Guilt-free Smoothie

My friend Liza posted this fruit and yogurt smoothie recipe on her blog. I gave it a try this weekend, and it was DELICIOUS so I thought I'd share it with you.

2 frozen chunks of mango
2 frozen chunks of pineapple
1/2 c light frozen yogurt
3/4c reduced fat milk

Put all ingredients in your blender and blend.

185 calories 5.5 g fat and 5 g fiber
8 grams of sugar per 1/2 cup


I used fat free milk for my smoothie. On Saturday I made a mango and pineapple smoothie for breakfast. I had another one on Sunday but I was out of mango and pineapple so I made a strawberry smoothie and it was just as delicious. The smoothies actually helped with my cravings and I didn't crave a single sweet treat all weekend!

Is Snacking throughout the day good for you?

I'd like to address a comment a reader posted the other day about one of my posts. I am very happy she brought up this point because I would have never known that I had to clarify what I meant.
I think it's important to address this issue because I don't want anybody to think it's okay to starve yourself. If your body is hungry, feed it. Don't sit there with an empty stomach until it's meal time. That will just cause you to overeat later.
The other day I blogged about how brushing your teeth helps keep you from snacking which ,in turn, will help slim down your waistline . What I failed to make clear was that it's okay to snack on healthy foods throughout the day. As a matter of fact, it's recommended that you have a couple of snacks during the day. It helps boost your metabolism and keeps you feeling full longer.
What I was talking about in my previous post was that there are some of us (like the old me) who like to snack ALL day, and there are some of us who don't know when to stop (like the old me). And then there are those of us who think it's okay to snack on cookies and chips and ice cream all the time (the old me again). That is the kind of snacking I was talking about.
In order to combat our cravings for unhealthy food, we try to come up with solutions. I am not saying my brushing tip is going to keep you from eating junk food. I am not saying it's a sure way to lose weight. I am not saying that it's going to work for everyone. It most likely won't work for everybody. I was just offering a suggestion. A tip. A little piece of advice from someone who's been there and done that.
When I was overweight, people gave me all kinds of advice and tips. I tried most of them. Some worked and some didn't. If it didn't work, that was fine with me. I moved on and tried something else until I found something that worked for me. I promise if you keep trying, you'll find something that works for you too.

Drinking hot tea is good for you!

Did you know that drinking hot tea (but not too hot) first thing in the morning will actually cut your risk of getting Kidney cancer by 15 percent! It's true according to the International Journal of Cancer!
So go drink a cup of tea! It's good for you!

Maintaining the Weight

I've been blogging about some of the tricks I've used to lose weight. But what I have done to maintain the weight? I exercise 6 days a week for about 30-80 minutes a day. It depends on my energy levels. Sometimes I'll go for an hour long walk other times I'll go for a 20 minute jog. I try to stay active and move my body whenever I can (I make sure to fidget often). There are times when I just don't feel like doing anything, so I don't. And that's okay. The key is not to skip too many days because if you decide to skip a week it'll be easy to skip another week and then another and another. So skip a day or two and then get back to your routine.
I also watch what I eat. I don't deprive myself of my favorite foods. As a matter of fact, there have been times when I overdo it. We're all human and I think we are allowed to splurge every once in a while. I just make sure not to do it every day.
I have managed to keep off the weight just by exercising and eating right. It is hard and there have been times when I feel like giving up and just going to the fridge and eating everything in sight. But then I see my fat picture next to my skinny picture and I remember how big I used to be. I remember how awful I felt about myself. I remember being so tired all the time. I remember the rude comments from friends, family, and strangers. I remember that I didn't like being fat, and I remember how much I hated myself for allowing myself to get so big. And that's what keeps me going.
This past year, I was given the opportunity to join a health blog. An old high school friend of mine and her cousin and their friend started this group and I was invited to join. This has been the most wonderful experience for me. I've learned so much about myself and my eating habits. I am able to go back and see what needs to be changed. The best part of it all is I have a group of girls who are there to motivate me and inspire me. I hope I have done the same for them.

If you have the time, please stop by my blog and read my story. I start off by telling why and how I lost the weight. After that I start keeping a food journal. I counted calories for a while but realized (just recently) counting calories wasn't working for me. All I really need to know is what I am eating, how much am I eating, and what was I doing or feeling at the time. So my recent posts have a little more dialogue about my life and my battle to beat the bulge.


I am so much happier looking like this:


than looking like this:

Clean Teeth= No Snacking

Years ago, I was reading an article in a magazine about what celebrities do to keep from snacking all day. One celebrity said she ate until she felt full and then she stopped (don't they all say that?), another one said that she just kept busy all day. I don't remember who said what but I clearly remember what Pamela Anderson said because it was something I had never thought about but often did! Funny how you do things without realizing it.

Pamela Anderson says she brushes her teeth in order to keep from snacking during the day. She said she didn't want to get her teeth dirty and food always tastes weird after you brush your teeth. And you know, she's right!
So not only will brushing your teeth keep you from getting cavities, but it'll also help trim your waistline.

The Great Motivator: A Simple Way To Keep From Snacking All Day

Do you find yourself snacking all the time? I have a little trick I do, and it has helped me keep my head out of the fridge.
I post a before and after picture of myself on my fridge. Whenever I see what I used to look like, I lose my urge to snack on junk. If I am really hungry, I end up grabbing a healthy snack instead of the junk I was headed for.

Give it a try, and tell me if it worked for you!


Here are my Fridge pictures. This fat picture of me is the only one that survived the trash.


I'm 19 years old in this photo and had already lost some weight by this time.



Here I am at 21 and about 9 months after I had my baby. Thanks to a healthy diet and exercise, I was able to lose all the weight!


EDITED: I wanted to add that I do not deprive myself. If there is something I want, I will eat enough to satisfy my craving. Depriving yourself of food or a little treat will only cause you to overeat later. So go ahead, have a little. Just don't overdo it.

5 ways to burn calories without even trying!

Here is a list of things I do burn a few hundred extra calories a day. The best part is that it doesn't feel like exercise at all.

1. Park your car at the far end of the parking lot. Okay we've all heard this one before but it really is a great way to burn a few extra calories.

2. Take the stairs. Not only will you be burning calories but you'll give your butt a nice little workout!

3. Fidget. Studies show that fidgeting can burn as many as 300 extra calories a day.

4. Eat lots of spicy food. Studies show that spicy food raises your metabolic rate by 50% for up to 3 hours.

5. Laugh often. Believe it or not but laughing for 15 minutes a day can burn up to 50 calories!

Lose Weight and Feel Great

How many times have you told yourself it was time to lose weight, but never followed through? Year after year, as those pounds keep creeping on, you keep telling yourself tomorrow is the day you’ll start living a healthier lifestyle, but tomorrow never comes. Today is the day to get started. It’s easier than you think. All you need is some motivation and someone to help lead you in the right direction. I am going to share a few of my weight loss tips with you and I hope they help you as much as they’ve helped me.
The first thing you need to do is to write down you’re weight loss goals and post them on your fridge. Seeing your goals in writing everyday will keep you motivated to stay on track. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Set realistic goals and strive to lose 1-2 lbs a week. It’s much easier to stick to one or two lifestyle changes a week rather than 10.
Keep a food diary for at least two weeks. A food diary will not only help you evaluate your eating patterns, but it will help keep you motivated. While you are keeping a food diary, do not change your eating habits. Write down everything you eat and how you were feeling at the time. Be honest and don’t leave anything out. Don’t forget to write down how much you’ve eaten and what you’ve had to drink. It is very important to keep your diary with you at all times. If that is not possible, carry a small notebook or index card and write down everything you eat as soon as possible (you can copy everything into your diary later).
You need to establish an exercise plan. Start slowly and build up. In order to reap the benefits of exercise, you need to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week. Be sure you do something you love that way you’ll be able to stick with it. Buy some exercise videos, take bike rides with the kids, or take a walk around the block. As your body adjusts to your new workout regimen, you can add more. Don’t forget to incorporate weights into your exercise plan. Muscle burns more calories than fat so the more muscle you have the more calories you’ll burn.
Consistency is the key. Stick with it even when at times it seems like you aren’t making progress. The changes will come. It just takes time and patience.

WELCOME

Welcome to my health and fitness blog. This blog was created for women (and men) who want to live a healthier lifestyle but don’t know where to start. I will be posting tons of articles that will help lead you in the right direction.
Whether you need a little inspiration, need help reaching your fitness goals or just want to live a healthier life, you have definitely come to the right place. Let's get healthy and stay healthy together!