a little cardio fun

My girls love this song and I've been hearing it a ton lately.  Instead of getting annoyed, I decided to join in on the dancing and now we get a little cardio boost a couple times a day. :)  If you want something fun and active with your kiddos when it's cold out, this is actually pretty fun (especially if you add your own flava.;)).

A little more aware everyday

I have found that over the last month I have been so much more aware of movement in my life. I have started running more of my own errands around the house instead of sending the kids. I figure that if I run up stairs I am that much better off instead of thinking "I am too tired I will send one of the kids." Also when the baby wants me to pick him up i am doing it more often.  I am lifting the kids and feeling stronger instead of more tired. Who knew that life could feel so good? The more I do for myself the better I feel and the less guilt I carry.  I have also been more generous with my kids. If they ask me for a bite of a treat or want me to share my dinner I do. Instead of eating it all by myself. Thank goodness for this competition, and I thought when I started that it was just for me. But it has made my life better with my family.

To Go w/ Your Veggies this Week

Hummus

(from The New Moosewood Cookbook by: Mollie Katzen)

Plain

2 medium cloves garlic, minced finely

3 cups cooked chickpeas (or 2 15 oz. cans, rinsed and well drained, save some of the liquid in case you want to alter the consistency of your finished product)

6 Tbs.  tahini (I sometimes use 4 T. tahini and 2 T. olive oil)

6 Tbs. fresh lemon juice

¾ to 1 tsp. salt (to taste)

Optional:  cayenne and a little cumin, to taste (I usually do put in cumin, about 1/4 tsp, and a dash of cayenne)

Mince garlic first, then add the rest of the ingredients in your food processor; puree to a thick paste.  (If you prefer your hummus a little less thick add some of the reserved liquid from the cooking of the chickpeas or what you drained off of the canned beans to your hummus until it’s how you like it.  Before I had a  food processor I mashed my hummus by hand.  It is coarser, but still delicious.)  Put in a tightly lidded container and chill before serving.

Souped up

2 to 3 meduim cloves garlic, roasted & sliced

A large handful of parsley

2 healthy scallions, in 1 inch pieces

-or-

Roasted red peppers

Put the above ingredients into the food processor and mince, then prepare the rest of the recipe as above (from the chickpeas on down).

Serve with veggies, pitas, chips, as a sandwich spread.  It’s delicious!

Keep on Keepin' on

Hello ladies!

A big THANK YOU to Sarah for posting that video. Wow. It was amazing. I cried. I watch videos like that and I vow again to NEVER give up on myself.

My post this week is a SHOUT OUT to my good friend Erin. Erin has desire to change habits and shed some weight (just like ALL of us) but chose not to officially enter this competition. She DID, however, start doing everything. She is doing every weekly challenge. She is keeping track of points, weighing in and measuring. She is workin' her butt off every morning to earn the exercise points and doing a dang good job! I have been SO impressed with how dedicated she is!!! This girl is shedding the pounds and inches fast!

Last Friday morning I got a phone call from her and the first words out of her mouth were "186 points this week!" WOW!!! What a great job she is doing! Last week ALONE she lost 9 inches! WOW!!!

Because she chose not to enter the contest officially she isn't here sharing her story with each of us. HOWEVER, I wanted to take the time to do a shout out of hello and GREAT JOB to her!! I love you Erin! You are amazing! Keep it up!!!

And good luck to all of you ladies out there! I am working hard just like all of you are: fighting the inner voice telling me it's too hard and shouting back how determined I am and then going out and doing something about it!!! We can do it!!!

SUPER COOL VIDEO

Hey Ladies!  I watched this video the other day and it was AMAZING!  Please watch it.  Its only 5 minutes long!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448

Week 4 Standings!

I apologize for the lateness in posting this week's standings. I was waiting for one of our hotties to double check her records, because there was a discrepancy in my computations compared with hers and, imperfect as I am, I  am trying to be accurate. :) Before I heard back, I fell asleep. Maybe it's because I was waiting in my bed around 9 p.m.?

Another successful week with no casualties!  All 12 participants are still in the game, even though I've heard through the grapevine that some of you are considering throwing in the towel.

Don't do it! 

Even if you feel there's no chance of winning the prize. You paid $25, and let that be motivation for you to keep up with the accountability. That $25 may not get you to any cash winnings, but it still could get you healthily through the holidays and starting the New Year with better habits and a stronger you.  That's worth $25! That's worth a lot more than $25.

Plus, you really never know what could happen with consistency and hard work.

Speaking of prizes, here are the new prize totals, after the initial wave of people withdrew from the competition (many of them before the payment deadline) we are now playing for the following-

1st prize=$175
2nd prize=$75
3rd prize=$50

I have a request for all you hotties. Please, before you send in your weekly reports double check everything-starting with your weight & measurements, then your points, then your totals. It would really help me if you'd do this. Thanks in advance. :-)

So without further ado . . . I present to you this week's standings!

Good Week

Well week 4 was a tough one but well worth it. I am struggling with the start of this week but I am sure I can get back on the horse. I knew I worked hard last week because when I went to play on my indoor soccer team I could actually play longer and not want to sub out as quickly. I needed that boost because I was feeling pretty demoralized each week by my exhaustion despite working out all week. I really hope those who are struggling understand that this is about habits and quality of life, NOT whether you have time for it or not. Make time to be healthy and time will be on your side later. Stick with it and kill it!!!