Nutrisystem – Why You Need Backup Plans #NSNation #spon

   

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nutrisystem diet

Nutrisystem

nutrisystem diet Nutrisystem   Why You Need Backup Plans #NSNation #spon

September was a horrible month in general between being sick, computer issues and travel. With all of this happening it was hard for me to stay focused on my health.

This is why most people fail — they don’t have a plan B for when something happens and I know I sure didn’t! Here were my 3 biggest stumbling blocks that keep me of my path:

  1. Too many parties: In September we were at a birthday every weekend and sometimes 3 -4 a weekend. {Man, those Christmas and New Year’s babies really like to eat!}
  2. Travel: I had a few conferences and they love to feed you there.
  3. Being sick: Migraines and severe allergies killed my appetite, which is not good — I find I actually gain weight when I don’t eat a lot.

Looking back here is how I could have avoided some of my problems:

  1. Too many parties — I should have carried some of the bars with me or prepared a meal before I left for the parties. One problem for me was I didn’t have any of the bars. They are so yummy that I ate them at the beginning of my journey — I will be stocking up on them because they are a perfect solution for my #2 too!
  2. Travel — I coudn’t cook on the road and there were so many opportunities to eat and eat and eat. {See #1 too – too many parties}. I needed to take something with me that didn’t need to be prepared and unfortunately, I didn’t have anything in my diet stockpile that was an open and eat item.
  3. Illness — This one is harder and I am not sure how to plan for this one. Do you have any recommendations?
So while I would love a straight path from beginning to the end goal of my weight loss of 50 pounds, the reality is I find myself often off course {just like the graphic above}.
Follow my Nutrisystem journey on Frugal Ferret and my Nutrisystem review of their products.

Nutrisystem

Interested in a healthier lifestyle or have a desire to lose weight? Try Nutrisystem by (888) 853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog.

DisclosureNutrisytem is providing me with 4 months of the food and the program free of charge for my participation in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program in exchange for my honest opinions about my personal weight loss with Nutrisystem.

Nutrisystem

Free Health Related Offers – Recipes, Skincare & More

   

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beautymint

Below are a few offers for free and cheap items that might be of interest to you.

 

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The Master Cleanse — Day 1 1/2

   

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master cleanse

Master Cleanse


 

My girlfriend asked me to join her in a cleanse. She does it twice a year and she said she feels so much better afterwards.

 

First, I have avoided cleanses in the past because I feel they are a temp fix for a long term problem. Yes, I can lose up to 15 pounds but I am not eating – of course I will!

 

And, once I start back in the real world of eating, the weight will come back.

 

But to support her and to test for you guys, I decided to do it.

 

YUCK! Yep, that’s my first word…YUCK!

 

I called her and said “I can’t do this.” She laughed and asked why. The cayenne pepper was irritating my throat and the concoction was more than I wanted to endure for the next 10 days and not eat real food. She made some suggestions to me and here’s my combination to make the 10-day Master Cleanse journey palatable for me.

 

  • I do not put the maple syrup in my drink, nope – I take it like medicine
  • Then, I take pills as a substitute for the Smooth Move Tea (another yuck) and the cayenne pepper.
  • And, finally — I get to enjoy my lemon water sans the items that were messing it up for me. I LOVE lemon water!

 

So, with the modifications above, I feel that I can do the Master Cleanse for the full 10 days and not hate myself while doing it. I need the jump start to kick of my exercise regime. (I just need some weight off of me so I can touch my toes!)

 

Stay tuned to see how much I lose and how well I feel after this.
 

master cleanse The Master Cleanse     Day 1 1/2

Master Cleanse

 

Read more about the Master Cleanse diet on wikipedia.org.

Tanga Discount – Eating Well Magazine Only $5.99

   

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tanga discount

 

Tanga Discount – Eating Well Magazine

 

I love surfing recipes and articles online because I always have a computer or smart phone connected to me (mmm… maybe that’s why I can’t “find time” to go to the gym!).

 

But, I still enjoy holding something in my hand to thumb through when I am not “connected.” The only magazines we still buy are only ones that feature recipes.

 

Here’s a great deal on Eating Well magazine and one I will be adding to my “cooking idea” arsenal.

 

tanga discount 232x300 Tanga Discount   Eating Well Magazine Only $5.99

If you are interested in getting this great deal on the Eating Well magazine? Click here to get your Eating Well magazine for only $5.99 (instead of $19.99) by using the Tanga discount code WELL.

 

What are your favorite cooking magazines?

 

Details from Tanga:

 

Please allow 8-14 weeks for your first issue to arrive!

 

Informative yet entertaining, Eating Well is geared toward helping families embrace healthier eating habits. Using their easy, creative recipes and useful tips, you’ll learn to shop, cook, and eat with confidence. Eating Well is all about understanding how food impacts your health, wellness, and community, and helping you make smart choices that fit your lifestyle.

 

You can buy up to a 3-year subscription and it comes with 6 issues per year. You can renew your subscription by using the exact same name and address as your existing subscription on your order.

Billie’s Starting Point

   

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losing in las vegas billie

 

 

I have delayed in writing this post because I didn’t want to face the obvious. Moving to Las Vegas packed 40 pounds on my body that I haven’t been able to lose. I would love to say I have tried everything but I haven’t. Getting motivated is extremely hard for me.

 

When we moved to Las Vegas from Northern VA, we stayed in a hotel on The Strip for 6 weeks. During that time all of our meals were from a restaurant and that packs a wallop to the hind parts. THEN, we lived in a rental home for 6 months while our home was being built and basically “camped” the entire time. Since we didn’t have our dishes and cooking items we made easy meals and sometimes they were not the healthiest.

 

So, for the past 4 years I have half-heartedly tried to regain my past health with failed attempts. Since I am at my all-time weight high (even when pregnant) I must do something. We all know as we get older it gets harder to shake the weight and gain muscle tone. Ugh… why did I wait so long?

 

  • Age: 42 years, 11 months, 2 weeks and a few days

    losing in las vegas billie 960x1024 Billies Starting Point

    My best friend or worst enemy?

  • Sex: Female
  • Height: 5’8″
  • Starting weight (this time): 167.5 lbs
  • Clothing size: 10 – 14, depending on the brand
  • % body fat (according to my scale, which I will use as my baseline):
  • Chest: 39.5″
  • Ribs: 34″
  • Bicep: 12″
  • Waist: 34.5″
  • Hips: 42″
  • Thigh: 23.5″
  • Calf: 14.25″

 

My goals:

 

  • Weight: in the 130′s range
  • Clothing size: 6 – 8
  • Lose at least 4-6″ in my chest and hips

Kid’s Meals for the Big Kids

   

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panda express nutritional values

Kid’s Meals for the Big Kids

 

I lead a crazy life some days.

 

When I am out in the field working as a Las Vegas real estate agent, I don’t pack a lunch because most of the time the heat in the car is too much for food to stay yummy. And yes, I could use a cooler and have in the past but I haven’t disciplined myself to make one each time I go out and about.

 

The easy solution for any fast meal is always a drive thru window — am I right?

 

But man does it pack an unhealthy wallop on my mid-section and butt! Also, most of the food goes to waste because I don’t eat a lot when I do eat.

 

My solution? Order a kid’s meal!

panda express nutritional values1 Kids Meals for the Big Kids

 

Now, let’s compare the two

  • Fried Rice is 530 calories [14 Weight Watchers points plus] – Holy macaroni – are you kidding me!?!  I found a resource that said it’s 350 calories for a kid’s portion.
  • Sweet Fire Chicken Breast is 440 calories – [12 Weight Watchers points plus] – Wowser – no wonder that fried and glazed piece of yumminess tastes so good. I couldn’t find the kid’s portion info at a quick glance
  • So, this is 26 points BEFORE adding a drink. That is more than my daily allowance for Weight Watchers points.
  • Let’s assume the kid’s meal is 1/2 of an adult meal (probably more like a 1/3 if you have ever ordered one) and if you order you are saving 13 daily points and you can “still be bad”
I prefer kid’s meals because of the smaller portions.
And, if you do want fast food, it’s doesn’t kill the waistline as much as a full size meal.
Oh yea, and they are cheaper too!
What tips do you have for quick meals that are healthy when you are in the car running errands or working?

 

Weight Watchers – Why I Chose Their “Diet”

   

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Weight Watchers

 

 

I HATE the word DIET. To me it screams how something is going to tell me what I can and cannot do. And, for those who personally know me…. know I like to be in control. I have tried several of these so called “diets” in the past and gave up on them. The lack of choices, blandness of food, etc. just made me feel like I was giving up too much for too little.

 

So for my journey, I am choosing the Weight Watchers ”lifestyle.”  I don’t think anyone will argue that a large majority of Americans overeat. We see what we like and we go for it. And then again for seconds!

weight watchers Weight Watchers   Why I Chose Their Diet

Photo Source: WeightWatchers.com

 

I love to eat – who doesn’t, right! So with the Weight Watchers lifestyle I can eat the foods I want just not as much of them. (Boy, do I sound like a commercial or what!) PORTION CONTROL – it’s that simple, unfortunately sometimes it’s not. Living in the land of buffets in Las Vegas, it is sometimes hard to go out to eat and maintain an amount of food that is reasonable for intake. (One tip our featured blogger who is joining next week shared was that when you go out to eat in a restaurant, order your meal AND a to go box and when your meal arrives, place half of it in the box for later. BRILLIANT!)

 

Restricting what I eat is why a fad diet has failed for me. I don’t want to cut carbs, fat, protein, calories, etc. – our bodies need them! Just not in the amount that most of us feed them to our bodies.

 

While I am not officially joining Weight Watchers like Kim U., I will be following the counting my points during the day to reach my goal of losing either 30 pounds or 6 clothing sizes.

 

Which diets have worked for you? Which have failed? Was there anything you could have done different that would have changed the outcome?

 

Weight Watchers

Saying Goodbye to My BFF

   

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flat stomach

Saying Goodbye to My BFF

 

You can tell if I have gained or lost weight by my tell tale sign – my face. My weight is carried there, oh… and in my belly and fanny. (Okay, I could have said butt but that would have messed up my BFF storyline.). Yep, these are my trouble area for excess body fat:

 

  • Belly
  • Face
  • Fanny

 

I have the thinnest legs and arms that never gain weight (or muscle) and everything else goes to my center section. My BFF is the first place the weight goes and the last place it leaves. I haven’t measured myself yet (been dreading seeing the results) but today I will buy a measuring tape so I can join Kim and Kim and put myself out there for everyone to see where I am and where I want to be.

 

So, come back this weekend to see what my numbers are and follow me as I get rid of my BFF.

 

Read the full article Mayo Clinic article on belly fat and the dangers

What’s behind belly fat
In addition, many women notice an increase in belly fat as they get older — even if they aren’t gaining weight. This is likely due to a decreasing level of estrogen, which appears to influence where fat is distributed in the body. The tendency to gain

flat stomach 300x300 Saying Goodbye to My BFFor carry weight around the waist — have an “apple” rather than a “pear” shape — can have a genetic component as well.Your weight is largely determined by how you balance the calories you eat with the energy you burn. If you eat too much and exercise too little, you’re likely to pack on excess pounds — including belly fat. However,

aging also plays a role. Muscle mass gradually diminishes with age, and fat accounts for a greater percentage of your weight. Less muscle mass also decreases the rate at which your body uses calories, which can make it more challenging to maintain a healthy weight or lose excess pounds.

 

Saying Goodbye to My BFF

Heat Sickness – How to Beat the Vegas Heat

   

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heat sick

How to Avoid Heat Sickness

 

I was going to write this yesterday but I was still sick from “my little stroll to the store.” I know better, we all know better.

 

 

We live in the Las Vegas Valley where temperatures consistently rise over 100 degrees during the summer. And because of this, we all should take extra steps to prevent a lot of issues that arise from exercising in sunny Las Vegas.

 

 

One of my other projects is a Las Vegas coupon blog and I am always visiting the store to get prices to match up to coupons for the blog. So yesterday I decided to walk from my home to Wal-Mart, which is only 2. 1 miles, and have my kids pick me up after school on their way home. I grabbed my pen and papers needed an headed to the store. That’s all I needed, right?!

 

WRONG! I judge the weather by whether or not I can walk outside and stand in the drive way with no shoes. Seriously, I do – even though it was 96 out yesterday (I looked once I returned home) it didn’t feel that hot.

 

Now, let me share something with you that hinders my ability to exercise at times. I DON’T SWEAT! Really, it takes a lot to make me sweat and because of that my body doesn’t cool like other and therefore I get heat sick very easy. On top of that — heat sickness is one of my migraine triggers. YEA ME!!!!

 

photo 2 745x994 Heat Sickness   How to Beat the Vegas Heat

Even though I knew better I talked myself out of the following would be okay:

  1. Sunglasses – it was VERY bright outside and I didn’t protect my eyes. This is one of the most overlooked items by those who exercise outside. My son, who trains for marathons and triathlons, swears by his Oakley sunglasses as his must have for outdoor training.
  2. Hydrate – Hydrate – Hydrate:  I didn’t drink anything all morning and I didn’t take anything with me. HUGE mistake. I knew it before I headed out but I didn’t want another thing to carry and convinced myself it’s only a few miles, I will be fine.
  3. Proper clothing: I headed out wearing jean and athletic shoes with no socks.
  4. Wrong time of day: Yes, I left the house at 12:50 PM – I gave myself 30 minutes to walk there in the heat of the day.

 

I didn’t make it to Wal-Mart — I stopped at McDonald’s and texted the kids to pick me up there. Once there I ordered a water and started chugging. I thought the cup was very ironic (and in my face) about hydrating.

 

It is so important to prepare for any exercise – we all know better but most of the time we don’t. Please don’t talk yourself out of proper stretching, hydrating, etc. – this will prevent sickness or injury that will only delay your progress.

 

As for me, I had my kick in the butt for the summer and it won’t happen again!

 

What are your top tips for working out in the heat?

 

 

How to Avoid Heat Sickness

How to Calculate Weight Watchers Points Allowed for the Day

   

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how to calculate weight watchers points

How to Calculate Weight Watchers Points

 

Ever wondered how to calculate how many points you get each day for counting points with Weight Watchers? There method takes in consider your sex (not the amount of), your start weight, height, age and activity level.

 

You need to establish a baseline for Weight Watchers points, which depends on your sex and, if female – whether or not you are nursing. Female = 2 points to start. and male = 8 points. (If you are nursing, start with 12 points.) Example: I am a woman so I start with 2 points.

 

Next, is based on age. If you are between 17 – 26 = 4,  27 – 37 = 3 points, 38 – 47 = 2, 48 – 57 = 1 and over 58 add 0 points. Example: I am 43 years old so I will add 2 points to my base for a total of 4 points.

 

how to calculate weight watchers points 300x298 How to Calculate Weight Watchers Points Allowed for the DayOh and the fun begins —- you have to weigh yourself for this one. Take the first 2 numbers of your weight. (You would add 16 if you weighed 167 pounds.) You also need to adjust for your height. If you are under 5′ you will add 0, between 5’0″ and 5’9″ you will add 1, and over 5’10″ add 2. Example: I weigh 167  pounds and I am 5’8″ so I will be adding 16 for my weight and 1 for my height. My total is now up to 21 points for the day.

 

And now the kicker – the reality of how much active we actually are throughout the day — YIKES! If you are not active throughout the day then add 0 to your total. If you are occasionally sitting but mostly standing add 2 points. If you are walking most of the time throughout the day, add 4 points. And, if you do physically difficult work, add 6 points. Example: I am a blogger most of my time and sit at desk so I don’t get any points for my activity level.

 

So,  I only get 21 Weight Watchers points each day for all my meals and snacks.

 

On Wednesday I will be hitting the store to buy all my fresh fruits and veggies. Why Wednesday? Because Wednesday and Thursday are some of the best days to buy produce cheaper. I price match all my produce at Wal-Mart from over 30 stores in the Valley. I use my price match to view all the prices and buy everything at one store. By doing this, I save over 50%+ on all my fresh produce.

 

How to Calculate Weight Watchers Points

 

pixel How to Calculate Weight Watchers Points Allowed for the Day
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