One step closer to healthy

My latest trick - instead of using salt on popcorn, I sprinkle this flavoring called TRUE LEMON. It has 0 calories. I got a free sample in the mail and I love it. It also comes in LIME and ORANGE flavoring.

Instead of salt, sprinkle this.................
on to this................

Tonight, I found myself out running errands during dinner time. This has been my biggest down fall in the past. I have eaten way too much "fast" food and it catches up with me "fast". I ended up getting BEN a semi healthy happy meal; aka: chicken nuggets with apple slices and apple juice. And then I decided nothing sounded good or healthy that was drive thru. So, I waited until I got home to eat. I had a turkey sandwich. And I also had half a Christmas tree Reese's peanut butter cup. I figured I did good. Instead of eating it all, I split it with Ben. ( I got this trick from The Biggest Loser trainer Jillian. She says that if you don't feed your cravings, you're going to binge. )And then my night time snack was a bag of SMART POP POPCORN. I was really proud of myself for not touching the rest of the chocolate or sugar in the cupboard at night time during a movie. I didn't binge.

YAH ME!

I did it. I made it to the gym today! And I got to use my Christmas present! THANK YOU DAN!
I forgot how much music helps me to continue going even when I want to quit. I love my IPOD. And I love my Nike+ IPOD. It counted my calories burned and distance completed. I only did .42 miles on the elliptical/treadmill in a 30 minute time with 82 calories burned. But, I figure it was my first day back. And the fact is you have to start somewhere. I followed the advice of many and have decided to start back slow with working out. I am logging and syncing my IPOD on http://www.nikeplus.com/ if anyone would like to join me. You can create your own goals and challenges!

The biggest "YAH ME" moment? After the gym, I headed to the grocery store to grab milk and something for dinner. I put a frozen pizza in my cart. I told myself it was my last splurge before starting up with Biggest Loser eating program tomorrow. Then at the check out, I told the lady who was ringing me up that it was a go back. I ended up grabbing a rotisserie chicken, bag of romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and loaf of fresh bread. I made a chicken salad with a slice of bread. YAH ME!

PS - Got an extra work out in with shoveling the snow in the drive way!

Got the official OK to work out again

This past Friday was my 6 week post c-section appointment. I was given the okay to get back to the gym! I am really excited. I have extra motivation with Dan returning in two months. I want to be healthy for many reasons.

- My health
- Example to my boys
- Be able to shop in non plus sizes at stores
- I don't want to hide myself when getting a picture taken
- Energy to do the activities I love
- Not feel embarrassed or feel like the biggest person in my group of friends
- prevention of genetic medical issues like diabetes

But when I need that extra motivation, all I need to do is remember Dan returning home in two months! I want to feel good about myself when I see him for the first time at the airport.

So here is where I am now. *I have just about eliminated all the holiday treats from the cupboards. Yes, everything in proportion. But let's get real. If it's there I will eat it. And with the amount of weight I need to lose to be at a healthy BMI/weight, I need all temptations out of my sight. *Tomorrow, I am back at the gym for the first time since my second trimester! *And Tuesday, I am signing up with The Biggest Loser Club online. It's only 20 bucks a month. They will give me food plans, work out plans, online support, among other things. I want to do this the right way. So it's all about exercising and learning to cook and eat healthy!

Right now, I am feeling proud of myself. Friday night I made grilled chicken, brown rice, with squash and zucchini. Saturday night I went to a get together with friends. Upon arriving, I had the salad first. Yes, I ate cookies, licorice, and tortilla chips, but at least I had a big salad first. And tonight I had a balanced meal and I stopped eating when I became full. And, I am currently chewing sugar free gum to resist snacking when I'm not hungry. And last.......each day for a week now I have drank at least 64 ounces of water with no soda. Whopppppeee! So I am proud because each day I have accomplished a healthy habit! Baby steps.....

A few tips from fit pregnancy website

5 Weight-Loss Tips for New Moms

Here are five foolproof strategies to shed the baby fat. By Nancy Gottesman

It takes a combination of healthy eating, exercise and behavioral change to lose weight effectively. Here are five foolproof strategies to shed the baby fat.

1. Siesta as often as you can. Research shows sleep loss negatively impacts the hormones that regulate how hungry you feel and how efficiently you burn calories. We know it's hard to sneak in sleep when you're a new mom, but if you nap when the baby does, you'll be able to grab a few extra hours of rest.

2. Snack well, snack often. Don't go long periods without eating, especially if you're breastfeeding. Healthy meals and snacks contribute to clear thinking, productivity and energy. Plus, if you don't nibble on something every three to four hours, you'll become way too hungry to make smart food decisions.

3. Eat on smaller plates. A 2006 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people serve themselves more food when using larger spoons and plates, while downsizing the dish size had the opposite effect. For weight loss, portion control is a must. Using smaller plates is a simple tool for controlling how much you eat without having to measure anything.

4. Fill up on veggies. Vegetables have fewer calories per serving than practically any other food. Plus, their high fiber content promotes a feeling of fullness, making it easier for you to limit your calorie intake.

5. Make an exercise date. The best way to be sure to exercise is to make a date with another new mom. Stroll your babies; meet at a yoga class; hike at a local park. Make a fitness appointment with a pal and you're a lot less likely to make excuses.