Saturday, October 8, 2011

Mini-meal it!

One of our Weight Loss Challenge participants (Jaime) suggested I do a post to remind everyone about the importance of eating small meals throughout the day...as in 5-6 meals a day, not 2-3.  So, I got online and got some good resources and articles that talk specifically about this.  Jaime has been eating small meals throughout the day and so far she's rockin' the competition! 

This picture pretty much sums up how "dieting" works!  Let's call our "diet" a lifestyle change.  Don't just diet, change the way you eat for good!


Another Reason Why Dieting Doesn't Work

15 Easy Ways to Cut 500 Calories



5 Tips to Eating Right
(You can read the entire post that this link goes to, or you can get the meat of the topic below)

5 Tips to Eating Right (credit to Dr. Rick Kattouf II)

1. Mini-meal it! You’ve probably heard this before, but in order to keep your energy level up and your workouts spot on, you have to fuel regularly. Aim for five to six mini-meals a day. If this seems unreasonable, just try splitting up your lunch as a first step. Have the first half at your normal lunch time, and the second later that afternoon. You’ll be amazed at how much better that small tweak can make you feel—especially if you work out later in the day!
2. Always eat before your morning workout. If you get up and work out like I do, the last thing you probably feel like doing is eating before you head to the gym or hit the pavement running, right? But it’s so essential to fuel your body before you do a long exercise session. So make yourself have a little something, like half of a banana, before you head out to get your sweat on!
3. Eat after you work out. You’re probably not hungry after you come back from the gym, but be sure to refuel as soon as you can after exercise. Your muscles need the fuel to rebuild and repair! Coach Kattouf recommends a protein drink or smoothie after a good sweat session, as it gets nutrition into your body quickly and easily!
4. Drink up first thing. One of my fave tips from the DVDs is to hydrate early and often. The first thing you should do in the morning—before eating and working out but just after peeing—is drink 16 ounces of cold water. When you wake up, your body is pretty much dehydrated from the night of sleep. Water helps to get your metabolism firing, improves energy levels and helps that brain function better. It’s how you start your day off right from the get-go. And if you’re a coffee drinker, this is especially important as coffee can further dehydrate you, so you really need that H2O.
5. Healthy doesn’t always equal “right.” Sure, yogurt and fruit are healthy, but when you eat the same thing every day or never have any protein or fat, you’re not doing your body as much good as you could. Make sure that your mini-meals have some carbs, protein and fat in them, and try to eat a variety of foods to make sure that you’re getting all your nutrients and vitamins.
Ladies, this stuff really does work! Skipping meals and cutting calories drastically just saps your energy. Eat regularly with the right foods, and you’ll set yourself up for some serious fit bottomed happiness! —Jenn


Friday, October 7, 2011

You never fail when you try!

Some of us may be feeling a little down after our weigh-in this morning (I know I am).  I didn't give it my all last week and I knew that I wasn't trying hard enough, and it hurts when the scale confirms that.  So in my determination to do better this next week, I started reading some of my favorite fitness blogs and came across this article:

How To Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough

Talk about motivation!  Seriously, go read this article.  A funny thing happened tonight.  I decided to have my cheat day today.  So, I took my boys out to dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe.  I had a huge salad, some pasta, and a slice of pizza.  Then I went to get the dessert pizza.....I took a few bites and then had absolutely no desire to continue eating it.  It was strange.  Usually I am all about the sweet doughy desserts.  In fact, here I am 2 hours later and I still feel sick.  I don't know what's going on?  A change in my thinking maybe?



My friend, Jenn, (some of you may know Jenn), has told me many times:

"Nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels!"

I hope Jenn doesn't mind, but I think I'm going to steal that saying as my own personal mantra.  See, I tried saying that to myself a few times last week and when I did, I found myself making better eating choices. 

Do any of you have personal mantra's that you repeat to yourself?  Do any of you use stick-it notes around your house?  (I'm seriously thinking of doing that!)


Good luck to everyone this week!  I know you (and I) can all have a great number on the scale!!!!!

Week 2 Weigh-In.....The Results!

Way.  To.  Go!!!!!!!!!!  I know that I will definitely be kicking it up a notch this next week!


The number above your name is your starting weight.  The first number after your name is your previous week's weight.  The second number after your name is this week's weight.  The percentage is your total weight loss percentage to date.  


Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Food for thought: Fad Diets!

 Check out the latest from the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge:
Fad diets always exaggerate weight loss results. The truth is losing weight requires work if you want to keep those extra pounds from coming back.

The latest trendy diets all claim success, but for how long? Chances are they are so low in calories that you will definitely lose weight but when you resume eating regularly, you’ll put that weight right back on.

Are you choosing a healthy lifestyle over fad diets?

Addicted to Sugar? Read this!

I have to thank a friend of mine from facebook for posting this article.....it was extremely informative for me because this is exactly what I am battling this week.....sugar seems to be screaming my name around every corner!  I've been using a small secret that my sister used when she lost nearly 75 pounds....she allowed herself one square per day of Ghirardelli's Dark Chocolate.  Besides that it is CHOCOLATE, there are actually some health benefits to eating DARK chocolate.  Here's some articles to consider:

A Dark Chocolate A Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

Health Benefits of Chocolate

 Now, here's the article about sugar addiction......

The Truth Behind the Legal White Powder – SUGAR – Know the facts and Outsmart your Body so You Lose Weight and Stay Healthy

 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Red Ribbon Run 2011

Here is a cheap 5k that we can all get involved in....the Red Ribbon Run!  Just click on the link and go sign up online.....

Here's some quick info......read, then go sign up!

Red Ribbon Run 2011 PDF Print E-mail
NEW! run.JPGONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE THIS YEAR

Register now for the 14th Annual Red Ribbon 5K Run and  1 Mile Walk
October 15, 2011
Cedar Ridge Middle School, 65 N.  200 W., Hyde Park
Race starts at 9:00 a.m
Registration is DUE by Tuesday, October 11th at 6:00 pm. 
To register and pay now, click "read more".
Registration Fees:
Registration without shirt: $3.00
Registration with shirt: $8.00
Day of race registration; no shirt: $10.00

Monday, October 3, 2011

Healthy Snacks....courtesy of Biggest Loser!

From the Biggest Loser site today: 

Healthy snacks:

*Egg whites/beaters with wasabi arugula.
*Egg white salads – look for spicy ranchero or egg white and chive options.

(click here for a great idea on where to get this delicious egg white salad.....or just make your own!)

*Hard boiled eggs.
 *Nonfat cottage cheese with salsa and veggies for a savory snack or topped with blueberries and strawberries for a sweet treat.
*Frozen fajita mix with corn tortillas. Top with a peeled reduced fat string cheese for a quesadilla feel.
*Fruit salad with unsweetened cocoa powder.


*Homemade minestrone soups, or low sodium soups.
*Mussels, shrimp, crab and clams.
*Corn tortillas – chop two into small slices in place of croutons in salad.
*Orowheat/Arnolds sandwich thins or Fillems.
*Air-popped popcorn. Add unsweetened cocoa powder and stevia extract for a kettle corn taste.