A New Start!

Well, I don't know about you, but I would say I officially feel 9months pregnant with how much I ate this season.

Thank goodness for the new year!!

I want to jump-start the new year with this insane, yet incredible video that opens your eyes and mind about what we are putting into our bodies. It's not to scare you or think you're doing wrong, it's main purpose is to be aware and always have an open mind to healthier foods and healthier lifestyle.

Now, since it is the new year, I can't wait for future posts that I have in store-some wonderful fast and easy workouts, another testimonial, and of course some delicious recipes!

I hope you enjoy this educational video as much as I did and stay tuned for some more goodness on its way!

10 Ways to cut 500 Calories a Day

1. Get enough sleep. A lack of shut eye can make you snack, new research from the University of Chicago shows. People who got only 5 1/2 hours of sleep munched more during the day. Snooze more and save about 1,087 calories.

2. Don’t eat in front of the TV. You’ll eat up to 288 calories more, according to research from the University of Massachusetts. Instead, eat at the table, and trade one hour of TV for a casual walk. Together, that’s 527 calories burned.

3. Get in tune with your tummy. Pay attention to how full you feel, and put down your fork when you’re satisfied. Listen to your body’s cues—instead of looking at whether the plate is clean—and save up to 500 calories a day.

4. Use smaller plates. Swap your 12-inch plate for a 10-inch one. You’ll eat 20 to 25 percent less—and save up to 500 calories. You won’t feel any less full, either, researchers say.

5. Clean house. Tidy up for 2 1/2 hours and burn 510 calories

6. Think small at the ice cream shop. Even if you indulge in your favorite full-fat flavor, you’ll save as many as 550 calories with a 5-ounce size instead of a 12-ounce

7. Shovel snow. Clearing the driveway and sidewalks for one hour and 15 minutes will torch 510 calories

8. Tap your foot. Your skinnier friends are probably fidgeters, who burn up to 350 calories a day just by tapping their feet or being restless. Try it for a few days. Walk around while you’re on the phone, or tap out a tune with your hands or feet (in the privacy of your own office, of course).

9. Ice-skate for one hour and five minutes and burn 516 calories

10. Go window-shopping. Whether you buy anything or not, an afternoon of walking around and trying on clothes can torch 548 calories.

People think that the only way to burn calories is by running, doing heavy weights,

climbing mountains or sweating to death.

We all forget that we are already burning calories throughout the day.

These are just a few ways to burn extra calories by doing things a little differently in your day:)

Hope Your all Enjoying the Holidays!

(Information from Health.com)

Did You Know??

The Skinny on Holiday Weight Gain

In the previous years the Media has exaggerated immensely on weight gain during the holidays. They say the average person gains 7-10 pounds during the holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, etc.

....Little did we know it was all a gimmick for the gyms and weight loss programs to get business at the start of the new years. Which of course they all did and continue to have there busiest time at the start of the year.

Well, come to find out with some help from the New England Journal of Medicine by doing a study, the average person only gains 1 pound from the winter holidays. They weighed a group of 160 people the day before thanksgiving and weighed them again after 3 weeks. Only one of them gained 2 pounds and the rest of them only gained the 1 pound!

So why am I telling you this? Crash diets are dangerous. Don't make it a goal to lose all that weight that you think you gained from the holidays. Continue to eat balanced meals and portions, exercise regularly, and most importantly-DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP if you have a dessert. Eat it, enjoy it, realize it wasn't the best thing you could have put in your body, and get over it! Move on! Don't let it ruin your day and if anything your mood! Us girls can beat up ourselves mentally pretty good and hard.

The best thing about our bodies, is that it forgives us easily the second we start treating it right.

There is always tomorrow, and remember that even if you didn't glance at the the healthy foods at the party-doesn't mean you can't eat the fruits and vegetables the next day:)

White Chocolate Chunk-Cranberry Cookies

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
I hope you were all more controlled than me:)

I wanted to get some Holiday recipes out there for all of us to enjoy without guilt.
This one is perfect for not only feeling cozy on a snowy day, but letting your kids get away with eating cookies knowing it's not going to ruin there bodies.

White Chocolate Chunk-Cranberry Cookies:
2/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar (which is all natural sugar crystals, haha but we just used splenda and they tasted just as perfect)
2/3 c. shortening
1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp. finely shredded orange peel
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg, or 1/4 c. fat free cholesterol-free egg product
2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 c. dried cranberries
1 package (6 ounces) white chocolate bars, cut into 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch chunks

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat sugars, shortening, butter, orange peel, vanilla and egg in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, or mix with spoon.
Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in Cranberries and white baking bar chunks.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonful about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown. Cool 1-2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack, cool completely about 30 mins.

Drizzle with White Chocolate Glaze....MMMMMMMMMM....

White Chocolate Glaze:
1 package (6 ounces) white baking bars, white chocolate, chopped.
2 tsp. shortening

Directions:
Place ingredients in 2-cup microwavable measuring cup or deep bowl.
Microwave uncovered on high for 45 seconds; stir.
If baking bars don't melt, microwave 10 to 20 seconds at a time, stirring after each time, until melted.

Nutritional Facts:
Fiber 0g
Fat 5g
(saturated 2g)
Cholesterol 10g
Sodium 45g
Protein 1g
Carbohydrates 11g

*Feeds 5 1/2 dozen cookies.

(This recipe came out of my favorite Betty Crocker's Diabetic Cookbook)

Did You Know??

Did you know we are supposed to be eating

2 servings of fruit a day along with 3 servings of vegetables?

As in, every. single. day?

Well, not too many people know that either.

According to the CDC's recent state-by-state report

only 14% of U.S. adults are getting there daily fruits and vegetables,

and only 9.5% of teens.

With Mississippi coming in last with a total of 8.8% overall,

Washington D.C. is getting the most daily intake of the goodness.

Next time you go to grab a piece of bread or a bowl of cereal for a snack, grab an apple or cut up a nice, tangy orange pepper.

These small, daily choices will make a world of a difference with not only your energy levels, brain activity, and weight control, but also your overall health and well-being.

Flourless Honey-Almond Cake

Very few words for this incredible recipe.

Delicious, seasonal, and healthy.

What more could you ask for in a cake?

One of the most satisfying cakes I've tried in my day.

DO ENJOY!

Flourless Honey-Almond Cake
1 1/2 cups whole almonds, toasted
4 large eggs, at room temperature, separated
1/2 cups honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cups sliced almonds, toasted



Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-inch spring form pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom with parchment paper and spray the paper.

-Process whole almonds in a food processor or blender until finely ground (you will have about 1 3/4 cups ground). Beat 4 egg yolks, 1/2 cup honey, vanilla, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer (or use a paddle attachment on a stand mixer) on medium speed until well combined. Add the ground almonds and beat on low until combined.

-Beat 4 egg whites in another large bowl with the electric mixer (use clean beaters on a handheld mixer or the whisk attachment on a stand mixer) on medium speed until very foamy, white and doubled in volume, but not stiff enough to hold peaks, 1 to 2 minutes (depending on the type of mixer). Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the nut mixture until just combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.

-Bake the cake until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and gently remove the side ring. Let cool completely.

-If desired, remove the cake from the pan bottom by gently sliding a large, wide spatula between the cake and the parchment paper. Carefully transfer the cake to a serving platter. To serve, drizzle the top of the cake with honey and sprinkle with sliced almonds.

Nutrition Facts:
Total Fat: 14g
Sat. Fat: 1g
Cholesterol:85mg
Sodium: 208mg
Total Carbohydrates: 22g
Dietary Fiber: 3g
Sugars: 0 Protein: 8g

(this outstanding recipe was found via delish.com)

Foods that Combat Fat

Wow, I can't tell you how sorry I am for leaving this blog hanging for as long as I did. I promise I do think about it all the time, just never update. So please forgive me!

To start the winter season with some good motivation, I've found an

incredible article about

8 wonderful foods that help conquer fat!

*also, stay tuned for some wonderful winter recipes

that are tasty and HEALTHY!

Almonds
Almond joy! Dieters who ate 3 ounces of these nuts every day reduced their weight and body-mass index by a solid 18 percent compared with an 11 percent drop in the no-nut group, a study in the International Journal of Obesity found. Almonds are high in alpha-linolenic acid, which can speed the metabolism of fats. Stick to 12 per serving.



Berries
Vitamin C–loaded fruit such as strawberries and raspberries can help you sizzle up to 30 percent more fat during exercise, suggests research from Arizona State University at Mesa. Blend a vinaigrette of 1 cup berries and ¼ cup balsamic vinegar.





Mustard
Hello, yellow. The spice that gives mustard its color, turmeric, may slow the growth of fat tissues, a study in the journal Endocrinology notes. Eighty-six mayo in favor of any mustard; sprinkle turmeric on cauliflower and roast for a tangy side. (also learned from a previous post on foods and there colors)



Oranges
Prevent pound creep with this citrus star: It contains fat-torching compounds called flavones. Women who ate the most flavones had a significantly lower increase in body fat over a 14-year period, a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds. Snack on slices or drink freshly squeezed OJ (with pulp!) for the biggest payback.



Soybeans
These green gems are rich in choline, a compound that blocks fat absorption and breaks down fatty deposits. Add ½ cup edamame to a salad.



Sweet Potatoes
Trade up to sweet taters. They’re high in fiber, which means no drastic insulin jumps and thus less fat packed onto your hips. Bake a small sweet potato—think of two bars of soap as a portion size—and top with a dollop of low-fat or nonfat cottage cheese.



Swiss cheese
Holy cow: “Calcium-rich foods reduce fat-producing enzymes and increase fat breakdown,” says Michael B. Zemel, Ph.D., director of the Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Put toe to toe with some of its cheesy counterparts, Swiss is a heavy hitter in the calcium department; layer a slice on a lunchtime sandwich or stack some on high-fiber crackers.

(these 8 foods and the information that has come with it was

found via SELF Magazine)