Best of 2020 | Fitness & Wellness

Hi friends!  How was your Monday?  I was still waking up slow, but it’s back to the grind today because the kids go back to school.  That first day back to the real world after Christmas break is a hard one! Am I right?!

This time of year is also when many of us are craving a fresh start, especially in the fitness department.  I’ve been pretty good about getting my workouts in and eating my healthy prepped meals, but, I also went way overboard on sweets during the holidays.  I cannot resist Rhonda’s chocolate chip cookies!  I make several batches in December and they were sooooo yummy!

Today, I’m recapping the most helpful fitness and wellness posts of 2020.  I included several posts about planning and how to organize your day too, because without making a specific plan for how you’re going to reach your goals, you’re less likely to accomplish them.

FREE 30 DAY FITNESS CHALLENGE

This post was back by popular demand — our FREE 30-day fitness challenge!  I needed it, you needed it, and we all want to look and feel better!  Quarantine life took its toll on our mental and physical states – I gained about 6 pounds and could barely button my jeans!

Here, we challenged ourselves to workout for 20 minutes a day, 6 days a week, for 30 days.

HWH 30 Day Fitness Challenge #HWHMove20

GET FIT DONE 

Also, my Get Fit Done Fitness eBook is available for those of you that are looking to get in shape FAST, and at home!  You don’t need any special equipment, just a set of dumbbells and a ‘let’s do this’ attitude!  The eBook includes:

  • 4 Weeks of Detailed Workouts
  • Bonus 7-Day Fitness Restart Program
  • Visual Exercise Library
  • Modifications for Different Fitness Levels
  • 4 Weekly Meal Plans
  • 4 Grocery Shopping Lists
  • Meal Prep Tips
  • Recipes with color photos
  • 6 Printables to help you plan your day and reach your goals

I’m so proud of this fitness and lifestyle guide and hope it helps you reach your own fitness goals!  It’s normally $79, on sale now for just $31.

HOW I’M STAYING IN SHAPE & WHAT I’M EATING

After quarantined ended in Houston, I was happy to get back to my exercise classes.  Here, I shared my weekly workout routine and what I typically eat in a week.

Fitness, Black Tee, Leggings, Sweatshirt, Shoes

Tee • Leggings • Sweatshirt • Sneakers

WEEKLY MEAL PREP

Another thing I’ve been doing to stay in shape is prepping my meals in advance on the weekend.  I like to mix it up, but in general, I’ll typically cook a protein like fish, chicken, or lean beef, make veggies (I love zucchini, squash, green beans), and cook potatoes or rice.

I also make Greek salad or buy romaine and spinach and mix up my own salad with chickpeas and add some nuts.

WEEKLY ROUTINES & PRINTABLE

What I’ve realized this year is how important our ROUTINES are.  They help keep our house running less like a crazy town, and more like a soft place to fall. I wholeheartedly believe that routines help children thrive and feel safe because they know what to expect.  It also helps us stay sane!

Weekly Routines

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY & SANE AT HOME

I’ve learned over the years that a few basic things I do daily help me be healthier and feel more at peace throughout the day.  These essentials are: 1) wake up before the kids for some quiet, alone time; 2) exercise & eat healthy; and 3) get enough sleep.  I’m definitely not perfect in any of these areas and I do believe in being flexible, but for the most part, when I do these things, I feel SO much better.

Long Sleeved Lounge Top, Joggers

Joggers • Cozy Top

WHAT I’VE BEEN EATING & AMAZON KITCHEN ESSENTIALS

This post, I shared some really easy meals that I had been eating lately and they required no special cooking skills or much time to make!  And, at the bottom of the post, I shared all the kitchen tools that I used often that make all this cooking and meal prep so much easier!

Faux Tulips • Placemat • Dinner Plate • Similar Bud Vase

PLANNING THE REST OF 2020 (THE YEAR OF CHANGE)

Maybe at the beginning of 2020 you set some goals or intentions for your life and with everything going on, you’re like, “What goals?”

Life is definitely different now.  But now that we know that, we have to pivot and adjust.  Yes, our lives have been shaken up, but we can still look forward and think about what we want to achieve and how we are going to go about doing that.

If God put a dream in your heart, He can help you achieve it!  You have everything inside of you that you need.  You were destined to live a life you LOVE!  Don’t give up just because there are speed bumps along the way.

When I decided I wanted to be a lawyer, there were so many obstacles in my path.  No one in my family had even gone to college.  We had no money.  Beyond 4 years of collage, it was going to take an additional 3 years of law school.  But, I just said to myself, “those three years are gonna pass anyway! Might as well finish them with a law degree.”

Similarly, if you have a goal to get in better shape, don’t think of how much time it will take to get there.  THE TIME IS GONNA PASS ANYWAY!  I got in the best shape of my life in 3 months when I trained for two fitness contests.  Three months of daily dedication is a long time, but each day shows progress and before you know it, you are feeling so good about sticking to your goal that it gives you more mental toughness and tenacity.

YOU being proud of yourself is the best reward!

So, I urge you to think about what you want to achieve or how you want to spend 2021.  Literally take an hour to just dream and write and visualize.

KIDS SUMMER ROUTINE

Sure, there are times when structure and routines go out the window and you just hang out and play, but for the most part, I need a routine and rhythm to our days to function well.  I know my kids operate best in that kind of environment also.

I realized lately that my 10-year-old son has been staying in his room wayyyy too much playing video games and if I didn’t nudge him out of there, I’d hardly see him!  He’d finally emerge at the end of Summer and be taller than me! 

MY SECRET TO GETTING THINGS DONE

It finally occurred to me that I needed to make a routine chart for myself! As much as quarantine life has taught me that I need to be flexible and go with the flow, it has also solidified that I need the comfort of a daily routine to get (and keep) me going.

If I don’t have something written out regarding what I need to get done during the day, I literally feel like I am treading water or floundering about.  Like many of you, I’m working from home with my two kids and only have limited help from my mom since she started working.  

I definitely try to move with the ebbs and flows of life, but in general, things still have to get done! 

Exercise Dress

NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE 2020 | BEST OF ACTIVEWEAR

Whenever my friends pop in on the blog, you know it’s gonna be fun!  Here, Ali-Shaun, Tarah and I tried on the best activewear from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  Zella is my go-to athletic brand from Nordstrom, so I always see what’s new there.  Leggings are a Fall/Winter staple and this year, their amazing Live In Leggings, the 7/8 length, and new styles in print are available.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020 activewear

ME : Tank (Non Sale) • Similar Tank • Leggings | TARAH : Similar Tank & Leggings • ALI-SHAUN Tank • ALO Leggings • Sneakers

THE ALWAYS PAN REVIEW

The pan I use on repeat now!  It was one of my favorite things this year and yours too!

The unique thing about the Always Pan is that’s is basically 8 pieces of cookware – a skillet, non-stick pan, saucepan, fry pan, spatula rest, colander and steamer.  You can braise, sear, steam, strain, saute, fry, boil, serve, and store with just the Always Pan.  The icing on the cake is that it’s so dang pretty!

LOVES WINNER

A big congratulations to Jinny Smith in Massachusetts for winning my December Loves!   She opted for the value of the loves and was sent $400 via Venmo!

If you subscribe to my blog, you are automatically entered to win!  January Loves will be live next week!  Have a fantastic day friends!

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

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