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Nutrisystem Week 7 #NSNation #Ad

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Nutrisystem Week 5 #NSNation

Starting weight was #200.  Started program 4/1/13
End of week 1 (4/1/13-4/7/13) weight was #196
End of week 2 (4/8/13 – 4/14/13) weight was #193
End of week 3 (4/15/13 – 4/21/13) weight was #192
End of week 4 (4/22/13 – 4/28/13) weight was #189
End of week 5 (4/29/13 – 5/5/13) weight was #187.6
End of week 6 (5/6/13 – 5/12/13) weight was #187
End of week 7 (5/13/13 – 5/19/13) weight was #185

Slow and Steady she goes..  I think there is a song with that line.  Hmmmm…  Regardless, that is how Tony is feeling.   Yes, the weight is coming off slower than he would like but it has been steady and he is learning many new things about weight loss, exercise and himself that are keeping him plugging right along.

I have talked about it in previous posts, that he is learning portion control and for him that is a huge things.   I too have been learning more about portion control just watching the size of the prepared meals he eats helps me realize I too was eating more than my body needed.   It is not easy to portion control when you are not used to it.  I see so many people in restaurants eating huge helpings and clean their plate because they paid for it, and it is sad that we as a whole over eat.   We don’t need all that food.. what is wrong with us?

Well, what is wrong is that food is for some a favorite pastime.   Tony and I love to eat out and do so often.  When we eat out we always treat ourselves to things we wouldn’t eat at home.  So, generally that is not a healthy food.   Take this weekend for instance.  We went out with friends on Friday night, Tony had many beers and we shared a plate of giant nachos.  The nachos were not really a bad thing, as it had chicken, peppers, olives, lettuce, and tomatoes but the beer.. not so good.   We got up on stage and did what we love to do, sing and play.

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Well he paid for the beer, big time on Saturday.  So so sick.  He never gets sick from drinking but as he gets older the drinking gets less and less and not sure why but it kicked his butt this time.   He even did a little praying to the porcelain god ;)    LOL!   Not really a way to try and lose weight.   But, being a bit hung over always makes him want to be naughty so we ended up going to one of our favorite pizza places last night and we shared a large pizza and some deep fried green beans.  But, since he didn’t really eat all day due to not feeling to well it probably wasn’t as bad as it sounds. But, still not good.  So, today, back on the wagon.

Tony has been still working on the running as he is getting ready for that race on June 1st.  Today, I drove him exactly 3 miles from home and dropped him off.   He ran the whole way back. It took 30 min 10 seconds.  I am so impressed, and proud.  Never in my dreams did I think he would run, that far.  I tried to run with him on Thursday and due to my foot still being sore I did a little over a mile and had to stop.   I can’t wait till I can run with him.  Soon, very soon.   I do know we will enjoy more biking, hiking, and walking this summer due to him into the fitness more and my foot not hurting since I had the bunion surgery.

Check back next week to see how week 8 went.

Are you interested in Nutrisystem?  Wait no more and join today by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog or calling 1-888-853-4689

Disclaimer ~ Living Smart Girl was provided the Nutrisystem program in exchange for my opinion and review.  All views are mine and my husbands and results posted are my husbands.

How to Get Exercise Without Actually Setting Out to Exercise

shutterstock image 2 living smart girlHow to Get Exercise Without Actually Setting Out to Exercise

We all know that the best way to losing weight or maintaining a healthy body is by getting plenty of exercise and eating sensibly and healthily. However it’s also true that our lives are busier than ever with work, going out with friends and making time for ourselves so it can be really difficult to even find the time to get exercising or to eat healthily.

This is of course why places like McDonalds and many other fast food outlets start looking all the more attractive. Quickly getting your food before heading back to work or home to relax is an all too easy way of life but it certainly isn’t the healthiest way of life. Many of us also dread heading to the gym to get exercise with the numerous awkward social situations of the locker room and the competitiveness that can come from keeping up with the ’fit’ people.

It is however far easier to fit exercise into your day than you might think. You don’t have to give up your free time for a visit to the gym and it doesn’t involve paying out loads of money for any expensive running machines, gym memberships or diet plans. One of the best forms of exercise is remarkably easy and can be done any time and any place.

Shutterstock image 1 living smart girlIt All Starts with a Single Step

This innovative and simple form of exercise is simply walking. Putting your shoes on and walking out your front door is the easiest and cheapest form of exercise possible but it is also one of the most effective. Simply walking for half an hour can burn an impressive 99 calories. The best thing about walking is it can be done anywhere and can fit into your daily routine easily; you can start by walking to work, using stairs instead of lifts or even just walking to a colleague’s desk rather than emailing.

It can actually become quite addictive and can be made quite enjoyable with music, going to walk in areas of natural beauty or even make it a social experience by going walking with friends or by joining a walking group. A good idea is during your lunch hour to go out with a list of chores or to do some shopping, by walking to the shops you’re immediately burning off what you eat for lunch and saves you time after work to relax knowing the chores are done. The NHS encourages you to do more walking too, find out more here.

The health benefits from walking can go further than simply trimming your waistline or keeping you fit. Skipping the car or bus and using your feet instead can help prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. The further and more often you walk the greater the benefits so it is worth investing in a pedometer and start with a single step.

Taking Up a Hobby

A great way of getting more exercise or becoming healthier is by learning a new skill. An easy and obvious example of this is taking a cookery course, learning to cook healthy foods will help you make better food choices and gradually get yourself in good shape. Developing a passion and a knowledge of food will create an awareness of what the food you eat does to your weight.

Keeping yourself busy is a great way of avoiding boredom which can often lead to snacking and eating purely out of boredom. There are also hobbies which can take the direct weight loss approach for example the popular Zumba craze or perennial favourite, yoga. Lessons and classes teaching these skills can be easily found at gyms or through local newspapers and often take place in evenings so they can easily fit into your lifestyle. Being more active is a very strong route to weight loss or keeping fit and can be fun at the same time as well as offering the chance to make new friends.

Play A Sport

The key to getting more exercise is to enjoy doing it, it doesn’t have to be a chore and sport is a great way of getting exercise in an enjoyable way. Going out to play football in the park once a week is a simple, enjoyable and social way to get in shape or going with a friend to play some tennis can be fun and easy exercise. You don’t have to be great at the sport it is just a case of getting involved and enjoying yourself, making it a social experience makes it less like exercise and more enjoyable.

Playing any sport can burn off a significant number of calories and has a huge amount of scientific evidence backing up the positive effects playing a sport can have not just on your weight but health and fitness in general.  Playing a sport or joining in with physical activity can help in developing healthy bones and efficient heart and lung function as well.

The benefits of exercise

There is a reason why so many people say the only way to lose weight and increase fitness is by eating healthy and exercising, that is because it genuinely works. Completing more exercise means you burn off calories from the foods that you’ve eaten, this means doing more exercise negates the need for an extreme diet.

There are so many easy ways of fitting more exercise into your day, it doesn’t have to be stressful or too much of an effort. From walking to picking up a sport, these are just a few of the hundreds of areas in everyday life when exercise can be done. If you need that little kick start or energy boost to get into the exercise frame of mind there are many supplements which offer that helping hand, Europe’s number one is called Activ8 X and is one of the more trustworthy supplements out there, find out more by visiting ivillages article on Activ8 X.

If you’re looking to lose weight or merely keep your fitness levels up then you can’t go far wrong by doing plenty of exercise. As the adage says, it all starts with a single step.

Show Nature Some Love by Planting a Tree

Odwalla Logo

When I see the name Odwalla the first thought that comes to mind is “Healthy Living”.  Then the second is “Yummy Foods”.  And now today after creating a digital tree on Odwalla’s website to help get goodness growing what comes to mind is “Giving back to Nature”.  Odwalla is asking everyone to visit their website and create a digital tree and when you do they will plant a real tree in your name. Plus, they are giving away a $10,000 gift card and a year supply of bars and beverages.

This is such a great idea and a good cause.  It is fun creating the tree and sharing it with others on Facebook and Twitter to get the buzz going so all your friends and family can join in the great cause.

If it weren’t for nature, there would be no Odwalla.  It is such a great idea for a company to give back to nature. It takes a lot of natural ingredients to produce the amazing products that Odwalla makes.  This is the only way to keep things on the right path for the future of everything from healthy eating to healthy living.

Odwalla is teaming up with The Nature Conservancy’s All Hands on Earth campaign to plant up to 100,000 trees.  Join them in this campaign and create your tree like I did.  Take a look at the tree I created.

odwallatree

Between March 20, 2013 and May 31, 2013, Odwalla will contribute $1 for each tree you create to The Nature Conservancy for the planting of trees– no less than $75,000 and up to $100,000.  The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the land and waters on which all life depends.  More information about the Conservancy is available by mail at 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203, by phone at (800) 628-6860 or at www.nature.org

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Odwalla via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Odwalla”

 

Nutrisystem Week 4 #NSNation

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Nutrisystem Week 4 #NSNation

Starting weight was #200.  Started program 4/1/13
End of week 1 (4/1/13-4/7/13) weight was #196
End of week 2 (4/8/13 – 4/14/13) weight was #193
End of week 3 (4/15/13 – 4/21/13) weight was #192
End of week 4 (4/22/13 – 4/28/13) weight was #189

I am so very proud of my husband for what he has accomplished in the last 4 weeks of being on Nutrisystem.  He is an inspiration to me and has had others asking him over the last week what he is doing because his weight loss is showing.   Last night his Uncle asked him if he is melting.  And when I wrap my arms around him I can tell he is losing weight.  And, he said the best part of all this is that his pants are feeling to big, and he is soon going to have to buy a new belt cuz he is on the last notch and can’t tighten it any more.

Tony has never been one to look overweight because he carries it well.  But, at 5’8″ and 200#, he knew he was overweight and wanted to do something about it.  Tony has never been one who is self motivated when it comes to exercise and losing weight because of his love for food, and TV.   Sitting and watching food shows is a huge love of his and that doesn’t help when you are someone who loves food and loves to eat.   This past month he has learned many things and has started to look at life differently.

It has been not only good for Tony, but good for me.  I too am losing weight.  I love to cook, and I admit that when I cook I make big meals.  Yes, generally healthy meals but big ones.   Making big meals means Tony wants to eat and eat which means the portion control goes right out the window.  Well, I have cooked a few meals this past week but scaled back my portions and that helps.    I also don’t keep all kinds of snacks in the house because I don’t want to temp him and it helps for me not to be tempted.

The hardest day this past week was yesterday (Saturday).  We put on a housewarming/Birthday party for our son who will be 21 on the 30th of April.  So, there was chips, dip, pizza, cake, etc.   We both indulged a bit to much.   I didn’t feel to bad about enjoying food with family and friends, and Tony was ok and didn’t overdo it like he would have a month ago.  One thing I can say.. last night we both were saying that we felt like we ate to much and were not enjoying how our tummies felt.  Good thing our son only turns 21 once ;)

Tony has been trying to run/walk more and more and has a goal of entering a 5K that is on June 1st.  I would love to join in but since I am still not able to do anything until May 14th due to my bunion surgery I think this is something he will be doing alone.   Once I am released to get back to my working out, we will both be unstoppable.

Check back next week for week 5 updates.

Are you interested in Nutrisystem?  Wait no more and join today by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog or calling 1-888-853-4689

Disclaimer ~ Living Smart Girl was provided the Nutrisystem program in exchange for my opinion and review.  All views are mine and my husbands and results posted are my husbands.

Week 1 of Nutrisystem #NSNation

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Nutrisystem Week 1 #NSNation

Starting weight was #200.  Started program 4/1/13
End of week 1 (4/1/13-4/7/13) weight was #196

I would like to introduce you to my wonderful husband Tony.  Tony and I have been together almost 19 years, married almost 16.  Ever since I met this man, besides his love for me he has always had a great love for food. All food.  Eating out, eating in, snacking, etc.  Just loves food.  Loves to eat food and watch all kinds of food shows, and loves to cook.  (not so good at the kitchen clean up though).

Because of Tony’s love for food he has always carried a few extra pounds and it seems no matter what he tried it just never holds.  He has done many diets, and fads but always ends up gaining back the weight and then some.  He knows it is because he loves food and finds it really hard to not eat till he hurts.  Yes, he likes to walk away from the table saying.. Oh I hurt, or, man why did I eat that 3rd helping.  LOL!!   I laugh because I think he is adorable.  But, I also am concerned because I worry about his health.

Because he likes to watch TV alot, he is always seeing the Nutrisystem commercials and one day he said.. man I wonder if that would work for me. Of course you see the commercials and think, that food has to be awful or those people on the commercials must be paid to say those things. Well, after hearing him make comment after comment about wanting to give Nutrisystem a try I reached out to them with his story.  So, Tony now is on the Nutrisystem plan for 4 months to help him lose the weight and learn how to live eating smaller portions and being active.

Well, Tony is also very shy and not one that likes to be in the spotlight.   (not like me at all!)  When he heard he was accepted to the blogger program he was excited.  But then I told him that I would have to post pictures and info on him and he almost turned down this great opportunity.  Thankfully they understand that not everyone is comfortable with certain things and we went ahead with planning his food for the month.  What was hard for Tony is that he loves food and it was hard to pick out what a person might want to eat for a whole month.  And, never being on the program and not knowing what one might like or not like makes it hard.  But, he filled out his form and we got it sent in.   Now, we wait for his food to come.  It came at the end of March so he decided to start his program on April 1st.

Tony was busy when all the boxes of food came so I took the liberty of taking pics and finding room in our cupboards for the food.   I actually had just cleared out our cupboards some because our son just moved out and so I gave him all the foods that he eats and we just don’t need here anymore.  This food took up a whole cupboard.  Wow.. you sure get a ton of food for a month!  And, a ton of it is frozen!!

Here are some pics of all the food.

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So, April 1st has come and Tony has started his first week.

First week ~  April 1st ~ 200#  ~ 5’8″ Tall

His first couple days were a bit confusing just because he is learning how to incorporate all the different things.  Like, smart carbs, power fuels, vegetables, water intake, daily 3, etc.  He is not used to thinking about how, when and what to eat.. he just eats.
He started his first day with a Turkey, Ham and Cheese Omelet, and a Coffee Protein Drink.   He was very shocked at how good the omelet was.  He had hesitation just because one never knows when you go on different programs if you will like the food or not.  Well, so far he has only not liked one thing.  So, for being he is part way thru day 5 that is pretty good.  Tony is not a picky eater, but does not like onions, mushroom, or peppers in things and so far he is happy and his palate is tickled :)
Tony isn’t much for water.  In fact he hates it!!   I am a water drinker and he always looks at me when I grab my huge jug of water every morning and he gives me that gag face.  But, he is drinking as much water as he can every day.  Getting 8 glasses is important but he is around 4 or so a day.  Better than nothing.

Day 5 of the Nutrisystem and he is down to 196#.   He was so excited when he stepped on the scale yesterday and was down to 197# and not today to 196#.    And he doesn’t feel like he is starving himself.  That is a huge key factor.  Since he loves to eat he was worried he would be hungry and that a person would lose weight because they were starving.  But, you don’t starve.  Yes, he would eat more if it was offered but the idea is that you need to learn portion control and that your body need many things a day to lose weight. Proper nutrition, water, exercise, and accountability.   Keeping track in his Daily Tracker is great for him.  Because he isn’t one for being online much I keep up for him online but he does all the figuring of what he will eat, how much and when.  That is a great learning tool for him.

I am so proud of Tony for taking control and realizing that he does need some help.  And, with him doing Nutrisystem it is also keeping me in line with my food.   Not to mention that our son is not here so I don’t have all kinds of junk in the house.  I went shopping, filled up our fridge with veggies and fruit and grabbed stuff that is power fuel foods.   I will make sure I shop once a week to keep fresh foods for him and I.   After seeing all the foods and options he has with Nutrisystem I wish I was on it!  ;)

Stay tuned for week 2 ~

Are you interested in Nutrisystem?  Wait no more and join today by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog
or calling 1-888-853-4689

Disclaimer ~ Living Smart Girl was provided the Nutrisystem program in exchange for my opinion and review.  All views are mine and my husbands and results posted are my husbands.

Things to Include in Your Healthy and Tasty Eating Diet

Things to Include in Your Healthy and Tasty Eating Diet

 

To lead a long and healthy life you need to be very careful about what you actually eat. Even making very simple and small changes to your diet can soon help you to develop more healthy eating habits in the future.

Not only does eating the right foods help to ensure that your body is getting the right amount of vitamins, nutrients and minerals it needs. But can also go a long way in helping you to lose weight or maintain it a more healthy level. But with so much contradictory information around regarding healthy eating deciding what is right for you can prove somewhat challenging.

However we hope the guidelines we offer below will go some way in helping you to develop a diet that will be beneficial to you not only now but also in the future.

1. If you are looking to make changes to your diet to help lose weight then one of the first things you should be doing is reducing how much you eat. Rather than having to eat new foods or use new recipes simply cutting down how much you eat can help you to soon lose weight. It isn’t simple, considering the abundance of tasty recipes you can find online these days, but this is the perfect way to begin your journey when wanting to enjoy a more healthy diet.
2. The next thing you need to do is make sure that you include foods in your diet that have a low glycaemic index (GI). Not only will these types help to ensure that your blood sugar levels remain even but also will help to suppress your appetite for longer so there is less chance of you craving foods. The kinds of foods that contain such items are complex carbohydrates and unrefined foods such as fruits, vegetables, oats, pulses, whole meal breads and pastas.

3. If you find that you need to snack between meals then make sure as part of your new healthy eating habits you have plenty of fruit, nuts or seeds close to hand. Along with maintaining your blood sugar levels eating snacks like these are going to help you from having those classic energy dips during the day when you crave something a little sweeter. It’s not easy to stop snacking, especially when you’re used to snack in front of the TV, or while playing bingo online on your computer. So instead, at least make sure you snack on something a little healthier.

4. When preparing any meals make sure that you have a well-balanced plate of food. Ideally each meal you make should be made up of 50% fruit or vegetables or even both. 25% of a lean protein source and 25% of it should be made up of complex carbohydrates. The foods that offer you the best levels of protein are fish, white meat, beans, lentils, eggs and nuts. In fact beans or lentils in your food are even better as they are a combination of both protein and complex carbohydrates.

5. Finally when it comes to devising a new healthy eating diet make sure that you include foods with different colors. These contain large amounts of nutrients that your body needs to function correctly and will also aid in boosting how your metabolism works. You can find some great recipes that include a wide variety of ingredients on Tasty Bingo, on top of enjoyable and entertaining bingo games. Of course don’t forget to include white foods such as garlic, leeks and onions in your meals.

The Off-Season: Stay in Shape

The Off-Season: Stay in Shape

 

It is very important for athletes to keep up with any kind of physical activity like an organized sport or simple body-weight exercises. Many people do not realize how easy it is for one to get out of shape. Fortunately, staying fit is a lot simpler than many people think, and below are five tips and lessons to help athletes for maintaining your fitness during your off-season:

 

1.) Do cardio exercise at least four days out of the week

 

You need to make sure that you perform cardio exercises at least four days out of the week for 45 minutes at a time. Cardio exercises help you maintain your stamina, which will prepare you for the next season. Jumping rope, jogging, cycling and swimming are examples of some exercises that can keep you in shape.

 

2.) Do resistance training three times per week

 

You also need to keep your muscles strong, so you should include resistance training in your regime. Incorporating resistance exercises at least three days out of the week will help keep your body conditioned. Sit-ups, push-ups, squats and lunges are a couple of resistance exercises that you can do without stressing the body too much.

 

3.) Eat right

 

It can be easy for some athletes to get into the habit of eating junk food and becoming lax in their diet during their off-season. However, you should still continue to eat healthy even when you are not playing a sport. Sugary, fatty and fried foods should be eaten sparingly, if at all. Fruits, vegetables and lean protein should make up the bulk of your diet. Additionally, you also need to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water. A proper diet can be a huge deciding factor in terms of staying in shape or becoming sluggish.

 

4.) Move as much as possible 

 

Even on the days that you do not exercise, you should still make sure that you get at least thirty minutes of physical activity in each day. Cycling instead of driving and taking the stairs instead of the elevator are two very simple ways that you can get more activity into your day.

 

5.) Get plenty of rest

 

You need at least seven hours of sleep every night. Not getting enough sleep can impair your performance and make you more prone to gaining weight. You should also get into the habit of going to bed and getting up around the same time every day.

 

At times, it can be hard to stay motivated especially when spending time away from the team. Gaining motivation can be as simple as watching others play sports. Seeing other fit people is motivating. Go watch a professional sports team practice. Pick up some North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball Tickets or tickets to another favorite team. Grab some friends and watch how they perform. Get motivated.

 

Before jumping into any sport you need to make sure that you are doing all that you can to keep in decent shape. Doing cardio and resistance exercises, eating right, moving as much as possible and resting are all keys to staying in shape while in the off-season.

 

 

Guest Post provided by Becky W

 

Start 2013 on the Right Path with Nature’s Path Products

Start 2013 on the Right Path with Nature’s Path Products

The new year is just a few days away and it is time to start taking control of things like your health and fitness.   Time to start doing what is right for the health and well being of your family.  A great place to start is by cleaning out your cupboards and getting rid of all the over processed, unnatural, sodium and gmo packed foods and replace them with healthy choices.  The perfect place to get all those healthy foods is Nature’s Path.

You love your family and yourself, right?  Well if you do then you will start taking care of everyone by giving them healthy choices every day.   Choices like, fun ways to workout, and good things to eat.

Nature’s Path products are USDA Certified Organic, Non GMO Project Verified and Vegetarian.  Choose from cold cereal, hot cereal, granola, pancake mixes, waffles, bars, toaster pastries, breads and more.   A huge variety that is sure to tickle anyone’s taste buds.   Also, they offer for special diet needs like gluten free, wheat free, low sodium, etc.  There is nobody that is left hungry when you choose Nature’s Path to fill your cupboards.

I got to try a nice selection of products and have to say the granola is my favorite.  If you follow me, you know how much I love granola!  It is my go to food for snacking and so I eat a lot of it. The Gingerbread Love Crunch is so darn yummy and was perfect for this time of the year.  And, I used it when I baked my pumpkin pie this year.  I put it on top of the pumpkin pie right out of the oven and pushed it into the pie some.   It gave an old pie a new twist.

Check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Let Nature’s Path start your 2013 off on the right path !

Eat Raw, Eat Well ~ Raw, Vegan & Gluten – Free Recipes

Eat Raw, Eat Well
400 Raw, Vegan & Gluten-Free Recipes
by Douglas McNish

With everyone changing the way they eat now days, or looking at alternative to
their food choices it is a reassurance that one can find books like this on the
local book store shelf.

Choose from some great recipes like Morning Energy Bars, Spicy Carrot and Ginger Soup, Buckwheat and Sunflower Seed Pizza Crust, Pecan Pie, Kale Waldorf Salad, and so much more.

Click Here to get your copy today.

Disclaimer ~ Living Smart Girl received product to facilitate a review.  All opinions are 100% Living Smart Girl’s.

National French Fry Day

Did you know that July 13th is National French Fry Day?

Seriously?   Don’t we have enough Holidays or special days thru the year, now
we have to add a national day for french fries.   Well, how about a day for
hot dogs, or spaghetti, or steak?  Maybe for taco’s, or milkshakes?

I am contacted daily by media wanting me to post things for them and most of it
I just hit the delete button.. but this actually struck a nerve.  Why?  Well with all the
unhealthy people in the world today that are struggling with weight, diets, eating
healthy and such.. why the hell do we need a national french fry day?

Ack!!  Stupid!!   So, the world is saying it is ok to eat these grease soaked potatoes, only on one day.. ?  Really?   I am not one that will lie to you, I so love french fries.  But, I eat in moderation and only have them on occasion when we eat out.   I just think that many people don’t have any self control and when the world says it’s ok to eat them.. well.. what will everyone do?   Eat them!!  Sad.. let’s concentrate celebrating things that have a meaning.. like the 4th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day.  Those are things that deserve our recognition.. not french fries!!