Why you should have a Beachbody Coach!

There are so many programs and "gimmicks" out there that tell you you can lose weight, get healthy and be all smiles and cheer while you do it.  But how many people do you know, yourself included, who have bought one of these items and gotten so overwhelmed and frustrated after hitting a roadblock or needing help that you just give up?  What if you had someone to help you succeed, someone who knew your product inside and out and would always be there to make sure you were doing what you intended to do when you bought your program?

In case you didn't figure it out, I am a Beachbody Coach!! It might not be everything that I am but it sure is a huuuuuuge part of my life for alot of reasons.  I help people with health and fitness, i might not know everything but I certainly am not afraid to admit it before i find out the answer.

Want help? Got a question? Just ask! Nothing to be scared of!!

Zipzicles - Make your own Popsicles!

   I absolutely love finding ways to make things healthier.  Tweaking recipes for things as well as showing my challengers that making small changes means they can still have some of their favorite foods and beverages!!  Who doesn't remember Freezies or those no-name popsicle things from when you were a kid? Especially if you came from a household that was closer to food stamps than private chefs.  Cheap, simple, but completely devoid of any nutrition.  Pretty much all sugar water.

   So imagine my delight when I stumbled upon Zipzicles!  Ice-pop pouches so that I can make my very own freezie creations.  Cannot wait to try these, the recipe ideas wouldn't soley be limited to cherry, blue-raspberry, grape, orange, and lemon-lime.  The recipe ideas are pretty much endless if you make your own as well.

   My kids birthday parties, summer BBQ's, picnics, camping, block parties, pool parties, even just a treat on a hot day!  And considering the amount of times my girls are already asking for ice cream and such this idea may also save us some pretty dental bills too! haha.  Or even take Jello shooters to a whole new dimension for the adults to enjoy.  Just don't confuse yours with the kids... that wouldn't be very good!

   Already tried these before? Tell me what your opinions on them are!!

Healthy Eating On A Budget!!

     Ready for some helpful tips on how you can eat like a rockstar without hemorrhaging money like one trying to support a bad drug habit?  I promise its possible, all you need is a budget and a plan!  Try these tips out and you may surprise yourself, its easier than you might think.

1. Grocery Lists: meet your new best friend. I know it can be so tempting when you walk into the store and there are some fun new snacks or fresh backed cookies. Although these fun new items sound healthy, they can ring up your shopping bill. So, make a list and if you have budged for a fun healthy treat then choose one (but plan and put it on your list in advance).  Winging it won't cut it. 

2. Buy Whole Foods: Unprocessed foods are cheaper and more nutritious than processed foods. They also give you total control over the ingredients. Avoid anything that comes from a box 90% of the time. 

• Proteins: Ground beef, frozen chicken breast, tuna cans, calves’ liver, cottage cheese, plain yogurt, eggs, milk, whey, … 
• Carbs: Pasta, rice, oats, potatoes, beans, apples, bananas, raisins, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, … 
• Fats: Olive oil, fish oil, flax seeds, real butter, mixed nuts, … 

3. Proteins = happy budget balancers:  Foods such as eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese and chicken are going to be your more budget friendly AND healthy proteins. Buy the Cheap Proteins. You need 1g protein per pound of body-weight per day to build and maintain muscle. Eating whole protein with each meal also helps fat loss as protein has a higher thermic effect than other foods.

4. Choose your fruits and veggies that are in season. If they are not, go with the frozen ones. I love buying frozen fruit!!

5. Buy Generic Food. And store brands. Raw foods like rice, pasta, eggs, milk, cottage cheese, frozen fruits/veggies, … taste like brand name foods once you get used to them. But they’ll save you money on packaging & advertising.

6. Avoid buying those little extras while you're out and about. You know the ones i am talking about!! That scone or “whole grain” looking muffin you are tempted to buy while you are at Starbucks getting your coffee. All these miscellaneous items add up!

7. Pack your snacks and meals! This will almost always be much cheaper and healthier. You wont be tempted and you will save $$$ in the long run.

8. Buy in Bulk. Especially when you have promos running. Foods like pasta, rice and oats are easy to stockpile. If they’re on sale, buy as much as you can afford & store to last you until the next sale.  There's also nothing wrong with buying that family sized package of chicken breasts regardless of if they expire two days or two weeks from when you buy them either.  (Check out my entry about portioning and meal prep for more into those as well.)

9. Get The Customer Card. Many grocery stores hold sales for customer card holders only. Some cards save AND give you money, like gift certificates once you’ve spent a fixed amount. Signing up takes 5 mins and is free.

10. Grow Your Own Food. Cheaper than frozen, tastes better and you control what you put on them to keep bugs off. Plant your own trees that grow berries, walnuts & apples. Buy chickens for free eggs & meat. More ideas: 

• Square-Foot Gardening. Build a raised bed and divide it into sections of 1 square foot. Check Mel Bartholomew’s site & book for how to’s. 
• Container Gardening. Grow vegetables in containers on your balcony or doorstep. Check this & this guides. 
• Rent Garden Plots. If you don’t have a yard, some cities rent garden plots. Just google rent garden plots in your state/province

Emotional vs. Physical Hunger

Do you know the difference between emotional hunger and physical hunger?  It's ok if you dont, i didn't either before I started looking deeper into it.  I had a basic understanding, based on my own assumptions but i definitely clarified things upon researching better.  Emotional hunger can be powerful. As a result, it’s easy to mistake it for physical hunger. But there are clues you can look for that can help you tell physical and emotional hunger apart.

• Emotional hunger comes on suddenly. It hits you in an instant and feels overwhelming and urgent. Physical hunger, on the other hand, comes on more gradually. The urge to eat doesn’t feel as dire or demand instant satisfaction (unless you haven’t eaten for a very long time).

• Emotional hunger craves specific comfort foods. When you’re physically hungry, almost anything sounds good—including healthy stuff like vegetables. But emotional hunger craves fatty foods or sugary snacks that provide an instant rush. You feel like you need cheesecake or pizza, and nothing else will do.

• Emotional hunger often leads to mindless eating. Before you know it, you’ve eaten a whole bag of chips or an entire pint of ice cream without really paying attention or fully enjoying it. When you’re eating in response to physical hunger, you’re typically more aware of what you’re doing.

• Emotional hunger isn’t satisfied once you’re full. You keep wanting more and more, often eating until you’re uncomfortably stuffed. Physical hunger, on the other hand, doesn't need to be stuffed. You feel satisfied when your stomach is full.

• Emotional hunger isn’t located in the stomach. Rather than a growling belly or a pang in your stomach, you feel your hunger as a craving you can’t get out of your head. You’re focused on specific textures, tastes, and smells.

• Emotional hunger often leads to regret, guilt, or shame. When you eat to satisfy physical hunger, you’re unlikely to feel guilty or ashamed because you’re simply giving your body what it needs. If you feel guilty after you eat, it's likely because you know deep down that you’re not eating for nutritional reasons.

     Simply put, Emotional hunger leads to alot of typically bad food decisions and can typically give itself away if you know that what you suddenly crave is in no way nutritious or will probably make you slightly hate yourself half an hour later.  Physical Hunger makes the stuff my girls usually make funny faces at look just as appealing as chocolate coated cavity givers.  Mind you with physical hunger everything looks good so you can still make bad decisions, its just alot simpler to make good ones.

Need tips on how to stop emotional eating? Keep following my blog, tips coming soon!!