Staring...

I should be sleeping but I'm staring at my stomach and wondering why it won't go flat. Upper abs - they look pretty good. There is some tone and I can see my ribs slightly - in a thin, toned way, not a "wow, give that girl a sandwich way." Lower abs - pooch. Am I destined to have this excess forever?

I guess I have to make a decision - starve myself, agonize over everything I put in my mouth, workout even more than I am now (is that possible?) and maybe get those flat abs.

Or live my life, eat healthfully, but not obsessively. Exercise as I do for enjoyment and of course overall fitness.

I guess I choose the latter. Happiness first for sure.

My fitness idol Chalene Johnson says that it's more important to have your priorities in order than to have six-pack abs. I agree. Ad man, Baby Elvis, my passions are way more important than my vanity.  But they deserve a healthy Mom and wife. That is what I vow to do.

So Naked Stretchers, look at your problem area. We all have one. Look long and hard and figure out what you will do about it. Will you obsess? No. Will you take appropriate and realistic steps to correct it? Yes.

I mean you gotta give yourself a little wiggle room for chocolate cake for heaven's sake!

Short and sweet post tonight. Oh and by the way, the no sugar thing is SO not working. Going to give it a shot again during Lent. I have much higher reasons than myself during Lent, so maybe it will work.

Over and out.

FREE Nike stuff? Sweet!

Ok, so revealing the first sneak peek at some of the free Nike stuff you could win at the Nike Training Club launch this Saturday!

I love dressing funky, it makes my workouts fierce!! And you know those fab sweat bands that I wear when I teach? Here's me with a Turbo friend of mine, Mindy. Check my band!

Ok, so you could win this super cute pink one!!!

Other colors too. No worries fellas. I got you covered, too. And these bands are only at the Valley Ranch launch. I ponied up myself and pitched in for these awesome accessories!

Hope to see you this Saturday. Feb. 12, 10:30am, 24 Hour Fitness Valley Ranch. FREE for everyone - even non-members!

Get lean, get toned, get strong - Nike Training Club coming to Dallas!

First a literature lesson...
Ok so remember way back when you covered Greek mythology in school. It was probably in 7th grade. Ok so picture yourself with braces, zits and frizzy hair (oh was that just me, then?). Ok, so yes there was Zeus, Aphrodite and Dionysus (a personal fave of mine, ummm...god of wine...love it). But one you probably don't remember was the goddess of strength, speed and victory. Here she is...gorgeous and winged.

Bet you didn't know that this tough, smart and joyous goddess was the inspiration behind the world's preeminant fitness brand, did ya?

I'm talking about Nike. Nike was the mythological goddess that flew around battlefields rewarding the victors with glory and fame. And, of course, is the inspiration behind your favorite shoes, exercise gear – and now your favorite fitness class.

Nike Training Club
Nike and 24 Hour Fitness have teamed up to design a new format full of the strength, speed and victory that is built into their respective DNA – Nike Training Club. It's a full-body workout that combines cardio and strength to help you plow past plateaus and transform your body. The workouts were designed to help you get lean, get toned and get strong, using minimal equipment.


It's a training program inspired by world-class athletes. And if you've ever drooled over Maria Sharapova's amazing legs you know that athletes train and get results. Good grief is she fabulous and sort of a goddess really. Maybe she should have been named Nike Sharipova...

But I digress.

So here's how the program works...


You move quickly from drill to drill with active recovery in between. There are 90+ drills that instructors may choose from. And they can make up their own. It's intense, but each segment is only 30 seconds to 2 minutes, so you know that you'll move to a new one pretty quickly.

There are two instructors in each class - a Group Fitness chick (like me) and a personal trainer. It's the best of both worlds. The energy is increased and the results are taken to the next level.

There's an app for that
And if you can't make it to the gym or you are snowed in for four days and going stir crazy (sound familiar?), you can download the free NTC iPhone app. There are bunches of workouts from beginner to advanced. This might have been the only thing that kept me sane this week. That and copious amounts of wine. I'm kidding about the wine. Really.

Check it out here: Nike Training Club app


What's the 411 on the launch?
I am one of the lucky 50 instructors to bring this to DFW! Starting on February 12, 16 clubs will have this format on the schedule. You gotta check it out!

When: February 12

Where: 16 clubs across DFW (see chart below for more details). My launch (with 3 other GXI/trainers) is at the 24 Hour Fitness Valley Ranch location at 10:30am.

Cost: FREE, FREE, FREE. Of course. If you aren't a 24HF member, let me know and I can get you some passes to check it out!


What: Grab a friend, grab some water and get ready for the workout of your life!

The swag: So Nike knows how to party - rock star style. There will be fun freebies for everyone! My launch will have even more surprises! Aren't you curious now?


Victory will be yours!
I have fallen subject to plateaus and workout burn-out. But, NTC has recently changed that for me. I am re-energized, re-focused and seeing some amazing changes in my body (and it's only been one week)! Here's me in my free swag (shoes, crop and jeggings) after the 6 hour NTC training last week. Yep, I'm certified and trained to give you the best workout of your life!

Oh and here is a pic of the jeggings ladies at the training. We are ready to bring it for 24HF and Nike!

 If you have any questions about the format or the launch, feel free to post 'em here. You can check out a cool sneak peek video here: Nike Training Club promo video

The truth about the white stuff...

Hi. My name is Meghan. And I'm a sugar addict.

There I said it.

I am a sugar addict. I crave it. I need it. And now that I've admitted that I have a problem I am going to stop eating the retched stuff.

Sugar gets a lot of bad press. I mean a lot of bad press. And rightfully so. I've always believed that it was probably ok in moderation. But I read an article today that really changed my mind and led me to diagnose myself as a sugar addict.

Over indulgence of the white stuff is linked to all kinds of adverse health effects like type II diabetes, weight gain, hypertension, tooth decay and even wrinkles and gray hair. Blech!

I don't have an addictive personality. I don't really drink. I've certainly never done drugs and only tried a cigarette one time in my life. And it was the most disgusting thing I've ever done. Yet despite my straightened arrow approach to life, I have found myself addicted to something that will most certainly cause problems. 

How did it happen?

According to AskDrSears.com, "Sweets trigger an increase in the hormone serotonin—a mood-elevating hormone. The body and brain get used to this higher level of serotonin and even depend on it for a sense of well-being. So when our serotonin level dips, (we dip) into the (sweets) to 'correct' the situation." According to the site, sweets also "trigger the release of endorphins . . . the brain's natural narcotics, helping you to relax when stressed."

No wonder visions of lollipops, cakes and sugar plums are always dancing through my head...

The article I read was from Beachbody.com and they have a few steps that they've identified to help me do a sugar detox. I'm intrigued and have to give it a shot. I usually give up dessert for Lent which is coming up soon, so why not start a little early. And this time leave sugar behind completely.

Here's the skinny on the sugar detox:

Step #1: Make the decision to detox from sugar. The first step in breaking a sugar addiction is making the decision to stop eating it completely for at least a few days to start to get it out of your system. While it's usually best to make dietary changes gradually, sugar has the unique ability to inspire cravings that are refueled every time you give in to them. The only way to break the cycle is to stop feeding the fire. Then your cravings should subside substantially. Continue to resist large amounts of sugar and actively avoid situations that cue you to eat sweets. And whether you're at work, at home, or at a party, just because a cookie is sitting out on a table in plain sight, that doesn't mean you have to eat it.

Really? Because that damn cookie doesn't shut up until I eat it. Bastard.

Step #2: Ask yourself why you're eating sugar before you put it in your mouth. Are you eating out of habit? Because of circumstance? For a special occasion? Because everyone else is? Watch yourself like a lab rat. Begin to face your truth by keeping a food journal. Jot down what drives you to eat sugar, when you crave it, where you eat it, why you want it, and how you get it. For example, do you pop up out of your desk chair in search of cupcakes the second you hear people at the office singing "Happy Birthday?" Journaling can be helpful preparation for stomping out your sugar habit by making you aware of why you're eating it.

Let's recap my sugar intake from today...

1 Piece of candy at the office. I read this article and immediately decided I had to stop eating sugar. So I got a piece of candy from the candy dish as a farewell. Pathetic.

And then after dinner I decided I am really going to kick the sugar habit starting tomorrow. So I had better have some ice cream to say a proper goodbye. So Baby E and I went to SONIC and got an oreo blast. I didn't finish it, but still. Double pathetic. I rationalized it all. But starting tomorrow all excuses are out the window.

Step #3: Begin to eliminate sugar from your diet. For thousands of years, people ate whatever sugar occurred naturally in their diets, and it didn't seem to be a problem, it was a treat. Registered dietician Becky Hand reports that the typical American now eats the equivalent of about 31 teaspoons (124 grams) of added sugar every day (about 25 percent of the average person's daily caloric intake), and that sugar alone adds up to almost 500 extra calories each day! Our bodies simply weren't designed to handle this massive load. The American Heart Association recommends that added sugar should be limited to no more than 6 to 7 percent of your total calories (not including naturally occurring sugars found in fruit and dairy products). To put this in perspective, if you eat 1,200 calories a day, you should limit your intake to 21 grams of sugar per day. That's the equivalent of about 6 ounces of low-fat fruit-flavored yogurt or one 8-ounce glass of orange juice.

Uh-oh. I had a small glass of pineapple juice today, too. I've probably had enough sugar for the whole week in one day.

To begin eliminating sugar from your regular diet, simply cut out foods with sugar, white flour, and high fructose corn syrup—including cakes, cookies, pastries, and most desserts. It's okay to have a dessert or sugary snack on occasion, but make sure it's not your main dish. Although sugar is generally found in desserts, added sugar can also be found in your main and side dishes, and even sauces. Look closely at the labels of processed foods, cereals, and sauces—like ketchup, barbecue sauce, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, and dressings. You can usually find nutritious alternatives with less sugar that taste just as good.

Step #4: Eliminate hidden sugar. As you begin to decode ingredient labels, it's really important to know all the other words for sugar and sugar alcohols. Here's a hint: Look for words that end in "-ose."

• Agave nectar/syrup
• Cane juice crystals
• Cane sugar
• Caramel
• Carob syrup
• Corn syrup
• Corn syrup solids
• Dextrin
• Dextrose
• Fructose
• Fruit juice concentrate (apple, grape, or pear)
• Galactose
• Glucose
• High fructose corn syrup
• Honey
• Lactose
• Maltose
• Malt syrup
• Molasses
• Sorbitol
• Sucrose

Step #5: Trick your taste buds. Using spices and herbs can trick your taste buds into thinking you're eating something sinfully sweet. Try adding cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla, or other sugar-free flavors and spices to your coffee, cereals, or other dishes and drinks that could use an extra kick.

A note here is that you should still avoid those artificial sweeteners because they are all full of chemicals and man-made garbage. Jack Lalanne (RIP) always said if a man made it, don't eat it. I fully believe that!

Step #6: Eat a healthy breakfast. What you eat for breakfast will actually influence your food choices for the next 12 to 15 hours, and influence your energy levels, moods, and overall sense of well-being. Dr. Joe Klemczewski, PhD, explains that eating a healthy breakfast balanced between lean protein (like egg whites) and slower-digesting complex carbohydrates (like oatmeal) will help you have good energy throughout the day, stabilize your blood sugar, reduce cravings, and make wiser food choices. Typically, your blood sugar is at fasting levels when you wake up in the morning. If you start the day off with a muffin and a latte, you're choosing to ride the roller coaster for the rest of the day. If, on the other hand, you begin your day with a veggie omelet and fruit or some oatmeal, you're opting for a balance of foods that will be absorbed at a slower rate. Then you'll have a steadier flow of blood sugar that's far easier to keep balanced than if it were fueled by a muffin, a bagel, or a cup of coffee dosed with sugar and cream.

Ok I'm totally on this. I always eat a healthy breakfast. Whoo-hoo!

Step #7: Eat throughout the day. The best way to avoid impulse eating when you're overly hungry is to eat several small meals, spaced throughout the day. This will keep your blood sugar more stable than eating the traditional two or three large meals spaced farther apart from one another. Schedule your meals around your body's needs rather than around your to-do list if you can. For most people, this means approximately 50 percent of your meal should be vegetables or fruit, and the rest should be split between protein (beans, meat, dairy, etc.), grains, and a bit of oil or other fat. However, everyone's a little different, and you should experiment to find what works best for you.

Nothing you haven't heard before. But worth reminding yourself.

Step #8: Find alternatives for when you have a craving. Make sure you find alternative foods and activities that you actually enjoy. If they aren't satisfying, you'll eventually abandon them for your old habits. 

Fruit, fruit, fruit will be my motto.

Ok, so how am I really going to detox myself from the evils of sugar? I've boiled it down to 4 basic rules:

1. No dessert except on special occasions. I mean really special occasions - Valentine's Day, Birthday, Anniversary.

2. Eliminate high fructose corn syrup. Period. Look at labels and get it outta there!

3. Only eat naturally occurring sugars - fruits, milk, etc.

4. And if I lapse. Get back on the horse the very next day. Don't beat myself up. But don't let the behavior continue.

Yep. 4 steps for me. Wish me luck. 

Wanna join me? I'd love to have some support in my sugarless crusade. It's easier when you have a partner. Any takers? I'll keep you updated on my quest...let's do it together!

And just in case you're interested, here is a full list of negative effects of sugar on your health. Pretty sobering:

• Sugar can suppress the immune system.
• Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.
• Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
• Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
• Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
• Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).
• Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).
• Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
• Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
• Sugar can cause kidney damage.
• Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency.
• Sugar can cause copper deficiency.
• Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
• Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
• Sugar can promote tooth decay.
• Sugar can produce an acidic stomach.
• Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.
• Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
• Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and gray hair.
• Sugar can increase total cholesterol.
• Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
• High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
• Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
• Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
• Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance.
• Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
• Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure.
• Sugar causes food allergies.
• Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
• Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
• Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
• Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage.
• Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
• Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
• Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.
• Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver.
• Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
• Sugar can cause depression.
• Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
• Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance.
• Sugar can cause hypertension.
• Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.
• Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.
• Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes.
• Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.
• Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.   

 
Sources: 

http://teambeachbody.com
healingdaily.com

Hot Holiday

Simple tip today: Drink hot cocoa as a treat in the evening before bed. There are some delicious low-sugar or no sugar varieties out there. It will be a special little holiday treat that satisfies the sweet tooth without packing on too many calories.

Ooohh drink it by the fire for even more HOT holiday fun!

Best and Worst Holiday Eats

December 14: Best and Worst Holiday Eats

I came across a great website that listed the best and worst things you can eat this holiday. I had to pass along...

Offendor - Better Alternative

Cheese straws, potato chips – Pretzels, low fat popcorn, baked chips and salsa

Candied nuts or candy – Small amount of plain nuts

Fried veggies, wings with creamy or cheesy dips – Fresh fruits and veggies

Breaded or fried shrimp – Shrimp cocktail or smoked salmon

Cheese and buttery crackers – Lowfat crackers or Melba toast with low-fat cheese

Cream soups or bisques – Vegetable or broth-based soup

Sweet potato casserole – Baked sweet potatoes

Cranberry sauce in can – Cranberry relish or gelatin salad

Lots of gravy with your mashed potatoes or loaded baked potato – Mashed potatoes with a dab of gravy or a plain baked potato

Dark-meat turkey with skin – White-meat turkey without skin

Processed meats, sausages, fatty meats – Lean meats without visible fat

Veggies in cream sauces, casseroles topped with fried onions or cheese – Simply prepared veggies (no cream!)

Stuffing with sausage or high fat meat – Cornbread or fruit-based stuffing

Croissants, butter rolls – Whole-wheat dinner rolls

Pecan pie with whipped cream – Pumpkin pie with nonfat whipped topping

Ice Cream – Fruit sorbet or frozen yogurt

Eggnog – Apple cider, mimosa or bloody Mary

Fruitcake or fudge – Chocolate dipped strawberries

iPhone Fit

Came across this post from over a year ago and had to get it out there again! Love these awesome apps...gotta dig for more soon!

Original post September 19, 2009...

My husband and I are iPhone nerds. We both spend too much time cruising the App store looking for cool (sometimes unnecessary) apps. Just like the Apple TV spots, I always seem to find “there’s an app for that.”

While the hub enjoys the Fart App, I prefer the Fitness and Nutrition apps. It’s amazing how you can keep yourself fit and tech savvy these days.

Here are some of my faves. Check ‘em out and get moving.

Eight Glass a Day
Like a broken record, nutritionists and diet experts alike preach the water gospel. It is tricky to drink your 8 glasses a day, but so worth it for a litany of health, weight loss and weight management reasons. This app is a FREE way to track your intake. It’s like a game for me. Just don’t drink those last 3-4 an hour before you go to bed. Your full bladder will interrupt your beauty sleep.

Couch to 5K
If you are a beginner with great intentions to get a workout program underway, then this is a fab app. It helps you get off the couch and on a 9-week journey to run 5K (3.1 miles) without stopping. Not everyone is a fitness pro, so this is a stellar way to get moving (for only $1.99).

Tap & Track – Calorie, Weight & Exercise Tracker
This is a one-stop shop for tracking your calorie intake, workouts and manage your weight. I love that I can search for workouts and determine the intensity level. You just have to be honest! At $2.99 it’s a must!

NikeWomen Training Club
You can get workouts and even create an avatar of yourself. So fun and so irritated that I can’t play with it. Hopefully the hub will let me upgrade my celly soon. Ummm…hello, it’s FREE even!

Basic Calendar feature
I encourage everyone to get this FREE feature rockin’ on their phone. You can set reminders for your favorite group fitness classes on the calendar. You can hit repeat and it will remind you each week to haul your booty to my classes (just enter your fave instructor’s name in the notes field). I’m back at it on October 3. Get it on the calendar now!

Which Apps help you on your fitness journey? Share it now!

November Giveaway - Custom Meal Plan!

This is the perfect giveaway for the upcoming Holidays! I am giving away a...

one-month custom meal plan.

I have created these for several ladies and they have had a huge success rate with weight loss! The plan will be tailored to your specific goal weight, current body type/weight/makeup and your food preferences. The plan comes complete with 4 weeks of recipes - 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners (28 recipes total) + snack ideas! I calculate all the calories for you! Easy peasy!

Don't let the Holidays pack on the pounds!

How do you get in the running to win? Just become an official follower and you are automatically entered to win! I will choose the winner using random.org on Thanksgiving Day! So you can start the plan right after the eating Marathon weekend that is Turkey Day!

How many times a day do you think about food?

They say that men think about sex every three minutes. Well, I think about food (or the lack thereof) about every two minutes. So take that sex!

I think about what I'm going to eat. When I'm going to eat. When is it ok to eat again? Can I eat that? Or can I eat this? Should I eat this? What should we have for dinner? What should I feed Baby E for lunch? What should I have for lunch? Do we have anything sweet in the house? How many calories are in that? How many calories have I had today? Maybe if I chew gum I won't be hungry anymore....it goes on and one. Probably every two minutes.

And you know what? I don't think that I'm dissimilar to any of you. I am not on a "diet" per se. Just living a lifestyle of moderation. I don't have an unhealthy relationship with food. It's just pretty central to life. And this constant inner dialogue is what keeps me in check. I don't consider it unhealthy or an obsession. It's just who I am and how I keep myself steady.

So I'm your average woman, muddling through the day thinking about food.

I'd actually prefer to think about sex every three minutes instead. Wow, that is lot, though, huh?

So how often do you think about food? Or sex? Or both?

Can you eat healthfully at Cheesecake Factory?

I asked myself this question when Ad Man and I sat down on the patio of The Cheesecake Factory this past Saturday. My parents were kind enough to wrangle Baby E while Ad Man and I had a lunch date. The weather was delicious, so we opted for a patio view.

As I opened the menu, I was greeted with pages and pages of options - all which sounded delish. Now this is not my first rodeo at CF. But we hadn't been there in a while and it seemed as though there were even MORE options than I remembered. Excess. Huge portions. Yep, that's the Cheesecake Factory!

As I thumbed through the menu I found very little that was healthy. Pages of appetizers, "glam burgers," pastas, pizzas, salads, drinks and even breakfast. Whew!

What I did find was that they had some tapas style small plates at the front of the menu and some "weight management salads." All very questionable when it comes to eating healthfully. You just never know what is in that stuff - hidden oils, creamy ingredients, butter, etc.

As all the choices loomed ahead, I just panicked and went with a favorite versus really studying ingredients and what might have hidden calories. I ordered the sweet corn tamale cakes. And Ad Man, not caring a lick about healthy, ordered the Memphis burger.

Here is the Memphis burger in all it's glory. A burger topped with mayo, cheese, pulled pork, pickles, bbq sauce and coleslaw + fries.

When I got home, I wanted to check in on how many calories I consumed and was curious about the damage that Ad Man had done. I was appalled and quite frankly disgusted. I knew it wasn't great, but oh dear, it was worse than I thought.

My sweet corn tamale cakes were 1500 calories! Thank goodness I had only eaten half. So a whopping 750 calories for my lunch. And I did eat a slice of bread, too.

Ad Man's was 1,970 calories! Eeek!

Oh and did I mention that we split a piece of cheesecake? Well it was splurge day since I taught two classes that morning and burned 1,072 calories.

Our lovely spice of heaven was 861 calories and 62 grams of fat! Argh! So we packed about 430 calories a piece.

We ate this lunch pretty late and did not eat dinner, but still. Astounding.

Ok, so what are your best bets when eating at Cheesecake Factory? Know before you go so that you don't get a big shock and realize that you undid all the good from your workout. Here's what I found...

Appetizers
Ahi Carpaccio (serves 2), 260 cals per serving
Edamame (serves 204), 320 cals per serving

Salads (and these are big, they totally serve a whole meal!)
Boston House Salad, 310 cals
Endive, Pecan & Blue Cheese Salad, 330 cals
French Country Salad, 390 cals
Tomato & Mozzarella Salad, 490 cals
Tossed Green Salad, 190 cals
Vegetable Chopped Salad, 280 cals, with chicken 390 cals

Lunch
Simply Grilled Salmon, 480 cals
One half chicken sandwich, 550 cals
Chinese Chicken Salad, 540 cals
Cobb Salad, 570 cals
Luau Salad, 510 cals
Santa Fe Salad, 540 cals
One hald turkey sandwich, 470 cals
Caesar Salad sandwich, 450 cals

Dinner
Weight Management Grilled Chicken (not including sides), 580 cals
Grilled Mahi (not including sides), 470 cals
Grilled Tuna (not including sides), 520 cals

Dessert
Low Carb Original Cheesecake Sweetened with Splenda, 570 cals
Goblet of Fresh Strawberries, 110 cals
Dish of Ice Cream. 280 cals*

Slim pickings, I know. I didn't find any nutrition facts for their new small plates. But my guess is that they are just smaller portions of heavy items.

So what do you eat? My recommendation is to order a simpled grilled item - chicken or fish - and ask for sauce on the side. You can always dip a little. Add the green salad per above (with dressing on the side) and you have a lovely meal. If you need a treat, get the strawberries or ice cream. *Although the dish of ice cream surprised me. With their portion sizes, I'd be shocked if it was a small dish. Use your judgment!

And if it is a special occasion. Opt for a light dinner and then get your cheesecake.

Don't be surprised the next time you go out to eat. Look up the nutrition facts first!

Halloween Damage

So what's the damage? How much candy did you eat?

About this much?



Well that yields only 230 calories. Not too bad. Way to go with your will power!

Or was it about this much?



That stash is about 410 calories. Hmmm...well I guess it's your treat day.

Maybe it was this much?



Oh dear, you packed in about 1,000 calories. Yikes!

And please don't tell me it was this much!



And for heaven's sakes, please don't tell me you ate candy for breakfast this morning. Even though Reese's Peanut Butter cups go really well with coffee, I don't think it's the right food to get you fueled for the day.

Ok even if you did eat some for breakfast, the good news is you can STOP now! Load up all the candy with the exception of 7 fun size pieces for your little one (that's one piece a day for the week following Halloween). After 7 days likely they will have forgotten about it. Take all the remainder and put it in a sack and bring it to the office. Bring it to a food pantry. Get it out of your house.

Be done with it already.

Start thinking about all the lovely things you'd prefer to do while the weather is gorgeous - take a walk, take a jog, go to the park, go to an outdoor festival or outdoor shopping mall. All of those things are much more fun than the guilt of eating a whole bunch of candy.

How did I do yesterday? Well the sweet tooth was in full force, but I didn't do too badly. I had 2 mini Twix bars and 2 mini Snickers bars. But I ate light all day (and of course taught class in the morning), knowing that I was going to have some candy. And you know what? I sent the remainder to work with Ad Man. Baby E won't remember his candy. He had more fun walking up to people's doors and grabbing candy out of the dish.

He thought it was pretty great. After 3 houses, he totally "got" it. He walked right up, waited patiently for someone to answer the door, grabbed his candy, ran back to his wagon and dumped it in. The event itself was WAY better than the candy. Wouldn't it be great if we all felt that way?

I did give him about 5 M&Ms, which were a hit. I might save one mini M&M bag. But that's it. All that sugar and empty calories have no place in my house.

Thank you Halloween, it was fun, but now we are done.

And we have a winner!

My good friend Nancy Hoag is the winner! Nancy, email me and we can work out delivery details! You know my addy :)

Congrats!

And good news Naked Stretchers, I'm doing ANOTHER give-a-way for November. Stay tuned for details. So if you are not a follower, it's not too late. Become a follower now and you are in the running for FREE stuff! Fun, fun, fun!

Happy Halloween!

You have one hour!!

At 9pm CT I will be using random.org to choose a winner of the fab gym bag! All you have to do to be eligible is become an official follower of the blog.

I hope you win!

The Whole Foods Virgin

I never thought I would be so "crunchy" that I'd be buying 75% organic food. I envisioned women who buy organic with no makeup, hemp clothing and no TV at home. But Baby E changed that. I suddenly became hyper-aware of what I was putting in my body and then into E's body.

I won't go into a diatribe about why organic, but let's just say I am leary of pesticides, antibiotics, mass-production, etc. So, I buy as much organic as I can afford. And there is a fair amount at Target, Kroger and Market Street. Walmart, on the other hand, is meager at best with the offerings (especially on fresh produce).

So, knowing that I am an organic buyer, Baby E's second cousins gave us a Whole Foods gift card for E's Birthday. Well that lovely little card has sat idle in my junk bowl for months in the same place where bobby pins, hair ties, a random Baby E shoe, pens, extra keys and a battery reside. I was cleaning up this week and came across the card. So, when grocery shopping time rolled around I ventured off to Whole Foods to buy my organics. Baby E stayed with Ad Man, so it was just me and my grocery cart.

And I'm no longer a Whole Foods virgin. And it was all that I thought it could be. And more.



Let's just say that my first Whole Foods experience has since changed my life. It was like I found my home. Healthy, delicious, organic as far as the eye can see. I had found "my people." Sure there were some "crunchy" types. And sure, there was the occasional botox-injected lady that probably shopped at Whole Foods because it is "hip." But for the most part the shoppers were hard-working people like me that appreciate quality foods and want to feed their families the very best.

So my trip? Here's what I did...I trolled the aisles and came across some fab finds. I bought some produce, yo-baby (which I normally buy at Target, but WF has a better variety). I also found oatmeal that Baby E will actually eat. I mean finding that oatmeal was worth the trip and the extra $30 that I spent beyond the gift card amount.

I also noticed that they have a food scoring system that is similar to Nu-Val scores, called ANDI. It designates a logo on packaging of foods that are focused on plants, nutrient dense, free of added oils, made with unprocessed whole foods. Sounds pretty good, right?

 

Love it!

And the best part of the whole trip? Ok, actually there are a couple best parts...

1) Pre-cut veggies and fruits bar - this is sort of like a bulk foods area that you might find at other stores, but it is all fresh foods that are already cut for you! Hello time saving. And you grab as much as you want. I didn't get a pic of this, but oh my goodness was it fabulous!

2) Pre-prepared foods - this is similar to Central Market for sure, but all whole, clean foods.

3) Natural meats - ALL of the meat they have is antibiotic, hormone and junk free. Although the lunch meat that I purchased was $12.99/pound. Yikes. It is pretty darn good, though.

4) WINE, WINE, WINE! - They do tasting all the time and their selection is fabulous. I need to do another post on organic wine, because WOWZA there is a great difference.

5) Herbal section - there is a section with natural herbs, elixirs, premium body care, etc. So you can go natural with this, too.

6) Lunch (or dinner) is ready - you can also do single serve meals if you need to grab food on the go.

7) Desserts - I won't even tell you about the bakery. I can't. It's too fabulous. Just look at these truffles. Seriously. I'm having a hot flash thinking about them.

The drawback? The only one I see is price. It is quite pricey. But can your really put a price tag on organic, "fit kids" oatmeal? I mean really.

I am going to put my family in the poor house because I am in L-O-V-E with Whole Foods.

October Giveaway

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I'm giving away a fabulous gym bag that my friend made.

This bag is a one shoulder pack that is PERFECT for hauling your water bottle, towel, extra shirt, iPod, cell phone, wallet, etc. to the gym. It has a smart one shoulder design and cute applique.

It also has a super cute breast cancer awareness patch. Love it!

Stylish and light-weight. Don't you want one, Naked Stretchers? I know you do!

So how do you win? All you have to do is become a follower of my blog. Click follow and you are entered in to win. Those that are already followers are automatically entered. I will do a random drawing on October 31 to choose the winner!

Easy peasy! But better be an official follower!

If you are interested in more cute finds that my friend makes, find her on Etsy.com – http://www.etsy.com/shop/ItsyBitsyMonkey.

Super cute! How many times can I say "cute" in one post?

Happy Sunday!