Healthy living and the Ballard family 5K

After I had Noah, I was feeling pretty crummy, as most new moms do, about the weight I had gained and how I felt in my clothes.  So I'm doing something about it.  I'm also grateful that Mike has started working with me.  In fact, he's kicking my tush in the weight loss department.  We started out by organizing a "Biggest Loser" competition with the Wilson/Jensen family.  It was pretty good race and VERY motivating.  Accountability has been huge.  Kim won the competition, Mike came in 2nd (20 lbs lost!) and I came in 3rd (10 lbs lost).  We're feeling great, eating healthier and we just started running 5K's.  Part of my weight loss plan has been drinking green smoothies.  I love them!  They actually taste really good and it gets me to drink a ton of fruits and veggies all in one shot.  I even crave them.  This is the "Hot Pink Breakfast Smoothie".  Strawberries, carrot, beet, coconut water, cashews, dates and vanilla.  Soooooo gooooood!

We also bought me a bike a few weeks ago.  I'm still kind of shaky on it but I love the cross training.  How did I get so old and out of shape that bike riding is a real work out and not the recreation/fun activity I remember it being when I was a kid??  So one of these days there maybe a duathlon or triathlon in my future.

Kevin and Diana have also been doing a lot of running lately so they organized the first annual Ballard Family 5K fun run.  I was bad at taking pics so the only one I have is a pic of the cake I made for it.

We've still got a long ways to go with our goals but so far it has been so rewarding and something I hope we can all stick to.  We just have to keep remembering how good we feel right now!