Cooking

Healthy Flat bread pizza

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healthy pizzaQuick and low in calories  flat bread pizza great for my diet when I am craving the Cheesy pizza.  I found Flat-out bread at Target it was on sale this week.  Normally 3.69 for 6 breads, it was on sale for $1.99.  So I decided to give it a try.  I was not disappointed very tasty and moist. The best part only 100 calories per slice- 6 grams of fiber.

Veggie & meat flat bread pizza

  • 1 flat out bread
  • 1 small onion
  • sliced fresh or canned of unsalted diced tomatoes
  • roasted garlic cloves (cut top off clove and roast in the oven for 1 hour a head of time, can store in bulb wrapped in tin foil)
  • 6 zucchini slices
  • 1 thin slice of ham
  • 1 teaspoon of real bacon bits.
  • 3 tbl of cheese

Place on a baking sheet, layer and cook for 10-15 minutes

serve with a nice salad yummy.

flat bread

 

 

Product Reviews

Review of the Zing Air Storm products

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Recently I was asked to review the air storm collection of products. We my son and I review 3 different products.  Air storm Cross Bow z-x, Storm z-curve Bow, and the Zing Shot launcher.  All the toys were fun and very reasonably priced.

Check out my sons video of him using all 3 products:

Air storm Cross Bow z-x Retail Price 19.99 ages 8+kids cross bow

Air Storm z-curve Bow:  Retail Price 19.99 ages 8+kids curved bow

Zing Shot launcher”  Retail Price 9.99 ages 8+kids sling shot

This was a fun video to film because the kids were having such a great time with these safety minded toys. The ball and darts are soft.  My son and daughter love playing with them.  I would recommend these for a gift for any child.

Disclosure:  I received these products to try out from Zing Toys brand rep.  The opinions in this post are all of my own and my children.

 

Fashion, Fitness Fridays, Giveaways

Tips for Work Out Confidence & $50 gift card giveaway

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Dressing for your current size.  This past week I was able to attend a Fitness Magazine Meet and Tweet event in NYC.  It was a fun a event with great opportunities to learn about fitness and healthy living.   Oh yea did you happen to notice the picture above.. Yes that is me towering over the greatest female soccer player of all time!  MIA HAMM ..omg.  Check out my post /video tomorrow on the entire event.

There was a Fitness Fashion Show,  then style editor from Fitness Argy Koutsothanasis provided  2 of  my favorite tips:

  • Best Accessory is confidence it looks good on anyone (this  is the same thing I was saying last week in the confidence post)
  • Dress for your current size,  if you read my post last week you will realize I thing it is import to be comfortable in your skin no matter what size you are

Prior to going  to NYC, I went and purchased some clothes for this event.  The reason I think clothes that fit properly are important and they are an instant boost yourself confidence.  Don’t wait till you are a size 8 when you are a size 16  from a 22.  A great outfit will make you feel empowered no mater what size. .

That includes when you workout,  when you go to the gym and see the “smaller” women looking good. So you think.. “she is just showing off her rocking body (bitch)”.. well I say “yea for her!”  She worked hard to have that body. she could have been where you are right now.

I  might not be tiny.  I want to celebrate what I have accomplished this so far.  Now,  I am not saying it is not OK to wear your husband’s tee and sweat pants.  But If I need a pick me up I get dressed up in clothes that make me look great!

Look at the difference wearing clothes that promote the FRUMP.

Wearing an outfit that fits,  I can stand tall with, Buy clothes for the size you currently are.

This week fitness:

  • Monday in NYC and walked, 2week challenges
  • Tues Home got 10K steps in 2week challenges
  • Wed NYC for the fitness blogger 2week challenges
  • Thurs  I worked and rested (I feel like I was majorly slacking)
  • Friday walked 2week challenges

This weeks Food:

After last confidence  post and everyone supporting me with such great comments, over 400 people view in 1 day.  I ended going to my inlaws and let the weekend of buffets begin- lets try 5 over the course of the weekend.  I stuck to the green and fish items,  stayed away from sauces(but I did eat more than I should).  It was like I know I should not be eating this,  but I did good this week I inspired people  (and we are back ay my Weightloss Games, which I realized Sunday evening.)   The rest of the week I did well.  Needless to say with my slow down in activity and food I think they balanced them out.  So no loss or gain.  I feel like the little engine that could with a few trips to the bathroom, snackbar, and snooze on the couch.

Next weeks Goals:  for next week Write down everything I eat, and move more.

I will carry on.. one telephone pole to one telephone pole.. it starts with a step , so I am going to continue. Thank for giving me the drive to continue.

I got this!

Giveaway:

So I want you to look great and feel better while working out:  I am offering self sponsored  giveaway for your choice  one $50 Dicks Sporting goods or $50 for Junonia.com  (which is a plus size active wear company) I self sponsored the giveaway,  that is how important I think it is for you to look and feel better.

The mandatory entry is to leave a comment below answering he following question: Then leave that you entered a comment in the rafflecopter form. Additional entries can be earned by tweeting, liking, sharing and subscribing. tweet daily

“What type of clothing you would buy to help post your self esteem?”

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Also Linking this post with Musing of a housewife FashionFriday Post

 

Cooking

Ideas to Help You Drink More Water

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Water as I diet and get healthy, water has been vital to making my weight loss quest successful.  So I have been developing new ways to flavor water. DIY flavor water.  My kids also could not wait to try the DIY flavored water as well.

Here are some homemade flavored water ideas.

  • Melon
  • Strawberries with lemons
  • Mint
  • Cucumbers (try mixing with melon)
  • Apples
  • Peaches
  • Berries
  • Bell of Hot pepper/with red pepper flakes
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Cilantro or basil with cherry tomatoes
  • A drop of hot sauce

Try these flavors with your water, it will add a fancy fun element to the same old, plain everyday water.

  • chill the water in the fridge
  • then add ice before serving

wow guest by having a pretty way to serve flavored water in vintage glasses and pitches.

**Also freeze ice cubes with flavors inside

Fitness Fridays

Confidence & Goals #FitnessFriday

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This past week, I did  not win  the Mamavation Mom contest.  I was surprise how many people expected me to  be upset about not winning, or that I was not going to continue getting healthy because of the loss. The thing is that is not me, anyone who knows me,  knows that once I get something in my head, I proceed. I really don’t like people telling  me I cant do something.  I lost simply because I did not have enough votes, really it is all good.

In my life I have lost probably about 100+ pounds.  I am not a serial dieter.  Actually, I have only every dieted 3 times in my life (sophomore in college, before I got married, and when I did the 3 day breast cancer walk). The reason is I am NOT unhappy if I am plus size. I  know that is a statement  that would bother “some” people.  Because most people think if you are overweight… “you must be unhappy”.  Nope not me..My body size does not affect my confidence level,  I am confident regardless of my size.

Also I do think that.. I am a beautiful women, and I accept it as a truth in my life, it just makes everything easier.  I have seen women struggle with self-esteem,  telling me they “Feel like the only thing they control in their life is there weight”.   I think that is sad, that someone told you it looks are that important,  want to shake them saying “You can be and do anything!”    I think everyone is beautiful… you just have to believe it.  I happen to love the fact that I am tall, I have long legs, great nose,  and my breast are small, it makes me look smaller than I appear.

I am actually pretty good at losing the first 30 pounds.   By my experience, most fat people are very good at losing weight the problem is the long term keeping it off  through portion control  and inactivity.  So why am I overweight it is simple; I love to eat, love to sit,watch TV and I have a husband that thinks I am sexy no mater what size I am (lets face it I would not be with him if he said otherwise.)

So why NOW, do I want to get healthy?   If you watched my mamavation application video.. it is because of my health and lack of good health care. So things have to change so I can grow old with my husband and be there to see my grandkids.

Yes,  I will have  struggles at  losing weight, get frustrated,  tired and don’t want to do be good.. but I am hoping my better head will prevail.

GOALS So I decided this week I want to set fun goals to strive for in the next year.  Things that I wanted to do once I get in a healthier place weight-wise.

  1. I want to have a picture taken by PinUp Photographer Celeste Giuliano.  I love the look of a 1950 pin up girl.  I just think it would be really fun to do.   Check out some of her work, they are inspiring to me. Yes I could do the picture now .. but it is a goal.
  4. I want to wear point heels- reason when you are big you feel hurt in high heels
  5. I want to shop in regular stores being a size 12 would be nice,  the clothes are better.  I don’t think I will every be a size 6 or 8 (height thing.. and Cindy Crawford she is I think a 12)
  6. Airplane seat.. I want to sit with room on both sides in an airline seat.
  7. I want to buy a bicycle where my height is the biggest reason it need to be custom and not my weight.
  8. I want to water ski and get up ( I got up once in high school)
  9. I want to own a Vintage 50’s dress. The cool kind like you would wear to a party at the club. There is a local store called retro vintage.. I want to shop there.
  10. I want to learn how to ride a motorcycle
  11. I want to ride a horse again and not feel like I am hurting the animal
  12. I want to amusement ride were I am under the max weight (Like the Sky Bike at the Franklin Institute)
  13. I want to run a 5 k completely (no walking)

So this week was a great week:

  • Monday walked with the kids and did exercises with mamavation
  • Tues walked 10k steps at mall.  Then ran with Fleet Feet North Whales, and did mamavation #2weekchallenge
  • Wed Ran around the block walked walked 10k steps at mall.  Then ran with Fleet Feet North Whales, and did mamavation #2weekchallenge
  •  Thurs: walked with kids and did mamavation #2weekchallenge
  • Friday walk with kids and did mamavation #2weekchallenge

Food: I have been eating healthy for the past 2 week.  I need to make sure I am eating enough.  I need to talk to a nutritionist

Weight loss 263  -1   (started at 271)

Question of the week!  So what do you love about yourself? or What is a fun goal you want to accomplish?

Fitness Fridays

My two worlds comming together! Support & Mamavation

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SUPPORT What does that  mean for me ?  The past week  I have learned that I am getting support from all sorts of different places.  As you might know I am a finalist for the Mamavation Mom Campaign.  Voting has been going on the past week. If you want vote go here.  My family and friends have been voting/sharing with their friends.  My Aunts and uncles have been talking with their friends and voting.  My Sister-in-law who never reads bloggs got my mother online to vote.   A friend from church Kara asked her entire running train group to vote for me this past week.  I love how my offline community has gotten on line to show support emailing their friends and ask there groups to vote for me.   Thank you!

In the past year ..I have heard of talk about online friends not being “real” friends which I think is BS. Many of my online friends have become offline friends through conferences, and other events.   But what about the friends you have never met face to face.

I tweeted on a Saturday night my daughter go sick 11pm at night.  I had twitter friends who showed concern when it happened and some followed up with me on her health for the next few days.  I don’t think I told my parents about her getting sick.. but because I share parts of my life on twitter in real time my tweeps (twitter friends) are there and supporting.  Then many went on to share my Mamavation tweets.

Here are some thank you to my online tweeps for there support this last week.

My lovely friend Lori of Miss Ruby Sue put up a giveaway post for me on her site for a lovely handmade  doll.   Lori and I met on line a few years ago when we are on Good Morning America together.  Lori is for a different world from me she is Idaho and is a Mormon , 2 things I am not,  we talk for hours and it is like a breath of fresh air when I talk to her.  I adore her,  she is a wonderful sounding board and fabulous  lady.

The regular commenters on my Fitness Friday post Barb, Stephanie, Diane, Hillary, and Jo-Lynne  know that they will be reading my fitness Friday post every week has kept me going. I know that they will be there  every week reading and linking up to my posts.   Thanks girl for keeping me going since January.  Something can be said about online accountability

CecilyK a great friend who asked her followers  to vote for ma as a birthday wish. Cecily originally an online friends has turned in to an amazing off line friend and a voice of reason in my life and I love her for that.

Last Monday while sitting on a train coming back from NYC, I was overwhelmed by the online support for my trek to be the Mamavation mom.  Most of my online friend who have step up to the plate and ask there fans/flowers to vote for me.  Moved to tears of happiness I was reading the comments and well wishes of my friends.  I am truly honored by your support.

So to those who say that who you meet online is not real.  It is just a means to start a relationship.  For me those relationships are supportive and nurturing.   So do I think linking up with a group online will work for me to loose weight.  You betcha.. long as I am honest.  Because my support will be watching me as I go.

I hope I win tonight to be one of the Mamavation Moms for Campaign 12.  If I don’t’ I will continue for every person who voted for me, shared my story, and talk to a friend in my behalf.

 

So how did I do this week.

I went from 267 (last week it was from 267-265)  to

263  (down a firm 4)

I am finally eating better and seeing results.  It must be from keep the food journal on line.

This post is part of the mamavation monday link up

UPDATE: I did not win the #MamavationMom contest @weightsover and @lilacmomma did the ladies are going to be awesome! Good Luck to them!

Parenting

Now I need your help! VOTE for ME!!!

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Dear Readers!! ,

All I made the finals for  #Mamavation Mom ! It is a mom fitness blog,  that is dedicated to help moms change the direction of there families to make better healthier choices.  A #mamavation Mom is someone who publicly is chosen to go through a weight/fitness bootcamp for 7 weeks.  They set me up with a trainer and dietitian and I blog about the challenges.  I really want to be one of the wining moms to be put in a fitness boot camp.

Vote for me so I can get thin!!

It is a click (no sign up)  next to the box marked BABYPOP and means so much to me.

http://www.mamavation.com/2012/04/meet-the-mamavation-finalists-vote-now.html

VOTE for BABYPOP!!!

If you can share it with your friends ..

Voting ends April 30th.

Thanks so much for helping me and my family,
Sherry
and the Aikens Clan

Fitness Fridays, Parenting

Mamavation Monday- Changing a Family

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This past week has been interesting. I have been eating way better and have increased my running. But I also gained some help not only from the mamavation team….  My son age 11 has committed himself to me.  He is a competitive swimmer,  something that I have always encouraged because with health issues that run in our family diabetes  and  psoriatic arthritis .One of my biggest gifts to give him is a love of Physical activity of a life long sport like swimming.  Right now,  he is taking a beak from his beloved sport for spring after 3 year straight of swimming (he normally swims over 100 laps a night).  Telling me “Mom I want to swim this summer and back in the fall because I want the 5 year plaque.” (swimming will continue)

My son is a great trainer pushing me and  he wants to walk/run with me.  It is a challenge for him also even though he does dry land with swimming, they run around the track once.  So my son is jogging with me around the block.. which this week is the big block 2 + miles.  We do a run walk combo.  He also told me he wants to do the 5K with me in June.

But the biggest surprise came last night.  My husband was joking with my son and asked him if he wanted to walk home. He said yes,  I joined him we walked 3 + miles home from the restaurant.  We left while my daughter was in the restroom.  Once I returned home my husband told me  our daughter age 7 was very upset.  Basically she threw down at the restaurant because she wanted to walk with us.

I said to my husbands “She would have never made it,  She was exhausted”  he agreed..but she was not having any of that..

She cried  “I wanted to go”

She has been asking since I started. running, But I thought it was too far for her little legs.

She then told me “Mommy I have been training at school.  I walk every second recess around the big circle (large playground) .. since you started running in the winter.”

Crush my heart she has been running since January.. she never told me.  She just kept saying she could do it.  I walk/run in the morning while they are at school normally, so I never gave it a thought.  She wants to do what I do and be with me. Bless her heart and I will be a better Mom.

The little voices in my life needed to be heard.. and my new good habits are rubbing off.

I am getting a great sense of clarity on what is import. I am loving the quality time with my son (soon with my daughter) I am getting on these walks.  They are eating better already!!

Physical activity:

  • Monday 16th- walked and did Mamavation hazing
  • Tuesday 17th -walked/ran 1.5 miles with club and did the hazing
  • Wednesday 18th- walked/ran 2 miles did hazing
  • Thursday 19th- walked/ran 2 miles did both hazings
  • Friday 20th walked/ran 2 miles did both hazings
  • Saturday 21st walked/ran with club 1.75 miles, walked 2 miles at zoo, walked 3 miles  home from restaurant did hazing and took two ibuprofen, fell asleep with my daughter.

Food:

I got better with my food middle to the end of the week. I am taking the process seriously. It is very grueling to be the next Mamavation Mom.   Wish me luck I hope I am chosen to be a finalist announced tomorrow night.

weight  269-267

Feeling- Great more energy and know everything is fitting better

I am a Finalist… Please vote for me BABYPOP!!

Update: 4/30- I did not win Mamavation Mom  but I will still continue the battle for a healthy life.