Healthy Halloween treats!

Can you believe that Halloween is just around the corner?  This year has flown by and before we know it holiday season will be upon us.  Just the thought of it stresses me out.

Every year for Halloween, I struggle with what type of handout I'll give to all the little goblins that come by the house trick or treating.  I've given out pretzels (didn't go over well), pencils ( a little better) and quarters ( that one went over pretty good!)  We don't get a ton of kids, but enough that I need to have something on hand.  I really don't want to give out sugary candy, it really goes against what I stand for, so I always look for something different that I think the kids will like.  Raisins are not a good idea..... just a little tidbit for you to store away!!

This year I have found a great product that I think meets my criteria and that the kids will love!  It passed the Jake and Madelyn test.  Whoo-hoo!!

Nature's Path EnviroKidz Crispy Rice Bars Peanut Choco Drizzle

I was planning on taking more photos after we sampled the first bar, but Jake and Brian ate them all up!!  So you will just have to take my word for it that these are good, snack sized bars.  They have peanut butter and a drizzle of chocolate on them.  TASTY!!

All organic, gluten free and vegetarian!! 

Check them out at Nature's Path or find Nature's Path on facebook!!

I'm excited to have found a healthy treat that kids love!

Yesterday's food:

Breakfast was the usual - Shakeology!  Snickers this time!

Lunch with my father-in-law and nephew ( nice treat ) was salad and tilapia with veggies and shrimp in a miso sauce ( had to much sauce) on wild rice.

Woke up to this, not sure how it happened, doesn't hurt, just looks nasty!

dinner was lentil soup - didn't eat much since I had to go to fit club!

I also snacked on a couple of handfuls of peanuts and had a small piece of that darned bday cake after workout!  I need the cake to leave the house!

Water - 64 oz.

Workout - Kenpo X

I'm still sore today, but it seems to be a little better.  I used the foam roller and the workout helped too!

Discussion:  What do you hand out for Halloween?  Do you look for a healthier option or just go with the candy?

It's always sunny at the Tulsa State Fair!

Good Morning!  I am excited today - going to the Tulsa State Fair!  When I was in high school, we lived on a farm and raised sheep.  We would go to the fairs and show our sheep and it was a lot of fun!  I don't get to see my family as much as I would like and Devin is showing his sheep and he won Reserve Grand Champion with his smoker.    This is one very secial smoker. 

I know that food choices are going to be hard to come by.  I'll throw something in my purse so that I know I'll have atleast one choice :)  I will NOT be eating a deep fried twinkie!!!  I'm sure I'll have some good photos to share tomorrow!

Saturday's eats!

Breakfast was a pink bagel from Panera Bread with vegan cream cheese.  Tasty, and I love knowing that I am helping to raise money for breast cancer!

Lunch was a veggie sandwich on rye bread (camera battery was dead!!)

blackberry margarita - YUM!

chips and guacamole - shared with our friends

salad bar!!!

Have a great day! 

Discussion:  do you want me to continue posting my food each day?  I will be starting a new eating plan tomorrow!  Body Victory, can't wait, it really is a good meal plan!

Weekend Challenge: Commercial cardio

Wow, yesterday just got away from me!

Do you have days like this?  I was on the go all day long yesterday and I didn't feel quite up to par.  I think this allergy season is going to be a tough one for me. 

Weekend  Challenge:

Commercial Cardio - while you are watching your favortie tv shows this week, when the commercials come on, I want you to get up and move -  jumping jacks,  push-ups,  crunches,  squats, jog in place, walk around the house, hula hoop - whatever you like to do that will get you moving and your heartrate up!  Every time the commercials come on, you are up and moving for the ENTIRE commercial break.  You will be surprised how many calories you can burn.  I'd love to see your photos, so take them and post them on the Feeling Fit with Dana facebook page. 


Food for the last two days:

Thursday:

Shakeology:  choco-cherry-licious  this one is really good!!

Lunch with a friend - miso soup, cucumber salad and a miami roll (tuna, crab and avocado)

Dinner was chips and salsa and 2 margaritas.  no pictures!!

Friday:

Shakeology - added a little protein powder and 1/2 a banana

lo-mein noodles with tofu and veggies (didn't eat the egg roll and saved 1/2 for later)

Snack was the rest of my lo-mein

Dinner was out with Nick and Lauren and Lauren's parents

no pic - I'm sure they already think I'm strange enough :)

side salad (consisted mostly of iceberg lettuce) with raspberry vinagrette

steamed broccoli and cauliflower

plain baked sweet potato

I drank 60 oz of water

Workout was 3 mile walk.

the weather is so nice here, I just have to get outside for a while!

Roxy thinks she needs a treat this morning already.  Sitting here pleading with me with her eyes!  Such a cutie!

I am healthy, vibrant and well

Brian and I went for a walk after dinner and this beautiful scene greeted me.  I had to run back in and get a photo!  So pretty!

I truly believe that what you think about most is what will happen in your life.  Do you think the same?  Our thoughts create our actions.  So, I try to be positive most of the time.  Negative thoughts are gone, positive thoughts are in!  I'm generally a very happy person, so this usually isn't a problem for me, but I have my moments of negative thinking just like everyone else.  It's not fun and it really brings me down quickly.  So, I have started repeating a mantra to myself several times throughout the day:  I am happy, healthy, healed, wealthy and organized.  Sometimes I change it up, but for the most part, I keep it the same.  It keeps me on track, knowing that I am staying positive and good things are abundant in my life!

A mantra is a sound, syllable, word or group of words that are considered capable of creating transformation.

Here are a few of my other favorites:

I am healthy, vibrant and well

I am happy, healthful and peaceful right here and right now

It is easy for me to lose weight

I approach life with strength and joy!

You get the idea I am sure.  Yoga Booty Ballet Guided Meditations is a great way to get these positive thoughts in our brains daily!

Yesterday's food choices:

Breakfast was the usual Shaekology - today mixed with vegan protein powder and almond milk.

Went to lunch with friends.  Had 1/2 of veggie sandwich and 1/2 of plain baked potato.  Put mustard on both.  Just can't get enough mustard these days!

My sweet Madelyn smiling at me in the car!

We played outside when we got home.  Madelyn didn't want to sit still for a photo at all!

Snack was whole wheat bread with almond butter and some coconut butter.  YUM.  Madelyn and I shared!

Dinner was a side salad with red onion, cucumber and Garlic Gold (review to next week!)

and a bowl of tomato soup sprinkled with nutritional yeast and a drizzle of sesame oil

Honeycrisp apples are in the house!  Yay!  I love these, found them at Sam's Club!

Discussion:  Do you have a mantra?  Do you think it is something you would do daily?

Talk to the hand!

I always seem to have the best titles for blog posts in my head at inopportune moments.  I think I'll just have to start writing them down.  I can be creative, it just isn't at the most convenient times.  I always tell people that I have CRS (Can't Remember Sh**).  If I don't write it down, I won't remember!

So, for now you will be stuck with boring blog post titles :)

My bum-bum is sufficiently worked out, I know that it will be sore later today.  It seems that soreness sets in about 24 hours later and usually lasts 2 days for me.  Do you have that same reaction?

Are you reading your nutrition labels?  This is such an important step in being healthy.  Food manufacturer's are sneaky.  You may think you have a single serving, check the label for the calorie content and not see that it is actually 2 servings.  Take that calorie content times 2, as well as the fat, sodium, and all other facts. 

Check out this webpage for a great article about understanding and reading food labels.


Here's my food from yesterday:

Shakeology - Choco-Cherry-Licious - YUMMINESS!!!

Lunch was salad bar at Ruby Tuesday's.  Love their salad bar, so fresh and yummy!

Dinner was a chili burrito.  whole wheat tortilla filled with homemade refried beans, brown rice and soyrizo with a little sprinkle of Daiya cheddar.  Topped with a scoop of veggie chili and vegannaise.  I really wanted a side salad with it, but am completely out of all types of lettuce.  Guess I'll have to fit a trip to the grocery store in today! Oh yeah, some blue corn tortilla chips and I threw on some salsa after the photo!

I needed some fruit in there today, but it didn't happen.  I really want some honeycrisp apples.  I'll be looking for those today too!  They are my favorite!!

Brian gets so tired of me taking photos of my food.  He really doesn't care, but gives me grief about it.  So, I snapped his photo at Ruby's.  This is what I got!

Discussion:  Do you read food labels?

Fit Club Tuesday- Bum Bum!!

Yay!!  It's Fit Club Day! 

Tonight's workout is Brazil Butt Lift - Bum Bum.  This is one of my favorites and targets one of my trouble areas - the booty!  Every one wants a nice toned bum bum, so let's get started on it!

For those of you locally - Fit club is at CJ Community Center - 303 N. Main in Carl Junction MO.   Hope you can make it!  We'll be working out and tasting Shakeology!  I'm thinking Snickers Shakeology for tonight!  YUM!

FIT CLUB WORKOUT:

Brazil Butt Lift®
Trainer to world-famous supermodels, Leandro Carvalho combines Brazilian dance, cardio, and his own signature lower-body sculpting moves to lift, firm, and shape your behind for a rear view you've only dreamed about.

Reduce, lift, and shape your booty


Leandro's proven TriAngle Training method works all three major muscles of the buttocks from multiple angles to reduce your hips and saddlebag area, slim your thighs, and lift your butt without bulking up your thighs. You can even customize the workout plan to turn your current shape into the one you've always wanted.

Enjoy all this . . .

5 Booty-blasting workouts
BUM BUM: Leandro's signature workout (named after the Brazilian slang for "butt" and pronounced "boom-boom") combines fat-blasting cardio with the best lower-body sculpting moves you've ever tried. (35 min.)

HIGH & TIGHT: Focus on all those stubborn trouble zones: the hips, glutes, and saddlebags. Leandro uses his secret weapons—the Booty Resistance Band and ankle weights—to lift your butt to new heights. (35 min.)

SCULPT: In this video, Leandro takes you through a total-body workout with a sexy Brazilian twist, to sculpt your entire body while focusing on your glutes. Look like a sexy supermodel—lean and toned, without the bulk. (50 min.)

CARDIO AXE: Feel like you're dancing in the streets of Brazil with Leandro's signature axe (pronounced "ah-shay"), a fat-burning, cardio-blasting, dance-based workout that delivers all-over slimming results fast. (30 min.)

TUMMY TUCK: Leandro's surefire way to get flat, sexy abs in just 15 minutes. (15 min.)

Tools to help you shape your booty

BOOTY MAKEOVER GUIDE
This booklet includes the Booty Blueprint to help you determine your current shape and the Booty Makeover Calendars customized to your particular shape so you know which workout program to follow to achieve your desired shape.

FAT-BURNING FOOD GUIDE
This easy-to-follow meal plan was created by a nutritionist and is filled with mouth-watering, Brazilian-inspired recipes that will help you slim down without sacrificing flavor.

BOOTY BASICS
In this introductory video, Leandro shares his TriAngle Training secret, signature moves, and tips on proper form to help you get the most out of the program.

TRIANGLE TRAINING WORKOUT CARDS
These cards contain step-by-step instructions on Leandro's signature moves. Take them with you to create your own workout-on-the-go.

MEASUREMENT TRACKER CARD AND TAPE MEASURE
Watch the inches melt away as your entire body transforms.

PENCIL
See if you pass the pencil test before you start the program. Test again every 30 days, and watch your butt lift.

Plus, added bonuses

6-DAY SUPERMODEL SLIMDOWN
Jumpstart your booty transformation with the same 6-day SlimDown plan used by Leandro's supermodel clients before a photo shoot.

BOOTY RESISTANCE BAND
This latex band, Leandro's secret weapon, gives an extra boost of lower-body resistance to sculpt those hard-to-reach areas. It will bring you even faster results.

BUM BUM RAPIDO
This extra bonus workout is the express version of Leandro's signature workout, "Bum Bum," for when you're short on time.

FREE ONLINE SUPPORT

Get free 24-hour access to the Team Beachbody® online community. Chat with fitness experts, access the Message Boards, and meet other Brazil Butt Lift workout buddies. You can even schedule your workouts in advance, and track your progress in the WOWY SuperGym®.

Leandro is so sure you'll love Brazil Butt Lift and your new and improved behind that he's giving you his 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're not 100% satisfied for any reason, just return it within 30 days for a FULL refund of the purchase price, less shipping and handling.

Consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.


Sculpting Bands contain natural rubber latex which may cause allergic reactions.

Fit Club Recipe:

Tomato Soup

I know that everyone knows HOW to make tomato soup, but this one is my version and it is really tasty and very healthy!

I take my tomatoes (fresh from the garden for the best flavor)  You can use several different varieties if you like

Put them in a pan and almost cover with water to cook tomatoes.

Then after the tomatoes are cooked, put in blender - yes, I use the whole tomato.  I have a vita-mix and it does the job!  You may want to cut the stem off.

Blend until VERY smooth.

Put back in pan and it should look something like this:

Add in your milk ( I use cashew milk and mimic cream)  I forgot to take photos of making the cashew milk.  I'll have it next week for you!

Add in fresh basil and nutritional yeast and salt to taste

Cook until it just starts to boil.

Ready to eat!  I like to sprinkle with a little more nutritional yeast and chili powder.  Serve with french bread or grilled "cheese"YUM!

Here are my food choices for yesterday.  I probably didn't have enough calories, but I was so busy and didn't get any snacks in.

Breakfast was Shakeology (big surprise there :) )

Lunch was the tomato soup with a grilled hummus and cheese sandwich

Dinner was roasted veggies and brown rice with a drizzle of mustard and soy sauce

Just some fun:  My mom called yesterday evening to ask if I liked my package.  I had no idea what she was talking about, told me that a package had been delivered to check the front porch.  I went running to the door, I LOVE packages!!!  She and my dad sent me a KINDLE for my birthday.  They have been backordered forever and it took this long to get it!  I was so excited!!!

I immediately started playing with it and I am going to LOVE this!  Brian thought it was funny that I was hula-hooping and reading at the same time, so he took a photo!!

Discussion:  Any cool gadgets that you are loving these days? 

Monday, Monday!

Good Monday Morning!!!  It's a new start to a fresh week!  Is there something that you need to work on this week that you weren't happy with last week?

I am focusing on my workouts, my clean eating and WATER!  I need more water!!!

Workout is done for today!  I've had my shakeology and 10 oz of water already!

Getting ready to read my 10 pages of personal development and I plan to listen to my audio this afternoon.  I'm also planning on a little dance party this afternoon too!

Last night I was a little bored with Brian's choice of TV programming, so I got up and got out my old friend, the hula hoop.  I hooped for 19 mins.  I stopped because I just knew that I would be feeling it this morning. So far, I'm good.  So, I think a hooping is in order today as well and thinking a walk this afternoon might be a good idea. The weather is cool and it is sunny out. I  was to get that sunshine and vitamin D in today!

I am going to challenge you today to get out of your comfort zone and do something you don't usually do!  Hula hoop, dance around the house.  Something that makes you move and feel good!

Food for yesterday:

Breakfast:  Shakeology made with unsweetened almond milk and added protein powder (Sun Warrior)

Lunch was at Chatter's to watch the CHIEFS!  side salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil and spicy black bean burger!  Ate 1/2 of the burger and all of the salad!

Afternoon snack was pumpkin chai latte and 1/2 an apple

Dinner:  side salad with veggies and hummus dressing and veggie pizza (topped with red onion, mushrooms and black olives and fresh basil out of the garden.  Topped with daiya cheese and parma! YUM!

Workout - walked 1 mile and hula hooped for 19 mins.  So glad that I am finally feeling better and mostly back to my regular workout routine.

Water - not enough - probably 50 oz???? 

Reader question:  I get the Diaya cheese at Whole Foods in Tulsa.  I am working on getting it available locally for us.  However, so far no luck.  You can google it and see if your local health food store has it.  Most Whole Foods stores carry it.  It is with the regular cheese.  Let me know if you try it.  I really like it!  It comes in mozzarella and cheddar flavors.

Discussion:  Do you treat Monday's differently than other days of the week?  Is it a fresh start for you or do you keep to the status quo?

If you have something to ask me, please do so.  I LOVE reader requests and questions!!!


One last thing:  How about them Chiefs!!!!  whoo-hoo!!!!!  3-0!