Feel Good Friday

Good morning, girls!  Here we go, embarking on the last weekend of this challenge!  Monday morning is the final check in!  Whoa! That flew by!

For today, I want you guys to read this post from the Athleta Chi Blog & respond.  http://www.athleta.net/chi/2010/03/30/my-makeover-for-mind-body-spirit/

It's about how to do a makeover on your mind, body, & spirit.  Pretty much what I want you all awesome ladies to glean from this is that if you feel stuck in a rut, find a few minutes for meditation to clear your mind, find a new physical activity or exercise to try, and seek out some kind of new knowledge or intellectual venture (grab a good book!).  And of course get lots of sunshine (w/ sunscreen on of course :) ).

Let me know what you think of this!!!!!!!!!

Feel the Burn Thursdays

Good morning, shrinkin' divas!

Just a few little reminders here on our workout sharing day:

1. Energy Bars or Sport Beans or Gel or anything:  Keep track of ALL your calories consumed and ALL your calories burned and stay within your net caloric goal.  Perhaps you didn't burn enough to warrant a high calorie energy or protein bar.  Check out this article from Bicycling Magazine: http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-4-21-21630-1,00.html
2. Sleep: "Moodiness, anxiety, and irritability are all effects of losing out on sleep"  This has been big for me.  Last night I got an unusual 12 hours of sleep and it made all the difference in the world.  If I can get that in once a week, I would be a new person.  I go to sleep a grinch and I wake up a superwoman ready to take on the world.  Check out this article from Runner's World Magazine: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-238-267--8028-0,00.html#
3. Workout Outdoors: Think unconventionally with your workouts.  It doesn't have to be a dedicated hour at the gym.  It can be just a 10 minute romp around the park with the kiddos.  (Ok, except when you live in crazy Wisconsin and it decides to snow in APRIL) Except for that rarity, being in the sunshine just makes you happier than being cooped up indoors.  Check out these ideas for outdoor workouts from Women's Health Magazine: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/outdoor-workouts
4. Emotional Outlets: When your emotional trigger or stressor hits, and you turn to food, first of all try so hard to recognize WHY you got in that mood in the first place, and find an alternate method of dealing with it.  This is something I'm a novice at, but I've heard working out is a fantastic stress reliever.  For me, when I get in a good workout, I'm just proud of myself and want to shout it from the rooftops, so everything else that is bugging me in my life just isn't that big of a deal anymore.  It's all about my feelings about myself.  Here's an article about stopping binge eating from Shape Magazine: http://www.shape.com/weight_loss/diets/stop_stuffing_yourself_secrets
5. Strength Train: Don't forget this important piece to your workout program.  Cardio looks more appealing b/c you become sweaty and blast huge calories, but weight training (dumbells, resistance bands, pilates, core work, squats, crunches, etc.) has big pros that can't be overlooked.  You'll look slimmer, you'll rev up your metabolism, and you'll be strong. Don't worry about bulking up- that doesn't happen to women.  Here's info on Weight Training 101 from Shape Magazine: http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/weight_training_101
6. Water: Are you drinking enough of it?  Sodas, even diet sodas, tend to make your midsection bloated.  Water will energize you, keep you hydrated enough to not confuse thirst signals w/ hunger signals, & keep you healthy.  Here's the link to the tool from Runner's World that helps you calculate out how much you need to be drinking each day, something we've posted on here before: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-302--5382-0,00.html#

So what workouts have you been up to lately?  What do you have planned for this weekend???

Whatcha Eating Wednesday

Good morning, ladies!  Hope you're all doing great despite the weather being drizzly and gyms being locked (mini-me was locked out of her gym this morning :(  )

Overcome it all! 

So here's the day where we share what we've been eating.  What snacks have you been enjoying?  What meals?  Any good recipes? 

I'm making Smothered Chicken one night this week.  There's not really an exact recipe for it, just something my mom used to make when I was growing up.  I think it may have it's origins w/ Weight Watchers actually. 
*Chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
*Mushrooms, sliced
*Onions, sliced (optional- I don't use them in this recipe)
*Reduced Fat Swiss cheese slices

Saute the mushrooms & onions in a dabble of olive oil.  When cooked, set aside.  In skillet cook chicken breasts until about a minute from being done.  Add back in the mushrooms & onions, warm them up in the skillet bottom, then when warm, stack on top of the chicken breasts, then place cheese slice on top of the mushroom & onion pile on top of the chicken breast.  Cover skillet until the cheese has mostly melted & is "gluing" the goodies on top of the chicken breast.  About this recipe, I don't use the onions, but I use TONS and TONS of mushrooms.  I love me some sauteed mushrooms :) Good w/ a side salad of greens.

Tuesday Motivation

Good morning, beautiful girls!

Feel overwhelmed with your hectic schedule?  Head spinning?  Feel like you're being pulled in too many directions?  I do :)

So here's a cool article from Fitness Magazine about strategies for finding time to eat healthy even when you have next to no time.  http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/weight-loss/tips/diet-tips/make-over-my-diet/

How do you guys squeeze in healthy eating?
What are your time-saving ideas?

Monday Morning Check-in

Good morning beautiful girls!!!! It's our second to last check-in this
challenge. Starting our final week today!
Share with us your results from the scale this morning and share what
your game plan is for this week.