Quad Burner

Okay, here is a quick post to tell you about a great leg exercise. Do this: Grab an 8 pound dumbbell or a pretty large book (think Harry Potter). Put it on the floor horizontal to you and stand with just your heels on the ends of the dumbbell. So, you should be standing on your toes with your heels on the sides of the dumbbell. Now squat all the way down so your chest is on your thighs and glutes close to the floor. Without taking your chest off your thighs straighten and bend your knees. Hands can be on the floor in front of you if you are flexible enough or they can rest just above your knees. You want to straighten and bend several times until you feel the "burn". Just when it really starts to hurt hold a halfway position for 10 seconds then resume the straighten and bend. Do you get it? Just try it and then leave me a comment to let me know how you felt. Thanks!

The Whole (damn) Family!

Family pictures is such a wonderful time of year. You get to wrestle your kids in the bath ("but I took one last week!"), comb hair, put in piggy tails, find clothes that don't have holes, dirt, or marker on them, primp yourself, convince your husband to show up and maybe smile, and then try to get everyone to stand together and say "cheese" to the photographer. Who is an extended family member herself so she knew what she was getting into. Then you need to keep the kids clean, yell at them when they don't, and bribe them with toys if they will just stay still and smile a couple times. Belle is getting a My Little Pony and Tre is getting a Hot Wheels car.

But it isn't all stressful! Once they are done you now have a memory ingrained in your head and some in frames around your house too. Now when I talk about my 'crazy' family I can show them a picture too. Family is so important and so is preserving the memories. So here are a couple pics of that day. Nana must be so proud. I am sorry I didn't get all of you. My memory card was full and some didn't turn out. Oh, and overlook the friendly hand gestures! This is how the Smith boys say "I love you, now get out of my face with that camera". You just have to love them.

Peppermint Anyone?

Some of you know that one of my favorite websites is HungryGirl.com. Here is a little tidbit straight from the newsletter that I thought some of you may want to know:

"Wanna curb your hunger? Sniff, suck and chew PEPPERMINT! Recent studies have found that people who inhale or consume peppermint take in far fewer calories than people who have no contact with the stuff. SOOOO INTERESTING. And yet another reason to brush your teeth right after dinner."

So...maybe we should keep a bowl of those peppermint starlight candies or candy canes at our desks, kitchen counters, or cars and burn peppermint candles especially during this holiday season! But remember this is only for those who intake too many calories...unlike the those I told to "eat to lose"! Okay, that's all I got!

You Gotta EAT to Lose

Yep, you read right. You've got to eat to lose weight. I know...it goes against all reason and common sense but it's true. If your body thinks it is starving it will do all it can to hold the fat you already have hostage. It's not going to let go of it's only energy source if you continually under feed yourself. This is under 1300 calories for the average woman. 1500 if you are a little taller, bigger, or exercise a lot. About 1600-1800 is under eating for the average man, dependant on size. Now this is not gospel and you can take it for what it is worth, but I have a story for you:

My sister-in-law, Heather, had been working so hard to lose the weight gained by a number of things; kids, holidays, medications, stress, etc. She came to me this past summer frustrated that even though she worked out an hour a day with either cardio or weights and had cut her calories way down she couldn't get over the plateau that she was on. I asked her how many calories she was eating and she told me 1200! Keep in mind that she is about 5'7 and exercises regularly. The first thing I told her was to eat. Of course that doesn't make any sense but she trusted me (thanks Heath!). She started out adding 100 calories each week until she had reached about 1700-1800 calories. Feeling energetic for the first time in a while she started shedding the last couple pounds she wanted to lose. Now she looks great in her new smaller body. She still exercises daily and watches what she eats but now she can have what ever she wants in small portions. Heather has also told me that now that her stomach has shrunk, she gets fuller faster making it easier to stick to a healthy food plan.

Just goes to show that you gotta EAT to lose. It doesn't mean you can down a pint of Ben and Jerry's or finish off a whole package of Oreos. Add healthy fruits and veggies, "good" fats and whole grains, and extra protein and calcium rich foods. Don't forget to feed the fire (your body) and it will keep burning for you. Trust me, will ya?