I'm sitting here listening to a podcast by my organic chem professor, preparing for today's exam, and thinking about everything I need to do today. If you've read my blog a while, you know I stay fairly busy. Being busy doesn't always/usually lead to making healthy choices when it comes to eating. Some days I'm either to tired to cook or was too much in a hurry in the morning to set up the crock pot.
This is why I'm excited to be getting ready to start Shakeology. It is a healthy alternative for days where maybe you didn't do so well eating wise (sometimes I skip 1 to 2 meals and then end up binging later). So in order to make sure I'm getting the nutrition I need, I'm going to start using Shakeology. First, I'm going to order the new Shakeology trial packs so I can decide on which flavor I like best. Each sample pack contains 4 single-serve packets of Shakeology (2 Chocolate, 1 Vanilla, and 1 Greenberry), a copy of the Shakeology Welcome Guide, as well as 6 mouthwatering recipes. I'm not a big fan of chocolate, but I think if I make a smoothie with some fruit out of it I'll like it better. I've been told the strawberry Shakeology is good, but that's not included with the sample pack...so maybe later. The sample pack is available from Beachbody for only 19.95 (plus s/h of course).
I'm excited to get my new business off and running. There is so much potential, plus the added accountability with my own health journey.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Something to Think About
In my advanced metabolism II class we had to read and write a synopsis on an article about vitamin synthesizing bacteria. It was mostly about lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacteria that make B vitamins (such as folate, riboflavin, B12) in our (and other mammals) gut. The article poses a question on how adding these bacteria to foods may help with the natural vitamins in the foods. I also had to find a few other articles that supported or expanded on the topic. One went further on the lactic acid bacteria and how it's possible to engineer the gene in one Lactobacillus to make it produce more of the gene that activates the enzyme needed to produce folate. More gene= more enzyme= more folate. Good for under developed countries or those who have severe vitamin deficiency (except for the whole gene modification thing, I suppose there could be possible drawbacks).
Anyway as we discussed our research in class we also touched on how when bacteria colonization begins at birth (before birth the gut is sterile, mom's bacteria doesn't cross the placenta). In vaginal birth, especially (c-section babies get different bacteria and have to wait longer to build up their colonies), these healthy bacteria build up the natural defense and set the groundwork for the bacteria (lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacteria, bacteroides) that we want there to produce vitamins and help with digestion.
The professor mentioned fecal transplant (sounds gross I know) and how transplants from skinny mice to fat mice made the fat mice lose weight and vice versa. I did some research this morning and found similar studies. I also found some studies/articles where a diet high in fiber/whole grains and low fat helped increase good bacteria and decreased bacteria that produced harmful metabolites. It also helped rebuild the natural defense that we grew as babies but lose when we eat the typical American diet.
A great article I found was on motherjones.com. It is called "Are Happy Gut Bacteria Key to Weight Loss" just click on the link to read it. It's long but an interesting read. It starts with saying how orange juice helped with blocking an inflammatory response to eating McDonald's meals. Which is more likely the vitamin C doing it's anti-oxidant job, but still an idea for that occasional junk meal. Just order a drink or food high in fiber and vitamin C to consume before or with the meal to help counteract the bad stuff.
The article also says foods high in oligosaccharides (and I think it mentions polysaccharides)may help with helping good bacteria health, but then if you have to follow a FODMAPs diet you may be screwed. Well maybe not, just follow the FODMAPs protocol given by your dietitian and when you start adding foods back, hopefully some of the those won't affect you so you can feed your bacteria.
My takeaway from this, as I'm trying to incorporate things I learn into my own healthy lifestyle, is that one should make sure to eat less sugar, less fatty foods, more whole grains, more veggies, foods high in anti-oxidants (vitamins C, A and E...however I don't recommend taking supplements(especially A since you can have too much), just make sure your eating your fruits and veggies and you're good). I'm going to try and make meal plans based on what I learn and see how it all goes.
Have a great weekend dear readers.
Anyway as we discussed our research in class we also touched on how when bacteria colonization begins at birth (before birth the gut is sterile, mom's bacteria doesn't cross the placenta). In vaginal birth, especially (c-section babies get different bacteria and have to wait longer to build up their colonies), these healthy bacteria build up the natural defense and set the groundwork for the bacteria (lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacteria, bacteroides) that we want there to produce vitamins and help with digestion.
The professor mentioned fecal transplant (sounds gross I know) and how transplants from skinny mice to fat mice made the fat mice lose weight and vice versa. I did some research this morning and found similar studies. I also found some studies/articles where a diet high in fiber/whole grains and low fat helped increase good bacteria and decreased bacteria that produced harmful metabolites. It also helped rebuild the natural defense that we grew as babies but lose when we eat the typical American diet.
A great article I found was on motherjones.com. It is called "Are Happy Gut Bacteria Key to Weight Loss" just click on the link to read it. It's long but an interesting read. It starts with saying how orange juice helped with blocking an inflammatory response to eating McDonald's meals. Which is more likely the vitamin C doing it's anti-oxidant job, but still an idea for that occasional junk meal. Just order a drink or food high in fiber and vitamin C to consume before or with the meal to help counteract the bad stuff.
The article also says foods high in oligosaccharides (and I think it mentions polysaccharides)may help with helping good bacteria health, but then if you have to follow a FODMAPs diet you may be screwed. Well maybe not, just follow the FODMAPs protocol given by your dietitian and when you start adding foods back, hopefully some of the those won't affect you so you can feed your bacteria.
My takeaway from this, as I'm trying to incorporate things I learn into my own healthy lifestyle, is that one should make sure to eat less sugar, less fatty foods, more whole grains, more veggies, foods high in anti-oxidants (vitamins C, A and E...however I don't recommend taking supplements(especially A since you can have too much), just make sure your eating your fruits and veggies and you're good). I'm going to try and make meal plans based on what I learn and see how it all goes.
Have a great weekend dear readers.
Monday, October 14, 2013
That Awesome New Thing...
In my last new post I mentioned something about a new thing. Well, I've decided on being an Independent Beachbody Coach. I love the Beachbody workout vids and Shakeology is drinkable (though I'm not a great fan of the chocolate..so I need to try the others. It's probably just me not liking chocolate drinks). Anyway, I'm reading through everything now and working on setting up all my websites and such.
I think this will be a great opportunity and it will hold me very accountable on my path to be a better me. Working on living up to the name of this blog especially the definition of the word awesome: impressive and frightening: so impressive or overwhelming as to inspire a strong feeling of admiration or fear. Well not so much the frightening or overwhelming, but I would love to be seen as impressive, and to inspire strong feelings of admiration.
So if any of my dear readers want more information on Beachbody products, you can click on these links: Beachbody, Shakeology, and Ultimate Reset. As for me, I'm going to restart the Hip Hop Abs vids and will be ordering some Shakeology. My goal is to post updates at least weekly. I'll also be posting on a Twitter page I created for my business. You can find me HERE.
Well Dear Readers, I hope all of you have a blessed evening with sweet dreams.
I think this will be a great opportunity and it will hold me very accountable on my path to be a better me. Working on living up to the name of this blog especially the definition of the word awesome: impressive and frightening: so impressive or overwhelming as to inspire a strong feeling of admiration or fear. Well not so much the frightening or overwhelming, but I would love to be seen as impressive, and to inspire strong feelings of admiration.
So if any of my dear readers want more information on Beachbody products, you can click on these links: Beachbody, Shakeology, and Ultimate Reset. As for me, I'm going to restart the Hip Hop Abs vids and will be ordering some Shakeology. My goal is to post updates at least weekly. I'll also be posting on a Twitter page I created for my business. You can find me HERE.
Well Dear Readers, I hope all of you have a blessed evening with sweet dreams.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Another quickie update
Hello dear readers, sorry I've not been keeping up on posting. I'm still planning on doing so more regularly.
I didn't win the last dietbet game I was in. I'm not sure about doing another anytime soon. Right now I'm concentrating on consistency in my workouts and choosing healthy foods.
Not too much to post today, I have to get to studying for my advanced metabolism test today. I also have something awesome in the works that I'll share soon.
Have a wonderful day dear readers.
I didn't win the last dietbet game I was in. I'm not sure about doing another anytime soon. Right now I'm concentrating on consistency in my workouts and choosing healthy foods.
Not too much to post today, I have to get to studying for my advanced metabolism test today. I also have something awesome in the works that I'll share soon.
Have a wonderful day dear readers.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Happy Friday the 13th
Anyway, it's been a great week and I just thought I would post a few sentences to finish it out. I'm doing okay on my current dietbet game. I've lost 2.4 lbs so far and have 5 more to go. I have 20 days to do those 5 lbs, so I really need to get my rear in gear.
Other then all that, I really do not have much to update. I guess I'll leave you with a recipe for Cranberry muffins that I made for breakfast this morning. They were the perfect combination of sweet and tart and hit the spot.
Cranberry Muffins
makes about 18 big/regular muffins or 12 regular muffins and 12 mini muffins.
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup flaxmeal
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 stick of butter
2 eggs
1 cup fresh cranberries ( I have some frozen from last December)
1 1/2 cups of water
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2.Mix all the dry ingredients
3. Cut butter into flour mix.
4. beat eggs and mix in water. Add to dry ingredients, mix till dry ingredients are moist
5. Gently fold/stir in cranberries
6. Pour into Muffin tins and bake 20 minutes. until golden brown
Nutritional info (based on 1 regular muffin serving)
18 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 166.4
Total Fat 6.9 g
Saturated Fat 3.4 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.9 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.7 g
Cholesterol 34.5 mg
Sodium 74.1 mg
Potassium 37.0 mg
Total Carbohydrate 23.2 g
Dietary Fiber 1.8 g
Sugars 5.9 g
Protein 3.6 g
Vitamin A 4.6 %
Vitamin C 1.2 %
Calcium 1.4 %
Iron 7.1 %
Monday, September 9, 2013
Motivating My Monday
Good morning dear readers. I hope all have had a wonderful weekend are ready to get this week going with a bang.
I woke up in a great mood, I don't know why but I'm in a let's-get-it-done kinda mood. I'm going to blame doing all these squats for #squatsept. I finished 65 squats this morning for day 9, 70 tomorrow. Woot! It's been a long time since I've done a challenge everyday for a week, let alone over a week. I've not done any of the Blogilates calendar, but I have been working out. Since Thursdays are my long boring day on campus (with 6 hours of downtime between classes, ugh). I spend about 2 hours at the gym getting in cardio and some upper body workouts. Fridays are usually a big DOMS day. I love DOMS though, I know I'm building muscle. Since I am doing lots and lots of squats each day and I do calf raises at work ( I stand/walk 6-8 hours a day at work, so I try to do calf raises to break up the monotony some) I don't worry much about lower body/legs. They're getting a good workout most days anyway.
I'm really wanting to do well on this dietbet game. The pot is 820.00 right now...that's a great early birthday present. I really need to get my diet/food under better control to do so. I didn't make such good decisions...well I'll rephrase that... I let the hubby make bad decisions for me this past weekend, especially yesterday. So I need to spend the week making good choices. During the week good food choices are easy, the kiddies are at school and hubby at work so no one to influence my eating. I usually mess up on the weekends, unless I work all weekend. I really need to fix my family's eating habits better so mine can be better. I have recently convinced the hubby to start taking vitamin C, he's a smoker and really needs that since smoking disrupts ascorbic acid absorption.
Anyway, I'm off to try and keep my motivation going today. Need to complete some chemistry homework and reading before I leave for work today. I hope all of my dear readers have a blessed day.
I woke up in a great mood, I don't know why but I'm in a let's-get-it-done kinda mood. I'm going to blame doing all these squats for #squatsept. I finished 65 squats this morning for day 9, 70 tomorrow. Woot! It's been a long time since I've done a challenge everyday for a week, let alone over a week. I've not done any of the Blogilates calendar, but I have been working out. Since Thursdays are my long boring day on campus (with 6 hours of downtime between classes, ugh). I spend about 2 hours at the gym getting in cardio and some upper body workouts. Fridays are usually a big DOMS day. I love DOMS though, I know I'm building muscle. Since I am doing lots and lots of squats each day and I do calf raises at work ( I stand/walk 6-8 hours a day at work, so I try to do calf raises to break up the monotony some) I don't worry much about lower body/legs. They're getting a good workout most days anyway.
I'm really wanting to do well on this dietbet game. The pot is 820.00 right now...that's a great early birthday present. I really need to get my diet/food under better control to do so. I didn't make such good decisions...well I'll rephrase that... I let the hubby make bad decisions for me this past weekend, especially yesterday. So I need to spend the week making good choices. During the week good food choices are easy, the kiddies are at school and hubby at work so no one to influence my eating. I usually mess up on the weekends, unless I work all weekend. I really need to fix my family's eating habits better so mine can be better. I have recently convinced the hubby to start taking vitamin C, he's a smoker and really needs that since smoking disrupts ascorbic acid absorption.
Anyway, I'm off to try and keep my motivation going today. Need to complete some chemistry homework and reading before I leave for work today. I hope all of my dear readers have a blessed day.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
I didn't win this past dietbet. I only had a net loss of 1 pound. I'll take it though, I am making better choices...well trying to anyway. My sodium and sugar have still been way too high. I also need to increase my protein. I need to make myself eat better breakfasts, however I've had a cold the past few days that has killed my appetite. So I signed up for another dietbet game the pot is currently 170.00, so way awesome if I could win this one. Could get something fun for my birthday in November with those winnings.
In order to encourage myself to do more I'm attempting a squat challenge, just search for #squatsept on facebook and you could find it. You just pick a number of squats to start with and add 5 squats each day. So today I did 25 and tomorrow will be 30 so forth and so on until the 30th when I will do 170 squats in one day. And on October first I will be crying every time I sit down and stand up. I'm also going to attempt the Blogilates September calendar. One top of these two things I'll be going to the rec center on campus 2x a week and trying to get 2 miles wogging (walk/jog) 2-3x a week at home.
So hopefully it will be an amazing September and I'll be super hot by next month. Have a great night dear readers.
In order to encourage myself to do more I'm attempting a squat challenge, just search for #squatsept on facebook and you could find it. You just pick a number of squats to start with and add 5 squats each day. So today I did 25 and tomorrow will be 30 so forth and so on until the 30th when I will do 170 squats in one day. And on October first I will be crying every time I sit down and stand up. I'm also going to attempt the Blogilates September calendar. One top of these two things I'll be going to the rec center on campus 2x a week and trying to get 2 miles wogging (walk/jog) 2-3x a week at home.
So hopefully it will be an amazing September and I'll be super hot by next month. Have a great night dear readers.
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