Happy Halloween

There is nothing healthy about Halloween.  It is centered around candy.  Lots and lots of candy!  Here's my suggestion for keeping your weight and health in check around this holiday.

1-Don't buy your favorite candy to give away.  Buy the candy you don't love and have to have.  It will save you from raiding your candy stash before the trick or treaters come.

2-One of the good things about Halloween is that most of the candy is already portion controlled for you.  Enjoy one 'fun size' candy bar for dessert or a mid day treat.  But only one!

3-Buy your candy only a week or two before the holiday and try to keep that bag unopened as long as possible.  Out of sight, out of mind! 

4-Give it away.  As the night comes to a close, start handing out a hand full of candy instead of two or three.  The less candy left at the end of the night, the better. 

5-If you are stuck with candy from your own kids or leftover from trick or treating, send it to work with your husband, boyfriend or take it in yourself.  Do you know a teenager that is too old to trick or treat?  I bet they will happily take it off your hands.

Happy Halloween!

Tuesday Tip-A wise splurge is a good splurge

If you're following along, you have been scheduling your workouts, stretching and tracking your progress.  Whew, I think its time for a break.  I love splurge days.  who wouldn't?!  I've blogged here and there about them before.  My Tuesday Tip is to plan your splurge and make it worth your while.  No one wants to waste a splurge day on that pint of ice cream in the freezer.  Plan a night to eat out.  You can order dessert if you have  healthy meal.  My idea of a splurge is to either bake something here at home or stop at a local bakery for a cupcake.  Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes from Touchet's Touche' are my favorite and a rare treat these days. 

Mommy Monday-Sandy you little.....

We are waiting out Hurricane Sandy here at home in MD.  My amazing husband was off today so, I snuck off the the gym this morning before things got too bad.  I wasn't comfortable taking the baby out in the heavy rains.  The storm is coming in strong now and I doubt we'll have power much longer.  Hopefully the hotel reservations we have on standby will have power or a generator.  Wish us luck.

This picture is from Wednesday last week.  I saved it for Mommy Monday because it sums up my attempt to get to the gym in the mornings.  Check out those abs!  I'm getting there slowly, but surely.  Building muscles at almost 30 and after a becoming a Mom is rough.

Foodie Friday-Peanut Butter Yumminess

I had a splurge day yesterday.  I should just skip my weigh-ins the next morning.  It is always so depressing.  It has been an exiting and stressful week here in A Casas Life.  We put in a bid on a house and it was accepted!  We go for our home inspection tomorrow morning.  We are anxious, nervous, excited, overwhelmed, and just plain exhausted with the possibilities.  All of this excitement means I'm over eating and just having a hard time staying on track.  I'm a a stress eater.  I know this.  I tried to go for a healthier dessert this time around.  Here's the recipe for Oatmeal Peanut Butter Snack Squares. 

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/08/oatmeal-peanut-butter-snack-squares/

I only used 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar.  They are excellent!

Tighten and Tone Thursday-You squatter you!

While lunges are great for your legs, what about your glutes?  Keep that booty in shape with some squats.  Just like lunges, suck in your tummy, don't let your knees go past your toes, and keep your back straight.  I like to push myself to get my bottom below my knees for some real burn.  Push through your heels, tighten your glutes, and go back to standing.  I shoot for 3 sets of 20-25.  Once you get there, add some handheld weights.  You can also try squatting and then jumping straight up.  Keep changing things up and you will see results.  You will absolutely feel it!

Wish List Wednesday-Heart Rate Monitor

Having a heart rate monitor has completely changed my workouts and eating habits.  When I first began, I thought I was burning the amount of calories the machine would read out.  As I've proven in a previous post, they can be off by hundreds of calories.  My current heart rate monitor is a polar brand.  It has been well used and loved for four years now.  It is also in desperate need of a replacement.  It glitches and the newer models have a less rigid band so they can detect your heart rate easier.  After a little research on Polar's website, here is my pick.





http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/products/improve_fitness/fitness_crosstraining/FT40