Fit it in with Jess and Jenn

Health Benefits of Mint

2014-07-07T19:51:00.002-07:00

We all know that fruits and veggies are packed full of good stuff (vitamins and nutrients) and can help play a major role in good health and well-being. Consuming mint can also help do the same!

Benefits of Mint Leaves

This year we are growing chocolate, lemon balm, pineapple, and orange mint.
They all taste and smell wonderful.

1. Digestion:

Mint promotes digestion and soothes your stomach if you experience indigestion or inflammation. Drinking a cup of mint tea can help with nausea.

Mint also eases the discomfort of IBS (irritable bowl syndrome).

2. Antioxidants:
Mint leaves contain potent antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that prevent or delay some types of cell damage.

3. Pain Reliever:
Mint leaves contain anti inflammatory properties. It's also a remedy to help relieve pain experienced during menstrual cramps.

4. Fresh Breath:
Mint has anti bacterial properties which fight against tooth decay and bad breath. This is why its widely used in mouth washes and other breath fresheners.

5. Common Cold:
According to medicalnewsdaily.com, Mint contains menthol, which is a natural decongestant that helps to break up phlegm and mucus. Mint can also be effective, especially when combined with tea for relieving sore throats

Mint comes in several different varieties and flavors. They all work the same and contain powerful nutrients.

Storing Garden Picked Green Beans

2014-06-29T21:24:00.001-07:00

Iv'e learned so much since we've started our garden and learning what to to with all these beans is one of them. Gardening has opened my eyes wider to some of Gods divine creations. It's simply amazing. Okay, back to what to do with extra beans...

How to Freeze Green Beans

Wash your beans in cold or luke warm water
Snap or cut each end off and break the bean into the size that you desire
Place beans in boiling water, cover and boil for 3-5 minutes (called "blanching")
After beans are blanched, cool immediately in ice water to prevent over cooking

If you don't own a vacuum food sealer, place beans in a zip lock bag. Zip the top shut but leave enough room to squeeze as much air as you can out of the bag. You can also use a straw to suck the air out. Place the straw in the bag, zip it up as far as it will go, suck the air out, quickly remove the straw and zip the bag completely.

Date the bag if you'd like and place them in the freezer! They should last 9 months in the freezer. When ready to eat, cook them until hot and tender (about 3-5 minutes). Enjoy!

Click Here to learn about health benefits of green beans!

On the Menu

2014-06-26T21:50:00.002-07:00

Pizza Night!

On the menu

His: Pepporoni, Mushroom, Sausage and 6 different cheeses

Mine: Mushrooms, garlic, banana pepper, tomato, cucumber, spring mix, turkey pepperoni, and Parmesan cheese

Ingredients:

- Pizza yeast dough (bought from the deli section of Publix)

- 1 14oz jar of Prego Pizza Sauce

- Pizza Seasoning

- Desired toppings

I really enjoyed being able to control my veggie toppings with this recipe. I chose based on what was picked from the garden this morning. Iv'e never had cucumbers on a pizza but it was surprisingly delicious. I will use this combo of veggies again. I'm Excited about left overs tomorrow.

Made by Chef Anthony

I Met My Matcha

2013-05-06T23:29:00.003-07:00

Okay so I met my match-a over the weekend. Matcha Green Tea Powder was 1 of my 3 new things on last weeks grocery list. I have been tested and tried all three so I am here to tell you how it went.

First up is the Matcha Green Tea Powder.

This powder tastes sort of earthy, like chopped up plants and leaves. It is said that the chlorophyll and amino acids give matcha it's unique taste. I tried using it in 3 different ways. 1. The first way I used it was in a green smoothie. I sprinkled about a tablespoon into whatever smoothie I was making for that day and with sweetener, it blended in perfectly. Without any sweetener, the matcha powder was a little strong. It was very easy to use the powder this way. I would recommend it to anyone . . . (well, I guess I am recommending it to everyone . . .) 2. Next, I tried boiling the powder in with some noodles. (My logic: I was just trying to see if the powder would turn my noodles green...) The out come? Well, It didn't effect the taste of the noodles much and the noodles came out with a green tint but not enough to tell much difference. I probably would not waste my powder in adding it in with my boiling noodle water again :-/ 3. Third way I tried using matcha green tea powder was adding it to some hot brewed tea. This worked out great and blended nicely with other herbal teas.

Matcha powder can also be used in sauces, pastries, and lattes. Matcha green tea powder gets 2 thumbs up from me. 1 glass of Matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of nutritional value and antioxidant content. To learn more about Matcha Powder go to matcha source.

3 New Items on Jess' Grocery List

2013-04-30T23:55:00.001-07:00

Picked Up Some New Items This Week

Zucchini About $5.00 per Bag
Matcha Green Tea Powder $19.99
Hemp Protein Powder $12.99

Every now and then I get an urge to splurge. This week I ran into a couple of things that I have always heard about but never used (yes, Zucchini is one of them). These items are a little expensive but I am pretty confident that I can find them cheaper somewhere else. Because they are new to me, I didn't try to bargain shop for any of these items this time. I did find a bottle opener for 0.67 cents though ;-D

Here are Some Benefits of Each Item:

Matcha Green Tea Powder is packed full of antioxidants. Antioxidants help to fight off sickness and disease. Matcha is also said to increase your metabolism. Great to use in the winter to help fight off sickness. Can sprinkle in hot drinks such as coffee, lattes, and teas.
5 Ways to Use Matcha Powder

Zucchini is low in calories, helps to lower cholesterol, contains vitamins A and C, contains copper and manganese. Zucchini also helps to lower blood pressure.
26 Ways to Cook Zucchini

Hemp Protein Powder is a great way to incorporate more protein in your diet. Some say that it is one of the cleanest and best ways to incorporate protein into your diet. Hemp cleanses the liver, contains omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids, is rich in fiber. Has a nutty flavor and can be sprinkled on almost anything.
How to Use Hemp Protein

Now that I have done research on all of my new items I am ready to get started on my challenge! :D

My Challenge: To use all of these items in one meal one day this week.

Never Knew 30 Could Feel So Good

2013-04-24T21:33:00.000-07:00

Okay so soon Jenn and I will waltz right out of our 20's and dive into our 30's.

For some reason it made me sad to think about the fact that life goes by so fast. Getting older can be a little depressing. I am torn between the question of, "Is this a good thing or is it a bad thing?"

Well, in search of finding out what life after 30 feels like, I sent a text to all of my fellow 30+ year old's to see what type of advice they had for me.
The text simply said, " . . . I am turning 30 tomorrow. Any "Life After 30" Advice?'

Here are the top 12 responses in no particular order :) (Keep in mind that this is via text)

1. "Yea. Don't waist your time tryna grow somebody and find you somebody who can help you grow. Then you can grow together. If not then grow alone and you will run into someone who is the same eventually. There is alot of precious time that could be wasted because after 35 is 40. Then what?? All the wasteful years are behind you. Time to be productive and putting your plan into action. That's not what I nec. did. I tried to hang on to my twenties too long after i felt like i wasted alot of my time:) im getting there though. You already got a few steps ahead though because you are living through Christ. That's all I got to say. Lol."

2. "Life after 30 advice: did you know it was customary for the Jewish people to receive their inheritance at the age of 30? My advice to you is to receive and accept your inheritance from your Father. Did you know that Jesus started his ministry at age 30? My advice to you is to let God continue to use you in the area of ministry he has called you into. I Love you and I am excited for you and I know God is doing great and mighty things in you now and forever."

3.

4. " Keep on trusting God like you've been doing. Look back for a minute to see where God has brought you from."

5. "Yeah you'll get smarter."

6. " . . . don't look at your years but at the wisdom and beauty that you have gained :)."

7. " If your back starts to hurt the day after you turn 30 . . . Don't Cry."

8. "A seed is planted with anticipation of becoming a flower. The flower needs to be fed and kept until it is stable and strong to be called what it is . . . God has blessed you by feeding you with his word and giving you wisdom for life situations. You have grown into the woman that was purposed when that seed was first planted. Embrace where you are understanding that God is not finished. Capture each moment with eyes wide open and a heart to receive his continual feeding. I thank God for you. Happy 30..celebrate it Happy Birthday . . ."

9. " Live life to the fullest and make yourself happy not in a selfish way but in a good way."

10. Don't let the number get you. Enjoy the simple things of life. Bubbles, Chalk on the sidewalk, cartoons, and sunshine . . ." 11.

12. Live it like every other day. Remember you're 29 today, so tomorrow ask yourself, "What has really changed? . . ."

Special thanks to those of you who took time out of your busy schedules to answer (Jess') crazy text this morning :) There was much more advice that was given, some advice was personal and some just good to know ;) I Love All That Responded including Mom and Dad! You two are the Best and Thanks for having Us!

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things!

2013-04-23T22:54:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for work: Excited about walking

I'm READY!

Alright! I stopped working out around 6 months of pregnancy due to unexpected circumstances but now . . . I'm Back and Feeling Stronger Than Ever.

I Want to Blog About it! :D

Oh and . . .For those of you who don't know: I am 8 months pregnant! Hooray!

My Routine Was: brisk walking and working out on the elliptical ~ 4 days/wk for 30-45 minutes.
My workouts made me feel stronger and reduced my emotions and stress levels.

My Struggle: For me it was more of a struggle to work out being pregnant but keeping the benefits in mind helped me to be consistent with my routine.

When the Problems Came: One night I decided that I wanted to play Michael Jackson the Experience on Wii for 45 min. On that same night, came pain and preterm contractions. (I'm not saying that the Wii game caused the contractions, but it was one of the new things I introduced during my pregnancy.)

Result: I was in the hospital for 2 days and on bed rest for a week!

WHAT NOW?

Solution: Since then, I've learned to take breaks often before my body tells me to take a break.
Now I'm clear to resume regular activity with the advice of not "over doing it".

The Present: This week I am 31 weeks! I have been feeling very heavy, slow, tired, and sickly. Because of all of these feelings, I've mustard up the courage to start walking again in hopes to feel a little better and stronger. I'm a bit excited!

My New Challenge: My new slow walk routine will be 4-5x/wk for 10-15 minutes.

Positive Results: Today and yesterday my walk went very well. I've never enjoyed walking as much as I do now. I was surprised how much better I felt after 15 minutes of walking very very very slow.

As slow as I was walking, I was still out of breath and even felt a slight burn in my legs. I think this walking routine will do my body good and I'm so thankful to complete the routine.

This pregnancy journey has been quite interesting for me. I've learned many lessons, but one that stands out is: appreciating each day and being thankful for every moment of the ride.

Happily Awaiting My R.A.W. "too"

Jenn

To Die For Crock Pot Roast!

2013-04-23T17:41:00.003-07:00

To Die for Crock Pot Roast

A while back I was looking for a good crock pot recipe online and came across the To Die For Crock Pot Roast recipe. I thought since it had "to die for" as a part of the recipe name, that it couldn't be bad. I was right! This Pot roast recipe is delicious. It's so delicious that I could not help but to share the recipe with others!

Ingredients

1 beef roast, any kind
1-1/4 oz package of dried brown gravy mix
1-1/4 oz package of dried Italian salad dressing mix
1-1/4 oz package of dried ranch dressing mix
*(I added a small package of baby carrots and 2 medium sized potatoes)
1/2 cup water *(since I added carrots and pototoes I used 1c of water instead of 1/2c water)

Directions

Place beef roast in crock pot

Mix the dried ingredients together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast.

(If desired) Place veggies in crock pot
Pour the water around the roast.
Cook on low for 7-9 hours.
One way to improve this recipe is to rub the dry ingredients on the roast instead of just sprinkling it.

Enjoy!
Click Here to find other delicious recipes!

Pre-Plan For Stressful Days

2012-10-14T23:10:00.001-07:00

No Sleep, Stressed, Unhealthy Relationships, Procrastination, Deadlines, Past Dues, Late Payments, and the list goes on and on and on...Agh! Will I ever get caught up?!

Hang on to your skinny jeans! This is where weight gain occurs.

Here are some ways you can help reduce weight gain when things get a little too overwhelming.

PRE PLAN for stressful days.

Come up with good food plans for days when you know you will seek comfort in food. The notion of having a pint of ice cream set off to the side specifically for stressful days just doesn't cut it. What if you have 3 stressful days out of a week? That's 3 pints of ice cream! yikes. Stock up and be prepared for days when you just want to splurge and relax. Here are some ways to help you prepare ;)

Find ways to make Comfort food...Healthy!

You have tossed ice cream and doughnuts out of the window...now what?
There are many food options that you can consider when it comes to filling your crave for sweet or salty snacks. Angela Lidon is the Queen of Healthy Comfort Food Recipes. Check her out here at OhSheGlows. Some of her recipes look a little "iffy" but, like the saying goes, "don't knock it till you try it." Angela knows her stuff ;)

When Pre Planning: Travel International.

I'll tell you what...the last time I went grocery shopping, the international aisle blew my socks off!

I have to admit that I could not read most of the labels that were in the section of my interest because they were written in different languages but the ingredients...I Understood (they were written in English)! :D
I found great natural oil mixtures, pastas, and dips that I have never seen before (outside of an international market). The price was reasonable and it was a great experience. I couldn't wait to go home to test new recipes ;) The international aisle has been added to my... grocery list! :D

Get This (with food)

Stepping out of the box does not mean following the same pattern of baking traditional cakes, cookies, and pies all with base ingredients of butter, sugar,eggs, and milk...
Try to really challenge yourself by creating new family recipes with a fruit or veggie base such as a soup broth or fruit sweetener. You will be surprised at ideas you come up with!

I hope this helps in pinpointing some ways that you can change unhealthy eating habits. Happy Monday! :D

A Big Thanks To All The Murfreesboro Farmers!

2012-10-07T01:04:00.001-07:00

I have to tell you guys about the Farmers Market Jenn and I visited on Yesterday. There were varieties of fruits, veggies, spices, homemade desserts, homemade wines and jellies, flowers, salsa, and more. The stands were set up and were easily located around the square of downtown Murfreesboro. We had a blast as we shopped at each market looking for a good bargain on fresh fruits and veggies. Look! I bought all of this for a little under $20.00! :-D And it's all ORGANIC! (for all of you organic folks)

Kale, Apples, Onions, Basil, 3 Kinds of Peppers
Oregano, Mint, and Sweet Potatoes

Buying food straight from the farmer makes for a good community feeling and closeness that you can't get in a grocery store. It also gives you the "Go Ahead" to practice your bargaining skills . . . I did this quite often, lol. Jenn just looked at me in humor as I put my skills to the test, lol. It was fun to see how much you could get for the amount of cash that you had in your pocket. We also got opportunities to talk about fresh recipes with the vendors. I received some great tips on how to tweak my salsa ;) It was a relief to find out that there were people just as excited as we were in eating healthy.

Jess trying a new bargaining technique (didn't work lol)

After shopping at the markets I couldn't wait to taste the pureness of buying food first hand. This is the first thing that I made :)

Rice with Jalapeno Pepper, Tomatoes, Basil,
Onions, Garlic, Lime, Cumin, and Salt

This creation was very simple and easy to make. Everything was so fresh and all of the flavors danced in my mouth. I was dancing too :)

For all of you local readers, information about the Farmers Market Me and Jenn went to will be posted below. As we Thank the Farmers we also want to Thank You for visiting our blog. We hope you enjoyed this post :) Happy Sunday ;)

Main Street Saturday Market will be open every Saturday of this month. The dates and times are October 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th from 8a.m. - Noon on the Courthouse Square. (June-October)

Low Calorie Strawberry, Blueberry, Mango Smoothie

2012-09-27T01:13:00.001-07:00

Okay Guys, so I know it is the beginning of Fall but I still have to get a smoothie or two out of my system before moving on to the warmer drinks and colder days.

Ingredients:

1.5 c Frozen Sliced Strawberries

1/2 c Frozen Blueberries

1/2 c Frozen Mango Chunks

2 tbs Cane Sugar

1.5 c Water

(As long as you have FROZEN fruit, no ice is needed) :)

You will need a food processor. I used my Ninja.

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

Makes about 24 oz.

240 Calories

Throw a straw in the center and slurp! :D

Thanks Guys! Here's To Happy Living :)

Healthy Living Update

2012-09-25T02:40:00.001-07:00

Hey Guys,

My apologies for being away for so long! A few things have happened since my last post.

Nutrition

1. I have finally embraced my Vegan (Plant-Based Diet) life style :D I found some pretty cool restaurants around Murfreesboro that are Vegan friendly. Chuys is at the top my list. I can't get enough of their fresh Salsa and Veggie Enchilada (Spinach, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell peppers, serranos, roasted green chilies, corn & (cheese) in homemade blue corn tortillas with Ranchero sauce). The Ranchero sauce is Vegan friendly too! ;) It's So good...

Guess who I found next on the list for vegan friendly...Ruby Tuesdays! HaHa! Yep...Ruby Tuesdays.

They have a killer salad bar and a HUGE guacamole, pico de gallo, and tortilla appetizer that will fill you up all by itself! I met with a friend for lunch (lets you know that I didn't pick the restaurant) and came out with a full belly and a new outlook on Ruby Tuesdays. Who Knew?

Exercise/Fitness

2. Finally decided to get off of my Stooper. Signed up for two races (Middle Half and Ragner Relay). Well actually...my running buddy hooked me up with both races! He's the best... :D. Lately I have been testing out the Insanity workout so I haven't been doing much running. The Middle Half is scheduled to be on October 13th 2012. Ask me if I am ready...lol (the answer is no in case you are wondering). I am hoping that the Middle Half will get me ready for the Ragner. I know one thing...they will both prepare me for all of the cooking and eating that will be going on in the winter months ;)

Hair/Beauty

3. My hair has been being treated like a lab rat! OMGoodness, guys I have been struggling with learning how to care for my "Natural" hair for about a year now. Believe it or not, this is one of my toughest challenges in 2012. I have tried Kinky Curly and Knot Today, Shea Moisture, Terressentials, Giovanni...and the list goes on...I still haven't found the secret to healthy hair. I guess I will have to just keep trudging along in this area. As of this week I have worked with Jenn in exploring mini twists . . . The twists are meant to be a protective hair style and should be a great tool for hair growth. My goal is to only keep them in for 7 days and I have made it to the glorious day 6! Lol. (Mini twists are meant to last longer but since this is my first time with them I am very anxious to take them out.)

Well, this is my health update guys. Hope you haven't given up on your healthy living. You should hear back from me soon. Happy Happy Tuesday! :D

Back From Vacation!

2012-09-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

I'M BACK!

Okay so I'm finally back and into the swing of things. My Vacation was wonderful and much needed! We went to Disney World and got to play all day every day. Our trip was truly a blessing.

5 No Equipment Beginner Cardio Workouts

2012-09-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

Beginner Cardio Workouts

1. Stepping in place.

Step in place while swinging your arms for 10-15 minutes. This is a easy workout to do while watching tv and it will definitly increase your heart rate and make for a good workout! After your time is up make sure to stretch (especially your calf muscles).

2. Walking the stairs.

Harvard Medical School reports that stair climbing is an effective way to lose weight and keep it off, since the people who walk up stairs, even at a slower pace, burn calories 3x faster than when walking at a faster speed on a normal surface (livestrong.com). If you have a fight of stairs at work, home, school, etc, start using them for workouts. At least 3 days a wk set aside 5 to 10 min working your way up to 30 minutes.

3. Exercise videos.

These days there are all kinds of cardio workouts on dvd or provided through you cable plan. Find something that interests you (Pilates, yoga, dance, hip hop, etc) and get started 3 days a wk working your way up in time.

4. Jump Roping or Jumping Jacks.

You can use a jump rope or do jumping jacks. To start out you can alternate the jumping and walking in place. Example: walk in place for 5 min then do jumping for 30 sec to 1 min then back to walking in place. Jumping burns calories fast and tones your muscles.

5. Dance to the music.

Challenge yourself to dance to your favorite songs. Start out with dancing through one whole song then work your way up to 3 or more songs in a row. This is a routine that can be enjoyable and fun for you and your family.

God's Plan

2012-08-20T13:51:00.003-07:00

Mondays Encouragement!

God's Plan by Anthony Walker of Anthony's Desk

I am grateful just to know that somebody has a plan for this thing that we call life. It is a plan that has already been vetted and settled in heaven. It was arranged long before the world was created. It was a meticulously designed plan for me before I was me. God has given me the basics of the plan and the details he reveals to me by the Holy Spirit as he sees fit. He has shown me the perfect execution of the plan by the very life of his Son. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are there all the time to coach me and guide me and make sure that I stay on the plan.

God's plan for us involves some tough times. It involves some pain. It involves betrayal, denial, and all sorts of storms. However, it also involves much mercy, grace, love, forgiveness, loveliness, purity, blessing, and a constant view of heaven. It ultimately involves our salvation in the end. Focus on the plan!

On another note, as we close in on the end of the first month of the year, we have to think about some questions? Where am I in my walk with God? Have I kept my commitments to God, to myself, and to others? Are we still learning? Are we pressing (meaning deliberately making an effort to move forward against stagnation and against adversity)? Are we reading? Are we praying?

Only you have the answers to those questions. And the questions won't go away even if we avoid answering them. This week I've learned that God allows me to be tested until I pass the test. Whatever your test is, it will keep coming back to you because God wants you to overcome the obstacle so that you mature and can help to mature others.

As Summer Ends . . .

2012-08-15T00:01:00.002-07:00

While Jenn is vacationing and living it up in Florida, I am still in Tennessee, working and budgeting. Jenn is eating well prepared meals and drinking Caribbean Breezes and I am eating white rice and drinking hot tea...lol. Needless to say we are both happy and smiling all the same ;)

The summer season is coming to a close and fall will soon welcome the winter. Summer love will begin to diminish, the sun will rise later and set earlier, health and nutrition will begin to fade as the winter holidays begin to unfold, and beautiful flowers will begin to die! (My poor Hibiscus tree . . .)

BUT! There is Good News! :D

Springing into action now will save you from becoming the target for depression later. Here are some ways in which you can fight the upcoming woes of winter.

Weeeeeee!!!!
A Slide Made of Ice in
Downtown Nashville

Mini Vaycay in your own State

There are lots of events going on in the fall and winter and now is the perfect time to plan a mini vacation that is close to home. Romantic weekend get aways are perfect for married couples to plan during the winter months.
All you Tennesseans, www.tnvacation.com is a good place to go to check out some listings of local events.

Make Plans To Spend Less and Give More

More money is spent during the Holidays than any other time of the year. Start creating and making Love Gifts now, instead of buying them later. This will allow you to always have something to give your loved ones as they find time to visit you over the holidays.

Start on A Project

Staying indoors is more pleasant when freezing temperatures are present. Colder months are perfect for beginning or finishing projects that you dismissed in the summer. Organize your desk, photos, or journals and make them perfect for revisiting. Another great idea is to catch up on all of those books that you downloaded on your Kindle but never had a chance to finish!

Get Out of the Rut and Start YOUR Journey to Healthy Living!

2012-08-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

In a Fitness Rut?

Ruts are easy to fall into and comfortable to stay in. Staying in a rut for a long time can be detrimental to your health depending on what type of rut your are in. Hopefully this post will help to get you out of that fitness rut if you are in one. Please feel free to comment, suggest, or tell your success story below :-D

Start Your Way to a Consistent Exercise Routine with a Plan!

The first step to a consistent exercise routine is having a plan. If you have struggled with having a consistent routine in the past, a detailed plan may help you stay on track longer this time.

Your Plan should consists of :

Knowing your ideal workout routine (The recommendation for exercise is 30 minutes of moderate activity 5-7 days a week or 20 minutes of vigorous activity 3 days a week). Come up with what you ultimately want your routine consistency to look like and work you way to it.

Think of the best days and time of day you will be more likely to work out. For example if you are not a morning person then don't plan to wake up an hour early to work out because more than likely it will not happen.

Plan out the types of activities you will do each workout day. You can print off a free calendar and post it in a place you will see daily, set reminders in your phone, etc. Write out on each day what you will do and how much time you will spend doing it.

Tell someone or more than one person about your fitness goals. This will hold you accountable to do what you say you will do.

FIND MOTIVATION! Its important to know why you are doing what you are doing and be to be reminded of that frequently. Examples of ideas for motivation are listed below:

-Read your bible/pray for strength

-Sign up for a race around your area
-Join a weight loss group
- Create a weight loss challenge
- Join a exercise class or classes
- Hire a trainer
- Find a workout partner
- Find someone who is trying to get healthy and hold one another accountable
- Try on your swim suit!
- Make a goal to fit in smaller clothes you have in your closet
- Make a weight loss chart or post your goal weight
- Create a vision board
- Think of your workout as your stress medicine

You may also find this article helpful http://fititinjessandjenn.blogspot.com/2012/08/lazy-mans-jump-start-to-working-out.html#links

*I will add sample beginners workout routines to the blog later*

Good luck with your plan! You can do it!!!!!

Morning Refresher Juice

2012-08-08T15:25:00.002-07:00

Simple Morning Refresher

Ingredients:

1 Large Orange

2 Medium Apples

1-2 Strawberries

Simple Veggie Juice

2012-08-07T07:35:00.003-07:00

Simple Veggie Juice

(The color of the drink has little to do with the taste)

Ingredients:

1 Leaf of Romain Lettuce

2 Large Carrots

1 Large Orange (Adding the orange sweetens the drink)

Great eaten with a light crunchy snack

Mondays Encouragement: T.L.C

2012-08-06T09:51:00.002-07:00

T.L.C. by Anthony Walker of Anthony's Desk

He also spoke this parable: “ A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground? ’ Luke 13:6-7

There are a few interesting things to note about this fig tree. This tree was planted in a vineyard rather than randomly scattered. This means that the tree was planned and meticulously planted. Secondly, this tree belonged to someone. Belonging again stresses the point that it was cared for. But after three years of sustained growth, the tree has yet to bear fruit. Those to points leads to a question or few. What is wrong with this tree? Why is this tree not bearing fruit?

A tree that doesn't bear fruit, particularly good fruit (Matt 7:19), is in danger of being cut down. The owner said, "Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?" This tree was cumbering the ground--taking up space. This tree was wasting the life that it was given. This tree was not living up to its purpose.

But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ Luke 13:8-9

Here intervenes the humble vinedresser. He pleads with the owner to let the tree alone for this year while he digs around it and fertilizes it. The vinedresser knows his plants because he is with them all the time. So he asks for an opportunity to take a deeper inspection into the matter giving the tree another opportunity to produce again.

Maybe you've been perspicacious and understand that this parable is all about you. For a season you haven't produced any good fruit. What we also must understand is that you are in danger of being cut down for not using the life that God has given you, for not living up to God's purpose in your life. But Jesus intervenes to save you. He intervenes by digging around your life, cutting out the dead areas and then fertilizing you by injecting life into you. He has saved you and shown you tender love and care. Jesus saved you so that you may produce again.

Fitting it In Over The Weekend With . . . Paintball!

2012-08-05T04:49:00.001-07:00

Our Unexpected Paintball Experience

Today was a great surprise! We were told by another couple to be ready at 10am and they would be by to pick us up to take us on a date :-D. So after spin class I came home told my husband, we got ready, and they were waiting outside...
What a wonderful date it was. We ended up going to Monells (a southern food family style restaurant) where I had one to many biscuits. After Monells we were taken to play paintball! I never thought paintball would be so intense. I loved that it was challenging, mentally and physically. I also liked working together as a team to create a strategy for winning.
Our paintball experience consisted of running, crouching, ducking, squatting, sweating all while carrying the paintball gun. I got tagged several times but the excitement and fun of the game trumps the fear of getting hit. The four of us played together as a team and beat another experienced team 3 times in a row! I will definitely be going back for more! Having good friends is such a blessing. I am so thankful and the date was much needed :-)

For more info on paintball and where we went to play CLICK HERE

Lazy Man's Jump Start to Working Out

2012-08-01T03:42:00.000-07:00

Getting back into a good workout routine can be rough. Your mind may tell you that it is time to get back in to shape, while, at the same time, your body just does not want to move! When your body craves sleep, tv, sweets, and everything between, it is exceptionally hard to jump into exercise mode. Taking action is the number one step in coming out of fitness hibernation. Listed below are some strategies that may help you get back on track so you can travel the road of fitness again.

Strategy #1

The "Couch Slouch" Strategy
If your super lazy, like me, you may want to try a few things just to get you motivated. As you lay on your comfortable bed or couch think about what inspires you. What gets you moving? I often have to watch a few Nike commercials on YouTube for motivation. Sometimes a movie such as gladiator will get me motivated and up and running too. Create a few goals and see what fits into your schedule. Another option would be to pick up the phone and ask a friend to be your accountability partner or work out buddy. Get the ball rolling by developing a game plan and then take action in following up on it.

Strategy #2

The "Fit it In" Strategy
I love the feeling of accomplishment and productivity that comes when completing an 8+ hour work shift. When returning home from work it is very easy to forget that more work needs to be done. Chores such as laundry, cooking, cleaning and care giving, can be very time consuming and once they are completed there may not be enough time in you day to work out.

Core and ab work during a
commercial break.
HERE is a simple
and easy routine
worth checking out!

Some great things to do for fitting in a workout is to do the simple things such as wearing ankle weights as you clean, adding leg lifts as you cook or dancing to a song as you sweep.

Keeping ankle weights on while doing daily cleaning routines can help immensely in staying physically fit. You will also be able to burn extra calories as you haul around the extra weight.

Adding a couple of leg lifts while cooking will allow you to work your lower body and mid section. I read a recent article written by Matt Frazier that was titled "The simplest things to do (are also the simplest things not to do)." Check it out HERE. It's a very helpful article about forming good exercise habits and changing old ones.

Dancing to a song while sweeping will not only burn extra calories but these actions will also help in muscle tone.

Strategy #3

The "Have Some Self Control . . . Man!" Strategy
Saying, "No!" to your cravings can feel a lot like punishment. Having self control is a major plus in developing great eating habits. Start with saying, "No" to a small habit that you have formed such as . . .
No! to eating past 7pm
No! to eating fast food for a week, month, or more (whatever amount of time that would be a challenge to you)
No! to sodas . . . forever!
No! to snack machines
No! to adding ice cream, potato chips, doughnuts, and/or candy bars (or any type of junk food) to your grocery list.

Well, You get the gist. With a little self control and good reasoning these are all small habits that you can break in a matter of weeks. While you are busy saying, "No!" to yourself, find out why you are saying no. there are reasons such as, these foods have no nutritional value. These foods have added fats, which cause weight gain. These foods contain high levels of sugar content. At night, your metabolism slows down so it would be best to skip that late night snack...all of these things have a domino effect on your health.

Hope This Article Helps in Jump Starting Your Way Back Into Healthy Living!

A Love Story: Falling in Love

2012-07-30T07:26:00.001-07:00

Mondays Encouragement - A Love Story by Anthony Walker of Anthony's Desk

A Love Story: Falling In Love

Remember when you first fell in love? It was amazing. Nothing else mattered. You didn't care about how your friends joked about you. You didn't care about how late you were on the phone. As a matter of fact, time didn't even exist! You were lost in the forest of love. Colors smelled better, sounds felt better! You were living in a dream. But then, your heart was broken. It was the worst plane crash, earth quake, disaster that could have been. How could they ever? Why would they even think about? It was horrible. You cried and cried and sulked and cried. But then something strange happened. Within the limbic system of your brain, the area that controls the sensations of pain and pleasure, something started tingling. Your frontal lobe, your area of cognition and reasoning, started twitching. You began to reason that I will never let that happen again. So you started building walls that were never supposed to be built. You started shutting down areas of your heart that were supposed to remain open. You started saying foolish things like, "It takes a fool to learn, that love don't love nobody!" All of the happiness in your life began to have a dark cloud looming over it. "Relationships" sounded like a terrible cruise line of broken hearts and painful feelings.

But then, another person comes your way, named Jesus. He says somethings that your bitterness tells you, "Sounds too good to be true." Jesus says, "I'll never leave you nor forsake you. I will always fulfill all of your needs. Nothing will ever come between my love and you." So now Reason is asking, "What's the catch?" Well there is no catch, just truth. In order to experience the fullness of this love, you have to "fall" in it. Fall in love? Yep, fall in love. You begin to think about the last time you fell. The last time you fell, you hurt your hip, or scraped your elbow, or bruised your knee. Research says that the #1 scariest nightmare one could have, is the nightmare of falling. It's not just the falling, it is the fear of what happens in the end. But remember when you first fell in love? There were no inhibitions, no caution, no walls, no closed doors. It was free!. Jesus is asking you today to fall in love with him.

We've been approaching this love thing all wrong. Jesus' prescription of love is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself." And the order is very important. We must first come to love perfection. God has a perfect love. He teaches us how to love. Once we can love perfection (God), we can then love imperfection(mankind). He (the man you desire) must love God first before he can love you. She (the woman you desire) must love God first, then she can love you. If he won't listen to God, what makes you think he'll listen to you? If she won't submit to God, why on earth will she submit to you?

Fall in love with Jesus today. Don't hold anything back. He holds nothing back from you.

Saturday Morning Group

2012-07-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Jess' Morning Walking Group!

Today our walk consisted of half mile walking alternated with half mile running. Our distance was 4 miles and we burned over 500 calories! It always feels like a surprise when walking with the morning crew. As a group, we decide on the workout when we get there which makes it fun :-D

Jessie seemed to know everyone on the trail

After Our 4 mile walk/run we had Juice (made with apples, oranges, strawberries, and carrots).

Thanks again hun for the fun but challenging workouts on Saturday morning.

How She Did It: Tasha shares her weight loss journey

2012-07-26T07:31:00.001-07:00

Hello all! Jess and I have been looking for inspiring well~being warriors to share their journey with us. We found one! LaTasha Anderson is a great inspiration for ALL.

Tasha's Journey

Name: LaTasha Anderson
Age: 31
Weight loss: 124 pounds so far! Yay!

A little about yourself:
I am a second grade teacher that loves to laugh and spend a lot of time with my friends.
I LOVE to travel and read.
If I can do those at the same time, even better!

What was your turning point?
Three friends and I decided to do a 6 month weight loss challenge during June 2011. Winner takes $250! Since I am a sore loser AND I love money, I was determined to win!
I lost by 0.2 percent!!! I was crushed, but looking back, I received so much more!

When and How did you start your healthy journey?
I actually started my journey in January of 2011.
I won a one year gym membership in an auction & decided to use it.
I began by going to Zumba 2-3 days a week. I had lost about 25 pounds by June 2011. Then when the weight loss challenge came about, I increased my Zumba workouts to 5 days a week and started to watch what I ate.
That's when the weight literally started to melt off.

How do you feel now vs before making healthy changes?
I had a ton of energy to begin with, but I am like the Energizer Bunny now!
I have also made a whole new network of friends due to working out and that has been the BEST! After losing so much weight and sticking to my new lifestyle, many of life's obstacles seem easier to overcome.

How have you overcome some of the challenges that you have faced during your healthy journey?
I feel that you HAVE to be committed! You can not come in half hearted. You have to be READY to make a change.
Prayer helped A LOT when I was ready to throw in the towel!
My hardest challenges have been vacationing. I LOVE to travel, and it is SO HARD to exercise and eat healthy when there's no gym or grocery stores on hand. Fortunately, I found ways to get my exercise in and make healthy choices when trapped in the land of sugar at Disney World!

How do you maintain your current weight and health?
I workout 6 days a week. 6 days of Zumba. 5 days also consist of an additional 30 minutes of cardio and 45 minutes of weight lifting. 4 days also consist of 2.5-3 miles of walking on each of those days.
My diet consists of anything I want to eat. I just make sure that I use moderation and get in at least 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
For example, I LOVE pizza! I would eat 3 pieces at a time. NOW I eat one piece and have a salad as a side and a fruit for a dessert. I still get my pizza and my body is happy!
I also drink PLENTY of water and eat plenty of protein since I workout so much.

What are big motivators that you use on the days that you don't feel like eating healthy or exercising?
My main motivator is my body. It is so used to working out that it just feels like it needs to be working out, not laying around. I just don't feel myself if I miss a workout or two.

What advice would you give for someone struggling to make healthy lifestyle changes?

Number 1: FIND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU! If you do not have motivation or something to strive towards, your journey will be difficult. For me it was money and the need to win. For my friend, it was her children. It's easier if you have something to push you towards your goal.
Number 2: EAT WHAT YOU LIKE, BUT USE MODERATION!!!!
Number 3: DO NOT KEEP UNHEALTHY FOODS YOU LOVE IN YOUR HOUSE. If I want a treat, such as Oreos, I'll buy some. I then take out about 6, put them in a Ziploc baggie, and take the rest to work or a friend's house. I satisfy my craving without sabotaging my hard work. You can't overeat if it's not there!
Number 4: FIND SOMEONE ON THE SAME JOURNEY! It helps to have someone who understands what you are going through cheering you on.

Thanks again for sharing Tasha!
If anyone else would like to share their weight loss journey let us know.