Fitness

Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Days: The Jackie Warner Method

Getting my body back post baby definitely took some work, and although I am happy with how I look, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to lose more weight. Dropping another 10 pounds would be ideal, especially with summer right around the corner. Gym memberships are up and folks are scrambling to get bikini ready, so trainers like Jackie Warner are offering tips and solutions to help those struggling with their weight shed those pesky pounds.

Hair

March Updates

It's been a minute since I've checked in with you guys to provide an update in terms of where I'm at on my Waist-length journey. As you can see I have quite a ways to go, but am still very pleased with my progress.

Diet

Breakfast of Champions

(Not really, but it sounds good, don't it?)

Losing these last ten pounds has proven just as difficult as I had imagined. However, I am determined to reach my goal weight and shed every ounce of the poundage I gained during my pregnancy. One thing that has assisted me in dropping the pounds during this weight loss journey has been my hearty breakfast of oatmeal (I prefer steel cut with a little bit of butter and brown sugar), almonds (just a handful!), and dry fruit (sometimes I add dried cranberries to the mix, or just eat a real fruit bar from Trader Joe's as you see in the pic above).

A lot of peeps don't realize that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. It jump starts your metabolism and sets the tone for the rest of the day. I don't have to read a bunch of articles on the topic to know this to be true, because I have experienced the difference in how I feel when I don't eat breakfast vs. when I do, or when I eat a crappy breakfast vs. a healthy one. For instance, when I eat oatmeal, I truly feel satisfied for hours and am ready to take on the day. The times I eat a more decadent breakfast, like on my cheat days when I opt for donuts, waffles, or pancakes with syrup, I get what many refer to as "the itis," meaning I immediately start to feel drowsy and just want to pass out! I've also noticed that whenever I have a breakfast full of simple carbs, I crave sugar the rest of the day. Needless to say, making wise choices from the start can have a ripple effect, making the day a success nutrition wise.

So, what are you having for breakfast?

Diet

Whole Wheat Pasta with Spinach, Cheese & Mushrooms

Summer is here and many of us are still trying to get bikini ready. Since I know I'm not alone in this weight loss journey, I figured I'd share some of the healthier meals I prepare for my family. This dish in particular has been a staple of my regimen for years now, as I once explained how my husband and I try to go meatless at least two days out the week (Okay well, I go two days, and he's forced to go meatless when I do. What can I say, he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy ;-)). To see the benefits of doing so, check out the following post: Meatless Mondays Work!

Okay, so to prepare this tasty dish, you'll need:

• Whole wheat pasta (I alternate between the penne and rotini, but the shape doesn't really matter. Just make sure you get whole wheat because it contains more fiber and is therefore healthier than white pasta. I always get the organic variety from Trader Joe's.)
• Spinach (You can use fresh spinach, but I just get frozen, chopped spinach because it lasts longer. I also get the organic variety.)
• Mozarella cheese
• Marinara sauce (I get Tomato Basil Marinara sauce from Trader Joe's)
• White mushrooms (You can buy them whole or sliced to save time)
• Sea salt
• Garlic salt
• Cracked black pepper
• Optional: Fresh cilantro (Unfortunately, I didn't have any on hand this time around, but adding fresh cilantro leaves to this dish just gives it an extra boost of flavor)

**Note: I didn't provide any measurements because I've been cooking since I was twelve, so I just use portions that I think will serve enough peeps and simply season to taste. Sorry!

Directions:


1. Boil the pasta in enough water to fully cover it. Boil for approx. 10-15 minutes on medium heat. Stir periodically to make sure pasta cooks evenly and doesn't stick. Don't overcook! Pasta should be firm when done (mushy pasta is yucky!)
2. While the pasta is boiling, start cooking the spinach. Place a small amount of water in the skillet like so:
3. Add the spinach and sprinkle a small amount of sea salt on top. Cook the spinach until it goes from looking like the pic on the left to the pic on the right.
   
   
   Basically, you don't want to cook all the water out of the spinach. It should not be dry, but moist. If you use fresh spinach, you can simply sautee it in butter flavored cook spray and a little bit of olive oil if you wish.
   
4. Once the pasta is done, place it in a colander/strainer to drain the water.
5. Next, add the pasta to the spinach, and pour in the pasta sauce. Toss in some cheese (Not too much or else this dish will go from being healthy to decadent real quick!), mushrooms, and your seasonings.
6. Stir it all together, then cover and let simmer...
7. Once the cheese is all melted and everything looks delish, uncover and serve. This dish tastes great when served alongside a grean leafy salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

This dish is not only tasty, but super healthy. Be careful not to eat too much of it though (which may be hard because it's really good :-)) because the fiber content is so high that it will clean you out for sure, LOL! This dish is great because you get a serving of greens, and according to a recent article on Babycenter.com, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach is listed as one of the Ten Best Foods for Babies. And as you can see, my lil' man loves it:


And his papa does too! In fact, he loves it so much that he decided to share some with you ;-)

Q and A Volume 5

Q&A Vol 5: Shorty's Baby Fat

In my previous Q&A video (Q&A Vol 4: Pregnancy & Labor), I discussed my pregnancy and labor. As a follow up, this next video addresses questions about pregnancy weight gain and weight loss. Enjoy!

Diet

Slim Fast & Special K

I am so tempted to go on the Slim Fast and or Special K diet. Now, I know I've mentioned in the past that I do not believe in fad diets or dieting in general. However, I've also never had to lose as much weight as I need to lose right now! Although I do believe that slow and steady wins the race, and that a gradual weight loss achieved through sensible eating and exercise is the best way to go, using fad diets and or extreme measures to achieve results seems pretty appealing right now. Sometimes seeing results is the best way to stay motivated.

Now, I know drinking shakes ain't realistic, 'cause lets face it, I'll be starving and craving more food than ever before if I do that (Trust, I've tried using Slim Fast shakes to lose weight in the past with little to no results). However, the Slim Fast meal bars as a meal replacement may be a more reasonable option, or perhaps even swapping out a bowl of cereal for lunch or dinner might work too considering that I typically eat a Fiber One meal bar with fruit and coffee and or a bowl of high fiber cereal for breakfast anyway. The one thing I do like about the Slim Fast diet is that they now have an online food and weight loss tracker, which makes following their plan much easier.

Have you ever been tempted to try any of these diets? If you have and decided to take the plunge, how did they work for you?

Diet

Christmas Brunch by DPrincess28

So, to say that I've been off my health game this holiday season is an understatement, but, it really hasn't been that bad. For one, although I've been eating more goodies than I normally do, I've still been keeping up with my workouts. Plus, I haven't been overeating in spite of the fact that I've been enjoying a few more decadent treats than usual.

On Christmas morning I cooked a delicious brunch for my family that consisted of the following:

Buttery croissants

Scrambled eggs and Applewood smoked bacon

Pipin' hot grits

Pastries

And this is what the full spread looked like:

I hope you all had an equally delectable Christmas day meal!

Diet

Guilt-Free Desserts!

I envy those that say, "I'm not big on sweets," because I don't just have a sweet tooth -- I have sweet teeth! I love sweets, but not necessarily the decadent kinds. Although I've never been big on cookies and cake, I do love me some sour candy and gummy bears. Luckily for those of you who do love decadent, calorie-laden sweets, there are some guiltless varieties out there for you to try. To get the scoop on some low cal dessert options, check out Gulitless Indulgences: Six 100-calorie (or less!) desserts.

Diet

How to Act Like a Naturally Thin Person

I stumbled across an article on Yahoo! Shine that instructs those of us with a little extra meat on our bones how to adopt the habits of those that are naturally thin. Now, I'm aware that incorporating protein in one's diet is a great way to keep the appetite satiated, and that avoiding cream in one's coffee can easily knock off extra calories. Yet, I had no idea that I should "alternate standing on one leg" while brushing my teeth. Apparently, doing this balancing act can assist in developing strength in the body's core muscles. See 13 Habits of Naturally Thin People for more quirky ways to burn calories and keep extra pounds at bay.

Diet

Yikes! Eating Out = Pigging Out!

My husband and I love to eat out on date night. I particularly love it because I get a break from slaving over a hot stove (Okay, so I don't really slave over the stove, but I do cook dinner every night :-)). Aside from getting a break from cooking, I also love eating out because I reserve it for my "cheat" days.

If you visited the My Regimens page, then you know that I eat clean Sunday through Thursday, then allow myself to cheat on Friday and Saturday. In the past, when I weighed a lean 125 pounds, I maintained that weight by starving myself six days out the week, then gave myself one day to cheat. Yet, because I felt deprived most of the week, not only did I cheat on my day off, but I gorged myself on all the goodies I had avoided the previous six days. Thus, I now give myself two days to cheat so I don't feel that I have to eat everything in one day. Although I'm satisfied with my current diet plan, I'm definitely not as small as I'd like to be. I didn't think that my two cheat days could cause that much damage considering that I eat well most of the time, but now that restaurants are required to publish nutritional information, I'm not so sure…

One of my favorite restaurants is known for its delectable fare and extremely generous portions. I therefore only go there on my cheat days so I can truly enjoy myself, and these are the items that I order most often:

Buffalo Wings (Six pieces = 627 calories)

Irish Nachos (Don't know and don't wanna know the calorie count!)

Parmesan Garlic Rings (901 calories)

Chocolate Chip Calzone (My husband and I share this, and it comes to a whopping 1,767 calories!)

Strange as it may seem given the decadent fare presented in the photos above, I was a little surprised to see how many calories I was consuming on my days off. Apparently, I'm not the only one shocked by how fattening some of the meals are at restaurants. In fact, the Fresno Bee recently published an article titled, "Calorie Counts Surprise Restaurant Customers," in which other diners share their dismay regarding the outrageous calorie counts at some restaurants.

True, if I limited myself to one cheat day, I'd probably lose these pesky 5-10 pounds I've been trying to shed for like, forever, but is it really worth it? I love being healthy, but eating something decadent every once in a while brings me great joy. I think I'd rather hit the gym a little harder than give up my cheat days, because at least this way I can still stay in shape, but die with a satiated belly, and a smile on my face :-).

Diet

Best Diet Tips Ever!

WebMd consulted with health experts from around the country in order to compile the "15 Best Diet Tips Ever." I'm particularly fond of "best diet tip" number two and number six. Number two states: "Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away." I find this to be very important, as most of us immediately start thinking of drastically slashing calories in order to lose weight and therefore often lose sight of the fact that a healthy diet is one that is well balanced. That's what makes lifestyle diets such as Weight Watchers a great option for those looking to improve their health, as it requires dieters to incorporate five servings of fruits and vegetables into their daily diet. Considering that French Fries are probably the most oft consumed vegetable by many Americans, this forces one to truly evaluate not just how much one is eating, but what one is eating.

My second favorite "best diet tip" is number six, which states: "Enjoy your treats away from home." This tip has truly helped me on my weight loss journey, for instead of stocking decadent treats in my house, I reserve my cheating for eating out. Thus, if I want to eat that fat slice of pie, I have to leave my house to get it. To discover the remaining 13 "best diet tips," check out the "15 Best Diet Tips Ever."

Diet

Calories Needed to Reach Your Goal Weight and When

No one should obsess over calories, but it is important to understand the concept of input versus output if one wishes to maintain a healthy weight. Our bodies require a certain amount of calories and nutrients on a daily basis just to perform its basic functions. For instance, our Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of calories our bodies burn even if we were to stay in bed all day. That's because our heart needs calories just to pump, for it is, after all, a muscle, and muscles burn more calories than fat -- which means they need more calories to stay strong. That's why unfortunately when people starve themselves, they often don't understand the detriment they are causing to their bodies. If any of you are familiar with Karen Carpenter, the famous singer who suffered from Anorexia Nervosa, then you know that she died at the tender age of 32 because of heart failure associated with her illness.

Losing weight means cutting calories, but not to a devastating degree. We must ensure that we are properly nourishing ourselves so that our bodies can work efficiently at burning fat. Women in general should never consume less than 1,200 calories per day, and men should not consume below 1,500 calories per day. If you visit Calorie Count, there you'll find a calculator that will help you compute the number of calories your body needs in order to lose weight. All you have to do is input your current weight, age, and height, and the rest will be done for you. In addition, the calculator will also tell you by what date you should be able to safely reach your goal. For more information, visit Calories Needed for Goal Weight today and start your journey toward a healthier, slimmer you!

Diet

Food For a Flat Stomach

I've mentioned before that food really is an important component of a tight body. You can do a million crunches a day, but if you don't have your diet in check, you're never going to see the washboard abs you desire. Dieticians have come up with a meal plan that when followed, proves to aid in weight loss and a tighter tummy. You can get all the details regarding the diet here: Best Belly Flattening Meals. Women who followed the program for 28 days lost 8.4 pounds and approximately two inches off of their waistline. The meals are mainly low in fat, high in fiber, and really simple to make. If you're looking for a healthy and safe way to lose weight, try one of the Best Belly Flattening Meals today!

Diet

Wise Food Options

Losing weight doesn't mean that you have to deprive yourself of good tasting food. True, moderation is key, but sometimes it is best to simply swap out a high fat, high calorie option for a low fat, low calorie one. For instance, if you crave salty potato chips, perhaps you should try microwave popcorn, which can be just as salty and buttery in taste, but comes with a lot less guilt. Similarly, you can have the pizza you crave, but if you're trying to lose weight, you may need to order a thin crust pizza to cut down on the calories. For more healthy food alternatives that taste great, visit Grocery Smarts: Fat Foods, Fit Foods.

Diet

Food as Preventive Care

We all know that food is an important factor in maintaining good health, but more and more studies show an undeniable link between poor health and an unhealthy diet. Illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain forms of cancer can be brought on by poor nutrition. In addition, issues such as acne and fatigue can be exacerbated by poor nutrition. Many ladies tend to diet solely for the sake of vanity, but the truth of the matter is, whether you focus on health or looks, eating right and exercising will help you feel and look better.

To learn more about how poor nutrition can have an adverse effect on health, see "Is Poor Nutrition Causing Serious Harm to Your Health?."

Diet

Is That a Food Baby?

Do you suffer from bloating to the point where whenever you eat, you feel like you're pregnant with a food baby? If so, then you're not alone. Too much salt and bread can cause your stomach to become distended. Even body builders must cut carbs and drink plenty of water when it comes time to compete, for that's the only way to shed the water weight and bloating that can surround their muscles, causing them to lose the chiseled, defined look they're going for. To learn about what types of food help alleviate bloating, see Feeling Bloated? Combat it Naturally.

Diet

Full vs. Satisfied

Do you find it hard to pull yourself away from the table long after you've eaten a decent serving of any particular dish? If overeating seems to be a problem for you, perhaps you're not eating the right types of food. In other words, you may not be eating foods that truly satisfy your hunger.

In the Yahoo! Shine article, "Binge Proof Your Diet: 6 Foods That Keep You Full and Satisfied," you'll find a list of foods that have been proven to tame the wildest appetites. I can personally attest to the fact that almonds and apples are very satisfying, for although they don't contain a lot of volume and the portions are small in size, these foods contain the right amount of fat and or fiber to keep you feeling full for hours.

For more details, see "Binge Proof Your Diet: 6 Foods That Keep You Full and Satisfied."

Diet

Super Foods

We all know following a healthy diet is important, but what does that really mean? There are some foods that are loaded with disease fighting antioxidants that we should all strive to incorporate in our diets. "In Depth: 10 Foods You Should Be Eating, But Aren't," lists 10 super foods that contain essential vitamins and minerals. For instance, did you know that beef can actually be good for you? Grass-fed beef that is. Free-range cows brought up on grass don't contain the hormones and steroids that other cows do. Grass-fed beef is therefore full of omega-3 fatty acids, which is a healthy type of fat that helps reduce one's risk of cardiovascular diseases. Thus, you get all the good stuff without the harsh hormones or chemicals. Similarly, coconuts, which are also full of fat, are actually good for you. Our bodies use the fat in coconuts for energy like carbohydrates.

For more information about the types of food you should be incorporating into your diet, see "In Depth: 10 Foods You Should Be Eating, But Aren't."

Diet

Food for My Six-pack Abs

Okay, so I don't really have a six pack, but at least I finally have some muscle definition in my stomach. It appears that all my hard work is paying off, and I must say that I am living proof that you don't have to starve yourself or exercise like a maniac to get in shape. To see my diet and exercise regimen, click here: My Regimens.

I truly believe that eating a healthy diet is imperative to not only maintaining good health (i.e. staving off illnesses by maintaining low blood pressure and cholesterol levels), but also to staying in shape. True, exercise does a body good, but regardless of how much I workout, I don't see much results in terms of my weight and or muscle tone when I don't combine my physical activity with good eating habits. And, it's important to keep abdominal fat in particular in check because it can symbolize an increased risk for heart disease. For more information, visit Abdominal Fat Distribution Predicts Heart Disease.

Diet

Hungry Much?

Losing weight can be difficult, especially if you find that you must fight against a voracious appetite. There are however a few simple adjustments you can make to your lifestyle that will help you keep your hunger in check. Getting enough shut eye is one. Believe it or not, getting enough rest is just as important as adhering to a healthy diet and exercise routine when it comes to losing weight. The reason for this is because of our hormones. According to the article, Simple Ways to Suppress Your Appetite, sleep deprivation can throw your whole body out of whack, causing hormone levels to fluctuate. Ghrelin, the hormone responsible for increasing one's appetite, rises when one doesn't get enough rest. Thus, getting the recommend seven hours of sleep each night can greatly assist in keeping one's desire for food in check.

For more information, see Simple Ways to Suppress Your Appetite.