How to NOT pack on extra lbs during the Holiday season...SPECIAL HOLIDAY OFFER!

Here's an oldie but goody!  I wrote this last year at this time...

Be sure to click HERE and read the comments for some GREAT holiday recipes! 

How to NOT pack on that Holiday weight...

This is my most favorite time of year! I love the colder weather. I love sweaters, boots and scarfs! I love being with family and celebrating all of the holidays. I also love the FOOD! Who doesn't? I have some tips that will help you keep those holiday pounds at bay and help you enjoy every minute while doing it. Let's get started!

If you aren't active now, get active! Start moving, get to the gym or hit the pavement or even put in that DVD, whatever it is that you do, DO IT! Make it a priority to stay physically active throughout the rest of the year, and don't wait until New Year's to "start over". These are a few reasons why: First, this time of year can be VERY stressful! The best way to combat stress is through exercise. While you exercise, "feel good" endorphins are released. You will enjoy the feeling of self accomplishment and experience a clear mind. This is SO important this time of year! Second, you will sleep better. Who doesn't need a better quality of sleep? We can be so busy with holiday errands and parties. We need to understand that sleep is critical to not only beating stress but to weight loss and management. The third reason why exercising now is important, you will burn those extra calories you WILL be consuming! If you aren't exercising, you will gain some weight! That is a promise! Exercising will help you truly enjoy this season while looking and feeling great!

This time of year can be a time to help those in need.  This is something that can also help you. Let me explain.  Now this is Holiday Weight Management 101 by Amy Blue. This is something I believe to be true.  Some of the reasons we over eat may be feelings of depression or boredom. Some people experience these feeling  more so during this time year, and as a result more weight is packed on.  I personally believe that if we wrap ourselves up in serving those around us, we simply forget our own issues or our personal burdens that may be making us feel down, suddenly don't seem as hard to bare. There is a feeling that comes from serving others that you can't get from exercise or eating right. Also, by filling up our free or unproductive time with service we avoid eating out of boredom. So, please incorporate service one way or another into your everyday tasks. It will change your season and your life.

All the wonderful FOOD is the biggest problem for me. Who else has a hard time saying no to chocolate in any form? I love this, "I would give up chocolate, but I'm not a quitter". Anyway, back to FOOD in general. Now for most people staying on a diet or avoiding eating anything not so good for all together is very unrealistic.  Understand this, it's ok to enjoy all of the yummy holiday food. However, there are a few ground rules. Everything in moderation. Don't eat until you are uncomfortable. Pick and choose, don't have a full serving of everything! Make healthy choices when you can. For example, volunteer to bring the veggie tray instead of the cookies. Make your food from scratch. Stay away from processed quick and easy meals. That way you can regulate what goes into it.  There are also plenty of healthy substitutes that you can use in your recipes.

Try these:

Sugar-Stevia  You can buy a large bag of stevia anywhere and it measures out just like sugar. We used it to make bread and it works great.

Sour cream/cream cheese-Greek yogurt   I have replaced sour cream all together with all natural plain Greek yogurt. It's high in protein and very low in fat.

Vegetable oil-Applesauce or Coconut oil  It depends what you are using it for.

Try to be creative with your meals and incorporate fresh veggies and fruits. Eat less of the processed foods. You will find fresh just tastes better. There are tons of healthy recipes out there...have fun experimenting.

One mistake a lot of us make is, we drink our calories.  So many of us are soda drinkers, juice drinkers, or one of my weaknesses, hot chocolate. All of these are high in calories and have NO nutritional value. You can keep the weight off by drinking WATER! Ok, with that said, the same rules apply to your choice of holiday beverage as your holiday meal.

Most importantly, just stay in tune with your body and don't over do anything. Take time to relax and enjoy your blessings this season.

"Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so."
~Robert G. Ingersoll~

Please feel free to share your favorite Healthy Holiday recipe in the comments below!


For the Holidays, I'm running a special offer.  This would make a GREAT gift!

I'm offering a 6 week Online Training Program with Nutrition plan and Email support for $50!  AWESOME!  I have had such an amazing response to this program, that I wanted to keep it going!  You can't beat this!

If you are interested in purchasing this program for you or someone special on your list, email me.  I will send you a certificate that can be redeemed online.  Now, I'm limiting this offer to 2 per person and the certificate expires July 1 , 2013.  I only have 10 certificates so act fast!

For more information contact me bobybyblue@gmail.com

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!

Fresh Start!

Wow! It feels like it has been FOREVER! I love my new Internet.  We have been without for about a week.  Now, it time to get caught up.  I love the beginning of the year!  It's a great time to start fresh, hence the new blog look. What do you think? Anyway,  I  LOVE resolutions, as long as they keep changing every year.  Weight loss seems to be at the top of the list for most people.  I know my gym has been a little fuller since January 1st and statistically speaking, most of the newbies will be done by February.  NOT GOOD!  For those of you who have made resolutions, I have a few tips you could try to turn those resolutions into habits.  First of all, write them down where you can SEE them everyday and read them.  I like to use a dry erase marker on my bathroom mirror.  Next, is to find a partner! It is so much easier to have a support system.  You always want to surround yourself with people that support you, and that are headed in the same direction as you.  For example, a work out or running partner is awesome!  You are less likely to skip a gym session or a run if you have to call your partner to cancel.  Third, is to set a time line.  Some people set a resolution for the year and that can be overwhelming.  Set a date!  For example, be sugar free for 3 weeks.  By setting a date, you can see an end point. Once you get to that end point, reevaluate your goal.  Push yourself to the NEXT level. You will soon see that your way of thinking will change.  Keep in mind, it takes 3 weeks to make something a habit.  You can do it!  I have a post that I did a while back that has some more good info. Visit Here

Here are a couple updates:

I will HAVE my CPT by Feb. 17th! WHOOT! I did take some time off in December to enjoy the season.  My family also celebrates 2 birthdays and an anniversary.  We love to party but It feels great to be back.

that means...

The CONTEST is almost over!  There are a few of you who are rockin it! As a refresher, this is what I'm giving away:

10 personal training sessions by ME! valued at $500.00

1 Purify Cleanse and Detox system valued at $130.00

30 day supply of Zrii Achieve, all natural meal replacement valued at $108.00

If you want to get caught up or are NEW you can still do so! I have labeled all challenges under the contest label. Or, visit RIGHT HERE to get started.

I have some chest and back exercises to show you, I'm just waiting on the video...I will have that up this weekend.

CONTEST: In the comments, leave your thoughts on New Year's resolutions. Love/Hate or any tips you have for keeping them. 5 POINTS

Thanks everyone!
"Take control now. Forget about the negative thoughts which others have told you - that you are too old or too young. Stop letting the thoughts of others rule your life; stop being weak and cowardly, blaming your lack of progress on those negative programs. If you begin now and become a do-er, you will have earned your right to remain here."
~Thomas D. Willhite~

We have a WINNER!

First of all a special thanks to Sellers Studio-photography by erin for sponsoring this "mid-way give-away".
Thank you to all who participated as well.  I wish I had enough to give each and every one of you a sample of this amazing product.  I have seen this product change the health of those I love.  It is not a DIET.  It is an all natural meal replacement formulated by Dr. Deepak Chopra.  Please visit HERE to learn more about Nutriiveda Achieve and more amazing products that will change your life and your family's lives. Thank you again for participating.  Drum roll please.....Congrats to Danielle Banry! You get to try this amazing meal replacement for 2 weeks!  Now, I will send you recipes and fun tips on how to benefit fully from this product BUT...we will all want to hear about your experience :)

Thank you again to ALL of you who are supporting me.  This Blog has turned into a blessing for me.  I'm humbled by the amazing response I have had so far.  I love hearing from you.  You all are so motivating and I thank you! Keep up the good work :)

Up next...

Chest and Back!

Shapely Shoulders

First things first. Now, I was asked a great question in the comments of THIS post. Here it is, "I voted on both too. thanks for telling us about the way you set up your workouts. would you maybe write out an example of what days you work what muscle groups or do you do whole body training most days? and do you do abs every day or just one day? thanks amy! i am loving all your helpful advice:) "  -Jackie
Thanks Jackie for following me and for asking that GREAT question!  My answer is, I do full body workouts everyday with an emphasis on a major muscle group. With that said, I work my abs everyday, however there is one day I focus  the majority of my work out on my abs. Every once in while I do concentrated work outs to build a particular area or group. So, I'm giving you a 15 minute shapely shoulder work out! Do this work out with enough weight to challenge yourself. It's perfect for at home as well. If you don't have weights grab 2  big cans of spaghetti sauce and get to work. It's set up like this...

Shoulder press- 3 sets of 10 reps, rest 60 sec  & repeat 2 times
1/2 bent over lateral raises- 3 sets of 10 reps, rest 60 sec & repeat 2 times
Y press- 2 sets of 18 reps, rest 30 sec & repeat
Arnold press- 2 sets of 8-10 reps, rest 20 sec & repeat

I demonstrated these lifts here...ENJOY!

Ok, I love feedback! Please give this a try and let me know what you think!

Wellness-
I can't help but over hear women talk about their weight loss progress. When one friend asks, "How much did you lose this week?" The other responds "Only one pound!" then they continue on about how disappointed they are and how they want so much more. Well, lets put that one pound into perspective shall we...Take a look at this!

This is what one pound of FAT looks like...I'll take one pound of fat loss any day OR week!

Perspective ladies!

Here is a little trick I would like to share with those of you who may be struggling with what you eat.
Take a picture of what you eat, BEFORE you eat it. You don't have to post it or share it with anyone. Just look at it before you dig in. What this does is make you think about what you are eating. Take a second to think about what your support system would think about this meal. (whoever that person or group is) This will help slow down your impulse to eat whatever and whenever...Try it!

I will leave the polls open a few more days! Don't forget to vote!

CONTEST: Do this shapely shoulder work out and then let me know what you thought! 5 points Also, recruit a friend to follow my blog. They don't have to join the contest. Just let me know what new follower is your "recruited" friend. 10 points 

Thanks and remember...

Strong is the new beautiful - Nike

How to NOT pack on that Holiday weight...

This is my most favorite time of year! I love the colder weather. I love sweaters, boots and scarfs! I love being with family and celebrating all of the holidays. I also love the FOOD! Who doesn't? I have some tips that will help you keep those holiday pounds at bay and help you enjoy every minute while doing it. Let's get started!

If you aren't active now, get active! Start moving, get to the gym or hit the pavement or even put in that DVD, whatever it is that you do, DO IT! Make it a priority to stay physically active throughout the rest of the year, and don't wait until New Year's to "start over". These are a few reasons why: First, this time of year can be VERY stressful! The best way to combat stress is through exercise. While you exercise, "feel good" endorphins are released. You will enjoy the feeling of self accomplishment and experience a clear mind. This is SO important this time of year! Second, you will sleep better. Who doesn't need a better quality of sleep? We can be so busy with holiday errands and parties. We need to understand that sleep is critical to not only beating stress but to weight loss and management. The third reason why exercising now is important, you will burn those extra calories you WILL be consuming! If you aren't exercising, you will gain some weight! That is a promise! Exercising will help you truly enjoy this season while looking and feeling great!

This time of year can be a time to help those in need.  This is something that can also help you. Let me explain.  Now this is Holiday Weight Management 101 by Amy Blue. This is something I believe to be true.  Some of the reasons we over eat may be feelings of depression or boredom. Some people experience these feeling  more so during this time year, and as a result more weight is packed on.  I personally believe that if we wrap ourselves up in serving those around us, we simply forget our own issues or our personal burdens that may be making us feel down, suddenly don't seem as hard to bare. There is a feeling that comes from serving others that you can't get from exercise or eating right. Also, by filling up our free or unproductive time with service we avoid eating out of boredom. So, please incorporate service one way or another into your everyday tasks. It will change your season and your life.

All the wonderful FOOD is the biggest problem for me. Who else has a hard time saying no to chocolate in any form? I love this, "I would give up chocolate, but I'm not a quitter". Anyway, back to FOOD in general. Now for most people staying on a diet or avoiding eating anything not so good for all together is very unrealistic.  Understand this, it's ok to enjoy all of the yummy holiday food. However, there are a few ground rules. Everything in moderation. Don't eat until you are uncomfortable. Pick and choose, don't have a full serving of everything! Make healthy choices when you can. For example, volunteer to bring the veggie tray instead of the cookies. Make your food from scratch. Stay away from processed quick and easy meals. That way you can regulate what goes into it.  There are also plenty of healthy substitutes that you can use in your recipes.

Try these:

Sugar-Stevia  You can buy a large bag of stevia anywhere and it measures out just like sugar. We used it to make bread and it works great.

Sour cream/cream cheese-Greek yogurt   I have replaced sour cream all together with all natural plain Greek yogurt. It's high in protein and very low in fat.

Vegetable oil-Applesauce or Coconut oil  It depends what you are using it for.

Try to be creative with your meals and incorporate fresh veggies and fruits. Eat less of the processed foods. You will find fresh just tastes better. There are tons of healthy recipes out there...have fun experimenting.

CONTEST: Please share any other healthy substitutes you use that aren't listed above and receive 2 points. Share an awesome HEALTHY holiday recipe and receive 10 points!

One mistake a lot of us make is, we drink our calories.  So many of us are soda drinkers, juice drinkers, or one of my weaknesses, hot chocolate. All of these are high in calories and have NO nutritional value. You can keep the weight off by drinking WATER! Ok, with that said, the same rules apply to your choice of holiday beverage as your holiday meal.

Most importantly, just stay in tune with your body and don't over do anything. Take time to relax and enjoy your blessings this season.

"Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so."
~Robert G. Ingersoll~
Thanks to all who are supporting me in this contest. I have had an overwhelming response and I'm humbled. If you have yet to join in on the fun, do so! Visit HERE  and get started. It's fun and super easy! Remember, any time you forward on a post or share my blog, let me know, you get 1 point. The more you share the more points you receive! You can leave me a comment or e mail me at fabfitwithfive@yahoo.com
Thanks again :)

Healing Wisdom » Diets Don’t Work: How People Actually Lose Weight, by Deepak Chopra

Healing Wisdom » Diets Don’t Work: How People Actually Lose Weight, by Deepak Chopra

This article is amazing! There is a lot of information that is important for everyone. Please pass it along.

Let's get started!

Ok, I wanted to first update you on the Purify system I'm taking. (www.zrii.com/purify) So far so good. I have definitely noticed less bloating. My stomach feels lighter. This is just after one full day. I'm excited to see what the next few days brings.

Now, LET"S GET STARTED!

I'm really excited about the response I have received by starting this blog. I know there are so many out there who are looking to begin the lifestyle changes necessary for a healthy new you, and there are those who just want to tone up and lose those last 5-10 pounds. This is exciting! My first piece of advice is, set a goal. Whatever it may be, for example; I'm currently working on lowering my body fat percentage by 2% by the new year. That is my goal! Someone may want to increase their mile time this week, or lose 10 lbs in 30 days, or even stay at a healthy rate of weight gain during pregnancy. Whatever it is, be specific, and set a date. Next, find a support system. This is SO important! You need to surround yourself with positive influences. There are going to be times you want to give up, and you need someone who will lift you up and encourage you. Ok, once you have accomplished those two important steps you can continue. By the way, I hear I'm a good motivator ;) I would be happy to help.

Let me ask, how many of you have ever used positive affirmations? If you have not, let me tell you, THEY WORK! I'm a firm believer in them. The idea is, it will take you 30 days to change the way you think. I encourage ALL of you to write down 3 affirmations and put it somewhere that you will see it EVERYDAY. Let me share with you mine, "I love my BUTT!" "I have energy!" "I am strong!" These are personal to me. They all started out as things I thought I didn't have or didn't like about myself. Every morning and night, read them out loud to your self, and mean it. In 30 days you will start to believe it! TRUST ME!

WOW! That is my wellness advice for you today. You need to do these 3 things before you start your journey. This is for everyone no matter the circumstance or fitness level. Please try this, I would love to hear back from you!

Now for my healthy nutrition tip!

Everyone needs to cut out or extremely cut back on..........SUGAR! Here is why, sugar has been proven to be the cause of several diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Sugar consumption also causes hormonal imbalances due to high levels of insulin and blood sugar. These hormonal swings affect your attitude, and ability to concentrate. Well, that is good enough reason for me. :) So, some of you may be saying, "well, I don't eat that many sweets..." Let me challenge you all to look at labels. Sugar is in almost everything that is processed. Be aware of how much you are consuming.

There is GOOD NEWS! Don't get too mad at me yet. There is an awesome alternative. I use the word alternative and NOT substitute because the sugar substitutes or aka Splenda, Nutrasweet, and Sweet'N Low, are even worse for you and you need to STAY AWAY from them! Stevia is my favorite. It takes the place of sugar in my house. You can get it at any grocery store. It's a no calorie, all natural alternative. It doesn't trigger a rise in blood sugar either. I love it!

http://www.thedietsolutionprogram.com/

Well, I hope you were able to take something from this post. Please leave any comments you may have....I'm up for conversation!

Have a great day!

"The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want." - Ben Stein