BL's Sunny...I think I wanted her to win?

     I really don't have a "favorite" this season, which makes me sad.  I usually pick the one person I think will take it all the way until the finale and lose a crazy amount of weight and share their story and passion with millions for years to come!  Ha, okay so I may not predict the winner every season, but I'd like to think I'm pretty darn good at it! 

     Last night I was pretty bummed to learn that Sunny was eliminated.  Maybe because she was from Texas?  Possibly because I felt for her, after all of those years not "living" her life.  Secluded and not doing things with her husband and children...all because she was hiding behind her weight.  We all know people like Sunny.  You know they can be SO much more...and you want so much more for them.  Bob said Sunny reminded him of his very own sister, struggling with weight most of her life.

Sunny, 41 from Frisco, Texas
Fifth Grade Teacher, Starting Weight: 277 lbs.

all photos taken from NBC.com

and when they showed "where she is now" in her weight loss journey after this episode aired...she looked even MORE amazing...almost losing 100lbs!  Yay Sunny!
Do you have a favorite this season? Did you think Sunny should have made it to the final four?

Goals for 2012

As I reflect back on 2011, I can't help but start to focus and set goals for the New Year!  You all know that training is underway for my first half marathon that takes place in 2012, so that is definitely at the top of my list:

• FINISH the Aramco Half Marathon(Houston, Texas) -January 15, 2012!
• GET INVOLVED in my community!  I want to find ways to spread the word about health and fitness in my area.  Organizing a health fair, local 5K or family walk/run, anything to get our community ACTIVE, together!
• Start teaching aerobics at a local gym.  I miss that part of me.  I used to love the music and the motivation of being an aerobics instructor...I gotta update my certification and get back into it!
• Tone up my tummy!  It's not a pretty sight when bathing suit season comes around...so I need to take my core to a whole different level in 2012!  
• Take my running to the next level...possibly a full marathon?  Hmm...not so sure about that!
• Expand The Move It Momma!  I'd like to reach a larger audience in many different ways!  The possibilities are endless, but there's one thing that I know...when I started this blog, I decided that THIS was something very important to me.  Sharing my story, my struggles, my successes was something that helped others relate.  Helped others know that change is possible.  Helping my readers get the tools they need for success!  Knowing that this blog has allowed me to reach and inspire others...it's THE greatest feeling in the world.  

What's on your list for 2012?  
Follow through with things that you want in life.  Keep those goals in mind with everything that you do.  Make THIS the year for something great...a weight loss success, a healthier way of life, a healthy life for your children, quitting smoking, heart-healthy eating...anything!  The sky is the limit!  Set your goals to where you WILL achieve great things in 2012!  We can do it TOGETHER!  How will you make 2012 your healthiest year EVER?

Exciting News!

I am very proud to announce that I will be joining the FitFluential team of Ambassadors! Woohoo!

When I started my weight loss journey over 11 years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would use my knowledge, personal experience and passion for healthy living with as many people as possible, and if I changed ONE life then I did my job! Right? Wrong! FitFluential will help me reach a larger audience, touch more lives. I may help motivate others and help them understand that change is always an option, it is always possible to gain your life back. This will help me share my story and hopefully that will inspire others to spread their love for health and fitness! Finding a new way of life was THE best thing that I did for myself, my family, my children, my husband and I am so excited to begin this new journey with FitFluential!

Today's Workout: 5K on the jogging trails near our house! It's mid-50's and windy here in Texas today, but it was a great run! I felt good and finished in 32:12! My goals for this month will be to sign up for my first ever 10K! I figure I might as well do one ASAP since my half marathon is coming up very soon-January 15th! Yikes!

*Also, I am sad to say that I do not have another Inspire Me! story to share with you all today...that means YOU need to send me an email rissarose80@yahoo.com and tell me something inspiring! That's IT! Do you have a weight loss story, do you make time for exercise every day, have you run a marathon? Half? Tri? 10K or 5K? Do you have a goal to be healthier in 2012? ANYTHING! I'm waiting to hear from you...

No Excuses! and some cereal...

After my huge accomplishment the other day(thanks to all of you for your kind words and support!), I was feeling some pain in my hip and knee, so I decided that a 3 mile run would be great.

I set out and then it started..."I need someone in front of me, pushing me", "I would be faster if I had a running buddy", "If my hip didn't hurt", "I shouldn't have eaten so much on Thanksgiving", "I should have worn a better t-shirt", "my knee hurts"...and on and on! Then I realized, there are NO EXCUSES for my speed-or lack thereof. I finished those 3 miles in under 33 minutes, but I knew I hadn't truly PUSHED MYSELF to my limit like I had the other day. But you know what, that's ok. I woke up, worked out, took care of my heart, my body, my mind.

I did this for me, my family, my life. NO EXCUSES.

So, why did I feel like you should know my struggles? Because we ALL have them. We must all make NO EXCUSES. We must all push ourselves. Whether we are athletes, wanting to lose weight, get healthy, just starting a weight loss journey...whatever! We are our own support group, our own personal trainer, and yes-support from your family and friends is SO important, but it's not up to those people to push us, we MUST push ourselves. Every day.

And now for exciting news. My aunt has been on a journey to lose weight and is doing AMAZING. She is so healthy, knows what foods are good for her body, knows portion control and exercise! Wow. She's doing it! Her and I were talking about healthy foods and products and she says in the morning she lives by, Uncle Sam cereal. Oh my goodness, was this a product I hadn't heard of? YES. I had to learn more. She said it tasted so good and controlled her appetite. 10 grams of fiber? I was all over it. Have you tried Uncle Sam cereal? Attune foods has a great, informative website that's all about their products. They have gluten-free and high fiber products. What's sad is that this cereal has been in production since 1908. I had never heard of it but once I saw the box, I did recognize it from the stores. I am going to have to give this cereal a taste and I'll tell ya all about it.

Do you find yourself making excuses when it comes to exercise?

What's your favorite, healthy cereal?

I had my game face on and pushed myself harder than EVER before...

for my morning run! And I looked like this when it was all over...

red cheeks with a smile on my face! Why? Because I set out to run a 10K! Started off at a pretty good pace(we had a cold front and mid-50 temps-Yay!) and at about 3/4 of a mile, I caught up with my competition! Ha, not really but without a running buddy, I decided to use this woman as my motivation! She was going pretty fast, so I decided to put my game face on and TRY and keep up! I hit the 5K mark at 29:54...INSANE!!! I never run that fast, EVER! I felt great, no pain and my legs felt like they were flying! Seriously, I know that is not incredibly fast, but for me-it totally was! And then there it was...6.4 miles in 58 minutes! OH MY GOODNESS! Not even sure how that's possible, but I have my Nike+ to prove it! I was shaking by the time I was finished!

Proof that pushing yourself harder is ALWAYS an option! Here I thought I was pushing myself to my limit, however this competition proved that I can push harder! Wow. I don't even know the woman that I was "chasing" but I'm sure thankful that she was there! She motivated me and she doesn't even know it. Amazing how our minds are SO powerful. I told myself I would and guess what? I did. I am feeling good and after burning over 900 calories, I'm ready to enjoy some turkey and cranberry tomorrow...Mmm, my favorite!

Lucy Review and my 5K PR!!!

Have you heard of Lucy? If not, it's fabulous women's active wear and clothing! I recently had the privilege of reviewing the Lucy Hatha Leggings! I took them right out of the package and tried them on! Super comfy, great fit and I loved the length!

Allow me to model them for ya,
Maybe you are looking for tops, skirts, dresses, hoodies, jackets, bras and accessories...
well, you're in luck because Lucy has it all! An item on my wish list would have to be the Lucy Hatha Power Capris! Super cute and seems like they'd make the perfect bottoms for any workout! The 10K seamless cami bra seems great too!
Anyway, I decided to try my Lucy Hatha Leggings on a little 5K run! The result: It was a fabulous race and not sure if the pants had anything to do with it,
but I hit a 5K PR: 33:49! WOOHOOO!!!!!!



and here's a post-workout picture too! I loved the way these pants fit! Very comfortable and great for running. I personally think I look a little silly in them, but that's ok...they did the job! I guess the next item I need to try is a running skirt! I've heard great things about them and I know I'd probably love it but I worry that it'll "ride" up? Hmm...
All I know is that I will be racing in Daily Vitamin "F"virtual Thanksgiving 5K and I'll be wearing my new Lucy Hatha Leggings!

What's your favorite brand of active wear?
Do you wear compression shorts/pants?

Disclosure: I received a pair of Lucy leggings at no charge in exchange for my honest opinion and review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Set an example

I'm trying to set a positive example for these boys...and every one around me!

As I find inspiration through fellow health bloggers, I find a trend and it is that we all strive to set an example for our families, our children, our parents...everyone.

Having an active lifestyle WILL impact your family in a positive way. We can't just want our children to be active, we must make healthy living a priority in our lives as well. I hope as a parent that I am doing just that.

I feel very strongly that we must associate physical fitness with fun and happiness, not as a chore or punishment! Too many times it is used incorrectly and we want our children to have a passion for being healthy and making exercise a positive part of their life.

Having been overweight myself, I find that people have found encouragement through my weight loss journey and I am able to serve as a "she did it, why can't I?" person! Yay! I couldn't ask for more than that. I think that also helped me relate to the overweight children I had the privilege of teaching. I helped them understand that change is possible and that their health is important! I wanted them to make a positive connection between exercise and feeling good!

So, I ask that you and I work together and set an example in our lives and the lives of our loved ones...spread your passion and love for health and fitness!

It will catch on and be contagious, I promise! As my husband's life changed and health became a priority, I watched my boys find a higher interest in exercise! They wanted to be like Daddy. They wanted to run fast like their Daddy and those moments for me are priceless!

It's never too late...EVER!

How will YOU set an example?

Yesterday's Workout: a great 5.4 mile run in the ridiculous heat! Yes, I said heat. While some of you are having to layer yourselves, I was dripping in sweat and could barely breath in the insane humidity! A cold front is approaching and I'm hoping it'll stay cool long enough for me to get a long run in this week?! My husband runs better in the heat and humidity and I am the total opposite, I'd rather it be freezing cold! Ha! What about you? Do you prefer hot or cold temps for running/exercise?

Inspire Me! Series-Week 2

When I say that this woman inspires me every day, I truly mean that. I am amazed by her strength, her passion, and her determination...you will be too! Her weight loss journey has been extraordinary and she is an incredible athlete!

Before: After:
Now I have your attention, right?

And here's her inspirational story:

What motivates you? I'm motivated by so many things. I'm motivated by seeing current pictures of myself especially when I compare them to past pictures of myself. Knowing that the changes I have made really are visible is enough to keep me wanting to push forward and reach my ultimate goal. Running keeps me motivated, even during a bad run I want to keep going. Even when I do feel like giving up because I'm having a bad run. Just knowing that I have finished a run whether it's 2 miles or 10 miles, knowing my body is capable of moving forward is motivating. I want to get out there and have a go at another run to improve my time or distance. Seeing others around me reaching their goals is also motivating. I'm often told that I inspire others but I want others to know that them saying that is a huge motivator for me to continue on. I mean what would happen if I just quit everything I was doing (running, workouts, weight loss) one day? All those people that I have inspired, that have motivated me would be disappointed in me. I wouldn't want that and I know they wouldn't want to see me fail.

If you made a lifestyle change, what helped you make that change? Well, for me it started a couple of years ago when I realized I needed to lose weight and a lot of it. The first thing I did was go to a local LA Weight Loss center and joined their program. Once I got the hang of it and lost weight and made the overall changes at home (throwing out junk, cooking healthy meals, and working out several times a week) it became our household lifestyle and it just stuck. I quit the center and we made little changes at home. Less junk food, more fruits/veggies. Less eating out, more cooking at home. The little things...they make a huge difference. And I joined a gym. I also started the Couch to 5k program which helped me find my love for running.

Are you sharing your passion for healthy living with others? Absolutely! I blog my weight loss and running at http://anotherrunningmom.worpress.com/. And I am more than happy to share my story with anyone that asks...people I haven't seen in a long time, folks at my gym that see me daily and recognize my changes. Friends, family...I talk about it on Facebook even. I want to see others around me succeed in their weight loss (and running...you know it's my passion!) goals and if my story inspires them or motivates them to reach their goals then I absolutely want to share it or offer up any advice I can.

And lastly, who inspires YOU? I'm inspired by many... friends, family, fellow bloggers and a whole community of runners.So many of my readers and bloggy friends have amazing stories to tell!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN THE INSPIRE ME! SERIES?
Spread the word!! Send me an email, rissarose80@yahoo.com and share some inspiration with all of us! Remember, a new feature every Monday and I'd love to feature YOU!

what makes it GREAT?

The other day I had one of THOSE workouts!

The one where you come home, take a deep breath and smile! You feel good. Really good.

You know you've done something great for yourself.

You left all of your stress IN that workout.

You pushed yourself harder than you had before.

You felt your body getting stronger.

And at one point, I think I even got a little emotional knowing I was working so hard!

Know what I'm talking about?

So, I'm asking you....what makes a GREAT workout?
I think to achieve THOSE workouts more often, it's in our mindset. If we tell ourselves we can, then we WILL. If we tell ourselves before we begin that we may fail, or we don't want to do it, then we probably won't see the results we'd like. We have to work for the things that we want and if we want it and work hard for it, we'll crush anything in our way!

holiday temptations...

While we all give in to temptations every now and then, the holidays make it even more difficult to control ourselves with all of the UNhealthy options that seem to be all around us this time of year! Some things to keep in mind...

MODERATION-it's ok to have a little of your favorite things, but once you've sampled, move away from the table!
BE ACTIVE-have a great workout before Thanksgiving, or maybe sign up for a great Turkey Trot 5K in your area! Find a way to get your family outside and active together after the Thanksgiving meal...maybe a football game, a hike, or bike ride as a family!
BRING ON THE VEGGIES-Thanksgiving dinner is known for carbs, carbs Oh and more carbs! Right? Mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, casseroles galore and much more. This year, prepare lots of delicious veggies to go along with your meal. Fill your plate with half veggies and then sample each of the carb options, and leave room for the turkey! This way you'll be filling up on greens, rather than all those heavy carbs!
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES-many recipes are offered in a lighter version, so check around and see if you can find a favorite menu item that's lower in calories and fat!
PACKAGE BAKED GOODS-when preparing cookies for the holidays, go ahead and package those items in their gift-giving containers, this way you'll be less likely to pop open those cookie jars!
PLAN AHEAD-with lots of holiday parties in your future, make sure you never arrive on an empty stomach! Make sure you've planned ahead and had some great protein-rich snacks beforehand, that way you can control your portions rather than over indulging!

What's your secret to having a HEALTHY Thanksgiving holiday?

*and a hilarious side note: My son was riding his like while I ran, pushing my two year old in the stroller! My five year old told me at one point to, "speed up Mommy, you're a slow poke"...ya think he'll be a coach/trainer in his future? Ha! He was sure motivating me to speed up...what Mommy wants to be a slow poke?? HA!!!

MY BADGE and some other stuff too!

Oh Yea! My 2012 Aramco Houston Half Marathon "In Training" badge, baby! January 15th will be here very soon and I cannot believe that I will be taking on 13.1 miles! My passion for healthy living will come full circle when I cross that finish line and I can already tell it'll be an emotional journey for me :) Houston, HERE I COME!!! and now for Miso Soup, anyone?
I LOVE Miso Soup! It pairs perfectly with sushi and soybeans! However, I also like to eat it by itself! I love the flavors and although it has quite a bit of sodium, if I watch my intake and balance as we all should do with everything that we eat, it's ok in moderation.
Here's what Dr. Oz says about Miso:
"Belly Blaster #2: Miso
Why it’s a superfood: A traditional food of fermented soybeans which hails from Japan, authentic miso is brimming with good-for-your-belly probiotics, which help keep our gut flora healthy. Dr. Oz also recently discussed how this Japanese food lowers triglycerides, the fat in your blood that contributes to belly fat.

Dr. Oz’s Prescription: Pick up instant miso soup mix in the supermarket, but look for low-sodium varieties. Alternately, look for traditional red or white miso (sold as a paste) in the refrigerated natural food section of your grocery store. It makes simple but satisfying soup (simply add hot water), or an absolutely delicious marinade for fish."-Dr. Oz
Healthier Miso Soup: adapted from Women's Health Magazine
2 Tbsp dried wakame
3 c water
1 packet (0.75 oz) dashi stock base (such as Dashi Moto)
2 Tbsp white miso
1 12 oz package silken-firm tofu, drained and cut into cubes
1 c (about 3 oz) thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps
1/4 c thinly sliced scallions
1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1. Soak wakame in warm water for 15 minutes or until fully rehydrated; drain.2. In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add dashi packet; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove packet. 3. Ladle a half cup of dashi into a small bowl; whisk in miso and set aside.4. Stir tofu and mushrooms into pot; simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in miso mixture, top with scallions and soy sauce, and serve immediately. Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 81 cal, 4 g fat (0.4 g sat), 349 mg sodium, 7 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 7 g protein*The shiitake mushrooms are an added immunity booster to this soup. As well as vitamins A, K and iron.

Wakame A seaweed packed with the antioxidant compound fucoxanthin. It can be tough, so use kitchen shears to cut it into smaller pieces.Dashi the chicken bouillon of Japan. Made from dried fish flakes and seaweed, dashi is what gives miso soup its signature subtle fish flavor and light amber color. powdered, liquid concentrate, and stuffed in a handy packet like the one used in the recipe above.

**I have also seen instant, lower sodium versions of this soup and they taste great too!







Today's Workout: Well, I'll say yesterday's workout was great! My 5 year old and I ran 2 miles...yep, we ran side by side and he was ahead of Mommy, most of the time! Then we came home and my boys watched AND participated in Jillian's 6 week 6 pack, 2. They love mountain climbers and one of these days I'm going to video their workouts...HILARIOUS! They will do push ups, crunches and mountain climbers right beside me, but the other stuff-they say it's boring! HA!

Inspire Me! Series-Week 1

Welcome to week 1 of my Inspire Me! Series

I'd love for you to meet one of my favorite bloggers and a person who inspires me each day to push myself...Bridie!

http://www.iheartveggies.net "Healthy Living"

What motivates you? I started running for fitness. After having my second child, I was almost 20 pounds heavier than before having kids. Being a former ballerina, I was always very slim and in great shape. I was very unhappy that I had let myself "slip" and decided it was time to make time for myself. My motivation comes from not settling for less than I used to be. I don't believe that just because I had two kids, I have a free pass to be less than happy with my body.

If you made a lifestyle change, what helped you make that change? The biggest change came when I changed jobs in June 2010. My commute went from half an hour to 4 minutes. I also met up with some people that regularly ran together over lunch. At first I wasn't ready to join them - I was barely up to run a mile, much less the 3-5 they usually ran. But eventually I had the guts to join them, and I didn't want to look like a wimp, so I was forced to keep up with them. This year I made it a goal to run a half-marathon, and unfortunately suffered a series of overuse injuries leading up to the race. I ran it anyway (poorly) and am now in rehab and forced into cross training. While some would see an injury as a setback, I find it a blessing. I am now taking bodypump classes, cycling, doing yoga, and using the elliptical, as well as easing back into running. This is just going to make me a more well rounded athlete, and a stronger one.

Are you sharing your passion for healthy living with others? Yes! See my blog. I also just joined the Board of Directors for Johnston Running Club which is developing a youth track and cross country program. Not only am I serving on the Board, but I will also help coach the youth club. First and foremost, I am sharing my passion with my family. I have two boys (7 and 2 1/2) that WILL grow up understanding the importance of exercise and healthy eating.

And lastly, who inspires YOU? While it is great to draw on others for inspiration, you absolutely have to be able to inspire yourself. You are the one that has complete control over whether you are going to fail or succeed. I inspire myself almost every time I run, because when I started I had such a mental block against it, that is was so hard, that I was never going to be good at it. One day I ran three miles. Within a few months I was going on 5 and 6 mile runs. That was an accomplishment in itself. 10 miles seemed so out of reach. But I slowly built up my endurance and it became easier. I got faster. I'm doing things I never thought I would ever be able to do, much less enjoy doing. I'm also inspired by all the other moms out there taking time for themselves and fitness. It is hard to do with little ones at home. I'm very inspired by watching the Biggest Loser. This morning I took my first BodyPump class and it was so hard! As I was reaching muscle failure, and thinking I couldn't keep going, my mind went to the contestants on that show and how hard they fight through their work outs. If they can put in the effort and have so much working against them, surely I can finish a one hour class.

*I read Bridie's blog almost every day! Her recipes, thoughts and mostly her workouts inspire me to get out there and get it done! Isn't that what we all want? That drive to make us do the impossible! Make sure you drop by and say hello...you never know, you may find her to be one of your favorite bloggers too!

Would you like to be featured? Email me: rissarose80@yahoo.com with your blog address, a picture(if you'd like!), and answer those same questions or throw in some extras...it's totally up to you on what you'd like to share! Easy, right? So whatcha waitin' for??!!! I will feature a new blogger EVERY Monday so stay tuned...

birthday-brussels-holiday races-Inspire Me!

What a crazy title, right?
Well, I have a lot to talk about this morning...

TODAY is my hubby's b-day...yep, he's 33!

Those brussels sprouts last night-OH MY GOODNESS, SO GOOD! Here's what I did a little differently. I sliced the brussels, mixed all of the other stuff-the olive oil, red wine vinegar, thyme, garlic slices(I used 2 cloves instead of 1) and a little seasalt! Then I tossed the brussels in that mixture, and then spread onto the pan evenly. I baked at 450 for 10 min. and then flipped, and roasted another 10min. Take them out of the oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese! I'm SO serious, they were so good. We had both of our parents over for dinner. Served these with grilled chicken breasts and baked sweet potatoes! A few of them had never tasted brussels sprouts in their life and LOVED THEM!! Yay! TRY THEM :)

I need some great Thanksgiving/Christmas virtual races?? Please share if you know of a few! My husband will be working for both of these holidays and I'd like a virtual race that motivates me to RUN on those days, since I won't be able to attend a "real" race. I'd really appreciate you sharing!

And don't forget about my Inspire Me! Series! I know many of you that comment and read my blog have amazing stories and TONS of inspiration to share with my readers! Come on! All you have to do is email me a little about YOU! Why you blog about fitness? What gives you motivation? I love reading all of your blogs, they inspire me and push me to keep doing what I am doing...knowing there are others out there that share my passion, so why not share your story and gain some new readers too?! Email me, rissarose80@yahoo.com with your blog address and tell me whatever you'd like to share! I'll feature these on Mondays, so hurry up! Feel free to send pictures to go along with your story/accomplishments! Can't wait to open my inbox and see all of YOUR emails!!!!

hot off the press...AND 13.1!

F.Y.I: Before you get too excited and ready to congratulate me,

NO I have NOT run my 13.1...yet!

My mom in law brought me the "delish" section of the Houston Chronicle featuring a recipe for

Parmesan Brussels Sprouts-I can't tell you how they taste because we're trying them out tonight, but I will say that they sound AMAZING!

Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

1 1/4 pound brussels sprouts, thinly sliced

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp fresh thyme

1 clove garlic, sliced

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 tbs red wine vinegar

1/4 coarsely grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450. In large jelly roll pan, toss brussels sprouts, olive oil, thyme, garlic, s&p. Spread evenly. Roast 20 minutes, stirring once. Toss with vinegar and Parmesan cheese!

and now back to my 13.1, mentioned in the post title. I've been thinking a lot while I'm out increasing my mileage for my first half marathon, and I think about a lot of things! Isn't that why running is so great? Just me and my thoughts!! I have been thinking about what those 13.1 miles will mean to ME. Some things that come to mind: accomplishment, this will teach my children that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, triumph, fear, pushing myself.

I sometimes find myself feeling giddy out there(crazy, I know) because I think about how my life "used" to be. Before exercise. Before exchanging my sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits for a new, happy, healthy way of life! THAT is what will push me to that finish line on January 15th. That and the fact that my husband will SMOKE me to that finish line! Ha! But that's ok, I'm darn proud of him too and it'll be a great way to celebrate our 7 years of marriage! Maybe champagne and strawberries will greet me at the finish line? I mean, how many couples get to run their first half marathon TOGETHER on their anniversary?! But yea, he's still going to totally kick my booty!

Baked Apple OATMEAL!!

Oh my goodness, this is GOOD!!

Start by preparing your oatmeal, steel cut or oats! I bake apples in the microwave, which I'm sure is better in the oven but I know the microwave works, so why change it!
Core your apple ( I used red delicious!), sprinkle with a little brown sugar, Cinnamon and put a little margarine down in the core! Add a little water to the bottom of your microwave safe bowl-I used corning ware! Microwave 5 min., then 2 min or until cooked through and soft!

Slice up the apple and add to your oats! ENJOY and savor the deliciousness!! I'm thinking banana added to this mix might be yummy too! Mmmm and perfect with our cooler weather, eventhough it will be 80 degrees here again on Sunday! Ha!

Walking Workout: Who would have thought that walking would make my booty burn SO much! Ha! It was a nice change from my running schedule. Yesterday was super windy and muggy, so my friend and I decided to power walk our normal route! It was a WORKOUT! Seriously, we were sweaty and our butt's were burning toward the end. I felt great doing something different and changing things up. Sometimes it's nice to get out of our normal workout routine and just do something totally "off".
What about you,
do have an "off" day, kick booty workout that changes things up with your routine?
*and don't forget about my Inspire series...I'd love to share your stories and successes with my readers, that may not know about your blog, find out how to take part, HERE! it just takes a minute...

You INSPIRE Me! Series

Blogging has introduced me to SO many inpsirational women! Some are just beginning their weight loss journey, others have reached and exceeded their goals. Some just make it a habit to workout during the week, all while trying to keep their home, family, and work in order!

Doesn't matter your story, YOU inspire me!

On the days when I have no drive to get up and workout, I look to all of you. I read your stories, your posts, race recaps and I find the motivation that I need to get it done! Thank you for giving me that.

I want others to feel that same inspiration and motivation, so I'd like to ask that you share your stories with myself and my readers!

And that's why I've decided to start the "You INSPIRE Me!" Series!

How does it work: I will feature one of YOU every Monday.

You have a platform to tell your healthy living story...your struggles, your accomplishments, goals, anything! You might be just beginning your weight loss journey, may have reached your weight loss goal, found a new way you lead a healthy lifestyle, how you help others reach their goals, races that you've rocked!, a marathoner, triathlete, ANYTHING!

And it will help you gain new readers :)

Want to be featured? Just email me at rissarose80@yahoo.com and tell me a little about you. Email me your blog name/address, and answer some questions for myself and others...What motivates you? If you made a lifestyle change, what helped you make that change? And then just tell me your story and share whatever you'd like! Are you sharing your passion for healthy living with others? And lastly, who inspires YOU? I'd love a picture to go along with your feature, so please attach to the email as well! I'll email you on the week that you'll be featured, so that you may give your readers the heads up!

So, let's INSPIRE ONE ANOTHER!!! Hope you'll join in and spread the word! I'd love to meet new bloggers and I bet you would to!

**BONUS ENTRY: If you blog or tweet letting others know about my Inspire Me! Series and send me that link, you'll gain 2 extra entires into my Healthy Steps giveaway for the dressing lid and dressing cruet-which are totally great tools in helping with portion control and would make great gifts too!

SO EXCITED about My Healthy Steps and today's workout!

Dr. Oz had some really cool products on his show recently and it just happened to be Healthy Steps! They have an entire line of portion control products that are great for on the go and for those busy family nights! As a health educator, I always stress the importance of portion size! This product helps you do just that, watch your portions to prevent overeating! Yay! I received many of their items for review and when the package arrived, my entire family was EXCITED!

This dressing lid and cruet might have been the MOST exciting part! The dressing lid attaches to almost all dressing bottles and simply squeeze to the fill line, squirt and ENJOY! Totally helps us watch the serving sizes on dressing, which can be misleading and packed with empty calories and saturated fat. This was super easy to use and the boys had a great time helping us with our dressing portions, they thought it was a toy! I used balsamic vinagarette on our strawberry salad and it turned out DELICIOUS! I simply chop some purple onion, add some chopped walnuts, sliced strawberries, serve on baby spring mix and ENJOY!

After a nice workout, you can get pretty hungry and want to over indulge when it comes to your favorite foods. We all know that I have a serious weakness for starches like pasta! Blame it on the Italian in me or my addiction to all things carb but they have a starch serving spoon! Oh YES! This works great for us! For lunch, I had prepared whole wheat spiral noodles, peas, extra virgin olive oil, pepper and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and I used THREE of the Healthy Steps products for this one, simple meal! The vegetable server for the peas. The cheese grater for the parmesan cheese and it actually stores the grated cheese right inside the container for future use, if necessary! And of course, the starch server to dish up one serving of the whole wheat pasta! The best part of all of these products is that you can't tell that you're measuring servings. The servings are listed inside the spoon, so your family will never know you are measuring how much they eat!

I don't think I've been this excited about products in a long time! My husband was actually pretty excited too. We ripped open the packages and started using them right away! They are made great and seem like they'll last a long time. I think these would even make great gifts! I would 100% use these as teaching schools if I were still in the classroom. My health students would have been able to visually associate portions with these products. How great is that! I can already think of the lesson. I would use several size plates, add foods according to their serving using Healthy Steps and begin by filling the plate. The students would be able to see how much food they are getting and will be able to compare to how their plate usually looks for a meal. Are they eating too much/too little? They will be able to SEE it and change their habits by remembering how their plate looked in my classroom and how it SHOULD look in the future and for all meals!

It must be giveaway time here at Move It Mommas! I just hosted the New Balance shades, which are pretty cool and now Healthy Steps is ready to offer something to my readers as well!

Healthy Steps would like to offer one of my lucky readers a

Dressing Lid and Dressing Cruet!!

How to Enter:

You MUST be a follower of the Move It Momma and leave a comment telling me why you'd love to win these Healthy Steps products?

Extra Entries:

Follow Healthy Steps on Twitter here (1 entry)

Follow Healthy Steps on Facebook here (1 entry)

Blog this giveaway (1 entry)

Tweet this giveaway (1 entry)

GOOD LUCK, GIVEAWAY ENDS at midnight-Friday, November 11th

Today's Workout: I was pretty excited to get out there and use my Nike+! Yes, I'm probably the last person in the world to finally use one of these to track my workouts, but my hubby bought me one and I've finally figured it out! Ha! I can see why most of you use the Garmin when running. I felt like I was competing with myself using the Nike+. I pushed myself harder and because it tracked my pace the entire time, I was able to keep going and push myself a little harder! Whew! I feel like this will really help me with the rest of my half marathon training and help me kick it up another notch! Right now I am loving alternating Jillian Michael's 6 week 6 pack and 30 day shred on my off days...it seems to be working well! My hip pain is not bad right now, so that's great news too. How are your workouts coming along?

plan ahead and a WINNER!!!

I know you're all too excited to wait, so the winner of the PlanetGear Breast Cancer Awareness sunglasses are...

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE...

Comment #13, Jill Conyers @ Life...As I see It!

Congrats, you have 48 hours to respond with your shipping info, and I'm emailing you now!

and now for a plan ahead breakfast tip that we are going to try this week:
Steel Cut Oats in the freezer? Yep, sounds a bit crazy but if you prepare your steel cut oats with water, once cooked split into one-serving portions and freeze, you'll have breakfast all week long! Awesome, right? Saves you time AND money, plus you'll be having a super nutritious breakfast that's sure to keep you satisfied until lunch! Want some variety each day? Try adding canned pumpkin and a dash of cinnamon. Mashed banana and peanut butter. Nutella. Fresh fruits. Flax seed. Dark chocolate chips. See, the possibilities are endless and you won't be stressing about what to prepare for breakfast, it'll already be ready for you.

My Workouts: they have been awesome and I'm totally feeling a bit more confident about this half marathon. I am enjoying running in these great temps that are in the 60's! Yay! FINALLY! Yesterday I went for a quick, 2 mile run(at a 9:40 pace, so I was happy!) and then came home to Jillian's 6 week 6 pack level 2! I am changing things up a bit because I don't wanna get bored with my routine. I like change! Now that I have been increasing distance and I only run outdoors, I keep changing my mind about which is better...sidewalk or street? Obviously the sidewalk is a safer option, but I'm wondering if the uneven areas are what could be causing my hip pain?? I'd love to know your thoughts...

Boo!

First of all, hope you all had a Happy and safe Halloween 2011! Did ya throw away the candy yet? We haven't, but I put it all in ziploc bags for my husband to take to work! and why I loved Halloween SO much this year? Well, I definitely loved watching my boys enjoy themselves way to much, running from door to door and having a blast!

Also this morning I woke up, knowing I had eaten a slice of pizza, a Halloween cupcake,a baggie of Skittles(Mmm!) and two, small 100 Grands(wow, those were good! and my gosh that's a lot of food!), I hit the streets with a goal of being drenched in sweat and guess what? MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! Too much sweat, if that's possible. It was running into my eyes...glad I'm able to give you so much detail! Ha! Anyway, I conquered almost 6 miles in 58:19! I'm pretty impressed with myself! Especially after a late night of Trick or Treating!