health Archives - Thrifty Wife Happy Life

What I Eat in a Week- Making Healthy Lifestyle Changes

February 21, 2024 by Katie H.

A few months ago, my husband and I decided to make a few healthy lifestyle changes. We are both turning 40 this year and while I don’t feel that 40 is that old, I do feel that it’s the age when you start to realize that you aren’t getting any younger. We decided that we wanted to take control of our health, by making healthier choices. Today I want to tell you all about it and share what I eat in a week, what my exercise routine looks like, and how I’ve been able to maintain this healthy lifestyle for the last few months!

Working Out as a Busy Mom

October 2, 2017 by Katie Haller

One thing that I have been really bad at since becoming a mom is making time to workout.

I have a love/hate relationship with working out. I love staying active and I love the feeling I get after a good workout, but I hate getting motivated. My biggest roadblock to working out is time. I work full time and when I get home at night, working out is the last thing on my mind. By the time I make dinner and get Jack in the tub, I’m ready for bed myself. On the weekends, I like to go for morning walks with Jack, but it’s really hard to walk in the summer when it’s 100 degrees by 8:00 am.

This fall, with the weather changing, it’s making me feel like it’s time to make a change. I am really trying to make an effort to fit in some kind of quick workout as much as I can, that’s why I was so excited when Aaptiv asked me to do a free 2 week trial of their workout programs. I thought that this would be the perfect way to get me started on a good path of getting active and strengthening my body again.

Aaptiv is an app that has any kind of workout program you can think of. It is an audio workout with a personal trainer who will help guide and motivate you through your workout. The app has classes ranging from Outdoor running, elliptical, strength training to even yoga and meditation.

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The thing that I really love about Aaptiv is that they now have launched a new maternity program that is perfect for expecting moms who are looking to stay fit and healthy throughout their pregnancy. The new program has recruited top-tier talent to lead the design and development of the maternity program, including Kira Kohrherr of FitBump, yoga guru and author, Kristin McGee, and expert Aaptiv trainers who are trained and certified in pre and postnatal exercise. I wish I would of had this when I was pregnant with Jack, but I’ll have to save it for the second time around. They also have some great stroller workouts that I really enjoyed doing on my morning walks.

The thing that I really like about Aaptiv, is that you can workout anywhere and you don’t have to commit yourself to a long stretch of time. For me, the weekends are the best time for me to get a nice long workout in. That’s when I go for my walks and do the stroller workouts, but during the week, I’m crunched for time. I found that it was easy to pick out a quick 8-minute workout right after Jack’s bath time while he was playing. I liked how all the workouts that I tried were all quick and effective. I could feel a nice burn after only an 8-10 minute routine.

Whether you are an expecting mom looking to stay fit through your pregnancy, a working mom with no time for a workout schedule or maybe you are just someone trying to get a healthy routine started, I would highly recommend looking into what Aaptiv has to offer. You can download the app at the App Store or Google Play and start making changes today!

5 Free Ways to Get in Shape After Baby!!

June 3, 2016 by Katie Haller

For most women, one of the hardest parts of having a new baby is getting their pre-baby body back. It’s not easy. Every women’s body is affected differently by pregnancy. For me, my weight gain during my pregnancy was all in my belly. I remember when my baby bump first started to show, I could feel all my muscles in my abdomen stretching. There is no doubt that my baby really did a number on my abs. On top of the stretching of my abdominal muscles, having a c-section didn’t help much.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ashamed of my new mom body. I’m actually very proud of it. I grew a human in me for 9 months and I think that’s something to be proud of, but like most women, I’d like to lose the mom pouch as it’s called.

I’ve always been a very petite person and it never took me much to stay in shape, but things change after you have a baby. I think it’s important to set realistic goals for yourself. Remember that you just carried a 6 plus pound human in you. It takes 9 months to grow a baby, so it will take time to shed that baby weight. Don’t expect it to happen overnight. My goal is to flatten out my belly and get some of my ab muscles back that I used to have.

So how can new moms lose that baby weight and get back to their old pre-baby body? For me, I don’t spend money on gym memberships or expensive classes. I feel like there are plenty of ways to work out on your own. Here are some ways that I’m working out for free.

Walk/Run- I’m not a runner, but I do love to go on walks. I feel like there is no easier way to workout for free than walking or running. All you need are a pair of tennis shoes and you’re ready to go. It’s the perfect workout for new moms because you can include your baby. Jack loves his weekend walks with me.

Baby Exercises- I love finding ways to include my baby into my workouts. When I’m not at work, I like to spend every moment I can with Jack, that’s why including him into my workouts is a great way for us to spend time together. I feel like there is a big movement with baby workouts right now, so it’s easy to find exercise ideas. Here are a few great baby exercises that I’ve been trying out, here and here.

Workout Videos- If you’re like me, you might have a few workout DVD’s laying around your house. I like to use them to get a full-body workout from my living room. I have a few Jillian Michaels videos that always give me a great workout. I also like to use YouTube to search for new workouts. There are tons of great workouts on YouTube and it’s free.

Pinterest- Using Pinterest as a resource for workouts is a great idea! One thing for me when it comes to working out is that I feel like I have a lack of time to fit it into my day. That’s why I love finding quick workout plans that are easy and effective. I’ve been doing a lot of pinning of postpartum workouts you can check out on my Pinterest page (here).

Workout Apps- There is literally an app for everything. There are lots of different apps out there that will help you diet and help you get on a fitness plan. I’ve always used Map My Run to track the distance I go on my walks and it will also tell you how many calories you burned. Since I’m focusing on my core, I recently downloaded an app called Abs & Core Sworkit. It is basically like having your own personal trainer. If you’re looking to count your calories, my favorite app for that is My Fitness Pal. Find an app that works for you and use it. The great thing is that most apps are free, so you can try one out and if you don’t like it, just delete it and find another.

Those are my free ways I’m getting in shape after baby. How did you do it?

5 Simple Tips for Living a Healthier and Thriftier Lifestyle

September 15, 2015 by Katie Haller

I have to confess that I’m not always the healthiest person ever. I don’t work out nearly as much as I should, and I don’t watch how many calories I consume, but I do always try to be conscious of making healthy choices as much as possible. Sometimes it really is the little things that you do that can make a big impact.

I wanted to share a few very simple ways you can improve your lifestyle, and also save yourself some money while doing so.

1.) Park in the back of the parking lot

When you park at the back of the parking lot, not only is your car protected a little more from getting dings from carts or other cars, but you’re adding a few extra steps into your day without even realizing it. It’s something very simple, but you’d be surprised by how many people don’t do this. Stop driving around the parking lot looking for the closest spot and just start parking in the back.

2.) Split a meal when you go out to eat

The United States is guilty of eating large portions, especially when eating in restaurants. As much as I don’t always like to share my food, my husband and I will often split a sandwich when we go out to eat. We save money and calories at the same time.

3.) Cut out the pop

I used to drink diet pop all the time, but a few years ago I realized that we were going through pop at home so fast, that I decided to just stop buying it altogether. I still like a diet Coke or Pepsi here and there, but I save it as a treat, instead of buying it every week at the grocery store. I mostly drink water and I have to say that I feel much healthier now, than I ever did when I was drinking a lot of pop.

4.) Take the stairs

Why not take the stairs? Whenever my husband and I stay at a hotel, we always ask for a room on a higher floor, so we can get our quick exercise. You never have to wait for the elevator and it’s an easy way to get your heart rate up.

5.) Order from the dollar menu

I have to confess that I eat at fast-food restaurants. I’m guilty of this, but when I do I always order off the dollar menu. Not only is it the cheapest way to eat, but you eat smaller portions. Even though your eating unhealthy, you won’t feel like you pigged out too much on junk. One of my favorite dollar meals is the mini chicken quesadilla at Taco Bell on the dollar cravings menu. I substitute the shredded chicken for grilled chicken and the meal is only 180 calories.

So those are my short cuts. You’d be amazed how making small changes to your daily life can really help you live a healthier lifestyle while also saving you some money here and there. What small things do you do to stay healthy?

Pineapple Avocado Salsa Salmon

January 13, 2014 by Katie Haller

Lately, I’ve been in the mood for salmon. I love salmon! There are so many different ways that you can make a salmon dish. Ever since we got rid of cable, I’ve been watching a lot of cooking shows on the local stations. I am obsessed with the Live Well Network. There is this one cooking show I really like, called Mexico: One Plate At A Time. Rick Bayless is the host of the show. He is always making the most delicious looking Mexican dishes. I’ve been watching him make all kinds of salsas. I love unique salsas, with different flavors. I wanted to somehow combine my salmon and salsa craving, so that’s when I headed to Pinterest for some inspiration. That’s where I got the idea to make Salmon with a Pineapple Avocado Salsa.

Getting Back into Cooking

January 4, 2014 by Katie Haller

Ever since I got married, one thing that I really enjoy doing is cooking. I love putting a meal together for my husband and I. Before him, I was not much of a cook. Mac and Cheese were about the most I ever cooked. Now that I have someone to cook for I love it! Lately, I have been slacking on cooking. I have been working such long hours. I’ve been going through drive-thrus and ordering pizzas on my way home from work. My body can’t take it anymore! One of my New Year resolutions is to start making time for things, and cooking is one of those things I would like to make time for.

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