A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy LIfestyle

The Truth About The Flu Vaccine

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:40:00 +0000

Studies show flu vaccines are unsafe and often ineffective.

This video is a visual depiction of flu vaccine production. It includes how the flu vaccine is made and what it contains.

There are better, natural alternatives to flu vaccines. For example, recent evidence confirms vitamin D is protective against the flu and other conditions.

After watching this video, do you still think you should get a shot to combat the flu?

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

A Different Way To Fight Colds and The Flu

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:29:00 +0000

As the cold and flu season arrives, so do the commercials for products claiming to relieve the coughing, sneezing, headaches, sore throats and fevers. It's tempting to load up on all the over-the-counter cold and flu medicines and hope they provide some relief.

On the other hand, researchers are discovering more about how the immune system works. What they're finding is the complex interaction of nutrients in food helps your body build its defenses against infection and disease.

In particular, a diet of fruits and vegetables boosts your immune system and fights off illness. The key is not waiting until you get sick. You need to be doing this long before the cold and flu bugs get to you.

Following are a few tips to help prevent colds and the flu during the upcoming season:

Get Enough Sleep - Lack of sleep severely weakens the immune response. Give your body a chance to recharge during the flu season by getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night.

Get Some Exercise - There is strong evidence that people who exercise don't get sick as often. Exercise is important all year, even in the dark and cold of winter.

Get Enough Fresh Air and Sunlight - When we don't get enough sun during the winter, we don't produce much immune-boosting vitamin D. This can lead to colds and the flu.

Stop Consuming Sugar - Studies show the capacity for your white blood cells to destroy bacteria is weakened as sugar consumption rises. Researchers further demonstrated that sugar's impairing effects on white blood cells are not short-lived.

Wash Your Face and Hands - Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact. The best way to rid of them is by thoroughly washing your face and hands throughout the day.

Drink More Water - There are a lot of toxins and waste your body is trying to eliminate. If you aren't drinking enough water, it's like flushing a toilet with the tank empty.

A Good Defense Is The Best Offense - Strengthen your immune system with antioxidants (cancer fighters), phytochemicals (plant medicines) and more from fruits and vegetables. Studies show vitamins such as A, B-complex, C, E and others provides a protective benefit against colds and the flu.

Yet people tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables in the winter. Everyone needs at least nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day to get adequate vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for a healthy immune system.

Consider Supplementation - Most people don't have time to consume the recommended nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day for good health. My family and I take The Pops™, a supplement I market and sell. This whole-food multi has twenty-two fruits and twenty-five vegetables, minus the water and fiber, a total of seventy-seven health promoting ingredients.

For example, ginger root, a Pops ingredient, has traditionally been used for conditions such as colds, fevers and nausea. Another ingredient in The Pops is elderberry, used for centuries to treat fevers, colds and influenza. Elderberry has been reported to lessen the duration or severity of the common cold, especially when combined with vitamin C and zinc. In a clinical study, elderberry extract was able to significantly improve flu symptoms after two days of use. Most participants reported complete relief from symptoms after three days.

Conclusion

This winter, don't allow yourself to become another cold or flu victim. Take preventive measures such as getting enough sleep, making sure you exercise and washing your face and hands.

Best of all, you can strengthen your immune system this holiday season by taking The Pops™ - a different way to fight colds and the flu.

Hey, who said you have to be sick this winter?

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Status Update and Low Carb Cupcakes

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:30:00 +0000

You thought I'd fallen off the face of the earth, didn't you? Well, I've been extremely busy and just haven't taken the time to blog.

I've been low-carbing it for over 7 weeks now and have lost 20 pounds! I have also been running on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays so I know that has helped me a bunch with the weight loss.

Following is a recipe for low-carb cheesecake cupcakes. The cupcakes don't look like the picture above, it was just the best looking picture I could find of a cheesecake cupcake!

Low Carb Cheesecake Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
3 - 8 oz. packages cream cheese
1-1/2 Tblsp. Stevia (or 1 cup Splenda)
5 eggs
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. heavy cream

Filling:
8 oz. sour cream
1-1/2 tsp. Stevia (or 2 Tbsp. Splenda)
1/4 tsp. vanilla

Bring cream cheese to room temperature. Place cream cheese in a bowl and add one egg at a time beating with a hand mixer. Slowly add the Stevia and vanilla. The batter will be thin. Pour into paper cupcake liners about an 1/8 inch from the top.

Bake in a 300 degree oven for 30 minutes (or until large cracks appear on the top). Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes.

For the filling, add the Stevia and vanilla to the sour cream. Add a teaspoon on top of each cupcake and return to the oven for 5 minutes.

Cool for 5 minutes and then refrigerate.

Notes: These cupcakes can also be frozen. You may add lemon juice and lemon zest to the sour cream filling (though I only recommend this if you are making the regular cupcakes and NOT the chocolate ones - unless you like the taste of lemon with your chocolate!).

Chocolate Version:
Add 1 pkt Nestle Choco Bake Pre-Melted Unsweetened Chocolate Flavor and 3/4 Tblsp. Stevia to cream cheese mixture.

Makes 18 cupcakes. Cupcakes are 1.92 carbs for vanilla and 2.36 carbs for chocolate. What I do is fill 9 cupcake liners with white, 9 cupcake liners with chocolate and then the remaining chocolate I put on top of the white and swirl them together.

Paul and I love these cheesecake cupcakes so much that I make a new batch every weekend. It's wonderful to be able to eat something sweet and not feel the least bit guilty about it.

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Conway Wampus Cats Media Day

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:01:00 +0000

Mothers of The Wampus Cats

I am a Wampus Cat Mama!

Dylan is The Starting Center

The Conway Wampus Cats had their Media Day Saturday. Not only did the players get their picture taken, but the mothers did too. We were excited to find out our picture will be included the football program, along with the players.

Our son, Dylan, was interviewed by the The Log Cabin Democrat, which is the local newspaper covering the media event. Here is what was written about him, as well as a couple of quotes,

Dylan has the responsibility of making the line calls before the snap, and is penciled in as the starter at center for the Wampus Cats' season opener at Bentonville.

"It's been different for me because last year I was a sophomore and I didn't get to play much, but now I get to play with these other seniors."

"It's been a new experience for me with using the new running and passing games. It's all quite interesting. We're all contributing to make sure that our O-line stays firm in our run blocks and pass protection."

The season opening kickoff is just a few weeks away. Are you ready for some football?!!!

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Big B™ Superfood Special - One Day Only

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Big B™ flying out the door: Back-ordered until September 1st!

This special is for 24 hours only.

The Energy formula Big B™ is selling faster than we expected. We're now on back-order until September 1st!

See it here: Big B™ Superfood from Whole Food Nation ™

We have ordered a bunch more. We'll start shipping it on September 1st. And we're doing a ONE DAY 2-for-1 for 24 hours. Tomorrow, August 10th only.

There are two agendas:

1) We really want you to try it for a week or two. Maybe you'll get hooked on it like we have been for the last 4 years.

2) We need to pay down for some of the big order we had to place, so we can get decent prices for you, when you buy singles, doubles or cases of six.

Remember you are pre-ordering and the Big B™ will not be shipped until the first week of September.

But we got ya covered. Any Big B™ order that comes in between now and end of tomorrow, August 10th, gets 2 for 1 on whatever Big B™ you order. BIG B™ ONLY.

See it here: Big B™ Superfood from Whole Food Nation™

Yes, 2 for 1 good for single canisters or cases. We may contact you for any extra shipping if the extra canisters incur more shipping.

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

10 Super Foods to Energize Your Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:57:00 +0000

The specific foods that should be included in a list of 10 most healthy could be debated, but here are some that would have to be considered for that list. Common features among these foods are that they are packed with nutrients and have proven health benefits.

1. Sweet potatoes contain high amounts of fiber, vitamins C and E, folate and potassium. Their color is an indication that sweet potatoes are high in the antioxidant beta carotene which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Foods high in this antioxidant have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. As a bonus, they are fat-free and relatively low in calories.

2. Almonds, like all nuts, are a great source of protein. They are high in fiber, vitamin E and contain more calcium than any other nut. Most of the fat in almonds is monounsaturated, which can help in lowering LDL cholesterol and reduce your heart disease risk.

3. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids - a type of fat that makes your blood less likely to form clots that may cause heart attacks. Other reported benefits of Omega-3s include decreasing triglyceride levels, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of stroke. The "wild" variety as compared to farm raised is preferable since it is thought to contain fewer contaminants.

4. Broccoli is packed with phytonutrients, plant compounds that are beneficial in preventing heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. Broccoli is also a good source of vitamins A and C - antioxidants that protect your body's cells from damage.

5. Olive Oil, and in particular, the minimally processed, "extra virgin" type, is considered to be a healthy source of fat. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat that is considerably healthier than the saturated fats that come from animal sources. Epidemiologic studies have shown that those who get more of their fat from monounsaturated sources have lower incidences of heart disease and diabetes. A double benefit comes about when olive oil is substituted for saturated fats in the diet.

6. Spinach is loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, folate, potassium, magnesium, iron, lutein, and phytochemicals. It's also a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B-6, calcium, iron and magnesium. Eating spinach can provide protection against developing osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, and arthritis. Spinach is also an excellent source of iron, a mineral that it particularly important for menstruating women, who are more at risk for iron deficiency.

7. Apples have earned the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" honestly. Apples are extremely high in antioxidants and contain high amounts of vitamin C and fiber. Research in animals and humans has demonstrated benefits from eating apples in cancer prevention (lung, breast, colon, liver), diabetes management, Alzheimer's disease prevention, and cholesterol management. Because of pesticide contamination it is best to choose organic varieties if possible.

8. Red Beans are an excellent low-fat source of protein, magnesium and potassium, all needed for muscle function and health. Beans are also a great source of dietary fiber which helps lower your cholesterol, promotes satiety, so that you'll eat less, helps with constipation, and may help in preventing diabetes.

9. Blueberries contain large amounts of antioxidant phytonutrients called anthocyanidins. This plant pigment is responsible for the color of blueberries as well as for several of the health benefits. Blueberries are good sources of vitamin C, manganese, and fiber also. Some of the health benefits linked to blueberries include decreasing one's risk of heart disease, improving nighttime visual acuity, lowering the risk of developing of age-related macular degeneration of the eyes, and reducing the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

10. Whole-grain breads contain both wheat bran and wheat germ and offer impressive health benefits. The germ is the vitamin and mineral rich embryo of the wheat kernel that is removed during the refining of whole wheat grains to white flour. The bran is the fiber-rich component of whole wheat. In many studies, eating whole grains has been linked to protection against atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and premature death.

Other contenders for the healthy food hall of fame include yogurt, quinoa, tofu, tomatoes, fat-free milk, citrus fruits, and rice. Try to include as many of these "super foods" into your diet as possible and reap the health benefits.

Source: here

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Whassup?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Whew! I took a three week vacation from blogging but I'm back! Let me fill you in on what's been going on in my exciting (not!) life.

While vacationing on the beach in North Carolina last month, I hurt my left hamstring walking down four flights from the beach condo. I still can't believe I got hurt walking down stairs! Anyway, I hurt my leg bad enough that it took three weeks to heal. I've been walking instead of doing any running. I planned on running last Monday but my left knee hurt too much. I think I hurt it in my sleep. It's weird. Every once in awhile, out of the clear blue, my knee will start hurting. Sometimes I feel like I'm falling apart!

I've been eating low carb for the last ten days. Last Monday was a week on the plan and I had lost 5 pounds. Yea yea yea! My goal is to lose 2 pounds per week.

My son, Dylan, and I went to see Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince last Sunday. It was awesome! I thought it was so good, I'd like to see it again but will wait until it comes out on DVD.

The special effects were incredible. It is definitely the best Potter movie to date. My favorite parts of the movie are the scenes between Ron and Hermione. Oh, young love! I cried when Ron was lying on the hospital bed and he called out Hermione's name. I know, I'm a sucker for love stories. Dylan's favorite part of the movie was when they were playing Quidditch. He said, "Man, why don't they have more Quidditch scenes!?" I had to agree. The Quidditch scene was so cool! After watching the movie, I've decided to read the books, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows again. Now to find the time!

My husband, Paul, and I are leaving Entrecard. I will remove my Entrecard widget Friday night and Paul is removing his tonight. A big THANK YOU! to all the Entrecarders out there. Paul and I both appreciate all the drops and are thankful for all the friends we've made.

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

If Vacations Are For Resting, Why Am I So Tired?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:35:00 +0000

We had a wonderful vacation in Eastern North Carolina, but it's always good to be home. Our little toddler, Brady, was a trooper on the airplane. On the way to North Carolina, he was super-hyped up, which kept him from sleeping. But thank the Lord... he did sleep on both legs of the flight back home.

Running around after Brady kept me from being able to lay out by the pool or on the beach (insert lots of sympathy here). Brady had a blast playing on the beach the first day. But after he gulped down some salt water, he decided to stay out of that salty-wet-stuff altogether! The thing Brady enjoyed most about the beach was burying his big brother, Dylan, in the sand.

Brady didn't think much of the swimming pool either. Every time we tried to get him in the pool, he thought the water was too cold. Paul finally took him into the pool, but with all the fussing and crying, we decided it wasn't worth it. Brady liked being pool-side so he could push his brother and cousins into the pool.

Staying at the condo was, of course, the highlight of the entire beach trip. Everyone loved the convenience of being able to come and go to the beach or pool as often as we wanted. And you can be sure none of us wanted to leave Thursday morning! Now, more than ever, I want a beach condo when I grow up!

My favorite part of the beach trip was the hour we spent scooter-pootin' around Morehead City. I love that little town! It was fun looking at all the beach houses. We also drove to the house where my husband, Paul, lived when he was about 3 years old.

We went out on the town Tuesday night and had seafood at the waterfront Sanitary Restaurant in Atlantic Beach. We went to Sanitary last summer and decided to make a return trip. No one was disappointed. Yum! After buying a couple T-shirts, we went for a walk along the waterfront and let the kiddos run around.

On Wednesday, we took the kids to nearby Fort Macon. You can watch a short news video about Fort Macon here.

From the top of the fort, you can see the ocean. The view is absolutely beautiful! It's the best state park I've ever visited. You can take a tour of the fort and afterwards enjoy some time on the beach!

After leaving Fort Macon, we went back to the condo for some lunch. Later that afternoon, Paul's first-cousin, Susan, came for a visit. She lives in Raleigh and it was neat getting to meet her - she's a real sweetie. For dinner, we all went to Jordan's, in Emerald Isle. Though the restaurant is nothing particular to look at, the food is good. This was our second visit to Jordan's. The first time we ate there was a couple years ago, when we stayed at the beach condo around Christmas.

Thursday morning, we left the beach condo. Paul's mama left in her car with our nephew and niece and headed back to Rocky Mount. Paul, Dylan, Brady, and I left in our borrowed car (thanks again, Butch!) and headed to Greenville. We'd only been on the road for about 30 minutes when Paul got pulled over by a state trooper. He wasn't speeding so we figured the car must have a tail-light out or something.

The trooper said he'd pulled Paul over because he was not wearing a seat belt. Paul was wearing a seat belt but he always keeps it under his arm for more comfort. The trooper explained to Paul that according to North Carolina law, you can't wear a seat belt that way and he was going to issue a citation. To tell you I was angry is an understatement. I was boiling! When the trooper handed Paul the ticket and told him that the fine would be $100.00 I thought I would come unglued. Paul remained calm and told the trooper that he has not received a ticket in over ten years and asked why he was ticketing 'one of the good guys'. I, however, was not calm. I was yelling at the trooper saying, "This isn't right! I can't believe you're doing this! Thanks a LOT!" I have never been that angry with a policeman before in my life. I think the reason is because I have always deserved every ticket I've received. This incident just felt like pure harrassment. It was a tough thing to get over (we're still irritated about it) but Paul now wears his seat belt in the law-abiding way.

On the way back to Rocky Mount (my hubby's hometown), we made a stop at Greenville to have lunch at B's Barbecue. Unfortunately, they had run out of their famous barbecue, so we decided to get a cheese steak at Cubbie's instead. They've got the 'good ice', which is always a winner in my book!

After lunch, we stopped by East Carolina University, my husband's alma mater. We went inside the college bookstore to browse around. We were in line to pay for the T-shirts, when Paul came up to me with Brady in tow, wearing an ECU 'adult-sized' football helmet!

You kind of need to know the background here. See, Brady LOVES football. He talks about football all the time, wants to 'play' football in the living room every chance he gets. Nine times out of ten, he would rather watch football movies (Rudy, Radio, Facing The Giants, and The Waterboy) than watch iCarly, Thomas the Train or Yo Gabba Gabba! He's only 2 years old! Can you believe a 2-year old can be nuts about football? Well, he is! At home, Brady takes his sister's bike helmet and turns it around and puts it on his head. He then wants his sissy to put the other bike helmet on her head and play football with him.

Anyway, when I saw the helmet on his head, I looked at Paul and said, "Uh oh!" I told Paul that I was planning on getting Brady a football helmet for Christmas. The man-sized football helmet was so heavy on his head that it made him topple over. So Paul and Brady went searching to see if they had any children football helmets. Well, they did! And Brady got an early Christmas present! He was so excited, as you can probably imagine. GO PIRATES! :)

Once we got back to Rocky Mount, we unpacked the car and then just hung out at Paul's Mama's house, relaxing. Around 11 o'clock that evening, Paul and I slipped out to his Mom's restaurant, The Hunter Hill Cafe', to work on the menu. It had been about a year since I worked on it last, and her menu needed to be updated. If you happen to ever cruise through Rocky Mount, check it out! She serves delicious food, cafeteria-style. Our favorite food at The Hunter Hill Cafe' is their scrumptious Eastern North Carolina barbecue! Yum!

On Friday (our last full day in North Carolina), we hung out at the house and got everything packed and ready for our early Saturday morning departure. Saturday, we left the house a little after 7:00 a.m. and arrived at the Raleigh/Durham airport an hour later. Our departing flight was about an hour late, but since we had such a long lay-over in Dallas, it didn't matter. Once we arrived at the DFW airport, we had lunch and then took Dylan to his gate. He flew from Dallas to Houston to spend a week with his dad. Then Paul, Brady, and I found our gate and waited for the flight to Little Rock. We finally got home around 5:30 p.m. It was a long day and we were tired, but Paul and I both agreed it was much better than a 17-hour road trip!

On Sunday afternoon, Paul, Brady, and I took a four-hour nap! When I woke up, it felt like I'd been asleep about an hour. Hahahaha! I still can't believe it. Anyway, it feels good to be home. What did I miss most? My pillow - most definitely!

Monday morning, Paul, Brady, and I left the house at 5:15 a.m. to get Brady to Arkansas Children's Hospital for surgery. Brady was born with small preauricular pits in both ears. On his right ear, he also had a pit located on his outer ear lobe. Brady was also born with a branchial cleft sinus (a hole in his neck). Apparently, all these anomalies happened during the 5th week of gestation.

Brady had the branchial cleft sinus removed when he was four months old. Dr. Bower told us he didn't think any of the ear pits would need to be removed but that he would keep an eye on them. Well, the pit on Brady's right earlobe got infected and after a doctor examination, we all agreed the pit should be removed.

The surgery went exceptionally well and now we've just got to wait on his little earlobe to heal. The doctor also put tubes in his ears to keep his ears free of any fluid.

When Brady was born in Conway, the hospital gave him a hearing test. Brady passed his right ear, but failed his left ear. We later found that he had a slight hearing loss in his left ear. Dr. Bower told us Brady should live a perfectly normal life, since he has 100% hearing in his right ear. He said the hearing loss in Brady's left ear is mild, and it shouldn't cause him any trouble. He went on to say his right ear would compensate for the loss in his left ear. Dr. Bower said he would continue to test Brady's ears to monitor his hearing.

Brady failed his next two hearing tests miserably (over a six month period). Both times, he had fluid in his ears, which didn't help matters. On one hearing test, Brady was sleepy, irritable, and uncooperative. The other test, we could tell Brady was distracted and not interested in cooperating. The doctor then surmised from the hearing test results that Brady probably needed hearing aids. Paul and I couldn't have disagreed more. We told the doctor we saw no evidence of a hearing loss. However, Dr. Bower told us parents are not good judges when it comes to their child's hearing.

When we told the doctor Brady's earlobe pit had gotten infected, he prescribed an antibiotic and scheduled the surgery. He told us he would also have an ABR done on Brady - which is a hearing test done only while a child is under anesthesia. This test takes behavior out of the equation. So Paul and I were excited that Brady was #1 - going to have the earlobe pit removed and #2 - Brady was going to have a hearing test that would accurately show us what he can or can't hear.

The good news is the ABR test results showed what Dr. Bower had originally told us... that Brady has 100% hearing in his right ear and a slight hearing loss in his left ear. Dr. Bower said at this time, he doesn't see a need for Brady to wear a hearing aid. Whew, what a relief! We knew Brady's hearing was good, but it was great to see the test results prove what we believed all along.

So, it's been a busy week and a half for us. How was your week?

Thanks for reading!

Related Posts:

Headed to the Beach!

Counting Down The Days Until Our Beach Vacation!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Headed to the Beach!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The picture above is similar to our view from the condo. If you look straight across, you can see the balcony of the condo we'll be staying in. We leave for North Carolina tomorrow and we'll be gone for a week.

In lieu of dropping, Paul and I will be frolicking on the beach with the family. Don't be too jealous! Hehehehe! It will be hard leaving eastern North Carolina and going back to Arkansas, that's for sure! What do I want to be when I grow up? A beach bum!

We will spend four days at the beach condo and the remainder of the time, we'll be hanging out at Paul's Mom's house in Rocky Mount and trying not to eat too much Eastern North Carolina barbecue at her restaurant, The Hunter Hill Cafe'!

By the way, I'm up to 90 seconds jogging! WOO HOO!!!

Thanks for reading!

Related Post:

Counting Down The Days Until Our Beach Vacation!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

You Have To Walk Before You Can Run

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:30:00 +0000

Last week, I ran on Wednesday and Friday. For this week, I ran Monday and again this morning. I didn't run Wednesday morning due to a work conflict. Unfortunately, my job sometimes requires me to log on from home at odd hours of the night. So as it turned out, I had to do some work at 2:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. Since I need more than four hours of sleep to function properly, I decided to wait until this morning to run.

I am always amazed at how quickly the human body adapts to exercise. When I first started running (June 1), I could only run for 45 seconds at a time and as I went on, my running time kept decreasing! The first time I ran was 45 seconds, the second time I made it to 40 seconds, then eventually it dropped to 35 seconds! A couple days later, I was able to run for 45 seconds each time. Last Friday, I was able to run for 60 seconds a couple of times, then it decreased to 45 seconds. Monday and this morning, I was able to run for 60 seconds each time I ran! Pretty cool, huh? Another interesting thing was that, for the first time since I started running, it seemed like the 20 minutes flew by - instead of me saying, "Ugh! When is the 20 minutes ever going to be up?!"

I am following Coolrunning.com's "Couch to 5K Running Program". You can take a peek at Weeks 1-3 to the right. As I mentioned in my previous post, my daughter - Rachael, is doing this with me.

Well, I guess Rachael and I are considered "Pre-Couch" (LOL!) because we can't quite keep up with the plan as it is laid out. So instead, we are using it as a guide to measure our progress. You have to crawl before you can walk, right? Well, you have to walk before you can run too!

Although we're on Week 2, we are only doing a 20-min. workout of 60 sec. run/90 sec. walk. So our next goal is to be able to do a 20-min. workout of 90 sec. run/2 min. walk -- however long it takes us to get there.

Instead of jumping from 60 seconds to 90 seconds of running, we are going to inch our way there. For example, when we run on Saturday, we will run 70 seconds. Then on Monday, we will try to run for 80 seconds. Hopefully, by Wednesday, we'll be running for 90 seconds at a time!

While googling last week, I read that beginner runners should sign up for a race as soon as possible - to help solidify their goal by having a date on their calendar.

So I signed up to participate in Soaring Wings Half Marathon, here in Conway on October 24^th. Rachael is also planning on signing up to run in the race. I'm so excited!

If you runners out there have any tips for Rachael and I, please let us know!

Thanks for reading!

Related Post:

Running: From Thinking About It To Actually Doing It!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Running: From Thinking About It To Actually Doing It!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:59:00 +0000

Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking about running.

My background in running involved a very short stint as a long-distance runner on the track team. I dropped out due to my hatred of long-distance running. I wanted to run the 100- 200- and 400-meter dashes. But alas, I didn't make the cut.

I kept thinking about how much running all the contestants on The Biggest Loser do. Though they work out with weights and do body-weight exercises - for the most part, they do a lot of running. In fact, the moment their fat-butts hit the ground of The Biggest Loser campus, they are running. Seeing them run always inspires me because it takes away all of my excuses.

And I've been thinking about my dad, who is a runner. He's been running for about 15 years - and guess what? Ever since he started running, he's never had a weight problem. Amazing, huh? Come to think of it... how many overweight runners do you know? I sure don't know of any. If they are overweight, they won't be for long!

Speaking of which - a coworker of mine quit the company last year and he was obese at the time. He was recently hired back on with the company, looking slim and trim. In fact, everyone did double-takes wondering if it was the same guy! I asked him what he did to lose the weight and guess what he said? He started running! He said he runs 3 days per week. I don't remember the number of miles he said he runs each week, but I do remember how good he looked. After seeing him and being inspired by him, I kept thinking about starting a running program of my own.

Unfortunately, even though my 'want to' was there, my plantar fasciitis was holding me back. While at the Ideal Feet store, last Monday, the foot specialist told me that with their arch supports, I could start running whenever I wanted to. I was shocked (but thrilled) to hear that because I thought I'd have to wait until my plantar fascitiis went away.

Excitedly, I decided to get started. I called my dad this morning (he's currently at the Kerrville Folk Festival chillin' out with fellow singer/songwriters) to get his advice about how to start a running program.

Dad gave me lots of good pointers such as:

Run at the McGee Center. They have a padded track, which he said would help my feet. Also, since it's an indoor facility, weather can never be used as an excuse not to run.
Do some basic stretching before starting.
Run 3 days per week (he said that's all he's ever done). He said if I want to, I can do 30-minute walks on my 'off' days.
Start out slow and easy. Walk a little, jog a little, until you reach 30 minutes. He told me to run at a slow and relaxed pace... easy does it. He said the last thing you want to do is get injured because then your running program is over before it has started. Keep track of how long/far you run so you can measure your progress from day-to-day. Eventually, you'll be running the entire 30 minutes.

After I hung up with Dad, I googled "beginner running programs" to see if there were other tips that would help me get started and I landed on Cool Running's site. I clicked on their Couch-to-5K Running Plan and got a good idea of how many minutes I should try to jog/walk. Their plan recommends starting out by first doing a 5-minute warm-up walk, then alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking, until you reach 20 minutes total.

So, after I got home from work, I changed my clothes and the whole family headed out to the McGee Center. My daughter, Rachael, and I ran/walked together while my husband-Paul, my son-Dylan, and toddler-Brady, played basketball.

The funny part is that I got confused and thought I was supposed to alternate 60 seconds of walking with 90 seconds of jogging. Anyway, turns out it didn't matter because neither of us could run for 60 seconds - much less 90 seconds! Hehehehe! The most we could do was 45 seconds of jogging at a time. I know... pretty lame. But before you know it, I'll be saying, "I can run for 30 minutes without stopping!"

I can't tell you how good it felt to be able to walk - much less run - without heel pain. These Ideal Feet arch supports are great!

While googling, I found out that today was also the first annual National Running Day. Pretty cool, huh?

Thanks for reading!

Related Posts:

3 Things I Learned About Heel Pain

Biggest Loser Final 4 (Running a Marathon)

Cathy Skell Is Not The Biggest Loser (Running a Half-Marathon)

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3 Things I Learned About Heel Pain

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:50:00 +0000

My Personal ~~Hell~~ Heel Experience

As some of you know, I've been experiencing intense heel pain for over a year. I injured my feet last spring, running high school bleachers with my kids, Rachael and Dylan. The following day I could barely walk - my heels were throbbing!

Before this injury, I had never experienced foot pain. So I thought my feet would eventually heal on their own. Even though the pain subsided from a '10' to about a '6', it was still enough pain to make me thoroughly miserable. My heel pain was most intense upon getting out of bed in the morning and again at the end of the day, but also flared up after walking around for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Nine Months Later

It was around Christmas time when I began to worry that my feet weren't getting any better and I wondered whether I would have heel pain for the rest of my life. I was fearful of going to the podiatrist because I thought he might recommend surgery. Crazy, huh? Anyway, I stewed on it for another month and finally made an appointment.

I remembered at our family Christmas party, my brother, Jeff, showed me some exercises I could do to help my feet but I couldn't remember the exercises he showed me. So I decided to google "heel pain" to see if I could find some illustrations of the exercises Jeff showed me and perhaps find some other exercises for heel pain.

Heal My Heels!

I stumbled upon a website by orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. James Amis (who advocates a natural solution to treat heel pain). Since Dr. Amis has been in practice for over 20 years and the video cost only $17.99 to download (and had a money-back guarantee), I decided it was definitely worth the investment. So after downloading the video, I decided to cancel my doctor appointment. I figured if Dr. Amis' treatment didn't work, I could always make another appointment.

What I learned in the video made a lot of sense to me, so I started the treatment right away. I continued the program for 4 months and was amazed and thrilled to discover that I no longer had heel pain in my right foot! However, there was no change whatsoever in my left foot. This caused me to worry that I had done something irreversible to my left foot that Dr. Amis' treatment couldn't fix.

So I reluctantly made an appointment with a podiatrist. I went to see Dr. McClendon a couple of weeks ago. After the $115 doctor visit, he told me I had plantar fasciitis and all I needed to do was trot down to Wilkinson's and buy 'total support' sole inserts. It's times like this when I feel like a complete idiot.

I did learn something while at the doctor's office. Dr. McClendon told me that if I wear Birkenstocks, I don't have to wear sole inserts, because Birkenstocks already have excellent arch support. So I plan on buying a pair soon for me to wear to work.

The doctor told me that although my plantar fascia was torn, he said by wearing the arch supports, my feet would eventually heal (though it may take up to 6 months). Dr. McClendon said he wanted me to wear the arch supports at all times (except for sleeping and showering) until my feet are healed. I was bummed about this because I normally 'live' in my Crocs flip flops but couldn't wear them because the inserts fall out!

Dr. McClendon said he didn't expect to see me again but if I failed to see a noticeable improvement after wearing the sole inserts for awhile, to come back and he would fit me with custom-made arch supports. After leaving the doctor's office, I went to Wilkinson's and bought the $30 sole inserts the doctor recommended. I noticed some relief to my heel pain right away but after wearing them for several days, I felt like I needed more arch support.

WOW... No More Heel Pain!

Last week, I happened to catch an 'Ideal Feet' commercial which showed many happy customers testifying how their 'Ideal Feet' arch supports had completely healed their feet. Then while leaving Wild River Country Saturday evening, a lady overheard me complaining of my foot pain. She said that she had terrible foot pain (due to a car accident) but that she went to the Ideal Feet store and that the arch supports completely changed her life and how she never wanted to be without them. She was so thrilled with the results that she offered to do a radio commercial for them for free to testify about how pleased she was with the results. Well, listening to her testimony did it for me. I decided to go to the Ideal Feet store in Little Rock yesterday to buy the arch supports. I'm amazed already at how great my feet feel! I have no heel pain when I wear the sole inserts.

I bought the whole package which consists of the trainer sole inserts (these have much more arch support) and maintenance sole inserts (these inserts have great arch support - plus - you can wear them in flip flops, sandals, high heels etc. Total cost? $400.00! Thankfully, I had the money in my HSA so I just paid for the inserts out of that account. I figured having pain-free feet was definitely worth it. It would have cost me half that if I'd only bought the maintenance inserts but I decided to get the trainer inserts as well to make sure my feet heal completely. He said it should take me about 2 weeks for my feet to be healed and back to normal. 2 weeks! Can you believe it? And here I've been suffering with foot pain for over a year!

He said once my feet get used to the trainer inserts (I only wore them for an hour yesterday, 2 hours today etc.), I will wear them all day. After my feet are healed (2 weeks!), I will wear the trainer inserts as a preventive measure. I wear the maintenance inserts around the house since I'm always in flip flops at home. I can't believe how good my feet already feel wearing them! It's a wonderful thing to not have foot pain.

What Did I Learn From This Experience?

Doing Dr. Amis' heel pain treatment three times daily can heal plantar fasciitis. And doing the treatment twice daily can prevent plantar fasciitis, thus keeping you from ever experiencing heel pain. I also learned having proper arch support makes all the difference in the world!

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. Are Your Vitamins Safe? Affiliate Link

Counting Down The Days Until Our Beach Vacation!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:20:00 +0000

Well, the countdown is definitely on... only 24 days until we leave for our North Carolina beach trip!

To say we're excitedly looking forward to this vacation is an understatement. My family absolutely LOVES going to the beach and it's something that we look forward to every summer.

This trip is especially exciting because we will be spending 5 days at my husband's uncle's condo at Indian Beach!

The picture above shows my two sons, Dylan and Brady, sitting on the beach condo balcony. You can't tell from the picture but you can see the gorgeous beach from the balcony, as well as the swimming pool. It is so nice!

What we usually do is drive from my mother-in-law's house in Rocky Mount to Atlantic Beach, which is a 2-1/2 hour trip, spend several hours on the beach and then head back to Rocky Mount. So being able to stay at the condo is going to be a very special treat.

A couple years ago, we spent several days after Christmas at the beach condo and had a blast. With Brady now being two years old, we'll have a lot more fun at the beach with him too.

Now that my birthday celebration is over (I turned 45 yesterday), Paul and I are kicking it into overdrive to get our bodies 'beach-ready'. We are doing lots of bike riding, Paul is running, and I'm getting ready to start back up with the 'Slim in 6' workouts. I'm just hoping my feet (currently on the mend from plantar fasciitis) hold up. Wish us luck!

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Conway In The House - Kris Allen Won!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:50:00 +0000

I'm so happy for him!

Congrats Kris!

Just under a hundred million votes were cast for both Adam and Kris last night.

Tonight's show was definitely a star-studded event.

My favorite moments:

Rod Stewart sang "Maggie May".

Queen played while Adam and Kris crooned "We Are The Champions".

Adam Lambert sang "Detroit Rock City" and "I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night" with KISS.

Carlos Santana played "Black Magic Woman" and "Smooth" while the Top 13 American Idol contestants sang.

Steve Martin played the banjo to his song, "Pretty Flowers".

Keith Urban and Kris Allen sang a duet of "Kiss A Girl" (my favorite pairing of the night).

Black Eyed Peas (with Fergie) performed "Boom Boom Pow!"

David Cook sang "Permanent". I'm a big David Cook fan. If you buy the song through iTunes, all proceeds will go to cancer research in honor of his recently deceased brother, Adam.

One of the 'fun' moments of Idol tonight was when bikini-babe, Katrina Darrell, appeared on stage (in her bikini, of course) sporting a new boob-job, and accepted her award for "Bad Attitude". She then proceeded to sing. But she didn't expect what happened next. Kara DioGuardi came up from behind her singing on top of her and then when the song was done, Kara ripped her dress open to reveal a bikini underneath! You have to know the back-story to understand why this was so funny.

My favorite quote of the evening was when Ryan Seacrest asked Steve Martin who he thought would win. Martin replied, "I know it's a long shot, but I'm hoping I do."

Thanks for reading!

Related Posts:

American Idol Results: Will it be Conway or California?

American Idol Finale Tonight - Will Cheese Dip Be The Difference?

Kris Allen Day Was 'Kick Awesome'!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

American Idol Results: Will it be Conway or California?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:40:00 +0000

Did you watch American Idol's finale last night? Did you spend four hours of your life voting for your favorite idol? I did... on both counts.

I know, it's insane! I've never voted for a contestant as many times as I have for Kris. Listening to a busy signal for hours on end is infuriating! But as crazy as it sounds - I did it anyway. I did it for Kris.

All in all, the show was disappointing. The only highlight of the evening, for me, was Kris' performance of "Ain't No Sunshine". If interested, you can watch it here. I didn't care for Adam's "Mad World" - too much drama for my tastes. Simon gave round one to Kris, which I had to agree.

And I didn't really like the fact that Simon Fuller hand-picked the songs for Adam and Kris to sing, though I thought they both performed well. Adam sang Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" and Kris sang Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?". Simon gave round two to Adam, which I predicted because I knew Simon wasn't going to prefer Kris on two out of three performances - he has championed Adam throughout the season and pretty much 'dissed' Kris from week to week.

But to end the show with the two contestants being forced to sing Idol Judge Kara DioGuardi's song, "No Boundaries," was downright painful to watch... twice! Every year, I dread the "Coronation" song and every year, American Idol never fails to deliver... a bomb, that is.

Saying the song was awful is being too kind. If you like pain, you can listen to Adam and Kris sing the song. I thought Adam was going to hyperventilate and Kris bungled the lyrics (though I can't blame him - the lyrics are embarrassing). Ugh! What's worse, is that the winner has to release "No Boundaries" as their first single! But the greatest disappointment was hearing Simon say he wasn't going to criticize the song. Simon is usually the only judge who is brave enough to actually say what every one else is thinking.

In a few short hours we will know who is this year's American Idol. I'll be happy regardless of the outcome. Both Kris and Adam are talented artists and will undoubtedly have terrific careers.

For a special treat tonight, tune in to hear last year's Idol winner, David Cook, perform his song, "Permanent."

Thanks for reading!

P.S. I watched a great video this week of Jamie Foxx being interviewed on Ellen DeGeneres' show. In the interview, Ellen asks Jamie what he thought about Adam and Kris. Listen to what he says about Kris. It's pretty funny. Enjoy!

Related Posts:

American Idol Finale Tonight: Will Cheese Dip Be The Difference?

Kris Allen Day Was 'Kick Awesome'!

Kris Allen Update - The Latest & Greatest

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

American Idol Finale Tonight: Will Cheese Dip Be The Difference?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:00:00 +0000

After Kris sang 'Heartless', last Tuesday night, I said to myself... "Wow, he's in this thing to win it!" I think Kris has an excellent chance to be the next American Idol. I've been singing 'Heartless' for the last week. I'd never heard of it before Kris sang it.

I laughed out loud this morning when I read the story in the paper, "Kris Allen inspires free cheese dip".

In celebration of Conway resident Kris Allen's success on "American Idol," Stoby's in Conway will give its famous yellow cheese dip away free to everyone from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, until it runs out.

Too funny! If you watch the video below, you will hear American Idol host, Ryan Seacrest, give a shout out to Stoby's famous cheese dip.

When Kris came to Conway to celebrate his homecoming, Stoby's closed their restaurant for 3 hours so that Kris and his family and friends could eat together. You can check out the pictures here. Stoby's is located three blocks from our house so we visit the restaurant frequently (99% of the time for their crushed ice)!

I'm looking forward to tonight's finale and yes, I'll be voting for Kris.

Who do you think will take the title?

K home @ Yahoo! Video

Thanks for reading!

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Kris Allen Day Was 'Kick Awesome'!

Kris Allen: The Latest & Greatest

Kris Allen Mania: Exciting Times in Conway, Arkansas

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. Are Your Vitamins Safe? Affiliate Link

Helen Phillips Is The Biggest Loser!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:45:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but I didn't see this one coming. I was pulling for Tara and worried that Mike would beat her out but Helen wasn't even in my radar!

Pink is the new 'Green' ($250,000 dollars worth), as Helen Phillips - the show's oldest champion ever - became the 3rd pink contestant in a row to win the title of The Biggest Loser.

"Helen was a 48-year-old, overweight woman who had passed her prime," trainer Jillian Michaels said before the finale. "Everyone's going to tolerate Helen until the time comes to send her packing. And now you have this powerhouse who's kicked everyone's ass."

Helen was almost sent home in Week 7 when she and her daughter Shanon fell below the yellow line. The mother/daughter team, however, decided Helen would stay. Many people hold this against Helen, believing that she should have insisted that her daughter stay at the ranch and Helen gone home instead. I, too, was disappointed she let her daughter go home but I quickly forgave her. Helen is one of the contestants that really grew on me throughout the season. She was the contestant I most remember laughing out loud at. I am happy for Helen though I very much wanted Tara to win. One thing for sure... Helen winning the title at her age sure takes away my excuse for being overweight!

"I've worked my ass off every moment," Phillips said in a taped piece that aired during the finale on NBC. "I've done everything my trainers asked me to do, and it paid off."

Helen Phillips, 48-year-old retired Macy's retail manager and mother of two from Sterling Heights, Michigan, lost 54.47 percent of her weight, enough to beat 19-year-old Mike Morelli of South Lyon, Michigan, and 24-year-old Tara Costa of New York City, New York.

Phillips started the competition last September at 257 pounds. At the finale, Helen weighed in at 117 pounds, for a total weight loss of 140 pounds! Helen went from wearing a size 22 to a size 2! You can watch her winning moment on video here.

Morelli finished second in the finale with a body weight loss of 53.35 percent. His starting weight was 388 pounds. Morelli dropped 207 pounds and weighed in Tuesday at 181 pounds. Mike set an all-time Biggest Loser record of losing the most weight while on the ranch.

Finishing third was Costa -- who set an all-time female weight loss record while at The Biggest Loser ranch and had also returned home as the finalist with the highest weight loss percentage -- had started the season at 294 pounds and weighed in at 139 pounds during the finale, giving her a 155 pound weight loss and a body weight loss of 52.72 percent.

5 pounds: That's what separated Mike from winning the coveted title of ‘Biggest Loser’ on Tuesday night. If Morelli had lost 212 pounds Tuesday night, he would have won. Same thing goes for Tara. If she had lost 160 pounds Tuesday night, she would have won the title. That's how tight the race was... 5 little ole' pounds!

Here is a rundown of how much each of the contestants lost this season.

Contestant: Start Weight - End Weight = Pounds Lost (Percentage Lost):

Helen: 257-117=140 (54.47%)
Mike: 388-181=207 (53.35%)
Tara: 294-139=155 (52.72%)
Jerry: 369-192=177 (47.97%)
Kristin: 360-193=167 (46.39%)
Nicole: 269-146=123 (45.72%)
Ron: 430-238=192 (44.65%)
Sione: 372-226=146 (39.25%)
Dane: 412-258=154 (37.38%)
Filipe: 364-229=135 (37.09%)
Damien: 381-245=136 (35.70%)
Daniel: 454-293=161 (35.46%)
Mandi: 263-171=92 (34.98%)
Estella: 242-159=83 (34.30%)
Carla: 379-251=128 (33.77%)
Shanon: 283-191=92 (32.51%)
Cathy: 293-198=95 (32.42%)
Blaine: 365-249=116 (31.78%)
Laura: 285-199=86 (30.18%)
Joelle: 309-229=80 (25.89%)
Aubrey: 249-194=55 (22.09%)
David: 393-350=43 (10.94%)

After returning home, Phillips worked hard with personal trainers and especially Shauhen Tahrebandi, Warren Mott's High School football coach, who is a former Bally personal trainer. "I couldn't have done it without him at home," said Phillips.

At home, Phillips worked out six hours a day -- two hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon and two hours in the evening, often at the high school track in Warren. Helen's fitness regime at home included running stairs at stadiums to lifting tractor tires. The reward for all her efforts was an additional weight loss of 32 pounds! I'm not 100% sure about this, but I think once the contestants leave The Biggest Loser ranch, they are on their own at home for 12 weeks prior to the reveal at the show's finale.

Phillips, offers the following advice for anyone trying to lose weight:

• Be prepared. Pack your food so you don't fall into bad habits like stopping at fast food drive-thrus.

• Never make excuses. "It's a priority now to go to the gym or do some kind of physical exercise every day," she said.

• Believe you can do it. "I was tired of doubting myself," she said. "Stop saying you can't and start saying you can."

Helen says that when she first arrived on The Biggest Loser ranch, she could only go 2.3 mph on the treadmill. But before she knew it, she was running on the treadmill!

If interested, you can watch this People.com video of weight-loss tips from the Top 4 Biggest Losers of Season 7 (Helen, Tara, Mike, and Ron).

Winner of The Biggest Loser's At-Home $100,000 prize was Jerry Hayes, a 64-year-old retired engineer and grandfather of five from Wheaton, Illinois. Jerry and his wife, Estella, were the oldest contestants ever to compete on The Biggest Loser. But what amazed me most is that he won the prize after only being on the ranch for two weeks!

Jerry started the show weighing 369 pounds and ended at 192 pounds for a total weight loss of 177 pounds, and a body weight loss of 47.97 percent! You can watch his winning moment on video here.

“I was wondering if I was going to get to my 65th birthday,” Hayes said. “Now I’m thinking, well, maybe 90’s okay! I feel so much better. The whole thing is wonderful. I’m enjoying my grandkids and my family.”

As for how Phillips will celebrate her $250,000 win, she says, “I really, really, really want to take my husband to the Bellagio in Las Vegas! I really want to take him there for a nice break because he has been such a support system to me. I want to lay by the pool, go out to lunch, and be able to go work out in the middle of the day and have a nice salad somewhere and relax!”

Helen and her husband, Russell, plan to open a local spinning and wellness center. In addition to opening the wellness center, Phillips plans to work as a motivational speaker, especially for older women trying to lose weight.

Thanks for reading!

Related Posts: The Biggest Loser - Season 7

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Time for the ER Spring Detox!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Today marks the first day of Paul and I doing the ER Spring Detox!

The ER Spring Detox is a four-week program that focuses on cleansing the body of all toxins, to better prepare the body for weight loss.

Detoxing your body...

* Helps release the toxins caught in tissues and fat cells
* Cleans out metabolic waste - like cleaning out your fireplace at the end of winter
* Helps pinpoint food sensitivities
* Helps you let go of addictions. Gets rid of false fat brought on by toxic buildup
* Rejuvenates skin and other organs

Following is what you can expect from ER Detox:

Days 1-10
Solid food cleanse – primarily vegetables and fruits.
Protein and fat as necessary. Some grains if appropriate.
Elimination diet to begin to pinpoint food sensitivities.
Preparation for fasting.

Days 11-15
Liquid food cleanse – consisting of vegetables and fruits.
Adjunct therapies like skin brushing, baths, etc.
Optional juice fast (alternative toddy cleanse). While the juice fast is optional, the rewards are commensurate. A juice fast gives you the opportunity to reprogram your cells to create a new blueprint... replacing sick, tired and addicted cells with fit, strong, and in-control cells.

Days 16-30
Transition to next food cycle.
Adding back foods to pinpoint food sensitivities.

I will, of course, keep y'all posted with my results!

Thanks for reading!

Related Posts:

ER Fat Burn Update - Week 4 Results

ER Fat Burn Program

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Kris Allen Day was 'Kick Awesome'!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:10:00 +0000

Friday was an exciting day in Conway, Arkansas. Everyone on my team, at Acxiom, wore their Kris Allen t-shirts. All day long, we talked about Kris Allen and what he was currently doing (whether it was performing at the Riverfest Amphitheatre in Little Rock, or being spotted at Stoby's etc.). I left work thirty minutes early to meet my husband and kids, who walked from our house to Simon Park (located downtown), and waited with the throng of 20,000 fans for Kris Allen to arrive.

Every year, during the first weekend in May, Conway hosts its annual festival called Toad Suck Daze. There are normally over 150,000 people that attend the Toad Suck Daze festival. Many people avoid downtown like the plague during the festival but my family has always enjoyed the live music, food (Kettle Corn and Sarsaparilla!), craft vendors, carnival, and last but not least - Stuck on a Truck! So it was neat to go back downtown and hang out, five days after the Toad Suck Daze festival had ended.

Kris' brother, Daniel, came out to introduce Kris and also give the background of how Kris auditioned for American Idol. Kris performed three songs for the crowd: Man in the Mirror, She Works Hard for the Money, and Falling Slowly.

Kris thanked everyone for coming to see him saying, "As far as I can see, there's people!" He said the support meant everything to him.

For more pics, check out my hubby's blog post about the event here.

Thanks for reading!

Related Posts:

Kris Allen Update: The Latest & Greatest

Kris Allen's Homecoming Itinerary

Kris Allen and American Idol Are Coming To Conway!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Sun, 10 May 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

I am blessed to have great kids. My daughter, Rachael, is so creative - she can do anything!

She made me this awesome bouquet of chocolate-dipped strawberries, pineapple (shaped into flowers and hearts), cantaloupe, and grapes. I told her she spent too much money on me. I knew if she'd bought this from Edible Arrangements it would have cost over a hundred dollars but since she made it herself it only cost $25.

I also got a new pair of Yellow Box pink sequin flip flops and a gift certificate to receive a pedicure at my favorite salon.

I know, I'm spoiled. :)

We are getting ready to head off to my brother's to celebrate Mothers Day with the family.

I hope y'all had a great Mother's Day too.

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Kris Allen Update - The Latest & Greatest

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:20:00 +0000

Well, things are getting a tad-bit crazy here in Conway, Arkansas.

Kris Allen T-Shirts

Just trying to get a Kris Allen t-shirt here in town is an ordeal. I personally spent an hour after work yesterday, at HipSway, waiting on a t-shirt - only to leave empty-handed. I was told to come back this morning at 9am to pick up my shirts. After leaving HipSway yesterday, I headed to Ace Hardware (the place selling the official Kris Allen t-shirts) to see if I could get a look at the t-shirt design. I was initially told that they would have a shipment of t-shirts delivered at 6pm but the delivery was put off until 8am today. I liked the looks of the official design so I decided to come back this morning and buy one. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at 8:05am and their huge parking lot was full! There were two LONG lines: one to get your ticket(s) - limit 6 - and the other to get your shirt(s). Well, an hour later, I got my shirt and two more for my coworkers.

Kris Allen Concerts

When I got to work at Acxiom this morning, my coworker told me that her son (who works at UCA - Kris Allen's alma mater) told her that people were in line, early this morning, to get tickets for the 3pm concert at Reynolds Hall. By 11:00am, the line had wrapped around the building. They started issuing tickets at noon today. Doors opened at 2:15pm today.

We also heard that people spent the night at Simon Park, downtown, to save their seats for the 5:30pm concert later today.

Kris performed at the Little Rock Riverfest Ampitheatre today at 11:30am. The crowd was estimated to be around 15,000. I-40 was locked up this morning from Conway to Little Rock as the fans traveled to see Kris perform at the Ampitheatre this morning.

Kris Allen likes Holly's Country Cooking!

My husband, Paul, picked me up for lunch and took me to Holly's. While paying for our food, Paul joked with Holly, the owner. When she asked if that's all we wanted he said, "Yeah, and we also need a plate for Kris Allen." She said, "Okay" and I told her he's just kidding. Holly said she actually has a huge order for him later on today. I told Paul I wouldn't be surprised if the American Idol crew asked Kris where they could get some good home-cooking and Kris said, "Holly's!"

Kris Allen likes Stoby's Too!

Paul called me a little bit ago to report that as he drove by Stoby's (which is 3 blocks from our house), he saw it was packed out and there were police cars and a black stretch limo out front. I told him that I'm sure Chris is inside. Stoby's is another Conway local favorite, offering burgers, fries, their famous original cheese dip, and other American cuisine. I personally like Stoby's for their crushed ice or as I like say, "the good ice!" Stoby's has a big banner on the roof that says, "Stoby's supports Kris Allen with a lifetime supply of cheese dip." Funny, huh? Paul estimated there were about a hundred or so people outside of Stoby's waiting (cameras at the ready) for Kris to come out.

Paul said when he told our 16-year-old son that Kris ate lunch at Stoby's... Dylan said, "I don't see why he would want to eat there, when he could've eaten at Holly's." Hehehehe!

Judges' Choice

It's just been announced that the song the judges picked for Kris to perform Tuesday night is "Apologize" by One Republic. I think it's a good choice.

Conway Downtown Parade and Concert

I plan on going downtown after work for the parade and concert. It's going to be fun to see how far away I'm going to have to park and also fun to see how close I can actually get to the action.

I called into Alice 107.7 yesterday trying to win tickets to the American Idol tour at the Alltel Arena on July 25th. I was actually the winning caller but I answered the trivia answer incorrectly. Dern. The question was, "When Kris Allen was in the Top 13, what song did he sing?" I guessed 'Man in the Mirror'. Survey says.... EEEEEEEEEHHHHHH! The right answer was "Remember the Time". I choked. I would've Googled for the answer but I was in shock that I was caller #10. CHOKE!

Thanks for reading!

Related Posts:

Kris Allen's Homecoming Itinerary

Kris Allen and American Idol Are Coming To Conway!

Kris Allen: Conway's American Idol Sensation

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Kris Allen Mania: Exciting Times in Conway, Arkansas

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Thanks for reading!

Related Posts:

Kris Allen Update: The Latest & Greatest

Kris Allen's Homecoming Itinerary

Kris Allen and American Idol Are Coming To Conway!

Kris Allen: Conway's American Idol Sensation

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Fox 16 Interviews Kris Allen

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:18:00 +0000

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Kris Allen's Homecoming Itinerary

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Kris Allen's Homecoming Itinerary*

THURSDAY

9:00 pm - Kris appears live on FOX16 News at Nine

FRIDAY

11:30 am - Kris performs live at Riverfest Amphitheatre
3:00 pm - Kris performs live at Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA
5:00 pm - Kris Allen parade in downtown Conway
5:30 pm - Kris Allen performs live at Simon Park in Conway

*Subject to change

Source: here

Thanks for reading!

Related Links:

Kris Allen Unofficial Fan Page

KrisAllenation

Related Posts:

Kris Allen and American Idol Are Coming To Conway!

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My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Kris Allen and American Idol Are Coming To Conway!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura-Junkfoodaholic.com) — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:50:00 +0000

Following is a guest post from my husband, Paul Eilers, from PaulsHealthBlog.com.

It's official.

Kris Allen has advanced to the final three, and American Idol will be coming to Conway, Arkansas.

All over town, there are signs saying, "Kris Allen is Kick Awesome!" You see them on banks, restaurants and even on cars. The slogan comes from an interview with Kris, where he was asked to describe his experience on the show. He replied that he wants to live life with no regrets and his experience has been kick awesome. So now the phrase "Kick Awesome" has become the Kris Allen battle cry around town.

Kris' wife, Katy, works at Acxiom Corporation, the same place my wife works. Every week they get emails saying, "Be sure and vote for Kris Allen!"

There's even a rumor where our 16-year-old son goes to school. Because Kris Allen is in the 'Top 3', the kids will get out early this upcoming Friday, so they can attend a Kris Allen homecoming parade and concert in downtown Conway. Of course, along with all the hoopla, American Idol will be there to film it all.

Exciting times in good ole' Conway!

Until next time,

Eat Well. Live Well.

Nutrition doesn't have to be hard. That's why there's The Pops™ and ER Fat Burn™.

Thanks for reading!

Related Posts:

Kris Allen: Conway's American Idol Sensation

Conway, Arkansas: It's A Happenin' Town!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link