Breakfast
Banana & Strawberry Smoothie
- 1 banana, chopped
- 1/2 cup of strawberries, diced
1/2 cup of frozen Greek yogurt
- 1 tea spoon of honey
- 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk
Blend til' smooth. Enjoy.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Friday, February 1, 2013
Lose Weight After Pregnancy - Thursday's Motivation
Some days, you just need a blog post full of wordless motivation to make you HIT IT HARD.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Hello beautiful!
Oh yeah, you are gonna feel it.
In case you don't feel like working hard today...
Step. Away. From. The. Donut.
But remember, not all fats are bad for you.
And then a little fitness humor.
Finally, my weekly weigh in, and tonight's healthy dinner.
 |
| 1 pound down in 2 weeks - I can live with that. |
 |
| Baked chicken breast on wheat bread with hummus and cucumbers. |
Happy Friday, everyone!
Will you be getting your fitness on?
Friday, January 25, 2013
Lose Weight After Pregnancy - Clean Eating Plan Made Easy
Your New Year's resolution was to lose weight. (In my case, it was to lose weight after pregnancy.) How's that going?
If you've already lost inches by exercising and reducing calorie intake, then kudos to you. However, right about now, at a few weeks in, you are beginning to plateau. Such a frustrating feeling, isn't it? To work so hard and feel so good, and then stop.
Before you rush into some crazy cleanse or hire an expensive trainer, ask yourself: am I eating the right foods? If you are spending hours at the gym but scarfing burgers and fries, you won't succeed.
I did lose all baby weight after my first was born, but it took nine months, even though I ran up to 12 miles a week. Thinking that breast feeding required fatty foods, I loaded up on carbs, neglected protein, and thoroughly enjoyed desserts.
This time, I started to eat clean, by consuming nutritious yet satisfying foods. So far, weight came off easier, clothes fit better, and most of all, I have more energy.
Should you stop working out then? ABSOLUTELY NOT! In fact, you should give it all at each workout.
To achieve weight loss success, combine exercising with clean eating. They go together like salt and pepper. And if you need help getting started with clean eating, check out the easy-to-follow plan below:
Food is not your enemy. Bad food is your enemy.
In clean eating, avoid processed foods like white rice, flour, junk food and soda.
Eat natural foods like protein, oils, nuts, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Think of your body as an engine, and food its fuel.
When in doubt, stick to the basics. Fruits, veggies and lean meat are always good. Cook with as little ingredients as possible. (I usually aim for 3 - 6.)
Make meals at home. You'll always know what's in each dish.
At the store, read labels. Aim for products with less than five ingredients, and avoid anything you cannot pronounce.
Fats are good for you, as long as they are unsaturated. Unsaturated fats, divided into monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, come from vegetables and plants, and reduce risk of diseases.
Water is the BEST! It hydrates, cleanses, and makes you too full for junk food.
Had a bad day? Hey, it's not the end of the world. I actually reward myself with little treats once a day. (A spoonful of nutella sounds mighty appetizing now.)
Also, if you go out with friends, loosen up. Try ordering healthier choices, but still enjoy the meal if you can't get what you want.
The more you focus on weight, the less you lose. Clean eating is a lifestyle choice, not a diet. Stop obsessing.
My trick? Lock up the scale, and take it out once a week to track progress.
There are many online communities that promote clean eating. Members are extremely dedicated, resourceful and motivating. Connecting with like-minded people is healthy and fun.
If you've already lost inches by exercising and reducing calorie intake, then kudos to you. However, right about now, at a few weeks in, you are beginning to plateau. Such a frustrating feeling, isn't it? To work so hard and feel so good, and then stop.
Train Mean. Eat Clean.
Before you rush into some crazy cleanse or hire an expensive trainer, ask yourself: am I eating the right foods? If you are spending hours at the gym but scarfing burgers and fries, you won't succeed.
I did lose all baby weight after my first was born, but it took nine months, even though I ran up to 12 miles a week. Thinking that breast feeding required fatty foods, I loaded up on carbs, neglected protein, and thoroughly enjoyed desserts.
This time, I started to eat clean, by consuming nutritious yet satisfying foods. So far, weight came off easier, clothes fit better, and most of all, I have more energy.
Should you stop working out then? ABSOLUTELY NOT! In fact, you should give it all at each workout.
To achieve weight loss success, combine exercising with clean eating. They go together like salt and pepper. And if you need help getting started with clean eating, check out the easy-to-follow plan below:
Clean Eating Plan, in Easy and Doable Steps
Step 1: Identify your enemies.
Food is not your enemy. Bad food is your enemy.
In clean eating, avoid processed foods like white rice, flour, junk food and soda.
Step 2: Find your friends.
Eat natural foods like protein, oils, nuts, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Think of your body as an engine, and food its fuel.
 |
| Buy fresh. Buy local. |
Step 3: Keep it simple.
When in doubt, stick to the basics. Fruits, veggies and lean meat are always good. Cook with as little ingredients as possible. (I usually aim for 3 - 6.)
 |
| Whole grain pasta and tomatoes in pesto sauce, topped with non fat feta. |
 |
| Whole what toast with pesto and all natural provolone. |
Step 4: Cook more. Eat out less.
Make meals at home. You'll always know what's in each dish.
Step 5: Read labels.
At the store, read labels. Aim for products with less than five ingredients, and avoid anything you cannot pronounce.
Step 6: Don't shun fats.
Fats are good for you, as long as they are unsaturated. Unsaturated fats, divided into monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, come from vegetables and plants, and reduce risk of diseases.
 |
| Good fat. Great taste. |
Step 7: Drink water. Lots of it.
Water is the BEST! It hydrates, cleanses, and makes you too full for junk food.
Step 8: Be flexible.
Had a bad day? Hey, it's not the end of the world. I actually reward myself with little treats once a day. (A spoonful of nutella sounds mighty appetizing now.)
Also, if you go out with friends, loosen up. Try ordering healthier choices, but still enjoy the meal if you can't get what you want.
Step 9: Stop obsessing about weight.
The more you focus on weight, the less you lose. Clean eating is a lifestyle choice, not a diet. Stop obsessing.
My trick? Lock up the scale, and take it out once a week to track progress.
Step 10: Connect with others.
There are many online communities that promote clean eating. Members are extremely dedicated, resourceful and motivating. Connecting with like-minded people is healthy and fun.
 |
| Baby shrimp, cherry tomatoes (in balsamic vinegar) and whole wheat toast. |
Congrats! You made it to the end of this post.
Just had a baby?
How do you lose weight after pregnancy?
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Lose Weight After Pregnancy - Unique Tips to Drink More Water
A recent article on Self.com mentioned "3 Reasons Why You Should Drink a Glass of Water Before Each Meal," which are to lose weight, improve skin, and energize. I'd like to add that drinking water before each meal also cleanses your palate, making food taste more flavorful.
But hey, you've got places to go and people to see, and hydrating just isn't a priority. Well then, how about unique tips to get the water-drinking started? They are more interesting than turning on the faucet, and might help you achieve (a recommended dosage of) nine glasses per day.
Each time you feel like doing something bad: binge on ice cream, sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, curse at annoying co-workers...down a glass of water.
Two minutes later, ask yourself: do you still want to do bad things?
Okay. You caved. You ate ice cream, gossiped, swore in public...
Instead of suffering in guilt, move on. Chug a glass of water for every bad deed you did.
Remember frat boys chugging beer? Same concept, but much healthier. Grab a friend -- I do it with my toddler, by the way -- and have a water-chugging race.
If no one wants to join you, compete with yourself by beating a record time.
Immature? Sure. Healthy? Absolutely!
The only time I felt utter desperation for water was when I really needed it.
Run up and down a flight of stairs nonstop for 30 minutes, or do something similarly exhausting. See if you feel thirsty then.
Use small bottles or cups. Less volume looks less intimidating. (Though I have no idea why water would be intimidating? :O) )
But hey, you've got places to go and people to see, and hydrating just isn't a priority. Well then, how about unique tips to get the water-drinking started? They are more interesting than turning on the faucet, and might help you achieve (a recommended dosage of) nine glasses per day.
 |
| Today's consumption so far - go me! |
Tip 1: Drink by Prevention
Each time you feel like doing something bad: binge on ice cream, sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, curse at annoying co-workers...down a glass of water.
Two minutes later, ask yourself: do you still want to do bad things?
Tip 2: Drink by Punishment
Okay. You caved. You ate ice cream, gossiped, swore in public...
Instead of suffering in guilt, move on. Chug a glass of water for every bad deed you did.
Tip 3: Drink by Competition
Remember frat boys chugging beer? Same concept, but much healthier. Grab a friend -- I do it with my toddler, by the way -- and have a water-chugging race.
If no one wants to join you, compete with yourself by beating a record time.
Immature? Sure. Healthy? Absolutely!
Tip 4: Drink by Necessity
The only time I felt utter desperation for water was when I really needed it.
Run up and down a flight of stairs nonstop for 30 minutes, or do something similarly exhausting. See if you feel thirsty then.
Tip 5: Drink by Divide and Conquer
Use small bottles or cups. Less volume looks less intimidating. (Though I have no idea why water would be intimidating? :O) )
Weekly Weigh In
Oops. A little heavier than last week. (Last week was 116.6) I'll blame it on extra water :O)
Fitness After Pregnancy Progress Chart
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
1/10/2012 (12 weeks postpartum) |
 |
117.2 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
12/20/2012 (9 weeks postpartum) |
 |
121 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
11/29/2012 (6 weeks postpartum) |
 |
119.4 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
11/08/2012 (3 weeks postpartum) |
 |
121.8 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
10/31/2012 (2 weeks post partum) |
 |
124.2 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
10/13/2012 (1 week before due date) |
 |
145 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
02/2012 (Pre-Pregnancy) |
 |
108 |
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