The Late Night Cravings!!!

Okay... So it is almost 2am in the morning and I know not everyone stays up as late as I do but we all get late night cravings, eh? Well, here's a few ways I have found to fight those cravings...

1. Drink lots of water.
2. Have a small handful of almonds or a spoonful of peanut butter.
3. Make a small bag of popcorn.
4. Have a low calorie whole fruit popsicle.
5. Just go to bed.

:) Sometimes our body thinks we are hungry because we are thirsty so remember and I always forget to, but drink lots of water.

2 1/2 Weeks of Exercise and I've NEVER felt better.

My Daily Exercise Plan
-30-40 minutes of Cardio (jogging, eliptical, or cross trainer)
-Weight lifting (arms and legs)
-3 Sets of crunches, 2 sets of twists

Over the last 2 1/2 weeks of doing this daily, I am able to exercise longer and harder and have already raised the weights 10lbs more. Also, am able to do crunches faster and easier. My body seems to need more water and burn food faster. I love it and I feel soo good after this.

What exactly is physically active?

I was reading an article the other day and it was talking about some of the answers doctor's get when they ask a patient if they are physically active. The doctor quoted that many mom's say their exercise if running around driving their kids here and there, cooking dinner, going grocery shopping, etc. The doctor's laughed at that because being physically active does not mean staying busy but setting a time in your day to 'work out'. A lot of stay away from that word because it seems overwhelming. What even is working out? What is considered physical activity? Well, the doctor said that at least thirty minutes of fast-paced walking or more a day is the only thing that will show health results. WOW! When are we going to fit that into our already crammed schedule? For me, I have been taking the time to get to the gym for at least 30 minutes everyday and I usually spend about an hour there. The hardest part is getting yourself out and going. For these past two weeks, I have done 30+ minutes of cardio a day, weights, and crunches. I already feel stronger and thinner! It really boosts my self-esteem and gives me energy. But there ARE other options if you are not a gym member or can't stand going to the gym! Try some of these:
-Rollerblading
-Biking (research shows this is a great exercise because it takes more energy to get off the bike than a treadmill or other machine so most people actually spend more time on it)
-Walking/Jogging
-Crunches/Sit ups (all do-able at home)
-Dancing to music
-Stairs (they make step boxes or if you have stairs at home)

This is just a few but working out will not only give you more energy but make you feel better and boost you to eat healthier!

Why 'diets' don't work for me.

Sticking to a set of rules has never been something I am good at. When I see 'diets' usually they come with a set of rules or guidlines to follow. I don't know about you, but in today's society with the fast pace lifestyles and eating on the go, we need more options than a low-carb, low-fat diet. We need something that works. I started my change a little over two weeks ago and I have already lost 7+ pounds, feel better, and look better. I am gaining muscle and losing fat and here's what I do. Yes, I still stop at Taco Bell, I still eat dessert and I even still eat burgers... but there is something different. Instead of subjecting myself to all sorts of rules, I simply CHOOSE healthier options. Instead of waffles for breakfast, I eat a bowl of Cheerios with milk. For lunch, I am not one to immediately dig into a salad and I could not live like that, instead, I eat a sandwich with almonds or some veggies and rice (which you can also get at Panda Express!). For dinner, I have fallen in love with lean cuisines and veggie burgers. For example, last night, I ate two veggie burgers with a 1/2 of a bun for both. I had cheese on only one of them and on the side I had 3 small potatoes with salt. It's food that I still LOVE and it fills me up but I am not feeling like I have to count my calories, fat, or carbs. Today, I was out at the mall and I was forced to eat out which turned out to be easy. I grabbed white rice and veggies from Panda Express. As far as drinks go, I either choose water or diet coke. And I am not a dessert person but if I am craving something, I will either A. eat a small portion of what I am craving or B. look for some dark chocolate with almonds. Making better decisions now will affect the rest of my life. Choosing to eat less fat and sugar will give me overall better health.