Most Fridays on my personal blog, I participate in a blog meme called “Friday Fragments.” It gives me an opportunity to comment on all the assorted thoughts that run through my brain but might be fleshy enough for their own dedicated post.
Lately, I’ve had lots of of fragmented thoughts about what I wanted to post on Fit City. So I thought I’d just try a Fit Fragments post and see how that goes.
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Last weekend I was at my parents’ house for my youngest brother’s high school graduation. I love going to my mom and dad’s. What I don’t love is that as soon as I get there, I make a beeline for the kitchen and find all sorts of yummy-but-bad-for-me stuff to eat. Cheetos and ice cream and sugary cereal and marshmallow fluff. That’s just for starters. When I go there, I fall so easily back into the comfortable habits that made me an overweight kid and teenager. Do you have a place like that? How do you handle it? I wonder what kind of habits I’m helping my kids set? What will they come home and look for some day?
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On Saturday, we participated in the American Liver Foundation walk at White River State Park. I’ve been to the park on numerous occasions — to visit the Indiana State Museum, the zoo, the NCCA Hall of Champions. But I’d never walked the paved path behind the zoo. It’s shady and cool and lined with walls of Indiana limestone. I felt like I’d discovered a hidden treasure and thought that I won’t wait until some organized event to go back with my kids and walk through there. I also wonder what other pretty and free locations there are to go as a family. Have any favorite spots you’d care to share?
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The kids get out of school for the summer at the end of this week. I’m already dreading the battles over too much time playing video games, sitting in front of the computer and vegging in front of the TV. I would love to hear your ideas for handling this. (I’m sure being a firm and consistent parent has something to do with it.)
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The budget has been tight at our house lately. One thing that I’ve noticed is that it’s much cheaper to buy junky processed foods than fresh foods. I’ve been trying to keep my bank account and my family fit by going with generic where I can, shopping the produce sales, and stocking up on healthy stuff that’s on sale. The $10 grocery list has been a lifesaver for me on more than one occasion. I like it because with one or two exceptions, there’s not a lot of processed stuff on it. What are your fit and frugal tips?
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There — I think my mind just might be empty! Feel free to fill it up again with answers to the questions I asked in this post!
Tags: fit and frugal, unhealthy habits, White River State Park
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Love this, Amy!!
I’ve actually never been to White River State Park- I obviously need to go!
I used to think I spent more on healthy than on unhealthy… now I really only buy the healthy stuff. My grocery budget has gone down quite a bit now that I buy less boxed and bagged stuff. It seems like such a great deal at the time!! But the bagged, flavored rice compared to a small bag of potatoes… the flavored rice lasts one meal (and that’s with me not eating it) and a small bag of small potatoes will last 2-3 meals (and that is with me eating it).
Of course, budgeting for food goes a bit differently in our house becuase Jeff and I keep our money separate. So now his money goes for his own junk food. It doesn’t go in the family shopping trip cart anymore!
Maybe have this first weekend be a “Be Lazy, Recover from the School Year” weekend. Let them watch movies, play video games, sleep, be lazy. Then, set a date for period of time that will be electronic entertainment limited. Do it kind of like training to run- intervals, you know? So- 3 days lazy, 1 day active. 2 days lazy, 1 day active. 1 day lazy, 1 day active. 1 day lazy, 2 days active. 1 day lazy, 3 days active. Hmmmm…. It could be your own “Couch to Active Summer Vacation!”
My eat-til-you-drop location is my Mom’s lake cabin. When we go there, it seems like all we do is eat and drink. The house is at the bottom of a wooded hill, so there isn’t a lot of room to take a walk. We have to be able to take lunch on the boat, so we tend to get that processed junky food you are talking about. This summer I’ve decided I’m going to try and get out in the canoe early in the day. At least I’ll have some exercise in before I start eating.
Isn’t that what your parents pantry is for? I know my husband makes a beeline for the kitchen at his folks and I do the same. Perhaps we can just ask our parents to put padlocks on the cabinets when we come?
As for the summer….feel your pain there. I’m still trying to formulate a plan. I’m looking for a balance of scheduled and unscheduled time. I’ve still got time to figure it out though. With all of our snow days this year my kids don’t get out until the end of June.
My parents always have soda — which is my weakness. I don’t buy the 12 or 24 packs of soda because I would drink every one of them in a week, but my parents always have a soda. My in-laws are great cooks so I tend to overeat when I go there too, but that’s only a few times a year.
Re: places to walk or enjoy as a family. Hummel Park in Plainfield hits the spot. Playground, bike/walking path, small river you walk down to, concerts in the park, you can picnic there, etc. Also Plainfield Rec Center is awesome. Their outdoor water park is like $8.50 a person for non-Plainfield residents (or close to that). You can bring in your own food too so that saves a bunch and we have a whole day of fun.
Re: Summer ideas for kids. That’s a work in process. We’ve got some camps lined up, and I’m going to set some ground rules next week (ex. you cannot turn on any electronic devices until you are dressed and your bed is made, limiting the TV time, etc.). And I’m thinking about doing a Wednesday in the park idea where we choose a park we’ve never been to, pack up a picnic basket, some balls and go.
@Liz – Of course all those potatoes or whatever fresh has to be cooked, which is another challenge!
@Lisa – Totally jealous of having a lake cabin to go to. Early canoeing also means cooler temps, so it sounds like a good idea all around.
@B – The end of June?! I would go crazy. Sure, it’s work having them home, but I love being homework-free. When do they go back?
@Jennifer – Coming up with some house rules is on my to do list this week. Maybe we can compare notes.