Just A Few Reminders…
Trying to maintain a healthy diet along with exercise is HARD! It’s no secret that this is a huge challenge that many men and women struggle with every single day. Just keep one this in mind: It’s okay to…
- Cheat on your diet every once in a while
- Have fun with your workouts
- Feel proud of yourself for your accomplishments
- Be happy with the way you are
Another important thing to remember is that at the end of the day, your weight is just a number. If you aren’t seeing results right away, that means it’s actually working and will last longer than if you lost a pound every day. Many people are actually healthier when they weigh more because they’re gaining muscle, which weighs more than fat. A key thing to remember is that as long as you’re trying your best to eat a balanced diet and keep an active lifestyle, you must be HAPPY with YOURSELF!
Grilled Hawaiian Quesadilla
I have yet to try this, but it sounds so tasty! Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients
- Large Whole Grain Tortilla
- 2 Pineapple Slices (Fresh Cut)
- 2 Tbsp Fat Free Cream Cheese
- 1 Tsp Dill Weed
- 1/2 Tsp Lemon Juice
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
Directions
In a small mixing bowl, combine dill weed, lemon juice, garlic powder and cream cheese. Spread cream cheese onto tortilla and add pineapples. Place tortillas on the grill and cook each side until browned.
Calories: 175, Carbs 7g, Fat 3g, Protein, 9g
Training Tunes
Running is already a chore for most people, so why not jazz it up a little? There’s no way I would be able to get through a workout without my iPod! Below is a list of some of the songs I like to listen to that pump me up for a great workout!
- We Found Love by Rihanna
- All I Do Is Win by DJ Khaled
- Sexy And I Know It by LMFAO
- Just Dance by Lady GaGa
- Bulletproof by La Roux
- Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
- Some Chords by Deadmau5
- Stronger by Kanye West
- Faint by Linkin Park
- Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5
All of these songs are really upbeat and are a great aid in pushing you through a hard workout!
Cantaloupe Breakfast
A serving a fruit is a great way to start your day- refreshing and sweet! For breakfast, sometimes I like to take a cantaloupe, get all of the seeds out of the middle, and refill it with some yummy yogurt! It’s low-calorie and a fresh start to your day! If you’re not a huge fan of cantaloupe, try grapefruit instead. Grapefruit is a great option to get your metabolism going for the day!
Food Fiction
It’s hard enough to try and eat healthy on your own, but it’s no secret that it becomes even harder once you’re in a restaurant. Thankfully, restaurants offer any healthy options, like yummy salads and fruity drinks-or do they? You may think that you’re making a good choice by choosing a salad over a burger, but sometimes there are less calories in the burger! For example, most restaurant caesar salads have about 500 calories, and that’s without dressing! Not to mention the insanely huge portions they give you: Most restaurant-size salads are enough servings for 3 or 4 people! They also put a lot of extra toppings on your salads, such as cheese an croutons, that you wouldn’t normally have, and these can add up to 300 extra calories! It’s important to keep in mind that if you are trying to be healthy at a restaurant, try sharing meals with others.
Yummy Yogurt
Yogurt is a great snack to have that is healthy but will keep you full until your next meal. However, not all yogurts are created equal. Pictured below are the nutrition facts for two different types of yogurt, Chobani (top) and Yoplait (bottom).
Chobani
Yoplait
As you can see, Chobani is clearly the better choice:
- Fewer calories for more amount per serving
- Less fat
- Less cholesterol
- Less sodium
- Less sugar
- More protein
Although there are less vitamins, the amount you are not receiving in the Chobani can be made up in other areas throughout the day, such as through vitamin supplements.
Grilled Zucchini Pizza Slices
This recipe for grilled zucchini pizza slices is not the healthiest thing, because of the cheese and pepperoni. If you want to make it healthier, try to find a soy-based cheese product. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- Zucchini, sliced
- Tomatoes
- Cheese
Directions:
Grill zucchini slices for about 7-8 minutes. Take slices off the grill, place one tomato on each slice and top with cheese and pepperoni. Then, put back on the girl for 7-8 minutes or until cheese has melted.
Perfect Portions
You can eat healthy all you want, but none of it will matter if you aren’t eating the right amount of healthy! Portion sizes vary depending on what you’re eating, as demonstrated below.
- Vegetables- 1 cup
- Dairy products- 1/2 cup
- Grains- 1/2-1 cup
- Meat- 3 ounces
- Fruits- 1/2 cup
- Sweets- in moderation
If you don’t watch your portion size carefully, there is almost no use in eating healthy. An important thing to keep in mind is that if you take the tub of carrots out of the fridge or just grab the box of Cheerios and dig in, it’s almost impossible to control portion sizes, because you never know for sure how much you are eating.
Healthy Guacamole
I LOVE guacamole, but sometimes the ingredients used at restaurants or in pre-made packages from the grocery store can be surprising and really unhealthy. So, I found this low-fat recipe online and decided it was worth sharing! My mom and I made it over the weekend and it turned out awesomely! I definitely recommend it to any and all guacamole-lovers 
24 Calories for 1/4 cup 3.6 carbohydrates 2g protein
Ingredients
* 10 oz Frozen Peas
* 1 tbsp Avocado
* 1/2 cup Cilantro
* 1/2 slice of Tomato
* 1/3 cup Onions
* 1 tsp Lime Juice
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Ingredients:
* 10-ounce pack of frozen peas
* 1/2 small ripe avocado
* 1/2 cup cilantro, stems removed
* 1/2 ripe tomato, de-seeded and chopped
* 1/3 cup chopped onion (optional)
* Squeeze of fresh lime juice
Preparation:
Cook peas according to package instructions. Empty into a colander, drain and rinse with cold water. Place peas, avocado and cilantro in a blender and blend to desired consistency. Spoon into a bowl with chopped tomato and onion. Add a squeeze of lime juice, stir and serve.
Creamy Cinnamon Celery
I came across this cute snack recipe the other day on a healthy blog website. It seems like a great, lower-calorie alternative to one of my childhood favorites, “ants-on-a-log” (celery with peanut butter and raisins). Here’s the recipe:
45 Calories 1g Fat 5g Carbs 2g Protein
Ingredients
- 1 Large Celery Stalk
- 1 Tbsp Laughing Cow Cream Cheese
- 1 Packet Splenda or Stevia
- Ground Cinnamon
Directions
- Mix together Cream Cheese and Sweetener
- Spread on Celery and Sprinkle Cinnamon over top
This is so simple and easy, with very few ingredients, I will definitely be trying this in the near future!