My willpower sucks. It's true and I'll admit it. I just polished off my third cookie for today. I also gained back over five pounds during the holidays. Too much dessert, way too much dessert.
But I'm making a pact with myself. I'm not counting until the holidays are truly over. I'll continue my journey in the New Year because, right now, stepping on the scale is a bad idea. Every time I see that scale creep up, I get depressed and I eat. Which only makes the scale creep up more. Its a vicious cycle.
Right now, I'm eating what I want without a second thought. Sure that's far from healthy, but that's the goal. This is the one time of year I'm saying "To hell with it!" and munching on candy and cookies. I love eating the stuff and when I'm surrounded by it, I just can't say no. Rather than eating it and hating myself afterwards, I'm eating it and enjoying it, knowing that there is always time to burn the calories off in the New Year.
On January 1st, here's what I'm doing:
Any leftover candy is being donated to Operation Shoebox for the troops overseas.
Leftover cake and cookies (unwrapped) go straight in the trash.
No more specialty coffee drinks or soda.
Lunch (what is now consisting of pb&j and cookies or leftover pasta) will be made up of whole wheat sandwiches and veggies.
Dinner will be on a small plate and consist of veggies and protein (unlike the Sicilian pizza I had last night)
Dessert- cancelled. No eating after 8 pm.
Here's my New Year plan and as long as it is in writing here, I won't forget it and I won't slip up. If you plan on following your own New Year's Resolution, write down your own plan and read it everytime you want to indulge.
The Pursuit of Healthiness
Your Guide to Getting Healthy
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Workout #14: Impromptu Party!
Its holiday break and your bored already. Instead of breaking out the Christmas cookies and settling in to watch Rudolph for the fourth time, why not host a party? Sound like weird way to work out? Then listen up!
Gathered together a small group of close friends? Then pull out the Wii or Connect for XBox 360! Rent a dance game and pick your favorite songs! Don't worry about sticking to the moves perfectly. You'll have more fun and torch more calories if you and your friends just have fun and add in your own variations. Sure, you can play Wii Just Dance any day, but it is so much more fun to play with friends. Plus you get the bonus of extra calorie burn when you're talking and laughing.
Gathered up a huge group of party-goers? Time to crank up the music and dance to your favorite songs. Hit a club or host the dance party in your own home. Blast the music, make a dance floor and party! Fist bump, electric slide, or whatever you like. But if you are staying at home, just make sure you don't disturb the neighbors!
Gathered together a small group of close friends? Then pull out the Wii or Connect for XBox 360! Rent a dance game and pick your favorite songs! Don't worry about sticking to the moves perfectly. You'll have more fun and torch more calories if you and your friends just have fun and add in your own variations. Sure, you can play Wii Just Dance any day, but it is so much more fun to play with friends. Plus you get the bonus of extra calorie burn when you're talking and laughing.
Gathered up a huge group of party-goers? Time to crank up the music and dance to your favorite songs. Hit a club or host the dance party in your own home. Blast the music, make a dance floor and party! Fist bump, electric slide, or whatever you like. But if you are staying at home, just make sure you don't disturb the neighbors!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Tip #24: Get a Clean Start with Beach Body!
I love Disney vacations. I always have ever since I was little. So this weekend my family and I took a short vacation there. In the three days I had there, I drank 3 cappuccinos, a half pack of Double Stuffed Oreos, two Ghirardelli's Hot Fudge Sundaes, and a giant peanut butter cupcake. Oh, and a Mickey head ice cream sandwich. Obviously, it's not a huge surprise that I gained three pounds.
Now that I'm home, I better get back on track. That's where Beach Body's new product comes in. Designed by wellness experts and a former Presidential nutritionist, the Ultimate Reset Cleanse is meant to clean out your body, revitalizing it and returning it to it's original state. Usually, I wouldn't endorse a cleanse, but this is different. Most cleanse are drinking lemon juice and pepper and nothing else. The ingredients in Ultimate Reset aren't just something you'd find in your kitchen cabinets without any proof it's actually any good for you.The creators of Ultimate Reset searched all over the globe for some of the healthiests foods you can put in your body.
If you want to cleanse your body, lose weight, and revitalize yourself, click here for the Ultimate Reset!
Now that I'm home, I better get back on track. That's where Beach Body's new product comes in. Designed by wellness experts and a former Presidential nutritionist, the Ultimate Reset Cleanse is meant to clean out your body, revitalizing it and returning it to it's original state. Usually, I wouldn't endorse a cleanse, but this is different. Most cleanse are drinking lemon juice and pepper and nothing else. The ingredients in Ultimate Reset aren't just something you'd find in your kitchen cabinets without any proof it's actually any good for you.The creators of Ultimate Reset searched all over the globe for some of the healthiests foods you can put in your body.
If you want to cleanse your body, lose weight, and revitalize yourself, click here for the Ultimate Reset!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Tip #23: Clean Out the Fridge!
I know. So soon after Thanksgiving? You couldn't imagine tossing out the turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie so soon! And I certainly can't blame you! But don't turn Thanksgiving into a week! The average person consumes over 4000 calories for dinner on Thanksgiving. If you eat Thanksgiving dinner every day for a week, you could be packing on an extra 8 pounds!
This weekend was your free pass. You overate (don't deny it! We all did!) but now is the time to toss out the food. That one slice of pumpkin pie and cup of stuffing should be cleaned out. While you are at it, look for the foods that may not be Thanksgiving related, but still just as bad for you. Anything high in fat and calories goes. Be a little more lenient with the carbs. Half your daily calories should come from carbs.
However, I'm not one for wasting food. You don't need it. But someone else does. All unopened containers and still full Thanksgiving essentially should go to your local soup kitchen, not the trash.
This weekend was your free pass. You overate (don't deny it! We all did!) but now is the time to toss out the food. That one slice of pumpkin pie and cup of stuffing should be cleaned out. While you are at it, look for the foods that may not be Thanksgiving related, but still just as bad for you. Anything high in fat and calories goes. Be a little more lenient with the carbs. Half your daily calories should come from carbs.
However, I'm not one for wasting food. You don't need it. But someone else does. All unopened containers and still full Thanksgiving essentially should go to your local soup kitchen, not the trash.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving! That being said, why can't a healthy thanksgiving coincide with that? According to Today.com, the average thanksgiving dinner contains over 4000 calories. A dinner should be about a tenth of that! But don't sweat it! I've compiled a list of ways to save calories on turkey day (without depriving yourself!) and its easy to follow!
Party Time!
1. Don't let your clothes save room for dessert. Choose an outfit that's rather tight-fitting, so when your stomach starts to feel stuffed in that body-con dress, you'll know you've got to stop.
2. Carry a clutch. If you have you're clutch in one hand, and a drink in the other, it won't be so easy to pig out on those appetizers.
3. Mingle. You can't catch up with your friends and family with a full mouth. If you leave your mouth to talking, it can't be full of food.
4. Stay out of the kitchen! Entertain yourself by watching the game, even if you're not a big football fan. You can always enjoy the halftime show, or just have fun watching your uncle and brother go head to head on who the MVP is. If you volunteer to clean up afterwards (good for you!), get the dishes in the sink before the leftovers end up in your mouth!
5. Watch the little ones. My little cousins always keep me occupied on Thanksgiving. I'm so busy making sure they eat, are entertained, and basically stay out of trouble, I hardly eat dinner myself.
6. Stay on your feet. It torches extra calories. Plus, when you're sitting down with little to do, those mini quiches will look extra appealling.
Drinks and Appetizers
7. Avoid soda or sugarfied drinks. They are empty calories and only increase your appetite. Stick to water for the most part.
8. Watch the alcohol. Other than the fact it clouds your judgement making you more likely to say "oh screw it!" and binge on thanksgiving, alcohol is mostly empty calories, like soda. Avoid anything with tonic especially. If your friends offer you a drink you've never heard of like a "Thanksgiving cocktail" make sure you ask what's in it and do the calculations for it before downing it.
9. Stick to a veggie based appetizer. Leave the meat for dinner. Try to eliminate dips as much as possible. Shrimp isn't a bad option either, but skimp on the cocktail sauce.
10. Only take one of each appetizer. Don't take a handful of jumbo shrimp and call it diet.
11. If something sounds good, eat it! Just eat one serving, and keep a track in the back of your mind.
Dinner and Dessert
12. Say it with me: white meat, no skin, light on the gravy. Fill up on the meat.
13. Opt for a veggie based side like carrots and green beans (green bean casserole doesn't count) and go easy on the stuffing and other carbs.
14. Drink water with dinner and drink at least one full glass before you sit down to dinner.
15. Go splitzies on a slice of cake or pie for dessert or a roll for dinner.
16. Start eating after everyone else, be the slowest eater at the table, and finish the second you're full.
17. Eat at the kid's table! Well, maybe not. I mean, eat as much as they eat. While the adults binge, the kids eat around the size of a normal adult meal on thanksgiving.
18. Don't go back for seconds. Just because the mashed potatoes are there, doesn't mean you have to eat them.
19. Stick to one moderately large dessert, or a few small ones. Don't eat half the cake and go back for a plate of cookies.
20. Most of all, enjoy the day. Eat things that you might not usually get to have. For me, I have stuffing sometimes on an average weeknight so I won't eat that on thanksgiving. I'll eat the stuffed mushrooms that I only have once a year. Same goes for dessert. My cousin is a pastry chef so I'll eat the new and innovative dessert she brought for us, not the chocolate chip cookies.
I hope this guide helps you to a healthy, happy thanksgiving! I'm sure this will help you to a ho-ho-ho healthy Christmas (or whatever you celebrate. I don't judge!) Hope this helps you have a great winter!
Party Time!
1. Don't let your clothes save room for dessert. Choose an outfit that's rather tight-fitting, so when your stomach starts to feel stuffed in that body-con dress, you'll know you've got to stop.
2. Carry a clutch. If you have you're clutch in one hand, and a drink in the other, it won't be so easy to pig out on those appetizers.
3. Mingle. You can't catch up with your friends and family with a full mouth. If you leave your mouth to talking, it can't be full of food.
4. Stay out of the kitchen! Entertain yourself by watching the game, even if you're not a big football fan. You can always enjoy the halftime show, or just have fun watching your uncle and brother go head to head on who the MVP is. If you volunteer to clean up afterwards (good for you!), get the dishes in the sink before the leftovers end up in your mouth!
5. Watch the little ones. My little cousins always keep me occupied on Thanksgiving. I'm so busy making sure they eat, are entertained, and basically stay out of trouble, I hardly eat dinner myself.
6. Stay on your feet. It torches extra calories. Plus, when you're sitting down with little to do, those mini quiches will look extra appealling.
Drinks and Appetizers
7. Avoid soda or sugarfied drinks. They are empty calories and only increase your appetite. Stick to water for the most part.
8. Watch the alcohol. Other than the fact it clouds your judgement making you more likely to say "oh screw it!" and binge on thanksgiving, alcohol is mostly empty calories, like soda. Avoid anything with tonic especially. If your friends offer you a drink you've never heard of like a "Thanksgiving cocktail" make sure you ask what's in it and do the calculations for it before downing it.
9. Stick to a veggie based appetizer. Leave the meat for dinner. Try to eliminate dips as much as possible. Shrimp isn't a bad option either, but skimp on the cocktail sauce.
10. Only take one of each appetizer. Don't take a handful of jumbo shrimp and call it diet.
11. If something sounds good, eat it! Just eat one serving, and keep a track in the back of your mind.
Dinner and Dessert
12. Say it with me: white meat, no skin, light on the gravy. Fill up on the meat.
13. Opt for a veggie based side like carrots and green beans (green bean casserole doesn't count) and go easy on the stuffing and other carbs.
14. Drink water with dinner and drink at least one full glass before you sit down to dinner.
15. Go splitzies on a slice of cake or pie for dessert or a roll for dinner.
16. Start eating after everyone else, be the slowest eater at the table, and finish the second you're full.
17. Eat at the kid's table! Well, maybe not. I mean, eat as much as they eat. While the adults binge, the kids eat around the size of a normal adult meal on thanksgiving.
18. Don't go back for seconds. Just because the mashed potatoes are there, doesn't mean you have to eat them.
19. Stick to one moderately large dessert, or a few small ones. Don't eat half the cake and go back for a plate of cookies.
20. Most of all, enjoy the day. Eat things that you might not usually get to have. For me, I have stuffing sometimes on an average weeknight so I won't eat that on thanksgiving. I'll eat the stuffed mushrooms that I only have once a year. Same goes for dessert. My cousin is a pastry chef so I'll eat the new and innovative dessert she brought for us, not the chocolate chip cookies.
I hope this guide helps you to a healthy, happy thanksgiving! I'm sure this will help you to a ho-ho-ho healthy Christmas (or whatever you celebrate. I don't judge!) Hope this helps you have a great winter!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Beach Body: New and Improved!
I know everybody's seen the commercials for Beach Body. The ones that say it's insane and show those perfectly toned people saying how hard it is, but have you ever actually seen the results? The results are what is really insane! I have this friend who was always, well, baby-faced. He wasn't exactly overweight, but he was cute because he has chubby cheeks and that layer of baby-fat he never lost. He tried P90x and you wouldn't even recognize him now! He has those six-pack abs and the baby-fat is gone! Now, without exaggerating, he's got all the girls chasing after him.
Whether you're a guy or girl trying to lose some weight or tone up, Beach Body seriously works! I was recently contacted with some new programs Beach Body has come up with and thought I'd share it with you.
First there's p90x2 (p90x2 preorder) the sequel to the crazy p90x. If you've seen p90x, you know exactly how well this one will work. (Order it now to get it in time for the holidays!)
Second there is the Body Beast workout (Body Beast preorder) which is still in developement. I'd recommend this one for the guys who are looking to seriously build up their muscle mass, as it was developed by the renowned body builder, Sagi Kalev!
The Tai Cheng (translated to Supreme Accomplishment in Mandarin) is finally available for preordering! (Tai Cheng preorder) It is dedicated to your whole body health! Every day, the program teaches you a new Tai-Chi, designed to give you more energy, loosen joints, develope balance, tone muscle, and increase your range of motion. Personally, this one is my favorite and I can't wait to order it!
Whether you're a guy or girl trying to lose some weight or tone up, Beach Body seriously works! I was recently contacted with some new programs Beach Body has come up with and thought I'd share it with you.
First there's p90x2 (p90x2 preorder) the sequel to the crazy p90x. If you've seen p90x, you know exactly how well this one will work. (Order it now to get it in time for the holidays!)
Second there is the Body Beast workout (Body Beast preorder) which is still in developement. I'd recommend this one for the guys who are looking to seriously build up their muscle mass, as it was developed by the renowned body builder, Sagi Kalev!
The Tai Cheng (translated to Supreme Accomplishment in Mandarin) is finally available for preordering! (Tai Cheng preorder) It is dedicated to your whole body health! Every day, the program teaches you a new Tai-Chi, designed to give you more energy, loosen joints, develope balance, tone muscle, and increase your range of motion. Personally, this one is my favorite and I can't wait to order it!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Playlist of the Week
Here's a heart pumping playlist to blast away those halloween calories!
Warm-Up: Time is Running Out- Muse
Criminal- Britney Spears
Love You Like a Love Song- Selena Gomez
Without You- David Guetta
Cool Down: Turning Tables- Adele
Warm-Up: Time is Running Out- Muse
Criminal- Britney Spears
Love You Like a Love Song- Selena Gomez
Without You- David Guetta
Cool Down: Turning Tables- Adele
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