30 Day Husband Challenge Day 1 & 2

So I was finally scrolling through the blogs I follow and I came across this on Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, and it just really hit home.  My hubs is amazing but I know since becoming a mom I have been really nit picky with him and I need to work on that so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to remind him how much he means to me. Check it out on her blog and link up if you're interested!

30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge - Day 1 & 2

Day One:

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." Prov. 31:11-12

To help you get started, have you ever thanked your husband for "choosing you" above all other women? He found you attractive as a person, and appreciated you. Though many circumstances in your marriage may have changed, let your husband know that you are glad you are together, and that you want to be a blessing to him for the rest of your marriage. Let him know that he can trust you to be in his corner.

One of the best opportunities to express your gratitude is first thing in the morning. How do you greet your husband each morning? Is he confident in your love? Give him a "wake up call" that he'll never forget-a big "I love you" and an "I'm so glad I'm your wife!"

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It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day activities of everyday life and I know how important it is just to give a cheerful good morning.  And yet lately I know I have not been very good at doing so.  

So this morning I made sure to wake up before he left for work, give him a big kiss and tell him to have a great day!  Just set the tone for a good day!

Day Two:

" . . . through love serve one another." Gal. 5:13b

How did you do yesterday with your first day of blessing and encouraging your husband? Was it easy? Was it hard to hold your tongue when you wanted to say something negative? We hope you're off to a good start. (If you blew it, don't give up start again today!) There are so many practical things you can praise, if you look for them.

Today, find some way that your husband is serving you or your family. Does he help around the house? Take care of the car? Fix things that are broken? If your budget allows, give him a new, small tool with a big bow attached. But make sure he doesn't think it's part of a "Honey Do" list!

Maybe your husband's not a handyman, but does he run errands for you? Let you go first? Take care of you when you are sick? Help you make decisions? Praise him for his willingness to serve others. Let him know that you see his unique service as a great strength.

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My hubs can and does do so many things.  He is so incredibly talented, I am really not sure there is anything he can't do.  But I often take that for granted so I have made up my mind to appreciate everything he does!  

Guest Post: Moore from Katie

Getting Your Body Back: Diet and Exercise Tips for Postpartum Women

A mother's body changes outrageously over the course of the 9 months of pregnancy and many women are left with extra pounds in places like the hips, breasts and even arms. Media moms, like actresses and singers, that get their bodies back quickly after pregnancy can be deceiving; most famous moms have nannies, trainers and personal chefs armed with the tools to make them their old selves quickly and should not be our role models.

So what is the average mom with a packed schedule and without an army of help to do? Is there any hope? Fortunately, with a few tips and habit changes, any woman can be successful in losing weight and inches.

The most important thing a new mom can do is to take her time beginning a routine. If the delivery was a vaginal delivery, strenuous exercise should wait 4-6 weeks when until she is cleared by her doctor. Just like your doctor gave you information on pain management medicine, circumcision, and maybe even cord blood banking; the doctors are the experts and they know what is the most effective and efficient way to remain healthy while trying to loose the extra pounds.

I know I was tempted to workout during the first few weeks after giving birth, I just wanted to have my old body back. During that time of waiting, kegel exercises and short walks around the home were the extent of my exercise routine. For more light exercise tips for the first few weeks, many hospitals have websites providing exercise ideas and tips. Remember to start slowly and stop when winded or light-headed.

Before exercise routines can begin again, you can make dietary changes to jump start weight loss. Make sure to follow all caloric recommendations if breastfeeding because it takes more calories per day to make enough milk for the baby. Otherwise, these changes can also be utilized by anyone seeking a healthy lifestyle. Adding fruit and vegetables and cutting out certain fats and sweets helped me to start to yield results. I increased my fiber intake by eating whole wheat bread, oatmeal, and whole-wheat pastas that were more filling. Yogurt and light cheeses such as skim string cheese were my favorite healthy snacks!

After I was given the green light for exercise, I started slowly and tried for at least 30 minutes to one hour of exercise 3 to 4 times a week for weight loss. In addition, short walks throughout the day with my baby in a stroller allowed me to get some fresh air in addition to exercise. My advice: work up to the longer workout and don't beat yourself up if you can't do as much. Short bursts of 10 minutes can be just as beneficial. Try doing a toning video for 10 minutes while the baby naps. Clean the house for 10 minutes after the baby is down for the night. A 10-minute rotation of jumping jacks, pushups, squats, and running in place in the morning can jumpstart cardio.

Kickboxing videos, hip-hop classes at a local gym with childcare and treadmill runs are good cardio choices for longer workouts when ready. Mostly working on cardio, with toning and light stretching rounding out the workout, can put any mom down the path to the best body possible!

Katie Moore wrote this article. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche.  If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26.