Super Bowl "Inflategate"

Super Bowl weekend is almost here!  Forget about deflategate – I don’t know about you, but I am worried about inflating my waistline this weekend.

Did you know according to the Calorie Control Council that the average American will consume AT LEAST 2,400 calories during the game.  HOLY MOLY GUACOMOLE! 

According to the Snack Food Association during the Super Bowl, Americans will scarf down roughly:

11.2 million pounds of potato chips,

8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips,

3.8 million pounds of popcorn,

and 3 million pounds of nuts.

And according to the National Chicken Council, Americans will eat 1 billion chicken wings! 

I totally believe that its ok to allow cheats, but you don’t want to go overboard and pay for it later – indigestion, feeling bloated and just plain sick.  So here are some tips to help reduce the INFLATEGATE!

>>>Drink lots of water!  Soda and beer are full of calories, if you must then alternate between the two!  Water also will help you feel full.

>>>Don’t pick at foods and snacks during the game, eat before the game starts or at halftime.

>>>Go for the veggies first!

>>>Choose your dips wisely – hummus, salsa and guacamole are healthier choices.

And who says you have to miss out on the good foods, try these recipes:

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/01/top-20-skinny-superbowl-roundup.html

Just remember if you do go overboard, it was one day – don’t beat yourself up, just pick up and get back on track!

Are you up for a challenge?

I am! And I am looking for 10 people to join me in February to get beach-ready  for summer.

So what is involved? 
>>>You get a proven at-home workout system which includes - DVDs, exercise planner, clean eating guide and recipes. (I will help match the right program to help you meet your goals!)

>>>You get 30 day supply of Shakeology. (Your choice of flavor) This superfood nutrition gives me loads of energy, and keeps me satisfied throughout the day. And I haven't been sick at all this winter! 

>>>You get me as a support, motivation and accountability coach! I will work with you and help keep you on track! 

My current challengers are seeing great results! They kicked bad habits, are losing weight AND inches and are loving the challenge group!

Today is a new day. It's your day - to make a change - to be stronger, healthier and feel great! Join me on Feb. 4 for the snowball challenge. 

Sweet Sugar Honey!

Hello my name is Carey, and I am addicted to sugar. 

Whew, that was not as hard as I thought it would be.  Well, it is finally out there.  I have a terrible sugar addiction.  I used to joke that I was addicted to chocolate, but that was ok because chocolate is good for you? Ha!  Chocolate was far from the only thing that I was addicted too.  Try ice cream (chocolate peanut butter cup or cookie dough), cake, pie, cinnamin rolls, gummy bears, swedish fish, cookies (toffee chip - yum), chocolate covered pretzels...ok, most of this has chocolate in it so I can totally see why I thought my problem was chocolate but really it was just the sweet part.

As a kid I never really needed to worry much about how much soda or candy I would eat...I was a normal size kid who was fairly active.  Then I had my own kids.  They like sugar too. 

After dinner every night they ask, "Did I eat a good dinner?"  If we answer yes, their little eyes light up and they say, "Can we have a treat?"  It is a bad habit, and I participated too. 

I made all of the excuses..."I ran for 30 mins. today." "I was good ALL day." "One treat won't hurt."

But then it was a treat at 3pm and one at 6pm, maybe something else right before bed.  I was hanging on to 20 extra pounds that I just could not drop.  It was frustrating. 

My grandfather had a sweet tooth too.  Because he was obese and had type 2 diabetes, my grandmother would try to prepare special meals for him and keep him on track to lose weight and to get his diabetes under control.  Unfortunately, he did not like her plan very much.  So, we would find him at ice cream shops or at events hidden sneaking sweets.  As a child, I would giggle that he was sneaking the sugar but know as an adult I realize he had a problem.  And it scares me that I too inherited the problem.

Not too long ago I read an article about a study where a rat was given the choice between cocaine and sugar, the rat kept choosing sugar.  This is when I thought to myself, sugar is a drug!

Sugar is in so many things that we eat.  Tomato sauce, cereal, breads, soups and so many other things that are packaged. 

In another blog I read a few months ago, a mom decided that she and her family would give up sugar for a year and see what would happen.  They would eat one special treat each month, if it was a birthday - the birthday person could pick the treat.  After a month they realized how hard it was to eliminate sugar, becuase it is in everything!  They did make it one year and they noticed that they CRAVED sugar less, in fact much of the sugary treats were TOO SWEET!  They also noticed they had increased energy and were sick a lot less.

In my own experience I noticed that sugar made me more hungry. If I would eat it after dinner (hours before I hit the pillow) I would wake up hungry. I also noticed the more I would eat - the more I wanted it.  I would actually salvate thinking about it.  I was tired and cranky. Some junk foods caused me bloating and heart burn, not a feeling I enjoyed.

Sugar is my enemy and I needed a way to fight it.

1.  I remember those "how I feel after I eat sweets" feeling I mentioned above. I ask myself "Is it worth feeling tired, being hungry or worse having heart burn?"  For me, its not worth the few minutes of gratification to have 3 hours of heart burn later, that is for sure!

2.  I eat proteins throughout the day.  Proteins help you feel satisfied longer, helping you get through that 3pm hour. 

3. I drink water, lots of water!  Often times when you think you are hungry - it is that you are dehydrated.  You should be drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water!  So drink up!

4.  I try to eat fresh, and read labels carefully. I look for sugar and sodium and try to buy items that are low in both! 

5.  I replaced my sugar with low-glycemic sugars (Stevia and coconut palm sugar). The nice thing about these - you don't have that sugar crash after eating it.

And my secret weapon:

I found this stuff called Shakeology. It is a protein-nutrient rich shake that I drink once a day and it keeps my cravings under control. I, of course, drink chocolate peanut butter cup every day. This has allowed me to say "No thanks" to donuts, cakes, cookies and chocolate bars.

Oh, and now that I have reduced my sugar...I have more energy, am less hungry and dropped that 20 lbs too! 

Do you live by fear or your dreams?

Has fear ever held you back? I will be the first to admit it has held me back. I don't want anyone to think I am a failure - or worse - to think of myself as a failure. But sometimes you have to grab that fear and toss it aside! When I thought about coaching, my fears kept telling me - you can't do it, you were a consultant before and it didn't work! You are not a SALES person, you can't sell! And thank goodness COACHING is NOT any of those things! 

If I had let fear hold me back, I would have never joined an incredible team of men and women who are positively impacting lives everyday. 

When I joined as a coach, I wasn't at my goal weight. But I didn't let that fear hold me back, and you know what? The people I have been helping, have been helping me too! Yup! They keep me motivated and accountable. 

So, thankfully fear is not getting in the way of my dreams. Instead I am reaching for the stars and growing my team! 

So today I am asking you to toss your fears aside and join me in making a positive impact on lives everyday. It's time to follow your dreams and make  them a reality. 

I am searching for five individuals to mentor. If you have a love for helping people and exercise, email me or comment below. 

Working mom work outs

As a working mom I struggle with having the time to myself - let alone working out.  But just a few minutes a day can be beneficial. 

 

Below is a link to a QUICK workout that you can do at your desk.  And if you are worried that you may get some weird looks, encourage your office mates to join you...OR pick a couple to try.

http://youtu.be/54RnYX7Rk14

Some days I truly can not focus. 

I start out in the kitchen washing dishes, and remember I need to go fold the laundry - on my way there I realize that the kids left a mess on the table - so I start to pick that up, and while there I spot a tissue box that needed placed back in the bathroom, only to find a pair of shoes...

Anyone else have mom brain?

 

Wow, what a difference a year makes...

If I would have waited to make a change, I would still be 20 lbs overweight, maybe more.

If I would have waited to make a change, I would still be battling high blood pressure.

If I would have waited to make a change, I would still be hiding from the camera. Missing memories and milestones with my kids.

If I would have waited to make a change, I would still be shy and afraid to be myself.

If I would have waited to make a change, I would still be the same.

But I didn't. More than 6 months ago I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to be a better person, to be healthy, and to share what I have learned - with others.

I have 3 spots open in my fitness group this month, email
me or comment below to reserve your spot.

You are given one life to live, don't tell yourself you will start tomorrow, do it today.