Revising the New Year's Resolution

A few weeks back I shared the main New Year's resolution I was interested in maintaining: meeting my weight loss goals for the year in preparation for a surgery slated later in the year. Well, I'm sure you're no stranger to life's little surprises; I can't call it a curve ball, because though it does sidetrack my weight loss plans, it's a welcome surprise: my surgery was moved up. I was starting to worry a bit about the pain my condition was causing me, so I am glad that I'll be able to get this fixed sooner, rather than later, even if I won't be able to do much in the way of exercise for 2-3 months. 

However, I will still be able to at least manage (who knows? maybe lose a few pounds?) my weight through diet. We all know that it's a joint effort: diet and exercise!

I've been googling and pinning some delicious-looking and healthy recipes that I can enjoy eating during my recovery period. Here's a few that look particularly scrumptious!

BLT Bowl

Cinco de Mayo Quinoa Breakfast

Italian Tortellini Soup

Simple Greek Quinoa Dinner Omelets with Feta and Tzatziky

Enjoy them!

Three pounds and seven more to go!

Third week of my weight lost challenge and another pound gone!!This are some   of the delicious healthy and easy to prepare recipes I ate this week along with my exercise routine and lots of water.

Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

Cucumber, Black Bean, Corn, Tomato Avocado Salad

Strawberry and Avocado with Tuna Salad

Crock-Pot Tomato Soup

Balsamic Chicken with Asparagus and Tomatoes

Teriyaki Salmon with Zucchini

Baked Apple Microwave

I hope you try them, they are really delicious and low in calories. See you next week. =)

Two pounds and eight more to go!

Another week went by and I managed to lose my second pound! How I did it? Exercise, lots of water and eating in moderation. This week I added quinoa to my daily diet, it is a good source of protein, B-vitamins, iron, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, calcium and fiber. I gathered a few healthy recipes from the web that I find to be very filling and easy to prepare.

Butternut Squash and Cranberry Quinoa Salad

Greek Quinoa Salad

Citrus Chicken Quinoa Salad

Tuscan White Bean and Quinoa Salad

Honey Lime Quinoa Fruit Salad

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I did! See you next week ;)

One pound and nine more to go!

A week went by already, it was not easy for me to stay away from the treats that I like so much, but I managed to lose my first pound. =)  I did it by eating more salads, low calorie dishes, healthy soups and smoothies,  fruits, lots of water and exercising. Below are pictures and links to some of the recipes I found and prepared in the first week of my challenge.

Winter Pear Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette 

This salad is delicious and very filling, it has your greens, fruit and pecans, a good source of protein.  I omitted the goat cheese for regular feta cheese. ;)

Avocado Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

This is another of my favorite salads. Again you've got it all in one plate, including avocado, so delicious! Avocado is rich in vitamin B, K, C, E and Potassium.

Lightened up Chicken Zoodle Soup

I love this recipe, it is easy to prepare, nutritious and low in calories.

Skillet Chicken with Creamy Cilantro Lime Sauce

Super delicious and easy to make. The plus side of it is all your family will eat it. =)

New Year's Resolution.

The beginning of the year is generally associated with resolutions. We've all been party to the New Year's resolution lists and most of the time this lists are meant to help us achieve a goal, a dream we've been holding onto, some form of self-improvement or empowerment. Some lists are small, and some are long, but no matter the length or composition, they are created with real intention, motivation and desire to become our best self. Throughout the year, I'm going to share some of the resolutions  I jotted down for 2016.

A bit of back story for this first one. About two years ago I joined a "Bigger Loser" style boot camp at my gym; the result of gaining a lot of extra knowledge on the pitfalls of being overweight. I'd go three times a week (in addition to other fitness classes like Zumba, the other two days of the week), for two hours at a time. It was brutal at the beginning, but as the session progressed I felt myself getting stronger; I had more stamina, and the reward was seeing the pounds come off (20 lbs!). Unfortunately, 2015 saw me plague by health issues that force me to bow out of boot camp and limited my ability to engage in physical activity. I kept at it, but it was way more reduced, and the numbers on the scale have climbed a bit; the result of less exercise and some poor dietary choices.

So the first resolution on my list: To make a concerted effort (like I did back two years ago) to eat healthy and keep up with my exercises so I can lose those pounds I regained and KEEP THEM OFF! I've got a surgery coming up, and it is essential that I loose at least 10 pounds in the next few weeks. I'm going back to a tested and true method that was really helpful when I was in boot camp: tracking my daily meals and calories using My Fitness Pal (nope, not getting paid to endorse. I just really found this to work for me). In terms of exercise, I don't think I could ever quit Zumba, so I am working that in a few times a week alongside this daily routine I found on Youtube (a great place to find just about any kind of exercise!)

I am currently at 157 pounds, and my goal is to lose about a pound per week. I'll be definitely be blogging about my progress; keeping a written (and somewhat public) record is a great way to hold yourself accountable ;)

What is your New Year resolution?!



Sandy =)

Fruit Smoothies: The Fountain of Health

Fruit smoothies are fantastic: they’re nutritious (rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber!) and they’re ready in minutes, making them a great option for a quick breakfast or late afternoon snack. If you find your fruit intake is generally low, a smoothie is a great option to increase your intake of nature’s health powerhouses. You can use any kind of liquid in your smoothies: soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, skim milk, water or natural fruit juices, like fresh OJ. If you want to add an extra bit of sweetness, a bit of honey can go a long way for little extra calories.
Here are some recipes for delicious and nutritious smoothies (my favourite in the strawberry-banana;)). Enjoy!

Strawberry banana smoothie
1 cup of skim milk or soy milk
1/2 cup of strawberries
1 whole banana
1/2 cup of orange juice
1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt 
1/2 cup of crushed ice
1 teaspoon of honey

In a blender, purée strawberries and banana. Add milk, yogurt, orange juice, honey and ice. Blend until smooth and slightly thickened.
This yummy smoothie is high in fiber and protein. Bananas and oranges are rich in potassium, while strawberries contain potassium, vitamin C and calcium. Potassium is great for regulating your electrolyte levels; this smoothie is great for athletes as it helps with muscle cramps!

Source: from the web

Mango Smoothie

1 cup of mango
1 cup of cantaloupe
1/2 cup of pineapple
1/4 cup of almonds
1/2 cup of almond milk
1/2 of crushed ice

In a blender puree the pineapple, mango and cantaloupe. Add almonds, almond milk and ice. Blend until smooth and slightly thickened. 

Source: from the web

Blueberry Smoothie

1/2 of a banana
1/2 a teaspoon of flax seed powder 
1/4 cup of frozen blueberries
1 cup of soy milk
1/4 cup of ice 

In a blender puree the banana and blueberries. Add milk, flax seed powder and ice. Blend until smooth and slightly thickened. Blueberries are low in fat, packed with vitamin C and full of fiber.

Source: from the web

Fruit n' Oats Smoothie 

1 cup of milk
1/2 cup mixed frozen fruit
1/2 cup of oats (milled, if desired)

In a blender mix all the ingredients until smooth and slightly thickened. Add honey if you like.

Source: from the web

 Fruit n' Wheat Smoothie

1 banana
1/2 cup of orange juice
juice of 1/2 a lemon 
1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons of wheat germ
2 teaspoons of honey
1/2 cup of crushed ice

In a blender puree the banana and pineapple. Add lemon juice, orange juice, Greek yogurt, crushed ice and wheat germ and mix until smooth.

Source: from the web

 


 

 

Facial masks to look your best during and after the holiday season

Facial masks made of fresh fruits are my favorites. They clean and hydrate your skin and give you a fresh feeling immediately. On top of that they are easy to make and economic.
Before applying a facial mask you should clean your face from all impurities using a mild soap and warm water, don't forget to dry your skin very well.

Avocado facial mask 
 
An avocado facial mask is good for any type of skin, except for those with acne problems. 

Things you will need: 

Half of an avocado
One teaspoon of olive oil
Small container

Put the avocado in the container and mash it with the help of a fork, add the olive oil and mix it well. Apply over your face avoiding the areas around eyes and mouth, leave it for 15 minutes. It would be a good idea to put one slice of cucumber on each eye to complete the treatment. When the 15 minutes are up, rinse your skin with warm water followed by your daily moisturizer.

Source: from the web

Source: Getty Images

Oat and honey facial mask

Besides the good benefits that honey and oats have as food, they are also very effective when used straight on the skin. Oats and honey have been used in past centuries to heal a variety of skin conditions. Honey contains antioxidants that help to hydrate, exfoliate and clean your skin, oat is a good natural cleanser and together they help make your skin look beautiful.

Ingredients you will need:

3 tablespoons of oats
2 teaspoons of honey
3/4 teaspoons of water or 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt.

Put the oats in a coffee grinder and grind until it looks like a fine powder.
Mix it with the honey and water (or plain yogurt) until it reaches a thick consistency. Apply evenly on your clean face, avoiding the eyes and keep it on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water applying a circular massage around your face. When finished you can apply your daily moisturizer.

Source: from the web

To help your skin from getting premature wrinkles apply orange slices on your face for 20 minutes.
Tomato juice is very hydrating, it heals sunburn and helps with acne. Apply tomato slices on your face for a good 20 minutes, and last but not least, we can't forget our dear cucumber! It has many properties that are good for your health and one of them is keeping the skin's elasticity. Applying a few cucumber slices on your face for 20 minutes each time will do the trick.

Source: from the web

    Feel beautiful and enjoy your day!

Sandy =)

Staying Healthy Over the Holidays

Hello Again!

The holiday season is upon us, and that means the typical holiday goodie fare will be part of the holidays spreads at most of the gatherings you attend. Don’t feel bad when you cave in to temptation; always remember: Moderation is key. If fruits happen to be a part of the menu, don’t forget to add these to your plate; they’ll definitely help you to consume less of the empty calories in most holiday desserts (yule log, anyone?). If you’re tasked with preparing a holiday dessert, try to make it a healthier option: use fruits like pineapple, strawberries or oranges; it’ll reduce the amount of sugar in the dessert AND it will pack an antioxidant punch. Here are a few yummy suggestions:

Chianti-Roasted Pears

Pina Colada Fruit Salad

Annie's Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips

 

Some more tips to help you keep your dietary regimen on track over the holidays:

• Avoid greasy foods and food prepared with heavy creams. Load up your plate with fresh salads and healthy and filling vegetables. 
• Take your time! Eating mindfully and taking the time to savour each bite will help you to curb those trips for seconds. 
• Drink a cup of herbal tea after dinner; this really helps to aid with digestion. Some of my favourites are chamomile, peppermint and anise tea.
• Stay active throughout the holidays. Exercise is not only a great way to help you maintain your weight during the festive onslaught, it also helps you to keep any holiday stress at bay. Check out this 30-minute video, and try to work it in at least 3 times a week during the holidays to help you burn off any extra calories. If you don’t have time to work routines into your day, park far away from the mall entrance while Christmas shopping. Those few extra steps can go a long way! 
• Once again, don’t forget that moderation is key. No one should feel like they should be avoiding any festive delights; you really only eat them once a year ;)