"I Don't Have Time to Eat Healthy"

Yes, you do.

It doesn't take much to eat healthy and it doesn't take much to be prepared.

I can tell you from experience that it takes me 10 minutes (tops) to decide what to eat for a week and make a grocery list out. My husband and I shop every single Sunday and we plan our dinners for the week in advance. Obviously, you don't have to do it this way...this is just what works for me and my schedule. My grocery trips take 30-45 minutes and are pretty painless (I still HATE grocery shopping).

So, here's my weekly routine.

On Sunday morning I figure out what meals we'll be eating each night for the week. I make out a list of items I need and include items for breakfasts and lunches. This takes no time at all! If you enjoy Pinterest then I recommend finding some healthy meals on that as well! Sunday is my grocery shopping day. Everybody has to grocery shop so don't use that as an excuse against healthy eating.

Each night (or morning) I take five minutes to prepare a lunch for myself. I typically eat a salad and two servings of fruits/vegetables. I also have a Cherry Coke Zero (yum). Some people have to switch up their lunches and, of course, that's fine too! It's only five minutes, guys! It's entirely worth it because you're worth it.

Breakfast is easy because I have a serving of fruit, a piece of toast, a glass of milk, and my vitamins. You can do what you need to, but make sure you eat enough. I can't stress this enough! Don't skip breakfast because that it what jumpstarts your metabolism for the day.

Everybody prepares dinners and it's no different for me. I don't particularly enjoy spending a lot of time cooking dinner, but I make it each night and it doesn't always take a lot of time. =)

See, guys? It doesn't take much time! I can't stress enough that you are worth it! Don't cheat yourself out of this time because it won't do you any favors. I'm still working on this myself and it doesn't always work out perfectly, but if I stick to the plan it helps! You can make this work for you. You don't need to do things the same way I do, but it's a starting point. Switch things up so they work for you! I know you can do this! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or are having any problems with it!

As always, comment, repin, +1, share, tweet, etc. to share these great tips with others!

Pin It Now!

Forgive, Forget, & Move On

This weekend was...well...not what I had planned!

The obstacles that we encounter aren't easy ones...that's why we're overweight and unhealthy to begin with! It's okay if things don't go your way. We're not perfect and clearly what we put into our bodies can't be perfect either! So, here's what we have to do:

That, in itself, isn't easy either! Trust me, I know. After royally screwing up my eating plan this weekend (there goes goal #1 on my list), I thought I was done for. I decided this morning that I can still do this! I don't have any bonus points left (that much is VERY clear), but I can choose to do my plan as perfectly as I can for the remaining days of the week!

The beauty of "dieting" is that you're always free to start over fresh.

I'm dead serious. If you feel as though you're plateauing, start over! Forget about all the stuff that you've done previously and act as though you're just beginning your weight loss journey! I remember how it was when I started. I was on fi-yah! I'm not so much anymore. I need to start over. I'm doing that today (though I'm just starting this week over). It's your diet, your body, and your plan. You're going to make mistakes, but you're worth starting over! This journey is...hard. I'm with you, guys! I'm there! I'm going through struggles, mistakes, victories, and all of the same things you are!

Forgive. You have to forgive yourself for the mistakes that you make. We're only human...we can't be perfect. Facts of life, guys. FORGIVE YOURSELF! I know it's hard to do that after eating a bag of pretzel M&M's, two fun dips, and a box of candy cigarettes (delightful). That's not even half of my disaster day on Saturday...but I need to forgive myself for the slip-up and to...

Forget. Dwelling on the negatives isn't going to do you any favors. Forget about all the screw-ups you had and look forward. Forgetting enables you to start fresh. This is an important step. If you get hung-up on the negatives you aren't allowing yourself to see the positives. Look at long term things as well. I had to tell myself this morning that I've lost 25+ pounds and that this weekend isn't going to change that. That's something that I did. That can't be taken away because I screwed up this weekend. So, the next thing to do is to...

Move on. Focus on what is to come! Take a quick second and plan out what you want the results of your week to be and do it! This step is difficult because you can't proceed with it until fully realizing the last step. You can do it though. Nobody ever said that it was going to be easy (in fact, I'll tell you the EXACT opposite), but it's not impossible! Remember that and you'll be golden!

You guys can do this because you're worth it! Start fresh today!

Forgive, forget, and move on!!!!

As always, comment, repin, +1, share, tweet, etc. to share these great tips with others!

Pin It Now!

Defeated to Determined

It's been a brutal couple of weeks, guys.

As of yesterday I was feeling...defeated.

Today I decided that I wasn't going to feel like that anymore. I went to a Weight Watchers meeting in Champaign and I've been rejuvenated (yes, I tried reading my motivation blog to no avail. Hopefully, that was more helpful for you guys). It's been a hard time. I haven't been running because of the move. I'm unfamiliar with the area and I'm not sure where to run. Also, I have to be to work early in the morning and don't want to wake up at the crack of dawn to go. Moving took it's toll despite my efforts. We didn't have an oven/stove for awhile so that was rough too. See? Excuses. I keep making excuses.

I weighed in anyways tonight. I gained 1.2 lbs. Ouch. I AM contributing part of that to weighing-in in the evening instead of the morning. I don't think I gained that much, but I know I gained a little because I fell off the bandwagon. Like...seriously. I feel hard. Ya know what?

It's a new day.

Today I'm feeling...determined. I am determined to do better this week. I am determined to stick to my plan throughout the holiday weekend. I will do it, guys. You can too! Let's hold each other accountable  for the weekend and really own it!

My goals for this week:
1. Success over the weekend.
2. Find a new running routine.

Those are pretty hefty goals in themselves so I'm only going to stick with those. Let's use this week to get back into the swing of things! If I can do it, you can do it! I'll let you know how it goes and I hope to hear good things from you!!!!

As always, comment, repin, +1, share, tweet, etc. to share these great tips with others!

Pin It Now!

8 Ways to Stay Healthy While Eating Out

I'm back!!! Sorry about having such a loooong hiatus! I finally have internet again and can write these blogs to help you lovely people!

We've all been there...the favorite restaurant...the favorite dish...the favorite weigh-in the next week. The fact of the matter is, not everybody knows how to order healthy at a restaurant. I just so happen to have some wonderful tips to assist you in dining out in a semi-healthy to healthy way. I'm not saying that you can't enjoy your all-time favorite restaurant  every once in awhile...I'm saying that you can't do it every time you eat out.

1. Figure out nutritional information before you go. Most restaurants have their nutrition information online or at the actual restaurant. Check out the list and make up your mind before you go so you don't have to worry about the temptation of even looking at the menu.










2. Ask for dressing to be on the side. This is entirely reasonable, people. If the dressing is on the side, you can choose how much of it will go on your salad. It's quite a simple concept.

3. Opt for ketchup rather than ranch dressing for french fries. I have a lot of friends out there who run to the ranch for a dipping sauce. Guys, this is painful if you're trying to watch your weight! 2 T. of ranch dressing is 4 points whereas ketchup is only 1 point for the same amount! If you consider that it takes waaaay more than 2 T. of ranch dressing to eat those french fries...well, you're in trouble. Opt out of the ranch, guys. You'll thank me for it!

3. Ask for salsa to spice up dishes. Rather than ordering chicken with cream sauce, order up some plain ole' chicken and ask for some salsa to spice it up! Salsa is 0 WW points and a plain old boneless, skinless chicken breast (4 oz.) is 3 points. That's loads better than an entree that's worth 10+ points!

4. Alert your friends about your weight conscious decisions. If your friends are aware of your situation they will be better able to choose a restaurant that has a few healthy options. If you'd rather keep the information to yourself, offer up a restaurant option of your own for them to consider. That way, you can be in control of the options without broadcasting your weight loss goals.

5. Learn to say no! I love bread...all kinds. So much. Bread, rolls, breadsticks...take your pick...I love them all. At restaurants like Olive Garden or Texas Roadhouse I can't stop chomping on them if they bring them out. If they're at my table I'm going to eat them. This is where saying no comes into good use. When the bread comes to your table. Take one and ask the waiter to remove the rest. Get the temptation out of your way. The same thing goes for free chips and salsa and other "bonus" items that can trip up your weight loss journey. They may be free money-wise, but they'll go straight to your hips, butt, etc...not so free then, huh?

6. Avoid dishes with creamy sauces. Yes, this means fettuccine alfredo. Avoid it like the plague. The creamier sauces have a lot more fatty ingredients than other sauces...ahem, heavy whipping cream. It's not that tough, guys. There are plenty of other options for you to choose from.

Photo Credit

7. Steer clear of the fried foods. Fried chicken isn't going to do you any favors. Instead, opt for dishes that are baked or grilled. One of my personal faves is the cilantro-lime shrimp from Applebees (pictured to the right). Honestly, it's delightful. You get more than enough food and the taste is divine! =) Yummy! Anyways, this tip also means that you'll want to ditch the regular mozzarella stick appetizer as well. One of those babies can have 4+ points and that's being on the skimpy side.

8. Order your vegetables without butter. A lot of people don't realize this is an option at a restaurant (sometimes it's not). It's worth asking for. Chain restaurants such as Outback Steakhouse are more than willing to cut the butter from your veggies. If they say no, just tell them you're allergic. =) I'm kidding, but ask...always ask.



It's a restaurant. They make what you order so don't feel guilty about it! You're heading into these places wanting something specific and they're there to serve you. Heavens knows it's probably a lot more entertaining for the cook to have to make something a little different than the plain ole' menu stuff. =) I hope these tips are beneficial to all of you and help you make wiser decisions when eating out! Best of luck to you!

As always, comment, repin, +1, share, tweet, etc. to share these great tips with others!

Pin It Now!

MIA

Hello, all! Sorry about the lack of posting. We aren't getting Internet at our new place until the 28th (ew) so I won't be posting much until then! I hope everybody is doing awesome!!! Let me know if you have any questions!!! Pin It Now!

Maintaining Your Weight

I had a request from someone who doesn't want to lose weight, but maintain their current weight. So, here goes nothing. =)

Lots and lots of people assume that the hardest part of weight loss is, well, losing it. That's not the case (which is real great considering the difficulty I'm having with that part). Maintaining your weight can be just as difficult as losing it.

Why?

Your body has, what I refer to as, a "normal" weight. This is the natural weight that your body gravitates towards. This weight can change. The heavier a person gets the higher the normal weight gets....that doesn't mean that the thinner somebody gets the lower the normal weight gets. That's the problem.When you lose weight your body still wants to gravitate towards what it was.

What can be done to maintain your body weight?

Physical Activity I know, I know...this part sucks for me too. =) Exercising is important. Exercise increases your metabolism and helps your body use up the fuel that you've put into it. Your body continues to burn calories long after your exercise is finished for the day. How cool is that!? And, of course, on a side-note unrelated to weight, IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!

Diet Yes, folks, what you put into your body still matters. The average caloric intake is between 1,500 and 2,000 calories a day. Be mindful of what you're putting into your body! Fruits and veggies should be a huge part of your diet as well as lean meats, proteins, whole wheat, fat-free dairy, etc. You know the good stuff! Eat it!

Figuring Your Calories This is for those of you who are not on the Weight Watchers program. When you've reached the weight that you want to maintain, you should add 200 calories to your diet. Weigh yourself at the end of the week and determine if you've lost, maintained, or gained weight. You have to adjust your intake accordingly. This process does take some time. If you still lost weight after adding calories, add some more. If you maintained your weight then you are set to go! If you gained weight then decrease the calories by a tidbit. You guys are smart...you can figure it out. =)

Know Your Clothing You are the best judge of how your clothes fit. Use that to your advantage! It's easy to tell if your clothes are becoming loose or tight. Get rid of clothes that don't fit. Keep what works and make sure that you can stay in them!

Watch Your Trigger Foods Ya know those fatty foods that don't stand a chance of sitting in the cupboard? Those are the ones you want to steer clear of. If you can't control the amount of food that you're eating, don't keep it in the house. Don't go to the grocery store hungry either! You are the boss of what you eat. Take responsibility for it!

Weigh Yourself Weekly To make sure you're on track, you'll want to weigh yourself weekly. You'll want to remain within +/-2 lbs. of your desired weight. Some fluctuation is okay (it IS a body, after all).

So, my lovely friends, I hope this helps you maintain that lovely figure that you've acquired. =) Come at me with any questions, comments, etc.

Stay tune for more great posts!!!

As always, comment, repin, +1, share, tweet, etc. to get the word out about my blog!

Pin It Now!

Easy Garlic Chicken

I made this delightful recipe (found via Pinterest) the other night and it was delicious! The chicken was super tender and it had a really great flavor! *Please note that these photos are from a half batch*

So, here's what you need (for a full batch):

4 6 oz. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
4 T. Brown Sugar
3 tsp. Olive Oil

1. Preheat the oven to 500° and lightly grease a casserole dish.

2. In a small sauté pan, sauté the garlic with the oil until tender.

3. Remove from the heat and stir in brown sugar.

*It should look like this picture when mixed*

4. Place the chicken breasts in prepared baking dish and cover with garlic and brown sugar mixture.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

6. Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes.

7. Enjoy!

Do not be alarmed if it smells like it's burning. As you can see from the photo above, the sugar will burn a little bit in the bottom of the pan. 

I love chicken recipes because they're so low in points! One 6 oz. chicken breast from this recipe is 6 WW points and it's soooo much better than just plain ole' chicken!

Nutritional Information

Calories: 371. 75

Total Fat: 16.06 g

Sodium: 121 mg

Carbohydrates: 51.96 g

Dietary Fiber: 0 g

Protein: 23.76 g

Stay tuned for...

As always, comment, repin, +1, share, tweet, etc. to share these great tips with others!

Pin It Now!