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Where do you find your confidence?

When you hit that alarm clock first thing in the morning, do you dread getting out of bed? Are you already in panic mode because you are running late? Do you look in the mirror and think “I need to drop this weight!”?

Where do you find your confidence?

Now that you are running late, do you now take your frustrations out on your spouse and children? Do you throw a couple of bowls of sweetened cereal or Pop-tarts in front of them? And then do you, yourself, skipping breakfast, grab the last Pepsi and a box of cookies to eat on your way to the office? Do you send your children off to school filled with your frustrations of being rushed and having eaten poorly?

Where do you find your confidence?

Do you stress out at your job? If you stay at home and care for younger children, do you let them stress you out? Do you think the fact that you had an awful breakfast and got an awful start to your day has anything to do with this stress you are feeling? Do you ever dream of a different life, or one without all this stress?

Where do you find your confidence?

When you get home, are you so full of anguish and despair at how your day went that instead of preparing a healthy meal for your family, you pick up some high-fat takeout? Do you then eat the leftovers that your kids didn’t eat while helping them with their homework and getting them ready for bed? Do you stay up late parked in front of the television after the house is quiet and scarf down the last few scoops of ice cream hidden in the back of the freezer? Do you do all this just so you can repeat the torment the next day?

Where do you find your confidence?

Let’s find some confidence.

Try this.

Clean out your kitchen. Throw out all the crap. Buy fresh fruits and foods that don’t come in a box. Have your meals laid out a week in advance, listed, with ingredients all purchased for the week ahead. Pre-cut your fruits and veggies and have them all stored and ready to go for the week.

Set that alarm an hour earlier tomorrow. Get up out of bed the first time. Put on your workout clothes. Look at yourself in the mirror and say “Today, I’m going to change my life. Today I’m going to be the influence in the lives of others. Today will be better than yesterday.”

Check your e-mail, start the coffee, and do the workout.

Scoop up some fresh fruit for your kids. Fill their plates with fresh foods…eggs, whole grains, oatmeal…do the same for you. Make the family a Shakeology, reveling in the fact that you just ensured that they get one decent meal this day. Send them off to school knowing that Mom is calm, Mom is happy, Mom is confident.

Have you found a little confidence yet?

Arrive at the office with your head held high, your lunch sack full of healthy foods, and dinner already prepared in your head. Don’t let anyone bring you down, because you, yourself, can control that with a single thought…a thought of confidence.

Arrive home with a different attitude. Prepare that healthy meal and serve it to your family. What? They won’t eat it? Well, then, I guess they won’t eat. Don’t fret. Eventually they will. And they will learn to appreciate it.

Send your kids off to bed, do a few chores, and go to bed yourself, knowing the following day, you are going to be happy to do the same thing. Why? Because you are so full of confidence now that tomorrow is going to be a better day, that you can’t wait to get up in the morning and do it all again.

This is how you find your confidence. Granted, everyone’s day will not follow this exact schedule, and granted, there are those bumps that you always hit along the way, but confidence will get you through it. Confidence grows as you grow.

This is where you'll find your confidence.

This is probably one of the best ideas you can do for your kids and family. Salad is pretty universal, and the fun part about it is coming up with new toppings for it. Much like a sundae, making a gorgeous salad can be just as tasty and fun, and I guarantee, all the kiddos will love to do it!

Get yourself some leafy green lettuce. I'm not just talking iceberg, but some fresh baby lettuces in different varieties. The leaves are small and tasty, just right for hungry little mouths.

Put out bowl of different toppings. Try shredded carrots. The kids just love these! Chopped tri-colored peppers are always a hit. Put out a bowl of raisins or dried cranberries, some unsalted, raw sunflower seeds, feta or goat cheese crumbles, sweet cherry tomatos, sliced strawberries, sliced kiwi, slivered almonds, raw broccoli and cauliflower, sugar snap peas, celery sticks, chunks of fresh chicken breast or shredded rotisserie chicken. Be creative! Try mandarin orange slices, tuna, olives, pickles, cucumbers, zucchini slices or radish slices. You'll be surprised what the kids pick to put on their salads.

Dressing? Don't use the full fat kind. Buy the salad dressing in the spray form. Kids love these! And it will force them to use less than they would of the other kind. They will really get a taste of the salad ingredients instead of the salad dressing. This is important. Just the other day my daughter said "I didn't realize salad tasted like this!"

Teaching our kids healthy eating habits today will not only improve their outlook for a healthy future, but will ensure that they learned one great thing from mom! How to bring some variety into a blah, everyday dish.

Well...I guess you just never know what you will like until you try it. Here is an example of a soup that I was amazed to see my children gobble down. It is low in fat and calories, and very delish! I modified the original recipe to the one you see below.

Veggie Soup with Turkey Sausage and Cheese Crackers
4 Jennie-O Turkey Sausages, skins removed. (I used 1 hot sausage link and 3 sweet sausage links)
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
1 1/2 cups of finely chopped zucchini
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 tsp kosher salt, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbls. Tomato Paste
3 cups fat-free, less sodium chicken broth (I like to make my own or use Pacific Natural Foods Low Sodium Free Range Chicken Broth)
2 (15.5-ounce) cans organic cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

Heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sausage meat and brown until crumbly. Remove from pan and move aside.

Add onion, zucchini, carrot, celery, 1/4 tsp salt, and garlic to hot pot. Cook for 5 minutes until vegetables are tender. Stir in tomato pasted and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly.

Remove 1 cup of that mixure, and with 1 cup of the chicken broth, and half of the beans, mix them all together in a food processor or blender until smooth. Return mixture to pot. Add remaining chicken broth and beans. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until veggies are cooked through.

To make the cheese crackers, spoon 1 tbls. Parmesan Cheese and 1 tbls. Asiago cheese into a mound onto some non stick foil. Make a mound for each person. Stick sheet in boiler until cheese flattens and is bubbly and lightly golden brown. Let cool before removing from foil.

Ladle about 1 cup of soup into each bowl and sprinkle with turkey sausage. Serve with a cracker.


I suggest you double this, because for 4 people, it will go fast! And at 230 calories a serving...you can afford to have two!

Today, Beachbody® is hosting a brief, informative Webinar specifically designed to introduce you to our exciting business. Our corporate experts, along with various Coaches, share their knowledge and passion about the benefits of becoming a Beachbody Coach via this lively presentation.

Make plans NOW to join us!

Tuesday, February 23rd, at 5:00 PM PT/8:00 PM ET

To join this Webinar, go to:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/800074728.

To join this Webinar's conference call: Dial 1 (312) 878-0222, access code 342-978-375, and enter PIN. (PIN is shown after logging in to Webinar.)

Audio Options: You may now choose to hear the audio portion of any LIVE Webinar through your phone or computer's speakers. Simply select the audio option you want on the Webinar dashboard after you log in.

Here is another great family meal that everyone will dive into. On the menu tonight we have Talapia Tacos, Coleslaw with Orange Vinaigrette, and a big leafy green salad. This is great for the Lenten season. It makes a quick Friday night meal!

Coleslaw with Orange Vinaigrette
3 oz. or about 1/4 cup Fage Fat Free Plain Green Yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup Tropicana Trop 50 Low Sugar Orange Juice
3 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
1 1/2 tsp honey
Bag of Dole Coleslaw Mix
Extra shredded carrots, if preferred
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup diced red onion

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Drain before adding to Tacos.

Talapia Tacos
8 Taco sized Wheat Tortillas
(I prefer Archer Farms Simply Balanced Whole Wheat Tortillas. They pack a punch with 13g of whole grain and 3g of fiber per 130 calorie tortilla, and they taste great!)
1 pound of Talapia fillets, cut into pieces
1 Tbls. Mrs. Dash, any flavor
Olive Oil Spray
1/2 Cup pico de Gallo
Coleslaw with Orange Vinaigrette
Extra Cilantro for garnish

Coat Tilapia in Mrs. Dash
Mist a hot fry pan with Olive Oil Spray or a light coating of good Olive Oil. Work in batches and fry fish until golden brown...about 3-5 minutes.
Spoon fish into tortillas and top with Pico de Gallo, Coleslaw, and remaining Cilantro. (The kids love a little shredded cheese on these as well!)

Enjoy!

Here is a great recipe that even your pickiest eater will enjoy! My kids love this one...sweet potatoes and all!

Chicken and Sweet Potatoes With Shallots Recipe | Real Simple Recipes

Here’s the deal: Decide whether you want to lose 2 pounds a week or less (that may sound slow, but you can drop a size in a month this way and keep it off). Follow our free, easy eating plan and try to burn 500 calories per day for a total of 3,500 a week. Those shooting to lose a pound a week should aim to sizzle 250 calories per day (and 1,750 a week). To maintain your weight, focus on daily sweat sessions that burn 100 calories a day (or 700 calories off per week).

Whatever your goal, choose from the following workouts. (Pay attention to the effort level, using a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is watching TV and 10 is installing a 100-pound plasma screen on the wall.) The smartest, most effective route to lasting weight loss is through exercise, so no matter which mix of workouts you choose, expect to see results within two weeks.

Activities to burn 500 calories:
• Walk 40 minutes at a level 8 on a hilly course (or crank up the incline on the treadmill).
• Do 36 minutes of running intervals: Jog for 1 minute at a level 5, sprint 1 minute at a level 9. Repeat 18 times.
• Take a 45-minute Spinning class.
• Dance to a good beat for 72 minutes at a level 7.
• Hit the elliptical machine for 60 minutes, doing intervals. Do 2 minutes at a level 8, then 1 minute at a level 5. Repeat 20 times.
• Swim freestyle for 50 minutes at a level 8.
• Use the rowing machine for 40 minutes, doing intervals: Go 8 minutes at a level 8, then 2 minutes at a level 4. Repeat 4 times.

Activities to burn 250 calories:
• Walk for 35 minutes at a level 7.
• Run for 20 minutes at a level 7.
• Bike for 30 minutes at a level 5.
• Dance for 50 minutes at a level 4.
• Hit the elliptical machine for 30 minutes at a level 8.
• Swim freestyle for 25 minutes at a level 8.
• Use the rowing machine for 28 minutes at a level 8.

Activities to burn 100 calories:
• Walk for 25 minutes at a level 4.
• Run for 12 minutes at a level 4.
• Bike for 17 minutes at a level 4.
• Dance for 20 minutes at a level 4.
• Hit the elliptical machine for 15 minutes at a level 5.
• Swim freestyle for 15 minutes at a level 5.
• Use the rowing machine for 25 minutes at a level 5.


Good luck!

Copied from Self Magazine.com

Contact me for more information or join my team with a FREE membership and I'll send you samples FOR FREE!! I'll even pay the postage!

Have you hit a calorie burning plateau? Or perhaps you haven't even started that exercise program yet. By just following these 6 easy tips, you will be well on your way to burning some extra pesky calories and before you know it, you'll be over your plateau and ready to go!

1. Use the “5 & 10” rule for escalators and elevators: take the stairs if you only need to go up five floors or less or down 10 floors or less. If you have to go more than 5 floors, walk the first 5 and take the elevator for the remaining floors. Every week, try to add a floor.

2. Walk or bike to errands less than 1 mile away. If that isn't possible, park in the back of the parking lot, you know, the corner where NO ONE parks and hitch it across the pavement. If you are shopping a strip mall, leave the car be and walk to all your destinations.

3. Get out of your chair! Every hour or so, take four minutes to walk around–a bathroom break, visiting a colleague, etc. Or if at home, get up and do a household chore. Just increasing your heart rate for 10 minutes each hour can do you a world of good!

4. Don’t be so darn efficient. Do one household task at a time, or make a separate trip (on foot) for each errand. Use the stairs in your house more useful by keeping your cleaning supplies up or down stairs so you are forced to use them in order to clean.

5. Keep moving. While watching your kids at sports games or practice, use that time to walk or jog around the field, do jumping jacks, or pace back and forth. Even fidgeters are at an advantage as they burn more calories than non-fidgeters.

6. Do your own gardening and yard work and housecleaning. Offer to do it for a friend or family member in need. Burn calories and save money!

Using the bands for the P90X back exercises is a wonderful option for those who don't quite have the strength to do full pull-ups on the bar. Sometimes, however, holding the position you need to for the wide front pull-ups and the corn cob pull-ups can be challenging. Watch this video for a great tip on how to force yourself to do the exercises correctly!







(Please note that proper care and form is always necessary to prevent injury. Only use sturdy equipment. In this case, a hollow, aluminum broom handle would not be considered safe.)

Please take the time to watch this video.

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com

We have all read about the importance of lists. Creating a to-do list everyday relieves stress, marks out your time, and makes the things you have to accomplish each day much less daunting.

The great thing about Beachbody workouts is that they are like a list built right in your workout! It is all written (or recorded) out for you. All you have to do is do it. It is much easier and way more time saving than going to a gym. Think about it. You don't have to DRIVE to a Beachbody workout. You don't have to fight for a locker to do a Beachbody workout. You don't have to wait in line to do a Beachbody workout. You don't have to pay a personal trainer to keep your workout list for you. All you have to do is push "play". It is all right there for you.

They truly are workouts for the most dependent people. Those who are dependent on lists, those who are dependent on time, those who are dependent on persistence. You can't always make it to the gym. Be honest with yourself! Who has the time? It takes you 30 minutes to get there, 30 minutes to wait for your equipment or class, 30 minutes to change, and 30 minutes to get home! And to think you pay a monthly fee for all of this! You are paying to waste your time.

A Beachbody workout will cost you less than $120! That is a one time fee! Not something you pay each month. You get a great variety of DVD's in EACH package! There is something different each day to do. And it is all written out for you. All you need to do is do it. How easy!

So why haven't you started? Join me in this journey to get fit and let's do it together! I'm here to help you! Oh, and that will cost you nothing!

By David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding - Posted on Mon, Feb 08, 2010, 1:08 pm PST

From Men’s Health Magazine

Why do some people pack on the pounds effortlessly? It’s not always genetics and it’s not always gluttony, and you can’t always blame it on lack of exercise. Indeed, becoming overweight is often a result of some simple—and easily correctible—bad habits, especially when it comes to dining out. (I know. I used to be a chunky kid.)

As we began researching Eat This, Not That! Restaurant Survival Guide, we discovered plenty of egregious examples of super-fattening foods in both America’s supermarkets and our chain restaurants. And we learned that if you simply know what to order and what to avoid, you can shave off pounds effortlessly. For example, does On the Border really need to stuff more than a day’s worth of calories into its Dos XX Fish Tacos? (Remember when fish was healthy?) And shouldn’t Chili’s warn parents when a selection on its kids’ menu comes with 82 grams of fat, like its Pepper Pals Little Chicken Crispers does?

In the meantime, here’s the hard truth: There's more contributing to America's obesity problem than just fattening food. The restaurant industry has spent decades studying human behavior and figuring out all sorts of subliminal ways to make us want to order and eat more. And a lot of those psychological tricks have become ingrained in our behavior.

In a study in the journal Obesity, researchers looked at the habits of people dining at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Those with the highest body mass index (BMI)—a measure of obesity—shared many of the behaviors listed below. Know them so you can take charge of your waistline—and your health.

#1. Overweight people use larger plates.
When offered two plate sizes, 98.6 percent of those with the highest BMI took the larger of the two plates to the buffet. A bigger plate tricks your eye into thinking you’re not eating as much when you stuff more food onto the surface—and into your mouth. Use a smaller plate, get a smaller belly.

#2. Overweight people eat while looking at food.
Of those with high BMIs, 41.7 percent took seats that overlooked the buffet, instead of sitting in a booth or facing in a different direction. The sight of food tends to make our minds think we have more work to do, eating-wise. Keep your food stored in the fridge or stashed in the pantry, not out on the countertops.

#3. Overweight people eat with maximum efficiency.
While Chinese buffets offer chopsticks, 91.3 percent of obese patrons opt for forks. That just makes it easier to shovel in the food.

#4. Overweight people clean their plates.
Of those patrons who were the heaviest, 94 percent cleaned their plates so there was nothing left. Ignore Mom’s advice—let a little linger, or take it to go.

#5. Overweight people chew less.
Researchers actually monitored the chewing habits of the buffet-goers and discovered that the heaviest one-third among them chewed their food an average of 11.9 times before swallowing. The middle one-third chewed an average of 14 times, and the leanest one-third chewed 14.8 times.

#6. Overweight people dive in.
The leanest people in the study typically took a lap around the buffet first, to plot out what they wanted to eat. But the more overweight group charged right in; doing so means you may fill up on some less-appealing items, then have to go back to snag that one nosh you have to have but missed the first time.

#7. Overweight people skip breakfast.
A simple habit, but missing this crucial meal raises your risk of obesity by a whopping 450 percent! Start your day with some lean protein and fiber—which will jumpstart your metabolism and keep you full. (An egg sandwich is actually a great choice.)

Sometimes coming up with meals that the entire family will enjoy can be a chore. Kids are against spicy foods in general and serving up too much of them will force you to make a second meal most of the time. My cure for that these days has been to keep it simple. If my husband wants to douse his meal in hot sauce, then all the power to him. Keeping it simple makes life much easier.

I start every meal with a large, green, salad. The greener the better. I have been decorating my salad with some good stuff. Buying tri-colored peppers and having them chopped and ready to go is a big help. And although my girls don't care for larger tomatoes, they enjoy the cherry tomatoes sliced in half on top of their salad. I add some dried cranberries, goat cheese and a few low fat croutons for crunch. Then there is nothing like a bag of pre-shredded carrots to top it all off! We are all getting into the spray salad dressings these days. They add all of the flavor with none of the added fat and calories.

Picking veggies that everyone will eat can also be a chore. Thank goodness having the salad makes up for that. But asparagus is one that can be flavored simply with a squeeze of a lemon and some olive oil. Saute them quickly, just until they turn bright green.

Finally, this night I used 1 tbls of Olive Oil (the good kind) with 1 tsp of butter and sauteed some garlic (about two cloves) until fragrant. Then I added the juice of a half lemon, and some chicken broth and a splash of white wine. I simmered it for about 3 minutes until it thickened up just slightly. I added chunks of chicken breast and cooked until done, and then some cooked shrimp. I topped it with some parsley. I didn't have any fresh parsley on hand, so I used dried instead just to add some color. Finally, I heated up three cups of Minute Rice Brown Rice which comes already cooked in little cups. This is such a time saver because Brown Rice can take forever! And the rice is very good. The girls like to eat it right out of cup! I mixed it all together and served it up. The lemon adds alot of flavor without the spice, and everyone gets a healthy and nutritious meal in no time at all.

Sure it is hard some days, but with a little creativity and the simplest of ingredients, dinner is ready in no time!

The Biggest Loser is one of the most inspirational programs on television today. Having the opportunity to watch these people change their lives for the better is huge for a lot of other people struggling with the same demons. It gets deep into the emotional reason for why these folks are as heavy as they are. It works to face that problem so that they can move on with their lives and focus on that problem which could take their life in the end. Who could ask for anything better? It is truly remarkable.

But, the biggest problem with the biggest loser is that the people who are chosen for this show are morbidly obese. Morbidly obese means that your body fat is 40% or greater. The fact of the matter is that most American's fall into the obese range. The obese range is a body fat measurement, or BMI, of 30%-40%. That's right. If your body fat is between 30% and 40%, you are considered obese according to the national standard. Once your BMI falls into this range, your body has to work harder just to sustain itself. Your heart needs to work harder to pump blood, your organs need to work harder to attain nutrients through the layer of body fat, and your bones and ligaments have to hold and move more body weight everyday.

So, the situation is that most American's watch the Biggest Loser thinking "Thank GOODNESS that isn't me", when the fact of the matter is they may already be on the same road. And just because a person is "thin", they may not be fit. They do not go hand in hand. Being "fit" means your body fat is where is should be, between 18% and 24%, you maintain an active lifestyle, and you can accomplish everyday tasks without being winded or exhausted. In fact, exercise should "energize" the body, not "exhaust" it. So think for a minute about where you are today. Could you lose a few pounds? Could you be in better shape? Do you need more energy to get things accomplished in your life that you wish to accomplish? Do you even know what your body fat is? Well, without calipers, or without having your BMI professionally checked, there are a few ways to determine that number. One is through the following chart. It will surely give you a general idea. Plus, the oldest trick in the book can give you an idea too. Can you pinch an inch? Grab the skin fold just above your front hip bone and give it a squeeze. Are you pinching an inch or more? Then, chances are, your BMI exceeds 30% and it is time to take action.




Remember that it is never, ever too late to get back into shape. All you have to gain is minutes, days, months, years added to your life. All you have to lose is the extra body fat.

I am now able some pull ups and without the aid of a chair! Feels great! I'm still amazed at what my body can do now, after all these years! And I couldn't have done it without Beachbody!

I'm so pleased to have received my blood work back already and to see that the numbers were just great! It just goes to show you what some exercise and healthy eating can do for your body. I credit my Shakeology as well. I know it has done wonderful things for me since I began incorporating it in my diet on a regular basis. It has been known to lower cholesterol numbers! You can read all about Shakeology here and if you are interested in some samples, please hit the CONTACT ME button to the left and send me your address! I'll be sure to get some out to you ASAP!

I know! Everyone dreads household chores. I used to dread them too...but since I got my Bodybugg, and I have set myself with a goal of 13,000 steps a day, I am finding that unless I do some kind of household chore everyday, I come pretty shy of that goal. Household chores can not only make your house look better, but it will make you feel better as well. Plus, it burns calories! I know! Who knew?!? But why not get that house clean and get in shape at the same time! It is easy to do. Just keep that body moving. Lifting, moving, pushing, wiping...all those things keep the heart rate up and the calorie burn going. Here is a list of the top 10 calorie burning chores. These are based on the weight of a 150 lb woman doing 30 minutes of each chore.

So, if you find yourself reaching a weight plateau, add in a few extra of these. See if it doesn't help you shed an additional pound or two this week!


The top 10 calorie burning household chores are:

10. Doing laundry burns 72 calories.

9. Washing dishes burns 76 calories.

8. Vacuuming burns 84 calories.

7. Washing windows burns 153 calories.

6. Washing the car burns 153 calories.

5. Mowing the lawn burns 162 calories.

4. Gardening burns 162 calories.

3. Raking leaves burns 171 calories.

2 Scrubbing floors burns 189 calories.

1. Moving around furniture burns 225 calories.

*These estimates are based on 30 minutes of intense activity and on a person weighing 150 pounds.