Back to real life...

Vacations, what a wonderful thing to be able to do. For most of us vacations are a time for doing things we normally don't do during our normal lives like rafting, fishing, roller coasters, sleeping all day, and indulging in delicious devilish foods.
In my opinion partaking in some divine eating while on vacation is perfectly normal and safe as long as you can get right back to it when your vacation bliss is over; and really that's the key.
I just returned from a week long of comforting indulgence, a week of forgetting what it's like to feel hungry. And let me tell you while I had tons of fun I am so done feeling that way! I am ready to get back to my healthy fun foods and my workouts. If you told me 6 months ago that I would welcome my new lifestyle back after a week off I would have thought you were crazy. After this last week my insides are torn up! My "daily" schedule (achem) is totally off kilter, my stomach acid is all messed up, and my legs are terribly restless. I do not like feeling this way. I have a rather large vacay coming up in about a month. This vacation is with my best foodie friend and we are going on a 5 day Caribbean cruise and then I'll be at her house for a week. Fortunate for me she's changed her lifestyle as well and we both fully intend to use the gym on the boat and I fully intended to use her YMCA. I also plan on indulging is some fine fried Florida food and some fine fresh and delicious food but I also intend to steer away from cheesy greasy foods for at least 95% of my trip.
I guess my point is, is that once you get into the groove of a new lifestyle you will find that venturing off of it too much will make you feel icky and you won't like it.

ZUMBA!!!

So for me Zumba was my gateway workout.  When I started all this in January I went and bought Zumba for the Wii and fell in love and I credit it for giving me the exercise fever.  It was so much fun and it showed me that with a list of great heart pumping songs I could get through any workout.

I take a total of three Zumba classes every week, one of which is an Aqua Zumba class.  All three classes have different instructors.  My Wednesday Zumba class is very intense and usually has the most people.  Friday's class is smaller and you sweat but you don't drip.  Aqua Zumba is however much you tune into your body and how fast you can make that water move.

I have heard a lot of opinions towards Zumba from an array of different people.  I think the number one  thing I hear from people is that they can't get the steps right, they aren't coordinated enough, or they can't move that fast.  Like I said before try try again.  Yes the steps can be difficult to learn, can I do them perfect?  Absolutely not, am I the only one in my class?  Positively not. I have a wide range of men and women that take my classes (mostly women).  From 9 years old to 75 years old.  Some can really get down and shake their booties and some just stand in one spot and pick their feet up so slightly.  Some people can really move with grace and rhythm and some definitely do not.  

Most of the steps used are basic dance steps and once you learn them you should be fairly set to go.  Mambo, salsa, cumbia, and more.  Pay attention to the instructors feet and you should learn them quickly, if not who cares!  Just keep moving, get into the music, and have FUN!  Don't be discouraged cause you can't get the footwork down.

Recently I heard that Zumba is for someone who has a lower fitness level.  Bologna!  Zumba is what you make of it and the instructor you have.  You can't expect to see any results if you let gravity take hold and flail your arms and legs around aimlessly.  You have to use your body.  Zumba can be a great cardio and toning workout, not only that but it is superb for your core.   In an average class you can burn anywhere from 400-1000 calories (I'm pretty sure the larger would be an instructors burn).  It is a great cardio workout, slims and tones your entire body, and helps you improve your balance and motor skills.  

Zumba isn't only a physical workout but a mental one as well.  We all know that exercising releases endorphins (they make us feel good) thus helping us to relax and get rid of that nasty anxiety that looms over us.  Plus you get outta the regular monotonous daily routine and socialize.  We have a very social class where I go and many of us have an unspoken facial language in which we speak to each other during class (like, I cannot believe I am doing this right now!).

So pull those abs in and go find yourself an instructor you like that is at your fitness level and go dance, have fun, and remember, just keep moving!

Benefits of Zumba

Pros & Cons of Zumba

ZUMBA!!

Eating fruits....

So I was recently reading an article in one of the free grocery store magazines that is offered, and came across this article on fruits that I found to be...helpful.
Fruit is something that we all think of as healthy and nutritious and for the most part they are, in moderation.  A common mistake while trying to loose weight is thinking that you don't need to track your fruits with your other foods because we think they are healthy and good for us.  We are so wrong. Fruits need to be weighed and measured just like that french fry your thinking about right now.
Even though they are good for us they still have fruit sugars and have a sufficient amount of calories.  For example I have been eating peaches lately because they are ripe, juicy, and delicious, depending on size they are roughly 60-70 calories, good calories, but calories that need to be accounted for if your trying to loose weight.
Anyway, some fruits are better to consume when you are trying to loose weight than others.  For example this article suggests avoiding these fruits if you are trying to loose:

• Bananas
• Dried Fruits (we should know this by now)
• Figs (delicious little fruits, if you haven't had them fresh do it now!)
• Grapes
• Mangoes
• Pineapple

I don't personally think that these fruits should be totally avoided, but should be eaten in moderation and definitely should be eaten once in a while.

The following are high fiber low sugar foods that this article suggests eating.

• Avocado, while yes its fatty the fat contained in this super fruit are essential to healthy living.  This fruit is also high in fiber which helps to make you feel full.  A great way to get more of this fruit into your diet is to make a "spread", and replace your mayo with it on sandwiches and such.
• Berries, I have heard many times that berries are nutritional powerhouses full of antioxidants and are lower in calories.  Raspberries for example hold half of our daily vitamin C and 30% of our daily fiber.  Blackberries add vitamin K and folic acid; strawberries have recently been found to reduce risk of hypertension, and blueberries have a type 2 diabetes fighting component.  Many berries have the ability to help your body regulate blood sugar levels as well.
• Cherries!  My personal favorite, I just hate that they get to be so expensive.  these super fruits have been shown to support cancer prevention, heart health, and can reduce the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer's, and Gout.  They can be eaten in yogurt, ice cream, meat sauces, fruit salads, the list truly goes on and on.
• Lemons and Limes, pucker up cause these sour citrus fruits are good for you!  These fruits have  some of the lowest sugar amounts and are loaded with vitamin C which helps with inflammatory problems.  The peels (which can be zested and put in most foods) contains antioxidant flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamin C, and is nearly 0 calories.  These unique components help to fight inflammation, stimulates liver detoxifying enzymes, and can help to prevent mouth cancer.  

There are so many more fruits out there that need to be enjoyed, so don't just stick to this list...go explore!  Find something fun and yummy to eat and share it with the world!


The below link will take you to the magazines website from which I saw the article in.
Delicious Living Magazine

Smoothies...

So we recently bought one of these.  My friend Tammy has had one of these for a while now and she ranted and raved about it and still uses it months later.  This is where her breakfast comes from.  I did a smoothie for breakfast last week and it was god but drinking my breakfast is going to be something i need to get used to. ( i just became a breakfast eater)

But anyways, this is a GREAT little machine and it is fairly inexpensive.  This brand and model we purchased at Sam's Club for about $20.  Before we bought this model we did look at Walmart and they had two other options under $30 (the one we wanted they didn't have).

While at Sam's Club we also purchased some frozen fruits, pineapple and mango, and a pomegranate mixed berry.  We choose frozen because it was something that suits our needs.  Tammy uses fresh fruit she buys and then preps and freezes it herself.  Either way the nutritional values hold strong so it is your preference and what will work best for your household.  

These are the ingredients I use for my children's smoothies.  They are a great way to get some fruits and vegetables into your kids without having them complain because of the way it looks.

So I used 1 banana cut into slices, 4 strawberries, 2 TBS plain nonfat Greek yogurt, 1 TBS honey (natural sweetener that can also help with allergies), 1/8 cup almond milk, and about 3/4 cup ice (ice depends on how thick and icy you want it).

Put it in your blender cup and blend away!

Pour and serve!

There will be sure to have happy faces all around.

There are so many different ingredients you can put into smoothies the options are almost endless!

Smoothies are also a great way for adults to get in their fruits and veggies as well.  Just be sure to watch what your putting in and MEASURE everything because the calories can add up really fast. So embrace summer with a yummy frozen nutritious drink with your kids.

Getting fit is wonderful because.....

It changes your world in so many wonderful ways!  There are the obvious things like being healthier and not being winded from walking up your stairs, but in the last few months i have noticed so many more things!!

• My house gets cleaned faster because I am able to move faster due to being lighter on my feet.
• I feel taller...weird I know but I just noticed it yesterday and all I can think is that my core is stronger and I am standing up straighter than i used to??  I don't know, lol
• Shopping is so much more fun!  I am no longer limited to the stores that carry plus size clothing.  As a matter of fact if I shop quality (not Walmart, their clothes run terribly small to keep prices down, uh-huh.) I can no longer shop in a plus size store.  I can now shop GAP, Banana Republic, all of the wonderful stores I never even went into cause I wouldn't fit into anything. Very exciting having this wonderful world open up.
• SEX!  Sex is better and easier than it used to be.  Plus now that I don't feel terrible about my naked body (still room for improvement) I desire it more.  There are things that you can do in the bedroom with a fit body that was never possible before.  Bending and stretching and lifting....yeah just read 50 shades, you'll get the idea.
• I have a TON more energy, i can keep going until about 10pm and not skip a beat.  Yes, this means no energy drinks that are loaded with nasty not good for you things, bonus!
• I can keep up with my kids and my husband.   They all want to play or get things done and now I have the energy to do these things with them.

 There are so many more reasons why getting fit is wonderful but these are the things that I notice the most.  So figure out what you want to become wonderful from being fit and make it happen!