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Friday, April 29, 2011

Fun, family favorites!



I am always trying to come up with ways to make these silly boys happy and show them that healthy foods truly are delicious and by doing this I've had many recipes that have turned out terrible, but we've found some great ones too! I know it's not successful when my husband gives me that look..."babe, they're gonna hate this one!", then I know!! Like a salmon, broccoli pasta that I attempted...whew it was B.A.D but the ingredients sounded so good?! Whoops.

Two of the favorites right now are grilled cheese with apple! I layer cheese, then THINLY sliced apples(I use granny and gala) even 2 tbs flaxseed and lunch is served with fresh fruit! For a variation, use tortillas, melt cheese, add apple slices and roll up, slice and serve. The boys like these because they are bite-size! Another favorite are my whole wheat pita pizza creations!! I've made several but last night was topped with turkey Italian sausage, mushrooms, olives, broccoli and some mozzarella melted on top! What makes these taste so good? Adding extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed and garlic to the crust! I spread the olive oil, sprinkle flax and freshly chopped garlic and then layer my sauce and toppings!

Weekend Workouts: Today is my day off but tomorrow will be a 5K at hopefully, my fastest time yet! And Sunday, a 5 mile walk to benefit babies born prematurely. We will do this walk as a family, so we're hoping for a pretty day with lots of sunshine :) I need to work on building up my distance, but I get SO nervous when it's time to take the unknown trail or to stay on my normal route...I just need to step up and do it, right? Maybe tomorrow will be that day?! Hmmm

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

to inspire

Has anyone ever told you that you are inspiring? Such strong words. I know that lately as I read my favorite running blogs, I find motivation through their words. Their experiences. The way running makes them feel. It has become somewhat addicting. I read and then I am inspired, I get dressed and take off! As I am running, I have time to clear my head and I think about how far I have come over the years. How great I feel when I am able to do something that I never thought possible. Are small steps, big accomplishments? YES. I believe in celebrating the small stuff. If you set small goals, you have more reasons to celebrate. I hope that through my passion for healthy living, I will somehow inspire others to want to live a healthy or healthier life? As long as I know I am making a difference, I will continue to share my passion and hopefully touch some lives along the way :)

What goals have you set for yourself lately? Have you reached them?

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

by all means, PLAY with your food! (recipe included)

Sometimes, I like to make dinner FUN! My boys will eat their veggies, but thought I'd make the process a little more enjoyable :)
I started by using sauteed string beans for the mouth, broccoli florets for the nose and zucchini and squash for the eyes! The squash was on top of zucchini as the eyeball-get the visual?! *I saute all of my veggies with a sprinkle of garlic salt, pepper and extra virgin olive oil, cover and simmer until slightly tender. For broccoli, I just simmer in a pan with 1 cup water and a little pepper...you can either melt 2% cheese or squeeze lemon on it for extra flavor! The boys thought this was TOO much fun and ate their smiley faces all up!! I had a picture but sadly, my phone was submerged in a glass of water over the weekend and I lost the SIM card and all pictures etc. Very sad but true. I served these Smiley Face Veggies with our turkey burgers! These are so good...

Move It Momma's Turkey Burger Melts
You'll Need: 1lb lean ground turkey, salt, pepper, Louisiana hot sauce(or any other brand!), sliced mozz or provolone cheese, baby bella mushrooms, 2 tbs light brown sugar, 1tbs smart balance margarine and 1/2 purple onion.

Season turkey with 1 tsp salt(I used sea salt), 2 tsp pepper and 1 tbs hot sauce or a little less if you don't like it spicy! Slice onion and in separate skillet, place onion, sugar and margarine at med-high temp and allow to caramelize-stirring occasionally. Cook patties on med heat for about 4 minutes per side until no longer pink. Layer mushrooms, onions and slice of cheese and allow to melt on top! Watch out, these burgers are good and you don't even need those added calories/sugary carbs from the bun!! Serve with veggies and there ya go :) Dinner is served!!!

Today's Workout: 3 mile run with intervals. Intervals did improve my pace/time, so that made me happy! But my legs could sure feel it afterward! I can proudly say that I've lost 7lbs since my running journey began a month ago! It's like I lost majority of my weight years ago and could never quite lose those last few pounds, but now I'm on a roll and NOTHING will stop me!

Monday, April 25, 2011

love this!

I had this hanging in my P.E. office and just LOVE it so much

that I wanted to share it with all of you for a good laugh :)
If you'd like more diet, exercise and fitness cartoons, head over to glasbergen.com


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter recap!

Yesterday we woke up bright and early and hubby and I took turns running on our own...it was great! I did about 4 miles and he did 6! Went to a bbq at his family's and controlled ourselves with no fatty foods or sweets! Today, we woke up with every intention to run and that didn't happen. We ate really well and then the Easter baskets came pouring in! My mom's basket to the boys was filled with TONS of candy and some cool summer clothes, and we were able to leave the candy at her house :) Then the Bunny came to our house and brought trains, Toy Story 3 and sidewalk chalk...wooohooo, no temptations here! Then came the basket from DeDe and Aunt Paulette, OH. MY. GOODNESS. I would been ok if I hadn't seen the Reese's pieces egg carton staring at me...but I gave in! Whew, I think I ate 15 of them before I closed the container and threw them away :) whoops! Guess it could have been worse, but man those are good. As for the other 3lbs of candy, we bagged it up and hubby will bring it to work for all of his friends to devour! Happy Easter to you and yours!!!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Jelly Bean Race Results...



One of my most favorite blogs, Run with Jess is hosting a fun, Easter-inspired virtual race called, The Jelly Bean! SO FUN, right? RIGHT! So, I set off to run my race today! It was a particularly hot and humid day (if you don't believe me, check out the sweaty phone pic! ewwww). I decided to run while pushing the boys because I thought they'd enjoy racing along with me! Breakfast was a sandwich thin smothered in PB and a 1/2 banana- YUM! Then we took off...it was a great start but toward the end I was ready to be finished...but it was a good race! Time: 34:12! Not too shabby :)
My goodness, I never thought I'd enjoy running as much as I do. It's strange, really. I was always an aerobics/cardio girl and love workout videos too. But it was like I was stuck in routine, a rut and needed out! Running was my "out" and I'm so happy that I gave it a chance. Throughout my weight loss, it seems like I'd start running and then give up because I couldn't find a passion for it...it didn't feel good. But for some reason, I found these runners' blogs and I found a new inspiration! Thank you, bloggers! Well, my hubby inspires me too! His running journey started in February 2010 and look how far he's come! Running 7.5 minute miles and almost 100 lbs lighter! It's all so motivating and let's hope I can stick to it and make a true hobby out of being called a RUNNER...oh I sure hope so, because I'm loving it!


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Nillalicious and the Wednesday Workout Blog Hop!

Ok, did ya catch that this recipe probably contains Nilla wafers? Ahhh, I'm being so cheesy today, I just can't help myself :)

*The other day the boys wanted something fun and our kitchen does not contain a whole lotta yummy treats (because we get rid of temptation every chance we get!) so I have to be creative! I grabbed a box of Nilla's(my mom insists on buying these for the boys, so it takes a lot of will power to leave them alone!), natural peanut butter and four hershey kisses left in the freezer from Valentine's Day(did I mention we don't eat sweets around here very often?!). I first melted the chocolates. Filled one Nilla with pb and topped with another Nilla, then dipped in the melted kisses! Not submerged...DIPPED. So, about 1/4 of the Nilla was covered in chocolate! And now for the blog hop...hope you'll join in this week!!!









Hosted by Let's Move It Momma's, My Fitness World and Living Smart Girl!
This week just link up...you'll meet some new friends and have fun! Plus, gain more traffic to your site :) COME ON, WHATCHA WAITIN' FOR?!
Linky is at the bottom!!!


back to Nillalicious:
Holy cow, the boys ate these up soooo fast and the hubby did too! Thank goodness I only made two for each of us, because we could have gone way overboard with this tasty treat! I make sure I teach my family moderation. That's where I can really lose control. I have found that with my family, if we only make enough servings for one sitting, we tend to NOT eat too much and as I said, thankfully I only made enough for that one evening or we'd be in serious Nilla/pb/choco trouble!!

**I will be running my Jelly Bean Race (check top right sidebar) TODAY, I chose to run the 5K and can't wait! I might even ask a neighbor to take my pic while I'm participating in this virtual race! if you haven't signed up, head over to runwithjess.blogspot.com and join in on the FUN!



Monday, April 18, 2011

I'm being featured!

Tammy @ Don't Blink asked if I'd be her first feature in her guest blogger series and I said YES! So head on over and check out my Q&A here and tell her that the Move It Momma sent ya :) Today's Workout: I changed things up a bit and tried some intervals while running! How do I put this...um, it kicked my booty! SERIOUSLY! I think I sweat more in those 30 minutes than I have in a long time! Whew, but I feel great so maybe it'll be just enough to get my body burning calories and help me lose those 10lbs. I so desperately want OFF??!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

how bout that PHYSICAL EDUCATION?

I had a discussion with some friends over the weekend about how their children only have P.E. twice a week in elementary school and it got me thinking...is this how it is at most schools these days? At my last elementary school where I taught P.E., our kids rotated and some weeks had three days while others had two, it depended on the week. This used to upset me because I thought kids should have P.E. EVERY, SINGLE DAY! Am I the only parent that thinks this? Maybe because I am a P.E./Health teacher? I just know our children NEED exercise! Also, a complaint I hear often from parents is that their children do NOT enjoy P.E. Either their coach is non-motivational, it's repetitive, or the exercises aren't exciting enough...hmmm, that really makes me mad. The reason I started teaching P.E. was to help ALL children find a love for exercise and being active, so I'd love to know... How about your kids school, what is P.E. like for them? I'm curious...

Friday, April 15, 2011

this might be my BEST recipe yet!

Move It Momma's BEST Lasagna

You'll Need:

8 whole wheat, oven ready lasagna noodles-mine were Archer Farms

1 med zucchini-sliced

1 lb lean ground turkey

2 cloves garlic-chopped

1 14.5 oz can stewed tomatoes

1 can tomato paste

2 tbs dried basil

2 tbs fresh Italian parsley

1 sm container 1% cottage cheese

1/2 c Parmesan cheese

1 whole egg-beaten

flaxseed meal

salt to taste

2% Mozzarella cheese slices


Brown turkey meat with garlic until cooked through. Meanwhile in a separate bowl, combine cottage cheese, fresh parsley, beaten egg and Parmesan cheese, set aside! To turkey meat, add can of tomatoes, paste, basil, flaxseed meal and a dash of salt, stir until tomatoes cook down. Layer 4 noodles, top with half of cottage cheese mixture, layer of mozzarella cheese, then zucchini, and lastly the meat...repeat until meat mixture is on top again, then top with sprinkled Parmesan cheese. Place in oven at 350 covered for 40 minutes. This recipe freezes perfectly and is great leftovers too! I served our portions with fresh string beans sauteed with The Artisanal Kitchen EVOO I told you about, and a little garlic salt and pepper! Very tasty!


To all the runners out there: I have a few questions for ya...how often do you run? How many days a week should I be running and what distance? I am not training for anything particular, just looking to get into better shape and work on my endurance! Any suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated :) Oh and I guess EVENTUALLY work on training for a half marathon, but that's pretty far from now!


Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Mmmm, so good!

A few days ago, I received a sample of The Artisanal Kitchen's EVOO!

It's SO yummy and the flavor is just right! I love olive oil, use it in almost all of my recipes and this one might be my new favorite! Seems like Anna got it just right when creating!

I used it on our fresh green beans last night, and a salad both yesterday and today :)

If you'd like to buy this tasty Olive Oil, visit www.TheArtisanalKitchen.com and tell them the Move It Momma sent you!

I also used this in a delicious recipe I'll be sharing with you tomorrow, so stay tuned!


Today's Workout: I did 3.1 miles and finished in a faster time than the 5K last weekend :) I was pushing the boys this evening, the weather was perfect and breezy on the water...it felt good! The boys watched the ducks, birds and all of the other families running/walking around the water, so they enjoyed themselves too! We'll be running another 5K this weekend, so I guess we're addicted?! We found out that the Houston Half Marathon sign up is June 1st (its lottery style, so hope we make it) and we'll FOR SURE be signing up!!! woohoooo! I hope I survive training??! After reading my blogger friends posts, I'm sure the training will be ROUGH, but I'm ready and the reward of crossing that finish line seems SO worth it!


Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Wednesday Workout Hop

Hosted By: My Fitness World , Lets Move It Mamma's & Living Smart Girl This is a workout blog hop for Wednesdays! You will receive workout tips, exercise ideas and healthy food ideas from My Fitness World , Lets Move It Mamma's & Living Smart Girl, plus work on your followers!!! HERE ARE THE RULES; 1. Follow My Fitness World, Lets Move It Mamma's & Living Smart Girl 2. Leave us a comment letting us know you follow so we can follow back. 3. Grab our button and post it up on your blog, linking back to our hop. Follow as many blogs as you like And Have Fun!!!
Our featured blogger of the week is, Racing and Saving Mama! Make sure you stop by and say hello, I love her blog and her great workout tips too :)

Workout and Healthy Eating Tool: I'm sure all of you have heard of LIVESTRONG.com but am I the only one just figuring out the COOLEST feature ever! MyPlate. Its basically an online tracker for weight loss, calorie counting, workouts, and more! I joined (its FREE!), typed in my foods for the day, my workout and Yay...it was all tracked and saved for me too! And ready for the best part? As you type in foods/workouts, it'll tell you the consumed calories and burned calories off to the right plus how many calories remaining on your daily intake, depending upon where you set your goals! VERY COOL! This is set up for beginner to advanced, so whether you are just starting out on your healthy journey or you've been there forever, its a great way to keep track of your diet and exercise! I'm impressed... So, be honest...how many of you already knew about this very cool, LIVESTRONG feature...and didn't share it with Move It Momma??!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Move It Momma Recipe: Zesty Chicken and Noodles


Move It Momma's Zesty Chicken and noodles

You'll Need:

4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

zesty Italian dressing

2 cups whole wheat pasta

shredded parmesan cheese

1 can sweet peas-no salt added

extra virgin olive oil

black pepper to taste


Marinate chicken in zesty Italian dressing for 3 hours. When ready, preheat oven to 350 and bake chicken for 30-45min or until cooked through. Cook pasta, drain and set aside. When chicken is cooked, cut into strips and place on one serving of pasta. Add extra virgin olive oil to taste, sprinkle with parmesan, black pepper and about 1/2 cup peas. SERVE and ENJOY :)


This recipe is SO good and the entire family enjoys it! To make this meal more kid-friendly, use fun-shaped noodles and let the kiddos help you prepare their serving! They'll have fun layering the different flavors and topping with cheese! Substitution: If you don't like peas, any other veggie will probably taste great too!


Today's Workout: 2 mile run, pretty good pace, but really hot weather! Just me and my iPod: it was great! I am totally convinced that I WILL run the Houston Half Marathon this year...as long as the lottery-style sign up works in our favor?! I'm also trying to convince my hubby to go ahead and train for the full 26.2, I know he's ready :) How are your workouts going this week?

Sunday, April 10, 2011

an article I'd like to share...

There is quite a bit of emphasis these days on our obesity epidemic, the rising rate of childhood obesity, reality TV shows helping people get healthy and while this is a VERY positive focus, sometimes the focus is so broad that some families might not understand how to bring these healthy habits into their own home and incorporate these things into their everyday lives. I grew up as an overweight child and once my life changed, I made a promise that I would help families find the tools necessary to succeed as well! Whether it's through food choices, exercise, or both. As a former physical education and health teacher, I know the importance of helping children find a healthy way of life, so in our home I focus on teaching healthy habits as much as possible, that way I am helping our family improve our quality of life each and every day! For instance, I try to use simple moments as teachable moments with my kids. If my husband and I are out walking with our boys, we make sure and explain why it's important to get outside, walk, run, be active. When I am cooking fresh vegetables or slicing fresh fruit, I explain to my family why these foods are good for our body and our heart. I always make exercise fun. It might be doing yard work, washing the car, or just playing outdoors and at the moment where my children are laughing out loud and having the time of their lives, I remind them that they are working their heart! Take your children to the grocery store, encourage them to try new foods! Have them explore the vegetables, meats, fruits, herbs and more! Cook with your kids. Get them in the kitchen and show them that cooking healthy can be fun! If you are looking for great kid-friendly recipes, I try to post them at least once a week and there are other resources available as well! Plant a garden. This is a great way to teach responsibility and for them to take pride in what they are doing. My four year old gets so excited when it's time to "feed" the plants or when he can see a vegetable growing that he helped water, feed, etc. Be active TOGETHER. A family that plays together, stays together!
Get outside, get moving and most of all-have FUN! -Move It Momma


I was asked to write this article for a blogger friend of mines' network and wanted to share with all of you! Thanks to all of you for the sweet comments about our 5K over the weekend...they were much appreciated and made us smile :)

Saturday, April 9, 2011

WE DID IT :)

some blurry pictures! Me on the way to event, and boys at the starting line :)
Yep, we finished our first 5K this morning! wooohoooooooo!!
And guess what??! My hubby won the race! Yes, the ENTIRE race! he was able to bust through the finish line with a time of 24:23 , pace 7min49sec My time: 35:27 while pushing a 41lb boy and a 31lb boy!!! haha, can you tell I'm asking for sympathy?! Not to mention part of the course was on grass/rocky unpaved street! But NO excuses, I did the best I could do and I'm pretty darn proud of both of us!
We are very proud of ourselves and this is the beginning of MANY more to come...plus, I think a half marathon might be in our future :)


Ya know a year ago, my hubby was just beginning his weight loss journey and today, with a 90+lb weight loss and finding a true love for running, he WON the 5K!! I am SO proud of him and all that he's accomplished. I have a healthier husband and our boys have a healthier Daddy...and that makes me SO proud! You should have seen the boys when they heard their Daddy won the race?! SO PROUD :)

It's TIME!

Oh my goodness, its the morning of the race...I'm a nervous wreck!! Not even sure why??! Hope I can get out there and kick some booty :)...we shall see! I'll try a take a pic of the four of us before the race!


Breakfast:

Oatmeal with fresh berries!

and my cup of coffee, of course!!


Since we have been talking about the race, even the boys are excited! This time they'll be riding but next time, maybe Jacob will wanna run his first 1K? He sure loves to run, so we'll see what he thinks about all this excitement today! He used to ride with me in these races, but he was too young to remember. I get SO excited knowing that what we're exposing these boys to might help them make healthy choices in their future?! Take dinner a few nights ago, Jacob looked at me and said "Mom, this chicken is for my heart, right? It'll take care of me and give me protein?" Ahhhh, YES! His mommy may not be the greatest at math and history, but he'll get straight A's in health class :)

Friday, April 8, 2011

a bridesmaid dress brings back some memories...

Today I went to order my bridesmaid dress for one of my very best friend's wedding and it brought back some very bad memories for me! Let's see, where do I begin...
It was 2001, I was overweight, unhealthy, unhappy and in college. I get a phone call from a childhood best friend of mine and she's getting married! Oh yay, I was so happy for her but then the panic set in...I have to wear a dress?! A bridesmaid dress?! OH NO. I headed home for the weekend, went to order the dress and soon as I walked in the dressing room, I cried...a lot. How could I have let myself get that way? What did I do? I was measured for a size 22. I cried the entire two hour ride back to college. That's when I had enough! It was time for change. I stared in the mirror for two hours, crying off and on and asking myself why? Over and over. Most of you know where the story goes from there, if not...find my weight loss story at the top of this blog! Anyway, I was able to take that dress in to a size 8! Yep!!! I was SO proud at that moment! I had changed my dress size and SO much more. My confidence, my health...my ENTIRE LIFE. I was so happy that day. I have been in several weddings since then, um like 6! I have had two kids and my weight has gone up and down throughout the 10 years since that day. Today brought back those fears...what size would I order? I was SO nervous going in that dressing room because I have been working so hard to lose that final 20lbs I so desperately want OFF. So what was the outcome...GREAT! I love the dress, love how it looks and although I still have some weight loss goals to meet before her big day in September, I am sure happy that it didn't take me back to that day in 2001. I am a completely different girl from that day and will never be THAT girl again. And on a positive note: Tomorrow is my first 5K in two years...yep, I guess I took a little hiatus from running after my second child was born, but as I've said before, I'm back and ready to RUN! We're going to pick up our packets tonight, so WISH ME LUCK! I am pumped and super excited! Let's hope we do well and the boys are feeling light in the morning, since I'll be pushing them!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

check this out!

Heard of eMusic?! If not, then you may wanna check it out! As I was browsing around their site, I found some great downloads and it was very easy to use! The best part is that they are offering a $20.00 credit to new users! That would mean you'd get the Top Ten spring fitness songs of 2011, available at http://www.emusic.com/ just for signing up!
"eMusic (www.emusic.com) is a digital music service with an engaged community of passionate music fans, record labels, and artists. Members can explore music through an affordable monthly subscription that facilitates new music discovery. eMusic also sells downloadable audio books from all major audio book publishers. Headquartered in New York with an office in London, eMusic is available in the U.S., Canada, the E.U., Norway and Switzerland. eMusic.com Inc. is owned by Dimensional Associates, Inc., the private equity arm of JDS Capital Management, Inc. For more information on eMusic, visit www.eMusic.com."

Sweet Treat!

We aren't much on sweets, but I created these last night for my kiddos(and us too!) and I gotta say, they were pretty darn yummy!

Hmmm, not even sure what to call 'em but,

You'll Need:

graham crackers

natural peanut butter

sugar free cool whip


Layer graham with pb and cool whip, top with another cracker and place in freezer!

About 30 minutes later, ENJOY 'EM!!!


5K is this Saturday!! I will be pushing the jogging stroller, so my time may not be exactly where I want it...but the point is that I'm getting back out there and doing it! I remember how much I loved the races, being around all those people that enjoyed doing what I do. Running at a faster pace because you are so excited! I remember but guess I gave up on it for a while...but now I'm BACK!!! Can't wait to give the race report :) Who knows maybe a half-marathon will be in my future??!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Wednesday Workout Hop, a recipe and a 5K!



Hosted By: My Fitness World , Lets Move It Mamma's & Living Smart Girl This is a workout blog hop for Wednesdays! You will receive workout tips, exercise ideas and healthy food ideas from My Fitness World , Lets Move It Mamma's & Living Smart Girl, plus work on your followers!!! HERE ARE THE RULES; Wait There Are NO Rules:


2. Leave us a comment letting us know you follow so we can follow back.

3. Grab our button and post it up on your blog, linking back to our hop.

Follow as many blogs as you like And Have Fun!!!
Our featured blogger this week is Ellie from Books, Fitness and Other Stuff! So, make sure you stop by, say hello and tell her that you're visiting from the WW hop!

picture this WITH cheese melted on top...I forgot to take a pic of the finished product :) whoops!

Move It Mommas, Turkey Sausage Pita Pizza!


You'll Need:

4 whole wheat pitas

1 small can tomato sauce with no salt/sugar added

flaxseed meal

extra virgin olive oil

1 lb turkey sausage

2% shredded cheese

1/2 chopped onion

2 cloves garlic-chopped


*Before I even give you the directions, know that these are delicious! My boys ate their entire pizza and my hubby even brought the leftovers to work and said they were even better the next day!! Heat oven to 350! Saute sausage, onion and garlic in skillet until warmed through. Spread extra virgin olive oil on pita, then sprinkle with 2tbs flaxseed meal. Cover with 2 tbs sauce(or more if you like it that way!) then sausage and finally the cheese! Bake at 350 for about 15-20 until pita is crunchy-well, that's the way we like it :)

ENJOY!! But be warned...they are G.O.O.D!!


I will be running a 5K on Saturday for the first time in two years. I used to run them all of the time, but then I got pregnant with my second son and sort of stopped, not even sure why??! I had found other forms of exercise that I just loved, but with the help of my blogger friends, have found that I love running again too :) Therefore, I'm back to setting running goals and the first will be this 5K! WOOHOOO! I am nervous but at the same time excited because I would like to get a great time, even while pushing the jogging stroller with my four and one year old...then after reaching my goal we must RUSH over to the tball game! Wish me luck!!!



do you deli??

I thought this article was interesting from Women's Health

and I wanted to share with all of you...next time you are out grocery shopping,

stopping by the deli might not be such a bad thing!


Decoding the Deli Cold cuts have gotten a bad rap but if you use this counter intelligence, you can pick up a tasty and nutritious meal on the fly. The deli can be a one-stop shop of delicious, health-conscious options as long as you’re wary of sodium, nitrates and other deli dangers. The editors of Women’s Health magazine help you make the best choices for your body. Not All Cuts Are Created Equal: Sliced whole roasted ham, turkey and pot roast are known as “whole cuts,” also known as processed meats. These tend to be fattier and are made by adding preservatives and fillers to ground meat. The best way to make sure your getting a whole cut is to ask for it. Nitrate Dangers are no Baloney: When nitrates and sodium from meats like bologna and salami combine with the digestive juices in the stomach they can turn into a carcinogenic compound that has been linked to several types of cancer. Stuff your sandwiches with lots of veggies, the antioxidants in vegetables may prevent nitrates from converting into cancer causing compounds. Low Sodium Doesn’t have to Mean Low Taste: Some sandwiches can pack 150% of your RDA of sodium. Low sodium meats and cheeses slash salt by anywhere from 30 to 85 percent. When going low sodium, pick a meat or cheese you don’t normally eat and you can even choose ones with herbs or spices so you don’t miss the salt. Choose Your Cheese Wisely: Swiss has 83 percent less sodium than American cheese and even more calcium. Although no regular cheese can claim to be low fat, Mozzarella is the best for your body, with about six grams of fat per ounce. Ask for your order to be thin sliced to cut additional calories. Avoid Shiny Sides: When the veggies in deli salads are slick and glossy, it’s usually a good sign they’ve been bathed in high-calorie oil. Instead go for cucumber salad or mayo free coleslaw and don’t eat straight from the dish.



*For more diet advice, check out WomensHealthMag.com or pickup the April issue of Women’s Health on newsstands now!

Monday, April 4, 2011

EatStrong review!

When we received these samples to try as a family, I was very excited and the hubby was too! First up to taste was the EATSTRONG Energy Bar, we tried this one after our workout, as a mid-morning snack! Filled with flax, sunflower and hemp seeds, plus delicious organic chocolate bites and whey protein, this snack sure did SATISFY! Next up was the EATSTRONG Trail Mix! I'm a big fan of trail mix, but most brands are filled with sugars and processed ingredients. Not these, their trail mix is filled with walnuts, cashews, pistachios and almonds...YUM! Also flax, sunflower seeds and those delicious organic chocolate drops! Sounds good, right?! "When hunger calls, fuel your fire with EatStrong Trail Mix, a savory assortment of walnuts, cashews, pistachios and almonds. Great in a cereal, smoothie or on its own, this blend powers snackers with protein and delivers an onslaught of Omega-3s to help burn fat and regulate appetite. Flax and sunflower seeds bolster the body with vitamins and minerals, while organic chocolate drops made from all-natural cacao amp things up with a little sweetness. Whether the day involves corralling kids or scaling tall buildings in a single bound (or both!), the daily grind does not always afford ample time for sit-downs. EatStrong Energy Bars are pocket fuel for healthy eating on-the-run. Organic chocolate drops meet finely crushed flax, sunflower and hemp seeds in a take-care-of-business medley of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that will increase metabolic function, fortify muscles and promote lean body mass." Check out the EatStrong website because they offer healthy recipes, motivational tips, and more!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Artichoke Makeover!

Growing up with THE best Sicilian cook as my grandmother, delicious foods were always around!

One of my most favorite dishes were her stuffed artichokes! The artichokes were packed full of Parmesan cheese and Italian breadcrumbs, I used to look forward to them every year! Most people struggle with the cravings for sweets but for me, my weight gain came from BREAD! All kinds of BREAD...and these stuffed artichokes were no exception. I mean, I fully admit that I used to eat the stuffing out of them before even making it to the artichoke :( sad but true.


image source Knowing what I know now, these artichokes were the enemy :) Only kidding, but seriously they were filled with breading and SOOO not good for you. So, I did a little artichoke makeover and watch out because they are delicious!!


Move It Mommas SUPER simple artichoke:

2-3 artichokes, trimmed Place in pot, half full of boiling water. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until leaves are tender. Drain water and drizzle with zesty Italian dressing and SERVE!


Nothing can be easier than that, right?! RIGHT! These are so good and although not covered in all that stuffing, they still remind me of my grandmother and her delicious foods :)

Friday, April 1, 2011

self-confidence

...or lack there of?

I guess growing up overweight and living most of my life with no confidence has sort of taken its toll on me. In 2001 when I decided my life needed CHANGE, I knew that my body was changing on the outside and I felt better, but was I finally gaining self-confidence?! Hmm, unfortunately NO. I mean I always felt as though I could accomplish things, I am smart, independent and always loved to make people laugh but as far as my body image...whew, it was bad. And 10 years later with a hubby that loves me more than anything in this world, two boys that look up to their Momma, I still have low self-esteem when it comes to my body. Last night I was at a Stampin' Up party with some of my best, childhood friends and family and I found myself dogging my self-image in front of all those people. I can't explain it, but I guess I feel like I want people to know up front that I could be thinner and more "in shape" before they judge me for that? Like I wanna say what people are thinking before they say it??! Am I even making sense? Yes, I made a lifestyle change but I'd still like to become the true person that I feel like on the inside and I'm making those changes and I must admit, running has helped me TREMENDOUSLY deal with these feelings...I feel more confident getting out there and doing something I've set my mind to do! Ok, so I guess this rambling post is asking....

do you have trouble with self-confidence, self-esteem or body image?!


on a positive note, I ran today in the blazing heat...it was H.O.T outside. I know I say that everyday, but whew it was rough! But we did it, I pushed my one year old in the B.O.B stroller and my four year old rode his bike 3.2 miles! WOOHOOO! So proud of myself and those boys for getting out there and taking care of our bodies today :)