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Back to school? Back to healthy!

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September is almost over. Thank goodness. It’s only my second year dealing with it with my kids, but the back-to-school transition is always tough, isn’t it?

Routines change, I’m struggling to work around my daughter’s activities, and allergies and flu season are looming. It’s intense. There is just SO much going on that it becomes easy to fall back into bad habits health-wise!

I’m determined to make my way back to a healthy lifestyle, however. I’ve downloaded a shopping list app to my phone to help make grocery shopping easier, filling my grocery bags with nutritious produce instead of a bunch of convenient junk foods. I just ordered a fancy new digital bathroom scale to motivate myself, and will go back to wearing a pedometer everyday. Every step counts. I’ve stocked up on school supplies because my kids love school so much they want to “play school” even at home, which is preparing my youngest for Kindergarten next year, without her even realizing it. I’m starting (and often ending) my day with a nice cup of hot tea instead of guzzling multiple cups of coffee a day. Baby steps. Baby steps…

Parents.com has always been a trusted resource for parenting tips and advice, since before my kids were even born. Right now, you can share your moments of struggles and successes in maintaining a healthy lifestyle with them, for a chance to win $300!

Also, visit HealthIs.Aetna.com for more helpful tips on living smart! With access to advanced tools that help you lead a healthier lifestyle and save money, it’s a great resource to help you get a handle on your and your family’s health and health care costs, helping you make more informed decisions. You can even estimate your out-of-pocket medical expenses with the online calculators.

WIN IT! Giveaway closed.

Share your tips on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle through the transition from summer to fall for a chance to win a great “Back-to-School Wellness” package compliments of Parents.com magazine. The package comes with a pedometer to help you measure your daily exercise, a $100 Visa gift card to stock up on healthy groceries, a $50 Staples gift card to help you replenish your kids’ school supply needs, and an assortment of Yogi Tea to help you relax and get those antioxidants flowing. An amazing prize valued at over $175! To enter to win, comment on this post with your tips.

For extra entries:

  • Subscribe by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do). 1 entry
  • Follow me, @ohMariana, on Twitter & tweet me your tip with the hashtag #BackToSchoolParents one time. Use the Tweet button below, or copy this: Win a Back-to-School Wellness prize pack from Parents.com at The Domestic Buzz- valued at $175+! https://ohsohungry.com/?p=14701 #BackToSchoolParents – 1 entry
  • Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook and share your tip on my wall. 1 entry

P.S. – Remember Parents.com is hosting a similar giveaway (with a $300 prize) here: parents.com/live-smart, so go enter that, too, if you’d like!

Disclosure: Parents.com provided me with my own wellness package, as well as the giveaway prize. Giveaway entry period ends Friday, October 7th, 2011. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry and a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vitamins, exercise, hand sanitizer, and sunshine. My daughter takes her daily vitamin, goes outside and gets exercise and sunshine daily, and carries her hand sanitizer everywhere to keep her hands clean!

  3. We try to make the transition easier by keeping summer bed time within an hour of school bedtime, then transistioning back a couple weeks before school starts. We also make sure our grandson gets some outdoor time when he comes home from school and let him help decide what goes in his lunch. When he helps pack it, we know he’s more apt to eat it!
    someluckydog at gmail dot com

  7. Exercise, water, veggies and fruit are our must-haves for maintaining a healthy lifestyle through the transition from summer to fall

  11. We try to keep a similar bedtime routine on the weekends and holidays as we do during the school week. We try to eat healthy, get enough rest an sxercise.

  16. Excersice-walking esp. here in New England while in the midst of the Fall season- nothing better than a crisp Autumn day!!

  20. To help fight the flu, (and it is going to be a bad flu year), get extra vitamin D, it is proven to help fight the flu. Make it a practice that as soon as kids walk in the door from school, they either wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

  22. Great weather for biking and jogging! Also all the pumpkins, squash and sweet potatoes are in season! Great food for health

  24. Before the school year starts, we stock up on hand sanitizer, hand wipes, and vitamins. I also donate hand sanitizer to the classrooms my sons are in.

  30. When the kids go back to school, it’s so easy for them to start bringing home bugs/germs. We all carry and use hand sanitizer as well as boosting up on our Vitamin C intake.

  32. I always have fresh cut up vegetables in the refrigerator,and fresh fruit. I always have a heathy snack for the children for when get home from school. We will make ants on a log that is a celery stick with peanut butter and topped off with some raisins.
    tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

  35. Everybody in our house goes to bed earlier in the fall since we have to get up earlier too…important to keep everyone well rested. We also try to get some active outdoor time every afternoon after school! And I make sure school lunches are packed with healthy fruits and veggies…

  37. I know for my kids its important to keep them on a nice sleep schedule, so that is one thing I stick to. Also make sure they are eating a healthy diet and get the right vitamins during cold/flu season.

  41. I love the freedom of summer, but often my healthy routine gets pushed aside for chips, ice cream, and the unstructured lifestyle. I love the fall routine! I’ve had it with “junK’ and I’m ready to buckle down. My attitude is ready, my exercise is in place, and I’m making more “healthy” dinners and snacks.

  45. we try to make it easier by sterting a routine the week before school starts it helps a lot
    vlbelk(at)hotmail.com

  49. A great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle through the transition from summer to fall is to keep active. We find that fall is a wonderful time to bike ride and go hiking or just go for a nice enjoyable walk.
    Thanks so much.
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

  56. I’m a FB friend (Margaret E. Smith) and commented on your wall.
    Thanks
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

  57. We try to remember during this stressful time to have fun and enjoy the changing weather with outdoor activities. Visiting the local apple orchards to pick apples before the crowd is one thing we enjoy.

  59. Coming home to my 11 week old son and seeing his smiley face in the morning ALWAYS relaxes me 🙂

  60. Keep active – a Wii will certainly help, and it feels more like a game that exercise!! And take advantage of apple season by making sure everyone eats them!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  65. I Like The Domestic Buzz on Facebook and posted my tip on your Facebook wall
    (Tamara Bennington)
    tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

  66. Find new activities to keep active. Sometimes when it gets colder, it gets easier to just stay inside, but be sure to keep active! Go to the park, toss a football around with the kids, or go roller-skating.
    Never fall into the TV-watching/indoor routine!

  67. My tip would be to find some indoor activites to keep your exercise level up if you do not like to exercise in the cooler weather. Pick something you enjoy so that you will keep consistent with it!

  71. One thing I like to do is get the entire family involved in fall cleanup! Raking leaves (and jumping in the piles), cleaning out flower beds (one last beautiful bouquet), and putting away all of our flower pots (seeing who can make the tallest tower) are all fun ways to get everyone outside, active, and enjoying the last bits of decent weather!

    coriwestphal at msn dot com

  74. We take advantage of summer and fall festivals. We hit the Scottish festival, Apple Festival and Pumpkin Festival. We also like other food festivals.

  76. Fall is the perfect time to get out and do some real hiking. The weather is a little cooler. I hear less complaining about it being too hot. The kids love going out on the weekends and spending the day in the woods. Great way to spend time together, enjoy the outdoors and get in some exercise.

  80. We love to take long walks in the evening it helps us to keep
    an healthy lifestyle. We also eat healthy and drink water and
    take our vitamins everyday. Thanks

  81. I make sure that my child gets homemade nutritious breakfast every morning, and we walk to school a few times a week instead of driving to keep active.

  85. Setting time aside for yourself each day. I like to try stress release breathing and lavender candles. When in doubt plug in the wii fit and kick some stress but !!! 🙂

    nickieisis3atgmaildotcom

  86. keep taking the kids to the park as the weather changes to fall, the cooler weather makes for better walking while they are playing in the park

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  94. I make simple but healthy meals using fresh local ingrediants. It keeps the kids healthy during the seasonal transition. I also encourage them to play outdoors on the nicer days while they still can-this builds a stronger immunity and gives them needed Vitamin D and helps with allergies.

  95. My advice is to keep moving and take advantage of the beautiful produce available at this time of year.

  101. We take advantage of all the great fall veggies and make healthy meals. We try to get creative & don’t let the colder weather keep us from using that grill!

  104. keep healthy by packing kids lunches, our school has fairly unhealthy choices available all the time!

  105. It can be so hard to transition from getting exercise on outdoor walks, so I try to get motivated by re-introducing myself to the treadmill and seeing what new programs there are on exercise on demand.
    blue65829 at aol dot com

  110. If the weather is too cool or yucky outside, my daughter and I do this super fun yoga DVD for kids, where each position is named after an animal. 🙂

  115. I pack my daughter’s lunch for school and we try to as many activities outside that we can for fun exercise.

  117. Routine, scheduling.. very important. Kids do best with routine. Of course you can be flexible when needed, but before school starts- begin that proper bedtime for the kids and stick to it! The evenings should be time for YOU to have some moments to yourself to relax. This won’t happen if the kids are up too late!

  120. I also use a scale to motivate me and find that it helps. I try to get a daily walk in as well if weather permits.

  123. Our family takes nice walks almost every day to promote a healthy outlook on an active lifestyle.

  128. Exercise first thing in the morning before the kids get up – might be the only chance until they go to bed that night and then you are too tired.

  130. I “like” The Domestic Buzz on Facebook and shared my tip on your facebook wall. FB name Jan Peoples

  131. I love walking,as you can walk even when fatigued. When I was an ofc. worker, I used to walk on mylunch hour & it relieved stress.

  133. We are all outside or inside practicing softball all year long. My oldest daughter plays on a travel team and they play all year except for the dead of winter. My youngest is starting cheerleading soon so that will also keep us busy. thank you!!

  135. I try to make sure we all get enough rest, eat healthy, take Vit C as an extra measure to try to NOT catch the colds going around and get as much as possible ready the evening before!

  140. I think the most important transition aid is to get all the rest you need and to stay hydrated. We are all so active and busy that we sometimes forget these simple rules

  141. I live alone not but when I children were hone we maintained a healthy lifestyle eating healthy and exercising as a family. I also made my own homemade soup and breads which was heathier and saved money.
    helenkeeler@comcast.net

  142. Get plenty of rest and have a set bed time. Exercise and play are important to keep everyone balanced

  150. Fall is a great time to get out and walk, since it is cooler and less humid. There is also work to be done in the yard, such as planting a fall garden and raking leaves.

  152. My tip is to not give up on water just because the weather is cooler. Be more active or just drink it when you’re cozy at home…but water is def. a good way to keep healthy. 🙂

  153. I started giving my children vitamins a couple years back and they seem to get a lot less colds than before. Also, making sure that they are washing their hands often

  154. To keep healthy start and end your day with meditation and stretches for 15 minutes. Check in with yourself to see how you feel inside and out. Then make sure you do what feels right for you.

  155. Staying healthynthisntime year?! Always everyday be grateful for what you have!! And breath!!

  156. My tip would be just because the weather is getting cooler, do not stay in the house, that should be reason for you to get out and be more active.

  159. To maintain a healthy lifestyle through the transition from summer to fall we take great care at home, trying to eat lots of fresh vegetables and fresh fruits, drink a lot of orange juice and water. Also do exercises. barcarel(at)yahoo(dot)com

  163. My tip is to make sure you are drinking plenty of water and still exercising. There are great exercises you can do from the warmth of your home.

  169. my tip is to find something to do, whether its a “fit” game on the wii, or swimming at the gym with the family. Don’t give up just because the weather gets bad and you can’t go out side.

  170. My tip is to get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and relax! If you’re stressed fall is the perfect time to taske up a hobby like reading a book on a comfy couch or baking. I’d also suggest doing more indoor exercises.

    suzy_darling@hellokitty.com

  174. The best thing I know of is to stick to the very basics and avoid processed carbs:

    1) Drink water and tea
    2) Eat meats, vegs and legums
    3) Binge once a week to prevent digestive downregulation

    Please feel free to contact me at – allrightyes at gmail dot com

  177. My tip is to keep drinking water and find an exercise you can do indoors when the weather is too cool for outdoor exercise.

  185. We like to take advantage of the seasonal fresh veggies and fruits at the Farmer’s Market! Apples are plentiful and delicious! We also take advantage of the cooler weather and plan outdoor activities that involve getting some exercise!

  189. Kids are constantly asking for a snack, so we instituted a snack limit of 1 snack between each meal.And, if they want that snack,they need to do an exercise (like 30 jumping jacks) before they can have it.
    bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

  196. I just make sure that I carve out at least 30 minutes of physical activity. If I find myself just sitting down watching I show, I get up and grab my exercise hula hoop and get spinning!

  199. Eat a handful of nuts before any big meal! They’ll have you be full much sooner (From Time Article with Dr. Oz)

  203. Don’t take the elevator when you could be taking the stairs, don’t send out that email when you could walk over to see someone in person, don’t do run for the milk in your car when you could just run for the milk.

  204. I make time for cardio workouts.
    This gives me so much energy and helps my sense of direction.
    Thank you.
    barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com

  208. Stay active! When the weather turns chilly and you can’t be outside, get something like a Wii fit or Xbox Kinect, great way to exercise indoors, and with kids too, it’s fun!

  215. My healthy tip:
    Find an activity that the whole family can participate in and enjoy.
    We play softball & on rainy days like to go bowling. Exercise can be fun:)

  216. Hello, I do a major fall cleaning to whisk away the summer grime of polland, spiders and mold. With a nice clean home and the heat ready to be turned on, I can be confident that alergies and colds can be set at bay for my families health. Thanks for a great giveaway!

  222. Always remember to eat a well rounded breakfast! It is worth waking up a few minutes extra to have a nice full tummy and energy for the day to come.

    sweeps.am at gmail.com

  223. Remember to bring healthy food with you to school or work – most people get vending machine junk b/c they have nothing else with them

  224. Enjoy the cooler weather and beautiful outdoor colors by throwing on a coat and walking briskly

  225. We switch up outdoor activities according to the season (i.e. instead of swimming we will play volleyball or football or basketball.)

  235. we try to go on walks in the summer and also grill vegetables outside when it gets warm.
    sarah at realtorsd.com

  236. go to bed early on school nights. give healthy snacks so they can have good energy. and make sure they take their vitamins and know school is starting soon..so they are emotionally prepared..in my lil ones case
    nannypanpan at gmail.com

  238. Wash your hands several times a day! Staying active outdoors as the temperature cools is important too.
    leanne dot ahronian at yahoo dot com

  246. I would say that now that summer is over and to make the transition, try eating fruits and veggies that are in season. Pumpkin and squash make great soups and will help keep out the cold.

  248. Try to get outside and walk or play on the playground when the weather is nice. Get the whole family outside to help with yard work.

  257. day to relax is the best thing for a life well and fully live life not worry so much about everything. thanks

  258. Make sure to get plenty of exercise, plenty of sleep and eat as healthy as possible.

    pinkveganmiso(at)yahoo(dot)com

  259. Review hand washing procedures with your child; verify that school bathrooms have soap (many don’t)!

  261. I find that winter is a good time to incorporate more veggies into my diet through stews and soups. I also make my low fat soups.

  265. you make sure plenty of rest, and I love that change to fall because we eat a lot of healthy soups, we also just purchased a treadmill to work out inside the home
    pedidentalasst at yahoo dot com

  268. Staying healthy this time of year can be a battle, but we make sure we do extra hand washing, lots of water, a multivitamin, and plenty of outdoor/fresh air time.

  269. Keep your sense of humor going, it will help you manage stress at work and while parenting.

  272. Make sure everyone gets lots of outdoor play/exercise time – raking leaves, jumping in the piles, tossing them in the air, raking them up again…you can get lots of fun exercise out of something that’s often seen as a chore.

  276. As soon as school was starting up, my neighbor friend & I started walking a few miles early in the morning before our kids even wake up to get ready for school! And I’ve also been making sure to eat a nutritious lunch each day (many times in the past, I would just skip lunch…not anymore!)

  284. Doing cardio especially outdoors I find is the best thing to in the fall because as the weather gets cooler, the better your stamina during exercise.

  292. I focus on healthy eating, adding fresh garlic to everything I possibly can, while making sure everyone drinks plenty of water!

  296. One thing we do when the weather changes is to dress properly and always take our vitamins

  297. Set a time in the early evening to turn the tv off, get baths taken, pj’s on, then sit, relax and read for awhile before bedtime.

  299. Visit with a Dietitian and learn healthy tips. Taking vitamins is a plus in our family

  301. I think transitioning from one season to the other is instinctive. Your body’s needs will lead you to changes in dressing, eating and sleeping. Well, I’ll adjust for sleeping because indoors there is the electronic age of entertainment that does take over so for that I do set limits.

  306. Ease into it and prepare. Dont try and change everything at once. overload is not healthy. gradual changes are the way to go!

  308. I make sure to always carry germx and wipe the shopping carts down. I also make sure my daughter wears a jacket so if she does happen to pick up a germ at least she wont make it worse!

  313. I load the kids up with Fruits and Veggies, they love frozen grapes for snack, and try to give them variety so they don’t get bored! We also keep clip on Hand Sanitizers on backpacks, just in case it’s needed!

  315. Exercise can hardly get any more beautiful than walking briskly through colorful fall leaves and breathing in crisp, cool air. That’s a great way to transition healthily.

    chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com

  318. We maintain a healthy balance by organization! We have routines set in place for before and after school that include a healthy breakfast and snack after school. We also have set times marked on the calendar for sports, practices and fun outings!

  319. I try to keep hands washed while eating foods that promote good healthy immune systems! Yogurt is one of those 🙂

  324. As schedules get busier, it’s even more important to be prepared by planning meals and making sure time for rest and activity is made.

    wolverina401 at gmail dot com

  325. Germ x is our friend. I love that stores have wipes at the door. You never know if someone used the shopping cart in front of you with a flu bug, staph or some other germ. We always put our fruit and veggies in the bags so they don’t touch the inside of the cart.

  331. With the cooler temps we spend a lot more time outdoors now (it was over 100 for over a month). Keep moving is the motto of the season.

  332. I am getting them to be earlier so they get plenty of rest, wake up happy and have time for a good breakfast before they leave in the morning.

  335. I feel that getting the appropriate amount of sleep every night helps very much to keeping you healthy. I know when I lack sleep I feel rundown & more apt to get sick

  339. Just because we’re transitioning the seasons doesnt mean you stop eating all those delicious and nutritious summer fruits. Have them on hand in a fruit bowl where you can see them readily whether you enjoy fruit for breakfast, snack or on the go don’t forget to dig in and enjoy

  340. We try and get to bed a little earlier and wake up a little earlier a week or so before school. I make sure that everything is prepared and ready to go the night before and a good breakfast is served so they will leave the house each morning on a happy note. I also try and get them to wash their hands often and stay active.

  343. The best thing to do to make sure you keep up good fitness during season changes is to have a lot of options for exercise. So you can have one option to run outside, but if it’s too cold, have a gym that you can go to.

  344. To make the transition from summer to fall easier on myself and my kids we have a set bedtime and a set wake up time.

  345. Get a good night’s sleep every night by going to bed and waking up at the same time, every day (even weekend!) and stay hydrated (drinking lots of water is important year-round, not just when it’s hot out).

  352. My family takes daily walks together after dinner. Helps us to stay healthy and stay connected.

  360. I’d definitely recommend the whole family try to stick to a regular sleep schedule. make sure fresh fruit and water are always a part of the breakfast table and lunch box, and take some time to de-stress after a long work or school day (whether it’s going out to dinner, playing a game or watching a movie together, taking a walk or bike ride, etc.). Thanks!

    gkaufmanss at yahoo dot com

  369. PLEASE for Gods Sake, keep your same routine, walk, work in the yard, etc. Ride your bikes around the neihborhood with your kids.

  370. stay active, get outside, don’t stay inside and sit around and eat a lot
    skipthelaundry at gmail dot com

  372. My tips would be to try to get a good night’s sleep. That can do wonders for your health by giving you much needed energy. Try to stock up on healthy snacks and eat well balanced meals.

  375. I recently went grain free which has helped me immensely. Pilates, still trying to find the perfect time (actually I should be doing it right now). Fruits and vegetables (lots and organic when possible) Soaking up as much fresh air and sun as possible before winter comes. And get rid off the tv, connect with real live people 🙂

  377. Make going to the gym a family activity at a young age and get your children into a sport or active activity. Go to the gym while they are there!

  379. We do family bike rides every night, weather permitting. It is a good way to spend time together and keep healthy

  382. I exercise at least 5 days a week..Try to limit sweets but I have a bad sweet tooth..Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.Take vitamins daily.

  385. My best tip is to use an excercise app on your smartphone when excercising outside and to connect it to your social networks. If your friends see that you are working out they are likely to encourage you and might even start working out more themselves. The pedometer in this prize pack is really good though for helping you figure out how much you move around during the course of the day though.

  386. We keep our whole family active by playing sports all year round!

    msjem2001 at yahoo dot com

  387. I keep up with my 3 and 5 year old grandchildren!! Fresh air and being around children that have a true joy for life!!

  388. My best tip is everyone has to make time in their day, no matter how busy, to relax and to get in some kind of exercise to stay healthy both physically and mentally

  392. I try to give my kindergartener healthy options to choose for his school lunch, he likes getting to choose, and I like that no matter what he picks it’ll be good for him!:)

  394. do activities and routine that includes the whole family. when it gets cold we have wii fit conceptions
    teressaoliver at gmail dot com

  398. A walk together encourages the family to talk to each other, share their problems, and discuss solutions. At the same time you are working toward greater fitness for the whole family.

  401. A nutritious diet, enough sleep and getting enough exercise will combine to make not only school but everything else better.

  402. We encourage the kids to run around the yard and we also cook in healthy balanced dinners.

  403. I just retired from teaching and have alway tried to teach my students to lead a healhy life style…………eating properly, getting enough sleep and saying no to any illegal temptations…..

  407. If it is too cold to workout outside, find great workout videos for working out at home. Jillian Michaels 30 day shred is a great one.

  413. eating healthy, exercising even if it’s just some walking, getting enough sleep and lots of hand washing

  416. I make sure to home cook meals rather than eat out somewhere and I always make sure that my son eats good amounts of fruits and veggies rather than junk food.
    marilynbmonroe at aol dot com

  420. My tip is that kids don’t always eat right so a goo multivitamin is essential for their growth and development.
    carolkfoster at comcast dot net

  422. It’d be a great idea to take family walks in the early evenings – everyone gets some exercise, and also get caught up on everyone else’s day!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  425. I like to eat healthy I drink alot of water. I also walk everynight which helps simple things but helpful!
    tishajean@ charter.net

  431. Being consistent with rest, exercise, sleep, and healthy eating makes seasonal transitions simple.

  441. Keeping the kids involved in decision making helps make the transition easier. Give them a choice between two or three healthy meals or activities. It keeps them on the right track and lets them feel that their opinion means something.

  445. We spray everything with Lysol including doorknobs, etc. We use antibacterial wipes continuously for the computer keyboards and mouse since it’s being used by many hands all day long.

  446. To maintain a healthy lifestyle transitioning from summer to school time, eat lots of seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables and get enough sleep and daily exercise.

  453. Prepare healthy meals during the weekend or use your slow cooker for a hearty, healthy meal ready by dinner.

  454. Thanks for the giveaway…from summer into fall we transition from swimming-walking-running to just walking & running.

    senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com

  459. Thanks for the giveaway. I just subscribed by feed reader …. I look forward to getting to know your site.

  460. WE make it a point to do extra walking around the track while my son has his 3 hour football practice every day. I use my crockpot a lot to prepare healthy meals so we eat well also!

  461. We live near a state park and go walking and hiking on the trails. The boys try and see how many different color leaves they can find.

  462. I Love to walk everyday, and I take my family and dogs with , and I drink lots of water, oatmeal,we all take our vitamins, I think a healthy everyday routine is key, Use it or Lose it.

  468. Just remember to stay on top of your schedule and prepare healthy meals ahead of time so that you don’t find yourself at a fast food restaurant all the time.

  469. Nothing works better than to plan weekly menus in the quiet time after children are in bed, then using the treadmill in the morning to start my day.
    gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com