Thanks for all the wonderful birthday wishes!

I had such a great birthday weekend back home in California. I’m usually running around all over the place trying to see everyone when I go home, but this trip I decided to dedicate to my family. And what a great decision it ended up being!!! My husband and brother were both gone at a 4-day conference so it was so nice to have my parents all to myself.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend… my camera battery died so I didn’t get many pictures.

My friend made me a beautiful dolphin birthday cake!

Birthday-night out with the rents

Birthday Dinner at Woodward Ranch BBQ

My husband definitely knows me! For my birthday he got me The Wave by The FIRM. I had never seen or heard about The Wave workout, so I was very interested to see how it worked. I love all of The Firm workout DVDs so I had high hopes for this one. It came with a board, 3 DVDs, and a success guide with nutrition tips.

The workout kind of feels like step aerobics with a twist. The arched board can be used as astep or can be flipped over as a rocker. And let me tell you, the rocker works the whole body trying to balance on it.

I love this workout! I would say that I am more of a cardio girl … I hate lifting weights. This workout involves lifting weights, but it didn’t really phase me because I was moving so much while lifting. The time definitely goes by way too fast and my whole body feels it by the end of the workout. The only down fall- I’m so clumsy that one day I know that I am going to trip or fall off the board. When that day comes I will be sure to let you know.

To see the WAVE in Action, check out this short video clip-

Have you seen or tried The Wave workout?

What are some of your favorite workout DVDs?

Don’t forget to head over HERE for a chance to win the Turbo Jam Workout DVDs! Turbo Jam workouts are just as fun as The Wave!

Oh water… can’t live with it, can’t live without.

If any of you are like me, you choose flavored beverages over water anytime of the day. I must admit, Diet coke is my guilty pleasure and it gets in the way of my 8 cups of water a day, leaving me dehydrated and feeling sluggish. I know, I know… Diet Coke is horrible to drink and I shouldn’t be drinking it. I am working on it people… ok, maybe not as much as I should. I guess this post is more for me than it is for you guys!

Water works in so many different ways throughout our body. Just look at how water affects out body

There are so many benefits to drinking water besides the obvious of staying hydrated! Drinking at least 8 cups of water a day aids in weight loss, moisturizes skin to make it look younger, relieves headaches, fuels to brain to function better, aids in energy to exercise longer, prevents cramping and sprains, and helps fight against the flu.

So with this in mind, how can we get more water in throughout the day?

Here are 7 great tips to get in more water:

1.)  Buy a fun water bottle and NEVER let it leave your side

1. Rule: Only fill up with water

2.)   Drink one glass of water prior to every meal

3.)  Spice up your water with a slice of lemon or lime.

1. My friend taught me to slice up cucumbers and throw them into a pitcher full of water the night before. The water soaks up the flavor of the cucumbers to give a nice taste. You can do this is all sorts of fruits!

4.)  Straws… They work wonders

1. Who would have known that straws help in drinking water? I find myself drinking so much more when I drink from a straw.

5.)  Drink and Drive… water that is

1. Ok, this is the only time on my blog that I will ever encourage you to drink and drive. Keep your car cup holder full with your fun water bottle and make it a priority to drink your water while on the road.

6.)  Add your vitamins

1. Kill two birds with one stone by getting in your vitamins and water at the same time.  There are several different vitamin supplements made to be mixed with water

7.)  Filter your water

1. I don’t know where you live, but Arizona has the worst tasting water in the world. Brita Filters have saved my life ever since I moved out here. They aren’t too expensive either. Speaking of filtered water… Starbucks has the best water ever! From what I hear it’s triple filtered

Find what works for you. Hopefully some of these tips will help you cross the finish line of 8 cups by the end of the day.

Cheers and drink up!

Question: How do you fit in your 8 cups of water a day?

Weight can easily become an obsession.

Living a healthy life and losing weight is something that takes time and energy as you count calories, plan out healthy meals, and exercise daily . . . and that is ok. But what most people don’t realize is that losing weight to live a healthy life can soon be tossed out the window and the numbers on the scale can start to define you.

It amazes me how a scale can dictate the mood someone is in or consume the mind day in and day out. The scale starts to define one for who you are… one day they are thin and beautiful because they lose a few pounds. The next day you are fat and ugly because you went up 1 pound.

A piece of metal has so much power and control in one’s life… Don’t let the scale define you!

I challenge you to copy this picture for one week and seek out what defines your life. Living a health life is so much more than numbers… it’s about feeling great, living longer, being able to run around with your children or grandchildren, or gaining confidence in your self.

What defines you?

I thought this was an interesting clip from NBC on Diet myths, which is the series that I had started a while a go.

Hope you enjoy!

Question: What Diet Myth do you struggle letting go?

Diet rules and tips are everywhere you turn. Checking out at the grocery store, television commercials, and billiards all think they have the best diet rule to lose the most inches in the shortest amount of time. There is the no-carb diet, the fat-free diet, the liquid diet and more, yet americans are continuing to expand their waste lines. It’s very important for us to take each diet tip or diet rule as a grain of salt and really explore these tips before jumping head first into them.

These next few posts are going to be aimed at diet rules that should be broken.

Diet Rule #1: Don’t ever eat after 7pm

7pm is the magical number. Stop eating after 7pm and you will melt away the fat in no time

. . . FALSE!

Late night eating is a problem that most people face. In fact, a lot of people will double their daily caloric intake during the evening. So, eating late at night is something to be cautious. But 7pm is not a magical number. Research says that one should avoid eating 2-3 hours before bed time. 7pm is the magical number because the typical bedtime is around 10pm. But why? Well research has not proven that avoiding late night snacks will prevent weight gain. This 2-3 hour rule is strictly for personal comfort. Going to bed on a full stomach can cause indigestion, gas, and an upset stomach.

So, can you eat after 7pm? Sure. . . if you have self control.

Most temptations succeed in the evenings when one is exhausted or no one is looking. To prevent a binge fest, create a short list of health snacks to have late at night. Some healthy late night snacks might include air popped popcorn, carrots and celery, a piece of fruit, 60-calorie pudding cup with cool whip, yogurt, or a 1/2 cup of ice cream. Being prepared ahead of time will prevent overeating late at night.

Question: What is your favorite late night snack?

Currently mine is Special K crackers… I’m addicted

A long, hard, strenuous, workout deserves a snack, but did you know that the food you choose is just as important as the actual workout itself?

For many people, exercise has become an excuse to eat whatever you want. Not just right after the workout, but throughout the entire day. This can be especially harmful since the metabolism is jump started after a workout, increasing one’s appetite throughout the day. With this mentality and an increased appetite, it can lead to over eating and reaching for the wrong type of food.

On the other hand, one might think that not eating at all after a workout will aid in weight loss, when in actuality, a small 200 calorie snack can prevent you from pigging out down the road with a 800 calorie snack. Having a post workout snack also helps in keeping your metabolism rev’ed up. One should grab a snack 30 minutes to 2 hours after a workout.

So, what should you eat when you get home from the gym?

To contrary believe, carbohydrates are essential to a post-workout snack and should make up about 60% of it. During a workout, the glycogen storage is depleted and should be replenished and refueled to make it through the day without overeating. A post-workout snack for moderate exercise should include 30-50 grams of carbohydrates.

Second, the snack should include some sort of protein which aids in rebuilding muscle.

Here are 7 great post workout snack that will leave you full and keep you going throughout the day:

* Egg Sandwich: 100 calorie English muffin with egg whites

* Fruit and Yogurt mixed with a small amount of granola

* 1 tbsp peanut butter and 1 banana on a rice cake

* Low fat fruit smoothie and protein powder

* High fiber crackers and low fat cheese

* Low sugar fruit juice and a hand full of Nuts

* Cottage cheese and fruit

Question: What is your favorite Post-Workout Snack?

I love making fruit smoothies after my workout!

Oh the exercise battle. . . doesn’t someone know that I am way to tired in the morning to start a fight? At night I am so motivated and excited to hit the gym in the morning and the second my alarm goes off the exercise excuses start flying.

“I’m way to tired. I better sleep in to make it through the day”

“The gym is too far away and I don’t have enough gas to get there”

“I will just go tomorrow”

“I just don’t have enough time”

I feel like I have a hat load of excuses and each morning I draw one out and use that one for the day.

For some of you it’s the excuse that you will start excising tomorrow, but tomorrow has come and gone and you are still stuck on that couch. But don’t think you are alone is the exercise excuse train… here is a list of American exercise excuses:

40% say that don’t have enough time

20% say they get enough exercise at work or home

15% say their health gets in the way of exercising

12% say it is boring

10% use their age as an excuse

9% don’t see the benefit of exercising

7% pull the tired card

It’s time that we stop losing this battle and start hitting the exercise excuses head on to overcome them and start living a healthy lifestyle. The only way to beat this battle is to reason out your excuses. Here are 6 way to beat your exercise excuses:

“I’ll just start working out tomorrow”

Oh please! We all know that means in a few months. If you say it, mean it. Set a time and day and make sure that your schedule is clear. Tell a friend and make them hold you accountable the next day. . . or even better, meet up your friend for a walk.

“I don’t have time”

… ok, but you have time to watch TV several hours a night and hangout with friends around the lunch table for an hour at work. Prioritizing is key here! Pretty sure TV shouldn’t be on your top 5 priorities of the day

If you want to get get healthy and active, you are going to have to make some changes and give up 30 minutes of your day. Turn off the TV at night and take a walk or pop in a workout video. Have an hour lunch break at work? Cut that break in half and use the last 30 minutes to go on a walk with your co-workers.

“But I don’t have a gym”

The gym isn’t the only place to workout. Go outside and enjoy nature and the beauty that it holds. Here are some fun exercise to do outside. Not to fast, think the weather won’t allow it or it’s too dark? Pop in a workout video and get to work! Here are some of my favorite workout videos less than $20.00

“I hate exercising”

Exercising doesn’t mean spending countless hours on a treadmill or bike. Find something that you enjoy doing that will increase your heart rate. Go for a walk, swim, dancing, join a recreational adult sports team.

“I’m too tired”

Being tired has been linked to a sedentary lifestyle. The best way to beat this cycle is to get up and go workout. I know I always dread putting myself out of bed but at the end of my workout I am full of energy and feel ten times better!

“I don’t get a break from the kids”

Kids exercise too you know. In fact, it’s not only a great way to let them have a good time but it’s a way to wear them out and get them ready to hit the pillow hard tonight. For those of you that have little ones, pull out the stroller and take a walk to a nearby Starbucks or grocery store.

When you find yourself jumping on the exercise excuse bus, just think through all these reasons as to why you should go workout. And remind yourself of all the major benefits of working out… weightloss, lower body fat, decreased risks of illnesses / diseases, reduce depression, and increase energy.

Eating out is a lot of fun, and at times can be unavoidable. While this can be fun, it can also be tough while on a diet. I always say that one should look up the nutritional content on the restaurant they are going to or deciding on what they will be eating ahead of time. But sometimes this is just not possible. Either plans change or the internet is down and you can’t see the nutrition facts.

Have no fear my weight loss buddies. There are other ways to beat all those unnecessary fats and calories loaded on those plates.

Did you know that are thousands of calories behind one word?

Yep, the name or description of a plate can say a lot about the nutrition facts and health level. By discovering and learning menu key words or phrases, you can save yourself from sabotaging your diet as well as the stress of finding something healthy and yet still enjoyable.

*

Here are key words that should be red flagged and avoid.

* Battered

* Breaded

* Buttered

* Cheesy

* Country-Style

* Creamy

* Crispy

* Crunchy

* Crusted

* Fried

* Glazed

* Gooey

* Honey-dipped

* Melted

* Smothered

Oh man, I’m drooling now just thinking about all the foods that contain these words. But ingraining these small words in your head can save you from that next morning hangout of “why did I eat that.”

Instead, look for these keywords on your menu that add flavor and texture without extra calories.

* Roasted

* Baked

* Broiled

* Broth

* Fresh

* Multi-Grain

* Poached

* Rubbed

* Seared

* Grilled

* Scented

* Sauteed

* Spiced

* Seasoned

* Steamed

Figuring out the language of hidden calories is the first step to surviving a meal at sit-down chain restaurants. Stick with this list of healthy words and you will be set in finding a healthy restaurant meal.

Question: What is your favorite restaurant and what healthy plate do you like?

I would have to say mine is Chillies and I love eating their Chicken Fajita Pita… YUM!

Since It’s Wednesday and all, I thought you might enjoy a little laugh to get your though the week. . . only two more days till the weekend.

Question of the Day: How often do you weight yourself?

My brother and I went to the Souplantation for lunch yesterday. Souplantation is a soup and salad bar.

Thinking we would get a low calorie lunch, loaded with veggies and fiber, we were so excited. . . Little did we know that we had fallen into a dietary disaster.

Soup and Salad bars are great alternatives to any restaurant, but if you don’t watch it, your meal could become worse than just ordering hamburger, fries, and a shake at McDonalds.

Now, you are probably thinking, how can you go wrong with a salad? These little suckers are so deceiving! Just because there are veggies on your plate, doesn’t mean it’s healthy when they are swimming in a pool of ranch dressing and loaded with cheese and croutons.

And salad bars usually don’t just come with a salad. At Souplantation you get the bakery, soups, and dessert all added into your meal. Who can resist those cute little muffins screaming, “Pick Me, Pick Me?”

Seconds anyone? Because salad bars are coined healthy, people usually enjoy going back for seconds. I always use the excuse that I need to get my money’s worth. But really, one large full plate is more than enough. Going back for round two can sabotage your diet and lead you into further temptation when you walk by those muffins screaming your name… don’t torture yourself like that!

Healthy and all, these types of places deceive people into think that they are eating healthy, so they go on a free for all. . . eating everything in sight. It’s dangerous people! They really should have a warning sign up or something. I had to rolled out of the restaurant by the time I was done.

Here are some tips that will help you stay within your daily calorie budget when eating at a Salad Bar.

* Go in with a plan! Know what you want to eat and what you want to avoid

* Skip out on the pre-tossed salads! These salads can have hundreds of calories and fat

* Get the dressing on the side and dip your fork into it instead of drowning your poor little veggies

* Skip out on croutons and bacon bits. These bad boys are loaded with fat and unnecessary calories

* Watch out for pasta salads. They usually are not as healthy as you think

* Choose a vegetable soup if soups are available

* Get only one side to your salad

* I would say skip the bakery all together, but who am I kidding… limit yourself to one and skip the butter and honey.

* Opt out of the ice cream and head towards the fruit and jello.

Question: What is your favorite Soup and Salad Bar Restaurant and what do you enjoy to eat there?

I love Souplantation / Sweet Tomato… they are the same company.

The blueberry and bran muffins are my favorite. The best part are the tops!