Month: October 2014

911 Emergency Snacks

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Before I made an active decision to be fit for life, being out and about, busy, short on time, out with the kids, or at home with the kids would be an excuse to make poor decisions that would take me off plan. Going off plan didn’t usually mean for that one unhealthy decision though, it would mean being off plan for the rest of that day, weekend or week. Staying fit in my kitchen and out of it meant that I needed to “think fit” for every meal, snack and situation. This meant being prepared with emergency snacks that would not only be there for me when I needed them but also satisfied whatever temptation I may face ahead of me during the emergency.  The requirements of these ESs would be to be yummy enough that I would actually want to eat it over, say, a bag of chips at the soccer field, but not so good that I am able to keep it around and not be so excited about it that I binge …

Protein is the Fit Mamma’s Best Friend

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In all the years I spent dieting on weight watchers and counting points and calories, there was a little gem of knowledge I was missing from the calculation. Protein fills you up. Aside from the other benefits of lean protein (building muscle etc) the appetite suppression is a huge deal if you’re trying to lose weight.  Think about days when you feel like you’ve been eating all day but never quite satisfied. Those days for me used to happen when my protein was lacking. I might have a giant bowl of steel cut oatmeal but if it was made with almond milk (lower in calories but also lower in protein) how was I possibly starving by 10am? Protein. Or those days when I’d have three 100-calorie packs in the afternoon and still be hungry. That’s right, no protein. When I met with my nutritionist I couldn’t believe she was telling me to eat MORE and eat things that I like: eggs, nuts, cheese, yogurt, hummus!  She mentioned that a meal (or snack) without protein was …

Strong Mind; Strong Body

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I first started doing Les Mills Body  Pump classes at my gym because the timing of the class worked well for me and because it wasn’t cardio-focused I knew I wouldn’t have to jump around a lot. I was just beginning my fitness journey at the time with the goal of finding workouts I didn’t dread doing. I would dread cardio. Pumping some weights – no dread, plus I got a night off from the kids’ bedtime duty. At the time, I didn’t know the benefits of strength training, but hey, it was a workout and any workout at that point was better than no workout. If you’re not familiar with Body Pump, it’s pretty hardcore. You use barbells (like the long metal stick with round metal plates that you attach to the end). The workout follows the same basic format each class: warmup, squats, chest, back, triceps, lunges, shoulders, abs, and cool down.  Every so often Les Mills comes out with a new release which sets the entire workout to different music (meaning different …

21 Days of Planks and Thanks: November 2014 Challenge Group

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Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow. I’ve decided I’m not waiting for a new year to make my healthy lifestyle resolutions, I’m starting NOW.  Join me November 3rd – 24th to get fit to feast!  In this (free & private) Facebook challenge group, you will check in daily to receive accountability, support, nutrition tips, recipes, and fitness challenges.  The currently running October group is seeing fabulous results — inches and pounds lost with energy and wellness gained. Message me or comment below for more info if you’re interested in joining us and reaching your goals.