5 on Friday!
Yay for Friday!! The weather is supposed to be gorgeous this weekend in our area! Even though my husband will be working allll weekend :( ...I am still looking forward to having a couple days off from our school routine! I have mentioned several times here on the blog that I am currently using Weight Watchers Online to lose the last little bit of pregnancy weight that is still hanging around. I started out needing to lose 13 pounds and now I am 6 pounds away from my ultimate goal (only 3.5 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight)! I thought I would share 5 of my favorite healthy habits that have been helping get to the healthiest version of myself!
ONE
EXERCISE. I really love to exercise and it is such a huge help in getting off unwanted pounds! :) Lately, my husband has been working an insane amount and I haven't been able to sneak away to the gym or able to get outside for a run...but I haven't let that be an excuse to skip my workouts! I have several Jillian Michaels workout DVDs and lately I have been doing her Ripped in 30 workouts. HOLY COW. The workouts are NO JOKE and they are only 20 minutes long!! I am sweating profusely by the end of her workout and I am sore the next day. LOVING that I am able to get a great workout and get it done in 20 minutes!!
EXERCISE. I really love to exercise and it is such a huge help in getting off unwanted pounds! :) Lately, my husband has been working an insane amount and I haven't been able to sneak away to the gym or able to get outside for a run...but I haven't let that be an excuse to skip my workouts! I have several Jillian Michaels workout DVDs and lately I have been doing her Ripped in 30 workouts. HOLY COW. The workouts are NO JOKE and they are only 20 minutes long!! I am sweating profusely by the end of her workout and I am sore the next day. LOVING that I am able to get a great workout and get it done in 20 minutes!!
TWO
I have low blood sugar and need to make sure I eat every couple of hours. Two of my FAVORITE healthy snacks lately are: an apple (or celery sticks) and 2 tablespoons of Better'N Peanut Butter. I LOVE LOVE LOVE peanut butter- but don't love how much fat is in it...so I am a huge fan of Better'N Peanut Butter! A serving is only 100 calories and 2 grams of fat versus regular peanut butter which is 190 calories and 15 grams of fat! You can find it at most grocery stores...I get mine at Trader Joes! My second "go-to" snack is fresh veggies (I love carrots and cucumbers) and 4 tablespoons of hummus. My favorite is the roasted red pepper hummus from Aldi. It is SO good! Their roasted garlic hummus is awesome too!!
THREE
I used to be HORRIBLE at drinking water. I drank a ton of coffee, a ton of diet soda and a little bit of water- which I always put crystal light in because I wanted it to have a "flavor." I have cleaned up my diet A LOT and drink a TON of water now. Lemon water is a FAVORITE of mine!! I have hot lemon water in the morning and throughout the day I will just squeeze of wedge of lemon in my water bottle. There are so many health benefits to drinking lemon water! Also- being properly hydrated really helps in curbing cravings and unwanted snacking. I make it my goal to drink at least 100 ounces of water a day. When I first set that goal for myself I never thought I would be able to do it- but now it is just second nature to only drink water throughout the day (and of course you know I am drinking SEVERAL cups of coffee in the morning! HA!)
FOUR
This is one of my FAVORITE treats when I am craving something sweet. It is my take on an Orange Julius. It is creamy, refreshing and so yummy!
2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate- I just keep a container in the freezer!
1/3 cup skim milk
5 ice cubes
1 packet of stevia (or a couple teaspoons sugar)
A little dollop of fat free whip cream or cool whip :)
Blend up all ingredients in your blender until smooth and creamy! Top with a little whip cream. Ideally, enjoy this treat outside, with your feet propped up, enjoying the sunshine :)
FIVE
I happen to love vegetables. There are very few veggies I have had that I don't like! One of my FAVORITE ways to get in several of my daily vegetable servings is to have a big salad for lunch. I LOVE the Artisan lettuce blend from Aldi. It is only $1.99!! I cut it up and clean it in my salad spinner and I am able to get 4 BIG salads out of this container. I will add a hard boiled egg or some lean turkey, cucumber, carrots and some light honey dijon dressing. SO yummy (and healthy)!
Now it is your turn...tell me some of your favorite ways to stay healthy and fit! I love hearing what works for other people!!
Hope you have the best weekend!! :)
Thanks for the Jillian Michaels review! I love her DVDs, never heard of that one. I usually do her yoga meltdown!
ReplyDeleteI am not a huge yoga person...but I love Jillian...so I will have to try out her yoga meltdown! Thanks for the recommendation! Have a great weekend! :)
DeleteWhenever I can't make it to the gym, I use the Popsugar Fitness or Fitness Blender channels on YouTube and they are awesome! Hummus is so yummy!
ReplyDeleteHi Lindsey! Thanks for stopping by! I am definitely going to check out those two channels on YouTube! Always looking for new workouts! :) Have a great weekend!
DeleteOOh, I always love posts like this because it gives me ideas of how to keep going when things get stale! I will have to try that Jillian Michaels DVD- I love that it's only 20 minutes. It's been so rainy here that it's been hard to get outside to work out and that might help with that excuse. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Cat! It has been so rainy here too! That is exactly why I have been doing my workout DVDs! It seriously is such a good workout! Have a great weekend!
DeleteI’ll have to check out that workout DVD – I love working out from home – it’s so convenient! Zumba is my current favorite. I’m trying so hard to be better at drinking water – I need to keep working on this, Ha!
ReplyDeleteHi Christina! There is a Zumba class at my YMCA and I have been really wanting to try it! And I hear you on the water! It is still something I have to make a conscientious effort to do! Have a great weekend!!
DeleteI might have to get that work out DVD for days when I just can't make it to the gym! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca! It is only $8.95 on Amazon...and free shipping if you have Prime...such a good deal! And you are right...it is nice to have on hand when you can't make it to the gym! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
DeleteFirst stop visitor! Thanks for sharing all this, I'm recalculating my eating and activity now that its fab weather here in NC. This was all super helpful! I love smoothies and will def try that one! I'm also a big fan of lemon water....if its not coffee in my cup then lemon water it is! Have a beautiful weekend!
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda! Thank you so much for stopping by! My brother lives in Raleigh, NC...SO jealous of your lovely, WARM weather!! :) Hope you have a fantastic weekend!!
DeleteOh I need to break out my Jillian Michaels DVD. Please come link up with me http://creativehouseblog.com/friday-favorites-netflix-tv-shows/
ReplyDeleteHi Kate! Gotta love Jillian, right!?? Thanks for stopping by! :) Have a great weekend!
DeleteDefinitely trying that Orange Julius ASAP! It looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteTasha
http://homemadehappiness-blog.blogspot.com/
Hi Tasha! If you like citrus- you will love it! You can of course, add a little more orange concentrate and milk...that recipe is for one small serving...just enough for a small treat :) Hope you have a great weekend!!
DeleteI am totally going to try that orange julius drink, it sounds awesome! I'm not as excited about trying the Jillian workout, but I need something new so this might be just the thing!
ReplyDelete