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!

It’s all in your head.

The whole mentality of getting back into shape or getting fit for life is a day by day battle.

Eating healthy can be delicious but, some days it’s just easier to take the easier route. The healthier route always takes more time, more attention and work.

But, they say nothing good ever comes easy right?

I have to say that I am back on track and so far so good. To be quite frank, I’ve shied away from the scale this past week and I really don’t want to step on it until I feel a little more comfortable. I have my specialists appointment this coming week and I will find out if the clots are gone in my lungs and hopefully they are. Then I will be off this meds and hopefully (God willing) be given the green light to start living a more normal life again.

One thing that I have increased is my veggie intake which is always a struggle for me, I’m a creature of habit and I tend to fall into a pattern in my foods and I’m okay with it.

My tip of the week, add nuts to your diet. The best kind for you are the organic natural almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts or opt for a small handful of pistachios and sunflower seeds. About 1 oz. is a good serving and pair it with fruit and you have a great filling snack. If you can get the salt-free kind–even better.

Always remember to measure.

They pack a powerful punch with so many nutrients, good fats and fiber and keep you full longer.

So, how did you guys do this week?

I hope you all did fabulous, if not pick it back up and start again! If you are new to this hop, remember if it’s for ANYONE and EVERYONE looking to get fit or healthy.

Lose weight or gain.

Join us.

Make sure to visit Sober Julie this Monday for Motivated Mondays!

Now, Link Up!

Well, hello there Fit N’ Firmers!

I hope you all had a great week and from what I read so far, you guys are doing great! Anyway, I’d love to say that I had a marvelous week this week but, I really can’t.

Last week I had a bit of a medical scare and I didn’t eat much of the two days that I was there, waiting. This past week, I haven’t had much of an appetite and to be honest I haven’t watched my calories.

Either I ate too little or maybe over calories for weight loss.

So, this week I have to report that I’ve maintained but, I’m going to make this change this upcoming week. My energy level has kind of dropped again but, I’m going to make it a point to put on the Wii and do a little dance.

MJ style!

Other than that, I went to Whole Foods Market today and I thought I’d try a healthier, natural alternative to pop. Or soda as my American friends call it.

It’s naturally sweetened with Stevia and to be honest, I rather have almond milk which is much more tasty. So, I may have found a “loophole” but, it’s safe to say, definitely not one that I’ll be using.

On another note, my trip there was fruitful and I’m all stocked up and ready for another week.

Well, I’m definitely looking forward to some new recipes from you guys and to see how your week went. Your fitness inspirations are amazing!

Link on UP, if you are new to the hop–feel free to add your link and join us!

The more the merrier!

So, here’s to another week and make sure to join Sober Julie on Monday for Motivated Monday, here.

Hello Fit & Firm Buddies!

So, I had another good week this week and saw another drop of 2 pounds.

I see a bit of a difference and in all honesty, the first thing you lose is water. Regardless, I’m glad that the number is going down!

While stepping on the scale, I noticed that I haven’t been measuring my progress with inch loss. This week, I’m going to take my first measurements and see how many inches I lose.

Measuring inches is so important to me because I am not really watching the number on the scale, more so I want to focus on how my clothes fit and how many inches I lose. I tend to gain muscle very quickly so that can play tricks on me on the scale.

I have a wedding gown to get into, that’s what I remind myself all the time!

Short term goal.

Long term goal is to continue to live a healthier life. 

But, to be quite honest, once you get the icky stuff out of your system, it’s much easier to get back to eating healthy. Cravings subside and you can stick to it. Sure, there are days when I crave something sweet but, there are plenty of healthy ways to satisfy that craving.

I also have to report that I’m slowly navigating my life with less to no Diet Pepsi. Today, I only had one and had water with 2 of my 3 meals and snacks!

*GASP*

This delicious recipe helped this week, I made in about half an hour. My Hanover’s Organic Trail Bars that had just the right amount of sweetness, tons of fiber, anti-oxidants and lots of potassium.

Check it out!

I hope you all have had a great week! If you had a rough week, just keep in mind that tomorrow is a new day and you can start fresh!

Don’t give up!

What better time then to start then now?

Grab Our Button!

Also, make sure to visit Sober Julie on Monday to report or share your progress or motivation for Motivated Mondays!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

So, it’s been a week since our first #FitNFirm post!

I hope you all had a great week! I sure did, I made it through a week of clean eating, lots of water and guess what?

I’ve cut out one less pop everyday. I was drinking about 2 with my main meals and sometimes I’d start my day off with one. I’ve substituted it with water and so far, so good. I thought I’d be moodier with cutting back but, it hasn’t been bad.

You know one of the things about changing your life to a cleaner way of eating is the misconceptions that all healthy food has to taste bad. The reality is, I still enjoy a burger and fries. French toast, grilled cheese and all healthy, low-cal and clean. Also, while watching my carb intake.

Baking. Grilling and making better choices.

You can enjoy good food and still be healthy.

This week, I worked hard, sat less and it paid off.

I’m happy to report that I am down 2.5 pounds!

I hope you guys had a great week!

If you are having a feening for French Fries, I’m going to share a recipe that is fairly easy and healthy too.

Hubby D’s Spicy Wedges:

Things You Will Need:

• 1 medium organic potato
• 1 teaspoon of organic olive oil or butter (I use olive oil always)
• Chili powder
• Pepper
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Parsley
• Chili peppers
• Paprika
• Oregano

Instructions:

• Watch your medium potato thoroughly and leave the peel on. Cut the potato in half, then cut the half into 4 or 5 pieces. You will end up with about 10 to 8 pieces.
• Rinse the wedges and drain throughly, add the teaspoon of organic olive oil and spice to taste.
• Take a pair of tongs and mix and toss the wedges until they are fully covered in the spices.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees and take a non-stick pan and place the wedges on one side and place in the center of the oven.
• Make sure to use tongs to turn the wedges and cook until desired.

I love mine well done and crispy as you can tell and I’ve dubbed them Hubby D’s wedges because he makes them for me pretty often once and they are delicious. Of course you can always make more for the kiddies, they love them as much as I do. Except I skip the spiciness.

Enjoy!

•  Serves 1.
• Calories: Approx. 170
• 1 starch/carb serving.
• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 20-30 minutes

So, if you are feeling a burger and fries. Partner these wedges with a ground chicken burger or some mulitigrain breaded tilapia, like me!

If you are watching your carbs, be sure to eat light, get your protein and veggies in.

Good luck and hope you all have another fabulous week, how did you do?

Let me know!

Also, link up over at Sober Julie’s for Motivated Monday!

Til then, cheers m’deres and be sure to link up BELOW!

Guidelines:

1. Simply link up your posts below.
2. Follow your hosts if you’d like.
3. Have fun. Ask questions or rant if you want to!
4. Support your fellow Fit & Firm buddies by visiting as many of them as you can!
5. Grab our button.
6. Use #FitNFirm for any fitness related tweets/pics/posts that you have to share to inspire your Fit & Firm Buddies!

Grab Our Button!

So, I’m finally doing it.

It’s long over due.

I’m finally quitting drinking Diet pop.

I’ve tried in the past and quit for a little while and then went back but, the only way I can explain it, is that I’m addicted.

The hard thing to admit is that I know how TERRIBLE it is and that I know that I am literally putting poison in my body.

Sort of when you see doctors and nurses smoke, I mean, they know how bad smoking is and what it does to your body but, they are standing outside puffing away.

Here’s a refresher for my fellow Diet-pop drinkers:

Most, if not all, Diet drinks contain Aspartame or Sucrolose. Splenda being one of them, for awhile I thought that this was a safe sugar substitute until I dug deeper and discovered quite a few astonishing facts.

• Splenda was “discovered”, yes, d i s c o v e r e d by a grad student in London in 1976 while working on a study whose purpose was to create new insecticides.
• DDT, a poison used to kill many pests, which is now banned has a VERY similar chemical structure as Sucralose.
• There are many studies that claim Splenda is safe but, all studies were paid by McNeil Nutritionals–which can often lead to questionable results.
• Scientists took the natural sugar molecule and added Chlorine to make Splenda. A known poison.
• Studies only tested secondary effects such as tooth decay.
• Only 6 studies were on human subjects for a span of 3 months, which most people use Splenda for years.
• Independent studies on humans showed that Splenda impaired liver function, caused enlarged kidneys and liver, loss of red blood cells–which causes anemia, impaired mineral absorption, shrinkage of the Thymus gland (the gland that plays a big role in immunity), linked to Dementia, severe depression and sleep disorders.
• Splenda has been linked to Lupus, Diabetes and digestive disturbances. Diarrhea, bloating, vomiting and nausea.
• One of the biggest side effects folks, can you guess? WEIGHT GAIN.

Well, my body craves it. 

I don’t know if it’s the caffeine or if the carbonated taste that I crave but, it’s had a hold on me too long.

As a part of my getting Fit & Firm and staying motivated along this journey. I’m stopping this nasty habit. I’m going to take it day by day and slowly wean myself off of it. I’m afraid quitting cold turkey will be really bad with the caffeine intake and all. Maybe the artificial sweetener itself may cause some form of reaction. I’m also not a heavy coffee drinker but, I do enjoy a nice black coffee once in a while. When I do have a cup of coffee it will be sweetened with Stevia which by research, has been deemed safe. It’s an herb that is much sweeter than sugar and has shown no side effects.

Well, I drink lots of water and for years I’ve drank Green Tea. I haven’t had Green Tea since August and before that I couldn’t because I was pregnant then breastfeeding. I can’t drink it now because it’s high in Vitamin K and that in essence cancels out the blood thinner that I’m on.

So, it’s going to be water and organic soy milk for me.

I’m beginning to think that even though I want to be healthy, it’s sort of eliminates my efforts of eating clean, especially when I put such toxins in my body knowingly.

I am beginning to see that maybe a little caloric intake is much better than the adverse effects that this has.

P.S. my girls rarely if ever drink pop, so it’s just me addicted.

So, here’s to being motivated and to making a change that I’ve been wanting to make for so very long.

Lord help me.

What is your addiction? How do you find better alternatives?

Head on over to my buddies Kat’s Confessions, Pampered Patty, Sober Julie, Multi-Testing Mommy and My Little Review Corner as they embark on a healthier lifestyle too!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

So, it’s 2012 and another 12 months to set goals and achieve them.

As many of you know, eating as clean as I can is something important to me. I’m pretty strict on my own diet but, I am adamant on my girl’s diets. This last few months have been tough on my body.

Due to my recent health issues, the inactivity because of it, the holidays and not so great choices,  I’m not where I want to be and don’t feel the way I want to feel. I have finally gotten the green light to start doing light exercise again (since dislodging of any clots is minimal) and I am super anxious to get started again.

Now, inactivity is HALF the problem, the other half and the main contributor is diet.

So, no excuses.

Well, as you guys may have read, Hubby and I are “Getting Hitched” and I really want to get back to how I was before I had Mimi. (A little more like the picture above.)

It’s achievable. I’ve done it before, I can and have achieved it with motivation and support from my Hubby and a lot of self-motivation.

Another very important thing: Accountability.

Well,  myself, Patty of Positively Pampered Patty and Kat’s from Kat’s Confessions are inviting you to join us on our journeys!

Our highs and lows and our achievements and setbacks. We want to be with you and we can motivate each other!

Are you ready for the challenge?

Join us every Friday for Fit & Firm Friday where we kick off the weekend and share our stories about how we stay fit,  document our progress, share our recipes and our everyday inspiration to live a healthier life!

This hop isn’t just for those trying to lose weight but, for everyone. Whether you are trying to gain weight, get toned or just get active.

What better time then to start then now?

Guidelines:

1. Simply link up your posts below.
2. Follow your hosts if you’d like.
3. Have fun. Ask questions or rant if you want to!
4. Support your fellow Fit & Firm buddies by visiting as many of them as you can!
5. Grab our button.
6. Use #FitNFirm for any fitness related tweets/pics/posts that you have to share to inspire your Fit & Firm Buddies!

Grab Our Button!

Til then, cheers m’deres!