Thanks to Amy

Thanks to Amy, one of our Blog followers for leaving this tip.  I will add this link to the blog:

Amy wrote, just fyi, you can get larabars at whole foods for 0.89 right now by using the deal here:


http://yourgreenhelper.blogspot.com/2011/02/whole-foods-deals-feb-16-22.html

Remember to register as a Follower and leave a Comment to be in the drawing for the Longaberger small low bowl.  *Make sure you read Friday's post. 

Step OFF and walk walk walk



see more www.longaberger.com/christielaffin

 FIRST BLOG GIVE AWAY:  Leave me a comment on "WHAT IS your biggest struggle to maintaining your WEIGHT?"  You must be a FOLLOWER to win...so sign up today!  Drawing will happen at Midnight on Sunday night.   GIve away ~ Pottery Small LOW BOWL (nonporous, healthy pottery!)

Remember I said, PUT AWAY THE SCALE, and here is why:

• You can lose body fat and retain water at the same time, which means your weight on the scale can increase while you are slimming down.

To gain just one pound of actual body fat, you’d have to eat 3,500 more calories than you burn, which is a lot of extra eating (think 500 excess calories every day for seven days straight – 500 is the amount in three handfuls of potato chips, a slice of pecan pie, or a cup of premium ice cream).  If your weight on the scale increases by one pound and you haven’t consumed an excess of 3,500 calories, you haven’t actually gained a pound of body fat. 

 THAT IS GOOD NEWS!  Getting on the scale can discourage many to not follow thru on their PLAN to eat healthy, because it may seem it is not making a difference, BUT the scale can be your enemy!  WALK AWAY!
~ literally WALK AWAY and keep walking....START briskly walking 30 minutes a day!  (if you are not consistently exercising!)

Instead of watching how your weight changes from day to day, it’s more important to focus on how your body size changes over time. 

•  Your clothes should fit a little looser each week.  And remember, you may be “shrinking” and whittling away body fat even if the number on the scale hasn’t budged.

The above is a portion from the book, CINCH.

NOW that is FANTASTIC NEWS, but only if you are walking away from the PECAN PIE or Potato Chips!                                                                            ~Let's look at CHIPS...to be honest, Potato Chips are my WEAKNESS.  I can't have them in the house...I will get out of bed in the middle of the night to eat them! 
So, needless to say, they are not on my shopping list.  Should it matter that they say 0 trans fat?  No, because you need to look at the whole package.  Ask yourself before you eat anything, "What is the nutritional value of this food?"  Potato Chips...0 nutritional value!
...OH MAN, they taste GOOD, but so does alot of food that can make you STRONGER for the future!

Better Picks (if it is crunchy, salty that you crave):

• Almonds
• Shelled Peanuts
• Carrots (crunchy)
• Larabar's
• Sunflower Seeds
• Dark Chocolate - if chips are a craving and you haven't had any chocolate that day, the sweet deep flavor may curve that chip desire.

IF chips are something you want to have once in a great while, make sure to always measure out and put on a plate.  NEVER EAT OUT OF THE BAG!  One handful is what your measurement should be for a serving.  *Sometimes my biggest splurge is a Sandwhich on whole wheat bread and a handful of chips. 

A SPLURGE can be scheduled in a weight loss program, but give yourself at least 30 days on a plan before they become a habit. HABIT = Once a month, but I will tell you, most people who eat good, healthy, natural foods realize they do not need a SPLURGE!

DID YOU KNOW ~ Many companies are eliminating trans fats from foods, but they may be replacing them with an ingredient that can be far worse for our bodies and health.  It is known as interesterified oil, also known as fully hydrogenated oil. 

Look for it and when found, do not buy the foods that have it in the ingredient list!  READ LABELS on the back of the package, not just catch phrases boldly printed on the front of the package!

Ok, here is my PROBLEM.  My new favorite smoothies are loved by my Family.  Now instead of making one and sitting down and enjoying every slurp, I turn on the blender and hear..."Can you make me one!"  Today, my 14 year old that is almost 6 feet tall,  had 2 smoothies.  I know, this is a good problem...but it is like hiding your chocolate in the cookie jar.  Everytime they hear the clanging of the lid, they want to know what you are getting!  I guess the lesson here is I hope the tips and info I share with you are ones that help you be healthier, but are also ones you share with your family! But remember, your goal is to introduce food that has a high nutritional value and are YUMMY too!

Go thru the Grocery Store with your EYES WIDE OPEN:   Money Saving TIP:  I introduced Raspberries to you a few days ago as one of my new favorite foods.  Raspberries are hard to find FRESH in Ohio in the month of February because it is COLD...ok more than cold, it is FREEZING!  Ok, here's the point, BUY FROZEN, but even frozen raspberries are expensive, but worth the money nutritionally.  But all fruits are NOT CREATED EQUAL!  So, it is good to eat a VARIETY...so here is what I found at GFS this week. (GFS is a store like Sam's...go to gfs.com to locate a store near you.). Also, check the freezer section in your Grocery Store, there will be several different sizes for you to choose from and enjoy.   A 5lb bag of Raspberries were $21 and a 5lb bag of Blackberries were $9.99.  Last week I splurged and bought the raspberries...YUMMY.  I am glad I did!  This week I bought the blackberries and my new smoothie is loved also by me and my family!  I also bought 4 containers of Plain, NonFat Yogurt because it was on sale this week.  It will last in the refrigerator unopened for about 2-3 weeks.  (there is a sell by date on the packet).   Another TIP:  Buy FRUIT in season, it is usually cheaper.  Right now you can find good prices on oranges and clementines (perfect for all the vitamin C we need to get thru the winter).  

DID YOU KNOW:   Blackberries are also rich in manganese and vitamin C. It is important to have adequate vitamin C as a lack of it can weaken our immune system, which in turn can make you stressed and run down. Other good sources of manganese and vitamin C are strawberries and raspberries.


Smoothie Recipe:

6 oz. Yogurt ( I use Plain for mine and Vanilla for my Kids)
1 cup of Frozen Fruit (raspberries has alot of flavor, Blackberries are great color!)
1/8-1/4 cup of Orange Juice
1 tbsp of Almond Butter (this does not go into the one I make for my teenagers) 
*I do not like things real sweet so I do not require any sweetner but if you do want it sweeter,  use 1 pkt of Truvia.



1 cup (144g) of blackberries will provide the following...Calories 75, Protein 1g, Total fat 0.6g, Carbohydrate 18g, Fiber 7.6g and they are a good source of folate 49mcg.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Chocolate the food for LOVERS and the food for Longevity!  Giving Dark Chocolate to the one's you LOVE is the ultimate sign of affection!  5 dark chocolate kisses a day is good for the heart and the mind.

5 kisses a day may even help manage your weight.  Use the 5 kisses to satisfy your hunger for dessert and step away from the fat and sugar infused desserts.

Take a few minutes away from the TV, COMPUTER and the Family and put each kiss in your mouth one by one!  Let each one dissolve as you savor the flavor.  Take a walk and enjoy Bird watching or just getting some exercise.  You will love those 5 kisses!

Why is Dark Chocolate Healthy?:

Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.

Never Forget ~ Chocolate is a Vegetable!

The Larabar Bar ~ a Great Snack option  - stay away from energy bars that have alot of sugar and fat in the recipe.  The Larabars have 3-5 ingredients and you will recognize all the ingredients!
Apple Pie has almonds, unsweetened apples, walnuts, raisins, cinnamon....that is all and there are several flavors.
                              Super!  Super! SNACK!!!