Fitness Friday

Hmmm, today's topic (well yesterday, sorry I'm late with this), is how to stay cool in your kitchen. Yikes! Julie Mom is hosting this week as well, so make sure to go by her blog to get more ideas! Not use the oven, which is a very good idea in those hot months. Especially when we try to use the air conditioning as much as possible to save. Sitting here racking my brain, as the thought of salads all the time isn't an option. Hee hee, J/K.
Granted no one wants to eat salads and sandwiches all the time. So I do have all kinds of ideas, but am trying to think of the best recipe.
First I'll throw out some ideas though.
1. Grill instead of cooking indoors. Grilling is much healthier when cooking meats anyhow, as the fat runs off of the meat. Of course, use low fat meets, such as skinless chicken. Speaking of chicken, did you know if you boil the chicken for about 5 minutes before grilling it boils off most the fat and saves on those darned pesky grease fires on the grill.
2. If you have a rice cooker, use it. There are so many things you can do with rice. Add chopped meats, black beans, kidney beans, or pinto beans, top with some salsa. Sounds yuck, but it's actually very tasty.
3. Get yourself, if you do not already own them, a grilling cookbook, an American Heart Low Fat, Low Calorie Cook Book, or any Low fat cook books. The American Heart Associations Cook book that I recently purchased is awesome.
4. On those cooler days, make up some meals ahead of time that consists of having to use the oven and freeze them (if you have freezer space of course). Purchasing a small freezer is well worth it to be able to freeze things ahead of time. I like to make up zucchini and banana bread ahead of time and freeze. Speaking of, did you know that using brown sugar instead of regular and using applesauce in place of oil, or doing half and half saves on a lot of unwanted fat and calories. And of course using wheat flour instead of white.
Okay, here's my favorite thing to do to keep from using the oven or cooking for that manner, well most the time. ;) And yes, it's salads, but with many variations.

Garden Salad with so many variations

Romaine Lettuce, broken up Green lettuce, broken up

Red Lettuce, broken up Baby Spinach

Spring Mix

Just toss all those together and use any of the following options. I like to vary them to keep it a fresh idea to keep from getting burned out on them.

chopped tomatoes or tomato wedges

chopped red onion

hard boiled eggs sliced or smashed

chopped celery

chopped green, red, or yellow peppers

shredded carrot

shredded red cabbage

peas

sliced mushrooms

black olives

shredded Monterrey jack cheese

sprouts

chopped or sliced cucumbers

chopped or sliced zucchini

chopped broccoli

chopped cauliflower

kidney beans

Now for more variations, I will top with chopped low fat ham, turkey, chicken, or beef strips. Also the chicken or beef strips that come packaged to use for fajitas, I heat up in the microwave or toss them in a pan and place on the salads. The lettuce's tomatoes, black olives and cheese can be used with taco meat to make a taco salad.

Then I add a fruit salad with it.

Watermelon cubed

Cantaloupe cubed

Honey Dew cubed

green grapes

red seedless grapes

strawberries

Mix them all together and serve.

A favorite dip we use on occasion consists of Whipped cream cheese light, strawberry or raspberry (you can use any flavor) low fat yogurt, and a container of cool whip free. Just mix them all together and it comes out yummy!
Now of course there are many other types of fruits that can be added to make it different. This is the fams favorite. I like to be creative and cut the watermelon into a basket.
Oh one more, take a half of a cantaloupe or honey dew. After getting its contents out, turn upside down. Use skewers and put cubes of fruit and cubes of cheese alternated on the sticks with a strawberry to top it and stick into the melon. Makes a cute decor and looks inviting.

With all the ideas above, you are getting all you need nutritionally minus your whole grains. But those can be reached through snacks and breakfast. Keeping cool, I'll take the easy and healthy way out any day!

Fitness Friday

Go here to learn more and link to other stories about this weeks segment. This Friday we are to post pictures of ourselves or from the web of ways we use to make ourselves look slimmer. Hmmm, I don't want to post ones of myself :0) so, I went searching on the web. I'm not having any luck. wah. But...I have found a site that is very beneficial to this episode to start with. Titled, how to look slim. They have some great tips. The first one was love color and talked about how black isn't the only way to slim. Yeah!!! Hubby is tired of me wearing black. :) You can go here and here.

I've found pants with a wide waist band that are form fitting a little long and flared are the best. They accentuate your lower torso without giving you that big look. Those with control tummy panels really work well too. Also, stretchy material is a major help.

Tank tops that are longer help hide the bulge(s). Those that have the layered look can distract from the center as well.

I've found that dresses can look okay as long as you have one that is flairy on the bottom half with a wrap around type upper half. I was really surprised with this one. A print and darker color makes a difference to. Also one with a jacket really helps. However, I don't like to wear skirts unless they are the a-frame and flared and not long. Those long dresses and skirts causes one to look bigger.

Capri's are great if you have them loose fitting, but not baggy. Any type of baggy bottoms makes one look even bigger. They have to be calf length for me. I've found if you get the ones with the wider waist band, they have a more slimming effect.

Blouses/tops that flair, and have a bodice binding of some sort is better than those that have the binding around the waist, as the binding around the waist makes the top flair more giving you that pregnant look accenting your midsection. Having it in the bodice area distracts from the midsection.

Shirts or even pants that have stripes need to be running down. Those with the strips going around you makes you look bigger. Striping running vertical makes a big difference and can be very slimming.

I like blazers for those moments when you are feeling a little self conscious and want to use something to hide those bulges and look nice.

Jackets are also a nice cover when you need one and can really accessorize and look attractive.

Blouses that are longer, loose, and have something at the top to draw attention from the midsection is nice. Often times too with sleeves that have something going on makes a difference.

As to how I am doing, well I'm finally losing weight after the wake up call I received. I found that I have neuropathy, which is why my feet are numb and are actually in worse shape than thought. So I have some interesting information to pass on. Belly fat is the cause of this to happen. It can cause other health issues as well. You see, as we start to age, our bodies prepare us for the end, so we start decomposing inside. The toxins are taken to the belly. If there is too much (which happens with the larger your belly gets), then toxins are dispersed to the base of your body (feet) and makes its way up if not cared for.

When not properly taken care of my dear friends, we are taking years off of our life. If I were to continue going like I am with the neuropathy set in already and spreading fast, I could die in another 10 years! Yes, you read right.

I went on line and looked up belly fat and found a couple of articles from places I trust and want to share them with you. These too are eye openers. Oh, and it turns out that they are sure I either already have type 2 diabetes or the onset of, as this is very common with all that is going on. Did you know you can actually have it for years and never know. Also, feet can start to numb before you even realize it. I thought it was just in my toes and had worked it's way to the middle of my foot. Yeah right, nope, wrong. It's into my ankles and starting up one of my legs. So here are the sites. Good reason to work at eating right and losing weight huh?

You can go here and here.

All photo's came from here Woman Within Plus Size Clothing

This wasn't meant to be a downer, just an informative post that hopefully will help others that could be at risk so that you don't have to go through what I am. Believe me, the whole feet thing has not been fun. Have a great week all, until next week!

Fitness Friday

Our assignment for today is to list what we do when we can not get to the gym or use our equipment at home, and to list our goals for next week only, not our long term goals. So here goes.

For now I am not allowed to use exercise equipment until I have the MRI and get the results back. Thankfully I find ways anyhow. ;) I've learned that if you move around the house quickly, often doing housework, you can work up a sweat and get that heart rate up some. Nothing like exercising of course. We do have stairs that I'm to avoid as much as possible but try to go up and down those at least once quickly. It's been working. I feel where there is a will, there is a way. We can always find some little thing to do that is beneficial.

This week went great until yesterday. :{ Darn it. My son just had to bring home a "big" bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. They are one of my weeknesses. Of course it's my own fault, as I joked around when they went to the store to pick some up. (blushing). So I told him that it's my mother's day gift so I can put 6 more inches around my waist. Of course hubby grimaced at this. I was joking of course. I just need to be strong.

Okay assignment 2. My goal for next week is to keep a positive attitude. Find what ever I can to keep myself moving quickly as often as possible. To really watch the food intake especially since I'm limited to activity. The biggest thing is to stay away from "FAST FOOD!" I have a habit of stopping there (too convenient) when out and about and I get hungry. This habit can set one back rather quickly. Bad Bad girl! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to beat this habit?

And last but not least, to keep a positive I can do this attitude. Anyone have any good ideas on how to do this too? J/K I'm trying.

Good luck everyone. I wish everyone continued success, and for those of us that have those week moments we can get back on track and not allow ourselves to get discouraged. I love this as we can support one another.

Fitness Friday

The assignment for today was to post a pic(s) of where you exercise. Well, due to craziness, doctors appts. etc. it never did get done. So next week I hope to add on to this. I had started riding our stationary bike and doing some exercises I had found in a mag. that are good toning exercises, you know the kind, that work on those flabby underarms that looks like you are trying to grow wings to fly (blushing). The ones that work on the roles on your sides that just seem like they are never going to disappear. The ones that work on the thunder thighs. *sigh* But, I have to be careful for now until I have my MRI on the 6th to find out what is going on with my head and neck. And get the blood tests done to find out if I have hardening of the arteries or plack build up that is affecting my circulation.



But I have confidence that all is going to go well and I'll get back to exercising the way I need to real soon. A positive attitude can go a long way!!! First of all I need to lose 90lbs. to be where I would like to be; but 70lbs. will put me where I should be. Yes, that is a lot. It's going to happen though. I'm not about to give up.



So for the mental picture of where I work out: I ride a recumbent bike in our bonus room nesxt to a large window that I am able to look out of at the mountains in the distance, at part of a golf course a short ways away, and of course the neighborhood. Ilove it when I can sit up there and watch the sun come up. I also have a T.V. available if I wish, but have yet to use it. I usually listen to my I-pod listening to upbeat worship music. I then stretch up there and go down stairs to the bedroom where I continue to do stretches and strengthening, using an exercise ball. I will eventually add weights to these exercises/toning/stretching that I do for a short period.

The toning/strengthening that I'm doing involves the stomach, abs, arms (most areas), and the waist/side, with a little bit on the legs. Normally my goal would be to add walking again, but that is not going to happen. I might also add, I do not weigh myself any more. That is a promise I made to the Lord and keep it in my main Bible. Instead, I measure, which I have yet to do. ;) But my clothes are hanging on me, so that's a good sign!!!

I wish you all continued success! Remember, if you fall back, pick yourself up, and keep on going. It's normal to have those moments in our lives. Don't give up. I know you can do it, otherwise we would not be doing this. Focus on keeping a positive attitude and you will be suprised, and I will work hard on doing the same thing. :) Here's to a better new us!!!

Fitness Friday

Join Brenda and the rest of us. Start at Brenda's at The Family Revised

Okay, so I'm going to go out on a limb here and try it again! I decided I needed to do something with my unhealthy self, found out about this program at great granny grandma's and decided to join. We have assignments, and today's is to write about awesomeness. So here goes.

I think it is awesome that there are those out there willing to support one another through our trials of becoming healthy.

I think it's awesome to have so many great friends through the blog-o-sphere.

I think it's awesome to set a goal and be able to accomplish it with someone else.

Now to catch up, I'll do the first assignment as well. Tell you what my 5 goals are.

1. To get my family and grand children on a healthy eating plan.

2. To finally be secure with my looks. (I know we are suppose to love ourselves as we were made by God, but I do believe He would rather have me healthy and a good size).

3. To not worry about the expense of eat healthy and just buy the right foods.

4. To stop making excuses and just do it! (Exercise that is and eat write, I guess that would help, huh?)

5. To be more positive about all this instead of negative which does no one any good. ;) So in other words, have a can do attitude and stick with the plan!!!

So there you have it. Please pray for me! I'm going to need lots of divine intervention, and I don't mean that lightly either.

So how did I get to this point of basic desperation? Well, I've had a wait issue most my life. I'm not blaming anyone but myself, but while growing up, I always heard, eat some more. Go ahead finish it off. You've got room for a little more don't you? And on and on. I learned to love food. Then while in the military, I became too thin. Okay, we know the yo-yo thing is very unhealthy. I was happy, but my body wasn't. Then I became pregnant, which the first pregnancy wasn't too bad, I lost most the weight and got back into my clothes shortly after. But then came the second baby. She was born 15 months after the first. Oh boy, did I gain weight. I had a hard time taking it off. Then I lost and looked great. Then I went back to work, ate like a pig and was the heaviest I'd ever been. Then I went on a diet a while later, and looked great, then put it back on in Europe. Came back, started walking every day, and doing aerobics, looked and felt great, was eating right as well. Then gained it all back and then some. So it's been an on going battle.

I want to start eating right again and stick with it. There isn't a whole lot of exercising that I love to do that I can do. I have back problems that keeps me from aerobics. (crying). I have rheumatoid arthritis that has basically ruined my knees and was told no more walking (sobbing hysterically) I love walking more than anything. Also have FMS (fybromyalgia) which works with the arthritis and makes it unbearable to even move some days. And now, well now I have numbing in half of my feet. Am still working on finding out what that is all about. I also have neck problems that can bring on horrific headaches to the point of not being able to function. The last one had the left side of my face numb and then the left side of my body felt that way. I can't go to the gym as there really isn't a whole lot I can do there, so it's money that really wouldn't be put to very good use. Swimming is my only option, but again, money is an issue.

So here I am. We have a stationery bike which I got back on finally yesterday. Boy did that feel good! Paying the price today, but that's okay. It will take time and will not give up this time. One day at a time. God will take good care of me, as He wants us to take good care of His tents that He has loaned us while here on earth. I say good luck to all the others doing this as well. I'm believing in success!!!