Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts

some newbies for friday

I took yesterday as an "unplanned rest day".
So no workouts.

Yesterday was also filled with some NEWBIES!

NEWBIE #1 - a baby

Matteo called to tell me that my SIL had her baby! I figured I could take a "rest day" to go meet the little guy...

Garrett Alexander

By the time we got home, I was too hungry to run.  
So Matteo made dinner....while I shaved my legs.

Eating & shaved legs are more important, right?
Don't judge.

NEWBIE #2 - a guest post
For those of you interested in fashion & shoes...I did my first *guest post* on a fabulous blog yesterday! Angie at The Hotness Your Momma Warned You About is turning 30 & asked that I do a post geared towards shoes - specifically a hot 30 list. If you'd like to check it out....click here!


NEWBIE #3 - nutrition tips
More importantly - have you checked out the
new MyPlate vs. the old MyPyramid?

so last year...

ta da!
Incase you ever want to read up on the Dietary Guidelines, it's really informative at 112 pages long.

My opinion? I feel that the MyPlate is a much better visual representation of portion sizes when comparing the different food groups. Granted, individuals need to have an understanding of what exactly a portion size of what they're eating, before they can go "comparing".

Read more here: www.choosemyplate.gov

Because I'm me...here are some Handy Reminders regarding portions & measurements:



photo courtesy of manitoba healthy living

And another option for visual imagery:

photo courtesy of diets in review


NEWBIE #4 - a race

I registered for my first 1/2 marathon yesterday! Granted, when the race does roll around, it probably won't be my actual first marathon, since others are on my radar for the end of this year. But nonetheless...I registered for one.

Bighugedeal!


NEWBIE #5 - a few votes

I got some more likes on my shoes video!

I could really use a BUTTLOAD more....here's my competition.

Please help!

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And that concludes the Newbies for Friday - normally my Thursdays aren't so thrilling.

Enjoy your Friday! Halleluyer it is the weekend!

cinco de mayo



We had our Mexican meal 2 nights ago, or else I'd definitely be noshing on something Mexican themed for dinner. I made something on the lines of an open faced quesadilla bake?

I really don't know what to call it, but it was good.
Cooked 2 chopped up chicken breasts with rosemary/garlic, and 2 tsp EVOO
Heated up some black beans on the stove while the chicken was cooking
Once everything was heated/cooked, I layered all my ingredients in a pan like this:
2 whole wheat soft taco shells on the bottom (side by side)
Layer of salsa
Layer of chicken
Layer of 2 more shells, side by side
Layer of black beans
Shredded cheese sprinkled on top
Baked it for 5 minutes at 400*, then another 5 minutes at 350*

I consider it a good meal when:
1. Matteo goes back for seconds
2. Matteo asks "is there enough left for lunch?" as opposed to "you'll eat this for lunch tomorrow, right?" (the second question pretty much implies, "it's on you babe to finish this hot mess or toss it")
3. Matteo says "this has good flavor" (he says that I'm hard-to-please, but he's just as hard-to-please when it comes to food)
4. Matteo doesn't eat a bowl of cereal right after dinner or at any other point that evening

So, if you're going Mexican tonight in honor of the festivities, here are some helpful tips:
**Guacamole ~ even though avocados are a great source of good fat, they still have to be consumed in moderation. Don't eat all the guac! (preaching to myself here)
**Chips ~ if you can't skip them, be modest & pick a number in your head of how many you'll eat. Stick to that number (like 12, 14...not 50)
**Watch out for the taquitos / flautas / chimichangas, since they tend to be deep fried
**If you're a sucker for sour cream (like me), try using Greek yogurt instead
**Try sticking to black beans as a side item & skip the rice, especially if you're craving chips

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I opted to take a rest day yesterday rather than do any circuit trainings. So instead, Matteo & I went up to Dick's Sporting Goods, Ross, & TJ Maxx.

I don't know what it is, but the fishing section of Dick's Sporting Goods, really makes me want to take a nap.

Anyone else?

Matteo picked out more fishing lures...(as if he needs more)
those are all unopened packs on the wall...
and he says I'm a collector...
psh!

I love that he's so passionate about fishing :) makes me feel better about myself with my crafting supplies.

Once he decided he had found the best deals - we headed over to TJ, to get our Maxxinista on. I found kettle balls for $5.99 & $9.99! Ross was kind of a bust...it wasn't the right day to find any treasures, for me at least. Matteo always finds great deals there & walked away with some goods.

Find any great deals lately on fitness equipment, clothes, etc?

Today is my tempo run...followed by a kettle ball circuit (maybe). I really want to try them out today, but who knows how I'll feel after the run.

let's get honest...

Have you ever tried a fad diet?

I keep reading all this hype about how Kate Middleton & her mom, may or may not be on this Dukan Diet. 


And it just got me thinking about how insane some of these fad diets are that people try.

Speaking from experience, I've tried Atkins & I attempted the Lemonade Diet. This was all prior to my education on health & fitness.

Looking back, it's kind of sad because I was only 15 when I tried Atkins for the first time. I didn't last long by any means. But, to be so young & wanting to diet?

I attempted Atkins again my freshman year of college ~ it was HORRIBLE. I hated it. I hated the feeling that overcame my body by avoiding carbs, I never had energy, and I always had a headache.


I even tried diet pills. One in particular left me insanely shaky - it was actually pretty scary.

The Lemonade Diet was the devil. I couldn't stomach the mixture.

this picture just made me laugh - it's all the ingredients for the cleanse, plus a pack of diapers

What in the world was I thinking???

*This is a total soapbox moment*, but honestly, say someone does drop 10 pounds from one of these "fad diets"...there's a few things to consider & use to judge whether it was a "healthy" weight loss:

1. How quickly did the weight come off? Was it a week, 2 weeks, a month?
Set aside Biggest Loser & how quickly they lose weight...and how MUCH they lose in a week's time. (They are working out 8+hours / day, plus they eat no junk food, & their menus are tailored to their specific needs).
It's normally considered the healthy average to lose no more than 2 pounds a week - for the average person. So if someone on the Atkins diet has lost 10 pounds in 1 week...um, no good.

2. Was the person exercising?
Ever heard of "skinny fat"? If you drop weight, and don't incorporate any exercise, it's called "skinny fat".  

3. What was the person eating?
Nothing against Weight Watchers, but if a person on Weight Watchers was just getting their points per day from the WW snack items that come with point value on the label (like brownies or cookies) or even the "100 calorie" packs of oreos, crackers, etc.; where is the nutritional value in that?

There are other markers to look for, but chances are good, this person is going to gain their weight back once the diet ends, plus some. I've seen it first hand.

It really is all about a lifestyle change.

Eating the proper nutrients, weeding out the junk, and incorporating cardio as well as strength training.

And it's definitely not about depravity.

Our society is so much into instant gratification, that people are willing to put their bodies through these insane diets, rather than just getting off their butts & exercising, or changing up their eating habits & giving up McDonalds for dinner.  

I am just as guilty as the next when it comes to wanting results now - I get utterly annoyed when I send an email to a coworker & don't get a response in the next 2 minutes.  

Regardless, let's put a little effort in, & really do things the healthy way; so that these changes last a lifetime, & not just a week or a month.

Thoughts???