I just had to email you to tell you that I was feeling a bit stressed about staying on track this evening (this week, I am trying to spread my 35 Weekly Points out throughout the week, whereas I usually plow through them pretty quickly within the first few days of my [...]]]>

Hi Roni,

I just had to email you to tell you that I was feeling a bit stressed about staying on track this evening (this week, I am trying to spread my 35 Weekly Points out throughout the week, whereas I usually plow through them pretty quickly within the first few days of my week) and I decided to read through your blog (I’ve read it for a long time now and I visit your site daily, for inspiration…or commiseration!) :)

I am so glad I read back through old blog posts! It’s funny how you might know something for a long time but then start second-guessing yourself about how to approach the plan or how to handle emotions and feelings about the "journey" and the sometimes struggle that may be involved.

I was wondering, when you came to the end of your day in terms of Points and didn’t want to use any more (for whatever reason), do you ever start getting that urge, that little "voice" saying, "Hmmm, I wonder what I can snack on?!" How do you deal with that? I know that I can almost expect that reaction every night after I scan my Points Tracker page and upload it to my blog (it’s my way of staying accountable, recently, because after I post it, I figure if I eat more than what it shows, I’m really just hurting myself and my own success) how counter-productive is THAT?! But that urge shows up like clock-work no matter how satisfying of a day I’ve had. It’s like my "inner child" wants to rebel because she’s been told "No more!" Does that sound weird?! It’s the best way I can think of to explain it! :P

I know it’s more of a psychological reaction than a physiological one, but how do you overcome this in your experience? So many times, I’ve said, "OK, well, I’ll just eat such and such." when I’ve wanted to wait until morning, and then I end up using a greater number of Points than intended, and I feel guilty and upset with myself, and I’m sure you are familiar with the cycle of "Why did I do that?! I knew I didn’t want to eat more than X amount of Points! I shouldn’t have done that!" and all the other berating that goes along with letting yourself down and not meeting your own expectations.

I want to turn a corner on the WW plan. There are certain cycles of eating, thinking, and reacting that I need to change – and my biggest obstacle is myself!

Thanks for your advice and insight!

Robyn

OMG… Robyn, this happens to me ALL THE TIME! Honestly it’s what inspires me the most to get creative in the kitchen. Like putting chocolate syrup in tea, blending banana and cocoa, making nachos out of soy crisps, filling scoops with veggies, stuffing won tons with ricotta and/or pizza toppings, coating popcorn in chocolate and honey, turning zucchini slices into mini pizzas, I could go on and on and on. I mean tonight I actually grilled a cherry and chocolate sandwich!

I tend to use that voice to my advantage and try to appease it by eating something healthy for me, that’s low in points and fun. Normally the act of making something up is more satisfying then actually eating it. Like when I made the mini apple pies. The process was fun and it slows me down from just grabbing and eating my weight in chips or chocolate (which I’ve been known to do on many occasions.)

Then again there are days I’m just lazy and yea, I initial get mad at myself as well. Those are the days I kick myself in the butt and move on. No sense in beating myself up by eating even MORE. Which is what I used to do.

I think you hit the nail on the head with "my biggest obstacle is myself!" It is for me as well. There was/is no physical reason why I couldn’t lose weight. It was just getting over the mental aspects and realizing there is no such thing as perfection. And yea, some days I’m just gonna want ice cream and that’s ok. ;)

I hope that helps!

-Roni

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What can I say? I’m a working mom married to a fast food junky. I do my best to cook most evenings. I enjoy cooking. I like knowing what goes in my meals and in my family. And there is no doubt a big part of my [...]]]> I eat out. There, I said it.

What can I say? I’m a working mom married to a fast food junky. I do my best to cook most evenings. I enjoy cooking. I like knowing what goes in my meals and in my family. And there is no doubt a big part of my 70 lb. weight loss was learning how to cook lighter and healthier. GreenLiteBites was/is my outlet to share what I was/am learning.

However, I live in the real world and in the real world it’s just not possible to cook every night. In the real world you get stuck in traffic after work not getting home until 7PM. In the real world you forget to defrost something. In the real world your significant other and children don’t like what you want to make, they rather burgers or "fried chicken from the old man on the bucket" (exact quote from the 4 year old TONIGHT.) In the real world sometimes you just don’t want to mess up the kitchen or, better yet, clean up the kitchen just to cook. In the real world, sometimes, YOU just want to be waited on.

Early on in my weight loss journey I decided that if I was going to lose weight I had to do it on my terms. I tried so many times in the past to lose weight by extraordinary means that weren’t sustainable long term and guess what. . . it didn’t work. Or it did but I gained back everything and then some.

Nope. not this time. I needed to learn to navigate this real world we live in and so far I’ve been successful. I’ve been maintaing that loss for 4 years!

So here they are my 10 Eating Out Strategies for the ‘Real World’

Ask for what you want.

This seems quite obvious to me but I realize some people are fearful to do so. I actually had a conversation today with a college student who said "I wish I could ask them to make switches at restaurants." I’m like, "umm yea.. you CAN! Have you ever tried?" She genuinely looked shocked when I told her I do it all the time and that most restaurants will accommodate. It NEVER hurts to ask.

Always say “no butter”.

It’s on the veggies. It’s on the buns. It’s on the potatoes. It’s EVERYWHERE! I don’t think it’s that big of a deal but these calories add up and fast. Plus I think sometimes the butter takes away from the food itself. Since reducing my butter intake a small amount is all I need if any at all. So save yourself the calories and simply say no butter and if they give you a hard time, tell them you are lactose intolerant. Works every time.

Always ask for the dressing on the side.

You can do the fork trick if you want (dip the the fork in the dressing before taking a bite of salad) or simply pour on your own. Either way you will use a ton less then letting them dress the salad for you. Like the butter thing, you’ll start to get so used to less dressing that when you forgot to ask for it on the side the amount they put on it will shock you.

Double Veggies

At most restaurants you get two sides. A starch and a veggie is typical. Most times I will tell them to skip the potato/rice/noodles/whatever and simply replace with double vegetables. Just be sure to tell them to skip that butter! :)

Reduce the amount of bread you consume

Notice I said reduce not eliminate. Remember we live i the real world. :) Sometimes you just want bread but there are simple ways to reduce it. Some people remove the top of their burgers or sandwiches. I’m more of a ripper. I rip off most of the bun as I eat it leaving just enough to hold it together. When I get a wrap there is usually a flap of miscellaneous wrap that is unnecessary. I rip it off. If there is bread offered at the table I either send it back or have a piece and do the double veggie thing. It’s all a about compromise for me.

Share!

Split an appetizer and an entrée with a significant other. Get one fry for the table and split with the family. Want dessert? Cool. Share with friends. Most items are big enough for at least 2 if not more.

Always get a small.

I don’t care what it is. There is rarely is a reason to go any bigger. Smalls are the old large, I think we forget that. Ice cream? geesh.. go kid sized and it’s usually the perfect amount. Which reminds me always ask if there is a kids size. Many places have them but don’t advertise.

Have defaults.

In 2005, when I started my blog and weight loss journey, I wrote up my Fast Food Options page. I researched our normal go to spots and equipped myself with defaults. I don’t even look at the menus anymore. There is no question what I’m going to get. It removes all pressure.

Brothy Soups

Soups are lifesavers but you have to stick to the brothy ones. Out with friends and everyone wants an appetizer? Get a soup. You don’t feel like you are missing out and think of the calorie difference between a bowl of chicken noodle and an order of mozzarella sticks.

Skip the Cheese/Mayo/Creamy Dressings/Sour Cream/etc.

Or severely reduce them by ordering on the side. Again this comes down to additional calories that are just not needed. A burger is a burger without cheese. You may like these things and that’s fine but a little bit goes a long way.

There you have it, 10 Eating Out Strategies for the ‘Real World’ from someone who just finshed her grilled chicken breast & baked beans from KFC. I splurged on half a biscuit and split some potato wedges with the family. Not bad for a fast food dinner. Not bad at all.

I think the most important thing to remember is that you are not in an all or nothing situation (it took me 15 years to figure that out). Just because you are going to eat out doesn’t mean all bets are off. Simply order smart, enjoy your meal and have NO REGRETS.

Update: Michelle reminded me below… I forgot to ask for your practical eating tips. Please share!

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When will I learn not to ask the husband where he wants to go to dinner? WHEN?

By the middle of the work week I’m spent and going out to dinner gives me a much needed break in the evening. So tonight on my home I gave the husband a ring and [...]]]>

When will I learn not to ask the husband where he wants to go to dinner? WHEN?

By the middle of the work week I’m spent and going out to dinner gives me a much needed break in the evening. So tonight on my home I gave the husband a ring and ask what he wanted to do for dinner. He blurts out.. "Five Guys?"

Aaarrrgh.

Do you guys know Five Guys? It’s a burger joint that ONLY sells burgers. Don’t get me wrong I love a good burger and they have a GOOD burger. I mean real greasy, real beefy burgers. And the fries. Oh the FRIES! They are thick, have skin on them and blow any fast food joint’s sorry excuse for fries out the window.

So I decided to not to worry about it, let the husband have his choice of dinner for a change and go with it. Sometimes you just need to go with it.

I ordered a "Little Hamburger" (Note: it’s not little. It’s perfect. Their regular burger has 2 patties! Who needs 2 patties?!?) and a regular fry for the family to split. Not a large. Not a regular order for each family member. But a regular fry for the whole family.

Here’s my logic when ordering.

1. I don’t NEED cheese. I used to never have a burger without cheese. Actually, I used to order everything with extra cheese. Then I realized I was wasting anywhere from 2-4 points on cheese alone. What’s the point? A burger is good without it. Now I load it up with veggies instead.. lettuce, tomato, pickles, peppers. I don’t miss the cheese at all. It’s just not necessary.
2. I’m a picker. I mean seriously, if I’m sitting at a table and there is food in front of me I’m eating it. It’s as simple as that. So to help curb the mindless fry munching I learned to order just enough fries so I can finish them and not feel like a slug afterwards. When the fries are gone they’re gone and there is nothing left to munch. So we get one order for the 3 of us and it’s always perfect. No waste and no overindulging.
3. WATER. I only drink water when I go out. For starters it’s cheaper. Just ask for a courtesy cup and you’re are good to go. Second, it’s calorie free. You can give me all the crap you want about water not tasting good. It’s flavorless. you don’t like it. Yada yada but I’m here to tell you it’s an acquired taste just like everything else. How many people liked coffee or beer the first time they took a sip. Now how many "can’t live without it." Well, let me tell you, I can’t live without water. I’ve made it a habit. Sure, I could go for diet soda if I want a calorie free option (that’s an acquired taste too) but I don’t want all that crap in my body. That’s just my personal thoughts on the matter. I’m now stepping down from the soap box. :)

So my Five Guys greasy burger meal is still a Five Guys greasy burger meal but instead of your average 1,460 calories (34WWP) (based on what I used to order: Regular cheese burger and regular fry for me alone) I only consumed about 790 (19WWP) by making a few small changes.

Not too shabby huh?

So next time you are about to freak-out about going out, don’t. Little things make big differences. Simply make the best choices you can and go on your merry way. It’s really not that big of a deal.

I’m pretty sure this is what everyone means then they say "lifestyle." This isn’t something I do because I’m trying to lose weight this is just what I do now.

Does anyone have any other strategies they’d like to share when going out? I should compose a list of all my tricks. I have tons!

Note: I have no relationship with Five Guys. I used nutritional information from their web site to calculate that calories.

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It was like I just wanted to check out for a few days. [...]]]> I’m feeling much better then I’ve been these last few days. I’m not sure what was up with me. Unmotivated is an understatement. I was down in the dumps. Lazy. Uninterested in everything. In a funk, as I like to say.

It was like I just wanted to check out for a few days.

So I did. I did absolutely nothing on Sunday. Nothing.

At first I felt bad about it. Then I realized we all need some check out time. It’s good for the soul. :)

This morning I still woke up a bit down in the dumps but throughout the day as I got more and more productive at work I felt better and better.

I swear I’m a productivity whore. I thrive on accomplishing things. It’s a strange personality quirk, I know.

Anyway, something popped into my head on my drive home today and I just have to share.

You know that saying, "devils in the details" as in it’s the small details of something which make it difficult or challenging. Well I was pondering life and thinking of ways to stay on plan and be productive when a new phrase came to mind. . .

Progress is in the Planning

When I get into these funks the only way I pull myself out of them is by planning. I make lunches, create menus for the week, write up shopping lists and to do’s. Anything to help me feel a bit more productive.

Without fail I start to feel better. Especially when I get to reap the benefits of that planning.

Take today for example. At work I enjoyed all the healthy snacks I packed in my lunch the night before. I made progress because I planned. Even though Sunday I totally didn’t feel like packing a lunch. I did it because I knew it would would be a small step with big a payoff the next day. If I let the funk take over and went to work unprepared I would have spent money on an overpriced over-caloried crappy lunch. Which would have made me feel worse and brought me further down my path of funk. Simply by taking 5 minutes Sunday night I laid plans to help me make progress instead.

Does that make sense?

Probably not. I’m getting anxious as I want to head to bed early tonight. I better sign off.

Before I go I’ll leave you with a link to a post I wrote at work on SpeakHealth, my new favorite soup recipe I made up this weekend and my food journal for the day.

Table provided by Roni’s Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

I’m off to pull out my running clothes. I’m PLANNING a morning run before work. :)

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A few weeks ago I asked How do you find balance? I was (and still am) feeling a bit overwhelmed. Blame it on trying to sell and buy a house, having a toddler, owning my own business, tax season, getting older, watever! I could list a bazillion things going on in my life [...]]]>

A few weeks ago I asked How do you find balance? I was (and still am) feeling a bit overwhelmed. Blame it on trying to sell and buy a house, having a toddler, owning my own business, tax season, getting older, watever! I could list a bazillion things going on in my life and I’m sure you can to. But let’s face it, there are and will always be things that stress us out.

But how do we stay sane? How do we juggle responsibilities with interests? Work with play? Family and self? How DO we really find balance?

I’m not sure we’ll ever have the perfect answer but I was able to compile these 10 tips from the comments on my Finding Balance question.

Take Time For Yourself

I’m listing this one first as I think it the most important AND the hardest. Part of the problem most of us feel is that there is just NOT enough time. So how do justify taking even more of that precious resource just for ourselves. What we need to remember is that if we don’t take care of ourselves we won’t be able to take care of others. As they say "Put on your oxygen mask first!"

Action Items: Find time for yourself even if it’s just a few moments. Sit in a quiet room. Take a few deep breaths. Go for a walk with your iPod. Take advantage of the gym’s free daycare. Something. ANYTHING! But make sure it’s just for you.

SLEEP!

I’m so bad with this. And sometimes I think it’s in direct competition with the tip above. If I am going to take time for myself then somethings gotta give and that something is generally sleep. It seems to be the easiest thing to sacrifice. But at what cost? We (or maybe it’s just me) need to realize that sleeping is as important as eating healthy and staying active. It really completes that healthy trio.

Action Items: Make an effort to go to bed half an hour to an hour earlier then you normally do. Have kids? Nap if/when they nap.

Make a To Do List

Sometimes I feel like I just can’t remember things like I used to. There was a time in my early 20′s when I didn’t need a calender. I didn’t email myself reminders. I never wore a watch. Yet I was on time, finished my work, returned messages and accomplished what I was suppose to routinely. Now I wonder what happened to that efficient, productive women. Where did she go? Regardless if it’s age, distractions or just too many responsibilities, I have to come to terms that that women is gone. I must find away to be productive without her.

Action Items: Take a moment every night to jot done the tasks that need to be accomplished the next day. Keep a list of long term goals. Get a white board in the kitchen for family to do’s.

Accomplish Something Small and FINISH it

Nothing beats the power of momentum. I truly believe procrastination’s worse enemy is accomplishment. Once you accomplish a task, no matter how small, the ball starts rolling and it gets easier to start the next. The key is to start small and end big!

Action Items: Look at your list, chose something easy to accomplish and JUST DO IT! Even if it’s something as small as putting away clothes or returning an email. You’ll feel so much better when you do.

Ask for HELP!

*sigh* Confession time. I HATE asking for help. HATE IT! I don’t even like to accept it if it’s being offered. I can seriously be struggling with 50lbs of grocery bags and if someone offers a helping hand I turn it down. Not sure where this defect came from but I need to get over it. I have to remember there’s a difference between being independent and just being down right stubborn! There is nothing wrong with asking someone to give you a hand at whatever it is you need to accomplish. Sometimes I think we just don’t know how.

Action Items: Take a look at your list. What can you ask someone else to do for you? What tasks would be better to accomplish as a team?

Prioritize

Even though starting small builds a sense of momentum that can help you find balance, sometimes you need to skip the low priority items and head for the important ones. What’s important to you is going to be very unique based on your to do list and goals. Prioritizing your to-do can be an invaluable resource.

Action Items: Create a priority system. For example 1=low 3=high and assign numbers to the items on your to do list.

Recognize Your Accomplishments

Sometimes you may feel like you aren’t accomplishing anything but in actuality you ARE! I do this all the time. I feel off balance, stressed, out of sorts and then I sit down to write a post and realize all I have accomplished. Don’t get lost in your responsibilities without recognizing how much you are actually accomplishing. Sometimes you just need to BRAG!

Action Items: Take a look at all the item crossed off your to do list. Write out what you accomplished in a journal or blog. Have a conversation with a friend and talk about your day. You’ll may be surprised to hear yourself say aloud what you recently accomplished.

Remember.. The World Will NOT end.

I’m here to remind you (and myself) that the world will not end if the dishes don’t get washed. No one will die if the laundry stays in the dryer overnight. And take it from me, the emails will still be in your inbox tomorrow. We need to learn to Control It, Change It or simply LET IT GO!

Action Items: Let something go today. Prove to yourself the world won’t end.

Remove Distractions

Recently I tweeted "Roni has come to the sad conclusion that the only way to actually accomplish work is by disconnecting. *sigh*" It’s true, we live in a world full of distractions. Don’t blame it on the internet, this problem was around way before twitter. Sometimes we just have to learn to avoid them.

Action Items: Disconnect from the internet. Turn off the TV. Close your e mail window.

Be Grateful

Sometimes it’s not all about US. We may feel out of control or stressed but I think it’s important to note that we aren’t alone. Look around at those you love. Be thankful for what you have. When I’m feeling a bit stressed sometimes just looking at the toddler playing happily reminds me of what’s really important.

Action Items: Make a gratitude list. Take a moment every day to reflect on what you have in life. Thank your loved ones for just being them. :)

Alright, I’m off to cross out "Write Balance Post" from my to do list. :)

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You do not need to join a gym to lose weight. You do not need to "workout" for hours a day. You do not need to wake up at 5AM for a 5 mile jog.

You do NOT.

I’m serious. I’m not trying to sway you from adding an exercise [...]]]>

You do not need to join a gym to lose weight. You do not need to "workout" for hours a day. You do not need to wake up at 5AM for a 5 mile jog.

You do NOT.

I’m serious. I’m not trying to sway you from adding an exercise routine your plan, it’s good for you to exercise. You know that, we all know that. But when it comes to weight loss, for me, it was more about the food. I was eating too much and I got lazy. Not a good combination. I started just doing less and less because I didn’t like the body I was in, the body I put myself in.

While working on my self-acceptance and my diet mentality I also decided I had to just move more. At the time I wasn’t into "working out." I didn’t have a gym membership and I had no desire to get one. I made a decision that I needed to find a balance between the food I ate and the activities I wanted to do.

Wanted, this is key. In my opinion, if you are forcing yourself to workout, forcing yourself to go running, or forcing yourself to hit the gym then the habit won’t stick. You need to enjoy it. The activities you choose must fit into your lifestyle or you’re setting yourself up to fail, just as you would by going on a crash diet. We need to think long term. Am I willing to do these types of activities all the time? Are they part of a lifestyle I want to live? If not what’s going to keep the weight off when you decide to stop them? Or better yet, how long can you even keep at them?

For example, in my yo-yo era I would routinely say things like, "I’m going to wake up at 5AM every morning and jog" or "every night before bed I’ll do 100 crunches."

Want to know how long that lasted? Ummmm yeah, first of all I STILL can’t wake up at 5AM, I’m better off not going to bed at all if I need to get up that early. And the before bed thing, well, I can barely remember to brush my teeth I’m so tired by the end of the day.

My problem was, just like the ‘start on Monday’ diet mentality I was setting unrealistic goals that as soon as I failed would give me permission to abandon all forms of exercise. Instead of trying to be something I wasn’t, a 5AM runner, I needed to start with activities that fit my lifestyle and fitness level at the time.

I simply needed to start moving more.

Sounds cliche, doesn’t it? So will my next piece of advice.

I truly believe the first step to moving more is turning off the TV. I LOVE television as much as the next guy and I’m not going to lie, I watch a lot of it. But I decided early on in the toddler’s young life that I did not want my child to live in a household where the TV was on 24/7. So I shut it off. What a novel idea right? Well, BOY did a whole bunch of opportunities to MOVE MORE present themselves.

First… the Dancing. I’m going to take a side bar here and urge you to shut off the TV, blast your favorite music and dance like a complete lunatic around your house at least once a day. I’m SERIOUS! No one’s watching and if they are get them involved. The husband now dances with the toddler and I. We have a blast. We get our heart rates up, we have fun, sometimes we laugh so hard we cry. Just think about it, a few songs go by and you just "moved more" for 10-15 minutes, getting a bit of cardio in and maybe even some strength training in if you are carrying a little one like I used to.

You think I’m crazy now, right? I don’t care. It’s fun, it IS crazy and it got this lazy butt off the couch. Not to mention it gave me a fun way to interact with my son who still LOVES to dance. I mean really, the kid will break out like Fred Astaire in the middle of the mall if there’s a good tune on. :~)

Ok, back from side bar. Sorry.

Other opportunities that present themselves when you decide to shut off the TV…

• Cleaning
• Taking a family walk
• Going to a park
• Heading out to the backyard for a game of catch
• Reading books to your kids
• Organizing your closet or junk drawers
• Cooking a healthy meal with the family TOGETHER

I could go on and on here, but I think I’m making my point. All of these things have you moving more than passively watching TV. You’re thinking "yeah, ok, reading really burns more calories than TV watching, ok Roni, you fell off the rocker on that one." You may be right, but to that I say it’s not always about burning more calories, it’s about being actively engaged and "doing" something. I think too many of us go through life mindless, like we are on autopilot.

wake up…. turn on news… get kids to school… go to work… come home… turn on TV…. order dinner…. send kids to bed…. pop in Netflix movie…. grab snack…. plop back in front of TV…

rinse….repeat

day in… day out

BORING! Mix it up a bit! Turn on the music, take the family out for an after-dinner walk, play with your little ones while waiting for dinner to cook. Anything, but please be engaged!

Another side bar… One of the best pieces of advice I received from the toddler’s pediatrician was about kids and TV watching. If I was going to let the toddler watch TV he told me to make it active, not passive. When Dora asks a question or Sporticas tells the kids to get up and jump, do it. YOU do it and get your child to do it with you. You’ll be showing your kids that TV can be an active experience. Now when the toddler watches alone I see him interact with the television, not sit on couch like a brainless drone. He is ENGAGED and guess what, he’s moving more and so am I!

So back to this moving more thing, I truly believe that just by being more active with everyday activities you can make HUGE strides. Shutting off the TV is only one example, how many times are you presented with the choice of stairs vs. elevator? Finding a close parking spot vs. parking far away? Even automatic doors vs. traditional? Starting small will grow and foster active habits. Soon you’ll be wanting to do more and your body may be craving it.

I literally started doing the things I mentioned in this post. Early during weight loss the family would take walks, play active video games and go to the park for hikes. I made my 5 story rule and found other ways to just stay active. Within 2 years I wanted to go the gym, I wanted to increase my activity level, and if you believe this, it actually sounded FUN.

Even at the gym I started slow, maybe 20 minutes walking on a treadmill and some Nautilus machines. Now I’m taking boot camp classes and lifting free weights. Not to mention the running, which I LOVE to do now (but still not at 5AM.)

Listen, it’s not going to happen overnight. If I even attempted to do what I’m doing now 3 years ago I wouldn’t have lasted more than a day. I’m serious. I worked up to it. Just like everything, it was a progression. The best thing you can do for yourself is to start slow and simply MOVE MORE!

<<Read Step 2. Stateless Dieting

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I learned everything [...]]]> Last week at my Weight Watchers meeting the leader asked what we learned by doing Flex. I loved hearing everyone experiences. People all have different challenges, histories and situations. Some of the tips where practical, some anecdotal. Mine was funny, I love when I can get everyone at a meeting to chuckle…

I learned everything doesn’t need extra cheese. :~)

That’s what I said and it’s true! I used to put cheese, extra at that, on EVERYTHING! Ohhh when I think of the calories, fat (and Points) consumed, YIKES!

Anyway, I truly believe we all have something to share. Some idea or experience that can relate to or help someone else. I do my best to share mine on the blog but now it’s your turn. I’m looking for your best healthy tip. Have you lost weight and figured it out? Are you still losing and have some advice that’s keeping you on track? Please, do tell!

What is your best tip?

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Let me know what you think, the quality may be grainy becuase I recorded this with the old player in mind.

Topics in [...]]]> Trying out a new video player because the old one has been giving me and others some problems. Plus is was taking DAYS for my videos to get uploaded for the site.

Let me know what you think, the quality may be grainy becuase I recorded this with the old player in mind.

Topics in this video include…

• Starting a plan
• Stop Eating!
• How do I do it ALL?
• Did I nurse?
• Should I eat all my points?

Links you might find useful after the video

• VitaCake – use my coupon code (WRN73108) for 10% off!

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While I was out shoveling the driveway I was thinking of all the [...]]]> It snowed today! For as much as I complain about the winter there is just something fun about snow.  It’s white, fluffy and I get to take frustration out on the husband in the form of a snowball fight. :~P

While I was out shoveling the driveway I was thinking of all the things I do to increase my activity level. Some of these are rules I’ve made for myself and some are goofy things I do around the house. When I started Weight Watchers these were my main sources of exercise, remember back then I wasn’t the gym rat I am now.

1. Snow shoveling – I guess I should start with what inspired the post. I ALWAYS go out and shovel the driveway after a snowstorm. I don’t even care if the husband helps (although I’m happy to say he normally does.) Here’s my logic, it has to get done anyway, it’s a GREAT workout, and I have a reason to go outside for some sun on a cold day without being cold. I know that sounds crazy but it’s true! Shoveling snow keeps you warm on a cold day! Oh and nothing beats coming in for some hot cocoa!
2. Counter Push-ups – I LOVE popcorn, ok so your thinking what the heck does that have to do with counter push-ups and, wait, what’s a counter push-up anyway?? Well, in my microwave, popcorn takes 2 minutes to cook. Instead of going back into the living room to wait, I hold onto the edge of the counter, step back and do push-ups. The further away from the counter, the more intense the push-up. Just try to do those continuously for 2 minutes. They get TOUGH!
3. Squats and knee lifts – Everyone knows how to do a squat and a knee lift right? Well why not do a few while you are brushing your teeth? What else are you doing besides standing there and looking in the mirror for 2 minutes? Might as well burn some calories! And if you’re curious I do do these all the time, just not when the husband is in there with me, he already thinks I’m a big dork.
4. Five Story Rule – I can’t remember if I told you this one yet. I made a personal rule about 3 years ago to ALWAYS take the stairs if I have to go up or down 5 stories or less. I will seek out a stairway while carring my luggage if I have to. I’m always shocked at how many people take elevators when they are going up one flight. On campus I see college kids go out of their way to hop on the elevator in a 3 story building! Come on people!
5. Dance cleaning – I know you ALL know my obsession with the house dancing. But seriously what’s more fun than dancing?!? You pick the music, you create the moves, just do IT! Get those arms up, those legs up and SING! It’s your house, who you trying to impress? And if you have a toddler even better! Pick him up, swing him around and dance while you are carrying him. I used to strap ‘the baby’ on my back, vacuum and run around the house like the dancing queen. 
6. Basket shopping – Does anyone use the basket at the grocery story anymore? If I’m alone and not doing a big shopping I always grab a basket instead of a cart, even if I know I need milk! The funny thing is usually by the end of the trip I have too much for the basket and I’m struggling to get to the counter. I probably look like an idiot, but I burn way more calories carrying all the extra weight than I do pushing it around.
7. Family walks – When the weather is nice the three of use try to go for an after-dinner walk every day. It’s get’s us out of the house and away from the TV, even if it’s only for 20 minutes. Plus you get great family time!
8. Parking far away – I know, it’s so cliché, but seriously think about it. How many more steps can you get in just by parking further from the entrance of a store. Plus think of how much time you’ll save not driving around looking for a close spot! You do it, don’t you? Even though there are perfectly good spots ‘too far away’.
9. Get an exercise ball – These things are fabulous. I sit on it and balance while watching TV. I do crunches on it during commercials. I even let the toddler play with it and he balances whiles holding my hands (we take turns). It’s just a fun thing to have around and it get’s you off the couch while watching TV.
10. Lunch walks – If you are lucky enough to have a lunch break at work, take it and walk around your building a few times, or in my case the campus.  I love when I get a co-worker to go with me and we get to chat. Nothing beats getting out of the office during a long workday.

So there you have it, 10 stay active tips. Remember you have to start somewhere and every little bit helps!

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