One of the biggest contributors (if not the biggest) to your success for losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle is your environment. If everyone in your household or immediate social circle is focused on healthy living, it makes it much easier for you to stick to your commitments as well.
For quite a while, my husband has been struggling to lose weight (aren't we all??!!). I'm so proud of him, because he's lost about 15 pounds this month. It's really helped me out quite a bit because we've been planning meals, shopping and cooking together. It's been a long time since we've done this together and it's great to have a partner so we can keep each other in check.
I've started a recipes page here to share some of the great things we've been eating. My husband is a good cook, but neither of us like to spend a lot of time cooking, especially on weeknights. Our recipes are healthy, but don't taste like you are on a diet. Most can be made ahead of time or you can make extras for leftovers the next day. Give them a try!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Why do we do it?
Today’s post is inspired by the lovely Renee and her post:
The question is…when you have certain health/wellness goals, why don’t you do the things to achieve them? Or, maybe the question is: why do you do things that will put you further away from your goals?
When I journal my food intake and exercise for a consistent period of time, I feel better, lose weight, and, most importantly, I get closer to my goals. I feel like I’m in control of my decisions and my life. I feel proud that I’m actually taking control and accomplishing what it is I set out to do. Nothing beats this feeling!
When I eat without care (read: OVEREAT), skip a workout or miss a weigh-in, I feel disappointed and disgusted, not to mention bloated! I feel like I’ve taken several steps backward and that I will need to work even harder just to get back where I was before. I hate being in this position!
So, if one set of behavior is wonderful and the other set of behavior causes self-loathing, why is this so difficult? I should institute the good behavior all the time, so I never have that bad feeling again. Yet, I will go an entire weekend and eat “freely” without bothering to journal. I’ll have a beer, but tell myself it’s only three PointsPlus when it’s really five. I’ll order pizza when I know I only have enough PointsPlus left for grilled chicken and veggies. I’ll tell myself that I’m too sore to lift weights, so instead of at least going for a walk, I skip the workout all together. Shall I keep going?
I once had a friend tell me that she loved Weight Watchers because all you had to do was follow the plan and it worked. I told her that I wish it were that simple. She said to me, “It is. Just follow the plan.”
I will reiterate what Renee stated – why is it so difficult to let go of habits instilled in us so long ago? Why is it so difficult to just follow the plan?
The question is…when you have certain health/wellness goals, why don’t you do the things to achieve them? Or, maybe the question is: why do you do things that will put you further away from your goals?
When I journal my food intake and exercise for a consistent period of time, I feel better, lose weight, and, most importantly, I get closer to my goals. I feel like I’m in control of my decisions and my life. I feel proud that I’m actually taking control and accomplishing what it is I set out to do. Nothing beats this feeling!
When I eat without care (read: OVEREAT), skip a workout or miss a weigh-in, I feel disappointed and disgusted, not to mention bloated! I feel like I’ve taken several steps backward and that I will need to work even harder just to get back where I was before. I hate being in this position!
So, if one set of behavior is wonderful and the other set of behavior causes self-loathing, why is this so difficult? I should institute the good behavior all the time, so I never have that bad feeling again. Yet, I will go an entire weekend and eat “freely” without bothering to journal. I’ll have a beer, but tell myself it’s only three PointsPlus when it’s really five. I’ll order pizza when I know I only have enough PointsPlus left for grilled chicken and veggies. I’ll tell myself that I’m too sore to lift weights, so instead of at least going for a walk, I skip the workout all together. Shall I keep going?
I once had a friend tell me that she loved Weight Watchers because all you had to do was follow the plan and it worked. I told her that I wish it were that simple. She said to me, “It is. Just follow the plan.”
I will reiterate what Renee stated – why is it so difficult to let go of habits instilled in us so long ago? Why is it so difficult to just follow the plan?
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Friend Makin’ Mondays
I know it’s Tuesday and no one wants to re-live a Monday, but I’m trying this out after reading a couple of good blogs that participate: http://alltheweigh.com/ and http://www.lowfatpie.com/blog/
How you play: Please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!
In the Kitchen
1. How often do you cook at home?
I’m a big fan of cooking a bunch of food on Sundays so I don’t have to do it during the week. Plus, then I’m prepared – no excuses to eat out!
2. Do you eat more fresh produce, frozen or canned produce?
Definitely fresh in the summer when the farmer’s markets are open. But, I’m in St. Paul, so that doesn’t last long. I go frozen most of the winter because it’s cheaper, tastes better and lasts longer than what we get here in the winter fresh-wise.
3. What are a few unusual staples that can always be found in your kitchen?
I’m not that adventurous, but I try. Right now, maybe quinoa and edamame? I get more adventurous with different types of mushrooms and seeds (ie: chia, flax).
4. Look in your fridge, then tell us about the healthiest thing in there.
Kale!
5. Now share the most unhealthy thing in it.
Cheese or coffee creamer
6. Do you eat leftovers?
Yes!
7. Do you use coupons at the supermarket?
Yes! Also have the Target RedCard for 5% off everything!
8. How often do you try new recipes?
I try to at least a couple of times per month. Just posted a new one in my blog last week that was SO GOOD.
9. Do you make grocery lists?
Always always always. Otherwise, I stray and it’s not good…
10. If you could buy one food item that would magically be calorie-free, which item would you choose? I’m just going to be honest here…it would have to be VODKA!
Friday, August 10, 2012
New fab WW recipe!
I made this last night and it was really good! I added mushrooms as well - yummy! Eating leftovers as I type...ENJOY!
Philly Cheese Sloppy Joes
Ingredients:
1 lbs 95% lean ground beef, raw
1 large (softball-sized) white onion, diced
1 medium or large green bell pepper, diced
3 T steak sauce
1 cup fat free beef broth
Salt & black pepper to taste
5 light wheat sandwich rolls
5 slices 2% Provolone cheese
(I added mushrooms as well.)
Directions:
1. Bring a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Brown beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Once cooked, add the peppers and onions (and mushrooms) and continue to cook for a few more minutes until vegetables are softened. Mix in the steak sauce, beef broth, salt and pepper and bring to a bubble. Allow the mixture to bubble for about 5 minutes.
2. Make sure you have an oven rack in the top third of your oven and pre-heat the oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Open the sandwich rolls and lay both sides cut side up. Using your fingers, press the middle-inside of the bottom half of the roll to make a little more room for the meat mixture. Scoop about ¾ cup of the meat mixture onto the pressed bottom half of each roll. Top the meat mixture with a slice of the cheese. The top half of the rolls will be bare and cut side up.
3. Place the baking sheet onto the oven rack in the top 1/3 of the oven and broil for about 1 minute (check at 30 seconds and again at 50 to prevent burning – broiling happens fast!) Cover the loaded bottom half of each roll with its toasted top half counterpart and serve!
Yields 5 (3/4 cup meat mixture + 1 roll & 1 slice cheese) servings. WW P+: 8 per serving (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)
Nutrition Information per serving from myfitnesspal.com: 334 calories, 33 g carbs, 9 g fat, 31 g protein, 6 g fiber
Philly Cheese Sloppy Joes
Ingredients:
1 lbs 95% lean ground beef, raw
1 large (softball-sized) white onion, diced
1 medium or large green bell pepper, diced
3 T steak sauce
1 cup fat free beef broth
Salt & black pepper to taste
5 light wheat sandwich rolls
5 slices 2% Provolone cheese
(I added mushrooms as well.)
Directions:
1. Bring a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Brown beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Once cooked, add the peppers and onions (and mushrooms) and continue to cook for a few more minutes until vegetables are softened. Mix in the steak sauce, beef broth, salt and pepper and bring to a bubble. Allow the mixture to bubble for about 5 minutes.
2. Make sure you have an oven rack in the top third of your oven and pre-heat the oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Open the sandwich rolls and lay both sides cut side up. Using your fingers, press the middle-inside of the bottom half of the roll to make a little more room for the meat mixture. Scoop about ¾ cup of the meat mixture onto the pressed bottom half of each roll. Top the meat mixture with a slice of the cheese. The top half of the rolls will be bare and cut side up.
3. Place the baking sheet onto the oven rack in the top 1/3 of the oven and broil for about 1 minute (check at 30 seconds and again at 50 to prevent burning – broiling happens fast!) Cover the loaded bottom half of each roll with its toasted top half counterpart and serve!
Yields 5 (3/4 cup meat mixture + 1 roll & 1 slice cheese) servings. WW P+: 8 per serving (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)
Nutrition Information per serving from myfitnesspal.com: 334 calories, 33 g carbs, 9 g fat, 31 g protein, 6 g fiber
Friday, July 20, 2012
Sharing a blog I can really relate to! Well said, Jamie!
Sweaty Hugs: Choosing to push through...: I think there is something to be said about those who choose to challenge their selves daily. Yes, daily. Not just once a week, not ...
Passed the test!
For a long time, I've wanted to get certified as a personal trainer. I've been studying diligently and I am happy to announce that I passed my exam this morning! I'm officially a Certified Personal Trainer!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Are you better now than you were at age 20?
This morning I heard a recent quote from actress Cameron Diaz saying that she thought she was in better physical shape now than she was at 20-years-old. I realized that I think the same thing about myself.
At 20, I never ate breakfast. At lunch, I had whatever the college cafeteria served. Or, sometimes my roommate and I would simply grab an order of breadsticks from the Student Center restaurant. For dinner, we would split a box of Rice-A-Roni. I’m sure you can guess what my exercise routine consisted of: 12-ounce curls at Mel’s Midtowner Bar!
At 37 (and holding!), I eat breakfast every day within an hour of waking up. After that, it’s four or five small meals, which I try to keep clean most of the time. I exercise almost every day and I can lift a lot more than 12 ounces! Most importantly, I drink water constantly.
Sometimes, we focus on the things we don’t like about ourselves and the accomplishments are overshadowed by negativity. (OK, most of the time!) I do it all the time to myself. I focus on the fact that I want to lose 10 more pounds or that I ate pizza on Saturday night when I could've made a better choice. But, I forget how much I’ve improved my healthy habits over time. These accomplishments cannot be forgotten! This is your motivation to help you move forward and improve yourself even further. Unlike material items, the human body is the one thing that improves the more you use it.
We think of aging as a deterioration process. But, after reading this bio on Tosca Reno, I realized I’m actually younger now than she was when she started her journey. It’s never too late to start. It’s never too late to start again. It’s always too early to quit. Next week, I'll turn 38 - Bring it on! Hell, I think I’m ready for 40!
At 20, I never ate breakfast. At lunch, I had whatever the college cafeteria served. Or, sometimes my roommate and I would simply grab an order of breadsticks from the Student Center restaurant. For dinner, we would split a box of Rice-A-Roni. I’m sure you can guess what my exercise routine consisted of: 12-ounce curls at Mel’s Midtowner Bar!
At 37 (and holding!), I eat breakfast every day within an hour of waking up. After that, it’s four or five small meals, which I try to keep clean most of the time. I exercise almost every day and I can lift a lot more than 12 ounces! Most importantly, I drink water constantly.
Sometimes, we focus on the things we don’t like about ourselves and the accomplishments are overshadowed by negativity. (OK, most of the time!) I do it all the time to myself. I focus on the fact that I want to lose 10 more pounds or that I ate pizza on Saturday night when I could've made a better choice. But, I forget how much I’ve improved my healthy habits over time. These accomplishments cannot be forgotten! This is your motivation to help you move forward and improve yourself even further. Unlike material items, the human body is the one thing that improves the more you use it.
We think of aging as a deterioration process. But, after reading this bio on Tosca Reno, I realized I’m actually younger now than she was when she started her journey. It’s never too late to start. It’s never too late to start again. It’s always too early to quit. Next week, I'll turn 38 - Bring it on! Hell, I think I’m ready for 40!
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