Category Archives: Fitness Fridays

Cooking, Fitness Fridays, Product Reviews

NutriBullet Review and Ice Pop Recipe

10 Comments

strawberry ice popsI was so excited when I received the NutriBullet to review.The idea of a smoothies as a meal has always been a good idea but a lot of work with a traditional blender.  I have been using the Nutri Bullet NBR-12 12-Piece Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer System
for a few weeks.  I really love how smoothly the Nutribullet blends the ingredients, with less clean up. The Nutribullet has so many uses in my kitchen, from a apple,kale, and avocado smoothies or blending oats fine to be part of a meat loaf. I keep finding new ways every day to use it.  The Nutribullet keeps all the nutritional value of the food so I can add or blend it in my families food. nutribullet

NutriBullet comes with 2 different blades one that keep the food in pieces and one that purees.  I find that I am finding uses for both on a daily basis. They nutribullet system comes with 3 different cups,  so I can make many different shakes for my family in the morning to everyone in the house. Also since all the parts are easy clean and dishwasher safe it is a breeze to use.  I am leaving the Nutribullet out on the counter since take up little space and get used so often.

Since I started using the Nutribullet I noticed that I have had an easier time maintaining my weight.   Actually I have been noticing a lower weight than normal.   So I am excited to see the long term results (I will keep you posted)

I have been replacing one meal a day with the Nutribullet smoothies and really feel better.  I have been following the smoothie recipe book that was included with the NutriBullet System.  I also like  creating my own treats for the family.  Like these all natural fruit pops.

nutribullet making a ice popNutriBullet Strawberry Banana Ice Pops

  • 2 bananas
  • 5 strawberries
  • 1 cup of milk
  1. Blend using double Nutribullet blade
  2. pour in to molds
  3. freeze for 4 hours , enjoy

kids eating an ice pop

Overall Opinion:  The NutriBullet is a great blender/smoothie maker.  The600rpm  power of this product is amazing it is fast and efficient.  The cost is over $100,  I think the unit is worth the price because of how finely and smooth it makes the food it process.  Which make tougher greens palatable and enjoyable therefore being healthy.  I am really impress with the Nutribullet. I did have a friends Dad tell me all about the NutriBullet prior to me reviewing it.  He said it changed his life,  making him healther so I had high expectation going into the review.  I have to say the Nutribullet did not disappoint. I would recommend the Nutribullet.

Disclosure: I received the Nutribullet  to review,  this review is of my own opinion,  This post does contain affiliate links.

Fitness Fridays, LIfe

Weight Loss 52 weeks Later

16 Comments

fitbit Weight loss.. Yea back to the grind.  No, it is not the New Year that gets me back on track.  It is the end of my businesses busy season that pulls me off healthy track:  because I have to ship and play Santa, because I go in survival mode.  Many people would say you have to remember yourself when stress levels get high.   Yea, I am not good at that, so for about a month and half all that matter is getting my orders shipped.  During this time I work had and try to be a super human.

The good news this year is I did not gain over the holidays because I work and forget to eat.  I force my self to work and reward my self with an apple or cup of tea.  I was also sick cold or flu for a week so I just drank water and tea.  I did partake over the holidays but not that much as usual.

Started walking  with my good friend Hilary again. So I am back on track we went walking on Friday and today.  I am already hitting 10K steps a day.

I also been using the FitBit to track my progress.  My weigh myself on the Fitbit Aria scale is a big help because it syncs with my fitbit.  The Fitbit is a interactive pedometer that syncs with your computer it tracks  your steps, stairs,burn rate, activity rate, and more.   How about your sleep pattern fitbit will track yours.  The fitbit clips to your bra, waistband and they even have a new bracelet.  The Fitbit interface will offer remind via text or email you how many steps you have to do to reach a goal. You can also link up the fitbit with social media.  I love it it keeps we going through out the day.  You’re just steps away from better fitness.

I am really looking forward to getting back to being active.

One year ago today  I weight 276  today 258.6-    19.4lb lost in the last year

Good Health to you in the new year!

I am linking up with Barb Hoyer’s Motivation Monday post at Abalancedlife.net .

(this post contains affiliate links)

 

Try Fitbit now.

Cooking, Fitness Fridays

Beverage with a holiday kick!

1 Comment

fruit in a glassSo I was at a my best friends wedding. I noticed that her dad looked fantastic,  I asked Frank what he was doing.  He sat me down and told me all about his NutriBullet.  He was making a cold gazpacho soup. He drank it every day.  Frank is a diabetic like me,  so I was wondering how his sugars are,  he said they are great.  Frank  is hoping to be off of his meds soon.  I was impressed,  he swore by the NutriBullet.   So because of Frank I have become interested in the smoothy crazy and what it can do for me.

So I recently received some information from Nutribullet,  about some holiday Ideas.  So I would like to share them with you:

Sniffle Snatcher

A tasty combination of vitamin C-rich ingredients, cayenne to reduce congestion, and rosemary to reduce inflammation and soothe a sore throat.

Ingredients:

1 cup kale

1 carrot

1 pear (cored and seeds removed)

1/2 cup cubed pineapple

Dash of cayenne pepper

Dash of fresh rosemary

Preparation: Add water to the max line of the large cup, and blast.

 

Sweet Apple Pumpkin Pie

An antioxidant-rich, protein-packed healthy dessert option so you can enjoy the flavors of the season guilt-free.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup organic silken tofu or organic Greek-style yogurt

1/2 cup canned pumpkin or cooked fresh pumpkin

1/2 apple (cut, cored, and seeds removed)

1 tablespoon raw almond butter

Pinch of cinnamon

Pinch of ground cloves

1-2 teaspoons pure maple syrup

1 cup almond milk

Preparation: Add ingredients to large cup and blast.

 

Flu Fighter

Vitamin C, antioxidants, and anti-bacterial ginger help keep the immune system at its peak during the winter months.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup spinach

1/2 cup Swiss chard

1/4 cup parsley

1 kiwi (peeled)

1/2 lime (peeled)

1 banana (peeled)

1/2 bell pepper (seeds and stem removed)

1 inch fresh ginger root (peeled)

 

Preparation: Add water to the max line of the large cup and blast.

 

Cranbanana Blast

Filled with heart-healthy nutrients and anti-viral properties, cranberries blend well with bananas and dates for a tart-sweet treat.

Ingredients:

1 cup spinach

1 ripe banana (peeled)

1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

2 dates

Preparation: Add water or almond milk to the max line of the large cup and blast.

 

Sweet Potato Pick-Me-Up

Complex carbs from the sweet potato will provide sustained energy, and cinnamon keeps blood sugar balanced.

Ingredients:

1/2 cooked sweet potato (skin on)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch cinnamon

Pinch nutmeg

1 cup ice cubes

Preparation: Add almond or coconut milk to the max line of the large cup and blast.


I do not own a NutriBullet yet,  but I hope there is one in my future with the holidays.. hint hint..

Do you juice, smoothy,  what is your favorite combo?

 

Fashion, Fitness Fridays

Fashion Motivation #FitnessFriday

1 Comment

So this past week I was busy to say the least. As you know I did Blogher in NYC. Food well there was not a ton but Hillary and I manged to get one good meal a day.  Not a smart more for me because I am a type 2 diabetic.  But I survived.  I walked every where so in the 3 days I walked 20,000+ steps and walked  30 flights of stairs  according to my fitbit.

Good News : 

I am 260 again.. so glad the number is back.  Now I have to eat health and avoid skipping meals. 

I personally had a great Night last night. I went into the Gap and bought a Dress and a Jacket.  Granted it was a XXL but and XXL at the gap is different that an XXL at a plus size store.   It is a little short, but as usually I will rocket for the event I am wearing it to (power of positive thought) .   Also I went to the LandsEnd  event last week I tried on  a Lands End dress that was a 1XL and it totally fit and I got a color not just black-  hello electric blue!! Yea Me.  The clothes alone are going to keep me on track.

Tip: Buy the clothes for the size that you are don’t wait till you are smaller one outfit will be all the push you need to keep going.

The best news of the week is that my husband who has had a hard time with his Psoriasis and Psoriatic  arthritis,  has joined a gym.  I am so happy for him the movement will do him wonders.  He walked 1/2 mile which is wonderful.   He has  agreed to a challenge with me.. more to come on that in the follow weeks.


Fitness Fridays

Fitness Friday- Random

12 Comments

little girl swimmingSo this week has been tough.  I have been eating better and I am happy about that.  Stress is a factor.  I find that when I should be moving when I am stresses I sit and contemplate what I am stresses about.

Preface to this post.. this is written at 2 am when I could not sleep.

Not really the best idea when trying to get healthy. I know, I worry, I will fall in to my old habits. (yea I am there)

I like to write , that is why I have a blog.  I hope someone reads the words I take the time to put in cyber space. BUT writing is a sedimentary action.  So is watching TV something I like to do.  I need a treadmill with like dragon soft wear so I can dictate my posts.

Seriously.. I am physically lazy person.. when it come to fitness.

Argh!!!  I cant seem to get it out of my head. .. so I am putting it out here for you all to read.

Here is the break down…

My Stress: My husband took a job in Scranton.. we though we were going to move.  After being at the job for 2+ months he decided it was not the best move we could make for our family so he has returned home.  Aka no job again.. but I am happy to have him home.

The Truth : While he was away I found it difficult to get out and move.  The kids were home and it was hot..Swim team, work, ect..  I know excuses.

Another Truth: I also did not cook much, we ate out or did very quick meals. I love to cook.

My Future: Now that he is home he said he is going to walk with me.. we are starting around the block. He does not walk much because of his psoriasis .

My Other Future: There will also be eating healthy.

Next week I will be at Blogher 12- it is a blogging conference NYC Yea spend time with other bloggers .. I will try to be smart and healthy (at least I will be walking)

My promise: is I will try to be better the rest of the summer.. running or walking from telephone pole to telephone pole around the block. Back to basic 101.

weight 263

The reason I picked this photo was because of my daughter she started 1 month ago swimming breast stroke 25meters at 1 min 14 seconds.. this week she did the same race in 37.5 seconds. Hard work pays off I have to learn from my kids they have something to teach.


Fitness Fridays

Killer Hill and Fitness Friday

14 Comments

This past week I went camping and I actually got up and walk 4 miles at 6:00 in the morning.  Then it was so hot I stood around in a jog bra and compression shorts for 2 hours.  In front of all my friends at church who were camping with me.  You know what I did not care.  I was hot and figured I would be near them in my swim suit at the pool so what is the difference.

The walk was a mile up a mild incline only to walk a mile down hill.  My goal was to see this old stone house and take pictures.  I dragged a boy from the church that was up early with me .. he thought we were walking to paint ball place.. I told him we were walking to the stone house,  he soon learn he miss hear me.

So we got to the house.. it hurt to walk a mile down hill.   Check out the house.stone building

Then we returned a mile up the steep hill.. the burn was crazy. The preteen haggled and pushed me verbally up the him when mid way I want to stop.   I kept say “See you don’t know what you got your self into agreeing to a walk with Mrs. Aikens”.  He was great lying to me that we were almost there.  At one point he looked behind me and saw this..

So worth the hill.

Thanks to AJ for getting me up the hill – 6 months ago I would have not made it.

Pick up for your camera and go for a walk.

Steady weight loss at 265.

How are you doing ?

Fitness Fridays, Parenting

Fitness Friday

4 Comments

The last few weeks I have not done a Fitness Friday post.  The reason I was on vacation.  So the accountability I normally get from the blog was not there.  I was down the shore with my In-laws.  They are major sweet eaters. There was actually $180 worth of candy purchased for the trip.

It was tough. They also had 5 dozen cookies.. yea the kind that you buy when you go to the fancy coffee shops that are about $3 each. It was so over the top in the sweet department.   See me having a tough time with all that …you bet ya.. We were talking major will power.

My MIL told me that my son asked every time he wanted something. I was happy because he was somewhat conscious of what he was eating.  I guess my family is buying my program.

So how did I do?  I only ate one cookie all week, and once the M&M were gone I was fine.  It was the Ice Cream 5 times over the course of the week.  I also found out I really love lobster bisque. I did choose salad as an option for dinner and stop myself at one slice of pizza.  So it was not as bad as it could have been.

I really should have read my Friends Trinas advice at OboyOrganics Healthy Vacation Snacks Post .  It might have helped this week.

I walk a fair amount not my normally 10K steps.. well I might off I was changing for bathing suit to clothes and I forgot to put my Fit Bit on.

I maintained my weight at 266.

This week I vow to walk more eat less.  I have been walking the kids to swim team in the morning and heading to the pool more, the end of the week camping (with a lot of hills)

Howe have you been doing since the summer heat is here?

Fitness Fridays, LIfe

Diet Down Falls So I ate it all #fitnessfriday

This past week I was away went to a conference.  I thing it was great for me to grow but bad for my waist line. I did not blog last wee which just made things worse.  And down comes the spiral.  I ate a lot of carbs and sugar this week 2 things that will mess with my diabetes.

Exercise/food:

Sunday- I drove 9 hours to NC left at 2am arrived at noon.  And I ate.. I needed to stay awake.. i started healthy celrey and peanut butter .. then I need to open another peanut butter.. start of the spiral

Monday got up and ralk/ran on treadmill for 1/2  ate large bagel, lunch burger loaded, onion rings and shake.. dinner pizza and order of bread sticks

Tues: bagel, country fried steak, hash brown casserole and biscuits and gravy, crappy food in the car

Wed: cheese cake factory, skinny tacos , and calamari

Thus: walked 8000 steps with Hillary,. Chilipolte

Friday: walked  3000 steps, ate 1 pancake, salad, and pretzel bites w/ cheese.

 

So I gained 267 …

I am disappointed I hated falling off the wagon and can feel the extra weight in my waist.   I know I will get back on track. Focus and get good sleep and I should be good.

I know this is not the great est post but I figured I have to be honest and try to get back on track.


Fitness Fridays

Turning 41 and Numbers don’t Lie #FitnessFriday

10 Comments

So this week I turned 41. Yea I love my 40’s. I think being 40 is about celebrating you..Glitter and Sparkles.. being your true self the diamond you were meant to be.   You are smarter, wiser and experience more than in your  20’s. The thing is mind which is at the height of confidence and knowledge does not have the body to match.  Your body is older and more stubborn.

It is harder to get and stay fit  after 40.  I know people always told me until to you get there you don’t understand.  So heed my warning if you are unhealthy get fit before you are 40’. The weight I lost in the past came off much easier when I was under 40, or even under 30.

So this week in honor of my birthday I celebrated, not the smartest move (it was a perfect day).

Saturday we when to downtown Philadelphia.  My husband was home and I always wanted to eat at Village Whiskey which was on Food Networks “Best Thing I ever ate”- ready to drool

  • Burger- Beef patty (at least 1 ¼ meat) , bourbon onions, cheese, lettuce, tomato, thick apple-wood bacon, roll  oh yea Duck confit (duck leg fat)
  • Fries- cooked in Duck Fat, covered in Cheese sauce and Braised short rib on top
  • We must not forget the Tatar Tots and fried Pickles I ate off my daughters plate.

(I am sorry no pictures I was so excited to eat it I forgot the Food “dirty pictures” (I would say the other word but worried I will get ban by Google))

I should have had the burger minus the meat, bread, bacon, and duck confit –  Because seriously the onions were to die for.. so going to try to make them this weekend- with a salad and 5-10 duck fat fries (the fries is why I went in the 1st place)

Then I my birthday, went out with the girls Hillary and Liz  (after a walk) an impromptu lunch.  I had crab dip (yea the bowl), salad, and Cheese Cake Factory Peanut butter Cup cheese cake-  which I did take home and proceeded to finish over the few days.CheeseCake Factory

My exercise in hopes to head the food off at the pass:

  • Saturday-walked 7451 down town..then I ate
  • Sunday-walked 3067-  that day sucked still celebrating
  • Monday-walked 10,280 which is 5.5 miles
  • Tuesday-walked 11,500 steps  which is 6.16 miles
  • Wednesday-walked 10,358 which is  5.54 miles
  • Thursday- walked 12,935  which is  6.91miles

So back to my bargaining and playing games with myself.. yea bargain and games do not work I of coursed gained back 4 lb 264. I did log everything I ate and was honest.  Also looking at the fitbit log I can see that I was more active the week before in less days. I love the Fitbit it really is great at looking at the big picture.

Good News!!!

Here is the thing I know I am changing so this week I decided to revisit my measurements as a boost to keep me going:

4/24/2012  5/24/2012
hips 54 52.75 1.25
waist 45 42.25 2.75
breast top 45 44.75 0.25
breast under (the boobs) 41 40.5 0.5
thigh 6″ above knee 25 24.5 0.5
calf 6″ below knee 17.75 17.5 0.25
lower arm 10.5 10 0.5
upper arm 14.625 14 0.625
neck 15.25 15.25 0
total inches lost 6.625

Yea 6 5/8 ”  inches –  in a month and they don’t lie.

So I will continue, next week more salads less duck fat.

This is the last day to enter my self hosted Giveaway to win $50 gift certicate to Dicks Sport or Juniona.com–  I want you to look better feel better in the size you are in.



You’re just steps away from better fitness.

Try Fitbit now.

Wikipedia: Fitbit Inc. is a company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States. →

Fitness Fridays

Balance and Sweet Spot #fitnessFriday Linky

19 Comments

fitness and diet This weeks diet fitness healthy life style journey I feel like things are finally going in the right direction.  I am losing and finding the right workout food  balance.   I would like to say it was my brilliance but it is the fact I am wearing a pedometer and logging my food back to basics.  So for weeks I have been saying how I was concerned my body was not loosing because of the calorie intake vs.  how much I was working out.

This we it changed,  I kept a food log and subtracted it from the activity.  How.  My awesome  friend /walking buddy Hillary has been telling me for weeks about the FitBit and then I won won from Leah at Mamavation.  So I started using it.  Oh my the gates have opened i was not eating enough.  I am a big girl.  I need to eat about 2600 calories.. I was eating about 1500. and working out 3500 yea.. not good.

I took the bite-it then write it approach .  I tracked everything on Fitbit’s on-line tracker and it told me when I was in the sweet spot for food with the activity I was doing.  Water, food, activity  so funny it is Technology that is helping me loose weight.

  • Sunday-Walked run 2 1/2 miles
  • Monday walked prior to fitbit
  • Tues walked 15,000 steps
  • Wed walked 16,000 steps
  • Thurs walked 7,000 steps
  • Friday-  today I am going to the zoo

The results 259 (down 5 lb in one week)  Started at 271 in January

I finally broke 10lb-  I could see changes in my body but not on the scale.

(insert Happy Dance)

I feel like my persistence will prevail… I can do this.

Dont forget to enter win a $50 gift card to look better when you work out. ends 5/26

How are you doing?


 
You’re just steps away from better fitness.

Try Fitbit now.