The holidays

Here we are in the heart of the holiday season. I've blogged about it several times before. Stay on target! Parties, office gatherings, social functions can all put a monkey wrench in your healthy eating plan. You need to do just that. Plan! If you are going to dinner go on line and check out the menu prior to going and don't even touch the menu when you are there. More than likely you'll be hungry and might not make the most sensible choices. If it's a potluck bring a salad with lots of leafy greens and fresh veggies like sliced carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes. And for an extra kick with practically no calories add some onions and fresh cilantro leaves...yummy! Now let's talk about dessert. I just want to say this...often we see the little bite sized desserts at a party and before you know it you've tossed three or four in your mouth without even realizing it! Take one and move on! Period! And don't get distracted by having a conversation near the buffet table. Often we grab at food just because someone else is or they'll say "This is delicious, you should try it." Ummmm No! Same thing goes for cocktails my all time weakness. Egg nog is creamy and rich but loaded I mean loaded like a loaded baked potato with fat and calories. Opt for a single glass of wine or your favorite liquor mixed with club soda and a twist of lime. Light refreshing and filling! Cheers! Happy Holidays!!

Updating my blog

Hello Everyone, I'm going to do a little updating a refreshing to the blog any suggestions are more than welcome! Also I have to see why your comments aren't showing up on the blog. I just logged into my email account associated with this blog and saw all of your wonderful comments...so they are coming in via email instead of the blog. Hmmmm I'm so low tech. Lemme get started! Happy fitness!

Mood Booster

I don't know about you but I know specific things that affect my mood: cloudy days, eating bad food, and not exercising. These are just all energy sucking. The cloudy or rainy days seem to drain me. I hate the cold too but atleast if it's sunny I'm happy. If I eat something bad I instantly feel bloated and sick and ask myself why I bothered. The exercising part is one thing for sure I've noticed that makes the biggest difference I thik I can go two days max without working out. Anything beyond that I'm a cranky witch. It's just impossible to feel bad when those endorphins kick in. Not to mention the energy that comes along with it. As I sit here and feverishly type I'm thinking to myself all I want to do when I get to the gym tonight and think it can't get here fast enough. It truly is an addiction and one that I'm thrilled to have. I never thought ever in my life I would be anxious to get to the gym! Who's gonna join me?

Humbled

I am beyond excited!!! Today I found out that I will be one of the lucky few women to appear in the 2014 Ripped Goddess Aspire to Inspire Calendar!! Ripped Goddess is a page on Face Book dedicated to women who who are passionate about health and fitness! What I love so much about it is that it's real women from so many walks of life who have dedicated themselves to health, fitness and exercise. The stories are remarkable and I'm truly humbled to be a part of them. It's real and it shows that a healthy lifestyle doesn't happen over night, it takes hard work and dedication! It takes struggles and motivation and support by others. I've always said we are our own worse critics and it's true but when you see others that have had the same struggles and better yet the same results there is a kind of kindship that fuels your fire to continue. I have found this will always be a journey because health and wellness isn't a destination it's a state of being and there is always room to feel better, do better and look better. Congratulations to all those who entered, they were brave enough to put their stories out for the world to see!

Back In Action

I can't believe I've only made one post in the entire year of 2013! That should tell you how focused I've been. Since my last post I have lost my Mother and a number of other things have been well let's just say I've had several distractions. Through it all I've remained dedicated to my physical activity actual probably working out more than I ever have but I haven't been eating well and I've been drinking like a fish! Nonetheless your girl is back on it. The good thing is if you fall down you can always get right back up! I've been preaching it through every post. Anything that is within control you can change! It's time for some changes! Make your plan now! Stay tuned more frequent posts to come! Go get the happy healthy you! After all you only get one body cherish it and it will cherish you!

Challenge Accepted

I'm beyond excited, nervous, anxious and everything in between. I have joined my Gyms fitness challenge and enlisted my dear cousin to join me which she did without hesitation! I've been slipping so band the last few month with various stresses in my life and I'm not having it at all! Time to get this train back on track. I've been going to my same Gold's gym faithfully several times a week since 2007 and every year they have a transformation challenge and every year I notice it but that's about it. It stopped me in my tracks this year. Just what I needed to get focused again. It was right on time and like a beacon of light at the end of the darkest tunnel ever! Yeah I work out like crazy but my alcohol intake is through the roof which has been accompanied with bar food and junk that doesn't fuel the body the way that I need it to. So almost 7 years after my goal weight loss the pounds are slowing creepy back on. For all these years I allowed myself to be up or down 5 pounds from my goal weight which I managed to keep up until about this past year. Although I've gained no where near back what I lost anything over that 5 pounds above my goal weight is unacceptable and it's gotta go! So I'm pulling out all the stops. Two different boot camps a week, A personal trainer 3 days a week, Various drop in gym times and of course my periodic 5K's, 8K's or 5milers! I feel blessed to have so many people rallying behind me. Anyone who knows me when I say I'm going to do something...it's done! Stay tuned.

Holiday time!

Okay I know don't panic! If you are anything like me you have tons of holiday parties to attend and that means booze and food and both can blow your healthy lifestyle right out of the water. I've got three words for you! PLAN, PLAN, PLAN! It's the only way to keep you sane and from overindulging in all the goodies! I recently stopped drinking completely for 21 whole days! I was so proud of myself and it showed on the scale. Alcohol can have a low calorie count by itself but when you start mixing with sugary mixes and sodas watch out! I've never been one for fruity drinks but if you are mix with diet colas or natural lime juice. Also go for wine it packs a punch and so much better for you than say a beer or God forbid calorie ladened egg nog! What I have to watch out for is the munchies when I drink so get rid of the tortilla chips and other not so good for you choices. Try hard cheese and reduced fat crackers, almonds or edamame or some veggies. Raw asparagus and slices of yellow or red peppers are my favorites. Plan ahead before a holiday party by drinking plenty of water and maybe eating an apple on the way! Never go hungry or you are defeated before you even start. Grab the dessert size plates instead of the dinner plates and fill up on veggies and lean proteins. Stay away from the desserts and starchy rich foods. Focus on the conversation or atmosphere instead of the buffet and I guarantee you that you wont't miss out on a thing! Cheers!