Chocolate, Chocolate Everywhere!

Over that last few days I have had my share of opportunity to eat Chocolate and I have said no each time. I met a little brownie on Sunday morning that I said no thank you to. I met some awfully tasty looking lemon bars and more peanut buttery chocolate brownies later Sunday afternoon. Last night was a board meeting for Avery's preschool...Hello yummy looking cookie thingy that had cookie dough, cream cheese and peanut butter in it....Good Grief... but again I said no thank you. Then at the actual parent meeting for the love of all that is holy....another plate of brownies!!!! And today I went to Bi-Mart and was literally in a trance standing there in the Easter Candy section dazed by all the different types of chocolate. I found my self touching that bags and wondering if I brought some home could I stand having it in the house and not eat it. Believe me it all looked so good. But I went to the protein bar section and bought one of those instead.

The diet program I follow allows me to have a "free" day. I can eat what ever I want on that one day. So believe you me I will be havin' me some chocolate before the week is out. I don't believe in diets that don't allow you to be human and enjoy treats every once in a while. But isn't it interesting how many times you can be faced with bad food choices day after day. When I am not in control I would have said yes to each one of those encounters with the lemon bars and brownies and that's no good.

Side Note: In order for the "free" day concept to work I eat extremely clean that rest of the week. It has to do with calorie spikes and shocking your body into knowing that you are not starving by eating so clean. See Body for Life in my sidebar.

Before Pictures!

8-10 weeks pregnant with Bodie

Six weeks after having Bodie Hmmmm....trimmer and more fit before he was born. I have some work to do. I think those jeans are a size 6! They are in a box upstairs! I will wear them again! Whew that's some BIG hair I got goin'!

Thank so much for the support you guys. I think having this blog will be fun. I wanted to thank you guys for reading and for supporting this idea.

When I went to Hawaii I was a little bit uncomfortable and self conscience about getting into a swim suit. Ron was so sweet when he reassured me that it doesn't matter it's only family and they love you no matter what. What a great reminder that the important thing is the time we got to spend together and not the fact that I had to wear a pair of his board shorts into the water and a t-shirt because that is all I fit into and felt comfortable in.

Anyways, back to the good news I have lost 9 pounds since I returned from Hawaii. Yippy! Now the trick is to keep it off! I gained weight during Bodie's pregnancy (as I do with all my babies) and I want it off by summer! I am to the point were I don't feel comfortable in my clothes (or my own skin for that matter) and my wardrobe selection in soooo minimal. So you are all my witnesses in my journey once again to get back in shape and be wonderwomen! I'll explain wonderwomen in another post!

So look out ladies I plan to be back to the "lean mean hottie machine" that Kim referred to on her blog very soon!

Protein Packed Pancakes

I love, love, love pancakes! However, they are full of the all the wrong types of Carbohydrates. How excited was I when I found a protein packed recipe for pancakes.

Protein Packed Pancakes
1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup oatmeal
4 egg whites

Yields about 4 - 6 smallish pancakes

Blend all ingredients in a blender until it looks like batter (I use my magic bullet). Then cook batter like a regular pancake. Now, do not expect Krustez or Biscuick type pancakes when you make these. They do have different texture. What I love about them is they are the perfect meal (both protein and good carbohydrate). Sometimes I will make them silver dollar size and spread some natural peanut butter on them and make little sandwiches with them. They travel well this way when you know you will be in the car and don't want to have a snack attack.

Add ins and toppings:
Cinnamon in the batter and 100% Applesauce on top
Bananas on top or your favorite berry
Sugar Free Syrup
Pumpkin and Pie spice in the batter (yum!)
Milled Flax Seed to make them even healthier
Get creative and add what ever you like in and on regular pancakes!

Enjoy!

Hydration and Fat Burning Power!

I know you have heard it a million times! Drink plenty of water. Drink 8 to 10, eight ounces glasses of water per day (more if you are active). Personally, I have a hard time drinking my water. Boy, do I pay the price when I don't. I am completely dehydrated by the end of the day and find my self guzzling a huge glass of water to try to make up for it. In comparison to other beverages that I enjoy (mainly anything of the soda variety) water is just so boring. However, when I am consistent with my water intake I have more energy and my skin even looks better. I can always tell when I am drinking enough water because my wedding ring is loose on my finger.

We all know that water is essential for our body to function. It regulates our tempurature, transports nutrients, helps with digestion, respiration blah, blah, blah...the list is long. We would die without it.

My favorite thing that water does for our body is....

Water helps you to burn body fat! If there is a miracle "fat burner" out there it can be found right at your kitchen faucet. Of course you need to be training properly and making good food choices.

How does water help you burn body fat? Your kidneys eliminate waste from your body. When you are dehydrated the waste builds up in your body and can't be flushed out. Your body is such a well designed machine that when the kidneys need help the liver steps in and tries to eliminate some the waste for the kidneys...how nice of the liver!

The down side of the liver being such a nice guy and trying to help out is then it can't do one of its main functions which is BURN BODY FAT! Therefore, if one of your goals is to tighten up and tone up....make sure you are drinking plenty of water so the liver can do its job more efficiantly and burn the fat.

I literally visualize this process taking place in my body when I don't want to drink anymore water. As I chug yet one more glass of water I think to myself, I wonder what poor little fat cell is being distroyed by this dose of H2O!!!! I like the idea of my body being a fat burning machine.

Spot Reducing

Someone asked me once..."What is a good exercise for my arms, they need to tone up". There is no way to truly tone up your arms only by doing some magical arm exercises. That is why when I see infomercials that claim that their product can do just that, I get so angry. "Use the Ab Blaster to have the flattest stomach ever"...what a bunch of bunk! If I have 3 inches of adapose (fat) tissue over my abs the Ab Blaster will not touch the fat. I might have strong abs after using it, but not a flatter tummy. Your body is made up of two types of tissue when it comes to exercise; fat tissue and muscle tissue. The person that asked me this is a very trim individual and in shape. Ultimately, she needs to determine her body composition (how much fat and how much muscle) to see if she can reduce some body fat (all over her body) and in turn have firmer, more tight arms. The bonus to this is she would probably see other parts of her body firm up at the same time and that is always a bonus. So basically, the answer to her question would be a really good diet and overall exercise program that would keep her body fat percentage low so that her arms would look lean and toned.

Sorry to report there is no magic exercise that will spot reduce our trouble areas. I had a personal trainer tell me once something that I never forgot when it comes to the question of spot reducing exercises...

If we could spot reduce everyone

who chews gum would have a skinny face

Why?

My name is Julia. I majored in Health Education as an undergrad. I worked in a gym for several years after I graduated. I have competed in two fitness competitions (1997 and 2005). I have three children under the age of 6. I love to talk health, fitness, and nutrition. That is not to say that I am a picture of health. I have many bad habits. I am learning more about health and how much it matters to our longevity.

What you do and eat today will literally shape the quality of the

individual you are physically and mentally tomorrow.

I started this blog as a place to put my thoughts and knowledge about health and fitness. It is my hope that I will inspire others and also motivate myself to stay on track with my fitness goals.