Beware Idle Hands

42. Get Creative. We all know the saying about idle hands.  Boredom is probably one of the leading causes for overeating. Fill in your free time with a creative activity that you enjoy. Try a new craft project, learn to knit or take a dance class.

I personally like to make my own jewelry and other crafty things.   Not only does that activity give me a creative outlet with something to do with my hands other than feed my face, but I also sell my creations for extra cash.  Talk about a win-win situation!  

Don’t know where to start? Check out local community centers or websites like Meetup.com to find an activity that sounds interesting to you. I’m a member of a few Meetup groups and I really enjoy trying new activities with a group of like-minded people.   Just recently, my ladies social group took a pottery painting class and I loved it! Here is a so-so picture of my treasure, a cupcake trinket box!

You may also want to look on sites like Groupon, Living Social, etc to view limited deals. I know for a fact that they have various deals for fitness and dance classes, so you could try out one of those. If you don’t like the activity, then you are out a few bucks instead of lots of money. My friend and I actually took advantage of a strip-aerobics class deal as part of a bachelorette party. The class only cost us $5.00 a piece and we really got a workout (and a new respect for how hard strippers work)!  

Whatever you do, have fun! Get creative and beware idle hands :)

Just a Little Reminder

41. Remind yourself to eat better. One latest study found that people chose better-for-them foods when they were prompted to "consider the healthiness" before digging in.

I do this by writing out a meal plan at the beginning of the week and sticking to it.  For example, at breakfast I have 1 cup of multi-grain cheerios with ½ cup of unsweetened almond milk.  Then, as a mid-morning snack, I eat a serving of yogurt and a serving of whichever fruit I have on-hand (this week it’s grapes).  For lunch, I choose either a Smart One or Lean Cuisine frozen meal and my afternoon snack is a granola bar (various kinds). To end the eating day, lately I've been taking my own advice and serving soup for supper.  And because I like sweets, I save room for a hot cup of decaf cocoa before I head to bed. I really like the idea of planning and packing my meals ahead so I don’t have to think (stress) about what I will eat and/or drink that day. I do the same thing with my weekly wardrobe but that’s another story!

My thoughts are that if I can eat healthy most days of the week, then I can eat healthy all the time. As you can read, I give myself plenty of food and indulge in my favorites without having to feel guilty about anything.  I know some people who eat the same things every day. I admit I can’t do that as I like too many foods to limit myself to just a few, but I choose to eat my favorite not-so-healthy foods sparingly and on the weekends. It works for me; see if it works for you!

Pair healthy eating with a healthy exercise routine and you will be well on your way to a better, fuller life! That’s what matters :)

Smell This

On a roll…let’s see how long it lasts. I only have 1 more week until Easter, so we shall see :)

40. Don't be smelly. Scented cosmetics make us crave the foods they remind us of, which ultimately makes us eat more, according to recently published reports.  I have to think this is pretty accurate as every time I use my cherry pie or pecan pie 3-in-1 (body wash, shampoo, bubble bath), I crave those desserts. However, I think is it better i.e. healthier to smell like pie every day than to eat it every day! Try this tip for yourself to see how it affects you.  Scented cosmetics, lotions, etc. may be affecting your eating habits without you even knowing it.  

The S’s Have It

The S's Have It

Say what you will, but I am consistent in my inconsistencies. Today’s tips are ones that I practice regularly and enjoy the most.  These are especially good to do when you are sick, but work just as well during times of great health!

Soups come in all varieties. Find ones that you like and Enjoy!

38. Soup-er Swap.   Have soup for supper.   Soup's high water content makes it a low-calorie and filling option. Just steer clear of the creamy kinds. Soup is also an economical option, especially if you make it yourself. Last night, I made 4 cups of an awesome beefy vegetable soup. Even with the cost of beef, the total cost for the soup per serving was under $1.50. Eating soup is another great way to get in multiple varieties of veggies into your diet. The benefits just keep adding up without adding to your waist line!

Spice Up Your Life! Try a new spice and see if you like it. You may surprise yourself!

39. Spice it up!  Cayenne pepper really can rev your metabolism, according to numerous research studies. I’m a fan of sneaking spices into my everyday meals.  When making the above soup, I added a couple of teaspoons of red pepper flakes to the broth; it gave the soup a real, but subtle kick! You can also add spice to your drinks. Spicy dark chocolate hot cocoa is a delicious and healthy treat.  Just a pinch can reap healthy profits! 

Cash Out

Be proud blog readers! I'm updating on the right day and before midnight! Here is tip #37. Just a few more to go before the Easter holy-days!

37. Pay cash.  Shoppers who pay with plastic (either debit or credit cards) are more vulnerable to impulse buys, which tend to be the fattening snacks you know you shouldn't have anyway. I don’t know if it’s just me or not, but if I’m craving fast food and don’t have the cash to pay for my meal that’s a signal for me to stop the impulse. Most people don’t even carry cash anymore, but I always like to have at least $100.00 per month in my wallet for emergencies.  That emergency could be anything, maybe even a fun treat! Not only will cash keep your health in check, but also your budget!

Fitness report: I haven't been physically able to workout due to illness, so I haven't updated my fitness report in a long while. I hope that before next week I will be able return to the gym and my beloved pool work-outs :) Let's hope my follow-up doctor's appointment goes well!!    

Veg Out or Go Nuts

Okay, so I set out yet again to be productive, but my students had other ideas;  I should know better than to want peace and quiet the night before a final exam. As such, there will be 2 tips tonight to make up for the missing post from yesterday. 

35. Veg Out. Fill two-thirds of your plates with vegetables. They have fewer calories (comparatively to other foods), are more dense (stay fuller, longer) and more nutritious (another definite plus) than any other type of food. This is hard for me (super picky about my food in general), but I'm working on it. I try to fool myself by adding i.e. hiding veggies in other foods like yellow squash in macaroni and cheese, or spinach on pizza. 

36. Go (Green) Nuts! A recent study found that dieters who snacked on shelled pistachios shed more pounds than those who ate other snacks, even though they contained the same amount of calories. I have to say I was surprised at this study, but I’m glad as these little green beauties are my favorite nuts. I pick the unsalted version for the best nutritional value, but if you don't have a problem with salt, get what you like. Expensive snack, but worth the money! 

Do You

On Saturday, I thought I was being very productive by writing all my remaining tips at once so it would be easier to update the blog. That, however, only works if you remember to do the updates…which I forgot to do on Sunday. As such, today (3/19/13) there will be 2 blog posts; one now (it’s about 1:00 AM according to my clock) and one later this evening.  

The title inspiration for this collection of tips came from a book I read recently. It was a story about a college freshman studying pre-medicine who gets discovered as a plus-size model. It basically chronicles her discovery of who she is and what she wants to become.  The best piece of advice she receives comes from her best friend, who tells her to just “do you”. Essentially, don’t try to be someone else.   Hopefully, these tips can help you “do you”.

33. Start a blog.  The weight loss blog is practically a literary genre where anyone can share their story.  Start one, and you aren't just losing for yourself as a blog gives you accountability to the readers.  My best advice should be, “start a blog and stick with it”.  I have a tendency to start a project and never finish it.  Maybe some of you are the same way…closets and garages full of projects started and left unfinished.  I’m the same way with a fitness regime. I start out on-fire, and then get burned out midway.  There’s always an excuse…no time, bad weather, etc.  Writing a blog can act as a personal diary so you can share your story/struggles and hopefully, get feedback and encouragements from others who may have went through or are going through similar situations. Your blog doesn't necessarily have to be just about weight loss, it can be about anything you want. You have a voice. Use it :)

34. Find a buddy. On the same vein as accountability, if you know someone is waiting at the gym for you then you are more likely to show up.  Having a friend at the gym with me really helped me start going to work out.  My friend and I started by going a few days a week to new classes at the gym to see which ones we liked.  With her, I didn't feel embarrassed to try the class or to “make a fool of myself” figuring out the gym equipment.  Having a friend to share in the experience takes what could be worrisome or painful into something that’s fun and enjoyable!! Can't find a buddy? Look into getting a personal trainer. Feeling adventurous?  Go to the gym, find someone else alone and make a new friend :)