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Alissa Took Two More Laps

I'm stepping it up again! I really want to be more active, and it's hard! I do laps around the school that I work for during my hour lunch break, which is more like 40 minutes by the time I eat.

I put on ankle weights, and walked around 5 laps. Today I pushed it to 7 laps. My legs tingle and my face is red and hot.

I'm going to add arm weights next.

It's hard doing this when I'm at home. After working all day, and being a full time mom, my body is pooped. All the more reason to be active I suppose. Added on to this, is allergy season. Yay I can't wait, NOT! The time of year I can barely push myself out of bed!

Alissa's Scale Review

I have my csn | stores review written and posted!

Included in the review is some info on a food scale I got from them! Please take some time to read my review here! 

Alissa Feels Good

I feel good today! I put on my pants that were tight three weeks ago, and now they fit just right!

I've also been having issues with my tummy. I have IBS, and it's been acting up since school started. Stress triggers my tummy issues! Today I'm free of the symptoms. I don't feel bloated. I feel good.

Healthier Mashed Potatoes

This is Alissa here. When I make mashed potatoes I add an ingredient to the mix. I boil cut up carrots for 10 minutes then add in the cut up potatoes.  My 5 year old Mica love this version of potatoes because they are his favorite color, orange.

Veggies are the thing that we have to eat more of in out house, so it's great to sneak in the veggies with every opportunity I get.

I often serve a green veggie too.

Alissa Wants to Win 10 Coupons For Dole Frozen Fruit! You Should Enter To!

Dole has offered 2 of J. Leigh Designz Readers TEN coupons toward Free Frozen Fruit! This is a $50 value EACH!

I learned that frozen fruit and veggies are just as good for you as fresh.

Banana Chocolate Chip Waffles

I read that 1 waffle from the standard mixes from the store have more salt in them then a bag of potato chips.

This waffle recipe I got from Go Graham Go is so good that you really do not need any syrup.
I make 1/2 a batch for our family of 4, and have two waffles left over. I do have a 2 and 5 year old, so they don't eat a lot. I've been eating less as well.

Directions:

Mix the dry ingredients together.
Mix the wet ingredients together.
Pour the wet in the dry and mix.
It's that easy!

With banana's, I microwave them if they are green or yellow to make them mushy. This works well!

Couscous Salad

This recipe was a hit at Mica's birthday party. We got the recipe from a friend in Kansas City.

Directions:
1 . Make couscous according to package directions, scrape into a large bowl, fluff with fork, cover, and put in the freezer.
2 . Toast the pine nuts in a skillet with olive oil and set aside.
3 . Chop the cucumber (not too fine) and green onions.
4 . Make the dressing. Mix the ingredients except olive oil, then slowly drizzle in the olive oil, while whisking.
5 . Take out the couscous, fold in the cucumber, onions, feta, parsley, red bell pepper, pine nuts, and dressing.
6 . Chill in the refrigerator before serving.

Temptation is Going Bye Bye for Alissa

Do you see this cute little robot cake my husband and I made for our son Mica's birthday party?

I'm proud to say that I didn't eat any of it! I didn't drink any of my favorite drink root beer either! YAY

Sugar is like a drug to me. When I have some, I want more, more often. I've gotten over this a bit. The cravings are starting to go away.

Measure Your Own Steps

Thousands of local health workers walk miles each week to check on newborns and treat children with life threatening illnesses. Check out more about this cause here.

This is me Alissa. My 5 year old had serious staph infection when he was only 7 months old and my 2 year old had a serious meningitis infection when he was only 2 months old. I know what it's like having sick children. I'm sharing info about this organization to help get the word out about them.

You can win a Pedometer for you to measure your own steps from Save the Children and then See Where Good Goes Campaign! This is sponsored by Crazy House!

This serves as reminder that you are just one step away from supporting local health workers.

Alissa's Weighted Down

I forgot that we have ankle weights. I added those to my ankles this week. I don't even notice a difference until they're taken off.

Yogurt

Alissa here. I learned from the dietician that I went to that my Activia yogurt is considered a carbohydrate because of the added sugar and fruit. I've been using plain yogurt and adding in freash berries.

It is a bit more sour, but now it counts as a protein. There are plant based sugar substitutes that can be added. I'm fine without adding them though.

Then to make sour cream the dietician said that I could use plain yogurt and mix lemon juice in it.

Alissa's Using Kid Dishes

I've began reducing my serving sizes at breakfast, lunch and dinner.  My vegetable serving's went up in size.

For breakfast I started using one of the kid's cups for juice, and one of their bowls for cereal (if that is one of the things we are having). Their bowls and cups are more the size of what I should be eating and drinking.

My two year old Isaak points at my cup and bowl (which are really both his brother Mica and his) and says, "That's not hyour's (your's) that's mine!" He shakes his head and smiles while he's saying it. ;)

Going Out to Eat Was Indeed a Challenge for Alissa

Our family of four went on vacation this last few days. We were all very active! We went to the Great Wolf Lodge, a children's museum and a dinosaur museum. With a two and almost five year old; we were all over the place! I lost 2 1/2 pounds this week.

I got home and had a nice package waiting for me. The food scale I'm reviewing for csn | stores! We went to Costco, and bought a lot of meat that I'll need to get into the practice of weighing.

I knew that I needed to watch what I ate all weekend!

The best restaurant on my list for eating healthy is Applebees. They had the calories listed and have worked with Weight Watchers. It's all labeled on the menu.

My least favorite place we went to was Perkins. Even their salad's had bacon, eggs and cheese on them. They had one low calorie wrap that was still high in calorie's. It had swiss cheese in it, so I asked for that wrap without the cheese. It had spinach in it. Well they neglected to drain the spinach, and my wrap was sitting in a pile of green water. The bottom was soggy. I barely ate my meal.

As far as fast food goes McDonald's, Wendy's, Subway and Arby's  all try to have nutritional facts and have options too. I give them all a thumbs up over Perkins.

Jessie Here

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written on this blog. It has been crazy busy here. The bright side? Forgetting unnecessary snacking and not having to worry about over eating during the day. Breakfast consists of Kashi cereal, lunch consists of a sandwhich (whole grain bread and fat free lunch meat), dinner usually consists of some form of meat and a veggie :) Keepin' it simple these days!

A Wonderful Website!

This is me Alissa writing. I learned a few weeks ago that Spark People Dot Com is the place to go to record what you eat. It's free too!

They also give you exercising tips.

If you are someone struggling with weight, I strongly recommend you checking out their site.

Alissa's Daily Calorie Intake

I saw a diabetes nutritionist this morning. This is my eating plan:

Daily Totals:
Carbohydrates 12
Protein 8 ounces
Fat 4
Calories 1650

Breakfast:
3 Carbohydrates = 45 grams
(starch, fruit, milk, sweets)
0-1 Protein (ounces)
(meat, eggs, cheese)
1 Fat
1-2 servings non-starchy free vegetables

Lunch:
4 Carbohydrates = 60 grams
3 Protein (ounces)
1 Fat
1-2 servings non-starchy free vegetables

Dinner:
4 Carbohydrates = 60 grams
5 Protein (ounces)
1-2 Fat
1-2 servings non-starchy free vegetables

1 Snack:
1 Carbohydrate = 15 grams

She gave me a book to help me determine what each food fits in category wise. This is helpful because I would have never guessed that yogurt is a carbohydrate. I'm now moving to eat plain yogurt and add fruit myself. Cottage cheese is a protein. Honey is just as bad as sugar. Lots to learn!

I am to exercise at least 30 min. a day.

Alissa Walked the Kids

My four year old wanted to watch a movie and I said, "No, we're going for a long walk!" We walked to the park that's pretty far. I pushed my 2 year old in the stroller, and the four year old walked. They had fun playing at the park.

Everything was good until I realized at home that my cell phone had fallen out of the stroller. The kids were already down for a nap, so I couldn't just drive or walk back up there to find it. My husband saved my day by leaving work, and found it for me. My hero! ;)

Spicy Fried Tofu

There are a lot of recipe's online for tofu. Tofu is a curd made from mashed soybeans, used chiefly in Asian and vegetarian cooking.

It's really pretty good when you mix it in with other things.

This weekend I was looking for something fast to make. We had a family gathering. Everyone was pitching in and buying Pizza Hut Pizza. I knew this was something I shouldn't have. Instead I brought my own dinner: Spicy Fried Tofu, watermelon and cantaloupe mixed, carrots, celery and water to drink.


Here's the recipe I used: 

Cut the extra firm tofu into small cubes. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a skillet or wok on high heat. Add tofu and saute for 5 minutes, turning with a spatula. Remove any excess liquid.

Mix the spices in a small bowl while you are letting the tofu cook. Don't forget to turn it though.

Reduce heat to medium, add the spices. Add the garlic and 2 more tablespoons oil to prevent the tofu from sticking. Increase heat and add soy sauce, stirring constantly. Finally add Parmesan and mix well; sauteing until golden brown or until cheese melts. Add a bit more soy sauce while it browns, if desired. Good hot or cold. Serves 4 to 8.

Can serve over Asian noodles, or rice. Some people add cooked veggies with it too.

Jessie's Recipes

Sorry it's taken me so long to check in!! Ah, it's been so busy here. But not too busy for an all natural fruit smoothie.

Check out some recipes below:

Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Strawberry Smoothie
Orange Julius