Do not take yourself so seriously!

The one thing I have accomplished this week is to keep my teenage children LAUGHING! 

 For some reason I look quite ridiculous jumping around and swinging those weights around.  My 14 year old athletic son thinks it is hilarious that the 2 - 5lb weights that I use make me huff and puff!  He is right, I have waited way to long to start using them again!!  My Daughter who trains all year long, taught me how to do push ups with the weights and I did 10 and fell to the floor, she said, "Oh come on, I just did 100!"

Join me in getting off the couch!! Go out and buy a pair of weights (Target, Walmart, I bought mine at Play it again Sports..used equipment...I guess someone didn't get off the couch and use them!!)

THIS DOES NOT COUNT!!

A friend shared with me C25K.com a site online that will help you get off the couch and on your way to running a 5k marathon.  Running not for you, do a dancing video in the privacy of your home.  I use JUST DANCE 2 for the Wii. 

What, my flabby body does not inspire you? Here is some information that should make us all change our diet and get off that couch!!

Tip for the WEEK:
Exercise – we all should be doing something if we want to maximize our weight loss!

Information from the book:  THIN FOR LIFE by Anne Fletcher, MS, RD
“Ideal exercise regime is one that combines aerobic exercise with strength training – lifting weights, also called resistance training.”

Read the next paragraph to understand –
“One advantage of strength training is that by increasing the size of your muscles, you may be increasing your body’s metabolic rate.  In other words, because muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, strength training may help you burn more calories.  And strength training can prevent loss of muscle tissue that occurs with dieting and age.”
Beginners can see results quickly, which keeps them going.  You do not need to knock yourself out to get benefits: lifting weights 2 to 3 times a week for 30 to 40 minutes per session is adequate.” 

It is suggested that you get initial instruction from a qualified trainer to insure you are doing it correctly!

Another MYTH – FAT TURNS INTO MUSCLE with exercise!  NO!!
However a combination of Healthy Diet and Exercise burns calories and helps you to work off fat and weight training builds your muscle to make it lean and mean!!!  You also lose fat because of increased calorie expenditure related to aerobic and strength training.

Call me CRAZY, but we all need alittle help, right?

I love McDonald's new Oatmeal ( I know, there I go, more about Oatmeal, it must be the freezing cold temperatures outside!) and how easy it is to get warm Yummy, Tasty Oatmeal into your hands! 
I am not an advocate of Fast Food but I am a Realist and we all have to be out and about and there are times we need to EAT!  Right?? Ok, here comes the HELP part, someone has made it for you and it is still HEALTHY!   Think about it, kids want to stop, you are traveling, early morning meeting...now along with that BLACK COFFEE (ok, that's what I drink),  you can grab a HOT OATMEAL for $1.99.  AND you have choices...oatmeal with brown sugar and oatmeal without.  Ok, you guess, which one am I going to recommend?  DRUM ROLL....without brown sugar!  That's a shocker.  I can eat it wihout sugar because it has sweet apples and raisins in it, but  if it is bland for you, simply ask for a sweetner packet and put JUST ALITTLE in it. 

Why is the 1st meal of the day called BREAKFAST??  Because we need to BREAK the fast that our bodies are in from being sedentary while we slept.  We need to PUT FUEL IN THE CAR (so to speak) to get it running!  The food we eat is burned as it goes into the bodies Kreb Cycle (the engine) and the end result for us is ALERTNESS, ENERGY, A SHARP MIND AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE!!  Who doesn't want all these traits, I do!!  The right food is important.  I WILL GET ON MY SOAP BOX about kids menu choices next week!  Stay tune, you do not want to miss that!

Do you read Labels?  I am going to help you start...compare:  with brown sugar: 32g Sugar and without brown sugar 18g Sugar

That is a difference of 14 grams of sugar.  Do not always just look at calories, look at sugar amounts. 

OK, all that to say..."Mcdonald's has Oatmeal and you can order it ALL DAY, even late into the night...love that!"  We all need a little help sometime!

INGREDIENTS ~

Fruit & Maple Oatmeal†:
Diced Apples, Cranberry Raisin Blend, Light Cream

Whole grain rolled oats, brown sugar, food starch-modified, salt, natural flavor (plant source), barley malt extract, caramel color.

Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without Brown Sugar†:
Cranberry Raisin Blend, Diced Apples, Light Cream
Whole grain rolled oats, food starch-modified, maltodextrin, natural flavor (plant source), barley malt extract, caramel color.

Eat FOODS YOU LOVE, FORGET ABOUT THOSE YOU HATE

 **   It is time to start Loving what you Eat, instead of always having to give up FOOD that you are suppose to hate.  Start adding FOODS you will LOVE...
~ Here is a great link to healthy recipes and
GOOD EATS!!
http://www.myrecipes.com/  

Oatmeal...one of my NEWEST favorite foods!!
Great for Breakfast, but great for a snack...add so many things to it:
blueberries
raisins
nuts
fresh apples
so much...

Have you Tried STEEL CUT OATS??  It has a Super Chewy and hearty texture! Try Bob’s Red Mill (BRM) gluten free steel cut oats for breakfast.

Not ready for STEEL OATS?  GO for the Rolled Oats..they are cheap and  EASY to make!  And one of those PERFECT foods to add into your diet!

Fun Fact: Steel cut oats are less processed than both instant and rolled oats, which means the have a lower the glycemic index and absorb more slowly into your bloodstream.

  ** Add Blueberries to YOUR OATMEAL
- Remember they help to

slow down the aging process** 

Don't overdue it they can turn your skin blue...

only if you eats tubs of them a day! 

I think you are safe...EAT AWAY!

BLUEBERRIES ~ that Perfect FOOD....WHY:

The highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruit: Blue Berries, being very rich in anti oxidants like Anthocyanin, vitamin C, B complex, vitamin E, vitamin A, copper (a very effective immune builder and anti-bacterial), selenium, zinc, iron (promotes immunity by raising haemoglobin and oxygen concentration in blood) etc. boost up your immune system and prevent infections. Once your immunity is strong, you won’t catch colds, fever, pox and all such nasty viral and bacterial communicable diseases.

 

Neutralizes free radicals which can affect disease and aging in the body: Blue Berries bring you the brightest ray of hope, for they are laden with anti oxidants and rank number 1 in the world of anti oxidants. This is mainly due to presence of Anthocyanin, a pigment responsible for the blue color of the blue berries. The abundance of vitamin-C is also a big factor for this as well.

 

Aid in reducing Belly Fat

Other benefits & facts: They keep you fresh, active, fit, sharp, close to nature and in a good mood, as they are very good anti depressants.  Remember, the deeper the color of the Blue Berries, the more they are rich in anti oxidants.

DATE NUT BREADDates are a great source of fruit.  They have:

• More antioxidants than apples, oranges, grapes, mangos, or cantaloupe.
• They are a great source of fiber.
• They are naturally fat-free, cholesterol free and sodium free.
• They promote good digestion!!

Since those are some great reasons to put dates in your kids diet, here is a great recipe!

DATE NUT BREAD RECIPE

• 1 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 1/2 cup dates

Pour boiling water over dates and let sit for 10 minutes. Then add:

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts.

In separate bowl:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 TBL melted butter

Combine date/flour mixture with sugar mixture and stir just till everything is moistened.  If there is one thing I’ve learned in baking is not to over mix!  Pour batter into 1 well greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes or until center is cooked.

_____________________________________________________________________________

 Watermelon Salsa recipe -   The simple recipe is:

• 3-4 cups diced watermelon
• 1 TBL cilantro
• 1 TBL very very very finely diced red onion
• 3 TBL lime juice
• sprinkle of salt.

Add baked corn chips and enjoy. 











SHARE WITH YOUR FAMILY!  LET'S GET THEM HEALTHY TOO!!

CHRISTIE

Welcome to the PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD BLOG! 

~  Let's get healthy by enjoying our food and having FUN eating, cooking and even shopping!  Check in daily to see new posts with Tips on how to Lose Weight, Become FIT and give your Family foods they will LOVE eating! 

Small Changes Add Up

Here are more great ideas that will cut calories from your daily intake, possibly without your even noticing:

1.     Downsize Your Dishes. Use smaller plates and bowls to help you eat less. We tend to fill up the dish we’re using and then eat it all. Our brains also think we are getting more when the same amount of food is placed in a smaller dish.

2.     Savor Your Meals. Eating slowly helps you consume only what your body needs to feel satisfied. Eating too quickly, in less than 20 to 30 minutes, leads to overeating and feeling uncomfortably full afterwards.

3.     Leave Some Food on Your Plate. This is especially important if you grew up in the “clean plate club.” By leaving even a few bites, you can focus more on your internal signals of satisfaction and less on eating food just because it is there.

4.     Don’t Eat Out of a Bag or Box. When you eat out of a package, you are likely to keep eating until it’s all gone – no matter how many servings the package actually contains. Pour one serving into a small bowl.

5.     Choose Your Glass Wisely. Here’s another place where our eyes play tricks on us. When glasses are short and wide, we tend to fill them with more fluid and to drink more. Use a slender glass for any beverage except water.

6.     Rethink Your Drinks. High-calorie beverages like soft drinks, juice drinks, energy drinks, specialty coffees and alcohol add calories just like solid foods. Whenever possible, replace these drinks with plenty of water.

Let me stress how TRUE #4 is!!  Do not eat out of a bag...I go even further to say that your menu selections should not include processed foods...items that come in a box and bag.  START thinking about nutritional content ~ most processed foods have very little!  Even if the calorie count is low, if the nutritional value is low, the body does little with it but turn it into fat. 

Snacks: 

AVOID: packaged snacks...even low fat ones!  they are usually loaded with sugar and salt

Eat:  fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, trail mix*, eggs, baked potato, protein bar low in sugar and fat = kashi or luna bars are best!

Drink a protein drink that you made yourself with protein mix, water,  and frozen fruit

* I make my own trail mix =  raw almonds, raisins, dark chocolate chips, pecans

This is a great snack when you want something sweet but it is nutritional rich!