Where My Fitness Journey Began!

I was extremely lucky to meet my husband when I was only 17 years old and within a year I was married. Yes ladies that means at 18 years of age I was already married, SCARY. And my husband farms and ranches with his family which means I moved from a small town to a rural area east of Colorado Springs. The closest town is thirty minutes from our home. At this point in my life I was thin yes but was I healthy probably not. In all honesty the body I had at this point was probably very little muscle and mostly fat. I found out I was pregnant with my first child about a week before I turned 21. Like most first time mom’s I did everything by the book. I was a first year teacher and walked everyday during my planning period and ate exactly what every parenting magazine told me to eat so my child would be perfect. Following the birth of my oldest daughter Riley, and girls she was close to perfect, fitness was not on the top of my priority list. My life completely revolved around my new baby. My other issue is that we wanted more than just one perfect baby. It is hard to get motivated to lose weight when you know you will be putting all of the weight back on within the next year or two. Well our plan was within the next year or two but Riley was only nine months old when I found out that I was pregnant with our son. After Wesley was born, almost perfect baby #2, we decided our family was complete and I decided I needed to do something about my saggy, rolly body. I enrolled in water aerobics and was dedicated to getting back in shape. Girls I worked hard and got my body back for about a year until SURPRISE I was pregnant with my third, my Charley girl. This last pregnancy I gained much more weight than I did with the first two. I never really walked because I was so busy with two other little ones and nutrition became more about eating the leftover cheerios and macaroni and cheese off of my children’s plates. All of a sudden that small amount I gained with Riley and Wesley turned into a much larger amount with our third child Charley. Ladies, this is when I truly believe my fitness and nutrition journey started. I knew that I needed to become healthier to keep up after three kids under the age of four and I knew that I had three kids depending on me for their nutrition, their exercise, their well being and their health. I stayed home with them for eight years. When I decided to go back to work my Charley girl was in preschool. But as I always tell my kids I stayed home with them until they went to school and then I followed them there myself. All I know is that from this point on I am dedicated to the health of myself and my family.

Since it is Thanksgiving next week I want to share a recipe I recently tried and LOVED! After devouring it I thought it would make a great side dish for Thanksgiving. It is from the Beachbody Ultimate Reset Program and is called Roasted Root Medley.
HAVE A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Roasted Root Medley
Chunks of Yam, Onion, Beet and Carrot
Olive Oil
Himalayan Salt (to taste; optional)
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine yam, carrot, beet, onion, oil and salt (if desired); mix well. Arrange vegetables in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until tender, turning once or twice.