them on whole wheat tortillas. No flattening required.ReplyCancel
Randi
I send my son with salad too and he eats it too! 🙂ReplyCancel
Misty
Awesome ideas. Thanks! Pinned. (-:ReplyCancel
Misty
Awesome ideas. Thanks! Pinned. (-:

I am wondering where you got the yellow green and orange cupcake holder looking plastic things you have stuff in. I really like them!ReplyCancel
- Melissa Hadfield
  Misty,
  I got the cupcake holders in the dollar section of Target. I think I bought them around back-to-school time so they might have them now. They have been so great for the lunchbox!ReplyCancel
Dawn
All those healthy foods and then a gogurt?ReplyCancel
Audrey
Man, do I wish I could send almonds / peanut butter / pistachios to school! It’s been two years since you posted this, would love to hear an update.ReplyCancel
- Kaede
  Wow where do you live that you can send peanuts and peanut butter to school????ReplyCancel
  - Melissa Hadfield
    I lived in Utah and now in Alaska and my boys have been able to bring peanut butter for lunch in both states. I love peanut butter sandwiches because they’re fast and my kids can make them, but I understand why they aren’t allowed. I haven’t ever had to research this, but are there other nut butters that are approved alternatives to peanut butter?ReplyCancel
- CJ
  My son’s school allows peanut products. His lunch treat is usually dark chocolate almonds. ReplyCancel
shell
Hi. These are great ideas! What container and lunch bag do you use? Thanks!ReplyCancel
Colleen
Regarding salads: another option is a chef’s salad with lettuce or spinach leaves, hard boiled egg cut up, ham cut into chunks, cheese, tomatoes…add pineapple or apple chunks.ReplyCancel
Colleen
Can also make fruit kabobs

another option is a chef’s salad with lettuce or spinach leaves, hard boiled egg cut up, ham cut into chunks, cheese, tomatoes…add pineapple or apple chunks.ReplyCancel
- Camille Walker
  Those are great ideas!ReplyCancel

My Hysterectomy: Part 2

September 1, 2013

Some people say that getting a hysterectomy makes them feel like less of a woman, somehow. I’m not sure I agree. I can see how this would be very emotional for a woman that wasn’t able to have children, that wanted to – and possibly other reasons I’m not considering – but for me, it’s...

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My Hysterectomy: Part One

August 31, 2013

“Now, just undress for me from the waist down, please.” I looked over at the uninviting, cold and scratchy looking sterile table – and shuttered. How did I get myself in this predicament? Oh ya, I’ve had five babies – all of which had made their mark on my once young and flawless body. When...

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Weight Loss Update

August 11, 2013

Weight loss progress update: (to read my previous post and get 30 awesome workout songs click here) This week went pretty darn well. I’m down another 3 lbs which puts me only just shy of 10% of my body weight lost. I’ve also lost 10 inches between my waist, hips and thighs! Just to...

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Aleesha
SOunds like you have a great plan! You are such an awesome example! I am hoping to get started on an exercise routine, but keep putting it off everyday and I really need to do it for my health. What keeps you motivated to do it everyday?ReplyCancel
Cassie
Hey Leesh! Thanks for reading! The biggest thing motivating me right now is the team competition. I’m in that challenge competing together with my family and when I’m tempted to not workout, or to get an extra scoop of peanut butter, I remember that I do not want to let them down! And then the next thing is our trip to Hawaii. I’m planning to have our family pics taken on the beach, so giving myself a timeline to aim for is also really motivating!! I know I won’t be to my final goals by then, so when we get back I think I will attempt my first 10k…or mini-triathlon. I think having something that I’ve paid for and HAVE to train for will also keep me motivated.

What have you been trying??ReplyCancel
Krista
Hello, Cassia!

I LOVE to read the posts you write. I haven’t commented until today, for some reason I felt the need.

First, you’re going to Hawaii?? I’m SO jealous. And family pictures on the beach? What? How do I get on that? haha!

Second, exercising is definitely not easy. It is a constant battle. I find myself literally laying on the floor in tears asking myself why I let myself get ‘this far’ and why ‘can’t I just get the results I want now’. I’ve been working out consistently since February 7, 2013-5 days a week, sometimes twice a day. I wasn’t willing to change my eating habits back then because I LOVE food and knew I wasn’t going to stick with it. I wanted a lifestyle change, not a diet. Yeno?! I lost about 10lbs from February-July. In 5 months I thought I would see more results than that. I was so discouraged.

At the beginning of July I was given the opportunity to purchase Sean T’s (Insanity) new workout DVD’s, called T25. It was a challenge that I was able to participate in. I was elated. I knew I could do better if I was pushed and held accountable by other people and not just myself. I started July 15 and the challenge ends on September 20, it is a 10 week program. When I first started I was eating whatever, whenever. There were so any people getting great results but I wasn’t moving anywhere. I was doing T25, playing bball some days, Zumba and jogging. I was exercising so much and still not seeing the results I wanted and that was when I realized I HAD to change our eating habits.

Oh boy! Has it been a challenge. Like I said before if I had to change my eating habits it had to be a lifestyle change or I would NOT stick to it. I’ve been researching ‘clean eating’ thinking that was the route I’d like to take. I’m not willing to do everything organic so I knew I would have to make some adjustments, which meant it wouldn’t be strictly ‘clean’, but I knew it would be better than what we were putting in our mouths before. We are only 2 week into the clean eating and my family hates it. I’m not going to give up. I’m just going to try a little harder, find better recipes. A lot of people have success losing weight and have changed their ways of eating when it comes to ‘clean eating’, so I know they aren’t miserable and hating the food they eat or they wouldn’t do it, right?! Maybe the problem is me. Ha!

Anyway, since starting my exercise journey in February I’m VERY pleased and proud of the goals that I’ve made and that I have accomplished thus far. Although, I said I wasn’t getting the results I wanted I was still getting RESULTS. That is key and something I need to keep reminding myself. Results are still results, regardless of the size. 😉

I will share with you a few of my goals.

1. Get off the couch… THAT I DID!
2. Exercise at least 3 times a week, totally doable. I DID. And sometimes 5 days a week, twice a day depending on what is going on.
3. Find a love for running. Oh man did I hate running. HATE! I Pushed and pushed and pushed myself to keep running even when I dreaded it. But I wanted to find a love for it. So bad. And guess what? I HAVE! I don’t get to run often because my husband is busy after he get off work and can’t take care of the kids, so when he can, I’m off. I take full advantage to get the gravel beneath my feet. 🙂

4. Sign up for a race. I’m not a marathon runner, or even a half marathon runner. I’ve HATED running. Always have. Until I found a love for it. I wanted to run a 5k or even a 5 mile race, but that was pushing it. August 3, 2013 I ran my FIRST 5 mile race. And I didn’t stop. It was difficult, but nothing compares to running across that finish line.

5. Mini-Triathlon. This is a HUGE (emphasis on huge), goal. Mabe even a long term one. I’m not sure I will ever accomplish this one because it terrifies me, but wouldn’t it be cool?!

6. Get out of my pre-pregnancy jeans. I’m not sure why I haven’t met this goal yet. It seems weird to me since I HAVE lost weight. Maybe my hips got bigger with my 4th baby? It is still goal.

These are just a few of my goals that I wanted to share. They are not all of them, but a few. I’ve met A LOT of them already this year and the year is only half over. I love it. And I’m proud of my goals this year.

Now that I took up your entire comment section you can delete this after you read it. Thanks for letting me share. Everyone wants you to accomplish goals. They are important. And it CAN be done. It is nice to be held accountable to other people as well and not just yourself. But yourself IS enough. 😉

Good luck, Cassia. Wish we lived close so we could meet our goals together.ReplyCancel
- Cassia Denton
  I totally appreciate you commenting Krista! Take up all the space you like!!!! It’s always so nice to know I’m not the only one on this journey.
  
  It’s funny you mention the T25 program. I was really interested in joining, but I JUST barely bought the tapout program (which is WAY too hard for me, but I do it anyway lol) and have been following Powell’s book I mentioned. I didn’t really want to spend another $180 a month right now while I’m saving up for Hawaii too. I’m glad to hear that you really like it. I know that when I’ve been successful is when I really switch things up every 8-12 weeks, so I will probably get the T25 program when I get back from my trip.
  
  I definitely understand how vital the diet portion iS!! Jeez. I wish it weren’t so. I’ve lost weight before by diet alone….and I mean, SUBSTANTIAL weight loss too. But when I did that…well..to be honest, I have an entire post series I could and likely will write about that experience…I lost the weight, but it was a really negative experience.
  
  Back to the T25, I’m guessing if you’re in the program right now, you’re doing the shakeology? Do you like them? I have to say, I REALLY like the diet from Powell’s book. It is definitely something I know I could do the rest of my life, and I plan to. I like the carb cycling and now that I’m going onto 3 weeks into it, I’m finding it easy to follow without thinking much about it; plus, the reward day is nice, and realistic. LEt’s be honest, I absolutely will not swear off all brownies for the rest of my life, but now I can reign in my cravings and stick to it just the once a week after a job well-done all week long.
  
  Keep me updated!! I LOVE hearing about other people working on bettering themselves; it really encourages me to keep rockin’ it every day. 🙂ReplyCancel
Krista
Yes, you’re definitely not alone. After four children and one back to back pregnancy my body really hates me. Ha! I’ve got a lot of work to do.

I do like T25. Realistically I love it because 25 minutes a day is do-able. Anyone can do 25 minutes. Perfect for parents.

Yes, I’m doing shakeology right now. Problem is. I can’t continue it. I can’t afford to spend $138.00 p/month to supply it. It is not in the budget. I’m sad because it is a great supplement, but it is incredibly expensive. If I had the money, you bet I’d keep it around. So, I’ve gotta find a different supplement when this one is gone. *heavy sigh*

Maybe I should check out the diet from Powell’s book. Or at least read about it and see if it something I would ‘stick to’ for good, and not for a short time. If you’re 3 weeks into and feel you can do without event thinking about it, that is great. Exactly what I need.

I too, will never swear off the sweets in my life. But everything in moderation, right?! Or at least I’m learning to tell myself that and train my brain that way. CTM

I will be checking in from time to time to see your progress. I have pictures of me in February till now. Not a huge difference but they work. I would be willing to share them with you, if you’d like. I still have A LOT of work that needs to be done.

I have pictures of me when I started in February, to the most recent (yesterday). If you’re interested I could share them with you. Keeping in mind I still have a long way to go. I’m excited what they will look like come September 20, but that is not the end of my journey, just a start to a new one. =)ReplyCancel
Krista
^ Oh dear, you can totally tell I stepped away for a minute and came back to finish what I was writing… Oops! Repeats are good, right?! CTMReplyCancel
- Cassia Denton
  HAha, I’ve done that lots!! 🙂
  
  If you’re looking for a good supplement, I do the gold standard whey protein (I posted a link in the post so you can check out the contents and price), which I usually get from GNC with my membership since you get 20% off…but I think that the amazon price is the same as gnc’s 20% off?? maybe. plus, with amazon prime, it’s free shipping, which I like since it’s sometimes hard to get out with twin toddlers and a 3 year old! lol
  
  Yeah, that shakeology is pricey!
  
  I would totally love to see progress pics!! If you want to send them privately, you can send them to my email, just cassiadenton AT gmail DOT com or if you wanna inspire others too, you can post them on MyMommyStyle’s FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/MyMommyStyle
  
  I actually have seen quite a bit of progress…but I haven’t been brave enough to share my “before” photos…It’s like, I just wanna pretend it never happened. Because I actually GAINED weight AFTER the twins were born…ugh! Who does that?? this girl, that’s who.ReplyCancel

Things that are finally helping me lose the weight & mix tape

August 5, 2013

First things first, with all the love in my heart, I made you a mix tape! Well…sorta. At the bottom of my post I’ve listed my current favorite Workout/Energy Boost music playlist and you can download everything DRM free! UGH iTunes, why must you make me hate you so much? (DRM-free is the only...

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Perfect After-workout meal; Healthy Egg McMuffin

June 13, 2013

My family and I have been eating this delicious breakfast for years, when one day I read a Women’s Health article (sent to me by my sweet sister) about the great health benefits of all these foods combined. It touted all about how THIS is the perfect after work-out breakfast! And so I’m sharing it...

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