A Healthier Me

2012-12-07T09:33:00.001-08:00

Hey there! I hope you all had a wonderful week!

I LOVE Pinterest! I think it is an amazing resource!! I have been pinning all sorts of workouts for months now! This week I decided I would try one out. I had pinned THIS workout from fitfabcities.com because I thought it would be a great workout to go. You know when you go on vacation but don't want to take your weights, dvds, etc. This workout would be a GREAT vacation workout. All you need is your a good pair of shoes, this workout printed (or memorized but heaven knows this mama is all out of room) and your iPod/MP3.

I did this workout yesterday and am DYING this morning I am so sore in a GREAT way! In fact after the workout I got in the shower and could barely lift my arms to wash my hair..LOL! :) This workout was awesome I just turned on my Pandora Pop Fitness Channel (we will get to this in a moment) and set the timer on my iPod for each circuit. It kicked my butt! The other nice thing about this workout is that it can be 15 mins, 30 mins or 45 mins long! Isn't that AWESOME!?!

Another thing that I learned from Pinterest is that Pandora offers a bunch of different workout stations! Who knew!?! Yesterday I used the Pop Fitness and it was FANTASTIC! I will definitely be using these channels more often!

My first week back

2012-12-01T16:59:00.001-08:00

This week went AWESOME!!! First let me say that I saw my OBGYN this week for my 6 week postpartum and everything went great!
Also I started up with my lolo treadmill workouts! I am easing into it with a intermediate 30 min walk/jog routine. I was able to get 3 of those in and a partial Jillian Michaels workout in this week. I also started loosely countin my calories. Because i am nursing I am not getting to strict about it. With these few changes I lost 3 lbs!!! Woo hoo! I will post some pics soon!

I am back...here we go again!!

2012-11-13T09:18:00.001-08:00

Hey there! Is anyone still out there! Sorry I was MIA for the rest of my pregnancy. I just was not as on the ball as I wanted to be. Anyway I gained 55lbs (ouch) with this pregnancy so I have yet another long journey ahead of me. I have lost 20lbs (thank you breastfeeding) so I have another 35 to go. Really I would like to lose 45 because that would get me to my GOAL weight not just my pre-pregnancy weight. Something I think I am going to do this time around is do a photo journal of my weight loss journey. Hopefully I will remember!

Since I am technically not supposed to really start a 'work out' regimin for another 2-3 weeks my goal is just to walk for 30-60 minutes a day. I tried to start this last week but only got one day in.It is hard to balance two kids and myself but I know that making time for yourself is SOO important. Anyway I am going to run and change and flip on the old treadmill.

If anyone is still reading THANKS! and I will see ya soon!

Where I have been...

2012-06-14T08:50:00.001-07:00

Well I have totally neglected this blog. I wonder if anyone of you still bother checking it. I guess part of the reason I haven't been updating it is because once again I haven't been doing as well as I would like.
I really wanted to be super healthy this pregnancy but I haven't been doing that well. I finally feel good enough to workout and have been doing really at that but then I kind of turn into a bottomless pit :( today I am going to Costco and am going to stock up on yummy produce and healthy snacks. Also I can't eat out because anytime I do I gain a pound...you think I am joking? Nope! It is ridiculous!
I mentioned on my other blog that this pregnancy has been very difficult for me mentally. I was so healthy before I got pregnant that watching my body change this time around has been hard. I need to get over it though! I lost the 50+ lbs from my last pregnancy in 5 mos.!!! I just need to realize that even if I gain 50 lbs this time around I will be fine. It is just weird because it is not like i am eating horribly but everything just sticks. Lol! I guess I am one of those blessed woman whose bodies just holds on to everything when pregnant. And that is ok!
Please don't misunderstand! I am Over the moon to be pregnant!!!!! Plus I am lucky to be able to carrying a beautiful baby and she is growing healthy and strong.
Here is what is going on in my pregnancy right now:
I am currently 21 weeks prego and Baby Girl (probably will be Elli Sue) is about the size of spaghetti squash (8 in & 1 lb) she is getting stronger everyday. In fact last night Aaron really felt her little wiggles. I am feeling pretty good. I have heartburn,pelvic pain & tailbone pain but other than that we are doing just great! So far I have gained 25lbs. Which is wonderful! ;) if that is what baby girl needs then so be it!!! Here is a pick I took a couple weeks ago at 19 weeks!

Feeling Better

2012-03-29T07:21:00.001-07:00

So last week I had my 10 week appointment. I had the nurse look up my weight at first appointment when I was pregnant with Kaci and found (to my relief) that I was currently 7lbs less than I was then. That made me feel a little bit better about the weight I have gained thus far with this pregnancy. I have been a lot sicker with this pregnancy than I was with Kaci Lu. Again, no throwing up just exhausted and nauseous all the time. This has made me VERY LAZY! And I have been eating okay.The quality has been good it's just I have been eating more than I typically would. Remember I am an emotional eater...? :) Anyway at my Dr. appointment he prescribed my Zofran which honestly has helped me A TON!!! Yesterday I worked out for the first time in a week and a half! It felt SOOOO GOOD!!! I also have been eating less-remember I was emotionally eating because I didn't feel good before. Anyway things are looking on the up and up.
Now that I am feeling better I look forward to posting more on fitness & health. Woo hoo!!!Stay tuned okay. :)

Pregnancy Update

2012-03-14T14:17:00.001-07:00

5 Weeks 7 Weeks 8 Weeks

I just wanted to thank you for your comments on my last post. I am really excited to be pregnant again. I just wanted to update! People always told me that with your second you start showing faster but I NEVER believed it would happen SO QUICKLY!!! In fact I went out and bought maternity pants already! There is NO point in cramming into pants that just make me feel fat!
I have maintained my weight gain. WOO HOO! I know a lot of people do better eating 5-6 small meals a day while pregnant but I have found this time around that I do better if I have three regular meals with a couple of small snacks! It has really helped. I was running 4-5 miles 3 times a week and doing strength training the other days before I got pregnant but ever since my belly started to jiggle I have slowed things down-I know it's silly but I feel like I am going to give my peanut shaken baby syndrome. I have been walking 3+ miles a day on my treadmill and still doing some strength training. I have been sicker with this pregnancy than I was with Kaci. I dont throw up or anything the exhaustion and nausea. Hopefully I will start feeling better over the next couple of weeks. And I will back to normal again.

OH! Recently I was contacted by the makers of P90X and the said that they wanted to help me with my blog. So if there is anything specific that you'd like me to touch on let me know. I thought it was REALLY cool that they contacted me. Hopefully with their help I can give you more helpful health, exercise and nutrition info!! :)

Surprise!!

2012-02-27T14:06:00.000-08:00

Well some of you are really going to have to bare with me for the next 9 months...that is right. I just found out that I am pregnant! Hopefully those who aren't pregnant won't find it annoying and those that are will find the information useful.

So my goal with this pregnancy is to be healthier than my last (remember I gained 50 lbs! YIKES). The first trimester is always a little harder though because of the nausea and hormones etc. For some reason I feel like a gain weight really fast...like 5 lbs! That is right I'm ONLY 6ish weeks along and I've put on 5 lbs! It is okay though I understand my blood and fluid increases etc. Hormones are crazy and let's face it when you aren't nausueas you want to eat something good! I am still working out 4-6 times a week and trying to get the rest that I need. I also just stocked my fridge and pantry with yummy fruits and veggies that I can snack on. I am a FIRM believer that pregnant women really shouldn't be overly concerned with their wieght during pregnancy. Everyone is SO different and every pregnancy is SO different. I may give advice but remember it is only what works for me. Please consult your doctor if you have concerns. Anyway here is to the next 35 weeks! :)

Any pregnant readers out there? If so how far along are you? Do you have any advice YOU want to share!?

Dear Pro Form Treadmill...

2012-02-15T06:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Treadmill,

I love you! You make it so convenient for me to workout. Even on days that I think that I am too tried. You are there to remind me that I am important and need to be healthy. I always feel better when we start our day together. Thank you for pushing me farther than I ever thought possible. Thank you for not judging me on days that I want to go a little slower. Thank you for not caring about my workout ensemble or how sweaty and stinky I get.

What is your favorite workout item...shoes? equipment? sweatband?

Hungry Girl

2012-02-06T07:17:00.000-08:00

Aaron and I LOVE watching the Food Network & the Food Channel! Call it a guilty pleasure! Our favorites are Diners, Drive-ins and Dives & Chopped. Recently I discovered Hungry Girl! I LOVE HER!!!! How does she differ from MOST cooking shows...? She cooks with items I have in MY kitchen, she is looking to cook low calorie, low fat meals, & not only does she cook she shows you how to SHOP smarter & healthier. Plus she is super fun and has a BRIGHT colored kitchen. LOL! This weekend I tried a couple of the recipes she did on her show. How did they turn out....STELLAR! Yummy and quick you HAVE to try them!

Grilled Fuji-n-Chick 'Wich

PER SERVING (entire recipe): 298 calories, 5.5g fat, 659mg sodium, 30g carbs, 6g fiber, 10g sugars, 33g protein -- PointsPlus® value 7*

Prep:
5 minutes

Cook:
15 minutes

Ingredients

One 4-oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast cutlet
Dash each salt and black pepper
1/2 cup peeled and thinly sliced Fuji apple
1/4 cup thinly sliced onion
2 dashes ground sage
2 dashes garlic powder
2 slices light bread
1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss cheese
1 tsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown), room temperature, divided

Directions

Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat on the stove. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 4 minutes on one side.

Flip chicken in the skillet. Add apple, onion, sage, and garlic powder. Cook until apple and onion have softened and chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, lay bread slices flat and evenly spread the upward-facing sides with cheese.

Evenly top one slice with chicken and apple-onion mixture. Place the other bread slice on top with the cheese-covered side down. Press gently to seal. Set aside.

Remove skillet from heat. Clean skillet, if needed. Re-spray and return to medium heat on the stove.

Spread 1/2 tsp. of butter on the upward-facing bread slice. Place sandwich in the skillet with the buttered side down. Spread the remaining 1/2 tsp. of butter on the upward-facing bread slice.

Cook sandwich until hot and toasty, 1 - 2 minutes per side, flipping it gently.

Allow to cool slightly. Then cut it in half, if you like, or just bite right in! Yummm...

Red Hot Apple Pie in a Mug

PER SERVING (entire recipe): 140 calories, 0.5g fat, 44mg sodium, 47g carbs, 3.5g fiber, 24.5g sugars, 0.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 5*

Prep: 5 minutes	Cook: 5 minutes
Cool: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 medium Fuji apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
12 - 15 pieces Red Hots Cinnamon Flavored Candy
1/2 sheet (2 crackers) low-fat cinnamon graham crackers
2 tbsp. Fat Free Reddi-wip (or more!)
Dash cinnamon

Directions

Put apple cubes in a microwavable cup or mug. Top with Red Hots -- the more you use, the hotter your pie in a mug will be! Cover and microwave for 2 minutes. Stir well. Re-cover and microwave for an additional 1 - 2 minutes, until apple cubes are soft.

Meanwhile, place graham crackers in a plastic bag and thoroughly crush through the bag; set aside.

Once cup or mug is cool enough to handle, mix contents well. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes.

Top with most of the crushed graham crackers followed by the whipped topping. (Use a double serving, if you like!)

Sprinkle with cinnamon and remaining crushed grahams. Voila!

Sweat Belts..

2012-01-27T14:20:00.000-08:00

This may be lame but I honestly can't remember if I posted about sweat belts. Have you ever used a sweat belt while working out? I bought one a couple of years ago and thought well it couldn't hurt right?

Now I use one almost every time I work out. I really notice a difference when I wear it-not because it gave me a 6 pack or anything but because every time I wear it my jeans ALWAYS fit better! I guess it just squeezes that little extra little bit of water weight out and I love it! Walmart sells a Golds Gym one that I really like for $5! It's really basic but I love it!

lolo

2012-01-11T12:56:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of the lolo app?! I LOVE IT!!!!

Here is a quick description I pulled of their website:

BeatBurn Treadmill/Outdoor Trainer

our flagship product, BeatBurn Treadmill, showcases what it really means to have an interactive personal trainer on your iPhone or iPod touch. your trainer will be in your ear every step of the way guiding you through a fun and challenging walking, running, or walk-jog program.

features

*36 progressive routines designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced users

your trainer’s voice guides you through every step of the program

*play your own music or use our 24 included tracks of specially formulated, high-energy fitness music

*you can workout on a treadmill or take it outside

*the beat of our fitness music automatically speeds up or slows down to perfectly match the pace of your feet on the treadmill or road

*you are in control. you can adjust the intensity on the fly or jump to any point in the workout and your trainer adjusts to fit your needs

*track how many calories you burned — even outside

*works with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, or any generation of iPod touch

*works with iOS 3.0 and higher

You can check out their other apps or find out more about the lolo by going to their website.

Sure there may be a FEW bugs but I find this app makes my time on the treadmill FLY by! I absolutely LOVE how I can sync it to MY music AND how the app slows down or speeds up the songs to fit with my speed! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this app and would defineately recommend it!!!

Have any of you tried this app? Do you like it? Have any of you tried any of their other apps? What do you think?

I almost bought the 5k app but after reading some of the reviews decided not to.

Oh how I love my Reebok Realflex

2012-01-10T07:37:00.001-08:00

I love these shoes! Now remember I am a beginner runner and my running is done mostly on the treadmill. These shoes are AMAZING!! I never had to break them in or anything! They've never given me a blister or rubbed at all! I seriously feel like this shoe was made for me!!! Love them!!! Plus I think they are pretty dang cute!

Anyone out there have a favorite running shoe?

Honesty

2012-01-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, here is a dose of honesty for you. I've been a little blue lately...not feeling like myself etc. etc. etc. I think it all started back in November when I realized that I was really not superwoman. This was a VERY hard realization to come to terms with for me. I look at all of the amazing women that surround me in my family and at church and think they can do this or that, why can't I? Working full-time and trying to be a wife, mother, and friend was not working for me. When Aaron and I decided that I would come home again part of me took a GIANT sigh of relief! The end of November rolled around and I kind of gave up watching what I ate, exercising, etc. I was exhausted and I just needed a break. Then I stopped working and was pretty much sick all of December meaning that I made the excuse that I 'couldn't work out sick' (Which is a LIE! In fact I always get better quicker if I work out.). Along with that I made the excuse that it was the holidays so I could 'eat whatever I wanted'. Well as you can imagine the last week of December rolled around and I was kind of disgusted with myself. I had gained a total of 10lbs and just felt sick. Remember I'm only 5 foot so ANY weight gain goes directly to my belly!

I just kept thinking how all of that hard work creating a new lifestyle was blown in only 1 1/2 months! LAME!!
Needless to say I was extremely disappointed in myself. Hence me not posting for a while.

But here I am January 8th prepared to get back on track! My house is stocked with yummy, healthy food. I have dusted off the treadmill & JM videos and have gotten into a good rhythm with my workouts. The lbs are started to come off and I am already starting to feel better about myself again.

I know some of you are rolling your eyes wondering what this post is really about. Here comes the point. I think that some of us don't realize that living and unhealthy lifestyle really affects EVERYTHING in our lives. It seems like a no brainer to some of us but really until you've lived a both lifestyles consistently you may not get it. If you are unhealthy right now but think life is wonderful I will tell you right now that it gets better! Take that wonderful and multiply it by a million! Really when you are treating yourself right everything becomes brighter and better. I know for me I have more energy and confidence to love and treat others better. I have more energy to keep things cleaner in my house which makes people at home more comfortable and relaxed. I feel better about my body which sounds like a dumb thing but it really makes me focus on others more because I am not wondering if everyone around me can see that extra weight in my tummy. Not to mention it makes me actually want to be around others instead of hide in my house.

I could go on and on. Back to my point- if you have made a New Year's resolution to get healthy or to continue living a healthy lifestyle stick to it! I know you can do it! The benefits are worth all of the sacrifice!

So did you make any New Year's resolutions?

I'm Back!!

2011-12-05T14:53:00.001-08:00

As of Friday I am a stay at home mommy again. :) YAY! Well, since going back to work I gained 5lbs. It is A LOT harder to eat right & work out while you are working 40 hrs a week and still trying to be mom & wife. Man alive...what an eye opener. I am really not too worried about losing it because I do better when I cook for myself. I am excited to pick up where I left off. And I am SUPER determined to hit my goal weight. :) How are you all doing? Anything exciting going on?

2011-11-09T06:28:00.000-08:00

Okay I know I have been MIA the last several months here on my blog and in real life. Life as a working mom has been NUTS. I have what feels like zero time. I literally get home from work and spend time as much time with my family as I can before I have to cook, clean, work on my calling etc. I have jokingly comment to some of you that right now if you want me to be a part of your life you have to reach into my bubble and pull me out. But there is a shift on the horizon and I promise that in a couple of weeks I will get you all caught up on my life. My blog will return with helpful information on health and fitness. As well new recipes and fitness routines. Thank you for putting up with my hermit-like behavior. I promise to emerge soon! :)

2011-10-14T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hey All,
I'm so sorry for the long pause! I have taken a breather from what seems like everything. I injured my knee because I have been running in OLD shoes. So I had to order new shoes, yes ORDER. I guess that small footed people do not run. I tried at least 10 stores and no one carried a 5.5 in a decent running shoe. Anyway my new shoes should be here today and I will be back on track. Last week (before my injury) I ran over 15 miles. I know to you runners out there that isn't much but for me that it HUGE! I have been trying to run a 5k every morning and I felt GREAT until my knee started to ache. Anyway so I've been resting my knee while I wait for my new shoes. The should arrive today and I will be back on track. Anyway I promise to be better about posting.

How are you doing though? How are your workouts going?

How to measure spaghetti servings

2011-09-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

I often cook myself pasta for lunch. I am pretty good about measure out smaller pasta such as bow tie or elbow but when it comes to measuring out dry spaghetti noodles I ALWAYS struggle. I swear I always make more than I need (but I eat it anyway). I found the following tip on EHow.com. It is seems like an easy way to remember portion size.

When you have adults for dinner, the portions vary considerably for measuring spaghetti. Since the pasta gets a bit thicker after it is cooked, the measuring can be offered to the people or you can just decide for them yourself.

Thoroughly wash hands for 2 or 3 minutes with an antibacterial soap and rinse before touching food. After removing the spaghetti from the box or plastic wrapper, hold it in between the index finger and the thumb

After removing the spaghetti from the box or plastic wrapper, hold it in between the index finger and the thumb making a circle around the pasta. For each adult consider a portion about the size of a nickle. For the larger appetite make a portion of either 2 nickles or a quarter.Children's portions are considered adequate if you measure each to have the size of a dime.If pasta is not the main dish you can consider smaller for each person. When you ask someone to tell them which size portion they want; ask them in terms of these coins for validation. Before you know it, everyone will be in tune to this measure for spaghetti.

FUZE SLENDERIZE

2011-09-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

These were on sale at Costco this week so I decided to pick some up. I LOVE their normal drinks (Pina Colada ROCKS but has tons of sugar & calories). These drinks are JUST AS YUMMY! Here is the nutrition info per bottle:

Calories 10
Total Fat 0
Sodium 90mg
Total Carb 1g
Sugars 1g
Protein 0
Vitamin A 40%
Vitamin C 200%
Vitamin E 40%
Pantothenic Acid 40%
Chromium 30%

It also contains:

Super Citrimax
An extract from the South Asian Fruit Garcinia Cambogia
L-Carnitine
An ingredient that the body uses in metabolism
Chromium
A micro nutrient known to help the body get energy from food.
Vitamin A, C, E
Triple Antioxidant power that helps fight free radicals and helps support good health
Vitamin B5
A vitamin necessary for normal metabolism of fat.

AND IT TASTES GOOD!!!! Now beware it's a little pricey but if you are looking for a juice replacement that will give you a boost you have found it! Try it for yourself and let me know what you think!

Ripped in 30

2011-09-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Okay my cute friend at work let me borrow her Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30. I did the Week 1 and thought this is great but nothing too difficult. Today I started Week 2...WOWZA! I thought the workouts were supposed to get progressively harder! NOPE! She went from mild/easy to KILLER! I can't wait to see what workout 3 & 4 are like! My shoulders were literally shaking for 3 hours!

PS Do any of you like Yoplait's Whipped Yogurts!? I LOVE them but I'm trying to get more out of my yogurt so I have been eating Chobani. Well I stumbled across Chobani Champions! LOVE it! It is meant for kids but it has the fruit whipped into it! I LOVE it!

10 East Ways to Lighten Up Any Recipe

2011-09-13T07:33:00.001-07:00

Thank you SparkPeople.com for this GREAT Article!!!

Choosing healthy foods is an important part of eating right, but cooking them in a healthful way is another huge part. For example, zucchini can take on two completely different forms when it's quickly sautéed in olive oil versus battered and deep fried. What we add to foods makes all the difference when it comes to home cooking.

The first step to healthier cooking is to take recipes as suggestions. Before you start chopping and mixing, scan the recipe to see if there are any unnecessary calories. Look for excess cheese, butter and oils, as well as sugars.

Here are some tasty, healthy ideas to help you become a professional recipe overhauler!

Sauté—the skinny way! A couple of tablespoons of low-sodium vegetable broth can be used instead of oil or butter in your stir fry or as the basis for a sauce. This method will add a nice flavor to your dish as well as a little moisture—and you'll save calories to use elsewhere. To get a dose of unsaturated fats, serve your broth-sautéed veggies with a side salad, and pour an olive oil-based dressing over the top.
Say no to skin. Three ounces of chicken breast meat with skin has almost 150 calories; three ounces of chicken without the skin has 50 fewer calories. Tasty as it might be, the skin contains mostly heart-unhealthy saturated fat. You can cook with the skin on to retain moisture (add fresh herbs or citrus zest underneath it to really bake in some flavor), but be sure to remove the skin before you enjoy your meal to save on calories and saturated fat.
Squeeze on the citrus. To add a powerful flavor punch with minimal added calories, use citrus on steamed veggies instead of butter or over a salad instead of a dressing. It’s even great on fruit salad in place of sugar and adds some zip when squeezed onto a pasta salad. Don’t forget to use the flavorful zest of citrus fruits as well! Wash a lemon, orange or lime, then use a zester or grater to add the zest to dishes such as baked seafood.
Be choosy about cheese. When using a mildly flavored cheese, such as Monterey Jack, you need more cheese to taste it. But when you choose a cheese with intense flavor, you can use less and still get the desired effect. Try a reduced-sodium feta, sharp Cheddar or aged Parmesan next time. Light cheese wedges such as The Laughing Cow brand are useful when you're watching fat and calories, too. Try mixing one of these soft cheeses into your scrambled eggs or noodle dishes instead of loading on the shredded mozzarella.
Go Greek. Tangy, fat-free Greek yogurt is a healthful replacement for sour cream. Try this switch in herbed and spiced dips, tacos, nachos, enchiladas, or throw it in a cooked dish as a thickening agent. You’ll save 45 calories for each 2-tablespoon serving.
Puree your produce. Add body to soups and sauces with pureed vegetables instead of heavy cream, evaporated milk, butter or cheese. This move will also add fiber and nutrients to your dish for very few calories. A puree of carrots will add texture to meatless spaghetti sauce, and mixing a blend of beans into a chili or soup will add flavor and thicken it—all with very few added calories. In this recipe, Chef Meg thickens a taco soup with chickpeas!
Get cozy with cottage cheese. When a recipe calls for a significant amount of a crumbled cheese, such as feta or ricotta, substitute half the amount with reduced-fat cottage cheese. This will retain taste, texture, protein, and calcium while ditching some of the fat and calories. This works well for stuffed peppers and most baked pasta dishes.
Pump up the veggies! You can easily reach the recommended five servings of fruits and veggies when you’re cooking at home. Veggies can compliment any dish on your menu, adding nutrient-packed bulk to the meal for few calories. Add chopped asparagus and mushrooms to your next omelet, red peppers (or a frozen stir fry mix) to baked casseroles, or any kind of beans to a pasta salad. Include fresh or frozen spinach in pasta sauces and soups, and broccoli in your casseroles. The opportunities for adding veggies are endless for almost any dish!
Cut the cream. When making cream-based soups, sub fat-free half-and-half for any heavy cream. The switch gives the soups a creamy taste and velvety texture without all the saturated fat of heavy cream. This works great in pasta sauces as well.
Make your own marinade. Marinate lean meats in vinegar and citrus combos (with a bit of oil added) rather than a pre-made oil-based dressing. You can also try a fruit juice or wine. These agents will still tenderize and flavor the meat, and a mix of herbs and spices will bring out the flavor! (You'll also save sodium by not using the store-bought varieties!) Try cutting the meat in strips before dousing it to really let the marinade take effect.

As you can see, there are endless ways you can boost the nutrition and reduce the calories of almost any recipe. Get creative and experiment in the kitchen. You may just find that you like these new ways of cooking just as much—or even better!

Getting Started

2011-09-09T10:28:00.001-07:00

So I had a friend at work ask me to write something up in response to a question she got on a forum. A gal, about college age just moved back home and has gained a bit of weight. She was looking for information on how to get motivated and where to start. This was my response:

Where to start: Weight loss is simple math -calories in and calories out. Start tracking. First figure out your caloric intake (you can google caloric intake and it will give you some great websites to figure this out). Once you have that figure it is all a matter of keeping track. This will be a VITAL key in your weight loss. There are DOZENS of ways to help you track. There are free calorie counting websites (caloriecount.com, sparkpeople.com, livestrong.com, fitnesspal.com etc.) most of which have free apps as well. I love sparkpeople.com--I use their app on a daily basis. Each of these websites has a huge data base of nutritional information, as well as support groups, fitness challenges and a recipe data base. Basically they are chuck full ofgreat information.

Support: Whether you think you need it or not you need support. Tell your family you are trying to lose weight if they care about you and your happiness they will support your decision and try to be helpful. Clear a shelf in the pantry & refrigerator and keep JUST your stuff on it. You have to take some control of your environment.

Exercise: Working out for 3-5 days a week for thirty minutes is great…if you are trying to maintain your weight. If you are trying to LOSE weight (and you don’t have any injuries and have been cleared by a doctor to work out) you should be working out at least 5 days a week for 30-45 mins a day. Of course it will be hard at first but once your body adapts you will feel great. Ever seen the Biggest Loser-those people have a little bit more than 15 pounds to lose and they are still pushing it. You can do it too. Strength training is probably the fastest way to lose weight. I always recommend Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred. This DVD is great! It is a contains 3- 25 minute workouts. Starting with a more basic workout and building up to harder workouts. She has MANY other wonderful DVDs but I would start there. Remember though variety is key. Run one day, then do strength training the next, yoga the next, etc. Remember when you are working out you need to fuel your body properly. Eat BEFORE & AFTER working out or else your body with burn muscle instead of fat. Eliminate soda and stick to water.

Motivation: This is the tricky part. You have to motivate yourself. Sure someone or something may be your motivation for a month or even several months but it won’t last. YOU have to find something in yourself that makes you want to be healthy, want to work out, want to eat better. Until you find that something you can lose the weight but you will eventually gain it back.

Do you have any other advice?

Podcasts & Realizations

2011-09-07T06:53:00.000-07:00

Preface: Since working I have gained a TINY bit of weight. Which saddens me because really I want to lose another 5-10lbs. I haven’t been super strict on my diet but I AM FINALLY settling into a workout schedule!

Since I have been working my ‘free’ time has become very limited. I had hoped to read JM’s Master Your Metabolism & Unlimited (which I did start and can’t wait to get back to). I also had several other books on nutrition and diet that I wanted to get to and I have missed reading my weekly articles from various websites. Anyway needless to say I am not keeping up on my ‘studies’ as much as I would like. So the other day I decided to start listening to more of JM’s podcasts. And I have learned a lot--some about nutrition, some about exercise, but mostly about myself. Here is what I have learned from the last couple of podcasts I’ve listened to. (WARNING: Some of this may appear to be glaringly obvious (meaning you know it and have read it before) but let me tell you until you really internalize it you won’t ‘get it’.)

#1 DO IT FOR YOURSELF: Jillian took a call from a listener who had lost something like 100lbs. She claimed to have hit a plateau and couldn’t push through. Jillian dove into why she had gained the weight in the first place. Well this gal’s father was a PE teacher and all of her brothers and sisters were runners. As the conversation went on the girl basically said ‘I’m losing the weight to prove to them or to make them proud’. Jillian stopped her and said something to the effect of you have to do it for yourself!

#2 BEING THIN DOESN’T EQUAL CONFIDENCE OR SELF WORTH

Again Jillian took a call from a woman who was 4’11 and used to weight 165lbs. She now weighs 117lbs. The woman was calling for two reasons 1-she looks in the mirror and doesn’t know how to respond to her reflection and 2-she is also feeling awkward about the way others are treating her. The first sounds to me like losing the weight was a band aid to help with self confidence issues. The second is VERY easy for me (and I am sure others who have lost weight) to relate to. Others were ALWAYS watching her eat and criticizing her choices. They were also messing with her emotions—telling her husband that they thought she’d leave him now that she was thin, etc.

Both of these things hit me like a TON OF BRICKS! The whole time I have been losing weight I have wanted to be healthier but in the forefront of my mind it was to be an example to my siblings, to make sure my daughter has a mother around for as long as possible, and to try to keep up with my ULTRA SEXY husband. I was doing it for myself but the other reasons were my main push. I specifically remember working out and keeping Kaci nearby so I could look at her and push myself through the workout. I am not saying that being an example is a bad reason to get healthy but what happens when you have the knowledge , lose most of the weight and people see you as an example… then what? Do you stop losing and just sit stagnant? Do you gain it all back? What motivation do you have to lose those ‘vanity pounds’? The answer my friends is NONE! Unless YOU are the reason you are getting healthy then you can forget it! My initial reasons got me to make a change in my life and they are still reasons that I want to maintain a healthy lifestyle but I have realized now that the rest of my journey has to be for ME.

The other thing that hit me was still looking in the mirror and seeing the ‘chubby girl’ or to take it one step further as say to eat like the ‘chubby girl’. I still have these issues that I have to work out. At first when I was losing the weight it was easy to see it. I SAW the pounds come off and new muscles reveal themselves --it becomes VERY exciting. But once I got to a certain point (ie a healthy weight) all I see is what is left. Why do I still have flab here? Why isn’t the saddle bag gone yet? Etc. etc. etc. It is very difficult to get a grip on that. Then there is the eating like a ‘chubby girl’ part. I grew up in a family of social eaters. We ate when we were happy and we ate when we were sad. We rewarded ourselves with food. Eating was funny too—‘look at how short and little I am and how much I can eat’. IN FACT I still to this day will make comments when I eat like ‘I’m a good eater’ or I will tell Kaci ‘You eat like your momma’. Why do I still think like this?

Anyway I know this is a LONG post and if you’ve stuck with me to the end I thank you. I just had several realizations this week due to fabulous podcasts. Now I am not saying I agree with everything JM says for example today I completely disagreed with what she was saying to the point that I had to fast forward through a particular segment.

THE TAKE AWAY:

I am going to look for the good in the mirror and congratulate myself for my accomplishments more.

I am going work on my attitude toward food and be careful about the way I talk about food.

I am recommitted to my calorie count.

I am no longer eating after 7PM.

I am going to work on drinking less Diet Coke.

In the future I will keep better track of which podcast I've listened to. If you want you can download JM's Podcasts HERE.

Again sorry for the long post! Have a wonderful day!

Interesting info

2011-09-05T21:11:00.000-07:00

So the other day at work my friend and I were craving butter mints. You know the fluffy little pillow like mints! Love them. Anyway I was googling the nutrition info to how many calories there are. I found the following information on Livestrong.org

Overview

A bowl of butter mints is not an uncommon sight at weddings and on buffets. Known for their light pastel colors and silky-smooth texture, butter mints are low in calories if you limit yourself to one or two.

Calories

One butter mint provides seven calories and can last a few minutes as you savor it after a meal. Grab a handful of seven or eight butter mints, however, and you'll be eating more than 50 calories.

Sweetener Myths and Facts Sweeteners & Your Dietary Health: Learn the Dietary Facts Here. www.SweetSurprise.com/

Basic Nutrition

The calories in butter mint come from carbohydrates, which in turn, are derived from the sugar that butter mints are made of. Each butter mint has 2 g of carbohydrates and no protein, fat or fiber, although some homemade butter mints may contain butter, and thus fat. Butter mints are not a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Warning

While eating an occasional butter mint won't add too many extra calories to your daily intake, eating a handful on a regular basis will add too many refined carbohydrates to your diet. Refined carbohydrates, such as those in butter mints, can promote obesity, heart disease and diabetes, according to The Harvard School of Public Health.

I LOVED The warning part. My friend and I chatted for a bit and wondered if all sweets contained that warning would we eat as much as we do? I mean didn't a law just pass that all cigarette cartons must have a graphic warning label? So why doesn't the sugary, high sodium, food that is killing our country have to provide a graphic warning label? Interesting...

PS I have been LOVING my Eat This Not That books! More to come on those!!

Eat This Not That

2011-08-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Okay so I failed to order Jillian Michaels Master Your Metabolism but I am kind of okay with it because I really don't have a ton of time to read these days. I did however just order the above books and am STOKED!!!!
Why did I decide to order these? Well the other day I went to Barnes and Noble to browse the cookbooks and ran across Cook This Not That. One it has a ton of pictures! I LOVE cookbooks with pictures! I like to see what it is supposed to look like. What really caught my eye was the 'Who Blew Up Food' page. It basically had a table that compared restaurant food, store bought food, & home cooked food. It BLEW ME AWAY!! I put the book back on the shelf and ran home to order it (yep I'm cheap--thank you Amazon)!
While ordering I came across the MANY other This Not That Books--Eat This Not That-Restaurant Survival Guide, Cook This Not That -Supermarket Survival Guide, etc. etc. Anyway I saw the Eat This Not That-For Kids!!! Kaci is eating real foods and has been for a while now I am pretty cautious with what I feed her but I really think this could be helpful.
Both of these books are supposed to be great books to just sit down and read but are meant to be flipped through and read in sections too. Which is great for me because let's face it I don't have time to sit down and read much right now.
They should arrive by Aug 22nd! WOO HOO! I will let you know what I really think when I get them and put them to use!

Healthy Snacking

2011-08-15T16:35:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone! I so I have been back at work for about a month now and I have gained about 3 lbs. I KNOW that isn't alot of weight but I don't want it to be the beginning of a trend. I have been trying so hard to get on a schedule and to make sure that Kaci and Aaron are taken care of. That I kind of have neglected/given up on myself. Well after 3 weeks of 'adjusting' I'm done. My workout schedule starting to get more consistent now I just need to work on my eating. Here are some of the things that I am going to be snacking on at work:

Celery Stick & Carrots w/Ranch-- Yes, I said ranch. All things in moderation

Rice Cakes--Yep I love em

Chobani Yogurt I can't eat it plain way too thick but add a little fruit and it's magic!

Cheese and Crackers I've fallen for Laughing Cow cheese

Fruit

My friend at work came across an article with GREAT suggestions for last minute breakfast & snack ideas. Check these out:

Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop Popcorn 100 Calories a bag

Hummus: Tribe All Natural Hummus Snackers 50 Calories per container

Nuts : Blue Diamond Almond Bag to Go 100 Calories

Dried Fruit

Thanks for reading and sharing Kristy!