Fit and Firm Friday

Apr

14

Fit & Firm Friday: Recovering & Going Strong

Bloghop / Family / Fit and Firm Friday / Health / Natural / Recommendation / Tips  Posted by / 12 comments

I’m back!

First off, I’d like to apologize for being absent for three #FitNFirm Fridays, life has gotten in the way and I was also busy with giving Whispered Inspirations an overhaul. Within those 3 weeks, I’ve had good weeks and bad but, all in all, I am back to hit it hard! I had something pretty BIG happen to me to kick my arse into gear but, that’s another story for another time!

This week’s tip is to introduce more FISH into your diet! That’s what I’ve been doing all week and it’s light, delicious and healthy for you. It really is brain food! One thing that I tend to stay away from is red meat.

Benefits of Fish:

  • High in Protein.
  • Fewer calories.
  • High in Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
  • Studies show that if you eat fish once a week, you significantly lower your chance for heart disease and stroke.
  • High in calcium and minerals such as phosphorus, iron, selenium, potassium and vitamins including thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin.

Best things to pair fish with is a baked potato or brown rice and salad. You have a balanced meal that is packed with fiber, protein and fatty acids. Potatoes have their own benefits and people often think that if you eat potatoes you can’t lose weight. In my case, I ate a potato almost every day and I lost all my baby weight with my first. As long as it’s a small one and not a ginormous one and if you dress it with the proper garnishes you are good.

I usually top them with fat free sour cream or skip the sour cream and use margarine instead or salsa!

YUM!

Last week with Easter, we indulged–had a nice family dinner and I of course had some of the girls chocolate. But, since then I’ve been going strong and back to discipline. I’ve lost 4.2 pounds this week and all by eating natural and clean. It’s been a pretty good week. I hope you all had an amazing time with your family and Happy Easter from mine to yours!

Thought I’d share a little bit of our Easter weekend!

Don’t Give Up! 

Hope you are all doing great and that your journeys towards living a healthy life are going strong. Even if you have a “bad” week or if the number on that scale goes up. Don’t worry, start anew the next day and you never know, all that extra moving and exercising could be muscle the scale is showing. Instead, focus on how you feel in your clothes and how your general well-being is.

Remember, we are all here for each other!

So, Link UP!



Til then, cheers m’deres!

Mar

16

Fit & Firm: Moderation

Blogging / Bloghop / Connecting / Family / Fit and Firm Friday / Food / Health / Organic / Tips  Posted by / 9 comments

Too much of a good thing?

Well, with March break and having both girls home, it’s been quite exciting!

As much as I’ve wanted to stick to a strict diet, we’ve dined out more than I’d like and mind you–it’s been the better options.

But, still.

Then with Gabriella’s birthday kicking off March Break, that was pure overindulgence for everyone.

Either way, I always go back on the saying that everything is okay in moderation.

I do avoid a lot of foods because of the ingredients but, sometimes it’s very easy to over indulge in good foods too.

This week we took the girls to our local sugar bush and we were able to see the process of making maple sugar, syrup and cream. We also took the girls to watch Disney on Ice and our weekly shopping trips.

These outings, of course, were all day events in which we were out of the house all day long. Which leaves cooking your meals nearly impossible and sticking to a diet a bit harder.

Though, not impossible.

Cooking at home has been pretty good, I do make the occasional favorites but in healthier versions. We’ve also have had pizza delivered but, it’s always whole wheat with chicken, mushrooms and cheese.

Which is always yummy!

So, how do you stick to a diet while not home?

  • Pack portable and wholesome snacks. We pack almonds, pistachios or organic cinnamon sticks for the girls.
  • We also brought along organic Honest Kids juice packs which came in extra handy when the girls were thirsty and the only thing available was soda.
  • Never leave home without a reusable BPA-free bottle with lots of H20!
  • Fruits are always a good snack to pack too. Our favorites: Nectarines, grapes, apples and bananas.
  • If you have to eat out, opt for the better options. We tend to stick to sandwich shops or our favorite–Chipotle’s.
  • Drink lots of water throughout the day to flush everything out.

Now that March Break is almost over, I plan to hit it really hard. Be really strict and a little less lax on my diet. My progress hasn’t come as fast as I thought it would. I know if I don’t really buckle down, it won’t. Because of this, I have maintained my same weight since my last weigh-in.

This goes back to say that being strict is a good thing but, there are those moments in life when it’s okay to indulge and share great times together.

Everything in moderation.

Please link up below and follow along with quite a few fabulous ladies making this journey. Our highs, our lows and everything in between. Follow Sober Julie, Multi-Testing Mommy, Canadian Coupon Mom, Pampered Patty, Kat’s Confessions, Bits and Bites with Tina to name a few!


How was your week, how do you stay healthy when not at home?

Let me know!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

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Mar

02

Fit & Firm: 7 Food Ingredients to Avoid

Fit and Firm Friday / Food / Health / Life Lessons / Natural / Natural Products / Opinions / Organic / Recommendation / Weight Loss  Posted by / 9 comments

Knowledge is Power.

As many as you know, I have embarked on a journey to getting healthy and in the process, re-establish my clean eating habits.

I realize what eating Frankenfoods has done to me in a matter of 5 months, the holidays, the parties and dinners, conferences and just girls days out.

They’ve caused me to gain a lot of weight, bloat, feel sluggish and just a general feeling of unwellness.

I’ve been too lax with myself and I know that there are other so many others out there that are stricter.

I’m a baker, what can I say.

Weakness.

One thing though, I am informed and I research because of my children and I am absolutely adamant about their diets. I want to teach them values from a young age, maybe a lot of things my parents didn’t know when I was a kid. And the best way is by example like I’ve been doing for all these years.

Since I’ve started to firmly re-establish clean eating, I’ve had bursts of energy. I feel so much better and I’m slowly and surely getting back to normal.

Which leads me to the topic that I want to discuss with you guys.

Do You Know What Is In Your Food?

Do you ever stop and read the label?

I am a huge advocate for this and I recommend everyone do it, even if your goal isn’t to lose weight but–for peace of mind and to avoid a lot of potentially dangerous ingredients we consume unknowingly.

Even when I may not be making the healthiest choice for myself, I still avoid these ingredients like the plague. Just like I won’t eat anythng canned!

Things to Avoid:

  • High Fructose Corn Syrup (HCFS)
  • Palm Kernel or Soybean Oil (Vegetable Shortening, Hydrogenated, Partially Hydrogenated, Trans Fats)
  • Artificial Colors and Flavors
  • Benzoate Preservatives (BHA, BHT, TBHQ)
  • MSG (Monosodium Glusomate)
  • Sodium Nitrate (Common in lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon.)
  • Bromide

Why?

High Fructose Corn Syrup promotes heart disease, obesity, increases risk for Type-2 Diabetes and isn’t metabolized by the liver.

Palm Kernel Oil, on top of not being produced sustainably, is one of the largest contributors to deforestation in Indonesia. It is high in trans fats and along with Soybean Oil and others, is an an industrially made oil that will in turn lower your good cholesterol and heighten your bad cholesterol. Thus putting you in risk for heart disease.

MSG can cause headaches, edema, increased appetite, nausea and at times difficulty breathing.

Benzoate Preservatives is a compound that preserves fats from going bad and this can cause asthma, tumors, hyper activity and much more.

Artificial colorings and artificial flavors have been linked to a lot of skin conditions and allergic reactions. They can also cause asthma and affect your thyroid.

When Sodium Nitrates are added to meat, they become nitrosamines–a carcinogenic and increase the risk of cancers. Also found as Soda Niter and Chile Saltpeter. You can find this in hot dogs, lunch meats etc.

Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone also known as rBGH. They use this to increase milk production in cows.  Made by Monsanto, if you know them. It contains high amounts of insulin-like growth hormones that many believe is the cause of breast, colon and prostate cancers. The hormones have also been linked to early puberty in girls.

Potassium Bromide increases the volume in breads, its caused cancer in animals and so far is banned in Canada and Europe. It is an endocrine disruptor, you can find it as enriched flour and bromic acid.

We Do Have Control.

If we show the big shots in charge of producing and distributing our food that we care about what we are ingesting and show them through the power of purchase, there can be change.

Buy local, buy organic.

I am not a medical expert and my purpose is not to give medical advice. If you have any questions, please ask your physician. I’m sure I’ve only just barely touched upon the negative things in our food but, if you are going to make a change to your diet, please consult a doctor.

So, do you already check or will you start to check your labels?

Let me know!

Til then cheers m’deres and link up to Fit and Firm Friday along with Positively Pampered Patty, Kat’s Confessions, Multi-Testing Mommy, Canadian Coupon Mom and so many other lovely ladies! Visit Sober Julie on Mondays and so many others making this journey!



I’ve had a deliciously amazing clean week, hope you all did too!

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Feb

24

Fit & Firm: Focused.

Blogging / Bloghop / Excitement / Family / Fit and Firm Friday / Happiness / Health  Posted by / 25 comments

Hello m’deres!

I’ve had an absolutely fabulous week! I ate clean, I got moving and I enjoyed it. My Hubby is on board and always so absolutely supportive. He’s the bomb diggity for that and yes, I just said bomb diggity.

Well, this week, my diet consisted of a lot of fish, fresh fruit, veggies and lots of water. I’m happy to say that I am well on my way to establishing my clean diet again.

I feel better.

We are back to eating an almost entirely natural and organic diet and it feels great. Considering all the junk and Frankenfoods we’ve guiltily consumed, it was high time. It’s a great feeling to get back to a routine and have the whole family on board and enjoying it too.

I went out and bought Just Dance 3 for my Wii and I’ve been playing and having fun with Gabs and Hubs. It’s been so much fun and a great way to get moving. And nope, I’m not an endorser for Nintendo, though it’s be nice if they sent some stuff over.

HA!

Anyway, on Just Dance 3, there’s a familiar song that a lot of you MUST know, “No Limit” by 2 Unlimited and Hubs and I rock it out.

There’s no limit!

I’m especially happy that this is the first time in almost 8 months that I have actually felt sweat drip and my heart race and it’s glorious.

I know that’s weird and icky but, for someone who hasn’t been able to do this it’s an amazing feeling.

Well, I hope that you’ve all had a great week too. If you didn’t, this is another week to get started.

Join us in our journeys, Sober Julie on Mondays and Pampered Patty, Kat’s Confessions, Multi-Tasking Mommy and Canadian Coupon Mom to name but a few of the lovely ladies participating!

Link up and get started!



Can’t wait to hear how your week went!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

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Feb

17

Fit & Firm Friday: Keep, Keeping On.

Blogging / Bloghop / Fit and Firm Friday / Strength and Determination  Posted by / 19 comments

Happy Fit and Firm Friday!

Well, another week has gone by and this marks our 5th week! Which is exciting and I hope you are all getting into the groove of things. If not, it’s never too late to pick up the pieces and get going all over again.

I’ve had slow moving progress due to many reasons but, I am down 5 pounds so far. But, I went to see my specialist and he is sending me off for a CT scan and once they confirm that there are no clots, I can be off of these meds.

I got some disheartening news as well but, that’s for another time. Regardless, I do feel more comfortable now to get moving and I’m looking to get started by doing some yoga at home and getting the “Just Dance” game to shake my bon bon.

LOL.

This Week’s Goals:

  • Get moving.
  • Drink more water.
  • Stay strong on maintaining a healthy diet.
  • Eat more veggies.

I hope you all had a fabulous week and make sure you join Sober Julie on Mondays and follow Canadian Coupon Mom and Multi-Testing Mommy (to name a few) while they make their journey to a healthier life.

You can join us too!

If you are looking to lose weight, gain weight or just get healthy!



Cheers m’deres!

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