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Monica Swanson

the grommom

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Health/Fitness

Diet, exercise, and Body Image: My Story, Part I {A VLOG}

by Monica 27 Comments

Hey guys!  First, a quick surf update:  Luke kicked off his first heat of Open division at Nationals today with a first place finish!  We are super excited as he goes into quarter-finals tomorrow.  Thanks again for all of the support--and as always, you can keep up on Instagram and Facebook for more timely updates. ;)And now....I'm  sharing one more archived post!  Here's the scoop...Though I know that most of my readers keep coming back for the family-related topics that I write about,

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Categories: Encouragement and faith, Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous

Weight Issues and Mind Games.

by Monica 15 Comments

Note:  As I am currently finishing up an ebook along the lines of this very topic, I thought I would pull out one more post that I published over two years ago on my blog...I'd love feedback on this, especially now that some of these ideas are being put into the book!  Weight Issues and Mind Games:  I am familiar with the challenges of finding and maintaining a healthy weight and body image both personally, and as I have worked as a personal trainer and fitness instructor over the years.

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Categories: Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous

Abdominal Exercises: The Mistake Most People Make, & How to Get the Results You Want.

by Monica 21 Comments

Most of you know by now that my workout routine has become rather minimalistic.  I look forward to the day that I might get back to five workouts a week, classes at a gym, training for races, and so on, but for now I just get in what I can.  And these days, that is usually a 3-4 mile run, and some quick resistance work, about three times a week.  It's enough to make me sweat, and clear my head.In this post I talked about why "spot reduction" doesn't work, (so make sure you read that!) but I

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Categories: Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous

Health and Fitness: Spot Reduction is a Myth. And the Truth about Losing Body Fat.

by Monica 13 Comments

Hey friends!So...I'm working on a couple fitness posts, where I plan to share some of the exercises I do in addition to my minimalist running routine. :)Because remember, I don't do a lot, but what I do, I do consistently...But then, before I could finish my first post about arm exercises, a fact hit me: A lot of people out there still believe in a little myth called Spot Reduction.  Or, even if they say they don't believe in it, they workout as if they did.And I just felt like

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Categories: Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous

How To Quit Being a Slave to Your Workouts, and Not: Gain weight. Freak out. (Or die.)

by Monica 22 Comments

Ya'll know by now, that my workouts have transitioned over the years from obsessive, to... barely at all.  Haha.  (I average three workouts a week.)  But I do laugh because I feel like I am in on a great little secret:  I discovered  that you really don't HAVE TO be a slave to your workouts to stay in shape and maintain your weight.I mean, I'm not competing in any body competitions or anything, but I quit being a slave to my workouts over twelve years ago, and my weight has not changed a

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Categories: Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous

The Key to Achieving and Maintaining your Ideal Body Weight.

by Monica 13 Comments

If you've followed my health and fitness posts, you probably know that about twelve years ago I made some really big changes in my thinking, which totally changed my life.  I left behind a lifestyle of obsessing about food and my body, and found freedom and a healthy weight which I have happily maintained ever since.I talked about it in this Vlog, and then followed up with a bit more detail in this one.  And I also opened my big mouth and started talking about writing an ebook on the

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Categories: Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous

Winter Juicing. Hot Ginger Tonic {and more.}

by Monica 20 Comments

Over this past year, I have become a big fan of juicing.  I used to be a pure smoothie person, knowing that using a blender (or my favorite--the vita-mixer) was the best way to keep the fiber and avoid the sugar spike that pure juices can give you.  I might have been a bit of a smoothie-snob.  But with all of the tropical fruit that we grow, I was striking out on blending some things...and I finally realized that some things are just better juiced! So I've finally found a happy place for both

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Categories: Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous, Recipes, Snacks and Smoothies

Life Hacks of the Lean and Fit Part VI: Talking to Yourself

by Monica 5 Comments

You know, we all do it.  We talk to ourselves all day long.We do it so much, we hardly notice we're doing it.  We mentally narrate our days, grumble under our breathe, and silently speak all kinds of words to ourselves--positive, and negative.Do you ever listen to your own words?Your words are powerful!  Being intentional with your words can literally shift the direction you are going in your thought life.  And your thoughts trigger feelings, which guide your actions.So when it

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Categories: Health/Fitness, Miscellaneous

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