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“75 to 100 grams of protein a day?” I said in disbelief. I was 33 years old and pregnant with our first child. I stared at the nutrition chart handed to me by my ob/gyn.

I was a vegetarian and not a very educated one. When I decided to stop eating meat at 24 years old, I simply substituted starches–pasta, rice, etc.–as filler for my meals. I maybe managed to get a meager 30 grams of protein a day. Needless to say, I was very tired in my late 20’s and early 30’s, although I managed my weight fine and led an active life, working out daily.

This was the beginning of my food education path. Learning how to get protein from various non-meat sources and expanding my vegetable options. Once I increased my protein intake coupled with taking prenatal vitamins, I felt like a new person! I actually had energy all day long, once that first trimester was over.

Several years and 4 kids later and I’m still a vegetarian but now I cook for five omnivores. I haven’t figured it all out–far from it. I still have days when I’m low energy and it frustrates me. However, I can usually exam my latest eating habits or sleep habits and realize I need to do better.

I pretty much drive my kids crazy when they don’t feel well, either emotionally or physically. “What did you eat today? Are you drinking enough water? What green vegetables have you had? Did you take your vitamins? You need to get to bed earlier tonight.”

It’s a journey, for sure. We aren’t perfect. The weeknights are hectic, rushing home from school and onto someone’s game or practice, trying to get a decent snack/meal in their hands, then late nights finishing homework.

So, I read a lot of nutrition websites, try lots of different recipes, and constantly talk to my kids about what it means to eat a balanced diet. Don’t get me wrong, they definitely get homemade chocolate chip cookies and they love their trips to the nearby ice cream store. But, I do feel it’s my job as their parent to educate and make them aware of what their bodies and minds might be needing in terms of proper nutrition.

What are your biggest challenges as a family when it comes to nutrition? What tips do you have to share with others that have worked well for your family?

I make myself run. It isn’t pretty or easy, but I need to run. I like to say “run” but a “slow jog” may be a more accurate description. In any case, I always manage to work up a sweat and get the endorphins pulsating through my brain, so it keeps me coming back.

A few weeks this past spring, I became a walker. I injured my back and could only manage to walk for exercise. I thought, “I am getting older, maybe running isn’t great for my body. Maybe I should become a walker. I mean, it is certainly easier to get out bed and talk yourself into exercising when your plan is to walk rather than run.”

However, after several visits to a chiropractor using some active release therapy, my back eventually got better and he suggested I could get back to running. I decided to give it a try but set my goal low–just an easy mile to try things out. I ran my mile and it felt good. Next time, I’d push for two miles.

The next day, I put on my best cushiony white running socks, pulled on my compression calf socks (much to the chagrin of my kids, but hey, I needed all tools at my disposal), and tied my bright new running shoes (new running shoes are always a motivator!). I secured my iPhone in the arm band and selected my most motivating play list.

The first mile was pretty easy and the second mile took more work but what I discovered somewhere in the beginning of the second mile was the positive ideas flowing through my head. Of course, there was plenty of sweat pouring all over my body, but it didn’t matter. The ideas emerged like comic dialogue balloons in the sky–random ideas for various problems and issues that had been on my mind.

I also discovered that no matter how uncomfortable and difficult it was to pound out a solid two miles that day, I needed that. My aging body responded positively to the movement I was forcing it to do, the sounds and sites of nature, and the sense of accomplishment. I realized then that I’d keep pushing these bones and tendons and muscles to move for as long as I could.

Of course, that means taking care of my bones, tendons, and muscles. It was easy in my 20’s to throw on a sports bra, shorts, socks, and shoes and run out the door for quick 5k, little to no stretching beforehand or cool-down afterwards. What I learned in my 40’s, after having 4 kids in 6 years in my 30’s, was that my body needs more attention before and after exercising. (Also, the days of running in just a sports bra and shorts are in the past)

Pesky things like IT bands and hip flexors get tight, ankles get stiff, backs who might spend a majority of the daytime hunched over a laptop screen turn rigid. So, I’m learning to do some self-care and take the time to roll my hip flexors and IT bands, do some back extensions, and rotate & stretch my ankles.

I’m very grateful that although my body is far from perfect, it functions pretty darn well. I appreciate the fact that if I want to run, it will allows me to pound out a few miles and doesn’t make me regret it the next day. In turn, I’m trying to thank my body for doing this. Getting some active release therapy on a regular basis, being more diligent about stretching before and after exercising, trying some yoga, watching what I eat, staying hydrated, etc. It really comes down to good self-care.

What is your favorite physical activity? What do you get out of it? What do you do in terms of self-care to continue to enjoy your activity?