I’m working out in the gym again. I even did 175 crunches the other day and 30 push-ups. Woot Woot!! And boy do I still feel the effects of that workout the other day! But man…it feels great!! I finally bumped myself up to 3.0 incline and 3.5mph for 30minutes. For me, that’s progress. We even bought Just Dance 2 and boy is that fun! Not only is it fun but it’s definitely a workout that will have you sweating in a fun way! Great for the ENTIRE family or for a gathering of friends.

I’m still doing Weight Watchers but I’m more on an “improvised” version of the Points Plus plan. I’m not tracking as strictly but my portion control is definitely under control and I actually enjoy foods more now. Not that I didn’t enjoy food before but I found that I was going over board and feeling horrible psychologically and physically afterward. In the beginning I was using measuring cups, spoons, and plate sizes to help me with portion control. Now I’m happy eating just a serving size of something no matter how yummy and this time I have no guilt. And honestly, I’m learning to recognize when my body is full. Often it’s much sooner than I thought before and I usually have much left over for another meal. Eating salads before my meal has also helped me tremendously with eating healthier portions of foods. This works for me and in the long run what I think will work best. I’m definitely eating more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. And happily my family is following suit.

What about you? Do you have portion control or exercise secrets or tips? Please share!

What Next?

It’s 2 Monday’s after the 4th of July…remember my Saturday post of panic from the past week of binging horror and my moment of freak out about the 4th of July BBQ? How did I do? Well…actually I didn’t do too bad. I was able to enjoy without “pigging out”.

Holiday Social Eating tips I kept in mind or did to get me through the 4th of July festivities (and this past weekend of family BBQing):

1. Drank plenty of water throughout the whole afternoon and evening.
2. Ate a healthy snack before the festivities so I wasn’t so hungry when I arrived.
3. Brought a healthy yet yummy side dish to complement the BBQ.
4. Ate the healthier items FIRST, THEN I enjoyed a LITTLE of the other yummy goods.
5. Got active with friends in the pool and badmitton with my daughter to keep myself busy.

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The past two weeks I exercised and did a great job at drinking 1/2 my weight in water. 3 weeks now of consistent exercise and my husband even noticed some changes in my body WITHOUT me asking him first. My hips and face are slimming down!!! YIPPEE!!!

What has my exercise activity been like for the past two weeks?

1. Treadmill and bike cardio
2. Toning w/ the trainer and treadmill for cardio afterwards – I even achieved 8 pull-ups when 2 weeks ago I could only do 4!
3. Resistance toning at home with dumbbells and exercise ball
4. Lap swimming
5. Resistance training in the pool
6. Walking at the park with the family

What did I learn about myself over the last two weeks?

1. I don’t sleep enough good sleep hours. I’m usually tired when I wake and drained feeling.
2. Mini-meals are easier during the workday hours because I planned the day with my lunch tote.
3. Evenings, work at home days, and weekends are tougher because I didn’t take the time to plan.
4. Writing my exercise activity, water intake, and meals for the day holds me more accountable.
5. Eating crap makes me feel like crap emotionally AND physically.
6. Exercising makes me feel AWESOME inside and out!

Today I’m actually starting the 10-day walk off a meal a day challenge in hopes of a boost with another mamavation mama. We’ll see how I do come next Monday…

WHAT’S THIS WEEK’S GOAL???
Continue drinking water, increase daily exercise time,
plan my dinners in advance with the family,
AND sleep earlier.

By Sheri Strykowski

Stoke your metabolic fire and burn calories faster with diet-friendly foods and beverages. Post this list on your fridge next to the photo of you in your “skinny jeans” and make a copy to bring with you the next time you shop for groceries.

Just remember: Calories count, portion control rules and there’s no substitute for a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. So get moving!

Here are the top picks culled from some of the latest research:

1.     Water! A new study seems to indicate that drinking water actually speeds up weight loss. Researchers in Germany found that subjects of the study increased their metabolic rates (the rate at which calories are burned) by 30 percent after drinking approximately 17 ounces of water. Water is also a natural appetite suppressant that banishes bloat as it flushes out sodium and toxins. Drinking enough water will also help keep you from mistaking thirst for hunger. So drink up!

2.     Green Tea! Studies show that green tea extract boosts metabolism and may aid in weight loss. This mood-enhancing tea has also been reported to contain anti-cancer properties and help prevent heart disease. It’s also a trendy drink among weight-conscious celebrities.

3.     Soup! Eat less and burn fat faster by having a bowl of soup as an appetizer or a snack. According to a Penn State University study, soup is a super appetite suppressant because it’s made up of a hunger-satisfying combination of liquids and solids. In the study, women chose one of three 270-calorie snacks before lunch. Women who had chicken and rice soup as a snack consumed an average of 100 fewer calories than those in the study who opted for a chicken and rice casserole or the casserole and a glass of water.

4.     Grapefruit! The grapefruit diet is not a myth. Researchers at Scripps Clinic found that participants who ate half a grapefruit with each meal in a 12-week period lost an average of 3.6 pounds. The study indicates that the unique chemical properties in this vitamin C-packed citrus fruit reduce insulin levels, which promotes weight loss. Note: If you are taking medication, check with your doctor about any potentially adverse interactions with grapefruit.

5.     Apples and Pears! Overweight women who ate the equivalent of three small apples or pears a day lost more weight on a low-calorie diet than women who didn’t add fruit to their diet, according to researchers from the State University of Rio de Janeiro. Fruit eaters also ate fewer calories overall. So, next time you need to satisfy a sugar craving, reach for this low-calorie, high-fiber snack. You’ll feel full longer and eat less.

6.     Broccoli! Study after study links calcium and weight loss. Broccoli is not only high in calcium but it’s also loaded with vitamin C which boosts calcium absorption. This member of the nutritious cabbage family also has plenty of vitamin A, folate and fiber. And, at just 20 calories per cup, this weight-loss superfood not only fights fat but also contains powerful phytochemicals that boost your immunity and protect against disease.

7.     Low-Fat Yogurt! Dairy products can boost weight loss efforts, according to a study in the April issue of Obesity Research. People on a reduced-calorie diet who included 3-4 servings of dairy foods lost significantly more weight than those who ate a low-dairy diet containing the same number of calories. Low-fat yogurt is a rich source of weight-loss-friendly calcium, providing about 450 mg (about half the recommended daily allowance for women ages 19-50) per 8-ounce serving, as well as 12 grams of protein.

8.     Lean Turkey! Rev up your fat-burning engine with this bodybuilder favorite. Countless studies have shown that protein can help boost metabolism, lose fat and build lean muscle tissue so you burn more calories. A 3-ounce serving of boneless, skinless lean turkey breast weighs in at 120 calories and provides 26 grams of appetite-curbing protein, 1 gram of fat and 0 grams of saturated fat.

9.     Oatmeal! This heart-healthy favorite ranks high on the good carb list, because it’s a good source of cholesterol-fighting, fat-soluble fiber (7 grams per 3/4-cup serving) that keeps you full and provides you with the energy you need to make the most of your workouts. Just be sure to choose steel cut or rolled oats, not instant oatmeal, to get your full dose of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

10.   Hot Peppers! Eating hot peppers can speed up your metabolism and cool your cravings, researchers at Laval University in Canada found. Here’s why: capsaicin (a chemical found in jalapeño and cayenne peppers) temporarily stimulates your body to release more stress hormones, which speeds up your metabolism and causes you to burn more calories.

Here’s how these 10 fat-blasting superstars help you lose weight:

• Each of these healthy weight-loss boosters fills you up and keeps you full longer on fewer calories.
• Water-rich fresh fruits, veggies and soup dilute the calories in your food and allow you to eat more without breaking the calorie bank.
• High-fiber fruit, vegetables and nutritious whole grains keep your digestive system on track and steady insulin levels, which prevents fat storage.
• Lean meat boosts metabolism and burns calories because it take more energy to digest than other foods.

And tomorrow is Sunday, the 4th of July. The BIG BBQ pork day (I’m from the South!) along with beer and other side dishes. What am I to do?? I want to enjoy the day and evening with family and friends (and bbq and beer…lol).

Today the kids and I are going hiking and I’ll be drinking my water. I’ll be sure to get in my water tomorrow as well but OMG…all that pressure all around!! I’m afraid that pressure will find it’s way pressing my innards and making me feel even more horrified on Monday!

I’ve become to realize that managing my meals while working during the day is so much easier than outside. I have my mini cooler for the day and at home, I either skip the mini-meal plan or binge eating out…HELP! I literally could look as if I was 5 months pregnant after eating (which thankfully goes back down – to a degree…the next morning, but STILL!!)

New Simply… Go-Gurt is available in two kid-friendly flavors, Strawberry and Mixed Berry.

OUR THOUGHTS…The kids love tubed yogurt and Simply Go-Gurt was a plus in their hungry tummy’s when it came to snack time. Easy to snack while on the go or in the lunch room. No spoon required for the same amount you’d get in a plastic container. Just rip and sip. LOVE IT!! We eat it frozen right out of the freezer for a chilled healthy snack and creamy after it’s defrosted in the lunch box during lunchtime. You know you’ve done a great thing as a parent when your kids are fighting over who get’s the last healthy snack in the fridge! LOL

OUR OVERALL RATING…Thumbs Up!

WHERE TO BUY…At your local grocery store.

The first 30 readers who click on the “Try It Free” tab will receive a coupon for a free package of Simply…Go-Gurt!*

THE GIVEAWAY…Thanks to Yoplait and MYBlogSpark, 1 lucky reader will win the below gift package from Yoplait…Just leave me a comment with how you manage on the go with your family when it comes to snack time. Giveaway runs through the end of April.

Go-Gurt “Simplify Your Life” prize pack includes a pocket Etch a Sketch, weekly planner and a seat back organizer.

I received the above pack from Yoplait through MyBlogSpark for review purposes. Receiving product did not alter my opinion in anyway.

This past Sunday, thanks to House Party and DIGIORNO pizza, friends came over for pizza, football, and gathering. Pizza’s of course were baked and ready for when the guests arrived with boxes hidden from sight. All took bites with a look of satisfaction while inquiring as to where the pizza came from. With a smile on my face I of course said “my kitchen, do you like?!” Mouths full and heads nodding, I opened my freezer to show them red boxes of DIGIORNO pizza.

Quite impressed, they just couldn’t believe it was freezer store bought.

Even the kids and my picky pizza DH gobbled their slices and asked for more and more and more.

DIGIORNO TIDBITS…

• They have FIFTY-ONE different types of pizza combinations & crusts.
• They even have 200 calorie portion control pizzas.
• Been around over 10 years.
• They’re on FACEBOOK.
• You can follow their tweets on TWITTER.

~ This Tuesday Toot is brought to you by MommyCommunity.com. ~

]]> http://farrah.tbfreviews.net/2010/01/fresh-tasty-just-like-delivery/feed/ 0 http://farrah.tbfreviews.net/2010/01/new-years-dinner/ http://farrah.tbfreviews.net/2010/01/new-years-dinner/#comments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:12:54 +0000 admin http://farrah.tbfreviews.net/?p=540 Start the new year off right with the traditional New Year’s meal dishes. Who couldn’t use the extra luck, fortune, and wisdom in one’s life? The pork tenderloin’s in the slow cooker, the beans are soaking, and later I’ll begin peeling/boiling red potatoes to mash while the greens cook…

• Pork = for moving forward/progress
• Black Eyed Peas = for good luck
• Seasoned Mixed Greens = for money
• Cornbread & Potatoes = for the reminder to be humble

All three kids will be gone tonight (in fact 2 out of 3 are already gone) so DH and I will celebrate our New Year’s dinner with friends. Wish the kids were here for dinner but what do you do when they’re itching to hang with friends after being home many days??

What’s on your menu tonight?
Plans with family or friends?