All posts by R.C. Liley

I'm an ex-mutual fund accountant who left the cubicle world to be a stay-at-home dad to my beautiful little girl, Avery, who entered our life on 11/15/13 and handsome little boy, Wes, who joined our family on 11/19/17. Also happily married to my wife, Kelley, as of 8/17/07. Sorry ladies... :) Fitness and nutrition is of the utmost importance in our family and we strive to reflect this in our daily life. I always prepare our meals at home and only go out if it's a special occasion, and even then I tend to not get much. Food should be fun and a joy to eat, not something quickly consumed from a fast food chain or scarf down before the next meeting. I have come from strictly logging high miles to train for the next marathon to keeping exercise varied and focusing more on strength. I still enjoy going for a run when I can, but nothing crazy, and I prefer hill sprints while pushing my daughter, Avery in the stroller. She loves it and I get a great workout! I want to show the world how to appreciate their body and feed it real, wholesome food while moving more throughout the day. In doing so, everyone would be healthier, happier, and we'd all live in a better place as a result. I blog mainly about my life as a stay-at-home dad and frequently include reviews, participate in campaigns, and share my thoughts on fitness and nutrition. If you ever have any questions or thoughts to share, please reach out as I'm always open to listening or helping others however possible. That is, when I have free time since Avery is and my wife are the number one priorities!

Life, Promo

Gaining Strength with My Daughter + Immune Support from Ester-C

03/14/2015 R.C. Liley 4 Comments

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias and its Advertiser. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone and should not be construed as medical advice. #24HourEsterC #CollectiveBias

Half-way through my college career, I decided to run a marathon. I hardly trained, and the race hurt….a lot, but I pushed and made it across the finish line. Walking up or down stairs the following 2 weeks brought painful tears to my eyes, but I was hooked and wanted to do another, only better. I know, crazy, right?

Armed with a training and nutrition plan, I learned how important both aspects were to attaining any goal. Training, to prepare the body for the stressors of an endurance event, and nutrition for peak performance, recovery, and especially proper immune support.

Fast-forward to current day; I’ve completed over 10 marathons (including Boston), an ultra-marathon, and too many 5k’s and 10k’s to count. I’m extremely proud of these accomplishments as anyone should be, but I found endurance came at the expense of strength after failing miserably at trying to jump in the air. I certainly lost weight and changed my body composition, but my body lacked muscle and I decided it was time to train for strength.

Strength training and distance running are on opposite ends of the spectrum, but the need for good nutrition and a supported immune system remain key factors. I get all day immune support from Ester-C to keep me “Going” as a dad (see what I did there?) living a healthy lifestyle!

Although good nutrition may help support your immune system, I’m not taking any chances of being sidelined from training again. Now I get 24 hour immune support from Ester-C which enables me to consistently train as well as manage my key role as a stay-at-home dad and loving husband.

When I first became an at-home dad, a big fear of mine (besides nap time) was not having a consistent strength training routine since raising a baby was uncharted territory. That was over a year ago, and thankfully, with a little creativity and determination, that fear is a thing of the past.

When I go into our garage gym complete with a power squat rack, bench, several kettlebells, and Olympic barbell set, Avery comes too. She even has her own toy kettlebell to use when “working out” with Mommy and Daddy. She still needs a little practice on her swings, but she’s already a natural at squatting!

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A post shared by RC Liley (@going_dad)

Along with cooking nutritious meals and lots of playtime, working out with Avery is part of the daily routine to keep fit, get stronger, and support our immune system. Thanks to a supported immune system and my motivation providing us to stick to our routine, both Avery and her Daddy (that’s me!) are getting stronger physically and strengthening our daddy-daughter bond.

It’s obvious I’m mindful about what goes into our bodies seeing as to how I cook all of our meals and rarely go out to eat, so why do I make Ester-C my go-to Vitamin C supplement? Among the many benefits 24 Hour Ester-C has to offer, here’s several that make it a no-brainer in our house.

Ester-C is a special form of Vitamin C designed to stay in your white blood cells for up to 24-hours, providing you with around-the-clock immune system support.*
It is carefully manufactured to contain the same compounds your body produces when it metabolizes vitamin C.
Its unique, water-based manufacturing process combines Vitamin C with Calcium using no chemical solvents. The manufacturing process also neutralizes pH, making it non-acidic and gentle on the stomach
Comes in 1000mg or 500mg Vegetarian Coated Tablets that are Non-GMO and Free of Sugar, Soy, Gluten, Wheat, and Artificial Flavors & Colors.

Ester-C is easily found at your local Wal-Mart in the Vitamin and Supplement aisle and it’s currently on rollback! I take the 500mg tablets to split my doses since I prefer to take one in the morning and another at night. Keep up to date on the latest immune supporting products and great info on the Ester-C Facebook page and on Twitter too!

Why not let Ester-C help support your health so you can help support what matters most, our children?

Have you dealt with setbacks in training before?

Share how you’re currently training for a certain goal, how are you working to reach it?

Parenting

Going to School on Spring Break ‘Can’ Be Fun

03/13/2015 R.C. Liley 3 Comments

She’s only a few days short of 16 months old and already going to school. On Spring Break at that!

Well, I only assume it’s spring break here since I’ve seen kids aimlessly wondering the neighborhood during school hours. So it’s that or kids are playing hooky at a very young age now-a-days. I’m thinking it’s the former.

Thursday brought us another nice day with warm temps and only a little clouds here and there. Seemed like a perfect opportunity to make another playground run in my Soft Star Shoes and ~~eat more mulch~~ play with Avery.

As I said before, can’t wait to get our girl some Soft Star Shoes of her own. I’d say she could use them, huh?

Don’t worry, I brought a pair of socks to put on her before running around in the mulch. When in her stroller, she’ll take them off while walking or running otherwise. Even when it 40 degrees outside, which I think she regretted doing after the fact.

This time, we didn’t go to the small playground in our neighborhood, but instead went to one a little farther at a nearby elementary school.

So much potential. Just needs to get a little older and coordinated first... — So much potential. Just needs to get a little older and coordinated first…

I had another good run in the Soft Star Shoes and so far have zero ~~drop~~ complaints. See what I did there? Drop, like the zero drop that they are? Too corny/dumb? Sorry, just part of being a dad, right?

Avery took off to explore right after I set her down. This girl wastes NO time!

First she ran up to a slide with wide eyes.

Not sure why her eyes were so wide, but I held her and let her go down the slide a few times before she was off to find something else. Monkey bars?

She thought better of it and wondered off again. And wondered and wondered….

Not much she can do as far as playing on the equipment goes, so I guess a bigger playground is only cool for me. I played on the monkey bars and parallel bars and worked in a few sets of dips and pull-ups just to make use myself. Meanwhile, Avery was taste testing a rock.

That’s not a face of something tasting good. I took it away expecting screamfest 2015 to begin, but instead she just…..

I don’t know what you call it, but it wasn’t crying and that’s good enough for me!

I brought her down a bigger slide a few times and we sat in the big kid swing together before finally getting ready to go back home. But first, I had to try my best at getting a pic of us together. I set the camera timer and hoped for the best.

Note the rock made a return, but it made for a fairly good picture. By good, I mean Avery actually looked and somewhat smiled at the camera. Not an easy task with a toddler!

Once home, Avery chugged the rest of Mommy’s milk all by herself and then I fed her some organic grass-fed beef with potatoes.

After a little bit of ball throwing, it was time for a nap.

As usual, the nap was short and Avery was ready to run rampant once more. Which she did. Luckily, Kelley made it home before the sun set and we had a nice family walk together.

We don’t get to walk together as much as before, so every time we do, we try to make the most of it and just enjoy each other’s company. It’s the little things, they all add up to something big. That’s my deep thoughts for the day.

My other thoughts are on how exciting it will be when Avery can climb playground equipment herself and doesn’t need us to carry her up and down everything. Or maybe it will be scary….ummmm, sad…I’m not sure. Both?

Anyway, happy Friday! Here’s another pun before I go.

When it comes to kissing flowers, tulips are better than one.

Do you bring your toddler who can’t use playground equipment to the playground? Any ideas of what else to do besides follow them around and carry them on the equipment yourself?

Life, NuttZo, Parenting, Soft Star Shoes

Fun Run in the Sun and a Pun

03/12/2015 R.C. Liley 4 Comments

Yesterday, Tuesday, we hit 70 degrees and the sun finally poked through after its brief hiatus. Texas hardly had it bad when compared to places like Boston this winter, but it’s been crappy enough to warrant a deep desire for Spring’s arrival.

Truthfully, I was ready for spring and summer back in November, I just prefer sweating over shivering any day! With the better weather, I wanted to get Avery outside to run around a little, but first we had to make a trip to two stores. Luckily, she didn’t mind since it means getting to ride in her new Britax Boulevard ClickTight car seat.

Seriously love this seat and it was a breeze to install. We’re keeping her rear facing as long as possible since it’s the safest way, and the Britax seat allows us to continue doing so up to 40 pounds! Plus, Avery’s not complaining one bit.

After making it back from the stores, Avery was hungry and needed to eat before anything else happened. Going Mom and I taught her a few sign language essentials with one of them being “more”. Now the girl ALWAYS wants more!

Yep, that’s her sign. I’m trying to allow her more freedom in feeding herself if it’s finger foods, so I gave her a few pieces of NuttZo Banana Bread to keep her happy. So much for that, she just stuffed her face with all of the pieces while simultaneously signing for “more”.

Crazy kid. It took her five minutes just finish chewing everything! Needless to say, I think she spent some time reflecting on her actions….

After eating, I put Avery in our B.O.B. jogging stroller to go for a quick run to a nearby playground. The kind folks, I mean elves, at Soft Star Shoes just sent me a pair of their Moc3 barefoot running shoes to review, so I figured it would be a great time to give them a test run. <—Would you call that a pun or not? I can’t tell.

Yes, I wore socks, and no, you really don’t have to. I just prefer to use socks until I am sure I really like things enough to go sans sock. Running in these shoes is so liberating with their zero drop Vibram soles and the fact that they weigh less than 5oz. I actually have been spending all day in the shoes and am only getting more attached to them each day.

Check back later for a full review, and then even later for another review of their kids’ shoes for Avery. I can’t wait to get some on our little girl to keep her feet safe while still “grounding” with the earth. Until then, her Bootzies work fine, they just run the risk of getting holes when worn too much outdoors.

Yep, like at a playground with mulch and concrete. Probably not the best for cotton, but she didn’t seem too concerned. She was, however, intrigued by the wood pieces scattered everywhere and made sure to inspect them thoroughly.

Avery-Holding-Mulch-03-15 — Yep, this one’s wood too.

Somehow I managed to climb the small play-structure with Avery to take her down a few times. The rest of time I just followed her around as she explored…..and randomly clapped.

Enjoying the #Texas sun with my daughter! #Spring is coming! #Parenting #DaddysGirl #playing

A video posted by RC Liley (@going_dad) on Mar 11, 2015 at 4:16pm PDT

Outside playtime was over when Avery ran back to her stroller, basically letting me know it was over. Fair enough.

I made another fun run round with Avery in the stroller to soak up the warm weather and get a little extra “go” time in the minimal Soft Star Shoes for the last time of the day. Verdict? Still love’em. I could never find a shoe I was comfortable in wearing around the house that I could also make a mad dash outside at any given moment, but these are it! If you haven’t tried them before, give them a go if you get the chance, and make sure to pick some up for your little one too.

Once back home, I turned on Pandora so Avery and I could dance around the house. And by dance, I mean she brings all of her toys from her playroom into the kitchen as I prepare dinner and make a green smoothie for Kelley and I.

This has been a long, hard week for my wife, actually the past several weeks have been trying, and she was stuck at work again last night. In hopes that it would help a little, I made one of her favorite breakfasts ahead of time to be ready in the morning.

Peanut butter oatmeal with chia seeds, cinnamon, and a big spoonful of NuttZo. I added a lot of blueberries too, but didn’t take a picture. Trust me, the blueberries are not to be taken lightly around here, and Going Mom has a specific measurement I keep messing up. The measurement? A lot!

She’s probably enjoying (I hope) this right now just as this is live. I’ll let you know if I added enough blueberries. Or maybe she will…….

And before I go, I had a pun to share. It’s nothing spectacular, but as a proclaimed lover of puns, I want to start sharing at least one with each post I write. Today, in anticipation of spring coming up, I have a seasonal pun.