Monday, January 4, 2010 by Dea.

I got the EA Sports game, Active, for the Wii for Christmas this year.  I didn’t even crack the box until after New Years, of course.  I just finished day 3 of my first 30 Day Challenge.  And I must say, I really really like this game.

You answer some questions, enter your weight, and pick music style, and you’re up and running.  The game combines cardio with toning exercises to give you a good full-body work out.  It also adjusts the work outs for lower and upper body concentrations from day to day, to give muscles a rest.

I really like the variety of exercises in this game.  So far, the only thing I’ve done all 3 times I’ve worked out is walk/run in place.  The toning band included with the game is decent, though I’m sure I’ll need to buy a harder level in the near future.  Which is fine, as I can let my kids use the easier band when they work out with me.

So far, my only complaints are the leg strap and the sensor.  The leg strap either falls down, or if I wear it tight - it started to rip already.  I’ll be contacting the manufacturer about that one.  The sensor, though, is a bit annoying.  I have knee problems, so I can squat or lunge as low as most people.  But I can do a modified version, which is fine, right?  Wrong, according to the game.  It wants me deep, despite my status as a “beginner” and my weight.  You’d think it would work up to a full squat during the challenge.  I’ve fixed this by taking the one remote out of the holster on my leg and “faking” the full bend position in mid-air while doing my modified squats and lunges.

Otherwise, this is a really nice all around trainer.  It’s not just a static work out - you do different exercises each time you turn on the game.  And to me, that’s perfect - boredom is a big problem for most people starting out a work out regimen.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 by Dea.

These tiny little cakes taste just like the regular ones!!  I tried the Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cakes (these were always my favorites as a kid) and they tasted as good as I remembered.

Hostess has basically scaled down their cakes (these were about 2 bites each, and you get 3 per 100 cals) and given people watching their weight some portion control.  They’ve added fiber, as well!

If you follow WW Points, the Cinnamon Streusel 100 Calorie Packs are only 1 point per pack.  That’s right - 1 point!  It’s a very nice little treat for just 1 point, and you can get a sweet fix for a craving with a controlled portion.

They reminded me of Jenny Craig desserts, only better tasting!!

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Wednesday, October 14, 2009 by Becca.

There’s something about this time of year that makes baked goods taste even better than usual.  This is especially true if the baked goods are still warm from the oven. One of my favorite things to bake is a banana bread recipe handed down from my great grandmother.  I have her recipe card, in her handwriting, covered in spots and stains from it’s many years in many kitchens.

Unfortunately, my great grandmothers recipe is not exactly healthy.  Which is why I was so happy to discover Fiber One’s new Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.  I found these yummy little muffins in the freezer section at my grocery store.  I stuck one in the microwave for 15 seconds tonight and was not disappointed.

I will admit that I miss my whole house smelling like my favorite banana bread, but if it did I probably could not stop at one serving.  For 190 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 7 grams of fiber per muffin, these muffins will be my new answer to my banana bread cravings.

I will, of course, still make my great grandmothers banana bread but I will make it for friends and for parties this winter and I will sure to leave the leftovers behind for others to enjoy.

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Tuesday, October 13, 2009 by admin.

In a society where some restaurants conceal their nutrition information, or outright lie about it, Panera is a stand-out where you can be sure that the information you read is accurate and complete.  Well, they’ve improved upon perfection!

Panera’s new nutrition calculator is fantastic.   You can choose different food items from a drop down menu, and add them to your meal.  You can also go into a sandwich and choose toppings, changing the caloric and fat content results.  This is a wonderful tool for all people wishing to eat healthier, or lose weight.

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Saturday, September 19, 2009 by Dea.

I have always wanted to do yoga and pilates, but have felt like there are no classes for people like me.  I’m somewhat clumsy, and I have really bad core strength.  Pilates and yoga are great for getting that core strength, but much like searching for a job, it seems like all the classes I’ve seen offered are “some experience required,” types of things.  It was getting very frustrating, to be honest.

Our new gym room is great.  It does not, however, have a television.  So videos are a bit of a hassle, since I’d have to move furniture every time I want to do one.

I found the solution, though.  Two great books.  One is on yoga, and one is pilates.

First, there’s Yoga for Wimps: Poses for the Flexibly Impaired.   This is a complete book of poses, shown with fantastic modifications for those of us who would fall over if we tried to do Downward Facing Dog during our first stab at it.  All of the modifications are done using things around the house - chairs, towels, books, and old ties, for example.  The instructions are clear, concise, and I was able to do yoga within minutes.  It’s nice to have this ultra beginner instruction.  I highly recommend this book!

Second, there’s The Book of Pilates.   This is also a very good beginner book.  There are a lot of instructions, including how to breathe, how to position your body, and when to inhale or exhale.  There are also three levels of exercises, which is very nice.  There’s Introductory Level exercises (where I am right now) and it shows modifications for doing these exercises without having the balance and strength necessary to do advanced moves.  The next level is Beginner Level, which shows slightly harder moves and different modifications for this level of strength and stability.  Finally, there’s Advanced Pilates.  These are the moves you see in classes and on a lot of videos.

These gradual progressions of both of these types of exercise help to build the core strength and balance required to do the advanced moves.  The modifications are a nice touch, as sometimes, people just can’t figure out how to do a move in an easier way.  This leads to feelings of failure - which obviously leads to quitting the exercise.  These are both such important and beneficial exercises.  These books really help get you to your goals.

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Sunday, September 13, 2009 by Dea.

I had lunch with Becca yesterday, and she made me a Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Burger.  I am not normally a fan of the veggie burgers, I will admit that!  I figured, however, that I’d give it a try.  If Becca will eat it, I will most likely like it.

These are fabulous!  To me, they tasted like a cross between a falafel and black bean dip.  We had them on the Slimwich bread, with a slice of reduced fat cheese, and they seriously needed no condiments beyond that.  I’ll be grabbing these myself for lunches or quick dinners.  Each patty has 120 calories, 4g fat, and 4g fiber.  And they’re very filling.  A nice, fast meal - that’s also surprisingly tasty!

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Friday, August 28, 2009 by Dea.

Not only are these both Fabulous Finds - they’re Freebies too!  These are great tasting, healthy eating products that I’ve found.  What better way to try them out than to get them, free, in your mailbox??

First up - NEW Total Blueberry Pomegranate Cereal.  Click here to get a sample sent to you.  High in fiber, with 100% of quite a few of your daily recommended nutrients, this is a great tasting way to start your morning!

Next up -  Nature Valley Nut Clusters and Trail Mix Bars.  Click here to get a free Trail Mix Bar AND a sample of their new Granola Nut Clusters.  These are great on-the-go breakfasts, or as a quick snack.

Posted in Freebies, Fabulous Finds | Print | 2 Comments »

Friday, August 14, 2009 by Dea.

At Aldi, they have some amazing deals.  Unfortunately, sometimes they’re limited time offers.  This summer, they’ve had a different selection of Sundae Shoppe frozen treats each week.  All of them have been delicious.  This week, they have Swirl Stix (green box on the right).  They’re Italian Ice done up on a stick, like a popsicle.  It’s a box of 12 for $1.99.  The best part, though, is that they’re only 48 calories each!  No fat, no cholesterol.  They are very yummy, making them my favorite treat right now.  For a bare blip in my daily caloric intake, I get to eat Italian ice for dessert.  SWEET.  If you find them at your Aldi, grab a few!  They are, unfortunately, a limited time thing.  If you see other Sundae Shop items - check them out.  I’ve tried most of them, and they’re all very good.  Check the calories, though, because some are more than others.

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Monday, August 10, 2009 by Becca.

Fiber One’s newest food additions are awesome.  If you don’t already eat them, you definitely should try them.  Their chocolatey chewy bars are way better than a regular granola bar and actually satisfy my candy bar cravings.  I would suggest starting off slow, though, especially if your body isn’t used to a whole lot of fiber!

Recently Fiber One introduced single serve yogurts.  I’m not usually a huge fan of yogurt since it tends to be fairly high in sugar, but these are totally worth it.  Each cup of yogurt has 50 calories, 0 grams of fat, and 5 grams of fiber.  As my Weight Watchers friends know, this means they are 0 points.  That’s right, 0 points.  As if this wasn’t enough, they are available in Key Lime Pie flavor.  I stuck one in the freezer on a hunch and sure enough, it was yummy!  Fiber One yogurt may be a little pricey, but I definitely recommend you pick some up next time they are on sale!

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Friday, August 7, 2009 by Dea.

These are DELICIOUS.  Becca told me about Arnold Select Sandwich Thins about a week ago.  They have 100 calories, and 5 grams of fiber, and if you follow the Weight Watchers Points system, these are around 2 points.  I bought the 100% Whole Wheat and the Multigrain to try, and Becca swears by the Whole Grain White.  I love these.  I’ve had a sandwich on one, and toasted another for breakfast so far.  Think English-Muffin-Only-Better for the toasted one.  I’m thinking of trying them with burgers, as a base for a mini pizza, and for peanut butter and jelly toast.  Unlike a lot of whole wheat, high fiber bread products, these are moist.  They have a nutty flavor and stayed moist when toasted.  If you can find these, try them.  They’re a great way to add fiber to your diet.

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