Fiesta in Your Tummy! Ole!

shout out to Lea Anne who inspired this! And in general is just overall amazing awesome cool.

got Mexican? Going to a Mexican Food place and don't know what to get?

first before you go.....maybe have a little snack so you don't go on a chip bender (guilty!)....just have half an apple or so...and a few almonds. Just something to tide you over and skip that chip bender.

Also Try this:

For the chips and dip:

count out the number of chips you are going to eat and put them on your plate. A serving of 10-14 chips can add up to about 130-150 calories give or take. Eat them slowly and enjoy them!

Try to just eat salsa or pico de gallo...those are basically no calories. Guacamole....I am seeing when I google a few sites its about 25ish calories. Some places put sour cream in guac...so ask about that because that jumps the cals up. For queso...its hard because recipes vary so much. I am seeing maybe 25 cals a tablespoon? It just seems low.

Whatever you wanna dip into...put your serving on your plate...and just eat that. Push the remaining chips and dip...to the other side of the table...or send them away!

For the booze:

Order a skinny girl margarita. They are about 100 cals. Or you can order a shot of tequila with soda water, splash of OJ.....and lime juice. Add a splenda or honey/agave if you need it a little more sweet!

For the meal:

Order corn tortillas. They range from 50-70 calories each. (please note...flour tortillas and wheat tortillas are both higher calorie and totally lack ANY nutritional value to them) Try to skip the cheese unless you really want some. Measure out a spoonful so you can monitor it. Load up on salsa!

For the meat part....skip fajitas because they cook those in the oily metal pan sizzle ewy things! Ask for grilled chicken breast or grilled shrimp....sliced up to make your own taco! Beef is fine too...just higher calorie and fat. A half fist size portion is a good measure for one portion of meat!

Skip the sour cream. SKIP THE RICE....and skip the cheese if you can!

For dessert:

skip it, drink another skinny instead. (or in my case....two more!)

you leave feeling like a fiesta in your tummy. Not that horrible greasy blah feel...you have been satisfied by south of the border flavors...while giving yourself a lower calorie nutrition packed PUNCH!

ole!

bonus tip: before you go....take a tablespoon of water and pour it into something or onto another spoon so you can learn to eyeball a serving better!

Mini Size for Mini Thighs

So today.....feeling a little sluggish and tired (cue Bryan realizing uh oh....).....plus been working really hard at eating to my metabolism (eating my RMR) I decided to treat myself with a 330 cal mini butterfinger blizzard.

Its SO yummy...and I budgeted into my day. The only thing....think about it...that is 330 cals and its TINY...its a MINI....who eats the large? A mini size is perfect for guilt free treating.

you SHOULD eat dessert when you feel like it. It helps signal an end to the meal. But only eat a few bites......after that you are just ramming it into your mouth just because. Let yourself enjoy sweets but in moderation.

I say treat yourself. My blog isn't about giving up Snickers or chips...just budget it in and allow yourself a treat. A treat should be something you look forward to and enjoy. Don't treat yourself everyday...otherwise it won't be a treat.

It does help to eat sugar-y foods earlier in the day so you have time to burn it off...or let your body process it before you go to bed. Eating right before you sleep....your body doesn't burn it off.....that is another blog though :)

Also, before reaching for sugary treats.....think about it. Ask yourself if you ate a fruit or something else to just get that taste...would it curb your craving? If not, go for it....but really analyze if you are TRULY craving it or just wanting a little something sweet.

so...go forth and TREAT...and treat ye in mini-yth size...for those mini thighs. (summer is a comin' ya'll)

PS....maybe do a lunge or squat for every bite you put in your mouth. Come on...its mini so its not too many.

Everyone's Doing It!!!!!

This video is 7 mins or so long....just shows what a great idea to make your own "Fit Foods" each week...and allowing yourself a few hours each week to prepare food for the week

enjoy!

quicky Tip Ode Day

did you know if you eat a protein and a carb together......the protein slows the digestion of that carb...making you more full for longer.

so like eat a few almonds with that apple or have some cheese with that vegi.

Protein + carb =slower digestion = more full for longer = less hungry = less grumpy= World Peace

woah.

beep beep Heart Rate Monitors are the B-O-M-B.com

Okay you work out. AWESOME. Do you have a heart rate monitor like I told you to buy in the first post?

Now some people think heart rate monitors are what old people use to monitor their heart rates.

Before you read further watch this video on why I believe in heart rate monitors:

Now that you have the basics...have you bought a monitor yet?

I hope so. Its an essential tool in knowing how you work out. Before I got one...I thought I was kicking my butt at work outs and WRONG......you know when you get on a machine at the gym and put in your weight and age...it will say that you burn like 500 calories in the work out....you feel good, you feel great but no...that is wrong. Those aren't accurate! AS IF.

They don't know your A/S/L if you will allow me that throw back. In order to get an accurate number you need to know your age, gender, height, and weight. The machines just know age and weight......they don't know if you are male or female. If there is an entire book called Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus......the machines at the gym should at least as you S...as in sex. Male or female people keep it clean ya'll.

To fix that problem you need a heart rate monitor. It is essential for those wanting to lose weight!

I recommend a Polar because the strap you will wear under your clothes will read onto most machines at the gym.

When you get the watch you will program your stats! Age, sex, weight and height. They will pick recommended target heart rate zones based on that info. You can enter your own in if you have had the VO2 test (another topic).

You will wear the strap under your clothes and wear the watch during your workouts. You can monitor what your heart rate is and how many calories burned during said workout. How motivational!

I know you hear me talking about the RMR test over and over. You take that test to determine what your body burns a day doing nothing, essentially snuggling in bed all day. Out of 100% calories you burn a day....75% of those are from your RMR (sign up today for your test :) ) and the other 25% is lifestyle calories which come from doing your day to day activities and exercise.

The heart rate monitor measures those 25% lifestyle/working out calories. Not only can you track the calories during you work out but you can also wear it when you clean, when you walk the dogs, when you are sitting on the couch, when you are getting some action (refer to keeping it clean above and disregard that statement)! All those activities burn calories.

When you get your monitor, I recommend wearing it when you wake up in the morning to when you go to bed. That way you can know how much your body burns on a typical day without exercise.

I recommend the Polar FT7 because it can track you work outs. However, you can get the Ft4 and it will just store that one work out. Do NOT get the FT1 because it only tells you what your heart rate is. That is useless.

Take a look here: http://www.heartmonitors.com/heart-monitors/polar/f-series.html

Learn more here with another Polar video:

NOW get shopping. Get that monitor so you can learn about that 25% lifestyle calories you burn a day and contact me to schedule your RMR test today for $50 to learn the other 75% of calories you burn a day.

tick tock time to shop!

VIDEO BONUS! See How EASY PEASY it is to ADD tasty vegis to your diet!

Guys.....I heart this video. It shows how simple it is to make dishes that taste DELISH that are super healthy and nutritionally dense!

Check our the vid...its short, witty, and goes by in a blink:

Thoughts after the video:

1. Make it easier on yourself. Cut up the cauliflower and keep it in a sealed container in the fridge so its ready to literally just throw into the roasting pan....you can even use a cookie sheet (that is what I use!)

2. Try sweet potatoes! They are a super food packed with nutrition AAAAND who doesn't love the way they taste (ohh guilty I used to hate them but now love them. If you hate them...try them again, DO IT....because I say so!)

3. I am going to try adding the nutritional yeast and hemp seeds to my dishes but if you don't have the time to buy them or just don't want to add them...they will STILL be yummy without it. Its a flavor and nutritional BONUS...and I was always that kid that loved extra credit :) I have other seeds like raw pumpkin, sunflower, almonds, etc.....try toasting another seed to sprinkle on top for that Abs-tastic crunch :)

4. For those meat people (guilty!).....the hemp adds protein and if you don't add it...you can get your proteins from other lean meats and use this as a side dish! You fancy.

5. Make EXTRA vegis! They taste SO good re-heated. Make them in your {insert your name} Fit Foods for lunch!

6. Try other combos! I received a big delivery of broccoli from my local produce delivery...going to try it with sweet potatoes because that is what I have in my kitchen and I want to eat it before it goes to waste!

7. On the herbs, I love fresh herbs but in Texas its hard to keep them alive all year. Dried herbs are fine! Buy an Italian Seasoning blend or just use dried Oregano! Easy PEASY!

8. Measure your olive oil!!! Until you get a feel on how much to drizzle....one tablespoon is typically 120 cals...so based on portion and your caloric needs I wouldn't put much over 2 tablespoons or so.

9. If you don't like vinegar, skip it. It gives me heartburn so I am going to skip it to avoid that painin' :)

10. If you don't want fresh herbs or garlic...try the freeze dried kind! They last longer and are pretty dern close to fresh.

HERE comes the choo choo train now open up and DIVE IN to nutritionally dense, delish roasted vegis!

The Right Way to Carb/ The Wonder Tortilla

I have found the most amazing tortilla from La Tortilla Factory. I am excited to have these for the spring Mexican food patio season!

They are a large size and the calories per tortilla is only 100!!! Wow only 100 calories for the entire tortilla. Many times sandwich bread is 100 calories plus per piece and full of empty calories....with not much nutrition.

These tortillas have 12 grams of dietary fiber PER tortilla. WOWZA, I think all you guys know how I feel about F-I-B-E-R! We are talking 100 calories, 12g of fiber, large portion! They bake these with 5 whole grains which results in 8 grams PER wrap, no trans fats. (it keeps getting better)

I highly recommend grabbing some of these. Great for a little snack on its own or to use as a wrap!

Try wrapping salmon in it to make a fiber/protein packed meal. Try vegis, chicken, sprouts, etc. Bake them or toast them...and use them as chips. Bake/Toast one for yourself to dip in salsa or guacamole...for a portion controlled, yummy and nutritious snack!

Great way to fill up on whole grains while staying lower in calories. I just love them. They are really tasty too!

See eating healthy doesn't mean you can't eat what you love. Healthy things don't have to taste like cardboard!

and for those that haven't joined my facebook group yet. DO IT.... http://www.facebook.com/pages/Be-Fit-Live-Fit/131859920213683