Million Step Challenge with @BestBuyWOLF #MillionSteps

This month I recommitted to my journey to get healthier.  I lost 50 pounds in 2012 and felt great.  Then I fell of the wagon so to speak.  It's really hard to explain how or why I let it happen.  With knowing that it's really not that hard and  feel great when I eat well and move more you'd think I wouldn't let it get so out of control.  But I do, I did.  I gained over 15 pounds back in the same time it took me to lose 50.  I guess the upside is I'm still ahead of the game!  

So I know, it's cliche to vow to get healthy in January.  But that's exactly what I've done and thanks to Best Buy and their challenge to the Best Buy Blogging Board I've had the chance to try a few new tools.

Recently I spent an entire day playing with the Cusinart: Compact Juice Extractor.  I think I bought more fruit and vegetables than I ever have in a single shopping trip.  I think I also  cleaned and peeled and sliced more than I ever have before too.

I'm not sure we're going to be juicing on a regular basis because it really is a lot of work.  But the Cusinart Compact Juice Extractor was beyond easy to use.  It made zero mess (outside the machine) and I really thought cleaning the machine was easy. 

Because we've never done anything like this and we are all fairly picky eaters I thought many of the 'recipes' sounded risky.  So we experimented by juicing each item individually. We tasted each one and then each of us mixed up our own creations.

My personal favorite was just the straight orange juice.  We got about 32 ounces from a full bag of oranges but it was the best (pulpfree) OJ I've ever had.  Thirty two ounces was simply not enough to go around.

And for dessert (because we didn't want anything to go to waste, right?) we made smoothies.  Or something sort of like smoothies because I don't ever actually have ice in the house.

Stawberry banana....yum!

Like I said I'm not sure we'll be juicing regularly anytime soon, but it was a great reminder of how delicious simple, clean eating can be!!  

And don't forget to follow @BestBuyWolf or #MillionSteps on Twitter to see how the Blogging Board is doing on the Million Step Challenge!!

If getting healthier is on your list of things to do this year, check out these great Best Buy coupons for savings on tools to help YOU reach your goal!

I have been compensated for this post, however all opinions expressed are my own.
 


 

Getting Healthier in 2013 Can Be Easier with Best Buy

This January Best Buy is excited to have the nine members of our Blogging Board participating in a Million Steps Challenge.  I'm afraid I have to admit that so far I haven't done too well in contributing.  Between fighting a sinus infection and the boys being sick, I haven't moved much at ALL!   Some of the other ladies are doing great though and seeing their first week reports is motivating me to stop making excuses!  
In addition to tracking our steps with our FitBit Ultra's, we're also tracking either with the FitBit Aria.  I'm sad to say I've gained back entirely too much of the weight I lost in the first part of 2012.  It isn't really fair how much thought it takes to lose it and how mindlessly you can put it back on.
We're also trying Juicing this month so look for posts on update on ALL of these healthy help products you can find at Best Buy this month!



I have been compensated for this post, however all opinions expressed are my own.

Let's Fight Holiday Fat Together

In the holiday season it's easy to fall off the weight loss wagon.  It is so hard to resist many holiday treats.  From homemade cookies to eggnog, Christmas is not exactly a low fat holiday.  If you're like so many people, you're already thinking about how you'll resolve to be healthier in the new year.   But that doesn't mean you should just throw all sensibility to the wind.  But you can enjoy your holiday as long as you're mindful of your eating and continue to exercise you'll be ahead of the game come January 1!


I've found some great helpful tips, recipes and exercises online at Let's Fight Holiday Fat.  Here are some of my favorites:

Don’t attend a party starving (from Heathy Tips for Staying Lean During the Holidays)

If your calendar tends to fill-up with holiday parties during the month of December and you are worried about sticking to your healthy eating routine, don’t go to the parties when you haven’t eaten anything for hours.  If you are really hungry, you will tend to eat anything you can get your hands on, which will leave you overeating in no time!  Instead, have a small healthy snack before you go, such as an apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter, yogurt with some fruit, or a quarter cup of almonds. When you arrive at the party, practice portion control, choosing a small (handful) size of your favorite foods, or if you must, of all the menu items, so you get a little taste of everything. By practicing proper portion control, you will be able to enjoy your favorite foods, without depriving yourself. 

I've found this to be a huge help in my own weight loss journey.  It's surprising how many times you can arrive at a party truly hungry.  It makes it so  hard to resist often high calorie appetizers.  If you're not feeling deprived it's much easier to just give the special treats a little taste rather than over indulging in unhealthy choices. 

 Another great idea is to make a dish of your own to share.  This way you know what you're eating and can count on having at least one healthy option.  If you could use some inspiration, check out the recipes here.

Stress Relief (from How to Have a Healthy Holiday)

Eating right and exercising will play a big part in keeping holiday stress at bay. Keeping stress levels low  also helps prevent weight gain. However, if the stress creeps in, there are several strategies you can use to relax. 

Say No: Don’t feel pressured to say yes to every invitation. Or, make a brief appearance at a celebration and then go home to relax. Your friends and family will appreciate having a happier, more relaxed you, even if that means skipping a party or two. 

Time vs Money:  If a lack of time is a stressor during the holidays, fork over a bit of extra cash to have someone wrap gifts for you or clean the house before guests arrive. If money is tight, get creative and make homemade gifts or send a thoughtful, handwritten card. 

Remember Your Values: Find ways to remind yourself what the holiday season is really about – giving and enjoying others’ company. Volunteer at a homeless shelter with your family. Take a minute to thank someone for their help. Pause to take a few deep breaths and know the stress will pass. 

I don't know about you, but I'm a big stress eater.  This is something I've been working hard at changing.  If you're a stress eater you'll want to find a stress reducer that works for you.  I find exercising a great stress relief but sometimes when you're feeling down its hard to get motivated to move.  Try finding a partner to help support you in your journey.  I've found that a little kick in the pants from a friend telling me "you'll feel better if you just do it" really can make the difference some days.  If you really can't find it in yourself to shake the stress for a workout, you might try something else that relaxes you.  For me this can be anything from a long hot shower to reading or watching mindless TV.  But controlling stress with the tips above will go a long way in helping you feel better this season.

When it comes to exercise you'll want to find something that you truly enjoy doing.  For some people that's running, many love Zumba, but I love a great strength workout.  I found some great ones at Let's Fight Holiday Fat.

If you could use some help staying on track sign up for Let's Fight Holiday Fat for great exercises, recipes and other tips.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for alli. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

Get Unleashed ! #milkunleashed

As a full time working mom of three kids, I have to prioritize.  It's simply impossible to do and be EVERYTHING with just 24 hours a day.  When three days a week starting with THREE stops to drop each of the kids at a different location all before 8 am and multiple nights of activities, we don't have a lot of down time.  So I have to decide that it's OK to let some things slide.  So yes there's often laundry on my couch. Hey, most of the time its folded. And if you're lucky I'll remember to put away the underwear before you come over, I'm totally not afraid to admit that.  What I DO hate to admit is when our hectic schedule affects how I take care of my family.  Sometimes the nonstop running ends up meaning that I'm not feeding the kids the things their little bodies need everyday.  And if you're a mom, you KNOW what kind of torture mom guilt can be. So whenever I find something new that helps me easily do better in taking care of my family's health, I get excited.  This year I have worked hard to do better about eating better even on the run.  We take stuff with us more so that we aren't stuck in the fast food trap as often.  But it can be hard to travel with some of the healthiest options.  Some of our favorite fruits and veggies aren't super travel friendly but we do our best to work with what we can.  But the hardest thing for me is getting our daily doses of dairy while we're on the go.  Sometimes it's just not possible to travel with a cooler, at least until I grow those extra arms I've been dreaming about, I can only carry so much.  And honestly even with a cooler toting around milk or yogurt makes me a little nervous.  That's why when I recently learned of shelf safe milk, I may have been a little giddy!

I'm really not sure how I'd never heard of this since I'm told its been around longer than I have. One carton of shelf safe milk has eight grams of protein and nine essential nutrients – calcium, A, D and B12, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, riboflavin, niacin and zinc.  Ultra pasteurization and special Tetra Pak eco-friendly cartons keep the milk safe for families to enjoy anytime, anywhere. 

Being able to have shelf safe milk on hand means not having to panic when I realize that the milk in the fridge has expired and the boys REALLY want a bowl of cereal.  It also means I can always grab more milk while we're at the store...just in case and not have to worry about whether it will actually fit in the refrigerator.

But it wasn't until I visited Milk Unleashed to find out where to buy shelf safe milk that my new love fully blossomed.  You see, I can buy milk, even Hershey's Chocolate (as well as white and strawberry) at my most absolute favoritest place to shop...ever...Amazon.com.  Yup, I can now stock up on chocolate milk anytime, anywhere and my kids can enjoy it anytime, anywhere without worry of keeping it refrigerated (until it's been opened).



How could shelf safe milk help make your life easier?

Be sure to check out  Milk Unleashed  on Twitter and Facebook!

This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Milk Unleashed blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. 

Celebrate National Bread Month With a Sandwich Today!

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the sandwich!  I know this is true but it's hard to imagine life without sandwiches.  I suppose if I was sent back in time 250 years, the sandwich would probably be the least of the things I would truly miss but there are many reasons to love sandwiches:

• Sandwiches are one of the easiest, most versatile and convenient ways to make a healthy meal for individuals or families. 
• Bread is the most important ingredient in making a healthy and delicious sandwich; it is the foundation of a great meal any time of day. 
• The complex carbohydrates in bread and other grain-based foods provide lasting energy the human body needs on a daily basis.

As a busy mom sandwiches are just for lunch in our house.  They're a great way to give the kids a well rounded meal when there's literally NO time to get dinner on the table.  Given the right combination of sandwich options I think my kids would happily eat sandwiches for every meal of the day.  My kids love the ole stand by peanut butter and jelly (well one likes pb&j, two opt for JUST pb).  They also love grilled cheese and lately have even started getting in to adding extras to their grilled cheese like ham or bacon, and one will even add tomato!

But me, while I do have an occasional PB&J, I like my sandwiches more like The Pastrami Reuben created by Celebrity Chef Bryan Voltaggio.  Doesn't it look amazing.  Messy...buy amazing. 
Click the image to visit the recipe page.





  I'm not sure I'm up for The Banana, PB & Honey, also created by Celebrity Chef Bryan Voltaggio but I think the kids might like it!!  Might just have to try it next weekend.  It IS all stuff they love...peanut butter, bananas and honey.  I think the only thing that might make them love the sound of it more...Nutella.

Click the image to visit the recipe page.

Ok so these particular sandwiches are probably not the ideal meal solution to fit into my current meal plans with Weight Watchers but if you're into making healthier choices there are tons of great sandwich options out there.  I love a lean sliced turkey sandwich with light mayo.  It's low in points but full of great hunger fighting protein. 

What are some of your  favorite sandwich creations?  Do you sandwich at dinner time or only lunchtime?



Learn more about the Grain Foods Foundation and the benefits of enriched or whole grains:

About the Grain Foods Foundation
The Grain Foods Foundation, a joint venture of members of the milling, baking and allied industries
formed in 2004, is dedicated to advancing the public’s understanding of the beneficial role grain-based foods play in the human diet and a healthy lifestyle. Directed by a board of trustees, funding for the Foundation is provided through voluntary donations from grain-based food companies and issupplemented by industry associations. For more information about the Grain Foods Foundation, visit gowiththegrain.org, facebook.com/gowiththegrain or twitter.com/gowiththegrain.
 
About White Bread/Enriched Grains:
➢ White bread – whether it be sliced or as rolls and buns – is enriched, meaning that B vitamins
including thiamin, and riboflavin have been added back in approximately double the amount of whole
grains and niacin has been added back in its original amount.
➢ Folic acid is fortified to over twice the amount found in whole grains.
➢ Enriched grains are the primary source of folic acid in Americans’ diets and, according to the CDC,
have been credited with a 36 percent reduction in birth defects since the FDA mandated fortification
of enriched grains in 1998.
➢ Enriched grains are also a major source of iron in the diets of most Americans and are a good source of complex carbohydrates.

About Whole Grains:
➢ Whole grains are a good source of complex carbohydrates, numerous vitamins and minerals, and are naturally low in fat.
➢ Whole grains are a good source of fiber and other important nutrients, such as selenium, potassium and magnesium.
➢ Whole grains may lower risk of heart disease, some cancers and diabetes as well as other disorders, such as hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and diverticular disease.


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Grain Foods Foundation. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

My Two Weeks with @MyTrainerBob #BobHarperLIVE and #Mamavation Challenge

This was me and Bob Harper in August 2011.  This is when I ate ice cream while I watched Bob help people lose miraculous amounts of weight.  I LOVE Bob. I've actually gone so far as to start filling out the application to be on the Biggest Loser.  But then I panic, imagine being away from my kids that long and scrap the idea.

But when I heard that the latest Mamavation challenge was going to include Bob's workout, I was psyched. Then I looked at the first  workout.  I think I might have skipped the whole thing if it weren't for the fact that I had friends who were also signed up and following along on Facebook to see how everyone was doing.  I don't think there was a workout that first week of the two week challenge that I didn't have to modify in some way.  As I got to week two, life started to get to me.  I wanted to make excuses and let my emotions take control.  But thanks to some great friends, I pushed through and stuck to it.  I didn't do the best with my diet the last two days or I probably would have had even better results.  But in two weeks, working out 5 days a week for about 20-30 minutes each of those days and sticking (mostly) to my Weight Watchers plan, I lost 9 pounds and 6 1/2 inches.



Disclosure: I did get a complimentary trial of BobHarper.com as part of the challenge.  But all opinions are my own and results were not impacted by this savings!

Boys & Girls Clubs and Amway Team Up @BGCA_Clubs

BGCA and Amway have teamed up to help educate Club members about the importance of healthy diets and lifestyles though three different initiatives.

POSITIVE SPROUTS® Sustainability Grants – Amway is providing $30,000 in Sustainability Grants to ten deserving Boys & Girls Clubs who previously received community gardens from Amway. The funds are designed to assist Clubs with the maintenance of their garden as well as improve nutrition for Club members. For more information on the POSITIVE SPROUTS program, click here: http://www.myclubmylife.com/positivesprouts/Pages/Welcome.aspx

Garden In A Box Kits – Amway is donating 150 Garden In A Box kits to Boys & Girls Clubs who demonstrated an interest and need for establishing a community gardening program at their Club. The kit includes a variety of fruit and vegetable seeds and supplies Clubs need to get started.

POSITIVE SPROUTS® Curriculum – Amway is enabling the delivery of a healthy food curriculum to 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide ensuring that all Clubs have access to educational materials promoting healthy eating habits.

Although our family has not experienced Boys and Girls Clubs first hand I've heard nothing but great things about them.  Based on my friends and family's experiences with BGC I would be thrilled to have my kids be in their programs.  Hearing about initiatives like this makes me even more likely to get them involved in a Club if the opportunity arises.

I love that they are focusing on teaching young people about eating better and living healthier.  Our family has been working hard to do that this year by eating much more fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as adding vitamins to our daily routine.  It just so happens that we get our vitamins from Amway.  I thought that getting the kids to take vitamins each day would be a huge chore but they totally surprised me by loving them.  They are usually the ones to remind ME that they need to take them. 
After years of choosing less healthy habits, it can seem like a huge mountain to climb to fix all our habits, but we're finding that by taking it a step at at time it isn't an impossible task. 
I think teaching kids more about why its important to eat healthy makes a better impact than just telling them what to eat.  I know a lot of kids, some of mine included are NOT fans of veggies, but by teaching them about the  varieties of fruits and vegetables available you're more likely to find something they do enjoy.  And if you can involve them in actually GROWING their own, they might even start asking for them before you know it.

Each step we take in educating our kids about living and eating healthy is a step closer to the life we want for them.  

To learn more about the BGCA and Amway partnership, click here.  

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Amway. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

UNJUNK Your Candy with UNREAL Candy #getunreal

We UNJUNKED our Halloween with UNREAL Candy.  The weekend before Halloween we got together with a bunch of friends and carved pumpkins and shared UNREAL with them.  The kids and I had tried several UNREAL products before but it was a lot of fun sharing this brand with friends.  

As a family we have never really believed in completely restricting any particular thing from our kids diets. We felt that teaching them to make good choices and use moderation was better than forbidding candy etc.  But as the grow we have found that while sugar alone doesn't seem to have that much of an impact on their behavior.  And to be honest they are all bean poles so the extra calories aren't hurting them at this point. BUT we have found some things like artificial colors DO impact how they feel and act.  And we're not alone.  So our friends were happy to learn about UNREAL, but even happier to learn that it actually TASTES good!!

UNREAL Varieties:

Chocolate candies.  Compared to M&Ms but with all natural coloring in the candy shell.  With or without peanuts.  I don't do peanuts so I didn't personally try those but the regular ones are good.  And the kids loved them all!!

Chocolate Caramel Nougat. Compared to Milky Way.  My favorite by far.  But I'm a big Milky Way fan.  Love that there's no gritty after taste in this.  You won't miss any of the 'bad' stuff at all.

Peanut Butter Cup. Compared to Reese's.  These I will admit aren't a real close replica. You WILL know you aren't eating a Reese's. But they are better than the sugar free pb cups I have tried in the past. They are good, just different, mostly I think in p.b. consistency.

Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat.  Compared to Snickers.  Again, I don't personally do peanuts in my candy so I passed on trying these but they got two thumbs up from those who did try them!

Overall I highly recommend checking out UNREAL if you enjoy an occasional chocolate treat but are trying to cut out the artificial stuff from your diet.  It's a great alternative for a little less guilt in a moderate consumption!  And totally fun to share with friends any time of the year!!

Story behind UNREAL:
UNREAL™ exists because a thirteen year old boy asked one Halloween why candy needs to be so unhealthy. After an argument with his father, he did a bit of research only to find that candy is filled with bad things like hydrogenated oils and artificial colors and flavors. And what’s worse, he found out that those ingredients don’t make candy taste better, they simply make it cheaper to produce.
Nicky believed that candy without the junk could be made and that it would taste better. And he and his father and brother decided to prove it.
And they did.
UNREAL™ provides many of the great flavor combinations we love in our treats, but without the corn syrup, without the partially hydrogenated oils, without the GMOs, without the artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, and with 40% less sugar per serving on average. The key ingredients are responsibly sourced, and the candy is available in the stores we all shop, at a price point we can all afford.

Disclosure: We've been provided with supplies and product to host a get together. All opinions are my own.

UNJUNK Your Halloween with UNREAL Candy #getunreal

Story behind UNREAL:
UNREAL™ exists because a thirteen year old boy asked one Halloween why candy needs to be so unhealthy. After an argument with his father, he did a bit of research only to find that candy is filled with bad things like hydrogenated oils and artificial colors and flavors. And what’s worse, he found out that those ingredients don’t make candy taste better, they simply make it cheaper to produce.
Nicky believed that candy without the junk could be made and that it would taste better. And he and his father and brother decided to prove it.
And they did.
UNREAL™ provides many of the great flavor combinations we love in our treats, but without the corn syrup, without the partially hydrogenated oils, without the GMOs, without the artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, and with 40% less sugar per serving on average. The key ingredients are responsibly sourced, and the candy is available in the stores we all shop, at a price point we can all afford.

This weekend we'll be sharing UNREAL Candy with our friends in a Halloween inspired get together.  Our family has already tried UNREAL and learned how good candy can be when it's UNJUNKED.  Have you?

Disclosure: We've been provided with supplies and product to host a get together. All opinions are my own.