What's Working?

 First, I try and start my day with Shakeology.  Not because I always want to, but because it's what I have time for.  I've been using it for over 4 months and I haven't stopped yet.  It's good stuff with a good purpose.  It's quick and easy to throw in the blender or a shaker cup with some milk or coffee, add a little PB2 if I have time.  It starts my day off right, gives me energy, makes me feel full, curbs cravings and if I start my day off right, I tend to follow through better.  Why ruin lunch if I already have done good half the day?!

GOALS
I have them and I like having them.  If you don't have goals, what do you have to work towards?  What's going to make you the best you that you can be?  I have goals and I find it helps me to do things when I otherwise might not.  They keep me on track to having a better future.  They keep me working on me and focusing on what I want.  Every decision I make focuses on what do I want and how does this play into the big picture.

I make grocery lists and don't shop when I'm hungry.  Somehow I manage and my kids want things like apples.  I'd like to think I have something to do with that, but my kids make healthier food choices than I ever have.  They live for peanut butter on chocolate rice cakes topped with bananas.  Their snacks are things like apples and fruit snacks.  And, they have Halloween candy from last year!  We keep good food in the house and I always cut up veggies when I bring them home.  It makes healthy options convenient and an easier option than making cookies or brownies.

I also try and eat at home.  It's easier to make good food choices at home.  Eating out throws me off track every time, but I'm getting better at ordering a salad or something grilled, getting a half order and getting the veggies instead of fries or at least a baked potato.

WATER.  I drink it.  You should too.  Not tea, not soda, not juice, not beer, not wine, just plain, clear, healthy, clean WATER.

EXERCISE- It makes it happen.  It gets endorphins flowing and makes me feel good every time I do it!  Not only that, it helps burn fat, gain muscle and get rid of that handful of M&Ms I couldn't help but grab from the cabinet.

 Plank.  It works everything, everywhere, all at the same time.  It works the core, it works the legs, it works the arms and all those muscles you didn't really know you have.  Start planking.  I did.


Staying active.  It's not hard with a 18 month old, a 3 year old and a puppy.  But, I have my lazy days.  I just have to pull myself out of the chair I'm snuggling my kiddos in and get on my feet.  Once in motion, it's so much easier.  An added Turbo Fire workout here and there helps too.  And, I've been swimming laps and doing water aerobics while the local swimming pool is open.

Nutrition, The Key to A Successful Diet

Keeping proper nutrition while eating healthy can be tough for some people. I've written about it before in Nutrition, the Key that Unlocks Healthy.  Choosing healthy foods rather than reaching for comfort foods is something you have to teach yourself to do over time. When begin to consume health foods you will not longer want to eat foods that are bad. You then let nutrition lead your decisions, not your emotions.

Take the Fridge Challenge!

Nutritionists now recommend replacing much of the beef, poultry and pork we eat with extra servings of fish. Fish contains optimum levels of nutrients that are essential for a heart healthy lifestyle. Fish is a very broad category of foods; they come in a large variety of textures and flavors.  It will boost your Omegas too!

Read up on Nutrient Maximization.  Eggplant is packed full of nutrients, give it a try instead of noodles in lasagna, I just LOVE it that way! If you are looking for a purchase that will help in your nutrition quest, buy a good blender to prepare nutritious fruit smoothies. Ice cream can be traded in for a new comfort food, that will be just as satisfying. Make a fruit smoothie with milk, fruit and some yogurt; this is a great substitute for ice cream.  Best decision I ever made was to buy a new blender!  I use it all the time to make shakes and smoothies.  It replace my toaster and coffee pot, which now I hardly use.  Here's some healthy snack ideas.

Eat clean.  It's the best advice I have.  Eat unprocessed foods, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, meats from the meat counter, not the deli isle, dairy, nuts and beans.  Add condiments that are low in salt and sugar and high in protein. And, tada.  Sounds easy huh!  It's easier said than done.  But, you can train yourself to eat however you want to eat.  And, if healthy is on your menu, it'll have positive effects on your life and health.  Here's some protein rich superfoods to bust cravings too.

Don't skip the multivitamin!  It'll help make up for anything you've missed.  And, write it all down including portion sizes.  Use a smaller plate and measure everything!

Hydration plays an important roll in nutrition, keeping your body in homeostasis and promoting a healthy body.  Drink plenty of water!

Need a Boost in Your Metabolism?

What is metabolism?  The rate you burn the calories you consume.

Any movement speeds metabolism, including fidgeting.  All those times your mother said "don't fidget!", forget it!

Increase your body temperature and increase metabolism, so sweat!  Get moving, get your heart rate up, be hot!

Get enough sleep and stay hydrated.  Drink ice water.  If you drink 8 glasses of ice water a day, you'll burn on average 67 more calories.  Bring on the ice!

Eat more, not less.  I know it seems like the opposite of what you should do.  But, starving yourself is not how to be healthy.  Put the right foods in your body and often and you'll see benefits.  Maybe not today or tomorrow, but give it 7 days and you'll probably see a difference!

How often do I eat?  Ever 2-3 hours.

What do I eat?  Well, start by eating clean and natural.  But, beyond that, there are a lot of foods out there that will help boost your metabolism!

This is from Dr. Oz:




8 oz brewed Green Tea, 1 sliced tangerine and a handful of mint leaves. grapefruit
green tea
yogurt
apples
turkey
http://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=723925631132196224#editor/target=post;postID=7499731763919407770 coffee
almonds
spinach
beans
jalapenos
broccoli
soy milk
cinnamon
curry
oatmeal
citrus fruits (oranges, kiwi, tangerines....)
cold water
mint
honey
blueberries
strawberries

Try some great mixes of these foods and drinks!

Like for instance honey almond oatmeal or apple cinnamon yogurt or a turkey sandwich and spinach salad or a bean based soup!