Gourmet Cheffing it To Lose Weight

So, you want to add a new song and dance to your health and fitness daily living? I am no nutritionist but I can say that I think I have an idea that might help you, if you are someone seeking a sure-fire way to lose 3lbs a week.

Obviously, we love to eat if you are at this point searching for a solution. So, eat, but do it in a way that you could never imagine would work. For one; Cook! Eat something that you made from your kitchen. For one, you know what is in it and two, you will enjoy it more because you made it.

Daily Affirmation: 

Food does not have control over me. I have control over food! 

Now, you have your daily eating routine or daily routine. If you are accustomed to eating three meals a day, for one, this sure-fire way will reduce your hunger capacity because you have already started changing your way at looking at food and also making sure that the hunger pangs you are feeling are not actually thirsting for water pangs that could solve that problem instantly if you go for the bottle of water.

If you love to eat; cook! Cook like a chef though. Don’t go slouching and make an ordinary bacon and eggs because that is what you like to eat and too easy for you to really enjoy the way you would a gourmet cuisine. 

Get as creative as a chef at a restaurant would and make some exotic concoctions that will take a little bit more time but, than it is being done with love for yourself; this being the largest meal and in time, two meals that will start to suffice you for a day, unless you decide to snack on fruit or something but we will discuss that later. Cook it in a small pan though. 

Whatever it is should fit the quantity of a small pan. 

Now, You are trying to lose weight so you could do a number of crazy things like I have in the past. I once gave up rice, bread, past and meat all at the same time and was sticking to a nutritionist recommended 1200 calorie diet while exercising and lost 85lbs in nine months. Even if you cut out meat and are not balancing the proportions of all the non-meat products like rice, pasta, even vegan cheese or meat and not adding more water, greens and veggies to help clean out your colon, you are defeating the purpose.

I won’t say I am actually giving up any food option this time but here is a way of proportioning things differently and losing weight at the same time. Let’s try substituting up some of those starches, like rice, with a different type of grain like bulgar wheat, quinoa, millet or whatever grain you choose and let’s start there. The packaging reads these instructions as a portion of two. We are going to make the portion for four instead by gourmeting it up and adding your favorite fish to it with an array of spices and maybe a slice of cheese and let it cook in that small pan.

When it is ready, divide the portion into four. Add some fresh uncooked green like spinach, romaine, collard green, watercress and

sprinkle some garlic, ginger powder and a squeeze of fresh lemon atop. There is one let’s say about 500 calorie-serving that will keep your hunger for almost the whole entire day. If you need anything else, and you juice as your dinner, you could actually lose 3lbs a week because if one pound is 2500 calories…

And then you have left overs for three other days of a filling and healthy breakfast. What a way to meal plan and start losing weight now! 

Try it for a week and tell me what you think!

Before we eat it though and as it is cooling off, turn on the radio and just get into the groove of whatever your favorite danceable song is. Dance for like seven minutes or so and then eat. Here is an hour dance workout playlist you might enjoy:

For one you burned about 70 calories and then you settle into the meal. Dance for more time if it is in your spirit. I think this can be a good way to help in losing weight. How about you?

Changing Seasons: From Indoor to Outdoor

Spring is the perfect time to step up your game and start changing your workout routine.

Maybe you can simply change from indoors to outdoors. 

And if you aren't currently working out, the season of change is the perfect time to start.  

So let's get it in. 

Here are a few outdoor workout ideas.

- Yoga on the lawn

- run or walk up and down and up and down the steps

- a walk or jog around the neighborhood school track 

- bike riding on the waterfront bike path 

- leave your car parked and walk instead 

- flashback in realtime to the past and jump a rope outside in the park

It's springtime. Let's get the changing of ourselves in and have fun doing it. I mean if it feels like a drag then what's the point. But if it is a drag to do something that is beneficial to you then your gut will be the point, pointing outwards. But no point in complaining for your own intent and purpose. 

By the way, thanks for pointing your mouse on my link and clicking to read my post. 

Happy spring! 

S is for Strength

You do all this work trying to bust your ass just to get the pounds off. You shed the pounds but then you see skin hanging that needs to be trimmed. That's when I realized; cardio is great but so is strength training.

Sure we can lift our own selves up to carry our own weight. Well barely! How many times have you gone up a flight of steps and been left huffing and puffing as if you just ran a marathon? Sure you could lift yourself out of bed in the morning to face the rising sun, but could you lift your own body from the  ground if you fell? God forbid the movie "2012" was our reality and our only option to survive was to carry our entire world on our backs while racing to China towards the spaceship. Would we have the strength to carry on? 

Pull-up

Recently, I attended the Circle of Sisters Festival at the Jacob Javits Center in New York and the Marines were there. They were recruiting and giving out information and one of the things a person must be able to do to be a part is a pull-up. And so I tried it. 

I could barely pull my own weight up. Knowing that it is hard, made me consider my little 8lbs and 10lbs weights that I do strength training workouts with. 

Married to the Weight

Today, I made an adjustment. 

I married new weights; fifteens for the first time.

My something new; New resistance! Borrowed strength from God to lift them through each rep and I got the blues because of my sore shoulders. But I can't complain. I want them toned arms and the strength and I am doing it!!! :))) 

And when it comes time to get into that race for my spot on that spaceship in China, nobody will be able to stop me. I've become a pro at doing superwomans. I can thrust forward with swiftness. I have the strength!!! 

R is for Ready, Set, Yoga

I just love Autumn. The things I love most about this season are the beautiful weather, the colors, the outdoor energy (fairs, outdoor musical events), the fashion and the workout opportunities. Autumn is a perfect time to fall back into fitness. So let's make sure to get that heart pumping and keeping our minds and bodies healthy.

Wherever You Are

The gym may not be for everyone. It might seem too tight and confined for some who find joy working out in other places.

Running or weight lifting may not be for everyday.  It is good to do, but maybe adding different types of exercises to your lifestyle that also affect different muscles in your body, might not only enhance the experience, but keep your mind geared toward continuing on your fitness journey.

So how about taking your workouts outside!

Ready, Set, Yoga

Have you ever tried yoga?  It is a great exercise that can stretch every muscle in your body and also make you more flexible.  What I found to be great about yoga is that it teaches you how to breathe effectively so that when you are doing harder cardio workouts, you find the breathing process to be much easier.

Yes, yoga is meditational and yes it can bring you peace of mind. No, not all forms of yoga will put you to sleep and yes, your body can actually benefit from it. And it is a great exercise to do anyplace and at anytime.

Some questions you might be wondering is, how many downward dogs do I have to do for it to be considered yoga? Can I snap my neck doing head or shoulder stands?  Do I actually need a mat to do yoga? Following an instructor is best at the beginner stage. Guidance is helpful to get a hang of different yoga positions; but once you get a hang of it, anytime and anyplace a yogi sees fit.

I took it outside to Canarsie Pier and in the midst of my time there, I realize I did not really need a mat at all.  Through this experience, I have now found a name for my car: YOGAMAT.

 

This post was inspired by MAMAKAT's writing prompt on the five things I love most about fall. The top love would be working out though there is not really a season that is dedicated to it; it is an everyday passion.  This post was also inspired by National Name Your Car Day which falls on October 2, 2014 this year. Fun idea to use these  images to come up with a name for my vehicle.  (Photos are courtesy of EJ Haughton Photography)

O is For Oh Carbs!

Oh Carbs!

I remember a few years back. I tried this all meat diet that my friend was doing. You could consume as much meat as you want in a given day, but absolutely no carbs and with this diet, lose 10 pounds in a week. 

I was also going to the gym heavily at that time and would hurry from work to Ballys every night. But during the time, I was trying that very diet. 

I did my same daily routine: after work, hit to the gym, got on the treadmill and started running; only to be left feeling like I was about to pass out. The diet is a great idea if you need to lose pounds quickly and are not going to be physically active, but if you are, carbs are important to your diet. Gives you that needed energy. 

But I Gave Up Eating Carbs!

Okay, I admit it! I stopped eating bread, rice and pasta to achieve losing weight but there are more to carbs than just bread, rice and pasta. Are we forgetting that the nutritional food charts tell us that fruit and vegetable consumption are important parts of our diets? These are carbs as well and are important because they provide us with energy. So it was not so much giving up carbs; it was more about sticking to a low carb diet instead. 

So Here's an Idea!

It's summertime and we are all about to get into some heavy eating at barbecues and going to fish fries and other summertime gathering events. But you do not have to skip out on all the delicious food items our friends and families will have spread out on their tables. Instead improvise. 

Remember that too much of anything is no good. So to an all meat diet, I say not my thing because we get cholesterol from products made from animals. I do not want to ever suffer from cholesterol issues and be told later by a doctor, what I need to restrict in order to survive from unnecessary diseases caused by eating. It's a different world to do something willingly as opposed to by force or to improve health issues. So here's a thought; If you know you are going to four barbecues in the weekend, maybe you can skip on meat items during the weekdays and instead have other healthy proteins like beans, nuts, or soy. 

And yes,  I agree! Carbs do give us energy. But don't get it twisted that on a picnic table, the only carb you can add to a burger for the energy you are seeking will derive from bread. Then what are tomatoes? Aren't they carbs? Can the bread and instead, add your favorite toppings and enjoy! Still great; just without the high carb item. 

Here are Some Other Summertime Food Ideas That Might Be Helpful

1. For every other drink, let it be room temperature water. 

Ex. Wine cooler, room temperature water, frozen margarita, room temperature water, lemonade, room temperature water, iced coffee, room temperature water. This way, you stay not only bring refreshed with tasty drinks but also hydrated with this necessary element. I say room temperature because this is the temperature which water digests in our bodies. So if you ever come to a point where you are dying for water and are in need of some immediately, make sure to skip the ice for a quick reparation.

2. Juice is great, but choose juices that are 100% juice. If you are wondering why, read nutrition labels and compare the sugar content for a drink that is 100% juice to one that isn't. 

3. It's not too hot to get in your kitchen and do some good old fashioned cooking. And if it is, go outside and grill. More home cooked than store/restaurant bought food. Less fat and better quality eating.

4. Eat plenty of fruits. Grapes have lots of water in them. You want energy, energize with grapes. Good and tasty eat.

Links on Carbs

List of Carbs http://detoxdoll254.blogspot.com 

Naked Burger Paleo Diet http://thatpaleodiet.com/post/51908675072/naked-burger

How to Make a Bunless Burger http://www.ehow.com/how_2307860_make-bunless-burger.html

Benefits of Eating Carbs http://www.livestrong.com/article/504219-four-important-benefits-of-carbohydrates/

Alphabets of Fitness: M is For Staying Motivated

When it comes to trying to attain fitness, remember it is not an overnight thing. It takes time, persistence and true motivation. 

Keep going and never give up on your goals. 

Motivation means everything to a person seeking that one thing that is definitely something worth fighting for. 

With that in mind, here are some links you might enjoy to help you to stay motivated:

Fitness Challenges http://www.challengeloop.com/ideas/topic/health-fitness

My Journey to Fitness http://ilheartmyhair.blogspot.com/2014/03/i-am-changing.html

Blending Fitness Into Your Life http://fitbittwist.blogspot.com/2014/01/alphabets-of-fitness-b-is-for-blending.html

Thank you so much for reading my blog post. Have a wonderful weekend. 

Alphabets of Fitness: K is for Keeping up with Thine Own Health

("God Cares" written by Stephanie Jeannot & Mike LeShore) , (c) All Rights Reserved)

 

This month of February, like every February, is American Heart Month. Are you celebrating?

Remember, the heart is like the drum pattern in a song that without, the song and dance would seem irregular.  And with the perfect tempo, the rhythm flows naturally as God intended without having to be doctored to fix.

So what are you doing to show that organ that orchestrates the beautiful melodies that God enables to pace in each new moment of life?  Are you getting it pumping hard with passion?  By passion, I mean exercise.

If you love the beat of life, like the beats of music then, walk hard like you would to a funk song with a song in your heart like, “I want to thank you for letting me be myself.” If you are loving the simple fact that God woke you up this morning in new mercies, you are dazzled in red and those lyrics you groove to are then truth and you are definitely then, keeping up with thine own health; especially with the given fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women. As soldiers, we are equipped to win the battle over health and we definitely can conquer good health.

So what else can you do?

K is for kettlebells. Did you know that in 20 minutes of doing kettlebell workout, you can burn up to 400 calories?  Seems like a lot if you are sticking to a 1200 calorie diet. But if you eat a bacon double cheeseburger with large fries and a soda every day, you will only be burning off the calories from the fries.  Not so bad but if you love your heart, let’s eat a lil better to show it some true appreciation and love. 

K Is for kicking the carbs.  Did you know that the serving size of bread per person is really one slice?  Take a look at the nutritional facts on the bag of bread that you just copped from the grocery store.  What does it say about the serving size?  Am I right or was I just really kidding? 

K is for keeping the faith. Keep the faith and keep moving forward. We all stub our toes

sometimes and even if we fall, we were built with enough strength to stand back up and face the sun of yet another morning. So how are you keeping the faith?  Are you praying? Are you aware that there is more power behind you than any challenge that stands before you? 
Because moving towards a fitness goal is not easy at all; takes a whole lot of willpower. So don’t give up. Even if you decide to give up sweets or alcohol for Lent and all your friends flaunt red velvet cheese cakes or Long Beach Iced Teas in your face; if you made the decision to kick the habits, you need to keep the faith and stick with it because it is still your journey alone; even with your family and peers around you. Your true peeps will be your support team and will help you to stay motivated.

Finally! K is for Kill it.  Don’t sit around pinning workouts you want to try and never try them or have the tv on with Gillad doing his workout while you just sit back and watch without joining in the excitement and putting in the actual work. No, if you get a chain letter email that tells you to forward it to ten friends to lose 20lbs, you will not lose 20lbs by just typing names in the to box.  Also, don't use the excuse of not wanting to sweat out your perm and can't workout. Can't is such a disabling word. You can still look cute and workout even with your perm having sweat in it. Natural sweat actually helps hair to grow.  You would probably look sweeter on an assisted weight machine than laid up in a hospital bed somewhere from heart related illnesses. You gots to get with the program and do the job required to do what you are wanting to achieve.  If better heart health is it, do it. Walk for it. Run with it. Ride towards it. Kettlebell the inches off. Kut the krap and get your healthy heart-conscious eating and heart-pumping workout on. You can do anything you want so even if doubt comes to stand in your way, let your faith be the weapon that kills it and keep moving forward.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my blogpost. Please leave feedback with tips or comments in regards to health and maintaining it because we can all use the motivation if you are willing to share. By the way, if you liked the song at the beginning of this post, you can find more original music on my Reverbnation page here: Stephanay JNote's ReverbNation Page

 

May God continue to bless you in abundance.  

Alphabets of Fitness: J is for Just Do it!

Just do it! You have it in your heart. You feel the temptation to get with the program. Your mind is filled with ideas of the what ifs.  But what if you just do it? What then?

I know, things do not seem so easy at first. You start and then a mountain of doubt tries to stop you from moving forward. But you have been equipped with all you need to continue upon the journey you started. So just do it!

Go out to the nearest park and do a brisk walk or jog. Go out there and shovel or do gardening. Lots of calorie burning there, in doing housework and some in cooking as well. How about doing some cleaning and getting rid of old stuff that are no longer necessary in your life?  Oversized clothes items that no longer fit or those Burger King coupons that you are no longer going to find use for because of your new eating healthy lifestyle. Letting out the old truly ushers in the new. So make way for the new you.

Choose the light butter over movie butter popcorn and say no to the extra cheese.  Choose turkey burgers as opposed to the beef and ask for whole wheat toast when ordering sandwiches.

One thing you must remember to do is to meditate and keep God on your mind and your mind on the matter. Prayer while you are on your way to reaching your goal is necessary. Do not turn back and give up. Let God guide you to exactly where you are striving to be and to what you are striving to accomplish. For he told us that we only need to stand still while he fights our battles for us. 

All that stands in the way will fade. Most of the time it is our own doubts and fears that stand in the way.  But why fear the very things you hope for?  Why doubt in your abilities to make things happen? Remember it took strength to start walking from crawling.

Finally, be happy about your decision. You started it, now smile about it. Be confident in any and all you are doing and that will lead you to the strength and the joy that was never anyone or anything else's to reckon with because joy is internal from God. Now carry that faith with you in your gym bag, wear your confidence like cross training sneakers and exercise faith wherever you go. Even if everyone else is wearing shorts and cut-off t-shirts and you feel out of place because you are all covered up; or you want to do chest presses and can only push with resistance at 10 lbs.

Who cares?  As long as you are doing it. For to not try is to fail. But trying leads to pushing harder. Isn't that the whole point of the new you attitude you decided to bring into your groove?