With the new year upon us, I thought it would be nice to share tips and more on healthy living, eating and weight loss. These are goals that I am trying to accomplish and I thought I would share them with you.
Please know I am NOT a dietitian, nutritionist, or a trainer. This is from personnel experience and reflect my own opinion.
The time is NOW!! Starting the year or anytime on healthy living.
1. Eat Fruit – It’s good for you, supplies you with vitamins, minerals, fiber, water and more. Fresh or Frozen, as long as there is no added sugar or additives.
2. Eat Vegetables – Eat as many as you want! Cut them up, put them in the fridge and grab them when your hungry! Fresh is best! But frozen is great to and since most veggies are flash froze, they don’t lose any of their nutrients. Just don’t buy any with added sugar or additives. Spice up your veggies with herbs, spices, and olive oil!
3. Eat Salad – My goal is to eat salad everyday, even if it is a little mixed greens with my dinner. Salad is so good for you as long as you load it up with a little protein and lots and lots of veggies!!!
4. Stay away from processed deli meat. Most of it has added sodium to keep it tasty and has preservatives to keep it fresh. Make a batch of chicken or turkey. Place it in Tupperware in the fridge and when you want salad with chicken, or a sandwich you can cut up your own meat. It tastes better, it’s cheaper to make and best of all you know what is in it! Plus if you keep it more plain, you can dress it up with BBQ sauce, dressings, add-on pizza or more!
5. Cook in batches. When I make dinner, sometimes I double up on my rice, pasta, meats, and vegetables. For example, if you make a big batch of rice, you can use it throughout the week. Keep it plain, so you can prepare different meals throughout the week with it. You can also freeze cooked rice and microwave it in a freezer bag for two minutes, all steamed and ready to eat. This is a great way to portion control! You can do this with lots of grains, sauces, vegetables and more.
6. Purge the Sugar and bad foods – Today I cleaned out my cupboard and got rid of all the bad sugar for me, that’s my personal downfall. There is no reason to tempt myself. Get the temptation out of the house! If you have it there your bound to eat it or if you feel sad, bored or deprived you could binge on it. Now I think everyone should be able to have a treat once in a while, or even everyday, as long as you have self-control and don’t over do it! I have a treat every night after dinner. It keeps me sane! But keep the stuff you have no control over out! Chocolate Chip Cookies are my downfall. I may buy one at the coffee shop and split it with someone or yes, it’s a waste of money, but as soon as I get it, I break it in half and throw half out. That way I know I will not dig in the garbage at Starbucks! 🙂 I’d rather waste a couple of bucks then have it go to my butt!!
7. Drink Water – I used to be really good at drinking water, but I kind of got out of the habit. I now try to drink 8 cups a day or more. At home, I leave four water bottle out and I make sure I drink them throughout the day. At work, I really try to finish one bottle in the morning, one at lunch and one before I go home. Then I have one for dinner. The more water the better!! It cleanse your system, keeps you hydrated and also keeps you full! As an added bonus you get off your fanny because you have to run to the bathroom constantly. he he
8. Snacks- I believe in eating every 3 hours or so, it keeps my metabolism going and I don’t splurge on junk! My snacks I try to stay under 150 calories. I eat foods like nuts, granola, hummus, veggies and my all time favorite 1/2 cup of greek yogurt with fruit, peanut butter and granola! Only 109 calories!
9. Exercise – I can’t say it enough and a lot of time I have to tell myself it’s good for me, and not to be lazy and just do it, even if it is for 15 minutes. I try to do a little bit of cardio 5 times a week and strength training 3 times a week. Strength training is so important, especially for woman. It strengthens your bones, speeds the metabolism, you burn more calories at rest and personally it makes me feel powerful. No need to be afraid of strength training, woman aren’t built like men, so you won’t gain huge muscles, but tone and have strength!
10. White and processed foods – I am really trying to stay away from processed foods and white grains like pasta and rice. Now I can not eat pretzels or pita chip, but I limit myself on them. When it comes to pasta, bread, rice and cereal, I really try to stick with whole grain. It’s better for you! It fills you up, it slows the sugar spike that you would get from white grains and it has fiber! All good things!
11. Walk – Try to get in as much walking as you can. When I first lost weight it was from walking! It’s so good for you and your heart! I try to walk to the store if I need milk or a small ingredient, but I also make excuses. I need to work on this one, but I’m trying. Get out there and enjoy nature!!
12. Healthy Influences – Try to surround yourself with healthy influences like friends, family, magazines and healthy blogs! I have signed up to get a bunch of healthy type blogs in my e-mails, so I stay encouraged, learn new things from others and step out of my comfort zone and try something new.
13. Scales – I believe everyone should have a kitchen scale, measuring cups and spoons. Sometimes you think something is the right amount of food you should eat to find out you were way off. I find a lot of items are counted by weight and not so much by measurement. I use my scale everyday, especially for measuring my meat. 3 or 4 oz of chicken maybe the size of a deck of cards, but the thickness maybe off. I love my scale. You can pick one up for under $30. at Target.
14. Set small goals and reward yourself – I really believe in setting realistic goals, not ones that are hard to achieve. I don’t want to set myself up for failure. Don’t say I’m going to lose 20 lbs. in 3 months, that is a very hard goal to reach, but maybe say I am going to lose 4 lbs. this month. When you accomplished a goal, you feel good about yourself and you keep positive. Now that you reached a small goal, now it’s time to reward yourself. It can be a big reward like a trip or small ones like a pedicure. If I reach my goals on a monthly basis I will treat myself to a pedicure! That is my personal goal, and my goal is to lose 3 lbs. and to keep on track! I want to stay healthy and happy!
I hope you like my little tips, I personally do TRY to keep with these goals. I’m not perfect, I may not always do it, but the key is to never give up! You can accomplish anything you want. Only you have the power to achieve your goals! I plan on updating these tips in the future.
QUESTION: What is your goal? Do you have any healthy tips?
Toodles,
Jennifer
P.S. I wrote this post January 2016 and I thought it would be posted here.
Why I don’t use Stevia and Only Use Real Sugar
Looks Good Hun. :o)
Fantastic! The hardest thing for me is the bad for you snacking and exercising! I know that if I add those two – thing will fall more into place! GREAT page!
I think I found your blog through tastykitchen.com … anyway, I am currently trying to change my lifestyle and become more healthy.. loosing a few pounds and all this stuff. Your advice seems really good, my eating habits are bad, I basically eat a small lunch and then we have a rather big dinner and that’s it, sometimes some chips or chocolate during a movie. That’s bad right?! I’m try to stay motivated, you’re right support is really good 😉
Great page!
I understand, I eat a light lunch too! The reason is my dinners are normally bigger. My Husband does physical work all day and he’s hungry and I have a hard time taking a small portion, especially if bread is involved, so I try to eat light during the day, but always have a good healthy breakfast! When I go to a movie, I sneak food in, like granola bars, water, dark chocolate and popcorn. That way I eat good snacks, there portio nand I don’t feel guilty and than I can eat a nice dinner after! 🙂
these are great! thanks for sharing!
Thank you!!! 🙂
I just have to say I am so stinking glad I found your blog! I love it! I love that you are so honest about how hard it is to lose weight. You inspire me to want to do better in my day to day life. I have t0 get motivated to lose. I am almost 170 lbs and I am only 25 years old. I also have a 9 month old son that I want to lose for. I hate being overweight. So thank you for your blog Sister!
Hey your welcome! I’m right there with you! At least your conscience of your weight, when I was 25 I was oblivious to weight issues that I never thought about it and I was nearing 200lbs. One day I was looking through pictures, like the one I posted and I couldn’t believe that was me. My Husband said no way thats not you, he couldn’t believe it and I was dating him then. So just remember if I can do it, a major food freak, anyone can do it. I’m always here for support for ya! I understand the struggles and I go through it everyday, you just have to start making the smart choices, and the biggest thing is taking it in baby steps. Don’t go crazy and start a major diet and go crazy on exercise. I started small, just by walking, than I worked on portion control, than I started eating healthier. For me this is a life style change that I can live with, not a diet. I don’t like the mentality of diet, because than you seem to fail. But a life style change is forever, and taking it one day at a time.
I’m glad you found me!! Stop back anytime!!!
If you are into exercise videos, I LOVE Gilad (remember “Bodies in Motion” from ESPN???) His workouts are great! The “Quick Fit System” is a fun one….it comes with 4 DVD’s……..3 cardio and 1 toning one. Also, another one of my favorites of Gilad’s is called “Elite Forces”. He’s on a aircraft carrier in Pearl Harbor with his “crew”. It’s a great workout!!!
I like Gilad. I work out to him every once and a while on exercise tv and it hes goofy sometimes, he mentioned once, you want a butt like mine and he spanked his own butt and that cracked me up!! I love him!! I like his workouts because there not hard, but there the right ones. Than next day boy do I feel it, especially in my legs. Huh, you inspired me, I haven’t worked out yet today, so maybe I’ll put in a Gilad and do one of his quickies. Thanks for the reminder!
I am SO glad that I have found your blog. I am 44, a stay at home Mom (my “baby” is 12 so I dont know how long I can get away with this) I got sick and tired of being sick and tired in March of this year. I joined weight watchers and started walking, which led to running and losing 77 pounds. I am at my goal weight and I am determined to stay there. I have to admit that I am a little (ok, alot) scared) I love eating healthy, moving my body, along with running I do pilates and am starting a boot camp. I try to read tons of healthy blogs and mags. Some people may say obsessive but I feel like to maintain(I’m still new at this) I almost have to be a little obsessive. Thank You so much for sharing your experiences and knowledge..I have learned alot from your blog!
Wow that is awesome!! 77 pounds in such a short period of time! You should be so proud of yourself. I have been at maintenance for well over 2 years now and I think it’s harder then losing weight. Like you I am a little obsessive too, but it’s a good obsessive! The key thing is to keep up on the exercise and keep eating healthy. If you can do that the weight won’t come back. That’s how I have kept in shape, it can be hard at times, but I think of how long it took me to get here and I plan on staying here. Embrace your new healthy life style! Your doing a good thing for you and your family! Congratulations!!!
Hallo !!!! First of all forgive my english, it;s not my language.I am from Greece.I am very happy to find your blog.The things you say are veeeeryyyy gooood!!!! i try to lose weight too and i find your advice very good.i only confuse with lbs and pounds lol we count different here.i am 1.75 cm and 90 kg but you even if you don’t understand that i have so many kilos because of my height, i don;t feel good with that.i have the same kilos when i was pregnant.My son is 11 now and i am 34.i can’t say that my food was bad or eat alot but i didnt; eat with the right way, and my body save fat and don’t loose weight.i did’t eat breakfast for years only coffe and for dinner nothing.i ate only1 or 2 times a day.That was my mistake.I thought that no eating will loose weight but nothing.And i am not the type of diet. It’s the fourth day i follow yor tips and i feel great!!!! i start eat breakfast again then coffe , i eat snacks too,i start count callories and i can eat anything i like !!! i still can’t believe that i eat night !!!!! And i eat many fruits.I ate fruits before but now more.And salads i eat everyday that’s ok,i have my garden and my vagetables are fresh everyday,but i see them different now.
Anyway, a big thanks to you.!!! Your tips change the way i used to eat.
And your recipes are great!!!!!!!!!
Hello! Thank you so much!!! When I wanted to lose weight, I thought the thing to do was not eat or eat very little, so like you I had coffee for breakfast, a super light lunch, if any and dinner. I didn’t lose any weight, but actually gained weight because my body was in starvation mode. Then I figured out how many calories I actually needed and come to find out I could eat! Yah!! After eating and exercising, I was actually losing weight. Who would of thought that food could help shed some pounds. I’m very proud of you!! You can do it!! Your doing all of the right things!!! Stop back and let me know how your progress is going!! Thank you again for letting me know! You brightened my day!!! – Jennifer
Hallo again!!!!I am gland that i brightened your day!!!And yes who would thought that food could help loosing pounds or kilos or whatever!LoL!! it’s over 1 week that i follow your tips and the feeling is great!!! i don’t want to see my weight yet, i think it’s too early but i feel more light and not like a balloon.And i have so much energy.i didn’t know that i can be like that.And i eat ,i eat anything i like, even my biggest love spaghetti with cheese and mayonaise! But now i bought the healthy spaghetti i add my cheese and 1 spoon mayonaise no 3 or 4 like i did before.The cheese is mine i make it.I don;t know how many callories it has.it’s goat cheese. The good thing to live in a village is to make your own food like cheese ,yogurt, jams ,tomato sauce and other things.Today i prepare green beans for freezing.We can eat them all winter.I believe that the food you make at home, like cheese, it’s not bad because you know what you eat and i want to be sure what my son eats too.So i learned to make my foods.That’s for now,i must go to sleep it’s late here and i wake up early..Bed is calling me.
See you soon Jennifer
Dimitra
My health goal is sorta simple… I simply want to be able to complete a 5K for breast cancer and a 5K for Crohn’s disease. I don’t care what I weigh. I just want to complete the two 5Ks. At the weight I am now, I cannot do it, so I need to lose weight. Overall I just want to be healthier. I want a child or two or five… I want to be a healthy active mom, not a lazy unhealthy mom. I had the gastric bypass, and had many complications (not surgery related- including being unable to walk or care for myself, and being put on a 70 day bedrest)… Unfortunately, my complications have basically voided out the surgery… So, I just have to work harder. I am just trying to keep myself motivated, so I do not throw in the towel. I have gone through too much to quit now… I keep trying to remind myself of this.
Hey there friends!
I feel like we’re best friends even though we’ve never met one another. I read your blog and recipes constantly because like you I have a family to feed and it’s always been a challenge to find foods for me ( low in calories and healthy ) and for the boys who love their sweets and fatty foods. My hubby has always been supportive when I started my weight loss journey 2 years ago when my son was born I weighed in at 245 lbs mind you I was also 20 years old… Now 2 years later with NO SUPPLEMENTS i am so proud to be 140 lbs! Your blog has helped me see there are other people like me out there and I love all your recipes. My goal is to be 140 through the holidays, although my will power is amazing and I do not give in to sweets and candy so I should be okay. This whole comment isnt about goals at all but just a big thank you to you for being my friends without knowing it! Thank you for helping me and tricking my boys tastebuds with healthy foods and keeping it real with all of us !
I really liked reading through these and seeing just how simple you show healthy choices to be. Often people think living a healthy lifestyle is so complicated, but you really showed how easy it is. Love it!
Thanks Avery! I don’t think it’s to hard to live healthy, since there is so much variety now a days. You just have to have the not so healthy in moderation!!
These are great tips- all of these helped me get to my goal as well! I love that you added this to your blog! Such a GREAT idea! I also love that your recipes are so delish and also nutrish! HEHE!
Hi Jennifer,
I just discovered your blog and love it!! Have you ever posted a typical days worth of eating for you? I’d love to know how you break up your meals and what you eat for an entire day.
Thanks!!
Hi Tracy, Thanks for visiting my blog. I broke down my meals for the day once, but found it to be a lot of work. But I have been thinking about doing it again. I think it’s a great idea, plus it keeps me accountable to eat more healthy and less, because I don’t want to take so many pictures! 🙂 I promise I’ll do it sometime this week and probably post it on Saturday or Sunday since I wrote my posts in advance. Have a wonderful day anf thanks again for stopping by.
Very inspiring but I can’t help but notice the huge amount of waste from all your plastic water bottles. Try a refillable one, no chemicals, no waste and its cheap! Most people are paying more for plastic water bottles than gas!
Since this post, I have a water filter in the fridge and I use that and at work we have a water cooler, so I fill my cup with that. I agree on not using water bottles. I haven’t had a bottle of water since January of this year! 🙂
Great! Its amazing how such little things make a big difference!
I love the delicious recipes, some very creative ones in there!
thank you so much for this site I too use sparkpeople and want to have the desserts once and awhile tonight we are going to give your mint yogurt ago yummmmmy xxoo
tip 12 is so important, surround yourself with healthy influences. everyone knows the people that always derail your best diet efforts
I agree. It is so hard when you don’t have the proper support. You are so right when you said everyone knows the people that always derail your best diet efforts. It’s not always intentional, but some people don’t get the healthy living. My Husband is super skinny, and has a physical job, so he doesn’t get it when I want a salad for dinner or a smoothie for breakfast. I hear so many times, just have a burger and fries, it won’t do anything to you. Maybe not, but once you start it’s hard to stop. That is where my failure comes in. So I try to surround myself to healthy things and I hope that I can help spread a little bit of healthy living to others.
These are great tips- all of these helped me get to my goal as well! I love that you added this to your blog! Such a GREAT idea! I also love that your recipes are so delish and also nutrish! HEHE!
Thank you so much Koi!
Awesome Blog! Thanks for sharing..